Author: Andrew Rogers

State government offices across Arkansas will remain closed on Tuesday as dangerous road conditions continue to affect large parts of the state. Officials say the decision was made to protect public workers and limit travel during ongoing winter weather impacts. The announcement came from the office of Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders. The governor ordered that state office buildings remain closed, except for critical operations that must continue to serve public needs. These essential services will stay open, but most government workers will not report in person. This decision follows a similar closure on Monday. State leaders first shut down offices…

A deadly late-night shooting at a convenience store in southern Arizona has led to an arrest, days after a longtime worker lost his life during a confrontation inside the store. The case has drawn attention to the risks faced by retail workers and the growing concern over violent crime at local businesses. The incident happened just after 11 p.m. on January 22 at a convenience store near the intersection of 29th Street and Columbus Boulevard in Tucson. Emergency calls came in reporting gunfire at the store. Officers arrived within minutes and found a man suffering from a gunshot wound. The…

A private jet carrying eight people crashed on takeoff at Bangor Airport in Maine on Sunday evening, officials confirmed. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said emergency crews responded immediately, but the extent of the passengers’ injuries is not yet known. The aircraft involved is a Bombardier Challenger 650 business jet, registered to a Houston-based limited liability corporation. Federal investigators from the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are expected to lead the crash investigation. The incident occurred around 7:45 p.m. ET as a severe snowstorm moved through the Northeast. Temperatures were well below freezing, and light snow reduced visibility…

Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) has said that federal immigration officers “do not have carte blanche” in carrying out their duties, following the fatal shooting of American citizen Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Pretti, 37, was killed by Border Patrol agents on Saturday. Murkowski wrote on X that the shooting “should raise serious questions about the adequacy of immigration-enforcement training and the instructions officers receive on their mission.” Video footage appears to show that Pretti, who was lawfully carrying a gun, had been disarmed by a Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer before he was shot. Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara confirmed…

Calls for Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem’s impeachment are growing, with eight additional Democrats joining a resolution in the wake of the killing of Alex Pretti. The total number of co-sponsors now stands at 120, according to a spokesperson for Rep. Robin Kelly of Illinois. Kelly’s resolution, which initially had 100 co-sponsors as of January 20, has gained momentum amid nationwide concerns over immigration enforcement practices. Federal officers were deployed to Minnesota as part of Operation Metro Surge, sparking criticism over the department’s handling of public safety. Democrats are demanding accountability following Pretti’s death. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., said, “The…

Taiwan is closely watching what it called “abnormal” changes in China’s military leadership after one of Beijing’s top generals was placed under investigation. Defense Minister Wellington Koo said Taipei will use a combination of intelligence and surveillance to understand China’s intentions. On Saturday, China announced that Zhang Youxia, vice-chairman of the Central Military Commission and second-in-command under President Xi Jinping, along with another senior officer, Liu Zhenli, were being investigated for serious violations of law and discipline. Zhang is considered one of Xi’s closest military allies and one of the few senior Chinese officers with combat experience, having participated in…

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s public approval rating has declined ahead of the national election scheduled for next month. The drop reflects growing voter skepticism about her handling of Japan’s economy and her proposed stimulus measures. A Nikkei newspaper survey released Monday showed support for Takaichi’s administration at 67%, down from 75% in December. This marks the first time her approval has fallen below 70% since she became Japan’s first female prime minister in October. Other polls confirm the downward trend. A Kyodo voter survey reported a decline to 63% from 68%, while a Mainichi newspaper poll found support fell…

Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney has sharply criticized U.S. President Donald Trump, saying his leadership has become a major source of global instability. Speaking at the World Economic Forum in Davos on Tuesday, Carney said the era of U.S. dominance is effectively over, and there is no need to mourn it. Carney highlighted several actions by the Trump administration that he said show double standards and unchecked power. These include punitive tariffs against almost every country, attempts to overthrow or kidnap sovereign leaders like Venezuela’s president, and the unauthorized use of military forces both domestically and abroad. He also cited…

Tensions between the United States and Canada have risen after President Donald Trump threatened massive tariffs on Canadian goods. The warning comes in response to a recent trade agreement between Canada and China. Canada has been seeking to expand its global trade relationships beyond the United States, its largest trading partner. Last week, Ottawa signed a strategic partnership with Beijing, aiming to strengthen economic ties and reduce tariffs. Under the agreement, China will lower tariffs on Canadian crude oil from 85% to 15% by March. In return, Canada will reduce tariffs on Chinese electrical doors from 100% to 6.1%. Canadian…

The risk of a federal government shutdown is rising as Senate Democrats oppose the current Department of Homeland Security (DHS) funding bill. The move follows a deadly shooting by federal agents in Minneapolis, prompting lawmakers to demand stronger oversight of immigration enforcement. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Saturday that Democrats will not provide the votes needed to pass the DHS package. He called the bill “woefully inadequate to rein in abuses” by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection, both part of DHS. If Congress does not approve the legislation by Friday at midnight, several major…