Top FEMA official fired over payments for NYC migrants says DOGE gave approval

Former FEMA CFO Mary Comans, who was fired in February by the Trump administration for sending payments to New York City to cover hotels for migrants, says she was following DOGE's directions. Comans speaks out for the first time since her firing in an exclusive interview with "CBS Evening News" co-anchor Maurice DuBois.

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FEMA CFO fired over payments to NYC for migrants says she had DOGE sign-off

"They told me to do these actions, to make these payments, and then they fired me," said Mary Comans, who was FEMA's chief financial officer.
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DOGE's secrecy to be tested in court with sworn testimony, depositions

Over the next week, several judges have ordered top Trump administration officials to testify about efforts to reduce the size of the federal government.
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Federal funding cuts lead FEMA to cancel National Fire Academy courses

The cancellation of courses at National Fire Academy comes as the federally funded institution was set to welcome a new set of fire safety officers for training next week.
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The government is headed toward a shutdown unless a deal is reached by March 14. And disagreements over DOGE may be the biggest roadblock.
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The UN says 2 people are dead and at least 186 missing after 4 migrant boats capsized off Yemen and Djibouti

The UN says 2 people are dead and at least 186 missing after 4 migrant boats capsized off Yemen and Djibouti
ABC News - 1d
Migrant Boats Capsize Off Yemen and Djibouti, U.N. Says

The missing people were on two boats that capsized off Yemen, which is on a major route for migrants trying to reach Gulf countries for work.
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Cybersecurity agency's top recruits decimated by DOGE cuts

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DOGE Is Putting Major Government Efficiency Projects at Risk

In its apparent quest to cut government spending and improve efficiency, DOGE has fired entire tech teams devoted to those very things.
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Brush Fires Break Out on Long Island, Prompting Highway Closure

An official said that dozens of agencies were fighting multiple fires on Saturday. At least one firefighter was injured.
The New York Times - 24m
Italy's top court orders government to compensate migrants who were stranded at sea for days

Italy’s highest appeals court has ordered the government to compensate a group of migrants who were stranded at sea for days on a coast guard vessel in 2018 due to then-Interior minister Matteo ...
ABC News - 1d
Cuomo seeks to woo centrists in NYC mayor's race

Andrew Cuomo is aiming to supplant New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) as the top centrist candidate in the city’s upcoming election, appealing to voter concerns about crime and stressing his ...
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Iran’s top leader rejects talks with the US over missile range, regional influence

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei says he rejects a U.S. push for talks between the two countries because they would be aimed at imposing restrictions on Iranian missile range and its ...
ABC News - 6h
Migrant dies attempting to cross English Channel

The Kuwati man, in his sixties, suffered a cardiac arrest on the boat that was carrying him from northern France, officials said.
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First firing squad execution in 15 years is carried out in South Carolina

South Carolina has conducted the first firing squad execution in the U.S. in over a decade. Brad Sigmon was pronounced dead at 6:08 p.m. last night, three minutes after sharpshooters fired their ...
CBS News - 10h
Altadena Residents Face High Costs as They Begin to Rebuild Their Homes

The realities of construction costs and insurance payments after the Eaton fire have set in for residents.
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Stephen A. Smith says LeBron James confronted him as 'a daddy' — not star player — over Bronny comments

ESPN's Stephen A. Smith says LeBron James confronted him at Thursday's Lakers game over slighting Bronny, with the NBA star 'making sure I mind what I say about his son.'
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Gene Hackman, Betsy Arakawa died of natural causes days apart, officials say

Officials have revealed a tragic timeline for how legendary actor Gene Hackman spent his final days. Both Hackman and his wife Betsy Arakawa died of natural causes, with her dying days before him ...
CBS News - 10h
Ted Cruz’s Commerce Committee devolves over migrant-related subpoena

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Russia bombards Ukraine energy grid after Zelenskyy says team will hold talks with US

Officials say Russia targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in a large-scale missile and drone bombardment during the night
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Tribes, Native American students sue over Bureau of Indian Education firings

The lawsuit was filed against the heads of the Interior Department, the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the Office of Indian Education Programs.
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DOGE Cuts Upend Trump-Voting West Virginia Town

‘Nobody that I’ve talked to understood the devastation that having this administration in office would do to our lives,’ said one fired Treasury Department worker in Parkersburg.
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Fired Federal Workers See Family Members Pile on After the DOGE Axe Falls

The abrupt loss of their livelihoods was tough enough. Now many laid-off government workers report their relatives and friends are celebrating their turmoil.
Inc. - 1d
Late car payments hit highest level in decades

Americans are falling behind on their monthly car payments at the highest rate in more than 30 years.
The Hill - 5h
Iranian singer who urged women to go without hijab is lashed over alcohol conviction

Iranian officials have flogged a popular singer who posted a song online urging women to remove their mandatory headscarves over a conviction for possessing and consuming alcohol
ABC News - 1d
At Crypto Summit, Trump Says U.S. Will Be ‘the Bitcoin Superpower’

The first-of-its-kind event at the White House with top crypto executives showcased the president’s embrace of the once-renegade industry.
The New York Times - 1d
Italian government approves draft law targeting femicide, with punishment up to life in prison

The Italian government has approved a draft law that for the first time introduces the legal definition of femicide in the country’s criminal law and punishes it with life imprisonment
ABC News - 12h
German Court Convicts Five Over Plot to Kidnap Health Official and Spread Chaos

The defendants, part of a group known as “United Patriots,” aimed to reinstate a 19th-century Constitution by giving power to an all-powerful Kaiser.
The New York Times - 1d
Trump says he sent a letter to Iran's supreme leader over country's advancing nuclear program

U.S. President Donald Trump says he sent a letter to Iran’s Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, something not immediately confirmed by the supreme leader
ABC News - 1d
‘Startup Nation’ Groups Say They’re Meeting Trump Officials to Push for Deregulated ‘Freedom Cities’

The architects of projects like Próspera are drafting legislation to create US cities that would be free from federal regulations.
Wired - 1d
Gaza War Led to Deaths of More Than 3 Dozen Hostages, Officials Say

Israel’s leaders promised that their military campaign in Gaza would help save the lives of hostages. At least 41 have died in captivity, some killed by Hamas and others in Israeli airstrikes.
The New York Times - 9h
Actor Gene Hackman and wife Betsy Arakawa died of natural causes one week apart

The 95-year-old actor's Alzheimer's means it is "quite possible" he was unaware of his wife's death, say officials.
BBC News - 1d
Zuby Ejiofor sinks OT buzzer-beater to lead No. 6 St. John's over No. 20 Marquette

The Red Storm will enter the Big East tournament as the top seed for the first time since 1986.
Yahoo Sports - 4h
France and Germany clash over ‘buy EU’ weapons

Berlin says new €150bn funding for defence industry should be open to non-EU partners, but Paris disagrees
Financial Times - 19h
Twelve injured in shooting at Toronto pub

The three male suspects entered the pub and opened fire "indiscriminately" police say.
BBC News - 13h
Trump revives practice of detaining migrant families with children

ICE was detaining the first group of migrant parents and children in a detention facility in Texas designed to hold families with minors, according to an internal government report obtained by CBS ...
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Northern lights sightings expected in Scotland over weekend

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The Guardian - 1h
These are the 10 best countries for working women—the U.S. isn't in the top 10: 'It really should be doing better,' expert says

The Economist compared working conditions for women across the 29 countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
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Elon Musk’s DOGE Calls in U.S. Marshals When a Small Agency Refuses to Share Data

The U.S. African Development Foundation refused to let DOGE members into its offices. DOGE returned with law enforcement.
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