McALLEN, Texas — Texas is offering a parcel of rural ranchland along the U.S.-Mexico border to use as a staging area for potential mass deportations under President-elect Donald Trump. The property, which Texas originally purchased last month, is located in rural Starr County in the Rio Grande Valley. Republican Dawn...
Man Convicted of Killing Laken Riley Sentenced to Life in Prison Without Parole
ATHENS, Ga. — The Venezuelan man convicted of killing Georgia nursing student Laken Riley has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in a case that became a flashpoint in the national debate over immigration. Jose Ibarra was charged with murder and other crimes in Riley's...
Lawmakers Are Concerned About Background Checks of Trump’s Cabinet Picks as Red Flags Surface
WASHINGTON — As senators prepare to consider President-elect Donald Trump's picks for his Cabinet, they will likely be doing so without a well-established staple of the confirmation process: an FBI background check. The Trump transition team has so far not signed the requisite agreements with the White House or the...
Matt Gaetz Meets Privately With Senators to Shore Up Support as House Ethics Decision Looms
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump's choice for attorney general, Matt Gaetz, has launched an effort to personally secure his embattled nomination, meeting behind closed doors Wednesday with Republican senators who have heard questions about the sexual misconduct and other allegations against him. As Gaetz and senators holed up near the...
Visalia’s Stephen Vogt Voted AL Manager of the Year
Cleveland's Stephen Vogt and Milwaukee's Pat Murphy had the unenviable task of taking over for successful and well-liked predecessors when they were named managers of their respective teams during the offseason. Both proved to be naturals. Vogt took AL honors after leading the Guardians to 92 wins and a division title...
Pope to Make Late Italian Teenager Carlo Acutis the First Millennial Saint on April 27
ROME — Pope Francis said he will canonize Carlo Acutis next April, setting the eagerly awaited date for the late teenager to become the Catholic Church's first millennial and digital-era saint. Francis made the announcement at the end of his weekly general audience on Wednesday, saying he would proclaim the...
Lakers’ Dalton Knecht Ties NBA Rookie Record for 3-Pointers in a Game
LOS ANGELES — Dalton Knecht could only shrug when he buried his fourth consecutive 3-pointer and sent the Los Angeles Lakers ' entire arena into a frenzy. That was a very specific shrug by the Lakers rookie, however — the one made famous by Michael Jordan in the 1992 NBA Finals...
Comcast to Spin Off Cable Networks, Once Star Performers for the Entertainment Giant
WASHINGTON — Comcast will spin off many of its cable television networks that were once at the heart of the entertainment giant, with people increasingly swapping out their cable TV subscriptions for streaming platforms. USA, Oxygen, E!, SYFY Among Networks to Be Spun Off Those one-time stars for Comcast's NBCUniversal...
Target Struggles in the Third Quarter Despite Price Cuts and Offers a Tempered Holiday Outlook
NEW YORK — Target etched out a slim sales increase in the third quarter and profits slumped as inflation-weary customers pulled back on spending and costs related to a dockworker strike in October dragged on results. The Minneapolis retailer fell short of Wall Street expectations for the quarter and its...
California Governor Will Not Make Clemency Decision for Menendez Brothers Until New DA Reviews Case
SACRAMENTO — California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he won't make a clemency decision on the murder convictions of Erik and Lyle Menendez until newly elected Los Angeles County District Attorney Nathan Hochman reviews the nearly 35-year-old case. In October, prosecutors submitted a recommendation for the brothers' resentencing on the murder...