JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 1087

WASHINGTON: President Donald Trump hosted the 2025 Kennedy Center honorees in the Oval Office on Saturday, presenting medals to Sylvester Stallone, Gloria Gaynor, George Strait, Kiss and Michael Crawford. Since returning to office in January, Trump replaced the center's board with GOP appointees and said he was largely involved in selecting this year's honorees in August; traditional selections had been made by a bipartisan committee. The White House described the Oval Office gathering as a medal presentation. The Kennedy Center vice president said major outlets sought credentials for the ceremony this week. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington — The Trump administration released a National Security Strategy this week that reorients U.S. priorities toward the Western Hemisphere, calling to restore American preeminence and reinforce a modern Monroe Doctrine. The document urges expanded Navy and Coast Guard presence, more aggressive operations against drug trafficking including maritime and planned land strikes, and focus on balancing trade with China while deterring threats to Taiwan. Separately, U.S. defense sales and regional security incidents were reported, including a DSCA approval for over 600 SDB‑I munitions and cross‑border violence in Kandahar's Spin Boldak on Dec. 6. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Indiana House representatives voted 51-47 Friday to pass House Bill 1032, a plan to redraw the state’s congressional map, including splitting Marion County into four districts instead of two. Democrats offered 21 amendments earlier in the week; none were adopted. After the vote, House Democratic Leader Phil GiaQuinta and Senate Democratic Leader Shelli Yoder condemned the map, saying it breaks up communities and dilutes minority voices, and argued lawmakers should focus on utility bills, housing, child care, and health costs. The bill, first taken up Monday, now heads to the Senate for further approval.

Washington — The Supreme Court agreed this week to hear President Donald Trump's executive order to end automatic birthright citizenship for most children born in the United States. The court accepted an appeal from the administration after lower courts struck down the order and blocked its implementation. Justices will hear arguments in the spring in a New Hampshire case and are expected to issue a definitive ruling by June that could resolve conflicting lower-court rulings and the court's June decision limiting nationwide injunctions. The Justice Department and White House urged review. Based on 11 articles reviewed today and supporting research.

Orlando, Florida. A federal judge on Friday ordered release of grand jury transcripts from federal investigations into Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell after Congress passed and the president signed the Epstein Files Transparency Act. U.S. District Judge Rodney Smith found the statute overrides grand jury secrecy and granted the Justice Department permission to unseal records from a 2006–2007 Florida inquiry that produced no federal charges. The Justice Department also seeks to unseal materials from Epstein’s 2019 New York case and Maxwell’s 2021 case; agencies face a statutory December 19 disclosure deadline. Based on 11 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Harrisburg, Pa. — U.S. Steel announced Thursday that it will restart steel slab production at Granite City Works in southern Illinois after idling the last blast furnace in 2023. The company reversed an earlier plan to wind down a processing mill and cited rising customer demand and confidence in safely operating the facility to meet 2026 needs. CEO David Burritt said the firm will hire and train workers and contractors, upgrade equipment, and ready operations, targeting production in the first half of next year. Officials highlighted roughly 400 returning jobs. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

United States, Governors and military officials observed National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day this week by ordering flags lowered and holding memorial ceremonies. On Friday and this weekend, governors in Wisconsin, North Carolina and Kentucky issued orders directing U.S. and state flags to fly at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Sunday, Dec. 7, 2025. Officials cited the December 7, 1941, attack that killed more than 2,000 Americans and reshaped U.S. involvement in World War II. Service members at NAS Pensacola conducted a remembrance ceremony with prayers, a poem and a two-bell salute. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.