News
At least 11 killed in Israeli strikes in Beirut as diplomats push for cease-fire
The strikes were the fourth on Beirut in less than a week. The escalation comes after a U.S. envoy traveled to the region this week in an attempt to broker a cease-fire between Israel and Hezbollah.
Atmospheric rivers aren’t new. Why does it feel like we’re hearing about them more?
In recent years, "atmospheric river" has become used much more frequently in scientific papers and in media coverage. According to experts who study climate and weather, a few reasons may explain why.
NATO and Ukraine to hold emergency talks after Russia’s attack with new missile
NATO and Ukraine will hold emergency talks Tuesday after Russia attacked the city of Dnipro with an experimental, hypersonic ballistic missile that escalated the nearly 33-month-old war.
What to know about Trump’s picks for CDC, FDA and surgeon general
In a flurry of picks on Friday evening, Trump named three choices for top health jobs. Together they would help the incoming president shift the priorities of agencies that are key to public health.
Storm lashes Northern California after leaving thousands without power in Seattle
The storm arrived in the Pacific Northwest earlier this week, killing two people and knocking out power to hundreds of thousands, mostly in the Seattle area, before moving through Northern California.
Florida health official advises communities to stop adding fluoride to drinking water
Florida's surgeon general, Dr. Joseph Ladapo, cited developmental concerns from higher levels of fluoride than are found in most U.S. water supplies.
A ‘lynch mob’ did not come for Matt Gaetz, but the phrasing remains powerful
Even as a young child, I could understand the idea that words have meaning, which is why when Sen. Lindsey Graham referred to a "lynch mob" coming after Matt Gaetz, I felt my stomach drop.
Trump picks Oregon Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer to lead Labor Department
President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Congresswoman Lori Chavez-DeRemer of Oregon to lead the Labor Department. She was one of a few Republicans who support the pro-union PRO Act.
Trump nominates Wall Street investor Scott Bessent as treasury secretary
President-elect Trump nominated Bessent, a former protégé of George Soros to be his next treasury secretary.
In the Marble Bowl, the heated rivalry between Alabama and Auburn is getting ‘wilder’
The Marble Bowl is a competition that pits fans of the University of Alabama against Auburn University. No tight ends or cornerbacks, quarterbacks or linebackers are needed, although they can play, too.
For the first time ever, Taliban reps were invited to the big U.N. climate conference
Since the Taliban took power 2021, Afghanistan has not been invited to big climate conferences. And money for projects addressing climate-related issues has been frozen. Are things about to change?
Wisconsin kayaker who faked his death has resurfaced in Europe after elaborate plot
Wisconsin authorities say they have not yet issued a warrant for Ryan Borgwardt, who is believed to be somewhere in Eastern Europe. But that can change if he does not cooperate and return home soon.
Jonathan Majors and ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari settle assault and defamation case
In a civil lawsuit this spring, the actor's former girlfriend alleged a "pattern of pervasive domestic abuse" in addition to defamation. Her legal team said the suit has been settled.
University of Texas, MIT and others announce free tuition for some undergraduates
Nearly half a dozen institutions of higher education announced plans this week to make tuition free for undergraduates whose families make below a certain income threshold, starting in fall 2025.
Judge indefinitely postpones sentencing in Trump’s hush money case
The decision to indefinitely adjourn next week's sentencing date comes several days after both lawyers agreed that a stay would help sort out unprecedented legal questions.
Trans health care under Trump may follow the abortion playbook and its Hyde amendment
Republicans spent $222 million on anti-trans and LGBTQ advertising in the campaign. Various policy initiatives are on the incoming administration's to-do list.
6 tourists in Laos have died after drinking tainted alcohol
Tourists from the U.S., Australia, Denmark and the U.K. have died. A tourism police officer said a "number of people" had been detained in the case but that no charges have yet been filed.
TV’s Dr. Oz invested in businesses regulated by the agency Trump wants him to run
The celebrity doctor recently held investments worth tens of millions of dollars in health care, tech, and food companies which could pose significant conflicts of interest.
‘Iced Cherries’: Joe D. Nelson’s take on modern folk and age old tropes
It may be unusual for a musician to refer to his own music as a trope. But that’s what Birmingham singer-songwriter Joe D. Nelson does with his latest album Iced Cherries.
Searching for tiny dung beetles that clean the vast forest floor
Creating a census of the dung beetles of Massachusetts gives clues into the health of forests and fields.
Alabama carries out nation’s third nitrogen gas execution on a man for a hitchhiker’s killing
Carey Dale Grayson was executed at the William C. Holman Correctional Facility in southern Alabama. He was one of four teenagers convicted of killing Vickie DeBlieux as she hitchhiked through the state on the way to her mother’s home in Louisiana.
You can sword-fight at this club. But no politics allowed
At the Pittsburgh Sword Fighters club, members are asked to leave their politics at the door, a rule that has led to closer relationships and more learning from one another.
How will China impact the future of climate change? You might be surprised
As a new Trump administration signals a retreat on climate action, China is stepping up. China is the biggest producer of climate technologies like electric vehicles and solar panels.
More than 100,000 pounds of ground beef are recalled for possibly having E. coli
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture alerted federal authorities about several illnesses in the past week.
President-elect set to shape ‘Trump judiciary’ for next generation
Legal experts predict President-elect Donald Trump will move quickly next year to cement and extend his legacy in appointing federal judges.
In this election, demographics did not determine how people voted
Groups that Democrats believed would always turn out in their favor did not do so this year. Here's how the vote shook out in the seven swing states.
Tesla won the plug war. Enter the age of the EV charging adapter
The auto industry is embracing Tesla's charging technology in order to share its vast Supercharger network. This is going to be a slow transition — expect to see a lot of adapters.
United Nations nuclear agency again condemns Iran for failing to fully cooperate
The resolution comes after the agency said Iran has defied demands to rein in its nuclear program and has increased its stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.
Alabama carries out nation’s 3rd nitrogen gas execution
An Alabama man convicted in the 1994 killing of a hitchhiker cursed at the prison warden shortly before he was put to death Thursday evening in the nation's third execution using nitrogen gas.
Trump names former Florida AG Pam Bondi as his new pick for U.S. attorney general
After former Rep. Matt Gaetz withdrew from consideration, President-elect Donald Trump named Pam Bondi, a former attorney general of Florida, as his next pick for U.S. attorney general.
Police report gives details, timeline of the sexual assault claim against Pete Hegseth
The woman who accused then-Fox News host of sexual assault in 2017 said that she "remembered saying 'no' a lot," according to a police report. Hegseth is President-elect Donald Trump's choice for Secretary of Defense.
Alabama Black Belt’s sewer crisis a tougher fix for residents in manufactured homes
Poor sanitation has long plagued residents in Alabama’s Black Belt. For people with manufactured houses, finding a solution has been more challenging.
