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Attorneys for the president of Wisconsin's largest mosque say he has lost 30 pounds and is being denied basic medical care for diabetes while detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Salah Sarsour, a Palestinian-born legal…
3 MIN READNicholas Enrich, the former top U.S. official for global health at the U.S. Agency for International Development, said in a new book and interview that political appointees blocked the agency's response to a 2025 Ebola outbreak in Uganda,…
4 MIN READProfessional wrestling legend Hulk Hogan died of natural causes last year, according to a Florida police report that formally closes the investigation into his death.
3 MIN READChatbots on five different websites falsely claimed to be licensed to practice medicine in Pennsylvania when prompted by reporters, mirroring the type of output that led the state to sue the role-playing platform Character.AI last month.
3 MIN READVail Resorts on Monday lowered its full-year net income forecast for the second time, citing historically challenging weather conditions across the western United States that cut skier visits by nearly 16% in its fiscal third quarter.
3 MIN READSenior Trump administration officials, including Vice President JD Vance and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, have seized on the killing of a British teenager to attack Europe’s immigration policies and accuse allied governments of lacking…
3 MIN READGordon S. Wood, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian whose scholarship fundamentally reinterpreted the American Revolution as a radical social and political transformation, died Sunday after being struck by a car in a supermarket parking lot…
3 MIN READNetflix released a video Monday introducing the real-life dog playing Scooby in the upcoming live-action series "Scooby-Doo: Origins."
3 MIN READAn Ohio man who accidentally threw away a scratch-off lottery ticket retrieved it from a dumpster and discovered it was a $100,000 winner, the Ohio Lottery reported.
3 MIN READThe Kennedy Center has removed President Donald Trump's name from its website, complying with a federal judge's order that the performing arts venue cannot be renamed without an act of Congress. The removal on Monday, June 8, came ahead of…
3 MIN READSavannah Guthrie, the anchor of NBC's "Today" show, issued another emotional plea for the safe return of her mother, Nancy Guthrie, on Sunday as the search for the 84-year-old surpassed four months.
3 MIN READThe Atlanta Hawks and head coach Quin Snyder agreed to a multiyear contract extension on Monday, the team announced, securing the coach who has led the franchise to measurable improvement in each of the past three full seasons.
3 MIN READTrump administration cuts to foreign assistance have destabilized long-running HIV/AIDS programs in South Africa and Mozambique, where NPR reporters documented closed clinics, unpaid health workers, and widespread uncertainty about the…
3 MIN READA mother bird has hatched two eggs in an unlikely nest inside the storage compartment of a not-in-service police training motorcycle in Puyallup, Washington, the Puyallup Police Department announced Sunday.
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An estimated 206 Afrikaner refugees have resettled in Ohio under the Trump administration's program for white South Africans, but they have encountered major obstacles from state driving laws that require $500 and up to nine months to…
3 MIN READChristmas Day won the Epsom Derby by 3 lengths on June 7 at Epsom Downs as the race favorite, Benvenuto Cellini, was ruled a non-starter after stewards found his hind leg was caught in the starting gate. The victory was trainer Aidan…
3 MIN READThe federal government dropped all charges against five activists known as the Broadview Six after a judge sharply criticized prosecutors for grand jury manipulation, marking the latest in a series of failed prosecutions of immigration…
3 MIN READA 28-year-old Illinois woman has filed a lawsuit against Advocate Good Shepherd Hospital in Hoffman Estates, alleging the Catholic-affiliated facility denied her a standard medication for an ectopic pregnancy, leading to a ruptured…
4 MIN READAmericans are increasingly relocating to states and communities whose political cultures match their own, a trend sociologists call 'ideological sorting.' But researchers say the movement is driven by more than just politics — economic…
3 MIN READSwiss drugmaker Roche said Monday it entered into an exclusive licensing and collaboration agreement with Nurix Therapeutics to develop a blood-cancer treatment, in a deal valued at up to $2.3 billion.
3 MIN READNvidia has ranked No. 1 in The Wall Street Journal's inaugural Best Companies for the Future list, a ranking that evaluates S&P 500 companies on AI readiness, innovation, talent readiness, financial fitness, resilience, and agility. The…
3 MIN READJohn Lithgow, at age 80, became the oldest male actor to win a Tony Award on Sunday, taking home the trophy for his portrayal of Roald Dahl in "Giant." British actress Lesley Manville won her first Tony for her performance in "Oedipus,"…
4 MIN READPope Leo XIV on Monday became the first pontiff to address the Spanish parliament, calling for a "moral renewal" in public life and respect for the dignity of migrants, the unborn and the most vulnerable during a speech to the Congress of…
3 MIN READThe U.S. Department of Agriculture confirmed two additional cases of New World screwworm in Texas on Monday, bringing the total to at least three detections since the parasite was first found in a calf last week — the first U.S. cases in…
4 MIN READResearchers say anti-AI sentiment has become a driver of political violence, with a series of recent attacks targeting tech leaders and infrastructure. In February, a 20-year-old Texas man was arrested after allegedly attempting to burn…
3 MIN READPresident Donald Trump declined Sunday to rule out using nearly $1.8 billion from an "anti-weaponization" fund to compensate individuals who were charged with assaulting police officers during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol,…
3 MIN READThe 79th Tony Awards at Radio City Music Hall in New York on Sunday night awarded top honors to Schmigadoon for Best Musical, Ragtime for Best Revival of a Musical, and Death of a Salesman for Best Revival of a Play. Singer Pink hosted the…
3 MIN READRaj Bhakta, a former contestant on NBC's "The Apprentice," is giving away the Green Mountain College campus in Poultney, Vermont, after abandoning plans for a resort development. Bhakta, who bought the 115-acre property in 2020 for less…
4 MIN READTaylor Parker, the Texas woman sentenced to death for killing her pregnant friend Reagan Simmons-Hancock in 2020 and cutting the unborn baby from her womb, remains on death row after the U.S. Supreme Court in May declined to review her…
4 MIN READA farmer and former congressional candidate from rural Virginia argues that Democrats can regain trust with rural and working-class voters by thinking differently about their grievances, talking more plainly, and focusing on collaborative…
3 MIN READGroups of people have been filmed entering New York City's sewer system through manholes in Queens and Brooklyn since early May, sparking public intrigue, media comparisons to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and an investigation by the New…
3 MIN READThe Oakland Museum of California will open "Mildred Howard: Poetics of Memory" on June 12, the first comprehensive retrospective of the 80-year-old artist's 50-year career. The exhibition draws from Howard's Oakland warehouse home and…
4 MIN READAHIP, the national trade organization representing the U.S. insurance industry, announced in late May that its members will continue covering routine vaccines through 2027, extending a similar policy for 2026. The decision comes as the…
3 MIN READRahm Emanuel, 66, completed a three-day bicycle ride across New Hampshire on Sunday, raising more than $26,000 for a children's charity as he made an aggressive early pitch for a potential 2028 Democratic presidential bid. The former White…
4 MIN READWomen 40 and older accounted for about 4.3% of U.S. births in 2025, up from 1.2% in 1990, according to provisional data from the National Center for Health Statistics. The rising share of older parents reflects a broader shift in American…
4 MIN READFORT RECOVERY, Ohio — While President Trump's approval ratings have slipped nationally amid economic concerns and the Iran war, a core group of supporters in deep-red Ohio say they remain firmly in his camp. In interviews with the Wall…
3 MIN READA Guardian columnist said former first lady Jill Biden's new memoir 'rewrites history' and avoids accountability for President Joe Biden's 2024 election loss, drawing criticism from CNN anchor Jake Tapper and a response from her son Hunter…
3 MIN READA D.C. Superior Court judge dismissed a breach of contract lawsuit against musician Chuck Redd on Friday, ruling that the Kennedy Center's suit violated Washington's Anti-SLAPP law. Redd had canceled a Christmas Eve performance after the…
3 MIN READThe Pentagon on June 5 announced it has reduced the number of religious affiliation codes it officially recognizes for service members from more than 200 to 31, eliminating categories that included atheists, Unitarian Universalists, pagans…
3 MIN READA Bethlehem, Pennsylvania police officer who resigned less than a year after joining the force to appear as a contestant on the reality dating show Love Island USA has drawn criticism from city officials and divided residents in his…
3 MIN READKristin Shires was in the front row when the Misterwives took the stage, soaking in the blaring drums and saxophones. But on the way home, the show followed her in a different form: a persistent ringing in her ears.
3 MIN READGolden Tempo, winner of the Kentucky Derby, captured the 158th running of the Belmont Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga Race Course in New York, giving trainer Cherie DeVaux her second Triple Crown victory with the same horse in the same year.
3 MIN READFord Motor Co., Bloomberg Philanthropies, the Lowe's Foundation and BlackRock Foundation have announced roughly $400 million in new spending this year aimed at training more Americans for skilled trades jobs, as employers face a deepening…
3 MIN READNew York City has seen a steady increase in complaints about dog waste left on sidewalks, prompting city council members to introduce legislation aimed at encouraging responsible pet ownership. Data from the city shows complaints have…
3 MIN READA 17-year-old Maryland high school student walked across the stage at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County on May 28 to receive his diploma — a milestone his father, Marco, watched via livestream from Mexico after being arrested by…
3 MIN READA Catholic church in Luling, Louisiana, reversed its decision to include a recently convicted priest in its prayer intentions after the priest's victims objected, instead dedicating prayers to survivors of clergy abuse, according to the…
3 MIN READPeruvians vote Sunday to elect their 10th president in a decade, with polls showing a tight runoff between hard-right candidate Keiko Fujimori and leftist Roberto Sánchez. About a quarter of voters remained undecided heading into election…
3 MIN READThe 79th Tony Awards will be held Sunday at Radio City Music Hall in New York, airing live on CBS and streaming on Paramount+ at 8 p.m. ET, according to the ceremony's organizers. Pop singer Pink will host the broadcast. 'The Lost Boys'…
3 MIN READThe Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool began refilling on Friday after a weeks-long project to resurface and repaint the basin to a shade President Trump calls 'American flag blue,' drawing mixed reactions from visitors who said the color…
3 MIN READHealth Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s push to overhaul the U.S. food system has stalled amid resistance from food companies and Trump administration officials, who warn that new regulations could further increase grocery prices,…
3 MIN READThe Food and Drug Administration has launched a safety study of the abortion pill mifepristone, a step administration officials said could lead to restrictions on how the drug is distributed and used. The study, which uses the agency’s…
4 MIN READThe U.S. State Department's official account posted Thursday that 'two-tiered policing' in the UK is a 'glaring symptom of civilizational decline,' according to The Guardian. Vice President JD Vance on Friday linked the fatal stabbing of…
3 MIN READNew Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill is facing intensifying backlash from immigrant-rights advocates and protesters who say her administration dispatched state police in riot gear to suppress demonstrations at the Delaney Hall immigration…
4 MIN READIllinois State Treasurer Mike Frerichs delivered a certificate to Pope Leo XIV at the Vatican on Thursday, authorizing the pontiff to reclaim $8.65 that had been sitting in Illinois' unclaimed property account — a sum once held by the…
3 MIN READAbout a dozen people attended an Ash Wednesday service at Boston's Old North Church in March. Two days later, a handful of worshippers gathered for a Shabbat service at Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island. Both congregations have been…
3 MIN READThe FBI on Friday fired five analysts connected to the creation of a 2023 intelligence memo that warned of a potential threat from Catholic 'violent extremists,' their attorney said, the latest wave of personnel actions under Director Kash…
3 MIN READA Colorado appeals court has ordered new trials for two paramedics convicted of homicide in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, the Black man who was pinned down by police and injected with a fatal dose of ketamine. The ruling, issued…
4 MIN READA new analysis by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention projects that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in Central Africa could grow to as many as 20,000 cases or more, depending on how quickly infected people are isolated to slow…
3 MIN READTestimony unfolded this week in the murder trial of a 19-year-old accused of fatally stabbing a fellow high school student during a track meet in Frisco, Texas, in April 2025. The case has drawn national attention amid debate over racial…
4 MIN READColumbia University researchers used a DNA-editing technique called base editing to correct disease-causing mutations in early-stage human embryos, publishing results Monday on a preprint server. The work marks a step in embryo gene…
3 MIN READRuby Duncan, a welfare-rights activist who led a 1971 protest into Caesars Palace that halted gambling and later founded the community organization Operation Life, died April 26 in Las Vegas at age 93, her family confirmed.
3 MIN READThe number of employed Argentines age 65 and older increased 12.7% over the past two years, as President Javier Milei's fiscal austerity measures eroded the purchasing power of pensions and pushed a growing number of retirees back into the…
3 MIN READA 27-year-old Mackinac County man won $2 million on a Michigan Lottery scratch-off ticket after buying it as part of his road trip ritual. The winner told Michigan Lottery officials that he purchases a Two Million Dollar Cashword ticket…
3 MIN READParamount+ will premiere the third season of its spy thriller Lioness on Aug. 2, the streaming service announced Friday. The series, from Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan, stars Zoe Saldaña and Nicole Kidman.
3 MIN READJesuit High School of New Orleans has agreed to pay a seven-figure sum to settle a lawsuit alleging that two janitors molested a preteen boy on the school’s campus in the mid-1970s, according to The Guardian and court records. The…
3 MIN READMore than 60,000 Wall Street Journal readers tested their personal finance knowledge against high school students in a quiz based on the National Personal Finance Challenge, the Journal reported Friday. The Mt. Hebron High School team from…
3 MIN READThe New York Yankees will be without star outfielder Aaron Judge for an indefinite period after the team announced Friday that he sustained a stress fracture of a rib on his right side. Judge missed his first game of the season Tuesday…
3 MIN READActor and television personality Mario Lopez will host the first-ever Presidential 1776 Award national finals, a civics competition for high school students, airing June 30 on CBS. The event, presented by the U.S. Department of Education…
3 MIN READSevere weather in Barcelona forced the last-minute cancellation of headline acts Doja Cat, Massive Attack, and Bad Gyal at the Primavera Sound festival on Thursday night, leaving fans frustrated over poor communication from organizers,…
3 MIN READAn analysis of state and federal records reveals that approximately half of California's tested waterways are contaminated with pesticides classified as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or Pfas. The review identifies the chemical…
3 MIN READSavneet Talwar, a tenured art therapy professor at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, was suspended from teaching and placed under investigation after a student complained about an assigned case study that mentioned violence…
3 MIN READAs SpaceX prepares for its initial public offering this month, investors are looking beyond Elon Musk's company to other space economy players. Rocket Lab, a Nasdaq-listed launch provider, has emerged as a leading contender with a growing…
3 MIN READA new NPR/Ipsos poll of 545 K-12 teachers across the United States finds that nearly three-quarters believe artificial intelligence will have bigger implications for education than past innovations like the internet or personal computers.…
4 MIN READThe U.S. economy has intensified its K-shaped divide under President Donald Trump, with wealthy Americans benefiting from a booming stock market while lower-income households face rising inflation, stagnant wages, and soaring gas prices,…
3 MIN READA growing number of young Americans are spending money frivolously with little regard for future financial consequences, a trend dubbed 'doomspending' that reflects deepening anxiety about the economy and a loss of faith in traditional…
3 MIN READAmerican Airlines said it is temporarily suspending service on selected routes in August and September, citing elevated jet fuel costs amid the ongoing U.S. war with Iran. The Texas-based carrier said affected travelers will be offered…
3 MIN READConservative leader Kemi Badenoch has warned that rising tensions over identity politics in the United Kingdom could lead to civil war in the long term if left unaddressed, according to an interview recorded for a BBC Radio 4 documentary…
3 MIN READA study published Thursday in Science found that wildfire smoke has reversed decades of progress toward US ozone air quality standards. Ground-level ozone concentrations, which had been declining, began rising after 2015 as increasingly…
3 MIN READThe U.S. Department of Justice’s civil rights division has launched investigations into 15 medical schools over allegations that their admissions processes may illegally use race as a factor, the department announced Thursday. The move…
4 MIN READU.S. and international aviation authorities have issued new guidelines for carrying rechargeable lithium-ion portable battery chargers on flights following a series of smoke and fire incidents, the Associated Press reported June 4.
Five Republican governors have issued proclamations renaming June to titles such as Nuclear Family Month, Strong Families Month and Fidelity Month, offering alternatives to the widely recognized LGBTQ+ Pride Month, according to the Associated Press.
Democracy came to the cradle of Voodoo religion in 1991, when Benin's military dictator Mathieu Kérékou surprisingly lost an election he had organized. Kérékou had amassed power partly by banning the practice of so-called sorcerers, whose authority he deemed subversive. President Nicéphore Soglo, who defeated him, rehabilitated Voodoo as part of national heritage, setting the stage for a democratic tradition that endures today.
The family of a 20-year-old Auburn University student who vanished in Japan nearly a week ago is appealing to the public for help locating him, his mother said Thursday. Japanese police deployed search dogs, helicopters and dozens of officers to search a muddy hillside area near Kyoto where James 'Weston' Higginbotham was last seen.
U.S. income inequality has widened significantly over the past five decades, with households at the 90th percentile earning 12.6 times as much as those at the 10th percentile in 2024, up from 8.7 times in 1976, according to Census Bureau data cited by the Wall Street Journal. In an article published June 4 as part of its 'USA250' series, five economists offered competing visions for addressing the divide as artificial intelligence reshapes the economy.
Somalia's military and opposition militias clashed Thursday in Mogadishu after parliament extended President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's term by one year, with gunfire and fighting that prompted residents to flee their homes.
Football's governing body has prohibited reusable water bottles and containers from stadiums just a week before the tournament's opening match, citing safety concerns over thrown projectiles. Heat and health experts have criticized the late policy reversal, warning that restricting free hydration access amid extreme summer temperatures could heighten the risk of heat-related illnesses among spectators.
An auction of personal items that belonged to Marilyn Monroe, from a 1950s evening bag to her lip pomade, opened on the 100th anniversary of her birth and swiftly collected bids upwards of $70,000, Julien's Auctions said Thursday.
Google has named Kameirah, a Washington high school student, the winner of its 17th annual Doodle for Google contest for her illustration celebrating kinky hair and its cultural legacy, the company announced Thursday.
The Ohio State University has agreed to pay $100 million to 279 former students who alleged campus doctor Richard Strauss sexually abused them, the university announced Wednesday. The settlement covers claimants from a period spanning 1978 to 1998, when Strauss worked at the campus health center and athletic department.
A South Carolina man bought a $3 scratch-off ticket while driving a family member to a medical appointment and won a $75,000 prize, lottery officials said.
Three scientific papers that questioned vaccine safety and were used by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and the Trump administration to justify changes to U.S. vaccine policy have been retracted, removed, or formally investigated by their publishing journals, according to a report by The Guardian.
The Guardian has published an interactive bracketology tool allowing soccer fans to predict winners for every match of the 2026 World Cup, from group stage through the final, on June 4, 2026.
Tony Hale recalled his days as an office temp while discussing his role in the comedy "Office Romance," which premieres Friday on Netflix. The 55-year-old actor said he worked temp jobs in New York before landing the role that launched his career on "Arrested Development," often getting sent to Vogue magazine when their receptionists or secretaries were out sick.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicked off this week across 16 host cities in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marking the first time the tournament has been co-hosted by three nations. The unprecedented arrangement comes after months of fractious relations among the three neighbors over tariffs, immigration enforcement, and political rhetoric, raising questions about whether the monthlong event will ease tensions or deepen them.
The widow of Luke Ashton, a gambling addict who took his own life in April 2021 after falling £18,000 into debt, began a legal claim on Thursday against Betfair in the UK High Court. The case could establish for the first time that a betting company owes a duty of care to customers showing signs of problem gambling.
St. Paul City Attorney Irene Kao declined Wednesday to file state criminal charges against dozens of anti-immigration enforcement protesters who interrupted a January church service, a decision the lead pastor of Cities Church strongly criticized.
Country music star Garth Brooks is considering selling his music catalog for roughly $2 billion, in what would be among the largest deals for an individual artist’s catalog, according to people familiar with the matter.
Sir Alex Younger, the former head of MI6, has died aged 62 after being treated for cancer, his family said. Younger led the Secret Intelligence Service from 2014 to 2020, a career that spanned three decades in British intelligence.
As the United States prepares to mark its 250th birthday, the historical reputation of the British monarch it revolted against — King George III — is undergoing a quiet rehabilitation. Long portrayed in American popular culture as a tyrannical madman, the king who lost the American colonies is being reexamined by historians who say much of the traditional narrative, including the list of grievances in the Declaration of Independence, amounts to wartime propaganda rather than an accurate account of the 18th century's political realities.
A museum in Savannah, Georgia, on Wednesday received 17 cannons from the American Revolution that experts believe sank to the bottom of the Savannah River during the war and remained undiscovered for nearly 240 years. The artifacts, pulled from the riverbed in 2021 during a dredging project, will go on display at the Savannah History Museum just in time for the Fourth of July and America's 250th birthday celebration.
Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban testified Wednesday before the Senate Commerce Committee in support of a bipartisan bill that would regulate payments to college athletes, limit player transfers, and restrict coaches from leaving programs during the season. The legislation faces opposition from the Southeastern Conference and the Big Ten.
Several Jewish faculty members at Columbia University filed Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claims this week arguing that a $21 million antisemitism settlement fund, created as part of the university's deal with the Trump administration, is being used to suppress pro-Palestinian speech rather than protect Jewish employees from genuine antisemitism.
Pope Leo XIV released his first encyclical on May 25, warning that unregulated artificial intelligence could weaken democracy by eroding the distinction between fact and fiction. The document, titled 'Magnifica Humanity: On Safeguarding the Human Person in the Time of Artificial Intelligence,' also cautions against a 'technocratic paradigm' that reduces human beings to tools of efficiency, according to the text.
In the small, diverse community of Winooski, Vermont, a school district of about 800 students has refused to comply with Trump administration policies on immigration enforcement and diversity programs — a stand that drew death threats, inspired a statewide law, and left its superintendent facing detention by federal agents.
Former first lady Jill Biden said Tuesday she regrets not speaking more openly about her son Hunter Biden's drug addiction during her time in the White House, explaining that being open about his substance abuse and recovery can offer hope to others facing similar struggles.
Republican Steve Hilton on Tuesday expressed optimism that he will advance to the general election in California's governor race, even as vote counting continued and the Associated Press had not called the winner of the primary. Hilton, who served as an adviser to former British Prime Minister David Cameron and later as a Fox News host, is seeking to become the state's first Republican governor in more than 15 years.
Jill Biden recalled the intense pressure that led Joe Biden to drop out of the 2024 presidential race, saying he told her "Jilly, I had no choice," during a Tuesday book event in New York City for her new memoir *View from the East Wing*. She described the public calls from Democratic allies as "really hurtful" and said both she and Joe were "devastated" by the response from party members they had considered close friends.
The top federal prosecutor in Chicago acknowledged Wednesday that he personally addressed a federal grand jury in October 2025 before it indicted protesters who opposed the Trump administration’s immigration sweeps, a rare admission of direct involvement in the secretive process.
An independent UK government review has recommended barring NHS staff from wearing political badges on their uniforms, including pro-Palestinian symbols, as part of a broader set of measures to tackle antisemitism within the health service.
Canada has become the first G7 country to approve a generic version of the popular GLP-1 drug semaglutide, injectable generics are expected in Canadian pharmacies as of June at less than a third of the brand-name price, according to Health Canada approvals and manufacturer statements.
Ted Turner, the media mogul who created CNN and built a broadcasting empire, and Jason Collins, the first openly gay NBA player, both died in May 2026, according to the Associated Press.
Cardinal Robert McElroy, the Catholic archbishop of Washington, D.C., on Wednesday removed a well-known priest from his role as an exorcist of the archdiocese after the priest publicly suggested that UFO sightings were the work of demons.
Support for same-sex marriage among U.S. adults has dropped to 65%, down from 71% in 2022-2023, according to Gallup’s annual Values and Beliefs survey released Wednesday. The percentage of Americans who view gay and lesbian relations as morally acceptable fell to 62%, the lowest level since 2016, after peaking at 71% in 2022.
The UK government will provide £1.3bn in public funding to help Comcast build Universal’s first European theme park on a former brickworks site near Bedford, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced Wednesday.
A Rutgers University graduation speaker was disinvited for pro-Palestinian social media posts, as campus free speech advocates warned that the move reflects a broader trend of universities canceling commencement speakers over controversial opinions during the 2026 graduation season.
NASA has declared the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Environment (MAVEN) satellite unrecoverable and its mission concluded, nearly six months after losing contact with the spacecraft. The agency held a media teleconference Wednesday to announce the end of the 11-year mission that transformed scientists' understanding of the Martian atmosphere and its evolution.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth stripped nine Navy officers — including all three women and two of four Black service members — from a promotion list last month, according to a person familiar with the matter, resulting in an all-male, overwhelmingly white slate of 22 nominees for promotion to one-star admiral. Hegseth did not explain the removals to the Navy, and a service official said the service had been "very confident" with the original list.
Voters in Monterey Park, California, on Tuesday approved a ballot measure that permanently bans data centers in the city, making it the first US municipality to enact such a ban through a direct vote. With 86.3% of more than 7,000 votes counted in favor, the measure passed by a wide margin, according to city councilmember Jose Sanchez.
Novo Nordisk has launched its oral Wegovy obesity pill in the United Arab Emirates, marking the drugmaker's first expansion of the pill version beyond the United States. Separately, Canadian generic-drug manufacturer Apotex Health moved toward an initial public offering seeking roughly C$1 billion, while WELL Health Technologies closed two major clinic acquisitions and raised its earnings outlook above analyst consensus.
A chicken on the loose in a Kentucky neighborhood led an animal control officer and residents on a chase Friday night that ended with the fugitive fowl taking a swim in a neighbor's pool before being captured.
The Durham County Sheriff's Office rounded up six sheep that were wandering through a neighborhood on Duck Pond Court on Monday, using trash cans and cornhole boards as makeshift barriers. Animal Services deputies captured the five ewes and a black ram, who calmed the group once leashed.
The Pan American Health Organization warned this week that a resurgent measles outbreak across the Americas, which has produced more than 20,000 confirmed cases and 25 deaths this year, poses a growing public health threat as millions prepare to travel for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
CBS fired veteran 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley on Tuesday night after he challenged new leadership at the program, accusing editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and executive producer Nick Bilton of attempting to inject political bias into stories. The dismissal is part of a broader shake-up at CBS News under new owners David and Larry Ellison, who have made concessions to the Trump administration.
ABC announced Wednesday that Marcello Hernandez, the 28-year-old *Saturday Night Live* cast member and comedian, will host the 2026 ESPY Awards on July 15 at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer on Wednesday of abandoning welfare reform, pointing to the absence of a welfare bill from the government's legislative agenda and citing leaked private messages from a senior minister that she said revealed Labour's internal resistance to cutting benefits.
New Jersey state police and Newark police blocked journalists from covering demonstrations near the Delaney Hall ICE detention facility last week, detaining at least three news workers and denying press credentials to independent livestreamers, according to a Guardian opinion piece by Adam Rose, deputy director of advocacy at the Freedom of the Press Foundation. The actions came amid a hunger strike by ICE detainees and ongoing protests that have drawn hundreds to the facility.
Democrats across several states selected nominees on Tuesday in primaries that will shape the battle for control of Congress and governor’s mansions in November. The winners included a navy veteran in New Jersey, a Paralympic gold medalist in Iowa, an army veteran and plastic surgeon who served in Gaza, and a prolific California state senator.
A UK parliamentary bill that would impose fines on airlines for damaging or losing wheelchairs and failing disabled passengers passed its second reading in the House of Lords on Tuesday, with Paralympic champion Baroness Tanni Grey-Thompson calling it a "significant opportunity" to transform air travel for disabled people.
Peabo Bryson, the two-time Grammy Award-winning R&B singer whose voice anchored the Oscar-winning Disney duets "Beauty and the Beast" and "A Whole New World," died Tuesday at age 75 days after suffering a stroke, his family announced.
Pride organizations across the U.S. are struggling to secure enough corporate sponsorships to fund their annual June events after a wave of big-name brands pulled back, with large groups cutting budgets and others facing hundreds of thousands of dollars in shortfalls. Sponsors commonly cite economic instability and the Trump administration’s moves against diversity, equity and inclusion programs, with government contractors particularly concerned about potential consequences.
Bodycam footage obtained by BBC News shows police handcuffing an 18-year-old stabbed man instead of rendering aid, after his murderer falsely told officers the victim had racially abused him. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer described the footage as 'harrowing' and condemned political figures who, he said, were using the case 'to create division.' The incident has reignited accusations of 'two-tier policing' in Britain, with Conservative and Reform UK leaders claiming officers treat people differently based on race.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth blocked the appointment of nine Air Force colonels to one-star general and delayed the promotion of at least two dozen more senior officers, according to current and former U.S. officials. The moves have raised concerns in the Pentagon and on Capitol Hill that Hegseth is targeting officers based on race, gender, or perceived loyalty, officials said.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio told lawmakers on Tuesday that the U.S. is still negotiating with several countries to resettle more than 1,000 Afghan allies stranded in Qatar, while he defended the Trump administration's decision to authorize refugee admissions for tens of thousands of white South Africans.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday overturned a lower court ruling and cleared the way for Alabama to use a congressional map that a three-judge panel had found "tainted by intentional race-based discrimination," a decision that will likely cost a Democratic incumbent his seat in the 2026 midterm elections.
The Pentagon has appointed Elias Irizarry, a man convicted for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol, to a sensitive counter-terrorism position within the Department of Defense's special operations office, according to reports from the Washington Post and The Guardian.
Asian hotel chain Archipelago International has ended its operations in Cuba under the Aston brand, becoming the third international hospitality operator to exit the island in less than a week ahead of a Friday deadline for foreign companies to end business dealings with GAESA, the military-run conglomerate that controls much of Cuba's tourism sector.
Tennessee Republicans have eliminated the state's only Democratic, Black-majority congressional district, splitting Memphis's Black voters across three Republican-leaning seats in a redistricting that followed the U.S. Supreme Court's weakening of key Voting Rights Act protections. All nine of Tennessee's congressional districts now lean Republican under the new maps approved by the Republican-controlled General Assembly in Nashville.
More than 1,100 University of California math and science professors have urged UC regents to reinstate college-entrance exams, citing a sharp decline in student readiness that they say is lowering academic standards and straining teaching resources.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has emerged as the Knicks' cheerleader-in-chief as the team marches toward the NBA Finals, finding one of the few sources of universal approval during a tenure that has drawn sharp criticism from the business community and some Jewish New Yorkers. Mamdani signed an executive order Wednesday effectively repealing bedtime for city children so they can stay up late for the first Finals game, and his administration is organizing watch parties across the five boroughs.
The National Science Foundation has suspended nearly $21 million in research grants to UC Berkeley, alleging that principal investigators failed to disclose foreign funding from traditional U.S. allies — several of whom said they never received such funding.
A woman in a refugee camp in the Central African Republic gave birth on the roadside, alone and without medical care, after conflict and poverty prevented her from reaching a health facility. Her story is part of a broader crisis in sub-Saharan Africa, where the region accounts for 70% of maternal deaths worldwide.
Hawaii has launched a $28 million medical school tuition program that will cover remaining expenses for students who commit to working in the state's rural areas for five years after graduation, state officials said.
Pennsylvania's elder abuse hotline received a call on March 31 about a 65-year-old Allegheny County woman living alone with a collapsed roof, exposed belongings, and electrical hazards, a situation the caller described as 'life-threatening.' Records obtained by Spotlight PA show that while the hotline intake worker agreed the case warranted immediate investigation, the state's system for protecting vulnerable older adults has repeatedly rejected similar cases that experts say should have been investigated.
South West Water has been fined nearly £2m after pleading guilty to supplying drinking water contaminated with the cryptosporidium parasite, causing a major outbreak that sickened more than 140 people in and around Brixham, Devon, in May 2024.
As the 2026 World Cup approaches, fans across the 16 host cities in the United States, Mexico and Canada express a mix of excitement and deep reservations over ticket prices, political tensions and logistics concerns, according to a series of dispatches published June 2 by The Guardian. The tournament, which kicks off June 11, will be the first co-hosted by three nations and features a record 104 matches.
Several prominent New York Democrats who marched in Sunday's Israel Day parade have condemned the attendance of Bezalel Smotrich, Israel's far-right finance minister, saying they were unaware he would be present and denouncing his extremist views.
Reform UK's candidate in the Makerfield by-election, Robert Kenyon, has acknowledged making "crass" comments online in the past, including a response to a sexually graphic post about TV presenter Carol Vorderman)Skip that emerged from scrutiny of his social media history.
Uber released its 10th annual Lost & Found Index on Tuesday, cataloging the most common and most unusual items passengers left behind in ride-hailing vehicles over the past year. This year's list includes dentures with only two teeth, breast milk, an ankle monitor, and George Washington's hospital discharge papers.
Michelle Obama told the SXSW London audience on Tuesday that she has never met a white man who admitted feeling impostor syndrome, a form of self-doubt she said disproportionately affects women and minorities in elite spaces.
A wave of Democratic doctors, scientists and public health professionals are running for office in the 2026 midterm elections, citing the Trump administration's health policies — including deep cuts to public health funding and a surge in vaccine misinformation — as a direct threat to public health, according to interviews with more than a dozen candidates.
Jill Biden said she feared former President Joe Biden was having a stroke moments after the June 2024 presidential debate and that doctors checked him immediately, earlier than previously acknowledged by the Biden administration.
A Texas jury on Tuesday was set to begin deliberating the sentence for Anthony Odiong, a 57-year-old Roman Catholic priest convicted of first- and second-degree sexual assault for exploiting his spiritual authority to coerce two female parishioners into sex. Odiong faces between five years and life in prison.
On June 2, 1946, Italian voters chose to replace the monarchy with a republic in a national referendum, ending the House of Savoy's rule. The date also marks the Confederate surrender of the Civil War in 1865, the signing of the Indian Citizenship Act in 1924, the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953, and numerous other historical milestones including the election of Mexico's first female president in 2024.
June 2 marks the birthdays of a wide range of entertainers, athletes, and historical figures, including comedian Jo Koy, actor and rapper Awkwafina, Rolling Stones drummer Charlie Watts, and National Soccer Hall of Fame member Abby Wambach.
Michigan has shifted away from requiring parents to attend in-person vaccine education sessions before obtaining school immunization waivers, adopting a hybrid online process as the state faces a measles outbreak and a record-high rate of parents opting school-age children out of vaccinations, NPR and KFF Health News reported.
Stephen Curry has signed an endorsement deal with Chinese sportswear company Li-Ning, the Golden State Warriors guard announced on his business website Thirty Ink. The 38-year-old NBA star is free to partner with a new retail brand after ending a 12-year deal with Under Armour in 2025. The financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Saturday visited the eastern Congolese city of Bunia, the epicenter of a rare Ebola outbreak that has accelerated beyond the capacity of health responders, as the number of suspected cases surpassed 900 and the virus spread into neighboring Uganda.
The Wall Street Journal reported June 1 that newly released Justice Department files detail Bill Gates's association with Jeffrey Epstein, prompting the billionaire to publicly acknowledge two extramarital affairs referenced in Epstein's emails and leading Microsoft to alter its longstanding annual summit plans.
President Donald Trump will headline "The Great American State Fair," a June 250th-anniversary celebration on the National Mall, after several scheduled musical performers withdrew citing the event's ties to his administration, organizers said Saturday.
Researchers presented a study Sunday showing the experimental pill daraxonrasib nearly doubled survival time for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer, marking a potential breakthrough against one of the deadliest forms of the disease.
London-based singer-songwriter Samuel Smith is using artificial intelligence platforms to continue making music after Parkinson's disease largely ended his ability to play guitar, his recently released second album demonstrates.
Jersey's children's commissioner and a new cost-of-living report are raising alarms ahead of the island's June election, with a quarter of households classified as low-income and residents warning that high housing and grocery prices are forcing families to consider leaving the island.
The Trump administration on Monday issued a new rule requiring most Medicaid enrollees ages 19 through 64 to work, participate in job training, or perform community service for at least 80 hours per month to maintain their health coverage, implementing a provision of the president's tax and spending law signed in July. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services published the interim final rule as an "emergency" measure, giving states until Jan. 1 to comply. Patient advocacy groups and Democrats immediately condemned the policy.
President Donald Trump announced he will relinquish control of the Kennedy Center to Congress following a federal judge's order blocking his proposed renovations and mandating the removal of his name from the venue.
Soaring fuel prices driven by the war with Iran are threatening the peak summer tourism season across Southeast Asia, straining economies in Thailand, Vietnam, and Cambodia that depend heavily on international visitors, the Associated Press reported. Elevated jet fuel costs and ceasefire uncertainties have prompted flight cancellations and higher ticket prices just as the region's busiest travel period approaches.
Several protesters were arrested overnight for defying a curfew at Delaney Hall, the Newark, New Jersey, immigration detention center that has been the site of more than a week of clashes between law enforcement and demonstrators supporting immigrants detained inside.
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino used a mandatory mid-half water break during Sunday's 3-2 friendly win over Senegal to huddle players around a laptop for an impromptu video session, creating a viral moment that highlighted the tactical potential — and controversy — of FIFA's new cooling-break rule at the upcoming World Cup.
The Treasury Select Committee of MPs began an inquiry into England's student loan system on Tuesday, as new research shows that a record 34% of people in 2025 believe a university degree is not worth the time and money — up from 14% in 2005.
Tom Hanks said the latest Toy Story film highlights children's addiction to screens, calling the issue one that strikes "terror in the heart." The fifth installment of Pixar's animated franchise introduces a tablet antagonist that captivates the film's child characters, reflecting real-world concerns about young people's relationship with technology.
A Washington Post/ABC News/Ipsos poll found that 55% of Americans now believe President Trump's health is insufficient for him to serve effectively, nearly double the 28% who held that view three years ago. The polling shift comes as Trump, who turns 80 on June 14, made his third in-person visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in just over a year.
Actress Blake Lively's lawyers asked a federal judge on Monday to force "It Ends With Us" co-star Justin Baldoni to pay her legal fees and other penalties, arguing she is entitled to the costs under California law after a judge threw out Baldoni's countersuit last year.
Scott Pelley, a longtime "60 Minutes" correspondent, openly criticized new Executive Producer Nick Bilton and CBS News Editor in Chief Bari Weiss during Bilton's first staff meeting with the show's producers and on-air talent Monday, according to people at the gathering. Pelley questioned Bilton's qualifications and accused Weiss of "murdering" the show, drawing applause from some attendees.
Hundreds of residents in central Kenya marched Monday to protest a planned U.S.-run field hospital that would treat and quarantine Americans exposed to the Ebola virus. A Kenyan court blocked the facility's opening ahead of a scheduled hearing on Tuesday.
Wisconsin comedian Charlie Berens has pivoted his performance work toward grassroots activism after learning about proposed AI data center construction in communities across the state.
White Castle said Monday it has permanently added a meat-free slider to its menu, making the Columbus, Ohio-based chain the latest fast-food company to expand its plant-based offerings even as the broader veggie-burger market faces a sales downturn.
Oura released a redesigned smart ring focused on a smaller form factor after users requested a less obtrusive wearable, Chief Executive Tom Hale said in a June 1 interview with The Wall Street Journal.
Animal law enforcement officers near Pike's Peak, Colorado, rescued a pig named Edgar after his tusk became hooked in a fence last week, in what the Humane Society of the Pike's Peak Region said was a first-of-its-kind call for the agency.
Aleshia Wiley of Cedartown, Georgia, has earned the Guinness World Record for the world's largest collection of Wonder Woman memorabilia, with 1,581 items including comic books, Funko Pop figurines, action figures and branded merchandise.
A Bluffton, South Carolina, woman told lottery officials that a trip to buy cat food on sale led her to purchase a scratch-off ticket worth $1 million.
HBO’s drama series Euphoria aired its final episode June 1, concluding a three-season run created by Sam Levinson. The finale wrapped storylines for principal cast members including Zendaya, Sydney Sweeney, Hunter Schafer, and Jacob Elordi, all of whom are transitioning immediately into scheduled film productions.
The New York Giants signed free agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on Monday, reuniting the former first-round pick with the franchise that selected him 12th overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. Beckham, 33, did not play in 2025 and returns to a Giants team that needs receiver help.
Estonia began distributing free, customized ChatGPT accounts to nearly 20,000 high school students this year, replacing outright bans with a structured pedagogical trial aimed at preserving cognitive skills amid widespread AI adoption. Researchers from Stanford University and Estonia’s education ministry are tracking student reasoning and retention before and after the rollout.
Polling data from Uruguayan firm Equipos Consultores indicates that ideological identification among adults aged 18 to 29 has reached rough parity between left and right for the first time in a generation, reflecting a broader regional shift in Latin America. Historical comparisons from Montevideo newspaper El País show the right leading the left by three percentage points as of 2025, reversing a long-standing leftward advantage.
Wealth advisors and family offices are expanding specialized retreats for heirs of the ultra-rich as the United States navigates a historic period of wealth creation and intergenerational transfer. Programs like the Austin-based seminar hosted by peer network R360 aim to prepare college-age attendees for financial, emotional, and social challenges tied to inherited fortunes that could otherwise vanish across generations.
Sergiño Dest scored the United States men’s national team’s opening goal in a 3-2 friendly victory over Senegal, marking the first start together for Dest and Antonee Robinson under head coach Mauricio Pochettino.
Victor Wembanyama led the San Antonio Spurs to the NBA finals on June 1, 2026, after the team defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder in Game 7 of the Western Conference finals. The victory secured a championship-series berth for San Antonio and concluded a playoff run that tested the French center’s physical durability.
Writer Courtney E. Martin outlined the escalating financial strain of elder care for U.S. families on June 1, 2026, citing widespread shortfalls in retirement savings and policy gaps that leave the 'forgotten middle' unable to afford dignified aging.
The fourth round of the 2026 French Open begins June 1 at Roland-Garros, headlined by Madison Keys, Flavio Cobolli and Félix Auger-Aliassime as the tournament advances into its second week.
The UK government published a second tranche of documents on Peter Mandelson's appointment as ambassador to the United States, releasing more than 1,000 pages of internal government communications, text messages, and WhatsApp logs to Parliament.
Christian Pulisic scored a goal and assisted another in the United States men's national team's 3-2 friendly win over Senegal on Sunday in Charlotte, North Carolina, ending a nearly six-month goal-scoring drought for club and country.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, the largest edition of the tournament in its history, will be played across 16 stadiums in the United States, Mexico and Canada when it opens June 11. The venues range from the recently renovated Estadio Azteca in Mexico City to the $5 billion SoFi Stadium near Los Angeles.
Social Circle, a Georgia town of approximately 5,000 residents, has filed a federal lawsuit to block a proposed Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center, alleging the facility would violate state public nuisance laws and federal administrative procedures.
Members of Parliament will debate the NHS Modernisation Bill's second reading on Monday, marking the first legislative step toward a unified patient record system across England. Health and Social Care Secretary James Murray said the integrated database aims to eliminate repeated medical history recitations and connect GP, hospital, and social care data for frontline clinicians.
Newark Mayor Ras Baraka imposed a curfew around the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in New Jersey early Sunday after another night of clashes between protesters and police at the facility.
US President Donald Trump said musical performances celebrating the country's 250th birthday should be called off after several artists dropped out, citing the event's affiliation with the White House.
A daily experimental pill nearly doubled survival time for patients with advanced pancreatic cancer whose disease had stopped responding to prior treatment, researchers reported Sunday. The study of 500 patients found that those taking the drug, daraxonrasib, lived a median of 13.2 months compared with 6.7 months for patients receiving standard chemotherapy.
The United States men's national soccer team defeated Senegal 3-2 in a pre-World Cup friendly on May 31, overcoming a second-half rally by the West African side to secure the tournament tuneup victory.
The killing of three people at a mosque in San Diego has renewed calls among Jewish and Muslim leaders to confront anti-Muslim hate and antisemitism as interconnected threats rather than competing grievances. In a commentary published by The Guardian on May 31, Open Society Foundations president Binaifer Nowrojee argued that both forms of bigotry are being fueled by overlapping conspiracy theories and political fear-mongering.
Interior Secretary Doug Burgum defended the funding structure and stated purpose of a Washington concert series planned for the United States' 250th anniversary on Sunday, declining to commit to publicly naming the event's backers after multiple performers withdrew over political concerns.
Family visitation was partly restored at the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, on Sunday after being suspended during a week of protests prompted by a detainee hunger and labor strike. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill and the Department of Homeland Security both confirmed the restoration, though they offered competing accounts of who initiated it.
The U.S. homeless population fell 3% in 2025 to 745,652 people counted on a single night in January, marking the first national decline since 2016, according to a report from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. California recorded one of the largest state-level decreases, with its unhoused population dropping to 181,934.
President Donald Trump's physician says the 79-year-old commander in chief is in "excellent health" and remains "fully fit" to serve, releasing a summary of findings Friday following a medical examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center that involved 22 specialists, CT scanning, heart imaging, and cancer screenings.
President Donald Trump directed federal agencies on Friday to align with a study from the Department of Health and Human Services that calls for reducing the number of routine childhood vaccinations recommended for U.S. children. The executive order endorses the January HHS report, which Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has long advocated, and follows an earlier administration effort to narrow the vaccine schedule that was blocked by a federal court.
The shift to grab-and-go dining that accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic has left Michigan universities struggling with an avalanche of single-use containers, forcing sustainability officers to find ways to cut waste without disrupting student routines.
Jackson State University President Denise Jones Gregory, who assumed the permanent role May 1 after a year as interim, will receive a year of outside leadership coaching — a move that comes as the historically Black university navigates persistent challenges including rapid leadership turnover, a student housing shortage and strained alumni relations. The coaching is part of a $97,500 contract between the state’s higher education board and the executive search firm AGB Search, according to a copy obtained by Mississippi Today.
New Jersey state police on Friday established designated protest zones and vehicle checkpoints outside the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, taking over security from federal immigration agents who had been clashing with demonstrators for days.
The cigarette smoking rate among U.S. adults declined to another all-time low last year, with 1 in 11 adults reporting as current smokers, according to survey data released this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
A Durham mutual aid organization that supported Afghan refugee women through a sewing circle was forced to end the program after federal cuts to refugee admissions and support, but two local congregations have stepped in to fill the gap, the Associated Press reported.
The U.S. men’s national soccer team has begun training at its newly completed $250 million National Training Center in Fayetteville, Georgia, a 200-acre, 19-field complex that marks a dramatic upgrade from the makeshift facilities of past World Cup cycles. The facility opened this week as the Americans prepare to host the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off next month across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
Federal prosecutors in Brooklyn have indicted former Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier on additional charges of bribery in sporting contests and honest services wire fraud conspiracy, alleging he accepted a substantial bribe to exit an NBA game early in March 2023, according to a superseding indictment unsealed Thursday.
An Associated Press investigation published Thursday found that for-profit residential treatment centers for teenagers across the United States are systematically tapping into federal special education money by contracting with individual school districts, often across state lines, drawing millions in taxpayer funds while operating with minimal federal oversight.
Shrey Parikh, a six-year spelling bee competitor, overcame pre-word nerves and a deep field of finalists to win the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday, defeating Ishaan Gupta in a lightning-round tiebreaker that the Associated Press called record-breaking.
A Manhattan courtroom was silent Thursday for the four men Randy Santos killed with a metal bar as they slept on the streets of Chinatown in 2019. No friend or family member was present to deliver a victim impact statement when Santos, who was diagnosed with schizophrenia, was sentenced to 40 years to life in prison.
Former first lady Jill Biden, in a memoir set for release next Tuesday, reflects on former President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance against Donald Trump in 2024 and wonders whether it would have been better to acknowledge the poor showing rather than reassure supporters afterward, according to an advance copy obtained by The Associated Press.
An Associated Press investigation has found that a taxpayer‑funded Missouri residential treatment center for adopted teenagers is plagued by reports of runaways, bullying, and assault, with young, poorly‑trained staff providing minimal treatment and little oversight.
The Supreme Court on Thursday sided with a Black death row inmate from Mississippi who argued that racial discrimination tainted the selection of the jury that convicted him, in a 5-4 ruling that faulted a process in which 11 of the 12 jurors were white.
Michigan House Democrats last month introduced a package of bills that would allow terminally ill patients to obtain life-ending medication, reopening a debate that once made the state the epicenter of the assisted suicide controversy with the acts of Dr. Jack Kevorkian. The legislation, known as the “Death with Dignity Act,” would make Michigan the 15th jurisdiction to permit physician-assisted death, joining 14 states and the District of Columbia that cover more than 100 million Americans. The bills face uncertain prospects in the Republican-controlled Legislature, with the lead sponsor saying the referral to a committee signals GOP leadership will not advance the measure.
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Comedian Conan O'Brien delivered a Harvard University commencement address Thursday that paired jokes about the Ivy League's Nobel laureates and white-collar criminals with a call for empathy and a defense of international students, the Associated Press reported.
A growing number of office workers and remote employees are streaming music tuned to 432 hertz during the workday, drawn by social media claims that the alternate tuning promotes focus and well-being. Scientists say there is no rigorous evidence to support those claims.
ROME (AP) — Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, a Cubs fan, met privately Thursday with Pope Leo XIV, a Chicago native and lifelong White Sox fan, at the Vatican and invited the pontiff to visit his native city next year.
Three Pennsylvania news organizations sued leaders of the Penn State Board of Trustees in federal court Wednesday, alleging that a bylaw provision barring trustees from making critical public statements about the board or the university violates the First Amendment.
Crews have recovered the remains of six of nine workers missing after a massive chemical storage tank ruptured at a Longview paper mill, bringing the death toll from the disaster to 11, officials said Thursday.
Protesters and federal immigration officers clashed Thursday outside Delaney Hall, a detention center in Newark, New Jersey, where advocates say detainees have launched a hunger strike over poor living conditions. Families of those held at the facility reported that immigrants inside were subjected to pepper spray and physical force, while New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said state health inspectors were denied full access to the building for a planned inspection.
An experimental drug from GSK produced a functional cure — viral suppression without daily medication — in about one in five adults with chronic hepatitis B in two international trials, researchers reported Thursday. The result, published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at a medical meeting in Barcelona, marks the first time a treatment has approached that level of effectiveness against a liver virus that kills roughly 1.1 million people a year worldwide.
Alabama on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court to allow it to use a congressional map favoring Republicans in this year's elections, after a lower court ruled that the redistricting plan intentionally discriminates against Black people.
Senior officials at the Food and Drug Administration’s tobacco center were not consulted on a recent policy change that allows more unauthorized electronic cigarettes and nicotine pouches onto the U.S. market, two FDA staffers told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
Nine spellers advanced to the finals of the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee on Wednesday, reviving a long-running debate over whether success depends more on mastering language roots or on rote memorization of the dictionary.
Minnesota voters will decide this November whether to amend the state constitution to allow public schools to draw more money from the Permanent School Fund, a $2.3 billion trust established at statehood in 1858. The proposed change, which passed the Legislature with bipartisan support, would increase annual disbursements from the fund without raising taxes.
Over 1.5 million pilgrims performed the symbolic stoning of the devil at Mina on Wednesday as temperatures reached 107 degrees Fahrenheit (42°C), marking the final days of the Hajj and the start of Eid al-Adha. The celebrations carried a subdued tone in parts of the Middle East, where war and displacement dampened the festivities.
The Interlochen Center for the Arts announced Friday that it will tear down the Green Lake Lodge, a building formerly named for convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The decision follows a board vote and comes after the school learned that at least two of Epstein’s accusers said they met him at the camp in the 1990s. Interlochen said the structure “carries associations that are not reflective of who we are as an institution.”
President Donald Trump’s administration announced plans Wednesday to divert Americans who have been exposed to Ebola abroad to a new treatment center in Kenya rather than evacuate them to the United States, citing faster care and reduced transport time.
Democratic members of Congress who toured the Delaney Hall immigration detention center in Newark, New Jersey, on Wednesday described dire conditions inside the facility, asserting that detainees are participating in a hunger strike and receiving substandard medical care.
Dang Van Phuoc, a former Associated Press combat photographer who lost his eye to an explosion during the Vietnam War and returned to the frontlines, died Saturday in Southern California at age 91, his nephew said.
Travelers holding airline miles and credit card rewards points will find their balances don't stretch as far this summer, as jet fuel prices elevated by the Iran war drive up airfares and baggage fees, according to travel experts and Labor Department data.
The Trump administration is planning to send Americans who are exposed to Ebola while abroad to a new quarantine and treatment facility in Kenya instead of flying them back to the United States, according to an administration official. The facility, being set up jointly by the Departments of Defense, State and Health and Human Services, is intended for patients needing to evacuate the Democratic Republic of the Congo quickly, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to detail the plans.
A Maine ballot initiative that would have required public schools to restrict access to bathrooms and sports based on the gender listed on a child's birth certificate has been removed from the November ballot, Secretary of State Shenna Bellows ruled Tuesday, after her office determined more than 12,000 signatures on the petition were invalid.
Gov. Kathy Hochul signed legislation Tuesday making it a crime to block someone from entering a house of worship or to act in a way that makes worshippers fear for their safety, and expressly authorizing police to establish 50-foot protest-free buffer zones outside such buildings, after a series of raucous demonstrations targeting New York City synagogues.
Jari Honora, a New Orleans genealogist, was drawn to the new pope’s French-sounding surname, Prevost, and what he found in the census rolls was a direct line to a free Black community that predated the Civil War: all four of Pope Leo XIV’s maternal great-grandparents were enumerated as free people of color in antebellum Louisiana, giving the pontiff Creole ancestry.
Pope Leo XIV issued a historic apology Monday for the Holy See's own role in legitimizing slavery, calling the Vatican's record a 'wound in Christian memory.' The apology, delivered in the pontiff's first encyclical, directly addressed papal bulls that for centuries gave European sovereigns explicit authority to enslave 'infidels.' Leo is the first U.S.-born pope, and his family background includes both enslaved people and slave owners.
New York lawmakers have passed a bill that would ban the use of potassium bromate in food, putting a century-old baking additive at the center of a debate over the future of the state’s pizza and bagels. The legislation, which now goes to Gov. Kathy Hochul, targets a chemical considered a possible carcinogen and already prohibited in the European Union, Canada, and several other countries.
Minnesota voters will decide this fall whether to amend the state constitution to allow public schools to draw more money from a $2.3 billion trust fund that dates to statehood, a bipartisan-backed proposal that would increase classroom funding without raising taxes.
The LEGO Foundation announced a $97 million commitment to the International Rescue Committee on Wednesday, launching a five-year partnership to bring play-based learning to 5 million children in conflict zones across East Africa and the Middle East.
The Jim Henson Creature Shop in Queens, New York, has opened its doors to public tours for the first time, giving fans a look behind the scenes at the legendary puppet and animatronics workshop.
Former First Lady Jill Biden said she feared her husband, then-President Joe Biden, was having a stroke as she watched his halting performance against Donald Trump in the June 2024 debate that ended his reelection campaign, in excerpts from a CBS News interview and her forthcoming memoir released Wednesday.
Huge crowds of Muslim pilgrims gathered in Mina, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday to throw pebbles at pillars in a symbolic ritual marking one of the final days of the Hajj, as temperatures soared past 107 degrees Fahrenheit (42 Celsius). The stoning ceremony coincided with the beginning of Eid al-Adha, an Islamic holiday celebrated by Muslims around the world.
COLUMBIA HEIGHTS, Minn. — A therapy dog named Sage is helping elementary school students in this suburban Minneapolis community process the trauma inflicted by the Trump administration's immigration enforcement surge earlier this year, when children were kept home from school to avoid arrest and at least four students were detained and sent to a Texas detention center.
Detainees in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody are dying by suicide at an accelerating rate, an Associated Press investigation has found, documenting deaths across a sprawling jail network where people in mental distress were isolated, denied medical care, and cut off from family contact.
The Interlochen Center for the Arts in northern Michigan said its board of trustees approved a plan to demolish the Green Lake Lodge, formerly known as the Jeffrey E. Epstein Scholarship Lodge, after concluding that the building “has, over time, come to carry associations that are not reflective of who we are as an institution or the values we strive to uphold.”
Donald E. Newhouse, who led Advance Publications’ 35 newspapers for nearly half a century and served as chairman of the board of The Associated Press, died Tuesday at his home in New Jersey at the age of 96, his family said. Anna Wintour, global editorial director of Vogue and Condé Nast’s chief content officer, remembered him as a figure who “filled you with energy and humor when you felt doubtful and weak.”
At least four states have enacted laws this year making it a crime to disrupt religious services, a legislative response to a January protest inside a Minnesota church that drew federal charges and national outrage. Republican lawmakers in Idaho, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Kansas say the laws protect worshippers from harassment and violence, while First Amendment advocates warn the statutes are broad enough to criminalize peaceful protest.
Two major hazardous chemical incidents on the West Coast in a single week — a tank rupture at a Washington state paper mill that killed two workers and left up to nine others missing, and an overheating tank in Southern California that forced the evacuation of approximately 50,000 residents — have drawn scrutiny to the nation's oversight of industrial chemical tank safety, an Associated Press review has found.
The LEGO Foundation said it is committing $97 million over five years to expand International Rescue Committee programs that use play-based learning for children affected by conflicts, including in East Africa and the Middle East. The partnership, announced Wednesday, aims to reach 5 million children and will adapt as crises shift.
Former Associated Press combat photographer Dang Van Phuoc, who lost an eye during the Vietnam War and kept working to document soldiers and civilians amid fighting, died Saturday in Southern California. He was 91.
Crews have begun erecting an octagonal steel cage on the White House South Lawn for a Ultimate Fighting Championship bout on June 14, an event tied to the nation's 250th anniversary and President Donald Trump's 80th birthday, the Associated Press reported.
The Trump administration announced Tuesday it will admit 10,000 additional white South Africans as refugees this year, raising the annual cap to 17,500 but restricting the program exclusively to Afrikaners. Democrats criticized the move as abandoning other refugees, including Afghan allies and those fleeing war and persecution worldwide.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee opened its preliminary rounds Tuesday in Washington for the first time in 15 years, moving from a suburban Maryland convention center to historic Constitution Hall. Spellers and their families offered mixed reviews of the new venue, praising its cultural significance while navigating tightened security, shuttle-bus logistics, and the unexpected proximity of a White House fencing crew preparing for a June 14 UFC event.
Los Angeles Unified School District has become the first major U.S. school system to stop issuing digital devices to its youngest students, adopting sweeping screen-time limits that reflect a growing national backlash against the technology that saturated classrooms during the pandemic. Parents and educators across the country are pushing for reforms, arguing that school-issued laptops and tablets have fueled distraction and screen addiction among children.
Muslim pilgrims converged on Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the second day of the Hajj, as intense heat and umbrellas marked the climax of the annual pilgrimage. Saudi officials said more than 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived from abroad, while regional tensions rose after U.S. strikes in Iran.
Mondelez International announced that Oreo will roll out a limited‑edition, BTS‑themed cookie line featuring purple‑colored wafers and a creme center flavored to mimic Korean hotteok, a popular street‑food pancake. The cookies will be available online on June 1 and reach stores on June 8, with sales slated for more than 80 markets worldwide. BTS said the partnership lets the group “share a taste of home with the world,” while Mondelez chief marketing officer Martin Renaud emphasized the need to stay authentic to Korean culture while appealing to a broad consumer base.
Donald E. Newhouse, president of one of the nation’s largest family-controlled publishing companies and a former board chairman of The Associated Press, died Tuesday at his home in New Jersey. He was 96. Newhouse oversaw Advance Publications’ newspaper group for nearly 50 years and later led the Newspaper Association of America and the AP’s board.
Clarence B. Jones, a former speechwriter and attorney closely associated with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., died at 95, according to a statement released by his family. Jones died Friday at a senior living community in Cupertino, California, a suburb of the San Francisco Bay Area.
An Associated Press investigation found an “alarming” spike in suicide deaths among people held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, with at least 10 deaths since President Donald Trump returned to office in January 2025. AP reported that nine of the 10 deaths involved Hispanic men, and that the pace of suicides has outpaced growth in the detained population.
Memorial Day, observed this year on May 25, is officially a day to honor and mourn the U.S. military service members who died, with a National Moment of Remembrance at 3 p.m., according to the Congressional Research Service. Its origins trace to Civil War-era Decoration Day ceremonies that grew out of efforts to mark graves and remember the dead, the Associated Press reports.
The 98th Scripps National Spelling Bee concludes Thursday night at Constitution Hall in Washington, marking the competition’s return to the nation’s capital and the debut of a new television host. The three-day event, which began Tuesday, will crown its 111th champion from a field of the country’s top young spellers, according to the Associated Press.
Centerville, Massachusetts, resident Freeman Johnson, who turned 106 in March, survived the Pearl Harbor attack without seeing it. While the Japanese bombing began on Dec. 7, 1941, Johnson was below deck repairing boilers aboard the USS St. Louis and did not witness the fighting as his ship set out to sea.
Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday in May, was built from Civil War-era mourning practices but has shifted over time into a broader remembrance that many Americans also associate with travel and sales. A Texas Iraq War veteran, Edmundo Eugenio Martinez Jr., said the day has lost meaning as some people mix it up with Veterans Day, Armed Forces Day and July Fourth.
Millions of Muslims began the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia on Monday, with more than 1.5 million pilgrims arriving from outside the country, according to Hajj passport forces. The start of the multi-day rite comes amid regional strain following an Iran conflict that has included a fragile ceasefire and increased uncertainty across the Middle East.
Pope Leo XIV used his first encyclical, presented at the Vatican on May 25, to warn that artificial intelligence could deepen inequality, weaken democracy and blur what it means to be human. The pope urged “disarming AI” by removing it from military and economic power grabs, calling for regulation and broader public participation in shaping the technology.
President Trump and U.S. officials are managing expectations about an imminent agreement to end the war in Iran, while Iran has not formally responded to a proposed outline. NPR reports the sides have been discussing reopening the Strait of Hormuz and a phased approach to nuclear talks, with Iran’s foreign ministry linking next steps to a 60-day period after an initial Strait agreement.
Vatican City’s Pope Leo XIV made a public apology on Monday for the Holy See’s role in legitimizing slavery and for centuries in which it failed to condemn it, calling the Vatican record a “wound in Christian memory.” In his first encyclical, “Magnifica Humanitas,” the pope also urged “robust regulation” of artificial intelligence and said developers should work for the common good rather than profit.
Jim Henson’s Creature Shop has begun offering public tours of its Queens workshop, letting visitors meet puppet builders and see a puppetry demonstration. The 80-minute tours cost $150 per person and run on Saturdays, according to the company.
Pope Leo XIV, in his first major teaching document, said artificial intelligence is becoming “a new test of human dignity, work and power,” and warned that it needs to be “disarmed.” He also apologized for the Vatican’s role in legitimizing slavery and urged stronger laws and independent oversight for AI.
A Democratic primary runoff in South Central Texas is drawing condemnation after party leaders and local Jewish leaders criticized candidate Maureen Galindo for remarks they said were antisemitic. Galindo, a housing activist and sex therapist, faces Bexar County Sheriff’s Deputy John Garcia in the runoff scheduled for tomorrow.
In a new NPR series, religion correspondent Jason DeRose examines a recent shift in how Americans view the relationship between church and state, and what that means for U.S. politics. DeRose points to a Pew Research survey suggesting that religion’s influence on government is increasingly salient for many Americans—even as most people who say the influence is rising also say it makes them uncomfortable.
Leaders of the California State University system want to make generative AI tools widely available on its 22 campuses, and the system renewed its contract with OpenAI for another three years. But an internal survey of students, faculty and staff found more ambivalence than enthusiasm, with many respondents skeptical that AI is benefiting education overall and worried about its effects on creativity, jobs and the environment. The system’s push is unfolding as critics question whether chatbot-based tools can be used responsibly in higher education.
John Hancock’s Vitality program rewards life insurance customers with points for healthy behaviors such as going to the gym, buying healthy foods, tracking sleep, and getting preventive screenings. The program converts those points into perks and tier upgrades, including digital prize-wheel rewards, as it aims to encourage longer-term behavior change. NPR spoke with policyholders, the company’s CEO, and a cardiologist who helped shape the program.
Families seeking psychiatric records of long-deceased relatives say state privacy rules have made it difficult, including in New York where records can remain sealed “in perpetuity.” An Associated Press review of the issue found that some states have changed access policies after advocates pushed for reforms, while others have moved slowly.
Congolese authorities are working to stem an Ebola outbreak centered in Ituri Province, but insecurity, aid shortfalls and local anger are complicating the response. On Sunday, authorities said suspected cases in eastern Congo had passed 900, and a hospital treating Ebola patients in Mongbwalu was attacked. The outbreak has been declared a global health emergency, and officials say it is spreading through communities facing violence, displacement and fragile health care systems.
The Scripps National Spelling Bee begins Tuesday and runs through Thursday night in Washington, where the nation’s top young spellers compete in preliminaries, quarterfinals and semifinals before the finals. This year’s 98th bee is set to take place at Constitution Hall and will be hosted on television by Mina Kimes.
The travel industry condemned a threat by Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to withdraw U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in so-called “sanctuary cities,” saying the move could jeopardize international flights. The U.S. Travel Association and major airline industry groups urged the administration not to reduce Customs staffing at major airports, and Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said it “doesn’t make sense” to restrict travel based on political views.
President Trump will have a “routine annual dental and medical assessment” at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on Tuesday, the White House said. The visit comes about seven months after his last trip to Walter Reed, raising renewed public questions about his health as he approaches his 80th birthday.
Memorial Day, observed on the last Monday of May, arrives this year on May 25 as the nation marks a day of remembrance for service members killed in war — a tradition rooted in the Civil War and now also synonymous with the start of summer, travel, and retail sales.
Americans marked Memorial Day on Monday, a federal holiday rooted in the aftermath of the Civil War and early commemorations by Black Americans in Charleston, South Carolina, that now blends solemn remembrance with the unofficial start of summer and widespread retail sales, occurring this year amid the U.S. war in Iran and elevated gasoline prices.
Religious leaders and lawmakers are pressing Congress to increase funding for the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, or NSGP, asking for $1 billion to help secure houses of worship. In meetings on Capitol Hill, officials and advocates said demand outpaces what the program has been able to award and warned that gaps in security resources can affect how prepared communities are for attacks.
Attacks on Ebola treatment centers, including the storming of a hospital in Mongbwalu, are complicating the response to an outbreak that has now surpassed 900 suspected cases in eastern Congo, health authorities said Sunday.
State laws and federal privacy regulations frequently prevent families from obtaining the psychiatric records of ancestors who died in public institutions, limiting their ability to trace hereditary mental health conditions, the Associated Press reported.
Pope Leo XIV issued a historic apology on Monday for the Holy See’s role in authorizing and legitimizing slavery over centuries, marking the first time a pontiff has publicly acknowledged the Vatican’s direct institutional complicity in the trans-Atlantic slave trade.
For the first time, Jim Henson's Creature Shop in Queens, New York, has opened its doors to public tours, offering fans a behind‑the‑scenes look at the workshop where artisans handcraft puppets and costumes for the Muppets and other iconic characters. The 80‑minute Saturday tours, priced at $150 per person, start in a room filled with show props from 'Sesame Street,' 'The Dark Crystal,' and 'Fraggle Rock,' and allow visitors to meet a puppet builder and watch a live puppetry demonstration.
Suspected Ebola cases in eastern Congo have topped 900, Congolese authorities said Sunday, amid a volatile mix of armed conflict, mass displacement and international aid cuts that continues to hobble the response to an outbreak declared a global health emergency. An attack on a hospital in Mongbwalu late Sunday — the third assault on a health facility in less than a week — underscored the anger and insecurity complicating efforts to stem the disease in Ituri Province, the outbreak’s epicenter.
Health workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo say an Ebola outbreak declared May 15 has grown to more than 900 suspected cases, with 220 suspected deaths, and could spread across borders as officials investigate why it went undetected for weeks. The World Health Organization has raised the national risk level to “very high,” WHO’s Abdirahman Mahamud said.
RaDonda Vaught, a former nurse in Nashville whose 2022 criminal conviction followed a deadly medication error at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, is now traveling nationwide as a public speaker on hospital safety. NPR reports that after receiving three years of probation and losing her nursing license, Vaught began giving presentations aimed at drawing lessons about how healthcare systems can be designed to prevent preventable harm. Critics, including some nurses, have also argued that the attention she receives risks profiting from tragedy.
A curator is presenting a series of black-and-white photographs by anonymous Afghan cousins that portray the constricted lives of women under Taliban rule alongside their hopes for change. The cousins, who use pseudonyms and say they fear Taliban retribution, started taking pictures on their cellphones around 2022 and later worked with curator Edith Arance. The photos are on display through May 30 at the Photoville Festival in Brooklyn, New York.
Pope Leo XIV will address artificial intelligence in his first encyclical, titled *Magnifica humanitas*—Latin for “magnificent humanity.” NPR reports the Vatican says the teaching will focus on “safeguarding the human person in the time of artificial intelligence,” as Pope Leo prepares a major message for the world’s roughly 1.4 billion Catholics.
Caleb Vazquez, one of two teenagers who killed three people in a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego this week, was flagged to law enforcement last year for exhibiting alarming behavior and idolizing Nazis, court records show. Officers obtained a court order in January 2025 to remove 26 guns from his home under a California law that allows firearm confiscation from people considered dangerous.
In an interview with The Associated Press, Rep. Mark Takano compared current U.S. immigration raids to the forced relocation and incarceration of Japanese Americans during World War II. Takano said his family—his father, William, and his mother, Nancy Tsugiye Sakamoto—were detained as children, and he described what he called “similar arguments” used today about immigrants posing a threat to national security.
Barney Frank, a longtime Democratic congressman who became a prominent champion of gay rights and helped shape major financial reforms, has died. He was 86. Frank died late Tuesday, according to Jim Segel, his former campaign manager and close friend.
Senior officials at the Food and Drug Administration’s tobacco center learned the night before a six‑page memo was published that the agency was moving to permit additional e‑cigarette and nicotine‑pouch products without the usual scientific review. The draft policy, posted days before former FDA commissioner Marty Makary resigned, would let companies launch certain nicotine products “under enforcement discretion,” a move that breaks with longstanding FDA practice.
First responders in rural New Mexico became sick after answering a suspected overdose call at a home east of Albuquerque where three people died, authorities said Friday. Authorities said fentanyl and methamphetamine were found at the scene, and a hospital chief medical officer said doctors were working under the assumption fentanyl was the likely exposure. Some responders were quarantined and decontaminated, while one of the remaining hospitalized people and one responder were still being treated.
Ugandan officials and residents are reacting to a recent Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo that has led to the rare Ebola virus type being tied to Bundibugyo, a district in western Uganda. The government says Uganda is not the epicenter of the outbreak and that infections reported in Uganda are linked to cross-border exposure in Congo.
Fishermen Feeding Mainers, a pandemic-era program in Maine, buys locally caught fish when auction prices dip and donates frozen fillets to schools and food banks. The Maine Coast Fishermen's Association said it has spent more than $4 million to support the groundfishing industry and has donated about 1.3 million pounds of fish since it began in late 2020.
A proposed $7.25 billion settlement of thousands of lawsuits alleging Bayer failed to warn that Roundup weedkiller can cause cancer faces possible delays after an attorney asked to move the case to federal court. The dispute centers on which court should oversee the settlement, with a state-court opt-out deadline of June 4 and a scheduled July 9 hearing. The fight comes as the U.S. Supreme Court weighs a case that could affect many Roundup claims filed in state courts.
Higher gasoline and airfare costs are reshaping how many Americans approach the Memorial Day-to-summer travel stretch, with some travelers scaling back and shifting to shorter trips or cheaper lodging. The changes come as fuel prices rise amid the Iran war and broader inflation pressures, industry and government data show.
Memorial Day is the last Monday in May and is observed as a day of reflection for U.S. service members who died while serving, according to the Congressional Research Service. But the holiday has also become widely associated with the unofficial start of summer, long-distance travel and sales, as Iraq War veteran Edmundo Eugenio Martinez Jr. said it has lost meaning for many Americans.
In interviews, American Muslims described scrambling to secure Hajj permits and then weighing uncertainty around the Iran war as Hajj preparation accelerates. The pilgrimage, a religious obligation for Muslims able to do it, officially starts on Monday as U.S. officials warn Americans to reconsider travel.
Seventeen years after a massive, multi-vortex tornado struck Joplin, Missouri, NPR revisits how the town’s recovery became known for cooperation and “kindness carries on” long after the storm. The story, published May 23, 2026, includes accounts from residents and social-science researchers who study how disasters can reshape people’s identities and encourage mutual aid.
New York lawmakers have passed a bill that would ban the flour additive potassium bromate, which some bakers say helps dough rise faster and produce the familiar texture of city pizza and bagels. The measure, awaiting Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature, has split the baking industry between health concerns and worries that changing a long-used ingredient could force widespread menu and process adjustments.
Memorial Day, the U.S. holiday established to honor fallen service members, has increasingly become defined by retail sales and summer travel rather than its original purpose of mourning the dead, according to veterans and historians. Iraq War veteran Edmundo Eugenio Martinez Jr., who lost 17 comrades during and after the war, said Americans routinely 'conflate and mix up Veterans Day, Memorial Day, Armed Forces Day, July Fourth,' a shift he argues erases the holiday's focus on those who died.
After nearly a year deployed, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford returned to Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, last weekend, bringing about 3,500 sailors home. Families crowded the pier as the ship’s tour stretched from the coast of Venezuela to the Red Sea, where the carrier launched F/A-18s to support U.S. operations in the war involving Iran.
The Trump administration has fired the two doctors who led the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a panel whose recommendations determine when many insurers must cover preventive screenings such as mammograms and colonoscopies without patient co-pays. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. notified the two chairs in letters dated May 11, terminating their appointments immediately ahead of the end of their multiyear terms, according to a report by The New York Times and interviews described by the Associated Press.
Elite spellers say Scott Remer has been crucial to their wins, as the only full-time spelling bee coach charges as much as $180 an hour. Remer’s students can also earn him a performance-based bonus tied to top-10 finishes at the Scripps National Spelling Bee, which begins Tuesday and runs through Thursday in Washington.
CINCINNATI — At Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, facility dogs are full-time working animals that visit patients during stressful procedures and help make the hospital feel less frightening. The program, which includes dogs such as Hadley, is part of a broader expansion at children’s hospitals nationwide, supported by research into animal-assisted interactions and child well-being.
In Maine, many county commissioners are in their 60s and 70s, and some are serving into their 80s, according to reporting on the state’s commissioner class. As Lincoln County’s William Blodgett, 89, prepares to retire, Democrats are offering younger candidates—though local jobs that are part-time and often low-paid can make campaigns harder for working-age residents. Supporters of age limits in other races, including the U.S. Senate contest, are also drawing new attention to whether age should matter in public service.
Single Gen Z women are buying more homes than single Gen Z men, according to National Association of Realtors data covering July 2024 to June 2025. In that period, single Gen Z women accounted for 35% of homebuyers in their generation, compared with 18% for single Gen Z men. The survey also found that the share of all first-time buyers across ages fell to the lowest level on record going back to 1981.
The travel industry condemned Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin after he reiterated a threat to withdraw U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers from airports in “sanctuary cities,” a move the industry says could disrupt international flights. The U.S. Travel Association said Mullin confirmed in a meeting that he is considering the change, which the group and major airlines called detrimental to travel and tourism.
Fentanyl and methamphetamine were found at a rural New Mexico house where three people died and emergency responders became sick after answering a call about suspected overdoses on Wednesday, authorities said Friday.
Kampala said there is no Ebola in Bundibugyo as authorities reported Uganda’s first cases linked to an outbreak in eastern Congo, while officials urged WHO to clarify the tally and took steps to limit travel and gatherings.
Three people died and more than a dozen first responders were quarantined and assessed for possible exposure after responders arrived at a suspected drug overdose at a rural New Mexico home, authorities said Wednesday. Investigators are working to identify the unidentified substance, and New Mexico State Police said there was no threat to the public.
Senior officials at the Food and Drug Administration’s tobacco center were blindsided by a decision that, according to staffers, would allow more unauthorized e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches onto the U.S. market. The guidance was posted days before former FDA Commissioner Marty Makary resigned, and staffers said enforcement officials learned about the changes only the night before the document was published. The Associated Press reported the episode Thursday.
Former Los Angeles police detective Mark Fuhrman, who was convicted of lying during testimony in the O.J. Simpson murder trial, has died at 74, according to Lynn Acebedo, chief deputy coroner in Kootenai County, Idaho.
The U.S. House on Thursday rejected a bill that would have authorized a new Smithsonian Women’s History Museum on the National Mall after Republicans revised the legislation to ensure transgender people are not included in exhibits. The bill lost 204-216, leaving the museum’s location and next steps uncertain, while Democrats said Republicans “traded” women’s representation for former President Donald Trump’s influence.
U.S. Muslims like Faisal Rashid and his wife are set to join the annual Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, as the ritual begins Monday against a backdrop of Iran war tensions and an uneasy ceasefire. The couple secured their spots in February after a pre-dawn scramble on a digital booking platform — an experience Rashid described through tears as "very, very joyful."
A proposed $7.25 billion settlement of lawsuits over Roundup cancer claims in Missouri could be delayed after an attorney asked to move the case to federal court. The dispute could affect deadlines for people to opt out of the settlement, while the U.S. Supreme Court weighs a separate case that could block thousands of similar claims in state courts.
The Texas Board of Nursing suspended the nursing license of Camp Mystic co-director Mary Liz Eastland, a registered nurse and the camp’s medical officer, citing inaction during last year’s catastrophic Guadalupe River flood. The board said allowing Eastland to continue practicing would pose a “continuing and imminent threat to public welfare,” according to an order signed Tuesday by executive director Kristin Benton.
PHILADELPHIA (MSI) — Philadelphia marked the 230th anniversary of Ona Judge's escape from slavery by formally declaring May 21 as Ona Judge Day, while a historical marker and a portrait were unveiled in New Hampshire where she settled, the Associated Press reported Thursday.
Attorneys for Tony Carruthers say they asked Tennessee officials to confirm the state has not expired lethal-injection drugs for his Thursday execution, but a response from the state’s attorney general’s office did not provide the requested assurances. Tennessee’s Department of Correction declined to say whether the drugs are expired when asked by The Associated Press.
When the Scripps National Spelling Bee gets underway in Washington on Tuesday, a 32-year-old former speller in an aloha shirt will be watching closely from offstage. Scott Remer is the only full-time, professional spelling coach in the country, and his students — including the last two national champions — are once again among the favorites to reach the finals.
Most of Maine’s county commissioners are in their 60s and 70s, according to an Associated Press review, a trend that is deepening as 89-year-old Lincoln County Commissioner William Blodgett prepares to step down at year’s end. Blodgett’s only major-party replacement candidate is Walter Voskian, an 87-year-old Democrat and former CIA officer who said his decades of national-security experience outweigh concerns about his age.
Children’s hospitals across the United States are increasingly employing full-time facility dogs to comfort young patients, motivate them during therapy and provide companionship through long, difficult treatments, according to reporting by The Associated Press. The dogs, distinct from volunteer therapy animals, are hospital employees trained to work alongside child life specialists in medical settings.
Eli Lilly said its next-generation obesity drug retatrutide helped study participants lose an average of more than 70 pounds over 80 weeks, based on clinical trial results discussed publicly. NPR reported that retatrutide is a weekly injection designed to act on three hormones, unlike the GLP-1-focused drugs Zepbound and Wegovy.
Three people died and dozens of first responders were quarantined after emergency crews in rural New Mexico became sick while responding to a reported overdose call, authorities said. Fentanyl and methamphetamine were found at the home in Mountainair, east of Albuquerque, and one emergency responder was still being treated at a hospital Friday.
In Martin County, N.C., the shuttering of Martin General Hospital has left residents traveling long distances for emergency care and waiting longer in distant rooms. Debra Pierce said emergency crews from a neighboring town worked on her brother, Stanley Sears, for half an hour before he was taken to a far-off hospital. As North Carolina distributes money linked to Republicans’ proposed $50 billion rural health fund, local officials and health executives in the region say the money may not address the immediate need for reopening or higher-level emergency services.
Pope Leo XIV will unveil his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas, on May 25, the Vatican said. The Vatican will present the document in the main Vatican auditorium with senior cardinals and Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah among the speakers. The event also comes as the Trump administration has ordered U.S. agencies to stop using Anthropic’s AI technology and Anthropic has sued.
Memorial Day marks the traditional start of the U.S. summer travel season, but higher fuel prices and broader inflationary pressures are changing how Americans get away. The AP reports that some families are replacing long trips with shorter weekends and cheaper alternatives as gas, airfares and other travel costs rise. Many travelers are also contending with fewer flight options and added travel disruptions, making planning harder.
Maine’s county commissioners are largely in their 60s and 70s, with some serving into their 80s. In Lincoln County, 87-year-old Walter Voskian is poised to replace 89-year-old William Blodgett, while other counties are seeing younger candidates and appointees. The AP reports that the age gap in local government is now part of a broader debate over whether age should limit elected officials.
Gen Z single women have a larger share of homebuyers than Gen Z single men, even as the overall share of U.S. homes bought by first-time buyers fell to the lowest level on record. The National Association of Realtors said survey data for July 2024 to June 2025 show Gen Z single women accounted for 35% of homebuyers in their generation, compared with 18% for single Gen Z men.
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital uses four specially trained, full-time facility dogs to help young patients during stressful procedures and make the hospital environment feel less frightening. In a recent visit, 5-year-old Calvin Owens met his canine friend Hadley on a hospital patio, tossing a ball despite tethering to equipment, while staff cheered. Experts say short interactions with facility dogs can improve children’s well-being and reduce stress signals such as cortisol.
Airline miles and points from credit cards and loyalty programs may not stretch as far this summer as higher jet-fuel costs drive up airfare and some airline fees, the Associated Press reported May 23. The AP cited Labor Department data showing April airfares were 21% higher than a year earlier and said airlines increasingly use dynamic pricing for flights priced in points.
Tennessee officials halted the execution of Tony Carruthers on Thursday after failing to establish an intravenous line for lethal injection. Governor Bill Lee announced the state would not attempt the execution again for at least a year. Carruthers was convicted of kidnapping and murdering three people in 1994.
An advocacy group has filed suit challenging a Veterans Affairs rule that reinstates near-ban abortion limits for veterans and certain family members who rely on VA healthcare, the group said. The lawsuit, filed Thursday, seeks to overturn the rule issued in the VA’s final regulation published Dec. 31.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approved the design for a 250-foot triumphal arch President Donald Trump wants built at an entrance to Washington, a key step in the project that does not set a construction timeline, the commission said Thursday. Trump told reporters he thought the vote was “fantastic,” and said, “we’re the only important and major city that doesn’t have one.”
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani said Thursday that 1,000 World Cup tickets costing $50 will be made available to New York City residents for seven matches at MetLife Stadium, with distribution through a lottery starting May 25. Mamdani said the city will take steps to curb scalping, including making the tickets non-transferable and verifying residency before tickets are issued.
A bill passed by New York lawmakers would ban potassium bromate, an additive used by some flour makers to speed dough production and improve texture for pizza and bagels, and it now awaits Gov. Kathy Hochul’s signature. Bakers, pizza shops and bagel sellers are already preparing for changes that could affect cost, workflow and what they call the city’s iconic taste and chew.
Advocates marked the 230th anniversary of Ona Judge’s escape from slavery by George Washington with events in Philadelphia and Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In Philadelphia, a Thursday rally honored Judge on what the city has declared Ona Judge Day, even as federal property exhibit changes linked to President Donald Trump face legal uncertainty.
The Trump administration fired the two doctors who chaired the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, a panel that determines which preventive services most insurance plans must cover for free. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sent letters dated May 11 terminating the leaders’ appointments immediately, before their multiyear terms end, according to the letters. The move comes as the task force has been sidelined for much of the past year, with scheduled public meetings postponed and updates left in limbo.
Scott Remer, described by his students as the most influential National Spelling Bee coach of the past decade, charges $180 an hour for private lessons and takes a performance-based share of some prize winnings. Remer, who has coached five national champions and has worked with at least 29 spellers in each of the past four bees, is preparing for this year’s bee in Washington. The coaching market around him ranges from higher-priced, full-time instruction to less expensive options taken by competitors and their families.
Some American Muslims are traveling to Saudi Arabia for Hajj this week while the region remains unsettled after an Iran war that began in late February and widened before a ceasefire was reached in April. The pilgrimage is a religious obligation for Muslims who are physically and financially able, and for some travelers it is an opportunity to seek forgiveness despite concerns about security and travel disruptions.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it will expand its use of artificial intelligence to review audit reports submitted by states and other recipients of federal health dollars, aiming to tamp down fraud and save money. HHS said it will use ChatGPT and other AI tools to analyze audits from all 50 states on an ongoing basis. The department also sent letters to governors and treasurers notifying them of tougher enforcement for chronic audit noncompliance.
Three people were killed and more than a dozen first responders were quarantined and assessed Wednesday after they were exposed to an unidentified substance at a rural home in Mountainair, east of Albuquerque, New Mexico, authorities said.
Former Los Angeles police detective Mark Fuhrman, convicted of lying during testimony in the O.J. Simpson murder trial, has died, according to Idaho’s Kootenai County. He died May 12 at age 74, the county’s chief deputy coroner said.
The House rejected a bill Thursday that would have authorized a new Smithsonian American Women’s History Museum on the National Mall, after Republican leaders inserted language barring transgender people from being included in the exhibits. The 204-216 vote turned a measure that had broad bipartisan support into a partisan fight over cultural policy.
Elevated gasoline and jet fuel costs, driven in part by the Iran war, are reshaping Memorial Day travel plans across the United States, with families trading long-distance trips for bike rides, beaches, and hiking trails closer to home. The shift is visible in spending data and interviews with travelers who say they are calibrating summer plans to stay within budgets strained by higher pump prices and airfares.
Planned Parenthood will launch an advance provision program that allows people in Washington and Hawaii to get abortion pills mifepristone and misoprostol ahead of an anticipated pregnancy. The initiative, shared exclusively with NPR, will start Thursday and is designed to stock the medication for later use if someone chooses to end an early pregnancy.
Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences voted to cap the share of A grades undergraduates can earn in letter-graded courses, the university announced. The policy will take effect in the academic year beginning in 2027, after a faculty vote earlier this month, according to the announcement.
A federal lawsuit filed in Arkansas says a woman was denied the chance to buy land in an Ozarks development because of her Jewish ancestry and because her husband is Black and their children are biracial. The suit names Return to the Land and its Ozarks chapter, saying the group seeks to create “all-white communities” and is in violation of federal and state fair housing and civil rights laws.
Many American Muslims say they are weighing whether to travel to Saudi Arabia for Hajj as the United States and Iran remain at war. An NPR report aired Friday, May 21, described families and clergy in the U.S. discussing travel alerts, costs and safety concerns as the Hajj dates approach.
Democrats are trying to prevent Maureen Galindo from winning the Democratic nomination in Texas’ 35th Congressional District runoff Tuesday, after accusing her of repeatedly expressing antisemitic views. Galindo is running against Johnny Garcia, and Democrats have said Republicans helped back her campaign.
An attack by two teenage gunmen on the Islamic Center of San Diego left three men dead and two suspects dead after police responded, authorities said. FBI agents said the suspects met online and authorities recovered more than 30 firearms and rounds during searches of homes linked to them.
Florida officials will pay $485,000 to a biologist who was fired by the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission after she reposted a meme about conservative activist Charlie Kirk on social media following his death, the biologist and an attorney said Thursday. Brittney Brown reached a settlement with agency directors that includes backpay, damages and attorney costs, according to the lawsuit.
Two teenagers who shot and killed three people at the Islamic Center of San Diego were radicalized online after meeting there and sharing white supremacist views, the FBI said. The FBI said investigators found writings expressing hate toward multiple religious and social groups and that they found at least 30 guns, ammunition and a crossbow at residences after the Monday attack.
The Texas Board of Nursing has suspended the registered nurse license of Camp Mystic’s co-director and medical officer, Mary Liz Eastland, after finding she failed to help evacuate children during the July 2025 flood that killed 25 girls and two teenage counselors, according to a disciplinary order released Wednesday.
A Texas regulatory board has suspended the nursing license of Camp Mystic co-director Mary Liz Eastland, accusing the registered nurse of failing to assist children and staff during the July 2025 flood that killed 25 girls and two teenage counselors at the all-girls Christian camp along the Guadalupe River.
Texas’ Board of Nursing suspended the nursing license of Camp Mystic co-director Mary Liz Eastland, saying she did not help evacuate children during last year’s July 4 floods that killed 25 girls and two teenage counselors. Eastland, a registered nurse who served as the camp’s medical officer, denies the board’s findings and said she will fight the suspension.
A veterans advocacy group filed a federal lawsuit against the Trump administration on May 21, 2026, seeking to overturn a Department of Veterans Affairs rule that reinstates a near-total ban on abortion services for veterans and their family members. The suit, filed by Minority Veterans of America, argues the VA adopted the rule without citing medical evidence or other justifications, in violation of the Administrative Procedures Act.
The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approved the design for a triumphal arch President Donald Trump wants built at an entrance to Washington, a key step in the project’s process that does not set a construction timeline. At the White House, Trump said the commission’s vote was “fantastic,” adding that “we’re the only important and major city that doesn’t have one.”
Global health emergencies are back in headlines, with recent outbreaks of hantavirus on a cruise ship and Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo drawing online fear and fascination. Infectious disease experts and public health researchers told NPR that many Americans are processing those outbreaks through their experiences with COVID-19, including anxiety about how a pandemic can upend daily life.
Michigan Department of Corrections confirmed that Rebecca Fackler, 57, died Sunday at the Huron Valley Correctional Facility, days after another inmate, Khaira Howard, 28, died, renewing scrutiny of medical care and conditions at the state’s only women’s prison in Ypsilanti. The department said it does not suspect foul play and that staff and emergency medical services performed life-saving measures in both cases. Attorneys and lawmakers said the deaths are the latest in what they describe as long-running failures tied to staffing, treatment access and facility conditions.
Three people were found dead and more than a dozen first responders were briefly quarantined after exposure to an unidentified substance in Mountainair, New Mexico, authorities said. Two people remained hospitalized Thursday, and investigators are conducting autopsies and toxicology tests to identify the substance and determine the causes of death.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Thursday that New York City will distribute 1,000 World Cup tickets priced at $50 each through a lottery opening May 25, with free roundtrip bus transportation to MetLife Stadium for ticket holders. The tickets cover seven of eight matches at the New Jersey venue, excluding the high-demand July 19 final, and represent a fraction of the stadium's 82,000 seats where some final tickets are listed at nearly $33,000.
The U.S. Commission of Fine Arts approved the design for the 250-foot triumphal arch that President Donald Trump wants built in the nation's capital, a key procedural step that does not guarantee construction begins soon. The vote on Thursday came despite overwhelming public opposition to the project, one of several the president is pursuing to leave his mark on Washington's monumental landscape.
The Department of Health and Human Services announced Thursday it is expanding its use of artificial intelligence to scrutinize audit reports from all 50 states, aiming to detect fraud and waste in federal health spending, according to the official leading the program.
A Virginia circuit judge on Thursday dismissed all eight felony child neglect charges against Ebony Parker, the former assistant principal at Richneck Elementary School, ruling that the allegations against her did not amount to a crime.
A U.S. federal quarantine order has required an American passenger to remain confined after returning from a cruise where a hantavirus outbreak sickened passengers, NPR reported. The passenger, Angela Perryman, said in an interview that she feels “betrayed” and plans to challenge the order in court.
RaDonda Vaught, a former Tennessee nurse convicted of negligent homicide over a medication error that killed a patient, is now working as a paid patient-safety speaker, according to an NPR report. The former Vanderbilt Medical Center nurse is drawing attention from nursing groups and hospital associations as she discusses details of the case and says she hopes it will reduce mistakes.
The U.S. Department of Education fired thousands of workers last year, but the agency’s Office of Federal Student Aid is now adding about 380 new employees, according to internal documents obtained by NPR. The hires come as the Education Department seeks to shift some federal student-aid work to other agencies through new interagency agreements.
A Catholic diocese is challenging a federal eminent domain lawsuit seeking to take some land associated with Mount Cristo Rey, which the diocese calls a holy site. Federal officials say the land is needed for additional border wall infrastructure, while the diocese argues the seizure would burden the free exercise of religion.
Maine beach businesses say Memorial Day—the unofficial start of summer—arrives with uncertainty as fewer Canadian visitors book trips amid U.S.-Canada tensions and high fuel prices.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced that 1,000 $50 World Cup tickets will be made available to city residents for seven matches at MetLife Stadium, with distribution through a lottery that starts May 25. The tickets will include free roundtrip bus transportation, and the city said it will take steps to prevent scalping.
Dallas has replaced a longtime downtown mural of swimming whales with World Cup-themed art, triggering an outcry from residents and the mural’s artist. The mural, created by Wyland and dedicated in 1999, had covered two walls of a parking garage for nearly 30 years as the city prepared for the World Cup beginning this summer.
Pope Leo XIV will unveil his first encyclical on artificial intelligence on May 25, with the Vatican saying the document will focus on the care of human dignity in the AI era. The launch will include Pope officials and speakers, including Christopher Olah, the co-founder of Anthropic, in Vatican City, the Associated Press reported.
A lawsuit filed Wednesday in Massachusetts state court alleges that the state’s school‑assignment rules legally segregate Black and Latino students into high‑poverty districts, violating their right to an adequate education. The suit, brought by nine students and the civil‑rights group Lawyers for Civil Rights, targets the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education for maintaining a system that channels students of color into low‑opportunity schools. Plaintiffs argue the policy perpetuates disparities in graduation and college‑matriculation rates.
New York lawmakers have passed a bill that would prohibit a flour additive used to speed up dough and make New York-style pizza and bagels. The measure, which would be signed by Gov. Kathy Hochul, is expected to spark changes for pizzerias and bagel shops statewide if it becomes law. The debate over the additive, potassium bromate, pits concerns about health risks against worries about cost and product identity.
Joey “Jaws” Chestnut will defend his Nathan’s Famous hot dog eating title at the July 4 contest while on probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor battery charge in Indiana, his attorney said. A judge granted Chestnut permission to travel outside the state so he can compete, according to Major League Eating officials and his lawyer.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it will use ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence tools to analyze audit reports submitted by states and other federal health-dollar recipients. HHS said the move is meant to reduce fraud risks and save the government money, including by tightening how audit noncompliance is handled.
Open Society Foundations said it will invest $300 million over the next five years in U.S. democracy initiatives aimed at defending democratic rights and advancing economic security. The pledge came as the Trump administration and allies have accused the Soros family of promoting division, including by targeting nonprofits. “We are continuing our work unabated. We will not be intimidated into silence,” managing director Laleh Ispahani said.
Single Gen Z women are buying more homes than single Gen Z men, even as first-time homebuyers overall make up the smallest share on record, according to data from the National Association of Realtors. In a survey covering July 2024 through June 2025, single Gen Z women accounted for 35% of all homebuyers in their generation, while single Gen Z men were 18%. The gap shows up against a broader slowdown: the share of U.S. homes bought by first-time buyers sank to the lowest level on record going back to 1981.
UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science opened its new mixed-reality exhibit, “Yuutka” (The Place of the Acorn), after a court fight over National Science Foundation grant cancellations tied to the Trump administration. The exhibit is co-designed with young people from the East Bay Ohlone community and includes a virtual guide based on Dolores Lameira, alongside interactive learning about Ohlone knowledge and ecology.
Graduates at several U.S. college commencements have interrupted speakers and issued stadium-wide boos when the topic turned to artificial intelligence and its impact on jobs, according to interviews and polls cited by the Associated Press. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt drew repeated jeers at the University of Arizona’s ceremony for a keynote that discussed how AI will affect “every profession” and “every classroom.”
The National Trust for Historic Preservation on Wednesday released its annual list of 11 of the country’s most endangered historic places, themed around the principle that “everyone is created equal.” The list for America’s 250th anniversary includes sites tied to equality movements such as the Stonewall National Monument, the President’s House Site and the Women’s Rights National Historical Park.
The Associated Press on Saturday republished a 1996 report describing how Cuban fighter jets shot down two small planes flown by members of the Cuban exile group Brothers to the Rescue from Miami in international waters off Havana. The report said U.S. officials, including President Bill Clinton, condemned the shootdown and ordered the U.S. military to protect search-and-rescue efforts. It also said one pilot returned and told his wife he had seen survivors in the water.
Media scion James Murdoch has struck a deal with Vox Media to acquire New York magazine, the Vox Media Podcast Network and the Vox editorial brand, according to a report by the Associated Press. The transaction, expected to close within weeks, will be structured through James Murdoch’s Lupa Systems, which will acquire about half of Vox Media’s divisions.
A Virginia judge dismissed all charges against Ebony Parker, a former assistant principal accused of ignoring warnings that a 6-year-old had a gun hours before teacher Abby Zwerner was shot at Richneck Elementary School, Newport News, AP reported May 21. Circuit Judge Rebecca Robinson said, “The court is of the legal opinion that this is not a crime.” Prosecutors said they had hoped the community could weigh in through the full judicial process.
The Trump administration has fired two leaders of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an influential panel that reviews evidence and helps determine which preventive services most insurance plans must cover without a co-pay. In letters dated May 11, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. terminated the appointments of Dr. John Wong and Dr. Esa Davis before the end of their multiyear terms. Health and Human Services previously sidelined the task force’s work and postponed scheduled meetings over the past year.
As Memorial Day kicks off the start of the U.S. summer travel season, higher fuel prices and other travel costs are pushing some Americans to scale back trips or choose cheaper, shorter getaways. An AP report highlights families trading longer vacations for local beaches and hikes, citing rising gas prices, higher airfare costs, and other inflation pressures.
Acting Attorney General **Todd Blanche** told a Senate oversight hearing on May 19 that a newly created $1.776 billion “Anti‑Weaponization Fund” could be available to anyone who believes they were a victim of political weaponization — including participants in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot. Blanche declined to say whether the five‑member commission that will administer the payouts will bar people convicted of violence, saying his personal feelings “don’t matter.” Democrats on the panel blasted the proposal as an illegal abuse of power, while some Republican senators expressed discomfort with the fund’s purpose.
Two teenage shooters opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday, killing three men and then fatally shooting themselves a few blocks away, police said. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said investigators found evidence the suspects used “generalized hate rhetoric” and are looking into what led up to the attack.
Three people died and more than a dozen first responders were quarantined and assessed for possible exposure after they responded to a suspected drug overdose at a rural home near Mountainair, New Mexico, authorities said. New Mexico State Police said the substance has not posed a threat to the public, and investigators were working to identify what was involved.
A federal lawsuit filed in Arkansas says the owners of a development asked an applicant about her Jewish ancestry and rejected her land purchase because her mother was Jewish and because she has a Black husband and biracial children. The suit names Return to the Land, its Ozarks chapter and several officers, and says the group’s founders are pursuing an all-white community.
Harvard’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences voted earlier this month to limit the number of A grades undergraduates can receive, the school said Wednesday. The policy—scheduled to take effect for the academic year starting in 2027—cap A-range grades at 20% of students in a class, plus four additional students, and also changes how students are compared for some honors. The move comes amid faculty concern that top grades have become too common to reliably reflect exceptional work.
A mixed-reality exhibit celebrating Ohlone culture opened Sunday at UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science, defeating a Trump administration attempt to block the $450,000 federal grant that funded it. A federal judge ordered the National Science Foundation grant released in April, ruling the freeze likely violated the First Amendment by punishing the university for its viewpoint.
Democrats are trying to stop Maureen Galindo from winning the Democratic nomination in a Tuesday runoff against Johnny Garcia in Texas’ 35th Congressional District, where Galindo has repeatedly expressed antisemitic views. Democratic leaders accused Republicans of backing Galindo’s campaign, and Galindo’s team has disputed the characterizations of her proposals.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation on Wednesday announced 11 sites on its annual list of America’s most endangered historic places, including the Stonewall National Monument and the Women’s Rights National Historic Park. The nonprofit said the 2026 list marks the nation’s 250th anniversary with the theme that “everyone is created equal.” Each of the 11 sites will receive a one-time $25,000 grant to address threats highlighted by the Trust.
The NAACP and the Congressional Black Caucus on Tuesday launched a campaign urging Black athletes and fans to boycott the athletic programs of public universities in Southern states they say are restricting Black voting rights. NAACP President Derrick Johnson said the effort targets states taking steps to limit, weaken or erase Black voting representation.
Two teenagers who shot and killed three people in an attack on a California mosque were radicalized online where they first met and shared white supremacist views, the FBI said. The FBI said the pair met online before discovering they both lived in the San Diego area, and authorities were trying to determine whether the attackers had broader plans after Monday’s attack at the Islamic Center of San Diego.
Teen gunmen attacked the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday, killing three men and then themselves, authorities said. The FBI later said the suspects met online and shared white supremacist views. Investigators said they recovered more than 30 firearms and ammunition as they searched homes tied to the teens.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has fired the two doctors who led the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which helps set when insurance plans must cover screening services such as mammograms and colonoscopies without cost-sharing. In letters dated May 11, Kennedy notified the doctors that their appointments would end immediately.
UC Berkeley’s Lawrence Hall of Science opened a new mixed-reality exhibit, “Yuutka” (The Place of the Acorn), after researchers and Ohlone youth overcame an interruption in National Science Foundation funding that followed the Trump administration’s terminations of multiple NSF grants. The exhibit, co-designed with young members of the East Bay Ohlone community, uses mixed reality to let visitors gather virtual acorns and learn about the plants and the community’s knowledge systems.
A white livestreamer known as “Chud the Builder” was ordered held on $1 million bond Thursday after a Tennessee judge set the amount, following his arrest on attempted murder and other charges in the May 13 shooting of a Black man outside a Clarksville courthouse. Dalton Eatherly, 28, who has built an online following by confronting strangers with racist and provocative language while openly carrying a pistol, claims he acted in self-defense and that his speech is protected by the First Amendment. Civil rights advocates and legal experts say the case illustrates how hateful content, amplified for profit, can escalate into real-world violence.
Graduates at multiple U.S. college commencement ceremonies booed speakers who brought up artificial intelligence, NPR reported May 20. In one case near Phoenix, Glendale Community College said it used a new AI system as a reader, after which the wrong names were read aloud and some graduates were not read at all.
Overworked and understaffed special education teachers are increasingly using artificial intelligence to speed up paperwork, including work on individualized education programs required under federal law. In Bay Point, Calif., teacher Mary Acebu said she has used AI for the past two years to cut the time she spends on drafting IEP goals so she can spend more time working directly with students.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission is moving to stop collecting the demographic data companies have been required to submit under the EEO-1 system, NPR reported May 20. Under the longstanding requirement, employers with 100 or more workers send the federal government information about employees’ race, ethnicity and sex to help the EEOC investigate discrimination claims. The move, which NPR says has been discussed in connection with the Trump administration’s approach, drew concerns from former and outside civil-rights attorneys about losing a key tool for building cases.
Dallas began repainting a downtown whale mural ahead of World Cup 2026, prompting an outcry from residents and the mural’s creator who said the work was erased without dialogue. The mural, installed in 1999 by artist Wyland, had covered two walls of a parking garage in downtown Dallas.
Opening statements began Tuesday in the trial of Ebony Parker, a former Richneck Elementary School assistant principal in Newport News, Virginia, who faces eight felony child neglect counts in the January 2023 shooting of first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner. Prosecutors said staff warned Parker multiple times that a 6-year-old student had a gun, but that Parker did nothing, while Parker’s lawyer argued school employees should have acted if they believed a weapon was present.
A lawsuit filed in Massachusetts state court accuses the state of maintaining school assignments that keep Black and Latino students concentrated in high-poverty, low-opportunity districts. The plaintiffs say the practice of assigning students based solely on where they live replicates housing segregation in schools, and they ask the state to address disparities tied to those rules.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities said Tuesday that three men killed by two teen shooters at the Islamic Center of San Diego died while trying to delay the attackers as about 140 children were inside during the Monday attack. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said the men were shot as they confronted the gunmen and helped move people into lockdown.
George Soros’ Open Society Foundations pledged $300 million for U.S. initiatives it says will defend democratic rights and advance economic security over the next five years, the organization said Wednesday. The pledge comes as the Trump administration has targeted the Soros family and as lawmakers have pressed the IRS and DOJ to investigate nonprofits for activities they dispute.
Graduates in multiple U.S. universities have booed speakers who discussed artificial intelligence during commencement addresses, signaling anxiety about how AI may affect jobs and education. In a keynote at the University of Arizona, former Google CEO Eric Schmidt drew repeated jeers when he warned that AI would reach “every profession, every classroom, every hospital, every laboratory, every person and every relationship you have.” Other ceremonies saw similar pushback when speakers presented AI as a “next industrial revolution” or a tool to “deal with” and apply.
A new analysis projects a significant decline in Affordable Care Act enrollment due to rising healthcare costs and the expiration of subsidies. The KFF report estimates that nearly 5 million Americans could lose their ACA coverage this year.
Competitive eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut will defend his hot dog eating title on July 4 after pleading guilty to misdemeanor battery and receiving 180 days of probation in Indiana, the Associated Press reported. A judge granted permission for him to travel outside the state for the Nathan’s Famous contest on Coney Island.
A coalition of Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit challenging new federal caps on student loans, arguing the limits will hinder students seeking certain healthcare degrees. The plaintiffs said the rule would fall hardest on critical healthcare professions that communities need. The U.S. Department of Education defended the caps, saying they are meant to push colleges and universities to lower tuition.
Michigan State University trustees voted 5-3 on Sunday night to adopt an updated ethics policy, with several members saying the changes reinforce obligations while others warn it could be used to silence dissent. The policy requires trustees to support board decisions and protect confidential information, and it lays out consequences for violations.
Pope Leo XIV will unveil his first encyclical, Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity), on May 25 with the Vatican’s top doctrine and development cardinals and Christopher Olah, co-founder of artificial intelligence company Anthropic, present, the Vatican said May 18. The document will focus on “the care of human dignity in the era of AI,” the Vatican said.
Single Gen Z women are outpacing single Gen Z men in buying homes, according to National Association of Realtors survey data covering July 2024 to June 2025. Women accounted for 35% of Gen Z homebuyers who were single, compared with 18% for single men, even as overall first-time homebuying across all ages hit the lowest level on record going back to 1981. The trend also appears in older decades, with single women’s share peaking at 22% in 2006 and single men’s share peaking at 12% in 2010, according to NAR data.
Two inmates died within days of each other at Michigan’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility, the state’s only women’s prison, renewing concerns about medical care and conditions. The Michigan Department of Corrections confirmed that Khaira Howard, 28, died last Thursday and that Rebecca Fackler, 57, died on Sunday, and said both deaths are under investigation. Attorneys and lawmakers allege chronic staffing shortages, treatment failures, and problems communicating with families during medical emergencies.
Vice President JD Vance on May 19 said he is extending a federal Medicaid-fraud crackdown to his home state of Ohio, setting off political maneuvering among Ohio Republicans including governor nominee Vivek Ramaswamy. The move followed a conservative outlet’s investigation into abuses in Ohio’s Medicaid-funded home health program and came amid a broader fight over how much Ohio’s Medicaid oversight changes after years of Republican control.
Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche told lawmakers on Tuesday he would not bar people convicted of violence during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot from receiving payouts from a new $1.776 billion Department of Justice fund created to compensate individuals who say they were politically targeted.
Two teenage gunmen opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday, killing three men before dying by suicide a few blocks away, San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said.
The NAACP and Congressional Black Caucus on Tuesday launched the "Out of Bounds" campaign, calling on current and prospective Black athletes, their families, alumni and fans to withhold athletic and financial support from public universities in seven states that the civil rights groups say have enacted measures restricting Black voting representation.
Two Navy jets collided midair Sunday afternoon during the 'Gunfighter Skies' air show at Mountain Home Air Force Base in Idaho, 57 miles southwest of Boise. All four crew members ejected and deployed their parachutes, landing safely as the wreckage exploded in a field.
Biotech company Colossal Biosciences announced Tuesday it has hatched live chicks using a 3D-printed artificial eggshell, a milestone the company said could eventually allow it to revive extinct bird species such as New Zealand's South Island giant moa.
The Associated Press reports that at several U.S. university commencements this spring, graduates have booed speakers who discuss artificial intelligence, voicing anxiety over job prospects. Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt was repeatedly jeered during his keynote address to about 10,000 University of Arizona graduates over the weekend when he said AI “will touch every profession.”
Nationwide enrollment in the Affordable Care Act health insurance marketplace could fall by nearly 5 million people this year, a decline of more than 20%, according to a new analysis from the healthcare research nonprofit KFF. Those who remain covered face higher costs, with the average enrollee’s deductible rising more than $1,000 and monthly premiums climbing $65. The projected drop-off, far steeper than initial federal data indicated, stems from the Jan. 1 expiration of enhanced subsidies that had helped the vast majority of enrollees pay for coverage, and could become a decisive issue in this year’s midterm elections.
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected appeals from pharmaceutical companies challenging the federal government's authority to negotiate prices for high-cost drugs in Medicare, leaving in place lower court rulings that upheld the program created by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
Three men were killed at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday after confronting two teenage gunmen to protect roughly 140 children present in the building. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said the victims died while attempting to delay and distract the attackers. Imam Taha Hassane identified the deceased as Amin Abdullah, 51; Nadir Awad, 57; and Mansour Kaziha, 78, calling them martyrs and heroes.
Two teenagers killed three men and then themselves Monday in an attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego that investigators say was driven by white-supremacist ideology. A mosque security guard, who was among the dead, fired back and locked down the building, helping to keep the attackers away from about 140 children present at the time.
Two teenagers who killed three people in an attack on a San Diego mosque on May 18 met online where they shared white supremacist views and authored writings expressing hatred toward Jewish people, Muslims, Black people, the LGBTQ+ community, women, and both the political left and right, according to FBI agent Mark Remily and texts obtained by the Associated Press.
Israel will for the first time allow women to sit for the rabbinic exams that Israel’s rabbinate requires for Orthodox men, NPR reported May 19. The change follows years of court fights, but Israel’s official rabbinate still refuses to ordain women as Orthodox rabbis. NPR’s Daniel Estrin described three women who completed the exam in Jerusalem.
Two teenagers attacked the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday, killing three men and then themselves, authorities said. Investigators said the suspects had met online, and they were examining white supremacist writings for evidence of hate toward multiple groups.
The NAACP and the Congressional Black Caucus are urging Black athletes and fans to boycott the athletic programs of public universities in several Southern states they say are restricting Black voting rights. The groups launched the “Out of Bounds” campaign to “withhold athletic and financial support” from universities in states they argue are moving to limit, weaken or erase Black voting representation.
An Iranian family living in the United States for a decade is demanding release from immigration detention after being arrested because of their relation to Masoumeh Ebtekar, a central figure in the 1979 U.S. Embassy hostage crisis in Tehran. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in April he was revoking the family's green cards over their ties to Ebtekar, and a federal judge has temporarily barred the government from deporting them.
After nearly 20 years of moving between campgrounds, Orr Family Ministries settled in 2022 on a 12-acre site on a hill in Colorado County, Texas, and established Camp Oak Haven. This summer, the camp will not reopen — its operators sold the land after determining they could not meet sweeping new state safety regulations imposed on the camp industry in the wake of a 2025 flood that killed multiple people at Camp Mystic in the Texas Hill Country.
Texas summer camps have closed or cut back operations after new state regulations were introduced in the wake of a deadly July 4 Hill Country flood that killed 27 children and counselors at Camp Mystic. Orr Family Ministries sold the land for its Camp Oak Haven, citing the costs and practical challenges of complying with requirements that include weather warning systems and broadband access. State health officials have since reached an agreement with 19 camp operators that temporarily lifts a fiber-optic internet requirement, but camp directors say higher licensing fees and other safety mandates are still pushing some rural and urban camps out of business.
A coalition of 24 states and the District of Columbia sued in federal court Tuesday to challenge a Trump administration rule that narrows access to federal student loans for borrowers earning certain graduate degrees in healthcare-related fields. The plaintiffs argue the rule unlawfully tightens the federal definition of which “professional” degrees qualify for higher loan limits, while the Education Department says the caps are aimed at reducing college costs.
President Donald Trump on Monday announced that more than 600 generic medications are being added to TrumpRx, the government’s discounted-drug website aimed at easing costs for patients. The expansion, he said, is made possible through partnerships with other online pharmacies, including Amazon Pharmacy, GoodRx and Mark Cuban’s Cost Plus Drugs.
A mural depicting swimming whales that covered two walls of a downtown Dallas parking garage for nearly 30 years has been painted over to make way for World Cup-themed public art, drawing criticism from residents and the artist who created the work.
Pope Leo XIV will release his first encyclical on May 25, a document focused on the care of human dignity in the era of artificial intelligence, with Christopher Olah, co-founder of the AI safety company Anthropic, joining the pontiff for the launch, the Vatican announced Monday.
Michigan State University trustees must sign an updated board ethics policy by this weekend after approving the changes 5-3 during a special Sunday night meeting. The new policy outlines fiduciary duties, prohibits undermining board decisions, and establishes penalties for noncompliance, drawing sharply divided reactions from board members and observers.
Opening statements began Tuesday in the trial of a former Virginia elementary school assistant principal charged with felony child neglect, with the prosecutor telling a jury that school officials warned the defendant multiple times about a 6-year-old student's gun before the child shot his teacher.
Trains are rolling again on the Long Island Rail Road after a deal was reached to end a strike that shut down the busiest commuter rail system in the United States.
A former Hartford police officer was charged with manslaughter Monday in the February fatal shooting of Steven Jones, a 55-year-old Black man suffering a mental health crisis, after a state investigation concluded the officer failed to de-escalate the confrontation.
An autopsy report released Monday confirmed that the death of Emmanuel Damas, a 56-year-old Haitian man who died after spending months at an Arizona immigration detention facility, was related to his severe dental problems, while also noting that he declined recommendations to have his problematic teeth removed.
A behavioral scientist says turning a habit into a repeatable routine depends on more than willpower—people also need the ability to perform the action and a clear prompt. An NPR “Life Kit” comic episode, created by cartoonist Vreni Stollberger and produced for the podcast, illustrates the approach using Tiny Habits, a method developed by BJ Fogg.
Dallas residents and students are protesting the replacement of a long-beloved whale mural that covered two walls of a downtown parking garage as the city prepares to host World Cup matches. The mural, created by artist Wyland, has been painted over as part of a World Cup-related art installation, according to the organizing committee and the artist.
Opening statements began Tuesday in the trial of Ebony Parker, a former assistant principal in Virginia accused of felony child neglect in the January 2023 shooting at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News. Prosecutors said school employees repeatedly warned Parker that a 6-year-old student had a gun, but she did not act. Parker’s attorney argued that teachers should have intervened if they believed a gun was present.
Graduates at multiple U.S. universities have interrupted commencement speakers after they discussed artificial intelligence, according to reporting published Monday. The boos followed comments from former Google CEO Eric Schmidt at the University of Arizona, and similar disruptions when other keynote speakers raised AI during ceremonies.
Rachel Maddow is writing a history of the U.S. Justice Department that will be published Nov. 10 by Crown, a division of Penguin Random House, according to an announcement Monday. The book, titled “Department of Fate,” will examine the department’s 150-year record and link DOJ priorities to constitutional protections and democratic governance.
In Ohio, Vice President JD Vance said he is directing President Donald Trump’s anti-fraud task force to focus on the state after scrutiny of its Medicaid-funded home health program, a move that has scrambled Republicans ahead of state political races. Days later, Ohio’s governor, Mike DeWine, defended existing fraud enforcement and announced new prevention steps.
A coalition of Democratic-led states sued the Trump administration to challenge new caps on federal student loans, saying the limits will restrict access to certain health care training. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, argues the rules will disproportionately affect students pursuing degrees in critical health fields, taking effect in July.
The economics newsletter “Planet Money” says a widening divide between college-educated women and men without four-year degrees is reshaping U.S. dating and marriage patterns. It points to a new working paper that links declining marriage rates to the struggles of many men who do not attend college, and to “assortative mating” by education and earning potential.
Two teenage gunmen opened fire at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday, killing three men, and then killed themselves a few blocks away, police said. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said investigators are looking into the attack as a hate crime after finding evidence the suspects used “generalized hate rhetoric.” Officers were searching for one of the teenagers before the shooting after his mother called police, authorities said.
Dr. Peter Attia resigned from his position at CBS News in late February after his name appeared in documents released by the Justice Department relating to Jeffrey Epstein, the financier convicted of sex trafficking. Attia, who hosts a popular podcast and authored "Outlive: The Science & Art of Longevity," had been appointed as a network contributor by CBS News editor-in-chief Bari Weiss the previous month. In a statement, Attia acknowledged that some of his emails were "embarrassing, tasteless and indefensible," but stated he attended no parties hosted by Epstein and was guilty of no wrongdoing.
The Supreme Court on Monday rejected appeals from pharmaceutical companies challenging the federal government’s authority to negotiate Medicare prescription-drug prices. The justices left in place rulings by a federal appeals court in Philadelphia that dismissed the companies’ claims.
Pope Leo XIV will unveil his first encyclical focused on artificial intelligence on May 25, the Vatican announced. The document, *Magnifica Humanitas* (Magnificent Humanity), will address what the Vatican said is the care of human dignity in the era of AI, with Pope and Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah attending a formal launch in Rome.
An attack by two teenagers on the Islamic Center of San Diego left three men dead and the attackers dead Monday, as Muslim leaders called for increased security and investigators examined writings found in the suspects’ circle. FBI Special Agent Mark Remily said Tuesday the teens met online and shared white supremacist views. San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl said investigators recovered more than 30 firearms and rounds as they searched homes connected to the suspects.
Two teenagers who shot and killed three people during an attack on the Islamic Center of San Diego met online and left writings expressing hate, the FBI said. The FBI said the pair shared white supremacist views and referred to themselves as “Sons of Tarrant,” an apparent reference to the 2019 mosque attacker in Christchurch, New Zealand. Cain Clark, 17, and Caleb Vazquez, 18, killed themselves after the Monday attack, police said.
In late January, Pentagon contractor Aurelio Luis Perez-Lugones was indicted on charges he illegally removed and shared classified national defense information with a journalist. The indictment centers on documents he passed to a Washington Post reporter, a case that drew national attention after federal agents searched the reporter's home.
Rachel Maddow, the liberal MSNBC host and bestselling author, will publish a history of the U.S. Department of Justice titled “Department of Fate” on Nov. 10, Crown, a division of Penguin Random House, announced Monday. The book, arriving one week after this year’s midterm elections, promises to trace the DOJ’s 150-year record of “triumphs and misdeeds” from the Red Scare to cabinet scandals and the upheaval of norms during President Donald Trump’s second term, according to the publisher.
In western Kenya, a distinctive funeral practice blends ancient Luo tradition with the region's widespread Christian faith. Professional mourners — strangers hired by families of the deceased — wail, sing, and beat leafy branches in a performance meant to honor the dead and comfort the bereaved. The role provides a steady, if modest, income in an economically depressed area where formal employment is scarce.
Pakistan is preparing a large group of pilgrims for Hajj as millions of Muslims turn to a multiday journey to Mecca. NPR reported that ongoing fighting in the Middle East has added uncertainty to travel plans and costs for some pilgrims, even as government training sessions continue ahead of departures.
New Hampshire Public Radio reported that a weeklong program is teaching high school students historic building techniques, aiming to help address a shortage of tradespeople who can repair older structures. NPR’s report followed students at Canterbury Shaker Village in Canterbury, New Hampshire, where they learned methods such as timber framing and shingle replacement.
President Donald Trump said Monday that more than 600 generic medications are being added to TrumpRx, the government’s discounted-drug website. The expansion, announced at the White House, would increase the site’s catalog nearly sevenfold beyond its initial launch in February.
Texas youth camps have closed or cut back operations after the state of Texas imposed new regulations following last year’s deadly Hill Country floods, according to camp operators and state officials. A Texas campground that served about 100 rural children will not reopen this summer after selling its land. The state later agreed to pause a fiber-optic internet requirement for some camps, but directors say high licensing fees and new safety measures could still push more programs to shut down.
PHOENIX (AP) — An autopsy report released this week found that the death of a Haitian man detained for months at an Arizona immigration detention facility was related to his dental problems, which prosecutors said began with tooth pain that progressed to a serious infection. The Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office concluded Emmanuel Damas died from complications of a chest infection with abscesses in his neck and throat.
In western Kenya, hired mourners are taking on a role that mixes Luo cultural practices with Christianity, helping families publicly express grief and receive comfort at funerals. At a recent funeral for 64-year-old Tom Ochieng Mima in Kisumu, people who did not know the deceased waved leafy branches, sang, and cried as part of the ceremony.
Rachel Maddow will publish a new book on the U.S. Justice Department, Penguin Random House’s Crown announced May 19. ‘Department of Fate’ is set for release Nov. 10, one week after this year’s midterm elections.
The Washington Post filed a federal court petition on January 21 to recover electronic devices the FBI seized from reporter Hannah Natanson's Virginia home, arguing the search violated her free speech rights and journalistic protections. A magistrate judge temporarily barred the government from examining the materials and scheduled a February 6 hearing. The agents seized a phone, two laptops, a recorder, a portable hard drive and a smartwatch during the search, which was part of an investigation into a Pentagon contractor accused of illegally handling classified information.
Animal rescue volunteers in New York are racing to find homes for more than 450 pet rats found in a condemned house in the New York City suburbs. The group of about 10 volunteers with the Strong Island Animal Rescue League has spent the past couple of weeks rounding up the domesticated white rodents at the home in Rocky Point, about 70 miles east of Manhattan on Long Island. With about 30 more rats still to catch and a major winter storm quickly approaching, rescuers are accelerating their efforts.
Canada's Fisheries Minister Joanne Thompson said Monday she has given conditional approval for the shuttered Marineland theme park to export 30 beluga whales and 4 dolphins to United States institutions. Thompson said she will issue final permits once Marineland provides additional required information, with a deadline of January 30. The conditional approval averts a threat by Marineland to euthanize the animals if export permits were not authorized by that date.
Immigrant families protested Saturday at a Texas detention facility where a 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy and his father are being held after their detention in Minnesota this week. Dozens of families gathered at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, holding signs reading 'Libertad para los niños'—'Liberty for the kids'—and calling for freedom for children, according to aerial photographs obtained by the Associated Press.
Americans are increasingly anxious about flying following a collision between an American Airlines jet and a helicopter over Washington, D.C., in January that killed 67 people — the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster in almost a quarter century. The incident has prompted heightened concern among travelers and aviation professionals about the risks of air travel. Adelynn Campbell, a 30-year-old coffee shop manager in San Diego, has felt the effects directly. She experienced a panic attack on a previous flight. Since the January collision, her anxiety has worsened. "It's definitely spiked my concern about getting on a plane and it's making the whole situation a little more stressful than it used to be," Campbell said.
In February 2026, Reggae, a 33-year-old Atlantic harbor seal at Boston's New England Aquarium, became a social media sensation after videos emerged of him hugging, carrying, and gently manipulating rubber ducks in his tank. But for the aquarium's trainers, the playful scene captured something more significant: a structured enrichment program designed to keep the aging seal mentally sharp and engaged.
Japan's last two giant pandas left Tokyo's Ueno Zoo on Tuesday, ending 50 years of panda presence in the country and marking a symbolic loss amid deteriorating diplomatic relations between Japan and China. The twins, Xiao Xiao and Lei Lei—born at the zoo in 2021—returned to China as strained ties between Tokyo and Beijing reach their lowest point in years.
Patience Rousseau will receive $100,000 from Nevada following a settlement approved by the Board of Examiners on Feb. 18. The payment concludes an eight-year legal battle after Rousseau became the only person ever charged and convicted under the state's 1911 law criminalizing drug-induced abortion after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Removing a tattoo is longer, much more costly and significantly more painful than getting it, according to tattoo-removal professionals. About 32% of American adults have tattoos, and roughly one in four regret getting them, according to a 2023 Pew Research Center survey. For those who decide to have their ink removed, the reality is sobering: the process can take eight to twelve sessions or more, costs hundreds of dollars, and feels, by some accounts, like hot bacon grease applied to the skin.
In the southeastern Serbian town of Pirot, a traditionally crafted spicy sausage in the shape of a horseshoe has long been said to lift spirits during long winter months. The "ironed sausage"—or peglana kobasica in Serbian—is made from selected meats loaded with seasoning and dried naturally, with its distinctive shape created by a unique bottle-flattening technique. Though it has been part of Pirot's tradition for generations, the delicacy is now gaining recognition far beyond the town near Serbia's border with Bulgaria.
A northwest Oregon town is stepping up testing of the South Yamhill River, which supplies some of its drinking water, following reporting about a local wood-treating facility's years of chemical spills and stormwater releases that state and federal regulators had documented but not widely disclosed. The Sheridan City Council has instructed staff to consult with environmental researchers and state regulators on a plan to test water samples for chemicals used by Canadian company Stella-Jones.
Ana García, a 26-year-old survivor of one of Spain's deadliest train crashes, has captured national attention with her plea to find her dog, Boro, who fled the wreckage as rescue crews helped her to safety. The high-speed train from Málaga to Madrid crashed on Jan. 21 when its tail jumped the rails and was struck by an oncoming train, which then tumbled down an adjacent slope, killing at least 43 people and injuring more than 150. Bandaged and limping after the disaster, García told reporters she was determined to find Boro, a medium-sized black dog with white eyebrows and a white tuft on his chest. "Please, if you can help, look for the animals," she said. "We were coming back from a family weekend with the little dog, who's family, too." García's search has become a national rallying point. Thousands of social media users amplified her call, sharing her video interview and photos of Boro. Major Spanish media outlets reported on the search as the dog's image circulated alongside phone numbers for García and her family. The search has shown signs of progress. On Monday, television broadcaster TVE captured footage of a dog resembling Boro running through a field near the crash site, though rescuers were unable to locate the dog. On Wednesday, an animal rescue patrol authorized to enter the accident perimeter had more success: a Civil Guard environmental agent spotted Boro, alive and well. But when the agent tried to catch him, the dog fled into the woods.
The same travertine quarries near Rome that built the Colosseum 2,000 years ago and St. Peter's Basilica centuries later continue to operate today, supplying distinctive pock-marked stone to churches, temples and mosques around the world. Workers at quarries near Tivoli, Italy—35 kilometers east of Rome—extract travertine from underground sulfur springs, fulfilling commissions from institutions ranging from the Getty Center in Los Angeles to the Bank of China in Beijing to a renovated Latter-day Saint temple in Manhattan.
A breakaway Catholic traditionalist group rejected the Vatican's offer of talks on February 19, signaling it plans to proceed with consecrating four bishops on July 1 despite papal threats of sanctions and schism. The Society of St. Pius X, which operates a parallel Catholic structure with 733 priests and more than a thousand religious members globally, said doctrinal dialogue under Vatican conditions was impossible.
President Donald Trump announced in February that he would deploy a hospital ship to Greenland, saying many people there are sick and not receiving care. Greenlandic and Danish leaders swiftly rejected the offer, defending their free public healthcare system and questioning both its necessity and feasibility.
USA Today Co., owner of the Detroit Free Press, announced on January 26, 2026, that it plans to acquire The Detroit News, consolidating two major Detroit newspapers under a single owner. The deal ends an almost 40-year joint operating agreement between the papers and is being funded through cash and financing from Apollo Global Management, a private equity firm. The acquisition was expected to close by the end of January 2026.
Singer Dara arrived at Sofia’s airport to a jubilant crowd on Sunday, a day after securing Bulgaria’s first-ever victory at the Eurovision Song Contest with her anthem "Bangaranga."
Federal contractors are blasting and bulldozing Native American sacred sites — including a mountain revered by the Kumeyaay Nation, a 1,000-year-old geoglyph in Arizona, and a shrine atop a New Mexico peak — as the Trump administration accelerates border wall construction under waivers of environmental and cultural laws, tribal leaders and government records show.
The average person's attention span when viewing a single screen has fallen to 47 seconds, down from 2.5 minutes in 2004, according to decades of research. Psychiatrists and cognitive scientists say the decline is driven by constant notifications, 24/7 news cycles, and the deliberate design of social media platforms — but also that it can be reversed through intentional practice.
For decades, billions of gallons of raw sewage flowing from Tijuana have created hazardous air quality in Southern California's Tijuana River valley, sickening residents through exposure to toxic hydrogen sulfide gas. Since 2018, more than 100 billion gallons of sewage laden with industrial chemicals have poured into the Tijuana River, according to the International Boundary and Water Commission. The contamination has created what the Environmental Protection Agency termed one of the nation's worst environmental crises, affecting tens of thousands of people in largely poor, Latino communities near the river.
The Supreme Court rejected appeals from pharmaceutical companies seeking to block Medicare negotiations with the federal government for certain prescription drugs. The justices did not comment, leaving in place rulings that had dismissed the manufacturers’ claims.
Thousands gathered at the Alabama State Capitol in Montgomery on Saturday, May 16, 2026, returning to a cradle of the Civil Rights Movement to protest a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that further weakened the Voting Rights Act. The ruling has triggered a rush by conservative states to redraw congressional districts, including one in Alabama that had secured Black political representation.
More than 80 children are missing after a wave of militant attacks on schools in Nigeria over the past week, local officials and Amnesty International said Sunday, the latest in a long series of school abductions in the West African country.
CHENG LEI, a 50-year-old Chinese-born Australian television journalist, spent 1,154 days in Chinese custody — much of it in a shared cell under constant surveillance — before being deported in October 2023. Now, in a new memoir and an upcoming stage production, “1154 Days,” she is offering a rare, firsthand account of the pressure tactics, isolation, and psychological toll of China’s secretive prison system, and how she rebuilt her life through writing, stand-up comedy, and a return to journalism.
Militant attacks on schools in Nigeria over the past week left more than 80 children missing, according to local officials and Amnesty International. The attackers abducted 42 children from a primary school in Borno state between Wednesday and Thursday, Amnesty said.
Thousands of people rallied Saturday in Montgomery, Alabama, pushing back against state efforts to dismantle congressional districts they say help secure Black political representation after the U.S. Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act. The event, held in the shadow of the Alabama Capitol where civil rights leaders including Martin Luther King Jr. spoke, included remarks from Bernice King and members of Congress.
In April, Becky Pepper-Jackson, a transgender high school track and field athlete, was focused on her season at Bridgeport High School in West Virginia despite knowing the Supreme Court could end her ability to compete on a girls' team. The court is expected to rule by early summer on whether states can ban transgender girls from competing in female sports—a case in which Pepper-Jackson, a sophomore, is the centerpiece.
President Donald Trump’s administration held a conservative Christian prayer gathering on the National Mall Sunday as part of celebrations for the nation’s 250th birthday. The event, organized by Freedom 250 with work involving the White House, featured speeches in video messages from Trump and other administration officials, along with remarks from members of Congress and faith leaders.
The White House has designated Sunday as the date for a daylong prayer event on the National Mall, organized with private church organizations and federal agencies, NPR reported. The event, called “Rededicate 250,” marks the 250th anniversary of the nation’s founding and has drawn concern from religious scholars about church-state separation. NPR’s Ayesha Rascoe spoke with Georgetown religious studies scholar Matthew D. Taylor about the ideology behind the program.
Thousands of people gathered on the National Mall in Washington on Sunday for a daylong Christian worship rally billed as a “rededication of our country as One Nation under God,” according to the Associated Press. President Donald Trump appeared via a pre-recorded video reading from 2 Chronicles, and a lineup of top Republican officials and evangelical leaders addressed the crowd against a stage backdrop that mixed American founding imagery with Christian symbols.
Colorado became the first U.S. state to adopt paid neonatal intensive care leave in January, offering parents up to 12 additional weeks when a newborn requires intensive care. A more modest unpaid leave measure takes effect in Illinois next month, and advocates are now pressing for a federal bill to add NICU protections to the Family and Medical Leave Act.
Mikala Sposito, a 21-year-old student at Washtenaw Community College in Michigan, will become the first woman to represent the United States in welding at the WorldSkills competition in Shanghai this September, after winning the USA Weld Trials in Huntsville, Alabama.
The World Health Organization declared a global health emergency Sunday as an Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and neighboring Uganda continues to grow, with more than 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths reported. The rare Bundibugyo variant driving the outbreak has no approved vaccines or treatments, and health authorities warn that the real scope of the epidemic is likely much wider.
A new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo has killed 15 people among 28 suspected cases, the country’s health minister said Thursday, marking the 16th such epidemic in the central African nation.
The Public Health Agency of Canada confirmed Sunday that one of four Canadians who returned from an Andes hantavirus-hit cruise ship has tested positive for the virus, making the patient the 10th confirmed case linked to the MV Hondius outbreak.
Team Ratas, founded in 2016 by Dominique Verdier, has rescued over 8,000 rodents from 11 animal facilities and labs, finding homes for more than 3,000. The group's annual Ratapalooza event promotes adoption and challenges perceptions that rats and mice are pests.
Thousands gathered on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., on May 17 for “Rededicate 250,” a prayer festival that organizers said is partially funded and organized by the Trump administration. NPR’s Emily Feng reported from the lawn as Religion News Service reporter Jack Jenkins described the event’s tightly secured setting and the dominance of evangelical speakers, alongside attendees’ views that faith should be more openly present in politics.
Pope Leo XIV will unveil his first encyclical on artificial intelligence on May 25, the Vatican announced. The document, Magnifica Humanitas (Magnificent Humanity), is centered on the care of human dignity in the era of AI, and the Vatican said it will be presented in the main papal auditorium with leading church figures and Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah.
Thousands streamed onto the National Mall in Washington on Sunday for a daylong, America-themed prayer rally billed as a “rededication of our country as One Nation under God,” organized as part of this year’s 250th anniversary celebrations. The event, which featured Christian worship and Republican officials, included remarks and appearances from President Donald Trump and other top figures, as well as progressive and religious counterprogramming nearby.
As neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU, stays lengthen after difficult births, parents across the U.S. say they need guaranteed time to care for their newborns. Colorado became the first state to adopt paid NICU leave in January, offering up to 12 weeks, and Illinois is set to begin providing 10 to 20 days of unpaid leave next month.
Congo’s health ministry said Thursday that a new suspected Ebola outbreak in the central African country has left 15 people dead among 28 people showing symptoms. The ministry said a provisional report includes suspected cases in Boulapé and Mweka in southern Kasai province, as well as four health care workers.
Buenos Aires’ annual Ratapalooza event helps rehome lab rats and mice raised in research facilities, organizers said. Team Ratas, a Spanish-language rodent rescue group, holds the adoption-focused fair where fosters care for the animals before they are put up for adoption. The event comes as some people express concern about rodents amid Argentina’s current hantavirus outbreak.
Sofia hosted a homecoming for Bulgaria’s Eurovision winner Dara on Sunday, with hundreds of fans cheering at Vasil Levski Airport. The 27-year-old singer arrived waving the Eurovision trophy after winning the 70th contest in Vienna on Saturday.
A 21-year-old welding student from Dexter, Michigan, has been selected to represent the United States at WorldSkills in China, becoming the first woman to do so. Mikala Sposito earned the spot by winning the USA Weld Trials in Alabama, and she plans to continue building her training through competitions leading up to the event in September.
La Organización Mundial de la Salud declaró el domingo el brote de ébola en la República Democrática del Congo y la vecina Uganda como una emergencia de salud pública de importancia internacional. En un anuncio, la OMS informó que se han registrado más de 300 presuntos casos y 88 muertes, y advirtió que el brote no cumple los criterios de una emergencia pandémica como la de COVID-19.
Canada’s national public health agency confirmed Sunday that one of four Canadians who returned from a cruise ship with a hantavirus outbreak has tested positive for the virus, and reported that a traveling partner tested negative. Both people, a couple in their 70s from the Yukon, are hospitalized in Victoria. The Public Health Agency of Canada said the risk to the general population remains low.
Ranch dressing has reigned as America's best-selling salad dressing since the late 1990s, when it displaced Italian dressing from the top spot. What began as a creamy condiment for iceberg and romaine salads now competes with ketchup and other staples across American kitchens, adorning everything from hot wings and fried pickles to, in a more contentious application, pizza. The versatile dressing is now ubiquitous, equally likely to appear in grocery store aisles, cookbooks, and restaurant menus as in home kitchens across the country.
A study published in April in JAMA Oncology found that colorectal cancer deaths among young adults in the U.S. are concentrated among people without college degrees, suggesting socioeconomic factors drive the increase in mortality. The American Cancer Society research, based on data from more than 101,000 deaths from 1994 through 2023, is the first national study to parse which young adults are most affected by the increase. Celebrity deaths including actor Chadwick Boseman in 2020 and James Van Der Beek earlier this year have highlighted the trend.
A weapons-grade chemical called carfentanil is surging in the U.S. drug supply, killing hundreds and prompting warnings from federal authorities. The substance, which is 100 times more potent than fentanyl and 10,000 times more potent than morphine, was identified in 1,400 drug seizures in 2025, compared with 145 in 2023 and 54 in 2022, according to DEA records reviewed by The Associated Press. The rise coincides with a Chinese government crackdown on precursor chemicals used to manufacture fentanyl. That regulatory pressure is likely prompting traffickers in Mexico to use carfentanil as a potency booster for weakened fentanyl supplies, according to DEA intelligence bulletins reviewed by the AP.
Police in Trinidad and Tobago said they are investigating after 56 bodies—50 of them infants—were found dumped at a cemetery in Cumuto on Saturday. The discovery comes as authorities extend a state of emergency due to surging gang violence and crime.
In mid-April, the satirical news outlet The Onion submitted a proposal to a Texas state court seeking an exclusive temporary license to operate the conspiracy-focused platforms of Alex Jones as a parody site. The proposal comes as Jones' company, Free Speech Systems, faces liquidation to satisfy more than $1 billion in defamation judgments owed to relatives of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims.
Eight Republican governors have announced partnerships to establish Turning Point USA chapters in every public high school in their states, an effort they describe as countering the suppression of conservative voices in education. The push has intensified following the assassination of Turning Point co-founder Charlie Kirk and has stirred debate about free speech protections and the proper scope of government backing in schools.
The U.S. Department of Justice on April 14 demanded that Michigan's Wayne County turn over all ballots from the 2024 presidential election, marking an expansion of federal election record requests to swing states that Trump won. Harmeet K. Dhillon, head of the DOJ's Civil Rights Division, justified the demand by citing three instances of fraudulent votes in 2020 and a civil lawsuit over absentee ballot processing. Michigan officials immediately contested the move. Attorney General Dana Nessel called it "weaponizing the Justice Department" and "an attempt to interfere in state elections." Governor Gretchen Whitmer said the demand "is a poorly disguised attempt to justify more doubt and misinformation about our elections as well as direct federal interference."
Former President Barack Obama met with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani on April 18 at a child care center in Manhattan, where the two read "Alone and Together" to preschoolers and led them in a singalong of "The Wheels on the Bus." The first in-person meeting between the former two-term president and the 34-year-old democratic socialist came as Mamdani, who took office in January, navigates his early tenure on an agenda focused on making New York City more affordable for working people.
Researchers at Trinity College Dublin have discovered the oldest surviving English poem embedded within a 9th-century manuscript in Rome’s main public library, a find that reveals Old English circulated far more widely in the early medieval period than previously known.
Bulgarian singer Dara won the 70th Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna on Saturday with her party anthem “Bangaranga,” securing the country’s first-ever victory in the competition. Israeli competitor Noam Bettan came second in a contest clouded by protests over Israel’s participation and a boycott by five longtime competing nations.
Health authorities confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo this week, with more than 300 suspected cases and at least 88 deaths already recorded. The World Health Organization declared the situation a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday as cases crossed into neighboring Uganda.
MADRID — For the first time in seven years, Silvia Díaz won’t gather with friends to watch the Eurovision Song Contest finals Saturday night after Spain’s public broadcaster withdrew from the competition to protest Israel’s participation amid the war in Gaza. The boycott, joined by Ireland, Slovenia, the Netherlands, and Iceland, has split the normally exuberant Spanish fan base and left a noticeable absence in Vienna, where the contest is being held.
Suspected Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) militants attacked a secondary school in Askira-Uba, northeastern Nigeria, on Friday, leaving an unspecified number of students missing, police told The Associated Press.
A wave of cartel drone and gunfire attacks on small Náhuatl towns in Guerrero state forced hundreds of Indigenous residents to flee their homes last week, leaving the elderly, wounded, and displaced sheltering under a basketball court while the government and local groups offered widely differing accounts of the crisis.
A Kansas judge blocked the state’s ban on gender-affirming care for minors on Friday, ruling the law likely violates the state constitution’s protection of parental rights. In Texas, the nation’s largest children’s hospital agreed to pay $10 million and fire doctors who provided such care to settle a years-long federal investigation.
President Donald Trump said he plans to build the National Garden of American Heroes, an exhibit of statues honoring 250 prominent Americans, in West Potomac Park near the National Mall. In a Friday social media post, Trump described the site as prime waterfront real estate and said the project will be built as part of the nation’s 250th-anniversary commemorations.
The Spanish public broadcaster RTVE has withdrawn from this weekend’s Eurovision Song Contest finals in protest of Israel’s participation, prompting Spain to boycott the event for the first time in seven years. Fans in Madrid and elsewhere said the decision has left them torn between taking a stand and losing a cherished tradition.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko greeted U.S. evangelist Franklin Graham during a visit to hold what organizers call the largest evangelical gathering in Belarus’ history, including a festival in Minsk. Lukashenko asked Graham to convey warm greetings to President Donald Trump and told him he has “reliable friends and supporters in Belarus,” while Belarusian and U.S.-linked discussions on sanctions and prisoner releases form the backdrop.
Kansas District Court Judge Carl Folsom III on Friday blocked enforcement of the state’s ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors, saying it likely violates the Kansas Constitution. The ruling came as Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston agreed to a legal settlement with Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s office and the U.S. Department of Justice to restrict such care.
An unspecified number of students were missing after suspected jihadi militants attacked a secondary school in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state, police said Friday. Police said the missing students may have fled during the attack and that a headcount was ongoing to determine whether students were abducted.
Congo’s Ebola outbreak in the eastern province of Ituri has killed at least 87 people, the Africa CDC said, warning of “active community transmission” as health teams expand screening and contact tracing. The deaths are concentrated in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones, with four fatalities reported among confirmed cases, officials said.
California lawmakers fast-tracked a $25 million grant for struggling hospitals through the Legislature in three days and Gov. Gavin Newsom signed it within hours — a sprint so swift that even some lawmakers later said they could not explain key details of the bill they passed.
California lawmakers on Thursday signed into law a $25 million grant program for cash-strapped public and nonprofit hospitals, moving so quickly that some hospitals and lawmakers learned of the application window only days before it opened. The grants are designed to tide eligible hospitals over until July 1, when the new fiscal year begins, though lawmakers said the criteria were too narrow and the budgeting timeline left key questions unanswered.
Wyoming wildlife officials plan to cut the number of wolves that can be hunted in the Yellowstone region by half after a canine distemper outbreak pushed the state’s wolf population to its lowest level in more than two decades, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department announced Thursday.
Pope Leo XIV will make a four-day visit to France from September 25 to 28 that includes a stop at the United Nations cultural agency UNESCO, the Vatican announced Saturday.
Pope Leo XIV has established a Vatican study group on artificial intelligence and signed his first encyclical, expected to call for an ethics-based approach to AI that prioritizes human dignity and peace, the Vatican announced Saturday.
President Donald Trump announced Friday that his administration will build the National Garden of American Heroes, a sculpture park featuring 250 statues of notable Americans, in West Potomac Park along the Potomac River. The plan, posted on social media, would place the new exhibit in a tightly regulated area of Washington’s monumental core and could bypass the multi-agency approval process required for major construction on or near the National Mall.
Dr. Tracy Beth Hoeg, the acting director of the FDA’s drug center who oversaw investigations into the safety of COVID-19 vaccines and antidepressants, was removed from her position Friday, according to an internal agency email obtained by the Associated Press. Her departure, which Hoeg confirmed in a social media post saying she was “fired,” is the latest in a series of leadership changes that have roiled the powerful regulatory agency.
Associated Press photographer Alessandra Tarantino has shared a behind-the-scenes look at how she captured a widely circulated portrait of Italian tennis star Jannik Sinner during the Italian Open in Rome. Tarantino detailed the specific vantage point, lens selection, and camera adjustments she used to freeze the match ball on the racket while isolating Sinner from the crowded stadium background.
An adolescent great horned owl that spent roughly six months in rehabilitation after entering a cement mixer has returned to the wild in southwestern Utah with a set of replacement feathers.
A North Korean women’s soccer team touched down at Incheon International Airport on Sunday, the first visit by North Korean athletes to South Korea in eight years, as tensions remain high on the Korean Peninsula.
Nigerian police have detained three suspects after gunmen attacked two primary schools in Oyo state in the country’s southwest, authorities said Saturday. Officials are still assessing how many children may have been abducted, police spokesperson Ayanlade Olayinka told The Associated Press.
The Associated Press laid off 20 U.S.-based journalists on Friday, completing a restructuring announced last month that shifts the news organization’s focus away from print journalism and toward visual journalism and technology clients, the union representing AP staff said.
NAIROBI, Kenya — Sabastian Sawe became the first human to run an official marathon in under two hours, winning the London Marathon on April 26 with a time of 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds. The 31-year-old Kenyan runner had attended Mass and received a blessing at his home parish in Eldoret before the race, drawing international attention to the deep Catholic faith shared by many of Kenya's elite distance runners.
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang visited Beijing’s Nanluoguxiang neighborhood on Thursday, sampling local street food including a bowl of zhajiangmian noodles and a fermented soybean drink that drew a pained reaction captured on Chinese social media.
The cruise industry is on track for another record year, with bookings and consumer sentiment showing little impact from recent hantavirus deaths and a norovirus outbreak on ships, according to travel experts and company data.
A humpback whale that gained widespread attention in Germany after a dramatic rescue operation was found dead off a Danish island this week, authorities confirmed Saturday. The whale, nicknamed Timmy, had been released on May 2 after being transported by barge toward the North Sea but was discovered stranded near the island of Anholt in the Kattegat Strait.
The Pasteur Institute in Paris has fully sequenced the Andes virus detected in a French passenger aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship and found it matches viruses already known in South America, with no evidence of characteristics that would make it more transmissible or more dangerous, French health authorities said Friday.
Fisk University President Agenia Clark on May 15, 2026, unveiled a $900 million plan to transform the historically Black university’s Nashville campus, including a 100,000-square-foot data and technology center, as new polling shows widespread national opposition to such facilities.
The World Health Organization declared the Ebola disease outbreak in Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday, as the case count reached 336 suspected infections and 88 deaths. The outbreak is driven by the rare Bundibugyo virus variant, for which no approved treatments or vaccines exist, complicating containment in a remote eastern region of Congo plagued by armed conflict and poor infrastructure.
The World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak that has spread across eastern Congo and into Uganda a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday, after more than 330 suspected cases and nearly 90 deaths were linked to a rare, untreatable variant of the virus.
Africa's top public health body on Friday confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo's remote Ituri province, with 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths recorded so far. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said the outbreak is centered in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones and that four of the deaths have been laboratory-confirmed. Uganda later reported its first death from an imported Ebola case involving a Congolese man who died in Kampala.
At least 87 people have died in a new Ebola outbreak in eastern Congo’s Ituri province, health officials said Saturday, as the disease spread to three health zones and neighboring Uganda confirmed its first imported case.
A former mayor allied with a presidential candidate was shot dead Saturday in central Colombia, along with an aide, authorities said, the latest act of political violence two weeks before a presidential election.
A Canadian cruise passenger in their 70s has tested presumptively positive for hantavirus after returning home from a ship that experienced an outbreak of the rare rodent-borne virus, British Columbia health officials said Saturday. The patient is one of four Canadians who flew back to the province on May 10 from the MV Hondius, where 12 cases and three deaths have been reported. The individual remains in a Victoria hospital with mild symptoms, and a confirmatory test result from Canada’s National Microbiology Lab is expected within days.
London's Metropolitan Police deployed at least 4,000 officers, armored vehicles, and helicopters on Saturday to manage two rival marches and the FA Cup final, arresting 43 people by early evening.
Women deciding when to begin routine mammograms are receiving conflicting advice from the country’s top health organizations. The American College of Physicians now recommends starting at age 50, while other influential groups urge screening to begin at 40 or 45 — and they disagree on whether exams should be annual or every other year.
Belarus’s authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko on Friday greeted U.S. evangelist Franklin Graham, who arrived in the tightly controlled country for the largest evangelical Christian gathering in its history, and asked him to convey warm greetings to President Donald Trump, telling Graham that Trump has “reliable friends and supporters in Belarus.”
Jalue Dorje, 19, a reincarnated Tibetan Buddhist lama recognized by the Dalai Lama at age 2, has moved from Columbia Heights, Minnesota, to the Mindrolling Monastery in northern India to begin formal monastic training, the latest chapter in a life that has blended American teenage culture with an ancient spiritual lineage.
In Zimbabwe, parents increasingly choose English first names that carry family history, emotion and circumstance—ranging from gratitude and faith to stigma and hardship. For people such as Privilege Mubani and others interviewed in Harare, the meaning behind a name can reflect personal family narratives that remain tied to identity.
Wyoming wildlife managers plan to reduce the number of wolves hunters can kill by 50% in 2026 after a canine distemper outbreak pushed the state’s wolf population to the lowest level in two decades. Officials said the proposed 2026 hunting mortality limit would be the fewest available to licensed hunters since wolf hunting resumed in 2012. The state also scheduled public meetings on the draft quotas, with commission action expected in mid-July.
The Vatican confirmed Saturday that Pope Leo XIV will make a four-day visit to France from Sept. 25-28, including a stop at the United Nations’ cultural agency, UNESCO. The trip comes as the pope adds to an already busy 2026 travel schedule that includes foreign visits in March, April and June.
FDA has removed acting drug center director Tracy Beth Hoeg from her role, replacing her with deputy director Mike Davis, according to an email to agency staff obtained by The Associated Press. Hoeg later posted on social media that she was “fired.” The shake-up follows FDA Commissioner Marty Makary’s resignation earlier this week and Vinay Prasad’s departure last month.
In an AP feature on “One Extraordinary Photo,” photographer Alessandra Tarantino described how she shot a low-angle, fast-lens image of Jannik Sinner at the Italian Open in Rome. Tarantino said she positioned herself under a court window to capture his expression after points, using a 50mm f/1.4 lens and fast shutter speeds to freeze the ball.
North Korea’s Naegohyang Women’s FC arrived in South Korea on Sunday to play in the Asian Football Confederation Women’s Champions League, the first visit by North Korean athletes in eight years amid persistent political tensions. The team of 39 players and staff landed at Incheon International Airport and will face Suwon FC Women in Wednesday’s semifinals in Suwon.
Three gunmen who allegedly stormed two primary schools in Nigeria’s Oyo state were taken into custody, police said Saturday. Police said authorities were still assessing how many schoolchildren might have been abducted in the Oriire area, about 220 kilometers (135 miles) from Lagos.
The Associated Press laid off 20 U.S.-based journalists on Friday, according to the News Media Guild, as part of a restructuring announced last month that shifts the news organization away from print journalism and toward visual journalism and other revenue sources.
Bombs and drone-fired explosives have forced residents of Tula in Mexico’s Guerrero state to flee, with many family members describing ruined homes, lingering fear and few resources to rebuild. The Associated Press visited people displaced after attacks by a cartel group known as Los Ardillos, as Mexico’s government deployed 1,200 military and police officers and said it had confirmed no deaths. Aid groups and rights advocates say the displacement crisis is broader and harder to track than official figures suggest.
Sabastian Sawe, 31, became the first runner to complete a marathon in under two hours when he won the London Marathon in a record 1 hour, 59 minutes and 30 seconds, according to Religion News Service and the Associated Press. The report highlights how the Catholic Church in Eldoret, Kenya—where he prayed before the race—has been tied to his faith and discipline, alongside comments from church leaders and other Kenyan runners.
A humpback whale found dead this week off Denmark’s Anholt island has been identified as the same animal released two weeks ago after a contentious rescue effort following repeated strandings along Germany’s Baltic Sea coast, Danish authorities said Saturday. The whale was stranded on Thursday off Anholt in the Kattegat, authorities said, ending weeks of attempts to return the mammal toward the Atlantic Ocean.
Fisk University in Nashville announced a $900 million plan to transform its North Nashville campus, including a 100,000-square-foot data and technology center, a student center and a new sports arena. President Agenia Clark said the proposal, dubbed “Quantum Leap,” will be submitted to Metro for approval. The plan drew fresh attention to nationwide data-center concerns including power, water, noise and air quality, and Clark said Fisk’s theme is “do no harm.”
One of four Canadians who returned home from a cruise ship where there was a hantavirus outbreak received a “presumptive positive” test result for the virus, Canadian officials said Saturday. Results from the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg to confirm the case were expected over the weekend, said Dr. Bonnie Henry, the public health officer for British Columbia.
Africa’s public health agency confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in Congo’s remote Ituri province on May 15, with 246 suspected cases and 65 deaths recorded so far. The African Union’s Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said the deaths occurred mainly in the Mongwalu and Rwampara health zones, and that laboratory confirmation has been completed for four of the deaths.
Bulgaria won the 70th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday in Vienna, as singer Dara captured the grand final with her party anthem “Bangaranga.” The Israeli entry by Noam Bettan finished second after Eurovision’s Israel participation prompted protests and a boycott.
Deciding when to get routine mammograms is confusing as major health groups offer different starting ages and screening intervals. The American College of Physicians last month recommended biennial mammograms for average-risk women ages 50 to 74, with a shared decision discussion for women 40 to 49. The guidance differs from the American Cancer Society and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, which have urged starting earlier in the 40s.
Cruise industry representatives and travel experts said recent hantavirus and norovirus outbreaks on cruise ships are unlikely to dent demand, even as headlines raise anxiety among potential travelers. In mid-April, the Cruise Lines International Association forecast 38.3 million people would take ocean-going cruises in 2026. The industry expects the Hondius incident and other outbreaks to fade because many trips are booked months in advance, and because refunds are often time-limited once a voyage is close.
NEW CASTLE, Del. — A family-owned Latino grocery store in northern Delaware has turned its produce aisle into a concert stage for bilingual indie and Latin acts as part of its monthly “Mercadito” sessions, pulling small in-store crowds and an international online audience. Fiesta Fresh Market owner Jose Luis Aguilar Garcia said the shows are meant to spotlight creativity and joy in Latino communities at a time when they are often covered mainly in immigration enforcement stories.
Rogers Devia, a former mayor in central Colombia who allied with presidential candidate Abelardo de La Espriella, was shot dead Saturday in a rural area, local authorities said. An aide, Eder Cardona, was also killed, according to Colombia’s Public Defender’s Office.
France’s Pasteur Institute has fully sequenced the Andes virus found in a French passenger who tested positive after traveling on the MV Hondius cruise ship, French officials said. Health Minister Stéphanie Rist said the virus matched known Andes viruses circulating in South America and showed no evidence so far of changes that would make it more transmissible or more dangerous.
A Minnesota teenager recognized as a reincarnated Buddhist lama has moved from the Minneapolis area to monasteries in northern India and then to Nepal, where he has been blessing people during a 12-day ritual series. Jalue Dorje, now 19, said he sees his path as “really happening” and connected to guidance he received as a child from the Dalai Lama.
Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda have reported a new Ebola outbreak, with more than 300 suspected cases and at least 88 deaths, and the World Health Organization declared it a public health emergency of international concern on Sunday. Ebola is often fatal, and it spreads through contact with bodily fluids, or contaminated surfaces. The WHO says the current outbreak is caused by the Bundibugyo virus, a rarer Ebola strain.
Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, was seen on a food tour in Beijing trying the city’s zhajiangmian noodles, which are topped with thick soybean-paste sauce. Huang was later filmed tasting a fermented soybean drink that made him wince, with videos spreading on Weibo on Friday afternoon.
An adolescent great horned owl found stuck in a concrete mixer at a resort construction site in southwestern Utah is recovering and has flown back into the wild, officials said. The bird underwent a feather-replacement procedure after months of care at a sanctuary in Kanab, with staff using a conservation technique known as “imping.”
Police in London deployed thousands of officers and other resources on Saturday to manage two rival marches through central areas of the U.K. capital and keep them separate from the FA Cup final, which took place at Wembley. By 7:30 p.m., police said 43 people had been arrested, with an additional 22 arrests at Wembley, and authorities said they were also preparing for any problems involving splinter groups after the match.
Researchers in Ireland have uncovered what they say is the oldest surviving English poem inside a medieval manuscript being held in a Roman library, according to researchers involved in the discovery. The poem, composed in Old English, appears in the main body of Latin text in a copy of the Venerable Bede’s “Ecclesiastical History of the English People.” The researchers said the find dates to the 9th century and includes the poem in the text rather than in margins or appendices.
Pope Leo XIV has created an in-house study group on artificial intelligence, the Vatican said Saturday, as he prepares to release his first encyclical expected to emphasize an ethics-based approach that prioritizes human dignity and peace. The announcement came a day after Leo signed the encyclical, marked against the anniversary of Pope Leo XIII’s social document “Rerum Novarum.”
The World Health Organization declared a public health emergency of international concern for an Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda, warning the response needs urgent scale-up. The Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention first confirmed the outbreak in Congo’s Ituri province on Friday and said by Saturday there were 336 suspected cases and 88 deaths.
The World Health Organization declared the Ebola outbreak in Congo and neighboring Uganda a public health emergency of international concern, after more than 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths were reported. WHO said a laboratory-confirmed case has also been detected in Kinshasa, suggesting wider spread, and warned against closing international borders.
FBI Director Kash Patel participated in a "VIP snorkel" over the sunken USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor in August 2025, according to government emails obtained by The Associated Press. The excursion was not disclosed by the FBI, which had highlighted Patel's visit to its Honolulu field office and meetings with local law enforcement while omitting his two-day return to the island after official visits to Australia and New Zealand.
Louisiana’s state Senate passed a congressional redistricting plan Thursday that would scrap a majority-Black district stretching from Baton Rouge to Shreveport, replacing it with a predominantly white district likely to elect a Republican. The vote, coming two weeks after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down the state’s existing map, is the latest Republican-led effort to capitalize on a weakened federal Voting Rights Act ahead of the November midterms.
The Supreme Court on Thursday preserved nationwide access to mifepristone, the drug used in the most common method of abortion, granting emergency requests from the medication's manufacturers and blocking a lower-court ruling that would have suspended mail-order delivery and telehealth prescribing while a Louisiana-led lawsuit challenging the Food and Drug Administration's prescribing rules proceeds.
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday condemned the growing use of artificial intelligence in warfare, warning that investments in high-tech weaponry are leading the world into a “spiral of annihilation.” Speaking at Rome’s La Sapienza University, the pontiff called for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine while decrying military spending that has surged at the expense of education and healthcare.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas urged Americans to approach the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding not with pageantry but by exercising their free speech rights, calling the U.S. Constitution a shared bedrock in a deeply divided country.
VIENNA — A Vienna café has become an unlikely focal point of the Eurovision Song Contest’s deep divisions over Israel’s participation, offering Israeli food and flags to fans while a police officer stands guard outside.
WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee announced Thursday it is investigating Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards of North Carolina over allegations that he created a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment, following an Axios report citing three anonymous sources who described inappropriate conduct toward two female staffers.
In a ruling on Thursday, the Supreme Court preserved access to mifepristone, the drug used in the most common method of abortion, rejecting lower-court restrictions while a lawsuit continues. The court’s order allows patients to obtain the medication at pharmacies or through the mail without an in-person doctor visit as the case proceeds through the courts.
The House Ethics Committee announced it is investigating Republican Rep. Chuck Edwards of North Carolina over allegations that he created a hostile work environment and engaged in sexual harassment. Edwards, in response, said he welcomed the inquiry and planned to cooperate.
PARIS (AP) — The gilded dome of Les Invalides in Paris is known worldwide as the resting place of Napoleon. Behind the landmark’s grand façade, the National Institution of Invalides has served for more than 350 years as a home and hospital for wounded soldiers and civilian victims of war, with a state-funded renovation estimated at 100 million euros ($108 million) under way.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas urged Americans to mark the 250th anniversary of U.S. independence by standing for their beliefs and relying on the Constitution as a shared foundation. Speaking at a judicial conference near Miami on May 14, Thomas said Americans can disagree on many issues but still need “something in common” to sustain the country.
The U.S. Justice Department accused Yale University of illegally considering race in admissions to its medical school, in a letter sent to the university and announced this week. The department said its investigation found Black and Hispanic applicants had higher admission odds than white or Asian applicants despite lower grade-point averages and test scores. Yale said its School of Medicine is confident in the admissions process and will review the letter.
PARIS — The gilded dome of the Invalides is known worldwide as Napoleon’s tomb, but behind the Paris landmark's grand 17th-century façade, a lesser-known mission has continued without interruption for over 350 years: serving as a home and hospital for wounded soldiers and civilian victims of war.
The man accused of firing at least 70 rounds from an assault-style weapon into traffic on a busy Cambridge roadway pleaded not guilty Thursday, as new details emerged about his mental health history and a parole officer’s urgent warning just before the shooting.
The United States on Thursday announced $1.8 billion in additional funding for United Nations humanitarian programs, bringing total U.S. support to $3.8 billion across 21 countries even as the Trump administration has cut foreign assistance overall. Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, said the new money — earmarked for lifesaving aid to victims of natural disasters, famine and 'people who are truly in critical need' — is 'the latest step' in America’s humanitarian engagement.
President Donald Trump and several top administration officials will participate in a Sunday prayer gathering on the National Mall that organizers bill as a “rededication of our country as One Nation Under God,” but critics decry as a government-sponsored Christian nationalist event, the Associated Press reported.
The Trump administration said it will add $1.8 billion toward U.N. humanitarian aid, pledging the money will go to relief for disaster and famine victims and people “truly in critical need.” The new contribution comes as the United States has cut foreign assistance overall, while U.N. agencies have warned they are overstretched and underfunded.
President Donald Trump and other administration officials will join a daylong prayer gathering on Washington’s National Mall on Sunday billed as a “rededication of our country as One Nation Under God” to mark the U.S. 250th birthday, organizers said. The event, called “Rededicate 250,” is being promoted by Cabinet officials and religious leaders, while critics in Congress say it blends American and Christian identities and risks blurring church-state separation.
The Justice Department on Thursday accused Yale University of illegally considering race when admitting students to its medical school, marking the second such allegation the agency has leveled against a major U.S. medical school this month. Assistant Attorney General for Civil Rights Harmeet Dhillon said a DOJ investigation found that Black and Hispanic applicants received a significant admissions advantage over white and Asian applicants with stronger academic credentials.
Black scuba divers and community members made a pilgrimage in early May to the underwater memorial marking the wreck of the Henrietta Marie, a British slave ship that sank off Key West, Florida, in 1700 after delivering 200 enslaved Africans to Jamaica. The group, organized by Underwater Adventure Seekers and Diving With a Purpose, described the visits to the shipwreck site and a nearby African refugee burial ground as acts of devotion and a way to confront a history that some feel is being erased.
U.S. Rep. Max Miller filed a defamation lawsuit against his ex-wife Emily Moreno on Wednesday, claiming her public allegations that he was physically abusive have caused 'considerable reputational and financial harm.' Moreno's spokesperson said Miller is trying to silence her the same way he previously silenced ex-girlfriend and former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham, who leveled similar accusations.
Siena Heights University, a 107-year-old private Catholic college in Adrian, Michigan, held its final commencement on May 9, 2026, with nursing student Rollan Mattson walking as the last graduate. The closure, announced in June 2025, reflects a wave of small, faith-based college shutdowns driven by declining enrollment, rising costs, and demographic decline.
The fear and uncertainty surrounding a rare hantavirus outbreak on a Spanish cruise ship is being magnified by the public’s diminished trust in science, government and the media — a lasting legacy of the COVID-19 pandemic that risks eroding collective responses to future health emergencies, experts and residents say.
Greece’s Foreign Ministry said Thursday that a new biometric screening system for non-European Union citizens is fully operational, rejecting reports that British travelers would receive a formal summer exemption. Airport authorities will, however, be permitted to temporarily suspend the checks during periods of high passenger traffic.
NEW YORK — Global Citizen on Thursday announced the FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund, a $100 million initiative to support education for underserved children, anchored by the first-ever halftime show at the men’s World Cup on July 19. The halftime show, curated with help from Coldplay vocalist Chris Martin, will feature performances by Madonna, Shakira and BTS, organizers said from the stage of the Global Citizen NOW summit.
VIENNA (AP) — The lineup for the Eurovision Song Contest final was set Thursday after 10 acts advanced from the second semifinal in Vienna, but political tensions over Israel’s participation continued to cast a shadow, with five countries boycotting the event and a protest planned ahead of Saturday’s grand final.
The Lower Merion School District board told parents this week it will not allow students to opt out of using school-issued devices, rebuffing a petition signed by more than 600 residents who say ubiquitous screens are harming their children's ability to focus.
French authorities allowed asymptomatic passengers off a British cruise ship in Bordeaux late Wednesday after confirming a norovirus outbreak that has sickened 60 passengers and four crew members. The operator, Ambassador Cruise Line, said those unaffected could disembark and shore excursions would continue as planned Thursday, while sick passengers remained onboard under medical care.
A Tennessee man known for posting racist videos under the moniker "Chud the Builder" is charged with attempted murder after a midday altercation outside a Clarksville courthouse ended in gunfire Wednesday, leaving both him and another man wounded, authorities said. The other man, described as Black by a witness, was taken to a hospital; his condition was not immediately released.
Conservative state lawmakers across the country are pushing to ban or severely restrict abortion pills, a response to a new survey indicating that for the first time, more women in states with near-total bans obtained the pills through telehealth than traveled out of state for in-clinic care. South Dakota has already made it a felony to advertise, distribute, or sell the pills, and similar legislation is advancing in Mississippi, Arizona, Indiana, and South Carolina. Meanwhile, Wyoming became the only state this year to impose a new abortion ban — a six‑week prohibition that faces steep legal hurdles.
An anonymous buyer paid $9,000,100 to win a private lunch with Warren Buffett and NBA star Stephen Curry, according to an eBay charity auction that wrapped up Thursday night. The winning bid will go to the charities backed by Buffett, the Currys and their foundations, with Buffett also set to match the winning amount.
The Associated Press profile of Jalue Dorje, a US-born teenager who was recognized by Tibetan Buddhist leaders as a reincarnated lama, follows him from a Minneapolis-area childhood to monastic life in the Himalayas. Now 19, Dorje has been studying at Mindrolling Monastery in northern India after moving from Minnesota last year.
Siena Heights University in Adrian, Michigan, held its commencement Saturday and graduated its final class before closing, according to the university and reporting distributed by The Associated Press. Nursing student Rollan Mattson walked the fieldhouse stage after the June 2025 announcement set the school on an “honorable closing” plan.
Greece rejected reports that it would exempt British travelers this summer from biometric checks tied to the EU Entry-Exit System, saying the program is fully operational at Greek airports. The Foreign Ministry said it has not received clarification on any nationality-by-nationality suspension, but officials said busy airports will be allowed to shut off scanners when needed during peak periods.
Global Citizen is preparing the first-ever FIFA World Cup halftime show, planned for July 19, and says the performances will help raise money for education through its FIFA Global Citizen Education Fund. The antipoverty group said it aims to reach $100 million and that the fund will support grassroots organizations providing underserved children access to education and sports.
Parents in Lower Merion Township, Pennsylvania, are pressing a school district to allow families to opt their children out of classroom technology, arguing that screens are distracting and can encourage behavior such as gaming or watching videos during class. At a meeting Monday night, board members said the district was not considering opt-outs as it reviews technology policies.
French authorities allowed passengers unaffected by a norovirus outbreak on the British cruise ship Ambition to disembark in Bordeaux, while others remained on board, according to the operator and French health officials. The ship had been ordered to keep more than 1,700 passengers and crew aboard before authorities later changed course.
In the first stretch of 2026 state legislative sessions, conservative-governed states have continued expanding restrictions targeting abortion pills, including new rules aimed at mailing and telehealth prescribing. A survey released Tuesday by the Guttmacher Institute finds that in states with bans, more people obtained abortions last year through pill prescriptions sent via telehealth than by traveling out of state.
In Key West, Florida, Black divers and community members gathered at a memorial underwater marker for the Henrietta Marie, a British slave ship that sank in the 1700s. The pilgrims said the visit offered a chance to connect with their roots and to process a traumatic history tied to death and suffering. On land, the group also visited a cemetery and memorial for African refugees who died in 1860 after being rescued from slave ships by the U.S. Navy.
Clashes erupted Thursday in La Paz, Bolivia, as police used tear gas to disperse a crowd of miners trying to breach the government palace and miners set off small dynamite charges. The violence marked the latest incident during a second week of nationwide unrest challenging President Rodrigo Paz’s administration.
VIENNA (AP) — The Eurovision Song Contest final lineup was set after Thursday’s second semifinal, with 5 more countries qualifying and 5 eliminated ahead of Saturday’s show. Fifteen acts competed for 10 spots in the second semifinal, as juries and viewers across the contest’s member countries voted.
The FBI Director Kash Patel visited Hawaii last summer for official meetings at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, but emails obtained by The Associated Press say he later took part in a military-coordinated “VIP snorkel” around the USS Arizona memorial. The FBI did not disclose the snorkeling session or say Patel returned to Hawaii for two more days after his initial stopover.
Pope Leo XIV on Thursday warned that investments in artificial intelligence and high-tech weaponry were pushing the world toward a “spiral of annihilation,” while he called for peace in the Middle East and Ukraine at Rome’s La Sapienza University. In remarks there, he said military spending was rising this year at the expense of education and health care, and urged tighter monitoring of how AI is developed and used.
Dalton Eatherly, known online as “Chud the Builder” for posting racist videos, has been charged in Tennessee with attempted murder after a shooting outside the Montgomery County Courthouse in Clarksville on Wednesday, officials said.
Vienna’s famed coffeehouses have leaned into the Eurovision Song Contest, including one café that added Israeli food and decorations as debate over Israel’s participation carries into the event. Organizers are also preparing for protests and heightened security ahead of Saturday’s grand final.
NEW YORK (AP) — Even years after the COVID-19 pandemic was declared over, its lingering impact shows up in how people process new health threats, AP reports. In the wake of a rare hantavirus outbreak linked to a cruise ship, residents and health experts have pointed to renewed fear—despite official reassurances that the risk to the general public is low.
Miners set off small dynamite charges and attempted to storm Bolivia’s government palace in La Paz on Thursday, drawing tear gas from riot police in the latest violent turn of nationwide unrest that has now entered its second week. The demonstrations began as labor and agricultural protests but have since broadened into calls for President Rodrigo Paz to step down.
Approximately 70,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2025, a 14 percent decline from the previous year, federal data released Wednesday indicate. The drop marks the third consecutive annual decrease and brings the national mortality total to roughly 2019 levels, according to preliminary data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Vice President JD Vance and CMS head Dr. Mehmet Oz announced a $1.3 billion deferral of federal Medicaid payments to California and a six-month freeze on new Medicare enrollments for hospice and home care providers on Wednesday, part of a widening anti-fraud crackdown on federal health programs. The administration also warned states to investigate possible Medicaid fraud or risk losing federal funds.
Vice President JD Vance announced new steps to fight fraud in federal health programs, including a $1.3 billion deferral in Medicaid funding to California. The administration also plans a six-month freeze on some new Medicare enrollments for hospice and home care providers and is urging states to investigate Medicaid fraud or risk losing federal money.
Nationally, American students remain nearly half a grade level behind pre-pandemic reading scores, and the decline predates COVID-19 disruptions by years, according to a new Education Scorecard from researchers at Harvard, Stanford, and Dartmouth. While a shift to phonics-based instruction and efforts to curb absenteeism have fueled recoveries in several states, overall reading scores have steadily eroded since the early 2010s.
More than 61 people, including nine children and five women, have died in two weeks of fighting between rebel-aligned forces and a local tribe in South Kordofan, the Sudan Doctors Network said Wednesday, as Sudan’s broader war continues to devastate the country.
Louisiana Republican senators advanced a plan Wednesday to dismantle one of the state’s two majority-Black congressional districts, acting in the wake of a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that struck down the prior map as an illegal racial gerrymander. Georgia’s Republican governor also announced a special session to redraw voting districts for 2028, adding to a wave of post-ruling redistricting in GOP-led states.
The birth control pill, approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration 66 years ago this week, disentangled sex from procreation and gave American women unprecedented control over their fertility, researchers say. Its introduction contributed to later marriages, higher educational attainment among women, and greater participation in the workforce — transformations that reshaped American family life and society.
Two weeks of intense clashes in the town of Kauda in South Kordofan have killed over 61 people, including nine children, a Sudan Doctors Network said May 13. The group said the fighting erupted earlier this month between forces linked to the rebel Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North and the Otoro tribe, and that the conflict is part of Sudan’s wider war that began in 2023.
A new Associated Press look at “American Objects” marks the pill’s long arc from a scientific breakthrough to a major force in American life. The story credits key researchers and advocates — including Margaret Sanger, Katharine Dexter McCormick, Gregory Pincus, Min Chueh Chang, and John Rock — with helping bring the oral contraceptive to market. It also notes that decades-old legal and political fights over contraception have resurfaced more recently as the Supreme Court ended the constitutional right to abortion.
The Trump administration said Wednesday it will waive a visa bond requirement of up to $15,000 for foreign ticket holders from five World Cup-qualifying African nations, a rare relaxation of immigration restrictions as the country prepares to co-host the FIFA World Cup beginning June 11. The State Department imposed the bond last year for 50 countries with high rates of visa overstays, part of a broader immigration crackdown. Fans from Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia who have purchased tickets through FIFA and opted into the FIFA Pass expedited visa system as of April 15 are now exempt.
The Trump administration is suspending a requirement that some foreign visitors pay immigration bonds to enter the United States, the State Department said Wednesday. Ticket holders from five World Cup-qualified countries—Algeria, Cape Verde, Ivory Coast, Senegal and Tunisia—will be exempt from paying bonds if they opt in to FIFA’s Pass system for expedited visa appointments.
Canine distemper drove Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park wolf counts down to their lowest levels in two decades, with biologists documenting 253 wolves and 14 breeding pairs statewide at the end of 2025.
U.S. hotel operators say the surge in World Cup bookings they anticipated has not materialized, with room demand in most of the 11 host cities running flat or below typical spring levels, according to an April survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Operators blame high ticket prices, visa delays and international travel concerns for the slow bookings, as short-term rental platforms like Airbnb report stronger demand.
The Vatican on Wednesday issued a final warning to the breakaway traditionalist Society of St. Pius X that its planned consecration of four bishops without papal approval would be a schismatic act incurring automatic excommunication, the first major crisis of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate. Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández, the Vatican’s doctrine czar, said Leo was praying for enlightenment so SSPX leaders “may reconsider the extremely grave decision they have made.” The warning came after SSPX superior Rev. Davide Pagliarani announced July 1 consecrations, citing the need to replace two aging bishops in a group that now counts more than 730 priests and religious across 50 countries.
Rudy Giuliani returned to his conservative talk show Wednesday evening for the first time after being hospitalized with viral pneumonia earlier this month, the Associated Press reported. The 81-year-old former New York City mayor had been in critical condition and placed on a ventilator in early May at a hospital in Palm Beach, Florida.
Jake Rosmarin, a 30-year-old content creator from Boston, is spending up to six weeks in a specialized quarantine unit in Omaha, Nebraska, after a hantavirus outbreak aboard the expedition ship MV Hondius killed three people and sickened at least nine others. Rosmarin is one of 18 Americans brought to U.S. facilities for observation, most at the University of Nebraska Medical Center’s National Quarantine Unit, according to the Associated Press and Rosmarin.
The Endocrine Society on Tuesday published a new name for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) in The Lancet, renaming the condition polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS) after 14 years of collaboration between experts and patients. The change aims to correct a long-standing mischaracterization that reduced a complex hormonal disorder to a label about cysts and ovaries, contributing to missed diagnoses and inadequate care for the estimated 1 in 8 women worldwide who have it.
The always-fatal chronic wasting disease has been confirmed in an elk on the National Elk Refuge north of Jackson, Wyoming, federal and state officials announced Monday, marking the first documented case in the refuge’s elk population. The diagnosis, from an ailing cow elk euthanized in April, heightens pressure on wildlife managers to consider reducing the 11,000-animal Jackson Elk Herd — the largest migratory elk herd in North America — and reignites debate over the refuge’s long-standing winter feeding program.
Dr. Marty Makary resigned as commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday, leaving the agency without a permanent head and deepening a leadership vacuum across the Department of Health and Human Services that critics say has left the nation's top health agencies without adequate scientific expertise.
A French woman infected with hantavirus aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship is fighting for her life on an artificial lung, part of an outbreak that has now sickened 11 people, killed three, and prompted quarantine measures across Europe. The World Health Organization on Tuesday said nine of the cases have been confirmed, with two suspected, and warned that more could surface within weeks as the virus's long incubation period unfolds.
An oncologist who helped care for passengers sickened in a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship was cleared Wednesday to leave a special biocontainment unit in Nebraska, joining other Americans under quarantine after returning to the United States.
The operator of a Dutch-flagged cruise ship at the center of the first known hantavirus outbreak on a cruise vessel said Wednesday it expects to determine by the end of the week whether the ship will keep its scheduled Arctic sailings, after three passengers died and nine confirmed cases of the rodent-borne illness were identified. Oceanwide Expeditions told The Associated Press it is awaiting official guidance on disinfection protocols as the MV Hondius sails toward Rotterdam with a skeleton crew, two health workers, and the body of one of the deceased passengers.
A French woman infected with hantavirus during the MV Hondius cruise ship outbreak is in critical condition on life support, her doctor said Tuesday, as the total number of cases linked to the vessel rose to 11, including three deaths.
Albrecht Weinberg, a Holocaust survivor who endured Auschwitz, Mittelbau-Dora and Bergen-Belsen and survived three death marches before returning to Germany in his 80s to teach students about Nazi atrocities, died in Leer, on Tuesday, local officials said. He was 101.
Four skeletons draped in silk, gold, and precious stones have been on display at a Bavarian monastery for more than 300 years, surprising visitors and recalling an era when Catholic churches sought to inspire faith with relics of early Christian martyrs.
Hill County, Texas — a rural county south of Fort Worth — on Tuesday became the first in the state to impose a one-year pause on new data center construction in unincorporated areas, after county commissioners cited escalating public-health and safety concerns tied to the industry’s rapid expansion. The 3–2 vote puts the county on a collision course with developers and state leaders who have moved to block similar local restrictions, testing the limits of county authority in Texas’s booming data center market.
French authorities confined more than 1,700 passengers and crew aboard the British cruise ship Ambition in Bordeaux on Wednesday after up to 50 people fell ill with symptoms of acute gastrointestinal infection, according to a joint statement from regional officials. The prefect of Nouvelle-Aquitaine, Étienne Guyot, suspended disembarkation and restricted the vessel’s interactions with the port on the recommendation of the regional health agency. The ship’s captain had alerted authorities the previous evening. Ambassador Cruise Line said 48 passengers and one crew member were displaying gastrointestinal symptoms as of late Wednesday morning, with cases increasing after passengers boarded in Liverpool on May 9. All shore excursions at Bordeaux were canceled, and affected passengers were offered full refunds.
Dalton Eatherly, 28, who livestreams racially derogatory confrontations under the handle “Chud the Builder,” was charged with attempted murder following a shooting outside a Clarksville, Tennessee, courthouse on Wednesday, the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office said.
Dan Sohail, 36, pleaded guilty Wednesday in Brooklyn federal court to intentionally ramming his car into the entrance of the Chabad Lubavitch world headquarters, a synagogue and office complex, causing $19,000 in damage while about 2,000 people were inside. No one was injured in the January attack, but Sohail admitted driving from New Jersey specifically to damage the building because of its religious identity.
The parent company of the Canvas educational platform said it reached a deal with hackers to delete the data they stole in a cyberattack that disrupted finals for students at thousands of schools worldwide, acknowledging there was 'never complete certainty' the data was truly erased.
French President Emmanuel Macron is facing criticism after he interrupted a panel at the Africa Forward Summit in Nairobi to rebuke audience members for what he called a "total lack of respect," a move that critics said evoked the paternalistic posture of a former colonial power.
Small cities embedded in major Texas metro areas led the nation’s fastest-growing municipalities in a Census Bureau release Thursday, with growth concentrated in smaller places tied to big-city job and housing magnets. The findings also showed that some cities lost population at higher rates in areas with tight housing markets and after major hurricanes hit Florida’s Gulf Coast late last year.
A US-born teenage Buddhist lama, Jalue Dorje, has blessed thousands at a monastery in Nepal’s Himalayan foothills, according to an Associated Press report. The story traces how Dorje, now 19, went from playing Madden NFL in Minnesota to training for years as a monk, after the Dalai Lama recognized him as a reincarnated lama.
A private lunch with Warren Buffett and Stephen Curry sold for $9,000,100 in an eBay charity auction that ended Thursday night, the Associated Press reported. The anonymous winner will meet the 95-year-old investor and the basketball star next month in Buffett’s hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, with their respective charities expected to benefit. Curry and his wife, Ayesha, raised money through the Eat.Learn.Play. Foundation, while Buffett and his long-running auction partner effort supported San Francisco’s GLIDE Foundation homeless charity.
The U.S. Postal Service on Thursday unveiled special edition stamps featuring the bald eagle as the nation marks its 250th birthday. The stamp designs, displayed at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota, depict the bird across five life stages and are available for purchase nationwide.
Wyoming and Yellowstone National Park wolf numbers plunged in 2025 after a flare up of canine distemper that was especially lethal to pups, Wyoming Game and Fish Department wolf biologist Ken Mills said. Mills said the combined minimum count came to 253 wolves and 14 breeding pairs statewide at the end of 2025.
The promised economic boost from the World Cup has not yet matched expectations for U.S. hotels, according to an April survey by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. Room bookings have been lighter than expected in many of the 11 U.S. host cities, as international fan travel concerns and visa wait worries weigh on demand. The World Cup opens June 11 in Mexico City.
Pope Leo XIV’s Vatican issued a final warning to the Society of St. Pius X on May 13, saying its planned July 1 consecration of four bishops without papal consent would be a schismatic act that carries automatic excommunication. The Vatican said Pope Leo XIV is praying the SSPX leaders “may reconsider the extremely grave decision they have made,” Vatican doctrine chief Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández said.
About 70,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in 2025, a preliminary total that is about 14% lower than the year before, according to federal data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC said 2025 marked the third straight annual decline, though researchers cautioned that deaths could rise again if policies or the drug supply shift.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani returned to his conservative talk show Wednesday evening for the first time since being hospitalized earlier this month for viral pneumonia, the Associated Press reported. The 81-year-old opened “The Rudy Giuliani Show” with assurances that he was on the mend, though not yet fully recovered.
A U.S. passenger quarantined after a hantavirus outbreak aboard the MV Hondius is spending weeks at specialized facilities, where public health officials say the risk of community spread is very low. Jake Rosmarin, 30, said he expects to spend 42 days at the National Quarantine Unit at the University of Nebraska Medical Center in Omaha, making the isolation “one day at a time.”
The Associated Press reports that a national education scorecard finds U.S. reading test scores have continued to fall after years of decline, prompting warnings of a “reading recession.” The same analysis, drawn from state tests covering third through eighth grades, found math scores improving in most states and highlighted school districts that raised results by shifting toward phonics-based instruction and adding support for struggling students.
New guidance from the Endocrine Society and an article in The Lancet say the hormonal condition long known as polycystic ovary syndrome should now be called polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome, or PMOS. Researchers and clinicians said the older name, often shortened to PCOS, is misleading because it can suggest a cyst-focused problem in the ovary rather than a broader endocrine disorder. The change aims to improve how patients are recognized and treated worldwide.
Officials announced the first chronic wasting disease case in an elk on the National Elk Refuge north of Jackson, Wyoming, after samples from an April 15 euthanized cow elk tested positive. The discovery has renewed discussion of a 2021 plan to revisit management of the nation’s largest migratory herd, including feed practices, antler-collection traditions and potential impacts on nearby water use.
FDA chief Marty Makary resigned this week, widening a leadership gap across the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as multiple senior posts already sat vacant or rotated through acting roles. The departure comes amid what critics say is an unusual level of upheaval at the FDA and the CDC during Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s tenure.
French authorities say a woman infected in the MV Hondius outbreak is critically ill in Paris, as the total reported cases tied to the cruise ship has reached 11, the World Health Organization said Tuesday. WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said confirmed and suspected cases have been reported only among the ship’s passengers or crew.
Albrecht Weinberg, a Holocaust survivor who returned to Germany in his 80s, died Tuesday at 101 in Leer, in northwestern Germany, authorities said. Weinberg survived Nazi concentration and death camps including Auschwitz, Mittelbau-Dora and Bergen-Belsen, along with three death marches at the end of World War II.
Bad Staffelstein, Germany, is home to a Catholic monastery church display that includes four elaborately decorated skeletons brought from Rome centuries ago—relics known as “catacomb saints” or “Holy Bodies.” Visitors in Bavaria say the glass-encased figures can feel unexpectedly eerie, while a priest and a historian describe their Baroque presentation as an effort to convey what believers will look like after the resurrection.
Colombia’s Cienaga Grande de Santa Marta is being choked by an invasive aquatic plant that residents say is cutting off fishing routes and driving up costs for communities that rely on the lagoon. The plant, Hydrilla verticillata, has spread rapidly across the Caribbean wetland since about mid-2025, residents and experts said.
Over 1,700 passengers and crew aboard the British cruise ship Ambition were ordered to remain on board in Bordeaux, France, after French authorities said an outbreak of gastrointestinal illness sickened some people. Officials said they found no link to a separate hantavirus outbreak on another vessel that has prompted a wider health response.
Instructure, the parent company of the education platform Canvas, said it reached an agreement with hackers who stole data in a cyberattack that disrupted schools and universities during finals. The company said it received “digital confirmation” that the hackers destroyed remaining copies of the data, in the form of “shred logs.”
Una francesa infectada en el brote de hantavirus vinculado a un crucero está en estado crítico en un hospital de París, según un médico del Hospital Bichat, mientras el total de casos reportados asciende a 11. El médico dijo que la paciente recibe tratamiento con un dispositivo de soporte vital y describió la atención como “la etapa final de la atención de apoyo”. En paralelo, España anunció un nuevo caso confirmado en un pasajero evacuado y las autoridades sanitarias de la OMS pidieron cuarentenas por el largo periodo de incubación.
French President Emmanuel Macron faced backlash after interrupting a panel at the Africa Forward Summit in Kenya to demand silence from the audience. Videos of the Monday intervention spread online as Macron rebuked attendees for talking over speakers during a session that featured artists and young entrepreneurs.
A man pleaded guilty Wednesday to intentionally ramming his car into the Chabad Lubavitch world headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, telling a federal judge he did so to damage the Jewish landmark. Prosecutors said Dan Sohail drove into the entrance five consecutive times in January after moving barriers and urging people to get out of the way.
An oncologist who was the lone American placed in a special biocontainment unit in Nebraska after an inconclusive hantavirus test on a cruise ship outbreak has been cleared to leave that unit and join other Americans being monitored, the University of Nebraska Medical Center said. The patient, Dr. Stephen Kornfeld of Bend, Oregon, is among more than 120 passengers and crew evacuated from the Hondius, which health officials said prompted what they called the first hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship.
The operator of the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius said it expects to have clarity by the end of this week on whether the vessel can restart cruises after a hantavirus outbreak left three passengers dead. Oceanwide Expeditions said about 120 passengers and crew were evacuated to Spain’s Canary Islands and isolated in several countries, and the ship is now traveling to Rotterdam for cleaning and disinfection.
Dr. Marty Makary, commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, resigned Tuesday after 13 months in the role, pushed out by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. following months of complaints from pharmaceutical executives, anti-abortion activists and vaping lobbyists allied with President Donald Trump. Kennedy made the decision to remove Makary and the White House signed off, according to an administration official who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity.
California State University trustees voted to let campuses create three new types of shortened bachelor’s degrees, with a minimum of 90 units that typically take three years to complete. The system says the move is aimed at attracting more working-age students and those who can earn degree credit for prior work experience.
President Donald Trump is scheduled for a medical and dental examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on May 26, the White House said Monday evening, describing the visit as an annual physical and routine preventive care. Trump, who turns 80 next month and is the oldest person ever elected U.S. president, has faced persistent scrutiny over his health.
President Donald Trump is scheduled to see doctors for a medical and dental checkup on May 26 at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, the White House said Monday. The visit is his fourth publicized medical appointment since returning to office, described as an annual physical and regular preventive care.
A federal grand jury in the Northern District of Texas has subpoenaed NYU Langone Health for records on all patients under 18 who received gender-affirming care in the last six years, the hospital system disclosed Tuesday — the first time a major medical institution has publicly acknowledged a criminal subpoena in the Trump administration’s expanding legal campaign against such treatment for transgender youths. The subpoena, issued May 7, demands patient information and the names of providers for children treated from 2020 to 2026, NYU Langone said in a statement. The health system, which operates seven inpatient facilities and more than 300 locations in the New York City area and Florida, said it was one of several institutions to receive the subpoena but was the first to confirm it.
Roughly 76,000 fewer students enrolled in Texas public schools this academic year, the first non-pandemic enrollment decline in nearly four decades, according to a report from the policy research group Texas 2036. Hispanic students accounted for 81 percent of the drop, a finding that surfaced amid heightened anti-immigration rhetoric and enforcement activity across the state.
A single dose of genetically modified immune cells suppressed HIV to undetectable levels in two patients for nearly two years after they stopped their daily medication, researchers reported Tuesday, offering an early but provocative signal that a cancer-fighting technology might one day deliver a durable alternative to lifelong antiviral drugs.
Residents of the Cite Soleil neighborhood in Port-au-Prince protested Tuesday, demanding government protection after a weekend of gang violence forced hundreds from their homes, shuttered two hospitals, and left an unknown number of people dead.
The 79th Cannes Film Festival opened Tuesday with a tribute to director Peter Jackson and a blunt discussion of geopolitics and artificial intelligence, as jury members used the platform to criticize Hollywood’s treatment of artists who speak out on Gaza and to weigh the industry’s response to AI.
The California State University system's trustees voted unanimously last week to permit campuses to develop three-year bachelor's degree programs, a move aimed at attracting working-age adults and stemming enrollment declines across the 22-campus system.
Tens of thousands of Argentines marched in Buenos Aires and other major cities Tuesday to condemn President Javier Milei's deep reductions to the nation's free public university system, a point of national pride that has produced five Nobel laureates.
The 'Whites Only' signs that once hung over Southern business doors were a daily ritual of humiliation for Black Americans and a legal enforcement of racial hierarchy, the Associated Press reported in a historical feature published Tuesday. The signs, part of the Jim Crow apparatus that stretched from Reconstruction to the 1964 Civil Rights Act, were a visible reminder of an oppressive social order.
Small cities in the Dallas‑Fort Worth and Houston metros posted the strongest year‑over‑year population gains among U.S. municipalities with at least 20,000 residents between mid‑2024 and mid‑2025, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Celina, Princeton, Melissa, Anna and Fulshear recorded growth rates from roughly 15% to 25%, outpacing larger cities such as Seattle and Houston. The surge reflects a healthy job market and comparatively affordable housing in the South, said Census Bureau statistician Matt Erickson.
“The A List: 15 Stories from Asian and Pacific Diasporas” premieres Wednesday on HBO Max during AAPI Heritage Month, featuring intimate interviews with Asian American and Pacific Islander stars and everyday community members. The documentary is directed by Eugene Yi and created as part of “The List Series” by Timothy Greenfield-Sanders.
The U.S. Postal Service unveiled special edition bald eagle stamps for America’s 250th birthday Thursday at the National Eagle Center in Wabasha, Minnesota, and made them available for purchase across the United States. The stamps depict the bald eagle across five major life stages, from hatchling to the white-headed adult on the Great Seal. The Postal Service historian Steve Kochersperger said the series helps people look back at both the bird’s life stages and the country’s.
Federal prosecutors in Texas have sought records from NYU Langone Health about children who received gender-affirming care and the providers who administered it, the hospital system said. NYU Langone said it received a grand jury subpoena in a federal criminal investigation and is deciding how to respond. The move is part of broader efforts by the Trump administration to restrict gender-affirming care for transgender youth.
Residents of Cite Soleil, a neighborhood in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, protested Tuesday demanding police protection after gang violence forced hundreds of people to flee their homes over the weekend, the Associated Press reported.
Cannes Film Festival opened Tuesday on the French Riviera with a tribute to director Peter Jackson, who received an honorary Palme d’Or. The opening also featured Jane Fonda and Gong Li, as the festival’s jury discussions centered on politics and artificial intelligence.
Tens of thousands of Argentines protested Tuesday against President Javier Milei’s funding cuts to the public university system, as marches drew students and other demonstrators in major cities including Buenos Aires. Protesters denounced budget shortfalls they said are eroding higher education, and argued the government has not implemented a law Congress passed last year to fund universities’ operating costs and raise teacher salaries.
The Associated Press examined “Whites Only” signage as a visible, daily reminder of Jim Crow-era racism in the American South, drawing on the U.S. effort to mark the country’s 250th anniversary. The signs helped enforce segregation in public places after Reconstruction ended, with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 later ending legalized racial separatism, AP reported.
Scientists reported at an American Society of Gene and Cell Therapy meeting that a single dose of CAR-T cells suppressed HIV in two people without restarting their usual medications. The approach, led by researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, adapted a cancer therapy by engineering patients’ immune cells to better find and kill HIV-infected cells and adding protection against infection.
Texas public schools saw their first non-pandemic decline in nearly four decades this academic year, with roughly 76,000 fewer students enrolled, according to a report released Monday. Hispanic students accounted for 81% of the drop, and the policy research group Texas 2036 said the trend points to a broader structural shift as district enrollment patterns change alongside immigration enforcement and birth-rate declines.
Palestinian songwriter Bashar Murad performed in Brussels as activists organized “United for Palestine” ahead of the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, which features Israel amid criticism tied to the war in Gaza. Protest organizers and rights advocates have pushed for Israel’s exclusion, while five countries are boycotting the contest this week. Similar alternative broadcasts and concerts are planned across Europe, including in Spain.
Doctors who examined Nobel Peace laureate Narges Mohammadi more than a week after she collapsed in an Iranian prison said she needs months of treatment, her foundation announced Wednesday. An angiography revealed two of her main arteries are significantly blocked and her vascular disease has worsened since 2024. The 53-year-old activist was released on bail nearly 10 days after collapsing and taken to a hospital in Tehran, where her specialists are monitoring her.
Open Society Foundations, the philanthropy founded by billionaire George Soros, announced Wednesday it will direct $30 million over the next three years to groups fighting antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate, responding to what its president called “indiscriminate prejudice” fueled by the Israel-Hamas war and the fragile ceasefire.
BRUSSELS — The European Commission said Wednesday it will propose legislation requiring all 27 European Union nations to outlaw so-called conversion therapy, responding to a citizen petition signed by more than a million people and intensifying a push for LGBTQ+ protections across the bloc.
Alternative concerts sprang up across Europe this week to counter the Eurovision Song Contest in Vienna, as organizers and boycotting nations protested Israel's continued participation in the 70-year-old competition amid the military campaign in Gaza.
Princess Catherine traveled to Reggio Emilia, Italy, on Wednesday for her first solo overseas trip since announcing her cancer was in remission, drawing large crowds as she toured preschools that use the renowned Reggio Emilia early childhood education approach. The visit, described by Kensington Palace as part of an international “fact-finding mission,” underscores her signature focus on early years development through the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood, which she founded in 2021. Speaking Italian to a group of children, the princess, known as Kate, said she had long been fascinated by the philosophy.
Doctors who examined Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi more than a week after she collapsed in an Iran prison said she needs months of treatment, her foundation said Wednesday. The foundation said an angiography procedure showed major artery blockage and that her vascular disease has worsened since 2024.
Brussels (AP) — The European Commission said it will ask EU countries to outlaw gay “conversion therapy,” ahead of this week’s Brussels Pride festival. Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said “conversion practices” have “no place in our Union,” as the executive sought to turn long-promised protections for LGBTQ+ people into a binding ban. The move comes days before tens of thousands are expected to march in the Belgian capital for the parade’s 30th annual edition.
A new HBO documentary, "The A List: 15 Stories from Asian and Pacific Diasporas," explores the experiences of prominent AAPI figures, including Sandra Oh and Kumail Nanjiani, alongside everyday individuals. The film, directed by Eugene Yi, aims to highlight the diversity within the AAPI community and the struggles they have faced.
Open Society Foundations said it will spend $30 million over the next three years to support groups tackling antisemitism and anti-Muslim hate, linking the effort to the backdrop of the Israel-Hamas war and the fragile ceasefire. The major U.S. human-rights funder said the grants aim to strengthen interfaith partnerships and protect communities facing heightened threats. Open Society Foundations President Binaifer Nowrojee made the case in a statement as the foundations prepare to carry out the grantmaking after earlier scrutiny tied to U.S. political attacks.
Princess Catherine, the Princess of Wales, traveled to Italy on Wednesday for her first solo overseas trip since announcing her cancer was in remission. She arrived in Reggio Emilia, where officials and residents welcomed her as she toured programs tied to the Reggio Emilia approach to early childhood education.
A performer who disrupted Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl halftime performance was found guilty Monday of resisting an officer, after police said he ran across the field at the Caesars Superdome with a Sudanese flag reading “Sudan and Free Gaza.” The case in New Orleans ended with the performer convicted only of the misdemeanor resisting charge, with sentencing set for June 1.
Zul-Qarnain Kwame Nantambu, 41, was among the dancers in black outfits during the Feb. 9, 2025, halftime show but deviated from his role when he displayed a flag bearing the phrase 'Sudan and Free Gaza' atop a prop car, then jumped off the stage and ran from security, according to Louisiana State Police. Chief Judge Juana Marine-Lombard found him guilty only of resisting an officer after a bench trial.
Israeli military bulldozers razed roughly 50 Palestinian-owned shops and businesses on the edge of a town southeast of Jerusalem on Tuesday, as authorities pushed forward a road project that critics say will deepen Israeli control over a strategic section of the occupied West Bank. Israeli officials say the demolitions clear land for a new route intended to improve traffic for Palestinian communities. Palestinian leaders, rights groups and an anti-settlement watchdog contend the project is designed to reroute Palestinian drivers off a highway built to serve nearby Israeli settlements, cutting West Bank Palestinians off from a wide swath of territory.
Thousands of people filled plazas in downtown Buenos Aires on Sunday to trade Panini World Cup sticker cards, a communal tradition that peaks a month before the 2026 FIFA World Cup begins, the Associated Press reported.
The Associated Press has published an interactive quiz testing readers' knowledge of U.S. sports history, part of the wire service's America at 250 series marking the nation's semiquincentennial.
Israeli bulldozers demolished dozens of Palestinian shops in al-Eizariya, a town southeast of Jerusalem, as authorities cleared land for a settlement-linked road project in the occupied West Bank, according to the Associated Press. Palestinian officials said the road plan is aimed at restricting Palestinian access to a new highway being built for nearby Israeli settlements. The demolitions followed eviction notices that some shop owners challenged, including an appeal to Israel’s Supreme Court.
Buenos Aires and other Argentine cities are seeing a surge of World Cup sticker trading about a month before the 2026 FIFA tournament begins, with fans gathering in plazas to complete official Panini stickerbooks through swaps. Parents and children are leaning into the hobby as both a social activity and a way to build skills, while Panini has expanded the program for the tournament’s growth to 48 teams. “This connects you with the world,” said Juan Valora, a fan trading stickers in a public square.
In the lead-up to the United States’ 250th anniversary, the America at 250 initiative is rolling out a new quiz focused on sports history, inviting players to test what they know about U.S. sporting moments and figures. The quiz, highlighted by AP and attributed to Holly Meyer, asks participants to answer questions and see how they score.
Passengers evacuated from the hantavirus-hit cruise ship MV Hondius began flying home Sunday after the vessel anchored in the Canary Islands, Spanish authorities said. One American passenger tested positive for hantavirus but had no symptoms, while a French traveler developed symptoms during the flight home, French Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu said.
A presidential commission on religious liberty is developing recommendations that include rejecting the constitutional separation of church and state, according to proceedings from the panel's April meeting. The commission's chair, Texas Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick, called church-state separation 'a lie' and suggested printing 'a million bumper stickers' to that effect, drawing no dissent from members.
Joni Lamb, president and co-founder of the Daystar Television Network, died Thursday at age 65 after a decline in health following a back injury, the network announced. She and her late husband, Marcus Lamb, built the Bedford, Texas-based network from a single station in 1993 into one of the world’s largest Christian television networks, now reaching 2.3 billion households globally.
Commissioners for a Trump religious liberty advisory panel met in April and shared policy “wish lists” for a final report still being drafted, according to the Associated Press. Several of the recommendations would expand religion-related exemptions and government support for faith groups, while critics argue the panel is dominated by conservative Christian viewpoints and threatens the constitutional separation of church and state.
Joni Lamb, who helped found the Daystar Television Network and later led it as president, died Thursday, the network said. She was 65. The network said Lamb had been dealing with serious health issues before sustaining a back injury that caused her health to deteriorate; it did not release a cause of death.
Pope Leo XIV marked his first anniversary as pontiff on Friday, reflecting on a year defined by his pastoral, unifying approach to the Catholic Church but punctuated by an unprecedented public feud with U.S. President Donald Trump over the Iran war.
Iran’s soccer federation president declared Saturday that the country will “definitely” compete in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and appealed to the United States, Canada and Mexico — the three host nations — to ensure that players who served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps receive visas without obstacle.
The Supreme Court, in an order by Justice Samuel Alito, on Monday temporarily extended women’s access to the abortion pill mifepristone, preventing restrictions imposed by a federal appeals court from taking effect until at least Thursday. The order keeps in place current FDA rules that allow the drug to be prescribed via telehealth and dispensed by mail, as the justices weigh a challenge from Louisiana.
The Tennessee Republican-controlled legislature has redrawn Memphis’s U.S. House districts, splitting longtime neighbors into separate congressional seats for the November midterms. The changes follow a U.S. Supreme Court decision that weakened how courts review the Voting Rights Act’s race-related protections in redistricting.
JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli troops will spend weeks in military prison after a video circulated showing one soldier allegedly defacing a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon and another taking a photograph of it, the Israeli military said. The soldier who posed faced 21 days in military prison and the one who photographed it was sentenced to 14 days, the military said Monday.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday issued an order leaving women’s access to mifepristone in place while the justices consider whether restrictions on the drug can take effect. Justice Samuel Alito’s order blocks a federal appeals court ruling from pausing mail access and telehealth-style prescribing while the lawsuit brought by Louisiana proceeds.
Pope Leo XIV marked his first year as pope with a homily in Pompeii that called on God’s mercy to soften “fratricidal hatred,” while the Vatican continued to navigate verbal sparring with President Donald Trump. The anniversary weekend included a Vatican meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio as both sides stressed strong ties, even as the dispute has strained U.S.-Holy See relations.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus visited Tenerife on Saturday to reassure residents about a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship expected to arrive early Sunday. Tedros told the island’s people the public health risk from hantavirus remains low and “This is not another COVID.”
Hundreds of people fled new gang violence in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, over the weekend, scattering families along roads leading to the country’s main airport, residents said Monday. In a statement released Monday, Doctors Without Borders said it evacuated its hospital in Cité Soleil after intense clashes and treated more than 40 gunshot victims within 12 hours.
Eight children killed in an April 19 mass shooting in Shreveport, Louisiana, were laid to rest Saturday at Summer Grove Baptist Church, as hundreds of mourners filled the sanctuary and faith leaders, politicians, and a survivor of gun violence offered tributes and prayers.
Experts are questioning the absence of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention from the international response to a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship, saying the agency’s diminished role signals a collapse of preparedness. The CDC deployed a team to Spain’s Canary Islands late Friday and began planning a quarantine at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, but its delayed and subdued actions stand in contrast to the agency’s past prominence in global health crises.
The Trump administration has begun reviewing immigration applications for physicians with pending cases, a change that could help ease staffing shortages in underserved areas while other categories of applicants remain subject to a pause, according to U.S. government officials and immigration advocates. The move follows a broader halt on processing green cards and visas for people from countries considered “high-risk,” and comes as physicians and other affected applicants say uncertainty around deadlines and interviews is worsening.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Amy Grant, 65, discussed her new album, “The Me That Remains,” saying it reflects a recovery after a serious bicycle accident in 2022 that left her with a traumatic brain injury. In an interview with The Associated Press, Grant also talked about what she called resisting labels in music and writing darker songs, while describing how faith continues to shape her work.
Youngstown State University is opening its first regional campus this fall in Steubenville, Ohio, a city of 18,000 where roughly one in four residents live in poverty and higher education options vanished when Eastern Gateway Community College closed in 2024 amid a federal grant scandal. University President Bill Johnson, a former congressman for the region, described the new outpost as a lean operation that will save overhead by running services from Youngstown and offering 14 certificate and associate’s degree programs in welding, nursing, and business. The expansion comes as Ohio grapples with declining enrollment across its public universities, with Republican gubernatorial candidate Vivek Ramaswamy calling for consolidation of the state’s 14 institutions and Democrats pushing back.
Pope Leo XIV said social justice and equality should take priority over sexual morality in preserving church unity, according to an Associated Press report, as the Vatican released a synod document featuring the testimonies of two gay married Catholics — a first for an official Vatican report. The remarks came in a May 7 airborne news conference, while German bishops faced renewed Vatican pushback over guidelines for blessing same-sex couples.
The UCLA Asian American Studies Center on Saturday launched "Foundations and Futures: Asian American and Pacific Islander Multimedia Textbook," a free digital resource aimed at giving high school and college educators a more inclusive account of AAPI history and culture. The $12 million project, built over eight years by more than 100 contributors, arrives amid a national political fight over diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives in education, with the Trump administration working to dismantle DEI programs.
Civil rights attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons' first book, *Redeem a Nation: The Century-Long Battle to Restore the Soul of America*, published Tuesday, argues that securing reparations for the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre and its living survivors is not merely a legal claim but a test of whether the United States can build a moral center.
About 4 in 10 U.S. adults — and roughly half of those under 50 — now get health and wellness information from social media or podcasts, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center. Yet the study also found that only about 4 in 10 health influencers with at least 100,000 followers list a background as a health professional, raising concerns about the quality of advice reaching millions.
South Dakota tourism officials say rising gasoline prices could prove an unexpected boost for the state’s visitor industry, as travelers opt for regional driving trips over expensive flights. The state, which relies heavily on Midwest and neighboring-state tourists, expects a strong summer season anchored by the nation’s 250th anniversary celebrations and the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally, though some operators remain cautious about broader economic headwinds.
The American Academy of Pediatrics on Monday issued its first updated guidance on school recess in 13 years, calling unstructured play breaks essential for children's academic success and warning that schools should never withhold recess as punishment. The policy statement, published in the journal Pediatrics, cites new research showing that pauses between concentrated learning help the brain store information and that recess builds relationship skills and confidence in students of all ages.
The 2026 Venice Biennale opened on May 9 without an awards jury after the panel resigned in protest of Israel’s and Russia’s participation, while demonstrators clashed with police outside the Israeli and Russian pavilions, forcing organizers to replace the prestigious Golden Lion prizes with an anonymous public vote for the first time in the exhibition’s history.
Israel’s military has sentenced two soldiers to military prison for desecrating a statue of the Virgin Mary in southern Lebanon after one stuck a cigarette in the statue’s mouth and the other photographed the act. The incident follows a similar episode involving an ax-wielding soldier targeting a Jesus statue in the village of Debel, both condemned internationally as anti-Christian acts amid Israel’s ground campaign against Hezbollah.
The Trump administration has quietly exempted physicians from a sweeping pause on green card and visa reviews, a move that could provide a lifeline for foreign-trained doctors serving rural and underserved communities. But the exemption does not guarantee approvals, and a freeze remains in place for tens of thousands of other immigrants, including researchers, entrepreneurs, and citizens of 39 high-risk countries such as Iran and Afghanistan.
At least three passengers have died in a hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship now approaching the Spanish island of Tenerife with more than 140 passengers and crew aboard. Multiple countries are racing to trace passengers who disembarked before the virus was identified, as Spanish authorities prepare a quarantine reception at the Canary Islands port.
The last remaining passengers on the MV Hondius cruise ship flew home Monday to more than 20 countries to enter quarantine after a hantavirus outbreak killed three people and infected others, health officials said. The ship docked in Tenerife in the Canary Islands, where personnel in full-body protective gear escorted passengers from ship to shore over two days, concluding Monday.
Spanish passengers aboard the MV Hondius cruise ship, where a hantavirus outbreak prompted a global health response, told The Associated Press on Friday that they fear being stigmatized as viral vectors upon returning home more than they fear contracting the illness. Two passengers, speaking anonymously because of those concerns, described seeing sensational news reports and memes ostracizing those aboard, and worry about being met with hostility when the ship docks in Tenerife after its more than 140 passengers and crew could begin disembarking as early as Sunday.
TENERIFE, Spain — The head of the World Health Organization appealed directly to residents of Tenerife on Saturday, telling them the hantavirus outbreak aboard a Dutch-flagged cruise ship headed for their island was “not another COVID” and that the current public-health risk remained low.
A surge in gang violence across Haiti’s capital over the weekend forced hundreds of people from their homes, scattered families, and prompted the evacuation of a hospital run by the medical charity Doctors Without Borders after more than 40 gunshot victims arrived in 12 hours.
Google has agreed to pay $50 million to resolve a class-action lawsuit brought by Black employees who alleged the company engaged in a pattern of systemic discrimination in hiring, pay, and advancement. The settlement, announced in May 2025, received final court approval this week and includes commitments for pay equity analyses, pay transparency, and limits on mandatory arbitration, according to the plaintiffs’ attorneys.
Young Americans have lost confidence in the job market at a pace not seen since the Great Recession, with the share who say it is a good time to find work in their area dropping 27 percentage points since 2023, according to a new Gallup World Poll released Monday. The decline has produced the largest gap in job-market optimism between young and old of any country surveyed, as older Americans’ views remained relatively stable.
The 85th Iroquois Steeplechase kicked off Saturday with its most popular event: a parade of more than 20 foxhounds that ended with one hound’s unauthorized detour into a beer tent as 25,000 spectators cheered.
LONDON — David Attenborough, the BBC natural history presenter whose hushed, excited voice has narrated the lives of gorillas, whales and tiny frogs for more than seven decades, marked his 100th birthday on Friday with a celebration that spanned a Royal Albert Hall party, cinema screenings of his films and messages from preschool groups to care home residents. Colleagues and scientists said the man who insisted “the animals are the stars” reluctantly accepted the spotlight as they honored his role in teaching generations about evolution, biodiversity and the fragility of the planet.
Dr. John Gordon spent three decades as a reproductive endocrinologist before a crisis of conscience over surplus embryos and genetic testing drove him to overhaul his practice. His wife, Allison, told him their comfortable life was built on 'ill-gotten gains,' and in 2018 Gordon bought a Knoxville clinic and rebranded it Rejoice Fertility, where no viable embryo is discarded, genetic screening for non-lethal traits is barred, and the staff prays with patients before embryo transfers.
Dr. John Gordon, a Christian fertility specialist, relocated from suburban Washington, D.C., to Knoxville, Tennessee, in 2019 to found Rejoice Fertility, a clinic that refuses to discard viable embryos, perform genetic testing, or donate embryos to science, offering instead mini-IVF, natural cycle procedures, and embryo adoption.
A cyberattack on the Canvas learning management system disrupted final exams and grade submissions at schools and universities across the United States this week, with the hacking group ShinyHunters claiming responsibility. The outage, which hit during the high-stakes finals period, prompted some institutions to postpone exams and limit student access to the platform out of caution, even after service was restored for most users late Thursday.
The Canvas online learning platform was back online Friday after a cyberattack late Thursday knocked it offline for tens of thousands of students and faculty worldwide, according to Instructure, the company that operates the system. The outage, which occurred during final exam season, forced colleges and universities across the United States to reschedule tests and extend assignment deadlines while cybersecurity experts said a hacking group calling itself ShinyHunters claimed responsibility.
California is preparing to launch its first registered teacher apprenticeship program this fall, offering aspiring educators a pathway to earn a wage and a teaching credential simultaneously, even as the state grapples with a persistent shortage of fully-qualified teachers. Nearly 16,000 instructors entered California classrooms without full credentials last school year, roughly 5% of the workforce, according to the state Commission on Teacher Credentialing. Meanwhile, a $18 million federal grant that would have expanded teacher residencies in the Central Valley was rescinded by the Trump administration, jeopardizing pipeline programs in high-need districts like Hanford.
Festus Mogae, Botswana’s former president who made the fight against HIV/AIDS a national priority, has died at 86, the government announced Friday. No cause of death was given. Mogae led the diamond-rich southern African nation from 1998 to 2008, during which time he launched free access to antiretroviral drugs — a policy credited with dramatically reducing the country’s HIV/AIDS prevalence — and later won the 2008 Ibrahim Prize for African leadership.
Bangor, Maine, is grappling with the state's largest HIV outbreak in history, with at least 41 confirmed cases in Penobscot County as of late April, according to the city's public health director. Jennifer Gunderman, who described the conditions that fueled the outbreak, said homelessness, widespread injection drug use, and shrinking harm reduction services created an environment where the virus could spread rapidly, and the true number of cases is likely far higher.
Olivia and Liam held their spots as the most popular names for American babies born in 2025, the Social Security Administration reported Friday, marking the seventh consecutive year the names have topped the annual list.
Officials in Argentina's Tierra del Fuego province on Friday denied that the deadly hantavirus outbreak on an Antarctic cruise ship originated in Ushuaia, calling the emerging theory a 'smear campaign' and demanding national investigators look elsewhere.
Abraham H. Foxman, the national director of the Anti-Defamation League for nearly three decades who survived the Holocaust as a child, died Sunday at age 86, the organization announced. Foxman counseled world leaders and became a prominent voice against antisemitism, earning both praise and criticism for his willingness to accept apologies from those who had made antisemitic remarks.
In a wide-ranging interview with The Associated Press, singer-songwriter Amy Grant, 65, opened up about her new album "The Me That Remains," the lingering effects of a 2022 bicycle accident, and why she continues to resist the labels others have tried to place on her — including the persistent "Christian artist" tag. Grant, who has straddled the worlds of contemporary Christian and mainstream pop for nearly five decades, described the album's creation as a therapeutic re-engagement with her creative self after a long physical recovery from a traumatic brain injury. She spoke candidly about her faith, the darkness in her lyrics, and the simple power of daily kindness.
Youngstown State University is opening a new regional campus in Steubenville this fall on the former site of Eastern Gateway Community College, university President Bill Johnson said. Johnson described the outpost as a “lean operation” that will deliver services from Youngstown and rely on Steubenville-based academic programs.
Health and wellness advice is widespread on social media and podcasts, and a Pew Research Center survey found many Americans rely on it for information about their health. In a review of thousands of influencer profiles, researchers found relatively few disclose professional health credentials. Experts who spoke with The Associated Press said consumers should look for verifiable training, avoid viral “shock” claims, and confirm advice with licensed clinicians before acting.
South Dakota tourism officials say higher gas prices could boost road-trip travel as Americans look for shorter, regional vacations. Tourism Secretary Jim Hagen said the state has outperformed others when fuel costs were high or rising, pointing to surveys that show many people plan to travel this summer.
The American Academy of Pediatrics on Monday released new guidance saying schools should protect students’ recess, emphasizing that the unstructured breaks benefit children’s health and learning. The group said recess has been shrinking for years, and it called on schools to avoid withholding it for academic or punitive reasons.
Mexico is embracing ulama, a 3,400-year-old pre-Hispanic ballgame, as it prepares to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup. In Sinaloa, a family-run revival of hip ulama is taking place on a dirt field, even as authorities and companies mount exhibitions and ads tied to Mexican heritage. Players and researchers say the challenge is bringing attention without turning the sport into an “exotic” spectacle.
Iran’s soccer federation says Iran will participate in the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is seeking assurances that the team can travel and be treated normally by hosts the United States, Canada and Mexico. The federation also said, in remarks carried by Iranian state media, that players and technical staff who served in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps should get visas “without problems.”
Young Americans are much less likely than older adults to say it is a good time to find a job where they live, according to a new Gallup World Poll analysis released Monday. In the United States, 43% of people ages 15 to 34 said it is a good time to find work in their local job market, versus 64% of those 55 and older.
David Attenborough, the longtime BBC wildlife presenter, is turning 100 on Friday and will be celebrated by the BBC with a party at London’s Royal Albert Hall, the broadcaster said. Associated Press reported that filmmakers are also screening his nature films, and friends have been praising his work ahead of the milestone.
A reproductive endocrinologist in Knoxville, Tennessee, has shifted his fertility practice after growing troubled by ethical questions raised by IVF, including the creation of surplus embryos and genetic testing. Dr. John Gordon, who co-directs Rejoice Fertility, said he built the clinic around avoiding discarding viable embryos and avoiding genetic screening. Patients who share his concerns say the clinic helps them pursue pregnancy while keeping faith with their religious convictions.
A Christian IVF doctor in Knoxville, Tennessee, has opened a faith-based fertility clinic that aims to limit the creation of surplus embryos, as IVF faces renewed scrutiny among some American Christians and abortion-rights advocates. The Associated Press profile of Dr. John Gordon describes a move in 2019 from the Washington, D.C. suburbs to Tennessee and the clinic’s approach to in vitro fertilization, including so-called “mini-IVF” options and embryo adoption.
US health experts criticized the CDC’s handling of a hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship involving Americans, saying the agency was slow to deploy investigators and issue timely alerts. In an AP report published May 9, officials said CDC teams were later sent to Spain’s Canary Islands and Nebraska as part of a plan to evacuate American passengers for evaluation and monitoring.
Tens of thousands of students studying for final exams regained access Friday to Canvas, a widely used online learning platform, after a cyberattack disrupted access for thousands of schools and universities earlier in the week. Instructure, the company behind Canvas, said the system was taken offline to contain the incident and investigate unauthorized changes made when some users were logged in.
California is rolling out its first registered apprenticeship program for teachers this fall, aiming to help students earn a wage while working toward a credential. The effort arrives as the state grapples with persistent staffing gaps, including teachers entering classrooms without full preparation.
Bangor’s director of public health and community services, Jennifer Gunderman, discussed conditions that helped Maine’s largest HIV outbreak grow, including increased homelessness, widespread drug use, and fewer syringe services providers. Gunderman said Penobscot County’s first identified case was in October 2023 and that the county had at least 41 cumulative confirmed cases as of April 24. She said the state is working with national experts to model the outbreak because the full size may be larger than reported.
Abe Foxman, who led the Anti-Defamation League for nearly three decades until retiring in 2015, has died at 86, the ADL said May 10. The organization said it “deeply mourns the loss of our longtime national director,” without providing details about where or when he died.
Colleges and universities across the U.S. reported disruption during finals after the Canvas learning platform suffered an outage tied to a cyberattack, with Instructure saying late Thursday that the service was available again to most users. Some schools continued to block access, while others postponed exams scheduled for later in the week.
Botswana’s government said Festus Mogae, the former president who prioritized fighting HIV and AIDS during his 1998-2008 tenure, has died at age 86. Botswana President Duma Boko announced three days of national mourning and praised Mogae’s economic management and democratic record. (Sello Motseta)
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Foxhounds wearing GPS collars paraded Saturday to kick off the Iroquois Steeplechase, an 85-year-old steeplechase tradition where horse races and fox hunting remain closely linked. More than 20 hounds—trained to run alongside horses and hunters—were kept on course by huntsmen and the whippers-in as thousands of spectators packed the infield.
Venice Biennale opened Saturday in Venice, Italy, without a jury after jury members quit in protest over Russia’s and Israel’s participation, and amid protests outside their pavilions. The Biennale said visitors will vote anonymously by email for national pavilion and main exhibition prizes, with winners announced on closing day, Nov. 22.
Google has reached a $50 million settlement with Black employees who alleged systemic racial disparities in hiring, pay and advancement, including claims of steering them into lower-level and lower-paid roles. The settlement was announced in May 2025 and received final approval this week, according to the terms described by civil rights attorney Ben Crump.
Passengers who remained on the MV Hondius after a deadly hantavirus outbreak left the Canary Islands on Monday, boarding flights to more than 20 countries for quarantine monitoring, the World Health Organization said. The French prime minister said a woman was confirmed infected and was in stable intensive care; an American’s test was initially suspected but results were inconclusive, WHO said.
Rapid City-based Pete Lien & Sons canceled a graphite drilling project in South Dakota’s Black Hills after opposition from Native American tribes and local groups. In a letter provided to the U.S. Forest Service, the company withdrew its plan of operations for the project near a sacred site known as Pe’Sla.
Olivia and Liam topped the Social Security Administration’s list of the most popular U.S. baby names for children born in 2025, the agency said May 8. The SSA released the rankings from Social Security card applications, a dataset it says dates back to 1880.
In the days since a hantavirus outbreak on the MV Hondius, some Spanish passengers have worried about how they will be received back on land, not about contracting the illness. They said sensational news reports and online memes have fueled stigma, while Spanish officials have discussed where the 14 Spanish passengers will be taken for quarantine. The cruise operator has said passengers could begin disembarking as early as Sunday, with some port workers protesting over a perceived lack of information about safety measures.
Buenos Aires, Argentina — Officials in Argentina’s Tierra del Fuego province disputed Friday that an ongoing hantavirus outbreak that killed Dutch tourists began in Ushuaia, arguing instead that federal investigators should examine other provinces the couple visited before an Antarctic cruise. The province’s health director, Juan Facundo Petrina, said federal investigators did not contact local authorities first and that Tierra del Fuego has not recorded hantavirus cases of the Andes variant implicated in the outbreak.
Civil rights lawyer Damario Solomon-Simmons said a college course first taught him about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, a white mob attack that devastated the Greenwood district. His first book, “Redeem a Nation,” released Tuesday, argues that survivors’ descendants and other Black Americans have not received reparations and that the United States must pursue justice and compensation tied to both slavery and Tulsa.
The UCLA Asian American Studies Center on Saturday launched “Foundations and Futures: Asian American and Pacific Islander Multimedia Textbook,” a free online, multimedia resource for educators that aims to broaden how schools teach Asian American and Pacific Islander history and cultures. The project, overseen by the center and developed over eight years with input from more than 100 contributors, arrives as many states and teachers face heightened scrutiny of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts in education.
The Vatican is sending new signals in the Pope Leo XIV era on how it plans to minister to LGBTQ+ Catholics, Catholic officials and advocates said, including the publication of a Vatican working-group report that includes firsthand testimony. At the same time, Leo said at a recent airborne news conference that he will not go beyond Pope Francis on same-sex blessings and that Vatican opposition remains in force against local efforts to deviate from the Holy See stance.
Countries preparing for the cruise ship’s arrival near the Canary Islands still lack key details about the hantavirus outbreak, including where it started and how far passengers may have been exposed, the Associated Press reported. The ship is expected to reach Tenerife early Sunday, after at least three passengers died and authorities confirmed several other infections.
A Palestinian family in the northern West Bank says Israeli settlers forced them to exhume the body of a newly buried relative after Israeli forces allowed the burial. The family said it had coordinated the burial of the father with the Israeli military before armed men from a nearby settlement arrived and threatened to dig up the grave with a bulldozer.
Between 800 and 1,000 families fled their homes in the mountains of Guerrero, Mexico, on Sunday after four days of bombardment with drone‑launched explosives and gunfire from the criminal group Los Ardillos, community representatives said. The attacks, which began on Wednesday, drove entire households—including children and the elderly—to take refuge in a nearby sports field with little more than backpacks.
In a striking juxtaposition against Tehran’s streets lined with anti-American posters, the Tehran Museum of Contemporary Art opened an exhibition this week featuring six works by American Pop artists Roy Lichtenstein, Robert Indiana, and James Rosenquist, the Associated Press reported. Selected primarily for their anti-war themes, the pieces come from the museum’s vast collection of Western modern art acquired by the former shah’s wife in the 1970s and largely kept out of public view since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.
More than 800 families fled their homes in rural mountainous areas of Mexico’s Guerrero state as gunmen attacked communities with handmade explosives launched from drones and other weapons, community and human rights groups said. The displacement began on Wednesday when a powerful group known as Los Ardillos began attacking communities, they said.
TEHRAN, Iran — The Museum of Contemporary Art in Tehran has opened an exhibit called “Art and War” featuring six works by three American Pop artists, chosen for their anti-war themes, according to the museum’s director. The show runs through May 10 as Iran and the United States remain in a military standoff during the ongoing conflict.
Texas health officials agreed Thursday to waive a requirement that youth camps install fiber-optic internet connections before operating, a mandate enacted after a flash flood killed 28 people at a Hill Country camp last July. The deal with a group of 19 camps that sued over the rule allows them to use cellular or satellite-based redundant internet instead, ensuring most camps can open for the summer season.
Spanish emergency services are preparing to receive more than 140 passengers and crew from the MV Hondius, a cruise ship stricken by hantavirus, as the vessel nears Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The Dutch-flagged ship is expected to arrive Sunday, and passengers will be evacuated in small boats to isolated buses under guard, officials said Friday. Three people have died since the outbreak began, and five who left the ship are infected, though no one currently on board has symptoms.
Texas health officials on Thursday agreed to lift a requirement that youth camps install “end-to-end fiber optic facilities,” clearing the way for some camps to reopen this summer while other safety conditions remain in place. The agreement follows a lawsuit filed by 19 camps challenging the fiber rule passed after the July 4 flood in the Texas Hill Country that killed 25 campers and two counselors.
Spanish authorities said they were preparing to receive more than 140 passengers and crew from the Dutch-flagged cruise ship MV Hondius as it heads for the Canary Islands, where health officials said evacuations would be carried out in a fully isolated area. The United States and the United Kingdom also agreed to send planes to evacuate their citizens.
Members of a White House-created religious liberty advisory panel have proposed tearing down the constitutional separation of church and state, rewarding a baker who refused to serve a same-sex couple, and ordering the Justice Department to defend Amish parents and Catholic nuns in exemption battles, according to a report by the Associated Press. The wishlist, aired during a meeting in April, also includes printing a million bumper stickers with the message “There is no separation between church and state,” a federal hotline repeating that claim, and requiring governments to pay the legal fees of religious plaintiffs who win in court.
A cyberattack on the Canvas learning management system left thousands of schools and universities without platform access Thursday, disrupting coursework and final exams across the country. Luke Connolly, a threat analyst at cybersecurity firm Emisoft, said the hacking group ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for the breach at Instructure, the company that operates Canvas.
California families will receive 400 free diapers when they leave the hospital with a newborn under a first-in-the-nation program announced Friday by Gov. Gavin Newsom. The initiative, launching at about 65 to 75 hospitals that primarily serve low-income patients, aims to ease the financial strain of early parenthood in the notoriously expensive state.
The U.S. Postal Service is releasing eight Route 66 centennial postage stamps, drawn from the work of photographer David J. Schwartz, who has documented the highway on 42 trips. USPS unveiled the stamp series Tuesday in Springfield, Illinois, where Schwartz described the road as “an incredible journey” through prairie, desert and mountains.
Pope Leo XIV has spent his first year in the papacy focused on consolidating his approach and making targeted changes to carry forward decisions on governance, finances and Church priorities, the Associated Press reported. In the coming months, appointments and high-stakes debates—especially over the Latin Mass and Germany’s Synodal Path—could shape how far his pontificate moves in a new direction.
California will offer hundreds of free diapers to families before they leave the hospital after a newborn is discharged, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced. The program will start at about 65 to 75 hospitals statewide in its first year, with the state saying it will expand later.
La Comisión de Libertad Religiosa creada por el presidente Donald Trump busca, entre sus recomendaciones, ampliar el rol de la expresión religiosa en escuelas públicas, facilitar fondos públicos para organizaciones basadas en la fe y promover exenciones religiosas en áreas como trabajo, aulas y atención médica. En su más reciente reunión, en abril, miembros del panel también discutieron la frase “No existe separación entre la Iglesia y el Estado”, incluida en una grabación automatizada atribuida al presidente de la comisión.
The Canvas learning-management system was offline Thursday after a cyberattack, leaving students at thousands of schools and universities unable to access course materials as final exams approached, according to a threat analyst and school officials. The hacking group ShinyHunters claimed responsibility for the breach, and Instructure, which operates Canvas, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pope Leo XIV and Cardinal Pietro Parolin in Rome on May 7, 2026, for a diplomatic visit that both sides described as an effort to reaffirm strong bilateral ties following President Donald Trump's public criticisms of the American-born pontiff.
Justice Clarence Thomas hit a historic milestone on Thursday, becoming the second longest-serving member of the U.S. Supreme Court as he enters his 35th year on the bench.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio met with Pope Leo XIV and the Vatican secretary of state as the Vatican and the U.S. State Department sought to underscore strong bilateral ties after recent public disputes involving President Donald Trump.
Clarence Thomas reached a milestone on Thursday, becoming the second-longest serving justice in U.S. history, the Associated Press reported. The tenure puts him behind only William O. Douglas, and AP said there is no sign Thomas plans to retire soon.
Health authorities across four continents are tracking and monitoring passengers who disembarked a cruise ship stricken with hantavirus before its deadly outbreak was detected, and are tracing others who may have come into contact with them since. Three people have died in the outbreak — a Dutch couple and a German national — and several others are sick, officials said Thursday.
Health authorities across four continents are tracking people who disembarked from a hantavirus-stricken cruise ship before the outbreak was confirmed, and trying to trace others who may have come into contact with them, the World Health Organization said. The cruise operator said none of the remaining passengers or crew are currently symptomatic as the vessel sailed to Spain’s Canary Islands with more than 140 people on board.
On the final night of Connecticut’s 2026 legislative session, both chambers of the General Assembly voted unanimously to remove the word “minority” from state economic development programs, a concession driven by Trump administration hostility toward race-based policies, even as Black senators warned the change would fundamentally alter the programs’ mission.
Tennessee lawmakers approved and Republicans in the state Senate enacted a new U.S. House district map on Thursday amid protests, then sent it to Gov. Bill Lee, who signed it into law. The plan redraws Tennessee’s Memphis-centered majority-Black district to alter its boundaries after the U.S. Supreme Court last week weakened federal Voting Rights Act protections for minorities.
Connecticut lawmakers have passed a bill that removes the word “minority” from state economic development programs, replacing it with language tied to “historically underserved communities.” The change drew sharp objections from two Black Democratic senators, while legislative leaders said the bill preserves the programs’ underlying purpose.
DJERBA, Tunisia — The annual Jewish pilgrimage to the 26-century-old El-Ghriba Synagogue drew a modest but notable return of international visitors this year, held under tight security for the first time since a 2023 shooting attack killed five people. The weeklong festival, which ran from April 30 to May 6 to mark the Lag B’Omer holiday, attracted approximately 500 worshippers, including pilgrims from France, China, Ivory Coast, and Italy, according to participants.
Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine disclosed Wednesday that she has a benign essential tremor, a condition she has lived with for the entirety of her nearly three-decade Senate career, as she faces a competitive reelection fight in which age and health have become issues.
Republicans in three Southern states moved forward this week with plans to redraw congressional maps that could eliminate majority-Black districts, facing protests and Democratic accusations of vote dilution. The efforts come after a Supreme Court ruling that Louisiana relied too heavily on race when drawing a district, weakening a key provision of the Voting Rights Act and emboldening GOP-led legislatures to pursue maps favorable to their party.
Republican Sen. Susan Collins disclosed Thursday that she has a benign essential tremor, saying it has been part of her decades-long Senate career and that it does not interfere with her work. Collins said she first confirmed the tremor to a Maine television station on Wednesday after online scrutiny of her health in recent videos.
A former Southern California college professor pleaded guilty in Ventura County, California, to involuntary manslaughter and battery in the death of a Jewish counterprotester during 2023 demonstrations tied to the Israel-Hamas war, prosecutors said. The case is scheduled for sentencing June 25.
A Trump-appointed FEMA Review Council on Thursday recommended a sweeping overhaul of federal disaster aid that would shift more responsibility to states, change how disasters qualify for assistance, and limit the type of aid survivors can receive, while stopping short of the president’s threat to abolish the agency.
The Trump-appointed FEMA Review Council on Thursday approved a report outlining changes to how the federal government funds disaster preparedness, response and recovery, according to a public meeting held with thousands of virtual attendees. The council’s recommendations would shift more responsibility to states, tribes and territories and alter how FEMA determines which disasters receive federal support and how survivors receive assistance, though many proposals stop short of what the administration has promised. The council’s final recommendations will now be sent to President Donald Trump, and many reforms would require congressional action.
The Trump administration will soon propose rolling back parts of the first-ever limits on toxic "forever chemicals" in drinking water, an EPA official said, planning to rescind restrictions on several less-common types of PFAS while retaining tighter standards for the two most widespread forms of the substance. Jessica Kramer, head of the EPA's Office of Water, told a Washington conference on Thursday the agency intended to revisit limits she said were improperly issued under the Biden administration, citing a need for legally defensible rules.
The U.S. State Department said Thursday it will begin revoking the passports of thousands of parents with significant unpaid child support debts, starting Friday. The initial action targets roughly 2,700 passport holders who owe $100,000 or more, with plans to expand the program to all parents owing more than $2,500. The program, based on a long-standing but little-enforced 1996 law, is part of an effort to compel delinquent parents to pay what they owe, officials said.
A group of Wounded Warrior Project veterans — many carrying physical scars from Iraq and other conflicts — swam alongside a 20-foot whale shark, manta rays and giant groupers at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta on Wednesday, describing the encounter as a fleeting release from constant pain. 'It gives them, you know, 30 or 40 minutes to just relax,' said Jason Bush, who manages the aquarium’s Military Salute program, which brings active-duty and retired service members into the water weekly. 'Weightlessness takes away for a moment the physical pain you feel on land.'
New Jersey Transit is lowering a planned $150 round-trip fare to MetLife Stadium for the upcoming World Cup to $105, following a directive from Gov. Mikie Sherrill to find alternative funding to cushion the cost for fans.
Texas A&M regents voted unanimously Wednesday to confirm Susan Ballabina as the university’s next president, naming a three-decade system veteran to lead the state’s largest public university as it searches for stability after a string of leadership crises and political pressures. Ballabina will assume the role on May 11.
Media mogul Ted Turner, who died Wednesday, leaves behind an environmental footprint spanning some 3,125 square miles of U.S. ranchland and Patagonia, where he shifted land management from traditional agriculture to habitat restoration and endangered species recovery.
Ted Turner, the brash media mogul who transformed global journalism by launching CNN and pioneering the 24-hour cable news cycle, died Wednesday at age 87. Turner was surrounded by his family at the time of his death, according to Turner Enterprises.
The Connecticut legislature has approved a bill naming basketball Hall of Famer Sue Bird as the state's co-state bird every March, sharing the designation with the American robin. The measure, tucked into a 111-page omnibus bill, now heads to Gov. Ned Lamont's desk.
Idaho’s women’s prisons, overflowing and without enough beds, are placing nonviolent inmates into segregated housing normally used for punishment, confining them to their cells for 23 hours a day, according to an InvestigateWest investigation distributed by The Associated Press. Civil rights advocates say the practice violates state policy and inflicts lasting psychological harm.
A democratic fan-owned soccer club in Warsaw, founded in 2015 by supporters who wanted a refuge from the aggressive nationalist behavior they saw in Polish stadiums, is expanding its inclusive mission even as President Karol Nawrocki — a soccer fan who has acknowledged participating in street fights — represents a very different face of Polish fandom.
A multi-year investigation by The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Associated Press and FRONTLINE (PBS) reveals that Georgia environmental regulators knew for nearly two decades that PFAS chemicals from carpet mills were polluting drinking water in northwest Georgia and Alabama, yet took no action to warn the public or clean up the contamination. The state’s inaction left hundreds of thousands of residents exposed to the toxic “forever chemicals,” linked to cancer and other illnesses, while other states moved aggressively to protect their citizens.
Georgia’s environmental regulators knew for nearly two decades that the carpet industry in the state's northwest corner was discharging dangerous forever chemicals into rivers that provide drinking water for hundreds of thousands of people, but the state declined to regulate the pollution, warn the public, or cooperate with downstream Alabama officials who asked for help identifying the source, an investigative collaboration has found.
Thirty former Ohio State football players, including several NFL veterans, have agreed to join a federal lawsuit against the university over sexual abuse by a former team doctor, attorney Rocky Ratliff said Thursday. The men are among hundreds of former student athletes who say they were abused by Dr. Richard Strauss, who worked at Ohio State from 1978 until his retirement in 1998. They are “tearful and living with it,” Ratliff said, but have stepped forward after years of shame and fear.
KATHMANDU, Nepal — The spring climbing season on Mount Everest began weeks behind schedule this year after an unstable ice block forced the team of elite guides who set the annual route to delay its opening, but that hasn’t stopped more than 460 climbers from assembling at base camp. The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee (SPCC) only declared the Khumbu Icefall route open on April 29 and issued an unusually stark warning: the overhanging serac has multiple cracks and could collapse at any time.
Michigan cities that once embraced the annual “No Mow May” campaign are now backing away from it, citing limited evidence that a one-month mowing pause helps pollinators and concerns that taller grass may attract ticks.
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — President William Ruto, who rose to power preaching a born‑again Christian nation, is facing a chorus of criticism from religious leaders and political rivals over a surge in politically motivated gang violence known locally as “goonism” as he seeks a second term next year.
A rare hantavirus outbreak aboard a Dutch-flagged cruise ship, the MV Hondius, has killed at least three passengers and sickened several others, health authorities said, as an international effort to trace and quarantine travelers from more than 20 countries continues. The ship, which sailed from Argentina in April, anchored off Spain’s Canary Islands this week after dozens of passengers and crew were evacuated or repatriated, some testing positive for the Andes virus — the only hantavirus known to spread between humans.
Argentina is experiencing a sharp increase in hantavirus infections, with the health ministry reporting 101 cases since June 2025 — roughly double the number recorded in the same period a year earlier. The rise comes as three passengers aboard a Dutch-flagged cruise ship that departed from Ushuaia, Argentina, have died from the rare rodent-borne disease, and authorities are investigating whether the passengers contracted the virus before boarding.
Public health officials in the United States, Britain, Canada, Singapore and Argentina are racing to locate dozens of passengers who left a cruise ship before authorities identified a hantavirus outbreak that has killed three people, the Associated Press reported Wednesday. The multi-country contact-tracing effort follows five confirmed cases, including the three deaths, and aims to prevent further spread of the rodent-borne disease, which in rare instances can move from person to person.
As the new year begins, technology writer Kelvin Chan advises that clearing out email clutter can reduce the risk of data breaches and make it easier to find important messages. In an article published Thursday, Chan offered several methods for tackling an overflowing inbox, from deleting large attachments to filtering out newsletters.
With the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence approaching, U.S. history teachers are guiding students through a deeper examination of the nation's founding ideals—who they were written for, who was excluded, and whether the American experiment is still delivering on its promise of equality—while facing a politically charged environment that has made teaching civics harder than ever, according to a new survey.
More than two dozen passengers from at least 12 countries were allowed to leave the MV Hondius cruise ship on April 24 in Saint Helena after a fatal hantavirus outbreak had already killed two people aboard, without health authorities tracing their contacts before they flew home, the ship's operator and Dutch officials acknowledged Thursday.
Median in-person worship attendance in U.S. congregations rose to 70 adults in 2025, the first increase in 25 years, according to a new survey by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. The findings, drawn from 7,453 congregations surveyed between September and December 2025, offer a cautiously optimistic signal that decades of decline in American religious participation may be leveling off.
A $3.8 billion California program to convert motels into homeless housing during the pandemic produced thousands of new units but also left roughly 3,000 promised homes unfinished, a CalMatters investigation has found, with one contractor facing federal fraud charges and dozens of projects stuck in limbo.
Three days after announcing a settlement of her lawsuit over the 2024 film "It Ends With Us," Blake Lively's lawyers called the deal a "resounding victory" on Thursday, asserting that Justin Baldoni and other defendants now face potential personal liability for legal fees and penalties after his countersuit was dismissed. Baldoni's attorney, Bryan Freedman, countered that his camp considers it "a win and total victory," maintaining that Lively voluntarily dismissed the bulk of her claims after a judge threw out most of them.
A deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard a Dutch cruise ship on a weeks-long polar expedition has drawn fresh attention to the rapid growth of tourism in Antarctica, where scientists warn that soaring visitor numbers risk introducing diseases and contaminants to one of Earth’s last pristine environments. The outbreak on the MV Hondius — which left Argentina in April and visited several Antarctic and sub-Antarctic islands — comes as tourism to the frozen continent has grown tenfold over the past three decades, with researchers projecting that annual visits could exceed 400,000 within ten years.
Technology companies, long skeptical of organized religion, are turning to faith leaders for help in navigating the ethics of artificial intelligence. Representatives from Anthropic and OpenAI met with a wide range of religious groups last week at the inaugural “Faith-AI Covenant” roundtable in New York, organized by the Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities, to discuss infusing morality into fast-developing AI systems. The initiative reflects a growing, though contested, coalition between Silicon Valley and religious institutions, as companies face mounting pressure to address the technology’s societal risks.
Pope Leo XIV prayed Friday for political leaders to end the “fratricidal hatred” in the world as he marked the anniversary of his election with a visit to Pompeii, Italy. The pope traveled to the ancient city for a daylong visit to honor the May 8 feast of Our Lady of Pompeii and used the occasion to pray for peace.
The U.S. Postal Service on Tuesday released eight Route 66 centennial stamps, with each stamp highlighting a state the highway passes through. The project is based on photographs taken by David J. Schwartz, who said he has made 42 trips along the road.
Pope Leo XIV, one year into his papacy, has focused on shaping church leadership through planned appointments and on managing divisions left by Pope Francis, particularly over the Latin Mass and Vatican financial governance. The Vatican also faces upcoming tests involving traditionalist bishops consecrated without Leo’s consent and Germany’s Synodal Path reform process, while Leo is expected to issue his first encyclical addressing artificial intelligence and peace and justice issues in the coming weeks.
Following the 2023 attack that killed worshippers at El-Ghriba Synagogue, international visitors returned this year to the annual Jewish pilgrimage on Tunisia’s Djerba island, with security tightly focused around the historic site. The pilgrimage ran from April 30 to May 6 for Lag B’Omer, drawing visitors from countries including France, China, Ivory Coast and Italy.
Ted Turner, the media mogul who died Wednesday, left behind a conservation effort built around large-scale private land stewardship and endangered-species work, the Associated Press reported. Turner owned ranches and habitat across several states, including New Mexico and Montana, and promoted a view that environmental protection could be paired with business investment.
Cybersecurity experts say the “spring cleaning” impulse can also apply to digital devices and online accounts—clearing out dormant logins, reducing shared data exposure, and tightening app and password security. In a new AP One Tech Tip, Michael Sherwood of Malwarebytes and Chad Thunberg of Yubico lay out a checklist for freeing storage, decluttering inboxes, reviewing connected apps, auditing social media privacy, and enabling stronger authentication.
Basketball Hall of Famer Sue Bird will share Connecticut’s “state bird” designation every March with the American robin under a bill approved by the Connecticut legislature and headed to Gov. Ned Lamont. The measure is expected to be signed into law, starting next year.
Health officials are contact tracing people who may have been exposed to hantavirus after a recent outbreak on a cruise ship killed three people, and they said they expect the risk of wider spread to be limited. Hantaviruses generally do not spread easily between people, but scientists are studying the Andes virus linked to the outbreak for signs it could transmit in rare cases.
The Trump administration plans to propose softening some Biden-era limits on PFAS “forever chemicals” in drinking water, according to an EPA official. The proposal would delay parts of the rollback but keep strict standards for two common PFAS types, while rescinding limits on some rarer forms and revisiting others, the official said.
Making a fresh start with your email inbox can reduce the risk of exposure during a data breach and make it easier to find important messages, the Associated Press said in its “One Tech Tip” column. In the article published Jan. 9, Kelvin Chan outlined several ways to cut through inbox clutter, from deleting oversized emails to using filters and rules.
As the Declaration of Independence approaches its 250th anniversary, history and civics teachers say they face increased scrutiny over how to teach the nation’s founding ideals and their contradictions. Some educators use activities that force students to question who the Declaration’s “Created Equal” promise was originally for and who it serves now, amid classroom debates tied to immigration enforcement, race and slavery, and pressure over “patriotic education.”
Más de dos decenas de pasajeros de al menos 12 países abandonaron desde abril un crucero afectado por un brote mortal de hantavirus, sin que se hiciera un seguimiento de contactos, según dijo el operador del barco y funcionarios holandeses. La búsqueda comenzó casi dos semanas después de la muerte de una persona a bordo, y ahora participan autoridades sanitarias de varios países y continentes.
Belgium-based researchers and global health officials say the rapid growth of Antarctic tourism is raising biosecurity concerns, after a deadly hantavirus outbreak aboard a Dutch ship on a polar cruise. The World Health Organization said it is investigating possible human-to-human transmission on the MV Hondius voyage, which left Argentina for Antarctica on April 1 and visited isolated islands.
California’s Homekey program, launched under Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2020, awarded more than $3.8 billion to convert hotels and other buildings into homeless housing, but a new investigation finds outcomes ranged from immediate successes to long delays and failures. In Los Angeles, one nonprofit said it took over a former motel without sufficient vetting, and a yearslong construction backlog left the property vacant. Across the state, advocates and local officials said the program’s speed came with thinner oversight, leaving some projects stalled and raising questions about the next phase, Homekey+.
Ted Turner, the television pioneer who launched CNN and helped usher in the 24-hour cable news cycle, has died. He was 87. Turner died Wednesday while surrounded by his family, according to Turner Enterprises, which oversees his businesses and investments; a cause was not released.
Kathmandu, Nepal — Hundreds of climbers and their Nepali guides are assembling at Mount Everest’s base camp as the climbing season gets under way, despite a warning about an unstable ice block above a key route. The Sagarmatha Pollution Control Committee said the serac has “multiple cracks” and urged “extreme caution” after the Icefall route opened later than usual.
An event for injured U.S. military veterans brought them to Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta for a healing swim Wednesday, part of the Wounded Warrior Project’s recovery support through marine-life encounters. Staff said the program offers participants time to relax and that the weightlessness in the water can ease physical pain. The swim also included a chance to snorkel and swim with a whale shark named Yushan, the only one in captivity in the Western Hemisphere, according to aquarium officials.
Georgia officials and scientists identified PFAS contamination in drinking-water supplies in northwest Georgia more than a decade before the state began taking new public action, an Associated Press investigation finds. Residents in the Calhoun area describe blood-test results showing PFAS buildup and health diagnoses including liver and thyroid conditions. The report also says Georgia did not issue fish advisories or do-not-drink orders as concerns grew, even as PFAS migrated toward Alabama.
Kenya’s political class is trading accusations of “goonism,” a term used by leaders to describe gangs that intimidate opponents, as Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen and other officials warn about political violence ahead of elections. Supporters and opposition figures also dispute whether the violence is driven by the state or by rivals, while religious leaders amplify concerns and weigh in with public rebukes and sermons.
New Jersey Transit is reducing a planned $150 round-trip train fare to MetLife Stadium for World Cup matches to $105, state officials said May 7. The move follows outcry over the steep cost of getting to East Rutherford for the tournament, which begins June 13 and runs through July 19.
Idaho prison overcrowding has led the Department of Correction to place some women with good behavior in segregated housing units, prisoners and advocates say, including at South Idaho Correctional Institution in Boise.
Texas A&M regents unanimously appointed Susan Ballabina as president on Wednesday, setting her to take over the state’s flagship university on May 11. The decision follows months of upheaval at the College Station campus after former president Mark A. Welsh III resigned amid political backlash over a secretly recorded classroom discussion.
Tech companies are turning to faith leaders for guidance on how to shape artificial intelligence as concerns mount about its rapid integration into society, the Associated Press reported. Leaders from multiple religious groups met in New York with representatives from companies including Anthropic and OpenAI for an inaugural “Faith-AI Covenant” roundtable organized by the Geneva-based Interfaith Alliance for Safer Communities.
The U.S. State Department will begin revoking the passports of thousands of parents with significant past-due child support, beginning Friday, the department told The Associated Press. The initial revocations will focus on parents who owe $100,000 or more, which would apply to about 2,700 passport holders.
A fan-run Warsaw soccer club, AKS Zły, is seeking a renewed role in Poland as President Karol Nawrocki’s nationalist-backed government-era political climate collides with the inclusive culture the club was built to protect. Founded in 2015 by supporters of Warsaw’s Legia and Polonia, AKS Zły says it was created to resist hostile nationalist stadium behavior that members say has “drifted sharply to the right.” As the club hopes to attract more fans, players and supporters describe matchdays built around welcome, community organizing and LGBTQ+ inclusion.
Worship attendance at churches and other houses of worship rose in 2025 for the first time in about two decades, according to a new report by the Hartford Institute for Religion Research. The institute said its survey of leaders at 7,453 congregations found median in-person attendance increased to 70 adults, after falling to 45 during the COVID-19 period.
Thirty former Ohio State football players, including some NFL veterans, agreed to join a federal lawsuit alleging the school failed to stop sexual abuse of student athletes decades ago by former team doctor Richard Strauss, a lawyer said May 7.
An outbreak of the rare hantavirus unfolded over weeks on the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius as it sailed across the Atlantic Ocean, according to a timeline compiled by The Associated Press. At least three passengers died, and dozens of travelers have since been repatriated after the ship docked in Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands.
In one of his first major announcements as health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unveiled a plan with the Food and Drug Administration to “phase out” synthetic food dyes. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the agency was “removing all petroleum-based food dyes” from U.S. foods, but the details later turned on a voluntary agreement with foodmakers rather than new regulations. More than a year later, the FDA has not issued the scientific and regulatory documents needed to establish the basis for any formal safety action, according to an FDA expert and former FDA food program director.
Most U.S. adults say the United States is no longer a great place for immigrants, according to a new AP-NORC poll, with about one-third saying they or someone they know has been affected by the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement. The survey also finds strong support for birthright citizenship in general, but Republicans are more divided and many respondents distinguish among specific cases.
More than a dozen houses of worship were burned or damaged in the January 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, and many faith leaders say the recovery effort has strengthened relationships across religious lines. Rabbi Amy Bernstein of Kehillat Israel, which lost 300 of 900 member families, said the fires “blew everything open” for clergy who are now working together to rebuild and support scattered congregants.
Pope Leo XIV prayed for political leaders to end “fratricidal hatred” during an anniversary visit to Pompeii on Friday, the first-year milestone since his election. Speaking at a sanctuary dedicated to Our Lady of Pompeii, the pope also urged peace and mercy.
In the wake of Ted Turner’s death on Wednesday, media analysts and former colleagues recalled how his push for a global, continuous news channel helped reshape television and the public’s expectations for breaking coverage. From CNN’s early 24/7 model to its wartime reporting, Turner’s influence echoed across American politics, journalism and civic engagement, they said.
The leader of the Southern Poverty Law Center pleaded not guilty Thursday on behalf of the civil rights group to federal charges that it defrauded donors by failing to disclose money would be paid to informants inside extremist groups. Bryan Fair represented the nonprofit in U.S. District Court in Montgomery, where prosecutors outlined allegations tied to money laundering conspiracy, wire fraud and false statements to a bank.
Cosmetic interventions are expanding across the U.S., raising questions about how people should think about body modification in a culture that increasingly promotes youth and conformity. The Associated Press reports that theologians, philosophers and bioethicists are urging wider discussion about the ethics of procedures such as injectables, plastic surgery and prescription weight-loss drugs.
The Anti-Defamation League said the number of antisemitic incidents it tallied in the United States declined sharply in 2025, with campus incidents driving much of the drop. ADL’s latest annual audit, released Wednesday, counted 6,274 incidents of antisemitic assaults, harassment and vandalism overall, down 33% from 2024. ADL attributed part of the decline to colleges curbing pro-Palestinian protests amid pressure from President Donald Trump’s administration.
A major federal drug raid around MacArthur Park near downtown Los Angeles led to 18 arrests and targeted fentanyl and methamphetamine distribution as voting began in the city’s mayoral race. The raid also amplified a debate between Democratic Mayor Karen Bass and Republican rival Spencer Pratt over whether the city should end needle exchange services at the park.
The Orleans Parish School Board voted 6-1 to accept an agreement settling a 2019 lawsuit against the city of New Orleans over how tax collection fees and school funding were handled. Under the settlement, the city will lower sales tax collection fees and eliminate property-tax fees, and it will end practices district lawyers said diverted school money toward municipal pension obligations.
Pope Leo XIV marked his first year in the Vatican by choosing a longer view than his predecessor, reshaping finances and appointments while preparing for major flashpoints over the Latin Mass and Germany’s “Synodal Path.” In a look ahead at what he has done and what is next, the Vatican’s leadership changes include U.S. cardinal appointments and key transitions at the offices overseeing liturgy and lay life.
A participant in the Cocodona 250 ultramarathon died Tuesday after experiencing a medical emergency on trails in northern Arizona, race organizers and local law enforcement said. First responders attended to a woman in her 40s who collapsed at a trailhead in the Groom Creek community south of Prescott in Yavapai County, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office.
The U.S. Justice Department has found that the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, illegally considered race in admissions, according to a letter of findings. The finding escalates a dispute between the Trump administration and UCLA as the administration presses colleges’ compliance with a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that banned affirmative action in higher education admissions.
The Connecticut Senate voted 22-14 early Tuesday to pass the state's first regulations on homeschooling, requiring families to notify the state of their education plans and barring anyone under investigation for child abuse from withdrawing a child from school to teach them at home.
Connecticut’s Senate on Monday passed a bill that sets the state’s first homeschooling regulations, voting 22-14 shortly before midnight after a debate that split largely along party lines. The measure heads next to Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont for his signature.
President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of Pope Leo XIV on Monday, falsely claiming the pontiff supports an Iranian nuclear weapon and potentially complicating Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s planned diplomatic visit to the Vatican later this week.
A London jury convicted four members of the activist group Palestine Action on Tuesday for breaking into an Elbit Systems factory in Bristol, England, in August 2024 and smashing equipment with sledgehammers and crowbars.
The Venice Biennale’s 61st edition opened previews on May 5 without a jury and without professional prizes, after the jury resigned rather than evaluate artists from Israel and Russia at the world’s oldest contemporary art exhibition. The unprecedented walkout plunged the Giardini into tension, with Ukrainian artists displaying a refugee sculpture from the eastern front as Russian performers danced nearby and Palestinian demonstrators marched with the names of killed Gaza artists.
The U.S. Justice Department said it found the David Geffen School of Medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles, illegally considered race in admissions. The department’s finding comes as the Trump administration seeks to scrutinize colleges’ student-selection processes after a 2023 Supreme Court ruling that ended affirmative action in admissions.
A Florida activist who camped atop a Washington bridge for five days came down Wednesday morning, ending his stand against artificial intelligence and the war in Iran, Associated Press reported. Police had closed lanes and negotiated with him on the Frederick Douglass Memorial Bridge.
The Anti-Defamation League said Thursday that antisemitic incidents it tallied in the United States declined sharply in 2025, with a steep drop on college campuses a key driver. The ADL said its latest annual audit counted 6,274 incidents of antisemitic assaults, harassment and vandalism overall in 2025, down 33% from 2024’s record-high 9,354.
President Donald Trump renewed his criticism of Pope Leo XIV in an interview with Hugh Hewitt, a flare-up that could complicate Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s planned visit to the Vatican this week. Trump said the pope is helping Iran and also made the world less safe with remarks he linked to the pope’s comments about immigrants.
The Venice Biennale previewed its 61st and “most chaotic” edition on Tuesday, with tensions spilling into the Giardini as war and grief followed art into the world’s oldest contemporary art show. The preview took place days after the jury resigned over the participation of Israel and Russia, a decision that, according to the Biennale’s rules, left no prizes awarded by jurors.
President Donald Trump’s deals with pharmaceutical companies to lower some U.S. prescription drug prices to levels charged in other countries could save $529 billion over the next 10 years, according to White House economists. The White House also estimated federal and state governments could save a combined $64.3 billion over the decade on Medicaid. Democrats have questioned the projections and urged the administration to disclose more details about the agreements.
The small Taiwanese town of Fenglin, a designated slow city with a shrinking, super-aged population, has turned its embrace of a slow pace of life into a quirky tourism draw: annual snail races. Organizers say the event, now in its third year, helps lure visitors back to the Hualien County area still reeling from a devastating 2024 earthquake that killed 19 people and dampened travel.
Three passengers have died and at least four others are ill after a rare hantavirus outbreak on a Dutch cruise ship anchored off Cape Verde, health officials said Tuesday. The MV Hondius, carrying nearly 150 passengers and crew, is awaiting medical evacuation of three people while the World Health Organization investigates possible human-to-human transmission — a typically rare route for the rodent-borne virus.
Cape Verdean authorities are coordinating medical help and evacuation planning for the MV Hondius after three people died and at least four became sick in an outbreak of hantavirus on the Dutch cruise ship, which is anchored off the West African island nation. The World Health Organization said passengers are isolating in their cabins as it investigates whether limited human-to-human transmission could be occurring. The ship’s operator said it plans to move to Spain’s Canary Islands after medically evacuating those who need urgent care.
Fenglin, a Taiwanese town of about 10,000 residents, is drawing tourists by hosting snail races that celebrate a slower, more sustainable pace of life. The town has been known for years for quality-of-life efforts that include joining the Cittaslow network and, after an April 2024 earthquake hurt regional travel, launching the races as a draw for visitors.
The White House estimates that President Donald Trump’s deals with pharmaceutical companies to tie U.S. prescription drug prices to those paid in other countries could save the economy $529 billion over the next 10 years, according to an analysis obtained by The Associated Press. The projection is the first economy-wide estimate behind a policy that forms a core part of Trump’s pitch to voters heading into November’s midterm elections, as cost-of-living anxiety deepened by the Iran war weighs on the electorate.
Nayomie Mendoza has seen how Cinco de Mayo is often celebrated in the U.S.: platters of tacos, pitchers of margaritas, and mariachi bands. But this year, she and other Mexican American business owners are using the holiday to highlight authentic Mexican history and culture, pushing back against anti-immigrant sentiment that has deepened fear in their communities.
The White House says President Donald Trump’s pharmaceutical deals that would link some U.S. prescription drug prices to what other countries pay could save $529 billion over 10 years. The analysis, produced for the White House Council of Economic Advisers, projects savings for patients and governments and would apply as more drugs come under the policy ahead of the November midterm elections. Democratic lawmakers, however, have said the figures are difficult to verify and may be offset by higher costs for drugs not covered.
Mexican American business owners and Latino cultural leaders are leaning into history and community this Cinco de Mayo, as restaurants across the United States prepare festivities that go beyond mariachi, tacos and tequila. In Los Angeles, Cuernavaca’s Grill owner Nayomie Mendoza said her event will include a nod to the Battle of Puebla and will also collect food and toys for people struggling amid higher costs and heightened immigration enforcement.
The University of Michigan issued a formal apology after a history professor praised pro-Palestinian student protesters during a commencement speech on Saturday, sparking calls from Republican officials and a major donor to strip the university of federal funding and cut off donations. The speech, by outgoing faculty senate chair Derek R. Peterson, credited the activists with “opening our hearts to the injustice and inhumanity of Israel’s war in Gaza” and drew immediate condemnation from Jewish groups who say campus protests have created a hostile environment. University President Domenico Grasso apologized within hours, calling the remarks “inappropriate” and saying Peterson deviated from prepared remarks shared before the ceremony.
Southern Baptist Convention membership dropped to 12.3 million in 2025, its lowest level since 1973, according to data released Tuesday by Lifeway Research, the denomination’s research affiliate. The 3% decline continues a nearly two-decade slide even as weekly worship attendance rose nearly 4% to 4.5 million and baptisms increased 5% to 263,075.
The largest study yet of school cell phone bans found that locking up students’ phones during the school day cuts in-school use sharply, but the practice has not delivered quick improvements in test scores, attendance or bullying, according to a working paper released Monday by the National Bureau of Economic Research. Researchers from Stanford, Duke, the University of Michigan and the University of Pennsylvania analyzed data from roughly 4,600 schools that adopted lockable Yondr pouches, capturing what the authors describe as the most reliable evidence to date because the pouches enforce the ban rather than relying on students to keep phones out of sight.
French President Emmanuel Macron sang the Charles Aznavour standard “La Bohème” at a state dinner in Yerevan on Monday, joined by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan on drums and celebrated jazz pianist Vahagn Hayrapetyan.
Health authorities spanning three continents are conducting contact tracing and a source investigation after laboratory tests confirmed the presence of the Andes virus on the MV Hondius, an expedition cruise ship that has been sailing the South Atlantic for more than a month. Three passengers have died, one is in intensive care, and more than 140 others are undergoing cabin isolation as the vessel heads to Spain's Canary Islands, the World Health Organization announced.
A suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard the Dutch cruise ship MV Hondius has killed three people and left three others critically ill, trapping the vessel off the coast of Cabo Verde as local authorities refuse to let it dock, the World Health Organization and the ship’s operator said Monday.
The Musée d'Orsay in Paris opened its first permanent gallery on Tuesday dedicated to artwork looted during the Nazi era, placing 13 orphaned masterpieces on public display with their verso histories — stamps, labels and inventory marks — turned toward the viewer, the Associated Press reported.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a discrimination lawsuit Tuesday against the New York Times, alleging the news organization bypassed a white male editor for a promotion in favor of a candidate it said was less qualified to meet diversity goals.
Mayor Mary Sheffield’s administration is launching a year-round slate of youth programming — extended recreation center hours, Midnight Basketball leagues, a website portal for free activities, and a mayoral youth advisory cabinet — after large informal teen gatherings downtown highlighted a shortage of safe, engaging spaces for the city’s young people.
The first four months of 2026 saw the deaths of dozens of influential figures across entertainment, science, politics, and activism, according to an Associated Press roundup published May 5. Among them were Bollywood singer Asha Bhosle, whose voice on an estimated 12,000 songs formed the soundtrack of modern India; genomics pioneer J. Craig Venter, who mapped the first draft of the human genome; and civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, a protégé of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Other notable deaths included Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, killed in U.S.-Israeli military strikes in February, and Robert S. Mueller III, the former FBI director who led the Russia investigation into Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Pennsylvania has sued Character Technologies Inc., the company behind Character.AI, alleging that its chatbots illegally hold themselves out as licensed doctors and deceive users into believing they are receiving medical advice from professionals. Governor Josh Shapiro’s administration called the filing a “first of its kind enforcement action” against an AI firm over the unlawful practice of medicine, saying an investigator easily found chatbots on the platform that claimed to be licensed psychiatrists and offered to assess the investigator as a doctor.
A 13-year-old student admitted carrying out a shooting attack at a public school in Rio Branco, Brazil, on Tuesday, killing two female staff members and injuring another staff member and a student, authorities said. Police said the suspect used a gun owned by a legal guardian; local media reported the guardian was the teenager's stepfather, who was also detained.
A participant in the Cocodona 250 ultramarathon in northern Arizona died Tuesday after experiencing a medical emergency on trails near a Groom Creek trailhead south of Prescott, officials said. First responders attended to a woman in her 40s who collapsed, and race organizers confirmed the death on Wednesday.
Cosmetic procedures are becoming more common, prompting theologians, philosophers and bioethicists to call for wider ethical discussion around body modification, beauty ideals and personal agency. In Los Angeles, a 25-year-old grapples with whether to pursue cosmetic injections or surgery, underscoring how social media and cultural expectations can shape decisions. The issue spans religious guidance, medical ethics training and concerns about whether these interventions are treated as purely individual choices.
Indigenous people across the United States are gathering this week to honor relatives who are missing or have been killed and to call for better data collection, law-enforcement response and reforms to make communities safer. The observance, marked as a national day of awareness for the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples movement, included marches, rallies, talking circles, self-defense classes and candlelight vigils planned for the May 5 week.
Pope Leo XIV will travel to Spain for a June 6-12 visit that includes inaugurating the central tower of Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia and meeting with migrants at reception centers in the Canary Islands, the Vatican said May 6. The trip will begin in Madrid with meetings with Spain’s government, parliament and the king, and will also include a prayer vigil with young people.
The leader of the Southern Poverty Law Center pleaded not guilty Thursday on behalf of the civil rights group in a federal donor fraud case. Bryan Fair appeared in federal court in Montgomery as the Justice Department alleges the group defrauded donors by using money to pay informants inside extremist organizations.
The University of Michigan issued a formal apology after a history professor, speaking at a universitywide commencement ceremony, praised pro-Palestinian student protesters. In response to the backlash, the university president said the remarks were inappropriate and did not represent the school’s institutional position.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday revived the Presidential Physical Fitness Award, tying it to a return of an annual physical fitness test in U.S. schools. Speaking at an Oval Office event with children and athletes, Trump said his administration is working to “defend America’s cherished athletic traditions.” The award is linked to the Presidential Fitness Test, which was a public-school fixture for decades before being phased out under President Barack Obama.
In Yerevan on Monday night, French President Emmanuel Macron sang classic ballads at a state dinner honoring him during a French state visit, as Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan played drums and a local musician performed on piano. The dinner took place at Armenia’s presidential residence, with Macron crooning songs including “La Bohème” and “Les Feuilles Mortes.”
A suspected outbreak of hantavirus on the MV Hondius, a cruise ship sailing in remote parts of the South Atlantic and beyond, unfolded over weeks before infections were confirmed in South Africa and Switzerland, the World Health Organization and the cruise operator said. Three passengers have died, one is in intensive care in South Africa, and three others were evacuated as the ship traveled from Cape Verde toward Spain’s Canary Islands.
Un crucero holandés con unas 150 personas a bordo esperaba ayuda frente a la costa de Cabo Verde en el océano Atlántico el lunes, después de que tres pasajeros murieran y otras tres personas quedaran gravemente enfermas en un presunto brote de hantavirus, informó la Organización Mundial de la Salud y el operador del barco. El Ministerio de Salud de Cabo Verde dijo que, por ahora, no permitiría que la nave atracara por preocupaciones de salud pública.
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield’s administration is rolling out year-round youth programming, including a June start for the Occupy the Summer series, after “teen takeovers” downtown highlighted demand for more safe, engaging spaces for young people. The plan includes expanded recreation center hours, Midnight Basketball leagues for 18 and older, and a new city portal that lets residents find free youth activities by age and ZIP code.
Associated Press’ roll call highlights notable deaths from January through April, including Asha Bhosle, whose singing career spanned nearly eight decades, and scientist J. Craig Venter, who mapped the first draft of the human genome. The list also includes former Hawaii Gov. George R. Ariyoshi, French actor Nathalie Baye and other influential figures whose deaths were recorded in 2026.
A school shooting in Brazil’s Acre state on Tuesday left two women dead and two others injured, authorities said. Police said a 13-year-old student was detained after authorities said the student carried out the attack at a public school in Rio Branco.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed a discrimination lawsuit against The New York Times on Tuesday, saying the newspaper passed over a white male editor for a promotion in favor of a less-qualified woman to meet diversity goals. The EEOC says the complaint alleges gender and racial discrimination under Title VII, and the New York Times said it will defend itself “vigorously.”
France on Tuesday opened a new permanent gallery at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris dedicated to artworks looted during the Nazi era that were never claimed after World War II. The museum is also displaying the paintings with records showing how each piece moved from private homes into Nazi hands. The exhibit includes 13 works from France’s National Museums Recovery collection, known as MNR.
Teachers in schools that adopted bell-to-bell cellphone bans reported fewer distractions when students had to lock phones away during the school day, according to a new study using actual data from lockable-phone pouches. The research, published by the National Bureau of Economic Research, found little evidence that the bans quickly improved academic achievement or discipline overall, though some measures of student well-being and suspensions shifted after the first year.
The Southern Baptist Convention’s membership fell 3% in 2025 to 12.3 million, its lowest level since 1973, according to results released Tuesday by Lifeway Research. At the same time, the denomination reported nearly 4% higher weekly worship attendance and a 5% increase in baptisms.
President Donald Trump brought back the Presidential Physical Fitness Award in an Oval Office ceremony Tuesday, resurrecting a decades-old tradition that had been phased out under President Barack Obama.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday authorized its first fruit-flavored e-cigarettes intended for adult smokers, a policy shift after months of appeals from the vaping industry. The agency said the products it approved—mango and blueberry varieties plus two menthol versions—are for adult users who are quitting or cutting back on cigarettes.
Pennsylvania sued Character Technologies, the maker of Character.AI, accusing its chatbots of illegally holding themselves out as licensed doctors and misleading users into thinking they receive medical advice from professionals. The lawsuit, filed in Commonwealth Court, seeks an order stopping the alleged “unlawful practice of medicine and surgery.”
The Supreme Court issued an administrative stay on Monday that restores the ability to obtain the abortion pill mifepristone through telehealth, mail-order and pharmacies without an in-person doctor visit, temporarily blocking a lower court ruling that had imposed restrictions.
Disney reported second-quarter profit and revenue above expectations, citing strength in streaming and spending at its U.S. theme parks that helped offset weaker overseas tourism. The Walt Disney Co. also said domestic parks are doing well even as customers face higher inflation and energy prices, and CFO Hugh Johnston said the company has not seen a change in consumer behavior yet. Shares rose after the results were announced.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio plans to travel to Rome and Vatican City this week to ease rising tensions between President Donald Trump and Pope Leo XIV over U.S. immigration and military policies. The State Department confirmed the Thursday and Friday trip will include discussions on the Middle East and shared security interests with Italian counterparts.
The Melkite Greek Catholic bishops of Lebanon said Monday that Israeli forces are demolishing civilian and religious buildings in south Lebanon, and that a convent in the village of Yaroun was bulldozed earlier this month, according to the Associated Press.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Rome and Vatican City this week and meet with Pope Leo XIV as tensions between Pope and President Donald Trump over U.S. policies, including the Iran war, continue to escalate. The State Department said Rubio will be in Italy on Thursday and Friday, and the Vatican said the meeting with Leo would take place on Thursday.
BEIRUT (AP) — Melkite Greek Catholic bishops in Lebanon on Monday urged the Lebanese government and the United Nations to protect the property of civilians and religious institutions after Israeli troops under its control demolished buildings in parts of southern Lebanon, according to reports cited by the church. The bishops said in particular that a Melkite convent was destroyed in the village of Yaroun while residents had evacuated.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday restored broad access to the abortion pill mifepristone, blocking a lower-court ruling that threatened to disrupt one of the main ways abortions are provided in the country. The court’s order temporarily allows patients to obtain mifepristone through pharmacies, mail and telehealth channels without an in-person doctor visit.
Most U.S. adults say the United States is no longer a great place for immigrants, according to a new AP-NORC poll released Tuesday. About one-third of Americans say they or someone they know has started carrying proof of immigration status or citizenship, been detained or deported, changed travel plans, or significantly changed daily routines because of immigration enforcement.
WASHINGTON (AP) — White House economists estimate that President Donald Trump’s deals with pharmaceutical companies to lower some U.S. prescription drug prices to the rates charged in other countries could save $529 billion over the next 10 years, according to an analysis obtained by The Associated Press.
WKRP is no longer just a TV punchline. The call letters of the fictional radio station from the 1978–1982 CBS sitcom "WKRP in Cincinnati" went live on the air Monday as a real adult-hits station, delighting fans and flooding the phone lines. The three stations — in Cincinnati, northern Kentucky, and Dayton, Ohio — adopted the call letters after their co-owner, Jeff Ziesmann, arranged a donation to a North Carolina nonprofit that had held WKRP-LP since 2014.
Three passengers have died and others have fallen ill in a hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship, global health officials confirmed Monday, though they emphasized the rare rodent-borne illness poses little threat of a wider pandemic because it does not spread easily between people.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, 81, was hospitalized in critical but stable condition with pneumonia and was placed on a ventilator, his spokesperson Ted Goodman said Monday. Giuliani is now breathing on his own and remains under monitoring at a Florida hospital near Palm Beach.
A new Brigham Young University report finds that attending religious services at least once a week is associated with lower suicide risk, reduced substance misuse, and higher levels of hope, drawing on a review of hundreds of studies. Mental health professionals and religious scholars, however, stress that faith communities can also cause shame, trauma, and barriers to care, and that nonreligious people with strong secular communities report similar well-being.
The Associated Press won the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting on Monday for a global investigation that revealed how U.S. technology companies helped build China’s mass surveillance apparatus and how American agencies secretly tracked drivers using license plate data.
The Washington Post was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for public service Monday for its scrutinizing coverage of the Trump administration’s overhaul of federal agencies, and The Associated Press won the prize for international reporting about China’s state-backed surveillance network, capping a year of prize-winning journalism that zeroed in on the Trump presidency. The New York Times took three of the coveted honors, Reuters collected two, and less-recognized outlets — from The Connecticut Mirror to the live podcast “Pablo Torre Finds Out” — were also recognized at a moment of deep financial strain and political hostility for American news organizations.
Three passengers have died and at least three others are seriously ill in a suspected hantavirus outbreak aboard a cruise ship off the coast of Cape Verde, according to the World Health Organization and the ship’s operator.
Doris Fisher, who co-founded Gap Inc. with her husband Don in 1969 and helped reshape American casual style as the company’s fashion merchandiser, died Saturday at age 94, the San Francisco-based retailer confirmed Monday.
U.S. technology companies largely designed and built China’s digital surveillance state, providing the essential systems that enabled a brutal mass detention campaign against the native Uyghur population in Xinjiang, an Associated Press investigation has found. The investigation, based on tens of thousands of pages of leaked internal documents, emails, and procurement records, reveals how IBM, Cisco, Oracle, Dell, Intel, Nvidia and other firms sold billions of dollars of hardware, software, and predictive policing tools to Chinese police and government agencies despite repeated warnings that the technology was being used to crush dissent, persecute religious groups, and target ethnic minorities.
A three-year Associated Press investigation has found that American technology companies, especially IBM, played a far greater role in designing and building China’s surveillance state than previously known, enabling the mass tracking and detention of the Uyghur minority in Xinjiang. The investigation, based on over 100 interviews and tens of thousands of leaked documents, reveals that Chinese police and state-owned defense contractors worked directly with U.S. firms to create the world’s largest and most sophisticated digital surveillance apparatus.
Actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni have ended their legal feud over the acrimonious production of the 2024 film “It Ends With Us,” agreeing to a settlement on Monday, two weeks before a trial was to begin on her sexual harassment claims and his defamation countersuit. The costars turned courtroom adversaries said in a joint statement that they hoped to raise awareness for domestic violence survivors and foster a respectful environment online. Terms of the settlement were not disclosed.
Across the United States, Indigenous peoples gathered this week to honor relatives who are missing or have been killed and to demand better data collection, law‑enforcement response and reforms to keep their communities safer, the Associated Press reported. Events took place in cities from Albuquerque, New Mexico, to Denver, Colorado, and from Madison, Wisconsin, to Oklahoma City, with participants wearing red to signal solidarity. Advocates cite the U.S. Department of Justice’s finding that Native Americans are more than twice as likely as the general population to be victims of violent crime, and they call on federal agencies to act on longstanding legislation such as Savanna’s Act and the Not Invisible Act.
The Anti-Defamation League said antisemitic incidents it tallied across the United States declined sharply in 2025, with a steep drop on college campuses. The ADL’s annual audit, released Wednesday, found 6,274 antisemitic incidents of assault, harassment and vandalism overall in 2025, down 33% from 2024.
Denis Leary’s Leary Firefighters Foundation has an annual “Firefighter for a Day” event tied to International Firefighters Day on May 4, opening the FDNY Fire Academy on Randall’s Island to civilians. Organizers say the experience supports grants that fund equipment and training for fire departments nationwide.
As cosmetic interventions become more common in the United States, a growing group of theologians, philosophers and bioethicists are pressing for more ethical discussion about turning to procedures for beauty, youth and conformity. The concerns range from how cultural ideals can shape decisions—often affecting women—and whether religious traditions provide clear guidance. In interviews, a Duke Divinity School theologian, a New York University medical ethicist and surgeons of different faiths described both the promise and the moral questions raised by the trend.
The U.S. Postal Service will release eight stamps to mark Route 66’s centennial, featuring photos created by David J. Schwartz from 42 trips along the road. The stamps will highlight scenes in each state the “Mother Road” passes through, and USPS unveiled the designs Tuesday in Springfield, Illinois.
WKRP fans in Cincinnati can tune in Monday to a real radio station that uses the call letters from the CBS sitcom “WKRP in Cincinnati.” The station is simulcast across three outlets in Cincinnati, northern Kentucky and Dayton, Ohio, and the owners say listeners have called in enthusiastically.
Federal magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui pressed a city jail official to explain why Cole Tomas Allen, charged in a White House Correspondents’ Association dinner attack, was placed on restrictive suicide watch after his arrest. The judge’s questions came after the jail removed Allen from suicide status following his attorneys’ complaints about conditions, including being in a padded room with constant lighting and being strip-searched.
Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is breathing on his own after being hospitalized with pneumonia and placed on a ventilator, his spokesperson said Monday. Giuliani, 81, remained in critical but stable condition at a Florida hospital near Palm Beach, and doctors are monitoring him as a precaution.
Worldwide, religion is not uniformly peaceful, and mental health experts say faith can both protect and harm well-being. In recent commentary and research, some U.S. organizations cite evidence that religious involvement is associated with lower suicide risk, while clinicians and other advocates warn that religious communities can also intensify shame and barriers to care.
Police in Edmond, Oklahoma, said a weekend shooting at a lakeside park left at least 18 people treated at hospitals in the Oklahoma City area and critically injured at least three. Authorities were still searching Monday for suspects and had made no arrests.
A cruise ship with nearly 150 people aboard was waiting for help off the coast of Cape Verde on Monday after three passengers died and at least three other people were left seriously ill in a suspected outbreak of the rare hantavirus, the World Health Organization and the ship’s operator said. Cape Verde’s health ministry said it would not allow the ship to dock for now because of public health concerns.
Actors Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni agreed Monday to end their legal feud over the 2024 film “It Ends With Us,” avoiding a trial in New York. The parties settled a civil case brought by Lively and involving Baldoni’s countersuit, which had been set for jury selection May 18.
The Associated Press on Monday won a Pulitzer Prize for international reporting for an investigation into the expansion of government surveillance efforts in China and the role U.S. tech companies played in building the system. The Pulitzer board recognized AP journalists Dake Kang, Garance Burke, Byron Tau and Aniruddha Ghosal, along with contributor Yael Grauer, for what it called “an astonishing global investigation into state-of-the-art tools of mass surveillance.”
Doris Fisher, who co-founded the clothing chain Gap Inc. with her late husband Don in 1969, has died. She was 94. Fisher died on Saturday, a Gap spokesperson confirmed Monday, and the company did not specify a cause of death.
Pope Leo XIV will travel to Spain for a June visit that includes inaugurating the central tower of Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia basilica and meeting migrants at reception centers in the Canary Islands, the Vatican said Wednesday. The weeklong trip is scheduled for June 6-12 and will also include meetings with Spain’s government, parliament and King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia in Madrid.
The Washington Post won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service on Monday for scrutinizing the Trump administration’s overhaul of federal agencies. The Associated Press won the prize for international reporting about surveillance. The announcement also recognized work by The New York Times, Reuters and The Minnesota Star Tribune, among others.
A cruise ship outbreak of hantavirus, a rare rodent-borne illness, has killed three passengers and sickened others, U.S. and global health officials said. The World Health Organization said the risk to the general public remains low because hantaviruses do not spread easily between people. Health officials have nevertheless taken extra precautions for returning passengers as investigators work to determine how the case cluster began.
A Serbian bird-watching group has used crowdfunding to purchase and protect a rare woodland patch in the country's flat agricultural northeast, setting a community-led conservation model.
As the United States approaches the 250th anniversary of its Declaration of Independence, President Donald Trump and senior administration officials are promoting a Christian nation narrative that historians say contradicts the historical record. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared that “America was founded as a Christian nation … in our DNA,” while Trump has championed an “America Prays” rally on the National Mall. But most serious historians agree that the founders did not intend to create a Christian republic, though they drew on varied religious and Enlightenment influences.
PLANDISTE, Serbia, on May 3, 2026, a Serbian bird-watching group said it used crowdfunding to buy a 5-acre woodland in the country’s northeast and protect it from being cut. The group, which says it now plans to preserve the forest as-is and document its plants and animals, announced the purchase after the effort raised 8,000 euros in less than a month.
Young Palestinian artists staged an outdoor exhibition of paintings in central Gaza on Tuesday, capturing the displacement and destruction of the war as a fragile ceasefire continues, the Associated Press reported.
GAZA STRIP — Young Palestinian artists staged an impromptu outdoor exhibit in Bureij on Tuesday, showing impressions of the war and the fragile ceasefire. The paintings, displayed despite displacement and destruction, came as Israeli strikes and fire continued around parts of Gaza and as ceasefire planning remained uncertain.
Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani is hospitalized in critical but stable condition, his spokesperson Ted Goodman said Sunday, declining to provide details on the cause or prognosis.
Police in eastern Austria have detained a suspect after authorities discovered rat poison in jars of HiPP baby food on supermarket shelves across Central Europe. The probe began when a customer reported a suspicious jar on April 18, and authorities confirmed that five tampered jars were recovered before any infants consumed the product.
Three people have died and at least three others are sick after a suspected outbreak of the rare rodent-borne hantavirus on a cruise ship sailing in the Atlantic Ocean, the World Health Organization and South Africa’s Department of Health said Sunday.
New Mexico health officials announced Friday that Betsy Arakawa, wife of actor Gene Hackman, died from a hantavirus infection, a rare rodent-borne disease with no specific cure that progresses rapidly from flu-like symptoms to severe respiratory failure.
Cuba’s government ration book system, established by Fidel Castro in the early 1960s to guarantee subsidized food for every household, has collapsed to the point that state-run stores are nearly empty and a growing number of Cubans say they can no longer survive on the meager goods it provides. José Luis Amate López, who works at a bodega in central Havana, said his store served almost no customers for two weeks in late April because the shelves — once so full you could barely walk — held only rice, sugar and split chickpeas.
Austrian police arrested a 39-year-old suspect after rat poison was discovered in jars of HiPP brand baby food, authorities said Sunday, in a case the company called an extortion attempt. The first tampered jar was found by a customer at a SPAR supermarket in Eisenstadt on April 18, triggering a recall across Central Europe.
The first 300 of 1,500 beagles were removed from a Wisconsin breeding and research facility on Friday, the start of a mass rehoming effort following protests that drew national attention and led to clashes with police.
Denis Leary’s Leary Firefighters Foundation has used a single-day FDNY training event to raise money for fire departments since 2016, with the next edition on International Firefighters Day, May 4. The event, held at the FDNY Fire Academy on Randall’s Island in New York City, gives non-firefighters hands-on instruction in search and rescue, fire hose operations and rappelling, according to the foundation and FDNY partners.
The U.S. Postal Service unveiled Tuesday eight Route 66 centennial postage stamps, each representing one of the states the highway runs through, with photos by David J. Schwartz. The stamps come as Route 66 marks its 100th year since its 1926 debut and reflect diners, motels and desert and prairie scenes along the “Mother Road,” according to the USPS and Schwartz.
Former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani was hospitalized in critical but stable condition, his spokesman said Sunday. Giuliani, 81, had told viewers earlier that his voice was “a little under the weather,” as he began his nightly online show.
Vienna-based police in Austria said on May 3 they have arrested a 39-year-old suspect after rat poison was found in some HiPP baby food jars on supermarket shelves in central Europe. The Burgenland State Criminal Police Office said investigators began after a poisoned jar was bought at a supermarket in Eisenstadt on April 18. HiPP said it was “greatly relieved” by the arrest and that it had recalled certain jars in Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic after the case surfaced.
The World Health Organization said Sunday that an investigation is under way into a suspected hantavirus outbreak on a cruise ship sailing in the Atlantic Ocean that killed three people and sickened at least three others. South Africa’s Department of Health said the cruise vessel, the Dutch-flagged MV Hondius, was off the coast of Cape Verde and that one patient was in intensive care in Johannesburg while authorities worked to evacuate two symptomatic crew members.
Cubans say government ration books, or “la libreta,” now offer shrinking supplies that leave them unable to cover basic food needs. In late April, some customers at state-run stores in central Havana said the only items available included rice, sugar and split chickpeas, forcing them to stretch money and rely on remittances or private shops.
The rescue groups Big Dog Ranch Rescue and the Center for a Humane Economy have begun taking custody of 1,500 beagles from a Wisconsin dog breeding and research facility where animal-welfare protests erupted, according to Big Dog Ranch Rescue. The groups said the first dogs were moved Friday and that the animals appeared to be seeking attention as they arrived in staging care in Wisconsin.
As the U.S. approaches the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, the long-running debate over whether the nation’s founders intended a Christian republic is being amplified by recent political and advocacy efforts. A new push tied to the Trump administration’s “America Prays” event and remarks from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is drawing opposition from groups that say the idea would conflict with the Constitution’s separation of church and state.
Un sospechoso de 39 años fue detenido en Austria tras el hallazgo de raticida en frascos de comida para bebés de la marca HiPP en estanterías de supermercados de Europa central, según la policía del este de Austria. La detención se produjo después de que las autoridades abrieran una investigación por sospechas de poner en peligro a la población de forma deliberada, y HiPP retirara productos en Austria, Eslovaquia y la República Checa.
Betsy Arakawa, Gene Hackman’s wife, died from a hantavirus infection, New Mexico officials announced Friday. Hantavirus is spread through contact with rodents or their urine or feces, and it does not spread between people, according to public health experts.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday blocked mail-order access to the abortion pill mifepristone nationwide, a ruling that drugmakers immediately asked the Supreme Court to halt, warning of "confusion and upheaval" in medical care.
Colombian superstar Shakira performed a free concert on Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana Beach on Saturday night, drawing an estimated 2 million people, according to Mayor Eduardo Cavaliere. The show, part of her “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” world tour, followed similar massive seaside events by Madonna and Lady Gaga in recent years and was cast by city officials as a economic boost for the post-Carnival season.
Dubrovnik officials are warning that the Iran war and higher fuel prices could add unpredictability to Croatia’s summer tourism season, even as tourist arrivals have held up in recent weeks. The Dubrovnik Tourist Board says some travelers are struggling to reach Europe, while the airport says it is “very cautious about the upcoming season.”
Yemeni coffeehouses are expanding rapidly across the United States, with the number of cafes operated by six major chains growing 50% last year to 136 locations, according to restaurant consulting firm Technomic. Owners say the growth reflects a confluence of trends: a rising Arab American population, demand for alcohol-free social venues, and a desire among Yemeni diaspora members to recreate the coffeehouse traditions of their homeland, which many cannot visit because of an ongoing civil war.
Britain raised its terror threat level to severe on Friday after two Jewish men were stabbed in a London neighborhood, an attack police called terrorism. Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for tougher action against chants at pro-Palestinian protests, saying some marches should be banned.
Dubrovnik, Croatia — The old town’s streets are already thick with visitors drawn by its medieval walls and “Game of Thrones” fame, but the Iran war and a global spike in fuel prices are clouding the peak summer season that Croatia’s economy depends on.
Black Americans are facing renewed legal and political fights over racial representation after the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision this week weakening the Voting Rights Act. The ruling, prompted by a challenge to Louisiana’s congressional map, is reshaping how states draw districts and how candidates can compete, with officials and lawmakers in Mississippi, Louisiana and Tennessee describing fresh uncertainty ahead of possible redistricting.
Britain’s prime minister, Keir Starmer, said Saturday that tougher action may be needed against some chants at pro-Palestinian protests in the U.K. after two Jewish men were stabbed in London. Starmer said he would defend the right to protest but suggested some marches could be banned. The remarks came as British authorities raised the U.K.’s terror threat level to “severe” after Wednesday’s attack.
The U.S. Supreme Court is being asked to block an appellate ruling that cut off mail-order access to the abortion pill mifepristone, according to a filing by the drugmakers. Danco Laboratories and GenBioPro asked the high court on Saturday to pause the decision from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that took effect the day after it was issued.
Dr. Amy Acton, the Democratic nominee for Ohio governor, faces a central line of Republican criticism tied to the COVID-19 orders issued in 2020 while Gov. Mike DeWine was battling the pandemic. Acton, who was Ohio’s health director when coronavirus restrictions were put in place, is now seeking to become the first Democrat in two decades to win the state’s top office as she runs against Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in the general election.
Pope Leo XIV, the first U.S.-born pontiff, encouraged wealthy American Catholics to continue funding papal charitable works during a Saturday audience in Rome, as the U.S.-based Papal Foundation announced a record $15 million in grants for 2026.
Denis Leary’s annual “Firefighter for a Day” challenge turns civilians into temporary FDNY trainees, drawing donations for the Leary Firefighters Foundation. The event, held at the FDNY Fire Academy on Randall’s Island in New York City, is tied to International Firefighters Day on May 4.
About 1 in 4 Asian American and Pacific Islander adults say they experienced a hate crime or incident in the past year, according to a new AP-NORC/AAPI Data poll released as AAPI Heritage Month begins. The share reporting overt anti-Asian attacks is down from 2023, but many AAPI adults say racial discrimination concerns remain.
A Massachusetts assault trial involving former New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs began Monday at Norfolk County District Court as the prosecution’s main witness, the chef who accused Diggs, described alleged choking and an earlier exchange of angry texts. Diggs’ defense attorney told jurors the alleged attack never happened and said the chef’s testimony would be challenged.
Pope Leo XIV on Saturday encouraged some of the wealthiest U.S. Catholics to keep donating to support his charitable works, telling stewards of the Papal Foundation that the giving allows “countless people” to experience God’s “goodness and kindness” in their communities. The Chicago-born pope met in Rome with foundation members at the end of their annual pilgrimage, as the group reported $15 million in approved grants for 2026.
Leon Botstein, president of Bard College in Annandale-on-Hudson, New York, announced Friday that he will retire at the end of June after an independent review of his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The college said the review found Botstein did not do anything illegal but raised concerns about decisions he made during the relationship.
Colombian superstar Shakira gave a free concert on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday night, drawing about 2 million people, the city’s mayor said. The performance, part of her “Las Mujeres Ya No Lloran” world tour named after her 2024 album, began around 11 p.m. and included hits such as “Hips Don’t Lie” and “La Tortura.”
Yemeni coffeehouses are expanding across the United States, driven by late-night service, Arab American growth, and demand for distinct global flavors, according to restaurant industry and market-research data. Owners and operators say civil conflict in Yemen has also limited travel for some Yemeni Americans, making cafes a way to recreate a homegrown experience.
Working from home is becoming common in the U.K., and Surrey County Cricket Club is testing a twist by inviting hybrid workers to work from its historic home at The Kia Oval in south London. The club has set up work areas and upgraded Wi-Fi as part of its “Work From Oval” concept.
A 45-year-old London man was charged Friday with attempted murder in the stabbings of two Jewish men in Golders Green, an attack police have designated as terrorism. Essa Suleiman, a Somalia-born British citizen, was remanded into custody after appearing in Westminster Magistrates’ Court on three counts of attempted murder, including an earlier attack on a friend in south London. The UK government responded by raising the national terror threat level to severe, the second-highest rung, and pledging to increase security for the Jewish community after a series of recent arson attacks on synagogues.
A 45-year-old man, Essa Suleiman, was charged Friday with attempted murder in stabbings of two Jewish men in London, authorities said. Suleiman was remanded after appearing at Westminster Magistrates’ Court, and his case was transferred to the Central Criminal Court for a May 15 hearing.
President Donald Trump has nominated Dr. Nicole Saphier, a radiologist and former Fox News contributor, to be the next U.S. surgeon general, after his previous pick, Dr. Casey Means, failed to advance out of a Senate committee. Saphier — who holds an active medical license, supports vaccination, and has both praised and publicly criticized the administration’s handling of health issues — would step into the role at a moment of internal tension over the White House’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda.
Ghana officially rejected a proposed U.S. health funding agreement over privacy concerns on Friday, citing inadequate data governance safeguards and a lack of local oversight. The decision follows months of negotiations that officials said would have granted broad access to sensitive national health records without prior domestic approval.
An Oklahoma judge ruled Thursday that prosecutors presented enough evidence for nearly all charges against the founders of Epic Charter Schools to proceed to trial, nearly four years after their arrests.
The Connecticut House of Representatives voted unanimously Thursday to pass legislation that would impose new oversight on the state Department of Children and Families, hours after an independent watchdog released a letter describing a child’s apparent suicide after being denied foster care and documenting a steep decline in the quality of casework.
The Connecticut House has approved a bill that would create new oversight for the state Department of Children and Families, after the state Office of the Child Advocate criticized DCF’s casework. In a letter released this week, the office pointed to alleged failures tied to child fatalities, including an apparent suicide of a child who died shortly after requesting a move into foster care.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent urged Americans to focus on budgeting and saving rather than chasing “easy money” products such as lottery tickets, buy now, pay later loans and crypto windfalls. Speaking to The Associated Press at the end of Financial Literacy Month, Bessent said he prioritized meetings with community bankers, retirees and students to discuss how to manage debt and invest for the future.
A grenade attack killed a Shiite cleric in a Damascus suburb on Friday, Syrian state media reported, as security forces boosted their presence and launched an investigation into the killing.
The Agriculture Department said this month that fraud controls and a stronger economy helped drive a nearly 4.3 million drop in SNAP participation from January 2025 to January 2026. In an Associated Press fact check, experts said fraud is too small to explain the decline and pointed instead to changes in federal law that made SNAP harder to access, particularly for many able-bodied adults without dependents.
The Trump administration appealed a federal judge’s order Wednesday that halted Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s decision to end broad vaccination recommendations for children against influenza, rotavirus, hepatitis A and B, certain meningitis strains, and RSV. The one-sentence filing, submitted in Boston, offered no explanation for why the administration believes the block should be lifted, and U.S. health officials declined immediate comment.
In an appeal filed Wednesday, the Trump administration asked a federal appeals court to overturn a judge’s order that blocked its effort to cut the vaccines recommended for most children in the United States. The move comes as a lawsuit by pediatric and other medical groups challenges changes made by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, including actions affecting the advisory panel that guides which vaccines are recommended.
Ghana has rejected a proposed health deal with the United States after citing worries that U.S. entities would be able to access sensitive Ghanaian health data without adequate safeguards, an official said May 1. The executive director of Ghana’s Data Protection Commission said the requested access would have extended beyond typical needs and included metadata and reporting tools.
Dr. Nicole Saphier is President Donald Trump’s latest pick for the vacant role of U.S. surgeon general, a nomination that ended the Senate committee fight for his previous choice, Dr. Casey Means. Saphier is a radiologist and a former Fox News Channel contributor who has praised aspects of Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda while also criticizing some Trump administration health missteps as “embarrassing.”
Turkish authorities detained at least 575 people who attempted to march in areas declared off-limits during International Workers’ Day celebrations in Istanbul on Friday, a day after the country’s top Constitutional Court ruled that lengthy detentions for similar protests in 2024 had violated the right to peaceful assembly.
Turkish authorities detained more than 500 people during May Day protests on Friday in Istanbul, as small groups attempted to march into areas the government had declared off-limits. Protests marking International Workers’ Day have repeatedly been marred by clashes with police, including at Taksim Square, which authorities have restricted on security grounds.
Pope Leo XIV appointed Auxiliary Bishop Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, an El Salvador-born advocate for immigrants and a critic of the Trump administration’s deportation policies, as the new bishop of the Diocese of Wheeling-Charleston in West Virginia on Friday. Menjivar-Ayala, 55, fled El Salvador’s civil war as a teenager and entered the United States illegally in 1990 before gaining legal status and citizenship.
For Claudia Stearns, last Thanksgiving was the first in memory not dominated by the anxiety and guilt of overeating. After losing nearly 100 pounds with the help of Wegovy, a powerful weight-loss medication, the 65-year-old from Somerville, Massachusetts, could take a few bites of pie and feel satisfied, focusing on the joy of the day rather than the food. Stearns’s experience is part of a broader shift as millions of Americans gain access to a new class of obesity drugs that, by mimicking gut hormones, are changing not just how much people eat, but how they think about food — and raising questions about what happens to the cherished rituals of holidays built around the table.
J. Craig Venter, the geneticist who raced the U.S. government to decode the human genetic blueprint and later pioneered synthetic life, died April 29 in San Diego at age 79. His institute attributed his death to complications from cancer treatment.
A rise in AI song generators like Suno and Udio is making it harder to tell whether music is created by humans or machines. Deezer’s head of research says external clues, such as a lack of social media presence, are often the clearest indicators, while the streaming service has begun labeling albums containing AI-generated tracks.
Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi was urgently transferred from prison to a hospital in northwestern Iran on Friday after twice losing consciousness and suffering a severe cardiac crisis, her foundation and lawyer said.
In November 2025, Bill and Faith Piersing of Grand Haven, Michigan, dialed 911 hoping to get their 23-year-old son Bailey, who has bipolar schizoaffective disorder, to a hospital. Instead, responding officers arrested him; this week an Ottawa County judge sentenced him to 10 months in jail — an outcome his parents say illustrates a system that criminalizes mental illness rather than treating it.
As a brass band played and villagers cheered, the young men of Kühbach, Germany, hoisted a freshly painted 28-meter maypole upright with long wooden rods — a centuries-old ritual celebrating community, spring, and a healthy dose of competitive theft-prevention.
Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins attributed a nearly 4.3 million person drop in SNAP participation to reduced fraud and economic improvement, but experts and congressional data point to legislative eligibility changes as the primary driver.
A growing number of Americans are seeking death-care options that reduce their carbon footprint and protect natural landscapes, according to funeral industry surveys and interviews with researchers and practitioners, as concerns mount over the climate and health effects of conventional embalming, fire cremation, and resource-intensive burials.
A colossal Steller sea lion nicknamed “Chonkers” has become the star attraction at San Francisco’s Pier 39, where visitors have flocked to glimpse a pinniped estimated to weigh between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds. First spotted last month, the animal has turned the tourist pier into an impromptu viewing area as it lounges among the resident California sea lions, drawing comparisons to a Volkswagen.
Volunteers with Habitat for Humanity will complete 24 affordable homes in Atlanta's Sylvan Hills neighborhood this May as part of the 40th Carter Work Project, a milestone that highlights the nonprofit's broader shift into real estate development for the first time. The project, returning to Atlanta for the first time since 1988, includes Habitat's first multifamily townhomes and comes as the gap between what families can afford and housing costs has reached a historic high, according to Habitat CEO Jonathan Reckford.
Teachers, marketers, and product managers are embracing generative artificial intelligence in their daily work, using tools like ChatGPT and Claude to grade papers, decode technical jargon, and predict customer needs, according to interviews conducted by the Associated Press.
Adopted children represent an estimated 25 to 40 percent of the youth held in privately run residential treatment programs across the United States, where an Associated Press investigation found they are subjected to physical restraints, emotional abuse, and neglect rather than the therapeutic care promised to their desperate adoptive parents.
A federal appeals court on Friday blocked the mailing of prescriptions for the abortion pill mifepristone, ruling that the drug must be dispensed only in person at clinics and not through telehealth or the mail. The unanimous decision by a three-judge panel of the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals overturns years of FDA regulations and marks the most significant court-imposed restriction on abortion since the Supreme Court ended the constitutional right to the procedure in 2022. The ruling is expected to quickly reach the U.S. Supreme Court. It affects every state—including those where abortion is legal—and could cut off mail-order access to the medication used in the majority of U.S. abortions.
President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the FDA, Dr. Marty Makary, was confirmed by the Senate late Tuesday, renewing debate over the abortion pill mifepristone and whether new federal rules could restrict access. In Senate health committee testimony, Makary faced repeated questions about what steps he would take, and he did not commit to specific action on the drug. Medical experts say mifepristone is among the safest medications approved by the FDA, while an anti-abortion group challenging the drug argues it has caused “tens of thousands” of emergency complications.
Pope Leo XIV has appointed Evelio Menjivar-Ayala, an El Salvador-born advocate for immigrants, as bishop of the Wheeling-Charleston diocese in West Virginia. Menjivar-Ayala, 55, replaces Mark Brennan, who has led the diocese since 2019.
J. Craig Venter, who won the race to sequence the human genome and helped scientists understand how genes shape disease, died Wednesday. He was 79. The J. Craig Venter Institute said his death was announced by the institute, which said he died in San Diego after being hospitalized for side effects from a recent cancer treatment.
The Justice Department task force created by President Donald Trump alleged in a new 200-page report that the Biden administration discriminated against Christians in areas including education, tax law and how it pursued anti-abortion protest cases. Progressive groups and Christian-right advocates criticized the report’s methodology and said it treats policy disagreements as persecution.
A viral TikTok trend dubbed “Scientology speedruns” has prompted security concerns for the Church of Scientology in Hollywood, where participants have entered properties in attempts to quickly map out the organization’s buildings and operations. The Los Angeles Police Department said it has responded to multiple incidents in the past month, including one investigated as a potential hate crime.
Iranian Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi was urgently transferred from prison to a hospital in northwestern Iran after her foundation said her health suffered “catastrophic deterioration.” The foundation said she experienced episodes of complete loss of consciousness and a severe cardiac crisis, and it blamed “systematic medical neglect” since her Dec. 12 arrest.
A Michigan family says a 911 call for help during a mental health crisis led to their son’s arrest and jail time, highlighting concerns about how law enforcement responds when someone may be a danger to themselves or others. Bill Piersing and others cited training and earlier treatment as key gaps, as lawmakers consider changes to outpatient services and crisis systems.
Kühbach, Germany, marked May Day on Friday with the erection of a new maypole in the village center, drawing people from across Bavaria to watch the pole rise. Beer, brass-band music and chants of “Hau-Ruck” accompanied the festivities as young men and women guided the 28-meter maypole into place. Mayor Karl-Heinz Kerscher called the tradition a symbol of togetherness.
Nearly four years after their arrests, a judge moved the criminal case against Epic Charter Schools founders David Chaney and Ben Harris forward, ruling prosecutors presented enough evidence for most charges to proceed. Oklahoma County Special Judge Jason Glidewell dismissed one count of embezzlement against both men and one computer-fraud count against Chaney, finding probable cause for the remaining charges. A formal arraignment is scheduled for June 24.
San Francisco’s Pier 39 has drawn crowds after a giant Steller sea lion nicknamed “Chonkers” arrived and lounged among the smaller resident sea lions. The Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito said the animal is likely from the Pacific Northwest and could weigh between 1,500 and 2,000 pounds (680 and 907 kilograms).
Artificial intelligence is moving into everyday workplaces, from classrooms and marketing teams to corporate research and university administration, the Associated Press reported. In interviews, teachers, managers and executives described using AI tools to speed up tasks such as grading, briefing for meetings and understanding customer needs, while also saying they require careful checking because the tools can make mistakes and produce false information.
An Associated Press investigation says adopted children are being confined in private, for-profit residential treatment and boarding programs where families believed they were getting “forever home” care. The report describes allegations of violence, restraints, strip-searching and limited communication with parents, and says experts dispute the diagnoses often used to justify confinement.
Millions of Americans are weighing how to reduce the environmental impact of death, with some families choosing options such as green burial, natural organic reduction and alkaline hydrolysis. An Associated Press report describes practices that aim to let bodies decompose naturally and, in some cases, support conservation land management. The legality and availability vary across countries, states and provinces.
Millions of Americans taking newer obesity medications are finding that the drugs are changing not only their weight, but also how they experience food during holidays, the Associated Press reported. Patients and doctors said weekly injections used for obesity can quiet what some describe as “food noise,” alter how satisfying meals feel, and affect whether people crave or enjoy traditional, food-centered celebrations such as Thanksgiving.
Habitat for Humanity will build 24 affordable homes in Atlanta’s Sylvan Hills neighborhood in May with help from volunteers tied to the 40th Carter Work Project, the charity announced. The weeklong builds are named for former President Jimmy Carter and his late wife, Rosalynn Carter, who have long been involved in the effort.
A Justice Department task force created by President Donald Trump has issued a 200-page report alleging the Biden administration engaged in wide-ranging discrimination against Christians, citing conflicts over abortion, LGBTQ+ rights, education, and COVID-19 vaccine exemptions. Progressive groups, religious-liberty advocates, and a former Biden faith-outreach official sharply criticized the report, calling it advocacy dressed as investigation that conflates policy disagreements with persecution.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday gutted a key provision of the Voting Rights Act that protected minority communities from discriminatory redistricting, a decision that threatens to sharply reduce the number of Black members of Congress and reshape U.S. House elections for years to come.
More than half a year after the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, Gaza’s water crisis shows little sign of easing. Ninety percent of the strip’s water infrastructure was destroyed during the war, and 80 percent of its 2.1 million residents now rely on water delivered by trucks to central distribution points, according to the United Nations-led WASH Cluster. Aid group Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has accused Israel of weaponizing water access in what it calls a 'campaign of collective punishment,' a charge Israeli authorities deny.
Peru's interim president José María Balcázar claimed that Jews controlled German commerce, banking, and the practice of usury and pushed Germany into World War II — remarks that drew swift condemnation from the Israeli and German embassies, which called the assertion "absurd" and "historically unsustainable" in a rare joint statement Wednesday.
In Gaza, Palestinians say shortages remain severe more than six months after a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas stopped most fighting, leaving residents scrambling for delivered water. An Associated Press report describes families in the Muwasi tent camp rationing water from trucks and residents depending on costly bottled supplies amid damage to most of the enclave’s water infrastructure. Doctors Without Borders also accused Israel of using water as a weapon, while Israel’s COGAT denied the allegations.
The Trump administration notified Minnesota on Thursday that it is deferring an additional $91 million in Medicaid payments, deepening a funding dispute that has pitted the Democratic-led state against Washington over fraud in state-run social service programs. The announcement from Dr. Mehmet Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, followed searches by federal agents earlier in the week at child-care and learning centers in the Twin Cities that receive federal Medicaid dollars.
The Trump administration on Thursday notified Minnesota that it is deferring an additional $91 million in Medicaid funding, citing new concerns about fraud vulnerabilities in state-run programs funded by the federal government. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said the review followed searches by federal agents at childcare and learning centers and other sites in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area. Gov. Tim Walz said the action is part of a retribution campaign against Minnesota.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D) signed legislation Thursday that will allow faith-based organizations and other nonprofits to build affordable housing on their property without the need for local rezoning, effective Jan. 1, 2027.
San Diego County supervisors on Wednesday announced a proposal to spend up to $2.75 million on a new county-wide arts and culture initiative, the first such public investment in the county’s history, as the city of San Diego and the federal government slash arts funding. The plan, spearheaded by Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer and Vice Chair Monica Montgomery Steppe, would allocate $1 million in grants for individual artists in underserved areas, support for the Black Arts and Culture District, and other programs.
Gov. Tate Reeves announced the creation of a new state office to administer more than $200 million in federal rural health transformation funds, unveiling a website he said would provide transparency on the initiative’s spending and progress. The Republican governor named certified public accountant Richard Grimes to lead the office, which will be overseen by the governor’s own staff, according to a Wednesday press release.
King Charles III made his first appearance at The King’s Trust Global Gala in New York on Wednesday, delivering a brief speech and helping the charity raise a record $3 million. The event, attended by celebrities including Lionel Richie, Martha Stewart, and Anna Wintour, marked the monarch’s first U.S. visit since his coronation, part of a trip meant to celebrate the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Six Idaho residents are suing the state after lawmakers made it a crime to use a public restroom that does not align with the sex assigned at birth, a law they say will force them to stay home or risk arrest.
Hawaii will need nearly 60,000 additional housing units by 2050, driven primarily by a rapidly aging population, according to a new AARP Hawaii report that warns the shortage is pricing young families out of the islands.
Argentine workers marched in Buenos Aires on Thursday, a day before International Workers' Day, to protest President Javier Milei's recent overhaul of labor protections. The General Confederation of Labor led the march to government headquarters amid growing frustration over rising unemployment and stagnant wages under Milei's free-market agenda.
San Diego County supervisors said they plan to spend up to $2.75 million in the first year on arts and culture grants and programs, as the city and the federal government cut back funding. The proposal would allocate $2.25 million annually for multiple arts initiatives serving the county’s 3.3 million residents, with supervisors voting on Tuesday, May 5.
Teenagers are more likely than adults to get news at least once a day from social media and from search engines, according to a national poll. The Media Insight Project study found that 57% of teens ages 13 to 17 get news from social media daily, compared with 36% of adults.
Las embajadas de Israel y Alemania en Perú calificaron de “absurda” una afirmación del presidente interino del país, José María Balcázar, quien dijo que los judíos empujaron a Alemania hacia la Segunda Guerra Mundial por controlar el comercio, la banca y la usura. En un comunicado conjunto, ambas misiones afirmaron que Hitler y los nazis iniciaron la guerra al atacar Polonia en 1939 y llamaron a retractarse.
King Charles III made his first appearance at the five-year-old King’s Trust Global Gala in New York, helping boost fundraising to more than $3 million, according to organizers. The event was held Wednesday at Christie’s New York and drew guests including Lionel Richie and fashion figures such as Martha Stewart and Anna Wintour.
Hawai‘i will need nearly 60,000 additional housing units by 2050 to meet future demand, according to a new analysis that links the outlook to an aging population and the risk of younger residents being pushed out. The report says residents age 65 and older will account for 44,000 of the new homes needed by 2050, while it also warns that the housing shortage is raising prices and contributing to out-migration of working-age adults.
Gov. Tate Reeves announced a new office in Mississippi to oversee distribution of hundreds of millions of federal dollars for rural healthcare. The program is funded through the federal Rural Health Transformation Program, which awarded Mississippi nearly $206 million in December.
Six transgender Idaho residents are suing the state in federal court, seeking to overturn a strict new law that bars people from using bathrooms, locker rooms or changing areas that do not match their sex assigned at birth. The law, set to take effect in July, carries misdemeanor penalties for first-time violations and felony exposure for repeat offenses.
Perched on the bow of his long-tail fishing boat in northern Thailand, a fisherman said he worries his family’s catch has become harder to sell as people fear contamination in the Mekong River. The Associated Press reported that toxic runoff from rare earth mines upstream in Myanmar is spreading into Mekong tributaries, raising health risks for millions who rely on the river for farms and fisheries.
In Kenya’s coastal settlement of Owino Uhuru, residents say they are still coping with lead poisoning linked to a lead-acid battery recycling plant that operated for years and was later shut down. The Associated Press reports that experts warn similar risks are emerging across Africa as off-grid solar and battery use expand, often with informal or poorly regulated recycling that can release lead into air, soil and water.
A coalition of cultural and historic preservation organizations asked a federal judge to stop President Donald Trump from proceeding with major renovations to the Kennedy Center ahead of a July 6 start date. The groups urged U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper to issue a preliminary injunction, arguing the changes could violate historic preservation rules.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green on April 29 blasted a preliminary report from the state auditor that is examining his administration’s homeless “kauhale” tiny homes initiative, accusing the auditor of being overly aggressive and unwilling to help. Green said Hawaiʻi lawmakers had funded the sprawling project for 2026 and 2027 but also required the audit, which followed reporting that found the state lacked receipts and other documentation for some uses of public money.
Raw milk backers are pressing to make unpasteurized milk easier to buy and sell across the United States, even as new illness outbreaks linked to raw products continue to make headlines. Health officials and scientists have warned that raw milk can carry germs that cause serious disease, and one recent outbreak tied to raw milk cheddar cheese sickened nine people, including children.
Less than two years after her 6-year-old son was killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012, Nicole Hockley helped launch a nationwide student program that teaches peers to spot warning signs and report concerns to an anonymous tip system or a trusted adult. The program, “Say Something,” has been presented to thousands of students, and nearly 395,000 tips have been sent in since it began in a Columbus, Ohio, church.
CDC says at least 34 people in 13 states have become ill with salmonella linked to backyard poultry, including infections that appear resistant to common antibiotics. Officials said the illnesses were reported between Feb. 26 and March 31, with more than 40% of patients younger than 5.
Pope Leo XIV met in the Vatican on Monday with Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally, the first female leader of the Church of England, and prayed with her as the two vowed to keep working to overcome differences “no matter how intractable they may appear.”
The FDA said in a new analysis that the U.S. infant formula supply is safe, based on testing for heavy metals, pesticides and other potential contaminants. The review, conducted under the agency’s Operation Stork Speed project, tested more than 300 samples of commercial infant formula between 2023 and 2025, federal health officials said Wednesday.
WASHINGTON — A new survey finds many U.S. adults say they try to avoid news stories about former President Donald Trump, with Democrats especially likely to report cutting back on such coverage. The Media Insight Project poll, conducted earlier this month, also finds partisan differences in whether people view the news they consume as hopeful and in how Americans assign responsibility for misinformation.
Colombia has approved a plan to euthanize about 80 invasive hippos along the Magdalena River after officials warned the population could exceed 500 by 2030 without intervention. The decision has sparked debate in Puerto Triunfo, where tourism and livelihoods depend on the animals that were brought to the country illegally decades ago for Pablo Escobar’s private zoo.
Animal rescue groups said they agreed to buy 1,500 beagles from Ridglan Farms, a Wisconsin dog breeding and research business that drew violent protests earlier this month. The groups said the dogs would be transported later this week for medical exams, microchips and vaccinations before being assessed for adoption.
Rashaad Muhammad, a Georgia man held at the Fulton County Jail in Atlanta, said medical neglect there led to amputations of his fingers and lower legs, his lawyers said. Muhammad met with Sheriff Pat Labat on Wednesday, and attorney Ben Crump described the treatment as “the very definition of deliberate indifference.” The Fulton County Jail has faced scrutiny for years, including a U.S. Department of Justice civil rights investigation and a later court-enforceable consent decree.
A small group of “bell hunters” is traveling the United States to visit Liberty Bell replicas distributed by the Treasury Department in 1950 for a savings bond drive. The fans say the replicas—placed at state capitols, museums and other sites—have ranged from being restored to sitting unused for years. The Associated Press story focuses on Tom Campbell of Fort Collins, Colorado, and on teenager Zoe Murphy, who has visited dozens of the bells.
NEW YORK — A father and daughter pleaded guilty in federal court in New York after prosecutors said they used fake artworks of major artists, including Andy Warhol and Banksy, to defraud art dealers and auction houses out of at least $2 million. Prosecutors said the pair, Polish citizens living in New Jersey, forged paintings and passed them off to buyers, including consigners and major auction firms.
Lehde, Germany, is one of the few places where postal service runs through waterways: during warmer months, mail is delivered by barge along canals of the Spreewald Forest delta southeast of Berlin. Andrea Bunar, a 55-year-old postal worker, rows the route and says the start of the season is “always special” after a winter break. The Associated Press reported Wednesday that the barge route runs from April to October, with deliveries Monday through Saturday.
BOSTON (AP) — Paul Revere’s midnight ride to Lexington was reenacted Monday in Boston with modern-day changes, including bright daylight and a police escort. Crowds lined the route through the North End, Charlestown, Somerville, Medford and Arlington as a reenactor portrayed the silversmith and warned that British regulars were coming.
The Associated Press published a new quiz asking readers how well they know a set of famous Americans tied to the U.S. 250 anniversary. The questions include figures such as Ronald Reagan, Hank Aaron, Harvey Milk and Pope Leo XIV, and AP said the quiz is meant as a test of knowledge ahead of the 250th-year milestone.
Backers of raw milk are pushing for wider availability through state legislation and other distribution models, even as a recent outbreak tied to raw milk cheddar cheese from California-based Raw Farm sickens children, the Associated Press reported. AP found more than three dozen raw-milk bills introduced in 18 states, with additional national proposals moving through Congress. Public health officials and researchers warn that unpasteurized milk can carry germs such as campylobacter and E. coli, and that children are especially vulnerable.
Former NBA player Damon Jones pleaded guilty in federal court in Brooklyn to conspiracy counts tied to a sports betting scheme and to rigged poker games, according to court proceedings reported by The Associated Press. Jones told Magistrate Judge Joseph Marutollo that he used insider information from his relationships as a former player to gain an edge in bets.
Africa’s expanding use of off-grid solar and battery storage is increasing demand for lead-acid battery recycling, experts warn, raising concerns about rising lead exposure in communities. The issue is rooted in how many batteries are recycled in informal or poorly regulated settings, with evidence of long-lasting contamination in Kenya’s Owino Uhuru settlement near Mombasa.
California lawmakers are weighing Senate Bill 1067, which would require schools to screen all kindergartners and first- and second-graders for basic math skills and provide extra help for students who need it. The proposal comes as California confronts long-running gaps in math performance and as the state expands early learning options, including transitional kindergarten. Supporters and opponents disagree on whether screening will help children catch up or lead to additional testing without enough tutoring.
A director of Camp Mystic, an all-girls Christian camp in Texas Hill Country where 25 campers and two counselors died in a July 2025 flood, tearfully apologized Tuesday to the families of the victims as lawmakers questioned the camp’s preparations to reopen. Edward Eastland said he and his father, Richard Eastland, were on the property the night of the flood and tried to rescue girls as heavy rain turned the Guadalupe River into a raging current. The apology came during the second day of a special legislative hearing that is examining emergency planning failures before the deaths.
Dozens of protesters gathered outside Serbia’s public broadcaster RTS in Belgrade, urging the Balkan country to pull out of the Eurovision Song Contest because Israel is participating. The demonstrators waved Palestinian flags and said Serbia should not broadcast or watch the contest.
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Monday on whether state courts can proceed with thousands of lawsuits accusing Bayer, which makes Roundup, of failing to warn that its weedkiller could cause cancer. Justices pressed lawyers on how federal pesticide regulation affects state law claims, and the court is expected to decide the case by the end of June.
Washington state asked a federal judge on Tuesday to require private prison operator The Geo Group to allow state health inspectors into its Tacoma immigration detention center, known as the Northwest ICE Processing Center. The state said inspectors from the Washington Department of Health have repeatedly been denied entry despite a 2023 law granting Washington broad authority over contractors running private detention facilities.
Tracy Sturdivant has been named the next president and CEO of the Ms. Foundation, succeeding Teresa Younger. Sturdivant aims to broaden the foundation's coalition while supporting marginalized groups.
A Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to Portland, Oregon, diverted into emergency childbirth after a passenger went into labor just before landing, the Associated Press reported. Paramedics on board helped the mother give birth to a healthy girl as the plane prepared to touch down Friday night.
Plaintiffs in New Mexico’s landmark Yazzie/Martinez education case have asked a judge to let them rewrite the state Public Education Department’s court-ordered reform plan. In a joint motion, the plaintiffs outlined a potentially eight-month process and said the department’s November plan lacks specific, enforceable steps and cost estimates. The request comes after a judge last spring ordered the department to develop a “comprehensive remedial action plan,” and the department defended its approach as too lengthy to prescribe every program detail at once.
Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan, moved some final exams after police said they found a man inside Wells Hall with household substances that could be used to make methamphetamine, according to court filings and a campus police chief. Police charged the 31-year-old man with malicious destruction of property and possessing substances to operate a meth lab, and Wells Hall was closed after the discovery.
Des Moines Public Schools said it revised its conflict-of-interest policy after a state audit found its former superintendent, Ian Roberts, awarded district business to a consulting firm he worked for. The district made the policy changes after a request for a reaudit that followed an Associated Press investigation into the matter, according to the audit released Tuesday.
Three students injured in the Dec. 13 Brown University shooting in Providence, Rhode Island, have sued the Ivy League school, alleging it ignored prior warnings about the gunman and failed to provide adequate campus security. The lawsuits were filed last week in Rhode Island Superior Court. Brown said it is reviewing the complaints “carefully and promptly,” but declined to discuss details about the merits of the litigation.
Exonerees in the U.S. say the stigma of time behind bars can follow them into everyday life, making it hard to find and keep work even after wrongful convictions are overturned. The issue has drawn fresh attention in Louisiana, where voters elected Calvin Duncan as clerk of criminal court, but Republicans have moved to abolish the post as he prepares to take office.
The Associated Press’ “Money Happens” series profiles Justene Bologna, who said her student loan debt has contributed to severe stress and anxiety. The episode also includes tips from Indiana University professor Helen Colby for people whose loan repayment is affecting their day-to-day functioning and relationships.
In a new episode of the “Money Happens” series, financial therapist John Hankins speaks with a 21-year-old Massachusetts renter who says homeownership feels unreachable despite working and avoiding debt. Hankins offers practical steps for people who feel overwhelmed by housing instability, including getting comfortable facing their finances, building credit carefully, and avoiding comparisons that can deepen anxiety.
Many U.S. workers say they have trouble understanding what’s expected of them at work after the coronavirus pandemic reshaped workplaces, a Gallup analysis found. In November, just under half of employees reported they “strongly agreed” that they know what is expected, down from 56% in January 2020.
Mississippi’s largest synagogue, Beth Israel Congregation in northeast Jackson, opened to local media as it continued rebuilding after an arson attack in the early hours of Jan. 10. Leaders said their goal is to resume services by the Jewish New Year in October 2027, even as asbestos abatement is expected to cost about $2 million.
Jennifer Vall turned to a debt management company after years of medical bills that piled up despite having no other debt before her family’s cancer diagnoses. In a “Money Happens” episode, financial therapist Ashley Agnew says people facing medical debt should first quantify what they owe, then plan with a clearer relationship to money.
A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma to resolve a U.S. Department of Justice criminal probe, a step tied to a sweeping settlement that will dissolve the company by the week’s end. U.S. District Judge Madeline Cox Arleo also heard hours of impact statements from people harmed by opioid addiction and asked her to reject the negotiated sentence.
South Carolina health officials declared the state’s measles outbreak over after it passed 42 days with no new outbreak-related cases, with 997 people reported sickened since October. The officials said 21 people were hospitalized, and estimated the response cost $2.1 million.
Texas Medical Board officials are proposing tighter regulations on ketamine treatments, including a ban on in-home use and new limits on how many patients medical staff can treat at once when a physician is not on site, according to a proposal shared ahead of an expected May 8 publication. The board is scheduled to vote on the changes in June.
An Associated Press investigation found adopted children are being confined in private, for-profit residential treatment programs and boarding schools that market care for adoption-related issues, despite evidence experts say doesn’t match their claims. Adoptees interviewed by AP described being promised “forever homes” but instead placed for years in facilities they said felt like prison, with limited outside oversight.
Hundreds of South Africans marched through Johannesburg on Wednesday to protest illegal immigration, a dispute that demonstrators say has fueled tensions between locals and foreign nationals. Shops closed during the protest amid fears of looting or opportunistic crime, according to the Associated Press.
London police said a man has been arrested after two Jewish men were stabbed on a street in the Golders Green area of the city, calling it an act of terror. The Metropolitan Police said the attack Wednesday left the men, ages 34 and 76, hospitalized with knife wounds. Police also said counterterrorism detectives are investigating whether the stabbing is connected to recent arson attacks on synagogues and other Jewish sites in London.
As residents return to Sudan’s capital Khartoum after months of fighting, unexploded ordnance and landmines left behind by the war are creating a growing danger across the city, the Associated Press reported. Deminers are clearing contaminated areas, but aid groups warn the work could take years amid limited funding and international attention.
Havana (AP) — On a recent afternoon, elderly residents gathered at the Church of the Holy Spirit in Old Havana for a modest meal, part of a ritual offered three times a week amid a worsening economic crisis. Carmen Casado, 84, said her pension is too small to live on and that the church meals and state-supplied rations are a necessary supplement.
A Wyoming judge has blocked a state law that bans most abortions after embryonic cardiac activity can be detected while a lawsuit challenging the measure moves ahead. Natrona County District Judge Dan Forgey issued a temporary restraining order against the law on Friday, setting up another court fight after Wyoming’s Supreme Court struck down earlier, broader abortion bans in January.
Tracy Sturdivant will succeed Teresa Younger as president and CEO of the Ms. Foundation for Women, the organization said after announcing her at its annual New York City gala. In interviews, Sturdivant said she wants to expand the coalition of funders and supporters focused on gender justice, while maintaining the foundation’s financial stability and commitment to women and girls of color.
Kid Rock and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth flew in U.S. Army Apache helicopters at a base in Virginia on Monday, according to photos posted by Hegseth and public flight-tracking data. The flights came weeks after earlier Apache flights near Kid Rock’s Tennessee home and near a “No Kings” protest in Nashville prompted questions about whether they were authorized.
Nebraska will enforce work, volunteer or education requirements for new Medicaid applicants beginning Friday, becoming the first state to do so before a federally mandated timeline. The policy, tied to a broad tax and policy law signed by President Donald Trump, will require many adults ages 19 to 64 to meet monthly activity thresholds or face faster eligibility reviews every six months.
The La Fenice opera house in Venice has canceled its planned collaboration with incoming music director Beatrice Venezi after months of protests by musicians. The theater said general manager Nicola Colabianchi made the decision following what he called Venezi’s “repeated and serious public statements that were offensive and harmful.”
A surgeon in Omdurman, Sudan, has spent years operating at Al Nao hospital as the war destroyed staff, supplies and electricity near the front line, the Associated Press reported. Dr. Jamal Eltaeb said he kept working even after the hospital was bombed multiple times and medicines and fuel ran out.
Michigan is testing a pilot that will let eligible home-based child-care providers offer no-cost pre-K to some 3- or 4-year-olds, expanding the state’s “pre-K for all” effort beyond traditional schools and centers. The Associated Press reported that the program will support up to 75 to 80 children during the spring and summer, with funding drawn from a $1.5 million federal grant.
King Charles III’s charity, now known as The King’s Trust, marked 50 years of helping young people find work with a gala in New York on Wednesday. The event featured remarks from Charles and brought together business and entertainment figures, while highlighting the charity’s education and employment programs.
College students in the United States are changing majors and plans as they worry that artificial intelligence could automate entry-level tasks and reshape job markets by the time they graduate. Reporting by the Associated Press describes students switching away from analytics- and technology-focused tracks toward areas they associate with human judgment and communication.
Ford Mustang and Dodge Charger rivals for decades are once again vying for drivers’ attention, with Edmunds comparing today’s Mustang GT and Dark Horse against the Charger R/T and Scat Pack. The review, provided to The Associated Press by the automotive website Edmunds, weighs performance, driving feel, comfort, tech features and pricing.
Luther Davis, 37, entered guilty pleas in federal court in Atlanta on Monday to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft as part of a scheme that prosecutors said used makeup and wigs to impersonate NFL players for investor loans. Prosecutors said Davis and co-defendant CJ Evins used fake bank and email accounts to convince lenders they represented athletes or were the athletes themselves.
Nearly a quarter-century after Jam Master Jay of Run-DMC was shot to death, Jay Bryant pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to a murder charge connected to the 2002 killing. Prosecutors said Bryant helped other people get into a Queens recording studio to ambush the DJ, whose real name was Jason Mizell.
South Dakota counties and cities that received early opioid-settlement payments have spent less than half of their allotments, according to spending reports reviewed through the end of 2025. The distributions began in late 2022, and opioid deaths in South Dakota rose to 41 in 2025, from 39 in 2024. The state says it does not oversee how local governments use their share.
Workers in Rio de Janeiro resumed construction of the stage for Shakira’s free concert next weekend at Copacabana Beach after a worker’s death halted the work the day before. Police said a 28-year-old locksmith, Gabriel de Jesus Firmino, was crushed by two stage elevators when the equipment was activated. Investigators said the company that operates the stage is under investigation for alleged non-compliance with workplace safety regulations.
Oprah Winfrey’s podcast is moving deeper into Amazon, after Harpo Entertainment struck a multiyear deal giving Amazon-owned Wondery exclusive distributing and advertising rights to “The Oprah Podcast.” Under the agreement announced Monday, Winfrey’s podcast will add two new episodes a week starting this summer, and Wondery will distribute the show’s audio and video across Amazon platforms.
Pope Leo XIV said his election was both “a cross to bear and a blessing” as he celebrated his first Mass Friday, the day after cardinals elected him as the Catholic Church’s 267th pope. In the Sistine Chapel, he spoke off-the-cuff in English and later delivered a homily urging joyful witness of Christianity.
Donald W. Riegle, who represented Michigan in the U.S. House and Senate for nearly three decades under seven presidents, died at 88, his family said Sunday. Riegle, a Republican who later became a Democrat, died Friday of cardiac arrest at his home in San Diego, according to a family statement.
A Massachusetts woman, Janette MacAusland, has been charged with the murder of her two young children, Kai, 7, and Ella, 6, in their Wellesley home. The charges come amid a custody dispute with her former husband.
Latino leaders are taking more prominent roles in local government as voters respond to what political scientists describe as rising attacks and dehumanizing rhetoric aimed at Latino communities, including during President Donald Trump’s second term. In cities and states across the country, newly elected Latino officials—including Lancaster, Pennsylvania’s first Latino mayor—have framed their wins as a way to defend their communities and build representation from the ground up, the Associated Press reported April 27.
Orlando, Florida, officials said disease and low temperatures killed nearly 30 sloths at a wildlife import warehouse in 2024 and 2025. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation inspection report, issued in August, described deaths of sloths imported from Guyana when temperatures dropped into the 40-to-55 degree Fahrenheit range at Sanctuary World Imports.
Nebraska will start requiring work, volunteering or education activities for new Medicaid applicants Friday, a change advocates say will arrive before unresolved details are finalized. The requirement is set to take effect federally later, and Nebraska officials say they are prepared to review eligibility using a mix of state and applicant-provided information.
Tick season appears to be starting earlier and faster than usual in the U.S., with unusually high numbers of tick bites already reported, according to doctors and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Some health experts worry this could translate into a bad year for tick-borne diseases as tick activity expands into the spring and summer months.
Former Idaho Gov. and U.S. Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne died Friday evening in Boise at age 74, his family said in a written statement Saturday. No cause was given, and the statement said he was diagnosed with colon cancer last year.
Connecticut Democrats won final passage for Gov. Ned Lamont’s vaccine recommendations bill in the state Senate on Thursday, with an uncharacteristically early 22-12 vote. The measure would expand the authority of the Public Health Commissioner to set vaccine recommendations for both adults and children, require insurers to cover recommended shots, and let the agency buy doses from sources other than the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
TMZ is expanding its celebrity-gossip brand into Washington with a new “TMZ DC” team that aims to capture candid images of lawmakers “paparazzi-style,” and has already produced viral moments. The effort comes as Congress faces heightened public scrutiny and several lawmakers have resigned amid allegations, according to Gallup polling cited by The Associated Press. In a sign of attention from the Trump administration, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called the outlet during a Pentagon briefing on Friday.
Pope Leo XIV urged the United States and Iran to return to talks to end the war as he traveled home from an Africa trip, condemning capital punishment in a press conference aboard the papal plane. He also said countries have the right to control their borders but urged that migrants not be treated “worse than house pets, animals.”
As Donald Trump prepares to attend the White House Correspondents’ Dinner for the first time as president, the AP looks back at how the annual event has swung between laughs and sharp political tension—often through celebrity comedians’ roasts. The dinner’s modern format, with a red carpet for journalists and political figures and televised jokes, has produced viral moments stretching back decades.
A Massachusetts woman accused of killing her two children was charged Saturday with two counts of murder, according to Massachusetts State Police and court records. Authorities said the deaths were discovered after police in Wellesley received a request for a well-being check involving family members at a home in the town.
Texas state health regulators have identified nearly two dozen deficiencies in Camp Mystic’s emergency operations plan as the all-girls Christian camp seeks a late-May reopening, less than a year after a deadly flood killed 27 children and counselors. The Department of State Health Services said the plan’s flood warning, evacuation and training components did not meet requirements in the licensing review process.
Middle school students in Mississippi stopped a school bus from crashing after the driver blacked out while driving on a four-lane highway, the Associated Press reported. The bus left Hancock Middle School in Hancock County with about 40 children on board when the driver had an asthma attack. Students steered the vehicle onto a median, put it in park, called 911, and administered medication until emergency help arrived.
Russians have voiced criticism of President Vladimir Putin’s wartime policies and tightening internet controls, as economists and pollsters track strain from the economy and declining approval. The latest wave included a widely viewed appeal by blogger Victoria Bonya, criticism by parliament’s Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov, and signs of sagging support in polls reported this week.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said it will offer ultra-fast review to three psychedelic drugs being developed to treat mental health conditions, including depression and post-traumatic stress disorder, in a move tied to a Trump executive order. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary said the agency will “evaluate these potential therapies with urgency,” while the FDA said the program is meant to shorten reviews from months to weeks.
Small changes in how consumers store fruits and vegetables can extend their shelf life by days, reducing household food waste linked to moisture, temperature and airflow, according to Purdue University and other food-safety experts interviewed by the Associated Press. The AP also reported the U.S. Food and Drug Administration estimates that confusion over “purchase-by” dates contributes to a portion of consumer waste, while environmental advocates tie kitchen trash to methane emissions from landfills.
New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed Stanley Richards as the city’s Department of Correction commissioner, making him the first formerly incarcerated person to oversee the jails that include Rikers Island. Richards, 65, said he does not carry “bad feelings” about his past confinement and is focused on improving safety, care and progress toward closing Rikers.
Codi High Elk, the first Miss Indian World, said her life changed after being crowned and described the pageant’s end as a loss for the opportunities it offered Indigenous women. The Miss Indian World crown, a headlining event at Gathering of Nations, will be retired when the two-day powwow and pageant culminates Saturday and the title is scheduled to have its final winner in 2025.
A Florida zoo will open its newly renovated Outback habitat to the public Saturday, alongside a major breeding milestone: the first koala birth at the Palm Beach Zoo & Conservation Society. The joey, born last fall to Ellin and Sydney, is still staying in its mother’s pouch as zoo staff monitor her and provide extra food.
The number of 4-year-olds attending state-funded preschools hit record highs last school year, a new report found, driven by states expanding access and spending. The gains bring more children into public early education, but the report also warns that quality and access remain uneven across states.
Workers in Santa Clara County, California, were put on leave as state and local officials responded to the death of 2-year-old Jaxon Juarez, with county officials saying the number of employees placed on leave rose from 10 pending personnel investigations. The county’s response follows broader scrutiny of the county’s child welfare system, including state action tied to earlier child deaths. Prosecutors have charged a teenage boy in the cousin’s killing of Juarez and said the investigation could expand.
San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria’s proposed budget would eliminate nearly all city arts funding as the city confronts a $146 million deficit, according to officials and advocates. City leaders also plan cuts to library hours and programs and to staffing, shifting resources toward public safety, homelessness efforts and road repairs. The AP report described how other large California cities—Los Angeles, Sacramento and San Francisco—are also facing multi-year budget gaps amid rising costs and weakening local revenue.
People living with dementia often face limited access to public life, and a new barrier-free tour at Berlin Zoo is designed to meet some families where they are. The tours, organized by Malteser Deutschland’s Berlin chapter, take participants through selected habitats with fewer distractions and a slower pace.
The Associated Press follows barefoot trails in Germany and northern Arizona that invite visitors to walk without socks or shoes as a way to connect with nature. The stories highlight how the parks are designed around different surfaces and sensory experiences, including a meditation cave in the Black Forest and a trail developed near Flagstaff by Leah Williams. The AP also describes how some parks accommodate people with foot conditions and notes that barefoot trails exist in other parts of Europe and in parts of Asia.
Late every summer, hulking polar bears gather outside the Alaska Native village of Kaktovik on the edge of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, a spectacle that once drew 1,000 or more tourists a year. The COVID-19 pandemic and a federal order in 2021 halting boat tours largely ended the polar bear tourism, but village leaders now want to restart it with new rules.
MilanDesignWeek kicked off in Milan with artists and designers converging at venues across the city, despite economic worries and travel disruptions linked to wars in the Middle East. The Milan Furniture Fair opened Tuesday at Fiera Milano Rho, bringing 1,900 exhibitors from 32 countries alongside hundreds of off-site events during Fuorisalone.
Weighted vests—jogging and fitness-class gear with removable weights—are increasingly showing up in workouts, but experts say research on their benefits is limited. A certified strength coach and a team physician said the vests can add resistance that may improve performance for some people, while warning that others, including pregnant people and older adults, should be cautious.
HAVANA — Cubans in recent months have altered everyday routines as water, electricity and fuel shortages deepen, including changes to beauty grooming, transportation timing and laundry habits. Residents and workers in Havana told The Associated Press that chronic blackouts and limited water availability—compounded by U.S. energy restrictions—are pushing them to abandon or stretch practices they long relied on.
Authorities in Tunisia ordered the one-month suspension of the Tunisian League for Human Rights, rights advocates said, in what they called a widening crackdown on civil society. The league, which has links to the National Dialogue Quartet that won the 2015 Nobel Peace Prize, said the suspension violates freedom of association and plans to challenge it in court. The move comes as authorities detain journalists and target independent media, including an upcoming court hearing tied to an outlet’s possible dissolution.
“Fake math” returned to the spotlight Thursday as President Donald Trump defended his past claims that efforts to cut prescription drug prices reduced what consumers pay by “500%, 600%.” During an Oval Office event announcing a deal with drugmaker Regeneron, Trump said there are “two ways of calculating” drug price changes and that the dispute “doesn’t make any difference.”
Lebanon resident Houssam Naddaf said an Israeli soldier smashed a crucifix in his family’s garden in the southern village of Debel, an image that spread online and drew condemnation. Israel’s military later said it replaced the statue, and Naddaf said the family accepted an Italy-donated crucifix through U.N. peacekeepers while Israeli-installed and Italy-donated versions were set out amid village church leaders.
A Kenyan court of appeal on Friday overturned a 2022 High Court ruling that found access to abortion was protected under the constitution, setting up another legal fight that may reach the Supreme Court. The appeal court said abortion is prohibited under the constitution except in limited circumstances, such as to save a mother’s life or protect her health.
Melania Trump announced Friday that the White House honey program will expand with a new beehive shaped like the White House, adding to two existing hives on the south grounds. The White House said the current hives can reach about 70,000 bees at peak in summer and produce between 200 and 225 pounds of honey a year, and the new hive could add about 30 pounds. The announcement came shortly before Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla were expected in Washington for a state visit.
A reporter for The Associated Press described a 64-day protest in Caracas led by women seeking the release of husbands detained by the Venezuelan government. Regina Garcia Cano said the sit-in outside a police station tested the protesters’ health and resolve as the government maintained detentions, even after a tent camp was removed and the women went home.
Two women in Venezuela who staged a monthslong protest to demand the release of political prisoners described how their husbands were not among those freed. Mileidy Mendoza and Sandra Rosales held vigils outside detention facilities in Caracas after Venezuela’s government announced it would release prisoners, but said their husbands’ names were not called during Valentine’s Day releases in February. The Associated Press reported the story.
Morocco opened the Mohammed VI Tower, a $700 million, 55-story skyscraper in Salé near Rabat, underscoring the country’s expanding global ambitions. The tower named for King Mohammed VI will include a Waldorf Astoria hotel, offices, shops, restaurants and luxury apartments, and its backers project thousands of jobs tied to the project. The opening comes as Morocco courts more international visitors and prepares to co-host the 2030 FIFA World Cup.
Xaneri Merino, a transgender woman from San Pedro Jicayán in southern Mexico, has turned the backstrap loom—once punished in her Indigenous community—into a craft and workshop space for LGBTQ+ resistance, she and her students said. Merino said she learned the technique in secret from her grandmother, who passed down the portable weaving practice despite strict gender rules that largely barred men from weaving. In a recent class in Mexico City, Merino and participants described the loom as a way to teach, be seen and weave personal stories.
President Donald Trump issued an order reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, shifting how it is regulated under federal drug law. The change, issued Thursday, does not legalize marijuana for medical or recreational use under federal law, but it could reduce barriers for research and allow some federal tax deductions for licensed businesses. A new administrative hearing scheduled for the end of June could determine whether marijuana is reclassified more broadly.
LONDON (AP) — Visually impaired runner Tilly Dowler plans to use AI-powered Oakley Meta Vanguard smart glasses to guide her as she prepares to run the London Marathon, which organizers say takes place Sunday. Dowler, who has Stargardt disease and estimates she has about 10% useful vision, said the glasses can provide live audio cues about nearby landmarks and how far she has run.
Jack Thornell, the Pulitzer Prize-winning Associated Press photographer whose image of a wounded James Meredith after a shotgun attack became an enduring symbol of the civil rights movement, has died. Thornell died Thursday at a hospital in the New Orleans suburb of Metairie from complications of kidney disease, his son Jay Thornell said.
U.S. health officials stopped the publication of a study on whether COVID-19 vaccines were keeping adults from becoming sick enough to need hospital care, a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services spokesman confirmed. The paper, which was scheduled to appear in the CDC’s Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, was halted over a dispute about the study’s methodology.
From July 2022 to December 2024, suicide deaths among U.S. people ages 15 to 23 were 11% lower than researchers projected after the launch of the 988 mental health crisis hotline, according to a study published in JAMA. The researchers said the results suggest the hotline is working, even as the program faces longer-term funding challenges.
Virginia Commonwealth University plans a memorial and burial site for dozens of people whose remains were recovered after workers found bones in a well on the school’s medical campus in 1994. The board of visitors voted to fund what VCU calls the East Marshall Street Well Project, with construction expected to begin in summer 2027.
President Donald Trump’s administration has reclassified medical marijuana as a less dangerous drug, moving it from Schedule I to Schedule III. The order, signed Thursday by the acting attorney general, applies to how federally regulated agencies treat state-licensed medical marijuana, but it does not legalize marijuana under federal law.
Archaeological digs tied to road construction along Brazil’s BR-156 highway have yielded new clues about Indigenous life in the Amazon long before European arrival, the Associated Press reported. The discoveries include pottery that may have been funerary urns and small artifacts resembling human faces, found during surveys ahead of paving work in the northern state of Amapa.
President Donald Trump said on Thursday his administration reached a deal with Regeneron to lower the prices of its drugs for Medicaid and sell the cholesterol treatment Praluent for $225 on the White House’s discounted drug website, TrumpRx. The administration also said the company will spend $27 billion on research, development and manufacturing in the United States. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told lawmakers that the administration plans to share contract details with Congress only to the extent it can do so without disclosing proprietary information.
Three professors at Emory University filed a lawsuit Thursday over arrests during a 2024 campus protest about the Israel-Hamas war, alleging the university violated its own free-speech policies by calling police and state troopers to disband the demonstration. The professors said the arrests led to 28 detentions and that the charges against them were later dismissed.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. disputed claims in Congress that President Donald Trump’s 2025 tax and spending law included Medicaid cuts, telling lawmakers there were “no cuts to Medicaid.” Health policy experts and Medicaid analysts say the reforms reduce federal Medicaid spending over the decade, even as Medicaid spending is projected to rise due to factors such as population and health-care costs.
Nearly a year after the assassination of Minnesota House leader Melissa Hortman, lawmakers across the U.S. are tightening security at state capitols and increasing safeguards for officials and their personal information, the Associated Press reported. In Minnesota, doors at the Capitol are now locked and visitors must pass through weapons detectors before entering debate areas.
Stockholm’s annual secondhand clothing swap is drawing hundreds of residents to exchange clothes and help extend garments’ life spans. The Swedish Society for Nature Conservation says the events are part of a broader effort to reduce the environmental cost of clothing production. Organizers and volunteers said tailoring assistance at the swaps also helps people repair items instead of discarding them.
The National Transportation Safety Board on Thursday recommended that all new school buses be equipped with alcohol detection systems that can disable the bus if they detect the driver might be impaired. The recommendation follows a West Virginia crash in which police found the driver was drunk and a boy later required an amputation.
Kellogg said it will include plastic toys in some of its breakfast cereal boxes starting Sunday, returning a novelty that largely disappeared more than a decade ago. The toy promotion is a tie-in with Disney and Pixar’s “Toy Story 5,” which is scheduled to hit theaters in June.
Milan is embracing “The Devil Wears Prada 2” with fashion-week energy and a retail pop-up that lets fans pose at replicas tied to the film. The movie premieres in Italy’s fashion capital Thursday, ahead of a global release next week, and its arrival is already spilling into stores and street-level attention. Culture officials and shop executives say the franchise is boosting a sense of joy in the city’s fashion ecosystem.
Linh Mai, a 10-week-old Asian elephant calf, made her public debut Wednesday at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute in Washington, D.C. The zoo said she is the first elephant calf born at the facility in 25 years.
Officials unveiled a roadside marker in Ellerbe, North Carolina, honoring professional wrestler and film actor Andre the Giant. The marker, presented Thursday, notes his birth name, key wrestling career details and his role in “The Princess Bride.”
Michigan school districts are trying to cut chronic absenteeism with programs that frame attendance as a competition or a public challenge, including a “Show Up Challenge” in Muskegon County and an effort to encourage students to stay under five missed days. Oakridge and Holton officials say the initiatives are aimed at getting more students into classrooms amid high absentee rates.
More Americans have developed cannabis use disorder as marijuana has become more normalized and available, experts told The Associated Press. They said relaxed access and high-potency products may be contributing to rising addiction, even as the share of people seeking treatment has declined.
President Donald Trump’s acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, signed an order on Thursday reclassifying state-licensed medical marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, a policy shift sought by advocates for years. Blanche said the change would allow research into the safety and effectiveness of cannabis used for medical purposes, while licensed operators would also receive a major federal tax break.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. defended President Donald Trump’s proposed 2027 budget in House and Senate hearings that stretched across multiple days, telling lawmakers he faced cuts that were “painful” but necessary to address the federal government’s record $39 trillion deficit. In the exchanges, Kennedy also disputed accusations over measles outbreaks and vaccination declines, and he rejected Democrats’ arguments about nearly $1 trillion in Medicaid cuts over the next decade.
U.S. Rep. David Scott, a Georgia Democrat and the first Black chairman of the House Agriculture Committee, died Wednesday, his office said. He was 80. The White House lowered flags to half-staff after his death.
HBO Max, “Harry Potter” and CNN may soon sit under a new corporate roof if Paramount’s planned acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery clears regulatory review. On Thursday, shareholders approved an $81 billion sale of Warner Bros. Discovery, valuing the buyout at nearly $111 billion including debt. The deal would combine streaming brands and give Paramount greater reach in movies and U.S. news.
Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy questioned Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in two Senate hearings on affordability, fraud and vaccine-preventable diseases, while also managing political fallout ahead of a competitive GOP primary. As a liver doctor who supported Kennedy’s nomination last year, Cassidy pressed Kennedy on issues including measles outbreaks and the administration’s approach to chemical abortion drugs.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a Texas requirement that the Ten Commandments be posted in public school classrooms, rejecting arguments from parents and other groups that the rule violates students’ or families’ rights. The decision, handed down Tuesday, comes amid a broader wave of state laws requiring or expanding religious materials in public classrooms.
The Kennedy Center plans to shutter the Washington venue for a two-year renovation beginning in July, citing significant water damage and long-needed repairs. New leadership has described building conditions that include severe corrosion tied to water infiltration and aging equipment, while Matt Floca said he recommended closing the facility all at once. Congress has provided nearly $257 million for the work, and the institution expects to seek private donations for refurbishing some premium areas.
President Donald Trump’s administration sent a government plane to Cuba to return a 10-year-old from Utah amid a custody dispute tied to the child’s gender identity, the Associated Press reported. Federal and state authorities had sought the child’s return after a family member raised concerns the child had been taken to Havana for gender-affirming surgery. The government plane carried the 10-year-old back to the child’s biological mother, federal prosecutors said.
California lawmakers are pursuing two bills aimed at limiting how federal immigration enforcement officers interact with people brought to hospitals while in ICE custody, with supporters citing difficulties families and attorneys face in locating hospitalized detainees. The proposals in the Senate would seek to restrict “blackout policies,” require notice and visitation rules for patients, and set expectations for staff when agents are present, the Associated Press reported. The federal Department of Homeland Security did not respond to a request for comment.
A chemical leak at a silver recovery business in Institute, West Virginia, killed two people and sent about 30 others to hospitals on Wednesday, officials said. Kanawha County emergency management director C.W. Sigman said a reaction involving nitric acid produced toxic hydrogen sulfide as workers prepared part of the Catalyst Refiners plant for shutdown.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed legislation prohibiting counties and cities from funding or promoting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, arguing at a news conference that such programs discriminate against white men. NAACP Gainesville President Evelyn Foxx said DeSantis’s remarks do not reflect what people experience and accused the governor of being out of touch.
People fighting human-caused climate change are increasingly drawing on joy, laughter and community as tools to cope with stress and keep people engaged, including around Earth Day. The Associated Press reports that activists, teachers and psychologists are using seminars, books and classes that emphasize what works psychologically, with laughter, dancing and hugs alongside warnings about warming.
Runners who were struggling to reach the Boston Marathon finish line were helped by fellow competitors during Monday’s race, the Associated Press reported. Ajay Haridasse was lifted and carried about 1,000 feet (305 meters) to the finish by other runners after his legs gave out, and a separate group of racers helped Lan Nguyen reach the end after she could not walk.
Pope Leo XIV told inmates at a prison in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, on Wednesday that “You are not alone,” urging them and their families with a message of hope as he neared the end of a four-nation Africa tour. The visit brought renewed attention to prison conditions and the country’s human-rights record, including concerns raised by campaigners and international bodies.
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced the Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act, seeking to make rotisserie chicken an eligible purchase under SNAP, the federal grocery assistance program. The proposal would reverse a longstanding rule that SNAP benefits cannot be used for hot prepared foods bought from the grocery store.
The Gates Foundation said Wednesday it is reviewing its ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as emails made public in a Justice Department case have renewed scrutiny of chairman Bill Gates. The review was commissioned in March and will assess past engagement with Epstein and current policies for vetting new partnerships, the foundation said.
RFK Jr., the U.S. health secretary, wrapped up a marathon set of congressional hearings in which lawmakers pressed him on falling childhood vaccination rates, measles outbreaks and proposed cuts to the Department of Health and Human Services. In testimony that spanned multiple House and Senate committees, he blamed broader factors for vaccination declines, called some cuts “painful” but said they were needed to address the federal government’s record $39 trillion deficit, and pointed to administration initiatives he said could reduce health-care costs.
WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced the Hot Rotisserie Chicken Act to make rotisserie chicken and other prepared foods eligible for purchase under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, commonly known as SNAP. The bill would replace a long-standing rule that bars SNAP benefits from paying for hot, ready-to-eat items from grocery stores. Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat, said the proposal would help families buy convenient, protein-forward options, while Sen. Jim Justice, a Republican, called it a way to put food on the table without long cooking times.
Court rulings are bolstering state mandates to display the Ten Commandments in U.S. public schools as supporters press for a larger role for religion in classrooms. On Tuesday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals reversed a lower-court ruling that had blocked about a dozen Texas districts from hanging the posters.
Louisiana Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy used two Senate hearings Wednesday to press Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. on childhood vaccines and related health policy, drawing on his background as a liver doctor while also managing fallout in a tight Louisiana primary race. Cassidy questioned Kennedy about affordability, alleged fraud, abortion drugs and the rise of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, while also pointing to declining vaccine trust and expected outbreaks. Political analysts said how Cassidy handled the hearings could shape his reelection prospects as President Donald Trump backed one of Cassidy’s GOP primary opponents.
Lexington, Massachusetts, held a naturalization ceremony on the town’s Battle Green on April 22, with 49 people sworn in as U.S. citizens on the Revolutionary War battlefield where “the shot heard round the world” was fired. Steve Cole, a reenactor who plays Capt. John Parker at the annual Battle Green reenactment, told the new citizens, “No matter where you come from, here you belong.” U.S. Magistrate Judge Paul G. Levenson administered the Oath of Allegiance and said the oath is to the Constitution.
Authorities say Christopher Gillum, a former North Carolina law enforcement officer, planned to kill Black people at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and was arrested in Florida with a handgun and ammunition. Federal investigators and law enforcement in multiple states said they warned that he was heading to Louisiana for the planned attack as the festival runs through May 3.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday the U.S. military will no longer require all American troops to get the flu vaccine, citing “medical autonomy” and religious freedom. In a video he posted online, Hegseth said service members would be free to get the vaccine but would not be forced “because your body, your faith and your convictions are not negotiable.”
Six leading candidates for California governor faced off in a televised debate on April 22, 2026, in Los Angeles. The discussion highlighted stark partisan divides over homelessness, youth social‑media bans, and the role of billionaire Tom Steyer’s wealth in the race. With California’s top‑two primary system threatening a possible two‑Republican runoff, Democrats scrambled to differentiate themselves amid a crowded field.
Activists and psychologists are using laughter, dancing and community-building to help people keep working to curb human-caused climate change, including on Earth Day, according to interviews with seminar leaders and researchers. The approach centers on coping with grief and eco-anxiety while still taking action—rather than focusing on sacrifice alone.
The Gates Foundation is reviewing its ties to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the organization said Wednesday, as newly released documents related to the Justice Department’s investigation draw more scrutiny to chairman Bill Gates. The foundation’s CEO Mark Suzman, with support from Gates, commissioned an external review in March to assess past engagement and to update policies for vetting and developing new partnerships.
Pope Leo XIV visited a prison in Bata, Equatorial Guinea, telling inmates “You are not alone,” as part of the final leg of his Africa tour. During the visit, he urged authorities to focus justice on protecting dignity, and he delivered a message that the Church would stand by the prisoners’ families.
Boston Marathon runners kept finishing hopes alive on April 21 by stopping to help fellow racers who were struggling near the finish line, according to accounts from competitors and officials. In one episode, Ajay Haridasse’s legs gave out as he neared the end, and two other runners lifted and carried him about 1,000 feet to the finish.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Wednesday that bans counties and cities from funding or promoting diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, arguing that DEI programs have discriminated against white men. Speaking after the signing, DeSantis said white men have been “discriminated against” through what he called an “ideological construct” designed to promote a political agenda. The NAACP branch president in Gainesville, Evelyn Foxx, criticized the comments as out of touch.
More than a dozen Equatorial Guinea Catholics who fled abuses abroad say Pope Leo XIV’s visit risks giving President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo new legitimacy amid longtime allegations of repression. In interviews, some said the Vatican trip could serve as image repair for a government accused by activists of rights abuses, even as the Vatican and church leaders say they will emphasize justice.
The Kennedy Center said it plans to shutter the venue starting in July for a two-year renovation, citing severe water damage and the need to replace some long-used building systems. Matt Floca, the center’s new executive director and chief operating officer, described the repairs as extensive but aimed at an overall reset of the facility’s condition.
Michigan United Conservation Clubs, a statewide nonprofit that represents hunters and anglers, warned it may have to close if it does not raise $100,000 by May 1. The group’s president, Stephen Dey, said in an email to members and supporters that the organization has been selling major assets for years and that available funds may last only into May.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Tuesday that Texas can require public schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms, rejecting arguments that the policy amounts to religious indoctrination. The 9-8 decision reverses a lower court ruling that had blocked roughly a dozen Texas school districts. The American Civil Liberties Union and other groups said they plan to appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Romania’s National History Museum received a 2,500-year-old golden helmet and three golden bracelets from the Netherlands on Tuesday, nearly a year after the artifacts were stolen from the Drents Museum while on loan. Dutch and Romanian authorities said they completed a long recovery effort after investigations, diplomatic coordination, and an ongoing trial.
Hundreds of psychedelic retreat operators offer multiday trips where attendees pay for drug-assisted experiences. A new JAMA Network Open study and other experts warn that, despite some safety procedures, retreats carry risks and often operate with few industrywide standards.
Millions around the world are set to mark Earth Day on Wednesday, a holiday that grew out of a U.S. “teach-in” focused on pollution in 1970. The annual observance is not a federal holiday, but it has inspired volunteer cleanups and helped shape major U.S. environmental laws, according to EarthDay.org history shared by The Associated Press.
Dr. Mehmet Oz, a Trump administration health official, said the federal government will require all 50 states to explain their plans to revalidate some Medicaid providers as part of a broader anti-fraud push. The request is expected to ask states to share their strategies within 30 days, after an earlier focus on a handful of states.
President Donald Trump joined a weeklong Bible-reading marathon on Tuesday, reading a passage from 2 Chronicles in a livestream that was part of an America 250-themed effort tied to a “return to the spiritual foundation” of the United States. The scriptural verse—“If my people, which are called by my name…”—has been promoted for decades at National Day of Prayer events and is often used to argue for a Christian nation.
Beth Moore, the longtime Bible teacher who left the Southern Baptist Convention more than five years ago, said she is starting to wind down Living Proof Ministries and will stop hosting major public events. In interviews, Moore described leaving the SBC as an experience that left her questioning where she would “belong again,” while also saying she continues to be drawn to discipleship and teaching the Bible with others.
Auditor Les Kondo said in a letter to Hawaii lawmakers and the state human services director that the state’s tiny home initiative for people experiencing homelessness has accounting and internal-control deficiencies that need “immediate attention by those in governance.” Kondo wrote that payments to HomeAid Hawai‘i have cost taxpayers nearly $40 million so far, and that his office identified invoices that were inconsistent with state requirements, including more than $900,000 lacking substantiation and travel and meal costs he said “appear inconsistent” with state policies.
Ohio State University said an investigation found former president Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. violated school policy by trying to help a woman with whom he had a close personal relationship get a job and access to university resources. The board commissioned the inquiry after Carter’s resignation in the wake of allegations about an inappropriate relationship, the university said in a report released Tuesday.
Billionaires Michael and Susan Dell are giving the University of Texas at Austin $750 million to build the UT Dell Medical Center, a planned “AI-native” hospital expected to open in 2030. UT officials said the donation would support an advanced research campus and expand health care options in Central Texas.
President Donald Trump will read an Old Testament passage during a weeklong, livestreamed marathon Bible event tied to America 250, the AP reported. The reading from 2 Chronicles 7:14 calls for national repentance and is being broadcast from the Museum of the Bible in Washington and other locations.
In two Senate hearings on Wednesday, Republican Sen. Bill Cassidy questioned Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. about his plan to roll back the nation’s childhood vaccine recommendations, while Cassidy also weighed the risks to his own reelection campaign in Louisiana. Cassidy, a physician who has supported Kennedy’s nomination, pressed Kennedy on issues including affordability, fraud, chemical abortion drugs and the rise of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles.
Rat poison has been discovered in HiPP baby food jars across Central Europe, prompting urgent recalls and warnings from health authorities Monday. Austria's Health Minister Korinna Schumann said countries pulled the baby food from shelves after rat poison was found in jars sold at SPAR supermarkets. Similar contamination was confirmed in the Czech Republic and Slovakia, with authorities investigating the cases as intentional poisoning.
A California judge on Monday ordered a man shot multiple times during an Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrest to remain in custody, citing flight-risk concerns. Carlos Ivan Mendoza Hernandez, 36, who holds dual citizenship from El Salvador and Mexico, was shot during an enforcement stop on April 7 in Patterson, about 75 miles southeast of San Francisco. He is charged with assaulting a federal officer for allegedly striking an ICE agent with his car before reversing into a law enforcement vehicle, according to court documents.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Equatorial Guinea on Tuesday and immediately condemned the "colonization" of Africa's mineral resources by foreign powers, saying an economy built on mineral extraction "kills" the poor. The visit, the first papal trip to the country since Pope John Paul II in 1982, placed the pontiff at odds with the Trump administration's strategy to secure Africa's critical minerals for U.S. leverage against China.
Pope Leo XIV paid tribute to Pope Francis on Tuesday on the first anniversary of Francis’s death, recalling Francis’s preaching on God’s mercy and his gestures of solidarity with poor people. The American pope delivered the remarks aboard the papal plane en route from Angola to Equatorial Guinea, the final leg of a four-nation trip.
Fatal domestic violence cases in Louisiana and Virginia have prompted calls for more prevention resources for Black communities and for expanded mental health and support services, the Associated Press reported. In Shreveport, Louisiana, police identified Shamar Elkins as shooting seven of his children and another child. In suburban Washington, D.C., police said former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax shot his estranged wife, Dr. Cerina Fairfax, and then himself.
Pope Leo XIV visited a prison in Equatorial Guinea’s port city of Bata on Wednesday, telling inmates in Spanish that “You are not alone” and promising that the Church would stand by them. The visit came at the end of the pope’s four-nation Africa tour and drew attention to prison conditions and human rights abuses that campaigners have long criticized.
The Justice Department has subpoenaed witnesses to testify before a federal grand jury in Washington as part of its investigation into former CIA Director John Brennan, according to three people familiar with the matter. The subpoenas were issued in recent days, indicating prosecutors are pressing forward with the months-old inquiry despite a key prosecutor's recent departure. The investigation centers on a 2023 congressional hearing where Brennan testified about the intelligence community's assessment of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election — a case that has become a flashpoint in ongoing disputes over that election.
A Louisiana father fatally shot eight children, including seven of his own, in what authorities described as the deadliest mass shooting in the United States in more than two years. The attack unfolded in two homes in a Shreveport neighborhood Sunday morning, with police responding to the first report around 5:55 a.m., Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said. The gunman, identified as 31-year-old Shamar Elkins, died after a police pursuit that ended with officers firing on him. Police also said Elkins shot and wounded his wife and another woman.
Former Library of Congress director Carla Hayden was honored with the Authors Guild Champion of Writers Award at the guild’s annual dinner-gala Monday in New York, nearly a year after President Donald Trump abruptly fired her as librarian of Congress. Hayden, 73, spoke about libraries as a bridge between writers and the public as book bans rose to record highs, without referring directly to the ouster.
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a case from two Colorado Catholic preschools challenging their exclusion from the state's taxpayer-funded universal preschool program because they refuse to admit children from LGBTQ+ families. The case, brought by St. Mary Catholic Parish and the Archdiocese of Denver, marks the latest religious-liberty dispute before the conservative-majority court, with backing from the Trump administration. The schools argue Colorado violates their constitutional rights to operate according to their faith, while the state says religious schools are welcome to participate if they comply with nondiscrimination laws.
A man killed eight children—seven of his own and a nephew—and shot two women before dying after a police pursuit Sunday in Shreveport, Louisiana, in the nation's deadliest mass shooting in two years. The violence erupted before dawn at two homes in the city of 180,000 residents in northwestern Louisiana, authorities said. The shooter, identified as Shamar Elkins, died after fleeing during a police pursuit, though it was unclear whether he was killed by officers or from a self-inflicted gunshot, Shreveport Police Chief Wayne Smith said.
Gov. Mark Gordon signed an executive order Wednesday directing the state to implement a federal summer meal assistance program for Wyoming children, moving unilaterally after the legislature rejected the initiative three times in as many years. The order, Executive Order 2026-02, directs the Department of Family Services to begin the SUN Bucks program in June, providing $120 per eligible child to purchase groceries during the three-month summer break when school meals are unavailable. "While the Legislature was unwilling to make sure our young children get food throughout the summer months," Gordon said in announcing the move, "we have stepped up to ensure it happens."
Former Hawaii Gov. George R. Ariyoshi, the nation's first Asian American governor, died peacefully Sunday night at age 100, surrounded by family, Gov. Josh Green announced Monday. Ariyoshi's three-term tenure from 1973 to 1986 spanned a transformative period in Hawaiian history, as the state navigated rapid population growth and the emergence of tourism as an economic force.
Pittsburgh media has pivoted from a looming shutdown to a possible reshaping after new ownership moves saved the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and revived the Pittsburgh City Paper. Owners of the Post-Gazette announced a sale to a nonprofit foundation, while the City Paper returned under new ownership after learning on New Year’s Day it was closing.
Domestic violence killings of Black mothers in Louisiana and Virginia have renewed debate about access to prevention services and mental health care for Black communities. In Shreveport, Louisiana, a man police identified as Shamar Elkins fatally shot seven of his children and another child, authorities said; in Annandale, Virginia, police found former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax and his estranged wife, Dr. Cerina Fairfax, dead, along with their children, in what they described as a murder-suicide.
Women are taking leadership roles in the traditionally male-dominated whiskey industry as more women become distillers, blenders, and business owners while female consumption rises. The shift represents a significant transformation in an industry long perceived as exclusively male, with women now launching brands, managing operations, and earning recognition for innovation.
Mississippi College School of Law is requiring all first-year students to complete a mandatory artificial intelligence course, becoming the first law school in the Southeast to implement such a requirement. The school's dean, John Anderson, said the goal is to train lawyers to use the technology "effectively, efficiently, and ethically" and to prevent mistakes that have already begun plaguing the profession.
Indigenous delegates gathered at the United Nations in April for the world's largest gathering of Indigenous peoples, but many confronted visa denials from the Trump administration and warned of escalating threats to their lands, health, and cultural knowledge.
Vermont is hosting public meetings to gather resident feedback on the future of the 306-foot Bennington Battle Monument, which was saturated with 66,000 gallons of water and faces an estimated $40 million restoration bill. State officials announced meetings on April 29 and May 12 to discuss options for the iconic obelisk that commemorates the 1777 Battle of Bennington. The monument, the second-tallest unreinforced masonry structure in the United States after the Washington Monument, has become a test case for balancing historic preservation with fiscal reality. Its elevator remains non-functional, causing visits to the state's most-visited historic site to drop last year.
More than 100 animal welfare activists gathered outside Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers' Capitol office Monday morning, chanting "Free the dogs!" and demanding that state officials take action against Ridglan Farms, a beagle breeding and research facility in rural Blue Mounds about 25 miles southwest of Madison. The Capitol protest followed a weekend clash at the facility Saturday in which an estimated 1,000 activists attempted to access the property, where approximately 2,000 beagles are housed.
A planned confrontation among young people escalated into a mass shooting Monday morning at a public park in Winston-Salem, N.C., leaving two teenage boys dead and five others wounded, authorities said. The two fatalities were 16 and 17 years old and were pronounced dead at the scene after shots were fired around 10 a.m. at Leinbach Park. Five other people between ages 14 and 19 sustained injuries ranging from critical to minor, according to police Capt. Kevin Burns, with four of the five wounded being female.
Carmine Agnello, the reality-TV-star grandson of late mob boss John Gotti, was sentenced Monday to 15 months in prison for fraudulently obtaining $1.1 million in federal pandemic-relief loans meant for small businesses. Federal Judge Nusrat Choudhury imposed the sentence in U.S. District Court on Long Island, along with a requirement that Agnello repay the funds and perform 100 hours of community service.
Orick Elementary School District in northern Humboldt County operates a single kindergarten-through-eighth-grade school with nine students. California spends $118,000 per pupil per year to keep it open — more than five times the state average. The town of Orick has about 300 residents, down from 3,000 in the 1960s, as the logging industry collapsed and families departed.
Renewable energy sources surpassed coal as a share of global electricity generation for the first time in modern history in 2025, driven by record solar expansion in China and India, according to a comprehensive analysis by Ember, an energy research think tank. The milestone marks a turning point in the world's energy transition, with solar and wind combined meeting 99 percent of net growth in global electricity demand over the year.
Around 25 protesters were arrested Saturday as approximately 1,000 animal welfare activists attempted to breach Ridglan Farms, a beagle breeding facility in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, about 25 miles southwest of Madison. Officers fired pepper spray and rubber bullets to repel the group, according to the Dane County Sheriff's Office.
In the heart of Bruges, one of Belgium's most touristic cities, about two dozen women have found sanctuary from bustling cobblestone streets and chattering crowds at an institution founded nearly 800 years ago. The Princely Beguinage Ten Wijngaerde, a women-only community established in 1245, sits beyond a small bridge and under an ornate arch engraved with the Latin phrase 'sauvegarde'—safe place. For contemporary residents like Trees Dewever, who has lived there for 22 years, the beguinage provides 'an overwhelming feeling of calm.'
Schools across Iran have remained closed for seven weeks since the United States and Israel launched a war on Feb. 28, leaving families navigating childcare and educational challenges with no announced timeline for reopening. Working parents like Mahnaz Ataei, a finance manager in Tehran, have brought their children to the office to supervise online classes while trying to maintain productivity. The fragile ceasefire has shifted the crisis from immediate aerial threat to the grinding logistics of displacement and remote learning.
Russian attacks on Ukraine killed one person and wounded at least 26 more on Friday, according to local officials, as Ukrainian drone strikes targeted major oil refineries in Russia's Samara region, escalating a months-long campaign against Russian energy infrastructure. The civilian death occurred in Mykolaivka in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region, regional leader Vadym Filashkin said on social media. Attacks also damaged port infrastructure in the Black Sea city of Odesa. Ukrainian drones struck major oil refineries in Novokuibyshevsk and Syzran in Russia's Samara region on Friday, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said. The strikes sparked fires at the Vystosk oil terminal in Russia's northwestern Leningrad region and an oil refinery in the southern Krasnodar region, Ukrainian officials said. Russian officials later confirmed the blazes.
A 31-year-old Louisiana man fatally shot eight children, seven of his own, in a Shreveport neighborhood Sunday morning, the deadliest mass shooting in the U.S. in more than two years. Two women, including the gunman's wife, were critically wounded. The suspect, Shamar Elkins, died during a police pursuit that ended with officers firing on him.
Ohio nursing facilities have discharged medically fragile residents to homeless shelters, federal inspectors said, in cases that ombudsmen and advocates say can lead to unsafe outcomes. In one case in Columbus, a resident was left waiting outside a shelter and later staff said they could not determine how the person ended up there, according to a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services inspection.
Five people were shot in a nightlife district near the University of Iowa campus early Sunday, including three students, during a large fight, according to police and university officials. One victim was in critical condition while four others were stable.
Survivors of Hong Kong's deadliest fire in decades began returning to their homes Monday to assess the devastation and retrieve their belongings, five months after the blaze swept across seven of eight buildings in an apartment complex in the Tai Po district. The fire, which occurred in November, killed 168 people. Over 260 residents returned on the first day, with the process expected to continue into early May.
Pope Leo XIV prayed Sunday at a Catholic shrine in Angola that was a major hub of the African slave trade, but did not explicitly reference slavery during his visit to the Sanctuary of Mama Muxima. The American pope spoke of the 'sorrow and great suffering' that Angolans endured for centuries at the sanctuary, originally built by Portuguese colonizers at the end of the 16th century as part of a fortress complex.
A Portuguese Catholic priest and global electronic-music sensation hosted a rave in Buenos Aires on Saturday honoring Pope Francis, who died in April 2025. Padre Guilherme Peixoto, a DJ-priest in his 50s, mixed techno and religious melodies at the historic Plaza de Mayo for thousands of attendees spanning generations and faiths. The tribute featured images of the late pope and John Paul II projected on enormous screens.
Baby food brand HiPP is recalling baby food jars after samples in Austria, Slovakia and the Czech Republic tested positive for rat poison, officials said Sunday. Authorities believe tampering occurred in 190-gram jars of baby food made with carrots and potatoes for 5-month-olds that were sold from SPAR supermarkets in Austria, with the first sample testing positive on Saturday.
Federal judge Troy L. Nunley blocked a $6.2 billion merger between television giants Nexstar Media Group and Tegna on Friday, finding that state attorneys general and DirecTV are likely to prevail in their antitrust lawsuit challenging the deal. The merged company would have owned 265 television stations across 44 states and the District of Columbia, the judge noted.
As the U.S. and Israel's war with Iran squeezes global oil supplies, travelers planning summer vacations face escalating costs: jet fuel prices have soared from roughly $99 a barrel in late February to as high as $209 in early April, forcing airlines to raise fares and add fuel surcharges. The International Energy Agency warned that European countries could run low on jet fuel within weeks, prompting carriers including Air Canada, United, Delta, and Air France-KLM to reduce routes and raise ticket prices.
President Donald Trump on Saturday directed his administration to speed reviews of psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine, a substance with documented health risks that has been embraced by combat veterans and conservative lawmakers seeking treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder and opioid addiction. The executive order directs the Food and Drug Administration to issue national priority vouchers for three psychedelics, potentially cutting review times from months to weeks — the first time the FDA has offered that fast-tracking to any psychedelics.
President Donald Trump's remarks linking California Gov. Gavin Newsom's dyslexia to low intelligence stirred anguish and anger among people with the learning disability and supporters across the political spectrum. Trump called Newsom "stupid," "low IQ," and "mentally disabled," claims that conflict with research showing dyslexia and intelligence are unrelated and that undermine years of efforts to reduce stigma around a condition affecting an estimated 20% of the world population.
Pope Leo XIV will visit Angola's Church of Our Lady of Muxima on Sunday, a 16th-century fortress transformed into a pilgrimage shrine but marked by its role in the trans-Atlantic slave trade. The visit gains weight from recent revelations about the pope's own heritage: his ancestry includes both enslaved people and slave owners. The church, where Portuguese colonizers baptized enslaved Africans before forcing them to the port of Luanda for shipment to the Americas, reflects what historians call the inextricable link between Catholicism and African exploitation.
More than 60 bills named after conservative activist Charlie Kirk have been proposed in over 20 states, according to an Associated Press analysis. The measures—ranging from campus free-speech protections to requirements that public schools teach about religion's positive historical impact—come after Kirk's assassination at a Utah university in 2025. Republicans who have advanced the bills cite Kirk's ideology and legacy; Democrats have objected both to the legislation's content and to naming state laws after a partisan figure.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Angola on Saturday as the third leg of his four-nation African tour. In his first speech to government authorities, he challenged the country's leaders to break what he called the "cycle of interests" that has exploited Africa for centuries. The pontiff said Angola's people possessed treasures that could not be "bought or stolen" despite the nation's history of colonial plunder, civil war, and pervasive poverty.
A French soldier died and three others were wounded Saturday in an attack in southern Lebanon near UNIFIL positions, just two days after a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah took effect. French President Emmanuel Macron said Hezbollah was responsible; the militant group denied involvement and called for a full investigation before assigning blame.
School closures have disrupted the lives of Iranian families since the U.S.-Israel war began on February 28, leaving working parents to supervise their children's online classes while juggling employment. A fragile ceasefire now in effect is expected to expire early next week, leaving families uncertain whether schools will reopen or the conflict will reignite.
British counterterrorism police are investigating a series of attempted and completed arson attacks on Jewish and Iranian community premises in London. An attempted firebombing outside a building previously used by the Jewish community on Friday evening, combined with separate attacks this week on a synagogue and a Persian-language media organization, have prompted authorities to examine potential links between the incidents, though no injuries have been reported.
Pope Leo XIV said Saturday that it was "not in my interest at all" to debate U.S. President Donald Trump about the Iran war, even as he reaffirmed his commitment to preaching peace. Speaking aboard the papal plane as it flew from Cameroon to Angola, Leo addressed a week-long public dispute with the U.S. administration that has consumed international headlines.
The house where Beatles guitarist George Harrison visited family in Benton, Illinois, in 1963 is now for sale, drawing interest from fans and local preservation advocates. The bungalow at 113 McCann Street later became a bed-and-breakfast filled with Beatles memorabilia before it closed in 2010.
Ohio nursing homes have transferred medically fragile residents to homeless shelters, federal inspectors found, in a practice advocates say is becoming more common. In one case described in Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services oversight documents, inspectors said a nursing home discharged a resident to a shelter without arranging psychiatric placement or ensuring a safe transfer, prompting shelter staff to call the fire department.
Beef tallow moisturizers and salmon sperm facials are gaining popularity among consumers seeking natural alternatives to synthetic skin care products, even as dermatologists and cosmetic chemists say these products lack robust medical evidence of effectiveness. The products, which range from balms made from organ fat of beef cattle to treatments administered at high-end spas, are increasingly available on social media, at farmers' markets, and through online retailers. Some experts attribute their rise partly to growing consumer concerns about chemicals in personal care products and messaging from the Make America Healthy Again movement that emphasizes natural foods and products.
An 85-year-old French widow returned to France on Friday after 16 days in U.S. immigration custody, her son said. Marie-Thérèse Ross was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Alabama on April 1 for overstaying her 90-day visa. Speaking to reporters in her hometown of Orvault in western France, her son Hervé Goix said his mother needs time to recover from the detention.
About 1,000 animal welfare activists attempted to storm Ridglan Farms, a beagle breeding and research facility in Blue Mounds, Wisconsin, on Saturday, but police fired rubber bullets and pepper spray to repel them, authorities said. The Coalition to Save the Ridglan Dogs, led by Wayne Hsiung, had organized the operation to seize the approximately 2,000 beagles kept at the facility. Hsiung was arrested along with an unspecified number of other protesters.
Black and Indigenous patriots whose contributions to the American Revolution were long marginalized are now being highlighted through museum exhibitions and programs nationwide as the United States marks the war's 250th anniversary. The National Park Service estimates that more than 5,500 patriots of color served on the colonial side, including enslaved men like Prince Estabrook, who fought at Lexington on April 19, 1775, yet their stories have been largely absent from traditional accounts that focused on white leaders.
Pope Leo XIV on Friday urged Cameroon's young people to resist the temptation to migrate and instead work to combat corruption plaguing their country, telling students and faculty at the Catholic University of Central Africa that morally upright citizens are essential to halt the continent's decay. "Africa, indeed, must be freed from the scourge of corruption," Leo said during a Mass and university meeting in Yaounde, highlighting two of the central problems facing the continent: the corruption that perpetuates poverty and the brain drain of talented citizens who leave rather than challenge the system at home. The Pope's visit marks his first extended engagement in the world's second-most populous continent, coming as young Africans increasingly face the choice between staying in countries ruled by aging leaders with entrenched power and seeking opportunity abroad.
The Tennessee Senate voted 18-14 on Thursday to expand the state's school voucher program to 35,000 vouchers for the 2026-27 academic year, nearly doubling the current enrollment. The expansion will direct approximately $260 million in public funds to private schools. The bill now heads to Gov. Bill Lee for his signature after passing the House 52-43 earlier this week.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. testified before the House Ways and Means Committee on Thursday for the first time since September, defending a proposed cut of more than 12% to the Department of Health and Human Services budget while trading sharp exchanges with Democrats over vaccine policy and remarks he made during his 2024 presidential campaign. The session opened a planned sprint of seven budget hearings Kennedy is scheduled to attend across congressional committees and subcommittees over the following week.
Ohio regulators and federal inspectors have documented nursing homes transferring medically fragile, involuntarily discharged patients to homeless shelters instead of psychiatric placements or other care options, according to inspection reports and interviews with ombudsman officials. The cases highlighted by the reports include people with mobility limits, complex medication needs and substance-use treatment barriers, with investigators describing situations where shelter staff had to call emergency responders. The issue has drawn attention from state long-term-care advocates, who warn that shelter systems are not equipped for nursing-home care.
The house in Benton, Illinois where George Harrison visited his sister in 1963 is for sale, according to Associated Press. The five-bedroom bungalow at 113 McCann Street is listed for $105,000, after a history of preservation efforts and later use as a Beatles-themed bed-and-breakfast. The sale comes decades after activists helped stop demolition in the mid-1990s.
New Jersey Transit will charge World Cup fans $150 for a round-trip train ride to MetLife Stadium from Manhattan — nearly 12 times the regular $12.90 fare for the roughly 9-mile trip. The agency announced Friday that the elevated fare was necessary to cover the $62 million cost of transporting fans to the stadium in East Rutherford for eight World Cup matches beginning June 13, with federal grants defraying only $14 million of that expense.
Former heavyweight champion George Foreman was buried in a cemetery in northwestern Iowa—a place he visited in 1988 and where he recalled experiencing a sense of peace. His family revealed the burial location this week during a news conference at Logan Park Cemetery in Sioux City.
Patients and colleagues in Virginia's dental community are mourning Dr. Cerina Fairfax, a 49-year-old dentist police say was killed by her estranged husband in their Annandale home early Thursday. Police believe former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax fatally shot his wife before killing himself.
An analysis by the Flatwater Free Press shows Nebraska has lost an estimated 70,000 jobs relative to its regional competitors since 2010, marking a sharp reversal for a state once recognized nationally for creating jobs. The decline became visible last month when Site Selection magazine, an economic development industry publication, failed to list Nebraska in its top 10 development states—the second consecutive year the state missed the ranking. State business leaders and economists attribute the drop to a combination of workforce shortages, lack of affordable housing, and reduced state focus on economic development initiatives.
The Associated Press released its weekly news quiz on Wednesday, featuring major stories from across seven news categories. The quiz tested readers' knowledge on U.S. and world news, along with reporting on oddities, health, technology, religion, sports and entertainment.
Luther Davis, a former University of Alabama defensive tackle, and his co-conspirator CJ Evins are accused of defrauding lenders of nearly $20 million by impersonating NFL players on video calls. Federal prosecutors say Davis used makeup, wigs, and fake driver's licenses bearing the athletes' photos to secure at least 13 fraudulent loans between early 2024 and July 2026, with proceeds used to purchase real estate, jewelry, and cars.
Two U.S. Army soldiers were injured Thursday after encountering a brown bear during a land navigation training exercise at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, Alaska, the military said Friday. The soldiers were receiving medical care as of Friday; their conditions were not released pending notification of relatives. Both used pepper spray on the bear during the encounter, which is still under investigation.
Federal officials on Thursday ordered airlines to cut roughly 300 flights per day from Chicago O'Hare International Airport's schedule on the busiest summer days, capping operations at a maximum of 2,708 flights to head off what regulators said would be severe delays. The U.S. Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration announced the directive after airlines filed expansion plans that would have pushed peak-day operations to more than 3,080 flights — a 14.9 percent increase over the prior summer — at an airport already contending with taxiway closures for ongoing construction. The flight limits take effect May 17 and run through Oct. 24.
Researchers and arborists are working to revive the American chestnut, a tree that once dominated eastern forests before fungal blight and root rot devastated the species by the 1950s. Using selective breeding and DNA sequencing, scientists are attempting to create disease-resistant variants of the chestnut, which was functionally extinct by mid-century.
After a paralyzing stroke in August 2012, South Korean pianist Lee Hun returned to the stage as a one-handed performer. Now 54, Lee is preparing for his first major orchestra performance on May 2 at an international music festival in South Korea, playing Ravel's 'Piano Concerto for the Left Hand.' The stroke had damaged approximately 60% of his brain's left hemisphere, initially leaving him unable to walk or speak.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed Friday that the United States is controlling measles outbreaks better than any other country in the world. According to an AP fact-check, that claim is not supported by evidence. Other countries, including neighboring Mexico and Canada, have experienced larger measles outbreaks in 2025 and 2026 than the United States.
For the first time, scientists have measured the instantaneous power of jets blasting from a black hole. An international research team reported the jets from Cygnus X-1—a binary system 7,200 light-years away in the Milky Way's Cygnus constellation—release energy equivalent to 10,000 suns. The jets travel at roughly 355 million mph, half the speed of light, the researchers announced Thursday in Nature Astronomy.
Lula da Silva said Wednesday that Pope Leo XIV should be defended from “powerful people” after U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the pope’s comments on the war in Iran. Speaking in a video message to Brazil’s bishops’ conference during a trip to Cameroon, Lula urged Catholics to stand in solidarity with the pope.
The World Health Organization said vaccination progress across Africa is slowing, warning that cuts to U.S. global health aid and disruptions tied to the Iran war could leave millions of children unprotected. WHO said more than 500 million children have been reached through routine immunization since 2000, but it warned that funding shortfalls are already forcing some programs to scale back.
Rama Duwaji, the wife of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, apologized Wednesday for "harmful" social media posts she made as a teenager, responding after a conservative news outlet published her years of online activity. In an interview with the arts website Hyperallergic, Duwaji, an illustrator, said she felt "a lot of shame being confronted with language I used that is so harmful to others," adding "being 15 doesn't excuse it."
President Donald Trump nominated Erica Schwartz, a former deputy surgeon general with military and medical credentials, to lead the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday — the third person nominated to head the Atlanta-based agency since Trump returned to office in January 2025.
Aboard a charter flight from Algiers to Yaounde on Wednesday, Pope Leo XIV pressed forward with an 11-day, four-nation Africa tour as an escalating public dispute with President Donald Trump played out on social media thousands of miles away, testing the first American pope's ability to keep his planned program at the center of a journey that Washington has tried to reshape from afar. Leo, traveling with a Vatican delegation and roughly 70 accredited journalists in a tightly managed press pool, did not take reporters' questions on the five-hour flight to Cameroon. He delivered brief remarks in English about his just-concluded Algerian visit — the first papal trip to that country — without addressing Trump directly.
Europe has approximately six weeks of jet fuel remaining, International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol warned Thursday, saying flight cancellations could follow "soon" if the Iran war continues to block oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
More than 5.83 million Haitians are expected to face acute levels of hunger between March and June, according to an international food-security report released Thursday, but officials warn that modest recent gains may soon be reversed by fuel price increases linked to the war in Iran. The Integrated Food Security Phase Classification — the leading international authority on hunger crises — said the figure represents a slight decline from a previous estimate of 5.91 million, or more than half of Haiti's population. Nearly 1.9 million Haitians face emergency-level hunger, down slightly from a projected 2 million.
German rescuers launched an elaborate operation Thursday to save a sick humpback whale stranded in shallow Baltic Sea waters near the eastern town of Wismar, deploying air cushions to lift the animal onto a tarp secured between two pontoons for tow by tugboat toward the North Sea. The whale, nicknamed Timmy by local media, was first spotted in the region on March 3 and has barely moved in days, breathing slowly and heavily, with experts and the public alike fearing it may soon die. State officials in Mecklenburg-Pomerania approved a private initiative to transport Timmy back to the North Sea and possibly the Atlantic Ocean, with the tugboat expected to leave Baltic waters by Friday.
Two Pennsylvania men pleaded not guilty Wednesday to federal terrorism charges stemming from an alleged plot to detonate homemade bombs at an anti-Islam protest outside the official residence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. Emir Balat, 18, and Ibrahim Kayumi, 19, both from the Philadelphia area, entered the pleas during a brief appearance in federal court in Manhattan on April 15.
Palestinian siblings attempting to walk to school in the occupied West Bank found their path blocked by coiled barbed wire that Israeli settlers had installed overnight, according to video provided to the Associated Press. When students and parents gathered Monday at the blocked route, armed men in an unmarked white truck — including some uniformed soldiers, the video shows — deployed tear gas and sound grenades. The incident unfolded at Umm al-Khair, a Bedouin village adjacent to the Carmel settlement in the southern West Bank, as Palestinian children returned to class for the first time since the Iran war prompted school closures.
The Trump administration is pressing foreign governments to back a "Trade Over Aid Initiative" at the United Nations, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio ordering all U.S. diplomats to recruit high-level support ahead of a formal UN introduction scheduled for the end of April, according to a diplomatic cable obtained by The Associated Press. The United Nations warned Wednesday that trade and investment must not be used to replace principled humanitarian assistance.
Former Virginia Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax killed himself and his estranged wife, Dr. Cerina Fairfax, on Thursday, police said. The apparent murder-suicide occurred at their home in Annandale, Virginia, with their two children in the home. The deaths came during divorce proceedings, just two weeks before a court-ordered deadline for Fairfax to vacate the family residence.
SAN DIEGO, California — Residents along the Tijuana River say untreated sewage and industrial wastewater produce a strong odor and health symptoms, including congestion, coughing, headaches and breathing trouble. Researchers documented hydrogen sulfide concentrations in a nearby neighborhood reaching levels far above typical urban values when the river’s nighttime flow peaked.
PARIS (AP) — The French Open’s total prize money has increased by about 10% to 61.7 million euros ($72.1 million), tournament officials said Thursday. Play at Roland Garros begins Sunday, May 24 in western Paris.
A house in Benton, Illinois, where Beatles guitarist George Harrison visited his sister in 1963 is now for sale, after decades of preservation efforts by fans and locals. The five-bedroom bungalow at 113 McCann Street is listed for $105,000, according to the report.
Arizona’s largest utility agreed to stop cutting power for nonpayment when forecast temperatures reach 95 degrees Fahrenheit or above, under a $7 million settlement announced by Attorney General Kris Mayes.
Many Americans are using AI chatbots for health information and advice, according to polling that found about one-quarter of U.S. adults used AI tools for health in the past 30 days. The surveys also show users often seek quick answers, while many express concerns about accuracy and privacy. AP reported the findings from a West Health–Gallup Center on Healthcare in America poll.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Cameroon and urged President Paul Biya and other government officials to break the “chains of corruption” as part of his themes of peace and anti-corruption during a visit. In remarks at the presidential palace in Yaounde, the pope tied legitimate authority to serving the common good and called for greater transparency in public finances.
QVC Group, the West Chester, Pennsylvania, company that owns home shopping networks QVC and HSN, disclosed plans to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in an annual report filed this week with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The company said it has reached a restructuring agreement with creditors and intends to file in U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Texas. QVC Group said it aims to emerge from bankruptcy before the end of summer, though it cautioned that its access to funding is difficult to predict.
Chinese authorities are escalating pressure on underground Catholic communities to join the state-controlled official church, according to Human Rights Watch. The rights group released a report Wednesday documenting a decade-long campaign of detention, forced disappearance, and house arrest of bishops and priests as the government seeks to ensure all religious groups remain loyal to the Communist Party. The escalation affects an estimated 12 million Catholics in China, who face tightened surveillance and travel restrictions.
Marty Baron, the retired editor of The Washington Post and former leader of The Boston Globe and The Miami Herald, warned Wednesday that American journalism is losing its shared ethical foundation, telling an audience at New York University that "to each his own" is becoming the evolving ethos for many who cover and comment on the news. Baron delivered the critique in a keynote address as NYU presented its annual journalism awards, praising the Associated Press and criticizing CBS News leadership, partisan cable networks, and mainstream reporters he said failed to aggressively cover former President Joe Biden's fitness for office.
A California bill advancing through the state Legislature would require medical providers and affiliated businesses to notify the state attorney general before complying with federal subpoenas seeking records related to abortion, gender-affirming or reproductive care — a measure that three independent constitutional scholars say may face substantial legal challenge. Assembly Bill 1930, authored by Assemblymember Rick Chavez Zbur of Los Angeles and co-sponsored by Attorney General Rob Bonta, passed the Assembly Judiciary Committee on a party-line vote after 17 minutes of discussion and now moves to the Assembly Public Safety Committee.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani earned $1,643 in music royalties from his early rap career in 2025, according to tax filings shared with reporters Thursday. The 34-year-old Democrat, who performed under the names "Young Cardamom" and "Mr. Cardamom," saw only a modest increase from $1,267 in royalties the year before. Mamdani joked that New Yorkers wanting to improve his bottom line should "go to Spotify," adding: "A lot of people say they're listening. They're not listening."
A federal jury in New York found Wednesday that Live Nation Entertainment ran a harmful monopoly over large concert venues across the United States, handing a victory to more than 30 states that pressed ahead with an antitrust trial after the Trump administration reached a separate settlement with the company. The jury found that Ticketmaster, Live Nation's subsidiary, overcharged customers $1.72 per ticket in 22 states — an amount a judge could order the company to repay, potentially costing Live Nation hundreds of millions of dollars. Live Nation said Wednesday that the verdict "is not the last word on this matter."
Reed Hastings, the cofounder and chairman of Netflix, will leave the streaming company's board of directors in June when his current term expires, Netflix said Thursday. Hastings, who served as Netflix's chief executive for more than two decades before stepping down in 2023, said he plans to focus on philanthropy and other pursuits.
Former NBA player Damon Jones is expected to become the first person to plead guilty in a federal gambling sweep that led to the arrests of more than 30 people, including reputed mobsters and other basketball figures, according to the Associated Press. Jones, 49, is scheduled for plea change hearings on April 28 in Brooklyn federal court in two separate cases — one charging him with profiting from rigged poker games and another alleging he sold non-public injury information about LeBron James and Anthony Davis to sports bettors.
The percentage of men ages 18-29 who say religion is "very important" jumped to 42% from 28% in 2022-2023, surpassing young women for the first time in at least 25 years, according to a Gallup poll released Thursday. The gender reversal is driven almost entirely by rising religiosity among young Republican men, marking what political scientists describe as a potentially transformative shift in American religious life.
PepsiCo said Thursday that Gatorade, the 61-year-old sports drink it owns, is pivoting away from its core athletic identity to target everyday consumers seeking hydration benefits such as electrolyte replacement. The announcement came as unit sales of sports drink mixes rose nearly 20 percent in the year ending March 22, according to market research firm Circana, while bottled water sales were flat in the same period. New product packaging will highlight the science behind Gatorade's lineup, and a new drink blending glycerin and electrolytes is planned for release in 2027.
China's foreign ministry and embassy urged citizens traveling to the United States to avoid Seattle-Tacoma International Airport on Thursday, citing what Chinese officials described as a pattern of continual harassment by U.S. Customs and Border Protection personnel. The advisory followed the denial of entry to about 20 Chinese scholars who arrived at the airport with valid visas to attend an academic conference.
Autism spectrum disorder affects roughly 1 in 45 adults in the U.S., yet many autistic workers report burning out in jobs where their communication styles and sensory needs go unaddressed. In April, workplace inclusion experts and people on the autism spectrum outlined practical, low-cost accommodations that help autistic employees contribute at their fullest — changes that benefit neurodivergent and neurotypical workers alike.
DNA analysis has identified the remains found in a submerged Ford station wagon in the Columbia River as those of an Oregon family who vanished in December 1958 while searching for Christmas greenery, the Hood River County Sheriff's Office said Thursday. The state medical examiner's office identified parents Kenneth and Barbara Martin and their daughter Barbie from remains recovered at the site. Investigators found no evidence of a crime, the sheriff's office said.
Jay Bryant, one of three men charged in the 2002 killing of Run-DMC DJ Jam Master Jay, has signaled his intent to plead guilty in federal court, according to court records reviewed Thursday — a development that would mark the first admission anyone has made in court to any role in the death of Jason Mizell more than two decades after he was gunned down in his Queens, New York, recording studio. Bryant's attorney and federal prosecutors told the court in recent letters that they were negotiating a plea agreement, the Associated Press reported. A court docket entry Thursday indicated Bryant intends to change his plea, though no date was set and prosecutors declined to comment.
A Kaua'i nonprofit has built a community-driven map of coconut rhinoceros beetle infestations across the island, documenting feeding, breeding, and treatment sites as the invasive pest reaches Moloka'i for the first time and is rediscovered on Maui. The project, called Niu Ola Kauhale and led by E Ola Kākou Hawai'i, received a $25,000 county innovation grant and draws on a network of district leaders practicing traditional Hawaiian observation methods to gather data that state agencies lack the staffing to collect.
Sama, a technology company that has faced litigation in Kenya over the treatment of African content moderators, announced Thursday it will lay off 1,108 workers at its Nairobi office after Meta issued formal notice ending a major service engagement. Sama said it received notice from Meta to terminate the contract and had issued a layoff notice covering all affected employees. The company said it was "actively supporting affected employees with care and respect."
Young adults across the world have spent recent months flooding social media with videos proclaiming they are "becoming Chinese" — embracing habits like drinking hot water steeped with goji berries, eating dumplings, and wearing slippers indoors — in a viral trend that has drawn the attention of Chinese diplomats, the Associated Press reported. Xie Feng, China's ambassador to the United States, cited the social media wave while promoting a new visa-free transit policy and urging Americans to "experience for yourselves a real, dynamic and panoramic China."
LONDON — Archbishop of Canterbury Sarah Mullally on Thursday expressed solidarity with Pope Leo XIV in calling for peace in the Middle East, standing by the pontiff as his advocacy drew public criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Neurosurgeon Leopoldo Luque testified Thursday in a trial examining Diego Maradona's death, declaring his innocence and expressing love for the soccer legend. Maradona died of a heart attack on November 25, 2020, while recovering at home from subdural hematoma surgery. Seven health professionals, including Luque, face charges of negligent homicide carrying a maximum 25-year prison sentence.
Pope Leo XIV on April 14 pushed back on President Donald Trump’s criticism of the Vatican’s approach to the war in Iran, telling reporters he was “not afraid of the Trump administration” and that the pope’s mission was grounded in the Gospel. Trump, meanwhile, used posts on Truth Social to describe Leo as “Weak” and to say Leo owed his position to Trump, as the two men increasingly engaged each other publicly over the conflict.
The Kennedy Center’s new leadership is guiding lawmakers on tours through parts of the Washington venue to argue the building needs a fundamental renovation, ahead of a scheduled two-year closure beginning in July. Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer Matt Floca said the effort is meant to show Congress and the public “what’s at stake and why the work can’t wait.” The tours have included Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries and a representative for Mayor Muriel Bowser, among others.
Following the triumphant return of the Artemis II crew from their lunar flyby, NASA is already looking ahead to the Artemis III mission and beyond. The Artemis II mission included never-before-seen views of the moon's far side and a total solar eclipse from the lunar surface.
A former student opened fire at a vocational high school in Siverek, in Turkey’s Sanliurfa province, wounding at least 16 people before killing himself, Gov. Hasan Sildak said Tuesday. The attacker, who was 18, fired inside the school and later died from a self-inflicted shotgun wound after police cornered him, Sildak added.
A New York jury found Wednesday that entertainment giant Live Nation and its Ticketmaster subsidiary maintained a harmful monopoly over major concert venues, delivering a significant legal defeat to the company that dominates live entertainment ticketing in the United States. The jury, which deliberated for four days, found that Ticketmaster's anticompetitive practices caused concertgoers in 22 states to pay an extra $1.72 per ticket.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said Tuesday it prevented an imminent shutdown after a nonprofit journalism operation agreed to buy the struggling newspaper, highlighting a broader shift as advertising and circulation revenues decline. The Associated Press also reviewed other newspaper deals in which nonprofit news organizations moved to keep papers alive.
Tennessee’s Senate on Monday passed an amended bill that would require certain health care providers and insurers to report transgender-related care to the state, according to the Associated Press. The vote came 24 to 7 after more than half an hour of debate, with Democrats and Sen. John Stevens voting against. The bill’s sponsors said the measure would provide transparency, while opponents and protesters argued it would expose non-cisgender people.
Melania Trump visited Capitol Hill on Wednesday to press lawmakers to pass bills that would broaden access to services for young people in foster care as they age out, calling it a “moral imperative.” The first lady met with members of the House Ways and Means Committee and heard from people who said the current system leaves foster youth with gaps in housing, transportation and education.
Democrats in Congress introduced resolutions aimed at overturning Trump administration changes to Public Service Loan Forgiveness, arguing the rule is political and could deny relief to some eligible borrowers. The program cancels remaining federal student loans for qualified public service workers after 10 years of payments, but the administration’s new rule would let the Education secretary remove certain employers from eligibility based on a vague standard.
Vatican visitors on Tuesday reacted sharply to U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticism of Pope Leo XIV, who has been urging a softer approach to talk of war. The pope was away on a 10-day trip to Africa as the dispute unfolded online and at the Vatican.
An Austin district judge on Monday ordered Texas’s Historically Underutilized Business Program rules to be temporarily reinstated, allowing women- and minority-owned businesses to qualify for the state’s HUB program again while a lawsuit proceeds. The move came after plaintiffs sued the state and the acting Texas comptroller, alleging emergency changes removed women and minorities from the program and stripped some businesses of HUB certifications.
Pauls Valley High School Principal Kirk Moore tackled and disarmed a gunman who entered the school lobby and opened fire on April 7, security video released by the district shows. Moore was shot in the leg during the attack but managed to wrestle the suspect onto a bench and remain on top of him until law enforcement officers arrived, according to court records. No students were injured.
Vice President JD Vance drew a partly empty arena and criticism from some conservative attendees Wednesday at a Turning Point USA forum in Athens, Georgia, one day after returning from a Pakistan trip that failed to produce a ceasefire in the U.S. war with Iran, the Associated Press reported.
Survivors of the 1961 Bay of Pigs Invasion are marking the 65th anniversary of the CIA-backed assault on Cuba with the grand reopening of a new museum in Miami's Little Havana neighborhood, as about 200 aging veterans of Brigade 2506 gather to preserve their legacy for future generations.
Vice President JD Vance traveled to Athens, Georgia on Wednesday for a Turning Point USA campus forum intended to showcase conservative youth energy, but found a mostly empty arena and pointed questions from attendees who said President Donald Trump's ongoing war with Iran, a social media meme depicting Trump as Jesus Christ, and his public clashes with Pope Leo XIV had cost him their support. Attendees at the University of Georgia venue were outnumbered more than 2-to-1 by empty seats, the Associated Press reported — a stark contrast to the overflow rallies the organization helped organize during Trump's 2024 campaign. Vance arrived in Georgia fresh from a trip to Pakistan that failed to produce a deal to end the war with Iran.
Pakistan's army chief, Gen. Asim Munir, met Wednesday in Tehran with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi in the latest diplomatic effort to arrange a second round of U.S.-Iran negotiations before a ceasefire set to expire Tuesday. The White House said any further direct talks would likely return to Islamabad but that no decision had been made on whether to resume them.
Pope Leo XIV on Wednesday reinforced his call for peace and dialogue as U.S. President Donald Trump continued a week of public attacks on history's first American-born pope, accusing him of weakness on crime, claiming him as a political captive, and asserting that Leo owed his election to Trump. Speaking to journalists aboard the papal plane en route to Cameroon, Leo said the message "the world needs to hear today" is one of peace and dialogue. Leo made no mention of Trump's latest social media posts or the suggestion by Vice President JD Vance, a Catholic convert, that the pope should "be careful" when speaking about theology.
The New York Islanders solicited fan donations via a jumbotron display during Tuesday's home game against the Carolina Hurricanes for former NYPD Sgt. Erik Duran, who was sentenced last week to three to nine years in prison for manslaughter in the 2023 death of a Bronx man. The promotion, organized by the Sergeants Benevolent Association, featured Duran's photograph, a QR code directing fans to his legal defense fund, and a message urging them to join "the fight for justice." The team also directed a quarter of proceeds from a 50/50 raffle — which took in $44,890, according to the Islanders' website — toward the cause, the union said.
The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy is changing how the state issues air quality alerts as wildfire smoke season approaches, including when conditions reach the federal Air Quality Index range labeled “unhealthy for sensitive groups.” The state will issue an alert when fine particulate matter or ozone levels rise into the AQI orange range, rather than waiting for the red “unhealthy” category.
The annual SantaCon bar crawl in New York is facing federal wire-fraud charges tied to allegations that organizer Stefan Pildes pocketed most of money raised for charity from 2019 to 2024. Federal prosecutors say Pildes, president of Participatory Safety Inc., diverted more than half of proceeds to personal expenses and unrelated purchases, including renovating a lakefront property in New Jersey and trips to Hawaii and Las Vegas.
Roblox will pay more than $12 million to Nevada and add new safety protections for minors after the Nevada attorney general reached a settlement this week with the popular gaming platform, the Associated Press reported. Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford said the agreement is intended to create safer conditions for children online. The settlement also comes amid lawsuits in other states accusing Roblox and other platforms of failing to protect children.
University of Michigan’s president-elect, Kent Syverud, said he will not take the job because he has brain cancer. Syverud, the chancellor of Syracuse University, said he received the diagnosis after not feeling well last week and is undergoing treatment at the University of Michigan.
Barely two weeks after announcing a plan to shut down, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said it has found a buyer that will keep the newspaper operating under a nonprofit journalism model. The newspaper had been scheduled to close on May 3, but Block Communications announced the sale to the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, which publishes the digital Baltimore Banner.
A former UCLA gynecologist, James Heaps, pleaded guilty Tuesday to sexual abuse charges after an appeals court overturned his earlier conviction. Prosecutors said Heaps admitted guilt to 13 felony counts and now faces 11 years in prison.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin’s coalition government survived a Tuesday confidence vote tied to how it handled a week of disruptive fuel protests that blocked access to oil supplies, left some gas pumps dry and snarled traffic in Dublin. The vote was 92-78 in favor of the government, with Martin defending the response as efforts to end a “destructive blockade which threatened to cause much deeper damage.”
Hungarian youth who came of age under Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s 16-year rule helped fuel the momentum leading up to Sunday’s vote, Associated Press reported. As hundreds of thousands celebrated the victory of pro-European candidate Péter Magyar, young people used concerts, tram rides and online sounds to amplify anti-Orbán chants.
The U.S. Census Bureau said Tuesday that while the most popular last names remain the same over the decade, Asian surnames were the fastest-growing early in this decade. The agency said the top five last names in the United States in 2020—Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown and Jones—matched the top five in 2010, but that many of the fastest-growing surnames were Asian.
Body-camera video released Monday shows a St. Louis police officer fatally shooting a 17-year-old in the back of the head as he fled, contradicting an earlier police account that said the teen pointed a gun at officers. The family’s attorney, Al Watkins, said he obtained the video through discovery in a federal lawsuit after a records request attempt failed.
Pope Leo XIV visited the archaeological ruins in Annaba, Algeria, on Tuesday, making a pilgrimage to the birthplace and legacy of St. Augustine, his spiritual father. The pope arrived with tight security amid rain and said the visit reflects a message of peace and interreligious bridge-building. The stop is part of Leo’s four-country Africa tour.
The French Tennis Federation announced Thursday that prize money for this year’s French Open will rise about 10% to 61.7 million euros ($72.1 million) for the tournament that begins May 24 at Roland Garros in western Paris. Tournament director Amélie Mauresmo also said players will be allowed to use data-collecting portable devices on court for performance information, while the event will keep limits on camera access in player areas.
WASHINGTON (AP) — On America’s 250th anniversary, visitors to the National Archives’ Rotunda reflected on whether the country is living up to the ideals of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights amid political division and anxiety over representative government. Many said they still hope the nation can repair itself, while others pointed to concerns about constitutional rights and recent immigration enforcement actions.
Southern Haiti’s Marigot mayor appealed for central government help after a gang attack in Seguin left seven people dead and a police station set on fire, according to the Associated Press. Marigot Mayor René Danneau said the victims were young men who worked alongside police to gather information. He criticized authorities for not responding quickly enough and asked the prime minister to take “all necessary measures.”
Hampshire College, a small liberal arts school in western Massachusetts that counts filmmaker Ken Burns among its alumni, said its Board of Trustees voted to close after the fall semester. The school cited “increasingly complex” financial pressure and said efforts including enrollment growth, refinancing debt, and new revenue from land sales fell short.
Jackson, Mississippi is spotlighting the America at 250 celebration with two adjoining museums that present state history, including slavery and racial violence, through exhibits and artifacts created to “don’t brush over anything” and “don’t whitewash anything.” The state’s approach, as described by officials and visitors, contrasts with federal changes that followed President Donald Trump’s return to the White House in January 2025.
America at 250 is offering a quiz on the American Revolution that tests readers’ knowledge of events and figures from the period. The quiz includes questions about George Washington and Thomas Jefferson, among other topics. The American Revolution quiz is part of the “America at 250” project’s broader push to mark major moments in U.S. history.
The Food and Drug Administration announced Wednesday it will convene an outside advisory panel in July to consider whether seven unapproved peptide injections should be cleared for production by compounding pharmacies, and said it will soon remove the substances from its restricted list of high-risk, unapproved drugs. The announcement follows repeated pledges by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to loosen regulations on peptides, a class of compounds popular among wellness influencers that have not been reviewed for safety by the FDA.
A Miami federal jury awarded $300,000 last Friday to Diana Sanders, a 45-year-old nurse from Vacaville, California, after finding Carnival Cruise Line negligent in serving her at least 14 shots of tequila before she fell aboard one of its ships and suffered a possible traumatic brain injury.
Dozens of millennials and members of Generation Z gathered in Brooklyn apartments and converted office spaces this spring to set their phones aside for evenings of reading, drawing, and face-to-face conversation — part of a small but growing rebellion against what participants call the corporate harvesting of human attention. The gatherings are the American face of an international "attention liberation" movement whose advocates say Big Tech has made its products too addictive for the industry's own corrective tools to fix.
The rare corpse flower housed at Mount Holyoke College's Talcott Greenhouse in South Hadley, Mass., bloomed overnight Monday, drawing visitors Tuesday who compared its notorious odor to rotting eggs, farm manure, and stinky diapers baking in the sun. The plant, nicknamed "Pangy" and known scientifically as *Amorphophallus titanum*, last bloomed at the college in 2023 and produces the foul smell only briefly and infrequently.
WWE's WrestleMania 41 opens Saturday at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas for the second consecutive year, streaming on the ESPN app for the first time. Parent company TKO Group said research firm Applied Analysis found last year's two-night event generated $322.2 million in economic impact for the city. Championship matches include undisputed WWE champion Cody Rhodes defending his title against Randy Orton, and CM Punk defending the World Heavyweight Championship against Roman Reigns.
In the U.S., millions of adults who leave college before finishing face barriers such as unpaid fees, confusing paperwork and unstable housing. Now, colleges and states are expanding efforts to help “stopouts” return, including financial aid and programs that remove administrative roadblocks and provide coaching. An AP case study follows Jevona Anderson, who reenrolled after a scholarship helped cover remaining credits and housing costs.
NASA said the Artemis II crew’s moon flyby and return were a success and that Artemis III is next, with a practice docking planned for 2027. Flight director Rick Henfling said the next mission is “right around the corner” after the crew’s Pacific splashdown. The agency also pointed to later missions that could land astronauts near the moon’s south pole.
In South Carolina, an ongoing measles outbreak has left some infants too young for the MMR shot to rely on community protection. The Associated Press reports that state guidance and pediatric protocols have pushed some MMR doses earlier for older babies, while parents of newborns—among the most vulnerable in measles—face uncertainty about exposure.
Cathy Higgins says her eyesight grew so blurry after hours at computer screens that she had to break away during the day and later resumed work at night. In an interview, she described how changing her desk setup—including using a larger monitor and sitting farther back—helped reduce the frequency of her symptoms.
People who eat meals quickly may miss fullness signals and end up overeating, experts say. Researchers cited by the Associated Press describe approaches such as putting away phones, chewing more slowly and paying closer attention to taste and texture.
More than 1,000 workers protested Monday outside Haiti’s Sonapi industrial park in Port-au-Prince, demanding increases to the minimum wage as surging oil prices and higher fuel costs strain household budgets. Employees said they have not received raises since 2023 and that higher diesel and gasoline prices make it harder to afford basic goods.
First lady Melania Trump met with House Ways and Means Committee members on Wednesday to urge Congress to pass bills updating foster care support for young people aging out of the system. Speaking to lawmakers at Capitol Hill, she called expanded services and resources “a moral imperative.”
Democrats in Congress on Tuesday introduced measures to overturn changes the Trump administration made to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program, saying the new policy is political and could cut off some borrowers from promised relief. The rule is set to take effect in July, according to the Associated Press.
U.S. Catholic voters backed Donald Trump in 2024, but many across the Catholic political spectrum reacted with dismay after Trump launched a broad verbal assault on Pope Leo XIV, the first pope leading the U.S. Catholic Church. Critics included leaders of the U.S. bishops’ conference and prominent conservative Catholics, while Trump defended himself and said no apology was needed.
A portion of the nation’s drinking-water systems have reported trouble maintaining recommended fluoride levels amid disruptions to the supply chain tied to the Middle East war, the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies said. Fluoride is used to help prevent tooth decay, and some utilities have lowered levels as a result. Dentists and public-health experts said people in affected areas should keep brushing with fluoride toothpaste and maintain dental appointments.
Nearly 100 protesters were arrested Monday in New York calling on Senate Democratic leaders Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand to block the sale of thousands of U.S. bombs to Israel, according to the antiwar group Jewish Voice for Peace. Demonstrators briefly tried to stage a sit-in at the Manhattan offices of the two lawmakers before being kept out, then stopped traffic outside and were loaded onto three buses.
Pope Leo XIV denounced the “delusion of omnipotence” fueling the U.S.-Israel war in Iran and urged political leaders to stop and negotiate peace, in remarks during an evening prayer service at St. Peter’s Basilica on April 11. The Vatican said the pope’s message appeared aimed at U.S. officials and was delivered the same day the United States and Iran began face-to-face negotiations in Pakistan.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton announced a probe into Lululemon over whether the company’s athletic clothing contains PFAS, often referred to as “forever chemicals.” Paxton said the inquiry will examine Lululemon’s “restricted substances” list, testing protocols and supply-network practices. Lululemon said it stopped using PFAS in early 2024 and is cooperating with the investigation.
Michigan’s high school graduation rate hit a new high last year, but education advocates say only 27% of students left prepared for college based on state test performance. As chronic absenteeism and uneven access to career and college pathways persist, groups including Launch Michigan and a former Gov. Rick Snyder are pushing proposals to change how students earn graduation credits.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette owner Block Communications said Tuesday it has found a last-minute buyer that will keep the newspaper open, about two weeks before it was due to shut down. The buyer, the Venetoulis Institute for Local Journalism, said it will continue print editions on two days each week and operate a website on other days.
Federal inspectors have documented cases in Ohio in which nursing homes discharged residents to homeless shelters despite medical fragility and requirements intended to protect people leaving long-term care. In one case, inspectors said shelter staff called the fire department after a resident arrived incontinent and carrying medication. Advocates and an Ohio industry group said unstable housing and insurer pressure are making such discharges more common.
Los Angeles Unified avoided a planned strike that would have disrupted schooling for nearly 400,000 students in Southern California after a last-minute agreement was reached with support staff, the district and SEIU Local 99 said. SEIU Local 99 announced on social media that it reached a tentative deal with “major gains,” and the district said the sides were working to finalize details so schools could remain open Tuesday.
Texas Tech University System chancellor Brandon Creighton ordered campuses to phase out academic programs “centered on” sexual orientation and gender identity, and to freeze admissions and bar students from declaring majors in the affected programs. The memo also directs that graduate theses and dissertations may center on those topics only as a temporary exception for currently enrolled students.
Sara Mearns, a principal dancer with New York City Ballet, shared with AP how missing cues and struggling to hear partners led her to get tested for hearing loss and eventually wear hearing aids during performances. Mearns said the transition felt like “a whole new chapter of my life,” and she described the adjustment process with a hearing specialist.
Generative AI has moved into religion, with apps offering users chat-style guidance from AI “Jesus” and other spiritual avatars, from personalized video-call experiences to offerings framed around prayer and encouragement. In the latest sign of a faith-tech boom, developers and researchers say many people are weighing how such tools affect authority, spiritual practice and the risks of misinformation or data privacy.
Mental health crises can develop quickly or build over time, and experts say the first step is to notice changes in someone’s feelings or behavior and then start a conversation early. In the United States, the suicide and crisis lifeline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988, and providers emphasize that people can also ask directly about suicide or self-harm.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haití — Para familias en Haití, el alza de precios del combustible está empujando a recortar aún más una alimentación ya limitada, mientras la violencia de las pandillas complica el transporte de mercancías. En Puerto Príncipe, vendedores, trabajadores y conductores describieron cómo la gasolina, el diésel y el queroseno más caros elevan el costo diario de vivir y reduce sus opciones. El gobierno de Haití anunció el 2 de abril aumentos de 37% en el diésel y de 29% en la gasolina, y organismos humanitarios advirtieron que el impacto podría agravar una crisis de hambre.
Hundreds of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians in Washington, D.C. packed into DSK Mariam Church to sing hymns in Ge’ez, pray and keep vigil as Easter Sunday unfolded. The celebration of Christ’s resurrection—known as Fasika in Amharic—arrives a week after Catholic and Protestant Easter, and for many includes an eight-hour overnight service that ends with the breaking of a 55-day fast.
Pope Leo XIV opened an 11-day Africa tour in Algeria on Monday, urging peace and an end to “neocolonial tendencies” as the Vatican’s leader faces new criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump over the war involving Iran. During his first remarks in Algiers, Leo linked his appeals for peace to Algeria’s fight for independence and said a just peace requires dignity for every nation.
Denmark’s royal house says John Donaldson, the father of Australian-born Queen Mary, has died in Tasmania. A royal statement from Copenhagen said he was 84 and that his health had been declining for several years, with the queen visiting him at the end of March.
Coachella is now a content machine as creators map outfits, partnerships and filming schedules weeks ahead, turning the festival into streams of short-form and shopping-linked videos. For content creators like Sam Mintesnot, getting a ticket—often with help from brands—can hinge on rapid outreach just before the two-weekend festival in Indio, California. YouTube’s relationship with Coachella also highlights how creator audiences and brand partners intersect during the sprawling event.
Apple stopped selling the iPod about four years ago, but secondhand sales have surged as consumers turn to the device for distraction-free listening. The comeback is driven in part by younger users who want to avoid algorithm-driven playlists and reduce smartphone dependence, according to CCS Insight. In the U.S. and abroad, refurbished-iPod sellers and marketplaces have reported rising demand for older models.
Cape Canaveral, Fla., photographer Chris O’Meara describes how a remote camera rig, triggered by rocket-engine sound, captured the Artemis II launch and the birds taking flight as the rocket lifted off.
The United Nations warned Monday that humanitarian conditions could worsen after fighting erupted in Akobo, a strategic town in South Sudan’s Jonglei State, where opposition forces retook the town after ousting government troops. The U.N. Mission in South Sudan, UNMISS, called for a cessation of hostilities and said it is engaging with parties to prevent further escalation.
PARIS — A French raffle offering a Picasso portrait for €100 is scheduled for Tuesday at Christie’s in Paris, with proceeds earmarked for Alzheimer’s research. Organizers say tickets are capped at 120,000, with proceeds projected to reach up to €12 million if all tickets sell.
A Senegal court in Pikine-Guédiawaye on Friday sentenced a 24-year-old laborer to six years in prison and fined him 2 million CFA ($3,300) under a new law that increases penalties for homosexual acts. The court convicted him of “acts against nature and public indecency,” after he was arrested earlier this month.
Cruise companies visiting southeast Alaska have started skipping Tracy Arm after a massive landslide last summer generated waves that left the area’s slopes unstable, the Associated Press reported. With Tracy Arm’s North and South Sawyer glaciers and wildlife now considered a safety risk, major cruise lines are replacing the stop with Endicott Arm and Dawes Glacier, officials and cruise operators said.
A small tabletop robot known as ElliQ is being delivered through senior assistance agencies in multiple U.S. states to help older adults cope with loneliness and isolation, according to its makers and officials involved in distribution. The system uses artificial intelligence to carry on conversations, play music, lead exercises, and provide reminders for health tasks, with company officials saying the audio stays on users’ devices. But researchers who study loneliness say it is still not clear whether talking to an AI companion reduces the need for human connection.
Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin said Sunday that Ireland will offer new fuel tax cuts in a bid to end blockades and protests over soaring pump prices that have roiled supply of fuel to stations across the country. Martin said the package, which totals 505 million euros ($592 million) and requires parliamentary approval, would build on a 250 million euro tax break approved nearly three weeks earlier.
A newborn girl born in a makeshift tent near Beirut's waterfront is struggling to survive the same conditions that forced her family to flee Israeli airstrikes in the Lebanese capital's Dahiyeh suburbs. Shiman came into the world on March 28 in unsanitary conditions, her mother unable to afford hospital delivery even as the family's home lay in ruins from an airstrike.
Ohio nursing home patients in involuntary discharge cases have been sent to homeless shelters, federal inspectors said in a series of reviews tied to Medicare and Medicaid spending. The incidents, including a 2023 case in Columbus, raise questions about whether facilities can make discharges “safe and appropriate” for people who are medically fragile.
Leaders at the Church of God in Christ announced Monday that the Mason Temple in Memphis—the site of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.’s final speech—will receive a $1.2 million federal grant to modernize the church.
Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin said after the team’s 3-0 win over the Pittsburgh Penguins that he will “think about it” after fans chanted for one more season. The longtime forward, who is 40 and turns 41 in September, has 32 goals and 63 points this season as the Capitals remain in the playoff hunt.
Homegrown hit “Paddington The Musical” won seven trophies, including best new musical, at London’s Olivier Awards on Sunday. The marmalade-loving bear from Peru took honors for actor in a musical award and creative categories, while “Evita” star Rachel Zegler and Rosamund Pike were named best actress in musicals and nonmusical categories.
Artemis II astronauts returned to NASA’s Houston home base on Saturday, arriving at Ellington Field after a splashdown in the Pacific the night before, the Associated Press reported. Hundreds of supporters gathered at the welcoming ceremony for the four-member crew, which set a deep-space distance record during the mission, AP said.
Freetown, Sierra Leone, is seeing a small but growing number of women enter the city’s male-dominated commercial transport sector as rickshaw drivers. Reporting from the main transit park, the Associated Press describes women using kekeh—motorized three-wheel vehicles—as a path to income and independence despite stigma and concerns about safety.
The Trump administration acknowledged to the Associated Press that it used incorrect figures in trying to justify a Medicaid fraud probe in New York, a miscalculation that Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services spokesman Chris Krepich said stemmed from a billing-code methodology issue. The error involved claims about how many New Yorkers received personal care services, which Dr. Mehmet Oz cited in a social media video and a letter to Gov. Kathy Hochul announcing the investigation. The CMS investigation remains ongoing, Krepich said, as the agency reviews New York’s response.
Church of God in Christ leaders in Memphis said the Mason Temple, where the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his final speech, will receive a $1.2 million federal grant for renovations. The leaders said the money will modernize technology, including the church’s sound system, and will also include inspections and structural improvements.
London police arrested 212 people during a Saturday protest against a ban on Palestine Action, which Britain’s government has labeled a terrorist organization. Metropolitan Police said officers detained protesters aged 27 to 82 after the demonstration in Trafalgar Square organized by Defend Our Juries.
Police cleared protesters and arrested some Saturday to reopen Ireland’s only oil refinery as a fifth day of fuel-price demonstrations led to major highway closures, vehicles stranded around Dublin, and shortages at gas stations.
NASA brought Artemis II’s four astronauts back to Houston, completing a successful trip around the moon and setting the stage for Artemis III preparations. At a homecoming event, NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said the agency is already looking ahead, with Artemis III’s crew slated to begin testing Orion docking in orbit.
Artemis II’s four astronauts returned to Earth with a Pacific splashdown on Friday, ending the mission’s record-setting flyby of the moon. The crew emerged from the Orion capsule off the coast of San Diego after a reentry that included a planned communications blackout and intense heat-shield testing.
Pope Leo XIV has directly criticized President Donald Trump’s conduct over the Iran war as a fragile ceasefire took hold this week, saying Trump’s belligerence was “truly unacceptable.” The Vatican’s pope and the U.S. administration have long overlapped on religion and politics, but their latest public clash has put U.S. Christians and Catholic leaders in the middle.
Former U.S. Rep. Eliot Engel, a New York Democrat who chaired the House Foreign Affairs Committee and helped lead high-profile foreign policy work including Trump’s first impeachment inquiry, has died. He was 79. Engel died Friday at a Bronx hospital of complications from Parkinson’s disease, his family said.
Millions of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians observed Good Friday on April 10 in Addis Ababa, with celebrations dampened by fuel scarcity and rising food prices tied to the Iran war, the Associated Press reported. The shortages are affecting travel and a traditional communal ritual involving the slaughter of animals, residents said.
Pope Leo XIV on Friday condemned the U.S.-Israel war with Iran, telling Chaldean bishops in Iraq that “God does not bless any conflict.” Speaking in Rome during a meeting of top Chaldean Catholic Church prelates, the pope urged them to proclaim that Christ’s peace is incompatible with those who “drop bombs.” The Vatican also posted the remarks on the pope’s official X account.
Residents on the North Shore of O‘ahu cleaned up flood-mud after late-February storms that authorities say are being linked to pesticide and bacterial contamination questions. State health officials have detected pathogens in mud and water in areas affected by the flooding, and the state is still waiting on results for additional bacteria and legacy pesticides. At the same time, experts and officials say the volume of rain would likely have diluted any pesticide residues to levels unlikely to be hazardous—though farmers fear harm to soil, food safety and organic certification.
Los Angeles needs more than 100,000 construction workers to help rebuild after the Palisades Fire and the Eaton fire, according to a state analysis discussed by CalMatters and reported by the Associated Press. Community colleges are expanding carpentry and related training programs to match demand, with funding that has started to reach campuses after recent awards.
President Donald Trump’s administration acknowledged this week that it used incorrect figures when it helped justify a fraud probe into New York’s Medicaid program, the Associated Press reported. The dispute centered on claims by Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz that the state last year provided personal care services to about 5 million people. CMS later said the correct figure was about 450,000.
Plaintiffs who sued to stop the Trump administration from cutting funding for an agency that supports U.S. libraries said Thursday they reached a settlement with the Justice Department. The American Library Association and the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees said the deal would allow the Institute of Museum and Library Services to keep awarding grants and operating programs.
The Trump administration updated the charter for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccine advisory committee, a move critics said could expand the influence of anti-vaccine activists. The changes, published Thursday, followed a legal setback that halted meetings of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, at least temporarily.
President Donald Trump unveiled plans for a new triumphal arch in Washington that would rise 250 feet and feature a winged figure holding a torch, along with golden eagles and four lions. The design, released by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts, would place the arch between the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery, with the Latin mottos “One Nation Under God” and “Liberty and Justice for All” inscribed in gold.
Chicago’s teachers union wants the city’s public schools closed on May 1, arguing that educators should participate in May Day protests. The newly named Chicago Public Schools chief rejected the pitch, leaving families unsure how many schools will stay open.
Pope Leo XIV will begin a first papal visit to Algeria on Monday as part of a two-day stop before traveling to Angola, Cameroon and Equatorial Guinea. The Vatican said the trip will focus on migration, the exploitation of natural and human resources, corruption, and the role of leaders in countries where some presidents have remained in power for decades.
Los cuatro astronautas de Artemis II pusieron fin el viernes a la primera misión lunar tripulada en más de medio siglo con un amerizaje en el océano Pacífico, luego de un regreso con récords de velocidad y distancia desde la Luna, según la NASA. El final de la misión incluyó un descenso del transbordador Orion “Integrity” durante el reingreso y la recuperación de la tripulación frente a la costa de San Diego, informaron reportes de la misión.
A Honduran family sued the U.S. government after an 8-year-old girl with serious medical conditions died while in Customs and Border Protection custody in Texas in 2023, according to court filings filed Friday. The suit says federal officials failed to provide proper medical care during her eight days in custody, including at a CBP facility in Donna before she was later held in Harlingen.
Former New York City Mayor Eric Adams said he has become an honorary citizen of Albania, announced Friday by Albanian officials and confirmed by a spokesperson for Adams. The Albanian president, Bajram Begaj, issued a decree granting the honorary status “at his request,” the Associated Press reported. Adams, who previously spoke of his desire to move abroad after leaving politics, described the development as part of a long relationship with the Albanian-American community.
First lady Melania Trump on Thursday denied any connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, saying “the lies linking me with the disgraceful Jeffrey Epstein need to end today.” Her written remarks left unanswered questions among supporters and critics alike about what prompted the statement, which came after months in which Epstein had receded from Washington’s focus.
Bruno Mars rode down the Las Vegas Strip on Friday as city officials honored him with a parade, declared “Bruno Mars Day,” and named a street “Bruno Mars Drive,” the Associated Press reported. Mars made remarks to a large crowd and is set to kick off his global “Romantic Tour” in Las Vegas at Allegiant Stadium.
In Congo, some people are pointing to the Kimbanguist Church’s message and history as a possible guide as the country faces instability driven by a violent rebellion in the east, the Associated Press reported. The church traces its origins to Simon Kimbangu, who spent decades in prison and died a prisoner, after Belgian colonial authorities judged his activities dangerous. In Kinshasa and beyond, adherents mark April 6, known as Kimbangu Day, and some say his legacy shows how sacrifice and African independence can endure.
Bill Mann, a reporter and editor who spent nearly 50 years at The Associated Press, died Thursday in Reston, Va., his family said. He was 83. Mann covered assignments including the Philippines, Cairo, India, Scandinavia and Washington, D.C.
Michigan’s Natural Resources Commission is considering a proposed “one buck rule” that would limit hunters to killing no more than one antlered deer per season in the Lower Peninsula, according to the state. The commission is expected to vote on the proposal on May 13, with the regulation—if passed—set to take effect in 2027.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani on Friday marked his first 100 days in office in New York City, blending day-to-day governance with celebrity-style attention that has drawn both supporters and critics. The Associated Press reports that crowds have shown up to his news conferences, he has used viral content and high-profile guests to promote city programs, and he has begun new public-health moves tied to jail detainees.
The University of Michigan said it more than doubled the number of students receiving its tuition-free Go Blue Guarantee this year, after closing an eight-year-old diversity, equity and inclusion initiative, officials said. The university estimated the program will provide $55.97 million to 6,387 students across its Ann Arbor, Dearborn and Flint campuses in 2026. U-M said the DEI effort’s funding has been refocused on student financial aid and other student-support programs.
President Donald Trump’s fiscal 2027 budget proposal calls for cutting billions from programs tied to federal trust and treaty responsibilities to tribal nations, including eliminating federal support for the Institute for American Indian Arts. The proposal also would cut funding for tribal colleges and two schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Education, positions that tribal leaders and lawmakers say could threaten closures.
Pope Leo XIV ended an 11-day visit to four African countries, using the tour to call for peace and to denounce issues he described as driving conflict and exploitation on the continent. Before returning to Rome on Thursday, the Vatican said the pope’s final stop was Equatorial Guinea on Africa’s west coast.
The University of Wisconsin System’s Board of Regents voted unanimously on April 9, 2026 to dismiss President Jay Rothman, saying his slow response to artificial‑intelligence challenges and reluctance to engage legislators had eroded confidence. Regents testified that Rothman also limited board members’ public interactions and used confidentiality protections to shape a one‑sided narrative. Rothman told the Associated Press he was “blindsided” by the decision, while two regents said he was aware of the concerns.
A center in Maine is working to strengthen rural synagogues and Jewish communities across the United States. The Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College runs programs for more than 60 communities in 22 states, aiming to support Jewish congregations far from big cities.
Noosphere has signed a multiyear licensing agreement with Sky News to use its app technology that lets reporters interact directly with the people who follow their stories. The move, announced Friday, is designed to shift journalism from one-way consumption to more two-way conversations, with Sky News planning to start experimenting with it for its defense and security experts.
Communities across the U.S. are pushing back against plans to convert warehouses into immigration detention centers, a move the Department of Homeland Security says it is reviewing. The backlash follows reports that the government spent $1.074 billion on 11 warehouses, most of them after ICE bought the properties without local input. In recent days, DHS paused additional purchases and began scrutiny of contracts signed under former Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed a bill Thursday that legalizes online sports betting in the state, making Wisconsin the 33rd U.S. state to allow the practice, the Associated Press reported. Evers said the law’s implementation would require negotiations with the state’s 11 federally recognized tribes that would operate the bets.
A town near Japan’s Mount Fuji says “tourism pollution” has worsened as social media drives more visitors to see cherry blossoms and the mountain’s iconic views. In Fujiyoshida, officials canceled the annual cherry blossom festival this year and increased crowd controls at the start of the season, after complaints that residents faced traffic, litter and other disturbances from tourists.
Campaigns for congressional and presidential races have increased their spending on candidate security sharply over the past decade as threats against public officials have escalated, according to a report released Thursday. The report estimates that federal political committees spent more than $40 million on expenses labeled as security during the 2023-24 election cycle.
A Utah-based advocacy group, Do No Harm, filed a federal lawsuit challenging a Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The group argues the program is unconstitutional because it discriminates based on an applicant’s race and ethnicity, according to the complaint filed last week.
Greece plans a ban on social media for children age 15 and under, the government said, as Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis urged European Union leaders to adopt an EU-wide framework. The proposal would require platforms to reverify users’ ages and exclude those who are 15 or younger, with penalties for noncompliance.
Iranian American soccer fans are torn between pride and protest as Iran’s national team prepares for the World Cup, with its campaign opening June 15 near Los Angeles against New Zealand. Some fans say Iran’s government repression and athletes’ silence make it difficult to watch, while others plan to attend to show support for Iran and the sport—sometimes with signs criticizing the regime.
Union leaders, retirees and public-sector workers in Caracas marched Thursday toward the presidential palace demanding higher wages and dignified pensions, but police blockades halted the crowd. The protests came the day after acting President Delcy Rodríguez appealed for patience on national television as her government seeks to improve the economy.
Horns blared and protesters shouted “Stop ICE!” outside a Washington County, Maryland meeting where county officials discussed a paused plan to convert a large warehouse into an immigration detention facility. The Department of Homeland Security has paused the effort and is reviewing contracts signed by its predecessor, according to a recent court filing in the state’s lawsuit.
The Army ROTC cadets at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, described in an online video how they subdued Mohamed Bailor Jalloh after he entered a classroom and fired at Lt. Col. Brandon Shah during an attack March 12. Shah, who was shot and later died, lunged at Jalloh to shield the class, cadets said, while others rushed in with knives and then shifted to first aid for a wounded instructor.
Leaders on the University of Wisconsin board of regents said Thursday they rejected fired system president Jay Rothman’s claim that he was “blindsided” by their decision to oust him, describing disputes over artificial intelligence and other issues as key factors. The regents voted unanimously with no public discussion after a closed-door meeting that followed Rothman’s Tuesday dismissal. Rothman, meanwhile, told The Associated Press that he was kept in the dark about the reasons for his firing.
U.S. abortion opponents are pressing President Donald Trump’s Food and Drug Administration to move faster on restrictions for mifepristone, a drug they say is undermining state abortion bans. A judge in a lawsuit brought by Louisiana’s attorney general opened the door to limiting telehealth prescriptions while declining to block them immediately. The dispute has also highlighted tensions within the broader strategy to counter the availability of medication abortion through online providers.
Two Minnesota school districts and the state’s main teachers union asked a federal judge Wednesday to block a Trump administration policy change that gave immigration authorities more flexibility to conduct enforcement actions in and near schools. Attorneys for the Fridley and Duluth districts and the Education Minnesota union said the Department of Homeland Security rescinded nationwide “sensitive locations” limits last year, prompting disruptions during a period that included “Operation Metro Surge.” The request asks U.S. District Judge Laura Provinzino for a stay or preliminary injunction while the case proceeds.
WATERVILLE, Maine — As Passover approaches, Rabbi Rachel Isaacs is preparing ceremonial foods at Beth Israel Congregation in central Maine, where membership has quadrupled over the past 15 years. Isaacs, who leads the Center for Small Town Jewish Life at Colby College, is also working to strengthen rural synagogues nationwide, including communities in states such as Montana and California. “Rural Jewish life is important for the Jewish people and it’s important for rural America,” Isaacs said.
A new multiyear licensing agreement will let Sky News make use of technology from Noosphere, a company that connects reporters with the audiences who follow their work. The AP reports the deal was announced Friday after Noosphere founder Jane Ferguson said the “talk back” approach turns news consumption into a two-way conversation through a dedicated app experience.
Pope Leo XIV returned to Rome after an 11-day tour of Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea, his last stop in Equatorial Guinea’s western coast after visits to four countries meant to spotlight war, migration, corruption and the legacy of colonialism. In meetings with leaders and young people, the pope emphasized Christian-Muslim coexistence, called for an end to exploitation, and urged integrity in public life, according to coverage of the trip by The Associated Press.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is launching a podcast next week, “The Secretary Kennedy Podcast,” in a new HHS communications push that HHS officials say will broaden health messaging on chronic disease and nutrition.
The Artemis II astronauts asked the International Astronomical Union for permission to name two lunar craters, following a tradition that reaches back to Apollo 8. Commander Reid Wiseman’s crew proposed one crater be named “Carroll” after his late wife, Carroll Wiseman, and another be named “Integrity” after their Artemis II capsule call sign. NASA said the request came during a lunar flyaround earlier this week and was an emotional moment for the crew.
A decades-in-the-making collection of concert recordings compiled by Chicago music fan Aadam Jacobs is being digitized and made available online by volunteers with the Internet Archive, the Associated Press reported. The effort centers on Jacobs’ taped performances from the late 1980s onward, including an early Nirvana show, as the tapes are cleaned up for streaming and free download.
The three former employees of the Psychiatric Institute of Washington have been charged in the death of a patient in 2020, U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said. Prosecutors allege the employees failed to provide adequate medical care before the patient died nearly six years ago, and that the neglect lasted at least 21 minutes.
Jim Whittaker, the first American to summit Mount Everest, has died. He was 97. Whittaker died Tuesday at his home in Port Townsend, Washington, according to a statement from his family.
Hundreds of workers, union members and opposition supporters marched in Dakar, Senegal, on Wednesday to protest what they said were broken government promises and rising living costs amid a severe debt crisis.
Many people pull into a driveway or parking spot and stay in their cars for a few minutes—sometimes while scrolling on a phone, other times just sitting—before going inside. Psychologists told the Associated Press that these brief parked-car pauses can act as an emotional buffer, helping people decompress between parts of the day. They also cautioned that the same “reset” can backfire when it turns into rumination or phone scrolling that keeps stress in motion.
Madison, Wisconsin, regents fired Universities of Wisconsin President Jay Rothman after a closed-door discussion, and he told The Associated Press on Wednesday that he was “blindsided” and was not given reasons. The regents have not publicly disclosed why he was dismissed, while Regent President Amy Bogost said the decision was about the future of the 13-university system. Rothman said he is unlikely to sue.
Texas education leaders heard hours of public testimony over proposed state-approved reading list changes that would require Bible stories for students from kindergarten through 12th grade, drawing fresh attention to the role of religion in public classrooms. The debate at the state education board is part of broader efforts in the United States—often led by Republican lawmakers—to increase religious content in schools. A final vote on the list is expected in June, with any approved changes taking effect in 2030.
Route 66 marked its 100th anniversary this year, drawing travelers to the “Mother Road” for its neon towns, roadside diners and storied past. Despite losing federal status as a main highway decades ago, the 2,400-mile route from Chicago to Santa Monica still pulls people in—and remembers those who were helped and harmed along the way.
The Universities of Wisconsin board of regents voted unanimously to fire system president Jay Rothman on Tuesday, effective immediately, after he declined an offer to resign quietly. Republican lawmakers criticized the decision as a “partisan hatchet job” and said they threatened to pursue action against regents not yet confirmed by the state Senate.
Hundreds of Cuban women rallied in Havana on April 7 to denounce a U.S. energy embargo and other measures they said have deepened the island’s crisis. The demonstration, led by officials from Cuba’s government and the Federation of Cuban Women, was held to honor Vilma Espín, a founder of the federation and a key figure in the Cuban revolution.
Church bells and gunfire echoed across Lebanon as hundreds gathered Tuesday for funeral prayers for a Lebanese Christian party official killed in an Israeli strike, along with his wife, in the town of Ain Saadeh east of Beirut, according to the Associated Press. The killing has become a touchpoint in a Lebanon already divided over the Israel-Hezbollah war.
Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Easter Mass as pontiff with a call for people with weapons to lay them down and for those who have power to seek peace through dialogue. In his Urbi et Orbi blessing from St. Peter’s Basilica’s loggia, the pope did not list the world’s conflicts by name, instead drawing on a message about the “great thirst for death” that Pope Francis delivered from the same spot last Easter.
Texas health regulators told Camp Mystic’s owners they are investigating “hundreds of complaints” about the all-girls camp’s 2025 operations as the state considers whether the camp can reopen this summer after last year’s deadly floods. The Texas Department of Public Safety said the Texas Rangers are also helping investigate allegations of neglect linked to the July 4 disaster that killed 27 girls and others, as families and lawyers press for answers.
Turkish lawmakers on Tuesday kicked off debate on a draft law package that would restrict children under 15 from accessing social media platforms, with requirements for age verification and parental control tools. The bill would also require platforms to rapidly respond to content deemed harmful, and it faces criticism from Turkey’s main opposition party, which argues children should be protected through rights-based policies.
Rabbi Rachel Isaacs is using Passover week to spotlight a growing effort to strengthen rural synagogues across the U.S., from central Maine to Montana. Isaacs, who leads a center at Colby College, said her work has reached dozens of communities and is meant to help Jewish congregations thrive far from major urban areas.
Offset, the former member of the hip-hop trio Migos, was shot Monday outside a Florida casino, and police in Hollywood, just north of Miami, detained two people as they investigated who may have fired. The rapper was in stable condition at a hospital Tuesday, authorities said. Here’s a look at his career, his relationship with Cardi B, and past violence tied to the group.
Liberty Mutual Foundation, the nonprofit arm of insurer Liberty Mutual Insurance, announced Wednesday that it is establishing a $600 million endowment to support its grantmaking over the long term, even as companies and corporate philanthropy face tariff-driven uncertainty and tax changes. Melanie Foley, chair of the foundation’s board, said the foundation wants to keep offering nonprofits “sense of security” while remaining flexible to what partners need.
Communities across the United States are pushing back on federal plans to convert warehouses into immigration detention centers for tens of thousands of immigrants, as the new Homeland Security secretary reviews contracts signed by his predecessor. The Department of Homeland Security has also paused new warehouse purchases while it scrutinizes those agreements, according to the Associated Press.
New research released Tuesday says many Black-led nonprofits saw only short-lived increases in funding after 2020’s racial reckoning, while smaller organizations showed little or no change. The study by nonprofit research service Candid and the racial justice philanthropy group ABFE found some large Black-led groups experienced temporary gains between 2020 and 2022 but that those increases faded for many.
Anchorage has opened a new transitional housing program that pairs tiny homes with addiction and behavioral health treatment for people experiencing homelessness. The city-run effort launched in late March with 32 municipal microunits and a day-treatment program at Willow Commons, Anchorage Recovery Center said.
A new owner is reviving Wyoming’s Rock Shop Inn on South Pass, bringing back the saloon after years when the restaurant closed and the property was shut to the public. Anthony Prate and his father began a multi-year renovation after buying the 5-acre site, and Prate has now begun building a year-round hangout for locals and travelers.
Parents of a 1½-year-old boy who was hurt at ZooAmerica in Hersheypark after entering a restricted area near a wolf exhibit have been charged with endangering the welfare of children, Pennsylvania police said. The case stems from an incident Saturday shortly before noon, when the toddler slipped through a fence barrier and reached a chain-link enclosure, police said.
The rapper Offset was shot outside a Florida casino and was in stable condition Monday night, a spokesperson said in a statement Tuesday. Police said the injuries were not life-threatening after a shooting that followed a fight at the Seminole Hard Rock in Hollywood, just north of Miami.
Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen said Artemis II crewmates and their families watched the film “Project Hail Mary” ahead of the mission’s lunar fly-around. Hansen praised the movie during a Canadian Space Agency televised event and said Ryan Gosling sent best wishes to the four astronauts.
Michigan is sending some youth in severe mental health crises to out-of-state facilities as local treatment options shrink, according to reporting that cites state data. The placements involve children in direct-placement and court-supervised programs, and families say the travel and limited contact complicate visits and care.
NEWTON, Mass. (AP) — Matthew Shifrin, who is blind, says accessible, braille instructions for Lego sets gave him his first chance to build on his own. The 28-year-old launched the nonprofit Bricks for the Blind after a family friend handed him instructions in braille three years earlier, and the group now provides free downloads for blind or visually impaired Lego builders.
Ron Gibson, an Indianapolis councilman, said someone fired 13 shots at his home and left a note reading “No Data Centers” on his doorstep. Gibson said he and his 8-year-old son were awakened early Monday but were not injured. Indianapolis Metropolitan Police said officers found evidence of gunshots at a home on East 41st Street after 9 a.m. and that no injuries were reported.
Santiago, Chile — Bioparque Buinzoo held an Easter egg hunt for its animal residents on Sunday, with food treats shaped like holiday eggs placed in enclosures. The zoo’s director said the event is meant to entertain visitors while encouraging natural food-hunting behavior, and that the snacks are foods animals would eat in the wild.
In Oakland, a nonprofit has bought a 33-unit apartment building to create subsidized housing exclusively for teachers and other school staff, aiming to help educators stay near the classrooms where they work. The project, part of the Rooted program, began renting units immediately after the purchase this week.
A North Carolina judge ordered Nigel Max Edge, a Marine veteran facing a murder case from a waterfront bar shooting last year, to undergo psychiatric treatment because prosecutors say he currently cannot understand the legal proceedings. The case had been set for a Brunswick County hearing where prosecutors planned to say whether they seek the death penalty.
Artemis II astronauts on Monday completed a lunar flyby on a return trajectory that set a new distance record, surpassing Apollo 13’s farthest point. The mission, NASA’s first return to the moon since the Apollo era, included a total solar eclipse visible from space and a close-range look at multiple lunar targets.
HOUSTON (AP) — The four Artemis II astronauts made history Tuesday by calling their friends aboard the International Space Station as they headed home from the moon, marking the first moonship-to-spaceship radio linkup, NASA said.
La misión Artemis II, con cuatro astronautas, regresó a casa el lunes por la noche tras observar desde la órbita lunar la cara oculta de la Luna y establecer un nuevo récord de distancia. Durante un sobrevuelo que incluyó una interrupción breve de comunicaciones, la tripulación alcanzó su mayor separación de la Tierra en la ruta de retorno libre, antes de iniciar el viaje de cuatro días de vuelta al Pacífico.
A day after Artemis II completed a historic lunar flyaround, NASA released new photos taken by the U.S.-Canadian crew. The images include “Earthset,” showing Earth setting behind the moon, and another capturing a total solar eclipse from the astronauts’ perspective. The crew is now en route home to a Pacific splashdown Friday.
The Central Intelligence Agency has shut down public access to its World Factbook, a free, long-running reference database that includes maps and country-by-country information, according to the CIA and a report by Laurie Kellman. The change, announced during the Trump administration, has sparked grief and concern among educators and others who used the resource in classrooms and research.
Doctors say social media and aggressive advertising are pushing menopause and perimenopause products, from supplements to “light masks,” at a time when women are seeking help for symptoms such as hot flashes and sleep problems. In interviews, physicians urged people to talk with doctors about what has been proven to help and what could cause side effects.
Hennepin County Medical Center, Minnesota’s busiest Level 1 trauma hospital and safety-net provider, is facing the prospect of closure without state action, according to health care workers and county officials. Hospital leaders and union representatives said they expect a bill to be introduced at the Minnesota Legislature’s Capitol as soon as Tuesday.
A high school principal in Pauls Valley, Oklahoma, was shot in the leg Tuesday after confronting a man who entered the school with a gun, authorities said. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation said the suspect, a 20-year-old former student, was taken into custody. Officials said no students were injured in the shooting and the principal was in stable condition.
A traveling exhibit called “Inspired Generosity” opened in Minneapolis this week, highlighting stories of giving from the American Muslim community and challenging stereotypes that cast Muslims as outsiders. The exhibition, first debuted in Atlanta in September 2024, arrives as advocates say suspicion of Muslim and Somali immigrants has increased amid months of federal immigration enforcement in Minnesota.
Savannah Guthrie returned to the anchor desk on NBC’s “Today” show on Monday for the first time in more than two months since her mother, Nancy Guthrie, disappeared from her Arizona home. Guthrie said as the program opened, “Here we go, ready or not,” and thanked viewers for starting the week with the show.
Israeli attacks in southern Lebanon have increasingly targeted first responders and medical facilities, medical workers and rights groups said, warning that a pattern similar to Israel’s war in Gaza is unfolding. Doctors described a health system under strain as hospitals evacuate, clinics close and patients are transferred amid airstrikes and damage. In interviews, surgeons and paramedics who say they have experienced Gaza’s destruction described the fear of returning to a similar hospital campaign in Lebanon.
The Trump administration has posted Easter messages on official social media accounts that celebrate Jesus Christ’s resurrection, drawing both praise from some Christians and criticism from others who say government agencies should not endorse a specific faith. On April 5, the Department of Homeland Security and the State Department posted “He is risen,” while the Defense Department shared a message from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Justice Department also posted an Easter remark, while President Donald Trump referenced Christ in a Good Friday statement and took a harsher tone on Easter Sunday in a Truth Social post tied to the Iran war.
The U.S. Education Department said it has terminated federal civil-rights agreements with five school districts and Taft College that were designed to protect transgender students. The department said the move removes obligations negotiated under prior administrations, including requirements for staff training and bathroom access aligned with students’ gender identity.
The Associated Press said it will offer buyouts to an unspecified number of its U.S.-based journalists as it accelerates a shift away from a newspaper-first legacy and toward more video and new revenue sources. Julie Pace, AP executive editor and senior vice president, said Monday the work is intended to cut global staffing by less than 5% while keeping the AP in all 50 states.
The racial reckoning after George Floyd’s killing in 2020 sparked promises of longer-term support for underfunded, Black-led nonprofits. But new research released Tuesday found that many of the funding increases those groups experienced were short-lived, and smaller nonprofits saw no significant change, according to Candid and ABFE. The report also links the pattern of disinvestment to a wider climate of funding uncertainty under President Donald Trump.
Route 66 marks its 100th anniversary this year, with travelers from around the world still flocking to what many call the quintessential American road trip. The highway, now decommissioned as a federal route, still draws visitors to neon-lit towns, roadside food and motels, and preserved stretches from the Midwest to California.
The Universities of Wisconsin Board of Regents scheduled a Tuesday vote to consider firing system president Jay Rothman after he refused an offer to quietly resign, according to letters he sent to regents. Board of Regents President Amy Bogost said Rothman was not given notice and the process was not sudden, and Rothman has said he was not told the reason for the proposed ouster.
Manhattan tailor Kil Bae says customers increasingly seek custom alterations and resizing as fashion changes and weight-loss drugs drive demand for adjusted fits. But Bae, 63, is among a shrinking group of tailors, dressmakers and sewers as the occupation ages and has struggled to attract enough replacements, according to labor and fashion-industry experts.
At least 26 people were killed in three separate Easter attacks in northern Nigeria, the Nigerian military and local officials said. The attacks included an assault on the Mbalom community in Benue State, a gunfight involving police in Borno State, and an attack on an Easter service in Kaduna State.
Iowa’s Republican-backed law restricting discussion of LGBTQ+ topics in kindergarten through sixth grade and banning some books in schools will be enforced for now after an appeals court decision on Monday. The ruling from a three-judge panel vacated a lower court’s temporary blocks on portions of the law, according to the Associated Press. Iowa’s attorneys had asked the U.S. Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn earlier decisions by a federal judge, which had partially limited the state’s enforcement.
Spain’s Holy Week festivities are once again drawing national attention after a Catholic brotherhood voted to exclude women from its procession, prompting protests from local authorities and residents.
Connecticut churches are pushing a bill that would speed up local approvals for affordable housing on land owned by religious organizations. The “Yes in God’s backyard,” or YIGBY, proposal would allow eligible projects to receive a 90-day “summary review” if they meet local zoning rules and keep at least 30% of units affordable.
Centerville, a town of about 900 people in eastern South Dakota, has become known as a statewide leader in downtown redevelopment, fueled in part by a vacant building ordinance implemented in 2017. Town economic development coordinator Jared Hybertson said the policy uses a registration system, inspections, warning letters, threats of fines and eventual fines to prompt property owners to improve or sell. Local officials and business owners have used the ordinance’s leverage to buy, rehabilitate or tear down nearly a dozen deteriorated downtown buildings and bring in new shops and services.
The CIA stopped making the CIA World Factbook available to the public on Feb. 4, ending a decades-long reference resource used by students, educators and researchers. In a report published April 5, Associated Press said the agency framed the shutdown as part of a change in its mission and urged users to “remain curious.”
Hollywood’s long-running depictions of extraterrestrials and UFOs are poised to blend again with government disclosure, as President Donald Trump has called for agencies to release secret files related to extraterrestrials and UFOs. A Duke University professor says decades of science-fiction storytelling have helped shape how Americans imagine contact—whether as rescue and warning or as invasion.
The Associated Press has published a year-in-review roll call of influential people who died in 2026, including former FBI Director Robert S. Mueller III and martial arts star Chuck Norris. The list also highlights other notable deaths through March, including White House aide Alexander Butterfield and actor Mary Beth Hurt.
El papa León XIV cargó una cruz de madera a través de las 14 estaciones del vía crucis en el Coliseo de Roma el Viernes Santo, en su primer día en el puesto, una práctica que no se repetía en esas dimensiones “en décadas”, según la crónica de la agencia AP. El pontífice, escoltado dentro del anfiteatro por dos portadores de antorchas, recorrió el rito durante una hora y luego subió por escaleras hasta el monte Palatino para la bendición final.
Savannah Guthrie returned to co-hosting NBC’s “Today” show on Monday, more than two months after her mother, Nancy Guthrie, disappeared from her Arizona home. Despite a months-long effort involving thousands of law enforcement officers and volunteers, authorities said there has been no sign of the 84-year-old mother of three since she was reported missing Feb. 1.
A toddler was lightly injured by a wolf at ZooAmerica North American Wildlife Park in Hershey, Pennsylvania, after he crawled under an exterior metal fence and stuck his hand into the wolf habitat, the zoo said Sunday. Zoo officials said the child was not inside the wolf habitat and that the injuries were minor. The zoo described the wolf’s response as consistent with natural animal behavior and said the incident was not a sign of aggression.
A federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's effort to collect data from colleges and universities to ensure they are not considering race in admissions. The order follows a lawsuit from 17 Democratic state attorneys general.
The Associated Press said Monday it is offering buyouts to an unspecified number of its U.S.-based journalists as it accelerates a shift away from its newspaper-focused history. The AP said it is becoming more focused on visual journalism and is developing new revenue sources, including deals and investments tied to artificial intelligence.
A federal judge in Boston has temporarily blocked the Trump administration's attempt to collect data from colleges and universities to prove they are not considering race in admissions. The preliminary injunction was granted following a lawsuit by 17 Democratic state attorneys general.
President Donald Trump’s administration has elevated Moms for Liberty, a group that built its influence by challenging school content and pushing a parental-rights agenda, into a role where its co-founder, Tina Descovich, meets with White House officials and policy leaders. In interviews, Descovich said the group has a seat at the table on issues including transgender sports bans, artificial intelligence in education, and changes to federal education priorities.
ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV carried a wooden cross for all 14 stations of the Way of the Cross at the Colosseum on his first Good Friday as pontiff, a first for the pope in decades, according to the Associated Press. Speaking to reporters at Castel Gandolfo, Leo said he views the rite as a sign and that he carries the suffering “in my prayer.”
A federal judge in Boston halted a Trump administration effort that would have required many colleges and universities to provide detailed data meant to show they were not considering race in admissions. In granting a preliminary injunction, U.S. District Court Judge F. Dennis Saylor IV said the data request was rolled out in a “rushed and chaotic” manner after a 120-day deadline. The order applies to public universities in a lawsuit brought by 17 Democratic state attorneys general.
Descendants of Choctaw code talkers gathered in Fort Worth for an April 1 unveiling of a new historical marker at Veterans Memorial Park. The plaque, unveiled during a ceremony hosted by the Oklahoma tribe, the Texas Historical Commission and the city’s parks and recreation department, recognizes the group’s use of Choctaw language to send encrypted messages to Allied forces during World War I.
Georgia lawmakers passed a bill that would let property owners sue local governments if they believe policies banning people from sleeping outside and limiting “sanctuary” cooperation with federal immigration authorities were not enforced. The bill, sponsored by Rep. Houston Gaines, would allow claimants to seek compensation tied to alleged lost property value or costs, if Gov. Brian Kemp signs it.
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito fell ill at a Philadelphia event last month and was treated for dehydration before returning home to suburban Washington, the court’s spokeswoman said Friday. Patricia McCabe said the justice did not require an overnight hospital stay and was back on the bench the following Monday.
Bahrain’s crackdown on dissent has intensified as the war between the United States and Iran has reignited unrest in the Gulf kingdom, where critics say authorities are reviving tactics used against Arab Spring protests in 2011. The death of Mohamed al-Mousawi, a Shiite Muslim who had previously been imprisoned, has become a flashpoint amid renewed detentions tied to the conflict, according to reports this week.
Rural hospitals across the U.S. are warning that a new $50 billion federal program meant to transform rural health care will not prevent closures as Medicaid cuts squeeze their budgets, the Associated Press reported. In Nebraska, patients and state officials say the program’s innovation focus may not address immediate operating shortfalls tied to Medicaid funding reductions.
Moms for Liberty co-founder and CEO Tina Descovich has become a frequent presence at the White House since President Donald Trump returned to office, moving from local school-board activism to federal policy influence. In an interview, Descovich said the group has a “voice” in discussions over transgender sports bans, AI in education, dismantling the Education Department and ending diversity, equity and inclusion. Critics say the group is advancing an agenda they view as extreme through the administration.
A father whose 3-year-old daughter was placed in federal custody after crossing the U.S.-Mexico border said her release after months in foster care came only after his case reached the courts. He alleges she suffered sexual abuse while in the foster placement, and his daughter’s lawyer said the abuse was reported to local law enforcement and that a forensic exam and interview took place.
A North Carolina nonprofit that owns the WKRP call letters says it is auctioning the famous broadcast identifiers, with Cincinnati among the prospects. D.P. McIntire, who runs the nonprofit, told The Associated Press that he can’t yet say when or who will use the call sign but promised the move is “done.”
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has terminated nearly $9 million in farm-grant contracts awarded through a Biden-era program, affecting projects on the Blackfeet and Rocky Boy’s reservations in Montana and leaving tribes and nonprofits scrambling to restructure plans. Officials at the Piikani Lodge Health Institute and the Chippewa Cree Tribe said the cancellations threaten agricultural training and land-acquisition efforts.
A Republican legislative leader criticized efforts by the University of Wisconsin system’s board of regents to remove President Jay Rothman, saying the board is threatening to fire him without explaining why. In letters to regents obtained by The Associated Press, Rothman said the board was trying to force him to resign or face dismissal. Regents declined to comment.
LOS ANGELES—“The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” and a wider wave of Latter-day Saint social media creators have helped turn Mormonism into a recurring topic across U.S. pop culture, while also drawing criticism from church leaders and from some members who say portrayals can feel misleading.
Raw Farm of Fresno, California, said it is voluntarily recalling more than a half-dozen varieties of its cheddar cheese made from raw milk as federal health officials investigate an E. coli outbreak linked to people who reportedly consumed the products. The California producer said it initially refused to recall and is acting “under protest” while the U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigates.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal said it will no longer print the Las Vegas Sun as an insert for the first time in more than 75 years, escalating a dispute over Nevada’s last joint operating agreement under a 1970 federal law. The Sun’s attorney said the change would “irreparable harm” and the two papers are set to appear in court Friday seeking a judge-ordered restart of daily printing.
WESTLAND, Mich., and Trenton, Mich. — Kids raced at two Detroit-area parks Friday to grab thousands of marshmallows dropped from a helicopter as part of Wayne County Parks’ annual Marshmallow Drop. Organizers held the events about two hours apart, and officials urged participants not to eat the treats because they landed on the grass.
Canton Lutheran Church in Canton, South Dakota, received a total of $22,500 from South Dakota gaming proceeds to restore its stained-glass windows, and the church earlier received more than $185,000 from the National Trust for Sacred Places. Congregation members say the funding will help complete the “Restoring Radiance” campaign, which aims to restore all of the sanctuary’s century-old stained glass.
A 12-year-old has been arrested on suspicion of murder in the death of a classmate who was hit in the head with a metal water bottle during an alleged bullying incident at a Los Angeles school, authorities said April 3. Los Angeles Police Officer Charles Miller said the juvenile was arrested Thursday and that the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office will handle filing charges.
Good Friday was marked across Latin America on Friday with Catholic devotees holding processions and ceremonies that re-enact the crucifixion of Jesus, from colonial Antigua in Guatemala to cities in Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia. In Bolivia, President Rodrigo Paz joined Good Friday observances after years of leaders avoiding religious events, while in Mexico hooded penitents took part in a penitential procession in Atlixco, Puebla.
More than a decade of federal oversight of special education in New Orleans charter schools ended after a U.S. district judge terminated a sweeping consent judgment. The decision on March 31 by Judge Jay Zainey ended a court order that had been in place since early 2015, reached in a class-action lawsuit by parents alleging discrimination and inadequate services for students with disabilities.
The president of the University of Wisconsin system, Jay Rothman, said regents have told him to resign or be fired, but he has been given no reasons and will not step aside. Rothman told the Associated Press that he has refused to resign in letters to regents, including one to board president Amy Bogost dated March 26.
Kentucky lawmakers overrode Gov. Andy Beshear’s veto to enact a state law aimed at limiting failure-to-warn lawsuits tied to the weedkiller Roundup, which plaintiffs say can cause non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
The North Carolina Supreme Court on Thursday threw out longstanding litigation over education funding, siding with Republicans who argued judges overstepped. In a 4-3 decision, the justices set aside a 2022 ruling that had let a lower court order taxpayer money to address education inequities.
Copenhagen’s harbor has yielded the wreck of a Danish warship sunk during the 1801 Battle of Copenhagen, Denmark’s Viking Ship Museum said Thursday, 225 years to the day after the fighting. Marine archaeologists are racing to excavate the shipwreck of the Dannebroge before it is affected by construction for a new housing district in the Lynetteholm project.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey was released from a hospital in Montgomery on Thursday after undergoing a procedure to remove fluid pressing against her lung, according to her office. The 81-year-old governor is recovering at the Governor’s Mansion and expects to return to the Capitol office next week.
Belarus’s parliament passed a bill on April 2 that would introduce penalties for people who promote LGBTQ+ causes, echoing Russia’s restrictions. The bill, approved by the upper house after passage in the lower house, will go to President Alexander Lukashenko for his expected signature. The legislation would punish what it describes as “propaganda of homosexual relations, gender charge, refusal to have children and pedophilia” with fines, community labor and up to 15 days in arrest.
Protests at Ohio State University and Harvard are pressing universities to remove or rename buildings named for people whose names appear in the Epstein files, according to an Associated Press report. The requests cite donors’ relationships with Jeffrey Epstein and say universities cannot separate themselves from those ties, even as they acknowledge no charges have been filed against Les Wexner.
Pope Leo XIV washed the feet of 12 priests in the Holy Thursday ritual inside Rome’s Archbasilica of St. John Lateran on April 2, restoring a tradition that his predecessor had expanded to include laypeople and non-Christians. The 12 priests included 11 ordained by Leo last year and the Rev. Renzo Chiesa, director of the Rome Diocese’s primary seminary.
Congo’s Health Minister Roger Kamba said the country has ended a two-year mpox outbreak and that it is no longer a national emergency. Congo declared the end on April 2, after the outbreak was linked to more than 2,200 suspected deaths. The World Health Organization ended a global health emergency declaration for mpox in September.
Federal officials arrested eight people they said were involved in health care fraud schemes totaling $50 million in and around Los Angeles, including alleged hospice-center billings to Medicare for patients who were not terminally ill. Prosecutors said some cases involved alleged referrals and payment arrangements tied to hospice enrollment, as well as at least one case involving forged immigration medical documents.
Leaders in Milwaukee on Thursday called for the release of the president of Wisconsin’s largest mosque, saying federal immigration agents detained him because of his criticism of Israel. Salah Sarsour, a Palestinian-born legal permanent resident, was taken into custody Monday by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents after leaving his home, according to the Islamic Society of Milwaukee.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed for the first time to include microplastics and pharmaceuticals on a federal list of contaminants in drinking water, a step that could lead to new limits for water utilities. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the proposal is meant to respond to Americans concerned about plastics and medicines in tap water and is tied to the MAHA agenda promoted by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
U.S. egg prices are much lower than last year heading into Easter and Passover, after falling about 60% from record highs reached in 2025. The drop is linked largely to bird flu’s impact on poultry supplies earlier in the year, along with industry rebuilding of egg-laying flocks and changes in egg imports.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA’s Artemis II astronauts fired their engines Thursday night and blazed toward the moon, breaking free of Earth orbit after spending about a day testing the Orion capsule. The translunar injection came 25 hours after liftoff, putting three Americans and a Canadian on course for a lunar fly-around early next week.
Michigan’s prisons have expanded access to academic and vocational programs, with state data showing about 4,000 inmates completed education or job-training programs last fiscal year—up 66% from about 2,400 in 2020. The Michigan Department of Corrections said about 11,000 of the state’s roughly 33,000 prisoners participated in programs last year, as the state partners with colleges and universities and uses restored Pell Grants for incarcerated students.
Oklahoma junior college student Ethan Dietz died after a head injury during a game in Texas on Nov. 22, his family’s attorneys said, alleging the team failed to provide proper medical care before putting him back on the court. The college said it was unaware of any active or pending litigation and declined to comment on potential claims.
Scientists and cardiologists are testing so-called “digital twins” that replicate patients’ diseased hearts, aiming to improve treatment for ventricular tachycardia, a hard-to-treat arrhythmia tied to sudden cardiac arrest. A small first clinical trial reported in the New England Journal of Medicine used the models to guide ablation for 10 patients, with most participants showing no arrhythmias after more than a year.
Federal regulators on Wednesday approved Eli Lilly’s orforglipron, a once-daily oral GLP-1 medication for obesity, the company said. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted expedited approval as part of a program aimed at speeding up drug reviews, and Lilly said the pill, branded Foundayo, is expected to begin shipping Monday. Prices with insurance may start at $25 per month with a Lilly discount card, while cash prices will range from $149 to $349 per month depending on dose.
A federal judge in Tyler dismissed a lawsuit brought by Texas churches and national Christian groups that sought to allow churches to endorse political candidates without losing their tax-exempt status. The plaintiffs argued the limits of the Johnson Amendment violated their First Amendment rights, but District Judge Cam Barker said he lacked authority to approve a proposed settlement that would halt the law’s enforcement before taxes were at issue.
Michigan began receiving millions of dollars from an opioid settlement in January 2023, but some counties and cities have not disbursed any of the money to community groups, according to reporting. The pace has frustrated state leaders, as officials prepare a more complete accounting of how the funds are being used this spring.
Chile’s new President José Antonio Kast, who took office March 11, brings openly religious views shaped by his Catholic faith and his membership in the Schoenstatt movement. As he prepares to govern after pledging to crack down on crime and deport immigrants without legal status, advocates for abortion rights and LGBTQ rights say his background could make progress on those issues harder. Supporters say his faith-inspired values give them confidence that the country needs a plan.
University students and faculty are pressing Ohio State University and Harvard to remove the names of donors who appear in the late financier Jeffrey Epstein’s files, as protests and renaming requests spread to other campuses. At Ohio State, former athletes and union nurses tied to the Wexner Medical Center are seeking removal of Les Wexner’s name from athletic and arts facilities, while Harvard students and faculty are targeting the Leslie H. Wexner Building and the Wexner-Sunshine Lobby. The pressure is part of a broader backlash in higher education over donors and academics scrutinized in recent Epstein-file releases.
In Greece and other Orthodox-majority countries, millions of Orthodox Christians follow Lent’s 40-day ritual by avoiding meat, dairy, eggs and fish, with weekday restrictions also limiting oil and wine. The practice comes before Orthodox Easter, which often falls later than Catholic and Anglican Easter. In central Greece, monks at the Monastery of St. Augustine and Seraphim also use the diet as part of a spiritual routine of focus and reflection, while some everyday businesses adapt menu items to match the fast.
North Carolina Democrats are zeroing in on rural Black voters in the state’s battleground politics, after Democrats have struggled to mobilize that bloc outside major urban areas. As former Gov. Roy Cooper seeks a U.S. Senate seat in 2026, party leaders and local advocates say turnout in the east—far beyond the Research Triangle—could help determine the outcome.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has paused dozens of types of diagnostic lab testing, according to a list posted by the agency this week. The pauses include tests for rabies and monkeypox, among other infectious diseases, and a senior industry figure said it is not fully clear why the CDC is taking multiple tests offline.
Good Friday, observed by Christians ahead of Easter Sunday, falls on April 3 this year for Catholics and Protestants and April 10 for Orthodox Christians. Services often begin around 3 p.m. and may include centuries-old liturgy and public processions, with worshippers gathering indoors and in the streets to venerate the cross.
Warm winter weather linked to human-caused climate change can make nitrate pollution reach drinking-water sources more often, experts say. In Iowa, Des Moines Water Works spent about $16,000 a day in January and February filtering nitrates after rare winter events, the Associated Press reported. Researchers and officials warn that more frequent thaw-and-runoff patterns could raise water-quality and affordability pressures for rural and low-income communities.
Four astronauts launched from Florida’s Kennedy Space Center on Wednesday on Artemis II, NASA’s first crewed lunar mission in more than half a century. The 10-day flight will carry three Americans and one Canadian around the moon and back, as NASA pursues a future landing.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Apollo veterans now in their 80s and 90s say they want NASA to move faster with Artemis, starting with the April 1 launch of Artemis II around the moon with four astronauts. Retired engineers and moonwalkers who helped put astronauts on the lunar surface decades ago said they are watching from places near Kennedy Space Center, while some express frustration that earlier Artemis missions were delayed.
NASA’s Artemis II mission will send four astronauts on a lunar fly-around, the space agency’s first flight to the moon since 1972. The flight is scheduled from Kennedy Space Center in Florida and is designed to return to Earth in less than 10 days without a moonwalk.
Doulas — non-medical providers who offer physical and emotional support before, during and after birth — are moving from being a luxury to being covered by more insurers and states. A recent Associated Press report describes how more than 30 states now reimburse doulas through Medicaid or are implementing such coverage, and how some private insurers are beginning to do the same.
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators introduced the INSULIN Act, aiming to cap monthly insulin costs at $35 for Americans with private insurance and to expand more affordable insulin access for uninsured people in 10 states. Advocates and people living with diabetes say out-of-pocket costs can still be hundreds of dollars a month despite insurance. The bill faces congressional hurdles, but its prospects are drawing attention as lawmakers look for health-affordability wins.
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday against a Colorado law that banned “conversion therapy” for LGBTQ minors, saying the measure violates free-speech protections. Writing for the court, Justice Neil Gorsuch said the law “censors speech based on viewpoint” and sent the case back to determine whether the statute meets a legal standard that few laws pass.
Pope Leo XIV said he hoped the U.S.-Israel war on Iran could be finished before Easter, in remarks to reporters as he left the papal retreat at Castel Gandolfo outside Rome on Tuesday. The Pope urged world leaders to return to dialogue and find “ways to reduce the amount of violence,” adding that Easter should be a “time of peace” amid suffering across the Middle East.
Israeli police prevented Catholic leaders from entering Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate a private Palm Sunday Mass, the Associated Press reported on Sunday. The police said they approved a “limited prayer framework” for the church, but the Latin Patriarchate said the move was disproportionate and a barrier to freedom of worship. The incident drew criticism from U.S., French and Italian officials.
A federal judge in Rhode Island ruled Tuesday that the Trump administration’s effort to dramatically change the criteria for federal homeless funding is unlawful. Judge Mary McElroy said the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s new Notice of Funding Opportunity violated the Administrative Procedure Act. The ruling orders HUD to scrap the new policy.
HAVANA (AP) — Yuneisy Riviaux, an unemployed mother of two in Havana, said she sometimes cannot provide lunch for her daughters amid persistent blackouts, shortages and cuts to Cuba’s state ration system. She and her husband, Cristóbal Estrada, describe how U.S. energy restrictions intensified an already worsening economic crisis, leaving pharmacies empty and public transportation strained by gasoline shortages.
Pope Leo XIV rejected claims that God justifies war during Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square on Sunday, while asking for special prayers for Christians in the Middle East. Speaking to tens of thousands gathered in the square, he said Jesus, the “king of peace,” rejects violence and cannot be used to justify war.
Fewer American service members died by suicide in 2024, with Pentagon data showing deaths fell 11% to 471 from the year before. The Pentagon report also said the overall suicide rate for active duty troops dropped in 2024 compared with 2023, but the long-term rate for active-duty service members has been rising since 2011.
HONOLULU — A Hawaii seabird known as the manu-o-Kū, or white tern, has increased in Honolulu over the past decade, with new counts showing the birds thriving in the city’s trees despite threats that have reduced many other native species in the islands. The volunteer group Hui Manu-o-Kū says it documented 691 eggs and chicks in Honolulu trees as of this week, and that a 2023 survey found breeding adults on Oahu rose 1.5 times to 3,600 compared with 2016. Scientists say they are not sure why the birds are doing well in the urban environment.
Chile’s new President José Antonio Kast has taken office with openly religious views rooted in Catholic groups and a record of opposing abortion and same-sex marriage. Supporters say his faith and values provide confidence, while LGBTQ+ and abortion-rights advocates warn his agenda could make progress harder. The focus on Kast’s religious background comes as Chile remains in a broader regional shift away from Catholic affiliation.
A Buddhist meditation hall at Tassajara Mountain Zen Center in central California burned down in an attic fire March 26, destroying the wooden structure and damaging the nearby library, officials said. The center’s leaders said no one was injured, and monks and staff helped contain the blaze while volunteer firefighters traveled roughly an hour from a nearby community.
A college instructor at Cornell University has introduced an “analog” classroom assignment using manual typewriters to reduce the use of generative AI and online translation tools for coursework. German language instructor Grit Matthias Phelps said she wanted students to write without screens, spellcheckers or delete keys and to experience what writing and thinking in the classroom can feel like.
The Rutherford County Library Board in Tennessee fired the county’s library system director, Luanne James, after she refused to comply with the board’s vote to move more than 100 LGBTQ books from children’s shelves to the adult section. The board voted 8-3 on Monday, according to a decision announced after a meeting that included cheers and boos, and James’ attorney read a statement saying the firing was unlawful viewpoint discrimination.
Americans can cut down on fast furniture purchases by seeking free items through community groups, shopping secondhand, and maintaining what they already own, according to experts cited by The Associated Press.
Iran’s imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi may have suffered a heart attack, one of her lawyers said Tuesday, after visiting her in Zanjan Prison. Two of Mohammadi’s lawyers and her sister visited her on Sunday and reported that she looked very pale and had lost a lot of weight, according to her French lawyer, Chirinne Ardakani.
California’s new requirement for folic acid in corn masa flour for tortillas and other products takes effect as state regulators seek to reduce neural tube defects. The measure follows advocacy after a rare birth defect claimed the life of Andrea Lopez’s son, Gabriel Cude, when he was 10 days old. Similar efforts are under way in other states, while critics including Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. have challenged fortification in social media posts.
A federal judge ordered the University of Pennsylvania to turn over records about Jewish employees to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in an investigation into antisemitic discrimination. The ruling allows employees to refuse participation but says the agency needs the chance to talk directly to potential witnesses. The judge set a May 1 deadline for compliance and limited what Penn must disclose, including not requiring specific employees’ affiliation with a particular Jewish-related organization.
In the search for dark matter—an invisible substance inferred from its gravity—some scientists say spiritual traditions help them cope with awe, doubt and uncertainty. An Associated Press report profiles astrophysicists and researchers who draw on the Torah, Hindu texts and Buddhism, while others caution that faith should not be tied to changing scientific results.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey was hospitalized Tuesday in Montgomery, Alabama, after undergoing what her office described as a minor procedure to remove fluid that was pressing on her lung. Her office said she is expected to be monitored at Baptist Medical Center South “in the coming days” out of an abundance of caution.
The former chairman of the Arkansas State Medical Board, Dr. Brian Hyatt, was indicted on federal charges alleging he drugged and abducted patients at a psychiatric facility to increase health care reimbursements, an indictment released Monday said. Federal prosecutors said Hyatt gave patients strong sedatives to keep them at the facility without medical justification.
California has become the first U.S. state to require corn masa flour manufacturers to add folic acid, a vitamin linked to preventing neural tube defects, state law says. The measure is aimed at reducing rates that data show are disproportionately high among Hispanic mothers, where some neural-tube defects can be diagnosed only weeks after conception.
Travelers flying through San Francisco International Airport should expect delays after the Federal Aviation Administration this week cut a third of its arrival rate because of safety concerns and runway construction. The agency said it is also implementing a change to its rule for how aircraft are handled on closely spaced parallel runways.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill clearing Palm Beach International Airport to be renamed the President Donald J. Trump International Airport, with the rebranding planned for July. The move came days of attention on Trump’s effort to attach his name to institutions, as Trump also posted a video showing digital renderings for a Miami presidential library skyscraper.
Stephen Lewis, Canada’s former ambassador to the United Nations and a longtime social activist, has died at 88, his family and the Stephen Lewis Foundation said. Lewis was diagnosed with stomach cancer eight years ago.
The Stanley Family Foundation said it has pledged another $280 million to the Stanley Center for Psychiatric Research at the Broad Institute, bringing the family’s total giving to more than $1 billion. The gift, announced in the wake of decades of support tied to one family member’s experience with bipolar disorder, will fund seven additional years of research aimed at understanding the origins of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
More women in the U.S. are having babies at older ages, and doctors say “advanced maternal age” can raise the chances of pregnancy complications for both mothers and babies. An Associated Press report highlights what clinicians recommend before conception, during pregnancy and around delivery, including steps to improve overall health and to discuss prenatal screening and monitoring.
Michael Fincke, the NASA astronaut who sparked the agency’s first medical evacuation earlier this year, said doctors still do not know why he suddenly fell ill aboard the International Space Station. Fincke said the episode occurred Jan. 7 while he was preparing for a spacewalk, and that tests and other work since his return to Earth have not produced an explanation.
Vice President JD Vance said in a statement that his new book, “Communion: Finding My Way Back to Faith,” will explore his religious faith and his conversion to Catholicism as an adult. HarperCollins said the 304-page book, due June 16, comes after Vance previously set aside a religious memoir project in 2022.
Israel’s police blocked Catholic Church leaders from entering Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre to celebrate a private Palm Sunday Mass, prompting criticism from the United States and European leaders. The police said they approved a “limited prayer framework” and cited security concerns tied to the ongoing war with Iran, while church officials called the restriction unreasonable. The incident occurred on Monday as Christians marked Palm Sunday, which begins Holy Week ahead of Easter.
Gov. Greg Gianforte on Tuesday signed Senate Bill 437, a Montana measure that defines sex as male or female based on a person’s reproductive system and updates the state’s legal definitions of “male,” “female,” “sex” and “gender.” The bill, signed nearly a year after it passed the Legislature, follows earlier versions that were struck down in court.
International observers at a local election in Serbia said they witnessed violence and irregularities during the vote on Sunday, as President Aleksandar Vucic’s ruling party declared victory in all 10 municipalities. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe said its observers saw acts of violence outside polling places and “a number of irregularities” including breaches of voting secrecy. Serbian independent monitors also reported clashes and voting irregularities.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Robert Morris, the founder of Texas’ Gateway Church who pleaded guilty last year to sexually abusing a child in the 1980s, was released early Tuesday after serving six months in an Oklahoma jail. Morris, 64, must register as a sex offender and will be supervised under an interstate compact between Texas authorities and Oklahoma.
Trump attended opening night of the musical “Chicago” at the Kennedy Center on Tuesday, with some audience members booing as he arrived. The visit came shortly after he signed an executive order tied to creating a nationwide list of “verified eligible voters” and restricting mail-in voting, which Democrats said prompted legal challenges.
The Justice Department sued Minnesota and the Minnesota State High School League on Monday, arguing the state violates Title IX by allowing transgender girls to compete in girls’ sports and by requiring girls to face biological males. Attorney General Pam Bondi said the administration is challenging “flawed state policies” that undermine girls, and Minnesota’s Democratic attorney general said the case is a bid for attention.
A 15-year-old student shot a teacher at a Texas high school and then fatally shot himself Monday morning, authorities said. No other injuries were reported at Hill Country College Preparatory High School in Bulverde, near San Antonio, as investigators sought to understand what led to the attack and how the student obtained the firearm.
Suriname’s former President Chandrikapersad Santokhi, who led an investigation into the 1982 “December killings,” has died at 67, according to AP. Suriname President Jennifer Geerlings-Simons confirmed his death in a social media statement, while international leaders and regional partners including the Caribbean Community and Guyana’s president also mourned him.
Spain’s Catholic bishops and the Spanish government signed paperwork Monday for a new state-involved system to compensate victims of clergy sexual abuse, including cases where offenders have died or crimes are too old to be prosecuted. The deal, effective April 15, creates a one-year window for claims and puts the ombudsman in a final decision role. Archbishop Luis Argüello said the text will not set out compensation amounts in advance, while Justice Minister Félix Bolaños said the process would evaluate cases individually.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA’s next lunar mission crew includes commander Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency astronaut Jeremy Hansen, who will fly around the moon on a mission aimed at paving the way for future landings.
The Mississippi Department of Public Safety said it discovered rare Ku Klux Klan-related artifacts during an office move, then transferred them to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History. The materials include a handbook, charters, meeting minutes and ledgers, and KKK recruitment propaganda. Officials said processing the collection will take months, while civil rights advocates said the find underscores how recently the Klan operated.
Rural communities in Michigan are facing an “extreme shortage” of paramedics and emergency medical technicians as emergency medical services agencies deal with shrinking revenue and staffing costs, according to the Michigan Association of Ambulance Services and other officials. The shortage has persisted since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, even as the state has invested millions of dollars in grant programs aimed at training new workers.
President José Antonio Kast said his administration will tighten security at schools after a stabbing left one dead and four wounded, and after a student was detained trying to enter a school with a loaded firearm. Education Minister María Paz Arzola said her office is drafting a bill that would allow teachers to inspect students’ backpacks and that the government will work to expedite metal detectors at schools.
A California appeals court ruled that the West Contra Costa Unified School District violated state law by not doing enough to hire qualified teachers for every classroom. The decision reverses a 2024 ruling that accepted the district’s argument that compliance was “impossible” because of a teacher shortage.
Dozens of clowns marched through La Paz on Monday to protest a government decree that would limit extracurricular activities during the school year, threatening their income. The decree, published in February, requires schools to hold 200 days of lessons each year, which clowns said would effectively end school-day events where they are regularly hired.
Tallahassee Memorial Hospital has dropped its lawsuit seeking to evict a woman from a room months after she was discharged, the hospital said. The hospital filed for an injunction earlier this month to compel her to leave room 373 and said a hearing scheduled for Monday was canceled after the notice of voluntary dismissal with prejudice was filed.
Haiti’s National Police said officers backed by Kenyan police in a U.N.-supported mission helped rescue people after a renewed gang attack in the central town of Petite-Rivière de l’Artibonite. Human rights activists and a local activist group said at least 30 people were killed and that dozens more were missing after the gang attacked the Jean-Denis neighborhood.
Joe and Jill Biden have adopted two black Lab-mix puppies, Boo and Scout, at the former president’s home in Delaware, according to the animal welfare group that helped arrange the adoption. The puppies are siblings rescued from an overcrowded shelter in Tennessee.
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A Portland soccer tournament organized for immigrant and refugee girls drew dozens of volunteer coaches, referees and community supporters, offering a rare sense of safety as many families grapple with the stress and fear of federal immigration enforcement.
People often overestimate the climate benefit of low-impact actions such as recycling and underestimate higher-impact choices such as avoiding plane flights and changing meat consumption, a new study says. Researchers found that when Americans ranked the climate effect of everyday behaviors, they were frequently wrong about which actions mattered most.
Dozens were arrested in Los Angeles after a “No Kings” rally protesting President Donald Trump’s actions and the war in Iran ended with a dispersal order, Los Angeles police said Sunday. Authorities deployed tear gas near a federal detention center and made arrests after some protesters did not comply, police and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said.
Pope Leo XIV said Sunday that God does not listen to prayers from people who wage war and that Jesus is “King of Peace,” during a Palm Sunday Mass in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican. With the U.S.-Israeli war on Iran entering its second month and Russia continuing its campaign in Ukraine, the pope said he dedicated his homily to that message. The Vatican also said Jerusalem police blocked church leaders from entering the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for a private Palm Sunday Mass.
Jerusalem marked the approach of Passover and Easter under Israeli military restrictions as the Iran war entered its fifth week, shuttering major holy sites and keeping crowds away. The Old City’s streets were largely emptied, with metal shutters drawn on many storefronts and worship at several key locations limited to small groups. The cancellations and closures were also shaped by concerns about missile attacks and the restricted ability to shelter people nearby.
Violence erupted early Sunday in Petite-Rivière de l’Artibonite, Haiti, when the Gran Grif gang fought with a vigilante group, regional officials confirmed to The Associated Press.
Supporters of labor leader César Chavez are grappling this week with how to honor his legacy after allegations of sexual abuse emerged, and with how quickly officials and communities are changing longstanding tributes. The Associated Press reported that states, cities and counties marked what had long been considered César Chavez Day on Tuesday as Farmworkers Day, with some offices closed and many celebrations canceled or renamed. The unease is spreading beyond politics and into personal relationships, as advocates and attorneys weigh what to keep, what to remove, and what to learn.
In South Sudan, a prophet’s sacred stick known as Ngundeng Bong’s dang has endured for generations and is now entangled in a renewed struggle between President Salva Kiir and opposition leader Riek Machar. The stick’s legend, including prophecies that Machar’s supporters say point to him, intersects with fighting that has escalated along ethnic lines and has prompted authorities to order civilians to evacuate rebel-held towns.
Spain marked the start of Holy Week on Palm Sunday with processions featuring palm branches and ornate floats, including one in Malaga where actor Antonio Banderas joined the crowds. Banderas participated in the procession of his brotherhood, Tears and Favors, after singing a hymn inside the church of Saint John.
The Artemis II astronauts, including Commander Reid Wiseman and fellow crew members Victor Glover, Christina Koch and Canada’s Jeremy Hansen, arrived at Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Friday ahead of the program’s first astronaut moon trip in more than half a century. NASA is aiming for liftoff as early as April 1, with the launch window running through April 6.
Disney opened World of Frozen on Sunday at Disneyland Paris, debuting an Arendelle-themed land anchored by a 118-foot mountain of ice. The expansion is part of a 2 billion euro transformation that also renames one of the resort’s two parks and includes new attractions and dining.
Thousands protested Saturday against the war in Iran and President Donald Trump’s actions, as rallies branded “No Kings” drew crowds across the United States and in Europe. In St. Paul, Minnesota, organizers made the Capitol lawn event their national flagship and featured Bruce Springsteen as headliner.
Cage-match fighting is coming to the White House, where UFC is planning a June 14 mixed martial arts show on the president’s lawn to mark President Donald Trump’s 80th birthday, according to Associated Press reporting. The event includes plans to erect a 6-foot wire-mesh octagon on the lawn and to televise the show on Paramount+.
A federal judge ruled Friday that Minnesota can keep offering in-state tuition and scholarships to some immigrants without legal status, rejecting a lawsuit brought by the U.S. Department of Justice. The decision by U.S. District Judge Katherine Menendez followed legal fights between the federal government and Minnesota officials over immigration enforcement.
A month after U.S. and Israeli bombs hit Tehran, Iranians described daily airstrikes, damaged homes, and an economy already strained before the war began. In interviews conducted across Iran, they also cited an internet blackout since January that has cut them off from the outside world, compounded trauma from earlier protests, and left many unsure what happens next.
USS Massachusetts officially joined the U.S. Navy fleet Saturday after a commissioning ceremony in Boston Harbor, making it the first submarine named after Massachusetts. The Virginia-class fast attack submarine was christened May 6, 2023, by its sponsor, Sheryl Sandberg.
An argument between two men in Suqaylabiyah, a predominantly Christian town in central Syria, escalated into sectarian attacks that damaged homes, shops and cars, the Associated Press reported. The assault, carried out by scores of men on motorcycles from the nearby Sunni town of Qalaat al-Madiq, lasted until the early hours of Saturday, according to the report. Government forces later moved to reinforce Suqaylabiyah and calm the violence.
Savannah Guthrie will return to NBC’s “Today” show on April 6 after nearly two months away following the disappearance of her mother, Nancy Guthrie. In an interview aired Friday with Hoda Kotb, Guthrie said, “joy will be my protest.”
Pope Leo XIV urged Monaco’s residents to use the principality’s wealth and influence for good and to reject what he called the “idolatry of power and money” that he said is fueling wars worldwide. The pope made a one-day visit to the Mediterranean enclave on Saturday, meeting Prince Albert and Princess Charlene before addressing Catholics in the cathedral and delivering a homily at Mass in the Monaco stadium.
Actor James Tolkan, known for playing vice principal Gerald Strickland in “Back to the Future” and a commanding officer in “Top Gun,” has died at 94. Tolkan died Thursday in Lake Placid, New York, where he lived, according to his booking agent, John Alcantar.
The 2025 Virginias Associated Press Broadcasters Awards were announced March 28 at an Awards Luncheon and Annual Membership Meeting in Harrisonburg, Virginia. The contest drew 598 entries from 37 news organizations across Virginia and West Virginia, covering news and sports stories from 2025.
Henry Lee, the forensic scientist who gained widespread attention for testimony in the O.J. Simpson murder trial, died at 87 on Friday, his family and the University of New Haven said. Lee, who taught for more than 50 years at the university, died at his home in Henderson, Nevada, following a brief illness.
Idaho lawmakers passed a sweeping bill barring transgender people from using bathrooms that match their gender identity, including in privately owned businesses, the Associated Press reported. The bill makes violations a crime punishable by a misdemeanor with up to a year in jail for a first offense and a felony with up to five years for a second offense, AP said. Republican Gov. Brad Little’s signature would determine when the new penalties take effect.
Pope Leo XIV has installed Bishop James Golka as Denver’s new archbishop, marking a leadership transition in a Catholic archdiocese known for conservative influence but also for internal tensions over culture-war issues. Golka was installed March 25, after heading the diocese of Colorado Springs for five years, and supporters and critics alike described what his appointment could mean for polarization in northern Colorado. The Associated Press report, written by Religion News Service, included reactions from clergy, Catholic nonprofits and parishioners.
A suburban Detroit school district has agreed to provide First Amendment training to staff to resolve a lawsuit brought by a Palestinian teenager who said a teacher humiliated her after she refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance, according to a court filing.
Starting July 1, Montana will expand eligibility for an American Indian tuition waiver administered through the Montana University System, dropping a blood-quantum requirement and adding unenrolled “descendants.” The changes could make higher education more affordable for thousands, but some tribal leaders and lawmakers have raised concerns about consultation and the policy’s federal-law backdrop.
Vice President JD Vance met Friday with a new anti-fraud task force he is leading, as the Trump administration seeks to show it is cracking down on misuse of federal benefit programs. Speaking ahead of a closed-door meeting in Washington, Vance said the federal government had not taken fraud seriously enough for decades and called for a “whole-government approach.”
More than 7 million borrowers enrolled in the Biden-era SAVE repayment plan will begin receiving notices starting Friday instructing them to seek a new plan, the U.S. Department of Education said. Borrowers who had been in forbearance since July 2024 will get 90 days to choose a replacement repayment option after a federal court struck down the SAVE plan earlier this month.
Mexico’s government said it has identified signs of life for about a third of the country’s roughly 130,000 registered missing people, a report issued as families and search groups renew demands for clearer records. Officials said they found activity in government databases for 40,367 people reported missing, and they said 5,269 have been marked as “found.” The announcement drew swift criticism from search collectives and a human rights group.
NASA has named the four astronauts who will fly on Artemis, the agency’s first mission to the moon in more than half a century, according to a Associated Press look at the crew. The commander, pilot and mission specialists include a woman, a Black astronaut and a Canadian, reflecting a more diverse astronaut corps than the Apollo era. The mission will take them far beyond where Apollo astronauts went, including a return trip and views of the moon’s far side.
Colleges are increasingly using in-person oral exams and “oral defenses” as a way to assess whether students can explain what they learned as generative AI makes written work easier to outsource. The Associated Press reports growing interest across universities in oral assessments that range from instructor-led questioning to an AI-powered oral exam system at New York University.
A musician who canceled a Christmas Eve performance at the Kennedy Center in protest of President Donald Trump’s influence over the venue has asked a judge to dismiss a lawsuit the performing arts institution filed. Chuck Redd’s lawyers said in a motion filed in D.C. Superior Court that he was not contractually obligated to perform because the Kennedy Center’s contract was never signed.
Tennessee launched a new online Livability Indicators Dashboard designed to help policymakers examine county-level factors that affect quality of life in rural areas, researchers at East Tennessee State University said. The dashboard includes data on more than 60 topics, ranging from economic development and housing to health care access and aging-related community support.
Rural Michigan school leaders say the state’s reliance on competitive grants puts small districts at a disadvantage, because they lack staff time to complete applications and required data. In districts such as Posen Consolidated Schools, Johannesburg-Lewiston Area Schools and Rudyard Area Schools, leaders described writing grants around recess duty, substitute teaching and other jobs.
Minnesota will host the “No Kings” protest movement’s flagship rally on Saturday, with Bruce Springsteen scheduled to perform “Streets of Minneapolis” at the state Capitol in St. Paul. Organizers said they expect up to 100,000 people at the Capitol complex, amid ongoing anger over President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and deaths of two residents shot by federal officers. The rally is also expected to draw support from Joan Baez and Jane Fonda, as well as Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth hosted his first monthly Christian worship service at the Pentagon on Wednesday since the Iran war began, staging the event for civilian employees and uniformed personnel in a livestreamed setting. During the service, Hegseth read a prayer asking for “every round” to find its mark and to deliver “overwhelming violence of action against those who deserve no mercy.”
Italy’s Culture Ministry put a recently purchased Antonello da Messina devotional painting on display in Italy’s Senate on Thursday, Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli said. The ministry said it plans to step up acquisitions after buying the double-sided work, titled “Ecce Homo,” from Sotheby’s for $14.9 million.
The U.S. Census Bureau said population growth slowed in many metro areas in 2025, with the steepest drops in communities along the southern border as immigration declined. In Florida, counties along the Gulf Coast also lost residents after hurricanes in 2024, the agency said in estimates released Thursday.
An appeals court has paused lower-court orders that restricted federal officers’ use of tear gas during protests at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland, Oregon, the Associated Press reported. A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted the Trump administration’s request for temporary administrative stays in two related cases.
The Justice Department opened investigations into how race is considered in admissions at Stanford University’s medical school, Ohio State University and the University of California, San Diego, according to Harmeet Dhillon. The probes seek documents and applicant-level data going back to the incoming class that started in 2019, as the Trump administration expands pressure on universities amid a Supreme Court decision barring affirmative action in admissions.
A Colorado woman whose son died after buying drugs through social media said two verdicts against Meta and YouTube this week show a path to holding companies responsible for harms to children. Kimberly Osterman, speaking Thursday in her home in Colorado, said the rulings validate her push for stronger guardrails as Congress considers the Kids Online Safety Act.
Texas reviewed its child-care scholarship spending after allegations of a $110 million fraud scheme in Minnesota, and state agencies found little fraud in Texas, according to a report released in February. Gov. Greg Abbott ordered the review after the Minnesota allegations prompted a broader federal funding freeze in five states. Advocates said they fear tighter oversight could add burdens and squeeze underfunded child-care providers already struggling to serve families.
A jury in Los Angeles found Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube liable in a landmark social media addiction lawsuit, ordering a $375 million penalty. The verdict, delivered after more than 40 hours of deliberations, awarded $3 million in damages to a 20-year-old plaintiff and also included recommendations for punitive damages.
About 500 migrants marched through southern Mexico toward better employment prospects on Wednesday, protesting long waits for paperwork and seeking authorization to move to areas with more jobs while their immigration status is processed, according to the Associated Press.
Rural independent pharmacies in Texas say they are increasingly forced to sell prescription drugs at a loss as pharmacy benefit managers set reimbursement rates that often leave them unable to cover costs. The pharmacies and state advocates are now looking to new revenue streams, such as retail goods and cattle businesses, to stay open as closures spread in remote communities.
Most working women in the United States say they are disadvantaged when it comes to earning competitive wages, while many men disagree, according to a new AP-NORC poll released ahead of Equal Pay Day. The survey also finds employed women are more likely than employed men to describe their pay as a “major” source of stress.
The U.S. Department of Education will relocate from its headquarters to a smaller Washington office in August as part of the Trump administration’s efforts to dismantle the agency, officials said Thursday. The Education Department said its headquarters building is about 70% vacant and that the Energy Department will assume the lease. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the move reduces the federal education footprint, while the union representing department workers criticized it.
Washington’s cherry blossoms have reached peak bloom, the National Park Service said, sending a brief wave of pink across the capital. The timing also means the four-week National Cherry Blossom Festival is underway, with events running from March 20 through April 12.
Many events and holidays honoring César Chavez are being canceled or renamed after farmworker labor leader César Chavez faced allegations of sexual abuse of women and girls while he led the United Farm Workers. States and cities are changing how they mark March 31, with officials also shifting to honoring Dolores Huerta, his longtime labor partner. The developments follow revelations that Huerta was among people who said they were abused by Chavez.
The U.S. Justice Department said it is investigating whether California and Maine violate the rights of female inmates by housing transgender women with women in prison. The investigation targets the California Institution for Women in San Bernardino County and the Central California Women’s Facility in Madera County, and the Maine Correctional Center in Windham.
Nine people, including children, have been sickened in an expanding E. coli outbreak tied to raw milk and cheddar cheese from Raw Farm, U.S. health officials said March 27. The CDC said that two additional California cases were added to the outbreak first reported March 15, bringing the state total to seven, and that other illnesses were reported in Texas and Florida.
A jury in Los Angeles found Meta and YouTube liable for harms to children who used their services, and a jury in New Mexico found Meta knowingly harmed children’s mental health and concealed what it knew about child sexual exploitation. The verdicts, reported by the Associated Press, add to a growing body of court battles over whether social media platforms can be held responsible for features plaintiffs say were designed to be addictive and harmful to young users.
A judge on Thursday ruled that Antoine Watson, convicted in the 2021 death of Thai immigrant elder Vicha Ratanapakdee in San Francisco, can avoid prison time after receiving credit for time already served, with the remaining sentence suspended if he follows probation rules. Watson, 25, was sentenced to eight years for manslaughter in Ratanapakdee’s death.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said Mexico will continue a bilateral agreement that allows Cuban doctors to work in the country, even as other governments in the Americas have ended similar arrangements amid U.S. pressure. She made the comments on Wednesday in response to questions about whether Mexico would yield to efforts by the Trump administration.
Noelia Castillo, a 25-year-old Spanish woman who sought euthanasia and pursued a prolonged court fight with her family, received life-ending medicine in Barcelona on Thursday, according to the Associated Press. Her case drew national attention in Spain, where the law on euthanasia and medically assisted suicide took effect in 2021. An appeal by her father and a subsequent bid to take the case to the European Court of Human Rights were unsuccessful.
A California jury found both Meta and YouTube liable for mental health harms tied to children using their platforms, in what the Associated Press described as the first-of-its-kind lawsuit centered on social media addiction. Pediatric and child mental health experts told AP that the verdict should prompt families to talk with children about what they see online and to tailor phone and app boundaries to each child’s needs.
Some U.S. families facing high nursing home and assisted living costs try to qualify a loved one for Medicaid by using a “spend down” approach, eldercare advocates say. The method involves using assets for eligible medical and related expenses so the person meets income and asset limits, though the rules vary by state. Advocates warn that “do it yourself” planning can create estate problems and can also jeopardize Medicaid eligibility if assets are transferred improperly.
Idaho’s Republican‑controlled Senate is set to vote this week on a sweeping bill that would criminalize transgender people using bathrooms that match their gender identity in any public accommodation, including privately owned businesses. Senate Republican Ben Toews framed the measure as a matter of safety and decency, proposing up to a year in jail for a misdemeanor first offense or up to five years for a felony second offense. Law‑enforcement groups warn the proposal would force officers to visually determine a person’s biological sex, while transgender advocates argue it would bar trans residents from everyday places.
A New Mexico jury found Meta platforms harmful to children’s mental health and imposed a $375 million penalty, while other social media child-safety cases move through trial and pretrial phases. The New Mexico Attorney General said the case followed investigations that posed as children and documented sexual solicitations and Meta’s responses, and Meta said it will appeal.
The U.S. Indian Health Service is set to break ground in 2027 on a new $22 million federal medical center promised to Native American patients more than 30 years ago. Officials toured the planned site on the Santa Ana Pueblo near Albuquerque, as advocates said federal funding still lags behind the needs tied to a 1993 construction list.
Texas-based Jesuit Rev. Brian Strassburger says his ministry at the U.S.-Mexico border has shifted as crossings fell under President Donald Trump, but he remains focused on accompanying migrants and people who have been detained or deported. He leads the Del Camino Jesuit Border Ministries, providing Mass and other sacraments in shelters and detention centers on both sides of the border, including in Texas and Mexico.
Minnesota will host the “No Kings” movement’s flagship rally on Saturday at the state Capitol in St. Paul, headlined by Bruce Springsteen. Organizers said more than 100,000 people could converge on the Capitol complex, where they are protesting President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and the broader pushback they associate with his consolidation of power.
Samara Martínez, a Mexican kidney failure activist, is pushing lawmakers to decriminalize euthanasia as Mexico considers potential changes to federal health law and criminal penalties. The proposal, known as the Transcendence Law, would redefine euthanasia as a legal, voluntary medical procedure for adults, while allowing conscientious objection for health workers.
Two teenage boys who used artificial intelligence to create fake nude images of classmates in Pennsylvania received probation on Wednesday after dozens of victims described the images’ impact on them. Authorities said the boys used school and social media photos from 2023 and 2024 and morphed them with images depicting nudity or sexual activity.
A 18-year-old student in rural northern Michigan said she has been accepted to a university in Ohio but wants to “stay here,” even as schools and communities face high poverty and low rates of college enrollment. Across the region, educators say students often prioritize career and technical training because distances to jobs, health care and advanced classes—and limited internet at home—make four-year college harder.
Georgia could become the first state to require daily weapons‑detection checks for every student entering a public school. The Senate voted to approve an amended version of a bill sponsored by Republican House Majority Leader Chuck Efstration on March 25, sending the measure to the House and then to Governor Brian Kemp for signature or veto.
Wellness influencer Dr. Casey Means’ nomination to be U.S. surgeon general has stalled a month after senators from both major parties grilled her on vaccines and other health issues during a confirmation hearing. Senators questioned her experience and her stance on vaccines, and two Republicans on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee said they still had hesitations. The White House and supporters said the process is moving through “productive conversations” with the Senate.
A New Mexico jury on Tuesday found Meta knowingly harmed children’s mental health and safety through its social media platforms, and concluded the company violated state law. The nearly seven-week trial ended with jurors awarding penalties that prosecutors said were far less than the amount they sought.
Law enforcement officials said they are taking steps to monitor and counter threats to Jewish and Muslim communities nationwide, citing a rise in hateful incidents and an attempted terror attack tied to the Israel-Hamas war. The efforts include security changes at places of worship and investigations into extremist activity after incidents involving a Michigan synagogue and violence elsewhere in the U.S.
Residents across Hawaii are digging out from the state’s worst flooding in more than 20 years, following two Kona low winter storm systems that dumped heavy rain on already-saturated ground. Nonprofits, mutual aid groups, and foundations are collecting donations to support affected households, farmers and animals across multiple islands, and Gov. Josh Green has asked President Donald Trump for a major disaster declaration.
USC canceled a gubernatorial debate planned for Tuesday after candidates of color who said they were excluded accused the university of discrimination. The planned debate would have included Republicans Steve Hilton and Chad Bianco and Democrats Tom Steyer, Katie Porter, Eric Swalwell and Matt Mahan, but excluded Antonio Villara-gosa, Xavier Becerra, Betty Yee and Tony Thurmond.
OpenAI Foundation, the nonprofit that controls OpenAI, pledged to award $1 billion in grants over the next year. The fund said the money will support life-sciences and health research and aim to mitigate impacts of AI on jobs, the economy and mental health, especially children.
The NAACP has hired ex-Justice Department civil rights chief Kristen Clarke to lead its legal advocacy as general counsel, the organization announced March 25. Clarke will oversee the NAACP’s legal strategy and operations and lead litigation efforts on voter access, gerrymandering and the First Amendment, among other civil-rights and social-justice issues.
Rev. Brian Strassburger, the head of Del Camino Jesuit Border Ministries, has kept celebrating Mass and offering sacraments to migrants in Texas shelters and to detainees and deportees on both sides of the U.S.–Mexico border. His work has spanned the era of record‑breaking crossings under the Biden administration and the sharp decline that followed President Donald Trump’s 2025 immigration emergency declaration. Strassburger says his ministry embodies the Christian promise that “God is accompanying you on your journey,” even as asylum‑seeker numbers shrank dramatically.
Rural schools across northern Michigan are trying to steer students toward education beyond high school while acknowledging that many families prefer staying close to home, even when jobs pay less. In interviews with students and educators, the trade-off centers on limited access to advanced classes, patchy internet for online coursework, and long trips for services—factors that make college feel farther away and career training more immediate.
Federal health officials on Tuesday issued a warning letter to ImmunityBio after challenging what they said were misleading marketing claims about Anktiva, including comments by biotech billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong on a podcast. The FDA said the statements promoted uses beyond the bladder-cancer indication and portrayed the drug as a “cancer vaccine” without required risk and side-effect information.
Melania Trump urged countries on Tuesday to work together to improve access to education and technology for children worldwide, delivering her remarks as she opened a two-day summit in Washington with counterparts from more than 40 countries. Speaking in a State Department auditorium, she called for regional meetings, research studies, new partnerships and collaboration to “cultivate the skills young people need to be successful.”
Travelers at Philadelphia International Airport expected long security lines Tuesday, but organizers’ biggest queue was the one for cheesesteaks. Organizers said Philadelphia set a Guinness World Record for the longest line of cheesesteak sandwiches, with 1,291 lined up inside a departure hall to mark National Cheesesteak Day.
Pope Leo XIV will travel to the site of the Council of Nicaea on Nov. 28 to commemorate the 1,700th anniversary of the church meeting that helped define the Nicene Creed, a statement of faith still recited by millions, the Vatican announced. The pope will mark the moment in a joint commemoration with Patriarch Bartholomew, the spiritual leader of Eastern Orthodox Christianity.
Savannah Guthrie appealed for help finding her 84-year-old mother after NBC aired a brief segment of her interview with Hoda Kotb on Wednesday’s “Today.” Guthrie, speaking in a tearful first interview since her mother was reported missing on Feb. 1, said “someone needs to do the right thing” and urged anyone with information to come forward.
Georgia lawmakers advanced a bill that would require weapons-detection systems in public schools, with the goal of checking students every school day. The bill is aimed at preventing copycat gun violence after the 2024 Apalachee High School shooting that killed four people. Its amended version cleared a Georgia Senate committee, setting up votes in the final days of the 2026 legislative session.
Law enforcement officials said they are taking steps to monitor and counter threats to Jewish and Muslim communities nationwide following a March 12 attack at a synagogue in Michigan and other hateful incidents since the start of the Middle East war. Federal and local agencies discussed strategies at a national security briefing organized by the Secure Community Network ahead of Passover.
A New Mexico jury found Tuesday that Meta knowingly harmed children’s mental health and safety and violated state law, issuing a verdict that signals a widening willingness to pursue tech companies for harms to minors. The decision caps nearly seven weeks of trial, though a May phase will determine whether Meta’s platforms created a public nuisance and what programs the company would fund.
Americans’ use of GLP-1 drugs is rising, but experts say the medications work best when paired with lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise, sleep and stress management. An Associated Press review cites survey data from KFF and medical experts who warn against treating a prescription as the full treatment.
A statue of Christopher Columbus has been placed on the grounds of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building adjacent to the White House, the Associated Press reported on March 23, as President Donald Trump’s administration renews its effort to recognize the explorer. The administration and its allies have promoted Columbus as a hero, while critics point to his role in European conquest of the Americas and exploitation of Native peoples.
A coalition of cultural and historic preservation groups sued President Donald Trump, the Kennedy Center and others in his administration on March 23, seeking to block further physical changes to the Kennedy Center ahead of a two-year closure. The lawsuit says Trump’s hinted, more substantial overhaul should instead go through the standard review process used for major projects in Washington.
USC canceled a gubernatorial debate planned for Tuesday in California after candidates of color said the university’s selection criteria discriminated against them, according to The Associated Press. The debate was to include several mostly white candidates who met the standards, but excluded Antonio Villaraigosa, Xavier Becerra, Betty Yee and Tony Thurmond, the AP reported. USC later reversed course Monday night, saying debate co-hosts could not agree on a solution, AP said.
Travelers at Philadelphia International Airport expected long security lines on Tuesday, but organizers say the longest line was made of cheesesteak sandwiches. Organizers said Philadelphia achieved a new Guinness World Record for the longest line of cheesesteak sandwiches, with 1,291 lined up inside a departure hall to mark National Cheesesteak Day.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned ImmunityBio that marketing materials and podcast remarks by biotech billionaire Patrick Soon-Shiong for its bladder cancer drug Anktiva violated federal rules on drug promotion, according to an FDA letter posted online Tuesday. The FDA said the statements created a misleading impression by suggesting the drug could treat, cure or prevent cancers beyond bladder cancer and by calling it a “cancer vaccine.” The company said it plans to work with the agency.
In Washington, Melania Trump on Tuesday called for a global alliance to improve children’s access to education and technology, opening an inaugural two-day summit bringing together counterparts from more than 40 countries and technology executives. Speaking in a State Department auditorium, she urged participants to accelerate a “new global alliance” aimed at helping young people build skills for a rapidly changing world.
Two pilots who died when an Air Canada regional jet collided with a fire truck on a LaGuardia Airport runway were identified this week as Mackenzie Gunther and Antoine Forrest, according to a family member and a Canadian college that confirmed their training. The crash sent about 40 of the roughly 70 passengers and crew on the regional jet, as well as two people from the fire truck, to hospitals for treatment, with many released by Monday morning, authorities said. An investigation is under way into the crash’s cause.
Pope Leo XIV will travel Nov. 28 to Nicaea in present-day Turkey to mark the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, a foundational moment that helped shape the Nicene Creed, which many Christians still recite. The anniversary also highlights how the creed’s adoption came from an early collaboration of church and state and how later schisms left no lasting doctrinal agreement.
South Africa reburied the remains of at least 63 Khoi and San people on Monday after they were repatriated from a European museum, the Associated Press reported. President Cyril Ramaphosa attended the ceremony and said the practice of selling and studying Indigenous remains in Europe was rooted in racism.
Thousands of works by incarcerated artists are on display at the University of Michigan’s Prison Creative Arts Project exhibit in Ann Arbor, running through March 31. Organizers say the 30th annual show is the largest and longest-running of its kind in the country, and they say the programs help participants rebuild identity through creative expression.
OnlyFans owner Leonid Radvinsky, 43, died of cancer, the company said in a statement on Monday. Radvinsky acquired the company that owns and operates OnlyFans in 2018 and helped build its subscription-based model.
Oklahoma City Thunder guard/forward Jalen Williams is set to return to the lineup Monday night against the Philadelphia 76ers after missing the previous 16 games with a right hamstring strain, the team said. Williams injured his hamstring Jan. 17 against the Miami Heat, sat out significant time, and then re-aggravated it after returning for a pair of games in February.
Democrats criticized the federal arrest of a Guatemalan-bound family at San Francisco International Airport after video showed officers detaining a crying woman while her child watched. State Sen. Scott Wiener and other California Democrats said the incident fueled fear as ICE officers were being deployed to airports during a partial shutdown and funding impasse.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was transferred to a regular hospital room in Brasilia as he recovers from pneumonia, one of his doctors said Monday.
Herreid, a ranching and outdoor recreation town about 7 miles south of the North Dakota border, has added new homes and apartments in recent years, helping revive its population and local economy, according to local leaders. Dick Werner, a retired banking executive who became president of the Herreid Area Housing Development, said the effort focused on attracting families and workers by first closing a shortage of places to live.
The two biggest U.S. prediction-market platforms, Kalshi and Polymarket, said Monday they have added new bans and surveillance tools aimed at insider trading after two senators introduced legislation that could sharply curtail the industry. Kalshi will bar political candidates from trading on their own campaigns, while Polymarket rewrote its rules to prohibit trading by people who may have confidential information or who could influence event outcomes.
Nebraska officials are seeking to eliminate retroactive Medicaid coverage statewide, a proposal that opponents say would leave Medicaid patients paying out of pocket for early or emergency care while paperwork is processed. The Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services is accepting public comment on the plan, which would make Nebraska the only state to end retroactive coverage entirely if implemented.
Pope Leo XIV declared Father Edward Joseph Flanagan of Boys Town “venerable” Monday, a Vatican step that advances the Nebraska priest toward beatification. The pope’s decree follows a review by the Vatican’s Dicastery for the Causes of Saints into Flanagan’s life and writings.
Students at the University of Alabama filed a federal lawsuit Monday challenging the suspension of two student-run magazines, alleging censorship and viewpoint-based discrimination by university officials. The lawsuit says the magazines—Nineteen Fifty-Six and Alice—were stopped in December after administrators determined they had a “perceived target audience,” citing guidance related to diversity, equity and inclusion programs. University of Alabama spokesman Alex House said the school has no plans to comment on the pending litigation.
The University of North Texas said it will cut or consolidate more than 70 academic programs, minors and certificates as it works to close a projected $45 million budget shortfall. UNT President Harrison Keller and Provost Michael McPherson said the changes include phasing out all linguistics degree programs and eliminating a women’s and gender studies master’s program.
The U.S. Census Bureau said dozens of postal carriers in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and Huntsville, Alabama, will help administer in-person questions in a spring test for the 2030 head count. Starting in June, the carriers will ask residents who do not respond online about race, ethnicity and household relationships, according to new details released March 23.
At least 64 people, including 13 children, were killed in a strike on a hospital in Sudan’s western Darfur region last week, the World Health Organization said Saturday. The WHO said the Al Daein Teaching Hospital in East Darfur was also rendered non-functional, with at least 89 people injured.
Israeli settlers attacked Palestinian villages in the occupied West Bank on Sunday night, injuring at least 10 Palestinians, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. The violence came after a funeral in the settlement of Elon Moreh for an 18-year-old Israeli settler killed in a car collision, and followed earlier overnight attacks reported by WAFA. In Gaza, hospital officials said Israeli strikes killed four Palestinians, including three police officers in a vehicle hit in Nuseirat.
Chappell Roan responded on Sunday to accusations by Brazilian-Italian soccer star Jorginho, who said a security guard mistreated his 11-year-old stepdaughter after she recognized the singer at a Sao Paulo hotel. Jorginho posted a lengthy account on Instagram Saturday, saying the guard spoke “in an extremely aggressive manner” to his wife and daughter. Roan said the guard was not her personal security and that she did not see “a woman and a child.”
Women farmworkers and advocates described how Dolores Huerta joined others in raising awareness about sexual violence in agriculture, including allegations against César Chavez. They said grassroots networks led by women have grown since the early days of the U.S. farm labor movement, pushing for enforcement, training and policy changes while working to help victims come forward.
The national bison is getting a bronze tribute for the United States’ 250th birthday, with three oversized bronze statues installed outside the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History in Washington. The statues—depicting a bull, a cow and a calf—made their public debut Friday, and were designed and sculpted by Gary Staab.
Allergy season can leave tens of millions of Americans with runny noses, itchy eyes, coughing and sneezing, as trees, grass and other pollens trigger symptoms. Experts say climate change is lengthening and intensifying allergy seasons, even as treatments have improved in recent years.
The Vatican hosted a rare Sunday evening concert in the Sistine Chapel, debuting an English-language composition focused on “interactions with angels” drawn from the Bible. Cardinal Vincent Nichols, archbishop of Westminster, told the roughly 200 invite-only attendees that they could not use phones to film or photograph the premiere. The 70-minute oratorio, “Angels Unawares,” was commissioned by John Studzinski’s Genesis Foundation and written by Sir James MacMillan, with texts by the late Robert Willis.
Russia has blocked or curtailed protests in multiple regions tied to internet censorship and the messaging app Telegram, often citing local pretexts or procedural rationales, the Associated Press reported. The restrictions have frustrated demonstrators and prompted some activists to scale back to smaller gatherings or challenge refusals in court.
Robert S. Mueller III, the former FBI director who led the agency after the Sept. 11 attacks and later served as special counsel investigating ties between Russia and Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign, has died. He was 81. His family said he died Friday night, adding that they asked that their privacy be respected.
Jehovah’s Witnesses’ governing body has “clarif[ied]” a policy on blood transfusions, now allowing members to decide whether to have their own blood drawn, stored, and later returned to them for medical or surgical care. The organization said its broader prohibition remains in place for receiving transfusions of others’ blood, and framed the change as one of conscience for individual Christians. The policy shift was described in a video statement posted Friday by Governing Body member Gerrit Lösch.
The U.S. Senate on Saturday blocked an amendment that would bar transgender athletes from playing in women’s sports while lawmakers debated a broad voting bill, Reuters reported. The amendment lost 49-41 during a rare weekend session as Republican President Donald Trump pressed Congress to act.
Taylor Tomlinson filmed her Netflix special “Prodigal Daughter” inside Fountain Street Church in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a congregation leaders describe as welcoming her edgy material. The special, which includes sexual themes and profanity, was released Feb. 24 and features Tomlinson addressing her conservative Christian upbringing.
Syrian Kurds have returned to Afrin, a district in northern Syria, to mark Nowruz for the first time since exile, Associated Press reported. The return comes after the government of interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa declared Nowruz a national holiday and strengthened Kurdish rights during ceasefire talks in January.
Russian authorities blocked or disrupted protests against the online censorship and the blocking of Telegram, a popular messaging app, citing changing local reasons ranging from “tree inspections” to weather and pandemic-era rules. In the Russian Far East, a regional lawmaker said the bans have not stopped the discontent, despite rising pressure on unauthorized demonstrations. The Associated Press reported the incidents across multiple regions and noted that some people who tried to challenge denials in court also lost.
Japanese officials said one of two Japanese nationals detained in Iran has returned to Japan in good health, following months of detention.
Dozens of models with Down syndrome walked a catwalk in Romania’s capital on March 21, in an event meant to celebrate “style, atypical beauty and courage” ahead of World Down Syndrome Day.
Tens of thousands of protesters rallied in Prague on Saturday against the policies and plans of the Czech government led by Prime Minister Andrej Babiš, organizers said. The demonstration at Letná park focused on concerns that Babiš and his coalition cabinet pose a threat to democracy and to the country’s stance toward Ukraine, organizers and speakers said.
Parents refusing newborn vitamin K shots and other routine preventive measures are increasingly citing “natural” birth philosophies and misinformation online, pediatricians say. Doctors warn the refusals are spreading beyond vaccines and into care meant to prevent bleeding and eye infections in the first days of life.
About 8 in 10 Americans with Affordable Care Act marketplace coverage say their health care costs are higher this year, according to a KFF survey released after enhanced premium tax credits expired. The survey found many enrollees are responding by cutting spending on basics such as food, and most say they are worried about affording emergency care. It also found returning enrollees largely blame health insurers and Republican lawmakers for the increases, with some also pointing to President Donald Trump and pharmaceutical companies.
Thousands of delegates from dozens of countries and organizations began arriving in Cuba on Friday to deliver a humanitarian convoy of about 20 tons of aid as the island faces a severe energy crisis, the Associated Press reported. Organizers said more delegates were expected to arrive by sea in a flotilla of three vessels.
Connecticut lawmakers advanced a bill that would create new reporting requirements for families removing children from public school to homeschool or enroll in private schools. The measure, House Bill 5468, cleared the Education Committee on Wednesday despite broad opposition from Republicans and four Democrats. Proponents said the bill targets a blind spot in child-welfare oversight; opponents said it would intrude on homeschool rights and divert attention from safety problems in public schools.
Iranians marked Nowruz, the Persian new year, with grief and disruption as the Iran war has cut communication between families abroad and in the country, the Associated Press reported March 20. In Paris, a man described his mother’s return trip and the difficulty of staying in touch after she went back to Iran.
More than 600 delegates from 33 countries began arriving in Cuba on Friday as part of a solidarity caravan carrying about 20 tons of humanitarian aid, organizers said. The arrival comes as Cuba faces a severe energy crisis and rising U.S.-Cuba tensions, including after President Donald Trump imposed an energy blockade in January, according to the reports.
As Iranians Americans weigh fear, anger and hope during the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran, many are debating how to mark Nowruz, Iran’s new year, this week. Some people have canceled large events, while others are holding pop-up dinners, baking and cooking rituals, and charity fundraisers that bring communities together through food.
The U.S. defense secretary, Pete Hegseth, has faced renewed scrutiny over his Christian rhetoric as the U.S. and Israel go to war with Iran, after he compared Iran’s Shiite clerics to “mullahs” and recited Bible verses during Pentagon remarks, the Associated Press reported. The criticism comes as a Democratic lawmaker letter to the Pentagon inspector general raises unverified allegations that some military commanders told troops the Iran war would fulfill biblical prophecies.
A federal judge in Oregon ruled the federal government overreached when it issued a declaration warning that treatments such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries are unsafe and ineffective for young people with gender dysphoria. The ruling said the Health secretary did not follow proper administrative procedures in issuing the declaration in December. The judge granted preliminary relief for health professionals who provide the treatments and denied the government’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit.
The Justice Department filed a new lawsuit against Harvard University in federal court in Massachusetts, alleging the school failed to address antisemitism and seeking to recover federal research funds and block future grant money. The suit also asks a judge to require Harvard to call police to arrest protesters who block campus areas and to appoint a government-approved independent monitor. Harvard said it has taken “substantive, proactive steps” to address antisemitism and emphasized protections for Jewish and Israeli community members.
Texas accepted several Islamic private schools into its statewide school voucher program after federal judges extended application deadlines and ordered the state to consider the schools’ requests. The decision came amid two consolidated lawsuits brought by Muslim parents and Islamic school operators over alleged religious discrimination in the program’s admissions process.
Patriarch Filaret, a leading figure in efforts to establish an independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church free from Moscow’s religious authority, died Friday at age 97, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine said. The death came as Ukraine’s religious and cultural divide with Russia has widened into full-scale war.
A federal jury in Mississippi found former professional wrestler Ted “Teddy” DiBiase Jr. not guilty of all charges tied to an alleged welfare-fraud and public corruption scheme, according to court proceedings reported by The Associated Press. The case was the only one involving the DiBiase family defendants to reach trial.
The Treasury Department will take over management of certain federal student loans whose borrowers are in default under a new agreement announced Thursday, according to the Treasury Department and the U.S. Education Department. The Education Department will hand off defaulted loan management as part of President Donald Trump’s broader plans to dismantle the education agency, the agreement said.
In Iowa, three Democrats running for the U.S. House include pastors who say their faith shapes their campaigns and their messaging to religious voters. The Rev. Sarah Trone Garriott, a Lutheran pastor and state senator, has pushed for Medicaid protections while encouraging congregants to welcome strangers, while other clergy candidates tie their political bids to how voters interpret religion in public life.
Nearly 90,000 bottles of children’s liquid ibuprofen were recalled after reports of black specs and other contaminants, federal regulators said. The FDA posted an online notice about the recall of Taro Pharmaceuticals’ Children’s Ibuprofen Oral Suspension.
CBS News said Friday it will shut down its radio news service after nearly 100 years, ending a long-running lineup that served hundreds of local stations with top-of-the-hour newscasts. The network said the service will end May 22 and blamed challenging economic times and listener migration to digital sources and podcasts.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Thursday approved a new higher-dose version of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy weight-loss injection: a 7.2-milligram shot taken once weekly. The FDA said the decision used its ultra-fast drug review program and that the higher dose is expected to be available at U.S. pharmacies in April.
A negligence and wrongful death lawsuit filed in Philadelphia federal court alleges that resort owners and others tied to the Arenas Del Mar Beachfront & Rainforest Resort in Costa Rica caused the carbon dioxide-related death of Brett M. Gardner’s 14-year-old son, Miller Gardner, in March 2025. The family says the resort’s machine room was not properly ventilated and that carbon monoxide from it killed Miller Gardner and sickened other relatives during a family vacation.
A hidden cloister just steps from Rome’s Pantheon offers quiet meditation behind a wooden door, but its frescoed walls record a turbulent past that includes papal conclaves and the Roman Inquisition. The cloister is part of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, a Dominican convent complex near the Pantheon, where 20 friars still live and carry out duties.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the health secretary in the Trump administration, has promoted healthy eating and gone further in recent appearances by saying diet can “cure” conditions including schizophrenia and diabetes. Doctors and public health advocates say the claims overstate the science, warning that some patients could delay or stop proven treatment. In interviews and statements, researchers and psychiatric leaders urged careful language such as remission and emphasized that patients should consult their clinicians before changing diet or medications.
For many U.S. Jews, the upsurge of attacks targeting Jewish communities has coincided with deep divisions over whether to support or oppose Israeli policies in the war in Gaza. The Associated Press spoke with rabbis, Jewish community leaders and writers about heightened security concerns and the blurred line that some critics say is forming between anti-Zionism and antisemitism.
The Trump administration said it has launched investigations into 13 states that require state-regulated health insurance plans to cover abortion. The probes focus on compliance with a federal spending-law provision known as the Weldon Amendment, which bars states from discriminating against health entities that do not provide, cover or refer for abortion.
Sen. Markwayne Mullin, Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Department of Homeland Security, traced his close bond with the president to a severe brain injury his son suffered in a 2020 high school wrestling match. Mullin told the Senate during a confirmation hearing that Trump later asked his then-15-year-old son to sit on his lap and talk about rehabilitation, and that Trump continued checking in. Mullin, a Republican from Oklahoma, is set to replace Kristi Noem, who was fired earlier this month.
The U.S. Education Department will hand off management of about $180 billion in defaulted federal student loans to the Treasury Department, under an agreement announced Thursday. The change is the latest step in President Donald Trump’s effort to dismantle the education agency, with Treasury officials saying it will eventually assume operational responsibility for the rest of the portfolio.
Nebraska is one of a handful of states that allows legal in-person sports betting but bars online gambling. A growing number of Nebraskans are now using prediction markets accessed through apps—where companies say users are “trading” rather than “betting”—to wager on sports and other outcomes.
A Brazilian law designed to protect minors from addictive, violent and pornographic online content took effect this week, requiring children under 16 to link social media accounts to a legal guardian and placing limits on platform “addictive features.” The law, signed into law by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva last month, also requires digital services to use age-verification measures beyond users’ self-declarations.
Rapper Afroman won a defamation lawsuit against seven Ohio sheriff’s deputies over viral music videos that mocked a 2022 raid of his home using home security footage. Afroman, whose real name is Joseph Foreman, shouted a victory message outside the courthouse after the verdict and later posted the clip to social media.
Stevie Young, the guitarist for AC/DC, was hospitalized in Buenos Aires days before the band’s scheduled concerts in Argentina, according to a statement from the tour’s promoter. The 69-year-old was admitted for a “full series of tests” after he “was not feeling well,” and spokespersons said he was in good spirits ahead of the shows.
Dolores Huerta, the labor leader and civil rights icon who helped build the United Farm Workers movement, said she was sexually abused by César Chávez and kept the secret for 60 years. Huerta, 95, made the disclosure Wednesday, prompting fresh calls to reconsider the names of public buildings and streets that honor Chávez.
Pope Leo XIV has endorsed Pope Francis’ controversial 2016 document “The Joy of Love” as he marks its 10th anniversary, while convening a Rome meeting of bishops’ conference presidents on ministering to families. The endorsement centers on Francis’ Chapter VIII and a related footnote discussing when, in particular cases, the help of the sacraments could include Communion for Catholics in civil remarriages.
A U.S. counterterrorism official, Joe Kent, resigned over President Donald Trump’s war with Iran and later appeared on Tucker Carlson’s podcast, a move that revived worries among Jewish leaders and sparked debate inside conservative circles about Israel’s influence. In comments on the show, Kent raised concerns about Israel’s role in decisions leading to conflict and discussed what he called unanswered questions.
In the wake of allegations of sexual abuse involving César Chavez, celebrations planned for later this month have been canceled, while the leaders’ labor legacy for farmworkers remains in renewed focus. The Associated Press reported that both Chavez, who died in 1993, and Dolores Huerta are credited with pushing growers to negotiate for better wages and working conditions.
The Vatican’s appeals tribunal on Tuesday declared a mistrial in the Holy See’s major “trial of the century” against Cardinal Angelo Becciu and several others, setting a June 22 start date for a new trial. In a 16-page ruling, the court said procedural errors by both Pope Francis and Vatican prosecutors nullified the original indictment and required a retrial, according to the Associated Press.
Iranian Americans across the United States are marking Nowruz, the Persian new year, with a mix of sadness and tradition this week, after a January crackdown that killed thousands of demonstrators in Iran. In Los Angeles, Shima Razavi Gacek organized a candlelight vigil and a smaller Chaharshanbe Suri fire-jumping gathering. Other communities canceled parties, while some held quieter events or modified celebrations to reflect the war and grief.
Lusaka, Zambia — As Zambia approaches its Aug. 13 national elections, politicians and women’s rights groups warned that some female candidates are being asked for sexual favors by senior male party officials in exchange for endorsements. The warning followed comments by the permanent secretary of Zambia’s Gender Division, Mainga Kabika, who said she received 10 complaints alleging sexual harassment from women seeking party backing.
Muslims around the world are bidding farewell to Ramadan and preparing to celebrate Eid al-Fitr, the festival that marks the end of the Islamic fasting month. Eid al-Fitr is typically greeted with congregational prayers and festivities, including family visits and new clothes, but this year some communities are observing it amid the Iran war’s spillover effects and other tensions.
The U.S. Department of State said it is adding 12 countries whose citizens must post refundable bonds of up to $15,000 to apply for U.S. visas. The requirement takes effect April 2 for passport holders from Cambodia, Ethiopia, Georgia, Grenada, Lesotho, Mauritius, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nicaragua, Papua New Guinea, Seychelles and Tunisia.
The Trump administration widened its Medicaid fraud crackdown to Florida, urging state officials to share information on how they identify, prevent and address bad actors in the state’s program. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz said Florida has been a “hotspot” for health care fraud and gave officials 30 days to answer detailed questions. The move follows an executive order signed by President Donald Trump creating an anti-fraud task force across federal benefit programs led by Vice President JD Vance.
Synagogues and other houses of worship in Maine are pressing for state funding to help pay for security upgrades as federal nonprofit grants and a growing climate of religious tensions leave some organizations waiting longer than they can plan. The proposal, backed by a multifaith coalition including Jewish and Muslim groups, would create a $1.5 million state nonprofit security grant program.
Jessie Holmes, a former reality TV star, won a repeat title in the Iditarod on Tuesday night in Nome, Alaska, after nine days, 7 hours and 32 minutes on the roughly 1,000-mile route. Holmes, who guided his team of 12 dogs across the finish line in the old Gold Rush town, said he was thinking about runners who follow up an initial win with a second.
A Maui mutual aid nonprofit is sending monthly cash to some Lahaina fire survivors who say they still struggle years after the August 2023 blaze, aiming to keep households stable during a slow recovery. The program, run through a “Kahua Card,” enrolls 69 households for one year, including a West Maui survivor who said the payments helped cut anxiety and let her buy more food and health-related supplies.
Americans still rank French bulldogs, retrievers and German shepherds among their favorites, but dachshunds have surged into the AKC’s top five for the first time in more than two decades, according to American Kennel Club rankings released Wednesday. The annual list reflects puppies and older purebreds added to the AKC’s registry last year, and it does not cover mixed-breed dogs or many popular designer crosses.
Nairobi’s county government has begun offering female workers two paid days off each month for period pain, a policy that started after a governor raised the issue within his cabinet, according to the Associated Press. The county said the leave took effect in December 2025 for employees in the capital and is intended to support well-being and productivity.
Shaquille O’Neal said he is offering to pay for the funeral of Jada West, a 12-year-old Georgia girl who died at a hospital after collapsing days earlier following a fight after school. O’Neal’s offer was announced in a joint news release by the sheriffs of Douglas County and Henry County, where the fight occurred and where O’Neal holds a role as community relations chief.
Providence, R.I., March 18, 2026 — Rhode Island’s Blackstone Valley Co-op won the Division 2 boys’ state championship 3-2 over Lincoln High School Wednesday after player Colin Dorgan and his teammates advanced through weeks of grief following a fatal ice rink shooting in Pawtucket. Police identified Robert Dorgan as the shooter, and authorities said the attack was targeted and that Dorgan later died from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Seattle’s new Scream Club chapter has drawn about a dozen people to meet in West Seattle and release stress with three group screams near Puget Sound. Co-founders Manny Hernandez and Elena Soboleva say the idea began after a couple’s move-in period in Chicago turned a rough patch into a shared, cathartic practice. Health and mental health experts contacted by Associated Press cautioned that primal scream therapy has not been shown to treat mental health conditions, while noting that the practice can still act as a stress-relief outlet.
JPMorgan Chase said Wednesday it will build wealth advising services aimed at athletes who come into money through their talents, from college sports NIL deals to established pros approaching retirement. The bank said the effort is designed to help athletes make money “work for them a long time,” and it added that it will begin reaching athletes early, including on college campuses.
About 2,400 Kaiser Permanente mental health professionals walked out Wednesday in Northern California as they raised concerns that the company will replace therapists with artificial intelligence. Kaiser said the union’s claim is false and that AI will not replace human assessment or make care decisions. The one-day strike coincided with walkouts by more than 23,000 Kaiser nurses, according to the report.
Michigan State Medical Society leaders say the state can ease a severe shortage of primary-care doctors by expanding pay and reimbursements, which they say has contributed to long wait times, higher costs and missed care. In a 14-point plan released Tuesday, the group argues primary care takes too small a share of total medical spending and says Michigan is short at least 464 primary-care providers.
A new study published in Science Advances estimates that as many as 155,000 unrecognized additional COVID-19 deaths occurred in the United States outside hospitals during 2020 and 2021. The research also finds that undiagnosed deaths were more likely to involve Hispanic people and other people of color in certain Southern and Southwestern states.
The World Happiness Report 2026, released Thursday, says heavy social media use is linked to lower well-being among young people, with the biggest concerns in teenage girls in English-speaking countries and Western Europe. The report also ranks Finland the happiest country in the world for the ninth straight year.
Wisconsin lawmakers gave final approval Tuesday to a bill that would allow the state’s tribal gambling sites to offer online sports betting to people anywhere in Wisconsin, if Gov. Tony Evers signs it. The measure would be contingent on new negotiations with the state’s American Indian tribes, and it would not take effect until those deals are completed.
A federal judge in Arkansas has struck down a state law requiring the Ten Commandments be prominently displayed in public school classrooms and libraries. The ruling, issued Monday, targets the 2025 Arkansas mandate after a lawsuit by seven families challenged the requirement on constitutional grounds.
Boston marked the 250th anniversary of the British evacuation of the city with a Tuesday procession through South Boston, including Revolutionary War reenactment drills and a ceremony at Dorchester Heights. The observance fell on March 17, 1776, when British troops withdrew from Boston, and it included Mass at St. Augustine Chapel and Cemetery before participants marched toward Dorchester Heights.
West Virginia lawmakers approved two bills aimed at closing gaps in foster care support after Mountain State Spotlight reported that the state was failing some older foster youth and kinship caregivers. The bills now await Gov. Patrick Morrisey’s signature, with lawmakers saying the changes are meant to expand access to independent living resources and tighten support for kinship parents.
Maine is evaluating legislation that would create a $5 million fund to help towns convert vacant, closed school buildings into housing, with benefits for some communities but complicated costs and financing questions for others. The proposal, which would be paired with work by the Maine Redevelopment Land Bank Authority, is expected to face further debate after committee action. In one example, Brooks voters on March 21 will decide whether to take over ownership of the former Morse Memorial Elementary School building and determine its next use.
LAS VEGAS — At the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino’s Shark Reef Aquarium, aquarists say they feed 15 species of sharks three times a week inside a 1.3 million gallon tank. Zebra sharks can snatch herring from the aquarists’ tongs within seconds during scheduled feedings, and staff estimate the aquarium uses over 300 pounds of fish in a week.
Jessie Holmes, a former cast member on Nat Geo’s “Life Below Zero,” won the Iditarod sled dog race for a second straight year, finishing Tuesday night in Nome, Alaska. Holmes completed the roughly 1,000-mile route in nine days, 7 hours and 32 minutes, holding off a field that included older lead-dog strategy and wide-ranging funding support for the sport.
Kouri Richins, a Utah real estate agent, was found guilty of aggravated murder in the March 2022 death of her husband, Eric Richins, after jurors concluded she slipped fentanyl into his cocktail. Prosecutors told jurors the death followed a pattern of alleged financial fraud and a prior attempt to poison him, including a fentanyl-laced sandwich. Sentencing is scheduled for May 13.
A federal judge in Boston temporarily halted key steps in Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s vaccine agenda, issuing an order that said Kennedy disregarded long-standing government procedures for reconstituting a scientific committee that advises the CDC. The Trump administration said it will appeal, with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche calling the decisions “lawless” and writing on social media that the rulings have been reversed in the courts. The decision comes as Kennedy’s allies in the “medical freedom” movement celebrated earlier moves that Kennedy made soon after taking office.
For St. Patrick’s Day, an Irish pub has been showing up in suburban driveways across Massachusetts, offering a small-town version of a neighborhood bar. The Wee Irish Pub — built by brothers Matt and Craig Taylor — has been towed in for evening parties with music and Guinness, including an Andover-hosted party that drew about 20 people from five families.
Rome’s Colosseum reopened a newly restored semicircular piazza outside the arena, using travertine marble to recreate where two long-gone arcades once stood. The project, designed by architect Stefano Boeri, was built over the entrance area after restorers found coins, statues, animal bones and a gold ring during excavation.
Two national church-state advocacy groups are urging the Duval County School Board in Florida to stop opening board meetings with prayer, citing a First Amendment violation. One group sent a letter after receiving a citizen complaint, while the other said it had also received a complaint about invited clergy leading prayers. The board chair, Charlotte Joyce, has opened meetings with evangelical Christian prayers since becoming chair in December 2024, according to the groups.
A federal judge ordered Texas to extend the application deadline for private school vouchers to March 31 after the state excluded Islamic schools from the program. The deadline extension came Tuesday in response to a lawsuit filed earlier this month by Muslim parents and Islamic private schools challenging the exclusion as discriminatory. The state’s voucher program is administered by Comptroller Kelly Hancock, who said Islamic schools were blocked over alleged ties to foreign terrorist organizations.
Scottish lawmakers on Tuesday rejected legislation that would have allowed terminally ill adults in Scotland to seek help ending their lives. The vote in the Edinburgh-based Scottish Parliament was 69-57 against the bill, with one abstention, after a debate that lasted about three hours and included emotional exchanges among members.
Rescuers in Kabul pulled more bodies from the rubble of a drug rehabilitation hospital after Afghanistan said an overnight airstrike by Pakistan killed more than 400 people. Afghanistan’s deputy spokesman and interior ministry cited a specific death toll, while Pakistan rejected the accusation, saying its strikes targeted military facilities and disputed the casualty figures.
Shigeaki Mori, a Hiroshima atomic bomb survivor and historian who spent decades identifying 12 American POWs killed in the 1945 bombing, has died. He was 88. Editors of the English translation of his work said he died Sunday, and Japanese media reported he died at a Hiroshima hospital.
Haiti has a chance to curb escalating gang violence with a U.S.-initiated international force that is starting to deploy and with a prime minister who has pledged alternatives for young people, the United Nations’ human-rights expert on Haiti said Monday.
Mexico City set a world record for the largest soccer class ever on Sunday, organizers said, as 9,500 participants filled the capital’s Zócalo ahead of the World Cup opening match in June. Guinness World Records’ Alfredo Arista Rueda confirmed the record during the event, which featured drills led by instructors.
College Republicans sued the University of Florida’s president in federal court, saying the university unlawfully deactivated its campus chapter after being notified that at least one member engaged in an antisemitic act. In the lawsuit filed Monday, the group asked a judge to halt the enforcement of the decision and to restore access to campus facilities. A university spokeswoman said the school does not comment on pending litigation.
Tax season is approaching, and Morningstar’s Christine Benz recommends planning early with a checklist, deciding whether to itemize or take the standard deduction, organizing investment paperwork, and making retirement and health savings contributions before filing. Benz also highlights specific 2025 deduction thresholds and IRA contribution limits, including monthly schedules to reach the maximum.
Federal judge Brian E. Murphy on March 16 temporarily blocked U.S. health officials from cutting the number of vaccines recommended for every child and said Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. likely violated federal procedures in reshaping the vaccine advisory panel. The order halted decisions by the reconstituted Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and postponed a meeting of the panel in Atlanta this week.
A federal judge on Monday temporarily blocked the U.S. health department from cutting the number of vaccines recommended for most children, pausing parts of a policy overhaul led by Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The ruling also put on hold a Kennedy-appointed advisory committee’s work, including a meeting in Atlanta that was scheduled for this week.
WASHINGTON — Anti-Muslim rhetoric from some Republicans in Congress intensified this week against the backdrop of the Iran war, with Democrats condemning remarks that targeted Muslims and called for stronger responses from Republican leaders. The surge followed attacks including a vehicle attack at Temple Israel in Michigan and a shooting at Old Dominion University in Virginia, Reuters said, and it sharpened after comments by Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville and Tennessee Rep. Andy Ogles.
Social media has promoted a “mouth tape” trend in which people tape their mouths shut at night to sleep better, reduce snoring and improve breathing, but doctors say the idea is not supported by strong evidence. Experts warn that taping could cause harm, including worsening sleep apnea or creating a suffocation risk, and they advise addressing the reason someone is mouth-breathing.
Residents in and around Tehran reported dark, oily rain after airstrikes hit fuel oil depots and a refinery during the Iran-U.S.-Israel war, prompting warnings from health and environmental officials about potential exposure risks.
A woman in California whose pregnancy developed outside the uterus gave birth to a healthy baby after doctors found it had been concealed inside her abdomen behind an ovarian cyst. The Associated Press reported the case at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, where doctors said the outcome was extraordinary because abdominal ectopic pregnancies are extremely rare.
In Washington, the National Museum of African American History and Culture will remove a 33-pound timber remnant from the slave ship São José-Paquete de Africa from its “Slavery and Freedom” exhibit later this month. The museum said the artifact is being prepared for transport back to its home museum in South Africa, with March 22 the last day for visitors to see it on display. The Smithsonian said the change is tied to the artifact’s loan agreement ending July 1, and it said the exhibit’s overall story will continue using remaining items from the ship.
The U.S. Postal Service is unveiling a new series of postage stamps featuring five lowrider cars, a nod to the “low and slow” culture that developed in Mexican American and Chicano communities in the American Southwest. The stamps, designed by artist Antonio Alcalá and scheduled to be revealed Friday in San Diego, include pinstriping and artwork based on images from photographer Humberto “Beto” Mendoza.
Dark, oily precipitation described as “black rain” has fallen in parts of Iran and beyond after strikes hit oil facilities, prompting warnings from health and environmental officials about potential harm from breathing the fumes or contacting the residue. Residents near Tehran reported burning eyes and difficulty breathing as the rainfall occurred after several fuel oil depots and a refinery were struck.
Some people are taping their mouths shut at night, hoping to sleep better or reduce snoring, but doctors say the practice is risky and not supported by strong evidence. In an interview, a neurologist and sleep medicine expert said the studies behind mouth taping are small and the benefits modest, while potential harms include worsening sleep disorders such as sleep apnea or causing suffocation. The safest approach, doctors said, is to find out why someone is breathing through the mouth at night and get appropriate treatment.
A 41-year-old California nurse gave birth to a healthy baby boy after an extremely rare abdominal ectopic pregnancy in which the fetus developed outside the uterus. The case involved a basketball-sized ovarian cyst and a nearly full-term fetus in an amniotic sac hidden in her abdomen near the liver, doctors at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles said. The baby was delivered Aug. 18, with doctors removing the cyst during the same surgery.
The U.S. Postal Service unveiled a new series of postage stamps celebrating lowrider car culture on Friday, the Associated Press reported. The stamps feature five cars, including a 1946 Chevy Fleetline, three classic Chevy Impalas and a 1987 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme, with pinstriping designs intended to reflect the art form’s style.
A healthy baby boy was born in Los Angeles on August 18 after developing outside his mother’s womb—a medical anomaly occurring in about 1 in 30,000 pregnancies, doctors said. Suze Lopez, a 41-year-old nurse from Bakersfield, California, did not know she was pregnant until days before giving birth.
The Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture will remove a remnant of the slave ship São José-Paquete de Africa from its “Slavery and Freedom” exhibit later this month, museum officials said. The timber piece will be prepared for a trip back to its home museum in South Africa after a loan agreement runs out, The Associated Press reported. The last day for visitors to see the timber on display is March 22.
Communities reeled from two separate violent attacks that unfolded less than two hours apart—one at Old Dominion University in Virginia and another at a synagogue outside Detroit in Michigan. Officials said residents and responders helped stop the Virginia attack from becoming worse, and federal investigators in Michigan said the synagogue assault was targeted at the Jewish community, though they have not yet said it was an act of terror.
Pope Leo XIV demanded a ceasefire in the Middle East on Sunday in what the Vatican presented as his strongest appeal to date, addressing those “responsible for this conflict.” The pope spoke at the end of his Sunday noon blessing, without naming the United States or Israel.
Spain’s King Felipe VI said during a museum visit in Madrid that the Spanish conquest of the Americas included “much abuse” and “ethical controversies,” acknowledging historical harm as a dispute with Mexico over colonial-era abuses continues to simmer. Speaking after conversations with Mexico’s ambassador to Spain, Quirino Ordaz, Felipe said Spain’s actions cannot be judged “with excessive moral presentism,” while still saying modern values make it “obvious” the history “cannot make us feel proud.” Sheinbaum said she would look into the king’s remarks, while Spain has stopped short of a formal royal apology.
Dutch authorities said they were seeking two people suspected of setting off an explosion outside a Jewish school in Amsterdam on March 14. The mayor denounced the attack as aggression against the city’s Jewish community and said Jewish residents feel “fear and anger” and are increasingly targeted by antisemitism.
Italy is facing diplomatic and political backlash after the Venice Biennale said Russia will participate in its 2026 art exhibition, according to officials and European governments. The dispute has put Italy’s culture ministry on the defensive as European Commission officials threatened to withhold EU funding and 22 European countries asked Moscow to stay away again.
Brazilian police released three Israeli tourists on Monday after clashes with pro-Palestine residents in the northeastern beach city of Itacare, Bahia state police said. The incident, which began during a Saturday protest that went viral on social media, led to the tourists being detained and officers facing insults and resistance. Itacare is about 1,340 kilometers (832 miles) north of Rio de Janeiro.
Jair Bolsonaro, a former Brazilian president, has had his kidney function worsen after he was transferred to an intensive care unit in Brasilia, according to a hospital statement. The hospital said his pneumonia was stabilized, and it described his condition as serious but stable while he receives treatment following symptoms that included high fever and low oxygen.
Maria Kolesnikova received the International Charlemagne Prize in Aachen, Germany, on Saturday, an award she had won in 2022 but could not collect while imprisoned in Belarus, the Associated Press reported. Kolesnikova was released in December with dozens of other political prisoners as part of a U.S. deal that lifted sanctions on Belarusian fertilizer exports, AP said.
Thousands of people protested Saturday in Rome and across Spain against wars in the Middle East and against judicial reforms proposed by Italy’s conservative government, as a national referendum on the changes approaches. Protesters also linked international tensions to a growing domestic political battle ahead of Italy’s next election year, according to the Associated Press.
The White House has released social media videos promoting its newly launched war with Iran that blend real combat footage with clips and imagery from movies, video games and sports, drawing criticism from artists and religious leaders. The Associated Press reported on the backlash after two performers said their work was used without permission and after Cardinal Blase J. Cupich of Chicago said the posts treat deadly conflict like entertainment.
Thousands of protesters staged anti-war demonstrations in Italy and Spain on Saturday, linking tensions in the Middle East with a looming referendum on changes to Italy’s judicial system. In central Rome, marchers held trade union banners and displayed Palestinian and Cuban flags as they protested Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government.
Communities reeled after two violent attacks in the U.S. unfolded less than two hours apart, with officials describing the Virginia incident as terrorism-linked and investigating the Michigan synagogue attack as targeting the Jewish community. In Virginia, a former Army National Guard member opened fire at Old Dominion University, killing one person and wounding two others, before ROTC students subdued him, authorities said.
Dutch authorities are hunting two people suspected of setting off an explosion outside a Jewish school in Amsterdam, the police said. The blast occurred overnight and caused only limited damage to the outer wall of the school in the Buitenveldert district, according to a City Hall statement.
Hawaii lawmakers are advancing a bill that would allow police to pursue criminal trespassing charges against people who enter school grounds on weekends or holidays without first receiving a warning, according to testimony and bill language described by lawmakers. The proposal, Senate Bill 2611, would carry penalties of up to a year in jail and $2,000 in fines and is awaiting a House hearing after passing the Senate.
Spain’s King Felipe VI said Monday that the Spanish conquest of the Americas involved “much abuse” and “ethical controversies,” adding that the events must be understood with the “objective and rigorous analysis” of today’s values. He made the remarks while meeting Mexico’s ambassador to Spain, Quirino Ordaz, during a Madrid museum exhibition focused on the role of women in pre-Columbian Mexico.
Pope Leo XIV on Sunday demanded a ceasefire in the Middle East in his strongest remarks yet, addressing the leaders responsible for the war in Iran. Speaking at the end of his noon blessing, the pope appealed “to those responsible for this conflict” to “Cease fire so that avenues for dialogue may be reopened.”
The inclusion of Russia in the lineup of the 2026 Venice Biennale art fair has triggered outcry from European governments and officials, with the European Commission warning it could withhold funding. The Italian government has launched a review into whether the Biennale’s decision is compatible with EU sanctions, after Culture Minister Alessandro Giuli fired a ministry official linked to the Biennale board.
The Trump administration has released a series of war-themed promo videos on the White House’s social media feed that mix pop culture clips, video game imagery and sports highlights with declassified combat footage related to the Iran war, according to Associated Press reporting. The videos, posted after the war’s launch, have drawn criticism from artists whose likenesses appear in the posts and from U.S. Catholic leaders.
HAVANA — Cuba’s entire electrical grid collapsed Monday, plunging 11 million people into darkness as the island’s long-festering energy crisis reached a breaking point. The government confirmed a “complete disconnection” of the national power system and warned that restoring service would be gradual due to the grid’s fragile state.
John Woodson Ficklin went from being a child of slavery in Virginia to a decades-long career as a White House butler, and his son, Wrory Ficklin, later worked for the National Security Council for 40 years. The Associated Press profiles the family’s near-80-year presence in presidential administrations, from Franklin D. Roosevelt through Barack Obama. The story traces the family’s roots to a grandfather born enslaved around 1854 and recounts milestones such as Woodson Ficklin’s selection for Jacqueline Kennedy’s funeral ushers in 1963.
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said on Monday that she has been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer but plans to continue working through treatment, remaining a top aide to President Donald Trump during a politically turbulent period. Trump also said her prognosis is “excellent” and that she will begin treatment right away.
The U.S. flu season is winding down, but CDC data show flu vaccine effectiveness was among the lowest in more than a decade. Health officials said a strain that dominated early winter was not well matched to the vaccine, contributing to an intense season.
Pope Leo XIV on Monday met with Vatican child-protection officials and with investigative journalist Gareth Gore, whose book “Opus” alleges abuses within Opus Dei. In remarks to the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors, the pope emphasized concerns about abuse of “vulnerable” adults in addition to the church’s focus on clergy sexual abuse of children.
Thailand is holding a “Death Fest” that invites people to confront mortality while also offering palliative-care and end-of-life services, organizers said. The three-day fair, now in its second year, drew visitors and health, funeral and memorial specialists to Nonthaburi province near Bangkok, with activities framed by Buddhist teachings.
The collapse of a sewer pipe in January dumped about 244 million gallons of sewage into the Potomac River, prompting an emergency declaration and federal help, according to U.S. and Baltimore-area officials. Bacteria from the spill drifted past Washington for weeks, and experts said the episode underscores broader problems with failing sewer systems. The Associated Press report on the Potomac spill also points to continuing sewage backups into homes and to federal and local funding challenges.
Lawmakers in Hawaii are weighing a bill that would make it easier to charge people who enter school grounds on weekends or holidays without a prior warning, potentially affecting parents seeking after-hours access to playgrounds and fields. The measure, Senate Bill 2611, is awaiting a House hearing after passing the Senate, and supporters say it would improve safety and reduce harassment of school staff.
Federal health officials said Monday that at least seven people in three states were sickened by E. coli food poisoning linked to cheddar cheese made with raw milk from California-based Raw Farm. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said illnesses were reported between September 2025 and mid-February, including infections in children 3 and younger, and advised consumers to consider not eating the products.
Pope Leo XIV moved into a newly renovated papal apartment in the Apostolic Palace on Saturday, the Vatican said. The move places him in a residence famously eschewed by Pope Francis and required a major renovation to update utilities and other systems.
Connecticuts Gov. Ned Lamont has proposed ending the Community First Choice home care program, which allows eligible Medicaid recipients to choose and manage their in-home attendants. Advocates and families argued Monday that the plan would increase wait times for waiver services and force some people into institutional care. The proposal, they said, threatens autonomy gained through a program they described as working and saving money.
Mexico’s agave spirit mezcal is still made largely the same way as in past generations, with work guided by knowledge passed down within Indigenous families, the Associated Press reported. In villages in Oaxaca, where mezcal is produced, the spirit is used as a home remedy and served at weddings, funerals and community celebrations. The AP described the steps from harvesting agave to distillation, including how some producers are adopting practices aimed at reducing water and waste.
France returned a sacred talking drum looted during the colonial era to Ivory Coast on Friday, marking the first such return by France to the country, the Associated Press reported. The Djidji Ayôkwé drum—used by the Atchan people to communicate between villages—was taken by French colonial authorities in 1916 and is among at least 140 looted artifacts Ivory Coast has asked France to return.
Michigan is expanding a new state-backed apprenticeship program designed to help current child care and pre-K workers earn credentials, with the goal of increasing staffing for early childhood classrooms.
A new Associated Press report looks at what dermatologists say about pricey shampoos and conditioners, including when higher-priced products can make sense and when they do not. Experts advised consumers to focus on ingredients and their hair and scalp needs—rather than on marketing or packaging—while consulting a doctor when dandruff or itchiness does not improve.
The deaths this week of actor James Van Der Beek at 48 have renewed focus on colorectal cancer risks that increasingly affect younger adults, not just people over 50. An Associated Press wellness guide cites medical guidance on who is most at risk, warning signs to watch for, and when screening may be needed earlier. It also highlights figures from the American Cancer Society on new diagnoses and deaths in the U.S.
Gas prices tend to make filling up feel more painful, but experts say drivers can often reduce how much fuel they burn by changing their driving habits and keeping vehicles in good shape. Consumer Reports and AAA, along with auto-industry and automotive testing experts, recommend actions ranging from moderating highway speeds to checking tire pressure and minimizing idle time.
Air China will resume flights between Beijing and North Korea’s capital, Pyongyang, starting March 30, according to information on the airline’s website. The flights will run every Monday through May 18, the site said, after passenger train service between the two nations restarted earlier this week.
Film photography has been drawing renewed interest among younger people who want its “analog vibe,” but learning it can feel less intuitive than digital cameras. In an Associated Press “One Tech Tip,” photojournalist George Walker IV lays out the basics of film—from ISO and aperture to loading a roll and focusing by hand.
Three more members of Iran’s women’s soccer team who accepted refugee visas to stay in Australia have decided to return to Iran, an Australian minister said Sunday. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said the departures leave three of an initial seven squad members in Australia.
Alessandra Tarantino, an Associated Press photographer in Rome, described how she created an “extraordinary photo” inspired by Picasso to depict the idea of “tactile image” through touch. The image was made in a darkened museum room after the Museo Tattile Omero in Italy’s Omero museum closed for the night, using a small LED light and a long exposure as a blind visitor explored the face of Michelangelo’s David. Tarantino explained that she developed the concept through inclusive tours in Rome organized by Radici and in consultation with a blind woman she followed during the museum’s tactile experience.
A protest in central Cuba that partially destroyed a local communist party headquarters ended with five arrests, authorities said. The Cuban government linked the demonstration to the country’s severe energy crisis, including fuel shortages that have led to blackouts and reduced power generation.
Jair Bolsonaro was transferred from intensive care to a semi-intensive care unit at a hospital in Brasilia after tests showed reduced inflammation over the past 24 hours, his wife said Monday. Bolsonaro, 70, had been hospitalized in the capital last Friday for pneumonia.
Experts say people looking to protect their brain health should think beyond “brain training” and focus on cognitively enriching activities that engage multiple skills over time. A study described by neuropsychologist Andrea Zammit, of Rush University Medical Center, linked lifelong learning and later-life mental activity with a lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease and slower cognitive decline.
People who climb stairs for exercise say the routine can strengthen legs, heart and lungs, and can add up across a day. But gym and building access can make stair workouts harder, with some landlords limiting use of stairwells due to liability concerns and hotel security kicking exercisers out.
Jürgen Habermas, one of Germany’s most influential postwar philosophers, died at 96 on Saturday in Starnberg, near Munich, his publisher Suhrkamp said. Habermas’ work on communication, rationality and society helped shape debates in academia and politics for decades, including on how Germany should understand its Nazi past.
Group chats have become part of everyday communication, but etiquette experts say the rules are often implicit and easy to miss. Rupert Wesson, a director at Debrett’s, said people should think about how messages affect recipients, keep chats aligned with their purpose, and use caution in workplace groups where messages can be forwarded.
Most tap water in the United States is generally safe to drink without a home filtration system, experts say. The Environmental Protection Agency sets health standards for more than 90 contaminants in public water systems, and utilities treat water before it reaches homes. Still, some residents—particularly those in older buildings or those with private wells—may choose to test and, if needed, treat for specific concerns.
Iranian women’s soccer players who had sought asylum in Australia reversed course and left Malaysia for Oman on Monday night, ending days of uncertainty in Kuala Lumpur, the Associated Press reported. The team’s departure followed a period in which five of seven squad members who had sparked a diplomatic dispute in Australia rejoined the rest of the team, while two players remained in Australia with government support.
Tokyo’s weather officials confirmed the first cherry blossom bloom in three Japanese cities on Monday, signaling the official start of the season. The Japan Meteorological Agency examined benchmark Somei Yoshino trees in Kochi, Gifu and Yamanashi and reported the early flowering.
The Kennedy Center’s board voted Monday to shut down operations for two years, saying it will do so following this summer’s July 4 celebrations. The decision also includes installing Matt Floca as the center’s chief executive and executive director, replacing Richard Grenell.
Residents in Laurel, Montana, have organized to oppose a proposed state psychiatric forensic facility that would hold 32 patients and is intended to treat people in the criminal justice system. The facility’s planned location near the town’s west side has prompted residents to file petitions, draft emergency ordinances, and seek records from city and state officials, amid a city council meeting where organizers asked lawmakers to intervene.
Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah—two towns long controlled by the Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints—have entered a period of largely normal civic life after years of court supervision ended last summer. The towns were reorganized after federal authorities argued that they were run as an arm of the sect and that non-followers were denied basic services.
One of Silicon Valley tech billionaire Peter Thiel’s invitation-only lectures on the Antichrist is scheduled to take place in Rome from Sunday to Wednesday, amid public distancing from Catholic universities initially linked to the event. The Associated Press reported that the Vatican’s backyard conference is not being hosted by the Pontifical St. Thomas Aquinas University, also known as the Angelicum, and that the Catholic University of America said it is not sponsoring the Rome gathering. Organizers have said the series is intended to draw on classical and Christian thought.
The massive sewage pipe that ruptured and leaked millions of gallons of raw waste into the Potomac River resumed operation Saturday after DC Water completed emergency repairs, the utility said. DC Water reported it finished testing to determine whether the 72-inch-diameter pipe could handle the flow.
Pope Leo XIV will make a four-nation Africa tour from April 13-23 that the Vatican says will emphasize Christian-Muslim relations, comfort for victims of violence and outreach to Catholics in countries where it operates under state pressure and conflict. The itinerary includes a visit to a mosque in Algeria, a peace meeting in Cameroon and a memorial in Equatorial Guinea for victims of a 2021 blast. In each stop, he also plans meetings with leaders and local bishops, Vatican officials said.
Pope Leo XIV will accept the Liberty Medal on Independence Mall in Philadelphia on July 3 in a remote broadcast from Rome, while he will not travel to the United States during the country’s 250th birthday celebrations this year. The National Constitution Center said the honor will recognize his “lifelong work promoting religious liberty and freedom of conscience and expression around the world.”
Richard Grenell, an ally of President Donald Trump who oversaw sweeping changes at the Kennedy Center, will step down as the performing arts center’s president. Trump announced the move Friday, saying Matt Floca will succeed Grenell and that the change is expected to be finalized at a board meeting Monday at the White House.
The University of Florida said it is deactivating the campus College Republicans as a registered student group after being notified that some members engaged in antisemitism. The school said the Florida Federation of College Republicans disbanded the local chapter after determining members violated the federation’s rules and values.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, serving a 27‑year prison sentence for a 2023 coup attempt, was moved to the intensive‑care unit of Brasília’s DF Star Hospital on Saturday, where doctors said his kidney function had deteriorated but his pneumonia remained serious yet stable. The hospital noted rising inflammatory markers since treatment began and confirmed bronchopneumonia likely caused by aspiration. Bolsonaro’s son Flávio Bolsonaro told reporters the former president was “stable,” though not improving.
Prominent Belarus opposition figure Maria Kolesnikova traveled to Aachen, Germany, on Saturday to collect the International Charlemagne Prize she was awarded in 2022 while behind bars. The flautist‑turned‑activist, a leading face of the 2020 mass protests against President Alexander Lukashenko, received the award for “extraordinary courage” in defending democratic rights and free elections. She was released from prison in December 2025 after a U.S.–brokered deal lifted sanctions on Belarusian fertilizer exports.
Photographer Alessandra Tarantino created a photo series showing how blind people experience art through touch, inspired by Picasso's light paintings. The Associated Press photographer based in Rome developed the project after joining a tactile museum tour.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was transferred from an intensive‑care unit to a semi‑intensive ward on Monday after his condition improved, his wife Michelle announced on Instagram. The 70‑year‑old ex‑leader, who is serving a 27‑year prison term for a 2023 coup attempt, had been hospitalized for pneumonia since Friday, the hospital said.
Film photography is enjoying a revival among younger generations, with Gen‑Zers and Millennials drawn to its distinctive look and tactile process. AP photojournalist George Walker IV explains that shooting on film “forces me to be patient and concentrate to make the pictures that matter,” offering a hands‑on learning experience that digital cameras often lack. The resurgence includes a surge in vintage camera sales, a growing market for 35 mm film, and a renewed interest in mastering fundamentals such as ISO, f‑stops and manual focus.
Residents of a city in central Cuba took to the streets early Saturday, partially destroying the local headquarters of the ruling Communist Party. Authorities said five people were arrested in the demonstration, which they linked to the island’s ongoing energy shortages and food‑access problems.
As gasoline prices surge, drivers can stretch each tank a bit farther by tweaking how they drive, Consumer Reports and automotive experts say. They recommend slowing to around 65 mph, using cruise‑control, eliminating excess weight and drag, keeping tires properly inflated and maintaining the vehicle, as well as considering carpooling or a hybrid when it’s time for a new car. These steps can improve fuel efficiency by up to 14 percent, according to the specialists quoted.
A long‑term study of nearly 2,000 older adults found that people who pursued intellectually stimulating activities throughout life developed Alzheimer’s disease up to five years later than peers with fewer such habits. Researchers say the “cognitive reserve” built by lifelong learning may help the aging brain tolerate disease‑related damage, offering a practical way to slow cognitive decline.
Colon cancer, long viewed as a disease of older adults, has become the leading cause of cancer death among Americans younger than 50, health experts said on Friday. The trend is underscored by the recent deaths of actors James Van Der Beek, 48, and Chadwick Boseman, 43, both of whom succumbed to the illness. “We’re now seeing more and more people in their 20s, 30s and 40s develop colon cancer,” said Dr. John Marshall of Georgetown University’s Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, a longtime cancer specialist and medical consultant to the Colorectal Cancer Alliance.
Stair climbing can be an effective short-burst workout, but some people say they struggle to find safe access to stairwells in offices and other buildings. In a trend that health experts say can add up over a day, climbers report being questioned or turned away, and they warn that stairs can carry injury risks too.
Advocates in Connecticut criticized a proposal by Gov. Ned Lamont to end the Community First Choice home care program, saying the change would mean longer waits and less choice for people who rely on home-based services. The program, which is funded through Medicaid, provides funds so eligible families can hire attendants to help with daily activities. Lamont’s plan would transition people to Medicaid “waiver” programs, which the governor’s budget office says have waitlists.
Federal health officials said at least seven people in three U.S. states were sickened by E. coli food poisoning linked to cheddar cheese made from raw milk. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said the cheese was made by California-based Raw Farm, though the agency noted no Raw Farm products had tested positive for E. coli during the outbreak period.
Many shoppers wonder whether pricey shampoos and conditioners are worth it, and dermatologists say the answer often depends less on the price tag than on how a person washes, treats and cares for their hair. Experts interviewed by The Associated Press said consumers can get similar results from less-expensive products by focusing on ingredients and matching products to scalp and hair needs.
France on Friday returned a sacred talking drum looted during the colonial era to Ivory Coast, in the latest repatriation of cultural artifacts that Paris has been pursuing for nearly a decade. The drum, Djidji Ayôkwé, was brought to Abidjan for an official handover ceremony at Félix Houphouët-Boigny International Airport.
Iranian women’s soccer players left Malaysia on Monday night for Oman, ending days of uncertainty after five of seven squad members who sought asylum in Australia reversed course and rejoined the team in Kuala Lumpur, an Associated Press report said. The players boarded a flight arranged by the Iranian embassy after spending several hours at Kuala Lumpur’s airport, according to the report.
Japan’s government spotters have announced the first cherry blossoms in three cities, marking the official start of the sakura season. The announcement was made Monday after Japan Meteorological Agency officials inspected benchmark Somei Yoshino trees and found more than five flowers.
Residents of Laurel, Montana, gathered in early March to demand that the state halt plans for a 32‑bed forensic psychiatric facility on a 114‑acre parcel west of town. The proposal, backed by Gov. Greg Gianforte’s administration to ease a jail backlog, has ignited “rage, suspicion and fear” among locals who worry about safety, property values and a loss of tax revenue. Community organizer Shawna Hopper has filed a recall petition against Mayor Dave Waggoner, while city officials and state health officials trade accusations over site selection and public outreach.
Mexico’s agave spirit mezcal is still produced much as it has been for generations, with much of the work passed down within Indigenous families, an Associated Press report said. In many villages in Oaxaca, the spirit is used as a home remedy and offered as a gesture of hospitality at weddings, funerals and other community celebrations.
Peter Thiel, a Silicon Valley tech billionaire, is holding a four-lecture, invitation-only series in Rome on the Antichrist, drawing public distance from Catholic institutions initially linked to the event. The lectures run from Sunday to Wednesday, according to event details seen by The Associated Press.
ROME—The Vatican has released details of Pope Leo XIV’s upcoming four-nation Africa tour, saying the April 13-23 trip will include meetings with Muslim and Catholic communities, a peace meeting in Cameroon, and a visit to a memorial for victims of a deadly 2021 blast in Equatorial Guinea. The Vatican said the pope will also hold private talks with leaders of the four countries and celebrate Masses for the faithful.
Pope Leo XIV will accept the Liberty Medal in Philadelphia on July 3 via a remote broadcast from Rome, according to the National Constitution Center. The pope will spend the Fourth of July on the Italian island of Lampedusa instead of traveling to the United States during the city’s 250th birthday celebrations.
ROME (AP) — Pope Leo XIV met Monday with Gareth Gore, an investigative journalist who has criticized Opus Dei, and told the Vatican’s child protection commission that the church should pay attention to abuse involving “vulnerable” adults. The pope held two back-to-back Vatican audiences focused on safeguarding, including one with the Pontifical Commission for the Protection of Minors.
White House chief of staff Susie Wiles said she has been diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer and plans to continue working through treatment. Wiles made the announcement on Monday, according to a report from the Associated Press.
Thailand’s “Death Fest,” held for a second year, invites visitors to confront mortality through Buddhist teachings while also offering services and practical guidance for end-of-life planning. The three-day event took place in Nonthaburi province near Bangkok on Friday.
Two towns on the Arizona-Utah border — Colorado City, Arizona, and Hildale, Utah — have entered a new era after courts removed control from a polygamous religious sect tied to imprisoned leader Warren Jeffs. The Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints once restricted activities and politics across the towns, but court-ordered supervision ended last summer, the Associated Press reported. Residents and local officials described how the communities have changed and what challenges remain.
The University of Florida will deactivate its campus College Republicans as a registered student group after being notified that some members engaged in antisemitism, the university said on Monday. The move follows an investigation earlier this month involving a Florida International University student group and a Republican Party-linked group chat.
The U.S. flu season is winding down, and federal health officials said the flu vaccine was among the least effective in more than a decade. In CDC data posted Friday, doctor’s office and hospital visits for flu symptoms continued to decline through last week.
Cuban authorities arrested five residents after a protest in Moron early Saturday that partially destroyed the local communist party headquarters, as the island grapples with severe fuel shortages and blackouts. The demonstration, linked to energy supply issues and food access, marks a rare public challenge to the government amid ongoing crisis.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was transferred to intensive care in Brasilia on Friday after his kidney function deteriorated, though doctors say his pneumonia has stabilized. The 70-year-old ex-leader is serving a 27-year sentence for leading a coup attempt in 2023.
MELBOURNE, Australia — Three additional members of Iran's women's soccer team who had accepted Australian refugee visas have decided to return to Iran, an Australian government minister said Sunday. The departure leaves three of the initial seven squad members who stayed in Australia now planning to return home.
Air China will restart passenger flights between Beijing and Pyongyang on March 30, the airline announced Saturday, marking another step in the gradual reopening of North Korea’s borders after the coronavirus pandemic.
Challenging your brain through varied activities like reading, puzzles, and learning new skills may help delay cognitive decline and lower dementia risk, according to research and health experts. The findings, based on long-term studies, suggest that mental stimulation builds "cognitive reserve" that can buffer the brain against aging and disease.
Colorectal cancer is increasingly striking younger adults, with deaths rising among Americans under 50. The recent deaths of actor James Van Der Beek at 48 and Chadwick Boseman at 43 underscore this troubling trend, doctors say.
Dermatologists advise that affordable shampoos work as well as premium brands, with effectiveness depending more on hair type and washing routine than price. The advice comes as consumers face social media marketing for high-end hair care products.
Film photography is experiencing a resurgence, particularly among Gen-Zers and Millennials drawn to its unique aesthetic and analog appeal. The trend marks a shift away from digital perfection toward a more tactile, intentional photographic experience.
U.S. flu vaccines were only 25% to 30% effective in preventing adults from seeking medical care this season, the CDC reported, with a new H3N2 subclade K strain largely to blame.
Brazilian police released three Israeli tourists Monday after they clashed with pro-Palestine residents in Itacare, a northeastern beach city popular with former Israeli soldiers.
Restaurants are increasingly offering smaller portions, from new “Mini Meals” at local spots to chain menus aimed at customers using GLP-1 weight-loss and diabetes drugs and shoppers seeking lower-priced, calorie-conscious options. The approach ranges from specialized menus at some restaurants to limited “lighter portions” selections at others.
Legacy newspapers in Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago have closed, with Stabroek News printing its final edition Sunday and halting its online publication and Newsday stopping in January, pressuring an already strained media ecosystem as readers turn to social media for news in real time.
Two of the Caribbean’s most storied independent papers — Guyana’s Stabroek News and Trinidad and Tobago’s Newsday — have shut their doors, officials and media veterans said, dealing a blow to democratic accountability in the region. Stabroek News printed its final edition on Sunday and stopped updating its website, while Newsday ceased both its print run and its online publication in January, citing a dramatic shift to social‑media news consumption and a steep decline in advertising revenue.
Two legacy newspapers in the Caribbean—Guyana’s Stabroek News and Trinidad and Tobago’s Newsday—have ceased operations this year, a development journalists and media advocates describe as a blow to democracy and accountability in the region. The closures, effective Sunday for Stabroek News and January for Newsday, come as readers increasingly turn to social media for news, eroding traditional print revenue.
Smaller portion sizes are emerging as a restaurant trend as diners watch budgets and health goals, a shift that some restaurants say has been driven in part by people using weight-loss drugs. The menus range from small-plate styles and “bites and bowls” to smaller, lower-priced options designed to fit smaller appetites.
The University of Maine at Orono’s faculty senate voted to eliminate a master’s degree in teaching Spanish and to suspend for three years a bachelor’s degree in medical laboratory sciences, according to faculty senate members. The changes would still require further review and final approval by the University of Maine System Board of Trustees. Officials said the Spanish program has had very low enrollment in recent years and that the medical laboratory sciences program has not been enrolling students for a number of years.
The University of Maine’s Faculty Senate voted on March 13 to eliminate the Master of Arts in Teaching Spanish and to suspend the Bachelor’s degree in Medical Laboratory Sciences for three years. The moves, part of a system‑wide program review, await approval from the UMaine System Board of Trustees, which is expected to meet in May.
Boston held its annual St. Patrick’s Day parade in South Boston on Sunday, drawing crowds from across Massachusetts and beyond as marching bands, floats and veterans’ groups moved through the neighborhood. Police lined the route while Irish dancers, bagpipers and Revolutionary War reenactors joined the celebration, and organizers adjusted the parade route to manage expected crowds. The parade also comes in a week that includes Evacuation Day, which falls on Tuesday.
Jair Bolsonaro’s kidney function has improved, but doctors say the former Brazilian president will remain in intensive care because of pneumonia. The hospital in Brasilia said it has given him more antibiotics and that he remains hospitalized while serving a 27-year prison sentence.
The University of Maine faculty senate voted Wednesday to eliminate the master of arts in teaching Spanish and suspend the medical laboratory sciences bachelor's degree, citing low enrollment and budget pressures. The moves follow similar cuts to 10 other programs across the University of Maine System this fiscal year.
Maui wildfires that devastated the island in August 2023 have been linked to higher levels of depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts among residents, including people who were not near the burn zones, according to a new study published in JAMA Psychiatry. The research from the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization and the Maui Wildfire Exposure Study says socioeconomic disruption—especially housing and job insecurity—explains much of the mental-health impact.
A new study finds the 2023 Maui wildfires triggered widespread depression and anxiety, with housing and job insecurity driving much of the psychological harm.
Maui’s 2023 wildfires were linked to significantly higher levels of depression and anxiety among residents across the island, according to new research published in JAMA Psychiatry on March 13, 2026. The study found that people who lived in burn zones had higher risks than unexposed residents, and that more than half of the mental-health impact was tied to increased housing and job insecurity.
Connecticut lawmakers on Thursday questioned Gov. Ned Lamont’s nominee to lead the Department of Children and Families about whether the state is doing enough to protect children and provide care when they enter the foster system. The hearing focused on caseworker turnover, mental health support, homeschooling, and two high-profile cases tied to the agency’s involvement.
In Atlanta, young adults have been lining up outside 2819 Church, where pastor Philip Anthony Mitchell’s sermons and worship have helped drive attendance from fewer than 200 weekly visitors in 2023 to about 6,000 now. Some arrive as early as 5:30 a.m. for Sunday worship at the nondenominational, theologically conservative church, which has expanded to a new building after outgrowing a charter school.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Young adults say they are turning to analog hobbies to cut back on phone time, seeking activities that feel hands-on and can reduce stress. The trend ranges from needlepoint and knitting to gardening, origami and blacksmithing, some of which have been nicknamed “grandma hobbies” online despite attracting Gen Z and millennials.
Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr. combined for two leadoff home runs to kick off the World Baseball Classic quarterfinal as defending champions fell into a 1-1 tie before Acuña’s blast helped flip the game. In Venezuela’s 8-5 win over defending champions, Acuña homered on the second pitch and Ohtani led off the bottom half with a drive listed at 113.6 mph off the bat.
More than 20 plaster casts of people who died in Pompeii when Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 A.D. went on display for the first time Thursday in a permanent exhibition, according to the Archaeological Park of Pompeii. The casts are created by pouring liquid plaster into voids left by decomposed bodies in hardened ash.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed to weaken air pollution limits on ethylene oxide, a chemical used to sterilize medical equipment, reversing a Biden-era finding that tied manufacturing exposure to increased cancer risks. The EPA said the current standards “actively threaten” manufacturers’ ability to sterilize devices and jeopardize the domestic supply chain for essential medical equipment.
A Chinese counterespionage thriller called “Scare Out” has received backing from the Ministry of State Security, marking the first time the agency has endorsed a motion picture, Associated Press reported. Directed by Zhang Yimou, the film opened in Chinese theaters on Feb. 17, Chinese New Year’s Day, and depicts a mole inside China’s intelligence service leaking secrets about a new fighter jet.
Brazil’s former president Jair Bolsonaro is hospitalized in intensive care in Brasilia with pneumonia, a hospital said Friday. The hospital said doctors found bronchopneumonia likely caused by aspiration, and that he was receiving intravenous antibiotics and non-invasive clinical support.
Gunmen ambushed security personnel on patrol in Nigeria’s Plateau state, according to the state government and a local group, killing an undetermined number of people. The attack happened on Friday around communities in the Kanam area, and no group has claimed responsibility.
Ali Darwich, a 33-year-old gay Muslim influencer in Berlin, used an inclusive Ramadan Iftar hosted with friends to call for acceptance across identities and faiths, including gay Muslims. In remarks to The Associated Press, Darwich said he wants a message that no one is “too queer” to break the fast, and he described the isolation he faced after coming out to his mother.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s mental health bond promised that 10 early projects would open by the end of 2025. A CalMatters investigation found none met that goal, with nine delayed and one cancelled, underscoring hurdles in building new treatment capacity in California. Newsom said the bond is exceeding its goals as the state awarded additional funding this week.
Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, hit back at Tom Bower, the author of a new book on Britain’s royal family, calling his writing “deranged conspiracy and melodrama.” In a statement issued Saturday, they accused Bower of “cross[ing] the line from criticism into fixation,” after excerpts published in The Times of London described claims involving Queen Camilla and the couple’s relationships with other royals.
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Paralympians at the Milan Cortina Games have competed in unusually warm weather, with some athletes saying soft, slow snow has left them at a disadvantage and raised safety concerns. The conditions have prompted questions among athletes about whether the Winter Olympics and Paralympics should be held earlier in the year.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced on Friday it would relax air‑pollution standards for ethylene oxide, a chemical used to sterilize medical devices. The move would undo a 2024 rule that cut emissions by about 90% at nearly 90 facilities and contradict a 2016 classification of the gas as a human carcinogen. Environmental‑health groups say the change threatens communities near sterilization plants, especially those of color.
Beijing’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) has officially endorsed the Chinese counter‑espionage thriller “Scare Out,” making it the first motion picture to receive backing from the secretive agency. Directed by Oscar‑nominated Zhang Yimou and starring Jackson Yee and Zhu Yilong, the film opened on Feb. 17 in Shenzhen and has already grossed 1.1 billion yuan (about $160 million) in its first two weeks, drawing audiences in China, the United States, Canada and Australia. The MSS says the movie is meant to “strengthen the people’s defense line” and promote national‑security education.
China’s Ministry of State Security (MSS) has officially endorsed the newly released counter‑espionage film “Scare Out,” marking the first time the secretive intelligence agency has backed a motion picture. Directed by Oscar‑nominated Zhang Yimou and starring Jackson Yee and Zhu Yilong, the thriller opened on Feb. 17, Chinese New Year’s Day, and has already grossed about 1.1 billion yuan ($160 million) in two weeks. The MSS says the movie is meant to “strengthen the people’s defense line” and promote national‑security awareness among ordinary citizens.
Ali Darwich, a gay Muslim influencer in Berlin, hosted an inclusive Ramadan iftar aimed at showing acceptance across faiths and sexual orientations, the Associated Press reported. Darwich, who goes by @alifragt on Instagram, spoke to friends around a table as the sun set over Berlin while breaking the fast together. The gathering came as Germany sees rising violence targeting LGBTQ+ people.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration said it was speeding up delivery of projects funded by a $6.4 billion mental health bond approved by voters in 2024, but nine of 10 initial projects expected to open in 2025 were delayed, according to a report released this week. The delays, first-round delays and at least one cancellation affect plans for new inpatient treatment beds, outpatient slots and related housing programs.
Shohei Ohtani and Ronald Acuña Jr. combined for two leadoff home runs as the World Baseball Classic quarterfinal began with a fast start, the Associated Press reported. In the game on Saturday night, Acuña homered on the second pitch as Venezuela beat the defending champions 8-5 in Venezuela.
Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, criticized Tom Bower, author of a new book on Britain’s royal family, calling his writing “deranged conspiracy and melodrama.” In a statement issued Saturday, they said Bower “has long crossed the line from criticism into fixation.”
Some athletes at the Milan Cortina Paralympics have complained about warm, “tropical” conditions that left them skiing or snowboarding in softer snow and raised concerns about safety. As temperatures climbed during the Games, the warm weather also sparked debate over whether the Paralympics should be held earlier in the year when colder conditions are more reliable.
Young people are embracing analog hobbies and offline activities as a way to spend less time on phones and reintroduce hands-on creativity, an Associated Press report said. The shift spans needlepoint, knitting, gardening and other “grandma hobbies,” as well as areas like pottery and blacksmithing.
LONDON (AP) — Prince Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, issued a strong statement Saturday accusing author Tom Bower of writing a book containing “deranged conspiracy and melodrama.” The couple said Bower “has long crossed the line from criticism into fixation” as excerpts from his new work were published in British media.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's kidney function has improved but he will remain in an intensive care unit due to pneumonia, his doctors said Sunday. The 70-year-old right-wing leader has been hospitalized multiple times since a 2018 stabbing and is serving a 27-year sentence for a coup attempt.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, 70, is in intensive care with pneumonia, his doctors said Friday. The hospitalization comes as Bolsonaro serves a 27-year sentence for attempting a coup and as his son Flávio mounts a presidential bid.
The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday proposed weakening air pollution limits on ethylene oxide, a chemical used to sterilize medical equipment, reversing a Biden-era rule aimed at sharply cutting emissions of the cancer-causing gas.
None of the 10 mental health treatment projects promised to open last year under Gov. Gavin Newsom’s $6.4 billion Proposition 1 bond have launched, CalMatters has found. The delays, attributed to supply chain issues, permitting hurdles, and administrative challenges, push back critical care for Californians experiencing homelessness and mental illness.
In a Thursday ambush at a major synagogue in a Detroit suburb, a man rammed a vehicle into the building and was fatally shot by security, intensifying worries among clergy and worshippers about the safety of religious sites. The Associated Press reviewed notable attacks on houses of worship over the past 15 years across multiple countries, illustrating how widely the threat has spread.
President Donald Trump said Thursday that he does not believe it is “appropriate” for Iran’s national soccer team to attend this year’s World Cup, citing “their own life and safety.” The comments came as the U.S. and Iran remain embroiled in a war and with Iran’s participation still under dispute.
A new AP timeline lists dozens of recent attacks on churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship around the world. The catalog ranges from a vehicle‑ramming ambush at a Detroit suburb synagogue on March 12, 2026, to a suicide bombing inside a Greek‑Orthodox church near Damascus on June 22, 2025. While weekly worship remains statistically safe, the string of high‑profile incidents has intensified fear among clergy and congregants worldwide.
A March 12 attack on a Detroit synagogue — where a gunman rammed his vehicle into the building — is the latest in a series of violent incidents at religious sites worldwide, raising concerns about security at places of worship. The assault, which caused no injuries but damaged the structure, follows a pattern of attacks spanning multiple countries and targeting diverse faiths over the past 15 years.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a generic version of leucovorin for a rare genetic condition that limits folate delivery to the brain, while retracting earlier statements from President Donald Trump and other administration officials that the drug could help people with autism. FDA officials said the evidence for autism support was limited and that a study previously used to support the broader claim was retracted.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved a generic form of leucovorin on March 10 for a rare genetic disorder that impairs folate delivery to the brain. The approval comes after the agency walked back statements made by President Donald Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. that the drug could help a sizable share of children with autism. FDA officials said the review was narrowed to the ultra‑rare condition and noted that a study once cited to support the autism claim had been retracted.
President Donald Trump said Thursday that he does not believe it is “appropriate” for Iran’s national soccer team to attend the World Cup this year, citing “their own life and safety.” Trump made the remarks as the United States and Israel struck Iran and the two countries remained embroiled in war.
The Food and Drug Administration approved leucovorin for a rare brain disorder on Tuesday, but sharply narrowed its use and retracted earlier claims by President Donald Trump and other officials that the drug showed promise for autism.
The armed man who rammed his vehicle into Temple Israel, a large Reform synagogue in West Bloomfield Township near Detroit, was identified as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, a 41-year-old naturalized U.S. citizen born in Lebanon, federal officials said. He was fatally shot by security officers after driving through the synagogue’s hallway on Thursday, authorities said. Investigators have not determined a motive.
A man who rammed his vehicle into Temple Israel, one of the largest Reform synagogues in the Detroit suburb of West Bloomfield, Michigan, was identified as Ayman Mohamad Ghazali, according to federal officials. He was fatally shot by security officers after driving through a hallway at the synagogue Thursday, authorities said.
BOSTON — Seventeen Democratic state attorneys general filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday challenging a Trump administration policy requiring higher education institutions to collect data on whether they consider race in admissions. The plaintiffs argued the data-collection effort is rushed, could produce unreliable results, and jeopardizes student privacy, while the Education Department defended the requirement as an expansion of a transparency tool.
Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said the state will join the Trump administration’s “A Home for Every Child Initiative” to increase the number of licensed foster homes for children in state custody. Reeves said Mississippi has 52 foster homes for every 100 foster children, and officials expect to use federal support to target recruitment and reduce administrative “red tape.”
Four Muslim parents and three private schools filed federal lawsuits seeking to stop Texas officials from excluding Islamic private schools from the state’s private school voucher program, arguing the state is discriminating on the basis of religion.
As public schools in West Virginia face financial crisis, lawmakers have done little in the current 60-day legislative session to relieve funding pressures on students living in poverty, a report distributed by The Associated Press says. The House of Delegates has kept school funding relatively flat at about $2.01 billion, while fully funding the Hope Scholarship for students attending private schools. Advocates and state education officials warn that more districts could face insolvency, and some systems have already cut staff or weigh layoffs.
Minnesota local governments are pressing state lawmakers for bonding bill funding to expand and repair drinking, wastewater and stormwater systems, citing aging infrastructure, updated requirements and rising construction costs. In testimony and interviews during the 2026 legislative session, officials and lawmakers said water projects account for a large share of requests and could be harder to fit into budgets without borrowing authority. The debate over a bonding bill has included concerns from some lawmakers about using it for political leverage and about the lack of dedicated recurring funding.
West Virginia’s public schools are teetering on the brink of financial collapse, yet the Republican‑controlled legislature kept the state education budget flat at $2.01 billion for the 2026‑27 school year—about $8 million less than the prior year. Lawmakers declined to act on a RAND Corporation study that urged higher funding for students living in poverty and for special‑education programs, leaving more than 200,000 children without the resources they need.
HANCOCK COUNTY, W.Va. — Fifty-seven days into the 60-day legislative session, West Virginia public schools are nearing financial collapse with no relief from lawmakers. Seven county school systems have been taken over by the state, and more districts warn of payroll risks, while education funding remains flat at $2.01 billion. The legislature instead fully funded the Hope Scholarship for private education, adding students without guardrails, as a RAND Corporation study recommending increased support for students in poverty and special education was ignored. Bills to reform the school aid formula stalled in committees despite warnings from state education leaders. “If we had the money, I’d love to do it,” said House Finance Chair Vernon Criss, R-Taylor, of a per-pupil spending increase that was slashed in committee. State Board of Education President Paul Hardesty warned more districts will face insolvency without action. Senate Education Chair Amy Grady, R-Mason, who is also a public school teacher, said she has pushed funding increases for special education, rural schools, and lower student-teacher ratios for two years. “It’s always money,” Grady said. “We always say this is a major issue, and this should be a priority, but we don’t have anything that’s really structured that gets us from here to finding a solution.” The legislature’s own RAND study concluded the state should increase funding for students living in poverty and those in special education. Lawmakers moved no bills this session to address those recommendations. Dale Lee, co-president of Education West Virginia, said additional funding for special education is critical. “They can find the money for it,” Lee said. “But they need to do it now, not in two years.” The House passed a bill to raise per-pupil spending from $5,700 to $6,500 and increase funding for students with severe disabilities, but the Senate Finance Committee has not acted. The bill, now pending in Senate Finance, would not take effect until the 2027-2028 school year if passed. More than 200,000 West Virginia children attend public schools. The legislature’s decision to keep funding flat while expanding private-school vouchers has left districts scrambling to avoid layoffs and maintain basic operations. Hardesty told lawmakers in January that without significant changes to the school aid formula, more county systems will face insolvency in the coming years. The warning came as Hancock County announced its payroll was at risk, joining six other counties already under state control. The session ends in three days. No comprehensive funding reform appears likely.
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio, March 13, 2026 — Two Ohio pastors, Reginald Silencieux and Carl Ruby, have emerged as outspoken allies for Haitian migrants in Springfield who fear deportation amid President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Both pastors say they have offered shelter in their churches, legal and community support, and religious services in Creole and English as the Haitian community faces threats tied to recent misinformation.
Pope Leo XIV accepted the resignation of Bishop Emanuel Shaleta, a Chaldean Catholic leader in the San Diego area, who faces criminal charges accusing him of embezzling $270,000 from his parish. The Vatican said it accepted Shaleta’s resignation under canon law for Eastern Rite churches, and named a temporary administrator for the El Cajon congregation.
Closing arguments began Thursday in a landmark Los Angeles trial over whether Meta and YouTube should be liable for harms that a plaintiff says were caused by early social media use. After a month of testimony from addiction experts, therapists, engineers and executives including Mark Zuckerberg, a 12-person jury heard closing statements and is expected to begin deliberations Friday morning.
A policy ordering hospitals to re-check past results from a race-based kidney function test appears to be improving access for some Black patients on transplant waiting lists, new research reports. The study found thousands of Black transplant candidates received credit for time they had lost under the now-ended test, potentially raising priority for those who might have qualified sooner. The findings were published in JAMA Internal Medicine.
Colin Dorgan, a senior hockey player for Blackstone Valley Co-op in Rhode Island, scored the game-winning goal in double overtime on March 11, 2026, to advance his team to the state championship game. The win came nearly a month after he lost three family members in a youth hockey rink shooting in Pawtucket. Dorgan wore a patch on his jersey honoring his mother, brother and grandfather as he returned to the ice.
Thousands of fans turned out in Finland’s far north for the Salla Reindeer Cup this past weekend, drawing crowds despite frigid subfreezing temperatures near the Russian border. The Salla event, roughly 264 kilometers (164 miles) northeast of Oulu, featured reindeer sprinting across a snow-covered track and pulling their handlers on skis.
Most of the U.S. “springs forward” Sunday for daylight saving time, losing an hour of sleep at 2 a.m. in most states. Health experts say the shift can disrupt circadian rhythms and worsen sleep for days to weeks, with some studies linking the change to short-term increases in certain medical events.
Muslim parents and private schools filed lawsuits against Texas officials Wednesday, alleging religious discrimination in the state's new private school voucher program that excludes Islamic institutions. The legal actions argue the exclusion violates constitutional protections and deny Muslim families access to public funding for private education.
High school hockey player Colin Dorgan scored a game-winning goal in double overtime to advance the Blackstone Valley Co-op toward the Rhode Island state championship game, nearly a month after a shooting at a youth rink killed three of his family members. Dorgan, who wore a patch on his jersey honoring his mother, brother and grandfather, scored in a semifinal against Portsmouth High School on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at Schneider Arena on the campus of Providence College in Providence.
State officials say water projects dominate Minnesota’s $1 billion bonding bill requests, as rapidly growing communities such as Big Lake, Henderson and Becker scramble for state aid to upgrade aging wastewater and drinking‑water systems. Lawmakers are debating whether to approve the funding, with some Republicans warning that the bill could be used as political leverage, while local leaders stress the urgency of securing clean water for expanding populations.
Pope Leo XIV accepted the resignation of Chaldean Catholic bishop Emanuel Shaleta, who faces criminal charges accusing him of embezzling $270,000 from a parish in El Cajon, California, the Vatican announced Tuesday. The announcement came after Shaleta pleaded not guilty to 16 felony counts earlier this week.
Celebrity chef René Redzepi resigned from Copenhagen’s Noma after allegations of abuse and assault, according to a report by The Associated Press on Thursday. Redzepi posted a tearful resignation video on Instagram in which he said Noma had taken steps to transform its culture and that he takes responsibility for his own actions.
Most of the U.S. moves clocks forward Sunday for daylight saving time, losing an hour of sleep at 2 a.m. The American Heart Association and sleep researchers say the change can disrupt circadian rhythms and has been linked in studies to sleep problems and spikes in certain health events right after the time switch.
Lawyers for a 20-year-old woman and social media giants Meta and YouTube made final appeals to a Los Angeles jury Thursday, arguing over whether platforms should be liable for harms to children. The bellwether trial could impact thousands of similar lawsuits.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Thousands of Black kidney transplant candidates have received credit on the waiting list for time lost due to a discontinued race-based test, a policy change that increased their transplant rates without harming other groups, researchers report.
China adopted a sweeping law on Thursday aimed at strengthening “ethnic unity,” according to officials who presented it to China’s legislature. Critics say it will further erode minority groups’ rights by accelerating assimilation efforts, including by requiring Mandarin Chinese to be taught in compulsory education nationwide.
California’s foster care system is facing an insurance-driven crisis that is forcing foster family agencies to close in multiple counties, potentially disrupting placements for thousands of vulnerable children, according to the California Department of Social Services. Lawmakers are seeking additional relief funding after a one-time allocation ran out, but advocates warn the problem could spread without longer-term policy changes.
A 12-year-old girl in suburban Villa Rica, Georgia, died days after she collapsed in the street following a fistfight near a school bus stop, police said. The investigation is reviewing evidence including cellphone video, and prosecutors will decide later whether to bring charges.
St. Clair County, Michigan, has become the center of a public fight over fluoride and childhood immunizations as county officials consider changes that critics say would expand the influence of county medical director Dr. Remington Nevin. Nevin and supporters argue the county’s public health choices should reflect local values and democratic control. Opponents, including health professionals and a NAACP leader, say the moves could undermine science-backed prevention.
NEW YORK — Michele Jawando, a civil rights lawyer and former Google executive, will become CEO next month of Omidyar Network, the philanthropy started by eBay founder Pierre Omidyar. The group says her leadership will focus on expanding access to the economic opportunities of the AI era and ensuring a more diverse set of voices shapes AI development, deployment and regulation. Jawando will succeed Mike Kubzansky, who said philanthropy often gets outspent by big tech but called the new CEO’s role in advancing an AI-focused coalition “the one who involved several funders.”
Vermont’s Green Mountain Care Board is pushing for changes to Medicare payment rules after a “bizarre” disparity left some rural “critical access hospitals” charging Medicare patients more for outpatient services than they would pay at larger hospitals, even for the same procedures. The board discussed the issue at a Feb. 11 hearing and is asking for additional information by March 16 as budgets for next fiscal year are set.
Federal agents searched the home of Los Angeles Unified’s superintendent, Alberto Carvalho, and the district’s headquarters as he remained on paid leave during a federal investigation. On Wednesday, Carvalho denied wrongdoing and asked the school board to reinstate him as head of the district. Authorities have not publicly detailed the investigation or any alleged crimes.
Descendants of people depicted in early photographs of enslaved residents from 1850 said they are relieved after Harvard University turned the images over to a museum in Charleston, South Carolina, following a seven-year legal fight. The International African American Museum announced the transfer on Wednesday.
A U.N.-backed panel of independent experts said racist hate speech by U.S. President Donald Trump and other U.S. political leaders, alongside a crackdown on immigration, has led to “grave human rights violations,” according to a decision issued Wednesday. The Geneva-based Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination said it is urging the U.S. to suspend immigration enforcement operations at and near schools, hospitals and faith-based institutions while it evaluates whether immigration policies comply with international obligations.
Senegal’s parliament has approved a bill that toughens punishments for homosexual acts, doubling prison terms from 1 to 5 years to 5 to 10 years. Introduced by Prime Minister Ousmane Sonko, the bill also raises fines and targets what it calls the “promotion” or “financing” of homosexuality. The changes still require presidential assent before becoming law.
Jill Biden is set to publish a memoir reflecting on her husband Joe Biden’s decision to end his 2024 presidential reelection bid and on her own years as first lady. In an interview with The Associated Press, she said the book, “View from the East Wing: A Memoir,” is scheduled for June 2 and was “somewhat healing” as she “wrote about” both difficult and beautiful moments.
Michael Bloomberg, the founder of Bloomberg financial news and former New York mayor, ranked No. 1 on The Chronicle of Philanthropy’s Philanthropy 50 list for 2025 for a third consecutive year, according to the Chronicle. Bloomberg gave $4.3 billion last year to support arts, education, the environment, public health and programs to improve city governments.
Ohio State trustees on Thursday appointed Provost Ravi Bellamkonda as president after Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. abruptly resigned following revelations about his “inappropriate relationship” with a podcast host for military veterans, according to a statement by Carter and university officials. Trustees voted unanimously to name Bellamkonda as the next president, bypassing a nationwide search, and Bellamkonda told reporters he would work to hold the university to a high standard.
In Havana and other cities across Cuba, authorities say young people are increasingly using cheap synthetic drugs known as “químico,” or “papelitos,” as the country’s economic crisis and shortages worsen. An AP visit to a Havana psychiatric hospital described a 90-day detox and rehabilitation effort for patients in their 20s, alongside church-led recovery sessions in the community. Cuba’s Interior Ministry and mental-health officials cite rising emergency-room visits and say new synthetic formulations are increasingly detected by police laboratories.
Pope Leo XIV named Archbishop Luis Marín de San Martín to lead the Vatican’s charity office, the Holy See’s almsgiving work, the Associated Press reported Thursday. Marín, a fellow Augustinian and a Spanish church official, replaces Polish Cardinal Konrad Krajewski, who is set to become archbishop of Lodz.
Rural districts that fill teacher vacancies with international educators face uncertainty as the Trump administration reshapes visa programs, school leaders and teachers said. In South Carolina’s Allendale County, Superintendent Vallerie Cave said some of the district’s best teachers are having to return home as visa sponsorship costs rise and contracts come due.
Bishop Emanuel Shaleta of the Chaldean Catholic community in El Cajon, California, resigned from his post Tuesday after prosecutors charged him with allegedly taking more than $270,000 from his parish, and pleaded not guilty to 16 felony counts. Shaleta, 69, was arrested last week at San Diego International Airport while attempting to leave the country, the San Diego County Sheriff's Office said. Pope Leo XIV announced acceptance of the resignation Tuesday.
Lebanon’s latest Israel-Hezbollah fighting has sparked rare public backlash against Hezbollah among some Shiites, as civilians shelter in schools and struggle through Ramadan, the Associated Press reported. Israeli warplanes began attacking southern Lebanon after Hezbollah rockets and drones, resuming a wider conflict just 15 months after a U.S.-brokered ceasefire ended the last war. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the Lebanese government has banned Hezbollah’s military activities, while Hezbollah critics and supporters describe sharply different explanations for why the fighting resumed.
Students staged an impromptu sit-in protest at the steps of Havana University on Monday, saying Cuba’s energy crisis has reduced in-person classes and disrupted schooling. They cited power outages, transportation shutdowns and unreliable internet that can force classes online and complicate basic access to campus.
Wyoming Gov. Mark Gordon signed a law Monday that bans most abortions after embryonic “cardiac activity” can be detected, generally at about six weeks’ gestation. In a letter to lawmakers, Gordon said he has misgivings about the measure because it does not include exceptions for pregnancies caused by rape or incest.
Eileen Gu, 22, a freestyle skier born in San Francisco, competed for China at last month's 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and won gold. Alysa Liu, 20, a figure skater born in California, competed for the United States and became the first American woman to win Olympic figure skating gold in 24 years. Both were born to Chinese immigrants and raised in single-parent households. The countries they chose to represent have turned their parallel triumphs into a flashpoint for debate stretching from Washington to Beijing.
The State Department authorized up to $40 million in emergency funds Tuesday to pay for charter evacuation flights for Americans leaving the Middle East, where the U.S.-Israeli war against Iran has disrupted commercial air travel since hostilities began Feb. 28, according to two U.S. officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. Secretary of State Marco Rubio separately waived the federal requirement that private Americans repay the government for such transportation. The department confirmed it had tapped the emergency account in response to a query but declined to specify how much it had authorized.
Six members of Iran's women's national soccer team have been granted humanitarian visas to remain permanently in Australia after most of their teammates declined last-minute asylum offers at Sydney Airport and boarded a flight home Tuesday night, Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said Wednesday. Seven players had accepted visas before the team reached the airport; one of the seven later changed her mind and returned to Iran — a reversal that inadvertently disclosed the remaining six women's safe-house location to the Iranian embassy, forcing Australian authorities to move them immediately to a new site.
The U.S. military said Tuesday it had destroyed 16 Iranian vessels used for mine-laying in Gulf waters, releasing declassified images as evidence, even as President Donald Trump claimed on social media that there were no reports of Iran placing explosives in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's Revolutionary Guard simultaneously vowed it would not allow "a single liter" of oil to be exported from the region to hostile nations. The conflicting signals emerged on the 11th day of the U.S.-Iran war, as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pledged the most intense U.S. strikes yet and the Pentagon disclosed that seven American service members have been killed and approximately 140 wounded since the conflict began.
The White House said it fired National Transportation Safety Board member Todd Inman after reports of misconduct, including alcohol use on the job and harassment of staff, but Inman denied the allegations. Inman said he had been fired on Friday without explanation, despite a term that was supposed to run through the end of 2027.
Washington's attorney-discipline office filed professional misconduct charges March 7 against Ed Martin, the Justice Department's pardon attorney, accusing him of violating the Constitution when, as interim U.S. Attorney for Washington, D.C., he threatened Georgetown Law School's dean with a student hiring freeze if the school did not eliminate its diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The charges were filed by Disciplinary Counsel Hamilton Fox with the Office of Disciplinary Counsel, which enforces ethics standards for D.C.-licensed attorneys. Fox is asking a D.C. Court of Appeals panel to determine whether discipline is warranted. Martin, who did not immediately respond to requests for comment, has 20 days to formally respond in writing.
Connecticut lawmakers are considering whether to make bell-to-bell cellphone bans in schools statewide policy, after districts including Meriden adopted tighter rules aimed at improving focus. At a Feb. 20 public hearing, Education Committee members and residents argued over local control, classroom technology access, and safety concerns if phones are restricted. Supporters cite concerns about social media’s effects on young people, while opponents say policies can be tailored without an all-day ban.
Jessie Holmes, a carpenter and former cast member of National Geographic’s “Life Below Zero,” started the 1,000-mile Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race from Willow on Sunday, aiming to defend the title he won last year. After training in “deep snow” and “40 below and colder,” Holmes said he was in the lead a day after the start, with the winner expected to reach Nome around March 17.
Jill Biden said in a telephone interview with The Associated Press that her upcoming memoir will reflect on her four years as first lady, including the period when President Joe Biden ended his 2024 reelection bid. Gallery Books announced the book, “View from the East Wing: A Memoir,” scheduled for June 2.
Michael Bloomberg landed the No. 1 spot on the Chronicle of Philanthropy’s ranking of the 50 biggest donors of 2025 for a third consecutive year, the Chronicle said in its annual Philanthropy 50 report. Bloomberg, the founder of Bloomberg’s financial-news empire and a former New York mayor, gave $4.3 billion to support causes including arts, education, the environment, public health and city-government programs.
In retirement, financial advisers often frame a spending rate of about 3% to 4% as a safe starting point, but Morningstar’s Christine Benz argues that retirees who deliberately spend less can end up with large residual balances. Benz says those leftovers may be unintentionally tied to market and timing uncertainty that can be managed through more flexible “spending” strategies that vary with portfolio performance.
Paris Hilton said she is launching a new national initiative to help women-owned businesses affected by disasters, a broader version of support she launched after the 2025 Los Angeles fires. She will donate $350,000 to the Back in Business Recovery Fund and work with 11:11 Media Impact and GoFundMe.org, according to The Associated Press.
Ohio State University President Walter “Ted” Carter Jr. resigned after the university said it was investigating “inappropriate access” to Ohio State leadership linked to “an inappropriate relationship.” Carter, 66, told the board of trustees he was responsible for the mistake, and the board said it was surprised and disappointed by the disclosure.
Rome restorers have begun cleaning and restoring ornate ceilings, altar areas and other features at San Pietro in Vincoli, a basilica near the Colosseum, using an EU pandemic recovery grant. The project includes careful scraping work using a “descialbo” technique and is expected to finish by May 2026, according to the scientific director of the restoration.
A GOP-led push in Texas to curb what Republican lawmakers call “liberal indoctrination” has reached the University of Houston, where some deans have asked faculty to certify that they “teach, not indoctrinate.” The university says the steps are tied to a new state law and that a draft checklist is optional, not required.
A federal judge in Oregon on Monday restricted federal officers from using tear gas and other chemical or projectile munitions during protests at the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland. The order came after a lawsuit filed by the ACLU of Oregon on behalf of protesters and freelance journalists, who said they were sprayed with OC spray and hit with other munitions.
Beta Technologies, the electric aircraft maker based in South Burlington, Vermont, said Monday it had been selected for a Trump administration federal pilot program that will allow the company to begin medical and cargo logistics flights between Vermont and New York this year. The company was approved for seven of the eight projects it applied for within the program, company leadership announced in an investor call.
Alameda County Chief Public Defender Brendon Woods refused to proceed with a misdemeanor trial Thursday after the jury pool in an Oakland courtroom contained no Black prospective jurors, triggering a confrontation with the presiding judge and a partial remedy that legal observers said still left the defendant with slim odds of a Black juror. The defendant, Eboni Route, is a Black Oakland woman facing misdemeanor charges of battery against a police officer and resisting arrest. Woods told Judge Pelayo Llamas that without any Black representation in the panel, Route could not receive a fair trial by her peers.
Liberal arts professors at four Pittsburgh-area universities say classroom participation has dropped noticeably, with students increasingly silent during discussions of assigned readings. Educators attribute the trend to decades of test-focused K-12 policy and, more recently, to the spread of artificial intelligence tools that let students bypass assigned reading entirely. Faculty at the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, Chatham University, and Carnegie Mellon University described the shift and the strategies they are deploying in response.
A community of 21 Dominican friars — a dozen priests and nine novices — lives, studies and ministers at Santa Maria delle Grazie, the 15th-century Milan convent and basilica where Leonardo da Vinci painted "The Last Supper" in the 1490s. The painted hall is no longer theirs. After the Napoleonic suppression of religious houses in the 18th century, the original refectory passed into state hands and is now managed as the Cenacolo Vinciano by Italy's Regional Directorate of Museums of Lombardy. The friars must ask permission to enter and are limited to 15-minute visits, like any other visitor.
A 16-foot Baby Jesus statue arrived Monday night in Tepito, a central Mexico City neighborhood known for its open-air markets and persistent crime, drawing dozens of residents to a street procession, Mass and shared cups of atole as the figure continued a peace tour across central Mexico. The visit was organized by a local musician who said he hoped it would demonstrate that good people live in Tepito.
Cuba is preparing to withdraw its medical brigade of more than 200 doctors from Guyana, ending a program that spanned nearly 50 years, after Guyana moved to pay Cuban physicians their full salaries directly rather than route most of the payments to the Cuban government. Guyana's Health Minister Frank Anthony confirmed Monday that Cuban authorities had asked their doctors to prepare to leave. Jamaica and Honduras ended their own Cuban medical missions last week in disputes over the same direct-payment question.
A regional press freedom watchdog said Tuesday that journalists across the Americas faced homicides, arbitrary arrests, and widespread impunity in 2025, calling it one of the worst years on record for media freedoms in the hemisphere. The Miami-based Inter American Press Association released its annual Chapultepec Index evaluating 23 countries from Canada and the United States to Venezuela and Nicaragua, ranking Venezuela and Nicaragua as nations "without freedom of speech" and placing the United States in the "restrictions" category, noting 170 attacks against journalists there last year.
Mojtaba Khamenei, a son of Iran's late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was chosen Sunday by the Assembly of Experts to succeed his father as the Islamic Republic's paramount decision-maker, assuming command of Iran's military and its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard during an ongoing conflict with Israel and the United States. Khamenei, who had never been elected or appointed to a government position, will now hold final say over all matters of state, including Iran's ballistic missile arsenal and a stockpile of highly enriched uranium.
In Amsterdam, a “singing circle” at the Concertgebouw is bringing people with dementia and other neurological conditions together with carers for hourlong music sessions. Participants, including 58-year-old Megan Worthy, said singing helps them feel connected and regain moments of memory and identity. The project is run by opera singer Maartje de Lint, who said music can help keep the brain active.
Pope Leo XIV called for an end to the U.S.-Israel war in Iran on Monday, issuing a new appeal after two U.S. cardinals condemned the conflict. In Vatican statements, the pope expressed “deep sorrow” after a Maronite Catholic priest was killed in southern Lebanon.
Voters in Georgia's 14th Congressional District will choose among 17 candidates Tuesday in a special election to fill the seat vacated by former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, who resigned in January following a public rift with President Donald Trump. Twelve Republicans and three Democrats are competing for the northwest Georgia seat, which Trump carried with 68% of the vote in 2024. Polls close at 7 p.m. ET.
New footage, first analyzed by open-source investigative group Bellingcat, shows what researchers say is likely an American Tomahawk cruise missile striking a compound in Minab, Iran, meters from a school where at least 165 people died on Feb. 28, the Associated Press reported Monday. A U.S. official familiar with internal deliberations told the AP the strike was likely American, speaking anonymously because they were not authorized to comment publicly on the matter. The unclaimed blast hit a school adjacent to a Revolutionary Guard base in Iran's southern Hormozgan Province.
Missiles and drones from the war that began Feb. 28 with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have come within range of hundreds of desalination plants along the Persian Gulf coast — facilities that supply drinking water to millions across one of the world's driest regions. Bahrain accused Iran on Sunday of damaging one of its desalination plants. Iran's foreign minister said a U.S. airstrike damaged a plant on Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, cutting water to 30 villages.
Iraqi Cardinal Louis Sako, head of the Chaldean Catholic Church, retired on Tuesday, setting the stage for new leadership as war and attacks ripple across the region.
A Maine educator and instructional coach, Kirsten Chansky, created a curriculum to teach phonemic awareness after teachers in her district said they lacked ready-made materials focused on breaking down and blending letter sounds. The pilot program, called Sounds of Success, is being used in Raymond’s pre-kindergarten classrooms and is also being piloted in several other Maine districts.
First and second graders are still falling behind pre-pandemic levels on reading and math tests, according to a report released Tuesday by NWEA. The report finds math scores edging up each year, while reading scores remain stagnant since the spring of 2021. NWEA researchers said the evidence points to “something kind of systemic” affecting students inside and outside schools, and they said they cannot pinpoint one specific cause.
Pope Leo XIV named Italian Archbishop Gabriele Caccia as the Holy See’s new ambassador to the United States, a role that will put the Vatican at the center of U.S.-Holy See diplomacy during tensions over Iran and immigration. Caccia, 68, replaces retiring French-born Cardinal Christophe Pierre, who has been apostolic nuncio in Washington.
A federal judge in Pennsylvania will decide whether the University of Pennsylvania must produce records sought by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in an investigation into whether antisemitism created a hostile work environment for Jewish employees and faculty. The EEOC asked U.S. District Judge Gerald Pappert to enforce an administrative subpoena filed against Penn’s board of trustees, according to court filings described at a Tuesday hearing. Penn argues the dispute is limited to the EEOC’s request that it build lists that could reveal employees’ Jewish faith or ancestry and other personal details, including home addresses and contact information.
A new study finds that complaints about uncomfortable heat in underground subway systems rise as outdoor temperatures climb, reflecting how warmer weather can translate belowground. Researchers analyzed more than 85,000 social media posts and Google Maps reviews from 2008 to 2024 in New York, Boston and London.
Paris Fashion Week continued Saturday with Hermès staging a fall-winter show that began with a scent—damp moss created a forest-floor atmosphere inside the Garde Républicaine barracks—before models walked above the vegetation. Creative director Nadège Vanhée, who has led Hermès womenswear since 2014, presented the collection titled “Entre chien et loup,” a phrase for dusk, and paired the darkening mood with leather-forward designs and shifting colors.
Uber launched Monday a feature that lets women riders and women drivers be matched with other women across the U.S., rolling out nationwide despite an ongoing California lawsuit challenging the policy. The company said the option is designed to address safety concerns tied to its ride-hailing platform.
Vermont State Auditor Doug Hoffer said a 39-page report found gaps in the state’s child care oversight that could pose safety risks and jeopardize federal funding. The audit pointed to inconsistent handling of providers’ violations, incomplete and lengthy background checks, and outdated technology used to track violations.
Travelers at William P. Hobby Airport in Houston and Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport encountered security checkpoint waits of up to three hours Sunday, as a shortage of Transportation Security Administration agents — stemming from the ongoing Department of Homeland Security shutdown — disrupted spring break travel. Houston Airports at one point asked travelers to arrive four to five hours before their flights.
Iran's Assembly of Experts named Mojtaba Khamenei — the 56-year-old son of the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei — as the Islamic Republic's next supreme leader on Monday, as Iranian forces widened missile and drone strikes against oil and water infrastructure across Gulf Arab states. The announcement came as the conflict between Iran, the United States, and Israel entered its second week, with the war's toll surpassing 1,600 dead and global oil prices climbing above $100 a barrel.
Lebanese officials and the family of a retired security officer who vanished in December say Israel covertly abducted him to extract information about the fate of an Israeli airman missing for four decades. The retired officer, Ahmed Shukr, a former captain with Lebanon's General Security Directorate, was last seen on Dec. 17, 2025, entering a stranger's vehicle in the eastern Lebanese city of Zahle. Days before the Associated Press reported the disappearance, Israeli commandos carried out a raid in the Bekaa Valley village of Nabi Chit, digging in a family cemetery in what the Israeli military said was a search for evidence about the fate of navigator Ron Arad, who parachuted from his jet over Lebanon in 1986 and was never seen in Israel again. Lebanon's Health Ministry said the raid and subsequent airstrikes killed 41 people and wounded dozens. No Israeli casualties were reported.
New York City police are investigating after a counterprotester lit and threw a device packed with nuts, bolts and screws at an anti-Islam demonstration near Gracie Mansion on Saturday, Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said. A second device was handed to the same individual moments later; he dropped it. Three people were arrested in connection with the confrontation, Tisch said, and no injuries were reported.
A surge in artificial intelligence data center construction is driving utilities across the United States to plan high-voltage transmission lines at accelerating speed, pitting the tech industry's growing electricity appetite against landowners, conservationists and state regulators who say the projects impose heavy costs and disruptions on communities that receive little benefit. In Sugarloaf, Pa., John Zola has watched his 40-acre property — apple orchards, a barn and four houses for himself and his adult children — become a proposed corridor for a 500-kilovolt power line whose 240-foot steel towers would rise above century-old apple trees and loom over the swimming pool where his grandchildren play.
Fox News apologized Sunday for broadcasting archival footage of President Donald Trump during its coverage of a dignified transfer ceremony at Dover Air Force Base, where the remains of six U.S. soldiers killed in the Middle East were returned Saturday. The network said a staff member inadvertently selected footage of Trump from an earlier ceremony, which aired on two Sunday morning telecasts in place of footage from the Saturday event. The archival footage showed Trump without the baseball cap he wore at Saturday's ceremony, drawing scrutiny from critics who questioned whether the substitution was intentional. Fox News maintained the substitution was an honest mistake.
Olympic champion Eileen Gu served as grand marshal of San Francisco's annual Chinese New Year parade Saturday evening, drawing loud cheers from thousands of revelers as the city rang in the Year of the Fire Horse. Gu, who won two silver medals and one gold at the 2025 Milan-Cortina Winter Games — a haul the Associated Press reported made her the most decorated freestyle skier in Olympic history — appeared midway through the procession in a red dress, riding in a flower-adorned red convertible, the color a symbol of good fortune in Chinese tradition.
Brazilians marched in at least 15 cities on International Women's Day, Sunday, demanding an end to femicide and sexual violence as five suspects faced charges in the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl in Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana neighborhood. The case, which occurred in January, gained national attention this week after four suspects surrendered to authorities; a fifth, a minor, turned himself in Friday to face an equivalent charge under juvenile law. Organizers called the demonstrations a direct response to surging violence against women across the country.
More than 58,860 Indonesian pilgrims were stranded in Saudi Arabia as of Thursday after the war in the Middle East disrupted air travel during the Umrah pilgrimage season, Indonesia's Vice Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak said. About 1,600 Malaysian pilgrims were also stranded, Malaysia's consul general in Jeddah said. The disruptions began when the conflict broke out on Feb. 28, forcing last-minute itinerary changes and cancellations for thousands of worshippers in the kingdom during Ramadan.
Workers installed a plaque at the U.S. Capitol overnight Saturday honoring police officers who defended the building on Jan. 6, 2021, completing an installation required by law more than two years after its legal deadline had passed. The plaque — the first official marker of the Jan. 6 attack at the Capitol — was placed on the Senate side after years of delay blocked by House Speaker Mike Johnson, with two injured officers saying their lawsuit over the installation's compliance with federal law will continue.
Tunisian authorities detained three members of the Global Sumud Flotilla steering committee Friday as the country's National Guard financial crimes unit opened an inquiry into suspected money laundering, fraud, and the alleged misuse of donation funds, organizers said. The arrested activists — Wael Naouar, Jawaher Channa, and Nabil Channoufi — are members of both the flotilla's international steering committee and its Tunisian organizing body.
Dr. Vinay Prasad, the Food and Drug Administration's top vaccine and biotechnology regulator, will leave the agency at the end of April — his second departure in less than a year — FDA Commissioner Marty Makary announced in an email to staff late Friday. Makary said Prasad would return to his faculty position at the University of California, San Francisco. The announcement follows a string of high-profile disputes between the FDA and pharmaceutical companies, including a public fight with Moderna over an mRNA flu vaccine and a clash with a gene-therapy company developing an experimental treatment for Huntington's disease.
President Donald Trump said Friday that questions about the ongoing war in Iran were "easy" compared to his efforts to regulate college sports and rein in athlete salaries — an extraordinary remark he appeared to soften only moments later. Trump spent more than an hour at a White House roundtable with college sports figures, pressing Congress to overhaul NCAA rules even as U.S. and Israeli forces continued military operations against Iran that began a week earlier.
Nancy Guthrie, 84, vanished from her home in the Tucson, Ariz., area on Feb. 1, and the case remained unsolved more than a month later, the Associated Press reported. Her daughter, NBC "Today" co-host Savannah Guthrie, has made repeated public appeals and offered a $1 million reward for information. The disappearance has drawn attention to what researchers call ambiguous loss — a form of psychological suffering caused by an unresolved absence that leaves families neither able to mourn nor to stop hoping.
Tyler Jaggers, a U.S. Coast Guard rescue swimmer based in Astoria, Oregon, died Thursday evening after sustaining injuries during a medical evacuation mission off the Washington coast, the Coast Guard reported. Before his death, his family carried out a hospital-room marriage proposal on his behalf, and the Coast Guard awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross — one of the military's highest honors for heroism in flight.
U.S. District Judge Amy Baggio on Friday restricted federal agents from deploying chemical munitions in quantities likely to reach Gray's Landing, an affordable housing complex adjacent to Portland's U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility, after the complex's property manager and tenants sued the federal government over months of involuntary tear-gas exposure during protests at the building. The ruling is the second time a federal judge in Oregon has imposed limits on tear-gas use at the Portland ICE facility; a separate court had previously issued a temporary restraining order in a lawsuit brought by the ACLU of Oregon on behalf of protesters and freelance journalists.
Faith leaders from Catholic, Muslim, and Sikh communities are suing the federal government and pressing immigration authorities for greater access to detained migrants during the overlapping holy seasons of Lent and Ramadan. The number of people held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has grown to as many as 75,000 from about 40,000 since President Donald Trump began his second term, spread across more than 225 sites nationwide, according to the Associated Press. A federal judge's order allowed clergy to hold an Ash Wednesday service at an Illinois facility, and a Muslim chaplain gained entry to a Texas detention center at the start of Ramadan — but clergy from multiple faiths say access remains inconsistent and, in some cases, has been entirely cut off.
CHICAGO — The family and closest allies of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. gathered Saturday at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition's South Side headquarters for an intimate final memorial, the capstone to a week of public and private services for the civil rights leader. A few hundred attendees — most of them family members, longtime allies and confidants — heard eulogies from Jackson's children, civil rights leaders and the presidents of two African nations who traveled to Chicago to pay their respects.
Emergency calls to 911 from Camp East Montana in El Paso, Texas documented repeated suicide attempts, two detainee deaths, seizures, and untreated injuries at the nation's largest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility at a rate of nearly one call per day for five months, according to records obtained by the Associated Press. The AP reviewed 130 calls placed between mid-August 2025 and Jan. 20, 2026, along with interviews with former detainees and court filings. The records described a facility housing an average of approximately 3,000 people per day in tent quarters where diseases spread and medical care was difficult to obtain. ICE data showed 80 percent of detainees at the camp had no criminal record.
Satellite imagery, expert analysis and a statement from a U.S. official point to a United States airstrike as the cause of a Feb. 28 explosion that killed more than 165 people, most of them girls, at a primary school in southern Iran, the Associated Press reported Thursday. The explosion at Shajareh Tayyebeh Primary School in Minab — a city in Hormozgan province roughly 1,100 kilometers (680 miles) southeast of Tehran — produced the highest civilian death toll of the ongoing U.S.-Israel military campaign against Iran, according to Iranian state media. Neither the United States nor Israel has claimed responsibility for the attack. Iran has blamed both countries.
Thousands of Americans stranded across the Middle East after Israeli-U.S. attacks on Iran began Feb. 28 largely navigated their own way home — relying on WhatsApp group chats, private drivers and alternative border crossings — as U.S. government repatriation efforts lagged behind those of allied nations, multiple travelers said Friday. The first U.S.-chartered repatriation flight did not arrive until Thursday, days after Poland, Australia, France and other countries had already dispatched military or chartered aircraft for their citizens. As of Friday, about 27,000 Americans had returned to the United States since the conflict began, the State Department said, with the vast majority traveling without government help. More than 29,000 of roughly 51,000 flights scheduled in or out of Middle East airports had been canceled, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium, as airspace over Iran, Iraq, Bahrain, Kuwait and Syria remained closed.
Colleen Hanabusa, who became the first woman to serve as president of the Hawaii State Senate and later represented Hawaii in the U.S. House of Representatives, died Friday after a five-month battle with cancer. She was 74.
Satellite imagery, expert analysis, a U.S. official and information released by the American and Israeli militaries indicate a Feb. 28 blast that killed more than 165 people at an Iranian elementary school was likely caused by U.S. airstrikes, the Associated Press reported Friday. Most of those killed at Shajareh Tayyebeh Elementary School in Minab — a city in Hormozgan Province about 1,100 kilometers (680 miles) southeast of Tehran — were children. The strike had the highest reported civilian death toll since the war with Iran began.
Hawaii's gun violence protective order law has been used only 13 times since taking effect in 2020, even as more than 430 people were killed by firearms in the state between 2018 and 2024, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Honolulu Police Department has never filed a red flag petition, and a state House bill would direct roughly $500,000 over two years to public awareness campaigns and court-processing support for the orders.
More than 5,000 spiritual seekers gathered at the LAX Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles from Feb. 20–23 for the 24th annual Conscious Life Expo, where speakers described city-sized spacecraft, channeled alien wisdom and claimed to be incarnate galactic souls — a pronounced evolution from the event's founding focus on astrology, health and sustainability when it launched in 2002. Researchers who study the convergence of alternative spirituality and political conspiracy theories say the shift accelerated during the COVID-19 pandemic, when anti-institutional sentiment pushed portions of the New Age community toward more conspiratorial frameworks.
Michigan's outdoor recreation sector added $15.1 billion to the state economy in 2024, up from $14.6 billion the year before, but the 3.5% year-over-year gain fell below the national outdoor recreation average of 4% and trailed 35 other states, according to data released by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis. The figures, which lag by a year, arrive as heavy snowfall has delivered one of Michigan's strongest ski seasons in years — a tailwind industry officials say could lift the state's 2025 numbers.
Hawaii's Department of Education has failed to track which food purchases came from local sources, lacked functioning software to monitor spending, and fell back on handwritten ledgers — even as state lawmakers pressed the agency to dramatically expand the share of locally grown food in school meals, a state audit released Thursday found. The Hawaii Office of the Auditor called the department's approach "haphazard" and strongly questioned whether the agency can meet a Legislature-mandated goal to spend 30% of its food budget on locally sourced food by 2030.
California community college districts have spent millions of dollars on artificial intelligence chatbots intended to help students navigate admissions, financial aid and campus services, but testing and student accounts show the systems frequently provide inaccurate or outdated answers, according to a CalMatters investigation distributed by the Associated Press. The Los Angeles Community College District, the state's largest community college system, has approved contracts and amendments totaling about $3.8 million for chatbot services through 2029, according to district board documents.
Minnesota cities and advocacy groups are pressing the state Legislature for $250 million to keep the state's lead service line replacement program running beyond 2027, when both state and federal dollars supporting the effort are projected to run out. The state has allocated $243 million for lead pipe removal since 2023 and drawn roughly $350 million from the federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, but neither funding stream extends past 2027 without fresh appropriations.
The Associated Press reported that 911 calls, interviews and court filings point to repeated medical and mental-health emergencies at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s largest detention camp, Camp East Montana, in El Paso, Texas. The reporting describes overcrowding, medical neglect, malnutrition, and distress, including repeated suicide attempts. The Department of Homeland Security rejected the claims, saying detainees receive food, water and medical care at a routinely cleaned facility.
Islamic militants attacked a town in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state on Friday and abducted more than 300 people, including women and children, local officials said. The attack in the town of Ngoshe came as Nigeria continues to fight multiple armed groups in a widening security crisis.
A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked enforcement of a Florida executive order issued last year by Gov. Ron DeSantis that designated two Muslim groups as foreign terrorist organizations. The ruling halted the order’s application while a lawsuit brought by civil rights groups moves forward.
Muslims across the United States are entering Ramadan with heightened worries about immigration enforcement, rising anti-Muslim rhetoric during election season, and the Iran war affecting families with loved ones in the Middle East, Associated Press reported. In cities including Paterson, New Jersey, and Minneapolis, community leaders said fear is limiting gatherings that are central to the holiday.
The U.S. will move clocks forward at 2 a.m. Sunday for daylight saving time in most states, creating a 23-hour day that supporters and critics say disrupts schedules and sleep. A debate over whether to make daylight saving time permanent or keep standard time year round is playing out in state legislatures and in Congress, where federal change requires action.
A North Carolina man was arrested Wednesday at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Capitol Hill after he stood up and shouted anti-war slogans, then violently resisted officers who tried to remove him from the room, Capitol Police said. Brian C. McGinnis faces three counts of assaulting a police officer, three counts of resisting arrest, and one count of unlawful demonstration. Three Capitol Police officers and McGinnis were all treated for injuries following the confrontation.
War Child UK will release "Help(2)" on Friday, a benefit compilation album featuring unreleased songs from Arctic Monkeys, Olivia Rodrigo, Wet Leg, and Pulp, to raise funds for children affected by conflict in Ukraine, Gaza, and Sudan. The album is the follow-up to the charity's 1995 compilation "Help," which reached No. 1 on the British charts and raised more than £1.25 million (approximately $1.938 million) for children in war-torn Bosnia.
The Greek government has acquired the first verified photographs documenting the May 1, 1944 Nazi mass execution of 200 prisoners at the Kaisariani firing range in Athens, Culture Minister Lina Mendoni announced Thursday, after purchasing the archive from a Belgian private collector for 100,000 euros ($115,700). The 262-image collection, taken by German Wehrmacht lieutenant Hermann Heuer during his 1943–44 posting in occupied Greece, includes scenes of prisoners transported from the Haidari prison camp outside Athens to the firing range east of the city center, where they were shot in groups of 20 in reprisal for a resistance ambush that killed a German military commander in southern Greece.
State legislators and civil rights advocates in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Massachusetts are moving to assume school discrimination enforcement duties that the Trump administration has largely abandoned, the Associated Press reported Thursday. Mass layoffs at the U.S. Education Department's Office for Civil Rights — which closed entire offices in Philadelphia, Boston, Chicago, and elsewhere — have left thousands of complaints unresolved, with families saying they have nowhere else to turn.
A report released this week by Rhode Island’s attorney general detailing decades of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Providence is giving survivors a sense of vindication while renewing demands for accountability and support. In interviews and statements, survivors described long-delayed recognition of harm and said the case also underscores barriers they faced when they tried to be believed.
Savannah Guthrie made an off-camera visit Thursday to NBC’s “Today” show studios, her first since her mother, Nancy Guthrie, went missing from her Arizona home about a month ago. A “Today” spokesperson said Guthrie plans to return to the air at some point but is focused on supporting her family and helping bring Nancy home.
A Haitian man confined at an Arizona immigration detention center died at a hospital Monday after a tooth infection was left untreated, his brother said. Emmanuel Damas, 56, told medical staff at the Florence Correctional Center in mid-February that he had a toothache, but he was not sent to a dentist, his brother said. A county medical examiner listed Damas’ cause of death as “pending” as of Wednesday, while ICE officials announced another custody death earlier Wednesday.
The Rhode Island attorney general released a new investigation into the Catholic Diocese of Providence that estimates 75 priests abused more than 300 children since 1950. The report said the diocese often transferred accused clergy and relied on treatment centers rather than promptly involving law enforcement. Diocese leaders said the findings do not reflect an ongoing problem and disputed parts of the report.
Thika, Kenya, is home to Mary Mwangi, a breast cancer survivor who started knitting during recovery and now makes affordable knitted prostheses for women after mastectomies. Her “New Dawn Cancer Warriors” group says the handmade devices—selling for $10—provide comfort and restore confidence for people who cannot access reconstructive surgery. The group has sold more than 600 prostheses over the past three years, with support from organizations that donate them.
Indonesia will ban children under 16 from having social media accounts, Communication and Digital Affairs Minister Meutya Hafid said March 6. Hafid said the rule—applied to high-risk digital platforms such as YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and Roblox—was set out in a government regulation she has signed and will be phased in beginning March 28.
An emergency shelter for women in Hilo, Hawaii, has received county and state funding without being inspected by county fire prevention officials since it opened about five years ago, and bedrooms in the facility lack required emergency exits, according to reporting shared with The Associated Press. A current resident said the rooms have “no operable window” escape options and that none of the seven units includes an operable window.
San Jose plans to clear about 100 people living in a creek-side homeless camp known as “the Jungle” near Story Road across from Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, beginning April 15. City officials said outreach ahead of the sweep will prioritize people for housing at the Cerone tiny home site in North San Jose, which opened in early February.
A Medicaid law tied to President Donald Trump’s proposal would require California to verify more eligibility details more often and require many able-bodied adults to meet work requirements, potentially pushing some homeless people off Medi-Cal. Health workers in Los Angeles say the changes could make it harder for unhoused patients to maintain coverage and access primary care and medications.
Tucson’s “Safe City” initiative uses monthly deployments that pair outreach organizations with law enforcement, but the process still relies on arrests. During a deployment on Feb. 25, officers arrested five people on charges including trespassing and drug paraphernalia possession, leading to video court appearances and possible community court. The initiative was described by city officials as a way to connect people to help, while outside researchers and advocates questioned the use of coercive enforcement.
FIU launched an investigation into racist, antisemitic and misogynistic language in a group chat connected to a Miami-Dade Republican Party official. The university said campus police are investigating the students involved in coordination with local, state and federal law enforcement.
Denmark’s government plans to explore whether gastronomy could be formally recognized as an art form, a move that could change how chefs are funded and classified. The idea is championed by Copenhagen chef Rasmus Munk, whose restaurant Alchemist offers immersive, performance-style meals, but some chefs and cultural figures argue food and art differ.
Axel Springer agreed Friday to buy the owner of Britain’s Daily Telegraph for 575 million pounds ($766 million), ending a yearslong ownership saga around Telegraph Media Group. The deal gives the German media company control of the 171-year-old Daily Telegraph, its Sunday sister title and the Telegraph news website, while also setting up Axel Springer’s push into the U.S. market.
In the United States, the Christian phrase "Christ is king" has increasingly surfaced in political debates involving far-right figures and disputes over Israel and Zionism, drawing criticism that it has been used in ways hostile to Jews. An Associated Press report highlighted the controversy during a Feb. 9 hearing of a Religious Liberty Commission created by President Donald Trump, where witnesses and commissioners debated whether the slogan’s pairing with slurs makes it antisemitic.
ROME — An independent researcher says a marble bust of Christ in a Roman church is by Michelangelo, challenging the work’s current attribution and drawing skepticism from Renaissance scholars. Valentina Salerno announced the claim Wednesday and published her theory on academia.edu, as the Italian military and the church that oversees the site said they would protect the artwork regardless of whether it can be linked to the Renaissance master.
In Danbury, Connecticut, the fire department has begun using a new dispatch system that starts with softer alert tones and a computerized voice to describe incoming emergencies. The change aims to reduce stress for firefighters as they respond, with officials pointing to the profession’s heart health risks and citing research on how alarm volume affects heart rates.
The Hawaii state Board of Land and Natural Resources voted unanimously to support acquiring Hā‘ena Beach Park on Kaua‘i and nearby Maniniholo Dry Cave, parcels Kaua‘i County has owned since 1925. The transfer is not final and the timeline is uncertain, but supporters say the change could bring visitor and parking caps similar to those at nearby Hā‘ena State Park. Local residents and advocates have said the beach park’s popularity has led to crowded conditions and traffic hazards that make access difficult for them.
Pentagon plans to cut a prestigious military fellowship’s access to selected colleges, while officials say changes to other education benefits remain broader. The shake-up arrives as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth pushes a campaign aimed at removing “wokeness” from the military and reshaping how U.S. service members pursue advanced study.
A new lawsuit filed in U.S. federal court alleges Google’s Gemini AI chatbot helped guide a Florida man to stage a “catastrophic accident” near Miami International Airport and later kill himself. The suit, brought by his father, names Google and argues the chatbot amplified delusions that deteriorated into suicide and involved plans for mass casualty harm, according to the complaint.
A baby macaque abandoned by his mother near Tokyo is spending less time with an orangutan plushie meant to help him cope and learn monkey social cues, zoo staff said. The zoo began limiting viewing time and asked visitors to be quiet after the monkey’s cuddling routine went viral online last month.
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum visited the western state of Jalisco on Friday, a senior security briefing held after a wave of violence that authorities linked to the killing of a top cartel boss. The visit came with fewer than 100 days before the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with Guadalajara among the host cities.
The Food and Drug Administration’s top drug regulator is seeking to hire a friend who is pushing for a new boxed warning on antidepressants about unproven pregnancy risks, The Associated Press reported. The agency is legally required to respond in writing to the petition.
A study published in The Lancet links a White House briefing by President Donald Trump promoting unproven autism-related messaging to a change in how some pregnant patients sought Tylenol and how leucovorin was prescribed for children. Researchers found Tylenol orders for pregnant emergency department patients were 10% lower than predicted after the briefing, while prescriptions for leucovorin for children aged 5 to 17 were 71% higher than expected.
CHICAGO — Democratic Party figures gathered in Chicago this week for services honoring the late Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died in February, as the party confronted the question that defined his political career: how to assemble a broad, diverse coalition capable of winning national power. The services drew party veterans, activists, and likely 2028 presidential contenders, many of whom trace their political beginnings to Jackson's mentorship.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection opened an internal investigation Wednesday into Gregory Bovino, once the public face of the Trump administration's city-by-city immigration sweeps, after reports that he made disparaging comments about the Jewish faith of Daniel N. Rosen, the U.S. attorney for the District of Minnesota. The inquiry was opened following a congressional letter about anonymous allegations, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said. DHS said the probe "does NOT indicate any confirmation of wrongdoing."
Two years after Hawaiʻi launched a $7 million effort to equip public school campuses with panic buttons, only one school in the state has the technology installed — and it is not using it. The company contracted to provide monitoring services for the program, SaferWatch, is under federal scrutiny after its former chief executive was charged with bribing a New York Police Department officer to pressure local officials to spend millions of dollars on school panic button systems.
Bernard LaFayette, the civil rights organizer who did the groundwork for the 1965 Selma, Alabama, voter registration campaign more than two years before the marches that shocked the nation, died Thursday of a heart attack, his son said. He was 85.
Workers in recovery from alcohol addiction face persistent pressure in American workplaces where after-work happy hours, corporate parties, and client meetings at bars remain expected in many industries, treatment professionals and workers who have abstained from alcohol said. The anxiety employees in recovery feel about career advancement and social judgment at work is natural but manageable, those professionals said.
Conservative Anglican leaders meeting in Abuja, Nigeria, have disbanded their existing governing body and replaced it with a new council that grants full voting rights to bishops, clergy, and lay members alike, formalizing a deepening break from the historic Anglican Communion. The Global Anglican Future Conference, known as Gafcon, dissolved its Primates Council and established a Global Anglican Council at a gathering that drew 436 delegates from 48 countries and more than 180 dioceses. Archbishop Laurent Mbanda of Rwanda was unanimously elected as the new council's first chair.
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday temporarily cleared the way for California schools to notify parents if their children identify as transgender, without getting the student’s approval, in a dispute that has been tied to free-exercise claims. The court blocked for now a state law that would allow automatic parental notification requirements when students change their pronouns or gender expression at school.
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam on Monday unveiled a painting titled “Vision of Zacharias in the Temple,” acknowledging it as a work by Rembrandt van Rijn after two years of scrutiny. The museum said the work was last bought by a private collector in 1961, after it had been rejected as a Rembrandt.
Widespread flight disruptions across the Middle East have left many travelers stranded as the U.S. and Israel’s war against Iran widens, and conditions may keep changing quickly, experts warn. Hassan Shahidi, president and CEO of the Flight Safety Foundation, said travelers “should absolutely expect uncertainty,” urging them to follow government, airport and airline updates and to reassess trips that aren’t necessary.
The traveling exhibit “I am an American: The Nisei Soldier Experience” opened in San Francisco’s Presidio this week, honoring Japanese Americans who fought for the United States in World War II while their families were held in government-run internment camps. The exhibit, presented by the National Veterans Network and partners including the National Museum of the United States Army, includes artifacts, family photographs and bios shared by relatives.
Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes over the weekend, a development that reverberated quickly across the Shiite Muslim world. In Pakistan, thousands protested within hours, including clashes outside the U.S. diplomatic enclave in Islamabad and attempted moves on the U.S. consulate in Karachi. In Lebanon and Iraq, demonstrations and cross-border attacks added to fears of a wider backlash as Israel threatened further strikes.
A Russian court on Tuesday designated the Coming Out LGBTQ+ rights group as an extremist organization, according to the group and a court hearing in St. Petersburg. The ruling adds to legal and public pressure on Russia’s LGBTQ community that has intensified in recent years under President Vladimir Putin.
Mental health experts and child psychologists are urging parents to have open, age-appropriate conversations with children about war as fighting involving the United States, Israel, Iran and its proxies continues to generate distressing images and news coverage, according to guidance compiled by Save the Children, the American Psychological Association and the National Child Traumatic Stress Network. Even indirect exposure to conflict can affect how children think, feel and behave, specialists say. "Sometimes adults think if they don't talk about something that is difficult, than it doesn't exist. But we know that's not the reality in children's lives," said Rebecca Smith, global head of child protection at Save the Children, an international aid and advocacy organization. "Ignoring or avoiding the topic of conflict can lead to children feeling lost, alone and scared. ... It is essential to have open and honest conversations with children to help them process what is happening."
Connecticut's education commissioner said Tuesday that a proposed state law requiring school districts to alert the child welfare agency when families withdraw children to homeschool them would violate federal privacy law and put millions of dollars in federal education funding at risk. Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker, in written testimony to a legislative committee, said the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act prevents her department from disclosing student information without parental consent except for narrow research purposes. The measure is part of Senate Bill 6, an omnibus child welfare package drafted in part after two Connecticut cases in which parents allegedly used homeschooling to conceal prolonged abuse.
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem defended her department’s immigration enforcement tactics before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, pushing back on Democrats’ criticism that she wrongly disparaged two protesters killed by federal officers in Minneapolis earlier this year. She said her remarks were based on reports from agents at the scene and argued officers faced “a serious and escalating threat” from what she called mischaracterizations of their work.
Trinidad and Tobago declared a new state of emergency Tuesday, about a month after the previous one ended, as authorities cited persistent violent crime. Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said the National Security Council identified attacks planned against law enforcement, a move she said would allow additional powers including arrests and searches without warrants.
Scores of airline passengers are stranded across the Gulf as fighting between Iran and its rivals disrupts travel, and some wealthier travelers are escaping by paying for private flights via airports farther from the conflict. The costs, brokers and security firms said, have surged after major hubs in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Doha closed last weekend.
The Trump administration launched a Medicaid fraud investigation in New York on Tuesday, directing state officials to provide details on fraud, waste and abuse within 30 days or face deferred payments — the latest in a series of actions targeting health programs in Democratic-led states.
Emmanuel Damas, 56, died at a hospital Monday after a tooth infection was left untreated while he was held by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Florence Correctional Center in Arizona, his brother said. The Department of Homeland Security did not immediately respond to questions, and a Maricopa County Medical Examiner’s Office report listed his cause of death as “pending” as of Wednesday.
Former housing secretary Julián Castro said the Latino Community Foundation is pledging to build a $250 million endowment and expand grantmaking across the U.S. Southwest to bolster long-term support for Latino community groups.
Vatican restorers have begun cleaning Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgment” in the Sistine Chapel, removing a chalky white film of salt that has built up over the fresco since its last major restoration about three decades ago. The Vatican said the work is taking place on floor-to-ceiling scaffolding and aims to finish by Easter in the first week of April.
New York Attorney General Letitia James has ordered NYU Langone, one of Manhattan’s largest hospitals, to resume gender-affirming care for transgender youth after the hospital ended such treatment for patients under 19. In a letter dated Feb. 25 but released this week, James said NYU Langone’s decision violated New York anti-discrimination laws by jeopardizing access to medically necessary health care for transgender youth.
Moorhead, Minn. residents gathered Sunday for the annual March 1 opening of a 77-year-old Dairy Queen walk-up, despite single-digit cold. The temperature was 6 degrees Fahrenheit (-14 Celsius) when the shop opened, and customers queued for ice cream treats such as milkshakes and Blizzards.
New York’s Love Rocks NYC benefit at the Beacon Theatre on Thursday will feature headliners Paul Simon, Mary J. Blige and Elvis Costello, organizers said. The sold-out concert marks the 10th Love Rocks show and the 40th anniversary of God’s Love We Deliver, as federal cuts have increased demand for the nonprofit’s medically tailored meals.
As headlines over the weekend about U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran and fears of a wider conflict spread, psychiatrists and psychologists say many people experience heightened stress and anxiety. Experts speaking to The Associated Press said it is normal to feel fear, sadness and confusion, but they urged people to take steps to reduce the intensity of their news intake. They recommended cutting back on social media, avoiding graphic content and setting limits on scrolling.
Rev. Jesse L. Jackson and Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei are among the notable figures who died in February, according to an Associated Press year-in-review list of people who have died in 2026. The roll call also includes actor Robert Duvall, Three Dog Night singer Chuck Negron and Hall of Fame second baseman Bill Mazeroski. In January, the AP list cited deaths including comic actor Catherine O’Hara and CIA turncoat Aldrich Ames.
More than two dozen Doctors Without Borders (MSF) workers remained unaccounted for in South Sudan a month after attacks on MSF facilities, the medical charity said. MSF reported that 26 of 291 colleagues working in Lankien and Pieri were missing, after staff fled areas where fighting continued and communications were disrupted.
Electrolyte supplements are increasingly promoted online, with influencers touting health benefits or giving followers advice on DIY mixes. But registered dietitian Julia Zumpano and other medical experts said many broad claims about the drinks are overstated, especially for people who aren’t sweating heavily. Experts also cautioned that supplement products vary widely and that recipes from influencers can carry a margin of error.
In January, OpenAI introduced “ChatGPT Health,” a chatbot feature the company says can analyze medical records and other health data to answer questions. Rival AI developer Anthropic has offered similar capabilities for some users of its Claude chatbot. Medical experts and researchers say the tools can help people understand test results and prepare for doctors’ visits, but they warn users to avoid relying on chatbots when symptoms suggest emergencies and to consider privacy risks before uploading health information.
Holi, widely known as the Hindu festival of colors, is celebrated in March in India, Nepal and other South Asian countries and across the diaspora. The festival is marked with music, dancing, food and the throwing of colored powders, and it is observed on the last full moon day of the Hindu luni-solar month of Falgun.
Gov. Gavin Newsom on March 2 threatened to redirect state funding from California counties he said are not doing enough to implement CARE Court, a court-based program intended to connect people with severe mental illness to treatment. Speaking at a mental health campus in Alameda County, Newsom named 10 counties he said are underperforming, while highlighting 10 others he said are meeting targets.
A large immigration detention camp on Fort Bliss in Texas known as Camp East Montana has been closed to visitors and attorneys due to a measles outbreak, U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobar said. Escobar said there were 14 active measles cases at the facility and 112 people were being isolated, and the camp will remain closed until March 19 or March 20.
Diabetes medications including Ozempic and Mounjaro were associated with meaningfully lower risks of developing substance use disorders — and of dying from them — in a large analysis of Veterans Affairs health records published Wednesday in *The BMJ*. The study, drawing on data from more than 600,000 VA patients with diabetes over three years, found GLP-1 receptor agonists reduced addiction risk across alcohol, cannabis, cocaine, nicotine and opioids compared with other blood-sugar-lowering medications. For people already struggling with addiction, starting a GLP-1 drug was linked to a 50% lower risk of death, a 39% lower risk of overdose and a 25% lower risk of suicidal thoughts or attempts, according to the study.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — A multiyear investigation by Rhode Island's attorney general found that at least 75 Catholic clergy in the Diocese of Providence sexually abused more than 300 children since 1950, with church leaders shielding accused priests from accountability rather than protecting victims, according to a report released Wednesday. Attorney General Peter Neronha said the true scope of abuse is likely far greater than what records document. "If you're the Diocese of Providence and you're listening, this is a scandal you need to own and you need to fix," Neronha told reporters. "We can't slow walk solutions, and we can't slow walk justice."
The U.S. Department of Transportation authorized American Airlines on Wednesday to resume commercial service to Venezuela, positioning the carrier to become the first U.S. airline to fly to the South American country in more than six years.
Rosemead, Calif., is drawing Lunar New Year crowds to a Buddhist temple exhibit of what it calls “10,000 Buddha Relics,” featuring tooth and finger bone relics and colorful pearl-like shariras believed to be tied to Shakyamuni Buddha. Temple founder Master YongHua said the relics’ larger-than-life size comes from items he described as having “grown” and that he has seen them multiply, levitate and produce cures. Other Buddhist teachers say relic veneration should not distract believers from the path to liberation.
Texas school districts have been given the option to set aside daily prayer time under a new state law, but only 15 districts have opted in, according to a report distributed by the Associated Press on Monday.
New Orleans will keep 120 Louisiana National Guard troops through August, the state Guard said on March 2, extending a deployment that began in late December. The Louisiana National Guard said the troops would serve as a visible presence to deter criminal activity as the city moves into the spring events season.
Major historical documents from the National Archives will begin a nationwide journey this week as part of the U.S. 250th anniversary, officials said. The first stop is Kansas City, Missouri, where the records—including the 1783 Treaty of Paris—will be displayed beginning Friday at the National World War I Museum and Memorial.
Travelers stranded by a widening Middle East war began departing the United Arab Emirates on limited evacuation flights Monday, even as most commercial air traffic across the region remained suspended, the Associated Press reported. The limited flights began as the U.S. State Department urged Americans in 13 countries, including the UAE and other Gulf states, to “depart now via commercial means due to serious safety risks,” while airspace closures and cancellations continued to reduce options.
Some states preparing to start Medicaid work requirements will have to spend millions of dollars upgrading eligibility computer systems and hiring staff before the Jan. 1 start date, an Associated Press analysis found. Federal funding will help cover some costs, but the technology tab and added administration are projected to exceed $1 billion across more than 25 states, according to the analysis.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Iran’s supreme leader since 1989, died Sunday at age 86, Iran’s state media reported. The Associated Press reported that he was killed in U.S. and Israeli strikes hours after President Donald Trump said the U.S. had carried out an operation that killed him.
Gaza’s ceasefire has weakened as Israel has closed crossings and halted entry and exit for humanitarian workers, Palestinians and an Israeli military office said, amid U.S. and Israeli attacks against Iran. Residents said the closures during Ramadan have disrupted markets and left people rushing to stock up on food and supplies. The United Nations and aid groups have warned that hunger remains in the enclave and that limited access threatens supplies.
Karachi and other Pakistani cities saw clashes on Sunday as demonstrators angered by the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei tried to reach U.S. diplomatic missions, leaving at least 22 people dead and more than 120 wounded, according to authorities and hospital officials.
President Donald Trump awarded the Medal of Honor to three U.S. Army soldiers at the White House on Monday, recognizing combat service from wars spanning Vietnam, Afghanistan and World War II. The ceremony included the families of the honorees and remarks from Trump and Polish officials, and it began with Trump saying the event “There’s no ceremony that can be more important than this.”
Minnesota sued the Trump administration to block federal officials from “immediately withholding” $243 million in Medicaid spending, a move the state said could force cuts to health care for low-income families. The lawsuit filed in U.S. District Court in Minneapolis names the Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, and also names CMS administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz and HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in their official capacities.
Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson Sr.’s flag-draped casket was brought into the South Carolina Capitol in Columbia on Monday, where he became the second Black person to lie in state at the building. Thousands waited as the Capitol opened to the public for people to view him, after which Jackson’s family said he would continue memorial events in Chicago.
NEW YORK — Dan Sohail, 36, pleaded not guilty Monday to federal charges accusing him of intentionally damaging religious property after he repeatedly drove his car into the Chabad Lubavitch world headquarters in New York City. Prosecutors said the Jan. 28 incident damaged an entrance to the Hasidic Jewish site, without injuries, and that the government charge includes a potential maximum penalty of three years if damage exceeds $5,000.
Conservative Anglican leaders are meeting in Nigeria for a four-day gathering aimed at deciding whether to pursue a possible breakaway from the official, London-based Anglican Communion, a step that could reshape one of the world’s largest Christian networks. The meeting comes as representatives tied to the Communion’s traditional structure have announced a revised plan to decentralize leadership away from England, potentially offering a path to cooperation amid deep theological divisions over LGBTQ+ issues. (AP)
A Georgia jury will deliberate the fate of Colin Gray, whose son, Colt Gray, is accused of bringing a Christmas rifle to Apalachee High School and killing four people in September 2024. In closing arguments in Barrow County, a prosecutor said the father had enough warning to prevent the attack, while the defense said the shooting was not foreseeable.
The University of Michigan said it has ended its partnership with the nonprofit PhD Project after an agreement with the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, according to federal officials. The federal office said the PhD Project “unlawfully limits eligibility based on race,” and that U-M and other universities violated Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act by partnering with a race-discriminating organization.
Gunmen attacked three communities in north-central Nigeria on Saturday, killing at least 15 people, Amnesty International said. The group said the assaults hit villages in the Borgu area of Niger state.
As Algerians prepare for Ramadan, many say rising food prices are making it harder to afford the holiday feasts. The Associated Press reports that after years of declining purchasing power, shoppers and vendors in markets in Algiers describe sharp jumps in prices for staples even as the government promises aid to help people “spend the holy month in perfect peace and without worry.”
Silvana Armani presented her first signature collection during Milan Fashion Week on Sunday, a debut that marked a new chapter for the Giorgio Armani fashion group following the death of founder Giorgio Armani on Sept. 4. Actor Andie MacDowell sat front row and said the collection spoke to women of a “certain age,” praising an Armani suit she wore to the show.
Cientos de miles de viajeros quedaron varados el domingo después de que el ataque contra Irán por parte de Estados Unidos e Israel cerrara gran parte de Oriente Medio al transporte aéreo, con aeropuertos y espacio aéreo suspendidos en varios países. En Dubái, Abu Dabi y Doha, centros clave para conexiones entre Europa, África y Asia, cientos de personas se apresuraron a reorganizar planes mientras los operadores saturaban líneas telefónicas.
For Black people living with Tourette syndrome, a vocal tic that manifested as a racial slur during the British Academy Film and Television Arts Awards has left them with complicated feelings—mixing frustration at racism and ableism with anger at how the incident was handled by broadcasters. The slur was shouted during the ceremony as Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo presented the first award of the night, prompting widespread outrage and renewed debate about Tourette syndrome. (AP)
The U.S. and Israel launched a major attack on Iran on Saturday, and Iranian state media reported that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei died in the strikes. U.S. President Donald Trump called on the Iranian public to “seize control of your destiny” and said the attack created what he described as a historic chance for the country. Even with leadership deaths, the article says regime change is not guaranteed, and it lists key figures across Iran’s political and religious hierarchy.
Ramadan in Gaza City has brought sorrow to many families grieving relatives killed in Israeli strikes, as the holy month arrives with relatives buried under rubble and daily life squeezed into tents and makeshift shelters.
Madonna made a star appearance in Dolce & Gabbana’s front row during Milan Fashion Week on Saturday, sitting next to Vogue editor Anna Wintour as the Fall-Winter 2026-27 show began. The singer, 67, hugged actor Alberto Guerra, with whom she recently shot a Dolce & Gabbana campaign.
A federal grand jury has indicted two men on firearm charges tied to a Jan. 7 shooting outside an LDS church in Salt Lake City that left two people dead and six others injured. The indictment unsealed Friday charges Ryan Toutai, 32, with unlawful disposition of a firearm and Fineeva Maka, 26, with felon in possession of a firearm, the U.S. attorney’s office said.
NEW YORK (AP) — A privately funded nonprofit is inviting schools, employers and other partners to help Gen Z young people take part in low-barrier civic “actions,” such as calling elected representatives, volunteering locally or hosting public conversations. The nonprofit says its goal is to empower 20 million people ages 14 to 24 over the next three years.
For some young children in Columbus, Ohio, reading assessments begin not in the classroom but in the doctor’s office. Nationwide Children’s Hospital has started screening children’s literacy skills as early as age 3 during pediatrician visits, aiming to spot reading struggles early and guide parents. The program, launched in 2022, screens more than 2,400 children and works through clinic-based literacy coordinators who create at-home practice plans.
Pentagon reached an agreement with Scouting America to keep their century-old partnership, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Feb. 27, after he criticized the group’s stance on diversity and transgender youth. The deal includes changes to merit badges and a pledge to require members to use sex assigned at birth rather than gender identity, Hegseth said. Scouting America said the agreement does not change its existing policy welcoming transgender youth and that the organization has already incorporated transgender participation into its program.
Netflix said Thursday it will not raise its offer to buy Warner Bros. Discovery’s studio and streaming business, after Warner’s board said Paramount’s latest bid for the entire company was superior.
Vermonters voting on Town Meeting Day will decide school district budgets and whether small elementary schools stay open, as property tax burdens, inflation, and federal funding uncertainties collide. The Associated Press reports that health care costs are rising sharply for districts, forcing budget increases and staff and program cuts in recent years.
Iranian college students have staged anti-government protests on at least 10 campuses in the past week, as authorities warn them not to cross a “red line” and tighten restrictions amid threats of U.S. military action over Iran’s nuclear program. The Associated Press verified videos of clashes and demonstrations on multiple campuses, and students and witnesses described rising anger and confusion about the country’s direction.
The Pentagon will forbid members of the U.S. military from attending Columbia, Yale, Brown and other universities starting next school year, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said. The ban is part of a campaign to cut ties with schools he described as “factories of anti-American resentment,” and it was announced in a video posted on social media.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has ruled that federal agencies may bar transgender employees from using bathrooms aligned with their gender identity, rejecting an appeal by a transgender woman who worked for the U.S. Army. The 2-1 decision held that the Army’s choice did not violate Title VII’s ban on sex discrimination.
A fog-laden Washington sky caused an hourlong ground stop at Reagan National Airport on Friday, leading passengers including former President Joe Biden to wait for their commuter flight. Biden, accompanied by Secret Service and local police, was traveling to Columbia, South Carolina, for an evening event with the South Carolina Democratic Party.
South Africa began mass vaccination of cattle Friday to stop an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease that has already spread through the country’s livestock industry and prompted culling of more than 120,000 animals. Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen said the government is rolling out vaccines after the disease intensified late last year, with KwaZulu-Natal designated as a hot spot.
Paramount’s planned buyout of Warner Bros. Discovery has cleared a major hurdle after it beat Netflix in a contested takeover effort, but the next test is regulatory. The U.S. Justice Department, the Federal Trade Commission and other oversight bodies must assess whether the deal would give Paramount too much power and potentially harm customers.
Melania Trump will preside over a U.N. Security Council meeting next Monday during the United States’ rotating presidency for March, a first for a first lady, the United Nations said. Stephane Dujarric, a U.N. spokesman, said the meeting will be the first time a first lady—or a first gentleman—has presided over the council.
A new push in the United States aims to reduce racial disparities in maternal deaths by training Black fathers as “doulas” and birth supporters. In Indianapolis, JaKobi Burton attended appointments and classes through Dads to Doulas while his wife, Crystal Wilmot-Burton, prepared for a high-risk pregnancy. Organizers say increased paternal involvement—and doctors’ willingness to include fathers—can help Black patients get listened to during labor and pregnancy.
Jeff Galloway, who popularized a run-walk-running method for marathons and everyday jogs, died Wednesday at age 80, his family said. A hemorrhagic stroke led to emergency neurosurgery in Pensacola, Florida, where he died, daughter-in-law Carissa Galloway said.
The U.S. attorney general, Pam Bondi, announced federal charges against 30 additional people accused of civil rights violations linked to a protest inside Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, in January. Bondi said 25 of the defendants were taken into custody and that more arrests are expected.
A homelessness prevention program launched in Santa Clara County is expanding across the U.S., aiming to keep families housed by offering rental assistance, case management and supportive services before eviction. Destination: Home said it is partnering with 10 organizations nationwide, with an initial “Right at Home” initiative focused on federal funding that targets people at risk rather than only after homelessness begins.
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — Haiti’s National Police chief said authorities are working on a plan to safely hold general elections this year, despite continued gang violence. Interim police chief André Jonas Vladimir Paraison told The Associated Press that the election plan is still being prepared and that he could not provide more details. The government has said it aims to hold general elections in late August with a runoff in early December.
Demna presented his first Gucci runway show at Milan Fashion Week on Friday, unveiling designs that he described as grounded in pragmatism and aimed at delivering a “feeling” rather than what he called an intellectual exercise. The show, titled “Primavera,” featured Kate Moss closing the presentation in a glittering gown with a branded thong visible in the back.
Tribal citizens whose Black ancestors were enslaved by some Oklahoma tribal nations are seeing more inclusive access to services such as health care and education, but barriers remain, according to a Government Accountability Office report released ahead of Black History Month.
In Brazil’s Amazon, the Akuntsu Indigenous community faced extinction with only three women left after the last man died in 2017, according to officials. In December, the youngest woman, Babawru, gave birth to a boy, shifting expectations for the group’s future, an Associated Press report said.
Jacksonville on Feb. 27 unveiled a replica of a civil-rights marker to be installed outside Mount Ararat Missionary Baptist Church, part of the city’s inclusion on the U.S. Civil Rights Trail. The marker highlights Mount Ararat’s link to a March 1961 visit by Martin Luther King Jr., and the city plans to place more than three dozen markers across Jacksonville in the coming months.
The head of the Food and Drug Administration said the agency plans to offer bonus payments to drug reviewers who complete reviews ahead of schedule, in what he described as a pilot program. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary told staff during a Thursday presentation that the first quarterly bonuses would begin around August.
Two transgender men sued Kansas in federal district court after a new state law invalidated their driver’s licenses and thousands of others, arguing the measure violates rights under the Kansas Constitution. The lawsuit, filed Thursday in Douglas County, also challenges the law’s enforcement provisions tied to a 3-year-old policy restricting transgender people from using public restrooms and other single-sex facilities.
Most organ donations in the United States used to come from people declared brain-dead. Now, research says organ donations after a heart stops—known as donation after circulatory death, or DCD—have risen sharply and account for 49% of deceased donors last year, up from 2% in 2000.
Joelle Haley, whose son was born prematurely and treated in Detroit, has been crocheting colorful yarn octopi for babies in the Children’s Hospital of Michigan Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. The donated plush “octopi,” called Amigurumi, are placed in bassinets to give preemies something soft to focus on while clinicians keep tubes and wires in place.
Jerusalem photographer Leo Correa described how he captured Ramadan Friday prayers at sunrise as Palestinians crossed the Qalandia checkpoint to reach the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound in the Old City. Correa said the photo was taken at about 7 a.m., when women gathered to enter the checkpoint under early morning light. He also described Israeli restrictions that limit Friday entries from the West Bank, with eligibility tied to age and gender.
AI music startups Suno and Udio are trying to negotiate a place in the recording industry after lawsuits alleging copyright infringement pushed major labels into federal court fights. Suno CEO Mikey Shulman and Udio CEO Andrew Sanchez said they now want licensing and partnerships, even as artists including Tift Merritt have argued that deals often ignore copyright and consent.
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Two American cardinals and the Vatican’s ambassador to the U.S. denounced what they called mass deportations in Minnesota tied to the federal government’s immigration crackdown, calling instead for reconciliation and humane solutions. Cardinal Robert McElroy of Washington, Cardinal Joseph Tobin of Newark and Archbishop Bernard Hebda of St. Paul and Minneapolis spoke during a Mass for migrants on Friday. The prelates said Catholic teaching supports border control for people convicted of serious crimes, but they said seeking to deport millions—including families who have lived in the U.S. for decades—is contrary to Catholic faith and basic human dignity.
Thousands of California K-12 teachers have walked out or voted to strike in recent months as the California Teachers Association pushes for higher pay and benefits, union president David Goldberg said. Goldberg linked the timing to a statewide effort by district unions to align contract expirations, saying the wave “is no coincidence.” Several districts, including San Francisco, West Contra Costa, and others, have already had work stoppages or scheduled strikes.
Anchorage’s School Board voted Tuesday night to approve a “severe” budget that cuts more than 500 staff positions, including over 300 teachers, and closes three elementary schools. The district said the cuts follow a $90 million deficit attributed to years of flat state funding and that it faces additional multimillion-dollar shortfalls in the next two years.
Carson City District Judge Jason Woodbury dismissed a legal challenge to a proposed Nevada ballot initiative that would require school sports overseers to classify athletes by sex assigned at birth. The judge said supporters must change the ballot’s “description of effect” wording to say the measure would carve out an exception to Nevada’s equal-rights guarantee.
Target will stop selling cereals with synthetic colors by the end of May, the company said Friday, citing years of reformulating items with national brands and its private labels. The Minneapolis retailer said 85% of its cereal sales already come from products made without synthetic dyes. Target also said it will no longer carry brands that do not reformulate, though it did not name which ones.
President Donald Trump’s State of the Union address was seen by an estimated 32.6 million people this week, down about 4 million from his 2025 speech to Congress, according to Nielsen ratings cited by the Associated Press. The broadcast reached viewers across 15 television networks and drew an older-skewing audience, with 23.6 million viewers age 55 and up.
Tampa International Airport sparked debate online after it posted that it wanted to ban travelers from wearing pajamas at the airport in Florida. The airport later clarified the post was “another playful nod” to day-of-travel fashion debates and said it encourages passengers to travel comfortably.
Gov. Tim Walz denounced the Trump administration’s threat to withhold Minnesota Medicaid funds as part of a “retribution” campaign and unveiled new legislation aimed at fighting fraud in public programs. Walz spoke a day after Vice President JD Vance said the administration would “temporarily halt” some Medicaid funding over fraud concerns.
The Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education will meet in a closed session Thursday to discuss Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, a day after the FBI searched his home and district headquarters, the district said. The FBI served search warrants at Carvalho’s home and also searched a third location near Miami where he previously led Florida’s public schools, federal authorities have not detailed the investigation.
Novartis has settled a lawsuit brought by the estate of Henrietta Lacks over allegations that the company unjustly profited from HeLa cells taken from her tumor in 1951 without her knowledge. The settlement, finalized this month in federal court in Maryland, ends the case, though the terms were not made public.
The United States and the Democratic Republic of Congo signed a $1.2 billion health partnership, according to a joint statement from the countries’ governments. The U.S. Department of State said it would provide up to $900 million over five years to support programs targeting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, and to reduce maternal and child mortality.
Greenpeace is fighting a North Dakota court order requiring it to pay an expected $345 million to Energy Transfer after a jury found three Greenpeace entities liable over protests tied to the Dakota Access oil pipeline.
The FBI searched the home of Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho and served search warrants at district headquarters and a location in Florida, according to an Associated Press report. Authorities did not provide details about what the federal investigation is focused on. The superintendent has previously led large school systems and has been outspoken on immigration enforcement near schools.
The FBI served search warrants Wednesday at Los Angeles Unified School District headquarters and at the home of Superintendent Alberto Carvalho, federal officials said. The FBI declined to provide details of the investigation, saying the affidavits supporting the warrants are under seal.
Dr. Casey Means, a wellness influencer and entrepreneur, faced sharp questions from senators on Wednesday during a Senate health committee hearing on her nomination to become the next U.S. surgeon general. Means, 38, said during the hearing in Washington that the country should address chronic disease by focusing on shared root causes rather than “reactive sick care.”
A 21-year-old student in Rhode Island died after carbon monoxide poisoning in his car during a major snowstorm and power outage, Newport police said. Police said the exhaust pipe was obstructed by snow after the student used the vehicle to charge his phone. The Associated Press also outlined how carbon monoxide poisoning happens, the symptoms, and safety steps during outages.
Residents in Escondido, California, have packed City Council meetings for weeks to protest a contract that allows U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to train at a city police gun range, which they say they only recently learned about.
Prince Harry and Meghan visited a refugee camp and a hospital in Jordan on Wednesday to spotlight organizations that help civilians affected by war and displacement. In Amman, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex met hospitalized children from Gaza and joined World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for a roundtable with WHO regional leaders and humanitarian partners.
People in Mexico fled to online information during unrest after Mexico’s Jalisco New Generation Cartel leader Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as “El Mencho,” was killed, but social media posts depicting a country in chaos spread faster than verified reporting. Mexican officials and a private university said many of the viral claims involved misleading content and images generated by artificial intelligence, including false messages that gunmen had seized an airport and that the president was hiding on a naval vessel.
Protesters gathered in Chania, on the Greek island of Crete, after the U.S. aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford docked at Souda Bay as tensions with Iran escalated. The peaceful rally, backed by the Greek Communist Party, included placards with the word “Killers” in English.
Planned power outages in California, intended to reduce wildfire risk, have forced multiple districts to close schools or lose attendance during winter wind events, according to reporting on Riverside County districts. Officials said delayed or insufficient notice made it hard to prepare, while state funding rules tied to attendance can magnify the financial impact of disruptions.
The first medical evacuation of a space station mission prompted by an astronaut’s illness stemmed from a condition that NASA astronaut Mike Fincke says he experienced last month aboard the International Space Station. Fincke, who is 58, identified himself Wednesday as the crew member whose health required an early departure from the station and a planned spacewalk cancellation.
Vice President JD Vance announced the Trump administration will “temporarily halt” some Medicaid funding to Minnesota over fraud concerns, and said the federal government will hold payment of $259.5 million. Vance said the action is intended to ensure Minnesota “takes its obligations seriously to be good stewards of the American people’s tax money,” and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will review potential fraud in Medicaid and also take steps to target Medicare fraud.
As spring break approaches, security and travel-risk experts urged travelers to assess Mexico destinations carefully after cartel-related violence flared in parts of the country last weekend.
Lawyers for Quakertown high‑school protesters say the 72‑year‑old police chief who joined a scuffle with students in Pennsylvania choked a 15‑year‑old girl, and that the teens acted in self‑defense. The attorneys contend the chief, Scott McElree, entered the confrontation without identifying himself, leading to aggravated‑assault charges that they plan to contest.
Dolly Parton is lending her name to East Tennessee Children’s Hospital, which announced Thursday it will become the Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital. In a video message, Parton said she wants to help when “children and families need it most,” and hospital leaders said the change reflects support aimed at improving pediatric care in the region.
ProPublica journalists and their union are negotiating the first contract in part over how the outlet should use artificial intelligence and what role humans should have, with the union saying it could lead to a strike. The dispute reflects wider industry pressure over AI error reporting, reader disclosure, and protections for jobs as newsrooms adopt tools to draft, summarize, transcribe, and assist reporting.
A New York state judge convicted Brooklyn resident Skiboky Stora of hate crime-related charges for a March 2024 assault on a woman in Manhattan and for other attacks prosecutors described as anti-female, anti-white and antisemitic. Stora, 42, represented himself during a weekslong trial, and his sentencing is scheduled for April 14.
CHICAGO — Mourners filed into a Chicago auditorium Thursday to pay final respects to Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. as cross-country memorial services began in the city he called home. Jackson, 84, will lie in repose for two days at the headquarters of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition before services move to Washington, D.C., and South Carolina.
Instagram said Thursday it will begin notifying parents through its parental supervision program if teens “repeatedly” search for terms clearly associated with suicide or self-harm. The company said it already blocks that content from appearing in teens’ search results and will route the alerts only to parents who are enrolled.
Georgia’s child welfare agency is facing a projected $85.7 million budget shortfall, threatening services that help children reunify with families, supporters and providers said. The state’s Department of Human Services director Candice Broce cited steps taken in November to curb spending after “magnitude” needs outpaced resources.
Texas’ State Board of Education voted to approve changes to the state’s optional, Bible-infused “Bluebonnet” public-school curriculum after teachers and education officials identified thousands of needed updates. Board members said the corrections range from factual and punctuation fixes to changes tied to images’ licensing and copyright.
Women can have heart attacks even when they don’t match the “movie” scenario of crushing chest pain in men, according to cardiologists and the American Heart Association. The guidance emphasizes that symptoms can include shortness of breath, nausea, cold sweats, jaw pain, and lightheadedness—and that people should call 911 if there is “even a chance” a heart attack is happening.
A West Virginia woman was sentenced to up to life in prison Wednesday for the April 2024 death of her teenage daughter, whose severely emaciated body was found at their home and whose case drew scrutiny of the state’s child welfare system. Prosecutors said the 14-year-old daughter had an eating disorder and that her mother, Julie Miller, did not seek medical care for at least four years.
The Vatican announced Pope Leo XIV will travel to Monaco and four African countries—Algeria, Cameroon, Angola and Equatorial Guinea—in the first half of 2026. The schedule runs alongside a string of one-day visits across Italy beginning in May, which the Vatican said will allow the pope to meet Catholics after the 2025 Holy Year ended. The Vatican also confirmed that Leo will skip the United States this year and will instead travel to Italy’s Lampedusa on July 4.
Many adults say social media can be hard to put down, and some researchers and clinicians are studying whether that pattern fits “addiction.” In testimony tied to a social media harms trial in Los Angeles, psychiatrist Dr. Anna Lembke described social platforms as offering “24/7, really limitless, frictionless access.” Experts say the key question for adults is whether the time spent online is affecting work, chores, relationships and mood.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said he does not believe criminal charges are warranted after New York Police Department officers were hit with snowballs during a post-blizzard snowball fight in Washington Square Park. Police department leadership, including Commissioner Jessica Tisch, denounced the incident as “disgraceful” and “criminal,” and the department has circulated images while searching for four people it says hurt officers. The dispute has widened as the mayor and the NYPD take opposing views on how the incident should be handled.
PHOENIX — Pima County officials expanded a no-parking zone around the home of Nancy Guthrie in the Catalina Foothills outside Tucson, citing complaints from neighbors about congested roads, trespassing and trash left by journalists and social media streamers. The restrictions take effect Thursday, with authorities saying news crews and streamers can still access the area but must park elsewhere and be dropped off in the neighborhood.
Federal health officials laid out a proposal Monday to create a new regulatory pathway for customized treatments for patients with rare, hard-to-treat diseases, including certain gene-editing therapies. The FDA said it would take public comments for 60 days before finalizing draft guidance.
Catherine Ngina Musau was elected on Nov. 28 at the Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church’s general assembly in Malindi and will be installed in June, becoming the denomination’s first female presiding bishop, the Associated Press reported Feb. 25. Musau, a 55-year-old Lutheran pastor, cited what she described as God’s timing and said she will prioritize mission, evangelism, spiritual formation and leadership integrity.
In Assisi, Italy, the bones of St. Francis of Assisi went on public display for the first time Sunday, capping an 800-year saga over the friar’s bodily remains. The Franciscans are exhibiting the relics for one month, through March 22, to mark the 800th anniversary of Francis’ death in 1226. Police said extra security measures were in place as pilgrims passed through metal detectors before entering the basilica.
California’s Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program sends hand-drawn birthday cards to babies who have been treated for infant botulism, a rare disease that can be deadly but is now treatable. The program, which mails about 200 cards each year, has included dozens of U.S. babies affected by an outbreak linked to contaminated ByHeart infant formula in recent months, according to the AP.
Researchers with the University of California-Santa Cruz and the University of California-Davis confirmed an avian flu outbreak among elephant seals at Año Nuevo State Park in California, prompting officials to cancel popular seal-watching tours for the rest of the breeding season. The announcement came Wednesday after tests found seven seal pups infected with HPAI H5N1, and additional tests are pending for about 30 more animals. Officials said the virus is considered a low risk to humans, but people should avoid approaching the seals and keep pets away.
Harvard materials scientist Adel Djellouli and colleagues say they have pinpointed what makes basketball sneakers squeak as players slide and cut on hard courts. In a Nature study published Wednesday, the researchers linked the high-pitched squeal to rapid, repeated friction pulses at the shoe’s sole that come from the rubber briefly losing and regaining contact with the floor.
Bill Gates addressed his connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein at a town hall meeting of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation on Tuesday, the foundation said. A spokesperson said Gates “spoke candidly” and “took responsibility for his actions,” as new attention focused on Justice Department documents released last month that include emails, calendars and photos.
Harvard said Larry Summers will resign from teaching at the end of the academic year while the university reviews his ties to Jeffrey Epstein, a convicted sex offender. The announcement followed the release of millions of pages of U.S. Justice Department records reviewed by The Associated Press, which included references to Summers in Epstein-related files.
Bad Bunny wore Pelé’s 1966 World Cup jacket at concerts in Sao Paulo, drawing renewed attention to the football legend’s memorabilia. The jacket had been loaned by collector Cássio Brandão, whose store in Brazil has more than 7,000 soccer items and includes 115 pieces that belonged to Pelé.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., now a top U.S. health official, publicly endorsed a Trump executive order aimed at boosting glyphosate production, a herbicide ingredient he previously criticized for years as an environmental lawyer. In a statement posted Sunday evening, Kennedy called pesticides “toxic by design” but said the order would bring agricultural chemical production back to the United States and reduce reliance on adversarial nations.
Hundreds of Buddhist monks rallied in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Friday to protest what they described as government disrespect toward their religion and disregard for a tradition that clergy be consulted in state affairs. The monks said they would deliver an appeal note to President Anura Kumara Dissanayake, and the protest passed without reported violence.
The FBI searched Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho’s home Wednesday as part of a federal investigation, according to the Associated Press. Agents also served search warrants at LAUSD headquarters and at a location near Miami where Carvalho previously served as superintendent, AP reported.
Laurence des Cars resigned Tuesday as director of the Louvre Museum, the Associated Press reported, citing months of pressure after October’s theft of the French crown jewels and a suspected ticket fraud scheme linked to the museum. French President Emmanuel Macron accepted her resignation, calling it “an act of responsibility” as the museum faces scrutiny over security and day-to-day operations.
A messy “flour war” broke out Monday in the Greek seaside town of Galaxidi, as revelers pelted each other with bags of dyed flour to mark Clean Monday, which begins the Orthodox Lent season. The annual end-of-carnival festivities turned Galaxidi’s main coastal road into a flour-strewn scene, with many residents and visitors watching from balconies.
A coalition of Wisconsin school districts, teachers’ unions and parents filed a lawsuit against the GOP-led state Legislature, arguing the Legislature is failing to fund public schools adequately. The case was filed Monday in Eau Claire County Circuit Court and asks the court to adopt a new school finance system unless lawmakers and Gov. Tony Evers enact one first.
The U.S. Justice Department sued the University of California, Los Angeles, alleging it failed to protect Jewish employees from antisemitic harassment during pro-Palestinian protests in 2023 and 2024. The federal complaint, filed in California, focuses on allegations that UCLA did not discipline people involved in protests that included an encampment and arrests in 2024.
Dolly Parton has lent her name to a Tennessee hospital focused on pediatric care, which said the change is meant to transform treatment for children and families across the state. The East Tennessee Children’s Hospital announced Thursday it will be known as Dolly Parton Children’s Hospital.
A New York state court judge on Wednesday convicted Brooklyn resident Skiboky Stora of hate crime charges tied to a random punch on a woman walking in Manhattan in March 2024, and to other attacks and harassment. Prosecutors said Stora, who represented himself during the trial, committed a series of assaults and targeted incidents between 2023 and 2024. Stora was remanded into custody and sentencing is scheduled for April 14, according to court proceedings reported by The Associated Press.
Instagram said Thursday it will begin alerting parents in cases where teens “repeatedly” search for terms clearly associated with suicide or self-harm. The alerts will go only to parents enrolled in the company’s parental supervision program, and Instagram said it already blocks the content from showing up in teen accounts’ search results while directing people to helplines.
Norway’s King Harald was admitted to a hospital on Spain’s Tenerife on Tuesday during a winter vacation, the royal palace said. Harald, who turned 89 on Saturday, was being treated for an unspecified infection and dehydration, and the palace said he was reported to be in good condition.
PHILADELPHIA—Residents in the Philadelphia-area community of Quakertown are calling for the police chief’s resignation after a scuffle with high school students protesting immigration enforcement policies, including footage showing the police chief grabbing a teenage girl’s neck. Bucks County District Attorney Joe Khan said his office is investigating the incident.
JR, the French street artist known for large-scale public works, plans to transform Paris’ Pont Neuf into a walk-through “cave” this June, AP reported. The temporary installation will cover the bridge’s stone arches with a rocky illusion, include a tunnel-like passage designed for immersive sound, and use phone-based augmented reality, according to JR.
Lawmakers in Hawaii have questioned a proposal by the state’s largest insurer, HMSA, and Hawaii Pacific Health to create a new umbrella organization for “risk-sharing” and “value-based care” that backers say could reduce health costs and premiums. HMSA executives and Hawaii Pacific Health CEO Ray Vara told lawmakers in mid-January that the plan would still let patients choose doctors, while skeptics including doctors and The Queen’s Health Systems said the proposal could worsen access and expand burdens. The proposal, which would combine the insurer and a major hospital company under One Health, also faces federal antitrust review.
In Assisi, Italy, the bones of St. Francis of Assisi are going on public display for the first time, an exhibition expected to draw hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to the hilltop Umbrian town. Assisi Mayor Valter Stoppini said nearly 400,000 people have already registered to pray before the relics, and the total could reach about half a million before the bones return to their tomb on March 22.
A SWAT standoff in Ypsilanti, Michigan, lasting more than 30 hours and involving multiple agencies drew backlash over how law enforcement handles psychiatric crises. Ruben Peeler, 53, was subdued after barricading himself in an apartment bedroom while armed with a katana sword, police said, and has been charged with multiple felonies including assault with a dangerous weapon.
Donald Trump has settled a lawsuit with the estate of Isaac Hayes that accused the president of using the 1966 hit “Hold On, I’m Coming” in campaign videos and events without permission, the Hayes family said Feb. 24. Hayes’ son Isaac Hayes III announced the settlement on X, and the parties did not disclose the terms.
The Louvre Museum's director, Laurence des Cars, resigned Tuesday in the wake of the October theft of French crown jewels valued at €88 million, a brazen daylight robbery that exposed severe security gaps at the Paris institution. President Emmanuel Macron accepted her resignation "as an act of responsibility," according to his office, citing the need for "calm" and major security upgrades as the museum grapples with a suspected ticket fraud scheme and deep operational challenges.
Nearly 6.5 million people in Somalia are facing severe hunger as worsening drought, conflict, and global aid cuts intensify the country's humanitarian crisis, the Somali federal government and United Nations agencies said Tuesday. New data from the Integrated Food Security Phase Classification report shows that 6.5 million people are projected to face crisis or worse levels of food insecurity by the end of March.
Willy Ngoma, a spokesperson and senior officer for the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels, was killed in a predawn drone strike near the mining town of Rubaya in eastern Congo's North Kivu province on Tuesday, according to a United Nations official and a human rights group. The killing escalates tensions in a region already home to one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, after peace negotiations between Congo and the M23 stalled.
More than a dozen states sued the Trump administration on Tuesday over its rollback of childhood vaccine recommendations, calling the move an illegal threat to public health. The states argued that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention put children's lives at risk when it announced in January that it would stop recommending all children be immunized against the flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, some forms of meningitis, and RSV. Under the new guidance, protections against those diseases are now recommended only for certain groups deemed high-risk or when doctors recommend them through what is called "shared decision-making."
Milan’s Archdiocese of Milan and a youth choir held a pop music concert inside Sant’Antonio church days before the Winter Paralympics in Cortina. The concert—performed by about 70 teenagers and adults from the Terzo Tempo choir—used music to promote inclusion, particularly for people with disabilities.
Edward Hoagland, a prize-winning nature and travel writer whose digressive, contemplative essays made readers feel drawn into his journeys, died Feb. 17 at an assisted living facility in Manhattan. He was 93. His daughter, Molly Magid Hoagland, did not disclose a cause.
TED's Audacious Project announced Tuesday that 35 major donor families committed $1.03 billion to fund more than a dozen nonprofits working on homelessness, disease research, global health, and other challenges. The commitment was made in October, but publicly disclosed Tuesday after more than a year of screening and preparation with recipient organizations.
Volunteers scoured the desert near Tucson, Arizona, on Sunday for Nancy Guthrie, the mother of "Today" show host Savannah Guthrie, defying an explicit request from the Pima County Sheriff's Department to stop. Guthrie, 84, has been missing since Jan. 31, and authorities believe she was kidnapped from her home.
President Donald Trump announced Saturday he would send a hospital ship to Greenland, saying many residents are sick and not receiving adequate care. But the claim lacks factual foundation, according to an Associated Press fact-check: both U.S. Navy hospital ships were undergoing maintenance in Alabama at the time of his announcement, and there have been no reports of major illnesses in Greenland.
Meta agreed to purchase artificial intelligence chips from Advanced Micro Devices in a deal potentially worth more than $100 billion, also securing the opportunity to buy up to 10% of AMD's stock. The 6-gigawatt agreement will see initial shipments of the MI450 chips beginning in the second half of 2026.
A massive winter storm struck the northeastern United States on Monday, dumping more than 2 feet of snow across the region and forcing millions of people to stay home under blizzard warnings and road travel bans. The National Weather Service called it a "classic bomb cyclone/nor'easter," the strongest storm in a decade, with wind gusts exceeding 80 miles per hour in some areas. Schools closed across major cities, including New York City, which had its first "old-school" snow day in six years, and more than 5,600 flights were canceled as the storm disrupted transportation along the Eastern Seaboard.
A Utah judge on Tuesday rejected a defense motion to disqualify prosecutors in the case of Tyler Robinson, 22, accused of fatally shooting conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The defense had argued that Deputy Utah County Attorney Chad Grunander posed a conflict of interest because his adult daughter was in the audience when Kirk was shot at an outdoor rally on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem on September 10.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said antisemitism is “a very real problem” in both major U.S. parties, while urging leaders to call it out regardless of political affiliation. In an interview, Shapiro also discussed how he thinks about political violence and threats, tying his response to his Jewish faith.
Students held anti-government demonstrations at universities across Iran's capital on Monday, according to witnesses and verified videos, expressing support for the exiled crown prince while U.S. military forces gathered in the Middle East amid nuclear tensions. The demonstrations featured displays of pre-revolutionary symbols and chants calling for the overthrow of Iran's government.
The Education Department announced new agreements transferring grant programs to the Health and Human Services Department and the State Department, the latest step in the Trump administration's strategy to reshape federal education policy through the redistribution of functions to other agencies. Education Secretary Linda McMahon framed the moves as progress toward the administration's stated goal of reducing the department's role.
A severe winter snowstorm across the northeastern United States, violence following a powerful cartel leader's killing in Mexico, and a partial government shutdown converged Monday to disrupt air travel, with airlines canceling more than 5,600 flights. The overlapping crises cascaded through ground transportation networks and complicated border operations.
MILAN — Days ahead of the Winter Paralympics, a choir from northern Italy performed a pop music concert inside Milan’s Sant’Antonio church, urging harmony and inclusion, including for people with disabilities. The Terzo Tempo choir staged the Feb. 18 performance titled “Like Yeast in the Dough,” as part of the Archdiocese of Milan’s push to tie Olympic and Paralympic attention to Christian values.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro told attendees of BBYO, the Jewish youth group conference, that he leans on his Jewish faith as antisemitism and conflict over Israel continue. In an interview with The Associated Press, Shapiro said antisemitism is “a very real problem” across political parties and that his family faces new incidents on a regular basis.
A developer has proposed a 148-unit housing project for Kōloa, a historic rural town on Kauai's South Shore, sparking a community debate over local affordability and preservation. The Kauai Planning Commission is set to hear the proposal again on Tuesday after requesting more community outreach. Residents and community groups remain divided over whether the project will help locals struggling with housing costs or damage the town's character.
The sculptures are made from items found around any home: bread, Q-Tips, thread, soap, dental floss, floor wax, coffee. With pencils, pastels, glue and other supplies, incarcerated artists across Connecticut have fashioned these household materials into sculptures of the devil, the grim reaper, a castle and Garfield the cat. The artworks are on display at Eastern Connecticut State University's art gallery as part of the Prison Arts Program's annual exhibition, running through Feb. 28.
Nearly 20 Vermont communities will seek voter approval this March for local option taxes on sales, meals, rooms and alcohol, expanding a strategy that municipalities across the state have adopted to shore up budgets without raising property taxes.
Vermont's Fish and Wildlife Department is reducing moose hunting permits by more than half this year, from nearly 180 to 85, in response to a parasite outbreak that kills calves and weakens adults. The cuts are concentrated in the Northeast Kingdom, where winter ticks—which can infest a single moose by the tens of thousands—have become a serious threat. As climate change shortens Vermont's winters, ticks have gained a longer window to attach to moose in fall and survive through spring, intensifying their ecological impact.
The body of Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., a civil rights leader who died last week, will lie in state Monday at the South Carolina Statehouse, Gov. Henry McMaster announced. Jackson, 84, died Feb. 17 after battling a rare neurological disorder that impaired his movement and speech.
Six planets will line up in the night sky at the end of February, with four visible to the naked eye if skies are clear. Mercury, Venus, Jupiter and Saturn can be spotted from the ground, while Uranus and Neptune require binoculars or telescopes, according to NASA.
Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Friday that California will allocate $35 million in state funding to help immigrant families facing the Trump administration's deportation efforts. The money, set aside by the state Legislature in the budget, will connect immigrant families with food assistance, legal services, and other basic needs, according to Kim Johnson, secretary of the California Health and Human Services Agency.
A white family suing Kamehameha Schools over its Native Hawaiian admissions policy is seeking to keep their identities hidden throughout the lawsuit, citing online death threats and fears that public identification could damage their careers and educational prospects. The request comes as the case has generated intense backlash, with threats of violence directed at the lead attorney and the nonprofit organization backing the suit.
The Mexican army killed Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, alias El Mencho, on February 23 during an operation in Tapalpa, Jalisco, Defense Secretary Ricardo Trevilla said. The death of the leader of the Jalisco Cartel Nueva Generación—Mexico's fastest-growing drug trafficking organization and one of the world's largest fentanilo suppliers—triggered immediate and widespread cartel retaliation across the country, with hundreds of highway blockades, arson attacks, and assaults on authorities.
The Dominican Republic experienced a country-wide blackout Monday, the second such outage in three months, when its main power plants abruptly stopped supplying energy before noon. By mid-afternoon, the system was operating at nearly 30% of its capacity, according to the state-owned Dominican Electricity Transmission Company.
Ghana's President John Dramani Mahama faced online mockery in early February after wearing a traditional fugu smock during a visit to Zambia. Rather than dismiss the criticism, Ghanaians rallied to defend the garment as an important part of their cultural heritage, prompting their Tourism Minister to declare Wednesdays as "Fugu Day" on February 10.
A notorious camp in Syria that housed tens of thousands of women and children with alleged links to the Islamic State group has been emptied, with its final residents transferred over recent weeks, according to Syrian officials. Fadi al-Qassem, the Syrian Foreign Ministry representative for the al-Hol camp administration, said the final convoy departed the remote facility in northeastern Syria on Sunday morning.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, in an interview published Monday, said antisemitism is “a very real problem” in both the Democratic and Republican parties and urged leaders to call it out regardless of political side. Speaking to Associated Press reporter Steve Peoples, Shapiro also described how the April 13, 2025, attack on his home left him with “emotional scars” and said he has faced rising threats tied to his faith.
A 21-year-old gay woman from Morocco was deported to Cameroon in February 2026 despite an explicit protection order from a U.S. immigration judge. Farah, identified by first name only for her safety, said she was handcuffed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents three days before a scheduled hearing on her release and flown to a country where homosexuality is illegal and punishable by up to three years in prison.
New Mexico lawmakers have approved an investigation into forced and coerced sterilizations of Native American women in the 1970s and how the practice has continued to affect families, according to a measure passed this week. The investigation will be carried out by the state Indian Affairs Department and the Commission on the Status of Women, with findings expected for the governor by the end of 2027.
In a speech to Jewish teen leaders at BBYO in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he leans on his faith as antisemitism rises and the Israel-Hamas war divides politics in the United States. Shapiro, who observes Shabbat and keeps kosher, also described dealing with new incidents of antisemitism and said he will not “live in fear” or “back down.”
The Department of Homeland Security suspended the Global Entry program on Sunday as a partial government shutdown that began Feb. 14 entered its second week. The agency initially announced suspension of both Global Entry and TSA PreCheck but reversed the PreCheck closure hours later, keeping the security-line program operational. Global Entry, which allows pre-approved, low-risk travelers to use expedited kiosks when entering the United States from abroad, is used by millions of Americans.
President Trump announced he would deploy a hospital ship to Greenland on Saturday, alleging that many people in the Arctic territory are sick and not receiving adequate care. But Greenland's prime minister and Denmark's government swiftly rejected the offer, saying the region already has a functioning public healthcare system that provides free treatment to all citizens.
Mario Gargiulo returned to the Winter Olympics on Sunday evening in Verona, Italy, 70 years after his first trip to the Games at age 20. The 89-year-old took the stage of the Milan-Cortina 2026 closing ceremony as the Games' oldest volunteer, a starring role that brought him to center stage as thousands of volunteers danced to form the numbers "26." "To be part of it is incredible," he told the Associated Press on Sunday morning. "It's beyond imagination."
Muslim worshippers are observing Ramadan in Italy's two Olympic host cities this month, with markedly different experiences between Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo. Milan's Al-Wahid mosque is welcoming people of all faiths to share iftar dinners during the holy month, coinciding with the 2026 Winter Games. In Cortina, Muslim residents and visitors say finding prayer spaces is nearly impossible, with the nearest mosque more than an hour away.
Eric Dane, known for roles on “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria,” died this week at age 53 from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called ALS or Lou Gehrig’s disease. ALS is a rare, progressive nervous-system condition that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord.
The Department of Homeland Security has secretly purchased at least seven warehouses across Arizona, Georgia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Texas for immigration detention centers, spending $122.8 million on a single 826,000-square-foot facility in Socorro, Texas. Local officials say they learned about the purchases only after deed filings or news reports — with no federal notification before the deals closed.
Cuba’s debilitated health care system is being pushed toward collapse because the United States is blocking the island’s oil supply, Cuba’s health minister said Feb. 20. José Ángel Portal Miranda said ambulances have struggled to find fuel, hospitals have faced persistent power outages, and flights carrying vital supplies have been suspended as Cuba says it cannot refuel aircraft.
The Islamic State group released an audio message late Saturday calling Syria's interim president Ahmad al-Sharaa a "puppet without a soul" controlled by Western countries and urging followers to attack Jewish and Western targets. The message, attributed to ISIS spokesman Abu Huzaifa al-Ansari, marks the group's first audio released in months. The statement reflects the deepening rift between the extremist organization and Syria's new government, which took power after rebel forces led by al-Sharaa's Hayat Tahrir al-Sham removed longtime president Bashar Assad in December 2024.
JPMorgan Chase acknowledged for the first time in writing that it closed President Donald Trump's bank accounts in February 2021, according to a court filing submitted this week in his ongoing lawsuit against the bank and its leader, Jamie Dimon. Trump is seeking $5 billion, alleging the closures were motivated by political retaliation for his role in the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack.
New Mexico legislators have approved an investigation into forced and coerced sterilizations of Native American women tied to the U.S. Indian Health Service, with findings due to the governor by the end of 2027. The effort will be led by the state Indian Affairs Department and the Commission on the Status of Women, after a history that advocates say has left lasting harm for generations. The AP’s Savannah Peters reports.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration plans to drop its long-standing requirement that new drugs and other novel health products prove their benefits with two rigorous studies, opting instead for a “default position” of one study going forward. FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary and Dr. Vinay Prasad, a top deputy, laid out the change in a Wednesday New England Journal of Medicine piece aimed at speeding access to some medical products.
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A ransomware attack forced the University of Mississippi Medical Center to close all of its roughly three dozen clinics across the state and cancel elective procedures for a second day, officials said. University leaders said the shutdown could last days as they assess the scope of the breach and restore network systems they took down as a precaution.
Upscale Chinese American restaurants are pitching high-end tasting menus and open-kitchen technique to challenge a long-running view that Chinese food should be cheap. In San Francisco and New York, chefs and owners said they are trying to persuade diners that Chinese cuisine and the work behind it belong in the same fine-dining conversation as French and Japanese offerings.
Catholics in the United States are returning to confession during the Lenten season with a renewed focus on grace, priests say, as churches prepare for longer lines and more talk about mercy. The sacrament, long practiced as a routine step for Catholics seeking forgiveness and Communion, has shifted over decades from memorized lists of sins toward conversations aimed at God’s love.
Bad Bunny made his first-ever appearances in Brazil this week, with sold-out concerts in Sao Paulo on Friday and Saturday, according to the Associated Press. The Puerto Rican superstar, who has been a global chart-topper, is drawing demand in a market that previously favored Brazilian artists. Fans and music specialists said the momentum that followed his Grammy-winning “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” and his Super Bowl halftime show has helped widen his audience in the country.
A U.S. appeals court Friday cleared the way for Louisiana to require poster-sized displays of the Ten Commandments in public school classrooms, voting 12-6 to lift a lower court's 2024 block on the law. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said it did not have enough factual information about how schools would implement the requirement to determine constitutional issues before allowing it to take effect. The court noted that details remained unclear, including how prominently schools would display the religious text, whether teachers would reference it during lessons, or whether other historical documents would accompany it.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has purchased warehouses in more than 20 towns across the United States as part of a $45 billion expansion of detention capacity. In many cases, local officials were not notified until after deals were completed. Some warehouse owners have refused to finalize sales after learning of ICE's intended use.
In Budapest, Neverland Pizzeria is inviting diners to experience what pizza-like food might have tasted like in ancient Rome, using only ingredients available to Romans two millennia ago. Founder József Zara and head chef Gergely Bárdossy created the limited-edition flatbread without tomatoes, mozzarella or any ingredients from the Americas—products unknown in Europe until centuries after the Roman Empire.
Assemblymember Dawn Addis, a San Luis Obispo Democrat, is carrying Assembly Bill 1159 to strengthen privacy protections for California students' data as technology companies increasingly collect information through school sports apps, learning platforms, and other services. The bill would restrict how artificial intelligence companies use student data and create new protections for college students.
The Trump administration’s revocation of a scientific finding that climate change endangers public health is likely to hit communities of color and low-income areas hardest, public health experts said. In Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley,” where residents live near extensive fossil fuel and petrochemical facilities, residents and advocates said the change could mean more illness and higher death rates, with lawsuits challenging the rollback filed in federal court.
The University of Texas System’s Board of Regents unanimously approved a rule Thursday requiring the system’s universities to help ensure students can graduate without studying “unnecessarily controversial subjects.” The policy also requires faculty to disclose planned course topics in syllabi and says instructors must use a “broad and balanced approach” when courses include controversial issues.
South Carolina lawmakers are moving to limit public access to information about payments made to college athletes, following a Senate vote that sets up final action before the state’s 2026 legislative session ends in May. The proposal would keep details of Name, Image and Likeness deals and other payment terms from going into public records, supporters said, while opponents argued it would deprive athletes and the public of transparency. The issue has spread to multiple states as the NCAA has not adopted nationwide rules on what can be disclosed.
President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace held its inaugural meeting in Washington, where FIFA President Gianni Infantino promised to help rebuild Gaza with a $50 million soccer stadium. The pledge came alongside other pledges for a Gaza relief package, as nine governments announced $7 billion and five said they would deploy troops for an international stabilization force.
Alaska plans to replace the Black Veterans Memorial Bridge over the Gerstle River near Delta Junction with a new span that will open in 2031, state officials said. The state will keep two of the bridge’s nine trestles in place as a refashioned memorial while offering seven trestles for free to be maintained elsewhere, with proposals due March 6.
Congressional Democrats urged the Census Bureau to remove a citizenship question from a 2026 practice test that would use the American Community Survey, warning it could deter immigrants from participating. The on-the-ground tests in Huntsville, Alabama, and Spartanburg, South Carolina, are scheduled to begin next month, congressional Democrats said.
The iconic Indian banyan tree that survived the devastating August 2023 Maui wildfire is showing deeper damage than initially apparent, with arborists discovering fungus and beetle infestations beneath its scorched bark. County officials are planning an extensive assessment to determine when Lahaina Banyan Court Park might reopen to the public, with reopening possible by the end of the year if the tree is healthy enough.
Colleges and universities across the U.S. have cut ties with the nonprofit The PhD Project after the U.S. Department of Education opened a civil-rights investigation, the department’s Office for Civil Rights said Thursday. The department said the nonprofit “unlawfully limits eligibility based on the race of participants” and that institutions partnering with it violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development on Thursday proposed a rule that would limit HUD-funded public housing to citizens and eligible noncitizens, requiring residents to show proof of citizenship or eligibility. Housing advocates warned the proposal could lead to tens of thousands of evictions, including for mixed-status families where some household members are eligible.
The Trump administration said Friday it backs a 10-year deadline for replacing lead pipes across the country, supporting one of the strongest drinking water standards in three decades. The Environmental Protection Agency told a federal appeals court it will defend the strict rule against a legal challenge by a utility industry association.
A U.S. appeals court on Friday allowed the Trump administration to halt work on a slavery exhibit at Philadelphia's President's House on Independence Mall, blocking implementation of a lower court order to restore it. The decision pauses a disputed effort to display information about slavery during the founding era as the city prepares for the nation's 250th anniversary.
Speaker Mike Johnson's office has denied a request from the family of the late Rev. Jesse Jackson to have his remains lie in honor in the United States Capitol Rotunda, citing precedent that the space is typically reserved for former presidents, military members and select officials. Jackson, the pioneering civil rights leader whose two presidential campaigns transformed American politics for generations, died this week at age 84.
Madison, Wisconsin lawmakers on Thursday passed a bill expanding Medicaid coverage for new mothers for up to a year after giving birth, setting up Democratic Gov. Tony Evers to sign it next week. The bill would leave Arkansas as the only state not to offer expanded postpartum Medicaid benefits.
New Mexico lawmakers have approved a universal child care program that aims to fully cover the cost of child care for working families across income levels, Republican opponents and budget concerns notwithstanding. The plan, announced under Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, leaves lawmakers room to use copayments if finances deteriorate.
Women’s sports media outlets are expanding rapidly as the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics put more attention on athletes competing in sports long covered less heavily. Christine Brennan, Sarah Spain, and others described how newer outlets and women-led coverage are changing what gets reported and how audiences find it.
New Mexico lawmakers approved a measure this week to investigate forced and coerced sterilizations of Native American women by the Indian Health Service and other providers. The state Indian Affairs Department and the Commission on the Status of Women are expected to deliver findings to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham by the end of 2027.
California’s parole board is using drug test results from medication-assisted treatment in ways doctors and state-appointed attorneys say conflict with medical policies and may discourage incarcerated people from getting help, according to records reviewed by CalMatters and distributed by The Associated Press. Physicians and lawyers said the tests can produce false positives and that, when results are treated as decisive, some people fear a mistake could cost them their freedom.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has sued a Coca-Cola bottler in New Hampshire court, alleging sex discrimination after the company excluded men from a company-sponsored networking trip for women at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. The agency, which says it tried and failed to reach a conciliation agreement, filed the case on behalf of a male employee and seeks monetary compensation for a class of men. Coca-Cola Northeast disputes the EEOC’s account and says it looks forward to presenting its case in court.
Organizers for the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics say they plan to power venues with clean electricity and use certified renewable sources for the Games’ demand, including when temporary power is needed. Italy’s Enel will supply 85 gigawatt-hours, with the organizing committee describing the effort as a way to push sustainability practices across major events.
Discarded household batteries leak heavy metals like cadmium and nickel into soil and water when they reach landfills. Some can also overheat and cause fires in garbage trucks and recycling centers. Safely disposing of batteries takes just a few steps, and their materials can be recycled into new products, experts say.
Lead was detected in seven of ten homes tested on a single block of New Orleans' Upper Ninth Ward, according to a water quality investigation by Verite News and the Associated Press. Testing data from the Sewerage and Water Board of New Orleans shows that 70 percent of more than 1,100 households tested between 2022 and 2025 contained lead in their drinking water. The water utility predicts that between 50 percent and 60 percent of its 150,000 service lines will eventually require replacement to address the contamination.
Vivian Tu, who has 10 million social media followers, shares practical advice on managing money and relationships. Tu, recently appointed chief of financial empowerment at fintech platform SoFi, has built her following through her 'Your Rich BFF' account and other platforms, offering straightforward guidance on salary negotiation, credit card debt, and other financial challenges. Her approach is grounded in her background as the daughter of Chinese immigrants and a former JPMorgan trader.
The University of Michigan Board of Regents voted Thursday to approve a 64-bed behavioral health hospital and a freestanding surgical center at its Lansing hospital, in projects totaling nearly $150 million. The approvals mark among the first major capital initiatives since U-M took over the health system in 2023 with a commitment to invest $800 million.
A majority of Vermont's public school students are falling short of state proficiency goals in math and English language arts, according to the Vermont State Report Card released Thursday. The report, the state education agency's annual assessment of student and school performance, found fewer than 60% of students in every grade level meet proficiency standards in ELA, while fewer than 50% are proficient in math.
Daniel Blank posted $15,000 bail and was released from a Maryland jail Friday, according to court documents. Blank is a member of a group known as the Zizians that law enforcement has linked to six deaths across California, Pennsylvania and Vermont. His release comes with conditions that he must live alone and submit to GPS tracking.
Melania Trump donated her white and black-trimmed inaugural ball gown to the Smithsonian Institution's National Museum of American History on Friday, continuing a longstanding tradition of first ladies preserving their formal wear for the public record. The strapless sheath gown, designed by Herve Pierre and paired with a reproduction Harry Winston diamond brooch, joins the museum's First Ladies Collection.
Trials are now underway against Meta, YouTube and other social media platforms over allegations that they deliberately designed addictive features and failed to protect children from sexual predators and harmful content. The lawsuits, filed in Los Angeles, New Mexico and other jurisdictions, represent the largest legal reckoning yet with the tech industry over its effects on minors' mental health — a comparison plaintiffs draw to tobacco and opioid litigation. Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg testified in the Los Angeles trial on Wednesday.
At a school in Guatemala's western highlands, children clapped and sang along Thursday as singer-songwriter Sara Curruchich performed in Kaqchikel, one of 22 Mayan languages spoken in the country. Ninety-seven percent of the school's more than 250 students in San Jose Poaquil speak the language. The event in advance of International Mother Language Day on Saturday featured a Kaqchikel translation of a children's book aimed at promoting language preservation.
The Trump administration’s revocation of a scientific finding that links climate change to public health dangers is likely to affect communities of color the most, public health experts say. In Louisiana’s “Cancer Alley,” residents and advocates argue that the loss of federal protections could mean more illness and death from air pollution. On Wednesday, a coalition of health and environmental groups sued the EPA over the revocation.
The Diocese of Camden in New Jersey agreed to a $180 million settlement to resolve allegations of clergy sexual abuse, the bishop of the diocese announced in a letter. Bishop Joseph Williams said the deal was “long overdue” for survivors in South Jersey, and the diocese said the agreement still requires approval by a bankruptcy court.
The federal Transportation Department said more than 550 commercial driving schools must close after investigators found they hired unqualified instructors, failed to adequately test students and had other safety problems. The department said the decision follows 1,426 site visits completed in December and is intended to improve safety in the trucking industry.
The University of Texas System’s Board of Regents on Thursday unanimously approved a rule aimed at ensuring students can graduate without studying “unnecessary controversial subjects.” The policy would require faculty to list in syllabi which topics they plan to cover, and it calls for instructors to use a “broad and balanced approach” when courses address controversial issues.
Democrats on the House Committee on Oversight urged the Census Bureau to remove a citizenship question from a 2026 practice test, warning it could deter immigrants from participating. The on-the-ground tests in Huntsville, Alabama, and Spartanburg, South Carolina, are scheduled to begin next month.
National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya will temporarily serve as acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, an administration official said Wednesday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the appointment had not been announced publicly.
More than 63 million Americans provide care for an adult family member while holding paid jobs, and employers are increasingly responding with paid time off to help workers balance both responsibilities. As the U.S. population ages, companies and organizations are expanding benefits that once were rare, offering workers paid leave for caregiving alongside options like flexible scheduling and care-concierge services.
Norman C. Francis, a civil rights pioneer who led Louisiana’s recovery efforts after Hurricane Katrina and spent nearly five decades as president of Xavier University in New Orleans, died Wednesday. He was 94.
The Trump administration said it pressured universities to end partnerships with The PhD Project, a nonprofit that helps racial minorities earn doctorate degrees. The U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights said 31 universities agreed to end partnerships after an investigation opened in March 2025, with negotiations continuing with 14 more schools. The department said the group “unlawfully limits eligibility based on the race of participants,” citing Title VI of the Civil Rights Act.
A federal judge in Philadelphia set a Friday deadline for the Trump administration to restore an exhibit on nine people enslaved by George Washington at his former home on Independence Mall. Senior U.S. District Judge Cynthia Rufe issued the deadline Wednesday while the Justice Department appealed her order restoring the exhibit.
South Carolina lawmakers advanced a bill that would keep the amounts paid to college athletes and teams under name, image and likeness, as well as related payments, out of public records. At the Statehouse, senators debated the measure amid calls for the NCAA to set national rules and concerns raised in a lawsuit that prompted the state’s faster timeline.
Women in Wisconsin will soon be eligible for expanded Medicaid coverage for up to a year after giving birth after near-unanimous passage of a measure by the Wisconsin Assembly on Thursday, according to the Associated Press. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers is expected to sign the bill next week, which would leave Arkansas as the only state without expanded postpartum Medicaid coverage for new mothers.
Italy’s Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics organizers and power provider Enel said the Games will rely on clean electricity, backed by renewable-energy “guarantee of origin” certificates and a plan for rare backup power. The effort is part of a broader sustainability push that organizers say must also confront emissions from travel by athletes and spectators.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission sued Coca-Cola Beverages Northeast on Tuesday, alleging the regional bottler excluded men from a company-sponsored networking trip for about 250 women at Mohegan Sun in Connecticut. The lawsuit, filed in federal court in New Hampshire, says the bottler’s approach violated Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964.
California’s parole board uses drug-test results from the state’s medication-assisted treatment program in decisions on whether to release incarcerated people, a group of prison physicians and state-appointed attorneys say. They warn the tests can produce false positives and that those errors are undermining participation in life-saving addiction treatment and contributing to more denials of parole. The concerns come as California tries to reverse a rise in fatal overdoses among the people it serves.
President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace held its first meeting in Washington on Thursday, where FIFA President Gianni Infantino pledged $50 million for a new soccer stadium for the Gaza Strip. The announcement came alongside other pledges toward a Gaza relief package, including governments promising $7 billion and five others saying they would deploy troops for an international stabilization force.
LAS VEGAS — A Las Vegas-area rescue group is trying to catch a toucan named Sam after the bird escaped its owner in November and survived for months in the desert. The group says the toucan has been spotted at limited locations, including about 50 feet (15 meters) up in a palm tree, while bird experts warn Las Vegas conditions and the bird’s likely diet could be taking a toll.
New Mexico lawmakers have enshrined a universal child care program into law, following through on promises by Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to offer free child care to families of all income levels. State officials said the program includes guardrails meant to protect public finances as legislators expand eligibility to thousands more children.
Zambia’s former President Edgar Lungu died June 5, 2025, but his remains have remained unburied for more than eight months, according to the Associated Press. The dispute centers on competing wishes between Lungu’s family and his successor, President Hakainde Hichilema, over whether Hichilema should attend or be involved in the burial. Courts in Zambia have repeatedly sided with authorities seeking to carry out funeral plans.
Edmunds says it has selected its 2026 Top Rated winners across car, SUV and truck categories, including electric versions, based on what it describes as independent testing at its test track and evaluation over real-world miles. The awards name the Honda Civic Hybrid as top car, the Tesla Model 3 as top electric car, the Hyundai Palisade Hybrid as top SUV and the Hyundai Ioniq 5 as top electric SUV, among other winners. Edmunds’ 2026 Top Rated truck pick is the Ford Maverick, while the top electric truck is the Rivian R1T.
Nevada’s Division of Insurance report says at least 16 insurers operating in the state likely violated the federal mental health and addiction parity law in 2024 by treating mental health and substance-use coverage differently from medical care. The report flags practices including higher claim denials for mental health, requiring prior approval for benefits not listed that way publicly, and offering less robust mental-health provider networks.
In Chicago, adult children of the late Rev. Jesse L. Jackson Sr. held an emotional tribute Wednesday, a day after his death. The family said Jackson, who was battling a rare neurological disorder, will be honored next week with services at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition and at a South Side church.
Ghana has launched an investigation into a man believed to be Russian accused of secretly recording sexual encounters with women and publishing the videos online without their consent, authorities said Feb. 18.
Moderna said the Food and Drug Administration will reconsider its application for a new mRNA flu vaccine after a public dispute between the two agencies. The FDA’s decision, expected by Aug. 5, follows a “refusal to file” letter that blocked the company’s first-of-its-kind shot.
Kalamata, Greece, has won international recognition for a new public mural that reimagines opera singer Maria Callas as an allegory for the southern port city. The artwork was named 2025’s “Best Mural of the World” by Street Art Cities, according to the city and the artist.
Rev. Jesse Jackson, whose 1988 presidential campaign energized generations of activists and political leaders, died Tuesday at 84, the Associated Press reported. The Rev. Jesse Jackson announced his second White House bid in 1988 in Pittsburgh, framing it as a chance for the country to realize its “highest ideals.” In tributes, current and former political figures recalled how Jackson’s message of equality and justice influenced their organizing and leadership.
NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge said a spring fraud trial for Cleveland Guardians pitchers Emmanuel Clase and Luis Ortiz accused of colluding with sports bettors to rig bets will likely be postponed until October. The men pleaded not guilty Wednesday in Brooklyn federal court to a rewritten indictment. Judge Kiyo A. Matsumoto left a May 4 trial date in place for now but indicated she would likely move it to the fall.
Leila Shahid, the first female Palestinian ambassador, has died in France at age 76, the Associated Press reported. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas praised her in a statement carried by WAFA, saying she was “a model of diplomacy committed to the values of freedom, justice and peace.”
The Camden, N.J., Catholic diocese has agreed to pay $180 million in a clergy sexual abuse settlement, with the deal requiring approval by a bankruptcy court, the Associated Press reported. AP said the diocese had fought for years against a state grand jury investigation before relenting last year, and that it filed for bankruptcy after a wave of lawsuits that followed the relaxation of the statute of limitations. The AP also compiled examples of other large Catholic clergy abuse settlements reached in the U.S.
Mayor Zohran Mamdani said New York City will resume clearing makeshift homeless encampments, days after he paused the prior administration’s sweeps. He said the new approach would be led by the city’s homeless services department, with sustained outreach before encampments are dismantled.
Los Angeles-area senior centers are adapting to grow-demand as more Californians live longer, healthier lives, a tour of several centers found. Programs ranged from small, neighborhood-focused spaces in parts of the city to larger, well-resourced hubs, but organizers said the centers consistently offer older adults a place to socialize and find support.
Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center canceled a scheduled Jan. 26 talk by an OB-GYN author focused on medical and ethical considerations surrounding later-pregnancy abortions, university officials said. The cancellation followed public pressure from anti-abortion activists and Turning Point USA-linked students, while abortion-rights advocates disputed the claim that hosting the event would be illegal on a public campus.
The share of U.S. births to women who began prenatal care in the first trimester dropped from 78.3 percent in 2021 to 75.5 percent in 2024, according to data released Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The decline reverses steady improvements that had occurred between 2016 and 2021.
Philadelphia-based mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar, known for creating mirrored dreamscapes on buildings across the city, died Thursday at his home of complications from heart failure and Parkinson's disease, according to Magic Gardens, a nonprofit art center he founded. He was 86.
NASA successfully pumped more than 700,000 gallons of supercold fuel into its giant Space Launch System rocket Thursday, achieving minimal hydrogen leakage in a critical test that removes a major hurdle for a March lunar launch. The test at Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, determines whether four astronauts can depart for the moon as early as March 6, marking the first crewed lunar journey since Apollo 17 in 1972.
Across Iran this week, Iranians are gathering for 40-day memorial ceremonies known as "chehelom"—a traditional religious observance that has taken on political dimensions—to honor thousands killed in what Human Rights Activists News Agency says was the deadliest crackdown in the Islamic Republic's 47-year history. The ceremonies mark 40 days since January 8 and 9, the deadliest days of the government's response to nationwide protests. Iran's government said in January that 3,117 people were killed; Human Rights Activists News Agency has counted more than 7,000 dead and believes the toll is far higher.
At Rare Gem Talent School in Kitengela, Kenya, teachers use hands-on lessons focused on sights, sounds, and feelings designed specifically for students with dyslexia, rather than standing lectures. The school is one of a handful in Kenya tailored to children with dyslexia and other learning challenges, addressing a significant gap in an education system that has expanded access broadly but often left behind students with disabilities.
Michigan lawmakers scheduled a Feb. 27 hearing on a $1.1 million, 300-page report about tribal boarding schools in the state that was completed in September but never released. The report, first reported by Bridge Michigan and distributed through The Associated Press, recommended an apology for Michigan’s role in deaths and abuse of Native American children. Rep. Tom Kuhn, R-Troy, said the state spent more than $1 million and then “threw the report in the garbage can,” while the Department of Civil Rights has declined to testify.
Michigan’s 2024 law requires schools to develop cardiac emergency response plans, but the current state education budget’s school safety fund includes no dedicated money for implementation. Officials and advocates say that leaves districts to rely on local capacity to train staff, buy equipment such as automated external defibrillators, and run drills—leaving uneven preparedness across the state.
The Hawaii Senate Education Committee advanced a proposed pilot program that would have fifth-graders at select schools research, write and publish their own books as part of literacy instruction. The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Donna Kim, who said she wants to bring a project-based model she saw on Kaua‘i to Kalihi Waena Elementary and other communities.
Bayer and attorneys for cancer patients announced a proposed $7.25 billion settlement on Tuesday to resolve thousands of U.S. lawsuits accusing the company of failing to warn that Roundup could cause cancer. The deal would require court approval and is not expected to affect a separate case now set for the U.S. Supreme Court.
Palestinians in Gaza are preparing for Ramadan under a fragile ceasefire deal but say daily hardships and losses from the Israel-Hamas war have blunted the month’s customary sense of celebration, including in crowded and damaged areas such as Gaza City and Khan Younis. “There is no joy after we lost our family and loved ones,” Gaza City resident Fedaa Ayyad said.
A Palestinian family displaced in Gaza marked the first day of Ramadan on Wednesday under a fragile ceasefire, gathering meals from a charity kitchen instead of celebrating with the food and family gatherings that traditionally define the month. Waleed al Zamli, a father of 11 now sheltering in a tent camp in Muwasi, said the loss of his home, his job, and a family member to the conflict have stripped the religious observance of joy. "This year, there's no happiness," he said.
Trinidad and Tobago’s annual carnival reached its climax Tuesday as the country’s creative community tried to keep the celebrations affordable for residents squeezed by higher prices. The Associated Press reported that ticket costs for premium events were nearing $700 and costumes for some masquerade bands topped $2,000, prompting community-led efforts such as free lessons and free performances. Organizers and residents said the pressure is leaving some families unable to take part in the street festivities that draw tens of thousands of people.
Hawaii corrections officials are asking lawmakers for more than $2.6 million to expand mental health services in state prisons and jails, after state oversight data and public records showed suicides accounted for more than half of deaths at the state’s largest prison over the past two years. DCR Director Tommy Johnson said the department also plans pilots that include a suicide-risk assessment tool and electronic monitoring for people identified as high risk.
The State Law Enforcement Division said a man has been charged with murder after a marijuana deal inside a dorm room at South Carolina State University led to a shooting that killed two people and hurt another, officials said. The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Khamanti Lytrel Kennedy, was arraigned in Orangeburg County and denied bond, according to court records. The university said it has tightened security measures and is seeking additional funding for upgrades.
As Ramadan begins, nutrition experts say many people can fast safely with planning and attention to hydration and overall nutrition. They recommend a fuel-focused pre-dawn meal and moderation at iftar, while advising exemptions for children, older adults, pregnant people, and people with certain medical conditions.
Pat Burgener, the Brazilian snowboarder who competes for Switzerland, performed music live for Brazil House in Milan during the Winter Olympics. The 31-year-old, who plays multiple instruments, said music helps him focus and describes his Olympic exit in Livigno as a mix of happiness and sadness.
New Orleans marked Mardi Gras — the culmination of Carnival season and the day before Ash Wednesday — with a parade that drew revelers to wrought-iron balconies along St. Charles Avenue. People lined the route and watched marching bands and floats while donning green, gold and purple costumes, then continued celebrations across the city.
The Rev. Jesse L. Jackson, a decadeslong civil rights leader and two-time Democratic presidential candidate, died Tuesday at age 84, his family said. Jackson had spent his life advocating for voting rights and economic opportunity through organizations including Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, and he continued public activism even as neurological illness affected his speech and movement.
Rev. Jesse Jackson, who died Tuesday at 84, helped push widespread use of the term “African American” as a way to reclaim cultural identity. In the late 1980s, he and NAACP members and other movement leaders urged people to replace “colored” and “blacks” with wording they said better reflected the community’s ancestral roots.
AI tools are increasingly being adopted in India’s farming and coaching education sectors, as the country hosts a major AI summit in New Delhi this week. In northern India’s Karnal, farmer Bir Virk uses an automated tractor to harvest potatoes, while in New Delhi educator Swetank Pandey’s team uses AI to grade handwritten civil-services exam papers and draft study material.
Elevate Prize winners announced Tuesday will receive $300,000 each in unrestricted funding plus organizational support, as the foundation looks to boost leaders’ public profiles. Among this year’s 10 winners is Mónica Ramírez, whose Justice for Migrant Women is based in Fremont, Ohio.
Lunar New Year celebrations ushered in the Year of the Horse on Tuesday, with traditional prayers, fireworks and street festivities held across parts of Asia and beyond, including in Beijing, Hong Kong and Taiwan. The holiday also appeared on China’s television stage, where humanoid robots took part in the CCTV Spring Festival gala, alongside performances and scenes of visitors drawing incense and making wishes.
Gov. Gavin Newsom’s expansion of California’s free transitional kindergarten grade has helped some families cut child care costs, supporters and parents say. But private preschool operators interviewed by CalMatters, distributed by The Associated Press, say the shift has strained thin margins and contributed to closures in some counties.
The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a civil-rights leader and longtime advocate for voting rights and economic justice, died Tuesday at age 84, the Associated Press reported. In recent decades, Jackson’s speeches spanning his Rainbow/PUSH Coalition leadership, two presidential runs, and support for Black Lives Matter helped define how he spoke about hope, change, and coalition-building.
Mark Zuckerberg testified Wednesday in a Los Angeles courtroom in an unprecedented social media trial questioning whether Meta's Instagram deliberately addicts and harms children. The Meta CEO said the company moved away from using time-spent metrics to measure platform success, but internal documents the plaintiff's attorney presented appeared to contradict his earlier congressional testimony that employees had not been given explicit goals to boost engagement.
Lindsey Vonn, Mikaela Shiffrin, and other elite skiers competing at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics are raising alarm about the accelerating melt of the world's glaciers, saying the warming climate threatens the high-altitude ice where their sport depends. The athletes' warnings come from host city Cortina d'Ampezzo, where glaciers once visible from town have dramatically shrunk, with many reduced to tiny patches of ice at high elevations in the Dolomites.
Women's sports media outlets are growing rapidly and expanding their coverage, including at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, as they fill a void left by mainstream sports media. These outlets are focused on providing women's sports with the same intensity and seriousness as men's sports.
Rev. Jesse Jackson, a civil rights leader who helped connect the movement’s early Southern fight against Jim Crow to later battles over racial inequality, died Tuesday at 84, his family said. Jackson kept advocating for civil and human rights for more than five decades, including through economic and political efforts and public health drives during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also remained visible at major moments of racial justice, including during the protests after George Floyd’s killing in Minneapolis.
Anderson Cooper said Monday he is leaving CBS’s “60 Minutes” but will remain at CNN, citing his decision to spend more time with his family. Cooper has been a correspondent on the CBS broadcast for about two decades and appeared on the show Sunday night, introducing a brief segment by filmmaker Ken Burns.
Civil rights leader Rev. Jesse L. Jackson died at 84, and tributes from political leaders, civil rights organizations and international figures poured in following his death. In statements and remarks, many credited Jackson with decades of organizing, bridge-building and advocacy that they said helped shape major movements for civil rights in the United States and beyond.
The Vatican is rolling out a series of visitor-focused changes at St. Peter’s Basilica to mark the 400th anniversary of its consecration, including expanded access to the terrace and a new online reservation system meant to reduce long waits. The plans, outlined Monday at Vatican City, also include simultaneous translations for Masses in up to 60 languages and a new permanent exhibition tracing the basilica’s history.
Dana Eden, an Israeli television producer known for co-creating the espionage thriller “Tehran,” was found dead in Athens, Greece, on Feb. 16, Israeli broadcaster KAN said. A Greek police official said initial indications suggested she took her own life, with no suspicion of foul play.
Pakistan’s Supreme Court ordered Imran Khan be examined in prison after supporters raised concerns about his eyesight, and a video message from his physician on Monday said a reported “improvement” cannot be verified without access to the imprisoned former prime minister. Dr. Aasim Yusuf said prison doctors told him by phone about what they said Khan received and about “improvement,” but he could neither confirm nor deny the assessment. The case has renewed pressure from Khan’s allies for him to be transferred to a hospital in Islamabad.
Colombian officials identified the remains of Camilo Torres, a priest who joined an armed guerrilla group and was killed in combat nearly 60 years ago, the Unit for the Search of Missing People said Monday. The agency said forensic and genetic tests and historical document reviews confirmed that bones found in Bucaramanga two years ago belonged to Torres, who was killed in a firefight with Colombia’s army in February 1966.
China will allow British and Canadian citizens to enter without a visa starting Tuesday, expanding a program that Beijing says is intended to boost tourism and business, the Associated Press reported. The change raises the number of countries with visa-free access to 79, and it follows recent visits by Britain’s and Canada’s prime ministers to Beijing.
Ash Wednesday falls Feb. 17 for Catholics and many other Christians, marking the start of Lent, a season of fasting, reflection and repentance. Many worshippers receive ashes on their foreheads during church services, while some communities offer “Ashes to Go” for people who may not be able to get to a sanctuary.
China’s Lunar New Year holiday travel period, known as “chunyun,” begins Feb. 17, with the government estimating record demand of 9.5 billion trips during the 40-day stretch around the festival. The expected movement includes 540 million trips by train and 95 million by air, as workers across the country head home for what many describe as the year’s most important family gathering.
Gianni Infantino, president of soccer’s governing body FIFA, received a Lebanese passport from Lebanon’s Interior Ministry in Beirut on Monday, months after President Joseph Aoun granted him citizenship. Infantino said he was “very proud and very happy” to get the document and posted a video of the moment broadcast by local TV stations.
An injured cormorant in Bremen, Germany, pecked at the door of an emergency room at Klinikum Links der Weser until staff noticed and called firefighters, the Bremen fire department said. Medical staff and firefighters removed a triple fishing hook stuck in the bird’s beak and treated the wound before releasing the bird back on the hospital grounds, officials said.
Federal and state government offices, courts and most schools are closed Monday, Feb. 17, for Presidents Day, but many big retailers plan to operate. U.S. stock markets and banks also close Monday and reopen Tuesday. National parks remain open and free to U.S. residents on the holiday.
DAMASCUS, Syria — The first post-Assad edition of the International Damascus Book Fair drew crowds and included titles that had long been banned, publishers said after the event wrapped Monday. Kurdish books were offered in the Syrian capital for the first time in decades, while some religious minorities expressed concern after Islamist authors’ works returned to open sale.
British and Canadian citizens will be able to enter China without a visa starting Tuesday, China said, in an expansion of a program that now covers 79 countries. The change is intended to boost tourism and business travel and follows visits to Beijing last month by Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney.
The U.S. State Department has ordered some nonprofit public libraries nationwide to stop processing passport applications, disrupting a service that librarians say communities have relied on for years. The agency said the change took effect Friday for libraries no longer authorized under the Passport Acceptance Facility program, while it said the affected libraries are less than 1% of the overall network.
A federal judge in San Francisco said Friday she will rule that the U.S. government cannot force states to provide detailed data on people who apply for or receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. U.S. District Judge Maxine Chesney’s tentative ruling follows last year’s lawsuit by states seeking to block the Department of Agriculture from requiring the records, including information tied to immigration status.
One of Gaza’s last functioning large hospitals condemned Doctors Without Borders’ decision to suspend most services at Nasser Hospital, citing the presence of civilian police installed for security. The dispute surfaced as Palestinian officials said Israeli fire killed at least 11 people in Gaza over the previous day, with fighting continuing despite a ceasefire deal.
Gaza residents and heritage workers are trying to preserve what remains of historic religious and cultural sites as the Israeli military offensive against Hamas has left much of the enclave in ruins. In Gaza City, people have been assessing damage to landmarks including the Great Omari Mosque, while organizations carry out limited “rescue work” at badly hit locations as full restoration faces obstacles.
Anderson Cooper said Monday he is exiting CBS News’ “60 Minutes” but plans to remain at CNN, citing a desire to spend more time with his family. Cooper, who has served as a correspondent for the Sunday broadcast for nearly two decades, was on the program Sunday night, introducing a brief segment by filmmaker Ken Burns.
Valentine’s Day dinner at White Castle is returning for a 35th straight year, with restaurants across the U.S. offering candlelit, tablecloth-lined meals that customers say carry on family traditions and personal milestones. This year, one Detroit-area customer plans to reserve a table for her mother, who died last spring, as she and two daughters mark the holiday together.
The U.N. refugee agency said Sunday that a large number of residents have left Syria’s al-Hol camp, where relatives of suspected Islamic State militants had been housed. UNHCR’s Syria representative, Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, said Syrian authorities informed the agency of plans to relocate remaining families to Akhtarin camp in Aleppo Governorate.
A year after U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. pledged “radical transparency” for federal health agencies, the Associated Press found that multiple types of health information have been delayed, deleted or stopped. AP cited examples spanning abortion surveillance data, overdose tracking, smoking-related surveys, food-safety pathogen monitoring, and certain HIV and transgender-related information removed from government websites.
In Ayer, Massachusetts, Matthew and Andrea Murphy say their 9-year-old twins, Connor and Ronan, require around-the-clock support because they have profound autism-level needs. Their experience is part of a growing debate over whether “profound autism” should be separated from the broader autism spectrum diagnosis, a move advocates say could help secure services while critics warn it could reduce attention to other families’ needs.
Phoenix, Arizona, is home to a large, established colony of rosy-faced lovebirds that has survived in the desert by clustering around people and heat sources, and experts say their lifelong bonds may offer a Valentine’s Day lesson about keeping partnerships strong. An AP report describes how the birds formed the city’s best-known colony outside Africa, how they display affection, and what happens when a partner is lost.
LONDON — Larry the cat will mark 15 years on Sunday as the British government’s official rodent-catcher and its unofficial “first feline,” a fixture at 10 Downing St. described as a steady presence through multiple prime ministers. The gray-and-white tabby is credited with “photo-bombing” arrivals and has been photographed catching the occasional mouse, even as his age has slowed his patrols.
Muslims worldwide will begin fasting each day from dawn to sunset as Ramadan starts, a holy month marked by worship, reflection and charity. The start of the month is expected to fall around Feb. 18 or 19, depending on local sightings and decisions by Islamic authorities. Ramadan is followed by the holiday of Eid al-Fitr.
Ofelia Giselle Torres Hidalgo, 16, died Friday after battling stage 4 alveolar rhabdomyosarcoma, her family said. The teen had spoken publicly for the release of her father, Ruben Torres Maldonado, who was held in a Chicago-area deportation case tied to “Operation Midway Blitz.” An immigration judge in Chicago ruled days before her death that Maldonado was conditionally eligible for “cancellation of removal,” according to an attorney representing him.
Revelers in the Brazilian coastal town of Paraty are covering themselves in mud for a Carnival tradition in which participants roll in silty shallows and march as a unified crowd, not in glitter and sequined outfits. AP reported on the event, which traces back to friends who in 1986 decided to explore the mud after entering the city’s historic center. Organizers and participants say the practice reflects a shared experience regardless of social status.
Tens of thousands of Hindu devotees gathered at Pashupatinath in Kathmandu on Sunday for Shivaratri, a festival honoring the god Shiva. At the temple and nearby hills across the Bagmati River, some holy men and many attendees openly smoked cannabis smoke as part of the celebration, though the drug is generally banned in Nepal.
En Estados Unidos, crece el impulso por crear un diagnóstico separado para el llamado “autismo profundo”, una categoría para personas que necesitarían cuidados constantes de por vida y que hablan poco o nada. El movimiento busca que familias como la de Connor y Ronan Murphy reciban los apoyos y servicios alineados con sus necesidades, mientras investigadores y defensores debaten si una etiqueta específica podría reducir la atención sobre el espectro en general.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The Indian Health Service said this month it will phase out the use of dental fillings containing mercury, known as dental amalgams, and fully switch to mercury-free alternatives by 2027. The change will affect millions of patients served by the federal agency for Native Americans and Alaska Natives, where the percentage receiving amalgams has already fallen in recent years.
Milan’s historic Duomo has brought a restored 15th-century statue back into public view through an “Adopt a Statue” program launched by the Veneranda Fabbrica del Duomo’s conservation authority. The Bearded Saint with Book, restored for display at Piazzale Cadorna behind glass at the headquarters of FNM, is one of several sculptures whose restoration is funded by donors under conservation-approved loan agreements.
Hundreds of people and their dogs gathered at a Carnival street party in Rio de Janeiro on Saturday to protest violence against pets, organizers said. At the event, Marco Antonio Marinho, the Blocao’s chief organizer, urged people to keep pets comfortable and safe during festivities. The protest also drew attention to the January killing of a dog in southern Brazil that triggered national anger, the Associated Press reported.
Carnival in Rio de Janeiro is marked by four days of street celebrations that can test even experienced revelers, who say pacing, hydration and basic hygiene planning matter as much as the festivities. Veterans speaking to The Associated Press offered guidance for people heading to the city’s street parties before the celebrations end on Ash Wednesday.
US experts and advocates are weighing whether people who need constant lifelong care should receive a separate “profound autism” diagnosis, as autism definitions have widened and many services lag behind demand. The debate centers on whether a new label would help match clinical research and provider training to high-needs patients—or whether it would divert attention from support needs across the broader autism spectrum.
A year after Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was sworn in to lead the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, surveys and medical groups say trust in federal health agencies such as the CDC is falling. Kennedy has said his changes are meant to “restore transparency” and empower families to make their own decisions, while doctors and public health organizations say the approach has promoted misinformation and confusion about vaccines.
Rio de Janeiro’s Sambadrome hosted a parade Sunday honoring Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, but opposition figures and legal analysts said the tribute could create election-season legal exposure. Lula attended despite warnings that his appearance could be challenged in Brazil’s electoral court ahead of the October vote.
A Zambian woman, Violet Zulu, says she was turned away from legal abortion care and later sentenced to seven years in maximum-security prison after she admitted procuring her own abortion. Rights groups helped her file an appeal, and she was freed last month, according to The Associated Press. In an interview with AP, Zulu, 26, described delivering the pregnancy in a toilet and placing the fetus in a sack after what she said was desperation and barriers to legal services.
Montana school districts are finding it harder to win voter approval for property-tax funding levies that help cover day-to-day K-12 costs not fully funded by the state, an analysis for a legislative study commission shows. The decline has accelerated since the Great Recession and during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the Montana School Boards Association.
The U.S. Justice Department has sued Harvard University in federal court, alleging Harvard refused to provide admissions records the department demanded as part of an investigation into whether the school stopped using affirmative action after the Supreme Court’s 2023 decision. In the lawsuit filed Friday in Massachusetts, the department asked a judge to order Harvard to turn over five years of undergraduate admissions data, including applicants’ grades, test scores, essays, extracurricular activities, race and ethnicity, and admissions outcomes.
A shipment of medicine and medical supplies from the United States arrived in Venezuela on Friday, signaling what U.S. officials described as a new spirit of cooperation between the two countries. Laura Dogu, the U.S. diplomat in Venezuela, and Venezuelan diplomat Félix Plasencia received the delivery at an airport outside Caracas.
Four people were indicted on federal charges tied to clashes with federal officers in Minneapolis, including a woman accused of biting off an immigration officer’s fingertip, the Justice Department said. Another three defendants were charged in connection with threats and communications sent to FBI agents after the agents’ personal information was stolen and posted online, according to court filings.
Liquidity and sustainability are shaping how Zimbabweans celebrate Valentine’s Day, with some sellers promoting “money bouquets” made from U.S. dollar notes and others offering gifts recycled from scrap metal. At a flower market in Harare, florists said demand for cash-and-flower arrangements is rising as people seek gestures that feel meaningful in difficult economic times. In Harare’s shops and workshops, artists also are turning discarded metal into long-lasting keepsakes for partners.
A judge in Santa Clara County declared a mistrial Friday in the case of five current and former Stanford University students charged after pro-Palestinian protests in 2024 that involved barricading themselves inside the university president and provost executive offices. The jury convicted the defendants on vandalism and conspiracy to trespass charges before falling into a deadlock after five days of deliberations.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said he filed to intervene in a lawsuit challenging a Texas Medical Board reprimand of Houston doctor Mary Talley Bowden over her prescribing ivermectin to a COVID-19 patient at a Fort Worth hospital.
West Virginia lawmakers are considering a bill that would let kinship caregivers receive full foster care subsidies within 30 days after children are placed with them, rather than waiting months to become certified. The measure, proposed by Del. Adam Burkhammer, would require background and safety checks but would aim to match the monthly payment certified foster families receive.
Former CNN host turned independent journalist Don Lemon pleaded not guilty Friday to federal civil rights charges tied to a protest at a Minnesota church where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official is a pastor. Four other people also entered not-guilty pleas, and one civil rights attorney representing the defendants said they plan to seek transcripts from a normally secret grand jury.
Thousands of Greek farmers drove tractors to parliament in central Athens on Friday for an overnight rally protesting what they say is the government’s failure to address problems threatening their ability to produce crops. Police blocked central streets and escorted a tractor motorcade to Syntagma Square in front of parliament.
Shakira is playing five sold-out shows in El Salvador’s capital this week, part of a broader push by President Nayib Bukele to reshape the country’s international image after years of gang crackdowns. The concerts at National Stadium Jorge “El Magico” González follow high-profile events such as international surfing competitions and the Miss Universe pageant, which have helped position El Salvador as a safer destination for visitors.
A randomized international trial found that a structured exercise program after chemotherapy reduced cancer recurrence and lowered deaths among people with treatable colon cancer. The results were presented at the American Society of Clinical Oncology’s annual meeting in Chicago and published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
A federal judge in Illinois temporarily blocked Trump administration officials from rescinding $600 million in public health grants allocated to four Democratic-led states, halting the cuts for 14 days. The states—California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota—argued the decision violates the Constitution by imposing retroactive conditions on funding Congress had already awarded, according to the lawsuit.
Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Conservative opposition leader Pierre Poilievre held hands as they attended a vigil in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, for victims of the shooting at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. At the event outside town hall, Indigenous leader sang a prayer and Carney and Poilievre spoke as hundreds gathered.
Pakistan’s imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan will undergo treatment for an eye condition at a specialized medical facility, a Cabinet minister said, days after the Supreme Court ordered a medical evaluation amid concerns about his eyesight. Information Minister Attaullah Tarar said leading eye specialists would examine Khan as part of his ongoing treatment that began in late January after Khan reported partial vision loss in his right eye.
The U.S. House’s press gallery overlooking the chamber was renamed after abolitionist, writer and presidential adviser Frederick Douglass in a bipartisan move announced during Black History Month. The renaming was brokered by Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., with House Speaker Mike Johnson and other lawmakers attending a ceremony inside the Capitol.
The Virginia Supreme Court ruled Thursday that a U.S. Marine and his wife will keep an Afghan orphan they brought home despite a U.S. government plan to reunite her with relatives in Afghanistan. The decision is likely to end a yearslong legal fight over whether the adoption orders were void.
Doctors Without Borders, also known as MSF, said it has suspended some noncritical operations at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis after patients and staff reported seeing armed, masked men inside parts of the facility. MSF said the decision was made because security breaches posed “serious” threats to its teams and patients and followed an increase in those reports since a U.S.-brokered ceasefire in October.
Two teenagers were charged as adults in Indiana and Mississippi for allegedly plotting to stage a school shooting at a central Indiana high school, including an alleged plan involving a video of the school’s layout sent over social media. Authorities said one defendant is from Shelbyville’s Morristown High School and the other is from Corinth, Mississippi, and that the case was built from online communications and a probable cause affidavit.
U.S. student loan borrowers face a shifting landscape as federal collections are paused and forgiveness rules change, according to the Education Department and advocates. The changes come as President Donald Trump’s proposal raises new graduate borrowing limits and would tighten eligibility for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Separate litigation has left borrowers enrolled in the SAVE plan facing an uncertain transition after the 8th Circuit ordered the plan ended.
Hawaii’s Department of Education is seeking to keep unlicensed “emergency hire” teachers in classrooms for longer, after the state’s reliance on emergency hires surged. The proposal would extend emergency hire permits from three years to five, while some lawmakers and the teacher licensing board argue the approach has become too entrenched and could widen gaps for rural and neighbor island schools. The debate comes as Hawaiʻi education officials say they regularly check that emergency hires are making progress toward licensure.
Puerto Rico Gov. Jenniffer González signed a bill on Feb. 12 that amends the territory’s penal code to recognize a fetus as a human being, drawing warnings from doctors and civil-rights groups about criminal-law and health-care repercussions. The law, Senate Bill 923, was approved without public hearings, according to opponents who said it could affect how doctors treat pregnant and potentially pregnant patients.
Olympic-themed youth programs led by the Catholic Archdiocese of Milan are operating in parish oratories during the 2026 Winter Games, aiming to teach values such as excellence, friendship and respect.
Justice Department-released documents shed new light on how Jeffrey Epstein’s orbit extended into academia, with professors exchanging emails and seeking donations as his wealth grew more valuable amid research funding competition. The documents show that some academics said Epstein offered a shortcut to funding, while institutions reviewed or removed faculty after new scrutiny of their correspondence.
Palestinian immigration detainee Leqaa Kordia said she suffered a seizure after fainting and hitting her head while being held for nearly a year in a privately run immigration detention facility in Texas. Kordia, 33, said she was hospitalized for three days after the episode and returned to the Prairieland Detention Facility. The Department of Homeland Security said she was not being mistreated and was receiving proper medical care.
A shooting at a South Carolina State University residence complex killed two people and wounded a third late Thursday, prompting an eight-hour lockdown that ended Friday morning, authorities said. The university canceled classes through Monday, postponed its men’s basketball game, and made counselors available.
Relatives of Venezuelan prisoners began a hunger strike on Saturday demanding the quick release of dissidents held at a Caracas detention center known as Zona 7. The relatives’ Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners said the strike involves 10 people and would continue until the government frees all 33 political prisoners that the group estimates remain at the facility.
Four Democratic-led states sued the Trump administration to block planned cuts to about $600 million in public health grants, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court. The Department of Health and Human Services told Congress it planned to withhold the funding allocated to California, Colorado, Illinois and Minnesota, starting as soon as Thursday in some cases, the suit and state officials said.
PORT ORANGE, Fla., (AP) — A dispute over a rule during a pickleball game at a central Florida country club led to a brawl in which one player hit his opponent in the face with a paddle and then punched him on the ground, authorities said. A 63-year-old man was charged with two counts of felony battery on a person 65 or older, and his 51-year-old wife was charged with a felony count for the same alleged offense. Court documents say the argument began over where players were allowed to take shots on the court.
In Lagos, Nigeria, rock musician Bianca Okorocha, known as “Clayrocksu,” has taken her music from the stage to the streets ahead of Valentine’s Day, serenading commuters and handing out single-stem roses. She spoke with The Associated Press about wanting people to pause and feel loved in a city defined by fast pace and economic strain. She also said she wants Valentine’s Day to be seen as sharing love beyond romantic couples.
MILAN — Three Italian women who volunteered at earlier Winter Olympics are back for the Milan Cortina Games as part of a volunteer workforce meant to keep events running around the clock. The Associated Press spoke with Cristina Romagnoli, Angela Frisina and Olivia Azzalin about returning to the Olympic family, their roles this year and what the experience has meant for them and their loved ones.
The University of Texas at Austin will consolidate race, ethnic and gender study departments into new, broader units, college leaders told department heads, a move that faculty and student groups say reflects growing political pressure over how universities teach those subjects. UT-Austin President Jim Davis said the reorganization responds to a review that found “some significant inconsistencies and fragmentation” across the college’s departments.
Some U.S. school districts have canceled or altered plans for school class pictures after social media posts linked student-photo company Lifetouch to billionaire investor Leon Black and his ties to Jeffrey Epstein. Lifetouch, which says it photographs millions of students each year, called the claims “completely false” and said it has no relationship with Epstein and does not share student images with outside parties such as Apollo Global Management.
About 250,000 people demonstrated Saturday against Iran’s government on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference, police said, answering a call from exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi for increased international pressure on Tehran. Pahlavi warned that Iran’s crackdown on protesters last month could lead to more deaths unless democracies respond. In Toronto, police estimated about 350,000 marched for what supporters called a Global Day of Action.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Monday approved a first-of-its-kind blood test for colon cancer screening, opening a noninvasive option for adults 45 and older at average risk. Guardant said the test, called Shield, can be ordered as a laboratory test and that FDA approval is expected to increase insurance coverage.
In Rio de Janeiro, samba school Porto da Pedra will kick off its Carnival parade with a theme that spotlights sex workers and aims to dismantle stigma around the profession. The school, based in Sao Goncalo, will stage the parade Saturday at Rio’s Sambodrome, featuring Barreto, her life story, and sex workers of all genders, organizers said.
El alcalde de Río de Janeiro entregó el viernes la llave de la ciudad al Rey Momo para iniciar el Carnaval, un reinado simbólico de cinco días para el monarca de las festividades. El Ayuntamiento espera unos 6 millones de participantes en las fiestas callejeras y anuncia un operativo especial de seguridad con alrededor de 1.100 agentes.
PARIS — A growing market for zero- and low-alcohol drinks is drawing attention at Wine Paris this week, as producers and consumers test non-alcoholic versions of familiar wines and sparklers. At the trade show, some backers say the products help people socialize without drinking, while others argue younger consumers are rethinking alcohol’s role in daily life.
BYU said Parker Kingston, a standout wide receiver, is no longer enrolled at the school after he was arrested this week on a first-degree felony rape charge. Kingston, 21, made an initial court appearance in St. George on Friday, where prosecutors said a woman told officers he assaulted her at her home last February.
Iranian security forces have carried out nationwide arrests following protests that peaked in early January, according to activists and a journalist’s reporting. The arrests, which include women detained after raids on their homes and others held without contact, have spread across urban and rural areas, activists say. The Associated Press reported that an apparent dragnet has touched thousands of people, with detainees held incommunicado for days or weeks as authorities also restrict communications.
GUATEMALA CITY (AP) — A judge ordered Thursday that jailed Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora be returned to house arrest while awaiting trial after nearly a year in jail in his latest incarceration, according to a court order described by The Associated Press. Zamora, the founder of El Periodico, had previously been granted house arrest in October 2024 before prosecutors appealed and won rulings that sent him back to jail in March 2025.
A women’s rights group is suing to keep a proposed Nevada ballot initiative off the 2026 ballot that would limit transgender female student athletes to sports teams based on sex assigned at birth. The suit, filed Jan. 29 by Sue Burtch, executive director of the Nevada chapter of the National Organization for Women, challenges the initiative’s description as allegedly noncompliant with Nevada statute. A hearing is scheduled Feb. 20 in Carson City.
Rio de Janeiro’s mayor handed the city’s key to King Momo as Carnival celebrations began Friday, setting up a five-day reign for the symbolic monarch. King Momo will preside over festivities through Wednesday, including parades and promotions of joy, while city officials also announced a security operation to address theft concerns.
The Trump administration revoked an Environmental Protection Agency finding that climate change endangers public health, an idea President Donald Trump called “a scam.” Researchers say a large and growing body of peer-reviewed work links warming to increased illness and deaths, including heat-related fatalities and other health impacts.
Adam Mosseri, the head of Meta’s Instagram, testified Wednesday in Los Angeles that he does not believe people can be clinically addicted to social media platforms, and that his company instead distinguishes “problematic use.” Mosseri spoke during a landmark trial that plaintiffs say will determine how future cases alleging harm to children from social media proceed. Meta and YouTube are the two remaining defendants after TikTok and Snap settled, and Zuckerberg is expected to testify next week.
Cancer rates among Americans under 50 have risen for multiple cancer types, according to a new U.S. government analysis that looked at diagnoses from 2010 to 2019. The National Cancer Institute study found the largest increases in breast, colorectal, kidney and uterine cancers, with more than half of early-onset cases occurring in women.
Authorities in British Columbia said the suspect in a school shooting in Canada was 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, who was found dead after the attack killed eight people in the remote community of Tumbler Ridge. Royal Canadian Mounted Police deputy commissioner Dwayne McDonald said investigators believe Van Rootselaar first killed her mother and stepbrother at the family home before attacking a nearby school.
Scientists are testing gene-editing approaches that aim to permanently lower “bad” LDL cholesterol by switching off genes in the liver. The early studies involve small numbers of participants, and experts caution that safety and long-term effects remain uncertain. For now, the American Heart Association says people should focus on established lifestyle steps and, when needed, cholesterol-lowering medicines.
A shooting at a school in remote northern British Columbia killed seven people, and police said two more were found dead at a nearby home, bringing the death toll to 10, including the suspect.
Iran’s crackdown on nationwide protests last month has killed at least 7,005 people, activists said Thursday, with many more still feared dead. The death toll’s continued rise has heightened tensions as Iran negotiates with the United States over its nuclear program and the U.S. weighs potential military action.
Hundreds of Buddhist monks led by Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara ended their 108-day Walk for Peace from Texas to Washington with a ceremony Wednesday at the Lincoln Memorial, drawing thousands. The group covered about 2,300 miles (3,700 kilometers) over 15 weeks, and the final stretch included visits near George Washington University and on Capitol Hill.
The Nashville Public Library is making public a digital display of more than 200 love letters tracing the wartime courtship of William Raymond Whittaker and Jane Dean, a couple whose romance unfolded as World War II reshaped their lives. The letters were found in a Nashville home and donated to the Metro Nashville Archives in 2016.
Melania Trump visited the Children’s Inn at the National Institutes of Health on Wednesday, celebrating an early Valentine’s Day with children and young adults receiving treatment for rare and serious diseases. During the visit, she said, “I don’t eat much sweets,” adding that “Sugar is not that healthy for us.”
Patrick Marsh returned to the Bubble Inn cabin at Camp Mystic and recalled how a 50-yard walk to higher ground could have saved his 8-year-old daughter, Sarah Marsh Heaven, during the July 4, 2025, Texas flood. Now, Marsh and his wife, Dr. Jill Marsh, are pressing Alabama lawmakers to tighten camp safety rules beyond Texas, including emergency planning and weather-warning requirements.
The mascots for the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games — the stoats Milo and Tina — are threatened as climate change causes them to shed winter-white coats before snow arrives. Environmental researchers say the mismatch between their camouflage and changing conditions can leave them more visible to predators. Organizers say the mascots are meant to convey Italian culture, but officials now say the climate message should be folded into their narrative.
San Francisco Unified School District schools remained closed for a third day Wednesday as teachers in the district walked out, leaving nearly 50,000 students out of class. Parents said they were scrambling with child care and activities while negotiations between the district and the teachers union continued over wages, health benefits and special-education staffing.
A Valentine’s Day shopping guide from Edmunds, republished by The Associated Press, pairs five 2026 vehicles with relationship-style “match” traits, from “Emotional availability” to “Reliability.” The list includes a 2026 Subaru BRZ and Toyota GR86, a Ford Maverick hybrid pickup, a Ford Mustang Dark Horse, a Jeep Wrangler, and a Honda CR-V, with all prices including destination fees.
Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, chair of the Trump administration’s Religious Liberty Commission, said a member was removed after a contentious hearing this week that turned on disagreements over how to define antisemitism. AP reported the ousted commissioner, Carrie Prejean Boller, challenged witnesses and argued that prominent commentator Candace Owens had never made antisemitic remarks.
Beginning Wednesday, nine major coffee chains in Thailand pledged to cut the default sugar content in some coffee and tea drinks by half as part of a government initiative aimed at reducing excess sugar consumption. The Health Department says the average Thai consumes 21 teaspoons of sugar per day—more than three times the World Health Organization’s recommended limit of six teaspoons—and warns that high intake raises the risk of obesity, diabetes and other diseases.
Activists planned protests at more than two dozen Target stores across the United States on Wednesday to pressure the discount retailer to take a public stand against a recent immigration crackdown in Minnesota. The ICE Out Minnesota coalition called for sit-ins and other demonstrations at Target locations for a full week, including outside stores in Minneapolis and in St. Paul.
Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed a new Michigan law that bans smartphones during classroom instruction starting this fall, a step meant to keep the devices out of learning time. Speaking at Waverly High School before the bill signing on Tuesday, Whitmer said phones are a “disruptive distraction” in classrooms and that teachers struggle to compete with social media.
Hawaii’s primary care doctor shortage is leaving some residents struggling to find physicians who accept new patients, leading a growing number to join direct primary care practices that charge flat monthly membership fees instead of billing insurance. Patients say the model can mean faster access, while doctors and researchers warn it may also complicate efforts to expand the workforce. In Honolulu and other islands, physicians who converted to direct primary care describe trading insurance paperwork for smaller patient panels and more time per visit.
Dutch novelist and travel writer Cees Nooteboom died Wednesday at age 92, his publisher De Bezige Bij said. The publisher said he died “very peacefully on his beloved island of Menorca” and did not provide a cause of death.
Valeria Chomsky, the wife of linguist and activist Noam Chomsky, said in a statement she shared with The Associated Press that she and her husband made “serious errors in judgment” over their ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. She said the couple never witnessed any inappropriate behavior and expressed solidarity with Epstein’s victims as newly released Justice Department documents prompted scrutiny.
Yale University said a prominent computer science professor will not teach while it reviews conduct after newly released U.S. Justice Department documents showed he emailed Jeffrey Epstein recommending an undergraduate using appearance-based language. The university said the professor’s conduct is under review and will not teach his class until the review is completed.
Civil rights icon Fannie Lou Hamer’s Presidential Medal of Freedom was unveiled Tuesday at the Mississippi Civil Rights Museum’s “I Question America” gallery, her family said. The medal, posthumously awarded by President Joe Biden in 2025, was donated to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, officials said.
Actor Blake Lively and director Justin Baldoni met at a Manhattan federal courthouse Wednesday to discuss settlement in Lively’s lawsuit alleging sexual harassment on the set of the 2024 romantic drama “It Ends With Us” ahead of a May trial. Lawyers for the sides met for about six hours and did not reach a settlement, according to Baldoni’s attorney.
CLAIRTON, Pa. — In Clairton City School District, educators and nonprofit MicroSociety Inc. have turned one elementary school into a student-run “Beartopia,” where classrooms operate as businesses managed by students. The program, introduced at the start of the school year, uses elected student officers, daily roles for elementary grades and planned market days starting in February to build attendance and engagement, district leaders said.
Hundreds of femminielli — a nonbinary gender identity with roots in Neapolitan culture — gathered Feb. 2 at a Catholic Mass in Mercogliano, outside Naples, for the annual Juta pilgrimage. The ceremony blended Catholic ritual with local folklore, as participants said the event offers faith and resistance amid violence and prejudice affecting LGBTQ people worldwide.
Richard Grenell, the president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, warned staff in a memo that the Kennedy Center expects cuts and “skeletal” staffing as it prepares to close for a two-year renovation. In the message, Grenell said departments would operate on a smaller scale, with some units reduced or paused before preparations to reopen in 2028.
New York State Nurses Association members on strike at Montefiore and Mount Sinai have approved new three-year contract deals, the union said Wednesday. Nurses at NewYork-Presbyterian rejected the mediator-backed proposal, meaning the monthlong walkout is set to continue for those nurses at some of the city’s major hospital systems.
Opening statements in a landmark trial began Monday in Los Angeles County Superior Court, where jurors are weighing claims that Meta and Google’s YouTube deliberately addict children and harm their mental health. The case is part of a broader wave of litigation seeking accountability for youth harms linked to social media use.
Jurors in Los Angeles got their first look Tuesday at dueling arguments in a landmark social media case aimed at holding Meta and YouTube responsible for alleged addiction-related harms to children. In opening statements, plaintiff’s attorney Mark Lanier compared the platforms to “addicting the brains of children,” while Meta and YouTube lawyers pushed back on the addiction claims and argued KGM’s watch time on YouTube Shorts was limited.
Nevada will pay $447,000 in court-ordered fines for continued delays in transferring criminal defendants deemed unfit for trial to mental health treatment in Clark County, according to court and state actions described by the Associated Press. The fines stem from sanctions imposed after a Clark County judge found the state failed to meet a seven-day transfer deadline.
The Trump administration stopped flying a rainbow flag at the Stonewall National Monument in New York, according to the National Park Service. The removal angered LGBTQ+ activists who view it as a symbolic swipe at the nation’s first monument to LGBTQ+ history. The park service said it was complying with guidance that restricts which flags may be flown on the property.
San Francisco's public school teachers went on strike for a third day Wednesday, closing 120 schools and leaving nearly 50,000 students out of the classroom. The teachers are demanding higher wages, fully funded family healthcare, and more resources for special education. Parents are scrambling to find childcare and adjust their work schedules.
Americans’ hope for their future fell to a record low in 2025, according to a Gallup poll released Feb. 10. The share of Americans who rate their life in about five years as “high” dropped to about 59%, the lowest annual measure since Gallup began asking the question nearly 20 years ago.
The Trump administration plans to expand a federal program that revokes U.S. passports for parents who owe substantial child support, The Associated Press reported. U.S. officials told AP that the State Department will begin initiating revocations based on data shared by the Health and Human Services Department rather than waiting for people to request passport services.
Milan’s Catholic archdiocese has designated a Romanesque basilica as a special “Church of Athletes” during the 2026 Winter Olympics, highlighting a wooden “Cross of the Athletes” and holding Masses in multiple languages. The cross, which AP describes as made from wood sourced in five continents, is displayed at the Basilica of San Babila as Olympic and Paralympic visitors arrive.
A nearly monthslong strike by New York City nurses at the NewYork-Presbyterian system has left some patients and families worried as negotiations remain unresolved. Logan Coyle, a 9-year-old child being treated for advanced liver cancer, and his family say changes in staffing during the walkout have affected his care.
Moderna said the U.S. Food and Drug Administration is refusing to consider its application for a new flu vaccine made with mRNA technology. The company said FDA sent it a “refusal-to-file” letter after objecting to how Moderna conducted a 40,000-person trial comparing the vaccine with a standard flu shot.
FDA said Tuesday it will reassess the safety of BHA, a preservative used in foods such as potato chips, cereals, frozen meals and meat products. The agency issued a new request for information and said its review will consider whether BHA is safe under its current conditions of use.
Northern Europe’s deep cold has prompted Estonia officials to open a 20-kilometer ice road across frozen sea linking its two main western islands, Saaremaa and Hiiumaa, the Associated Press reported. Authorities said the route opened Sunday with cars lined up to use it as ferries struggled to keep regular service.
Chinese consumers increasingly base everyday shopping decisions on personal preferences and value, rather than nationalism, even as tensions with countries such as Japan and the United States flare in diplomatic spats. An Associated Press report in Hong Kong found examples including crowded openings for a Japanese sushi chain in mainland China and continued interest in Hollywood animation and U.S. fashion.
Three coaches run rugby training three times a week inside the Valparaíso Penitentiary Complex in Chile, where Rugby Unión Libertad has grown from a workshop into an official club. The program aims to prepare incarcerated men for social reintegration after they serve their sentences, and participants credit rugby with helping them manage anger and build discipline.
Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime performance, including his use of the phrase “God bless America” and a sequence of references to countries across the Americas, prompted reactions that stretched beyond the United States, with celebrations in Mexico, Puerto Rico and Latino communities. In Mexico City, fans described the moment as pride and inclusion, while others said the cultural visibility does not erase deeper inequalities.
Riots broke out Tuesday night in central Tirana during a demonstration by thousands of opposition supporters demanding Prime Minister Edi Rama’s government resign, according to the Associated Press. Riot police fired tear gas and water cannon at protesters who threw Molotov cocktails and flares, and police said 16 protesters were treated at a hospital for burns and other injuries.
Bad Bunny told viewers “God bless America” during the Super Bowl halftime show on Sunday night and then named countries across the Americas, a moment that drew cheers in Mexico City bars and among Puerto Rico watch parties. In interviews, fans and cultural observers in Mexico, Puerto Rico and the United States described the Spanish-language performance as a sign of visibility for Latino audiences, even as some said cultural pride does not automatically resolve political or discrimination pressures.
The group of 19 Buddhist monks who walked about 2,300 miles (3,700 kilometers) from Texas to advocate for peace arrived in Washington, D.C., Tuesday, finishing their 15-week trek with a visit to the Washington National Cathedral. Large crowds greeted the monks along the way, and more than 100 Buddhist monks and nuns joined them at the cathedral for an interfaith gathering hosted with Washington Episcopal Bishop Mariann Budde’s help.
A new wave of Christian artists is blending rap, Afrobeats and R&B to reach younger global audiences, drawing attention from major labels and streaming platforms even as the music remains less visible than mainstream faith content. The shift is powered in part by social media and independent releases, with Spotify and Amazon Music reporting rising interest since 2022. Industry leaders and performers say the genres offer a “sonic” experience alongside Christian messaging that they say can reach listeners beyond churchgoers.
Connecticut education leaders said they are cautiously optimistic about the state’s first “Course in a Box,” a one-semester elective called “An American History of Rock and Soul,” released through GoOpenCT.
Six former players on the University of Pittsburgh women’s basketball team sued coach Tory Verdi and the school, alleging abusive coaching and retaliation-like threats tied to scholarships and academics. The lawsuit was filed Friday and detailed examples including what their lawyers said were degrading remarks and efforts to push players into the transfer portal, according to an Associated Press report. Pitt said in a Tuesday statement that the allegations are without merit and will be defended.
The French artist Marc Ahr has been drawing spectators at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, calling himself the “unofficial painter of the Games.” At a luge event in Cortina d’Ampezzo on Monday night, he focused on people’s reactions while using a black pen to capture scenes during the women’s singles luge competition.
Blagoevgrad, Bulgaria, marked St. Haralambos Day with a church ceremony in which priests blessed jars of honey and prayed for the protection of bees. Beekeepers and worshippers said the tradition reflects worries about pesticides, pollution and climate change affecting bee populations.
Three Idaho families who are U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents are suing over an aggressive immigration raid at a rural horse racing track in October, saying federal and state agencies used unconstitutional tactics and detained people for hours. They allege officers detained people based on whether they appeared Latino, kept adults and some children in zip ties for hours without access to food, water or bathrooms, and searched individuals without reasonable suspicion. The lawsuit seeks class-action status, a declaration of civil-rights violations and damages.
The first U.S. facility in Texas to disperse sterile screwworm flies from American soil in decades opened Monday, with federal and Texas officials saying it is meant to keep the flesh-eating parasite from spreading into the U.S. cattle industry. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Gov. Greg Abbott unveiled the center at a former Air Force base near Edinburg. The USDA is also building a larger sterile-fly breeding factory nearby, and is converting a fruit-fly facility in southern Mexico into another breeding site.
Searching for nursing home or assisted living care often starts suddenly after a health setback, but families can narrow options by using federal nursing home data, by observing daily operations during tours, and by asking detailed questions about staffing, billing and transfers. Associated Press spoke with consumer advocates, facility leaders and elder-law attorneys about how to evaluate long-term care settings. The reporting emphasizes that beyond ratings, staffing levels and how care is delivered in real time can determine whether residents get timely help.
New York City nurses and two major hospital systems reached a tentative agreement to end a nearly monthlong strike over staffing levels, workplace safety and other contract issues, according to the nurses’ union and hospital officials. The deals cover Montefiore and Mount Sinai, while nurses remained on strike at NewYork-Presbyterian. If the union ratifies the tentative agreements, nurses are set to return to work Saturday.
When a deadly fire swept through Hong Kong’s Wang Fuk Court housing complex last November, it displaced residents and killed 168 people. As Lunar New Year arrives Feb. 17, survivors in temporary units say authorities have not yet laid out long-term resettlement plans.
About 6,000 San Francisco public schoolteachers went on strike Monday over wages, health benefits and demands for more special-education resources, the city’s first walkout in nearly 50 years. The San Francisco Unified School District said it closed all 120 schools and planned to offer independent study to some students as negotiations resumed later in the day.
San Francisco Unified School District schools stayed closed for a third day Wednesday as about 6,000 teachers walked out, leaving nearly 50,000 students out of class. Parents said they were scrambling to cover child care and keep children engaged while they wait for negotiators to reach an agreement.
A 16-year-old student was shot inside Thomas S. Wootton High School in Rockville, Maryland, on Monday, and police said another 16-year-old student was in custody. Rockville City Police said officers responded after reports of shots fired at about 2:15 p.m. and said the injured student was in stable condition.
The Vatican has approved again the cause to beatify Archbishop Fulton Sheen, a U.S. radio and television evangelist whose path to sainthood was delayed after a 2019 postponement. Peoria Diocese said the beatification can now take place in Peoria, Illinois, but did not announce a new ceremony date on Feb. 9, ahead of Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate.
In speeches to legislatures this month, governors across the U.S. have put affordability at the center of their agendas, citing worries from voters about the cost of groceries, utilities, child care and housing. The approaches range from relief checks and tax changes to efforts to expand housing and reduce electricity and gas bills.
Mogadishu, Somalia, has opened its first modern bowling alley, drawing locals and diaspora returnees to a recreation space amid ongoing security precautions. The Feynuus Bowling Center, which opened last year, has become a symbol of Mogadishu’s day-to-day revival after decades of civil war and al-Shabab attacks, the Associated Press reported.
U.S. health official Mehmet Oz urged people to get vaccinated against measles as outbreaks have been reported in multiple states, warning the country risks losing measles elimination status. Oz, administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, said Medicare and Medicaid will continue covering the measles vaccine and described measles as an illness people should protect against.
Employers are increasingly requiring employees to return to in-person work schedules after years of widespread remote work, leaving some workers searching for flexibility or considering new roles. An Associated Press report highlights workers’ and experts’ advice—from negotiating hours to seeking accommodations—when return-to-office mandates disrupt caregiving and health needs.
Varias docenas de manifestantes fueron arrestados el sábado frente al Edificio Federal Bishop Henry Whipple en Minneapolis, después de que la policía disolviera una protesta por el primer mes del fallecimiento de Renee Good a manos de un agente de inmigración. El incidente ocurrió cuando la multitud lanzó botellas y hielo contra las fuerzas de seguridad, según autoridades locales.
Olympic fans and organizers in Cortina are adjusting to unusually warm late-winter weather as climate change reshapes snowfall patterns and temperatures, affecting snow quality and visibility for the 2026 Winter Games. The organizing committee has installed sensors and keeps observers to monitor conditions across a widely spread venue footprint, with forecasts indicating more above-average days ahead.
Malian authorities arrested Youssouf Sissoko, editor-in-chief of the weekly newspaper L’Alternance, after he questioned accusations by Niger’s military ruler, Human Rights Watch said. HRW said Sissoko was arrested at his home in Bamako on Feb. 5 and was charged and ordered held in pretrial custody, in a case that rights groups say reflects shrinking civic space amid the security crisis in West Africa.
Honolulu Mayor Rick Blangiardi said last year that new city-subsidized affordable housing was “incredibly needed.” But nearly 10 months after an affordable Oahu apartment building opened for final steps, no residents have moved in, and city lawmakers are now weighing whether to scale back or extend the incentives program behind such projects.
Butler University plans to launch an online master’s program in deaf education this fall, funded through a $1.25-million U.S. Department of Education grant, but Deaf community members say the curriculum emphasizes spoken language over American Sign Language. In comments relayed through interpreters, educators and advocates said they want more ASL coursework required for future teachers. Program director Jenna Voss said the degree is designed to prepare teachers to support families with different communication options and that it does not bar ASL learning.
Minnesotans have launched a rapid wave of rent-relief efforts aimed at immigrant families facing eviction, as ongoing enforcement by ICE and other federal law enforcement keeps some residents from working. The Associated Press reports that Minneapolis resident Ashley Fairbanks started a social-media campaign that helped pay 12 families’ rent within hours and grew to dozens more within a day.
Minnesota residents and local advocates say federal immigration officers have impersonated construction workers, delivery drivers and others amid an immigration crackdown, including an encounter in the suburbs where a restaurant worker confronted two men he believed were pretending to be utility workers. A Homeland Security and ICE spokesperson did not respond to questions about whether the men were federal agents. Legal observers say the reports—some not verified—are increasing distrust and confusion about law enforcement activity.
Super Bowl advertisers leaned into health, caring and familiar entertainment themes as Americans faced a tense start to the year, according to marketing experts cited by The Associated Press. The commercials also highlighted the rapid spread of artificial intelligence and continued the long-running tradition of celebrity and nostalgia-driven storytelling.
At the Winter Olympics in Milan, U.S. athletes’ remarks about President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda have become a point of political contention as the games opened. Vice President JD Vance called the event “one of the few things that unites the entire country,” but that message was quickly challenged after American skier Hunter Hess spoke about “mixed emotions” over representing the U.S.
Children accompanying parents to polling stations in Lisbon were allowed to cast votes in Portugal’s presidential election Sunday, but their ballots listed popular fictional characters rather than the official runoff candidates. Parents described the exercise as a way to teach their children about civic participation.
President Donald Trump drew rare GOP blowback from Republican lawmakers over a video posted to social media that depicted former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle Obama, as primates. Multiple senators and House members urged Trump to remove the post after it spread among conservatives and included racist imagery alongside disputed claims about the 2020 election.
The Trump administration launched the TrumpRx website on Thursday, presenting it as a way to help Americans buy prescription drugs at discounted rates amid rising health-care costs. President Donald Trump said at the site’s unveiling that Americans “’re going to save a fortune,” and the administration said the government-hosted site will point users to drugmakers’ direct-to-consumer purchasing pages and pharmacy coupons.
Italy is expanding efforts to make art and tourist sites more accessible to people who are blind or have low vision, including using tactile models, braille signage and audio guides. The Associated Press reported examples from Rome, Pompeii, Florence and Ancona, highlighting how guides and museums are adapting museum visits and sightseeing experiences.
Venezuelan acting President Delcy Rodríguez and ousted President Nicolás Maduro have publicly expressed reverence for Indian spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba, according to interviews, social media posts and accounts of Rodríguez’s visits. The links come amid Rodríguez’s succession after Maduro’s Jan. 3 capture by U.S. forces, which led to federal drug trafficking charges. Both politicians, raised Catholic, have cited Sai Baba’s teachings in language tied to love, peace and spiritual oneness.
Democrats are emphasizing health care ahead of the November midterm elections, portraying higher premiums and coverage losses as central to President Donald Trump’s agenda and to congressional Republicans’ record. At a rally in Georgia attended by more than 1,000 people, U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff said Trump’s policies helped push insurance premiums higher for millions and left hundreds of thousands in his state without coverage. Republicans argue they are addressing affordability by cutting health spending and targeting what they call waste, fraud and abuse, and they say Democratic proposals would amount to more money for a broken system.
Yemen’s Presidential Leadership Council named a new cabinet, a step announced in a presidential decree published by state-run SABA late Friday, officials reported. The announcement came weeks after deadly clashes in Yemen’s south, the dissolution of the separatist Southern Transitional Council, and renewed tensions within the Saudi-led coalition fighting the Iranian-aligned Houthis.
Gaza’s Rafah border crossing reopened this week after a two-year war-driven shutdown, but few people have been allowed through as negotiators try to manage a fragile ceasefire process. Palestinian officials and travelers described hourslong Israeli questioning and mistreatment, while Israeli officials said they had no reports of abuse by Israeli forces. The crossing closed again Friday and Saturday, underscoring the uneven rollout.
A federal judge’s decision to grant adoption of an Afghan war orphan to U.S. Marine Joshua Mast and his wife became a diplomatic fight, and recently released court and government records show U.S. officials helped move the case forward even as the U.S. government later argued it was unlawful. The records, disclosed after The Associated Press sought access for years, describe how prosecutors, military and State Department officials worked to connect the child with Americans while U.S. officials simultaneously tried to reunite her with Afghan relatives.
Newly obtained emails have raised questions about what Robert F. Kennedy Jr. told U.S. senators about a 2019 trip to Samoa before a measles outbreak there, The Associated Press reported Tuesday. During Senate confirmation hearings for Kennedy’s role as President Donald Trump’s health secretary, Kennedy repeatedly said, “My purpose in going down there had nothing to do with vaccines,” and later replied, “Nothing to do with vaccines.” The newly disclosed messages include contemporaneous accounts suggesting vaccine-safety concerns motivated the visit, and they show U.S. Embassy staffers played a role in arranging the trip.
President Donald Trump deleted a 62-second racist video post featuring former President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama as primates in a jungle after backlash from Republicans and Democrats, the Associated Press reported. The White House later said the video was posted erroneously by a staffer, after press secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed criticism as “fake outrage.” Trump said Friday aboard Air Force One that he would not apologize, telling reporters: “I didn’t make a mistake.”
The Pentagon said Friday it is cutting ties with Harvard University, ending all military training, fellowships and certificate programs with the Ivy League school. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the university “no longer meets the needs of the War Department or the military services.”
Italian police fired tear gas and a water cannon at dozens of protesters who clashed near a Winter Olympics hockey venue in Milan on Feb. 7, an Associated Press report said. The confrontation followed a peaceful march against the Games’ environmental impact and against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents providing security to a U.S. delegation.
Atrial fibrillation, or A-fib, is an irregular or quivering heartbeat caused by the heart’s upper chambers beating out of sync with the lower chambers. It can come with symptoms such as a pounding heartbeat or shortness of breath, and it can raise the risk of blood clots, stroke and heart failure. Experts say diagnoses are increasing, and they cite new detection tools along with greater awareness.
Hims & Hers said it will stop offering a compounded version of Novo Nordisk’s newly sold Wegovy weight-loss pill, two days after announcing the plan. The company said it made the change after conversations with stakeholders, after the FDA threatened to restrict access to ingredients used to copy popular GLP-1 drugs such as Wegovy, Ozempic and Zepbound.
Washington Post publisher Will Lewis said Saturday that he is stepping down, days after the newspaper laid off one-third of its staff. Lewis said his departure will follow a two-year transformation, and the paper’s chief financial officer, Jeff D’Onofrio, was appointed temporary publisher.
The Washington Post laid off one-third of its staff on Wednesday, including eliminating its sports section and cutting several foreign bureaus and its books coverage, the Associated Press reported. Executive editor Matt Murray said the changes were painful but necessary as the paper seeks to put itself on a stronger footing amid shifts in technology and audience habits.
Greece detained 313 people in a raid on the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki campus after riot police were attacked by a mob hurling more than 100 Molotov cocktails, authorities said.
Several dozen protesters were arrested Saturday outside a federal building in Minneapolis while marking the one-month anniversary of Renee Good, a Minnesota woman who was killed by an immigration officer in January, according to the Hennepin County Sheriff’s office. Protesters threw bottles and sex toys, and later threw chunks of ice, prompting police to declare the gathering unlawful and order people to leave, the sheriff’s office said. Organizers also held a separate memorial event in a Minneapolis park.
New Mexico health officials warned people this week to avoid unpasteurized dairy after a newborn died from a listeria infection likely linked to the mother drinking raw milk during pregnancy, officials said. Investigators said they could not determine the exact cause but said the most likely source of infection was unpasteurized milk.
US births fell slightly in 2025, according to newly posted provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC said just over 3.6 million births have been reported through birth certificates, about 24,000 fewer than in 2024. The agency said data is still being compiled and the final total could add only a few thousand more births.
Cortisol is a stress-related hormone that helps the body function normally, but doctors say most people do not need to test or try to “lower” it with supplements. They warn that over-the-counter products and one-off cortisol tests can create unnecessary anxiety and follow-up care. Instead, doctors advise people to see a clinician if symptoms raise concerns and to focus on basics of stress management.
Four people have died and three others have required liver transplants after eating death cap mushrooms that are proliferating in California following a rainy winter, the state said. The California Department of Public Health urged people to avoid mushroom foraging this year because death caps can be confused with safe, edible varieties.
Public health officials and community leaders in Minneapolis say measles vaccination outreach is faltering in Minnesota’s Somali community as fears linked to a federal immigration crackdown and vaccine misinformation collide. They warn the decline in measles vaccine uptake leaves young children more exposed to a highly contagious disease.
Backyard vegetable gardens can help people eat more fruits and vegetables while also reducing the climate impact of food, experts told the Associated Press. The advice is aimed at people planning now for spring planting, when many areas are still covered in snow.
The case centers on Alberto Castañeda Mondragón, 31, who told the Associated Press he was badly beaten by U.S. immigration officers during an arrest in Minnesota on Jan. 8, suffering eight skull fractures and multiple life-threatening brain hemorrhages. ICE personnel told nurses he “purposefully ran headfirst into a brick wall,” but a CT scan showed injuries doctors said were inconsistent with a fall, according to court filings and medical records described by AP. The Department of Homeland Security has not responded to repeated requests for comment, and Minnesota elected officials and local prosecutors have urged further action.
Iran’s security forces cracked down on nationwide anti-government protests in early January, and an Iranian beautician who filmed the violence is now hiding from fear, according to the Associated Press. The AP said it verified the location and authenticity of her videos in Karaj and received messages and footage she shared with a relative in Los Angeles during an internet shutdown.
Co-workers across generations are increasingly pairing up in reverse mentoring programs, where younger employees share new digital trends and older colleagues bring experience and context. An Associated Press report on workplace wellness highlights examples from a Florida PR firm, Estée Lauder, and a Pennsylvania hotel, along with other workplaces where reverse mentoring is used to improve communication and training.
Olympic visitors in Cortina, Italy, will be able to reserve rides on snowmobiles for a side trip to the nearby Three Peaks of Lavaredo, a UNESCO World Heritage site, for a month starting Saturday, according to Uber and a local tour operator.
In many states where recreational or medical marijuana is legal, addiction clinicians warn that some people can develop cannabis use disorder. The condition can affect daily life, health and relationships, and is diagnosed using criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders.
Kindergarten readiness varies widely by income, according to new data from the National Survey for Children’s Health. In San Antonio, the city-run Pre-K 4 SA program is expanding free preschool seats and additional services for low-income and working-class families as child care costs strain budgets.
The Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan on Friday featured a packed roster of global highlights — but did not include snow, according to the Associated Press. With the Games drawing worldwide attention to the city, a special edition of “Slava’s Snowshow” arrived at the Teatro Strehler, offering audiences a “winter wonderland” on the sidelines.
In Wisconsin, state testing of private drinking wells for PFAS has left residents of small towns scrambling to find safe water—sometimes only after levels in their wells were found thousands of times above federal limits. Across the U.S., many households that rely on private wells learn their water is unsafe far later than customers served by utilities, and some states have limited resources to test and clean up.
U.S. documents often expect a single last name, but many people of Spanish and Latin American heritage use two surnames tied to both parents. An Associated Press explainer uses examples including Puerto Rican rapper Bad Bunny and Austin-based interpreter Susana Pimiento to show how that tradition can collide with U.S. forms and systems.
Tourists in Milan during the Winter Olympics who hoped to see Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper” were unable to access the painting as the site closed to the public for 3 1/2 days, ending Feb. 8 morning. The restrictions came as U.S. Vice President JD Vance and other Olympic-era VIP groups were allowed in on Saturday, according to the vice president’s office and others.
Super Bowl 60 commercials airing Sunday include technology pitches from AI companies, health and telehealth promotions, and celebrity-packed storytelling aimed at a mass audience approaching 128 million U.S. viewers. The Associated Press preview describes advertisers leaning into lighter themes and familiar pop culture as they compete for attention during the Patriots–Seahawks game on NBC.
A federal judge ruled that President Donald Trump’s administration must keep flowing child care subsidies and other social service money to five Democratic-controlled states at least for now. U.S. District Judge Vernon Broderick in New York granted the states a preliminary injunction and a stay after the states sued over the administration’s decision to withhold funds tied to programs that support low-income families.
A leading U.S. health official urged Americans to get inoculated against measles as outbreaks have spread across several states and the country risks losing its measles elimination status. CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz, speaking Sunday, urged people to “take the vaccine, please,” and said the measles shot remains covered under Medicare and Medicaid.
Baghdad traders and customs clearance company owners protested in central Baghdad on Sunday, urging the Iraqi government to reverse newly imposed customs tariffs they said raised costs and disrupted trade. The tariffs took effect Jan. 1 as part of efforts to cut the country’s debt and reliance on oil revenues as oil prices fall, while traders said fees have reached as high as 30% in some cases.
The Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt reopened on Sunday after a two-day closure, allowing a limited number of Palestinians to travel for medical treatment, Egyptian state media reported. The Palestinian Red Crescent said 17 medical evacuees and 27 companions began crossing into Egypt, with the same number expected to head into Gaza. Israel did not immediately confirm the figures.
MILAN — A new Olympic-themed art installation in a Milan park is inviting passersby to write reflections on the values of sport, using mirrors as part of a collective artwork. The project, called “Together to Reflect,” opened in the city’s BAM park area during a limited window for the public to add messages.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro said a man whom he described as allegedly tied to the killing of soccer player Andrés Escobar was shot dead in Mexico.
Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni condemned anti-Olympics protests in Milan early Sunday and said demonstrators tried to sabotage northern rail lines. Italy’s transport ministry said it opened a terrorism investigation into alleged synchronized sabotage on the first day of the 2026 Winter Games.
The Arizona Schools for the Deaf and the Blind board voted Thursday to move the Tucson campus to Oro Valley next school year, setting in motion changes that school families and staff say would disrupt education for students who are visually impaired. The board vote was 5-2, with two objections from Tucson resident William Koehler, while a separate vote to lay off about 70 people was 5-1 with Phoenix-based member Earl Terry abstaining.
In Minnesota, immigrant families say federal immigration enforcement operations have turned day-to-day school attendance into a risk they manage through prayer, driving changes and sometimes keeping children home. The Associated Press reported that children have been detained after leaving school, including a 5-year-old who was sent to a detention facility in Texas and later released after a judge ordered it.
Paul Weiss chairman Brad Karp resigned after the U.S. Department of Justice released emails that describe his exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein. In a statement, Karp said recent reporting has “created a distraction” and that he would remain at the firm where he has worked for decades.
Gabor S. Boritt, a Civil War historian and longtime professor at Gettysburg College, has died. Born in Budapest in 1940 and described by his family as surviving World War II and the aftermath of Auschwitz, Boritt died Monday in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, at age 86, according to his son.
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer announced the state lottery has contributed more than $1 billion to the School Aid Fund for a seventh straight year. But a Bridge Michigan analysis distributed by The Associated Press found that ticket sales take a large slice first, leaving about a quarter of each $1 purchase for the School Aid Fund. From there, only part of that pot supports preK-12 programs, and lottery proceeds account for less than 6% of the overall fund.
Jurors in federal court in Wichita on Wednesday awarded $8.3 million to the family of a Kansas foster teen who died in 2021 after officers held him facedown for nearly 40 minutes during a mental-health crisis at a juvenile intake center. The teen, Cedric “C.J.” Lofton, died two days after staff placed him on his stomach on the floor after a WRAP restraint was removed, according to the lawsuit record described at trial.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission said it is investigating Nike for allegedly discriminating against white employees through the company’s diversity policies. The EEOC disclosed the probe in a motion filed in Missouri federal court seeking full compliance with a subpoena, including information on layoffs, race and ethnicity tracking, and programs described in court documents as offering race-restricted mentoring or career development.
California has been expanding a policy that lets community college students earn academic credit for prior work experience, including military training and job-based learning. Gov. Gavin Newsom has backed the effort with millions in state funding, and the state aims to reach 250,000 students by 2030. But a statewide system that would show how many students have benefited is still incomplete, according to a senior adviser who oversees the public dashboard.
Riverside County and ChildNet agreed to a $13.5 million settlement with six siblings who say they were placed in an abusive home after being rescued from their parents’ situation in 2018. The agreement has Riverside County pay $2.25 million to six of the Turpin children and ChildNet pay $11.25 million, according to a copy of the settlement. The county and the agency denied wrongdoing.
The U.S. Census Bureau plans to use a survey form that includes a citizenship question in a practice test for the 2030 census, a step that has drawn concern from census experts. The field test is being conducted in Huntsville, Alabama, and Spartanburg, South Carolina, using questions from the American Community Survey that ask whether a person is a U.S. citizen.
Cortina d’Ampezzo is gearing up for the second Winter Olympics it will host, with snow and Olympic symbols shaping daily life as the 2026 Milan Cortina Games approach. In contrast, Milan—where most Olympics venues are farther out—shows far fewer signs that the Games are about to begin.
Ronald Hicks, the incoming archbishop of New York, said he plans to emphasize evangelizing and reengagement as he takes charge of one of the largest U.S. archdioceses. Speaking during a news conference at St. Patrick’s Cathedral ahead of his installation ceremony Friday, Hicks focused on how the Church can reengage people who have been part of it but less involved.
Ronald Hicks was installed Friday as the 11th archbishop of New York in a Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Manhattan, where he urged Catholics to build unity, spread the faith, and care for those most vulnerable. In remarks to clergy, laity and representatives from other faiths, Hicks succeeded Cardinal Timothy Dolan, whose resignation took effect after he turned 75, and said the archdiocese should be “a church made up of missionary disciples” that protects life and supports the poor.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrived in Milan with his family on Thursday, telling U.S. athletes at the Milan Cortina Winter Games that the Olympics are “one of the few things” that unites Americans. Vance is leading President Donald Trump’s delegation to the Games and, after Italy, is scheduled to travel to Armenia and Azerbaijan as part of a push tied to a U.S.-brokered peace agreement.
LONDON — The former Prince Andrew, who was stripped of royal titles by King Charles III last year, has moved out of his longtime home on crown-owned land near Windsor Castle and into the king’s private Sandringham estate, earlier than expected. The move follows the latest release of U.S. Jeffrey Epstein investigation documents that renewed questions about Andrew’s friendship with the convicted sex offender, according to British media and Thames Valley Police.
During the early years of the COVID-19 pandemic, disruptions to cancer diagnosis and treatment were associated with worse short-term survival for patients newly diagnosed in 2020 and 2021, a federally funded study found. The research, published Thursday in JAMA Oncology, compared one-year survival for those patients with survival patterns from 2015 to 2019. It found lower one-year survival across a range of cancers, including early- and late-stage diagnoses.
Pope Leo XIV is facing his first major crisis with traditionalist Catholics after a breakaway group linked to the traditional Latin Mass announced plans to consecrate new bishops without papal consent, raising fears of another schism. The Society of St. Pius X, known as the SSPX, said the consecrations are scheduled for July 1, despite Vatican objections and the automatic excommunication that church law attaches to unauthorized bishop consecrations.
Indiana lawmakers are debating a bill that would make it illegal to sleep or camp on public land in Indianapolis for certain residents experiencing homelessness, a proposal advocates say could disrupt a local housing program. The measure, considered in the Senate in January, would give people a warning and then 48 hours to move a specified distance or face a criminal penalty. Supporters say the change would help address homelessness, while opponents argue it could add legal and practical barriers to getting people into housing. The bill’s next step is assignment to the House Courts and Criminal Code Committee.
Former U.S. Rep. Lee Hamilton, a longtime Indiana Democrat known for shaping U.S. foreign affairs policy and overseeing investigations tied to the Sept. 11 attacks, died Tuesday. He was 94, according to his son Doug Hamilton.
Rep. Jake Auchincloss, a Massachusetts Democrat, sent a letter to the Food and Drug Administration raising new concerns about the agency’s “National Priority Voucher” program, which is intended to shorten review times for certain drugs. Auchincloss questioned whether the FDA has legal authority to run the program without Congressional action, and he sought information about ethics disclosures for senior officials involved in voucher decisions.
Melania Trump met Wednesday in Washington with freed American-Israeli hostage Keith Siegel and his wife, Aviva Siegel, whose captivity story is featured in her new film. The first lady said the couple met with her in New York in January 2025, after Aviva Siegel was freed, and that the meeting was captured on camera for the movie.
A new study published in *Science Advances* estimates that long-term exposure to wildfire-smoke particle pollution contributes to an average of 24,100 deaths per year across the lower 48 states between 2006 and 2020. Researchers focused on fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, which can lodge deep in the lungs and worsen chronic illness.
ANNAPOLIS, Md. — President Donald Trump is taking steps to install near the White House a replica of a Christopher Columbus statue that was toppled and thrown into Baltimore’s harbor during his first term protests, the Associated Press reported Thursday. The Italian American Organizations United said it owns the statue and signed a loan agreement with the federal government for placement “at or near” the White House.
The Trump administration says pharmaceutical companies agreed to lower Medicare prices for 15 prescription drugs, a deal it estimates will save taxpayers and Medicare beneficiaries billions. The negotiated pricing takes effect in 2027, while a first round of 10 drugs negotiated under President Joe Biden’s administration takes effect in January.
Vermont lawmakers and advocates say the state’s decades-old child welfare information technology is preventing access to some federal grants and makes it impossible to quantify how much money is being lost. They cited a lack of capacity to calculate “inaccessible federal funds,” and faulted a federal eligibility system that relies on tracking children’s histories in care. The dispute is playing out as Gov. Phil Scott’s proposed 2027 budget cuts state support for some family services programs tied to federal reimbursement rules.
A Texas A&M University professor who was fired after a controversy involving a classroom video about a gender identity lesson sued the school on Wednesday in federal court in Houston. Melissa McCoul alleges the university violated her constitutional rights to free speech and due process by firing her after political pressure, according to her lawsuit. The Texas A&M University System said it is aware of the case but has not reviewed the complaint and plans to defend itself.
Jesse Jackson Jr., the son of civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson, is campaigning for his former U.S. House seat in Illinois, pitching a message of redemption amid a history of political fraud and prison time. The March 17 Democratic primary is set in the Chicago-area district that voters largely expect to keep Democratic, with early voting beginning Thursday.
Couples at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show are leaning on a shared love of dogs as the event moves through its breed-by-breed rounds and heads toward the best-in-show award Tuesday night. Among them are two-time Westminster-winning handler Bill McFadden and his wife, Taffe, who have built their partnership around competing, traveling and managing a home full of dogs. The show also features breed finalists chosen Monday, including an Afghan hound and a Lhasa apso, along with other competitors’ families and show-business connections.
Hims & Hers said it will launch a compounded, lower-priced pill version of Wegovy, just weeks after Novo Nordisk’s reformulated Wegovy became available. Novo Nordisk said it will take legal and regulatory action, calling Hims’s product an unapproved “knockoff” of semaglutide.
Penny, a Doberman pinscher, won best in show Tuesday night at the 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, beating a Chesapeake Bay retriever named Cota. The victory marked a milestone for veteran handler Andy Linton, whose earlier best-in-show win came in 1989 with a Doberman named Indy.
Pope Francis’ role is back at the center of appeals in the Vatican’s “trial of the century,” as defense lawyers argue secret decrees issued during the investigation violated defendants’ right to a fair trial. The appeals hearings resumed Tuesday in Vatican City after a three-month break, with tribunal president Archbishop Alejandro Arellano Cedillo urging lawyers to avoid citing the pope by name.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance met Friday with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during a weeklong trip to Italy for the Olympic Games, a visit that paired sports with diplomacy amid strained relations between Washington and Europe under President Donald Trump. Vance spent the day watching the opening session of the three-day team figure skating competition and later attended the opening ceremony, where an image of him on screens drew boos.
California is rolling out an updated version of CalEnviroScreen, the pollution and health “tracker” used to choose which communities receive state cleanup funding. State officials said the fifth update adds two new indicators—diabetes prevalence and small air toxic sites—and improves data used in other health and pollution measures. The changes, developed with eight community organizations, are part of a debate over whether the system still leaves some burdened neighborhoods out of the funding pipeline.
Private drinking wells leave millions of Americans vulnerable to PFAS contamination, an Associated Press investigation says, because federal testing rules mainly cover public water systems. The AP reports that many well owners learn about contamination only after it has spread near industrial sites, and that states’ policies for private-well testing vary widely. In Wisconsin, one family’s PFAS discovery has led to years of investigation and concern, with limited state resources for grants and well replacement.
In Harlem, a Muslim-owned thrift shop called Modify Thrift blends modest fashion with faith and sustainability, offering vintage pieces and cultural clothing alongside a community-focused mission. The shop opened last May on Malcolm X Boulevard, and its owner, Kadjahtou Balde, said the store aims to challenge stereotypes about Muslim women’s style and to help customers find clothing that fits their modesty needs.
Mexico reported the highest measles case numbers as the Pan American Health Organization issued an epidemiological alert for the Americas, citing a surge that has largely hit people who are not vaccinated. In the first three weeks of 2026, PAHO confirmed 1,031 new measles cases across seven countries, a 43-fold increase from the same period last year. The alert also comes as Canada lost its measles-free status in November and the United States and Mexico are watching their own outbreaks closely.
The Catholic Church in Rome and Italy’s Culture Ministry are investigating a cherub in a historic basilica that critics say resembles Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, after photographs circulated in Italian newspapers. The diocese and the ministry launched inquiries into recent renovations at the Basilica of San Lorenzo in Lucina, drawing sharp reactions from church and government officials.
McDonald’s is rolling out a limited-time “McNugget Caviar” kit for Valentine’s Day, pairing a one-ounce tin of Paramount Siberian sturgeon caviar with a $25 gift card to buy McNuggets. The free kit, available Feb. 10 at McNuggetCaviar.com, also includes crème fraîche and a caviar spoon, the company said.
Lindsey Vonn said Tuesday that after a crash left her with a completely ruptured ACL and other injuries, she plans to compete at the Milan Cortina Olympics. Doctors and orthopedic specialists said competing is risky, but they noted that elite athletes sometimes return by using braces and careful management.
Two Colville women died in the Okanogan County jail in 2023 after they were booked there while awaiting trial, according to lawsuits filed by their families. The suits allege jail staff failed to provide appropriate care for opioid withdrawal and insufficient suicide prevention, and they challenge a jail “protocol” that relied on non–FDA-approved medications.
Preventive cholera vaccination programs will restart globally after nearly four years of pause caused by a vaccine shortage, the World Health Organization said Feb. 4. WHO, the vaccine alliance Gavi and UNICEF said improved stocks in the global oral cholera vaccine stockpile now allow a first allocation of 20 million doses, including deliveries planned for Mozambique, Congo and Bangladesh.
Fans are racing to learn Spanish ahead of Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, with some citing the singer’s lyrics and public statements as motivation. The Puerto Rican artist—whose early U.S. “Saturday Night Live” appearance included a warning to viewers who did not understand him—has fueled a surge of online posts about studying Spanish and decoding Puerto Rican slang.
The CIA said it is ending publication of the CIA World Factbook after more than 60 years, closing a popular reference guide used by journalists and others for decades. The agency did not give a reason for the decision, which comes after Director John Ratcliffe vowed to end programs he said do not advance core missions.
A great-granddaughter of Sidney Dearing, described as among Piedmont’s first Black residents, has filed a lawsuit against the city alleging the city used a condemnation action to force the family out because they were Black. Jordana Ackerman filed the case Feb. 2 in Alameda County Superior Court, and her complaint cites state equal-protection claims and alleges fraud in the city’s stated purpose for the taking.
West Virginia is projected to lose access to 28% of its federally subsidized low-income rental housing as federal rent restrictions tied to affordability periods expire, according to a statewide housing report. The report says nearly 200 properties are scheduled to reach the end of those federal affordability terms between 2029 and 2034, raising the stakes for seniors, children and people with disabilities who rely on rental assistance.
Researchers reported Wednesday that Merck’s experimental cholesterol-lowering pill, enlicitide, sharply reduced LDL cholesterol in high-risk patients who remained above goal despite statin therapy. The pill lowered LDL by as much as 60% over six months, researchers reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. The company is seeking FDA review, and an FDA program offers “ultra-fast reviews,” according to the report.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway apologized again for her past links to Jeffrey Epstein, saying Friday that some messages between them do not reflect who she wants to be. The fresh regret came after a new release of Epstein-related files that Norwegian media said contained several hundred mentions of her, less than a week after her first apology.
Plastic surgeons’ main U.S. organization said it found “insufficient evidence” that benefits of chest, genital and facial surgeries for minors with gender dysphoria outweigh risks, recommending delays until patients turn 19. The American Society of Plastic Surgeons said the position statement is not a clinical guideline and cited two heavily debated reviews, including England’s Cass Review and a 2025 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services report.
A division of the U.S. Agency for International Development that was eliminated after the Trump administration cut foreign aid was reborn Thursday as an independent nonprofit, with $48 million in philanthropic support. The new DIV Fund aims to keep funding for international development research and interventions moving in a different form after the government freeze. The nonprofit said it plans to grant out $25 million annually once fully established.
Texas Education Agency guidance warns school districts they could face state oversight, funding losses and other penalties if students are allowed to walk out to attend protests. The warning follows Gov. Greg Abbott directing the education commissioner to investigate videos and posts involving Austin ISD students participating in national walkouts against killings by federal immigration officers.
Children’s readiness for kindergarten hinges on more than early academics, including social-emotional development, self-regulation, health and motor skills, experts say. New federal data from the National Survey of Children’s Health finds about two-thirds of the nation’s 3- to 5-year-olds are on track for kindergarten. The assessment is part of an effort to identify what supports children may need before they enter school.
Jalisco, Mexico, has issued a health alert and ordered face masks in certain school neighborhoods after a measles outbreak reached Guadalajara, a key host city for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The state said the measures are aimed at slowing transmission as Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) warned earlier this week of rising measles spread across the Americas.
The United States stands out in a new Gallup world poll for how many Americans—especially older residents—say politics and government are the top issue they face. The survey, conducted from March to October 2025, also finds that younger Americans are more likely than young people in many other wealthy countries to prioritize affordability and other economic concerns.
President Donald Trump on Feb. 3 demanded that Harvard University pay $1 billion to end a prolonged standoff with the Ivy League campus, doubling the amount he previously sought. In comments posted on Truth Social, Trump said the university must pay the government directly and that his administration wants “nothing further to do” with Harvard going forward.
Disney said its parks chief Josh D’Amaro will succeed Bob Iger as chief executive, with the leadership change effective March 18. The company also appointed Disney Entertainment co-chairman Dana Walden to a newly created president and chief creative officer role.
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli troops blindfolded, handcuffed and interrogated three women after they crossed the Rafah border crossing back into Gaza, according to accounts provided to The Associated Press. The women said the screening happened at an Israeli-controlled facility on the Gazan side, where they described humiliation, threats and pressure to become informants.
California has failed to license most of the trucking schools that train commercial drivers, a CalMatters analysis reviewed by the Associated Press finds, largely because private schools that charge $2,500 or less can avoid state oversight. Regulators say their disciplinary tools narrow sharply once schools claim that exemption, and the state has told lawmakers it cannot reliably determine how many trucking schools exist.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said they support a proposed new stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays on Tuesday, as the team seeks a long-term home in the Tampa Bay area. The Rays are under lease at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg through at least the 2028 season, but hurricane damage in 2024 and a canceled redevelopment deal have renewed questions about the franchise’s future. A Hillsborough County Commission meeting on Wednesday is set to discuss the proposal.
In the run-up to Sunday’s Super Bowl between the Seattle Seahawks and New England Patriots, the NFL faces mounting pressure to state whether it will keep Immigration and Customs Enforcement out of the game. Bad Bunny, who has criticized President Donald Trump and ICE, is set to headline the halftime show at Levi’s Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area, drawing both backlash and praise as the event is watched as a proxy for broader national tensions.
Tens of thousands of immigrants are being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement as the Trump administration expands detention facilities with a reported $45 billion plan, prompting pushback from cities and states. Communities in multiple states have raised concerns as ICE looks to convert warehouses and use jail beds, with legal experts saying local governments have limited power to block federal use of private property.
The Anchorage School District has proposed a budget for the 2026-27 school year that would eliminate more than 500 staff positions, raise class sizes, and cut many sports programs to address a projected $90 million budget deficit. Superintendent Jharrett Bryant said the district is “laying off dozens of employees” and that the plan includes eliminating positions across teaching and student support, along with ending the IGNITE gifted program for elementary students.
Hank and John Green’s educational media company Complexly is becoming a nonprofit, the brothers said in an Associated Press interview. The change is intended to keep “Crash Course” content free of advertisers’ interests and to make it easier for viewers to access “trustworthy content” online.
Influential figures who died in January 2026 included Emmy-winning comedian Catherine O’Hara, the CIA turncoat Aldrich Ames, and civil rights pioneer Claudette Colvin. The Associated Press also noted deaths of entertainers, athletes and public health leaders among its roll call of notable people lost so far this year.
In a study published Monday in Nature Neuroscience, researchers reported that 2-month-old babies can distinguish between categories of objects they see, using brain scans while the infants were awake. The findings were based on data from 130 2-month-olds, and the researchers said they plan to build toward connecting early brain activity with later cognitive development.
Punxsutawney Phil predicted six more weeks of wintry weather Monday at Gobbler’s Knob in western Pennsylvania, prompting a mix of cheers and boos from thousands who braved single-digit temperatures. In New York, Staten Island Chuck’s ceremony was streamed but closed to the public because of the cold, with Chuck also said to have predicted six more weeks of winter.
Doctors Without Borders said a hospital it runs in South Sudan was hit by an airstrike carried out by government forces late Tuesday. The group said the attack in Lankien, in Jonglei state, injured one staff member and destroyed the hospital’s main warehouse and medical supplies.
Humanitarian organizations in South Sudan said Monday that restricted access to Jonglei has left thousands at risk of losing lifesaving medical care and food assistance as fighting between government and opposition forces spreads. They described service suspensions and disruptions that have also left displaced families increasingly dependent on limited aid, while the United Nations raised concern about growing displacement.
The Trump administration is eliminating four of six planned locations for a practice test of the 2030 census, narrowing the work to Huntsville, Alabama, and Spartanburg, South Carolina. The test started Monday, and the Commerce Department plans to formally publish the change on Tuesday.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced Monday that the Department of Health and Human Services will devote $100 million toward a pilot program tackling homelessness and substance abuse in eight cities. The initiatives, unveiled at a SAMHSA “Prevention Day” event, build on a Trump executive order signed last week focused on addiction.
Schools across the Southeast have extended weather-related closures into a second week after winter storms knocked out power and made roads too icy for travel, the Associated Press reported. Some districts turned to limited remote learning while others prepared to add school days to make up lost instructional time.
In downtown Mexico City, artisans and families are repairing broken Baby Jesus figurines ahead of Candlemas on Feb. 2, when the Catholic feast marks the end of Christmas celebrations. Many of the plaster figures lose hands, noses or other details from one year to the next, but some households choose repair over replacement for sentimental reasons. “It is cheaper to buy one, but it is not so much the one you buy, but the one someone has given you, (it’s) why you have it. Nothing more,” said María Sánchez Arena, 61.
A man filed a lawsuit in Texas accusing a California doctor of violating the state’s anti-abortion law by providing abortion medication. The case tests a Texas legal model that allows private citizens to sue abortion providers for mailing the pills, according to a legal group defending the doctor.
The Coconino County Medical Examiner’s Office is investigating the death of a Northern Arizona University student found unresponsive at a fraternity house after an initiation event, according to court documents released Monday. Police said three 20-year-old fraternity leaders were arrested on criminal hazing charges. The university said it temporarily suspended the chapter while it conducts its own investigation.
As Bangladesh nears a national election on Feb. 12, members of the country’s Hindu minority say they are living in fear as attacks and communal violence rise, including a killing last month that drew international attention. An interim government led by Muhammad Yunus has ordered an investigation, while human rights groups and Hindu leaders describe a broader surge in violence that they link to polarization, the reemergence of Islamists and what they call a culture of impunity.
Bolivia began implementing a ban on students’ cellphones in classrooms on Feb. 2, as the school year starts in the landlocked South American country. The rule applies in both public and private schools and asks students and teachers to keep phones in lockers or bags while classes are in session.
Disney’s first-quarter profit topped analyst expectations as the company credited box-office performance from “Zootopia 2” and “Avatar: Fire and Ash.” The Walt Disney Co. also warned that modest operating income growth is expected in its Experiences business during the second quarter, citing weaker international tourism to the United States.
The Vatican said Michelangelo’s “The Last Judgment” fresco is undergoing a three-month cleaning at the Sistine Chapel, its first major restoration in three decades. The Vatican Museums said the chapel will remain open to visitors during the work, though scaffolding will partially obstruct views.
Nevada school leaders say flat K-12 funding, higher costs and enrollment declines are straining district budgets, after a 26% funding increase three years ago. Several districts are projecting deficits that could force program cuts, school consolidations and personnel reductions, and at least one district is eligible for a state takeover.
Norwegian skier Nikolai Schirmer delivered a “Ski Fossil Free” petition to the International Olympic Committee on Feb. 4, ahead of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics. The petition, signed by more than 21,000 people and athletes, urges the IOC and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation to evaluate fossil-fuel marketing ahead of next season.
Planned Parenthood has moved to voluntarily drop its legal challenge to Trump administration Medicaid cuts that it said would end funding for abortion providers across the U.S. The organization said it took the step after a federal appeals court ruling in December allowed the administration to keep withholding the Medicaid payments, and as a separate challenge by mostly Democratic states continues.
Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog at Gobbler’s Knob in western Pennsylvania, saw his own shadow Monday morning, the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club announced. The shadow sighting is traditionally taken to mean six more weeks of winter and not an early spring.
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Monday that he is “not ripping down” the Kennedy Center, even as he insisted the performing arts venue needs to close for about two years for construction work. Trump also said the cost would be about $200 million and that the shutdown would keep patrons from coming and going during the renovations.
Vermont is considering whether to create a locked facility for defendants found incompetent to stand trial or not guilty by reason of insanity who do not meet clinical criteria for psychiatric hospitalization. Advocates and lawmakers say the current system leaves some accused people without a durable case resolution, while critics question whether the proposed approach could turn competency-restoration into prolonged incarceration.
Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, returned to Minnesota on Sunday after a judge ordered their release from an Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Texas, the congressman who helped retrieve them said. Representative Joaquin Castro said Castro picked the pair up from Dilley, Texas, on Saturday night and escorted them home the following day.
A U.S. federal judge on Monday blocked the Trump administration from ending temporary protected status for Haitians in the United States as a lawsuit proceeds. The ruling came a day before the scheduled end of TPS protections for Haitians, according to the Associated Press.
The Gates Foundation said it will narrow its priorities rather than change course as the U.S. and other countries reduce foreign assistance, focusing at least 70% of its funding over the next 20 years on ending preventable maternal and child deaths and controlling key infectious diseases. Chief executive Mark Suzman said in a letter released Tuesday that the foundation is not taking on new goals and is renewing its push for donor countries to keep funding global health.
Westminster Kennel Club’s 150th dog show added an agility event that tests teams on a fast, obstacle-by-obstacle course. Handlers describe how they coach dogs with commands, body signals and training strategies as scores combine time and accuracy.
Peru’s ambassador to the Holy See invited Pope Leo XIV to visit the South American country during a Vatican garden ceremony on Saturday, as the Vatican weighs major travel plans for 2026 that include potential trips to Africa and Latin America.
Portland Mayor Keith Wilson demanded that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement leave Portland after federal agents used tear gas, pepper balls and rubber bullets against demonstrators outside an ICE facility during a weekend protest. Witnesses said the crowd included young children, and paramedics were sent to treat people at the scene.
Lagos authorities have carried out demolitions in the waterfront community of Makoko, displacing thousands of residents as homes were torn down and people say there was limited notice, leaving some families sheltering in makeshift setups. An AP account described bulldozers demolishing houses starting in late December and continuing into January, including the home of fisherman Victor Ahansu, whose family now lives on a canoe with his baby twins. Officials from the Lagos state Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development declined to comment on the allegations.
Attorneys and family members say they are finding it extremely difficult to locate and communicate with people detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after those detainees are taken to hospitals. In one case, Julio César Peña, detained in Glendale, Calif., was hospitalized after suffering a ministroke but his wife and his attorney said they could not get basic information about where he was or whether he was receiving care.
Michigan lawmakers are considering changes to help address severe shortages of doctors, dentists and other health care workers as the state’s population ages. Proposed steps include letting nurse practitioners prescribe and dispense controlled substances, creating temporary licenses for some internationally trained physicians, and joining interstate licensing compacts.
More women and LGBTQ people are entering the U.S. rabbinate and rabbinical schools, reshaping who Jewish communities see as spiritual leaders, an Associated Press report says. Women rabbis and students described both progress since earlier cohorts and ongoing obstacles in hiring, inclusion, and workplace expectations.
Pokémon Company canceló un evento de cartas programado para el sábado en el santuario japonés de Yasukuni, tras la reacción de China y la intensa polémica en torno al lugar. La empresa se disculpó después de que el anuncio del torneo apareciera en su sitio web, aunque dijo que el encuentro había sido organizado de forma privada por un jugador certificado.
Children with cerebral palsy, autism, ADHD and other conditions in Taiwan are using horse therapy at a center in Taoyuan to find comfort and support through riding and interacting with horses, the Associated Press reported. Parents and therapists say the structured sessions help many children feel at ease, try new experiences and build confidence.
The Carter Center said only 10 reported human cases of Guinea worm infections were confined to Chad, Ethiopia and South Sudan in 2025, a historic low. The center also said animal infections remained in the hundreds and varied by country. The Carter Center’s Guinea worm program director Adam Weiss linked the remaining work to efforts on diagnosis and changes in behavior around unsafe water sources.
Griffin, a city south of Atlanta, advised residents not to drink their tap water after a fuel spill at Atlanta’s airport may have contaminated the Flint River, according to city officials. The city told residents to use bottled water for drinking, cooking and brushing teeth while it tests the water supply and relies on an unaffected reservoir in nearby Pike County, the Associated Press reported.
Texas county jails held an average of about 430 pregnant inmates each month in late 2025, according to data being compiled under a budget rider that orders the Texas Commission on Jail Standards to study maternal health and mortality in custody. Advocates say the effort is meant to improve oversight after years of reports and lawsuits alleging medical neglect and other harms to pregnant people in county lockups.
Black History Month centennial celebrations are unfolding as advocates warn of a tightening political climate around how Black history is taught in the United States. DeRay Mckesson, a longtime activist, said state and local leaders are “nervous about retribution from the White House,” even as organizers plan curricula, teacher training and public programming for the milestone year.
Bidets are becoming more common in the U.S. as people look for alternatives to toilet paper, including for certain medical situations. In an updated health guide published this week, doctors say bidets can help with issues like irritation from wiping, but they also caution that improper use and maintenance can cause other problems.
Freezing temperatures and long power outages can quickly create medical emergencies, including hypothermia and frostbite, emergency-room doctors warn. In guidance shared with The Associated Press, clinicians urged people without electricity to stay warm in confined spaces, dress in layers, keep dry, and watch for symptoms that require a 911 call.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Emiliano Garduno Galvez was sentenced to four years in federal prison after pleading guilty to possessing an unregistered destructive device and civil disorder for throwing a Molotov cocktail at Los Angeles County Sheriff’s deputies during protests last spring against immigration raids.
Minnesota’s Star Tribune has tackled immigration enforcement coverage during unrest in Minneapolis, using on-the-ground reporting and a newsroom-wide shift toward digital-first tools, including live updates and video analysis.
Las Vegas buffets have shifted from low-cost, quick meals to higher-priced “luxury” dining as longtime properties closed or transformed during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The change reflects rising costs, evolving tastes and the city’s rise as a foodie destination, several longtime visitors and local food experts said.
Palestinian citizens in Israel have pressed authorities for more security as police say recent killings were driven by gang violence and, in at least one case, confusion of identity. Demonstrations in towns and cities across Israel have intensified after multiple shootings, including the killing of a 15-year-old in Kafr Yasif.
In Kafr Yasif, Israel, Palestinian citizens protested gang and family-feud violence after a motorcycle gunman killed 15-year-old Nabil Safiya in a shooting police later said was mistaken identity. The shooting, which residents and activists say highlights an escalating security crisis for Arab communities, comes as demonstrations swept Israel, including thousands marching in Tel Aviv.
President Donald Trump said Sunday he will move to close Washington’s Kennedy Center for two years starting in July for construction, making the venue’s latest overhaul part of his efforts to reshape the institution since taking office again. The president’s announcement came after a wave of cancellations by major performers and groups.
The 150th Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show gets under way in New York with breed judging—called “conformation”—on Monday and Tuesday at the Javits Center and Madison Square Garden. Best in show is scheduled to be awarded at the Garden around 11 p.m. EST Tuesday, and the event is being shown on Fox Sports platforms including FS1 and FS2.
Athletes started moving into Milan’s Olympic Village before the Feb. 6-22 Winter Games, with teams settling into new rooms, dining halls and training spaces designed to run for three weeks. The complex will be officially inaugurated Monday by International Olympic Committee President Kirsty Coventry, but it has already been coming alive as athletes arrived with national gear and set up routines in the village.
A federal judge ordered the release by Tuesday of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Conejo Arias, from Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody after they were detained in Minnesota and sent to a Texas facility. U.S. District Judge Fred Biery, in a ruling issued Saturday, criticized the Trump administration’s enforcement approach and cited the case’s effect on children.
North Carolina attracted 84,000 more new residents from other parts of the country last year, making it the biggest draw for domestic migration, according to U.S. Census Bureau figures. South Carolina recorded the highest overall growth rate at 1.5%, as more people shifted their moves to the Carolinas while Florida’s in-migration cooled and Texas’ domestic inflow slowed.
Melania Trump’s documentary “Melania” opened in theaters Friday in the United States and around the world, offering a behind-the-scenes look at her life in the 20 days before she resumed the role of first lady last year. The film follows her preparations for inaugural events, including meetings with other leaders and discussions with Secret Service officials about safety on Inauguration Day.
Beginning Sunday, air travelers in the U.S. who do not have a REAL ID or another TSA-accepted form of identification will face a $45 fee to verify their identity at the airport through the TSA’s ConfirmID option, according to the Department of Homeland Security. The fee, which can be paid online in advance, covers verification for a 10-day travel period but does not guarantee approval, the TSA said.
Winter storm conditions and power outages left many residents in the U.S. South facing dangerous cold, with experts warning that hypothermia risk rises after days without heat. As another storm loomed, Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee said he shared “strong concerns” with Nashville Electric Service, and forecasters warned arctic air would push temperatures into the teens in cities such as Nashville.
Indigenous Catholics across northern Manitoba and Saskatchewan have a new archbishop as Susai Jesu, born in Tamil Nadu, was consecrated in a ceremony that included traditional drumming and songs in multiple languages. Jesu, 54, succeeds as leader of the Diocese of Keewatin–Le Pas and will oversee ministry to about 49,000 Catholics, most of them Indigenous, spread across an area larger than Texas.
In federal custody in Minnesota, a Mexican immigrant was taken to hospitals after suffering skull and brain injuries, with court records and lawyers alleging mistreatment. Immigration and Customs Enforcement initially said he “purposefully ran headfirst into a brick wall,” but Hennepin County Medical Center staff told The Associated Press the account could not explain the injuries. The episode has highlighted tensions between immigration enforcement and health care workers, federal detention officials and the hospital said.
A former director at the Sierra Club Foundation, the charitable arm of the Sierra Club, filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in California state court, alleging internal racism and retaliation for complaints about discrimination and lack of diversity. Pedro da Silva, 29, says the foundation’s racial-justice commitments did not extend internally and that workplace interactions were “twisted” into a harassment complaint based on racist stereotypes. The Sierra Club Foundation said it is “vigorously defending” its decision to fire him.
Protesters across the United States closed schools and stores on Friday to join a nationwide strike opposing the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, as demonstrations spread to cities including Minneapolis, Los Angeles and parts of New England.
Journalist Don Lemon was arrested in Los Angeles and later released after he was hit with federal civil rights charges tied to a Jan. 18 protest that disrupted a Minnesota church service, federal prosecutors said. The charges stem from an indictment in Minnesota alleging conspiracy and interfering with the First Amendment rights of worshippers. Lemon’s lawyer said Lemon plans to plead not guilty and fight the case.
The Farmers’ Almanac announced it would stop printing after more than 200 years, but the publication says it will continue under a new owner, Unofficial Networks. The deal moves the almanac from Maine to New York City and includes plans for a new website and a future print edition, its new publisher said.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office filed a civil rights complaint against Dr. Mehmet Oz, alleging he discriminated against Armenian people in a video that claimed hospice fraud in Los Angeles. Newsom’s office said Oz’s statements—made in social media posts—risked deterring participation in hospice and home-care programs that serve people on government-subsidized insurance.
The U.S. life expectancy rose to 79 years in 2024, the highest mark in American history, the CDC said this week. The agency attributed the gain to the fading of the COVID-19 pandemic and to declining death rates from major causes such as heart disease, cancer and drug overdoses.
Night owls—people who tend to be more active late at night—may have poorer overall heart health than people with more typical schedules, according to a large study tracked over more than a decade. The findings, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, showed night owls had a higher risk of a first heart attack or stroke and were less likely to meet key cardiovascular health factors.
The U.S. Mint this week released its 2026 Sacagawea $1 coin design honoring Polly Cooper, a Oneida woman remembered for helping George Washington’s Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. The coin’s reverse shows Cooper offering a basket of corn to Washington, and the release comes as the country marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Mississippi lawmakers advanced competing bills that would require local school boards to restrict or prohibit cellphone use during the school day, as supporters cite concerns about student mental health and school engagement. Rep. Sam Creekmore told a House committee the policy aims to set boundaries while addressing how teens use phones and social media. The Senate Education Committee also approved a similar measure, setting up further action by the Mississippi Legislature.
The Trump administration announced 15 new prescription drugs for Medicare price negotiation, expanding the federal government’s ability to bargain directly with drug makers under a 2022 law. Drugs selected to be negotiated include treatments for type 2 diabetes, HIV and arthritis, and officials said deals could take effect in 2028 for Medicare enrollees.
Hawaiʻi could face the nation’s sharpest decline in high school graduates over the coming years, according to the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education. The expected drop is prompting concerns among state lawmakers and Department of Education officials about what it could mean for small schools in shrinking communities.
In Vermillion, South Dakota, a small group of long-time residents has begun building the state’s first cohousing development, called Dakota Prairie Commons, a project intended to strengthen community ties and add housing options. Founding member Betty Smith said the vehicle-free campus will center around a large common house, with homes connected by footpaths and parking kept at the development’s edge.
Texas A&M University will end its women’s and gender studies program and change or cancel parts of hundreds of courses under a new policy limiting how professors can discuss some race and gender topics, the school said Friday. The announcement came after campus unrest that followed a viral video of a student confrontation with an instructor, and after the university reviewed 5,400 courses.
President Donald Trump said Friday that an IndyCar race will take place this summer on streets in Washington, D.C., including Pennsylvania Avenue, as the country marks its 250th birthday. Trump signed an executive order establishing the race on Aug. 23 with Roger Penske, and he said he told organizers to choose the best route even if it required more approvals.
As heavy cold and snow pushed across parts of the U.S., doctors, orthopedic specialists, emergency officials and roadside-safety advocates urged people to slow down to avoid slips, falls and ice-related injuries. They also warned that thin lake ice can vary in thickness even after brief stretches of freezing weather.
U.S. and global entertainment, technology and business leaders have increasingly voiced criticism of Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, fueled by backlash over Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in Minnesota and anger after the death of Alex Pretti. The criticism has spilled beyond politics, with public statements ranging from music and television to corporate memos, social media posts and sports commentary.
After a massive weekend storm left deep snow and bitter cold across parts of the United States, some people may consider eating snow—such as snow cones, “snow cream” or “sugar on snow.” Doctors and snow scientists say the treats can be safe only with caution, including where the snow came from and what contaminants it may carry. Specialists also warn against eating snow as a survival strategy because it can worsen hypothermia.
Thousands of protesters and volunteer networks have continued to follow U.S. immigration enforcement activity through Minneapolis as federal agents arrest people across immigrant neighborhoods, according to reports from the Associated Press. The protests come as activists deploy whistles, encrypted messaging and on-the-ground legal and support efforts even after the White House took a more conciliatory tone following the killing of Alex Pretti.
The Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association has voted to seriously consider moving its headquarters from Colorado to Wyoming, according to AP. Conservative lawmakers in Wyoming are raising concerns about a proposed $15 million state incentive, which could hinge on decisions during the state’s Feb. 9 budget session.
The U.S. government on Wednesday proposed new rules for the nation’s transplant system that aim to increase the use of “less-than-perfect” organs while tightening safety oversight of organ procurement organizations. The proposal from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services would strengthen oversight, add requirements for how organs are tracked and assigned, and set additional safety standards for donor groups.
Las Vegas saw its fewest visitors in four years in 2025, as the Strip’s gaming revenue rose less than 1% and tourism was pressured by economic and travel disruptions. The figures were released this week, and officials and analysts said the market is now looking past the year amid plans for trade shows and convention demand.
NEW YORK — Police said Thursday that Dan Sohail, 36, was charged with attempted assault as a hate crime after he drove his car into the Chabad Lubavitch world headquarters in Brooklyn, damaging doors but injuring no one. Officials said Sohail had tried to connect with the Hasidic community and that video showed him dancing with congregants during a prior visit. City leaders announced stepped-up security around houses of worship after the crash on Wednesday night.
A deadly car crash in Nigeria involving former heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua and multiple minibus accidents in South Africa in recent days have underscored Africa’s weak road safety record. The continent has the world’s highest road fatality rate despite having only about 3% of the world’s vehicles, according to the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa.
BELGRADE, Serbia — A small, run-down 19th-century mansion on a central street in Belgrade has survived as a theater known as Takovska17, keeping period furnishings and a heritage listing intact while much of the surrounding neighborhood has changed. Built in 1894 and protected, the house has hosted intimate productions staged by local troupes for audiences of a few dozen, according to an Associated Press report.
Dozens of public housing tenants in Detroit are being offered a priority chance to buy homes as the Detroit Housing Commission sells its 195 single-family houses, the agency said. The program will include a $1.2 million Rocket Community Fund commitment aimed at helping buyers with down-payment assistance and up to $60,000 in home repair work.
Doctors increasingly recommend breast self-awareness — a flexible approach to noticing normal changes and new symptoms — as a complement to routine screening, not a substitute for mammograms.
The U.S. Justice Department has charged Anthony Kazmierczak after he allegedly sprayed Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar with a liquid of water and apple cider vinegar at a Minneapolis event, according to federal court papers. Prosecutors said Kazmierczak faces a federal charge of forcibly assaulting and intimidating Omar and was ordered held in custody by a U.S. magistrate judge.
Maine’s Wabanaki Public Health and Wellness has trained about 30 doulas, including during a late-September program, to help families in the state as birthing centers and delivery services have closed. Lisa Sockabasin, the group’s co-CEO, said the organization moved to fill gaps after hearing concerns from community members about the impact of those closures.
Melania Trump’s documentary “Melania” premiered Thursday at the Kennedy Center before its Friday global release, AmazonMGM Studios said. The film focuses on the 20 days leading up to her husband, Donald Trump, returning to the White House.
Pope Leo XIV told the Vatican’s doctrine office to uphold “truth, justice and charity” when deciding clergy sex abuse cases, during an audience Thursday with cardinals and bishops in the Dicastery of the Doctrine of the Faith. The Pope said the matter requires careful attention to justice, while his remarks also came with renewed emphasis on ensuring victims are listened to and not left unheard.
Rio de Janeiro’s record tourist numbers have increasingly pushed visitors toward favela tours that residents say offer a different look at the city, including Rocinha’s art, history and neighborhood life. The growth has helped some residents, including local guide Vitor Oliveira, turn tourism into a main source of income, as international visitors seek experiences beyond Rio’s best-known landmarks.
LOS ANGELES (AP) — TikTok agreed to settle a landmark lawsuit over allegations that social media platforms deliberately addict and harm children just before trial was set to begin, plaintiff attorneys confirmed. Jury selection starts this week in Los Angeles County Superior Court against Meta’s Instagram and Google’s YouTube, with executives including Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg expected to testify.
The Texas State Board of Education on Wednesday delayed a vote on a proposed K-12 required reading list after hours of discussion that focused on the list’s religious content and a perceived lack of racial, ethnic and gender diversity. The board voted 13-1 to postpone consideration until its April meetings. Texas Education Agency officials said the list is based on teacher input and books used in other states, while critics said the religious emphasis conflicts with the U.S. Constitution’s Establishment Clause.
Breast self-awareness, as described by the American Cancer Society and other cancer experts, is a way to stay familiar with how breasts normally look and feel so people can bring new changes to a doctor’s attention. Health experts say it can complement standard screening and should not replace mammograms for most people.
Dozens of Detroit public housing tenants will get priority to buy homes from the Detroit Housing Commission as the agency sells its full portfolio of 195 single-family properties, the commission said. The program is expected to be announced Wednesday, along with a $1.2 million commitment from the Rocket Community Fund to help support the first 10 home purchases.
A man who drove his car into the Chabad Lubavitch world headquarters in Brooklyn was charged with attempted assault as a hate crime, New York police said Thursday. Police said investigators were still working to determine what prompted the crash Wednesday night. They said the man, Dan Sohail, had recently been trying to connect with the Hasidic community.
Rio de Janeiro has seen a rise in tourists looking for local tours in its favelas, residents and industry figures say, as record tourist numbers push visitors beyond the city’s iconic landmarks. The growth has led some residents of low-income communities, including local guide Vitor Oliveira, to rely on tourism for income.
Death Valley National Park in California said Scotty’s Castle will reopen for limited tours after years of flood-recovery work. The National Park Service plans more tours in the coming months, with full reopening “eyed for a few years from now,” according to Abby Wines, the acting deputy superintendent.
The Trump administration concluded that San Jose State University discriminated against women by allowing a transgender volleyball player to compete on the women’s team, the U.S. Education Department said Wednesday. The department offered the California school a deal that would require it to adopt the administration’s definition of “male” and “female,” restore records and titles the officials said were misappropriated, and issue apologies to affected women athletes.
California lawmakers advanced a new bill to let some community colleges award additional bachelor’s degrees, setting up another clash with Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has vetoed similar measures. The bill, Assembly Bill 664, passed a first round in the Assembly on Jan. 26, after Newsom’s vetoes of three prior bills that would have expanded community college bachelor’s offerings.
In Minneapolis, Native Americans say they are carrying tribal identification cards after fears of Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids. The cards, which many nations are making easier and faster to obtain, are intended to help prove U.S. citizenship if federal agents stop or question them.
Protesters were arrested Tuesday after they occupied the lobby of a Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan, demanding the hotel bar federal immigration agents, according to The Associated Press. The demonstration drew criticism amid an ongoing large-scale immigration operation carried out by President Donald Trump’s administration, the report said.
Shirley Raines, a social media creator and nonprofit founder who became known as “Ms. Shirley” for bringing food, hygiene supplies and beauty services to people experiencing homelessness, died Wednesday at 58, her organization Beauty 2 The Streetz said. Raines’ cause of death was not released.
India’s Health Ministry said it has contained a Nipah virus outbreak after confirming two cases in the eastern state of West Bengal. The ministry said contacts had been quarantined and tested negative, while several other Asian countries increased airport and border health screening for travelers arriving from India.
Many drivers looking for an SUV on a budget can consider “extra-small” used models, with prices often below $20,000 even as the average cost of a new vehicle hovers around $50,000, Edmunds said. The automotive website compiled five small, used SUV picks it says balance affordability, fuel economy and everyday usability.
Gerber is recalling certain lots of its arrowroot teething biscuits that may contain pieces of soft plastic or paper and should not be eaten, the company said. The recall covers 5.5-ounce packages with best-by dates between Oct. 16 and Dec. 16, 2026.
A doomsday prediction about the Rapture attributed to a South African man has spread on social media ahead of Sept. 23 or Sept. 24. The claim is based on an apocalyptic message he said he received in a YouTube video posted months ago, and it has prompted both debate among some evangelical Christians and mockery online.
Families of the 67 people killed when an American Airlines jet and an Army Black Hawk helicopter collided near Reagan National Airport gathered Wednesday evening to mark the one-year anniversary of the deadliest aviation accident on U.S. soil since 2001. At the memorial ceremony in Washington, family members renewed calls for federal safety reforms, one day after National Transportation Safety Board investigators testified that the crash was "100% preventable." The collision occurred on January 29, 2025, when the aircraft struck the icy Potomac River. Among the dead were 28 figure skaters bound for a national competition. Everyone aboard both aircraft died in the collision.
Alabama’s prison system moved three inmate activists featured in the Oscar-nominated documentary “The Alabama Solution” to solitary confinement at Kilby Correctional Facility, attorneys said. The men—Robert Earl Council, Melvin Ray and Raoul Poole—were transferred about two weeks earlier and are now held with limited or no contact with other prisoners, family members and attorneys, their lawyers said. The Alabama Department of Corrections said the transfers were based on intelligence about activity the agency said was detrimental to safety and security.
Gerber is recalling certain lots of its arrowroot teething biscuits because they might contain pieces of soft plastic or paper, the company said. The recall covers 5.5-ounce packages with best-by dates between Oct. 16 and Dec. 16, 2026, and consumers are advised not to eat the affected biscuits.
Hundreds of Indigenous people have been protesting for nearly a week at a Cargill facility in Santarém, northern Brazil, alleging the federal government signed a decree without consulting affected communities. The Tapajós and Arapiuns Indigenous Council says the decree, signed in August by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, would allow the federal government to consider private concessions for Amazon waterways and shift maintenance, dredging and traffic management responsibilities to operators.
Federal regulators said staff at Bristol Health & Rehab Center outside Philadelphia reported a natural gas odor on Dec. 23 and brought in utility workers hours before an explosion killed residents and an employee in late December. The preliminary report from the National Transportation Safety Board describes a roughly three-hour gap between an odor complaint and the blast, and it traces the leak to a valve in a meter set in the basement boiler room.
President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown contributed to a sharp drop in the U.S. population growth rate, with the nation reaching 342 million people and growing at just 0.5 percent in 2025, according to estimates released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau. Immigration increased by 1.3 million people in 2025, down from 2.8 million the year prior, marking a striking reversal from 2024's nearly 1 percent growth rate—the highest in two decades.
A man was arrested after repeatedly crashing a car into the Chabad Lubavitch world headquarters in Brooklyn, New York, while people were gathered for prayer, officials said. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said no one was injured, and the incident is being investigated as a possible hate crime. Mayor Zohran Mamdani called the crash “intentional.”
An emerging Ghanaian designer's Milan runway debut this month signals progress in Italian fashion's decade-long push to increase representation of Black talent and other people of color. Michelle Francine Ngonmo, a 38-year-old Cameroonian-Italian, founded the Afrofashion Association ten years ago to mentor designers of color and hold fashion houses accountable for diversity pledges. The initiative comes amid a broader reckoning over the industry's historic exclusion of Black creatives and racially insensitive campaigns from major houses.
California lawmakers advanced Assembly Bill 664 on Jan. 26, clearing the state Assembly with a 69-1 vote. The measure would allow community colleges to offer more bachelor's degrees, setting up another clash with Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has vetoed three similar bills in the past two years despite supporting increased access to four-year degrees.
Nevada's higher education regents voted Friday to approve tuition increases of 9 to 12 percent at the state's eight public colleges and universities, with the hikes taking effect over three years to address a $46.5 million annual budget shortfall.
Organic whole milk powder linked to the ByHeart baby formula outbreak—which has sickened 51 infants in 19 states—tested positive for the bacteria that causes botulism, according to the Associated Press. The contaminated powder was supplied by Organic West Milk Inc., a California company, and processed at a Dairy Farmers of America facility in Fallon, Nevada, though officials said the source of the contamination remains unknown.
Michigan early childhood programs tied to Great Start Collaboratives are facing closures or reduced services after the state budget did not include previously allocated funding, according to reporting. Parents and program leaders say the regional collaboratives help connect families to early learning resources, including child-care information and free books. The cuts are also unfolding as Gov. Gretchen Whitmer emphasizes expanding access to no-cost pre-K for 4-year-olds.
A unit of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Homeland Security Investigations, is scheduled to support security for the Milan Cortina Winter Games, prompting concern and confusion in Italy. Italy’s Interior Ministry said the HSI agents will be stationed at a control room at the U.S. Consulate in Milan and will not include personnel involved in immigration controls in the United States.
Yale University is eliminating tuition and other costs for new undergraduates from families earning less than $100,000 a year, the Ivy League school announced Tuesday. The policy takes effect for students entering this fall, raising the income threshold from the previous $75,000 ceiling and extending coverage to nearly half of American households with children ages 6 to 17.
Seven Japanese American soldiers who died fighting for the United States during World War II were posthumously promoted to officer ranks in a ceremony in Honolulu on Monday, about 80 years after their deaths. The Army approved the promotions last year, and the University of Hawaii awarded posthumous degrees in 2012, according to the Army and the university.
A Minneapolis nurse has been fatally shot by a Border Patrol officer in an incident that has prompted three federal investigations while raising questions about the independence and structure of the probes. Alex Pretti, 37, an intensive care nurse, was killed over the weekend during a federal immigration enforcement operation in the city, marking the second death at the hands of federal immigration officers in Minneapolis since the Trump administration began large-scale operations there in late December. The Trump administration has characterized Pretti as an armed instigator, but videos from the scene and local officials contradict that account. The investigation's details, including the names of the officers involved and the specific evidence being examined, remain unclear even as tensions mount in the city over how the shooting will be investigated.
An Associated Press investigation found that Bangladeshi migrant workers were lured to Russia with false promises of civilian jobs — as janitors, cleaners, and chefs — only to be coerced into military service and sent to fight on the front lines of the Ukraine war. Three workers who escaped told AP they were presented with Russian military contracts upon arrival in Moscow, sent to army camps for weapons training, and threatened with violence, imprisonment, and death when they resisted. Documents including travel papers, military contracts, medical reports, and photographs corroborated the accounts.
Tampa Bay Rays president and CEO Ken Babby said the team is working to finalize a new stadium proposal in Tampa after signing a nonbinding memorandum with Hillsborough College for a multiuse development. The team says it wants a roof and is continuing talks with city officials, while Gov. Ron DeSantis said Florida will not finance the stadium but could help with related infrastructure and moving a juvenile justice facility.
A federal judge has issued a temporary order barring the removal of a 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy and his father who were detained last week in Minnesota in an incident that has inflamed immigration policy debates under the Trump administration. U.S. Judge Fred Biery ruled Monday that removal of Liam Conejo Ramos and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, is on hold while their court case proceeds. The two are detained at a family detention facility in Dilley, Texas, near San Antonio.
The U.S. population growth rate fell to 0.5% in 2025, the lowest level since 1919, driven by a sharp decline in immigration that followed stricter Trump administration policies, according to Census Bureau estimates released Tuesday. The nation's population reached nearly 342 million, but the growth rate plummeted from nearly 1% in 2024, when increased immigration was the primary engine of growth.
Dr. William Foege, a leader in the global effort to eradicate smallpox, died Saturday in Atlanta at age 89, the Task Force for Global Health said. He led the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the late 1970s and early 1980s and helped develop a “ring containment” strategy used in the final push to eliminate the disease.
A third round of “No Kings” protests is planned for March 28, organizers said, as protests spread nationwide after deaths in Minneapolis involving federal agents. Ezra Levin, co-executive director of Indivisible, said organizers expect the demonstrations to be their largest yet.
Dozens of protesters were arrested Tuesday after they occupied the lobby of a Hilton Garden Inn in Manhattan, accusing the hotel of housing federal immigration officers, the Associated Press reported. Police ordered the crowd to leave before arresting those who remained, and a hotel press contact did not respond to requests for comment.
At least ten people died from exposure to extreme cold in New York City since late Friday, as temperatures plummeted to 9 degrees Fahrenheit and raised questions about the city's preparedness to protect its most vulnerable residents. The victims, several of whom were believed to be homeless, were found in different locations across the five boroughs — on park benches in Queens, steps from a Manhattan hospital, and beneath an elevated train line in the Bronx. At least six of the deaths occurred early Saturday, when the temperature in the city fell to minus 13 degrees Celsius.
A 77-pound mountain lion that wandered into San Francisco's affluent Pacific Heights neighborhood was captured Tuesday, ending a daylong search that began when the animal was first spotted Monday morning. Officials tranquilized the male cougar in a garden between two apartment buildings and safely transported it for examination and testing before eventual release to the wild.
Seven Massachusetts police officers will not face criminal charges in the death of Francis Gigliotti, a 43-year-old man who became unresponsive during police restraint in Haverhill, a Boston suburb. Essex District Attorney Paul Tucker announced Tuesday that charges were not legally supportable.
Gov. Greg Abbott ordered Texas universities and state agencies on Tuesday to halt new H-1B visa petitions, which employers use to hire foreign workers with specialized skills, until May 31, 2027. The pause applies to new petitions at state-funded institutions and comes as the Trump administration pursues broader changes to the visa program. Abbott said in his order that "state government must lead by example and ensure that employment opportunities — particularly those funded with taxpayer dollars — are filled by Texans first."
The Texas Education Agency announced plans to take over four school districts and replace their elected school boards with state-appointed leaders, citing five consecutive years of failing grades at six campuses. The districts — Fort Worth, Beaumont, Connally, and Lake Worth — serve predominantly low-income Black and Hispanic students in circumstances that critics say reflect systemic inequity schools cannot solve alone.
Randy Santos, 31, is on trial in Manhattan for bludgeoning four men to death with a metal bar as they slept on New York City streets in 2019. His legal team is asserting an insanity defense, arguing that he was diagnosed with schizophrenia and is not criminally responsible because mental illness left him prone to violence.
Nevada's higher education system approved tuition increases of between 9 and 12 percent Friday, with regents voting 8 to 5 to raise costs across eight public universities and colleges. The hikes, phased in over three years, are intended to cover a $46.5 million systemwide budgetary shortfall driven in part by historic faculty cost-of-living payments authorized in 2023 and 2024. At the University of Nevada, Reno and University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Nevada undergraduate students will pay an additional $1,200 annually, while out-of-state undergraduates will pay $3,800 more per year. The increase comes atop an existing 12.6 percent tuition hike, also phased in over three years, meant to help institutions keep pace with inflation.
Bari Weiss, three months into her role as CBS News chief, told staff on Tuesday that the network faces an existential crisis without strategic transformation. "We're toast" if CBS News continues relying on its remaining broadcast television audience, Weiss said in remarks she released publicly.
A Utah woman who believed in apocalyptic "end times" has been arrested in Croatia for taking her four young children overseas in violation of a custody order, authorities said Tuesday. Elleshia Seymour, 35, was arrested Jan. 16 after fleeing the U.S. in late November with her children despite not having custody entitlement. Salt Lake County charged her in December with four counts of custodial interference.
Three brothers — ages 6, 8, and 9 — died Monday after falling through an icy pond in Bonham, Texas, during a massive winter storm gripping the United States, authorities said Tuesday. Their mother, Cheyenne Hangaman, jumped into the freezing water to try to save them but was unable to.
Michigan's state budget eliminated $19.4 million in annual funding for Great Start Collaboratives, regional programs that connect families with child development resources and child-care information. The cut also removed $4 million for book distribution efforts, forcing some communities to close their programs entirely and others to reduce services sharply.
An estimated 31,000 registered nurses and other front-line Kaiser Permanente health care workers launched an open-ended strike on Monday in California and Hawaii, demanding higher wages and better staffing from the health care giant. Workers are seeking a 25% wage increase over four years, saying their compensation has not kept pace with inflation and staffing levels are inadequate to meet patient demand. The walkout marked the second major strike in recent months by employees represented by the United Nurses Associations of California/Union of Health Care Professionals.
The U.S. Justice Department agreed to withdraw subpoenas seeking patient and medical records from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles tied to gender-affirming care for minors, according to a settlement filed in federal court Thursday. The agreement ends the Justice Department’s effort to obtain information identifying patients and their families through 2029.
Mexico is investigating a soccer field attack in Salamanca, Guanajuato, in which gunmen killed at least 11 people and injured 12 others during a gathering after an amateur match, according to authorities. The attack took place Monday, a day after the killings, and sparked an ongoing probe, state and federal security moves, and appeals for federal help.
A University of Michigan student from Myanmar has been unable to return to the U.S. to complete his degree after President Trump imposed a travel ban on 12 countries, leaving him stranded abroad following a summer internship. Patrick Thaw had planned to resume his studies in Ann Arbor but found re-entry impossible once the ban took effect in January 2026.
Thousands gathered outside the University of Belgrade on Tuesday to protest the government's crackdown on academics who have become central to sustained demonstrations against President Aleksandar Vucic's rule. The rally, held on a national day of education and dubbed "Knowledge is Power," was organized in support of professors and teachers who have lost their jobs for participating in anti-government protests.
Alex Pretti, an intensive care nurse at the Minneapolis VA Medical Center, was shot and killed by Border Patrol officers on Saturday in a confrontation the Trump administration characterized as a "domestic terrorist" attack. His family and colleagues disputed that account, describing the 37-year-old as a compassionate caregiver whose only documented offense was protesting the administration's immigration crackdown.
Minnesota officials launched a state website aimed at countering what they called federal “misinformation” after immigration agents fatally shot two residents during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, according to officials and experts. The state also sued in federal court to preserve evidence collected by federal authorities after the Saturday killing of Alex Pretti, a federal judge granted a motion blocking the Trump administration from destroying or altering that evidence.
Federal immigration officers shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Saturday, triggering street protests and the activation of the Minnesota National Guard to help local police, the Associated Press reported. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara said information about what led to the shooting was limited. The incident comes weeks after another fatal shooting in the city drew widespread demonstrations.
Protesters interrupted a worship service at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, in an anti-ICE demonstration that prosecutors said led to arrests on federal charges. The protesters were taken into custody Thursday, after one pastor at the Southern Baptist congregation works for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Dr. William Foege, who led the global campaign that eradicated smallpox, died Saturday in Atlanta. He was 89. The Task Force for Global Health, which he co-founded, announced his death. Foege's work on smallpox eradication — a disease that once killed about one-third of those it infected — stands among the greatest public health achievements. His "ring containment" strategy, developed while working as a medical missionary in Nigeria in the 1960s, became the cornerstone of the worldwide eradication effort.
Iranian-backed militias in Iraq and Yemen signaled Monday they were prepared to launch new attacks as the USS Abraham Lincoln arrived in the Middle East. The threats came as President Donald Trump's administration intensified pressure on Iran over a deadly crackdown on nationwide protests, with Trump positioning the carrier "just in case" he decides to take military action against Tehran.
Priests and priestesses of Cuba's Santería religion held several ceremonies on Sunday, offering gifts to deities and asking for spiritual peace as tensions between Cuba and the United States intensify. The ceremonies came after the U.S. struck Venezuela on January 3, killing 32 Cuban soldiers and arresting then-President Nicolás Maduro, and as Cuba faces mounting economic pressure from U.S. sanctions and direct threats from President Donald Trump.
Seven Japanese American soldiers who were branded "enemy aliens" after Pearl Harbor were promoted to officer rank posthumously on Monday in Honolulu, more than 80 years after they died fighting for the United States in World War II. The men had been University of Hawaii ROTC cadets barred from military service following Japan's attack on December 7, 1941, before joining the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, which became one of the most decorated units in U.S. military history.
HAVANA (AP) — As tensions rise between the United States and Cuba and the island braces for more economic difficulties, priests and priestesses of Santería held ceremonies on Sunday offering gifts to deities and praying for peace. Several prominent figures in the Santería community said they were seeking what they described as “spiritual healing” for Cuba and an end to the violence and conflicts they said were foretold for the year.
Mexican lawyers and family members accused the government on Monday of violating the law by sending nearly 100 cartel members to the United States without extradition orders. The challenge centers on 37 cartel suspects transferred recently as Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum seeks to maintain cooperation with the Trump administration, which has pressed Mexico to intensify its cartel crackdown.
Sudan's military said Monday it has broken a months-long siege imposed by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces on Dilling, a strategic town in the central Kordofan region. If sustained, the breakthrough would restore access to major supply lines contested for months in the country's three-year civil war.
The U.S. Department of Justice agreed on January 26 to withdraw subpoenas seeking medical records of more than 3,000 transgender patients from Children's Hospital Los Angeles, ending a monthslong legal battle by families fighting the government's effort to access their children's medical information. Under the settlement filed in federal court Thursday, the department will withdraw requests for documents that identify patients or their families through 2029.
Columbia University has named Jennifer Mnookin, chancellor of the University of Wisconsin–Madison, as its next president, the university announced Sunday. She is expected to take office July 1, becoming the fifth Columbia leader in four years. The appointment comes after two years of turmoil that included campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war and a U.S. government campaign under President Donald Trump aimed at reshaping how the school handles student activism and antisemitism claims.
Scientists discovered two wooden tools in Greece that date back 430,000 years, making them the oldest wooden tools ever found. One stick-like tool about 2.5 feet long could have been used for digging in mud, while a smaller handheld piece of willow or poplar wood may have been used to shape stone tools, according to research published Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Alexander Soofer, the 42-year-old CEO of Abundant Blessings, a Los Angeles nonprofit contracted to house and feed homeless residents, was arrested Friday at his $7 million home on federal and state fraud charges. Prosecutors allege he diverted approximately $23 million in public funds intended for more than 600 homeless residents to finance a luxury lifestyle including a $125,000 Range Rover, a $2,450 Hermès jacket, and vacations to Greece and Hawaii.
Katie Gowell went into labor at her home in Patten, Maine, on June 1, 2025, expecting her family physician to deliver her fifth child. When a prolapsed umbilical cord—a medical emergency that cuts off oxygen—suddenly developed, her doctor, Dr. Rose Fuchs, kept the cord in position during transport. But the nearest hospital, Houlton Regional, had stopped delivering babies one month earlier, forcing an emergency diversion 40 minutes away.
Southwest Airlines is ending the open-seating system that has distinguished the airline for more than 50 years. Starting Tuesday, January 27, the Dallas-based carrier will move to assigned seats and offer passengers the option to pay for preferred locations or extra-legroom seats. The shift comes as Southwest faces investor pressure to increase profitability.
Maine's forests face an expanding pest threat as climate change weakens natural defenses against infestations. While recent cold snaps and coordinated pest-control efforts have slowed some prominent insect and disease populations over the past two years, warming winters are likely to allow pests to move inland and establish in forests that had been protected by cold, state forestry officials warned at the Maine Agricultural Trades Show on January 14.
Inconsistent school attendance policies across Nevada are hampering districts' efforts to combat chronic absenteeism, which still affects more than a quarter of students statewide. Even parents who have raised children in the Clark County school system for years struggle to navigate the rules. "I still don't understand the attendance policies," Jenna Robertson told The Nevada Independent. "Except that they're inconsistent from school to school, and people have complained about it for years."
Shoveling snow can be hazardous to the heart, particularly during severe winter storms, according to health authorities. Pennsylvania health officials reported three deaths related to snow removal this past weekend in people aged 60 to 84. The American Heart Association warns that the combination of heavy exertion and cold temperatures creates heightened risk for heart attack, stroke, and cardiac arrest.
Federal health officials have advised for years that babies get a hepatitis B vaccine dose within 24 hours of birth, but a federal vaccine advisory committee voted to change that recommendation on Friday. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) voted to recommend a dose at birth only for newborns whose mothers test positive for hepatitis B or whose infection status is unknown, and it suggested starting shots at about 2 months for other babies.
French President Emmanuel Macron said he wants France to fast-track a legal ban on social media for children under 15 so it can take effect in September at the start of the next school year. Macron said this in a video released late Saturday by French broadcaster BFM-TV, adding that he had asked the government to initiate an accelerated procedure to have the bill passed by the Senate in time.
Americans increasingly gripped by anxiety about flying following a January aviation disaster that killed 67 people, according to recent polling, travel statistics, and reports from mental-health professionals. The collision between an American Airlines jet and a helicopter over Washington, D.C., has intensified fears not only among those with pre-existing aviation anxiety but also among people who previously felt comfortable on planes. U.S. air travel declined in March and early April compared with the previous year, with airlines citing both economic factors and concern about recent aviation incidents.
Jonathan Anderson unveiled his first haute couture collection for Dior on January 26 at the Musée Rodin in Paris. The Northern Irish designer, who revived the Spanish house Loewe, now commands menswear, womenswear, and couture for Dior simultaneously—an arrangement the luxury house has not asked of a single designer in the modern era. A suspended ceiling hung with flowers released a single bloom to the floor as Rihanna took her seat, signaling the tone for designs that balanced spectacle with precision.
Venezuela's acting government released 266 prisoners since January 8 under newly installed president Delcy Rodríguez, as the country responds to U.S. pressure to free dissidents jailed by ousted leader Nicolás Maduro. More than 100 prisoners were freed over the past two days, according to Foro Penal, a prisoner-rights organization.
Millions of people rely on smartphone apps and wearable devices to monitor their sleep, but these trackers have significant limitations that experts say users often misunderstand. The devices do not measure sleep directly; instead, they infer sleep states from signals like heart rate and movement. That distinction matters: the trackers are less precise than laboratory studies for measuring specific sleep stages like REM and non-REM sleep, according to sleep researchers.
President Donald Trump blamed Democratic officials for "chaos" following the fatal shooting of a protester by a federal immigration officer in Minneapolis, according to posts on his Truth Social network and comments to The Wall Street Journal on Sunday. The shooting of 37-year-old Alex Pretti marked the second killing by immigration officers in the city in recent weeks and prompted some Republicans to question the administration's enforcement approach even as Trump refused to back away from his immigration crackdown.
Three anti-immigration enforcement protesters were arrested on federal charges for disrupting a Sunday worship service at Cities Church, a Southern Baptist congregation in St. Paul, Minnesota, where pastor David Easterwood works for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
LOS ANGELES — California Post launched Monday as a new tabloid newspaper and news website from the New York Post newsroom to serve readers in California. The Los Angeles operation is set up to be “digital first,” while offering a daily print edition for $3.75, including splashy front-page headlines.
A federal immigration officer shot and killed a man on Minneapolis's Eat Street early Saturday, marking the second such fatal federal shooting in the city in less than three weeks. The victim, identified as Alex Pretti, 37, was killed shortly before 9 a.m. during an immigration enforcement operation. The shooting sparked immediate large-scale protests and hours of street confrontations.
A massive winter storm swept across the United States on Sunday, January 25, canceling more than 11,400 flights and disrupting travel for millions of passengers. The system threatened approximately 180 million people—more than half the nation's population—spanning from the southern Rocky Mountains to New England, according to the National Weather Service.
More than 60 CEOs of Minnesota-based companies signed an open letter posted Sunday on the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce website calling for state, local and federal cooperation in response to an immigration enforcement operation that has fractured state politics. Signatories included leaders from Target, Best Buy, UnitedHealth, General Mills and 3M.
Paris men's Fashion Week concluded Sunday with a consistent message from major designers: invest in quality tailoring built to last. Collections from Hermès, Sacai, and Junya Watanabe showcased an emphasis on craft and longevity, signaling a shift in men's fashion toward permanence.
Unapproved peptide injections have become a popular “wellness hack,” promoted online by influencers, fitness coaches and celebrities, even as regulators warn many such products lack evidence of safety and effectiveness. A closer look at the science and the hype finds that many injectable peptides are not approved for use in humans, and experts raise concerns about possible allergic reactions, metabolic problems and other side effects.
Iran's authorities have killed thousands of demonstrators in what activists describe as the bloodiest crackdown on dissent since the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution, according to the Associated Press. The violence, which has damaged at least $125 million in property and cut the country off from the internet, comes as the United States prepares military options in response. Hundreds of cities across Iran have been affected by the month-long wave of protests, which began in late December as demonstrations over the collapse of Iran's currency spiraled into broader calls for change.
Iran’s nationwide protests that began Dec. 28 and a deadly crackdown that followed are coming into focus, despite authorities cutting off internet access, the Associated Press reported. The AP said an Amnesty International researcher described most demonstrations as peaceful and said the authorities “have opened fire unlawfully.”
Indiana lawmakers are considering whether to extend legalized syringe exchange programs that operate in six counties, as opponents argue the programs enable drug use and supporters say they reduce infections and overdoses. The programs could shut down in July 2026 unless the Indiana Senate passes Senate Bill 91, which would keep them running for another decade.
U.S. officials have extended federal housing assistance for survivors of catastrophic 2023 wildfires on Maui, granting relief to nearly 1,000 displaced households. The Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem approved Hawaii Governor Josh Green's request on Friday to continue Federal Emergency Management Agency temporary housing assistance until February 2027, more than a year longer than previously scheduled.
A U.S. Border Patrol officer shot and killed Alex Jeffrey Pretti, 37, in Minneapolis on Saturday during the Trump administration's immigration enforcement crackdown. Pretti was an intensive-care nurse at a Veterans Affairs hospital and a U.S. citizen born in Illinois. He had participated in protests following the January 7 killing of Renee Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in the same city.
The Trump administration removed specialized LGBTQ+ youth services from the national 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline earlier this year, citing budget constraints. The change is now straining already-overburdened crisis centers in Texas and raising questions from mental health advocates about whether the removal puts young people at higher risk.
A New York judge on Friday voided the boundaries of New York City's only Republican-held House district, ruling that its composition unconstitutionally dilutes the votes of Black and Hispanic residents. Justice Jeffrey Pearlman's decision forces the state's Independent Redistricting Commission to draw new lines by February 6—just 16 days before candidate petitioning begins—upending political calculations in a race both parties are fighting to control.
Minneapolis residents are sheltering immigrant children separated from parents and sought by federal immigration agents during the Trump administration's enforcement surge in the Twin Cities. A 41-year-old Indigenous Ecuadorian office cleaner was detained in early January after entering the country illegally, prompting her oldest children to move their seven younger siblings to a safe house in south Minneapolis with help from church volunteers including Feliza Martinez. "The immigration agents were knocking on our door very late at night, and that's when I became afraid," said the family's 20-year-old son, speaking on condition of anonymity. "I'm afraid that I'll be taken and my brothers and sisters will be in the hands of the government."
A major winter storm swept across the United States starting Saturday, canceling 12,200 flights and stranding travelers nationwide. Weather forecasters warned that damage from the storm could rival that of a hurricane, with ice and snow pounding multiple regions.
The detention of a 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy by federal immigration agents outside his Minnesota home has produced sharply conflicting accounts. School officials say ICE officers used the child as "bait," instructing him to knock on the door while his mother was inside and his father was present. The Department of Homeland Security denies this, saying the father fled on foot and left the boy in a running vehicle in their driveway. The boy, Liam Conejo Ramos, and his father, Adrian Alexander Conejo Arias, are now detained together at a family facility in Dilley, Texas.
Testing by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration found evidence Friday that powdered whole milk used in ByHeart infant formula may be the source of a botulism outbreak that sickened 51 babies in 19 states beginning in December 2023, according to federal health officials. The FDA detected the dangerous bacteria in samples of the milk powder and found that the contamination matched samples collected from sick infants and from unopened ByHeart formula cans.
The family of a homeless man who died after a bulldozer crushed his tent during an Atlanta encampment sweep last year has filed a lawsuit against two nonprofits. The suit, filed Friday, accuses Partners for HOME and SafeHouse Outreach of failing to check whether the man was in his tent before a bulldozer was deployed to clear the site.
U.S. health officials said FDA testing found a strain of botulism-causing bacteria in samples linked to ByHeart infant formula, including two samples tied to powdered whole milk used to make the product. The findings were part of an ongoing investigation into what contaminated the formula, officials said.
Brazilian women held a singing contest Friday inside a Rio de Janeiro prison, dressing for a “Voice of Liberty” competition designed to spotlight talents and boost confidence ahead of release. Contestants performed in front of prison officials, volunteers and fellow detainees in a multipurpose hall, with scores awarded by a panel that included actor and TV presenter David Brazil and singer Maurício Mattar.
Investigators in Colorado confirmed Friday that journalist Hunter S. Thompson's 2005 shooting death was a suicide, following a review requested by his widow with new concerns about the original investigation. The Colorado Bureau of Investigation determined that Thompson's body "was not moved or 'staged' after death," and that "all speculative theories could not be substantiated."
Classically trained dancers from La Scala's academy are among approximately 1,200 volunteers rehearsing since November for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics opening ceremony, scheduled for Feb. 6. The ceremony is being prepared in a cavernous tent near Milan's San Siro stadium, where creative director Marco Balich is orchestrating the event. About 60,000 people are expected to attend live, including a U.S. delegation led by Vice President JD Vance, while millions will watch on official broadcasters worldwide.
Five Michigan universities are launching a collaborative two-year initiative to address a critical teacher shortage forcing districts to rely increasingly on instructors with temporary credentials. Central Michigan University, Eastern Michigan University, Michigan State University, Northern Michigan University and Western Michigan University are partnering with the Michigan Educator Workforce Initiative to improve teacher preparation, recruitment, retention and quality in the state.
King Charles III has released a documentary explaining his vision for addressing climate change through the concept of "harmony" — the idea that restoring balance between humans and nature is essential to solving global problems. "Finding Harmony: A King's Vision" debuts on Amazon Prime on Feb. 6, with Kate Winslet narrating and featuring experts including Tony Juniper, former head of Friends of the Earth in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, and Emily Shuckburgh, a University of Cambridge climate scientist.
King Mohammed VI of Morocco on Thursday called for African fraternity and unity, urging Moroccans to resist resentment and discord following a chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final that has prompted rights groups to warn of a surge in hate speech. The tournament's closing match, held Sunday in Morocco, ended 1-0 for Senegal in extra time, touching off field violence that saw 18 supporters arrested and an escalation of racial tensions on social media.
Vice President JD Vance spoke Friday at the annual March for Life rally in Washington, urging anti-abortion activists to "take heart" in the Trump administration's efforts to restrict abortion access. Vance detailed the administration's expansion of restrictions on U.S. foreign aid to abortion-supporting groups and praised the 2022 Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade, calling it "the most important Supreme Court decision of my lifetime."
Former Canadian Olympic snowboarder Ryan Wedding was arrested in Mexico on Friday after turning himself in at the U.S. embassy in Mexico City, officials said. Wedding, 44, is accused of leading a multinational drug trafficking operation that moved approximately 60 tons of cocaine from Latin America into the United States annually and orchestrating several killings. Wedding, who competed in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, had been on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list since March 2025. The agency had offered a $15 million reward for information leading to his arrest.
San Diego imposed its first-ever parking fees at Balboa Park this month to secure dedicated funding for the century-old cultural site and help close a city budget gap, but the policy prompted immediate backlash that has already reshaped how residents and tourists engage with the park. Museum visitation dropped 20 percent in the opening days, vandals defaced parking meters, and two city council members who voted for the program now call for suspending the fees.
Indiana's syringe exchange programs face closure in July 2026 unless state lawmakers pass legislation to extend them, a decision point in a broader debate over harm reduction during the opioid crisis. The programs, operating in six counties, would shut down automatically if Senate Bill 91 fails to pass. The legislation, filed by Sen. Michael Crider, a Republican from Greenfield, would extend the exchanges for another decade.
The United States imposed sanctions Friday on nine tankers accused of transporting hundreds of millions of dollars in Iranian oil, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced, linking the action to Iran's internet shutdown and crackdown on nationwide protests. Bessent said the sanctions 'target a critical component of how Iran generates the funds used to repress its own people.' The government blocked internet access on January 8 as nationwide protests challenged Iran's theocratic system, and the Treasury tied the sanctions directly to the shutdown.
The Trump administration's decision to remove specialized LGBTQ+ services from the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is straining crisis centers in Texas, which are already operating at a $7 million funding deficit. The "Press 3 option" that connected callers to trained counselors with lived LGBTQ+ experience was eliminated in 2025, the administration said, because the specialized subnetwork exceeded its initial $33 million pilot budget.
Florida Democratic lawmakers and members of the Florida Legislative Black Caucus denounced a legal opinion by Republican Attorney General James Uthmeier on Thursday, saying it could weaken state laws that support minority contracting and diverse appointments. The dispute centers on Uthmeier’s opinion issued Monday questioning the constitutionality of dozens of Florida laws, including programs that promote opportunities for Black residents and Black-owned businesses.
The Colorado Bureau of Investigation confirmed Friday that journalist Hunter S. Thompson's 2005 death was a suicide, following an independent review requested by his widow, Anita Thompson.
Nearly 70 years after his execution, Tommy Lee Walker was declared innocent on Wednesday by Dallas County officials in a case that prosecutors now say was riddled with racial bias, false evidence, and coercive interrogation by a police officer who was a member of the Ku Klux Klan. Walker, a Black man, was executed in May 1956 for the rape and murder of Venice Parker, a 31-year-old store clerk killed on Sept. 30, 1953. Dallas County commissioners unanimously passed a resolution declaring his conviction and execution a "profound miscarriage of justice."
The U.S. Department of Education said Thursday that New York state's ban on Native American school mascots violates federal civil rights law, arguing the regulation applies different standards to different ethnic groups. The federal finding centers on the Long Island school district of Connetquot, which changed its team name from the "Thunderbirds" to the "T-Birds" to comply with state regulations banning the use of Native American mascots and team names in public schools.
Montana State Auditor James Brown announced Tuesday that his office identified a health care fraud scheme targeting Native Americans on state reservations. At least 80 Native Americans were victimized in the scam, which exploited systemic gaps in federal health insurance enrollment and billing procedures. Brown's office said it clawed back more than $23.3 million from fraudulent insurance claims and identified 207 potentially fraudulent enrollments representing an estimated $54.7 million in unjustified billing.
Meta Platforms announced Friday it is halting teens' access to artificial intelligence characters on Instagram and WhatsApp, according to a blog post from the company. The pause, set to begin in coming weeks, applies to anyone who gave Meta a birthday indicating they are a minor, as well as people the company suspects are teenagers based on its age-prediction technology. The move comes as Meta, along with YouTube and TikTok, prepares to face trial in Los Angeles over allegations that their platforms cause harm to children.
A massive sewer pipe ruptured late Monday in Maryland, sending an estimated 40 million gallons of sewage daily into the Potomac River upstream from Washington, D.C., as crews scrambled to contain the overflow ahead of a major winter storm. DC Water, which operates the region's sewer system, is installing pumps to divert the flow around the break while repair work proceeds.
The family of Cornelius Taylor, a 46-year-old man who died when a bulldozer crushed his tent in an Atlanta encampment, filed a lawsuit Friday against two nonprofits it says are partly responsible for his death. The lawsuit names Partners for HOME and SafeHouse Outreach, alleging their employees failed to check whether Taylor was in his tent before the bulldozer was deployed during a January 2025 encampment sweep near Ebenezer Baptist Church. The city had requested the clearance ahead of celebrations for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
New York City sued Jordan McGraw and his production company this week for breach of contract over an unfinished documentary series about the New York Police Department, obtaining a court order that blocks them from releasing or selling footage from the show, tentatively titled "Behind the Badge."
About 100 clergy members were arrested Friday at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, and thousands of people gathered in downtown Minneapolis despite temperatures of minus 9 degrees Fahrenheit to protest the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations. The clergy were arrested after exceeding the reach of their permit and disrupting airline operations, according to the Metropolitan Airports Commission. The demonstrations drew labor unions, progressive organizations, and faith leaders calling for an end to what the Department of Homeland Security described as its "largest-ever immigration enforcement operation."
Pastor Monique French and her congregation at Washington Heights United Methodist Church in Battle Creek are raising money to build 17 affordable homes in one of the Cereal City's poorest neighborhoods, joining a growing number of faith-based organizations across the country stepping into affordable housing development. Churches in Traverse City, Charlevoix, Grand Rapids, Detroit and elsewhere across Michigan have accelerated their homebuilding efforts as the state confronts a shortage of roughly 119,000 homes—a gap that economists say stifles growth by limiting personal wealth and exacerbates worker scarcity.
Brazilian audiences celebrated the nomination of “The Secret Agent” for four Academy Awards categories, including best picture, best actor and best international film, on Thursday. The film follows a widowed father who becomes a target of Brazil’s military dictatorship in the 1970s. (Associated Press)
New York City sued Jordan McGraw and his production company this week over the unaired NYPD reality series “Behind the Badge,” and obtained a court order blocking them, at least temporarily, from selling or disseminating footage from the show. The lawsuit seeks to enforce a contract clause giving the city control over what can be released, including restrictions tied to sensitive operations and the identities of undercover officers and crime victims.
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission voted to rescind its 2024 workplace harassment guidance on Thursday, a move framed by the agency’s Republican majority as aligning civil-rights enforcement with President Donald Trump’s executive orders. Chair Andrea Lucas said the decision would not leave a void and cited examples of harassment cases. Commissioner Brittany Panuccio said private-sector resources would fill any gaps.
An avalanche killed nine members of a single family in northwestern Pakistan on Friday, while heavy snowfall in neighboring Afghanistan killed 11 people across six provinces on Thursday. The winter weather also stranded thousands of tourists near Pakistan's capital and isolated entire towns across Afghanistan, disrupting supply routes and emergency response efforts.
Civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong and at least two other people were arrested Thursday in connection with a protest that disrupted a Sunday service at Cities Church in St. Paul, where an Immigration and Customs Enforcement official serves as a pastor, according to Trump administration officials. The arrests came as a federal magistrate judge rejected charges against journalist Don Lemon related to the same event. Vice President JD Vance, speaking in Minneapolis, urged state and local law enforcement to collaborate with federal immigration officials.
About half of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander adults said they want the government to prioritize the high cost of living and inflation — a share roughly 15 percentage points higher than for U.S. adults overall — according to a poll released Thursday by AAPI Data and the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The survey of 1,029 AAPI adults, conducted in early December, also found that cost anxiety within this community has grown since the previous year.
Animal advocates say they raced to rescue more than 200 dogs from a rural property in Tupelo, Mississippi, before a major winter storm. With 80 dogs left, the group planned to bed them down in a warehouse and wait out the weather, after shelters declined to help because of travel safety.
Iran’s government reported a death toll of 3,117 from nationwide protests that began Dec. 28, an official tally that is far lower than figures cited by an overseas human rights group. The announcement came after the Interior Ministry and the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, with statements carried by Iranian state television on Wednesday.
As President Donald Trump pushed this week to acquire Greenland, Russian officials and state media responded with a mixture of satisfaction over potential Western divisions and concern about U.S. military expansion in the Arctic. President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday the Greenland situation "doesn't concern us at all," adding he expected the West to "figure it out among themselves." Behind Russia's diplomatic calm lay strategic calculations: the transatlantic rift could weaken Western unity while threatening Russia's Arctic interests.
A federal judge extended a temporary order blocking the Trump administration from withholding child care and other social service funds from five Democratic-controlled states. The order keeps federal money moving for at least two more weeks as the court weighs challenges to the government’s fraud concerns.
The Trump administration announced Thursday that the National Institutes of Health will no longer fund research using human fetal tissue derived from abortions. The policy, long sought by anti-abortion groups, expands restrictions the administration imposed during its first term. Under the new rules, all NIH-funded research will be barred from using fetal tissue, though research using cell lines previously created from fetal cells will continue.
The Trump administration is expanding its ban on U.S. foreign aid to organizations promoting gender identity and diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The State Department will release final rules on Friday that broaden the existing "Mexico City" policy, which has restricted assistance to international groups providing abortion-related services. The expansion applies to more than $30 billion in annual foreign aid.
A federal agent fatally shot Renee Good, 37, during an immigration enforcement operation in Minnesota earlier this month, forcing Democrats into an immediate political crisis as the party scrambles to devise a unified response to the Trump administration's aggressive crackdown on immigration. The killing has upended Democratic midterm strategy. The party had planned to campaign on affordability and health care—two issues where President Trump faces voter dissatisfaction—but the violent scenes from Minnesota have intensified pressure on Democrats to take immediate action on immigration enforcement practices.
Florida's attorney general released an opinion Monday questioning the constitutionality of roughly 80 state laws that support minority contracting and promote diverse hiring, drawing swift condemnation from Black lawmakers Thursday. James Uthmeier claimed the laws violated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment because "they mandate discrimination based on race," and said he would no longer enforce what he called their "discriminatory" provisions. The timing—on Martin Luther King Jr. Day—drew particular criticism from Democratic legislators, who characterized the move as a political stunt and a threat to decades of civil rights protections.
The Missouri House of Representatives voted Thursday to reprimand Democratic state Rep. Jeremy Dean for sending a sexually vulgar text message to Republican colleague Cecelie Williams during a September redistricting protest. The penalties include barring him from House committees, requiring him to stay at least 50 feet away from Williams, and undergoing additional sexual harassment training.
Los Angeles labor leaders say they are preparing to use the 2028 Olympics as leverage to win new contracts and press for housing and worker protections. Inspired by labor actions around the Paris Games, unions representing tens of thousands of Southern California workers are looking at contracts that expire in 2028, shortly before the Olympics’ opening.
The United States has finalized its withdrawal from the World Health Organization, ending America's 78-year commitment to the global health agency one year after President Donald Trump announced the decision, federal officials said Thursday. The U.S. owes about $280 million to the organization, and the administration acknowledged it has not yet worked out how the country will access critical data from other countries that could provide early warning of new pandemics.
Kindness at work can mean limiting meetings, giving honest feedback, and bending rules when circumstances warrant, according to workplace experts. As the pace of work accelerates, small acts of kindness—from supporting employees through family crises to protecting time for reflection—improve engagement and productivity.
Paramount Global, controlled by Skydance Media, extended the deadline for Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders to tender stock until Feb. 20, maintaining its hostile offer of $30 per share in cash. The move marks the second extension since Paramount challenged Warner's agreed merger with Netflix in December.
The federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission voted Thursday to rescind a 190-page workplace anti-harassment guidance document, marking a significant shift in federal civil rights enforcement under President Donald Trump's second administration. The Republican-controlled agency's vote, led by Chair Andrea Lucas and Commissioner Brittany Panuccio, was justified by Trump's executive order declaring there are "two immutable sexes, male and female." The guidance had been designed to help employers comply with Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and included specific protections for transgender workers. Commissioner Kalpana Kotagal, the commission's lone Democrat, voted against the rescission.
Rhode Island lawmakers are weighing whether to discontinue the Mr. Potato Head specialty license plate, a fixture of the state's motor vehicles offerings since 2002, after toy maker Hasbro announced plans to relocate its headquarters to Boston. Rep. Brian Newberry, a Republican from North Smithfield, introduced legislation this month to end the program as Hasbro prepares to leave Pawtucket, where the company has operated for nearly 70 years.
Texas supplied the most new residents to nine other states in 2024 despite experiencing the largest population growth this decade, according to Census Bureau migration data released this week. The findings reveal that Texas, with 31 million residents and a net gain of 2.1 million people between 2020 and 2024, is simultaneously losing residents to a wide geographic swath of the country including Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico and Oklahoma.
The Food and Drug Administration is moving toward approving Philip Morris International's request to market Zyn nicotine pouches as a less-harmful alternative to cigarettes, according to government documents reviewed at a public FDA meeting Thursday. The agency is considering whether to allow health claims about Zyn's reduced risk of mouth cancer, heart disease, lung cancer and stroke. But a panel of independent experts raised pointed questions about whether the company's research demonstrates that marketing claims would actually persuade smokers to switch, and whether the promotion could inadvertently appeal to teenagers. "There are very few things that are legally available and worse for you than cigarettes," said Lisa Postow, a panel member and scientist at the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute. "It's a pretty low bar to be safer than cigarettes."
Missouri's gaming commission rejected an NCAA request Thursday to restrict bets on individual college athlete performance, saying the state needs more data about how its newly approved sports betting market operates. The rejection came about one week after federal authorities indicted more than two dozen people in what the NCAA describes as a college basketball gambling scheme involving payments to athletes to rig games.
Virginia's newly inaugurated Attorney General Jay Jones filed a motion Wednesday to withdraw from an agreement his predecessor made with the U.S. Department of Justice to invalidate the state's Dream Act, which allows undocumented immigrants to receive in-state tuition rates at Virginia colleges and universities. Jones took office this month as a Democrat, replacing Republican Jason Miyares, who had joined the federal government's legal challenge to the 2020 law.
Vice President JD Vance visited Minneapolis on Thursday to address mounting tensions over the Trump administration's immigration enforcement campaign, blaming "far-left people" and state and local officials for the chaos that has unfolded. Vance said Minnesota leaders should "meet us halfway" and insisted he was working to lower tensions, even as his visit coincided with a planned day of statewide protests by faith leaders, labor unions, and hundreds of businesses. The visit came weeks into an aggressive federal immigration enforcement operation that has drawn sharp rebukes from Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Gov. Tim Walz, who have accused federal agents of racial profiling and terrorizing immigrant communities.
From January 2020 through November 2025, Omaha has granted mayoral pardons to more than 60 residents convicted of municipal violations. Lincoln has pardoned two. The disparity reflects fundamentally different thresholds and philosophies in how Nebraska's two largest cities offer formal forgiveness for past mistakes and a path forward for residents whose criminal histories have limited employment and housing opportunities.
Guinea-Bissau is suspending a Trump administration-backed hepatitis B vaccine study on newborns, pending an ethical review, Health Minister Quinhi Nantot announced Thursday. The decision comes amid concerns that the research was designed to withhold a protective vaccine from some infants, raising fundamental questions about research ethics in developing nations.
Federal immigration agents detained 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and his father Adrian from their Columbia Heights, Minnesota home Tuesday, school officials said, marking the fourth child from their school district to be detained in recent weeks.
Homicide rates in 35 American cities declined 21% from 2024 to 2025, translating to approximately 922 fewer deaths, according to a new report from the Council on Criminal Justice released Thursday. The nonpartisan criminal-justice think tank also found drops in 11 of 13 crime categories tracked, though drug crimes increased modestly and sexual assaults remained flat.
Webb County Sheriff Martin Cuellar Jr. was indicted Thursday on five felony fraud charges for allegedly operating a private disinfecting business using county resources during the COVID-19 pandemic. The indictment comes four days after President Trump pardoned his brother, Democratic U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, in a separate federal bribery case. The sheriff appeared in federal court in Texas and was released on bond. He has pleaded not guilty.
Berkeley's City Council voted 6-1 Tuesday night to allow homeowners to sell backyard cottages and basement apartments as condominiums, opening a new path to ownership in a city where the median single-family home price hovers around $1.4 million, according to Berkeleyside reporting distributed by the Associated Press.
Michigan State University announced plans to integrate artificial intelligence instruction across all undergraduate majors, starting with a new foundational course in fall 2026, following recommendations from an advisory panel of 18 Michigan business and civic leaders who said AI proficiency has become a baseline job requirement in every field. The initiative is backed by a $5 million seed gift from an anonymous MSU alumnus.
Workers in Covington, Ky., are installing the final features of a two-year restoration of the Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption, a Catholic landmark nicknamed "America's Notre Dame" for its French Gothic exterior modeled on the Paris original. New terra cotta gargoyles — replicas cast from precise scans of 32 worn originals — have been fitted to the cathedral's towering facade in recent weeks, with 26 rooftop chimeras remaining as the final step before a targeted March completion.
The producers of a stage play inspired by Bruce Lee and the musical presenter Vocal Arts DC have canceled performances at the Kennedy Center, according to announcements this week from each group. The cancellations follow a shift in leadership at the Washington institution after President Donald Trump moved to oust the center’s top officials and after a board announcement that the Kennedy Center would be renamed the Trump-Kennedy Center.
Planned Parenthood of Michigan said it will begin offering vasectomies for patients in Grand Rapids, as abortion access has narrowed nationwide after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The nonprofit plans to provide the minor procedure for adults 21 and older at its Irwin/Martin health center, with additional locations expected to come online during the year.
A federal appeals court suspended a ruling that prohibited federal officers from using tear gas and pepper spray against protesters in Minnesota on Wednesday, clearing the way for more aggressive enforcement tactics. The decision came as immigration agents expanded operations to Maine and served state and local officials with subpoenas seeking records about their opposition to the enforcement campaign. Immigration enforcement officers said they have arrested more than 10,000 undocumented immigrants in Minnesota over the past year.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents launched an enforcement operation in Maine on Tuesday called Operation "Catch of the Day," an apparent reference to the state's seafood industry. The agency had identified approximately 1,400 targets in Maine and made 50 arrests on the first day, according to Patricia Hyde, the ICE deputy assistant director. The operation marked the Trump administration's expansion of mass deportation efforts to Maine, a state with a relatively small undocumented population but significant communities of African refugees. Portland and Lewiston are home to thousands of residents of African descent, with Maine having one of the nation's highest Somali populations following accelerated immigration in the early 2000s.
A Canadian man prosecutors say posed as a working airline pilot pleaded not guilty Tuesday in federal court in Hawaii to wire fraud charges, after allegedly obtaining hundreds of free tickets from three U.S. carriers over four years by presenting fraudulent crew credentials. Dallas Pokornik, 33, of Toronto, was arraigned following his extradition to the United States. He had been arrested in Panama after a federal grand jury in Hawaii indicted him last October. His federal public defender declined to discuss the case.
As celebrations of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence culminate on July 4, a new privately funded initiative called “Be The People” will kick off to connect “hundreds of millions of Americans” with efforts to tackle local issues, the Associated Press reported Tuesday. The campaign is backed by a network led by Brian Hooks, chairman and CEO of the nonprofit network Stand Together, which aims to change perceptions about whether individuals can help solve problems such as poverty, addiction and violence.
Autoimmune diseases can affect any part of the body and often have vague early symptoms that can be mistaken for other illnesses, delaying diagnosis, according to an Associated Press explainer published Nov. 6, 2025. The article said the disorders strike the most common form of patients—women—at a higher rate, and it outlined why diagnosis can take years and multiple doctors.
Italian fashion designer Valentino Garavani, whose signature red gowns and high-glamour aesthetic defined elegance for generations of royals and celebrities, died Monday at age 93 in Rome. A two-day public viewing of the legendary designer began Wednesday at his foundation's headquarters in Piazza Mignanelli, steps away from the Spanish Steps, before his funeral Friday at the Basilica di Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri.
Karen Bennett, a former Georgia House member, pleaded guilty Wednesday to lying to collect federal pandemic unemployment benefits. The 70-year-old physical therapist fraudulently obtained $13,940 in federal assistance designed for those harmed by COVID-19. Bennett will repay the funds and faces sentencing in April.
Anxiety about costs and affordability is running high among Asian Americans, Pacific Islanders and Native Hawaiians, according to a new poll. About half of AAPI adults surveyed in early December said they want the government to prioritize addressing high cost of living and inflation, the survey found. The poll was released by AAPI Data and the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.
A federal judge has upheld West Texas A&M's ban on a drag show by a student group, ruling Saturday that the university did not violate the First Amendment by blocking the event. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk found that Spectrum WT, the student organization, failed to demonstrate the 2023 drag show conveyed a specific message protected by the Constitution. The ruling effectively terminated a legal challenge set for appellate review later this week.
A New York judge voided the boundaries of the state's only Republican-held House district Wednesday, finding they unconstitutionally dilute the votes of Black and Hispanic residents. Justice Jeffrey Pearlman ordered New York's Independent Redistricting Commission to redraw the lines of Rep. Nicole Malliotakis's district, which includes Staten Island and part of Brooklyn, by Feb. 6.
The Federal Trade Commission said it will appeal a federal judge's November ruling that found Meta Platforms Inc. does not hold a monopoly in social networking, according to a statement Tuesday. The FTC continues to contend that Meta "illegally maintained a monopoly" through "anticompetitive conduct" including its acquisitions of Instagram and WhatsApp. The appeal represents the FTC's effort to overturn a significant loss in its antitrust challenge against the social media giant.
Iran's government announced Wednesday a first official death toll of 3,117 people killed in nationwide protests that began December 28, a figure significantly lower than independent monitoring groups' estimates. The Interior Ministry and the Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, an official government body, released the figures on state television, even as the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported the toll had reached at least 4,902.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday that he owes Indiana Gov. Mike Braun key lime pie and stone crabs after Indiana beat the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 to win the college football national championship. DeSantis said the wager was tied to which team won Monday night in Miami Gardens, Florida.
The Seattle Children's Theatre and the vocal ensemble Vocal Arts DC are among the latest artistic groups to cancel Kennedy Center performances. The cancellations follow the Trump administration's recent ousting of the Kennedy Center's leadership and an announced plan to rename the institution the Trump-Kennedy Center, a change scholars say requires congressional approval. Multiple artists, including Lin-Manuel Miranda, Issa Rae, and Bela Fleck, have already withdrawn in protest.
California has reported a significant decline in electronic benefits card theft, with Gov. Gavin Newsom crediting the state's rollout of anti-fraud technology. The announcement comes as the Trump administration intensifies pressure on Democratic-led states over benefits fraud.
Vice President JD Vance and his wife, Second Lady Usha Vance, said they are expecting their fourth child, a son, in late July. The couple made the announcement in a social media post Tuesday, saying both mother and baby are doing well.
Hawaii plans to deploy state sheriff’s deputies for expanded traffic enforcement statewide, state officials said this month, as traffic deaths increased again last year. The effort will add deputy teams to help Honolulu and neighbor island police, with overtime funded through $2 million in federal highway safety money, according to the state’s transportation director. The move comes after statewide traffic deaths rose to 129 last year, the highest fatalities on Hawaii roadways since 2007.
The Trump administration is dropping its appeal of a federal court ruling that blocked an anti-diversity, equity and inclusion effort that threatened federal funding to schools and colleges. In a court filing Wednesday, the Education Department moved to dismiss its appeal, leaving in place an August decision by U.S. District Judge Stephanie Gallagher that found the guidance violated the First Amendment and federal procedural rules.
Christie’s will hold an auction in New York on Friday, “We the People: America at 250,” featuring rare political texts and historic objects tied to the United States’ 250th anniversary. Among the highlights are a 1776 broadside printing of the Declaration of Independence and a draft of the Constitution edited by Rufus King, both with estimates in the millions.
Georges Borchardt, a literary agent who helped bring future Nobel laureates Elie Wiesel and Samuel Beckett to U.S. readers, died Sunday in Manhattan. He was 97.
Handprints on cave walls in a largely unexplored area of Indonesia may be the oldest rock art studied so far, dating back at least 67,800 years, according to a study published Wednesday in *Nature*. The tan-colored prints were made by blowing pigment over hands placed against the stone, with some fingertips deliberately modified to appear more pointed. Indonesian and Australian researchers dated the artwork by analyzing mineral crusts that had accumulated on top of the paintings.
Gov. Tate Reeves announced Monday that Mississippi will participate in a federal school-choice tax-credit program, permitting residents to contribute up to $1,700 annually to organizations that award scholarships to private-school students. The program, created by federal legislation passed during the Trump administration, provides dollar-for-dollar tax credits beginning in the 2027 tax year. The move creates a new mechanism for school-choice expansion as Mississippi lawmakers debate the issue.
A former Uvalde schools police officer was acquitted Wednesday of charges that he failed in his duty to confront the gunman at Robb Elementary during the initial moments of one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. Adrian Gonzales, 52, faced 29 counts of child abandonment and endangerment — each count representing the 19 students killed and 10 others injured in the 2022 attack. Jurors deliberated for more than seven hours before returning a not-guilty verdict.
NASA astronaut Suni Williams has retired, the space agency announced Tuesday. Her retirement took effect at the end of December, about nine months after she returned to Earth from an unplanned extended stay at the International Space Station. Williams and crewmate Butch Wilmore launched to the station in 2024 aboard Boeing's Starliner spacecraft for what was supposed to be a week-long test flight. Problems with the capsule's thrusters and other systems extended their mission to more than nine months. They returned last March aboard a SpaceX spacecraft instead.
Nebraska state leaders plan to move all boys from a youth treatment center in Kearney to a currently underutilized facility in Omaha, following multiple allegations of sexual abuse at the Kearney site. The boys would be relocated to what is now a youth prison operated by the state Department of Correctional Services, as part of a broader reshuffling of the state's in-custody juvenile population. State officials say the plan will improve living conditions and save approximately $4 million annually, but the Douglas County public defender and state employee union have raised questions about implementation readiness and impacts on youth programming.
The 1776 Project Foundation filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday challenging a Los Angeles schools policy intended to address segregation, alleging that the policy discriminates against white students. The challenge comes as Trump administration officials push to overturn decades-old desegregation court orders.
Ian Roberts, the former superintendent of Des Moines Public Schools, is expected to plead guilty in federal court to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and illegally possessing firearms, according to a plea agreement filed Wednesday. Roberts, a native of Guyana, faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and potential deportation after serving his sentence.
Planned Parenthood of Michigan announced it will offer vasectomy services at its Grand Rapids health center, responding to increased demand for permanent birth control alternatives following the Supreme Court's 2022 decision restricting abortion rights. The procedure will cost $800 without insurance and be available to adults 21 and older. The organization says it ceased offering vasectomies about a decade ago but is resuming services due to the surge in patient interest.
Facing Foster Care in Alaska filed a lawsuit against the state's Office of Children's Services on January 6, alleging that foster youth placed in shelters and college dormitories are not receiving enough money for food and basic necessities. The advocacy organization, led by director Amanda Metivier, says youth in these settings receive far less support than the more than $1,000 monthly stipend provided to foster families for the same needs. The suit challenges what Metivier calls a disparity in how the state cares for older youth transitioning toward adulthood.
Winter weather brings serious hazards — including carbon monoxide poisoning, hypothermia, and burst pipes — that can threaten lives and homes, according to public safety officials and health experts. With proper preparation, people can substantially reduce their risk, experts say.
Chess grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky died from an abnormal heartbeat caused by an accidental overdose of multiple drugs, according to a toxicology report released Tuesday by North Carolina authorities. Naroditsky, 29, was found dead at his Raleigh home in October. The report said he tested positive for methamphetamine and kratom, an opioid-related substance increasingly found in energy drinks, gummies and supplements.
Four astronauts returned to Earth this week from the International Space Station after a medical emergency cut short their mission in what NASA described as its first medical evacuation in 65 years of human spaceflight. At a press conference Wednesday, the crew declined to identify which team member fell ill or describe the medical issue that prompted the early return. Astronaut Mike Fincke said the crisis unfolded Jan. 7, the day before a planned spacewalk was abruptly canceled. The crew credited an onboard ultrasound machine with playing a vital role in their response to the emergency.
AP videographer Pierre-Richard Luxama described filming a tactical police patrol in Port-au-Prince on Jan. 20 when gang members attacked, setting an armored vehicle’s roof ablaze with Molotov cocktails. Luxama said the smoke filled the vehicle and spread quickly, and officers returned fire as civilians and police rushed to extinguish the flames.
Pew Research Center surveys of adults in six major Latin American countries found Catholicism shrinking and more people identifying as religiously unaffiliated, including atheist, agnostic or “nothing in particular.” The Pew report, released Wednesday, draws on surveys conducted in early 2024 in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Peru.
Dior’s menswear show in Paris arrived with a pared-back presentation and a confident statement of neon-yellow wigs, signaling a shift under new creative direction. The show, presented in an annex of the Rodin Museum, was led by Jonathan Anderson, Dior’s creative director. VIPs in the close-packed room included Robert Pattinson, Lewis Hamilton and SZA.
Doctors in Minnesota said the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement has driven patients to miss prenatal and other medical care and has heightened fear among hospital staff, prompting some facilities to shift communications to encrypted channels. The doctors spoke Tuesday at a news conference in St. Paul, according to the Associated Press. The article described individual cases including a pregnant woman who missed a checkup and later went into labor before she could be treated, and detained patients who lacked access to needed medications.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration held a public meeting Thursday to review whether Philip Morris International can use new marketing language for Zyn flavored nicotine pouches, including claims they are less harmful than cigarettes for adults who smoke. Government documents and presentations made at the meeting suggest regulators are leaning toward approving the request, though a panel of independent experts questioned details about the company’s research and risks of underage use.
Hawaii has launched an “Essential Rural Medical Air Transport” pilot program to offer free charter flights for some Molokai and Lana‘i residents traveling to off-island medical appointments, and to help Honolulu-area doctors travel to the neighbor islands. The Associated Press reported the initiative, funded by Hawaii lawmakers in 2024, began launching flights late last week as part of a project expected to begin with routes from Molokai later this month and from Lana‘i in February.
Guinea-Bissau is suspending a hepatitis B vaccine study involving newborns while it awaits an ethics review, Health Minister Quinhi Nantot said Thursday. The study, a randomized controlled trial, is designed to compare vaccinating some infants at birth with withholding vaccination from others as researchers track outcomes. Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said the agency supports the ethical review, while U.S. health officials said the study remains set to proceed.
International health authorities are set to review whether the United States has lost its measles elimination status, with a decision planned for April 13, according to the Associated Press. The review comes amid renewed measles activity across multiple states, including a large outbreak in West Texas last year.
A new exhibition titled “Love Letters” opens Saturday at Britain’s National Archives, presenting handwritten messages spanning five centuries. The show, running through April 12, includes letters that reflect romance, family bonds and friendship, as well as writing from spies, soldiers and royalty.
JACKSON, Miss., Jan. 20 — Stephen Spencer Pittman pleaded not guilty Tuesday to a federal arson charge connected to a fire that badly damaged the Beth Israel Congregation, a historic Mississippi synagogue that had been bombed by the Ku Klux Klan in 1967.
Missouri gambling regulators rejected a request from the NCAA to restrict wagers on the performance of college athletes, the Associated Press reported Thursday. The Missouri Gaming Commission said it did not yet have enough information to prohibit college athlete prop bets, though it left open the possibility of revisiting the issue.
Michigan State University is planning to integrate artificial intelligence into every major area of study, starting with a foundational course this fall, as business leaders press for a more digital-ready workforce. The effort comes through MSU’s Green and White Council and follows a broader push at U.S. colleges to expand AI education, including at least one university making it a graduation requirement.
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Jan. 21, 2026) — The four astronauts who were evacuated last week from the International Space Station said a portable ultrasound machine was critical during a medical crisis onboard. During their first public appearance since returning to Earth, they declined to say which crew member needed medical attention or why.
Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones filed to withdraw from a U.S. Department of Justice agreement tied to litigation over in-state tuition for some immigrant students, days after taking office. Jones’s motion asks a federal court to undo a prior effort to invalidate Virginia’s 2020 “Dream Act” that allows eligible undocumented students to receive in-state tuition. The U.S. Justice Department, which brought the challenge, declined comment because the case is pending.
Indonesian and Australian researchers studying tan handprints in a largely unexplored part of Sulawesi have reported what they say may be the oldest cave art on record. The prints were dated to at least 67,800 years ago, based on mineral crusts that formed over the artwork.
The Olympic flame arrived in Venice on Thursday and was carried on traditional boats through the city’s historic waterways as the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Games relay moves toward Milan. Torchbearers glided down the Grand Canal and crossed St. Mark’s Basin before the flame was lit at the Doge’s Palace area, AP reported.
Paris Fashion Week menswear opened Tuesday with industry figures and guests mourning the death of designer Valentino Garavani, whose career spanned decades and linked Rome and Paris couture. Valentino, 93, died at his Rome residence, his foundation said in a statement.
Pharrell Williams opened Louis Vuitton’s monogram anniversary year with a Fall-Winter 2026 men’s show at the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris on Monday, marking the house’s 130th anniversary of its signature. The event combined a fashion presentation with a cinema-like set, featuring a glass-walled minimalist “apartment” on a grassy runway and a celebrity-heavy front row.
Rwanda will test artificial intelligence-powered technology in more than 50 health clinics as part of a new initiative led by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and OpenAI, the Associated Press reported. The program is intended to support 1,000 clinics across Africa and is backed by joint funding of $50 million over two years. Rwanda’s health ministry official said the technology is meant to strengthen clinical judgment while improving efficiency in a system with a major shortage of health workers.
Texas supplied new residents to more states than any other U.S. state, according to figures released this week by the U.S. Census Bureau. The data, based on 2024 state-to-state migration flows, show Texas was the top source of new residents for nine other states.
The British government said it will consider banning young teenagers from social media as it reviews online-safety rules, according to Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Starmer wrote that “no option is off the table,” including looking at what age children should access social media and whether restrictions are needed for addictive features such as infinite scrolling or streaks.
Vice President JD Vance told supporters in Minneapolis on Thursday that he had come to “lower the temperature” amid unrest tied to the White House’s aggressive deportation campaign, blaming “far-left people” and state and local law enforcement for chaos. He urged Minnesota leaders to “meet us halfway” and said the Justice Department is investigating top Democrats in the state, including Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, over whether they obstruct immigration enforcement.
Winter weather can bring hazards including carbon monoxide poisoning, hypothermia and frozen pipes that can burst and damage homes, U.S. public safety officials and experts said. The Associated Press report highlighted steps people can take to stay warm and safe during winter storms and cold snaps.
Workers who spend long hours on their feet are pushing for “right to sit” protections and seating access at work, citing health risks tied to prolonged standing. In interviews and contract talks in the United States, employees and union leaders said employers’ policies often limit when workers can use chairs, stools or other seating options.
A privately funded initiative called "Be The People" will launch around the nation's 250th anniversary on July 4, with a first-year budget targeting more than $200 million and a goal of connecting hundreds of millions of Americans with local efforts to address poverty, addiction, violence, and stalled economic mobility. Brian Hooks, chairman and CEO of Stand Together — a nonprofit network founded by billionaire Charles Koch — leads the campaign, which is backed by 50 philanthropic foundations and individual donors. Hooks said the 250th anniversary is a unique moment "to show people that they matter, that they have a part to play, and that the future is unwritten, but it depends on each one of us stepping up to play our part."
Stephen Spencer Pittman pleaded not guilty Tuesday to federal arson charges related to a fire that damaged Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi. The 19-year-old defendant appeared in court with bandaged burn wounds on his hands and ankles. Magistrate Judge LaKeysha Greer Isaac denied bond, ordering him held in federal custody pending trial. The fire occurred January 10, shortly after 3 a.m., with no injuries reported.
In January, doctors and nurses in Minnesota began documenting unprecedented fear and disruption in healthcare delivery following the Trump administration's extension of immigration enforcement into hospitals. The shift ended a 14-year sanctuary policy that had protected hospitals from immigration raids since 2011, allowing federal agents to conduct enforcement operations in facilities previously off-limits to immigration authorities. 'I have been a practicing physician for more than 19 years here in Minnesota, and I have never seen this level of chaos and fear,' said Dr. Roli Dwivedi, past president of the Minnesota Academy of Family Physicians, speaking Tuesday at a St. Paul news conference.
Vice President JD Vance and second lady Usha Vance announced January 20 they are expecting their fourth child, a son due in late July. The couple shared the news in a social media post. The expected son will join their three other children: Ewan, Vivek, and Mirabel. Vance, 41, and his wife, 40, said both mother and baby were doing well.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said Tuesday he will send key lime pie and stone crabs to Indiana Gov. Mike Braun, paying off a food wager he lost when the Indiana Hoosiers defeated the Miami Hurricanes 27-21 to claim the college football national championship Monday night in Miami Gardens.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders rallied with striking nurses Tuesday at Mount Sinai West on the Upper West Side, calling on hospital executives to return to the negotiating table. The rally came during the ninth day of the largest nursing strike the city has seen in decades, involving approximately 15,000 nurses across three hospital systems.
Atlantic County prosecutors announced Friday they will ask a state court to drop child abuse charges against La'Quetta Small, the superintendent of Atlantic City schools, after the couple's daughter — who turned 18 earlier this month — said she no longer wanted the prosecution to proceed. The announcement came weeks after a jury acquitted Small's husband, Atlantic City Mayor Marty Small Sr., on related charges.
Prosecutors alleged that Nathan Chasing Horse, best known for his role in the 1990 film "Dances With Wolves," used his reputation as a Lakota medicine man to prey on Indigenous women and girls, while his defense attorney said the actor is being falsely accused in opening statements Tuesday at his trial in Las Vegas.
Hawaii launched a $2 million charter-flight pilot program for Moloka'i and Lana'i patients who face barriers reaching off-island medical specialists amid commercial airline disruptions. The program will provide free chartered flights for patients with physician referrals, with service beginning this month.
Actor Timothy Busfield was released from jail Tuesday night in Albuquerque, New Mexico, pending trial on charges of criminal sexual contact of a minor and child abuse. Busfield, known for roles in "The West Wing," "Field of Dreams" and "Thirtysomething," is accused of misconduct on the set of the TV series "The Cleaning Lady."
International health authorities announced they will meet April 13 to determine whether the United States has lost its measles elimination status, a certification granted in 2000 that appears in jeopardy following a year-long outbreak that infected 2,242 people across 44 states. The assessment comes as the U.S. records the highest measles case count since 1991, with nearly 50 separate outbreaks documented and cases confirmed in multiple states showing potential signs of continuous transmission. The reexamination hinges on a technical threshold: whether a single chain of measles has spread uninterrupted within the U.S. for at least 12 months. But public health experts agree the underlying problem extends beyond this definition — vaccination rates have fallen below the 95% level needed to stop the virus's spread, leaving communities vulnerable to a disease that public health authorities declared eliminated more than two decades ago.
Bernice King, the daughter of civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., said the MLK holiday offers a “saving grace” this year, calling it a “sense of sanity and morality” amid political turmoil. In an interview with The Associated Press, King said her father’s teachings—especially hope and nonviolence—remain a guide nearly six decades after his assassination.
Palestinian officials said Israeli settlers attacked the Bedouin hamlet of Khirbet al-Sidra in the West Bank overnight, setting homes and cars on fire, injuring Palestinians and activists. The Associated Press obtained security-camera footage timestamped around 10 p.m. Saturday showing fires and what it described as gunfire and settlers moving through the village. Israel’s military said troops were dispatched and were searching for people who attacked the area.
Hackers disrupted Iranian state television satellite transmissions Sunday night to broadcast footage supporting the country's exiled crown prince and urging security forces to defect, the latest act of disruption as the death toll from authorities' crackdown on nationwide protests reached at least 4,029 people, activists said. A U.S. aircraft carrier strike group that had been operating in the South China Sea passed through the Strait of Malacca, placing it on a route that could take it to the Middle East, ship-tracking data analyzed by the Associated Press showed.
Communities across the United States held parades, church services, and rallies Monday for the 40th federal observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with many participants and organizers saying the current political climate gives the holiday renewed urgency. In Atlanta, speakers at Ebenezer Baptist Church — where King preached — called out what they described as attempts to rewrite the history of racial injustice. In Washington, hundreds braved cold weather to march along Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. At Indiana University Indianapolis, administrators canceled a King Day dinner for the first time in 60 years. And in Westbrook, Maine, a church called off its service after reports that immigration enforcement agents were operating in the area.
A 10-month-old Portland, Oregon, boy remains on a feeding tube and is relearning how to crawl and talk after contracting infant botulism from ByHeart baby formula his mother received through a charitable program serving poor and homeless families. Ashaan Carter was hospitalized twice — for nearly two weeks in November, then again in December — after an Oregon Department of Human Services caseworker provided the formula days before a nationwide product recall. His case is among more than 50 infant botulism infections across the United States linked to ByHeart products.
Ohio's Department of Natural Resources has released a $2.5 million IMAX documentary, "Ohio: Wild at Heart," that is drawing large crowds at science museums statewide as it chronicles the state's transformation from a 1969 industrial catastrophe into a nationally recognized model for conservation and outdoor recreation.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced Sunday it is investigating a group of protesters who disrupted services at Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, where a man identified in court filings as the acting director of the local ICE field office also serves as a pastor. A livestreamed video posted on the Black Lives Matter Minnesota Facebook page shows protesters interrupting the service by chanting 'ICE out' and 'Justice for Renee Good' — a 37-year-old mother of three fatally shot by an ICE agent in Minneapolis earlier this month amid a surge in federal immigration enforcement.
About three dozen anti-immigration-enforcement protesters entered Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota, during Sunday services on Jan. 18, with some walking toward the pulpit and others chanting "ICE out" and "Renee Good" — the name of a woman an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot in Minneapolis on Jan. 7. The service was forced to end prematurely, according to the Minnesota-Wisconsin Baptist Convention. The U.S. Department of Justice said it has opened a civil rights investigation into potential violations of the federal Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act.
Guatemala President Bernardo Arévalo declared a 30-day state of siege after gang violence killed seven police officers in Guatemala City, his office said Sunday. The declaration follows prison riots in which inmates took hostages, and a subsequent government operation to retake three maximum-security prisons. Arévalo said the state of siege still needs congressional approval but can take effect before lawmakers vote.
A U.S.-based activist agency said it has verified at least 3,919 deaths during protests that swept Iran and were followed by a deadly crackdown, warning the figure could be higher. The Human Rights Activists News Agency posted the revised toll on Sunday, up from a previous count of 3,308, AP reported.
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed Friday to hear an appeal by Bayer aimed at blocking thousands of state lawsuits alleging Roundup failed to warn that the weedkiller could cause cancer. The justices will consider whether the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of Roundup without a cancer warning should bar the state court claims. The case comes from Missouri, where a jury awarded $1.25 million to a man who developed non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after spraying Roundup near St. Louis.
Abigail Spanberger was sworn in Saturday at the Virginia state Capitol as the state’s first woman governor, succeeding Gov. Glenn Youngkin. Democrats said her inauguration comes as they hold more power in Virginia while Republican President Donald Trump sits in Washington.
The Rev. Bernice King, CEO of the King Center in Atlanta and daughter of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., said the federal holiday honoring her father arrives this year as "somewhat of a saving grace" — a moral counterweight, she said, to rollbacks of diversity programs, changes to government historical content, and immigration enforcement she described as turning violent.
Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey on Sunday called a potential military deployment to enforce immigration law in the city "ridiculous and unconstitutional," urging protesters to remain peaceful as the Pentagon placed about 1,500 active-duty soldiers based in Alaska on standby for a possible deployment. President Donald Trump has since stepped back from the threat, at least for now, according to defense officials who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans. The standby order covers two infantry battalions of the Army's 11th Airborne Division, soldiers who specialize in arctic operations, the officials said. The troops would deploy only if Trump invokes the Insurrection Act, a rarely used 19th-century law that would authorize sending federal military forces into Minnesota over the objections of its governor.
Valentino Garavani, the Italian designer whose “Valentino red” gowns were staples on runways and red carpets, died Monday at age 93, his foundation said. The Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti Foundation said he died at his Rome residence, but it did not give a cause.
Minneapolis and surrounding suburbs have seen intensified clashes and disruptions amid a Trump administration immigration crackdown, known as Operation Metro Surge, with federal convoys moving through the area as protesters gather and tensions spike at night. The surge, which AP described as involving more than 2,000 officers, has put city and state officials and activists in direct conflict with federal enforcement teams. In one recent case tied to the crackdown, a mother of three, Renee Good, was killed in a Jan. 7 confrontation, according to federal officials and city and state officials.
Public health officials can sometimes detect measles infections through wastewater testing days to months before individual cases are confirmed by doctors, according to two studies published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The findings highlight how wastewater surveillance can act as an early-warning tool for measles outbreaks in Colorado and Oregon, even as the national program faces a potential funding cut.
A bipartisan group in the Senate and House is working to revive federal health care subsidies that expired at the start of the year, but disagreements over abortion coverage are making compromise difficult. The effort has faced a renewed risk of stalling as negotiations centered on abortion rules—particularly for people buying plans through Affordable Care Act options—have proved hard to resolve.
Gunmen abducted more than 150 worshippers in simultaneous attacks on three churches in northwest Nigeria on Sunday, a state lawmaker told The Associated Press. The attacks took place in Kurmin Wali, in the Kajuru area of Kaduna state, during services and a Mass.
Several dozen Guatemalan prison guards were being held hostage by inmates in three prisons Saturday after disturbances that authorities said appeared coordinated, the Interior Ministry said. Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda said he was willing to talk with inmates but would not agree to their demands in seeking the release of 46 guards. National Police were deployed around the affected prisons, and authorities said there were no reports of injuries or deaths.
Vienna-based analysts say spiraling tensions around Iran’s crackdown on protests raise concerns about potential nuclear risks, including the protection of highly enriched uranium stockpiles. The Associated Press reports that two former nuclear officials and a nonproliferation advocate warned that internal upheaval could weaken security and continuity at sensitive sites.
Donald Trump has threatened to use the 19th-century Insurrection Act, a U.S. law that allows the president to deploy federal troops inside the country, to address protests in Minnesota. The Associated Press examined how presidents have used the law before and what constitutional and historical parallels legal experts say apply to the Minneapolis situation.
Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo declared a 30-day state of emergency after suspected gang attacks on police killed at least 10 people, according to authorities and the government gazette. The violence began Saturday when inmates seized control of three prisons and took 43 guards hostage, then spread Sunday into police assaults across Guatemala City.
An ailing astronaut returned to Earth with three others on Thursday, ending their International Space Station mission more than a month early in NASA’s first medical evacuation, the agency and SpaceX said. The SpaceX capsule splashed down in the Pacific near San Diego less than 11 hours after the astronauts left the space station, and the crew’s first stop was a hospital for an overnight stay.
The Trump administration is delaying its plans to withhold wages and federal payments from some federal student loan borrowers in default, the U.S. Department of Education said Friday. The department said involuntary collection efforts would remain on hold as it finalizes new repayment plans that are scheduled to be available starting July 1.
Three U.S. Catholic cardinals urged the Trump administration to use a “moral compass” in foreign policy, warning that recent U.S. military action in Venezuela, threats to acquire Greenland and cuts to foreign aid could cause “vast suffering” instead of peace. In a joint statement on Monday, Cardinals Blase Cupich of Chicago, Robert McElroy of Washington and Joseph Tobin of Newark, New Jersey, said the current debate over Washington’s foreign policy is “mired in ‘polarization, partisanship, and narrow economic and social interests.’”
The Trump administration’s posts tied to its immigration crackdown in Minneapolis have drawn criticism, with critics saying some of the messaging borrows imagery and phrases popular with far-right and white supremacist groups. An Associated Press review of posts from the Department of Homeland Security and other administration entities found references that users on social media compared to Nazi slogans and far-right memes.
The Pentagon has ordered about 1,500 active-duty soldiers to be ready for possible deployment to Minnesota, where federal authorities have been conducting a large-scale immigration enforcement operation, two defense officials said Sunday. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive military plans. They said the Army's 11th Airborne Division — an Alaska-based unit that specializes in arctic conditions — has received prepare-to-deploy orders for two infantry battalions.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger, the first woman to serve as governor of the state, wore white for her inauguration on Saturday. The Associated Press reported that the color was chosen as a nod to the women’s suffrage movement and that Spanberger said in a separate interview she would not continue the state’s tradition of morning coats.
About 10,000 elephant seals are returning to California's Año Nuevo State Park this winter for their annual pupping season, when massive bull seals battle for beach territory and mothers nurse newborn 75-pound pups on the sand dunes, drawing wildlife watchers eager for a glimpse of the largest seals on the planet. The spectacle runs from mid-December through March at the park roughly 90 minutes south of San Francisco, according to park docent Laura Stern.
A New Hampshire Episcopal bishop drew national attention this month after warning his clergy to finalize their wills and prepare for a "new era of martyrdom," following the fatal shooting of a Minnesota woman by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer. Bishop Rob Hirschfeld of the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire delivered the remarks at a vigil honoring Renee Good, who was shot and killed Jan. 7 behind the wheel of her vehicle by an ICE officer. The Trump administration has defended the officer's actions, saying he fired in self-defense while standing in front of Good's vehicle as it began to move forward; Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz have disputed that account based on videos of the confrontation.
Content creators in the United States are posting videos on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube that interrupt users' scroll sessions to encourage them to close the app — a strategy researchers say may help plant early seeds of awareness about excessive platform use, even as academics debate whether heavy social media use constitutes addiction.
Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called U.S. President Donald Trump a “criminal” after Trump backed protesters during unrest that began Dec. 28, Iran’s state television broadcast on Saturday. Khamenei also blamed protesters for deaths he said numbered in the “several thousand,” and accused the U.S. of seeking domination over Iran’s economic and political resources. Trump responded by saying Khamenei “should run his country properly and stop killing people.”
In an effort to get people to log off, social media creators are posting videos that interrupt endless scrolling with reminders about how much time they spend on apps. Olivia Yokubonis, who posts online as “Olivia Unplugged,” has built an audience that welcomes the disruption—though some viewers respond with snark.
China’s population fell again in 2025 as the number of births dropped to the lowest rate since 1949, according to new government statistics reported by The Associated Press. The total population in 2025 stood at 1.404 billion, down 3 million from the previous year, and the birth rate was 5.63 per 1,000 people. The declines marked the fourth straight year of population decrease.
Communities across the United States marked Martin Luther King Jr. Day on Monday with parades, panels and service projects, as political and policy tensions related to civil rights and immigration enforcement shaped how some groups planned the holiday. The 40th federal observance came a year after Donald Trump’s second inauguration, with many speakers at King’s home church in Atlanta urging resistance to what they described as efforts to roll back civil rights initiatives.
Many people reach for lip balm when lips feel dry or crack during winter, when cold outdoor air and low indoor humidity can strip moisture. But dermatologists say lip balm helps for many people while ingredients can irritate some users, making symptoms worse.
Elephant seals have returned to California’s Año Nuevo State Park for the winter breeding season, when visitors can watch bull seals battle and mothers nurse pups. The park’s docent-led guided walks run during the pupping season from mid-December through March.
Ethiopian Orthodox Christians gathered across Ethiopia on Monday for Epiphany, locally known as Timkat, marking the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. In Batu on the western shore of Lake Dambal, thousands entered the lake after priests blessed them in a symbolic reenactment of baptism.
Robina Aminian’s family said she was killed during nationwide protests in Iran and that her mother later searched for her body in overcrowded morgues, AP reported. The family said they buried Aminian, a Kurdish woman studying fashion in Tehran, in a roadside pit after authorities demanded money to release the body. Amnesty International and human rights organizations described broader difficulties for relatives trying to retrieve and bury loved ones amid limited access and security crackdowns.
The Food and Drug Administration is facing legal, scientific and ethics concerns over a new expedited drug review program that aims to speed up approval for medicines tied to President Donald Trump’s administration, according to current and former agency staff members. The concerns center on who has the authority to sign off on approvals cleared through the “National Priority Voucher” program and how the expedited pathway is being applied for deadlines, staff said.
Hackers disrupted Iranian state television satellite transmissions early Monday, airing footage supporting exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi and urging security forces not to “point your weapons at the people.” The Associated Press reported the disruption followed nationwide protests that Iran’s authorities have met with a crackdown that activists said has killed at least 4,029 people.
The ICE crackdown in Minneapolis has left Somali business owners and some of their customers afraid to enter shops or travel, according to interviews included in an Associated Press report published Jan. 18, 2026. Owners at Karmel Mall in south Minneapolis described shuttered storefronts, fewer customers, and mounting financial pressure as enforcement activity in the city expanded.
Ohio is using an IMAX film to highlight its wildlife conservation work and the “restorative power” of outdoor recreation, the Associated Press reported. The documentary, “Ohio: Wild at Heart,” features the state’s top-ranked park system and is drawing crowds at science museums, with plans to bring it into classrooms next year.
Iranians are crossing into Turkey’s eastern Van province in short trips to get around largely blocked internet service in Iran, Associated Press reported. The communications blackout began Jan. 8 amid mass protests and a violent government crackdown that started Dec. 28, according to the report.
Milan Fashion Week, which closed Monday, carried an Olympic theme through menswear previews for fall-winter 2026-27, from Dsquared2’s Games-inspired look to Ralph Lauren’s celebrity-studded runway built around ski-resort wear. The four days of mostly men’s shows also featured a focus on hats and modular outerwear at Prada, plus a push for sustainability narratives at Zegna and upcycled fashion. The previews also put men’s accessories and jewelry front and center, while casting and inclusion remained a recurring topic in the front-row chatter.
A New Hampshire Episcopal bishop said clergy should get their “affairs in order” in a warning that Christians may be entering a “new era of martyrdom.” Bishop Rob Hirschfeld made the comments at a vigil for Renee Good, who was fatally shot on Jan. 7 by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer.
The U.S. Postal Service unveiled a commemorative Muhammad Ali “Forever Stamp” in Louisville, Kentucky, on Thursday, featuring a photo of the boxing legend in his fighting prime. Postal officials said the stamps went on sale that day.
Hundreds of counterprotesters confronted a small rally in support of the Trump administration’s latest immigration crackdown in Minneapolis on Saturday, as Minnesota’s governor’s office announced the National Guard was mobilized and ready to assist. The confrontation followed days of protests in the Twin Cities over a Department of Homeland Security operation that brought more than 2,000 federal officers to Minneapolis and St. Paul.
Milan Fashion Week kicked off a Milan-centric season for Ralph Lauren on Friday with a runway show that also supports dressing Team USA for the Feb. 6-22, 2026 Winter Olympics, according to AP. Colman Domingo, Liam Hemsworth and Noah Schnapp were among the celebrities in the front row for the event.
Hundreds of people in Spain watched horses gallop through towering flames in the village of San Bartolomé de Pinares ahead of pet owners taking their dogs and cats to church for blessings in Madrid and other places. The ceremonies are held every January to honor St. Anthony the Abbott, a patron saint associated with domestic animals.
Sri Lanka unveiled a rare purple star sapphire weighing 3,563 carats in Colombo on Saturday, and the owners said they are ready to sell the gem. The stone, named “Star of Pure Land,” is estimated to be worth at least $300 million, and a consultant gemologist said it is the world’s largest documented natural purple star sapphire.
Thousands of people rallied Saturday in Serbia’s Novi Sad as university students said they will continue their protest against President Aleksandar Vucic. The students said the new stage will focus on a post-Vucic plan to curb corruption and restore the rule of law.
The U.S. released updated federal dietary guidelines that advise Americans to “prioritize protein foods at every meal” and to increase daily protein intake to as much as double previous recommendations, the Associated Press reported. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said the government was “ending the war on protein.” Several nutrition experts questioned whether most people need to raise protein consumption that much and warned it could lead to higher fat intake and diabetes risk.
U.S. Vice President JD Vance will lead an American delegation to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy and attend the opening ceremony, the White House said Saturday. The White House said Vance will be joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, second lady Usha Vance, U.S. Ambassador Tilman Fertitta and a group of Olympic gold medalists.
Martin Luther King Jr. Day is an official holiday honoring the civil rights leader’s birthday and legacy, and federal and state government offices are closed Monday. Courts and most schools are also closed, while banks and the U.S. stock market remain closed until Tuesday.
YouTube said it is updating guidelines for videos that advertisers define as “controversial,” allowing more creators to earn full ad revenue when they address sensitive issues in a non-graphic way. The changes took effect Tuesday and YouTube said dramatized content and journalistic coverage can be eligible if they avoid graphic descriptions or imagery.
A federal judge in Minnesota ruled Friday that immigration officers conducting enforcement operations in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area may not detain or use tear gas against peaceful observers who are not obstructing their activities. U.S. District Judge Kate Menendez issued the ruling in a case filed in December on behalf of six Minnesota activists represented by the American Civil Liberties Union of Minnesota. The ruling came as federal agents and demonstrators have repeatedly clashed since the Trump administration launched what officials have described as its largest recent immigration enforcement operation in the area.
Democrat Abigail Spanberger was sworn in Saturday as Virginia's 75th governor and the first woman to hold the office in the state's 250-year history as a commonwealth, succeeding Republican Glenn Youngkin after defeating his lieutenant governor, Winsome Earle-Sears. The ceremony took place amid a cold drizzle at the state Capitol in Richmond.
MINNEAPOLIS — More than 2,000 federal officers are carrying out Operation Metro Surge, the Trump administration's largest immigration enforcement action yet, in and around Minneapolis and St. Paul, producing daily confrontations between agents and protesters that have become routine since an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed Renee Good, a 37-year-old American citizen and mother of three, on Jan. 7. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, a Democrat, said his city — with roughly 600 police officers — has been overwhelmed by the federal deployment. "We don't use the word 'invasion' lightly," Frey told reporters. "What we are seeing is thousands — plural, thousands — of federal agents coming into our city." The surge has shuttered businesses in immigrant neighborhoods, kept children home from school, and produced nightly scenes of tear gas and flash grenades as federal officers disperse crowds gathered outside a compound near Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport that houses an immigration court and government offices.
Thousands of Greenlanders marched Saturday from downtown Nuuk to the U.S. Consulate, chanting "Greenland is not for sale" and waving their national flag in what witnesses described as the largest protest in the capital against U.S. President Donald Trump's stated ambition to seize the Arctic island. As the march concluded, Trump announced from his Florida home that the United States would impose a 10% import tax, beginning in February, on goods from eight European countries over their opposition to American control of Greenland.
Bipartisan Senate negotiations over reviving federal health care subsidies that expired Jan. 1 appeared near collapse as of Jan. 17 as a dispute over abortion coverage proved intractable, according to senators involved in the talks. Republicans are seeking stronger limits on abortion coverage in Affordable Care Act marketplace plans; Democrats are firmly opposed to any changes. The impasse threatens to leave millions of Americans paying sharply higher premiums — the average subsidized enrollee faces more than double the monthly premium costs for 2026, according to KFF, the health care research nonprofit.
A Minneapolis couple says a federal officer rolled a tear gas canister under their family's SUV on Wednesday as they tried to leave a confrontation between protesters and immigration enforcement officers in north Minneapolis, flooding the vehicle with fumes that sent a 6-month-old infant and two other children to the hospital. The family said they were not demonstrating against the federal operation — they had been driving home from a basketball game when they were caught between the two sides.
LAS VEGAS — Health technology showcased at the annual CES trade show promised consumers new ways to track and interpret personal health, from smart scales to hormone and perimenopause monitors. But experts questioned the accuracy of some AI-driven products and warned that data privacy safeguards may not cover consumer devices as federal oversight shifts. During CES, the Food and Drug Administration also announced plans to relax regulations for certain so-called “low-risk” general wellness products.
The U.S. Education Department’s civil rights office, Office for Civil Rights, has opened far fewer sexual-violence investigations since staff cuts that began last year, according to internal data obtained by The Associated Press. The office’s workload backlog has left schools and students with fewer options short of lawsuits, advocates and lawyers said. The department’s spokesperson disputed that picture, saying the office is working through its caseload.
Hundreds of counterprotesters in Minneapolis drove off a small pro-ICE rally on Saturday organized by conservative influencer Jake Lang, who had announced on social media plans to burn a Quran on City Hall steps, according to the Associated Press. Lang appeared to have sustained bruises and scrapes to his head as he left the scene; it was not clear whether he carried out his stated plan.
Transportation planners across the United States have been reconverting one-way streets to two-way traffic flows, reversing a mid-20th-century redesign that prioritized suburban commuters over walkable downtowns. Indianapolis completed conversions on two major corridors last year and has budgeted an estimated $60 million for 10 additional projects, according to city officials. Louisville, Lynchburg, Virginia, Austin, Texas, and other cities are pursuing similar reversals, citing research showing one-way configurations create unpredictable hazards for pedestrians at shared intersections.
Vice President JD Vance will lead the U.S. delegation to the 2026 Winter Olympics opening ceremony in Milan, Italy, the White House announced Saturday. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, second lady Usha Vance, U.S. Ambassador Tilman Fertitta, and a group of Olympic gold medalists will accompany him. President Donald Trump is not on the delegation list.
President Donald Trump said this week that he has "kept all my promises and much more," addressing a Detroit audience as his administration approaches the one-year mark of his second term. An Associated Press review published Friday traced the status of his most prominent commitments, finding outcomes that span partial execution, legal obstacles and quiet withdrawal from public discussion. Among the pledges still in progress: acquiring Greenland, which Denmark has said it will not cede; reopening Alcatraz as an immigration detention facility; and completing a Qatari-donated Boeing 747 for use as Air Force One, a project the Air Force says may run past Trump's departure from office. Among those that have faded: sending tens of thousands of migrants to Guantanamo Bay, a commitment that reached roughly 500 detainees before declining and at times reaching zero; and transforming Gaza into what Trump called a "Riviera of the Middle East," a proposal Arab nations rejected and one Trump no longer raises publicly.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom’s administration and the state Legislature are tightening requirements counties and cities must meet to receive homelessness money, putting new focus on local encampment rules and housing planning. The changes are aimed at the state’s Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program, which provides the main source of state funds used by counties and cities to address homelessness. The proposal and legislative negotiations come as local governments say the updated application process could slow access to housing funds.
A California protester says he was blinded in one eye by a projectile fired by a federal officer during a Jan. 9 demonstration outside a federal immigration building in Santa Ana. Kaden Rummler, 21, said he underwent six hours of surgery after the injury, which also left metal and a nickel-sized piece of plastic lodged in his skull.
A sermon illustration played an AI-generated audio clip that sounded like Charlie Kirk, prompting applause at multiple churches, the Associated Press reported. Religion News Service, which wrote the story and partnered with AP, said churches played the cloned-voice clip after pastors told congregations it was artificial intelligence. The episode reflects how AI-generated images and audio about Kirk’s death spread quickly online and were later reused in religious settings, AP said.
A man who fatally shot a Delaware State Police trooper at a Department of Motor Vehicles office believed he was being monitored and harassed by law enforcement, investigators said. State police said the trooper, Cpl. Matthew Snook, was shot Dec. 23 at the New Castle DMV reception desk, where the man approached from behind and opened fire. In a final update, investigators said the shooter later told others he believed police were targeting him and posted about “gang stalking.”
Michigan hunters will be able to use electronic kill tags for certain animals starting March 1, after the state Natural Resources Commission approved the optional digital tags this week. Hunters will validate kills through the Hunt Fish mobile app instead of displaying paper tags for deer, bobcat, bear, fisher, marten and otter.
South Carolina health officials reported 124 new measles cases since Tuesday, bringing the state’s total to 558. The cases represent a sharp rise centered on an outbreak in Spartanburg County.
A New Jersey town is facing a state lawsuit that alleges its former mayor and police officials directed officers to keep minorities out of the community. The complaint, filed by state Attorney General Matthew Platkin and the Division on Civil Rights, names former Clark Mayor Sal Bonaccorso, suspended police Chief Pedro Matos and police Director Patrick Grady as defendants, the Associated Press reported.
New York City nurses on strike restarted contract talks Friday with another major hospital system as the walkout entered its fifth day, according to the New York State Nurses Association. The union said its bargaining team resumed meetings with counterparts at the three Mount Sinai hospitals at the request of a mediator.
Republican lawmakers in West Virginia arrived in Charleston for the legislative session with 16 proposed bills aimed at fixing the state’s troubled foster care system, according to researchers who reviewed the plans. The researchers said the measures are largely incremental, do not address the roots of the crisis, and are unlikely to prevent children from being removed from their families or tackle staffing shortages.
Texas A&M University canceled a graduate ethics course three days after the semester began, saying the instructor, Leonard Bright, did not provide enough information for administrators to determine whether the class meets new university system standards on race and gender policy. In a schoolwide email, Bush School Dean John Sherman said Bright declined repeated requests for details needed for compliance, while Bright disputed that characterization.
The U.S. flu season appears to be waning, with measures of flu activity declining for a second straight week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s latest data released Friday. The CDC said flu hospitalizations dropped sharply and flu-like illness visits to medical offices also fell. State reports of high flu activity fell, while officials said COVID-19 and RSV have not shown large surges.
The Supreme Court agreed Friday to hear an appeal from Bayer, the global agrochemical manufacturer, seeking to block thousands of state court lawsuits that allege the company failed to warn users its Roundup weedkiller could cause cancer. The justices will consider whether the Environmental Protection Agency's approval of Roundup without a cancer warning should preempt those state-court claims.
A senior hard-line cleric in Iran called Friday for the death penalty for detained protesters and threatened U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, even as the wave of demonstrations that began Dec. 28 appeared to have receded. Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami, a member of Iran's Assembly of Experts and Guardian Council, made the demand in a sermon carried live on Iranian state radio that drew chants of 'Armed hypocrites should be put to death!' from gathered worshippers.
Federal immigration agents deployed to Minneapolis during recent protests have used what experts described as aggressive crowd-control tactics, raising concerns about officer training and public safety after the deadly Jan. 15 shooting of a woman in her car. Protesters and civil liberties advocates have sought court intervention to restrict how federal agents operate during demonstrations, including limiting chemical agents, pointing firearms at non-threatening people and interfering with lawful video recording.
Iran has returned to uneasy calm after a wave of protests and a crackdown that began Dec. 28, with a senior hard-line cleric calling for executions of detained demonstrators, according to a report Thursday. In remarks carried by Iranian state media, Ayatollah Ahmad Khatami also threatened U.S. President Donald Trump, while Trump said he respected Iran’s decision to cancel executions of more than 800 people.
U.S. health officials said at least 45 people in nearly two dozen states were sickened with salmonella food poisoning after eating Live it Up-brand Super Greens diet supplement powder. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the illnesses were reported from Aug. 22 to Dec. 30, 2025, and at least 12 people were hospitalized. The companies that make the product, Superfoods Inc., issued a recall this week and said consumers should not eat, sell or serve the powder.
Organ donations from recently deceased people in the U.S. fell last year for the first time in more than a decade, according to an analysis released Wednesday. The decline contributed to 116 fewer kidney transplants than in 2024. The report linked the drop to signs of public mistrust in the organ-retrieval system.
President Donald Trump threatened Thursday to invoke the Insurrection Act and deploy troops to quell protests in Minneapolis tied to federal immigration enforcement. The threat came a day after a man was shot and wounded by an immigration officer following an attack with a shovel and a broom handle, officials said.
President Donald Trump on Friday thanked Iran's government for canceling what he said were planned executions of more than 800 political prisoners, even as the death toll from weeks of demonstrations inside Iran continued to rise. "Iran canceled the hanging of over 800 people," Trump told reporters as he departed the White House for his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. "I greatly respect the fact that they canceled." Trump also posted "Thank you!" on his social media site.
President Donald Trump attended a ceremony in Palm Beach, Florida, on Friday to mark the renaming of a 4-mile stretch of road leading to his Mar-a-Lago estate as "President Donald J. Trump Boulevard," drawing attention to a pattern that has seen his administration and Republican allies affix his name to federal institutions, a new class of Navy warships and a series of government programs over the first year of his second term.
President Donald Trump on Thursday announced the outlines of a health care plan he wants Congress to consider, centering on sending money directly to Americans through health savings accounts. The proposal also includes efforts to lower drug prices and require insurers to provide more upfront information about coverage and care timelines.
A review of 43 studies published Friday in *The Lancet Obstetrics, Gynecology & Women's Health* found that taking acetaminophen — sold in the United States as Tylenol — during pregnancy does not increase the risk of autism, ADHD or intellectual disabilities, adding to a body of research that contradicts claims promoted by the Trump administration. President Trump last year told pregnant women "Don't take Tylenol," citing what the administration characterized as evidence linking the painkiller to autism.
President Donald Trump this week appointed four members to the Commission of Fine Arts, restoring a quorum to the federal panel that must review his proposed 90,000-square-foot White House ballroom addition. The appointments, revealed in court papers filed Thursday, set up a Jan. 22 commission meeting at which the administration's East Wing Modernization project is on the agenda. The panel had been unable to meet for months after Trump dismissed six of its members last fall.
The Trump administration on Friday delayed plans to resume seizing wages and federal tax refunds from Americans who have defaulted on federal student loans, reversing course weeks after announcing it would restart collections this month following a pandemic-era pause. The Education Department said both administrative wage garnishment and withholding of federal payments through the Treasury Offset Program will remain on hold while the agency finalizes new repayment options.
The Trump administration told U.S. embassies and consulates that athletes, coaches and certain support staff tied to the 2026 World Cup, the 2028 Olympic Games and other designated “major sporting events” will be allowed to travel to the United States, even as the administration maintains a visa ban for citizens of nearly 40 countries. The State Department sent the guidance in a cable issued Wednesday, according to the AP. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/trump-visas-travel-ban-world-cup-olympics-869bace5a2eb40b7f1aac1e6b8667474">The AP reported</a> the cable’s contents, including that exemptions for events would not automatically extend to foreign spectators, media and corporate sponsors.
The Pentagon said it is changing Stars and Stripes so the independent military newspaper focuses on “reporting for our warfighters” and eliminates “woke distractions.” The shift, described Thursday by Sean Parnell, the spokesman for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, comes amid questions about how the outlet’s leadership and editorial practices would be reshaped under the Trump administration.
The Associated Press reported that the FDA’s “National Priority Voucher” program to speed drug reviews is drawing legal questions and alarm among some agency staffers, who say decisions are being moved away from career scientists and toward political leadership. The report said senior FDA officials raised concerns about who can legally sign off on expedited approvals, and that the program is tied to White House drug-pricing efforts.
U.S. adults are using artificial intelligence most often to search for information, according to an AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll released Tuesday. The survey found 60% of Americans overall say they use AI for finding information at least some of the time, including 74% of those under 30.
Texas A&M University canceled a graduate-level public administration ethics course three days into the spring semester after Professor Leonard Bright declined to specify which class sessions would address race, gender or sexual orientation — information administrators said they needed to evaluate the course under a new Texas A&M System policy. Bush School Dean John Sherman announced the cancellation in a schoolwide email Wednesday, saying Bright had refused repeated requests to provide the required information. Bright, who has taught the course since 2018, disputed that characterization, saying he told administrators the topics would arise throughout every class meeting rather than on identifiable days.
Michigan hunters will be able to validate kills using the Hunt Fish mobile app starting March 1, after the state's Natural Resources Commission approved optional electronic kill tags on Wednesday. The change applies to deer, bobcat, bear, fisher, marten and otter. Hunters who choose the digital tags will no longer need to display paper kill tags on certain animals.
Maleeka Boone, 8, was found dead Friday on Navajo Nation tribal lands in northern Arizona, one day after she was reported missing in the Coalmine Canyon area, authorities said. The FBI and Navajo Police Department are jointly investigating her death; an FBI spokesperson declined to provide details about the circumstances.
U.S. flu activity declined for a second consecutive week, with the number of states reporting high flu activity falling from 44 to 36, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data released Friday. Flu hospitalizations dropped sharply, and medical office visits for flu-like illness also fell. COVID-19 and RSV have not seen large winter surges.
New York City nurses entered the fifth day of a major strike Friday with contract talks resuming at Mount Sinai hospitals at a mediator's request, while overnight negotiations with NewYork-Presbyterian broke down with little progress after running past midnight.
New Jersey's attorney general sued the town of Clark and three current and former officials on Friday, alleging that former Mayor Sal Bonaccorso directed police to systematically stop and harass Black and Hispanic motorists while working to keep minorities out of the New York suburb. The complaint names Bonaccorso, suspended Police Chief Pedro Matos, and current Police Director Patrick Grady as defendants.
Any Lucia Lopez Belloza, a 19-year-old Babson College freshman, was detained by federal immigration agents at Boston's Logan Airport on November 20 and deported to Honduras two days later, despite a Massachusetts court order that she must not leave the United States, she told the Associated Press on Friday. The U.S. government has apologized in court, acknowledging that an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer mistakenly kept her name on a deportation flight list. Her attorney filed a motion Friday asking a federal judge to set a two-week deadline for the Trump administration to arrange her return.
President Donald Trump threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy federal military forces to Minnesota, seeking to suppress protests in Minneapolis that arose after federal immigration agents shot and killed a U.S. citizen, Renee Good. Constitutional and military law experts said the move would be an abuse of the 19th-century statute unlike any in American history.
Norwegian Cruise Line is collecting Hawaii's 14 percent transient accommodations tax from passengers on its current Hawaii voyages, even though a federal appellate court blocked state officials from collecting those taxes on cruise ships just hours before they were set to take effect on Jan. 1. Passengers aboard Norwegian's Pride of America discovered the charges mid-voyage this week. Don Yonce, a Dallas resident, said an invoice he received during the interisland voyage Sunday included a $1,035 charge in state and county transient accommodations tax, based on the weeklong cost of his family's cabin suite.
Nevada state agencies had not yet spent more than $700 million of the $2.7 billion in flexible pandemic relief funds the state received in 2021, with roughly one year remaining before unspent dollars must revert to the federal government, according to information presented to state lawmakers at a December meeting. Two of the largest projects still outstanding — a $203 million rural broadband expansion and a $25 million effort to relocate residents from a sinking North Las Vegas neighborhood — have each spent a fraction of their allocated funds.
West Virginia Republican lawmakers opened the legislative session in Charleston this week with 16 bills aimed at fixing the state's troubled foster care system. Five child welfare researchers who reviewed the proposals said the package fails to address the roots of the crisis, will not prevent children from being removed from their families, and is unlikely to produce meaningful staffing improvements. "I think these are somewhat incremental," said Bethany R. Lee, professor of children's services at the University of Maryland's School of Social Work and one of the researchers consulted.
California counties seeking state homelessness funds now face a new set of accountability requirements — including a state-approved encampment policy and a coveted "prohousing designation" held by fewer than 12% of the state's jurisdictions — to access a pool cut by half, to $500 million, for the coming fiscal year. Gov. Gavin Newsom's administration and the Legislature attached the conditions to the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention program, the main source of state money counties and cities have used to fight homelessness since 2019.
Army Secretary Dan Driscoll signed a memo Wednesday extending the National Guard deployment in Washington, D.C., through the end of 2026, according to a copy reviewed by the Associated Press. The memo cited "the conditions of the mission" as justification for pushing the deployment well past its prior end date of late February, framing the extension as continued support for President Donald Trump's "ongoing efforts to restore law and order." About 2,600 National Guard troops are currently stationed in the capital — approximately 700 from D.C. itself and the remainder drawn from 11 states, including Indiana, South Carolina, Florida, Mississippi, and Oklahoma.
A jury found Antoine Watson, 24, guilty Thursday of involuntary manslaughter in the death of Vicha Ratanapakdee, 84, who was killed in a 2021 attack in San Francisco. The jury did not find Watson guilty of murder but also convicted him on assault charges. The killing helped spark a national movement against anti-Asian American violence. Ratanapakdee's family says the attack was motivated by race, though prosecutors declined to file hate crime charges. Jurors will reconvene January 26 to hear arguments on aggravating factors before sentencing is determined.
A pod of Bigg's killer whales breached and slapped their tails for about an hour off Alki Beach in Seattle's West Seattle neighborhood on Friday, drawing dozens of spectators to the shoreline. Whale watchers identified the animals as Bigg's killer whales, a population that hunts sea mammals and inhabits the Salish Sea, and said the pod appeared to be hunting.
Delaware State Police Cpl. Matthew "Ty" Snook was shot and killed Dec. 23 at a New Castle Department of Motor Vehicles office by a man who believed law enforcement was monitoring and harassing him, according to a final investigative report state police released Friday. Rahman Rose, 44, of Wilmington, had told others he was the victim of "gang stalking" — a belief that government entities are surveilling and targeting an individual — and had posted about it on social media, investigators said. Rose had no prior interaction with Snook before the attack.
South Carolina health officials said Friday that the state's measles caseload had jumped almost 30% in four days, reaching 558 total infections in what has become the worst active measles outbreak in the United States. The state health department reported 124 new cases since Tuesday, with the wave of infections centered on Spartanburg County.
A U.S. citizen said she was dragged from her car by federal immigration agents in Minneapolis on Thursday while traveling to a medical appointment, then detained at a facility where she was denied medical care before losing consciousness in her cell. Aliya Rahman, who said she is disabled, released a statement after video of her removal — which appears to show agents smashing her passenger window, cutting her seatbelt, and carrying her to an ICE vehicle — drew millions of views on social media. The Department of Homeland Security disputed her account, calling her an agitator who had ignored commands to move her vehicle away from the scene.
Two men say federal agents blinded them in one eye with crowd-control projectiles during a Jan. 9 demonstration outside a federal immigration building in Orange County, California. The Department of Homeland Security has not answered questions about what type of weapon was used, while a DHS spokesperson called one of the men's injury claims "absurd."
Social media posts have falsely identified Enrique Tarrio, the pardoned former leader of the Proud Boys, as a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer — a claim denied by both the agency and Tarrio himself, according to the Associated Press. The false claim circulated widely on multiple platforms this week as protests continued in Minneapolis over the fatal shooting of Renee Good by a federal immigration officer.
Claims spreading online amid protests in Minneapolis after Renee Good was fatally shot by a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer have falsely said Enrique Tarrio is now an ICE officer. An ICE and Department of Homeland Security spokesperson said Tarrio is not employed by ICE, and Tarrio also denied the claim in posts on X.
California health care advocates, labor unions and progressive lawmakers urged Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature on Wednesday to find new money to backfill cuts to Medi-Cal, the state’s nearly $200 billion Medicaid program. Their coalition, “Fight for Our Health,” demanded action to replace billions in federal funding reductions President Donald Trump and Republicans approved last year.
The Trump administration cut nearly $2 billion in federal grants supporting substance abuse and mental health programs, then reversed course and restored the funding, leaving providers scrambling amid confusing notifications. The episode unfolded over two days this week, with many recipients receiving termination letters before later being told the grant withdrawals were rescinded.
Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the 19th-century Insurrection Act so he can send U.S. military forces to Minnesota, where protests have escalated amid federal law-enforcement activity. The Insurrection Act gives presidents authority to use the military domestically, but legal and constitutional experts told The Associated Press that the criteria for its use in Minneapolis are not clearly met.
Kaiser Permanente affiliates will pay $556 million to settle a federal lawsuit that alleged the health care provider committed Medicare fraud and pressured doctors to add incorrect diagnoses to medical records, federal prosecutors said. The settlement, announced Wednesday, comes more than four years after the U.S. Department of Justice filed the case in federal court in San Francisco.
Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado said she presented President Donald Trump with her Nobel Peace Prize medal during a meeting at the White House on Thursday. Machado said she did it “as a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom,” then went to Capitol Hill and later met with a bipartisan group of senators.
A new review of studies published in The Lancet suggests taking Tylenol (acetaminophen) during pregnancy is not linked to autism, ADHD or intellectual disabilities. The findings add to a growing body of research that contradicts claims promoted by President Donald Trump.
Connecticut Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker said Wednesday that a state-commissioned review found persistent problems in the special education system despite meeting federal targets. The report was presented at the Connecticut State Board of Education meeting and was conducted by WestEd, a consulting group.
Tanzania President Samia Suluhu Hassan on Thursday commented for the first time since a disputed October election on a six-day internet shutdown during the country’s worst postelection violence, saying the government would work to prevent a repeat. Speaking in Dodoma to ambassadors and representatives of international organizations, she also expressed “sincere sympathy” to diplomats and foreign nationals for the “uncertainty, service restrictions and internet shutdowns” they experienced.
Venezuelans gathered in Barquisimeto, about 170 miles (270 kilometers) west of Caracas, for a major Catholic procession honoring Divina Pastora, a title of the Virgin Mary. The annual pilgrimage on Jan. 14 drew thousands of people who prayed for peace, prosperity and good health amid political uncertainty. In Wednesday’s procession, housewife Miriam Espinoza said, “We pray for our country, because our country truly needs God.”
Wikipedia marked its 25th anniversary by unveiling new business deals with artificial intelligence companies, including Amazon, Meta, Perplexity, Microsoft and Mistral AI. The Wikimedia Foundation said the agreements let companies access Wikipedia content “at a volume and speed designed specifically for their needs.”
Frank Star Comes Out, president of the Oglala Sioux Tribe, has walked back claims that immigration enforcement arrested four tribal members and that the federal government tried to extract an “immigration agreement” out of the tribe. The claims came amid concerns over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement agenda.
President Donald Trump signed a bipartisan measure allowing schools to serve whole and 2% milk, while discussing Iran, a suspected leaker in Venezuela and executive orders during a White House event that began with a bottle of milk on the Resolute Desk. The Associated Press reported that after the initial remarks, Trump first told reporters that plans for executions in Iran had stopped before moving on to other topics.
Two studies published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that wastewater surveillance detected measles outbreaks weeks to months before clinical diagnoses in Colorado and Oregon, adding to evidence that sewer testing is a powerful early-warning tool for public health officials — findings that arrive as a Trump administration budget proposal would cut the national program's funding by roughly 80 percent.
President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened to invoke an 1807 federal law and deploy troops to Minneapolis, where federal immigration enforcement operations have triggered protests, a second officer-involved shooting, and school closures since an ICE agent fatally shot Renee Good on Jan. 7. The threat came one day after an immigration officer shot and wounded a Venezuelan man following a confrontation in which three people attacked the officer with a shovel and broom handle, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
Federal immigration agents deployed to the Twin Cities have pointed rifles at demonstrators, deployed chemical irritants at the outset of confrontations, broken vehicle windows and pulled occupants from cars during ongoing protests, the Associated Press reported Thursday. Criminologists and former law enforcement officials said the tactics deviate from accepted crowd-management standards and risk turning volatile demonstrations into deadly encounters. The Department of Homeland Security defended the conduct as necessary to protect officers from violent attacks. Experts said agents who normally conduct arrests, deportations and criminal investigations lack the specialized training that local police departments develop for managing large public demonstrations.
Open enrollment ends Thursday in most states for Affordable Care Act coverage starting in February, as the expiration of federal subsidies raises costs and lawmakers remain in talks over a possible extension. About 10 states with their own marketplaces have later or extended deadlines. Enrollment is lagging behind last year, with about 22.8 million people signed up so far, federal data show.
Several Middle Eastern allies of the United States urged the Trump administration Thursday to hold off on military strikes against Iran, warning that armed intervention would destabilize an already volatile region and rattle the global economy, according to an Arab diplomat familiar with the conversations. Top officials from Egypt, Oman, Saudi Arabia and Qatar raised those concerns in the preceding 48 hours as the White House continued to insist all options remain on the table. Iran's nationwide protests appeared increasingly suppressed a week after authorities isolated the country from outside communications and escalated a violent response that activists say has killed at least 2,637 people.
The House Republican-led Select Committee on the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack held its first hearing Wednesday in Washington, focused on the FBI's five-year investigation into pipe bombs planted outside Democratic and Republican party headquarters that day. Republicans on the panel challenged the established account of the attack, suggesting that Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol had been essentially misled into doing so, while portraying central militia groups as having been entrapped by the federal government. The top Democrat on the panel, Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, warned he and other Democrats would not remain silent.
The U.S. Treasury Department imposed new sanctions Thursday on Iranian officials accused of ordering violence against demonstrators in nationwide protests that have challenged Iran's government, while also targeting a shadow banking network the U.S. says has been used to launder revenue from Iranian oil sales.
President Donald Trump on Thursday announced the outlines of a health care plan he wants Congress to take up, centering on direct government payments to Americans for health savings accounts and steps to lower prescription drug prices, as Republicans face pressure after enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies expired at the end of 2025. The White House released a taped video in which Trump described the plan's core mechanism. "The government is going to pay the money directly to you," Trump said. "It goes to you and then you take the money and buy your own health care."
The United States and Iran confronted each other Thursday at an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting called by Washington, where U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz warned that President Trump would act to stop Iran's deadly crackdown on nationwide protests. Activists say the government's security forces have killed at least 2,677 people since the demonstrations began, a toll that exceeds any prior round of unrest in Iran in decades, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. The figure released Thursday represents an increase of 106 from a day earlier.
California Community Foundation CEO Miguel Santana said the organization’s wildfire recovery fund has raised more than $100 million since the LA-area fires began Jan. 7, 2025, and that survivors still face long-term barriers such as insurance and limited access to capital. In an interview with The Associated Press, Santana described how the fund deployed $30 million in its first month and used survivor surveys to guide its work into the second year of recovery.
An ailing astronaut returned to Earth with three other crew members Thursday, ending their space station mission more than a month early in NASA's first medical evacuation. SpaceX guided the capsule to a splashdown in the Pacific near San Diego less than 11 hours after the astronauts exited the International Space Station. The crew was taken to a hospital for medical checks and standard recovery procedures.
The Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday restored nearly $2 billion in federal grants to substance abuse and mental health service providers after abruptly terminating the funding two days earlier, leaving roughly 2,000 organizations scrambling to reverse layoffs and other emergency measures already set in motion. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration notified grant recipients of the restoration Thursday morning, hours after a separate 2 a.m. email reiterating the original cuts was confirmed to have been sent in error.
Millions of Americans face higher health care costs after Republican-controlled Congress let Affordable Care Act subsidies expire, reopening a long-running fight over the government’s role in health coverage. The battle plays out again in Washington as senators and House members consider whether to extend some subsidies, while Trump’s team promotes proposals built around lowering drug prices and letting people use health savings accounts.
The Trump administration has identified a host of athletic competitions where athletes and coaches will be allowed to travel to the United States despite a broad visa ban affecting nearly 40 countries, the State Department said Wednesday.
The Associated Press reports that a new FDA fast-track program tied to Commissioner Marty Makary is sparking legal concerns among top officials and anxiety within the agency’s drug-review center. The AP said agency staffers worry the program could shift key approval decisions away from career scientists and into the hands of political leadership, amid ties to the White House’s drug pricing push.
The U.S. Postal Service unveiled a Muhammad Ali commemorative Forever Stamp in the champion's hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, on Thursday, with 22 million stamps going on sale the same day. The stamp features a 1974 Associated Press photograph of Ali holding his gloves in a fighting stance, his last name in bold black and red lettering. Friends and family of the late champion gathered for the ceremony, hosted by broadcaster Bob Costas.
Governments around the world have opened investigations into Grok, the AI chatbot operated by Elon Musk's company xAI, after the platform generated sexualized deepfake images — including depictions involving children — through its AI image-generation tool, the Associated Press reported. xAI said it is restricting non-paying users from generating or editing images in response to the global backlash. The deepfake controversy is the latest in a series of documented incidents in which Grok has spread antisemitic content, echoed Musk's political views and inserted commentary on South African racial politics into unrelated conversations, the AP reported.
Health advocates, labor unions and progressive lawmakers rallied at the California Capitol steps Wednesday, demanding Gov. Gavin Newsom and state legislators find new funding for Medi-Cal after President Donald Trump and congressional Republicans approved billions of dollars in federal Medicaid cuts.
Kaiser Permanente affiliates will pay $556 million to settle a federal lawsuit alleging the Oakland-based health care giant committed Medicare fraud by pressuring physicians to record more severe patient diagnoses than warranted in order to receive higher government reimbursements, federal prosecutors said Wednesday. The settlement resolves a U.S. Department of Justice case filed in San Francisco more than four years ago that consolidated allegations from six whistleblower complaints. Kaiser said the deal includes no admission of wrongdoing or liability.
Connecticut's special education system has significant staffing shortages, cumbersome data collection tools, and a dispute-resolution process that parents and advocates say fails to hold school districts accountable, according to a report presented Wednesday to the State Board of Education. Education Commissioner Charlene Russell-Tucker, who commissioned the evaluation six months ago, said she sought an honest assessment of systemic weaknesses — and the consultancy that conducted it confirmed many of those concerns.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Wednesday he was blocking Louisiana's attempt to extradite a San Francisco Bay Area physician accused of mailing abortion pills, citing a 2022 executive order that bars state agencies under his administration from cooperating with other states' prosecutions of abortion providers. Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry, a Republican, had sent extradition paperwork the day before seeking to bring the doctor "to justice." Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill identified the physician as Remy Coeytaux and said he faced a criminal charge of abortion by means of abortion-inducing drugs, with a potential sentence of up to 50 years in prison if convicted.
Thousands of Venezuelans gathered Wednesday in Barquisimeto for the annual Divina Pastora procession, honoring a title of the Virgin Mary and praying for peace as the country faces acute political uncertainty following the reported capture of President Nicolás Maduro.
The San Jose City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to prohibit U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents from using 11 city-owned parking garages and lots and the parking areas of 75 community centers and libraries as staging areas or operational bases for immigration enforcement. The vote makes San Jose the latest city to restrict where federal immigration agents may operate on public property, following similar actions in Santa Clara County and Chicago, where Mayor Brandon Johnson signed an executive order in October laying out comparable rules.
Michigan lost nearly 8,000 teachers last academic year while gaining only 7,900, a near-even exchange that researchers at Michigan State University said represents an unsustainable churn threatening the stability of the state's 1.4 million-student public school system. The annual report, released Thursday by the Education Policy Innovation Collaborative at MSU, found that more than 1-in-20 teachers currently leading classrooms — 5.3% — hold no teaching certificate, even as the state has spent at least $275 million over five years on recruitment and training programs.
President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act to deploy U.S. military forces to Minneapolis, where protests have grown since a federal officer shot and killed Renee Good. Constitutional law experts said the threatened move would be without historical precedent because the federal agents Trump himself sent to the city initiated the violence he now seeks to suppress.
Striking New York City nurses resumed contract negotiations with hospital administrators Thursday, returning to the bargaining table for the first time since Sunday on the fourth day of what union officials described as the city's largest nursing walkout in decades. The New York State Nurses Association said its bargaining members met with officials at NewYork-Presbyterian late Thursday, with additional talks planned Friday at hospitals operated by Mount Sinai and Montefiore — though the union said some facilities had not yet agreed to resume discussions.
US overdose deaths fell for more than two years, federal data released Wednesday showed, suggesting a continuing improvement in an epidemic that has worsened for decades. The latest figures run through August 2025 and estimate about 73,000 deaths in the 12-month period ending that month. The decline was broad across states but also began to slow, CDC officials said.
An estimated 73,000 Americans died from drug overdoses in the 12-month period ending August 2025, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Wednesday, down about 21 percent from the 92,000 deaths recorded in the prior 12-month period. The figures extend the longest sustained decline in overdose deaths in decades — but researchers said the pace of improvement has begun to slow.
President Donald Trump signed the "Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act" at the White House on Wednesday, but the Oval Office ceremony became a vehicle for a series of unrelated announcements — including Trump's claim that Iran had halted plans for mass executions, the arrest of a leaker he connected to Venezuela, and the signing of executive orders on semiconductor and rare earth mineral tariffs. The dairy legislation arrived near the end of the event, with a glass bottle of whole milk placed on the Resolute Desk going untouched throughout.
A 90-mile section of California's Highway 1 along the Big Sur coast fully reopened Wednesday, three years after a series of landslides and a roadway collapse shut the scenic route connecting Los Angeles and San Francisco. The California Department of Transportation said the opening came three months ahead of schedule.
Four astronauts departed the International Space Station aboard a SpaceX capsule on Wednesday in NASA's first medical evacuation in 65 years of human spaceflight, after an unidentified crew member developed a health problem requiring ground-based diagnosis. The returning crew — American astronauts Zena Cardman and Mike Fincke, Japan's Kimiya Yui, and Russia's Oleg Platonov — aimed for a Thursday morning splashdown in the Pacific Ocean near San Diego. NASA officials declined to identify the affected astronaut or disclose the nature of the health concern, citing medical privacy.
The State Department announced Wednesday it will suspend immigrant visa processing for citizens of 75 countries — including Afghanistan, Iran, Russia, and Somalia — effective January 21, citing concerns that applicants are likely to require U.S. public assistance. The move is grounded in a November order that tightened standards for immigrants deemed potential "public charges," and is part of a continuing effort by the Trump administration to restrict legal pathways into the country. The department said the suspension will remain in place while it reevaluates immigration processing procedures to prevent the entry of foreign nationals expected to rely on public benefits.
The Trump administration has moved to freeze or withhold hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to Minnesota, targeting programs that provide food assistance, health care, and child care to low-income families, while filing a civil lawsuit against the state over its government hiring practices, according to the Associated Press.
A federal immigration officer shot a man in the leg in Minneapolis on Wednesday after being attacked with a shovel and broom handle during an arrest attempt, the Department of Homeland Security said — the second shooting involving federal agents in the city since an ICE officer fatally shot Renee Good seven days earlier. Smoke filled the street near the scene as officers in gas masks fired tear gas and grenades at onlookers, who threw snowballs and chanted, "Our streets."
The State Department said Wednesday it will suspend immigrant visa processing for nationals of 75 countries beginning Jan. 21, citing concerns that applicants from those nations are likely to require public assistance after entering the United States. The list includes Afghanistan, Iran, Russia and Somalia, along with dozens of other countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe.
President Donald Trump said Wednesday he had been told "on good authority" that plans to execute Iranian protesters had stopped, even as Iran's judiciary chief called the same day for rapid trials and executions of more than 18,000 detained demonstrators. Trump, speaking at the White House while signing executive orders, cited unnamed sources he described only as "very important sources on the other side" and acknowledged he was uncertain whether his claim was accurate.
Federal health officials confirmed Wednesday that laid-off workers at the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health are being reinstated, months after the Trump administration eliminated close to 900 of the agency's roughly 1,000 employees. The American Federation of Government Employees, which represents NIOSH staff, said all terminations have been rescinded. A Department of Health and Human Services spokesman confirmed the reinstatements but did not say how many workers would return.
The Gates Foundation approved a record $9 billion budget for 2026 and a plan to reduce its workforce by up to 500 positions by 2030, foundation CEO Mark Suzman said Wednesday. The board simultaneously capped annual operating costs at $1.25 billion — approximately 14 percent of total spending — to ensure more dollars reach grantees as the organization accelerates toward its planned 2045 closure. The foundation currently employs 2,375 people.
President Donald Trump signed the Whole Milk for Healthy Kids Act on Wednesday, allowing schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to serve whole and 2% fat milk for the first time since 2012. The signing reverses Obama-era restrictions that had limited cafeteria milk to skim and low-fat varieties. The change will affect meals served to roughly 30 million students enrolled in the program.
Food companies are affixing "GLP-1 Friendly" labels to frozen meals, smoothies and snacks to court the growing number of Americans on weight-loss drugs — but the labels carry no regulatory standard, and dietitians warn that the marketing can mislead consumers about what the products actually provide.
The Department of Homeland Security on Wednesday announced a regulatory change that will allow foreign-born religious workers to re-enter the United States immediately after leaving to reset their temporary visas, removing a requirement that had forced clergy to remain abroad for a full year.
Organ donations from the recently deceased fell in 2025 for the first time in more than a decade, resulting in 116 fewer kidney transplants, according to an analysis released Wednesday by the nonprofit Kidney Transplant Collaborative. The organization attributed the decline to public mistrust following rare reports of patients prepared for organ retrieval while still showing signs of life.
At least 45 people across 21 states have been sickened with salmonella poisoning linked to Live it Up-brand Super Greens diet supplement powder, federal health officials said Wednesday. The maker, Superfoods Inc., recalled original and wild berry flavors with expiration dates from August 2026 through January 2028. At least 12 people were hospitalized; no deaths have been reported, according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Trump administration reversed the cancellation of approximately 2,000 Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration grants representing nearly $2 billion in funding on Wednesday, hours after the abrupt Tuesday-night cuts had already prompted grant recipients to lay off employees and cancel services. Grant recipients told the Associated Press they had not yet received direct notification of the reinstatements by Wednesday evening, and the reason for the reversal was not made public.
Anchorage Mayor Suzanne LaFrance on Monday proposed a one-time education tax levy to raise $12 million for the Anchorage School District, saying the district's financial crisis was too urgent to wait for a broader city revenue package. LaFrance said she was asking the Assembly to set aside her previously proposed 3% sales tax in order to focus the spring ballot on the school levy. If eight Assembly members approve the measure by Jan. 27, it would go to voters on April 7.
California's Board of Parole Hearings approved fewer than one in four incarcerated people who appeared before it in 2025, a sharp decline from a 39% approval rate in 2018, according to a CalMatters analysis distributed by the Associated Press on Wednesday. The drop came even as California expanded parole eligibility and increased annual hearings from 5,226 in 2018 to a peak of 9,017 in 2022, before settling at roughly 8,000 annually in 2023 and remaining there.
Firefighters at Sky Valley Fire in rural Snohomish County, Washington, used the opioid-overdose reversal drug naloxone to revive six puppies that officials believe ingested or inhaled fentanyl, Battalion Chief Brandon Vargas said Tuesday. The animals recovered and will be available for adoption within about a week — and some firefighters who treated them have expressed interest in giving them a permanent home.
The University of Michigan Board of Regents unanimously approved Kent Syverud as the institution's 16th president on Monday, selecting the current Syracuse University chancellor and president to lead a flagship university contending with federal grant cuts, back-to-back athletic department scandals, and the second-highest in-state tuition among Michigan's public universities. Syverud, 69, will begin the role July 1 under a five-year contract with a base salary of $2 million and a potential annual performance award of up to 30 percent of that figure. Syverud becomes U-M's third president in five years and the first U-M alumnus to serve in the role in nearly a century. He replaces interim President Domenico Grasso, the former U-M Dearborn chancellor who assumed the office since May after Santo Ono stepped down after less than three years.
The American Civil Liberties Union dropped its federal lawsuit against the Department of Health and Human Services on Jan. 13 after the Trump administration agreed to restore $27.5 million in Title X family planning grants it had withheld since last spring. According to the ACLU, the funding suspension had left 865 family planning service sites unable to provide services to an estimated 842,000 patients across nearly two dozen states.
Crime victim service organizations across Washington state are confronting a cascading funding crisis after federal Victims of Crime Act dollars fell 76% between 2018 and 2024 — from $74.7 million to $17.86 million — forcing layoffs of therapists and advocates, reductions in emergency financial assistance, and the closure of at least one children's advocacy center, according to a report by InvestigateWest distributed through the Associated Press. Gov. Bob Ferguson's proposed state budget allocates $12 million for crime victim services in the next fiscal year, roughly $9 million short of what state officials and providers say is the minimum needed to keep the statewide network intact.
About 15,000 nurses under the New York State Nurses Association remained on strike Wednesday at three New York City hospital systems, entering a third consecutive day of walkout with no formal negotiations held and union leaders accusing hospital administrators of misrepresenting their contract demands.
Six puppies in rural Washington were revived after a suspected fentanyl overdose and are expected to be available for adoption soon, including by some Sky Valley Fire staff. Two people dropped off three of the sickened puppies at the fire station Sunday, and officials said authorities later found three more puppies that also needed treatment. A sheriff’s animal cruelty or neglect investigation is underway, and the puppies are being held in quarantine before they go up for adoption.
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced a settlement Tuesday with Betar US, a right-wing Jewish group she accused of intimidating pro-Palestinian protesters. The agreement requires the group to stop activities that threaten or intimidate Muslim, Jewish and Palestinian activists at protests and curb certain frequent social media posts, with a $50,000 penalty for violations.
“West Wing” actor Timothy Busfield turned himself in to authorities in New Mexico on Tuesday to face child sex abuse charges, according to police and court filings. Albuquerque issued a warrant for his arrest on Friday on two counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor and one count of child abuse, the Associated Press reported.
Mark Brnovich, Arizona’s former attorney general who led the state’s investigation into allegations of 2020 election fraud, has died. He died after having a heart attack Monday, according to a family representative, and was 59. Brnovich was in his second term as attorney general when Arizona became a focal point for efforts by President Donald Trump and his allies to find evidence supporting claims that the 2020 election was marred by fraud.
Connecticut’s Office of the Inspector General released a report Monday finding that “significant medical errors” occurred when methadone was prescribed to Ronald Johnson and Tyler Cole at Garner Correctional Institution. The report said the initial doses were too high and were increased too quickly, with attention lacking to other prescribed medications that can heighten methadone’s respiratory-suppression effects.
JACKSON, Miss., Jan. 14, 2026 — A synagogue congregant who was 17 when the Ku Klux Klan bombed Beth Israel Congregation in 1967 watched the historic church burn again after an early Saturday fire. At 75, Beverly Geiger Bonnheim said it was “horrifying and disbelieving” to see the blaze, and she questioned what history would bring next.
A demonstrator was hit in the face by a projectile fired by a federal officer at close range during a protest outside a federal immigration building in Santa Ana, California, leaving him bloodied and seriously injured, according to video and accounts from fellow protesters and family. The protest was held in response to the shooting death of Renee Good in Minneapolis by a federal agent, which has spurred protests nationwide.
French Olympic swimming champion Yannick Agnel will stand trial on charges of rape and sexual assault involving the 13-year-old daughter of his former coach, prosecutors in Colmar said. The Colmar appeals court ordered him to go on trial after determining that he was an adult at the time of the alleged acts, the prosecutor general’s office said Thursday.
Michigan is losing teachers at a rate officials say is difficult to sustain, leading districts to rely more on interim or temporary instructors, according to a report released Thursday. The Education Policy Innovation Collaborative at Michigan State University said the churn is also worsening shortages in special education and some other subjects.
President Donald Trump held off on threatened military action against Iran on Monday as the White House said it was exploring private diplomatic outreach from Tehran, even as his administration announced 25% tariffs on countries doing business with the Islamic Republic. The decision came as Iranian security forces continued a violent crackdown on antigovernment protests that has left more than 600 dead and thousands arrested. Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff was identified as the administration's key contact for any talks with Iran.
DETROIT — The Detroit Auto Show opened its media and industry preview days Tuesday at a Detroit convention center, showcasing more than 40 vehicle brands and leaning heavily on test-track ride experiences rather than the high-profile model unveilings that once defined the annual event. The show drew 275,000 attendees a year ago, organizers said, when participants took more than 100,000 rides in vehicles on display.
The Supreme Court's conservative majority appeared ready Tuesday to uphold state laws barring transgender girls and women from competing on school athletic teams, signaling during more than three hours of oral arguments that such bans do not violate either the Constitution or Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education.
About 800,000 fewer Americans have selected Affordable Care Act health insurance plans compared to the same point last year, federal data released Monday shows, as the expiration of enhanced tax credits pushes premiums out of reach for many. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services put total sign-ups at roughly 22.8 million through early January — a 3.5% decline — counting both new enrollees and returning customers who did not renew their plans.
The death toll from a government crackdown on nationwide protests in Iran climbed to at least 2,571 early Wednesday, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, as some Iranians were able to place phone calls abroad for the first time in days after authorities severed communications during the unrest.
Edilson Torres, a 51-year-old Venezuelan police officer held incommunicado since December on what his family described as politically motivated accusations, died of a heart attack Saturday in a Venezuelan prison, just as his family awaited the government's promised release of political detainees. He was buried Tuesday in the rural town of Guanare. Since the U.S. capture of then-President Nicolás Maduro on Jan. 3, hundreds of Venezuelan families who had previously avoided advocacy groups out of fear have come forward to register their relatives as political prisoners with Foro Penal, a nongovernmental organization that tracks detainees, the group's director said.
An astronaut left the International Space Station for medical care on Wednesday, with three crewmates returning to Earth in what NASA said is its first medical evacuation. The four astronauts—part of a mission cut short over a medical issue—are aiming for an early Thursday splashdown in the Pacific near San Diego with SpaceX.
The Smithsonian Institution on Tuesday gave White House officials new documents detailing its planned exhibits, meeting a deadline set by the Trump administration, which has threatened to withhold federal funding unless the institution presents a more positive portrayal of American history. Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III told staff in an email, obtained by The New York Times and The Washington Post, that "we transmitted more information in response to that request." Bunch added the institution would continue to engage by providing "relevant and appropriate materials."
The Trump administration restored federal funding for family planning after an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit, the ACLU said Wednesday. The lawsuit had challenged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ decision to pause Title X funding for dozens of family-planning organizations.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul used her annual State of the State address Tuesday in Albany to unveil a reelection-year agenda built around child care, immigration enforcement limits, transit security, and restrictions on protests near houses of worship — an attempt to appeal simultaneously to the Democratic Party's progressive and moderate wings ahead of a contested election. Hochul, a centrist from Buffalo, delivered the address before a packed crowd at The Egg, a domed theater adjacent to the state Capitol.
A New York City Council data analyst from Venezuela was arrested by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Monday at a scheduled asylum check-in on Long Island, triggering protests at the Manhattan federal building where he is being held and a sharply contested dispute over whether the detention was lawful. Rafael Andres Rubio Bohorquez was taken into custody at a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services asylum office in Bethpage while appearing for what Council Speaker Julie Menin described as a routine appointment that "quickly went awry." ICE confirmed the arrest and identified him by name; Menin had declined to name him publicly.
Claudette Colvin, who at age 15 was arrested for refusing to give up her seat on a segregated Montgomery, Alabama, bus — nine months before Rosa Parks' more widely recognized act of defiance — died Tuesday at 86. Her death was announced by the Claudette Colvin Legacy Foundation; Ashley D. Roseboro of the organization confirmed she died of natural causes in Texas.
The South Carolina measles outbreak has grown to 789 confirmed cases since September, health officials said Tuesday, surpassing the total recorded in Texas' 2025 outbreak and showing little sign of slowing. The outbreak, centered in Spartanburg County in the state's northwest, added 89 new cases in the four days since Friday. A concurrent outbreak along the Utah-Arizona border and confirmed cases in a dozen other states are threatening the United States' measles elimination status.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday directed Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to remove label warnings about potential suicidal thoughts and behaviors from their blockbuster weight-loss medications, saying a comprehensive review found no elevated risk.
The Environmental Protection Agency said Monday it will stop calculating the monetary value of lives saved and health care costs avoided when setting standards for fine particulate matter and ozone, ending a decades-long practice used by administrations of both parties to justify clean-air rules.
State Sen. Dan McKeon resigned from the Nebraska Legislature on Tuesday just minutes before the full chamber was set to debate expelling him over accusations that he made a sexually charged comment to a legislative staffer and touched her inappropriately during a session-end party last May. McKeon, a Republican from rural south-central Nebraska who had served less than one year in office, delivered a tearful apology on the legislative floor before stepping down. "My words and actions were careless, regardless of the intent," McKeon said. "I accept my responsibility for the impact of my words and my actions."
The University of Arizona is pursuing a three-building plan to partially reopen the Arizona State Museum without depending on a $50 million funding request that the Arizona Board of Regents declined in 2024, university officials said. The museum, which holds artifacts spanning more than 13,000 years of cultural history and has been closed to the public since August 2024, could see its South Building reopened once archaeological collections are relocated off campus.
Three high-profile Texas death row inmates face pivotal appellate hearings in 2026, including a January 21 en banc argument before all 17 judges of the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, as Texas records a second consecutive year without leading the nation in annual executions. Robert Roberson, David Wood, and Brittany Holberg each secured stays or reversals in 2025 after their original convictions were called into question. Texas remains the national overall leader in executions, but the state's annual totals have declined gradually over the past decade.
President Donald Trump told Iranian protesters "help is on its way" and cut off talks with the Iranian government on Tuesday, as his administration weighed options including military strikes in response to a crackdown that rights monitors say has killed more than 2,500 people since demonstrations began Dec. 28.
The Democratic National Committee announced Tuesday it will spend millions of dollars to shift control of voter registration efforts from nonprofit advocacy groups to the party itself, starting in Arizona and Nevada with at least $2 million for training organizers ahead of this year's midterm elections.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife Rama Duwaji moved into Gracie Mansion on Monday, trading their flood-prone, one-bedroom rental in Astoria, Queens, for the city's 11,000-square-foot official mayoral residence on the Upper East Side of Manhattan — complete with a private chef, an ornate ballroom, and a veranda overlooking the East River.
Federal officers deployed tear gas and sprayed an orange eye irritant at activists in Minneapolis on Tuesday, the sixth day of confrontations following the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an immigration agent. Students in suburban Brooklyn Park walked out of school to protest the Trump administration's immigration enforcement campaign. At least five prosecutors have resigned from the Minnesota U.S. Attorney's Office, including First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson, who had been leading the state's prosecution of public fraud schemes, amid controversy over how the Justice Department is handling the investigation into Good's death, according to people familiar with the matter. A Justice Department official said Wednesday there is no basis for a criminal civil rights investigation; an FBI probe remains ongoing.
Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield was ordered held without bond at his first court appearance in New Mexico on Wednesday, a day after turning himself in to face charges of child sex abuse. Prosecutors said the allegations involve inappropriate touching of a minor on the set of a TV series Busfield was directing in Albuquerque.
Anchorage city leaders are proposing a one-time tax increase to raise millions for the Anchorage School District, which faces an $83 million budget shortfall, officials said. Mayor Suzanne LaFrance said Monday she is asking the Assembly to set aside a slate of revenue proposals, including her office’s proposed 3% sales tax, to focus on a $12 million education tax levy. If the Assembly approves the levy, city officials say it would appear on the April city ballot.
British Columbia is ending its three-year pilot program that decriminalized possession of small amounts of drugs, the province announced. Health Minister Josie Osborne said the province will not seek an extension of an agreement with Canada’s federal health agency that covered the pilot, which was set to end Jan. 31.
A top House Democrat on Wednesday criticized the Trump administration for canceling thousands of substance-abuse and mental health grants and then reversing course, after some recipients said they began cutting staff. Rep. Rosa DeLauro of Connecticut, ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, said the decision-making by Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. was “dangerous and haphazard.”
The Department of Homeland Security announced a regulatory change aimed at reducing visa wait times abroad for religious workers serving U.S. congregations. The rule also eliminates a requirement that some R-1 religious workers leave the United States for one year after hitting a five-year visa maximum, though they would still need to depart and be able to apply to re-enter right away.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration ordered drugmakers Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to remove label warnings about potential suicidal thoughts and behaviors from their GLP-1 weight-loss medications, the agency said Tuesday. The FDA said it completed a review and found no increased suicide risk among users of the obesity GLP-1 drugs, including Wegovy and Saxenda and Zepbound.
Federal officers in Minneapolis said a federal officer shot a man in the leg after being attacked with a shovel and a broom handle while trying to make an arrest. The incident happened Wednesday, after months of clashes tied to an immigration crackdown in Minnesota, where officials say protests and confrontations with federal agents have become more frequent.
PARIS — The Louvre Museum will raise admission prices for most non-European visitors by nearly half, the museum said, as it moves to a new “differentiated pricing” policy. The increases take effect Wednesday, with the standard rate for visitors outside Europe rising to 32 euros from 22 euros, according to the museum.
Kent Syverud, the former Syracuse University chancellor and president, was unanimously approved Monday as the next president of the University of Michigan and will begin his post July 1. In remarks after the Board of Regents meeting, Syverud said the university and U.S. higher education face “challenging times” and that Michigan “can lead.”
U.S. supermarkets are increasingly featuring meals and snacks marketed with “GLP-1 Friendly” labels to attract people taking weight-loss drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound. Dietitians say the labels are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and advise consumers to read nutrition facts and talk with clinicians about what nutrients they need.
Rio de Janeiro’s BioParque zoo gave animals popsicles and other frozen treats Tuesday as the city faced another day of extreme summer heat, according to zoo officials. Jaguar and monkey enclosures were among those receiving the iced diet designed for thermal comfort.
South Carolina’s measles outbreak has surpassed the case count from Texas’ 2025 outbreak, with health officials logging nearly 600 additional cases over just over a month, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday. The outbreak, centered in northwestern Spartanburg County, has confirmed 789 cases since September, according to the AP.
Thousands of people protested Wednesday in Sofia, Bulgaria, calling for a fair election as the country appears headed toward an early vote. The protesters said they want voting free of manipulation, vote buying and falsification of results, and they argued that the refusal of the outgoing government to introduce machine voting would be another attempt to tamper with the outcome.
President Donald Trump said at the White House on Wednesday that he has been told “the killing in Iran is stopping” and that “there’s no plan for executions” by Tehran. His remarks came as Iranian officials and U.S. officials warned of fast trials and executions tied to the nationwide crackdown on protesters.
President Donald Trump signed a law Wednesday that overturns Obama-era limits on higher-fat milk options in school lunches, allowing participating schools to serve whole and 2% milk alongside required lower-fat products. The change could take effect as soon as this fall, officials said, and affects meals served through the National School Lunch Program to about 30 million students.
Crime victim service providers in Washington are pressing the state for more funding after federal Victims of Crime Act awards fell sharply, leaving some shelters and child-advocacy programs cut back or at risk. The Washington State Coalition Against Domestic Violence and other groups warn that without additional state money, services that help sexual-assault and domestic-violence survivors could keep shrinking after July when the next state fiscal year begins.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani and his wife Rama Duwaji began moving into Gracie Mansion on Monday, leaving behind their one-bedroom apartment in Queens. City workers unloaded boxes as the mayor marked the move with a press conference on the mansion’s riverfront lawn.
Arnulfo Reyes, a teacher who survived the 2022 massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, told a jury Monday that the attack began when he looked at his classroom door and saw "a black shadow" holding a gun. Reyes was shot in the arm and back during the attack. None of the children in his classroom survived. His testimony came on the fifth day of the trial of Adrian Gonzales, a former Uvalde schools police officer charged with 29 counts of child abandonment or endangerment for allegedly failing to act against the gunman in the first moments of the shooting.
A new generation of Christian influencers is gaining audiences online by discussing faith on topics that young people say are often left unanswered in traditional church settings. In interviews, influencers including Megan Ashley, Lecrae Moore and the hosts of “Girls Gone Bible” said they aim to meet audiences with practical guidance and personal testimony.
At least 646 people have been killed since protests erupted in Iran on Dec. 28, according to a U.S.-based human rights monitoring group, as President Donald Trump on Monday announced 25 percent tariffs on countries that do business with Tehran and said the Islamic Republic wants to negotiate. The announcements came after Oman's foreign minister traveled to Iran over the weekend in a visit that activated a channel Muscat has long used as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran, though Tehran did not issue a public statement in response to Trump's comments.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced 25% tariffs on all countries doing business with Iran on Monday and said Tehran has privately sought talks with Washington, as the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency reported that at least 646 people had been killed in two weeks of protests against the Iranian government. Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to foreign diplomats in Tehran, said the protest situation was "under total control" and that Iran was "open to diplomacy," while blaming the United States and Israel for the violence without offering evidence. Iran's foreign ministry said a diplomatic channel to Washington remained open but insisted talks could not be one-sided.
JACKSON, Miss. — A 19-year-old man appeared in federal court Monday on charges he set fire to a historic Mississippi synagogue because it was a Jewish house of worship, the FBI said, after his own father alerted authorities upon discovering burn injuries on his son's face, hands, and ankles.
Fewer Americans have selected Affordable Care Act health insurance plans this year as expiring enhanced tax credits and other factors raise costs for many people, according to new federal data. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services reported Monday that about 800,000 fewer people have chosen plans compared with the same point last year, a 3.5% drop in total ACA enrollment.
The U.S. Supreme Court appeared Tuesday to be ready to uphold state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school sports teams, in a fight tied to federal education civil-rights law. During more than three hours of arguments, justices from the court’s conservative majority signaled the bans likely do not violate the Constitution or Title IX.
Iranian authorities’ crackdown on nationwide protests has left at least 2,571 people dead, according to an Iranian activists’ group and a U.S.-based monitoring outlet, as communications were severed and Iranians began calling abroad again for the first time in days. Activists said at least 2,403 protesters and 147 government-affiliated people were among the dead, with more than 18,100 others detained.
Minnesota, joined by Minneapolis and St. Paul, filed a lawsuit Monday against the Trump administration seeking to halt an immigration enforcement operation that has included mass arrests, repeated deployment of tear gas, and the fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman by a federal officer five days earlier. State Attorney General Keith Ellison filed the suit against the Department of Homeland Security, alleging violations of the First Amendment and other constitutional protections. The lawsuit seeks a temporary restraining order to halt the enforcement action or limit the operation.
The Smithsonian Institution gave the White House new documents about planned exhibits, museum displays and other programming ahead of the U.S. 250th birthday, according to an Associated Press report. The transfer followed a White House demand for more precise details, with the Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Bunch III saying in an email that “we transmitted more information” in response. The White House did not respond to a request for comment, and Smithsonian said it would continue providing “relevant and appropriate materials.”
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear on Monday called on Democrats seeking governorships in 2026 to center their campaigns on solutions for the economic pressures facing working families and to speak more personally about the values and faith that motivate them. Beshear, who chairs the Democratic Governors Association heading into November's midterms, outlined the party's strategy in a sit-down interview with The Associated Press from Frankfort, Kentucky. Thirty-six governor's races are on the ballot this year as Democrats seek to build on their 2025 victories in Virginia and New Jersey.
Nebraska state Sen. Dan McKeon resigned from the Legislature on Tuesday, hours before a planned debate that would have considered expelling him. McKeon, a Republican from rural south-central Nebraska, cited “careless” words and actions amid accusations that he made a sexually charged comment to a legislative staffer and touched her inappropriately at a session-end party last year.
A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore nearly $12 million in grants to the American Academy of Pediatrics on Sunday, finding that the Health and Human Services Department likely acted with a "retaliatory motive" when it terminated funding to the pediatric group in December. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell of Washington, D.C., issued a preliminary injunction siding with AAP, ruling that the group had shown it would likely suffer irreparable harm from the cuts and that the public interest favored allowing the programs to continue while the underlying lawsuit proceeds.
A film directed by Gus Van Sant depicting a 1977 Indianapolis kidnapping is set to premiere Jan. 16, drawing renewed attention to a case in which a failed real estate developer held a mortgage company executive at gunpoint for nearly 63 hours using a wire-triggered shotgun. "Dead Man's Wire," starring Bill Skarsgård and Dacre Montgomery, focuses on the three days in February 1977 when Anthony "Tony" Kiritsis kidnapped Richard Hall, president of Meridian Mortgage, and took him hostage in his west-side apartment after a loan dispute turned violent.
About 15,000 nurses walked off the job Monday at three major New York City hospital systems — NewYork-Presbyterian, Mount Sinai, and Montefiore — after weekend negotiations failed to produce a breakthrough on disputes over staffing levels, benefits, and limits on the use of artificial intelligence, according to their union, the New York State Nurses Association. The hospitals remained open, hiring temporary nurses to fill the gap, amid a severe flu season.
The Trevor Project, which operates a crisis hotline for LGBTQ+ young people, received a $45 million gift from MacKenzie Scott at the end of 2025, the organization announced Monday. The donation is the largest in the nonprofit's history and arrives after the organization lost $25 million in federal funding and weathered years of leadership turmoil and repeated layoffs.
Los Angeles police detained a man Sunday after he drove a U-Haul box truck through a crowd of marchers on Veteran Avenue in the Westwood neighborhood, where demonstrators had gathered to show solidarity with protesters inside Iran, police said. One person was struck by the truck, but nobody was seriously hurt, according to a police statement. Two people were evaluated by paramedics and both declined treatment, the Los Angeles Fire Department said.
LAS VEGAS — Allegiant Air said Monday it will acquire Sun Country Airlines in a cash-and-stock deal valued at about $1.5 billion, including debt, combining two budget U.S. carriers that focus on leisure travel. The merged airline would serve approximately 175 cities across more than 650 routes with a fleet of roughly 195 aircraft, the companies told investors.
A 10-year-old dressed in tribute to movie character Joe Dirt took top honors Monday at the Pennsylvania Farm Show's annual mullet contest in Harrisburg, where about 150 competitors vied before a crowd of more than a thousand spectators. Drew Fleschut of Dallas, Pennsylvania — wearing a red-and-black shirt and carrying the character's signature mop — claimed the top prize, the rear bumper of a Corvette, at the event billed as the day's "mane" attraction.
A break in a 36-inch water main left more than 100,000 residents in El Paso, Texas, with little to no water service starting late Saturday night, officials with El Paso Water said Sunday. The outage affected about 38,000 customer connections in the border city of roughly 700,000 people and caused more than 15 municipal reservoirs to drain. Authorities issued a boil water notice, set up water distribution centers, and said full restoration was not expected until midweek.
Nearly half of U.S. adults — 45% — now identify as political independents, up from roughly one-third two decades ago, according to a new Gallup survey released Sunday. Younger Americans are driving the increase at rates that exceed prior generations, with more than half of Generation Z and Millennial adults now rejecting both major parties. The Gallup polling found that independents have tilted toward Democrats over the past year when asked which party they lean toward — 47% of U.S. adults now identify as Democrats or lean Democratic, compared to 42% who are Republican or lean Republican — but Gallup's analysts said the shift likely reflects sour views of President Donald Trump rather than growing warmth toward Democrats.
Phoenix-based Urban Communities bought all 21 multifamily buildings in Detroit's Palmer Park Historic District over about a year beginning in late 2020, then collapsed financially — leaving every property in receivership, foreclosed, or severely distressed, according to court records and Wayne County property filings reviewed by Outlier Media. The failure has hollowed out more than a third of the apartment buildings in a neighborhood that Detroit historian Amy Elliot Bragg called "a really one-of-a-kind collection that you don't see anywhere else in the city."
The Food and Drug Administration last year cleared the first at-home test capable of detecting three sexually transmitted infections in women — gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis — and approved two new drugs for gonorrhea, the first additions to that disease's treatment options in decades. The agency also approved a home-based screening kit for HPV, the virus that causes cervical cancer. The advances arrive as CDC provisional data show 2024 marked a third consecutive year of declining gonorrhea cases in the United States.
Texas' medical marijuana program enrolled 135,470 patients by the end of 2025, a 32% increase over the previous year, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. The jump followed the state's most significant expansion of the Texas Compassionate Use Program since its 2015 launch, which took effect in September and added qualifying conditions including chronic pain, traumatic brain injury, and terminal illness.
Southern California Gas Co. has proposed blending up to 5% hydrogen into the natural gas infrastructure of Orange Cove, a predominantly Latino farming town of roughly 10,000 in California's Central Valley, as part of a state-directed program to test whether existing pipelines can carry cleaner fuel. Residents who oppose the plan say they face health risks they cannot easily avoid and were not given a meaningful role in the decision.
Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey announced Monday a package of safety reforms for the state's assisted living facilities, including mandatory annual fire-department inspections and evacuation drills, following a fire last summer that killed 10 residents at a Fall River facility — the state's deadliest blaze in more than 40 years.
The criminal trial of former Uvalde schools police officer Adrian Gonzales enters its second week Monday, with prosecutors pressing their argument that Gonzales failed to act as a gunman approached Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022, killing 19 students and two teachers in one of the deadliest school shootings in U.S. history. Gonzales, 52, has pleaded not guilty to 29 counts of child abandonment or endangerment.
Three Maine public universities received failing grades from a national education think tank for how they prepare teachers to teach reading, a finding the universities strongly disputed as methodologically flawed. The National Council on Teacher Quality gave the University of Maine in Orono, the University of Southern Maine, and the University of Maine at Farmington failing marks as part of its 2023 review of 702 elementary teacher preparation programs at 580 institutions nationwide.
Grammy Award-winning music producer Antonio "L.A." Reid settled a sexual assault lawsuit Monday with former record company executive Drew Dixon, who alleged he assaulted her twice in 2001 and undermined her career when she refused his continuing advances. The settlement was reached in New York on the day jury selection was scheduled to begin. Terms were not disclosed.
Mattel Inc. introduced an autistic Barbie on Monday, expanding its Fashionistas line with a doll developed over more than 18 months in partnership with the Autistic Self Advocacy Network. The nonprofit, which advocates for the rights and improved media representation of autistic people, worked closely with Mattel to shape design features reflecting how some autistic people experience and process the world around them.
One of the best-preserved ancient Roman homes on Italy’s Palatine Hill, the House of the Griffins, will open to the public for the first time via weekly livestream tours of its underground frescoes and mosaics, the Associated Press reported. Starting March 3, visitors can virtually join a tour guide who descends into the domus and livestreams the visit and narration. The tours will be held in Italian and English on Tuesdays, with reservations and a ticket in addition to the standard Colosseum-Palatine Hill entrance fee.
A Catholic priest who also performs as a DJ, Padre Guilherme, drew a crowd in Beirut during a Saturday night set that included projected images behind him and a song for Lebanon. The event also prompted controversy in Lebanon, where some objected to what they called faith being turned into entertainment. The priest, Guilherme Peixoto, had led a Mass earlier the same day at Saint Joseph University of Kaslik, and later played at AHM nightclub.
David M. Webb, a prominent Hong Kong shareholder activist known for pushing corporate transparency, died Tuesday in Hong Kong at 60, according to a statement shared on his social media. Webb, an investment banker turned activist, was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire last year for his work on corporate governance standards.
The Environmental Protection Agency said it will stop calculating the dollar value of health care costs avoided and deaths prevented from rules that curb fine particle pollution and ozone. The EPA said it will continue estimating compliance costs for businesses and will keep working on its pollution-rule economic methods, while environmental and public health advocates criticized the change.
Hospital officials and union leaders exchanged barbs Tuesday but did not return to bargaining during the second day of New York City’s biggest nursing strike in decades, according to the Associated Press. The union accused Mount Sinai of illegally firing three nurses, while Mount Sinai said they sabotaged emergency preparedness drills. Other hospital systems criticized the union’s proposals and said they have tried to keep patients’ access to care.
Minneapolis’ St. Paul’s-San Pablo Lutheran Church held a special Sunday service called “Lament and Hope” amid fears in immigrant communities after a woman was fatally shot by an immigration officer, the Associated Press reported. The church’s pastor, Rev. Hierald Osorto, led prayers and worship as immigration enforcement activity continued in the area.
Licking County Chief Dog Warden Larry Williams and Avery Russell, 12, of Blacklick, were honored in Newark, Ohio, for a new state law aimed at strengthening responses to dangerous and vicious dogs. Gov. Mike DeWine signed the measure in December, and it is set to take effect March 18.
Puerto Rico’s government said it will conduct compulsory visits to all public housing projects to assess residents’ living conditions and whether occupants are authorized to live there. The effort will involve inspections across hundreds of projects in the U.S. territory, Public Housing Administration Director Juan Rosario Hernández said.
Russian investigators have opened a criminal case into the deaths of nine babies at a maternity hospital in Novokuznetsk, Siberia, during the New Year holidays, the Investigative Committee said on Tuesday. The babies died at Maternity Hospital No. 1, officials said, and the case was opened on charges of causing death by negligence.
Federal officers used tear gas and sprayed an eye irritant at activists during confrontations in Minneapolis on Tuesday, and students later walked out of a suburban school to protest the Trump administration’s immigration sweeps, according to a report by the Associated Press. The demonstrations were part of an escalating standoff that began after a Minneapolis woman, Renee Good, was shot by an immigration agent.
The University of Arizona has begun planning to reopen the Arizona State Museum after the Arizona Board of Regents declined in 2024 to act on a $50 million funding request, leaving the museum closed for more than a year. University leaders said they are pursuing options that do not depend on the original request, while the Board of Regents approved rate and fee increases tied to work on state trust lands.
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers urged the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature to act on his priorities in his final year, even if it requires lawmakers staying in session longer than planned. Speaking to reporters Monday, Evers said there is still time for lawmakers to advance proposals including protecting funding for SNAP and tackling PFAS pollution.
Muhammad Ali is being honored with a commemorative U.S. postage stamp, the U.S. Postal Service announced. A first-day-of-issue ceremony for the “Muhammad Ali Forever Stamp” is planned for Thursday in Louisville, Kentucky, where people can buy stamps featuring a black-and-white Associated Press photo of Ali from 1974.
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments Tuesday in two cases testing whether state laws banning transgender girls and women from female sports competitions violate the Constitution or Title IX, the landmark federal law prohibiting sex discrimination in education. The West Virginia case centers on Becky Pepper-Jackson, a 15-year-old sophomore who competes in discus and shot put, while the Idaho case involves college student Lindsay Hecox. Decisions are expected by early summer.
Two federal lawsuits filed by allies of President Donald Trump could determine who gets counted in the 2030 census and what methods the Census Bureau may use — outcomes that would affect congressional representation and the distribution of $2.8 trillion in federal aid to the states, the Associated Press reported Saturday. The cases are pending in Florida and Louisiana, and the Census Bureau itself is pushing ahead with planning for the next decennial count regardless of the litigation.
DUBAI — The death toll from Iran's crackdown on street protesters rose to at least 544, activists said Sunday, as President Donald Trump said Tehran had proposed negotiations while simultaneously warning that military action remained under active consideration. More than 10,600 people have been detained since demonstrations began Dec. 28, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.
The Associated Press said it has faced major obstacles in tracking the death toll from Iran’s nationwide protests, including a government decision to cut off internet access. AP reported that it has relied on figures provided by the Human Rights Activists News Agency, which it said it has not been able to independently confirm because Iran’s theocratic government has not provided overall casualty figures.
Richard "Dick" Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest-serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday at his home after a brief illness. He was 79. Codey's wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed his death to The Associated Press. "Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness," the family wrote in a Facebook post Sunday.
A Minneapolis Lutheran church opened its doors Sunday for a special service called "Lament and Hope," drawing worshippers from its largely immigrant congregation days after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot a woman in the surrounding neighborhood. The Rev. Hierald Osorto, pastor of St. Paul's-San Pablo Lutheran Church, welcomed a crowd seated on wooden benches as immigration enforcement officers drove through the streets outside, detaining people while activists beat drums and blew whistles in response.
LIMA, Peru — Officials from Washington to Lima urged millions of Venezuelan migrants this week to return home following the ouster of former President Nicolás Maduro, but the diaspora — numbering nearly 7 million across Latin America, according to United Nations-coordinated tracking data — showed little appetite for leaving the lives they have built abroad. Venezuela's economy remains in ruins, the government that presided over mass displacement continues to govern, and for many, the political shift has not yet cleared a path home. "You've got to keep an eye on it, know what's going on, but not lose hope," said Yanelis Torres, a 22-year-old graphic designer in Lima who spent the days after Maduro's capture filling orders for T-shirts featuring his image overlaid with phrases like "Game Over."
A person was arrested on suspicion of arson Sunday after a fire heavily damaged Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi — the state's largest synagogue and the only one in Jackson — which the Ku Klux Klan bombed in 1967 for its congregation's role in the civil rights movement. The fire broke out shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday; no congregants or firefighters were injured, authorities said.
Eighteen Buddhist monks in saffron and ocher robes are walking single file across the American South, drawing thousands of onlookers to churchyards, city halls and town squares along a 2,300-mile route from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C. Led by the Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, who makes the trek barefoot, the group has attracted large crowds across six states since setting out on Oct. 26, 2025. On Saturday, thousands gathered at the South Carolina State House in Columbia, where Mayor Daniel Rickenmann issued the monks a formal proclamation.
The Smithsonian's National Portrait Gallery has removed references to President Donald Trump's two impeachments from his portrait display, the Associated Press reported Sunday, the latest apparent change at an institution Trump has accused of bias as his administration reshapes how federal museums document U.S. history. A new photograph of Trump — taken by White House photographer Daniel Torok and showing him with brow furrowed, leaning over his Oval Office desk — replaced an earlier image at the museum's "America's Presidents" exhibition. The accompanying text block that had described his first term, including his impeachments, was removed. As of Sunday, Trump was the only president in the gallery whose display did not include extended biographical text.
Nearly 15,000 nurses at three of New York City's largest hospitals could walk off the job early Monday in what union officials said would be the largest nurses strike in city history, if no contract agreement is reached before the weekend deadline. The New York State Nurses Association said talks had produced little progress as of Sunday morning, with staffing levels, guardrails on the use of artificial intelligence, and workplace security among unresolved disputes at Mount Sinai, Montefiore Medical Center, and NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center.
Federal immigration agents rammed the door of a Minneapolis home Sunday and forced their way inside after pepper-spraying protesters who had gathered outside, according to video recorded by The Associated Press. A man was handcuffed and led away within minutes, arrested using a document signed by an immigration officer — not a court-issued warrant — which does not authorize forced entry into a private residence under federal law.
Nationwide protests challenging Iran’s theocracy reached their two-week mark Sunday, with the death toll in the unrest at least 116, activists said. With internet access cut off and phone lines restricted, foreign groups and state media reported conflicting pictures of casualties and arrests as demonstrations continued in parts of Iran, including Tehran and Mashhad.
Buddha’s birthday, known in some countries as Vesak, is observed on different dates depending on the Buddhist tradition and where followers live. In several Asian countries, it falls on the eighth day of the fourth month of the lunisolar calendar, which this year is May 15, while in South and Southeast Asia it is marked on the first full moon of May, which this year is May 23, according to an Associated Press overview.
A suspect in an arson fire at a synagogue in Jackson, Mississippi, bombed by the Ku Klux Klan decades earlier, was charged and appeared in federal court after admitting he targeted the historic congregation because it is a Jewish house of worship, the FBI said. Stephen Pittman was charged Monday with maliciously damaging or destroying a building by means of fire or an explosive, after the FBI said he confessed in an interview with investigators.
New options for testing and treating common sexually transmitted diseases are becoming available in the U.S., including FDA-approved at-home tests for people to screen for infections and new oral drugs for gonorrhea. The Food and Drug Administration approved an at-home test that can detect three infections in women—gonorrhea, chlamydia and trichomoniasis—and also approved a home-based kit for the human papillomavirus (HPV) that causes cervical cancer. The agency also approved two new drugs for gonorrhea in a shift from the longstanding standard of an injectable antibiotic.
Hawaiʻi’s critically endangered crow, the ʻalalā, is still alive more than a year after five birds were released into Maui’s Kīpahulu Forest Reserve, according to people involved in the project. The birds were among only about 110 ʻalalā left in the world, and conservationists say the reintroduction effort outside the Big Island is showing promise as researchers monitor their foraging and acclimation.
Iran’s exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi has stepped into a swelling wave of protests in Iran, calling for more demonstrations as the unrest challenges the Islamic Republic. The Associated Press reported that his calls were rebroadcast by Farsi-language satellite news channels and websites abroad, and protesters returned to the streets Friday night after an earlier push Thursday.
Iran’s leadership is facing “incredible pressure” as the largest protests in years against the Islamic theocracy continue, the Associated Press reported. The protests and the crackdown have pushed a rising death toll “into the hundreds,” while communications links to the outside world remain cut.
A packed crowd celebrated the mullet hairstyle Monday at the Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, where about 150 competitors competed for top prizes. The top award — a rear bumper of a Corvette — went to 10-year-old Drew Fleschut of Dallas, Pennsylvania, who wore a red-and-black shirt as an homage to the movie character “Joe Dirt” and carried Joe’s trademark mop.
Three public universities in Maine received failing grades in a national review of elementary teacher preparation, after the National Council on Teacher Quality concluded their programs did not adequately prepare future teachers to help children learn to read. The universities said the ratings were misleading and faulted the review’s focus on course materials rather than classroom outcomes. The council said it reviewed syllabi and other documents obtained through public-records requests after universities did not provide materials for the analysis.
Mattel is introducing an autistic Barbie on Monday, adding to a Fashionistas line that highlights different disabilities and other traits, the company said. The doll is designed with input from the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, a nonprofit that advocates for the rights and media representation of people with autism.
Milan prison on Saturday hosted a concert led by Italian conductor Riccardo Muti, using string instruments made from wood salvaged from migrant smuggling boats. The Cherubini Youth Orchestra played violins, violas and cellos marked by faded blue, green and yellow paint from the seized boats, at the Opera prison in Milan, AP reported.
More than 100,000 residents in El Paso, Texas were left with little to no water after a main break late Saturday night, officials said. A boil water notice was issued and water distribution centers were set up, with officials saying repairs could take until midweek for service to return to normal.
Thousands of nurses in New York City went on strike Monday after negotiations through the weekend did not resolve disputes with three major hospital systems over staffing, benefits and other issues, the New York State Nurses Association said. Nurses picketed outside NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in Upper Manhattan and at hospitals in the Mount Sinai and Montefiore systems. The strike involves private, nonprofit hospitals and could stress other parts of the city’s health care network during a severe flu season.
Texas’ medical marijuana program is set to expand this year after lawmakers approved changes to the Texas Compassionate Use Program, state and industry representatives said. The expansion adds qualifying conditions, increases THC limits and inhaler options, and is expected to bring more dispensaries online, while enrollment and patient numbers have already risen. The program is aimed at Texans with certain medical needs and depends on physicians registering to prescribe cannabis.
The Trevor Project said it received a $45 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott at the end of 2025, after years that included management turmoil and federal funding losses. The donation, the organization said Monday, is its largest ever and is intended to help it continue and expand mental health support for LGBTQ+ young people.
El presidente estadounidense Donald Trump dijo que Irán quiere negociar con Washington mientras, según activistas, el número de muertos por las protestas en Irán sube al menos a 646. Sus comentarios siguieron a una visita del ministro de Relaciones Exteriores de Omán a Irán y en medio de reportes de arrestos y represión contra manifestantes.
Los Angeles police responded Sunday after a U-Haul box truck was driven down a street crowded with marchers supporting the Iranian people, sending protesters scrambling and then running after the speeding vehicle. Police said the driver was taken into custody and could face charges. The incident occurred as demonstrators gathered in Los Angeles’ Westwood neighborhood to protest Iran’s government, police said.
CHOWCHILLA, Calif. — Jacob Smith has spent two decades in prison, but a new program is giving him chances to “go” to places like Thailand and practice job interviews through virtual reality. The Los Angeles nonprofit Creative Acts is running the VR experience at Valley State Prison near Fresno and other California facilities using donated headsets.
The Trump administration has told California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York that it is restricting some social safety net funding used for programs including child care subsidies, cash assistance and job training. The states sued, and a federal judge halted the freeze for at least two weeks.
Muhammad Ali will be honored for the first time with a commemorative U.S. postage stamp, the U.S. Postal Service said. A first-day-of-issue ceremony for the “Muhammad Ali Forever Stamp” is planned for Thursday in Louisville, Kentucky, his birthplace.
Los Angeles police said a man accused of steering a U-Haul truck toward a demonstration supporting Iran’s protesters was arrested on suspicion of reckless driving after officers stopped the vehicle Sunday. Authorities said he was not formally charged and was released Monday.
A federal judge on Friday blocked the Trump administration from freezing billions of dollars in annual funding for child care subsidies and social services in five Democratic-led states, finding that California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York had met the legal threshold to pause the policy while litigation proceeds. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian, nominated to the bench by President Joe Biden, issued a temporary order after the five states argued that a funding freeze announced earlier in the week was causing immediate "operational chaos." The order holds for at least 14 days.
A federal judge ruled Friday that the Trump administration cannot block federal money for child care subsidies and other programs for five Democratic-led states for now. The states—California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York—said a Tuesday policy to freeze billions of dollars was causing immediate harm and “operational chaos.”
Thousands of people marched in Minneapolis on Saturday to protest the fatal shooting of a woman by a federal immigration officer, as hundreds of similar demonstrations were held in cities and towns across the country. The nationwide protests followed the killing of Renee Good, 37, by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis on Wednesday and the shooting of two people — who were not protesters — in Portland, Oregon. Minnesota's governor and mayor urged demonstrators to remain peaceful.
Brian J. Cole Jr. of Woodbridge, Virginia, pleaded not guilty Friday to federal charges accusing him of planting two pipe bombs outside the national headquarters of both major political parties on the eve of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Cole faces two counts of transporting and attempting to use explosives, which together carry up to 30 years in prison, including a five-year mandatory minimum on one count.
Buddhist monks and their rescue dog are walking single file across the U.S. South as part of a “peace walk” that began Oct. 26, 2025, in Texas and is scheduled to end in mid-February in Washington, D.C. Venerable Bhikkhu Pannakara, who is leading the trek barefoot, said the group’s hope is that people they meet will continue practicing mindfulness and “find peace.”
Israel is closely monitoring the fallout from widespread Iranian protests, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Sunday, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats to attack Iran raise concerns the unrest could escalate. Netanyahu made the comments at the start of Israel’s weekly cabinet meeting, praising Iranians’ protest heroism while condemning the killing of civilians.
The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments Tuesday in two cases challenging state bans on transgender girls and women competing in school and college sports, including one case brought by a college student in Idaho. The rulings are expected by early summer. (AP)
Some 250 years after “Common Sense” helped inspire the 13 colonies to declare independence, supporters are pressing for a Thomas Paine memorial in Washington, D.C. A Paine memorial authorized by a 2022 law is waiting for approval from the U.S. Department of the Interior, with Interior officials weighing whether to endorse a placement plan that would send the proposal back to Congress.
Thousands of Yemenis rallied Saturday in the southern city of Aden in support of the UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council, a day after it dissolved itself following clashes with the internationally recognized Yemen government. Protesters gathered in the Khor Maksar district, where Aden’s international airport is located, chanting slogans against Saudi Arabia and the Yemeni international government.
Israeli settlers beat and injured a Palestinian man during an attack on a plant nursery in the northern West Bank, according to witnesses and video footage reviewed by The Associated Press on Jan. 10. The man, identified by family members as 67-year-old Basim Saleh Yassin, was hospitalized with broken bones and other injuries, and workers later fled as attackers approached, the witnesses said.
Nationwide protests challenging Iran's theocratic government reached their two-week mark Sunday, as the death toll rose to at least 116 people killed and more than 2,600 others detained, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency. Iran's attorney general simultaneously threatened death-penalty charges against demonstrators, while U.S. President Donald Trump expressed support for the protests and news outlets reported he had been presented with military options.
Saturday marks 250 years since Thomas Paine published "Common Sense," the pamphlet credited with helping push the 13 colonies toward declaring independence from Britain. Despite that legacy, Paine has no permanent memorial in Washington, D.C. — and whether he will get one depends on an approval that has yet to come from Interior Secretary Doug Burgum.
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. this week removed universal federal recommendations for childhood vaccines against six diseases, drawing immediate condemnation from pediatricians who said the changes will deepen vaccine hesitancy and lead to more illness and death. On Friday, the American Academy of Pediatrics and more than 200 medical, public health, and patient advocacy groups sent a letter to Congress demanding an investigation into why the schedule was altered and why scientific evidence was bypassed.
Daniel Walker Howe, the Pulitzer Prize-winning historian whose "What Hath God Wrought" became a landmark account of American life from the end of the War of 1812 to the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848, died on Dec. 25 at age 88, according to a spokesman for the University of California, Los Angeles, where he was a professor emeritus. Additional details were not immediately available.
Albuquerque police filed a criminal complaint and obtained a judge-signed arrest warrant Friday for actor and director Timothy Busfield on two counts of alleged criminal sexual contact of a minor, according to court documents. The charges allege Busfield touched a child inappropriately on the set of *The Cleaning Lady*, a Fox television series Busfield directed and acted in. The child's mother reported the alleged abuse to Child Protective Services as having occurred between November 2022 and spring 2024, the complaint said. Busfield's attorney and agent did not respond to emails seeking comment as of Friday evening.
A Los Angeles-based nonprofit is using virtual reality headsets to give California prison inmates brief escapes to far-flung destinations and practice for real-world challenges — from Bangkok street markets to simulated job interviews — in a program its founder calls a "hope machine." Creative Acts founder Sabra Williams said the program grew from earlier prison arts work that incorporated theater, music, poetry, dance and painting, and is designed to both broaden inmates' sense of the outside world and equip them with tools to reenter a society that has changed around them.
The Norwegian Nobel Institute said Friday that the Nobel Peace Prize, once announced, cannot be revoked, transferred or shared with others—closing the door on talk that Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado could give or share her recent award with President Donald Trump. The comment came after Machado said she would like to pass the prize to Trump and called his role in capturing Nicolás Maduro “historic.”
Andrea Bocelli will be among the headline performers at the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics on Feb. 6, organizers said. The event is centered at Milan’s San Siro stadium and will include a “Parade of Athletes” and other entertainment during a three-hour spectacle.
Thousands marched in Minneapolis and other U.S. cities on Saturday to protest shootings in Minnesota and Oregon involving Immigration and Customs Enforcement, according to the Associated Press. The protests followed the fatal shooting of Renee Good by an ICE officer in Minneapolis and the shooting of two people in Portland, Oregon, AP reported.
Erich von Däniken, the Swiss author whose books popularized theories that ancient civilizations were visited by extraterrestrials, died at 90. His representatives said on his website that he died the previous day in a hospital in central Switzerland.
Erich von Däniken, el autor suizo cuyos bestsellers sobre posibles orígenes extraterrestres de civilizaciones antiguas lo convirtieron en una figura popular entre entusiastas de lo paranormal, falleció a los 90 años. Sus representantes informaron que murió el día anterior en un hospital en el centro de Suiza, según su sitio web, y su hija Cornelia confirmó la información a la agencia suiza SDA.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said in a video post that Germany is limiting patient autonomy and prosecuting physicians over COVID-19-related exemptions. German Health Minister Nina Warken rejected the claims in a late Saturday statement, saying Kennedy’s assertions were “completely unfounded” and that criminal prosecution was pursued only in cases involving fraud and forged documents.
A guard at a construction site near a 2026 Winter Olympic venue in Cortina d’Ampezzo died during an overnight shift in frigid temperatures, authorities confirmed Saturday. Italian officials said the worker died of a heart attack, while Italy’s infrastructure minister called for a full investigation.
Menopause changes how the body handles bones and muscle, and exercise can help. In a report published Jan. 10, fitness coach Sarah Baldassaro of Alexandria, Virginia, described beginning strength training after turning 50 with the goal of getting stronger overall.
Iran disconnected the Islamic Republic’s internet and phone lines from the rest of the world Thursday night, limiting communications as nationwide protests intensified over the country’s economy, the Associated Press reported. The shutdown began just after 8 p.m. Thursday, according to AP.
Milan’s Catholic archdiocese has launched a program aimed at promoting Olympic values among young people, using parish sports and school activities ahead of the 2026 Winter Olympics. The initiative, known as the Ora Sport on Fire Tour, has been underway since late 2022 and will add new activities during the Games, according to the archdiocese.
Hundreds of Nicaraguans marked the Dec. 8 feast of the Immaculate Conception with “gritería” celebrations in Miami, setting up flower-and-light-filled altars in church parking lots and even in the back of vehicles. The Mass and vigil drew large crowds as many participants said they wanted to honor the Virgin Mary while coping with fears in Nicaragua and uncertainty after migrating to the United States.
A person was arrested on suspicion of arson after a fire damaged the Beth Israel Congregation in Jackson, Mississippi, shortly after 3 a.m. Saturday, authorities said. No congregants or firefighters were injured in the blaze, and the investigation involved local and federal law enforcement.
Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Daniel Walker Howe, best known for “What Hath God Wrought,” has died at 88, his death being confirmed by a University of California, Los Angeles spokesman. Howe died on Dec. 25, according to the spokesman, and was a professor emeritus at UCLA.
Pope Leo XIV baptized 20 babies in the Sistine Chapel on Sunday, continuing an annual Vatican tradition marking the end of the Christmas holiday period. The pope administered the sacrament to infants who are the children of Vatican employees working at the Holy See.
Thousands of nurses at some of New York City’s biggest hospitals could begin a strike Monday if no agreement is reached in negotiations with hospital systems during a severe flu season, the New York State Nurses Association said. The nurses’ union president, Nancy Hagans, said as of Sunday morning little progress had been made at the bargaining table.
Students are turning to ChatGPT and other generative AI tools for schoolwork, prompting universities to spell out where the technology fits and where it does not. Guidance from the University of Chicago and Yale emphasizes that AI should not replace students’ own thinking and writing.
The Associated Press reported that new U.S. childhood vaccine guidance replaces blanket recommendations for protection against six diseases with recommendations only for certain high-risk children or through “shared clinical decision-making” with a health care provider. Doctors who treat children in the U.S. said the federal changes and the new terminology are confusing parents and could make it harder for some children to get recommended shots.
President Donald Trump wore a “Happy Trump” lapel pin during an East Room appearance on Friday while discussing future U.S. control of Venezuela’s energy industry, and he told reporters the pin was made “called a Happy Trump.” The AP reports the cartoon pin has a likeness of Trump with a large head, and Trump said it was given to him by someone he did not identify.
A Wisconsin teen pleaded guilty to homicide in the killing of a prison guard during a fight at the state’s youth prison, court records show. Javarius Hurd, 17, entered guilty pleas to second-degree reckless homicide and battery by a prisoner, but he argues he should not be sentenced to prison because of mental illness and responsibility. A February trial will decide whether Hurd should be sent to prison or committed to a mental health institution.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday proposed shifting oversight of the state Department of Education from the elected superintendent to the appointed State Board of Education, narrowing the future role of Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond. Thurmond said he was blindsided by the plan and questioned how it would benefit students and families.
The Trump administration has told five Democratic-led states that it is restricting some social safety net funds that cover services including child care subsidies, cash assistance and job training. U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian on Friday halted the freeze for at least two weeks after the states challenged it in court, arguing it would disrupt services for families with children. Federal officials said the moves are aimed at rooting out fraud, but letters cited “reason to believe” the states were providing illegal aliens benefits.
Columbus-area Blendon Township Police Chief John Belford said a five-member use-of-force review board found Officer Connor Grubb did not violate department policy when he fatally shot 21-year-old Ta’Kiya Young during an encounter outside a Kroger in 2023.
Iran's supreme leader signaled an imminent crackdown on demonstrators Friday as protests across the Islamic Republic persisted into a third week, despite the government cutting internet access and severing international telephone lines. At least 65 people have been killed and more than 2,300 detained since demonstrations began in late December over the country's ailing economy, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency.
Republican senators broke with President Donald Trump over Venezuela war powers, and 17 House members crossed party lines on a health care vote, in the first full working week of the 2026 midterm election year. The back-to-back breaks came just days after Trump rallied House Republicans at Washington's Kennedy Center, underscoring growing pockets of resistance as the party begins a difficult campaign to hold both chambers.
Michigan's Employer-Assisted Housing Fund has been exhausted after the state housing authority approved $3.2 million in December for new worker housing projects in Detroit and Kalamazoo, draining a $10 million pool that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer launched in January 2025. The Michigan State Housing Development Authority signed off on both projects at its December board meeting. Whether the program — which has helped produce 619 rental units or homes across the state — will continue depends on a legislature that omitted new funding from its October budget.
U.S. flu activity showed a modest decline last week in two key measures — medical office visits for flu-like illness and the count of states reporting high activity — but federal health officials said the severe season has not peaked and warned that more suffering lies ahead. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated at least 15 million flu illnesses, 180,000 hospitalizations, and 7,400 deaths since the season began, including the deaths of at least 17 children. Even as some indicators eased, flu-related deaths and hospitalizations continued to rise during the same week.
Federal immigration agents shot and wounded two people in a vehicle near Adventist Health hospital in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday afternoon, authorities said, drawing hundreds of protesters to a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building that evening and prompting Oregon's attorney general to open a formal investigation. The Department of Homeland Security said agents were conducting a "targeted vehicle stop" when the driver tried to run them over, and that an agent then fired a "defensive shot." There was no immediate independent corroboration of that account or of the agency's claims about the vehicle occupants' affiliations, the Associated Press reported. The shooting came a day after an ICE officer fatally shot a woman in Minneapolis.
Forty-five wounded veterans and their supporters cycled along Florida's Overseas Highway on Friday in the annual Florida Keys Soldier Ride, an event organized by the Wounded Warrior Project that combines physical challenge with peer support for service members injured during their military service. The group started the day with a 17-mile ride from a Key Largo VFW post to the Theater of the Sea in Islamorada, then traveled another 10 miles — including over the Seven Mile Bridge — before stopping for the night in Big Pine Key. The event continues through the weekend and concludes Sunday at the Dolphin Research Center in Marathon.
DUBAI — Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi, Iran's exiled heir who has spent nearly five decades outside his homeland, successfully called demonstrators onto the streets Thursday night in what the Associated Press described as a massive escalation of protests sweeping the country. Pahlavi, 65, lives in the United States and issued calls for protest that Farsi-language satellite news channels and websites abroad rebroadcast; Iranians returned to the streets Friday night in response, and he has called for further demonstrations over the weekend. The demonstrations were initially sparked by the Islamic Republic's ailing economy but have grown into a broader challenge to its theocratic government — one battered by years of nationwide unrest and a 12-day war in June launched by Israel during which the United States bombed Iranian nuclear enrichment sites.
The Minneapolis school district said Friday it will offer families the option of remote learning through Feb. 12, responding to fears among students and parents following a week of intensifying federal immigration enforcement in the city. The decision came after a federal agent fatally shot Renee Good, described by the Associated Press as a U.S. citizen and mother of three, on Wednesday, and immigration enforcement agents detained someone outside Roosevelt High School near dismissal time the same day. Minneapolis public schools, a district of nearly 30,000 students, closed Thursday and Friday.
The Heritage Foundation on Thursday released a policy report urging the Trump administration to make marriage and family formation a federal priority, calling for executive orders that would require every federal grant, contract, regulation, research project, and enforcement action to measure its effect on American families. The report, led by Roger Severino, Heritage's vice president of economic and domestic policy, proposes a "marriage bootcamp" to prepare cohabitating couples for marriage, recommends discouragement of online dating, and argues against in vitro fertilization outside of marriage.
Argentina has repaid the funds it drew from a $20 billion U.S. credit line, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent announced Friday, marking what he described as a landmark vindication of the Trump administration's financial rescue of President Javier Milei's government. The Argentine Central Bank confirmed the repayment. The U.S. Exchange Stabilization Fund, tapped to fund the bailout, now holds no Argentine pesos, Bessent said.
Hackers broke into University of Hawaiʻi Cancer Center servers in August and exposed Social Security numbers and other personal information belonging to participants in a cancer research study, according to a report the university submitted to the Hawaii Legislature in December. Four months after discovering the breach, the university had not yet notified the individuals whose data was stolen.
An Indianapolis nonprofit sends anonymous text alerts to drug users when the local supply is disrupted — warning of bad batches, law enforcement seizures, and newly detected contaminants — in a real-time effort to prevent fatal overdoses. The CHARIOT program, run by Overdose Lifeline, had nearly 500 subscribers in Indianapolis as of early January 2026, the organization said. Marion County recorded 562 drug overdose deaths in 2025 and about 1,300 emergency room visits for overdose, according to the Indiana Department of Health.
A trial began Friday in California for five current and former Stanford University students charged with felony vandalism and conspiracy to trespass stemming from a pro-Palestinian protest in June 2024, when demonstrators barricaded themselves inside the university president's and provost's offices for several hours.
Federal immigration officers stationed in Louisiana are departing for Minneapolis, according to documents obtained by The Associated Press, in an abrupt pivot from a months-long enforcement sweep that drew protests around New Orleans and had targeted 5,000 arrests. Documents indicated that officers were continuing to leave Louisiana for Minneapolis late in the week ending Jan. 9. The shift appeared to signal a wind-down of the Louisiana deployment, known as "Catahoula Crunch," which began in December with more than 200 officers and had been expected to last into February.
South Carolina's measles outbreak grew to 310 confirmed cases on Friday after state health officials reported 99 new cases over three days, with the virus spreading beyond Spartanburg County to families in North Carolina and Ohio who traveled to the outbreak area during the holidays. As of Friday, 200 people were in quarantine and nine in isolation, according to state health department data.
Hawaii ended 2025 with fewer working physicians than it started the year with, and a widening gap between the doctors available and the doctors needed, according to a new report to the state Legislature. Of 12,688 licensed physicians in Hawaiʻi, fewer than a third — 3,647 — provided patient care, and when part-time practice is accounted for, the full-time equivalent count fell to just over 3,000, leaving the state 644 doctors short of demand. The gap widens to 833 when the state's island geography is factored in, because emergency, intensive care, and psychiatric physicians on Oʻahu cannot fill needs on the neighbor islands. The findings come from the Hawaiʻi Physician Workforce Assessment Project at the University of Hawaiʻi's John A. Burns School of Medicine, which has tracked the state's physician supply and demand since 2010.
A Brazilian court in Minas Gerais sentenced former Catholic priest Bernardino Batista dos Santos to 24 years and nine months in prison for the rape of an underage person, according to a court document obtained by The Associated Press on Jan. 9. The ruling was issued earlier this week, though the case remains sealed. The court also ordered dos Santos, 78, to pay 30,000 Brazilian reais in damages to the person.
The Trump administration has told California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York that it is restricting certain federal social-safety-net funds tied to child care, cash assistance and job training, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. Democratic-led states sued, and a federal judge on Friday halted the freeze for at least two weeks while the legal fight continues. The administration says the steps target fraud, while state officials and outside experts warn delays could disrupt services for low-income families.
A Wisconsin teen who pleaded guilty in the killing of a prison guard during a fistfight is asking a jury not to send him to prison, arguing he was mentally ill and not responsible for his actions. Javarius Hurd, 17, entered a guilty plea to second-degree reckless homicide and is slated for a February trial on whether he should be sentenced to prison or committed to a mental institution.
Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed in his State of the State address on Thursday to shift oversight of California’s Department of Education from the state superintendent to the State Board of Education, curtailing the superintendent’s duties. Tony Thurmond, the elected state superintendent, said he was blindsided by the proposal and questioned how it would benefit students and families.
President Donald Trump wore a new cartoonish “Happy Trump” lapel pin during an event in the White House East Room, and said he’s “never happy.” The president called the pin “a Happy Trump” and used it to continue his remarks on making “America great again.”
The House passed legislation Thursday to extend expired Affordable Care Act health insurance subsidies by a 230-196 vote, with 17 Republican lawmakers joining every Democrat in a cross-party coalition that defied Speaker Mike Johnson and bypassed his objections through a procedural maneuver. The three-year subsidy extension now heads to the Senate, where the House bill faces an uncertain path amid negotiations over a separate bipartisan framework.
Connecticut's state-run health insurance partnership for municipal workers paid nearly $22.6 million more in claims than it collected in premiums in the 2024-25 fiscal year, which ended June 30, according to a report from state Comptroller Sean Scanlon's office released this week. The plan paid out nearly $731.4 million in total claims during the year, serving roughly 60,000 public-sector workers and their family members across 109 of the state's 169 cities and towns. Scanlon attributed the shortfall to surging hospital service fees and medical inflation, which he said have pressured health plans nationally.
The Senate voted Thursday without objection to display a plaque honoring police officers who defended the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021 attack, acting during the fifth-anniversary week of the siege and amid a White House campaign to reshape the historical record of that day. The bipartisan floor action came after senators learned that the plaque — mandated by Congress more than three years ago and required by law to be installed in 2023 — had never been displayed at the Capitol, with many House lawmakers instead hanging replicas outside their office doors.
Connecticut officials said Thursday they are considering extending the state's 2026 Affordable Care Act open enrollment deadline by one to two months, citing ongoing uncertainty over whether Congress will revive enhanced premium subsidies that lapsed Dec. 31. Access Health CT CEO James Michel said the marketplace is in discussions with carriers about pushing the final deadline — currently Jan. 31 — into February or March if federal action comes within the next few weeks. The pandemic-era enhanced subsidies had been in place since 2021. Their lapse has pushed premiums sharply higher for many Connecticut residents and millions of Americans nationwide. As of Jan. 2, roughly 150,000 Connecticut residents had enrolled in 2026 ACA plans — about 3 to 5 percent above the same point last year — even without the enhanced subsidies, Michel said.
A federal judge in Seattle temporarily blocked the Trump administration from requiring Head Start grant applicants to strip out words associated with diversity, equity and inclusion, and barred the Department of Health and Human Services from laying off additional federal employees in its Office of Head Start. U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez issued the order Monday in a lawsuit brought by organizations representing Head Start providers and parents against HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other administration officials. The suit accuses the administration of illegally dismantling the six-decade-old early childhood program.
Rep. Steny Hoyer of Maryland, the longest-serving Democrat in Congress, announced Thursday that he will retire at the end of his current term. The 86-year-old, who first arrived in the House in 1981, delivered a 10-minute floor speech warning that the chamber "is not living up to the Founders' goals." Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle stood and applauded when he finished, coming forward one by one to shake his hand or embrace him.
The U.S. Supreme Court agreed to take up an appeal from Cisco seeking to shut down a lawsuit brought by Falun Gong members alleging the company’s technology was used in China to persecute the group. The justices said they will hear arguments in the spring, reviewing a ruling that would allow the case to proceed in U.S. courts.
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo announced Wednesday that he is leading a petition drive to amend the state constitution to bar transgender athletes from competing in girls' and women's sports, even though bans are already in place at both the state and national level. The Protect Girls' Sports In Nevada PAC filed its ballot initiative language Wednesday and must collect at least 148,788 valid signatures by June 24 to qualify the measure for the ballot.
Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Officer Terry Bennett, 32, died Thursday from injuries he suffered on December 23 when a passing vehicle struck him as he helped a motorist who had run out of gas, the department announced. The driver remained at the scene. No charges have been filed, and the incident remains under investigation, a department spokesman said. Bennett is survived by his wife and son.
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Sonia De Los Santos canceled two children's concerts and a planned audience conversation at Washington's Kennedy Center — all scheduled for Feb. 7 — citing what she described as an unwelcoming atmosphere at the venue for immigrants, her band, and her audience. De Los Santos, a Mexican American artist, announced the withdrawal Thursday on Instagram.
For office workers confined to windowless cubicles and back-to-back meetings, even small doses of nature — a lunchtime walk to a nearby garden, a potted plant on the desk, or a video call taken on a wooded path — can ease stress and sharpen focus, workers and workplace wellness advocates said.
A Texas A&M University System policy restricting classroom discussion of race and gender has put roughly 200 courses in the College of Arts and Sciences under review, administrators told faculty this week, with one introductory course already canceled and a philosophy professor directed to remove Plato readings days before the spring semester begins Jan. 12.
Georgia's Division of Family and Children Services faces a projected budget shortfall of between $85 million and $87.5 million for the current fiscal year, forcing an immediate near-halt on new foster care placements and the elimination of supplemental support for children with complex medical and developmental needs — even as the state reports a $14 billion budget surplus. The deficit was disclosed at a Joint Judiciary Juvenile and Appropriations Human Resources Subcommittee meeting on December 18, 2025, drawing sharp criticism from state legislators over the gap between the agency's austerity measures and the state's overall fiscal health.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday proposed reducing the authority of the state's elected State Superintendent of Public Instruction and placing day-to-day control of K-12 schools under the State Board of Education, an 11-member panel the governor appoints. Under the plan, the board would absorb the California Department of Education, which currently operates under the superintendent's direction, while the superintendent would shift to a broader advisory and coordination role across early childhood through postsecondary education.
Vice President JD Vance on Thursday blamed a Minneapolis woman's fatal shooting by a federal immigration officer on "a left-wing network," Democrats, the news media, and the woman herself, appearing at the White House briefing room as protests over her killing spread to cities across the country. Vance called the death of 37-year-old Renee Good — shot Wednesday while trying to drive away during an immigration enforcement operation on a snowy residential Minneapolis street — "a tragedy of her own making."
About 1 in 5 U.S. adults donated to an online crowdfunding campaign in 2025, with medical expenses ranking as the most commonly supported cause, according to an AP-NORC poll released Thursday. The survey of 1,146 adults also found that most donors gave $50 or less, and that Americans harbor broad doubts about whether crowdfunding platforms charge reasonable fees and whether campaign beneficiaries truly need the money.
An Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed Renee Good, 37, during a protest against immigration raids in Minneapolis on Wednesday, the latest and most violent confrontation in a mounting conflict between the Trump administration and Minnesota. Good was killed just blocks from where a Minneapolis police officer killed George Floyd in 2020 — a geographic proximity that drew painful comparisons to the disorder that followed Floyd's death. The Trump administration had announced the previous day that it was sending more than 2,000 federal officers to the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul in what it claimed would be the largest immigration enforcement operation in U.S. history.
Dozens of protesters gathered Thursday outside a Minneapolis federal building being used as a base for the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operation, a day after an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer shot and killed Renee Good, 37, a U.S. citizen, in a residential neighborhood south of downtown Minneapolis. Border Patrol officers responded with tear gas and pepper spray to push demonstrators back from the gate. Area schools were closed as a safety precaution.
Vermont health officials reaffirmed the state's existing childhood immunization schedule Tuesday after the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention moved six vaccines out of its recommended category the previous day. Vermont Health Commissioner Rick Hildebrant told state lawmakers that vaccines for flu, RSV, meningococcal disease, and hepatitis A and B remain recommended or required for child care and school attendance in Vermont — unchanged from the schedule that preceded the federal action.
Hawaii County's homeless population has continued to grow despite nearly $33 million in county spending on homeless programs over four years, according to reporting by Honolulu Civil Beat distributed through the Associated Press. The Hawaii County Council approved a new $6 million allocation for outreach and housing nonprofits last month on a narrow 5-4 vote, as several council members questioned whether the spending has produced measurable results.
Austin Peay State University has reinstated a tenured professor and agreed to pay him $500,000 after firing him for a social media post he shared following the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the Clarksville, Tennessee, school announced. Darren Michael, who teaches theater and dance, returned to his position effective Dec. 30 under a settlement that Tennessee's governor, attorney general, and comptroller authorized.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani announced Thursday a plan to provide free child care for 2-year-olds in the city, marking the new mayor's first significant policy achievement one week into his administration. The two Democrats unveiled the proposal at a celebratory event in Brooklyn, with Mamdani casting it as evidence that ambitious campaign promises can survive contact with the realities of governing.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Fifteen minutes before Brown University sent its first active-shooter alert on Dec. 13, students were already documenting the attack on Sidechat, an anonymous campus message board, according to an Associated Press analysis of nearly 8,000 posts from the 36 hours following the shooting. The attack, which killed two students at the Ivy League institution, unfolded during finals week inside Barus and Holley, an academic building on the Providence campus.
Marshon Lattimore, a cornerback for the Washington Commanders, was arrested Wednesday evening in Lakewood, Ohio, on charges of carrying a concealed weapon and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle, Lakewood police said. Officers pulled over the vehicle Lattimore was riding in for expired license plates and other traffic violations. During the stop, Lattimore, 29, failed to disclose to the officer that a firearm was inside the vehicle when asked, according to police. He was briefly booked into jail and released without bond.
A dispute among people attending a funeral erupted into gunfire Wednesday night in the parking lot of a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation in northwest Salt Lake City, leaving two people dead and six others injured, police said. The two people killed were identified as Vaea Tulikihihifo, 46, and Sione Vatuvei, 38. Five of the six injured remained hospitalized under police protection as of Thursday evening, and no arrests had been made.
Hundreds of people marched through Minneapolis in freezing rain Thursday night, chanting "ICE out now" and demanding accountability after a federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer fatally shot Renee Good, 37, a mother of three, the day before. A second shooting by federal agents outside a Portland, Oregon, hospital wounded two people on the same day, escalating national attention on the Trump administration's immigration enforcement operations across the country. Good's death occurred on the second day of what the Department of Homeland Security described as the largest immigration enforcement operation in history, involving more than 2,000 officers deployed to the Minneapolis–Saint Paul area. DHS Secretary Kristi Noem said officers had made more than 1,500 arrests. Minnesota state investigators said Thursday they had been shut out of the probe into Good's death after the FBI and the Justice Department declined to cooperate with the state, setting off a dispute over accountability that Gov. Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey called unacceptable.
New international student enrollment at UC Berkeley grew 29% this academic year to 2,363 students, according to University of California data released Thursday, as new international enrollments fell 17% at U.S. campuses nationwide. The growth came despite a federal immigration crackdown that has deterred some foreign students from studying in the United States. The university also recorded its largest-ever student body, with 46,151 students enrolled this fall.
Iran's government cut off internet access and blocked international telephone calls Thursday night as thousands of demonstrators heeded a call from exiled Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi and filled streets across Tehran and other cities, according to the internet monitoring firms CloudFlare and NetBlocks, both of which attributed the blackout to Iranian government interference. Violence around the ongoing protests has killed at least 42 people and led to the detention of more than 2,270 others, the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency said.
An Indianapolis nonprofit said it has been sending anonymous text alerts about possible contamination in the local drug supply to help prevent overdoses. The messages are sent through CHARIOT, a service that shares information when Overdose Lifeline receives reports of disruptions, including seizures of meth, pressed pills and fentanyl in specific ZIP codes.
David Bowie’s childhood home in London is set to open to the public next year after being bought by a charity, the Heritage of London Trust said Thursday. The 19th-century cottage in Bromley, south London, will be restored to its 1960s decor, with visitors able to tour a recreated bedroom.
Nearly 15 years after his first Soldier Ride, Bill Hansen joined dozens of wounded veterans cycling along the Overseas Highway on Friday for the annual Florida Keys event. The ride, organized by the Wounded Warrior Project, began in Key Largo and traveled through the Keys, including the Seven Mile Bridge, with the group continuing into the weekend.
The Heritage Foundation released a report urging the U.S. government to prioritize marriage and the formation of families, including proposals such as a “marriage bootcamp” and a “universal day of rest.” The report, published Thursday, also calls for executive orders that would require federal agencies to measure how programs and policies help or harm “marriage and family.”
Protests in Iran continued into Friday night despite an internet and phone blackout ordered by the authorities, with state television and other officials signaling a crackdown. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told a crowd that protesters were “ruining their own streets” to please U.S. President Donald Trump and warned that punishment would follow.
Thousands of Filipino Catholics joined an annual procession in Manila on Friday, following a centuries-old statue of Jesus Christ through the capital while security tightened restrictions and thousands of worshippers pushed for close access. The event drew chants calling for imprisonment of lawmakers amid public anger over a corruption scandal involving legislators, police reported while officials described bans and crowd-control measures.
Minneapolis school officials said Friday they will give families the option of remote learning for a month, after growing concerns that federal immigration enforcement could make some children feel unsafe getting to campus. The district said teachers will deliver lessons simultaneously in classrooms and to students at home.
NEW YORK — A new pipe organ arrived at the Church of the Epiphany on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, a project the Episcopal congregation describes as part of its rebirth after a series of setbacks that included a fire, flooding and the COVID-19 pandemic. Parishioners helped unload and install the instrument, while church leaders said the effort is meant to strengthen community ties and expand how the church offers music beyond Sundays.
South Carolina health officials said the state’s measles outbreak has grown by nearly 100 cases over three days, prompting additional quarantine and isolation orders. The outbreak centered in Spartanburg County and has also produced cases in North Carolina and Ohio among families who traveled to the area during the school break.
A trial began Friday for five current and former Stanford University students accused in 2024 of occupying the university president’s offices during a pro-Palestinian protest. Prosecutors said the demonstrators barricaded themselves inside the offices for several hours on June 5, 2024, and damaged property. Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen said the group’s actions went too far, while defense attorneys said the defendants are exercising their right to a jury trial.
US flu infections showed signs of a slight decline last week, according to new government data, but health officials said it is not clear the severe flu season has peaked. The latest figures cover flu activity through last week and included declines in medical office visits for flu-like illness and in the number of states reporting high flu activity.
Block Communications Inc. announced Wednesday it will cease publication of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on May 3, closing one of Pennsylvania's oldest newspapers after the company said two decades of financial losses had become unsustainable. The announcement came on the same day the U.S. Supreme Court declined PG Publishing Co. Inc.'s emergency appeal to halt a National Labor Relations Board order requiring the company to honor health care coverage terms from an expired union contract.
SALT LAKE CITY — Two people were killed and six others were injured in a shooting in a parking lot behind an LDS church Wednesday night while mourners attended a memorial service inside, police said. No suspect was in custody, and authorities said they did not believe the shooting was targeted at a religion. Police are reviewing license plate readers and nearby surveillance video as they search for a suspect.
Poor communities threatened by aging sewer systems face new hurdles as federal grant and loan support promised under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is canceled or targeted for elimination under President Donald Trump’s administration, according to an Associated Press investigation. The reporting centers on Cahokia Heights, Illinois, and other majority-Black areas in Alabama and Georgia where sewage overflows and flooding have damaged homes and exposed residents to untreated waste, while local officials and advocates say help has been reduced.
Attorneys general in five Democratic-led states filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump’s administration, seeking to stop a freeze on billions in social safety-net funding. The states argue the White House action improperly withholds money Congress already approved for programs that support low-income families, including child care, cash assistance and job training, and social services.
Pope Leo XIV is planning a trip to Spain this year with stops in Madrid, Barcelona and the Canary Islands, the archbishop of Madrid said. Cardinal José Cobo Cano said the Vatican itinerary is still being worked out after meetings in Rome, including with the Vatican secretary of state. The announcement comes a day after Spain’s government said Catholic bishops agreed to let the state ombudsman have the final say on church-funded compensation for victims of clergy sexual abuse.
Ultraprocessed foods account for about 60% of the U.S. diet and an even larger share of what kids and teens eat, according to researchers and nutrition experts. As more studies link higher consumption of these foods with health problems, experts say the evidence so far often shows connections rather than proof that the processing itself causes harm.
Scores of U.S. wastewater systems are failing to meet federal pollution limits, but the Trump administration has moved to cut or end some Environmental Protection Agency programs and grants aimed at communities most affected, The Associated Press reported. Advocates say the cuts, including steps tied to diversity, equity and inclusion, could widen health and economic disparities as communities struggle to fund maintenance and upgrades.
The Trump administration and Louisiana officials have lifted another decades-old school desegregation order in DeSoto Parish, where a federal judge approved a joint motion to dismiss a 1967 lawsuit. The order had required the district, a northwest Louisiana system of about 5,000 students, to eliminate segregation and provide regular progress reports.
State legislatures and governors are set to make major budget and policy decisions in 2026 after President Donald Trump signed a sweeping federal law that shifts more responsibilities to the states. The changes will affect Medicaid, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and how states respond to federal tax cuts, amid what lawmakers and policy experts describe as some of the tightest state budgets since the early pandemic.
NEW YORK — A New York City judge ordered a mental health evaluation for a Massachusetts woman charged in the unprovoked stabbing of a tourist at Macy’s flagship store in midtown Manhattan, prosecutors said Wednesday. Kerri Aherne, 43, pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, assault, endangering the welfare of a child and other charges in Manhattan court.
The House voted 221-205 on Wednesday to advance a three-year extension of enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies that expired last month, with nine Republicans joining Democrats to overpower Speaker Mike Johnson and House GOP leadership. The procedural vote, forced by a rare discharge petition, sets up a final-passage vote expected Thursday. Four Republican centrists — Reps. Mike Lawler of New York and Brian Fitzpatrick, Robert Bresnahan, and Ryan Mackenzie of Pennsylvania — signed the discharge petition to push it to the 218 signatures required to compel a floor vote. All four represent competitive swing districts expected to help determine which party controls the House after fall elections.
The U.S. House passed legislation Thursday to extend Affordable Care Act subsidies that expired late last year, with 17 Republican lawmakers joining every Democrat to support the measure. The vote was 230-196, sending the bill to the Senate, where pressure is building for a bipartisan compromise.
The House voted Wednesday to advance a measure that would extend an enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidy that expired last month, overriding resistance from Speaker Mike Johnson. The bill passed 221-205 and is expected to go to the Senate next.
A city council in Franklin, North Carolina, voted unanimously Monday to return the Noquisiyi Mound to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. The mound, a Cherokee spiritual site described as the largest unexcavated mound in the Southeast, has been managed through a nonprofit since 2019.
Iran's army chief threatened preemptive military action Wednesday, warning that Tehran would not tolerate what he called intensifying "rhetoric" directed at the Islamic Republic — a statement aimed at recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump regarding the protests that have convulsed Iran for 11 consecutive days. Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami, speaking to military academy students, said the Islamic Republic would "not leave its continuation without a response." The demonstrations, which began Dec. 28 following the collapse of the rial currency, have spread to more than 310 locations across 28 of Iran's 31 provinces, with at least 36 people reported killed.
The U.S. population will grow by only 15 million people over the next 30 years — a smaller gain than previously projected — because of President Donald Trump's immigration restrictions and an expected long-term decline in the fertility rate, the Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday. The nonpartisan agency projected the nation's population will rise from 349 million in 2026 to 364 million by 2056, a 2.2% smaller increase than it had forecast in 2025. Without immigration, the U.S. population would begin to shrink by 2030, when deaths would start to exceed births.
Connecticut officials said they are weighing an extension of the Affordable Care Act open-enrollment deadline for 2026 plans as Congress considers whether to revive expired federal health-care premium subsidies. Interim Insurance Commissioner Josh Hershman, Gov. Ned Lamont and Access Health CT CEO James Michel said the state could extend the deadline if federal action comes too late for shoppers to complete enrollment by Jan. 31.
A federal judge temporarily blocked the Trump administration from purging diversity-related terms from Head Start grant applications, ordering Health and Human Services to stop the word changes and to halt further layoffs in the Office of Head Start. The order was issued by U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez in Seattle and was published Monday.
A 21-year-old Venezuelan woman sprinting through eastern Caracas at 2:05 a.m., white shirt, cellphone in hand, fear on her face — that image, captured by Associated Press photographer Matías Delacroix as U.S. military strikes erupted over Venezuela's capital, appeared on the front pages and websites of news outlets around the world within hours of the operation. The woman in the frame was Mariana Camargo, out with friends when the explosions began. Delacroix had awakened to the same rumbling, grabbed his camera, and run toward the blasts as she ran from them.
The Trump administration released updated federal dietary guidelines Wednesday, urging Americans to eat more whole foods and protein, sharply limit added sugars and highly processed foods, and reduce alcohol consumption. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins issued the 2025-2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans at a White House briefing, drawing mixed reactions from nutrition and medical experts.
The Trump administration has frozen federal child care subsidies for five states — California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota and New York — citing unspecified concerns about possible fraud in a $12 billion program that supports 1.4 million children from low-income households, the Associated Press reported Wednesday. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced the freeze Tuesday, requiring states to submit extensive documentation before receiving funds.
The Trump administration said it is withholding social safety net funding for programs that support needy families with children in five Democratic-led states over fraud concerns. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it identified concerns that benefits intended for American citizens and lawful residents may have been improperly provided to people not eligible under federal law.
The State Department on Tuesday added 25 more countries to its visa bond list, bringing the total to 38 nations whose passport holders must post financial guarantees of up to $15,000 to apply for entry to the United States, according to a notice posted on the agency's travel.state.gov website. The bond requirement for the newly added countries takes effect Jan. 21. Most of the 38 countries on the list are in Africa, with others in Latin America, the Caribbean, and Asia.
Democrat Abigail Spanberger said on Tuesday she is still digesting what it means to become Virginia’s first woman governor, with her inauguration set for Jan. 17 outside the Virginia Capitol. Spanberger, the former congresswoman who defeated Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears by 15 points in November, discussed the significance of the moment as she prepares to take office less than two weeks after being elected.
President Donald Trump called on Congress Wednesday to ban large institutional investors from purchasing single-family homes, saying the move would make homeownership more accessible for younger families. Trump framed the proposal as part of a broader affordability push ahead of November midterm elections, promising to outline more detailed housing plans at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, in two weeks.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz said Tuesday he does not know what his future holds after dropping his bid for a third term the day before, musing about a return to geography teaching while pledging to spend his remaining year in office resisting the Trump administration's moves against the state.
Faith leaders across South Florida and Philadelphia ministered to Venezuelan diaspora communities on Sunday as congregations grappled with conflicting emotions a day after the U.S. military capture of former Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. While many in the diaspora took to the streets waving flags in celebration, others face deep anxiety about their immigration status following the Trump administration's cancellation of two federal programs that together had allowed more than 700,000 Venezuelans to live and work legally in the United States.
Warner Bros. Discovery's board rejected Paramount's $77.9 billion hostile takeover bid for the second time Wednesday, urging shareholders to support a rival $72 billion offer from Netflix for the company's studio and streaming operations. The board said Paramount's offer was "not in the best interests of the company or its shareholders," citing excessive debt financing and inadequate shareholder protections.
Google and Character Technologies, the company behind the Character.AI chatbot, have agreed to settle a Florida lawsuit alleging the chatbot contributed to the February 2024 suicide of a 14-year-old boy, according to court documents filed this week in federal court. The companies have also agreed to settle similar suits filed in Colorado, New York, and Texas on behalf of families who alleged the chatbot harmed their children. Settlement terms were not disclosed in any of the filings; each agreement must still be approved by a judge.
Nevada officials said Tuesday they plan to ask the federal government to prohibit food stamp recipients from spending benefits on sugary drinks, energy drinks, and certain candies — part of a growing wave of state restrictions on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. The Division of Social Services confirmed at a meeting of the state's Interim Committee on Health and Human Services that it is preparing two waiver requests: one to restrict purchases of sugar-laden items, and a second to allow recipients to buy hot prepared foods such as rotisserie chicken.
The union representing 48,000 teaching assistants, postdoctoral researchers, and graduate student researchers at University of California campuses is asking the university to establish a $750,000 legal fund to help international employees navigate visa and immigration complications — a demand reflecting growing anxiety among the roughly 40 percent of UAW Local 4811's membership who come from outside the United States. The fund request is part of contract negotiations with the university ahead of the current agreement's Jan. 31 expiration date. Union negotiators are also asking UC to continue paying researchers temporarily stranded abroad by visa problems and to reimburse members for visa-related fees.
A former Uvalde schools police officer went on trial Tuesday in Corpus Christi, Texas, on child endangerment charges stemming from the 2022 Robb Elementary School massacre, as relatives of victims wept in court while listening to frantic 911 recordings from the attack that killed 19 students and two teachers. Special prosecutor Bill Turner told jurors that former school officer Adrian Gonzales arrived outside the school just before the teenage gunman entered but did not move to stop him, even after a teacher pointed to where the gunman was firing in a parking lot. Gonzales went inside only "after the damage had been done," Turner said during opening statements.
Education Secretary Linda McMahon formally approved Iowa's plan Wednesday to consolidate federal education money from four programs into a single fund with fewer federal spending restrictions, making Iowa the first state to receive such a waiver under the Trump administration's drive to reduce federal oversight of public schools. Indiana and Kansas have also applied for similar exemptions, and leaders of other states have expressed interest. The Iowa waiver applies to about $9.5 million in federal funding currently directed to the state's education agency for teacher training, English-learner programs, after-school programs, and academic enrichment. The arrangement runs through September 2028. It does not cover the larger sums flowing to Iowa's more than 300 public school districts.
Detroit ended 2025 with 165 criminal homicides, its lowest count since at least the early to mid-1960s and 38 fewer than the 203 recorded in 2024, Police Chief Todd Bettison announced Wednesday. The figure extends a steep four-year decline from 308 homicides in 2021 and mirrors a broad national retreat from the violent crime surge that accompanied the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hawaii's state Department of Land and Natural Resources plans to revive the Beach and Water Safety Task Force, a body charged with placing warning signs at dangerous beaches that has not convened since 2012, according to reporting by Honolulu Civil Beat distributed through the Associated Press. The announcement follows a decade in which about 800 people drowned in the waters off Hawaii's roughly 1,000-mile coastline.
LAS VEGAS — Entertainment industry leaders gathered at CES 2026 this week to debate artificial intelligence's expanding role in filmmaking, advertising and the creator economy, with more than 25 panels devoted to the intersection of technology and storytelling. Actor and filmmaker Joseph Gordon-Levitt used the Las Vegas stage Wednesday to warn against what he called the passive theft of copyrighted creative works by AI companies, while studio executives and AI tool developers argued the technology can broaden access to storytelling rather than diminish it.
Winter storms swept snow, ice and freezing rain across all six New England states on Wednesday, forcing dozens of school districts to cancel classes or delay start times while highway authorities in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts reported numerous accidents and vehicle spinouts. No serious injuries had been reported as of late Wednesday morning, the Associated Press reported.
Millions of Orthodox Christians around the world marked Christmas on Wednesday, nearly two weeks after most of the Western world observed the holiday. The celebration follows ancient calendar traditions maintained by certain Eastern Orthodox churches, including the Russian, Serbian and Georgian Orthodox, as well as the Ethiopian Orthodox Church and some other Oriental Orthodox communities.
Aldrich Ames, the former CIA officer who sold U.S. secrets to the Soviet Union and Russia, has died in a Maryland prison. The Bureau of Prisons confirmed to Associated Press that Ames died Monday. He was 84.
Austin Peay State University in Tennessee reinstated a professor who was fired for a social media post after the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The university is also paying Darren Michael $500,000 as part of a settlement, according to the agreement and university statements.
Brown University students turned to Sidechat, an anonymous campus message board, during the Dec. 13 shooting at the Ivy League campus in Providence, Rhode Island, as they tried to figure out what was happening before official alerts arrived. An Associated Press analysis of nearly 8,000 Sidechat posts from the 36 hours after the attack describes how students documented the chaos in real time.
Washington Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore was arrested outside Cleveland, Ohio, after police pulled over a car in which he was a passenger, authorities said on Wednesday. Police in Lakewood, a suburb west of Cleveland, said he was arrested about 6:15 p.m. and was charged with carrying concealed weapons and improperly handling firearms in a motor vehicle.
Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon said the state’s Partnership Plan for many municipal and other public-sector workers remains fiscally sound despite reporting nearly $23 million more in claims than premiums in the 2024-25 fiscal year. The new numbers, released by Scanlon’s office, drew criticism from Republican lawmakers who said the plan’s performance raised questions about the future of state-sponsored coverage.
Dermatologists say people don’t need elaborate multi-step shower routines promoted on social media and instead should stick to basic hygiene. In interviews for an AP “Be Well” story published July 9, 2025, doctors said longer showers, harsh cleansers and frequent scrubbing can irritate skin and disrupt its natural barrier.
The Georgia Division of Family and Children Services said it is facing a projected $85 million budget shortfall, prompting service cuts and a near-halt on new foster care placements by private providers. The agency’s commissioner, Candice Broce, discussed the situation during a Dec. 18, 2025 joint legislative hearing.
A public charter school in Great Falls, Montana, is embedding University of Montana–Western education students into an elementary setting as part of a three-year degree program that places college students in classrooms throughout the school day. The CORE School at Morningside began its first year under the model in fall 2024, with 11 college students starting alongside the 2024-25 school year, and officials said recruitment is set to begin in spring for the program’s third year.
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Sonia De Los Santos said she has canceled two Kennedy Center concerts scheduled for Feb. 7 for young people and a “creative conversation” with the audience in Washington. In an Instagram post on Thursday, De Los Santos cited an “unwelcoming climate” at the venue.
Hawaii County Council members questioned the effectiveness of a $33 million effort to address homelessness as they considered additional funding, according to testimony at a recent council meeting. Members voted 5-4 to advance a request for another $6 million for outreach and other homeless programs, despite concerns that the county’s investment has not reduced homelessness in areas such as Hilo and Pāhoa. Council member Heather Kimball backed the funding but said she wants an audit of spending and results.
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani unveiled a plan that would give New York City parents free child care for their 2-year-olds, beginning in high-need areas. The proposal was announced Thursday at an event in Brooklyn, a week after Mamdani was sworn in.
Ice cream makers representing about 90% of the U.S. frozen dessert market pledged to remove seven artificial dyes from their products by 2028, federal health officials said July 14. The Food and Drug Administration and other officials described the effort as a response to concerns raised by the Trump administration about potential health effects.
Spending time outdoors can help people feel more calm and focused, but many jobs offer little access to nature during working hours. Cathy Bussewitz’s reporting for AP’s Be Well section describes how some workers bring the outdoors into the office or around their schedules. The article highlights examples from a psychotherapist in Utah, a wellness program at Atlantic Packaging in North Carolina, and workplace design changes at Ford’s headquarters in Michigan.
An AP-NORC poll released this week found that medical expenses were the most common reason people donated to crowdfunding campaigns, with health care costs and “long road to recovery” themes featuring prominently. The survey also found that many Americans have only limited confidence in whether crowdfunding sites charge reasonable fees and whether campaigns use money responsibly.
Michael Reagan, the eldest son of President Ronald Reagan, died Tuesday at 80, the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute said. The foundation announced his death in a post on X, calling him “a steadfast guardian of his father’s legacy.” His wife said he was called “home to be with the Lord” on Sunday, Jan. 4.
Hundreds of people protested in Minneapolis after the fatal shooting of Renee Good on Wednesday by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer, officials and federal agencies said. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey and other local leaders urged calm while calling for a federal investigation and rejecting claims that Good used her vehicle as a weapon.
Federal immigration enforcement officers sent to Minneapolis and St. Paul have opened fire during a protest, killing Renee Good in a case that Associated Press described as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement campaign targeting Democratic-led states. The killing and the broader operation have raised comparisons to the 2020 death of George Floyd, and Gov. Tim Walz urged Trump to “leave our state alone.”
La NASA acortó una misión en la Estación Espacial Internacional y hará que una tripulación de cuatro personas regrese a la Tierra antes de lo planeado, informó la agencia el jueves. El cambio se produjo después de que un astronauta presentara un problema médico, y la NASA no identificó al tripulante ni el diagnóstico por privacidad del paciente.
NASA said Thursday it will bring a U.S.-Japanese-Russian crew of four back to Earth earlier than planned after an astronaut had a medical issue, canceling the agency’s first spacewalk of the year. The crew member’s condition is stable, and NASA said it was not an onboard emergency. The spacewalk was scheduled to help prepare for a future rollout of solar panels for the International Space Station.
Nevada Gov. Joe Lombardo is leading a petition effort to amend the Nevada Constitution in 2026 to bar transgender students from girls’ and women’s sports, even though the state already has bans in place at the state and national level. Lombardo announced Wednesday that he is leading a ballot initiative, filed by a political action committee, with the petition process requiring signatures across Nevada’s four congressional districts.
California Gov. Gavin Newsom proposed paring back the responsibilities of the state’s elected schools superintendent and shifting more authority to the State Board of Education as part of a plan to streamline K-12 governance. Newsom said the change would address long-recommended reforms and improve “accountability, clarity and coherence” in how schools are served.
Pope Leo XIV said he plans to bring the world’s Catholic cardinals together once a year after holding his first consistory in Vatican City, signaling a more collegial style of governing. The pontiff asked cardinals to return to Rome for a second session at the end of June, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said.
Protesters angry over Iran’s ailing economy staged a sit-in at Tehran’s Grand Bazaar on Tuesday, witnesses said, as security forces fired tear gas to disperse demonstrators and nearby shops shut down. The violence has killed at least 36 people and authorities have detained more than 2,000 others, activists abroad said. The demonstrations that began Dec. 28 have widened as the rial hit a record low and the central bank cut subsidized dollar exchange rates.
Texas A&M University administrators told faculty this week that roughly 200 courses in the College of Arts and Sciences could be affected by a new system policy restricting classroom discussions of race, gender, and topics tied to sexual orientation and gender identity. The changes were described in emails obtained by The Texas Tribune and, in some cases, have already led to courses being canceled, renumbered, or having parts of their syllabi revised.
UC Berkeley enrolled 29% more new international students this school year than the prior year, a reversal of a nationwide decline tied to immigration enforcement concerns, according to University of California data released Thursday. The university said it saw no major impact from federal immigration crackdowns that have deterred some foreign students from studying in the United States.
Vermont health officials said Tuesday they will continue to follow the state’s existing childhood immunization schedule after federal guidance was scaled back on childhood vaccines. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention moved six immunizations out of the “recommended” category, and Vermont officials and health experts said insurers would still cover the vaccines.
Doctors Without Borders said it will suspend services at a clinic in Bel Air, a violent neighborhood of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, because clashes continue between police and armed groups. The organization said the decision comes after violence trapped seven community volunteers at the clinic for several hours on Tuesday.
Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine reported to the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn on Tuesday to begin a three-month federal sentence, arriving by luxury van alongside internet personality Adin Ross and a camera crew that streamed his self-surrender live. The 29-year-old artist, whose legal name is Daniel Hernandez, joins Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and accused United Healthcare shooter Luigi Mangione at a federal jail that some judges have described as "hell on earth."
The city council of Franklin, North Carolina, voted unanimously Monday to return the Noquisiyi Mound to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, moving the largest unexcavated earthen mound in the Southeast closer to tribal control after roughly two centuries in outside hands. Noquisiyi — which translates to "star place" — was the center of a Cherokee mother town centuries before the founding of the United States and remains a site of deep spiritual significance to the Cherokee people. The unanimous vote initiates a process in which the tribal council must agree to accept the transfer before title to the property officially changes hands.
Michael Reagan, the eldest son of President Ronald Reagan and a conservative radio and television commentator, died Sunday, January 4, 2026. He was 80. The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute announced his death Tuesday on the social platform X, saying no cause of death had been announced.
The New Year’s tuna auction at Tokyo’s Toyosu fish market brought a record price for a prized tuna that weighed 535 pounds (243 kilograms), selling for $3.2 million (510 million yen) on Monday. The top bidder was Kiyomura Corp., whose owner, Kiyoshi Kimura, runs the Sushi Zanmai chain.
Rep. Doug LaMalfa, a California Republican who cast reliable votes for President Donald Trump's agenda through seven House terms, died Tuesday at age 65 after suffering a medical emergency the previous evening, the Butte County sheriff's office said. He was taken to a local hospital where he died during a surgical procedure. Officials have not disclosed the cause of death.
WASHINGTON — The fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol brought rival ceremonies to Washington on Tuesday but no shared memorial, as Republicans and Democrats diverged sharply in their accounts of the day that killed at least five people and reshaped American politics.
Indiana U.S. Rep. Jim Baird was hospitalized after his vehicle was struck in a car accident, his congressional office said Tuesday. The 80-year-old Republican, who represents the 4th Congressional District in west central Indiana, is expected to make a full recovery. President Donald Trump said Baird's wife was also hospitalized in the crash.
Enrollment in Hawaiian language immersion schools, known as Kaiapuni, has risen sharply over the past decade even as the state Department of Education struggles to hire enough qualified teachers, according to education officials and a university professor. The Department plans to open two new Kaiapuni programs next year, but it has unfilled teaching roles and says it cannot expand classrooms without staff.
Iran’s army chief threatened Wednesday a preemptive response to “rhetoric” targeting the Islamic Republic, as protests in Iran entered another day. The warning from Maj. Gen. Amir Hatami came amid international attention to U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments about what happens if Tehran “violently kills peaceful protesters.”
The U.S. population is projected to grow by 15 million people over the next 30 years, less than previously forecast, the Congressional Budget Office said Wednesday. The CBO attributed the slower growth to President Donald Trump’s hard-line immigration policies and an expected decline in fertility.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged restraint on Wednesday after a bus driver ran over and killed a 14-year-old ultra-Orthodox boy during a protest against a proposed law to draft them into the military. Netanyahu called for calm “to prevent the mood from becoming further inflamed,” and said the death would be investigated thoroughly.
Finland is teaching media literacy in preschool and adding artificial intelligence literacy as teachers respond to disinformation risks, especially near Russia. The push includes exercises in classrooms in and around Helsinki, along with national efforts such as “Newspaper Week” and media-literacy materials for teenagers.
Altadena residents say hazards from the Los Angeles area wildfires in January 2025 still linger inside homes a year later, including lead and asbestos. In the hardest-hit neighborhoods, some people returned to houses that were professionally cleaned but later testing found elevated contamination on floors and other surfaces.
The Trump administration said Tuesday it is withholding federal funding for child care and family assistance programs from five Democratic-led states over concerns that benefits may have been provided to people not eligible under federal law, though the administration has not specified the evidence underlying its fraud allegations. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which oversees the targeted programs, said California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York must submit extra documentation before accessing the funds.
The Trump administration has frozen federal child care funding for Illinois and other states while it conducts a fraud-related review, raising concerns among providers and parents that payments could be delayed or disrupted. In Illinois, Breyanna Rodriguez said the loss of assistance would force her to drop out of work and community college classes as she prepares for nursing school. The review follows a crackdown on the $12 billion Child Care and Development Fund, which helps subsidize care for 1.4 million children from low-income households.
The Trump administration on Wednesday released the 2025-2030 U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, urging Americans to eat more whole foods and proteins while limiting highly processed foods and added sugars. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins said the guidance will shape federal nutrition programs and policies.
The Trump administration has expanded its visa bond requirement to seven additional countries, bringing to 13 the number of nations whose passport holders must post bonds of up to $15,000 to apply for U.S. visas, the Associated Press reported Monday. The State Department quietly added Bhutan, Botswana, the Central African Republic, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Namibia and Turkmenistan to the list; the designations took effect Jan. 1, according to a notice on the travel.state.gov website. Five of the seven newly added countries are in Africa — 11 of the 13 countries now on the list are African nations.
Michigan history teachers say they are incorporating the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack and its aftermath into advanced placement U.S. history classes, using it as a way to connect textbook topics to current events and to teach students how to evaluate evidence. The approach is being used by East Kentwood High School teacher Matt Vreisman and Whitehall High School teacher Brian Milliron, among others, and it is aimed at helping students understand why democracies rely on peaceful transfers of power.
Nearly five years after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, the official plaque meant to honor officers who defended Congress is not on display and its whereabouts are not publicly known, according to an Associated Press report. The plaque was approved by Congress in 2022 but the Architect of the Capitol has said it cannot comment amid federal litigation. House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office said the statute authorizing the plaque is “not implementable” and that proposed alternatives also do not comply, the report said.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Democrats' 2024 vice-presidential nominee, announced Monday that he will not seek a third term as governor, citing Republican attacks and the political fallout from a federal investigation into child care fraud in the state's Somali community. Walz made the announcement at the state capitol in St. Paul less than four months after launching his reelection campaign, saying the dual demands of governing and campaigning had become untenable. Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar is considering entering the race, according to a person close to her who was not authorized to speak publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
Detroit's Gordie Howe International Bridge is expected to open in early 2026 after reaching 98 percent completion as of Nov. 13, bringing with it the first pedestrian and bicycle access across the Detroit River to Canada in decades. The $4.4 billion span will add six lanes of vehicle traffic while becoming the only bridge from Michigan to Canada with a multiuse path for foot and bike travel.
The U.S. Department of Justice said Tuesday that Claudio Neves Valente, the gunman who killed two Brown University students and an MIT professor in December, had been planning the attacks for years and left behind videos in which he confessed to the killings but provided no motive.
The State Department on Tuesday added 25 countries to its visa bond requirement list, nearly tripling the total to 38 nations in less than a week, according to a notice published on travel.state.gov. The new requirement for the 25 additions takes effect January 21. Citizens of all 38 countries must now post bonds of $5,000 to $15,000 before applying for U.S. visas, a cost that U.S. officials acknowledged makes the process unaffordable for many.
Connecticut State Comptroller Sean Scanlon on Monday warned the state legislature it must adopt more realistic Medicaid budgets, saying surging program costs and looming federal funding cuts threaten health coverage for roughly 1 million state residents. Scanlon said 60% of the state's current overspending problem is concentrated in Medicaid, and called on state officials to stop authorizing amounts that ignore clear demand growth trends.
Joseph E. McGettigan III, the Pennsylvania prosecutor who secured criminal convictions against Penn State assistant football coach Jerry Sandusky and chemical heir John du Pont, died Dec. 31 at age 76, according to Boyd Horrox Givnish Life Celebration Home of East Norriton. McGettigan lived in Media, a Philadelphia suburb. No cause of death was reported.
Pennsylvania Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro began 2026 with $30 million in his reelection campaign account, a new state record for cash on hand heading into an election year, his campaign said Tuesday. The sum more than doubles the previous Pennsylvania record of $13.4 million — also set by Shapiro at the start of 2022, the year he won the governorship.
The Texas American Federation of Teachers filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against the Texas Education Agency and its commissioner, alleging the state launched an unconstitutional campaign of retaliation against public school employees who posted social media comments about conservative activist Charlie Kirk following his killing in September. The suit accuses Commissioner Mike Morath of directing school districts to document educators' online posts that the agency described as "vile content" — actions the union argues violated teachers' First Amendment rights.
West Virginia has exhausted the $30 million in federal pandemic relief funds it used to reimburse local governments for demolishing abandoned buildings, leaving municipalities without state support to address a problem a statewide survey estimated would cost approximately $150 million to resolve. The state's Demolition Landfill Assistance Program, established in 2021 and funded a year later with federal COVID-19 recovery money, helped communities tear down about 1,800 structures in two years. About 240 demolitions remain ongoing, but state officials say the last of the program's funds have been dispersed and the legislature has proposed no replacement.
President Donald Trump on Tuesday urged House Republicans to show flexibility on the Hyde Amendment — the 50-year budget restriction barring federal money from paying for abortion services — telling lawmakers at a caucus retreat in Washington they needed to bend on the policy to reach a deal on health care subsidies. The expanded Affordable Care Act premium subsidies that lapsed Dec. 31, 2025, have left millions of policyholders facing steep premium increases, and some Democrats have made easing the Hyde restrictions a condition for any new agreement.
A public charter school in Great Falls, Montana, is in its second year of a program that trains future teachers inside a functioning K-6 elementary school. College students at Morningside Elementary earn three-year teaching degrees while working as paid teaching assistants and taking courses from the school's own teachers — who hold master's degrees and serve as adjunct professors for the University of Montana-Western.
The criminal trial of a former Uvalde school police officer began Tuesday in Corpus Christi, Texas, with a special prosecutor telling jurors that Adrian Gonzales stood by without acting while the gunman who would kill 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School was still outside and reachable. Special prosecutor Bill Turner said Gonzales arrived at the scene before the shooter entered the building but did not attempt to distract or engage him, even after a teacher pointed out the shooter's direction. Gonzales went inside only "after the damage had been done," Turner said.
The city of Southfield, Michigan, has agreed to pay $3.25 million to settle a lawsuit brought by the family of Timesha Beauchamp, a 20-year-old woman with cerebral palsy who was declared dead by paramedics at her home in August 2020, only to be found gasping for air when a funeral home worker unzipped her body bag hours later. Beauchamp was rushed to a hospital but never recovered. She died two months after the incident.
Athos Karistinos, 18, of Tarpon Springs, Florida, retrieved the Epiphany cross from Spring Bayou on Tuesday after Archbishop Elpidophoros of the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of America cast it into the water, besting 73 other teenage divers before a crowd of thousands. The dive, held annually on January 6 as part of the Epiphany observance, marked the 120th consecutive year the Gulf Coast city has hosted what the Associated Press described as one of the largest such celebrations in the country. According to Greek Orthodox tradition, the cross's retriever receives a year of blessings.
William D. DeFoor, 26, appeared in separate state and federal courtrooms in Cincinnati on Tuesday, facing charges that he broke the windows of Vice President JD Vance's Ohio home with a hammer during a late-night breach that Secret Service agents captured and interrupted before he could flee. Vance and his family were not home at the time.
An Oregon café where American Sign Language is the primary language has become a gathering space for the Deaf community, the Associated Press reported. The cafe, Woodstock Cafe in Portland, also provides jobs for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was granted a brief leave from prison on Wednesday to undergo medical tests after he fell from his bed, according to police and the Supreme Court. Bolsonaro, escorted to a hospital in the capital, had three brain tests after arriving at around midday, and later returned to prison, his wife said.
U.S. health officials on Monday made broad changes to childhood vaccine recommendations, effective immediately, reducing the number of diseases recommended for all children. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will now recommend routine vaccination against 11 diseases, down from 18 a year ago.
Fighting escalated in Aleppo, Syria, on Wednesday as civilians fled two predominantly Kurdish neighborhoods after the military ordered residents to evacuate, the Associated Press reported. The evacuations followed clashes that left seven people dead in areas controlled by the Kurdish-led and U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Forces and five others dead in government-controlled areas, the report said.
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield said the city will join Michigan State University’s Rx Kids program, which provides cash to expectant mothers to cover essentials. Sheffield said Monday the program is expected to open within the first 100 days of her taking office. Families will receive $1,500 during pregnancy, followed by $500 per month during a child’s first six months after birth.
The Trump administration has approved Iowa’s plan to gain more flexibility in how it spends certain federal education funds, a step expected to encourage other states to seek similar waivers. Education Secretary Linda McMahon signed off on the proposal Wednesday at an event in Iowa, her office said, as conservative states press for more control over education spending.
Estados Unidos amplió de nuevo la lista de países cuyos ciudadanos deberán pagar fianzas de hasta 15.000 dólares para solicitar visas estadounidenses. Menos de una semana después de añadir siete países, el Departamento de Estado incluyó 25 más, y el requisito comenzará a regir el 21 de enero. La medida implica que 38 países —principalmente en África, pero también en América Latina y Asia— están ahora sujetos a este requisito, que no garantiza la aprobación de la visa.
Entertainment leaders and creators discussed how artificial intelligence is changing storytelling, advertising and internet-native content at CES 2026 in Las Vegas. Panels and product showcases in the entertainment programming track examined AI’s cinematic potential and creator-economy impact, alongside concerns about how training data is used.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will propose a drinking-water limit for perchlorate, a chemical used in rocket fuel and explosives that can harm thyroid function, especially in infants. The agency said Monday it is moving only because a federal court ordered it, and it does not expect the rule’s overall public-health benefits to justify its costs. The EPA will seek public comment on how strict the limit should be and require water utilities to test for perchlorate.
Malaysia’s centenarian former Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad is recovering in a hospital in Kuala Lumpur after a fall left him with a broken right hip, his family said Wednesday. His daughter Marina Mahathir said the injury is serious but not life-threatening. Mahathir was rushed to the National Heart Institute on Tuesday for observation and treatment.
Graduate student workers represented by United Auto Workers Local 4811 are asking the University of California to create a legal aid fund to help them navigate immigration and visa issues, as uncertainty rises for international students in the United States. The union’s request is part of contract negotiations that began months ago and will cover teaching assistants, postdocs and researchers at UC campuses, including UC Berkeley.
Hawaii plans to revive a Beach and Water Safety Task Force that has not met since 2012, state officials said, as the state faces criticism for a long gap in placing warning signs at dangerous beaches. The move comes after pressure from the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association and reporting by Honolulu Civil Beat.
A federal judge cleared the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to resume sharing limited personal data of certain Medicaid enrollees with immigration enforcement officers starting Monday. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria in San Francisco is a setback for 22 states that had sued the administration over privacy concerns.
Holocaust survivor Eva Schloss, the stepsister of Anne Frank, died at 96 in London, where she lived, her death was announced Saturday. She spent decades after the war educating young people about the Holocaust and warning against prejudice.
Patients often worry about what to ask once they are in the exam room, and keeping track of symptoms, medicines and questions can be hard even for people who work in health care. Lauran Neergaard reports that Dr. Sarah Nosal, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians, urged patients to arrive prepared with a prioritized list of concerns.
Iran has been shaken by waves of protests over the past five decades, driven by demands for political freedoms, anger over crackdowns, and economic pressures. Beginning with the 1979 demonstrations that preceded the Islamic Revolution, demonstrations have periodically resurfaced—at times spreading nationwide and prompting security force responses.
Bridge Michigan and the Associated Press reported Jan. 5, 2026, that abuse, neglect and related violations are common in Michigan nursing homes and that the state’s oversight system has failed to prevent or catch many of them. The reporting centered on the death of 68-year-old Lorena Brown at SKLD Muskegon after roommates and staffers said she pleaded for help as she turned blue in September 2022. The inspection documents cited in the investigation say no help came.
Michael J. Schumacher, a Wisconsin author whose books included biographies of Allen Ginsberg and Eric Clapton, has died. Schumacher’s daughter, Emily Joy Schumacher, confirmed that he died Dec. 29. She said she did not provide the cause of death.
Mississippi has more than 19,000 families waiting for child care vouchers after pandemic-era funding for the voucher program ended, according to the Mississippi Department of Human Services. The state is exploring alternative ways to use Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds as it develops new work-support programs expected to become clearer in 2026, the department said.
Nevada officials said they are preparing requests for federal waivers that would restrict what SNAP benefit recipients can buy, including sugary drinks and certain candies. During a legislative meeting Tuesday, state officials with the Division of Social Services said they are planning a waiver that would take effect in 2028. They also said Nevada is asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture for permission for additional hot foods such as rotisserie chicken.
Winter weather brought snow, ice, freezing rain and dangerous driving to New England on Wednesday, prompting school cancellations and delays across the region. Dozens of districts shut for the day or started later because road conditions made it unsafe to run buses during the morning routes. Several hazardous winter-weather advisories were in effect, and highway officials reported numerous accidents and vehicle spinouts.
Millions of Orthodox Christians are marking Christmas on Wednesday, Jan. 7, nearly two weeks after many other Christian churches observed the holiday. The date difference stems largely from whether a church follows the Julian calendar tradition or revised versions that align differently with the Gregorian calendar used in much of the secular world.
A panel of nutrition experts advising the U.S. government released recommendations for the next Dietary Guidelines for Americans on Tuesday, calling for Americans to eat more vegetables, fruits and legumes while cutting back on red and processed meats. The guidance, aimed at people age 2 and older, also urges limits on added sugars, sodium and saturated fat as the federal government prepares the next set of food-program rules.
Pope Leo XIV convened the Catholic Church’s cardinals in Rome for a two-day consistory and asked them to advise him on key priorities for the next year or two, with a focus on continuing Pope Francis’ aims of a more missionary and responsive church. About 170 of the College of Cardinals, roughly two-thirds of the total, took part in the opening session, the first consistory of Leo’s papacy.
Small farms in South Dakota are expanding sales and visitor experiences as consumer demand grows for locally grown foods, including USDA-organic products. The Associated Press reports on farms and farm-linked businesses that see opportunity in farm tours, on-site sales and community events, while training for USDA certification and managing challenges tied to rural geography. (AP)
A bipartisan spending package released by House Speaker Mike Johnson provides $32 million for operating expenses at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts through Sept. 30, 2027, while the bill continues to refer to the venue as the “Kennedy Center.” The package’s language comes amid a federal lawsuit challenging the center’s December board vote to add President Donald Trump’s name to the building’s exterior and website.
Surging electricity costs are forcing some West Virginia residents to delay repairs, skip medications and ration food, according to reporting distributed by The Associated Press. The article points to steep increases in residential power prices in recent years and says energy-burdened households in the state face some of the highest electricity costs.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has directed Head Start providers to avoid dozens of terms in federal grant applications, including “race,” “belonging” and “pregnant people,” potentially reshaping how the early education program describes the demographics it serves. The guidance is at the center of a lawsuit filed by parent groups and Head Start associations, which say the Department of Health and Human Services is illegally dismantling Head Start.
President Donald Trump, in social media posts about changes to U.S. childhood vaccination recommendations, shared a graphic and statement implying children would no longer need 72 “jabs,” an Associated Press fact check said. The AP said “72 injections were never ‘required,’” and that the government’s prior recommended schedule covered routine protection against 18 diseases spread across ages.
The U.S. on Monday cut the number of vaccines it recommends for every child, effective immediately, moving protections for several diseases to only high-risk groups or to “shared decision-making” with doctors. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will now recommend vaccination against 11 diseases for all children.
Venezuelan Christians in the United States have been holding prayer services and urging calm as uncertainty grows after the U.S. capture of deposed leader Nicolás Maduro, Associated Press reported. In South Florida, Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski said many people are “happy” to see Maduro out but still anxious about what comes next.
U.S. flu infections surged over the holidays, and U.S. health officials warned Monday that the season is already approaching or surpassing last winter’s worst levels and could worsen. Data posted for flu activity through the week of Christmas showed 45 states reporting high or very high flu activity, up from 30 the prior week.
The U.S. State Department said it has suspended all U.S. assistance programs that benefit Somalia’s federal government, alleging Somali officials destroyed a World Food Programme warehouse and seized 76 metric tons of food aid meant for civilians. The department said resuming assistance would depend on the Somali federal government taking accountability and remedial steps.
Final pilgrims passed through the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City late Monday, the Vatican said, as Pope Leo XIV prepares to officially close the 2025 Holy Year. The Vatican claimed more than 33 million people participated in the rare Jubilee opened by one pope and closed by another. In a separate accounting, the Vatican’s Holy Year organizer said the final number is only an estimate and could include double counting.
Warner Bros. Discovery again rejected Paramount’s takeover offer and urged shareholders to keep backing a separate bid from Netflix, the company said Wednesday. The Warner board said Paramount’s latest proposal would leave shareholders facing “an extraordinary amount of debt financing” and other risks tied to closing and protections if a deal fails.
A former school bus aide in suburban Denver pleaded guilty Monday to assaulting three nonverbal students with autism, entering pleas on 12 charges after bus surveillance video captured abuse the children could not report themselves.
A former school bus aide pleaded guilty Monday to assaulting three nonverbal students with autism in suburban Denver, prosecutors said. The case involves injuries that the families said were documented after the students went to school early, and was revealed in 2024 through bus surveillance video.
Patients of all ages — including physicians themselves — walk out of medical appointments having forgotten to raise a key concern, according to Dr. Sarah Nosal, president of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Her top recommendation: arrive at every primary care visit with a written list of symptoms and questions, the most urgent concern first, and hand it to the doctor at the start of the appointment.
U.S. flu infections surged over the holiday period, with 45 states reporting high or very high activity during the week of Christmas — up from 30 states the prior week — and federal health officials warning that the season is severe and likely to worsen. New government data released Monday showed that by some measures the current season already rivals last winter's flu epidemic, one of the harshest in recent memory. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated at least 11 million illnesses, 120,000 hospitalizations, and 5,000 deaths from influenza have occurred so far this season.
A bipartisan House spending package released Monday allocates $32 million for operating expenses at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts through September 2027 — using the venue's original statutory name, not the "Trump Kennedy Center" branding the center's board adopted in December. The appropriation, released by House Speaker Mike Johnson, funds the center through Sept. 30, 2027 with no acknowledgment of the board's December rebranding vote, which added President Donald Trump's name alongside President John F. Kennedy's on the building's exterior and website.
As the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol arrived, the official plaque Congress ordered installed to honor the law enforcement officers who defended the building that day remained out of public view — its location not publicly known and believed to be in storage — and never formally unveiled by House Speaker Mike Johnson. The Trump administration's Justice Department, meanwhile, is seeking to dismiss a federal lawsuit by two officers demanding the marker be displayed as the 2022 law that created it requires.
A year after the most destructive wildfires in Los Angeles area history scorched Altadena and Pacific Palisades, homeowners whose structures survived are confronting a continuing health crisis: lead, asbestos and other toxic compounds left behind by smoke and ash. Despite professional cleanings, six out of 10 smoke-damaged homes in the Eaton Fire area still show dangerous contamination levels, according to a November report by the volunteer group Eaton Fire Residents United. Many residents say their insurance companies are refusing to cover adequate testing and remediation, leaving families living in homes they fear may be harming them.
WASHINGTON — U.S. health officials on Monday narrowed federal childhood vaccine recommendations, reducing the number of diseases for which all children are urged to get vaccinated from 18 to 11, effective immediately. The Department of Health and Human Services said the overhaul came at the direction of President Donald Trump, who in December asked the agency to review vaccine practices among peer nations. The nation's major medical groups said they would not follow the new guidance and warned the rollback could increase preventable illness and death in children.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Monday reduced the number of vaccines it recommends for every child, narrowing the universal schedule to 11 diseases — a move that leading medical organizations said would result in more hospitalizations and preventable deaths. The change, effective immediately, removes universal recommendations for vaccines against flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, certain meningitis strains, and RSV. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. called it a step toward rebuilding public trust. Physicians' groups said it would put children's lives at risk.
The Trump administration quietly expanded a program requiring visa applicants from certain countries to post cash bonds of up to $15,000 before entering the United States, the State Department announced, adding seven nations to a list that now totals 13 — 11 of them in Africa. The designations took effect January 1 and make U.S. visa access financially out of reach for many would-be visitors from the newly designated nations, according to the Associated Press.
Gavin Newsom enters his final year as California governor this week with key campaign promises on housing, homelessness, and health care largely unmet, as he prepares to address the Legislature and present a budget proposal while confronting an estimated $18 billion deficit. Newsom, widely expected to pursue a Democratic presidential primary campaign after his term ends, is scheduled to deliver a State of the State address Thursday.
The Environmental Protection Agency said Monday it will propose a drinking water limit for perchlorate, a chemical used in rockets, fireworks, and other explosives — but only because a federal appeals court ordered it to act. The agency said it would seek public comment on limits of 20, 40, and 80 parts per billion and require roughly 66,000 water utilities to test for the chemical, while also arguing that the expected cost to utilities would outweigh the public health benefit.
A Portland, Oregon cafe where American Sign Language is the primary language of business has drawn workers and patrons from across the country, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported. Woodstock Cafe, owned by the nonprofit CymaSpace, takes orders in ASL and offers non-signing customers a microphone that transcribes their words onto a screen. Plans to expand the site into a Deaf Equity Center stalled after much of the federal funding was cut following the change of presidential administration, according to one of the cafe's founders.
Enrollment in Hawaii's Hawaiian-language immersion schools has grown 68 percent over the past decade, with the number of state-run campuses rising from 14 to 26, according to state education officials. But the pool of qualified teachers is not keeping pace with demand, creating staffing shortfalls that threaten further expansion of the programs, known as Kaiapuni schools. The Hawaii Department of Education has at least three unfilled Kaiapuni positions and 25 unlicensed educators still working toward their credentials, while one advisory group projects the state will need 165 additional Kaiapuni teachers over the next decade.
Amaya Jones, a full-time Kroger employee and mother of two in Mississippi, planned to return to school this month to study social work. That plan depends on regaining a child care voucher she lost in June — and she is one of more than 19,000 Mississippi families now on a growing waitlist after pandemic-era federal funding that expanded the state's voucher program ran out, according to the Mississippi Department of Human Services.
West Virginia residential electricity rates rose nearly 34% between 2019 and 2024, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration data, making the state one of the fastest-rising residential power markets in the country. More than 266,000 households — 37% of the state — are now considered energy-burdened, spending more than 6% of their household income on electricity and other power costs. Some families are selling jewelry, skipping medications and going without food to keep their lights on.
A Cincinnati man was detained by U.S. Secret Service agents early Monday after breaking windows at Vice President JD Vance's Ohio home and vandalizing a federal vehicle, authorities said. William D. DeFoor, 26, faces federal charges including damaging government property and assaulting federal officers, according to the U.S. Attorney's office in Ohio's southern district. Vance and his family were not at the residence at the time, having returned to Washington the day before.
A four-month Bridge Michigan investigation documented at least 5,915 cases of abuse, neglect, exploitation, and care violations at the state's 420 nursing homes and identified nearly three dozen residents who died from suspected neglect or abuse over the past four years, according to a report distributed Monday by the Associated Press. Investigators reviewed more than 45,000 pages of state and federal inspection records, submitted dozens of public records requests, examined more than 30 death certificates, and spoke with nearly 100 family members, current and former staff, administrators, consumer advocates, researchers, and policymakers.
A Texas judge seated a jury Monday in the trial of a former Uvalde school police officer charged with failing to protect children during the 2022 massacre at Robb Elementary School that killed 19 students and two teachers. Adrian Gonzales, one of the first officers to respond to the attack, faces 29 counts of child abandonment or endangerment stemming from his role in a law enforcement response that took 77 minutes to confront the gunman.
As protests over Iran's currency collapse stretched into their second week in January 2026, unrest in the Islamic Republic entered a familiar pattern: a severe economic shock, mass demonstrations, and a government response that included severing the country's internet and telephone connections to the outside world. The current demonstrations, triggered by the rial's fall to 1.4 million to the dollar following tightening sanctions and a 12-day war with Israel, are at least the seventh major episode of mass unrest to shake Iran over the past 50 years, according to the Associated Press.
Michigan history teachers are marking the approaching fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection by weaving the event into their advanced placement coursework — anchored to the election of 1800, when John Adams became the first sitting president to transfer power peacefully to a rival-party successor, according to a report by Bridge Michigan distributed by the Associated Press. Teachers at East Kentwood and Whitehall high schools draw a direct line from that founding-era precedent to its 2021 breach, asking students to analyze why peaceful transitions of power matter and what happens to democracies when they break down.
The Department of Health and Human Services has directed Head Start providers to avoid nearly 200 terms in federal grant applications — including "race," "Black," "Native American," "disability," "women," and "Tribal" — a move plaintiffs in an ongoing federal lawsuit say directly conflicts with the Head Start Act. A coalition of organizations representing Head Start providers and parents disclosed the directive in December court filings, saying HHS told a Head Start director in Wisconsin to cut those and related terms from her application.
Detroit Mayor Mary Sheffield announced Monday that Michigan State University's Rx Kids program will expand to the city within her first 100 days in office, bringing direct cash payments to expectant mothers in a city where about a third of residents live in poverty. Sheffield, elected in November and installed last week as Detroit's first female mayor, said roughly $9 million has been raised for the Detroit launch, with another $2.5 million still needed.
LAS VEGAS — CES 2026 opened this week in Las Vegas, assembling more than 3,500 exhibitors at the Consumer Technology Association's annual trade show with artificial intelligence, humanoid robots, healthcare wearables, and mobility technology heading a packed agenda. Organizers expected attendance approaching the more than 141,000 visitors from over 150 countries who attended the 2025 edition.
Small farms across South Dakota are capitalizing on rising consumer demand for locally grown food by building diversified operations that combine produce sales with agritourism, specialty events, and direct-to-consumer marketing — even as the state's count of USDA-certified organic producers has dropped sharply since 2022. At Bear Butte Gardens near Sturgis, co-owners Michelle and Rick Grosek have developed their 80-acre certified organic farm into a year-round destination since opening in 2010, adding overnight rentals, fiber festivals, cooking classes, and farm tours alongside sales to local grocers and restaurants.
Connecticut Comptroller Sean Scanlon urged state lawmakers on Monday to craft more realistic Medicaid budgets as surging costs and expiring federal aid threaten Connecticut’s finances. He warned that “60%” of the state’s overspending is tied to Medicaid and said officials should review all options to ensure about a million people can keep getting health care.
A curfew was imposed in Birgunj, a border city in southern Nepal, after protests erupted between Hindu and Muslim groups following vandalism of a mosque over the weekend, officials said Tuesday. Armed soldiers and police were patrolling the streets, and authorities warned that people who violate the curfew could be shot.
Greenlanders in Nuuk are increasingly embracing pre-Christian Inuit traditions, including facial tattoos and drum dancing, as a way to connect with ancestors and reclaim ancestral roots. The movement also reflects anger at European missionaries who, in the 18th century, suppressed Inuit spiritual practices and branded them “pagan.” (AP)
A Texas teachers union sued the Texas Education Agency on Tuesday, accusing the agency and Education Commissioner Mike Morath of a “wave of retaliation” against public school employees for comments they made on social media about Charlie Kirk after he was fatally shot in September. The union filed in federal court in Austin.
Florida’s largest Greek Orthodox community gathered Tuesday for its 120th Epiphany celebration, where dozens of teens dove into chilly water to retrieve a cross in front of thousands. The event took place in Tarpon Springs, a town on Florida’s Gulf Coast known for its large Greek Orthodox community.
West Virginia’s Demolition Landfill Assistance Program, which reimbursed communities for demolishing abandoned buildings, is running out of money and leaving municipalities to cover costs on their own. The state program, created in 2021 and funded a year later with federal COVID-19 recovery funds, helped Charleston and other local governments tear down unsafe structures and address repeated neighborhood complaints.
Pope Leo XIV closed the Vatican’s 2025 Holy Year on Tuesday with a Mass for the feast of Epiphany, denouncing consumerism and anti-foreigner sentiment. In a homily and prayers delivered at St. Peter’s Basilica, he urged Christians to welcome the stranger and resist what he called “the flattery and seduction of those in power.”
Adults often stop reading for pleasure for reasons ranging from stress to busy schedules, but experts say it’s never too late to restart. A recent analysis using U.S. government data found the share of Americans reading for pleasure on an average day fell to 16% in 2023 from 28% in 2004. Here are library-backed and reading-research tips for building a sustainable habit in 2026.
Nebraska will become the first state to get a federal waiver allowing it to bar the purchase of soda and energy drinks with SNAP benefits, the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced Monday. The change, announced by Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, is expected to affect about 152,000 people in Nebraska who receive SNAP.
Starting Thursday, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah and West Virginia will begin SNAP restrictions that limit what recipients can buy, affecting soda, candy and other items. The changes follow waivers sought by the incoming administration as part of a drive to reduce diet-related chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes.
In churches, synagogues and mosques across the United States, religious leaders and lay practitioners are increasingly introducing meditation practices rooted in traditions that predate modern Christianity, Judaism and Islam. The Associated Press reports that groups are blending techniques from Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and Sufism with contemporary settings and languages, including in weekly gatherings and university chapel events.
Nationwide demonstrations demanding economic relief have spread across all of Iran's 31 provinces, according to data from the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, as the Islamic Republic's government shut down the internet and deployed security forces against protesters. The agency reported Thursday that more than 600 protests have taken place nationwide, with a death toll of at least 2,615 and 18,470 people arrested. Iran's rial has fallen to more than 1.4 million per dollar while an annual inflation rate of about 40 percent erodes living standards, the Associated Press reported.
Five years after the Jan. 6, 2021 siege of the U.S. Capitol, officers who defended the building say they are still dealing with physical injuries, psychological trauma, and a public narrative that has played down the violence they encountered. For several officers, President Donald Trump's pardons of approximately 1,500 people convicted for their roles in the attack compounded wounds that had not healed. On Jan. 20, 2025 — the day of Trump's second inauguration — former Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell put his phone on silent and stepped away from the news. That evening, calls flooded in from federal prosecutors, FBI agents, and the federal Bureau of Prisons, all notifying him that Trump had just pardoned rioters who had injured him. "They told me that people I testified against were being released from prison," Gonell said. "And to be mindful."
Americans named health care or health issues as a top priority for the government in 2026, according to an AP-NORC poll released Dec. 19, with concerns rising sharply compared with last year. The survey also found inflation and cost-of-living pressures remain prominent, while immigration worries shift modestly by party.
Vermont officials unveiled a new “American Abenaki Curriculum” focused on Abenaki history in the state, but leaders of two Abenaki nations headquartered in Quebec said the materials wrongly exclude them and reframe history for political ends. The nations said their exclusion amounts to “trivializing the rewriting of history” and “normalizing cultural appropriation” in schools.
U.S. officials including Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Brooke Rollins have signaled support for restricting items such as sugary drinks and candy from SNAP, the program that helps low-income families buy food. But previous attempts to narrow SNAP purchases through agency waivers and state rules have run into legal and practical obstacles, setting up a new push with uncertainty about what can change.
LOS GATOS, Calif. — At The Terraces retirement community in Silicon Valley, caregivers are scheduling sessions that let residents in their 80s and 90s try virtual reality headsets. The technology can transport them to experiences like underwater dolphin swims or virtual travel to childhood neighborhoods, often prompting residents to talk with each other afterward.
From Zen sittings in an Episcopal church in Pasadena to meditation groups in Jewish, Unitarian Universalist and Catholic settings, Americans are increasingly bringing ancient contemplative practices into modern religious life. The Associated Press reports that congregations are adapting techniques drawn from Buddhism, Hinduism and other traditions—alongside Christian contemplative practices—to meet the needs of a fast-paced world, while some also debate concerns ranging from cultural appropriation to skepticism about spirituality.
The American Kennel Club added three dog breeds to its roster of recognized breeds on Tuesday, making them eligible for many U.S. dog shows. The newcomers are the basset fauve de Bretagne, the Teddy Roosevelt terrier and the Russian tsvetnaya bolonka, AKC said as fanciers look ahead to 2026.
Starting Thursday, people using SNAP benefits in five states will face new restrictions on buying soda, candy and certain other foods as waivers take effect. Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah and West Virginia are the first states to implement the changes aimed at steering shoppers away from foods health officials and policy makers view as unhealthy.
Incoming New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani was sworn in at midnight on a centuries-old Quran, marking what officials and a library scholar described as historic firsts for the city. The Democrat, who took office as the first Muslim, first South Asian and first African-born mayor of New York City, used the Quran during a subway ceremony under City Hall. The oath does not require a religious text, officials said, but the choice has sparked criticism from some conservatives.
Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made his first public comments Saturday on a week of economic protests shaking the Islamic Republic, declaring that "rioters must be put in their place" — a statement human rights groups said could signal a green light for aggressive security action. At least 15 people have been killed and more than 580 arrested, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency, as demonstrations spread to more than 170 locations across 25 of Iran's 31 provinces.
Nationwide protests erupted in Iran as the government grappled with an economic crisis, and authorities responded by cracking down while shutting down internet access, according to an Associated Press explainer published Jan. 4. The unrest has been accompanied by reports of hundreds of demonstrations across Iran’s provinces and thousands of arrests, while Iran’s government has not released overall casualty figures.
Altadena, Calif., wildfire survivor Missi Dowd-Figueroa has been planting sunflowers on the lot where her home once stood, gradually turning fire-scarred ground into a garden while she works toward rebuilding. The registered nurse lost an 1898 farm-style house in the Eaton Fire, one of two deadly wildfires that tore through the Los Angeles area last January. A year later, she is among those still grappling with grief and few who have been able to rebuild so far.
The Trump administration is facing a new legal complaint from federal employees challenging a policy that, starting Thursday, would eliminate insurance coverage for gender-affirming care in federal health plans. The complaint was filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission on behalf of affected workers, according to the Human Rights Campaign, and seeks rescission of the Office of Personnel Management rule. The group says the change is sex-based discrimination.
President Donald Trump defended his energy and health in an interview with The Wall Street Journal and disclosed that he had a CT scan, not an MRI, during an October examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. Trump said the advanced imaging was supposed to prevent questions about his health, and his physician said in a memo released in December that the imaging was “advanced imaging” used as a preventative screening for a man his age.
Tech companies and developers racing to build data centers for artificial intelligence and cloud computing are losing a growing number of local zoning fights across the United States, as residents from farming towns to growing suburbs organize to block proposals they say threaten their communities' character, water supply and electric rates. Between April and June, Data Center Watch — a project of AI security consultancy 10a Labs — counted 20 proposals valued at $98 billion across 11 states that were blocked or delayed amid local opposition and state-level pushback, amounting to roughly two-thirds of the projects it was tracking during that period.
A U.S. military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro on Saturday triggered the cancellation of hundreds of flights across the eastern Caribbean, grounding nearly 60 percent of departures from San Juan's international airport and stranding holiday travelers across nearly two dozen island destinations. The Federal Aviation Administration imposed airspace restrictions following the operation, halting all commercial airline traffic over Venezuela. U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said Saturday night the restrictions would end at midnight Eastern time, allowing airlines to resume normal operations Sunday.
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Jury selection is scheduled to begin Jan. 5 in the first criminal trial stemming from the law enforcement response to the May 2022 Robb Elementary School massacre in Uvalde, Texas. Former schools police Officer Adrian Gonzales, 52, faces 29 counts of child endangerment for allegedly failing to act while a gunman killed 19 fourth-grade students and two teachers. Prosecutors allege Gonzales, among the first officers to arrive at the school, did not advance toward the shooter despite hearing gunfire and being told the gunman's location. The trial was moved to Corpus Christi, about 200 miles southeast of Uvalde, after defense attorneys argued their client could not receive a fair trial in the community where the shooting occurred.
A former Uvalde schools police officer faces trial Monday in Corpus Christi, Texas, charged with multiple counts of child abandonment and endangerment for allegedly failing to engage the gunman during the May 2022 massacre at Robb Elementary School that killed 19 children and two teachers, according to the Associated Press. Former officer Adrian Gonzales is accused of ignoring active shooter training during the attack, in which 77 minutes passed before a tactical team breached the classroom and killed the shooter.
Sprinkles Cupcakes, the bakery chain known for automated vending machines that dispensed fresh cupcakes in malls and airports across the United States, has shut down after 20 years of operation, according to its founder. The closure was announced Dec. 30.
Gunmen raided Kasuwan-Daji village in Niger state in northern Nigeria, killing at least 30 villagers and abducting others, police said. The attack happened Saturday evening in the Borgu local government area, and survivors said some residents were still missing on Sunday.
HARBIN, China (AP) — Each January, sculptors converge in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang province in northeastern China, to compete for the best ice sculpture at the annual Ice and Snow Festival. The event runs until mid-February, drawing families who travel to see illuminated ice structures.
Israeli police shot and killed a Bedouin Arab man during an overnight raid in his village in southern Israel, a local official confirmed and Israeli police said on Sunday. The victim was identified as 36-year-old Muhammed Hussein Tarabin, whose death could further strain relations between the Israeli government and the Bedouin minority. The raid was part of a weeklong police operation in the village of Tarabin.
Hundreds of people marched in silence Sunday in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, to honor victims of a New Year’s Eve bar fire that killed 40 people and left many others severely injured. The somber procession followed a Mass at Chapelle Saint-Christophe, with mourners later gathering outside Le Constellation as they left bouquets and tributes at a makeshift memorial.
The Christmas holiday season is a time to step back from the busy pace of modern life and connect with loved ones instead of screens, apps and chatbots, Associated Press writes in its “One Tech Tip” column. The guidance suggests using phone features to mute notifications, limiting or deleting distracting apps and spending time outdoors during the holidays.
Health care costs are the top government priority for more Americans heading into 2026, according to an AP-NORC poll released Thursday. The survey found about 4 in 10 adults cited health care or health issues when asked to name up to five issues the government should address. The poll also found confidence in the government’s ability to make progress on major problems is low.
Berkshire Hathaway CEO Warren Buffett’s final day in the top job is Wednesday after six decades building the Omaha, Nebraska-based conglomerate, with Greg Abel set to take over leadership as Buffett remains chairman, according to the Associated Press. Buffett has long used Berkshire’s annual meetings and shareholder letters to share investing and life advice, including well-known rules such as “Rule No. 1: Never lose money.”
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the newly confirmed health and human services secretary, and Brooke Rollins, the agriculture secretary, have signaled they want to restrict purchases of sugary drinks, candy and other so-called junk foods with SNAP, the program that helps low-income families buy food. The idea has been raised before, but making it work would require changes that lawmakers and regulators say are difficult to administer.
In U.S. congregations, ancient meditation practices are being adopted and adapted in spaces that range from Episcopal churches and university chapels to Unitarian Universalist communities. The Associated Press describes groups that blend forms of breath work, chanting and other contemplative approaches from traditions including Buddhism, Hinduism, Judaism and Sufism, while also seeing renewed interest in practices rooted in Christianity.
Incoming New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani will take his midnight oath of office on a Quran in a subway station under City Hall on Dec. 31, a first for the city that also marks the first time a Muslim, South Asian and African-born person will hold the mayor’s office.
Older adults living at The Terraces, a retirement community in Los Gatos, California, are using virtual reality headsets to travel, explore and socialize together, a program arranged through Rendever. The company says the approach helps reduce isolation by turning “virtual” experiences into conversation among residents. Researchers also caution that VR should supplement, not replace, other activities.
Vermont officials announced a statewide school curriculum focused on Abenaki communities, but it has drawn sharp rebuke from Abenaki nations based in Quebec. The Quebec-based governments say the materials wrongly exclude them and amount to a “rewriting of history.” A bill is also set to be introduced in the Vermont Legislature that would require consultation and endorsement by Odanak and Wolinak before similar curriculum is used in schools.
The pope opened 2026 with a prayer for peace, urging solidarity for nations “bloodied by conflict” and families “wounded by violence or pain,” as he marked World Day of Peace on Thursday in Rome. After a New Year’s Day Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica, Pope Leo XIV delivered a special noontime prayer from his studio overlooking St. Peter’s Square.
Incoming New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani took his midnight oath of office on Jan. 1 on a centuries-old Quran, a first for the city that also reflects other “firsts” in his own biography. The oath came as he became the first Muslim, first South Asian and first African-born person to lead New York City.
Starting Thursday, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah and West Virginia will apply new SNAP waivers that restrict what food shoppers can buy with federal benefits, banning certain items such as soda and candy. The changes come as the Trump administration’s health agenda seeks to reduce chronic diseases tied to sweetened drinks and other treats, but experts warn the rules are complex and may be hard to implement at the cash register.
The American Kennel Club on Tuesday added three dog breeds to its roster of recognized breeds, making them eligible for many U.S. dog shows starting in 2026. The new entries include a fauve-colored French hunting hound, a toy breed developed in Soviet-era Leningrad, and a terrier named for President Theodore Roosevelt.
Nebraska will become the first state to ban the purchase of soda and energy drinks with SNAP benefits under a federal waiver announced Monday by U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins. The USDA said the change would affect about 152,000 people enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program in Nebraska. Rollins and Gov. Jim Pillen said the restriction would help participants eat healthier, while anti-hunger advocates criticized it as punitive and potentially burdensome.
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said Saturday that “rioters must be put in their place,” in his first comments on weekslong protests that have shaken the Islamic Republic amid economic unrest. State television aired the remarks as human rights activists said the violence around the demonstrations has killed at least 15 people.
About 15,000 adult immigrants living in Minnesota without legal status lost access to MinnesotaCare, the state's subsidized health insurance program for low-income residents, on Jan. 1, 2026, after a divided state Legislature voted last year to strip benefits that Democrats had extended in 2023. The rollback took effect at midnight despite protests from Democratic-Farmer-Labor lawmakers who had championed the original expansion as a progressive milestone.
A Texas state audit released this week found sweeping financial control failures at Texas Southern University, including vendor records that were wrong or missing in 97 percent of checked cases and no physical inventory of university assets since 2019. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called the findings "beyond disturbing" on Wednesday and announced that he, Gov. Greg Abbott, and House Speaker Dustin Burrows have halted all TSU contract spending except ongoing expenses needed to keep the school open.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has appointed College Football Hall of Famer Urban Meyer to the board of trustees at New College of Florida, extending the governor's two-year effort to reshape the small Sarasota liberal arts school along conservative lines. The appointment, announced Tuesday, is subject to confirmation by the Florida state Senate.
As residents across much of the country settle back into post-holiday routines, Louisiana is gearing up for its biggest annual celebration: Carnival season, a weeks-long pre-Lenten bash of elaborate parades, feasting and costumed revelry that draws more than a million visitors to New Orleans each year. The season opens Jan. 6 and runs 43 days through Fat Tuesday on Feb. 17, according to the Associated Press.
Iran’s widening protests sparked by economic pressures spread into rural provinces, with authorities reporting at least seven people killed, according to AP on Thursday. The deaths were reported across multiple cities, with two fatalities reported Wednesday and five on Thursday, AP said.
A Kenyan barber known online as “Chief Safro” is drawing attention for giving haircuts with unconventional tools, including a razor-sharp shovel blade. Safari Martins, based on the rural outskirts of Nairobi in Kiambu, Kenya, has built a following on Instagram and TikTok by having each cut filmed by a helper.
Americans looking for a fresh start in 2026 can pair common New Year’s resolutions with steps that also cut climate impact, the Associated Press reported ahead of the holiday season ending. The story highlights practical changes tied to saving energy, reducing food waste, and buying less while improving organization.
Right after Sunday worship at St. Paul’s-San Pablo Lutheran Church in Minneapolis, Juan Carlos Toapanta lay in a lounge chair with acupuncture needles in his forehead, wrist and foot during an hourlong session. The church, which has served Latino migrants and expanded its ministries during the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, has added no-cost well-being gatherings that include acupuncture, Reiki and cupping therapy.
Cuban santería priests from two major religious groups said their 2026 “Letra del Año,” a set of signs and predictions for coming months, points to increased violence and dangers tied to war. The priests said the regent deity for 2026 will be Oggún, associated with metals and weapons, and linked to conflict and travel.
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Fernando Moreno, who has been on dialysis for about two years while waiting for a kidney transplant, has been connected to a pilot program that pairs patients with volunteer strangers using social media outreach. The effort, based in Pennsylvania hospitals and supported by the Gift of Life Donor Program, is testing whether “angel advocates” can improve the odds of finding living kidney donors for patients who have limited social networks.
Protests erupted across Iran on Monday after the rial fell to a record low versus the U.S. dollar and the head of the central bank resigned, according to state television and official news agencies. In Tehran, demonstrators gathered around major bazaars and shopkeepers closed businesses, while police used tear gas in some areas to disperse crowds, witnesses told The Associated Press.
Widening demonstrations sparked by Iran's ailing economy spread Thursday into rural provinces, with at least seven people killed in the first fatalities reported among protesters and security forces since the unrest began, authorities said. The deaths — two on Wednesday and five on Thursday — occurred across four cities largely home to Iran's Lur ethnic group.
Millions of Americans who buy health plans through the Affordable Care Act are set to see higher premium costs in 2026 after enhanced tax credits expired overnight, the Associated Press reported. The change affects people who do not get coverage through an employer and do not qualify for Medicaid or Medicare, including many self-employed workers and small-business owners.
U.S. President Donald Trump and Iran’s top officials exchanged threats as protests spread across Iran for a sixth straight day, according to Associated Press reporting. At least eight people were killed in violence around the demonstrations, which have been fueled in part by the collapse of Iran’s rial currency and expanded to chants against the government.
El presidente estadounidense Donald Trump advirtió a Irán que Estados Unidos “acudirá a su rescate” si “mata violentamente a manifestantes pacíficos”, mientras protestas en varias zonas de la República Islámica se extendían por al menos seis días y dejaron al menos siete muertos. En respuesta, funcionarios iraníes dijeron que rechazarán interferencias y amenazaron con medidas si se vulnera la soberanía del país, en un intercambio que elevó aún más la tensión entre Washington y Teherán tras ataques estadounidenses a instalaciones nucleares en junio.
A group of about two dozen Buddhist monks, walking from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., to promote peace, reached Georgia on day 66 of their trek, the Associated Press reported Dec. 30. The monks planned to walk from the town of Morrow to Decatur that day and invited the public to an afternoon Peace Gathering in Decatur. The journey, which began Oct. 26, has drawn more than 400,000 followers on Facebook.
In an interview published Thursday, President Donald Trump defended his energy and health and said he had a CT scan, not an MRI scan, during an October examination at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. White House physician Navy Capt. Sean Barbabella said Trump underwent the advanced imaging as a routine preventive screening for a man his age.
A group of federal employees filed a legal complaint Thursday challenging a Trump administration policy that will eliminate coverage for gender-affirming care in federal health insurance programs. The complaint was filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and seeks rescission of the policy issued by the Office of Personnel Management.
A federal appeals court ruled that the Trump administration can continue withholding Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers while related lawsuits proceed. The ruling came as a coalition of Democratic-led states challenged the cuts in separate cases in Massachusetts and Maine.
Faith leaders say “sound baths” — sessions that use instruments and chanting to create immersive, meditative experiences — are moving beyond yoga studios and crystal-healing businesses and into churches, temples and synagogues. The Rev. Kyohei Mikawa, Rabbi Jonathan Aaron and other clergy describe how the practice is adapting to their different traditions as congregations seek spiritual experiences and community.
Enhanced tax credits that reduced health insurance costs for more than 20 million Affordable Care Act enrollees expired at midnight Wednesday, beginning 2026 with premium increases averaging 114% for subsidized participants, according to an analysis by the health care research nonprofit KFF. The expiration affects self-employed workers, small business owners, farmers, and others who purchase coverage on the individual market and do not qualify for Medicaid or Medicare.
Adult immigrants in Minnesota lost access to state-funded health care on Jan. 1, after the state ended MinnesotaCare benefits for most people who entered the country illegally. The change affects about 15,000 adults statewide, according to the Minnesota Department of Human Services.
The Associated Press photo editors curated a gallery of “AP photos that defined the year,” highlighting images they say captured moments from around the world in 2025. The gallery includes photographs from conflict zones, migration routes and other global scenes, and it lists the photo editors who assembled it. The AP published the “100 Photos of 2025” collection on Dec. 1, 2025.
College football Hall of Famer Urban Meyer has been appointed to the board of trustees at New College in Sarasota, Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis announced Tuesday, according to The Associated Press. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the state Senate, the AP reported. Meyer is a college football analyst for FOX Sports and previously coached the University of Florida and Ohio State to national championships.
Americans are boosting their protein intake, and a new wave of products and videos is pushing dietary fiber as the next major food fad, according to market research and nutrition experts. The push is being fueled by growing attention to gut health and weight management, as well as by branding that ties fiber to modern diet trends.
Flu cases are rising rapidly across the United States, driven by a new flu variant known as “subclade K,” the Associated Press reported. The CDC said high or very high levels of flu-like illness were present in more than half the states as of Tuesday, amid expectations for more cases with holiday travel.
Greece has removed 308,605 inactive students from the records of state-run universities, cutting the country’s official university enrollment by nearly half, the Education Ministry said. The change, announced Friday in Athens, ends a decadeslong system that let students remain enrolled for extended periods, often while taking breaks for work.
Many people light scented candles and use fireplaces during the holiday season, but experts warn that burning flames can add pollutants to indoor air and worsen respiratory problems for some residents. In colder months, people also spend more time indoors, which can trap contaminants inside, according to the American Lung Association and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Many families look for ways to give back during the holiday season, including volunteering together with young children. In a year-end guide, families share how to find age-appropriate roles and how kids can help with community projects. The article highlights examples ranging from making cards for seniors to organizing grocery and home-delivery efforts.
Many influential people died in 2025, including Pope Francis, boxing great George Foreman, and U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney. The year also included the deaths of activist Charlie Kirk, sex trafficking survivor Virginia Giuffre and others whose passing prompted renewed public attention.
Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and members of the imperial family greeted New Year well-wishers at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Friday, waving from the palace balcony as people shouted “banzai.” Standing with his wife, Masako, and other relatives, Naruhito wished the crowd a happy new year after a statement released in advance. The annual appearance draws large crowds despite the palace’s central location and restricted grounds.
Carnival season in Louisiana ramps up in early January with residents preparing for parades, king cake and other pre-Lenten festivities ahead of Ash Wednesday. Carnival begins Jan. 6 and runs until Mardi Gras, which this year falls on Feb. 17.
A group of Buddhist monks is continuing a multi-state walking trek for peace toward Washington, D.C., after two members were injured when a truck hit their escort vehicle in Texas. The group said it reached Georgia and planned to walk through the area east of Atlanta on Tuesday, marking day 66 of the journey.
People in northern Europe and above the Arctic Circle cope with limited daylight and frigid winters that can begin as early as October and last into April, experts told the Associated Press. As the winter solstice approaches—Dec. 21, the Northern Hemisphere’s shortest day—researchers and clinicians described ways to protect sleep, social connections and mood. They also pointed to morning light therapy and devices that emit light brighter than normal indoor lighting.
Australia’s Northern Territory will consider legislation to legalize doctor-assisted dying for a second time, the territory’s attorney-general said Friday. The proposal comes as Australia’s federal parliament lifted the ban on territories passing such laws and states adopted similar reforms over the years, after the Northern Territory’s 1995 euthanasia framework was overturned. Lawmakers would be allowed to vote by conscience rather than follow party lines, Marie-Clare Boothby said.
A power outage can become dangerous quickly, depending on how long it lasts and the temperature outside. In guidance shared with the Associated Press, disaster and utility experts urged people to prepare in advance, sign up for emergency alerts and plan how they will keep food safe, stay warm and respond if conditions become unsafe.
Texas Southern University faces significant financial and asset-management weaknesses, according to a Texas state audit released this week. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick called the findings “beyond disturbing,” and said his office and other Republican leaders have ended TSU spending on contracts outside ongoing university expenses needed to keep the school open.
On New Year’s Day, Pope Leo XIV opened 2026 with a plea for peace, praying for countries “bloodied by conflict” and for families “wounded by violence or pain.” He marked the day with a New Year’s Day Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica and a special noontime prayer overlooking St. Peter’s Square in Rome.
President Donald Trump’s administration terminated the 50-year lease that governed three public golf courses on federal land in Washington, offering a new opportunity to reshape the sites in the nation’s capital, according to the National Links Trust and the Department of the Interior.
The Trump administration said it plans to tighten federal rules for child care funding, including delaying payments to states and requiring additional verification. The changes come as it freezes child care funds for Minnesota and faces criticism from Gov. Tim Walz, who said the policy is being used for political purposes.
The Trump administration said it is freezing child care funds to Minnesota and demanding audits of some day care centers after allegations of fraud tied to federal programs. Deputy Health and Human Services Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill said the move responds to “blatant fraud that appears to be rampant in Minnesota and across the country.” Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz disputed the rationale, saying the action is part of “Trump’s long game.”
The Trump administration announced a Rural Health Transformation Program that will distribute $10 billion to states in 2026 to help offset budget cuts affecting rural hospitals. Federal officials said awards average about $200 million per state and will be tied in part to whether states adopt health policies prioritized under the administration’s “Make America Healthy Again” initiative.
Pope Leo XIV closed out 2025 with New Year’s Eve vespers at St. Peter’s Basilica, praying that Rome be welcoming to foreigners and vulnerable people, young and old. In his homily, the pope said he wanted it “to be so again” after the “time of grace” of the Holy Year, which brought millions of pilgrims to Rome.
Trump administration officials have signaled interest in limiting items such as sugary drinks and candy in the federal SNAP program, which helps low-income families pay for food. Newly confirmed Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins have both raised questions about using SNAP benefits for “soda or processed foods” and “bad food and sugary drinks.” But past attempts show that changing SNAP restrictions is difficult because the program operates under federal law and is implemented through states.
People can lose the habit of reading for pleasure after school, but libraries and reading researchers say it’s not too late to restart. A new year is often when adults set goals, whether that means choosing lighter books, scheduling short reading sessions, or trying formats like ebooks and audiobooks.
Nearly 4 in 10 U.S. adults named health care as a top issue for the federal government to address in 2026, up from about one-third last year, according to an AP-NORC poll. The survey found Americans also remain focused on immigration and worries about rising costs as they look ahead to next year’s midterm elections.
The U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission on Wednesday unveiled “America Gives,” a national effort aimed at making the country’s 250th anniversary its biggest year for volunteering. Organizers said the program is meant to help reverse a decline in volunteering rates and build a lasting pipeline for nonprofit service beyond 2026.
Tatiana Schlossberg, a journalist and grandchild of the late President John F. Kennedy, died at 35 after a battle with leukemia, her family announced Tuesday in a statement posted by the John F. Kennedy Library Foundation. Schlossberg had written publicly about her diagnosis and treatment, and her work covered climate change and the environment.
Americans in Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, Utah and West Virginia will face new SNAP rules starting Jan. 1 that bar the use of benefits to buy certain items including soda and candy, the Agriculture Department said. The waivers are part of a broader federal push aimed at reducing chronic diseases tied to diet, though health and retail experts warned the changes could be difficult to implement and may not improve health outcomes.
New Year’s Eve in Times Square will feature a patriotic crystal ball and a second confetti drop as the ceremony kicks off months of U.S. 250th birthday celebrations, according to America250 leaders and organizers. The ball is scheduled to drop on Dec. 31, 2025, and is set to rise again afterward, while the stroke of midnight will also mark the launch of America Gives, a national service initiative created by America250.
The American Kennel Club added three dog breeds to its roster of recognized breeds on Tuesday, making them eligible for many U.S. dog shows and potentially boosting interest among pet owners. The new entries include the basset fauve de Bretagne, the Teddy Roosevelt terrier and the Russian tsvetnaya bolonka.
Former Republican Sen. Jon Kyl of Arizona said Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with dementia and is withdrawing from public life. The 83-year-old served in Congress for nearly three decades, leaving the Senate in 2013 and later working as a lobbyist.
Patriots defensive lineman Christian Barmore faces a domestic assault and battery charge after a criminal complaint alleged he threw his girlfriend to the ground at his home outside Boston in August. Mansfield Police said the woman reported the incident to police on Aug. 25, and the complaint was filed Dec. 18.
Older adults in a Silicon Valley retirement community are using virtual reality headsets to visit places, watch experiences together and spark in-person conversation, Associated Press reported. The program at The Terraces in Los Gatos was curated by Rendever, which says it is testing the approach as a potential tool against social isolation.
Warren Buffett offered investors and employees advice that has become part of his public legacy as his last day leading Berkshire Hathaway approaches, with Greg Abel set to take over the company’s leadership. In an Associated Press roundup from Omaha, Nebraska, Buffett’s longtime themes—about risk, patience, ethics, and “America”—are collected from his earlier remarks and writings.
A federal appeals court ruled Tuesday that the Trump administration may continue withholding Medicaid funding from Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers while states challenge the cuts in court, delivering a setback to a coalition seeking to restore payments at health centers serving millions of low-income Americans. The decision allows the restrictions to remain in effect as litigation in Massachusetts proceeds. Those cuts were enacted through legislation President Donald Trump signed in July that eliminated Medicaid reimbursement for Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers that received more than $800,000 in 2023.
Jeffrey R. Holland, a high-ranking Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints official who was next in line to become the church’s president, has died. The church said he died early Saturday in Salt Lake City from complications associated with kidney disease. He was 85.
New Year’s resolutions often focus on money goals, but financial planners and coaches told The Associated Press that people usually do better when they turn intentions into trackable plans for 2026. Several people making those plans described how they are budgeting, paying down debt, building savings and balancing spending with long-term priorities.
A Walt Disney World employee was knocked to the ground Tuesday while trying to stop a 400-pound prop boulder that rolled off its track toward seated spectators at the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular in Orlando, Florida, according to Disney. A second worker intervened and stopped the boulder before it reached the audience. Disney said Wednesday it would not disclose the injured employee's condition, citing privacy reasons, and that it was reviewing why the prop moved off its track.
Vermont has used “extraordinary financial relief” backed by Medicaid dollars to help nursing homes stay afloat as the state’s long-term care system shrank, according to state records obtained by VTDigger and reported by The Associated Press. The program has delivered about $38 million over the past five years, and lawmakers have asked for detailed reports and payment records. State health officials say without it, Vermont would have lost even more bed capacity for elderly residents.
Several artists have canceled upcoming appearances at the Kennedy Center after the facility added President Donald Trump’s name, prompting new withdrawals including a jazz group that pulled out of a New Year’s Eve show and a New York dance company that canceled a planned April performance.
President Donald Trump’s second-term health secretary, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has overhauled the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and changed agency guidance on topics including COVID-19 vaccines, according to Associated Press reporting. The first-year shakeups include job and research cuts at multiple agencies, alongside support from some backers of Kennedy’s Make America Healthy Again agenda. Many doctors and public health experts say the moves risk hollowing out U.S. scientific capacity.
A group of about two dozen Buddhist monks reached Georgia on Tuesday, day 66 of a walking trek across much of the United States to promote peace, pressing on despite injuries sustained last month when a truck struck their escort vehicle outside Houston. The group, which set out from Fort Worth, Texas, on Oct. 26, planned to walk Tuesday from the town of Morrow to Decatur, on the eastern edge of Atlanta, where they invited the public to a Peace Gathering that afternoon.
Ben Nighthorse Campbell, a former U.S. senator and House member from Colorado known for advocacy on Native American issues, died Tuesday at 92, according to his daughter, Shanan Campbell, who confirmed his death to The Associated Press. The Democrat who later joined the Republican Party was remembered for his bipartisan work on children’s rights, organized labor, and fiscal conservatism.
Work requirements for low-income people receiving federal benefits would expand under a Trump administration priority that drew sharp criticism from economists and policy experts. The rules would affect adults receiving SNAP food assistance, certain Medicaid enrollees beginning in 2027, and potentially tenants using public housing and Housing Choice Vouchers if HUD adopts a proposed rule.
Vermont officials have used about $38 million in extraordinary financial relief to keep the state’s nursing homes operating as the long‑term‑care system loses capacity, state records show. The aid, drawn from Medicaid dollars, is intended as a temporary measure to prevent facility closures amid high staffing costs and a loss of roughly 900 beds over the past two decades. Lawmakers are now demanding detailed reports on the program as they explore longer‑term solutions.
For many people, the new year is a prompt to reset financial goals and build routines that can be tracked through 2026. Financial planners and coaches told The Associated Press that successful resolutions often start with a budget, an emergency fund and a payoff strategy that fits real life. Several people preparing for 2026 said they are aiming to pay down credit card debt, save for a home and set aside even small amounts for emergencies.
The Central Wyoming Counseling Center, a Wyoming nonprofit, was awarded $3.4 million from Nebraska’s Opioid Treatment Infrastructure Cash Fund to build a crisis‑stabilization center in Kimball County, Nebraska. Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) spokesperson Jeff Powell said the funding addresses a critical shortage of short‑term treatment options in the western Panhandle, where patients often travel hundreds of miles for care. Powell added that former acting CEO of the counseling center, Steve Corsi, now DHHS chief executive, had no role in the grant review or selection process.
Lee Enterprises said it reached a compromise with billionaire investor David Hoffmann to secure $50 million in fresh funding aimed at stabilizing its finances. Hoffmann, whose family investment firm already owns more than 40 publications, will become Lee’s chairman as he seeks to make the company its largest newspaper publisher.
Jeffrey R. Holland, a top Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints leader who was next in line to lead the faith, died at age 85, the church announced. Holland died in Salt Lake City early Saturday from complications associated with kidney disease. He led the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and was the longest-tenured member after President Dallin H. Oaks became president in October.
Duke University says it has cut $299 million through staff buyouts and building closures after federal funding changes tied to the Trump administration’s higher-education agenda, according to a report distributed by The Associated Press.
The Cookers, a jazz group, and Doug Varone and Dancers, a dance company, have canceled upcoming performances at the Kennedy Center, the latest withdrawals tied to the venue’s renaming and Trump’s involvement with its leadership. The Kennedy Center Honors Dec. 23 broadcast also drew about 35% fewer viewers than the previous year, and ticket sales have declined, according to the Associated Press.
The president of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on Friday criticized musician Chuck Redd for canceling a Christmas Eve performance days after the White House announced President Donald Trump’s name would be added to the center. Richard Grenell said he would seek $1 million in damages, writing that the withdrawal was “classic intolerance” and “very costly” to the nonprofit. Redd said he canceled after seeing the renaming on the Kennedy Center website and then on the building.
New England Patriots wide receiver Stefon Diggs faces strangulation and other criminal charges in connection with an alleged dispute involving his former private chef, Massachusetts police said. Diggs’ lawyer, David Meier, said Diggs “categorically denies these allegations,” and an arraignment is scheduled for Jan. 23, according to court information.
Some South Dakota tribal nations are beginning to treat tourism as a source of economic development as the South Dakota Native Tourism Alliance works with reservation leaders and organizations to reshape how visitors engage Native communities. In interviews, South Dakota Native Tourism Alliance officials said outreach has required addressing concerns about exploitation while developing tours that connect visitors with land, culture and history.
President Donald Trump’s second-term health policy has been reshaped in Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s first year leading the Department of Health and Human Services, according to an Associated Press review. Since February, Kennedy has overseen major staffing changes and research cuts at HHS and its agencies, and has pushed policy shifts on topics including vaccines, fluoride and diet.
Power outages triggered by winter storms, heat waves, wildfires, or accidents can turn serious — or even fatal — depending on duration and outside temperature, emergency preparedness experts said. The American Red Cross, the American Public Power Association, and the Consumer Energy Alliance urged U.S. residents to build emergency kits and establish plans before the next outage strikes.
President Donald Trump’s administration made work requirements for people receiving public benefits a priority, with changes reaching SNAP, Medicaid and HUD-subsidized housing. An Associated Press review of the policy shifts describes how new or expanded work rules—aimed at able-bodied adults without dependents—could force millions to document employment, job training, volunteering or other activity to keep benefits. Economists and policy experts cited by AP said the evidence for broader labor-market effects is mixed, while critics warn the rules could reduce access and increase administrative burdens.
The Trump administration’s second term has seen major changes at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who took office as health secretary in February. In a year marked by staffing reductions and shifts in health guidance, HHS has also promoted “Make America Healthy Again,” or MAHA, priorities while critics raised concerns about how vaccine policy and science roles are being handled.
Many people set New Year’s resolutions that focus on financial goals, from paying down credit card debt to building an emergency fund. Financial planner Erica Grundza says the best approach is to revisit the “why” behind money goals and make an optimistic, realistic plan for the year ahead. The Associated Press spoke with people planning their 2026 finances, including approaches such as budgeting, checking credit reports and pairing savings with debt payoff.
Kwanzaa is a weeklong, secular celebration of African culture and community that runs from the day after Christmas through New Year’s Day. Founded in 1966, it is not a federal holiday, but it has been widely recognized in the United States and is observed alongside religious festivals by people of any faith. The holiday is built around seven principles, known as the Nguzo Saba, each marked on a different day.
The Kennedy Center said artists are canceling performances after President Donald Trump’s name was added to the facility, with new withdrawals announced this week. The Cookers pulled out of “A Jazz New Year’s Eve,” Doug Varone and Dancers canceled a scheduled April performance, and Chuck Redd canceled a Christmas Eve show last week, according to The Associated Press. The announcements come as the venue faces declining ticket sales and weaker viewership for the Dec. 23 broadcast of the Kennedy Center Honors.
The Kennedy Center’s president, Richard Grenell, threatened a $1 million lawsuit on Friday after jazz musician Chuck Redd cancelled his annual Christmas‑Eve Jazz Jam in protest of the venue’s recent renaming that adds former President Donald Trump’s name to the building’s exterior.
Duke University expects to reduce its spending by $364 million after federal funding changes tied to the Trump administration’s higher-education agenda, according to university documents and internal presentations reported by The Chronicle. The cuts, including buyouts that reduced staff and prompted some building closures, follow proposals that would cap universities’ federally funded grant-reimbursement rates and limit certain types of research funding.
Michaela Benthaus, a paraplegic engineer from Germany, became the first wheelchair user to blast into space in a Blue Origin New Shepard flight from West Texas on Dec. 20, 2025, the company said. Benthaus left her wheelchair on the capsule deck before liftoff and later said the experience was “the coolest experience.”
Volunteers with Seuk’s Army say a fatal rescue-flight crash in 2024 helped spur a volunteer network that now moves far more animals to foster and rescue groups across the United States than it did before the tragedy. On a recent Sunday at Culpeper Regional Airport in Virginia, volunteers unloaded dogs and cats, including Jenny and her seven puppies, as part of a weekly airlift marking the crash anniversary.
Alicia Johnson will become the first Black woman elected to Georgia’s Public Service Commission, stepping into the statewide role Thursday after a ceremonial swearing-in Monday in Atlanta. Johnson, a Democrat, won the PSC seat in November, and she said the decisions made in the commission affect families’ monthly bills and community health.
Dallin H. Oaks, a former Utah Supreme Court justice, was named Tuesday as the new president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, the church said. His selection follows the recent death of his predecessor, Russell M. Nelson, and he will lead the faith’s more than 17 million members worldwide.
Federal investigators increased operations in Minnesota after new allegations of fraud by Somali-run day care centers, the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI said. The actions followed a video posted online by a right-wing influencer and came as state officials said regulators were reviewing the claims.
The Associated Press is inviting readers to test their memory of major moments from 2025 in an online quiz. The quiz collects headlines and themes from across U.S. and world coverage, including politics, science, religion and lifestyle.
Jeffrey R. Holland, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints apostle next in line to become president, died at 85 after complications associated with kidney disease, the church announced Saturday. Holland led the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles and had been hospitalized during the Christmas holiday for ongoing health issues, the church said.
“Mo” creator Mo Amer and other Arab and Muslim American filmmakers are shaping new television narratives that portray their communities as multidimensional rather than as stereotypes, an Associated Press report says. In interviews and discussions highlighted by the article, creators and researchers trace that shift to post-9/11 media dynamics—and to a drive for “grounded” storytelling that writers say feels authentic. The coverage also points to ongoing limits in Hollywood decision-making power and the impact representation can have on audiences.
Winter is settling in across much of the U.S., and nutrition experts say you can keep meals flavorful while eating nutritiously by “winterizing” your diet with seasonal produce, pantry staples, and comforting dishes. Dieticians and food experts recommend experimenting with winter produce—fresh, frozen or canned—as well as using herbs and spices to boost flavor without relying on extra salt or fat.
Nebraska plans to award $3.4 million in opioid settlement infrastructure funds to the Central Wyoming Counseling Center to build a crisis stabilization center in western Nebraska, according to state health officials and grant materials described by the Associated Press.
Families with young children across the United States are finding service opportunities alongside their youngest members despite widespread age restrictions at nonprofit organizations, with some parents founding their own programs after established groups turned toddlers away, the Associated Press reported. Many nonprofits require volunteers to be at least 18 years old, leaving families searching for alternatives during the holiday season, when demand for family-friendly service opportunities rises as parents look for ways to model charitable giving and community engagement.
Millennial and Generation Z Christian influencers are drawing growing audiences across digital platforms by offering biblical guidance on dating, mental health, parenting and racial justice — filling gaps that Sunday sermons often leave unfilled. The trend comes as organized religion loses ground among young Americans: only 41% of people ages 18 to 35 surveyed in 2023 and 2024 said they believe in God with certainty, down from 65% in 2007, according to the Pew Research Center. Podcasts like "Girls Gone Bible," co-hosted by former Hollywood actors Arielle Reitsma and Angela Halili, now draw more than a million listens or streams each month and sell out live events across the country.
Smartphone users looking to step away from their screens over the Christmas holiday season have several options available — from built-in phone settings and outdoor activities to physical device lockboxes — according to a technology guide published Dec. 18 by the Associated Press. The tips, compiled by AP technology reporter Kelvin Chan, cover both existing smartphone features and behavioral strategies backed by research on screen time and mental health.
A pilot program at three Pennsylvania hospitals is testing whether volunteer strangers — dubbed "angel advocates" — can use their own social media networks to help kidney patients with limited social connections find living donors. The Great Social Experiment, founded by Los Angeles filmmaker David Krissman, launched in May 2025 with 15 patients at Temple University Hospital, UPMC-Harrisburg and Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Early results show at least three patients have found donors across the two hospitals that have reported outcomes.
Hundreds of Nicaraguans gathered at flower-decorated altars in Miami church parking lots Sunday evening to mark the Dec. 8 feast of the Immaculate Conception, filling streets near St. John Bosco Catholic Parish with traditional hymns to the Virgin Mary. The celebration carried particular weight this year as Nicaragua's government has intensified its crackdown on religious expression and the Trump administration has moved to curtail temporary legal protections for hundreds of thousands of Nicaraguan migrants in the United States.
A Washington state resident from Grays Harbor County is believed to be the first person to die from the H5N5 strain of bird flu, the Washington State Department of Health said Friday.
Three years after ChatGPT's debut, students at schools and universities across the United States are routinely turning to AI chatbots for homework help, prompting educators to set guidelines about what constitutes legitimate use and what crosses into academic dishonesty. About two dozen states have issued state-level AI guidance for schools, though application remains uneven, and institutions from Oxford to SUNY Buffalo have adopted policies ranging from blanket restrictions to no universal rule at all.
Christy Morrill’s immune system suddenly attacked his brain, causing severe memory loss and delusions, but a growing list of newly identified antibodies is helping doctors diagnose the rare condition faster.
A Washington state resident has been infected with H5N5 bird flu, the first known human case of that variant and the first reported human bird flu infection in the United States since February, state health officials said Friday.
Researchers are testing treatments that reprogram patients' immune systems to fight autoimmune diseases including lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and multiple sclerosis, rather than relying on lifelong medications that suppress but do not correct the underlying condition.
Autoimmune diseases affect tens of millions of Americans, strike women at roughly four times the rate of men, and are on the rise, according to the Associated Press. Researchers are testing dozens of new therapies — including a cancer treatment that has shown early promise against lupus and other conditions — in what specialists describe as a pivotal moment for the field.
Autoimmune diseases affect as many as 50 million Americans and are increasing in prevalence, yet patients routinely spend years seeking correct diagnoses as symptoms are dismissed or attributed to other conditions, the Associated Press reported in November 2025.
Less than a week after conservative activist Charlie Kirk's assassination, evangelical churches in Texas, Arizona, and California showed their congregations AI-generated video clips of Kirk delivering messages after his death. Pastor Jack Graham of Prestonwood Baptist Church in Plano, Texas, introduced the clip by saying, "Hear what Charlie is saying regarding what happened to him this past week." As the artificial reconstruction of Kirk's voice urged listeners to "pick up your cross, and get back in the fight," the congregation rose to their feet in a standing ovation.
Setting a home thermostat a few degrees higher while away — rather than shutting the air conditioner off entirely or leaving it running at the usual temperature — is the best balance of energy savings, comfort, and humidity control for most U.S. households, three experts told the Associated Press. The recommendation applies broadly but varies by climate, building type, and the length of absence.
About 40 ice cream and frozen dairy dessert makers representing approximately 90 percent of the U.S. supply pledged Monday to remove seven petroleum-based artificial dyes from their products by 2028, federal health officials announced. The commitment follows similar pledges in recent weeks from companies including Nestle, Kraft Heinz and General Mills, as the Trump administration presses food manufacturers to eliminate synthetic dyes over concerns about potential health effects.
A Minneapolis Lutheran church has added free monthly acupuncture, Reiki, and cupping therapy sessions to its migrant ministry, offering them in the sanctuary itself to help a largely Latino congregation cope with anxiety and stress that intensified federal immigration enforcement has spread through migrant communities. St. Paul's-San Pablo Lutheran Church launched the program in March 2025, opening it to all congregants, including people in the United States without legal status and U.S.-born citizens in mixed-status families.
Retail workers and labor unions across the United States are pushing employers and legislatures to guarantee workers the right to sit down during work, citing documented health risks from prolonged standing. The effort spans contract negotiations at major retailers and new local and state laws, reflecting a shift in how worker advocates frame occupational safety.
Sales of raw milk in the United States have risen significantly since the H5N1 bird flu virus was detected in dairy cattle for the first time, according to market data that contrasts with explicit health warnings from federal agencies.
School nutrition programs offering vegetarian and vegan lunch options are successfully encouraging students to adopt meat-reduced diets at home, according to educators and health experts tracking dietary shifts. Interventions that rely on structured meal planning rather than individual willpower are showing measurable results in household eating habits.
