Author: Andrew Rogers

A Taiwanese reporter was detained Saturday over allegations of bribing military officers to leak information to individuals from mainland China. Authorities say the case highlights growing concerns about foreign infiltration amid heightened tensions with Beijing. Taiwan’s Qiaotou District Prosecutors’ Office said a district court ordered the detention of the journalist, surnamed Lin, along with five current and former military officers. Local media identified the reporter as Lin Chen-you of CTi TV. The network said it was unaware of case details but called for a fair judicial process, adding, “God bless Taiwan.” Allegations against journalists are rare in Taiwan, which regularly…

Northeast Ohio cities are facing a rock salt shortage during the peak of winter, forcing crews to focus on main roads and get creative with limited supplies. Cleveland Heights and University Heights are among the communities struggling to keep roads safe amid heavy snowfall. Salt storage facilities that normally hold hundreds of tons are nearly empty. Plow drivers and city officials say high demand, supply chain issues, and production delays are making it difficult to replenish stocks. Dennis Pitts, a plow driver for University Heights for 21 years, explained the approach: “We do sensible salting, which is the main streets,…

Abigail Davis Spanberger made history Saturday as Virginia’s 75th governor and the state’s first female leader. A former Democratic member of Congress and CIA operative, Spanberger took office at the state Capitol in Richmond, where suffragists once rallied for the right to vote. “We will not agree on everything,” Spanberger said during her inauguration. “But we do not have to see eye-to-eye on every issue to stand shoulder-to-shoulder on others.” Spanberger, 46, won last year’s election by 15 points. Her campaign focused on rising consumer costs, job insecurity, and limited access to health care, which she blamed on policies in…

Lawmakers in Washington state are reviewing a new bill that would place limits on how artificial intelligence is used in public schools. The proposal aims to protect students from harmful or unfair decisions made by automated systems without human oversight. The bill, known as Senate Bill 5956, focuses on regulating what are called automated decision systems. These systems include software that uses data, predictions, or classifications to guide decisions. Lawmakers say these tools are becoming more common in schools, often without clear rules. The bill sets out six main restrictions. One key rule would stop schools from using artificial intelligence…

A proposed bill in Maryland is causing sharp debate across the state. The measure, called the Maryland ICE Breaker Act, could change how some former federal immigration officers move into local or state law enforcement jobs. Supporters say the bill protects community trust. Critics say it targets officers for political reasons and could hurt public safety. The bill focuses on federal immigration agents hired during President Donald Trump’s second term. Under the proposal, those agents would not be allowed to later join Maryland police departments or sheriff offices. The restriction would apply even if the officers meet all local hiring…

Preliminary traffic data for 2025 shows a hopeful sign for road safety across North Dakota. Early numbers suggest the state recorded fewer traffic deaths than the year before. If the trend holds, it would mark another year of progress in reducing fatal crashes. The early count for 2025 shows 85 traffic fatalities statewide. This would be lower than the 89 deaths recorded in 2024. It would also continue a downward trend seen since new traffic safety laws took effect. In 2023, North Dakota passed a primary seatbelt law. This law allows officers to stop drivers solely for not wearing a…

Wall Street is signaling strong support for President Donald Trump’s aggressive policy agenda as the year begins. Despite political shocks, including a foreign leader’s capture and a Department of Justice probe into the Federal Reserve, markets have surged, reflecting investor risk-taking confidence. January inflows into equity-focused ETFs are five times higher than the monthly average, with record $400 billion invested over three months. Leveraged-long ETFs now hold $145 billion, compared with just $12 billion in funds betting on market declines. Cash allocations have hit record lows, and credit markets show rising corporate borrowing with tighter junk bond risk premiums. The…

The Justice Department is investigating Minnesota officials, including Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey, over claims that they conspired to impede federal immigration enforcement through public statements. The probe follows weeks of escalating protests in Minneapolis after an ICE officer fatally shot Renee Nicole Good, a mother of three and U.S. citizen. Federal immigration operations had already been underway in the city, but the situation intensified after Good’s death. Both Walz and Frey have criticized federal officials, questioning the justification for the officer’s actions and the FBI’s exclusion of local authorities from the investigation. CBS News first reported…

Venezuela’s interim president has dismissed Alex Saab, a businessman and close ally of former leader Nicolas Maduro, from his role as minister of industry. Saab, who was appointed to the position by Maduro in 2024, was released by the United States in 2023 as part of a prisoner exchange. The ministry will now merge with the commerce ministry, according to a message from interim leader Delcy Rodriguez on Telegram. She thanked Saab for his service and stated he would take on new responsibilities. This change comes amid mounting pressure from Washington following the January 3 US military operation that removed…

Iran is often described as one of the most powerful countries in the Middle East. Many global powers have tried to weaken or isolate it, yet Iran continues to stand firm. Analysts say there are several deep-rooted reasons why defeating Iran is nearly impossible. One of Iran’s greatest strengths is its control over the Strait of Hormuz. This narrow waterway lies along Iran’s southern border and is one of the most strategic sea routes in the world. Though only about 33 kilometers wide, nearly 20 percent of the world’s oil passes through it every day. Experts often call it the…