November 4, 2025 1:17 am
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Former U.S. Rep. Abigail Spanberger has won Virginia’s election for governor. Her win gives Democrats a boost heading into the 2026 midterm elections and compels Republicans to consider how President Donald Trump and his allies might fare in battleground states and districts. Spanberger defeated Marine veteran and Republican Lt. Gov. Winsome Earle-Sears in a campaign heavily centered on economic issues. Spanberger is a former CIA case officer and she served six years in Congress. Her victory flips Virginia’s executive mansion from GOP control. Also Tuesday, Democrat Ghazala F. Hashmi won the lieutenant governor’s race and will succeed Earle-Sears.
November 4, 2025 12:09 am
Washington City Council has completed their work on the city’s operating budget for 2026 and there is no tax increase. According to Finance Director Ken Westcott, the city’s budget will be $15.3 million. Westcott said that some refinancing of debt was integral in holding the line on taxes. Minimum Municipal Obligations debt was refinanced during 2025. That is debt that was needed to finance pensions for police and firefighters. Had that refinance not happened, the obligation would have been $1.4 million dollars. This year, with the refinance that debt will be $873,000. Firefighter overtime was an issue this year. That is because of military obligations of several firefighters. Westcott says that there are several new hires in the works that will alleviate those overtime costs. One bad news item is that solid waste removal fees will increase in 2026. The new fee will be $320 per year per dwelling. That is a $20 increase over 2025. Council will adopt the budget in December.
November 3, 2025 4:19 pm
(AP) – Jewish and Catholic leaders have condemned a Halloween parade float in Pennsylvania that included a replica of the Auschwitz gate. The float, designed for Saint Joseph Catholic School, featured the infamous “Arbeit macht frei” sign. The designer apologized, saying he had no ill intent. The Catholic bishop of Harrisburg issued an apology, calling the imagery profoundly offensive. The Jewish Federation of Greater Harrisburg also condemned the display. The designer explained he used the gate due to a last-minute issue with another prop. The incident has sparked discussions about cultural literacy and awareness in the community.
November 3, 2025 3:57 pm
OJAI, Calif. (AP) — Diane Ladd, the three-time Academy Award nominee known for roles in “Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore” and “Wild at Heart,” has died at 89. Her daughter, Laura Dern, announced Ladd’s death on Monday, saying she passed away at her home in Ojai, California, with Dern by her side. Dern described her mother as an “amazing hero” and “profound gift.” Ladd had a long career in television and stage before her film breakthrough in Martin Scorsese’s 1974 release. She earned an Oscar nomination for her role as Flo and appeared in dozens of movies over the decades. (Photo: AP)
November 3, 2025 1:20 pm
(AP) – Kimberly-Clark is buying Tylenol maker Kenvue in a cash and stock deal worth about $48.7 billion, creating a massive consumer health goods company. Shareholders of Kimberly-Clark will own about 54% of the combined company. Kenvue shareholders will own about 46% in what is one of the largest corporate takeovers this year. The combined company will have a huge stable of household brands under one roof, putting Kenvue’s Listerine mouthwash and Band-Aid side-by-side with Kimberly-Clark’s Cottonelle toilet paper, Huggies and Kleenex tissues. It will also generate about $32 billion in annual revenue.
November 3, 2025 1:15 pm
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration says it will partially fund the SNAP food aid program in November after two federal judges required the payments to continue. That means grocery aid will resume for 1 in 8 Americans, though it has been delayed for millions already and the amount beneficiaries receive will be reduced. The U.S. Department of Agriculture earlier said it would not continue the funding in November due to the government shutdown. Two federal judges ruled last week that the government was required to keep the program running. But both gave the administration leeway to pay for it entirely or partially. It can take up two two weeks to load beneficiaries’ debit cards.
November 3, 2025 5:20 am
Just over a week ago, a member of NBC’s “Sunday Night Football” was critically injured when he fell 50 feet from the scoreboard at Acrisure Stadium. During Sunday night’s broadcast, Mike Tirico sent out well-wishes to Keith Keller. He’s been part of the SNF crew for over a decade, working as a camera operator. Tirico said Keller is “doing better” but has a long recovery ahead. He suffered a lacerated liver and spleen and shattered both legs in the fall. A friend of Keller organized a fundraiser to help him. Close to $160,000 had been raised as of Sunday.
November 3, 2025 5:11 am
(AP) – Flight delays are continuing at U.S. airports amid air traffic controller shortages as the government shutdown enters its second month. Newark airport in New Jersey was experiencing delays of two to three hours on Sunday. George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and Chicago O’Hare were also seeing dozens of delays and one or two cancellations. Other delays were being reported at major airports in Los Angeles and Miami.
November 3, 2025 5:06 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump features prominently in state and local elections happening Tuesday, a year after he retook the White House. These elections are the first general contests of his second term. The results could either support or challenge his agenda. Key races include the governor’s seats in Virginia and New Jersey, the New York City mayoral race, and a California proposition on redistricting. More than half of the states have contests. The outcomes could indicate voter sentiment toward Trump’s presidency and influence future political strategies.
November 3, 2025 5:05 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The government shutdown is poised to become the longest ever this week as the impasse between Democrats and Republicans has dragged into a new month. President Donald Trump says he “won’t be extorted” by Democrats to reopen the government, making clear that he has no plans to negotiate. In an interview aired Sunday on CBS’s “60 Minutes,” Trump predicted that Democrats will eventually capitulate to Republicans. Trump’s comments signal that the shutdown could continue to drag on as federal workers, including air traffic controllers, are set to miss additional paychecks and as there is uncertainty over whether 42 million Americans who received federal food aid will be able to access the assistance.
