US & World News Archives - Page 2 of 90

British baker’s criticism of Mexican ‘ugly’ bread triggers social media outrage

December 18, 2025

By FERNANDA PESCE - Associated Press

A British baker’s critique of Mexican bread has sparked outrage on social media, leading to a public apology. Richard Hart, co-founder of Green Rhino bakery in Mexico City, said Mexicans lack a bread culture, calling their rolls “ugly” and “cheap.” His comments ignited a debate over food identity and foreign influence in Mexico. Social media users defended Mexican bread, highlighting staples like bolillos and conchas. Hart later apologized, acknowledging he underestimated the cultural importance of bread in Mexico. The incident has fueled discussions about cultural authority and the role of foreigners in critiquing Mexican traditions.

Bucks’ Antetokounmpo says his focus is on his health rather than rumors about his future

December 18, 2025

By STEVE MEGARGEE - AP Sports Writer

Giannis Antetokounmpo says he’s more focused on getting healthy and helping the Milwaukee Bucks turn their season around than dealing with rumors about his future plans. Antetokounmpo spoke to reporters Thursday for the first time since a Dec. 3 ESPN report indicated that he and his agent were talking with Bucks officials about whether he’s best suited to stay in Milwaukee or get traded. Antetokounmpo strained his right calf in a victory over the Detroit Pistons that night and hasn’t played since.

Jury finds a Wisconsin judge guilty of obstruction for helping an immigrant evade federal agents

December 18, 2025

By TODD RICHMOND - Associated Press

A jury has found a Wisconsin judge guilty of obstruction for helping a Mexican immigrant dodge federal authorities. Jurors handed down the verdict against Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan on Thursday after deliberating for six hours. She faces up to five years in prison when sentenced. According to court filings, Dugan led Eduardo Flores-Ruiz out of her courtroom through a private back door on April 18 after learning agents were in the courthouse looking to arrest him for being in the country illegally. Federal prosecutors charged her days later with a felony count of obstruction and a misdemeanor count of concealing an individual to prevent arrest.

US Justice Department sues 3 states, District of Columbia for voter data

December 18, 2025

By SCOTT BAUER - Associated Press

The U.S. Justice Department has sued three states and the District of Columbia for not turning over requested voter information to the Trump administration. The Justice Department has now filed 22 lawsuits seeking voter information as part of its effort to collect detailed voting data and other election information across the country. The latest lawsuits were filed against Wisconsin, Illinois, Georgia and the District of Columbia. The move comes one week after the bipartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission voted against the Justice Department’s request for the data. The Trump administration has characterized the lawsuits as part of an effort to ensure the security of elections.

Trump’s blockade of sanctioned Venezuelan oil raises new questions about legality

December 18, 2025

By BEN FINLEY, ERIC TUCKER, KEVIN FREKING and JOSHUA GOODMAN - Associated Press

President Donald Trump’s “blockade” of sanctioned oil tankers off Venezuela’s coast is raising new concerns about the legality of his military campaign in Latin America. It’s also fueling fears that the U.S. could be edging closer to war. Experts and some of Trump’s critics agree the president is not imposing a true blockade, which would be illegal outside of warfare. But they say seizing sanctioned oil tied to authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro could provoke a military response from Venezuela. Trump says the South American country is using oil to fund drug trafficking and other crimes. Venezuela says the move would violate international law.

FACT FOCUS: Trump’s glowing account of progress is at odds with his government’s own stats

December 18, 2025

By CALVIN WOODWARD - Associated Press

President Donald Trump has offered a glowing account of progress under his watch in a speech from the White House. But some of his claims Wednesday night were out of tune with the experience of price-squeezed Americans and the story told by some of his government’s own statistics. For one, he claimed consumer prices are falling rapidly. Yet the inflation numbers are about where they were when he took office. Inflation had been falling during the first few months of Trump’s presidency, but it picked back up after the president announced his tariffs in April.

Hurricane-force wind downs power lines, fans wildfires in Colorado with more on way

December 18, 2025

By MEAD GRUVER - Associated Press

Work crews are mopping up but bracing for more after hurricane-force wind downed power lines and fanned wildfires along the Colorado Front Range and onto the Great Plains. Wind that in places topped 100 mph arrived late Wednesday after Xcel Energy protectively cut off power through much of its eastern Colorado service areas. The goal was to prevent downed lines from starting fires. By Thursday afternoon, power was 60% restored but more strong wind and power outages are expected Friday. Wind-driven wildfires burned some 14,000 acres in eastern Colorado late Wednesday. Strong wind meanwhile closed a section of I-70 in western Kansas on Thursday.

What to know about Trump’s order seeking to relax federal drug policies for marijuana

December 18, 2025

By DAVID A. LIEB - Associated Press

President Donald Trump has directed his administration to pursue reclassifying marijuana as a less dangerous drug. The change could reduce taxes for the marijuana industry and facilitate more research on medicinal uses. Trump’s executive order on Thursday does not legalize marijuana under federal law and still requires federal regulatory approval. Marijuana is currently a Schedule I drug, but Trump proposes reclassifying it as a Schedule III substance. The change could save marijuana businesses hundreds of millions of dollars in taxes. Support for marijuana legalization has grown, but some opponents worry about increased commercialization and usage.

Tarik Skubal joins Paul Skenes on US World Baseball Classic pitching staff

December 18, 2025

AP

Two-time AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal of the Detroit Tigers has agreed to pitch for the United States in the World Baseball Classic. He joins a pitching staff that includes reigning NL Cy Young winner Paul Skenes of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The U.S. roster for this tournament, set from March 5-17, also includes All-Star relievers Mason Miller and David Bednar. Japan won the 2023 championship game 3-2. U.S. position players include catchers Cal Raleigh and Will Smith, infielders Gunnar Henderson and Bobby Witt Jr., and outfielders Corbin Carroll and Aaron Judge. Staff depth is crucial due to pitcher restrictions.

Trump Media to merge with nuclear fusion company that wants to power AI

December 18, 2025

By MATT O'BRIEN and JENNIFER MCDERMOTT - Associated Press

The parent company of President Donald Trump’s Truth Social media platform announced Thursday it is merging with a fusion power company, an unusual pairing of the Trump name with a futuristic clean energy venture that aims to power the next wave of artificial intelligence. Trump Media & Technology will combine with TAE Technologies in an all-stock deal that the companies said is valued at more than $6 billion. Trump Media & Technology is the parent company of President Donald Trump’s Truth Social media platform. Its shares have tumbled 70% this year but jumped 20% before the opening bell. Fusion technology has been seen as a long way off but tech companies view it as a promising way of powering their energy-hungry AI data centers.

Trump signs executive order that could reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug

December 18, 2025

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST and BILL BARROW - Associated Press

President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that could reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug. This move could ease regulations and expand medical research by shifting marijuana from a Schedule I drug, like heroin, to a Schedule III substance, similar to ketamine. This change won’t legalize recreational use nationwide but may alter regulation and taxation. Former President Joe Biden’s Justice Department had also proposed reclassifying marijuana, but Trump’s order on Thursday could speed up the process,. Some Republicans oppose the change, arguing marijuana remains dangerous. Trump has focused on combating other drugs, like fentanyl, during his second term.

Timberwolves formalize a reunion with Kevin Garnett, with a plan to finally retire his No. 21 jersey

December 18, 2025

By DAVE CAMPBELL - AP Sports Writer

Kevin Garnett will finally have his No. 21 formally retired by his original team, the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Timberwolves announced Thursday they’ve hired Garnett as a team ambassador with a plan to honor him in a jersey-raising ceremony on a future date. The fifth pick in the 1995 draft played the first 12 of his 21 NBA seasons for Minnesota before returning in 2015 for a farewell year. He has essentially been estranged from the organization because of a rift with former owner Glen Taylor. Taylor’s sale of the Timberwolves to Marc Lore and Alex Rodriguez closed earlier this year.

Police are investigating link between Brown shooting and killing of MIT professor, AP sources say

December 18, 2025

The Associated Press,

A police vehicle is parked at an intersection near crime scene tape at Brown University, Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025, in Providence, R.I., following a Saturday shooting at the university. (AP Photo/Steven Senne) PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Six days into the investigation into last weekend’s mass shooting at Brown University, authorities said Thursday that they’re looking into a connection between that…

In recorded message, Rob Reiner urges resiliency for Holocaust survivors at Hanukkah event

December 18, 2025

By MELANIE LIDMAN - Associated Press

Hollywood icon Rob Reiner urged Holocaust survivors to show resilience in a video message recorded weeks before he was killed. Reiner’s message was delivered to a Hanukkah ceremony honoring Holocaust survivors. He noted his wife’s family was killed at Auschwitz, giving the event special meaning. The video was part of a virtual candle lighting by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany. As part of the event, around 100 Holocaust survivors gathered at the Western Wall in Jerusalem on Thursday to light the fifth candle of Hanukkah. Reiner and his wife, Michele, were found stabbed to death Sunday at their Los Angeles home. Their son, Nick Reiner, has been charged with two counts of first-degree murder.

Tennessee governor pardons country star Jelly Roll, who has sought redemption from criminal past

December 18, 2025

By JONATHAN MATTISE - Associated Press

Tennessee’s governor has pardoned country music star Jelly Roll, a Nashville native who for years has spoken about his criminal record and his path to finding redemption. Republican Gov. Bill Lee issued the pardon Thursday for the 41-year-old musician, whose legal name is Jason Deford. The state parole board made a nonbinding recommendation for the pardon in April. The rapper-turned-country singer has said it would make it easier for him to travel internationally to perform and share his message, after spending time behind bars when he was younger. Now, he often visits jails and rehabilitation centers before performing concerts.

Hubble Space Telescope spies dusty debris from two cosmic collisions

December 18, 2025

By ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN - AP Science Writer

NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has gotten a rare peek at the aftermath of two cosmic collisions — and helped scientists solve a decades-old mystery. Many years ago, scientists saw a dense, bright spot near a young star and thought it could be a planet. After finding a second one, they realized it was actually the dusty debris from two cosmic crashes. Massive space rocks had slammed together to create clouds of dust that were thick enough to masquerade as planets. The new study was published Thursday in the journal Science.

Retired NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and family among 7 killed in North Carolina plane crash

December 18, 2025

The Associated Press,

Greg Biffle headshot, former race car driver UPDATE: Former race driver Greg Biffle and members of his family were among seven people who died in a plane crash Thursday in North Carolina, state police said. The business jet erupted into a large fire when it hit the ground while trying to land at Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles (72 kilometers)…

Trump’s handpicked board votes to rename Washington performing arts center the Trump-Kennedy Center

December 18, 2025

The Associated Press,

President Donald Trump speaks in the Oval Office of the White House before signing an executive order regarding childhood cancer and the use of AI, Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2025, in Washington. WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s handpicked board voted Thursday to rename Washington’s leading performing arts center as the Trump-Kennedy Center, the White House said. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced the…

Romanian court sentences US rapper Wiz Khalifa to 9 months for drug possession

December 18, 2025

AP

A court in Romania has sentenced American rapper Wiz Khalifa to nine months in jail on drug possession charges. The ruling on Thursday came more than a year after he took part in a music festival in the Eastern European country. Khalifa was stopped by Romanian police in July 2024 after allegedly smoking cannabis on stage at the festival in Costinesti. Prosecutors said the rapper was found in possession of more than 18 grams of cannabis and that he consumed some on stage. The Constanta Court of Appeal handed down the sentence. The decision is final. It isn’t clear whether Romanian authorities will seek to file an extradition request since Khalifa is a U.S. citizen and doesn’t reside in Romania.

President Donald Trump, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., left, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz

Trump administration moves to cut off transgender care for children

December 18, 2025

The Associated Press,

President Donald Trump speaks in the Roosevelt Room of the White House, Monday, Sept. 22, 2025, in Washington, as Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., left, and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz listen. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein) WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday unveiled a series…

Democrats keep 2024 election review under wraps, saying a public rehash won’t help them win in 2026

December 18, 2025

By BILL BARROW - Associated Press

Democrats won’t issue a postelection report on their 2024 shellacking after all. The Democratic National Committee head has decided not to publish a formal assessment of the party’s defeat that returned Donald Trump to power and gave Republicans complete control in Washington. Ken Martin had ordered a thorough review of what went wrong and what could be done differently. Martin now says there’s no value in a public release of findings that he believes could lead to continued infighting and recriminations before the 2026 midterms when control of Congress will be at stake.

Trump administration moves to cut off transgender care for children

December 18, 2025

By ALI SWENSON, MATTHEW PERRONE and DEVI SHASTRI - Associated Press

U.S. officials are proposing new restrictions that would effective ban gender-affirming care for minors. The announcement from Department of Health and Human Services is the latest step by the Trump administration cracking down on transgender Americans. The sweeping proposals include cutting off federal Medicaid and Medicare funding from hospitals that provide gender-affirming care to children. The HHS Office of Civil Rights will also propose a rule excluding gender dysphoria from the definition of a disability. The proposals are not final or legally binding. They must go through a lengthy rulemaking process and are likely to face legal challenges. They also contradict the recommendations of major medical groups including the American Medical Association.

Kremlin envoy set to visit Miami for talks on US peace plan for Ukraine

December 18, 2025

By MATTHEW LEE and ILLIA NOVIKOV

A U.S. official says a Kremlin envoy will travel to Florida to discuss a U.S.-proposed plan to end the war in Ukraine. The American official said on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s adviser Kirill Dmitriev is to meet with President Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner in Miami on Saturday. The official said that Witkoff and Kushner will sit down with Dmitriev after meetings with Ukrainian and European officials in Berlin earlier this week in which they discussed U.S. security guarantees for Kyiv, territorial concessions and other aspects of the U.S. plan to end the war.

Business jet crashes at an airport in North Carolina

Deaths reported after business jet crashed at an airport in North Carolina

December 18, 2025

The Associated Press,

Business jet crashes at an airport in North Carolina(CNN) UPDATE: A sheriff said there were deaths Thursday in the crash of a business jet that was trying to land at a regional airport in Statesville, North Carolina. “I can confirm there were fatalities,” Iredell County Sheriff Grant Campbell said, though he declined to say how many. The Federal Aviation…

Brian Walshe sentenced to life in prison for murdering his wife nearly 3 years ago

December 18, 2025

By MICHAEL CASEY and PATRICK WHITTLE - Associated Press

A Boston-area man has been sentenced to life in prison for murdering his wife, whose body has never been found after she disappeared nearly three years ago. Brian Walshe was sentenced Thursday in the killing of Ana Walshe. He was convicted Monday of first-degree murder. He pleaded guilty separately to misleading police and illegally disposing of a body. Investigators relied on Walshe’s online searches about dismemberment and disposing of a body to secure the murder conviction. Surveillance video shows a man resembling Walshe throwing heavy trash bags into a dumpster. Many items were recovered from the dumpster bearing their DNA and including Ana Walshe’s vaccination card.

Turning Point youth conference begins in Phoenix without founder Charlie Kirk

December 18, 2025

By JONATHAN J. COOPER - Associated Press

Turning Point is beginning its annual Christian youth conference, the first event since the assassination of founder Charlie Kirk. The four-day meeting in Phoenix kicking off Thursday gathers thousands of young supporters of the MAGA movement, which faces internal debates over its future. A year ago, the conference celebrated President Donald Trump’s victory. Now the movement faces challenges, including debates over antisemitism. Turning Point is being led by Kirk’s widow and is confronting its own future. The event features MAGA influencers like Donald Trump Jr. and Tucker Carlson. Erika Kirk has stepped into the spotlight, addressing conspiracy theories surrounding her husband’s death.

US consumer prices decelerated unexpectedly in November, rising 2.7% from a year earlier

December 18, 2025

By PAUL WISEMAN - AP Economics Writer

U.S. inflation decelerated unexpectedly last month according to new data that had been delayed by the government shutdown. The Labor Department reported Thursday that its consumer price index was up 2.7% in November from a year earlier. The report was delayed eight days by the federal government’s 43-day shutdown, which also prevented the Labor Department from compiling overall numbers for consumer prices and core inflation in October. Thursday’s report gave investors, businesses and policymakers their first look at CPI since the September numbers were released on Oct. 24. Consumers prices had risen 3% in September from a year earlier, and forecasters had expected the November CPI to match that year-over-year increase.

PHOTO ESSAY: Grassroots groups tackle social isolation

December 18, 2025

By The Associated Press

Josh Pyles grew up on the farm where he now lives in Port Royal, Kentucky. His wife, Ashley Pyles, had never farmed before. But both are fully committed at their Blue Meadow Beef farm, where they and their three children raise beef cattle for local consumers. “At the end of the day, we want it to be reasonable and affordable…

Efforts to reconnect Americans face challenges in a lonely time

December 18, 2025

By PETER SMITH - Associated Press

It’s been called an “epidemic” of loneliness and isolation. The “bowling alone” phenomenon. By any name, it refers to Americans’ growing social disconnection. Americans are less likely to join civic groups, unions and churches than in recent generations. They have fewer friends, are less trusting of each other and less likely to hang out in a local bar or coffee shop. For all that, it’s not surprising that many feel lonely or isolated much of the time. Such trends form the backdrop to The Associated Press’s report on small groups working to restore community connections.

Russia is trying to overwhelm Europe with its sabotage campaign, Western officials say

December 18, 2025

By EMMA BURROWS - AP European Security Correspondent

The Associated Press has documented 145 incidents in what Western officials say is a campaign of disruption across Europe masterminded by Russia since President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Officials say the campaign aims to deprive Ukraine of support, create divisions among Europeans and identify the continent’s security weak spots. Officials say each act sucks up valuable security resources. While the campaign places a heavy burden on European security services, officials say it costs Russia next to nothing. That’s because Moscow is carrying out cross-border operations that require European countries to cooperate extensively — while often using foreigners with criminal backgrounds as cheap proxies for Russian intelligence operatives.

Pope names fellow Chicagoan, Bishop Ronald Hicks, as new archbishop of New York

December 18, 2025

By NICOLE WINFIELD - Associated Press

Pope Leo XIV has made a significant U.S. appointment by naming Bishop Ronald Hicks as the next archbishop of New York. Hicks, currently the bishop of Joliet, Illinois, replaces the retiring Cardinal Timothy Dolan. Dolan, a prominent conservative figure, recently finalized a $300 million fund to compensate victims of sexual abuse who had sued the archdiocese. Hicks will lead one of the largest U.S. archdioceses as it navigates relations with the Trump administration and its immigration policies. This appointment marks an important step for the church in addressing these challenges.

US announces massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion

December 18, 2025

By MATTHEW LEE and SIMINA MISTREANU - Associated Press

The Trump administration has announced a massive package of arms sales to Taiwan valued at more than $10 billion, including medium-range missiles, howitzers and drones. The statement drew an angry response from China. The State Department announced the sales late Wednesday during a nationally televised address by President Donald Trump, who made scant mention of foreign policy issues and did not speak to trade or other issues with China. The eight arms sales agreements cover 82 high-mobility artillery rocket systems and 420 Army Tactical Missile Systems, similar to what the U.S. had been providing Ukraine during the Biden administration to defend itself from Russia. Those systems are worth more than $4 billion.

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.

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