Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
…
Join our family of readers for as little as $14.99 per month and support local, unbiased journalism.
Already a member? Log in to continue. Otherwise, follow the link below to join.
Please log in to continue |
Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
—————————----—
NATIONAL
———----———————
New report shows a 25% drop in deaths of on-duty law enforcement officers
SUMMARY: Deaths of on-duty law enforcement officers in the U.S. decreased by nearly 25% in 2025, according to an annual report. The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund shared the report with The Associated Press ahead of its Tuesday release. The drop from 148 in 2024 to 111 in 2025 includes decreases in officers killed by firearms, in traffic-related incidents and in other on-duty occurrences. Officials say that while increased training, better medical resources and public awareness campaigns account for some of the decrease, others come down to luck. And a decrease in firearm fatalities does not mean fewer people shot at police officers.
WORDS: 678 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 11:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSOfficersKilledDecreasestLdWritethru/903002e6d28678f69d02123b9e3b05b4/text___
Man who broke windows at Vance's Ohio home is detained, the Secret Service says
SUMMARY: The U.S. Secret Service says a man who broke windows at Vice President JD Vance’s Ohio home and caused other property damage has been detained. Secret Service agents assigned to the home detained the man early Monday. Two law enforcement officials say the man broke a window with a hammer and tried to enter the house. The home in one of Cincinnati's oldest neighborhoods was unoccupied after Vance and his family returned to Washington on Sunday. A 26-year-old man identified by a law enforcement official faces four misdemeanor charges. The Secret Service is working with police and the U.S. attorney’s office on possible charges. Vance's office says his family is back in Washington.
WORDS: 472 - MOVED: 01/05/2026 1:00 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSVanceHomeDamagedthLdWritethru/c53c099124e36642e4dd4d86c38cf33f/text___
Maduro says 'I was captured' as he pleads not guilty to drug trafficking charges
SUMMARY: Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro has declared himself “innocent” and a “decent man” as he is pleading not guilty to federal drug trafficking charges. Maduro told a judge in New York on Monday, “I am innocent. I am not guilty. I am a decent man, the constitutional president of my country." Maduro was making his first appearance in an American courtroom on the narco-terrorism charges the Trump administration used to justify capturing him and bringing him to New York. The courtroom appearance was Maduro’s first since he and his wife were seized from their home Saturday in a stunning middle-of-the-night military operation. It kicks off the U.S. government’s most consequential prosecution in decades of a foreign head of state.
WORDS: 1183 - MOVED: 01/05/2026 7:59 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSVenezuelaUSthLdWritethru/131f59e517cc8314a53c8dace230d328/text___
Jury seated in trial for ex-officer accused in police response to Uvalde school shooting
SUMMARY: A Texas judge has seated a jury in the trial of a former school police officer who was part of the hesitant law enforcement response to the Uvalde school shooting in 2022. Former Uvalde schools officer Adrian Gonzales is charged with failing to protect children during the attack after authorities waited more than an hour to confront the gunman. Jury selection in the trial began Monday. Gonzales is one of two law enforcement officers charged in the attack that killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary. The officer’s attorney has said Gonzales tried to save children that day.
WORDS: 803 - MOVED: 01/05/2026 5:00 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSUvaldeSchoolShootingTrialthLdWritethru/5b86bc8fad32cdf07d386aa9cae99b38/text___
What to know about the Trump administration's latest moves on child care funding
SUMMARY: The Trump administration is planning to tighten rules going forward on a child care program after allegations of fraud at Minnesota day care centers run by Somali residents. A Department of Health and Human Services spokesperson said last week that funds are also on hold nationally until states provide more verification for the child care centers that receive funds from the Child Care and Development Fund. In addition, Minnesota will have to provide additional verification on top of the new requirements for centers that are suspected of fraud. Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, who announced Monday that he's ending his campaign for a third term, says Trump is weaponizing fraud allegations for political gains.
WORDS: 859 - MOVED: 12/31/2025 9:13 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSChildCareFraudMinnesotaWhattoKnowthLdWritethru/1d6edb8511d916fc3a5dc3b339d94e37/text___
—————————----—
WASHINGTON/POLITICS
———----———————
Rep. Doug LaMalfa of California dies, reducing GOP's narrow control of the House to 218-213
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump is lamenting the death of Republican seven-term U.S. congressman Doug LaMalfa of California, who was a reliable vote on his agenda. LaMalfa's death at age 65 reduces the GOP's already narrow control of the House to 218 seats to Democrats’ 213. LaMalfa was a former state lawmaker and rice farmer who was first elected to Congress in 2012. National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson says LaMalfa was “a principled conservative.” House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries of New York on Tuesday called for a moment of silence in honor of LaMalfa at the start of a panel at the Capitol commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack.
WORDS: 586 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 2:56 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSObitLaMalfathLdWritethru/304d9772c6e2d11f03109e2dae1eeb9d/text___
Trump’s vague claims of the US running Venezuela raise questions about planning for what comes next
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump’s has made broad but vague assertions that the United States is going to “run” Venezuela after the ouster of Nicolás Maduro but has offered almost no details about how it will do so. That has raised concerns among some lawmakers and former officials about the level of planning for the country after Maduro was gone. Seemingly contradictory statements from Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio have suggested at once that the U.S. now controls the levers of Venezuelan power or that the U.S. has no intention of assuming day-to-day governance and will allow Maduro’s subordinates to remain in leadership positions for now. The result has been confusion.
WORDS: 1210 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 3:15 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSVenezuelaUSPlanningforInterventionstLdWritethru/35b067e744397dee11f8805a146b9b6d/text___
Trump and House Republicans are meeting to talk about their election year agenda
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump is meeting with House Republicans to align their agenda at the start of a crucial midterm election year. The Republicans face a narrowing majority after the death of Rep. Doug LaMalfa and the resignation of former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Trump acknowledged the challenges for House Speaker Mike Johnson in keeping the party unified. Health care issues are a focus as votes on extending expired health insurance subsidies are expected soon. The meeting follows the Trump administration's capture of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela, sparking debate over Trump's powers. Republicans are also discussing tax legislation and midterm politics.
WORDS: 593 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 5:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpHouseRepublicansndLdWritethru/ad8705ea228a8a4591567fb51f87edb3/text___
This Jan. 6 plaque was made to honor law enforcement. It's nowhere to be found at the Capitol
SUMMARY: Approaching the fifth anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, the official plaque honoring the police who defended democracy is nowhere to be found. It’s not on display at the Capitol, as is required by law. Its whereabouts are not publicly known, though it’s believed to be in storage. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has yet to formally unveil the plaque. And the Trump administration’s Justice Department is seeking to dismiss a lawsuit asking that it be displayed. Instead, some 100 members of Congress, mostly Democrats, have mounted poster board-style replicas of the Jan. 6 plaque outside their office doors.
WORDS: 1308 - MOVED: 01/05/2026 12:20 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCapitolRiotAnniversarystLdWritethru/f6fd39b437c339fa9ff477318a7d36e2/text___
Walz, Democrats' 2024 VP pick, drops bid for third term as Minnesota governor; Klobuchar considers
SUMMARY: Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz is ending his bid for a third term amid President Donald Trump’s relentless focus on a fraud investigation into child care programs in the state and its Somali community. Less than four months after announcing his reelection campaign, Walz said Monday the negative attention and Republican attacks make it too hard to serve full time as governor and be a candidate for another term. A person close to Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar says she's considering running for governor. Around a dozen Republicans already are in the race. Walz helped enact a sweeping liberal agenda in Minnesota despite a closely divided legislature.
WORDS: 1251 - MOVED: 01/05/2026 2:10 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionMinnesotaGovernorthLdWritethru/fb037492e59e1e376f3be0559c235aec/text___
After Maduro capture, Trump's tough talk evokes a return to the days of American imperialism
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump hasn’t minced words about the larger message he’s trying to send the world with the U.S. military raid to capture Nicolás Maduro. “American dominance in the Western Hemisphere will never be questioned again,” Trump declared shortly after the deposed Venezuelan leader and his wife were spirited away to the United States to face federal drug trafficking charges. In the days since the audacious raid, the president and his team have only doubled down on this notion. It's the kind of tough talk not heard since the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when American presidents deployed the military for territorial and resource conquests.
WORDS: 1082 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 1:03 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpAmericanImperialism/1a42ccc7036ce7add7a0ba402ac6f48e/text___
—————————----—
INTERNATIONAL
———----———————
Security forces clash with protesters in Iran's main market as at least 36 killed in demonstrations
SUMMARY: Protesters angry over Iran's ailing economy have conducted a sit-in at Tehran's Grand Bazaar. Security forces fired tear gas and dispersed demonstrators as the market shut down. The protests Tuesday come as Iran's rial currency fell to a record low. Activists say violence surrounding the protests has killed at least 36 people, with authorities detaining more than 1,200 others. Iran's Central Bank recently reduced subsidized exchange rates for dollars, likely leading to price hikes. Reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian warned the crisis might be moving beyond government control. The situation is likely to worsen as inflation and sanctions continue to impact the economy.
WORDS: 1088 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 12:38 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranProteststhLdWritethru/129cea0f8c39b6d5b5603c634acaa61e/text___
Fire safety inspections lapsed for years at Swiss bar where 40 died in New Year's blaze
SUMMARY: Local authorities say fire safety inspections hadn’t been carried out since 2019 at the Swiss bar where a fire at a New Year’s party left 40 people dead and over 100 injured. Investigators have said they believe sparkling candles atop Champagne bottles ignited the fire at Le Constellation in the resort town of Crans-Montana when they came too close to the ceiling. Authorities are looking into whether soundproofing material on the ceiling conformed with regulations. The head of the municipal government said Tuesday that periodic checks on the bar “were not carried out between 2020 and 2025.”
WORDS: 536 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 10:24 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUSwitzerlandBarFirerdLdWritethru/d270a933adb9dd5589957ece1a4d5c59/text___
European leaders push back on Trump's comments about a US takeover of Greenland
SUMMARY: Several European leaders have pushed back on U.S. President Donald Trump’s comments seeking an American takeover of Greenland. The leaders issued a statement Tuesday reaffirming the strategic, mineral-rich Arctic island “belongs to its people.” The leaders of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Spain and the United Kingdom have joined Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen in defending Greenland’s sovereignty in the wake of Trump’s comments. Greenland is a self-governing territory of the kingdom of Denmark. White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller said Monday that Greenland should be part of the United States. Frederiksen previously said a U.S. takeover of Greenland would amount to the end of the NATO military alliance.
WORDS: 1047 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 11:58 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUDenmarkGreenlandTrumpthLdWritethru/c5995b27ac8aee84d0064991c86d633e/text___
Trump says the US 'needs' Greenland for Arctic security. Here's why
SUMMARY: Greenland's strategic location above the Arctic Circle makes it a focal point in global security and trade debates. The island is rich in rare earth minerals, crucial for technology, attracting U.S. interest to counter China's market dominance. Greenland is a self-governing territory of Denmark, which has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s interest in controlling the island. The U.S. operates the Pituffik Space Base there, supporting defense operations. Denmark is boosting its military presence with new naval vessels and drones. Meanwhile, China and Russia are increasing their influence in the Arctic, raising security concerns.
WORDS: 919 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 11:40 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUGreenlandSecurityExplainerndLdWritethru/6066195d0c6b9e1bbe6da27d55b26ece/text___
Trump administration's capture of Maduro raises unease about the international legal framework
SUMMARY: The capture of Nicolás Maduro by U.S. forces has sparked global controversy. President Trump insists the operation was legal, citing an "armed conflict" with Venezuelan drug cartels. The move aligns with Trump's strategy to restore U.S. dominance in the Western Hemisphere. Critics including French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot argue it violates international law and could lead to more military interventions. The situation has raised concerns about the erosion of global legal order and the role of powerful nations. Meanwhile, tensions with countries like Colombia and China have intensified, highlighting the complex geopolitical landscape.
WORDS: 1273 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 7:25 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUVenezuelaMightMakesRightndLdWritethru/2e400f5753570b70487fd3d3fa50261e/text___
Cuba faces uncertain future after US topples Venezuelan leader Maduro
SUMMARY: Cubans have lowered flags to mourn 32 officers who died in the weekend strike against the president of Venezuela. Venezuelan oil has kept Cuba's economy limping along for years. Many in Cuba on Monday were questioning what the U.S. operation will mean for Cuba, Venezuela’s closest ally. The nations are so close that Cubans often were Venezuelan president Nicolás Maduro's bodyguards. Many say Cuba, an island of about 10 million people, exerted a remarkable degree of influence over the oil-rich country with three times as many people. Cubans, tormented by constant blackouts and shortages of basic foods, woke to the once-unimaginable possibility of an even grimmer future.
WORDS: 880 - MOVED: 01/05/2026 7:51 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APLTVenezuelaCubaUnderThreatthLdWritethru/7bbbb164281d4d0e68454c4538c5865b/text___
Zelenskyy replaces Ukraine's security chief and hires a Canadian economic adviser
SUMMARY: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has replaced the head of the country's security service as part of a top-level reshuffle. The move comes ahead of his trip to Paris, where he hopes to finalize agreements with allies to prevent another Russian invasion if a peace deal is signed. The Paris talks, set for Tuesday, are expected to include leaders from about 30 countries, known as the “coalition of the willing.” Key issues include the potential deployment of troops in or near Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russian drone strikes in Ukraine continue to cause casualties and power disruptions. Zelenskyy is focusing on security and defense as the war approaches its fourth anniversary next month.
WORDS: 948 - MOVED: 01/05/2026 2:10 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarrdLdWritethru/bfd559c78e4c2dfedc81033b6db36a87/text___
FACT FOCUS: Fabricated and misrepresented images shared widely online after US removal of Maduro
SUMMARY: Misrepresented and fabricated images of deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro have spread widely on social media since his capture over the weekend. On Monday, President Donald Trump shared multiple videos he falsely claimed showed Venezuelans celebrating the operation. One video, actually from a UCLA student event, was misrepresented as a celebration in Venezuela. Another video from a protest in Caracas was also falsely labeled. Fabricated images of Maduro's capture, credited to an Instagram user specializing in AI, have also circulated but are not authentic.
WORDS: 583 - MOVED: 01/05/2026 9:31 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSVenezuelaUSImagesFactFocus/c6201e6f6b01872a43c36d344a118d28/text___
5-year-old and her uncle killed in airstrike in Gaza as Israel says it targeted an imminent threat
SUMMARY: Hospital officials say an Israeli strike in Gaza hit a tent housing displaced people, killing a 5-year-old girl and her uncle. The strike took place in the Muwasi area of Khan Younis, wounding two other children. The Israeli Defense Forces said on social media it targeted a Hamas militant planning an imminent attack. It was unclear if this referred to the tent strike. The Gaza Health Ministry reported over 400 deaths in Gaza since an October ceasefire began. The overall Palestinian death toll from the Israel-Hamas war has risen to at least 71,388, with 171,269 wounded.
WORDS: 431 - MOVED: 01/05/2026 6:55 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastWarsstLdWritethru/9707ef0fee755285bc466dd1cf285553/text___
—————————----—
BUSINESS
———----———————
Wall Street rises on Big Tech gains and approaches records
SUMMARY: Stocks are rising on Wall Street and approaching more records. The S&P 500 added 0.2% in morning trading Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 195 points, or 0.4%, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.1%. Big tech companies were making some of the most notable moves. Semiconductor company Micron Technology jumped. Crude oil prices fell. Treasury yields climbed in the bond market. European markets were higher and Asian markets posted solid gains overnight. Investors will be focused on the U.S. labor market this week as the government issues three separate reports on employment.
WORDS: 684 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 5:11 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/6d6f626287f9f0f8a7f8a6d98abce0f9/text___
—————————----—
HEALTH/SCIENCE
———----———————
Here's what to know about the unprecedented changes to child vaccine recommendations
SUMMARY: U.S. health officials have made unprecedented changes to childhood vaccine recommendations, alarming pediatricians and other medical experts. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends that all children get vaccinated against 11 diseases, down from 18 a year ago. The American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics plan to continue recommending the broader list. Insurance coverage for vaccines is expected to continue despite the changes.
WORDS: 730 - MOVED: 01/05/2026 11:34 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMEDChildhoodVaccinesWhattoKnowstLdWritethru/b31b4d6815d4395d72745f3a18f2263c/text___
US cuts the number of vaccines recommended for every child, a move slammed by physicians
SUMMARY: The U.S. has taken the unprecedented step of dropping the number of vaccines it recommends for every child — a move that leading medical groups say would undermine protections against a half-dozen diseases. The overhaul to the federal vaccine schedule, announced Monday, is effective immediately and stops broadly recommending protection against flu, rotavirus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, some forms of meningitis and RSV. Protections against those diseases are now only recommended for certain groups deemed high-risk, or if their doctors recommend them. Officials say the overhaul won’t result in any families losing access or insurance coverage for vaccines, but medical experts say it creates confusion for parents and could increase preventable diseases.
WORDS: 1161 - MOVED: 01/05/2026 7:09 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSHealthChildhoodVaccinesthLdWritethru/9b8df9e2767c1261aaac4e2331e77fa3/text___
—————————----—
ENTERTAINMENT
———----———————
The Golden Globes are this week. Here's what to know about the first major show of awards season
SUMMARY: The Golden Globes kick off Hollywood’s awards season on Sunday. This year’s 83rd edition of the show is hosted for the second year by comedian Nikki Glaser. It airs live at 8 p.m. Eastern on CBS and streams live on Paramount+. Acting nominees include Timothée Chalamet, Leonardo DiCaprio, Michael B. Jordan, Ariana Grande, Cynthia Erivo and Emma Stone. “One Battle After Another” is the top nominee with nine and is an Oscar front-runner. “Sentimental Value,” “Sinners” and “Hamnet” are also nominated in top categories. Career achievement awards will go to Helen Mirren and Sarah Jessica Parker.
WORDS: 844 - MOVED: 01/05/2026 4:09 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTGoldenGlobesThingstoKnowstLdWritethru/5c67be217f15e16da1b97c5d18fb8197/text___
—————————----—
SPORTS
———----———————
NASCAR commissioner Steve Phelps resigns after inflammatory texts revealed in trial
SUMMARY: NASCAR Commissioner Steve Phelps has announced his resignation after over 20 years with the organization. His departure follows a federal trial where inflammatory texts he sent during revenue-sharing negotiations were revealed. Phelps will leave at the end of the month, ahead of the season’s start. His texts, including a derogatory comment about Hall of Fame team owner Richard Childress, led to backlash from supporters. Despite his contributions to NASCAR, including expanding its international presence and returning the sport during the COVID-19 shutdown, his resignation comes amid controversy. NASCAR has not announced plans to replace him immediately.
WORDS: 1057 - MOVED: 01/06/2026 3:08 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APCARNASCARPhelpsResignsrdLdWritethru/269f842e90ca62d5caa59ad0c620a08d/text___
Arizona holds No. 1 spot over Michigan by single point in one of the closest AP Top 25 races ever
SUMMARY: Arizona holds onto the No. 1 spot in the AP Top 25 by a single point over Michigan. This marks one of the closest races in the poll's 78-year history. The Wildcats received 32 first-place votes, while the Wolverines got 29. The top six teams remain unchanged, with Iowa State, UConn, Purdue, and Duke following Michigan. Nebraska is in the top 10 for the first time since 1966, riding an 18-game winning streak. The Big 12 has seven ranked teams, including four in the top 10, while the Big Ten has six in the poll and three in the top 10.
WORDS: 807 - MOVED: 01/05/2026 6:01 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APBKCTMensPoll/12ed5e0439a24268482bef53b1f81590/text___
Kentucky, Vanderbilt into top 10 in women's AP Top 25 after 4 of top 10 teams fall; UConn, Texas 1-2
SUMMARY: Kentucky and Vanderbilt made significant jumps in The Associated Press women's basketball Top 25. This follows a week where four of the top 10 teams lost, causing a shakeup in the rankings. UConn remains No. 1, followed by Texas, South Carolina, and UCLA. Oklahoma has moved up to fifth. Kentucky and Vanderbilt each rose five spots to sixth and seventh after defeating LSU. Vanderbilt's win was its first against a top-five team in 17 years. Maryland and Michigan both dropped after losses. Only four teams remain undefeated: UConn, Texas, Vanderbilt, and Texas Tech.
WORDS: 462 - MOVED: 01/05/2026 5:01 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APBKWTWomensPoll/d2f425b1952665515f2b7922bbe0a957/text___
<END>
