UCLA Clashes, Interest Rates, and Teacher Pay by State

Clashes at UCLA Protests

The University of California, Los Angeles, canceled classes yesterday after brawls broke out between opposing groups of protesters on campus. According to reports, counter-protesters attacked pro-Palestinian protesters with sticks and poles late Tuesday night, with someone throwing fireworks into the camp. Clashes continued for hours before police intervened, with people using pepper spray, throwing chairs, and beating someone to the ground. It is not clear how many people were injured or arrested. See photos of the incident here; view video here (warning—sensitive content).

Pro-Palestinian protesters had been stationed at UCLA for close to a week amid nationwide university protests calling for divestment from Israeli companies, among other demands. At Columbia University, New York police made over 100 arrests and blamed outside agitators for escalatory tactics at protests, including taking over Hamilton Hall (see previous write-up).

Separately, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Israel yesterday as the US pursues a cease-fire and hostage release to stave off Israel's promised invasion of Rafah in southern Gaza. See all updates here.

Gay Clergy Ban Reversed

The legislative body of the United Methodist Church voted to repeal a 40-year ban on the ordination of gay clergy yesterday, one of several rule changes around sexuality adopted at their General Conference. The church is the second-largest Protestant Christian denomination in the US with roughly 5 million members, with another 5 million located abroad, primarily in Africa.

The 692-51 vote upends a church rule first implemented in 1984 that barred LGBTQ+ members from being ordained (see history). For decades, the conference—which meets every four years and acts as the church's highest authority—upheld the bans while recognizing the civil rights of LGBTQ+ individuals.

In recent years, some church officials opted not to enforce the rules. A process of so-called disaffiliation began in 2020, where traditional Methodist congregations could opt to leave the conference while retaining their church property. Roughly a quarter of the conference—7,600 communities—did so during a three-year window. More votes are expected ahead of the conference's conclusion tomorrow. 

Rates Hold Steady

The Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged yesterday after a Commerce Department report last week showed consumer prices rose 2.7% year-over-year in March, above the central bank's 2% target.

Yesterday's announcement marks the sixth straight meeting in which Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell kept the benchmark federal funds rate steady at 5.25%-5.5%, a 23-year high. The news comes after Powell weeks ago indicated multiple rate cuts could come this year. He has since backtracked as key inflation data show persistent price increases, particularly in the service industry, including restaurants and auto repair services. Powell said yesterday the board is unlikely to hike interest rates at the next policy meeting. Analysts are now looking to September or November as the earliest point the Federal Reserve might lower rates. 

Separately, the Labor Department yesterday reported US job openings fell to their lowest in three years, dropping 325,000 to 8.5 million. 

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