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East Wing demolition highlights loopholes in preservation law
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration’s decision to demolish the East Wing of the White House without consulting preservation agencies and organizations is a reflection in part of the unusual position the building has in historical preservation law.
And when it comes time to ...Read more
Harvard University lifts 'shelter in place' order, person of interest sought
BOSTON — Hours after police lifted a shelter-in-place warning after a gun was fired near Radcliffe Quad at Harvard University, a person of interest was broadcast.
The Cambridge police issued photos of that person, asking anyone who recognizes him or has any information on the incident to call detectives at 617-349-3121.
It was a tense time ...Read more
A mysterious road trip, a young girl in a wig: New clues emerge in Melodee Buzzard's disappearance
LOS ANGELES — A Southern California mother rented a car this month and drove her 9-year-old daughter halfway across the country, to Nebraska.
Three days later she returned home alone, and has since refused to answer questions about the girl's whereabouts.
Now, Ashlee Buzzard's road trip has become the central focus of the FBI's and Santa ...Read more
Trump aims to sign mineral deals in Asia to raise pressure on Xi
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will look to sign economic agreements and critical minerals deals with trading partners during his trip to Asia, according to senior U.S. officials, as the administration moves to ramp up pressure on China ahead of a crucial meeting with Xi Jinping.
Trump will look for deals that will help unlock the region...Read more
Three dead in Haiti in landslides from Tropical Storm Melissa; Jamaica begins shutdown
Though the full effects of Tropical Storm Melissa have yet to be felt in the Caribbean, Haiti’s disaster office said Friday three people have already died and another was injured in a landslide attributed to the storm’s heavy rains.
Two people were killed Thursday in Fontamara, a community south of Port-au-Prince, in the West regional ...Read more
Pentagon receives $130 million anonymous gift to pay troops
WASHINGTON — The Pentagon said it received an anonymous $130 million donation to pay the military during the U.S. government shutdown, a move the administration might not legally be able to carry out.
“On October 23, 2025, the Department of War accepted an anonymous donation of $130 million under its general gift acceptance authority,” ...Read more
Federal immigration enforcement surge is now paused in East Bay too, Oakland mayor says
A planned increase in federal immigration enforcement in the Bay Area is now on pause throughout the region and in major East Bay cities, not just in San Francisco, Oakland Mayor Barbara Lee said Friday.
Lee said in a statement that Alameda County Sheriff Yesenia Sanchez had "confirmed through her communications" with federal immigration ...Read more
University of California must publicly release Trump administration's $1.2 billion settlement proposal
LOS ANGELES — UCLA must release the Trump administration document that outlines the terms of the $1.2 billion settlement proposal at the center of talks between the University of California and the federal government, the California Supreme Court ruled Friday.
The decision is a win for UCLA faculty who have pushed for more transparency in the...Read more
East Wing demolition highlights loopholes in preservation law
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration’s decision to demolish the East Wing of the White House without consulting preservation agencies and organizations is a reflection in part of the unusual position the building has in historical preservation law.
And when it comes time to jump through bureaucratic hoops to construct the actual 90,000-...Read more
NY Attorney General Letitia James pleads not guilty to fraud charges in first appearance at Norfolk federal court
NORFOLK, Va. — New York Attorney General Letitia James on Friday pleaded not guilty in U.S. District Court to charges accusing her of misleading a bank in an effort to get a lower interest rate for a house she bought here in 2020. Jones asked the court to dismiss the charges in a motion filed afterward.
A tentative trial date was set for Jan....Read more
Gov. JB Pritzker throws cold water on remote learning for Chicago Public Schools students in response to ICE raids
CHICAGO — Mayor Brandon Johnson urged Gov. JB Pritzker Friday to weigh allowing Chicago public school students to learn from home because ICE agents are arresting parents and students on their way to and from schools.
Pritzker later took a dim view of the idea, saying kids belong in classrooms and pointing to ways schools and residents have ...Read more
Social Security benefits to rise slightly
WASHINGTON — Social Security beneficiaries will see a 2.8% increase in their retirement benefits in 2026, slightly higher than the 2.5% cost-of-living adjustment provided this year, the Social Security Administration announced Friday.
Monthly benefits will increase by roughly $56 beginning in January, the agency said, in an effort to keep ...Read more
Mayor Bass selects longtime LAFD leader to head department
LOS ANGELES — A longtime Los Angeles Fire Department leader who is currently the head of the agency's Valley operations will become the department's new chief, Mayor Karen Bass confirmed Friday.
Jaime Moore, currently a deputy chief, will take the reins after a lengthy, nationwide search during which the mayor interviewed fire chiefs of other...Read more
Federal judge appears poised to order release of at least some 'Operation Midway Blitz' arrestees
CHICAGO — A Chicago federal judge appeared poised Friday to order at least a portion of the thousands of people detained in “Operation Midway Blitz” released on electronic monitoring while litigation continues over whether immigration officials have violated a consent decree restricting so-called warrantless arrests.
U.S. District Judge ...Read more
'Make or break moment': Supreme Court is set to rule on Trump using troops in US cities
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court is set to rule for the first time on whether the president has the power to deploy troops in American cities over the objections of local and state officials.
A decision could come at any time.
And even a one-line order siding with President Donald Trump would send the message that he is free to use the ...Read more
US Treasury sanctions Colombia President Petro over alleged role in drug trafficking
The U.S. Treasury Department imposed sanctions Friday on Colombian President Gustavo Petro, following a spat with President Donald Trump over military strikes in the Caribbean and drug trafficking in the South American nation.
The sanctions marked an unprecedented escalation in tensions with a country that has been for decades one of Washington...Read more
California kills 4 wolves, removes pack after Sierra cattle attacks
California wildlife officials euthanized four gray wolves in Sierra Valley and plan to relocate three more to a wildlife sanctuary, after months of nonlethal efforts failed to prevent livestock attacks that cost ranchers tens of thousands of dollars and terrified residents.
The dramatic steps will have the effect of moving the entire Beyem Seyo...Read more
Video shows security opening fire on U-Haul truck outside Coast Guard base in California
The FBI is investigating a Thursday night shooting outside a U.S. Coast Guard base in the San Francisco Bay Area, where the driver of a U-Haul truck reversed toward security officers who responded with a volley of gunfire, wounding the motorist and a civilian nearby.
In video from KPIX, the U-Haul is shown slowly reversing onto the bridge ...Read more
Trump expected to name White House ballroom after himself, report says
President Donald Trump is expected to name the new White House ballroom, being constructed where the East Wing once stood for more than 120 years, after himself.
Trump insiders are already referring to the $300 million project as “The President Donald J. Trump Ballroom,” which is likely to become its official name, administration sources ...Read more
US retirees will get 2.8% increase in 2026 Social Security checks
WASHINGTON — Monthly checks for nearly 71 million Americans receiving Social Security benefits will increase by 2.8% next year, a slightly larger adjustment than seen in 2025.
The cost-of-living adjustment, known as COLA, will apply to Social Security benefits starting in January and increase the average benefit for retired workers by about $...Read more
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