Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.
Latino celebrities in U.S. issue plea to 'speak out loudlyagainst hate'
Actresses Eva Longoria, America Ferrara and more than 200other Latino artists and civil rights leaders on Friday penned aletter of support to the Latino community in the United Statesafter a mass shooting in Texas and immigration raids inMississippi. Musicians Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin andLin-Manuel Miranda gave their backing to the letter, whichcalled on those outside the Latino community to "speak outloudly against hate."
Thousands of travelers delayed at U.S. airports by computeroutage
Thousands of travelers at U.S. airports faced delays onFriday because of an nationwide outage of U.S. Customs andBorder Protection's (CBP) processing systems that lasted severalhours. In a tweet at 6:37 p.m. EDT (2237 GMT), CBP said "theaffected systems are coming back online and travelers are beingprocessed."
Ex-Trump campaign chief Lewandowski says 'happy' to testifybefore Congress
President Donald Trump's former campaign manager, CoreyLewandowski, said on Friday that he was "happy" to testifybefore the Democratic-led U.S. House Judiciary Committee as partof a congressional investigation of the Trump presidency. Thepanel, which is considering whether to recommend Trump'simpeachment, subpoenaed Lewandowski on Thursday as a witness toan alleged attempt by the president to impede former SpecialCounsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation after the 2016election.
Police make arrests as right-wing, anti-fascist groups rallyin Portland
Police in Portland, Oregon arrested at least 13 people onSaturday as a right-wing group marched to a downtown waterfrontpark and anti-fascist counterprotesters scuffled with officerswho tried to keep the two sides apart. A rally by hundreds ofsupporters of the right-wing Proud Boys organization was met bya similar number of "antifa" opponents, and isolated clashesbroke out between both sides and between antifa and police asthe gathering wrapped up.
NASA chief announces Alabama facility as moon spacecraftheadquarters
NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine on Friday said MarshallSpace Flight Center in Alabama will serve as headquarters forthe U.S. space agency's program to build a spacecraft to putastronauts back on the moon by 2024. Bridenstine made theannouncement at the Alabama facility, accompanied by lawmakersfrom that state. The announcement, which means potential jobsand prestige for Alabama, disappointed lawmakers from Texas whohad lobbied for a site in their state.
Suspect in New York City subway scare apprehended by police
A man blamed by New York City police for leaving two kitchenappliances resembling pressure cookers in a subway station,causing chaos for commuters during Friday morning's rush hour,has been apprehended, authorities said on Saturday. Chief ofDetectives Dermot Shea wrote on Twitter that the individual,caught on camera leaving the devices inside the Fulton Streetstation in Lower Manhattan, was located and an investigationcontinues. No other details were immediately available.
Official autopsy concludes Epstein's death was suicide byhanging
New York City's chief medical examiner determined on Fridaythat suicide by hanging was the cause of death for financierJeffrey Epstein, whose body was found six days ago in aManhattan jail cell while awaiting trial on sex traffickingcharges. The sparely worded official announcement detailing theautopsy conclusions rebutted a host of conspiracy theories -including one promoted by President Donald Trump - that hadcirculated on social media about the death of the well-connectedformer money manager.
Dayton gunman had cocaine, Xanax, alcohol in his systemduring attack
The gunman who killed nine people outside a bar in Dayton,Ohio, had cocaine, Xanax and alcohol in his system at the timeof the shooting rampage, the county coroner said on Thursday.Dayton police announced the findings at a press conference andon Twitter and said that two victims of the massacre were struckby gunfire from law enforcement officers responding to thescene.
Democrat Elizabeth Warren floats plan to empower NativeAmericans
U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren onFriday unveiled her latest policy plan, which aims to empowerNative American tribes through land protection and lawenforcement reforms and boost financial support for chronicallyunderfunded health and education programs. The Massachusettssenator, who faced criticism before launching her presidentialcampaign for claiming Native American heritage, said the UnitedStates has failed to honor its legal and moral responsibility toprotect tribal nations and indigenous people.
Man insulted at New Hampshire rally by Trump because ofweight says 'I love the guy'
President Donald Trump called a man overweight who hethought was a protester at his rally in New Hampshire, only tolearn later he had ridiculed a supporter. Trump had looked outin the crowd at the Thursday night rally and saw Frank Dawsonshaking his fist as protesters were being led out. Dawson waswearing a "Trump 2020" shirt but the president thought he wasone of the protesters.