NEWS OF THE DAY
From Across the Nation
Immigration appointment: An outspoken supporter of President Trump’s hardline immigration policies has been named acting director of the agency that manages legal immigration, despite deep opposition from key Senate Republicans. Ken Cuccinelli will oversee U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, Department of Homeland Security Acting Secretary Kevin McAleenan announced. But it’s unclear if Trump will nominate Cuccinelli for the permanent position, which would require Senate confirmation. Cuccinelli is a former Virginia attorney general who ran for governor of Virginia, but lost to Democrat Terry McAuliffe in 2013.
Terror sentencing: A South Carolina man who pleaded guilty to trying to fight for the Islamic State group was sentenced Monday to 20 years in prison. Zakaryia Abdin, 20, pleaded guilty to attempting to provide material support to a terrorist organization. He was arrested at Charleston’s airport in 2017 as he tried to board a plane for Jordan. Authorities said Abdin told an agent posing as an Islamic State recruiter he wanted to torture an American.
Nightclub massacre: Members of central Florida’s congressional delegation are introducing legislation that would designate as a national memorial the gay nightclub where 49 people were killed three years ago by a supporter of the Islamic State group. Reps. Darren Soto and Stephanie Murphy said Monday outside the former Pulse nightclub in Orlando that the designation will preserve and protect the club for future generations and give it the federal recognition it deserves. Pulse owner Barbara Poma has established a nonprofit to open a memorial at the site.
Female commander: The California National Guard has announced the appointment of the first woman to lead a U.S. Army infantry division. Brig. Gen. Laura Yeager will take command of the 40th Infantry Division on June 29 at Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos (Orange County). Yeager currently commands Joint Task Force North, U.S. Northern Command at Fort Bliss, Texas. Yeager was commissioned in 1986 as a second lieutenant from the Reserve Officer Training Corps at Cal State Long Beach. She served as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot, left active duty when her son was born and continued her military career in the California Army National Guard. Yeager deployed to Iraq in 2011 as deputy commander of the Cal Guard’s 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, then served as a battalion and brigade commander.
Deadly flood: Search crews found the body of a 2-yearold Kentucky boy on Monday, a day after he was swept away in a flash flood at a Tennessee gorge as crews evacuated dozens of people from the popular park. Tennessee State Parks Assistant Chief Ranger J.R. Tinch said Steven Pierce was swept away about 5 p.m. Sunday as a family member carrying him tried to cross through the water during an evacuation at Cummins Falls State Park near Cookeville. Tinch said the waters rose to dangerous levels in just 2 minutes.