The federal government is taking over police operations in Washington, DC. A deadly explosion rocked a Pennsylvania steel plant. And the first hurricane of the year could be forming in the Atlantic. |
But first: Losing their voice. 🐳 Blue whales have stopped singing because of changing ocean conditions that are making their prey scarce, a recent study has found. |
A federal crackdown in DC |
President Donald Trump is sending 800 National Guard troops to Washington, DC, and having the federal government take control of the city's Metropolitan Police Department as part of an aggressive federal effort to crack down on crime in the nation's capital. Trump's actions follow a high-profile assault on a former staffer of the Department of Government Efficiency during an attempted carjacking earlier in August. |
Crime rate is down: While Trump laid out a dark portrait of a city in the midst of a "tragic emegency," data shows Washington's crime rate is on the decline. Violent crimes are 26% lower than last year and homicides are down 12%, according to metro police statistics. In fact, crime in the capital "is the lowest it has been in over 30 years," according to data included in a Jan. 3 statement by the U.S. Attorney's Office in Washington. 👉 What to know about Trump's announcement. |
Other cities on notice: Trump said he might expand his crackdown on crime to other major U.S. cities, such as New York, Los Angeles, Baltimore, Chicago and Oakland, California. Though he didn't elaborate on his plans, one of the two executive actions Trump signed Monday directed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to coordinate with governors and "authorize the orders of any additional members of the National Guard to active service, as he deems necessary and appropriate, to augment this mission." 👉 "This will go further," Trump warned. | A D.C. Metropolitian Police Department officer stands by before a rally near the White House, Aug. 11, 2025 before President Donald Trump ordered a federal takeover of the department. The president has increasingly criticized crime in Washington even as it's reached a 30-year low. Josh Morgan, USA TODAY |
An explosion at a steel plant |
A noise that sounded like thunder and a large plume of smoke. An explosion at a steel plant on the outskirts of Pittsburgh has killed one person; two people are missing and dozens are believed to have been injured. Allegheny County Emergency Services and police repsonded to the blast Monday at the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works plant in Clairton, Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said on social media that the steel plant was the site of "multiple explosions." Residents within a mile of the plant were being advised to remain indoors, close windows and doors and set their home cooling units to recirculation as a precaution. 👉 Follow the for the latest updates. | A Salvation Army Disaster Services vehicle is seen near the entrance to US Steel's Clairton Coke Works following an explosion at the plant in Clairton, Pennsylvania, on Monday. REBECCA DROKE, AFP via Getty Images |
A storm is coming. Tropical Storm Erin has formed in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and is on track to become the first hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic season, meteorologists said. The National Hurricane Center in Miami announced Monday that Erin had developed from a tropical wave as it churned west of the Cabo Verde Islands, an archipelago that sits off the western coast of Africa. The storm is expected to strengthen as it barrels west over the coming days, and it could become "a major hurricane." ⛈️ See where the storm could hit. |
An 'old-fashioned winter' |
There was record-breaking snowfall, bone-chilling temperatures, and personally, a lot of hot chocolate to keep warm this past winter. The Farmers' Almanac is predicting this upcoming season will be an "old-fashioned winter, with "Chill, Snow, Repeat" weather patterns. The cold and snow may not reach as far south as last year, but the Northern Plains to the New England are probably in for a cold, snowy winter. The big question you probably have: Will there be a White Christmas? Possibly in the northern Plains, but not in too many other places. ❄️ What the forecast is expected to look like in your region. | The iconic St. Louis Cathedral in the French Quarter is barely visible in the snow on Jan. 21, 2025 in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Farmers' Almanac is predicting a long season of cold and snow across the country this upcoming winter. Michael DeMocker, Getty Images |
Rebecca Morin is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY. Got thoughts or feedback? Reach out to her at rdmorin@usatoday.com. | | Three months after social media influencer Emilie Kiser's son died, a police report detailing the incident has been released. | | David Rose, a DeKalb County police officer, was killed while responding to the scene, authorities said. | | | | The White House Historical Association has acquired and commissioned official portraits of the president and first lady since 1965. | | | | One could say Jen Pawol earned the greatest compliment an umpire could get: Aside from her trailblazing debut, you'd have hardly noticed her. | | | | Women are going viral for their "unrecognizable makeup." It's all part of the "undetectable era" that's changing beauty. | | | | Jelly Roll is hoping to suit up for the field. The rapper revealed he had lost hundreds of pounds in a speech to the Tennesee Titans. | | | | Overcrowded tourist destinations are experiencing record tourism and backlash from locals, prompting experts to recommend off-the-radar alternatives. | | | | Residents of Washington, D.C. rally against President Donald Trump's takeover of city police and use of federal law enforcement. | | | | Remodeled Cracker Barrel restaurants feature a cleaner look with brighter lighting and fewer wall decorations. | | | | "Freaky Friday" brings Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan back for more body-swapping humor and a whole lot of nostalgia. | | | | | Brighten your day with one of our games. | | | | |
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