The Washington Times AI News Desk

N.Y. bill would replace ‘mother,’ ‘father’ with gender-neutral terms

The New York Legislature has passed a bill that would strip the words "mother" and "father" from sections of state family law and replace them with gender-neutral alternatives, sending the measure to Gov. Kathy Hochul for her signature or veto. "Mother" would become "gestating parent," and "father" would become "non-gestating parent."

June 5, 2026

46 things to do in Washington, D.C. this weekend: June 5-7

From a National Gallery block party and an America 250 festival to museum openings, film screenings and major concerts, Washington offers plenty of reasons to get out this weekend.

June 5, 2026

Search for Auburn student missing in Japan enters second week as volunteers join hunt

The family of a 20-year-old Auburn University student, James "Weston" Higginbotham, who vanished in the mountains outside Kyoto last week has enlisted civilian volunteers to press ahead with the search, even as Japanese police say they believe he most likely left of his own accord.

June 5, 2026

YouTuber Jesse Ridgway speaks out after death threats over abortion

Jesse Ridgway, a YouTube personality, is speaking out after he and his wife, Ashley, revealed they terminated a pregnancy following a Down syndrome diagnosis and faced a torrent of online harassment and death threats in response.

June 5, 2026

Anthony Head, ‘Buffy’ and ‘Ted Lasso’ star, dies at 72

Anthony Head, the British character actor whose four-decade career stretched from London's West End to cult American television, died Friday. He was 72.

June 5, 2026

Spielberg says ‘Disclosure Day’ is not science fiction as he declares belief in alien contact

SPIELBERG on his new movie 'Disclosure Day': "It's my first film that will be considered science fiction that I do not consider to be science fiction. It's much more reflective of the world as it is evolving and discoveries that are being made as we speak."

June 5, 2026

Children’s shows, Disney World mark Pride Month with rainbow imagery

Several popular children's entertainment brands posted Pride month greetings on social media Monday, while Walt Disney World rolled out its annual array of rainbow-themed decorations and merchandise across its Florida theme parks.

June 5, 2026

NASA orders ISS crew to shelter as Russian air leak worsens

NASA ordered four astronauts aboard the International Space Station to don their spacesuits and shelter inside a docked spacecraft Friday as Russian engineers worked to repair a worsening air leak in the station's Russian segment, the agency said.

June 5, 2026

5 questions about the Southern Baptist Convention’s annual meeting

Southern Baptists gather in Orlando, Florida, this week to vote -- for the fourth year running -- on banning churches with women in pastoral roles.

June 5, 2026

Earthquake rattles Las Vegas area; no injuries reported

A minor earthquake rattled the Las Vegas area Thursday afternoon, shaking homes and businesses across the valley but causing no immediate reports of damage or injury.

June 4, 2026

Bret Michaels’ guitarist unloads on fans who turned on singer over Freedom 250

Bret Michaels' guitarist unloads on fans who turned on singer over Freedom 250: "I'm not saying you have to openly support him. But those that called us friends four days ago and have used and abused us and have now turned on us: F--- OFF."

June 4, 2026

Vivian Wilson, Elon Musk’s trans daughter, walks off red carpet after reporter asks about her father

Vivian Jenna Wilson abruptly ended a red carpet interview in Ibiza on Tuesday after a reporter asked her about her estranged father, Elon Musk, in a moment that quickly spread across social media. Wilson, 22, and Musk have been publicly estranged since 2020. In 2022, she filed to legally change her name and gender marker, saying in court she did not wish to be related to her biological father "in any way, shape or form."

June 4, 2026

‘The Odyssey’ ticket rush crashes AMC app, leaves buyers waiting over an hour

Christopher Nolan's next film hasn't opened yet, but it's already causing chaos at the box office.

June 4, 2026

Ted Danson renews apology for 1993 blackface performance at Whoopi Goldberg roast

TED DANSON apologizes for blackface performance during 1993 roast of Whoopi Goldberg: "Arrogant and stupid"

June 4, 2026

Fetterman dares Platner to release Kik messages, offers to wear suit daily in return

FETTERMAN to PLATNER: "Let me make a deal. I'll tell [Platner] I'll wear a suit every day, if he releases all those texts and messages that he's had ... [with] the dozen women."

June 4, 2026

Viral TikTok video raises $146,000 for 85-year-old Tennessee AMC Theatres worker

An 85-year-old movie theater employee learned this week that strangers across the country had pooled more than $146,000 to help her retire -- after a young woman filmed her quietly pushing a cleaning cart and posted the video to TikTok.

June 4, 2026

Karmelo Anthony murder trial opens with no Black jurors seated

The murder trial of Karmelo Anthony got underway Thursday with opening statements after a racially charged jury selection process concluded without a single Black juror on the panel, delivering an early blow to the defense in a case that has gripped the nation since a fatal stabbing at a Frisco high school track meet more than a year ago.

June 4, 2026

Pence warns GOP against ‘populist right,’ urges return to conservative roots

MIKE PENCE on the current GOP: "I wanted people to know around the country that a new threat to conservatism has emerged from within our movement. And it's -- I call it the populist right. And essentially advances policies of protectionism, isolationism, marginalizing traditional values."

June 4, 2026

Tarantino calls Hollywood a ‘flavorless sausage factory’ in scathing essay on modern cinema

QUENTIN TARANTINO on modern movies: "Flaws, implausibilities, audience pandering, miscast performers or just plain stupid s--t usually torpedoes every new movie coming out of the flavourless sausage factory that used to call itself Hollywood."

June 4, 2026

Robert De Niro takes veiled shot at Trump at Tribeca Film Festival opening

ROBERT DE NIRO takes aim at Trump during Tribeca Film Fest: "Monstrous leaders ... are trying to force us apart for their own immoral, cruel and corrupt purposes."

June 4, 2026