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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.
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NATIONAL
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Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder on the FBI's 'Most Wanted' list, has been arrested
SUMMARY: Authorities say they have arrested Ryan Wedding, a former Olympic snowboarder facing charges related to drug trafficking and the killing of a federal witnesses. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed Friday that Wedding has been arrested. Patel said Wedding was captured in Mexico, where authorities believe he had been hiding for more than a decade. The former Olympian who competed for his home country of Canada was on the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list. Wedding was charged in 2024 with running a drug ring that used semitrucks to move cocaine between Colombia, Mexico, Southern California and Canada.
WORDS: 520 - MOVED: 01/23/2026 3:07 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSnowboarderDrugRingthLdWritethru/1ba939875022738f89e0822cb32f0176/text___
More than half the US threatened with ice, snow and cold in massive winter storm
SUMMARY: Forecasters say over half the U.S. population could be affected by snow, ice or bitter cold as a winter storm sweeps across the county. On Friday, schools in Chicago and other cities canceled classes due to extreme cold. Then the storm is forecast to bring snow, sleet, and ice from Texas to New England. Forecasters warn the damage could rival a hurricane, especially in areas hit by ice. More than 1,000 flights were delayed or canceled Friday, with more expected Saturday. People are stocking up on water, food and generators as they prepare for the storm.
WORDS: 855 - MOVED: 01/23/2026 6:00 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSWinterWeatherthLdWritethru/e970ee13ffaaf870f51dfa1540607604/text___
Minnesota gears up for a mass anti-immigration enforcement protest despite the dangerous cold
SUMMARY: A vast network of labor unions, progressive organizations and clergy is asking Minnesotans to stay away from work, school and stores in protest at immigration enforcement operations in the state. Organizers say more than 700 businesses statewide have closed Friday. Minneapolis and St. Paul have seen daily protests since Renee Good was fatally shot by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer on Jan. 7. Federal law enforcement officers have surged in the cities for weeks, repeatedly squaring off with community members and activists. Organizers believe Friday’s mobilization will be the largest action to date, including a march in downtown Minneapolis despite dangerously cold temperatures.
WORDS: 577 - MOVED: 01/23/2026 6:03 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementthLdWritethru/edc6c4884f8cc26be9ad34a28d82a7a5/text___
Immigrants often don't open the door to ICE, but that may no longer stop officers
SUMMARY: It has become common knowledge in immigrant communities across the U.S. to not open the door for federal immigration agents unless they show a warrant signed by a judge. But an internal Immigration and Customs Enforcement memo obtained by The Associated Press states immigration officers can forcibly enter people’s homes without a judge’s warrant. That marks a dramatic shift that could upend the legal advice given to immigrants for decades. Law enforcement and legal experts warn if more agents barge into homes, everyone could be put at greater risk.
WORDS: 1219 - MOVED: 01/23/2026 6:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementArrestsstLdWritethru/26e9b492c7850982a85c554c24695a23/text___
Federal officers detain a 5-year-old boy who a school official says was used as 'bait'
SUMMARY: Federal agents have taken a 5-year-old boy and his father from Minnesota to a detention facility in Texas. School officials and the family's lawyer say this is part of the immigration enforcement surge in the Twin Cities. The school superintendent in the Minneapolis suburb of Columbia Heights says federal agents took Liam Conejo Ramos from a running car in the family’s driveway. She says his father is pursuing asylum in the U.S. The Department of Homeland Security says the operation targeted the father, not the child. A department official says the father asked for the child to stay with him. Liam is the district's fourth student who has been detained recently.
WORDS: 956 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 2:57 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementBoyDetainedthLdWritethru/342f319fafb766d13afe07f5bcc1f112/text___
Vance's message in Minneapolis: Local officials must cooperate with the immigration crackdown
SUMMARY: Vice President JD Vance says he came to Minneapolis to help “lower the temperature” in the city. But during his stop in Minnesota on Thursday, he blamed “far-left people” and state and local law enforcement officials for the chaos that's convulsed the state during the White House’s aggressive deportation campaign. He also defended federal agents who detained a 5-year-old boy while making an immigration arrest. President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act and send in military forces to crack down on the unrest. Vance was asked about that option. He said, “Right now, we don’t think that we need that.”
WORDS: 1145 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 4:44 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSVancethLdWritethru/002f1d1acf05c00aeee289ec192100e7/text___
FACT FOCUS: White House shares altered image showing arrest of civil rights attorney in Minnesota
SUMMARY: The Trump administration is misrepresenting the arrest of civil rights attorney Nekima Levy Armstrong for her role in an anti-immigration enforcement protest that disrupted a service at a Minnesota church. The White House on Thursday shared an image that made it appear like she was crying. The original image, posted on X by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, shows Levy Armstrong with a neutral expression. An attorney for Levy Armstrong said any videos or photos that show her crying were manipulated.
WORDS: 438 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 10:24 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSWhiteHouseAttorneyPhotoFactFocus/3de56d267fe704d16fac31d8fc3d71e9/text___
Trump administration tells agencies to compile data on money sent to Democratic states
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump's budget office is telling government agencies to compile data on federal money sent to a group of 14 mostly Democratic-controlled states and the District of Columbia. The administration says in a memo obtained by The Associated Press that the purpose is to “facilitate efforts to reduce the improper and fraudulent use of those funds.” The memo to the agencies does not explain why it's focusing on those states. The order comes the week after Trump threatened to deny federal funding to states that are home to local governments that resist his immigration policies.
WORDS: 584 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 7:54 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSFederalFundingDemocraticStatesndLdWritethru/86ca32c623f1a2b947a462fced4a8f2f/text___
Former Iowa superintendent pleads guilty to falsely claiming US citizenship
SUMMARY: The former Des Moines superintendent has plead guilty in federal court to falsely claiming U.S. citizenship and illegally possessing firearms. Ian Roberts is originally from Guyana and initially pleaded not guilty to the charges. He plead guilty Thursday to both counts after entering into an agreement with prosecutors that was released Wednesday. The charges could lead to 20 years in prison. He also could be deported. Roberts was targeted by federal immigration agents and arrested in September. Authorities found a loaded handgun and cash in his vehicle. Roberts was an educator and administrator for two decades in districts across the U.S.
WORDS: 827 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 5:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationDesMoinesSuperintendentthLdWritethru/8bc3cc1a8605814b4d650071d71e967e/text___
Officer's acquittal brings Uvalde attack's other criminal case to the forefront
SUMMARY: An acquittal in the first Texas trial over the hesitant police response to the Robb Elementary school mass shooting leaves prosecutors facing decisions about the case against Uvalde’s former schools police chief. Legal experts say that prosecutors will likely consider changes to how they present evidence and witness testimony. And they will have to decide whether to take the next case to trial. They will likely face pressure from victims' families to press ahead. Uvalde County District Attorney Christina Mitchell declined immediate comment Thursday.
WORDS: 942 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 8:57 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUvaldeSchoolShootingTrialthLdWritethru/e04862d1288053c2b13f2f6d35cd5837/text___
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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Smith defends his Trump investigations at a House hearing. 'No one should be above the law,' he says
SUMMARY: Former Justice Department special counsel Jack Smith has defended his investigations of Donald Trump at a public congressional hearing. Smith insisted Thursday he acted without regard to politics and had no second thoughts about the criminal charges he brought. Smith said no one should be above the law, and the law required that Trump “be held to account.” Smith's criminal investigations in Washington, D.C., and Florida shadowed Trump during his 2024 Republican presidential campaign. He testified behind closed doors last month but returned to the House Judiciary Committee for the public hearing. Republican lawmakers looked to undermine Smith while Democrats hoped to elicit damaging testimony about Trump’s conduct. Trump says Smith has “destroyed many lives.”
WORDS: 1130 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 11:25 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressJackSmiththLdWritethru/056c73bd6b5c46dc213266aa01677f36/text___
Trump rolls out his Board of Peace, but it's not clear how many leaders will join him
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump launched his Board of Peace on Thursday to lead efforts to maintain a ceasefire in Gaza. But it’s not clear yet how many leaders will join him on that board. There were officials from 19 other countries at his announcement in Davos, Switzerland. “We're going to have, I think, over 50,” Trump told reporters. Later, flying back from his trip to the World Economic Forum, Trump said “almost 30” leaders were on board. He said some leaders are waiting on approval from their parliaments, naming Italy and Poland as examples. Trump said he’ll have the right to be chairman of the board for life, if he so chooses — but said he’s not sure he wants that.
WORDS: 1275 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 5:10 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUDavosForumTrumpthLdWritethru/f3b265cff4032d51cb5f14bc1cd2d2a3/text___
House Republicans barely defeat Venezuela war powers resolution to check Trump’s military actions
SUMMARY: The House has barely rejected a Democratic-backed resolution that would have prevented President Donald Trump from sending U.S. military forces to Venezuela. A tied vote on the legislation fell just short of the majority needed for passage. Democrats forced the vote on the war powers resolution to direct the president to remove U.S. troops from the South American nation. It brought up a debate in the Republican-controlled Congress on Trump’s aggressions in the Western Hemisphere. The Trump administration told senators last week that there are no U.S. troops on the ground in Venezuela and committed to getting congressional approval before launching major military operations there.
WORDS: 1018 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 8:40 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressWarPowersrdLdWritethru/19b78647b9d39cad589fa9fc4477e815/text___
Takeaways from Jack Smith on his case against Trump, 'so many witnesses' and the threats ahead
SUMMARY: Former Special Counsel Jack Smith testified publicly for the first time on Capitol Hill about his investigation of President Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election. Over five hours, he detailed how the defeated president “sought to prey” on supporters and “stay in power,” culminating in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The House Judiciary Committee delved into far-flung details — from a former White House aide's earlier blockbuster testimony to Smith's subpoena of certain lawmakers' phone records. Trump was live-posting his rage against Smith, suggesting the former career prosecutor should himself be prosecuted. Smith said he would “not be intimidated.”
WORDS: 1400 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 11:22 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressJackSmithTakeawaysstLdWritethru/31a32aa0f81f409b2830dd4d19eafe1d/text___
Georgia Republican Burt Jones and his allies continue to slam his opponent over elections
SUMMARY: Georgia Lt. Gov. Burt Jones, a Republican gubernatorial candidate, is attacking his opponent over the 2020 election. He seems to think the 2020 election will resonate with voters, which some Republican strategists say isn't true. Jones, a Trump ally, has demanded Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger appear at a state Senate Ethics Committee meeting Thursday. Jones has falsely claimed that 315,000 Fulton County ballots were wrongly certified. A Republican state senator also filed a resolution calling on Raffensperger to comply with a U.S. Department of Justice request for detailed voter data. Raffensperger says this would violate state law and voters' privacy.
WORDS: 1002 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 3:30 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionGeorgiaGovernorndLdWritethru/1aebab1feeba4f873b1dfa1f48afb0ad/text___
House approves final spending bills as Democrats denounce ICE funding
SUMMARY: The House has passed this year's final batch of spending bills. Lawmakers still smarting from last fall’s record 43-day shutdown worked to avoid another funding lapse for a broad swath of the federal government. Three of the bills had broad, bipartisan support. They funded Defense and various other departments, including Education and Health and Human Services. A fourth bill funding the Department of Homeland Security was hotly disputed as Democrats voiced concerns it failed to restrain President Donald Trump’s mass deportation efforts. The four bills now move to the Senate with final passage needed before a Jan. 30 deadline to avoid a partial government shutdown.
WORDS: 1002 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 12:01 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressBudgetstLdWritethru/d7ca791c2d1aa81d2982239f81bc86be/text___
Maine governor questions ‘secret arrests,' sheriff says ICE targeted one of his recruits
SUMMARY: Maine Gov. Janet Mills challenged federal immigration officials to provide arrest warrants, real-time numbers and information about detainees amid a sweeping enforcement operation, saying the state has been left in the dark as fear spreads in immigrant communities. Federal officials say about 50 arrests were made on the first day and that roughly 1,400 people are targets. Mills questioned those claims and said schools and businesses are being disrupted. Her remarks came as Cumberland County Sheriff Kevin Joyce criticized the arrest of a corrections officer recruit who had been authorized to work in the U.S., saying the case did not align with the immigration agency's stated focus on serious criminals.
WORDS: 1008 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 6:41 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementMainethLdWritethru/1e5d1dcf3f387b2c629fa7389df4167e/text___
Trump appointees ask about White House ballroom's design and scale — and want to see models
SUMMARY: Some of Donald Trump’s handpicked appointees who have a say in his White House ballroom project are asking questions about design and scale, even as they broadly endorsed the president’s vision for a massive expansion. Members of the Commission on Fine Arts asked the project's lead architect on Thursday to come back to them with 3D scale models of the White House complex including the proposed addition, and to include the Treasury Department and Eisenhower office buildings that flank the White House. Separately, historic preservationists are challenging the project in federal court.
WORDS: 936 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 6:25 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpWhiteHouseBallroomstLdWritethru/48c6630d2e81adad1793e25f8e447117/text___
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INTERNATIONAL
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Russia, Ukraine and the US are holding peace talks in Abu Dhabi. They're coming at a key moment
SUMMARY: Ukrainian, Russian and U.S. envoys are meeting in the United Arab Emirates, the first known instance that officials from the Trump administration have sat down with both countries as part of Washington’s push to end Moscow’s nearly 4-year-old invasion. Friday's talks follow a flurry of diplomatic activity in recent days, from Switzerland to the Kremlin, even though serious obstacles remain between both sides. While Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in Davos, Switzerland, on Thursday that a potential peace deal was “nearly ready,” certain sensitive sticking points — most notably those related to territorial issues — remain unresolved. The talks are happening despite continued Russian attacks on Ukraine and its energy infrastructure amid a bitterly cold winter.
WORDS: 698 - MOVED: 01/23/2026 4:18 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarTalksWhatToKnow/f74851700659a5a724558a5a5ad070b8/text___
Ukraine, Russia, US to discuss fraught issue of territorial concessions in Abu Dhabi
SUMMARY: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the future of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region is a key focus as negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States meet in Abu Dhabi. Friday's talks are the latest aiming to end Russia’s nearly four-year full-scale invasion. It's the first known time officials from Trump's administration simultaneously meet with Ukrainian and Russian negotiators. The Kremlin insists Kyiv must withdraw its troops from areas in the east that Russia illegally annexed. Zelenskyy reiterated his openness to a free trade zone under Ukraine’s control in the east.
WORDS: 1096 - MOVED: 01/23/2026 3:49 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarrdLdWritethru/e985cdc189a479c7618ba4523a50463a/text___
Iranian prosecutor denies Trump's claim 800 prisoners were spared execution
SUMMARY: Iran’s top prosecutor has called U.S. President Donald Trump’s claims about halting the hangings of 800 detained protesters “completely false.” Activists say Iran’s crackdown has already killed at least 5,032 people. The internet blackout in Iran has lasted over two weeks, making it hard to confirm information. Meanwhile, tensions between the U.S. and Iran remain high as an American aircraft carrier group moves closer to the Middle East. Analysts say this could give Trump the option to carry out strikes, though he has avoided that so far despite warnings to Tehran.
WORDS: 1086 - MOVED: 01/23/2026 1:56 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranProteststhLdWritethru/acb1968a973f19be217ea28b4a7adb0b/text___
Japan will hold an early election next month as Takaichi aims to capitalize on her popularity
SUMMARY: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi has dissolved the lower house of parliament to pave the way for an early election on Feb. 8. The move Friday is an attempt to capitalize on Takaichi's popularity to help the governing party regain ground after major losses in recent years. But it will delay a vote on a budget that aims at boosting a struggling economy and addressing soaring prices. Takaichi was elected in October as Japan’s first female leader.
WORDS: 910 - MOVED: 01/23/2026 4:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASJapanPoliticsthLdWritethru/74e9b32eb12a6f9823242255b92150b2/text___
People in Gaza dig through garbage for things to burn to keep warm — a far cry from Trump's vision
SUMMARY: Desperate Palestinians at a garbage dump in a Gaza neighborhood are digging with their bare hands for plastic items to burn to keep warm in the cold and damp winter in the enclave, battered by two years of the Israel-Hamas war. The scene in the Muwasi area of the city of Khan Younis contrasted starkly with the vision of the territory projected by world leaders gathered in Davos, Switzerland, where they inaugurated U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace that will oversee Gaza on Thursday. Trump claimed in Davos this week that “record levels” of humanitarian aid had entered Gaza since the October start of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire deal. His envoys touted the enclave's development potential.
WORDS: 1022 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 2:54 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastWarsGazathLdWritethru/b0bb6f00ab69c82f52c8758745eaea78/text___
Canada's Carney fires back at Trump after Davos speech
SUMMARY: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded to U.S. President Donald Trump comment that “Canada lives because of the United States” on Thursday by saying Canada thrives because of Canadian values. Carney says Canada can show the world that the future doesn’t have to be autocratic after returning from Davos where he gave a speech that garnered widespread attention. In Davos at the World Economic Forum, Carney condemned coercion by great powers on smaller countries without mentioning Trump. Upon returning home to Canada, Carney says his country “can show that another way is possible, that the arc of history isn’t destined to be warped toward authoritarianism and exclusion; it can still bend toward progress and justice.”
WORDS: 745 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 8:27 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APCNCanadaCarneyTrumpthLdWritethru/eee151f749f35c8b30a9ff4a9525d0be/text___
What to know about the devastating floods in southern Africa
SUMMARY: Torrential rains and severe flooding across parts of southern Africa have killed more than 100 people in three countries, destroyed thousands of homes and caused tens of millions of dollars’ worth of damage in one of Africa’s premier wildlife parks. Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe have experienced unusually heavy rains since late last year and the resulting floods have been the worst in years. Authorities expect the death toll to rise with rescue operations continuing. Here’s what to know.
WORDS: 656 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 8:26 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFSouthernAfricaFloodsWhattoKnow/076db3415ee1c90fc08c46516d326dd8/text___
What to know about the multiple train crashes in Spain this week
SUMMARY: Multiple train crashes this week have rocked Spain. The tragedies have raised concerns about railway safety. The first crash involved a high-speed train in southern Spain that derailed on Sunday evening. It collided with another train and the crash killed at least 45 people. Another crash occurred near Barcelona on Tuesday night that killed one person. Then a commuter train crashed in southeastern Spain on Thursday that slightly injured six passengers. An investigation is underway to determine the cause of the Sunday crash. Officials found a broken section of track. But it's unclear if it caused the crash. Spain's high-speed rail network is generally safe. But these crashes have sparked calls for improved safety measures.
WORDS: 740 - MOVED: 01/19/2026 12:29 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUSpainTrainCrashWhattoKnowthLdWritethru/06d996533125414a2dc5948ef666ce15/text___
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BUSINESS
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Wall Street drifts as Intel tumbles and gold's price rises to another record
SUMMARY: The U.S. stock market is drifting, as a zigzag week full of loud threats and pullbacks heads toward a quieter close. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% Friday but was still on track to finish a second straight week with a modest loss. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 240 points, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.5%. Intel tugged on the market after its forecast for profit in early 2026 fell short of Wall Street’s expectations, but stocks got some lift from a slight easing of yields in the U.S. bond market. Gold’s price rose toward another record and got closer to $5,000 per ounce.
WORDS: 765 - MOVED: 01/23/2026 5:15 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/6e894c8ecd7de9e05ad245beed41bd3e/text___
In the case of the Federal Reserve, Supreme Court appears to carve out a murky exception
SUMMARY: The Supreme Court for the past year has repeatedly allowed President Donald Trump to fire heads of independent agencies, but it appears to be drawing a line with the Federal Reserve. The court has signaled for months that it sees the Fed in a different light. It has said that the president can fire directors of other agencies for any reason, but can remove Fed governors only “for cause.” That is now being put to the test in a case involving Trump’s attempt to remove Fed governor Lisa Cook. On Wednesday during oral arguments, the Supreme Court seemed inclined to keep Cook in her job. But it largely skirted a key issue: What, exactly, is the legal principle that protects the Fed, but not the other agencies?
WORDS: 1105 - MOVED: 01/23/2026 12:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSupremeCourtFederalReserve/e5ceaf7041b7c835c825afe1a5cacf07/text___
Trump sues JPMorgan for $5 billion, alleges the bank closed his accounts for political reasons
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump is suing JPMorgan Chase and its CEO Jamie Dimon for $5 billion. He alleges the bank closed his accounts for political reasons after he left office in January 2021. The lawsuit, filed in Miami-Dade County court, claims JPMorgan abruptly closed multiple accounts in February 2021, giving 60 days' notice without explanation. Trump says this cut him off from millions and disrupted his businesses. JPMorgan, in a statement, expressed regret over the lawsuit but denied political motives. A spokesperson said the suit lacks merit, emphasizing accounts are closed for legal or regulatory risks, not political reasons.
WORDS: 617 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 6:32 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpJPMorganrdLdWritethru/a976813384a942e5152f17659fdebd16/text___
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HEALTH/SCIENCE
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Trump administration halts use of human fetal tissue in NIH-funded research
SUMMARY: The Trump administration is ending the use of abortion-derived fetal tissue in research funded by the National Institutes of Health. The government has funded research involving fetal tissue for decades, under both Republicans and Democrats. The tissue has been critical for research involving HIV, cancer and other diseases. Opponents say there are alternatives, although scientists say there aren't always adequate substitutes. The policy announced Thursday expands restrictions issued in the first Trump administration to cover all NIH-funded research. In 2024, the $47 billion agency counted just 77 funded projects that included fetal tissue.
WORDS: 289 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 8:06 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMEDFetalTissueResearch/90c096dec2b533dd19983b8eabde692a/text___
What to know about FDA's review of new Zyn advertising proposal
SUMMARY: Americans who smoke may soon be hearing a lot more about Zyn. That's the flavored nicotine pouch that's generated billions in sales while going viral on social media. The Food and Drug Administration convened a public meeting Thursday to consider whether Philip Morris International should be allowed to advertise its pouches as a less-harmful alternative for adults who smoke cigarettes. Government documents and presentations made at the meeting suggest regulators are leaning toward approving the request. But independent experts asked pointed questions about the company’s research, the risks of underage use and whether the new marketing language would really steer smokers away from cigarettes. There's no deadline for a decision.
WORDS: 919 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 3:00 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMEDZynFDAstLdWritethru/d2bb42e4aa70b09c90d969845327bce9/text___
NASA and families of fallen astronauts mark 40th anniversary of space shuttle Challenger accident
SUMMARY: Families of the astronauts lost in the space shuttle Challenger accident are marking that tragic day 40 years ago. All seven on board were killed when Challenger broke apart following liftoff on Jan. 28, 1986. At Thursday's memorial ceremony at Florida's Kennedy Space Center, Challenger pilot Michael Smith's daughter, Alison, said through tears that her life forever changed that frigid morning, as did many other lives. Challenger's crew included schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe. Two of her fellow teacher-in-space contenders — both retired now — attended the memorial.
WORDS: 454 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 8:32 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSCIChallengerAccidentAnniversarystLdWritethru/47bf5099895ebc93f446f1e978f0f8c5/text___
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CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT
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The coming winter storm: There's an app for that. But how reliable is it and what's inside?
SUMMARY: That snowflake icon on your smartphone app might be quick and handy — it just might not be as accurate as a human when the weather gets rough. Experts say that’s especially important during winter storms like the one forecasted to smack the eastern U.S. with a mix of heavy snow, treacherous ice and subzero temperatures. The popular Weather Channel app, for example, uses artificial intelligence to analyze everything from computer models to citizen weather reports. But humans always have the last word. Most experts say the best place to get the most accurate forecast is still probably local television meteorologists.
WORDS: 1065 - MOVED: 01/23/2026 4:28 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APClimateWinterWeatherPhoneApps/9768afec5fc53b4faba19f3cfd06a86c/text___
To clear ice and snow, there are rock salt alternatives that are safer for your pets and yard
SUMMARY: Winter has its fans, but even those who enjoy playing in the snow probably dislike the chore of clearing up after a big storm that dumps several inches or even feet of snow and ice. Many people run straight to the closest hardware store for a bag of salt to clear driveways, sidewalks and stoops. But there are some environmental factors to consider when tackling snow and ice. The salt comes in different formulations that perform differently in different conditions, with blends and coatings that makers say can make it work better and reduce some of the harmful effects. And there are alternatives to salt, too.
WORDS: 954 - MOVED: 01/23/2026 4:18 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APClimateChoicesSaltandSnowstLdWritethru/33700d5759e6eada8eb041f6318cc061/text___
How big winter storms create snow, sleet and freezing rain
SUMMARY: When big winter storms move in, they can bring nasty weather that shows up as different things in different places — maybe it’s snow, or sleet, or freezing rain. Or maybe just extreme and dangerous cold. Slight differences can lead to one or another. For snow, it takes consistent cold air from the clouds where flakes form all the way to the ground. Sometimes there's a sandwich with a warm layer of air between cold layers. When that happens, a flake can melt as it passes through the warm layer and then refreeze into sleet as it passes back into cool air. If that last cool-air layer isn't big and cold enough, it can mean the worst thing — freezing rain.
WORDS: 549 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 8:34 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSWinterWeatherExplainer/e0cb4200052f586b892f23ef05bec13a/text___
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ENTERTAINMENT
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Sundance kicks off its last year in Utah with powerful premieres and tributes to Robert Redford
SUMMARY: The Sundance Film Festival has kicked off in Utah, marking the first year without founder Robert Redford. His daughter, Amy Redford, shared in an interview with The Associated Press that her father believed everyone has a story, a principle guiding this year's festival. Several films are on the list to premiere Thursday. They include Amir Bar-Lev’s documentary on mountain climbing, Rachel Lambert’s drama “Carousel” and Judd Apatow’s film about comedian Maria Bamford. Other highlights include a look at playwright Luis Valdez's legacy and a midnight movie by Casper Kelly. The festival runs through Feb. 1.
WORDS: 740 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 6:19 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTSundanceFilmFestivalDayOnethLdWritethru/a2a737c886f6143987a81848953e264b/text___
DiCaprio to AP on Oscar nomination: 'It’s about trying to be in films that are memorable'
SUMMARY: Leonardo DiCaprio has picked up his sixth lead actor Oscar nomination for his role in “One Battle After Another.” Ten years after winning for “The Revenant,” he joins a select group of actors with this many nominations. Including his supporting nomination for “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” he now has eight nominations overall. DiCaprio says the most important thing is being part of a timeless film. The film received 13 nominations, but co-star Chase Infiniti was notably snubbed. DiCaprio tells The Associated Press he spoke to her and that she had an amazing attitude. DiCaprio also emphasized the importance of original filmmaking and the theatrical experience.
WORDS: 852 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 6:36 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTOscarsLeonardoDiCapriostLdWritethru/798743e63d4bb8c56a60cbd3e98d38e2/text___
'Sinners' makes history, setting Oscars nomination record
SUMMARY: Ryan Coogler’s blues-steeped vampire epic “Sinners” led all films with 16 nominations to the 98th Academy Awards, setting a record for the most in Oscar history. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences voters showered “Sinners” with more nominations Thursday than ever before, breaking the 14-nomination mark set by “All About Eve,” “Titanic” and “La La Land.” Coogler was still trying to process the record-breaking haul when reached by The Associated Press this morning. Paul Thomas Anderson’s father-daughter revolutionary saga “One Battle After Another” trailed in second with 13 nominations of its own, making it a banner day for Warner Bros.
WORDS: 1268 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 5:05 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTOscarsNominationsthLdWritethru/83798def8de7626b011aba3c043a4115/text___
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SPORTS
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The AP NFL MVP finalists are Allen, Lawrence, Maye, McCaffrey and Stafford
SUMMARY: Christian McCaffrey is only the second player to be a finalist for three AP NFL awards, joining Josh Allen, Trevor Lawrence, Drake Maye and Matthew Stafford in the running for The Associated Press 2025 NFL Most Valuable Player award. McCaffrey and Maye are also finalists for Offensive Player of the Year. McCaffrey and Lawrence are among the finalists for Comeback Player of the Year. The winners will be announced at “NFL Honors” on Feb. 5. A nationwide panel of 50 media members who regularly cover the league completed voting before the playoffs began. Votes were tabulated by the accounting firm of Lutz and Carr.
WORDS: 895 - MOVED: 01/22/2026 2:04 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFBNNFLAwardsFinalistsndLdWritethru/2aecebfdf696129cfc0e686b081218d8/text___
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