By Tami Luhby, CNN

(CNN) — The Trump administration has rescinded its effort to freeze $10 billion in childcare and social assistance funding for five blue states — the latest setback in its push to withhold or cut federal funding to fight alleged fraud and to punish perceived opponents.

The freeze was announced in early January amid a high-profile federal probe into fraud allegations involving federal social services in Minnesota and was paused by a federal judge in New York days later.

President Donald Trump has focused heavily on combatting fraud in his second term, making it a focal point of the midterm elections in November as Republicans seek to maintain their control of Congress. While one government analysis estimates that hundreds of billions of dollars are lost annually to fraud, the president’s critics argue the accusations are largely political and often lack proof.

In this case, the Department of Health and Human Services had sought to cut off $7.4 billion in funding for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program, which provides cash assistance to households, along with nearly $2.4 billion for the Child Care and Development Fund and around $870 million from the Social Services Block Grant.

The action was directed at California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York, where the programs serve many low-income families.

The states quickly sued, arguing the administration’s effort was entirely political, as well as unconstitutional.

In a letter sent to states last week, HHS said they would no longer be subject to the requirements that attempted to restrict their access to federal funding. Also, the agency was withdrawing its requests for justification and additional information, which included looking at whether benefits were improperly provided to ineligible immigrants.

CNN has reached out to HHS for additional information.

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SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (KEYT) - Young wheelchair athletes are spending the week at UC Santa Barbara, where the annual Junior Wheelchair Sports Camp is giving children the chance to discover new sports, challenge themselves and connect with others.

Participants rotate through activities including basketball, tennis, rugby, swimming, racquetball and other adaptive sports led by coaches and volunteers.

Cottage Health is partnering with the long-running camp, which welcomes children from across California each summer.

Beyond competition, the experience encourages independence, teamwork and friendships that often continue long after the week ends.

For many participants, it’s their first introduction to wheelchair sports. Others return each year to sharpen their skills and reconnect with friends.

The camp wraps up with a celebration recognizing each athlete’s accomplishments.

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By Deidre McPhillips, CNN

(CNN) — There have been 1,645 confirmed cases of cyclosporiasis acquired in the United States since May 1, and more than 5,100 additional cases are being investigated, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Tuesday.

A growing outbreak in Michigan and Ohio has also been linked to cases in West Virginia and Kentucky, the agency said. People with cyclosporiasis may experience symptoms, including watery diarrhea, cramping and bloating, for weeks.

Since May 1, cases have been identified in 34 states. Cyclospora activity tends to increase during the spring and summer, but the number of confirmed cases since May 1 is already more than six times higher than it was by this time last year, according to a health alert sent by the CDC. If all possible cases being investigated are included, this year’s total is 27 times higher than last year’s total at this time.

“This is much, much higher than what we’ve seen last year or the year before,” said Dr. Gwen Biggerstaff, deputy director of CDC’s Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, calling it “a very big shift” from previous seasons.

About 1 in every 11 cases has been hospitalized, according to data available to the CDC. No deaths have been reported. At least 34 states have reported cases.

An additional investigation notice published by the CDC on Tuesday notes that at least 400 cases across at least four states — Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, and Kentucky — “appear to be epidemiologically linked, suggesting that there could be a common source of these infections.”

The Michigan state health department has reported more than 3,300 cases of cyclospora “during the outbreak investigation.” Michigan has said current results suggest lettuce or salad greens may be a potential source for the outbreak, but it hasn’t ruled anything out.

According to a 2023 report from the US Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety Inspection Service, the largest cyclospora outbreak in the US on record led to about 1,500 cases and involved raspberries.

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Por Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Español

El presidente de Colombia, Gustavo Petro, condenó este martes la muerte de un ciudadano colombiano en EE.UU. por disparos de un agente de ICE durante un operativo y aseguró que se trató de “un asesinato”, por lo que agregó que espera que su homólogo estadounidense, Donald Trump, se pronuncie sobre el caso.

Petro dijo en X que espera que el servicio exterior colombiano en EE.UU. presente una acción jurídica rápida “para que los asesinos paguen por su homicidio”.

La noche del lunes, la Embajada de Colombia en EE.UU. indicó que está proporcionando asistencia consular a la familia de la víctima y que está en contacto con autoridades estadounidenses “para facilitar los procedimientos correspondientes”, para lo que solicitaron “información y clarificación” al Departamento de Seguridad Nacional (DHS) sobre las circunstancias de la muerte de Johan Sebastián Durán, de 26 años.

Según el DHS, un agente del ICE abrió fuego al “temer por la seguridad pública”, mientras la víctima “intentaba huir del lugar” en un vehículo en Biddeford, Maine. En casos previos, afirmaciones del Departamento sobre víctimas que iban conduciendo quedaron desmoronados por la evidencia.

Un vecino que fue testigo del incidente declaró a AP que escuchó claramente a Guerrero decir que intentó detener su vehículo durante la confrontación con las autoridades.

Petro agregó sobre la muerte: “Lo mataron por creerlo un ser inferior y sin derechos y como persona tenía todos los derechos que a un ser humano se le confieren solo por nacer y era ciudadano con derechos en los EE.UU.”.

El caso está siendo investigado por la policía local, el Departamento de Seguridad Pública estatal y el FBI.

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