Stories by Associated Press

Chicago Sky Off to Strong Start Although May Have Lost Rickea Jackson to Knee Injury

The Chicago Sky got off to a hot start to the WNBA season, but the health of young star Rickea Jackson is foremost on their minds after she had a non-contact injury on her left knee in Sunday’s win over Minnesota.

Justice Department Announces $1.7B Fund to Compensate Trump Allies in a Deal to Drop IRS Suit

he Trump administration announced Monday the creation of a $1.7 billion fund to compensate allies of the Republican president who believe they were mistreated by the Biden administration Justice Department, an arrangement that Democrats and government watchdogs derided as “corrupt.”

Democrats Test a New Red State Strategy: Back Independents Over Their Own Nominees

In states like Nebraska and Alaska, Democratic officials are, in some cases, looking past their own party’s candidates while subtly encouraging — or even openly promoting — independent candidates they hope can outperform the Democratic label.

US Overdose Deaths Fell Again in 2025, but Some Worry About Policy and Drug Supply Changes

About 70,000 Americans died of drug overdoses last year — about 14% fewer than the previous year, according to preliminary government data.

Pediatrics Group Issues New Guidance on Recess for the First Time in 13 Years

New evidence shows that kids need pauses between concentrated bouts of learning so the brain can hold and store the information. Researchers also say recess gives kids a chance to navigate relationships and build confidence, which is just as important for older kids as younger ones.

Democrats Vow to Fight $1 Billion Senate Security Proposal for White House Ballroom

Republicans returning to Washington on Monday are facing questions about a $1 billion Senate security proposal that could help pay for President Donald Trump’s ballroom as Democrats say they will try to defeat it.

Trump Says Ceasefire Is on ‘Life Support’ as Iran Standoff Deepens and Strait Remains Closed

The stalled diplomacy and recent exchanges of fire could tip the Middle East back into open warfare and prolong the worldwide energy crisis sparked by the conflict, with Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz and America’s blockade of Iranian ports still in place.

Man Charged With Stealing $450 Million From Mexican Billionaire in Loan Scheme Arrested in Chicago

A man with multiple aliases used the name of the famed Astor family to dupe a Mexican billionaire out of around $450 million in a bogus stock-backed loan scheme, according to a newly unsealed U.S. indictment and other court records.

Inside the Cruise Ship at the Center of a Rare Hantavirus Outbreak

Three passengers have died and at least four people are sick in what health officials say is an outbreak of hantavirus, which usually spreads by inhaling contaminated rodent droppings.

GOP Bill Would Fund $1 Billion in White House Security Upgrades for Trump’s Ballroom

The legislation says the money would support enhancements to the ballroom project, “including above-ground and below-ground security features,” but also specifies that the money may not be used for non-security elements.

USPS Unveils Route 66 Centennial Stamps, Born From a Photographer’s 42 Trips

The U.S. Postal Service on Tuesday is releasing eight stamps marking significant parts of the road in each of the states it traverses, passing by vintage diners, gas stations and motels — many since preserved or restored — along with breathtaking vistas and wide horizons of the open road.

Redistricting War Accelerates Winner-Take-All Political Combat That’s Straining American Democracy

President Donald Trump ignited the conflict over redistricting last year by urging Republicans to redraw congressional maps to reduce the likelihood that his party loses the U.S. House in the November midterm elections.

Alabama and Tennessee Move to Draw New Congressional Districts in Wake of Supreme Court Ruling

Republican governors in Alabama and Tennessee have called lawmakers into special sessions this week to draw new congressional districts after the U.S. Supreme Court weakened a key provision of the Voting Rights Act.

What to Know About the US Military Presence in Europe as Trump Seeks Drawdown of Thousands of Troops

There are usually 80,000 to 100,000 troops on the continent, with more than 36,000 in Germany. The Pentagon announced that it would remove 5,000 troops, and Trump said the next day that he would go “a lot further” than that.

After Major Enforcement Operations, the Trump Administration Recalibrates Its Immigration Crackdown

The Trump administration appears to be recalibrating its approach to a centerpiece policy that helped bring the president back to the White House, moving in many ways away from aggressive, public-facing tactics toward a quieter approach.

Trump Signs Bill Funding the Department of Homeland Security, Ending Record Shutdown

President Donald Trump swiftly signed bipartisan legislation Thursday funding much of the Department of Homeland Security, but not its immigration enforcement operations.

Prediction Markets Say They’re Different From Sportsbooks. Gambling Addicts Say It’s All the Same

The rapid growth of prediction markets has sparked a high-stakes debate that is playing out in courts and legislatures all over the country.

Cost of Iran War Reaches $25 Billion as Shaky Ceasefire Holds

Four weeks into the ceasefire that has largely halted fighting in Iran, the U.S. and Iran remain locked in a standoff over the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil and gas passes in peacetime.

Supreme Court Weakens a Landmark Civil Rights-Era Law and Aids GOP Efforts to Control the House

In a 6-3 ruling, the court’s conservative majority found that the district, represented by Democrat Cleo Fields, relied too heavily on race.

Hegseth Faces Withering Questions About Iran in First Congressional Appearance Since War Began

The hearing before the House Armed Services Committee was focused on the administration’s 2027 military budget proposal, which would boost defense spending to a historic $1.5 trillion.

Ex-FBI Director James Comey Indicted in Probe Over Online Post Officials Say Constituted Trump Threat

Former FBI Director James Comey was indicted on Tuesday in an investigation over a social media photo of seashells arranged on a beach that officials said constituted a threat against President Donald Trump.

CDC Warns of Drug-Resistant Salmonella Infections Linked to Backyard Poultry

At least 34 people in 13 states — including Illinois — have been sickened with salmonella poisoning traced to contact with backyard poultry, federal health officials said. Backyard poultry include birds like chicken, ducks, geese, guinea fowl and turkeys.

Man Charged With Attempted Assassination of Trump in White House Correspondents’ Dinner Shooting

Cole Tomas Allen appeared in court Monday to face federal charges in a chaotic encounter that resulted in shots being fired, Trump being rushed off the stage and guests ducking for cover underneath their tables.

CEO of Chicago-Based United Airlines Says American Airlines Merger Would Be Good for Travelers

United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby on Monday outlined why he thinks a merger between his airline and rival American would benefit travelers, despite American’s refusal to engage in negotiations.

Researchers Say Remote Lake Superior Island’s Wolves Are Thriving as Packs Prey on Moose

Isle Royale in far western Lake Superior between Grand Marais, Minnesota, and Thunder Bay, Canada offers scientists a rare opportunity to observe wolves and moose largely free from human influence.

Chicago Police Officer Killed in Hospital Shooting Identified, Second Officer in Critical Condition

A police officer died and another was critically injured after a man in police custody and receiving treatment at a Chicago hospital opened fire on them Saturday, according to officials.
 

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