Year: 2025

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem speaks during her confirmation hearing before the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Capitol Hill on January 17, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Eric Thayer/Getty Images) (WASHINGTON) — [Read More…]

Hegseth sworn in as defense secretary after narrow Senate vote

January 25, 2025 J.P. Skelly

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — Pete Hegseth was sworn in to lead the Department of Defense on Saturday, after a narrow vote in the Senate. The vote on Friday night was initially 50-50, with Vice [Read More…]

Rhoden becomes South Dakota’s 34th Governor

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem resigned Saturday morning, minutes after being confirmed as the new Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. Noem, the first female governor of South Dakota, wrote a letter to her [Read More…]

U.S. Senate Confirms Governor Kristi Noem as Secretary of Homeland Security

January 25, 2025 J.P. Skelly

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has been confirmed as the next secretary of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) following a Senate vote on Saturday morning. Noem received 59 votes in favor and 34 votes [Read More…]

Trump fires 17 independent watchdogs at multiple agencies in late-night move

Bloomberg Creative/Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — In a late-night Friday move, President Donald Trump fired at least 17 independent watchdogs — known as inspectors general — at multiple federal agencies, sources familiar with the move told [Read More…]

Middle East live updates: Returning hostages to undergo medical assessment

Omar Al-qattaa/AFP via Getty Images (LONDON) — A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza went into effect on Sunday morning. Hostages held in the strip and Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails will be freed [Read More…]

Giant pandas Bao Li and Qing Bao make public debut at National Zoo

Female giant panda Qing Bao eats bamboo in her enclosure at the National Zoo on January 24, 2025 in Washington, DC. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images) (WASHINGTON) — Today’s the big day! Giant pandas Bao [Read More…]

Senate confirms Hegseth to lead Pentagon after VP Vance casts tie-breaking vote

Andrew Harnik/Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — The Senate, in an extremely narrow vote, confirmed Pete Hegseth, President Donald Trump’s embattled pick to serve as secretary of defense. The vote was initially 50-50, with Vice President JD [Read More…]

Trump 2nd term live updates: Senate to vote on Kristi Noem as DHS secretary Saturday

CHIP SOMODEVILLA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — President Donald Trump has kicked off his second term with a flurry of executive actions on immigration, the economy, DEI and more. In his first trip since becoming [Read More…]

Suspects in Border Patrol agent’s killing in Vermont surveilled for days, had cellphones wrapped in foil

Newport City Inn and Suites (CONVENTRY, Vt.) — An arrest has been made in the fatal shooting of a U.S. Border Patrol agent during a traffic stop in Vermont, according to the FBI, as bizarre [Read More…]

Can Trump ‘terminate’ FEMA? Not so fast

Nathan Posner/Anadolu via Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — President Donald Trump has never kept his contempt for the Federal Emergency Management Agency a secret, contending that the agency has been operating poorly and rarely helped disaster [Read More…]

Trump ‘border czar’ tells ABC military planes will deport migrants every day

Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images (WASHINGTON) — The Trump administration is planning to use military aircraft every day to help carry out what President Donald Trump and his “border czar,” Tom Homan, have promised will be the [Read More…]

‘Nothing is off limits’: Public school communities brace for ICE raids

Celal Gunes/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images (NEW YORK) — Latino and immigrant lawmakers are sounding the alarm as their school districts brace for deportations in the second Trump administration. “Think about that — that nothing [Read More…]

Colman Domingo says he’s ‘a little more measured’ following second Oscar nomination

Disney/Randy Holmes Colman Domingo earned an Oscar nomination for his performance in the A24 film Sing Sing. It’s his second straight nod in the Best Actor category after getting nominated for his role in Rustin last [Read More…]

Brad Pitt to star in, produce action film ‘Heart of the Beast’

Mark Thompson/Getty Images Brad Pitt has found his next starring role. The actor will star in and produce the film Heart of the Beast for Paramount Pictures, Deadline first reported on Friday. David Ayer will [Read More…]

MSU Extension director focusing on people

The Director of Michigan State University Extension says he’s excited to reinvest in the organization’s workforce as part of a new strategic plan. Quentin Tyler tells Brownfield the organization has been working to redefine its [Read More…]

Soybeans, corn, wheat down Friday, still up on week

Soybeans were lower on profit taking and technical selling, still ending the week with solid gains. Argentina has cut its export taxes on soybeans and products, allowing them to more aggressively market supplies. Of course, [Read More…]

MDA suspends some poultry auctions, shows, and swap meets in

The Missouri Department of Agriculture is taking steps to prevent the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza. The department has suspended all poultry and waterfowl auctions, shows, and swap meets in the counties containing control [Read More…]

Congressman Mann remains optimistic about a farm bill

A Republican Congressman from Kansas says Congress has a lot of work to get done this year – but a farm bill needs to be a priority. Tracey Mann tells Brownfield, “I’ve been to the [Read More…]

Strong domestic demand for pork, NPB says