Federal Judge Halts Trump Administration's Efforts to Enforce Conditions on SNAP Funding

Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce: Fans Hunt Wedding Date

Lebanon says three soldiers killed in Israeli attack on car

ISS Astronauts Sheltered on SpaceX Dragon During Air‑Leak Repair Attempt

James Handy Stabbed to Death in Los Angeles Home; Suspect Arrested

Flare in the Gulf: New US‑Iran Skirmish Escalates Amidst Stalled Ceasefire

California Gov. Race Tightens as Xavier Becerra Advances","description":"After a slow start, Democrat Xavier Becerra moves forward in the California gubernatorial contest, facing stiff Republican and billionaire‑backed opposition amid questions about his past record and plans for the state’s future.","summary":"On election night, Xavier Becerra advanced to the general election for California governor. With over three decades in public office, he has positioned himself as the most experienced candidate, while his rivals—Trump‑endorsed Steve Hilton and billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer—vie for delegate support. Becerra’s history with COVID‑19 policy, the unaccompanied migrant children crisis, and numerous legal actions against the Trump administration are under scrutiny.\n\nThe article outlines Becerra’s credentials, the challenges he faces, and the potentials for the state’s first Latino governor.","image":"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/07f56ca/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5366x3890+0+0/resize/599x434!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F6d%2Faf%2F6470587f33f3d465b12d815db60d%2F2577b7613963412aa0acaaee0a29e96d","text":"<p style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:1em;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;\">SACRAMENTO, Calif. — After a difficult first year, Democrat <strong>Xavier Becerra</strong> clinched a spot on California’s November ballot for governor. The former state attorney general and U.S. health secretary cast his campaign as a natural continuation of Gov. Gavin Newsom’s agenda, arguing that his 35+ years of public service make him “the most qualified” candidate. “I am ready to lead the fight to uphold California’s promise to make sure we have the governance worthy of our gifts,” he said on election night.\n</p>\n\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:1em;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;\">Becerra’s campaign suffered a weak start, but the withdrawal of Rep. Eric Swalwell from the Democratic field after a sexual‑assault accusation boosted his visibility. He quickly gathered the support of key Democratic voters and the party’s endorsement machinery.\n</p>\n\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:1em;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;\">His main adversaries in the general election remain:\n</p>\n\n<ul style=\"margin-left:1em;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;\">\n<li><strong>Steve Hilton</strong> – a former Fox News commentator and endorsed by President Donald Trump, who is running as the top Republican candidate.</li>\n<li><strong>Tom Steyer</strong> – billionaire climate activist who poured $215 million of his own money into the race, positioning himself as a progressive challenger with deep financial backing.</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:1em;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;\">In his tenure as attorney general, Becerra launched more than 120 legal actions against the first Trump administration on issues ranging from immigration to climate policy, cementing his reputation as a staunch opponent of the President.\n</p>\n\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:1em;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;\">During the campaign, critics focused on his leadership as U.S. health secretary, especially in the COVID‑19 response and the 2021 management of unaccompanied migrant children in shelters. Reports of inadequate living conditions and questions about vetting sponsors raised concerns about the Department’s oversight.\n</p>\n\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:1em;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;\">Had he been elected, Becerra pledged to declare state‑of‑emergency measures to tackle soaring energy costs, housing shortages, and to freeze home‑insurance rates as a means to protect Californians in times of crisis.\n</p>\n\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:1em;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;\">California’s gubernatorial history has largely been dominated by white men. If Becerra wins, he would become the first Latino governor since the late 19th century, a symbolic milestone for the state’s diverse population.\n</p>\n\n<p style=\"margin-bottom:1em;font-family:Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:16px;\">Newsom, barred by term limits from pursuing a third term, has left a powerful vacancy that both parties are eager to fill, turning the November election into a high‑stakes contest for the state's future direction.\n</p>

Alaskan Ranger Dies After Falling Into Crevasse on Denali

Inflation Soars Back into American Wallets, Ignoring “Blue State” Narrative","description":"U.S. inflation hit 3.8% in April, fueled by rising gas and tariffs, showing that high prices affect both Democratic and Republican states.","summary":"- 3.8% CPI rise in April, up from a year earlier.\n- Gas prices jumped 40% nationwide.\n- Core inflation rose to 2.8%.\n- Trimmed‑mean metrics differ across Fed branches.\n- Inflation climbs in both blue and red regions.","image":"<img src=\"https://dims.apnews.com/dims4/default/996b277/2147483647/strip/true/crop/5616x3744+0+0/resize/599x399!/quality/90/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fassets.apnews.com%2F7e%2F82%2Fb355d07441dff55c1655c6a7818f%2F9b911f52f91d4bc88119827d8d476598\" alt=\"A motorist pumps fuel at a Shell station\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;\">","text":"<div style=\"font-family:Arial,sans-serif;font-size:16px;line-height:1.6;\"><h2 style=\"font-size:24px;margin-bottom:12px;\">Inflation Soars Again as Gas Prices and Tariffs Push Prices Higher</h2><p style=\"margin-bottom:12px;\">After a period of easing in 2024 and early 2025, U.S. inflation climbed to 3.8% in April, the highest rate in three years. The rise is squeezing Americans’ budgets, making gas more expensive and driving grocery prices up.</p><p style=\"margin-bottom:12px;\">During a recent debate, financial commentator Larry Kudlow asked National Economic Council director Kevin Hassett whether inflation is still a problem. Hassett said the picture was “on a deep downward dive,” but only if blue states were excluded.</p><p style=\"margin-bottom:12px;\">The data, however, tells a different story. Inflation is high in all major census regions. The Pacific region, dominated by states like California, Washington, and Oregon, logged a 3.5% rise in April, below the national average. In contrast, the East South Central region—Mississippi, Alabama, Kentucky, and Tennessee—recorded a 4.5% increase.</p><p style=\"margin-bottom:12px;\">Gas prices are a major driver. According to AAA, the national average rose over 40% in 2024. Even in traditionally \"red\" states, fuel costs have spiked. While Texas’ average was $3.72 a gallon, California’s was $5.98, illustrating regional disparities.</p><p style=\"margin-bottom:12px;\">Hassett’s claim about a “deep downward dive” focuses on the trimmed‑mean or core inflation. Those measures exclude volatile food and energy items. In reality, core CPI rose from 2.5% in January to 2.8% in April. The Fed’s Preferred PCE gauge also climbed to 3.3% in April.</p><p style=\"margin-bottom:12px;\">Experts warn that trimmed‑mean metrics can be misleading during sharp price surges. The Dallas Fed noted the measure dropped slightly from 2.5% to 2.3% in that year, yet the Cleveland Fed’s version ticked up to 2.8%.</p><p style=\"margin-bottom:12px;\">Overall, inflation remains a nationwide concern that affects both Democratic and Republican states. The expense of gas, higher tariffs, and shifting supply chains are pushing prices out across the country.</p></div>

Colorado Court Orders New Trials for Paramedics Convicted in Elijah McClain Case

Judge Finds Trump‑Era Immigration Policy Unlawful, Restores Pathways for 39 Nations","description":"A federal judge invalidated a Trump‑administered policy that had barred immigrants from 39 countries from obtaining asylum, work permits, green cards and citizenship, citing violations of statutory authority and racial discrimination.","summary":"U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. struck down the policy, ending the indefinite legal limbo that left thousands of immigrants unsure about their lives. The ruling reaffirms that the federal government cannot arbitrarily shut down lawful immigration channels or discriminate based on national origin.","image":"https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1580027779742-c9031b37dd02?crop=entropy&cs=tinysrgb&fit=max&fm=jpg&ixid=MnwxMjA3MDV8MHwxfGFsbHx8fHx8fHx8&ixlib=rb-1.2.1&q=80&w=1110","text":"<p><strong>Boston (AP)</strong> — A federal judge on Friday struck down a Trump administration policy enacted after the shooting of two National Guard members, making it harder for immigrants from dozens of countries to stay and enter the U.S.</p>\n\n<p>In a ruling harshly criticizing the administration, U.S. District Chief Judge John McConnell Jr. said the policy “threw the lives of countless immigrants living in the United States into indeterminate legal limbo,” and accused the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services of ignoring the law.</p>\n\n<p>“In enacting its latest immigration policies, USCIS claims statutory and regulatory authority that it does not possess; makes decisions without the reasoned explanations that it must provide; acts without regard for the reliance interests of applicants that it must consider; and justifies its actions with pretextual concerns of ‘national security’ that mask anti‑immigrant sentiments that it is forbidden from letting influence its decision‑making,” the judge wrote. “In legal terms that means USCIS’s actions are contrary to law and arbitrary and capricious.”</p>\n\n<p>The policies enacted after the National Guard shooting last year meant that immigrants from 39 African, Asian, Latin‑American, and Middle‑Eastern countries have been “categorically barred” from receiving final decisions on asylum, work permits, green cards, and citizenship applications.</p>\n\n<p>“This ruling reaffirms a basic principle: the federal government cannot shut down lawful immigration pathways or discriminate against people based on where they come from,” said Skye Perryman, president and CEO of Democracy Forward, which represented the plaintiffs. “These unlawful policies caused enormous harm to families, workers, asylum‑seekers, and communities across the country who were left in limbo, unable to work, access protections, or move forward with their lives.”</p>\n\n<p>The policies apply to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which approves applications for immigrants to work and become citizens. The agency, which is within the Department of Homeland Security, often grants asylum only to those already in the United States when they apply. Immigration judges grant asylum to those stopped at the border; the ruling does not affect them, nor does it affect the policies that sparked the lawsuit.</p>\n\n<p>The court dismissed the government’s motion to uphold the policy, which the administration argued that Congress had given the executive branch broad authority over immigration policy. The government also claimed it had discretion to confer or withdraw discretionary benefits.</p>\n\n<p>“This case rests on a remarkable premise: that a federal court should prevent an agency from issuing the very policy guidance that provides government personnel with the guardrails necessary to ensure consistent, non‑arbitrary, and individualized decision‑making consistent with federal law,” the government wrote in its brief.</p>\n\n<p>Immigration groups celebrated the ruling. “This ruling sets a powerful precedent that the administration cannot ignore the law as laid down by Congress and cannot arbitrarily bar immigration benefits on the basis of national origin by fiat,” said Jamal Abdi, president at the National Iranian American Council. “Fortunately, this is still a nation of laws, and those who uphold America’s values have recourse to challenge and push back on such discriminatory, arbitrary policies.”</p>\n\n<p>Shawn VanDiver, a Navy veteran who heads a coalition that supports Afghan resettlement efforts called #AfghanEvac, said the ruling was a “significant victory for the rule of law and for thousands of Afghan allies and other immigrants who followed every requirement asked of them.” He added that delayed work‑permit renewals had threatened livelihoods, families had postponed education, travel, and homeownership, and future Americans had expected citizenship only to see their applications stall without explanation.</p>\n\n<p>“Just this week in Dallas and Fort Worth, we met people who feared losing jobs because delayed work permit renewals threatened their livelihoods, families who postponed education, travel, and homeownership because they did not know when their cases would be resolved, and future Americans who had expected to become citizens only to see their applications stall without explanation,” VanDiver said.</p>\n\n<p>The decision reflects ongoing efforts by the administration to tighten U.S. entry standards for travel and immigration, in what critics say unfairly prevents travel for people from a broad range of countries. The administration suggested it would expand the restrictions after the arrest of an Afghan national suspect in the shooting of two National Guard troops over Thanksgiving weekend.</p>\n\n<p>For now, the United States will see the restoration of lawful immigration pathways for the affected groups, and the case stands as a reminder that agencies must operate within the constraints of federal law and cannot arbitrarily deny benefits based on national origin.</p>

Rank 81-Year-Old Actor James Handy Killed in L.A.; Suspect Arrested

$176 Million Verdict: Los Angeles Jury Holds Socialite and Former Dodger Pitcher Liable for Twins' Deaths","description":"A Los Angeles jury has awarded parents $176 million after a hit‑and‑run collision killed two young brothers in 2020, holding Rebecca Grossman and former Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson negligent.","summary":"A jury in Los Angeles has awarded parents of 11‑ and 8‑year‑old brothers killed in a 2020 crosswalk incident $176 million for wrongful death and emotional distress. Both Rebecca Grossman and former Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson were found negligent; Grossman is already serving a 15‑year‑to‑life sentence for the crime. The case underscores the impact of speeding, distracted driving and the importance of accountability after a tragic accident.","image":"https://via.placeholder.com/800x600?text=Jury+Decision","text":"<p style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0; font-size:18px;\"><strong>$176 Million Verdict: Los Angeles Jury Holds Socialite and Former Dodgers Pitcher Liable for Twins' Deaths</strong></p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0; line-height:1.5;\"><strong>The jury verdict</strong> was announced Wednesday in a case that has spanned six years. The parents of 11‑year‑old Mark Iskander and 8‑year‑old Jacob Iskander received $176 million in damages for wrongful death and emotional distress after a California socialite’s car collided with the boys in a crosswalk on September 29, 2020.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0; line-height:1.5;\"><strong>Negligence findings</strong> held Rebecca Grossman—currently serving a 15‑year‑to‑life sentence for second‑degree murder, gross vehicular manslaughter and hit‑and‑run driving—and former Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Scott Erickson liable. Grossman, a co‑founder of the Grossman Burn Foundation and wife of a prominent burn doctor, was said to have driven 73 mph on a road with a 45 mph limit; Erickson was also speeding and “narrowly missed” the children. The civil suit was filed in April, and the trial is set to resume Friday to decide whether punitive damages will be added.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0; line-height:1.5;\"><strong>Legal arguments</strong> from Brian Panish, the Iskander family’s attorney, emphasized reckless driving after a joint margarita‑drinking session. He argued the collision was “totally preventable” and that the parents “never came home.” Grossman’s attorney Esther Holm denied intoxication, claiming her client was distracted by Mississippi Iskander’s mother. Erickson’s lawyer Jeff Braun called the tragedy a tragedy but maintained that his client’s vehicle did not come into contact with the children.</p>\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 10px 0; line-height:1.5;\"><strong>The bigger picture</strong> highlights the broader consequences of speeding, driver distraction and the signifying role of accountability in civil and criminal courts. The verdict demonstrates how a long‑running litigation can culminate in a substantial settlement when negligence is proven.</p>\n

Hartford Officer Charged With Manslaughter After Fatal Shooting in Mental Health Crisis

NASA orders ISS crew to shelter amid worsening air leak

ICE Cuts Death Reporting After Detainee Release

Ebola counts fall in DR Congo, but still a long road to safety

Virginia Murder Case: Former IRS Officer Faces Life Sentence","description":"A former IRS agent, entangled in an affair with a Brazilian au pair, is set to be sentenced for a plot that culminated in the deaths of his wife and an unsuspecting man.","summary":"Brendan Banfield, a former IRS law‑enforcement officer, is scheduled for sentencing in a case where he allegedly conspired with Philippine‑Brazilian au pair Juliana Peres Magalhães to murder his wife Christine and a man they lured to the family home as a fall‑guy. The prosecution argues that Banfield’s affair and jealousy underpinned the deadly scheme. Banfield was found guilty of murder, child endangerment and other charges. Magalhães pleaded guilty to manslaughter and was sentenced to ten years after agreeing to testify.","image":"https://example.com/banfield.jpg","text":"<p>Brendan Banfield, a former IRS law‑enforcement officer, is scheduled to be sentenced this Friday for the murder of his wife Christine Banfield and the death of a man he lured to the Banfields’ home as a fall‑guy.</p><p>Banfield claimed he shot Joseph Ryan after the latter supposedly attacked his wife on the morning of February 24, 2023. Prosecutors say instead that Banfield and his Brazilian au pair, 21‑year‑old Juliana Peres Magalhães, plotted to get rid of Christine, a pediatric intensive‑care nurse, to secure custody of their four‑year‑old child.</p><p>During the trial, Magalhães testified that Banfield had told her he wanted to marry her and have children, but that he first needed to “get rid of” his wife. He expressed a desire to remain with the child and avoided a divorce because he believed a split would leave Christine with more financial resources.\n</p><p>The prosecution established that Magalhães and Banfield impersonated Christine on a fetish‑network website to lure Ryan to the home in Herndon, Virginia. They staged the scene to look like a violent intruder attack.</p><p>On the day of the killings, Magalhães waited in a car with the child, while Banfield was at a nearby McDonald’s. After Ryan entered the house, Banfield shot him, after which he stabbed Christine with the knife Ryan had brought. Magalhães fired a second shot that killed Ryan when he was moving.</p><p>Magalhães pleaded guilty to manslaughter after agreeing to cooperate with the prosecution, and was sentenced to ten years in prison following Banfield’s trial. Banfield now faces a potential life sentence for murder, in addition to his conviction of child endangerment for having a four‑year‑old in the household during the killings. </p>

Snapper Season Stirs Legal Fire Over Fishermen Rights

Southern Baptists Debate Women Pastors Amid Political Stances","description":"For the fourth year in a row, Southern Baptists plan to revisit their ordinance on women pastors while grappling with a host of political issues, from immigration to anti‑Semitism. The annual convention in Orlando will see 11,000 church delegates vote on a proposed amendment that would bar churches from having women in any pastoral or supervisory role. The outcome could reshape the church’s most conservative tradition, while the convention’s political leanings—particularly its support for Donald Trump—further fuel the debate.","summary":"The Southern Baptist Convention’s July 2026 meeting in Orlando will address a long‑standing debate: whether to ban churches that have women in pastoral roles. At the same time, delegates will tackle policy on immigration, humane treatment of migrants, and responses to anti‑Semitic violence, while their well‑known Republican leanings invite scrutiny. The proposed amendment, backed by South Baptist theologian Albert Mohler and outgoing president Clint Pressley, would codify a prohibition on women leading churches. However, it currently lacks a supermajority in the convention’s two‑thirds rule. The discussion is part of a broader trend in which Southern Baptists face declining membership yet increasing baptisms, while grappling with controversies over gender doctrine, immigration, and political alignment. The convention serves as a bellwether for evangelical political sentiment in the United States and a platform for the denomination’s internal tensions over gender, authority, and the interaction between church and politics.","image":"" ,"text":"<p>Southern Baptists will convene in Orlando for a two‑day annual meeting that will again ask whether to formally ban churches with women serving in any pastoral capacity. For the fourth year in a row, delegates will debate an amendment that would proscribe any church that \"affirms, appoints, or endorses a woman serving in the office or function of a pastor, elder, overseer, or preaching to the assembled congregation.”</p>\n\n<p>Recent years have seen the convention push back against any church that puts a woman in a top pastoral position, expelling such churches for breaking biblical protocol. Yet the status of churches with female assistant pastors remains unsettled.</p>\n\n<p>Minister Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, has called for clear constitutional language that would settle the controversy. He argued the debate has consumed too much time and that clarity would welcome all churches to cooperate in “friendly” efforts.</p>\n\n<p>Outspoken conservative leaders such as senior pastor Robert Jeffress have applauded the denomination’s alignment with President Donald Trump. Jeffress defended Trump’s creation of a Religious Liberty Commission and his use of the President’s office to challenge what he sees as unfair scrutiny of churches by the IRS. The convention’s political association is part of a broader trend: Southern Baptists make up a core element of the white evangelical bloc that voted heavily for Trump in 2020 and 2024.</p>\n\n<p>The meeting will also address a resolution for humane treatment of immigrants that rejects nativistic rhetoric while affirming the government’s role in enforcement. The conventionalist Senate election also looked at a resolution that denounced anti‑Semitic violence, reinforcing the denomination’s historic evangelization of Jews—an initiative that drew backlash from Jewish leaders in 1996.</p>\n\n<p>The convention’s conversations reach beyond a single issue. More broadly, it measures how the circle of independent churches can shape policy in an era of shrinking membership. While baptisms have risen, the total number of Southern Baptists has fallen to a low not seen since 1973—down to 12.3 million worldwide—prompting debate on the future directions of southern Baptist policy.</p>\n\n<p>In a world that is increasingly divided, religious leaders are expected to navigate both theological and political turbulence while maintaining a clear stance on issues such as the role of women, immigration, and the interaction between faith and public policy.</p>