The Trump administration allowed a waiver that encouraged more Russian crude sales to lapse, even as the Iran war stokes concerns about global oil supplies and higher fuel costs.

The expiration effectively ends for now a brief period where the administration eased sanctions on some Russian oil, enabling purchases that would otherwise be barred...Read more

LOS ANGELES — After being hunted to extinction a century ago, gray wolves are continuing their remarkable comeback story in California, with state wildlife officials reporting a modern record number of the apex predators.

There were 55 wolves confirmed alive and nine wolf packs by the end of 2025, the majority of which are clustered in the ...Read more

China said it agreed with the U.S. to lower levies on some products to promote bilateral trade, underscoring how ties between the world’s two largest economies are further stabilizing after the historic meeting of the leaders.

China’s Ministry of Commerce on Saturday issued an update on bilateral trade talks following a two-day summit in ...Read more

U.S. and Nigerian forces killed an ISIS leader who was hiding in Africa, President Donald Trump said, adding that his death has “greatly diminished” the group’s global operations.

Trump said Abu-Bilal al-Minuki was second in command of ISIS globally and referred to him as the “most active terrorist in the world,” according to a post ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Rivers that wind through Los Angeles County have a trashy reputation. Literally.

In many stretches, you’d be hard-pressed to stroll along the banks of the San Gabriel or Los Angeles rivers without meeting abandoned water bottles, candy wrappers, golf balls, sad-looking teddy bears, even shopping carts.

On the rare occasion ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — As Eileen Wang and her supporters tell it, the former Arcadia mayor was led astray by a man she trusted and loved.

After chasing her political ambitions in the San Gabriel Valley suburb, Wang, 58, won a City Council seat in 2022 with the help of a campaign adviser who was also her romantic partner. Two years later, he was ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — Michele Hanisee has been doing everything in her power to expedite the arduous process of rebuilding her Altadena home.

But after navigating permitting delays, insurance stalemates and design flaws, there's still one big unresolved issue that's complicating her progress: sewage.

Hanisee owns one of nearly 700 properties in ...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Drug smuggling in Kentucky’s prisons has become common, with nearly 10,000 incidents documented in the last five years, but one prison stands out from the rest.

Since 2021, Eastern Kentucky Correctional Complex in West Liberty has consistently ranked highest for smuggling reports among all Kentucky’s prisons, according to...Read more

SEATTLE — To think of the closest public restroom, Lisa Howard of the Pioneer Square Alliance paused her walk along First Avenue, checked her watch and looked at the cross streets.

First to come to mind was at the waterfront, a 20-minute walk away — pretty far. A bit closer, at maybe 10 minutes walking distance, was the bathroom at Seattle ...Read more

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. — It’s now up to Gov. JB Pritzker to determine whether Gangster Disciples founder Larry Hoover should be freed from more than 50 years of incarceration after making his pitch for clemency to the Illinois Prisoner Review Board.

“On April 7, the Prisoner Review Board held clemency hearings, including Mr. Hoover’s,” Liz...Read more

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday turned down an appeal from Virginia Democrats whose new voter-approved state election map was canceled by the state's Supreme Court.

The justices made no comment, and the legal outcome came as no surprise.

The U.S. Supreme Court has no authority to review or reverse rulings by state judges ...Read more

WASHINGTON — U.S. officials have discussed creating a $1.7 billion federal fund to pay victims of so-called government weaponization to resolve President Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. Million-dollar payouts the administration has already made to some of his supporters provide a roadmap for where the money might...Read more

Two San Francisco Bay Area USDA employees are among a group of federal workers suing Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, alleging she violated the First Amendment by sending agencywide messages that promoted Christianity to thousands of employees.

In an Easter email to Bay Area federal government employees Thomas MaGee, Anne Poopatanapong and...Read more