JQJO — Your world, one story at a time · Page 1054

PORTLAND, Ore. Twenty-one states and D.C. filed a federal lawsuit on Dec. 22 seeking to force CFPB Acting Director Russell Vought to request operating funds from the Federal Reserve. The plaintiffs say Vought refused in November to petition the Fed, a move they argue would leave the agency without funds by January and disrupt consumer complaint handling. Attorneys general from California, Oregon, Arizona and other states asked the court for an order directing the agency to seek funding under the Dodd-Frank framework. The suit cites statutory obligations and examples of consumer harms. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Los Angeles — Vince Zampella, co-creator of the Call of Duty franchise and head of Respawn Entertainment, died after a single-vehicle crash on Angeles Crest Highway on Sunday, authorities and his employer confirmed. The California Highway Patrol reported the vehicle veered off the roadway around 12:45 p.m., struck a concrete barrier and became engulfed in flames; two occupants were involved and both later died. Electronic Arts and local broadcaster NBC4 provided confirmation and reporting. Multiple witness videos circulated online showing the burned vehicle. Authorities have not released a cause and continue to investigate. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Madison, Wis. A coalition of 50 state attorneys general announced Monday that Mercedes‑Benz USA and parent company Daimler AG agreed to pay $149.6 million to resolve allegations they equipped more than 211,000 diesel vehicles with software defeat devices that reduced emissions controls during normal driving. The settlement requires Mercedes to pay $120 million to states immediately, offer extended warranties nationwide, provide $2,000 per affected vehicle for eligible owners, and comply with reporting and reform requirements; $29.7 million is suspended pending consumer relief and environmental remediation. The agreement remains subject to court approval. Based on 11 articles reviewed and supporting research.

DENVER — An immigration judge ruled Sunday that Jeanette Vizguerra may post a $5,000 bond and be released after nine months in federal immigration detention, her supporters said. She left the Aurora detention center Monday and spoke at a rally Tuesday with attorneys and advocates who assert she was targeted for her activism. Federal authorities arrested Vizguerra outside an Aurora Target on March 17; ICE has said she has a final order of deportation and a criminal conviction from Mexico. Her legal case continues while the government pursues removal proceedings. Community reaction followed. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Birmingham, Ala. Hundreds attended a Monday funeral for Brown University sophomore Ella Cook, one of two students killed Dec. 13 when a gunman opened fire during a study session. Nine other students were wounded. Authorities identified 48-year-old Claudio Neves Valente, a former Brown graduate student, as the suspect; officials say he fatally shot MIT professor Nuno F.G. Loureiro two days later and was found dead Dec. 16 in a New Hampshire storage facility from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot. Brown placed campus police chief Rodney Chatman on leave as university and federal reviews proceed. Based on 6 articles reviewed and research.

United States, retailers and restaurants across the country published adjusted hours for Christmas Day and Christmas Eve, with many major chains closed and selected restaurants and casinos offering service. Chains such as Walmart and Target announced closure on Dec. 25, while Walgreens and specific food outlets noted limited or variable hours. Local outlets in Reno, Des Moines, Nashville, Louisville and Idaho Falls compiled lists of various open locations, including casinos identifying special holiday menus and grocery stores listing Christmas Eve closing times. Consumers were advised to call ahead due to location-specific variations. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Mountain View, Calif. Alphabet announced on Dec. 22 that it will acquire energy and data-center developer Intersect for $4.75 billion to secure power for artificial intelligence workloads. The company said it will allow Intersect to operate independently after the deal, which follows a prior Google investment and project collaborations. Intersect previously raised $2.1 billion; it has about $15 billion in operating or pipeline assets and projects expected to represent about 10.8 gigawatts by 2028. The acquisition transfers projects, employees and energy capacity and corporate partners to Alphabet as it expands AI infrastructure. Based on 6 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington — The Department of Homeland Security on Monday increased its voluntary-departure incentive to $3,000 and a free flight for undocumented immigrants who register via the CBP Home app and leave the United States by Dec. 31, 2025. Secretary Kristi Noem today announced the temporary raise from $1,000 as a holiday push and said participants may receive forgiveness of certain civil fines. DHS cites roughly 1.9 million voluntary departures since January 2025 and tens of thousands of app users. The agency framed the offer as a cost-saving alternative to detention and removal. Based on 11 articles reviewed and supporting research.

Washington, the Trump administration paused leases for five large offshore wind projects along the East Coast on Monday, citing national security risks identified by the Pentagon and Defense Department reports. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said the pause allows Interior to work with Defense, leaseholders and states to assess mitigation options. Affected projects include Vineyard Wind, Revolution Wind, Coastal Virginia Offshore Wind, Sunrise Wind and Empire Wind. Developers’ shares fell and state leaders warned of higher energy costs. The administration did not disclose the classified findings. Federal agencies continue to review mitigation possibilities. Based on 11 articles reviewed and supporting research.