AP

By Associated Press NEW YORK — The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced that students eligible for free or reduced price school meals cannot be charged processing fees beginning in 2027. School districts currently work with processing companies to offer cashless payment systems for families. But the companies can charge “processing fees” for each transaction. By

By Associated Press NEW YORK — After some difficulties connecting to a Zoom, Hugh Grant eventually opts to just phone instead. “Sorry about that,” he apologizes. “Tech hell.” Grant is no lover of technology. Smart phones, for example, he calls the “devil’s tinderbox.” “I think they’re killing us. I hate them,” he says. “I go

By Associated Press WASHINGTON — A military judge has ruled that plea agreements struck by alleged Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants are valid, voiding an order by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to throw out the deals, a government official said Wednesday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the order

By Associated Press WASHINGTON — Abortion rights advocates prevailed on seven ballot measures across the U.S. in Tuesday’s election and lost on three. The losses are the first on statewide reproductive rights ballot measures anywhere in the U.S. since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, a ruling that struck down the nearly

By Associated Press Eddie Redmayne starring as a sniper for hire in the new limited series “The Day of the Jackal” and “Yellowstone” riding off into the sunset with the launch of its final episodes are some of the new television, films, music and games headed to a device near you. Also among the streaming

By Associated Press WASHINGTON — Special counsel Jack Smith is evaluating how to wind down the two federal cases against Donald Trump before the president-elect takes office in light of longstanding Justice Department policy that says sitting presidents cannot be prosecuted, a person familiar with the matter said Wednesday. Smith charged Trump last year with

By Associated Press WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Donald Trump spent his first day as president-elect receiving congratulatory phone calls from his defeated opponent, world leaders and President Joe Biden as he began the process of turning his election victory into a government. Trump was keeping a low profile, staying out of the public eye

By Associated Press WASHINGTON — The U.S. House majority hung in the balance Wednesday, teetering between Republican control that would usher in a new era of unified GOP governance in Washington or a flip to Democrats as a last line of resistance to a Trump second-term White House agenda. A few individual seats, or even

By Associated Press NEW YORK — The U.S. stock market, Elon Musk’s Tesla, banks and bitcoin all stormed higher Wednesday as investors made bets on what Donald Trump’s return to the White House will mean for the economy and the world. Among the losers the market sees: the renewable-energy industry and potentially anyone worried about

By Associated Press Norfolk Southern sparked renewed concerns about flaws being missed during railcar inspections when it told employees this week they should spend no more than a minute looking at each car. But the railroad said the rule simply reflects the current industry standard, and there are no plans for disciplining employees for missing

By Associated Press TAIPEI, Taiwan — The first time China faced Donald Trump in the White House, there was a trade war, a breach of protocol involving Taiwan’s former leader, and a president-to-president bromance that turned sour. As President-elect Trump prepares to start his second term in office, China is bracing for unpredictability in its

By Shannon Bow O’Brien The University of Texas at Austin The Conversation via AP Election nights are always simultaneous moments of triumph and tragedy. One group of voters’ dreams are dashed, while another set of voters see their hopes realized. Every election is also unique. The United States has had some critical presidential elections that

By Associated Press OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore vs. Cincinnati last month was a dream matchup for those who enjoy great quarterback play — Lamar Jackson and Joe Burrow spent much of the game leading their teams up and down the field with remarkable ease. For a defensive back, it was a bit less enjoyable.

By Associated Press Whenever a team is trailing by seven points late in a game and driving, the talk quickly turns to whether it will go for 2 and the win if it happens to score a touchdown. Tampa Bay, New England and Seattle all opted against it in Week 9 and ended up as

By Associated Press NEW YORK — For some television viewers, size apparently does matter. Forget the 65-inch TVs that were considered bigger than average a decade ago. In time for the holidays, manufacturers and retailers are rolling out more XXL screens measuring more than 8 feet diagonally. That’s wider than a standard three-seat sofa or

By Kansas Reflector via TN Content Exchange TOPEKA — As county officials across Kansas continue to submit final vote counts, the Kansas Secretary of State’s Office’s post mortem of the 2024 election indicated a smooth transition of power. Preliminary estimates show more than 1.3 million people, or about 64% of registered Kansas voters, submitted ballots

By Associated Press WASHINGTON — Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States on Wednesday, an extraordinary comeback for a former president who refused to accept defeat four years ago, sparked a violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, was convicted of felony charges and survived two assassination attempts. With a win in

By Missouri Business Alert via TN Content Exchange Missouri voters were projected to have approved amendment 2, which allows sports gambling in the state, with just more than 50% of the vote in favor and all but 20 precincts reporting as of 2:30 a.m. Wednesday. The amendment calls for a 10% sales tax on all

By Metro Creative Welcoming guests into your home for a special occasion often involves crafting an entertaining menu that will appeal to the masses. However, it also is essential to have options for those who may have dietary restrictions. Vegan diets are surging in popularity as health concerns, climate change and animal welfare are driving

By Associated Press WASHINGTON — A series of bomb threats across multiple battleground states and baseless claims of wrongdoing by former President Donald Trump disrupted an otherwise smooth Election Day that capped a tumultuous presidential campaign. The bomb threats in parts of Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania on Tuesday turned out to be hoaxes, but they

By Associated Press WASHINGTON — Republicans seized control of the U.S. Senate late Tuesday after flipping Democratic held seats, holding onto GOP incumbents and wresting away the majority for the first time in four years. The unexpected battleground of Nebraska pushed Republicans over the top. Incumbent GOP Sen. Deb Fischer brushed back a surprisingly strong