Firework mortars, gas canisters stuffed inside Tesla that exploded outside Trump’s Las Vegas hotel

Firework mortars and camp fuel canisters were found stuffed into the back of the Tesla Cybertruck that exploded outside President-elect Donald Trump’s Las Vegas hotel early Wednesday, killing a suspect inside the vehicle and sparking an intense investigation into possible terrorism.

New Orleans barriers to prevent vehicle attacks were in process of being replaced

Seven years ago, New Orleans officials began installing adjustable barriers at intersections in the famed French Quarter to temporarily prevent vehicles from entering the tourist area where the narrow streets are typically teeming with pedestrians every night of the week. But the stainless-steel columns known as bollards were in the process of being replaced and some were apparently not engaged early on New Year’s Day when a motorist rammed a pickup truck through a crowd of revelers, killing 15 people.

Sugar Bowl CFP quarterfinal between Georgia and Notre Dame postponed after deadly truck attack

The College Football Playoff quarterfinal at the Sugar Bowl between Georgia and Notre Dame has been postponed after a truck plowed into a New Year’s crowd about a mile away early Wednesday, killing at least 10 people.

Years of inaction on ‘crisis’ at Secret Service set stage for Trump shooting in Butler

A decade after dire warnings about security weaknesses, an exodus of veteran agents has left the agency relying on those with less experience.

Heavy lake-effect snow will bury parts of the Northeast this weekend

More than 2 feet of snow could fall in the most persistent bands in central New York, with treacherous travel and whiteout conditions expected.

Jimmy the Baptist: Carter redefined ‘evangelical,’ from campaigns to race and women’s rights

Before reaching the 1978 peace deal between Egypt’s Anwar Sadat and Israel’s Menachem Begin, Jimmy Carter managed months of intense preparation, high-stakes negotiations at Camp David and a field trip to the Gettysburg battlefield to demonstrate the consequences of war.

Donald Trump says he is planning to attend Jimmy Carter’s funeral

Donald Trump said he is planning to attend the funeral of former President Jimmy Carter. Funeral services honoring Carter, who died Sunday at 100, will be held in Georgia and Washington, beginning Jan. 4 and concluding Jan. 9.

Flesh-eating parasite with ‘sharp mouth hooks’ has US on alert for first time since 1966

A recent detection of a flesh-eating parasite in southern Mexico has U.S. officials concerned that the previously eradicated New World Screwworm (NWS) could make its way back into the country for the first time since the 1960s.

Driver expressed desire to kill before ramming New Orleans revelers, Biden says; 15 dead in attack

A U.S. Army veteran driving a pickup truck that bore the flag of the Islamic State group wrought carnage on New Orleans’ raucous New Year’s celebration, killing 15 people as he steered around a police blockade and slammed into revelers before being shot dead by police.

Psychedelic therapy begins in Colorado, causing tension between conservatives and veterans

As Colorado becomes the second state to legalize psychedelic therapy this week, a clash is playing out in Colorado Springs, where conservative leaders are restricting the treatment over objections from some of the city’s 90,000 veterans who’ve become flagbearers for psychedelic therapy to treat post-traumatic stress disorder.

Chief Justice John Roberts defends judicial independence, says it is under threat in several ways

Chief Justice John Roberts issued a defense Tuesday of judicial independence, which he said is under threat from intimidation, disinformation and the prospect of public officials defying court orders.

Largest seizure of homemade explosives in FBI history is made at Virginia farm, agents say

A man alleged to have stockpiled the largest number of homemade explosives ever seized by the FBI is in custody following a recent raid at his 20-acre farm in the Hampton Roads region of Virginia.

Nippon Steel reportedly negotiating directly with White House in quest to purchase US Steel

Nippon Steel continues to push for presidential support of its proposed $14.9 billion purchase of U.S. Steel, despite concerns that such a deal could lower American steel production and create a national security threat.

Arizona official who delayed county’s 2022 election certification didn’t have immunity, court says

An appeals court rejected an Arizona official’s argument that felony charges against him for delaying certification of his rural county’s 2022 election results should be dismissed because he has legislative immunity.

The year in review: Influential people who died in 2024

Here is a roll call of some noteworthy figures who died in 2024.

New special trial counsels take over prosecution of major sexual harassment cases from commanding officers

Military commanders will lose their authority to overturn court-martial findings in the most serious sexual harassment cases as of Jan. 1, the Pentagon said Tuesday.

Woman burned to death in New York subway is identified as 57-year-old from New Jersey

New York City Mayor Eric Adams said that 57-year-old Debrina Kawam had a “brief stint in our homeless shelter system,” though did not say when.

SpaceX launch on final day of 2024 raises Space Coast tally to 93 for the year

SpaceX put the final countdown in the books for the Space Coast early Tuesday, adding one more to the record pace of launches for the year.