national - Page 11 of 27 - The Rapid City Post

Baltimore shipping channel reopened after explosion on cargo ship near site of 2024 bridge collapse

August 19, 2025

Authorities are investigating the cause of an explosion aboard a cargo ship that was leaving the Port of Baltimore when it issued a mayday call. Officials say no injuries were reported. The ship W-Sapphire was transporting coal en route to East Africa when the explosion occurred near the site of last year’s Francis Scott Key Bridge collapse. The Port of Baltimore’s main shipping channel was closed for several hours Tuesday after the Coast Guard established a safety zone around the incident site. Officials announced late Tuesday afternoon that the channel had reopened.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., speaks at a campaign event on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, at Holt Bros. BBQ in Florence, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard)

Sen. Lindsey Graham says Trump ready to ‘crush’ Russian economy if Putin avoids talks with Zelenskyy

August 19, 2025

President Donald Trump is willing to “crush” Russia’s economy with sanctions if Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. That’s according to Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, who spoke with Trump on Tuesday morning. Graham’s call with Trump came less than 24 hours after high-stakes meetings at the White House with Zelenskyy and several European leaders. Trump and the leaders emerged sounding optimistic about ending the war in Ukraine, with the expectation being that a Putin and Zelenskyy sit-down will happen soon. Still, Graham said the push for sanctions legislation could restart in September if progress stalls.

FILE - The marquee at a gun shop in Los Ranchos, N.M, flashes in protest of Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham's order to suspend the carrying of firearms in the state's largest metro area, Sept. 11, 2023. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan, File)

US appeals court blocks New Mexico’s 7-day waiting period on gun purchases

August 19, 2025

A panel of federal appellate judges has ruled that New Mexico’s seven-day waiting period on gun purchases likely infringes on citizens’ Second Amendment rights. The move puts the law on hold pending a legal challenge. The ruling by the 10th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals sends the case back to a lower court. New Mexico’s waiting period went into effect in May 2024. It does hold exceptions for concealed permit holders, domestic violence victims, police and sales between close relatives. Two New Mexico residents had sued, citing concerns about delayed access to weapons for victims of domestic violence and others.

Newspapers are rescued from closure in Wyoming and South Dakota as buyers swoop in

August 19, 2025

A dozen newspapers in Wyoming and South Dakota are set to publish again after buyers stepped in to keep the communities from becoming news deserts where little or no local media remains. This quick action is notable in an industry where, according to a 2024 report from the Medill School of Journalism, more than two newspapers close each week. Illinois-based News Media Corporation had announced the closure of 31 outlets in five states. Within two weeks, new buyers in Wyoming and North Carolina purchased 12 of these papers, offering staff a chance to return.

Nexstar Media Group buying Tegna in deal worth $6.2 billion

August 19, 2025

Nexstar Media Group is buying broadcast rival Tegna for $6.2 billion, bringing together two major players in U.S. television and the country’s local news landscape. If the transaction is approved, Nexstar will pay $22 in cash for each share of Tegna’s outstanding stock. And the regulatory greenlight could be likely under President Donald Trump’s administration, which has long-advocated for loosening industry restrictions. Nexstar oversees more than 200 owned and partner stations in 116 markets nationwide and also runs networks like The CW and NewsNation. Meanwhile, Tegna owns 64 news stations across 51 markets.

Laufey’s new album, ‘A Matter of Time,’ explores anger, love and more

August 19, 2025

Icelandic Chinese artist Laufey has achieved her yearbook dreams of moving to the U.S., signing a record deal, and winning a Grammy. At 26, she’s collaborated with legends like Barbra Streisand and performed with artists like Hozier. Her third album, “A Matter of Time,” is out on Friday and draws from diverse influences, including country and Icelandic folk music. It builds on her unique, neoclassical jazz-meets-pop sound. Her twin sister Junia plays violin on the new album. Laufey aims to introduce young audiences to jazz and classical music. In recent years, Laufey has become an Asian role model. She says it’s an honor, but there is still a long way to go.

ATP partners with TikTok to capitalize on the rise of behind-the-scenes content

August 19, 2025

The newest popular influencer on TikTok’s “For You” page might be the scroller’s favorite tennis player. The ATP sure hopes so. The governing body of men’s professional tennis announced Tuesday it will be partnering with TikTok to further develop tennis content and bolster engagement on the platform. One of its stated goals is player engagement, aimed at helping more ATP players build up followings on the platform and give tennis fans exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the sport. Its other goal is the creation of the “Tennis Creator Network,” an initiative that will help existing non-athlete creators create TikTok content at ATP tour events.

Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison briefs reporters in his office about the lawsuit he filed against social media giant TikTok, alleging it preys on young people with addictive algorithms, at the Minnesota State Capitol in Saint Paul, Minn., Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Steve Karnowski)

Minnesota sues TikTok, alleging it preys on young people with addictive algorithms

August 19, 2025

Minnesota has joined a wave of states suing TikTok, claiming the app uses addictive algorithms that harm young people’s mental health. The lawsuit, filed Tuesday, alleges TikTok violates state laws against deceptive trade practices and consumer fraud. Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison accuses TikTok of knowing the dangers but failing to act. The case follows similar lawsuits from about 24 states. TikTok disputes the claims, stating it has safety measures in place. Minnesota seeks a declaration that TikTok’s practices are deceptive and a permanent injunction against them, along with financial penalties. Ellison emphasizes the need for TikTok to operate safely.

FILE - In this image provided the. the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), geologist deployed to the rim look over evening views of lava fountaining from Haleumaumau Crater at the summit of Kilauea volcano inside Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii., Feb. 11, 2025. ( J. Barnett/U.S. Geological Survey via AP, File)

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano is on the verge of erupting again

August 19, 2025

Scientists expect Kilauea volcano to again gush lava in the coming days for the 31st time since December as the mountain lives up to its identity as one of the world’s most active volcanoes. A few lucky residents and visitors will have a front row view at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Hundreds of thousands more will be watching popular livestreams made possible by three camera angles set up by the U.S. Geological Survey. Scientists say magma has been using the same pathway to get to the surface since December, making the initial release and subsequent episodes all part of the same eruption.

This is an image provided by NASA shows the planet Uranus, taken by the spacecraft Voyager 2 in 1986. (NASA via AP)

NASA’s Webb telescope finds a new tiny moon around Uranus

August 19, 2025

The Webb Space Telescope has spotted a new tiny moon orbiting Uranus. NASA announced the discovery on Tuesday. The moon appears to be just six miles wide. It was spotted by the telescope’s near-infrared camera during observations in February. Scientists think it hid for so long because of its faintness and small size. Uranus has 28 known moons that are named after characters from Shakespeare and Alexander Pope. About half are smaller and orbit the planet at closer range. This newest addition, still nameless, ups the planet’s total moon count to 29.

Reflected in a glass window, people walk across a pedestrian bridge along the Las Vegas Strip, Friday, Aug. 8, 2025, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Las Vegas tourism is down. Some blame Trump’s tariffs and immigration crackdown

August 19, 2025

Tourism in Las Vegas is slumping this summer, with resorts and convention centers reporting fewer visitors compared to last year, especially from abroad. Some officials are blaming the Trump administration’s tariffs and immigration policies for the decline. The city known for lavish shows, endless buffets and around-the-clock gambling welcomed just under 3.1 million tourists in June, an 11% drop compared to the same month in 2024. According to data from the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, there were 13% fewer international travelers, and hotel occupancy fell by about 15%. And the Vegas dip mirrors a national trend.

FILE - Gen. David Allvin testifies during a Senate Armed Services Committee nominations hearing on his reappointment to the grade of General and to be U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff, Sept. 12, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Air Force’s top uniformed officer is retiring early in latest Trump military shake-up

August 19, 2025

The Air Force’s top uniformed officer is set to retire early in the most recent shake-up of military leadership during President Donald Trump’s second term. The Air Force said Monday Gen. David Allvin will continue serving as the service’s chief of staff until the Senate confirms a replacement. The Air Force says Allvin expects to retire around Nov. 1, two years into his four-year term. Allvin joins other top military officials who’ve stepped down or been fired by Trump’s Republican administration during a broader leadership upheaval. Allvin was appointed by President Joe Biden, a Democrat. Trump fired Air Force Gen. CQ Brown Jr. as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in February.

FILE - A pharmacist holds a Pfizer and BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine shot on Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Portland, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

US pediatricians’ new COVID-19 shot recommendations differ from CDC advice

August 18, 2025

For the first time in 30 years, the American Academy of Pediatrics is substantially diverging from U.S. government vaccine recommendations. The group’s new COVID-19 recommendations were released Tuesday. They come amid a tumultuous year for public health, as vaccine skeptics have come into power in the new Trump administration and government guidance has become increasingly confusing. The AAP is strongly recommending COVID-19 shots for children ages 6 months to 2 years. Guidance established under U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. doesn’t recommend the shots for healthy children of any age but says kids may get the shots in consultation with physicians.

FILE - This combination of two booking photos provided by the California Department of Corrections shows Erik Menendez, left, and Lyle Menendez. (California Department of Corrections via AP, File)

Menendez brothers to be evaluated by parole board for release after 30 years in prison

August 18, 2025

The Menendez brothers are set to make their cases for parole this week. The California state parole board will determine whether they should be released after serving almost 30 years in prison for murdering their parents. Erik Menendez will have his hearing Thursday morning, followed by Lyle Menendez on Friday. The brothers were sentenced to life in prison in 1996 of fatally shooting their father and mother in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. The brothers became eligible for parole after a Los Angeles judge in May reduced their sentences. If parole is granted, the governor would have the final say.

FILE - Clouds hover over the entrance of the Florida State Prison in Starke, Fla., Aug. 3, 2023. (AP Photo/Curt Anderson, File)

Florida man convicted of killing a woman abducted from an insurance office is set to be executed

August 18, 2025

A man convicted of kidnapping a woman from an insurance office in the early 1980s and killing her is set for execution in Florida. Kayle Bates is scheduled to receive a lethal injection Tuesday evening at Florida State Prison near Starke. It would be Florida’s 10th execution of 2025 and further extend the state record for the number of executions in a single year. Previously the annual high was eight executions in Florida in 2014. Bates was convicted of murder, kidnapping, armed robbery and attempted sexual battery in the June 14, 1982, killing of Janet White in the Florida Panhandle.

Dr. Salvador Plasencia leaves federal court on Wednesday, July 23, 2025 in Los Angeles, after pleading guilty to giving ketamine to Matthew Perry, leading up to the actor's 2023 overdose death. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Learn about the 5 people charged in connection with Matthew Perry’s death

August 18, 2025

It has been one year since authorities announced that five people had been indicted for their alleged roles in the overdose deaths of “Friends” star Matthew Perry. All five have now agreed to plead guilty in deals with prosecutors. The most recent was Jasveen Sangha, who who prosecutors say was known as the “Ketamine Queen.” She admitted to selling Perry the lethal dose. Another defendant is Perry’s personal assistant who admitted to acting as a drug messenger and injecting Perry with the ketamine that killed him. Another is a doctor who admitted to illegally providing Perry with large amounts of ketamine in the weeks before his death.

Bryan Kohberger appears at the Ada County Courthouse, for his sentencing hearing, Wednesday, July 23, 2025, in Boise, Idaho, for brutally stabbing four University of Idaho students to death nearly three years ago. (AP Photo/Kyle Green, Pool)

Kohberger’s sexist, creepy behavior alarmed university faculty and students before Idaho murders

August 18, 2025

Fellow grad students told investigators that Bryan Kohberger developed a reputation for being sexist and creepy while attending a criminal justice program in the months before he killed four University of Idaho students in 2022. His behavior was so problematic that one Washington State University faculty member told co-workers that if he successfully completed his Ph.D. and became a professor, he would likely stalk or sexually abuse his future students, according to the documents. Summaries of the interviews with students and instructors at Washington State University were included among more than 550 pages of investigation documents released by Idaho State Police last week in response to public record requests.

FILE - Gov. Andy Beshear addresses the media at the London Corbin Airport in London, Ky., May 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley, File)

Beshear bans drug in Kentucky that’s being targeted by attorneys general across the nation

August 18, 2025

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has taken emergency action to ban the sale of a synthetic drug known as “designer Xanax” in his state. The Democratic governor’s action came Monday after a request from his state’s Republican attorney general. Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman is leading a broader effort to combat the highly potent drug linked to dozens of overdose deaths last year in Kentucky. A coalition of 21 attorneys general has urged the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to take emergency action banning the drug. They warn the dangerous drug is being passed off as prescription pills commonly used to treat conditions such as anxiety disorders and seizures.

Federal agents stage outside a Home Depot during an operation Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Federal agent fires weapon during immigration stop in Southern California, officials say

August 18, 2025

A federal agent fired three shots at a moving vehicle after the driver sped off following an immigration stop in Southern California. That’s according to the Department of Homeland Security, which says the driver struck two federal agents on Saturday as he drove away, prompting one agent to fire his weapon “in self-defense.” The driver, a 43-year-old man from Mexico, and his family disputed federal authorities’ characterization of events, showing video where an agent smashes their car windows and appears to strike the driver in the head. The driver immediately drives away, and three shots can be heard in the video.

California Rep. Zoe Lofgren joins Democratic state leaders in announcing a legislative package to advance a partisan effort to redraw California congressional map at a press conference on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025, in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Tran Nguyen)

California Democrats’ push for redistricting faces a tight legislative deadline

August 18, 2025

The California Legislature comes back from a summer recess and is slated to vote on a partisan plan to redraw congressional districts ahead of the 2026 midterms. Democrats plan to send a measure to voters this November to allow redistricting to take effect through 2030. State lawmakers also plan to vote on climate, immigration and racial justice proposals during the final weeks of session. That includes plans to reauthorize a key climate program known as cap and trade, respond to federal immigration crackdowns and repair historic wrongdoings against Black Californians.

Defendant Hernandez Govan, accused of orchestrating the killing of rapper Young Dolph, appears in court during his trial in Memphis, Tenn., on Monday, Aug. 18, 2025. (Mark Weber/Daily Memphian via AP, Pool)

Second trial in killing of rapper Young Dolph starts in Memphis

August 18, 2025

The trial of a man charged with organizing the daytime ambush killing of rapper Young Dolph at a Memphis bakery in 2021 is underway. Hernandez Govan faces charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder and attempted murder. He is not accused of personally shooting Young Dolph, but prosecutors claim he directed the two people who did. Young Dolph, whose legal name was Adolph Thornton Jr., was a rapper, independent label owner and producer who grew up in Memphis. He was in his hometown for a Thanksgiving event, handing out turkeys to families in need, when he was killed.

FILE - A pregnant woman stands for a portrait in Dallas, May 18, 2023. (AP Photo/LM Otero, File)

Appeals court overturns order that stripped some protections from pregnant Texas state workers

August 18, 2025

A federal appeals court has upheld a law strengthening the rights of pregnant workers, vacating a judge’s earlier order that had stripped those protections from Texas state employees. The ruling was a victory for advocates of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, a law that passed with overwhelming bipartisan support in 2022 but quickly became embroiled in controversy over whether it covers workers seeking abortions. A federal judge last year blocked enforcement of the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act for Texas state employees, ruling that its passage was unconstitutional because a majority of House members were not present to approve the law.

FILE - In this undated photo provided by Old Orchard Beach Police Department, Officer Jon Luke Evans receives his police badge. (Old Orchard Beach Police Department via AP, File)

Maine police officer arrested by ICE agrees to voluntarily leave the country

August 18, 2025

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says a Maine police officer arrested by immigration authorities has agreed to voluntarily leave the country. ICE arrested Old Orchard Beach Police Department reserve Officer Jon Luke Evans, of Jamaica, on July 25, as part of the agency’s nationwide effort to step up enforcement. Officials with the town and police department have said federal authorities previously told them Evans was legally authorized to work in the U.S. An ICE representative reached by telephone told The Associated Press on Monday that a judge has granted voluntary departure for Evans.

FILE - Elon Musk attends a news conference with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House, May 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Judge issues injunction preventing Trump’s FTC from investigating watchdog Media Matters

August 18, 2025

A judge for the U.S. District Court in Washington has issued an injunction preventing the Trump administration’s Federal Trade Commission from investigating Media Matters for America, the liberal media watchdog organization. Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan said Media Matters was likely to succeed in its claim that the probe violated its free speech rights. The investigation came in response to Media Matters’ 2023 story about hate speech on the X social media platform since it was bought and renamed from Twitter by Elon Musk. Sooknanan said it should “alarm all Americans when the Government retaliates against” those involved in public debate.

FILE - Ashton Kutcher walks on the field before an NFL football game between the San Francisco 49ers and the Chicago Bears, Dec. 8, 2024, in Santa Clara, Calif. (AP Photo/Scot Tucker, file)

Soho House agrees to go private again in a deal led by hotel giant MCR

August 18, 2025

Soho House plans to go private again after four years on Wall Street. The luxury members club operator has struck a deal with an investor group led by hotel giant MCR. The group will buy its outstanding shares for $9 each in cash. Soho House’s Executive Chairman Ron Burkle and other major shareholders will roll over their stakes and retain control of the business. The deal implies a total enterprise value of roughly $2.7 billion, including debt. Soho House expects to complete the transaction by the end of 2025, pending regulatory approval. Among other big names to join Soho House’s future leadership is actor and now tech investor Ashton Kutcher, who is set to join the company’s board following the deal’s completion.

FILE - Stacy Garrity, the Republican state treasurer of Pennsylvania, poses for photos at a campaign event at the Beerded Goat Brewing Co., Thursday, April 25, 2024, in Harrisburg, Pa. (AP Photo/Marc Levy,File)

Republican Stacy Garrity seeks to challenge Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro’s reelection bid

August 18, 2025

Pennsylvania’s two-term elected state Treasurer Stacy Garrity will seek the Republican nomination to challenge Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro’s reelection bid in 2026. Garrity’s announcement Monday comes after she teased a run for months and stepped up her criticism of Shapiro. Some top Pennsylvania Republicans hope Garrity will see a clear primary field, although those hopes have been buffeted in recent weeks by 2022’s losing gubernatorial candidate suggesting that he’ll run again. Shapiro carries a reputation as a disciplined messenger and powerhouse fundraiser. He’s grown into a national figure after he made Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris’ shortlist for vice presidential running mates last year.

FILE - Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, speaks with reporters at the Capitol in Washington, March 15, 2023. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Ohio Democrat Sherrod Brown makes it official. He’ll vie to unseat Trump-backed Sen. Jon Husted

August 18, 2025

Democratic leaders are lauding Ohio’s Sherrod Brown now that he’s launched his 2026 campaign to return to the U.S. Senate. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chair Kirsten Gillibrand on Monday touted Brown’s past advocacy for workers’ retirement and Social Security benefits and said he’ll stand up to the “chaos” and “recklessness” in Washington. Brown says he “couldn’t stay on the sideline” after passage of Republicans’ big tax breaks and spending cuts bill. The 72-year-old Brown brushes aside last year’s bitter loss to Republican Bernie Moreno. Brown seeks the seat held by Trump-backed Republican Jon Husted. Husted’s campaign says Brown pushed ”radical liberal policies” as a senator.

FILE - Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner Marty Makary speaks during a news conference at the Hubert Humphrey Building Auditorium in Washington, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

FDA’s new expert panels are rife with financial conflicts and fringe views

August 18, 2025

A series of panels convened by the Food and Drug Administration is raising concerns that the agency is skirting federal rules and promoting fringe views about antidepressants and other products. The FDA has more than 30 panels of experts specializing in drugs, vaccines and other products. But increasingly, the agency isn’t calling them. Instead, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary is holding ad hoc sessions with outside experts who often have contrarian views and financial interests in the topics under discussion. The meetings have focused on issues of interest to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., including depression pills and talc powder.

FILE - China's Long March 2F rocket, carrying three astronauts for the Shenzhou 20 manned space mission, blasts off at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center in Jiuquan, northwestern China, April 24, 2025. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

Hijacked satellites and orbiting space weapons: In the 21st century, space is the new battlefield

August 17, 2025

Outer space has emerged as the world’s next battlefield, demonstrated by recent cyberattacks on satellites blamed on Russia. National security officials have said the Kremlin also is seeking to develop a space-based weapon that could knock out American satellites, potentially devastating the U.S. economy while leaving the country vulnerable to military attack. Officials in Washington are taking notice, investing in greater efforts to defend U.S. satellites while countering threats from China and Russia. One example is the U.S. Space Force created in 2019 and tasked with protecting American interests in space.

Protestors hold up signs during the Fight The Trump Takeover Rally held at the State Capitol, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Austin, Texas, to protest congressional redistricting efforts by Texas Republicans and President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Rodolfo Gonzalez)

Texas Republicans set to resume push for redrawn US House maps

August 17, 2025

Texas Republicans will resume pushing through U.S. House maps that would carve out a bigger GOP advantage in the 2026 elections after state Democrats indicated they were ready to end a two-week walkout. California Democrats are also moving ahead with their own reshaping of congressional districts to counteract Texas. Absent lawmakers signaled they were ready to return to Austin after Republican Gov. Greg Abbott ended a first special session on redistricting and California moved forward with its own plan. Abbott called the session at the urging of President Donald Trump, who wants to shore up Republicans’ narrow U.S. House majority. The Texas House was scheduled to try convening a quorum Monday.

Judge to weigh detainees’ legal rights at ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ in Florida Everglades

August 17, 2025

A federal judge is considering whether detainees have been denied their legal rights at a temporary immigrant detention center in the Florida Everglades. This is the second lawsuit challenging practices at the facility known as “Alligator Alcatraz.” On Monday, civil rights attorneys in Miami will ask a judge to ensure detainees have confidential access to their lawyers. They also want the judge to identify an immigration court with jurisdiction over the center. Florida officials dispute claims that attorneys have been unable to meet with clients, noting that video-conferencing and in-person meetings began in July. Civil rights attorneys counter that those meetings are restricted and are neither private nor confidential.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio arrives for a joint press conference with President Donald Trump and Russia's President Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Trump administration halts visas for people from Gaza after Laura Loomer questions arrivals

August 17, 2025

Conservative activist Laura Loomer complained on social media about children from Gaza arriving in the U.S. for medical treatment and questioned how they got visas. The next day, the State Department said it was halting all visitor visas for people from Gaza pending a review. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Sunday told “Face the Nation” on CBS that the action came after ”outreach from multiple congressional offices asking questions about it.” Loomer had posted videos of children from Gaza arriving earlier this month for medical treatment with the aid of an organization called HEAL Palestine. The organization says it brings “severely injured children” to the U.S. on temporary visas for treatment they can’t get at home.

FILE - UNIFIL peacekeepers secure the area in Khardali, southern Lebanon, following a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Nov. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Mohammed Zaatari, File)

The Trump administration wants to end the UN peacekeeping in Lebanon. Europe is pushing back

August 16, 2025

The future of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Lebanon has split the United States and its European allies with implications for security in the Middle East. The divide is the latest issue to vex relations between the U.S. and several of its key partners as the Trump administration moves drastically to pare down its foreign affairs priorities and budget. At issue is the operation known as UNIFIL, whose mandate expires at the end of August and needs to be renewed by the U.N. Security Council to continue. The multinational force has played a significant role in monitoring the security situation in southern Lebanon for decades, including during the war last year, but also has drawn widespread criticism.

U.S. President Donald Trump, second right, shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin after their joint news conference on Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. ((Gavriil Grigorov, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Trump runs into the difficulty of Putin diplomacy and ending a long war

August 16, 2025

President Donald Trump walked into a summit with Russia’s Vladimir Putin pressing for a ceasefire deal and threatening “severe consequences” and tough new sanctions if the Kremlin leader failed to agree to halt the fighting in Ukraine. Instead, Trump was the one who stood down, dropping his demand for a ceasefire in favor of pursuing a full peace accord — a position that aligns with Putin’s. It was a dramatic reversal that laid bare the challenges of dealing with Putin and the complexities of a conflict that Trump had repeatedly boasted during his campaign that he could solve within 24 hours.

Another gold rush could bring open pit mines to South Dakota’s Black Hills

August 16, 2025

It has been 150 years since miners first flocked to South Dakota’s Black Hills in a gold rush that displaced Native Americans. Now that gold is selling for more than $3,000 an ounce, corporations are seeking approval to explore for and extract the mineral by digging vast pit mines that strip the land bare. The Black Hills Clean Water Alliance says that could mean long-term damage to the environment and tourism. But the effort also promises an economic boost. Jack Henris, president of Dakota Gold, estimates the open pit mine his company is working on would create up to 250 jobs and pay the state up to $400 million in taxes.

Gene and Christine Corrigan stand outside their restaurant, The Lake House Restaurant & Lodge, in Richfield Springs, N.Y., on Friday, July 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Hill)

He earned a small town’s trust. He owed $95 million in what authorities say was a Ponzi scheme

August 16, 2025

A businessman from upstate New York is accused of preying on his neighbors in a massive Ponzi scheme. Burt Marshall in Hamilton, New York, promised clients an 8% annual return on their investments in local rental properties. Marshall filed for bankruptcy protection two years ago, owing nearly 1,000 investors about $95 million. Many victims, including retirees and local workers, lost their life savings. Marshall’s assets, mostly in real estate, were sold in bankruptcy proceedings. Investors are expected to recover only a small fraction of their losses. Marshall pleaded not guilty in June to charges of grand larceny and securities fraud contained in a 49-count indictment.

FILE - Thirteen year-old Leland Mitsuing, right, of Saskatchewan, Canada competes in the Jr. Boys Traditional competition at the 40th anniversary of the Gathering of Nations Pow Wow in Albuquerque, N.M., April 28, 2023. (AP Photo/Roberto E. Rosales, File)

The last dance? Organizers of North America’s largest powwow say 2026 will be the event’s final year

August 16, 2025

For more than 40 years, tens of thousands of people have descended upon New Mexico for what is billed as North America’s largest powwow. The Gathering of Nations showcases Indigenous dancers, musicians and artisans from around the world. Organizers announced Saturday that 2026 will be the last time the cultural event is held. They did not provide more details about the decision. The New Mexico fairgrounds in Albuquerque have played host since 2017. But the state is considering redeveloping the site, and it’s unclear what amenities and infrastructure would be available.

Activists carrying signs march to the White House to protest President Donald Trump's federal takeover of policing of the District of Columbia, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Photos of ‘Free D.C.’ protest against Trump’s federal takeover of Washington police

August 16, 2025

WASHINGTON By ALEX BRANDONAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A protest against Trump administration’s effort to overhaul policing in the District

Execution date set for Florida man who killed estranged wife’s sister and parents, set fire to house

August 16, 2025

A Florida man who fatally stabbed his estranged wife’s sister and parents and then set fire to their house is scheduled for execution in Florida under a death warrant signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. David Pittman is set to die Sept. 17 in the record-extending 12th execution scheduled for this year. DeSantis signed the warrant Friday, as two other men, Kayle Bates and Curtis Windom, await execution later this month. Pittman was convicted and sentenced to death in 1991 on three counts of first-degree murder, according to court records. Jurors also found him guilty of arson and grand theft.

FILE - New York Times best-selling author Greg Iles of Natchez, Miss., states the need for a change of the Mississippi state flag during the seventh annual Statehood Day celebration Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015, in Jackson, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

Greg Iles, Mississippi author of ‘Natchez Burning’ trilogy, dies of cancer at 65

August 16, 2025

Mississippi author Greg Iles has died at 65. His literary agent Dan Conaway said Iles died Friday after a decades-long battle with the blood cancer multiple myeloma. Initially diagnosed with the incurable condition in 1996, he kept his illness private until completing his final novel, “Southern Man,” which was published in 2024. Iles was born in Germany but moved to Natchez, Mississippi, with his family when he was just 3 years old and developed a deep connection with the region. Many of his stories are set in Mississippi, including the “Natchez Burning” trilogy, historical fiction suspense novels exploring race and class in the 1960s Jim Crow South.

Things to know about the indictment against the New Orleans mayor

August 15, 2025

Months before New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell was set to leave office, she has been indicted in what prosecutors allege was a yearslong scheme to conceal a romantic relationship with her bodyguard. She and Jeffrey Vappie are accused of exchanging encrypted messages through WhatsApp to avoid detection and erasing them. The pair has said their relationship was professional. The indictment describes it as “personal and intimate.” She has been charged with conspiracy, fraud and obstruction. Vappie was already facing charges of wire fraud and making false statements. He has pleaded not guilty. A grand jury returned an 18-count indictment Friday. The City of New Orleans says the mayor’s attorney is reviewing the indictment.

Activists with Free DC work on a banner as they gather outside Washington Metropolitan Police Department headquarters in Washington, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump’s aggressive push to take over DC policing may be a template for an approach in other cities

August 15, 2025

The left sees President Donald Trump’s attempted takeover of law enforcement in Washington as part of multifront march to autocracy. The right sees it as a bold move to break through the crust of Democratic urban bureaucracy and make D.C. a meaningfully better place to live. Where that debate settles, if it ever does, may determine whether Washington becomes a Trump-shaped model for how cities are policed, cleaned up and run — or ruined. Trump put some 800 National Guard troops on Washington streets this week. Then he upped the stakes by declaring federal control of the district’s police department. Alarmed local officials sued to block that, and the Trump administration partially retreated, for now.

President Donald Trump, right, and Russia's President Vladimir Putin depart at the conclusion of a joint press conference at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Friday, Aug. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Takeaways from the Trump-Putin meeting: No agreement, no questions but lots of pomp

August 15, 2025

The much-anticipated summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin began with a warm welcome a military flyover but ended with a thud after the two leaders conceded they had failed to reach any agreements on how to end the Russia-Ukraine war. After about 2 1/2 hours of talks Friday, the two men appeared before reporters for what had been billed as a joint news conference but ended up being less than 15 minutes of rather standard diplomatic comments. They gave no indication that any concrete results were achieved and took no questions.

FILE - Immigrants play soccer at a new U.S. government holding center for migrant children in Carrizo Springs, Texas, July 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Eric Gay, File)

Judge denies Trump administration request to end a policy protecting immigrant children in custody

August 15, 2025

A federal judge has denied the Trump administration’s request to end a policy protecting immigrant children in federal custody. The Flores agreement limits how long children can be held and requires safe conditions. U.S. District Judge Dolly Gee in California says it was a repetitive attempt and she saw no reason to terminate it. President Donald Trump’s administration says the Flores Settlement Agreement hinders its immigration crackdown. In a hearing held last week, Gee questioned why a number of children are held longer than the 72-hour limit when border arrests are low. A government attorney cited logistical challenges and policy changes.

President Donald Trump speaks at an event to promote his proposal to improve Americans' access to their medical records, in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Washington, as Health and Human Service Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., left, and Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Mehmet Oz, right, look on. (AP Photo/John McDonnell)

Trump tax law could cause Medicare cuts if Congress doesn’t act, CBO says

August 15, 2025

The federal budget deficits caused by President Donald Trump’s tax and spending law could trigger automatic cuts to Medicare if Congress does not act, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The CBO estimates that Medicare, the federal health insurance program for Americans over age 65, could potentially see as much as $491 billion in cuts over the next ten years if Congress does not act to mitigate a 2010 law that forces across-the-board to many federal programs once legislation increases the federal deficit. The latest report from CBO showed how Trump’s signature tax and spending law could put new pressure on federal programs that are bedrocks of the American social safety net.

President Donald Trump greets Russia's President Vladimir Putin Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

For Trump and Putin, handshakes on a red carpet and a joint limo ride, then an abrupt ending

August 15, 2025

President Donald Trump rolled out the red carpet for Russian leader Vladimir Putin at the start of their summit in Alaska. The two men arrived almost simultaneously and exchanged a warm handshake and friendly smiles. Then they climbed into the backseat of Trump’s presidential limousine. The two casually chatted like reunited friends as they were whisked away to talks about the Russia-Ukraine war. It was the kind of greeting fit for the closest U.S. allies, but it was instead rolled out for an adversarial leader who launched the largest land war in Europe since World War II. However, their interactions seemed more muted after emerging from talks that lasted for more than 2 1/2 hours.

A woman is detained by U.S. Border Patrol agents outside a Home Depot Friday, Aug. 15, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull)

Man struck and killed on freeway after fleeing immigration agents, California official says

August 15, 2025

A man fleeing immigration authorities outside a Home Depot store in Southern California was struck and killed by an SUV when he ran across a nearby freeway. Monrovia City Manager Dylan Feik says police responded to a call Thursday about Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity, and an officer saw ICE agents conducting enforcement at a Home Depot location. A man fled on foot and headed toward a nearby freeway, where he was struck by a vehicle and later died. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson says the man was not being pursued by immigration agents. A day later, federal immigration authorities made other arrests in Southern California as part of President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.

Former Nashville officer gets probation after alleged participation in adult video while on duty

August 15, 2025

A former Nashville police officer has been sentenced to probation on a charge of felony official misconduct after law enforcement officials say he allegedly participated in an adult video while on duty. According to court documents filed Thursday, Sean Herman entered a “best interest” plea in Nashville criminal court for one count. A second count was dismissed. The best interest plea means that a defendant pleads guilty while maintaining factual innocence of the crime. Additionally, he was granted judicial diversion, which means that certain eligible defendants who successfully finish probation under the judge’s conditions will have their case dismissed. They can also then request that charges be expunged from their record.

FILE - This combo of images released by the Arkansas Department of Corrections shows the recapture of escaped inmate Grant Hardin, an ex-police chief and convicted killer, by Arkansas law enforcement officers and the U.S. Border Patrol, June 6, 2025, near Moccasin Creek in Izard County, about 1.5 miles (2.4 kilometers) northwest of Calico Rock prison. in Calico Rock, Ark. (Arkansas Department of Corrections via AP, File)

‘Devil in the Ozarks’ planned prison escape for months, cited lax security in kitchen, report says

August 15, 2025

An internal review reveals that a former police chief, known as the “Devil in the Ozarks,” spent months planning his escape from an Arkansas prison. The Department of Corrections released the report Friday detailing Grant Hardin’s May 25 escape from Calico Rock prison. Hardin was serving sentences for murder and rape and was captured June 6. He used a fake law enforcement uniform to walk out of the facility. Two employees were fired for procedure violations that aided his escape. Hardin was misclassified and shouldn’t have been in a primarily medium-security prison. He faces trial for escape charges in November.

Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a press briefing with President Donald Trump in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

New Air Force policy denies transgender troops hearings before they’re discharged

August 15, 2025

The Air Force says in a new memo that transgender airmen ousted under a recent Trump administration directive will no longer have the chance to argue before a board of their peers for the right to continue serving their country. The memo says military separation boards cannot independently decide whether to keep or discharge transgender airmen and instead “must recommend separation of the member” if the airman has a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. That’s when a person’s biological sex doesn’t match up with their gender identity. Military legal experts advising transgender troops describe the policy as unlawful and fear it could serve as a blueprint across the services.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks during a news conference Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

The next steps in California Democrats’ plan to counter Texas Republicans’ redistricting push

August 15, 2025

California is stepping into a national redistricting battle after President Donald Trump urged Texas Republicans to redraw maps to maintain their U.S. House majority. California lawmakers will return to the Capitol on Monday to take up the partisan plan. State Democrats hold supermajorities in both chambers, enough to act without Republican votes. Gov. Gavin Newsom is leading the campaign in favor of the maps, signaling a referendum on Trump and the future of American democracy. Lawmakers will hold hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday on a package of bills to establish the new congressional map.

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon speaks during the summer meeting of the National Governors Association at the Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colo. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Some workers would be excluded from student loan forgiveness program for ‘illegal’ activity

August 15, 2025

The Trump administration has proposed changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program that could exclude teachers, social workers and nurses if their employers engage in activities deemed illegal. The Education Department released the proposal on Friday, targeting nonprofits or government bodies working with immigrants and transgender youth. Critics argue this could turn loan forgiveness into a political tool. The proposal allows the education secretary to decide which organizations are excluded. The public has 30 days to comment before the changes take effect in July 2026. Critics call it an attempt to weaponize student loan cancellation.

Texas Flooding Calls Back Memories Of Black Hills Tragedy

August 15, 2025

BLACK HILLS, SD — “When we heard the warning we thought he was kidding. We just sat there, and pretty

Stone Age humans were picky about which rocks they used for making tools, study finds

August 15, 2025

New research finds early human ancestors during the Stone Age were more picky about the rocks they used for making tools than previously thought. The study published Friday in Science Advances shows that by 2.6 million years ago, early humans had developed a method to chip sharp flakes from rocks to use as blades for butchering meat. At an archaeological site in Kenya, researchers found durable blades made of quartzite, then traced the original rock material to locations several miles away. This suggests the early humans had a mental map of where suitable raw materials were located and planned ahead to use them.

The Freedom Tower is seen in downtown Miami on Friday, Aug. 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Daniel Kozin)

Cuban exiles honored at Miami’s ‘Ellis Island of the South’ as Trump ramps up immigrant arrests

August 15, 2025

Miami’s Freedom Tower stood as a beacon of hope for Cubans fleeing communist rule at the height of the Cold War. The U.S. State Department provided free medical services, English classes, and job opportunities to hundreds of thousands of Cuban refugees between 1962 and 1974. What was once Miami’s tallest building is getting a $65 million facelift after decades of neglect. It will reopen next month as a museum honoring the history of Cuban exiles with immersive state-of-the-art exhibits that explore the meaning of migration, freedom and homeland.

Deer hunter discovers rare subtropical wood stork in the wilds of Wisconsin

August 15, 2025

A deer hunter has discovered a rare subtropical wood stork in the wilds of Wisconsin. Horicon Marsh Bird Club President Jeff Bahls says a hunter scouting for deer first sighted the bird Sunday in a remote section of the Mud Lake Wildlife Area in Columbia County, northeast of Madison. The hunter sent photos of the bird to Bahls, who verified the creature was indeed a wood stork. Wood storks are typically found around the Gulf of Mexico and in South America. It’s listed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act. Bahls says the Wisconsin wood stork is a juvenile that likely became lost.

Richard Thomas dons wig and mustache to play icon Mark Twain in one-man play touring the US

August 15, 2025

Richard Thomas has taken on the role of Mark Twain in a one-man show originally performed by Hal Holbrook. The Emmy Award winner immediately accepted the offer to star in “Mark Twain Tonight!” The show tours more than a dozen states this summer and fall. Holbrook portrayed Twain for over 50 years, making more than 2,300 performances. Thomas jokes about following in Holbrook’s footsteps and Twain’s. The show mixes Twain’s speeches and passages from his books to offer a multidimensional look at the American icon. Thomas sees Twain as representing America perfectly with all its contradictions.

FILE - This Nov. 13, 2008 file photo shows the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Lisa Poole, File)

Critics say Trump’s push for fairness in college admissions is leaving out legacy preferences

August 15, 2025

President Donald Trump is attempting to reshape college admissions according to his definition of merit, with an emphasis on test scores and a blind eye toward diversity. Yet the Republican president’s critics and some allies question his silence on other admissions policies that give applicants a boost because of their wealth or family ties. In recent weeks, Trump has promised a new era of fairness in admissions. But none of his measures has touched on legacy admissions, an edge given to the children of alumni, or similar preferences for the relatives of donors. Virginia’s Republican governor has signed a bill barring legacy admissions at public institutions, following similar measures in Colorado, California and elsewhere.

Music Review: Conan Gray’s ‘Wishbone’ further confirms his place as a tastemaker of Gen Z pop

August 15, 2025

Conan Gray’s wistful fourth album, “Wishbone,” arrives Friday. It is a return to form for Gray, writes The Associated Press’ Elise Ryan in her review. She says that the album’s 12 diaristic tracks oscillate between bold heartbreak anthems and moments of tender reflection. Rejection serves as inspiration for angst and contemplation. On “Wishbone,” Gray once again collaborates with producer Dan Nigro, known for his work with Olivia Rodrigo and Chappell Roan. Their reunion finds Gray comfortable but candid. Recurring characters, settings and symbols help him recount relationships atop a sonic landscape informed by his past releases.

This image provided by USDA Forest Service shows a 375 acre fire east of I-5 at Smokey Bear Road near Templin, Calif. (USDA Forest Service via AP)

Firefighters make progress against fast-moving blaze along highway north of Los Angeles

August 14, 2025

Firefighters with air support are scrambling to control a fast-moving wildfire that erupted in hills along Interstate 5 in northwestern Los Angeles County. Officials say the King Fire charred nearly a square mile of tinder-dry brush in a lightly populated area about 60 miles north of downtown LA. An RV park was ordered to shelter in place, and residents of remote homes were under evacuation warnings. The Angeles National Forest said the fire was 40% contained by Thursday evening. Firefighters were also battling a blaze in northern Los Angeles County that officials say had ballooned to 400 acres and was 6% contained Thursday evening.

George, 67, walks away with what's left of his belongings, after the city put his mattress and other belongings in a garbage truck, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Trump’s ‘safe and beautiful’ move against DC homeless camps looks like ugliness to those targeted

August 14, 2025

The clearing of homeless encampments in the nation’s capital is unfolding under what President Donald Trump calls his Making D.C. Safe and Beautiful Task Force. For many of those targeted, there’s an ugliness to what is going on, and nothing beautiful about it. People being forced from their makeshift living quarters in Washington spoke to The Associated Press about feeling persecuted by the move to expel them. Trump opened his presidency with a round of housecleaning in official Washington. Now he’s taking on another side of the city. He’s sent some 800 National Guard troops to help local police go after crime, homeless camps and grime.

Sesame Street's Elmo, left, performs with Lauren Alaina at the Grand Ole Opry, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn. (AP Photo/George Walker IV)

‘Sesame Street’ stars Elmo and Abby Cadabby sing and host in their Grand Ole Opry debut

August 14, 2025

For a 3 1/2-year-old, Elmo sure has sung a lot on “Sesame Street” with some of the best musicians in the world. But it wasn’t until Thursday that the friendly red monster made his Grand Ole Opry debut, a country music rite of passage. Elmo helped ring in the Grand Ole Opry’s 100th anniversary by co-hosting with his “Sesame Street” pal Abby Cadabby. It was a stop on the “Sesame Street” crew’s Road Trip Across America, with stops at professional baseball games, state fairs and corn mazes. Elmo and his other ‘Sesame’ friends have sung with country’s biggest stars for decades, from Johnny Cash to Chris Stapleton.

Rapper Sean Kingston to be sentenced for $1 million fraud scheme in South Florida

August 14, 2025

Rapper Sean Kingston is scheduled to be sentenced in South Florida on Friday after being convicted of a $1 million fraud scheme. Kingston and his mother, Janice Eleanor Turner, were each convicted by a federal jury in March of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and four counts of wire fraud. A federal judge sentenced Turner last month to five years in prison for the scheme. The two were arrested last year after a SWAT team raided Kingston’s rented mansion in suburban Fort Lauderdale. Officials say Kingston used social media to arrange purchases of high-end merchandise. He or his mother would then send fake wire receipts and sometimes never pay.

FILE - Former Philippine First Lady Imelda Marcos and her attorney Gerry Spence arrive at U.S. District Court in New York, March 22, 1990. (AP Photo/David Cantor, File)

Fringe-wearing Wyoming trial lawyer Gerry Spence dies at 96

August 14, 2025

Well-known Wyoming trial lawyer Gerry Spence has died at age 96. Spence’s 1979 court victory against an Oklahoma plutonium processor was turned into the 1983 movie “Silkwood” starring Meryl Streep. The fringe jacket-wearing Spence won numerous other high profile cases over the years. They included successfully defending former Philippines first lady Imelda Marcos against federal racketeering charges and Randy Weaver in connection with the 1992 Ruby Ridge shootout in Idaho. Spence died late Wednesday at his home in Montecito, California, surrounded by friends and family. He is survived by his wife, six children, 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

After uproar, documentary on Hamas 2023 attack will screen at Toronto Film Festival

August 14, 2025

The Toronto International Film Festival will screen a documentary on the 2023 Hamas attack, after all, following an uproar over the film’s disinvitation from the upcoming festival. Earlier this week, TIFF withdrew its invitation to the film “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue,” saying the decision was based in part on legal clearance for footage used in the film. Deadline, which first reported the news, said a sticking point was the identification and legal clearance of Hamas militants’ own livestreaming of the attack. TIFF chief executive Cameron Bailey and “The Road Between Us” filmmaker Barry Avrich issued a joint statement Thursday announcing the film’s selection.

FILE - This photo made available by the Ramsey County Sheriff's Office shows Vance Luther Boelter, the man charged with killing the top Democrat in the Minnesota House and her husband, and wounding a state senator and his wife, as he was arrested on June 15, 2025. (Ramsey County Sheriff's Office via AP, File)

Upgraded charges filed against Minnesota man accused of killing lawmaker, wounding another

August 14, 2025

A Minnesota man accused of killing a top Democratic state lawmaker and wounding another is now facing new and upgraded state charges. A new indictment was announced Thursday, just a week after Vance Boelter pleaded not guilty to separate charges in federal court. Boelter now faces state charges including two counts of first-degree murder, four counts of attempted first-degree murder and charges of impersonating a police officer and animal cruelty. Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said the charges reflect the weight of the crimes Boelter is accused of. But the state case will continue to take a backseat to the federal case against Boelter in which he could face the death penalty.

FILE - This 1978 electron microscope image made available by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Legionella pneumophila bacteria which are responsible for causing the pneumonic disease Legionnaires' disease. (Francis Chandler/CDC via AP, File)

4th person dies after a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak sickens dozens in New York City

August 14, 2025

A fourth person has died in connection with a Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in New York City. Health officials disclosed the latest death Thursday as they revealed that some cooling towers tested positive for the bacteria in some city-run buildings. The outbreak in Central Harlem has sickened dozens since it began in late July. Seventeen people were hospitalized as of Thursday. The bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease had been discovered in 12 cooling towers on 10 buildings, including a city-run hospital. Legionnaires’ disease is a type of pneumonia that is caused by Legionella bacteria, which grow in warm water and can spread through building water systems.

‘The Traitors’ is opening its doors to everyday people. Here’s how you can join the TV competition

August 14, 2025

NBC announced Thursday that “The Traitors” will open its doors to everyday people. The Peacock reality TV competition series had previously only cast celebrities for its first three seasons, the last of which aired early this year. The new version will bring a group of everyday people together to play what the host, Alan Cumming, called his “treacherous game,” in a video announcing the public casting. The show features a group of contestants who participate in a murder mystery game similar to Clue or Mafia. Those who are interested in participating can apply now on the show’s website. Production for the new version of the show will being in 2026.

FILE - The gaming platform Roblox is displayed on a tablet, Oct. 30, 2021, in New York. (AP Photo/Leon Keith, File)

Louisiana sues Roblox alleging the popular gaming site fails to protect children

August 14, 2025

Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill is suing Roblox, alleging that the online gaming platform is allowing sexual predators to victimize kids. The platform is wildly popular with children and teenagers. Murrill filed the lawsuit in state court Thursday, claiming the company has perpetuated a dangerous online environment. Louisiana alleges that Roblox has failed to implement effective safety measures to protect child users from adult predators. Ultimately, Murrill says she believes Roblox “should be shut down.” An email seeking comment from Roblox was sent to the company on Thursday.

FILE - Payton Gendron, center, listens as he is sentenced, Feb 15, 2023, in Buffalo, N.Y. (Derek Gee/The Buffalo News via AP, Pool, File)

Supermarket gunman who targeted Black people wants charges dropped, says grand jury was too white

August 14, 2025

Attorneys for the white supremacist gunman who killed 10 Black people at a Buffalo supermarket argue that federal charges should be dropped due to a lack of minority representation on the grand jury. A judge heard arguments Thursday on Payton Gendron’s claim that the jury selection process is flawed. Gendron could face the death penalty if convicted in the 2022 mass shooting. He’s already serving life without parole after pleading guilty to state charges. Prosecutors counter that the grand jury selection process was fair. A trial on federal charges is expected next year.

LL Cool J takes the mic for the 2025 MTV VMAs, where Lady Gaga rules nominations

August 14, 2025

The MTV Video Music Awards announced Thursday that LL Cool J will host the 2025 ceremony. The Grammy-winning artist has long championed the VMAs, having won his first Moon Person in 1991. He became the first rapper to receive the Video Vanguard Award years later in 1997. This year’s VMAs will air on Sept. 7 at 8 p.m. Eastern and will run live from the UBS Arena on New York’s Long Island. The show will be broadcast by CBS for the first time, and also simulcast on MTV and available for streaming on Paramount+.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, speaks during a news conference following the Federal Open Market Committee meeting, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Inflation or jobs: Federal Reserve officials are divided over competing concerns

August 14, 2025

Federal Reserve policymakers will be debating whether stubborn inflation or slower hiring is the bigger problem for the economy as they prepare for an annual conference in Jackson, Wyoming, next week and a crucial policy meeting in September. Weak job gains since April have led some officials to support a rate cut. Others remain more concerned about sticky inflation. That could make the Fed’s ultimate move at its September 16-17 meeting a close call. There will be another jobs report and another inflation report before then, and both will likely heavily influence the decision of whether to cut or not.

Texas Democrats set plan to end nearly 2-week walkout over Republicans’ redraw of US House maps

August 14, 2025

Texas Democrats have moved closer to ending a nearly two-week walkout that has blocked the GOP’s redrawing of U.S. House maps before the 2026 election. On Thursday, Democrats announced they will return if Texas Republicans end a special session and California releases its own redrawn map proposal. Both were expected to happen Friday. Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott still intends to push through new maps that would give the GOP five more winnable seats before next year’s midterm elections. Texas House Democrats say they need to return to build a strong public legislative record for an upcoming legal battle against a new map.

Attorney General Pam Bondi speaks with reporters during a briefing with President Donald Trump in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Pam Bondi fires Justice Department employee accused of throwing sandwich at federal agent

August 14, 2025

A man charged with a felony for hurling a sandwich at a federal law-enforcement official in the nation’s capital has been fired from his job at the Justice Department. Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a social media post on Thursday that the department has fired the 37-year-old man, Sean Charles Dunn. A video of Dunn berating a group of federal agents late Sunday went viral. A court filing says Dunn was arrested on an assault charge after he threw a “sub-style” sandwich at a Customs and Border Protection agent. The incident came as Trump stepped up the federal law enforcement presence in the city but before his takeover of the police department.

Students and family members are escorted into school on the first day of school Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez)

Los Angeles school year begins amid fears over immigration enforcement

August 14, 2025

Los Angeles area students are returning to class under a cloud of apprehension after a summer of immigration raids and amid worries that schools could become targets in the Trump administration’s aggressive crackdown. Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent Alberto Carvalho urged immigration officials this week not to conduct enforcement activity within a two-block radius of schools. He also announced several measures to protect students and families, including adding or altering bus routes to accommodate more students. The district will also distribute a family preparedness packet. The district is the nation’s second largest, with more than 500,000 students. Some 30,000 of them are immigrants.

In this Oct. 10, 2018 photo, Angie Thomas, 30, a Jackson, Miss., resident whose book, "The Hate U Give," has been on a national young adult best-seller list for 82 weeks, finishes autographing a copy of her book at a reception in Jackson, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)

Judge strikes down key parts of Florida law that led to removal of books from school libraries

August 14, 2025

A federal judge has struck down key parts of a Florida law that allowed parents to remove books they found objectionable from public school libraries. U.S. District Judge Carlos Mendoza ruled Wednesday that the statute’s prohibition on material describing sexual conduct was overbroad. The law led to the removal of classics like “The Handmaid’s Tale” and “Slaughterhouse-Five” from central Florida schools. Mendoza emphasized that librarians should curate collections based on discretion, not decrees. The lawsuit was brought by publishers, authors, and parents. Schools should now follow a U.S. Supreme Court precedent to evaluate books, the judge ruled.

Kellogg's Froot Loops is on display in a Costco in Pittsburgh, Monday, July 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Kellogg says it will remove artificial dyes from cereals by the end of 2027

August 14, 2025

WK Kellogg Co. plans to remove artificial dyes from its breakfast cereals in the next two and a half years. That’s according to the company and the attorney general of Texas. The maker of Froot Loops and Apple Jacks gave the timeline on Thursday as U.S. food producers face pressure from the U.S. government and consumers to phase out synthetic colorings. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton says Kellogg signed an agreement assuring his office that the Michigan-based company would “permanently remove toxic dyes” from its cereals by the end of 2027. Kellogg says it already had committed to do that and also to stop launching new products with the dyes in January 2026.

FILE - In this Aug. 13, 2013, file photo, oysters are displayed in Apalachicola, Fla. (AP Photo/Phil Sears, File)

Florida wildlife officials consider reopening bay nationally known for its oysters

August 14, 2025

Florida wildlife officials have given preliminary approval to a plan to reopen Apalachicola Bay for oyster harvesting, five years after the waters were closed due to dwindling shellfish populations. The bay along what’s known as Florida’s “Forgotten Coast” historically produced 90% of the state’s oysters and 10% of the nation’s. Upstream water demands, predation and overharvesting helped trigger the five-year closure of the fishery in 2020. State regulators say populations have now recovered enough to allow a limited reopening for commercial and recreational harvesting. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission is expected to reopen the next oyster season on January 1st.

A woman measures a new appliance at a store in Kennesaw, Ga., on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

U.S. producer prices surge in July as Trump tariffs push costs higher

August 14, 2025

U.S. wholesale inflation surged unexpectedly last month as President Donald Trump’s sweeping taxes on imports are pushing costs higher. The Labor Department reported Thursday that its producer price index — which measures inflation before it hits consumers — was up 0.9% last month from June and 3.3% from a year earlier. The numbers were much higher than forecasters had expected.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks during an event with President Donald Trump on improving Americans' access to their medical records in the East Room of the White House, Wednesday, July 30, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Judge orders RFK Jr.’s health department to stop sharing Medicaid data with deportation officials

August 14, 2025

A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to stop sharing personal data of Medicaid enrollees with deportation officials. This decision comes after the department began sharing data, including home addresses, with the Department of Homeland Security in June. The move prompted a lawsuit from 20 states, citing privacy concerns. The judge’s order temporarily halts data sharing in those states. The health department maintains that the agreement is legal. Immigration advocates warn that sharing personal data could deter people from seeking emergency medical help. Medicaid provides critical health coverage to vulnerable residents.

The end is near: Megadeth to release final album and embark on farewell tour

August 14, 2025

Call it a symphony for dissolution. American thrash metal giants Megadeth have announced their forthcoming album will be their last. They will also embark on a farewell tour in 2026. They have yet to reveal the final album’s title, release date or the band’s remaining tour dates. Megadeth founder and frontman Dave Mustaine shared the news in a statement Thursday. It arrived after the band shared a teaser post on Wednesday that read “The end is near…” Megadeth was founded in 1983 after Mustaine was kicked out of Metallica, a band he co-founded. Megadeth released their debut album in 1985, “Killing Is My Business… and Business Is Good!”

FILE - Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Texas, speaks during a hearing of the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the House Committee on Appropriations on Capitol Hill, April 10, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

Judge dismisses 2 counts against US Rep. Cuellar of Texas, moves bribery trial to next year

August 14, 2025

A judge has granted a request by federal prosecutors to dismiss two of the 14 counts that U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife face. The chargers are part of a federal bribery and conspiracy indictment. U.S. District Judge Lee Rosenthal also ordered that the couple’s trial now be scheduled for April 6. It had been set for Sept. 22. The judge agreed to dismiss two counts that the couple had each faced related to violating the prohibition on public officials acting as agents of a foreign principal. The Cuellars each still face 12 charges, including conspiracy, bribery and money laundering.

Bob Odenkirk isn’t an action newbie anymore

August 14, 2025

Bob Odenkirk ducks into a West Village coffee shop wearing sunglasses and a Chicago Cubs cap. Some degree of subterfuge might have been necessary for Odenkirk years ago. Surely fans of “Mr. Show” or “The Larry Sanders Show” might have recognized him. But with time, Odenkirk has traveled from the fringes of pop culture to the mainstream. He’s well-known now, but for what is a moving target. At 62, Odenkirk is not only a comic icon, he’s a six-time Emmy-nominated actor, a Tony-nominated Broadway star and, most surprisingly, an action star. He’s not a newbie, either. With “Nobody 2,” the sequel to the 2021 pandemic hit original, Odenkirk’s butt-kicking bona fides are more or less established.

This combination of images shows Robert Caro posing for a portrait in New York on Sept. 11, 2024, left, and Gustavo Dudamel at the 2023 Los Angeles Philharmonic Gala, on Oct. 5, 2023. (AP Photo)

Robert A. Caro named first-ever Founders Historian Laureate by The New York Historical

August 14, 2025

Pulitzer Prize-winning historian Robert A. Caro has been named the first-ever Founders Historian Laureate by The New York Historical. The museum, where Caro’s archives are stored, also has a research room named after him. Caro, a lifelong New Yorker, is known for his work on Robert Moses and his Lyndon Johnson biographies. He is currently writing the final volume of the series. The honor will be formally presented at a gala on September 17th. Grammy-winning conductor Gustavo Dudamel will also receive a History Makers Award at the event.

FILE - The trail head to the Devil's Den trail at Devils Den State Park remains closed Monday, July 28, 2025, in West Fork, Ark. Police in Arkansas are searching for a suspect in the deaths of a couple who investigators said were attacked while on the wooded walking trail with their two young daughters. (AP Photo/Michael Woods, File)

Teacher charged with killing of hikers at Arkansas park pleads not guilty to murder

August 14, 2025

Andrew James McGann has pleaded not guilty to murder charges after allegedly fatally stabbing two hikers at Devil’s Den State Park in Arkansas last month. McGann entered the plea during a brief hearing at Washington County’s jail on Thursday. Circuit Judge Joanna Taylor scheduled his next hearing for November 14. McGann is being held without bond. He has been charged with two counts of capital murder in the July 26 killing of Clinton David Brink and Cristen Amanda Brink. Authorities have not publicly identified a motive for the attack, and McGann did not have a prior criminal record.

‘Mamma Mia!’ returns to Broadway after a decade away, bringing the dance party back to New York

August 14, 2025

“Mamma Mia!” has returned to Broadway at the Winter Garden Theatre. Producer Judy Craymer always believed the show would come back after its farewell a decade ago. The musical, featuring ABBA hits like “Dancing Queen,” has been a global success. It originally opened in New York shortly after the 2001 terror attacks, bringing joy during tough times. Now, it resonates again as audiences seek connection. The story, set on a Greek island, follows a young woman searching for her father. Cast members say the show’s themes of friendship and identity continue to capture hearts.

FILE - A girl looks through a telescope in Caracas, Venezuela, on Sunday, May 15, 2022. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix, File)

Six planets are hanging out in early morning skies this month. Here’s how to spot them

August 14, 2025

Six planets are hanging out in the sky this month. It’s what’s known as a planetary parade and it’s the last one of the year. These fairly common linkups happen when several planets appear to line up in the night sky at once. Venus, Jupiter, Saturn and a faint Mercury are visible this month to the naked eye, and the best chances to spot them are over the next week. Uranus and Neptune can only be glimpsed through binoculars and telescopes. To spot the planets, go out on a clear morning shortly before sunrise and look east.

FILE - Hunter Biden listens while his father, President Joe Biden, speaks during a Hanukkah reception in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Dec. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.)

Melania Trump demands Hunter Biden retract ‘extremely salacious’ Epstein comments

August 14, 2025

First lady Melania Trump is demanding that Hunter Biden retract comments linking her to sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. She threatens to sue if he does not. Biden made the comments in an interview this month, claiming Epstein introduced Melania to Donald Trump. Melania Trump’s lawyer, Alejandro Brito, calls the statements false and defamatory. Brito says the comments have been widely shared on social media, causing harm to the first lady’s reputation. Biden attributed the claim to author Michael Wolff, whom Trump has criticized. The Trumps have long said they were introduced by a modeling agent in 1998.

3 Virginia sheriff’s deputies who were injured in gunfire while executing a search warrant are OK

August 14, 2025

An official says three sheriff’s deputies injured in gunfire while executing warrants in southern Virginia were shaken up but are “OK.” The suspected shooter is in custody. Sheriff Michael W. Taylor says the warrants being served Wednesday were for brandishing a firearm and trespassing. Officers were also serving a protective order. The deputies all appear to have been wounded by shrapnel and none was directly hit. Photos and video from the scene showed a large number of police and emergency response vehicles. Pittsylvania County is located along the state’s southern border with North Carolina. It is about 98 miles northwest of Raleigh, North Carolina.

Julie Nicoll shows shows an undated photo with her grandson Xavier Thursday, April 24, 2025, in Naples, Fla. Julie and her husband have spent more than $20,000 in legal fees trying to get him released from a youth detention center. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

Takeaways from AP’s investigation into online school for incarcerated teens

August 13, 2025

Florida has moved the education of students in juvenile detention online, despite evidence that many students struggled with online school during the pandemic. The state contracted with Florida Virtual School to bring uniform standards to juvenile justice classrooms. However, an AP investigation shows this approach has been disastrous for some students. Incarcerated teens report difficulty understanding their work and getting help, leading to frustration and behavioral issues that extend their detention. They have also struggled to continue their education after release from detention. Some students have faced challenges re-entering local schools or continuing with Florida Virtual School, complicating their educational journey further.

Maine clinics hope to get blocked Medicaid funds restored as they sue Trump administration over cuts

August 13, 2025

A network of clinics that provides health care in Maine is expected to ask a judge to restore its Medicaid funding while it fights a Trump administration effort to keep federal money from going to abortion providers. President Donald Trump’s big tax bill blocked Medicaid money from flowing to Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider. The same parameters also stopped funding from reaching Maine Family Planning, a much smaller provider that provides care in one of the poorest and most rural states in the Northeast. Maine Family Planning filed a federal lawsuit last month seeking to restore reimbursements.

Cayden Gillespie sits on a bench at a local park Saturday, April 26, 2025, in Gainesville, Fla. Gillespie spent months in juvenile detention after pleading guilty to two felony charges. While in custody the state of Florida provided online learning instead of in person classes which students, parents and staff say has been disastrous. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier)

In juvenile detention, these students say they’re not learning — and it’s keeping them incarcerated

August 13, 2025

Florida shifted to virtual learning for youth in juvenile detention — and parents and students say it’s been a disaster. The state adopted this approach for incarcerated youth, despite evidence that online learners struggled during the pandemic. Officials said they chose Florida Virtual School, known for its rigorous standards, in part to help students reintegrate into public schools. But students find the coursework difficult to understand. They say they have little support from qualified teachers, and their special education plans aren’t being met. This frustration often leads to behavioral issues, extending students’ time in detention, sometimes by months or more.

FILE - President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 Summit, July 7, 2017, in Hamburg. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump’s friendly-to-frustrated relationship with Putin takes the spotlight at the Alaska summit

August 13, 2025

President Donald Trump’s meeting in Alaska with Vladimir Putin could be a decisive moment in the war in Ukraine and in the U.S. leader’s anomalous relationship with his Russian counterpart. Trump has long boasted that he’s always gotten along well with Putin and spoken admiringly of him, even praising him as “pretty smart” for invading Ukraine. But in recent months, he’s expressed open frustrations with Putin and called him “CRAZY” while threatening to impose sanctions on Russia. Still, Trump’s self-imposed deadline for sanctions came and went without any announced penalties or explanation from the White House and the Republican president, tempering expectations for their Friday summit.

FILE - District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser listens as President Donald Trump speaks during an event to announce that the 2027 NFL Draft will be held on the National Mall, in the Oval Office of the White House, May 5, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

DC Mayor Bowser walks delicate line with Trump, reflecting the city’s precarious position

August 13, 2025

As National Guard troops deploy across her city as part of President Donald Trump’s efforts to clamp down on crime, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser is responding with relative restraint. She’s called Trump’s takeover of the city’s police department and his decision to activate 800 members of the guard “unsettling and unprecedented” and gone as far as to cast his efforts as part of an “authoritarian push.” But Bowser has so far declined to respond with the kind of biting rhetoric and personal attacks typical of other high-profile Democratic leaders. The approach underscores the reality of Washington, D.C.’s precarious position under the thumb of the federal government and limited legal options.

This photo provided by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources shows a deceased Eastern cottontail rabbit infected with Shope papillomavirus in October 2021. (Dr. Rachel Ruden/Iowa Department of Natural Resources via AP)

Rabbits with ‘horns’ in Colorado are being called ‘Frankenstein bunnies.’ Here’s why

August 13, 2025

Some cottontail rabbits in Fort Collins, Colorado, have been drawing attention because they have wart-like growths on their faces that look like horns. The rabbits are infected with the relatively common Shope papillomavirus. The virus likely inspired the centuries-old jackalope myth. It also helped scientists learn about the connection between viruses and cancer, such as the human papillomavirus that causes cervical cancer. Experts say the virus cannot spread to other species. The growths don’t harm rabbits unless they grow on their eyes or mouths and interfere with eating. Rabbits’ immune systems are able to fight the virus. And once they do, the growths will disappear.

NBA approves sale of Boston Celtics to private equity mogul Bill Chisholm for $6.1 billion

August 13, 2025

The NBA has unanimously approved the sale of the Boston Celtics to a group led by private equity mogul Bill Chisholm. The deal was announced Wednesday and it values the franchise at more than $6.1 billion. Chisholm will take ownership of at least 51% of the team, with full control by 2028 at a price that could bring the total value to $7.3 billion. That’s a record price for an American professional sports team, though Los Angeles Dodgers owner Mark Walter has agreed to buy a share of the Lakers at a price that values the NBA franchise at $10 billion.

FILE - Democratic New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham speaks at a news conference, March 22, 2025, in Santa Fe, N.M. (AP Photo/Morgan Lee, file)

New Mexico governor declares state of emergency in rural county afflicted by crime, drug use

August 13, 2025

The governor of New Mexico has declared a state of emergency in response to violent crime and drug trafficking across a swath of northern New Mexico, including two Native American pueblo communities. The emergency declaration by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Wednesday makes $750,000 available as local governments in Rio Arriba County call for reinforcements against violent crime and other hardships associated with illicit drugs. The vast county stretches from the city of Española to the Colorado state line and has long been afflicted by opioid use and high drug-overdose death rates, with homeless encampments emerging in recent years in more populated areas.

FILE - Protesters stand off against California National Guard soldiers at the Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles during a "No Kings" protest, June 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)

Judge weighs whether Trump violated federal law by deploying National Guard to Los Angeles

August 13, 2025

A federal judge in San Francisco is weighing whether the Trump administration violated federal law by sending National Guard troops to accompany federal agents on immigration raids in Southern California. A three-day trial on the matter concluded Wednesday. California has argued the troops violated the Posse Comitatus Act. The 1878 law generally prohibits military enforcement of domestic laws. Lawyers for the administration say the law doesn’t apply to the troops deployment to Southern California. They say the troops were called up under an authority that allows their deployment when “the president is unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States.”

TIFF pulls documentary on 2023 Hamas attack from festival lineup, citing footage rights issue

August 13, 2025

The Toronto International Film Festival has disinvited a documentary on the Hamas 2023 attack on Israel over what the festival says was a footage rights issue. Organizers for the festival on Tuesday acknowledged that they withdrew “The Road Between Us: The Ultimate Rescue” by Canadian filmmaker Barry Avrich after initially offering the film a spot in next month’s edition of TIFF. The film chronicles the story of retired Israeli Gen. Noam Tibon. His efforts to save his family and others was profiled in a “60 Minutes” segment. The filmmakers say the festival is engaging in “censorship” by withdrawing the film.

FILE - President Donald Trump waves after greeting troops at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson for a refueling stop en route to Japan, May 24, 2019, in Anchorage. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)

Trump and Putin will meet at an Alaska military base long used to counter Russia

August 13, 2025

President Donald Trump’s meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin is set for a military base in Alaska that was crucial to countering the Soviet Union during the height of Cold War and still plays a role today. Their summit on the Russia-Ukraine war is scheduled to take place Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage. That’s according to a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal planning. The base has played a key strategic role in monitoring and deterring the Soviet Union during much of the Cold War. Planes from the base also still intercept Russian aircraft that regularly fly into U.S. airspace.

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