Month: December 2021

By CALEB JONES Associated Press HONOLULU (AP) — Federal officials say an endangered Hawaiian monk seal that was found dead on the island of Molokai last September was intentionally killed with a gun. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officials say in a statement that the young female seal suffered a gunshot wound to its head.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — An F-15 fighter jet traveling over central Illinois created a sonic boom that rattled the region, prompting concerned residents to flood local police stations with calls about the noise. The Illinois Emergency Management Agency said in a statement that the department was alerted about 11:20 CST Tuesday about “a large noise

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Grassy yards would be banned at all new housing and commercial developments in the Las Vegas metro area as officials try to expand water use limitations and the region prepares for a hotter and drier future. The Southern Nevada Water Authority passed resolutions on Monday to prohibit the yards and the

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — The information technology agency that serves Virginia’s legislature is still working to fix problems caused by a ransomware attack. The attack substantially affected operations and occurred during preparations for a legislative session that’s set to begin Jan. 12. Dave Burhop is executive director of Virginia’s Division of Legislative Automated Systems. He

By SARA BURNETT Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot says the nation’s third-largest city will require proof of coronavirus vaccination at restaurants, bars, gyms and other indoor venues. Lightfoot said Tuesday that the requirement will take effect Jan. 3. It comes as the rapidly spreading omicron variant has led to a spike

A California man has been sentenced to three years in prison for threatening harm in text messages sent during the attack on the U.S. Capitol to a New York-based family member of a journalist. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York says 36-year-old Robert Lemke was sentenced Monday in Manhattan federal

By DAVID PITT Associated Press DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A federal watchdog says the Trump administration overpaid corn farmers by about $3 billion in federal aid in 2019 and that farmers in the South were paid more for the same crops than elsewhere in the country. The Government Accountability Office said in a report

BOULDER, Colo. (AP) — Twenty-five years after JonBenet Ramsey was killed, police say DNA hasn’t been ruled out to help solve the case. The 6-year-old was found dead in the basement of her family’s Boulder, Colorado, home on Dec. 26, 1996. Her death was ruled a homicide, but nobody was ever charged in the case.

PARIS (AP) — Facing a jump in COVID-19 hospitalizations, France’s government is trying to push through a law requiring vaccination to enter any restaurant and many other public places. Officials are also warning of tougher measures if the current surge of infections doesn’t recede. The government dropped efforts to require a health pass for all

DENVER (AP) — An online petition has gathered millions of signatures calling for leniency for a 26-year-old truck driver who was sentenced to 110 years in prison for causing a crash that killed four people in Colorado. More than 4.5 million people have signed the change.org petition urging Gov. Jared Polis to grant clemency or

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Newly unsealed court documents show the former top executive for the contractor hired to build two South Carolina nuclear reactors that were never finished won’t face criminal charges. The Post and Courier reports former Westinghouse CEO Danny Roderick is now a government witness for a federal investigation into the failed multibillion

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Intel has told workers that unvaccinated people who don’t get an exemption for religious or medical reasons will be on unpaid leave beginning in April. The California-based semiconductor company told employees last month they had a Jan. 4 deadline to be vaccinated against COVID-19 or seek an exemption, citing a government

WASHINGTON (AP) — Agents with an investigative unit of the Department of Homeland Security will wear body cameras for the first time as part of a six-month pilot program that will focus on the costs and benefits of using the technology in federal law enforcement. Officials said Tuesday that the cameras will be used during

By LUJAIN JO Associated Press BEIRUT (AP) — The U.N. chief has warned the continued paralysis of Lebanon’s government may dampen international support for this small Mideast country going through a “very dramatic” crisis. Antonio Guterres’ remarks on Tuesday came at the end of his three-day visit to Lebanon during which he repeatedly urged the

By DYLAN LOVAN Associated Press LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — A Kentucky task force on search warrants established in the wake of the fatal Breonna Taylor police shooting has completed its work. The task force set up by state Attorney General Daniel Cameron is recommending additional training for officers, an electronic database and tracking zip codes

FULSHEAR, Texas (AP) — Officials say two people were killed after a small plane collided with a paraglider near Houston. The Federal Aviation Administration says the single-engine Cessna 208 took off on Tuesday from Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston then collided midair with the paraglider around 9:40 a.m. about 50 miles to the southwest near

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has tested positive for COVID-19, along with his wife and teenage son. The governor’s office announced Tuesday that Walz and his family tested positive on Monday after his son experienced mild symptoms over the weekend. The governor and first lady Gwen Walz remain asymptomatic. All three have been

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A former Virginia Commonwealth University student has pleaded guilty to hazing and serving alcohol to a minor in connection with a 19-year-old freshman’s death from alcohol poisoning after a fraternity party. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that 23-year-old Andrew White of Dulles pleaded guilty to the misdemeanors Tuesday. He is one of

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portugal is reimposing coronavirus restrictions because of fears over the threat from the omicron variant. The move comes despite the country having one of the highest COVID-19 vaccination rates in the world. The country’s prime minister announced Tuesday that working from home will be mandatory and discotheques and bars will be

By MICHELLE L. PRICE Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said he’s committed to keeping the city open as it grapples with yet another spike in coronavirus cases. The Democratic mayor said Tuesday that New York can’t see schools and businesses closed again like the city did in