Human action is God’s will, not blind indifference in the face of suffering. - John Kramer

DAILY SPECIALS

Before and After D-Day: Color Photos From England and France

Last few remaining U.S. veterans thanked on 75th anniversary of D-Day

US-Mexico talks to resume Thursday as tariff deadline nears

Trump Administration to End Schooling, Recreation, Legal Aid for Migrant Children in Shelters

Trump administration restricts fetal tissue research

U.S. CONGRESS

Mueller Bows Out: What Does Congress Do Now?

Congress moves to hold top Trump people in contempt

HERE ARE THE REPUBLICANS IN CONGRESS STANDING WITH TRUMP OVER MEXICO TARIFF THREAT

Congress revives ban on altering the DNA of human embryos used for pregnancies

LEGISLATION

Lembo says threat by Cigna CEO to leave Connecticut kills public option health legislation, though insurer denies ‘anything like that’

States Introduce Sex Education Legislation Following #MeToo Movement

House Passes Immigration Bill That Would Protect DREAMers, Give Millions a Path to Citizenship

GOP moves to ban teacher strikes in West Virginia

House Finally Passes Long-Delayed $19.1 Billion Disaster Aid Bill

The House on Monday evening approved a $19.1 billion disaster aid package, sending the long-delayed legislation to President Trump’s desk after earlier objections from Republicans delayed the legislation and forced a recorded vote. The package was approved 354-58, with the only no votes coming from GOP members.

The president celebrated the bill's passage Monday night, writing in a tweet that has since been deleted that “Farmers, Puerto Rico and all will be very happy.” But he erroneously stated that the package still needed to go through the Senate.

The legislation had been stalled in that chamber for months as lawmakers fought over a number of complicating factors, including Trump’s initial opposition to providing additional funds for Puerto Rico and, later, over the White House’s desire to include additional border money in the package. The final legislation includes $900 million for Puerto Rico hurricane recovery, including $300 million in Department of Housing and Urban Development grants and $600 million for the supplemental nutritional program on the island. It does not include the $4.5 billion in border money the administration had sought. The package passed the Senate, 85-8, on May 23.

The bill, according to The New York Times, also extends the National Flood Insurance Program and provides more than $3 billion to rebuild military bases and Coast Guard facilities. And it includes $2.4 billion for community development block grants and $3.25 billion for the Army Corps of Engineers to repair damaged infrastructure and prepare for future storms. [The Fiscal Times, June 4, 2019]

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE

Progressive groups, tax experts warn against 'free file' legislation

It’s Getting Worse: The IRS Now Audits Poor Americans at About the Same Rate as the Top 1%

The IRS cannot keep trying to do more with less OPINION

Lawmakers expected to offer new version of IRS bill without 'Free File' provision

FEDERAL WORKFORCE

OPM offers guides for handling automation’s effect on federal workforce

Are federal workers ready for AI?

White House targets federal cybersecurity workforce development in new executive order

House appropriators propose 3.1% federal pay raise, new money for OPM in 2020 draft bill

ART

Campaigns: Art for Democracy and Love Will Overcome Hatred

Low Art on the High Seas

A Monument to Shakespeare The Architecture of the Folger Shakespeare Library

These Are the Most Realistic Fish Ever Carved From Wood

READ

Iron Spy: The True Story of the Greatest Double Agent in World War II (Espionage)

Dutch Girl: Audrey Hepburn and World War II

The Things Our Fathers Saw—The Untold Stories of the World War II Generation-Volume IV: Up the Bloody Boot—The War in Italy

A Whole Life: A Novel FICTION

The Long Roll FICTION

The Organs of Sense: A Novel FICTION

PERU

Peru's special forces confront illegal gold mining in Amazon rainforest

Premier Del Solar seeks vote of confidence in Congress

Ex-President Alan Garcia dead from self-inflicted gunshot to the head

Peru approves regulations for medicinal marijuana

AUSTRIA

Austria gets first female chancellor after video scandal

HOW RUSSIA IS MAKING AUSTRIA GROUND ZERO IN THE BATTLE FOR EUROPE

Terminated Sebastian Kurz will be back

I Escaped to Austria, and Now I Live Alone

SANTA LUCIA 

St Lucia amends CIP legislation amid heightened competition from Dominica and Grenada

Mobile number portability launched in five ECTEL member states

Education Ministry Silent on Death of Student

CIBC FirstCaribbean Echoes Chief Tree’s Call for Healthy Diet for Reading Month

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