Judges order Trump administration to use emergency reserves for SNAP payments during the shutdown
BOSTON (AP) — Two federal judge have ruled that the Trump administration must continue to fund the SNAP food aid program using emergency reserve funds during the government shutdown. The rulings Friday came a day before the payments were due to be halted. SNAP is used by 1 in 8 Americans to buy groceries and is a major piece of the nation’s social safety net. The administration has said it can't fund SNAP with the government shuttered. Democratic state officials challenged the plan to freeze SNAP payments starting Nov. 1, saying there’s a legal obligation to keep providing the assistance for low-income people. Judges agreed, but gave the administration some leeway on the details.
Trump says Senate should scrap the filibuster to end the government shutdown
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is calling on the Senate to scrap the filibuster. That's so the Republican majority can bypass Democrats and reopen the shutdown federal government. Trump on social media called getting rid of the 60-vote threshold in the Senate the “nuclear option.” His call to do so came as certain senators and House Speaker Mike Johnson know it’s time for the government shutdown to come to an end. From coast to coast, fallout from the dysfunction of a shuttered federal government is hitting home. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska says, “People are stressing,” as food options in her state grow scarce. But even with Saturday's deadline for a potential shut off in SNAP food benefits, there is no end yet to settling the political stand off with negotiations.
Unidentified remains of 3 people transferred to Israel, Red Cross says
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Red Cross says it has transferred the unidentified remains of three people to Israel but an Israeli military official says they were still being examined and may not be those of missing hostages. The official, who spoke Friday on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak to the media, said the remains had been turned over to the Red Cross by Hamas in Gaza. The handover follows Israel’s return earlier Friday of the bodies of 30 Palestinians to authorities in Gaza. That completed an exchange after militants turned over remains of two hostages, in a sign that the tense Israel-Hamas ceasefire agreement is edging forward.
Multiple people have been arrested in Michigan in a Halloween weekend attack plot, FBI director says
DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — FBI Director Kash Patel says federal officials have arrested multiple people in Michigan who had allegedly been plotting a violent attack over the Halloween weekend. Patel announced the arrests in a social media post, saying they took place Friday morning. FBI and state police were in a neighborhood near Fordson High School in Dearborn and also in Inkster. Two people briefed on the investigation told The Associated Press that authorities believe the plot was inspired by Islamic State extremism.
Trump declines to clarify if the US will conduct tests of its nuclear weapons
ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE (AP) — President Donald Trump has declined to say whether he plans to resume underground nuclear detonation tests. He had seemed to suggest that was a possibility in a social media post this week. The post raised concerns the U.S. would begin testing nuclear weapons for the first time in three decades. The president told reporters, “You’ll find out very soon” when he was asked about it. Trump said, “We’re going to do some testing” and “Other countries do it. If they’re going to do it, we’re going to." But he refused to offer more details. He spoke aboard Air Force One as he headed to Florida on Friday for the weekend.
Royal prerogative: King Charles III banishes Andrew to buttress the House of Windsor's foundations
No one is bigger than the monarchy. Not even the king’s brother. In the end, that reality spelled the end of Prince Andrew’s life as a prince of the realm. From now on, the scandal-plagued British royal will be known simply as Andrew Mountbatten Windsor. As details of Andrew’s links to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continued to dribble out and Parliament raised questions about his rent-free residence at a sprawling country house near Windsor Castle, King Charles III on Thursday moved to shield the monarchy from any further revelations.
Militia attack on hospital in Darfur came in waves, WHO says
CAIRO (AP) — The World Health Organization reports that gunmen who reportedly killed at least 460 people at a hospital in Sudan's Darfur region returned three times to the facility during their assault. The attack happened Tuesday, the same day the Rapid Support Forces, a paramilitary group, captured the provincial capital after a long siege. Witnesses describe waves of violence, including house-to-house assaults and summary executions. The Rapid Support Forces deny the hospital killings, claiming they are caring for patients. Since the capture of El-Fasher, humanitarian access has been blocked, and many residents have fled. The U.N. migration agency estimates over 62,000 people have fled the area amid high insecurity.
Ohio panel and Virginia lawmakers move forward with congressional redistricting plans
A Republican-led panel in Ohio has adopted new U.S. House districts, potentially boosting the GOP's chances of gaining two seats in next year's elections. The new map approved Friday comes as President Donald Trump pushes for Republican states to reshape districts for electoral advantage. Ohio's redistricting was mandated by the state constitution because the current districts were enacted without bipartisan support. Meanwhile, Virginia's Democratic-led General Assembly on Friday advanced a proposed constitutional amendment to allow redistricting ahead of the midterm elections. Democrats nationally need to gain three seats to control the House and counter Trump's agenda.
Monkey escape in Mississippi gives a glimpse into the secretive world of animal research
The recent escape of several research monkeys after the truck carrying them overturned on a Mississippi interstate is the latest glimpse into the secretive world of animal research. The escape is one of three in the U.S. over the past four years. Three monkeys remain missing since the truck crashed on Tuesday along Interstate 59 in Mississippi, spilling crates labeled “live monkeys.” Five of the 21 Rhesus macaques were killed during the search. Authorities haven't disclosed the company involved, or the monkeys' destination. Tulane University confirmed the monkeys had been housed at its research center, but said it did not own them.
Amazon carries Wall Street to the finish of another winning week and month
NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon carried the U.S. stock market to the finish of another winning week and month. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% and pulled closer to its all-time high set on Tuesday. It closed out its third straight winning week and sixth straight winning month, its longest monthly winning streak since 2021. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.1%, and the Nasdaq composite gained 0.6%. Amazon led the way after reporting a much bigger profit than analysts expected. That helped offset continued losses for Microsoft and Meta Platforms. Treasury yields eased in the bond market.
