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President Donald Trump speaks during an event in the Oval Office to mark the 90th anniversary of the Social Security Act, Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump was once a Republican Party outsider. Now it’s his GOP and the MAGA faithful are in the lead

August 23, 2025

Donald Trump was the Republican Party outsider in 2016. Now the party belongs to him. The shift was on display in Atlanta this week as members of the Republican National Committee made Florida conservative Joe Gruters the latest party chairman. Trump had picked Gruters and called him a “MAGA warrior.” The committee’s roster now includes dozens of other loyalists who embrace Trump’s “Make America Great Again” and “America First” approaches. That’s quite a turn from his presidential campaign in 2016. Republicans say Trump has reshaped their party and become much more directly engaged in making sure party leadership reflects his views and interests.

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Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell walks outside of Jackson Lake Lodge during a break at the Jackson Hole Economic Policy Symposium in Moran, Wyo., on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Amber Baesler)

Fed Chair Powell faces fresh challenges to Fed independence amid potential rate cuts

August 23, 2025

Now that Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has signaled that the central bank could soon cut its key interest rate, he faces a new challenge: how to do it without seeming to cave to the White House’s demands. For months, Powell has largely ignored President Donald Trump’s relentless hectoring that he reduce borrowing costs. Yet on Friday, in a highly-anticipated speech, Powell suggested that the Fed could take such a step as soon as its next meeting in September. It will be a fraught decision for the Fed, which must weigh it against persistent inflation that remains a problem and an economy that could also improve in the second half of this year. Both trends, if they occur, could make a cut look premature.

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Lyle Menendez appears before the parole board via teleconference on Friday, Aug 22, 2025, at the Richard J. Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. (California Department of Corrections via AP)

The Menendez brothers were denied parole. They have to wait at least 18 months for their next chance

August 22, 2025

Erik and Lyle Menendez have both been denied parole by a California board after decades in prison for killing their parents in 1989 at their Beverly Hills mansion. During two days of hearings, the brothers were questioned by panels of two commissioners and asked to speak with complete candor on the abuse they suffered in childhood, their mindsets leading up to and after the murders and various prison transgressions. The hearings marked the closest the brothers have come to winning freedom since their convictions almost 30 years ago.

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In this image released by the U.S. Geological Survey, the Kilauea volcano spews lava on Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii. (M. Zoeller/U.S. Geological Survey via AP)

Kilauea’s eruption is back as the Hawaii volcano shoots lava for the 31st time since December

August 22, 2025

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano has resumed its eruption by shooting an arc of lava high into the air and across a section of its summit crater floor. It’s Kilauea’s 31st display of molten rock since December, a frequency appropriate for one of the world’s most active volcanoes. The north vent at the summit crater began continuously spattering Friday morning and then lava overflowed a few hours later. The vent started shooting lava fountains in the afternoon. Residents and visitors will have a front-row view at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. Others can watch popular livestreams made possible by three camera angles set up by the U.S. Geological Survey.

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Law enforcement officers remember police officer killed in CDC shooting in Atlanta

August 22, 2025

Weeks after David Rose was killed while responding to a shooting this month at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, officers are remembering the DeKalb County police officer as a courageous leader who prioritized family. Hundreds attended a memorial service Friday. They included law enforcement agents and CDC employees. Rose was a former Marine. He graduated from the police academy in March. Attendees shared memories of his devotion to serving and love for his family, basketball and his motorcycle. Rose’s young daughter leaned on his wife’s shoulder with blue bows in her hair and a shirt that said, “My daddy is my hero.”

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An osprey perches on a flagpole near its nest at a high school athletic field Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Apple Valley, Minn. (AP Photo/Mark Vancleave)

Ospreys nesting on stadium light pole disrupts Minnesota high school’s fall sports season

August 22, 2025

A pair of ospreys have disrupted the fall sports season at a Minnesota high school by nesting on a light pole on the football field. Protected by law, the birds forced Apple Valley High School to switch to day games to avoid harming them with the hot floodlights. The school is now working with the Department of Natural Resources to monitor the chicks. Officials plan to remove the nest once the young ospreys fly off in around a week. The school aims to relocate the nest to a new platform in hopes that the parents will return next year.

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FILE - Pedestrians cross University Ave on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., July 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

Justice Department won’t defend grants for Hispanic-serving colleges, calling them unconstitutional

August 22, 2025

The Trump administration said Friday it will not defend a decades-old grant program for heavily Hispanic universities that is being challenged in court, declaring that the government believes the funding is unconstitutional. In a memo sent to Congress, the Justice Department said it agrees with a June lawsuit attempting to strike down grants that are reserved for colleges and universities where at least a quarter of undergraduates are Hispanic. Congress created the program in 1998 after finding that Latino students were going to college and graduating at far lower rates than white students. Justice Department officials argued the program provides an unconstitutional advantage based on race or ethnicity.

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FILE - Audrey Strauss, acting U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, points to a photo of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, during a news conference in New York on July 2, 2020. (AP Photo/John Minchillo, File)

Epstein’s former girlfriend told Justice Department she did not see Trump act in ‘inappropriate way’

August 22, 2025

Jeffrey Epstein’s imprisoned former girlfriend repeatedly denied to the Justice Department witnessing any sexually inappropriate interactions with Donald Trump. That’s according to records released Friday meant to distance the Republican president from the disgraced financer. The Trump administration issued hundreds of pages of transcripts from interviews Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche conducted with Ghislaine Maxwell last month. The administration has scrambled to present itself as transparent amid a fierce backlash over an earlier refusal to disclose records from the sex-trafficking case. The transcripts show Maxwell repeatedly praising Trump and denying she had observed him engaged in any form of sexual behavior.

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Trump turns $11.1B in US government funds into a 10% stake in downtrodden Intel

August 22, 2025

President Donald Trump on Friday announced the U.S. government has secured a 10% stake in struggling Silicon Valley pioneer Intel in a deal completed just a couple weeks after he depicted the company’s CEO as a conflicted leader unfit for the job. The remarkable turn of events makes the U.S. government one of Intel’s largest shareholders at a time that it is in the process of jettisoning more than 20,000 workers as part of its latest attempt to restructure under recently hired CEO Lip-Bu Tan. After calling for Tan’s ouster amid national security worries, Trump hailed him as a “highly respected” CEO.

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FILE - Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill, Thursday, May 2, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

Hegseth fires general whose agency’s intel assessment of damage from Iran strikes angered Trump

August 22, 2025

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has fired a general whose agency’s initial intelligence assessment of U.S. damage to Iran nuclear sites angered President Donald Trump. That’s according to two people familiar with the decision and a White House official. They said Lt. Gen. Jeffrey Kruse will no longer serve as head of the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency. Another U.S. official says Hegseth also fired Vice Adm. Nancy Lacore, who is chief of the Navy Reserve, as well as Rear Adm. Milton Sands, a Navy SEAL officer who oversees Naval Special Warfare Command. The ousters have ramped up the Trump administration’s targeting of both military leadership and the intelligence community.

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FILE - Former President Donald Trump sits in the courtroom before the start of closing arguments in his civil business fraud trial at New York Supreme Court, Jan. 11, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, Pool, File)

What’s next after a court cut Donald Trump’s $515 million fine to $0

August 22, 2025

President Donald Trump was quick to declare “TOTAL VICTORY” after a New York appeals court threw out a civil fraud penalty that stood to cost him more than a half-billion dollars. But Thursday’s ruling overturning the key punishment in New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit isn’t the last word. James, a Democrat, has vowed to appeal to the state’s highest court. Trump still faces other punishments as a result of the lawsuit — including a ban on him and his two eldest sons holding corporate leadership positions for a few years — and could appeal in an attempt to get those reversed.

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President Donald Trump speaks with reporters at The People's House museum. Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump visits a DC gift shop and the Kennedy Center during military crackdown

August 22, 2025

President Donald Trump visited a gift shop near the White House and stopped by the Kennedy Center on Friday, all while his federal takeover of Washington is keeping residents on edge. Trump said he’d seek $2 billion from Congress to beautify Washington. Trump later announced that the Kennedy Center would be hosting the final draw for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. He also announced more White House renovations, including the Lincoln Bedroom bathroom. Officials announced 76 arrests citywide the previous evening as part of a weekslong crackdown. The Pentagon said National Guard troops patrolling D.C. would soon start carrying weapons.

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North Carolina Supreme Court says bars’ COVID-19 lawsuits can continue

August 22, 2025

The North Carolina Supreme Court has issued favorable rulings for bars seeking compensation from the state for COVID-19 restrictions. On Friday, the court decided that two lawsuits filed by bars and their operators can continue. These lawsuits claim that through ordered closings they were treated unfairly compared to restaurants during the pandemic. The restrictions began in March 2020 under then-Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat. The court’s Republican justices agreed one lawsuit could proceed, rejecting state arguments to halt it. They ruled the other case also can return to a trial judge so evidence could be analyzed on the claim the owners’ rights to earn a living were violated.

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Mariah the Scientist poses for a portrait on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Gary Gerard Hamilton)

Mariah the Scientist’s ‘Hearts Sold Separately’ mixes love potions and pensive emotions

August 22, 2025

Mariah the Scientist has emerged from her lab with a new album, “Hearts Sold Separately.” Fueled by “Burning Blue,” which hit No. 1 on Billboard’s rhythmic airplay chart and No. 25 on the Billboard 200, “Hearts Sold Separately” pensively explores love and relationships, themes synonymous with the former St. John’s University biology student. The 10-track project, with Kali Uchis as the sole feature, is the fourth album from the R&B singer-songwriter who’s crafted huge records like “From a Woman” and “Spread Thin.” Mariah is also the girlfriend of Grammy-winning rapper Young Thug, who pleaded guilty in October 2024 to gang, drug and gun charges in Georgia. He was sentenced to time served and 15 years of probation.

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FILE - Pedestrians cross University Ave on the campus of Arizona State University in Tempe, Ariz., July 25, 2018. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

Justice Dept. declines to defend grants for Hispanic-serving colleges, calling them unconstitutional

August 22, 2025

The Trump administration says it will not defend a decades-old grant program for heavily Hispanic universities that is being challenged in court, declaring that the government believes the funding is unconstitutional. In a memo sent Friday to Congress, the Justice Department said it agrees with a June lawsuit attempting to strike down grants that are reserved for colleges and universities where at least a quarter of undergraduates are Hispanic. Congress created the program in 1998 after finding that Latino students were going to college and graduating at far lower rates than white students. Justice Department officials argued the program provides an unconstitutional advantage based on race or ethnicity.

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FILE - The campus of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is seen in Atlanta, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

HHS moves to strip thousands of federal health workers of union rights

August 22, 2025

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has moved to strip thousands of federal health agency employees of their collective bargaining rights. HHS officials confirmed Friday that the agency is ending union recognition for many employees. It’s the latest move by the Trump administration to end collective bargaining with federal employee unions. Previously affected agencies include the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Environmental Protection Agency. The American Federation of Government Employees argues that strong union contracts support a stable workforce, especially in public health emergencies.

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National Guardsmen patrol near the U.S. Capitol, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul)

National Guard troops on DC streets for Trump’s crackdown will start carrying guns

August 22, 2025

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered National Guard troops to start carrying firearms while patrolling the streets of Washington for President Donald Trump’s law enforcement crackdown. The Defense Department didn’t offer any other details Friday about the development or why it’s needed. Hegseth referred to it as “common sense.” It’s an escalation in Trump’s intervention into policing in the nation’s capital and comes as nearly 2,000 National Guard members are stationed in the heavily Democratic city. Hundreds of the troops have arrived this week from Republican-led states. The Pentagon says troops will carry their service-issued weapons. Trump has boasted that D.C. is safer than ever.

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Samy Yawo, center, eats sweet corn at the St. Jude Catholic Church's Sweet Corn Festival as his father, Billy Yawo, right, talks with, Roger Atchou, left, a father of two from Togo, on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2025, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. (AP Photo/Jessie Wardarski)

Migrants to Iowa strike different portraits where ‘American Gothic’ was created

August 22, 2025

In Cedar Rapids, Grant Wood painted “American Gothic,” the iconic portrait of a man and a woman standing in front of a white frame house. Almost 100 years later, the residents of this Iowa river town strike many different profiles after more than a century of migration and faith-based resettlement efforts. On an August weekend, a grocery store owner attends Friday prayer alongside the descendants of Middle Eastern families who built the oldest surviving mosque in the U.S. Refugee families from Central and West Africa go to Methodist services and volunteer at a Catholic church’s sweet corn festival. And two churches belonging to the same Catholic parish celebrate Masses attended by the descendants of Czech migrants from the 19th century and new arrivals from Latin America.

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FILE - Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., participates in a debate with Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., not shown, at the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate, June 2, 2025, in Boston, as live-streamed on Fox Nation. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

The fall’s 10 most anticipated books, from Pynchon to (Priscilla) Presley

August 22, 2025

Fall is the time for publishers to release their most anticipated literary fiction, and this season will feature new books from Thomas Pynchon, Kiran Desai and Ian McEwan among others. But it’s also a moment for genres ranging from celebrity memoirs to crime novels to children’s stories. Some works, including Pynchon’s “Shadow Ticket,” were more than a decade in the making. Others will arrive quickly to catch readers up on the recent past. Former Vice President Kamala Harris’ “107 Days” is a campaign memoir that arrives just months after she left office.

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Ciara poses for a portrait on Monday, Aug 18, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Gary Gerard Hamilton)

Ciara reinforces her passion for music with ‘CiCi.’ The album is her first since 2019

August 21, 2025

Ciara will release her first album since 2019, expanding her 2023 EP “CiCi.” The project arrives Friday and marks her first as an independent artist. Ciara says she worked on the album for nearly five years, even giving birth to two children during the process. The 14-track album “CiCi” includes songs from the EP such as “How We Roll,” her 2023 Chris Brown collaboration which reached No. 1 on Billboard’s R&B digital song sales charts, and “Forever” with Lil Baby. It also features collaborations with Tyga, Latto and Busta Rhymes. Known for hits like “Goodies” and “Body Party,” Ciara addresses concerns about her slower music release pace, emphasizing her focus on family.

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FILE - Florida Sen. Joe Gruters watches during a legislative session April 30, 2021, at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee, File)

Trump’s next RNC chairman Joe Gruters is a longtime believer. Here’s what to know about him

August 21, 2025

Florida conservative Joe Gruters has been a Donald Trump cheerleader dating back to the president’s days as a reality TV star. Now he is the president’s handpicked choice as Republican National Committee chairman. Gruters has no opposition and is scheduled to be formally elected at the RNC’s summer meeting in Atlanta. For Gruters, the vote will complete a steady climb from county party leader into the top ranks of Trump’s second presidency. For Trump, Gruters’ ratification reflects his penchant for loyal lieutenants and evolution from a new president disinterested in party machinery to an Oval Office veteran intent on gripping all levers of power. Gruters will become a key White House partner ahead of the 2026 midterm elections.

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President Donald Trump speaks with members of law enforcement and National Guard soldiers, Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Trump embraces tough-on-crime mantra amid DC takeover as he and Democrats claim political wins

August 21, 2025

President Donald Trump is proudly promoting the work of roughly 2,000 National Guard troops in Washington to confront what the Republican president describes as an out-of-control crime wave in the Democratic-run city. Trump and his allies are confident that his decision to dispatch soldiers to a key American city with no clear crisis is a big political winner. Democrats say this is a fight they’re eager to have. One Democratic strategist says it’s “an opportunity for the party to go on offense on an issue that has plagued us for a long time.” Trump’s power grab could be a factor for both sides in elections in Virginia and New Jersey this fall — and next year’s midterms.

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FILE - Work progresses on a new migrant detention facility dubbed "Alligator Alcatraz," at Dade-Collier Training and Transition facility in the Florida Everglades, on July 4, 2025, in Ochopee, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

Florida must stop expanding ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ immigration center, judge says

August 21, 2025

A federal judge has issued a preliminary injunction halting further expansion of an immigration detention center built in the middle of the Florida Everglades and dubbed “Alligator Alcatraz” as it winds down its operations in 60 days to comply with environmental laws. Environmental groups and the Miccosukee Tribe argue the project violates environmental laws and threatens sensitive wetlands. The center, built almost two months ago, currently holds several hundred detainees but could expand to 3,000. The lawsuit claims the state and federal governments failed to comply with environmental regulations.

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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)

Erik Menendez was denied parole. Here’s what he said at his hearing

August 21, 2025

Erik Menendez has been denied parole by panel of California commissioners. During his hearing Thursday, he offered his most detailed account in years of how he was raised and why he made the choices he did — both at the time of his parents’ killing and during his decades in prison. He and brother Lyle were sentenced to life in 1996 for fatally shooting Jose and Kitty Menendez in their Beverly Hills mansion in 1989. The state corrections department chose a single reporter to watch the videoconference and share details with the rest of the press. Here’s a look at his remarks.

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FILE - Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, front center, signs bills into law to bring more comprehensive guidelines into place for funeral facilities on May 24, 2024, during a ceremony outside the Governor's mansion in downtown Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Inspectors find numerous decomposing bodies behind hidden door at Colorado funeral home

August 21, 2025

State inspectors in Colorado say they found about 20 decomposing bodies behind a hidden door in a funeral home operated by a county coroner. Authorities said Thursday that the funeral home operator said he may have given fake ashes to next of kin who sought cremations. Pueblo County Coroner Brian Cotter also told inspectors that some of the bodies at his funeral home had been awaiting cremation for about 15 years. No charges have been filed as the investigation continues.

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FILE - The seal of the State Department is photographed at the Washington Passport Agency, July 12, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Trump administration is reviewing all 55 million foreigners with US visas for any violations

August 21, 2025

The Trump administration says it’s reviewing more than 55 million foreigners who have valid U.S. visas for any violations that could lead to deportation. In a written answer to a question from The Associated Press, the State Department said all U.S. visa holders are subject to “continuous vetting.” It says it has an eye toward any indication that they could be ineligible for permission to enter or stay in the United States. The State Department’s new language suggests that the continual vetting process is far more widespread and could mean even those approved to be in the U.S. could abruptly see those permissions revoked.

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Prosecutors to seek death penalty for man accused of killing 2 police officers in Utah

August 21, 2025

Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty for a man accused of fatally shooting two police officers in northern Utah last weekend. Ryan Michael Bate has been charged with capital murder and other crimes in the shooting deaths of Sgt. Lee Sorensen and Officer Eric Estrada. The Box Elder County Attorney’s Office filed a notice to the court late Wednesday that it plans to seek the death penalty for Bate. Police say Bate killed the officers while they were responding to a domestic disturbance call at his home. A sheriff’s deputy and a police K-9 also were injured in the shooting. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said he thinks it is appropriate for prosecutors to seek the death penalty.

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FILE - FOX Business Network anchor Maria Bartiromo, right, arrives at the White House, March 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Defamation case against Fox News highlights role of its hosts in promoting 2020 election falsehoods

August 21, 2025

A $2.7 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News for its coverage after the 2020 presidential election focuses on the roles of hosts Jeanine Pirro, Maria Bartiromo and Lou Dobbs in spreading false stories about fraud in Democrat Joe Biden’s victory over President Donald Trump. New details about Fox’s coverage emerged in court papers filed in New York this week in a case brought by the Smartmatic election technology company. Pirro, now U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., and the other two hosts were most active in spreading conspiracy theories, even though most at Fox knew they were untrue, court records show. Fox has said it was covering the news and accuses Smartmatic of exaggerating claims.

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FILE - Twitter headquarters is shown in San Francisco, Nov. 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, File)

Musk’s X reaches tentative settlement with former Twitter workers in $500 million lawsuit

August 21, 2025

Elon Musk’s X has reached a tentative settlement with former employees of the company then known as Twitter who’d sued for $500 million in severance pay. The parties disclosed the deal in a Wednesday court filing asking for a scheduled Sept. 17 hearing in the case to be postponed. The San Francisco federal appeals court on Thursday agreed to postpone the hearing so that both sides could finalize the settlement agreement. The terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

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Lil Nas X jailed on suspicion of charging at police on LA street where he walked nearly naked

August 21, 2025

Police say rapper Lil Nas X has been jailed on suspicion of misdemeanor obstructing a police officer after a run-in with police in Los Angeles. Police say officers responding to reports of a naked man in the street found him walking on a busy boulevard early Thursday. They say he was arrested after charging at the officers. Suspecting a drug overdose, police took him to a hospital before booking him into jail. The 26-year-old Grammy nominee Lil Nas X is best known for his record-setting 2018 hit “Old Town Road.” The rapper’s representatives did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

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FILE - Amazon Web Services data center is visible on Aug. 22, 2024, in Boardman, Ore. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane, File)

Trump blames renewable energy for rising electricity prices. Experts point elsewhere

August 21, 2025

President Donald Trump is blaming renewable energy sources such as wind and solar power for skyrocketing energy costs. With electricity prices rising at more than twice the rate of inflation, Trump called wind and solar power “THE SCAM OF THE CENTURY!” in a social media post. He vowed not to approve wind or “farmer destroying Solar” projects. Energy analysts say renewable sources have little to do with recent price hikes. They say it’s due to increased demand, aging infrastructure and increasingly extreme weather events such as wildfires that are exacerbated by climate change.

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CORRECTS THAT OFFICER WAS KILLED, NOT WOUNDED - A memorial is seen in the aftermath of a shooting near the CDC where DeKalb County Police Officer David Rose was killed while responding, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Georgia man may have tried to enter CDC campus two days before he attacked agency

August 21, 2025

An internal CDC email reveals that the Georgia man who shot at CDC buildings on Aug. 8 likely tried to enter the campus two days earlier. Security video suggests Patrick Joseph White attempted entry on Aug. 6 but was turned away. The email, viewed by The Associated Press, states that law enforcement believes it was White. White blamed the COVID-19 vaccine for his depression. He killed a police officer and fired over 180 shots before killing himself. No one at CDC was injured. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation says its investigation is ongoing.

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Milo Tivy, 16, and Shari Tivy, 75, look at a display of human skulls at the Mütter Museum on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Mingson Lau)

Medical museum in Philadelphia overhauls policies on human remains to meet modern ethical standards

August 21, 2025

A medical museum in Philadelphia is redrawing its policies about collecting and displaying human remains. The Mutter Museum announced it is limiting its acceptance of additional specimens and working to follow “evolving modern medical ethical standards” in handling the 6,500 remains in its collection. Many are body parts and organs collected between about 1840 and 1940 during autopsies and surgery because they were considered helpful in medical education. The museum is also working to “de-anonymize” its collection by looking into the personal histories of the remains. The goal is to exhibit them in the context of medical history, bodily diversity and the tools and therapies used to treat them.

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The new Cracker Barrel logo is displayed on Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Wyatte Grantham-Philips)

Cracker Barrel unveils a new logo as part of wider rebrand efforts, sparking ire among some online

August 21, 2025

Cracker Barrel is marching forward with an ongoing makeover. And to some fans’ dismay, the chain’s new logo now ditches the barrel itself. Or rather, the drawing many have associated with Cracker Barrel over the years. The man leaning on that barrel is also gone, as are the words “Old Country Store.” Instead, the new emblem features a simpler design with just “Cracker Barrel” written on a gold background, which also has a semi-updated shape. Beyond a new logo, the continuing rebranding effort has also included remodeling its country-style restaurants and stores.

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FILE- United and Delta Airlines jetliners taxi down a runway for take off at Denver International Airport, Dec. 24, 2024, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski, File)

Passengers sue United and Delta for selling ‘window’ seats next to blank walls

August 21, 2025

A pair of federal lawsuits filed in San Francisco and New York accuse Delta Air Lines and United Airlines of misleading passengers by charging premium fees for window seats next to blank walls. A New York law firm brought the cases as proposed class actions on behalf of any passengers who say they wouldn’t have selected or paid more if they had known their seats did not include a window. Both Delta and United declined to comment, citing pending litigation. The lawsuits claim that Alaska Airlines and American Airlines also sell windowless window seats but disclose the information during the selection process.

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Vice President JD Vance speaks during a visit to ALTA Refrigeration Inc., Thursday, Aug. 21, 2025, in Peachtree City, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Vance pitches Trump’s sweeping new law as a ‘working families’ tax cut’ in swing-state Georgia

August 21, 2025

Vice President JD Vance has been promoting President Donald Trump’s new tax cuts and spending bill in swing-state Georgia. On Thursday, the Republican vice president spoke at a refrigeration facility in metro Atlanta. He highlighted tax cut extensions and breaks on overtime and tips. Meanwhile, Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff was also campaigning on the law in Georgia. He cited a rural hospital’s worry that it will have to cut its intensive care unit because of a budget hole. Both parties are using the law to rally support before the 2026 midterm elections.

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FILE - Professional entertainer and wrestler, Hulk Hogan, speaks during the Republican National Convention, Thursday, July 18, 2024, in Milwaukee. (AP Photo/Julia Nikhinson, File)

Police investigation continues into death of Hulk Hogan

August 21, 2025

Police in Florida are still investigating the death last month of professional wrestling icon Hulk Hogan from what the medical examiner concluded was a heart attack. The Clearwater Police Department said in a statement Thursday that the “unique nature” of the case requires multiple interviews of witnesses and obtaining medical records for several providers. Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, died July 24 at age 71 at a hospital after paramedics and police rushed to his beachfront home in Clearwater following a 911 call. That call, and police body camera video of the scene, has not yet been released as the investigation continues.

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Tesla vehicles line a parking area at the company's Fremont, Calif., factory on Tuesday, Aug. 5, 2025. (AP Photo/Noah Berger)

Tesla is slow in reporting crashes and the feds have launched an investigation to find out why

August 21, 2025

Federal auto safety regulators have opened an investigation into why Tesla has repeatedly broken rules requiring it to tell them quickly about crashes involving its self-driving technology that may soon be deployed in millions of its cars on U.S. roads. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday that “numerous” incidents involving Tesla’s driver assistance and self-driving features were submitted far too late — several months after the crashes instead of within five days as required. The probe comes two months after the electric vehicle maker run by Elon Musk started a self-driving taxi service in Austin, Texas, with hopes of soon offering it nationwide.

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FILE - Rita Hart, chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, speaks before a vote for new calendar lineup for the early stages of the party's presidential nominating contests during the Democratic National Committee Winter Meeting, Feb. 4, 2023, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)

Iowa Democrats consider bringing back lead off caucuses, even if it means going ‘rogue’ in 2028

August 21, 2025

Iowa’s state party officials say it was a mistake that the party’s 2024 nominating calendar forced them to ditch the five-decade, first-in-the-nation caucus where community members publicly signal their support for a candidate. The state party’s criticism comes with an open threat of defying the national party’s orders in 2028 just days before national Democrats gather for their annual summer meeting. Iowa Democrats are looking to bring the once-competitive, rural and agricultural Midwest state back on the radar of a party questioning its values, direction and future leaders. In 2022, President Joe Biden forced a shake-up of the 2024 election calendar, moving South Carolina’s primary ahead of contests in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada.

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FILE - Shoppers walk from the Walmart store, Aug. 14, 2025, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, file)

Tariffs aren’t keeping Walmart from attracting shoppers and outpacing Target

August 21, 2025

Walmart is showing it can keep pulling in shoppers and outpacing rivals like Target in an uncertain economic environment.  and tariff concerns to deliver solid second-quarter financial results Thursday, showing it keeps pulling in shoppers and outpacing peers like Target. The nation’s largest retailer delivered solid second-quarter financial results on Thursday. It reported a 4.6% quarterly increase in comparable sales, or those coming from established stores and online channels. Company executives say Walmart is attracting customers with fast deliveries, grocery discounts and trendier clothes. The earnings of the Bentonville, Arkansas, company differed notably from those of Target, which on Wednesday reported another quarter of comparable sales declines.

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Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi welcome first child via adoption

August 21, 2025

Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi announced on Instagram that they’ve recently adopted a daughter. The young couple got married in a private ceremony last year. They shared Thursday that they “are beyond excited to embark on this beautiful next chapter of parenthood in both peace and privacy.” No further details were released. Brown gained recognition for her starring role as Eleven in the Duffer brothers’ sci-fi series “Stranger Things.” The fifth and final season will air in November and December. Bongiovi is the son of Jon Bon Jovi and debuted his acting career in “Rockbottom” last year.

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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)

Powell to give his last Jackson Hole speech under watchful gaze of Wall Street and the White House

August 21, 2025

Both Wall Street and the White House will be paying close attention to Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s high-profile speech Friday at the Fed’s annual economic symposium in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. It comes as mixed signals about the economy complicate the Fed’s upcoming decision on interest rates. Weak data on the job market would suggest the Fed should cut rates. But concerns that inflation could move higher in the coming months make the case for the Fed to stay its current course. President Donald Trump has frequently demanded that the Fed lower rates, adding to the drama surrounding Powell’s remarks.

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‘South Park’ targets federal takeover of DC police in latest episode

August 20, 2025

The team at “South Park” is continuing its comic assault on the Trump administration. The new episode on Comedy Central Wednesday addressed the federal takeover of the Washington, D.C., police department, showing armed forces patrolling in front of the White House and U.S. Supreme Court, with a tank rolling by the presidential residence. The full half-hour episode, which primarily satirized artificial intelligence, also roasted world leaders and tech CEOs for kowtowing to President Donald Trump. In the first three episodes of its 27th season, the cartoon has depicted Trump lying in bed with Satan, and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem shooting puppies. The White House has attacked “South Park” as a fourth-rate, irrelevant show.

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Fire on US warship off Japan injures 2 sailors before being extinguished

August 20, 2025

A fire has broke out on the USS New Orleans vessel off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, leaving two sailors with minor injuries. The U.S. Navy’s 7th Fleet says the fire on the amphibious transport dock ship has been extinguished and its cause is under investigation. The fire on the 684-foot-long vessel lasted almost 12 hours, igniting as the USS New Orleans was in water near White Beach Naval Facility in Okinawa. Sailors on ship got help fighting the fire from the crew of the USS San Diego, another warships that transports troops and aircraft, as well as the Japanese coast guard and military.

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FILE - Providence Municipal Court Judge Frank Caprio sits on the bench in Providence, R.I., Aug. 10, 2017. (AP Photo/Michelle R. Smith, File)

Rhode Island Judge Frank Caprio, whose empathy in court earned him fame online, dies at 88

August 20, 2025

Retired Providence, Rhode Island, Municipal Court Judge Frank Caprio, who found online fame as a caring jurist and host of ”Caught in Providence″ died Tuesday. He was 88. His official social media accounts said Tuesday he passed away peacefully after a long and courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Caprio billed his courtroom as a place where people and cases are met with kindness and compassion. Caprio’s show was filmed in his courtroom and featured folksy humor and compassion. During his time on the bench, Caprio developed a persona at odds with many TV judges — more sympathetic and less judgmental and often empathizing with people in his courtroom.

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Prosecutors link LA contract to Smartmatic ‘slush fund’ as voting tech firm battles Fox in court

August 20, 2025

The voting technology company suing Fox News for defamation is now entangled in a widening bribery investigation. Federal prosecutors in Miami last year charged Smartmatic’s co-founder Roger Pinate with bribing the elections chief in the Philippines in exchange for a contract there. In a new filing this month, prosecutors say Pinate diverted proceeds from a $300 million elections contract with Los Angeles County to a slush fund used to bribe foreign officials. Pinate has pleaded not guilty. Smartmatic has not been charged. Fox News is nonetheless using the allegations to question Smartmatic’s business reputation. L.A. County maintains it was unaware of any illegal activity and that Smartmatic complied with contractual obligations.

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Demonstrators block a road during a protest demanding the immediate release of hostages held by Hamas and calling for the Israeli government to reverse its decision to take over Gaza City and other areas in the Gaza Strip, near Jerusalem, Israel, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

State Department employee fired after questioning talking points on Israel and Gaza

August 20, 2025

The State Department has fired a press officer responsible for drafting Trump administration talking points about policy toward Israel and Gaza. Officials said he was terminated over the weekend following two incidents in which his loyalty to Trump administration policies was questioned. He and two current U.S. officials say he drew ire for drafting a response to an Associated Press query related to discussions between Israel and South Sudan about the possible relocation of Palestinians from Gaza to South Sudan. The draft response included a line about the U.S. not supporting the forced relocation of Gazans, which the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem rejected. He also questioned an embassy statement referring to the West Bank as the biblical “Judea and Samaria.”

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Hernandez Govan, accused of orchestrating the killing of rapper Young Dolph, takes the stand to state that he will not testify on his own behalf during his trial in Memphis, Tenn., Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (Chris Day/Commercial Appeal/USA Today Network via Pool)

Jury deliberations begin in trial of man accused of organizing rapper Young Dolph’s killing

August 20, 2025

A jury has begun deliberating in the trial of a man charged with organizing the daytime ambush killing of rapper Young Dolph at a Memphis bakery in November 2021. The trial of 45-year-old Hernandez Govan began Monday in a Memphis courtroom. Govan is charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. He is not accused of shooting Young Dolph, but prosecutors claim he directed the two people who did so. Deliberations began Wednesday and will continue Thursday. Young Dolph, whose legal name was Adolph Thornton Jr., grew up in Memphis and was a rapper, independent label owner and producer.

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FILE - This image provided by Alaska Volcano Observatory shows the summit of Mount Spurr, on Oct. 24, 2024, in Alaska. (Wyatt Mayo/Alaska Volcano Observatory, U.S. Geological Survey via AP, File)

Near-term chances of an eruption at Alaska’s Mount Spurr volcano now considered ‘extremely low’

August 20, 2025

Officials have lowered the alert level for a volcano near Alaska’s largest city to normal. The Alaska Volcano Observatory says this indicates that Mount Spurr is “quiet” months after showing signs of activity that had raised the possibility of an eruption. The observatory says that over the past few months, activity at Mount Spurr have gradually decreased. It also said there had been no detected ground deformation since March. The observatory characterized the near-term chances of an eruption as being “extremely low.”

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FILE - A vehicle drives near the side of the building of an LA Fitness gym, on April 19, 2018, in Secaucus, N.J. (AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)

FTC sues LA Fitness operators for ‘exceedingly difficult’ gym cancellation policies

August 20, 2025

The Federal Trade Commission is suing the operators of LA Fitness, over allegations that they make it “exceedingly difficult” for consumers to cancel gym memberships and other related services offered in their clubs nationwide. In a Wednesday complaint, the FTC accused Fitness International and its subsidiary Fitness & Sports Clubs of illegally charging consumers “hundreds of millions of dollars in unwanted recurring fees” as a result of cumbersome cancellation processes. The agency said that tens of thousands of customers have reported difficulties with these policies. Beyond LA Fitness, Fitness International operates brands like Esporta Fitness, City Sports Club, and Club Studio — spanning across more than 600 locations with over 3.7 million members nationwide.

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FILE - The campus of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is seen in Atlanta, on Wednesday, June 25, 2025. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

At least 600 CDC employees are getting final termination notices, union says

August 20, 2025

At least 600 employees of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are receiving permanent termination notices. The notes come in the wake of a recent court decision that protected some CDC employees from layoffs but not others. Many have been on administrative leave since the U.S. Health and Human Services Department sent layoff notices to thousands of employees at federal health agencies in April. But now, according to a union that represents CDC employees, at least 600 have been fired. The permanent cuts include about 100 people who worked in violence prevention.

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This electron microscope image provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows Vibrio vulnificus bacteria in 2005. (Janice Haney Carr/CDC via AP)

How to protect yourself from Vibrio vulnificus, the bacteria found in some coastal waters

August 20, 2025

States are warning beachgoers about a summertime surge in infections from a frightening, flesh-eating bacteria found in coastal waters. Vibrio vulnificus are becoming an annual threat along the Gulf Coast and — increasingly — up the Eastern Seaboard. Vibrio bacteria thrive in seawater and in the mix of fresh and saltwater found in estuaries and lagoons. Most infections are reported from May to October. Some people become infected by eating eat raw or undercooked shellfish — particularly oysters. But a large percentage fall ill when the person is in ocean or brackish water and the bacteria enter the body through small breaks in the skin.

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FILE - Los Angeles Fire Department Chief Kristin Crowley talks during a news conference at Harbor–UCLA Medical Center in the West Carson area of Los Angeles, Feb. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)

Legal claim by ex-Los Angeles fire chief alleges mayor orchestrated smear campaign after her ouster

August 20, 2025

Former Los Angeles Fire Chief Kristin Crowley has filed a legal claim against the city, alleging that her dismissal by Mayor Karen Bass was followed by a smear campaign. Crowley claims the mayor led a misinformation effort to protect her political reputation after the most destructive wildfire in LA history. Crowley was fired in February, six weeks after the Palisades Fire began. She accuses Bass of defamation to distract from criticism for being abroad when the fire started. The mayor’s office declined to comment on the ongoing personnel claim. Crowley’s legal team hasn’t confirmed if a lawsuit is imminent.

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U.S. Rep. Mike Collins speaks at a Senate campaign event on Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, in Jackson, Ga. (AP Photo/Jeff Amy)

Mike Collins argues he can unite Georgia GOP in challenge to Democratic US Sen. Jon Ossoff

August 20, 2025

Georgia Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins is seeking to unite President Donald Trump’s base with traditional business conservatives in his bid to unseat Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff in 2026. Collins has endorsements from many Republican state lawmakers, although GOP Gov. Brian Kemp is backing newcomer Derek Dooley. Fellow congressman Buddy Carter is also seeking the Republican nomination. Ossoff is a key Republican target in 2026 because he’s the only Democratic incumbent seeking reelection in a state Trump won in 2024. But the Republicans lining up behind Collins may show that Kemp may finally be waning into lame-duck status late in his second term.

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FILE - Lyle, left, and Erik Menendez leave a courtroom in Santa Monica, Calif., Aug. 6, 1990, after a judge ruled that conversations between the brothers and their psychologist after their parents were slain were not privileged and could be used as evidence. (AP Photo/Nick Ut, File)

A timeline of the Menendez brothers’ double-murder case

August 20, 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. The brothers were sentenced to life in prison in 1996 for fatally shooting their father and mother in their Beverly Hills mansion in August 1989. For years after their convictions, the brothers filed petitions for appeals of their cases that were denied. They 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.

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Raymond Boodarian, charged with the fatal shooting of "American Idol" executive Robin Kaye and her husband Thomas Deluca, appears in court on Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Man charged with killing an ‘American Idol’ exec and husband will undergo mental evaluation

August 20, 2025

A man accused of fatally shooting an “American Idol” music supervisor and her husband in Los Angeles will undergo a mental evaluation to determine if he’s fit to stand trial. A judge ruled Wednesday that 22-year-old Raymond Boodarian will be examined by a psychiatrist. Boodarian faces two counts of murder for the deaths of Robin Kaye and Thomas Deluca, who investigators say were shot during a burglary on July 10. The judge will consider the evaluation to decide if Boodarian will proceed to trial or be placed in a state hospital. Boodarian’s attorney and the district attorney’s office have not commented.

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U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro speaks during a newss conference first about the indictment of an alleged Haitian gang leader and then about murders in Washington in 2024 and 2025, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, at the U.S. Attorney's office in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

US attorney will no longer bring felony charges against people for carrying rifles or shotguns in DC

August 20, 2025

Federal prosecutors in the nation’s capital will no longer bring felony charges against people for possessing rifles or shotguns in the District of Columbia. That’s according to new policy adopted by the leader of the nation’s largest U.S. attorney’s office. That office will continue to pursue charges when someone is accused of using a shotgun or rifle in a violent crime or has a criminal record that makes it illegal to have a firearm. U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro said in a statement that the change is based on guidance from the Justice Department and conforms with two Supreme Court decisions on gun rights.

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Staff members pose for photographs several of the 16 critically endangered western Santa Cruz tortoise hatchlings during their debut at the Philadelphia Zoo in Philadelphia, Wednesday, Aug. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

Tortoise hatchlings born of century-old parents come out of their shells at Philadelphia Zoo

August 20, 2025

The Philadelphia Zoo is showing off 16 critically endangered western Santa Cruz tortoise hatchlings. The zoo gave the offspring the red carpet treatment on Wednesday with an event to show them off. The 16 were born in a series of hatches this year to Mommy and Abrazzo. The parents are both estimated to be about 100 years old. Mommy has been at the zoo since 1932, but this year’s hatchlings are her first offspring. The youngsters are considered a win in the effort to preserve western Santa Cruz tortoises.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio answers a reporter's question ahead of a meeting with Serbian Foreign Minister Marko Djuric at the State Department, Wednesday, Aug. 6, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

US sanctions more ICC judges, prosecutors for probes into alleged American, Israeli war crimes

August 20, 2025

The Trump administration is ramping up pressure on the International Criminal Court for pursuing investigations into U.S. and Israeli officials for alleged war crimes. The State Department on Wednesday announced new sanctions on four ICC officials, including two judges and two prosecutors, who it said had been instrumental in efforts to prosecute Americans and Israelis. As a result of the sanctions, any assets the targets hold in U.S. jurisdictions are frozen. The sanctions were immediately denounced by both the ICC and the United Nations. It is just the latest in a series of steps the administration has taken against The Hague-based court, the world’s first international war crimes tribunal.

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The American flag waves outside the Mississippi Supreme Court in Jackson, Miss., April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Sophie Bates)

Mississippi Supreme Court map violates Voting Rights Act, judge rules

August 20, 2025

A federal judge has ordered Mississippi to redraw its Supreme Court electoral map, after finding the map dilutes the power of Black voters. U.S. District Judge Sharion Aycock ruled the map, which was enacted in 1987, violates the Voting Rights Act and cannot be used in future elections. The lawsuit, which was filed on April 25, 2022, argued the map diminished the Black vote in the Central District. Aycock wrote that she will impose a deadline for the Mississippi Legislature to create a new map.

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Trump thinks owning a piece of Intel would be a good deal for the US. Here’s what to know

August 20, 2025

President Donald Trump wants the U.S. government to own a piece of Intel, less than two weeks after demanding the Silicon Valley pioneer dump the CEO that was hired to turn around the slumping chipmaker. If the goal is realized, the investment would deepen the Trump administration’s involvement in the computer industry as the president ramps up the pressure for more U.S. companies to manufacture products domestically instead of relying on overseas suppliers. The Associated Press takes a closer look at how this unusual deal appears to be on the verge of getting done.

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Texas state Rep. Nicole Collier, left, waves past Texas state Sen. Carol Alvarado, right, to supporters outside of the House Chamber where she refuses to leave due to a required law enforcement escort, Tuesday, Aug. 19, 2025, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

Even at the grocery store, Texas troopers don’t let Democrats out of sight after walkout

August 19, 2025

Texas Democrats are joining a colleague who can’t leave the state Capitol because she won’t agree to having law enforcement officers shadow her. Republicans imposed that requirement to prevent Democrats from repeating a walkout that kept the GOP-controlled Legislature from passing a plan for redrawing the state’s congressional districts to President Donald Trump’s liking. Democrats who had gone to other states returned Monday and learned that Republicans insisted on the law enforcement escorts. Rep. Nicole Collier refused to agree and stayed overnight on the House floor. Democrats began joining her Tuesday to expand the protest. The House is expected to vote on the Republican maps Wednesday.

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FILE - A view of the Sununu Youth Services Center on Jan. 28, 2020, in Manchester, N.H. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

9/11 victims’ fund architect slams changes to New Hampshire abuse settlement program

August 19, 2025

An attorney who helped design the 9/11 victims’ compensation fund says New Hampshire lawmakers have undermined the fairness of a settlement program for abuse victims at the state’s youth detention center. Deborah Greenspan recently submitted an affidavit in a class-action lawsuit to block changes to the settlement fund, which was created in 2022. It was recently changed to give the governor the authority to fire the fund’s administrator and to allow the attorney general to veto awards. The lawsuit’s plaintiffs argue that turns the process into a political one. The defendants say moving control to the executive branch ensures that tax dollars are spent appropriately. A hearing is set for Wednesday.

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Singer Tamar Braxton says she ‘almost died’ in weekend accident

August 19, 2025

Singer and actor Tamar Braxton says she “almost died” in a weekend accident she doesn’t remember. On Tuesday, Braxton shared on Instagram that a friend found her in a pool of blood with a face injury. She says she fractured her nose, lost some teeth and mobility. Earlier that day, she posted: “Thank you God for waking me up today.” She says she received calls after the post and struggled to talk, so she shared what happened publicly. Braxton says her outlook on life is now different and asks for prayers as her journey to healing begins.

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(AP Illustration / Peter Hamlin)

Moving to a new home or school can stress kids out. How to make it more manageable

August 19, 2025

Summer can be a time of big transition for kids. It might be the season for moving homes or preparing for a new school. That brings stress. Parents and families can help make things feel more manageable. With the right support, children can even look forward to some of the changes and gain confidence. Experts’ advice includes listening to kids’ feelings and giving them details about the place they’re moving to. Keep some routines — like bedtime and mealtime — the same as they were. And give kids a sense of control by involving them in packing their own stuff and decorating their new room. If their worries persist, consider getting counseling.

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FILE - View of the U.S.S. Gravely (DDG 107) destroyer, Feb. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue, File)

US destroyers head toward waters off Venezuela as Trump aims to pressure drug cartels

August 19, 2025

The United States is deploying three guided-missile destroyers to the waters off Venezuela as part of President Donald Trump’s effort to combat threats from Latin American drug cartels. That’s according to a U.S. official briefed on the planning. The official was not authorized to comment and said Tuesday on the condition of anonymity that the USS Gravely, USS Jason Dunham and USS Sampson are expected to arrive soon. The movement of U.S. destroyers and personnel comes as Trump pushes for using the military to thwart cartels he blames for the flow of illicit drugs into American communities. Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro says the U.S. has increased its threats against his country.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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