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By STEPHEN GROVES, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats released a selection of photos from the estate of Jeffrey Epstein on Friday, including some of Donald Trump, Bill Clinton and the former Prince Andrew. The 19 photos released by Democratic lawmakers on the House Oversight Committee were a small part of more than 95,000 they received from the estate of Epstein, who died in a New York jail cell in 2019 while awaiting sex trafficking charges. The photos released Friday were separate from the case files that the Department of Justice is now compelled to release. The photos were released without captions or context…

SACRAMENTO — After Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said he was proud that his city had the largest Somali community in the United States, President Donald Trump unleashed a vicious rant during a press conference ostensibly about the auto industry: “I wouldn’t be proud to have the largest Somalian ― look at their nation. Look how bad their nation is. It’s not even a nation. It’s just people walking around killing each other. … They have destroyed Minnesota.” Trump also penned a social-media post claiming Somali gangs have taken over Minnesota and “are roving the streets looking for ‘prey’ as our…

By Summer Ballentine, The Detroit News The rise in late auto loan payments is a symptom of an increasingly unaffordable vehicle market, experts say. Households with the lowest incomes are suffering the most. Auto loan debt is not yet at a crisis point, according to analysts. But economists are closely following late payments as a potential indicator of wider economic stress and trouble for the U.S. auto industry, which has become increasingly reliant on high-price, high-profit pickups and SUVs. According to a Nov. 24 note from the Federal Reserve Bank, “auto loan debt increased to levels not observed since the…

Q: My California Department of Motor Vehicles registration has the Smog Abatement Fee on it — but my parents don’t have it on theirs. Do you know why? – Gina N. Dangelo, Saugus A: Yes. Gina, do you happen to have a newer ride than your parents? Generally, the California Legislature does not require gas-powered cars and trucks that are eight years old or younger, are purchased here in the Golden State, with its restrictive requirements on manufacturers, and have remained with the original owner to get smog checks every other year. Of course, newer gas vehicles aren’t likely to…

By SCOTT BAUER, Associated Press MADISON, Wis. (AP) — One of two lawsuits seeking to redraw congressional boundary lines that currently favor Republicans in Wisconsin would not be resolved until after the 2026 midterms under a timeline up for approval Friday. Democrats who brought a second challenge in the battleground state are seeking a more aggressive schedule that would get that case decided in time for the November elections. Scheduling conferences in both cases on Friday come the day after Indiana Republicans soundly rejected President Donald Trump’s demand that they redraw congressional lines in that deep red state. Trump is…

If lawmakers want to make pharmaceuticals more affordable, they should look past populist policies like price controls that will only make matters worse and set their sights on reforming the Pharmacy Benefit Manager market. PBMs manage the drug benefits for insurers and negotiate discounts with drug manufacturers. You probably use one every time you go to the pharmacy to get your medications refilled and don’t even realize it. The top three PBMs, which process about 80% of all prescription claims, are health conglomerates that include major insurance companies. PBMs argue that their negotiations lower drug costs, which logically makes sense…

By COLLIN BINKLEY, Associated Press Education Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan group in Congress is urging the Education Department to add nursing to a list of college programs that are considered “professional,” adding to public outcry after nurses were omitted from a new agency definition. The Trump administration’s list of professional programs includes medicine, law and theology but leaves out nursing and some other fields that industry groups had asked to be included. The “professional” label would allow students to borrow larger amounts of federal loans to pursue graduate degrees in those fields. Under new rules proposed by the…

By JOSH BOAK and AMELIA THOMSON-DEVEAUX, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — This holiday season isn’t quite so merry for American shoppers as large shares are dipping into savings, scouring for bargains and feeling like the overall economy is stuck in a rut under President Donald Trump, a new AP-NORC poll finds. The vast majority of U.S. adults say they’ve noticed higher than usual prices for groceries, electricity and holiday gifts in recent months, according to the survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Kashish Ali shops for groceries before filling a One Love Community Fridge, Nov. 15,…

Californians are still six months out from the June 2026 primary elections that, among other things, will advance two candidates to be our next governor. Recent polling shows it’s still anyone’s game. Just a few months ago, former Orange County Rep. Katie Porter was the undisputed frontrunner. A prolific fundraiser with high name recognition from her time in Congress and bid for U.S. Senate last year, Porter has shown a persistently higher level of support than other Democratic candidates in the race to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom. In August 2025, Emerson College polling put her support at 18% compared to…

Ducks goaltender Ville Husso defends his net during the first period of their game against the New York Islanders on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) Ducks center Ryan Poehling, left, battles for control of the puck with New York Islanders defenseman Scott Mayfield during the first period on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) New York Islanders defenseman Travis Mitchell (38) celebrates with teammates after scoring during the first period of their game against the Ducks on Thursday, Dec. 11, 2025, in Elmont, N.Y. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura) Ducks center Leo Carlsson…