Senate Majority Leader John Thune says Democrats' demands for new restrictions on federal immigration officers are “unrealistic.” And he's warning that the Department of Homeland Security will shut down next week if Democrats don’t work with Republicans and the White House. Democrats are pressing for changes at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and other federal law enforcement agencies in the wake of the fatal shootings of two protesters in Minneapolis last month. The Democratic congressional leaders have come out with an expanded list of 10 detailed proposals. Short-term funding for DHS lasts through Feb. 13.

The chairman of prestigious law firm Paul Weiss has resigned from that position after emails revealed his exchanges with Jeffrey Epstein. Brad Karp will remain at the firm where he's practiced for 40 years and has served as chairman since 2008. He said in a statement from the firm that “recent reporting has created a distraction and has placed a focus on me that is not in the best interests” of Paul Weiss. Emails recently released by the Department of Justice as part of its Epstein investigation show Karp thanking Epstein for hosting an unforgettable evening in 2015. Karp also sought Epstein's help in 2016 for Karp's son's film career.

The Trump administration is set to launch TrumpRx, a website to help patients buy prescription drugs directly from manufacturers at discounted rates. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Thursday's expected unveiling in a social media post. The website is not a purchasing platform but directs users to drugmakers’ own sites. President Trump first mentioned TrumpRx in September, highlighting deals with pharmaceutical companies to lower drug prices. The website's release faced delays, but it now showcases efforts to reduce costs through agreements with major companies like Pfizer and AstraZeneca. However, the actual savings for consumers remain unclear.

Penn State hockey star Gavin McKenna has been charged with felony assault for allegedly breaking a man’s jaw and knocking out a tooth in an altercation last weekend. Police say McKenna twice punched the 21-year-old man in the face, requiring him to undergo surgery. The 18-year-old McKenna is the presumptive top pick in this summer's NHL draft. He was arraigned and released on $20,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Feb. 11. The incident happened in the hours after Penn State lost to No. 2 Michigan State in an outdoor game at Beaver Stadium.

Two decades after Jeffrey Epstein was first reported to police, the Justice Department has started to publicly release investigative files on the late sex offender and his longtime confidant Ghislaine Maxwell. The Epstein Files Transparency Act signed into law by President Donald Trump required the Justice Department, the FBI and federal prosecutors to disclose all unclassified documents and investigative materials by Friday. The release is the culmination of a yearslong fight over the records underpinning one of the Justice Department’s most high-profile and highly debated cases. Epstein killed himself in his New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial.

A new study reveals that cancer patients diagnosed during the early COVID-19 pandemic had worse short-term survival rates than a similar group before the pandemic. Published by the medical journal JAMA Oncology, the study shows that people diagnosed in 2020 and 2021 had lower survival rates than those diagnosed between 2015 and 2019. Researchers found this trend across various cancers, regardless of the stage at diagnosis. The study suggests that disruptions to the health care system likely contributed to these outcomes. COVID-19 forced many to postpone cancer screenings, impacting early detection and treatment. One expert says the study highlights the importance of understanding COVID-19's impact to prepare for future pandemics.

Company and federal officials said the Boar's Head deli meat plant tied to a deadly 2024 listeria food poisoning outbreak is back in business. The company's plant in Jarratt, Virginia, resumed limited operations on Feb. 2. The site was shut down more than a year ago after the outbreak tied to contaminated liverwurst killed 10 people and sickened dozens. The reopening comes even as inspections of another Boar's Head plant documented sanitation problems similar to those that may have contributed to the outbreak. Dozens of violations between July and December 2025 were documented at the Petersburg, Virginia, Boar's Head plant.

The league MVP and the other seven AP NFL awards will be announced at NFL Honors on Thursday night, days before Super Bowl 60. Christian McCaffrey is a finalist for three awards, including the 2025 NFL Most Valuable Player. He joins Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence, Drake Maye and Matthew Stafford in the MVP race. Maye, who is leading the New England Patriots against the Seattle Seahawks in the Super Bowl, and McCaffrey are also finalists for Offensive Player of the Year. A panel of 50 media members completed voting before the playoffs. The awards ceremony will be held in San Francisco.

U.S. job openings fell to the lowest level in more than five years, another sign that the American labor market remains sluggish. The Labor Department reported Thursday that vacancies fell to 6.5 million in December — from 6.9 million in November and the lowest since September 2020. Layoffs rose slightly. The number of people quitting their jobs — which shows confidence in their prospects — was basically unchanged at 3.2 million.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Ja Morant are waiting to learn whether they’ll be changing addresses after a former MVP and plenty of other big-name players already have switched teams ahead of the Thursday's NBA trade deadline. Antetokounmpo has been the center of attention heading into the trade deadline amid reports that the Milwaukee Bucks have started listening to offers for the two-time MVP and nine-time all-NBA selection. The trade deadline is at 3 p.m. Eastern. Antetokounmpo repeatedly has said that he loves playing in Milwaukee, but he also has emphasized that he wants to continue playing for teams committed to competing for championships.

A new investigation shows how chemicals used for decades to make carpets stain resistant have contaminated swaths of the South. As carpet executives in northwest Georgia grappled with the health and environmental risks of PFAS, known widely as forever chemicals, they coordinated privately with the local public water utility, effectively shielding their companies from oversight. Carpet makers kept using PFAS even after scientists linked it to human health threats, including certain cancers. Major carpet companies point out their chemical suppliers hid the risks for years, and say they’ve complied with all regulations and have stopped using PFAS.

Sen. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan says she won't sit for an interview with the Justice Department regarding a probe into a video she organized urging U.S. military members to resist “illegal orders.” The Justice Department's inquiry came after President Donald Trump accused Slotkin and five other Democratic lawmakers of sedition. The FBI and U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro contacted the lawmakers in the video to ask for interviews as they investigated. In letters first obtained by The Associated Press, Slotkin's lawyer wrote she would not sit for the interviews and requested the investigation be terminated. Slotkin says she's considering litigation.

Finland women’s hockey team’s preliminary round-opening game against Canada on Thursday has been postponed due to a stomach virus depleting Finland’s roster. The game was rescheduled to Feb. 12. The decision to postpone the game was announced shortly after Finland completed its early afternoon practice with just eight skaters and two goalies. The remaining 13 players are either in quarantine or isolation due to a norovirus that began affecting the team on Tuesday night.

Fun and goofy off-ice bonding is no guarantee of Olympic success. Still, the U.S. Speedskating team that will be competing at the Milan Cortina Olympics does see value in the odd-as-can-be plastic foot attached to a phone case and the schoolkid’s heart-festooned backpack that Casey Dawson is schlepping around the world as punishment for losing at fantasy football. Dawson's first event at the Winter Games is the men's 5,000 meters in long track on Sunday. And the TV cameras capturing every athlete’s every move at the Speed Skating Stadium are sure to zoom in on Dawson’s accessories at some point.