FEMA acting chief David Richardson departs after 6 months on the job, officials say
SAN DIEGO — The acting chief of the Federal Emergency Management Agency left his job Monday after just six months, according to the Department of Homeland Security, the latest disruption in a year of mass staff departures, program cuts and policy upheaval at the agency charged with managing federal disaster...
Trump says he will sell F-35s to Saudi Arabia on eve of crown prince’s Washington visit
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Monday he will sell F-35 advanced fighter jets to Saudi Arabia on the eve of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s visit to Washington, as he praised the kingdom for its long partnership with the United States. “I will say that that we will be...
Judge scolds Justice Department for ‘profound investigative missteps’ in Comey case
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department engaged in a “disturbing pattern of profound investigative missteps” in the process of securing an indictment against former FBI Director James Comey, a federal judge ruled Monday in directing prosecutors to produce to defense lawyers all grand jury materials from the case. Those problems, wrote...
Trump revives the Presidential Fitness Test, a rite of passage for schoolchildren for decades
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday reestablished the Presidential Fitness Test for American children, a fixture of public schools for decades that gauged young people’s health and athleticism with 1-mile runs, sit-ups and stretching exercises. “This is a wonderful tradition, and we’re bringing it back,” Trump said of the...
Virginia Giuffre’s family expresses shock over Trump saying Epstein ‘stole’ her
The family of Virginia Giuffre, who was among Jeffrey Epstein’s most well-known sex trafficking accusers, said that it was shocking to hear President Donald Trump say the disgraced financier “stole” Giuffre from him and urged that Epstein’s former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell remain in prison. Giuffre, who had accused Britain’s Prince...
Heavy rain pummels East Coast and sparks isolated flash flooding
Strong rain storms lashed the East Coast on Thursday, delaying flights throughout the region and prompting emergency rescues of motorists trapped in deep water on busy highways from the Philadelphia area to New York City. In New York, flash flooding briefly closed sections of major roadways across the city just...
Childhood vaccination rates fall again as exemptions set another record
NEW YORK — U.S. kindergarten vaccination rates inched down again last year and the share of children with exemptions rose to an all-time high, according to federal data posted Thursday. The fraction of kids exempted from vaccine requirements rose to 4.1%, up from 3.7% the year before. It’s the third...
Search for answers after Texas’ deadly floods brings lawmakers to devastated Hill Country
KERRVILLE, Texas — A rural Texas county needed but lacked an updated warning system, local officials testified Thursday, when flash flooding swept away homes and vehicles and left families begging for rescue on the roofs of their homes earlier this month. Texas lawmakers searched for answers during a hearing on...
Turbulence forces Delta flight to land, sends 25 people to hospitals
Serious turbulence on a Delta Airlines flight headed to Europe sent 25 people to hospitals and forced the plane into an emergency landing in Minneapolis, the airline said. Some aboard the flight from Salt Lake City to Amsterdam weren’t wearing seat belts and were thrown about the cabin, one passenger...
Teacher admits to fatally stabbing couple on a hike with their kids in a random attack in Arkansas
LITTLE ROCK — A teacher admitted he fatally stabbed a couple he didn’t know who were hiking with two of their children in an Arkansas state park, authorities said Thursday, after a five-day search and hundreds of tips led to his arrest. State Police arrested 28-year-old Andrew James McGann on...
A new $200M White House ballroom to break ground in September, the first major upgrade since 1948
WASHINGTON — The White House on Thursday announced that construction on a new $200 million ballroom will begin in September and be ready before President Donald Trump ‘s term ends in early 2029. It will be the latest change introduced to what’s known as “The People’s House” since the Republican...
U.S. and NATO allies warn of increasing Iranian threats in Europe, North America
WASHINGTON — The United States and many of its NATO allies are accusing Iran of a growing number of threats throughout Europe and North America and demanding that it end its attempts to harm dissidents and others. “We are united in our opposition to the attempts of Iranian intelligence services...
China summons Nvidia over ‘backdoor safety risks’ in H20 chips
WASHINGTON — China’s cyberspace regulators on Thursday summoned Nvidia over security concerns that its H20 chips can be tracked and turned off remotely, the Cyberspace Administration of China said on its website. In the meeting, Chinese regulators demanded that the U.S. chip company provide explanations on “backdoor safety risks” of...
Vatican strikes a solar deal that aims to make it the world’s 1st carbon-neutral state
ROME — Italy agreed Thursday to a Vatican plan to turn a 1,000-acre field north of Rome, once the source of controversy between the two, into a vast solar farm that will generate enough electricity to meet the needs of Vatican City and turn it into the world’s first carbon-neutral...
Trump signs order imposing new tariffs on a number of trading partners that go into effect in 7 days
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday signed an executive order that would have new tariffs on a wide swath of U.S. trading partners to go into effect in seven days — the next step in his trade agenda that will test the global economy and alliances. The order was...
Trump envoy arrives in Israel amid rising Gaza death toll of Palestinians seeking aid
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — President Donald Trump’s special envoy arrived in Israel on Thursday to discuss the disintegrating humanitarian situation in Gaza, as the death toll of Palestinians waiting for food and other aid continued to climb. At least 91 Palestinians were killed and more than 600 wounded while...
Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv kills at least 13 people and injures more than 130
KYIV, Ukraine — Russian missile and drone attacks overnight on Ukraine’s capital city killed at least 13 people, including a 6-year-old boy, and wounded 132 others, authorities said Thursday. A 5-month-old girl was among 14 children wounded, Ukraine’s Emergency Service said. It was the highest number of children injured in...
U.S. applications for jobless benefits inch up for the 1st time in 7 weeks, but layoffs remain low
WASHINGTON — The number of Americans filing for jobless benefits inched up modestly last week as business continue to retain staff despite economic uncertainty around U.S. trade policy. The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims for the week ending July 26 ticked up by 1,000 to 218,000, less than...
ICE entices new recruits with patriotism pitch, promise of $50,000 signing bonuses
WASHINGTON — The agency responsible for carrying out President Donald Trump’s mass deportations is launching a recruiting campaign to entice “brave and heroic Americans” to serve as new deportation officers, lawyers and investigators as the government gears up for a major expansion of immigration enforcement thanks to a recent infusion...
Brown University strikes agreement to resolve discrimination complaints and restore federal funding
WASHINGTON — Brown University will pay $50 million to Rhode Island workforce development organizations in a deal with the Trump administration that restores lost federal research funding and ends investigations into alleged discrimination, officials said Wednesday. The university also agreed to several concessions in line with President Donald Trump’s political...
Colorado dentist convicted of murder, gets life sentence for lacing wife’s shakes with poison
CENTENNIAL, Colo. — A Colorado dentist was sentenced to life in prison Wednesday in the death of his wife, whose protein shakes he laced with poison before delivering a fatal dose of cyanide. District Judge Shay Whitaker sentenced James Craig to life without the possibility of parole, the mandatory sentence...
Ohio city whose Haitian migrants were disparaged by Trump braces to defend them against deportation
SPRINGFIELD, Ohio — An Ohio city whose Haitian migrants were disparaged by President Donald Trump last year as he pitched voters on his plans for an immigration crackdown is now bracing to defend the community against possible deportation. A group of about 100 community members, clergy and Haitian leaders in...
Former Vice President Kamala Harris says she will not run for California governor in 2026
LOS ANGELES — Former Vice President Kamala Harris will not run for California governor next year, leaving open the possibility that she could mount a third run for the White House in 2028. “Over the past six months, I have spent time reflecting on this moment in our nation’s history...
Federal Reserve leaves interest rates unchanged even as Trump demands cuts
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve left its key short-term interest rate unchanged for the fifth time this year, brushing off repeated calls from President Donald Trump for a cut. The Fed’s decision Wednesday leaves its key short-term rate at about 4.3%, where it has stood after the central bank reduced...
U.S. to share biometric data with Chile ‘to track criminals,’ Homeland Security’s Noem says
SANTIAGO, Chile — The United States will deploy biometric technologies in partnership with Chile to control migration and disrupt criminal networks, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Wednesday during a visit to the South American nation. “This arrangement is going to serve as a bridge to help Chile and the...
