Salem News Channel

The four astronauts aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft are set to splash down in the Pacific Ocean as they complete the first human voyage to the Moon in more than 50 years. Mission Control in Houston is tracking a high-speed reentry at Mach 32 as the capsule endures extreme heat and transitions into its parachute descent phase. Officials say the mission marks a major milestone for NASA’s Artemis program and future crewed Moon landings.

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Babies too young to receive the MMR vaccine are among the most vulnerable in a widespread measles outbreak in South Carolina. Health officials say declining vaccination rates are weakening herd immunity and allowing the disease to spread across multiple states. Experts warn the United States could lose its status of having eliminated measles if outbreaks continue.

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Vice President JD Vance is traveling to Pakistan to lead mediated talks with Iran as U.S. and Iranian negotiators prepare for high-level discussions. The diplomatic push comes as a fragile ceasefire in a six-week conflict continues to hold by a thread, with sporadic regional fighting still flaring. Officials say the goal is to prevent further escalation and keep broader negotiations involving Israel, Lebanon, and Iran on track.

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Wausau Mayor Doug Diny will not face criminal charges after removing an absentee ballot drop box ahead of the 2024 election, according to a special prosecutor. The prosecutor said there was not enough evidence to prove a crime, noting the box was empty and had never been opened at the time it was taken. The incident drew attention in Wisconsin, sparking debate over the security and use of absentee ballot drop boxes in the key battleground state.

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Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers has signed a bill legalizing online sports betting, making the state the 33rd in the nation to allow the practice. However, bettors will not be able to place wagers immediately, as state officials must first negotiate agreements with tribal nations that will operate and regulate the system under the new law. Supporters say the measure could generate new revenue for Wisconsin, potentially funding programs such as mental health services and efforts to address addiction.

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A federal judge has dismissed a Justice Department lawsuit seeking access to Massachusetts voter rolls, marking another legal setback for the Trump administration’s efforts to obtain state election data. The court ruled that the Justice Department failed to meet federal requirements justifying its request, finding the legal filing did not include a sufficient factual basis as required under law. The administration has argued the voter data is needed to help ensure election security, while state officials and others have raised concerns about voter privacy and the potential misuse of sensitive information.

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NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has told European governments that U.S. President Donald Trump is seeking concrete commitments within days from allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, according to reporting by Olivia Zollino. The push comes as U.S. officials intensify discussions with NATO partners over regional security concerns tied to escalating tensions with Iran and broader instability affecting key global shipping routes. European governments are now weighing how to respond to Washington’s request, as diplomatic and security talks continue amid uncertainty over how far NATO members are willing to go in supporting maritime operations in the region.

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NATO Admits They Failed

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Does Trump have the Moral High Ground?

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Can the Enemy Be Negotiated With? 

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How Will the Negotiations Go?

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U.S. House of Representatives Republicans on Thursday blocked a Democratic effort to end U.S. attacks on Iran, as Donald Trump's party continued to prevent efforts to rein in the Republican president's war powers. Representative Chris Smith, a New Jersey Republican, presided over an abbreviated "pro forma" House session, ending it before a group of Democrats could seek to pass the resolution via unanimous consent. Democrats in the Senate and House of Representatives have tried and repeatedly failed in recent months to pass war powers resolutions to force Trump to obtain lawmakers' authorization before launching military operations, in both Venezuela and Iran. Trump's threat early this week that "a whole civilization will die" intensified concern from Democrats, dozens of whom called for Trump's removal from office. The 1949 Geneva Conventions on humanitarian conduct in war prohibit attacks on sites considered essential for ?civilians. "Threatening genocide is not a negotiating tactic," Representative Sara Jacobs, a California Democrat, told a news conference outside the Capitol after the pro forma session, held because Congress is out of Washington for the two-week Easter recess. Trump announced that he had agreed to a ceasefire in the U.S.-Israel war on Iran on Tuesday, less than two hours before his deadline for Tehran to reopen the blockaded Strait of Hormuz or face devastating attacks on its civilian infrastructure. The White House says Trump's actions are legal and within his rights as commander-in-chief to protect the U.S. by ordering limited military operations. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful. The Trump administration has sought to portray the war as a decisive victory, although the top U.S. general said U.S. troops stood ready to resume fighting. Trump's fellow Republicans hold slim majorities in both the Senate and House, and have almost unanimously backed all of his policies. Although the U.S. Constitution says that Congress, not the president, can declare war, that restriction does not apply for short-term operations or if the country faces an immediate threat.

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Protesters are rallying against a planned immigration detention facility in Maryland. The Department of Homeland Security bought a warehouse to convert into a detention center. Residents and activists are upset, saying they had no say in the decision. The facility is meant to hold between 500 and 1,500 people, but legal battles have delayed its opening. New Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin is reviewing the project along with other warehouses bought to be turned into Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilities. The federal government has faced fierce opposition in the communities where it's purchased warehouses. Washington County, Maryland, is the most welcoming community. Officials there said they supported ICE, albeit amid whistles and jeers.

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The U.S. fertility rate hit a record low last year, extending a nearly two-decade decline, provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed on Thursday. The decline also reflects global trends, as fewer women choose to have children against a changing social backdrop. In the U.S., the general fertility rate has fallen nearly 23% since 2007, according to the agency's data. Shifting priorities among younger women, including "greater and more demanding job market opportunities, expanded leisure options, increased intensity of parenting... make the option to have children less desirable," said Phillip Levine, an economics professor at Wellesley College. The number of babies born in the U.S. in 2025 declined 1% from a year earlier to roughly 3.6 million, while the general fertility rate - the number of births per 1,000 women aged 15 to 44 - also slipped 1% to 53.1, the data showed. While fertility rates among women in their 30s and 40s have increased over the past decade, those gains have remained too modest to offset sustained declines among women under 30. Last year, the fertility rate among women aged 25 to 29 fell about 4.4%, while the rate for women aged 30 to 34 rose about 2.7% from 2024, the data showed. Fertility rates among teenagers also declined sharply, with the rate for those aged 18 to 19 falling 7% and the rate for younger teens aged 15 to 17 dropping 11%, both reaching record lows. The provisional data is based on 99.95% of all birth records received and processed last year by the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the CDC, as of February 3, 2026.

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First lady Melania Trump on Thursday denied ever having a relationship with disgraced financier and sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and said the claims about it are defaming her. "The lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today," PresIdent Donald Trump's wife said in a rare address from the White House. She said she had never had a relationship with Epstein or his associate Ghislaine Maxwell, with whom she said she had only a casual correspondence. "I never been friends with Epstein. Donald and I were invited to the same parties as Epstein from time to time, since overlapping in social circles is common in New York City," she said. "To be clear, I never had a relationship with Epstein or his accomplice, Maxwell. POLITICAL PROBLEM FOR TRUMP President Trump fanned conspiracy theories around Epstein during his years out of office, and since his return to the White House the late financier's case has become a persistent political problem for the president. Evidence in multiple legal and criminal cases has shed light on Epstein's ties to many prominent people in politics, finance and business - both before and after he pleaded guilty in 2008 to prostitution charges, including soliciting an underage girl. Epstein was arrested again in 2019 on federal charges of sex trafficking of minors. His 2019 death in a Manhattan jail cell was ruled a suicide. Files released by the Justice Department on Epstein include a 2002 email from Trump's wife, Melania Trump, to Maxwell about a magazine piece on Epstein. "You look great," the email says. "I am not Epstein's victim," Melania Trump said on Thursday. She called on Congress to provide women victimized by Epstein with a public hearing centering on survivors. Donald Trump has said his association with Epstein ended in the mid-2000s and that he was never aware of the financier's sexual abuse. Records previously released by the department show Trump flew several times on Epstein's plane in the 1990s, which Trump has denied. After the financier was first accused of sexual misconduct, Trump called the police chief in Palm Beach to say that "everyone has known he's been doing this," according to an FBI interview record.

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The Wilmington Police Department in North Carolina is seeking the public's help identifying a person of interest who's connected to a deadly stabbing. The suspect is described as a black man with a medium build, wearing what appears to be a dark blue head covering, with long hair extending from underneath. Officers responded to reports of multiple fights in downtown Wilmington around 2 a.m. Sunday. 2 adult males were stabbed. 1 of the victims, identified as 21-year-old Daniel Montano died from his injuries. He was a U.S. Marine. Here's more information from a post on the Wilmington Police Department's Facebook page: "The Wilmington Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying a person of interest connected to a violent incident that occurred in the downtown area during the early morning hours of Sunday, April 5, 2026. At approximately 2:00 a.m., officers responded to reports of multiple fights in downtown Wilmington. During the incident, two adult males were stabbed. One of the victims, identified as 21-year-old Daniel Montano, has since succumbed to his injuries. The Wilmington Police Department extends its condolences to Mr. Montano’s family and loved ones during this difficult time. Detectives are actively working to identify and locate the individual depicted in the attached photos, who is considered a person of interest in this investigation. The individual is described as an adult Black male with a medium build, wearing a light-colored fleece-lined denim jacket, light-colored denim pants, a pink shirt, and white sneakers with blue and red accents. He was also wearing what appears to be a dark blue head covering, with long hair extending from underneath. Investigators are asking anyone who was in the downtown Wilmington area between approximately 12:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. on April 5, 2026, to come forward with any information. This includes: •Cell phone photos or videos •Dash camera footage •Business surveillance footage •Any observations, no matter how minor they may seem Even small details can be critical to the investigation. The Wilmington Police Department is utilizing a secure digital evidence portal to collect information from the public. All submissions go directly into the department’s evidence system. Members of the public can submit photos, videos, and other information using the link or QR code below. https://WilmingtonPD.evidence.com/.../public/100nfrontst Anyone with information can also contact Det. Childress with the Wilmington Police Department at 910-343-3686 or submit tips anonymously through Tip411. This is an active and ongoing investigation. The Wilmington Police Department appreciates the community’s assistance in helping bring clarity and accountability to this case."

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In this episode, host Carl Jackson discusses the issue of birthright citizenship, a topic that's been making headlines lately. He shares his thoughts on why he believes the 14th Amendment was never intended to grant citizenship to the children of non-citizen parents. Carl also talks about the economic ramifications of this policy, including the impact on housing, insurance, and welfare. He's joined by Amy Swearer and Hans von Spakovsky, who provide insight into the history and intent behind the 14th Amendment. This conversation is a must-listen for anyone interested in immigration policy and its effects on our country. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carljacksonradio X/Twitter: https://twitter.com/carljacksonshow Parler: https://parler.com/carljacksonshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecarljacksonshow http://www.TheCarlJacksonShow.com Visit our Store https://CarlJacksonStore.com

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Buyers Remorse on Abigail Spanberger?

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The Media Wants Trump and America to Fail

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Dozens of Democratic lawmakers are saying President Donald Trump should be removed from office after he threatened Iranian civilization would “die” if it didn’t meet his demands. The episode unleashed demands for Democrats to oppose the Republican president in the strongest possible terms even though he eventually pulled back on his threat and agreed to a two-week ceasefire. Lawmakers are showing no sign they'll back off as they return to Washington. The new imperative from Democrats underscores how seriously many in Washington take Trump’s talk of a mortal threat to a country of 91 million people. The White House has defended Trump’s rhetoric as effective.

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