national - Page 4 of 27 - The Rapid City Post

President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Federal judge refuses to reinstate eight former inspectors general fired by Trump administration

September 24, 2025

A federal judge has refused to reinstate eight former inspectors general who sued after the Trump administration fired them with no warning and little explanation. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes on Wednesday said that while President Donald Trump likely violated the federal law governing the process for removing the non-partisan watchdogs from office, but the firings didn’t cause enough irreparable harm to justify reinstating the watchdogs before the lawsuit is resolved. The eight plaintiffs were among 17 inspectors general who were fired by Trump on Jan. 24. Each received identical two-sentence emails from the White House that attributed their removal to unspecified “changing priorities.” The mass firings targeted all but two of the cabinet agencies’ inspectors general.

FILE - Pope Leo XIV delivers a blessing during the weekly general audience in St. Peter's Square, at the Vatican, Wednesday, Sept. 24 2025. (AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File)

Pope names successor to embattled New Orleans archbishop after sex abuse settlement

September 24, 2025

Pope Leo XIV has named a successor to the embattled archbishop of New Orleans two weeks after the archdiocese agreed to a $230 million settlement for survivors of clergy sexual abuse. Bishop James Checchio of Metuchen, New Jersey was named coadjutor bishop of New Orleans. The position puts Checchio in line to succeed Archbishop Gregory M. Aymond when he retires. Aymond reached the mandatory retirement age of 75 last November, suggesting that the Vatican kept him in place to finalize the abuse settlement and allow for an organized handover to his successor. The New Orleans archdiocese agreed Sept. 8 to a $230 million proposed settlement to end one of the U.S. church’s longest and most contentious legal battles over abuse claims.

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky welcome third child, Rocki

September 24, 2025

Rihanna and A$AP Rocky have welcome their third child and first daughter. Rihanna announced the birth of Rocki Irish Mayers in an Instagram post Wednesday. The couple first announced their pregnancy during the Met Gala in May. The couple has a track record for starry pregnancy announcements, with Rihanna emerging on the 2023 Super Bowl stage with a baby bump on full display. Their son Riot Rose was born later that year. The couple welcomed their first child, RZA, in 2022. The birth comes just months after A$AP Rocky was acquitted on firearms charges in Los Angeles in February.

Buddy Anthony surveys the remnants of his home on Thursday, Aug. 14, 2025, in Tylertown, Miss. (AP Photo/Sophie Bates)

Judge rules feds can’t require states to cooperate on immigration to get disaster money

September 24, 2025

A federal judge has ruled that it’s unconstitutional to require states to cooperate on immigration enforcement actions to get funding for disasters. A coalition of 20 state Democratic attorneys general in May filed a federal lawsuit claiming that the Trump administration is threatening to withhold billions of dollars of disaster-relief funds unless states agree to certain immigration enforcement actions. In a ruling Wednesday, U.S. District Judge William Smith found that the “contested conditions are arbitrary and capricious” and that the actions are unconstitutional because they are “coercive, ambiguous, unrelated to the purpose of the federal grants.”

Iris Weaver reaches for a plant while teaching a class on foraging, May 8, 2025, in Wenham, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

Foraging revival: How wild food enthusiasts are reconnecting with nature

September 24, 2025

Humans first began foraging for food some 12,000 years ago, long before they developed agricultural tools that overshadowed the ancient act that helped sustain early humans. Yet some chefs and foraging enthusiasts say the search for wild mushrooms, edible plants, shellfish and seaweed has grown more popular in recent years. Chefs like Evan Mallett of Black Trumpet Bistro in New Hampshire are also sparking interest by using foraged ingredients in creative dishes. The renewed interest in searching for wild mushrooms and edible plants ranges from those wanting to be budget-conscious to those wanting to be more mindful of their environmental footprint.

A sign reading "The Presidential Walk of Fame" and pieces of brown paper are taped along the wall of the White House colonnade next to the Rose Garden, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump snubs Biden with autopen photo on new Presidential Walk of Fame

September 24, 2025

President Donald Trump has added a Presidential Walk of Fame to the White House, featuring portraits of previous commanders-in-chief — except for one. Instead of Joe Biden’s portrait, Trump hung a photo of an autopen signing the Democrat president’s name. This move reflects Trump’s ongoing attempts to delegitimize Biden, whom he has frequently criticized. Trump has never acknowledged his defeat to Biden in the 2020 election, falsely attributing it to voter fraud. The Walk of Fame is part of several design changes Trump has made since resuming office, including adding gold flourishes and new flagpoles.

Iris Weaver holds garlic mustard picked in a field during a class on foraging, May 8, 2025, in Wenham, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

What to know before you try foraging for edible plants and mushrooms in backyards or public spaces

September 24, 2025

Amid some renewed interest in foraging for edible wild plants, mushrooms and other foodstuffs, experts caution aspiring foragers to prioritize safety, plan carefully and learn proper identification. A critical consideration when gathering food from forests, urban landscapes and elsewhere is to avoid accidental poisoning. That means if you have any doubt about a plant’s safety, don’t touch or taste it. Foraging instructor Iris Phoebe Weaver says it can also be dangerous to rely solely on a comparison to online photos, which can be misidentified. Experienced foragers and field guides also recommend learning about plants’ toxic look-alikes, avoiding polluted areas, and respecting local rules and private property.

Luigi Mangione, accused of fatally shooting UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson, appears in Manhattan state court in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (Curtis Means/Pool Photo via AP)

Judge scolds Justice Department over public statements in UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case

September 24, 2025

A New York judge warns Justice Department officials they could face sanctions for public comments about Luigi Mangione’s prosecution. Mangione is accused of killing UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Judge Margaret M. Garnett on Wednesday said at least two senior Justice Department officials likely broke court rules governing the conduct of lawyers by reposting comments President Donald Trump made about Mangione. Defense lawyers say these comments have prejudiced the case. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to charges including murder and stalking. The judge asks the department to explain the violations and warns of possible sanctions. A Justice Department spokesperson declined comment.

Jessica Chastain opposes Apple TV+ decision to delay ‘The Savant’ after Charlie Kirk’s death

September 24, 2025

“The Savant” star Jessica Chastain says she disagrees with the decision to postpone the release of the Apple TV+ political thriller series. Chastain, who is also the show’s executive producer, expressed disagreement with the decision on Instagram. She argued the show — about tracking down online hate groups to stop domestic extremists — is relevant and she has never avoided difficult subjects. The series, which features Chastain as a military veteran working undercover to prevent violence, was set to premiere Friday. Apple TV+ postponed it Tuesday after Charlie Kirk’s death. Chastain emphasized the show’s focus on heroes preventing violence and hopes it will reach audiences soon.

FILE - Rep. Kweisi Mfume, D-Md., protests against DOGE, the Department of Government Efficiency, as he and other House Democrats speak out against the Republican budget plan, on the House steps at the Capitol in Washington, Feb. 25, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Trump’s workforce purge batters DC’s job market and leads to rise in homes for sale, report finds

September 24, 2025

A new report finds the Department of Government Efficiency’s remaking of the federal workforce has battered the Washington job market and put more households in the metropolitan area in financial distress. Wednesday’s report says the number of homes for sale in the District of Columbia-Maryland-Virginia region has jumped by 64% since June 2024. The region’s unemployment rate has increased more than three times compared with the rest of the nation. The report notes Washington has had the nation’s highest seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for four straight months. The report warns these changes could shape consumer spending and investment in the local economy. The White House hasn’t responded to a request for comment.

President Donald Trump walks off after speaking to the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Judge rejects ex-FBI agent’s claim he was illegally fired for disparaging Trump in texts

September 24, 2025

A federal judge has thrown out a former FBI agent’s claims that he was wrongfully fired after sending disparaging text messages to a colleague about President Donald Trump. Peter Strzok, a former top counterintelligence agent who played a crucial role in the investigation into Russian election interference in 2016, alleged in a lawsuit that the FBI caved to pressure from Trump when it fired him. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson on Tuesday rejected Strzok’s claim that his August 2018 firing violated his First Amendment free speech rights. She said the FBI’s interest in avoiding the appearance of bias outweighed Strzok’s interest in expressing his political opinions.

Lincoln Center Theater charts path forward with new artistic director and a nod to the past

September 24, 2025

Lear deBessonet, the new artistic director of Lincoln Center Theater, has chosen “Ragtime” as her first show. The musical, which she previously directed off-Broadway, explores early 20th-century America through diverse characters. Opening night is Oct. 16. DeBessonet believes the musical’s multiple stories allow for personal connections. Tony Award-nominee Joshua Henry leads the cast. This revival is part of a broader season including “Kyoto” and “The Whoopi Monologues.” DeBessonet aims to create work that connects people and reflects diverse viewpoints, calling Lincoln Center a “magical temple” for theater.

FILE - A YouTube sign is shown near the company's headquarters in San Bruno, Calif., Wednesday, March 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu, file)

YouTube to start bringing back creators banned for COVID-19 and election misinformation

September 24, 2025

YouTube will offer creators a way to rejoin the streaming platform if they were banned for violating COVID-19 and election misinformation policies that are no longer in effect. YouTube parent Alphabet said in a letter to the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that the decision reflects the company’s commitment to free speech. The move is the latest in a cascade of content moderation rollbacks from tech companies, who cracked down on false information during the pandemic and after the 2020 election but have since faced pressure from President Donald Trump and other conservatives who argue they unlawfully stifled right-wing voices. It comes as tech CEOs, including Alphabet CEO Sundar Pichai, have sought a closer relationship with the Republican president.

A centuries-old map is displayed at a ceremony marking its return to Mexico's national archives in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Susan Montoya Bryan)

A centuries-old map is returned to Mexico after it was recovered in Santa Fe

September 24, 2025

The FBI has handed over a centuries-old map to Mexican officials after it was discovered by a librarian in New Mexico. The “Villa de Santa Fe” map had been part of Mexico’s archives until it was discovered missing in 2011. The map shows the Spanish province of Nuevo Mexico, including locations of rivers, Spanish settlements and Native American pueblos. Historians joined federal investigators and Mexican officials for a ceremony on Tuesday at the consulate in Albuquerque. They talked about the significance of the map, saying it provided key documentation of the Camino Real, a 1,600-mile route that once served as a lifeline between Mexico City and Santa Fe.

FILE - Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., speaks during a Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Senate Judiciary, Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Washington. (AP Photo/Kevin Wolf, File)

Lawmakers and activists call for action after AP reveals US tech role in China’s surveillance state

September 24, 2025

Lawmakers and activists are urging U.S. tech firms to stop selling surveillance equipment to Chinese police. This follows an Associated Press report revealing the significant role American technology plays in enabling human rights abuses in China. Republican Sen. Josh Hawley wants tech companies to testify before Congress about their exports. An AP investigation found that companies like IBM, Dell, and Cisco sold billions in technology to Chinese authorities, despite warnings. Lawmakers from both parties are calling for stricter export laws. Civil society groups are also demanding that tech firms cut ties with China’s surveillance state.

Oscar Villanueva holds a sign outside El Capitan Entertainment Centre, where the late-night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" is staged, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Kimmel returns to late night with an emotional monologue but no apologies following suspension

September 24, 2025

ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel returned to his show following a nearly one-week suspension with an emotional monologue but without apologies. He said that he was never trying to make light of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s death, and paid tribute to his widow Erika for publicly forgiving her husband’s assassin. But he thanked people who stood up for him and for free speech, even people like Texas Sen. Ted Cruz who don’t like his comedy but defended his right to speak. Millions of people watched the climax of an episode that put him at odds with President Donald Trump’s supporters and tested the bounds of free speech.

FILE - A man runs on a small road in the outskirts of Frankfurt, Germany, before sunrise on Sept. 8, 2020. (AP Photo/Michael Probst, File)

From rock bottom to wellness: How 3 people kick-started their health journeys

September 24, 2025

Wellness advice seems to be everywhere these days. But starting a journey to better health can feel overwhelming. Experts say to start by defining your wellness goals and starting small. Try manageable steps like increasing your water intake or gradually quitting smoking. Some people who have turned their health around turned to holistic medicine for healing. Others just needed to find the right environment, like a welcoming fitness space. Motivational coach Andrea Leigh Rogers warns against wellness trends. She emphasizes consistency and small, effective changes. Try leaning on loved ones for support, or seeking out fitness partners to hold each other accountable.

FILE - President Donald Trump holds charts as he speaks about the economy in the Oval Office of the White House, Aug. 7, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, file)

The economy was a strength for Trump in his first term. Not anymore, according to recent polling

September 24, 2025

New polling shows President Donald Trump’s second-term strengths look different from his first. Once strengthened by economic issues, Trump’s approval is tepid on that front — and his best issues now are crime, border security and immigration. Trump’s overall approval has been fairly steady in Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research polling since the beginning of his second term. This month, about 4 in 10 U.S. adults approve of how Trump is handling his job as president, back in line with his average approval rating after a slight uptick in August. There was a similar pattern during the Republican’s first White House term, when his approval in AP-NORC polling stayed within a narrow range.

In Jimmy Kimmel’s words: What the late-night host said upon his return from suspension

September 24, 2025

Jimmy Kimmel has returned to his late-night show after a suspension following remarks about Charlie Kirk’s killing. On Tuesday night, Kimmel mixed humor and emotion to address the situation. He expressed gratitude for the support he received, including from unexpected people like Ted Cruz. Kimmel clarified his intentions regarding his comments on Kirk, saying he never intended to make jokes about Kirk’s death. He also criticized the FCC’s actions and noted that the controversy boosted his ratings. Kimmel thanked ABC for allowing him to return, despite initial disagreements. He concluded by highlighting Erika Kirk’s act of forgiveness, urging others to follow her example.

This photo provided by the County of Maui shows a wild fire in Maui, Hawaii, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025. (The County of Maui via AP)

Maui officials lift evacuations, close shelters after wildfire threat to north shore town recedes

September 23, 2025

Officials on the Hawaiian island of Maui have lifted evacuation orders for residents living near a wildfire that broke out late Tuesday. Before the situation improved, police went door-to-door evacuating residents and emergency sirens sounded. Emergency shelters are also closing as residents return home. The fire was first reported Tuesday afternoon and grew to about 300 acres. Paia, a former sugar plantation town popular with windsurfers, is on Maui’s north shore. It is on the opposite side of the island from Lahaina, which was destroyed by a deadly wildfire in 2023.

FILE - Mystery novelist and screenwriter Raymond Chandler appears in 1946. (AP Photo, File)

A piano, a pregnant woman and a prison: Raymond Chandler’s ‘Nightmare’ is revealed

September 23, 2025

Raymond Chandler’s “Nightmare,” a rarely seen sketch, has been published this week in The Strand Magazine. The piece imagines Chandler in prison for a murder he can’t remember committing. His cellmates include strangers, a pregnant woman, and a piano that must be played lying down after nine o’clock. The story becomes even darker as Chandler learns of his likely execution. “Nightmare” was found among the papers of Chandler’s assistant, Jean Vounder-Davis, and was purchased at auction by Strand Managing Editor Andrew F. Gulli. Chandler scholar Tom Williams finds the piece intriguing, especially its reference to rejection.

FILE - A student walks across the University of Southern Mississippi School of Business in Hattiesburg, Miss., Nov. 21, 2016. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)

Former student sues University of Southern Mississippi and Omega Psi Phi over alleged hazing

September 23, 2025

A former Omega Psi Phi pledge who alleges he was so severely beaten during the Nu Eta chapter’s “Hell Night” that he had to relearn how to walk is now suing the fraternity, the University of Southern Mississippi and multiple other people and organizations. According to the federal lawsuit, Rafeal Joseph and other pledges were struck repeatedly with a wooden paddle made from a two-by-four plank on April 16, 2023. Afterward, Joseph went to the hospital where he underwent a blood transfusion and emergency surgery while being treated for bruised ribs, a hematoma, posterior compartment syndrome and rhabdomyolysis, a severe muscle injury.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in Washington, during an event with President Donald Trump. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

Trump’s misleading comments on autism validate the ‘MAHA’ movement and reveal its political potency

September 23, 2025

President Donald Trump’s unproven statements about Tylenol, childhood vaccines and autism are validating the so-called Make America Healthy Again movement and revealing its potential political power. Members of the diverse coalition of anti-vaccine activists and others who distrust the American health care system said Trump’s Monday announcement was a watershed moment that signaled their voices were finally being heard. Yet, Trump’s platforming of inaccurate health claims on the White House stage also has alarmed medical professionals. Some of those are prominent Republicans who urged people to listen to their doctors and noted research contradicts the president’s guidance.

Rep. Tricia Cotham, R-Mecklenburg, center, holds a "Justice for Iryna" notebook before she introduces a bill in response to the murder of Ukrainian Iryna Zarutska during a North Carolina legislative session, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, in Raleigh, N.C. (AP Photo/Chris Seward)

North Carolina legislature passes ‘Iryna’s Law’ after refugee’s stabbing death

September 23, 2025

The North Carolina legislature has approved a criminal justice package in response to the stabbing death of a Ukrainian refugee on Charlotte’s light rail. The package finalized Tuesday with a House vote limits bail and aims to ensure more defendants undergo mental health evaluations. The measure already passed the Senate and now goes to Democratic Gov. Josh Stein. His office said the measure is being reviewed. The bill also includes provisions that aim to help restart executions in the state. Public outrage over the death of Iryna Zarutska intensified with the release of security video showing the attack on the commuter train.

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)

After cost-cutting blitz, Trump administration rehires hundreds of laid-off employees

September 23, 2025

Hundreds of laid-off federal employees who managed government workspaces are being called back to their jobs as the Trump administration walks back plans to slash its real estate portfolio. The administration has given employees until the end of this week to accept or decline reinstatement, according to a memo obtained by The Associated Press. Those who accept must report to work on Oct. 6 after what amounts to a seven-month paid vacation. Rep. Greg Stanton of Arizona, the top Democrat on the subcommittee overseeing the GSA, said there’s no evidence that those reductions “delivered any savings.”

Immigration agent who shot man in Chicago-area traffic stop says injuries were ‘nothing major’

September 23, 2025

A federal immigration agent called his injuries “nothing major” in police body camera footage released Tuesday, showing the moments after the agent shot and killed a Mexican immigrant during a traffic stop this month. Immigration officials had previously said the agent was “seriously injured” by being dragged behind a car. The local police footage was released as Chicago-area advocates and officials including Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker have called for more transparency and accountability in the case, which escalated tensions in the country’s third-largest city amid a federal immigration crackdown.

Bobby Cain, a member of the Clinton 12 who helped integrate Tennessee high schools in 1956, has died

September 23, 2025

Bobby Cain, who helped integrate one of the first high schools in the South in 1956 as one of the Clinton 12, has died in Nashville. He was 85. Cain was a senior when he entered the formerly all-white Clinton High School in Tennessee under court order. He had previously attended a Black high school about 20 miles away in Knoxville and was not happy about leaving his friends to spend his senior year at a new school in a hostile environment. Despite threats and violence, he stuck it out. In 1957 Cain became the first Black student in Tennessee to graduate from a state-run integrated school.

President Donald Trump speaks while meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron, during the United Nations General Assembly, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

FACT FOCUS: A look at false and misleading claims made by Trump about autism, Tylenol and pregnancy

September 23, 2025

President Donald Trump has announced his administration is recommending women limit Tylenol use during pregnancy unless necessary. He claims Tylenol is linked to autism, but experts criticize this as unfounded. Trump also made several erroneous statements including incorrectly stating the history of autism rates and that vaccines play a role. Additionally, medical professionals emphasize that Tylenol is safe during pregnancy when needed. They warn that untreated fevers can lead to serious complications for both mother and baby.

Will Berry speaks during a protest outside the Capitol in Montgomery, Ala., on Tuesday, Sept. 23,2025. (AP Photo/Kim Chandler)

Victim’s son asks Alabama to stop execution of man who killed his mother in a gas station holdup

September 23, 2025

Alabama is scheduled to execute Geoffrey West on Thursday for the 1997 murder of Margaret Berry. Berry was killed during a gas station robbery. Berry’s son has asked the state to not execute West and let him serve life in prison. The two exchanged letters ahead of West’s scheduled execution by nitrogen gas. The two have asked to meet, but prison officials declined the request. Gov. Kay Ivey indicated she does not plan to commute the death sentence. Ivey has commuted one death sentence. The Republican governor said she did so only because of questions about the person’s guilt.

Build-A-Bear continues to rack up market gains, despite tariffs and teetering mall traffic

September 23, 2025

Tariffs and years of teetering mall traffic have roiled much of the toy industry. But Build-A-Bear investors are continuing to reap sizeable gains. Shares of the toy retailer, which specializes in plush animals that consumers can make in stores, are up more than 60% since the start of 2025. And the company’s profits have soared to record after record in recent quarters. St. Louis-based Build-A-Bear is not immune to U.S. President Donald Trump’s steep tariffs — with the retailer pointing to costs from import taxes on its goods sourced from China and Vietnam, in particular. But the company says it made efforts to reduce this exposure — and anticipates strong consumer demand to boost profits for rest of the year.

FILE - Reach House, a halfway house for sex offenders, sits atop a small hill, Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023 in Willimantic, Conn. (AP Photo/Pat Eaton Robb, file)

State of Connecticut settles lawsuit over convict’s killing of visiting nurse for $2 million

September 23, 2025

Connecticut officials have agreed to a $2.25 million settlement of a lawsuit over a sex offender’s killing of visiting nurse Joyce Grayson in 2023. A state judge approved the agreement last Thursday in the wrongful death lawsuit by Grayson’s husband. Settlement talks with other defendants, including her employer, are pending. The 63-year-old Grayson was killed at a halfway house in Willimantic where she had gone to give medication to Michael Reese, who was on probation for attacking another woman. Reese was sentenced last month to 50 years in prison. The lawsuit accused the state of failing to properly supervise Reese during his probation. The killing led to calls for better protections for home health care workers.

Maine wardens rescue moose trapped for hours in abandoned well

September 23, 2025

A bull moose that fell into an abandoned well in Maine was pulled to safety during an elaborate five hour rescue. The operation happened Wednesday after the family that owned forested land in northern Maine discovered the moose looking out from well that was about 9-feet deep. They alerted the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries & Wildlife. A biologist sedated the moose and then wardens put straps on the moose. Using an excavator provided by family, they gingerly lifted the moose out of the well. It eventually woke up and ran off — seemingly unhurt by the ordeal.

Girl shot in the head in Minneapolis church attack is making ‘miraculous’ progress, family says

September 23, 2025

The family of a 12-year-old girl critically wounded during the deadly shooting at a Minneapolis Catholic church says she is making remarkable progress. Doctors expect Sophia Forchas to move this week from acute care to an inpatient rehabilitation program. She was the most seriously wounded child among those who survived the shooting. Just weeks ago doctors were unsure whether she would survive. Her family says Sophia’s medical team remains cautiously optimistic, but there are signs of neurological recovery. Her family says it’s a miracle she survived the attack that killed two students and wounded 21 other people.

This photo provided by the U.S. Secret Service, in New York, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, shows signal equipment at the location where they were seized by the agency. (U.S. Secret Service via AP)

How a SIM farm like the one found near the UN threatens telecom networks

September 23, 2025

The U.S. Secret Service has found and is quietly dismantling a massive network of “SIM farms” across the New York area just as world leaders gather for meetings at the United Nations. While initially developed for legitimate purposes, SIM farms have often become tools for fraudulent activities targeting mass audiences, such sending phishing texts and making scam calls.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell speaks during a news conference following the Federal Open Market Committee meeting, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, at the Federal Reserve Board Building in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Powell signals Federal Reserve to move slowly on interest rate cuts

September 23, 2025

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Tuesday signaled a cautious approach to future interest rate cuts, in sharp contrast with other Fed officials who have called for a more urgent approach. In remarks in Providence, Rhode Island, Powell noted that there are risks to both of the Fed’s goals of seeking maximum employment and stable prices. His approach is in sharp contrast to some members of the Fed’s rate-setting committee who are pushing for faster cuts.

FILE - A sign marks the entrance to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention headquarters Aug. 27, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson, File)

‘Nightmare bacteria’ cases are increasing in the US

September 23, 2025

Government scientists say infection rates from drug-resistant “nightmare bacteria” have been increasing dramatically. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientists say rates rose almost 70% between 2019 and 2023. They published their findings Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. A subgroup of bacteria with a gene that provides a level of drug resistance that is extremely difficult to treat primarily drove the increase. The rate of those cases jumped more than 460% in recent years in 29 states. Once considered exotic, these bacteria are now more common in the U.S.

Suspect in Gilgo Beach serial killings loses bid to separate case into multiple trials

September 23, 2025

The suspect in Long Island’s infamous Gilgo Beach serial killings has lost his bid to separate the sprawling case involving seven brutal killings spanning decades into multiple trials. Judge Timothy Mazzei ruled Tuesday that the trial against Rex Heuermann would move forward as a single trial. Heuermann’s lawyers argued there was no “unique and consistent modus operandi” common to all the murders. But prosecutors noted the victims were all petite women in their 20s involved in the sex trade. They also said the remains of nearly all of the victims were found in the same location not far from Heuermann’s home.

Scientists discover a new dinosaur from Argentina with a crocodile bone in its mouth

September 23, 2025

Scientists have discovered a new dinosaur from Argentina that may have used its long arms and claws to capture prey. The new find was possibly 23 feet long and hailed from a mysterious group of dinosaurs called megaraptorans. Most of the fossils of the predator are fragments. In a new study, researchers say they uncovered part of a skull as well as arm, leg and tail bones from a rock formation in Argentina. The discovery could help scientists understand how these creatures fed and where they fall on the evolutionary timeline. The research was published Tuesday in the journal Nature Communications.

Trump cancels White House meeting with Schumer and Jeffries despite risk of a government shutdown

September 23, 2025

President Donald Trump has canceled this week’s planned meeting with congressional Democratic leaders ahead of a potential federal government shutdown. The Republican president refuses to negotiate over Democratic demands to shore up health care funds as part of any deal to keep the government funded. Congress faces a deadline next week to approve legislation to fund the government by Oct. 1. In a Tuesday social media post, Trump rejected the sit-down the White House agreed to the day before with Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries. Trump says he’s decided no meeting with the Democratic leaders “could possibly be productive.” Jeffries says, “Trump Always Chickens Out.”

A demonstrator holds a sign in response to the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel's late-night show outside of Walt Disney Studios in Burbank, Calif., on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

Jimmy Kimmel is set to return to his late-night show after ABC lifts suspension

September 23, 2025

ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live” is set to return to the air, with millions of people expected to watch to see how he addresses his nearly weeklong suspension. Another mystery is how many ABC affiliates will actually carry his return Tuesday. Kimmel’s suspension by ABC following remarks about the aftermath of conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s death triggered a national discussion about freedom of speech and President Donald Trump’s ability to police the words of journalists, commentators and even comics. The return reportedly came after negotiations between Kimmel and executives for ABC and its parent company, Walt Disney. ABC said Kimmel would return after the network had “thoughtful conversations” with the host.

A poster showing the Trump Gold Card is seen as President Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

More Americans think companies benefit from legal immigration, a new AP-NORC poll finds

September 23, 2025

A new poll finds U.S. adults are more likely than they were a year ago to think immigrants in the country legally benefit the economy. That comes as President Donald Trump’s administration imposes new restrictions targeting legal pathways into the country. The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research survey finds Americans are more likely than they were in March 2024 to say it’s a “major benefit” that people who come to the U.S. legally contribute to the economy and help American companies get the expertise of skilled workers. At the same time, perceptions of illegal immigration haven’t shifted meaningfully. Americans still see fewer benefits from people who come to the U.S. illegally.

U.S. Secret Service Special Agent in Charge Matt McCool, center, looks at live video surveillance feeds in the agency's New York Field Office, in the Brooklyn borough of New York, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Richard Drew)

Secret Service dismantles telecom threat around UN capable of crippling cell service in NYC

September 23, 2025

The U.S. Secret Service has dismantled a massive hidden telecom network in New York. Investigators say the system could have crippled cell towers and jammed 911 calls. The cache included over 300 SIM servers with more than 100,000 SIM cards. It was located within 35 miles of the United Nations. The network could have blacked out cellular service, especially during the United Nations General Assembly. Officials have not uncovered a direct plot against the assembly. Forensic analysis is ongoing, and authorities suspect nation-state actors. The operation highlights new risks to the invisible infrastructure of modern cities.

North Carolina state Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, left, speaks while House Speaker Destin Hall, R-Caldwell, listens and stands next to a photo of commuter train stabbing victim Iryna Zarutska, during a Legislative Building news conference, in Raleigh, N.C., Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/Gary D. Robertson)

North Carolina Republicans push for tougher bail rules and potentially new execution methods

September 22, 2025

North Carolina Republican legislators have introduced criminal justice measures to toughen bail rules and evaluate offenders for mental health issues. This follows the fatal stabbing of a Ukrainian refugee on a Charlotte commuter train last month. The Senate approved the bill late Monday. It now heads to the House for debate. The bill aims to prohibit cashless bail for certain crimes and reduce magistrates’ discretion in pretrial release decisions. A late amendment could also open the door to new execution methods beyond lethal injection. One Democrat criticized the amendment as immoral.

Defense tells judge Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs has served enough time behind bars

September 22, 2025

Lawyers for music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs are urging a judge to sentence him early next month to no more than 14 months in prison for his conviction on two prostitution-related charges. The lawyers made their arguments Monday in a written submission to a New York federal Judge Arun Subramanian. He’s already rejected bail for Combs, signaling that he believes he must serve more time behind bars despite being exonerated in July of the more serious racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking charges. Prosecutors, who will submit their recommendations prior to the Oct. 3 sentencing, have already said they’ll urge Combs stay imprisoned substantially longer than the four to five years they originally thought.

FILE - Students walk past Royce Hall at the UCLA campus in Los Angeles, Aug. 15, 2024. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes, File)

Judge orders Trump administration to restore $500 million in federal grant funding to UCLA

September 22, 2025

A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to restore $500 million in federal grant funding that it froze at the University of California, Los Angeles. U.S. District Judge Rita Lin in San Francisco granted a preliminary injunction on Monday, saying the government likely violated the Administrative Procedure Act, which requires specific procedures and explanations for federal funding cuts. Instead, the government informed UCLA in generalized form letters that multiple grants from various agencies were being suspended but offered no specific details. The White House did not immediately respond to an email from The Associated Press requesting comment.

In an aerial view, the Buffalo Trace Distillery is seen on Sept. 16, 2025, in Frankfort, Ky. (AP Photo/Jon Cherry)

Kentucky distillery bounces back from massive flood that briefly halted bourbon production

September 22, 2025

Bourbon production at Buffalo Trace Distillery has been connected to the Kentucky River for decades. A plaque at the distillery in Frankfort sums up the connection as a blessing and curse. The river once served as a floating highway to bring in grain for production and to ship whiskey. River water still cools production equipment. But the river showed its destructive side in April. A massive flood sent floodwaters surging over its banks, inundating most of the distillery grounds. Nearly every phase of production was impacted. Five months later, production is back to normal, and few visible reminders exist of the mud-caked, debris-strewn mess.

President Donald Trump walks from Marine One with Col. Christopher Robinson, right, commander of the 89th Airlift Wing, to board Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Trump to take aim at ‘globalist institutions,’ make case for his foreign policy record in UN speech

September 22, 2025

President Donald Trump will use his address to the United Nations General Assembly to spotlight his second-term foreign policy achievements and lament that “globalist institutions have significantly decayed the world order.” That’s according to the White House. World leaders will be listening closely to Tuesday’s remarks as Trump has moved quickly to diminish U.S. support for the world body in his first eight months in office. The U.S. president’s speech comes at one of the most volatile moments in the world body’s 80-year-old history. Global leaders are being tested by intractable wars in Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan, uncertainty about the economic and social impact of emerging artificial intelligence technology, and anxiety about Trump’s antipathy for the U.N.

FILE - Former Vice President Kamala Harris delivers the keynote speech at the Emerge 20th Anniversary Gala in San Francisco, April 30, 2025. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez, File)

Kamala Harris says she ‘had a certain responsibility’ to argue against Biden running again

September 22, 2025

Kamala Harris has expressed regret for not voicing concerns about President Joe Biden running for a second term when many Americans felt he was too old. Speaking to MSNBC’s Rachel Maddow on Monday, Harris said she had a responsibility to speak up. Her comments expand on her book “107 Days,” where she reflects on replacing Biden as the 2024 Democratic presidential nominee. Harris ultimately lost to Donald Trump. In the book, she questions whether allowing Biden to make the decision himself was grace or recklessness. Harris admitted she worried her advice might seem self-serving, given her past competition with Biden.

Dr. Trump? The president reprises his COVID era, this time sharing unproven medical advice on autism

September 22, 2025

President Donald Trump isn’t a doctor. But he played one on TV Monday, offering copious amounts of unproven medical advice that he suggested — without providing evidence — might help reduce autism rates. Trump suggested pregnant women avoid Tylenol, despite the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists endorsing it as safe. Speaking alongside vaccine skeptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Trump also recommended spreading out key immunizations for newborns. He claimed, without evidence, a link between autism and acetaminophen. His statements drew criticism from actual medical experts and recalled the unfounded claims he tossed out during the 2020 coronavirus pandemic.

President Donald Trump walks across the South Lawn of the White House to board Marine One en route to Joint Base Andrews, Md., Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

What to know after Trump classifies decentralized antifa movement as a domestic terror organization

September 22, 2025

President Donald Trump has issued an executive order designating antifa as a domestic terrorist organization. Antifa, short for “anti-fascists,” is an umbrella term for far-left-leaning militant groups and is not a singular entity. It consists of groups that resist fascists and neo-Nazis, especially at demonstrations. The order did not specify how the administration would label what is effectively a decentralized movement as a domestic terrorist organization. Trump had said last week on social media that he would designate antifa as a “major terrorist organization.”

FILE - An Amazon Prime driver makes a delivery outside an apartment building in Pittsburgh, March 10, 2025. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)

A jury will look at whether Amazon tricked customers into joining Prime — and made it hard to leave

September 22, 2025

A federal trial beginning in Amazon’s hometown this week is set to examine whether the online retailing giant tricked customers into signing up for its Prime service and made it difficult to cancel after they did so. The Federal Trade Commission sued Amazon in U.S. District Court in Seattle two years ago and has alleged more than a decade of legal violations, including of the Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act, a 2010 law designed to help ensure that people know what they’re being charged for online. Jury selection began Monday, with opening statements to follow.

FILE—House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., left, and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., speak to reporters at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. The Democratic leaders are lashing out at a short-term spending GOP bill to avoid a partial government shutdown at the end of the month, warning Republicans they will not support a measure that doesn't address their concerns on the soaring cost of health insurance coverage for millions of Americans. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Trump to meet with Schumer and Jeffries as government shutdown risk looms

September 22, 2025

President Donald Trump will meet with the Democratic leaders in Congress this week ahead of a looming risk of a federal government shutdown. That’s according to two people familiar with the situation but unauthorized to discuss it. The meeting is set for Thursday, one of the people said. Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries have been insisting on talks as the Democrats work to preserve health care programs as part of any deal to fund the government. They’re racing ahead of next week’s Oct. 1 deadline.

Biggest rail union joins others in endorsing Union Pacific merger but some still have reservations

September 22, 2025

The nation’s largest railroad union endorsed Union Pacific’s proposed $85 billion acquisition of Norfolk Southern Monday after securing promises to protect jobs. Other unions and chemical makers that rely on the railroads are still expressing concerns about the deal. The SMART-TD union that represents conductors and other rail workers said Union Pacific promised not to lay off any of its workers as a result of the merger and protect their jobs throughout their careers. But the head of one of the next biggest unions said he doesn’t think this deal does nearly enough to protect rail jobs, so he’s not ready to support the merger.

The sun sets over Steinbrenner Field during the second inning of a baseball game between the Tampa Bay Rays and the Seattle Mariners Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2025, in Tampa, Fla. (AP Photo/Chris O'Meara)

MLB owners approve sale of Tampa Bay Rays to group headed by Patrick Zalupski

September 22, 2025

Major League Baseball owners have unanimously approved the sale of the Tampa Bay Rays to a group led by real estate developer Patrick Zalupski. The transfer from Stu Sternberg’s group is expected to close soon. Sternberg took control of the team in 2005 and rebranded it as the Rays after the 2007 season. The team won four AL East titles under Sternberg and reached the World Series twice. Because of damage from Hurricane Milton, the Rays played home games at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa this season. Commissioner Rob Manfred expects Zalupski to start a new search for a ballpark site.

White House border czar Tom Homan speaks with reporters at the White House, Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

White House backs ‘border czar’ after reports he accepted cash during undercover FBI probe last year

September 22, 2025

The White House is standing behind “border czar” Tom Homan following reports he had accepted $50,000 from undercover agents posing as businesspeople during an undercover FBI operation last year, leading to a bribery investigation that was shut down by the Trump administration Justice Department. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt on Monday characterized Homan’s encounter with the undercover agents as an effort by the Biden administration to “entrap one of the president’s top allies and supporters.” MSNBC first reported Saturday that Homan had accepted the cash during a 2024 encounter with undercover agents posing as businesspeople seeking government contracts that Homan suggested he could help them get in a second Trump term.

President Donald Trump speaks to reporters aboard Air Force One while en route to Joint Base Andrews, Md. after attending a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk in Glendale, Ariz., Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Supreme Court will weigh expanding Trump’s power to shape agencies by overturning 90-year-old ruling

September 22, 2025

The Supreme Court will consider expanding President Donald Trump’s power to shape independent agencies by overturning a nearly century-old decision limiting when presidents can fire board members. The high court agreed Monday to quickly hear arguments in a case over the firing of members of the Federal Trade Commission and two other boards. The justices have allowed the Republican president to fire Democratic Federal Trade Commission Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter and board members at other agencies while their lawsuits play out. The high court’s actions send a strong signal the conservative majority is poised to overturn or narrow a 1935 decision that found commissioners can be removed only for misconduct or neglect of duty.

President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a memorial for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

Trump has managed another Republican makeover since Kirk’s assassination, this time on free speech

September 22, 2025

As they mourn slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk, President Donald Trump, members of his administration and a broader universe of supporters have seemed to impose a double standard on speech. They have been targeting those who have been critical of Kirk’s often confrontational approach and celebrated when employees were disciplined or fired over their comments — most recently when ABC indefinitely suspended late night host Jimmy Kimmel. Trump allies defend the approach, saying they’re replacing “cancel culture” with “consequence culture.” But others fear a broader crackdown on speech under the guise of preventing violence and fighting “hate speech.”

FILE - Cardi B attends Game 4 in the Eastern Conference semifinals of the NBA basketball playoffs between the New York Knicks and the Boston Celtics May 12, 2025, in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)

Cardi B replaces The Weeknd at the 2025 Global Citizen Festival

September 22, 2025

A few changes have been made to the 2025 Global Citizen Festival held in New York City’s Central Park on Saturday. Cardi B has been added to the lineup. The Weeknd, initially announced as a headliner, has had to drop out of the event due to personal reasons, organizers shared on Monday. The 2025 Global Citizen Festival will be hosted by actor Hugh Jackman and features Tyla, Ayra Starr and Mariah the Scientist. Tickets to the festival are free, but fans must earn them by taking actions through the Global Citizen app. The festival will also be available to stream Saturday on YouTube, Apple Music and the Apple TV app, iHeartRadio and many other platforms.

President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump walk after arriving on Marine One at Stansted Airport, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Stansted, England. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

Man charged with shining laser pointer at Marine One with Trump aboard

September 22, 2025

The Secret Service has arrested a man on a charge that he shined a laser pointer at Marine One while President Donald Trump was aboard the helicopter. A court filing on Monday says Jacob Samuel Winkler is charged with a felony punishable by a maximum prison sentence of five years. A Secret Service patrol officer says Marine One was airborne on Saturday near the White House when Winkler shined the laser pointer in its direction. The officer says Winkler repeatedly talked about apologizing to Trump after his arrest. Online court records don’t list an attorney representing Winkler.

FILE - Stephen Miran, chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors, walks at the White House, June 17, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

Trump’s Federal Reserve appointee seeks steeper rate cuts

September 22, 2025

President Donald Trump’s appointee to the Federal Reserve’s Board of Governors said Monday that the central bank’s key interest rate should be much lower than its current 4.1% level, staking out a position far different than his colleagues. Miran’s comments underscore the different perspective he brings to the Fed’s deliberations over interest rate policy.

FILE - Crime scene tape surrounds Utah Valley University after Turning Point USA CEO and co-founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed Sept. 13, 2025, in Orem, Utah. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson, File)

Utah Valley University launching review of Charlie Kirk shooting to improve campus security

September 22, 2025

Utah Valley University is launching an independent, external review of the fatal shooting of prominent conservative activist Charlie Kirk on campus earlier this month to improve its safety practices. The university made the announcement Monday as it struggles to contain fallout over security lapses and the shattering of the serene image administrators cultivated. The university also stated the campus is planning a memorial for Kirk, to be developed by a committee of students, faculty and political leaders.

FILE - Rolls of finished steel are seen at the U.S. Steel Granite City Works facility Thursday, June 28, 2018, in Granite City, Ill. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

The White House says it blocked US Steel’s decision to stop processing steel at Illinois plant

September 22, 2025

The White House says it intervened to block a decision to stop processing raw steel at U.S. Steel’s Granite City Works plant in Illinois. In a statement, the White House said Monday that Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick delivered the message that President Donald Trump would exercise his so-called “golden share” power. That provision was a key element in the Trump administration’s decision to allow Japan-based Nippon Steel to buy out U.S. Steel. It gives the federal government a say in certain decisions involving domestic steel production. Earlier this month, U.S. Steel said it would stop processing steel slabs at its Granite City Works. On Friday, U.S. Steel reversed course.

NASA introduces its newest astronauts: 10 chosen from more than 8,000 applicants

September 22, 2025

NASA has 10 new astronauts chosen from more than 8,000 applicants. The space agency introduced its 2025 astronaut class Monday. The six women and four men will undergo two years of training before becoming eligible for spaceflight, including trips to the moon and possibly Mars. It’s the 24th astronaut class for NASA since the original Mercury Seven made their debut in 1959. The previous class was in 2021. Only 370 people have been selected by NASA as astronauts, making it an extraordinarily small and elite group.

FILE - The UN flag flies on a stormy day at the United Nations during the United Nations General Assembly, Sept. 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Ted Shaffrey, File)

US bars Iran’s diplomats from shopping at Costco without permission

September 22, 2025

The Trump administration has formally barred Iranian diplomats based in or visiting New York from shopping at wholesale club stores like Costco and purchasing luxury goods in the United States without specific permission from the State Department. In notices to be published this week in the Federal Register, the department’s Office of Foreign Missions determined that diplomatic memberships in wholesale club stores as well as diplomats’ ability to buy items such as watches, furs, jewelry, handbags, wallets, perfumes, tobacco, alcohol and cars are a “benefit” requiring U.S. government approval. However, the only country whose diplomats were specifically targeted is Iran.

Trump appointee to Federal Reserve calls for steeper rate cuts

September 22, 2025

This undated photo released by the U.S. Army shows chief warrant officer Andrew Cully. (U.S. Army via AP)

Army identifies 4 soldiers killed in military helicopter crash in Washington state

September 22, 2025

The Army has released the names of four soldiers killed when the military helicopter they were on crashed near a base in Washington state. The Army in a release Monday identified the victims as chief warrant officers Andrew Cully and Andrew Kraus, and sergeants Donavon Scott and Jadalyn Good. Cully was from Sparta, Missouri. Kraus was from Sanibel, Florida. Scott was from Tacoma, Washington, and Good was from Mount Vernon, Washington. Army officials have said the helicopter was on a routine flight training west of Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The base is about 10 miles south of Tacoma. The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

Oracle will manage TikTok’s algorithm for US users under Trump administration deal

September 22, 2025

A senior official in President Donald Trump’s administration says Oracle will receive a copy of TikTok’s algorithm to operate for U.S. users. The decision addresses U.S. national security concerns over the China-based social media platform. The algorithm recommends videos and has been a key issue in negotiations between Washington and Beijing. The Trump administration official insisted on anonymity Monday and said the plan aims to prevent potential manipulation of addictive content. Full details on investors haven’t been released. But private equity firm Silver Lake is confirmed as part of the investment group. Then-President Joe Biden signed legislation requiring ByteDance to sell its assets to an American company.

George Takei to lead Banned Books Week, urging the fight against censorship

September 22, 2025

Actor and activist George Takei is taking on a new role as honorary chair of Banned Books Week. The American Library Association announced Monday that the 88-year-old will lead the event, which runs from Oct. 5-11. Banned Books Week highlights censored works like “Gender Queer” and “The Bluest Eye.” Takei, who spent part of his childhood in a Japanese internment camp, emphasizes the importance of access to books. He will share leadership with Iris Mogul, a student active in anti-banning campaigns. Previous chairs include Ava DuVernay and LeVar Burton.

Met season opens with new opera based on Michael Chabon novel starring tenor Miles Mykkanen

September 21, 2025

Miles Mykkanen has come a long way since his musical theater dreams shifted to opera at Juilliard. Now 34, he’s just opened the Metropolitan Opera season in “The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay.” The opera, based on Michael Chabon’s novel, features Mykkanen as Sammy Clay, a Jewish kid in WWII-era Brooklyn. He’ll also return in the spring for “Innocence” by Finnish composer Kaija Saariaho. Mykkanen, who grew up in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, still calls it home and runs an arts festival there. Despite his success, he enjoys returning to his roots and staying with his parents

This combination photo shows Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-N.J., on Capitol Hill, Feb. 13, 2024, in Washington, left, and Republican candidate for Governor Jack Ciattarelli, Sept. 4, 2025, in Garfield, N.J. (AP Photo)

What to watch for in the opening debate in the race for New Jersey governor

September 21, 2025

It’s the opening debate in the race for governor in New Jersey. Democrat Mikie Sherrill is a four-term congresswoman and Republican Jack Ciattarelli is a former state Assembly member who ran for governor in 2017 and 2021. The debate Sunday night at Rider University should give New Jersey voters a chance to take stock of the candidates in what’s expected to be a close contest.. New Jersey and Virginia are the only states with statewide contests this year. Those elections are seen as a gauge of how voters feel about President Donald Trump’s second term.

Ambulances are parked outside a hotel that is acting as a reunification center after a shooting at a country club in Nashua, New Hampshire, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Michael Casey)

New Hampshire country club shooting leaves 1 dead and several wounded. Suspect in custody

September 20, 2025

Authorities say a gunman opened fire in a New Hampshire country club on Saturday, killing one person and wounding several others. Attorney General John Formella and Nashua Police Chief Kevin Rourke said the person who died at the Sky Meadow Country Club in Nashua was an adult male. Authorities said the suspect, who was detained at the scene, was also an adult male, and earlier reports of two shooters were mistaken. Police said there was no further danger to the public. New Hampshire Senior Assistant Attorney General Peter Hinckley said investigators were still working to determine a motive. Information on the wounded victims’ conditions was not immediately available.

A makeshift memorial grows in size at the Turning Point USA headquarters after the shooting death at a Utah college last Wednesday of Charlie Kirk, the 31-year-old founder and CEO of the organization, Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

Trump and MAGA movement will honor Charlie Kirk at Arizona memorial

September 20, 2025

President Donald Trump and his supporters will pay tribute to conservative activist Charlie Kirk, whose assassination has intensified political tensions in the U.S. The memorial service Sunday in Arizona is expected to draw a large crowd to hear from Trump, Vice President JD Vance and other prominent figures. Kirk was killed this month at a Utah college, and his assassination has sparked debates about violence and free speech. Trump has blamed the “radical left” for Kirk’s death, and people have lost jobs as the administration and its supporters call out speech they find offensive. Kirk founded Turning Point, a group that played a significant role in Trump’s political success.

President Donald Trump speaks as Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick listens in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

White House says $100K H-1B visa fee won’t apply to existing holders as Trump move stirs anxiety

September 20, 2025

President Donald Trump’s latest plan to overhaul the American immigration system has left some immigrant workers confused. That left the White House on Saturday scrambling to clarify that its new $100,000 fee on visas for skilled tech workers that soon will go into effect only applies to new applicants and not to current visa holders. The president on Friday signed a proclamation that will require the fee for what are known as H-1B visas — meant for high-skilled jobs that tech companies find hard to fill.

After cuts to food stamps, Trump administration ends government’s annual report on hunger in America

September 20, 2025

The Trump administration is ending the federal government’s annual report on hunger in America, saying it had become “overly politicized″ and ”rife with inaccuracies.″ The decision comes two and a half months after President Donald Trump signed legislation sharply reducing food aid to the poor. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that what Trump calls the “Big Beautiful Bill″ means 3 million people would not qualify for food stamps, also known as SNAP benefits.

Release party for Swift’s ‘The Life of a Showgirl’ album is coming to AMC theaters

September 20, 2025

Taylor Swift is heading back to the big screen next month, and fans are already lining up for tickets. AMC Theatres will host a release party for Swift’s 12th studio album, “The Life of the Showgirl,” in October. Officials say the nearly 90-minute show will play at all 540 AMC theaters in the U.S. between Oct. 3 and Oct. 5. AMC will also air the show that weekend in Mexico, Canada and across Europe. “The Life of the Showgirl” is Swift’s first release since she regained control over her entire body of work in May. Tickets are available online.

House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, left, and Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, both of New York, tell reporters that they are united as the Sept. 30 funding deadline approaches, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 11, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

Democratic leaders in Congress demand a meeting with Trump as government shutdown looms

September 20, 2025

A possible federal shutdown is looming at month’s end, and the Democratic leaders of Congress are demanding a meeting with President Donald Trump to negotiate. Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries said Saturday that Republicans, at Trump’s insistence, have refused to enter talks. Democrats are pushing to preserve health care programs as part of any deal to keep government running past the Sept. 30 funding deadline. They want a meeting with Trump to prevent what they call “your decision” to shutter federal offices if no action is taken by month’s end. There’s no immediate response from the White House.

Trump’s economic promises to Black voters fall short after a modest shift in support for him in 2024

September 20, 2025

Donald Trump warned during the campaign that Black Americans were losing jobs in large numbers and things would only worsen without his leadership. The Republican has been back in the White House since January, and the economic situation for Black Americans has deteriorated. Black unemployment has risen from 6.2% to 7.5% this year, the highest since October 2021. Black homeownership has fallen to the lowest level since 2021. That can put at risk the small but politically meaningful inroads Trump made in 2024 with Black voters. The White House says some of the downward trends began under Democratic President Joe Biden.

Luigi Mangione is escorted into Manhattan state court in New York, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Luigi Mangione’s lawyers want death penalty off the table in UnitedHealthcare CEO murder case

September 20, 2025

Luigi Mangione’s lawyers are urging a judge to bar federal prosecutors from seeking the death penalty in the killing of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. They argued in court papers Saturday that authorities prejudiced his case by turning his arrest into a “Marvel movie” spectacle and by publicly declaring their desire to see him executed. Fresh from a legal victory that eliminated terrorism charges in Mangione’s state murder case, his lawyers are now fighting to have his federal case dismissed. They cited U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi’s declaration prior to his April indictment that capital punishment is warranted for a “premeditated, cold-blooded assassination that shocked America.” Federal prosecutors have until Oct. 31 to respond. Mangione has pleaded not guilty.

Asher Rogers holds an image of Jimmy Kimmel outside El Capitan Entertainment Centre, where the late-night show "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" is staged on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong)

In battles over free speech, comedians are often center stage

September 20, 2025

In all the stunning things about ABC’s swift removal of Jimmy Kimmel, its longtime late-night host and Oscars-hosting face of the network, perhaps the least surprising was that a comedian was again at the center of a battle over free speech. As long as jokes have been told, comedians have drawn the ire of the powerful. That has often put comedians on the front lines of free-speech battles, from George Carlin violating obscenity laws to satirical puppet shows trying to exist in Vladimir Putin’s Russia. In authoritarian regimes, crackdowns on speech usually make comedy a target.

FILE - A U.S. Capitol Police officer stands watch as lawmakers leave the House of Representatives after voting at the Capitol in Washington, Sept. 25, 2024. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Members of Congress take steps to tighten their own security after Kirk’s killing

September 20, 2025

Members of Congress are taking steps to tighten their own security as the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk has deeply shaken lawmakers who were already concerned for their safety. Senate Majority Leader John Thune on Thursday engineered passage of a measure that will allow senators for the first time to use money designated for their offices and staff for security purposes. Members of the House are pushing for increased security funding, too. Lawmakers increasingly feel that their engagement in public life requires the same kinds of security precautions long reserved for the president and members of the Cabinet.

Crime scene tape surrounds Utah Valley University after Turning Point USA CEO and co-founder Charlie Kirk was shot and killed , Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, in Orem, Utah. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

University where Charlie Kirk was shot confronts unwanted infamy

September 19, 2025

It took two decades for Utah Valley University to evolve from a small community college into the state’s largest school that boasts of having one of the safest campuses in the nation. It took seconds for that image to be shattered with the assassination of right wing activist Charlie Kirk. The sprawling campus of almost 50,000 students beneath the Wasatch Mountains will be forever tethered to the events of Sept. 10. A bullet took down the founder of Turning Point USA as he spoke to a large crowd at an outdoor amphitheater in the middle of campus. The school now faces a thorny question: what to do with its sudden infamy?

President Donald Trump listens to a reporter's question in the Oval Office of the White House, Friday, Sept. 19, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Trump says US has carried out another fatal strike targeting alleged drug-smuggling boat

September 19, 2025

President Donald Trump says the U.S. military has carried out its third fatal strike against an alleged drug smuggling vessel this month. Trump in a social media posting said the strike killed three and was carried out against a vessel “affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization conducting narcotrafficking in the USSOUTHCOM area of responsibility.” He did not provide more precise details about the location of the strike. The U.S. twice earlier this month carried out fatal strikes against alleged drug-smuggling vessels that had originated from Venezuela.

FILE - New York Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a news conference outside Manhattan federal court in New York, Feb. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura, File)

US attorney under pressure to charge Letitia James in mortgage fraud case has resigned

September 19, 2025

A federal prosecutor in Virginia whose monthslong mortgage fraud investigation into New York Attorney General Letitia James has not resulted in criminal charges is resigning under pressure from the Trump administration. Erik Siebert is leaving his position amid a push by Trump administration officials to bring charges against James, a perceived adversary of the president who has successfully sued him for fraud. Siebert confirmed his departure in an email to colleagues, reviewed by The Associated Press, in which he praised them as the “finest and most exceptional” of Justice Department employees but made no mention of the political turmoil that preceded his resignation.

FILE - This undated photo provided by the Wenatchee Police Department shows Travis Caleb Decker, who is wanted in connection with the deaths of his three daughters. (Wenatchee Police Department via AP, File)

DNA testing underway on remains believed to be Travis Decker, wanted in killings of his girls

September 19, 2025

Authorities say they have found skeletal remains they believe are Travis Decker, an ex-soldier wanted in the deaths of his three daughters. The discovery in the mountains of Washington state comes after an and off search that lasted months. The 32-year-old Decker has been wanted since June 2, when a sheriff’s deputy found his truck and the girls’ bodies at a campground outside Leavenworth. They have been identified as 9-year-old Paityn Decker, 8-year-old Evelyn Decker and 5-year-old Olivia Decker. Three days earlier Travis Decker failed to return the girls to their mother’s home in Wenatchee, about 100 miles east of Seattle.

FILE - White House national security adviser Mike Waltz speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference, CPAC, Feb. 21, 2025, in Oxon Hill, Md. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Senate confirms Mike Waltz as Trump’s ambassador to the United Nations after months of delays

September 19, 2025

The Senate confirmed Mike Waltz to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. The bipartisan vote on Friday filled the last vacancy in President Donald Trump’s Cabinet after eight months of delays and the withdrawal of a previous nominee. The Senate did not vote on a separate matter, which would formally designate Waltz as the U.S. representative at the General Assembly, due to objections from Democrats. That is according to a person familiar with the Senate deliberations. Still, the White House said Waltz will participate in the annual U.N. gathering next week as ambassador.

US Steel changes course and will keep processing raw steel at Granite City plant in Illinois

September 19, 2025

U.S. Steel is reversing course and now says it’ll continue processing raw steel indefinitely at its Granite City Works plant in Illinois, nixing a decision that had put the plant on track to stop work in the coming weeks. U.S. Steel on Friday didn’t explain its reasons for changing course, other than it’ll maintain flexibility. It’s now barely three months after Nippon Steel sealed a deal with President Donald Trump to buy the iconic American steelmaker by giving the government a say over decisions that affect domestic steel production. The United Steelworkers union accused U.S. Steel of trying to “wiggle out” of commitments that Nippon Steel made in the deal.

Lawyers for Spanish-language journalist in ICE custody fear deportation after unfavorable ruling

September 19, 2025

Lawyers for a Spanish-language journalist detained since June are worried he could be deported after an unfavorable ruling. Mario Guevara was arrested in June while covering a protest near Atlanta and handed over to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. An immigration judge set a bond for him in July, but he remained in custody while the government appealed. On Friday, the Board of Immigration Appeals dismissed the government’s appeal, saying it is moot. Guevara’s lawyers argue the ruling is based on incorrect information and have filed for an emergency hearing seeking to have him released from custody.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents make an arrest during an early morning operation in Park Ridge, Ill., Friday, Sept. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

ICE arrests nearly 550 in Chicago area as part of ‘Midway Blitz’

September 19, 2025

Immigration enforcement officials have arrested almost 550 people in the Chicago area as part of an operation that began less than two weeks ago. The Department of Homeland Security announced the arrests Friday. The operation, called “Midway Blitz,” started Sept. 8 and has raised concerns among activists and immigrant communities. They report a noticeable increase in immigration enforcement agents. Officials say about 50% to 60% of the arrests were targeted, while the rest were collateral arrests. The operation follows similar efforts in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and has sparked controversy over its aggressive tactics.

160-mile march for democracy arrives in Washington from Philadelphia

September 19, 2025

Over the span of 14 days, nearly 200 people marched from Philadelphia to Washington, D.C., in defense of democracy. From children to the elderly, members of the We Are America march arrived in the nation’s capital on a warm and sunny Friday afternoon, tired but joyous, where they were greeted with hugs and cheers from supporters and members of Congress. The mission of their sprawling walk was to unite a movement strong enough to hold America’s leaders accountable. Along the way they were housed in churches, where they slept in pews, or at people’s homes.

FILE - In this Dec. 31, 2011 file photo, the crowd packs New York's Times Square during the New Year's Eve celebration as seen from the Marriott Marquis hotel. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File)

Appeals court keeps New York’s gun restrictions in place, including Times Square and subway ban

September 19, 2025

A federal appeals court has effectively upheld a state law in New York that bars firearms in “sensitive” locations including Times Square, the New York City subway system and commuter trains. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a lower court judge’s 2023 ruling that allowed the state law to remain in effect after several gun owners filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of some restrictions. The gun owners appealed after they were denied a preliminary injunction that would have blocked the enforcement of provisions allowing authorities to declare Times Square a “Gun Free Zone,” ban open carry and require a special permit to carry guns in New York City. A lawyer for the plaintiffs said the decision was disappointing, but not unexpected.

Committee members attend a meeting of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices at the CDC on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025, in Chamblee, Ga. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Takeaways from RFK Jr.’s vaccine panel meeting on COVID-19 and childhood vaccines

September 19, 2025

A vaccine advisory committee handpicked by U.S. Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. met in Atlanta for two days this week to consider various vaccine recommendations. The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, or ACIP, recommended new restrictions for a vaccine that protects against chickenpox, measles, mumps and rubella. In a surprise move, it put off an expected vote on hepatitis B shots. The group also declined to recommend COVID-19 shots for any Americans, saying they could make individual decisions. The lengthy and at-times chaotic meeting struck a different tone from past gatherings of the committee. Critics worried the panel’s makeup and agenda could sow distrust in vaccines.

This photo provided by the San Bernardino County Fire Department shows damage caused by mudslides after storms in Forest Falls, Calif., on Thursday Sept. 18, 2025. (San Bernardino County Fire Department via AP)

Mudslides trap drivers, bury roads and damage homes in Southern California

September 19, 2025

Flooding and mudslides have buried roads, damaged homes and trapped drivers in several Southern California communities. Authorities say the mudslides affected Forest Falls, Oak Glen and Potato Canyon in San Bernardino County on Thursday. A group of about 10 people traveling in at least six vehicles was stranded on state Route 38 near the San Bernardino National Forest. The group was stuck for about 10 hours. No one was hurt or needed medical attention. The route was still closed as of Friday. The mudslides happened after heavy rain. The National Weather Service had issued flash flood warnings for the area.

FILE - People gather to light candles in a makeshift memorial to honor Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim who were killed as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum in Washington, during a candlelight vigil outside of the White House in Washington, Thursday, May 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Suspect recorded killings of 2 Israeli Embassy staffers on a body camera, prosecutors say

September 19, 2025

Federal prosecutors say a man accused of fatally shooting two staff members of the Israeli Embassy in Washington was wearing a body camera that captured video of the killings from his perspective. In a court filing Friday, prosecutors disclosed that Elias Rodriguez purchased the body-worn camera online and arranged for it to be delivered to his Washington hotel before the May 21 shootings. Rodriguez was indicted in August on federal hate crime and murder charges in the killings of Yaron Lischinsky and Sarah Milgrim as they left an event at the Capital Jewish Museum.

D4vd tour dates removed from websites after the discovery of a girl’s body in Los Angeles

September 19, 2025

The last two remaining dates in singer d4vd’s U.S. tour and multiple stops in his upcoming European tour have been removed from ticketing websites. The development comes as authorities continue to investigate the discovery of the decomposed body of a teenage girl in Los Angeles. Police have not said d4vd (pronounced “David”) is implicated in the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose body was found inside an impounded Tesla earlier this month. The 15-year-old was reported missing last year. Several news outlets have reported that the vehicle was registered to the singer. His representatives have not responded to requests for comment

Disney CEO Bob Iger appears at the premiere of the film "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny" at the 76th international film festival, Cannes, in France on May 18, 2023, left, and Brendan Carr, of the Federal Communications Commission, appears during a news conference in Miami on July 15, 2021. (AP Photo)

Web of business interests shows that Kimmel’s future rests on far more than his jokes

September 19, 2025

The decision about whether to keep Jimmy Kimmel on his late-night ABC show depends on far more than his jokes. The choice is complicated by a web of business and regulatory considerations involving ABC’s parent company, other media companies and the Trump administration. It’s the inevitable result of industry consolidation that over years has built giant corporations with wide-ranging interests. ABC owner Walt Disney Co. is a massive organization with far-flung operations. It frequently seeks federal regulatory approval to expand, buy or sell businesses or acquire licenses. The Trump administration has not spared the company from investigations. It has opened multiple inquiries in just the past few months to probe possible antitrust, programming and hiring violations.

FILE - U.S. Army AH-64E Apache helicopters are pictured at Joint Base Andrews, Md., June 12, 2025. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

Trump administration proposes selling nearly $6 billion in weapons to Israel

September 19, 2025

The Trump administration has told Congress it plans to sell nearly $6 billion in weapons to Israel. It includes one $3.8 billion sale for 30 AH-64 Apache helicopters, nearly doubling Israel’s current stocks, and a second $1.9 billion sale for 3,200 infantry assault vehicles for Israeli army. That’s according to a U.S. official and another person familiar with the proposal who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss plans that have not been made public. The packages wouldn’t be delivered for two to three years. However, they are a fresh surge of support for the U.S. ally as it faces increasing isolation over its war in Gaza.

President Donald Trump holds hands with first lady Melania Trump as they walk on the South Lawn upon their arrival to the White House, in Washington, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

Trump to sign proclamation imposing $100K fee for H-1B visa applications, White House official says

September 19, 2025

President Donald Trump is preparing to sign a proclamation that will require a $100,000 application fee for H-1B visa applications. This move is part of changes to the program for highly skilled foreign workers, which has come under scrutiny by the administration. A White House official says the signing could happen as early as Friday. H-1B visas are intended to bring skilled foreigners for jobs that tech companies struggle to fill with U.S. citizens. Critics argue the program allows companies to pay lower wages and fill entry-level jobs. Historically, these visas have been distributed through a lottery system, with California having the highest number of H-1B workers.

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

Trump administration asks Supreme Court to strip legal protections from Venezuelan migrants

September 19, 2025

The Trump administration is asking the Supreme Court for an emergency order allowing it to strip legal protections from more than 300,000 Venezuelan migrants. The Justice Department on Friday asked the high court to put on hold a ruling from a federal judge in San Francisco that the administration wrongly ended Temporary Protected Status for the Venezuelans. A federal appeals court refused to pause the ruling by U.S. District Judge Edward Chen while the case continues. In May, the justices reversed an order from Chen that affected another 350,000 Venezuelans. Solicitor General D. John Sauer argued in the new court filing that the justices’ May order should also apply to the current case.

FILE - Guests ride on the Stardust Racers roller coaster at Epic Universe Theme Park at Universal Resort Orlando, April 10, 2025, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux, file)

Family says a man who died after going on a Universal roller coaster never let wheelchair stop him

September 19, 2025

A 32-year-old man who died this week from blunt impact injuries after going on a roller coaster at Universal Orlando Resort’s newest park used a wheelchair. But his family said it never stopped his unwavering spirit. The family of Kevin Rodriguez Zavala in an online post described him Friday as “one of a kind.” Zavala was pronounced dead at a hospital Wednesday after riding the new Stardust Racers roller coaster, which opened to the public in May with the debut of the Epic Universe park. The medical examiner ruled the cause of death as multiple blunt impact injuries and said the manner of death was an accident

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., right, joined by Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., center left, leads a vigil to honor conservative activist Charlie Kirk who was shot and killed at an event in Utah last week, at the Capitol in Washington, Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

House approves resolution honoring Charlie Kirk with dozens of Democrats opposed

September 19, 2025

The House has passed a resolution honoring the late Charlie Kirk over significant Democratic opposition. A resolution praising “the life and legacy” of Kirk passed the Republican-controlled House with 310 votes in favor. While House Democratic leadership supported the measure, 58 voted against it and more voted “present.” It followed a week of heightened tensions in Congress over the assassination of Kirk that included a failed GOP attempt to censure Rep. Ilhan Omar for comments about Kirk. Speaker Mike Johnson criticized Democrats who voted against the resolution. It came just days before Kirk’s funeral in Arizona.

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