Month: December 2023

By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON Associated Press MIAMI (AP) — Salsa music blares from the food court in a rundown Miami shopping center as Latinos head to a kiosk and an office showing signs for “Obamacare,” where they hope to renew their health coverage plans before the year ends. It’s areas near this mall where former

By NICOLE WINFIELD Associated Press VATICAN CITY (AP) — A once-powerful cardinal and nine other people are to learn their fates when a Vatican tribunal hands down verdicts in a complicated financial trial that has aired the tiny city state’s dirty laundry. Judge Giuseppe Pignatone will read out the verdicts of the three-judge panel in

By STEPHEN GROVES, LISA MASCARO and REBECCA SANTANA Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Prominent Latinos in Congress looked on quietly, at first, privately raising concerns with the Biden administration over the direction of border security talks. Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California was on the phone constantly with administration officials questioning why the Senate negotiations

By LAURIE KELLMAN Associated Press LONDON (AP) — So much for the women-and-children-first rule of rescues in crisis. The unwritten law of the sea, popularized with the 1912 sinking of the Titanic and its eponymous movie, is getting a grim new airing after Israeli and Hamas prioritized the release of female hostages for prisoners. Evacuation

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — It was the most painful inflation Americans had experienced since 1981, when “The Dukes of Hazzard” and “The Jeffersons” were topping the TV charts. Yet the Federal Reserve now seems on the verge of defeating it — and without the surge in unemployment and the deep

By JESSE BEDAYN Associated Press DENVER (AP) — A federal judge has denied a request to halt the reintroduction of gray wolves in Colorado just days away from the predators’ release. Judge Regina Rodriguez sided Friday with state and federal agencies against representatives of Colorado’s cattle industry, who sued federal and state agencies over reintroducing

By BETH HARRIS Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — Two “General Hospital” actors have won supporting honors at the Daytime Emmy Awards. The late Sonya Eddy won for her role as no-nonsense head nurse Epiphany Johnson on the venerable ABC show. She died last December at age 55 from an infection after surgery. Robert Gossett

WASHINGTON (AP) — Firefighters in Washington, D.C., are battling a two-alarm fire that started in a three-story former firehouse under renovation near the U.S. Capitol. DC Fire and EMS says one firefighter declared mayday and was rescued. No injuries were reported. The fire began Friday evening in Old Engine Company No. 12, now a landmark

By CLAIRE RUSH Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The program tasked with replacing the Interstate 5 bridge that connects Portland, Oregon, with southwest Washington is set to receive $600 million in federal funds. Washington’s U.S. Sens. Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray, and U.S. Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, announced the funding Friday. The bridge is

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A Sacramento city councilman has pleaded not guilty to federal charges that he hired undocumented workers at his local Viva Supermarket stores, underpaid them and cheated the government on COVID-19 relief funds. Sean Loloee and the general manager of his four Viva Supermarket stores entered pleas Friday to conspiracy, possession and

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Mayim Bialik won’t be giving answers as a host of “Jeopardy!” anymore. “The Big Bang Theory” actor has posted news of her departure on Instagram. Bialik says show producer Sony Pictures Television informed her that she will no longer be hosting the syndicated version. Former show champion Ken Jennings has been

Associated Press PITTSFIELD, Mass. (AP) — The remains of a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant from Massachusetts who was one of eight service members lost when a CV-22 Osprey crashed off the coast of Japan are being returned home. The body of 24-year-old Jacob “Jake” Galliher was expected to arrive at the Westover Air Force

By ANITA SNOW Associated Press PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona’s governor has ordered the state’s National Guard to send troops to the border with Mexico to help federal officials manage an influx of migrants. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs issued her executive order Friday, saying the federal government is not keeping Arizona’s border communities safe. Hobbs asked

By STEFANIE DAZIO Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — A Tesla driver will pay more than $23,000 in restitution for the deaths of two people during a 2019 car crash in a Los Angeles suburb, a decision announced the same day that the automaker recalled nearly all vehicles sold in the U.S. Wednesday’s court hearing

WARNER ROBINS, Ga. (AP) — Sheriff’s officials say a middle school teacher in Georgia was arrested after he threatened to cut off the head of a student who objected to an Israeli flag in his classroom. Benjamin Reese was taken into custody on Dec. 8 and released two days later. The Warner Robins Middle School

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Four California men have been charged with running a drug ring that sent hundreds of pounds of cocaine and methamphetamine to Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea disguised as shipments of everything from car parts to instant noodles. Federal prosecutors say Hoang Xuan Le of Tustin and Tri Cao Buinguyen

By ANDREW DeMILLO Associated Press LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An Arkansas judge has blocked a law that took away the Board of Corrections’ authority over the state corrections secretary. The temporary restraining order was issued on Friday and is the latest in an escalating feud between the panel and Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders over

By CLAIRE RUSH Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A federal judge has rejected a request from Oregon Republican state senators who boycotted the Legislature to be allowed on the ballot after their terms end. The judge issued the ruling on Wednesday. State Sens. Dennis Linthicum, Brian Boquist and Cedric Hayden filed the federal lawsuit

By STEVE KARNOWSKI Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A state commission selected a basic design concept Friday for a new state flag for Minnesota to replace a current banner that is considered offensive to Native Americans, but will need more time to add the finishing touches. The final choice came down to two templates. The

By PATRICK WHITTLE and DAVID SHARP Associated Press PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — An independent report conducted for a police agency clears the agency’s response to growing concerns about the mental health of a man who later went on to commit the deadliest mass shooting in Maine history. But legal experts said Friday the review does

By AUDREY McAVOY Associated Press HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii Gov. Josh Green says he he wants 3,000 condos and homes normally rented to Maui tourists converted to long-term housing for displaced wildfire survivors who are still living in hotels. Green says Friday he’s prepared to use the “hammer” of post-fire emergency orders to make sure

By JULIE CARR SMYTH and SAMANTHA HENDRICKSON Associated Press COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Campaign finance reports show this fall’s fight over abortion rights in Ohio cost a combined $70 million. Voters overwhelmingly passed November’s Issue 1, which guaranteed an individual’s right “to make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions.” That made Ohio the seventh

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Solomon Thomas was lost, stuck in a dark place mentally while desperately trying to overcome the anxiety, depression and sadness that gnawed at him. Thomas’ older sister Ella died by suicide in January 2018 at the age of 24 after dealing with

By AMY BETH HANSON Associated Press HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Two wildlife conservation groups have filed a lawsuit against BNSF Railway over delays in finalizing a plan to reduce the number of federally protected grizzly bears that are killed by trains in northwestern Montana and northern Idaho. WildEarth Guardians and the Western Environmental Law Center

WASHINGTON (AP) — ABC’s “This Week” — Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, a Republican presidential candidate; Gov. Chris Sununu, R-N.H.; Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. ___ NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich. ___ CBS’ “Face the Nation” — Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.; Rep. Tony Gonzales,

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina State Auditor Beth Wood has pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors for misusing a state-issued vehicle for personal activities. The plea and resulting 12 months of unsupervised probation happened in Wake County court Friday — the day that she resigned from the post she’s held for 15 years. The sentencing

By JOHN RABY AP Sports Writer CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The NCAA and a coalition of states have jointly asked a federal court to extend a small window for multiple-transfer athletes to compete through at least the winter and spring semesters. The motion filed Friday seeks to extend a temporary restraining order barring the NCAA

By EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations peacekeeping chief says he was very satisfied with the strong support of many countries for its far-flung operations at a recent ministerial meeting, despite “headwinds and challenges and problems.” Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the undersecretary-general for peace operations, said in an interview with AP

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A federal appeals court has refused to reconsider its ruling setting a deadline for the Louisiana Legislature to enact a new congressional map. A lower court last year found that the state’s current political boundaries dilute the power of its Black voters. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Friday denied

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) — A suburban Chicago man who told his estranged wife “If I can’t have them neither can you” has pleaded guilty but mentally ill to three counts of first-degree murder for killing their three young children. Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart says 36-year-old Jason Karels of Round Lake Beach will be

By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A military investigation report released Friday says a U.S. Army helicopter hit another military aircraft and crashed in a mountain pass in Alaska earlier this year as they were returning from a training exercise, killing three soldiers. The accident safety report from the United States Army

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Tiger Woods jokingly refers to the PNC Championship as his fifth major. Maybe he’s not joking. It’s a chance to play a 36-hole tournament with his 14-year-old son Charlie. They’re part of the 20 teams of major champions and family members. They finished runner-up two

SANTIAGO (AP) — Chile’s police  have arrested at least 55 people in a fiscal fraud case that could be one of the biggest in the history of the Andean nation, amounting to about $275 million. Those implicated in the scheme work in small and mid-sized companies in different parts of the country. Marcelo Freyhoffer, a

By JACK JEFFERY Associated Press CAIRO (AP) — An Israeli strike killed a Palestinian cameraman for the TV network Al Jazeera and wounded its chief Gaza correspondent Friday as they reported at a school in the south of the besieged territory, the network said. Cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa and correspondent Wael Dahdouh had gone to

By REGINA GARCIA CANO Associated Press CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — U.S. diplomats have injected confusion into next year’s presidential election in Venezuela by applauding the purported inclination of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and other foes of the Venezuelan government to appeal their bans on running for office. A tweet on Friday from the U.S.

Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has sat down with former late-night television host Conan O’Brien for an interview on the comedian’s podcast. The White House confirms Biden and O’Brien taped the interview on Friday afternoon for “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend.” O’Brien was spotted by reporters in the White House briefing room

By ANDREW DALTON AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — An autopsy report on “Friends” star Matthew Perry says he died from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said in the autopsy report released Friday that Perry also drowned in his jacuzzi, but said that was

By WAYNE PARRY Associated Press ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Internet gambling and sports betting set new records in New Jersey in November as the Atlantic City gambling market continues to evolve and become less dependent on physical casinos. New figures released Friday show that over $171 million was won from online table games and

By LOLITA C. BALDOR and TARA COPP Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials say Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is ordering the USS Gerald R. Ford carrier and one other warship to remain in the Mediterranean Sea for several more weeks as Israel’s war with Hamas grinds on. It will be the third time the

By JULIA FRANKEL Associated Press JERUSALEM (AP) — The Israeli military says it is investigating the killing of two Palestinians in the West Bank after soldiers were caught on camera shooting down the men at close range when they did not appear to pose a threat. Security footage obtained by the Israeli human rights group

By JACK DURA Associated Press BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A federal appeals court denied a request on Friday to delay a judge’s decision that North Dakota’s legislative map violates the Voting Rights Act in diluting the voting strength of two Native American tribes. The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision comes a week before

By DAVID KOENIG AP Airlines Writer The Treasury Department is spelling out the rules for tax credits designed to stimulate production of sustainable aviation fuel. That’s fuel that creates fewer greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuel made from fossil fuels. Environmentalists said Friday they are concerned that the guidelines could boost fuel made from corn

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — The United States is returning to Greece 30 ancient artifacts, including marble statues, armor helmets and breastplates, found to have been illicitly removed from the country. The pieces were handed over to Greek officials in New York date back from as long as 4,700 years ago to the Middle Ages. Manhattan