national - The Rapid City Post

FILE - Circuit Judge Diane Goodstein presides over a trial in a lawsuit between the Diocese of South Carolina and the national Episcopal church on July 8, 2014, in St. George, S.C. (AP Photo/Jeffrey Collins, File)

South Carolina’s top law official says no arson evidence so far in fire that destroyed judge’s home

October 6, 2025

South Carolina’s top law enforcement official says state agents have so far found no evidence that a fire destroying a judge’s home on a South Carolina island was intentionally set. The blaze on Saturday nearly burned to the ground the house owned by Circuit Judge Diane Goodstein on Edisto Island. State Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel says the investigation is still ongoing, and agents will issue a report when they determine the cause. Three people were hurt in the fire, with one taken to a hospital. Keel also encouraged people to stop sharing unverified information about the fire.

FILE - The Wisconsin Capitol is seen, Oct. 24, 2023, in Madison, Wis. (AP Photo/Scott Bauer, File)

Wisconsin DOJ asks judge to pause voter citizenship verification order

October 6, 2025

The Wisconsin Department of Justice is asking a judge to immediately put on hold his order that would require elections officials to verify the citizenship of all 3.6 million registered Wisconsin voters before the next statewide election in February. The state justice department, which represents the Wisconsin Elections Commission, on Monday asked for a stay pending an appeal. The fight over verifying the citizenship status of voters in battleground Wisconsin comes as President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice has sought voter records from at least 19 states, including Wisconsin.

FILE - Members of the Long Island Roller Rebels practice, Mar. 19, 2023, at United Skates of America, in Seaford, NY. (AP Photo/Jeenah Moon, File)

New York judge upholds transgender athlete ban on Long Island

October 6, 2025

A New York judge has upheld a Long Island county’s law banning transgender women from playing on female sports teams at county-run parks and recreational facilities. In a decision Monday, state Supreme Court Judge Bruce Cozzens wrote that Nassau County’s ban is designed “to protect women and girls” and that transgender athletes can still play in coed sports leagues at the facilities. A roller derby league, the Long Island Roller Rebels, had sued over the law, arguing it violated state anti-discrimination laws. The New York Civil Liberties Union, which filed the lawsuit on the league’s behalf, released a statement saying it would challenge Monday’s decision.

FILE - Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry speaks to reporters outside "Camp 57," a facility to house immigration detainees at the Louisiana State Penitentiary in Angola, La., Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

ACLU says ICE is unlawfully punishing immigrants at a notorious Louisiana detention center

October 6, 2025

The American Civil Liberties Union is accusing the Trump administration of unlawfully punishing immigration detainees for past crimes by transferring them to a notorious Louisiana prison. A lawsuit filed Monday says the inhumane conditions of the newly opened “Louisiana Lockup” violate Double Jeopardy protections and that detainees should be released if the government fails to deport them after six months. The prison, better known as Angola, was once a slave plantation and has a grim history. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Oscar Hernandez Amaya, a Honduran man and convicted felon who has been in ICE custody for two years.

A protester, draped in an altered American flag, watches as law enforcement officers try to disperse protesters near a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility in Portland, Ore. on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Trump’s use of the National Guard sets up a legal clash testing presidential power

October 6, 2025

President Donald Trump’s plan to deploy the military on U.S. soil is sparking conflict with blue state governors that is playing out in the courts. Legal experts say Trump’s attempt to deploy California National Guard members to Oregon and Texas Guardsmen to Illinois hasn’t been seen before and is likely to be scrutinized by the courts. Leaders in Democrat-led Illinois, Oregon and California have challenged Trump’s move. This situation raises significant questions of constitutional law and federalism. Trump envisions a stronger role for the military on U.S. soil and has said troops should consider American cities a “training ground.”

Dusk falls as children play at a temporary tent camp for displaced Palestinians in Deir al-Balah, in the central Gaza Strip, Monday, Oct. 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Abdel Kareem Hana)

How American views on Israel and antisemitism have changed since Oct. 7

October 6, 2025

Nearly two years after the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks in Israel and the county’s ensuing invasion of the Gaza Strip, Americans are more divided on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict than they were before the war – and concerns are mounting about the safety of Jewish communities at home. The partisan split in public opinion on Israel predates the current war with Hamas, but recent polling suggests that some Americans have lost sympathy with the Israelis over the course of the war. The war has amplified debates in the U.S. not just about foreign policy, but also about the safety and visibility of Jewish communities in America, where fears of antisemitism are rising alongside growing divides over Israel.

Rush announce reunion tour five years after the death of drummer Neil Peart

October 6, 2025

Five years after their influential drummer Neil Peart died of glioblastoma, the Canadian band Rush have announced a reunion tour Monday. Rush co-founders Geddy Lee and Alex Lifeson revealed a 12-date, seven city tour is scheduled for summer 2026. It will kick off in June at the Kia Forum in Los Angeles. That’s where the band played their final show in 2015. The reunion tour will end in Cleveland and they’ll also hit Mexico City; Fort Worth, Texas; Chicago; New York and Toronto. Taking Peart’s place is award-winning German composer and producer Anika Nilles. She has previously toured with Jeff Beck.

Committee member Dr. Martin Kulldorf, speaks during a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at the CDC on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Chamblee, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

CDC stops recommending COVID-19 shots for all, leaves decision to patients

October 6, 2025

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has adopted recommendations by a new group of vaccine advisers, and has stopped recommending COVID-19 shots for anyone. The government health agency has announced the change Monday, saying people should decide for themselves in consultation with a medical professional. That goes along with a decision last month by an advisory panel handpicked by U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Before this year, U.S. health officials recommended annual COVID-19 boosters for all Americans ages 6 months and older.

FILE - Afrikaner refugees from South Africa holding American flags arrive, May 12, 2025, at Dulles International Airport in Dulles, Va. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)

Trump considers cutting US refugee intake to 7,500, focusing on white South Africans, officials say

October 6, 2025

President Donald Trump is considering admitting far fewer refugee into the U.S. this year – as few as 7,500, and mostly white Afrikaners. That’s according to two people familiar with the administration’s planning but unauthorized to discuss it. The reduction in refugees comes as the administration it is also conducting sweeping immigration raids as part of its mass deportation agenda. The new figures have not been finalized by the Trump administration. A White House official said the administration is halting all refugee admissions during the federal government shutdown. Advocates warn the decrease would essentially bump from the line refugees who have already been vetted and are awaiting approvals.

A shooting near Houston suburb leaves two children dead and two others in critical condition

October 6, 2025

Authorities in the Houston suburb of Angleton, Texas, say two children have died and two more have been critically injured in a shooting. The Brazoria County Sheriff’s Office says the shooting happened early Saturday, killing two children, ages 13 and 3. Two others, ages 8 and 9, were critically injured and flown to a hospital. The sheriff’s office says the two injured children are in stable condition and a woman has been arrested. A public relations officer with the department says investigators are working to verify how the woman and children are related. Officials say there is no ongoing threat to the community.

FILE - President Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and others, tour "Alligator Alcatraz," a new migrant detention facility at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility, Tuesday, July 1, 2025, in Ochopee, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

DOJ contradicts DeSantis: Some detainees at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ likely never in removal proceedings

October 6, 2025

U.S. government lawyers say detainees at the Florida Everglades immigration detention center, known as “Alligator Alcatraz,” likely include people who have never been in removal proceedings. This contradicts Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’s claims since the facility opened in July. The U.S. Department of Justice made this admission Thursday in a court filing. They argue that detainees don’t have enough in common to be certified as a class in a lawsuit over access to attorneys. Civil rights groups allege detainees have been denied proper access to legal counsel, violating their constitutional rights. DeSantis’s office hasn’t responded to requests for comment.

Bari Weiss is the new editor-in-chief of CBS News after Paramount buys her website

October 6, 2025

Paramount is buying the successful news commentary website The Free Press and installed its founder, Bari Weiss, as editor-in-chief of CBS News. The move, while anticipated, is a bold one for David Ellison, new corporate leader of Paramount and CBS. Weiss will report directly to Ellison and be responsible for shaping editorial priorities and driving innovation at CBS News. Ellison said he believes the majority of the country wants news that is balanced and fact-based, and he wants CBS to be their home. Some at CBS News have expressed worry that the move will be seen as friendly to President Donald Trump.

Taylor Moyer slices strawberries as her youngest son, Bradley, helps put the sliced fruit into a bowl while at home in the kitchen, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025, in Virginia Beach, Va. (AP Photo/John Clark)

Government shutdown threatens food aid program relied on by millions of families

October 6, 2025

Experts say a food aid program that helps 6 million low-income mothers and young children will run out of federal money unless the government shutdown ends within two weeks. States would have to use their own money to keep it afloat. The $8 billion Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children provides vouchers to buy infant formula, fresh fruits and vegetables, low-fat milk and other healthy staples. Mom Taylor Moyer in Virginia says WIC has helped her feed her three children nutritious food. Some states including Connecticut have sought to reassure WIC recipients they’ll keep receiving benefits in an extended shutdown. Washington state says it doesn’t have the money to keep the program open.

FILE - Pieces of Dubai chocolate appear in a Lindt shop in Aachen, Germany on Nov. 14, 2024. (AP Photo/Daniel Niemann, File)

The Dubai chocolate craze is now about much more than bars

October 6, 2025

Some flavor crazes flirt with us and fade. Others stay and make themselves at home. The Dubai chocolate movement seems to have put down roots and is spreading. The sweet flavors and thick texture that have made Dubai chocolate bars such a success are morphing into other kinds of confections too. There are Dubai-inspired candies, syrups, croissants, milk shakes and more in a variety of flavors. Big retailers and small bakeries alike have jumped on board. The original Dubai chocolate bar was created in the United Arab Emirates in 2021, and soon exploded on social media. The classic features a thick, milk chocolate shell usually encasing a creamy pistachio or tahini filling mixed with crispy, shredded, phyllo-like pastry.

FILE - The Supreme Court in Washington, June 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Supreme Court rebuffs push to revive Missouri law barring police from enforcing some U.S. gun laws

October 6, 2025

The Supreme Court is refusing to revive a controversial Missouri gun law that bans police from enforcing some federal firearm laws. The high court rejected a push Monday to hear arguments over whether the state can block police from enforcing federal gun laws that don’t have an equivalent state law. The measure imposed $50,000 fines for officers who knowingly enforced those federal laws, which include possession of firearms by some domestic violence offenders and weapons registration and tracking. Lower courts found the 2019 law violated the Supremacy Clause, a section of the U.S. Constitution that says federal law takes precedence over state laws.

Supreme Court rejects appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell, imprisoned former girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein

October 6, 2025

The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned ex-girlfriend of Jeffrey Epstein. The justices Monday declined to take up a case that would’ve renewed attention on the Epstein sexual-abuse saga after President Donald Trump’s administration sought to tamp down criticism over its refusal to publicly release more investigative files. Trump’s Republican administration had urged the high court to stay out of the case. Lawyers for Maxwell argued she never should’ve been tried or convicted for a role in luring teenage girls to be sexually abused by Epstein. Maxwell is serving 20 years and recently was transferred from a Florida prison to a Texas prison camp.

‘The Walking Dead’ comes alive in auction for 15-year anniversary

October 6, 2025

The eerily humanistic zombies from “The Walking Dead” first stepped into viewers’ living rooms on Halloween nearly 15 years ago, ushering in a new era for the horror genre. Fans are getting a chance to own some of the franchise’s most coveted items. AMC Networks, in partnership with Heritage Auctions, will be auctioning over 1,000 prop items that span the entire franchise. Online bidding runs until Nov. 1. Greg Nicotero, who led the show’s special effects, says the auction takes people “on a journey” through the timeline of the franchise, starting from the first season and through the various spinoffs.

FILE - President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce new tariffs, April 2, 2025, in the Rose Garden at the White House in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

Trump says the US has secured $17 trillion in new investments. The real number is likely much less

October 6, 2025

President Donald Trump claims his policies have generated $17 trillion in new investments, but the real number is likely much less. The White House website only lists $8.8 trillion, though even that number appears to be padded with investment commitments made during Joe Biden’s presidency. The White House didn’t lay out the math after multiple requests as to how Trump calculated $17 trillion. But the issue goes beyond Trump’s hyperbolic talk to his belief that the brute force of tariffs and shaming of companies can deliver economic results. That bet could go sideways for him politically if the tough talk fails to translate into more jobs and higher incomes.

The Supreme Court will evaluate Trump’s expansive claims of presidential power in its new term

October 6, 2025

The Supreme Court is beginning a new term with a sharp focus on President Donald Trump’s robust assertion of executive power. Pivotal cases on voting and the rights of LGBTQ people also are on the agenda. On Tuesday, the justices will hear arguments over bans passed by nearly half of U.S. states on therapy aimed at changing sexual orientation or gender identity. The opening session Monday has lower-profile cases. But a major thrust of the next 10 months is expected to be the justices’ evaluation of the Republican president’s expansive claims of presidential power.

A sample ballot is pictured before early voting starts in California's statewide special election, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Paula Ulichney-Munoz)

Voting is underway in California on new maps that could swing US House control, check Trump’s power

October 5, 2025

The fight for control of the U.S. House is underway in California. Voters are considering whether to drastically reshape congressional districts to add as many as five Democratic seats in advance of the 2026 midterm elections. The plan championed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is intended to offset Trump’s moves in Texas to gain five Republican districts ahead of the midterms. Ballots are arriving at voters’ homes and voting concludes on Nov. 4. The outcome of the election could determine which party controls the closely divided House and the reach of President Donald Trump’s power in the second half of his term.

Taylor Swift’s ‘The Official Release Party of a Show Girl’ debuts at No. 1 with $33 million

October 5, 2025

Taylor Swift’s new film, “The Official Release Party of a Show Girl,” has topped the weekend box office with $33 million in North America. The AMC Theatres release was announced just two weeks ago and features music videos and behind-the-scenes footage. This success follows her “Eras Tour” concert film, which opened to $96 million nearly two years ago. Meanwhile, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson’s drama “The Smashing Machine” debuted in third place with $6 million. Other notable releases include “One Battle After Another” at $11.1 million and “Gabby’s Dollhouse: The Movie” at $5.2 million.

FILE - A rig and supply vessel are viewed in the Gulf of Mexico off the cost of Louisiana, April 10, 2011. AP Photo/Gerald Herbert, File)

OPEC+ to raise oil production by 137,000 barrels per day in November

October 5, 2025

A group of countries in the OPEC+ alliance has agreed to a small boost in oil production, citing a steady global economic outlook. After a virtual meeting on Sunday, it announced an increase of 137,000 barrels per day in November, the same amount as October. The group has been raising output slightly throughout the year after announcing cuts in 2023 and 2024. It stated the move is due to “a steady global economic outlook and current healthy market fundamentals.” The production adjustments may be paused or reversed as market conditions evolve. The next meeting is scheduled for Nov. 2.

The U.S. Capitol is seen on the second day of the government shutdown, in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Government shutdown enters fifth day as Democrats and Republicans remain at an impasse

October 5, 2025

Washington lawmakers remain at a standstill over reopening the government, showing few signs of progress. Both parties believe public opinion supports their stance, with Democrats pushing for health insurance subsidies and President Donald Trump aiming to maintain current spending levels. The shutdown adds to economic uncertainty, with hiring slowing and inflation high. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries on Sunday criticized Republicans for not negotiating. Trump was confident but vague, claims cost-cutting success. The Trump administration sees the shutdown as a chance to cut federal jobs. Talks remain unproductive, with a Senate vote failing to advance a Republican bill.

The USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier sails in the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Norfolk, Va., Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, Pool)

Trump will celebrate the Navy’s 250th anniversary in the midst of the shutdown

October 5, 2025

President Donald Trump is set to mark the Navy’s 250th anniversary by joining a celebration at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia. His appearance later Sunday comes in the midst of the government shutdown. The Republican president said in a social media post Friday night that he believes the show must go on despite the impasse in Washington. The shutdown that began Wednesday has sparked a series of partisan blame games. Meantime, military personnel are working without pay. Scheduled to join Trump at the event are first lady Melania Trump, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Navy Secretary John Phelan.

Brianna Wheeler poses for a photo at Peninsula Park, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

At America’s national parks in the Trump era, the arc of history bends toward revisionism

October 5, 2025

The National Park Service under President Donald Trump is looking to reshape what it tells Americans about their history. Park managers are under orders to make their stories more “uplifting.” But the history of slavery doesn’t lend itself to a happier narrative. At some parks, officials tell The Associated Press that brochures have been pulled for revision and employees have been told to purge references to “enslavers.” Even so, a guided tour at Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, still presents an unflinching story from the town where John Brown mounted a violent raid to free the enslaved and stirred anti-slavery public opinion on the cusp of the Civil War.

The U.S. Capitol is seen, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Will the government shutdown affect next year’s election? Recent history provides clues

October 5, 2025

Political leaders in Washington are spending much of their energy these days blaming the other party for what could be a significant government shutdown. That effort includes shaping the narrative for next year’s midterm elections. The Democratic campaign arm for House members has taken out digital ads critical of the Republican incumbents in 35 congressional districts it considers in play. Meanwhile, the House Republican campaign organization has digital ads running in dozens of swing districts. But recent history would suggest shutdowns play a limited role in subsequent elections as voters soon move on to other priorities.

Customs and Border Protection agents standoff against demonstrators outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility during a protest on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from deploying troops in Portland, Oregon

October 4, 2025

A federal judge in Oregon has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from deploying the National Guard in Portland. U.S. District Judge Karin Immergut issued the order Saturday in a lawsuit brought by the state and city. The Defense Department had said it was placing 200 members of Oregon’s National Guard under federal control for 60 days to protect federal property at locations where protests are occurring or likely to occur after Trump called the city “war-ravaged.” Oregon officials and Portland residents alike said that description was ludicrous. The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement building in Portland has recently been the site of nightly protests.

Trader Michael Conlon works on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange as the rate decision of the Federal Reserve is announced, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

DC’s shutdown hasn’t stopped the stock market. Here’s what may

October 4, 2025

The U.S. stock market continues to rise despite the government’s latest shutdown. The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average hit all-time highs on Friday. It’s not just big tech driving the market; the Russell 2000 index of smaller stocks and gold also reached records. Past shutdowns have had minimal effects on the market, and many investors expect the market to climb further. However, there are concerns about expensive stocks, the need for rising corporate profits, and whether the Federal Reserve makes further cuts to interest rates. The AI boom also needs to deliver on its promises to sustain growth.

FILE - A train conductor walks between subway cars at a station in the Coney Island section of New York, Thursday, Jan. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)

Two girls are found dead in New York after a fatal game of ‘subway surfing,’ authorities say

October 4, 2025

New York City police found two girls dead in what apparently was a game of “subway surfing” that turned out to be fatal. Police said they responded to a 911 call Saturday morning just after 3 a.m. at the Marcy Avenue stop in Brooklyn to find two unconscious females who were pronounced dead at the scene. Police didn’t identify the victims or give their ages. But New York City Transit President Demetrius Crichlow describes them as girls involved in subway surfing. He says getting on top of a subway car is suicide, not surfing. He says the grieving families and the transit workers who discovered the girls have been horribly shaken.

Tony Scott stands with the pumpkin he grew in his Wappingers Falls, N.Y., backyard on Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Shelby Lum)

How to grow a giant pumpkin, with help from science

October 4, 2025

Every year, growers raise giant pumpkins and compete in annual weigh-offs against other colossal fruits. They choose seeds that have yielded large pumpkins in the past or test new ones. After that, it comes down to the right combination of water, nutrients and care. As the leafy patch expands, growers remove smaller pumpkins that sprout. Because of gravity, giant pumpkins grow wide but not tall. Pumpkins aren’t the only crops that can get massive. Other members of the gourd family like squashes, cucumbers and watermelons also can get huge.

FILE - The full moon rises in the over a beer sign in the outfield at Kauffman Stadium during a baseball game between the Kansas City Royals and the Detroit Tigers, Tuesday, Sept. 17, 2024, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)

The first supermoon of the year is approaching. Here’s what to know

October 4, 2025

The first supermoon of the year is almost here. The moon will appear slightly larger and brighter on Monday. It’s the first of three supermoons this year. This happens when the full moon is closer to Earth in its orbit. Supermoons occur a few times a year. They’ve visible without special equipment if clear skies permit. But the difference can be tough to discern, especially if people haven’t observed the regular moon on the nights leading up. The closest supermoon of the year is slated for November, followed by another in December.

In this photo made with a slow shutter speed, President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Legal setbacks mount for Trump’s birthright order before likely Supreme Court review

October 4, 2025

Now it’s five federal courts that have rejected President Donald Trump’s executive order seeking to end automatic citizenship for the children of people who are in the United States illegally or temporarily. The latest ruling against his move on birthright citizenship came Friday by an appeals court in Boston. The Supreme Court is almost certain to have the final word. But the string of losses in lower courts could mean an uphill fight even in front of the justices, who so far have sided with the president on many legal challenges.

FILE - Members of the Supreme Court sit for a new group portrait at the Supreme Court building in Washington, Oct. 7, 2022. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

New Supreme Court term confronts justices with Trump’s aggressive assertion of presidential power

October 4, 2025

A monumental Supreme Court term is set to begin with major tests of presidential power on the agenda. There also are important cases on voting and the rights of LGBTQ people. The court’s conservative majority has far been receptive, at least in preliminary rulings, to many of President Donald Trump’s aggressive assertions of authority. They could be more skeptical when they conduct an in-depth examination of some Trump policies, including the Republican president’s imposition of tariffs and his desired restrictions on birthright citizenship. The new term gets underway Monday.

Dr. Inaki Bent, right, talks with Jonas Richards, left, while working with the Miami Street Medicine team to provide medical services to homeless people, Saturday, Aug. 23, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

How a Miami health care group is meeting homeless patients where they live

October 3, 2025

A nonprofit group in Miami is helping reduce the strain on emergency rooms by providing homeless people with health care where they live. The organization Miami Street Medicine is part of Dade County Street Response, which also includes a free clinic. The teams of paid staff and medical school student volunteers aren’t just bandaging cuts and handing out aspirin. They’re providing follow-up visits for chronic conditions and working with specialists like dermatologists, neurologists and cardiologists. Altogether, the work helps homeless patients get medications other care they need to prevent their treatable conditions from becoming emergencies.

Bad Bunny to kick off ‘SNL’ 51st season with a group of new cast members

October 3, 2025

Live from New York! It’s a new “SNL” season, with faces both fresh and familiar. Bad Bunny kicks off the 51st season along with musical guest Doja Cat. The highly anticipated first episode follows a fanfare-filled 50th season celebrating the past. Now, “Saturday Night Live” looks to the future with a cast that includes five new featured players. Bad Bunny is having what can only be described as an enormous week: in another kickoff moment, he’s been announced as headliner for the Super Bowl halftime show.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La. and Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

The GOP says it’s winning the shutdown. Some fear Trump’s cuts may change that

October 3, 2025

President Donald Trump is using the federal shutdown to push deep spending cuts in states that backed Democrat Kamala Harris in 2024. His administration has slashed billions in clean energy and transit funding in places like California and Illinois. Some Republicans now fear the strategy could backfire and cost them their political advantage after Democrats voted against measures to keep the government open. The backlash could bring electoral consequences as soon as next month. In Virginia and New Jersey, Democrats are linking GOP candidates to the fallout ahead of November elections. The cuts have also stalled Senate talks and prolonged the shutdown.

FILE - The opening session of the two-day Mormon church conference is shown Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer, File)

Latter-day Saints hold first general conference without a president in at least a century

October 3, 2025

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is convening Saturday for its twice-annual general conference at a pivotal moment in its history. It comes just days after the death of its oldest-ever president and a deadly attack on a congregation in Michigan. Dallin Oaks is set to succeed Russell Nelson under the church’s well-defined leadership hierarchy dating back to the late 1800s. But his announcement isn’t expected until some time after Nelson’s funeral, which is scheduled a couple days after the conference on Tuesday. The 200-year-old faith known widely as the Mormon church hasn’t held a general conference without a president since its early years, but experts say there’s no leadership vacuum.

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., talk to reporters outside the West Wing of the White House, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

The Oval Office meeting didn’t stop a shutdown, but the Trump 2028 hats and a sombrero set a tone

October 3, 2025

Halfway through Donald Trump’s inaugural White House meeting with congressional leadership, the red “Trump 2028” hats appeared on the president’s desk. The moment was vintage Trump –- grabbing the attention and seeking to throw negotiators off their game as they tried to stop a government shutdown. It also underscored the president’s regard for Congress and his opponents across the political aisle. What was once was considered a historic occasion –- the president of the United States convening his first “big four” meeting with leaders from the House and Senate –- was reduced to another viral souvenir of Trump trolling his opponents. And it did little to prevent a federal government closure.

FILE - President Donald Trump silences his mobile phone in the Oval Office of the White House, May 23, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Trump’s ‘paper tiger’ jab at Russia echoes Mao’s propaganda against the US

October 3, 2025

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin have been trading barbs using the term “paper tiger,” a phrase popularized by the Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong. Trump recently mocked Russia’s military power, calling it a “paper tiger,” which led to a retort from Putin. The exchange has amused historians familiar with Chinese propaganda, as the term was once used by Mao to describe the U.S. during the Cold War. The phrase refers to something seemingly powerful but actually fragile. Historians find it ironic that the leaders of the U.S. and Russia are now using the term against each other.

New Mexico Republican state Senate Minority Leader Bill Sharer of Farmington, N.M., speaks at the opening of a special legislative session in Santa Fe, N.M., Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee)

New Mexico governor signs bills to counter federal cuts, support health care and food assistance

October 3, 2025

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has signed a package of bills aimed at shoring up food assistance, rural health care and public broadcasting in response to recently enacted federal cuts. Signed Friday, the new legislation responds to President Donald Trump’s big bill as well as fear that health insurance rates will rise with the expiration of COVID-era subsidies to the Affordable Care Act exchange in New Mexico. Exchange subsidies are a major point of contention in the Washington budget standoff and related federal government shutdown. New Mexico’s Democratic-led Legislature approved $162 million in state spending on rural health care, food banks, public broadcast and more.

Salvadoran journalist Mario Guevara, right, greets neighbors after arriving at a relative's home in Apopa, El Salvador, following his deportation from the United States, Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (AP Photo/Salvador Melendez)

Spanish-language journalist arrested while covering protest near Atlanta deported to El Salvador

October 3, 2025

A Spanish-language journalist who lived and worked in Georgia has been deported to El Salvador. Mario Guevara was detained in June while covering a protest near Atlanta. Local police arrested him and handed him over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. On Wednesday, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to halt his deportation order. All criminal charges against him were dismissed, and his lawyers argued he was being targeted for his journalism work. Guevara fled El Salvador two decades ago and built a large audience in Atlanta.

FILE - Jimmy Wayne Carwyle appears during an arraignment in Los Angeles, Thursday, May 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, Pool, File)

Judge remains undecided on treatment plan for man charged with stalking Jennifer Aniston

October 3, 2025

A Los Angeles judge remained undecided in a hearing Friday on treatment plan for a man charged with stalking Jennifer Aniston and ramming his car into her home. Jimmy Wayne Carwyle from Mississippi pleaded not guilty to felony stalking and vandalism but was found not competent to stand trial. Aniston’s lawyer spoke on her behalf for the first time, detailing two years of Carwyle’s harassment and various failed attempts to make physical contact. The judge said she leaned toward sending Carwyle to a mental health treatment alternative to imprisonment but requested another hearing later this month to hear from a mental health professional.

FILE - Judge Scott McAfee addresses the lawyers during a hearing on charges against former President Donald Trump in the Georgia election interference case, Thursday, March 28, 2024 in Atlanta. (Dennis Byron/Hip Hop Enquirer via AP, Pool, File)

Judge sets 14-day deadline for appointment of new prosecutor in Georgia election case against Trump

October 3, 2025

A judge has announced that the Georgia election interference case against Donald Trump and others will be dismissed in 14 days if a new prosecutor isn’t appointed. Fulton County Superior Judge Scott McAfee issued the order after District Attorney Fani Willis was disqualified. The Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia is responsible for naming a new prosecutor. Willis was removed due to an “appearance of impropriety” created by a romantic relationship she had with a special prosecutor she appointed to lead the case. It is unlikely Trump could be prosecuted while he is president. But there are 14 other people still facing charges in the case

Justice Brett Kavanaugh holds his personal pocket constitution as he speaks at The Ken Starr Lecture at McLennan Community College, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025, in Waco, Texas. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

California resident gets over 8 years in prison for attempt to assassinate Justice Kavanaugh

October 3, 2025

A California resident who attempted to assassinate U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh at his Maryland home has been sentenced to over eight years in prison. Sophie Roske, a transgender woman charged under her legal name, Nicholas Roske, had faced a maximum sentence of life in prison when U.S. District Judge Deborah Boardman sentenced her Friday to eight years and one month behind bars followed by a lifetime of court supervision. Roske had a pistol, a knife, zip ties and burglary tools in her possession when a taxi dropped her off outside Kavanaugh’s home in June 2022.

A protester is sprayed by a Department of Homeland Security officer outside a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement facility on Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Portland braces for federal troops as protests escalate and a conservative influencer is arrested

October 3, 2025

Five years after protests roiled Portland, Oregon, the city known for civil disobedience is again at the center of a political maelstrom as it braces for the arrival of federal troops promised by President Donald Trump. The arrest of conservative influencer Nick Sortor by Portland police late Thursday at a protest is escalating tensions. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem says she will send additional federal agents to Portland, and the Justice Department is launching a civil rights investigation into his arrest. A federal judge is also expected to rule on whether to block 200 National Guard members from deploying there.

Iowa school district sues firm that vetted superintendent as authorities detail his criminal history

October 3, 2025

Federal authorities have revealed that the superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district, Ian Roberts, had a criminal history before his arrest by immigration agents. The native of Guyana was in the U.S. illegally and lacked work authorization for several years. Officials said the charges on his record include drug possession and weapons offenses. Des Moines Public Schools hired him over two years ago to lead its district of about 30,000 students. The school board is suing the consulting company that vetted Roberts. Also Friday, Des Moines school officials sued the consulting company that conducted the superintendent search in 2022.

President Donald Trump gestures as he arrives at the White House, Friday, Sept. 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Federal appeals court rules Trump administration can’t end birthright citizenship

October 3, 2025

A federal appeals court in Boston has ruled the Trump administration cannot withhold citizenship from children born to people in the country illegally or temporarily. A three-judge panel of the 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday became the fifth federal court since June to either issue or uphold orders blocking the president’s birthright order. The order would end automatic citizenship for children born in the US to people who are here illegally or temporarily. The issue is expected to move quickly back to the U.S. Supreme Court, which restricted the power of lower-court judges to issue nationwide injunctions in a ruling in June.

FILE - A photo of Charles Adair, a man killed when a deputy kneeled on his back in a Kansas jail, is displayed Sunday, Sept. 23, 2025, at a news conference held by his family and their attorneys at Friendship Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Heather Hollingsworth, File)

Kansas deputy charged with murder knelt on inmate for 1 minute and 26 seconds

October 3, 2025

Court records show that a white Kansas sheriff’s deputy charged with murder in the death of a Black jail inmate shoved his knee into the cuffed man’s back for 86 seconds after he was wheeled back to his cell from the infirmary. Richard Fatherly was charged last month with second-degree murder and an alternative count of involuntary manslaughter in Charles Adair’s July 5 death in the Wyandotte County detention center. Adair had been arrested on misdemeanor warrants and was taken to the hospital because of a severe leg infection. After returning to jail, he got into an argument with the deputy. The autopsy listed his death as homicide caused by mechanical asphyxia.

President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House before signing an executive order regarding childhood cancer and the use of AI, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Lawsuit seeks to stop Trump’s $100,000 fee for H-1B visas

October 3, 2025

In what appears to be the first major challenge to the new $100,000 fee required for H-1B visa applications, a coalition of health care providers, religious groups, university professors and others filed a federal lawsuit Friday to stop the plan. The group says the new fee has “thrown employers, workers and federal agencies into chaos.” President Donald Trump signed a proclamation on Sept. 19 requiring the new fee, saying the H-1B visa program “has been deliberately exploited to replace, rather than supplement, American workers.” The lawsuit says the H-1B program drives innovation and economic growth in the U.S., and allows employers to fill jobs in specialized fields. They say the fee will impede that growth.

Peg Sweeney speaks to Eric Sweeney during Sweeney's sentencing hearing at Merrimack Superior Court in Concord, N.H., on Friday, Oct. 3, 2025. (Geoff Forester/ Concord Monitor via AP, Pool)

New Hampshire teen who killed sister-in-law and nephews sentenced to 60 years to life in prison

October 3, 2025

A New Hampshire man who at age 16 killed his sister-in-law and two nephews was sentenced Friday to 60 years to life in prison. Eric Sweeney is now 19 years old. He pleaded guilty to second-degree murder for the 2022 shootings of Kassandra, Benjamin and Mason Sweeney. Defense lawyers sought a 40-year sentence, citing Sweeney’s traumatic childhood. Prosecutors asked for 97 years, emphasizing the innocence of the victims. The sentencing judge said he tried to balance the magnitude of the crimes with providing a narrow path for rehabilitation.

FILE - The Supreme Court Building is seen in Washington on March 28, 2017. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Supreme Court lets Trump strip protections from more than 300,000 Venezuelan migrants

October 3, 2025

The Supreme Court is allowing President Donald Trump to strip legal protections from more than 300,000 Venezuelan migrants. The justices on Friday issued an emergency order putting on hold a lower-court ruling by U.S. District Judge Edward Chen in San Francisco that said Trump’s administration had wrongly ended temporary protected status for the Venezuelans. The Supreme Court order will last as long as the court case continues. Trump’s Republican administration has moved to withdraw various protections that have allowed immigrants to remain in the U.S. and work legally, including ending TPS for 600,000 Venezuelans and 500,000 Haitians granted protection by President Joe Biden’s Democratic administration. Advocates say some migrants have lost their jobs and homes.

Flames rise from the Chevron refinery in El Segundo, Calif., Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope)

Flames visible for miles after a fire erupts at a Chevron refinery outside Los Angeles

October 3, 2025

Fire crews have extinguished flames at a Chevron refinery just outside of Los Angeles. Officials in El Segundo, California, urged people to stay indoors Thursday night. By early Friday, they said the fire was contained and there was no threat to public safety. No evacuations have been ordered. The company says there were no injuries, all personnel were accounted for and a monitoring system indicated the fire did not move beyond the facility’s fence line. It wasn’t immediately clear what caused the fire. El Segundo is a beachside city located about a mile south of Los Angeles International Airport.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth speaks to a gathering of top U.S. military commanders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, in Quantico, Va. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

As Hegseth orders changes to the Pentagon watchdog, advocates say that will silence complaints

October 3, 2025

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has accused the independent watchdog for the Pentagon of being “weaponized” and says he’s overhauling the inspector general’s office. That would upend the way that service members report abuse and other problems in the ranks. Hegseth unveiled the plans during a speech to an unusual gathering of hundreds of top military leaders this week. He also signed a memo ordering the inspector general to identify anyone who makes a complaint instead of letting them be anonymous, among other things. It’s raised concerns among advocates and experts who say the changes would undo years of progress that have helped protect women and minorities from abuse as well as shutter avenues to file legitimate complaints.

FILE - Members of the Armed Forces, including the National Guard, patrol the subway system in Penn Station as police officers check commuters' bags in New York on Thursday, March 7, 2024. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)

Trump reverses $187M funding cuts for New York counterterrorism after bipartisan outcry

October 3, 2025

President Donald Trump has reversed $187 million in funding cuts for New York’s law enforcement and counterterrorism operations. He announced the decision on Truth Social after bipartisan criticism from New York officials. Trump called it an honor to reverse the cuts. Democratic Gov. Kathy Hochul credited the state’s pushback for restoring the funds, which she said would have been devastating to New York City and state if cut. New York Republican U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis expressed gratitude for Trump’s actions, highlighting the state’s status as a top terror target. She said the reductions were a terrible idea.

FBI Director Kash Patel speaks with Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., as he appears before the House Judiciary Committee, on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

FBI cuts ties with Southern Poverty Law Center, Anti-Defamation League after conservative complaints

October 3, 2025

FBI Director Kash Patel says the bureau is cutting ties with two organizations that for decades have tracked domestic extremism and racial and religious bias, a move that follows complaints about the groups from some conservatives and prominent allies of President Donald Trump. Patel said on Friday that the FBI would sever its relationship with the Southern Poverty Law Center, asserting that the organization had been turned into a “partisan smear machine” and criticizing it for its use of a “hate map” that documents alleged anti-government and hate groups inside the United States. A statement earlier in the week from Patel said the FBI would end ties with the Anti-Defamation League, a prominent Jewish advocacy organization.

FILE - Leqaa Kordia, second from right, demonstrates with pro-Palestianian protesters as they gather near a main gate at Columbia University in New York, Tuesday, April 30, 2024, just before New York City police officers cleared the area after a building was taken over by protesters earlier in the day. (AP Photo/Craig Ruttle, File)

The only protester still locked up after Trump’s campus crackdown breaks silence: ‘I feel helpless’

October 3, 2025

A Palestinian activist arrested by the Trump administration in March says she feels helpless as she remains jailed while her family in Gaza suffers amid ongoing conflict. The woman, Leqaa Kordia, was among the first protesters detained in Trump administration’s crackdown on campus activists. As others have gained their release, only Kordia remains. Her case has been largely overlooked, in part because she was not a student at the time of her arrest. In her first interview, Kordia described losing more than 100 relatives in the war in Gaza. Her payments to struggling family members have drawn scrutiny from the government. Despite a judge finding no evidence against her, Kordia’s release has been delayed by legal challenges.

FILE - Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis looks on during a hearing on the Georgia election interference case, Friday, March, 1, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Alex Slitz, Pool, File)

Republican-led Georgia state Senate committee plans to question Fani Willis next month

October 3, 2025

A Georgia special state Senate committee plans to question Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis next month. The committee, formed in January 2024, is investigating alleged misconduct by Willis in her prosecution of President Donald Trump and others over efforts to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. Committee Chairman Bill Cowsert says a new subpoena will be issued for Willis to testify on Nov. 13. The committee’s focus includes Willis’ hiring of special prosecutor Nathan Wade, which led to her removal from the case because of an “appearance of impropriety.” Democrats criticize the committee as political theater.

Regulators approve disputed $6.2B takeover of Minnesota Power by investment group

October 3, 2025

Minnesota regulators have approved the takeover of Minnesota Power by an investment group, despite opposition from the state attorney general and consumer advocates. The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission voted unanimously Friday, saying conditions on the deal will protect the public interest and shield customers from rate increases. The buyout involves a BlackRock subsidiary and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board taking over Allete, Minnesota Power’s parent company. The deal is valued at $6.2 billion. Opponents fear this could lead to higher bills and less accountability. Supporters argue the capital infusion will help meet the state’s carbon-free energy goals by 2040.

House Democrats prepare to speak on the steps of the Capitol to insist that Republicans include an extension of expiring health care benefits as part of a government funding compromise, in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Just before shutdown, most Americans wanted health insurance tax credits extended, KFF poll finds

October 3, 2025

A new poll conducted just prior to the current government shutdown showed most Americans wanted Congress to extend tax credits that could expire at the end of the year. If not extended, health insurance costs could rise for millions. A Senate standoff over these tax credits has led to a government shutdown now in its third day. Republicans are open to negotiating but want to restore government funding first. The poll by health care research nonprofit KFF, released Friday, indicates that prior to the shutdown, Americans who wanted the subsidies to continue were more inclined to blame President Trump and Republicans if they expired. However, many Americans were unaware of the credits’ looming expiration, leaving room for opinion to shift.

Michael Iskander poses for a portrait on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Gary Gerard Hamilton)

‘House of David’ star Michael Iskander says season two resonates beyond the religious

October 3, 2025

“House of David” premieres its second season on Sunday, and star Michael Iskander, who plays the titular role, is hoping it has the same success as its debut. The series sling-shot its way to No. 1 on Prime after debuting in February, with Amazon reporting more than 44 million viewers watched worldwide. The series is part of a growing number of Hollywood faith-based projects reaching beyond niche religious audiences, thanks to stunning cinematography, high-impact action sequences and suspenseful plots. While “House of David” originally premiered on Prime Video, season two will debut exclusively on the new Wonder Project subscription service that will cost an additional $8.99.

What the key witnesses at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ sex trafficking trial told the jury

October 3, 2025

Sean “Diddy” Combs’ sex crimes trial involved testimony from 34 witnesses. They included Combs’ ex-girlfriends Cassie and Jane, who said he forced them into drug-fueled sex marathons, a sex worker they knew as “The Punisher,” personal assistants who said they witnessed his violence and facilitated his sexual exploits, and other women who accused him of abuse. A judge is scheduled to sentence Combs Friday after he was convicted in July of transporting people across state lines for the purpose of prostitution. He could get years in prison.

A hiring sign is displayed at a post office in Schaumburg, Ill., Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)

Lack of jobs data due to government shutdown muddies the outlook for hiring and the economy

October 3, 2025

From Wall Street trading floors to the Federal Reserve to economists sipping coffee in their home offices, the first Friday morning of the month typically brings a quiet hush around 8:30 a.m. eastern, as everyone awaits the Labor Department’s monthly jobs report. But this Friday, with the government shut down, no jobs report covering September was released. The interruption in the data has occurred at a particularly uncertain time, when policymakers at the Federal Reserve and Wall Street investors would likely prefer more data on the economy, rather than less.

Mini-meditations are a way to foster peace of mind at work

October 3, 2025

The idea of meditating can be intimidating to beginners. Beginners may find the prospect of trying it at work embarrassing. But there are ways bring short and inconspicuous meditation sessions into the workday. Many spiritual traditions approach the practice by focusing on breathing to calm the mind. When thoughts pop up, imagine letting them go. Techniques like picturing yourself succeeding at challenges or mentally scanning your body for pain, tension or other sensations are ways of meditating that can be done almost anywhere. Experienced practitioners say meditating before or at work helps them maintain focus, sit still and reduce performance anxiety and stress. And they say there’s no right or wrong way to do it.

Producer Carlos King poses for a portrait in Los Angeles Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Carlos King talks ownership, navigating racism and building Black reality TV empires

October 3, 2025

Carlos King is a major force in Black unscripted storytelling, known as the “King of Reality TV.” His shows like “Love & Marriage” and “Belle Collective” have turned cities like Huntsville, Alabama, and Jackson, Mississippi, into must-see TV. Through his company, Kingdom Reign Entertainment, King says over 60% of OWN’s original programming is his work. He credits Oprah Winfrey and others for supporting his vision. King emphasizes ownership and has expanded his reach with a podcast and on-camera hosting. He also discusses overcoming challenges as an openly gay Black man in the industry.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., speaks to reporters Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, as the U.S. government is on the brink of the first federal government shutdown in almost seven years.. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Hopes fade for quick end to shutdown as Trump readies layoffs and cuts

October 3, 2025

Hopes for a quick end to the government shutdown are fading. Republicans and Democrats are digging in for a prolonged fight even as President Donald Trump readies plans to unleash layoffs and cuts across the federal government. Senators are heading back to the Capitol for another vote Friday on government funding. But there has been no indication of a deal. Democrats are demanding Congress take up an extension to health care benefits. Republicans are trying to wear them down with repeated votes on a bill that would reopen the government mostly at current spending levels. The shutdown is now in its third day.

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

Zohran Mamdani’s rise in the New York mayoral race sparks anti-Muslim vitriol

October 3, 2025

Zohran Mamdani’s rise in New York City’s mayoral race has brought him national prominence and a surge of anti-Muslim vitriol, including from elected officials and prominent conservatives. A win in November would make him the city’s first Muslim mayor. In September, a man was charged with making death threats against him that referenced his religion. His candidacy highlights both the persistence of anti-Muslim discrimination since 9/11 and the pride felt among Muslim Americans. Politicians from both parties have ramped up attacks on Mamdani’s progressive politics and criticism of Israel.

FILE - Travis Kelce, left, and Taylor Swift pose after the AFC Championship NFL football game against the Buffalo Bills, Jan. 26, 2025, in Kansas City, Mo. (AP Photo/Ashley Landis, File)

Decoding Taylor Swift’s ‘The Life a Showgirl’: A guide to her references

October 2, 2025

Taylor Swift’s new album, “The Life of a Showgirl,” is packed with Easter eggs for fans to decode. Her 12th studio album offers clever clues and references to her public life and discography. Some are opaque, sparking fan theories, while others are more explicit. Lyrics mention places like Portofino and Paris, and nod to her engagement to Travis Kelce. Songs reference her past, including her teenage years in Tennessee and friendships. The album’s physical variants, like “summertime spritz pink shimmer” vinyl, also tie into the lyrics.

FILE - Sean "Diddy" Combs sits courtside in the second half of an NBA basketball game between the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks, March 12, 2017, in New York. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens, File)

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ is set to be sentenced and faces the possibility of years in prison

October 2, 2025

Sean “Diddy” Combs faces sentencing Friday in a sordid criminal case that could potentially keep him behind bars for years. The famed hip-hop mogul was convicted in July of flying people around the country, including his girlfriends and male sex workers, to engage in sexual encounters, a violation of the federal Mann Act. A jury acquitted Combs of more serious racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges. Those could have led to a life prison sentence. Prosecutors say he should still spend over 11 years behind bars. Combs’ lawyers want him freed now.

Federal agents stand outside an immigration court at the Jacob K. Javits federal building in New York, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Trump administration taps Army Reserve and National Guard for temporary immigration judges

October 2, 2025

The Trump administration is tapping National Guard and Army Reserve lawyers to be temporary immigration judges after firing dozens of existing judges. It’s the latest step in a broader plan that experts warn could harm immigration courts and the military justice system. About 100 Army Reserve lawyers will be in the first group to serve. The move comes as President Donald Trump cracks down on illegal immigration and increasingly leans on the military for help. Immigration experts say more experience is needed to be an immigration judge. They also fear Trump is trying to hold sway over their decisions.

President Donald Trump speaks to a gathering of top U.S. military commanders at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, in Quantico, Va. (Andrew Harnik/Pool via AP)

Trump no longer distancing himself from Project 2025 as he uses shutdown to further pursue its goals

October 2, 2025

President Donald Trump is now openly embracing the conservative blueprint he desperately tried to distance himself from during the 2024 campaign. In a post on his Truth Social site Thursday morning, Trump announced he would be meeting with his budget chief, “Russ Vought, he of PROJECT 2025 Fame,” to discuss which federal agencies should be cut and whether the cuts should be permanent. Trump’s comments represent a dramatic about-face after he and his campaign spent much of last year denouncing the massive proposed overhaul of the federal government that was drafted by many longtime allies and current and former administration officials.

The gateway to the Vicksburg National Military Park tour road sits closed Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, in Vicksburg, Miss. (AP Photo/Sophie Bates)

Fundraising groups step up to help reopen national park sites and welcome visitors

October 2, 2025

One of Mississippi’s most-visited cultural attractions has reopened in the midst of the government shutdown, thanks to funding from a nonprofit group. Other organizations that support the country’s national parks are stepping forward to welcome visitors. An organization that supports Vicksburg National Military Park, where a critical Civil War battle was fought, is contributing $2,000 a day to cover basic operations. The Pearl Harbor National Memorial in Hawaii briefly shut down before reopening as part of an agreement with a partner organization. Many national parks sites remain largely open but services like visitors centers aren’t.

Democratic state House Speaker Javier Martínez, center back, of Albuquerque, N.M., takes his seat at the opening of a special legislative session about proposals to shore up safety net spending in response to President Donald Trump's recent cuts, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee)

New Mexico Legislature approves bills to prop up rural health care, underwrite food assistance

October 2, 2025

New Mexico legislators are moving quickly to prop up funding for food assistance and rural health care services in response to President Donald Trump’s cuts in federal spending on Medicaid and nutrition programs. The Democratic-led Legislature sent bills to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Thursday that provide $50 million to sustain medical services at rural health clinics and hospitals that rely heavily on Medicaid spending. Republicans in the legislative minority voted in unison against the spending provisions, arguing that big federal changes to Medicaid are still far away and that New Mexico should focus on reducing errors in benefit distributions. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham has called for a quick response to federal Medicaid cuts.

President Donald Trump walks from Marine One after arriving on the South Lawn of the White House, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump says US is in ‘armed conflict’ with drug cartels after ordering strikes in the Caribbean

October 2, 2025

President Donald Trump has declared drug cartels to be unlawful combatants and says the United States is now in an “armed conflict.” That’s according to a Trump administration memo obtained Thursday by The Associated Press. The memo appears to represent an extraordinary assertion of presidential war powers, with Trump effectively declaring that trafficking of drugs into the United States amounts to armed conflict requiring the use of military force — a new rationale for past and future actions. The U.S. military last month carried out three deadly strikes against alleged drug-smuggling boats in the Caribbean. The top Democrat on the Senate Armed Services Committee says “every American should be alarmed that their President has decided he can wage secret wars.”

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., and GOP leaders, from left, Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., and Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., blame the government shutdown on Democrats during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The blame game is on at federal agencies, where political messages fault Democrats for the shutdown

October 2, 2025

Americans’ routine interactions with the federal government this week are increasingly being met with partisan messaging. As a Senate deadlock keeps the federal government unfunded, some traditionally apolitical federal agencies are using their official channels to spread a coordinated political message that the shutdown is the Democrats’ fault. The messages are appearing in banners on agency websites, in autoreplies to emails, and in social media posts. They blame the political party that is out of power in Washington, when both sides are refusing to accommodate the other. Some experts suggest that they might be violating a federal law related to political activity by federal employees.

Lia Post, of Springfield, Neb., leaves a meeting of the Nebraska Medical Cannabis Commission, where she sobbed and begged its members to honor the will of the voters in approving comprehensive access to medical marijuana, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025 in Lincoln, Neb. (AP Photo/Margery Beck)

Nebraska Republicans are targeting voter-approved medical marijuana, following other GOP-led states

October 2, 2025

Nebraska officials have missed a deadline to grant licenses to marijuana growers under a new medical marijuana law approved by voters. This delay highlights ongoing resistance in GOP-led states like Nebraska, where Republican leaders are trying to weaken or overturn the law. On Tuesday, Lia Post, who suffers from chronic pain, expressed frustration at a commission meeting as the deadline loomed. Many states have legalized some form of marijuana use, but some Republican leaders continue to oppose it, citing safety concerns. Critics argue this undermines voter intentions.

On eve of sentencing, Combs tells judge he was ‘broken to my core’ and felt he’d be better off dead

October 2, 2025

On the eve of his sentencing, Sean “Diddy” Combs says he is a new man after realizing he was “broken to my core” and wondering if he was better off dead after his arrest last year. Combs wrote in a letter sent to the judge late Thursday that he is free of alcohol and drugs and with his nearly clear mind can see how rotten he had become before his September 2024 arrest on sex trafficking, racketeering conspiracy and prostitution-related charges. A jury in July acquitted him of the most serious charges, meaning that he can’t face a life sentence. His lawyers say he should go free this month. Prosecutors are seeking over 11 years.

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)

FDA approves another generic abortion pill, prompting outrage from conservatives

October 2, 2025

Federal health officials have approved another generic version of the abortion pill, prompting outrage from abortion opponents. Anti-abortion groups quickly criticized the move on Thursday, calling it a “stain” on the Trump administration. The groups have been pushing for a safety review of mifepristone for months. The FDA first approved the drug as safe and effective in 2000. The new version of the pill is from drugmaker Evita Solutions. It’s not the first generic version, which the FDA previously approved in 2019.

FILE - The New York Stock Exchange, Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson, File)

Wall Street ticks to more records, led by technology stocks

October 2, 2025

U.S. stocks edged up to more records. The S&P 500 rose 0.1% Thursday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.2%, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 0.4%. All three set all-time highs. Technology stocks helped lead the way after OpenAI announced partnerships with South Korean companies for its Stargate artificial-intelligence infrastructure project. Fair Isaac surged to its best day in nearly three years after unveiling a program where customers can potentially bypass big credit bureaus for FICO credit scores. Stock indexes also rose across much of Europe and Asia, while Treasury yields eased in the bond market.

This photo provided by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement shows a loaded handgun found in the vehicle of Des Moines Public Schools Superintendent Ian Roberts on Friday, Sept. 26, 2025. (ICE via AP)

Former Iowa superintendent charged with federal firearms offense after immigration arrest

October 2, 2025

Federal authorities have charged Ian Roberts, the former superintendent of Iowa’s largest school district, with possessing firearms while in the U.S. illegally. Roberts resigned this week after being detained by immigration agents. Roberts appeared by video Thursday before a judge in Des Moines. Federal authorities said Roberts had a final removal order that was issued last year, and an immigration judge denied a motion to reopen Roberts’ immigration case in April this year. They allege Roberts had four firearms in his possession, one in his school-issued vehicle and three at his residence. Roberts’ attorney said he will exercise his right to plead not guilty if he is indicted.

Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner sue Ray J for defamation over racketeering claims

October 2, 2025

Kim Kardashian and Kris Jenner are suing Ray J for defamation. They claim he falsely said they are under federal investigation for racketeering. The lawsuit, filed Wednesday in Los Angeles, calls Ray J’s allegations baseless. They say he has harassed them for years. The lawsuit highlights recent statements by Ray J, including a livestream on Sept. 30, where he claimed federal charges were imminent. Kardashian and Jenner argue these claims are false and damaging. They say no investigation exists, and the comments have harmed their reputations. Ray J has not responded to requests for comment.

A woman wearing an American Red Cross shirt is seen during a service for the Sunday morning shooting at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc Township, Mich., Monday, Sept. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun)

Fundraiser for family of Michigan church gunman raises more than $275,000

October 2, 2025

A fundraiser for the family members of the man who opened fire in a Michigan church and set it ablaze has raised over $275,000. The organizer says it’s an outpouring of forgiveness and love. Thomas “Jake” Sanford drove his pickup truck into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints chapel in Grand Blanc Township on Sunday, shot into the congregation and set the building on fire. The attack killed four people and police fatally shot Sanford. Dave Butler, a Utah resident and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, says he wanted to do something for Sanford’s family.

FILE - Arkela Lewis, bottom right, mother of Jaylen Lewis, who was shot to death during an encounter with officers of the Mississippi Capitol Police department, testifies before members of the Jackson delegation of the Mississippi Legislature at the Mississippi Capitol in Jackson, March 6, 2023. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

Woman sues Mississippi police over son’s killing

October 2, 2025

The mother of a 25-year-old Black man who was fatally shot by police in Mississippi is suing. The defendants in the complaint brought by Arkela Lewis include the officers involved, Capitol Police and the Mississippi Department of Public Safety. Jaylen Lewis was shot by Capitol Police during a traffic stop on Sept. 25, 2022. Then-officers Stephen Frederick and Michael Rhinewalt were indicted for manslaughter in March. Arkela Lewis is asking a court to force the Department of Public Safety and Capitol Police to adopt a policy that would “prevent future instances of the type of misconduct” that led to her son’s death. She is also seeking compensation for emotional damages. The Department of Public Safety declined to comment on the lawsuit.

FILE - Berkshire Hathaway Chairman and CEO Warren Buffett speaks during an interview with Liz Claman on Fox Business Network's "Countdown to the Closing Bell," May 7, 2018, in Omaha, Neb. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik, File)

Berkshire Hathaway to pay $9.7 billion for OxyChem, potentially Warren Buffett’s last big deal

October 2, 2025

Berkshire Hathaway is buying Occidental Petroleum’s chemical division for $9.7 billion in what may be one of the last big deals of Warren Buffett. Buffett wasn’t mentioned anywhere in materials released by Berkshire Hathaway on Thursday, seemingly signaling the passing of the torch to Greg Abel. Berkshire’s cash pile has been steadily growing for years to hit $344 billion because Buffett has been unable to find any major acquisitions at attractive prices since completing the $11.6 billion acquisition of Alleghany Insurance in 2022. OxyChem will fit nicely within Berkshire alongside Lubrizol, which Buffett bought in 2011 for $9 billion, but Berkshire generally doesn’t consolidate its subsidiaries, so OxyChem will likely continue operating independently.

FILE - Water gushes down the Conowingo Dam, Nov. 6, 2019, in Havre De Grace, Md. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez)

Constellation Energy to spend $340M to improve water quality at Maryland’s Conowingo Dam

October 2, 2025

Constellation Energy has agreed to spend more than $340 million to improve water quality from the Conowingo Dam that flows into the Susquehanna River and eventually ends up in the Chesapeake Bay. The agreement announced Thursday clears the way for the re-licensing and continued operation of the dam’s hydroelectric facility on the Susquehanna, which is the largest source of renewable energy in Maryland. The agreement marks an end to wrangling over who is responsible for addressing pollution in sediment that gets stuck in the dam and ends up being released downstream and into the bay.

FILE - The U.S. District Court is seen, Wednesday, Sept. 10, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Ryan Sun. file)

ACLU seeks release of Michigan immigrant held in custody despite life-threatening leukemia

October 2, 2025

Lawyers say federal authorities are keeping a Michigan man in custody in a deportation case, despite his life-threatening leukemia. The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan is seeking a bond hearing for Jose Contreras-Cervantes. It could allow him to return to his Detroit-area family and doctors while his case winds through immigration court. The Trump administration is refusing to agree to bond hearings for immigrants if they entered the U.S. illegally. The ACLU is challenging the policy. Contreras-Cervantes has been in custody for two months. At one point, the married father of three missed three weeks of medication.

The government shuts down, and Trump goes online — very online

October 2, 2025

President Donald Trump has been frenetically posting on social media during the government shutdown. On Thursday morning, he shared praise from supporters, falsely claimed Democrats want to divert healthcare funds to illegal immigrants, and announced plans to meet with his budget adviser to discuss permanent spending cuts. This online activity is being echoed across his administration, and so far has focused more on tweaking Democrats than negotiating. Only two days into the shutdown, it’s unclear who Americans will end up blaming for the impasse.

Justice Department fires key prosecutor in elite office already beset by turmoil, AP sources say

October 2, 2025

The Justice Department fired a top national security prosecutor amid criticism from a right-wing commentator over his work during the Biden administration, further roiling the prominent U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia after the ousting of other senior attorneys in recent weeks. The firings are the latest in a wave of terminations that have thrown the department into turmoil and raised alarm over political influence over the traditionally independent law enforcement agency and the erosion of civil service protections afforded to federal employees. While U.S. attorneys generally change with a new president, rank-and-file prosecutors by tradition remain with the department across administrations.

FILE - A caution sign is shown on a road on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation on June 2, 2022, in Richland, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File)

From bombs to glass: Hanford site can now transform nuclear waste

October 2, 2025

The Hanford Nuclear Reservation in Washington state produced plutonium for most of America’s nuclear arsenal through the end of the Cold War. Now it’s turning nuclear waste into a much safer substance: glass. State regulators on Wednesday issued the final permit required to allow workers at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation add radioactive and chemical waste to the glass. It’s taken from often-leaky underground tanks, mixed in a crucible with additives, and heated above 2,000 degrees. The liquid then cools into solid glass — still radioactive — but far more stable for storage and less likely to seep into the soil or the nearby Columbia River.

FILE - Attorney Cliff Johnson, director of the Roderick and Solange MacArthur Justice Center, speaks during a hearing Wednesday, May 10, 2023, in Hinds County Chancery Court in Jackson, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

Mississippi civil rights attorney seeks congressional seat held by GOP’s Trent Kelly

October 2, 2025

A Democratic civil rights attorney who has advocated for better treatment of prisoners and testified against Mississippi’s diversity, equity and inclusion ban says he is running for Congress. Cliff Johnson, the director of the MacArthur Justice Center at the University of Mississippi School of Law, said Thursday that he is seeking the northern Mississippi seat held by Republican Rep. Trent Kelly, who has indicated that he is seeking reelection. In his announcement video, Johnson criticized cuts to health care and policies that he said favor the wealthy and corporations, not working-class families. He also condemned politicians across the political spectrum, casting himself as a Democrat who isn’t afraid to push back against the party establishment.

Russell Vought, Office of Management and Budget director, listens as he addresses members of the media outside the West Wing at the White House in Washington, Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump administration cuts nearly $8B in clean energy projects in blue states

October 2, 2025

The Trump administration has announced the cancellation of $7.6 billion in funding for clean energy projects across 16 states. These states supported Democrat Kamala Harris for president. The cuts likely affect battery plants, hydrogen technology projects, and more. The announcement came on the first day of a government shutdown. The Republican administration claims the projects do not align with national energy needs. Critics argue the move is politically motivated and could raise energy costs.

FILE - Law enforcement investigate a car with a person inside during a protest in Compton, Calif., June 7, 2025, after federal immigration authorities conducted operations. (AP Photo/Ethan Swope, file)

Man pleads guilty to throwing Molotov cocktail at deputies during LA immigration protest

October 2, 2025

A 23-year-old man has pleaded guilty to throwing a Molotov cocktail at Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies during protests against immigration raids across the region last spring. Emiliano Garduno Galvez, a Mexican national who authorities say is in the U.S. illegally, pleaded guilty Wednesday to possessing an unregistered destructive device and civil disorder connected to his actions June 7 in Paramount, a city near LA. He faces up to 15 years in prison when he’s sentenced Jan. 30. According to the plea agreement obtained by the Los Angeles Times, Galvez admitted going behind a wall, lighting the Molotov cocktail and then hurling it toward where he had seen the deputies.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., and GOP leaders, from left, Rep. Lisa McClain, R-Mich., Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., and Majority Whip Tom Emmer, R-Minn., speak during a news conference at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Republicans are relishing a role reversal in the shutdown fight. Can Trump keep them united?

October 2, 2025

Republican leaders have presented a united stance as they try to keep the government open and berate Democrats for demanding health care policy changes in exchange for their votes. It’s a role reversal from previous funding battles. The change is happening because President Donald Trump is exercising top-down control over a mostly unified GOP. Democrats, meanwhile, have been left scrambling for leverage in the first year of Trump’s second term, using the funding fight to exert what influence they can. It’s an awkward posture for a party that has long cast itself as the adults in the room during shutdown threats.

FILE - A development of new homes in Eagleville, Pa., is shown on April 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Average long-term US mortgage rate ticks up for second straight week, to 6.34%

October 2, 2025

The average rate on a 30-year U.S. mortgage ticked up for the second straight week following a string of declines that had brought down home borrowing costs to the lowest level in nearly a year. The average long-term mortgage rate rose this week to 6.34% from 6.3% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 6.12%. Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation. They generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

The US. Capitol is photographed, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib)

Federal shutdowns usually don’t do much economic damage. There are reasons to worry about this one

October 2, 2025

Shutdowns of the federal government usually don’t leave much economic damage. But the one that started Wednesday looks riskier, not least because President Donald Trump is threatening to use the standoff to permanently eliminate thousands of government jobs. For now, financial markets are shrugging off the impasse as just the latest failure of Republicans and Democrats to agree on a budget and keep the government running. But Trump’s massive layoff threat and the precarious state of the American economy raise the odds of longer-lasting damage.

PBS ‘Masterpiece’ series ‘The Gold’ explores Britain’s biggest heist in history

October 2, 2025

PBS’s “Masterpiece” series “The Gold” explores Britain’s biggest robbery, the 1983 Brinks-Mat heist. Thieves stole 26 million pounds worth of gold bars near Heathrow Airport. “The Gold” traces the crime’s ripple effects, moving from a local search to infiltrating an international money laundering cartel. Showrunner Neil Forsyth says the drama is inspired by real events but allows creative freedom. Actor Hugh Bonneville plays Brian Boyce, the lead investigator determined to combat police corruption. The series highlights the clash between new money and the aristocracy in Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s Britain and the complexities of greed and ambition. “The Gold” airs Sunday.

FILE - Passers-by walk and ride along a path on the campus of Brown University, in Providence, R.I., Monday, Oct. 12, 2020. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

Trump asks 9 colleges to commit to his political agenda and get favorable access to federal money

October 2, 2025

The White House is asking nine major universities to commit to President Donald Trump’s political priorities in exchange for more favorable access to federal money. A letter to the universities Wednesday asks them to sign an agreement committing them to adopt the White House’s vision for America’s campuses. It asks them to accept the government’s priorities on admissions, women’s sports, free speech, student discipline and college affordability, among other topics. The schools are Vanderbilt, the University of Pennsylvania, Dartmouth College, the University of Southern California, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Texas, the University of Arizona, Brown University and the University of Virginia. It’s not clear how or why they were selected.

FILE - Elon Musk speaks during an event with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office at the White House, Feb. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Tesla reports surprise increase in sales in third quarter

October 2, 2025

Tesla reported a surprise increase in sales in the third-quarter as the electric car maker likely benefited from a rush by consumers to take advantage of a $7,500 credit before it expired on Sept. 30. The company reported Thursday that sales in the three months through September rose 7% compared to the same period a year ago. The gain follows two quarters of steep declines as people turned off by CEO Elon Musk’s foray into right-wing politics avoided buying his company’s cars and even protested at some dealerships. Sales rose to 497,099, compared with with 462,890 in the same period last year.

Interstellar comet swinging past Mars as a fleet of spacecraft looks on

October 2, 2025

A comet from another star system is swinging by Mars as a fleet of spacecraft trains its sights on the interstellar visitor. The comet will hurtle within 18 million miles of the red planet on Friday. Both of the European Space Agency’s satellites around Mars are already aiming their cameras at the speeding comet. NASA’s satellite and rovers at Mars are also available to assist in the observations. It’s only the third interstellar object known to have passed our way. Discovered in July, the comet poses no threat to Earth or neighboring planets.

FILE - Launch Director Kat Brennan signals for a pilot to go ahead and take off Oct. 7, 2023, during the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque, N.M. (AP Photo/Roberto E. Rosales, File)

By the numbers: International hot air balloon fiesta to lift off in Albuquerque

October 2, 2025

Hundreds of thousands of spectators gather over nine days to watch as pilots from around the world take to the skies in colorful hot air balloons. The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta kicks off Saturday with a mass ascension that features waves of hot air balloons soaring from a launch field. The annual event has become quite a production over the last five decades. Fiesta attendees can walk among the inflating balloons and talk to pilots, all while scarfing down breakfast burritos and sipping piñon coffee. The roaring propane burners are not enough to drown out the cheers and whistles as the balloons drift upward.

The American flag over the Capitol is illuminated by the early morning light on the first day of a government shutdown, in Washington, Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

The federal shutdown will cut off vital economic data, including Friday’s jobs report

October 2, 2025

The government shutdown will deprive policymakers and investors of economic data vital to their decision-making at a time of unusual uncertainty about the direction of the U.S. economy. The absence will be felt almost immediately, as the government’s monthly jobs report scheduled for release Friday will likely be delayed. If the shutdown is short-lived, it won’t be very disruptive. But if the release of economic data is delayed for several weeks or longer, it could pose challenges, particularly for the Federal Reserve. The Fed is grappling with where to set a key interest rate at a time of conflicting signals, and the Fed may have little new data to analyze before its next meeting later this month.

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