WASHINGTON — The White House was tinted green on Thursday, when President Joe Biden — secret service code name: Celtic — welcomed "Coach Joe" Mazzulla and the Boston Celtics to the South Lawn to celebrate the franchise's unprecedented 18th NBA championship. In a tradition believed to have begun when Bill...
Ohtani Makes History With 3rd MVP, Judge Claims 2nd AL Honor
NEW YORK — Shohei Ohtani won his third Most Valuable Player Award and first in the National League, and Aaron Judge earned his second American League honor on Thursday. Ohtani's Unanimous Victory Ohtani was a unanimous MVP for the third time, receiving all 30 first-place votes and 420 points in...
Trump Chooses Pam Bondi for Attorney General Pick After Gaetz Withdraws
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump on Thursday named Pam Bondi, the former attorney general of Florida, to be U.S. attorney general just hours after his other choice, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name. Bondi is a longtime Trump ally and was one of his lawyers during his first impeachment trial when...
Average Rate on a 30-Year Mortgage in the US Rises to Highest Level Since July
The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. edged closer to 7% this week, climbing to its highest level since July. The rate rose to 6.84% from 6.78% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. That's still down from a year ago, when the rate averaged 7.29%....
Cutting in Line? American Airlines’ New Boarding Tech Might Stop You at Now Over 100 Airports
NEW YORK — Sneaking a little ahead of line to get on that plane faster? American Airlines might stop you. In an apparent effort to reduce the headaches caused by airport line cutting, American has rolled out boarding technology that alerts gate agents with an audible sound if a passenger...
MLB Will Test Robot Umpires at 13 Spring Training Ballparks Hosting 19 Teams
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball will test robot umpires as part of a challenge system during spring training at 13 ballparks hosting 19 teams, which could lead to regular-season use in 2026. MLB has been experimenting with the automated ball-strike system in the minor leagues since 2019 but is...
Death Toll in Gaza From Israel-Hamas War Passes 44,000, Palestinian Officials Say
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — The death toll in the Gaza Strip from the 13-month-old war between Israel and Hamas has surpassed 44,000, local health officials said Thursday. The Gaza Health Ministry does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, but it has said that more than half...
Jussie Smollett’s Conviction in 2019 Attack on Himself Is Overturned
SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — The Illinois Supreme Court on Thursday overturned actor Jussie Smollett's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019 and lying to Chicago police, saying he should not have been charged a second time after reaching a deal with prosecutors. Court Finds...
Fresno Council Lowers Speed Limits on Friant and Audubon
The Fresno City Council ratified changes to speed limits made by city staff along two northeast city roads. A stretch of Friant Road from Shepherd to Copper avenues changed from 50 miles per hour to 45. On Friant between Copper Avenue and Copper River Drive, the 55 MPH limit is...
How About an Honest Conversation About the Range of Light Monument Proposal?
It sometimes seems that we have lost the ability to truly communicate with one another. It is not so much what we say to one another, but how we listen. Even friends can find it difficult to hear opposing views from each other. But the outcome can be rich if...