Author: Andrew Rogers

Missouri’s budget received a small boost this week with the discovery of a $250 million error in state projections, but officials emphasized that tight spending controls remain necessary. State Budget Director Dan Haug told the House Budget Committee that more than $100 million in disaster relief funds had been mistakenly counted in both this year’s and next year’s budgets. Correcting the error increases the projected ending balance for the coming fiscal year from $4.7 million to $261 million. Although the adjustment improves the bottom line, Haug said it does not change the state’s core fiscal challenge: ongoing expenditures still exceed…

A Republican bill in New Hampshire that would require voters to approve local tax caps every two years faced heavy criticism during its first public hearing on Tuesday. The proposal aims to limit spending by cities, towns, and school districts but has drawn concerns from lawmakers and local leaders. The plan, part of a broader GOP effort to rein in local spending, would force communities to vote on property tax limits during high-turnout general elections in November. Supporters say this ensures voters have a say in how much local governments can spend. Critics question whether the state can legally compel…

An 18-year-old man plans to plead guilty to a 2022 mass shooting in North Carolina that left five people dead, including his older brother, his lawyers said Tuesday. The plea will allow him to avoid a trial scheduled for next month. Austin Thompson’s attorneys filed a notice in Wake County court saying their client intends to plead guilty to all charges. A hearing had been set for Wednesday ahead of the Feb. 2 trial. Thompson was 15 when the shootings occurred on Oct. 13, 2022. Authorities say the rampage began in his Raleigh neighborhood with his 16-year-old brother. His attorneys…

Harold Hamm, founder of Continental Resources, said his company will halt oil drilling in North Dakota’s Bakken shale for the first time in more than 30 years. The move comes as crude prices remain low and cut into profit margins for drilling operations. Hamm, a major figure in the U.S. shale oil industry, told Bloomberg that weak prices have made drilling rigs less profitable. He said there is no reason to drill new wells when costs outweigh financial return. However, he added that drilling could resume if oil prices rise in the future. Continental Resources helped fuel North Dakota’s oil…

Three people died, and one person was injured in a house fire early Tuesday morning in Elk County, Pennsylvania. Officials said the fire broke out at a home in Highland Township during the early hours, leaving the community in shock and mourning. According to state police, the fire started around 3:30 a.m. at a residence on Massachusetts Avenue. Emergency crews rushed to the scene after receiving reports of a fire at the home. By the time firefighters arrived, the blaze had already caused severe damage. State police confirmed that three people were found dead inside the house. The victims included…

Hundreds of people stood in the cold Tuesday evening in Providence to protest President Donald Trump and his actions since he began his second term. The crowd gathered as part of a larger national show of resistance on the anniversary of his inauguration. The event was part of a movement people called the “Free America Walkout.” The rally took place at 195 District Park near downtown Providence. Dozens of Rhode Islanders came out with signs and chants to speak against what they called a “full-scale attack on basic human rights.” Organizers said they wanted to push back against Trump’s policies…

Alabama House Democrats said they will focus on affordability and voting access during the next legislative session. Leaders say families across the state face higher costs as federal food and health care support drops. They believe the timing is right to push policies that help working people and small communities. Democratic leaders explained that their agenda responds to rising prices and recent federal decisions. Tariffs and cuts to food aid and health programs have made daily life harder for many residents. Lawmakers say these pressures require new state-level action to protect families. House Minority Leader Anthony Daniels said affordability has…

Gold prices held close to record highs on Monday as mounting geopolitical tensions tied to the Greenland crisis drove investors toward safe‑haven assets. The ongoing dispute stems from U.S. President Donald Trump’s push to exert pressure on European nations opposing his Greenland ambitions, which has ignited fears of a broader U.S.–Europe trade conflict. Spot gold traded near $4,670 an ounce on Tuesday, not far below a record peak of about $4,690 reached earlier in the session. While silver briefly hit its own all‑time highs, it later edged lower. Analysts said the precious metals rally reflects deepening uncertainty as markets brace…

At least 23 people have died in a massive fire at a shopping plaza in Karachi, Pakistan, as rescuers continue to search for dozens of missing victims. The blaze erupted on Saturday at Gul Plaza, a multistory complex housing 1,200 shops. Firefighters extinguished the fire late Sunday, nearly 24 hours after it began, allowing rescue teams to enter the damaged building. Authorities fear the death toll may rise as 46 people remain unaccounted for. Karachi city police chief Asad Raza confirmed only six bodies have been identified so far, with the remainder requiring DNA testing. “The bodies were beyond recognition,”…

Guatemala has declared a 30-day state of emergency following a surge in gang violence that left nine police officers dead. The unrest erupted after inmates at three prisons took 45 guards and a psychiatrist hostage on Saturday, demanding transfers of gang leaders to less restrictive facilities. Police and army forces stormed the prisons on Sunday, regaining control. Eight officers were killed during the clashes, and a ninth died from injuries on Monday. President Bernardo Arevalo oversaw a memorial at the interior ministry for the slain officers. Streets in the capital were largely empty, and schools, courts, and universities remained closed.…