WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump threatened to withhold federal disaster aid for wildfire-ravaged Los Angeles unless California leaders change the state's approach on its management of water. In a Fox News Channel interview on Wednesday, Trump repeated false claims that the state's fish conservation efforts in the northern part of...
Oscar Nominations Snubs and Surprises, From Daniel Craig to Selena Gomez
PARK CITY, Utah — In one of the more wide-open Oscar fields in recent history, there were plenty of nominations surprises Thursday. Not too long ago, it seemed that people like Angelina Jolie and Nicole Kidman were destined for best actress nominations, while general audience disinterest in the young Donald Trump movie “The Apprentice” might have...
A Bid to Block Trump’s Cancellation of Birthright Citizenship Is in Federal Court
A federal judge in Seattle is set to hear the first arguments Thursday in a multi-state lawsuit seeking to block President Donald Trump’s executive order ending the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship regardless of the parents' immigration status. U.S. District Judge John Coughenour, a Ronald Reagan appointee, scheduled the session...
How the Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Deal Will Unfold —and Why It Is so Precarious
CAIRO — Israeli troops have pulled back to the edges of Gaza, the first hostages have been released and many Palestinians have returned to what remains of their homes in the first few days of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal. If it goes according to plan, there will be no fighting...
CNN Announces Layoffs as Part of a Further Shift to Digital Business
CNN expects to lay off about 200 people as part of a restructuring announced on Thursday that pivots the news organization toward a more digitally oriented future. The company's CEO, Mark Thompson, said he expects the job cuts in CNN's television business to eventually be offset by new hires for...
Jobless Claims Rise Slightly in America as Continuing Claims Hit Three-Year High
Jobless claims applications ticked up modestly last week, but the total number of Americans collecting unemployment benefits rose to their highest level in more than three years. Applications for jobless benefits rose by 6,000 to 223,000 for the week ending January 18, the Labor Department said Thursday. Analysts were expecting...
House GOP Speaker Threatens to Saddle California Wildfire Aid With Conditions
LOS ANGELES — California Republicans are pushing back against suggestions by President Donald Trump, House Speaker Mike Johnson and other Republicans that federal disaster aid for victims of wildfires that ravaged Southern California should come with strings attached, possibly jeopardizing the president's policy agenda in a deeply divided Congress at...
Who Will Be the NFL’s MVP? Five Finalists Announced
Josh Allen, Saquon Barkley, Joe Burrow, Jared Goff, and Lamar Jackson are finalists for The Associated Press 2024 NFL Most Valuable Player award. Barkley, Burrow, and Jackson also are finalists for Offensive Player of the Year, and Burrow is also in the running for Comeback Player of the Year. The...
Saudi Arabia Intends to Invest $600 Billion in US, Crown Prince Says During Call With Trump
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Saudi Arabia’s crown prince said Thursday the kingdom wants to invest $600 billion in the United States over the next four years, comments that came after President Donald Trump earlier put a price tag on returning to the kingdom as his first foreign trip. Trump's...
Hughes Fire Explodes to 10,000 Acres in 24 Hours, Triggers Evacuation Alerts for 50,000
CASTAIC, Calif. — Firefighters fought to maintain the upper hand on a huge and rapidly moving wildfire that swept through rugged mountains north of Los Angeles and resulted in more than 50,000 people being put under evacuation orders or warnings. The Hughes Fire broke out late Wednesday morning and in less than...