Maybe they came from China. Maybe from somewhere farther away. A lot farther away. The downing of four aerial devices by U.S. warplanes has touched off rampant misinformation about the objects, their origin and their purpose, showing how complicated world events and a lack of information can quickly create the perfect conditions...
Super Bowl Expected to Be Among Most-Watched TV Events in History
Fox was hoping the matchup of two top teams in the Super Bowl and a close game would lead to a record night. Even though Sunday's game between the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles came down to a field goal with 8 seconds remaining, Fox fell just short of...
Feds Giving States Over $200M to Boost ‘Red Flag’ Gun Laws, Other Interventions
The Justice Department is sending out more than $200 million to help states and the District of Columbia administer “red-flag laws” and other crisis-intervention programs as part of the landmark bipartisan gun legislation passed by Congress over the summer, officials said Tuesday. Red-flag laws, also known as extreme risk protection...
US Inflation Slows to 6.4%, but Price Pressures Re-Emerge
The pace of consumer price increases eased again in January, the latest sign that the high inflation that has gripped Americans for two years is slowing. At the same time, Tuesday’s consumer price report from the government showed that inflationary pressures in the U.S. economy remain stubborn and are likely...
Twitter’s Plan to Charge for Crucial Data Tool Prompts Outcry
In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in Turkey and Syria, thousands of volunteer software developers have been using a crucial Twitter tool to comb the platform for calls for help — including from people trapped in collapsed buildings — and connect people with rescue organizations. They could soon lose access unless they pay...
Bid to Keep Avila Beach Nuclear Reactors Running Faces Time Squeeze
A late-hour attempt to extend the life of California’s last nuclear power plant has run into a predicament that will be difficult to resolve: a shortage of time. A state analysis Monday predicted it will take federal regulators until late 2026 to act on an application to extend the operating...
CA Legislators Look to Rescind Prop 8, Enshrine Right to Same-Sex Marriage
California, a U.S. trendsetter for progressive policies and a state where the current governor once made news issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples in San Francisco before it was legal, will attempt to enshrine marriage equality in the state constitution. The effort comes 15 years after a voter-approved initiative, called...
Gunman Kills 3, Then Himself at Michigan State University
A gunman who opened fire at Michigan State University killed three people and wounded five, setting off an hourslong manhunt as frightened students hid in classrooms and cars. The shooter eventually killed himself, police announced early Tuesday. Officials do not know why the 43-year-old man, whose name was not immediately released, targeted...
Haley Announces Presidential Campaign, Challenging Trump
Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and United Nations ambassador, announced her candidacy for president on Tuesday, becoming the first major challenger to former President Donald Trump for the 2024 Republican nomination. The announcement, delivered in a video, marks an about-face for the ex-Trump Cabinet official, who said two years ago that she wouldn’t challenge...
Disney Is Planning an Avatar Experience at Disneyland
The Walt Disney Co. is planning to add an Avatar experience to Disneyland and explore other opportunities at its theme parks as it looks for more ways to appeal to its guests. While Disney announced last week that it is cutting about 7,000 jobs as part of an ambitious companywide cost-savings plan...