HARTFORD, Conn. — Vaccination bills are popping up in more than 15 states as lawmakers aim to potentially resurrect or create new religious exemptions from immunization mandates, establish state-level vaccine injury databases or dictate what providers must tell patients about the shots. Many see a political opportunity to rewrite policies...
Crowds of Joyous Palestinians Stream Into Northern Gaza — Though Uncertainty Awaits Them
WADI GAZA, Gaza Strip — From early Monday morning and hours afterward, crowds of Palestinians filled Gaza’s main coastal road for kilometers as they streamed north. With their belongings on their backs, they smiled, hugged and sang, overjoyed at the prospect of returning home after more than a year of...
What to Know About Trump’s First Executive Actions on Climate and Environment
President Trump's first week in office included a flurry of executive orders with implications for Earth's climate and environment. While former President Joe Biden made climate change a hallmark of his administration and some of his policies remain, at least for now, Trump is quickly unraveling that, even as many of his...
Rain in Southern California Creates Mudflows but Helps Firefighters
LOS ANGELES — More rain fell Monday on parts of Southern California after causing mudflows over the weekend, helping firefighters but boosting the risk of toxic ash runoff in areas scorched by Los Angeles-area wildfires. Flood watches were in effect for burn areas from recent fires that broke out around...
Former Central Star Worthy Comes Up Big for Super Bowl Bound Chiefs
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes threw for 245 yards and a touchdown, ran through the Buffalo defense for two more scores, and relied on his defense at key moments to help the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Bills 32-29 on Sunday night and reach the Super Bowl for the...
Eagles Advance to Super Bowl by Pulverizing Commanders
PHILADELPHIA — Saquon Barkley dashed 60 yards for a touchdown on Philadelphia’s first play and finished with 118 yards and three scores, Jalen Hurts rushed for three TDs and the Eagles soared into the Super Bowl with a 55-23 win over the Washington Commanders on Sunday. The Eagles will face...
State Department Freezes New Funding for Nearly All US Aid Programs Worldwide
WASHINGTON — The State Department ordered a sweeping freeze Friday on new funding for almost all U.S. foreign assistance, making exceptions for emergency food programs and military aid to Israel and Egypt. The order threatened a quick halt to many of the billions of dollars in U.S.-funded projects globally to...
As Schools in LA Reopen, Parents Worry About Harmful Ash From Wildfires
LOS ANGELES — Kelli Ferrone wiped blinds and window sills inside her daughters' elementary school, just a half mile from the devastating Palisades Fire that scorched the coastal enclave in Los Angeles. The cotton swabs and wipes came up black. There is scattered ash and soot at her feet. Outside,...
Trump Uses Mass Firing to Remove Independent Inspectors General at a Series of Agencies
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has fired about 17 independent inspectors general at government agencies, a sweeping action to remove oversight of his new administration that some members of Congress are suggesting violated federal oversight laws. The dismissals began Friday night and were effective immediately, according to two people familiar...
Hamas Frees 4 Female Israeli Soldiers in Exchange for 200 Palestinian Prisoners as Ceasefire Holds
TEL AVIV, Israel — Four female Israeli soldiers who were taken in the attack that sparked the war in Gaza returned to Israel on Saturday after Hamas militants paraded them before a crowd of thousands in Gaza City and handed them over to the Red Cross. Israel later released 200...