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January 16, 2026.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Jaden McDaniels (3) defends against Houston Rockets forward Kevin Durant (7) during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Houston, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

Kevin Durant’s season-high 39 points and clutch free throws lift Rockets over Timberwolves

January 16, 2026

Kevin Durant scored 39 points and made a season-best six 3-pointers to lead the Houston Rockets to a 110-105 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves. A 6-2 run by the Timberwolves, with four points from Julius Randle, got them within 105-102 with about 90 seconds to go. Sengun fouled out soon after that and Jaden McDaniels made one of two free throws to get Minnesota within two points. Durant made two free throws with under a minute left before Randle turned the ball over and Durant was fouled again. He made two more free throws with 22.1 seconds left to seal the victory.

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FILE - Actor Timothy Busfield smiles before an NFL football game in Detroit, Sept. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

Actor Timothy Busfield’s attorneys say an investigation undermines state’s child sex abuse charges

January 16, 2026

Emmy Award-winning actor Timothy Busfield’s attorneys told a court he should be released while he awaits the outcome of child sex abuse charges against him. Busfield’s attorneys said in court filings Friday an independent investigation undermined the state’s allegations and the parents of his accusers have a history of fraud and dishonesty. His attorneys also say he passed a polygraph test. Busfield was ordered held without bond at his first court appearance earlier this week after he turned himself in to face charges stemming from allegations that he inappropriately touched a minor on the set of a TV series he was directing in New Mexico.

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FILE - Wearing a beaded bolo around a pin that says "United States Senate," Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., listens to thanks from members of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, after the passage of a bill granting the tribe with federal recognition, on Capitol Hill, in Washington, Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Sen. Thom Tillis takes on the White House, but not Trump

January 16, 2026

Sen. Thom Tillis isn’t holding back in his final year in Washington. He criticizes President Donald Trump’s advisers and questions their influence on key decisions. Tillis recently participated in a congressional delegation to Copenhagen to show unity with Denmark as Trump threatens to seize Greenland. He also criticized the Justice Department’s investigation of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. Tillis often targets Trump’s senior aides, questioning whether Trump receives the best advice. He remains supportive of Trump but expresses frustration with certain advisers. Tillis’ candid approach has attracted attention and support from some GOP colleagues.

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Federal immigration officers are seen outside Bishop Whipple Federal Building after tear gas was deployed Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Jen Golbeck)

Trump’s Twin Cities immigration crackdown has made chaos and tension the new normal

January 16, 2026

Work starts around sunrise for the federal officers carrying out the immigration crackdown in and around the Twin Cities, with people in tactical gear streaming from a bland office building. Soon they leave in the unmarked convoys which have quickly become feared and common sights in the streets of Minneapolis, St. Paul and their suburbs. Operation Metro Surge is the Trump administration’s latest and biggest crackdown yet, with more than 2,000 officers taking part. It has pitted local officials against the federal government, sparked daily clashes between activists and immigration officers, and left a mother of three dead. The crackdown is barely noticeable in some areas, but it can be felt across broad swaths of the Twin Cities area.

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Virginia Gov.-elect Abigail Spanberger during an interview at the Capitol Tuesday Jan. 6, 2026, in Richmond, Va. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)

Abigail Spanberger becomes Virginia’s 1st female governor in historic inauguration

January 16, 2026

Abigail Spanberger is set to become Virginia’s first female governor after centuries of men holding the state’s top office. The Democrat’s inauguration happens around noon Saturday outside the state Capitol. Spanberger defeated Republican Winsome Earle-Sears to succeed Gov. Glenn Youngkin, also a Republican. It marks a new chapter as Democrats pull the levers of power in Virginia while Republicans run neighboring Washington. Also being sworn in are Democrats Ghazala F. Hashmi, the first Muslim woman to serve in statewide office in the U.S., and Jay Jones, who is the first Black person elected as top prosecutor in the former capital of the Confederacy.

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Davis Riley acknowledges the crowd on the 18th hole during the second round of the Sony Open golf event at the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Riley, defending champ Taylor part of 5-way tie for lead at windy Sony Open

January 16, 2026

The wind arrived early and stayed late Friday in the second round of the PGA Tour’s season-opening Sony Open. Davis Riley thrived in the difficult conditions in the morning, birdieing the par-5 18th for a 64 and a share of the lead. Riley matched defending champion Nick Taylor, Kevin Roy, S.H. Kim and Adrien Dumont de Chassart at 9-under 131 at Waialae Country Club. Taylor faced the stiffest wind of the day in the afternoon a day after shooting a 62 in calmer conditions for a share of the first-round lead with Roy. The Canadian ran in a 25-foot birdie putt on the par-4 15th and a 17-footer on the par-4 16th to take the outright lead, then bogeyed the par-3 17th to slip back.

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President Donald Trump points after arriving at Palm Beach International Airport on Air Force One, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, in West Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Trump issues a flurry of pardons, including for a woman whose sentence he commuted in his first term

January 16, 2026

President Donald Trump has issued a series of pardons, including for the father of a large donor to his super PAC and a woman who ended up back in prison after he commuted her sentence during his first term. Adriana Camberos was convicted in a separate plot in 2024 after previously being convicted as part of a scheme to divert 5-Hour Energy drink bottles acquired for resale in Mexico and instead keep them in the U.S. Camberos and her brother were among 14 pardons Trump issued Thursday and Friday, along with eight commutations. He also pardoned banker Julio Herrera Velutini, whose daughter, Isabela Herrera, donated $3.5 million to Trump’s MAGA Inc. super PAC.

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Marine One helicopter is seen on the South Lawn of the White House to transport President Donald Trump to nearby Andrews Air Force Base, as work continues on the construction of the ballroom at the White House, Tuesday, Jan., 13, 2026, in Washington, where the East Wing once stood. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Trump quietly appoints 4 members to commission that will review his White House ballroom plan

January 16, 2026

President Donald Trump this week quietly appointed four new members to the Commission of Fine Arts, one of two federal panels reviewing his plan to build a White House ballroom. One of the new members is James McCrery, an architect who had led the ballroom project until Trump replaced him late last year. The White House announced the project last summer and Trump later demolished the East Wing to make room for it. The National Trust for Historic Preservation has sued to halt construction until the fine arts panel and a second federal commission give their approval. The names of the new commissioners were revealed in a court filing related to the lawsuit.

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Ottawa Senators' Brady Tkachuk, center, celebrates with teammate Thomas Chabot, left, after scoring a goal as New York Rangers goaltender Jonathan Quick (32) looks away during the first period of an NHL hockey game Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

Rangers GM Chris Drury shared letter with fans saying the franchise feels their disappointment

January 16, 2026

New York Rangers general manager Chris Drury shared a letter with fans, saying the franchise feels their disappointment. Drury wrote on Friday that he plans to retool by possibly trading established players. Coming off an underachieving this season and missing the playoffs last year, the Rangers are the only team with a losing record in the Eastern Conference past the midway mark of the NHL season. New York has lost a season-high five games, entering its next game Saturday at Philadelphia. The Rangers were booed off the ice at the first intermission of their latest loss, an 8-4 loss to Ottawa that was the team’s 17th setback in 22 games at Madison Square Garden.

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President Donald Trump speaks at a dedication ceremony for a portion of Southern Boulevard, which the Town of Palm Beach Council recently voted to rename,"President Donald J. Trump Boulevard," Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, at his Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Trump offers to restart US mediation in Nile River dispute between Egypt and Ethiopia

January 16, 2026

President Donald Trump says he’s ready to restart U.S. mediation between Egypt and Ethiopia over Nile River water sharing. Mediation efforts began during Trump’s first term but collapsed in 2020 when Ethiopia withdrew. Ethiopia inaugurated the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam last fall, which could double its electricity generation. Egypt opposes the dam, fearing it will reduce its Nile water share. Trump posted a letter to Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi expressing his readiness to mediate. Trump often claims credit for ending conflicts, though some claims are exaggerated.

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Documents that were included in the U.S. Department of Justice release of the Jeffrey Epstein files are photographed Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)

Justice Department says members of Congress can’t intervene in release of Epstein files

January 16, 2026

Manhattan’s top federal prosecutor said Friday that a judge lacks the authority to appoint a neutral expert to oversee the public release of documents in the sex trafficking probe of financier Jeffrey Epstein and British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell. Judge Paul A. Engelmayer was told in a letter signed by Jay Clayton that he must reject a request made earlier this month by the congressional cosponsors of the Epstein Files Transparency Act to appoint a neutral expert. The request was made earlier this month by the congressional cosponsors of legislation that forced the release of materials last month.

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FILE - Education Secretary Linda McMahon speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Trump administration delays plan to withhold wages for student loan borrowers in default

January 16, 2026

The Trump administration is delaying its plans to withhold pay from student loan borrowers who default on their payments, backing off a measure that threatened to deliver a financial blow to millions of Americans. An announcement from the Education Department on Friday said involuntary collections on federal student loans will remain on hold as the agency finalizes new repayment plans. The shift reverses course on earlier plans to restart wage garnishments this month after a pandemic-era pause. Federal student loan borrowers can have their wages garnished and their federal tax refunds withheld if they default on their loans, meaning they are at least 270 days behind on payments.

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Miami football head coach Mario Cristobal speaks during an interview on the team's indoor practice field in Coral Gables, Fla., Monday, Jan. 12, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

ACC more than survived, it thrived. Miami in the College Football Playoff final is proof

January 16, 2026

The Power 4 conference that didn’t get its champion into the College Football Playoff ended up with another team playing for the national title. So much for the demise of the Atlantic Coast Conference. The league that looked most vulnerable a few short years ago when the latest round of realignment hit suddenly is doing just fine. The best proof: Miami, which plays Indiana in the title game Monday — a matchup that, at least for now, left a debacle involving conference champion Duke in the rearview mirror.

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The Supreme Court is seen, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Tennessee man pleads guilty to repeatedly hacking Supreme Court’s filing system

January 16, 2026

A Tennessee man has pleaded guilty to hacking the U.S. Supreme Court’s filing system more than two dozen times. Court records show that Nicholas Moore also admitted on Friday that he illegally accessed accounts belonging to AmeriCorps and the Veterans Administration Health System. U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell in Washington, D.C., is scheduled to sentence Moore on April 17. Moore pleaded guilty to a one count of computer fraud, a misdemeanor that carries a maximum prison sentence of one year. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro’s office charged him last week.

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National Guard are seen on the East Front of the U.S. Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

National Guard troops to stay on Washington, DC, streets through 2026

January 16, 2026

National Guard troops will be on the streets of Washington, D.C., until the end of the year. That’s according to a memo signed by Army Secretary Dan Driscoll this week and reviewed by The Associated Press. The memo says “the conditions of the mission” warranted an extension past the end of next month to continue supporting President Donald Trump’s “ongoing efforts to restore law and order.” The extension comes after Trump said this month that for now he was dropping his push to deploy National Guard troops in Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland, Oregon, which had provoked legal challenges.

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Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay congratulates linebacker Jared Verse (8) after he blocked a field goal attempt and returned it for a touchdown in the second half of an NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Caleb Williams presents an elusive challenge for Jared Verse, Rams’ defense in their playoff meeting

January 16, 2026

When Jared Verse begins to elaborate on the methodology of sacking Caleb Williams, it’s obvious the Los Angeles Rams star edge rusher has been thinking about this monumental task quite a bit. Williams’ clutch playmaking has driven the Bears to the NFC North title and homefield advantage in their divisional round visit from the Rams. LA’s success in containing the former Southern California star will be a determining factor in this matchup. Particularly in the fourth quarter, when two quarterbacks known for late comebacks seem likely to be trading big plays in the Chicago cold.

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FILE - Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell speaks at the Federal Reserve, Dec. 10, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Republicans vouch for Fed chair, creating a rare schism with Trump

January 16, 2026

Republicans in Congress are supporting Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell as the Trump administration ramps up its pressure campaign against the central bank. The rare break in Congress from Trump is a result of Powell revealing that the Justice Department had served subpoenas on the Fed. Republican senators have had Powell’s back after he cultivated relationships with them since he was first appointed in 2018. GOP Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana, one of Trump’s most reliable allies in the Senate, said this week that he knows Powell well and would be “shocked” if he did anything wrong. Another Republican, North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis, has vowed to withhold support for any Trump administration nominees to the Federal Reserve until the legal cloud surrounding the chair is resolved.

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FILE - A BYD electric car is on display at the Essen Motor Show in Essen, Germany, Thursday Dec. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, File)

Chinese EVs are making inroads in North America. That worries industry experts

January 16, 2026

China’s rapid development of electric vehicles had competitors concerned even before Canada this week agreed to cut its tariffs on EVs in exchange for concessions on Canadian farm products. Experts say an easier path into Canada could be a big boost for Chinese carmakers, whose EVs are loaded with tech and more affordable where they’re not confronted by tariffs.

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U.S. Supreme Court is seen, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Supreme Court will decide on use of warrants that collect the location history of cellphone users

January 16, 2026

The Supreme Court has agreed to decide the constitutionality of broad search warrants that collect the location history of cellphone users to find people near crime scenes. The case the justices stepped into Friday involves what is a known as a “geofence warrant” that was served on Google in a police hunt for a bank robber in suburban Richmond, Virginia. Geofence warrants, an increasingly popular investigative tool, seek location data on every person within a specific location over a certain period of time. Police used the information to arrest Okello Chatrie in the 2019 robbery of the Call Federal Credit Union in Midlothian. Chatrie eventually pleaded guilty and was sentenced to nearly 12 years in prison.

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The U.S. Supreme Court is seen, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

Supreme Court will hear appeal by maker of popular Roundup weedkiller to block thousands of lawsuits

January 16, 2026

The Supreme Court has agreed to hear an appeal from global agrochemical manufacturer Bayer to block thousands of state lawsuits alleging it failed to warn people that its popular weedkiller could cause cancer. The justices said Friday they’ll consider whether the Environmental Protection Agency’s approval of the Roundup weedkiller without a cancer warning should rule out the state court claims. The Trump administration has weighed in on Bayer’s behalf, reversing the Biden administration’s position and putting it at odds with some supporters of the Make America Healthy Again agenda. Some studies associate Roundup’s key ingredient, glyphosate, with cancer, although the EPA has said it is not likely to be carcinogenic to humans when used as directed.

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This image taken from video shows Michael David McKee walking into the courtroom on Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Rockford, Ill. (WIFR News/Pool Photo via AP)

Ex-husband indicted by grand jury in slaying of couple found in their Ohio home

January 16, 2026

An Ohio grand jury indicted a man in the double homicide of his ex-wife and her husband who were killed in their home last month. Court records show a Franklin County grand jury charged Michael David McKee on Jan. 16, with aggravated murder and aggravated burglary. McKee, a vascular surgeon who was living in Chicago, is charged in the shooting deaths of 39-year-old Monique Tepe and her 37-year-old husband, dentist Dr. Spencer Tepe, in their Columbus home on Dec. 30. Monique Tepe and McKee were divorced in 2017. Authorities apprehended McKee in Rockford, Illinois, last weekend, where he remains in custody. His next hearing is scheduled for Jan. 23.

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FILE - Monthanus Ratanapakdee holds a photo of her father, 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee, and stands in front of the San Francisco apartment building where he was attacked last year and later died of his injuries, on Jan. 26, 2022. (AP Photo/Terry Chea, File)

Man found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in 2001 death of San Francisco Thai grandfather

January 16, 2026

A 24-year-old man has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter in the death of an elderly Thai man in San Francisco. The jury did not find Antoine Watson guilty of murder for the January 2021 attack on Vicha Ratanapakdee. Ratanapakdee was attacked during his morning walk and died two days later, helping spark a national movement against anti-Asian American violence. His family believes the attack was racially motivated, but hate crime charges were not filed. The San Francisco District Attorney’s office says jurors will return Jan. 26 to hear arguments on aggravating factors. Watson testified he was in a haze of confusion during the attack.

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FILE - The OpenAI logo is displayed on a mobile phone in front of a computer screen with output from ChatGPT, March 21, 2023, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)

ChatGPT’s free ride is ending: Here’s what OpenAI plans for advertising on the chatbot

January 16, 2026

OpenAI plans to introduce ads for ChatGPT users who aren’t paying for the premium version. The company announced Friday that it will start testing ads in the coming weeks. OpenAI aims to monetize its chatbot, which has over 800 million users, most of whom use it for free. Despite being valued at $500 billion, the startup is losing more money than it makes. The digital ads will appear at the bottom of ChatGPT’s answers when there’s a relevant sponsored product or service. OpenAI assures that the ads will be clearly labeled and separated from the organic answers.

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Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado speaks at the Heritage Foundation, an influential conservative think tank, a day after meeting with President Donald Trump and members of Congress, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Venezuelan opposition leader is confident about return of democracy but says little of her plans

January 16, 2026

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado says she’s confident of her country’s eventual transition to democracy after the U.S. military ousted former President Nicolás Maduro. But when pressed, she took pains to avoid giving details on her plans to return home or any timetable for elections in Venezuela. Her remarks on Friday reflect how President Donald Trump’s endorsement of a Maduro loyalist to lead Venezuela for now has frozen out the nation’s Nobel Peace Prize-winning crusader for democracy. Still, Machado has looked to get closer to Trump, presenting her Nobel medal to him a day earlier at the White House.

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Meta's Stanton Springs Data Center is seen Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026, in Newton County, East of Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

How the White House and governors want to fix AI-driven power shortages and price spikes

January 16, 2026

The White House and a bipartisan group of governors are taking aim at power shortages and price spikes from data centers for artificial intelligence. Trump administration officials on Friday cast the effort as part of its bid to win the artificial intelligence race against China, and rising electric bills are a concern for voters. They’re trying to pressure the operator of the mid-Atlantic power grid to get tech companies to bid on contracts to build new power plants. Consumer advocates say ratepayers in the grid — which stretches from New Jersey to Illinois — are paying billions of dollars in higher bills to underwrite the cost to supply power to data centers.

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President Donald Trump boards Air Force One, Friday, Jan. 16, 2026, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Trump takes the unusual step of thanking Iran for canceling executions of political prisoners

January 16, 2026

President Donald Trump is thanking Iran for canceling the executions of more than 800 political prisoners. On Friday, Trump told reporters about the decision while leaving for his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump had previously suggested the U.S. might strike Iran if mass killings occurred during widespread protests. The death toll from these protests remains high, but Trump hints U.S. military action is less likely now. The Republican president claims Iran has stopped killings and executions and says he “greatly” respects that. This statement contrasts with the complex situation in Iran. Trump also stated that he convinced himself to step back from earlier threats of military action.

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (8) loses possession of the ball while being tackled by Houston Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter (55) during the second half of an NFL wild-card playoff football game, Monday, Jan. 12, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Justin Berl)

Texans’ fearsome foursome fuels Houston’s pass rush

January 16, 2026

Asked how he’d describe Houston’s pass rush to someone who hadn’t seen the Texans play before, coach DeMeco Ryans took a few seconds before landing on an answer. “It’s like four Tasmanian devils just wrecking everything that’s in front of them,” he said. After a stellar performance in a win over the Steelers in the wild-card round, the Texans are looking for this fearsome foursome to lead them again when they visit the Patriots on Sunday, when a win will put them in the AFC championship for the first time in franchise history.

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FILE - A pharmacist gives a patient a flu shot in Miami on Sept. 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Daniel Kozin, File)

US flu activity fell for a second week. But experts worry the season is far from over

January 16, 2026

Health experts say the U.S. flu season appears to be waning with two straight weeks of decline in measures of flu activity. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday posted the latest data showing a big drop in flu hospitalizations and a smaller but significant decrease in medical office visits due to flu-like illness. The number of states reporting high flu activity also fell — from 44 to 36. But that doesn’t mean the season is over, especially for the flu. CDC officials noted second surges in flu activity often occur after the winter holidays.

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FILE - Governor Wanda Vázquez speaks at a press conference in San Juan, Puerto Rico, May 21, 2020. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti, File)

Trump to pardon ex-Puerto Rico governor Vázquez in campaign finance case, official says

January 16, 2026

President Donald Trump plans to pardon former Puerto Rico Gov. Wanda Vázquez, a White House official said. The official who confirmed the planned pardon on Friday wasn’t authorized to reveal the news by name and spoke on the condition of anonymity. Vázquez pleaded guilty last August to a campaign finance violation in a federal case that authorities say also involved a former FBI agent and a Venezuelan banker. Her sentencing was set for later this month. Federal prosecutors had been seeking one year behind bars. Vázquez was the U.S. territory’s first former governor to plead guilty to a crime, specifically accepting a donation from a foreigner for her 2020 political campaign.

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Striking nurses demonstrate outside Mt. Sinai Hospital, in New York, Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2026. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Nurses restart contract talks with another major hospital system on 5th day of strike

January 16, 2026

New York City nurses on strike say they’ve restarted contract talks with another one of the major hospital systems affected on the fifth day of the walkout. The New York State Nurses Association said Friday that its bargaining team has begun meetings with their counterparts at three Mount Sinai hospitals on Friday. The union met Thursday night with NewYork-Presbyterian administrators but both sides said the lengthy meeting ended with little progress made to end the city’s biggest strike of its kind in decades. Negotiations still have not resumed with Montefiore, the third major hospital system impacted. Each medical center is negotiating with the union independently.

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CIA Director John Ratcliffe arrives at the U.S. Capitol Monday, Jan. 5, 2026, in Washington, to brief top lawmakers after President Donald Trump directed U.S. forces to capture Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

CIA director meets Venezuela’s acting president in Caracas

January 16, 2026

CIA Director John Ratcliffe has met with Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez. He is the highest-ranking Trump administration official to visit the country after the U.S. raid that captured former leader Nicolás Maduro. Thursday’s two-hour meeting was meant to demonstrate the desire by the U.S. for a better relationship with Venezuela. That’s according to a U.S. government official who spoke Friday on condition of anonymity. The official says Ratcliffe discussed potential economic collaboration and warned that Venezuela can never again allow the presence of American adversaries, including drug traffickers. The meeting is the most significant indication yet that Trump is willing to work with Rodríguez.

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FILE - New York Mets President of Baseball Operations David Stearns responds to questions during a news conference about MLB trade deadline deals, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Pamela Smith, File)

Bo Bichette and New York Mets have agreed to a $126 million, 3-year contract, AP source says

January 16, 2026

Bo Bichette and the New York Mets have agreed to a $126 million, three-year contract. That’s according to two people familiar with the negotiations who spoke Friday to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical. The infielder Bichette can opt out after the first and second season. He would receive $47 million for one year and $89 million for two years, one of the people said. The deal does not contain any deferred money and Bichette gets a full no-trade provision.

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A person looks out of their vehicle as Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents walk away, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Richfield, Minn. (AP Photo/Adam Gray)

A Liberian man released after his battering-ram arrest in Minneapolis is back in custody again

January 16, 2026

A Liberian man is back in custody in Minnesota, a day after a judge ordered him released because agents broke down his door to arrest him without a judicial warrant. The dramatic arrest of Garrison Gibson last weekend by armed immigration agents using a battering ram was captured on video. Gibson’s lawyer says his client was detained again Friday when he appeared at an immigration office for a routine check-in, even after a judge ruled his arrest unlawful. Gibson’s arrest is one of more than 2,500 in the Twin Cities, according to Department of Homeland Security data.

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Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba (11) scores a touchdown during overtime in an NFL football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

All-Pro WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba a leader on and off the field for the Seahawks amid record season

January 16, 2026

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba set the Seahawks’ franchise records for receiving yards and receptions in the 2025 season. But Smith-Njigba is more than just a talented wide receiver. He has a background in baseball, a love of chess and a cool, calm demeanor that has endeared him to his teammates. Now, the Seahawks hope Smith-Njigba’s magical season will continue into the playoffs, starting with Saturday evening’s NFC divisional playoff game against the San Francisco 49ers. Teammate Rashid Shaheed says “he doesn’t care if he gets zero catches or 13 catches. He knows he helps the team just by him being on the field.”

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FILE - The U.S. Department of Education building is seen in Washington, on Nov. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

The Education Department is opening fewer sexual violence investigations as Trump dismantles it

January 16, 2026

The Education Department is opening fewer sexual violence investigations at schools and universities. The Office for Civil Rights enforced these cases but has been cut by President Donald Trump, leaving fewer lawyers to manage 25,000 complaints. Since last year’s layoffs, investigations into allegations schools mishandled sexual assault complaints have dropped dramatically. Meanwhile, Trump’s Republican administration has increased investigations into schools that make accommodations for transgender students, alleging gender discrimination. Even before the layoffs, there were complaints the office moved too slowly on cases. Now, some law firms have stopped filing complaints, calling it a dead end. The Education Department says the office is working through its caseload.

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FILE - Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, introduces Brooke Rollins during a Senate Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry Committee hearing on her nomination for Secretary of Agriculture, Jan. 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

When Texas Republican John Cornyn became a senator, Bush was president. Will he survive Trump’s GOP?

January 16, 2026

Four-term Texas Sen. John Cornyn is in the political fight of his career. Cornyn is in a primary contest that will test how much of a place remains in President Donald Trump’s Republican Party for establishment allies who are not seen as MAGA warriors. Cornyn faces state Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt in the March primary while enduring criticism the 73-year-old incumbent’s moment has passed. Cornyn argues Congress already has enough performance artists and his state needs an effective legislator. But some Republican voters equate being brash and aggressive with being conservative. The race is expected to go to a runoff.

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Gale Harn

January 16, 2026

Gale Harn was born on January 5, 1951, to Wade and Fern (Kennedy) Harn of Long Valley, South Dakota. The

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Vanderbilt guard Mikayla Blakes (1) is pressured by Mississippi State forward Madison Francis, left, and guard Saniyah King (1) as she attempts a layup during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game, Thursday, Jan. 15, 2026, in Starkville, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Blakes scores 38 points, No. 5 Vanderbilt beats Mississippi State for first 18-0 start

January 16, 2026

Mikayla Blakes scored a season-high 38 points and No. 5 Vanderbilt won its school-record 18th straight game to open the season, beating Mississippi State 89-84 on Thursday night. The Commodores are 5-0 in Southeastern Conference play for the first time since 1992-93, the season they opened 17-0. The 18-game winning streak is the longest in school history at any point in a season. Blakes hit five 3-pointers, made 11 free throws without a miss and had seven assists. Justine Pissott added 12 points, and Aiyana Mitchell had 10 points and eight rebounds. Vanderbilt broke it open with 21-6 run in the third quarter. Madison Francis led Mississippi State (14-5, 1-4) with 15 points.

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Miami wide receiver Malachi Toney leaves the field after the Fiesta Bowl NCAA college football playoff semifinal game against Mississippi, Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

The road back to title contention was long for Miami. The Hurricanes have finally broken through

January 16, 2026

Miami has made a remarkable comeback in college football. The Hurricanes, once struggling, are now playing for the national championship against Indiana. This turnaround follows a tough period with multiple coaches and no major wins. Coach Mario Cristobal has transformed the team’s culture, emphasizing hard work and accountability. Miami has achieved back-to-back seasons with double-digit wins. Players like Rueben Bain Jr. and CJ Daniels have also contributed to community efforts, reflecting the team’s new values. Cristobal believes in the team’s progress but acknowledges there’s more work to do. The dark days for Miami seem to be over.

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FILE - The Food and Drug Administration seal is seen at the Hubert Humphrey Building Auditorium in Washington, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Takeaways from the AP’s report on turmoil surrounding the FDA’s new fast-track drug program

January 16, 2026

Questions remain among top Food and Drug Administration officials over who has the appropriate legal authority to sign off on drugs cleared under a new plan to slash FDA drug review times. The initiative by FDA Commissioner Marty Makary promises ultra-fast reviews for drugs that align with “U.S. national priorities.” It’s at the center of Makary’s stated goal to “cut red tape” and “challenge assumptions” at the agency tasked with assuring the safety of food, medicines, medical devices and other consumer goods. But FDA staffers tell The Associated Press the push for faster approvals is contributing to a climate of anxiety, fear and confusion within the agency’s drug center.

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Dr. Marty Makary, commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, speaks during a press briefing at the White House, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Legal questions swirl around FDA’s new expedited drug program, including who should sign off

January 16, 2026

A plan to slash Food and Drug Administration drug review times is raising alarms at the public health agency that’s been rocked by recent layoffs and resignations. Agency staffers and outside experts worry the FDA commissioner’s voucher program runs afoul of legal, ethical and scientific standards used to review new medicines. FDA staffers tell The Associated Press the effort is taking decisions away from career scientists and placing them in the hands of political appointees. The program awards vouchers to drugs favored by President Donald Trump’s administration, promising reviews in as little as one month, not six to 10 months. Health and Human Services says the voucher program prioritizes “gold standard scientific review.”

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Are Trump’s supporters getting what they want from his second term? Here’s what a new poll shows

January 16, 2026

A new AP-NORC poll finds nearly a year into President Donald Trump’s second term, his work on the economy hasn’t lived up to the expectations of many people in his own party. But Republicans remain overwhelmingly supportive of Trump’s leadership on immigration — even if some don’t like his tactics. Overall, Republicans strongly support Trump: About 8 in 10 adults who identify as Republican approve of Trump’s job performance, compared with 40% of adults overall. But on the economy, the poll reveals signs of weakness regarding Trump’s core campaign promise to reduce costs. Just 16% of Republicans say Trump has helped “a lot” on the cost of living in his second term.

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Sharks are famous for fearsome teeth, but ocean acidification could make them weaker

January 16, 2026

A group of German scientists tested the effects of a more acidic ocean on sharks’ teeth and found that future generations of sharks could have weaker teeth because of changing ocean chemistry. Ocean acidification is the ongoing decrease in pH of Earth’s oceans that scientists have linked to human activities including the burning of fossil fuels. The scientists found that sharks’ teeth could become structurally weaker and more likely to break as oceans become increasingly acidic. They say the ocean is expected to become 10 times more acidic by 2300. The scientists performed the study by collecting discarded teeth from sharks in an aquarium.

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FILE - Greg Biffle celebrates in victory lane after winning the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Kansas Speedway on Sunday, Oct. 3, 2010, in Kansas City, Kan. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner, File)

NASCAR community set to mourn Greg Biffle and family at memorial service in Charlotte

January 16, 2026

A memorial service is planned for Friday in Charlotte for former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and six others killed in a plane crash last month. Biffle, his wife and two children were on the plane. The crash near the airport in Statesville, North Carolina, is still under investigation. Biffle was a top NASCAR driver and known for his humanitarian efforts. The crash left the NASCAR community shaken. Authorities are also investigating a recent theft at Biffle’s home.

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