JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 1044

Washington. President Donald Trump announced this week that his administration will remove National Guard troops from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland after a series of legal setbacks, including a high-court decision that blocked planned deployments. Governors and city officials had challenged federal moves to federalize state guards and protect federal property and ICE facilities, leading judges to curb the administration's actions. Trump asserted troop presence reduced crime and left open the possibility of returning if violence rises across multiple jurisdictions nationwide; and state officials cited constitutional limits and filed lawsuits that halted operations. Based on 11 articles reviewed and supporting research.

United States. State governments and labor agencies announced nationwide minimum wage increases effective Jan. 1, 2026. Ohio will raise non-tipped pay to $11.00 and tipped to $5.50, with the applicability threshold rising to $405,000. Connecticut will adjust to $16.94 using the Employment Cost Index. Missouri will set $15.00 after Proposition A, with automatic increases later repealed. South Dakota’s rates rise to $11.85 and tipped $5.925 under its CPI-based law. Agencies attributed changes to inflation metrics calculated by federal indices and state statutes. Employers and workers will experience adjusted pay rules starting Thursday. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington, House Oversight Committee announced Wednesday it will hold a Jan. 7 hearing on allegations of fraud in Minnesota social services programs, Chairman James Comer said. The hearing will feature Minnesota Republican lawmakers Rep. Kristin Robbins, Rep. Walter Hudson and Marion Rarick. Comer also invited Gov. Tim Walz and Attorney General Keith Ellison to testify at a second hearing on Feb. 10. Independent reporting recently cited reportedly vacant child-care centers that received state payments. Federal agencies, including the Department of Justice, are investigating, and agencies moved to freeze some payments. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington — The Justice Department said this week it must review about 5.2 million pages of records tied to Jeffrey Epstein and has mobilized roughly 400 attorneys from Main Justice, the FBI, the Southern District of Florida and the Southern District of New York to conduct the review. The review, scheduled to run in early January, will delay the statutory release originally set by Congress for Dec. 19 and is expected to push public disclosures into late January. Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said teams are working through the holidays to complete required redactions. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

WASHINGTON, President Donald Trump vetoed two bipartisan natural resources bills this week on Tuesday, blocking funding for a long-planned Colorado drinking water pipeline and denying expanded tribal control over Miccosukee lands in Florida. The White House issued veto messages saying the measures would impose excessive costs and conflicted with administration immigration policy; both bills had passed the House and Senate unanimously by voice votes. Lawmakers including Rep. Lauren Boebert criticized the pipeline veto as harmful to rural constituents and suggested political motives. Congress would need two-thirds votes in both chambers to override. Based on 11 articles reviewed and supporting research.

United States meteorologists report a widespread brief cold spell across multiple regions as the year ends, with lows dipping into teens and 20s in Tennessee, Alabama, and Illinois on Wednesday and New Year's Eve, while Florida and coastal areas saw cooler-than-normal temperatures in the 30s–40s. Local services prepared for frost, ice, and minor travel impacts. Forecasts show gradual warming into early January, rain or showers returning Friday into the weekend for parts of the Southeast and Gulf Coast, and seasonal thawing by mid-week. Agencies advised bundling and travel caution for slick spots. Based on 11 articles reviewed and supporting research.

United States fire officials and local governments urged safety ahead of New Year's Eve fireworks across multiple states. State and local fire marshals in Louisiana, North Dakota, North Carolina and Florida encouraged residents to prefer professional displays, follow licensing laws, and observe city ordinances to avoid fines and accidents. Louisiana permitted more than 600 retail fireworks stands and set sales through Jan. 1, 2025; West Fargo allowed fireworks from 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. Denver crews prepared synchronized rooftop launches totaling more than 3,000 shots per show at 9 p.m. and midnight. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Trenton, Kentucky, a CSX freight train derailed early Tuesday, sending 31 cars off the tracks and causing a molten sulfur leak and a small contained fire, officials said. Emergency crews extinguished the blaze by late morning, and authorities issued then later lifted a half-mile shelter-in-place for nearby residents after air-quality testing showed safe conditions. No injuries were reported. Hazmat teams and CSX personnel conducted cleanup and containment; U.S. 41 remained closed for several days while crews removed damaged cars and debris. State and local officials coordinated response and issued public safety guidance. Based on 11 articles reviewed and supporting research.