Trump memorial arch wins key panel approval as lawsuits grind on

A key panel just gave President Trump's memorial arch the green light, clearing the way for construction crews to break ground. The approval, reported by the Associated Press, moves the project off the drawing board.

The catch: lawsuits over the arch are still active. The panel's decision doesn't make them disappear, and the legal fight will run alongside any shovels hitting dirt.

AP's breaking alert did not detail who filed the suits or what they argue. What's clear is that the approval and the litigation are now moving forward at the same time.

That sets up a split-screen moment for the arch: one track clearing hurdles in the approval process, the other still working through the courts. A favorable panel ruling isn't a final word on the project's fate.

For now, the door to breaking ground is open. Whether the lawsuits close it again is the next thing to watch.