News

Israeli hostage released from 2 years of captivity in Gaza struggles to rebuild his life

Israeli Segev Kalfon spent two years in captivity in a Hamas tunnel in Gaza after being taken hostage at a music festival on Oct. 7, 2023. During his time in captivity, he endured severe hunger and physical torture. Kalfon was released in a ceasefire deal on Oct. 13 this year. Now the 27-year-old is trying to piece together a post-captivity life. He spends much of his time juggling appointments with an array of doctors and psychologists. Kalfon wants to share his story to counter rising antisemitism and ensure people know the reality of his ordeal.

Inside Duluth’s only “Bean to Bar” chocolate maker

DULUTH, Minn. — Just above the company’s new storefront, Duluth Coffee Company is crafting more than just coffee. The company says they’re the only “bean to bar” chocolate producer in the Northland, taking cocoa beans from Central America and then roasting them, processing them, and finally, molding the finished product into bars. The roasting of the beans is similar to…

Top-seeded Indiana routs Alabama 38-3 for its first Rose Bowl victory, roaring into CFP semifinals

Fernando Mendoza threw three touchdown passes, Indiana’s defense thoroughly throttled Alabama, and the top-seeded Hoosiers roared into the College Football Playoff semifinals with a 38-3 victory in the 112th Rose Bowl. Mendoza passed for 192 yards in his first game since winning his school’s first Heisman Trophy, but the hard-nosed Hoosiers won the Rose Bowl for the first time in school history by dominating the Crimson Tide at the line of scrimmage. Indiana scored the game’s first 24 points before pouring it on with fourth-quarter rushing TDs from Kaelon Black and Roman Hemby, wrapping up a jubilant win in the 112th edition of the Granddaddy of Them All.

Maduro open to US talks on drug trafficking, but silent on CIA strike

Venezuela is open to reaching an agreement with the United States to combat drug trafficking, according to President Nicolás Maduro. In a pretaped interview aired Thursday, Maduro expressed readiness to discuss serious agreements with the U.S. He also mentioned that Venezuela is open to U.S. investment in its oil industry. The interview was recorded on New Year’s Eve, the same day the U.S. military announced strikes against several alleged drug-smuggling boats. The CIA was reportedly behind a recent drone strike at a Venezuelan docking area. Maduro declined to comment on that operation, stating he could discuss it later.

Napheesa Collier will have surgery on both ankles and be sidelined for four to six months

Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier will have surgery on both ankles and is expected to be sidelined four to six months, including the upcoming Unrivaled season. The 3-on-3 women’s basketball league made the announcement Thursday. Collier had been rehabbing ankle injuries suffered during the WNBA season. She said last month she was working back to full strength so she could be available for Unrivaled’s second season, which begins Monday. She suffered a sprained right ankle during an August game and missed several weeks. She then hurt her left ankle in Game 3 of the WNBA semifinals.

Zohran Mamdani begins his term as NYC mayor with an historic swearing in

New York Attorney General Letitia James, left, administers the oath of office to mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, center, as his wife Rama Duwaji looks on, Thursday, Jan. 1, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) NEW YORK (AP) — Zohran Mamdani became mayor of New York City on Thursday, taking over one of the most unrelenting jobs in American politics as one of the country’s…

Outdoor hockey. In Miami. It’s finally going to happen on Friday, when Panthers play Rangers

The NHL is hosting its first outdoor game in Florida on Friday. The Florida Panthers will face the New York Rangers at loanDepot Park, home of the Miami Marlins. The retractable roof will be opened just before the game. This marks a significant event for the Sunshine State, which has seen its teams reach the Stanley Cup Final multiple times in recent years. The NHL has worked hard to create suitable ice conditions, using custom refrigeration units and a thicker ice sheet. Panthers players and fans are excited for this unique experience, highlighting hockey’s growth in Florida.

Bad Bunny’s ‘Debí Tirar Más Fotos’ could make Grammy history

The Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny has redefined what it means to be a global giant. And he may once again make history at the 2026 Grammy Awards. The artist born Benito Antonio Martínez Ocasio is up for six awards. He is also the first Spanish-language artist to be nominated for album, song and record of the year simultaneously. Win or lose, experts say Bad Bunny’s Grammy nominations mark a symbolic moment for Latinos. That is because his critically acclaimed 2025 album “Debí Tirar Más Fotos” took local, traditional Puerto Rican sounds and made them global smash hits. It’s also because his success arrives in a particularly tense political moment.

Zohran Mamdani begins his term as NYC mayor with an historic swearing in

Zohran Mamdani is the new mayor of New York City. He was sworn in around midnight Thursday. He is the city’s first Muslim mayor, its first of South Asian descent and the first to be born in Africa. At 34, Mamdani is also the city’s youngest mayor since the late 19th century. The private swearing in at a decommissioned subway station was followed by a public inaugural ceremony at City Hall that began around 1 p.m. The democratic socialist takes office after an historic campaign made “affordability” a national buzzword across the political spectrum.

About 40 people dead and 115 injured in fire at Swiss Alpine bar during New Year’s celebration

(CNN) UPDATE — About 40 people were killed and another 115 injured, most of them seriously, during a New Year’s celebration in a Swiss Alpine bar, police said Thursday. Authorities did not immediately have an exact count of the deceased. CRANS-MONTANA, Switzerland (AP) — A fire ripped through a bar’s New Year celebration in a Swiss Alpine resort less than…

Trump, in interview, defends his energy and health, offers new details on screening he underwent

President Donald Trump defended his energy and health in an interview with The Wall Street Journal and disclosed that he had a CT scan, not an MRI scan, during an October examination about which he and the White House delayed offering details. Trump, in the interview, said he regretted undergoing the advanced imaging on his heart and abdomen during an October visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center because it raised public questions about his health. His physician said in a memo the White House released in December that he had “advanced imaging” as a preventative screening for men his age.

Trump delays increased tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities for a year

President Donald Trump signed a New Year’s Eve proclamation delaying increased tariffs on upholstered furniture, kitchen cabinets and vanities for a year, citing ongoing trade talks. Trump’s order signed Wednesday keeps in place a 25% tariff he imposed in September on those goods, but delays for another year a 30% tariff on upholstered furniture and 50% tariff on kitchen cabinets and vanities. The increases, which were set to take effect Jan. 1,  come as the Republican president instituted a broad swath of taxes on imported goods to address trade imbalances and other issues.

Russia says Ukrainian drone strike kills 24 in occupied Ukraine as tensions grow amid peace talks

Russian officials say that a Ukrainian attack killed 24 people in a Russian-occupied village in Ukraine’s Kherson region, as tensions between the two nations continue to spike despite diplomats hailing productive peace talks. Ukrainian officials did not immediately comment on the strike, which could not be independently verified by The Associated Press. The statement follows claims from Moscow that Ukraine launched a long-range drone attack against one of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s official residences in northwestern Russia on Tuesday. Kyiv has denounced the claims as a “lie.”

Volunteer in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard reportedly killed during widening protests

Authorities in Iran say a volunteer member of the Revolutionary Guard has been killed during protests over the country’s struggling economy. The death marks the first fatality among security forces. Demonstrations have slowed in Tehran but spread to other provinces. Authorities say the Guard member was killed Wednesday night by protesters in Kuhdasht, southwest of Tehran. They say 13 other Basij members and police officers were injured. The protests are driven by economic pressures, inflation and currency fluctuations. Iran’s government has expressed a willingness to negotiate but economic challenges persist. The protests are the largest since 2022 when Mahsa Amini’s death sparked nationwide unrest.

Miami beats defending national champ Ohio State 24-14 in the CFP quarterfinal at Cotton Bowl

Keionte Scott returned an interception 72 yards for a touchdown and No. 10 Miami shocked defending champion Ohio State 24-14 in the first College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Cotton Bowl. The 12-2 Hurricanes never trailed after going into Wednesday night as 9 1/2-point underdogs. They have won two playoff games to get into football’s final four after needing an at-large berth to make the 12-team field. One more win and they will get to play for a national championship in their home stadium. Next up is a CFP semifinal at the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 8. Third-ranked Ohio State finished 12-2, with losses in the Big Ten title game and the Cotton Bowl after an undefeated regular season.

Health subsidies expire, launching millions of Americans into 2026 with steep insurance hikes

Enhanced tax credits that have helped Americans offset the cost of Affordable Care Act health insurance for the last four years expired overnight. The arrival of the New Year’s Day deadline with no fix from Congress cemented higher health costs for millions of Americans, including many self-employed workers, small business owners, farmers and ranchers. The change represents a failure by lawmakers to address an affordability issue that many Americans have raised as a top concern ahead of the 2026 midterms. On average, the more than 20 million subsidized enrollees in the Affordable Care Act program are seeing their premium costs rise by 114% in 2026, according to an analysis by the health care research nonprofit KFF.

Sweden beats US 6-3 in world junior hockey group finale. Canada tops Finland 7-4

Lucas Pettersson and Eddie Genborg each scored twice and Sweden beat the United States 6-3 on Wednesday night in the world junior hockey championship to complete group play unbeaten. Casper Juustovaara opened the scoring in the first period on a deflection, and the Swedes led 5-1 in the second period in the Group A finale. Ivar Stenberg scored in the third, and Love Harenstam made 28 saves.  In the quarterfinals Friday, Sweden will face Latvia, and the second-place Americans will play Finland, a 7-4 loser to Canada later Wednesday night in the Group B finale in Minneapolis. Canada will play Slovakia, and Czechia will meet Switzerland. Chase Reid, Will Zellers and Teddy Stiga scored for the United States.

Viral ‘6-7’ tops 2025 list of overused words and phrases

Respondents to an annual Michigan college survey of overused and misused words and phrases say “6-7” is “cooked” and should come to a “massive” and “full stop” heading into the new year. Those are among the top 10 words on the 50th annual “Banished Words list,” released Thursday by Lake Superior State University. The tongue-in-cheek roundup of overused slang started in 1976 as a New Year’s Eve party idea. There were around 1,400 submissions this year from all 50 states and a number of countries outside the U.S., including Uzbekistan, Brazil and Japan.

Black Book Recaps 2025 Research Announcements and Client‑Rated Honors; Reaffirms Vendor‑Agnostic, Independently Validated Intelligence and 2026 Commitments

In 2025, Black Book expanded global healthcare IT research coverage; issued 32 complimentary, vendor-neutral benchmarking reports; advanced a 36‑KPI qualitative performance framework supported by Google Looker analytics and Qualtrics engagement; and compiled 311,732 verified end-user survey and satisfaction poll responses worldwide. This 2025 intake builds on a longitudinal repository now approaching four million verified end‑user reviews captured over the past…

McCollum’s jumper in final seconds leads Wizards to a 114-113 win over the Bucks

C.J. McCollum made a go-ahead, pull-up jumper with a second remaining to give the Washington Wizards a 114-113 victory over Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday night. McCollum’s winner capped an 18-point performance. Alex Starr and Bub Carrington each scored 20 points. Antetokunmpo scored 33 points to lead the Bucks (14-20), who shot 41.1% from the floor and made 16 of 39 from 3-point distance. Kevin Porter Jr. scored 19 points and Ryan Rollins finished with 16 for Milwaukee, which had won two in a row and was looking for its first three-game win streak of the season.

PCA services affected by funding suspensions

DULUTH, Minn. — On Christmas Eve, Heartland PCA, a home care agency in northern Minnesota, received notice from the Department of Human Services that payments were being suspended under a new federal Medicaid pre-payment review process. Heartland PCA says their agency, along with 600 others, was impacted yesterday by an abrupt halt in payments, tied to fraud concerns, involving 14…

John Gibson makes 24 saves as surging Red Wings beat slumping Jets, 2-1

John Gibson kept up his hot December with 24 saves, Dylan Larkin and Mason Appleton scored goals, and the Detroit Red Wings beat the slumping Winnipeg Jets 2-1. Gibson won for the ninth time in 10 starts as the Red Wings improved to 11-3-1 in December. The Jets lost their seventh straight game (0-4-3) on a night where Connor Hellebuyck made 17 saves. Logan Stanley scored Winnipeg’s goal. The Red Wings took a 1-0 lead at 8:22 of the first period when Larkin ripped a shot over Hellebuyck’s glove while on the power play. Appleton put the Red Wings ahead 2-0 with 5:12 left in the first.

Manning uses arm and legs to lead No. 14 Texas to a 41-27 Citrus Bowl win over No. 18 Michigan

Arch Manning was just as potent with his legs as with his arms. That combination carried 14th-ranked Texas to a 41-27 victory over No. 18 Michigan in the Citrus Bowl. The game was tight until Manning broke it open with a 60-yard scoring run in the fourth quarter. He finished with 221 yards passing and two scores, and 155 yards rushing and two TDs on the ground. Michigan capped off a month the Wolverines would rather forget. Coach Sherrone Moore was fired for an extramarital affair with a staffer. New coach Kyle Whittingham watched from a coaching box.

Pope asks that Rome welcome foreigners as he closes out 2025

Pope Leo XIV has closed out 2025 with a prayer that the city of Rome might be a welcoming place for foreigners and fragile people young and old. Leo presided over a New Year’s Eve vespers service in St. Peter’s Basilica. He gave thanks for the 2025 Holy Year that brought millions of pilgrims to Rome in the once-every-quarter-century celebration of Christianity. Leo will officially close out the Jubilee on Jan. 6. In his homily, he thanked the city of Rome and the volunteers who helped keep crowds moving as they visited St. Peter’s and passed through its Holy Door.

Visit Malaysia 2026 Countdown Festival: A New Year’s Eve Celebration

Prime Minister celebrated the New Year together with Malaysians and officially kicked off Visit Malaysia 2026 at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, amid captivating pyromusical fireworks, drone formations, laser shows, and stunning 3D anamorphic projections, alongside a star-studded lineup of top artistesKUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 1 January 2026 – Malaysia ushered in the New Year on a high…

Celebrini celebrates Team Canada selection by leading Sharks past Wild 4-3 in shootout

Macklin Celebrini had a goal and an assist hours after being selected to play for Team Canada at the 2026 Winter Olympics, and the San Jose Sharks beat the Minnesota Wild 4–3 in a shootout. Celebrini and William Eklund scored for the Sharks in the tiebreaker, while Minnesota failed to convert on either of its two attempts. San Jose has won three straight following a three-game slide. Igor Chernyshov had a goal and two assists, and Jeff Skinner also scored for the Sharks. The 19-year-old Celebrini got his 40th assist of the season, passing Mikko Rantanen for second-most in the NHL. Yaroslav Askarov finished with 20 saves. Vladimir Tarasenko, Marcus Foligno and Mats Zuccarello scored for the Wild, who are 2-0-1 on their seven-game trip.

‘Ant-Man’ Edwards leaves bench late in loss for 2nd early exit from a Timberwolves game in 1 week

For the second time in one week, Anthony Edwards didn’t stick around for the end of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ game. This time, the exit was his decision. Edwards left the Minnesota bench and the court during a timeout late in the Timberwolves’ 126-102 loss at the Atlanta Hawks. Edwards apparently disagreed with coach Chris Finch pulling his starters with the Hawks leading 109-80. Edwards tossed his towel and left the bench. Edwards did not speak with reporters after the game. Finch says “Ant-Man” should have remained on the bench to support his teammates.

Gospel singer Richard Smallwood dies at 77, leaving a legacy that inspired many in music

Eight-time Grammy-nominated gospel singer Richard Smallwood has died at 77. His representative announced that Smallwood passed away Tuesday due to complications from kidney failure in Maryland. Smallwood had faced health challenges for years, but his dedication to music kept him going. His songs were recorded by artists such as Whitney Houston and Destiny’s Child. Smallwood’s music inspired many, including Chaka Khan, who praised his brilliance and spirit. He began playing piano at age 5 and formed his first gospel group by 11. One of his biggest hits was the song “Total Praise.”

Duluth Library and Duluth Children’s Museum host New Year’s celebrations for kids

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth Public Library held its annual New Year’s celebration called “Noon Year’s.” Families and kids of all ages were welcome to attend the library’s annual Noon Year event. There was all kinds of fun, from a dance party with bubbles, to creating your own noise makers. Many families make the event an annual tradition as a…

Local daycare reacts to the freeze of childcare funds

DULUTH, Minn. — A local daycare is reacting to the Trump administration announcing that it is freezing child care funds to Minnesota. The freeze comes after allegations of fraudulent daycares in the state. Kallie Thomas, the Executive Director of Happy Time Daycare says the freeze could be detrimental. Happy Time is a non-profit, with tuition only covering bills and staff….

Chief Justice says Constitution remains ‘firm and unshaken’ with major Supreme Court rulings ahead

Chief Justice John Roberts says that the Constitution remains a sturdy pillar for the country, a message that comes after a tumultuous year in the nation’s judicial system with pivotal Supreme Court decisions on the horizon. Roberts released his annual letter to the judiciary on Wednesday and said the nation’s founding documents remain firm and unshaken, a reference to a century-old quote from President Calvin Coolidge. It comes after a year in which some raised fears of a possible constitutional crisis amid legal pushback to President Donald Trump’s agenda. The Republican administration has scored wins at the Supreme Court, though major rulings on birthright citizenship and tariffs are yet to come.

Capitol riot ‘does not happen’ without Trump, Jack Smith told Congress

Former special counsel Jack Smith told lawmakers that the Jan. 6. riot at the U.S. Capitol “does not happen” without President Donald Trump. That’s according to a transcript released Wednesday of Smith’s closed-door interview with the House Judiciary Committee. Smith also described the Republican president as the “most culpable and most responsible person” in the criminal conspiracy to overturn the results of the 2020 election. The Dec. 17 deposition was held privately despite Smith’s request to testify publicly. The release of the transcript and video of the interview adds to the public understanding of the decision-making behind two of the most consequential Justice Department investigations in recent history.

Trump administration orders a Colorado coal-fired power generator to stay open

The Trump administration has ordered another coal-fired power facility to remain open. This time it’s telling the owners of the Craig Station in northwestern Colorado to keep running an electricity-generating unit that was slated for retirement Wednesday. The plant’s owners will need to fix a broken valve to keep the unit working. The 45-year-old generator is one of three at Craig Station. The Trump administration also has ordered coal-fired power plants in Indiana, Michigan and Washington state to remain operational against their owners’ wishes. It’s part of President Donald Trump’s push to revive the U.S. coal industry when many utilities are shifting to cheaper, less-polluting energy sources.

Farmers can now learn how much aid they will get from the Trump administration

Farmers are now learning how much aid they can expect to receive from a $12 billion package that President Donald Trump announced earlier this month. The U.S. Department of Agriculture released the figures Wednesday for how much aid per acre farmers can plan on for each row crop. The details arrived after most farmers have already met with their bankers to arrange financing for next year’s crops and placed orders for the seed and fertilizer they will need. But officials have promised that the payments should arrive by the end of February. Farmers say the aid won’t solve all their problems as they continue to deal with soaring costs.

Lions-Vikings Christmas game on Netflix sets NFL streaming record, averaging 27.5M viewers

Two of the NFL’s three Christmas Day games set viewership records. The Detroit Lions-Minnesota Vikings game on Netflix became the most-streamed NFL game in U.S. history. The Denver Broncos-Kansas City Chiefs game set a record for Amazon Prime Video. Nielsen reports the Vikings’ 23-10 victory over the Lions averaged 27.5 million U.S. viewers. The Broncos’ 20-13 win over the Chiefs had a 21.06 million average on Prime Video. The Cowboys-Commanders game averaged 19.9 million. Netflix’s “NFL Christmas Gameday” drew over 632 million social impressions globally, with Snoop Dogg’s halftime show being a major highlight.

What to know about Trump administration freezing federal child care funds

The Trump administration has said it is freezing child care funds to all states until they provide more verification and administrative data about the programs in a move fueled by a series of alleged fraud schemes at Minnesota day care centers run by Somali residents. All 50 states will be impacted by the review, but the Republican administration is focusing most of its ire…

Wussow’s Concert Cafe celebrates New Year’s Eve with all day concert

DULUTH, Minn.– The New Year’s Eve celebrations at Wussow’s began bright and early this morning and sounds of local artists will be filling the room all day. For more than a decade, the concert cafe has made this all-day concert a tradition. Every forty minutes, artists will take turns taking the stage. Attendees of all ages will get to take in…

Bois Forte Band of Chippewa explains what’s next after signing cannabis compact with Minnesota

Shane Drift DULUTH, Min. & NETT LAKE, Min. – The day after making it official and signing a Tribal-State cannabis compact with Minnesota, we’re learning more about what is next for the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa and cannabis. The agreement signed on December 30, 2025 provides a blueprint for a shared goal of safeguarding the health of Minnesotans regarding…

Lake Superior Zoo announces ‘Porcupine Pub’, and 21+ events

DULUTH, Minn.– The Lake Superior Zoo is saying ‘cheers’ to the new year, by welcoming in some new 21+ opportunities. The ‘Porcupine Pub’ is debuting at the zoo, and it’s bringing along some new events. Starting in January, they will be hosting a trivia night every third Wednesday of the month. Attendees can take advantage of their selection of local…

English actors Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton welcome their second child

English actors Tom Hiddleston and Zawe Ashton have welcomed their second child. Hiddleston confirmed the news to GQ in a feature published Monday. He described birth as the “most beautiful, profound, earth-shattering, life-altering” experience. A birth date was not revealed. Hiddleston and Ashton first met while starring in the 2019 revival of the Broadway play, “Betrayal.” They confirmed their engagement in 2022 and welcomed their first child later that year. Both Hiddleston and Ashton were born in London. Hiddleston is best known for his portrayal of Loki in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Ashton is also a member of the MCU, having portrayed Dar-Benn in the 2023 film “The Marvels.”

Trump made lots of tariff threats in 2025. Here are some that never materialized

President Donald Trump made a lot of tariff threats and trade promises this year. And while many led to a barrage of new import taxes that overturned decades of economic policy and plunged the U.S. into trade wars abroad, others never materialized — or have yet to as 2025 comes to a close. Some of Trump’s unrealized threats reflect a broader approach from the president — who has track record of suggesting sky-high levies to pressure other countries into new trade deals, one-up retaliatory measures or even punish political critics. At the same time, other unfulfilled promises underline continued uncertainty for consumers and businesses alike.