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Jeffrey Epstein files appease almost no one as delays worsen

Current News / News & Features /

The Justice Department’s long-awaited rollout of the Jeffrey Epstein files has been a chaotic spectacle that, so far, has largely turned the spotlight back to his previously known associates, including President Donald Trump and former President Bill Clinton, while fueling frustrations.

As of Tuesday evening in Washington, the DOJ had ...Read more

Planned execution of convicted Georgia murderer on hold for now

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ATLANTA — The state of Georgia will have to wait until next year if it intends to move forward with the execution of Stacey Ian Humphreys after the first execution warrant expired at noon Wednesday.

Humphreys, who was convicted of the 2003 murders of two Cobb County real estate agents, was set to be executed Dec. 17. But the State Board of ...Read more

Ryan C. Hermens/Lexington Herald-Leader/TNS

Trump administration cuts millions in grants to 40 Kentucky schools

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — The U.S. Department of Education has canceled grants for 40 schools across 20 Kentucky school districts, according to the Lexington committee that administers the funds.

The grants were slated to award $47 million to Kentucky school districts over five years, but federal officials are canceling the final two years of the ...Read more

RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post/TNS

Colorado men's prisons will run out space in next fiscal year, state warns

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DENVER — Colorado’s prisons will run out of beds for men in the next fiscal year unless significant changes are made to either reduce the prison population or increase capacity, a state analyst projects in a new report.

A sharp decrease in parole releases coupled with a steady stream of new prisoners entering custody means the state’s ...Read more

Glen Stubbe/Minnesota Star Tribune/TNS

Archbishop: ICE agents don't plan to raid churches over holidays

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MINNEAPOLIS — Immigration enforcement officers have told religious leaders they won’t raid Minnesota’s churches this holiday season, the state’s highest ranking Catholic leader said.

Local Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials told the archdiocese they have no intention of entering churches and schools unless there is an ...Read more

Paul Connors/Boston Herald/TNS

Boston nightclub ICON faces license suspension after woman collapses and dies

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BOSTON — A woman has died after collapsing and becoming unresponsive in the nightclub ICON, according to the family and club, as Boston Police and the Boston Licensing Board are reviewing the tragic incident.

Anastaiya Colon fell to the floor while dancing in the club ICON shortly after midnight Sunday morning and had passed away as of ...Read more

Austin R. Ramsey/Lexington Herald-Leader/TNS

A year after deadly Kentucky police raid, the public is still demanding answers

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LEXINGTON, Ky. — Drivers along a stretch of Main Street near the intersection with West Dixie in London have grown accustomed to the sight of signs and battery-operated candles near the tire center, just down the road from the police station and city hall.

On the 23rd of every month, like clockwork, a line of people forms along the sidewalk ...Read more

Ricardo Ramirez Buxeda/Orlando Sentinel/TNS

Florida Department of Transportation deleted social post touting Pulse crosswalk amid street art crackdown, records show

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ORLANDO, Fla. — The Florida Department of Transportation deleted its own social media posts praising a decorative crosswalk near the Pulse memorial for “enhancing safety” amid a statewide street art crackdown that set off a firestorm of controversy, according to records made public late Tuesday.

State officials revealed the deleted posts ...Read more

Tracy Glantz/The Island Packet/TNS

South Carolina politicians seek ban on cavity-fighting fluoride in public drinking water

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — Fluoride has been used in water systems across the country for decades, with multiple studies showing it has slowed the prevalence of tooth decay in children and adults.

But a handful of South Carolina legislators want to ban fluoride in public drinking water. A pair of bills introduced in the past year are challenging the ...Read more

Robin Platzer/Twin Images/UPPA via ZUMA Press/TNS

Nick Reiner's mental state at center of murder case: Inside the looming legal fight

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LOS ANGELES — The slayings of Hollywood legend Rob Reiner and his photographer wife, Michele, have given rise to a complex and intensely watched legal struggle involving their accused son, prosecutors and defense attorneys, who all face key strategic decisions in the coming weeks and months.

Prosecutors allege Nick Reiner fatally stabbed his ...Read more

School board votes to fire Pa. principal who reportedly made antisemitic remarks

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PHILADELPHIA — The Wissahickon school board moved Tuesday night to fire an elementary school principal who was recorded making antisemitic remarks.

The vote to fire Philip Leddy, who had been principal of Lower Gwynedd Elementary, was unanimous.

Sue Kanopka, the former Lower Gwynedd principal who had been promoted to curriculum supervisor ...Read more

Nancy Lane/Boston Herald/TNS

Massachusetts' health department warns residents about possible measles exposures in multiple locations

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BOSTON — An out-of-state adult visitor who spent time in the region earlier this month has been diagnosed with measles, according to health officials who are warning the public of possible exposures in multiple locations.

The visitor arrived at Boston Logan airport on American Airlines flight 2384 from Dallas-Fort Worth on Dec. 11 at 2:39 p.m...Read more

Karl Merton Ferron/Baltimore Sun/TNS

States file lawsuit challenging federal limits on gender-affirming care

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BALTIMORE — A coalition of states filed a lawsuit this week challenging a recent action by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that seeks to restrict access to gender-affirming care for transgender youth.

The suit, filed in federal court, asks a judge to block what HHS has labeled a “declaration,” issued Dec. 18, asserting ...Read more

Pittsburgh Presbytery fundraiser will eliminate medical debt for thousands across Allegheny County

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PITTSBURGH — More than $14 million in outstanding medical debt will be wiped out for thousands across Allegheny County after churches in the Pittsburgh Presbytery took part in a fundraiser to purchase and eliminate the debt.

Over the past few months, congregants of more than 100 Presbyterian churches donated nearly $75,000 as part of a ...Read more

Bill Hogan/Chicago Tribune/TNS

Salmonella linked to raw food sickens people across 22 states

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The Centers for Disease Control has issued a warning about consuming raw oysters, citing an ongoing salmonella outbreak.

In total, 64 people have reported getting sick with 20 hospitalizations across 22 states, the CDC said.

Pennsylvania and New York both have the most cases with 17 total.

“The true number of sick people in this outbreak is...Read more

Anthony Soufflé/The Minnesota Star Tribune/TNS

Gov. Tim Walz expects influx of ICE agents in Minnesota around holidays

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MINNEAPOLIS — Gov. Tim Walz says President Donald Trump’s federal immigration enforcement is targeting people of color in Minnesota, including U.S. citizens, and he’s warning that there could be a surge of ICE agents in the state over the next two weeks.

“It’s pretty clear to all of us exactly what this president is doing. He’s ...Read more

Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images North America/TNS

States eager for final decisions on $50 billion health care fund

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WASHINGTON — States are expecting clarity within days for a key feature of Republicans’ signature budget reconciliation law — a $50 billion rural health care fund that has an end-of-year deadline for the administration to announce its plans.

The wide-ranging law reduces health spending by about $1 trillion over a decade, primarily from ...Read more

NICK PALEOLOGOS/AFP/SOOC/AFP via Getty Images

Russia to seek changes to peace plan seen as starting point

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Russia will seek key changes to the latest U.S. peace plan to end its war on Ukraine, including more restrictions on Kyiv’s military, according to a person close to the Kremlin.

Moscow regards the 20-point plan worked out between Ukraine and the U.S. as a starting point for further negotiations, as it lacks provisions important for Russia and...Read more

Dreamstime/Dreamstime/TNS

2 arrested after nearly 40 dogs found dead, starving at Georgia home, police say

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ATLANTA — Two women were arrested Tuesday after nearly 40 dogs were found either dead inside refrigerators or malnourished at a Gwinnett County home, police said.

Christine Abbott, 67, and Donna Slavin, 65, each face six felony counts of animal cruelty and seven misdemeanor counts of animal cruelty. They were booked into the Gwinnett jail, ...Read more

Mohd Rasfan/Getty Images North America/TNS

Thailand sets demands ahead of 4 days of Cambodia talks

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The Thai military said ceasefire talks with Cambodia, set to begin on Wednesday, are expected to conclude with a meeting of the countries’ defense ministers on Dec. 27, as the two sides seek to end weeks of deadly clashes.

The talks are set to start at 4 p.m. Bangkok time in Thailand’s Chanthaburi province, which borders Cambodia.

Thailand...Read more