News on the Blue Marble

Reuters: "White House lawyers held talks with US Justice Department officials in recent days about the conclusions in Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia report, aiding them in preparing for its release, the New York Times reported on Wednesday...Democrats reacted angrily to news that White House and Justice Department lawyers conferred ahead of its release, and complained about Attorney General William Bar's plans to hold a news conference to discuss the report...Democrats said Barr...would be trying to shape the public's view of the report during his news conference before anyone had a chance to draw their own conclusions..."

CNN: "Officials from the Justice Department have spoken repeatedly with the White House about special counsel Robert Mueller's findings, The New York Times reported Wednesday. The Times report, citing people with knowledge of the discussions, said the talks 'aided the President's legal team' as it works to rebut the report, which the Justice Department said it will release with redactions on Thursday. Spokespeople for the White House and Justice Department declined to comment to the Times, which said ABC News first reported on the recent conversations between the White House and the Justice Department..."

BBC: French President Emmanuel Macron says Notre-Dame cathedral will be rebuilt 'even more beautifully'-and that he wants the work done within five years. A massive fire on Monday ravaged the 850-year-old Gothic building, destroying much of its roof and causing its steeple to collapse. The cathedral was minutes away from total destruction, officials say. But despite Mr. Macron's pledge experts say its reconstruction could take decades. Fifty people will investigate the cause of the fire. Paris public prosecutor Remy Heitz said there was no obvious indication of arson and that the blaze was being treated as an accident..."

Kim Jong Un

Reuters: "North Korean leader Kim Jong Un said the breakdown in talks with the United States raised the risk of reviving tensions, and he is only interested in meeting President Donald Trump again if the United States comes with the right attitude..."

Pelosi

Reuters:"U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi criticized President Donald Trump on Saturday for a Twitter post that used 9/11 orimagery while suggesting Democratic congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a Muslim, was dismissive of the New York attacks..."

Trump

Reuters:"U.S. congressional Democrats headed for a show down with the Internal Revenue Service over President Trump's tax returns, setting a new hard deadline of April 23 for the federal tax agency to hand the documents over to lawmakers..."

talking across divides

NPR: "Civility is a nice sentiment—but it's harder to put into practice. Take a contentious debate last year in the Maine House of Representatives over a proposal to ban conversion therapy—a discredited treatment designed to make gay people straight..."

Cillian Jackson

CNN:"Due to a genetic condition, Cillian Jackson, 2, can't walk. But the Minnesota boy now motors around in style, thanks to some enterprising students at a local high school. It all started when Cillian's physical therapist told his parents about a program calld Go Baby Go..."

Alan Naiman

CNN:"Alan Naiman was known for his frugality--he wore Costco jeans, bought his pocket T-shirts at a grocery store and squirreled away every penny he could. So when he died, friends were surprised to learn that he had left more than $11 million to charities in the Seattle area..."

Shakespeare

CNN:"The location of William Shakespeare's London home where the playwright wrote 'Romeo and Juliet' has been identified for the first time, according to new research. Theater historian Geoffrey Marsh spent a decade meticulously researching the home of the English dramatist and poet..."

ABCNews: "The moment every 'Star Wars' fan has been waiting for happened Friday--the Celebration panel for 'Episode IX' was held in Chicago and featured interviews from the cast, secrets from the film and much more..."

Tiger Woods

Reuters: Tiger Woods completed one of sport's great all-time comebacks to end an 11 -year major title drought at the Masters on Sunday by claiming a fifth Green Jacket..."