Month: December 2021

By MARGARET STAFFORD Associated Press Authorities say two men have died in wildfires that erupted across Kansas earlier this week. Leoti officials say 84-year-old rancher and farmer Richard Shimanek died at a hospital after being burned while trying to fight a fire near his home on Wednesday. And the Ellis County sheriff’s office says the

SEATTLE (AP) — Aerospace giant Boeing says it’s suspending a company vaccination requirement for all U.S.-based employees. The Seattle Times reports the company adopted a COVID-19 vaccine mandate in October to ensure compliance with the federal executive order that required all employees of federal contractors to be vaccinated. The mandate faced opposition from a vocal

By BABACAR DIONE Associated Press DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Several hundred demonstrators have taken to the streets of Senegal’s capital, accusing the government of treating opposition figures unfairly. The protesters said Friday that opponents of President Macky Sall have been subjected to lengthy detentions. There was no immediate response from the government, though Sall has

NEW YORK (AP) — Ken Kragen, a top entertainment producer, manager and philanthropist who turned to such clients as Lionel Richie and Kenny Rogers in helping to organize the 1985 all-star charity single “We Are the World,” has died. He was 85.  A statement released by his family says Kragen died at his home in

By MICHAEL RUBINKAM Associated Press Federal environmental officials have announced a $1 billion infusion to the Superfund program. The money comes from the infrastructure bill that President Joe Biden recently signed into law. It’ll help officials tackle a backlog of highly polluted Superfund sites in 24 states. Nearly 50 toxic waste sites will be cleaned up,

By MARK THIESSSEN Associated Press ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — The newly crowned Miss America has made history. When 20-year-old Emma Broyles was crowned Thursday, she became the first Korean American and the first Alaskan to hold the title. She tells The Associated Press she was sure they had it wrong when the emcee read Alaska

By ROB GILLIES Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — Canada’s largest province is cutting capacity at restaurants, bars and retailers to 50% and limiting social gatherings inside restaurants to 10 people in an effort to slow the spread of the omicron variant. Ontario’s chief medical officer of health also said Thursday that the sale of alcohol

By SUMMER BALLENTINE Associated Press COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s treasurer no longer will help schools refinance bond debt unless they promise not to require face masks. Missourinet first reported Republican Treasurer Scott Fitzpatrick’s new policy. Fitzpatrick’s spokeswoman says the policy is in response to Republican Attorney General Eric Schmitt’s pledge to sue schools and

By JOHN CARUCCI Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Faith Hill and Tim McGraw called on their parental instincts for “1883,” a prequel to the modern TV drama “Yellowstone.” The country music stars have been married with children for more than two decades. In the period drama “1883,” they play James and Margaret Dutton, who

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA is shooting for next Friday to launch its newest space telescope. NASA Administrator Bill Nelson confirmed that the James Webb Space Telescope will attempt to blast off on Christmas Eve. A European Ariane rocket will provide the lift from South America’s French Guiana.

By The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — New York state is reporting its highest single-day total for new COVID-19 cases, with just over 21,000 people testing positive for the virus. The state’s previous one-day high for positive tests came on Jan. 14, 2021, when just under 20,000 people tested positive. Just under half of

By GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press A federal judge’s decision to reject a multibillion dollar opioid settlement involving OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma is being hailed as a step toward justice by advocates who have long called for greater accountability for the family that owns the company. But not everyone involved in the arduous settlement process is

By THOMAS BEAUMONT Associated Press They are just three little words, but they have become nearly impossible for many Republicans to say: “Joe Biden won.” It’s a measure of election denialism within the Republican Party. Former President Donald Trump’s lies about a stolen election have so taken hold among GOP voters that many of the

By ADAM BEAM Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California’s unemployment rate has fallen below 7% for the fist time since March of last year at the start of the pandemic. Data made public Friday shows hiring in California slowed significantly in November compared to October. But the state still added 45,700 new jobs in

By MICHAEL R. BLOOD Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Leading California cannabis companies are warning Gov. Gavin Newsom that the state’s legal marijuana industry is on the verge of collapse. A letter signed by more than two dozen executives, industry officials and advocates follows years of complaints about heavy taxes and regulation that they

By JEFFREY SCHAEFFER and BARBARA SURK Associated Press PARIS (AP) — French authorities are urging people to get vaccinated against the coronavirus ahead of the holiday festivities as infections surge and the government tries to avoid another lockdown. “The fifth wave is here and it is here in full force,” Prime Minister Jean Castex said

By IAN PHILLIPS and SYLVIE CORBET NEW YORK (AP) — French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire says President Emmanuel Macron’s potential reelection next year is “very important” to further boost growth — in a clear endorsement of a candidacy that’s not yet been formally announced. The presidential vote is scheduled in April. Macron is widely

MATT OTT AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Former first lady Melania Trump launched a venture this week selling non-fungible tokens that must be paid for with Solan cryptocurrency, currently valued around $180 each. Trump said she will release NFTs “in regular intervals” on her website, with a portion of the proceeds going to

By TOM HAYS and LARRY NEUMEISTER Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — After 12 days of testimony over three weeks, jurors heard from the final witnesses in the Ghislaine Maxwell sex trafficking trial. The British socialite told the judge Friday she wouldn’t testify because she was confident prosecutors hadn’t proved their case. Closing arguments are

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — A Russian warship under construction at a shipyard in St. Petersburg has caught fire, leaving at least three workers injured. The Provorny (Agile) corvette being built at the Northern Shipyard was completely engulfed Friday by flames that sent plumes of smoke over Russia’s second-largest city. Local authorities said three workers

By MATTHEW BARAKAT Associated Press FAIRFAX, Va. (AP) — Police in Virginia say the discovery of four bodies at two different locations are the work of a serial killer who used a shopping cart to transport his victims’ bodies after meeting them on dating sites. Fairfax County police on Friday dubbed 35-year-old Anthony Robinson of

By MARY CLARE JALONICK Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone says he has asserted his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination in an interview with the House panel investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection. He told reporters as he left the deposition Friday that “I did my civic duty and I responded

GENEVA (AP) — The Swiss government will require proof of vaccination or recovery from COVID-19 for access to restaurants, cultural or sports events and all other indoor events as the country faces a new surge in coronavirus cases. The executive Federal Council, after coordinating with regional leaders, announced a series of new measures to take

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — Students will be able to apply to Harvard University without submitting SAT or ACT scores for at least the next four years. Harvard announced the move Thursday amid concerns about students’ access to testing sites during the pandemic. It extends a policy many colleges have adopted during the pandemic and that

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — A child abuse charge has been dismissed against the drummer for Grammy Award-winning rock band Alabama Shakes. Court records show a Limestone County judge on Thursday dismissed the charge against 36-year-old Steven William Johnson. Johnson had been arrested in March after being indicted on charges of abuse of a child. Johnson’s