October 29, 2025 4:50 am
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A federal judge in San Francisco has indefinitely blocked the Trump administration from firing federal workers during the government shutdown. U.S. District Judge Susan Illston on Tuesday granted a preliminary injunction that bars the firings while a lawsuit challenging them plays out. She had previously issued a temporary restraining order against the job cuts that was set to expire Wednesday. The Republican administration has been slashing jobs in education, health and other areas it says are favored by Democrats. Lawyers for the government argued personnel issues should be heard in a separate venue.
October 29, 2025 4:47 am
GYEONGJU, South Korea (AP) — After a charm offensive in Japan that culminated in $490 billion in investment commitments, President Donald Trump is set to meet with South Korea’s leader on Wednesday as a trade deal with that country appears more elusive. The main issue is Trump’s demand for South Korea to invest $350 billion in the U.S. Korean officials prefer loans and guarantees instead of direct cash, fearing economic destabilization. This disagreement could overshadow the meeting between Trump and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. Meanwhile, South Korea faces a 25% tariff on automobiles, putting them at a disadvantage compared to Japanese and European competitors.
October 29, 2025 4:46 am
SANTIAGO DE CUBA, Cuba (AP) — Hurricane Melissa has left a trail of destruction across Cuba, Haiti and Jamaica. The storm made landfall Tuesday in Jamaica as a Category 5 hurricane, with winds reaching 185 miles per hour. In Haiti, at least 25 people have died because of flooding in Petit-Goâve. In Cuba, officials report collapsed houses and blocked roads, with 735,000 people in shelters. Jamaica faces widespread power outages and communication blackouts. The U.S. is sending rescue teams to assist. Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel warns of significant damage, urging people not to underestimate the storm’s power.
October 29, 2025 4:09 am
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Jurors have convicted a California animal rights activist for taking four chickens from a major Perdue Farms poultry plant. Zoe Rosenberg was found guilty Wednesday of trespassing and conspiracy. She says she was rescuing the chickens but prosecutors say she broke the law. The 23-year-old activist faces a maximum sentence of 4 1/2 years in jail. She was charged with one count of felony conspiracy, one count of trespassing to interfere with a business, one count of trespassing on land where an animal is being held for human consumption, and one count of tampering with a vehicle.
October 29, 2025 3:59 am
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP) — President Donald Trump said he has decided to lower his combined tariff rates on imports of Chinese goods to 47% after talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on curbing fentanyl trafficking. Trump’s aggressive use of tariffs since returning to the White House for a second term combined with China’s retaliatory limits on exports of rare earth elements gave the meeting newfound urgency. There is a mutual recognition that neither side wants to risk blowing up the world economy in ways that could jeopardize their own country’s fortunes. Trump told reporters he decided to reduce the current rate from 57% after the talks. China did not provide immediate comment on the meeting or any outcomes.
October 29, 2025 2:42 am
(AP) – Federal funds could begin running dry Saturday that help tens of millions of Americans to buy food for their families and send their toddlers to preschool if Congress doesn’t reach a deal by then to end the U.S. government shutdown. Funding for another program that helps mothers care for their newborns could run out the following week. Barring a resolution to the shutdown, the U.S. will have a gaping hole in its safety net, particularly for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which helps about one in eight Americans buy groceries. The Trump administration said Friday that it won’t use a roughly $5 billion contingency fund to keep food aid flowing in November in the government shutdown, but a new lawsuit by Democratic state officials Tuesday seeks to uncork the emergency money — enough to pay for the benefits for more than half a month — or another larger fund.
October 29, 2025 1:47 am
The time has come for the Main Street Farmers Market in Washington to close for the season. The market, held each year at the Main Street Pavilion on South Main Street in Washington, ran from 3 to 6 p.m. every Thursday starting in May, through Oct. 31st. Tracee Malik is the president of the market and she says they had a wonderful season with many new vendors, customers and activities. She says the last market on Thursday, will feature a Halloween party with entertainment, a parade for the kids and lots of trick-or-treating at vendor tables. Malik says they don’t anticipate making any major changes for next year’s market, except perhaps, adding another food truck.
October 29, 2025 12:56 am
Washington County Commissioners met with first responders from all corners of Washington County to update them on the progress of the installation of the new P25 System Public Safety Radio Project. About 100 police, fire and ambulance personnel participated in the presentation from consultants Mission Critical, equipment provider Motorola and design firm Capital Area Communications. Items of interest were construction schedule and roll out of equipment. Currently the project will have site development for towers and land mobile radio installation begin in the first quarter of 2026. Equipment distribution was discussed. All emergency responders will be provided a base station, and an appropriate number of mobile and portable radios for their departments. Those devices are covered entirely by American Rescue Plan Act funding. During a question and answer session concerns were raised about location testing and mutual aid scenarios where responders have agreements across county and even state lines. Both questions were answered sufficiently. The project is expected to go live mid year in 2027.
October 28, 2025 5:39 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President JD Vance says that he believes U.S. military members will be paid at the end of the week as the Trump administration re-configures funding in the second-longest government shutdown. The pressure to end the shutdown is taking on new urgency. Rep. Lisa McClain, chair of the House Republican Conference, says “this week, more than any other week, the consequences become impossible to ignore.” Millions of Americans face the prospect of losing food assistance. More federal workers will miss their first full paycheck. (Photo: AP)
October 28, 2025 2:40 pm
(AP) – United Parcel Service posted third-quarter results that handily beat Wall Street’s expectations and gave details about its turnaround efforts, including approximately 48,000 job cuts. UPS said in a regulatory filing that it has cut about 34,000 operational positions and closed daily operations at 93 leased and owned buildings during the first nine months of this year as part of its turnaround plan. The company also announced approximately 14,000 job cuts, mostly within management. It said that it is still looking to identify additional buildings to close.
