Jan 17 Watch 10:44 How Colin O'Brady mentally prepared for his Antarctic feat By William Brangham There have been many expeditions on the frozen continent of Antarctica, but Colin O'Brady's 54-day solo trek across more than 930 miles without any assistance was the first of its kind. "You are locked in a prison of your own… Continue watching
Jan 17 Government shutdown stalls training, other prep for wildfire season By Gillian Flaccus, Associated Press Firefighting training courses are being canceled from Tennessee to Oregon and controlled burns to thin dry vegetation aren't getting done. Continue reading
Jan 17 Why more furloughed workers are filing for unemployment By Gretchen Frazee If Congress back pays employees once the shutdown ends, the workers would be required to pay back any unemployment benefits they received. Continue reading
Jan 17 Trump denies Pelosi an aircraft to visit U.S. troops abroad By Catherine Lucey, Matthew Lee, Zeke Miller, Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press The move was an apparent response to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's attempt to delay the president's State of Union address. Continue reading
Jan 17 Microsoft pledges $500M to tackle Seattle housing crisis By Gene Johnson, Associated Press As the tech industry Microsoft brought to the region has boomed with the expansion of Amazon and other companies, the cost of housing has soared. Continue reading
Jan 17 Watch Why local journalism is 'vital' to the public By Steve Goldbloom Jason Johnson, a reporter for Lagniappe in Mobile, Alabama, gives his Brief But Spectacular take on how local reporting helped tell the story of mental health care in Alabama, and why journalism matters in educating the public on this story. Continue watching
Jan 17 Michigan State interim president ousted in wake of Larry Nassar sex-abuse scandal By David Eggert, Corey Williams, Associated Press Michigan State University's Board of Trustees said Thursday that interim president John Engler's resignation is effective immediately. Continue reading
Jan 17 Chicago police officers acquitted of covering up Laquan McDonald shooting By Associated Press The three Chicago police officers were accused of trying to cover up the 2014 police shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald to protect another officer who pulled the trigger. Continue reading
Jan 17 Illinois governor signs bill allowing state regulation of firearms dealers By John O'Connor, Associated Press Firearms dealers in Illinois must now show they are licensed with the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and purchase a five-year state permit. Continue reading
Jan 17 Shutdown ongoing, State Department sends diplomats back to work with pay By Matthew Lee, Catherine Lucey, Jill Colvin, Lisa Mascaro, Associated Press The State Department on Thursday instructed all U.S. diplomats in Washington and elsewhere to return to work next week with pay, saying it had found money for their salaries at least temporarily despite the ongoing government shutdown. Continue reading