Travel and TSA staffing
American travelers faced long security lines and uncertainty as Transportation Security Administration officers, who had been working without pay for 42 days, began receiving paychecks after a presidential executive order. Staffing shortages and recent departures, however, threaten to keep wait times high. Union leaders said many officers relied on donations and food banks while coping with mounting late fees, stress and unpaid bills. Lawmakers headed into a two-week recess after House Republicans rejected a Senate Department of Homeland Security funding deal, leaving questions about longer-term funding and staffing unresolved.
Protests at home and abroad
‘No Kings’ rallies drew protesters across the United States, with organizers expecting large turnouts in states including Minnesota. Demonstrators criticized administration policies and framed the events as democratic engagement; the White House described the gatherings more skeptically. Solidarity protests also took place overseas in cities such as Rome, Madrid and Paris.
Escalation in the Middle East
The conflict widened as Iran-backed groups launched attacks across the region and U.S. officials reported additional American service members wounded by strikes. Germany’s foreign minister said talks between U.S. and Iranian representatives are expected soon. Iran’s strikes, the use of mines and disruptions to traffic through the Strait of Hormuz have interrupted global oil flows and pushed energy prices higher, increasing pressure for a diplomatic solution. Analysts warned that a war-ending agreement that fails to restrict Iran’s nuclear capabilities could leave Tehran with enriched uranium and the means to rebuild a weapons program.
Agriculture and the economy
The war’s ripple effects reached U.S. farms and households. Fuel and fertilizer costs spiked—diesel prices rose nearly 45 percent in some measures and key fertilizer ingredient prices surged—making spring planting more expensive and straining already pressured growers. Farmers reported higher costs throughout the supply chain, from seed to finished products, raising concerns about future grocery inflation and the financial viability of farming for the next generation.
High-profile legal and sports news
Tiger Woods faced legal and personal setbacks after a Florida crash that led to an arrest on DUI-related charges. Booking photos were released after reports that he appeared lethargic at the scene; authorities said he refused a urinalysis following a breathalyzer test. Those developments cast doubt on his immediate return to competition, including plans for the Masters, as legal proceedings continue.
Weather, recreation and fire risk
Extreme and unseasonably warm conditions continued to disrupt recreation and heighten fire danger. Utah’s Deer Valley ski resort ended its season nearly a month early after record-low snowfall and prolonged warm, dry weather. Meteorologists pointed to heat, wind and low humidity as factors shortening seasons and increasing the chance of wildfires across parts of the West and Midwest.
Sports highlights
At the World Figure Skating Championships in Prague, Ilia Malinin won the men’s title, marking his third straight world championship.
Space exploration
Preparations for NASA’s Artemis II advanced at Kennedy Space Center as the crew arrived and the rocket was placed on the pad for a planned test flight. The mission would send four astronauts on an approximately nine-day loop around the moon to validate systems ahead of future lunar landings; officials emphasized the priority of getting the crew past the moon and back safely and noted the program’s milestones, including a diverse astronaut roster.
International and community stories
Pope Leo made a historic visit to Monaco—the first pontiff to visit the principality in five centuries—highlighting a notable moment in diplomatic and religious engagement. In California, the Great Altadena Poppy Project mobilized volunteers to spread millions of poppy seeds across wildfire-scarred lots and mailed seed packets nationwide to encourage community-driven regeneration and color.
Notable obituary
Dr. Henry Lee, the forensic scientist whose high-profile testimony included the O.J. Simpson case, died at 87. His work influenced forensic practice and courtroom science.
Summary
CBS Weekend News tracked these developments and more, connecting international conflict and diplomatic efforts to domestic impacts on travel, agriculture and communities, and covering legal, cultural and scientific stories shaping public life.