Month: September 2024

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hackers are demanding $6 million in bitcoin from the operator of the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport for documents they stole during a cyberattack last month. That’s according to an airport official who testified before Congress on Wednesday. The official says the airport has linked the attack to a ransomware gang called Rhysida, and

Associated Press/Report for America ATLANTA (AP) — As the U.S. Postal Service faces delivery slowdowns, U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff, a Democrat from Georgia, has proposed legislation to impose stricter oversight on who leads the agency. The bill would require the president to appoint the postmaster general and the U.S. Senate to confirm the appointment. If

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A longtime donor who has given more than $160 million to Tulane University is the new namesake of the university’s expanding school of public health. The honor for Celia Scott Weatherhead was announced Wednesday by Tulane officials. The university says donations from Weatherhead and her late husband Albert constitute the largest

Associated Press MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A former Memphis police officer charged in the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols sent his ex-girlfriend a photo of the badly injured man on the night he was punched, kicked and hit with a police baton following a traffic stop. That’s according to testimony Wednesday from Brittany Leake, a

Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A U.S. district judge has dismissed a federal lawsuit against New York Knicks owner James Dolan alleging sexual assault a decade ago. Massage therapist Kellye Croft contended that Dolan also set her up with disgraced ex-movie mogul Harvey Weinstein to be molested. U.S. District Judge Percy Anderson on Tuesday

Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The families of four Americans detained in China say their loved ones are suffering both physically and mentally, and they are urging the U.S. government to take action to bring then home. They spoke during a hearing before a congressional panel on Wednesday. Just days earlier, the U.S. secured the

The Associated Press DANIA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Scientists have moved about about 300 endangered sea corals from South Florida to the Texas Gulf Coast for research and restoration. Nova Southeastern University and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi researchers packed up the corals Wednesday at the NSU’s Oceanographic Campus in Dania Beach. The sea creatures were

SEATTLE (AP) — Alaska Airlines is closing its $1 billion purchase of Hawaiian Airlines. The airlines announced Wednesday that they have completed the sale just a day after the federal government removed the last major regulatory obstacle. In an unusual decision, Alaska plans to maintain the Hawaiian brand rather than paint the smaller carrier’s planes

Associated Press SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Haiti’s government on Wednesday created a provisional electoral council long sought by the international community to prepare the troubled Caribbean country for its first general elections since 2016. Smith Augustin, a member of the country’s transitional presidential council, confirmed to The Associated Press that the electoral council

For The Associated Press ALLISON PARK, Pa. (AP) — Tupperware became woven into America’s cultural fabric after World War II by forgoing retail stores in favor of a direct-to-consumer sales model. Women were recruited to display and sell colorful plastic bowls, jugs, canisters and every manner of food storage implement to their friends and neighbors.

Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles area is seeing more cases of people with dengue fever without traveling outside the United States, a year after the first such case was reported in California. That’s according to public health officials Wednesday, who say at least three people are believed to have contracted the

Associated Press A Philadelphia teenager who authorities say wanted to travel overseas and make bombs for terrorist organizations will be tried as an adult. The Philadelphia District Attorney’s office made the announcement Wednesday as it disclosed more details of the allegations against Muhyyee-Ud-din Abdul-Rahman. Abdul-Rahman was 17 when he was arrested in August 2023 and

Associated Press AVIGNON, France (AP) — Lawyers for some of the men accused of raping an unconscious French woman who had been drugged by her husband questioned her Wednesday about her habits, personal life and sex life, and even questioned whether she was truly unconscious during the encounters. Gisèle Pelicot’s testimony came a day after

Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Chris Wray says the FBI has disrupted a group of hackers working at the direction of the Chinese government who targeted universities, government agencies and other organizations. The hacking campaign known as Flax Typhoon installed malicious software on thousands of internet-connected devices, including cameras, video recorders, and home

Associated Press BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The adult son of U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer is expected to change his plea on Friday in connection with a pursuit and crash that killed a North Dakota sheriff’s deputy last year. Ian Cramer was scheduled to go to trial beginning Tuesday on homicide and other charges. But a

Associated Press Marvel’s latest television series “Agatha All Along” promises to deliver magic, classic Marvel twists and an all-star ensemble cast led by Kathryn Hahn as the evil witch Agatha Harkness on a journey to regain her powers. Hahn tells The Associated Press working on the series has been “a dream.” The spinoff of Marvel’s

Associated Press A Connecticut aquarium where three beluga whales have died from illnesses since 2021 has agreed to settle a federal investigation that found alleged animal care and water quality violations. Mystic Aquarium will pay a $12,200 fine as part of the settlement with the U.S. Department of Agriculture while not admitting or denying that

Associated Press JERUSALEM (AP) — The specter of all-out combat between Israel and Hezbollah seems closer than ever before. Tensions rose sharply after Israel’s defense minister announced a “new phase” of the war and an apparent Israeli attack set off explosions in electronic devices in Lebanon. Hopes for a diplomatic solution appear to be fading

AP Science Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The hidden figures of the space race were recognized with Congress’ highest honor at a medal ceremony on Wednesday. The Congressional Gold Medal was presented to the families of Katherine Johnson, Dorothy Vaughan, Mary Jackson and Christine Darden at the U.S. Capitol. Darden watched the ceremony from her

Associated Press SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — A federal control board that oversees Puerto Rico’s finances says it will step in to help speed up projects to fix the island’s crumbling power grid as widespread outages persist. Robert Mujica, the board’s executive director, said Wednesday that only $1.2 billion out of more than $17

Associated Press BRIGANTINE, N.J. (AP) — Opponents of offshore wind around the U.S. are pelting the projects with lawsuits, seeking to cancel them or tie them up for years in costly litigation. It’s just the latest challenge the industry must overcome, along with escalating prices, shaky supply chains, and some highly publicized turbine failures. There

Associated Press PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers have a new teammate in their bid to build a new $1.3 billion arena downtown. Mayor Cherelle Parker announced on Wednesday a deal with team owners to keep the NBA franchise in town. This decision came despite objections from nearby Chinatown residents. Team owners say the planned

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (AP) — The highest peak at Great Smoky Mountains National Park is officially reverting to its Cherokee name more than 150 years after a surveyor named it for a Confederate general. The U.S. Board of Geographic Names voted on Wednesday in favor of a request from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians to

AP Sports Writer COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Columbus Blue Jackets opened training camp still weighed down by the grief of losing star forward Johnny Gaudreau three weeks ago. One of the worst teams in the NHL last season, the Blue Jackets must find a way to move forward with a new general manager and

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is demanding that former secretary of public security Genaro García Luna, who was convicted on drug trafficking charges in the United States last year, present evidence to support his accusations that the president has links to drug trafficking. López Obrador was responding Wednesday to a

Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is moving to clarify how homeowners and businesses can receive lucrative tax credits for installing electric vehicle chargers. A rule proposed Wednesday by the Treasury Department would make credits worth up to $1,000 for individuals and $100,000 for businesses available for each EV charger that is installed.

Associated Press NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. (AP) — Air Force Special Operations Command says it is weeks from deploying its fleet of CV-22B Osprey aircraft for counter terror operations, after grounding its crews in the wake of a fatal crash last November in Japan. Its top commander said Wednesday that the command has taken a hard

YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — A New Hampshire woman suffered burns on her leg after hiking off trail in Yellowstone National Park and falling into scalding water in a thermal area near the Old Faithful geyser, park officials said. The 60-year-old woman from Windsor, New Hampshire, along with her husband and their dog were

Associated Press DEER PARK, Texas (AP) — A pipeline fire that forced hundreds of people to flee their homes in the Houston suburbs is burning for a third day, with officials saying they don’t expect it to be extinguished until sometime Thursday evening. Officials say residents who had to evacuate will be allowed to return

The Norman City Council has approved a plan for a $1.1 billion entertainment district that would include a new arena for Oklahoma basketball and gymnastics. The City Council voted 5-4 after midnight Wednesday for the district that in addition to Oklahoma athletics, would host concerts, trade shows, meetings, graduations and other events. Oklahoma men’s basketball

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) — Prosecutors in Southern California have charged 10 people with failing to disperse during a pro-Palestinian protest at the University of California, Irvine that led to a clash with police. The Orange County District Attorney’s office said Wednesday those facing misdemeanor charges include two UCI professors and four students. All ten

Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A South Carolina inmate scheduled to be executed Friday is asking Gov. Henry McMaster to spare his life. No governor in the state has done that since the death penalty was restarted nearly 50 years ago. McMaster has said he will stick to the historic practice of announcing his

AP Film Writer Ten years after “Whiplash” took the film world by storm, Damien Chazelle’s breakthrough film is returning to theaters nationwide Friday. In 2014, “Whiplash” was the ultimate indie movie Cinderella story—a Sundance discovery made by a 20-something that that would go on to become both a box office hit and an awards darling:

Associated Press DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — The global vaccine alliance Gavi says it will buy 500,000 doses of vaccine against mpox to fight outbreaks of the disease in African countries. Gavi said Wednesday that the vaccine doses — manufactured by the Danish company Bavarian Nordic — will be available this year, without giving any specific