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American schools are facing layoffs as enrollment falls and pandemic-era aid dries up. CBS News reporter Bo Erickson has the details.

Testimony is expected to resume Thursday in former President Donald Trump’s New York criminal trial. CBS News legal analyst Rikki Klieman joins with more.

After months of negotiations, debate and Capitol Hill visits from foreign leaders, a much-anticipated foreign aid bill finally became law Wednesday with President Biden’s signature. Oksana Markarova, Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S., joins CBS News to discuss.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrations are taking place at universities across the U.S., including in California, Texas and New York. Wednesday marked the eighth day of a contentious protest at Columbia University that prompted the school to cancel in-person classes and brought a visit from House Speaker Mike Johnson. Nancy Chen has the latest.

“CBS Evening News” anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell was given a private tour of the magnificent St. Peter’s Basilica, the largest church in the world, located in the smallest nation in the world.

Pope Francis called for countries at war to negotiate in an exclusive interview with “CBS Evening News” anchor and managing editor Norah O’Donnell in Rome. “A negotiated peace is better than a war without end,” the pontiff said. “Look to negotiate. Look for peace.”

By JACQUES BILLEAUD and JOSH KELETY (Associated Press) PHOENIX (AP) — Eleven Republicans who submitted a document to Congress falsely declaring that Donald Trump beat Joe Biden in Arizona in the 2020 presidential election were charged Wednesday with conspiracy, fraud and forgery, marking the fourth state to bring charges against “fake electors.” The 11 people who had been nominated to be Arizona’s Republican electors met in Phoenix on Dec. 14, 2020, to sign a certificate saying they were “duly elected and qualified” electors and claiming that Trump carried the state. A one-minute video of the signing ceremony was posted on social media by the Arizona Republican Party at the time. The document was later sent to Congress and the National Archives, where it was ignored. Seven others were indicted, but their names were blacked out of records released by Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes. Her office said the names will be released after those people are served with the charges. Biden won Arizona by more than 10,000 votes. Of the eight lawsuits that unsuccessfully challenged Biden’s victory in the state, one was filed by the

By RICK CALLAHAN and KATHLEEN FOODY (Associated Press) CHICAGO (AP) — The “rat hole” is gone. A Chicago sidewalk landmark some residents affectionately called the “rat hole” was removed Wednesday after city officials determined the section bearing the imprint of an animal was damaged and needed to be replaced, officials said. The imprint has been a quirk of a residential block in Chicago’s North Side neighborhood of Roscoe Village for years, but it found fresh fame in January after a Chicago comedian shared a photo on the social platform X. The attention, however, quickly grew old for neighbors who complained about visitors at all hours, sometimes leaving coins and other items scattered across the sidewalk. Plus, most in the neighborhood argue that the imprint was actually caused by a squirrel. Erica Schroeder, a spokesperson for the Chicago Department of Transportation, said the square of sidewalk “containing the famous ‘Chicago rat hole’” is now in temporary storage. She said that where the slab of sidewalk, which has an impression resembling the outline of a rat — claws, tail and all — will eventually end up is

In an exclusive interview with CBS News’ Norah O’Donnell, Pope Francis called for “negotiated peace” in Ukraine and Gaza, noting the devastating effects war has on children.

Joseph Wilkinson | New York Daily News Hamas released Wednesday a propaganda/proof of life video of American-Israeli hostage Hersh Goldberg-Polin. The 24-year-old was one of the hundreds of people taken hostage in Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel. He’s one of 133 hostages remaining in Gaza, though dozens of them are believed to be dead. In the heavily edited video, which is also clearly scripted, Goldberg-Polin criticizes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his government. “Think of us detainees in underground hell, without water, food or sun, without the treatment I (have needed) for so long,” Goldberg-Polin says. At the end of the video, he directly addresses his family and tells them he loves them. The video is not dated, but Goldberg-Polin notes the beginning of Passover on Monday and mentions being held by Hamas for “almost 200 days.” Wednesday marked exactly the 200th day since the Hamas attack. Hamas has released hostage videos in the past, including one of French-Israeli woman Mia Schem less than two weeks after the assault. Schem, 21, was one of the 105 hostages freed during a temporary ceasefire in November. Of the 133 hostages still held

SAN FRANCISCO — This is not what the Giants anticipated every fifth day when they signed Blake Snell. Week after week, the Giants’ worst days have been the ones on which their $62 million free-agent prize was scheduled to start. Scratched and placed on the injured list before first pitch Wednesday, the pattern only continued in an 8-2 loss to the Mets and Sean Manaea. “As we sit here right now, it hasn’t been our best day,” manager Bob Melvin said afterward. Watching from the dugout after being diagnosed with a strained adductor, Snell bore no blame for the mess that transpired on the field. The Giants reverted to their worst tendencies, stranding runners and running into outs, and their first game of reliever roulette went south quickly. “It just got away from us a little bit,” Melvin said. “Next thing you know it’s an uphill battle.” The loss prevented the Giants (12-14) from climbing back to .500 for the first time since the fourth game of the season or securing their first sweep. Besides a four-game skid after they evened their record to 2-2

Pro-Palestinian protesters at the University of Southern California were forced to clear their tents by campus police Wednesday. CBS News Los Angeles reporter Luzdelia Caballero is following the protests.

Two-year-old Tyler Fabregas asked his mother “Where’s Beyoncé​?” in a viral TikTok video​ she posted last week from Manila.

NEW YORK — Family members are making a desperate plea after the release of a chilling new video of an American hostage in Gaza. Hamas released video of 23-year-old Hersh Goldberg-Polin of Chicago on Wednesday. His hand was blown off as he was abducted from the Nova Music Festival on October 7. It appears he recorded his message under duress — showing him with his head shaven and his dominant hand missing. But after 201 days, it appears to be proof of life of an American hostage in Gaza, and for his parents Jon and Rachel, it’s a new reason to fight. Hours later, they released their own video, pleading with negotiators to get back to the table and end the madness that has consumed the Middle East. “That includes Qatar, Egypt, the United States, Hamas, and Israel,” Jon Polin said. “Be brave, lean in, seize this moment and get a deal done to reunite all of us with our loved ones and end the suffering in this region.” Last week in Jerusalem, his parents described their frustration with the on again, off again negotiations

By Jason Beal Wednesday, April 24, 2024 9:27PM Here’s how Shawarmaji brings Arab comfort food from the streets of Amman, Jordan to Oakland while giving back in the process. OAKLAND, Calif. — “Karam” is a guiding principle in Arab culture; the word means generosity and building a sense of community. It’s a mentality that’s woven into the mission of Shawarmaji restaurant in Downtown Oakland. “We always want to give people food, feed people,” said Mohammad Abutaha, the owner of Shawarmaji. “People appreciate things that are authentic.” Shawarmaji serves shawarma, falafels, and more from the streets of Amman, Jordan to California. The menu options feature Arab cuisine inspired by Abutaha’s upbringing. “My family is Palestinian,” shared Abutaha. “In 1948, my grandfather had to flee, and he went to Jordan and that’s where my dad was born and that’s where I grew up.” “My goal wasn’t to necessarily like take Arab food to the next level,” Abutaha added. “It was more of like sharing what people actually eat back home with people in the Bay Area to share a little bit of our heritage.” In addition to

NEW YORK — National political leaders ratcheted up the pressure for Columbia University President Minouche Shafik to step down on Wednesday as pro-Palestinian campus protests continued at the school’s New York campus and spread to colleges across the country. At the University of Texas at Austin, state troopers in riot gear, including some on horseback, began breaking up a group of protesters shortly after a demonstration began on Wednesday. The Palestine Solidarity Committee in Austin organized a walkout and occupation on the school’s south lawn. According to an Instagram post announcing the event, students were encouraged to bring “blankets, food and water, face masks, and lots of energy.” Republican Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, meanwhile, visited Columbia University’s campus to call for Shafik’s resignation during a tense press conference on Wednesday afternoon where the crowd repeatedly interrupted the speaker and at times loudly booed him and other GOP lawmakers who were with him as they stood at the mics. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) speaks to the media on the Lower Library steps on Columbia University’s campus in New York on Wednesday

By Luke Jones Wednesday, April 24, 2024 9:02PM Pro-Palestine protests and multiple arrests were reported at the University of Texas in Austin on Wednesday. AUSTIN, Texas — State troopers and University of Texas law enforcement are responding to pro-Palestine protests at the Austin campus Wednesday afternoon. According to a call by ABC News, a junior at the university who did not participate in the protest said he witnessed multiple arrests. “Their hands looked like they were in restraints,” he told ABC News, adding that they were perhaps “zip ties.” UT Austin confirmed that 10 people have been arrested. The student described protestors flanking both sides of mounted police and state troopers clad in riot gear. In a separate call with ABC News, the Austin Police Department said its role is only in assisting the main agency responding to the campus events, the UT Police Department; they are not booking individuals. Austin PD noted that the Texas Department of Public Safety is also assisting UTPD. The school’s paper, The Daily Texan, reported roughly 50 state troopers were seen in riot gear and issued a two-minute warning

Wednesday, April 24, 2024 8:59PM Protests have broken out at colleges and universities across the country in connection with the war in Gaza. LOS ANGELES — A rally by pro-Palestinian students at USC became chaotic after campus police confronted protesters who tried to set up an encampment at the school’s Alumni Park, according to Los Angeles ABC station KABC. The university’s commencement ceremony is scheduled to occur in Alumni Park on May 10. Last week, USC canceled the valedictorian’s speech out of safety concerns considering her pro-Palestinian views, sparking backlash. The student, Asna Tabassum, is a first-generation South Asian-American Muslim who majored in biomedical engineering and minored in resistance to genocide, according to a statement published through the Greater Los Angeles Area office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations. A rally by pro-Palestinian demonstrators turned chaotic at USC’s Alumni Park, as police confronted protesters who attempted to set up an encampment on campus. Dozens of students and others have issued a list of demands, including the university’s divestment, similar to demands from students on other campuses, according to sister station KABC. USC police officers began

Four-year-old Abigail Mor Edan was held by Hamas for 50 days and was the youngest American hostage released by Hamas.

Egg prices are jumping as an outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza forces producers to slaughter millions of infected birds.

If you’re thinking about getting a home equity loan, you may want to do so before May. Here’s why.