Court allows

new districts

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has allowed California to use a new voter-approved congressional map that is favorable to Democrats in this year’s elections, rejecting a plea from state Republicans and the Trump administration.

No justices dissented from the brief order. The justices had previously allowed Texas’ Republican-friendly map to be used in 2026, despite a lower-court ruling that it likely discriminates on the basis of race. The justices’ unsigned order Wednesday keeps in place districts that are designed to flip up to five seats now held by Republicans, part of a tit-for-tat nationwide redistricting battle spurred by President Donald Trump.

Georgia fight

escalates

ATLANTA (AP) — Officials in Georgia’s Fulton County have asked a federal court to order the FBI to return ballots and other documents from the 2020 election that it seized last week, The move escalates a voting battle as President Donald Trump says he wants to “take over” elections from Democratic-run areas with the November midterms on the horizon.

The search took place on Jan. 28 at Fulton County’s main election facility. Fulton County votes overwhelmingly Democratic. It’s been a target of Donald Trump and his allies since the Republican narrowly lost the state to Joe Biden in 2020. The Fulton County chairman says the case is “about elections across Georgia and across the nation.”

Andrew moves to

private estate

LONDON (AP) — The former Prince Andrew has moved out of his longtime home on crown-owned land near Windsor Castle earlier than expected, after the latest release of documents from the U.S. investigation of Jeffrey Epstein revived questions about his friendship with the convicted sex offender. The 65-year-old brother of King Charles III is now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

He left the Royal Lodge in Windsor on Monday and now lives on the king’s Sandringham estate. That’s according to a person familiar with the matter. The move to Sandringham was announced in October when Charles stripped him of his royal titles amid revelations about links to Epstein.

Israel strikes

across Gaza

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Health officials in Gaza say Israeli strikes have killed at least 24 Palestinians, including two babies. Israel says it killed three militant leaders and that some of the strikes were in response to an attack that wounded a soldier. The strikes come as an already fragile ceasefire deal is under increasing strain. Hospital officials report that among the dead are at least five children, seven women and an on-duty paramedic.

The violence since the ceasefire began on Oct. 10 has killed more than 550 Palestinians. Eight Arab and Muslim countries have condemned Israel’s actions. The ceasefire deal aimed to end a 2-year-old war between Israel and Hamas.

No suspects in

disapperance

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — Authorities say the search for “Today” show host Savannah Guthrie’s mother still has no suspect or person of interest. There were signs of forced entry at Nancy Guthrie’s home in a quiet neighborhood that is dark at night.

Authorities offered no detailed update Wednesday as investigators try to piece together the moments before and after Guthrie’s disappearance. Authorities believe she was taken against her will. She was last seen Saturday night. The Pima County sheriff has said she must be found soon because she could die without her medication. He suggested there was video from some cameras, though he didn’t elaborate.