WASHINGTON — The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced a recall of approximately 2,855 pounds of raw ground beef after routine testing detected E. coli O26, a strain of Shiga toxin-producing bacteria that can cause gastrointestinal illness. The recalled product was distributed in six states and is being pulled from store shelves as a precautionary measure.

St. Paul, Minn. - A powerful winter storm system, designated “Brigitte Bardot” by the National Weather Service’s storm-naming protocol, dumped heavy snow and ice across large swaths of the Upper Midwest and disrupted one of the busiest travel weekends of the holiday season. The system has produced blizzard-like conditions in parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas.

Washington, D.C. — White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Friday that she and her husband are expecting their second child. Leavitt, 28, shared the news in a social media post, revealing that the couple’s baby girl is due in May 2026.

Washington — The Justice Department on Tuesday released a new batch of documents related to the Epstein case, signaling a continuing effort to make investigative materials accessible to the public. The thousands of pages, previously sealed or heavily redacted in portions, were posted on the department’s public portal after a routine review process that accompanies successive releases.

In a last-minute editorial shift that drew attention across the media landscape, 60 Minutes decided to replace its scheduled investigation on Venezuelan deportations with a cultural segment examining the historical accuracy of Christopher Nolan’s forthcoming film, The Odyssey.

PHOENIX — At the annual Turning Point USA AmericaFest conference this weekend, Vice President J.D. Vance offered the traditional “Festivus blessing” and invited attendees to participate in an Airing of Grievances during the gathering’s concluding sessions. The comment came on the final day of the multiday conservative youth organization’s flagship event, held at the Phoenix Convention Center.

Atlanta - Comedian Dave Chappelle publicly criticized what he described as "heavy-handed redactions" in the newly released Jeffrey Epstein case files, claiming that portions of the documents likely mention him.

Chappelle, known for blending sharp social commentary with humor, told the audience that he visited Epstein’s private island "numerous times" but insisted his visits were unrelated to any alleged criminal activity. “I know I’m all over those files,” Chappelle joked, according to audience recordings circulated online. “It’s not fair that I don’t get credit.”