Longtime Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Tex.) has been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, she announced on social media Sunday, adding that she expects to be “occasionally absent from Congress” as she undergoes treatment.
“My doctors confirmed my diagnosis of pancreatic cancer,” Jackson Lee wrote in a letter shared on X. “I am currently undergoing treatment to battle this disease that impacts tens of thousands of Americans every year.”
Jackson Lee, 74, has served in Texas’s 18th Congressional District since 1995. Throughout her career she has sponsored legislation on issues such as police reform, sentencing laws, safe gun storage and white supremacy-motivated hate crimes.

Cyrus Vance Jr., a Democrat and the former Manhattan District Attorney says he does not believe Trump will be sentenced to any jail time. Vance Jr. retired in 2022, and was replaced by Alvin Bragg, who proceeded to prosecute Trump for falsifying business records.
“Well, I’m not going to answer that question because that’s really just for Mr. Bragg to decide,” Vance said to Peter Alexander. “If you ask me, ‘do I think the court will impose jail in this case?’ As I said to you, I think yesterday, I think not. But ultimately, that’s Judge [Juan] Merchan’s decision.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the Philippine president on Monday in a rare Asian trip to urge regional leaders to attend a Swiss-organized global peace summit on the war in Ukraine that he accuses Russia, with China’s help, of trying to undermine. Zelenskyy arrived unannounced and under heavy security in Manila late Sunday after speaking over the weekend at the Shangri-La defense forum in Singapore. He was given a red-carpet welcome with military honors Monday at the presidential palace before meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., after which he left the Philippines. Marcos pledged that his country would take part in the peace summit, Philippine Communications Secretary Cheloy Garafil said.

A federal gun case against President Joe Biden’s son Hunter opened Monday with jury selection, following the collapse of a plea deal that would have avoided the spectacle of a trial so close the 2024 election. First lady Jill Biden was seated in the front row of the courtroom, in a show of support for her son. In a statement, the president said he has “boundless love for my son, confidence in him, and respect for his strength.” “I am the President, but I am also a Dad,” he said, adding that would have no further comment on the case.

Hunter Biden, aged 54, is facing three felony charges stemming from his purchase and possession of a revolver in 2018. This is the first trial of the child of a sitting president. Hunter has pleaded not guilty. It is one of two criminal cases he faces, with federal tax charges brought separately in California.
The trial is taking place in Wilmington, with U.S. District Judge Maryellen Noreika presiding, and bow begins with the jury selection process.
Hunter Biden was initially charged last September in the case brought by special counsel David Weiss, who was a Trump appointee, with lying about his use of illegal drugs when he bought a Colt Cobra .38-caliber revolver and with illegally possessing the weapon for 11 days in October 2018. Weiss also brought tax charges.

The Hezbollah terror group has escalated its attacks against Israel in the past few days, in frequency, scope, and strength of its attacks. Hezbollah launched about 30 rockets at Ramat HaGolan on Monday. The rockets fell in open areas, causing multiple fires. Firefighting team are fighting massive fires in the Kiryat Shmona and Margaliot areas. Additionally, explosive drones fell in the Upper Galil and Metula areas. Another explosive drone was intercepted near the Keren Naftali area. The residents of the northern cities of Nahariya and Akko, which haven’t been targeted in months, had to run to their bomb shelters three times on Sunday. Nahariya, which has a population of 66,000, suffered its first direct hit on Sunday when IDF attempts to intercept a drone were unsuccessful.

A Charedi man sustained minor wounds in a Palestinian attack overnight Sunday as he tried to enter Shechem in the northern Shomron to Daven at the Kever of Yosef Hatzadik, on the outskirts of the city.
The man, who was part of a group that had attempted to reach the site without approval of the Israel Defense Forces, was rescued by Palestinian Authority police, who released him into IDF custody.
The victim was treated on the spot for wounds to his face and evacuated to Rabin Medical Center’s Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikvah.
Israeli authorities had chartered 12 buses for the visit to Shechem, which was organized on the occasion of the 41st day of the Omer—the seven weeks between Pesach and Shavuos.