Protests Escalate, NCAA Rule Changes, & High Seniors

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Adam Rogers
June 11, 2025

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Anti-ICE protests have spread nationwide after Trump deployed federal troops to Los Angeles.

Demonstrations erupted Tuesday in New York, Chicago, Dallas, Atlanta, and over 20 other cities as activists protested Trump's deployment of 700 Marines and 2,000 National Guard troops to suppress Los Angeles immigration protests. NBC News counted at least 25 rallies coast to coast, with many demanding the release of SEIU California President David Huerta, who was arrested during the initial LA demonstrations.
The nationwide backlash stems from the weekend escalation in Los Angeles, where ICE raids triggered protests that led Trump to deploy federal military forces despite local officials saying they weren't needed. LAPD Chief Jim McDonnell told NBC News his department never requested federal assistance, though some protests involved people throwing rocks at police and lighting Waymo vehicles on fire.
The confrontation is escalating on both sides, with Texas Gov. Greg Abbott arresting over a dozen protesters, while California sued the federal government over what it calls an "unlawful" deployment. More demonstrations are planned nationwide for Saturday, as the administration shows no signs of backing down from its immigration enforcement policies.

A former student killed ten students in Austria's deadliest postwar attack at Graz high school.

The 21-year-old gunman opened fire at a high school in Austria's second-largest city, wounding at least 12 others before killing himself in a school bathroom. Special forces responded to the 10 a.m. attack and had the school evacuated within 90 minutes.
The shooter was an Austrian man who attended the school but never finished his studies. Authorities have not released his name under privacy rules or disclosed a motive. The shooting appears to be Austria's deadliest attack in the postwar era, surpassing a 2020 Vienna attack that killed four people.
The gunman used two legally owned weapons in the attack. He is believed to have purchased them under Austria's relatively permissive gun laws, which allow people over 18 to buy rifles and shotguns without permits after basic background checks.

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley has broken party lines to support a $15 federal minimum wage with a Democratic partner.

Hawley introduced a bill Tuesday with Sen. Peter Welch, D-Vt, to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 per hour. The increase would take effect the year after passage, and subsequent raises will be tied to inflation. The move continues Hawley's populist positioning that has included teaming with Bernie Sanders on credit card interest caps.
The federal minimum wage hasn't been raised since 2009, with previous Democratic attempts failing to clear the 60-vote Senate threshold. Hawley called the current wage "really, really, really, really low" and argued that "if we're going to be a working people's party, we have to do something for working people."
The bill faces steep odds in the GOP-controlled Senate, where Sen. Ron Johnson argued that "the real minimum wage is $0 when you don't have a job," claiming that wage hikes eliminate entry-level positions. President Trump, who avoided minimum wage questions during his campaign, has not endorsed any increase.

The Associated Press is seeking a full appeals court review after a panel allowed the Trump administration to continue blocking AP access to presidential events. (More)

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. fired all 17 CDC vaccine advisors. Scientists say the cuts undermine trust, while Kennedy claims it will restore public confidence in health agencies. (More)

Twenty-four universities and over 12,000 Harvard alumni filed briefs supporting Harvard in a legal battle against the Trump administration, arguing funding cuts threaten academic freedom, research, and US innovation. (More)

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro denied involvement in a coup plot against President Lula, calling such actions “abominable.” He's on trial with allies for allegedly inciting the 2023 government storming. (More)

The EU proposed new sanctions on Russia, targeting energy exports, Nord Stream pipelines, and 22 banks, aiming to pressure Moscow to end the Ukraine war by tightening financial and infrastructure restrictions. (More)

A Pew study shows Muslims were the fastest-growing faith group worldwide from 2010–2020, followed by the religiously unaffiliated. Christianity remains the largest globally, but has declined proportionally despite gaining 122 million followers. (More)

US stock markets closed higher on Tuesday (S&P +0.55%, Nasdaq +0.63%, Dow +0.25%). Investors remained hopeful that US-China trade talks would progress, while the S&P and Nasdaq finished higher for a third consecutive session. (More)

Twenty-seven states and D.C. sued to stop 23andMe from selling genetic data without consent, arguing sensitive DNA and health info shouldn't be treated like property amid the company’s bankruptcy sale. (More)

Disney will pay Comcast $439 million for its remaining Hulu stake, gaining full control of the streaming service after a years-long appraisal process. (More)

Top prospect Roman Anthony recorded his first MLB hit—a two-run double—in Boston’s 3-1 win over Tampa Bay, bouncing back after a hitless debut. (More)

The NCAA approved new rules to improve game flow in men’s basketball, including a coach’s challenge for key calls. Teams need a timeout to use it and get one extra review if the challenge succeeds. (More)

J Balvin, Doja Cat, and Tems will headline FIFA’s first Club World Cup halftime show on July 13. The event supports a $100 million fund for global education and soccer access. (More)

Archaeologists in Iran discovered a 6,200-year-old girl's skull showing cranial modification and fatal head trauma. Likely killed by a blunt object, her thin skull was shaped by early-life head binding. (More)

Oxford physicists set a new world record for quantum accuracy, achieving just one error in 6.7 million operations. This breakthrough could make future quantum computers smaller, faster, and more efficient. (More)

Asian needle ants, an invasive stinging species, are spreading across 20 US states, mainly in the Northeast and Southeast. Their painful stings can cause severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis. (More)

America’s cheapest new cars in 2025.

Blood-red deep-sea squid caught on camera for the first time.

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