Author: admin

If there is one theme that has shaped recent American politics, it is the steady concentration of power in the presidency. Congress — under both parties — has repeatedly delegated authority that was never meant to rest in a single office. The consequences are now impossible to ignore. The actions of President Donald Trump reveal how fragile our liberties become when one person holds too much power. Consider immigration. Peaceful immigrants — individuals working, studying and complying with government procedures — have been met with armed and masked ICE agents conducting raids in neighborhoods and workplaces. In some cases, people…

A massive bear has entrenched himself for several days beneath an Altadena home, showing no intention of moving out amid persistent efforts to displace him and a throng of curious local residents looking to catch a glimpse of the half-ton beast. Despite myriad efforts by homeowner Ken Johnson and California Fish and Wildlife personnel, the 550-pound male bear remains under Johnson’s home, so far largely unfettered by radios blasting, ammonia and caramel and cherry scented-lures placed outside the home. “He’s a nuisance and he’s living under my house rent-free,” Johnson said. “We call him… unbearable, but he’s so cute. Once…

By Colleen Slevin, Associated Press DENVER (AP) — A federal magistrate judge on Monday rejected a bid by a former Colorado county clerk to be released from prison while she appeals her state conviction for orchestrating a data breach scheme driven by false claims about voting machine fraud in the 2020 presidential race. Former Mesa County Clerk Tina Peters filed a federal lawsuit asking that she be released on bond while her appeal is considered. Attorneys for the state had argued the case should be thrown out partly because of a legal doctrine that prevents federal courts from getting involved in pending…

Two days after leading Indiana to its first Big Ten championship in 58 years, Fernando Mendoza was announced as one of four finalists for the Heisman Trophy on Monday. Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia, Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love and Ohio State quarterback Julian Sayin joined the Hoosiers quarterback as the finalists. The winner will be revealed Saturday night in New York. Mendoza defeated Sayin and the Buckeyes in the Big Ten championship game on Saturday to earn the No. 1 seed in the College Football Playoff. The Hoosiers (13-0) will face either No. 8 Oklahoma (10-2) or No. 9…

An attorney for the Los Angeles Angels pressed Tyler Skaggs’ wife and his mother about the pitchers’ illicit drug use and spending habits during testimony in an ongoing wrongful death trial on Monday, Dec 8, as the high-profile case entered what is expected to be the final week of testimony. Carli Skaggs, Tyler’s widow, was asked repeatedly about her husband’s alleged drug use during his 2018 bachelor party and around the couple’s wedding, as the eighth week of the trial got underway. According to testimony, someone may have brought cocaine to the bachelor party, which was attended by Tyler Skaggs’…

By SUDHIN THANAWALA, Associated Press A federal judge investigating whether Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem should face a contempt charge over flights carrying migrants to El Salvador said Monday he wants to hear from a whistleblower and top Justice Department official. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington ordered the government to make Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign available for testimony on Dec. 16. Boasberg wants to hear a day earlier from fired Justice Department attorney Erez Reuveni. The order for testimony ratchets up the extraordinary clash between the judicial and executive branches. In March, Boasberg ordered the Republican…

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Dodgers did their best to douse water on the Teoscar Hernández trade rumors on the first full day of the Winter Meetings. “It doesn’t feel likely, but obviously you can never say never on those types of things,” Dodgers general manager Brandon Gomes said on Monday. “Like Teo, I know that’s come up. That’s not something we anticipate at all.” Earlier, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Hernandez is “one of my favorites,” and he’s planning on Hernandez once again being the Dodgers’ right fielder. He also suggested Hernandez could occasionally move to left. Hernandez’s defense…

By MATTHEW DALY and JENNIFER McDERMOTT, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge on Monday struck down President Donald Trump’s executive order blocking wind energy projects, saying the effort to halt virtually all leasing of wind farms on federal lands and waters was “arbitrary and capricious” and violates U.S. law. Judge Patti Saris of the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts vacated Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order blocking wind energy projects and declared it unlawful. Saris ruled in favor of a coalition of state attorneys general from 17 states and Washington, D.C., led by New York Attorney General Letitia…

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles City Council members raised concerns about how $1 billion in federal funding for security for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics will be allocated.Council members expressed reservations about ongoing contract talks between the city and LA28, the local organizing committee, over determining how LA28 will compensate the city for Games-related services. The Enhanced City Resources Master Agreement was supposed to be completed by October 1, but city officials remain in negotiations with LA28 over which expenses beyond “normal and customary” city services LA28 will compensate the city for. The council’s ad hoc committee on the Olympic…

By JOSH BOAK, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Monday that he would allow Nvidia to sell an advanced type of computer chip used in the development of artificial intelligence to “approved customers” in China. There have been concerns about allowing advanced computer chips to be sold to China as it could help the country better compete against the U.S. in building out AI capabilities, but there has also been a desire to develop the AI ecosystem with American companies such as chipmaker Nvidia. The chip, known as the H200, is not Nvidia’s most advanced product. Those…