Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene announced Friday she would resign from office effective January 5, 2026.

In a four-page message posted to social media, Rep. Greene criticized the political establishment on both sides of the aisle and said that the effects of politics have weighed too heavily on her, her family and her district.

Rep. Greene, formerly a close supporter of President Donald Trump, gained office by supporting his Make America Great Again platform  but fell out with him over differences surrounding the handling of the Epstein files and foreign policy.

President Trump recently called Rep. Greene a "traitor" and planned to endorse a primary challenger against her in the 2026 midterm elections.

"When the common American people finally realize and understand that the Political Industrial Complex of both parties is ripping this country apart, that not one elected leader like me is able to stop Washington's machine from gradually destroying our country, and instead the reality is that they, the common Americans, The People, possess the real power over Washington, then I'll be here by their side to rebuild it," Rep. Greene wrote in Friday's message.

This is a breaking news story and will be updated.

The U.S. Supreme Court will allow Texas' newly redrawn congressional maps to stand while an case against them plays out, according to a new order issued on Friday.

Justice Samuel Alito signed an order placing an administrative stay on the order from a lower district court in Texas, which had halted the use of the new maps after finding that state lawmakers likely engaged in unconstitutional racial gerrymandering to create them.

Alito signed the order because he is responsible for addressing emergency appeals from certain states, including Texas.

In a 160-page order earlier this week, a three-judge panel in the Western District of Texas issued a preliminary injunction preventing the state from implementing the map in the 2026 elections. Instead, the court ordered Texas to revert to the congressional map enacted in 2021 while the case proceeds.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott called Tuesday's ruling "erroneous" and quickly appealed the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court.

As of Friday, the Supreme Court's administrative stay will remain in place until the court orders otherwise. The Supreme Court has also required a response to Texas' appeal in the case no later than Monday, November 24.

RELATED STORY | A court's blockade of Texas' new electoral maps is raising the stakes for the 2026 midterms

The maps, pushed by President Donald Trump, were designed to give Republicans an advantage in the 2026 midterm elections and could help the party pick up as many as five seats.

"The Legislature redrew our congressional maps to better reflect Texans' conservative voting preferences and for no other reason," Gov. Abbott said. "Any claim that these maps are discriminatory is absurd and unsupported by the testimony offered during ten days of hearings."

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. personally directed the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to update its website to contradict its longtime guidance that vaccines don't cause autism, he told The New York Times in an interview published Friday.

His comments provide clarity into who directed the CDC's website change, after many current and former staffers at the agency were surprised to see new published guidance on Wednesday that defies scientific consensus. Kennedy, a longtime vaccine critic, has upended the public health agencies he oversees and pushed for and enacted changes that have unsettled much of the medical community, which sees his policies as harmful for Americans.

The whole thing about vaccines have been tested and theres been this determination made, is just a lie, Kennedy said in the interview, which was conducted Thursday.

The CDC's vaccine safety page now claims that the statement vaccines do not cause autism is not based on evidence because it doesn't rule out the possibility that infant vaccines are linked to the disorder. The page also has been updated to suggest that health officials have ignored studies showing a potential link.

Public health researchers and advocates strongly refute the updated website, saying it misleads the public by exploiting the fact that the scientific method can't satisfy a demand to prove a negative. They note that scientists have thoroughly explored potential links between vaccines and autism in rigorous research spanning decades, all pointing to the same conclusion that vaccines dont cause autism.

No environmental factor has been better studied as a potential cause of autism than vaccines, the Autism Science Foundation said in a statement Thursday. This includes vaccine ingredients as well as the bodys response to vaccines. All this research has determined that there is no link between autism and vaccines.

Kennedy, a longtime leader in the anti-vaccine movement, acknowledged to The New York Times the existence of studies showing no link to autism from the mercury-based preservative thimerosal or from the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine. But he told the newspaper there are still gaps in vaccine safety science and a need for more research.

RELATED STORY | CDC revises language on vaccines and autism, prompting backlash

The move creates another disagreement between the health secretary and Sen. Bill Cassidy, a physician and Louisiana Republican who chairs the Senate health committee. During his confirmation process, Kennedy pledged to Cassidy he would leave the statement that vaccines do not cause autism on the CDC website. The statement remains on the website but with a disclaimer that it was left there because of their agreement.

Kennedy told The New York Times he talked to Cassidy about the updated website and that Cassidy disagreed with the decision.

What parents need to hear right now is vaccines for measles, polio, hepatitis B and other childhood diseases are safe and effective and will not cause autism, Cassidy posted on X on Thursday. Any statement to the contrary is wrong, irresponsible, and actively makes Americans sicker.

The updated website comes as Kennedy has taken other steps as health secretary that sow doubt in immunizations. He has pulled $500 million for their development, ousted and replaced every member of a federal vaccine advisory committee and pledged to overhaul a federal program for compensating Americans injured by shots. He also fired former CDC Director Susan Monarez less than a month into her tenure after they clashed over vaccine policy.

Dr. Sean OLeary, head of the infectious diseases committee at the American Academy of Pediatrics, told reporters in a briefing Thursday that the CDC's website update was perpetuating a lie.

This is madness, he said. Vaccines do not cause autism, and unfortunately, we can no longer trust health-related information coming from our government.

The Department of Health and Human Services, which didn't make Kennedy available for an interview with The Associated Press this week, didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

This years Black Friday is taking on a different look, with many shoppers turning away from the usual TVs and tablets and instead prioritizing groceries and household essentials.

Groceries! Meat going down, maybe, would be a good one, Andrew Tighe, a Phoenix resident, said.

With prices still high, families say theyre focused on stretching their budgets and buying what they truly need.

I agree, essentials are better than gifts, Shatrefa Wilson, in Phoenix, said. Its very important to me to be able to still afford to feed my family and get the essentials I need.

I think everybodys in the same boat, George Pasisis, of Scottsdale, said.

A new survey from The Krazy Coupon Lady

,

featuring more than 3,400 shoppers, also shows a major shift in spending priorities.

RELATED STORY | Buying gift cards this holiday? Heres how to make sure the one you give actually works

Tech has always been the Black Friday Holy Grail, Kristin McGrath, The Krazy Coupon Lady editor, said. Last year, tech was number one; its number three this year. Last year, food and essentials were number three. Its number one this year. It is a complete flip.

According to the survey, 17% of shoppers want deals on food, and another 17% want home goods more than the 15% looking for tech deals.

With grocery costs nearly 30% higher than five years ago, according to the Consumer Price Index, almost half of shoppers in the survey reported theyre cutting back overall.

Shoppers are in this mind frame of I dont have the budget and I need to dial it back, McGrath said.

RELATED STORY | Sports fan warns of StubHub fraud after losing $1,100 to scammer

Retailers are responding, offering Black Friday discounts on basics and everyday items.

At Walmart, store manager Verrinia Kennedy says theyre offering deals on stocking stuffers and kid-friendly items.

My childrens favorite: the Crayola bath bombs, Kennedy said. We have this Crest childrens toothpaste that is not only functional, but fun, color-changing.

There are also price-friendly gifts for adults.

We've got this lovely Italian food gift set, some beautiful Better Good products not only tasty, but healthy, Kennedy said.

McGrath says other major retailers are also focusing on essentials.

Weve seen Target offer BOGO deals on essentials, she said. Amazon tends to offer bulk deals on snacks and cleaning supplies along with their subscribe and save offers. We also see Kohls and JCPenney offering deals on home goods essentials.

For mom of three Kimberly Sneed, building essentials into her holiday shopping list is intentional and practical.

I always tend to supplement with things like clothing that they may need, socks, new toothbrushes, that stuff always ends up in their stockings or along with their gifts, Sneed said. Youre not going into the new year having to buy a bunch of new clothes, because they just got them all for Christmas.

For many families, prioritizing essentials is a way to make the holidays festive and functional.

This story was reported on-air by Jane Caffrey at the Scripps News Group station in Phoenix, and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.

The Ohio police officer who shot and killed Ta'Kiya Young, a pregnant Black mother who had been accused of shoplifting, was acquitted on all counts Friday, including murder.

Blendon Township police officer Connor Grubb had faced up to life in prison if convicted. Youngs grandmother collapsed into sobs at the decision, shouting Its not right! This is not right! The judge then told Grubb he was free to go.

Sean Walton, an attorney for the Young family, called it an American tragedy, the outcome of a dual system of justice in the U.S. Sean Walton, an attorney for the Young family, called it an American tragedy, the outcome of a dual system of justice in the U.S. He vowed to keep pursuing a lawsuit against the township and police chief, while Nadine Young raises her great-grandsons, now 8 and 5.

POLICE VIDEO:

It's also heartbreaking because what it does is it normalizes the behavior like that Connor Grubb exhibited that day, and that is not normal, Walton said. If you look at these recent police killings in Columbus, you have officers who have an irrational fear with no weapons involved or folks doing very minimal behavior that they escalate into a murder.

Defense attorney Mark Collins said Grubb and his family are relieved, but that it's wrong to suggest the officer was untouched by the death of Young and her unborn daughter.

For the rest of his life, he has to deal with this, he said. Trust me, you didn't get to hear from him because the government put his statement out, but he took a life on duty and realized another's life after the fact, and to walk around with that is a difficult situation.

At the same time, Collins called it unconscionable that a law enforcement officer would be indicted for felony murder in such a case. He said legislators should fix Ohio's grand jury system.

Grubb had pleaded not guilty to murder, involuntary manslaughter and felonious assault in the death of Young, 21, on Aug. 24, 2023. Bodycam recordings showed Young refusing to exit her parked car outside a Kroger in suburban Columbus, and then turning her steering wheel to the right before the vehicle began slowly rolling forward toward Grubb, who fired one shot into her chest through the windshield.

RELATED STORY | Ohio police release video from fatal shooting of pregnant Black woman

Franklin County Common Pleas Judge David Young, no relation to TaKiya, dropped four of 10 counts relating to the death of Youngs baby, agreeing with defense attorneys that prosecutors failed to present proof that Grubb knew Young was seven months' pregnant when he shot her.

Jurors were shown the bodycam video and heard testimony from a use-of-force expert, an accident reconstructionist, a police policy expert and Sgt. Erick Moynihan, the officer who with Grubb had ordered Young out of her car.

They never heard from Grubb, whose side of the story was contained in a written statement read into the record by a special agent for the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation. He attended the trial, but prosecutors were unable to question him directly.

Grubb and Moynihan had approached Youngs parked car about a report that she was suspected of stealing alcohol from a Kroger store in the Columbus suburb. She partially lowered her window and protested as both officers cursed at her and yelled at her to get out. Bodycam video showed Grubb had his left hand on the car's hood while pointing his gun at her with his right. Young could be heard asking them, Are you going to shoot me?

RELATED STORY | Officer faces murder charge in 2023 shooting of pregnant Black woman who was accused of shoplifting

Then, she put on a turn signal and her car rolled slowly forward toward Grubb, who fired a single bullet into her chest, the recording showed.

In the statement, Grubb said he positioned himself in front of Youngs vehicle to provide backup and to protect other people. He said he drew his gun after he heard Young fail to comply with Moynihans commands. When her car moved toward him, he said, he felt the vehicle hit his legs and shins and begin to lift his body off the ground as he shot.

Moments later, after the car came to a stop against the building, they broke the drivers side window. Police said they tried to save her life, but she was mortally wounded. Young and her unborn daughter were pronounced dead at a hospital.

Walton told the AP shortly after the shooting that Young had not stolen anything. He said his law firm found a witness who saw Young put down bottles of alcohol as she left the grocery store.

Its one of the most popular holiday gifts, but more shoppers are discovering their gift cards have a zero balance before theyre even used.

Thieves are stealing unactivated cards, recording the numbers and barcodes, then placing them back on the rack. Once an unsuspecting shopper buys and activates that card, fraudsters move quickly draining the balance within minutes.

I couldn't tell that this thing had been tampered with at all," said Alexis Cruz.

She bought a $100 gift card as a present, but someone else spent the money first.

Essentially, I just gifted a scammer $100 without even knowing it," Cruz said.

RELATED STORY | FBI warns about phantom hackers targeting your bank account

A Maryland business ran into the same problem, handing out gift cards to employees as appreciation gifts.

We were giving them gift cards and they were coming back to us saying they had been used, said Erin Sudano, collections manager at Sudanos Produce.

Bel Air Police Sergeant Sergio DAlto says it happened to him as well.

I received a gift card, this was two years ago, went to go use it at a local retailer, straight out of the packaging, opened at the register and zero on the card, D'Alto said.

DAlto added that the scam has nothing to do with speed at the register. Criminals use automated notifications that alert them the moment a card is activated.

If they unpackage the card, they'll repackage it just as nicely as it was in the original, and they're reintroduced into the stores, put back on the shelves, an unsuspecting person buys it. The minute it's activated, it notifies the computer system this card's activated and like I said, the money is drained before you hit the parking lot, said D'Alto.

With cases rising, several states have passed new rules requiring retailers to add warnings, secure packaging, or hide barcode and PIN information. The Retail Gift Card Association says theyre constantly updating best practices as scammers evolve and issuing warnings to consumers at GiftCardSafety.org. Executive director Karice Moore urges shoppers to inspect cards closely.

RELATED STORY | Americans hit with about 100 scam calls, texts and emails monthly, survey finds

Make sure that you don't see any anomalies, anything that looks a little bit off or unusual. And if you do, before purchasing, take it to the counter, let the cashier know it looks a little unusual, choose a different card," said Moore.

Some retailers are making changes, too. Target redesigned its store-branded gift cards to leave the PIN area blank until checkout, where an employee applies a sticker with the PIN number. The company says the change has led to a significant decrease in fraud.

Moore tells shoppers to stay alert.

Even something as small as a scratch mark that just doesn't quite sit right. Just be aware, said Moore.

If your gift card gets drained or youre tricked into sending the balance to a scammer you may not get that money back. Keep your receipt, contact the retailer right away, and remember to treat gift cards like cash.

According to AARP, at least 11 states have passed new laws this year cracking down on gift-card fraud. These laws are already in force in states like Maryland and Florida, and others are set to take effect soon.

For additional tips on protecting your gift cards, click here.

This story was originally published by Mallory Sofastaii with the Scripps News Group station in Baltimore.

A deputy was killed, and at least two other people were injured when law enforcement attempted to serve an eviction notice Friday morning near Florida's Vero Beach.

Indian River County Sheriff Eric Flowers said three deputies were serving an eviction notice to 37-year-old Michael Halberstam, when Halberstam retrieved a weapon and began firing at the deputies.

Flowers said that Deputy Terri Mashkow, 47, was killed in the line of duty. Mashkow was with the Indian River County Sheriff's Office for over 25 years.

Another deputy was shot in the shoulder and is recovering at HCA Florida Lawnwood Hospital in Fort Pierce. A locksmith who was also on scene is in critical condition and is undergoing surgery.

Flowers said Halberstam is in critical condition and is undergoing surgery after at least two deputies fired at the suspect.

WATCH: Multiple deputies shot, 1 deputy dead in Indian River County shooting

1 deputy dead, others shot in Indian River County

[Halberstam] was not someone that was on our radar; this was not someone that we were actively engaged with," Flowers said. "This was a standard call for service."

Deputies say that seven calls had been placed by Halberstam's mother to the residence within the past month, leading to her choice to evict her son.

This is the second line-of-duty death in the 100 years of the agency's service.

This story was originally published by Samantha Roesler with the Scripps News Group in West Palm Beach.

Ftima Bosch Fernndez of Mexico was crowned Miss Universe 2025 on Friday, a dramatic victory for a 25-year-old at the center of the turbulent 74th staging of the popular beauty pageant in Bangkok who stood up to public bullying from one of the hosts.

The issues at this year's event sprang from a sharp-tongued scolding of Bosch, which sparked a controversy marked by a walkout, feminist solidarity, and a teary, melodramatic apology from the local organizer who set it all off.

When Bosch was announced as the winner, cheers and screams erupted from the audience, with Mexican flags waved by elated supporters.

Speaking to the media after her victory, Bosch said that she would like to be remembered as "a person that changed a little bit the prototype of what is a Miss Universe and a real person that gives the heart."

She also paid tribute to the pageant, describing it as "a platform that is strong because they have the space that women are searching to have a voice."

The first runner-up was 29-year-old Praveenar Singh of Thailand, and 25-year-old Stephany Adriana Abasali Nasser of Venezuela placed third. Rounding up the finishers were Ahtisa Manalo, 28, of the Philippines, and 27-year-old Olivia Yac of Ivory Coast, who came fifth.

At the livestreamed sashing ceremony for the more than 100 contestants on Nov. 4, Thai national director Nawat Itsaragrisil hectored Bosch for allegedly not following his guidelines for taking part in local promotional activities. He called security when she spoke up to defend herself.

Bosch walked out of the room, joined by several others in a show of solidarity, including Miss Universe 2024, Victoria Kjr Theilvig of Denmark.

"What your director did is not respectful: He called me dumb," an unbowed Bosch told Thai reporters. "If it takes away your dignity, you need to go."

Nawat insisted that he did not call her "dumb."

The Miss Universe Organization president, Mexican businessman Ral Rocha Cant, released a statement condemning Nawat's conduct as "public aggression" and "serious abuse."

Even Mexico's first woman president, Claudia Sheinbaum, piled on, saying at a news conference in her country's capital that she wanted to give "recognition" to Miss Mexico for voicing her disagreement in a "dignified" way.

"It seems to me that it is an example of how women should raise our voices," Sheinbaum said.

Sheinbaum recalled being told in the past that "women look more beautiful when they keep quiet."

"We women look more beautiful when we raise our voice and participate, because that has to do with the recognition of our rights," she said.

Nawat later apologized for his actions, appearing both tearful and defiant at the same time.

"If anyone (was) affected and not comfortable it happened, I am so sorry," he said in front of the contestants. He then turned to them and said, "It's passed. OK? Are you happy?"

Bosch's official Miss Universe biography says she studied fashion in Mexico and Italy and has focused on creating sustainable designs and working with discarded materials. It says she has volunteered with sick children, promoted environmental awareness, and engaged in supported migrants and mental health issues.

This year's competition also saw a report that two judges had quit, with one of them suggesting that there was an element of rigging to the contest. The allegation was denied. Separately, Thai police investigated the alleged illegal promotion of online casinos as part of the event's publicity.

Mishaps and controversies are not rare for the pageant. The 2021 event attracted criticism because it was held in Israel, to the dismay of supporters of the Palestinian cause.

An example of a minor misstep literally occurred Wednesday when Miss Universe Jamaica, Gabrielle Henry, fell off the stage during the evening gown competition. She was not badly hurt.

Nearly 800 air traffic controllers and technicians will receive a $10,000 bonus for working through the 44-day government shutdown without taking time off.

The bonus comes on top of the back pay they are owed for their work during the shutdown.

This award is an acknowledgment of their dedication and a heartfelt appreciation for going above and beyond in service to the nation, Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy said.

The department said employees eligible for the bonus will receive notice next week and should get their payments no later than Dec. 9.

RELATED STORY | Duffy: Air traffic controllers could lose jobs for calling in sick during shutdown

While Duffy praised the controllers who consistently reported for duty, he struck a different tone toward those who did not. At one point during the shutdown, he told Scripps News that employees who called in sick could face consequences.

"If they're sick, they're sick. I'm fine with that," Duffy said. "But if they're not showing up to work, and they're calling out for other reasons. And it's coordinated, and they collaborate on it, I don't want those people working in air traffic."

The Federal Aviation Administration has more than 14,000 air traffic controllers nationwide. With about 800 employees receiving bonuses, it appears most took some leave during the shutdown period.

Many employees spoke out during the shutdown, saying the lapse in pay strained their families and forced them to consider other jobs to make ends meet.

Staffing shortages contributed to nationwide flight delays and cancellations, eventually prompting the Department of Transportation to implement flight restrictions at 40 major U.S. airports.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday that Ukraine has to confront the possibility of losing its dignity or risking the loss of a key partner as it figures out how to respond to a U.S. peace proposal to end Russia's war with his country.

"This is one of the most difficult moments in our history," Zelenskyy said in a video address to the nation. "Currently, the pressure on Ukraine is one of the hardest. Ukraine may now face a very difficult choice, either losing its dignity or the risk of losing a key partner."

He said Ukraine would "work calmly with America and all partners," as he vowed to work constructively.

Zelenskyy spoke earlier by phone with the leaders of Germany, France and the United Kingdom, who assured him of their continued support, as European officials scrambled to respond to U.S. peace proposals that apparently caught them unawares.

RELATED STORY | US and Russia draw up peace plan for Ukraine that includes big concessions from Kyiv

The U.S. plan contains many of Russian President Vladimir Putin's longstanding demands, including Ukrainian territorial concessions, while offering limited security guarantees to Ukraine.

Wary of antagonizing U.S. President Donald Trump, the European and Ukrainian responses were cautiously worded and pointedly commended American peace efforts.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer assured Zelenskyy of "their unchanged and full support on the way to a lasting and just peace" in Ukraine, Merz's office said.

The four leaders welcomed U.S. efforts to end the war. "In particular, they welcomed the commitment to the sovereignty of Ukraine and the readiness to grant Ukraine solid security guarantees," the statement added.

"They agreed to continue pursuing the aim of protecting vital European and Ukrainian interests in the long term," the statement said. "That includes the line of contact being the point of departure for an agreement and that the Ukrainian armed forces must remain in a position to defend the sovereignty of Ukraine effectively."

Starmer said the right of Ukraine to "determine its future under its sovereignty is a fundamental principle."

RELATED STORY | State Department approves potential sale of Patriot missiles to Ukraine

Existential threat to Europe

European countries see their own futures at stake in Ukraine's fight against Russia's full-scale invasion and have insisted on being consulted in peace efforts.

"Russia's war against Ukraine is an existential threat to Europe. We all want this war to end. But how it ends matters," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said in Brussels. "Russia has no legal right whatsoever to any concessions from the country it invaded. Ultimately, the terms of any agreement are for Ukraine to decide."

The plan foresees Ukraine handing over territory to Russia, something Zelenskyy has repeatedly ruled out, reduces the size of it army and blocks its route to NATO membership.

Zelenskyy said the leaders discussed the plan and appreciated the efforts of Trump and his team, although he added that they are "working on the document."

"We are closely coordinating to ensure that the principled positions are taken into account," Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post.

The proposals come at a difficult time for Zelenskyy, who is grappling with a push on the battlefield by Russia's bigger army and a major domestic corruption scandal.

IN THE SHADOWS | Frontline legend to a war within: A Ukrainian soldiers other battle

Caught off guard

A European government official said that the U.S. plans weren't officially presented to Ukraine's European backers.

Many of the proposals are "quite concerning," the European government official said, adding that a bad deal for Ukraine would also be a threat to broader European security.

The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to discuss the plan publicly.

European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said she also would call Zelenskyy to discuss the 28-point plan.

"Important is a key principle we have always upheld, and that is nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine," she said at a G20 summit in Johannesburg, South Africa.

European Council President Antonio Costa in Johannesburg said of the U.S. proposals: "The European Union has not been communicated (about) any plans in (an) official manner."

Ukraine examines the proposals

Ukrainian officials said they were weighing the U.S. proposals, and Zelenskyy said he expected to talk to Trump about it in coming days.

"We are fully aware that America's strength and America's support can truly bring peace closer, and we do not want to lose that," Zelenskyy said on Telegram late Thursday.

The Kremlin offered a reserved reaction, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov saying that Moscow has not officially received the U.S. peace plan.

"No, we haven't received anything officially. We're seeing some innovations. But officially, we haven't received anything. And there hasn't been a substantive discussion of these points," Peskov told reporters without elaborating further.

He claimed U.S.-Russian diplomatic contacts are "ongoing," but "nothing substantive is currently being discussed."

A U.S. team began drawing up the plan soon after U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff held talks with Rustem Umerov, a top adviser to Zelenskyy, according to a senior Trump administration official who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The official added that Umerov agreed to most of the plan, after making several modifications, and then presented it to Zelenskyy.

Umerov on Friday denied that version of events. He said he only organized meetings and prepared the talks.

He said technical talks between the U.S. and Ukraine were continuing in Kyiv. Ukrainian officials are "carefully studying all the partners' proposals, expecting the same respectful attitude toward the Ukrainian position."

"We are thoughtfully processing the partners' proposals within the framework of Ukraine's unchanging principles sovereignty, people's security, and a just peace," he said.

Russian glide bomb hits Ukraine homes

Meanwhile, a Russian glide bomb slammed into a residential district in the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia, killing five people, officials said Friday, as Moscow's forces continued to hammer civilian areas of Ukraine. The overnight attack also injured 10 people, including a teenage girl.

The powerful glide bomb damaged some high-rise apartment blocks for the third time since the war began and also wrecked a local market, according to the head of the regional military administration, Ivan Fedorov.

A Russian drone assault on the southern city of Odesa also struck a residential area during the night, injuring five people, including a 16-year-old boy.

The attacks came two days after a Russian drone and missile barrage on Ukraine's western city of Ternopil killed 31 people, including six children, and injured 94 others, including 18 children.

Emergency services say 13 people are still unaccounted for after the attack crushed the top floors of apartment blocks and started fires.

President Donald Trump has further loosened tariffs on Brazil as part of his effort to lower consumer costs for Americans. The decision, released Thursday, affects coffee, fruit and beef, among other goods.

The White House said last week that Trump was rolling back some worldwide tariffs that were originally announced in April.

However, Brazil said that didn't affect levies that Trump had enacted in July to punish the country for prosecuting his political ally, former President Jair Bolsonaro.

Thursday's decision harmonizes Trump's plans, ensuring that neither the April nor July tariffs apply to certain products.

Trump and Brazilian President Luiz Incio Lula da Silva have been negotiating over trade, which could further reduce tariffs.

President Donald Trump will meet with New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani in the Oval Office on Friday.

Trump had been sharply critical of the 34-year-old during the campaign, calling the Democratic socialist a community threat and warning he might pull federal funding from New York if Mamdani won.

But the president struck a softer tone ahead of the meeting.

"He's got a different philosophy, he's a little bit different," Trump said in an interview on the Brian Kilmeade Show Friday morning. "I give him a lot of credit for the run. He did a successful run. We know runs are not easy, but I think we will get along fine."

RELATED STORY | Mamdani makes history in NYC mayors race: 'We have toppled a political dynasty'

The shift marks a notable reversal after Trump publicly urged voters to back former Gov. Andrew Cuomo instead.

"I would much rather see a Democrat, who has had a Record of Success, WIN, than a Communist with no experience and a Record of COMPLETE AND TOTAL FAILURE," Trump previously wrote on social media.

Mamdani has also been outspoken in his criticism of Trump.

"If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him," Mamdani said after the election.

After a grueling campaign and election, Mamdani has said he is willing to work with anyone to help New Yorkers, even the president. He plans to discuss affordability issues facing residents as well as public safety.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the invitation demonstrates Trumps willingness to work with others for the good of the American people.

Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., announced Thursday night on Jimmy Kimmel Live! that he is running for California governor. Swalwell said he plans to run on an anti-Trump platform.

"I'm excited to do it," he told Kimmel.

He joins a crowded field of Democratic candidates seeking to replace term-limited Gov. Gavin Newsom. No clear front-runner has emerged in the race.

RELATED STORY | Newsom says Trump climate-fighting absence is 'doubling down on stupid'

Democrats in the race include former Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, former California Assembly Majority Leader Ian Calderon, former U.S. Rep. Katie Porter, former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and former presidential candidate Tom Steyer. Former Vice President Kamala Harris was rumored to be interested in running but declined.

Swalwell also ran for president in 2020 but dropped out early in the primaries to focus on winning reelection to his House seat. He last won his heavily Democratic district with more than 67% of the vote.

Lawyers for the Justice Department now say a grand jury did fully approve a final indictment against former FBI Director James Comey, backtracking answers given to a judge on Wednesday that suggested the indictment hadn't followed proper procedure.

Lindsey Halligan, interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, said in new statements Thursday that the grand jury approved a two-count indictment against Comey after it rejected one of the original three counts initially brought by the Justice Department.

The new filing describes the cause of the confusion as a "clerical inconsistency." It includes transcripts from when the two-count indictment was returned in September that appear to show that the jury approved of the revised two-count indictment.

So you voted on the one that has the two counts? the judge said, according to the transcript.

Yes, the foreperson replied.

RELATED STORY | Prosecutors admit Comey indictment never reached full grand jury

On Wednesday, a U.S. District Judge questioned prosecutors about how the grand jury indictment was approved and whether proper procedures were followed.

Let me be clear that the second indictment, the operative indictment in this case that Mr. Comey faces, is a document that was never shown to the entire grand jury or presented in the grand jury room; is that correct? the judge asked.

Standing here in front of you, Your Honor, yes, that is my understanding, replied Tyler Lemons, the assistant U.S. Attorney leading Comeys prosecution.

Comey has pleaded not guilty to making false statements and obstructing Congress and is seeking to have the criminal case dismissed. His attorneys argue the prosecution is vindictive and rooted in former President Donald Trumps personal animus toward him.

ESPN and Major League Baseball appeared headed for an ugly separation after the network opted out of its rights deal in February.

Nine months later, it appears to be the best thing to happen to both parties.

ESPN has a reworked deal that includes out-of-market streaming rights while NBC and Netflix will air games as part of a new three-year media rights agreement announced by MLB on Wednesday.

I think its really important that we manage to continue a relationship with ESPN. Theyve been kind of the bedrock of our broadcast program for a long time, baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred said.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | ESPN is acquiring NFL Network with rights to distribute popular RedZone program

NBC/Peacock will become the new home of Sunday Night Baseball and the Wild Card Series while Netflix will have the Home Run Derby and two additional games.

The three deals will average nearly $800 million per year. ESPN will still pay $550 million while the NBC deal is worth $200 million and Netflix $50 million.

How ESPN benefits

ESPN, which has carried baseball since 1990, loses postseason games and the Home Run Derby but gains something more valuable for its bottom line by becoming the rights holder for MLB.TV, which will be available on the ESPN app.

ESPN also gets the in-market streaming rights for the six teams whose games are produced by MLB: San Diego, Colorado, Arizona, Cleveland, Minnesota and Seattle.

Even though ESPN no longer has Sunday Night Baseball, it will have 30 exclusive games, primarily on weeknights and in the summer months.

Were excited to have a midweek package back out there, Manfred said. This is an evolution of a relationship. Long relationships go through these things, and its an evolution that I think is significant. I think it is consonant with ESPNs focus on streaming going forward.

Baseball is the second league that has its out-of-market digital package available in the U.S. on ESPNs platform. The NHL moved its package to ESPN in 2021.

Welcome back, NBC

NBC, which celebrates its 100th anniversary next year, has a long history with baseball, albeit not much recently. The network carried games from 1939 through 1989. It was part of the short-lived Baseball Network with ABC in 1994 and 95 and then aired playoff games from 1996 through 2000.

Its first game will be on March 26 when the defending two-time champion Los Angeles Dodgers host the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The 25 Sunday night games will air mostly on NBC with the rest on the new NBC Sports Network. All will stream on Peacock.

The first Sunday Night Baseball game on NBC will be April 12 with the next one in May after the NBA playoffs.

IN RELATED NEWS | MLB will use robot umpires in 2026

The addition of baseball games gives NBC a year-around night of sports on Sunday nights. It has had NFL games on Sunday night since 2006 and will debut an NBA Sunday night slate in February.

NBC will also have a prime-time game on Labor Day night.

The Sunday early-afternoon games also return to Peacock, which had them in 2022 and 23. The early-afternoon games will lead into a studio Whip-Around Show before the Sunday night game.

NBC/Peacock will also do the Major League Futures game on the day before the Home Run Derby and coverage of the first round of the amateur draft on the Saturday heading into the All-Star break.

Netflix and baseball

Netflix's baseball deals are in alignment with its strategy of going for big events in a major sport. The streamer will have an NFL Christmas doubleheader this season for the second straight year.

Besides the Home Run Derby, Netflix will have the first game of the season on March 25 when three-time AL MVP Aaron Judge and the New York Yankees visit the San Francisco Giants. It also has the Home Run Derby and the Field of Dreams game at Dyersville, Iowa, on Aug. 13, when Minnesota faces Philadelphia. Netflix will stream a MLB special event game each year.

Don't forget the others

The negotiations around the other deals were complicated due to the fact that MLB was also trying not to slight two of its other rights holders. MLB receives an average of $729 million from Fox and $470 million from Turner Sports per year under deals which expire after the 2028 season.

Foxs Saturday nights have been mainly sports the past couple years with a mix of baseball, college football, college basketball and motorsports.

Apple TV has had Friday Night Baseball since 2022.

The deals also set up Manfred for future negotiations. He would like to see MLB take a more national approach to its rights instead of a large percentage of its games being on regional sports networks.

The U.S. and Russia have drawn up a plan aimed at ending the war in Ukraine that calls for major concessions from Kyiv, according to a person familiar with the matter, including granting some demands the Kremlin has made repeatedly since the full-scale invasion began nearly four years ago.

It was not clear what, if any, concessions the proposal asks of Russia. The same person confirmed that promises from Moscow of no further attacks are part of the framework.

In other developments, Russias chief military officer, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, announced that Moscows forces had taken full control of Kupiansk in Ukraines Kharkiv region, although he also said that some Ukrainian troops remained in the city.

The general staff for Ukraines armed forces denied Gerasimovs claims and said that Kyivs forces remained in control of Kupiansk.

An aggressive timeline for peace

Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff have been quietly working on the peace plan for a month, receiving input from both Ukrainians and Russians on terms that are acceptable to each side, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Thursday.

She declined to comment on details of the emerging proposal, but she said U.S. President Donald Trump has been briefed on it and supports it.

"It is a good plan for both Russia and Ukraine, and we believe it should be acceptable to both sides. And we are working hard to get it done, Leavitt said.

The latest Trump administration push for peace has piled more pressure on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is marshaling his countrys defenses against Russias bigger army, visiting European leaders to ensure they continue their support for Ukraine and navigating a major corruption scandal that has caused public outrage.

U.S. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll was also in Kyiv on Thursday to give a new push to peace efforts and assess the reality on the ground in Ukraine. Zelenskyy confirmed that he had met with Driscoll and discussed options for achieving real peace.

Our teams of Ukraine and the United States will work on the provisions of the plan to end the war. We are ready for constructive, honest and swift work, he wrote in a post on X.

Zelenskyys office also said in a statement that the Ukrainian president expected to talk to Trump in coming days about diplomatic opportunities.

European diplomats urge wider consultations

As reports of the Russia-U.S. peace plan emerged, blindsided European diplomats insisted they and Ukraine must be consulted.

European leaders have already been alarmed this year by indications that Trumps administration might be sidelining them and Zelenskyy in its push to stop the fighting. Trumps at-times conciliatory approach to Russian President Vladimir Putin has fueled those concerns, but Trump adopted a tougher line last month when he announced heavy sanctions on Russia's vital oil sector that come into force Friday.

For any plan to work, it needs Ukrainians and Europeans on board, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said at the start of a meeting in Brussels of the 27-nation blocs foreign ministers. She added: We havent heard of any concessions on the Russian side."

German Foreign Minister Johannes Wadephul said he talked by phone Thursday with Witkoff and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to discuss our various current efforts to end Russias war of aggression against Ukraine and thus finally put an end to the immeasurable human suffering.

The conversations also focused on specific ideas that are currently being discussed, Wadephul said in a statement. He did not elaborate.

RELATED STORY | State Department approves potential sale of Patriot missiles to Ukraine

Plan would give Russia control of the Donbas

It was not clear whether the foreign ministers had seen the peace plan, which was first reported by Axios. The proposal was drawn up by U.S. and Russian envoys, and was said to include forcing Ukraine to cede territory, a prospect Zelenskyy has ruled out.

The Trump administrations diplomatic efforts this year to stop the fighting have so far come to nothing.

The proposal, which could still be changed, calls in part for Ukraine to cede territory to Russia and to abandon certain weaponry, according to the person who had been briefed on the contours of the plan but was not authorized to comment publicly. It would also include the rollback of some critical U.S. military assistance.

Russia, as part of the proposal, would be given effective control of the entire eastern Donbas region, Ukraines industrial heartland made up of the Donetsk and neighboring Luhansk regions, even though Ukraine still holds part of it. Putin has listed the capture of the Donbas as the key goal of the invasion.

Witkoff and Kirill Dmitriev, a close adviser to Putin, have been key to drafting the proposal, according to the person familiar with the matter.

But a peace deal that requires Kyiv to hand over territory to Russia would not only be deeply unpopular with Ukrainians, it also would be illegal under Ukraines constitution. Zelenskyy has repeatedly ruled out such a possibility.

Rubio said on social platform X late Wednesday that American officials are and will continue to develop a list of potential ideas for a lasting peace agreement which will require both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Thursday that there there are no consultations per se currently underway with the U.S. on ending the war in Ukraine. There are certainly contacts, but processes that could be called consultations are not underway, he told reporters.

EU accuses Russia of insincerity

Though the European diplomats appeared caught by surprise, reported elements of the plan were not new. Trump said last month that the Donbas region should be cut up, leaving most of it in Russian hands.

EU diplomats have accused Putin of being insincere in saying he wants peace but refusing to compromise in negotiations while sustaining Russias grinding war of attrition in Ukraine.

Kallas, the EUs chief diplomat, chided Putins forces for continuing to target civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, a day after a strike on the western city of Ternopil killed 26 people and wounded 93 others. About two dozen people were still missing.

Kallas said that if Russia really wanted peace, it could have agreed to (an) unconditional ceasefire already some time ago.

Trump has stopped sending military aid directly to Ukraine, with European countries taking up the slack by buying weaponry for Ukraine from the United States. That has given Europe leverage in talks on ending the conflict.

Russia reports gains in two regions

In a video released by the Kremlin, Gerasimov told Putin, who attended the meeting dressed in combat fatigues, that Russian troops had taken Kupiansk and that they continued to destroy Ukrainian forces encircled on the left bank of the Oskil River.

He also said Russian troops had taken 80% the Ukrainian city of Vovchansk, also in the Kharkiv region, and 70% of the fiercely contested city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region.

The Ukrainian military denied all of Gerasimov's claims. In a statement issued late Thursday, the general staff said Kupiansk remained under Kyiv's control and that efforts were underway to eliminate the enemy presence in the city and its suburbs.

The city of Kupiansk and the territories around it were under Russian occupation from early in Russias invasion in February 2022 until September 2022, when Ukrainian forces conducted a rapid offensive operation that dislodged the Kremlins forces from nearly the entire Kharkiv region.

The retaking of those areas strengthened Ukraines arguments that its troops could deliver more stinging defeats to Russia with additional armament deliveries.

Shoppers will have extra time to return gifts this holiday season as Amazon expands its return window to make shopping online as seamless and worry-free as possible.

According to the Seattle-based companys website, most items purchased through Dec. 31 can be returned through Jan. 31 of next year. Some exceptions apply, including Apple-brand products, which must be returned by Jan. 15, 2026.

Most items can be returned for a refund or replacement/exchange within 30 days of delivery as long as they are in original or unused condition, Amazon said in a statement. For eligible items, you can enjoy free returns at many locations near you. For information on an items return eligibility, please check the product detail page before placing your order. After placing an order, you can find relevant information on an items return eligibility in your Order History.

RELATED STORY | Why shoppers may see fewer deals this holiday shopping season

Some items Amazon says cant be returned include:

Perishables Products that may pose potential health and safety risks once sold Products with shipping restrictions Customized products made specifically for you Redeemable products Amazon Pharmacy products Pet medication products Certain digital products Automobiles

Additionally, products listed as Final Sale are non-returnable and non-refundable, including trading card games, specific discounted items, and items sold in the Amazon Haul store that are $3 and less, the company stated.

Jarring swings keep rocking Wall Street, and U.S. stocks erased a big morning gain to drop on Thursday as the market remains skittish following weeks of doubts and erratic moves.

After initially soaring toward what seemed like its best day since May, with an early surge of 1.9%, the S&P 500 erased all of it and fell 1.6%. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 386 points, or 0.8%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 2.2%.

The sharpest losses again hit what used to be the markets biggest winners. Nvidia, cryptocurrencies and other areas that had soared with nearly relentless momentum, as traders feared missing out on more gains, forced the market lower. Bitcoin dropped below $87,000, down from nearly $125,000 last month.

The market had been shaky coming into Thursday, largely because of twin worries: Nvidia and other superstar stocks caught up in the frenzy around artificial-intelligence technology may have simply shot too high, and the Federal Reserve may be done delivering the invigorating cuts to interest rates that Wall Street loves.

RELATED STORY | Nvidia earnings clear lofty hurdle set by analysts amid fears about an AI bubble

Nvidia initially appeared to tamp down the worries about a bubble for AI stocks after reporting a big profit for the summer, along with a forecast for coming revenue that easily cleared analysts expectations. By delivering strong profits and indicating more are coming, Nvidia can justify its stocks price gains and make it look less expensive.

Given Nvidias forecasts, it is very hard to see how this stock does not keep moving higher from here, according to analysts at UBS led by Timothy Arcuri. They also said the AI infrastructure tide is still rising so fast that all boats will be lifted.

Nvidia jumped to an early gain of 5% but then dropped to a loss of 3%. Because its the biggest company in the U.S. market by value, Nvidias stock has more pull on the S&P 500 than any other companys.

Despite Nvidias big numbers, worries about a potential AI bubble arent gone. The concern among investors is that all the dollars pouring into AI chips and data centers may not ultimately produce the big profits and productivity for the economy that proponents have been promising.

Yes, Nvidia expects to sell another $65 billion of chips in the coming three months, which is more than analysts expected. But will all those chips actually create much bigger profits for Amazon and other companies using them? That question whether all the investment in AI will prove to be worth it in the end is still unanswered.

The most recent survey of global fund managers by Bank of America showed a record percentage of investors saying companies are overinvesting.

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT | Wall Street's record-breaking rally runs out of steam as gold tops $4,000 per ounce

Amazon went from an early gain of 2.1% Thursday to a loss of 2.5%. Palantir Technologies swung from a jump of 5.5% to a loss of 5.8%.

The last time the overall stock market had swings in one day as wild as Thursdays was in April, when President Donald Trump shocked the world with his stiff Liberation Day tariffs.

For the second worry thats been dogging Wall Street, interest rates, Thursdays jobs report from the U.S. government came in mixed and offered some relief. Financial markets initially seemed to pick the data apart for encouraging signals, according to Seema Shah, chief global strategist at Principal Asset Management.

The report showed hiring by U.S. employers was stronger in September than economists expected, which may suggest the economy remains solid. But it also said the unemployment rate worsened slightly, which could give the Fed reason to cut its main interest rate at its next meeting in December.

Traders still see a December rate cut as relatively unlikely, giving it a roughly 40% probability, according to data from CME Group. But thats better than the 30% chance they saw a day earlier.

What the Fed does is critical for the stock market because prices ran to records in part because of expectations for continued cuts to rates. The Fed has already cut rates twice this year to shore up the slowing job market. But lower rates can worsen inflation, which has stubbornly remained above the Feds 2% target.

On the winning side of Wall Street was Walmart, which rallied 6.5% after the retailer delivered another standout quarter. It reported strong sales and profits that blew past Wall Street expectations as it continues to lure cash-strapped Americans nervous about the economy and prices.

That wasnt enough to drown out the losses for Nvidia and tech. Companies enmeshed in the crypto industry also tumbled, as bitcoin dropped to its lowest price since April. Robinhood Markets fell 10.1%, and Coinbase Global sank 7.4%.

All told, the S&P 500 fell 103.40 points to 6,538.76. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 386.51 to 45,752.26, and the Nasdaq composite sank 486.18 to 22,078.05.

In the bond market, the yield on the 10-year Treasury eased to 4.09% from 4.13% late Wednesday.

In stock markets abroad, indexes rose across much of Europe and Asia.

Japans Nikkei 225 jumped 2.6%, and South Koreas Kospi rose 1.9% for two of the bigger gains.

The Trump administration announced on Thursday new oil drilling off the California and Florida coasts for the first time in decades, advancing a project that critics say could harm coastal communities and ecosystems, as President Donald Trump seeks to expand U.S. oil production.

The oil industry has been seeking access to new offshore areas, including Southern California and off the coast of Florida, as a way to boost U.S. energy security and jobs. The federal government has not allowed drilling in federal waters in the eastern Gulf of Mexico, which includes offshore Florida and part of offshore Alabama, since 1995, because of concerns about oil spills. California has some offshore oil rigs, but there has been no new leasing in federal waters since the mid-1980s.

Since taking office for a second time in January, Trump has systematically reversed former President Joe Bidens focus on slowing climate change to pursue what the Republican calls U.S. energy dominance in the global market. Trump, who recently called climate change the greatest con job ever perpetrated on the world," created a National Energy Dominance Council and directed it to move quickly to drive up already record-high U.S. energy production, particularly fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas.

RELATED STORY | Trump reverses Biden-era restrictions, reopens Arctic refuge to drilling

Meanwhile, Trumps administration has blocked renewable energy sources such as offshore wind and canceled billions of dollars in grants that supported hundreds of clean energy projects across the country.

Even before it was released, the offshore drilling plan has been met with strong opposition from California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat who is eyeing a 2028 presidential run and has emerged as a leading Trump critic. Newsom pronounced the idea dead on arrival in a social media post. The proposal also is likely to draw bipartisan opposition in Florida. Tourism and access to clean beaches are key parts of the economy in both states.

Plans to allow drilling off California, Alaska and Florida's coast

The administrations plan proposes six offshore lease sales off the coast of California.

It also calls for new drilling off the coast of Florida in areas at least 100 miles from that state's shore. The area targeted for leasing is adjacent to an area in the Central Gulf of Mexico that already contains thousands of wells and hundreds of drilling platforms.

The five-year plan also would compel more than 20 lease sales off the coast of Alaska, including a newly designated area known as the High Arctic, more than 200 miles offshore in the Arctic Ocean.

All offshore areas with the potential to generate jobs, new revenue and additional production to advance Americas energy dominance should be considered for inclusion, the American Petroleum Institute and other groups said in a joint letter to the Trump administration in June.

The groups cited Californias history as an oil-producing state. Undiscovered resources could be readily produced given the array of existing infrastructure in the area, particularly in southern California, the letter said.

Opposition from California and Florida

Sen. Rick Scott, a Florida Republican and Trump ally, helped persuade Trump officials to drop a similar offshore plan in 2018 when he was governor. Last week, Scott and fellow Florida Republican Sen. Ashley Moody co-sponsored a bill to maintain a moratorium on offshore drilling in the state that Trump signed in his first term.

As Floridians, we know how vital our beautiful beaches and coastal waters are to our states economy, environment and way of life, Scott said in a statement. I will always work to keep Floridas shores pristine and protect our natural treasures for generations to come.

A Newsom spokesman said Trump officials had not formally shared the plan, but said expensive and riskier offshore drilling would put our communities at risk and undermine the economic stability of our coastal economies."

California has been a leader in restricting offshore oil drilling since the infamous 1969 Santa Barbara spill that helped spark the modern environmental movement. While there have been no new federal leases offered since the mid-1980s, drilling from existing platforms continues.

Newsom expressed support for greater offshore controls after a 2021 spill off Huntington Beach and has backed a congressional effort to ban new offshore drilling on the West Coast.

A Texas-based company, with support from the Trump administration, is seeking to restart production in waters off Santa Barbara damaged by a 2015 oil spill. The administration has hailed the plan by Houston-based Sable Offshore Corp. as the kind of project Trump wants to increase U.S. energy production as the federal government removes regulatory barriers.

Trump signed an executive order on the first day of his second term reversing former President Joe Bidens ban on future offshore oil drilling on the East and West coasts. A federal court later struck down Bidens order to withdraw 625 million acres of federal waters from oil development.

Environmental and economic concerns over oil spills

Democratic lawmakers, including California Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff and Rep. Jared Huffman, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, warned that opening vast coastlines to new offshore drilling "would devastate coastal economies, jeopardize our national security, ravage coastal ecosystems, and put millions of Americans health and safety at risk.''

Oil spills not only cause irreparable environmental damage, but also suppress the value of coastal homes, harm tourism economies and weaken coastal infrastructure,'' the lawmakers said in a letter signed by dozens of Democrats. One disastrous oil spill can cost taxpayers billions in lost revenue, cleanup costs and ecosystem restoration, they said.

Joseph Gordon, campaign director for the environmental group Oceana, called the Trump administration's latest plan an oil spill nightmare.

Coastal communities depend on healthy oceans for economic security and their cherished way of life,'' he said. We need to protect our coasts from more offshore drilling, not put them up for sale to the oil and gas industry. Theres too much at stake to risk more horrific oil spills that will haunt our coastlines for generations to come.