Washington: The Trump administration launched the Trump Gold Card visa program on Wednesday, opening Trumpcard.gov to accept applications offering expedited residency in exchange for payments. The program requires a $15,000 DHS processing fee plus a $1 million individual contribution or $2 million corporate contribution after background checks and vetting. Officials...
United States — Local outlets reported a range of verified events this week: Southern Illinois University hosted former U.N. diplomat Jan Eliasson for a Dec. 17 virtual forum; Southeastern Illinois College won the UIndy 500 on Dec. 6; Montana beat an opponent after a power outage; Duke defeated Virginia in...
Washington. The Senate voted this week to reject competing bills to extend COVID-era Affordable Care Act premium tax credits or replace them with health savings account payments, leaving enhanced subsidies set to expire Dec. 31 and risking steep premium increases for millions. Lawmakers offered a three-year Democratic extension and a...
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Governor Ron DeSantis on Wednesday unveiled a near-$117.4 billion 'Floridians First' budget that increases education funding, boosts law enforcement pay and reserves, proposes homestead property-tax elimination with state backfill, and includes debt reduction and targeted program cuts; legislative approval and a 2026 ballot amendment will affect implementation....
ANN ARBOR, Mich. Michigan fired head football coach Sherrone Moore on Wednesday after an internal investigation found credible evidence he engaged in an inappropriate relationship with a staff member, athletic director Warde Manuel said. Michigan terminated Moore with cause, appointed Biff Poggi interim head coach and will not owe a...
Grafton, W.Va. State officials laid to rest U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom on Tuesday at the West Virginia National Cemetery after she died Nov. 27 from wounds sustained the previous day during a shooting near Farragut Square Metro Station in Washington, D.C. Military honor guards, chaplains, West Virginia Governor Patrick...
United States state employment reports released this week show mixed labor-market signals for September 2025. State labor departments reported varied unemployment rates—Connecticut 3.8%, Ohio 4.8%, Oregon 5.2%, Indiana 3.7%, Pennsylvania 4.1%, San Diego County 4.9%—and divergent payroll changes, with losses in leisure, manufacturing and health care in some areas and...
Washington. The Federal Reserve cut its benchmark interest rate by 25 basis points Wednesday, lowering the federal funds target to 3.50–3.75 percent after a two-day FOMC meeting. Chair Jerome Powell said officials will wait to see and flagged a higher bar for future reductions while projecting one additional cut next...
Washington — The Federal Reserve cut the federal funds rate by 25 basis points on Wednesday, lowering the target range to 3.5 to 3.75 percent. Jerome Powell-led Federal Open Market Committee said uncertainty about the economic outlook remains elevated, job gains have slowed, and downside risks to employment have risen....
WASHINGTON — AAA projected that a record 122.4 million Americans will travel at least 50 miles during the year-end holiday period Dec. 20 through Jan. 1. The forecast, up 2.2% from 2024, surpasses last year’s 119.7 million. AAA expects 109.5 million travelers to drive, about 89 percent, aided by national...
