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December 22, 2025.

Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green yells at the referee during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Orlando Magic, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in San Francisco (AP Photo/Justine Willard)

Draymond Green, Steve Kerr have heated exchange in huddle during timeout before Green leaves court

December 22, 2025

Warriors forward Draymond Green had a heated exchange with coach Steve Kerr in the huddle during a third-quarter timeout and then went to the locker room on his own to cool down. Kerr said even once Green returned to the bench for the finish of Golden State’s 120-97 win against the Orlando Magic he wasn’t going to play again after what happened. Neither expects any ill will to linger, but Green acknowledged some frustration with the team’s 15-15 record.

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Indianapolis Colts quarterback Philip Rivers (17) passes against the San Francisco 49ers during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Philip Rivers starts strong, but his late Pick-6 proves costly to Colts’ playoff hopes in 48-27 loss

December 22, 2025

Quarterback Philip Rivers came out of retirement to lead the Indianapolis Colts to the playoffs. Two games into his comeback, their postseason hopes barely exist. While the 44-year-old grandfather gave the home fans plenty to cheer about in the first 3 1/2 quarters, San Francisco linebacker Dee Winter made Rivers pay for a late miscue by returning an interception 74 yards for a touchdown with 3:26 to play to seal a 48-27 victory at Indianapolis — and perhaps the Colts’ postseason fate.

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Inmates Robert Pape, center left, talks with Conrad Johnson in the kitchen at the Delancey Street restaurant at California State Prison Solano in Vacaville, Calif., Friday, Nov. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Inside a California prison’s restaurant, where workers get a second chance

December 22, 2025

A restaurant inside California State Prison Solano provides a one-of-a-kind training program that provides opportunity and a sense of purpose, as well as skills training. Launched a decade ago, the initiative brings some 80 men into one housing unit, where the No. 1 prerequisite is no violence. State prison officials say there hasn’t been a single fight among the unit’s residents in their 10 years living together. At Delancey Street Restaurant, workers learn every aspect of the restaurant business, some with hopes of working in the industry one day when they get out of prison.

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San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) runs against the Indianapolis Colts during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Brock Purdy throws career high 5 TD passes and leads 49ers to 5th straight win, 48-27 over the Colts

December 22, 2025

Brock Purdy threw a career-high five touchdown passes and Dee Winters returned an interception 74 yards for a score to lead the San Francisco 49ers to a 48-27 victory at Indianapolis. Purdy was 25 of 34 for 295 yards with one interception as Christian McCaffrey had 146 total yards and two scores. The 49ers won their fifth straight to stay in the chase for the NFC’s top seed one day after clinching a playoff spot by virtue of Detroit’s loss to Pittsburgh. But 44-year-old Philip Rivers sure didn’t make it easy on San Francisco in his second game back after a five-year layoff. He was 23 of 35 for 277 yards, two TDs before throwing the later interception to seal it. Indy’s playoff hopes continued to fade with their fifth straight loss.

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BYU forward AJ Dybantsa (3) prepares to dunk against Eastern Washington guard Isaiah Moses (2) during the first half of an NCAA basketball game, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Provo, Utah. (AP Photo/Rob Gray)

Dybantsa gets first BYU triple-double since 2016 to lead No. 10 Cougars past Eastern Washington

December 22, 2025

AJ Dybantsa had 33 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to lead No. 10 BYU to a 109-81 victory over Eastern Washington. Dybantsa is the first Coygars player with a triple-double since Kyle Collinsworth against UAB on March 16, 2016. Richie Saunders had 22 points to help BYU go unbeaten through a four-game homestand. Kennard Davis Jr. and Robert Wright III added 17 points apiece. Wright also had seven assists. The Cougars shot 61% from the field in the second half and made 16 3-pointers. Davis led the way with a career-high five. Kiree Huie led Eastern Washington with 17 points.

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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks as President Donald Trump looks on, at Trump's Mar-a-Lago club, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

US strikes another alleged drug-smuggling boat in eastern Pacific

December 22, 2025

The U.S. military says it has conducted another strike against a boat it said was smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing one person. In a social media post Monday night, U.S. Southern Command said, “Intelligence confirmed the low-profile vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in the Eastern Pacific and was engaged in narco-trafficking operations.” A video appears to show a number of strikes landing near and on the boat before it catches fire. Southern Command provided no evidence that the vessel was engaged in drug smuggling. At least 105 people have been killed in 29 known strikes since early September.

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New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1) shoots a layup against Dallas Mavericks forward Daniel Gafford, left, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in New Orleans. (AP Photo/Peter Forest)

Zion Williamson scores 24 to lead Pelicans over Mavericks for 5th straight win

December 22, 2025

Zion Williamson scored 24 points, including 10 straight in a decisive two-minute span of the fourth quarter, to power the New Orleans Pelicans to a 119-113 victory over the Dallas Mavericks, extending the Pelicans’ season-long winning streak to five games. The Pelicans, who started the season 3-22, have posted their longest winning streak since 2022. Derik Queen had 19 points and 11 rebounds for the Pelicans, and Saddiq Bey added 19 points and seven rebounds.

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FILE - A mega-prison known as Detention Center Against Terrorism (CECOT) stands in Tecoluca, El Salvador, March 5, 2023. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez, File)

Judge rules Trump administration must allow court challenges for Venezuelan migrants sent to prison

December 22, 2025

A federal judge ruled Monday that the Trump administration must give legal due process to Venezuelan migrants flown to a notorious prison in El Salvador, either by providing court hearings or returning them to the U.S. Judge James Boasberg ordered the government to come up with a plan within two weeks. The men have since been returned to Venezuela. It’s the latest development in a case that’s been a legal flashpoint in the administration’s sweeping crackdown on immigration.

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FILE - The Department of Homeland Security logo is seen during a news conference in Washington, Feb. 25, 2015. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)

US drops plan to deport Chinese national who exposed Xinjiang abuses, rights activists say

December 22, 2025

The Department of Homeland Security has dropped its plan to deport a Chinese national who entered the country illegally after his plight raised public concerns that the man, if deported, would be punished by Beijing for helping expose human rights abuses in China’s Xinjiang region. That’s according to two rights activists, including a lawyer who assisted in the case. Guan in 2020 secretly filmed detention facilities in Xinjiang, which activists say have been used to lock up as many as 1 million members of ethnic minorities in the region, especially the Uyghurs. He left China the following year and sought asylum in the U.S. after arriving on a boat. The Department of Homeland Security didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

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UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava returning after stellar 2025 season

December 22, 2025

UCLA quarterback Nico Iamaleava is returning for another season instead of declaring for the NFL draft. The school announced Iamaleava will be back for his second season with the Bruins in 2026. Iamaleava threw for 1,928 yards and 13 touchdowns with seven interceptions while completing 64% of his passes this season. He also was the Bruins’ leading rusher with 505 yards and four touchdowns on 112 carries. The 6-foot-6, 215-pound quarterback from Long Beach previously played two seasons at Tennessee, throwing for 2,619 yards and 19 touchdowns with five interceptions in 2024.

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Indiana Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle questions a call as his team plays the New York Knicks during the second half of an NBA basketball game in Indianapolis, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/AJ Mast)

Carlisle to step down, Bickerstaff to become National Basketball Coaches Association president

December 22, 2025

Indiana Pacers coach Rick Carlisle will be stepping down as president of the National Basketball Coaches Association at the end of the month and Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff will replace him. Carlisle said Monday he had decided about a year ago that this year, his 20th, would be his last. He said an election was help and members chose Bickerstaff. The 66-year-old Carlisle entered Monday’s game in Boston one win from the 1,000th of his coaching career.

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At least 2 people killed in Mexican Navy plane crash near Galveston, Texas

December 22, 2025

A small Mexican Navy plane transporting a 1-year-old medical patient along with seven others, crashed Monday near Galveston, killing at least two people.  Mexico’s Navy said in a statement to The Associated Press that emergency officials have rescued four people and were searching for two that were inside the aircraft. Four of the people aboard were Navy officers and four were civilians, according to the Navy. It was not immediately clear which ones were missing and which had been killed. The crash took place Monday near the base of a causeway near Galveston, along the Texas coast about 50 miles (80.5 kilometers) southeast of Houston.

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FILE - Federal Communications Commission chairman Brendan Carr speaks during the Concordia Annual Summit in New York, Sept. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Andres Kudacki, File)

FCC bans new Chinese-made drones, citing security risks

December 22, 2025

The Federal Communications Commission says it will ban new foreign-made drones, a move that will keep new Chinese-made drones out of the U.S. market. Monday’s announcement came a year after Congress passed a defense bill that raised national security concerns about Chinese-made drones, which have become a dominant player in the U.S., widely used in farming, mapping, law enforcement and filmmaking. The FCC said a review found that all drones and critical components produced in foreign countries, not just by Chinese companies, posed “unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons.”

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FILE - Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy speaks during a news conference at the Department of Transportation in Washington, Dec. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

Colorado faces $24M federal funding cut over illegal commercial driver’s licenses

December 22, 2025

The head of the U.S. Department of Transportation is calling out Colorado for its slow response to what he describes as major violations of federal commercial driver’s license regulations. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy threatened Monday to pull $24 million in federal funding for the western state if it does not revoke truck and bus licenses that were issued improperly. The federal government has been identifying states where commercial driver’s licenses issued to immigrants have remained valid long after they should have. In other cases, states didn’t check the immigration status of drivers before issuing a license. Duffy says the driving public is at risk.

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FILE - The archbishop of Miami, Thomas Wenski, raises his hand while addressing a crowd during a panel on immigration at Georgetown University in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Luis Andres Henao,File)

White House rebuffs Catholic bishops’ appeal for a Christmas pause in immigration enforcement

December 22, 2025

Florida’s Catholic bishops have appealed to President Donald Trump to pause immigration enforcement during the Christmas holidays. Miami Archbishop Thomas Wenski, along with other bishops, expressed concern about the impact on families and communities. They argue that many immigrants caught in enforcement actions are not criminals but are simply working. The White House, however, indicated in its response that it will continue its usual operations. Wenski is known for advocating humane treatment of migrants and highlights their contributions to the economy. He also participates in initiatives to support the spiritual needs of detainees in immigration centers.

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Nick Saban speaks during a news conference announcing his minority ownership of the Nashville Predators at the NHL hockey team's facilty Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

From football to hockey: Nick Saban’s new role with the Nashville Predators

December 22, 2025

Nick Saban knows his strengths with seven national championships as a college football coach. He also understands how to put coaches and athletes in the best position to succeed. That’s what he hopes to bring to the NHL’s Nashville Predators after joining the franchise as a minority owner. Saban said Monday he’s no expert in hockey but has a good idea successful organizations. Saban made his first appearance in his new role as a minority owner alongside Predators chairman Bill Haslam. The Predators announced Saban’s purchase Dec. 16 through a group controlled by Saban and his business partner Joe Agresti.

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Kansas City Chiefs Chairman and CEO Clark Hunt watches the start of a meeting of legislative leaders who had the power to decide whether the state issues bonds to help the Chiefs finance a new stadium on the Kansas side of the Kansas City metropolitan area, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, at the Statehouse in Topeka, Kan. (AP Photo/John Hanna)

Chiefs’ move to Kansas leaves Missouri fans heartbroken over another NFL franchise leaving

December 22, 2025

The Kansas City Chiefs have announced plans to move from Arrowhead Stadium in Missouri to a new domed stadium in Kansas. This decision follows Kansas lawmakers approving a bond package to cover up to 70% of the new stadium’s costs. Missouri lawmakers had tried to keep the Chiefs with their own funding package but were outbid. The move marks the second time in a decade that Missouri has lost an NFL team. The Chiefs’ relocation has sparked mixed reactions among fans, with concerns about ticket prices and the legacy of Arrowhead Stadium. It is also a big blow to Missouri lawmakers and Gov. Mike Kehoe.

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FILE - The company logo is shown on the grille of an unsold 2026 AMG S63 Performance model on the lot of a Mercedes Benz dealership Nov. 2, 2025, in Littleton, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Mercedes-Benz agrees to pay $149.6 million to settle multistate emissions allegations

December 22, 2025

Mercedes-Benz USA and parent company Daimler AG have agreed to pay $149.6 million to settle allegations the automaker secretly installed devices in hundreds of thousands of vehicles to pass emission tests. A coalition of 50 attorney generals announced the deal on Monday. According to the attorney generals, the automaker between 2008 and 2016 equipped more than 211,000 vehicles with devices that controlled emissions during tests but reduced those controls during normal operations. The devices enabled vehicles to exceed legal emission limits for nitrogen oxides, a pollutant that can cause respiratory illnesses and contributes to smog.

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The Federal Reserve Chair logo appears on a podium at the Federal Reserve, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

21 Democratic-led states sue White House over consumer protection bureau funding

December 22, 2025

A coalition of 21 attorneys general from Democratic-led states has sued the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and its director, Russell Vought. They argue that the White House’s decision to withhold funds from the agency is unconstitutional. The lawsuit centers on the Trump administration’s claim that the CFPB can only be funded by the Federal Reserve’s profits. The Federal Reserve has been running a loss since 2022. The Democratic attorneys general argue that the CFPB was lawfully created by Congress and must be funded. They say defunding the agency will hinder efforts to stop predatory lenders and scammers.

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Pittsburgh Steelers' DK Metcalf walks off the field after an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Fan denies using racial slur in heated exchange with Steelers’ DK Metcalf

December 22, 2025

A Detroit Lions fan who Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver DK Metcalf punched at during a game between the teams has denied allegations he used a racial slur in a statement released by his lawyers Monday. A law firm representing Ryan Kennedy said in a statement released to The Associated Press on Monday that Kennedy “categorically denies” using a slur or any other derogatory statement during the exchange with Metcalf that ended with the two-time Pro Bowler taking a swing at Kennedy with his right arm.

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Cars wait at an intersection with no working traffic lights from power outages, in San Francisco, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Waymos blocked roads and caused chaos during San Francisco power outage

December 22, 2025

Waymos stopped in the middle of intersections during a mass power outage in San Francisco over the weekend, causing the robotaxi company to suspend service for a day. Social media users posted videos of Waymos on Saturday with their hazard lights blinking, stopped right before entering an intersection with a darkened traffic light, or in many cases, stopped in the intersection while cars swerved around them. The power outage affected 130,000 homes and businesses in San Francisco. By Monday morning, the utility company was still working to restore power to more than 5,000 customers.

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President Donald Trump departs his Mar-a-Lago club, Monday, Dec. 22, 2025, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump is expected to announce plans for a new Navy ‘battleship’

December 22, 2025

The White House is expected to announce plans to build a new, large warship that President Donald Trump is calling a “battleship” as part of a larger vision to create a “Golden Fleet.” That’s according to people familiar with the plans. Retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery is now a senior director at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and familiar with the discussions. He says the announcement will include a new, large “surface combatant class” of ship and as many as 50 support ships. Trump is to make the announcement Monday at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, where he is to be joined by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Navy Secretary John Phelan.

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FILE - Michigan acting head coach Biff Poggi watches as his team plays against Nebraska during the first half of an NCAA college football game Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025, in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/Rebecca S. Gratz, File)

Michigan interim coach Biff Poggi wants to keep the job beyond bowl game and ‘fix this program’

December 22, 2025

Biff Poggi tapped on a lectern as he closed a news conference and made his case to be Michigan’s football coach beyond its bowl game. The interim coach told reporters on Monday that he wants to fix the program. Clearly, college football’s winningest program is broken. The 18th-ranked Wolverines were shaken nearly two weeks ago when Sherrone Moore was fired as coach. Michigan said Moore had an inappropriate relationship with a staff member and two days later, he was charged with three crimes. Poggi is preparing the team to play No. 14 Texas in the Citrus Bowl on Dec. 31.

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FILE - Ohio State offensive coordinator and wide receivers coach Brian Hartline stands on the field before the start of their NCAA college football game against Texas, Aug. 30, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete, File)

Ryan Day takes over offensive play-calling duties for Ohio State in College Football Playoff

December 22, 2025

Ryan Day will call the offensive plays for Ohio State during the College Football Playoff. This starts with the quarterfinal game against Miami at the Cotton Bowl on December 31. Brian Hartline, who called plays during the regular season, accepted the head coaching job at South Florida on December 3. He remains on staff through the CFP, coaching wide receivers. Day says the game plan is a group effort with other coaches. Day called plays during his first five years as head coach. Ohio State enters the game with the fifth-ranked offense among the remaining eight teams.

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FILE - Japan's Munetaka Murakami rounds the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning of a World Baseball Classic game against the U.S., March 21, 2023, in Miami. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier, file)

White Sox expect Japanese slugger Munetaka Murakami to make quick impact and put up big numbers

December 22, 2025

Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz calls Munetaka Murakami “one of the most prolific power hitters on the planet” and expects the 25-year-old Japanese slugger to make an immediate impact on his rebuilding team next season. The White Sox and Murakami agreed to a $34 million, two-year contract on Sunday. On Monday, Murakami signed the deal as he was introduced to the media at Rate Field. Murakami has a .270 career average with 246 homers and 647 RBIs in 892 games over eight seasons with the Yakult Swallows of Japan’s Central League.

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Four Illinois members of Congress left to right; Rep. Jonathan Jackson, D-Ill., Rep. Delia Ramirez, D-Ill., Rep. Danny Davis, D-Ill., and Jesus Garcia, D-Ill., leave after a visit to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement processing center in Broadview, Ill. (AP Photo/Sophia Tareen)

Illinois members of Congress are latest to tour immigration facilities after judge’s ruling

December 22, 2025

Four Illinois members of Congress have been allowed into a suburban Chicago immigration processing center that’s been at the forefront of an immigration crackdown. Their tour on Monday comes after a judge’s ruling last week said Trump administration policies cannot block congressional access to immigration facilities. The Associated Press observed U.S. Reps. Danny Davis, Jesús “Chuy” García, Delia Ramirez and Jonathan Jackson walk into the facility and spend about an hour inside. They reported some improved conditions but raised concerns about the lack of medical staff. The facility has been criticized for being used as a de facto detention center.

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FILE - Former CIA Director John Brennan arrives for a meeting at the Capitol in Washington, May 21, 2019. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Ex-CIA director John Brennan wants ‘favored’ Trump judge kept away from Justice Department inquiry

December 22, 2025

Lawyers for former CIA Director John Brennan want the Justice Department to be prevented from steering an investigation of him and other former government officials to a “favored” judge in Florida who dismissed the classified documents case against President Donald Trump. The request Monday is addressed to U.S. District Judge Cecilia Altonaga, the chief judge in the Southern District of Florida, where federal prosecutors have launched a criminal investigation related to the U.S. government assessment of Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Brennan and other officials have received subpoenas and Brennan’s lawyer say he’s been advised by prosecutors that he’s a target of the investigation.

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FILE - Atlanta Braves pitcher Andy Messersmith poses, April 1976. (AP Photo/File)

It’s been 50 years since a lawyer’s decision unlocked free agency in MLB and changed sports forever

December 22, 2025

Sports were turned upside down 50 years ago Tuesday by a man who never threw or kicked a ball. A lawyer with expertise in labor relations struck down Major League Baseball’s reserve clause, which had bound players to their teams since the 1870s. No one could have predicted then that the 65-page decision issued Dec. 23, 1975 by arbitrator Peter Seitz would lead to an upheaval that made thousands of players multimillionaires. Seitz was immediately fired by MLB and later compared baseball owners to “the French barons of the 12th century.”

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FILE - The logo for Alphabet appears on a screen at the Nasdaq MarketSite in New York, Feb. 14, 2018. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

Google’s parent buys data center energy specialist Intersect for $4.75 billion to help power AI

December 22, 2025

Google’s corporate parent on Monday announced an agreement to buy data center energy specialist Intersect for $4.75 billion as part of its effort to secure the vast amounts of electricity needed to power artificial intelligence technology. Alphabet, which depends on Google’s search engine and other online services for most of its revenue, is buying out Intersect in its entirety after purchasing a stake in the San Francisco-based startup a year ago. Intersect focuses on securing the energy sources needed for the sprawling data centers being built to power the AI services rolling out from Google and rivals such as OpenAI.

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People take photos while walking through the San Francisco Botanical Garden's Winter Cathedral exhibit for Lightscape at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Golden Gate Park’s dazzling holiday light display brings joy to the season

December 22, 2025

A new night-time holiday display in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park is delighting visitors with music, colors and over a million twinkling lights. The mile-long illuminated trail at the Botanical Garden features towering peonies and whimsical water lilies. Sarah Marsh from Gardens of Golden Gate Park says the children’s reactions are priceless. The immersive holiday trail is called Lightscape. Sister gardens in Chicago, Brooklyn and London also have the event, but this is San Francisco’s first. The display has already attracted 100,000 visitors with some eager to return during the day. The show runs through Jan. 4.

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President Donald Trump holds a cell phone with a call to Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang as he departs on Air Force One at Rocky Mount-Wilson Regional Airport, Friday, Dec. 19, 2025, in Elm City, N.C. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump removes nearly 30 career diplomats from ambassadorial positions

December 22, 2025

The Trump administration is recalling nearly 30 career diplomats from ambassadorial and other senior embassy posts as it moves to reshape the U.S. diplomatic posture abroad with personnel deemed fully supportive of President Donald Trump’s “America First” priorities. The chiefs of mission in at least 29 countries were informed last week that their tenures would end in January. That’s according to two State Department officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal personnel moves. All of them had taken up their posts in the Biden administration but had survived an initial purge in the early months of Trump’s second term that targeted mainly political appointees. That changed on Wednesday when they began to receive notices about their imminent departures.

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President Donald Trump arrives on Air Force One at Palm Beach International Airport, Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump holds an event with Rubio and Hegseth during vacation as tensions with Venezuela mount

December 22, 2025

President Donald Trump is gathering with top national security officials. Monday’s meeting comes as the U.S. Coast Guard is stepping up efforts to interdict oil tankers in the Caribbean Sea as part of an escalating pressure campaign on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and others are scheduled to join Trump, who is vacationing at his Mar-a-Lago resort, for what the White House calls a “major announcement.” A White House official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said Trump plans to discuss a shipbuilding initiative.

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Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speaks to reporters following the weekly policy luncheons at the Capitol, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Schumer urges Senate to take legal action over Justice Department’s staggered Epstein files release

December 22, 2025

The Senate’s top Democrat is urging his colleagues to take legal action over the Justice Department’s incremental and heavily redacted release of records pertaining to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer introduced a resolution that, if passed, would direct the Senate to file or join lawsuits aimed at forcing the Justice Department to comply with the Epstein Files Transparency Act. That law, enacted last month, required disclosure of records by Friday. In lieu of Republican support, Schumer’s resolution is largely symbolic. It’ll likely face an uphill battle for passage. But it allows Democrats to continue a pressure campaign for disclosure that Republicans had hoped to put behind them. The senate is off until Jan. 5.

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From Broadway understudy to star: John Skelley’s magical journey with Harry Potter comes full circle

December 22, 2025

John Skelley can’t escape the pull of Harry Potter. The stage actor first joined Broadway’s “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” as an understudy. He then led the cast in San Francisco before the pandemic hit. He returned to Potter on a national tour and now finds himself back on Broadway. Skelley wasn’t initially a huge fan of Potter and hadn’t read the books before auditioning. Once he landed the gig, he quickly immersed himself in the world of Hogwarts. Skelley hopes the play will inspire audiences to see more live theater in their communities.

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This photo combo shows from left, Zach Top, Beyonce, and Jelly Roll. (AP Photo/File)

The Grammys split the country album category into traditional and contemporary. It might be great

December 22, 2025

The Grammys’ country album category has been split into two for the 2026 award show. The Recording Academy has announced that the best country album category is now the best contemporary country album and a best traditional album category has been created. Some view the decision as backlash to Beyoncé’s historic win in 2025 for “Cowboy Carter,” becoming the first Black woman to win best country album. Others welcome the addition of a new award and the creative doors it might open. Some question how the categories would be defined in a genre where the word “traditional” is loaded. But experts and musicians say if it keeps evolving, this is a good thing.

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Dorothy Waterhouse, program director for the syringe exchange program at the Clark County Health Department, opens a cabinet containing supplies used for the program Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2025, in Jeffersonville, Ind. (AP Photo/Obed Lamy)

Addiction-stricken community struggles to keep a syringe program going after Trump’s order

December 22, 2025

Decades of research show syringe programs are extremely effective at preventing infectious disease among intravenous drug users and referring them to treatment. But a July executed order from President Donald Trump’ says federal substance abuse grants can’t pay for supplies it says “only facilitate illegal drug use,” such as cookers and tourniquets. Needles already couldn’t be purchased with federal money. In some places, the order is galvanizing support for syringe exchanges. In others, like Indiana, it’s fueling opposition that threatens their existence. But health workers in one Indiana community are doing what they can to keep their program going.

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Want to read more in 2026? Here’s how to revive your love of books

December 22, 2025

It’s not too late to turn the page on old habits and start reading again in 2026. People often stop reading in adulthood because they’re fatigued from school book assignments or just don’t have the time. When picking a new book, ask friends, librarians and booksellers for recommendations. Think about favorite TV shows and movies and try to find books that are similar in genre. Set a regular reading routine of a few minutes or pages a day and keep phones and laptops out of sight. If a book feels particularly sluggish, it’s OK to put it down and start another.

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FILE - An instacart logo and an instacart webpage are seen in New York, Sept. 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Richard Drew, File)

Instacart ends a program where users could see different prices for the same item at the same store

December 22, 2025

Instacart is ending a program where customers saw different prices for the same product ordered at the same time from the same store. The program was meant to help retailers learn more about what kinds of prices customers would pay for items. It created controversy after a report from Consumer Reports and two advocacy groups said Instacart offered nearly three out of every four grocery items to shoppers at multiple prices in an experiment. Instacart said the different prices were offered at random, not based on any personal customer information or on demand like in surge pricing.

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Chuck Dietrick poses for a portrait at his home in Anna, Texas, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Most US adults aren’t making year-end charitable contributions, new AP-NORC poll finds

December 22, 2025

A new AP-NORC poll finds that most Americans aren’t making end-of-year charitable giving plans, despite the many fundraising appeals made by nonprofits that rely on donation surges in the calendar’s final month to reach next year’s budget targets. The survey found that about half of U.S. adults say they’ve already made their charitable contributions for 2025. Just 18% indicated they’ve donated and will donate again before the year is over. Only 6% reported they haven’t given yet but will do so by year-end. Everyday donors faced competing priorities this year, but weaker income gains and steep price inflation meant that lower-income households had less money to redistribute.

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FILE - New York City Mayor Eric Adams talks to the press in front of the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Oct. 4, 2023, in Mexico City. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, File)

NYC Mayor Eric Adams once called himself the ‘future of the Democratic Party.’ What went wrong?

December 22, 2025

New York City Mayor Eric Adams was once seen as a rising star in the Democratic Party. But as he prepares to leave office at the end of this month, the city’s second Black mayor may be most remembered for the historic corruption indictment brought against him. The allegations of bribery and fraud have marred his legacy, which is also marked by efforts to reduce crime and revive the pandemic-battered economy. While the charges against Adams were dropped by President Donald Trump’s Justice Department, his alignment with the Republican ultimately damaged his reputation and helped end his re-election bid.

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