As a once-grand American tradition enters its twilight, our critic journeys to the desert to find out what it all means.

A lawsuit filed by Children’s Health Defense, an organization founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., claims that vaccines caused the twins’ deaths. But a grand jury in Idaho has indicted her on charges of suffocating them.

Federal officials said they would withhold some money unless states pursue paper ballot systems, verify citizenship and conduct costly audits.