A thrush feeds on a tree in city park on Wednesday in Tallinn, Estonia, as the daily temperature there dropped to 26.6 F. The Associated Press

NATION

District of Columbia

Judge clears way for federal downsizing plan

WASHINGTON — A federal judge has cleared the way for President Donald Trump’s plan to downsize the federal workforce with a deferred resignation program. It was a significant legal victory for the Republican president after a string of courtroom setbacks.

U.S. District Judge George O’Toole Jr. on Wednesday found that the labor unions that sued didn’t have legal standing to challenge the program, commonly described as a buyout. Trump wants to use financial incentives to encourage government employees to quit. The deferred resignation program has been spearheaded by Elon Musk, who is serving as Trump’s top adviser for reducing federal spending.

Wisconsin

Justice rejects GOP call

to recuse from key case

MADISON — Liberal Wisconsin Supreme Court justice Janet Protasiewicz has rejected a Republican request that she not hear a pending case that seeks to restore collective bargaining rights that tens of thousands of teachers, nurses and other state workers lost in 2011.

Her decision came at the same time that the court, without comment, declined to hear the case as unions requested before it first goes through a lower appeals court.

WORLD

Israel

Hostage release dispute threatens ceasefire

JERUSALEM — Israel’s defense minister on Wednesday vowed that “all hell will break loose” on Hamas if it fails to free hostages this weekend as planned, stepping up threats against the militant group as mediators worked to salvage their ceasefire.

Hamas official Mahmoud Merdawi told The Associated Press there were “positive signals” the three hostages will be released as planned on Saturday but the group had not yet received a commitment from Israel that it would adhere to the deal.