NEW YORK — Citigroup intentionally discriminated against Armenian Americans when they applied for credit cards, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said Wednesday. The bureau said some bank employees argued internally that Armenian Americans were more likely to commit fraud and referred to applicants as “bad guys” or as affiliated with...
Nextdoor Slashes Staff as Neighborhood Social Network Works to Cut Costs
NEW YORK — Nextdoor is laying off 25% of its full-time staff as the neighborhood-focused social network company cuts costs with its losses widening. The job eliminations are part of a larger cost reduction plan that aims to slash Nextdoor's current personnel expenses by up to $60 million annually, the...
Democrats Win in Several States on Abortion Rights and Other Highlights From Tuesday’s Elections
WASHINGTON — Democrats had plenty of good news to celebrate in Tuesday’s off-year elections and more evidence that they can win races centered on the national debate over abortion. Abortion rights supporters won an Ohio ballot measure and the Democratic governor of beet-red Kentucky held onto his office by campaigning on reproductive rights...
California Unveils Native American Monument at Capitol, Replacing Missionary Statue Toppled in 2020
SACRAMENTO — An eight-foot-tall bronze statue of a late Native American leader known for preserving cultural dances now stands surrounded by trees in a historic park outside of California's state Capitol building, replacing a statue of a Spanish missionary that protesters toppled it in 2020. California lawmakers, tribal leaders and...
House Votes to Censure Rep. Rashida Tlaib Over Her Israel-Hamas Rhetoric in a Stunning Rebuke
WASHINGTON — The House voted late Tuesday to censure Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan — the only Palestinian American in Congress — an extraordinary rebuke of her rhetoric about the Israel-Hamas war. The 234-188 tally came after enough Democrats joined with Republicans to censure Tlaib, a punishment one step below expulsion...
Israel Comes Under Pressure Over Plight of Civilians in Gaza as Thousands Flee Enclave’s North
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Israel came under mounting pressure over the plight of civilians in Gaza from some of its closest allies on Wednesday, as thousands of Palestinians streamed out of the enclave’s north on foot because of dwindling food and water and fear of approaching Israeli forces. Over...
Raging Fire Destroys Massive World War II-Era Blimp Hangar in Southern California
TUSTIN, Calif. — A raging fire Tuesday destroyed a massive World War II-era wooden hangar that was built to house military blimps based in Southern California, and authorities said the blaze could burn for days. The Orange County Fire Authority said in a social media post that allowing the structure...
5 Years After California’s Deadliest Wildfire, Survivors Forge Different Paths Toward Recovery
PARADISE, Calif. — On the day Paradise burned, Gwen Nordgren stopped her car just long enough to rescue a young woman escaping by foot. By that time on Nov. 8, 2018, the sky was black even though the sun had been up for hours. Both sides of the street were...
The Biden Administration Says Colleges Must Fight ‘Alarming Rise’ in Antisemitism and Islamophobia
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is warning U.S. schools and colleges that they must take immediate action to stop antisemitism and Islamophobia on their campuses, citing an “alarming rise” in threats and harassment. In a Tuesday letter, the Education Department said there's “renewed urgency” to fight discrimination against students during...
NATO Freezes a Cold War-Era Security Pact After Russia Pulls Out, Raising Questions on Arms Control
BRUSSELS — NATO member countries that signed a key Cold War-era security treaty froze their participation in the pact on Tuesday just hours after Russia pulled out, raising fresh questions about the future of arms control agreements in Europe. The Treaty of Conventional Armed Forces in Europe Many of NATO’s...