Dolores Huerta, United Farm Workers Co-Founder, Dies at 96
Dolores Huerta, who co-founded the United Farm Workers union with César Chávez and coined the rallying phrase "Sí, se puede," died Wednesday in California at age 96.Dolores Huerta, a labor organizer and civil rights activist who helped reshape conditions for agricultural workers in the United States, died Wednesday in California. She was 96. Huerta co-founded the United Farm Workers union alongside César Chávez in the 1960s, building a movement that advocated for better wages, safer working conditions, and basic labor rights for the farmworkers who harvested the nation's fruit and vegetable crops. The UFW became one of the most prominent labor organizations of the twentieth century, using strikes, boycotts, and nonviolent protest to achieve legislative and contractual gains. Huerta also coined the phrase "Sí, se puede" — meaning "Yes, it is possible" — which became a widespread rallying cry extending well beyond the labor movement. She began her career as a schoolteacher before turning to organizing full-time. Huerta continued as an active public voice on labor, feminist, and civil rights issues well into her later years.
Trump Administration Reverses Proposed Opioid-Related Ban on Kratom Substance After Industry Lobbying
Federal health officials have walked back a proposal to ban a potent substance found in kratom products, allowing some levels to remain legal in goods marketed as natural supplements. The reversal follows lobbying by the kratom industry.The Trump administration has reversed course on a proposed ban targeting a specific substance found in kratom, a plant-derived product sold as a natural supplement in the United States. Health officials had initially moved to classify the substance under opioid-related restrictions, which would have effectively removed affected kratom products from the market. Following lobbying by the kratom industry, officials announced they will now permit some levels of the substance to remain in products. The policy change is drawing scrutiny in part because a donor to the Republican Party facing wrongful death lawsuits related to kratom products stands to benefit from the rollback. Kratom has been the subject of ongoing debate between advocates who say it helps manage pain and addiction, and health officials and researchers who have raised concerns about its safety profile and potential for dependence.
CDC Deputy Director Resigns After Four Months in Role
Dr. Jennifer Shuford, a former Texas health official appointed by President Trump to serve as CDC Deputy Director, has resigned after approximately four months in the position.Dr. Jennifer Shuford, who was appointed by President Trump to serve as Deputy Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, has resigned after roughly four months on the job. Shuford, a respected public health official who previously served in a senior capacity at the Texas Department of State Health Services, had been brought in with the expectation that she would help stabilize the CDC during a period of significant organizational change. No reason for her departure was officially given. Her exit adds to a pattern of leadership turnover at the agency and comes at a time when the CDC is managing multiple public health priorities, including an ongoing Ebola outbreak that has now exceeded 10,000 infections.
Trump Administration Rolls Back Federal Rules Limiting Methane Emissions From Oil and Gas Operations
The Trump administration announced it is terminating Biden-era EPA regulations that required oil and gas companies to monitor and reduce methane leaks. Officials say the change will lower costs for producers; critics say it will accelerate greenhouse gas emissions.The Trump administration announced it is rolling back Environmental Protection Agency regulations introduced during the Biden administration that required oil and gas companies to detect and limit leaks of methane, a greenhouse gas with a warming effect significantly more potent than carbon dioxide over short time horizons. President Trump described the action as a termination of Biden-era rules during remarks in Lubbock, Texas. EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin, writing separately, said the regulatory changes are projected to save billions of dollars for energy producers and, by extension, reduce costs for American consumers, and cited an estimate of $45 billion in savings and 210 million additional barrels of oil production. Environmental groups and climate scientists argue the rollback removes a meaningful check on a major driver of near-term climate warming. The Biden administration had characterized its methane rules as one of its most significant climate achievements. The change affects regulations governing leaks during oil and gas extraction, processing, and transmission.
Number of Local Police Officers Working With ICE Has Doubled in Eight Months, Report Finds
The number of state and local law enforcement officers formally partnering with Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the 287(g) program has doubled over the past eight months, according to a report from the immigration reform advocacy group FWD.us.A new report from FWD.us, an immigration reform advocacy group, finds that the number of state and local police officers working with Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the federal 287(g) program has doubled in size over the past eight months. The 287(g) program allows ICE to deputize local officers to perform certain immigration enforcement functions. The expansion reflects a deliberate push by the Trump administration to deepen cooperation between local law enforcement and federal immigration authorities, a policy the administration has prioritized since taking office. Critics of expanded local-federal immigration partnerships argue they erode trust between immigrant communities and local police, making residents less likely to report crimes or cooperate with law enforcement. Supporters say closer coordination improves interior enforcement of immigration law. The precise number of officers now participating in the program was not specified in the available source material.
Republican Senator Murkowski Endorses Democratic Candidate for Alaska Governor Over Trump-Backed Republican
Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski announced her endorsement of Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins, breaking from President Trump, who has backed the Republican candidate in the race.U.S. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska has endorsed Democrat Jonathan Kreiss-Tomkins in the state's gubernatorial race, declining to support the Republican candidate backed by President Trump. Murkowski, who has a long history of occasionally diverging from the national Republican Party on high-profile decisions, made the endorsement publicly as the final week of midterm campaigning gets underway. The move is notable both for its potential effect on the Alaska race and as a signal of continued friction between Murkowski and the Trump wing of the Republican Party. Alaska uses a ranked-choice voting system, which can complicate traditional partisan calculations in statewide races.
Israel Election Results Inconclusive as Neither Netanyahu nor Opposition Bloc Secures Majority
Israel's election produced no clear winner, with both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's bloc and the main opposition led by Gadi Eisenkot falling short of the 61 seats needed to form a government. Coalition negotiations — and possibly new elections — appear likely.Israel's national election, the country's first since the October 7, 2023 Hamas attacks and the subsequent war in Gaza, has produced an inconclusive result with neither major bloc securing a governing majority in the Knesset. With over 90 percent of ballots counted, Netanyahu's Likud-led coalition and the opposition bloc led by former military chief Gadi Eisenkot are separated by only a narrow margin, and both fall short of the 61 seats required to govern. Voter turnout was the highest in more than a quarter century, reflecting the weight Israelis placed on this election. Both Netanyahu and Eisenkot addressed supporters late on election night, each expressing confidence about their path to forming a government, though neither offered concrete coalition numbers to support those claims. The most consequential variable may be Palestinian-Israeli political parties, whose vote share surged in this election. Whether opposition Jewish parties are prepared to enter a coalition with Arab parties is a central and unresolved question. Sources diverge on whether Netanyahu gained ground during the overnight vote count, but all sources agree no majority was achieved. Analysts outline at least four possible scenarios for breaking the deadlock, including a unity government, a minority government relying on outside support, a rotation arrangement, or a return to the polls. The outcome carries significant implications for ongoing military operations in Gaza, diplomatic relations with the United States, and the status of hostage negotiations.
Brazilian Presidential Candidate Flávio Bolsonaro Arrives in Florida After Election Loss and Passport Cancellation
Flávio Bolsonaro, who lost Brazil's presidential runoff to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, traveled to Florida via Argentina after Brazilian authorities canceled his passport amid a Supreme Court investigation into alleged corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion.Flávio Bolsonaro arrived in Miami this week after departing Brazil through Argentina, days after losing the Brazilian presidential election to incumbent President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. Brazilian authorities canceled his passport in connection with an ongoing Supreme Court investigation into alleged corruption, money laundering, and tax evasion. The U.S. State Department confirmed that visas would be issued to him. In the days between his electoral defeat and his departure, Bolsonaro refused to formally concede and made public statements suggesting he might seek to challenge or annul the election result, though he did not follow through. The move to the United States adds a diplomatic dimension to what is primarily a Brazilian legal matter, and the State Department's decision to grant visas — despite the active investigation — is likely to receive attention from Brazilian officials and observers watching the case.
Stocks declined earlier in the past week before recovering partially by week's end.
General Motors Moves Its Stock Listing From NYSE to Nasdaq
General Motors announced it will transfer its stock listing from the New York Stock Exchange to Nasdaq, where most major technology companies trade, as part of a broader pivot toward technology.General Motors announced it will move its stock listing from the New York Stock Exchange to the Nasdaq after more than a century on the NYSE. The shift aligns the automaker with a technology-oriented exchange that is home to companies including Apple, Microsoft, and Amazon, reflecting GM's stated strategic emphasis on electric vehicles, software, and autonomous driving. The move is largely symbolic in terms of trading mechanics — shares will continue to trade under the same ticker — but signals how GM's leadership views the company's identity and competitive positioning going forward.
U.S. Restricts Trade With Chinese Genomics Firm BGI Over Forced Labor and Minority Abuse Allegations
The U.S. government has moved to block shipments from BGI, a major Chinese genomics company, alleging the firm is associated with forced labor practices and the abuse of minority groups in China.The United States has placed trade restrictions on BGI, a prominent Chinese genomics and biotechnology company, citing allegations that the firm is connected to forced labor and the mistreatment of minority populations in China. The move will block shipments from BGI to the United States. BGI is one of the world's largest genomics companies and has been a supplier of genetic sequencing equipment and services in multiple countries, including the United States. U.S. officials have previously raised concerns about BGI's ties to the Chinese government and its collection of genetic data. The company has denied allegations of wrongdoing. The restriction is part of a broader pattern of U.S. trade and security actions targeting Chinese technology and biotechnology firms.
Federal Reserve Expected to Hold Interest Rates Steady Amid Oil-Driven Inflation
The Federal Reserve is expected to leave its benchmark interest rate unchanged at its latest meeting, with inflation having risen in recent months due in part to higher oil and gas prices linked to the Iran war.The Federal Reserve is widely expected to hold its benchmark interest rate at current levels following its latest policy meeting, with Fed Chair Kevin Warsh scheduled to brief the public on the decision. Inflation has accelerated in recent months, with elevated oil and gas prices — connected in part to the ongoing war involving Iran — cited as a contributing factor. A rate hold would reflect the Fed's assessment that the inflation uptick is driven by external supply-side factors rather than domestic demand, which typically calls for rate increases. However, a rate increase later in the year, potentially in December, remains a possibility that markets are monitoring. Higher interest rates would increase the cost of borrowing for consumers and businesses, affecting credit card rates, mortgages, and business loans heading into the holiday season.
New Study Estimates Three in Four Retired NFL Players Had CTE; Researchers Explore Potential Treatments
A new statistical study estimates that approximately three in four retired NFL players who have died likely had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. Separately, researchers are investigating new approaches to treatment, including near-infrared light therapy.A newly published study using statistical modeling has produced an estimate that approximately 75 percent of retired professional football players had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, at the time of their deaths. CTE is a degenerative brain disease associated with repeated head impacts and has been documented in the brains of hundreds of former players through post-mortem examination. Because CTE can currently only be diagnosed after death, researchers have used statistical methods to extrapolate from known cases to the broader population of retired players — an approach the study's authors acknowledge carries uncertainty but provides a scale of the problem not previously quantified. Alongside the prevalence estimate, a separate line of research is exploring ways to treat or potentially prevent CTE's progression. One approach drawing attention is near-infrared light therapy, which researchers are studying for its possible effects on brain tissue inflammation and cellular repair. No treatment has yet been approved or demonstrated effective in clinical trials. The findings add new pressure on the NFL and youth football organizations to address player safety practices and concussion protocols.
Anthropic Files for IPO, Disclosing $16.3 Billion in First-Half Revenue and Massive Planned Spending
AI company Anthropic has filed to go public, revealing $16.3 billion in revenue for the first half of 2026 and plans to spend $807 billion on AI infrastructure — figures that could make it the largest IPO on record.Anthropic, the AI research company behind the Claude family of models, has filed a public stock market prospectus, giving investors and the public their first detailed look at the company's finances. The filing discloses that Anthropic generated $16.3 billion in revenue in the first six months of 2026 alone — a figure that reflects the rapid scaling of commercial AI products. The company also outlined plans to spend $807 billion on AI infrastructure going forward, a sum that reflects both the capital intensity of frontier AI development and the company's ambitions to remain at the leading edge of the field. If completed at a valuation consistent with its recent private fundraising, the offering could rank as the largest initial public offering in U.S. history. The prospectus, which runs to several hundred pages, also includes more than 90 pages of risk disclosures, encompassing concerns about competition, regulatory uncertainty, the cost of compute, and questions about the long-term commercialization of AI. Anthropic has attracted major investment from Amazon and Google, among others. The IPO filing does not set a specific timeline or share price.
Coastal California Braces for Flooding During Forecast Record-Breaking High Tides
Coastal communities across California began experiencing flooding this week as water levels rose during what forecasters described as potentially record-breaking high tides.Coastal areas of California were preparing for and beginning to experience flooding as unusually high tide events arrived this week. Forecasters described the conditions as potentially record-breaking in terms of tide height for affected areas. Aerial footage showed water inundating low-lying coastal neighborhoods. High tide flooding of this nature — sometimes called nuisance or sunny-day flooding — has become more frequent along the California coast as sea levels have risen, and extreme high tide events now occasionally push water into areas not historically prone to flooding. Residents in vulnerable communities were advised to take precautionary measures.
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68 Killed in High-Speed Train Collision in Spain, Second Fatal Rail Crash This Year
At least 68 people were killed and dozens injured when a high-speed train struck a stopped train in Spain's Toledo province. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared three days of national mourning.At least 68 people were killed and roughly 80 others were taken to hospitals across Toledo province after a high-speed train traveling from Madrid rear-ended a stationary train south of the Spanish capital on Wednesday. Fifteen of those hospitalized are in serious condition, according to Spain's health minister. Two rail cars derailed in the collision, and more than 500 passengers were on board both trains combined at the time of the incident. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez declared three days of national mourning following the crash. The accident is Spain's deadliest rail disaster since 2013. What makes Wednesday's collision particularly significant is that it is the second fatal high-speed rail crash in Spain within nine months, the previous one also involving the same two carriers. Spain operates the most extensive high-speed rail network in Europe and the second largest in the world after China — a point of national pride that both accidents have now placed under renewed scrutiny. Investigators are examining why the second train had come to a stop on the track and why the following train did not receive adequate warning in time to brake. The cause of the crash has not been officially determined, and no further details on the investigation were available at the time of publication.
Attacker Killed Outside Israeli Embassy in Belgrade After Assaulting Police Officer
An underage male attacker was fatally shot by a Serbian Gendarmerie officer outside the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade after assaulting the officer. Serbian authorities say the individual had been under security service monitoring.Serbian authorities reported that an individual attacked a Gendarmerie officer stationed outside the Israeli Embassy in Belgrade and was fatally shot by the officer. Serbian officials confirmed the attacker was an underage male who had previously been under monitoring by the country's security services. The incident occurred outside the embassy perimeter. No embassy staff were reported injured. Serbian authorities are investigating the circumstances of the attack. The incident comes against a backdrop of heightened security concerns at Israeli diplomatic facilities in multiple countries.