Month: June 2023

FORT MYERS, Fla. (AP) — A southwest Florida couple has been charged with stealing more than $2 million in COVID-19 relief funds and using the money to buy boats, new businesses and other luxury items. Court records show that Timothy and Lisa Jolloff made their initial appearances Friday in Fort Myers federal court on charges

By PETER SMITH Associated Press PITTSBURGH (AP) — A truck driver who spewed hatred of Jews was convicted Friday of storming a Pittsburgh synagogue and shooting everyone he could find on a Sabbath morning, killing 11 congregants in an act of antisemitic terror for which he could be sentenced to die. The guilty verdict was

By MARIA SHERMAN AP Music Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Recording Academy announced a number of changes to the Grammy Awards, including a rule that stipulates “only human creators” can win the music industry’s highest honor in a decision aimed at the use of artificial intelligence in popular music. “A work that contains no

By HANNAH SCHOENBAUM Associated Press/Report for America RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Abortion providers in North Carolina have filed a federal lawsuit that challenges several provisions of a state law banning most abortions after 12 weeks of pregnancy. The new restrictions are set to take effect July 1. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic and Dr. Beverly Gray,

By NICHOLAS RICCARDI and DANICA KIRKA Associated Press Boris Johnson and Donald Trump have quite a bit in common as two populist iconoclasts in hot water after leaving the top office in their respective nations. But they are likely on different trajectories. Trump is the frontrunner for his party’s presidential nomination and stands a solid

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Mexico says federal authorities have arrested six people for their alleged roles in a human smuggling ring that brought migrants from Guatemala to the United States. Authorities said the six were members of the Lopez Crime Family, which allegedly has smuggling operations in Guatemala, Mexico

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran says Saudi Arabia’s top diplomat is coming to visit Tehran, the latest step in the restoration of diplomatic ties between the two Mideast rivals. A statement rom Iran on Friday says Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan will meet his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amirabdollahian the following day. Prince Faisal is

By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The White House has selected a former North Carolina health official to be the new director of the nation’s top federal public health agency. Dr. Mandy Cohen has been picked to head the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. the White House announced her appointment

BERLIN (AP) — A bronze sword made more than 3,000 years ago that is so well-preserved it “almost still shines” has been unearthed in Germany, officials say. Bavaria’s state office for the preservation of historical monuments says the sword, which is believed to date back to the end of the 14th century B.C. — the

CHICAGO (AP) — A Chicago police sergeant has been fired for his role in a botched 2019 raid at the home of a Black woman who was handcuffed while naked after police officers were sent to the wrong address. The Chicago Police Board voted 5-3 Thursday to fire Sgt. Alex Wolinski for multiple rules violations

By HALELUYA HADERO and MATT OTT AP Business Writers NEW YORK (AP) — Unionized UPS workers voted overwhelmingly on Friday to authorize a strike, setting the stage for a potential work stoppage if the package delivery company and Teamsters can’t come to an agreement before their contract expires next month. The Teamsters said 97% of

By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s parliament on Friday raised the age of sexual consent to 16 from 13, a limit which had remained unchanged for more than a century and was among the world’s lowest, amid calls for greater protection of children and women. The revision was part of a revamping

By LAURA UNGAR AP Science Writer Testosterone replacement therapy is safe for men with “low T” who have heart disease or are at high risk for it, a new study suggests. But doctors warn the popular treatment is no “anti-aging tonic.” The research, published Friday in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that heart

By DUSAN STOJANOVIC Associated Press BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbian prosecutors have opened legal proceedings against three Kosovo police officers arrested earlier this week, defying U.S. and other demands for their immediate and unconditional release. Serbian officials have said the three Kosovo Albanians were arrested by Serbian security on Wednesday deep inside Serbia and close

LONDON (AP) — Police have charged a 31-year-old man with three counts of murder in the knife and van attack that killed two university athletes and a school caretaker earlier this week in the English city of Nottingham. The suspect, Valdo Calocane, is also accused of three counts of attempted murder after he allegedly drove

By ANNE M. PETERSON AP Sports Writer The global soccer players’ union says is working with FIFA to make sure that payments promised to all players at the Women’s World Cup actually reach them. FIFA confirmed last week that the 732 players participating in the tournament that starts next month in Australia and New Zealand

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The United States men’s soccer team’s match against Mexico was cut short Thursday night by the referee after repeated homophobic chants could be heard from fans. Four players were ejected in the game, which the U.S. won 3-0 for a spot Sunday in the CONCACAF Nations League final against Canada. Christian

SEQUATCHIE, Tenn. (AP) — Authorities say six people including three children have been found dead in a Tennessee home where police responded to a shooting and arrived to find the residence ablaze. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said in a statement that a seventh person who had suffered gunshot wounds was found alive at the

By HARUNA UMAR Associated Press MAIDUGURI, Nigeria (AP) — Local authorities in northeast Nigeria say Islamic extremist rebels have killed at least seven farmers. Militants have tried for more than a decade to launch an insurgency there against the Nigerian government. The local officials said the farmers were working in their Borno state crop fields

By LORNE COOK Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO has launched a new center to help protect vulnerable undersea pipelines and cables. The military organization is concerned about Russia’s mapping activities to locate vital Western infrastructure in waters around Europe used to transport energy and internet data. The 31-nation alliance was spurred into action by

By FRANCES D’EMILIO Associated Press ROME (AP) — The top official in former Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi’s Forza Italia party has vowed to reinvigorate the political party created by the late media mogul. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, the party’s coordinator, says he and other party stalwarts loyal to the former premier will keep waging Berlusconi’s

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN AP Business Writer The production company founded by Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, is splitting ways with Spotify less than a year after the debut of their podcast “ Archetypes.” It is unclear why the podcast, hosted by Meghan, is leaving the platform but Spotify and Archewell Audio said in a

By LEANNE ITALIE AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — There’s nothing that can keep Christian Cooper from enjoying his “happy place,” the bird-friendly Ramble of Central Park — not even his tense, viral video encounter three years ago with a woman walking her dog off leash in his refuge. Cooper is a lifelong birder,