News Wrap: Treasury taking steps for $250 bill featuring Trump's image

Geoff Bennett:

Officials at the Treasury Department are laying the groundwork for a new $250 bill featuring President Trump's image. A mockup was first obtained by The Washington Post. It's meant to commemorate the nation's 250th anniversary and would be the first time a living person is featured on American currency in more than 150 years.

But its fate ultimately rests with Congress, where legislation has stalled that would overturn a federal law prohibiting living Americans from appearing on U.S. currency.

At today's White House press briefing, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the $250 bills would be ready for circulation should the legislation pass.

Scott Bessent, U.S. Treasury Secretary:

At present, no living person can be on U.S. currency. At Treasury, we prepare things in advance, so we have prepared in advance that -- if the legislation is passed, but we will stick to the law.

Geoff Bennett:

Congress outlawed images of living people back in 1866 after a Treasury official printed his own likeness on a 5 cent note, leading to widespread outrage at the time.

A federal judge in Washington is refusing to block President Trump's executive order limiting mail-in voting, at least for now. The order was issued back in March and would also direct the creation of a federal voter list. In his 26-page opinion, Judge Carl Nichols a Trump appointee, wrote that it was too soon for the court to intervene since the Trump administration hasn't implemented much of the order yet.

Democrats and civil rights groups have argued that the move exceeds the president's authority since the Constitution gives the power to set election rules to Congress and the states.

The Justice Department has reportedly opened an investigation into former columnist E. Jean Carroll, who won multiple civil cases against President Trump on accusations of sexual abuse and defamation. The Associated Press and other outlets say the DOJ is looking into whether Carroll lied during the course of the litigation.

She accused Mr. Trump of forcing himself upon her in a dressing room in the 1990s, which he denies. It is the latest example of the DOJ taking action against one of President Trump's perceived enemies.

In Central Africa, international aid is making its way to areas most affected by a growing Ebola outbreak. These supplies were donated by the European Union and they come as health workers have reported being poorly prepared to tackle the fast-spreading disease. The Democratic Republic of the Congo has been hardest hit, with more than 1,000 suspected cases and 220 suspected deaths.

Meantime, senior Trump administration officials confirmed today that the U.S. will open a 50-bed Ebola quarantine center in Kenya tomorrow. It's meant exclusively for Americans, though, which is frustrating some locals.

Serah Njoroge, Nairobi, Kenya, Resident:

Why would you create a facility in my country and it doesn't serve me? Yet, the same -- same facility is going to host people who are endangering my own life. Yet, if I end up contacting Ebola, God forbid, I can't be taken care of.

Geoff Bennett:

Also today, the U.S. State Department announced it's sending $80 million in aid to affected countries. The money is meant to help with protective equipment, as well as screening and testing for the virus.

Major League Baseball owners proposed a salary cap for the first time in decades today, something the players union has vowed to never accept. Under the proposal, teams would need to maintain a payroll of at least $171.2 million and couldn't exceed $245.3 million.

Eight teams currently spend more than that, including the World Series champion L.A. Dodgers. If the two sides can't reach a deal before the current contract expires in December, owners could lock out the players. The last time that happened was back in 1994, and it led to a seven-month strike that canceled the World Series.

On Wall Street today, stocks climbed to new records after the latest round of strong corporate earnings. The Dow Jones industrial average added about 25 points on the day. The Nasdaq jumped nearly 250 points, or almost 1 percent. The S&P 500 also posted a solid gain.