Johnson Cancels Thursday House Votes, Sending Lawmakers Home Early

For years, Campus Bible Fellowship had a place among the student clubs at SUNY Broome Community College. Now the Christian ministry is in federal court, fighting for the right to choose leaders who share its faith.

Ukraine says its forces have pushed back Russian troops threatening a key chain of fortified cities in eastern Ukraine.

Christians and Jews are due to gather Thursday on Amsterdam’s central Dam Square for a major pro-Israel rally, days before the Netherlands introduces a ban on trade in goods from Israeli settlements in territories it considers occupied.

The Supreme Court has refused to let the U.S. Postal Service enforce new rules for mailing federal election ballots this fall, leaving a lower court’s injunction in place as states prepare for the November midterms.

House Speaker Mike Johnson canceled votes scheduled for Thursday, September 17, sending lawmakers home a day early for their planned recess before the November midterm elections. The House majority leader’s schedule had listed Thursday as a day for legislative business.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday he would introduce two bills aimed at people who, in his words, slander Israeli soldiers abroad. One would allow citizenship to be revoked; the other would increase the damages they could face in a lawsuit.

The Federal Reserve raised its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point Wednesday, bringing its target range to 3.75% to 4%. The unanimous decision marks the Fed’s first rate increase in more than three years.