Spanberger enacts contraception, wage, and energy policy actions

 

RICHMOND, Va. — On Wednesday and Thursday this week Governor Abigail Spanberger signed the Right to Contraception Act and legislation phasing Virginia's minimum wage to $15 by 2028, and she joined other governors in a letter to PJM Interconnection urging fair data-center cost allocation and reliability measures. The measures formalize state...

US GDP Slows To 0.5% In Fourth Quarter

 

Washington. The Commerce Department reported Thursday that the U.S. economy grew at a 0.5% annualized rate in the fourth quarter (October–December), revising down from a prior 0.7% estimate and attributing much of the slowdown to a 43-day federal government shutdown that cut spending. The revision reduced full-year 2025 growth to 2.1%,...

U.S. Jobless Claims Rise to 219,000 Amid Ceasefire

 

WASHINGTON — U.S. applications for unemployment benefits rose by 16,000 to 219,000 for the week ending April 4, the Labor Department reported Thursday, exceeding FactSet expectations of 210,000 and following the prior week's 203,000 filings; this data arrived before a Tuesday ceasefire announcement. Oil prices fell to about $95 a barrel...

Nicklaus’ errant tee shot, legends comment on Masters

 

AUGUSTA, Georgia. On Thursday at Augusta National, honorary starter Jack Nicklaus hooked a tee shot into the gallery during the Masters opening ceremony, drawing a shouted “fore!” and laughter; Gary Player and Tom Watson also struck drives and offered remarks at the event. The incident prompted immediate reaction from the crowd...

UFL Announces Oklahoma City Expansion Team for 2028

 

Oklahoma City. The United Football League announced Thursday that it will add an expansion team to begin play in the spring 2028 season, with the franchise set to use a new downtown multipurpose stadium scheduled to open that year and hold just over 10,000 fans. City officials, including Mayor David Holt,...

Tennessee Man Charged After Missing Colerain Teen Found

 

CINCINNATI — Stephen Negron, 42, of Rogersville, Tennessee, was federally charged this week with transporting 16-year-old Madison Fields to Florida with intent to engage in criminal sexual activity after she was reported missing in mid-February and located at a Palatka, Florida hotel on March 13. Authorities used phone pings, security-video footage...

Honorary Starters Launch 90th Masters at Augusta

 

AUGUSTA, Ga. The 90th Masters opened Thursday morning when Honorary Starters Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player and Tom Watson struck ceremonial tee shots on the first fairway at Augusta National Golf Club, with Player's celebratory leg kick and Nicklaus's low hook drawing brief attention in cool, low-50s temperatures. Organizers and broadcasters continued...

LeBron leads Lakers to win amid injury and seeding uncertainty

 

San Francisco — The Los Angeles Lakers, led by LeBron James and coached by JJ Redick, defeated the Golden State Warriors 119-103 on Thursday in San Francisco while the team remained shorthanded following earlier April blowout losses in Oklahoma City and Dallas and injuries to Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves. The...

Ortega Nearly Quit Acting Before Netflix Breakthrough

 

Washington: Actor Jenna Ortega said she nearly left acting after exiting children's television, but landed the role of Ellie Alves in season 2 of Netflix's You in 2019, which she now credits with altering her career trajectory, her interviews reported on April 9. The casting convinced Ortega to remain in the...

India, US Officials Hold Talks on Defence, Trade, West Asia

 

Washington DC. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met US Under Secretary of War for Policy Elbridge Colby and officials from the US Bureau of Industry and Security at the Pentagon and Department of Commerce on April 9, holding wide-ranging talks on West Asia developments and strengthening defence, technology, and supply-chain ties. Officials...