News

Syrian opposition activists say insurgents have reached the suburbs of Damascus

Syrian insurgents have reached the suburbs of Damascus as part of a offensive that has seen them take over some of Syria's largest cities, opposition activists and a rebel commander said Saturday.

Photographer pays homage to Our Lady of Guadalupe and reclaims her connection with the divine

Our Lady of Guadalupe is a significant religious figure who signifies hope and protection for countless Latinos in the U.S. and abroad. For photographer Amanda Lopez, she's an emblem of home.

Musk and Ramaswamy’s DOGE echoes past budget promises that faced big hurdles

Vows to shrink the deficit, pay down the debt and run government more like a business have long been a stock element of politics. Candidates for office who have business backgrounds made it a mantra.

A wolf walks into a flower — and appears to pollinate it

The bees and ... the wolves? Turns out, the Ethiopian wolf may be a pollinator, too.

South Korean President Yoon’s impeachment vote fails after ruling party boycotts it

A South Korean legislative push to impeach President Yoon Suk Yeol over his imposition of martial law fell through on Saturday.

How many species could go extinct from climate change? It depends on how hot it gets.

A new study projects biodiversity threats if global warming speeds up. Under the most extreme scenarios, about one in three species could be facing extinction by the end of the century.

Activists worry that Trump will bulldoze trans rights. Here’s how they’re preparing

Trump's campaign promised policies targeting the transgender community once he's in office. LGBTQ groups face fear, anxiety and uncertainty as they prep for an anticipated challenging four years.

Internet sleuths are trying to solve the New York CEO killing

The public is racing to find evidence that might lead to the gunman who killed health insurance CEO Brian Thompson. When does crowdsourcing detective work help police, and when can it cause harm?

Trump travels to Paris for Notre Dame Cathedral’s reopening and to meet with Macron

Donald Trump is off on his first international trip as president-elect, ready to join world leaders and dignitaries in Paris for a Saturday celebration of the renovation of Notre Dame Cathedral.

USDA orders testing across nation’s milk supply amid rising bird flu cases

The virus has spread to over 710 dairy herbs across 15 states, with California reporting the highest number of infections. At least 58 people have been infected with bird flu, including one child.

The holidays are peak time for volunteers, but how about the rest of the year?

Thanksgiving Day kicks off a wave of volunteers stirred by the holiday spirit, but those in charge of local charities say they'd rather have that help at other times of the year.

Election confidence among Republicans surges after Trump’s win, a new poll finds

Almost 9 in 10 U.S. voters felt the November election was run well, according to new survey data. That's a jump compared with 2020 — an increase driven exclusively by Republican voters.

What is your favorite holiday scent and memory?

The holidays are rife with tradition and memories, with more than a few seasonal cookies, coffees and festivities sprinkled in between. So we asked visitors to our recent News and Brews community pop-up in Trussville: what is your favorite holiday scent and memory? 

A company that turned homeowners into renters abruptly shuts down

EasyKnock, which pioneered 'sale-leaseback' deals for struggling homeowners, abruptly closes its doors

Young people are dying of heat and their risks could grow, study finds

Scientists have pointed out that extreme heat is particularly dangerous for older people. A new study shows that young, healthy people are also dying too often in extreme weather.

Coronavirus FAQ: I didn’t get the latest COVID vaccine. Should I? And if so … when?

If you haven't rolled up your sleeve for the jab, you're not alone. In fact, you're in the majority. Here's why doctors think the shot is important.

The body of a woman missing near a Pennsylvania sinkhole has been found

The remains 64-year-old Elizabeth Pollard, who fell into a sinkhole, were recovered Friday, four days after she went missing while searching for her cat, a state police spokesperson said.

She’s 74 — and expecting: Wisdom the albatross astounds once again

It started in the Eisenhower era: Every year, Wisdom, a Layan albatross, has returned to her nesting grounds on the Midway Atoll in the Pacific Ocean.

This little electric car made history. 25 years ago, GM stopped making it

The EV1 was the first modern, mass-produced electric vehicle from a major automaker — pioneering some technologies you can still find in today's EVs. But the model was controversial, and short-lived.

After trying to impose martial law, South Korea’s president faces an impeachment vote

After President Yoon Suk Yeol's failed attempt to impose martial law, South Korea's parliament will vote Saturday on his impeachment. Yoon's own party chief has called for his powers to be suspended.

Court upholds a U.S. ban on TikTok

A federal appeals court agreed that the viral video app must be sold off by its China-based parent company, rejecting TikTok's claim that the crackdown violates the free speech rights of millions of Americans.

Slingshot spiders rely on good vibrations to catch supper

The tiny ray spider uses launches its web to grab its prey out of the air. Though common practice in the superhero world, this ability is actually unusual in spiders.

How measles, whooping cough and worse could roar back on RFK Jr.’s watch

With anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in charge of the nation's biggest health agency, it wouldn't take much tampering to enable vaccine-preventable diseases to make a comeback.

The manhunt for the New York CEO’s shooter enters its third day

Key pieces of evidence include the shooter's electric bike, bullet casings found at the scene and the hostel where the suspect reportedly stayed. Police are also analyzing a phone found in an alley.

Who or what else did President Biden pardon? Find out in the quiz!

Also in your grab bag of weekly trivia: martial law, bitcoin, the first lady's holiday décor, a Kennedy who's not RFK Jr., brain rot and the popemobile.

With the Voting Rights Act facing more threats, advocates renew a push for state laws

With efforts to bolster the federal Voting Rights Act unlikely under Republican control of the new Congress, advocates are refocusing on state protections against racial discrimination in elections.

Want a great photo of yourself? Try these confidence-boosting poses

Anyone can be photogenic. It just takes practice. A model and a posing coach share postures and movements to help you get more comfortable in front of the camera.

Microfeminism: The next big thing in fighting the patriarchy

People are sharing the different tactics they use help to uplift women in small ways.

After a shocking shooting, Americans vent feelings about health insurance

The death of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson triggered a deluge of painful stories about health care denials on social media.

3 climbers from the U.S. and Canada are believed to have died in New Zealand

Three mountain climbers — two from the U.S. and one from Canada — missing for five days on Aoraki, New Zealand's tallest peak, are believed to have died in a fall, the authorities said Friday.

Trump names former Sen. David Perdue of Georgia to be ambassador to China

With his nomination, Trump is leaning on a former business executive-turned politician to serve as the administration's envoy to America's most potent economic and military adversary.

Trump nominates Rodney Scott to lead Customs and Border Protection

Rodney Scott at CBP and Caleb Vitello at ICE would work alongside Stephen Miller, who was named deputy chief of staff for policy and Tom Homan, also tapped to be a "border czar."