Igor Shuvalov, previously seen as a top liberal government figure, was among the first to embrace the invasion of Ukraine

(The Center Square) – Over the past seven years, Border Patrol agents working in the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Detroit Sector have seized the greatest volume of drugs at the northern border. 

The CBP Detroit Sector area of responsibility covers four states: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio. It spans 863 maritime miles of international water boundaries as well as more than 3,800 miles of lakeshores and riverbanks. 

Under the Biden administration, a record number of illegal border crossers were reported and apprehended, primarily in the Swanton Sector in Vermont, New Hampshire and upstate New York, The Center Square reported. However, drug and weapons seizures were higher in the Detroit Sector, CBP notes, with most seizures occurring inbound to Canada.

According to a General Accountability Office analysis of northern border security published this year, from fiscal years 2019 through March 31, 2026, Detroit Sector Border Patrol agents recorded 681 narcotics seizures, more than any of the other eight northern border sectors. 

According to CBP data over the last two fiscal years, Detroit Sector Border Patrol agents averaged 150 narcotics seizures per year. 

“Ours is a challenging environment, with both narrow waterways and the expansive Great Lakes, as well as high traffic corridors near major population centers and transportation routes that are attractive to smuggling and criminal organizations,” Border Patro Detroit Sector’s Acting Chief Patrol Agent Javier Geronimo Jr. said. “No matter the challenge, Detroit Sector agents continue to collaborate with our local, state, and federal partners to safeguard our communities and uphold the security of the United States."

The GAO report analyzed eight sectors in 12 northern border states where Border Patrol agents are responsible for covering 4,000 land miles and 2,400 nautical miles, including the Great Lakes system, St. Lawrence River and Strait of Juan de Fuca. Norther Border sectors from west to east include Spokane, Blaine, Havre, Grand Forks, Detroit, Buffalo, Houlton and Swanton. 

The top drug seized at the northern border, including in the Detroit Sector, was marijuana, followed by methamphetamine and cocaine, according to CBP data analyzed in the GAO report. Over the same time-period analyzed, Border Patrol agents reported a 137% increase in cocaine seizures and a 746% increase in fentanyl seizures, according to the data. 

From 2019 to 2024, Border Patrol agents also reported a 495% increase in weapons seizures, primarily in the Detroit and Spokane sectors, with the majority of foiled attempts inbound to Canada, according to the data.

The seizures in Michigan are notable because Border Patrol agents are primarily patrolling waterways near major cities and highway corridors, CBP explains. They’re responsible for patrolling international boundaries in four Great Lakes (Erie, Huron, Michigan and Superior) as well as Lake Saint Clair and the Detroit, Saint Clair and Saint Mary's rivers.

“The lakes and rivers which compose the international border in Michigan allow easy waterway access into the United States from Canada for nine months out of the year. During the rest of the year many of those waterways freeze over, impeding navigation by boat. In many places, however, ‘ice bridges’ are created which allow for illegal crossings by foot or snowmobile,” CBP explains.

Overall, Detroit Sector Border Patrol agents are responsible for covering 83 counties and 57,000 square miles in Michigan; roughly seven million acres of state and national forests in the northern half of Michigan’s lower peninsula and most of its upper peninsula; and 22,000 square miles in its lower peninsula.

(The Center Square) – Inflation increased 0.6% in April, with an overall rate of 3.8% over the last 12 months, according to new data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. 

The energy industry remained a key driver of the inflation increase, rising by 3.8% in April. Energy prices were responsible for more than 40% of the overall monthly item increase, largely due to gas prices. 

Uncertainty over the global oil supply after U.S. strikes in Iran, leaving the Strait of Hormuz in limbo, is driving higher energy prices. The popular oil tanker passageway has brought gas prices soaring throughout the world and across the United States. 

Heather Long, chief economist at Navy Federal, said inflation is the worst in three years. 

"This is painful for Americans, especially moderate-income households," Long said. 

Prices for food rose by 0.5% throughout the month of April. The index for all items excluding food and energy also rose by 0.4% in April. 

The only areas that did not see an increase were new vehicles, communication and medical care. Long pointed out that inflation has now outpaced wage growth for the first time in three years, according to the reports.

Wages grew 3.6% in the last year, lower than April's 3.8% inflation total. In March, the inflation index was 3.3%, reflecting the first data points after the conflict with Iran. Experts pointed out that April's data does not account for the hike in gas prices over the past two weeks. 

Over the past year, energy prices have increased by 17.9%. Food prices, by comparison, increased by 3.2% over the past year. 

"This is painful for Americans and true financial squeeze," Long said. 

Chris Zaccarelli, chief investment officer at Northlight Asset Management, said he does not expect the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates as inflation continues to rise. 

"It's possible that we may start pricing in rate hikes next year," Zaccarelli said. 

(The Center Square) – Alabama could soon have a congressional map in place that would offer the chance for a Republican gain of seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday overturned an order to use a court-mandated House map until the next appropriation following the 2030 census. That map created two districts with a majority of Black voters.

The Legislature, in 2023, drew a map that had one district with majority Black voters. It’s possible the state could revert to that map in the wake of Monday’s ruling.

The actions are within the vacuum from the historic high court decision involving Louisiana’s maps. Alabama’s representation in the U.S. House is five Republicans and two Democrats.

In Louisiana v. Callais, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled authority to alter districts that would guarantee the race – any race – of an elected representative is not given through the Constitution or Section 2 of the 1965 Voting Rights Act. It was in keeping with several other opinions, including a 2007 Seattle voluntary school integration case for which Chief Justice John Roberts wrote, “The way to stop discriminating on the basis of race is to stop discriminating on the basis of race.”

The state had anticipated the Supreme Court decision, including on Friday enacting legislation allowing for the void of next Tuesday’s primary for some congressional districts. The state requested an expedited ruling from the bench.

In a statement, state Attorney General Steve Marshall said, “Today, the Supreme Court vindicated the state’s long-held position. Now, the power to draw Alabama’s maps goes back to the people’s elected representatives. That’s our Legislature.

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, in dissent, said a lower court could still find the state discriminated against Black voters.

The U.S. House was divided 220 Republicans, 215 Democrats following the 2024 election cycle. Today, it's 217 Republicans, 212 Democrats, one independent formerly Republican, and five vacancies.

New maps are in play for the 2026 elections in California, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio and Texas. Litigation has also led to changes in Utah.

Louisiana is expected to have new maps as well.

Litigation is not fully resolved for Florida, Virginia, Georgia and New York. Maryland’s bid for new congressional maps died in April without making it out of a Legislature with majority Democrats in each chamber.

Tennessee and South Carolina are also in various stages of consideration for new maps this midterm cycle.

Maryland's bid for new congressional maps died in April without making it out of a Legislature with majority Democrats in each chamber.

MONTANA — Gas prices in Montana keep climbing, with the average reaching nearly $4.48 per gallon after rising almost 14 cents in the past week.

Up from $3.16 per gallon a year earlier, the higher cost is already changing how some people in Montana think about driving and household spending.

In Billings, one truck driver said prices in Montana were not much different from what he had just seen in West Virginia.

"I just left West Virginia with 6.99 a gallon. We were hoping to get cheaper prices over here. It ain't much different. I'm probably spending round trip, almost two grand a week," Steven Youngblood said.

One Montana mom says the strain does not stop at the gas station.

"It certainly feels like we are spending way more in groceries than we ever have, in years prior. So it's kind of discouraging and hard,” Molli Corcoran said.

And one viewer wrote on Facebook that after seeing gas prices in Seattle, they feel better about Montana prices.

Missouri women's golf stayed close to the cut line after Round 1 of the NCAA Stanford Regional on Monday at Stanford Golf Course.

The Tigers shot 6-over 290 and ended the day tied for sixth with Arizona State. Missouri is three shots behind fifth-place Arizona. The top five teams after three rounds advance to the NCAA Championship.

Jade Zamora led Missouri with a 2-under 69. She finished the first round tied for fifth individually and was one of three players to record an eagle.

Melanie Walker also helped Missouri stay in range with a 1-over 72. Ebba Liljeberg followed with a 2-over 73. Addie Dobson shot 5-over 76, and Alexandra Berglund shot 6-over 77.

Stanford leads the regional at 9 under. Oregon State is second at 5 under, while Pepperdine is third at 1 under. Vanderbilt sits fourth at 2 over, one shot ahead of Arizona.

Missouri will continue play Tuesday in the second round. Tee times have yet to be announced.

Columbia College softball falls in opening round of NAIA tourney

Columbia College’s softball season came to an end Monday afternoon with a 3-1 loss to No. 22-ranked and No. 4-seeded Marian University in the NAIA Softball National Championship Opening Round.

The Cougars battled throughout the contest, keeping the game tight against the nationally ranked opponent, but not enough to push them over Marian.

CC will look to keep its season alive as it drops into the loser's bracket. The Cougars will face the No. 2-seeded and No. 18-ranked College of Costal Georgia in its potential elimination game at noon Tuesday in Hattiesburg, Mississippi.

(The Center Square) – State Sen. Doug Mastriano, R-Chambersburg, has been nominated by President Donald Trump’s administration to serve as the United States Ambassador to Slovakia. 

“I am deeply honored and humbled by President Trump’s nomination to serve as United States Ambassador to the Slovak Republic. Upon Senate confirmation, I look forward to representing our nation abroad, strengthening the friendship between our two countries, and advancing the interests of the American people,” Mastriano wrote in a social media poston Monday afternoon. 

“In the meantime, I remain fully committed to serving the people of Pennsylvania’s 33rd Senatorial District and will continue fulfilling my responsibilities while the Senate considers my nomination,” he added.

Mastriano, a retired military colonel and combat veteran, was first elected to the state Senate in 2019 in a special electionto represent the southcentral Pennsylvania district that includes Gettysburg.

After being sworn into office, Mastriano emerged as one of the most conservative and controversial voices in his caucus. He was a vocal critic of then-Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration’s COVID-19 restrictions. After President Joe Biden won Pennsylvania over Trump in the 2020 election, Mastriano repeatedly questioned the integrity and results of the election, while amplifying conspiracy theories. He also attended the Jan. 6, 2021 “Stop the Steal” rally that ended with protestors breaking into the U.S. Capitol, though he says he did not join them.

In 2022, he launched a bid for governor. Mastriano earned Trump’s endorsement in that race shortly before he cruised to victory for the Republican Party nomination. However, he lost to Democrat Josh Shapiro in the general election by 17 points.

After this loss, Mastriano weighed other runs for higher office in Pennsylvania, including the 2024 U.S. Senate race and the 2026 race for governor. However, he decided against formally joining those races, despite a write-in campaign underway for him in the upcoming primary election.

Mastriano has sharply criticized the Pennsylvania Republican Party for endorsing State Treasurer Stacy Garrity for governor in September.

Despite at times being at odds with the Republican Party establishment, his nomination to serve in the Trump administration is being celebrated by some elected officials within his own party. 

“Congratulations to Senator Mastriano for being nominated to serve as Ambassador to Slovakia. I know you will do an excellent job and put America’s interests first,” Senate President Pro Tempore Kim Ward, R-Westmoreland, said on Monday afternoon. “Wish you the best through the confirmation process.”

State Sen. Camera Bartolotta, R-Washington, also took to social media to congratulate Mastriano, calling it a “great honor” and that it “shows his dedication to public service.”

And one elected official, who can play a role in whether he is confirmed, also offered words of support. 

“Congratulations to my friend @SenMastriano on his nomination to serve as U.S. Ambassador to the Slovak Republic,” U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., wrote in a social media post Monday afternoon. “If confirmed, he will be a great ambassador. Doug has dedicated his life to serving our nation in uniform and in public office, and I wish him the best in this important role representing America abroad.”

U.S. Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., has not weighed in on social media about Mastriano’s nomination and whether he’d support his confirmation.

If confirmed by the Senate, Mastriano would not be the only Pennsylvanian serving as an ambassador in the Trump administration. 

Christine Toretti, longtime Republican National Committeewoman for Pennsylvania, was confirmed by the U.S. Senate in September to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the Kingdom of Sweden.

Jeff Bartos, a businessman and 2018 GOP candidate for lieutenant governor, was also confirmed by the U.S. Senate last year to serve as the U.S. Representative for U.N. Management and Reform.

(The Center Square) – The Trump administration asked the U.S. Court of International Trade on Monday to pause its ruling blocking the president's Section 122 tariffs, warning that even a temporary halt could disrupt trade negotiations and trigger a surge in imports.

In a court declaration, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said suspending the 10% tariff could undermine talks with trading partners.

"If certain key trading partners walk away from the table now, these negotiations may never resume," Greer wrote, even if the tariffs are ultimately upheld on appeal.

The Section 122 tariffs were imposed after the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 in February that Trump's earlier global tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act were unlawful.

Last week, the Court of International Trade ruled against the administration on the Section 122 tariffs in a case brought by two small businesses and the state of Washington. The ruling applies only to those plaintiffs, meaning the government continues collecting the tariffs from most importers while the litigation proceeds.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said removing the tariffs during the appeal would cause immediate economic disruption.

"Premature removal of the surcharge would usher in a flood of imports that characterized the pre-global tariff landscape," Lutnick wrote in a declaration, adding that the economic effects "cannot be repaired later."

Administration officials also warned that refunding tariffs could strain U.S. Customs and Border Protection, which is already processing roughly $166 billion in refunds tied to the earlier IEEPA tariffs.

CBP official Brandon Lord said implementing the injunction for additional importers would become "increasingly unworkable," citing more than 13 million entry summaries involving Section 122 duties.

Liberty Justice Center Senior Counsel Jeffrey Schwab, who represents the small-business plaintiffs, criticized the administration's request.

"They should not pass illegal tariffs and then complain about the results of getting them struck down," Schwab said.

Schwab said the plaintiffs would oppose the stay request, arguing the administration faces no harm because the ruling currently applies to only three plaintiffs.

"The court found that the proclamation was unlawful under Section 122, so I think that's a very big deal," Schwab told The Center Square.

Before the Supreme Court struck down the IEEPA tariffs in February, Trump repeatedly warned the ruling would leave the nation "defenseless" and near "Third World status." The court ruled against him anyway, and the administration pivoted to Section 122 within hours of the ruling.

The administration has already appealed the trade court ruling to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and said it would seek emergency relief there if the trade court denies its stay request.

At the same time, the administration is preparing alternative tariff authorities. Trump said Saturday on Truth Social that using Section 301 authority would be "far slower and more laborious."

The administration has opened Section 301 investigations involving 16 major U.S. trading partners. Hearings concluded Friday, and new tariffs could take effect as early as July.

Polling shows Americans remain divided on who ultimately pays tariffs. A March The Center Square Voters' Voice Poll found 42% of voters believe U.S. consumers bear most tariff costs, while 12% said foreign countries primarily pay them.

Several economic studies have similarly concluded that Americans are paying nearly the entire cost of tariffs, not foreign nations, as Trump has said, including analyses from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the Kiel Institute for the World Economy and Duke University.

(The Center Square) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday extended for three more days an order allowing women to obtain abortion drugs through the mail without visiting an in-person doctor. 

In two brief orders, Justice Samuel Alito extended consideration of two cases challenging a Louisiana federal court's decision to halt mail orders of mifepristone in the state. Danco Laboratories and GenBioPro, two drug manufacturers, filed emergency requests to the court to halt Louisiana from implementing its ban on mail orders of the product. 

The court previously extended for one week consideration of both cases while it allowed for lawyers to submit briefs. 

In 2023, the Biden administration finalized a policy where people could order the abortion drug mifepristone through the mail without an in-person doctor's visit. 

Louisiana already has a ban on the abortion drug mifepristone, but sought to prevent its access through the mail from other states. 

Lawyers for Danco Labs said Louisiana's order could lead to a patchwork of varying state regulations on drug regulation across the country. 

"'Opening the door to state-by-state second-guessing of drug regulation would place [drug] sponsors in an untenable position between potentially conflicting state positions,' which has the consequence of 'impact[ing] the pharmaceutical industry’s decision-making in a manner that hurts innovation and public health,'" lawyers for Danco labs wrote in a brief to the high court. 

Lawyers for Louisiana argued the Biden administration policy is illegal and does not properly address harms caused by not requiring an in-person doctor's visit to obtain abortion drugs. 

"They have no claim that the public has any interest in perpetuating an unlawful agency action that the agency itself refuses to defend, particularly where the very unlawfulness involves a failure to adequately assess safety risks," lawyers for the state wrote. 

Justices on the court will continue to deliberate both cases until Thursday. 

(The Center Square) – Republicans in Congress will spend the next two weeks pushing forward their $72 billion budget reconciliation bill, attempting to meet President Donald Trump’s June 1 deadline.

While Democrats cannot unilaterally block the filibuster-proof legislation, they intend to make the process as politically damaging as possible for Republicans.

Democrats plan to highlight the lack of affordability-focused measures in the narrowly tailored package meant to primarily fund federal immigration enforcement operations.

They also intend to challenge the bill’s $1 billion earmark for the Secret Service, which would pay for security upgrades in Trump’s White House ballroom, currently under construction.

“Americans do not need a ballroom. They need relief. They want their Congress and their President to address the growing cost crisis bearing down on families across the country,” Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., wrote to colleagues in a Monday letter outlining the party’s strategy.

“That is what today’s Republicans have become: Ballroom Republicans — asking working families to pay the price while Donald Trump pockets the perks,” Schumer said.

Republicans have argued that the recent shooting at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, which took place in a ballroom of the Washington, D.C. Hilton hotel, proves the need for security at the White House venue.

The budget reconciliation bill specifies that “[n]one of the funds made available… may be used for non-security elements” of the project, referring to the construction of the ballroom itself. Trump initially pitched the ballroom project as being privately financed through donations and not tax dollars.

Due to strict limitations on what lawmakers may include in a budget reconciliation bill, Democrats feel they have a chance to force Republicans to strip the ballroom security funding from the package.

The Senate’s parliamentarian will determine whether the provision violates the Byrd Rule, which forbids extraneous, non-budgetary provisions within a budget reconciliation bill.

“Democrats will fight the Republicans’ reconciliation bill with every tool we have. We will bring Byrd Rule challenges. We will offer floor amendments. And we will force vote after vote to make the choice unmistakable: will Republicans vote to help American families — to lower costs, to restore savage health care cuts, to roll back cost-spiking tariffs — or will they vote to fund Trump’s gaudy ballroom?” Schumer wrote.

Republicans are facing political pressure ahead of the midterm elections to address rising costs and affordability concerns.

Most recently, the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict has pushed up gas prices and could soon make consumer goods more expensive as transportation costs rise.

Although Congress never declared war on Iran, Trump authorized the current military activities by citing Article II presidential authority. But the War Powers Act of 1973 gives the president only 60 days to conduct military operations without congressional approval, and that deadline has long passed.

Trump has skirted the requirement by temporarily declaring a ceasefire, a move which Secretary of War Pete Hegseth argued effectively resets the 60-day clock.

In his letter, however, Schumer said Democrats will reintroduce the War Powers Resolutions this week that would halt military activities in Iran.

Most Republicans have so far blocked the resolutions. But Democrats hope that the now legally dubious status of the conflict, paired with general public opposition and affordability concerns approaching the midterms, will convince enough Republicans to fold.

(The Center Square) — President Donald Trump is ripping Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for hiring former Obama-era Attorney General Eric Holder to help oversee New York's congressional redistricting plans. 

In a social media post, Trump accused Schumer and other top New York Democrats of trying to "interfere in our elections" with a newly launched Election Integrity Task Force that will be headed by Holder, attorney Marc Elias and other Democratic luminaries. The president claimed the task force is part of a move by Democrats to "rig" the midterms. 

"Palestinian Chuck Schumer is hiring Eric Holder, famous for handing guns to Mexican cartels under the Barack Hussein Obama administration, as part of a Democrat-led ‘Election Integrity Group’ that will no doubt try to suppress Republican voters, and interfere in our Elections," Trump posted on Truth Social Sunday night.

"This is the same disgusting individual who was responsible for the fake Russia dossier from a foreign nation to meddle in the 2016 Election, which I won in historic fashion," Trump said. "The Democrats are totally unhinged and we will not allow them to threaten the integrity of our Elections."

Schumer responded on Monday by suggesting the president is trying to detract public attention from his policies' impact on the economy and his sagging poll numbers, and vowing to press on with Democratic redistricting plans. 

"Donald Trump had another meltdown about me yesterday. Why? His war is failing. His tariffs have led to skyrocketing prices. His poll numbers are plummeting," Schumer posted on X. "We will not let him intimidate voters at the polls in November. His incoherent rants do not phase us."

Last week, Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced the creation of the task force to push for redistricting in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision that weakened a landmark Civil Rights-era law. Democrats are also targeting Colorado, Illinois and Maryland for redistricting. Trump has also criticized Jeffries for his pledge to wage "maximum warfare" against Republicans' redistricting plans.

To be sure, unlike other states looking to redraw their political maps, any redistricting changes to New York's congressional districts wouldn't take effect until the 2028 elections. 

New York's bipartisan redistricting commission approved a plan last year after the state's highest court ordered new congressional maps for the 2024 election. The ruling was viewed as a major win for Democrats seeking to redraw the state’s maps after a chaotic redistricting process during the November 2022 midterm elections.

The state's congressional districts are currently split 19 to 7 in favor of Democrats, who also control the state Legislature and the governor's office. New York is viewed as a battleground in the upcoming midterm elections, when control of Congress is up for grabs. 

Trump said Republicans will be reviving their "Election Integrity Army" put into place during the 2024 election elections for the upcoming midterm elections "to preserve the sanctity of each legal vote."

"We will be doing the same again in 2026, but it will be much bigger and stronger," Trump said. "All Americans should have their voices be heard by casting a vote. Be assured this Election will be fair!"