Russian health authorities are investigating the death of a laboratory worker in Siberia after reports she may have been exposed to plague bacteria on the job. Officials have not confirmed plague as the cause, but several hospitals were placed under quarantine and contacts were being monitored.
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Monday in a closely watched climate case that could affect whether state and local governments can pursue damages from oil companies over greenhouse gas emissions. The dispute centers on whether federal law blocks those claims before they can move ahead in state court.
Federal agents arrested an Irvine realtor at Los Angeles International Airport after accusing her of acting as an unregistered agent for China and surveilling relatives of a senior Taiwanese official in the Seattle area. Prosecutors say the case involved travel to China, coordination with officials and photos of the target’s home and vehicles.
The White House said President Donald Trump will direct one-time $90 payments to more than 20 million Medicare Part B enrollees, using the Medicare Improvement Fund. The payments, expected to begin in early October, are meant to help offset premium costs for eligible seniors.
Vice President JD Vance brushed aside questions about his own 2028 prospects while pointing to Sen. Ted Cruz as an already-active contender. The exchange comes as Republicans begin positioning for a post-Trump presidential race and midterm outcomes could shape early decisions about the next campaign.
by Yana Kunichoff, AZ Luminaria October 1, 2026 Miles and miles of dark green hills interspersed with sandy snakes of roads. Small cliffs falling into shadow alongside a thread of green trees that marks where the San Pedro River soaks into the ground and feeds the surrounding area.
The White House has launched America.gov, a new AI-enabled website meant to give Americans a single entry point for federal information and services. Officials say the platform uses government sources and is designed to simplify tasks such as finding answers, signing in and completing transactions.
Billionaire hedge fund manager Ken Griffin is giving Carnegie Mellon University $3 billion, a landmark gift that will help establish a new Miami campus while also funding priorities in Pittsburgh. The university says the project will center on applied research and training tied to major societal challenges.
A federal judge has blocked a Homeland Security rule that would have replaced open-ended stays for many international students with fixed deadlines. The challenge is now on appeal, while universities and business leaders warn the policy could deter applicants and ripple through Pennsylvania’s economy.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on October 5 directing federal agencies to temporarily defer certain diesel fuel tax obligations and ease access to dyed diesel for highway use. The White House said the move is intended to reduce costs for truckers, farmers and other diesel-dependent businesses as prices remain elevated.
Tennessee’s prisons commissioner is stepping down after the state’s botched execution of Christa Pike sparked outrage and a review ordered by Gov. Bill Lee. The resignation adds new pressure on correctional leaders as officials face questions about what went wrong inside the death chamber and whether the protocol failed.
The U.S. Coast Guard is searching off Nantucket for a medical transport plane carrying six people after it lost contact during a flight from Bermuda to Boston. Air and surface crews have been deployed, and officials have not yet said whether the aircraft has been found.
An Arizona appeals court has ordered resentencing in the 2021 road rage killing of Christopher Pelkey after finding that an AI-generated video of the slain man was not reliable. The ruling leaves the conviction intact but says the sentencing process crossed the line when the judge appeared to rely on the synthetic presentation.
A 14-year-old Fulton County student has posted a perfect SAT score, an unusually early milestone for an exam typically taken later in high school. Ashrit Talluri’s 1600 has drawn attention for both the score itself and the accelerated academic path that led him there.
India remain in position to defend their Asian Games men’s cricket title, but an unusual path could send them to the top of the podium even if no ball is bowled in the knockout rounds. The scenario depends on how the bracket unfolds and whether weather or a withdrawal intervenes.
The State Department has announced new visa restrictions aimed at people who organize, facilitate or profit from travel to the United States for childbirth. Officials say the policy targets commercial networks and fraud, not pregnant visitors generally, and will be enforced through a global review of visa holders.
Phoenix is moving ahead with a major water-storage project while Scottsdale weighs new review rules for developments expected to use large amounts of water. The changes come as Colorado River supplies remain under pressure and Arizona prepares for deeper reductions in the years ahead.
Mortgage rates are being shaped by a mix of mortgage spreads, geopolitical tension and economic data, leaving the market with little certainty about whether borrowing costs will move toward 8% or drift back toward 6%. The outcome will depend heavily on inflation, bond yields and investor sentiment.