US & World News Archives - Page 2 of 78

State actors are behind much of the visual misinformation about the Iran war

March 6, 2026

By MELISSA GOLDIN - Associated Press

A deluge of misrepresented or fabricated videos has spread widely online since the Iran war began last weekend, fueled in part by state-linked propaganda influence campaigns — particularly around who is winning the war and how bad casualties have been. Artificial intelligence has helped fuel misinformation in ways that weren’t possible during past conflicts, even just a few years ago. Coupled with state-linked disinformation and censorship, this creates an even wider vacuum in which the truth can get lost.

After a president-filled celebration, Rev. Jesse Jackson’s family gathers for a private homegoing

March 6, 2026

MATT BROWN

The family of the Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. is honoring him with a private memorial at Rainbow PUSH headquarters in Chicago. Saturday’s service closes a week of public commemorations that included state tributes and presidential eulogies. Members of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc. conducted a private ceremony honoring Jackson at the Rainbow PUSH Coalition. Jackson’s family members invited activists and alumni of the organization to gather at its headquarters. After the final memorial service, the family and activists will hit the road for another commemoration. Members of Jackson’s family are expected to attend the annual commemoration of the “Bloody Sunday” civil rights march in Selma, Alabama.

War in the Middle East ensnares many Muslim pilgrims in travel chaos

March 6, 2026

By MARIAM FAM, NINIEK KARMINI and EILEEN NG - Associated Press

The travel chaos from the war in the Middle East has ensnared many of the Muslims who have converged on Saudi Arabia for the Umrah pilgrimage, leaving them stranded and scrambling to find other ways home. Others had to scrap their planned visits altogether. For some who performed the religious rituals, the war roiling the region has cast a pall on their experience of visiting the kingdom’s holy sites. One Indonesian government official says that as of Thursday, over 58,860 Indonesian pilgrims were stranded in Saudi Arabia. He said the government is negotiating with Saudi authorities and airlines to ease the financial burden of hotel and flight costs on the stranded pilgrims.

Noem’s firing is little comfort to Minneapolis residents struggling to recover from crackdown

March 6, 2026

By STEVE KARNOWSKI, JACK BROOK and SARAH RAZA - Associated Press

A Latino grocery owner in Minnesota says Kristi Noem’s ousting does not undo the damage from the federal immigration crackdown. He says customers still are staying home and spending far less. President Donald Trump fired Noem Thursday. Her ousting came amid mounting criticism over her leadership, including her handling of the crackdown and the aftermath of the shooting deaths of two Minneapolis residents by federal officers. Activists say community organizing helped force her out. And they say the surge sparked the formation of strong neighborhood networks that will live on and continue to push for social justice.

Trump administration’s embattled FDA vaccine chief is leaving for the second time

March 6, 2026

By MATTHEW PERRONE - AP Health Writer

The Food and Drug Administration’s controversial vaccine chief, Dr. Vinay Prasad, is once again leaving the agency. FDA Commissioner Marty Makary announced the departure to staff in an email late Friday. It’s the second time he has abruptly departed the agency following controversial decisions involving the review of vaccinations and specialty drugs for rare diseases. Makary said Prasad would return to his academic job at the University of California, San Francisco. Prasad’s time on the job has been marked by a string of reversals in the FDA’s review of vaccines and specialty drugs.

Evidence suggests the deadly blast at an Iranian school was likely a US airstrike

March 6, 2026

The Associated Press,

(CNN) JERUSALEM (AP) — Satellite images, expert analysis, a U.S. official and public information released by the U.S. and Israeli militaries suggest an explosion that killed scores of Iranian students at a school was likely caused by U.S. airstrikes that also hit an adjacent compound associated with the regime’s Revolutionary Guard. The Feb. 28 strike, which had the highest reported civilian death…

Gas prices reach their highest point under President Donald Trump.

Oil surges to its highest price since 2023, and stocks drop after data shows a weaker US job market

March 6, 2026

The Associated Press,

(CNN) NEW YORK (AP) — Oil shot to its highest price since 2023 after surging again because of the Iran war, and a weak update on the U.S. job market knocked stocks lower to cap Wall Street’s worst week since October. The S&P 500 dropped 1.3% Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average plunged as many as 945 points before finishing…

Fired Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore reaches plea deal to resolve home invasion case

March 6, 2026

By LARRY LAGE - AP Sports Writer

Former Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore has pleaded no contest to two misdemeanors in a criminal case that arose immediately after he was fired for having an inappropriate relationship with his executive assistant. The deal was struck Friday, on the same day that a judge planned to hear a challenge to Moore’s arrest in December on three charges, including felony home invasion. Those charges were dropped in exchange for Moore pleading no contest to trespassing and malicious use of a telecom device.

Russia has provided Iran with information that can help Tehran strike US military, AP sources say

March 6, 2026

The Associated Press,

(Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region, according to two officials familiar with U.S. intelligence on the matter. The people, who were not authorized to comment publicly on the sensitive matter and spoke on the condition…

Evidence suggests the deadly blast at an Iranian school was likely a US airstrike

March 6, 2026

By JULIA FRANKEL and MICHAEL BIESECKER - Associated Press

Satellite images and videos of an Iranian girls school damaged by large explosions at the start of a U.S.-Israeli airstrike campaign targeting the Islamic Republic indicate a targeted attack from the air hit the building. That’s according to military experts who spoke to The Associated Press. Iran says the blast killed at least 165 people, most of them children. The location of the strike, its affiliation to a coastal defense unit of Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard and the tight pattern of the damage suggest a targeted airstrike on the site. Several factors point to a U.S. strike, given the proximity of American forces to the school and focus on missile sites and naval forces in the war.

Russia has provided Iran with information that can help Tehran strike US military, AP sources say

March 6, 2026

By SEUNG MIN KIM and AAMER MADHANI - Associated Press

Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region. That’s according to two officials familiar with U.S. intelligence on the matter. The officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly on the sensitive matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, cautioned that the U.S. intelligence has not uncovered that Russia is directing Iran what to do with the information. Still, it’s the first indication that Moscow has sought to get involved in the war in the week-old war that the U.S. and Israel launched on Iran.

Spacecraft’s impact changed asteroid’s orbit around the sun in a save-the-Earth test, study finds

March 6, 2026

By MARCIA DUNN - AP Aerospace Writer

A new study has found that an asteroid NASA used for target practice a few years ago was nudged into a slightly different route around the sun. It’s the first time that a celestial body’s solar orbit was deliberately changed. Scientists reported Friday that the 2022 impact by the Dart spacecraft not only trimmed the asteroid’s orbit around its bigger space rock companion, but also around the sun. Researchers say their findings could help divert an incoming killer space rock given enough advance notice. The study was published in Science Advances.

Florida Bar walks back statement on investigation into Halligan, now says there is none

March 6, 2026

By FREIDA FRISARO and ERIC TUCKER - Associated Press

The Florida Bar has walked back what it said was an erroneous earlier statement its representatives had made indicating that it had an open investigation into Lindsey Halligan, a former top federal prosecutor in Virginia. A letter from a bar association representative to an advocacy group that had requested an inquiry into Halligan said that there as an “investigation pending” in response to the group’s complaint. Jennifer Krell Davis, a spokeswoman for the Florida Bar, also said Thursday that there was an “open file” but declined to comment further “as active Florida discipline cases are confidential.” On Friday, Davis issued a new statement saying the Florida Bar wrote a letter to the complainant “erroneously stating” there is a pending Bar investigation Halligan.

For survivors, Rhode Island clergy abuse report brings vindication and renewed demands

March 6, 2026

By LEAH WILLINGHAM and KIMBERLEE KRUESI - Associated Press

A report by Rhode Island’s attorney general detailing decades of sexual abuse by Catholic clergy is giving survivors a sense of vindication while renewing calls for accountability and support. The investigation identified 75 clergy members who sexually abused more than 300 children since 1950, though officials say the true number is likely higher. Survivors say the report confirms what they have long known and exposes years of secrecy within the church. Many are now speaking publicly about the lasting trauma and the struggle to be believed. They are urging church leaders to provide meaningful support for victims, including help paying for therapy and other services.

For US Muslims, immigration crackdown fears, new war worries and anti-Muslim rhetoric cloud Ramadan

March 6, 2026

By LUIS ANDRES HENAO and MARIAM FAM - Associated Press

Muslims across the United States are observing Ramadan under rising fears tied to immigration raids, anti-Muslim rhetoric, and war in the Middle East. Community members in places like Paterson, New Jersey, and Minneapolis say many are striving to maintain the Ramadan spirit while grappling with myriad concerns affecting their communities. In Minnesota, an imam says a mosque has canceled communal iftar meals after local businesses took an economic hit from the federal government’s immigration crackdown. National groups are sharing know-your-rights guidance for mosque leaders. Leaders also point to harsh anti-Muslim vitriol during the current election season. Even so, many communities keep praying, fasting and supporting one another.

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks arrested for suspicion of DUI after traffic stop

March 6, 2026

By DAVID BRANDT - AP Sports Writer

Phoenix Suns forward Dillon Brooks has been arrested for suspicion of driving under the influence in Scottsdale, Arizona. Police say they conducted a traffic stop in Scottsdale at roughly 1 a.m. Friday and Brooks was arrested after an investigation. He was taken to jail and released following the booking process around 3:30 a.m. The 30-year-old hasn’t played since Feb. 21 because of a fractured left hand. He’s expected to be out until at least late March after having surgery. The Suns say they are aware of the situation and gathering information.

Plenty of hockey talent still available with hours to go before the NHL trade deadline

March 6, 2026

By STEPHEN WHYNO and JOHN WAWROW - AP Hockey Writers

NHL trade deadline day has arrived with plenty of talented players available in a market where many top teams have already beefed up their lineup for the playoffs. Sellers seem to be in control with prices high and buyers with eyes on making the playoffs or contending for the Stanley Cup weighing a range of options. Vincent Trocheck remains with the New York Rangers, who traded Sam Carrick to Buffalo. Toronto has multiple players on the block. And St. Louis is open for business with almost everyone on its roster gettable at the right cost.

Americans stuck in the Middle East recount finding their way home with little government help

March 6, 2026

By HALLIE GOLDEN, RIO YAMAT and MICHAEL CASEY - Associated Press

Stranded Americans across the Middle East say they’ve been left to navigate flight cancellations and confusing government guidance on their own. They expressed frustration with the State Department’s directions to “depart now” on commercial flights even though much of the airspace across the Gulf remains closed or heavily restricted. Some have reported relying instead on WhatsApp group chats and friends. Since the war began on Feb. 28, about 20,000 Americans have returned safely to the U.S. The State Department said Thursday that nearly all made it out on their own. The White House pushed back on criticism that the U.S. response has been too slow. The first U.S.-organized charter flight departed the region Wednesday.

Shohei Ohtani hits a grand slam at the World Baseball Classic after putting on a show in BP

March 6, 2026

By STEPHEN WADE - AP Sports Writer

Shohei Ohtani put on a giant show in batting practice hours before he hit a grand slam in the second inning as Japan hammered Taiwan 13-0 in Pool C at the World Baseball Classic. It was Japan’s first game of four in pool play. Ohtani spoke to the crowd after the game, bowing and tipping his cap. “It was a good game and we got off to a good start, so I think it was all because of your support,” he said to rising applause as he spoke in Japanese. Ohtani’s batting practice thrilled many who had traveled from afar to see him. Ohtani drew major Western star power to Japan for the game, with actor Timothée Chalamet and pop singer Bad Bunny in the stands.

Jarring alarms out, quieter alerts in. New firehouse dispatch systems aim to ease stress

March 6, 2026

By DAVE COLLINS - Associated Press

A Connecticut city has joined hundreds of others around the country that have installed new firehouse alarm systems that aim to reduce firefighters’ stress when calls come in. Danbury rolled out the new system in September with softer volumes that gradually increase, warm red lighting, display screens and a computerized voice. Officials say it replaces an old system that instantly blared out loud tones that city firefighters found jarring. It also immediately alerts fire stations and the units needed after a call comes in, seconds faster than dispatchers can. Fire department leaders point to research that links gradually increasing alert volume to smaller heart-rate increases.

Trump appears to rule out talks with Iran absent its ‘unconditional surrender’

March 6, 2026

The Associated Press,

A group of men inspect the ruins of a police station struck Monday amid the U.S.–Israeli military campaign in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Israeli warplanes pounded Beirut and Tehran on Friday as Iran launched another wave of retaliatory strikes against Israel and Gulf countries. There was no sign of…

US employers cut a surprising 92,000 jobs last month as unemployment rate rises to 4.4%

March 6, 2026

By PAUL WISEMAN - AP Economics Writer

American employers unexpectedly cut 92,000 jobs last month, a sign that the labor market remains under strain. The unemployment rate blipped up to 4.4%. The Labor Department reported Friday that hiring deteriorated from January, when companies, nonprofits and government agencies added 126,000 jobs. The job market had been expected to rebound this year from a lackluster 2025 when the economy, buffeted by President Donald Trump’s erratic tariff policies and the lingering effects of high interest rates, generated just 15,000 a month.

Attempted suicides, fights, pain: 911 calls reveal misery at ICE’s largest detention facility

March 6, 2026

By MORGAN LEE, RYAN J. FOLEY and MICHAEL BIESECKER - Associated Press

The calls to 911 poured in from staff at Camp East Montana, the nation’s largest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention facility, in its first months of operation in El Paso, Texas. The emergencies included repeated suicide attempts by detainees, seizures, injuries from fights and a pregnant woman in pain. Data from more than a hundred 911 calls obtained by The Associated Press, interviews with detainees and court filings offer a portrait of overcrowding, medical neglect, malnutrition and emotional distress. A Department of Homeland Security spokesperson rejected claims of subprime conditions, saying detainees receive food, water and medical treatment in a facility that’s regularly cleaned.

Gulf allies complain US didn’t notify them of Iran attacks and ignored their warnings, sources say

March 6, 2026

By SAMY MAGDY, MICHELLE L. PRICE and AAMER MADHANI - Associated Press

Officials say Iran’s retaliatory attacks in the Middle East over strikes from Israel and the U.S. have left some of America’s partners in the Gulf frustrated over a lack of notice or adequate defense. The mostly private frustration comes as Pentagon officials conceded this week they’re struggling to stop waves of drones launched by Iran, leaving some U.S. targets in the Gulf region vulnerable. The Gulf countries have emerged as targets for Iran, well within the range of Iran’s short-range missiles and filled with targets, including American troops, businesses, tourist locations and energy facilities. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were discussing a confidential diplomatic matter.

Sri Lanka takes control of an Iranian vessel off its coast after US sunk an Iranian warship

March 6, 2026

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI and SHEIKH SAALIQ - Associated Press

Sri Lanka is bringing more than 200 sailors from an Iranian ship ashore after the vessel sought assistance near the Indian Ocean island nation. Sri Lankan President Anura Kumara Dissanayake said the country took control of the vessel after it reported an engine failure and that the decision followed talks with Iranian officials and the ship’s captain. The episode highlights how the conflict involving Iran is extending beyond the Middle East into the Indian Ocean, placing strategically located Sri Lanka in a delicate position as it balances humanitarian obligations and maritime law. The move involving the IRIS Bushehr came after the U.S. sank the Iranian warship IRIS Dena off Sri Lanka’s coast Wednesday.

Hong Kong ex-media mogul Jimmy Lai will not appeal national security conviction, legal team says

March 6, 2026

By KANIS LEUNG - Associated Press

The legal team for Hong Kong pro-democracy ex-publisher Jimmy Lai says he will not appeal the national security conviction for which he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Lai was found guilty in December of conspiracy to collude with foreign forces and conspiring with others to publish seditious articles. His Hong Kong legal team told The Associated Press about the decision Friday but would not comment on the reason for not appealing. Lai was one of the first prominent figures to be arrested under the security law in 2020. After the sentencing, Lai’s children said a possible visit by U.S. President Donald Trump to Beijing later this month could be crucial in securing the release of their father.

Talarico became famous with viral videos. Can Republicans turn that against him?

March 5, 2026

By JONATHAN J. COOPER - Associated Press

After James Talarico won the Democratic Senate nomination in Texas, Republicans are racing to paint him as too progressive. Conservatives started flooding social media with old clips highlighting his comments on gender, immigration and race. Republican strategists believe they can use his comments as fodder for attack ads in the general election. On Wednesday, Talarico warned supporters that powerful elites will smear him because they find him threatening. Although Talarico gained prominence through viral videos, Republicans hope to use years of on-camera musings against him.

Pentagon’s break with Ivy League leaves colleges bracing for further changes to military programs

March 5, 2026

By COLLIN BINKLEY and NICKY FORSTER - Associated Press

The Trump administration’s campaign to end “wokeness” in the military is reshaping its relationship with U.S. higher education. The Pentagon has been breaking off longstanding ties with prestigious universities that have trained generals and admirals while building new bonds with Christian schools and big public universities. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth forged ahead with his realignment last week, expelling more than a dozen elite colleges from a military fellowship that serves as a pipeline to the upper ranks of leadership. Hegseth has homed in on graduate-level programs while preserving a broader program that covers tuition for nearly 200,000 service members.

People love to hate changing clocks twice a year, but can’t agree how to fix it

March 5, 2026

By GEOFF MULVIHILL - Associated Press

This is the weekend when clocks move ahead, causing angst, lost sleep and health issues for many. Over the last decade, at least 19 states have passed laws to let them stay in daylight saving time if the federal government allows it. And some are giving serious consideration to staying in standard time — if their neighbors are willing to make the same move. There’s not a clear consensus on what to do when every solution will still leave millions of Americans in the dark later in the morning or earlier in the evening than they would like for a chunk of the year.

Celebration of life for Jesse Jackson to draw former presidents and Grammy-winning artists

March 5, 2026

By SOPHIA TAREEN - Associated Press

Three former U.S. presidents, Grammy-winning artists, clergy and elected officials are expected to attend a Chicago celebration of life Friday for the late Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. The event honoring the protege of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and two-time presidential candidate follows memorial services that drew large crowds in Chicago and South Carolina, where the civil rights leader was born. The Chicago celebration is expected to be the largest. Former Democratic U.S. presidents Barack Obama, Joe Biden and Bill Clinton plan to attend. That’s according to the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, the organization that Jackson founded.

Wisconsin man who killed his parents to fund Trump assassination attempt gets life in prison

March 5, 2026

By TODD RICHMOND - Associated Press

A Wisconsin teenager who killed his parents and stole their money to fund his plan to kill President Donald Trump has been sentenced to life in prison. Waukesha County Circuit Judge Ralph Ramirez sentenced 18-year-old Nikita Casap on Thursday to two life terms with no possibility of parole in connection with the shooting deaths of his mother and stepfather last year. According to investigators, after he killed the couple fled across the country in his stepfather’s SUV with $14,000 in cash, jewelry and passports. Investigators said he wrote a manifesto calling for Trump’s assassination and was in touch with others, including someone who spoke Russian, about his plan to kill Trump and flee to Ukraine.

Wisconsin man accused of setting fire to congressman’s office over TikTok ban gets 7 years in prison

March 5, 2026

By TODD RICHMOND - Associated Press

A Wisconsin man who allegedly told police he tried to set fire to a Republican congressman’s office last year because he was angry that the lawmaker backed a bill requiring TikTok’s Chinese owner to sell off its U.S. operations has been sentenced to seven years in prison. Court records show that in addition to the prison time, Fond du Lac County Circuit Judge Tricia Walker sentenced 20-year-old Caiden Stachowicz on Thursday to seven years of extended supervision. Stachowicz, of Menasha, pleaded no contest to an arson charge in November. His attorney, Danielle Gorsuch, said Stachowicz was suffering from a mental health crisis.

Justice Department publishes missing Epstein files involving uncorroborated claim about Trump

March 5, 2026

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER - Associated Press

The Justice Department has released additional Jeffrey Epstein files involving uncorroborated accusations made by a woman against President Donald Trump that the department said had been mistakenly withheld during an earlier review. The department said last week that it was reviewing to determine if any records were improperly withheld after several news organizations reported that the massive tranche of records that had been made public didn’t include files documenting a series of interviews conducted in 2019 with a woman who made an allegation against Trump. The department said those files had been “incorrectly coded as duplicative,” and therefore were inadvertently not published along with the millions of other Epstein files.

Mother of 2 girls found in shallow graves in Cleveland charged with murder

March 5, 2026

By MARK SCOLFORO and SUE OGROCKI - Associated Press

Police say the mother of two girls found buried inside suitcases in Cleveland has been charged with two counts of murder. Aliyah Henderson, 28, is accused of killing Mila Chatman and Amor Wilson. Their remains were recovered after a dog walker led authorities to the suitcases four days earlier. Chatman’s father, DeShaun Chatman, said Thursday he had been looking for Mila for five years before investigators told him late Wednesday she was dead. Chatman said he sought emergency custody five times and had tried to locate Mila through a child welfare agency, but those efforts were unsuccessful because he did not know where they were living.

Federal trade court lays the groundwork to force the government to start refunding more than $130 billion worth of tariffs.

More than 20 states sue over new global tariffs Trump imposed after his stinging Supreme Court loss

March 5, 2026

The Associated Press,

(CNN) WASHINGTON (AP) — Some two dozen states challenged President Donald Trump’s new global tariffs on Thursday, filing a lawsuit over import taxes he imposed after a stinging loss at the Supreme Court. The Democratic attorneys general and governors in the lawsuit argue that Trump is overstepping his power with planned 15% tariffs on much of the world. Trump has said the…

Every facet of Iran’s military and theocracy is under assault. These images show the damage

March 5, 2026

By LEE KEATH, SARAH EL DEEB and MICHAEL BIESECKER - Associated Press

The U.S. and Israel are striking a much wider array of targets in Iran than they did during 12 days of war last summer, when their focus was on the country’s nuclear enrichment sites. Experts say the aim now appears to be destroying Iran’s military and weakening the grip of its theocratic rulers. U.S. Central Command alone says it has hit more than 2,000 targets in less than a week, a far heavier barrage than any American bombing campaign in the Middle East in more than a decade. Israel says it has hit hundreds of sites. The bombardment has affected military bases, weapons factories, soldiers and police, and state TV.

Videos from officers show terrifying moments during Texas mass shooting that left 3 dead

March 5, 2026

By LEKAN OYEKANAMI - Associated Press

Police body camera footage shows bargoers and pedestrians fleeing and ducking for cover in the chaotic moments after a gunman killed three people in a mass shooting outside a Texas bar. The terrifying moments captured by officers and surveillance cameras were released Thursday. They show how the shooting that left more than a dozen others wounded unfolded quickly early Sunday in downtown Austin. Police Chief Lisa Davis says officers arrived within 56 seconds of the first 911 call. They shot and killed the gunman. Davis wouldn’t discuss the motive behind the shooting. The FBI says it’s investigating the attack as a potential act of terrorism.

Millions of Americans under threat of tornadoes as spring storm season kicks in early in the US

March 5, 2026

By JEFF MARTIN - Associated Press

Forecasters say the first major storm outbreak just ahead of spring is threatening much of the central United States. They warn all forms of severe weather will be possible, including strong tornadoes. The National Weather Service says scattered severe storms are expected to begin firing up late Thursday in the Texas Panhandle, western Oklahoma and parts of Kansas. Forecasters expect the strongest storms to spread Friday across much of Oklahoma, Kansas and Missouri, while impacting some neighboring states. The national Storm Prediction Center says more than 6 million people face the highest risk Friday. Forecasters also expect very warm weekend temperatures in many areas, up to 30 degrees above average.

Photos of Kristi Noem, Trump’s first Cabinet secretary to leave during his second term

March 5, 2026

The Associated Press

President Donald Trump fired Kristi Noem as his Homeland Security secretary Thursday amid growing criticism of her leadership, making her the first Cabinet secretary to leave during his second term. This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors. Categories: US & World News

PWHL Players Association strengthens voice by affiliating with AFL-CIO and its 15 million workers

March 5, 2026

By JOHN WAWROW - AP Hockey Writer

Women’s hockey players have taken the next major step to strengthen their voice in shaping the Professional Women’s Hockey League’s future by affiliating with the AFL-CIO. The Professional Women’s Hockey League Players Association on Thursday became the 65th union to join America’s largest labor federation, which represents nearly 15 million workers. And the PWHLPA became the 10th players association to join the AFL-CIO’s sports council, which already includes unions representing NFL, NHL, major league baseball, WNBA and women’s soccer players. The affiliation agreement coincides with women’s hockey enjoying a surge in momentum following the U.S. women’s team winning its third Olympic gold medal.

The Latest: Trump fires Homeland Security Secretary Noem amid criticism over immigration enforcement

March 5, 2026

By The Associated Press

President Donald Trump has fired his embattled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. He made the announcement Thursday. He also said he’ll nominate Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin to replace her. Trump made the announcement on social media, two days after Noem faced a grilling on Capitol Hill from GOP members as well as Democrats. Trump says he’ll make Noem a “Special Envoy for The Shield of the Americas,” a new security initiative that he said would focus on the Western Hemisphere. Noem is the first Cabinet secretary to leave during Trump’s second term. Noem’s departure caps a tumultuous tenure overseeing immigration enforcement tactics that have been met with protests and lawsuits.

Savannah Guthrie makes offscreen visit to ‘Today’ show, first since her mother went missing

March 5, 2026

AP

Savannah Guthrie made an off-camera appearance at offices of NBC’s “Today” show, her first time back since her mother Nancy went missing from her Arizona home. Guthrie made the appearance Thursday morning. “Today” said Guthrie plans to return to the air eventually but remains focused now on supporting her family. Nancy Guthrie was last seen on Jan. 31 and reported missing the next day, in what authorities believe was an abduction. The Guthrie family has posted a $1 million reward for information leading to the recovery of the 84-year-old matriarch. “Today” has been covering the story intently, and former anchor Hoda Kotb has returned to fill in for Guthrie.

MrBeast’s company fired a video editor after Kalshi accused the employee of insider trading

March 5, 2026

By JAMES POLLARD - Associated Press

A MrBeast video editor has been fired after accusations of insider trading by Kalshi. The prediction market operator says the immensely popular YouTube channel’s employee traded about $4,000 on YouTube streaming markets with “near-perfect” success. The user has been suspended from Kalshi for two years and fined $20,000. A spokesperson for Beast Industries has confirmed the editor’s firing and says the company has “no tolerance for this behavior.” The incident places Beast Industries, founded by Jimmy Donaldson, in the middle of a debate over whether prediction markets are a form of gambling. Kalshi allows participants to wager on the probable outcome of events ranging from sports to geopolitics.

Cornyn goes on offense against Paxton as Republicans await Trump’s endorsement

March 5, 2026

By THOMAS BEAUMONT - Associated Press

Sen. John Cornyn is going on offense against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton as they fight for a Republican Senate runoff, and President Donald Trump’s endorsement hangs over it all. On Thursday, Cornyn’s campaign is releasing a new video that highlights corruption and personal allegations against Paxton. The video revisits Paxton’s impeachment trial and a securities fraud case. On Wednesday, Trump said he plans to endorse one of them before the May 26 runoff and expects the other candidate to quit. Paxton says he’ll stay in the race even if Trump picks Cornyn. Republican leaders worry that Paxton’s troubles may risk the seat in the fall election.

Trump fires Homeland Security Secretary Noem after building criticism over immigration

March 5, 2026

The Associated Press,

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem appears for an oversight hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he’s replacing his embattled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and will nominate in her place Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin. Trump made the announcement on…

More than 20 states sue over new global tariffs Trump imposed after his stinging Supreme Court loss

March 5, 2026

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST and PAUL WISEMAN - Associated Press

Some two dozen states are challenging President Donald Trump’s new global tariffs in court. On Thursday, the states filed a lawsuit over import taxes he imposed after a stinging loss at the Supreme Court. Democratic attorneys general leading the suit argue that Trump is overstepping his power with planned 15% tariffs on much of the world. Trump has said the tariffs are essential to address trade deficits. He imposed duties under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 after the Supreme Court struck down tariffs he imposed last year under an emergency powers law. The new suit argues that law was intended to be used only in specific, limited circumstances.

Elimination of April transfer portal window could cause return of traditional spring football games

March 5, 2026

By STEVE MEGARGEE - AP Sports Writer

The disappearance of the spring transfer portal window offers the opportunity for a reappearance of spring football games in campuses across the country. Playing a game in front of fans to end spring practice had become a fading tradition in the age of conference networks and the transfer portal. Coaches feared the possibility that rival staffs could watch televised spring games and turn them into scouting opportunities. That’s not as much of a concern now that college football no longer has a second transfer portal window in April.

Doubles and triples are dwindling in MLB. Blame better outfielders and sluggers

March 5, 2026

By JAY COHEN - AP Baseball Writer

The number of doubles and triples in the major leagues went down again last year. There were 7,745 doubles, down from 7,771 in 2024 and 8,254 a decade ago in 2016, according to Sportradar. Triples dropped to 628, compared to 697 in 2024 and 873 in 2016. In an effort to create more action on the basepaths, Major League Baseball made the bases bigger when it changed some of its rules before the 2023 season. There was an increase in doubles, triples and steals that same year before doubles and triples resumed their downward trend. Defensive positioning and ballpark dimensions are two of the biggest factors in the decline.

Denmark is set to explore if gastronomy can be recognized as an art form

March 5, 2026

By JAMES BROOKS - Associated Press

Denmark is debating whether top-level cooking counts as art, and the country’s most theatrical restaurants sit at the center of it. The culture ministry is exploring formal recognition for gastronomy. Some chefs say food can carry ideas, emotion, and social messages, like modern performance art. They also say art status could unlock public funding and private grants. But others say food has a different purpose which must be consumed. Art voices say chefs could start competing for the same cultural money.

Iran launches new attacks and calls for ‘Trump’s blood’ while Israel strikes Iranian infrastructure

March 5, 2026

The Associated Press,

An Iranian flag is placed among the ruins of a police station struck Monday during the U.S.–Israeli military campaign in Tehran, Iran, Tuesday, March 3, 2026. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi) DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran launched a new wave of attacks Thursday at Israel, American bases and countries around the region, threatening that the United States would “bitterly regret”…

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