News Archives - Page 6 of 881

Former infielder and coach Sandy Alomar Sr. dies at 81

October 13, 2025

By The Associated Press

Sandy Alomar Sr., a former All-Star infielder and coach who managed in his native Puerto Rico, has died at 81. The Cleveland Guardians said Monday they learned of his death from his family. Alomar played in the major leagues from 1964 to 1978, starting with the Milwaukee Braves. He also played for the New York Mets, Chicago White Sox, California Angels, New York Yankees and Texas Rangers. Known for his speed, he stole 227 bases, including a career-high 39 in 1971.

Zelenskyy to visit Washington this week seeking long-range weapons and a Trump meeting

October 13, 2025

By HANNA ARHIROVA and DEREK GATOPOULOS - Associated Press

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says he will travel to the United States this week for talks on the potential U.S. provision of long-range weapons. He spoke a day after U.S. President Donald Trump warned Russia he may send Kyiv long-range Tomahawk missiles if Moscow doesn’t settle its war there soon. Zelenskyy said a meeting with Trump could take place as early as Friday. The Ukrainian president said he also would meet with defense and energy companies and members of Congress. Tomahawk missiles would allow Ukraine to strike deeper into Russian territory. Zelenskyy also seeks more protection for Ukraine’s bombarded electricity and gas networks.

Authorities name the 16 killed in Tennessee plant blast, with a painstaking investigation promised

October 13, 2025

By JONATHAN MATTISE and OBED LAMY - Associated Press

Authorities have identified the 16 people killed in a devastating blast at a rural Tennessee explosives plant last week. Investigators on Monday pledged a painstaking process to figure out what happened by gathering pieces of evidence that may now be miles apart. At a news conference, Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis said people in the tight-knit community probably at least knew relatives of the victims killed in the explosion Friday at the plant owned by Accurate Energetic Systems. The company supplies and researches explosives for the military and is a well-known employer in the area.

Death toll from torrential rains in Mexico rises to 64 as search operations expand

October 13, 2025

AP

The death toll from last week’s torrential rains in east-central Mexico has jumped to 64. Search operations have expanded to communities cut off by landslides. Authorities on Monday said 65 people are missing. The scale of destruction across five states is becoming clearer. The Civil Protection agency says the heavy rains killed 29 people in Veracruz state, 21 in Hidalgo and 13 in Puebla, plus one in Querétaro. President Claudia Sheinbaum says it could still be days before access is established to some places. In northern Veracruz, 80 communities remain inaccessible by road.

Investigator suing the City of Superior resigns

October 13, 2025

Matt McConico,

SUPERIOR, Wis. – Mikayla LeRette, the Investigator suing the city of Superior, has resigned. She resigned in good standing about the same time both LeRette’s legal team and the City of Superior’s legal team agreed to some confidentiality terms in her federal lawsuit. On October 2, 2025 an agreement was made to keep some parts of evidence in the lawsuit…

Giant pumpkins to be carved at Pier B Resort

October 13, 2025

Paige Hansen,

DULUTH, Minn. — It’s pumpkin carving season, and at Pier B Resort, the Halloween tradition is bigger than normal. On Monday, two giant pumpkins arrived to the resort and will be carved up this week. The orange giants are from Jerry’s Pumpkin Patch in Sturgeon Lake, with one weighing in at 1,738 lb, making it Jerry’s personal best. It also…

Titans fire coach Brian Callahan after 4-19 record and 1-5 start to second season

October 13, 2025

By TERESA M. WALKER - AP Pro Football Writer

The Tennessee Titans have fired coach Brian Callahan after a 1-5 start to his second season. The Titans’ president of football operations said in a statement that team officials had extended conversations with controlling owner Amy Adams Strunk and general manager Mike Borgonzi. Chad Brinker says they told Callahan at a meeting Monday morning that Tennessee was making a change. Callahan is 4-19 overall. This was his first head coaching job. Callahan handed over play-calling duties after an 0-3 start that didn’t help. The Titans host former coach Mike Vrabel and the New England Patriots on Sunday.

Minnesota Nurses Association members created “hostile environment” at DECC

October 13, 2025

Matt McConico,

DULUTH, Min. – The Duluth Entertainment Convention Center (DECC) says Minnesota Nurses Association (MNA) members created a “hostile environment” in the facility where security had to be called. A statement from the DECC says an incident happened on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, around noon at its Harbor Side Convention facility. The DECC statement says, “Reports from DECC staff and…

Twin Ports Celebrates Indigenous People’s Day

October 13, 2025

Xavier Walt,

DULUTH, Minn. — Twin Ports residents celebrated Indigenous People’s Day at Duluth City Hall with a ceremony. Both Duluth Mayor Roger Reinert and superior Mayor Jim Payne were on hand to officially proclaim October 13th as Indigenous People’s Day in both cities. Various Duluth and Superior schools and the Fond du Lac Honor Guard were in attendance as well, paying…

Crews to teardown the remainder of home that exploded in Hibbing

October 13, 2025

Matt McConico,

UPDATE: The Minnesota Department of Public Safety tells FOX21 the State Fire Marshal’s Office is investigating the explosion. HIBBING, Min. – Crews are beginning to teardown the remainder of home a that exploded in Hibbing the evening of October 12, 2025. The house exploded in Hibbing around 6:30 p.m. Crews beginning to tear down remainder of house that exploded in…

FACT FOCUS: With a truce in Israel, Trump now says he’s ended eight wars. His numbers are off

October 13, 2025

Associated Press

As Israel and Hamas traded hostages and prisoners on Monday, President Donald Trump addressed the Israeli parliament, saying the region is finally at peace and claiming he has now ended eight wars in eight months. However, experts say his claim is exaggerated. While the ceasefire and hostage deal is a major achievement, it is still an early and delicate moment in the path to a permanent end to the war, let alone a two state solution. Other conflicts Trump claims to have resolved, like those between India and Pakistan, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo and others, are described as temporary or unresolved. Analysts suggest that while Trump played a role, many issues remain unsettled.

The latest idea to save the NBA All-Star Game: US vs. the World. And there’s no shortage of intrigue

October 13, 2025

By TIM REYNOLDS - AP Basketball Writer

The NBA is planning to revamp the All-Star Game format, pitting U.S. players against international stars in a tournament setting. This change aims to make the event more competitive and engaging. The plan, not yet finalized, suggests a three-team tournament with two American teams and one international team. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver says the goal is to create a fun and exciting experience for fans. Players like Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokic support the idea, hoping it will add intensity to the game. The league expects to announce the new format by the season’s start on October 21.

Threat against Proctor school was made by students but not credible

October 13, 2025

Matt McConico,

UPDATE: The Proctor Police Department tells FOX21 the threat was made via a phone call. PROCTOR, Min. – In the late morning of October 13, 2025 the Proctor School District Superintendent said a recent threat against the school was not credible. Proctor High School In a statement Superintendent of Schools Tim Rohweder said, “The Proctor Police Department was made aware of…

Government shutdown could be the longest ever, Speaker Johnson warns

October 13, 2025

By LISA MASCARO - AP Congressional Correspondent

Republican Speaker Mike Johnson predicts the federal government shutdown may become the longest in history. He says he “won’t negotiate” with Democrats until they hit pause on their health care demands and reopen the government. It’s the 13th day of the shutdown and the closures are taking a toll nationwide, halting routine government operations, shuttering the Smithsonian museums and other landmark cultural institutions and leaving airports scrambling with flight disruptions. It’s all injecting more uncertainty into an already precarious economy. The White House ensured military troops are paid this week. But the Trump administration is firing other federal workers.

Education Department layoffs hit offices that oversee special education and civil rights enforcement

October 13, 2025

By COLLIN BINKLEY - AP Education Writer

A new round of layoffs at the Education Department is depleting an agency that was already hit hard in the Trump administration’s previous mass firings, threatening new disruption to the nation’s students and schools. The Trump administration started laying off 466 Education Department staffers on Friday amid mass firings across the government meant to pressure Democratic lawmakers over the federal shutdown. The layoffs would cut the agency’s workforce by nearly a fifth and leave it reduced by more than half its size when President Donald Trump took office. The cuts threaten disruption in areas from special education to civil rights enforcement and after-school programs.

Taylor Swift announces new ‘Eras Tour’ docuseries and concert film for Disney+: How to watch

October 13, 2025

By MARIA SHERMAN - AP Music Writer

Taylor Swift’s “Eras Tour” has come to a close. But the show must go on. Swift is fresh off the release of “The Life of a Showgirl” and has more news to share. “Good Morning America” revealed Monday morning that she’ll have two new projects at Disney+. That’s a six-episode, behind-the-scenes docuseries about her landmark “Eras Tour” titled “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The End of an Era.” The first two episodes of her docuseries will premiere Dec. 12. There is also “Taylor Swift | The Eras Tour | The Final Show,” a new concert film featuring the inclusion of “The Tortured Poets Department” section. It was filmed in Vancouver.

Trail Access Restricted Due to Crosby Fire

October 13, 2025

Emily Halling, Nathaniel LeCapitaine,

FINLAND, Minn.– When the Crosby Fire began last week, the DNR and Superior Hiking Trail officials wasted no time implementing safety measures. “We just got word of the fire, kind of beginning yesterday, kind of coordinated with the DNR. We didn’t hear until about 5:30 kind of in the evening, about looking to close a section of the Superior Hiking…

Purdue tops preseason AP Top 25 poll for 1st time, ahead of Houston and reigning NCAA champ Florida

October 13, 2025

By AARON BEARD - AP Basketball Writer

Purdue is No. 1 in the preseason Associated Press men’s college basketball poll for the first time. The Boilermakers earned 35 of 61 first-place votes to top Monday’s AP Top 25 poll to begin the 2025-26 season. That put Matt Painter’s squad ahead of the two teams that played in last year’s NCAA title game. Runner-up Houston was No. 2 while reigning champion Florida was No. 3. UConn was fourth, followed by St. John’s. Duke, Michigan, BYU, Kentucky and Texas Tech rounded out the top 10. The Southeastern Conference, Big Ten and Big 12 each had six ranked teams.

Lebanon’s president says negotiations with Israel needed as war led to no positive results

October 13, 2025

By BASSEM MROUE - Associated Press

Lebanon’s president says his country and Israel should negotiate to solve pending problems between them since war didn’t lead to any positive results. President Joseph Aoun’s comments on Monday came days after U.S. counterpart Donald Trump brokered a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas to end the more than two-year war. The Israel-Hamas fighting led to other conflicts in the region including the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war. Lebanon and Israel negotiated in the past leading to a deal in 2022 over the maritime border. Aoun said the same thing could be done again.

Crosby Fire grows to 300 acres, 70 % Contained

October 13, 2025

Emily Halling,

Crosby Fire 10/11/2025 TOFTE, Minn.– This morning, a press release highlighted current stats for the Crosby Fire that happened last week. The fire is now at 300 acres and 70 % of it is contained. The reported stated that last night’s precipitation helped reduce the fire. Minnesota Incident Command System NICS, deemed lightning as the cause of the fire. Minnesota…

Montreal Canadiens sign 2025 rookie of the year Lane Hutson to 8-year, $70.8M contract extension

October 13, 2025

AP

The Montreal Canadiens signed last season’s NHL rookie of the year, defenseman Lane Hutson, to an eight-year, $70.8 million contract extension. The extension kicks in for the 2026-27 season after Hutson’s rookie contract expires and runs through 2033-34. The 21-year-old is from Michigan and was selected in the second round of the 2022 draft out of Boston University. In his first full NHL season, Hutson set a franchise single-season rookie record with 66 points and tied the franchise mark with a team-leading 60 assists.

Uncertainty over the economy and tariffs forces many retailers to be cautious on holiday hiring

October 13, 2025

By ANNE D'INNOCENZIO - AP Retail Writer

Rising tariff costs and other economic factors are forcing retailers to pull back or even delay their plans to hire seasonal workers. These temp workers typically pack orders at distribution centers, serve shoppers at stores and build holiday displays during the most important selling season of the year. A job placement firm forecasts that hiring for the last three months of the year will likely fall to its lowest level since the 2009 recession, or fewer than 500,000 positions. That’s fewer than last year’s 543,000 temp jobs. The average seasonal gain since 2005 has been 653,363 workers.

FBI seeks help to identify suspects in mass shooting that left 6 dead in the Mississippi Delta

October 13, 2025

AP

FBI agents are asking for public help to identify four people seen near a mass shooting in Leland, Mississippi. The Friday night shooting left six people dead and more than a dozen injured. The FBI released photos of the suspects, described as one female and three males. Authorities have not disclosed a motive but said the gunfire was sparked by a disagreement. In a separate shooting on the state’s east side, two people were found dead on a high school campus in Heidelberg. One of the victims was pregnant. In that case, an 18-year-old man was charged with murder.

Vatican names judges for trial of former Jesuit artist Rupnik accused of abuse by over 20 women

October 13, 2025

By NICOLE WINFIELD - Associated Press

The Vatican has taken the unusual step of announcing that it had named judges to decide the fate of a famous ex-Jesuit artist accused of sexually, spiritually and psychologically abusing women. The case of the Rev. Marko Ivan Rupnik tarnished the legacy of Pope Francis, given suggestions that the Jesuit pope had protected his Jesuit confrere. The Vatican office that regulates clergy sex abuse cases said that the five judges include women and priests external to the Vatican bureaucracy to guarantee autonomy and independence. The statement on Monday suggested an implicit recognition that prior to now the Vatican’s handling of the Rupnik file had been anything but autonomous or independent.

Mahomes leads the Chiefs to a 30-17 victory over Lions, and a fistfight erupts at the finish

October 13, 2025

By DAVE SKRETTA - AP Sports Writer

Patrick Mahomes threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns and led the Kansas City Chiefs to a 30-17 victory over the ailing Detroit Lions. Sunday night’s game ended with a fistfight among players. Mahomes tried to give Brian Branch a high-five after the final whistle, and the Lions safety walked right by him. Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster took umbrage and had words with Branch, who delivered a punch to set off the brief melee. Marquise Brown had two touchdown receptions and Xavier Worthy had another for the Chiefs, who evened their record at 3-3. The Lions fell to 4-2.

A list of this year’s Nobel Prize winners

October 13, 2025

AP

The announcement Monday that three laureates will share the Nobel memorial prize in economics for explaining innovation-driven growth brings this year’s Nobel awards to a close. All but the Nobel Peace Prize, which was announced on Friday in the Norwegian capital, Oslo, are announced in Stockholm. The award ceremonies will be held on Dec. 10. That’s the anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel who founded the prizes. Nobel was a wealthy Swedish industrialist and the inventor of dynamite. He died in 1896.

Supreme Court takes up Republican attack on Voting Rights Act in case over Black representation

October 13, 2025

By MARK SHERMAN - Associated Press

A Republican attack on a core provision of the Voting Rights Act that’s designed to protect racial minorities comes to the Supreme Court this week, more than a decade after the justices knocked out another pillar of the 60-year-old law. In arguments Wednesday, lawyers for Louisiana and the Trump administration will try to persuade the justices to wipe away the state’s second majority Black congressional district and make it much harder, if not impossible, to take account of race in redistricting. The conservative-dominated court could be receptive. At the center of the fight is Chief Justice John Roberts, who has long had the landmark civil rights law in his sights.

World leaders throw their weight behind the Gaza ceasefire deal

October 13, 2025

By FAY ABULGASIM - Associated Press

Egypt’s foreign minister has told The Associated Press that the success of U.S. President Donald Trump’s vision for peace in the region is his continued commitment to the process, including applying pressure on the parties, engagement and “even deployment on the ground” with international forces expected to carry out peacekeeping duties in the next phase. Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said Monday that it’s crucial to ensure that Israel and Hamas fully implement the first phase of the ceasefire deal so that the parties with international backing can begin negotiations on the second phase. He said that the international force needs a U.N. Security Council resolution to endorse its deployment.

Bus crash in mountainous region of South Africa kills at least 42 people

October 13, 2025

By MICHELLE GUMEDE and GERALD IMRAY - Associated Press

Authorities say a bus veered off a road and plunged down an embankment on a steep mountain pass in northern South Africa, killing at least 42 people and injuring another 49. The crash happened Sunday on the N1 highway near the town of Louis Trichardt, around 250 miles north of Pretoria. The Transport Ministry said the victims included seven children. It said six people were critically injured and another 31 had serious injuries and had been taken to hospitals. The bus was traveling to Zimbabwe and was carrying Zimbabwean and Malawian nationals who were on their way to their home countries. The cause of the crash was not yet known. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa offered his condolences.

China shows no sign of backing down while issuing call for US to withdraw tariff threat

October 13, 2025

By HUIZHONG WU - Associated Press

China has called for the U.S. to withdraw a new threat of a 100% tariff and other export control measures. The statement Monday came after President Donald Trump announced the new tariff threat in the latest escalation of the ongoing trade war. Trump issued a 100% tariff threat on all Chinese imports into the U.S. China last week placed stricter restrictions on rare earths, which is a vital resource used in electronics. Trump on Sunday did not withdraw his tariff threat but seemed more conciliatory. The latest economic indicators show the retaliatory actions and uncertainty is having an impact on existing trade between the two nations.

From a hilltop village and across Israel: Tears of joy as the living hostages are returned

October 13, 2025

By GIOVANNA DELL'ORTO - Associated Press

Across Israel, it’s a day of joy and tears with families, loved ones and friends waiting anxiously as Hamas began releasing the last living hostages held captive for over two years in the Gaza Strip. For the family of Alon Ohel it was day 738 since he was taken hostage. Friends of the young music lover jumped to their feet, cheered, blew into shofars — traditional horns that announce glad tidings — and hugged each other when they saw his picture on a livestream among the first seven hostages Hamas released to the Red Cross on Monday morning. By midday, 13 more hostages were freed, bringing the number to 20.

Brian Branch and the Lions end a frustrating loss at Kansas City with postgame fisticuffs

October 12, 2025

By DAVE SKRETTA - AP Sports Writer

The Detroit Lions had a tough night against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. And it didn’t get much better after the final whistle in the 30-17 defeat. Brian Branch’s punch to JuJu Smith-Schuster sparked a brief fight among players, and it could very well earn the Detroit safety a hefty fine and a suspension. The fracas came after the Chiefs had shut down the NFL’s highest-scoring offense and moved the ball with ease against the Detroit defense in a game that snapped the Lions’ four-game winning streak.

Fire Departments Respond To House Explosion In Hibbing

October 12, 2025

Dan Hanger,

HIBBING, Minn. — A house exploded in Hibbing around 6:30 p.m. Sunday, injuring at least one person. At least six departments from the Iron Range immediately responded to the scene in the 2200 block of 9th Avenue East, according to the Hibbing Fire Department. The two-story house was engulfed in flames with officials arrived, which is located across the street…

Residents Meet About Proposed Data Center Development In Hermantown

October 12, 2025

Emmaleah Allen,

SOLWAY TOWNSHIP, Minn. — Residents of Hermantown and the surrounding area attended a meeting Sunday evening at Solway Town Hall regarding a proposed plan to build a data center in Hermantown. The large project is being proposed as a 1.8 million-square-foot facility that could be situated near Midway Road and Morris Thomas Road on 403 acres. Sunday’s meeting provided an…

Top photos from Week 6 of the NFL season

October 12, 2025

By The Associated Press

Photo highlights from the sixth week of the NFL season. This gallery was curated by AP photo editors. AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl AP photography: https://apnews.com/photography Categories: US & World News

Threat To Proctor Middle And High Schools; Increased Patrols This Week

October 12, 2025

Dan Hanger,

PROCTOR, Minn. — The Proctor School District and the Proctor Police Department are investigating a threat to the middle and high schools, which officials do not believe is credible. Supt. Tim Rohweder sent a lengthy email to families and staff Sunday about the threat, which referenced Oct. 13. Rohweder acknowledged how these situations can be “unsettling,” but he said it…

Duluth Police Detain Knife-Lunging Suspect

October 12, 2025

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH/HERMANTOWN, Minn. — A man is accused of lunging at shoppers with a knife in Duluth on Sunday. The call for help came in around 12:20 p.m. at the Petsmart along Mall Drive. When officers arrived, the 31-year-old suspect had already taken off, according the police. Several more reports lead duluth police to the area of Stebner Park in Hermantown…

Tattoo Fundraiser Supports Family After Devastating House Fire

October 12, 2025

Emmaleah Allen,

DULUTH, Minn. — People gathered at Duluth Tattoo Company for a fundraiser in support of the Rosendahl family as they recover from a devastating house fire. The family is part of the tattoo community here in Northland, and multiple tattoo shops, including Duluth Tattoo Company, Benchmark, and Resurrection, came together, spending the last few weekends fundraising. The events brought people…

Packers overcome Flacco’s comeback attempt and beat the Bengals 27-18

October 12, 2025

By STEVE MEGARGEE - AP Sports Writer

Josh Jacobs rushed for two touchdowns and the Green Bay Packers held off Cincinnati for a 27-18 victory in Joe Flacco’s Bengals debut. Jacobs had a 3-yard touchdown run in the second quarter and opened the fourth by scoring on a 14-yard burst up the middle. Jordan Love went 19 of 26 for 259 yards with an interception and a 19-yard touchdown pass to Tucker Kraft. Lucas Havrisik sealed the win by making the second of his two field goals, a 39-yarder with 1:52 remaining. Flacco went 29 of 45 for 219 yards with two second-half touchdown passes five days after the Bengals acquired him from Cleveland.

Joe Flacco’s strong second half in Cincinnati debut gives slumping Bengals reason for hope

October 12, 2025

By STEVE MEGARGEE - AP Sports Writer

Joe Flacco rallied the Cincinnati Bengals in the second half. That was enough to provide some hope for his new teammates. Just five days after he was acquired in a trade with Cleveland, Flacco passed for 219 yards and two touchdowns in his Cincinnati debut. The Bengals lost 27-18 at Green Bay, but they pushed the Packers all the way to the very end. All-Pro receiver Ja’Marr Chase says Flacco is “just so poised.” Cincinnati has been outscored 140-55 during a four-game losing streak. But Flacco’s performance in the second half against the Packers created some optimism for the Bengals.

Israel prepares to welcome the last living hostages from Gaza as a ceasefire holds

October 12, 2025

By SAMY MAGDY and JOSEF FEDERMAN - Associated Press

Israelis are preparing to welcome home the imminent return of the last 20 living hostages from devastated Gaza and mourn the dead ones. It’s the key exchange of the breakthrough ceasefire after two years of war. Palestinians await the release of hundreds of prisoners held by Israel. U.S. President Donald Trump is arriving in the region along with other leaders to mark the U.S.-proposed deal after two years of war. And a surge of humanitarian aid is expected into famine-stricken Gaza. Major questions remain about the future of Hamas and Gaza, but the exchange of hostages and prisoners promises widespread relief.

Murphy embracing Brewers’ underdog status before NLCS matchup with Dodgers

October 12, 2025

AP

Pat Murphy and his Milwaukee Brewers adopted an underdog mentality even as they produced the best regular-season record in baseball this year. Their NL Championship Series matchup with the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers enables them to embrace that approach even more. The series starts Monday with Game 1 in Milwaukee. The Dodgers are seeking their third World Series title in the last six years and have a record payroll of $509.5 million. The Brewers play in the smallest market in the major leagues and have never won it all.

Mexico’s president convenes governors as death toll from torrential rains rises to 44

October 12, 2025

AP

The death toll from Mexico’s torrential rains has increased to 44, as the fallout mounted from widespread flooding and landslides across the country. President Claudia Sheinbaum convened governors from hard-hit states to direct an emergency response plan on Sunday. Mexico’s National Coordination of Civil Protection reported that as of Saturday, the heavy rains had killed 18 people in Veracruz state on the Gulf Coast and 16 people in the state of Hidalgo, north of Mexico City. At least nine people were killed in the state of Puebla, east of Mexico City. That toll could still rise as rescue workers continued to dig through sodden villages clogged with mud and debris on Sunday.

Community near site of deadly Tennessee plant blast recalls the lives of the 16 killed

October 12, 2025

OBED LAMY and SOPHIA TAREEN - Associated Press

Churches near the site of a devasting blast at a rural Tennessee plant devoted Sunday services to the 16 victims and their families as surrounding communities mourn. Several congregants at nearby Maple Valley Baptist Church in Nunnelly worked at Accurate Energetic Systems. The company supplies and researches explosives for the military and is a well-known employer in the area. The cause of Friday’s blast remained under investigation. Crews were cautiously going through the incinerated property, searching for possible evidence. Authorities warned of smaller controlled explosions on Sunday as they dispose of hazardous materials.

Penn State fires coach James Franklin amid midseason free fall in a lost season

October 12, 2025

By TRAVIS JOHNSON - Associated Press

James Franklin is out at Penn State. The school fired the longtime head coach on Sunday, less than 24 hours after a 22-21 home loss to Northwestern. Terry Smith will serve as the interim head coach for the rest of the season. The Nittany Lions began the year with hopes of winning the national title. Those hopes evaporated by early October amid a string of losses. Penn State, which reached the CFP semifinal 10 months ago, lost at home to Oregon in overtime in late September. A road loss at UCLA followed.

No. 3 Indiana has its highest ranking ever in AP Top 25, Texas, USC back in the rankings

October 12, 2025

By ERIC OLSON - AP College Football Writer

Indiana has climbed to No. 3 in The Associated Press college football poll, marking its highest ranking ever. This comes after a 10-point win at Oregon. Ohio State and Miami remain the top two teams. Texas A&M and Mississippi have swapped places. Oklahoma dropped to No. 14 following a loss to Texas. The No. 21 Longhorns are back in the Top 25 after a one-week absence. Five teams dropped out of the ratings in the biggest turnover since seven fell out in an October poll in 2022.

‘Tron: Ares’ tops box office but falls short of expectations with $33.5 million debut

October 12, 2025

By JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. - AP Entertainment Writer

“Tron: Ares” has powered up the box office grid, taking the top spot this weekend. Despite some favorable reviews, Disney’s sci-fi film fell short of expectations, earning $33.5 million. This big-budget project, starring Jared Leto and Jeff Bridges, arrived 15 years after “Tron: Legacy.” The film follows a battle between two technology firms facing an artificial intelligence barrier. “Tron: Ares” was packed with action and nostalgia, but it wasn’t enough to draw big numbers across more than 4,000 theaters. Another new release such as “Roofman” struggled to connect with audiences.

Vance warns ‘deeper’ cuts ahead for federal workers as shutdown enters 12th day

October 12, 2025

By STEVE PEOPLES - AP National Politics Writer

Vice President JD Vance is warning of deeper cuts to the federal workforce the longer the government shutdown goes on. Vance spoke Sunday as the shutdown entered its 12th day. He warned that the new cuts would be “painful,” even as he said the Trump administration is working to ensure that the military would be paid and some services would be preserved for low-income Americans, including food assistance. Hundreds of thousands of workers have been furloughed in recent days. In a court filing on Friday, the White House said well over 4,000 employees would soon be fired. Vance said the new cuts would be “painful.”

The Latest: Big shakeups in store for the college football top 10 of the AP Top 25 coming soon

October 12, 2025

By MAURA CAREY - Associated Press

Several top 10 college football teams should expect to be shaken up in the AP Top 25 rankings after facing challenges in Week 7 of gridiron play. No. 3 Oregon suffered its first loss of the season to No. 7 Indiana, with a 30-20 defeat on the road. No. 4 Ole Miss narrowly beat Washington State in a game that was unexpectedly close. No. 6 Oklahoma was outperformed by the Texas Longhorns, who secured a convincing 23-6 victory. The results could lead to significant changes in the rankings. Stay tuned for live updates and analysis from The Associated Press.

California expands privacy protections as Democratic-led states resist Trump’s immigration agenda

October 12, 2025

By DAVID A. LIEB - Associated Press

A new law signed by California’s governor attempts to shield the identities of sidewalk vendors from federal immigration enforcement officers. The new law comes on the heels of other recent state laws meant to protect students in schools and patients at health care facilities from the reach of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies. The measures are part of a broader trend among Democratic-led states to resist Trump’s immigration crackdown. Meanwhile, some Republican-led states have passed laws to support federal immigration enforcement efforts. The divide reflects a growing polarization on immigration issues among U.S. states.