Hegseth says 'no punishment' for Army pilots who flew near Kid Rock's house

By Phil Stewart

March 31 (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that Army pilots would not be punished after flying attack helicopters near singer Kid Rock's house over ‌the weekend in an apparent show of support for the vocal backer of President ‌Donald Trump.

Hegseth's announcement, in a social media post, followed remarks by Trump who appeared to play down the incident near the ​musician's house in Nashville, Tennessee.

"They probably shouldn't have been doing it. But they like Kid Rock. I like Kid Rock," Trump said. "Maybe they were trying to defend him."

Reuters, citing a U.S. official, reported earlier on Tuesday that aircrew involved in the incident had been suspended after appearing to deviate from their mission.

The U.S. ‌military is supposed to be apolitical, ⁠loyal to the U.S. Constitution and independent of any party or political movement.

Rock posted a video on X on Saturday, standing in front of his swimming ⁠pool and saluting one of the helicopters.

Hegseth, who has a home in Tennessee, praised Kid Rock as he exonerated the crew.

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"Thank you @KidRock. @USArmy pilots suspension LIFTED. No punishment. No investigation. Carry on, patriots," Hegseth wrote on X.

Military ​helicopters were ​also seen flying close to demonstrators in Nashville taking ​part in organized protests against Trump's policies ‌that were part of the anti-Trump "No Kings" rallies that took place across the country.

Reuters reported on Monday that the Army was investigating the incident and an Army spokesman declined further comment when contacted by Reuters on Tuesday.

"Army aviators must adhere to strict safety standards, professionalism, and established flight regulations. An administrative review is underway to assess the mission and verify compliance with regulations and airspace requirements," U.S. Army ‌spokesperson Major Montrell Russell said on Monday.

"Appropriate action will ​be taken if any violations are found. Until the review ​is complete, there will be no further ​comment," Russell added.

Since being sworn in last year, Hegseth has moved quickly to ‌reshape the military, firing top generals and admirals ​as he seeks to ​implement Trump's national security agenda and root out diversity initiatives he calls discriminatory.

Democratic lawmakers have warned the Trump administration is increasingly trying to use the military for political gain.

In his post ​about the helicopters, Rock took a ‌swipe at Democratic California Governor Gavin Newsom, adding: "God Bless America and all those who ​have made the ultimate sacrifice to defend her."

(Reporting by Phil Stewart; Additional reporting by ​Jasper Ward; Editing by Nia Williams and Cynthia Osterman)

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

April 01, 2026

Hegseth says 'no punishment' for Army pilots who flew near Kid Rock's house

By Phil Stewart March 31 (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that Army pilots would not...

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Nevada lithium mine clears major hurdle despite conservationists' worries for rare wildflower

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A federal judge in Nevada has ruled against conservationists who wanted to stop a lithium-boron mine they said would harm anendangered wildflower.

The ruling marks a major legal victory for the 11-square-mile (28.49 square-kilometer) Rhyolite Ridge Lithium/Boron Mine Project in Esmeralda County, located between Reno and Las Vegas. The land holds the largest lithium and boron deposit in the world outside of Turkey, said Bernard Rowe, managing director of Ioneer, the Australia-based company behind the project.

U.S. District Judge Cristina Silva ruled Friday that the federal government properly approved the project and sufficiently examined the impacts the project will have on the rare wildflower called Tiehm's buckwheat, whose entire population grows within 10 acres (4.05 hectares) of land in the project area. Environmental groups behind the lawsuit say they may appeal.

Lithium is an essential component of electric vehicle batteries. Rhyolite Ridge would beNevada's third lithium mine, and one of few mines that will process the materials on site, Rowe said.

"Rhyolite Ridge will create hundreds of new American jobs, reduce reliance on foreign materials and processing, and provide a domestic source of two critical minerals," Chad Yeftich, vice president of corporate development and external affairs at Ioneer, said in a statement.

Growing US manufacturing

Ioneer wants construction to start by the end of this year and production in 2029, though it is still looking for a financial partner after a major investor pulled out last year. Sibanye Stillwater said the project did not make financial sense. In January 2025, the Department of Energy finalized a nearly $1 billion loan for the project.

The $2 billion mine would have a life span of over 77 years and would produce enough lithium carbonate for around 400,000 electric vehicles per year, Rowe said. It will also produce boric acid, which is used in pest control, flame retardant, and medical and personal care.

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Rhyolite Ridge wasfirst approved under the Biden administrationas an part of the former president's clean energy agenda. The Trump administration has alsosupported lithium projects in Nevadaas a way to bolster US manufacturing of critical minerals. The Interior Department declined to comment.

Protecting the wildflower

The Center for Biological Diversity, which haslong fought to protectthe wildflower and successfully pushed for its endangered species designation in 2022, is not finished in its fight, Great Basin Director Patrick Donnelly said.

His organization is considering appealing the ruling to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing that the case could have implications for other species and protected habitats on the Endangered Species Act.

"This can seem like a little remote flower in the middle of nowhere. But if we lose on Tiehm's buckwheat, you know, what else are we facing with the whittling away of the Endangered Species Act?" Donnelly said.

Tiehm's buckwheat is a wildflower a couple inches tall that grows in an area the size of seven football fields in the Silver Peak Range. In the spring, the plant produces green leaves and yellow flowers that look like pom-poms. When it blooms, it is the epicenter of a vibrant pollinator community, Donnelly said.

Silva, a Biden-nominated judge, found Ioneer's mitigation efforts, which include fencing around the habitat and buffer zones between the mining activities and the buckwheat, were sufficient for the purposes of the Endangered Species Act. Silva wrote that of the buckwheat's 1.4 square mile (3.63 square kilometers) of critical habitat, it will lose 4.9% due to the project.

Donnelly maintains the mining project will increase the risk of the wildflower going extinct, which would affect the ecosystem's biodiversity. He cast doubt that fencing around the flower's habitat will protect it.

"There's been this kind of death by a thousand cuts for Tiehm's buckwheat," Donnelly said, adding that if it were to move forward, it would be the "death blow" for the wildflower.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

April 01, 2026

Nevada lithium mine clears major hurdle despite conservationists' worries for rare wildflower

LAS VEGAS (AP) — A federal judge in Nevada has ruled against conservationists who wanted to stop a lithium-boron mine the...

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Appeals court suspends order for Voice of America employees to return to work

WASHINGTON (AP) — An appeals court panelagreed Tuesdayto suspend a federal judge's order for the Trump administration to bring hundreds of Voice of America employees back to work from paid leave.

The three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit issued a stay pending the government's appeal of the lower court'sMarch 17 ruling. More than 1,000 employees of Voice of America will remain on administrative leave while the appeals court weighs the case, a process that could take months.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth ordered President Donald Trump's administration to restore the government-run Voice of America's operations after it had effectively been shut down a year ago. Lamberth was nominated by Republican President Ronald Reagan.

The case is assigned to Circuit Judges Karen LeCraft Henderson, Robert Wilkins and Gregory Katsas.

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Henderson was nominated by Republican President George H.W. Bush. Wilkins was nominated by Democratic President Barack Obama. Katsas was nominated by Trump, a Republican.

Voice of America has broadcast news reports to countries around the world since its formation during World War II. Before Trump's executive order, it had operated in 49 different languages, broadcasting to 362 million people.

Voice of America has been operating with a skeleton staff since Trump issued an executive order to shut it down.

Lamberth also has ruled that Kari Lake, Trump's choice to lead Voice of America, did not have the legal authority to do what she had done at the agency.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

April 01, 2026

Appeals court suspends order for Voice of America employees to return to work

WASHINGTON (AP) — An appeals court panelagreed Tuesdayto suspend a federal judge's order for the Trump administration...

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Luigi Mangione due in court in bid to delay federal trial over CEO killing

By Luc Cohen

FILE PHOTO: Luigi Mangione appears at the Manhattan Supreme Court

NEW YORK, April 1 (Reuters) - Luigi Mangione, the man accused of gunning down a health insurance executive in Manhattan, is due in federal court on Wednesday for ‌a hearing on his bid to delay a trial on charges that could land ‌him in prison for the rest of his life.

In-person jury selection is currently scheduled to begin on September 8 for Mangione's ​federal trial on stalking charges stemming from the December 4, 2024 killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Opening statements are scheduled for October 13.

Lawyers for Mangione, 27, are seeking to delay the federal trial until January because he also faces a separate trial on New York state murder charges starting on June 8. ‌They argue that the overlapping schedules ⁠would inhibit Mangione's ability to prepare for the federal trial.

"Mr. Mangione is now in the position of needing to prepare for two complicated and serious trials ⁠at the same time," his lawyers wrote in a March 18 letter to Manhattan-based U.S. District Judge Margaret Garnett.

Mangione has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

PROSECUTORS OPPOSE DELAY

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Prosecutors with the Manhattan U.S. Attorney's office have said ​they oppose ​delaying in-person jury selection and opening statements in the ​federal case.

But they said in a March ‌21 court filing that they were open to modifying the timeline for distributing and reviewing screening questionnaires to roughly 800 prospective jurors to make sure Mangione has the chance to evaluate them. The questionnaires are currently scheduled to be distributed on June 29.

Mangione has been jailed since his arrest in Pennsylvania five days after the shooting death of Thompson, who led UnitedHealth Group's health insurance business, outside a ‌Hilton hotel in midtown Manhattan.

DEATH PENALTY OFF THE TABLE

Mangione ​initially faced a possible death sentence in the federal case. ​That was taken off the table in ​January, when Garnett dismissed the federal murder charge he faced. Garnett called that ‌charge legally incompatible with the two stalking charges ​he still faces. Federal ​murder statutes carry different legal requirements than comparable state laws.

Mangione could still face a life sentence if convicted of the federal stalking charges and 25 years to life in prison if ​found guilty at the state trial.

While ‌public officials widely condemned Thompson's killing, Mangione became a folk hero of sorts to ​some Americans who decry high costs for U.S. medical care and health insurer practices.

(Reporting ​by Luc Cohen in New YorkEditing by Bill Berkrot)

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

April 01, 2026

Luigi Mangione due in court in bid to delay federal trial over CEO killing

By Luc Cohen FILE PHOTO: Luigi Mangione appears at the Manhattan Supreme Court NEW YORK, April 1 (Reuters) -...

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Analysis-As Trump weighs US vaccine appeal, Kennedy supporters want a fight

By Bo Erickson and Leah Douglas

WASHINGTON, April 1 (Reuters) - Supporters of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are pressing for a fight for the U.S. vaccine overhaul their "Make America Healthy Again" movement helped create.

But two weeks after a court ruling halted key aspects of the vaccine revamp, the Trump administration has not taken any steps to appeal, a delay longer than for other ‌cases where President Donald Trump has aggressively fought federal rulings challenging his agenda.

Meanwhile, Republicans are busy strategizing how best to defend slim majorities in the U.S. House and Senate in November's midterm elections, ‌complicating the vaccine fight.

The Trump administration is still weighing whether to appeal, according to four senior administration officials, as it works through which health issues are most voter friendly.

The administration must balance the support of millions of Kennedy's MAHA backers, who were already upset by Trump's ​order to boost pesticide production, against low general public support for his vaccine agenda. MAHA is seen as an important constituency whose votes were key to Trump's win in the 2024 election.

"The White House has a very delicate needle to thread here because it wants to preserve all of its coalition heading into the midterms," said Jeff Grappone, a Republican political strategist.

Kennedy co-founded the anti-vaccine group Children's Health Defense, and has tied vaccines to autism, a theory long debunked by science. A Reuters poll in February found bipartisan support for childhood vaccinations.

Asked if they intended to appeal the case, the White House did not respond. "Unless officially announced by us, any assertions about what we are doing next is baseless speculation," said ‌Health and Human Services spokesperson Andrew Nixon.

LACK OF ACTION

On March 16, a federal ⁠judge ruled that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention acted unlawfully in January, when it sharply cut the number of broadly recommended childhood vaccinations.

The judge also said Kennedy's removal and replacement of all members of a vaccine advisory committee to the CDC with appointees ideologically aligned with his anti-vaccine view was unlawful.

To move quickly on an appeal, the ⁠Justice Department could have preemptively asked Boston-based U.S. District Judge Brian Murphy, an appointee of Democratic President Joe Biden, to put the ruling on hold, a tactic it has used in other cases.

It could also have asked Murphy to reconsider his order or move to appeal the decision to the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, a precursor to pursuing any further appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. It can still appeal under a 60-day window.

George Washington University law professor Sara Rosenbaum, a ​former ​vaccine committee member who filed a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the plaintiffs, said the lack of action was noteworthy.

In other ​cases, the administration has been "kapow, turning around and filing your appeal before the ink was ‌dry," she said.

On Tuesday, the administration took just hours to appeal a judge's ruling that blocked construction of Trump's planned $400 million White House ballroom.

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NEXT STEPS UNCLEAR

The four administration officials told Reuters the lack of action is because the path forward is still up in the air.

One official said it was considering an appeal focused on the removal of the committee members.

Another said a final decision had not been made on whether to appeal that part of the ruling, or to accept the ruling and remake the committee in line with the judge's requirements. That official said Kennedy was still weighing his options.

The Health Department's January vaccine announcement was seen as this year's main action on vaccines, given how controversial the overhaul had been, two of the sources said.

Accepting the ruling could allow the White House and MAHA to pivot from the least popular part of the movement's agenda to more favorable issues like ‌children's diets and technology use, said policy consultant Abby McCloskey, who has worked for Republicans.

"They should take the block and move ​on," she said.

The White House in recent weeks urged its health policy focus away from vaccines to topics like healthy eating, two ​sources told Reuters.

Noel Brewer, a University of North Carolina public health professor who was on the original ​expert vaccines panel, said it was unclear if or how the previous members could be reinstated, and that any changes would not be quick. Brewer said the vetting process for ‌new members typically takes a year, and his own took a year and a ​half.

One committee member, Dr. Robert Malone, said he has left ​the committee after speaking with Kennedy.

MAHA GROUPS WANT APPEAL

Key MAHA groups have an expectation that the court ruling will be appealed and overturned.

Tony Lyons, a longtime Kennedy ally and publisher of his books who is now president of MAHA Action, said on a March 18 webinar that Trump and Kennedy have demonstrated commitment to MAHA issues.

"While this is a short-term setback, the mission and the direction are clear," he ​said.

Children's Health Defense has tried to insert itself into the case despite opposition from ‌the judge and the Justice Department. Last week, it appealed the judge's decision excluding it and said it would appeal the vaccine committee ruling, though it would need to be a party ​to the case to do so.

"We will not allow this to stand," said the group's CEO, Mary Holland.

(Reporting by Leah Douglas and Bo Erickson in Washington; Additional reporting by Mike Erman ​in New York, Julie Steenhuysen in Chicago and Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Caroline Humer and Bill Berkrot)

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

April 01, 2026

Analysis-As Trump weighs US vaccine appeal, Kennedy supporters want a fight

By Bo Erickson and Leah Douglas WASHINGTON, April 1 (Reuters) - Supporters of Health Secretary Robert F. Kenne...

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April's Pink Moon will light up the sky. Don't let the name fool you.

It's noApril Fool's joke. The first full moon of spring, called the Pink Moon, will land on April 1.

According to theFarmer's Almanac, the full moon will peak around 10:12 p.m. ET on Wednesday, giving backyard astronomers a great start to the month. Despite its name, the moon won't actually look pink.

April's Pink Moon is also known as the Paschal Moon because it takes place after the spring equinox, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac. It's known by multiple names, including the Breaking Ice Moon and the Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs.

The next full moon will occur on May 1 and is known as the Flower Moon. There will actually be two full moons in May, a phenomenon commonly known as a "blue moon."

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When does April's full moon peak?

April's full moon will peak on Wednesday, April 1, at 10:12 p.m. ET.

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More news:April 2026 calendar includes April Fools' Day, Passover, Easter, more

Why is it called the 'Pink Moon'?

April's full moon is called the "Pink Moon" not because of its color, which will in reality have more of a golden hue, but because of the pink flower, known as creeping phlox or moss phlox, that was in full bloom during the month's full moon, according to the Old Farmer's Almanac.

Other names for the moon include the following:

• Breaking Ice Moon

• Budding Moon of Plants and Shrubs

• Moon When the Ducks Come Back

• Moon When the Geese Lay Eggs

• Frog Moon

• The Sucker Moon

List of full moons in 2026

The moon will be full on the following dates, according to theFarmer's Almanac:

• Pink Moon: Peaks April 1, at 10:12 p.m. ET

• Flower Moon: Peaks May 1, at 1:23 p.m. ET

• Blue Moon: Peaks May 31, at 4:45 a.m. ET. The blue moon occurs when two full moons occur in the same month. The last blue moon occurred on Aug. 19, 2024, according to Space.com.

• Strawberry Moon: Peaks June 29, at 7:57 p.m. ET

• Buck Moon: Peaks July 29, at 10:36 a.m. ET

• Sturgeon Moon (partial lunar eclipse): Peaks Aug. 28, at 12:18 a.m. ET

• Harvest Moon: Peaks Sept. 26, at 12:49 p.m. ET

• Hunter's Moon: Peaks Oct. 26, at 12:12 a.m. ET

• Beaver Moon (super moon): Peaks Nov. 24, at 9:53 a.m. ET

• Cold Moon (super moon): Peaks Dec. 23, at 8:28 p.m.

Julia Gomez is a Trending reporter for USA TODAY and covers popular toys, scientific studies, natural disasters, holidays, and trending news. Connect with her onLinkedIn,X,Instagram, andTikTok: @juliamariegz, or email her at jgomez@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:What is the Pink Moon? See details on April's full moon.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

April 01, 2026

April's Pink Moon will light up the sky. Don't let the name fool you.

It's noApril Fool's joke. The first full moon of spring, called the Pink Moon, will land on April 1. Ac...

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Pope Leo XIV urges an Easter end to the US-Israel war on Iran, calling for dialogue

VATICAN CITY (AP) —Pope Leo XIVexpressed hope that theU.S.-Israel war on Irancould be finished before Easter in remarks to reporters as he left the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo outside of Rome on Tuesday.

APTOPIX Italy Pope

"I'm told that President Trump has recently stated that he would like to end the war,'' the U.S.-born pope said. "I hope that he's looking for an off-ramp.''

"Hopefully he's looking for a way to decrease the amount of violence, of bombing, which would be a significant contribution to removing the hatred that's being created, that's increasing constantly in the Middle East and elsewhere."

Leo called on all world leaders to return to dialogue and look for "ways to reduce the amount of violence,'' so that "peace, especially at Easter, might reign in our hearts.''

Leo's remarks came during Holy Week, the most sacred period of the year for Christians.

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"It should be the holiest time of the year. It is a time of peace, a time of reflection. But as we all know, again, in the world, in many places we are seeing so much suffering, so many deaths, even innocent children,'' Leo said. "We constantly make the call for peace, but unfortunately, many people want to promote hatred, violence, war.''

On Palm Sunday, the pontiff said God doesn't listen to the prayers of those who make war or cite God to justify their violence, as he prayed especially for Christiansin the Middle Eastduring Mass in St. Peter's Square.

Leaders on all sides of the Iran war have used religion to justify their actions. U.S. officials, especiallyDefense Secretary Pete Hegseth,have invoked their Christian faith to cast the war as a Christian nation trying to vanquish its foes with military might.

Russia's Orthodox Church, too, has justified Russia's invasion of Ukraine as a"holy war"against a Western world it considers has fallen into evil.

As Holy Week continues, Leo will carry out the Holy Thursday foot-washing tradition in the basilica of St. John Lateran, where popes have performed it for decades. On Friday, Leo is due to preside over the Good Friday procession at Rome's Colosseum commemorating Christ's Passion and crucifixion, and will carry the cross himself. Saturday brings the late night Easter Vigil, during which Leo will baptize new Catholics, followed a few hours later by Easter Sunday when Christians commemorate the resurrection of Jesus.

Leo will celebrate Easter Sunday Mass in St. Peter's Square and then deliver his Easter blessing from the loggia of the basilica.

byCristiano Ronaldo

in

March 31, 2026

Pope Leo XIV urges an Easter end to the US-Israel war on Iran, calling for dialogue

VATICAN CITY (AP) —Pope Leo XIVexpressed hope that theU.S.-Israel war on Irancould be finished before Easter in remarks t...

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