Dale Willman

Live from NPR News, I'm Dale Willman.

The U.S.

Department of Health and Human Services says it's freezing federal funding meant to help low-income families pay for child care.

As Caden Mills reports, the department says that funding will be unfrozen as soon as states provide certain information.

A Georgia judge has dismissed a massive racketeering case against more than 60 people who were arrested for protesting a multimillion-dollar police training center in Atlanta.

For Member Station WABE in Atlanta, Alex Helmick reports.

The U.S.

economy is closing out the year, having done better than many economists had expected.

And the stock market also had a very good year, but many Americans are still unhappy about the economy.

One bright spot, though, says NPR's Scott Horsley, was the third cut in interest rates this year in December.

That's NPR's Scott Horsley.

President Trump says he's removing National Guard forces from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland.

In a social media post this evening, he said they will return if crime increases in those cities.

But the Supreme Court yesterday left in place a ruling by a federal judge in Chicago that bars the Trump administration from deploying National Guard troops in Illinois.

You're listening to NPR News.

The U.S.

Southern Command says the military fired on and destroyed two more vessels today.

Five people were killed in those attacks.

In a social media post, the command says the boats were transiting along known narco-trafficking routes.

It's the latest in a series of strikes by the Trump administration designed to put pressure on Venezuela's presidents.