Police used gas to clear protesters from Lafayette Park before President Donald Trump walked over and held a Bible up at St. John's Episcopal Church. USA TODAY

Can police clear peaceful protests by force?Can the U.S. block migrants in the name of COVID-19?So much news, so many questions.

It's Ashley. Let's dive in.

But first, a modest pension: The last person in the USA to receive a Civil War-era pension died at age 90. She received a monthly check for $73.13.

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More than 1,200 former Justice Department stafferscallfor a review of Attorney General William Barr's role in forcefully removing peaceful protesters near the White House before President Donald Trumps photo op with a Bible outside St. John's Church. The former staffers said they were "disturbed" by Barr's involvement in the action, adding that the move violated the First and Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution. Though Barracknowledged deciding to expand the security perimeter around the area requiring the movement of protesters he has since said that he did not give the specific directive setting federal authorities in motion.

Police used tear gas to clear protesters from a park before President Trump walked over to St. John's Episcopal Church.(Photo: Getty)

The Justice Department showed a "gross abuse of prosecutorial power" in its push to drop the case against Michael Flynn, a court-appointed arbiter said Wednesday. Remember Flynn? Hes President Trump's former national security adviser who pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia during RobertMueller's investigationinto election interference. Retired federal judge John Gleeson said the Justice Department's bid to dismiss Flynn's case should be denied because its arguments "are not credible," suggesting the government violated safeguards designed to prevent "dismissals of criminal cases that would benefit powerful and well-connected defendants."

The ACLU filed a lawsuitWednesday challenging the Trump administration's decision to block many migrants from entering the country including those requesting asylum in the name of public health during the coronavirus pandemic.The suit claims the administration violated federal law by ordering blanket denials and immediate deportations of some migrants. Though federal law allows for the government to screen, quarantine and expel would-be migrants for public health reasons, it does not, according to the lawsuit, allow for the elimination of the asylum system or other forms of humanitarian relief.

Red flags are being raisedby experts around the country about Arizonas COVID-19 situation. Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations have increased over the past two weeks,and experts say the disease's spread can'tbe attributed solely to increased testing. Instead, it looks like the state is trending upward in a way that is concerning and could need another stay-at-home order to curb. "I would go so far as to say alarming," said William Hanage, an epidemiology professor at Harvard University.Gov. Doug Ducey said last week that therise in cases was expectedas the state beganreopening. Regardless, this is as good a time as ever for me to remind everyone: Social distancing, wearing masks and washing hands are some of the easiest ways to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Across the country, health experts have taken notice of Arizona's COVID-19 trajectory.(Photo: Arizona Department of Health Services)

A dark twist has been added to the disappearance of two Idaho children missing since September a bewildering case tied to mysterious deaths andallegations of cult-like religious beliefs. The new husband of the mother of the two kids wasarrested Tuesday after authorities found what they suspect to be two sets of unidentified human remains at his home.We dont know who the remains belong to, as autopsy results are pending. Chad Daybell, arrested on suspicion of concealing or destroying evidence, is the husband ofLori Vallow,who was arrested in February after she failed to bring her missing children to authorities.

Joshua Vallow, 7, and Tylee Ryan, 17, were last seen Sept. 23, 2019, in Rexburg, Idaho. Their mother, Lori Vallow, is the second wife of Chad Daybell.(Photo: National Center for Missing & Exploited Children via Associated Press)

George Floyd's younger brother Philonise addressed the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday in a hearing on policing. "Thank you for the invitation to be here today to talk about my big brother, George. The world knows him as George, but I called him Perry," he said. "Im tired. Im tired of the pain Im feeling now, and Im tired of the pain I feel every time another black person is killed for no reason.Im here today to ask you to make it stop. Stop the pain. Stop us from being tired."Read his full statement here.

"Stop the pain," says Philonise Floyd, brother of George Floyd, during a House Judiciary Committee hearing on proposed changes to police practices and accountability June 10.(Photo: Michael Reynolds, AP)

Prince Philip, the oldest and longest-serving royal consort in British history, marked a big-timemilestone today: He turned 99! As usual, the husband of Queen Elizabeth IIopted for ano-fuss celebration.I'm not trying to make this weird, but here's a little fun fact:The royal couple, who have been married since 1947, are distant cousins, both descended from Queen Victoria. Cheers to royal bloodlines.

Prince Philip celebrates his 99th birthday June 10. He's spent more than 70 of them by the side of Queen Elizabeth II.(Photo: Steve Parsons, AP)

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