By MATT O'BRIEN and JENNIFER MCDERMOTT - Associated Press
The parent company of President Donald Trump’s Truth Social media platform announced Thursday it is merging with a fusion power company, an unusual pairing of the Trump name with a futuristic clean energy venture that aims to power the next wave of artificial intelligence. Trump Media & Technology will combine with TAE Technologies in an all-stock deal that the companies said is valued at more than $6 billion. Trump Media & Technology is the parent company of President Donald Trump’s Truth Social media platform. Its shares have tumbled 70% this year but jumped 20% before the opening bell. Fusion technology has been seen as a long way off but tech companies view it as a promising way of powering their energy-hungry AI data centers.
By LINDSAY WHITEHURST and BILL BARROW - Associated Press
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that could reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. This move could ease regulations and expand medical research by shifting marijuana from a Schedule I drug, like heroin, to a Schedule III substance, similar to ketamine. This change won’t legalize recreational use nationwide but may alter regulation and taxation. Former President Joe Biden’s Justice Department had also proposed reclassifying marijuana, but Trump’s order on Thursday could speed up the process,. Some Republicans oppose the change, arguing marijuana remains dangerous. Trump has focused on combating other drugs, like fentanyl, during his second term.
Kevin Garnett will finally have his No. 21 formally retired by his original team, the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Timberwolves announced Thursday they’ve hired Garnett as a team ambassador with a plan to honor him in a jersey-raising ceremony on a future date. The fifth pick in the 1995 draft played the first 12 of his 21 NBA seasons for Minnesota before returning in 2015 for a farewell year. He has essentially been estranged from the organization because of a rift with former owner Glen Taylor. Taylor’s sale of the Timberwolves to Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez closed earlier this year.
A police vehicle is parked at an intersection near crime scene tape at Brown University, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Providence, R.I., following a Saturday shooting at the university. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Six days into the investigation into last weekend’s mass shooting at Brown University, authorities said Thursday that they’re looking into a connection between that…
Hollywood icon Rob Reiner urged Holocaust survivors to show resilience in a video message recorded weeks before he was killed. Reiner’s message was delivered to a Hanukkah ceremony honoring Holocaust survivors. He noted his wife’s family was killed at Auschwitz, giving the event special meaning. The video was part of a virtual candle lighting by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. As part of the event, around 100 Holocaust survivors gathered at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Thursday to light the fifth candle of Hanukkah. Reiner and his wife, Michele, were found stabbed to death Sunday at their Los Angeles home. Their son, Nick Reiner, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
Tennessee’s governor has pardoned country music star Jelly Roll, a Nashville native who for years has spoken about his criminal record and his path to finding redemption. Republican Gov. Bill Lee issued the pardon Thursday for the 41-year-old musician, whose legal name is Jason Deford. The state parole board made a nonbinding recommendation for the pardon in April. The rapper-turned-country singer has said it would make it easier for him to travel internationally to perform and share his message, after spending time behind bars when he was younger. Now, he often visits jails and rehabilitation centers before performing concerts.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson describes a sprawling fraud investigation involving state-run programs in Minnesota at a news conference Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Giovanna Dell’Orto) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — About half or more of the roughly $18 billion in claims paid out by Medicaid to Minnesota-run programs may have been fraudulent, and at least 14 programs were…
Minnesota Monsters Logo DULUTH, Min. – The Minnesota Monsters have signed a deal to host games in the AMSOIL Arena for the 2026 season. The squad, previously known as the Duluth Harbor Monster, played their games in the DECC Arena. Home games will be May 22nd, May 30th, June 22nd, July 5th, July 11th, and July 18th. Minnesota Monsters CEO Steve…
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has gotten a rare peek at the aftermath of two cosmic collisions — and helped scientists solve a decades-old mystery. Many years ago, scientists saw a dense, bright spot near a young star and thought it could be a planet. After finding a second one, they realized it was actually the dusty debris from two cosmic crashes. Massive space rocks had slammed together to create clouds of dust that were thick enough to masquerade as planets. The new study was published Thursday in the journal Science.
Greg Biffle headshot, former race car driver UPDATE: Former race driver Greg Biffle and members of his family were among seven people who died in a plane crash Thursday in North Carolina, state police said. The business jet erupted into a large fire when it hit the ground while trying to land at Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles (72 kilometers)…
President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House before signing an executive order regarding childhood cancer and the use of AI, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, in Washington. WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s handpicked board voted Thursday to rename Washington’s leading performing arts center as the Trump-Kennedy Center, the White House said. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the…
A court in Romania has sentenced American rapper Wiz Khalifa to nine months in jail on drug possession charges. The ruling on Thursday came more than a year after he took part in a music festival in the Eastern European country. Khalifa was stopped by Romanian police in July 2024 after allegedly smoking cannabis on stage at the festival in Costinesti. Prosecutors said the rapper was found in possession of more than 18 grams of cannabis and that he consumed some on stage. The Constanta Court of Appeal handed down the sentence. The decision is final. It isn’t clear whether Romanian authorities will seek to file an extradition request since Khalifa is a U.S. citizen and doesn’t reside in Romania.
First Assistant U.S. Attorney Joe Thompson describes a sprawling fraud investigation involving state-run programs in Minnesota at a news conference Thursday, Dec. 18, 2025, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Giovanna Dell’Orto) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — At least 14 state-run programs in Minnesota have been flagged for fraud, a prosecutor said Thursday as he announced new charges in several schemes. First Assistant U.S….
President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in Washington, as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., left, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz listen. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday unveiled a series…
Democrats won’t issue a postelection report on their 2024 shellacking after all. The Democratic National Committee head has decided not to publish a formal assessment of the party’s defeat that returned Donald Trump to power and gave Republicans complete control in Washington. Ken Martin had ordered a thorough review of what went wrong and what could be done differently. Martin now says there’s no value in a public release of findings that he believes could lead to continued infighting and recriminations before the 2026 midterms when control of Congress will be at stake.
By ALI SWENSON, MATTHEW PERRONE and DEVI SHASTRI - Associated Press
U.S. officials are proposing new restrictions that would effective ban gender-affirming care for minors. The announcement from Department of Health and Human Services is the latest step by the Trump administration cracking down on transgender Americans. The sweeping proposals include cutting off federal Medicaid and Medicare funding from hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to children. The HHS Office of Civil Rights will also propose a rule excluding gender dysphoria from the definition of a disability. The proposals are not final or legally binding. They must go through a lengthy rulemaking process and are likely to face legal challenges. They also contradict the recommendations of major medical groups including the American Medical Association.
A U.S. official says a Kremlin envoy will travel to Florida to discuss a U.S.-proposed plan to end the war in Ukraine. The American official said on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s adviser Kirill Dmitriev is to meet with President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in Miami on Saturday. The official said that Witkoff and Kushner will sit down with Dmitriev after meetings with Ukrainian and European officials in Berlin earlier this week in which they discussed U.S. security guarantees for Kyiv, territorial concessions and other aspects of the U.S. plan to end the war.
Business jet crashes at an airport in North Carolina(CNN) UPDATE: A sheriff said there were deaths Thursday in the crash of a business jet that was trying to land at a regional airport in Statesville, North Carolina. “I can confirm there were fatalities,” Iredell County Sheriff Grant Campbell said, though he declined to say how many. The Federal Aviation…
NORTHSTAR TOWNSHIP, Minn. — Slippery road conditions on Thursday sent a St. Louis County plow into a ditch Officials say that at around 5 a.m., a county plow truck slid off the slippery road into the ditch on Hwy 44 in Northstar Township. No one was injured in the crash. Officials want to remind drivers to use caution and pay…
NORTHLAND — Jess Worden, owner and operator of DoDuluth, a digital events calendar, joined FOX 21 live in studio to break down local events happening this weekend. Categories: Coffee Conversation, Minnesota, News, News – Latest News
DULUTH, Minn. — Grandma’s Marathon announced a new initiative offering free youth entries to five local races throughout next year. In celebration of the marathon’s 50th annual race, free youth entry is being offered for the Saint Fennessy 4K, Fitger’s 5K, Park Point 5-Miler, Minnesota Mile, and the Superior Nightmare 5K, all of which support the Young Athletes Foundation. “Offering…
By MICHAEL CASEY and PATRICK WHITTLE - Associated Press
A Boston-area man has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering his wife, whose body has never been found after she disappeared nearly three years ago. Brian Walshe was sentenced Thursday in the killing of Ana Walshe. He was convicted Monday of first-degree murder. He pleaded guilty separately to misleading police and illegally disposing of a body. Investigators relied on Walshe’s online searches about dismemberment and disposing of a body to secure the murder conviction. Surveillance video shows a man resembling Walshe throwing heavy trash bags into a dumpster. Many items were recovered from the dumpster bearing their DNA and including Ana Walshe’s vaccination card.
DULUTH, Minn. — 7th and 8th-grade students presented their projects during the Genius Hour Showcase at Marshall School. Teachers instructed the students to focus on real-world problems and provide solutions. Students spent several weeks doing research and interviewing experts, helping to create the overall project, which includes visuals and interactive displays. The projects vary from student-produced podcasts, a deep dive…
Turning Point is beginning its annual Christian youth conference, the first event since the assassination of founder Charlie Kirk. The four-day meeting in Phoenix kicking off Thursday gathers thousands of young supporters of the MAGA movement, which faces internal debates over its future. A year ago, the conference celebrated President Donald Trump’s victory. Now the movement faces challenges, including debates over antisemitism. Turning Point is being led by Kirk’s widow and is confronting its own future. The event features MAGA influencers like Donald Trump Jr. and Tucker Carlson. Erika Kirk has stepped into the spotlight, addressing conspiracy theories surrounding her husband’s death.
U.S. inflation decelerated unexpectedly last month according to new data that had been delayed by the government shutdown. The Labor Department reported Thursday that its consumer price index was up 2.7% in November from a year earlier. The report was delayed eight days by the federal government’s 43-day shutdown, which also prevented the Labor Department from compiling overall numbers for consumer prices and core inflation in October. Thursday’s report gave investors, businesses and policymakers their first look at CPI since the September numbers were released on Oct. 24. Consumers prices had risen 3% in September from a year earlier, and forecasters had expected the November CPI to match that year-over-year increase.
Josh Pyles grew up on the farm where he now lives in Port Royal, Kentucky. His wife, Ashley Pyles, had never farmed before. But both are fully committed at their Blue Meadow Beef farm, where they and their three children raise beef cattle for local consumers. “At the end of the day, we want it to be reasonable and affordable…
It’s been called an “epidemic” of loneliness and isolation. The “bowling alone” phenomenon. By any name, it refers to Americans’ growing social disconnection. Americans are less likely to join civic groups, unions and churches than in recent generations. They have fewer friends, are less trusting of each other and less likely to hang out in a local bar or coffee shop. For all that, it’s not surprising that many feel lonely or isolated much of the time. Such trends form the backdrop to The Associated Press’s report on small groups working to restore community connections.
By EMMA BURROWS - AP European Security Correspondent
The Associated Press has documented 145 incidents in what Western officials say is a campaign of disruption across Europe masterminded by Russia since President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Officials say the campaign aims to deprive Ukraine of support, create divisions among Europeans and identify the continent’s security weak spots. Officials say each act sucks up valuable security resources. While the campaign places a heavy burden on European security services, officials say it costs Russia next to nothing. That’s because Moscow is carrying out cross-border operations that require European countries to cooperate extensively — while often using foreigners with criminal backgrounds as cheap proxies for Russian intelligence operatives.
Pope Leo XIV has made a significant U.S. appointment by naming Bishop Ronald Hicks as the next archbishop of New York. Hicks, currently the bishop of Joliet, Illinois, replaces the retiring Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Dolan, a prominent conservative figure, recently finalized a $300 million fund to compensate victims of sexual abuse who had sued the archdiocese. Hicks will lead one of the largest U.S. archdioceses as it navigates relations with the Trump administration and its immigration policies. This appointment marks an important step for the church in addressing these challenges.
By MATTHEW LEE and SIMINA MISTREANU - Associated Press
The Trump administration has announced a massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion, including medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones. The statement drew an angry response from China. The State Department announced the sales late Wednesday during a nationally televised address by President Donald Trump, who made scant mention of foreign policy issues and did not speak to trade or other issues with China. The eight arms sales agreements cover 82 high-mobility artillery rocket systems and 420 Army Tactical Missile Systems, similar to what the U.S. had been providing Ukraine during the Biden administration to defend itself from Russia. Those systems are worth more than $4 billion.
By CHARLOTTE GRAHAM-McLAY, KRISTEN GELINEAU and TRISTAN LAVALETTE - Associated Press
Hundreds of mourners have gathered in Sydney for the funeral of a 10-year-old girl killed in an antisemitic massacre during a Hanukkah celebration. The attack at Bondi Beach on Sunday left 15 people dead. Authorities say the suspects, a father and son, were inspired by the Islamic State group. The tragedy has sparked a national conversation about antisemitism in Australia. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced reforms to curb radicalization and hate, including tougher hate speech laws and stricter gun controls. Meanwhile, investigations into the suspects’ backgrounds continue, as the Jewish community mourns the victims.
Rich Tru TWO HARBORS, Minn. — Two Harbors Resident Rich Tru has announced he is running for a seat in Minnesota House District 3 B. The campaign soft-launched in November, with the official announcement on Thursday. Tru is running on the idea that Minnesota’s economy should be built around the success of local businesses and the innovation of entrepreneurs, not…
Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Peter Arnett, who traveled the world covering wars from Vietnam to Iraq, has died. His son says Arnett died in Newport Beach and was surrounded by friends and family. He had entered hospice on Saturday while suffering from prostate cancer. He was 91. Arnett’s reporting on the Vietnam War for The Associated Press won the Pulitzer Prize for international reporting in 1966. He is likely best remembered, however, for his gripping live reports of the 1991 U.S.-led invasion of Iraq that launched the first Gulf War. As bombs fell, Arnett calmly reported from his hotel window.
By RYAN J. FOLEY, CLAIRE RUSH, JAIMIE DING, CHRISTINE FERNANDO and MICHAEL BIESECKER - Associated Press
The Justice Department has embarked on a months-long effort to prosecute people accused of assaulting federal officers while protesting President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Attorney General Pam Bondi has vowed such offenders will face “severe consequences.” But a review by The Associated Press finds that prosecutors have struggled to deliver on that commitment. An analysis of 166 federal criminal cases brought since May against people in four Democratic-led cities at the epicenter of demonstrations found that aggressive charging decisions and rhetoric painting defendants as domestic terrorists have frequently failed to hold up in court.
By MICHAEL BIESECKER, JAIMIE DING, CHRISTINE FERNADO, CLAIRE RUSH and RYAN J. FOLEY - Associated Press
The Justice Department has embarked on a months-long effort to prosecute people accused of assaulting federal officers during protests of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. Attorney General Pam Bondi has vowed such offenders will face “severe consequences.” But DOJ has struggled to deliver on that commitment, according to a review by The Associated Press of 166 federal criminal cases brought since May against protesters in four Democratic-led cities at the epicenter of demonstrations. The review found that of 100 people initially charged with felony assaults on federal agents, 54 saw their charges reduced to misdemeanors, or dismissed outright. More than 40% of cases involved relatively minor misdemeanors. All five people who have gone to trial were acquitted.
European Union leaders are gathering for a summit aimed at agreeing on a massive loan to cover Ukraine’s military and other financial needs for the next two years. The International Monetary Fund says Ukraine needs $160 billion for that period. Many leaders will press for tens of billions of euros in frozen Russian assets held in Europe to be used to meet Ukraine’s economic and military needs. But some member nations worry about inviting Russian retaliation. And the European Central Bank has warned that if Europeans appear willing to grab other countries’ money, it could undermine confidence in the euro.
DULUTH, Minn. — A new boxing club will soon be entering the ring in the Twin Ports, as the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office PAL Boxing Club is preparing to open its new space in the former First Presbyterian Church on the corner of 2nd St. and N 3rd Ave. in Duluth. The new club’s founder, a former pro boxer…
SUPERIOR, Wis. — A woman suffered “significant lacerations” during a domestic-related stabbing Wednesday in Superior, according to Chief Paul Winterscheidt. The call for help came in around 1 p.m. in the 2800 block of Ogden Avenue. “Upon arrival, officers located a 44-year-old Superior woman suffering from significant lacerations. Officers also located and took into custody the suspect, a 41-year-old Superior…
DULUTH, Minn.– Right on time for the holidays, the Family Freedom Center gave entrepreneurs the chance to show off their products. The holiday market is filling the halls of the family center full of local vendors. Throughout the afternoon, entrepreneurs of all ages showed off items such as baked goods, earrings, wreathes, and sweatshirts. “My favorite part about this is…
DULUTH, Minn.– The Salvation Army is transformed into a Christmas wonderland, because of their busy distribution days. In years past, they’ve helped out 600 families. But this year, Community Engagement Director said, this year they had twice as many applicants. Throughout the course of the two days, the Salvation Army will be giving 1,000 families a Christmas. Each guest will…
President Donald Trump has added partisan and subjective plaques to a refashioned West Wing walkway he calls the Presidential Walk of Fame. The move deepens Trump’s fingerprints on the White House’s aesthetic and continues the Republican president’s effort to bend the telling of U.S. history to his liking. The additions include references to “Sleepy Joe” Biden and paint Republican icon Ronald Reagan as a fan of a young Trump. They call Barack Obama one of the most divisive presidents in history. An introductory plaque tells passersby the Presidential Walk of Fame was conceived, built and dedicated by Trump as “a tribute to past Presidents, good, bad, and somewhere in the middle.”
DULUTH, Minn. — Future hockey stars are getting ready to take center ice in the World Juniors Pre-Tournament Series taking place at AMSOIL Arena. Before the puck drops in the Twin Cities for the World Juniors Tournament, cities across the state are hosting exhibition games for the competing teams. Duluth’s series consists of Teams USA, Finland and Germany. AMSOIL Arena…
A Wisconsin woman who almost killed her sixth-grade classmate to please horror villain Slender Man and then fled a group home won’t fight the state’s attempt to revoke her release privileges. Morgan Geyser cut off her GPS monitoring bracelet and fled her Madison group home on Nov. 22. Police arrested her at a truck stop outside Chicago the next day. A Waukesha County judge this year ordered a state psychiatric hospital to release Geyser to a group home after experts testified she had made progress battling mental illness. The state Department of Health Services filed a petition Nov. 25 seeking to revoke her release. Geyser’s attorney, Tony Cotton, sent a letter to the court Tuesday saying that she will not fight the petition.
FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino says he’ll resign from the bureau next month, ending a brief tenure in which he clashed with the Justice Department over the handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files and was forced to reconcile the realities of his law enforcement job with provocative claims he made in his prior role as a popular podcast host. The departure, which had been expected, would be among the highest-profile resignations of the Trump administration. It comes as FBI leadership has been buffeted by criticism over Director Kash Patel’s use of a government plane for personal purposes and social media posts about active investigations.
UW Superior Logo SUPERIOR, Wis. – The University of Wisconsin-Superior is introducing a new online certificate called “AI Essentials: Strategies for Efficiency & Productivity.” Classes for the AI certificate will start in February 2026. UW-Superior says, “This certificate is designed for learners who want to build strong, non-technical artificial intelligence skills that support today’s workforce needs.” The program also looks…
GREEN BAY, Wis. – The Green Bay Packers Foundation announced it has distributed $1.5 million in annual grants to 395 civic and charitable groups throughout the state of Wisconsin. “We’re pleased to award $1.5 million through our annual Packers Foundation grants this year,” said Packers President and CEO Ed Policy. The grants awarded by the foundation are not recurring and…
DULUTH, Minn. — JD Sports is coming to Miller Hill Mall. JD Sports, which sells athletic footwear, apparel, and accessories, is set to open near the food court Construction is expected to begin soon, with the store opening in 2026. Categories: Minnesota, News, News – Latest News
A national survey shows teen use of alcohol, nicotine and marijuana remains at record lows. The findings released Wednesday reveal two-thirds of 12th graders reported no use of these substances in the past 30 days. That’s a significant drop from 30 years ago. Among 10th graders, 82% reported no recent use, and 91% of eighth graders said the same. However, there are slight increases in heroin and cocaine use. The survey, conducted by the University of Michigan, involved about 24,000 students from February to June. Teen drug use has been gradually declining for decades.
A federal judge has blocked Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer from revoking an easement that allows Enbridge to run an oil pipeline through a Great Lakes channel. Whitmer ordered regulators in 2020 to revoke the easement that allows Enbridge to run a 4.5-mile (6.4 kilometer) segment of Line 5 under the Straits of Mackinac. Enbridge sued to preserve the easement. President Donald Trump’s administration argued in filings earlier this year that Whitmer’s move interferes with U.S. foreign policy. U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker ruled in Enbridge’s favor Wednesday, finding that revoking the easement would effectively shut down Line 5 and interfere with U.S. and Canadian trade relations. He also ruled that only the federal government can regulate pipeline safety.
WISCONSIN. — Another legal battle has begun involving the re-route of Enbridge’s Line 5 Pipeline in Northwest Wisconsin. The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa is suing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The band says the agency violated federal law by issuing the permit to re-route Line 5 around the Bad River Reservation, after the band sued to…