Maryland's tax on digital ads violated Big Tech's free speech

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) – Maryland’s first-in-the-nation tax on digital advertising violated the Constitution, a federal appeals court says, because blocking Big Tech from telling customers about the tax violates the companies’ right to free speech.

Fatal Virginia bus crash raises concerns about unfulfilled safety recommendations

A commercial bus crash in Virginia that killed five people and injured dozens of others has raised questions about the driver, the company that employed him and the overall safety of the industry.

Republicans won redistricting battle. Now voters will decide if they win Congress

A no-holds-barred bout of partisan redistricting has been won by Republicans. Now it’s up to voters to decide whether it matters for control of Congress. Republicans could net about 10 additional U.S. House seats in the November elections if redrawn voting districts perform as they were intended.

Bruce Springsteen calls out the White House and announces a protest festival

WASHINGTON (AP) – Bruce Springsteen, Foo Fighters, Dave Matthews, Brittany Howard and Joan Baez will headline a star-studded protest festival set for the Washington, D.C., area a month before the midterm elections.

Judge dismisses human smuggling charges against Kilmar Abrego Garcia

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) – A human smuggling case against Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose mistaken deportation helped galvanize opposition to President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, was thrown out Friday.

Ship operator and employee charged over Baltimore bridge collapse

BALTIMORE (AP) – Federal prosecutors announced criminal charges Tuesday in the 2024 collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge, accusing a Singapore-based ship operator and a senior employee of making critical decisions that caused a vessel to crash into the span, killing six people, and covering up what happened.

Prosecutors used rap lyrics to help send a man to death row in Texas

When he was 19, James Broadnax jotted down rap lyrics, thoughts and even job leads in a notebook that would become evidence at his capital murder trial. Prosecutors selected lyrics with alleged references to gang affiliation and shootings to convince jurors that instead of life in prison, Broadnax should be put to death.

Redistricting battle narrows as states seek edge in November elections

The battlefield is narrowing and the timeline is tightening in a congressional redistricting contest among states seeking a partisan advantage ahead of the November midterm elections.

As AI use increases at work, many employees still choose not to use it

More American workers are experimenting with artificial intelligence in their jobs, but skepticism is still widespread. New Gallup polling finds that while more employees are using AI frequently in their work, there’s been an uptick in alarm that new technologies will replace their jobs. Many workers who are not using AI say they prefer to work without it, have ethical oppositions to the technology or worry about data privacy.