National News at a Glance

Senate Confirms Haspel to Lead CIA Despite Torture Concerns

The Senate confirmed Gina Haspel on Thursday to lead the Central Intelligence Agency, elevating a woman to the directorship for the first time despite misgivings about her role in the agency’s brutal detention and interrogation programs in the wake of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Haspel takes the helm at a time of shifting alliances and intelligence threats from Iran to North Korea to Russia, and after President Donald Trump tried to cast doubt on the intelligence community’s judgment as part of his broader attack on the investigation into Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election. She was confirmed 54-45.

Kilauea Volcano Erupts on Hawaii’s Big Island, but Scientists Say It’s Not the ‘Big One’

The Kilauea volcano erupted from its summit Thursday morning, spewing an ash plume that reached 30,000 feet above the island of Hawaii, authorities said. The eruption was the most forceful new explosion so far at Kilauea, one of the world’s most active volcanoes. Kilauea has already been triggering small earthquakes, creating gas-emitting fissures and releasing flows of lava that have destroyed dozens of homes this month. The Hawaiian Volcano Observatory issued a “code red” warning that additional activity could be expected. But Dr. Michelle Coombs of the U.S. Geological Survey said, “This is not a huge catastrophic event.”

Trump Administration to Tie Health Facilities’ Funding to Abortion Restrictions

The Trump administration plans to announce on Friday a new policy barring Planned Parenthood and other reproductive health organizations from providing or mentioning abortions at any facility that receives federal family planning funds, according to two White House officials. The change, a top priority of social conservatives, is the latest move by President Donald Trump to impose curbs on reproductive rights, in this case by walling off government money from any facility that offers women the option of terminating a pregnancy. Federal family planning laws already bar direct funding of organizations that use abortion as a family planning method.

Kushner Tower Drowning in Debt Gets Lifeline, With Ties to Qatar

The company controlled by the family of White House adviser Jared Kushner is close to receiving a bailout of its troubled flagship building by a company with financial ties to the government of Qatar, according to executives briefed on the deal. Charles Kushner, head of the Kushner Cos., is in advanced talks with Brookfield Asset Management over a partnership to take control of 666 Fifth Ave., in midtown Manhattan. The deal is likely to raise further concerns about Jared Kushner’s dual role as a White House point person on the Middle East and a stakeholder in the family’s company.

Trump Defends ‘Animals’ Remark, Saying It Referred to MS-13 Gang Members

President Donald Trump on Thursday defended his use of the word “animals” to describe dangerous criminals trying to cross into the United States illegally, saying that he had been referring to members of the brutal transnational gang MS-13. The president was doubling down on a statement he made Wednesday at a round-table discussion with state and local officials from California, at which Trump and his guests criticized the state’s so-called sanctuary laws. He used the word as one of the officials argued that the state laws made it more difficult for her to share information with immigration authorities.

States Are Moving to Limit, or Ban, Marriages of Children

State lawmakers across the country are moving to raise the minimum age to marry, out of growing concern that lax marriage laws may be contributing to sex trafficking and to children being forced to marry against their will. Delaware became the first state to ban marriage for anyone under age 18 when the governor signed the measure last week. In the other 49 states, current law allows minors to marry, generally with parental consent or judicial approval. But over the past two years, seven states have raised their minimum marriage age to 16 or 17.

New Drug Offers Hope to Millions With Severe Migraines

The first medicine designed to prevent migraines was approved by the Food and Drug Administration on Thursday. The drug, Aimovig, made by Amgen and Novartis, is a monthly injection with a device similar to an insulin pen. The list price will be $6,900 a year, and Amgen said the drug will be available to patients within a week. Aimovig blocks a protein fragment, CGRP, that instigates and perpetuates migraines. Three other companies — Lilly, Teva and Alder — have similar medicines in the final stages of study or awaiting FDA approval.

Hail Caesar Salad! Romaine Is Safe to Eat Again

Attention Caesar salad fans: You may now safely rekindle your romance with romaine. Federal health officials have concluded that the tainted lettuce that sickened 172 people across 32 states, and killed one, is no longer available. Both the Food and Drug Administration and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced this week that the danger had passed. This spring FDA investigators traced the virulent strain of E. coli found in romaine to the growing region of Yuma, Arizona. But the last romaine lettuce was harvested there April 16 and the shelf life for lettuce is about three weeks.