WASHINGTON — House Republicans stayed up all night to pass their multitrillion-dollar tax breaks package, with Speaker Mike Johnson defying the skeptics and unifying his ranks to muscle President Donald Trump's priority bill to approval Thursday. With last-minute concessions and stark warnings from Trump, the Republican holdouts largely dropped their...
Judge Blocks Trump Admin From Dismantling Education Department
WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Thursday blocked President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at dismantling the Education Department and ordered officials to reinstate thousands of fired employees in a ruling that marked at least a temporary setback for the president and his plans. The decision from Judge Myong J....
Gavin Newsom’s Off-the-Mark Budget Numbers Undermine His Credibility Again
This commentary was originally published by CalMatters. Sign up for their newsletters. Gov. Gavin Newsom's revised state budget assumes California will see a sharp decline in projected revenue, largely because President Donald Trump's tariffs will slow the nation's economy. Newsom blames a "Trump slump," as well as an unanticipated increase...
Meet Petunia. She Makes Hearts Melt With Every Purr
In the enchanting world of feline friends, there's a special place for 1-year-old Petunia — a curious little piggy with a heart as playful as her spirit is adventurous. This sweet soul, lovingly nicknamed by her foster mom, is a testament to the joy that unfolds when curiosity meets a...
Average Rate on a US 30-Year Mortgage Rises to 6.86%, Its Highest Level Since Mid-February
The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. climbed this week to its highest level since mid-February, a setback for home shoppers that threatens to slow sales further this spring homebuying season. The rate increased to 6.86% from 6.81% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A...
Stocks Drift as Worries About the US Government’s Soaring Debt Continue to Weigh
NEW YORK — Stocks are drifting on Wall Street Thursday following a rocky week so far because of worries coming out of the bond market about the U.S. government's debt. The S&P 500 rose 0.1% in afternoon trading, coming off a sharp loss that has it potentially heading for its...
Institute of Peace Reclaims Its Headquarters After Court Win Over Musk’s Cost-Cutting Team
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Institute of Peace retook control of its headquarters Wednesday, two days after a federal judge said the firing of its board and employees by Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency was illegal. The institute's acting president, George Moose, entered the organization's headquarters with private security and...
Kid Cudi Says His Car Was Set on Fire Weeks After Sean Combs Broke into His Home
NEW YORK — Rapper Kid Cudi testified Thursday that Sean "Diddy" Combs broke into his Hollywood Hills home in 2011 after finding out he was dating Combs' ex-girlfriend, the R&B singer Cassie, and that someone set fire to his car weeks later. Speaking at Combs' sex trafficking trial in Manhattan...
Israeli Politician’s Criticism of Gaza War Toll on Palestinians Sparks Outcry
TEL AVIV, Israel — Killing babies “as a hobby.” “Expelling a population.” “Fighting against civilians.” It is some of the harshest language against Israel’s wartime conduct in Gaza and it came this week from a prominent Israeli politician, sparking a domestic uproar as the country faces heavy international criticism. It is not uncommon...
CA State Senator Cited for Suspicion of Impaired Driving, Says She Wasn’t Intoxicated
SACRAMENTO — A California state lawmaker denied having any alcohol and drugs in her system after Sacramento police cited her earlier this week on suspicion of driving under the influence. Sacramento police responded at around 1:30 p.m. Monday to a report of a vehicle crash involving state Sen. Sabrina Cervantes,...