A novel mRNA cancer vaccine helps reduce the chances of melanoma patients' tumors returning
WASHINGTON (AP) — A first-of-its-kind cancer vaccine is helping significantly reduce the chances that melanoma patients' tumors return. Drugmakers Moderna and Merck announced the results Thursday. The vaccine was custom-brewed for each patient to match their tumor. It teaches the patient’s immune system to watch out for and attack any cancer cells that start forming again. Adding it to a standard post-surgery treatment reduced by 42% the risk of melanoma returning two years after surgery, according to the most advanced study to date.
Execution staff warned IV site might have 'blown' during Christa Pike's execution attempt
A court document says Tennessee execution team members failed multiple times to establish working IV lines in Christa Pike’s arms before her attempted execution. The document says team members warned that some of Pike's veins may have ruptured, or “blown,” before she was injected with pentobarbital. Pike's attorney wrote in a declaration filed Thursday that the IV team went through about 10 needles and tried several IV sites on both arms. They even struggled to push saline through the last IV site they established. Pike was hospitalized after surviving two doses of pentobarbital as the state tried to execute her for the 1995 stabbing death of classmate Colleen Slemmer.
Sister of American held in Russia says he didn't know he was being released until he saw US flag
SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The younger sister of Stephen Hubbard, the U.S. citizen freed after spending more than four years in a Russian prison, said her brother didn’t realize he was being released until he was taken onto a plane and saw an American flag. Patricia Hubbard Fox said her brother has been ‘relief laughing’ since he was freed and is still in disbelief. President Trump said he had asked Russian President Vladimir Putin to free Hubbard, a 74-year-old retired teacher. Hubbard was accused of fighting for Ukraine following Russia’s invasion in 2022. He was sentenced in 2024 to nearly seven years in prison.
Mississippi releases video showing fatal shooting of 1-year-old boy by police officer
Mississippi has released video showing the fatal shooting of a 1-year-old boy by a police officer. Kohen Wiley was killed in June when Senatobia police officer Sgt. Hunter Foster fired his gun into a moving vehicle while responding to a shoplifting call. State authorities have cleared Foster of criminal wrongdoing. Foster’s attorney says his client had “no choice” but to shoot at the vehicle because it was going to hit him. But Kohen’s family says footage shows the shooting was not justified. Ben Crump, who is representing the family, says Foster was not in danger when he fired into the vehicle. Crump says the video shows Foster fired the fatal shot from the passenger side of the car.
Judge orders Trump to sit for a deposition in his defamation lawsuit against the BBC by Dec. 11
MIAMI (AP) — A federal judge has ordered President Donald Trump to sit for a deposition in his $10 billion defamation lawsuit against the BBC by Dec. 11. The order Thursday from U.S. Magistrate Judge Enjoliqué Lett came as the BBC’s lawyers complained that Trump had delayed his appearance. Lett said Trump must sit for a deposition by Dec. 11 or face sanctions up to dismissal of his lawsuit unless the discovery period is extended past Dec. 18. The judge also ordered the Department of Justice to respond to former special counsel Jack Smith about whether he has permission to be deposed in the case.
Trump backs Ramaswamy on ad featuring Amy Acton's estranged mother
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — President Donald Trump is urging Vivek Ramaswamy, the Republican nominee for Ohio governor, to keep running a controversial ad. It features the estranged mother of Democratic opponent Amy Acton. Trump criticized Ohio Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who called the ad “deeply troubling.” DeWine, who endorsed Ramaswamy, urged him to remove the ad but didn’t withdraw his support. The ad has sparked division among Ohio Republicans, with some expressing disgust and others supporting it. The ad has also drawn national attention, with mixed reactions from conservative media and political figures. The debate has threatened to spill into other races and states.
Powerful Democratic Virginia state Sen. Lucas is accused of leading a marijuana criminal conspiracy
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — A powerful Virginia state senator indicted by the Trump Justice Department has made her initial appearance in federal court. Sen. L. Louise Lucas' hearing Thursday was brief and she left without addressing the media outside. She’s charged with leading what authorities allege was a criminal enterprise that acquired and distributed large quantities of marijuana and laundered the proceeds. Virginia's Democratic governor, Abigail Spanberger, questioned the timing of the indictment, so close to the Nov. 3 elections. She said it would “further erode” public trust in the Justice Department. Lucas, who's not on the ballot this year, said before the hearing that she “will not be bullied” by the indictment.
Trump administration offers mixed messages on limits to Ukraine's Starshield access
Recent efforts to throttle Ukraine’s access to satellite systems have created a blame game of sorts among Trump administration officials and their allies. They have offered mixed messages about what led to the sudden restrictions on Kyiv’s ability to intercept Russian strikes. The limitations placed on Starshield, which is SpaceX’s military-grade version of the Starlink satellite internet service, alarmed the country’s military and government officials. After days of handwringing, President Donald Trump asserted Thursday that the service is again running at full speed. The episode has sent shock waves through Ukraine’s allies in Washington. Questions have percolated since last week about who ordered the interruptions to the Elon Musk-made satellite internet system.
What to know about the AI-detected security bug impacting wide swaths of the internet
The language that’s known as the backbone of the internet is now subject to what experts are calling the one of the most notable vulnerabilities in recent memory. PHP is the backbone of many websites. It faces significant vulnerabilities, prompting warnings from agencies including the FBI. These vulnerabilities could allow attackers to control web servers without passwords, leading to potential data theft or further attacks. PHP powers about 70% of websites, including WordPress and Drupal, making the exposure vast. Some sites, including government services, have been taken offline to fix the issues. The vulnerabilities have been known since at least 2024, but solutions stalled.
Tom Skerritt, Emmy-winning actor with roles in 'Picket Fences,' 'Alien' and 'Top Gun,' dies at 93
NEW YORK (AP) — An Emmy-winning actor known for roles in “Top Gun” and “Picket Fences,” Tom Skerritt has died at 93. His family said in a statement he died Wednesday of natural causes. Skerritt won an Emmy for “Picket Fences” in 1993 and was known for roles in “Turning Point,” “Steel Magnolias,” and “Contact.” He was once described as a character actor in a leading man’s body. Skerritt also performed onstage, including in “Our Town” and “A Time to Kill.” His family highlighted his passion for storytelling and helping others.
