MIT president says she ‘cannot support’ proposal to adopt Trump priorities for funding benefits

WASHINGTON (AP) — The president of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology said Friday she “cannot support” a White House proposal that asks MIT and eight other universities to adopt President Donald Trump’s political agenda in exchange for favorable access to federal funding. MIT is among the first to express forceful views either in favor of or against an agreement the White House billed as providing “multiple positive benefits,” including “substantial and meaningful federal grants.” Leaders of the University of Texas system said they were honored its flagship university in Austin was invited, but most other campuses have remained silent as they review the document.

Blast at a Tennessee explosives plant leaves 19 people missing and feared dead

McEWEN, Tenn. (AP) — An explosion at a Tennessee military munitions plant has left 19 people missing and feared dead, authorities say. The blast occurred Friday at Accurate Energetic Systems, about 60 miles southwest of Nashville. The cause of the explosion is not yet known. A spokesperson for the Humphreys County Emergency Management Agency says there’s no further danger of explosions, and the scene was under control Friday afternoon. Emergency crews hadn’t been able to enter the plant due to ongoing detonations. Residents miles away reported feeling the explosion, and video shows flames and heavy smoke rising from the debris. The company has not responded to requests for comment. Local officials describe the incident as a tragedy for the community.

Trump officials not giving up on deporting Abrego Garcia to West African nation

GREENBELT, Md. (AP) — The Trump administration is pushing again to deport a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador. An immigration official told a judge Friday that the administration hasn’t given up on sending Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Eswatini or Ghana even though both initially rejected the idea. Abrego Garcia is challenging efforts to re-deport him to a third country. The Salvadoran national’s mistaken deportation to his home country galvanized opposition to President Donald Trump’s sweeping immigration agenda. Abrego Garcia’s attorneys claim the Republican administration is illegally using the immigration system to punish him after the embarrassment of his mistaken deportation.

National Guard stands down in Illinois while troops patrol in Memphis with local police

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — National Guard troops are patrolling in Memphis for the first time, as part of President Donald Trump’s federal task force. The deployment comes a day after a federal judge in Illinois blocked troop deployment in the Chicago area for at least two weeks. It was unclear Friday how many Guard members were on the ground in Memphis or were expected to arrive later. In Illinois, two U.S. senators were denied access to an immigration enforcement building. Trump is pushing to deploy the Guard to several U.S. cities. His administration claims crime is rampant in those cities, despite statistics not always supporting that.