August 19, 2025

Ex-DOGE engineer: Elon Musk ‘didn’t learn anything’ during tenure

NEW YORK — Sahil Lavingia put his faith in Elon Musk when he joined the Department of Government Efficiency. He knew about Musk’s successes with Tesla and other businesses and thought the billionaire was the right person to lead an effort to trim and streamline the federal government. By the time Lavingia left the advisory […]

August 19, 2025

‘A crime that shocks the mind’: Iraq exhumes mass grave site left by ISIS

Iraqi officials have exhumed human remains from what they believe is a mass grave that the Islamic State (ISIS) left behind in the Middle Eastern country, The Associated Press reported. The Iraqi Martyrs Foundation confirmed to the state-run Iraqi News Agency that the country’s Forensic Medicine Department will examine all recovered remains. Workers in northern […]

August 19, 2025

Newsmax settles Dominion defamation case for $67 million

Newsmax agreed to pay $67 million to Dominion Voting Systems to settle a $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit over false reporting that the company’s voting machines helped rig the 2020 election against President Donald Trump. Despite settling the case, the conservative news outlet criticized the Delaware judge who oversaw the case as biased against the network. […]

August 19, 2025

Entergy Louisiana wants fast approval of gas plants to power Meta data center

Louisiana’s electric utility company wants a fast-tracked approval of three new gas-fired power plants to provide 2.3 gigawatts of power for a Meta data center. The proposed plants would add enough electricity to the grid to power New Orleans twice, and consumer advocates are raising the alarm that a rushed process could leave consumers paying […]

August 19, 2025

‘Protect your children’: US officials warn of dangerous ‘Lafufus’ issue

A plush doll known for its toothy smile has surged in popularity in recent weeks, but U.S. officials are warning parents about counterfeit versions. The knock-offs of Labubu dolls, nicknamed “Lafufus” online, can break apart easily, creating small pieces that the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) says pose a serious choking hazard and risk […]

August 19, 2025

Rats! Infestation impacting almond growing in California

Rats have infested significant portions of almond orchards in California, where 80% of the world’s supply of the product is grown. The damage from the rats has caused a significant economic loss to growers. Rat infestation A survey from the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) found the infestation is impacting more than 100,000 […]

August 19, 2025

DC deployment Day 8: Crime down, alleged wrongful arrest, friendly Guard

Since President Donald Trump federalized Washington, D.C.’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) and deployed the National Guard one week ago, overall crime has decreased by 8%, according to the D.C. Police Union. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced federal agents and MPD officers have made nearly 400 arrests since the operation began and seized dozens of firearms.  […]

August 19, 2025

Trump administration revokes more than 6,000 student visas: Report

The Trump administration has revoked more than 6,000 student visas, according to several reports. The U.S. State Department said those students had either overstayed their visa or had otherwise broken the law. Visas revoked The reports said the majority of the legal violations were for cases of assault, driving under the influence, burglary and allegations […]

August 19, 2025

School districts address food insecurity and foster resilience

More than 1 in 8 U.S. households are “food insecure,” meaning they do not have access to enough quality food to meet their basic needs, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The 7 million-plus children in these homes are more likely to experience poor health and absenteeism, and typically score lower in math and reading. […]