24/7 News: The Latest
The Latest: 01/28/2025 09:59pm ET
This is your 24/7 News Update, the latest news this hour in just four minutes. A judge is putting a stop on President Trump's plan to freeze federal aid for now. On Tuesday, a federal judge granted an administrative stay pausing Trump's plans at least through Monday. The freeze was set to take effect Tuesday at 5 p.m. Eastern and was ordered on domestic and foreign federal aid. The Trump administration is offering buyouts to federal workers who don't want to go back into the office for work. This deferred resignation would include a severance package of roughly eight months pay and benefits. The administration says it expects five to 10 percent of the federal workforce to quit. Former New Jersey Senator Bob Menendez is being sentenced tomorrow. Jennifer Palsoni has the details. Former Senator Bob Menendez was found guilty last summer of accepting cash and gold bars and acting as a foreign agent for Egypt. Two businessmen were also convicted and Menendez's wife is awaiting trial on similar charges. The 71-year-old Menendez who spent more than 18 years in the U.S. Senate could be looking at a 15-year prison sentence if prosecutors get their way. I'm Jennifer Palsoni. Giant new barriers are being erected on New Orleans Bourbon Street just weeks after a terrorist drove a truck through the tourist district and killed 14 people. The city says the steel wedges are designed to prevent a similar attack in the French quarter. California Governor Gavin Newsom is working with some heavy hitters to help rebuild the fire-ravaged portions of Los Angeles County. Mark Waters, the lead owner of the Dodgers, as well as the L.A. Dodger Foundation, has now put up and donated up to a hundred million dollars. Lakers legend Magic Johnson and the Dodgers are spearheading the money-raising effort for wildfire recovery. Johnson also said he's involved because he doesn't want the city of Altadena to be forgotten. I'm Brian Schook. Those mysterious drone sightings are returning to the Northeast after the FAA lifts its 30-day flight ban. Sara Lee Kessler has more. From New Jersey to Connecticut plus New York for Mona, Massachusetts, those unexplained drone sightings are back. So are the videos. If you look at the reports that people are submitting, they're saying, you know, I'm still seeing them. Christina Kim of Enigma Labs on NBC's Today Show Monday. New York Senator Chuck Schumer confirmed the sightings on Sunday. We have now seen new drone sightings and we're going to have to look into these. There have been hundreds of mysterious drone sightings since January 19th when the FAA lifted its one-month ban on drone flights over New York and New Jersey. I'm Sara Lee Kessler. Nine suspects have been indicted in connection with an alleged $200 million counterfeit and illegal product smuggling operation. Federal prosecutors who announced the indictments on Monday say the suspect smuggled items from China into the U.S. through the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. Baristas at Starbucks are gearing up for coffee in four minutes or less and other policy changes. Monica Nelson reports the Seattle Times reporting the vibes may be a little different in Starbucks. Bathrooms and free water cups are available to paying customers only now. And if you stay to have your drink, they'll offer you a ceramic mug. The condiment bar is coming back and diners will get unlimited free refills of iced or hot coffee, whether they're rewards members or not with some conditions. I'm Monica Nelson.