GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Halawa family’s building still rises two stories above the rubble in Gaza City, a small miracle after two years of Israeli airstrikes wrought heavy damage on homes across the Palestinian territory. One section…

Law enforcement officials say an anonymous tipster known only as “John” helped crack the case of two Brown University students' deaths and the wounding of nine others. The tipster's information led police to identify Claudio Neves Valente as the suspect. Anxiety and frustration had plagued the Providence community until police announced late Thursday that they found the suspected gunman dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. John recognized Valente from police images and suggested looking into a grey Nissan. John provided additional critical details to investigators, helping solve the case.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.