NASA’s six-wheeled rover landed on the red planet in January 2004 for what was billed as a 90-day mission. The plucky robot was still going until a dust storm on Mars last summer killed it.
Hungry Deer May Be Changing How Things Sound In The Forest
Sound travels differently through open fields than the woods. When deer eat up bushes, small trees and other forest plants, it affects the transmission of bird calls and other natural sounds.
Prominent Journalist And Duterte Critic Maria Ressa Arrested In Philippines
Ressa, who runs Rappler, is being charged with cyber libel. Police arrested her Wednesday at the news website’s headquarters in Manila.
As Brexit Deadline Looms, Billboards Call Out Politicians’ ‘Quick And Easy’ Claims
The protest group Led By Donkeys wants to remind citizens of what it considers to be misleading pledges by pro-Brexit leaders, as political chaos continues ahead of the March 29 exit date.
Harley-Davidson Embraces A New Sound As It Enters The Electric Era
The LiveWire, Harley’s first electric bike, was first announced more than four years ago. It’s finally hitting the streets this summer — for a hefty price. But will Harley fans be along for the ride?
New York City Police Detective Killed By Apparent ‘Friendly Fire’
Police said they found an imitation gun at the scene of the reported armed robbery. The 19-year-veteran of the force was not supposed to report to work on the day he died.
Bugs Vs. Superbugs: Insects Offer Promise In Fight Against Antibiotic Resistance
With the rise of antibiotic-resistant infections, scientists are exploring nature to find new disease-fighting compounds. They’re finding them in surprising new places: the microbiomes of insects.
A High-Crime Neighborhood Makes It Harder To Show Up For School
A new study suggests living in a high-crime area, or simply passing through one on the way to school, can lead to more absences.
No Civilians Were Shot By Law Enforcement During Pulse Shooting, Investigation Finds
The question of friendly fire had plagued law enforcement since the June 2016 shooting left 49 dead during Latin Night at the predominantly gay nightclub in Orlando, Fla.
Ex-Air Force Counterintelligence Agent Charged With Giving Secrets To Iran
Monica Witt has been indicted after allegedly providing classified Pentagon information to Tehran. She defected years six ago, the Justice Department says.
Parkland Student Survivors Brace For 1st Anniversary Of School Shooting
Since the shooting, young Parkland survivors have emerged as the driving force in calling for stricter gun laws in the U.S., through a series of marches, school walkouts and voter registration drives.
U.S. National Debt Hits $22 Trillion — A New Record That’s Predicted To Fall
Federal deficits are now expected to average $1.2 trillion, or 4.4 percent of gross domestic product — far higher than the average over the past 50 years.
Inside The Largest And Most Controversial Shelter For Migrant Children In The U.S.
A temporary shelter has been contracted south of Miami to house more than 2,000 migrant children. It is the nation’s only corporate, for-profit migrant youth shelter.
Blackface Didn’t End In The 1980s
Two top Virginia lawmakers have admitted to wearing blackface in the 1980s. But blackface didn’t stop then.
Butterflies Vs. Border Wall: National Butterfly Center Seeks Restraining Order
The center says government officials have already cut down trees on its private property in anticipation of a border wall. The planned wall would split its property in two.
Americans Lost $143 Million In Online Relationship Scams Last Year
The Federal Trade Commission says Americans who fell for online romance scams reported losing a median $2,600 each — far more than other types of scams.
It’s Good To Be King: Wire Fox Terrier Wins Westminster Dog Show
It’s the 15th time a wire fox terrier has won the top prize. “As good as it gets,” the best in show judge said.
As Democrats Emphasize Diversity, South Carolina Is A Key Early Campaign Stop
The state’s large share of African-American Democratic voters and a well-timed spot on the 2020 primary calendar make it a critical state for presidential candidates.
‘No More Xenophobia’: Calif. Governor Criticizes Trump On Immigration
In his first State of the State speech Tuesday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom wasted no time in criticizing what he called President Trump’s “fear-mongering” over the “so-called ‘border emergency.'”
Apple, Google Criticized For Carrying App That Lets Saudi Men Track Their Wives
An app that allows men to track the whereabouts of their wives and daughters is available in the Apple and Google app stores in Saudi Arabia. The firms are getting blowback for carrying the app.
Woman Breaks Into Houston Home To Smoke Pot And Is Greeted By A Tiger
By Tuesday, the tiger was headed to a sanctuary outside the city, while officials have launched a criminal probe in search of its owner.
President Trump And Allies Push To Save A Very Specific Coal Plant
President Trump and other Republicans are pressuring the Tennessee Valley Authority not to close a coal plant in Kentucky. A major Trump backer supplies the plant with most of its coal.
NASA Says Ultima Thule Actually Looks Like A Pancake And A Walnut
They had initially thought the object four billion miles from Earth looked like a snowman. The New Horizons spacecraft flew by it on New Year’s Day and new images give scientists a clearer picture.
Fairfax Continues To Preside Over Va. Senate As Staffers Resign, Investigation Begins
Virginia’s Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax, a Democrat, is on leave at his full-time employer, an international law firm, as it pursues an investigation into the sexual assault allegations against him.
Historic Black Church Donates $100,000 To Pay Off Debts Of Howard U. Students
The idea that bridging small financial shortfalls for students can make a big impact is starting to gain attention. For 34 students, a Virginia church’s donation has eased the burden.
High-Stakes Trial Against Catalan Separatist Leaders Gets Underway In Madrid
The divisive trial could end with prison sentences of up to 25 years for some of the defendants charged for their roles in Catalonia’s 2017 failed independence bid.
Wreckage Of WWII Aircraft Carrier Found In The South Pacific Ocean
The Hornet played a role in several key events in the war – including the Doolittle Raid on Japan and the Battle of Midway. Researchers have located it 3 miles below the surface.
Trump Calls On Rep. Ilhan Omar To Resign Over Remarks Criticized As Anti-Semitic
“Anti-Semitism has no place in the United States Congress,” President Trump said. “I think she should either resign from Congress or she should certainly resign from the foreign affairs committee.”
Suspected U.S. Spy ‘Is Holding Up Surprisingly Well’ In Russian Jail, Lawyer Says
The brother of Paul Whelan, the American arrested in Moscow in late December, says Russia has given the family no information for why he is being accused of spying.
A Neuroscientist Explores The Biology Of Addiction In ‘Never Enough’
Growing up, Judith Grisel struggled with alcohol, marijuana and cocaine. Now as a neuroscientist, she’s working to understand the biological basis of addiction. Her new book is Never Enough.
‘El Chapo,’ Notorious Drug Kingpin, Found Guilty After Dramatic Trial In New York
Joaquín Guzmán was convicted on all 10 counts he faced related to his leading of Mexico’s infamous Sinaloa cartel.
Trump Says He’s Not ‘Happy’ With Budget Deal But Thinks Shutdown Unlikely
Congressional negotiators are close to a budget deal, but it provides less than what the president wants for a border wall and limits the number of people immigration officials can detain.
Trump Supporter Violently Shoves BBC Cameraman At Rally In El Paso, Texas
“The crowd had been whipped up into a frenzy” against the media, a BBC producer says of President Trump’s rally in El Paso, Texas.
‘I Rue The Day We Ever Became Farmers’: In Rural India, A Struggle To Survive
“The farmer dies feeding this country, but no one fights for the farmer,” says a woman whose son, a farmer, died by suicide. He was $40,000 in debt. Her husband died of a heart attack days later.
Woman Who Provoked Suicidal Boyfriend Via Text Message Begins Prison Sentence
The Massachusetts woman sent her boyfriend a barrage of texts encouraging him to kill himself. He did, and she was convicted of involuntary manslaughter. A state supreme court has upheld the sentence.
To Protect Imperiled Salmon, Fish Advocates Want To Shoot Some Gulls
Biologists think gulls are eating more juvenile salmon than they thought, and fish advocates are proposing to kill problem gulls. But opponents say dam modification is what’s needed to protect salmon.