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Aircraft maintenance workers arrive to inspect the wreckage of an Air Canada Express jet, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, just off the runway where it had collided with a Port Authority fire truck Sunday night at LaGuardia Airport in New York. (AP Photo/Yuki Iwamura)

Pilots killed in LaGuardia collision were young Canadians who had long dreamed of flying planes

Safiyah Riddle, The Associated Press 4 minute read Updated: Yesterday at 7:15 PM CDT

The pilots killed in Sunday's collision between a plane and a fire truck on a runway in New York were two young, ambitious Canadian men that had long dreamed of becoming pilots.

Mackenzie Gunther and Antoine Forrest were operating the Air Canada jet that was landing at New York’s LaGuardia Airport on Sunday when it collided with a fire truck. Officials still haven’t identified the two men publicly, but a family member who spoke to The Associated Press and a Canadian college that one of the men attended separately confirmed their identities.

About 40 of the roughly 70 passengers and crew members on the regional jet from Montreal, and two people from the fire truck, were taken to hospitals, some with serious injuries. Most were released by Monday morning, authorities said.

“These were two young men at the start of their careers,” FAA Administrator Brian Bedford told reporters Monday. “It’s an absolute tragedy that we’re sitting here with their loss.”

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Russia says it shot down almost 400 Ukrainian drones as Moscow and Kyiv escalate aerial barrages

Dasha Litvinova, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Russia says it shot down almost 400 Ukrainian drones as Moscow and Kyiv escalate aerial barrages

Dasha Litvinova, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: 9:29 AM CDT

Russian air defenses downed 389 incoming Ukrainian drones, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday, in what was the largest reported overnight attack on Russian regions and Crimea since Moscow’s forces invaded Ukraine more than four years ago.

The drones were stopped over 13 Russian regions as well as the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed from Ukraine in 2014.

The attack underlined the growing capability of Ukraine’s domestically developed and manufactured long-range drones.

It came a day after Russia fired almost 1,000 drones and 34 missiles at civilian areas of Ukraine in the space of 24 hours, extending its usual nighttime barrage into daylight hours in one of its biggest aerial attacks of the war. At least six people were killed and around 50 people were injured, Ukrainian authorities said.

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Updated: 9:29 AM CDT

Fire and smoke raises above the city center following Russia's drone attack in Lviv, Ukraine, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Mykola Tys)

Most Americans say US military action against Iran has gone too far, a new AP-NORC poll finds

Linley Sanders And Michael Catalini, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Most Americans say US military action against Iran has gone too far, a new AP-NORC poll finds

Linley Sanders And Michael Catalini, The Associated Press 6 minute read Updated: 8:54 AM CDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Most Americans believe recent U.S. military action against Iran has gone too far, and many are worried about affording gasoline, according to a new AP-NORC poll.

As the war launched by the U.S. and Israel continues in its fourth week, the survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research indicates that while President Donald Trump's approval rating is holding steady, the conflict could be swiftly turning into a major political liability for his Republican administration.

While Trump is deploying more warships and troops to the Middle East, about 59% of Americans say U.S. military action in Iran has been excessive.

Meanwhile, 45% are “extremely” or “very” concerned about being able to afford gas in the next few months, up from 30% in an AP-NORC poll conducted shortly after Trump won reelection with promises that he would improve the economy and lower the cost of living.

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Updated: 8:54 AM CDT

First responders inspect a destroyed car at the site of a residential building hit in an overnight strike during the U.S.-Israeli military campaign in Tabriz, East Azerbaijan Province, northwestern Iran, Tuesday, March 24, 2026. (AP Photo/Matin Hashemi)

New studies of old dogs help scientists understand where they came from

Adithi Ramakrishnan, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

New studies of old dogs help scientists understand where they came from

Adithi Ramakrishnan, The Associated Press 3 minute read 11:01 AM CDT

NEW YORK (AP) — Using the oldest dog genes studied so far, scientists are finding more evidence that our furry friends have been our companions for thousands of years.

Scientists think dogs descended from an ancient population of gray wolves somewhere in Europe or Asia. Tens of thousands of years ago, those wolves got used to living with people and became less aggressive. As they became domesticated, their genes shifted along with their behavior, giving rise to the pups we know today.

But exactly when and where this happened remains a mystery. Scientists are studying bits of DNA found in ancient dog and wolf remains to figure out what the earliest dogs may have looked like and where they came from.

In two separate studies published Wednesday in the journal Nature, researchers pushed the timeline back. They established a new way to study ancient canine DNA — which is often contaminated and tough to extract — by isolating just the doggy bits.

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11:01 AM CDT

A researcher holds a 14,300 year-old dog jawbone found at Gough's Cave in the United Kingdom, on Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in London. (AP Photo/Mustakim Hasnath)

UK bans crypto donations to political parties in bid to curb foreign influence

Jill Lawless, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

UK bans crypto donations to political parties in bid to curb foreign influence

Jill Lawless, The Associated Press 3 minute read 10:33 AM CDT

LONDON (AP) — British political parties will be banned from accepting donations in cryptocurrencies, Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced Wednesday, saying illicit finance poses a “stark” danger to the country’s democracy.

Starmer told lawmakers that “we will act decisively to protect our democracy” from outside meddling. “That will include a moratorium on all political donations made through cryptocurrencies,” he said during the weekly Prime Minister’s Questions session in the House of Commons.

The move could be a financial blow to the hard-right party Reform UK. The party led by Nigel Farage is one of the few in Britain to accept cryptocurrency donations.

The government also said it will put an annual cap of 100,000 pounds ($134,000) on donations by British voters living abroad. Reform has received 12 million pounds in the past year from Christopher Harborne, a British businessman based in Thailand, according to Electoral Commission figures.

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10:33 AM CDT

Britain's Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer departs 10 Downing Street to attend Prime Minister's Questions at the Houses of Parliament, in London, Wednesday March 18, 2026. (Ben Whitley/PA via AP)

Hungary will cut natural gas supplies to Ukraine until Russian oil deliveries resume

Justin Spike, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Hungary will cut natural gas supplies to Ukraine until Russian oil deliveries resume

Justin Spike, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: 6:44 AM CDT

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary will gradually cut off gas supplies to Ukraine until Russian oil deliveries resume through the Druzhba pipeline, Prime Minister Viktor Orbán said on Wednesday.

The transit of natural gas through Hungary plays a key role in fulfilling the energy needs of Ukraine, now in its fourth year of war with Russia.

Russian oil supplies to Hungary and Slovakia have been halted for nearly two months after what Ukrainian officials say were Russian drone attacks that damaged the pipeline, which crosses Ukrainian territory, and that continuous strikes risk the lives of technicians trying to repair it.

The populist leaders of Hungary and Slovakia have accused Ukraine of deliberately holding up Russian deliveries. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said earlier this month that he is reluctant to allow Russian oil to continue transiting his country.

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Updated: 6:44 AM CDT

Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orban arrives for the EU summit at the European Council building in Brussels, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Geert Vanden Wijngaert)

Editorial Roundup: United States

The Associated Press 18 minute read 11:09 AM CDT

Excerpts from recent editorials in the United States and abroad:

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March 24

The Washington Post says cutting gas taxes is good politics, but bad policy

The Latest: DHS officials to give update to Congress as travel delays worsen

The Associated Press 9 minute read Preview

The Latest: DHS officials to give update to Congress as travel delays worsen

The Associated Press 9 minute read Updated: 11:01 AM CDT

As travel disruptions deepen and senators race to clinch a proposal to end the Homeland Security shutdown, House lawmakers are holding a hearing at 10 a.m. ET to discuss the impacts of the funding lapse.

Senators are chasing a deal that would fund much of the department, including Transportation Security Administration workers going without pay, but exclude immigration operations that have been core to the dispute.

Acting TSA administrator Ha Nguyen McNeill said multiple airports are experiencing greater than 40% callout rates, according to prepared remarks she’ll give at the hearing. She is also expected to tell lawmakers of the personal toll the shutdown has had on TSA workers who “are running out of options to keep a roof over their head and put food on the table.”

As U.S. airports remain jammed with long lines due to short staffing at TSA, President Donald Trump ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to provide airport security, alarming some lawmakers. At least 458 TSA officers have quit altogether, according to DHS.

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Updated: 11:01 AM CDT

Travelers wait in a security check point line at Philadelphia International Airport, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)

A Medicaid ‘spend down’ may get an older person long-term care coverage but isn’t a DIY strategy

Ken Sweet, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

A Medicaid ‘spend down’ may get an older person long-term care coverage but isn’t a DIY strategy

Ken Sweet, The Associated Press 6 minute read Updated: 9:39 AM CDT

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that more than half people over age 65 will need help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing or eating at some point, either for an extended period or the rest of their lives. Some research suggests that share may be as high as two-thirds.

Yet relatively few older Americans have private long-term care coverage. AHIP, a trade association representing the U.S. health insurance industry, estimates that only 3% to 4% of Americans over 50 have an active policy that covers extended care. Medicare, the main health insurance program for older Americans, generally does not pay for continuing support services in a nursing home or assisted-living community.

As the youngest baby boomers approach their mid-60s, many families, couples and individuals may be planning to rely on savings, unpaid caregiving arrangements or Medicaid, the joint state and federal assistance program for the poor. The first two options can prove inadequate, while qualifying for residential care under Medicaid is difficult due to the program's low income and asset limits.

Eldercare experts say an approach to consider, especially if the person needing care is middle-class or of modest means, is to deliberately, but systematically, put yourself or a relative into poverty so Medicaid picks up the costs of a nursing home or assisted living services sooner than later.

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Updated: 9:39 AM CDT

FILE - A woman uses a walker as she exits an assisted living building, July 4, 2025, in Boca Raton, Fla. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell, File)

Kenya’s flower industry loses millions of dollars weekly due to the Iran war

Nicholas Komu, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Kenya’s flower industry loses millions of dollars weekly due to the Iran war

Nicholas Komu, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: 4:44 AM CDT

ISINYA, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s flower industry has reported weekly losses of up to $1.4 million since the Iran war began, with growers attributing the losses to a decline in demand and shipping disruptions.

The Kenya Flower Council, a private sector organization representing growers and exporters of cut flowers and ornamentals in Kenya, said Tuesday the ongoing conflict has resulted in over $4.2 million in losses over the last three weeks.

“We are seeing a reduction in movement, delays in movement of produce, and longer routes, while pricing is extremely high. Last week, we were at $5.80 per kilo, which is the highest we’ve had in the last 10 years,” KFC Chief Executive Officer Clement Tulezi told The Associated Press.

Kenya's horticulture sector, one of its most important industries, is worth over $800 million annually, according to the Central Bank of Kenya.

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Updated: 4:44 AM CDT

Benson Misikhu, 40, carries flowers out of a cold room at Isinya Roses farm in Kajiado, Tuesday, March 24, 2026, as Kenya's flower industry is losing up to $1.4 million a week as the Iran war cuts demand and disrupts shipping. (AP Photo/Patrick Ngugi)

Supreme Court sides with Cox Communications in a copyright fight with record labels over downloads

Mark Sherman, The Associated Press 2 minute read Preview

Supreme Court sides with Cox Communications in a copyright fight with record labels over downloads

Mark Sherman, The Associated Press 2 minute read Updated: 10:53 AM CDT

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Wednesday sided with internet service provider Cox Communications in its copyright fight with record labels over illegal music downloads by Cox customers.

The justices ruled unanimously that Cox bears no liability for the copyright violations of its customers, reversing a jury verdict and lower-court rulings.

“Cox neither induced its users’ infringement nor provided a service tailored to infringement,” Justice Clarence Thomas wrote for the court in an opinion that acknowledged that the record labels “have struggled to protect their copyrights in the age of online music sharing.”

The company, in a statement, praised the court for affirming that internet service providers "are not copyright police.”

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Updated: 10:53 AM CDT

FILE - The Supreme Court in Washington, Nov. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)

Beneath Lake Erie, a vast salt mine works overtime to meet winter road demands

Sue Ogrocki, Patrick Aftoora-orsagos And Patrick Whittle, The Associated Press 3 minute read Preview

Beneath Lake Erie, a vast salt mine works overtime to meet winter road demands

Sue Ogrocki, Patrick Aftoora-orsagos And Patrick Whittle, The Associated Press 3 minute read Updated: 8:17 AM CDT

CLEVELAND, Ohio (AP) — Below Cleveland, in a subterranean world many surface dwellers don’t know exists, miners extract a crucial winter mineral — salt.

The Whiskey Island salt mine, owned by food giant Cargill, helps supply road salt across the Northeast and Great Lakes, where a colder, snowier-than-usual winter has driven demand. Many municipalities exhausted supplies that typically last through spring, said Cargill spokesperson Emily Tangeman.

“Our teams have been working overtime since September to support customers across the snowbelt,” Tangeman said, noting that early, persistent winter weather boosted demand across the industry.

The mine beneath Lake Erie, one of the world’s largest, produces 3 million to 4 million tons (2.7 million to 3.6 million metric tons) annually, although that can fall short of demand in especially harsh winters.

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Updated: 8:17 AM CDT

George Campbell, maintenance supervisor, walks down an incline in the shop at the Cargill salt mine on Whiskey Island in Cleveland, Ohio, Thursday, March 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

Iran rejects US ceasefire plan, issues its own demands as strikes land across the Mideast

Jon Gambrell, Mike Corder, Munir Ahmed And Aamer Madhani, The Associated Press 6 minute read Preview

Iran rejects US ceasefire plan, issues its own demands as strikes land across the Mideast

Jon Gambrell, Mike Corder, Munir Ahmed And Aamer Madhani, The Associated Press 6 minute read Updated: 10:59 AM CDT

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran on Wednesday dismissed an American plan to pause the war in the Middle East and launched more attacks on Israel and Gulf Arab countries, including an assault that sparked a huge fire at Kuwait International Airport.

Iran's defiance came as Israel launched airstrikes on Tehran and as the United States deployed paratroopers and more Marines to the region.

Iranian state television’s English-language broadcaster quoted an anonymous official as saying Iran rejected America’s ceasefire proposal and has its own demands for an end to the fighting. “Iran will end the war when it decides to do so and when its own conditions are met,” the hardliner-controlled Press TV quoted the official as saying.

Earlier, two officials from Pakistan, which transmitted the U.S. plan to Iran, described the 15-point proposal broadly, saying it addressed sanctions relief, a rollback of Iran’s nuclear program, limits on missiles and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, through which a fifth of the world’s oil is shipped.

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Updated: 10:59 AM CDT

March 25, 2026

Pilots killed in LaGuardia collision were young Canadians who had long dreamed of flying planes

Weather

Russia says it shot down almost 400 Ukrainian drones as Moscow and Kyiv escalate aerial barrages

Russia says it shot down almost 400 Ukrainian drones as Moscow and Kyiv escalate aerial barrages

Most Americans say US military action against Iran has gone too far, a new AP-NORC poll finds

Most Americans say US military action against Iran has gone too far, a new AP-NORC poll finds

New studies of old dogs help scientists understand where they came from

New studies of old dogs help scientists understand where they came from

UK bans crypto donations to political parties in bid to curb foreign influence

UK bans crypto donations to political parties in bid to curb foreign influence

Hungary will cut natural gas supplies to Ukraine until Russian oil deliveries resume

Hungary will cut natural gas supplies to Ukraine until Russian oil deliveries resume

Editorial Roundup: United States

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The Latest: DHS officials to give update to Congress as travel delays worsen

The Latest: DHS officials to give update to Congress as travel delays worsen

A Medicaid ‘spend down’ may get an older person long-term care coverage but isn’t a DIY strategy

A Medicaid ‘spend down’ may get an older person long-term care coverage but isn’t a DIY strategy

Kenya’s flower industry loses millions of dollars weekly due to the Iran war

Kenya’s flower industry loses millions of dollars weekly due to the Iran war

Supreme Court sides with Cox Communications in a copyright fight with record labels over downloads

Supreme Court sides with Cox Communications in a copyright fight with record labels over downloads

Beneath Lake Erie, a vast salt mine works overtime to meet winter road demands

Beneath Lake Erie, a vast salt mine works overtime to meet winter road demands

Iran rejects US ceasefire plan, issues its own demands as strikes land across the Mideast

Iran rejects US ceasefire plan, issues its own demands as strikes land across the Mideast

March 25, 2026

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