Month: September 2023

By MATTHEW BARAKAT Associated Press FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — Federal prosecutors have dropped charges against a onetime business partner of former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Bijan Kian had been accused of acting as an unregistered agent of the Turkish government. But the decision ends a five-year legal saga for Kian. His case received

DENVER (AP) — Retired Colorado Rockies first baseman Todd Helton is teaming up with the organization RIP Medical Debt to help eliminate $10 million in medical bills for residents around the state. The program is set to start later this month, with recipients around Colorado receiving letters that notify them their medical bills have been

By MATTHEW LEE AP Diplomatic Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has cleared the way for the release of five American citizens detained in Iran by issuing a blanket waiver for international banks to transfer $6 billion in frozen Iranian money from South Korea to Qatar without fear of U.S. sanctions. In addition, as

By SUMMER BALLENTINE Associated Press JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Advocates are asking a Missouri judge to rewrite what they say are misleading descriptions of abortion-rights constitutional amendments. Lawyers on Monday argued over Republican Secretary of State Jay Ashcroft’s summary of the amendment. Summaries are provided on ballots to give voters simplified descriptions of sometimes

By ED WHITE Associated Press A man charged with assisting the leaders of a plan to kidnap Michigan’s governor is denying any role. But he told jurors that he should have contacted police when talk turned to obtaining explosives. Null, brother Michael Null and Eric Molitor are on trial in Antrim County. They are the

By CHRISTINE FERNANDO and HARM VENHUIZEN Associated Press MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court justice who Republicans are threatening to impeach over comments she made on the campaign trail about abortion and redistricting isn’t the first member of the court to offer public opinions about major issues of the day. An Associated Press

PAWNEE, Okla. (AP) — An Oklahoma prosecutor says there’s insufficient evidence to charge the BTK serial killer in the 1976 disappearance of a 16-year-old girl despite statements from law enforcement officials calling him a prime suspect. District Attorney Mike Fisher said Monday he’s not at a point where he could file charges against Dennis Rader

WINDSOR, Ontario (AP) — Canadian federal prosecutors are arguing that a man facing murder charges in the deaths of four members of a Muslim family was motivated by white nationalist beliefs. Nathaniel Veltman is accused of deliberately hitting five members of the Afzaal family with his truck while they were out for a walk in

By WAYNE PARRY Associated Press ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Sports betting company DraftKings apologized Monday after using the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks to entice people to bet on baseball and football games on the anniversary of the tragedy that killed nearly 3,000 people. The Boston-based company offered users a 9/11-themed promotion that required

By STEVE LeBLANC Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Prosecutors say a 68-year-old man walked into an FBI field office in Oregon and confessed to bludgeoning a woman to death more than four decades ago in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood. John Michael Irmer, 68, was arraigned Monday in Boston in the death of 24-year-old Susan Marcia

By STEVE DOUGLAS AP Sports Writer Croatia climbed atop its European Championship qualifying group by beating Armenia 1-0 away thanks to Andrej Kramarić’s goal in a first half that saw the game briefly delayed because of a drone carrying a political message. The striker tapped in at the far post after a 13th-minute corner from

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Casino and hotel giant MGM Resorts International says a cybersecurity issue led to the shutdown of computer systems at its properties across the U.S. A statement Monday from the Las Vegas-based company said the incident began Sunday and the extent of its effect on reservation systems and casino floors was not

By MARTÍN ADAMES ALCÁNTARA Associated Press SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic (AP) — The president of the Dominican Republic says he has suspended issuing visas to Haitians, and he is threatening to shut down land, air and sea traffic between the two neighbors over their latest dispute. The measures announced Monday by President Luis Abinader follow

By R.J. RICO Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — Officials from the City of Atlanta have refused to verify tens of thousands of signatures submitted by activists who have been trying for two years to stop the construction of a police and firefighter training center. The refusal by the city clerk’s office Monday was the latest

By ANDREW DAMPF AP Sports Writer ROME (AP) — Juventus midfielder Paul Pogba has tested positive for testosterone. Italy’s anti-doping agency announced the positive test. The test was carried out after Juventus’ game at Udinese on Aug. 20. Pogba did not play in the Serie A match but was on Juve’s bench. Nado Italia says

JERUSALEM (AP) — The British foreign secretary has arrived in Israel on a three-day visit to a country in turmoil, facing its biggest protest movement in history and heightened violence in the occupied West Bank. Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen hailed James Cleverly’s arrival Monday as important for deepening Israel’s ties with Britain, which he

By LAURAN NEERGAARD AP Medical Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators have approved updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, shots aimed at revving up protection this fall and winter. The Food and Drug Administration’s decision Monday is part of a shift to treat fall COVID-19 vaccine updates much like getting a yearly flu shot.

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN Associated Press ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — The sheriff in New Mexico’s largest metro area has vowed not to enforce an emergency order by the governor to temporarily suspend the right to carry firearms in public in and around the city of Albuquerque. Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen said Monday the order

By SETH BORENSTEIN AP Science Writer The deadly firestorm in Hawaii and Hurricane Idalia’s watery storm surge helped push the United States to an annual record for the number of weather disasters that cost at least $1 billion. And there’s still four months to go on what’s looking more like a calendar of calamities. The

By AVET DEMOURIAN Associated Press YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) — Armenia has launched a joint military exercise with the United States, a move that has angered the Caucasus nation’s main ally, Russia. The “Eagle Partner” war games that began Monday will run through Sept. 20 and involve 175 Armenian and 85 troops. They reflect Armenian Prime

LONDON (AP) — The fashion designer who created the wedding dress of Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, is stepping down as creative director at Alexander McQueen after two decades at the brand, luxury group Kering said. Designer Sarah Burton had led the fashion house since 2010 and previously worked with the brand’s founder, Lee Alexander

By WAYNE PARRY Associated Press POINT PLEASANT BEACH, N.J. (AP) — As the U.S. races to build offshore wind power projects that will transform coastlines from Maine to South Carolina, much remains unknown about how the facilities could affect the environment. And that has some people concerned, particularly those who depend on the sea for

By EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United States and Britain have invited ambassadors, journalists and representatives of a broad spectrum of society to a U.N. screening of the award-winning documentary “20 Days in Mariupol,” which follows a trio of Associated Press journalists during Russia’s relentless siege of the Ukrainian port

SAN ANTONIO (AP) — A trial is underway over a sweeping Texas voting law that set off a 38-day walkout by Democrats in 2021 and resulted in thousands of rejected mail ballots the following year. Two years ago, Republican Gov. Greg Abbott signed the changes into law as part of a wave of GOP-driven efforts

MILAN (AP) — An American literary historian, a French paleoanthropologist, a Danish evolutionary geneticist and a German-Dutch radio astronomer have been named the winners of this year’s Balzan Prize. Their work in the humanities and natural sciences advances the study of comparative literature, human evolution and black holes. The Balzan Foundation awards prizes in the

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — One of three active-duty Marines who stormed the U.S. Capitol together has been sentenced to probation instead of prison time. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes also on Monday ordered Dodge Hellonen to perform 279 hours of community service. She said that’s one hour for every Marine who

HEBRON, Ky. (AP) — Former Cincinnati Bengals defensive back Adam “Pacman” Jones was arrested early Monday after police responded to a report of an “unruly passenger” at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. Airport spokesperson Mindy Kerschner confirmed that Jones was the passenger arrested prior to takeoff. Captain Kevin Klute of the Boone County Jail says Jones

By CLIFF BRUNT AP Sports Writer NORMAN, Okla. (AP) — Oklahoma offensive coordinator Jeff Lebby has apologized after his father-in-law, disgraced former Baylor coach Art Briles, was seen on the field with Lebby after Oklahoma’s 28-11 win over SMU on Saturday night. Baylor fired Briles in 2016 after an investigation concluded he and his staff

ARROWSIC, Maine (AP) — A nonprofit group says a lighthouse that was the site of a walkway collapse that injured 11 people will remain closed for an undetermined amount of time. The wooden walkway at Doubling Point Lighthouse in Arrowsic collapsed on Saturday during an open lighthouse event. Five of the 11 people who were

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — The heads of state of six Western Balkan countries that are seeking to join the European Union have urged the bloc to accelerate its enlargement process, saying that would contribute to regional stability. A joint declaration from the presidents of Serbia, Kosovo, Bosnia, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Albania says both

CLAYTON, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri jury has awarded $745 million to the parents of a young woman killed on a sidewalk outside an urgent care center by a driver who huffed nitrous oxide canisters right before the accident. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the verdict was reached Friday in the lawsuit brought by

By MONIKA SCISLOWSKA Associated Press WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s conservative ruling party has unveiled a new campaign ad that portrays German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in an unfavorable light. The Law and Justice party has governed Poland since 2015 and is seeking to keep power when the country holds an Oct. 15 parliamentary election. In

NEW YORK (AP) — Disney and Charter Communications announced a deal to settle a dispute that had cut some 15 million cable TV customers off from ESPN and other Disney-owned stations. The two businesses faced a pressing deadline — the year’s first ‘Monday Night Football’ game, that would have left a lot of angry football

NEW YORK (AP) — A Ukrainian composer has been commissioned to write an opera about mothers from that country going into Russia to rescue their forcibly detained children. The Metropolitan Opera and Lincoln Center Theater say 42-year-old Maxim Kolomiiets will compose the work to a libretto by George Brant, whose “Grounded” with composer Jeanine Tesori

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — A Portuguese hacker whose bombshell revelations on the “Football Leaks” website rocked European soccer has been convicted by a Lisbon court of nine crimes and given a suspended prison sentence of four years. Portuguese media reported that the three-judge panel found Rui Pinto guilty on five counts of unauthorized entry into

SARAJEVO, Bosnia-Herzegovina (AP) — A court in Bosnia says it has confirmed an indictment against Bosnian Serb separatist leader Milorad Dodik on charges of defying the top international envoy overseeing peace in the Balkan country. Bosnian prosecutors filed the charges last month but the indictment had to be approved by the court to become valid.

By EVA VERGARA and DANIEL POLITI Associated Press SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Chile on Monday was commemorating the 50th anniversary of the coup led by Gen. Augusto Pinochet. The coup ushered in a brutal military dictatorship that lasted almost 17 years. The commemoration began with a ceremony at the La Moneda presidential palace. The military

By PAUL J. WEBER Associated Press AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s impeachment trial on abuse of power charges could be in the hands of the jury as soon as this week. Republican Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick said Monday that both sides are on pace to use up all allotted time for

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Public health officials are warning residents of flood-stricken central Greece to avoid using floodwater for domestic chores due to mounting fears of contamination. The floods have caused damage over 700 square kilometers (270 square miles) in Greece’s central farming belt, destroyed homes and roads and left thousands of households without power

By HARM VENHUIZEN Associated Press/Report for America MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Senate’s elections committee is set to vote Monday on the future of the state’s top elections official. Their vote will clear the way for the full Republican-controlled Senate to vote on firing Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe as soon as Thursday.

By MICHAEL LIEDTKE AP Technology Writer The U.S. government is taking aim at what has been an indomitable empire: Google’s ubiquitous search engine that has become the internet’s main gateway. The legal attack will swing into full force Tuesday in a Washington D.C. federal courtroom that will serve as the battleground for the biggest U.S.

NEW YORK (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris, Republican presidential candidate and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani joined New York politicians and mourners at a 9/11 memorial ceremony at ground zero Monday. The bipartisan group of politicians was not scheduled to speak at the ceremony, marking the 22nd