24/7 News: The Latest
The Latest: 01/25/2025 02:59pm ET
This is your 24/7 news update, the latest views this hour at just four minutes. President Trump is in Las Vegas where he's expected to deliver remarks on his campaign promise to eliminate taxes on tips. Trump arrived in Nevada after visiting Los Angeles and surveying the devastating wildfire damage in Southern California. Congressman Brad Sherman is among several local officials asking Trump for federal aid. "You've got 16 times as much property damage here as from Hawaii and I'm hoping that we get at least 16 times the federal appropriation for the CDBG program that helps people rebuild." Earlier Friday, Trump traveled to Asheville, North Carolina to check on recovery efforts and meet with residents still being impacted by Hurricane Helene. Following in the Senate's vote to confirm former South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem as Homeland Security Secretary, she resigned from her former post. Lieutenant Governor Larry Rodin now becomes governor and her resignation letter, Noem called it a privilege to serve the people of South Dakota. Earlier today, Pete Hegseth was sworn in as Defense Secretary after he was confirmed by the Senate late last night. "I look forward to working with all of you and other senators to ensure the Defense Department has what it needs, that our nation has what it needs and that we're prepared to defend it." Hegseth said he'll use his tenure as Defense Secretary to put America first. Four Israeli soldiers are receiving medical care after being released today under a ceasefire deal with Hamas. The Israeli military says the four women were flown by helicopter to a hospital in southern Israel where they were reunited with their families. Israel released 200 Palestinians as part of its agreement. In all seven hostages have been set free since the start of the ceasefire that went into effect last weekend. American Madison Keys is the 2025 Australian Open Women's Tennis Champion. The number 19 seed from Illinois outlasted top-seated and two-time defending champ, Arena Sabalenka, in three sets today at Rod Labor Arena in Melbourne. I'm Lisa Carton. The Gulf of Mexico is now called the Gulf of America. Brian Shook reports. "The federal government is implementing name changes under a directive from President Trump. That includes reversing an Obama-era decision to rename Mount McKinley in Alaska to Denali. Denali is the name that local natives used. Meanwhile, former President McKinley never visited Alaska. The Interior Department says the name changes are effective immediately for federal use." All refugee flights into the U.S. have come to a halt after President Trump suspended the State Department's refugee program. Advocacy Group says this leaves thousands of Afghan refugees at risk, including many, who have already been vetted. "We handed them our weapons and we said, 'Hey, will you fight alongside us?' And they sure s*** it." That Sean Van Devere president of Afghan EVAC, a group created to assist Afghan nationals who help the U.S. and their families get out now that the Taliban is back in power. Other refugees who were already en route to the U.S. are now stuck in limbo, with the pause set to be in place for at least 90 days. A new poll says Angelenos are not happy with the way L.A. Mayor Karen Bass is handling the wildfires. "54 percent of our respondents disapproved of Karen Bass and her actions after the wildfires, but the approval rating of only 37 percent." Owen Brennan, president of consulting firm Madison McQueen says the poll also showed Rick Caruso, who was runner-up in the 2022 mayor's race, has more support than current mayor Bass, as of today. The poll also reported folks in L.A. County would consider Republican leadership. Meanwhile, 51 percent of those polled also showed they approve of the way Governor Gavin Newsom is handling the fires. An aerial Mexico flight at Miami International was emptied by a phony bomb threat. Officials say the note received Friday, carried the message there was a bomb on board the flight that was headed from Miami to Mexico City. The flight was cleared to depart a few hours later. I'm Lisa Carton.