US & World News Archives - Page 15 of 86

Mourners grieve 10-year-old slain in Bondi mass shooting as Australia’s leader pledges new hate laws

December 18, 2025

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.

Pulitzer Prize-winning correspondent Peter Arnett, who reported on Vietnam and Gulf wars, has died

December 17, 2025

By JOHN ROGERS - Associated Press

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.

Key findings of an AP analysis examining federal prosecutions of protesters

December 17, 2025

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.

DOJ vowed to punish those who disrupt Trump’s immigration crackdown. Dozens of cases have crumbled

December 17, 2025

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.

EU leaders gather to discuss a massive loan to Ukraine

December 17, 2025

AP

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.

Sleepy. Divisive. A fan of young Trump: A look at the new plaques on the Presidential Walk of Fame

December 17, 2025

By MATT BROWN and BILL BARROW - Associated Press

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.”

Slender Man attacker won’t contest state’s effort to revoke release privileges after escape

December 17, 2025

By TODD RICHMOND - Associated Press

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 plans to resign next month as bureau’s No 2 official

December 17, 2025

By ERIC TUCKER - Associated Press

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.

Teen drug use remains low, but survey finds small rise in heroin and cocaine use

December 17, 2025

By MIKE STOBBE - AP Medical Writer

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.

Federal judge blocks Whitmer from shutting down submerged Great Lakes pipeline

December 17, 2025

By TODD RICHMOND - Associated Press

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.

The Oscars will move to YouTube in 2029, leaving longtime home of ABC

December 17, 2025

The Associated Press,

YouTube In a seismic shift for one of television’s marquee events, the Academy Awards will depart ABC and begin streaming on YouTube beginning in 2029, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Wednesday. ABC will continue to broadcast the annual ceremony through 2028. That year will mark the 100th Oscars. But starting in 2029, YouTube will retain global rights…

Israel fires mortar into Gaza residential area, wounding at least 10

December 17, 2025

By JULIA FRANKEL - Associated Press

Israel’s military says troops fired a mortar shell into a Palestinian residential area in the Gaza Strip, in the latest incident to rock the tenuous ceasefire with Hamas. Health officials on Wednesday said at least 10 people, were wounded, and the army said it was investigating. The military said the mortar was fired during an operation in the area of the “Yellow Line,” which was drawn in the ceasefire agreement that divides the Israeli-held majority of Gaza from the rest of the territory. The military said the mortar had veered from its intended target, which it did not specify.

Movie Review: The Neil Diamond-inspired ‘Song Sung Blue’ hits all the wrong notes

December 17, 2025

By MARK KENNEDY - AP Entertainment Writer

“Song Sung Blue” is a new Hollywood movie about a Neil Diamond tribute act, starring Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson. The film is based on a 2008 documentary about Mike and Claire Sardina, a struggling couple from Milwaukee. Director Craig Brewer mixes working-class pressures, romance, tragedy and drug addiction, but the movie feels disjointed, says AP critic Mark Kennedy. Jackman and Hudson perform over 20 songs, but the film’s tone doesn’t match its tragic story. Some scenes feel forced, and the film doesn’t explore the world of musical impersonators. Overall, the movie struggles to capture the charm of the original documentary.

Senate passes $901 billion defense bill that pushes Hegseth for boat strike video

December 17, 2025

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate gave final passage to an annual military policy bill Wednesday that will authorize $901 billion in defense programs while pressuring Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to provide lawmakers with video of strikes on alleged drug boats in international water near Venezuela. The annual National Defense Authorization Act, which raises troop pay by 3.8%, gained bipartisan backing as it moved…

Myanmar declares a ‘zero tolerance’ policy for cyberscams. But the fraud goes on

December 17, 2025

By ERIKA KINETZ - Associated Press

Myanmar’s military leadership has vowed to crack down on cyberscam centers, starting with the notorious KK Park. They raided and bombed the compound, but questions remain about the long-term impact. Despite the destruction, the scam industry is adapting quickly. Workers have scattered to other centers, and job ads are appearing on Telegram. The government claims to have demolished hundreds of buildings, but many remain standing. Critics argue that without arresting syndicate leaders and seizing assets, the crackdown is incomplete.

‘Buck Rogers’ star Gil Gerard dies at 82

December 17, 2025

By The Associated Press

Gil Gerard, known for his role as Buck Rogers, has died at 82. His manager, Tina Presley Borek, said he died Tuesday in hospice care as a result of a rare cancer. Gerard starred in NBC’s “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century” from 1979 to 1981. The show was based on Philip Francis Nowlan’s 1928 novella. Gerard’s wife, Janet, shared a posthumous message from him on Facebook, urging fans to focus on what thrills them. Throughout his career, Gerard appeared in various TV shows and movies. He was open about his struggles with addiction and underwent gastric bypass surgery in 2007.

Saturn’s moon Titan may not have a buried ocean as long suspected, new study suggests

December 17, 2025

By MARCIA DUNN - AP Aerospace Writer

Saturn’s giant moon Titan may not have a vast underground ocean after all. New research suggests Titan instead may hold deep layers of ice and slush more akin to Earth’s polar seas instead of a buried ocean as long suspected. In a study published Wednesday, scientists said there may also be pockets of melted water beneath the moon’s surface where life could possibly survive and even thrive. They’re basing their findings on observations made by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft years ago, but with a fresh look. Titan is the second largest moon in the solar system.

Trump will witness the dignified transfer for 2 National Guard members killed in Syria

December 17, 2025

By MICHELLE L. PRICE - Associated Press

President Donald Trump is going to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware to witness the dignified transfer for two Iowa National Guard members who were killed in an attack in Syria. The ritual Wednesday is in honor of U.S. service members killed in action. Trump traveled to Dover several times in his first term as president. He once described this duty as “the toughest thing I have to do” as president. The Army says that Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar and Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard of Iowa died in the attack Saturday. They were among hundreds of U.S. troops deployed in eastern Syria as part of a coalition fighting the Islamic State group.

Search goes on for suspect in fatal shooting of MIT professor who was fatally shot at his home

December 17, 2025

AP

Police intensified their search for a suspect in the fatally shooting of a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in his home in a Boston suburb. The Norfolk District Attorney’s Office says Nuno F.G. Loureiro, a 47-year-old professor of nuclear science and engineering, was shot Monday night in Brookline and died Tuesday at a local hospital. Officials say no suspects are in custody. Loureiro, who is from Portugal, joined MIT in 2016 and had been named last year to lead its Plasma Science and Fusion Center.

Chevrolet Traverse vs Ford Explorer

December 17, 2025

By JAMES RISWICK of Edmunds

Chevrolet versus Ford. Regardless of the vehicle type, car shoppers often find themselves comparing choices from these iconic American brands. And if you’re thinking about buying a new three-row crossover SUV, you could very well end up cross-shopping the 2026 Chevrolet Traverse and 2026 Ford Explorer. Both vehicles can work out well as a do-it-all family vehicle. But which one is the better choice for your needs? Edmunds’ auto experts tested them both to find out.

A nightly tradition brings light and hope to children at Michigan hospital

December 17, 2025

By MIKE HOUSEHOLDER - Associated Press

A Michigan hospital is asking members of the public to raise their flashlights as well as the spirits of children during the holiday season. The nightly Moonbeams for Sweet Dreams tradition is back lighting up the night outside Corewell Health Children’s in the Detroit suburb of Royal Oak. For 10 minutes each evening starting at 8 p.m., volunteers situated outside the hospital send beams of light toward the pediatric rooms above, delivering a message of hope and joy. Moonbeams started in 2017. The 2025 edition started Dec. 9, and will run until two days before Christmas.

Faith-based entertainment sees a revival in Hollywood. Defining what it is can be a challenge

December 17, 2025

By KRYSTA FAURIA - Associated Press

Faith-based films are gaining traction in Hollywood, with recent successes sparking renewed interest. Angel Studios’ animated biblical film “David” has already exceeded $14 million in pre-sale tickets. “The Chosen,” a popular drama about Jesus, has grossed over $116 million domestically since Fathom Entertainment began releasing it theatrically in 2023. Studios are recognizing the box-office potential of faith-based content, with Lionsgate set to release the sequel to “I Can Only Imagine’ in February. This trend reflects a growing demand for spiritual storytelling, something many say Hollywood has long ignored. But defining what counts as faith-based entertainment can be challenging.

Trump is previewing his 2026 agenda in an address to the nation as his popularity wanes

December 17, 2025

By JOSH BOAK - Associated Press

President Donald Trump plans to give a preview of his 2026 agenda in a speech at the White House. Wednesday night’s remarks come as Trump’s popularity erodes. Polls show most U.S. adults are frustrated with Trump’s handling of the economy. The Republican president’s mass deportations of immigrants are also unpopular. The president and his party are less than a year away from midterm elections that will decide control of the House and the Senate. Trump has said he thinks more Americans would back him if they heard more about what he sees as his accomplishments.

Woman charged after Mississippi Walmart shoppers say they found razor blades in loaves of bread

December 17, 2025

By SOPHIE BATES - Associated Press

A woman who allegedly pushed razor blades into loaves of bread at two Biloxi, Mississippi, Walmart stores has been arrested. Thirty-three-year-old Camille Benson, of Texas, faces charges of attempted mayhem. Customers reported finding razor blades in bread from a Walmart Supercenter on Dec. 5 and a Neighborhood Market on Dec. 8. After another complaint on Sunday, employees discovered additional tampered loaves. Police were notified Monday. Benson was arrested Tuesday. Harrison County Jail records on Wednesday morning do not list an attorney for Benson who could be reached for comment on her behalf. A message left at a phone number listed for a possible relative of Benson was not immediately returned.

Stars and hype on the rise as the NCAA volleyball tournament reaches the Final Four

December 17, 2025

By ALYCE BROWN - AP Sports Writer

In NCAA volleyball, it’s Final Four time with Texas A&M facing Pittsburgh and Wisconsin against Kentucky on Thursday. The winners advance to Sunday’s championship match. The Aggies and Badgers recently defeated top seeds Nebraska and Texas. Last year’s championship game drew 1.3 million viewers, and attendance records have been set annually since 2019, except for 2020. The national championship airs live on ABC for the third year. The sport’s growth includes daughters of former professional athletes, like Cari Spears, daughter of WNBA and NFL players. The NCAA anticipates continued growth and excitement in the sport.

Putin warns that Russia will seek to extend its gains in Ukraine if peace talks fail

December 17, 2025

By The Associated Press

Russian President Vladimir Putin is warning that Moscow will extend its gains in Ukraine if Kyiv and its Western allies reject the Kremlin’s demands in peace talks. Speaking at an annual meeting with top military officers Wednesday, Putin said Moscow would prefer to achieve its goals and “eliminate the root causes of the conflict” by diplomatic means. But he added that “if the opposing side and its foreign patrons refuse to engage in substantive dialogue, Russia will achieve the liberation of its historical lands by military means.” He also warned that Moscow would move to expand a “buffer security zone” alongside the Russian border.

What Americans think about giving cash as holiday gifts, according to a new AP-NORC poll

December 17, 2025

By LEANNE ITALIE and AMELIA THOMSON-DEVEAUX - Associated Press

A new AP-NORC poll finds that most U.S. adults are on board with giving cash or gift cards as holiday presents. Only 30% find secondhand gifts acceptable. The poll also shows that nearly half of Americans plan to be asleep before midnight on New Year’s Eve. About 44% of adults won’t stay up to greet 2026, and that’s especially true of those over age 45. Additionally, 35% of adults plan to leave holiday decorations up after New Year’s Day. About one-quarter of U.S. adults say they’re planning to watch sports on Christmas Day. Only 5% say they’ll go see a movie in a theater.

China exploits US-funded research on nuclear technology, a congressional report says

December 17, 2025

By DAVID KLEPPER and DIDI TANG - Associated Press

A congressional report says China is exploiting partnerships with U.S. researchers to provide the Chinese military with access to sensitive nuclear technology and other innovations with economic and national security applications. Wednesday’s report by the House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party looked at research collaborations that received Energy Department funding. Investigators found 4,300 academic papers published in the past two years that involved partnerships between Energy Department-funded scientists and Chinese researchers. The report’s authors say the U.S. must do more to ensure the results of taxpayer-funded work don’t benefit Beijing. The Energy Department hasn’t commented. A message seeking comment has been left with the Chinese Embassy in Washington.

Blue Jays newcomer Cody Ponce takes page from playbook of his brother-in-law, NFL star George Kittle

December 17, 2025

AP

After a short and unsuccessful stint in the major leagues, Cody Ponce was pitching in Asia and still trying to find a mental approach that worked for him on the mound. So he started emulating his brother-in-law, NFL star George Kittle. That led to a huge turnaround for Ponce and a $30 million, three-year contract with the AL champion Toronto Blue Jays this offseason. Ponce says watching Kittle, the spirited San Francisco 49ers tight end, play football helped him bring out his “inner child again.” A journeyman career changed dramatically in 2025 as Ponce went 17-1 over 29 starts with the Hanwha Eagles in South Korea. He had 252 strikeouts and a 1.89 ERA, helping him win the MVP award in the KBO.

Church altar featuring homeless man goes on display a stone’s throw from his grave at the Vatican

December 17, 2025

By GEIR MOULSON, KERSTIN SOPKE and NICOLE WINFIELD - Associated Press

In 2018, German artist Michael Triegel asked a homeless man in Rome to pose for a drawing, thinking that he would make an ideal model for St. Peter if he ever needed to paint the first pope. Seven years on, the man’s likeness has gone on show a stone’s throw from his grave, a reunion of sorts that came about by improbable chance. The saga brings together religious reconciliation, a dispute over the location of an altar and a tragedy that caught the attention of Pope Francis: homeless German man Burkhard Scheffler’s death in 2022 on the edge of St. Peter’s Square.

Louvre workers vote to extend a strike at the world’s most visited museum

December 17, 2025

By THOMAS ADAMSON - Associated Press

Employees at the Louvre Museum have voted to extend a strike that has disrupted operations at the world’s most visited museum. Union workers were protesting chronic understaffing, building deterioration and recent management decisions — pressures intensified by a brazen crown jewels heist in October. The decision came during a morning general assembly, after workers had adopted the walkout unanimously earlier this week. The museum was already closed Tuesday for its regular weekly shutdown. It remained unclear whether the strike would force a full closure on Wednesday. Visitors holding tickets queued outside the museum in the morning.

Jack Smith set for private interview with lawmakers about Trump investigations

December 17, 2025

By ERIC TUCKER and LISA MASCARO - Associated Press

Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith is set for a closed-door interview with House Republicans after lawmakers rebuffed his offer to testify publicly about his investigations into President Donald Trump. The private deposition set for Wednesday is part of an ongoing investigation by the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee into the Justice Department’s criminal inquiries of Trump during the Biden administration. Smith was subpoenaed earlier this month to provide both testimony and documents, and his lawyers indicated that he would cooperate with the congressional demand despite having volunteered more than a month earlier to answer questions publicly before the committee.

See stunning photos of animals and nature captured by AP photojournalists in 2025

December 17, 2025

By The Associated Press

The Associated Press’ most striking images from nature in 2025 show existence as fragile as an albino turtle hatchling among its peers or a cicada’s translucent wings. Beyond the headlines and sometimes dangerous human impacts on their worlds, animals and other creatures persist. A polar bear sprawls outside an abandoned research station on an island off Russia, surrounded by grass,…

Trafficked, exploited, married off: Rohingya children’s lives crushed by foreign aid cuts

December 17, 2025

By KRISTEN GELINEAU - Associated Press

Severe foreign aid cuts imposed this year by U.S. President Donald Trump, along with funding reductions from other countries, shuttered thousands of schools and youth training centers in camps for Rohingya in Bangladesh and crippled child protection programs. In addition to unwanted marriages, scores of children as young as 10 were forced into backbreaking manual labor, and girls as young as 12 forced into prostitution. In a statement to the AP, the State Department said the U.S. has provided more than $168 million to the Rohingya since the beginning of Trump’s term and had “advanced burden sharing and improved efficiency” in the Rohingya response.

Photos reveal impact of U.S. aid cuts on Rohingya children in camps in Bangladesh

December 16, 2025

By MAHMUD HOSSAIN OPU - Associated Press

UKHIYA, Bangladesh (AP) — Deep cuts to foreign aid by U.S. President Donald Trump this year, compounded by reductions from other donor countries, have led to the closure of thousands of schools and youth centers in Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh, severely weakening child protection programs. As a result, girls have been forced into marriage, children as young as 10…

FCC leader Brendan Carr to face Senate questioning for first time since Kimmel controversy

December 16, 2025

By JOEY CAPPELLETTI and MATT SEDENSKY - Associated Press

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr is set to testify before lawmakers for the first time since pressuring broadcasters over late-night host Jimmy Kimmel. Carr has closely aligned with the administration’s aggressive posture toward media outlets it views as hostile since being appointed to the position last November. Carr earlier this year warned broadcasters, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” after he said comments Kimmel made regarding Charlie Kirk were “truly sick.” Carr’s remarks drew bipartisan criticism and raised concerns about government interference in the media.

To find living donors for kidney transplants, a pilot program turns to social networks

December 16, 2025

By MARK SCOLFORO - Associated Press

Fernando Moreno has been waiting for a kidney transplant for about two years. His Philadelphia hospital connected him with a pilot project called the Great Social Experiment. This project pairs patients with “angel advocates” who share their stories on social media to find potential donors. Although Moreno hasn’t yet found a donor, the program has shown promising results. Two patients at Temple University Hospital have found donors, and one is preparing for surgery. The program aims to create a blueprint for future kidney donations by combining social media outreach with storytelling. Living kidney donations are rare but can offer better matches and longer-lasting results.

Fellow Wisconsin judge ‘shocked’ by Hannah Dugan’s response to immigration officers

December 16, 2025

By TODD RICHMOND - Associated Press

A colleague of the Milwaukee judge accused of helping an immigrant evade arrest is testifying at her criminal trial that she was shocked by her fellow judge’s behavior. Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Kristela Cervera testified on Tuesday that, “Judges shouldn’t help defendants evade arrest.” The testimony on the second day of trial came after officers involved in the arrest told the jury that Judge Hannah Dugan’s behavior on April 18 made it more dangerous for them to do their jobs. Dugan is on trial on charges of obstruction and concealment for her role in the incident.

Maryland to consider slavery reparations after Gov. Wes Moore’s veto is overridden

December 16, 2025

By BRIAN WITTE - Associated Press

Maryland will create a commission to study potential slavery reparations in the state, after lawmakers overrode a veto by Democratic Gov. Wes Moore. The General Assembly voted in a brief special session Tuesday to override a veto by the nation’s only Black governor currently in office. Moore had disappointed many lawmakers in the heavily Democratic state when he vetoed the legislation in May. Moore said now isn’t the time for another study, and called for delivering results instead. But Democrats who control both chambers of the legislature felt the commission was needed to better examine how to do that.

House Speaker Johnson rebuffs efforts to extend health care subsidies, pushing ahead with GOP plan

December 16, 2025

By KEVIN FREKING and LISA MASCARO - Associated Press

House Republican leaders are determined to push ahead with a health care bill that excludes efforts to address the soaring monthly premiums for Affordable Care Act recipients. The enhanced tax credits for people who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act are set to expire at year’s end. Speaker Mike Johnson had discussed allowing more politically vulnerable Republicans lawmakers a chance to vote on their plan that would temporarily extend the pandemic-era subsidies. But leadership ultimately sided with conservatives who assailed the subsidies as propping up Obamacare. The outcome all but guarantees that many Americans will see substantially higher insurance costs in 2026.

Takeaways: Susie Wiles pulls back the curtain on the Trump administration in revealing interviews

December 16, 2025

By BILL BARROW - Associated Press

White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has offered an unusually candid look inside an ongoing presidency. There are several takeaways from her series of interviews with Vanity Fair magazine, which published a two-part piece Tuesday on Wiles and Trump’s second presidency. Wiles defends Trump while comparing his personality to an alcoholic, even though the president doesn’t drink. She also says she wanted his ongoing revenge crusade to be shorter. She tells Vanity Fair that Trump’s tariffs are more painful than she expected and that the administration has made mistakes in some deportations. Meanwhile, her statements on foreign affairs differ from public White House positions. Notably, she says plainly that Trump wants Nicolas Maduro out of power in Venezuela.

Hyundai and Kia will repair millions of vehicles under a deal to fix anti-theft technology

December 16, 2025

The Associated Press,

(Alex Kormann/Star Tribune via AP, File) Automakers Hyundai and Kia must offer free repairs to millions of models under a settlement announced Tuesday by Minnesota’s attorney general, who led an effort by dozens of states that argued the vehicles weren’t equipped with proper anti-theft technology, leaving them vulnerable to thefts. Under the nationwide settlement, the companies will offer a free…

Trump will travel to Delaware for return of National Guard members killed in Syria, White House says

December 16, 2025

By SEUNG MIN KIM - Associated Press

President Donald Trump is traveling to Dover Air Force Base in Delaware this week for a dignified transfer for the two Iowa National Guard members killed Saturday in an attack in the Syrian desert that is testing the rapprochement between Washington and Damascus. The U.S. Army says the two guardsmen killed in the attack were 25-year-old Sgt. Edgar Brian Torres-Tovar, of Des Moines, and 29-year-old Sgt. William Nathaniel Howard, of Marshalltown. Both were members of the 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment. Trump will got to Delaware on Wednesday.

Sen. Mark Kelly calls Pentagon investigation into his remarks a move to chill military dissent

December 16, 2025

By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN and BEN FINLEY - Associated Press

Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly of Arizona says the Pentagon’s escalating investigation into his plea to troops to refuse unlawful orders is part of an effort to silence dissent within the military. He told reporters Tuesday that it was meant to send a message to “not speak out against this president or there will be consequences.” Kelly said the Defense Department did not notify him of an investigation. The Pentagon confirmed late Monday that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s office escalated a preliminary review of Kelly to an official command investigation over “serious allegations of misconduct.” Such investigations are very common but not against a retired service member, much less a sitting member of Congress.

Gaza families struggle to recover from days of torrential rains that killed 12 people

December 16, 2025

By WAFAA SHURAFA - Associated Press

Palestinians in Gaza are struggling to recover from torrential rains that have battered the enclave for days, flooding camps for the displaced, collapsing buildings already badly damaged in the two-year war and leaving at least 12 dead, including a two-week-old baby. The Gaza Health Ministry, which is part of the Hamas-run government, said on Tuesday that the two-week-old died of hypothermia as a result of the weather. The baby was brought to the hospital a few days ago and was transferred to intensive care but died on Monday. Shifa Hospital says a man died in Gaza City after a home already damaged during in Israeli strikes, collapsed because of the heavy rainfall.

A photographer finds thousands of dinosaur footprints near Italian Winter Olympic venue

December 16, 2025

By COLLEEN BARRY - Associated Press

A wildlife photographer has discovered one of the oldest and largest collections of dinosaur footprints in an Italian national park. Officials announced Tuesday that the footprints date back about 210 million years to the Triassic Period. The site is near the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympic venue of Bormio. Experts say the site contains as many as 20,000 footprints over five kilometers. The prints were made by long-necked bipedal herbivores, similar to a Plateosaurus. Lombardy regional governor, Attilio Fontana, called it a “gift for the Olympics,” although public access plans have not yet been made.

Indiana’s Curt Cignetti becomes the first back-to-back winner of AP coach of the year

December 16, 2025

By ERIC OLSON - AP College Football Writer

Curt Cignetti has been named The Associated Press coach of the year in college football for the second consecutive season. He is the first coach to win the award back-to-back since it was first presented in 1998. Cignetti has led Indiana to unprecedented success, with a 24-2 record over two seasons. The Hoosiers are 13-0 this year, Big Ten champions for the first time since 1967, and the top seed in the College Football Playoff. Cignetti received 47 first-place votes. Texas Tech’s Joey McGuire and Vanderbilt’s Clark Lea received two each, and Virginia’s Tony Elliott got one.

The Queen of Disco: Donna Summer is posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame

December 16, 2025

By MARIA SHERMAN - AP Music Writer

Donna Summer has been posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the hall said. The Queen of Disco is known for such timeless tunes as “Love to Love You Baby,” “I Feel Love,” “Bad Girls,” “Dim All the Lights,” “On the Radio” and “She Works Hard for the Money.” Summer died in 2012 at age 63. She was welcomed into the Songwriters Hall on Monday at a ceremony held at The Butterfly Room at Cecconi’s in Los Angeles. It was led by Academy Award-winning songwriter Paul Williams. Summer’s husband, Bruce Sudano and their daughters Brooklyn Sudano and Amanda Sudano Ramirez were in attendance.

Howard Stern’s new SiriusXM deal: How he plans to ‘have it all’

December 16, 2025

By The Associated Press

Howard Stern has announced he’s staying on SiriusXM for another three years. He told listeners Tuesday that he’s “figured out a way to have it all.” Stern, 71, says he created a more flexible schedule, allowing him more free time. He made the announcement during his last show of the year and will be back live on Jan. 5. Stern joined Sirius in 2006, becoming one of the highest-paid personalities in broadcasting. SiriusXM is facing challenges with a shrinking subscriber base and competition from free platforms like Spotify.

Rome opens long-awaited Colosseum subway station, with displays of unearthed artifacts

December 16, 2025

By DAVID BILLER - Associated Press

Rome has opened two subway stations. One is deep beneath the Colosseum that mixes the modernity of high-tech transport with artifacts from an ancient era. Commuters and tourists who entered the station on Tuesday beside the iconic amphitheater can view displays of ceramic vases and plates, stone wells and suspended buckets. They can also see the ruins of a cold plunge pool and thermal bath from a first-century dwelling. Screens show the excavation process serving both to delight archaeology enthusiasts and justify why it has taken so long to open.