Stories by Associated Press

Trump Administration Renews Supreme Court Appeal to Keep Full SNAP Payments Frozen

The request is the latest in a flurry of legal activity over how the program that helps 42 million Americans buy groceries should proceed during the historic U.S. government shutdown.

Senate Takes First Step Toward Ending the Government Shutdown; Durbin and Duckworth Divided

The agreement does not guarantee the health care subsidies will be extended, as Democrats have demanded for almost six weeks.

Trump Administration Seeks to Halt SNAP Food Aid Payments After a Court Order

The judge gave the Trump administration until Friday to make the payments through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. But the administration asked the appeals court to suspend any court orders requiring it to spend more money than is available in a contingency fund, and instead allow it to continue with planned partial SNAP payments for the month.

Supreme Court Weighs Longshot Appeal to Overturn Decision Legalizing Same-Sex Marriage Nationwide

Among the new cases the justices are expected to consider is a longshot appeal from Kim Davis, the former Kentucky court clerk who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples following the court’s 2015 ruling in Obergefell v. Hodges.

Abraham Lincoln Letter Seeking Job for Black Friend and Valet Now on Display at Presidential Museum in Springfield

Abraham Lincoln penned the entreaty on behalf of his young friend, William Johnson, because ironically, his dark complexion caused freed Black White House staffers with lighter skin to shun him.

Nancy Pelosi Won’t Seek Reelection, Ending Her Storied Career in the US House

Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi will not seek reelection to the U.S. House, bringing to a close her storied career as not only the first woman in the speaker’s office but arguably the most powerful in American politics.

Conservative Supreme Court Justices Appear Skeptical of Donald Trump’s Sweeping Tariffs

While the questions at times seemed to challenge the rationale for the tariffs, the arguments are still ongoing, and further questioning could shed additional light on their positions. A decision in the case could take weeks or months.

Border Patrol Official Behind Chicago Immigration Crackdown Defends Tactics as Trump Cheers

From his use of chemical agents to a helicopter raid on an apartment building, Greg Bovino defended the approach of U.S. Customs and Border Protection as appropriate and necessary for what he says are threats his agents have faced in Chicago.

Shota Imanaga Becomes Eligible for Free Agency After Chicago Cubs, Pitcher Turn Down Options: AP Source

Left-hander Shota Imanaga became eligible for free agency when the Chicago Cubs declined an option to keep his contract by guaranteeing $57 million for the 2026-28 seasons and he turned down a $15.25 million option for 2026.

Dick Cheney, One of the Most Powerful and Polarizing Vice Presidents in US History, Dies at 84

Dick Cheney, the hard-charging conservative who became one of the most powerful and polarizing vice presidents in U.S. history and a leading advocate for the invasion of Iraq, has died at 84.

A Major Question for the Supreme Court: Will It Treat Trump as It Did Biden?

Key legal principles at the heart of conservative challenges to major initiatives in the Biden years are driving the arguments in the fight against Trump’s tariffs, which is set for arguments at the high court on Wednesday.

Trump Administration Says SNAP Will Be Partially Funded in November

The program serves about 1 in 8 Americans and is a major piece of the nation’s social safety net. It costs about $8 billion per month nationally.

Judges Order Trump Administration to Use Contingency Funds for SNAP Payments During the Shutdown

The program serves about one in eight Americans and is a major piece of the nation’s social safety net. Word in October that it would be a Nov. 1 casualty of the shutdown sent states, food banks and SNAP recipients scrambling to figure out how to secure food.

What’s the Filibuster and Why Does Trump Want to Get Rid of It During the Shutdown?

The filibuster is a longstanding parliamentary tool that halts action on most bills unless 60 senators in the 100-member chamber vote to move forward. Over the years, it has stymied policy priorities for Democrats and Republicans alike.

FDA Says Drugmakers Have Recalled Blood Pressure Medicine Tainted With a Cancer-Causing Chemical

Doctors prescribe prazosin, which relaxes blood vessels, to help lower blood pressure. It also is sometimes prescribed for nightmares and other sleep disturbances caused by post-traumatic stress disorder.

Judge Questions the Trump Administration’s Plan to Suspend SNAP Benefits for Millions

“You are not going to make everyone drop dead because it’s a political game someplace,” U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani said in court.

Patients Go Without Needed Treatment After the Government Shutdown Disrupts a Telehealth Program

Medical providers are deciding whether they can continue offering telehealth services without the guarantee of reimbursement or whether they need to halt virtual visits altogether.

Donald Trump Appears to Suggest the US Will Resume Testing Nuclear Weapons for First Time in 30 Years

President Donald Trump appeared to suggest the U.S. will resume testing nuclear weapons for the first time in three decades, saying it would be on an “equal basis” with Russia and China.

Illinois Deputy Found Guilty of Second-Degree Murder in the Shooting of Sonya Massey, a Black Woman Who Called 911

An Illinois jury on Wednesday convicted a former sheriff’s deputy of second-degree murder in the shooting death of Sonya Massey, a Black woman who called 911 asking for help.

Trump Administration Moves to Overrule State Laws Protecting Credit Reports From Medical Debt

Medical debt is often the most disputed part of a consumer’s credit report, because insurance payments can take time, and oftentimes patients do not have the means to fully pay a medical bill if insurance is not covering a procedure that has already taken place.

Federal Reserve Cuts Key Rate as Government Shutdown Clouds Economic Outlook

Wednesday’s decision brings the Fed’s key rate down to about 3.9%, from about 4.1%. The central bank had cranked its rate to roughly 5.3% in 2023 and 2024 to combat the biggest inflation spike in four decades.

Jury Deliberations Begin in Trial of Illinois Deputy Who Killed Sonya Massey

An Illinois jury has begun deliberations in the first-degree murder trial of a sheriff’s deputy who shot Sonya Massey, a Black woman in her home who had called 911 for help and was later killed because of the way she was handling a pan of hot water.

Chicago’s Children Are Getting Caught in the Chaos of Immigration Crackdowns

The Chicago crackdown, dubbed “Operation Midway Blitz,” began in early September. Masked, armed agents in unmarked trucks patrol neighborhoods, and residents have protested in ways big and small against what they see as their city under siege.

Indiana Governor Calls a Special Session to Redraw the State’s Congressional Boundaries in Favor of Republicans

President Donald Trump has ramped up pressure on Republican governors to draw new maps that give the party an easier path to maintain control of the House in the midterms.

Trump Says He’s Backing Off Planned Surge of Federal Agents Into San Francisco After Talking to the Mayor

The U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday it is providing a base of operations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents in the San Francisco area as part of its effort to support federal efforts to track down immigrants in the country illegally.

Donald Trump Pardons Cryptocurrency Founder Who Has Ties to President’s Family Business

resident Donald Trump has pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who created the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange and served prison time after failing to stop criminals from using the platform. He has deep ties to World Liberty Financial, a crypto venture that the Republican president and his sons Eric and Donald Jr. launched.
 

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