US News
A federal judge in Hawaii has blocked enforcement of the Trump administration's kinder, gentler travel ban before it could even begin. Derrick Watson, a US district judge, said that any "reasonable" observer would conclude the executive order, slated to take effect at midnight Thursday, was "issued with a purpose to disfavor a particular religion." During a speech in Nashville late Wednesday, President Trump called the decision "an unprecedented judicial overreach" and floated reviving his original, harsher ban in the courts.—VICE News/NBC NewsTrump Budget Takes Knife to State Department and EPA Funding
The Trump administration's federal budget plan reportedly includes huge cuts to the State Department and the Environmental Protection Agency budgets to help pay for a $54 billion increase in defense spending. The EPA budget could be slashed by nearly a third, or some $2.6 billion, according to an unidentified source briefed on the proposal, bringing it to 1970s levels, adjusted for inflation.—The New York Times
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John McCain Says Rand Paul Working for Putin
Senator John McCain has accused Senator Rand Paul of effectively "working for" Russian president Vladimir Putin. Paul left the floor of the Senate after blocking McCain's attempt to get a resolution passed unanimously in support of Montenegro joining NATO, prompting McCain to say "the senator from Kentucky is now working for Vladimir Putin." Paul later said it was "unwise" to expand the US's "monetary and military obligations."— CBS NewsFormer Sheriff Found Guilty of Obstructing FBI Probe
A former sheriff of Los Angeles County, Lee Baca, has been found guilty of impeding an FBI investigation into abuse and corruption inside county jails. The jury heard evidence guards had beat inmates and accepted bribes to help smuggle in contraband. Baca faces up to 20 years in prison.—APFar-Right Leader Wilders Falls Short in Dutch Election
Prime Minister Mark Rutte has won a clear victory over far-right leader Geert Wilders in the Dutch general election Wednesday. With 99 percent of votes counted, Rutte's center-right VVD Party won 33 seats, while Wilders's Freedom Party came second and won 20 seats. Rutte declared that the Netherlands "said 'stop' to the wrong kind of populism."—ReutersAt Least 30 Dead in Damascus Suicide Bombing
Thirty people were killed and more injured in a suicide bomb attack at the Palace of Justice in the Syrian capital of Damascus, according to state media. A separate suicide attack took place at a restaurant in the Rabweh district of the city, with the number of casualties not yet known.—AP
Senator John McCain has accused Senator Rand Paul of effectively "working for" Russian president Vladimir Putin. Paul left the floor of the Senate after blocking McCain's attempt to get a resolution passed unanimously in support of Montenegro joining NATO, prompting McCain to say "the senator from Kentucky is now working for Vladimir Putin." Paul later said it was "unwise" to expand the US's "monetary and military obligations."— CBS NewsFormer Sheriff Found Guilty of Obstructing FBI Probe
A former sheriff of Los Angeles County, Lee Baca, has been found guilty of impeding an FBI investigation into abuse and corruption inside county jails. The jury heard evidence guards had beat inmates and accepted bribes to help smuggle in contraband. Baca faces up to 20 years in prison.—AP
International News
Prime Minister Mark Rutte has won a clear victory over far-right leader Geert Wilders in the Dutch general election Wednesday. With 99 percent of votes counted, Rutte's center-right VVD Party won 33 seats, while Wilders's Freedom Party came second and won 20 seats. Rutte declared that the Netherlands "said 'stop' to the wrong kind of populism."—ReutersAt Least 30 Dead in Damascus Suicide Bombing
Thirty people were killed and more injured in a suicide bomb attack at the Palace of Justice in the Syrian capital of Damascus, according to state media. A separate suicide attack took place at a restaurant in the Rabweh district of the city, with the number of casualties not yet known.—AP
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King of Morocco to Dump Prime Minister
King Mohammed VI of Morocco will replace the country's prime minister because of the political leader's failure to form a coalition government. Abdelilah Benkirane will be forced to step down, and the king is expected to appoint another member of the Islamist Party for Justice and Development in his stead.—Al JazeeraChinese Air Pollution Linked to Melting Sea Ice
A new study has linked the severe air pollution experienced by China in 2013 to the melting of Arctic sea ice the previous year. The heavy smog that loomed over the country throughout January of that year was caused by changed wind-circulation patterns connected to melting ice, the study's authors said, warning that similar outbreaks are poised to emerge in the future.—BBC NewsSessions Says Weed 'Only Slightly Less Awful' Than Heroin
Jeff Sessions believes marijuana is "only slightly less awful" than heroin, according to a speech he delivered in Virginia Wednesday. The attorney general wants the government to launch an old-school anti-drug campaign to warn kids that weed can "destroy your life."—Rolling StoneMeek Mill Reportedly Charged in Airport Assault
Meek Mill has been charged with misdemeanor assault following an incident at St. Louis International Airport, a TMZ report said. The altercation apparently came after an airport worker tried to take a photo with the rapper, who remains on probation for weapon and drug offenses.—BillboardAbout $24,000 Worth of Weed Left at Local Goodwill
Police in Monroe, Washington, are looking for the person who donated a cooler filled with $24,000 worth of marijuana to their local Goodwill. Police posted a photo of the bags of weed on Twitter, and officers are checking the charity store's security cameras.—VICE
King Mohammed VI of Morocco will replace the country's prime minister because of the political leader's failure to form a coalition government. Abdelilah Benkirane will be forced to step down, and the king is expected to appoint another member of the Islamist Party for Justice and Development in his stead.—Al JazeeraChinese Air Pollution Linked to Melting Sea Ice
A new study has linked the severe air pollution experienced by China in 2013 to the melting of Arctic sea ice the previous year. The heavy smog that loomed over the country throughout January of that year was caused by changed wind-circulation patterns connected to melting ice, the study's authors said, warning that similar outbreaks are poised to emerge in the future.—BBC News
Everything Else
Jeff Sessions believes marijuana is "only slightly less awful" than heroin, according to a speech he delivered in Virginia Wednesday. The attorney general wants the government to launch an old-school anti-drug campaign to warn kids that weed can "destroy your life."—Rolling StoneMeek Mill Reportedly Charged in Airport Assault
Meek Mill has been charged with misdemeanor assault following an incident at St. Louis International Airport, a TMZ report said. The altercation apparently came after an airport worker tried to take a photo with the rapper, who remains on probation for weapon and drug offenses.—BillboardAbout $24,000 Worth of Weed Left at Local Goodwill
Police in Monroe, Washington, are looking for the person who donated a cooler filled with $24,000 worth of marijuana to their local Goodwill. Police posted a photo of the bags of weed on Twitter, and officers are checking the charity store's security cameras.—VICE