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Olivier Douliery/Abaca Press/TNS

Cuba announces new rules for investing in hotels and a hike in state pensions

Current News / News & Features /

Facing worsening economic prospects, the Cuban government will allow joint ventures between state enterprises and local private companies, as well as what it calls “selective swap” operations with foreign companies, involving hotels and real estate, the country’s prime minister said in a speech before the National Assembly on Wednesday.

...Read more

Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images North America/TNS

Pay caps are a 'slap in the face' for some in Capitol Police

Current News / News & Features /

WASHINGTON — Capitol Police officers who were spread thin in recent weeks amid security concerns, an unpredictable congressional schedule and the July 4 holiday say they’re in danger of missing out on money owed to them as they bump up against pay limits.

The busy period has resurfaced debates about how best to meet the staffing challenges ...Read more

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images North America/TNS

Ex-FBI chief James Comey's daughter ousted as federal prosecutor

Current News / News & Features /

The daughter of former FBI director James Comey has been ousted from her job as a federal prosecutor in New York, according to people familiar with the matter.

During her time with the U.S. Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York, Maurene Comey worked on high-profile sex-trafficking cases, including against Jeffrey Epstein, ...Read more

YURI CORTEZ/AFP/Getty Images North America/TNS

DOJ disputes Salvadoran view that US is responsible for detainees

Current News / News & Features /

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Justice Department urged a judge to reject statements from Salvadoran officials suggesting the Trump administration kept legal authority over Venezuelan migrants it sent to a Salvadoran prison.

El Salvador’s statements were included in a U.N. report disclosed earlier this month by attorneys seeking the return of some ...Read more

CRAIG KOHLRUSS/The Fresno Bee/TNS

Trump administration pulls billions in funding for high-speed rail project; state leaders call decision 'illegal'

Current News / News & Features /

The Trump administration has canceled billions of dollars in funding for California's high-speed rail project after the state agency rejected the federal government's assessment of the project's failings.

The Federal Railroad Administration pulled $4 billion in funding on Wednesday that was intended for construction in the Central Valley, ...Read more

Pedro Portal/Miami Herald/TNS

Detained migrants, attorneys file lawsuit for legal rights at Alligator Alcatraz

Current News / News & Features /

Immigration lawyers who say they have exhausted all efforts to try to speak with the detained immigrants in Alligator Alcatraz are now looking to the federal courts to aid them in a newly filed lawsuit.

Detainees, who’ve described unsanitary and inhospitable conditions, are asking a federal judge to compel the Everglades detention center to ...Read more

U.S. Department of Justice/TNS/TNS

California man in Jan. 6 riot who was pardoned by Trump now convicted for child porn

Current News / News & Features /

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A Sacramento County man, who was convicted for his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol and later pardoned by President Donald Trump, was convicted on Tuesday of possessing child pornography.

After a one‑day trial, a jury in federal court found Kyle Travis Colton, 37, of Citrus Heights, guilty ...Read more

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images North America/TNS

Armed Services panel approves defense bill after marathon markup

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WASHINGTON — The House Armed Services Committee approved, 55-2, its version of the annual Pentagon policy bill late Tuesday night after a nearly 14-hour markup during which lawmakers waded through hundreds of amendments on topics including Ukraine, abortion rights and the renaming of military bases, among other contentious issues.

Only ...Read more

ALLISON ROBBERT/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/TNS

Elon Musk rages against Trump's theory that Epstein 'list' is a hoax

Current News / News & Features /

Elon Musk is once again raging against the Trump administration for its handling of the investigation into deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Amid the billionaire entrepreneur’s explosive social media feud with Trump in June, he alleged the Justice Department was withholding information about the disgraced financier because the president ...Read more

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images North America/TNS

Senate 'vote-a-rama' on rescissions bill begins

Current News / News & Features /

WASHINGTON — Senators began voting Wednesday on amendments to a large foreign aid and public broadcasting rescissions package even as some Republicans acknowledged their discomfort with how the Trump administration might implement the funding cancellations.

The $9.4 billion rescissions package is expected to be modified with a GOP-backed ...Read more

Matt Stone/Boston Herald/TNS

Councilwoman apologizes for 'satirical' video that called on street gangs to organize against ICE

Current News / News & Features /

LOS ANGELES — A Southern California city councilwoman who drew national headlines and public backlash after posting a TikTok video in which she appeared to call on street gangs to stand up against federal immigration sweeps has apologized for the post, which she said was meant to be "satirical."

Cudahy Vice Mayor Cynthia Gonzalez made the ...Read more

The Minnesota Star Tribune/Star Tribune/TNS

Sen. Tina Smith will be hospitalized overnight in Washington

Current News / News & Features /

U.S. Sen. Tina Smith will be spending Wednesday night at a hospital in Washington after falling ill at work.

According to a social media post from her office, the Minnesota Democrat was working Wednesday at the Capitol when she “started to not feel well.” She was seen by the Capitol physician, who recommended that she go to George ...Read more

E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Another 107 former detainees allege sexual abuse in Illinois and Cook County youth detention centers

Current News / News & Features /

CHICAGO — Another 107 people filed complaints Tuesday against the state for allegedly allowing rampant sexual abuse in Illinois juvenile detention facilities, joining 800 other alleged victims who have filed a slew of lawsuits in the last 14 months.

Charles Graves, one of the alleged victims, said he was 13 when he was assaulted by three ...Read more

Office of Governor Hochul/TNS/TNS

Cellphone detox: Gov. Hochul says it's time for NY students, parents to brace for all-day ban

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Back-to-school season in New York this year will mean “detoxing” from your cellphones, Gov. Kathy Hochul said Wednesday.

After a roundtable discussion with students, parents, union officials, and the head of the city’s school system, Chancellor Melissa Aviles-Ramos, the governor assured reporters that schools are ready to transition to ...Read more

Jane Tyska/Bay Area News Group/TNS

California to provide LGBTQ suicide prevention hotline after Trump administration axes it

Current News / News & Features /

California will partner with the Trevor Project to provide suicide prevention support to LGBTQ+ youth, state officials announced Wednesday. The announcement comes weeks after the Trump administration said it will no longer provide national suicide and crisis hotline services to LGBTQ+ youth.

“While the Trump administration continues its ...Read more

Alex Wong/Getty Images North America/TNS

NC's Tillis offers warning to White House aides ahead of Senate vote on NPR, PBS cuts

Current News / News & Features /

Sen. Thom Tillis gave a warning to the Trump administration from the Senate floor, Wednesday afternoon, ahead of an expected marathon voting session over funding to NPR, PBS and foreign aid.

Senators plan to vote overnight, Wednesday, to withdraw $9 billion in earmarked federal funding. But Tillis said he knows what about $2 billion is for: NPR...Read more

David Guralnick/The Detroit News/TNS

Trump regulators to zero out fuel economy fines dating to 2022

Current News / News & Features /

WASHINGTON — Federal regulators will zero out all federal fuel economy fines dating back to model year 2022, according to a letter sent to automakers that was obtained Wednesday by The Detroit News.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issued the letter last week in response to President Donald Trump's signing of the One Big ...Read more

Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS

Feds say they're investigating 'massive scheme to defraud' Minnesota's Housing Stabilization Services Program

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ST. PAUL, Minn. — As part of a federal investigation into a “massive scheme to defraud” Minnesota’s Housing Stabilization Services program, law enforcement carried out search warrants in the Twin Cities on Wednesday.

Eight locations were listed in the search warrant affidavit, including in St. Paul, Roseville and Little Canada. No one ...Read more

Miami Herald/TNS

Hispanic officers allege mistreatment in Miami Gardens, call for chief's removal

Current News / News & Features /

MIAMI — Five Hispanic male police officers have notified Miami Gardens that they intend to file a class-action whistleblower lawsuit claiming they were the targets of racial discrimination.

The Miami Gardens officers — who said they were suspended or demoted after filing complaints of unfair treatment with the city — have also demanded ...Read more

Carline Jean/South Florida Sun Sentinel/TNS

Florida city removes LGBTQ+ rainbow intersection, quickly complying with state, federal mandate

Current News / News & Features /

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Orders from the administrations of President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis have achieved what vandals have tried and failed: The elimination of a street intersection on Boynton Beach painted with the rainbow colors of the LGBTQ+ progress pride flag.

The rainbow colors were removed Wednesday morning. The ...Read more