A federal judge has dismissed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit brought by the Trump Justice Department against pro-Palestinian activists who opposed a New Jersey auction of land in Gaza and the West Bank, partly finding the government’s legal logic — hinging on a law created to protect abortion providers — sought to “demonize” protesters ...Read more

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is expected to name U.S. Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton as his next artificial intelligence czar, according to people familiar with the matter, tasking him with spurring the technology’s development even as it faces backlash over safety risks.

The president may reveal Clayton’s ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — A slate of projects aimed at preserving the future of the iconic Joshua tree has been scrapped after the Trump administration blocked more than $25 million in funding for national parks this year.

The funding already had been secured for more than 130 agreements with outside partners that would have supported projects in ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — In the wake of an independent report, the Los Angeles Fire Department acknowledged missteps leading up to the 2025 Palisades fire and in its initial response to the blaze, which killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,800 structures.

An investigation commissioned by Gov. Gavin Newsom found the Fire Department ignored multiple...Read more

California is leading a coalition of states and local governments in suing the Trump administration over its rollback of federal vehicle mileage standards, alleging the new rules illegally weaken fuel-economy requirements for cars and light trucks.

The lawsuit, filed Friday by California Atty. Gen. Rob Bonta and a group of 26 states, counties ...Read more

LAS VEGAS — A woman has sued a Fremont Street bar after she said she was injured when thrown from a “mechanical penis” ride last year.

The Wednesday filing in Clark County District Court alleges the injury occurred on a bull ride-like attraction at The Nerd, located in the Neonopolis shopping center.

Plaintiff Amber Zabran is suing The ...Read more

The Group of Seven nations and its partners plan to release as much as 100 million barrels of emergency oil and diesel stocks, capping a week of mounting pressure from the Trump administration to bring down soaring fuel prices.

The release, coordinated by the International Energy Agency, will take place over the next four months, with an ...Read more

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — A review by the federal Department of Education found the public school system of Virginia Beach had violated federal Title IX law for years, asserting that school officials failed to “adequately investigate and record reports of sexual misconduct against students.”

The federal agency’s Office of Civil Rights and ...Read more

CHICAGO — Lawyers for Marimar Martinez, the Chicago woman shot five times by a Border Patrol agent during Operation Midway Blitz, said Friday they will file a federal lawsuit next week that includes new ballistics analysis and video animation showing the agent was not in harm’s way when he opened fire.

The lawsuit is expected to be filed in...Read more

LANSING — Michigan law enforcement officials said Friday that serial sexual abuser Larry Nassar was never on Michigan's public sex offender registry, contrary to viral reports that indicated he had been removed from the list.

Only sex offenders living in Michigan are required to comply with and appear on the state's sex offender registry, ...Read more

California's state Capitol was evacuated Friday morning after construction crews in the west wing of the building reported a threat to authorities, according to the California Highway Patrol.

CHP officials said in a written statement that it was aware of the threat but provided no further details.

"As a precaution, the building has been ...Read more

The 49th Kennedy Center Honors gala will go on despite the recent closure of the Kennedy Center, with the event moving to the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C., on Dec. 7. The honorees and a broadcaster for the program will be disclosed at a later date.

The annual event will take place amid an ongoing legal battle as President Donald Trump ...Read more

Elon Musk’s partner Shivon Zilis announced the tech couple’s apparent split with a long message posted to the multi-billionaire’s social media platform on Friday.

“It’s hard to go from in love to let go in a week with no warning, but that’s just how it is sometimes,” Zilis wrote.

Her post includes what appears to be a text ...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Brian Buckelew said Friday he will continue presiding over the second murder trial in the 2012 disappearance and presumed death of Sierra LaMar, denying defendant Antolin Garcia Torres’ call for Buckelew to recuse himself over alleged bias.

This means trial hearings will resume as ...Read more

RALEIGH, N.C. — A North Carolina state trooper charged with killing a Cumberland County deputy who had previously dated his girlfriend sought release from jail last month, claiming self-defense, according to recently released court documents.

The judge considered that claim and others, but denied Trooper Nekime Oxendine’s request to set ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — In the aftermath of the Eaton and Palisades fires, which killed 31 people and destroyed more than 16,000 structures, survivors have been frustrated by a series of official investigations that have glossed over or downplayed failures on the part of Los Angeles city and county agencies.

Now, a long-awaited independent ...Read more