National News at a Glance

Prosecutors Seek to Question Trump Organization’s Finance Chief

Federal investigators in New York have asked to interview Allen Weisselberg, chief financial officer of the Trump Organization, as part of their investigation into President Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael D. Cohen, according to two people familiar with the matter. It was not clear whether Weisselberg was issued a subpoena or was asked to answer questions voluntarily. The development suggests federal prosecutors are scrutinizing at least some Trump family financial dealings, a line the president has warned the special counsel in the Russia investigation not to cross. The development set off alarm bells within the Trump Organization because of the scope of Weisselberg’s responsibilities.

Federal Authorities Say They Have Met Deadline to Reunite Migrant Families

The federal government reported Thursday that it was close to reuniting the last migrant families separated at the southwestern border who have been deemed “eligible” for reunification and would substantially meet a court-ordered deadline to reverse a contentious immigration policy that drew international condemnation. Still, hundreds of children remained in government custody, and work to address the effects of the family separation policy was far from over. At least 917 other parents of children older than 5 were not cleared to recover their children this week because they failed criminal background or parental verification checks. The parents of 46 children under 5 were similarly excluded.

U.S. Judge Allows Suit on Question for Census

A federal judge Thursday gave the green light to a lawsuit seeking to block the addition of a citizenship question to the 2020 census, saying plaintiffs had made a plausible case that the move was a White House attempt to discriminate against immigrants. U.S. District Judge Jesse M. Furman's ruling set the stage for a trial that is expected to delve into why the administration decided to add a question to the next census about citizenship status. The plaintiffs say asking residents to verify their citizenship would “fatally undermine” the head count’s accuracy because both legal and unauthorized immigrants would refuse to fill out the form.

Stonewall Democrats Club Chooses Cuomo Over Nixon

On Wednesday afternoon, Cynthia Nixon’s campaign seemed so confident that she would win the support of New York City’s Stonewall Democratic Club that it sent supporters an email mocking Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s application for the club’s endorsement. Hours later, the club, the city’s first lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Democratic organization, endorsed Cuomo. In the slog to September’s primary elections, the Stonewall Democrats are just one among a bevy of groups that have weighed in on the closely watched race for governor. But their choice makes clear the challenge facing Nixon, a political novice, as she seeks to unseat a two-term incumbent.

Oregon Judge Rules in Favor of Transgender Students in Bathroom Case

A federal judge in Oregon ruled this week in favor of transgender students, saying that forcing them to use restrooms that correspond with the gender at birth would violate civil rights law. In a 56-page opinion released Tuesday, Judge Marco A. Hernández of U.S. District Court in Portland said transgender students should be allowed to use bathrooms that match the gender they identify with. The ruling upheld the policy of a school district in Dallas, Oregon, that allowed a male transgender student to use the boys’ restrooms, showers and locker rooms.

Colorado Group Says Thousands of Signatures for Anti-Fracking Measure Are Missing

Thousands of signatures that would help put a high-profile anti-fracking measure on the Colorado ballot are missing, according to a lawsuit filed in Denver District Court. A political consultant hired to gather the signatures for Colorado Rising, the group pushing the anti-fracking measure, took the signed petitions after a contract dispute, the lawsuit says. The disappearance will make it difficult for Colorado Rising to get the proposal on the ballot, imperiling an initiative that would have become a major election issue. The consultant, Mike Selvaggio, took the signatures out of state to process them, and intends to give them back, his lawyer said.