Judge extends block on Trump administration’s sweeping freeze on federal funding

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has agreed to continue blocking President Donald Trump’s administration from freezing grants and loans potentially totaling trillions of dollars. U.S. District Judge Loren AliKhan in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday issued a preliminary injunction requested by groups representing thousands of nonprofits and small businesses. It’s the first such order since the Trump administration announced a sweeping pause on federal aid, stirring up a wave of confusion and anxiety across the U.S. The administration rescinded its planned funding freeze after AliKhan temporarily blocked it earlier this month.

Inflation, looming trade war take a toll as confidence of the US consumer tumbles

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumer confidence plummeted in February, the biggest monthly decline in more than four years, a business research group said Tuesday. The Conference Board reported that its consumer confidence index sank this month to 98.3 from 105.3 in January. That’s well below economists’ projections for a reading of 103. The seven-point drop was the biggest month-to-month decline since August of 2021. Markets on Wall Street immediately tumbled on the news. The S&P 500 fell 0.5%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average slid 1.7%. Consumer spending accounts for about two-thirds of U.S. economic activity and is closely watched by economists for signs about how the American consumer is feeling.

Asteroid 2024 YR4 is no longer a threat to Earth, scientists say

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Scientists have finally given the all-clear to Earth from a newly discovered asteroid. NASA and the European Space Agency said Tuesday that after two months of observations, scientists have almost fully ruled out any threat. At one point, the odds of a strike in 2032 were as high as about 3% and topped the world’s asteroid-risk lists. But ESA lowered the odds to 0.001%. NASA had it down to 0.0027%. But there’s still a 1.7% chance the asteroid could hit the moon in 2032. Discovered in December, the asteroid is about 130 feet to 300 feet across, and swings our way every four years.

Supreme Court throws out Oklahoma inmate’s murder conviction and death sentence

WASHINGTON (AP) — The wife of an Oklahoma man whose murder conviction and death penalty were thrown out by the Supreme Court says the decision is “an answered prayer.” Richard Glossip was found guilty in the killing of a motel owner in 1997 but has steadfastly maintained his innocence and averted multiple attempts by the state to execute him. The justices Tuesday said prosecutors’ decision to allow a key witness to give testimony they knew to be false violated Glossip’s constitutional right to a fair trial. Glossip’s attorney says the court was right to overturn the conviction. Oklahoma’s Republican attorney general says he’s thankful for “a fresh opportunity to see that justice is done.”