US & World News Archives - Page 17 of 85

FBI raid at Idaho horse track shows how immigration is a top focus across law enforcement

November 1, 2025

By REBECCA BOONE - Associated Press

A recent FBI-led raid at an Idaho race track shows how immigration is driving federal law enforcement under the Trump administration. More than 200 officers from at least 14 agencies, including U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol, detained around 400 people. The Oct. 19 operation resulted in just four gambling-related arrests, while 105 people were arrested on suspicion of immigration violations. Local police also participated. Witnesses reported aggressive tactics, including zip-tying children. It’s unclear which agency the officers who detained the children were from. The FBI initially said no aggressive tactics were used on children but later amended that statement to say “young children.”

‘The legend lives on’: Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald still resonates 50 years later

November 1, 2025

By SCOTT BAUER - Associated Press

November 10th marks the 50th anniversary of the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, perhaps the most famous of all the estimated 6,500 ships that have gone down in the Great Lakes. The Fitzgerald is remembered while others are forgotten, thanks in large part to Gordon Lightfoot’s 1976 haunting folk ballad memorializing the wreck. The Fitzgerald was the largest ship ever to sink on the Great Lakes. All 29 members on board died. Family members of the crew and those still fascinated by the historic sinking gather each year for ceremonies at cities around the Great Lakes.

Andrew’s royal exit is the latest crisis for Britain’s monarchy

November 1, 2025

By JILL LAWLESS - Associated Press

Britain’s monarchy holds prestige but not power and is subject to public sentiment. This is evident with Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, who was stripped of his title and home by King Charles on Thursday. This move aims to protect the monarchy from scandals related to Andrew’s ties with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The British monarchy has faced crises before, like the 1917 Titles Deprivation Act and Edward VIII’s abdication in 1936. The monarchy also faced public backlash after Princess Diana’s death in 1997. More recently, Prince Harry’s estrangement from the family has added to the royal drama.

Ukraine says it hit a key fuel pipeline near Moscow that supplies Russian forces

November 1, 2025

By SAMYA KULLAB - Associated Press

Ukraine’s military intelligence said it hit an important fuel pipeline in the Moscow region that supplies the Russian army. That’s according to a statement on the Telegram channel on Saturday. The military intelligence, known by it’s acronym HUR, says the operation was carried out late on Friday and described it as a “serious blow” to Russia’s military logistics. HUR says it struck the Koltsevoy pipeline, which is 400 kilometers long and supplies the Russian army with gasoline, diesel and jet fuel from refineries in Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod and Moscow. The claim came amid a sustained Russian campaign of massive drone and missile attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure that has brought power outages and restrictions across the country.

Dodgers force World Series to deciding Game 7 by holding off Blue Jays 3-1 as Yamamoto wins again

November 1, 2025

By RONALD BLUM - AP Baseball Writer

Yoshinobu Yamamoto beat Toronto for the second time in a week, slumping Mookie Betts hit a two-run single in a three-run third inning and the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers held off the Blue Jays 3-1 to force the World Series to a decisive Game 7. Yamamoto was not quite as sharp as in his Game 2 four-hitter. He lasted six innings and allowed an RBI single in the third by George Springer, who returned after missing two games with an injury to his right side. Rookie relievers Justin Wrobleski and Roki Sasaki combined for six outs before starter Tyler Glasnow came out of the bullpen to escape a ninth-inning jam and rescue the Dodgers.

Without the song, ‘The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald’ may have been largely forgotten

October 31, 2025

By SCOTT BAUER - Associated Press

Without Gordon Lightfoot’s song, the Edmund Fitzgerald could have faded from memory along with the names of the roughly 6,500 other ships that went down in the Great Lakes before it. Lightfoot was inspired to write his ode to the Fitzgerald and the 29 men who died on board after reading the first Associated Press story about the wreck and a Nov. 24, 1975, article in Newsweek magazine. His song was released in August 1976, less than a year after the ship was lost. John Bacon, author of “The Gales of November,” says the song has made the Edmund Fitzgerald “by far the most famous Great Lakes shipwreck.”

Top photos of Halloween celebrated around the world

October 31, 2025

By The Associated Press

From a daytime techno underground rave in Ukraine and pumpkin carving in Romania to a bash hosted by the U.S. President and his wife at the White House, the U.S. Halloween tradition is celebrated around the world. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors. Categories: US & World News

Global Kratom Coalition Urges Caution After Walker County Students Fall Ill from Concentrated Synthetic 7-OH Products, Not Natural Kratom

October 31, 2025

EZ Newswire

Incident highlights dangers of illegal concentrated synthetic 7-OH opioid products misrepresented as natural kratom; Georgia law already bans such productsATLANTA, GA, October 31, 2025 (EZ Newswire) — The Global Kratom Coalition (GKC) today issued a statement following reports that five students from Saddle Ridge Elementary and Middle School in Walker County, Georgia, were hospitalized after ingesting gummies described as containing…

Global Kratom Coalition Praises Riverside County for Common-Sense Natural Kratom Regulations and Prohibiting Concentrated Synthetic 7-OH Products

October 31, 2025

EZ Newswire

RIVERSIDE, CA, October 31, 2025 (EZ Newswire) — The Global Kratom Coalition (GKC) today commended the Riverside County Board of Supervisors for taking decisive action to protect public health by banning concentrated synthetic 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) opioid products while preserving adult access to safe, natural kratom leaf products. Riverside County is another voice in a growing chorus of local, state, and…

Bucks’ Kevin Porter Jr. likely to miss a month after injuring his knee

October 31, 2025

AP

Milwaukee Bucks guard Kevin Porter Jr. is expected to be out for a month after injuring the meniscus in his right knee while working his way back from a sprained left ankle. Porter hasn’t played since injuring his ankle in the first quarter of the Bucks’ season-opening win over the Washington Wizards. The Bucks announced Friday that Porter hurt his knee Thursday during his on-court, return-to-play training. The 25-year-old now will undergo what the Bucks described as a “minor orthopedic procedure” on his knee

‘Where would America be without us?’ A community of refugees is stunned by White House limits

October 31, 2025

By TIM SULLIVAN - Associated Press

In Minneapolis, where Somali refugees helped revitalize entire neighborhoods, the community was stunned by the presidential order capping annual refugee admissions at 7,500, the lowest number since the program began in 1980. Minnesota is home to the largest Somali community in the United States, roughly 87,000 people according to the latest census figures, most of whom live in the Minneapolis area. They have been coming to Minnesota, often as refugees, since the 1990s, drawn by generous social services and an ever-growing diaspora community. They have become increasingly prominent in the state. Somali-Americans have served on the Minneapolis and St. Paul city councils. They are in the state legislature. Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar represents part of the state in the U.S. House.

Disney pulls ABC, ESPN and more from YouTube TV as talks break down

October 31, 2025

The Associated Press

YouTube TV viewers have lost access to Disney channels, including ABC and ESPN, after contract talks broke down. Other channels like the Disney Channel, FX, and Nat Geo have also disappeared. YouTube TV announced Thursday that Disney followed through on a threat to suspend its content during negotiations. YouTube claims Disney used the blackout threat to push for higher prices, benefiting its own streaming services like Hulu + Live TV and Fubo. YouTube TV expressed disappointment and urged Disney to work towards a fair agreement. Subscribers will receive a $20 credit if Disney content remains unavailable for a long time.

Wisconsin becomes the 36th state to limit cellphones in schools

October 31, 2025

By SCOTT BAUER - Associated Press

Wisconsin has become the 36th state to limit cellphones and other electronic devices in school. Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed the bill Friday. The bill was passed with bipartisan support. It requires districts to prohibit phone use during class time. Evers signed it despite some opposition from some Democrats in the Legislature who said controlling gun violence should be a higher priority than banning cellphones. This school year alone, new restrictions on phone use in schools went into effect in 17 states and the District of Columbia.

SNAP has provided grocery help for 60-plus years; here’s how it works

October 31, 2025

By MARGERY BECK and GEOFF MULVIHILL - Associated Press

The SNAP program has been a major piece of the U.S. social safety network since it launched as the food stamp program in 1964. It’s been in the spotlight like never before since President Donald Trump’s administration announced in October that it would not fund benefits in November due to a government shutdown. The program serves low-income people. The money is loaded onto debit cards that can be used only for groceries and plants and seeds for gardens. Work requirements for the benefits are becoming more stringent and some states are about to start barring the purchase of soda and candy with the benefits.

Photos of Prince Andrew’s royal life before his fall from grace

October 31, 2025

By The Associated Press

From favorite son to tabloid fodder, Prince Andrew this week was stripped of his remaining titles and evicted from his royal residence after weeks of pressure to act over his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. As of Friday, the former prince, now known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor, was no longer listed on the roll of the peerage, where…

Monkey escape in Mississippi gives a glimpse into the secretive world of animal research

October 31, 2025

By JEFF MARTIN - Associated Press

The recent escape of several research monkeys after the truck carrying them overturned on a Mississippi interstate is the latest glimpse into the secretive world of animal research. The escape is one of three in the U.S. over the past four years. Three monkeys remain missing since the truck crashed on Tuesday along Interstate 59 in Mississippi, spilling crates labeled “live monkeys.” Five of the 21 Rhesus macaques were killed during the search. Authorities haven’t disclosed the driver or company involved, or the monkeys’ destination. Tulane University confirmed the monkeys had been housed at its research center, but said it did not own them.

Militia attack on hospital in Darfur came in waves, WHO says

October 31, 2025

By JAMEY KEATEN and SARAH EL DEEB - Associated Press

The World Health Organization reports that gunmen who reportedly killed at least 460 people at a hospital in Sudan’s Darfur region returned three times to the facility during their assault. The attack happened Tuesday, the same day the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group, captured the provincial capital after a long siege. Witnesses describe waves of violence, including house-to-house assaults and summary executions. The Rapid Support Forces deny the hospital killings, claiming they are caring for patients. Since the capture of El-Fasher, humanitarian access has been blocked, and many residents have fled. The U.N. migration agency estimates over 62,000 people have fled the area amid high insecurity.

Wisconsin judge puts on hold ruling that required citizenship check of voters

October 31, 2025

By SCOTT BAUER - Associated Press

A Wisconsin judge has put on hold his order that requires elections officials to verify the citizenship of all 3.6 million registered voters in the battleground state before the next statewide election in February. It now appears unlikely that the case will be resolved before elections in February and April. It may remain in limbo beyond the 2026 midterm election. The state Justice Department, headed by Democratic Attorney General Josh Kaul, sought the stay while the case is being appealed. The attorney for two citizens who brought the lawsuit did not object while several other legal issues are pending.

Trump declines to clarify if the US will conduct tests of its nuclear weapons

October 31, 2025

By MICHELLE L. PRICE and MANUEL CENETA - Associated Press

President Donald Trump has declined to say whether he plans to resume underground nuclear detonation tests. He had seemed to suggest that was a possibility in a social media post this week. The post raised concerns the U.S. would begin testing nuclear weapons for the first time in three decades. The president told reporters, “You’ll find out very soon” when he was asked about it. Trump said, “We’re going to do some testing” and “Other countries do it. If they’re going to do it, we’re going to.” But he refused to offer more details. He spoke aboard Air Force One as he headed to Florida on Friday for the weekend.

Photos show Hurricane Melissa’s impact on the Caribbean

October 31, 2025

By The Associated Press

People across the northern Caribbean tried to salvage waterlogged belongings, assess damage to their homes and find food and water as they dug out from the destruction of Hurricane Melissa. Melissa slammed Jamaica on Tuesday as a catastrophic Category 5 storm, one of the most powerful Atlantic storms on record. It came ashore again in Cuba early Wednesday as a…

Debate over energy costs fuels clear divide in New Jersey and Virginia governor’s races

October 31, 2025

By OLIVIA DIAZ and MIKE CATALINI - Associated Press

Climbing monthly electricity bills, a growing stressor on U.S. families as demand surges for energy, have emerged as a significant issue in the nation’s only two elections for governor this year and as a test on the political parties’ messages for next year’s midterms. Virginia and New Jersey are less than a week away from electing their next governors in campaigns being closely watched for signs of the electorate’s reaction to President Donald Trump’s second term as well as the Democrats’ effort to respond after their national defeat in 2024.

Andrew, the civilian formerly known as ‘prince,’ faces an uncertain future

October 31, 2025

BRIAN MELLEY - Associated Press

What is next for the commoner once known as Prince Andrew probably involves moving trucks as he packs up the trappings of his once royal life to move to an isolated private home owned by his brother, King Charles III. The commoner now known as 65-year-old Andrew Mountbatten Windsor was stripped by his brother of his titles and will be forced to vacate his rent-free Royal Lodge mansion near Windsor Castle because of his association with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew’s new home will be on the king’s estate at Sandringham on wind-swept east coast. Despite his downfall, Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne.

Ohio panel adopts new US House districts that could help Republicans in next year’s election

October 31, 2025

By DAVID A. LIEB, OLIVIA DIAZ and MARK SCOLFORO - Associated Press

An Ohio commission has adopted new U.S. House districts that could help Republicans win more seats in next year’s elections. The map approved Friday by the Ohio Redistricting Commission could boost Republican chances in districts currently held by Democratic Reps. Greg Landsman in Cincinnati and Marcy Kaptur near Toledo. Republicans already hold 10 of the state’s 15 congressional seats. The state constitution requires new districts before the 2026 election because the current ones were enacted without bipartisan support. President Donald Trump is encouraging Republican-led states to redraw districts to boost the GOP’s chances of holding on to the House in next year’s elections.

Birders going ‘cuckoo’ after unexpected sighting in New York City area

October 31, 2025

By BRUCE SHIPKOWSKI - Associated Press

A bird sighting on New York’s Long Island has avian enthusiasts flocking to the region in the hopes of spotting a feathered friend who has never been seen before in the state. The common cuckoo is typically found from Europe to Japan, with the majority of the population wintering in Africa. But one was recently spotted in Riverhead on the north shore of Long Island. Once the bird was confirmed as a common cuckoo, birders quickly shared the news in their online communities. The bird has since been spotted more than 200 times. It’s not clear how or why the bird ended up there.

70 years after the first sabotage of a US airliner, the 44 killed are finally being honored

October 31, 2025

By COLLEEN SLEVIN - Associated Press

A memorial to 44 people who died in the first confirmed case of sabotage against a U.S. airliner is being dedicated on the 70th anniversary of its bombing over Colorado. A farmer who helped recover the bodies of those killed and a woman who lost her father, who have recently become friends, will be among those there for Saturday’s ceremony in Denver. Attention on the dramatic details of the bombing, the lack of a federal law making it a crime to attack a plane and the meticulous investigation into what happened has overshadowed attention on the victims and those they left behind until now.

Judges could rule on the fate of SNAP food aid as deadline nears for shutdown to end payments

October 31, 2025

By MICHAEL CASEY, GEOFF MULVIHILL and KIMBERLEE KRUESI - Associated Press

Two federal judges could rule on whether the federal government must continue replenishing SNAP food aid benefits during the shutdown. The Trump administration says debit cards will not be loaded for November, a decision that impacts the ability to buy groceries for about 1 in 8 Americans. Lawyers representing Democratic state officials from across the country made their case in court Thursday to continue the benefits. A hearing on a similar challenge from a coalition of cities and nonprofit groups is scheduled for Friday. Even if benefits are ordered to continue, they’ll likely be delayed for many beneficiaries.

FBI Director Patel says multiple people were arrested in Michigan in a Halloween weekend attack plot

October 31, 2025

AP

FBI Director Kash Patel says federal officials have arrested multiple people in Michigan who had allegedly been plotting a violent attack over the Halloween weekend. Patel announced the arrests in a social media post, saying the arrests took place Friday morning. He didn’t release further information about the arrests, but said more information would be coming. Dearborn Police say the department was made aware that the FBI conducted operations in the city on Friday and assured residents that there is no threat to the community.

Young adults turn to Quakers’ silent worship to offset — and cope with — a noisy world

October 31, 2025

By LUIS ANDRES HENAO - Associated Press

There’s been an unprecedented surge in the numbers of attendees at Sunday worship at the Quaker Arch Street Meeting House in Old City Philadelphia. Many of them are young people who are seeking respite from this noisy technological age in the silent worship of the centuries-old faith. For years, attendance at Arch Street was so low, and its historic 300-seat West Room felt so empty, that the few people present began to meet in a smaller room. But in recent years, they’ve used technology and social media to help teach others about Quakers and the meeting house that was built in the early 19th century and that is still one of the world’s largest and most important Quaker buildings.

Takeaways from AP, Cox Media Group investigation into injuries and deaths of school crossing guards

October 31, 2025

BY DASIA GARNER, HAYA PANJWANI, AARON KESSLER, JOHN BEDELL, TINA TERRY, and TED DANIEL - The Associated Press, Cox Media Group Television Stations

School crossing guards are important in making sure kids get to school safely. But those guards work under dangerous conditions that can threaten their lives. An investigation by The Associated Press and Cox Media Group finds that at least 230 school crossing guards were injured or killed over the past 10 years, based on accident reports requested from nearly 200 U.S. police departments. There are no national standards or reporting methods for keeping track of when guards are hurt on the job. Experts say that’s hampered efforts to develop better safety measures or even assess just how dangerous the job is.

Senate report details dozens of cases of medical neglect in federal immigration detention centers

October 31, 2025

By CLAUDIA LAUER - Associated Press

A U.S. Senate investigation has uncovered numerous credible reports of medical neglect and poor conditions in immigration detention centers across the country. The report, released by Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, highlights cases where detainees were denied insulin, left without medical attention for days, and forced to compete for clean water. It documents 80 credible cases of medical neglect and widespread complaints about inadequate food and water. Senate investigators say these findings point to systemic failures in federal detention oversight. The report cites delays in medical care that, in some cases, proved life-threatening.

Royal prerogative: King Charles III banishes Andrew to buttress the House of Windsor’s foundations

October 31, 2025

By DANICA KIRKA - Associated Press

No one is bigger than the monarchy. Not even the king’s brother. In the end, that reality spelled the end of Prince Andrew’s life as a prince of the realm. From now on, the scandal-plagued British royal will be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. As details of Andrew’s links to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continued to dribble out and Parliament raised questions about his rent-free residence at a sprawling country house near Windsor Castle, King Charles III on Thursday moved to shield the monarchy from any further revelations.

US defense chief vows to ‘stoutly defend’ Indo-Pacific interests in talks with China

October 31, 2025

By EILEEN NG - Associated Press

The U.S. Secretary of Defense has told his Chinese counterpart that Washington will “stoutly defend” its interests in the Indo-Pacific. This was during talks in Malaysia on Friday. Pete Hegseth described the meeting with Chinese Admiral Dong Jun as “good and constructive.” He raised concerns over Chinese activities in the South China Sea and around Taiwan. Hegseth also signed a new defense agreement with India, aimed at expanding military cooperation. The meeting reflects ongoing efforts to manage tensions in the region, even as strategic differences remain, particularly over Taiwan and freedom of navigation.

FDA says drug makers have recalled a blood pressure medicine tainted with a cancer-causing chemical

October 31, 2025

By The Associated Press

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration says drug makers have recalled more than a half-million bottles of the blood pressure medication prazosin hydrochloride over concerns it may include a cancer-causing chemical. New Jersey-based Teva Pharmaceuticals USA issued a voluntary recall earlier this month for some lots of the capsules it sells. Doctors prescribe prazosin, which relaxes blood vessels, to help lower blood pressure. It also is sometimes prescribed for post-traumatic stress disorder. The FDA has given the drug a Class II risk classification because some of the recalled medication may have nitrosamine impurities that are considered potentially cancer causing.

Louvre heist highlights thorny issue for museums: How to secure art without becoming fortresses

October 31, 2025

By R.J. RICO and JOCELYN NOVECK - Associated Press

Many museums began reassessing security after the stunning jewelry heist at the Louvre in Paris. Some were also reflecting on the inherent tension in the task of securing art: Museums are meant to welcome people to engage with art, not create distance from it. While the Louvre has acknowledged major security lapses, it has also received messages of solidarity from the art world. Experts highlight the difficulty of securing art in historic buildings not designed as museums. The focus, they say, is on finding a workable balance between security and accessibility.

Ramen instead of Reese’s? Looming SNAP cuts change what’s on offer for Halloween trick-or-treaters

October 30, 2025

By HALLIE GOLDEN - Associated Press

The government shutdown has some people rethinking what to hand out this Halloween. Some U.S. householders are preparing to give trick-or-treaters shelf-stable family foods like ramen, canned soup or cheese sticks. These creative neighbors aren’t opposed to handing out candy; they’re trying to help people whose families may have trouble making ends meet when the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program is cut off. The program helps tens of millions of Americans feed their families and is set to run out of money Nov. 1. A flurry of widely shared posts online suggest some households will even be giving out diapers to families in need.

APEC leaders open economic summit after Trump and Xi agreed on steps to ease trade tensions

October 30, 2025

By HYUNG-JIN KIM and KIM TONG-HYUNG - Associated Press

Leaders of 21 Asian and Pacific Rim nations have opened their annual summit to discuss how to promote economic cooperation and tackle shared challenges. The two-day Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting began in the South Korean city of Gyeongju on Friday. The forum’s start comes a day after U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping agreed to take steps to ease their escalating trade war. Trump left South Korea after his meeting with Xi. Established in 1989, the APEC, which represents more than half of global trade, champions free and open trade.

King Charles III strips Prince Andrew of titles and evicts him from royal residence

October 30, 2025

By BRIAN MELLEY and JILL LAWLESS - Associated Press

Buckingham Palace says that King Charles III is stripping his brother Prince Andrew of his remaining titles and evicting him from his royal residence. In a statement, the palace says Andrew will be known as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and not as a prince. He will move from his Royal Lodge residence into “private accommodation.” The moves follow revelations about Andrew’s relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The palace said the thoughts of the king and Queen Camilla are with “the victims and survivors of any and all forms of abuse.”

Justice Department investigating fraud allegations in Black Lives Matter movement, AP sources say

October 30, 2025

By AARON MORRISON and ERIC TUCKER - Associated Press

The Justice Department is investigating whether leaders in the Black Lives Matter movement defrauded donors who contributed millions of dollars during racial justice protests in 2020. That’s according to multiple people familiar with the matter. In recent weeks, federal law enforcement officials have issued subpoenas and warrants as part of an investigation into the Black-led organizations that helped spark a national reckoning on systemic racism. The investigation invites fresh scrutiny to a foundation whose leaders in recent years have faced criticism about their public accounting of donations. But the recent burst of investigative activity is also unfolding at a time when civil rights groups have raised concerns about the Trump administration targeting left-leaning groups.

Antetokounmpo ruled out for Bucks’ Thursday night game against Warriors

October 30, 2025

AP

Giannis Antetokounmpo is missing his first game of the season as the Milwaukee Bucks face the Golden State Warriors. The two-time MVP was listed as probable in the Bucks’ Thursday afternoon injury report because of left knee soreness. But the Bucks announced about an hour before the opening tip that he wouldn’t be available. Antetokounmpo has averaged 36.3 points, 14 rebounds and 7 assists through the Bucks’ first four games of the season. He entered Thursday night’s action ranked second in the league in scoring and rebounding.

Spiraling effects of the shutdown leave lawmakers grasping for ways to end it

October 30, 2025

By LISA MASCARO - AP Congressional Correspondent

Certain senators know it’s time for the government shutdown to come to an end. So does House Speaker Mike Johnson. And with President Donald Trump arriving back in Washington from his overseas trip, perhaps the White House knows it, too. From coast to coast, fallout from the dysfunction of a shuttered federal government is hitting home. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska says, “People are stressing,” as food options in her state grow scarce. But even with Saturday’s deadline for a potential shut off in SNAP food benefits, there is no end yet to the political stand off. Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he hopes that after next week’s elections in New York and other states, more lawmakers will be ready to end the shutdown and reopen government.

Hegseth orders the military to detail dozens of attorneys to the Justice Department, AP learns

October 30, 2025

By KONSTANTIN TOROPIN - Associated Press

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered the military to provide dozens of lawyers to the Justice Department for temporary assignments in Memphis and near the U.S.-Mexico border that could run through next fall. That’s according to a memo released this week and reviewed by The Associated Press. The memo appears to be the latest effort to send military and civilian attorneys working for the Pentagon to the Justice Department, this time to staff offices based along the U.S. southern border or where federal immigration enforcement operations are taking place. The Pentagon separately last month approved sending up to 600 military lawyers to the Justice Department to serve as temporary immigration judges.

As college basketball continues to change, how long will the game’s old guard of coaches press on?

October 30, 2025

By DAVE SKRETTA - AP Basketball Writer

The landscape of college basketball is changing rapidly with name, image and likeness deals and the transfer portal reshaping teams yearly. Despite this, a group of veteran coaches like Rick Pitino, Rick Barnes and Tom Izzo continue to provide stability. These coaches have been pillars of the game for decades, but their tenure may be nearing its end. Many are in their seventies and facing the pressures of modern college basketball. Some, like Jay Wright and Tony Bennett, have already retired. Yet, the old guard remains influential, with teams like Houston and Tennessee ranked highly in preseason polls.

Former Central Michigan staff members receive punishments for their roles in sign-stealing scandal

October 30, 2025

AP

Former Central Michigan coach Jim McElwain and three of his former staff members face coaching restrictions and potential suspensions after agreeing to the punishments following an NCAA investigation into their role in an alleged sign-stealing scandal. The accused sign-steal, former Michigan staff member Connor Stalions, appeared in coaching gear on the Chippewas sideline for a 2023 game against Michigan State. The NCAA found one assistant coach, Jake Kostner, requested the coaching gear and a sideline pass without going through the normal processes. Kostner and Stalions had a pre-existing friendship, the NCAA found. The Chippewas also were fined $30,000 plus 1% of the football budget.

Democrats, allied groups pour millions into Pennsylvania Supreme Court race to counter GOP campaign

October 30, 2025

By MARC LEVY - Associated Press

Democrats and their allied groups are pouring in more money and sending in the national party chairman in the final week of campaigning for a Pennsylvania Supreme Court election. The race could reshape the highest court in the largest presidential battleground as Democrats try to blunt a late-emerging Republican campaign to oust three Democratic justices. At issue in Tuesday’s election is whether the justices will each serve another term. The state’s politically divided government has left disputes over election laws and other major issues to the courts in recent years.

What to know about the white South Africans Trump is prioritizing in reduced US refugee quota

October 30, 2025

By GERALD IMRAY - Associated Press

U.S. President Donald Trump is prioritizing a group of white South Africans in a dramatically decreased quota of refugees allowed into the United States this fiscal year. The Trump administration is cutting the number of refugee places to as few as 7,500, with the places mostly going to members of the Afrikaner white minority from South Africa. The figures are for the fiscal year that began Oct. 1 and were announced Thursday in a notice on the Federal Registry. The U.S. says Afrikaners are being discriminated against by their Black-led government and are the victims of race-based violence. The South African government strongly denies the claims.

Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs seeks speedy appeals court hearing while he serves a 4-year sentence

October 30, 2025

By LARRY NEUMEISTER - Associated Press

Hip-hop producer Sean “Diddy” Combs wants a federal appeals court to quickly consider the legality of his conviction on prostitution-related charges and his more than four-year prison sentence. His lawyers filed papers with the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals on Wednesday, asking that oral arguments in his appeal occur in April. Combs was convicted in July of flying his girlfriends and male sex workers across state lines to engage in drug-fueled sexual encounters. However, he was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges that could have put him behind bars for life.

Dictionary.com’s word of the year is ‘6-7.’ But is it even a word and what does it mean?

October 30, 2025

By JOHN SEEWER - Associated Press

Parents and teachers cover your ears. Dictionary.com says its word of the year is “6-7.” The viral term is one kids and teenagers can’t stop repeating and laughing about. It’s more of an inside joke with an unclear meaning. But it exploded in popularity over the summer months, driven by social media. It’s origins seems to be traced back to a 2024 song by rapper Skrilla called “Doot Doot (6-7).” Dictionary.com says its annual selection is a linguistic time capsule that reflects social trends and events. But the site admits that it too is a bit confused by “6-7.”

‘America First’ Trump loved hanging out with the global elite during his Asia trip

October 30, 2025

By JOSH BOAK, CHRIS MEGERIAN and SEUNG MIN KIM - Associated Press

President Donald Trump seemed to love his whirlwind Asia trip. He danced on the tarmac in Malaysia, and was given a gold medal and crown in South Korea. He relished the international dealmaking and soaked up praise from other leaders. It’s a change in focus for a president who campaigned on “America First.” But don’t mistake him for a globalist, says Hogan Gidley, his former aide: “When you’re scoring touchdowns,” Gidley says, “it’s OK to dance in the end zone.” Yet Trump returns Thursday to a country worried about prices and the government shutdown, and it’s not clear how much his foreign policy wins will matter to voters.

Two people detained at El Charro Mexican Bar and Grill in Hibbing, Minnesota (10/29/2025)

What we know about the Northern Minnesota immigration raids

October 30, 2025

Matt McConico,

Two people detained at El Charro Mexican Bar and Grill in Hibbing, Minnesota (10/29/2025) DULUTH, Min.- There were at least three likely immigration-related actions around Northern Minnesota on Wednesday, October 29, 2025. Here is what we know about them at this point. El Charro Mexican Bar and Grill, 2520 E Beltline, Hibbing: A FOX21 photographer happened to be getting lunch…

Judge considers demand to force the government to keep funding SNAP food aid despite the shutdown

October 30, 2025

By MICHAEL CASEY and GEOFF MULVIHILL - Associated Press

A federal judge in Boston is considering a motion that would require the Trump administration to continue funding the SNAP food aid program despite the government shutdown. The hearing in front of U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani came two days before the day the U.S. Department of Agriculture planned to stop replenishing accounts in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Talwani says she expects to issue her ruling later Thursday. SNAP is used by 1 in 8 Americans to buy groceries and is a major piece of the nation’s social safety net. Democratic state officials challenged the Trump administration’s plan to freeze SNAP payments starting Nov. 1, saying the federal government has a legal obligation to keep providing the assistance.

US & World News

Severe Weather