Front Page

With deadline looming Speaker predicts GOP can pass spending bill without Democrats

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La, told reporters on Tuesday that he believes Republicans will be able to pass a partisan spending bill without the help of Democrats.

What’s Causing Birmingham’s Code Red Air Quality Alert?

A prescribed burn is harming air quality. Here's what Jefferson and Shelby County residents should do to protect their health.

Dear Life Kit: My best friend said he’d unfriend me if I ever had kids

A reader is taken aback by her best friend's reaction to the possibility that she might want kids. He says that if she had kids, it would change everything between them. Friendship experts weigh in.

New books this week: A foodie memoir, a missing child, witches illustrated, and more

Care and Feeding chronicles life in the culinary world. All the Other Mothers Hate Me follows a mom turned amateur detective. Plus, Karen Russell's first full-length novel since Swamplandia!

From pointy hats to murder of innocents, ‘The Story of Witches’ revives the past

Willow Winsham's new book on witches, past and present, offers a fun, fast, well researched historical summary that is also a stunning work of art.

As Trump downplays economic fears, this data show people feel differently

Economists look for signs that a recession may be approaching by monitoring consumer confidence and business sentiment — two indicators of uncertainty.

What to know about this week’s ‘blood worm moon’ total lunar eclipse

This total lunar eclipse — the first in three years — will feature a "blood worm moon," so named for the reddish hue of its glow and the time of year it's occurring.

Paid parental leave likely coming for state employees in Alabama and Mississippi

Both states are part of just a dozen that do not offer the benefit. Proponents across the political aisle are likely to change that.

How reliable is the government’s economic data? Under Trump, there are real concerns

The disbanding of committees that consulted on government data — and comments from a senior official about changing how GDP is calculated — are raising alarm about the reliability of government data.

RFK says most vaccine advisers have conflicts of interest. A report shows they don’t

The Health Secretary's assertion inaccurately characterizes the 2009 government report he cites, according to an NPR review and interviews with former committee members.

Former Navy SEALs say they’re making marine conservation cool

A group called Force Blue, which does conservation work across the country, is providing what they call "mission therapy" to veterans who miss the camaraderie and the sense of purpose of service.

The government already knows a lot about you. DOGE is trying to access all of it

Agencies from Social Security to the IRS store sensitive data on millions of Americans. Here's what the government knows about us – and what's at risk as DOGE seeks access to the data.

Drought-stricken Algeria plans to import 1 million sheep ahead of Islam’s Eid Al-Adha

North Africa is enduring its seventh consecutive year of extreme heat and below-average rainfall. The drought has shrunk harvests and driven up the price of animal feed needed to raise livestock.

Former Philippine leader Duterte arrested on an ICC warrant over drug killings

Former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested Tuesday on order of the International Criminal Court in connection with a case of crime against humanity, the Philippine government said.

City crews have begun painting over the ‘Black Lives Matter’ street mural in D.C.

In June 2020, the phrase "Black Lives Matter" had been painted on the pavement by the city in uppercase, yellow letters, covering two blocks on 16th Street, about a quarter mile from the White House.

Canada’s Hudson’s Bay has survived 355 years. Now the store is in crisis

The department store chain, founded in 1670, can't pay its debts and says the pandemic, inflation and now trade tensions have hurt its financial future.

Rubio announces that 83% of USAID contracts will be canceled

In a memo posted to X on Monday morning, the secretary of state said 5,200 contracts had been canceled following a six-week review.

Birmingham VA worker caught in the crosshairs of federal funding cuts

Brandy Lee was in the middle of her work day with the Birmingham VA Medical Center in February when she got a memo from the federal Office of Personnel Management. After four months in her dream job, she was fired along with thousands of other federal employees across the country. 

Media Matters sues Elon Musk’s X over ‘libel tourism’ legal assault

A new suit in an ongoing legal battle between the billionaire and the liberal advocacy group claims Musk's legal attacks are impeding the organization's work.

To booze or not to booze, that is the question (this new survey just asked)

According to the survey, 57% of drinkers believe their alcohol consumption does not increase their personal risk of serious health problems.

Bill Burr: ‘I am a mess of a human being … but it makes for good comedy’

Burr is known for his contrarian, fiery stand-up, but lately he's been feeling lighter on stage. His latest Hulu comedy special is Bill Burr: Drop Dead Years. 

U.S. tanker is leaking fuel in the North Sea after a collision with a container ship

Jet fuel is spilling into the North Sea after a U.S.-flagged fuel tanker collided with a cargo ship off the eastern coast of England. Thirty-seven people have been brought to shore.

Arrest of Palestinian protester shows escalation in Trump deportation efforts

The move is an escalation in Trump's effort to increase deportations from the U.S. and strip protections from those who violate the new administration's priorities.

Stocks slump yet again as fears grow about tariffs — and a recession

Investors appear increasingly worried about the impact of tariffs on the U.S. economy.

On Harriet Tubman Day, a new effort to place the abolitionist on the $20 bill launches

The latest measure, sponsored by Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat from New Hampshire, follows years of delays and efforts to have Harriet Tubman replace President Andrew Jackson on the $20 bill.

5 things to know about Mark Carney, Canada’s next prime minister

Mark Carney is a newcomer to elected politics with decades of experience in finance. After his landslide victory, he pledged to continue tariffs on the U.S. "until the Americans show us respect."

Top ‘Washington Post’ columnist resigns, accusing publisher of killing piece

Washington Post columnist Ruth Marcus resigned today, accusing the paper's publisher of killing her piece on owner Jeff Bezos' overhaul of its opinion pages.

How the science of savoring can help you nurture your relationships

Learn this simple practice that researchers say can strengthen bonds with loved ones and improve your daily well-being.

Does the narwhal’s famous tusk help it catch fish?

Intriguing video of narwhals using their tusks to mess with fish has scientists speculating about what this behavior might mean.

Hamas is offering a truce with Israel for five to ten years, a U.S. official says

President Trump's hostage affairs envoy, Adam Boehler, says a new Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal could happen "within weeks," as he defends his direct talks with Hamas.

How a train conductor saved a graduate student from potential danger

On this week's My Unsung Hero, Ellen Wyoming DeLoy tells the story of a train conductor who saved her from potential danger.

A bane for tyrants abroad, U.S.-funded networks fear fate under Kari Lake

U.S.-funded international networks reach more than 420 million people in more than 100 countries each week. Some network leaders fear that Kari Lake intends to cancel all funding for them.