national - Page 22 of 38 - The Rapid City Post

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

August 16, 2025

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

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

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

August 16, 2025

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

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

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

August 16, 2025

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

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

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

August 16, 2025

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

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

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

August 16, 2025

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

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

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

August 16, 2025

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

Things to know about the indictment against the New Orleans mayor

August 15, 2025

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

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

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

August 15, 2025

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

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

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

August 15, 2025

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

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

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

August 15, 2025

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

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

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

August 15, 2025

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

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

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

August 15, 2025

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

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

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

August 15, 2025

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

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

August 15, 2025

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

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

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

August 15, 2025

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

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

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

August 15, 2025

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

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

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

August 15, 2025

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

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

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

August 15, 2025

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

Texas Flooding Calls Back Memories Of Black Hills Tragedy

August 15, 2025

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

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

August 15, 2025

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

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

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

August 15, 2025

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

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

August 15, 2025

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

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

August 15, 2025

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

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

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

August 15, 2025

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

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

August 15, 2025

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

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

Fringe-wearing Wyoming trial lawyer Gerry Spence dies at 96

August 14, 2025

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

Los Angeles school year begins amid fears over immigration enforcement

August 14, 2025

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

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

Florida wildlife officials consider reopening bay nationally known for its oysters

August 14, 2025

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

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

Bob Odenkirk isn’t an action newbie anymore

August 14, 2025

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

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

August 14, 2025

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

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

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

August 13, 2025

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

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

August 13, 2025

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

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

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

August 13, 2025

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

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

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

August 13, 2025

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

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

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

August 13, 2025

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

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

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

August 13, 2025

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

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

August 13, 2025

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

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

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

August 13, 2025

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

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

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

August 13, 2025

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

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

August 13, 2025

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

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

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

August 13, 2025

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

FILE - Options to use the Zelle payments network are seen on a mobile banking app in New York, Dec. 20, 2024. (AP Photo/Patrick Sison, File)

NY attorney general sues Zelle’s parent company after Trump administration drops similar case

August 13, 2025

New York’s attorney general has sued the parent company of the Zelle payment platform, months after the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau abandoned a similar case under the Trump administration. State Attorney General Letitia James sued Early Warning Services in New York state court on Wednesday. She alleges the company failed to protect Zelle users from fraud. The lawsuit came after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau dropped a similar case this year after Trump administration moves to fire the agency’s leader and many of its workers while halting much of the bureau’s work. A spokesperson for Zelle called James’ lawsuit a political stunt.

FILE - MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred, center, talks with Minnesota Twins executive vice president Joe Pohlad, left, and Twins president of baseball operations Derek Falvey before Game 2 of an AL wild-card baseball playoff series between the Twins and the Toronto Blue Jays Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2023, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr, File)

Twins owners opt to halt the sale and keep the club in the family, adding new investors instead

August 13, 2025

The Minnesota Twins are no longer for sale after a 10-month exploratory process, according to executive chair Joe Pohlad. Pohlad announced that his family will remain the principal owner and add two new investment groups instead. His grandfather, Carl Pohlad, bought the Twins in 1984. Pohlad in his announcement said the family was “fully open to all possibilities” and focused on “what’s best for the long-term future of the Twins.” Fans have been frustrated recently by a spending cut on the roster. The Twins are on track for their lowest attendance total in 16 seasons at Target Field.

Trump administration’s lawsuit against all of Maryland’s federal judges meets skepticism in court

August 13, 2025

A judge is considering why it was necessary for the Trump administration to sue Maryland’s entire federal bench over an order stopping the immediate deportation of immigrants challenging their removals. U.S. District Judge Thomas Cullen hasn’t issued a ruling in the case, but he expressed skepticism about the administration’s extraordinary legal maneuver during a hearing Wednesday in federal court in Baltimore. Cullen serves in the Western District of Virginia, but he was tapped to oversee the case because all of Maryland’s 15 federal judges are named as defendants. The Justice Department says the automatic pause on deportations impedes President Donald Trump’s authority to enforce immigration laws.

Harvey Weinstein appears in state court in Manhattan after a mistrial on a rape charge, Wednesday, Aug. 13, 2025 in New York. (Steven Hirsch /New York Post via AP, Pool)

Harvey Weinstein’s next retrial — or sentencing — could happen this fall

August 13, 2025

Harvey Weinstein faces sentencing and another possible retrial in his New York City sex crimes case. But it’s still unclear when they’ll happen — and whether the former movie mogul will be back in front of another jury at all. Manhattan Judge Curtis Farber said Wednesday he’ll sentence Weinstein on Sept. 30 — but only if there’s no retrial on a rape charge that the last jury failed to decide. The 73-year-old Weinstein was convicted in June of forcing oral sex on a TV and movie production assistant in 2006. The charge carries a possible sentence of up to 25 years in prison.

Memphis man who killed 3 in livestreamed shooting rampage pleads guilty

August 13, 2025

A Tennessee man has avoided a trial and a possible death sentence by pleading guilty to fatally shooting three people and wounding three others in a daylong series of shootings livestreamed on social media. Ezekiel Kelly pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and two dozen other charges in a Memphis courtroom on Wednesday. A Shelby County judge sentenced him to life in prison without parole, plus 221 years. The deal with prosecutors spared the 22-year-old from a capital trial. Kelly had pleaded not guilty in the September 2022 shooting rampage that led to a citywide shelter-in-place order during a search for him.

FILE - A General Electric washer sits inside a retailer, Sept. 15, 2023, in Marietta, Ga. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart, File)

GE Appliances shifts more production to US as part of a $3 billion investment

August 13, 2025

GE Appliances plans to shift production of refrigerators, gas ranges and water heaters out of China and Mexico as part of a more than $3 billion investment to expand its U.S. operations. The investment announced Wednesday ranks as the second-largest in the Louisville-based company’s history. GE Appliances says it expects to add more than 1,000 jobs and modernize its U.S. plants in the next five years. Most of its appliance production is in the United States, and the company’s announcement will transfer more work to its domestic plants. It says the first phase of the investment will begin at plants in Kentucky, Alabama, Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina.

Prosecutors won’t charge Chicago officers who fired nearly 100 times during a deadly traffic stop

August 13, 2025

Prosecutors say Chicago police officers who fired their guns nearly 100 times during a 2024 traffic stop and killed a 26-year-old man won’t face criminal charges. The shooting that killed Dexter Reed, a Black man, raised questions about the use of force and the role of tactical officers who were involved. Cook County State’s Attorney Eileen O’Neill Burke says there is “clear and overwhelming evidence” that led her to decide against charges, including that Reed fired first at the officers. She says her office doesn’t determine whether police used proper tactics during the traffic stop.

This combination of images shows Washington Metropolitan Police Department Chief Pamela Smith speaking in Washington, Aug. 11, 2025, and Attorney General Pam Bondi speaking on Aug. 11 in Washington. (AP Photo)

A tale of two Chief Pams: Federal takeover brings confusion over command of DC police

August 13, 2025

The White House says Attorney General Pam Bondi is effectively in charge of Washington D.C.’s police department. But there’s already a Pam who is leading the city’s police force — Chief Pamela Smith — and she says she only reports to the mayor. D.C. and federal officials say they are working together after President Donald Trump announced he was placing the police department in the nation’s capital under federal control to crack down on violent crime. But despite the tone of cooperation, the unusual arrangement is raising questions about who gets to make decisions about D.C. police resources, personnel and policy and — in the event of a disagreement — which Pam gets the final say.

Dora Diaz, left, and her daughter Fernanda Diaz, 14, shops for school supplies at a Walmart in Dallas, Texas, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Shopping for school supplies becomes a summer activity as families juggle technology and tariffs

August 13, 2025

Shopping for school supplies has become both easier and more complicated for families. The websites of major retail chains generate lists of recommended items by school and grade, allowing parents to shop with a click. Some schools partner with vendors to sell premade boxes of student essentials. Despite these conveniences, many families start shopping months before Labor Day to find the best deals. Analysts say concerns about price increases from new U.S. tariffs on imports have motivated early shopping. One market research company estimates back-to-school spending in the U.S. will reach $33.3 billion from June through August. Some of the biggest chains are advertising selective price freezes on key products to hold onto customers.

Armed robbers in latest Philadelphia-area Brinks truck heist took $700,000 or more, police say

August 13, 2025

Authorities are investigating whether the Tuesday robbery of a Brinks truck outside Philadelphia may be part of a pattern. Cheltenham Township police say two armed males stole between $700,000 and $800,000 during the heist outside an H Mart in Elkins Park, just outside city limits. They say one was armed with an AR-15-style pistol and the other with a handgun. Both fled and later abandoned their vehicle. No shots were fired, and no one was hurt. Township police Lt. Andrew Snyder says police and the FBI are investigating four other armored car robberies in the Philadelphia area since June.

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

An appeals court lets the Trump administration suspend or end billions in foreign aid

August 13, 2025

A divided panel of appeals court judges says the Trump administration can suspend or terminate billions of dollars of congressionally appropriated funding for foreign aid. Two of three judges from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit said in a ruling Wednesday that grant recipients challenging the funding freeze didn’t meet the requirements for a preliminary injunction restoring the flow of money. Trump has portrayed the foreign aid as wasteful spending that doesn’t align with his foreign policy goals. The dissenting judge said the Supreme Court has held “in no uncertain terms” that the president doesn’t have the authority to disobey laws for policy reasons.

FILE - Tom Dundon, majority owner of the Carolina Hurricanes talks to the media about his $250 million investment in the Alliance of American Football league before the start of an NHL hockey game between the New York Rangers and the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, N.C, Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Chris Seward, File)

Hurricanes owner Tom Dundon strikes tentative deal to buy the Portland Trail Blazers

August 13, 2025

A group led by Carolina Hurricanes owner Don Dundon has reached a tentative agreement with Paul Allen’s estate to buy the Trail Blazers and keep the team in Portland. Dundon confirmed the agreement in a text exchange with The Associated Press on Wednesday. The group includes Sheel Tyle, the co-founder of investment firm Collective Global, and Marc Zahr, co-president of Blue Owl Capital. The NBA Board of Governors has to ratify any final purchase agreement. ESPN reported Wednesday that the deal was for $4 billion. Dundon did not reveal the terms of the sale to the AP.

Amazon expands its perishable delivery service, putting pressure on traditional grocers

August 13, 2025

Amazon is now rolling out a service where its Prime members can order their blueberries and milk at the same time as their batteries and other basic items. The online juggernaut said Wednesday that customers in more than 1,000 cities and towns now have access to fresh groceries with its free Same-Day Delivery on orders over $25 for Prime members, with plans to reach over 2,300 locations by year-end. The company said that if an order doesn’t meet the minimum, members can still choose Same-Day Delivery for a $2.99 fee. For customers without a Prime membership, the service is available with a $12.99 fee, regardless of order size.

FILE - People walk between buildings on Harvard University campus, Dec. 17, 2024, in Cambridge, Mass. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

Harvard and the Trump administration are nearing a settlement including a $500 million payment

August 13, 2025

Harvard University and the Trump administration are getting close to an agreement that would require the Ivy League university to pay $500 million to regain access to federal funding and to end investigations, according to a person familiar with the matter. The framework for a settlement is still being sorted out with significant gaps to close, but both sides have agreed on the financial figure and an agreement could be ready in coming weeks, according to the person who spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal deliberations. Harvard declined to comment.

Charlie Brown and Snoopy offer an animated ‘Peanuts’ musical about summer camp

August 13, 2025

Charlie Brown and Snoopy are heading to sleepaway camp in a new Apple TV+ special. It’s the first “Peanuts” musical in 35 years. Co-writer Craig Schulz, son of “Peanuts” creator Charles Schulz, aims to honor his father’s legacy. “Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical” premieres Friday with songs by Jeff Morrow, Alan Zachary, Michael Weiner and Ben Folds. The story follows Sally’s reluctance about camp, Snoopy’s treasure hunt and Charlie Brown’s efforts to save the camp. Craig Schulz says he’s already working on another animated musical.

Mira Sorvino to star as Roxie Hart in ‘Chicago’ on Broadway

August 13, 2025

Mira Sorvino is set to make her Broadway debut this fall in the musical “Chicago.” She will play Roxie Hart from Sept. 15 to Nov. 2 at the Ambassador Theatre. Sorvino expressed her excitement, saying it’s a dream come true to join such a legendary show. “Chicago,” set in the 1920s, is a satire about how show business and media turn criminals into celebrities. The show features iconic songs like “All That Jazz.” Sorvino is known for her roles in films like “Mighty Aphrodite” and “Romy and Michelle’s High School Reunion.”

Darryle Dowell speaks during a meeting of town officials considering agreements to turn a closed prison into an immigration detention facility on Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025, in Mason, Tenn. (AP Photo/Adrian Sainz)

Tennessee town approves deals to turn closed prison into immigration detention facility

August 13, 2025

Officials in a rural Tennessee town have voted to approve agreements to turn a former prison into an immigration detention facility operated by a private company, despite loud objections from upset residents and activists during a contentious public meeting. The five-member Board of Alderman in Mason, plus Mayor Eddie Noeman and Vice Mayor Reynaldo Givhan, met Tuesday in a fire station garage to discuss converting the closed West Tennessee Detention Facility into a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center run by CoreCivic Inc. When it was open, the prison was the Mason’s largest employer and an important economic engine for the town.

FILE - National security adviser Mike Waltz speaks during a television interview at the White House, May 1, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Leaving a top Trump administration post? The president may have an ambassadorship for you

August 12, 2025

President Donald Trump has been using diplomatic appointments as a soft landing for officials leaving his administration. National security adviser Mike Waltzand State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce have been reassigned to roles at the United Nations. IRS Commissioner Billy Long is being shifted to ambassador to Iceland. These moves come after rocky tenures in their previous positions. Trump seems to prefer keeping his loyalists close rather than firing them. During his first term, Trump saw high staff turnover, but now he focuses on retaining proven supporters. The White House says it a “tremendous honor” to be an ambassador and says that is “why these positions are highly coveted and reserved for the president’s most loyal supporters.”

In this image from police body cam video provided by the Uvalde County Sheriff's Department, law enforcement agents ready their weapons during the shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, on May 24, 2022. (Uvalde County Sheriff's Department via AP)

What newly released videos and records reveal about the Uvalde school shooting

August 12, 2025

Anguished pleas from parents. Confused police officers. And the horrifying scene that emergency crews found when they first got inside the classrooms at Robb Elementary School. Newly released records surrounding the 2022 massacre, including hundreds of pages of files and hours of body camera video, show in greater detail the horrors and failures involved in one the worst school shootings in U.S. history. Nineteen children and two teachers were killed. The trove of documents, which Uvalde authorities spent years fighting to withhold, offer a deeper portrait of the teenage gunman and on-scene communications among hundreds of law enforcement officers who rushed to the rural South Texas campus.

FILE - The Kennedy Center is seen Aug. 13, 2019, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

Trump will be at the Kennedy Center on the same day recipients of the honors are announced

August 12, 2025

President Donald Trump will be visiting the Kennedy Center on Wednesday, the same day that recipients of this year’s honors are announced. Trump avoided the Kennedy Center Honors during his first term due to protests from artists. In his second term, he has made himself chairman and fired the board of trustees, which he replaced with loyalists. On Tuesday, Trump teased a possible name change for the center on Truth Social. He also promised to restore it to its former glory. It’s unclear how this year’s honorees will be chosen, but Trump has indicated he wants a more active role.

FILE - Mexican federal police escort who they identify as Servando "La Tuta" Gómez," leader of the Knights Templar cartel, as he sits inside helicopter at a Federal hanger in Mexico City, Feb. 27, 2015. (AP Photo/Eduardo Verdugo, File)

Mexico transfers 26 cartel figures wanted by US authorities in deal with Trump administration

August 12, 2025

Mexico is sending 26 high-ranking cartel figures to the United States in the latest major deal with the Trump administration. American authorities are ratcheting up pressure on criminal networks sending drugs across the border. Those being handed over to U.S. custody include Abigael González Valencia, a leader of “Los Cuinis,” a group closely aligned with notorious cartel Jalisco New Generation or CJNG, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press. They were being flown to American soil after the Justice Department agreed not to seek the death penalty against any of the defendants or against any cartel leaders and members transferred to the U.S. in February.

FILE - Beyoncé, center, is joined by her daughter Blue Ivy, right, during a halftime performance in an NFL football game between the Baltimore Ravens and the Houston Texans, Dec. 25, 2024, in Houston. (AP Photo/Maria Lysaker, File)

Beyoncé wins first Emmy, for ‘Beyoncé Bowl’ halftime show

August 12, 2025

Beyoncé has added an Emmy to her collection of 35 Grammys. She won for outstanding costumes in her Netflix Christmas Day NFL halftime show, “Beyoncé Bowl.” This marks her first Emmy win after 10 other nominations. The award is one of several juried Emmys, which are decided by committees and announced in advance of next month’s ceremony. They are often very technical and rarely go to big names. Beyoncé is also nominated for best variety special and best direction for “Beyoncé Bowl.” Her husband, Jay-Z, is competing in the same category as an executive producer for Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show.

FILE - Federal agents ride on horseback at MacArthur Park, July 7, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

National Guard rehearsed show of force against immigration raid protesters, general testifies

August 12, 2025

A general has testified that National Guard troops repeatedly rehearsed their role in an operation at a Los Angeles park intended as a show of force against people protesting immigration raids. Maj. Gen. Scott Sherman testified Tuesday at a trial to determine whether the Trump administration violated federal law when it deployed the soldiers and U.S. Marines to Southern California this summer. Sherman commanded Guard troops deployed in Los Angeles. He says the operation in MacArthur Park was initially planned for June 15. But the park was expected to be busy because that was Father’s Day, so he says the operation was pushed to July 7.

President Donald Trump departs after speaking with reporters in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

US July budget deficit up 20% year-over-year despite record Trump tariff income

August 12, 2025

The U.S. has seen a record increase in tariff income, with a 273% rise in customs revenue from last year. However, the budget deficit is still up by 20% year over year, according to Treasury Department data released Tuesday. Tariff revenues are not yet offsetting federal spending, which is outpacing income from taxes and other sources. Increased spending includes growing interest payments on public debt and Social Security cost of living increases. While some see tariffs as meaningful revenue, others believe they will only modestly reduce federal debt. The Trump administration remains focused on reducing the deficit.

Part of an email to Bureau of Labor Statistics employees from William Wiatrowski, obtained by The Associated Press, is photographed Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Jon Elswick)

‘Crazy!!’: How Labor Statistics staff reacted to Trump firing commissioner after dismal jobs report

August 12, 2025

Staff at the Bureau of Labor Statistics called President Donald Trump’s firing of its commissioner “depressing” and “CRAZY!!” That’s according to emails obtained by The Associated Press under the Freedom of Information Act. The emails suggest an agency with little of the corrupting partisanship that Trump had claimed was behind the downward revision of added jobs. Instead, after the commissioner’s firing, BLS employees talked about the importance of accurate numbers and professional integrity in producing data that is foundational for measuring the economy and holding elected officials accountable for how the nation performs.

A firefighter surveys the damage of a blaze in downtown Salt Lake City that injured three firefighters and burned several bars and restaurants, Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Hannah Schoenbaum)

3 firefighters hurt as fire burns century-old buildings in Salt Lake City’s nightlife hub

August 12, 2025

Officials in Salt Lake City say a fire that started in a restaurant kitchen has injured three firefighters and scorched century-old buildings in a nightlife hub. Fire Chief Karl Lieb says the firefighters were injured while battling the Monday night blaze. One had a broken ankle and another suffered from smoke inhalation and nausea. The third was hurt by falling debris and was briefly trapped against a fence. Lieb says an investigation could take days or weeks. The Downtown Alliance says the fire destroyed buildings that date back to 1920 and were home to beloved businesses.

Desperate parents pleaded with officers to act during Uvalde school shooting, video shows

August 12, 2025

Police body camera footage shows desperate parents begging law enforcement officers to storm an elementary school in Uvalde, Texas, in the frantic minutes after a gunman opened fire. County leaders on Tuesday released videos and other records detailing the law enforcement response during one of the deadliest classroom attacks in U.S. history. The shooting on May 24, 2022, left 19 students and two teachers dead. Authorities were roundly criticized for failing to confront the 18-year-old gunman for more than an hour at Robb Elementary School. One parent can be heard yelling at an officer: “Come on man, my daughter is in there!”

VA hospitals are finding it harder to fill jobs, watchdog says

August 12, 2025

An independent watchdog for the Department of Veterans Affairs says VA hospitals have reported an increase in severe staffing shortages. Many are having trouble filling jobs for doctors, nurses and psychologists. The term staffing shortage refers to specific jobs that have become hard to fill, not necessarily vacancies. The VA’s Office of Inspector General surveyed 139 VA facilities following reports that 80,000 VA jobs would be cut. That figure was later reduced to 30,000 jobs. The Trump administration said the surveys don’t reflect actual job vacancies. But Democratic lawmakers said the growing challenge of filling VA jobs will ultimately hurt care for veterans.

President Donald Trump listens to a question from a reporter in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House, Monday, Aug. 11, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump administration calls out human rights records of some nations accepting deported migrants

August 12, 2025

The Trump administration’s new human rights reports for countries worldwide eliminate mentions of discrimination faced by LGBTQ people and reduce a previous focus on reproductive rights. The reports released Tuesday also criticize restrictions on political speech by U.S. allies in Europe that American officials believe target right-wing politicians. The reports cover 2024 before President Donald Trump took office but reflect his administration’s focus on free speech and protecting the lives of the unborn. However, the reports also offer a glimpse into the Trump administration’s view of dire human rights conditions in some countries that have agreed to accept migrant deported from the United States.

Great white shark is seen near popular beaches in Maine, sparking a warning from police

August 12, 2025

Reports of a large great white shark near popular beaches in Maine have prompted a warning to beachgoers. The marine resource officer in Scarborough, south of Portland, received a report of a 10- to 12-foot shark on Monday. The shark was seen near Crescent Beach State Park, Higgins Beach, and Pine Point Beach. Commercial clam fisherman David Lancaster captured drone footage of the shark. He described the sight as “magnificent.” Scarborough police said they were sharing the footage Tuesday for public awareness. White sharks are not commonly seen off Maine, but sightings have increased in recent years. Fatal shark bites are exceedingly rare.

Danielle Spencer, left, and Cheryl Pelt rest at home in Malibu, Calif. after Spencer's release from Santa Monica Hospital on Friday, Sept. 16, 1977. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Danielle Spencer, who played little sister Dee on ‘What’s Happening!!,’ dies at 60

August 12, 2025

Known for her role as Dee Thomas on the 1970s sitcom “What’s Happening!!,” Danielle Spencer has died at age 60. A family spokesperson said Spencer died Monday after battling cancer for several years. As Dee, she was a deadpan, wisecracking younger sister with a memorable catchphrase, “Ooh, I’m gonna tell mama.” The show aired from 1976 to 1979 and was one of the first on TV to focus on Black teenagers. A major car accident that killed her stepfather left Spencer in a coma for weeks during production of the show. Spencer also appeared in the 1980s reboot “What’s Happening Now!!” and later became a veterinarian.

FILE - Montenegrin police officers escort South Korean citizen, Terraform Labs founder Do Kwon in Montenegro's capital Podgorica, March 23, 2024. (AP Photo/Risto Bozovic, File)

Crypto mogul Do Kwon, known as ‘the cryptocurrency king,’ pleads guilty to fraud charges

August 12, 2025

South Korean cryptocurrency mogul Do Kwon has pleaded guilty to two fraud charges arising from a $40 billion cryptocurrency collapse. The man some dubbed ‘the cryptocurrency king’ entered his plea Tuesday in Manhattan federal court. Authorities said investors worldwide lost money in Singapore firm Terraform Labs’ cryptocurrency crash. The May 2022 collapse came after the company claimed that TerraUSD was a reliable ‘stablecoin.’ Under a plea agreement, the federal government said it won’t seek a prison term of more than 12 years as long as Kwon complies with the terms of the deal, even though federal sentencing guidelines would recommend a 25-year prison term. Sentencing is set for Dec. 11.

A guide to Taylor Swift’s most elaborate album announcements

August 12, 2025

Taylor Swift has announced her 12th studio album, “The Life of a Showgirl.” She revealed the news on Tuesday, continuing her trend of elaborate album announcements. Swift often uses innovative marketing techniques to connect with fans. Her past album announcements have involved social media teasers and even surprise releases. For “Reputation,” she deleted all her social media posts before revealing the album. During the pandemic, she announced “Folklore” just a day before its release. “Evermore” was announced just months later. The release date for “The Life of a Showgirl” remains unknown.

FILE - Mohamed Bahi, New York City Mayor's liaison to the Muslim community exits Manhattan Federal Court, Oct. 8, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)

Former aide to Eric Adams pleads guilty to soliciting straw donations for mayor’s campaign

August 12, 2025

A former aide to New York City Mayor Eric Adams has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Mohamed Bahi admitted in federal court to soliciting illegal straw donations for Adams’ 2021 campaign from employees of a Brooklyn construction company. He acknowledged knowing the donations would be reimbursed and that it was wrong. Bahi was originally charged in October with witness tampering and destroying evidence, one month after Adams was indicted for accepting bribes and campaign contributions from foreign interests. The Justice Department later dropped charges against Adams, arguing the case had interfered with the mayor’s cooperation in the Trump administration’s agenda. Bahi will be sentenced on Nov. 17.

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