(  )  The acting chair of the federal agency that enforces workers’ rights is defending her decision to drop lawsuits that seek to defend transgender people, saying her agency must comply with President Trump’s orders.  Andrea Lucas, who was first appointed to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in 2020 and elevated to chair in January, spoke recently at her confirmation hearing at the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. Her nomination to serve another five-year term as an EEOC commissioner requires Senate confirmation.

(  )  The city of Matera, in the south of Italy, will double as Jerusalem in the sixth season of the hit show “The Chosen”.  The cast and crew of the Biblical series traded their Texas studio for three weeks in Italy, during which the crucifixion of Christ was filmed.  Matera also provided the setting for such movies as “The Passion of the Christ” and “Mary Magdalene”.  Season five of The Chosen will be available to watch for free on the show’s app of the same name beginning in September.  Season six will air in 2027, and the series will come to an end with its seventh season, focused on Jesus’ resurrection.

(  )  The Democratic Party has built up a big fundraising advantage in the gubernatorial and legislative races in Virginia.  Democrats who already control the legislature are hoping to keep or expand their thin majority and amend the state’s constitution to enshrine both abortion and gay marriage.  Virginia is one of two states, along with New Jersey, that host statewide elections in the off year.  Some expect the results to be a foreshadowing of the 2026 midterm elections for Congress.  However, both Virginia and New Jersey have Democratic majorities.