US & World News

4 Women Accuse Filmmaker Paul Haggis of Sexual Misconduct

(AP/The Canadian Press File) LOS ANGELES (AP) — A civil lawsuit charging Oscar-winning filmmaker Paul Haggis with raping a publicist has prompted three additional women to come forward with their own sexual misconduct accusations, including another publicist who says he forced her to perform oral sex, then raped her. One of the other women speaking out told The Associated Press…

Sessions Terminates US Policy That Let Legal Pot Flourish

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration threw the burgeoning movement to legalize marijuana into uncertainty Thursday as it lifted an Obama-era policy that kept federal authorities from cracking down on the pot trade in states where the drug is legal. Attorney General Jeff Sessions will now leave it up to federal prosecutors to decide what to do when state rules…

Officials: Deadly NYC Fire Lit by Child Playing with Stove

AP NEW YORK (AP) — A preschooler toying with the burners on his mother’s stove accidentally lit New York City’s deadliest fire in decades, turning an apartment building into an inferno that killed a dozen people as smoke and flames swept up the stairwell in minutes and blocked the main route to safety, the fire commissioner said Friday. The 3½-year-old…

Affordable Care Act Sign Up Tally Dips Slightly to 8.7M

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government says more than 8.7 million people have signed up for coverage next year under the Obama-era health care law, exceeding expectations for a program that President Donald Trump has unsuccessfully tried to repeal. The final tally released Thursday for the 39 HealthCare.gov states showed about 80,000 fewer sign-ups than an initial count provided last week….

House Backs Temporary Spending Bill to Avert Shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Republican-led House narrowly passed a temporary spending bill to avert a government shutdown Thursday, doing the bare minimum in a sprint toward the holidays and punting disputes on immigration, health care and national security to next year. The vote was 231-188 with Democrats criticizing Republicans’ inability to complete the dozen spending bills for the current fiscal…

UN Denounces US Recognition of Jerusalem as Israeli Capital

The nonbinding resolution declaring U.S. action on Jerusalem “null and void” was approved 128-9

U.S. Ambassador to the United States Nikki Haley speaks at the UN General Assembly, Thursday, Dec. 21, 2017, at UN headquarters. (AP) UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly voted overwhelmingly Thursday to denounce President Donald Trump’s recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s capital, largely ignoring Trump’s threats to cut off aid to any country that went against him. The…

Apple Admits iPhones Slow Down as They Get Older

(FOX News) — It’s not just your imagination. Your iPhone really does slow down as it becomes outdated. Apple iPhone users for years have wondered why their phone seems to go slow, compared with newer models. Apple is now reportedly admitting there is something to it. The lithium-ion battery starts to process information slower, the more times it’s charged. Usually, the slow down comes after…

Congress Wraps Up Massive Tax Package, Headed to Trump

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci) WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional Republicans delivered an epic overhaul of U.S. tax laws to President Donald Trump on Wednesday, bringing generous tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest Americans while providing smaller cuts for middle- and low-income families. In a re-vote due to a last-minute hiccup, the House passed the massive $1.5 trillion tax package that affects…

‘The Office’ Revival Reportedly in the Works with Limited Returning Cast

TYLER MCCARTHY - FOX NEWS

This undated image released by NBC shows Steve Carell as Michael Scott in a scene from “The Office.” Producer Greg Daniels says the NBC comedy will conclude business at Dunder Mifflin after the upcoming ninth season. He said Tuesday, Aug. 21, 2012, that the final year will be exciting and memorable and will take creative chances. (AP Photo/NBC, Byron Cohen)…

Amtrak train found to be traveling 80 mph in a 30 mph zone

(Elaine Thompson via AP) DUPONT, Wash. (AP) — Investigators are looking into whether the Amtrak engineer whose speeding train plunged off an overpass, killing at least three people, was distracted by the presence of an employee-in-training next to him in the locomotive, a federal official said Tuesday. The official, who was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke…

Latest: House Forced to Revote on GOP Tax Bill Wednesday

4:50 p.m. Democrats say three provisions in the Republican $1.5 trillion tax bill violate Senate rules and will likely be removed before that chamber votes on the measure. The House approved the legislation Tuesday. But this means the House will have to vote again on the legislation once it’s been amended and approved by the Senate. Senate passage was expected…

Twitter Suspends White Nationalists As It Enforces New Rules

NEW YORK (AP) — Twitter suspended the accounts of well-known white nationalists Monday, moving swiftly to enforce its new rules aimed at reducing what it deems abusive content. The account of far-right group Britain First, a small group that regularly posts inflammatory videos purporting to show Muslims engaged in acts of violence, was among the first to go dark. The…

Hospice Nurse from Minnesota Missing After Leaving Denver Bar

Photo courtesy of helpfindadam.com DENVER (KMSP) – Members of a Minnesota family have flown to Colorado to help look for a 29-year-old man who went missing Friday after leaving a bar in Denver. Adam Gilbertson was last seen the Syntax Physic Opera Bar & Restaurant shortly before 1 a.m. on Friday. His cellphone has been shut off and attempts to reach him…

US Judge Steps Down After Accusations of Sexual Misconduct

(Fox News) SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A prominent U.S. appeals court judge announced his retirement Monday days after women alleged he subjected them to inappropriate sexual conduct or comments. Judge Alex Kozinski of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said in a statement that a battle over the accusations would not be good for the judiciary. He said he’ll…

Amtrak Train Hurtles Off Overpass; At Least 6 People Killed

RACHEL LA CORTE - AP

Courtesy: FOX NewsDUPONT, Wash. (AP) — An Amtrak train making the first-ever run along a faster new route hurtled off an overpass Monday near Tacoma and spilled some of its cars onto the highway below, killing at least six people, authorities said. The death toll was expected to rise. Seventy-eight passengers and five crew members were aboard when the train…

FCC Votes Down Obama-era ‘Net Neutrality’ Rules

NEW YORK (AP) – The Federal Communications Commission has voted on party lines to undo sweeping Obama-era “net neutrality” rules that guaranteed equal access to internet. The agency’s Democratic commissioners dissented in the 3-2 vote Thursday. The FCC’s new rules could usher in big changes in how Americans use the internet. The agency got rid of rules that barred companies…

What is Net Neutrality and Why Does it Matter?

NEW YORK (AP) — “Net neutrality” regulations, designed to prevent internet service providers like Verizon, AT&T, Comcast and Charter from favoring some sites and apps over others, are on the chopping block. On Thursday, the Federal Communications Commission plans to vote on a proposal that would not only undo the Obama-era rules that have been in place since 2015, but…

As ‘Net Neutrality’ Vote Nears, Some Brace for a Long Fight

NEW YORK (AP) — As the federal government prepares to unravel sweeping net-neutrality rules that guaranteed equal access to the internet, advocates of the regulations are bracing for a long fight. The Thursday vote scheduled at the Federal Communications Commission could usher in big changes in how Americans use the internet, a radical departure from more than a decade of…

Disney Buying Large Part of 21st Century Fox in $52.4B Deal

TALI ARBEL - AP

(AP) NEW YORK (AP) — Disney is buying the Murdoch family’s Fox movie and television studios and some cable and international TV businesses for about $52.4 billion, as the home of Mickey Mouse tries to meet competition from technology companies in the entertainment business. Disney’s all-stock deal for 21st Century Fox gives it the studios behind Avatar, “The Simpsons” and…

GOP Says It’s Got A Deal on Taxes; Cuts Coming for Next Year

STEPHEN OHLEMACHER, ANDREW TAYLOR, & MARCY GORDON - AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — Confident congressional Republicans forged an agreement Wednesday on a major overhaul of the nation’s tax laws that would provide generous tax cuts for corporations and the wealthiest Americans — Donald Trump among them — and deliver the first major legislative accomplishment to the GOP president. Middle- and low-income families would get smaller tax cuts, though Trump and…

Wall Street Mixed as Financials Drag After Fed Rate Hike

NEW YORK (Fox News) – The S&P 500 ended slightly lower on Wednesday pressured by the financial sector after the Federal Reserve announced a widely expected interest rate hike but kept its rate outlook for coming years even as it projected faster U.S. economic growth. The quarter-percentage-point rise in the overnight lending rate, which marked the third hike this year, came…

Omarosa Resigns from Trump Administration Job

WASHINGTON (Fox News) – “Apprentice” star turned White House official Omarosa Manigault Newman will leave the Trump administration next month, according to the White House. “Omarosa Manigault Newman resigned yesterday to pursue other opportunities,” White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement. “Her departure will not be effective until January 2018. We wish her the best in future…

Annual Germinid Meteor Shower to Appear in a Sky Near You

Courtesy: NASA/Lauren Harnett TAMPA (FOX 13) – One of the most eye-catching meteor showers will peak Wednesday night.  The annual Geminid meteor shower has arrived, with the potential of one or two visual meteors per minute. You may see a few early in the evening, but the best viewing times will be between 10 p.m. to 2 a.m., says FOX 13’s meteorologist Tyler Eliasen….

Gov. Mark Dayton Appoints Lt. Gov. Tina Smith to Serve as US Senator

Courtesy of Minnesota Governor’s Office  ST. PAUL, Minn. – Gov. Mark Dayton announced Wednesday during a press conference at the Minnesota State Capitol, that he will appoint Lt. Gov. Tina Smith to serve as United States Senator for Minnesota. Smith will be appointed to serve a one-year term in the Senate, concluding in January 2019. Minnesotans will chose a U.S….

‘Man Flu’ is Real, Researcher Claims

(Shutterstock) (FOX NEWS) – The so-called “man flu” has been a punchline for decades, but according to one expert it may be time to stop taking it lightly. Dr. Kyle Sue, a Canadian doctor whose findings are published in the British Medical Journal, claims that physiological differences between men and women can lead to different responses to colds and viruses….

Officer Honored for Adopting Baby from Opioid Addicted Mom

Albuquerque officer, Ryan Holets, holds his newly adopted daughter, Hope, after being recognized by the city of Albuquerque on Monday, Dec. 11, 2017. (AP) ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A routine call about an Albuquerque convenience store theft turned into a life-transforming moment for an officer who came across upon a pregnant woman he found using heroin. That officer later volunteered…

Trump Signs $700 Billion Military Budget into Law

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday signed into law a sweeping defense policy bill that authorizes a $700 billion budget for the military, including additional spending on missile defense programs to counter North Korea’s growing nuclear weapons threat. But there’s a catch. The $700 billion budget won’t become reality until lawmakers agree to roll back a 2011 law…

Trump Says Accusations of Sexual Misconduct ‘Fabricated’

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci) WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump, pushing back against women accusing him of sexual misconduct, insisted Tuesday he’s the target of “false accusations and fabricated stories of women who I don’t know and/or have never met.” Trump lashed out on Twitter a day after three women who previously accused him of sexual harassment shared their stories on…

Education Department Urged to Resume Loan Cancellations

WASHINGTON (AP) – A government watchdog is urging the Education Department to resume the process of forgiving student loans for tens of thousands of Americans who were defrauded by for-profit colleges. In a report published Monday, the Office of Inspector General, an independent body within the education agency, recommends that the department restart “review, approval, and discharge process” for defrauded…

3 Trump Accusers Speak Out, Call for Congressional Probe

WASHINGTON (AP) — Three women who have previously accused President Donald Trump of sexual harassment shared their stories on NBC’s “Megyn Kelly Today.” Jessica Leeds, Samantha Holvey and Rachel Crooks on Monday told of alleged harassment by Trump spanning decades. The White House called the claims false and “totally disputed in most cases.” It said “the timing and absurdity of…

Pentagon to Allow Transgender People to Enlist in Military Despite Trumps Opposition

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is allowing transgender people to enlist in the military beginning Jan. 1, despite President Donald Trump’s opposition. The new policy reflects growing legal pressure on the issue, and the difficult hurdles the federal government would have to cross to enforce Trump’s demand to ban transgender individuals from the military. Two federal courts already have ruled…

Suspect in Savanna Greywind Death Pleads Guilty

CREWS, 38, OF FARGO, ORIGINALLY PLEADED NOT GUILTY TO CONSPIRACY TO COMMIT MURDER, KIDNAPPING AND GIVING FALSE INFORMATION TO OFFICERS.

Brooke CrewsFARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Brooke Crews, charged in the murder and kidnapping of Savanna Greywind, changed her plea to guilty. In Cass County Court this morning she plead guilty to all charges. Crews, 38, of Fargo, originally plead not guilty to conspiracy to commit murder, kidnapping and giving false information to officers. Crews is expected to be sentenced on Tuesday, January…

Former Amazon Analyst Gets 6 Months for Insider Trading

SEATTLE (AP) – A former Amazon analyst has been sentenced to six months in prison and a $2,500 fine after admitting he tipped off a college friend to details about the company’s upcoming first-quarter earnings report in spring 2015. Brett D. Kennedy was sentenced Friday after pleading guilty to a federal insider trading charge in September. Prosecutors said his former…

Trump Signs 2-Week Spending Bill to Avoid Shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump has signed a spending bill to avoid a government shutdown and keep the federal government running through Dec. 22. The president signed the two-week spending bill at the White House after the House and Senate acted to prevent a government shutdown this weekend. The White House and congressional leaders are negotiating a longer-term agreement….

Wisconsin Man Sentenced to 11 Years in Texas Child Sex Sting

  HOUSTON (AP) – Prosecutors say a Wisconsin man must serve 11 years in federal prison for traveling to Texas with the intention of having sex with a 4-year-old girl. Benjamin David Sherwood of La Crosse, Wisconsin, was sentenced Thursday in Houston as part of an online sting. The 42-year-old Sherwood, in August, pleaded guilty to travel with intent to…

Trump Says Government Shutdown Possible, Blames Democrats

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci) WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump warned Wednesday that a government shutdown was possible this weekend because Democrats were demanding to have “illegal immigrants pouring into our country,” tossing incendiary rhetoric onto a partisan showdown that had been showing signs of easing. Trump’s comments risked roiling a White House meeting with congressional leaders of both parties planned…

Wildfires Continue to Ravage Southern California

101 Freeway Fire Dec. 5, 2017 (AP) LOS ANGELES (AP) — A wildfire erupted in Los Angeles’ exclusive Bel-Air section Wednesday as yet another part of Southern California found itself under siege from an outbreak of wind-whipped blazes that have consumed multimillion-dollar houses and tract homes alike. Hundreds of homes across the L.A. metropolitan area and beyond were feared destroyed…

Trump Declares Jerusalem Israel Capital, Smashing US Policy

Palestinians burn a poser of President Donald Trump during a protest in Bethlehem, West Bank, Tuesday, Dec. 6, 2017. President Trump forged ahead Tuesday with plans to recognize Jerusalem as Israel’s capital despite intense Arab, Muslim, and European opposition to ma move that would upend decades of U.S. policy and risk potentially violent protests. (AP)     WASHINGTON (AP) —…

‘Silence Breakers’ Named Time Magazine’s Person of the Year

(Time Magazine) NEW YORK (AP) – The “Silence Breakers” – those who have shared their stories about sexual assault and harassment – have been named Time magazine’s Person of the Year. Numerous women have spoken out publicly since October about sexual misconduct by dozens of high-profile men in entertainment, media, business, and sports. Time praised those who have given “voice…

Where Protected Lands Stand After National Monument Review

“Moonhouse” in McLoyd Canyon which is part of Bears Ears National Monument, near Blanding, Utah. (AP File) SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — President Donald Trump earlier this year ordered U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to conduct an unprecedented review of 27 monuments established by former presidents over more than two decades on lands and waters revered for their natural beauty…

Russia Barred from 2018 Winter Olympics

LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — Russian athletes will be allowed to stand on the medal podium at the Winter Olympics — just not with their anthem playing or their nation’s flag rising above them. The International Olympic Committee barred Russia and the its sports leaders from the upcoming games in South Korea after its lead investigator concluded members of the Russian…

NASA Nails Test on Voyager Spacecraft, 13 Billion Miles Away

This rendering provided by NASA shows Voyager 1. NASA has nailed a thruster test on Voyager 1, a spacecraft 13 billion miles away. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) – NASA has nailed an engine test on a spacecraft 13 billion miles away. Last week, ground controllers sent commands to fire backup thrusters on Voyager 1, our most distant spacecraft. The thrusters…