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Suddenly, a night full of drama and a game full of heroics handed the script to the most deserving story of all.

Carson Beck’s journey hasn’t been easy. He ended last season injured and dumped by Georgia. He signed with Miami and started the summer with his surgically repaired elbow under recovery.

Thursday night, Beck threw Miami down the field on its final drive when the night demanded it, and then took off running 3 yards into the end zone with 18 seconds left when the win needed that, too.

“The best feeling I’ve had in my life,’’ he said after Miami’s 31-27 win against Mississippi.

He found a home this season.

He’s coming home again now, too. They all are for the college championship game on Jan. 19. Miami will play in Hard Rock Stadium against coach Mario Cristobal’s former team, Oregon, or against Indiana and hometown Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza.

What a night this was. What a win. What a classic fourth quarter to cap not just Beck’s journey but Miami’s full odyssey back from nowhere to the biggest stage of all in college football.

How long was it since Miami played in a game with these stakes?

Twenty-three years?

Now this program gets a chance at another one after a night where for so long Miami seemed to dominate but couldn’t pull away. Pick your favorite stat to show that. Miami had the ball for 23 more minutes than Mississippi. It ran 28 more plays than Mississippi. It was 13 of 21 on third- and fourth-down conversions to Mississippi’s 2 for 10.

It had the makings of a blowout even by halftime by any number but the ones that matter most. Miami only led 17-13.

Mississippi kept doing just enough to stay in it. Miami did just enough not to completely take it, too.

Untimely penalties. Nibbling breakdowns. And the fact Mississippi’s first good play of the game on the opening play of the second quarter had star running back Kewan Lacy bust loose for a 73-yard touchdown run.

Mississippi became an oddly heartwarming story these playoffs when coach Lane Kiffin split for rival LSU and the team kept winning. Their anything-it-takes approach made them the darling of these playoffs in the manner Miami never could be.

Miami is just the team Cristobal wants, though. Built on physical lines. Able to run the ball and stop the run. And strong? Did you see how Miami responded with Thursday on the line?

There were three lead changes in five minutes of the fourth quarter. There were Miami heroics of receiver Malachi Toney turning a short pass into a 36-yard touchdown for the lead, and Mississippi’s answering heroics of quarterback Trinidad Chambliss throwing a 24-yard touchdown to retake the lead.

Finally, there was Beck. He’s an oddly discussed player in college football. He’s doubted in way others aren’t. He’s been around long enough to have a known portfolio.

But there wasn’t much to doubt how he played with the season up for grabs Thursday. He converted seven third downs into first downs this game. None was bigger than his facing third-and-10 and throwing to Keelan Marion over the middle for 18 yards. Earlier, he had thrown a 52-yard touchdown to a wide open Marion.

On this final drive, Beck didn’t find anyone wide open. His throws needed to be perfect. There was no margin left in a game where Miami’s 10 penalties for 74 yards showed there are some parts still to clean up.

Beck missed some throws early, as he said afterward. He made up for it on this final drive in the second half. He passed on third-and-6 to CJ Daniels for 7 yards. Another third-down pass resulted in a Mississippi coverage penalty.

The final play, the one he ran in from the 3, didn’t require much thought.

“I saw the end zone open to me,’’ he said.

Now Miami ends the season, one way or the other, at home in the championship game.

GLENDALE, Arizona — For the first time since 2003, the Hurricanes will play for a national title.

No. 10 Miami beat No. 6 Ole Miss 31-27 at the Fiesta Bowl — which doubled as a College Football Playoff semifinal — at State Farm Stadium, punching the program’s ticket to the championship game at Hard Rock Stadium on Jan. 19.

Miami will play the winner of Friday’s Indiana-Oregon Peach Bowl for the national title.

When the Hurricanes needed their biggest offensive drive of the season, the team delivered. Carson Beck drove Miami (13-2) down the field and scored the winning touchdown with 18 seconds left on a 3-yard run untouched to the left side to send the Hurricanes to the championship game.

“Man, I couldn’t even believe it,” said Beck, who was named the game’s offensive MVP. “I was on Cloud 9. All the fans — we were right in front of our student section, (which) was sitting right there where I ran in, and everyone’s jumping up and down, yelling again. I was just so, so happy, so excited. What a gutsy game. What a gutsy game from our team, and what a way to just continue to battle through adversity.”

The Rebels elected to start the game with the ball after winning the coin toss, but it did not amount to anything. After forcing a three-and-out on Ole Miss’ first drive, the Hurricanes took a 3-0 lead on a nearly seven-minute drive that ended with a 38-yard field goal by Carter Davis.

Ole Miss (13-2) landed the first big punch of the game on the first play of the second quarter. Running back Kewan Lacy, who entered the game with 23 rushing touchdowns, broke off a 73-yard run for a score to put the Rebels ahead 7-3.

The Hurricanes’ response was not nearly as quick, but the result was the same. Miami rolled to a 15-play, 75-yard drive that resulted in a 4-yard Marty Brown touchdown that put the Hurricanes back ahead by three points.

Ole Miss tied the game on a 42-yard field goal by Lucas Carneiro with 4:38 left in the first half. But the Hurricanes hit a big play of their own: a 52-yard touchdown pass to Keelan Marion that put Miami ahead 17-10.

Carneiro crushed a 58-yarder shortly before half to cut the Hurricanes’ lead to 17-13.

Miami got the ball to start the second half but could not turn it into points when Davis’ 51-yard attempt was no good. Carneiro missed a field goal, as well, kicking a ball off the left upright.

Miami appeared poised to take control of the game as it drove down the field in the third quarter, but an Ole Miss defensive lineman, Kam Franklin, tipped Beck’s pass, and Kapena Gushiken intercepted it just above the ground. Carneiro turned the turnover into three points with a 54-yard field goal.

After Ole Miss picked up key sacks on Miami’s first fourth-quarter drive, the Rebels drove 86 yards down the field — aided by disastrous Miami penalties— to seize the lead from the Hurricanes with a short field goal.

UM got the ball back with seven minutes left in the fourth quarter and moved quickly. Freshman phenom Malachi Toney scored the go-ahead touchdown on a screen pass he took 36 yards.

“I just (saw) the alley,” Toney said. “Once I (saw) CJ (Daniels) block his man, I was like, ‘I’m gone.'”

But Ole Miss drove right down the field and scored again, tacking on a two-point conversion pass to give the Rebels a three-point lead and setting up Beck’s game-winning touchdown.

“Happy for the players, really proud of them for their effort,” coach Mario Cristobal said. “They’re really unique, they’re awesome people, and they deserve the absolute best that we can give them. And I’m looking forward to getting back home and (starting) preparation to give them our absolute best.”

Five takeaways 1. Miami’s mistakes are nearly killer

The stat sheet indicates that the Hurricanes should have won Thursday’s Fiesta Bowl. Miami had more yards and dominated time of possession. But the Hurricanes could not get out of their own way.

UM had more penalty yards in Thursday’s game than in any game since it played Virginia Tech. Miami dropped four potential interceptions — including two that appeared likely to be returned for touchdowns. The Hurricanes made other mistakes at crucial times that sapped momentum.

All that allowed the Rebels to hang around, and they took advantage of that in the second half.

“We definitely hurt ourselves a lot on field, penalties and that stuff,” linebacker Mo Toure said. “We’ve got to clean it up moving forward going into this last game. But just telling your brother, it’s okay, you feel me, tighten up on (the) next play. Next-play mentality.”

2. Beck goes hunting

Beck did not look to throw the ball deep much in Miami’s first two playoff games, but he was looking for big plays against Ole Miss.

“Even in games prior, there’s plays that are called that shots are there, but they cover them sometimes,” offensive coordinator Shannon Dawson said. “You know, it just so happened in this game, we caught them in a couple coverages where we had some opportunities down the field.”

The Hurricanes quarterback eclipsed his total passing yards from UM’s first two playoff wins in the first half alone. He hit Marion for a 52-yard score in the first half, as well.

Beck finished the game with 267 yards and the crucial winning touchdown run.

3. Penalties kill

The Hurricanes shot themselves in the foot with penalties repeatedly against the Rebels.

Miami racked up 74 penalty yards — the most it has accrued since the Virginia Tech game — and the fouls all seemed to come at inopportune times.

4. Malachi Toney comes up big

The freshman star has delivered all season, and he made a huge play on the biggest stage yet.

Toney scored with 5:04 left in the fourth quarter, slipping through the Ole Miss defense for a 36-yard catch and run to put Miami ahead. But the Rebels dampened the party with their go-ahead touchdown two minutes later.

5. Homecoming

Miami is going to play for a national championship again. It is going to do that on its home turf.

The Hurricanes have not won a national title at home since they beat Nebraska in the 1992 Orange Bowl to win the 1991 national championship.

“It feels so good,” Beck said. “And, I mean, it’s even better that it’s at Hard Rock. So, again, I’m so proud of this team. I couldn’t have done it without every single one of these guys laying it all on the line tonight. In the face of adversity, we continue to battle back, and we’ve shown that throughout this season, and I’m just so proud of this team.”

 

 

MONTREAL (AP) — Alexandre Texier had a hat trick for his second straight three-point game and the Montreal Canadiens beat the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers 6-2 on Thursday night.

Texier had a goal and two assists Wednesday night in a 4-1 victory over Calgary.

Noah Dobson, Oliver Kapanen and Juraj Slafkovsky also scored to help Montreal win its third straight overall and seventh in a row against the Panthers.

Samuel Montembeault made 24 saves in his first start in Montreal since Dec. 2. He has won all three of his starts since being recalled from his conditioning assignment with the Laval Rocket of the American Hockey League on Dec. 27.

Sam Bennett scored twice for Florida, and Sergei Bobrovsky stopped 14 shots. The Panthers have have dropped the first two games of on a six-game trip.

The Panthers were without scoring leader Brad Marchand. He’s is day-to-day after leaving a 4-1 loss at Toronto on Tuesday because of an undisclosed injury.

Up next

Panthers: At Ottawa on Saturday night.

Canadiens: Host Detroit on Saturday night.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

CHICAGO — Thursday night’s game between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls was postponed nearly two hours after the scheduled tipoff, after an extended delay due to 50-degree temperatures in the city, heavy rain and the ice below the court at the United Center that left the playing surface too slick for play.

A makeup date was not immediately announced. This was to be the Heat’s final visit of the season to Chicago.

“It was just a waiting game until finally both sides decided that we needed to call it,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said outside his team’s locker room, as the crowd was being informed.

The game, scheduled for an 8 p.m. Eastern start, featured the typical pregame warmup scheduling. But as players went through warmups, several players identified slick spots due to condensation.

The NBA issued a statement that read, “The National Basketball Association game scheduled for tonight between the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls at United Center has been postponed due to moisture on the floor rendering the court unplayable. The date for the rescheduled game will be announced at a later time.”

“We always want to try to go,” Spoelstra said moments after the game officially was called. “The players were complaining about it on both sides, So staff, we all went out there and pretty much immediately we felt that it wasn’t playable.”

A decision initially was made to attempt to lower the temperature inside the arena, with players initially remaining on the court for extended pregame shooting.

Heat guard Norman Powell said it had become clear the delay had reached a point of no return.

“I mean, it’s crazy,” he said in the locker room afterward. “Honestly, this is the first time I’ve ever had to deal with that in 11 seasons, which is kind of crazy.

“Yeah, it’s kind of tough. I mean, after the first like 30 minutes, I think you start to kind of like, ‘All right, what are we doing?’ Then another, you hear him say another 20 minutes and then it’s like, ‘All right,’ like, you really don’t want to play and it’s hard to get refocused.”

When it became clear that the delay would exceed an hour, the teams retreated to their locker rooms.

All the while, staff attempted to dry the court with towels and brooms, with the slick spots remaining.

“We have that in our practice facility,” Spoelstra said of condensation. “And when there’s condensation, it takes about 15 minutes for it to change. But this is a huge building. We weren’t optimistic that it would change.”

The Heat have dealt with similar situations, including an exhibition against the Orlando Magic in Tampa that was canceled.

“We had a training camp a few years ago in the Bahamas where the floor was really slick, and we had to adjust our practices,” Spoelstra said. “And then early on in my career we had a game in Tampa that we were going to play the Magic, and they canceled because of a condensation.”

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Now a waiting game for the rescheduling. While both teams are off Friday, the Blackhawks play Friday in the building. Plus, a Friday game would have left the Heat with games on three successive days, with a Saturday game in Indiana and a Sunday game at Oklahoma City, on a four-game trip that now is a three-game trip.

Referee Sean Wright told a pool reporter that it was clear pregame something was off.

“At 9:13 on the warm-up clock, some Miami players came and said the court was really slippery and, at the same time, some Bulls players came over as well,” he said. “So, I checked the court conditions and then I immediately got on the horn and notified the Replay Center what was going on.”

Dialogue with the NBA office ensued.

“We tried to work together to see if we could fix the problem,” Wright said. “We had ongoing talks and tried some different stuff on the court, and nothing seemed to work.”

That ultimately led to the call for the postponement.

“Player safety is always the most important,” Wright said. “Despite the efforts by the United Center to rectify the situation, we were unsuccessful in doing so. We decided that player safety was most important and we just couldn’t guarantee a safe on-court experience.”

Prior to the delay, with the injury-limited Bulls lacking somewhat in size, the Heat submitted a smaller lineup that got Tyler Herro back in the starting mix, after he played off the bench in Tuesday night’s return in Minnesota.

That had Spoelstra submitting an opening lineup of Herro, Bam Adebayo, Norman Powell, Andrew Wiggins and Davion Mitchell, a group that entered 2-2 as a starting unit.

The move had Kel’el Ware back as a reserve for the first time in 13 games, since he played as a reserve in the Dec. 15 home loss to the Toronto Raptors.

Now that approach remains on hold.

Before the game, Spoelstra also addressed the dismissal of Miami Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel.

Said Spoelstra, “I feel for Mike and his family. I’m a fan of his. I really enjoyed our interactions together. Just a really sharp, bright, and creative mind. I learned a lot from those interactions. It’s a tough business. So, it’s a tough day for him. But he’s a talent, so he’ll find his way back, somewhere with some organization. And I wish him the best.”

By MICHELLE L. PRICE

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President JD Vance on Thursday blamed a federal immigration officer’s fatal shooting of a Minneapolis woman on “a left-wing network,” Democrats, the news media and the woman who was killed as protests related to her death expanded to cities across the country.

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The vice president, who made his critiques in a rare appearance in the White House briefing room and on social media, was the most prominent example yet of the Trump administration quickly assigning culpability for the death of 37-year-old Renee Good while the investigation is still underway. Good was shot and killed by an ICE officer while she tried to drive away on a snowy residential street as officers were carrying out an operation related to the administration’s immigration crackdown.

Vance said at the White House that he wasn’t worried about prejudging the investigation into Good’s killing, saying of the videos he’d seen of the Wednesday incident, “What you see is what you get in this case.”

Vance said he was certain that Good accelerated her car into the officer and hit him. It isn’t clear from the videos if the vehicle makes contact with the officer. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey said Wednesday that video of the shooting shows arguments that the officer was acting in self-defense were “garbage.”

The vice president also said part of him felt “very, very sad” for Good. He called her “brainwashed” and “a victim of left-wing ideology.”

“I can believe that her death is a tragedy, while also recognizing that it’s a tragedy of her own making and a tragedy of the far left who has marshaled an entire movement — a lunatic fringe — against our law enforcement officers,” Vance said.

His defense of the officer, at times fiery, came as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and President Donald Trump likewise said the officer’s actions were a justified act of self-defense. Trump said Good “viciously ran over” the ICE officer, though video footage of the event contradicts that claim.

Trump has made a wide-ranging crackdown on crime and immigration in Democratic cities a centerpiece of his second term in office. He has deployed federal law enforcement officials and National Guard troops to support the operations and has floated the idea of invoking the Insurrection Act to try to stop his opponents from blocking his plans through the courts.

Trump officials made it clear that they were rejecting claims by Democrats and officials in Minnesota that the president’s move to deploy immigration officers in American cities had been inflammatory and needed to end.

“The Trump administration will redouble our efforts to get the worst of the worst criminal, illegal alien killers, rapists and pedophiles off of American streets,” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Thursday before Vance spoke.

She called Good’s killing “a result of a large, sinister left-wing movement.”

Vance was selected as Trump’s running mate last year partly for his ability to verbally spar, especially with the media. He opened his remarks by condemning headlines he saw about the shooting, at times raising his voice and decrying the “corporate media.”

“This was an attack on law and order. This was an attack on the American people,” Vance said.

He accused journalists of falsely portraying Good as “innocent” and said: “You should be ashamed of yourselves. Every single one of you.”

“The way that the media, by and large, has reported this story has been an absolute disgrace,” he added. “And it puts our law enforcement officers at risk every single day.”

When asked what responsibility he and Trump bore to defuse tension in the country over the incident, Vance said their responsibility was to “protect the people who are enforcing law and protect the country writ large.”

“The best way to turn down the temperature is to tell people to take their concerns about immigration policy to the ballot box,” he said.

Vance also announced that the administration was deputizing a new assistant attorney general to prosecute the abuse of government assistance programs in response to growing attention to fraud in childcare programs in Minnesota. The position “will be run out of the White House under the supervision of me and the president,” Vance said. The Justice Department did not immediately respond to questions about the new role.

Vance said the prosecutor will focus primarily on Minnesota, and will be nominated in coming days. Vance added that Senate Majority Leader John Thune told him he’d seek a prompt confirmation.

Associated Press writers Konstantin Toropin, Will Weissert, Jonathan J. Cooper and Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this report.

By CHAN HO-HIM

HONG KONG (AP) — China said on Thursday it would assess and investigate Meta’s acquisition of artificial intelligence startup Manus, in a move highlighting its technology rivalry with the U.S.

Meta announced last week it was buying Manus, which is Singapore-based with Chinese roots, as the California tech giant behind Facebook and Instagram expands its AI offerings across its platforms.

It is a rare acquisition by a U.S. tech group of an AI company with Chinese roots, at a time of heightened frictions between Washington and Beijing.

On Thursday, China’s Commerce Ministry spokesperson He Yadong told reporters that it would work with relevant departments to assess and investigate whether Meta’s acquisition of Manus is consistent with Chinese laws and regulations.

Any enterprises engaging in outward investment, technology export, data transfer and cross-border mergers and acquisitions must comply with Chinese laws, He said.

Meta and Manus did not immediately reply to requests for comment.

“Security has become the top concern for Chinese policymakers,” said Gary Ng, a senior economist for Asia Pacific at investment bank Natixis. “Any tech transfer that could give the U.S. an edge in competitiveness will be heavily scrutinized.”

While the company behind Manus is Singapore-based Butterfly Effect Pte, its roots can be traced back to Beijing-registered entities which were founded in China a few years ago.

Meta said last week there would be “no continuing Chinese ownership interests in Manus AI” following the acquisition, and that Manus would discontinue its services and operations in China. Meta’s platforms including Facebook and Instagram are still banned in China under the country’s “Great Firewall”.

Manus said it would continue to operate in Singapore, where most of its employees are now based.

Cui Fan, a professor at the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, raised questions in a public post on the Chinese social media site WeChat over the acquisition’s compliance with Chinese laws and technology export controls.

“A key question is whether any technologies prohibited or restricted from export under Chinese laws and regulations are exported without a license,” he wrote.

The “general-purpose” AI agent released by Manus last year can autonomously perform multi-step complex work such as breaking down tasks into smaller steps. It can be used for free but also offers paid subscription packages.

Last month, Manus said its annual recurring revenue had reached more than $100 million.

Associated Press researcher Shihuan Chen in Beijing contributed to this report.

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE

More artificial intelligence is being implanted into Gmail as Google tries to turn the world’s most popular email service into a personal assistant that can improve writing, summarize far-flung information buried in inboxes and deliver daily to-do lists.

The new AI features announced Thursday could herald a pivotal moment for Gmail, a service that transformed email when it was introduced nearly 22 years ago. Since then, Gmail has amassed more than 3 billion users to become nearly as ubiquitous as Google’s search engine.

Gmail’s new AI options will only be available in English within the United States for starters, but the company is promising to expand the technology to other countries and other languages as the year unfolds.

The most broadly available tool will be a “Help Me Write” option designed to learn a user’s writing style so it can personalize emails and make real-time suggestions on how to burnish the message.

Google is also offering subscribers who pay for its Pro and Ultra services access to technology that mirrors the AI Overviews that’s been built into its search engine since 2023. The expansion will enable subscribers pose conversational questions in Gmail’s search bar to get instant answers about information they are trying to retrieve from their inboxes.

In what could turn into another revolutionary step, “AI Inbox” is also being rolled out to a subset of “trusted testers” in the U.S. When it’s turned on, the function will sift through inboxes and suggest to-do lists and topics that users might want to explore.

“This is us delivering on Gmail proactively having your back,” said Blake Barnes, a Google vice president of product.

All of the new technology is tied to the Google’s latest AI model, Gemini 3, which was unleashed into its search engine late last year. The upgrade, designed to turn Google search into a “thought partner” has been so well received that it prompted OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, whose company makes the popular ChatGPT chatbot, to issue a “code red” following its release.

But thrusting more AI into Gmail poses potential risks for Google, especially if the technology malfunctions and presents misleading information or crafts emails that get users into trouble — even though people are able to proofread the messages or turn off the features at any time.

Allowing Google’s AI to dig deeper into inboxes to learn more about their habits and interest also could raise privacy issues — a challenge that Gmail confronted from the get-go.

To help subsidize the free service, Google included targeted ads in Gmail that were based on information contained within the electronic conversations. That twist initially triggered a privacy backlash among lawmakers and consumer groups, but the uproar eventually died down and never deterred Gmail’s rapid growth as an email provider. Rivals eventually adopted similar features.

As it brings more AI into Gmail, Google promises none of the content that the technology analyzes will be used to train the models that help Gemini improve. The Mountain View, California, company says it also has built an “engineering privacy” barrier to corral all the information within inboxes to protect it from prying eyes.

By SOPHIE BATES

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI is set to spend $20 billion to build a data center in Southaven, Mississippi, Gov. Tate Reeves announced Thursday, calling it the largest private investment in the state’s history.

The data center, called MACROHARDRR, is being built in Mississippi’s DeSoto County near Memphis, Tennessee. It will be the company’s third data center in the greater Memphis area. xAI CFO Anthony Armstrong said the cluster of data centers will house “the world’s largest supercomputer” with 2 gigawatts of computing power.

The announcement comes as xAI faces scrutiny over its data center projects in the Memphis area. The NAACP and the Southern Environmental Law Center have raised concerns over air pollution generated by xAI’s supercomputer facility located near predominantly Black communities in Memphis.

A petition by the Safe and Sound Coalition, a Southaven group opposing xAI’s developments, calls for shutting down xAI’s operations in the area and has received more than 900 signatures as of Thursday afternoon.

xAI did not immediately respond when asked for comment about environmental concerns.

A fact sheet released by the Mississippi governor’s office said environmental responsibility is a “core commitment” for xAI.

During the announcement, Reeves personally thanked Musk. Reeves predicted the investment would bring hundreds of permanent jobs to the community, thousands of indirect subcontracting jobs, and tax revenue to support public services.

Under the incentives for data centers passed in 2024, the state will waive all sales, corporate income and franchise taxes on the xAI development. Saving sales taxes on the computing power that xAI is purchasing would likely be worth a substantial amount of money, but the Mississippi Development Authority did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ questions about how much tax revenue Mississippi will give up.

DeSoto County and the city of Southaven have also agreed to allow substantially reduced property taxes.

xAI is expected to begin data center operations in Southaven next month.

By LISA MASCARO

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has agreed to display a plaque honoring the police who defended the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, attack, rebuffing House Speaker Mike Johnson who has said the commemorative memorial does not comply with the law.

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The action happened swiftly, with brief debate, in floor action Thursday. Republican Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina had announced during this week’s fifth anniversary of the Capitol siege that he would seek to ensure the plaque is installed, partnering with Democratic Sen. Jeff Merkley of Oregon, who was also working on the situation, and Sen. Alex Padilla of California. No senators objected.

“A lot of people said it was a dark day for democracy,” Tillis said about Jan. 6, 2021, describing his memory of hearing the thousands of people — “thugs,” he said — lay siege to the Capitol as Congress was tallying the 2020 election results.

He said that because of the work of the law enforcement officers, it became a great day for democracy. “We came back and completed our constitutional duty to certify the election,” he said. “We owe them eternal gratitude and this nation is stronger because of them.”

This week, senators stepped up after learning the plaque, which had been approved by Congress more than three years ago, was nowhere to be found at the Capitol. Instead, many House lawmakers have been hanging up replicas outside their office doors.

The Senate also appeared to be motivated by the shifting narrative from President Donald Trump ‘s White House about what happened Jan. 6, 2021, when his supporters stormed the building after he urged them go to Capitol Hill to confront Congress over Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.

Trump himself shifted blame for the attack during a speech this week in which he said he only intended for his supporters to march peacefully to the Capitol. Moreover, the White House produced a glossy new report also shifting blame for the deadly riot — on Democrats, for Biden’s victory over Trump, and on the police for their response to the mob.

“It’s so important we be honest with the American people about what happened,” Merkley said, as he called the resolution up for passage.

“It’s so important we recognize those who defended our democratic republic on that day,” he said, and that “people know we can back, as senators and House members, and finished our work that day, for the peaceful transfer of power.”

Padilla said part of the context is the White House’s new website that he said is an “attempt to rewrite history.” He said that “dishonors” the officers.

“The Senate bipartisan commitment to real history is strong,” he said.

The plaque, according to the law, was intended to be placed at the West front of the Capitol where some of the fiercest fighting took place. It was required to be installed in 2023, a year after the legislation had passed.

The new resolution directs the Architect of the Capitol to “prominently display” the plaque in a “publicly accessible” location in the Senate wing of the Capitol until it can be placed in its permanent location.

To display the plaque in its intended location would require agreement with the House.

The office of Johnson, a Republican who before becoming the House speaker led efforts to object to the 2020 election results, said this week that the plaque, as constructed, does not comply with the law.

Police have sued to have the plaque put on display, as required, but Trump’s Justice Department is trying to dismiss the lawsuit.

Tillis said part of the “technical implementation problem” was a concern that the law specified the plaque would honor all the officers involved, but the plaque only lists the various law enforcement agencies that responded to help the Capitol Police that day.

He said there will be a digital component, presumably a website, that will list all the names. The number of officers runs into the thousands.

“You’ll see how many people came here,” he said.

By CLAIRE RUSH, Associated Press

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Federal immigration officers shot and wounded two people in a vehicle outside a hospital in Portland, Oregon, on Thursday, a day after an officer shot and killed a driver in Minnesota, authorities said.

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The Department of Homeland Security described the vehicle’s passenger as “a Venezuelan illegal alien affiliated with the transnational Tren de Aragua prostitution ring” who had been involved in a recent shooting in Portland. When agents identified themselves to the vehicle occupants Thursday afternoon, the driver tried to run them over, the department said in a written statement.

“Fearing for his life and safety, an agent fired a defensive shot,” the statement said. “The driver drove off with the passenger, fleeing the scene.”

There was no immediate independent corroboration of those events or of any gang affiliation of the vehicle’s occupants. During prior shootings involving agents involved in President Donald Trump’s surge of immigration enforcement in U.S. cities, including Wednesday’s shooting by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in Minneapolis, video evidence cast doubt on the administration’s initial descriptions of what prompted the shootings.

According to the the Portland Police bureau, officers initially responded to a report of a shooting near a hospital at about 2:18 p.m.

A few minutes later, police received information that a man who had been shot was asking for help in a residential area a couple of miles away. Officers then responded there and found the two people with apparent gunshot wounds. Officers determined they were injured in the shooting with federal agents, police said.

Their conditions were not immediately known. Council President Elana Pirtle-Guiney said during a Portland city council meeting that Thursday’s shooting took place in the eastern part of the city and that two Portlanders were wounded.

“As far as we know both of these individuals are still alive and we are hoping for more positive updates throughout the afternoon,” she said.

• Law enforcement officials work the scene following reports that federal immigration officers shot and wounded people in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
• Law enforcement officials work the scene following reports that federal immigration officers shot and wounded people in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
• Multnomah County District Attorney Nathan Vasquez, center, speaks to the media following reports that federal immigration officers shot and wounded people in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)
• Law enforcement officials work the scene following reports that federal immigration officers shot and wounded people in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane)

Show Caption1 of 4Law enforcement officials work the scene following reports that federal immigration officers shot and wounded people in Portland, Ore., Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. (AP Photo/Jenny Kane) Expand

The shooting escalates tensions in an city that has long had a contentious relationship with President Donald Trump, including Trump’s recent, failed effort to deploy National Guard troops in the city.

Portland police secured both the scene of the shooting and the area where the wounded people were found pending investigation.

“We are still in the early stages of this incident,” said Chief Bob Day. “We understand the heightened emotion and tension many are feeling in the wake of the shooting in Minneapolis, but I am asking the community to remain calm as we work to learn more.”

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson and the city council called on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to end all operations in Oregon’s largest city until a full investigation is completed.

“We stand united as elected officials in saying that we cannot sit by while constitutional protections erode and bloodshed mounts,” a joint statement said. “Portland is not a ‘training ground’ for militarized agents, and the ‘full force’ threatened by the administration has deadly consequences.”

The city officials said “federal militarization undermines effective, community‑based public safety, and it runs counter to the values that define our region. We’ll use every legal and legislative tool available to protect our residents’ civil and human rights.”

They urged residents to show up with “calm and purpose during this difficult time.”

“We respond with clarity, unity, and a commitment to justice,” the statement said. “We must stand together to protect Portland.”

U.S. Sen. Jeff Merkley, an Oregon Democrat, urged any protesters to remain peaceful.

“Trump wants to generate riots,” he said in a post on the X social media platform. “Don’t take the bait.”

Here are the top stories for Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026. Get the weather forecast for today here.

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Florida GOP senator proposes bill to allow Broward hospital districts to partner

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Tre Donaldson scored 21 points, and Malik Reneau added 18 as Miami survived a late-game surge to beat Wake Forest 81-77 on Wednesday.

Donaldson shot 7 of 10 from the field, dished out six assists, and went 6 of 6 at the free-throw line, including two free throws with nine seconds left to seal the win for the Hurricanes (13-2, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference). Reneau added six rebounds and made the tying free throw with 45 seconds remaining after Wake Forest briefly took the lead.

Miami led 39-38 at halftime but could never pull away in a second half that featured nine ties and six lead changes. The Hurricanes reclaimed control late behind Donaldson, who scored or assisted on four of Miami’s final five field goals.

Shelton Henderson put Miami ahead for good with a tip-in layup with 26 seconds remaining after Reneau missed a 3-pointer. Wake Forest turned the ball over on its next possession and missed its final four free throws.

Ernest Udeh Jr. finished with 13 rebounds and 10 points for Miami, which shot 23 of 30 from the free-throw line.

Juke Harris scored 28 points to lead Wake Forest (10-6, 1-2), hitting four 3-pointers and making all eight of his free throws. Nate Calmese added 19 points, and Myles Colvin scored 13.

Cooper Schwieger scored the 1,000th point of his career on a mid-range floater with 7:41 left in the first half.

Up Next

Wake Forest travels to No. 18 UNC on Saturday.

Miami hosts Georgia Tech on Saturday.

___ Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college basketball: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-basketball

The Miami Dolphins’ general manager search that started Monday is already down to four finalists as of Wednesday night.

The Dolphins will have interim GM Champ Kelly, the Los Angeles Chargers’ Chad Alexander, the Green Bay Packers’ Jon-Eric Sullivan and San Francisco 49ers’ Josh Williams move on to in-person interviews this week.

That eliminates four other candidates who were interviewed remotely early this week: the 49ers’ Tariq Ahmad and RJ Gillen, the Philadelphia Eagles Alec Halaby and Los Angeles Rams’ John McKay.

Miami is clearly prioritizing a pair of qualities: executives coming from a scouting background and who are in prominent roles with winning organizations.

Aside from Kelly, who is the internal candidate and stepped up from senior personnel executive when the Dolphins fired ex-GM Chris Grier Oct. 31, the other three are with teams playing for the playoffs, which begin over the weekend.

Kelly was with the Denver Broncos when they built a Super Bowl-winning roster under John Elway in 2015. Between then and now, he has been with the Raiders and Bears.

Williams, director of scouting and football operations for the 49ers, has held his current title for two seasons. From 2022 to 2023, he was a national scout after five years (2017-21) as an area scout.

Sullivan has held the vice president of player personnel role in Green Bay since 2022. From 2018 through 2021, he was co-director of player personnel. Prior to that, he scouted the Southeast and Central Plains regions over eight years as a scout for the Packers.

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Alexander, who just arrived with the Chargers last year as assistant GM, spent the previous five seasons with the New York Jets as their director of player personnel and, before that, spent 20 seasons in Baltimore, mostly in the scouting department. Alexander became a known candidate Tuesday, after the other original list of seven was announced Monday.

The Dolphins’ search team includes owner Steve Ross, his son-in-law Daniel Silman, president and CEO Tom Garfinkel, senior VP of football and business administration Brandon Shore and Hall of Fame quarterbacks Dan Marino and Troy Aikman.

Coach Mike McDaniel, who remains in his role at the helm days after the end of the season, also said at his end-of-season, news conference, he is also involved, possibly to a limited extent.

Whoever lands the job will have a difficult task ahead of him to turn around a franchise that has gone 25 years without a playoff win. Miami is over the league’s projected salary cap next season, while having to find a way out from Tua Tagovailoa’s burdensome contract after the former franchise quarterback was benched late in the year.

This story will be updated.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump abruptly changed his tone Wednesday about his Colombian counterpart, Gustavo Petro, saying they had exchanged a friendly phone call and he’d even invited the leader of the South American country to the White House.

“It was a Great Honor to speak with the President of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, who called to explain the situation of drugs and other disagreements that we have had,” Trump posted on his social media site. “I appreciated his call and tone, and look forward to meeting him in the near future.” He said that meeting would take place at the White House.

That came mere days after Trump said in the wake of the U.S. operation to oust Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro over the weekend that “Colombia is very sick too” and accused Petro of ”making cocaine and selling it to the United States.”

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In comments to reporters aboard Air Force One on Sunday, Trump added of Petro, “He’s not going to be doing it very long, let me tell you.” Asked whether U.S. intervention was possible, Trump responded, ”Sounds good to me.”

Trump now suddenly warming to Prieto is especially surprising since Colombia’s president called the U.S. operation in Venezuela an “abhorrent” violation of Latin American sovereignty and suggested it was committed by “enslavers” and constituted a “spectacle of death” comparable to Nazi Germany’s 1937 carpet bombing of Guernica, Spain.

Before Trump’s conciliatory post, tensions had been rising between the U.S. and Colombia for months.

The Trump administration imposed sanctions in October on Petro, his family and a member of his government over accusations of involvement in the global drug trade. Colombia is considered the epicenter of the world’s cocaine trade.

Trump began his monthslong pressure campaign on Maduro by ordering dozens of lethal strikes on alleged drug smuggling boats launched from Venezuela in the Caribbean. He eventually expanded the operations to also target suspected vessels in the eastern Pacific that came from Colombia.

The U.S. in September added Colombia, the top recipient of American assistance in the region, to a list of nations failing to cooperate in the drug war for the first time in almost 30 years. The designation led to a slashing of U.S. assistance to the country.

“He has cocaine mills and cocaine factories,” Trump said of Prieto on Sunday. “He’s not going to be doing it.”

General Daily Insight for January 08, 2026

Sharing is, indeed, caring! That may not feel true as the needy Moon opposes uncompromising Saturn — boundaries probably feel more restrictive than usual. Still, we can (and should) look for a middle ground. Once Luna glides into Libra at 7:05 PM EST, we’re reminded to lean toward fairness by choosing soft language that rebuilds trust. As evening unfolds, the pull between needs and rules softens. Listening first eases tension and helps plans click into place. Choose cooperative words to move stalled conversations forward.

Aries

March 21 – April 19

Your promises deserve fulfillment. Today, as the empathetic Moon enters your 7th House of Connections, you’re nudged to follow through on things you told people you’d do. In particular, any commitments to loved ones likely need your attention. Be willing to talk to them and make sure your ideas are compatible, especially if it’s been a while since you worked on the matter at hand. If someone seems guarded, move patiently and be honest about your motivations. Compassion can inspire others to meet you halfway.

Taurus

April 20 – May 20

Morning patience leads to a softer evening. Your 6th House of Reliability receives the nurturing Moon, which is a great boost for simplifying routines to better pace yourself throughout each day. It may not feel like you’re doing a lot, but keep moving forward, step by step. In the future, you’ll be able to look back and see how each small step added up to take you somewhere amazing. Just keep your priorities in order! Choose sustainable actions to strengthen your confidence.

Gemini

May 21 – June 20

When emotions seek balance, conversations grow kinder. Creative play brightens, and feelings gently soften as the Moon leaps into your 5th House of Affection. Your curious voice can turn a tense back-and-forth into a kind brainstorm by talking through personal misunderstandings to ensure everyone is actually having a good time. Focus on what feels fun! If someone jokes too sharply, you can move the conversation past it quickly without being rude. When you keep the mood playful, honesty can land without fear.

Cancer

June 21 – July 22

Your heart could currently use a gentle pace. This is due to the Moon’s entry into your foundational 4th house, signifying a galactic prioritization of home comforts. This encourages you to protect your downtime and value people who feel like home. You may call a relative to clear the air, or settle down with a simple, warm meal. Even painful memories can’t compete against a cozy couch and a hot beverage of your choice. Nurture your space, trusting this calm to refuel your soul.

Leo

July 23 – August 22

Friendly exchanges can create a lasting sense of ease. Your 3rd House of Messages opens to the instinct-driven Moon, making it easier to tell which words will be received kindly. Your expressive style can brighten a tricky chat with a sibling or co-worker, especially if you praise their effort before negotiating around any issues. If someone talks over you, stay generous yet firm and restate your idea calmly, because centered delivery often wins the room. Exuding warmth invites others to collaborate happily.

Virgo

August 23 – September 22

Clarity arrives as you honor small needs. The roots-focused Moon is stepping into your 2nd House of Personal Resources, guiding practical choices about essentials. You may organize a drawer to smooth your morning routine — a few minutes saved each day lowers stress across your whole week! If the reasons behind an expense feel fuzzy, analyze the details and ask for a clear summary, because precise information turns hesitation into a calm, confident decision. Pick simple systems, since simplicity strengthens daily peace.

Libra

September 23 – October 22

Libra, your grace steadies the day’s pace. Identity takes the lead as the Moon flits into your sign, so your tone, pace, and choices are most likely to set the mood for everyone today. Use your natural diplomacy to propose a fair win, like choosing a playlist for the commute that marries the tastes of all passengers. If tension rises, pause, find your breath, and restate what you want in simple words. Clarity invites cooperation. Choose balance first! Fairness strengthens your confidence.

Scorpio

October 23 – November 21

Trust requires honesty — now and always. The only problem is that you might not even know what your truth is! Thankfully, that’s solvable with the Moon visiting your thoughtful 12th house. You’re prepared to cancel chaotic plans in favor of doing activities that calm your mind and encourage personal reflection. If secrets or fears feel heavy, speak with a trusted confidant, because saying the truth out loud can transform anxiety into calm purpose. Protect your quiet — that’s what will restore your power.

Sagittarius

November 22 – December 21

By evening, optimism finds a helpful outlet. With Luna gracing your sociable 11th house, you’re ready to rally friends or colleagues around a clear purpose that lifts spirits. Your upbeat style can guide any group in a direction that works for everyone — as long as you ensure quiet voices and new faces alike feel welcome. If schedules clash, suggest a two-step approach, like meeting online first and finishing later. Flexibility keeps momentum alive with less strain. Support the group, and watch momentum carry everyone.

Capricorn

December 22 – January 19

When boundaries feel tight, kindness unlocks progress. The moody Moon is marching into your 10th House of Recognition, spotlighting your public role in whatever shape it takes. It’s also a good reminder that steadiness builds trust. You may refine a proposal that shows reliability and keeps your reputation strong, especially when you frame challenges as chances to improve. If expectations feel heavy, set clear limits. Always remember to pace yourself, since consistency proves real strength. Honest structure helps leaders trust your process.

Aquarius

January 20 – February 18

Fresh air is flowing through your connections! Wider horizons beckon as the emotional Moon lights up your 9th House of Adventure, stirring a desire to broaden your view through meaningful study and conversation. Your perspective can bridge differences by focusing on shared goals that benefit your community, or by suggesting practical steps everyone can appreciate. If someone challenges your ideas, invite them to the discussion table! Mindful debates can nourish open communication. Explore thoughtfully, as curiosity builds bridges that last.

Pisces

February 19 – March 20

Relief comes as expectations soften around plans. The temperamental Moon is venturing into your 8th House of Intimacy, inviting honest talks about shared responsibilities that support deeper security and interpersonal trust. You may review a joint bill, update a shared document, or share a sensitive fear so someone understands how to support you. If nerves rise, slow the pace and name a clear boundary. Remind yourself that clear communication can forge uncertainty into cooperation and closeness. Share gently, trusting openness to deepen shared care.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette’s owners announced Wednesday the paper will be shutting down in a few months, citing financial losses.

Block Communications Inc. announced it will cease publication on May 3. The paper is printed on Thursdays and Sundays and says on its website the average paid circulation is 83,000.

A couple dozen union members returned to work at the Post-Gazette in November after a three-year strike.

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More than five years ago, the newspaper declared it had reached a bargaining impasse with the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh and unilaterally imposed terms and conditions of employment on those workers. The paper was later found to have bargained in bad faith by making offers that were not intended to help reach a deal and by declaring an impasse prematurely.

The announcement that Block was shutting it down came on the same day the U.S. Supreme Court declined the PG Publishing Co. Inc.’s emergency appeal to halt an National Labor Relations Board order that forced it to abide by health care coverage policies in an expired union contract.

Andrew Goldstein, president of the Newspaper Guild of Pittsburgh, said the paper’s journalists have a long history of award-winning work.

“Instead of simply following the law, the owners chose to punish local journalists and the city of Pittsburgh,” Goldstein said. The union said employees were notified in a video on Zoom in which company officials did not speak live.

The Post-Gazette said Block Communications has lost hundreds of millions of dollars over two decades in operating the paper, and the company said it deemed “continued cash losses at this scale no longer sustainable.”

The Block family said in a statement it was “proud of the service the Post-Gazette has provided to Pittsburgh for nearly a century.”

A phone message seeking comment was left Wednesday at Block Communications headquarters in Toledo, Ohio.

The paper traces its roots to 1786, when the Pittsburgh Gazette began as a four-page weekly, and became a leading advocate for the abolition of slavery in the 19th century. It went through a series of mastheads and owners before 1927, when Paul Block obtained the paper and named it the Post-Gazette.

By KATE BRUMBACK, Associated Press

ATLANTA (AP) — President Donald Trump is seeking more than $6.2 million in attorney fees and costs from the Fulton County District Attorney’s office after the election interference case brought against him and others was recently dismissed.

Georgia state legislators last year passed a law that says that if a prosecutor is disqualified from a case because of their own improper conduct and the case is then dismissed, anyone charged in that case is entitled to request “all reasonable attorney’s fees and costs incurred” in their defense. The judge overseeing the case then is responsible for reviewing the request and awarding the fees and costs, which are to be paid from the budget of the prosecutor’s office.

Trump is seeking a total of $6,261,613.08 in a motion filed Wednesday.

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Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and her office were removed from the case over an “appearance of impropriety” created by a romantic relationship she had with the special prosecutor she chose to lead the case. The prosecutor who took over the case late last year dismissed it in November.

Willis obtained an indictment against Trump and 18 others from a grand jury in August 2023, using the state’s anti-racketeering law to accuse them of participating in a wide-ranging scheme to illegally try to overturn Trump’s narrow 2020 presidential election loss to Democrat Joe Biden in Georgia. The alleged scheme included Trump’s call to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger urging him to help find enough votes to beat Biden. Four people pleaded guilty in the months following the indictment.

“In accordance with Georgia law, President Trump has moved the Court to award reasonable attorney fees and costs incurred in his defense of the politically motivated, and now rightfully dismissed, case brought by disqualified DA Fani Willis,” Steve Sadow, Trump’s lead attorney in Georgia, said in a statement.

A spokesperson for Willis declined to comment on Trump’s filing. But last month, when another person charged in the case made a similar filing, her office filed a motion asking to be heard on the matter of any claims for fees and costs filed in the case.

Willis’ motion raises concerns about the law passed last year that allowed Trump and others to seek to have their expenses paid.

“The statute raises grave separation-of-powers concerns by purporting to impose financial liability on a constitutional officer, twice elected by the citizens of Fulton County, for the lawful exercise of her core duties under the Georgia Constitution,” her motion says.

Her motion also says the law violates due process by “retroactively imposing a novel fee-shifting scheme” that creates a substantial burden for the county’s taxpayers without any recourse.

Her motion contends that the prosecution “was neither arbitrary nor political” and was based on an “exhaustive investigation spanning years.” It notes that a special grand jury that reviewed evidence and testimony recommended charges and a regular grand jury issued the indictment.

Defense attorneys sought Willis’ removal after one of them revealed in January 2024 that Willis had engaged in a romantic relationship with Nathan Wade, the special prosecutor she had hired to lead the case. The defense attorneys said the relationship created a conflict of interest, alleging that Willis personally profited from the case when Wade used his earnings to pay for vacations the pair took.

During an extraordinary hearing the following month, Willis and Wade both testified about the intimate details of their personal relationship. They maintained that their romance didn’t begin until after Wade was hired and said that they split the costs for vacations and other outings.

The trial judge, Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee, rebuked Willis, saying in an order in March 2024 that her actions showed a “tremendous lapse in judgment.” But he said he did not find a conflict of interest that would disqualify Willis. He ultimately ruled that Willis could remain on the case if Wade resigned, which the special prosecutor did hours later.

Defense attorneys appealed that ruling, and the Georgia Court of Appeals removed Willis from the case in December, citing an “appearance of impropriety.” The Georgia Supreme Court in September declined to hear Willis’ appeal.

It then fell to the nonpartisan Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council to find a new prosecutor. The agency’s executive director, Pete Skandalakis, ended up taking on the case himself and dismissed it less than two weeks later.

By KEVIN FREKING and LISA MASCARO, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Overpowering Speaker Mike Johnson, a bipartisan coalition in the House voted Wednesday to push forward a measure that would revive an enhanced pandemic-era subsidy that lowered health insurance costs for roughly 22 million people, but that had expired last month.

The tally of 221-205 was a key test before passage of the bill, which is expected Thursday. And it came about because four GOP centrist lawmakers joined with Democrats in signing a so-called discharge petition to force the vote. After last year’s government shutdown failed to resolve the issue, they said doing nothing was not an option as many of their constituents faced soaring health insurance premiums beginning this month.

Rep. Mike Lawler of New York, one of the Republicans who crossed party lines to back the Democratic proposal, portrayed it as a vehicle senators could use to reach a compromise.

“No matter the issue, if the House puts forward relatively strong, bipartisan support, it makes it easier for the senators to get there,” Lawler said.

In the end, nine Republicans joined Democrats to advance the measure.

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Republicans go around their leaders

If ultimately successful in the House this week, the voting would show there is bipartisan support for a proposed three-year extension of the tax credits that are available for those who buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The action forcing a vote has been an affront to Johnson and GOP leaders who essentially lost control of their House majority as the renegade lawmakers joined Democrats for the workaround.

But the Senate is under no requirement to take up the bill.

Instead, a small group of members from both parties are working on an alternative plan that could find support in both chambers and become law. One proposal would be to shorten the extension of the subsidy to two years and make changes to the program.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., said any plan passing muster in the Senate will need to have income limits to ensure that it’s focused on those who most need the help and that beneficiaries would have to at least pay a nominal amount for their coverage.

That way, he said, “insurance companies can’t game the system and auto-enroll people.” Finally, Thune said there would need to be some expansion of health savings accounts, which allow people to save money and withdraw it tax-free as long as the money is spent on qualified medical expenses.

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, R-La., speaks during a news conference at the Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo/Rod Lamkey, Jr.) Democrats are pressing the issue

It’s unclear the negotiations will yield a bill that the Senate will take up. Democrats are making clear that the higher health insurance costs many Americans are facing will be a political centerpiece of their efforts to retake the majority in the House and Senate in the fall elections.

Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who led his party’s effort to push the health care issue forward, particularly challenged Republicans in competitive congressional districts to join if they really wanted to prevent steep premium increases for their constituents. Before Wednesday’s vote, he called on colleagues to “address the health care crisis in this country and make sure that tens of millions of people have the ability to go see a doctor when they need one.”

Republican Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Robert Bresnahan and Ryan Mackenzie, all from Pennsylvania, and Lawler signed the Democrats’ petition, pushing it to the magic number of 218 needed to force a House vote. All four represent key swing districts whose races will help determine which party takes charge of the House next year.

Johnson, R-La., had discussed allowing more politically vulnerable GOP lawmakers a chance to vote on bills that would temporarily extend the subsidies while also adding changes such as income caps for beneficiaries. But after days of discussions, the leadership sided with the more conservative wing of the party’s conference, which has assailed the subsidies as propping up a failed program.

Lawmakers turn to discharge petitions to show support for an action and potentially force a vote on the House floor, but they are rarely successful. This session of Congress has proven an exception.

A vote requiring the Department of Justice to release the Jeffrey Epstein files, for instance, occurred after Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., introduced a petition on the Epstein Files Transparency Act. The signature effort was backed by all House Democrats and four Republicans.

By JOSH FUNK, Associated Press

California will lose $160 million for delaying the revocations of 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses for immigrants, federal transportation officials announced Wednesday.

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy already withheld $40 million in federal funding because he said California isn’t enforcing English proficiency requirements for truckers.

The state notified these drivers in the fall that they would lose their licenses after a federal audit found problems that included licenses for truckers and bus drivers that remained valid long after an immigrant’s visa expired. Some licenses were also given to citizens of Mexico and Canada who don’t qualify. More than one-quarter of the small sample of California licenses that investigators reviewed were unlawful.

But then last week California said it would delay those revocations until March after immigrant groups sued the state because of concerns that some groups were being unfairly targeted. Duffy said the state was supposed to revoke those licenses by Monday.

Duffy is pressuring California and other states to make sure immigrants who are in the country illegally aren’t granted the licenses.

“Our demands were simple: follow the rules, revoke the unlawfully-issued licenses to dangerous foreign drivers, and fix the system so this never happens again,” Duffy said in a written statement. “(Gov.) Gavin Newsom has failed to do so — putting the needs of illegal immigrants over the safety of the American people.”

Newsom’s office did not immediately respond after the action was announced Wednesday afternoon.

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Enforcement ramped up after fatal crashes

The federal government began cracking down during the summer. The issue became prominent after a truck driver who was not authorized to be in the U.S. made an illegal U-turn and caused a crash in Florida that killed three people in August.

Duffy previously threatened to withhold millions of dollars in federal funding from California, Pennsylvania, Minnesota, New York, Texas, South Dakota, Colorado, and Washington after audits found significant problems under the existing rules, including commercial licenses being valid long after an immigrant truck driver’s work permit expired. He had dropped the threat to withhold nearly $160 million from California after the state said it would revoke the licenses.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Administrator Derek Barrs said California failed to live up to the promise it made in November to revoke all the flawed licenses by Jan. 5. The agency said the state also unilaterally decide to delay until March the cancellations of roughly 4,700 additional unlawful licenses that were discovered after the initial ones were found.

“We will not accept a corrective plan that knowingly leaves thousands of drivers holding noncompliant licenses behind the wheel of 80,000-pound trucks in open defiance of federal safety regulations,” Barrs said.

Industry praises the enforcement

Trucking trade groups have praised the effort to get unqualified drivers who shouldn’t have licenses or can’t speak English off the road. They also applauded the Transportation Department’s moves to go after questionable commercial driver’s license schools.

“For too long, loopholes in this program have allowed unqualified drivers onto our highways, putting professional truckers and the motoring public at risk,” said Todd Spencer, president of the Owner Operator Independent Drivers Association.

The spotlight has been on Sikh truckers because the driver in the Florida crash and the driver in another fatal crash in California in October are both Sikhs. So the Sikh Coalition, a national group defending the civil rights of Sikhs, and the San Francisco-based Asian Law Caucus filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of the California drivers. They said immigrant truck drivers were being unfairly targeted.

Immigrants account for about 20% of all truck drivers, but these non-domiciled licenses immigrants can receive only represent about 5% of all commercial driver’s licenses or about 200,000 drivers. The Transportation Department also proposed new restrictions that would severely limit which noncitizens could get a license, but a court put the new rules on hold.

By MATTHEW LEE and FARNOUSH AMIRI, Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration will withdraw from dozens of international organizations, including the U.N.’s population agency and the U.N. treaty that establishes international climate negotiations, as the U.S. further retreats from global cooperation.

President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed an executive order suspending U.S. support for 66 organizations, agencies and commissions following his instructions for his administration to review participation in and funding for all international organizations, including those affiliated with the United Nations, according to a White House statement on social media.

Most of the targets are U.N.-related agencies, commissions and advisory panels that focus on climate, labor and other issues that the Trump administration has categorized as catering to diversity and “woke” initiatives, according to a partial list obtained by The Associated Press.

“The Trump Administration has found these institutions to be redundant in their scope, mismanaged, unnecessary, wasteful, poorly run, captured by the interests of actors advancing their own agendas contrary to our own, or a threat to our nation’s sovereignty, freedoms, and general prosperity,” the State Department said in a statement.

Trump’s decision to withdraw from organizations that foster cooperation among nations to address global challenges comes as his administration has launched military efforts or issued threats that have rattled allies and adversaries alike, including capturing autocratic Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and indicating an intention to take over Greenland.

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This is the latest U.S. withdrawal from global agencies

The administration previously suspended support from agencies like the World Health Organization, the U.N. for Palestinian refugees known as UNRWA, the U.N. Human Rights Council and the U.N. cultural agency UNESCO as it has taken a larger, a-la-carte approach to paying its dues to the world body, picking which operations and agencies they believe align with Trump’s agenda and those which no longer serve U.S. interests.

“I think what we’re seeing is the crystallization of the U.S. approach to multilateralism, which is ‘my way or the highway,’” said Daniel Forti, head of U.N. affairs at the International Crisis Group. “It’s a very clear vision of wanting international cooperation on Washington’s own terms.”

It has marked a major shift from how previous administrations — both Republican and Democratic — have dealt with the U.N., and it has forced the world body, already undergoing its own internal reckoning, to respond with a series of staffing and program cuts.

Many independent nongovernmental agencies — some that work with the United Nations — have cited many project closures because of the U.S. administration’s decision last year to slash foreign assistance through the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID.

Despite the massive shift, the U.S. officials, including Trump himself, say they have seen the potential of the U.N. and want to instead focus taxpayer money on expanding American influence in many of the standard-setting U.N. initiatives where there is competition with China, like the International Telecommunications Union, the International Maritime Organization and the International Labor Organization.

The global organizations from which the US is departing

The withdrawal from the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, or UNFCCC, is the latest effort by Trump and his allies to distance the U.S. from international organizations focused on climate and addressing climate change.

UNFCC, the 1992 agreement between 198 countries to financially support climate change activities in developing countries, is the underlying treaty for the landmark Paris climate agreement. Trump — who calls climate change a hoax — withdrew from that agreement soon after reclaiming the White House.

Gina McCarthy, former White House National Climate Adviser, called the move “shortsighted, embarrassing, and a foolish decision.”

“As the only country in the world not a part of the UNFCCC treaty, the Trump administration is throwing away decades of U.S. climate change leadership and global collaboration,” she said in a statement. “This Administration is forfeiting our country’s ability to influence trillions of dollars in investments, policies, and decisions that would have advanced our economy and protected us from costly disasters wreaking havoc on our country.”

Mainstream scientists say climate change is behind increasing instances of deadly and costly extreme weather, including flooding, droughts, wildfires, intense rainfall events and dangerous heat.

The U.S. withdrawal could hinder global efforts to curb greenhouse gases because it “gives other nations the excuse to delay their own actions and commitments,” said Stanford University climate scientist Rob Jackson, who chairs the Global Carbon Project, a group of scientists that tracks countries’ carbon dioxide emissions.

It also will be difficult to achieve meaningful progress on climate change without cooperation from the U.S., one of the world’s largest emitters and economies, experts said.

The U.N.’s population agency, which provides sexual and reproductive health across the world, has long been a lightning rod for Republican opposition and Trump himself cut funding for the agency during his first term in office. He and other GOP officials have accused the agency of participating in “coercive abortion practices” in countries like China.

When President Joe Biden took office in January 2021, he restored funding for the agency. A State Department review conducted the following year found no evidence to support these claims.

Other organizations and agencies that the U.S. will quit include the Carbon Free Energy Compact, the United Nations University, the International Cotton Advisory Committee, the International Tropical Timber Organization, the Partnership for Atlantic Cooperation, the Pan-American Institute for Geography and History, the International Federation of Arts Councils and Culture Agencies and the International Lead and Zinc Study Group.

The State Department said additional reviews are ongoing.

Amiri reported from the United Nations. Associated Press writer Tammy Webber reported from Fenton, Michigan.

Correction: This story has been updated to correct Daniel Forti’s title at the International Crisis Group; It is head of U.N. affairs, not senior U.N. analyst.