JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 1091

Washington, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services paused processing Tuesday for green cards, citizenship and related immigration applications from 19 countries previously subject to travel restrictions, citing national security after a recent shooting involving an Afghan national. The agency directed staff to stop final adjudications and to conduct comprehensive re-reviews, potential interviews and enhanced vetting, with director Joseph Edlow to determine resumption timing. The affected countries include Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia and others; some faced prior partial travel bans announced in June. Officials framed the action as risk mitigation; civil-rights groups warned of legal uncertainty. Based on 11 articles reviewed and research.

East Peoria, Ill. officials this week said a cyberattack on the OnSolve CodeRED emergency-alert platform removed subscriber data and may have published it online. Crisis24/OnSolve confirmed data appears published while investigations continue. Nearby jurisdictions including Jackson, Cuyahoga County and Carbon County reported related service disruptions or compromised subscriber information. Municipalities suspended or decommissioned affected services, advised password changes, and began migrating to alternative systems. Officials emphasized that financial and social security data were not stored on the alert platform. Investigations and vendor remediations are ongoing, and residents are monitoring accounts for misuse. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Sinclair, Wyoming — On Nov. 29, Wyoming Highway Patrol troopers located a 16-year-old Wisconsin girl reported missing on Nov. 28 and arrested two men accused of transporting her to Utah. Troopers responded to a Be On The Lookout alert after Two Rivers police and agencies notified dispatch centers. Using cell phone pings, they tracked a vehicle on I‑80 between Laramie and Rawlins and stopped it near Sinclair, identifying the girl inside with two men who said they were hired to drive her. Authorities charged the men with kidnapping and interference with parental custody. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

United States — A recent government spending bill ending the federal shutdown, signed by President Donald Trump, includes a provision that would ban many hemp-derived products, prompting federal, state and local officials to respond nationwide. States and municipalities have proposed measures, including Chicago alderman Marty Quinn’s proposal to ban sales and impose $2,000–$5,000 fines and dispensary-only sales, and Alabama moving to enforce hemp restrictions for 2026. Industry groups cite a $24 billion hemp market (2025), a U.S. Hemp Roundtable estimate of $1.5 billion in lost tax revenue and threats to about 30,000 jobs. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Boise, Idaho. State entities announced statewide infrastructure, philanthropy and recent budget updates. Federal NEVI funding will complete Idaho’s electric vehicle charging plan after earlier delays, with about $29 million allocated from 2022–2026. Congressman Mike Simpson reported $3 million in community project funding for the University of Idaho’s Idaho CAFE dairy research center, now in phase two and slated to start milking 400 cows in early 2026. The Idaho Community Foundation opened the Minidoka County Foundation to support local charitable funds. State officials warned the 2026 Legislature faces a $555.2 million projected deficit. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington, Jared Isaacman, President Donald Trump's renominated pick to lead NASA, urged senators to accelerate lunar missions and prioritize nuclear propulsion and commercial partnerships to ensure the United States again returns to the Moon before China. He delivered prepared remarks during a second confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee, warning that delays could shift global power balances. Republican Senator Ted Cruz endorsed Isaacman and highlighted budget wins for NASA, while Democratic Senator Maria Cantwell reiterated support. Isaacman's initial nomination was withdrawn in May then revived in November ahead of the hearing. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Indianapolis — Republican lawmakers advanced House Bill 1032 this week to redraw Indiana’s congressional map, arguing the plan keeps counties intact and reflects statewide interests. The proposal, introduced mid-decade by Rep. Ben Smaltz, passed out of committee Tuesday by an 8-5 vote and survived defeat of 21 Democratic amendments on Thursday, including a measure to put maps to a public vote. Opponents, voting-rights groups and faith leaders testified that the map divides Marion County and aims to dilute minority voting strength and protect GOP seats. The House scheduled a third reading for Friday. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Department of Justice sued six states after their secretaries refused federal requests for complete voter registration databases, including dates of birth and partial Social Security or driver’s license numbers. States cited state privacy laws and provided only publicly disclosable fields. DOJ filed suits alleging violations of the National Voter Registration Act, the Help America Vote Act and relying on the Civil Rights Act to inspect statewide lists. The actions increase litigation to at least 14 states and seek to verify compliance with federal voter-roll maintenance requirements. Based on 6 recent articles reviewed and supporting research.

New York, American Bitcoin Corp.'s stock plunged after a share unlock on Tuesday, December 2, 2025. Early investor lockup expirations released pre-merger private placement shares, driving selling that pushed ABTC 40–50% intraday and forced trading halts. Trading volume surged, and the drop extended to parent miner Hut 8, which fell in sympathy. Company co-founder Eric Trump posted on X that he retains his shares and attributed volatility to profit-taking by unlocked investors. SEC filings and market data show the unlock followed a June 27 private placement; regulatory resale rules remain under discussion. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.