NEWS OF THE DAY
From Across the Nation
1 Trump resort: President Trump intends to host next year’s Group of Seven conference at his Doral International Resort in Miami in June, the White House confirmed Thursday, a controversial decision certain to raise conflictofinterest questions given the financial benefit to Trump’s business. Trump first floated the idea of the Doral in August at the G7 meeting in Biarritz, France, telling reporters that his property was far better than others his administration had considered, given its proximity to a major airport and the abundance of accommodations and meeting space on site. Trump is already fighting three lawsuits suggesting that he is violating the Constitution’s emoluments clause, which prohibits U.S. officeholders from personally profiting from payments by foreign governments.
2 Prostitution decriminalization: A bill before Washington’s City Council would make it the first American city to decriminalize prostitution, placing the nation’s capital at the forefront of a growing movement that seeks to permit the activities of prostitutes, as well as pimps and johns, and to allow bordellos. Critics say it would be a boon to sex traffickers. An initial hearing began Thursday. The proposal is dividing the city’s progressive community, pitting some women’s groups against advocates for sex workers.
3 Southeast drought: A drought affecting more than 30 million people across the southeastern United States is getting worse. The latest assessment from the U.S. Drought Monitor released Thursday shows arid conditions are deepening from Alabama to Virginia. Areas that were experiencing a moderate drought are now in a severe or extreme drought despite occasional rain. About 75 million people nationally are living in drought areas nationally, with the largest share in the Southeast. Forecasters say farm fields are drying out and some streams are down to a trickle. Alabama is under a wildfire alert after about 530 fires burned more than 6,200 acres of land over the past few months.
4 Perry to resign: Energy Secretary Rick Perry will leave his job by the end of the year, President Trump said Thursday. Perry was traveling aboard Air Force One to Texas when he told Trump of his decision. Perry is under scrutiny over the role he played in the president’s dealings with Ukraine, which are currently the subject of an impeachment inquiry. House Democrats have subpoenaed Perry for documents related to a Ukrainian stateowned energy company as well as his involvement in a July 25 call between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The lawmakers set a Friday deadline. Trump has said Perry teed up the call, in which Trump pressed Ukraine to investigate his Democratic rival Joe Biden and his son. Perry has supported Trump’s call for “energy dominance” around the world and pushed to bolster struggling coalfired and nuclear power plants.