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September 15, 2025.

President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump files $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times

President Donald Trump has filed a $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times and four of its journalists. Court documents show the lawsuit was filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Florida. It names several articles and one book written by two of the publication’s journalists and published in the lead up to the 2024 election, saying they are “part of a decades-long pattern by the New York Times of intentional and malicious defamation against President Trump.” The New York Times did not immediately respond to an email requesting comment early Tuesday. In a Truth Social post announcing the lawsuit, Trump accused The New York Times of lying about him and defaming him.

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Los Angeles Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert (10) runs with the ball against the Las Vegas Raiders during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/David Becker)

Herbert and strong defense lead Chargers to 20-9 win over Raiders

Justin Herbert passed for 242 yards and two touchdowns, leading the Chargers to a 20-9 victory over the Raiders. This win gave Los Angeles coach Jim Harbaugh a victory over rival Las Vegas coach Pete Carroll, who turned 74 on Monday. The Chargers lost defensive end Khalil Mack to a left elbow injury in the first quarter. Herbert also led the Chargers in rushing with 31 yards. The Chargers’ defense held the Raiders to 218 yards. Geno Smith threw three interceptions for the Raiders. This win put the Chargers atop the AFC West with a 2-0 record.

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Construction workers gather at Michigan's statehouse in Lansing, Mich., Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, to call for a long-term road funding solution as a state government budget deadline approaches. (AP Photo/Isabella Volmert)

Gov. Whitmer to address Michigan’s economy as possible state and federal shutdowns loom

As Congress nears sending the U.S. into a government shutdown, Michigan faces its own. Partisan politics in Michigan’s split Legislature has resulted in a monthslong legislative stalemate. The state’s Oct. 1 fiscal year deadline is approaching. Whitmer is expected to call on state lawmakers to break the deadlock in a speech Tuesday focused on Michigan’s economy. The standoff has high stakes for Whitmer herself and for the state. Michigan is particularly influenced by broader economic trends in the U.S.  The standoff is also a glimpse at partisan politics reaching far beyond Washington that are grinding a battleground state’s Capitol to a halt.

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Xp Lee, Democratic candidate for Minnesota house district 34B, knocks on doors during campaigning in Brooklyn Park, Minn., Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Vancleave)

Election to fill assassinated Minnesota House member’s seat will decide control of the chamber

Tuesday’s special legislative election in Minnesota will determine control of the state House. The seat was held by Democratic Rep. Melissa Hortman until her assassination in June. Former Brooklyn Park City Council member Xp Lee, a Democrat, faces Republican real estate agent Ruth Bittner. A win for Lee would maintain a 67-67 tie in the House. An upset by Bittner would give Republicans control for the first time since 2018. Two more special elections are set for Nov. 4 for a pair of Minnesota Senate districts, but control of the Senate isn’t expected to change.

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FBI Director Kash Patel speaks before President Donald Trump signs a memorandum in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Patel to face Senate amid questions over probe into Charlie Kirk’s killing and internal FBI upheaval

Kash Patel will confront skeptical Senate Democrats at a congressional hearing likely to be dominated by questions about the investigation into Charlie Kirk’s killing as well as the recent firings of senior officials who have accused the FBI director of illegal political retribution. The appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday represents the first oversight hearing of Patel’s young but tumultuous tenure and provides a high-stakes platform for him to try to reassure wary lawmakers that he is the right person for the job at a time of internal upheaval and mounting concerns about political violence inside the U.S.

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Kapua Ong does math homework at her home in Honolulu, on Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Mengshin Lin)

Affirmative action opponent’s next target: A private school with admissions preference for Hawaiians

A private school founded by a Hawaiian princess gives admissions preference to Native Hawaiian applicants. A leading opponent of affirmative action is challenging the admission policy of Kamehameha Schools, arguing it discriminates against non-Hawaiians. Alumni and local leaders have urged the school to defend the policy, which they see as vital for preserving Hawaiian culture and addressing historical injustices. Opposition to the school’s racial preferences is fueled by momentum from President Donald Trump’s fight against diversity, equity and inclusion. Edward Blum, who is leading the challenge, filed lawsuits that led to the Supreme Court overturning affirmative action in college admissions.

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A mural on the side of a building is shown in downtown Muscatine, Iowa, on Monday, Sept. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan J. Foley.)

A father nearly died by an assailant’s bullet. He’s one of many crime victims US wants to deport

A man detained by authorities days after he nearly died in an Iowa shooting is one of a growing number of crime victims who have been targeted in the Trump administration’s crackdown on illegal immigration. Felipe de Jesus Hernandez Marcelo was shot in June during an attempted robbery in Muscatine, Iowa, and has been detained since he got out of the hospital. In January, Immigration and Customs Enforcement rescinded a policy that had shielded many victims from detention and removal. The number of people applying for visas that allow some victims and their families to remain in the country has plummeted since then. Others have been detained unexpectedly by ICE as they go through the lengthy application process.

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Sunset Dunes Park is photographed Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

A car-free stretch of highway in San Francisco leads to recall vote and warning to politicians

A San Francisco supervisor who pushed to turn a 2-mile stretch of highway into a car-free park faces a recall vote in his district. Tuesday’s election is San Francisco’s third recall in four years. The recall of Supervisor Joel Engardio might prevent other politicians from making controversial decisions unpopular with their constituents. The supervisor’s critics say he betrayed his constituents and ignored their concerns. His supporters say the supervisor is being punished unfairly. Voters in San Francisco recalled three school board members and District Attorney Chesa Bousin in 2022.

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This photo released by the Utah Governor's Office on Friday, Sept. 12, 2025 shows Tyler Robinson. (Utah Governor's Office via AP)

Suspect in Charlie Kirk shooting likely to face charges Tuesday before first court hearing

Prosecutors are looking at filing a capital murder charge against the Utah man jailed in the killing of prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Charges against 22-year-old Tyler Robinson are expected to come Tuesday ahead of his first court hearing after he was arrested in last week’s shooting. Investigators are continuing to piece together evidence from the attack at Utah Valley University, where Kirk was speaking on a nationwide campus tour. Prosecutors in Utah County are considering several charges, including aggravated murder. That charge could bring the death penalty if Robinson is convicted. Robinson will appear on camera for a virtual court hearing once the charges become official.

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FILE - Luigi Mangione, accused of fatally shooting the UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson in New York City and leading authorities on a five-day search, appears in court for a hearing, Feb. 21, 2025, in New York. (Steven Hirsch/New York Post via AP, Pool, File)

Luigi Mangione due in court amid double jeopardy fight in UnitedHealthcare CEO’s killing

Luigi Mangione is due in court as his lawyers push to have his state murder charges thrown out in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. They argue ahead of Tuesday’s hearing that the New York case and a parallel federal death penalty prosecution amount to double jeopardy. Also to be decided: a trial date and whether the state case or federal case will go first. It’s Mangione’s first court appearance in the state case since February. He has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors want the judge to force Mangione’s lawyers to state whether they’ll pursue an insanity defense or introduce psychiatric evidence of any mental disease or defect he may have. Carro could either rule on those requests on Tuesday or schedule additional hearings.

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Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield (6) is stripped of the ball in the second half of an NFL football game against the Houston Texans Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Houston, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Baker Mayfield and Rachaad White rally Bucs to 20-19 win over Texans

Baker Mayfield led an 11-play, 80-yard drive capped by Rachaad White’s 2-yard touchdown run with 6 seconds left, and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers rallied past the Houston Texans 20-19. Mayfield threw for 215 yards and two touchdowns for the Bucs, and his 15-yard scramble on fourth-and-10 kept the game-winning drive going. The Texans took a 19-14 lead on a 25-yard TD run by Nick Chubb with 2:10 left. Houston went for 2 but C.J. Stroud was sacked. The Bucs improved to 2-0 while the Texans fell to 0-2. Stroud threw for 207 yards and a touchdown.

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Colombia's President Gustavo Petro speaks during a meeting of leaders of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization in Bogota, Colombia, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Vergara)

US designates Colombia as failing to cooperate in the drug war for first time in nearly 30 years

The Trump administration has added Colombia to a list of nations failing to cooperate in the drug war for the first time in nearly three decades. But the U.S. also issued a waiver blocking any major aid cut to the staunch ally. The move Monday reflects a decade-long boom in cocaine production in Colombia and a slowdown in coca eradication under President Gustavo Petro’s leftist administration. The U.S. last added Colombia to the list in 1997 when the country’s cartels had infiltrated the highest levels of power. Since 2000, U.S. administrations have sent billions of dollars in aid to Colombia. The cooperation began to unravel a decade ago when a program to spray coca fields with glyphosate was suspended.

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FILE - Federal Reserve Board of Governors member Lisa Cook listens during an open meeting of the Board of Governors at the Federal Reserve, June 25, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

Appeals court rejects Trump’s bid to unseat Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook ahead of rate vote

An appeals court has ruled that Lisa Cook can remain a Federal Reserve governor, rebuffing President Donald Trump’s efforts to remove her just ahead of a key vote on interest rates. The Trump administration is expected to quickly turn to the Supreme Court in a last-ditch bid to unseat Cook. The Fed’s next two-day meeting to consider its next interest rate move begins Tuesday morning. Cook’s lawsuit seeking to permanently block her firing must still make its way through the courts.

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Stephen Miran testifies during a Senate Banking Committee hearing on his nomination to be a member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, on Capitol Hill Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Senate approves White House economist Stephen Miran to serve on Federal Reserve board

The Senate has approved one of President Donald Trump’s top economic advisers for a seat on the Federal Reserve’s governing board, giving the White House greater influence over the central bank just two days before it is expected to vote in favor of reducing its key interest rate. The vote to confirm Stephen Miran was largely along party lines. His nomination has sparked concerns about the Fed’s longtime independence from day-to-day politics after he said during a committee hearing earlier this month that he would keep his job as chair of the White House’s Council of Economic Advisers, though he would take unpaid leave.

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President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump wouldn’t call Minnesota governor after Democrat was slain but now blames him for raised flags

President Donald Trump says he would have ordered flags lowered to half-staff after the assassination of a Minnesota Democratic state lawmaker if the governor had asked, but Trump at the time refused to even call the governor. On Monday, Trump was questioned about why he lowered flags for conservative activist Charlie Kirk but not for former Democratic state House Speaker Melissa Hortman, who was killed in June. Trump said he would have acted if Minnesota’s governor had requested it. However, Trump previously refused to call the governor, dismissing it as a “waste of time.”

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Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, right, joins University of Southern California interim president Beong-Soo Kim for a conversation on democracy and Schwarzenegger's opposition to Proposition 50, a California ballot measure to redraw U.S. House maps to boost Democrats, at the USC campus in Los Angeles, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Arnold Schwarzenegger enters fight on US House control, urges vote against new California districts

Arnold Schwarzenegger is entering the national battle over U.S. House control. The former Republican California governor and action-movie star is urging the state’s voters to reject a November ballot proposal to rejigger districts that he said would erode democratic principles. Schwarzenegger said Monday that the Democratic-backed Proposition 50 is “insane.” The proposal championed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom would temporarily set aside districts crafted by an independent commission and replace them with y reshaped districts designed to benefit the party’s candidates in the fight for House control. The move is similar to a GOP-led effort in Texas pushed by President Donald Trump.

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Washington Commanders owenr Josh Harris, right, talks with former NFL quarterback Tom Brady, right, before the start of an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Sept. 7, 2025, in Landover, Md. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Tom Brady to play in Saudi flag football tournament alongside current and former NFL stars

Tom Brady plans to play alongside current and former NFL stars in a three-team flag football tournament in Saudi Arabia next year. The seven-time Super Bowl-winning quarterback and Fox Sports analyst made the announcement Monday alongside Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority. The Fanatics Flag Football Classic on March 21 at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh also will include Saquon Barkley, CeeDee Lamb, Christian McCaffrey, Maxx Crosby and Rob Gronkowski, among others. Las Vegas’ Pete Carroll, Denver’s Sean Payton and San Francisco’s Kyle Shanahan will be the coaches.

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FILE - Charlie Kirk, conservative activist and founder of Turning Point USA, walks through the crowd at a pro Trump rally outside the Maricopa County Recorder's Office where elections officials continue to count ballots, Friday, Nov. 6, 2020, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

As Charlie Kirk crisscrossed the country, security levels varied from venue to venue

Security at Charlie Kirk’s speaking events and college campus debates around the country varied greatly. Security experts have raised concerns about the vulnerability of outdoor events following Kirk’s assassination on Sept. 10. A sheriff’s department in central California conducted extensive reconnaissance for Kirk’s speech at a local church in early September. That event drew 2,000 people and involved 60 law enforcement officials. By contrast, Kirk’s outdoor event at Utah Valley University had far less security, with only six campus police officers present. Experts say outdoor events increase exposure, especially to sniper attacks.

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Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., walks to the chamber to begin the legislative week, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Shutdown talk heats up as Democrats insist on stopping health care cuts

A deadline looming, Congress is charging toward a federal government shutdown. Republicans are brushing back Democratic demands to save health care funding from cutbacks. But Democrats are flexing a newfound willingness to play hardball. Republican leaders are ready to call the Democrats’ bluff, possibly as soon as this week. A test vote is being planned for a temporary funding bill that would keep government funding flowing through mid-November. House Speaker Mike Johnson said it would also address adding funds to boost security for lawmakers in the wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Congress faces a Sept. 30 deadline when federal funds expire.

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FILE - Bad Bunny performs during his first show of his 30-date concert residency at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot, in San Juan, Puerto Rico, July 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Alejandro Granadillo, File)

Couldn’t make it to see Bad Bunny in Puerto Rico? He’s livestreaming his last concert

Bad Bunny’s residency in Puerto Rico has boosted the island’s economy and stoked conversations about its identity and struggles. Now, fans from around the world will have a chance to tune in. Amazon announced Monday that the Puerto Rican singer’s final show of his “No Me Quiero Ir de Aquí” residency on Sept. 20 will be livestreamed to give “fans everywhere front-row access to this historic concert.” The show is the last in a historic nine-concert residency exclusively for Puerto Rico residents and will be streamed for free on the Amazon Music app, Prime Video and Twitch starting at 8:30 p.m. ET

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New York mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani speaks at a rally with Hotel & Gaming Trades Council workers, in New York, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

The Democratic Party is in fits over Mamdani’s bid for NYC mayor. Republicans are loving it

Zohran Mamdani’s bid for New York City mayor has amplified a rift within the Democratic Party. Establishment leaders in Washington and moderate Democrats on the ballot in looming elections are actively distancing themselves from the 33-year-old Democratic nominee for mayor, who identifies as a democratic socialist. At the same time, Sen. Bernie Sanders and his allies are lashing out at Democratic leadership for refusing to endorse Mamdani, whose economic populism and youthful charisma have generated tremendous support from grassroots activists well beyond New York. Republicans, including President Donald Trump, are watching with delight and sometimes piling on, linking Mamdani and his far-left policies to the Democratic brand.

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Miami Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel looks for a play during the half of an NFL football game against the New England Patriots Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Miami Gardens, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Dolphins players back coach Mike McDaniel as he faces mounting pressure amid 0-2 start

Mike McDaniel knows the weight of Miami’s 0-2 start ultimately rests on his shoulders. The Dolphins coach hasn’t shied away from that reality, nor has he dismissed the frustration building among fans — from boos echoing through Hard Rock Stadium during Sunday’s 33-27 loss to the Patriots, to a banner plane circling overhead calling for his firing. Even as the moment feels like a low point in his four-year tenure, McDaniel insists he isn’t concerned about his job security. The Dolphins have appeared disjointed and confused at times in the first two games of the season, from operational miscues to breakdowns and missed assignments.

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People protest outside of an immigration facility guarded by federal agents Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in in Broadview, Ill. (AP Photo/Laura Bargfeld)

Activists say immigration enforcement increased as Chicago waits for promised federal intervention

Activists in Chicago’s immigrant rights network say there’s been a noticeable uptick in immigration enforcement in recent days as the nation’s third-largest city awaits federal intervention repeatedly promised by President Donald Trump. While there’s no evidence of large-scale arrests or aggressive tactics used in Los Angeles, activists say there’s been a spike in arrests in immigrant-heavy city neighborhoods and far flung suburbs of Chicago. Immigration officers are focused on isolated traffic stops and there’s been an increased presence of them at local courthouses.

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President Donald Trump speaks with reporters before boarding Air Force One at Morristown Airport, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Morristown, N.J. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump deploys National Guard to Memphis, calling it a ‘replica’ of his crackdown on Washington

President Trump has announced the deployment of the National Guard to Memphis to combat crime, testing the limits of presidential power by using military force in cities. Trump made Monday’s announcement with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, calling it a “replica” of efforts in Washington. Last month, Trump deployed National Guard troops to the nation’s capital, claiming it reduced crime. Despite Memphis police reporting decreases in major crime categories, the White House suggested the city’s crime rate is higher than the national average. Governor Lee supports the deployment, while Memphis Mayor Paul Young opposes it.

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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels (5) is upended by Green Bay Packers safety Javon Bullard (20) as Packers defensive lineman Micah Parsons (1) and linebacker Quay Walker (7) watch during the second half of an NFL football game Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, in Green Bay, Wis. (AP Photo/Mike Roemer)

Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels has a knee injury. It’s too soon to know if he can play Sunday

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels is dealing with a knee injury, and coach Dan Quinn says the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year’s status for the team’s next game is up in the air. The Commanders host the Las Vegas Raiders on Sunday. Daniels had an MRI on his knee. Quinn said the player’s status is considered day to day. Daniels was hurt in Washington’s 27-18 loss at the Green Bay Packers on Thursday night. The second-year QB was sacked four times and faced pressure throughout the game from a blitz-heavy Packers’ defense.

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Emmy Awards ratings up 8% with CBS audience of 7.4 million

The Emmy Awards have seen a ratings boost as the television industry aims to recover from recent disruptions. About 7.4 million viewers watched the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards on CBS, hosted by Nate Bargatze. This marks the most-watched Emmys since 2021, showing an 8% increase from the previous year’s ABC telecast. Sunday’s show was up more than 70% from the -time low of 4.3 million from the Fox telecast of January 2024, which was delayed by months because of Hollywood’s writers and actors strikes. The Emmys last attracted over 10 million viewers in 2018, and nearly 22 million in 2000.

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FILE - Demonstrators rally for support of the CDC during a meeting of the Advisory Committee in Immunization Practices, June 25, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

Kennedy’s vaccine committee plans to vote on COVID-19, hepatitis B and chickenpox shots

U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s new vaccine advisory committee meets this week, with votes slated on whether to change recommendations on shots against COVID-19, hepatitis B and chickenpox. It’s not clear what questions the committee plans to vote on. Officials at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services did not immediately respond to questions. But some public health experts say they are worried that the votes will raise unwarranted new questions about vaccines in the minds of parents. Perhaps even more consequential would be a vote that restricts a government program from paying for vaccines for low-income families. The committee meets Thursday and Friday in Atlanta.

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FILE - Rap singer Macklemore performs before an NFL football game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Tennessee Titans, Sept. 19, 2021, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)

Suspect in Seattle home invasions of Macklemore and celebrity athletes pleads not guilty

A man accused of breaking into the homes of Seattle-area celebrities and pepper-spraying people he encountered inside has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges. He appeared in court on robbery charges related to the violent robbery of musician Macklemore’s home in June. Patrick Maisonet was arrested in August on unrelated robbery charges and pleaded not guilty. Police say Maisonet and accomplices used bear spray on Macklemore’s 22-year-old nanny before stealing sports memorabilia. He’s also charged with the violent break-in at Ichiro Suzuki’s home in February and football player Richard Sherman, in March. Other alleged burglaries occurred while celebrity athletes were away.

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FILE - The Theodore Roosevelt Building, location of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, is pictured, Feb. 13, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

Judge rules Trump administration illegally fired thousands of probationary workers

A judge has ruled that the Trump administration’s central human resources office acted illegally when it directed the mass firings of thousands of probationary workers. U.S. District Judge William Alsup of San Francisco said Friday the Office of Personnel Management exceeded its authority. He said he did not believe the government’s argument that the office was merely offering guidance to federal agencies. More than 25,000 probationary workers were terminated soon after President Donald Trump took office in January, as part of his efforts to downsize the federal workforce. The judge ordered agencies to update personnel records to show that employees were not terminated for poor performance.

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FILE - David Brenneman, director of collections and exhibitions at the High Museum, talks about Jackson Pollock's painting "Number 1A" on display as part of an exhibit in Atlanta, on Thursday, Oct. 6, 2011. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File)

Scientists identify a mystery color in one of Jackson Pollock’s paintings

Scientists have identified the origins of the blue color in one of Jackson Pollock’s paintings with a little help from chemistry. In the painting called “Number 1A, 1948,” scientists had previously characterized the reds and yellows splattered across the canvas, but the source of the rich turquoise proved elusive. In a new study, researchers took scrapings of the blue paint and used lasers to measure how its molecules vibrated. They pinpointed it as manganese blue. It’s the first confirmed evidence of Pollock using this specific shade. The research was published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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The oldest mummies in the world may hail from southeastern Asia and date back 12,000 years

Scientists have discovered what’s thought to be the oldest mummies in the world in southeastern Asia. Mummification prevents decay by preserving dead bodies. Some of the oldest mummies were prepared by a fishing people called the Chinchorro about 7,000 years ago. A new study released Monday pushes that timeline back, uncovering smoke-dried mummies dating back to 12,000 years ago across China and Vietnam. Even today, Indigenous communities in Australia and the Papua New Guinea smoke-dry and mummify their dead. The study was published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

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Joy Reid speaks during the during the TIME 100 Summit, April 23, 2019, in New York, left, and Percival Everett appears at the Booker Prize award dinner in London, Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2024. (AP Photo)

Joy Reid and Percival Everett are among winners of the 46th annual American Book Awards

Former MSNBC host Joy Reid and authors Percival Everett and John Edgar Wideman are among this year’s recipients of the American Book Awards. The awards announced Monday celebrate diversity in American art and culture and are presented by the Before Columbus Foundation. Reid, who left MSNBC in February, received the foundation’s anti-censorship prize. Wideman won a lifetime achievement award. Honorees for current works include Everett for “James,” his Pulitzer Prize-winning retelling of “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn”; Kaveh Akbar for “Martyr!”; Danzy Senna for “Colored Television” and Claire Messud for “This Strange Eventful History.” The awards aim to recognize literary excellence without limitations, reflecting diversity naturally.

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Officers from Metropolitan Police Department, FBI, and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), are seen monitoring a football game between Bell Multicultural and Archbishop Carroll, Friday, Sept., 12, 2025, at Cardozo High School in the Columbia Heights neighborhood in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Trump threatens to take over DC police again over immigration enforcement

President Donald Trump has threatened to federalize Washington, D.C.’s police force again. He suggests this could happen if the city’s mayor refuses to cooperate with immigration enforcement. Trump’s previous emergency order, which took over the local police force, expired last week. Mayor Muriel Bowser has said that the city will not work with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Trump claims his intervention improved crime rates, although data shows crime was already falling. The White House has not confirmed if Trump will follow through on his threat. Bowser’s office declined to comment on the situation.

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NSF Grant Brings Advanced Microbioreactor System to South Dakota Mines

RAPID CITY, S.D. (Sept. 15, 2025) – South Dakota Mines researchers will soon have access to a nearly $700,000 piece of cutting-edge technology funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF), aimed at accelerating discoveries in biotechnology, medicine, and clean energy. The BioLector XTM microbioreactor system, expected to be installed by the end of the semester […]

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FILE - With the Founders Library in the background, a young man reads on Howard University campus July 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Trump administration boosts HBCU funding after cutting grants for Hispanic-serving colleges

The Trump administration is redirecting nearly $500 million in federal funding toward historically Black colleges and tribal colleges, a one-time investment covered primarily by other cuts to colleges serving large numbers of minority students. The Education Department announced the funding boost days after cutting $350 million from other grants, mostly from programs reserved for colleges that have large numbers of Hispanic students. Agency leaders said those grants were unconstitutional because they’re available only to colleges with certain minority enrollment thresholds. Education Secretary Linda McMahon said the changes will redirect money away from “from ineffective and discriminatory programs toward those which support student success.”

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Kash Patel speaks at a news conference, Friday, Sept. 12, 2025, in Orem, Utah, as Utah department of public safety commissioner Beau Mason, left, and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox listen. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

DNA evidence found near scene of Charlie Kirk’s shooting matches suspect, FBI director says

FBI Director Kash Patel says DNA on a towel wrapped around a rifle found near where conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated matches that of the 22-year-old accused in the killing. Patel told Fox News Channel on Monday investigators also have used DNA to link suspect Tyler Robinson with a screwdriver recovered from the rooftop where the fatal shot was fired. Authorities in Utah are preparing to file capital murder charges against Robinson as early as Tuesday in the killing of Kirk, a dominant figure in conservative politics. Patel says Robinson wrote in a note before the shooting that he had an opportunity to take out Kirk. It’s unclear whether Robinson has an attorney.

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Takeaways from our collaboration on youth mental health after the Maui wildfires

Two years after wildfires devastated Lahaina, many students are still struggling with mental health issues. The Hawaii Department of Education estimates that over a third of Maui students experienced significant trauma, such as losing a family member or a parent’s job. Despite efforts to address these challenges, a shortage of mental health professionals persists. The state has tried to bring in specialists and used federal grants to support students, but hiring remains difficult. Nonprofits are stepping in with outdoor activities and peer counseling to help students cope with their anxiety and stress.

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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) grimaces aft being sacked by Jacksonville Jaguars defensive tackle Arik Armstead (91) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Bengals QB Joe Burrow to have surgery on left toe and miss 3 months, AP source says

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow will undergo surgery on his injured left toe and is expected to be out three months, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Bengals are not expected to make an announcement until coach Zac Taylor’s news conference later Monday. It is Burrow’s third major injury in his six seasons since being the top overall pick in the 2020 draft. It’s a major blow to Cincinnati, which is off to its first 2-0 start since 2018 and has postseason aspirations after missing the playoffs the past two seasons.

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The site of the future Ford World Headquarters is seen under construction, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, in Dearborn, Mich. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Ford is moving its world headquarters for the first time in 7 decades to a new campus 3 miles away

Ford is moving its headquarters for the first time in seven decades. The carmaker is relocating to a newly constructed building 3 miles away in its longtime home of Dearborn, Michigan. The new 2.1-million-square-foot structure formally will be called Ford World Headquarters when it opens in November. Ford’s current headquarters is colloquially called “The Glass House.” It opened in 1956. The new HQ is 5 to 10 minutes away. It is designed to enhance collaboration and innovation by colocating corporate leadership with design and engineering teams. It places 14,000 employees within a 15-minute walk of the main building.

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FILE - U.S. President Donald Trump and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II inspect a Guard of Honour, formed of the Coldstream Guards at Windsor Castle in Windsor, England, July 13, 2018.(AP Photo/Matt Dunham, Pool, File)

From Carter’s kiss to Trump’s step ahead: Famous presidential gaffes toward British royals

U.S. presidents and first ladies have had their share of awkward moments with the British royal family over the years. Tabloids reported that President Jimmy Carter kissed the Queen Mother on the lips during a 1977 visit, though he said it was on the cheek. In 2007, President George W. Bush mistakenly suggested Queen Elizabeth II was more than 200 years old during a speech, leading to laughter. First lady Michelle Obama broke protocol in 2009 by touching the queen. In 2011, President Barack Obama forged ahead with a toast during the British national anthem. In 2018, President Donald Trump walked ahead of the queen at Windsor Castle.

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FILE- In this Feb. 5, 2018, file photo, the seal of the Board of Governors of the United States Federal Reserve System is displayed in the ground at the Marriner S. Eccles Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)

The Fed faces economic uncertainty and political pressure as it decides whether to cut rates

The Federal Reserve is facing economic uncertainty and political pressure as it meets this week to decide whether to cut interest rates. Investors expect the Fed to reduce its benchmark interest rate by a quarter point, to about 4.1%. But it’s not even clear which Fed officials will be making the decision. The meeting will likely include embattled governor Lisa Cook unless an appeals court or the Supreme Court rules in favor of an effort by President Donald Trump to remove her from office. And it’s not yet clear whether Trump nominee Stephen Miran will be approved in time to join.

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