Tennessee voters head to the polls today for governor and several congressional contests, while a court ruling has left hundreds of thousands of Haitians without legal work authorization and facing an uncertain future.
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Meanwhile, NASA astronauts are preparing for a spacewalk outside the International Space Station, and the nation’s largest-ever cyclospora outbreak has expanded to six more states as investigators continue searching for the source of the contamination.
Here are four stories worth following:
Quote Driving the News:
“The way this group has been specifically targeted is symbolic of the administration’s efforts to criminalize immigrants of color,” said Katie Kersh, senior attorney with Advocates for Basic Legal Equality, of ending temporary protected status for Haitians.
Tennessee Voters Head to the Polls
What we’re watching: Tennessee voters will choose a Republican nominee to succeed term-limited Gov. Bill Lee – with current U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn among those vying for the job – as well as U.S. House candidates in contests reshaped by the state’s new congressional map.
Why it matters: Beyond the statewide races, Tennessee’s primary is the first major test of the state’s newly redrawn congressional map, which split Memphis into three Republican-leaning districts after the Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act, leaving Democrat Justin Pearson fighting for one of the party’s last viable seats and raising the possibility that Tennessee could send an all-Republican congressional delegation to Washington.
NASA Astronauts Prepare for Spacewalk Outside ISS
What we’re watching: NASA astronauts aboard the International Space Station are set to take a spacewalk today to install hardware and complete upgrades that will improve the station’s power system and prepare for a roll out solar array that will be installed later this year.
Why it matters: According to NASA, “the arrays will provide additional power to support critical station operations, including its safe and controlled deorbit.”
Cyclospora Outbreak Expands to Six More States
What we’re watching: The CDC has expanded its investigation of the nation’s largest-ever cyclospora outbreak to Arkansas, Iowa, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire and North Carolina, for a total of 15 states.
Why it matters: The widening outbreak – which now includes more than 10,000 confirmed cases, two deaths and hundreds of hospitalizations – is intensifying pressure on federal health officials to identify potential sources of the contamination – beyond the iceberg lettuce linked to some Taco Bell locations.
Temporary Protected Status Ends for Haitians
What we’re watching: A federal judge on Wednesday finalized the end of temporary protected status for more than 350,000 Haitians living in the United States, leaving many without legal work authorization and at risk of being deported to their dangerous home country.
Why it matters: The change is part of the Trump administration’s broader effort to roll back humanitarian immigration protections, ending a program that has allowed hundreds of thousands of Haitians to legally live and work in the United States for years despite ongoing violence and instability in Haiti.
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