Nightly Brief

Top CNS stories for today including the Republican-controlled Ohio Legislature failed in its attempt to stay an injunction that requires it to draw a new electoral map before the 2020 election; A federal judge slammed the government over holes its explanation about the discrepancy in visa denials for skilled foreign workers under the Trump administration; A Texas bill proposing new burdens for citizens who help disabled, elderly or sick people get to the polls has angered civil rights groups who say it is Republicans’ latest ploy to suppress voter turnout, and more.

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National

David Niven, a professor of political science at the University of Cincinnati holds a map displaying the wide disparity of Ohio congressional district office locations, with orange locations representing areas whose office are found outside it's own district's bounds, Thursday, April 11, 2019, in Cincinnati. Congressional Democrats nationwide had a good year in 2018, gaining 40 seats. But Republicans held fast with 75% of Ohio’s House seats, despite winning only 52% of Ohio’s congressional vote total. “Not a single seat has changed hands,” said Niven, who testified for those challenging Ohio’s map. “Not a single seat. The point of this map was to build a seawall against the storm, and it has held.” (AP Photo/John Minchillo)

1.) The Republican-controlled Ohio Legislature, joined by several state congressional representatives, failed Thursday in its attempt to stay an injunction that requires it to draw a new electoral map before the 2020 election.

2.) A federal judge slammed the government Thursday over holes in its explanation about the discrepancy in visa denials for skilled foreign workers under the Trump administration.

In this May 6, 2019, photo, Democratic presidential candidate and former Texas Congressman Beto O'Rourke speaks to reporters following a roundtable discussion on climate change in Des Moines, Iowa. O’Rourke has hired one of the masterminds behind Barack Obama’s unlikely 2008 primary victory. Delegate guru Jeff Berman began working for O’Rourke in April. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

3.) Former Texas Congressman Beto O’Rourke said Thursday his presidential campaign has hired Jeff Berman, a top delegate strategist for President Barack Obama who also helped Hillary Clinton secure the Democratic nomination in 2016, as a senior adviser.

In this Wednesday, May 8, 2019, photo, a worker drives an electric cart past a display featuring the U.S. and Chinese flags in a special trade zone in Qingdao in eastern China's Shandong province. China said Thursday it will retaliate if President Donald Trump goes ahead with more tariff hikes in a fight over technology and trade, ratcheting up tensions ahead of negotiations in Washington. (Chinatopix via AP)

4.) The overall U.S. trade gap grew by 1.5% in March, even though the closely watched deficit with China dropped to a five-year low.

Regional

Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

5.) Taking a cue from his predecessor Jerry Brown, California Governor Gavin Newsom said Thursday that despite exploding tax collections and billions in reserves, his administration is preparing for “uncertain economic headwinds” by stashing cash in his proposed budget.

FILE - In this March 18, 2014 file photo, voters cast their ballots in Hinsdale, Ill. (AP Photo/M. Spencer Green, File)

6.) A Texas bill proposing new burdens for citizens who help disabled, elderly or sick people get to the polls has angered civil rights groups who say it is Republicans’ latest ploy to suppress voter turnout.

International

7.) The United Arab Emirates and Qatar returned to the International Court of Justice a final day to duke out a small portion of a larger diplomatic discrimination case.

8.) Two months before President Donald Trump’s June 2018 summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un, foreign maritime authorities intercepted and detained a 17,061-ton cargo ship called the M/V Wise Honest. Unsealing a federal forfeiture complaint for the vessel Thursday, Manhattan U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman described the action as the first-ever seizure of a North Korean cargo vessel for sanctions violations.

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