It would take a massive overhaul of state laws to make election administration truly nonpartisan. Voters say they want it, and experts are calling for it, but it probably isn’t coming any time soon.
President Trump Cancels Putin Meeting On Eve Of G-20
The president cited Russian aggression against Ukraine in his tweet about the change. He still has a series of meetings planned on the sidelines of the summit, including with China’s Xi Jinping.
Science Summit Denounces Gene-Edited Babies Claim, But Rejects Moratorium
The Second International Summit on Human Genome Editing issues a consensus on how scientists might responsibly move forward to create gene-edited babies in the wake of a rogue scientist’s claims.
Number Of U.S. Kids Who Don’t Have Health Insurance Is On The Rise
Economic growth usually means more kids get health insurance, but that’s not been the case during the Trump years, a study shows. For the first time in a decade, the uninsured rate for children is up.
Convicted Murderer Has Confessed To 90 Killings, FBI Says
Federal, state and local officials across the country are now on a hunt to verify the claims by Samuel Little, 78, who “may be among the most prolific serial killers in U.S. history.”
Gone Girl: Lower Manhattan ‘Fearless Girl’ Statue Is ‘On The Move’
Fearless Girl appeared across from the Charging Bull on the eve of International Women’s Day in 2017. It has now been removed and will be placed in front of the New York Stock Exchange.
Youngest Children In A Class Are Most Likely To Get ADHD Diagnosis
Harvard University researchers probed the way ADHD is assessed by taking advantage of a quirk found in many U.S. school systems that means some kids are a year younger their classmates.
Bitcoin Is Bouncing Around Again. Here Are Some Possible Causes
Bitcoin is known to be volatile. But recently it has suffered a rash of notable losses. Analysts are looking to the amount of computing power used and the split of a rival cryptocurrency for answers.
FACT CHECK: Trump’s Claims About ‘Record Clean’ U.S. Air
The president says the U.S. environment is better than it has been in years. But data from various sources paint a more complicated picture.
Democrats Pick Nancy Pelosi As House Speaker, Despite Earlier Internal Opposition
The caucus vote is just the first of two key elections Pelosi needs to win. The full House formally votes on its next speaker on Jan. 3, the first day of Congress’ next session.
Magnus Carlsen Retains His Title As World Chess Champion
Carlsen, a 27-year-old Norwegian, has held the title since 2013. He defeated Fabiano Caruana, who would have been the first U.S. citizen to win the world title since Bobby Fischer.
Businessman Gives $1,000 Checks To Every Student At Paradise High School
The California town was largely destroyed by fire earlier this month. High school “was the first, last and only truly carefree time,” said Bob Wilson, who gave $1.1 million to students and staff.
Fed Chief’s Remarks On Economy And Interest Rates Cheer Investors
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said that the outlook for the U.S. economy remains solid and that interest rates are nearly within a “neutral” range, touching off a surge in stock prices.
A Trauma Surgeon Who Survived Gun Violence Is Taking On The NRA
When Joseph Sakran was 17, he was shot in the throat after a high school football game. That experience inspired him to become a surgeon — and to speak out against gun violence.
Fast-Tracking Logging On Federal Lands May Not Lessen Wildfire Risk
The current version of the Farm Bill includes House-backed provisions that would streamline logging projects on federal land. The administration argues logging could mitigate wildfire risk.
Supreme Court Appears Ready To Make It Harder For States To Confiscate Property
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday about one of the few remaining provisions in the Bill of Rights not yet applied to the states: the ban on excessive fines.
‘That’s How I Found Out I Was Dead’: Soccer Club Fakes Player’s Demise (Poorly)
Fernando LaFuente’s former team, Ballybrack FC in Dublin, says it made an “unacceptable mistake” by falsely reporting his death in an accident. He didn’t find out about it until coworkers told him.
Mexican Government Gives Jared Kushner Highest Honors, Angering Critics
The country’s government said the Order of the Aztec Eagle goes to the White House senior adviser for his role in trade talks, a move some Mexicans are calling a “humiliation.”
Margaret Atwood Is Writing A Sequel To ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’
Atwood said that she was inspired by readers’ questions about the dystopian world of Gilead — and, she says, by “the world we’ve been living in.” It’s set to be released next September.
President Hits Mueller Hard After Report That Manafort Lawyer Briefed Trump Team
Trump’s account reposted a tweet featuring a meme that asked: “Now that Russia collusion is a proven lie, when do the trials for treason begin?”
Trump Is Expected To Extend U.S. Troops’ Deployment To Mexico Border Into January
The move would extend the rare deployment of active-duty troops at the U.S.-Mexico border, rather than only National Guard soldiers and personnel.
Russia Plans To Deploy More S-400 Missiles To Disputed Crimea Peninsula
Russia’s military already has three of the S-400 “Triumf” divisions on the Black Sea peninsula; it plans to have another in place and operational by the year’s end.
Lion Air Jet Was ‘Un-Airworthy’ In Lead-Up To Fatal Crash, Investigators Say
Indonesia’s transportation safety committee’s report addressed maintenance practices, pilot training and an anti-stall system on the Boeing 737. It did not identify a firm cause for the crash.
Authorities Describe ‘Confusion And Chaos’ At Borderline Bar Shooting In California
The FBI says they’ve found no evidence of “radicalization” of the shooter, Ian David Long, at the mass shooting at the Borderline Bar and Grill in Thousand Oaks, Calif., earlier this month.
Tijuana Residents Grow Irritated By Influx Of Central American Migrants
In Tijuana, thousands of migrants are waiting for their turn for an interview with U.S. immigration officials. Most are camped out in a squalid sports complex that’s been turned into a shelter.
Why The Abortion Rate In Pakistan Is One Of The World’s Highest
Family planning researchers point to a number of reasons. The procedure itself is legal in Pakistan — but only in limited circumstances.
If Pelosi Returns As Speaker, So Would The GOP Playbook Against Her
Tying Democrats to Nancy Pelosi did not stop a blue wave in 2018, but many Republicans say she’s still a “toxic” figure whom they could use against her party in 2020 if Speaker Pelosi returns.
Obamacare Sign-Ups Lag As Trump Slashes Funds For Enrollment Help
The Trump administration is spending $10 million this year on health care navigators — down from $63 million in 2016. Nationwide, workers are scrambling to apprise people of insurance options.
For Defense Against Active Shooters, University Hands Out Hockey Pucks
The faculty union at Michigan’s Oakland University purchased 2,500 hockey pucks to be used as a potential weapon of last resort. The pucks also double as a fundraising tool.
Republican Cindy Hyde-Smith Wins Miss. Senate Runoff After Racially Charged Campaign
Revelations about Hyde-Smith in recent weeks revived memories of the state’s dark history of racism and violence. She prevailed over Democrat Mike Espy and has to run again in 2020 for a full term.
Google Tweaks Email Program That Assumed An Investor Was Male
When Google saw that one of its predictive text technologies assumed someone’s gender based on occupation, it blocked the technology from using all gender-based pronouns.
French President Holds Firm On Clean-Energy Goals, Despite Protests
A grassroots movement in France, the mostly working-class “yellow vests,” objects to new gasoline taxes. French President Emmanuel Macron says he sympathizes, but the tax will stand.
Honduran President’s Brother Arrested In Miami On Drug Trafficking Charges
The federal indictment alleges Juan Antonio Hernández — a former lawyer and congressman in Honduras — smuggled tons of cocaine into the U.S., aided by prominent politicians and law enforcement.
U.S. Seeing Lowest Level Of Unauthorized Immigrants In A Decade, Pew Study Says
A large decline in illegal immigration from Mexico means fewer unauthorized immigrants living in the U.S., and those already here are likely to be long-term residents, according to a new study.
Stephen Hillenburg, Creator Of ‘SpongeBob SquarePants,’ Has Died At 57
The underwater world of Bikini Bottom, where the action takes place, reflects Hillenburg’s deep interest in marine life. The show has been highly successful over nearly 20 years.
After Months Stuck Living In Airport, Syrian Finds Refuge Half A World Away
Hassan Al Kontar arrived in Canada eight months after posting his first pleas for help at a Malaysian airport. He didn’t have a visa to go anywhere else — until he found allies in an unlikely place.