59 h. ago US supreme court rules Doge can access social security data during legal challenge

Key player in Trump’s drive to slash federal workforce keeps access to sensitive records including family court and mental health recordsThe US supreme court on Friday permitted the so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge), a key player in Donald Trump’s drive to slash the federal workforce, broad access to the personal information of millions of Americans in Social Security Administration data systems while a legal challenge plays out.At the request of the justice department, the justices put on hold Maryland-based US district judge Ellen Hollander’s order that had largely blocked Doge’s access to “personally identifiable information” in data such as medical and financial records while litigation proceeds in a lower court. Hollander found that allowing Doge unfettered access likely would violate a federal privacy law. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago Turmoil, worry swirl over cuts to key federal agencies as hurricane season begins

As hurricane season begins, experts in storms and disasters are worried about massive cuts to the federal system that forecasts, tracks and responds to the storms

Politics

3 w. ago Cassie Ventura concludes testimony in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs sex

First week of testimony heard singer talk about in-patient treatment center she went to to ‘help me with my trauma’Singer Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and a key witness in the federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of the music mogul,concluded her testimony on Friday after further examination by Combs’s legal team.Combs’s defense team resumed their cross-examination of Ventura on Friday morning, with questions focusing on the time around the 2016 video footage of Combs attacking Ventura at the elevator lobby of a hotel in Los Angeles, and Combs’s state of mind at that time.In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago FEMA's acting chief says agency will shift more disaster recovery responsibilities to the states

FEMA acting chief David Richardson has laid out the agency's intent for this upcoming hurricane season, cementing plans to push more responsibility to the states for disaster response and recovery while continuing federal support “when deemed necessary.”

Events

3 w. ago Cassie Ventura grilled about explicit messages on day four of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial

On third day of testimony the former girlfriend of music mogul details violence, abuse and blackmailSinger Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and a key witness in the federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of the music mogul, returned to the stand on Thursday for a cross-examination that lasted the entire day and will continue on Friday.On Thursday morning,one of Combs’s lawyers, Anna Estevao, opened her cross-examination of Ventura by asking: “You and Sean Combs were in love for 11 years, right?” Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Cassie Ventura’s testimony continues with review of explicit messages in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial

Former girlfriend of music mogul, key witness in sex-trafficking trial, details violence, abuse and blackmailSinger Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and a key witness in the federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of the music mogul, returned to the stand on Thursday for cross-examination.One of Combs’s lawyers, Anna Estevao, opened her cross-examination of Ventura by asking: “You and Sean Combs were in love for 11 years, right?”In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Cassie Ventura reviews explicit messages in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial

Former girlfriend of music mogul, key witness in sex-trafficking trial, details violence, abuse and blackmailSinger Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and a key witness in the federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of the music mogul, returned to the stand on Thursday for cross-examination.One of Combs’s lawyers, Anna Estevao, opened her cross-examination of Ventura by asking: “You and Sean Combs were in love for 11 years, right?”In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Cassie Ventura returns to stand after testifying Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs raped her

Former girlfriend of music mogul, key witness in sex-trafficking trial, details violence, abuse and blackmailSinger Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and a key witness in the federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of the music mogul, returned to the stand on Thursday for cross-examination.One of Combs’s lawyers, Anna Estevao, opened her cross-examination of Ventura by asking: “You and Sean Combs were in love for 11 years, right?”In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Cassie Ventura to return to stand after testifying Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs raped her

Former girlfriend of music mogul, key witness in sex-trafficking trial, details violence, abuse and blackmailSinger Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and a key witness in the federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of the music mogul, is returning to the stand Thursday for cross-examination.During Ventura’s second day of testimony on Wednesday, she provided more details about the physical and psychological abuse she alleged she experienced from Combs during their on-and-off again relationship that lasted about 11 years, and accused the music mogul of rape and blackmail.In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Cassie Ventura tells court at day three of trial that Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs raped her

Music mogul’s former girlfriend describes physical abuse, control and violence at trial in New York CityA timeline of allegations and charges against Sean CombsSinger Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and a key witness in the federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of the music mogul, returned to the witness stand in New York City on Wednesday morning and testified that Combs raped her, assaulted one of his employees, and detailed abuse she says occurred in their over decade-long relationship.Ventura, who is eight and a half months pregnant, began her second day of testimony by revisiting the hotel surveillance footage of her 2016 assault by Combs. She said Combs was yelling at her and then threw a vase at her in the elevator lobby.In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In Australia, the national family violence counsellin...

Events

3 w. ago Cassie Ventura describes alleged abuse during day three of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial: ‘I felt trapped’

Music mogul’s former girlfriend describes physical abuse, control and violence at trial in New York CitySinger Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and a key witness in the federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of the music mogul, returned to the witness stand in New York City on Wednesday morning, as the high-profile trial enters its third day.Ventura, who is eight and a half months pregnant, began her second day of testimony by revisiting the hotel surveillance footage of her 2016 assault by Combs. She said Combs was yelling at her and then threw a vase at her in the elevator lobby.In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Cassie Ventura tells court Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs blackmailed her with ‘freak

Music mogul’s former girlfriend describes physical abuse, control and violence at trial in New York CityA timeline of allegations and charges against Sean CombsSinger Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and a key witness in the federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of the music mogul, returned to the witness stand in New York City on Wednesday morning, as the high-profile trial enters its third day.Ventura, who is eight and a half months pregnant, began her second day of testimony by revisiting the hotel surveillance footage of her 2016 assault by Combs. She said Combs was yelling at her and then threw a vase at her in the elevator lobby.In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org...

Events

3 w. ago Cassie Ventura describes a decade of alleged abuse in testimony at Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial

Music mogul’s former girlfriend describes physical abuse, control and violence at trial in New York CitySinger Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and a key witness in the federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of the music mogul, returned to the witness stand in New York City on Wednesday morning, as the high-profile trial enters its third day.Ventura, who is eight and a half months pregnant, began her second day of testimony by revisiting the hotel surveillance footage of her 2016 assault by Combs. She said Combs threw a vase at her.In the US, the domestic violence hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). In the UK, call the national domestic abuse helpline on 0808 2000 247, or visit Women’s Aid. In Australia, the national family violence counselling service is on 1800 737 732. Other international helplines may be found via www.befrienders.org. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Cassie Ventura to resume testimony in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs sex

Former girlfriend says she endured years of physical abuse, control and violence at music mogul’s handsSinger Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and a key witness in the federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of the music mogul, will return to the witness stand on Wednesday morning, as the high-profile trial enters its third day.Ventura, who is eight and a half months pregnant, testified on Tuesday that during her decade-long on-and-off relationship with Combs, she endured years of physical abuse, control and violence and detailed drug-fueled sexual encounters involving male escorts that she said were directed by Combs. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Cassie Ventura resumes testimony in Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs trial: ‘He was yelling at me’

Former girlfriend says she endured years of physical abuse, control and violence at music mogul’s handsSinger Casandra “Cassie” Ventura, a former girlfriend of Sean “Diddy” Combs and a key witness in the federal sex-trafficking and racketeering trial of the music mogul, returned to the witness stand on Wednesday morning, as the high-profile trial enters its third day.Ventura, who is eight and a half months pregnant, began her second day of testimony by revisiting the hotel surveillance footage of her 2016 assault by Combs. She said Combs threw a vase at her. Continue reading...

Politics