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It was called the Kennedy Center, but 3 different presidents shaped it
Washington, D.C.'s performing arts center was named for President Kennedy after his assassination. But his vision for the arts as a cornerstone of democracy was shared by Eisenhower and Johnson.
Justice Department begins the release of the Epstein files
The Justice Department has begun publishing the Epstein files, releasing documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein's criminal charges and his death by suicide in federal custody.
Judge blocks HUD homelessness overhaul, rebukes agency for causing ‘chaos’
A federal judge said HUD cannot dramatically change its funding policies on homelessness for now. States, cities and nonprofits say the proposed overhaul would push thousands back onto the streets.
Scientists push back on Trump plan to break up a critical climate and weather center
The White House plans to break up a key weather and climate research center in Colorado, a move experts say could jeopardize the accuracy of forecasting and prediction systems.
A Reddit post helped find MIT and Brown shooting suspect. Here’s what we know
Details are beginning to emerge about the life of Claudio Manuel Neves Valente, the gunman who killed two and injured nine others in the attack at Brown University last week. He is also believed to have killed an MIT professor on Monday, police said.
He’s the first African musician to get a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
The late, great Fela Kuti is known as the "Black President" for his role as both a musical and a political leader. Now he has become the first African artist to get this Grammy honor.
Millions of soon-to-be uninsured Americans are looking for a ‘plan B’
In January, millions of Americans will face more costly premiums on their ACA health plans. Some will go without insurance, pay out of pocket to see doctors, and use special prescription drug plans.
America’s new top health diplomat has strong opinions on abortion and gender
Bethany Kozma leads a key global health office at the Department of Health and Human Services. In past experience in the public eye, she's campaigned against abortion and gender-affirming care.
4 common scams to watch out for this holiday season
Don't get swindled while buying those last-minute gifts. Amy Nofziger, a fraud specialist with AARP, shares top schemes she's been seeing this season — and tips on how to protect yourself.
We caught up with one of the kids who sang on ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas.’ He’s 72 now
Dave Willat was just 11 years old when he showed up for what he thought would be a routine church choir practice in 1965. He and his fellow singers ended up making history.
It’s the last news quiz of the year! Will you go out on top?
This week, we've got annoying holiday movies, chatty White House insiders, and cheese.
What to watch for in this weekend’s College Football Playoff first round
An unpredictable and exciting college football season is coming to a close. This weekend's first-round slate is set up for two tight games and two blowouts — but in the playoffs, anything goes.
Friday is the deadline to release the Epstein files. Here’s what to expect
Friday is the deadline for the government to release files related to the life and death of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and there are still questions about what will be published and when.
Trump will revisit a North Carolina town, now the focus of a newly redrawn congressional district
While he is directly appealing to Americans that the economy is improving, President Trump will visit a congressional district Republicans are eyeing in their attempts to keep control the U.S. House.
COMIC: 6 tips to help you overcome social anxiety this season
If you're tempted to bail on potentially fun events becuase you feel awkward, read this. Level up your small talk game and practice social courage with six tips from psychologists.
In the shadow of U.S. export controls, China rallies its own chip industry
The chip industry in China is hustling to overcome a Western tech choke hold, even as President Trump appears poised to loosen U.S. chip restrictions.
Meet the new WaPo food critic who won’t dine in anonymity
NPR's Leila Fadel tags along for lunch with Elazar Sontag, the Washington Post's new food critic.
Islamic school’s effort to expand draws anti-Muslim backlash
The Islamic Academy of Alabama is a K-12 school that has been in Homewood since 1996. They applied to rezone an office park space in Hoover to expand. The issue has sparked anti-Islamic rhetoric, notably from U.S. Tommy Tuberville.
Trump suspends U.S. green card lottery after Brown University and MIT shootings
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a post on the social platform X that, at Trump's direction, she is ordering the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services to pause the program.
EU leaders agree on $105bn Ukraine loan, but without relying on frozen Russian assets
European Union leaders have agreed to provide a massive interest-free loan to Ukraine to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years. The loan will not rely on frozen Russian assets.
A federal jury finds Milwaukee judge guilty of obstructing immigration agents
A jury returns a guilty/not guilty verdict in the case of Hannah Dugan. The Milwaukee judge was accused of allowing an undocumented immigrant defender to evade immigration agents
Suspect in Brown University shooting found dead in New Hampshire
The suspect in the shooting at Brown University Saturday was discovered dead Thursday at a storage facility in New Hampshire.
TikTok signs deal to give U.S. operations to Oracle-led investor group
The agreement aims to resolve a yearslong standoff between the popular social media platform and the U.S. government over national security concerns tied to China's parent company, ByteDance.
A family reunion to commemorate the Montgomery Bus Boycott
This month marked the 70th anniversary of the historic Montgomery Bus Boycott. The demonstration was catalyzed when Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat on a bus. The boycott lasted over a year and is considered a spark of the Civil Rights Movement.
President Trump to add his own name to the Kennedy Center
The arts institution will be called the Trump-Kennedy Center. The president's press secretary said it comes after a unanimous vote by the center's board, which Trump took over earlier this year.
Mangione pre-trial hearing wraps, but judge won’t rule on evidence for months
After three weeks of testimony, a judge will now rule on whether evidence found in Mangione's backpack can be used in his state trial for the murder of UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson.
Lucy Liu on ‘Rosemead,’ rejection and returning to Mandarin
The child of Chinese immigrants, Liu didn't learn English until she was 5. She plays a terminally ill woman grappling with her teenage son's mental health crisis in Rosemead.
Mariah Carey’s ‘All I Want for Christmas Is You’ breaks an all-time chart record
With Carey's enduring Christmas hit, we may be looking at a record that borders on the untouchable.
Austrian nuns await word from the Vatican on whether they can stay in their convent
The three octogenarian nuns broke out of a nursing home to go back to live in their convent, sparking a dispute with their church superior. Both sides have appealed to the Vatican for a resolution.
From toddlers to teens, here’s your one-stop shop for young readers
If you have kids in your life who are ready to broaden their book horizons we have recommendations for you! Here you'll find tried-and-true picture books, chapter books, and YA, all published in 2025.
Inflation cools slightly in November as worries about affordability grip Americans
The cost of living in November was up 2.7% from a year ago, according to a report Thursday from the Labor Department. That's a smaller annual increase than for the 12 months ending in September.
New York has a new Archbishop. His background looks a lot like Pope Leo’s
Like Pope Leo, Bishop Ronald Hicks is an Illinois native with deep experience in Latin America.


