Government watchdogs fired by Trump sue his administration

WASHINGTON (AP) — Eight government watchdogs have sued over their mass firing that removed oversight of President Donald Trump’s new administration. The lawsuit filed Wednesday asks a judge to declare the firings unlawful and restore the inspectors general to their positions at the agencies. They said in the filing that they play a critical, nonpartisan role overseeing trillions of dollars in federal spending and the conduct of millions of federal employees. Congress wasn’t given the legally required 30-day notices about the removals, something that even a top Republican decried. Trump has said he’d put new “good people” in the jobs. There’s no immediate comment from the White House on the lawsuit.

Eastern storm cuts power to tens of thousands as California braces for flooding

(AP) — Heavy snow and freezing rain from Kentucky to the nation’s capital caused hundreds of crashes and left tens of thousands of residents in the dark. As the wintry mix turned over to rain amid rising temperatures, there’s now a flood threat in several states. Authorities say one person died in a head-on crash on a snowy road Tuesday in Kentucky. By Wednesday, more than 190,000 customers in Virginia and nearly 16,000 in North Carolina had lost power. In California, an atmospheric river is expected to move in late Wednesday, likely flooding urban areas across central and Southern California.

NYC mayor’s lawyer says corruption case is ‘over,’ but charges remain in place for now

NEW YORK (AP) — A lawyer for New York City Mayor Eric Adams expressed confidence Wednesday that the criminal case against the Democrat is finished, telling reporters that the case “will not be brought back.” But in a memo shared Monday, the Justice Department left the door open to the case being brought back next fall. The memo said the directive to halt the case was not based on any assessment of its legal merit, but was intended to allow Adams to focus on executing the Trump’s administration’s crackdown on immigration and crime. The attorney for Adams denied the mayor had made any promises to the Trump administration, but acknowledged that the subject of immigration and other policies issues were discussed.

Federal appeals court upholds singer R. Kelly’s convictions and 30-year prison term

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal appeals court has upheld singer R. Kelly’s racketeering convictions and a 30-year prison sentence, finding he exploited his fame for over a quarter century to sexually abuse girls and young women. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Manhattan ruled on Wednesday. The Grammy-winning, multiplatinum-selling songwriter was convicted in 2021 in Brooklyn federal court of multiple charges, including racketeering and sex trafficking. Kelly, born Robert Sylvester Kelly, is known for work including the 1996 hit “I Believe I Can Fly” and the cult classic “Trapped in the Closet,” a multipart tale of sexual betrayal and intrigue. A defense lawyer says she’ll appeal to the Supreme Court.