Urban Disorder: Petty Theft Leads to Fatal Crash in Portland

Misdemeanor theft cases dropped 60 percent from 2019 to 2023 in Multnomah County thanks to ‘catch and release’ policies The damaged traffic box at the site of a fatal accident in Portland. The traffic lights lost function after a thief stole copper wire from the box. (City of Portland) A Portland thief who stole copper

California Ends Lawsuit Against Federal Government Over High-Speed Rail Funding

A drone view of a high-speed rail bridge in Fresno, Calif., on June 8, 2025. Fred Greaves/ Reuters California dropped its lawsuit this week against the Trump administration over the federal government’s decision to pull $4 billion in funding for the state’s long-delayed high-speed rail project. The California High-Speed Rail Authority filed a notice of

Junk Food Bans for SNAP Users in Some States Starting 2026: What to Know

Americans using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits to purchase groceries may need to adjust their shopping habits in 2026 as some states will prohibit the use of SNAP funds to purchase certain “junk foods.” Also starting next year, states will have to shoulder a larger portion of the cost of running the program. In

White House to Present Plans for Trump’s East Wing Ballroom in January

Viewed from the observation level of the Washington Monument, demolition work continues where the East Wing once stood at the White House in Washington, DC, on on Dec. 8, 2025. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images PALM BEACH, Florida—The White House will unveil new details on President Donald Trump’s planned East Wing ballroom during a hearing early next