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Lindsey Halligan/CNP/ZUMA Press/TNS

'A cable news talk show': Federal judges seek replacement for Halligan as US attorney

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Federal judges in the U.S. Eastern District Court announced Tuesday that they’re seeking candidates for the interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia.

The move comes in the midst of a monthslong standoff between the judges and President Donald Trump’s pick for the job, Lindsey Halligan.

In November, a federal judge ruled ...Read more

Peter Casey/The Virginian-Pilot/TNS

Virginia will rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, Spanberger says

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NORFOLK, Va. — Virginia will rejoin the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, the multistate coalition that aims to reduce the use of fossil fuels as an energy source, Gov. Abigail Spanberger told lawmakers Monday.

“This is about cost savings,” she said in an address to the Virginia House of Delegates and Senate. “RGGI generated hundreds ...Read more

Darren McGee/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul/TNS

After Mamdani reversal, Gov. Hochul proposes 4-year extension of mayoral control over NYC schools

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NEW YORK — Gov. Kathy Hochul on Tuesday proposed a four-year extension of Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s control of the New York City public schools, after the mayor backed off a campaign promise to end the much-debated educational reform.

The length of the renewal, if approved by the state Legislature, could mean that Mamdani will retain control ...Read more

LEZLIE STERLING/The Sacramento Bee/TNS

State GOP seeks Supreme Court injunction to block California's new, voter-approved congressional districts

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The California Republican Party on Tuesday filed an emergency application asking the U.S. Supreme Court to issue an injunction to stop the congressional districts state voters approved last year from going into effect.

Arguing that the districts created by Proposition 50 violate federal law because the race of voters was considered when they ...Read more

Brittany Murray/Los Angeles Daily News/TNS

Donations sought as Red Cross laments 'severe' blood shortage

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The Red Cross is appealing to past donors and potential new donors as it says a "severe blood shortage" could result in delays for surgeries and other medical procedures.

During a virtual news briefing Tuesday, officials said there was a 35% reduction in blood donations nationally in December. That equates to about 40,000 units of blood. More ...Read more

Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS

168 chemicals found in food linked to gut damage and fertility risks, study shows

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Many everyday chemicals can impact your gut health and even male fertility, research shows. Proper food preparation, including washing and peeling fruits and vegetables, can protect from common pesticides.

Researchers from the University of Cambridge tested common chemicals, including many without known health impacts, and found 168 that could ...Read more

Mennatalla Ibrahim/Baltimore Sun/TNS

New Maryland House rural caucus aims to boost rural voices in Annapolis

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The newly formed Maryland House Rural Caucus aims to give rural communities a stronger voice in legislative leadership and policymaking, House Speaker Joseline Peña-Melnyk said Tuesday at the group’s first news briefing, weeks after she announced its creation late last month.

Peña-Melnyk said the caucus will focus on “elevating” views ...Read more

PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

U.S. senators tour California City Detention Center, decry conditions and inadequate medical care

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U.S. Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff on Tuesday decried the inadequacy of medical care within the state’s newest and largest immigration detention center.

The two California Democrats spent hours conducting an oversight visit of the California City Detention Facility on Tuesday, amid growing concerns over conditions inside and the Trump ...Read more

Douglas R. Clifford/Tampa Bay Times/TNS

Florida to subpoena recreational marijuana campaign about petition fraud

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TALLAHASSEE — Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier announced plans Tuesday to subpoena the group pushing to get recreational marijuana on the 2026 ballot, saying the subpoenas were part of an “escalation” of the state’s investigation into election fraud.

The probe focuses on fraudulent petitions. In order for a proposed amendment to ...Read more

Anthony Souffle/Minnesota Star Tribune/TNS

Federal prosecutors subpoena offices of Minnesota governor, mayors, prosecutors over ICE crackdown

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MINNEAPOLIS — Federal prosecutors began delivering subpoenas Tuesday to the offices of Minnesota’s governor, the mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul, and other officials as part of an investigation into whether they’ve impeded a federal immigration crackdown in the state.

The subpoenas seek records from their offices as part of a U.S. ...Read more

E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Construction of Asian carp barrier in Illinois hits another snag

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WASHINGTON — Nine months ago, President Donald Trump signed a presidential memorandum instructing his administration to "achieve maximum speed and efficiency" in moving to block invasive Asian carp from reaching the Great Lakes.

But the key project in Illinois to erect barriers that would prevent the fish from infiltrating Lake Michigan has ...Read more

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images North America/TNS

Supreme Court doesn't rule on tariffs, with next potential decision in February

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WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court is dashing any hopes of a quick rollback of President Donald Trump’s tariffs.

The justices are set to start a four-week recess next week without having ruled on pending challenges to most of the duties Trump has imposed over the last year. After Wednesday’s hearing on Trump’s effort to fire Federal ...Read more

Omar al-Qattaa/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

Trump could still lead Board of Peace after term ends, US says

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WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump could still lead his proposed Board of Peace after he leaves the White House, a U.S. official said.

The chairmanship is Trump’s to hold until he resigns it, the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Tuesday. A future U.S. president could choose to appoint or designate the official U.S. ...Read more

Renee Jones Schneider/Minnesota Star Tribune/TNS

St. Paul church considers legal action against anti-ICE activists who 'jarringly disrupted' service

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MINNEAPOLIS — The leaders of a St. Paul church are contemplating legal action against the activists who disrupted a Sunday service after the intruders determined one of the pastors works as the acting director of ICE’s field office in St. Paul.

A statement released on Jan. 20 by Cities Church to the Minnesota Star Tribune said “the group ...Read more

News briefs

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‘This is not good policy’: Some GOP senators question advice Trump is receiving

North Carolina Sen. Thom Tillis is one of a growing number of Republicans who believe that President Donald Trump is getting faulty policy guidance from his White House advisers, potentially jeopardizing his legacy and the GOP’s chances of retaining their ...Read more

Aaron Schwartz/CNP/DPA/Abaca Press/TNS

Compared with other presidents, Trump 2.0 is one of a kind

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WASHINGTON — When matching up the first year of Donald Trump’s second term with other presidencies, there really is no comparison.

Trump’s breakneck pace since returning to office does not draw clean parallels with any single former president, historians say, though certain actions have mirrored those of several predecessors, including ...Read more

Carl Juste/Miami Herald/TNS

Mother of girl left to be killed by alligators testifies about horrors they saw

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MIAMI — The mother of a 5-year-old girl who was thrown into the Everglades and left to be eaten by alligators recounted the horror that she and her daughter suffered as prosecutors on Tuesday urged jurors to send the girl’s killer back to Florida’s Death Row.

Quatisha Maycock, affectionately nicknamed “Candy,” was excited about ...Read more

Aaron Schwartz/CNP/DPA/Abaca Press/TNS

Trump's Greenland threats push US allies to a tipping point

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WASHINGTON — An unconstrained U.S. president has sided with Russia in its war of conquest in Europe, seized Venezuela’s dictator from his bed in an attempt to take control of that country’s oil, threatened military strikes against America’s closest neighbors and sent tariffs soaring on its friends.

Donald Trump has gotten away with it ...Read more

Anthony Souffle/Minnesota Star Tribune/TNS

Minnesota officials subpoenaed in federal probe of state's response to ICE surge

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MINNEAPOLIS — The Department of Justice has subpoenaed several Minnesota officials, including Gov. Tim Walz, as part of the federal government’s investigation into whether local leaders impeded immigration operations with their public statements.

The DOJ subpoenaed the offices of Walz, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, Minneapolis ...Read more

Darren McGee/Office of Governor Kathy Hochul/TNS

NY Gov. Hochul's budget proposes record school aid, but NYC kids may still get shortchanged

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New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s election-year budget proposal on Tuesday included record investments in education to the tune of more than $39 billion — but that doesn’t necessarily mean New York City schoolkids will come out ahead.

Advocates are concerned that the governor’s plan fails to address tweaks made to a key formula ahead of the ...Read more