USA TODAY

After an expedition for Amelia Earhart's plane came up empty, attention has turned to other searches and theories related to her disappearance. www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/10/19/amel…

📸: Photo provided by Rick Pettigrew/Archeological Legacy Institute; Getty Images

9 hours ago | [YT] | 125

USA TODAY

A certain silly old bear turned 100, and he’s looking great for his age.

Winnie-the-Pooh, the anthropomorphic teddy bear, appeared in his first full-length novel written by A.A. Milne and illustrated by E.H. Shepard 100 years ago Oct. 14.

Milne wrote the books for his son, Christopher Robin Milne, who readers remember as the famous young protagonist of the same name.

Pooh makes a smaller appearance in one of Milne’s poems in the 1924 collection “When We Were Young,” arriving with his given name – Mr. Edward Bear. An author’s note explains that Christopher Robin has taken to calling the teddy “Pooh.”

But it wasn't until Oct. 14, 1926, that Pooh got his own story.

📸: Jonathan Blanc, New York Public Library

Read more: www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/books/2026/10…

1 day ago | [YT] | 160

USA TODAY

A day after being released from the hospital, #PopeLeo XIV greeted thousands of followers gathered for prayer Oct. 18 in #StPetersSquare in #VaticanCity and said he planned to slowly resume his #papal duties.

"I have truly felt your support. Thank you," the smiling #pontiff told the crowd, his voice clear and strong, before leading the #Angelusprayer from the window of the papal apartment. The crowd cheered.

Leo, 71, underwent surgery on Oct. 13 to remove a small lung nodule doctors discovered at a health checkup. They diagnosed Leo, the youngest #pope in decades, with lung adenocarcinoma, a common form of lung cancer.

📸: Stoyan Nenov / REUTERS

Read more: www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2026/10/18/pope-…

1 day ago | [YT] | 166

USA TODAY

Around the globe, Amelia Earhart enthusiasts are anxiously awaiting the results of an expedition that could locate the famed aviator's missing plane and help solve one of the 20th century's most enduring mysteries.

In early October, a group of researchers set out for a remote Pacific island in hopes of finding the aircraft Earhart used in her attempt to complete a historic around-the-world flight nearly 90 years ago.

The ongoing expedition, which Purdue University has described as the best chance yet to locate the missing Lockheed Electra 10E, is expected to conclude by the end of the month.

In an Oct. 15 update, Purdue said researchers expect to identify a mysterious object under investigation, heightening anticipation among Earhart admirers worldwide.

📸: Purdue University

Read more: www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/10/16/amel…

2 days ago | [YT] | 212

USA TODAY

Americans gathered in big cities and small towns while voting early Saturday, Oct. 17, as part of the ongoing No Kings movement.

More than 3,000 events focused on early voting and turnout, shifting away from the protest-driven approach of the previous three No Kings demonstrations, which drew millions to rallies nationwide.

Planned events included marches to the polls, voter information booths, speakers and vehicle parades to voting locations.

📸: Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal

Read more: www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/202…

2 days ago | [YT] | 753

USA TODAY

Despite serving only five days as White House press secretary, Katie Zacharia had kind words for President Donald Trump on her departure.

Zacharia left the job shortly after a rocky Oct. 13 press briefing and subsequent criticism for misrepresenting herself as a lawyer. A few hours after exiting, she said "it was an honor" to work for the president.

"President Trump is a kind, wonderful, gracious, thoughtful, enthusiastic, and hardworking man," Zacharia said in the Oct. 16 post on X. "I wish more Americans appreciated him. No one will ever make America great the way he has and continues to."

📸: REUTERS/Kylie Cooper

Read more: www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/10/17/tr…

2 days ago | [YT] | 392

USA TODAY

President Donald Trump cast doubt on Katie Zacharia continuing as White House press secretary after a rocky first week, telling reporters the job might not be for her.

"I said to Katie, 'You don't have to do this if you don't want to," Trump told reporters on Oct. 16, adding she's been treated "very rough" and "nastily" by the media. "I said, 'Honestly, if I were you, I'd reconsider.'"

Trump said he's going to ultimately let Zacharia decide whether she wants to continue in the position.

"Look, she has suffered over the last few days. Maybe it's not for her," he said. "I said, 'You want to be happy in life.' I'll do whatever she wants."

📸: Kevin Lamarque, REUTERS

Read more: www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/10/16/tr…

3 days ago | [YT] | 542

USA TODAY

New White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia never passed the bar exam and is not licensed to practice law despite long describing herself as a lawyer, she confirmed to USA TODAY.

While Zacharia said she was advised it's acceptable to call herself a lawyer because she has a law degree, some legal experts disagreed, saying it's inappropriate and unethical to use the term without having a law license.

"The results of the bar exam were inconsequential because I was already moving to a foreign country that didn't require it," Zacharia said in an interview with USA TODAY.

While having a law license isn't a requirement for her work as press secretary, Zacharia has faced questions about whether she misrepresented herself and potentially violated the law.

📸: Kevin Lamarque, REUTERS

Read more: www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/10/15/wh…

4 days ago | [YT] | 1,831

USA TODAY

President Trump said individuals in government who leak sensitive defense information to the media "should be shot" as he discussed calling off a military raid in Iran after plans for the attack were leaked to news outlets.

"In my opinion, leakers should be shot," Trump said during a midterm campaign rally in Bullhead City, Arizona. "In the old days, we used to shoot leakers."

Trump said Iran's military was "waiting for" American troops ahead of a planned U.S. operation, alleging The New York Times and CNN reported on leaked information about what time U.S. troops were leaving and arriving. Trump said he rescheduled the attack for two days later.

"Somebody leaked, some sleazebag," Trump said. "They ought to go to jail and be shot."

📸: Evan Vucci, REUTERS

Read more: www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2026/10/14/tr…

4 days ago | [YT] | 596

USA TODAY

Jackie the bald eagle's mysterious cause of death was revealed.

Jackie died of complications resulting from avian influenza, according to a newly released necropsy report.

The newly released report sheds light on the mysterious illness that veterinarians struggled to treat throughout the summer. The Big Bear Lake, California, bald eagle's life was livestreamed on YouTube, leading to her becoming an object of global fascination and to her hometown becoming practically synonymous with America's iconic bird.

📸: Ojai Raptor Center

Read more: www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2026/10/14/belo…

4 days ago | [YT] | 180