In many religions and cultures, women who are menstruating or who just gave birth are not allowed to enter sacred sites, such as temples, or participate in religious rituals. This is because they are often seen as ritually impure.

Early Christians cited menstruation as the reason for not allowing female deacons or priests. Modern ...Read more

GLP-1 drugs have ushered in a new era in weight loss.

In just a few years, medications such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, known by the brand names Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound, have gone from niche diabetes treatments to household names, reshaping how America thinks about weight loss.

A November 2025 Kaiser Family ...Read more

On Dec. 26, 1926, 16,000 hockey fans packed Madison Square Garden to witness the birth of a rivalry between the New York Americans and the brand-new New York Rangers. The game would later be remembered for establishing a foundation of popularity for the sport in New York City.

The only American playing for the Rangers that night also ...Read more

In separate encounters, federal immigration agents in Minneapolis killed Renée Good and Alex Pretti in January 2026.

Shortly after Pretti’s killing, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said he committed an “act of domestic terrorism.” Noem made the same accusation against Good.

But the label “domestic terrorism”...Read more

When viewers tune in to the 2026 Winter Olympics, they will see pristine, white slopes, groomed tracks and athletes racing over snow-covered landscapes, thanks in part to a storm that blanketed the mountain venues of the Italian Alps with fresh powder just in time.

But at lower elevations, where cross-country and other events are held...Read more

Reality TV star Spencer Pratt made it official this week, filing paperwork to enter the 2026 race for mayor of Los Angeles.

“The Hills” alum announced his candidacy last month on the anniversary of the Palisades Fire that destroyed the home he shared with his wife, Heidi Montag, and their two young sons.

“The system in Los Angeles isn’...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension and FBI are set to announce a joint investigation into the killing of Alex Pretti, according to two people with direct knowledge of the agreement.

The deal would mark a critical compromise from the Trump administration as state and federal leaders continue to rebuild working ...Read more

ST. PAUL, Minn. — An ice sculpture made out of frozen letters spelling “Prosecute ICE” in front of the Minnesota Capitol in St. Paul was vandalized shortly after its unveiling Thursday.

Jake Lang, a Jan. 6 rioter who served four years in prison before being pardoned by President Donald Trump, claimed responsibility for the sculpture’s ...Read more

LOS ANGELES — With the Trump administration reportedly in talks to create an anti-fraud task force for California, state Attorney General Rob Bonta on Thursday vehemently denounced what he described as the administration’s “reckless” and “false” rhetoric about fraud plaguing the state.

At a news conference at the Ronald Reagan State...Read more

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Ahead of a planned rally at the State Capitol this weekend, Jan. 6 rioter Jake Lang was arrested after damaging an ice sculpture on the front steps on Thursday.

Lang, 30, of Lake Worth, Florida, is seen on social media videos kicking down the ice sculpture that spelled out “prosecute ICE” to instead read “pro ICE” ...Read more

In a defiant gesture, Cuba’s handpicked president Miguel Díaz-Canel blasted President Donald Trump on Thursday and vowed his government will resist the U.S. “oil blockade” with creativity, but warned the population will go through difficult times.

“The collapse lies in the imperial mindset, but not in the mindset of the Cubans,” he ...Read more

WASHINGTON — Federal enforcement of polluters slumped in the first year of the second Trump administration, a new analysis of government data by a nonprofit watchdog group has found.

Compared with the first year of previous administrations, including Trump’s first term, the current administration has taken fewer polluters to court and ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — About 40 people were arrested after an activist group Thursday evening conducted a demonstration inside a Target store in South Philadelphia to demand that the company take a public stand against ICE enforcement actions at the chain’s stores.

More than 100 demonstrators affiliated with No ICE Philly chanted “ICE out of ...Read more

A 4-year-old Connecticut girl was summoned for jury duty this week, according to her parents.

Darien residents Dr. Omar and Sadia Ibrahimi assumed the notice that arrived in their mail was meant for one of them, but were surprised to see it addressed to their daughter Zara, the youngest of their three kids.

“I actually breathed a sigh of ...Read more

In a meeting with reporters on Tuesday, the governor’s budget director, Lori Wolff, discussed state agencies’ plans to slash their budgets.

Those cuts could include cutting funding to the 988 crisis hotline and limiting popular career technical education programs. Wolff said members of the Legislature’s powerful budget committee — set ...Read more

SAN DIEGO — Federal officials met in San Diego on Thursday to discuss the government’s response to the decades-long Tijuana River sewage crisis, with EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin expressing confidence in Mexico’s commitment to completing infrastructure projects aimed at ending years of cross-border pollution.

Speaking to reporters and ...Read more

PHILADELPHIA — About 40 people were arrested after an activist group Thursday evening conducted a demonstration inside a Target store in South Philadelphia to demand that the company take a public stand against ICE enforcement actions at the chain’s stores.

More than 100 demonstrators affiliated with No ICE Philly chanted “ICE out of ...Read more

MINNEAPOLIS — The Minneapolis City Council voted Thursday, Feb. 5, to allocate $1 million to help residents pay rent as part of an effort to help immigrants who have lost income amid the federal immigration crackdown.

The “one-time rental assistance for residents in need” will be available to low-income people facing eviction, but there�...Read more

A Los Angeles County man was arrested after he sent “imposter” ransom messages to the family of “Today” co-host Savannah Guthrie, whose mother remains missing from her Arizona home in a suspected abduction, federal officials said Thursday.

“To those imposters who are trying to take advantage and profit from this situation, we will ...Read more

SAN JOSE, Calif. — Facing a possible mistrial, jurors in the felony vandalism case against five Stanford activists appeared deadlocked Thursday on a conspiracy charge, bringing prosecutors and defense attorneys back to court in one of the most serious prosecutions of pro-Palestinian supporters in the country.

Attorneys were first notified of ...Read more