Month: January 2024

By JEFF AMY Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia’s state Senate is creating a special committee to investigate Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. The panel was approved Friday on a 30-19 vote. Republican senators say the panel is needed to determine whether the Democratic district attorney misspent state tax money in her prosecution of

TIMONIUM, Md. (AP) — Maryland Rep. C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger says he won’t seek a 12th term in Congress. The 77-year-old Democrat has represented the 2nd District since 2003. He said in a video message on Friday that he will retire. Ruppersberger says the decision was difficult because Congress needs members like him who care more

By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS Associated Press NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — The government of ethnically split Cyprus has promised breakaway Turkish Cypriots a package of measures aimed at winning their trust ahead of a renewed United Nations attempt to revive long-dormant peace talks. It includes promises to expedite citizenship applications, grant pensions to widows, offer more job

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A St. Louis man who gained notoriety for pointing a gun at social justice demonstrators as they marched past his home is trying to get the misdemeanor wiped from his record. Multiple St. Louis media outlets report that Mark McCloskey this week filed a request with a local judge seeking to

By STEPHEN GROVES Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Mike Johnson is taking a strong stand against a bipartisan Senate deal to pair border enforcement measures with Ukraine aid. He sent a letter to colleagues that supported an effort by hardline conservatives following the lead of Donald Trump to sink the compromise on border

By STEVE REED AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — The National Football League has urged teams for years to hire more minority head coaches. That mission finally seems to be paying off. Already four minority head coaches have been hired this year, including Atlanta’s Raheem Morris, New England’s Jerod Mayo, Las Vegas’ Antonio Pierce

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire veteran has admitted to faking his need for a wheelchair for 20 years to claim more than $660,000 in benefits he wasn’t entitled to. Forty-nine-year-old Christopher Stultz pleaded guilty in the U.S. District Court on Thursday to one count of making false statements. He faces a maximum prison

By The Associated Press Russian President Vladimir Putin is pledging to make public the findings of Moscow’s investigation into the crash of a transport plane that he alleges Kyiv’s forces shot down despite having been informed Ukrainian prisoners of war were on board. In his first public remarks on Wednesday’s crash, Putin repeated previous comments

By FARNOUSH AMIRI Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan group of lawmakers is raising concerns over a series of recent U.S. military strikes against Yemen’s Houthi rebels. Members of Congress are urging the Biden administration to get congressional authorization before taking further military action in the Middle East. The coalition of nearly 30 House

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The United Nations’ top court issued a series of orders to Israel to protect Palestinians in Gaza to prevent genocide there. Friday’s ruling was one of the court’s most closely-watched since its creation in 1948. Among the measures, the court ordered Israel to do all it can to prevent the

By RYAN J. FOLEY Associated Press IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — Iowa’s Republican governor announced in June 2022 that the state would use $75 million in federal pandemic relief funds to add security measures at schools. But more than 19 months and two deadly Iowa school shootings later, most of the money has not been

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City woman has been charged with concealing a corpse after officers discovered a man’s head and body parts in her apartment’s refrigerator. New York City police say 45-year-old Heather Stines was charged Wednesday, two days after officers visited her Brooklyn apartment as part of wellness check. Court records

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A man who authorities say picked up a teenager awaiting trial in a homicide case after the youth escaped outside a Philadelphia hospital this week is now facing charges while the search for the teen continues. City police announced Friday that 18-year-old Michael Diggs is accused of hindering apprehension, escape, criminal conspiracy

WRENTHAM, Mass. (AP) — A second Rhode Island man charged with assault and battery and disorderly conduct in connection with the death of a fan at a New England Patriots game has pleaded not guilty. In a brief court appearance Friday, 39-year-old Justin Mitchell entered the plea over allegations that he and 59-year-old John Vieira

ROSEVILLE, Mich. (AP) — Officers in a Detroit suburb found a furry surprise when they patted down a theft suspect: A tiny blue-eyed puppy zipped inside the man’s jacket pocket. Roseville police found the palm-sized blue pit bull puppy on Jan. 16 while arresting a man accused of stealing money from a bank customer. The

NEW YORK (AP) — JetBlue Airways says it may end its attempt to buy low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines as soon as this weekend, sending Spirit shares tumbling. A federal judge this month sided with the Justice Department and blocked JetBlue’s proposed $3.8 billion purchase of Spirit. The airlines have filed their intention to appeal with

By CARLA K. JOHNSON AP Medical Writer King Charles III is in a hospital to undergo a procedure for an enlarged prostate  — an extremely common condition among older men. The 75-year-old king is in good company. The prostate gland grows as men age. Its location below the bladder means the growing gland can cause

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) — A woman is in police custody following a series of apparently random stabbings and pedestrians struck by a vehicle in the Maryland suburbs of Washington. Police in Prince George’s County announced Thursday night that the woman had been detained, hours after the attacks left six people injured. Deputy Chief James

Associated Press DETROIT (AP) — U.S. auto safety regulators have closed an investigation into complaints that the doors on some Ford Escapes can open while the SUVs are being driven, without seeking a recall. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says its probe opened last July found that there is a low potential hazard to

By MARI YAMAGUCHI Associated Press TOKYO (AP) — Crowned Miss Japan this week, Ukrainian-born Karolina Shiino cried with joy, thankful for the recognition of her identity as Japanese. But her Caucasian look rekindled an old question in a country where many people value homogeneity and conformity: What does it mean to be Japanese? Shiino has

By MARIA SHERMAN and JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. AP Entertainment Writers LOS ANGELES (AP) — Women lead the major categories at the Grammys this year, with names like SZA, Taylor Swift, Victoria Monét, Phoebe Bridgers, Olivia Rodrigo and Brandy Clark topping the list. But who will take home music’s most coveted trophies on Feb. 4? Associated

By DEREK GATOPOULOS Associated Press ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Fatih Terim is facing his next challenge in neighboring Greece after his storied career as a player and coach in Turkey. The restless 70-year-old took charge of Panathinaikos at the new year and his team next plays PAOK in Thessaloniki on Sunday. The two teams currently

By MARIA SHERMAN and BERENICE BAUTISTA Associated Press MEXICO CITY (AP) — Regional Mexican music is a catchall term that encompasses mariachi, banda, corridos, norteño, sierreño and other genres. It’s become a global phenomenon, topping music charts and reaching new audiences. While it has been around the U.S. for decades, something extraordinary happened in the

By NICOLE WINFIELD and PAOLO SANTALUCIA Associated Press ROME (AP) — Italy’s president has denounced the rise in antisemitism and delivered a powerful speech in support of the Jewish people. President Sergio Mattarella commemorated Holocaust Remembrance Day, which has been overshadowed by Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and a rise in anti-Israel acts in Italy.

BALTIMORE (AP) — An underground fire and an hours long power outage in downtown Baltimore snarled the morning commute and closed the city’s two courthouses. The Office of Emergency Management says firefighters were called to North Charles Street on Thursday night for a report of an underground fire and a possible explosion. They found fire

ZURICH (AP) — Disgraced Spanish soccer official Luis Rubiales has lost his appeal against a three-year ban by FIFA for misconduct at the Women’s World Cup final. He forcibly kissed star player Jenni Hermoso on the lips after Spain’s 1-0 win over England and grabbed his crotch as a victory gesture while standing close to

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve’s preferred inflation gauge cooled further last month even as the economy kept growing briskly, a trend sure to be welcomed at the White House as President Joe Biden seeks re-election in a race that could pivot on his economic stewardship. Friday’s government report

PRAGUE (AP) — The Czech Parliament’s lower house has approved an amendment to the country’s gun law that tightens requirements for owning a weapon more than a month after the worst mass killing in the nation’s history. The legislation now goes before the Senate and if approved there must then be signed by President Petr

By WAFAA SHURAFA and JACK JEFFERY Associated Press DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli airstrikes on the Nuseirat urban refugee camp in the central Gaza Strip overnight killed at least 15 people, including a 5-month-old baby, as health authorities in the besieged territory said the death toll since the start of the war has

By BABA AHMED Associated Press BAMAKO, Mali (AP) — Mali’s junta has terminated a crucial agreement it signed with local rebels which helped maintain a fragile peace in the country’s northern region, raising concerns about a possible escalation of violence. The government accused the rebels of failing to adhere to the terms of the deal.

By CIARÁN GILES Associated Press MADRID (AP) — Spain’s weather agency says recent abnormally high temperatures for this time of year are set to continue in many parts of Spain over the weekend. An almost summer-like feeling in many coastal areas has led people to take to the beaches to sunbathe and some have taken

By PAN PYLAS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — The British government has called off post-Brexit trade talks with Canada after discussions broke down over disagreements related to the import and export of beef and cheese. The two countries have been negotiating a new trade deal for the past two years since Britain fully left the

LEIPZIG, Germany (AP) — Bundesliga soccer club Leipzig says it has released two players from its under-19 team after they made racist comments about other players. The club says the players behaved “in an unsporting and unacceptable manner” and that the club released them as soon as the matter came to light. Leipzig didn’t name

PARIS (AP) — Protesting farmers have shut down stretches of major French highways again, using their tractors to block and slow traffic to press their demands that growing and rearing food should be made easier and more lucrative. Their movement for better renumeration, less red tape and lower costs, and protection against cheap imports is

COPENHAGEN, Denmark By JAN M. OLSEN Associated Press (AP) — Authorities in Denmark are working against the clock to stop a slow-moving landslide of contaminated soil from reaching a nearby water source. Meanwhile, public officials and the company that operated the site are arguing over who should pay for the massive cleanup. The 75-meter (250-foot)

Tesla is recalling nearly 200,000 vehicles in the U.S. because the backup camera may not function while the car is in reverse. The recall covers certain Models Y, S and X from the 2023 model year. All are equipped with “Full Self-Driving” computer 4.0 and run software version 2023.44.30 through 2023.44.30.6 or 2023.44.100. The company

BRUSSELS (AP) — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg is upbeat about Sweden’s chances of being ready to join the military organization by March. Stoltenberg said Friday that he’d received positive signals this week from holdouts Hungary and Turkey. Sweden set aside decades of military nonalignment after Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022 to seek protection under