Most news organizations hold its journalists to strict ethical standards to avoid conflicts of interest either real or perceived. Is the same true for its bosses? Outside corporate positions held by NBC Universal News Group chief Cesar Conde and CNN boss Mark Thompson reveal an ethical issue that has received little discussion. Should people who supervise news organizations, even if their background is more corporate than journalistic, be held to the same standards as their journalists? A former top executive at NBC News, now retired, believes Conde's corporate roles represent a conflict of in ..read more

As he prepares to bring the first of Donald Trump’s four criminal prosecutions to trial, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg finds himself at the center of a political firestorm. Since his election two years ago, Bragg, a former law professor, has often spoken about his unease with the job’s political demands. The upcoming trial, over hush money payments allegedly made by Trump during the 2016 election, will test Bragg’s efforts to portray himself as apolitical in the face of relentless attacks from Trump and his supporters. Bragg says he is treating the former president as he would any ot ..read more

Utah state officials are hurriedly trying to shore up a rural Utah dam after a 60-foot crack opened and sent water pouring into a creek and endangering the 1,700 residents of a downstream town. State and local officials don’t think the Panguitch Lake Dam is in imminent danger of breaking open but have told the residents to be prepared to evacuate if conditions worsen. Lowering the reservoir to below the affected area will take several days. State and local leaders held a community meeting Wednesday to answer questions from residents in Panguitch, a town of about 1,800 people that is about 10 m ..read more

The fight over a newly revived 1864 Arizona law criminalizing abortion throughout pregnancy unless a woman's life is at risk has engulfed the state's lawmakers. The Arizona Legislature devolved into jeering Wednesday as Republican lawmakers shut down discussion on a proposed repeal of the law. Shouts of "Shame! Shame!" erupted in the state House. The Arizona Supreme Court cleared the way this week for enforcing the pre-statehood abortion ban throughout pregnancy without exceptions for rape or incest. A proposed ballot initiative may ask voters in November whether to enshrine abortion protectio ..read more

It was hours after sundown when eight aid trucks and three support vehicles started their journey into Gaza. The roads were dark, except for occasional patches where ragged light spilled from buildings with their own generators. By a few minutes after 10 p.m., the convoy was moving south on Gaza’s coastal road. They dropped off the precious cargo and the aid workers left the convoy to return home. The first missile struck a little more than an hour later. Soon after, all seven aid workers were dead. World Central Kitchen and a few other aid groups suspended operations in Gaza. Yet despite the ..read more

Kishida cracks jokes and invokes 'Star Trek' as he and Biden toast US-Japan alliance at stat ..read more

For decades, their mission in World War II was top secret. With inflatable tanks, trucks and planes, combined with costume uniforms and acting, American military units that became known as the Ghost Army helped outwit the enemy. Now, they are being awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. Three of the seven known surviving members of the Ghost Army are set to attend Thursday's ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. The Ghost Army used hundreds of soldiers to conduct about 20 battlefield deceptions in Europe. Some say the fake military movements likely saved thousands of American lives by diverting the att ..read more

The winning numbers for a nearly $1 billion Mega Millions lottery prize will be drawn Friday night, offering sudden riches for any lucky player who matches them and almost certain disappoint for everyone else. The Mega Millions jackpot has grown to an estimated $977 million thanks to more than three months without a winner of the top prize. That reflects the incredibly long odds of winning the jackpot. The jackpot ranks as the 10th largest U.S. lottery jackpot — about half the size of a record $2.04 billion Powerball prize won in November 2022 ..read more

The winning numbers for a nearly $1 billion Mega Millions lottery prize will be drawn Friday night, offering sudden riches for any lucky player who matches them and almost certain disappoint for everyone else. The Mega Millions jackpot has grown to an estimated $977 million thanks to more than three months without a winner of the top prize. That reflects the incredibly long odds of winning the jackpot. The jackpot ranks as the 10th largest U.S. lottery jackpot — about half the size of a record $2.04 billion Powerball prize won in November 2022 ..read more

Congressional leaders sell $1.2 trillion spending package to members before shutdown deadline ..read more