Fla. federal judge tosses Trump’s $15B defamation lawsuit against The New York Times

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — A Florida federal judge has tossed out a $15 billion defamation lawsuit filed by President Donald Trump against The New York Times. U.S. District Judge Steven Merryday ruled Friday that Trump’s lawsuit was overly long and was full of “tedious and burdensome” language that had no bearing on the legal case. The judge gave Trump has 28 days to file an amended complaint and said it should not exceed 40 pages. The lawsuit was 85 pages. It targeted four Times journalists in a book and three articles published within a two-month period before the 2024 election. Times had called it meritless and an attempt to discourage independent reporting.

Army says 4 soldiers died in a helicopter crash in Washington state this week

SEATTLE (AP) — The U.S. Army is confirming the deaths of four special operations soldiers aboard a U.S. Army MH-60 Black Hawk helicopter that crashed near Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington state. The helicopter was on a routine training mission west of the base when it crashed at about 9 p.m. Wednesday. Officials said the soldiers were part of the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment, Airborne. The regiment’s mission is to organize, equip and employ Army special operations aviation forces around the world, according to the Army’s website. The cause of the crash was under investigation, officials said. The crash sparked a small wildfire.

Trump signs proclamation imposing $100K annual fee for H-1B visa applications

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has signed a proclamation that will require a new, $100,000 annual fee for H-1B visa applications. This move is among the changes to the program for highly skilled foreign workers, which has come under scrutiny by the administration. H-1B visas are intended to bring skilled foreigners for jobs that tech companies struggle to fill with U.S. citizens. Critics argue the program allows companies to pay lower wages and fill entry-level jobs. Historically, these visas have been distributed through a lottery system, with California having the highest number of H-1B workers.

ICE arrests nearly 550 in Chicago area as part of ‘Midway Blitz’

PARK RIDGE, Ill. (AP) — Immigration enforcement officials have arrested almost 550 people in the Chicago area as part of an operation that began less than two weeks ago. The Department of Homeland Security announced the arrests Friday. The operation, called “Midway Blitz,” started Sept. 8 and has raised concerns among activists and immigrant communities. They report a noticeable increase in immigration enforcement agents. Officials say about 50% to 60% of the arrests were targeted, while the rest were collateral arrests. The operation follows similar efforts in Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and has sparked controversy over its aggressive tactics.