Appeals court clears the way for the Trump admin. to fire 1000s of probationary workers

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court has cleared the way for President Donald Trump’s administration to fire thousands of probationary workers, halting a judge’s order requiring them to be reinstated. A split panel for the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday found the government will probably win by showing the mass firings must be appealed through a separate employment process rather than fought out in federal court. The decision in a case filed by nearly two dozen states in Maryland comes a day after the Supreme Court blocked a similar order from a judge in California. The states could seek further court review as their lawsuit plays out.

US Postal Service seeks to hike cost of a first-class stamp to 78 cents

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service is seeking a rate increase this summer that includes hiking the cost of a first-class stamp from 73 cents to 78 cents. The request was made Wednesday to the Postal Regulatory Commission, which must OK the proposal. If approved, the 5-cent increase for a “forever” stamp and similar increases for postcards, metered letters and international mail would take effect July 13. The Postal Service contends the price hike is necessary to achieve financial stability. Former U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy previously warned postal customers to get used to “uncomfortable” rate hikes as the Postal Service seeks to become self-sufficient.

About $1.8B in federal money for Cornell and Northwestern is frozen, the WH says

WASHINGTON (AP) — Cornell University and Northwestern University say they haven’t received any notice from the U.S. government about paused federal funding even though the White House says more than $1 billion for Cornell and about $790 million for Northwestern have been frozen. The White House said late Tuesday the government is investigating alleged civil rights violations at the universities. It’s part of a broader push to use government funding to get major academic institutions to comply with President Donald Trump’s political agenda. Trump’s Republican administration has increasingly begun using governmental grant funding to try to influence campus policy. The American Council on Education says funding freezes have jeopardized science and research.

Conn. Supreme Court declines to hear Alex Jones’ appeal of $1B Sandy Hook verdict

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The Connecticut Supreme Court has declined to hear conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ appeal in a defamation case that resulted in a $1.4 billion verdict against him for calling the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting a hoax. Jones asked the justices to review both the 2022 trial court verdict and a lower appeals court ruling in December that upheld most of the verdict. But the state Supreme Court turned down his request on Tuesday without explanation. Jones expressed frustration at the decision on his Infowars show Wednesday. Families of some of the victims of the 2012 shooting in Connecticut won lawsuits against Jones in 2022 for defamation and emotional distress.