On the version of Hot off the Wire posted March 18 at 9:45 a.m. CT:

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal by a former New Mexico county commissioner banished from public office for participating in the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. The court’s order Monday means Republican former Otero County commissioner Couy Griffin remains disqualified from public office under a constitutional provision designed to prevent ex-Confederates from serving in government after the Civil War. The outcome of Griffin’s case could bolster efforts to hold other state and local elected officials accountable for their involvement in the attack by a mob of then-President Donald Trump's supporters. Griffin is a cowboy pastor who supported Trump in horseback caravans. The Jan. 6 attack delayed certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 victory over the Republican president.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is taking up a dispute between Republican-led states and the Biden administration over how far the federal government can go to combat controversial social media posts on topics including COVID-19 and election security. The justices are hearing arguments Monday in a lawsuit filed by Louisiana, Missouri and other parties accusing officials in the Democratic administration of leaning on the social media platforms to unconstitutionally squelch conservative points of view. The administration says none of the actions the states complain about come close to problematic coercion. Lower courts have sided with the states. The Supreme Court blocked those rulings while it considers the issue. The case involves posts on Facebook, X and other media platforms.

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The U.N. food agency says “famine is imminent” in northern Gaza, where 70% of the remaining population is experiencing catastrophic hunger. It says a further escalation of the war could push around half of Gaza’s total population to the brink of starvation. The alarming report came as Israel faces mounting pressure from even its closest allies to streamline the entry of aid into the Gaza Strip and open more crossings. The European Union’s top diplomat said the impending famine was “entirely man-made” as “starvation is used as a weapon of war.” Israeli forces, meanwhile, launched another raid on the Gaza Strip’s largest hospital, saying it killed a Hamas commander who was hiding there.

President Vladimir Putin extends his reign over Russia in a landslide election whose outcome was never in doubt, declaring his determination to advance deeper into Ukraine and dangling new threats against the West. After the harshest crackdown on dissent since Soviet times, it was clear from the earliest returns that Putin's nearly quarter-century rule would continue with a fifth term that grants him six more years in power. Still, Russians heeded a call to protest Putin’s repression and his war in Ukraine by showing up at polling stations at noon on Sunday. With nearly all the precincts counted Monday, election officials said Putin had secured a record number of votes.

The CEO of United Airlines is trying to reassure travelers that the airline is safe despite a series of recent incidents ranging from a panel falling off a plane to an engine fire. CEO Scott Kirby said Monday that United will review safety training for all employees. Kirby says the airline was already planning an extra day of training for pilots starting in May and changes in training curriculum for new mechanics. In a message to customers, Kirby says the recent incidents are reminders of the importance of safety. He says the flight issues are all unrelated, but they have grabbed United's attention.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho lawmakers are expected to vote on a bill that would ban the use of any public funds for gender-affirming care, including for state employees using work health insurance and for adults covered by Medicaid. The legislation already has passed the House and only needs to clear the Senate this week before being sent to Gov. Brad Little’s desk, where it would likely be signed into law. The Republican governor has said repeatedly he does not believe public funds should be used for gender-affirming care. If the legislation is enacted, the Movement Advancement Project says Idaho would become at least the 10th state to ban Medicaid funding for gender-affirming care for people of all ages.

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — South Sudan is shutting all its schools and warning of an extreme heat wave that's expected to last two weeks. The health and education ministries advised parents to keep all children indoors as temperatures are expected to soar to 45 Celsius, or 113 Fahrenheit. All schools were to close starting Monday but the ministries did not say how long the closure will last. They warned that any school that opens during the warning time would have its registration withdrawn. A resident in the capital said schools should be connected to the power grid so they could install air conditioners. Extreme heat is common in South Sudan but temperatures rarely exceed 40 C, which is 104 F.

In other headlines: 

In religion news, there were peaceful Friday prayers in Jerusalem for Ramadan and evangelicals flock to Israel to support the war.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

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