The suspect in the Molotov cocktail attack on a pro-Israel demonstration in Boulder, Colorado, has been charged with a federal hate crime and state attempted murder charges. Mohamed Soliman researched making Molotov cocktails and said he had planned the attack for over a year, waiting until after his daughter’s high school graduation to carry it out. He expected to die during the attack. (ABC News)
The Supreme Court’s 2023 ruling banning race-based college admissions is already impacting diversity on campuses. A CBS News analysis found the first freshman class since the ruling is less diverse, with a 2-percentage point drop in underrepresented minority students at colleges that previously considered race. Schools that didn’t use race saw little change, suggesting the ruling is driving the decline. (CBS News)
The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal challenging Maryland’s ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, leaving the state’s restrictions in place. The court’s decision is a victory for gun control advocates, but the court signaled it intends to formally address the legality of the AR-15 in the near future. Legal challenges to other state assault weapon bans remain pending in lower courts. (ABC News)
The U.S. office market has reached a turning point, as office conversions and demolitions will exceed new construction for the first time in at least 25 years. This net reduction in office space will help lower vacancy rates and stabilize rents, benefiting major office REITs. Overall, the office market is recovering, driven by increased office attendance and a tightening job market. (NBC News)
Smoke from wildfires in Canada has spread across the northern U.S., affecting air quality and visibility in several states. The smoke traveled as far as South Carolina, causing a red-tinged sunrise. The hazy conditions are expected to continue this week, with forecasters predicting smoky sunsets as far east as Boston and New York. Air quality alerts have been issued in many affected areas. (UPI)
