News - Friday, October 17, 2025

When Chattanooga real estate agents Wade Trammell and Austin Sizemore crossed paths over the years, it was often as competitors chasing the same clients or comparing annual production numbers with their shared lender. Both were known for running growing teams, and both were recognized for bringing fresh approaches to recruiting, marketing and support in an industry that rewards ambition.

The late-morning sun casts long shadows across East Side Elementary’s schoolyard as city officials, nonprofit leaders and community members gather under a canopied pavilion. It’s National Walk to a Park Day – a ceremonial stroll marking the city’s growing investment in neighborhood green spaces and its partnership with the Trust for Public Land to bring parks within walking distance of more residents.

I’m going to begin this column with what would normally come at the end, because ever since I tried the Luau Pig plate at the newly opened Hawaiian Bros in Hixson, my fingers have been itching to type one thing: it was the tenderest pork I’ve ever had.

With Congress unable to reach a funding agreement by the midnight Sept. 30 deadline, a partial government shutdown took effect. While key services continue to operate, many housing-related programs are running at limited capacity or are temporarily suspended. 

The Chattanooga Police Department has once again earned accreditation from the Tennessee Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, marking the department’s fourth such recognition. The accreditation, presented Oct. 8 during the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police meeting in Nashville, will remain in effect through April 2028.

Food Truck Fridays will bring music and meals to Red Bank City Park Oct. 17 and 31 5:30-8:30 p.m.

OCT. 17-18, 24-25, 31

Boo in the Zoo

The Chattanooga Zoo’s annual event returns Oct. 17, 18, 24, 25 and 31 with trick-or-treating, character meet-and-greets, a bounce house, a scavenger hunt and festive decorations. Popular characters like Elsa, Spider-Man and Moana will be on hand for photos, courtesy of Magic Lamp Entertainment. Boo in the Zoo runs 4-8 p.m. each night. Tickets

If you’re retired, it’s easy to let your finances go on autopilot. Since October is National Retirement Security Month, it’s a good time to revisit some areas that can impact your long-term financial security and help your money last a lifetime. 

In East Tennessee, justice can feel out of reach for those who can’t afford a lawyer. To make matters worse, there’s often a misconception that an attorney will be provided to those without means.

However, that’s only the case for criminal charges. That rule doesn’t apply to civil matters.

University of Tennessee wide receiver Braylon Staley admitted to being frustrated last season about not getting more playing time as a true freshman. He believed he could have made an impact for the Vols, but realized he needed to be patient and wait his turn.

Brian Callahan, you will recover from this. You see, the Tennessee Titans are a desert of dysfunction. No one hired by this organization really knows how deeply that runs until they start drawing a paycheck signed by the Adams family.

But it’s there. And in time, the further away you are from this, your coaching reputation will begin to heal as people around football realize what you went through in going 4-19 as the Titans head coach.

This week, you will hear some people with the Titans organization say on the record that this Sunday’s game will not be about Mike Vrabel.

Don’t believe a word of it.

In a game that otherwise would mean little else for a 1-5 Titans team that is going nowhere, except, perhaps to the No. 1 overall pick again, Vrabel is coming back to town having resurrected the New England Patriots in a game that was a line in the sand for a lot of folks.

This is probably the one game on the schedule that Titans fans have been waiting for – the return of Mike Vrabel to Nissan Stadium. Vrabel has the Patriots playing well after a slow start, perhaps even well enough to contend for the playoffs in his first season at the helm there. The Titans, on the other hand, are floundering and desperately need to show some signs of life.

More car buyers are finding themselves in a tough spot financially, with more than 26% of new-vehicle trade-ins in the second quarter of 2025 having negative equity – the highest share in more than four years, a recent report from Edmunds finds.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats rejected for the 10th time Thursday a stopgap spending bill that would reopen the government, insisting they won't back away from demands that Congress take up health care benefits.

The vote failed Thursday morning on a 51-45 vote, well short of the 60 needed to advance with the Senate's filibuster rules.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Thursday warned Hamas "we will have no choice but to go in and kill them" if internal bloodshed persists in Gaza.

The grim warning from Trump came after he previously downplayed the internal violence in the territory since a ceasefire and hostage deal between Israel and Hamas went into effect last week in the two-year war.

CHICAGO (AP) — Troubled by clashes between agents and the public, a judge on Thursday ordered federal immigration officers in the Chicago area to wear body cameras and also summoned a senior official to court next week to discuss an enforcement operation that has resulted in more than 1,000 arrests.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Russia, China, Iran and North Korea have sharply increased their use of artificial intelligence to deceive people online and mount cyberattacks against the United States, according to new research from Microsoft.

This July, the company identified more than 200 instances of foreign adversaries using AI to create fake content online, more than double the number from July 2024 and more than ten times the number seen in 2023.

MONTREAL (AP) — Cole Caufield scored with two seconds left in overtime after tying it with 19.5 to go in regulation, leading the Montreal Canadiens to a 3-2 victory over the Nashville Predators on Thursday night.

Caufield scored in overtime for the second straight game. On Tuesday night, he also scored in regulation and overtime against Seattle. He has five goals this season.

GREENBELT, Md. (AP) — John Bolton pleaded not guilty Friday to charges accusing the former President Donald Trump national security adviser turned critic of emailing classified information to family members and keeping top secret documents at his Maryland home.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Drugmaker EMD Serono will reduce the cost of a common fertility medication through a deal struck with the Trump administration, President Donald Trump said Thursday while also unveiling new federal guidance he said will encourage employers to offer fertility coverage.

Education is the civil rights issue of our time. That's what Leslie Cornfeld decided after a decade advising New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and President Obama's two education secretaries — and seeing how few low-income students went to the universities that lead to high-paying jobs.

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — On a scorching hot Saturday in San Antonio, dozens of teachers traded a day off for a glimpse of the future. The topic of the day's workshop: enhancing instruction with artificial intelligence.

After marveling as AI graded classwork instantly and turned lesson plans into podcasts or online storybooks, one high school English teacher raised a concern that was on the minds of many: "Are we going to be replaced with AI?"

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A Louisiana judge has tossed out a key permit for a liquefied natural gas facility that won approval from President Donald Trump's administration, ordering a state review of how the facility's planet-warming emissions would affect Gulf Coast communities vulnerable to sea-level rise and extreme weather.

The world's largest maritime nations were deliberating Friday on regulations that would move the shipping industry away from fossil fuels to slash emissions as U.S. President Donald Trump and others vowed to fight any global tax on shipping emissions.

NEW YORK (AP) — Credit card giant American Express posted a 16% jump in third-quarter profits on Friday, helped by increased card spending, particularly among its wealthiest card members. The company raised its full-year profit forecasts as a result.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is showing little urgency to broker a compromise that would end the government shutdown, even as Democrats insist no breakthrough is possible without his direct involvement.

Three weeks in, Congress is at a standstill. The House hasn't been in session for a month, and senators left Washington on Thursday frustrated by the lack of progress. Republican leaders are refusing to negotiate until a short-term funding bill to reopen the government is passed, while Democrats say they won't agree without guarantees on extending health insurance subsidies.

WASHINGTON (AP) — More U.S. adults support President Donald Trump's handling of the conflict in Israel after he brokered a ceasefire deal in Gaza, a new AP-NORC poll finds — but his approval ratings on domestic issues remain weak.

The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that Trump's apparent success on the world stage has not yet improved his overall standing at home. In interviews, even some of his voters said he needs to do more to address issues such as the economy, health care and immigration.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is set to host Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for talks at the White House on Friday, with the U.S. leader signaling he's not ready to agree to sell Kyiv a long-range missile system that the Ukrainians say they desperately need.

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — The factory floor used to roar.

Walking around his textile mill in southern Buenos Aires, Luciano Galfione pointed out the up-to-the-minute machines that once whirred and clattered as 200 employees churned out fabric to be transformed into athleisure and other apparel for Argentina's vast middle class.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Under President Donald Trump, the drug war is looking a lot like the war on terror.

To support strikes against Latin American gangs and drug cartels, the Trump administration is relying on a legal argument that gained traction after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, which allowed U.S. authorities to use lethal force against al-Qaida combatants who attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump wants to leave his mark on the nation's capital by building a Paris-style arch just west of the Lincoln Memorial.

Trump unveiled the plan at a White House dinner on Wednesday for the wealthy businesspeople who have pledged money toward the $250 million cost of adding a massive ballroom to the Executive Mansion. Trump did not put a price tag on the cost of the arch.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Navy admiral who oversees military operations in the region where U.S. forces have been attacking alleged drug boats off Venezuela will retire in December, he and the Defense Secretary announced Thursday.

Adm. Alvin Holsey became the leader of U.S. Southern Command only in November, overseeing an area that encompasses the Caribbean Sea and waters off South America. These types of postings typically last between three and four years.

GREENBELT, Md. (AP) — John Bolton pleaded not guilty Friday to charges accusing the former President Donald Trump national security adviser turned critic of emailing classified information to family members and keeping top secret documents at his Maryland home.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The five universities that are still weighing President Donald Trump's higher-education compact have been asked to join a White House call Friday to discuss the proposed deal, according to two people familiar with the matter.

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street is concerned about the health of the nation's regional banks, after a few of them wrote off bad loans to commercial customers in the last two weeks and caused investors to wonder if there might be more bad news to come.

NEW YORK (AP) — As economic uncertainty deepens, the rush for gold continues — with prices for the precious metal topping $4,300 for the first time this week.

The going price for New York spot closed at a record $4,326 per troy ounce on Thursday. Futures also traded as high at more than $4,344 per troy ounce Thursday, before falling below the $4,300 mark Friday morning. Still, gold is up 6.7% over the last week, marking one of its best weeks to date.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is hosting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for talks at the White House on Friday, with the U.S. leader signaling he's not ready to agree to sell Kyiv a long-range missile system that the Ukrainians say they desperately need.

Vanderbilt is a top-10 team in college football for the first time since 1947 in an Associated Press poll that got a nearly complete makeover Sunday after a weekend when nine Top 25 teams lost.

Ohio State was the only team to hold its spot, remaining No. 1 for an eighth straight week after shutting out Wisconsin 34-0 on the road.

The University of Texas broke tradition by adding corporate logos to its football field, a year after athletic director Chris Del Conte said he wasn't considering it.

The additions of Humann logos on the playing field was in large part due to the company's longtime ties to the university, but the revenue generated certainly won't hurt, even for one of the most profitable departments in college athletics.

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have a new coach and yet another loss featuring too many of the issues that have plagued this franchise this season.

Five sacks allowed and two turnovers, including a fumble returned for a touchdown, led the Titans to being blown out 31-13 by New England and former coach Mike Vrabel in a final score that could've been worse if not for the Patriots taking a knee late.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court said on Monday that it will consider whether people who regularly smoke marijuana can legally own guns, the latest firearm case to come before the court since its 2022 decision expanding gun rights.

President Donald Trump's administration asked the justices to revive a case against a Texas man charged with a felony because he allegedly had a gun in his home and acknowledged being a regular pot user. The Justice Department appealed after a lower court largely struck down a law that bars people who use any illegal drugs from having guns.

LONDON (AP) — A problem at Amazon's cloud computing service disrupted internet use around the world early Monday, taking down dozens of online services, including social media site Snapchat, the Roblox and Fortnite video games and chat app Signal.

A decade after a landmark study proved that feeding peanut products to young babies could prevent development of life-threatening allergies, new research finds the change has made a big difference in the real world.

About 60,000 children have avoided developing peanut allergies after guidance first issued in 2015 upended medical practice by recommending introducing the allergen to infants starting as early as 4 months.

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Vietnam is split between two visions: the rumbling, reliable gas-powered motorbikes that now rule the roads, and sleek, silent electric bikes the government says are its future.

Hanoi plans to ban fossil-fuel motorcycles from its city center in July 2026, part of a national drive to cut emissions and air pollution. Its commercial capital, Ho Chi Minh City, is weighing a similar step. By 2030, Vietnam aims for a third of cars and more than a fifth of motorbikes to run on electricity.

ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP) — President Donald Trump said the United States could buy Argentine beef in an attempt to bring down prices for American consumers.

"We would buy some beef from Argentina," the Republican president told reporters aboard Air Force One during a flight from Florida to Washington on Sunday. "If we do that, that will bring our beef prices down."

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans are growing increasingly concerned about their ability to find a good job under President Donald Trump, an Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research poll finds, in what is a potential warning sign for Republicans as a promised economic boom has given way to hiring freezes and elevated inflation.

Maria worked cleaning schools in Florida for $13 an hour. Every two weeks, she'd get a $900 paycheck from her employer, a contractor. Not much — but enough to cover rent in the house that she and her 11-year-old son share with five families, plus electricity, a cellphone and groceries.

WASHINGTON (AP) — China likes to condemn the United States for extending its arm too far outside of its borders to make demands on non-American companies. But when it sought to hit back at the U.S. interests this month, Beijing did exactly the same.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Movies like "The Hangover" and "Ocean's Eleven" piqued interest in the Las Vegas Strip long ago. But now Nevada labor unions hoping to boost jobs and tourism are pushing state officials to offer tax credits aimed at bringing more Hollywood filmmaking to the state.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Large crowds of protesters marched and rallied in cities across the U.S. Saturday for " No Kings " demonstrations decrying what participants see as the government's swift drift into authoritarianism under President Donald Trump.

People carrying signs with slogans such as "Nothing is more patriotic than protesting" or "Resist Fascism" packed into New York City's Times Square and rallied by the thousands in parks in Boston, Atlanta and Chicago. Demonstrators marched through Washington and downtown Los Angeles and picketed outside capitols in several Republican-led states, a courthouse in Billings, Montana, and at hundreds of smaller public spaces.

HONG KONG (AP) — One of China's most important meetings begins Monday, as leader Xi Jinping and other ruling Communist Party elites gather to map the goals for the next five years.

The closed-door gathering — known as the fourth plenum — is expected to last four days and will discuss and put the final touches on China's next five-year plan, a blueprint for 2026-2030.

NEW YORK (AP) — Disney+ and Hulu subscription cancellations rose during the month that ABC briefly cancelled "Jimmy Kimmel Live!, " according to data from subscription analytics company Antenna.

Walt Disney Co. owns the streaming platforms and ABC. ABC pulled the show off the air for less than a week in September in the wake of criticism over his comments related the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

LONDON (AP) — A problem with Amazon's cloud computing service disrupted internet use around the world Monday, taking down a broad range of online services, including social media, gaming, food delivery, streaming and financial platforms.

The disruption and the ensuing exasperation it caused served as the latest reminder that 21st century society is increasingly dependent on just a handful of companies for much of its internet technology, which seems to work reliably until it suddenly breaks down.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a critical-minerals deal at the White House on Monday as the U.S. eyes the continent's rich rare-earth resources when China is imposing tougher rules on exporting its own critical minerals abroad.

NASHVILLE (AP) — The one thing the Tennessee Titans have going for them in a miserable season is interim coach Mike McCoy at least has a bit more time after scrambling to prepare for a game.

NEW YORK (AP) — Kenny Loggins is objecting to the use of his music in a social media post showing an artificial intelligence-generated video of President Donald Trump dumping excrement from a fighter jet on last weekend's "No Kings" protests.

The video, posted Saturday night on the Republican president's Truth Social platform, was accompanied by Loggins' song "Danger Zone," which appears on the soundtrack of the blockbuster 1986 Tom Cruise fighter pilot movie "Top Gun." Loggins, in a statement Monday on his website, said he was not asked for permission and called for the video to be removed.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawyers for former FBI Director James Comey urged a judge Monday to dismiss the case against him, calling it a vindictive prosecution motivated by "personal animus" and orchestrated by a White House determined to seek retribution against a perceived foe of President Donald Trump.

Two advisers to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sat on a stage in California this spring, addressing an audience at a natural products industry trade show that drew tens of thousands of people from food brands, investment banks, supplement sellers and other companies.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Most U.S. adults are worried about health care becoming more expensive, according to a new AP-NORC poll, as they make decisions about next year's health coverage and a government shutdown keeps future health costs in limbo for millions.

NEW YORK (AP) — A major Amazon Web Services outage disrupted scores of online platforms on Monday — leaving people around the world unable to access some banks, chatting apps, online food ordering and more.

History shows these kinds of system outages can be short-lived, and are often minor inconveniences — such as placing a lunch order in person or waiting a few hours for a gaming platform to come back online — than long-term problems, but recovery can be a bumpy road. And for people trying to move money, communicate with loved ones or work using impacted services, disruptions are especially stressful.

Some 136 newspapers in the United States have closed in the past year, news deserts are expanding and web traffic to the nation's top newspapers has dropped markedly this decade, according to a report issued Monday that struggles to find hope for the beleaguered news industry.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal agency tasked with overseeing the U.S. nuclear stockpile has begun furloughing employees as part of the ongoing federal government shutdown, Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Monday.

NEW YORK (AP) — Just months after announcing plans to split into two companies, Warner Bros. Discovery has signaled that it may be open to a sale of its business.

In an announcement Tuesday, the entertainment giant said it had initiated a review of "strategic alternatives" in light of "unsolicited interest" it had received from multiple parties for both the entire company and Warner Bros specifically.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is expected to leave for Asia at the end of the week, betting that an around-the-world journey will help him untangle big issues that he can't afford to get wrong.

At stake is nothing less than the future of the global economy, which could hinge on whether he's able to calm trade tensions during an expected meeting with Chinese leader Xi Jinping. A misstep could send shock waves through American industries that have already been rattled by Trump's aggressive tariffs, government layoffs and political brinkmanship.

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the government shutdown enters its fourth week, Senate Republicans are headed to the White House on Tuesday — not for urgent talks on how to end it but for a display of unity with President Donald Trump as they refuse to negotiate on any Democratic demands.

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are preparing to release a report on the findings of their investigation into former President Joe Biden and what they allege is potential misuse of the presidential autopen during his term.

The report, which is likely to be released in the coming weeks, centers on contested and thus far unsubstantiated claims that Biden not only visibly aged while in office, but that his mental state declined to a degree that allowed White House officials to enact policies without his knowledge.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House on Monday started tearing down part of the East Wing, the traditional base of operations for the first lady, to build President Donald Trump's $250 million ballroom despite lacking approval for construction from the federal agency that oversees such projects.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Joe Biden on Monday completed a round of radiation therapy treatment for the aggressive form of prostate cancer he was diagnosed with after leaving office, a spokesperson said.

Biden had been receiving treatment at Penn Medicine Radiation Oncology in Philadelphia, said aide Kelly Scully.

NEW YORK (AP) — A former Amazon delivery driver has filed a lawsuit accusing a federal civil right agency of abruptly and unlawfully abandoning her sex discrimination case and others like it following an executive order from President Donald Trump.

More than 420 anti-science bills attacking longstanding public health protections – vaccines, milk safety and fluoride – have been introduced in statehouses across the U.S. this year, part of an organized, politically savvy campaign to enshrine a conspiracy theory-driven agenda into law.

A wave of anti-science bills has been introduced in statehouses across America this year, pushed by people with special interests who have close ties to Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

An Associated Press investigation found more than 420 bills attacking longstanding public health protections such as vaccines, milk safety and fluoride in most states. More than two dozen have already been enacted or adopted.

NEW YORK (AP) — Warner Bros. Discovery — the home of HBO, CNN and DC Studios — has signaled that it may be open to selling all or parts of its business, just months after announcing plans to split into two companies.

In an announcement Tuesday, the entertainment giant said it had initiated a review of "strategic alternatives" in light of "unsolicited interest" it had received from multiple parties for both the entire company and Warner Bros specifically.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A man whose convictions for storming the U.S. Capitol were erased by President Donald Trump's mass pardons has been arrested on a charge that he threatened to kill House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.

Christopher P. Moynihan is accused of sending a text message on Friday noting that Jeffries, a New York Democrat, would be making a speech in New York City this week.

NASHVILLE (AP) — Quarterback Diego Pavia ran for a first down only to stop at the LSU 1, sacrificing a chance to pad his stats to ensure Vanderbilt could run out the clock for a big Southeastern Conference win.

It's the type of smart decision coach Clark Lea wants as he looks for every possible edge. The moves have never been more crucial than now.

NASHVILLE (AP) — Anaheim rookie Beckett Sennecke collected his third goal of the season and the Ducks beat the Nashville Predators 5-2 on Tuesday night.

The 19-year-old Sennecke dropped to one knee to blast a feed from Mason McTavish past Juuse Saros with just over three minutes left in the second period to give the Ducks a two-goal lead they wouldn't come close to squandering. Sennecke, the third overall pick in this year's draft, now has five points in five games for Anaheim.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The most widely used COVID-19 vaccines may offer a surprise benefit for some cancer patients – revving up their immune systems to help fight tumors.

People with advanced lung or skin cancer who were taking certain immunotherapy drugs lived substantially longer if they also got a Pfizer or Moderna shot within 100 days of starting treatment, according to preliminary research being reported Wednesday in the journal Nature.

Forget colorful leaves. Any caregiver knows that the real signs of fall are kids with coughs, sneezes and sniffles.

Autumn marks the start of respiratory virus season, when colds, flu and other bugs start circulating — especially among the very young.

Artificial intelligence has caused concern for its tremendous consumption of water and power. But scientists are also experimenting with ways that AI can help people and businesses use energy more efficiently and pollute less.

Data centers needed to fuel AI accounted for about 1.5% of the world's electricity consumption last year, and those facilities' energy consumption is predicted to more than double by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency. That increase could lead to burning more fossil fuels such as coal and gas, which release greenhouse gases that contribute to warming temperatures, sea level rise and extreme weather.

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — Millions of tons of discarded electronics from the United States are being shipped overseas, much of it to developing countries in Southeast Asia unprepared to safely handle hazardous waste, according to a new report released Wednesday by an environmental watchdog.

LONDON (AP) — Britain's antitrust watchdog on Wednesday targeted Google and Apple for their "strategic" roles in mobile ecosystems, opening the door for regulators to impose changes to their business practices to improve competition.

The Competition and Markets Authority escalated scrutiny of the two U.S. tech companies by labeling them with "strategic market status." It follows separate investigations that the CMA opened at the start of the year into Google's Android and Apple's iOS using newly acquired digital market regulations designed to protect consumers and businesses from unfair practices by Big Tech companies.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — President Donald Trump 's plan to cut record beef prices by importing more meat from Argentina is running into heated opposition from U.S. ranchers who are enjoying some rare profitable years and skepticism from experts who say the president's move probably wouldn't lead to cheaper prices at grocery stores.

TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) — Taiwan reported its first cases of African swine fever on Wednesday and culled at least 195 pigs from the affected farm. Authorities also ordered a ban on the movement and slaughter of pigs across the island.

The Ministry of Agriculture said that samples from dead pigs from a farm in the coastal city of Taichung had tested positive for African swine fever on Tuesday.

LONDON (AP) — Inflation in the U.K. unexpectedly held steady in the year to September as higher prices at the pump were offset by lower food costs, official figures showed Wednesday in a development that has bolstered hopes of another interest rate reduction next month.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's administration is preparing for a visit to the United States by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman next month, in what could be the first state visit to the U.S. by a foreign leader in Trump's second term, according to several people familiar with the planning.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon is staging a marathon speech on the Senate floor to protest President Donald Trump's "tightening authoritarian grip on the country" amid the government shutdown.

Merkley started speaking at 6:21 p.m. Tuesday evening and was still going more than 17 hours later, pausing only for occasional questions from other Democratic senators.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the federal government owes him "a lot of money" for prior Justice Department investigations into his actions and insisted he would have the ultimate say on any payout because any decision will "have to go across my desk."

WASHINGTON (AP) — A man was taken into custody late Tuesday after driving his car into a security barrier outside the White House, authorities said.

The U. S. Secret Service said the man crashed into the security gate at a White House entrance at 10:37 p.m. on Tuesday. The man was immediately arrested by officers from the Secret Service's uniformed division, the agency said.

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has filed a lawsuit that seeks to get Democrat Adelita Grijalva sworn in as the state's newest member of Congress after U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson has refused to seat her a month since winning the post.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Leaders at the Pentagon have significantly altered how military officials will speak with Congress after a pair of new memos issued last week.

In an Oct. 15 memo, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and his deputy, Steve Feinberg, ordered Pentagon officials — including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — to obtain permission from the department's main legislative affairs office before they have any communication with Capitol Hill.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump 's pick to lead a federal watchdog agency withdrew from consideration Tuesday evening, after his offensive text messages were made public and GOP senators revolted.

Paul Ingrassia, who was nominated to lead the Office of Special Counsel, had been scheduled to have his confirmation hearing this week.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Construction started this week on the $250 million ballroom that President Donald Trump is adding to the White House as construction crews began tearing down the facade of the East Wing, where the new space is being built.

The Republican president and top White House officials had initially said nothing would be demolished during construction.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump said Tuesday his plan for a swift meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin was on hold because he didn't want it to be a "waste of time." It was the latest twist in Trump's stop-and-go effort to resolve the war in Ukraine.

The San Francisco Giants have hired Tennessee Volunteers coach Tony Vitello as manager for his first pro coaching job.

San Francisco announced the move Wednesday, an unprecedented gamble by president of baseball operations Buster Posey on a coach with no pro experience. The 47-year-old Vitello is making the jump after spending his entire career at the college level.

NEW YORK (AP) — Tesla, the car company run by Elon Musk, reported Wednesday that it sold more vehicles in the past three months after boycotts hit hard earlier this year, but profits still fell sharply.

Third-quarter earnings at Tesla fell to $1.4 billion, or 39 cents a share, from $2.2 billion, or 62 cents a share, a year earlier. That marked the third quarter in a row that profit dropped. Excluding certain charges, earning were 50 cents per share, down from 72 cents per share a year ago and below the 56 cents forecast by Wall Street analysts.

MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) — Meta Platforms is cutting roughly 600 artificial intelligence jobs even as it continues to hire more workers for its superintelligence lab, the company confirmed on Wednesday.

Axios first reported the cuts, which will affect Meta's Fundamental AI Research, or FAIR unit, as well as product-related AI and AI infrastructure units.

NEW YORK (AP) — Less than a day after gold soared to another record high, prices for the precious metal plunged — marking the biggest sell-off in years.

Gold futures in New York closed at a record $4,374 per troy ounce on Monday, before falling more than $250 (or 5.74%) Tuesday. That's the largest, single-day percentage drop seen since September 2011, according to data in FactSet. And despite some brief rebounds, losses continued to pile up Wednesday — with gold futures trading at about $4,036 as of 11 a.m. ET.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military launched its eighth strike against an alleged drug-carrying vessel, killing two people in the waters of the eastern Pacific Ocean, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Wednesday, marking an expansion of the Trump administration's campaign against drug trafficking in South America.

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Vanderbilt Commodores are doing exactly what they talked about last January when starting to prepare for this season.

So the stakes keep rising each week, with none of the Commodores happy just being bowl eligible, not now that they are ranked No. 10 in the AP Top 25 for the first time since 1947. It's why ESPN's "College GameDay" will be in town for the first time since 2008 when another sellout crowd is on hand Saturday.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants hired University of Tennessee coach Tony Vitello as their manager on Wednesday for his first job in professional baseball.

San Francisco president of baseball operations Buster Posey made an unprecedented gamble on a coach with no previous experience in the pros. The 47-year-old Vitello will make the jump after spending his entire career in the college ranks.

The NCAA approved a rule change on Wednesday that will allow athletes and athletic department staff members to bet on professional sports.

Two weeks after the Division I cabinet approved the change, Division II and III management councils signed off on it, allowing the new rule to go into effect Nov. 1.

WASHINGTON (AP) — As legalized sports betting expands, recent polling suggests that Americans have become increasingly critical of its role in U.S. society and sports — although they're more tolerant of it for professional sports.

Betting scandals have multiplied since a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in May 2018 struck down a federal law that barred sports betting in most states. That includes a wave of incidents involving athletes and officials. Most recently, dozens of people, including Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat guard Terry Rozier, were arrested in connection with a federal investigation into sports betting and illegal gambling, authorities said Thursday.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has pardoned Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, who created the world's largest cryptocurrency exchange and served prison time after failing to stop criminals from using the platform to move money connected to child sex abuse, drug trafficking and terrorism.

NEW YORK (AP) — Tesla reported a fourth straight decline in quarterly profit even as sales rose, triggering a drop in its shares in after-hours trading.

The car company run by Elon Musk reported third-quarter earnings plunged 37% to $1.4 billion, or 39 cents a share, from $2.2 billion, or 62 cents a share, a year earlier. That marked the fourth quarter in a row that profit dropped. And even the revenue rise, a welcome relief from a sales plunge earlier in the year due to anti-Musk boycotts, came with significant caveat: Customers rushed to take advantage of a $7,500 federal EV tax credit before it expired on Oct. 1, possibly stealing sales from the current quarter.

NEW YORK (AP) — The union representing Broadway's musicians reached a tentative labor agreement with commercial producers on Thursday, averting a potentially crippling strike that would have silenced nearly two dozen musicals.

The American Federation of Musicians Local 802 — which represents 1,200 musicians — had threatened to strike if they didn't have a new contract by the morning, after going into mediation Wednesday.

Several conservative news outlets said Wednesday they had agreed to a new press policy rejected by virtually all legacy media organizations and will take their place in the Pentagon to cover Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and the U.S. military.

The new Pentagon press corps will include the Gateway Pundit, the National Pulse, Human Events, podcaster Tim Pool, the Just the News website founded by journalist John Solomon, Frontlines by Turning Point USA and LindellTV, run by "MyPillow" CEO Mike Lindell.

WASHINGTON (AP) — As the United States rapidly builds massive data centers for the development of artificial intelligence, many Americans are concerned about the environmental impact.

Worries about how AI will affect the environment surpass concerns about other industries that worsen climate change, according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago.

WASHINGTON (AP) — After decades of gradual growth, the number of Black students enrolling at many elite colleges has dropped in the two years since the Supreme Court banned affirmative action in admissions, leaving some campuses with Black populations as small as 2% of their freshman class, according to an Associated Press analysis.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The University of Virginia has agreed to abide by White House guidance forbidding discrimination in admissions and hiring, becoming the latest campus to strike a deal with the Trump administration as the college tries to pause months of scrutiny by the federal government.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's administration announced Wednesday new "massive sanctions" against Russia's oil industry that are aimed at moving Russian President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table and bringing an end to Moscow's brutal war on Ukraine.

BEIJING (AP) — China's ruling Communist Party said Thursday it will focus on speeding up self-reliance in science and technology, a long-running push that has become more pronounced as the U.S. has imposed increasingly tight controls on access to semiconductors and other high-tech items.

TORONTO (AP) — Prime Minister Mark Carney set a goal for Canada to double its non-U.S. exports in the next decade, saying American tariffs are causing a chill in investment.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Union Pacific delivered 7% growth in its third-quarter earnings Thursday as its CEO continues to make the case for the potential benefits of acquiring one of the railroad's eastern rivals.

The Omaha, Nebraska-based railroad said it earned $1.79 billion, or $3.01 per share, in the quarter. That's up from $1.67 billion, or $2.75 per share, a year ago. And without $41 million in merger costs the railroad would have made $3.08 per share but either number would have beat the Wall Street estimates of $2.97 per share.

WASHINGTON (AP) — In the midst of a federal government shutdown, the U.S. government's gross national debt surpassed $38 trillion Wednesday, a record number that highlights the accelerating accumulation of debt on America's balance sheet.

It's also the fastest accumulation of a trillion dollars in debt outside of the COVID-19 pandemic — the U.S. hit $37 trillion in gross national debt in August this year.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A documentary proof-of-citizenship requirement for voting in U.S. elections hasn't been able to pass Congress and has been blocked by the courts, so allies of President Donald Trump's administration are pursuing another avenue to try to impose the idea — asking a little-known federal agency to do it.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The government shutdown has reopened debate on what has been a central issue for both major political parties in the last 15 years: the future of health coverage under the Affordable Care Act.

Tax credits for people who get health insurance through the marketplaces created by the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, expire at the end of the year.

WASHINGTON (AP) — In less than two months, President Donald Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth say the U.S. military has killed at least 37 people in nine strikes against drug-smuggling vessels in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Led by Oregon Sen. Jeff Merkley, Democrats seized the Senate floor on Wednesday to protest President Donald Trump's presidency amid the government shutdown and push for Republicans to negotiate with them on expiring health subsidies.