7 mins read

Muslim Americans push back as Republican politicians stoke anti-Sharia rhetoric ahead of election

NEW YORK | Some of the loudest cheers for Sen. Ted Cruz at the Republicans’ recent midterm convention in Dallas came after the Texas politician targeted Muslim Americans and their faith’s religious code. “Sharia law has no place in America,” said Cruz. “We need to stand together and stop it now.” Texas Gov. Greg Abbott […]

8 mins read

CDC vaccine policy recommendations grind to a halt under Health Secretary Kennedy

NEW YORK | The Food and Drug Administration recently approved a new flu vaccine that tested well in older adults. But the federal agency responsible for telling doctors and the general public how to use it has made no recommendation on it. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s inaction on the mFlusiva vaccine marks […]

3 mins read

Taxpayer-funded pro-Trump TV ad campaign grows with new spot, wider reach

The Trump administration on Friday appeared to ramp up its use of U.S. government-funded political advertisements promoting President Donald Trump, airing its second TV ad in three days while expanding its spending on the first to at least $443,000. The White House maintains the ads are “public service announcements” like those used by past presidents, […]

2 mins read

There’s no strict recipe for Stef Ferrari’s seasonal fruit crostini with ricotta

Like so many preparations in this cookbook, “Stuzzichini,” and in Italian food in general, it’s almost impossible to call this a recipe. Instead, it’s an act of trust: You must trust that whatever fruit you choose for this crostini will pair perfectly with fresh ricotta, good-quality honey, and your choice of crunchy bits and/or herbs […]

7 mins read

Fall Movie Preview: In an AI world, Laika makes handmade wonders — and ‘Wildwood’

NEW YORK | Travis Knight, the chief executive of the stop-motion animation studio Laika, wasn’t prepared for the response to the teaser for his new film, “Wildwood.” Almost immediately, it went viral. The early trailer rapidly gained more than 90 million views on YouTube, galvanized by people awed by the apparent scale and emotional depth […]

4 mins read

People with Down syndrome and other disabilities find their rhythm in Indiana dance program

FISHERS, Ind. | Finn Vester, who has autism and Down syndrome, tried a martial arts class but it proved unsuitable because he learns differently, his mother said. Then he joined Dance Abilities, a program at Academy of Dance Arts in the Indianapolis suburb of Fishers for people with physical or intellectual disabilities. Now dance has […]

3 mins read

Sound of Music museum opens where the von Trapp story met Hollywood

SALZBURG, Austria | An Austrian museum is alive with “The Sound of Music,” a first-ever venue devoted to the classic 1965 singalong movie starring Julie Andrews. The Sound of Music Salzburg museum, situated in an Austrian city famed for music and perhaps best known as the home of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, opened Sunday. The attendees […]

6 mins read

One Tech Tip: iOS 27 comes with revamped screen time controls and other useful new features

Apple’s latest mobile operating system update, iOS 27, rolled out last week, headlined by a more advanced version of its Siri assistant. But it also comes with a slew of other useful but less well known features for iPhone users. The software upgrade, which is available for devices dating back to the iPhone 11 from […]

8 mins read

AI ads are popular in the 2026 midterms, but state laws haven’t stopped a lack of disclosure

In what appears at first to be a typical campaign advertisement, two people introduce themselves as Zohran Mamdani and Kathy Hochul while strolling through a park on a beautiful sunny day. But as the 43-second video continues, Mamdani, the mayor of New York City, and Hochul, the governor of New York State, have a conversation […]

5 mins read

Trump administration uses rare authority to claw back nearly $1B in spending approved by Congress

WASHINGTON | President Donald Trump is canceling nearly $1 billion in spending approved by Congress, the White House announced on Friday, using a rare and contested power to axe funding for immigrant services and diversity-focused initiatives. Trump’s Office of Management and Budget described the funding cut as focused on “the most harmful government spending.” Most […]