Today's other headlines begin in the nation's capital.

President Trump's nominee to fill an open seat on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors

said he would not resign his position at the White House if confirmed to the role.

Stephen Myron told the Senate hearing today that he would instead take an unpaid leave of absence

from his post as chair of the White House Council of Economic Advisors.

He also pledged to uphold the independence of the Fed.

If I'm confirmed to this role, I will act independently, as the Federal Reserve always does,

based on my own personal analysis of economic data, my own personal analysis of the effects

of economic policies upon the economy,

and act based on my judgment of the best economic policy possible.

His refusal to step away from his White House job raised sharp criticism among Democrats

who were already concerned about his ability to stay free of the president's influence.

Every claim he makes and every vote he takes will be tainted with the suspicion that he isn't an honest broker, but instead is Donald Trump's puppet.

Administration officials are hoping that Myron is confirmed in time for the Fed's next meeting

on interest rates later this month. That comes as the Justice Department has reportedly opened

a criminal investigation into Fed Governor Lisa Cook. President Trump has been trying to fire

Cook for cause amid accusations of mortgage fraud, which she denies. The criminal investigation

was first reported by the Wall Street Journal.

In Florida, a federal appeals court paused a lower court's order to wind down the Everglades

detention center known as Alligator Alcatraz.

In a two-to-one ruling, the judges said it wasn't in the public interest to close the facility

while the Trump administration appeals.

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