PRESIDENTIAL RACE-REPUBLICAN DEBATE

LAS VEGAS — In a presidential race reshaped by national security concerns, Republican front-runner Donald Trump defends his provocative call for banning Muslims from the United States as the candidates debate their plans for fighting Islamic State militants and keeping Americans secure. 

PRESIDENTIAL RACE-CLINTON TERRORISM

MINNEAPOLIS — Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton says that the American people "cannot give into fear" in the aftermath of attacks in Paris and California, laying out a multi-pronged strategy to protect the homeland and prevent domestic terrorist attacks. 

BUDGET BATTLE

WASHINGTON — Congressional leaders and the White House have reached agreement on a massive year-end tax and spending package, House Speaker Paul Ryan tells Republican lawmakers, urging support for the legislation that delivers wins for his party but also includes many Democratic priorities. 

OBAMA

WASHINGTON — President Barack Obama describes immigration as the oldest U.S. tradition and part of what makes the country exceptional, as he seeks to draw a contrast with those who want to seal the borders against people seeking to escape hardships and persecution. 

LOS ANGELES SCHOOLS THREAT

LOS ANGELES — The nation's two biggest school systems — New York City and Los Angeles — received threats of a large-scale jihadi attack with guns and bombs, and LA reacted by shutting down the entire district, while New York dismissed the warning as an amateurish hoax and held classes as usual. By Christine Armario and Colleen Long. 

BALTIMORE POLICE DEATH

BALTIMORE — Jurors say they are deadlocked as they weigh manslaughter and other charges against a Baltimore police officer in the death of a black man whose neck was broken in a police van. The judge tells them to keep deliberating and they go home for the night without reaching a verdict. By Juliet Linderman and David Dishneau. 

COLOMBIA-PEACE TALKS

HAVANA — Colombia's government and the country's largest rebel group took another major step toward signing a peace deal, agreeing on a framework to address the needs of millions of victims left by a half century of fighting. .

UNITED STATES-AFGHANISTAN

WASHINGTON — Violence in Afghanistan is on the rise, according to a new Pentagon report to Congress that says the Taliban was emboldened by the reduced U.S. military role and can be expected to build momentum from their 2015 attack strategy.