President Donald Trump's attempts to deploy the military in Democratic-led cities over objections of mayors and governors have brought a head-spinning array of court challenges and overlapping rulings. As the U.S. Supreme Court weighs whether to clear the way for the National Guard in Chicago, a federal judge on Wednesday said she would agree to extend a two-week block on Guard deployment in the Chicago area by 30 days. Meanwhile, a federal appeals court is hearing arguments in California Gov. Gavin Newsom's challenge to troop deployment in Los Angeles. Guard troops could also soon be on the ground in Portland, Oregon — pending legal developments there.

For two weeks, Memphis has been bracing for an influx of National Guard troops after President Donald Trump announced his intention to deploy them to the city. On Friday, residents finally learned more about that plan. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee says additional federal law enforcement agents will focus on crime in Memphis starting next week. The Republican said at a news conference in Memphis alongside city and state officials that 13 federal agencies will arrive in phases, including the National Guard. He said the National Guard members will not make arrests and will not be armed unless local law enforcement officials request it. He says he will not declare a state of emergency.

President Donald Trump says he'll send the National Guard to Memphis, Tennessee, to address crime concerns there. The president told Fox News on Friday that "the mayor is happy" and "the governor is happy" about the pending deployment. Democratic Mayor Paul Young pushed back on Trump's assertion, saying "I did not ask for the National Guard and I don't think it's the way to drive down crime." Tennessee's Republican Gov. Bill Lee confirmed the deployment was coming and said he planned to speak with the president Friday to work out details of the mission. Trump has also mused about sending troops to New Orleans, another majority-Black city in a Republican-leaning state.

A new poll finds few Americans support allowing religious schools to become tax-funded public charter schools. But majorities are in favor of allowing religious chaplains to provide support services for public school students. The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows the complexity of Americans' attitudes toward religious expression in schools, which varies depending on the kind of expression and sometimes crosses partisan lines. The findings also highlight tension points in the country's long-standing debate over the role of religion in public schools, which continues to drive legislation and legal action.