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December 4, 2025.

Detroit Lions running back Jahmyr Gibbs (0) runs the ball as Dallas Cowboys linebacker Jr. Kenneth Murray (59) tries to stop him during the first half of an NFL football game Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Jahmyr Gibbs rushes for 3 TDs and Lions get much-needed 44-30 win over Cowboys

December 4, 2025

Jahmyr Gibbs and the Detroit Lions have beaten the Dallas Cowboys to help their playoff chances. Gibbs ran three touchdowns in Thursday night’s 44-30 win. Gibbs’ final score was a 13-yarder with 2:19 left that sealed a much-needed win for the Lions. Detroit avoided losing consecutive games for the first time in more than than three years. The Cowboys had surged into postseason contention with a three-game winning streak. But against the Lions, the NFL’s top-ranked offense had to lean on powerful kicker Brandon Aubrey too much, and Dallas’ revitalized defense was humbled.

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Carmela Diaz speaks inside her closed restaurant in the midst of a Customs and Border Protection immigration crackdown in Kenner, La., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert)

Shops empty in a Hispanic neighborhood as immigration crackdown comes to Louisiana

December 4, 2025

Federal border agents have descended on a Hispanic enclave just outside New Orleans and local business owners are suffering. The city of Kenner has the highest concentration of Hispanic residents in Louisiana and has been a target of a Department of Homeland Security immigration crackdown, seeking to make 5,000 arrests, that began Wednesday. DHS said it has already made dozens of arrests, including some individuals with violent criminal regards, but only released limited information about who has been detained. Kenner resident Carmela Diaz has shuttered her taco restaurant because employees and clients are afraid to leave their homes.

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FILE -Jacksonville Jaguars defensive line coach Tosh Lupoi, right, calls out instructions on the sideline during the second half of an NFL football game against the Indianapolis Colts, Jan. 9, 2022, in Jacksonville, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack, File)

Cal hires Tosh Lupoi as head coach, bringing former player back to lead the Bears

December 4, 2025

California has hired Tosh Lupoi as the new head coach, bringing back the former Golden Bears player and assistant. Lupoi replaces Justin Wilcox, who was fired last month. General manager Ron Rivera expressed excitement about Lupoi’s return, highlighting his strong character and coaching skills. Lupoi, a Bay Area native, played and coached at Cal before moving to Washington, Alabama, and Oregon. He has been Oregon’s defensive coordinator for the past four seasons. Rivera’s first major hiring aims to restore Cal’s national prominence. Lupoi’s immediate task is retaining star freshman quarterback Jaron-Keawe Sagapolutele.

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FILE - Georgia's Merab Dvalishvili during the second round of a bantamweight title bout against Sean O'Malley at the UFC 316 mixed martial arts event Sunday, June 8, 2025 in Newark, N.J. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

Merab Dvalishvili aims to extend winning streak against Petr Yan in UFC 323

December 4, 2025

Merab Dvalishvili is a substantial favorite to beat Petr Yan and retain his bantamweight belt in UFC 323 on Saturday night. The 34-year-old Dvalishvili enters on a 14-match winning streak and is 21-4. A victory over the 32-year-old Yan would move Dvalishvili into a tie with Kamaru Usman for the third-longest streak in UFC history. The record holders are Anderson Silva and Islam Makhachev with 16 each. Dvalishvili and Yan have a history of verbal sparring, but Yan has been mostly respectful in the lead-up to this fight.

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This photo released by San Diego Fire-Rescue shows owner Alexis reuniting with Sadie, a black Labrador retriever-mix, after Sadie was rescued from the water near Mission Beach, San Diego, Nov. 23, 2025. (San Diego Fire-Rescue via AP)

Lifeguards rescue dog swept out to sea by rip current off San Diego coast

December 4, 2025

A pup that was swept out to sea by a rip current must be feeling doggone lucky after her unlikely rescue off the San Diego coast. The San Diego Fire-Rescue Department says in a social media post that Sadie stole away from a home where her owners were staying last month. Officials say that while her owners tracked the black Labrador retriever-mix down the coast using an Airtag on her collar, surfers in Ocean Beach alerted lifeguards that a dog had been swept into the rip current near the jetty. After being told the search would only last 10 more minutes, a lifeguard spotted Sadie and she was rescued. Her owners say they’re forever grateful.

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FILE - U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, and Kenyan President William Ruto pose for photos before a meeting, Sept. 24, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Heather Khalifa, Pool, file)

US and Kenya sign first of what are expected to be dozens of ‘America First’ global health deals

December 4, 2025

The Trump administration has signed the first in what are expected to be dozens of “America First” global health agreements that prioritize combating infectious diseases in countries deemed to be aligned with the president’s broader foreign policy goals. The five-year, $2.5 billion agreement was signed Thursday by Kenyan President William Ruto and Secretary of State Marco Rubio to replace a patchwork of previous agreements that had traditionally been run by the U.S. Agency for International Development until it was dismantled earlier this year. A number of other African countries are expected to sign similar agreements by year’s end. But Nigeria and South Africa are not expected to be among that group due to political differences with Trump.

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FILE - An aerial view shows Friant Dam which holds back Millerton Lake in Friant, Calif., Friday, March 7, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File)

Trump administration to direct more water to California farms

December 4, 2025

The Trump administration will start sending more water to California farmers in the state’s crop-rich Central Valley. The move comes out of an executive order Trump signed in January. California officials and environmentalists are pushing back on the plan. They say it could threaten water delivery to the rest of the state and would harm salmon and other fish. The plan released Thursday lays out rules for operating the Central Valley Project. It is a vast system of dams and canals that supplies water to central and southern California.

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FILE - Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber speaks during a ceremony honoring Inter Miami's Lionel Messi's Ballon d'Or trophy, before Inter Miami's club friendly soccer match against New York City FC, Nov. 10, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky, File)

Garber doesn’t rule out relegation in MLS but makes clear it’s years or decades away

December 4, 2025

Major League Soccer Commissioner Don Garber has not ruled out adopting relegation and promotion. However, he emphasizes that such a decision is years or decades away. MLS launched in 1996 with 10 teams and currently has 30 in a closed system. Garber says relegation doesn’t work for MLS due to the significant investments owners have made. The United Soccer League plans to start a top-tier league in 2027-28 with a promotion/relegation system. Garber, who turned 68 in October, has been commissioner since 1999. He agreed to a contract through the 2027 season and says he hasn’t thought about staying beyond that.

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First lady Melania Trump claps after lighting the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, near the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Melania Trump lights the National Christmas Tree after president counts down

December 4, 2025

First lady Melania Trump has lit the National Christmas Tree on a chilly night in the nation’s capital. At the annual tree lighting on the Ellipse, just south of the White House, President Donald Trump told the crowd, “The first lady is going to do the honors.” He counted down from five to zero. Melania then stepped forward and pressed a button that made the tree behind them sparkle with gold-toned lights. “It’s a beauty,” the president said. The event featured performances by rock legends the Beach Boys, Christian music singer Matthew West and country artists Gabby Barrett, Jon Pardi, Alana Springsteen, Brett Young and Warren Zeiders.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth arrives before the lighting of the National Christmas Tree on the Ellipse, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, near the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

US military conducts strike on another suspected drug boat as probe into the first strike begins

December 4, 2025

U.S. Southern Command says it has conducted another strike against a small boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean, following a pause of almost three weeks. It is the 22nd strike the U.S. military has carried out against boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean that the Trump administration claimed were trafficking drugs. There were four casualties in Thursday’s strike, according to the social media post, bringing the death toll of the campaign to at least 87 people. In a video that accompanied the announcement, a small boat can be seen moving across the water before it is suddenly consumed by a large explosion. The video then zooms out to show the boat covered in flames and billowing smoke.

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Inter Miami head coach Javier Mascherano gestures to his players from the sideline during the first half of an MLS Eastern Conference final soccer match against New York City FC, Saturday, Nov. 29, 2025, in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Lionel Messi is playing for another trophy. Inter Miami to meet Vancouver in the MLS Cup final

December 4, 2025

Lionel Messi and Inter Miami are set to face Thomas Muller and the Vancouver Whitecaps in the MLS Cup final on Saturday. It’s the first final for both clubs, ensuring a new champion. For Messi, it’s a significant moment as it’s the last game at Inter Miami’s current stadium and possibly his last with teammates Jordi Alba and Sergio Busquets, who are retiring. The match could also see Muller become the first player to win both a World Cup and an MLS Cup.

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NASCAR chairman Jim France enters federal court in Charlotte, N.C., on Wednesday Dec 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Jenna Fryer)

NASCAR chairman Jim France accused of stonewalling teams in antitrust case

December 4, 2025

The attorney for two teams suing NASCAR has described series chairman Jim France as a “brick wall” in negotiations over a new revenue-sharing model. The case involves 23XI Racing, owned by Michael Jordan and Denny Hamlin, and Front Row Motorsports. They are the only teams that refused to sign new charter agreements in September 2024. Charters guarantee a spot in races and a payout from NASCAR. The teams argue the deal lacked their requests and was presented as “take it or leave it.” NASCAR spent over two years in negotiations, but the teams claim the final offer was unsatisfactory.

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Members of the District of Columbia National Guard pick up trash by the Capitol reflecting pool, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Court decision calling for end to National Guard deployment in DC paused by appeals court

December 4, 2025

A U.S. District Court decision to end the deployment of National Guard members to Washington, D.C., is on hold. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit temporarily paused the lower court ruling that had called for an end to the deployment of troops. The stay pauses the implementation of U.S. District Court Judge Jia Cobb’s November 20 opinion and order. Cobb had concluded that President Donald Trump’s military takeover in Washington illegally intrudes on local officials’ authority to direct law enforcement in the district. National Guard members have been in the city since August, the result of an executive order by President Donald Trump to help combat crime.

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FILE - Major League Baseball Players Association Executive Director Tony Clark answers a question during a news conference in New York on March 11, 2022. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

MLB players union gathers to prepare for potentially contentious labor negotiations in 2026

December 4, 2025

The Major League Baseball Players’ Association has gathered Arizona to discuss the future of the game and look ahead to a possible lockout next December. Japanese stars headed by Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto have sparked record international interest, in-game attendance was up in 2025 for the third straight season, and a set of rule changes that began in 2023 season has produced a faster-paced game that’s been widely lauded. But MLB also has a widening payroll disparity that is a point of contention. The Dodgers have spent roughly $890 million building back-to-back World Series champions while the Athletics have spent less than $150 million over the same period.

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With flowers in the foreground, construction on the front of the U.S. Supreme Court continues Monday, Nov. 24, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Supreme Court allows Texas to use a congressional map favorable to Republicans in 2026

December 4, 2025

The Supreme Court is allowing the challenged Texas congressional redistricting plan to be used in next year’s election, despite a lower-court ruling that the map likely discriminates on the basis of race. The map is favorable to Republicans and was pushed by President Donald Trump. The justices acted Thursday on an emergency request from Texas for quick action because qualifying in the new districts already has begun, with primary elections in March. The Supreme Court’s order puts the 2-1 ruling blocking the map on hold at least until after the high court issues a final decision in the case. The effort to preserve a slim Republican majority in the House in 2026 touched off a nationwide redistricting battle.

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A FBI agent enters the garage of the house where they made an arrest, in Woodbridge, Va., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen)

5 years later, authorities arrest a suspect in Washington pipe bomb case. Here’s what to know

December 4, 2025

The FBI has arrested a suspect five years after an unidentified person placed two pipe bombs outside the headquarters of the Republican and Democratic national parties in Washington, D.C. The mystery behind the person’s identity has bedeviled law enforcement and helped fuel conspiracy theories about Jan. 6, 2021, and the Capitol riot by a mob of President Donald Trump’s supporters. Agents arrested Brian J. Cole Jr., 30, of Woodbridge, Virginia, on explosive charges. Calls to relatives of Cole listed in public records were not immediately returned. The FBI and Justice Department attributed the arrest to a reinvigorated investigation and a fresh analysis of already collected evidence and data.

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Abortion opponents prepare for a rally at the Missouri Capitol on May 1, 2025, in Jefferson City, Mo. (AP Photo/David A. Lieb)

Missouri court orders new wording for ballot measure seeking to restrict abortion rights

December 4, 2025

A Missouri appeals court panel has ordered new wording for a ballot measure seeking to roll back abortion rights in the state. The court ruled Thursday that Missouri voters must be informed the amendment would repeal “reproductive healthcare rights” that they approved just one year ago. The decision marks another twist in Missouri’s ongoing battle over abortion laws, which have shifted since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. The Republican-led Legislature placed a new amendment on a 2026 ballot that would allow abortions only in specific cases. The appeals court found the previous ballot summary misleading and imposed new wording.

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Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., makes a statement to reporters without taking questions following a vote in the Senate to move forward with a stopgap funding bill to reopen the government through Jan. 30, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Nov. 10, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Speaker Johnson pleads with Republicans to keep concerns private after tumultuous week

December 4, 2025

Rank-and-file Republicans in the House are increasingly going public with anger towards their leadership. Speaker Mike Johnson has implored his Republican members to come to him privately, saying, “come to me, don’t go to social media.” But cracks within the Republican conference grew this week as a member of his own leadership team accused him of lying. Republican members are also going around leadership to bring their own legislation to the floor after Johnson kept the chamber out for nearly two months during the government shutdown. And now House leadership is struggling to pass their own legislative priorities, including a NCAA-bill to regulate college sports.

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Construction of a new ballroom continues on the East Wing of the White House, Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

White House is expected to submit plans for new ballroom to planning commission this month

December 4, 2025

President Donald Trump has added a new architectural firm to his $300 million ballroom construction project at the White House. A White House spokesperson said Thursday that the firm, Shalom Baranes of Washington, D.C., was needed because the project is moving into a new stage. Earlier Thursday, the Trump-appointed chairman of a federal commission with jurisdiction over construction to federal buildings said he expected the White House to submit the ballroom plans this month for review. The new firm has worked on the Pentagon and Treasury buildings, among other federal properties. The initial firm, McCrery Architects, remains as a consultant.

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The red carpet is delivered prior to the final draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

A supersized World Cup field begins taking shape at Friday’s draw

December 4, 2025

The World Cup draw takes place Friday, featuring four debuting teams: Cape Verde, Curaçao, Jordan and Uzbekistan. The tournament, expanded to 48 nations, will run from June 11 to July 19 across the U.S., Mexico and Canada. All top 11-ranked teams have qualified, with Italy among 22 nations in playoffs for the final spots. Led by Lionel Messi, Argentina aims for consecutive titles. Games will be held at 16 sites, with attendance expected to break records. FIFA announced ticket prices ranging from $60 to $6,730, sparking discussions about accessibility.

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FILE - Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington talks in the dugout before a baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, May 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Gallardo, File)

Former Angels, Rangers manager Ron Washington joining Giants as infield coach

December 4, 2025

Former Angels and Rangers manager Ron Washington is returning to the Bay Area to become infield coach for the San Francisco Giants on new manager Tony Vitello’s staff. Washington tells The Associated Press the sides are still working out the final details. The 73-year-old took a leave of absence from the Angels this past season with his team at 36-38 to undergo quadruple-bypass heart surgery, and the club then moved forward at the end of the season by hiring Kurt Suzuki as its manager.

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FILE - This image taken from video provided by the U.S. Navy shows an aircraft launching from the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea before airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, March 15, 2025. (U.S. Navy via AP, File)

Takeaways from the Navy’s investigations into 4 mishaps during Houthi campaign

December 4, 2025

The Navy has released investigative reports into four mishaps that all involve the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman while it was dispatched to counterattacks on shipping by Yemen’s Houthi rebels. The four reports cover a friendly fire incident in December 2024 that saw the cruiser USS Gettysburg shoot at two fighter jets from the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman, downing one, as well as the Truman’s collision with a merchant vessel and the loss of two more multimillion-dollar jets aboard the carrier to mishaps earlier this year.

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FILE - This image taken from video provided by the U.S. Navy shows an aircraft launching from the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea before airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, March 15, 2025. (U.S. Navy via AP, File)

Stress of Houthi combat was a key factor in series of costly Navy mishaps, investigations show

December 4, 2025

Investigative reports into a series of high-profile Navy mishaps during a U.S.-led campaign against Yemen’s Houthi rebels reveal the operation’s toll on ships and personnel. The four reports released Thursday cover a friendly fire incident where a ship shot at two fighter jets as well as the aircraft carrier USS Harry S. Truman’s collision with a merchant vessel and the loss of two more jets to mishaps. The reports paint a picture of an aircraft carrier not only beset by regular missile attacks that stressed the crew but other operational demands that put pressure on top leaders. In all, the four preventable mishaps cost the Navy well over $100 million in damage and injuries to multiple sailors.

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U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during the Western Governors' Association meeting Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Scottsdale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rebecca Noble)

US health department unveils strategy to expand its adoption of AI technology

December 4, 2025

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has outlined a new strategy to expand its use of artificial intelligence. The 20-page document builds on the Trump administration’s enthusiastic embrace of the rapidly advancing technology. The strategy calls for embracing a “try-first” culture for AI among the workforce and encourages employees to use chatbots and AI assistants for daily tasks. It also calls for the creation of a suite of AI resources that can be used across the department. Experts said the bold plan was worth celebrating but warned that the government’s embrace of AI tools shouldn’t come at the expense of safety.

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Cleveland Cavaliers' Darius Garland warms up before the start of an NBA basketball game against the Philadelphia 76ers in Cleveland, Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Phil Long)

NBA fines Cavaliers $250,000 for resting All-Star Darius Garland in a nationally televised game

December 4, 2025

The NBA has fined the Cleveland Cavaliers $250,000 for violating the league’s player participation policy. The team rested All-Star guard Darius Garland during a nationally televised game against the Toronto Raptors on November 24. This is the second time this season the Cavaliers have been fined for such a violation. They received a $100,000 fine on November 18 for resting Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley against the Miami Heat. The league confirmed Garland was able to play in one of the team’s back-to-back games. The Raptors extended their winning streak to eight games with a 110-99 victory.

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Switzerland's Marco Odermatt reacts after his run during a World Cup men's downhill skiing race, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Beaver Creek, Colo. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Swiss ski racer Marco Odermatt wins World Cup downhill opener, Ryan Cochran-Siegle takes 2nd

December 4, 2025

Marco Odermatt of Switzerland has won the downhill season-opener, beating American Ryan Cochran-Siegle in a World Cup race on a tricky but shorter Birds of Prey course. Odermatt finished in 1 minute, 29.84 seconds to surpass Cochran-Siegle by .30 seconds. Norway’s Adrian Smiseth Sejersted took third. The finish line was moved up the hill due to a lack of snow to properly place the safety netting. Odermatt, who has won the last two overall World Cup downhill titles, attacked the steeper sections and carried enough speed through the flatter part to earn the win. Cochran-Siegle became the first U.S. ski racer to earn a World Cup downhill podium spot at Beaver Creek since 2014.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin gestures while speaking at the plenary session of the VTB "Russia Calling" Investment forum in Moscow, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025. (Sergei Ilnitsky/Pool Photo via AP)

US Treasury slaps $7.1M fine on New York firm for managing properties for Putin ally

December 4, 2025

The U.S. Treasury has imposed a $7 million fine on a New York property management firm for allegedly violating Russia-related sanctions. Gracetown Inc. managed luxury real estate for sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control says Gracetown received payments on behalf of a company owned by Deripaska between April 2018 and May 2020. Despite being warned, the firm continued its dealings. Deripaska has faced U.S. sanctions since 2018 for acting on behalf of a senior Russian official. A lawyer who has represented Deripaska previously didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. Gracetown couldn’t immediately be reached for comment.

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FILE - Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., speaks during a House Judiciary Committee hearing, Sept. 20, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Republican Rep. Darrell Issa to stay in California after flirting with US House run in Texas

December 4, 2025

Republican Rep. Darrell Issa is staying in California. He’d been flirting with a move to Texas to run for Congress after a redrawn congressional map in California all but erased his district. But Issa said Thursday he believes he can hold his seat in San Diego and will seek re-election. Issa says he was encouraged to consider a jump to Texas by U.S. House members and residents of the Lone Star State. The national battle over House control has spiraled into other states. Much uncertainty remains, as court battles play out across the country over the new districts.

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A man walks past signage prior to the final draw for the 2026 soccer World Cup at the Kennedy Center in Washington, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

US prioritizes visas for fans traveling for the World Cup, Olympics and other events

December 4, 2025

The Trump administration has instructed U.S. embassies and consulates around the world to prioritize visa applications from foreigners wishing to visit the United States to either invest in America or attend the 2026 World Cup, 2028 Olympics and other major sporting events. The administration also has added new criteria for highly skilled foreign workers seeking a particular visa. The new rules would deny entry to applicants deemed to have directed or participated in the censorship of American citizens on social media through content moderation initiatives that have sprung up throughout Europe and elsewhere to combat extremist speech. The steps were outlined in cables sent this week to all U.S. diplomatic missions and obtained by The Associated Press.

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A statue of RoboCop stands outside a business in Detroit's Eastern Market area, Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Mike Householder)

Detroit’s own crime-fighter RoboCop finally stands guard in Motor City

December 4, 2025

RoboCop has found a permanent home in Detroit — all 11 feet and 3,500 pounds of him. A statue of the crime-fighting movie character has been welcomed by fans since it began standing guard over Detroit Wednesday afternoon in the Motor City’s Eastern Market area. Jim Toscano says streams of people have driven by his FREE AGE film production company where the bronze mold-cast statue is bolted into concrete. “RoboCop” developed a cult following after it hit theaters in 1987. It was set in a crime-ridden near-future Detroit. The city’s homicide numbers have now dropped below mid-1960s levels, and the statue was erected without objection from city officials.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks during a Cabinet meeting at the White House, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Hegseth put troops at risk by sharing sensitive plans on personal phone, Pentagon watchdog finds

December 4, 2025

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth put U.S. troops at risk by sharing sensitive military plans on his personal phone. That’s according to the Pentagon’s watchdog in a report made public Thursday. It says Hegseth had the authority to declassify the material he shared about a planned strike on Houthi militants in Yemen. But the watchdog said that release violated internal Pentagon rules about handling sensitive information that could put service members or their missions in danger. Hegseth has called the investigation political and that he had the right to share the information. Hegseth’s use of Signal came to light after a journalist was inadvertently added to the group chat.

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FILE - M23 rebels enter the centre of east Congo's second-largest city, Bukavu, and take control of the South Kivu province administrative office, Sunday, Feb. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Janvier Barhahiga, File)

Trump hosts the leaders of Congo and Rwanda to sign a key deal for peace in eastern Congo

December 4, 2025

U.S. President Donald Trump will host the Congolese and Rwandan presidents for a deal-signing aimed at securing peace in eastern Congo. The White House has lauded the Thursday peace signing as “historic” and credited the Republican president for it. The peace signing will also open up access to eastern Congo’s critical minerals for the U.S. government and American companies. The Central African nation of Congo has been battered by a decades-long conflict with more than 100 armed groups. The most potent of them is the Rwanda-backed M23 rebels. Congolese residents have expressed little hope Thursday’s signing will quickly end the fighting that has continued in eastern Congo.

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House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., second from right, is joined by from left: House Republican Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain, R-Mich., Rep. Zachary Nunn, R-Iowa, and Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., during a news conference at the Republican National Committee on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Dec. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

An NCAA-backed effort to reshape college sport regulations has hit a wall in Congress

December 4, 2025

House Republicans plans to vote on a bill regulating college sports has been scrapped due to divisions within their caucus. There are bipartisan concerns over the influence that the SCORE Act would give the NCAA and its most powerful programs. The bill seemed to be on track for passage this summer but now sees its chances of passage at all in its current form dwindling. Democratic leadership has pushed House members to vote against it and some Republicans have been increasingly vocal. The NCAA and Division I conferences portray the legislation as codifying the rules created by the multibillion-dollar lawsuit settlement that allows college players to be paid, providing clarity that supporters say is long-needed.

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FILE - President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters as he meets with Congo's Foreign Minister Therese Kayikwamba Wagner, and Rwanda's Foreign Minister Olivier Nduhungirehe, Friday, June 27, 2025, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, File)

Trump to visit Pennsylvania to highlight efforts to curb inflation as high prices squeeze Americans

December 4, 2025

President Donald Trump plans to visit Pennsylvania next week to highlight his efforts to reduce inflation.  Last month’s elections showed a shift away from Republicans as affordability concerns persist. Trump argues that affordability worries are a Democratic “hoax” and that people need to hear his perspective to change their minds. It shows the dilemma faced by Trump as he tries to take credit for rewiring the U.S. economy with his large tariff hikes and extension of income tax cuts while blaming Biden for the increase nationwide in inflation rates under Trump’s watch.  Inflation is currently tracking at 3% annually, up from 2.3% in April when he rolled out his tariffs.

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San Jose Sharks goaltender Yaroslav Askarov (30) stops a shot during the third period of an NHL hockey game against the Vancouver Canucks, Friday, Nov. 28, 2025, in San Jose, Calif. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

Ovechkin scores twice as Capitals crush Sharks 7-1 for sixth straight win

December 4, 2025

Alex Ovechkin scores twice, reaching 911 career goals, as the Washington Capitals beat the San Jose Sharks 7-1. This victory marks their sixth straight win. On Wednesday night, Ovechkin started a four-goal barrage in the first period and added a power-play goal in the second. Riley Leonard had four points, including two goals and two assists. Dylan Strome also scored for Washington. Charlie Lindgren made 23 saves and added his second career assist. Pavol Regenda scored for San Jose, denying Lindgren a shutout. The Sharks had won seven of their last eight home games but struggled against the Capitals.

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Rep. Matt Van Epps, R-Tenn, left, takes part in a ceremonial swearing-in with Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., Thursday, Dec. 4, 2025, in Washington. Holding the Bible is Van Epps' wife, Meg Wrather, and their daughter, Amelia Van Epps. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf)

Republican Matt Van Epps is sworn in as the newest House member days after winning election

December 4, 2025

Republican Matt Van Epps of Tennessee has been sworn as the newest House member. It comes two days after Van Epps won a closely watched special election that helped maintain his party’s slim grip on power. The swift seating of Van Epps comes at a time when talk of House resignations has been swirling. And it’s also in stark contrast to the seven-week delay in swearing in the newest Democrat, Rep. Adelita Grijalva of Arizona. Speaker Mike Johnson had refused to swear her into office during the government shutdown, and that infuriated Democrats.

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FILE - Tampa Bay Lightning defenseman Ryan McDonagh (27) before an NHL hockey game Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV, File)

Lightning sign Ryan McDonagh to a 3-year, $12.3M contract extension

December 4, 2025

The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed veteran defenseman Ryan McDonagh to a three-year extension worth $12.3 million. McDonagh will be 37 when the new contract kicks in that counts $4.1 million against the salary cap through the 2028-29 NHL season. McDonagh helped the Lightning win the Stanley Cup back to back in 2020 and ‘21 and reach the final in ’22 before losing in six games to Colorado. They traded him to Nashville that summer to clear cap space at a time when it was not going up much because of the pandemic and reacquired him in 2024.

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FILE - Pope Leo XIV gestures as he boards a flight back to the Vatican, in Beirut, Lebanon, on Dec. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla, File)

Pope Leo XIV’s first full-length US book, ‘Peace Be with You,’ to be released in February

December 4, 2025

Pope Leo XIV’s first full-length U.S. book is set to release next winter. HarperOne announced Wednesday that it has acquired the rights to “Peace Be with You! My Words to the Church and to the World,” scheduled for release on Feb. 26. The book includes sermons and addresses that Leo has given since his election in May. HarperOne describes it as a vision for peace, unity and reconciliation in a fractured world. The title refers to his first public remarks as pope when he appeared on the central balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica.

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Ralph Lauren unveils Team USA’s Olympic uniforms

December 4, 2025

Ralph Lauren revealed Team USA’s Milan Cortina Winter Olympics looks Thursday, complete with Americana knit sweaters and plenty of vintage call-backs. The formal opening ceremony look pairs a patterned red, white and blue knit sweater with tailored cream trousers and a matching wool coat. Moving sportier, the closing ceremony outfit features a graphic puffer coat inspired by vintage ski kits over a color-blocked sweater. Beyond the ceremony looks, a Team USA collection, which will also be given to athletes as Olympic village wear, became available to the public Thursday.

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Ernesto, an immigrant from Venezuela, poses for a photograph in his home, Nov. 18, 2025, in Fayetteville, Ark. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

A quiet corner of Arkansas has become a hot spot for US immigration crackdown, AP finds

December 4, 2025

A corner of Arkansas best known as home to Walmart headquarters has emerged as a little-known hot spot in the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement crackdown. That’s according to an Associated Press review of arrest data, jail records, police reports and interviews with residents, immigration lawyers and watchdogs. Benton County offers a window into what the future may hold in places where local and state authorities cooperate broadly with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Records show the partnership has caught some violent criminals but also repeatedly turned misdemeanor arrests into the first steps toward deportations. The arrests have split apart families and spread fear through the immigrant community.

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President Donald Trump answers questions from reporters during a meeting with the White House task force on the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the Oval Office of the White House, Monday, Nov. 17, 2025, in Washington, as FIFA President Gianni Infantino, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and FIFA senior adviser Carlos Cordeiro listen. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump’s immigration message is colliding with his welcome to World Cup fans

December 4, 2025

President Donald Trump will be taking center stage at the World Cup draw as he rolls out the welcome mat for teams and fans from around the globe. But Friday’s draw at the Kennedy Center in Washington comes at a time when the Republican president has hardened his rhetoric against immigrants. His administration is looking at expanding restrictions on travel to the U.S. for people from 19 countries. Critics say that messaging undercuts the message of unity that the World Cup represents. The U.S. says it’s working to ensure fans from other countries get expedited visas so they can attend next summer’s tournament.

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FILE - "Help Wanted" sign is displayed at a dry cleaner in Rolling Meadows, Ill., Thursday, May 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, file)

US filings for jobless benefits fall to 191,000, lowest since September of 2022

December 4, 2025

U.S. applications for unemployment benefits fell to their lowest level in more than three years last week, potentially complicating the Federal Reserve’s upcoming decision on interest rates. The number of Americans applying for jobless benefits for the week ending Nov. 29 fell to 191,000 from the previous week’s 218,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That’s the lowest level since September 24, 2022, when claims came in at 189,000. Analysts surveyed by the data provider FactSet had forecast initial claims of 221,000. Applications for unemployment aid are viewed as a proxy for layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the job market.

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FILE - The Pentagon is seen on Sunday, Aug. 27, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

New York Times suing Pentagon over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s new press rules

December 4, 2025

The New York Times has filed a lawsuit to stop the Pentagon from imposing new rules on journalists who cover the military. Most mainstream news outlets refused to agree to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s policy this fall, resulting in them losing credentials to work in the Pentagon. The Times will argue that the rules violate free speech and gives Hegseth unlawful discretion to ban reporters whose work he does not like. The Pentagon welcomed its newly-constituted press corps, consisting primarily of outlets friendly to President Donald Trump, for a briefing this week and denounced the journalsts who left as “propagandists.”

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FILE - This image shows part of a "Seeking Information" notice released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation regarding pipe bombs planted outside offices of the Democratic and Republican national committees in Washington on Jan. 5, 2021, on the eve of the attack on the Capitol. (FBI via AP, File)

FBI makes arrest in investigation into pipe bombs placed in DC on eve of Jan. 6 riot, AP source says

December 4, 2025

The FBI has made an arrest in its nearly 5-year-old investigation into who placed pipe bombs in Washington before the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. That’s according to a law enforcement official who spoke to The Associated Press on Thursday. The arrest marks the first time investigators have settled on a suspect in an act that had long vexed law enforcement and spawned conspiracy theories. The pipe bombs were placed on Jan. 5, 2021, near the offices of the Democratic and Republican national committees. Nobody was hurt before the bombs were rendered safe, but the FBI said both devices could have been lethal.

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In Memoriam

Kenneth L. Heisterkamp | 12/04/2025

December 4, 2025

View The Obituary For Kenneth L. Heisterkamp. Please join us in Loving, Sharing and Memorializing Kenneth L. Heisterkamp on this permanent online memorial presented by Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.

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Spotify Wrapped 2025 is here and Bad Bunny has dethroned Taylor Swift as most-streamed artist

December 4, 2025

Spotify Wrapped is here. And Bad Bunny is the platform’s most-streamed artist for 2025. That means he has ended Taylor Swift’s two-year reign in the top spot. His album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” was the most streamed album globally. Spotify unveiled its annual overview of individual listening trends as well as trends from around the world on Wednesday. Users can now access their top artists, songs, genres, albums and podcasts, as well as uncover which artists had the biggest year on the platform. There are a few new features on Spotify Wrapped this year. For example, the “Top Albums” feature has returned.

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FILE - New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani listens as President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Nov. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Zohran Mamdani and the Louvre make the list of most mispronounced words of 2025

December 4, 2025

From the election of Zohran Mamdani to the intrigue surrounding the jewel heist at the Louvre, keeping up with this year’s news also left some Americans struggling with pronunciations. That’s put both the name of New York City’s incoming mayor and the famed Paris museum on a list of the most mispronounced words in 2025. The list of words that news anchors, politicians and other public figures in the U.S. struggled with the most was released Thursday. It was compiled by the language-learning company Babbel and closed-captioning company The Captioning Group.

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FILE - New York Jets punter Austin McNamara (14) walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns, Nov. 9, 2025, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Adam Hunger, File)

Austin McNamara’s rise as Jets’ punting ‘sniper’ began by watching YouTube videos as a kid

December 4, 2025

Austin McNamara’s rise as a top punter for the New York Jets began with YouTube videos. Growing up in Arizona, he loved soccer and basketball but tried football in high school. With a background in soccer, he naturally gravitated toward kicking. He and his dad watched countless videos to learn the craft. Now, McNamara ranks among the NFL’s best punters, with impressive stats that has put him in the Pro Bowl conversation. He joined the Jets in March after being cut by Cincinnati last year. Coach Aaron Glenn says the Jets call him a sniper because he can regularly flip the field for the team with his punting consistency.

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As Congress faces a year-end deadline on Affordable Care Act subsidies, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., left, and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., meet with reporters about health care affordability, at the Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Affordable Care Act premiums are set to spike. A new poll shows enrollees are already struggling

December 4, 2025

A new survey of Affordable Care Act health insurance enrollees finds that many are already struggling with the high cost of health care. Most of the more than 1,300 enrollees surveyed say they anticipate that their health costs will be impacted next year if Congress doesn’t extend COVID-era tax credits that will otherwise expire at the end of the year. Thursday’s poll from the health care research nonprofit KFF finds that marketplace enrollees overwhelmingly support an extension of the subsidies. The survey found this group is more likely to blame President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress than Democrats if the tax credits are left to expire.

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