News briefs

Tribune News Service on Sep 15, 2025

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

Trump slams NY Gov. Kathy Hochul over endorsement of Mamdani for mayor

NEW YORK — President Donald Trump Monday slammed Gov. Kathy Hochul for endorsing Zohran Mamdani for mayor, extending his effort to influence the race for Gracie Mansion.

Deriding Mamdani as a “liddle Communist,” Trump questioned how Hochul could back the progressive Democratic standard bearer. “This is a rather shocking development, and a very bad one for New York City,” Trump posted on his social media site.

Trump repeated his threat to use federal funding as a weapon to tilt policy in Albany and New York City. “Washington will be watching this situation very closely,” he added. “No reason to be sending good money after bad.”

Hochul endorsed Mamdani on Sunday, calling him a breath of fresh air as New Yorkers fight back against Trump’s right-wing agenda.

—New York Daily News

Texas Rep. Chip Roy calls for new committee to investigate ‘radical left’ after Kirk assassination

WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Texas, is calling for a new special committee to investigate the “money, influence, and power behind the radical left’s assault on America and the rule of law.”

Roy wrote a letter last week to House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and key committee chairmen pushing a stand-alone panel armed with subpoena power and consisting of lawmakers and staff who have prosecutorial and law enforcement backgrounds.

“Enough is enough,” Roy wrote. “We must follow the money to identify the perpetrators of the coordinated anti-American assaults being carried out against us and take all steps under the law necessary to stop them.”

The assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk laid bare the country’s deep ideological divisions and prompted calls for unity, along with finger pointing over which side carries more blame for stoking those divisions.

—The Dallas Morning News

‘Highly unusual‘ ancient canoe in Florida linked to region beyond US, experts say

MIAMI – A dugout canoe that emerged on Florida’s Gulf Coast in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian may not be North American in origin, experts say.

The norm is for ancient dugouts found in southern Florida to be linked to ancestors of the Calusa, the Seminole or the Miccosukee, according to the Florida Division of Historical Resources.

But this canoe differs from the hundreds of others found submerged in rivers and lakes across Florida. “The canoe’s form is highly unusual in Florida and research is still ongoing to determine its origin,” the division wrote in a Sept. 12 Facebook post.

“Comparisons to similar vessels in the Caribbean suggest that it may have connections to that region. If this is proven, then this canoe may be considered a cayuco (a term used in Hispanic countries to distinguish a small dugout canoe typically for riverine or coastal navigation).” State archaeologists recently completed conservation work on the canoe, but have yet to provide an estimated age.

—Miami Herald

Iran warns of chaos if countries refuse to censure US and Israel

Iran’s top nuclear official warned of chaos if diplomats convened by the United Nations atomic watchdog block a motion to censure Israeli and U.S. military attacks on the Islamic Republic in June.

The Persian Gulf nation is circulating a resolution at the International Atomic Energy Agency annual general conference, which would declare that the targeting of nuclear facilities during the 12-day war a violation of international law, according to Mohammad Eslami, the head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran.

“If they want to obey the law of the jungle and the rule of coercion and force, it’ll end in chaos,” Eslami said in an interview. “But if they want to abide by international law, they need to discuss this draft resolution,” he added, speaking through a translator.

Eslami’s comments come as conflict grips the Middle East and the threat of another escalation by the U.S. or Israel looms over Tehran. On Monday, during a visit by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Washington’s June strikes on Iran while Rubio vowed to increase sanctions and economic pressure on the Islamic Republic.

—Bloomberg News