Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said he didn’t see survivors during a September military strike on a suspected drug boat, citing “the fog of war.” “The thing was on fire,” he said. “It was exploded in fire and smoke. You can’t see it.” U.S. officials said the boat in the Caribbean carried 11 people. After the first strike failed to kill everyone, a second strike was ordered. (Story URL)
Former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández has been released from U.S. custody after receiving a pardon from President Trump. Trump said Friday that Hernández had been “treated very harshly and unfairly.” He was convicted in 2024 by a U.S. court for trafficking drugs to the United States. He was sentenced to 45 years in prison and fined $8 million. (Story URL)
A winter storm warning is active from Pennsylvania to Maine as snow and ice spread across the region. The storm that hit the Midwest and South on Monday is now bringing ice to Appalachia and heavy snow to the Northeast. Snow totals of 2 to 4 inches are expected in Ohio, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and western New York. Northern Pennsylvania and central New York could see 6 inches. (Story URL)
Michael and Susan Dell will donate $250 each to 25 million American children through “Trump accounts,” totaling $6.25 billion. The gift targets children age 10 and younger who were born before the program’s qualifying date. The Trump accounts, part of the Republicans’ tax and spending bill, provide $1,000 to babies born during President Trump’s second term. (Story URL)
The Powerball jackpot has climbed to $775 million ahead of Wednesday’s drawing, ranking among the ten largest in the game’s history. No ticket has matched all numbers since September, when a $1.787 billion prize was shared by winners in Missouri and Texas. The jackpot’s cash value stands at $362.5 million before taxes. The next drawing is tonight. (Story URL)
