Telecom giant Verizon said a “software issue” was the culprit behind widespread outages on Wednesday. Major Cell Phone Carrier Experiences Widespread Outages The cell phone carrier said it would provide a $20 account credit to those affected by the outages. "Yesterday, we did not meet the standard of excellence you expect and that we expect of ourselves. To help provide some relief to those affected, we will give you a $20 account credit that can be easily redeemed by logging into the myVerizon app. You will receive a text message when the credit is available. On average, this covers multiple days of service. Business customers will be contacted directly about their credits. This credit isn’t meant to make up for what happened. No credit really can. But it’s a way of acknowledging your time and showing that this matters to us," Verizon announced. "If you’re still having trouble connecting, please restart your device (power down and power back on). This is the fastest way to reconnect your phone to the network. We are sorry for what you experienced and will continue to work hard day and night to provide the outstanding network and service that you expect from Verizon," it added. Yesterday, we did not meet the standard of excellence you expect and that we expect of ourselves. To help provide some relief to those affected, we will give you a $20 account credit that can be easily redeemed by logging into the myVerizon app. You will receive a text message… — Verizon News (@VerizonNews) January 15, 2026 More from the New York Post: A company spokesperson told The Post on Thursday morning that a “software issue” was to blame. The outage, which began Wednesday afternoon and dragged into the late hours, triggered a flood of complaints from coast to coast as Verizon customers reported phones stuck in SOS mode, dropped calls and dead mobile data. Multiple law enforcement agencies examined whether the breakdown could have been the result of a cyberattack, but that scenario was ultimately ruled out, with officials believing the failure stemmed from an internal network issue tied to servers in New Jersey, according to reports cited by ABC News. More than 178,000 Verizon customers were affected, according to Downdetector, with the heaviest concentration of reports coming from New York City, Atlanta, Charlotte and Houston. By midafternoon Wednesday, reports had fallen below 60,000 as service gradually returned. The Verizon outage is one of numerous tech disturbances to occur in recent memory. For example, AT&T had a widespread outage in 2024. JUST IN: AT&T and Verizon are reporting outages in spots all across the U.S. At least 24 states are reporting issues, which also includes 911 systems. Why does this keep happening?! pic.twitter.com/EJMXlRMrPP — Nick Sortor (@nicksortor) June 4, 2024 WCVB explained further: The outage is one of several high-profile tech outages in the past year that have interrupted daily life for thousands, including an Amazon Web Services issue that took down most of the web in October. In 2024, a widespread AT&T outage left customers across the United States without service and prompted a Federal Communications Commission investigation. Some users on social media reported their phones being stuck in SOS mode or losing access to service, trends that Downdetector also noticed in its analysis of user-submitted reports. Among those reports, 59% cited issues related to “mobile phone failure,” while 34% mentioned a “loss of signal.” The issue reports began to escalate around noon and have been declining throughout the afternoon Eastern time, according to Downdetector’s public data. Its data indicates the outage has particularly impacted New York City, Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston and Dallas. Users also reported problems with AT&T and T-Mobile service on Downdetector, although spokespeople for both networks said their services are operating normally. Customers may experience service issues when trying to contact those on Verizon. “T-Mobile’s network is keeping our customers connected, and we’ve confirmed that our network is operating normally and as expected,” T-Mobile said in a comment to CNN. “However, due to Verizon’s reported outage, our customers may not be able to reach someone with Verizon service at this time.”

Lunden Roberts, the mother of Hunter Biden’s child, asked an Arkansas judge to have him arrested for allegedly failing to pay child support, Daily Mail reports. According to the outlet, Roberts “filed an emotional plea to the judge” to reopen her child support case against Hunter Biden. Hunter Biden's stripper baby mama asks for him to be ARRESTED over claims he is still failing to pay her child support https://t.co/axqVhZag99 — Daily Mail (@DailyMail) January 15, 2026 Daily Mail shared further: Roberts settled her claims against Hunter for alleged millions in unpaid child support in 2023, letting him off the hook with a reported $5,000 per month in support payments and an agreement that he would meet with their daughter, then age 4, and let her pick out some of his paintings. But in her filing on Tuesday, Roberts claimed Hunter has failed to follow through – and asked Judge Holly Meyer to ‘incarcerate him in the Independence County Detention Center as a civil penalty until he purges his contempt by complying with this court’s orders’. Roberts wrote in the filing that their daughter Navy Joan – given the alias ‘MC1’ in the documents – yearned for contact with her father, who allegedly ‘ghosted’ her. ‘MC1, who believes her father will go to heaven, once stated that she ‘could not wait to get to heaven’ so she could ‘be with [her] dad’ because her dad does not see or talk to her because her dad ‘lives far away and is really busy,’ Roberts wrote in the legal filing. Hunter initially denied paternity, but it was proven by a court-mandated DNA test, after which he began to engage with his youngest daughter, Roberts said. ‘The child and her dad started building the foundations of a missing, but exceedingly important, father-daughter relationship,’ her filing said. Hunter Biden is a father to five children with three women. He had his first three children with his ex-wife Kathleen Buhle and his youngest son, Beau Biden Jr., with his current wife, Melissa Cohen. He detailed his encounter with Roberts in his 2021 memoir, saying he had no recollection of her and that it occurred while he was going through alcohol and drug addiction. “The two had a fling around December 2017, and the baby was born in August of 2018,” Daily Mail stated. PEOPLE reported last month: It was revealed in November 2019 that Hunter secretly fathered a child in August 2018 with an Arkansas woman named Lunden Roberts. Roberts sued Hunter to take a paternity test and pay child support, claiming they had a relationship and he was the father of her child — allegations he denied. A paternity test ultimately proved him to be the father. In 2023, it was revealed that Hunter and Roberts’ child was a daughter named Navy Joan Roberts. Soon after, Republicans began criticizing President Joe Biden for previously touting his “six grandchildren,” claiming he wasn’t acknowledging Navy. In a July 2023 statement provided exclusively to PEOPLE, President Biden pushed back at the criticism, saying, “Our son Hunter and Navy’s mother, Lunden, are working together to foster a relationship that is in the best interests of their daughter, preserving her privacy as much as possible going forward. This is not a political issue, it’s a family matter. Jill and I only want what is best for all of our grandchildren, including Navy.” A source familiar with the situation told PEOPLE that the recently resolved child support dispute between Hunter and Roberts has dictated how the relationship has played out so far. “You have to remember there were some fairly contentious legal proceedings between Navy’s parents happening until just a few weeks ago. As grandparents, the Bidens are following Hunter’s lead,” the source said, adding, “They are — and have been — giving Hunter and Lunden the space and time to figure things out.”

President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio will attend the College Football Playoff championship on Monday in Miami, Florida. The undefeated Indiana Hoosiers will face the Miami Hurricanes. President Trump will attend the National Championship game on Monday night. #CFBPlayoff (via @MarcACaputo)https://t.co/CWYuyTlFSH pic.twitter.com/ot6XdcFxgg — Andy Slater (@AndySlater) January 14, 2026 Fox News has more: Monday’s appearance at the national championship game marks another high-profile outing for the president, who has attended several major sporting events during his second term. In April, Trump sat alongside UFC President Dana White outside the octagon for UFC 314 in Miami and again two months later at UFC 316 in New Jersey. He also attended several events in September, including the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black in New York and a New York Yankees game on Sept. 11, 24 years after the 9/11 attacks. President Trump has taken a special interest in sports in his second term. In December, he warned the current state of name, image and likeness (NIL) was not sustainable and could pose a threat to college athletics, especially sports outside of football. He has also made ensuring the fairness and safety in girls and women’s sports a top priority of his administration. According to the Daily Mail, Trump and Rubio may lean toward cheering for the Hurricanes to win the championship. Trump’s granddaughter, Kai, committed to play golf at the University of Miami. Rubio is a Miami native who is friends with Hurricanes football head coach Mario Cristobal. The Hurricanes are on an incredible run after being one of the final teams selected into the 12-team field by the selection committee. “I’m a Florida Gator. But if the University of Miami gets screwed out of the college football playoffs, after going 10-2 and beating Notre Dame, the whole thing should be scrapped and you’re [President Trump] gonna have to take over next year,” Rubio joked before the playoff bracket was revealed. Check it out: LMFAO! MARCO RUBIO: "I'm a Florida Gator. But if the University of Miami gets screwed out of the college football playoffs, after going 10-2 and beating Notre Dame, the whole thing should be scrapped and [President Trump] is gonna have to take over next year!" pic.twitter.com/Xg7DzVLl6J — Eric Daugherty (@EricLDaugh) December 2, 2025 Daily Mail shared further: Furthermore, the next Super Bowl is held on February 8 in Santa Clara, just outside of San Francisco. There is no word yet on if Trump will attend but it is possible, given previous form. As for Monday’s game itself, a Hoosiers victory would complete one of the biggest turnarounds in the history of college football. When Curt Cignetti was appointed as the team’s head coach in November 2023, they had a miserable 9-26 record since 2020 in three consecutive losing seasons. Now, lead by Mendoza, the team are on the brink of glory and are 15-0 going into Monday night’s game. Mendoza himself grew up only a mile away from the University of Miami but was remarkably not offered a scholarship by his hometown team. He now stands on the brink of closing his college career with a historic win before entering the NFL. The Raiders, who are part-owned by Tom Brady, are in desperate need of a franchise-altering quarterback and are nailed on to take Mendoza with their top pick.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis announced the launch of the nation’s first carbon ion therapy program to treat cancer. “Governor Ron DeSantis joined First Lady Casey DeSantis and Mayo Clinic President and CEO Dr. Kent Thielen to announce that Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville is launching the first carbon ion therapy program in America and the only carbon ion therapy program in the Western Hemisphere,” a press release read. At a press conference, Casey DeSantis discussed her experience with radiation therapy and said the groundbreaking program provides “hope” to many cancer patients. Footage below: BREAKING: @GovRonDeSantis and @CaseyDeSantis visit Mayo Clinic Jacksonville as Florida powers up the nation’s first carbon ion therapy system, part of the state’s record $218M 2025 cancer funding. “As someone who’s been through radiation therapy… it gives you hope patients… pic.twitter.com/bvcGtcFRHd — Florida’s Voice (@FLVoiceNews) January 15, 2026 Florida Politics has more: Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis returned to Jacksonville to highlight new investments at the Duan Family Building at the Mayo Clinic. It’s part of $218 million appropriated last year, marking over a billion dollars since the Governor was elected, with more than $100 million going to Mayo alone. “We are here today with the backdrop of all the heavy artillery you see for treating cancer to announce the next major step forward,” the Governor said. “Mayo Clinic is now launching the technology for the first carbon ion therapy program anywhere in the United States of America. And in fact, it’ll be the only carbon ion therapy program in the entire Western Hemisphere. So this is newer technology. Japan has really embraced it. Mayo’s the first one in the United States.” Roughly $30 million of state money went into this initiative, which the Governor said is the most advanced form of radiation treatment for cancers that don’t respond well to traditional radiation. He also said it’s a way to continue boosting the “upward trajectory of the medical community” in Florida. “Our administration is committed to fighting cancer by making targeted investments in innovative therapies that have the potential to save lives,” said Gov. DeSantis. “During my time as governor, we’ve increased funding for cancer research and treatment programs by more than 114 percent. The Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program has strengthened Florida’s position as a national leader in cancer research and innovation. We’re proud that Mayo Clinic chose Florida as the home for this groundbreaking initiative, and we look forward to seeing how these cutting-edge therapies give hope to patients fighting some of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant cancers,” he continued. “Under the Governor’s leadership, Florida continues to lead in innovation, and today at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville, we are proving that this leadership extends beyond our state, transforming not only how we care for Floridians, but also how the rest of America approaches cancer treatment,” Casey DeSantis said. “This state-of-the-art technology was made possible, in part, through funding from the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program,” she added. Proud to flip the switch with @GovRonDeSantis at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville to launch the ONLY carbon ion therapy program in the Western Hemisphere. This innovative cancer therapy was made possible, in part, through funding from the Casey DeSantis Cancer Research Program. It’s a… pic.twitter.com/BG3qgXgIyZ — Casey DeSantis (@CaseyDeSantis) January 15, 2026 News4JAX noted: Casey DeSantis, a cancer survivor, talked about the importance of investing in cancer initiatives like this new program. “Have courage and stay strong because you can beat it. And look at what the state of Florida is doing to help provide options that are nowhere else in the Western Hemisphere, but right here at the Mayo Clinic and right here in Florida,” the first lady said. The first patients to receive the new proton therapy are expected to be treated in early 2027, officials said.

President Trump accepted a Nobel Peace Prize medal presented to him by Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado. Machado presented the award to Trump during a meeting at the White House. Nobel Peace Prize Winner Presents Award To President Trump Fox News host Bret Baier said White House officials confirmed that Trump accepted the medal. Check it out: BAIER: I am getting word from White House officials that Machado insisted that she give the Nobel medal to the president, and he did accept it. pic.twitter.com/9nrRucpwgZ — Acyn (@Acyn) January 15, 2026 ABC News shared further: Further details about the closed-door meeting were not immediately revealed by the White House. Asked about the meeting by ABC News' Mary Bruce, Trump said it went "great." Machado told reporters as she was exiting the White House that she presented Trump with her prize and reflected on the history between the two countries. "I told him this ... Listen to this -- 200 years ago, General Lafayette gave Simon Bolivar a medal with George Washington’s face on it. Bolivar, since then, kept that medal for the rest of his life," she told reporters. "Actually, when you see his portraits, you can see the medal there. And it was given by General Lafayette as a sign of the brotherhood between the United States, people of United States, and the people of Venezuela in their fight for freedom against tyranny. And 200 years in history, the people of Bolivar are giving back to the heir of Washington, a medal, in this case a medal of a Nobel Peace Prize, and a recognition for his unique commitment with our freedom," she added. "It was my Great Honor to meet María Corina Machado, of Venezuela, today. She is a wonderful woman who has been through so much. María presented me with her Nobel Peace Prize for the work I have done. Such a wonderful gesture of mutual respect. Thank you María!" Trump wrote on Truth Social. BREAKING: Images just released showing President #Trump with Nobel Peace Prize medal presented to him by Maria Corina Machado. “Presented as a Personal Symbol of Gratitude on behalf of the Venezucian People in Recognition of President Trump's Principled and Decive Action to… pic.twitter.com/zyJVKPz85A — Commentary: Trump Truth Social Posts On X (@TrumpTruthOnX) January 16, 2026 NewsNation noted: The president has embarked on a campaign to be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in ending conflicts around the world. He has over the course of his second term raked up support as a candidate for the prize, garnering nominations from the leaders of Pakistan, Cambodia, Israel and a variety of GOP lawmakers. The prize this year, however, went to Machado for her work on human rights in Venezuela. Machado on Thursday met privately at the White House with Trump before heading to Capitol Hill to meet with senators. There, she was met with a swarm of supporters chanting in her favor. María Corina Machado‘s visit comes amid uncertainty over the future leadership of the South American country. It also comes a day after the Senate narrowly blocked a war powers resolution, with Vice President JD Vance casting the tie-breaking vote. Trump hasn’t ruled out Machado playing a role in Venezuela’s future leadership, saying she may be involved in some aspect. However, following Maduro’s ouster by the United States earlier this month, Trump has said Machado lacks the support and respect of the Venezuelan people.