News for February 18, 2025

Donald Trump blamed Ukraine for starting the war with Russia and said he could have made a peace deal that avoided most of the damage.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection says its aircraft have been hit by lasers at least six times since October, raising safety concerns for border missions.

Veteran federal prosecutor Denise Cheung resigned after saying Trump appointees pushed her to take a bank freeze action without enough evidence.

A federal judge refused to block Elon Musk and DOGE from accessing data and making cuts at seven federal agencies while a legal challenge moves forward.

A measles outbreak is growing in rural northwest Texas, and state health officials say more cases are likely, with South Plains Public Health District and Lubbock Public Health helping investigate.

The White House says Elon Musk is only a senior adviser with no formal power to make government decisions for DOGE.

DOGE held meetings at the Pentagon to start planning cost cuts at the Defense Department, with Secretary Pete Hegseth saying the effort should protect military readiness.

The National Association of Home Builders says U.S. builder sentiment fell to a five-month low in February as tariffs, high mortgage rates, and weak affordability raised fears about costs and demand.

President Donald Trump’s cuts to federal science funding and NIH overhead money are sparking panic at Johns Hopkins University and other research centers, with scientists warning that years of work could be stalled or lost.

A foreign service worker says the Trump administration’s rushed USAID shutdown led the State Department to cancel emergency medical transport for his pregnant wife, putting her and their unborn child at serious risk.

Kentucky is facing a new round of winter weather after deadly storms and flooding killed 14 people, prompting Governor Andy Beshear to warn residents to stay safe.

Delta Air Lines is facing questions after one of its regional jets crashed and flipped over while landing in Toronto, injuring passengers, as Canadian investigators lead the probe.

Denise Cheung, the top criminal prosecutor in the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington, D.C., has resigned as the Trump administration brings more changes to the Justice Department.

The IRS offers a one-time penalty relief program that can help qualifying taxpayers erase some penalties, but they still must pay the tax and interest they owe.

Delta Air Lines is facing new scrutiny after videos showed one of its flights crash-landing, flipping, and catching fire in Toronto, leaving 21 people injured but no reported deaths.

Leonard Peltier was released from prison after President Joe Biden commuted his life sentence for the 1975 killings of two FBI agents, ending nearly 50 years behind bars.

Leonard Peltier has been released from prison after President Joe Biden commuted his life sentence, allowing him to serve the rest of his time in home confinement.

Rio de Janeiro hit its hottest day in at least 10 years, prompting heat alerts and safety steps as officials warned of more extreme heat ahead.

Four of Mayor Eric Adams’ top deputies have resigned as his deal to cooperate with the Trump administration and the Justice Department’s move to drop corruption charges against him deepen the crisis at City Hall.