Casting aside rare censure from Republican lawmakers, President Donald Trump aimed new blasts of invective at the late John McCain Wednesday, even claiming credit for the senator's moving Washington funeral though he "never liked" him — and complaining he was never properly thanked. By the time the president began his latest anti-McCain tirade, several leading Republicans had already signaled a new willingness to defy Trump — one senator called his previous day's remarks "deplorable" — by defending the Vietnam War veteran as a hero seven months after he died of brain cancer. Get More

The Pentagon's inspector general has formally opened an investigation into a watchdog group's allegations that acting Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan has used his office to promote his former employer, Boeing Co. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed an ethics complaint with the Pentagon's inspector general a week ago, alleging that Shanahan has appeared to make statements promoting Boeing and disparaging competitors, such as Lockheed Martin. Get More

A judge blocked oil and gas drilling on almost 500 square miles (1,295 sq. kilometers) in Wyoming and said the federal government must consider the cumulative climate change impact of leasing broad swaths of U.S. public land for oil and gas exploration. The order marks the latest in a string of court rulings over the past decade — including one last month in Montana — that have faulted the U.S. for inadequate consideration of greenhouse gas emissions when approving oil, gas and coal projects on federal land. Get More

The former operator of a Florida spa named in a prostitution investigation is speaking out for the first time to rebut reports that she sold access to President Donald Trump. In an interview with NBC News, Li "Cindy" Yang said she believes she's facing allegations of being a Chinese agent solely because of her ethnicity and political leanings. Yang came under scrutiny after New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft was charged in late February with soliciting a prostitute at the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter. Kraft has denied the charges. Yang sold the business years ago but attracted attention after she posted a selfie showing her with President Trump at a Super Bowl party at the Trump International golf resort in Florida. Get More at NBC News

Exactly 1,000 days after Britain voted to leave the European Union, and nine days before it is scheduled to walk out the door, Prime Minister Theresa May hit the pause button Wednesday, asking the bloc to postpone the U.K.'s departure until June 30. EU leaders, who are exasperated by Britain's Brexit melodrama, will only grant the extension if May can win the U.K. Parliament's approval next week for her twice-rejected Brexit deal. Get More

In the wake of the attack on two New Zealand mosques, President Donald Trump said he did not see white nationalism as a rising threat around the world, but rather “a small group of people that have very, very serious problems.” Experts, however, say there are a number of indicators that suggest white nationalism and white supremacy — and violence inspired by them — are on the rise, in the U.S. and around the world. Get More

Charlie is a blind, 11-year-old golden retriever who has turned his new puppy companion into his own tiny "seeing-eye" dog. Charlie and Maverick are two golden retrievers that are taking social media by storm with their story — a 4-month-old puppy helping a blind dog "see" again. Get More

Often touted for being highly nutritious, kale has joined the list of 11 other fruits and vegetables known to be “dirty,” according to an analysis by the Environmental Working Group. The watchdog group publishes its “Dirty Dozen” list annually, in which it ranks the 12 produce items that contain the highest amount of pesticide residues. The group analyzes data from the Department of Agriculture’s regular produce testing to determine the list. Get More

Labrador retrievers aren't letting go of their hold on U.S. dog lovers, but German shorthaired pointers are tugging on the top ranks of doggy popularity, according to new American Kennel Club data. Labs topped the list for the 28th year in a row. Yet there's been plenty of movement over time on the purebred pup-ularity ladder. Get More

A Hawaiian Airlines flight to Los Angeles returned to Honolulu two hours into the trip after a mid-air squabble broke out between a pair of "unruly passengers." Passengers said one man apparently bumped another, touching off a shouting match. The pilot reversed course and returned the plane to Honolulu, landing more than three hours after they'd taken off from the same airport. Law enforcement was there to meet the plane when it landed. Get More

The Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged Wednesday and projected no rate hikes in 2019, dramatically underscoring its plan to be "patient" about any further increases. The Fed said it was keeping its benchmark rate — which can influence everything from mortgages to credit cards to home equity lines of credit — in a range of 2.25 percent to 2.5 percent. Get More

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft has rejected a plea deal from Florida prosecutors, the Boston Globe is reporting. The Palm Beach County Attorney's Office had offered to drop prostitution charges against Kraft if he were to concede he would be found guilty during his trial. The proposed agreement, which was also offered to 24 other men accused in the widespread soliciting prostitution sting, also required defendants to complete an education course, 100 hours of community service and a screening for sexually transmitted diseases. Get More

On Monday, the Trump administration released several proposed changes to the Higher Education Act, which is in the early stages of reauthorization by Congress. The proposal recommends reducing the number of federal loan repayment options and capping the amount of student loans that parents and graduate students can take on. Currently, Americans owe roughly $1.5 trillion in student loans, a 350 percent increase since 2003. As leader of the National Council for the American Worker, Ivanka Trump unveiled the plan and told reporters, “We need to modernize our higher education system to make it more affordable, flexible and outcomes-oriented, so all Americans, young and old, can learn the skills they need to secure and retain good-paying jobs.” Get More

Thousands of people were expected to come together for an emotional Friday prayer service led by the imam of one of the two New Zealand mosques where 50 worshippers were killed in a white supremacist attack. Two more of the victims were being buried Thursday as authorities identify and release more of the dead. Get More