March 20, 2024 - PBS NewsHour full episode

After a series of legal back and forths, an immigration law in Texas is back in the hands of an appeals court. The law gives state officials the power to arrest migrants who they believe crossed into the U.S. illegally. A Supreme Court ruling allowed Texas to enforce the law, but a federal appeals court put it back on hold. Amna Nawaz discussed the latest with Gaige Davila of Texas Public Radio.

Much of the U.S. government is waiting to see if Congress manages to avoid a partial shutdown that could begin this weekend. Lawmakers say they have struck a deal, but they do not have it in writing yet and they are running out of time. This comes on a busy day at the Capitol where Republicans again focused on their investigation of the Biden family. Lisa Desjardins reports.

One of the nation’s most closely watched Senate races is now set. Ohio businessman Bernie Moreno cruised to a victory in the state’s Republican primary after earning the backing of former President Donald Trump. He will take on incumbent Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown in a race that could decide control of the Senate. Amna Nawaz discussed more with Karen Kasler of Ohio Statehouse News Bureau.

China criticized the West for questioning Hong Kong's new national security law. The once mostly autonomous city is now led by legislators entirely handpicked by Beijing and critics say Article 23 is a death blow to whatever independence the city still had. Nick Schifrin discussed the law and what it means for Hong Kong with Anna Kwok of the Hong Kong Democracy Council.

A new novel takes on art and personal history, using fiction to explore the lives of both the author and an important art world figure. “Anita de Monte Laughs Last” is a tale of two women a generation apart. Jeffrey Brown sat down with author Xochitl Gonzalez for our arts and canvas series, CANVAS.

In Mississippi, six former officers are being sentenced for their roles in a series of brutal attacks. The self-proclaimed "Goon Squad" members pleaded guilty to assaulting two Black men by repeatedly shocking them with Tasers, sexually assaulting them with a sex toy and shooting one man in the face, nearly killing him. John Yang discussed the case with Brian Howey of Mississippi Today.