Expect the deep cold that parts of the United States have been experiencing to continue for the next six weeks, at least according to Punxsutawney Phil.

The weather-predicting groundhog saw his shadow Monday outside his hole at Gobbler’s Knob in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. If you believe such things, that means the entire country — ...Read more

BOSTON — A former political adviser who claims he helped Gov. Maura Healey win her election as state attorney general pitched himself for a job with Jeffrey Epstein in 2019 to help with the pedophile’s burgeoning bad press, according to the latest DOJ files.

James P. McGee sent an email to Epstein, asking for a consulting job and showing ...Read more

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The year opened with President Donald Trump declaring that “the fraud investigation of California has begun,” a move that quickly set off a barrage of allegations from his administration and Republican allies questioning the integrity of state programs and the leadership of Gov. Gavin Newsom.

The accusations, ...Read more

WASHINGTON — As federal immigration enforcement agents continue to clash with protesters in cities around the country, U.S. mayors gathering in Washington, D.C., last week said they’re anxious about what might be coming next.

At a nonpartisan forum of mayors, elected officials identifying as Democrats and Republicans described an escalating...Read more

SAN RAMON, Calif. — An ongoing string of more than a dozen earthquakes in less than 90 minutes early Monday ended what had been some recent calm from recent weeks of shaking ground in the region, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.

The most violent of the 19 earthquakes measured by the U.S. Geological Survey was a magnitude 4.2 shaker ...Read more

In 2009, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency formally declared that greenhouse gas emissions, including from vehicles and fossil fuel power plants, endanger public health and welfare. The decision, known as the endangerment finding, was based on years of evidence, and it has underpinned EPA actions on climate change ever since.

...Read more

Classes have been called off in the Columbia Heights school district on Feb. 2 due to what officials are calling a bomb threat, police said.

The threat was emailed to several schools in the district serving about 3,400 students in Columbia Heights, Hilltop and Fridley, said Columbia Heights Police Deputy Erik Johnston in a statement.

The ...Read more

Iran said talks with the U.S. over a new nuclear deal could get underway in the coming days, building on a flurry of diplomatic activity aimed at averting war between the two sides.

President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the start of negotiations with Washington “within the framework of the nuclear issue,” Iran’s semi-official Fars news ...Read more

Costa Ricans elected ruling party candidate Laura Fernández in a first round landslide as her promise of a draconian crackdown on criminals appealed to voters in a nation roiled by soaring drug violence.

With 94% of ballots tallied, Fernández led with 48% of the vote, enough to avoid a runoff, and trouncing 19 other candidates. Álvaro Ramos...Read more

The two federal agents who shot and killed Alex Pretti during anti-ICE protests in Minneapolis were identified Sunday in a report.

Jesus Ochoa, 43, and Raymundo Gutierrez, 35, were identified as the shooters in government documents, ProPublica reported. They had not been named publicly prior to ProPublica’s reporting Sunday.

Ochoa is a ...Read more

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — A proposed amendment that would have let adults buy and use recreational marijuana failed to qualify for Florida’s 2026 ballot, the Department of State said Sunday.

Smart & Safe Florida, the group behind the marijuana campaign, fell short of the nearly 880,000 verified signatures required, along with 21 other proposed ...Read more

Dozens of Palestinians traveled between Gaza and Egypt for the first time since the early months of Israel’s war with Hamas as the border reopened in accordance with October’s ceasefire, albeit with stringent security checks.

Foot traffic through the Rafah crossing on Monday included Palestinians seeking medical treatment abroad for war-...Read more

LEXINGTON, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear said Monday another death has been reported in connection with the ongoing winter storm in Kentucky, raising the toll to 16.

The latest death was a 75-year-old woman in Adair County. No information about the woman or her cause of death was provided.

Along with Adair, other deaths have been reported in ...Read more

Costa Ricans elected ruling party candidate Laura Fernández in a first round landslide as her promise of a draconian crackdown on criminals appealed to voters in a nation roiled by soaring drug violence.

With 94% of ballots tallied, Fernández had with 48% of the vote, enough to avoid a runoff, and trouncing 19 other candidates. Álvaro Ramos...Read more

MIAMI — The window for Florida lawmakers to meaningfully debate cutting property taxes gets smaller with each passing day.

Monday marks day 21 of 60 in the legislative session, and there is still no policy discussion between the two legislative chambers on Republicans’ best effort to make Florida more affordable ahead of the 2026 midterm ...Read more

On the 800th anniversary of the death of St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Franciscan order, his body will be displayed for the first time ever in February 2026, at the Basilica of San Francesco. Millions of visitors are expected to converge in the small Tuscan town of Assisi to honor the 13th-century saint.

Francis, who died on ...Read more

The U.S. Department of State has announced that starting on Jan. 21, 2026, it has indefinitely stopped issuing immigrant visas for people from 75 countries, claiming concerns that some immigrants may rely on public benefits once they get to the United States.

While applications may still be processed, no immigrant visas will be issued...Read more

Iran said talks with the U.S. over a new nuclear deal could get underway in coming days, building on a flurry of diplomatic activity aimed at averting war between the two sides.

President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered the start of negotiations with Washington “within the framework of the nuclear issue,” Iran’s semi-official Fars news service...Read more

Physicians have said the HBO Max drama "The Pitt" offers one of the most accurate depictions of medicine on television.

But there are plenty of shows that don't offer such realism — and they may be having real-world consequences when it comes to the public understanding of best practices for bystander CPR.

Bystander cardiopulmonary ...Read more