The state’s large share of African-American Democratic voters and a well-timed spot on the 2020 primary calendar make it a critical state for presidential candidates.
‘No More Xenophobia’: Calif. Governor Criticizes Trump On Immigration
In his first State of the State speech Tuesday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom wasted no time in criticizing what he called President Trump’s “fear-mongering” over the “so-called ‘border emergency.'”
Apple, Google Criticized For Carrying App That Lets Saudi Men Track Their Wives
An app that allows men to track the whereabouts of their wives and daughters is available in the Apple and Google app stores in Saudi Arabia. The firms are getting blowback for carrying the app.
Woman Breaks Into Houston Home To Smoke Pot And Is Greeted By A Tiger
By Tuesday, the tiger was headed to a sanctuary outside the city, while officials have launched a criminal probe in search of its owner.
President Trump And Allies Push To Save A Very Specific Coal Plant
President Trump and other Republicans are pressuring the Tennessee Valley Authority not to close a coal plant in Kentucky. A major Trump backer supplies the plant with most of its coal.
NASA Says Ultima Thule Actually Looks Like A Pancake And A Walnut
They had initially thought the object four billion miles from Earth looked like a snowman. The New Horizons spacecraft flew by it on New Year’s Day and new images give scientists a clearer picture.
Fairfax Continues To Preside Over Va. Senate As Staffers Resign, Investigation Begins
Virginia’s Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, a Democrat, is on leave at his full-time employer, an international law firm, as it pursues an investigation into the sexual assault allegations against him.
Historic Black Church Donates $100,000 To Pay Off Debts Of Howard U. Students
The idea that bridging small financial shortfalls for students can make a big impact is starting to gain attention. For 34 students, a Virginia church’s donation has eased the burden.
High-Stakes Trial Against Catalan Separatist Leaders Gets Underway In Madrid
The divisive trial could end with prison sentences of up to 25 years for some of the defendants charged for their roles in Catalonia’s 2017 failed independence bid.
Wreckage Of WWII Aircraft Carrier Found In The South Pacific Ocean
The Hornet played a role in several key events in the war – including the Doolittle Raid on Japan and the Battle of Midway. Researchers have located it 3 miles below the surface.
Trump Calls On Rep. Ilhan Omar To Resign Over Remarks Criticized As Anti-Semitic
“Anti-Semitism has no place in the United States Congress,” President Trump said. “I think she should either resign from Congress or she should certainly resign from the foreign affairs committee.”
Suspected U.S. Spy ‘Is Holding Up Surprisingly Well’ In Russian Jail, Lawyer Says
The brother of Paul Whelan, the American arrested in Moscow in late December, says Russia has given the family no information for why he is being accused of spying.
A Neuroscientist Explores The Biology Of Addiction In ‘Never Enough’
Growing up, Judith Grisel struggled with alcohol, marijuana and cocaine. Now as a neuroscientist, she’s working to understand the biological basis of addiction. Her new book is Never Enough.
‘El Chapo,’ Notorious Drug Kingpin, Found Guilty After Dramatic Trial In New York
Joaquín Guzmán was convicted on all 10 counts he faced related to his leading of Mexico’s infamous Sinaloa cartel.
Trump Says He’s Not ‘Happy’ With Budget Deal But Thinks Shutdown Unlikely
Congressional negotiators are close to a budget deal, but it provides less than what the president wants for a border wall and limits the number of people immigration officials can detain.
Trump Supporter Violently Shoves BBC Cameraman At Rally In El Paso, Texas
“The crowd had been whipped up into a frenzy” against the media, a BBC producer says of President Trump’s rally in El Paso, Texas.
‘I Rue The Day We Ever Became Farmers’: In Rural India, A Struggle To Survive
“The farmer dies feeding this country, but no one fights for the farmer,” says a woman whose son, a farmer, died by suicide. He was $40,000 in debt. Her husband died of a heart attack days later.
Woman Who Provoked Suicidal Boyfriend Via Text Message Begins Prison Sentence
The Massachusetts woman sent her boyfriend a barrage of texts encouraging him to kill himself. He did, and she was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. A state supreme court has upheld the sentence.
To Protect Imperiled Salmon, Fish Advocates Want To Shoot Some Gulls
Biologists think gulls are eating more juvenile salmon than they thought, and fish advocates are proposing to kill problem gulls. But opponents say dam modification is what’s needed to protect salmon.
Government Can Waive Environmental Laws To Build Border Wall Prototypes, Court Rules
Environmental groups and the state of California had argued that the Trump administration overstepped its authority when it waived the environmental laws to build border barriers. A court disagrees.
Lawsuit Claims Denver Teacher Strike Could Harm Special Needs Students
The lawsuit alleges that children with severe disabilities might hurt themselves without trained teachers and caregivers present. The school district says the suit is based on “speculation.”
Former Attorney General Eric Holder Close To 2020 Decision As He Heads To Iowa
The former Obama AG will decide whether he’s running in the next two weeks. The speech he plans to give certainly sounds like the building blocks of a possible campaign to challenge President Trump.
‘Church Of Safe Injection’ Offers Needles, Naloxone To Prevent Opioid Overdoses
The group says it has 18 chapters in eight states, all of them funded by private, anonymous donations. Members distribute free and clean drug-use supplies even at the risk of being arrested.
Soul-Searching After Parkland, Dick’s CEO Embraces Tougher Stance On Guns
Ed Stack is a gun owner who was a longtime Republican donor. A year after Dick’s Sporting Goods became an unlikely corporate face of gun control, it sees the fallout from its policy and lobbying.
Trump Took Fight For Border Wall To El Paso — Where O’Rourke Was Ready For Him
In a near-showdown that seemed to mirror the ongoing dispute over the border, Trump was greeted by a counter-rally led by Democrat Beto O’Rourke, who has criticized the president on immigration.
Apple CEO Tim Cook Optimistic About U.S.-China Trade Talks
“Both sides are talking and I always think that is always the essential thing to reaching an agreement,” Cook tells NPR. The U.S. has set a March 1 deadline for the talks, which resume this week.
California Judge Orders Planned Parenthood Workers’ Names To Remain Sealed
Two anti-abortion activists are being prosecuted for secretly recording Planned Parenthood workers. The group wants their names to remain confidential out of fear for their safety.
‘Agreement In Principle’ Reached On Border Security Funding, Top Republican Says
Sen. Richard Shelby, R-Ala., told reporters that he believes Congress can approve the legislation and send it to the president before the Friday night deadline to avert another partial shutdown.
Bankrupt Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. Will Replace Half Of Its Board Of Directors
The company signaled its leadership change last month even before filing for bankruptcy. The utility giant faces billions of dollars in liability claims due to California’s wildfires.
Racist Med School Yearbook Photos? Medicine’s Racism Problems Go Even Deeper
The media attention around a racist photo on Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam’s medical school yearbook page sheds light on the larger problem of how racism affects medical care for African-Americans.
Days From Another Shutdown, Here’s What The Negotiators Are Facing
Bipartisan negotiators are working on a border security funding deal — but both sides are still sorting out what kind of “wall” or “barrier” is in and whether President Trump will sign it.
Russia Is Considering An Experiment To Disconnect From The Internet
Authorities recommended conducting the test so that the country can assess its cyberdefenses in case of aggression, Russian media report.
Sweden’s Cashless Experiment: Is It Too Much Too Fast?
In Sweden, few people use cash anymore. Most people pay by card, online or with digital apps, and that trend is spurring a new debate on whether going cashless is fair for everyone.
What It Will Take For Trump To End AIDS ‘Beyond’ America
The president’s State of the Union address made a bold pledge. But his 2019 budget proposal calls for massive cuts to foreign assistance programs that address AIDS.
Bootleg Liquor Kills 100 In India’s Worst Outbreak In Years
The deaths from the homemade booze, known to many Indians as “hooch” or country liquor, have sparked protests, accusations and finger-pointing.
Human Rights Activists Hail Dissident Bahraini Soccer Star’s Release From Thai Prison
International supporters, who had rallied around Hakeem al-Araibi under the hashtag #SaveHakeem, rejoiced over the news. But Bahrain said it “reaffirms its right” to pursue legal action against him.