AP National Business

MINNETONKA, Minn. (AP) — UnitedHealth’s third-quarter performance topped Wall Street’s view, bolstered by the improving performance of its Optum segment. The country’s biggest U.S. health insurer also raised its full-year adjusted earnings forecast again. For the three months ended Sept. 30, UnitedHealth earned $4.09 billion, or $4.28 per share. A year earlier the Minnetonka, Minnesota-based

BRUSSELS (AP) — The consortium of journalists behind the Pegasus Project investigation into malware from Israel-based NSO Group that provided further evidence that it was used to spy on journalists, human rights activists and political dissidents has won the top European Union journalism prize. The European Parliament said Thursday that the “unprecedented leak of more

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) — Russia has recorded the highest daily numbers of coronavirus infections and deaths since the start of the pandemic, a rapidly surging toll that has severely strained the nation’s health care system. The government’s coronavirus task force reported 31,299 new confirmed coronavirus cases and 986 deaths on Thursday.

By JOSEPH PISANI AP Retail Writer NEW YORK (AP) — TikTok, an app best known for dancing videos with 1 billion users worldwide, has also become a shopping phenomenon. National chains, hoping to get TikTok’s mostly young users into its stores, are setting up TikTok sections, reminiscent of “As Seen On TV” stores that sold

MADRID (AP) — A 4.5-magnitude earthquake has shaken Spain’s La Palma island off northwest Africa in what was the strongest recorded since a local volcano began erupting 26 days ago.  Spain’s National Geographic Institute said the quake was one of around 60 recorded overnight. The Cumbre Vieja volcano continues to spew fiery rivers of lava

BERLIN (AP) — Germany’s leading economic institutes have slashed their forecast for Europe’s biggest economy. They said Thursday that output is being held back by global supply bottlenecks and lingering restraints on personal contact amid the pandemic. The experts cut their growth forecast for this year to 2.4% from the 3.7% they had forecast earlier

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — The Turkish lira has hit record lows against the dollar after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan fired three senior central bank officials. The move Thursday heightened concerns over the Turkish leader’s interference in the bank’s activities. The lira weakened by 1% overnight to reach 9.19 against the dollar. It was trading at

By KRISTA LARSON and MARIA CHENG Associated Press SARE GIBEL, Gambia (AP) — Health officials are confronting vaccine reluctance among African women, especially those of childbearing age. Many worry pregnancies will be threatened, and in Africa, the success of a woman’s marriage often depends on how many children she bears. Other women fear the vaccine

By KRISTA LARSON and MARIA CHENG Associated Press SARE GIBEL, Gambia (AP) — Health officials are confronting vaccine reluctance among African women, especially those of childbearing age. Many worry pregnancies will be threatened, and in Africa, the success of a woman’s marriage often depends on how many children she bears. Other women fear the vaccine

By ELAINE KURTENBACH AP Business Writer Asian shares are higher after technology companies powered the biggest rally on Wall Street since March. All major regional indexes advanced, with Tokyo gaining 1.4%. On Thursday, the S&P 500 jumped 1.7% as a wave of buying gained momentum from a day earlier, when the market broke a three-day

By LISA MASCARO AP Congressional Correspondent WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is warning that that Democrats “must put aside our differences” as the party struggles to coalesce around President Joe Biden’s now-scaled back package of social services and climate change strategies. Schumer’s letter Thursday to colleagues comes as progressive leaders in Congress

By FIRDIA LISNAWATI Associated Press DENPASAR, Indonesia (AP) — The Indonesian resort island of Bali has reopened for international travelers to visit its shops and white-sand beaches after more than a year. They must be vaccinated, test negative, hail from certain countries, quarantine for five days and heed restrictions in public. No international flights were

SYDNEY (AP) — One of New Zealand’s best-known businessmen Ron Brierley has been sentenced in a Sydney court to 14 months in prison for possessing child sex abuse images. The 84-year-old former high-profile corporate raider had pleaded guilty to the charges in April, but was released on bail until his sentencing. Brierley was arrested at

CHICAGO (AP) — Civil rights activist, retired Chicago professor and historian Timuel Black has died at the age of 102. Black’s widow tells the Chicago Sun-Times and WLS-TV that he died Wednesday. Details of his death were not immediately available. Civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson called Black “a tall tree in the civil

By GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press A federal judge says OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma can resume laying the groundwork to carry out its $10 billion settlement plan. Judge Linda McMahon’s ruling Wednesday denies the U.S. Bankruptcy Trustee’s request for a long pause in the plan. The office within the Justice Department asked for the settlement to

TORONTO (AP) — The Toronto Maple Leafs sported TikTok decals on their helmets Wednesday night for the season opener against the Montreal Canadiens. The team’s parent company announced a deal with TikTok earlier Wednesday for the social media platform’s logo to appear on players’ helmets throughout the season. Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment said the

SEATTLE (AP) — Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson says a Facebook representative provided false testimony in a lawsuit that accuses the company of violating state campaign finance laws. The Seattle Times reports that in court filings the Democratic attorney general says both the social media giant and its attorneys knew the testimony was false. Ferguson

By ANDREW SELSKY Associated Press SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A county in southern Oregon says it is so overwhelmed by an increase in the number and size of illegal marijuana farms that it declared a state of emergency, appealing to the governor and the Legislature’s leaders for help. The Jackson County Board of Commissioners said

By COLLEEN SLEVIN Associated Press DENVER (AP) — A Colorado Army veteran who pleaded guilty after the FBI found four pipe bombs in his home last year has been sentenced to time served but will be supervised for three years by authorities. U.S. District Judge Christine Arguello sentenced Bradley Bunn on Wednesday, granting his lawyer’s

By DAVID KLEPPER Associated Press Facebook has expanded its online harassment policies to do more to stop degrading attacks on public figures as well as abuse directed at journalists and human rights activists around the world. The new rules for Facebook and Instagram also include a ban on coordinated abuse, when a group of different

By TOM KRISHER AP Auto Writer DETROIT (AP) — A second person has been killed by an exploding air bag inflator made by a Tennessee company that has been under investigation by a federal agency for more than six years without any resolution. On Wednesday, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration posted recall documents filed

OLGA R. RODRIGUEZ SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A California mother faces 39 charges alleging that she hosted alcohol-filled parties for her teenage son and his friends at her home and other places and encouraged them to drink heavily and engage in sex acts with intoxicated girls, some of them non-consensual. California prosecutors say 47-year-old Shannon

By SOPHIA EPPOLITO Associated Press/Report for America SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Apple CEO Tim Cook and retired NBA All-Star Dwyane Wade have joined Utah leaders to announce the completion of a local advocacy group’s campaign to build new homes that provide services for LGBTQ youth. A non-profit providing mental health services for LGBTQ youth

The Associated Press Stocks ended another day of choppy trading modestly higher Wednesday, enough to break a three-day losing streak for the S&P 500. Strength in technology stocks helped push the Nasdaq higher, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average ended little changed. Bond yields fell. 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — A former North Dakota oilfield executive has pleaded guilty to federal fraud charges for misleading shareholders about his company’s value, in a scheme that eventually forced it to go bankrupt and led to more than $886 million in losses. Joseph Kostelecky, of Dickinson, pleaded guilty Wednesday to one count each of

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. (AP) — A wildfire raging through Southern California coastal mountains is a threat to ranches and rural homes and is keeping a major highway shut down. The Alisal Fire is covering more than 24 square miles in the Santa Ynez Mountains west of Santa Barbara. The number of firefighters has nearly doubled

The Associated Press Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities, and foreign exchange levels.

By MATTHEW DALY Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Seven offshore wind farms would be developed on the East and West coasts and in the Gulf of Mexico under new plan from the Biden administration. The projects are part of President Joe Biden’s plan to deploy 30 gigawatts of offshore wind energy by 2030, generating enough

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico has long had a problem with illegally imported cars, and now President Andrés Manuel López Obrador is pledging to legalize them all. The mainly U.S. cars are known in Mexico as “chocolate,” a play on the word “chueco,” or crooked. Mexicans can legally import later-model cars that meet pollution and

By MENELAOS HADJICOSTIS Associated Press NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) — Cyprus’ energy minister says ExxonMobil’s drilling slated to start in 6-8 weeks to confirm how much natural gas is contained in a sizable deposit off the island nation’s southwestern coast will map out how the fuel will reach potential markets in Europe and Asia. Minister Natasa

By GARY D. ROBERTSON Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A milestone energy bill that targets sharply reducing greenhouse gas emissions from North Carolina power plants has become law. Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper signed the legislation on Wednesday. The directive aims to reduce carbon dioxide output of North Carolina energy producers 70 percent from 2005

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — United Airlines employees who are suing the airline over its vaccine mandate will get more time to make their case. A federal judge in Texas ordered United not to place unvaccinated employees on unpaid leave if they are seeking a medical or religious exemption from mandatory vaccination against COVID-19. The

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve officials agreed at their last meeting that if the economy continued to improve, they could start reducing their monthly bond purchases as soon as next month and bring them to an end by the middle of 2022. The discussion was revealed in the minutes

ROME (AP) — Italy’s highest court has annulled an arrest warrant for a key suspect in the Vatican’s fraud and extortion trial. The court’s action puts into question whether and when Gianluigi Torzi might be extradited from Britain. In a decision Tuesday, Italy’s Court of Cassation sent the case back to a Rome court which

By STAN CHOE AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — With prices surging worldwide for heating oil, natural gas and other fuels, the U.S. government said Wednesday it expects households to see their heating bills jump as much as 54% compared to last winter. Nearly half the homes in the U.S. use natural gas for

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The lavish waxworks temple Madame Tussauds has opened its first Middle East location on a small artificial island off the coast of Dubai. Former President Donald Trump stars at the exhibit  among 60 other celebrities and world leaders. The display was unveiled on Wednesday and also features a sultry

MOLINE, Ill. (AP) — More than 10,000 Deere & Co. workers have walked out strike after the United Auto Workers union said negotiators couldn’t deliver a new agreement that would meet the “demands and needs” of workers. The vast majority of the union rejected a contract offer earlier this week that would have delivered 5%

By ADRIANA GOMEZ LICON Associated Press MIAMI (AP) — Families of COVID-19 patients are asking hospitals to rethink visitor policies a year and a half into the pandemic that has killed 700,000 people in the U.S. The relatives say they’re being denied the right to be with loved ones at a crucial time. Doctors also

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The embattled head of the International Monetary Fund is pledging renewed efforts to bolster data integrity while focusing on the main job of helping countries recover from a devastating global pandemic. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva successfully fought to keep her job following a data-manipulation scandal.

By MATTHEW PERRONE and LAURAN NEERGAARD Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration is wrestling with how to decide on booster doses of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine. And a new study raises the prospect that using a different vaccine might give a better boost. On Thursday and Friday, an

By KATHLEEN RONAYNE Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California’s high-speed rail project is again facing an uncertain future as lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom debate whether to give it $4.2 billion in bond money. Rail officials say they need that money to continue construction beyond next year. But some Democrats in the Assembly don’t

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO AP Retail Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Moccasin maker Minnetonka is publicly apologizing for making money off of Native culture and promised to do more to support Indigenous communities in the future after 75 years in business. In a statement posted Monday on its company website, Minnetonka CEO David Miller said the

HELSINKI (AP) — Norway’s prime minister-designate has presented his proposal for a two-party, center-left minority government that is pledging to pursue “a fair climate policy that cuts emissions and creates jobs.” Jonas Gahr Stoere, the leader of Norway’s center-left Labor Party, unveiled his plans Wednesday for a new Cabinet that is to take office this

By MARCIA DUNN and RICK TABER Associated Press VAN HORN, Texas (AP) — Hollywood’s Captain Kirk, 90-year-old William Shatner, has blasted into space and safely returned to Earth in a convergence of science fiction and science reality. He set out Wednesday morning for the final frontier aboard a ship built by Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin

By RAF CASERT Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The great Brexit brawl is heading into its next standoff as European Union concessions to improve trade in Northern Ireland are likely to be deemed insufficient by the United Kingdom. The EU’s top Brexit official has proposed major changes in the customs system for Northern Ireland. It

SOFIA, Bulgaria (AP) — Hundreds of Bulgarian coal miners and energy workers are protesting to demand government guarantees for their jobs amid bids by the European Union to close mines and reduce carbon emissions. Buses carried protesters from across Bulgaria for the rally Wednesday in downtown Sofia. Demonstrators chanted “We want jobs!” as they marched

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union has announced plans to open a representation in the Arctic and vowed to protect environment in a region the bloc considers of key strategic importance. The 27-nation bloc will open a European Commission office in Greenland and use EU funding to promote sustainable development in the Arctic. Acknowledging its

By GLENN GAMBOA AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The Ms. Foundation for Women unveiled $4 million in funding Wednesday for more than 100 groups working for social justice, but the nation’s oldest women’s foundation hopes the impact of its grants will be even larger by helping reshape philanthropy. More than 90% of Ms.

By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — Britain and the European Union are once again trading insults and accusations as they wrangle over Brexit. The current conflict centers on arrangements for Northern Ireland, which shares a land border with EU member Ireland. Britain says new customs checks and other barriers to goods entering Northern

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR and CHRISTOPHER RUGABER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Millions of retirees on Social Security will get a 5.9% boost in benefits for 2022. The biggest cost-of-living adjustment in 39 years follows a burst in inflation as the economy struggles to shake off the drag of the coronavirus pandemic. The benefits increase amounts

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumer prices rose 0.4% last month, slightly higher than August’s gain and pushing annual inflation back to the highest increase in 13 years. The consumer price index rose 5.4% in September from a year ago, up slightly from August’s gain of 5.3% and matching the increases

By CANDICE CHOI Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Food companies are coming under renewed pressure to use less salt. U.S. regulators on Wednesday spelled out long-awaited guidelines aimed at reducing sodium levels in dozens of foods including condiments, french fries and potato chips. The voluntary targets are intended to help lower sodium intake. The

By DAVID KOENIG AP Airlines Writer Delta Air Lines is reporting a $1.2 billion profit for the third quarter, thanks in large part to federal aid to help the industry get through the pandemic. Delta said Wednesday that travel demand is improving after flattening out in late summer, when coronavirus cases spiked in the U.S.

By KEN SWEET AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — JPMorgan Chase says profits rose 24% in the third quarter, largely driven by one-time items that boosted its results, as the bank struggled to grow revenues with interest rates at near-zero levels. The nation’s largest bank by assets said Wednesday that it earned a profit

By RYAN ZUMMALLEN Edmunds There are a number of new models on the horizon that promise big improvements. Buyers may find that holding out until they arrive nets them a forward-looking vehicle that leaves today’s models in the dust. In this week’s Behind the Wheel column, Edmunds runs down the five to drive when the

By TOM KRISHER AP Auto Writer DETROIT (AP) — U.S. safety investigators want to know why Tesla didn’t file recall documents when it updated Autopilot software to better identify parked emergency vehicles, escalating a simmering clash between the automaker and regulators. In a letter to Tesla, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration told the electric

By ANNA HELHOSKI of NerdWallet Before the pandemic, women already held more student debt than men and had a harder time paying it off due to lower earnings in the workplace. While the federal student loan payment pause helped borrowers take a collective breath, when student loan payments restart in February 2022, women are still

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union’s executive branch is advising the 27 EU member countries to adopt tax cuts, state aid and other measures to help households and businesses weather the impact of high energy prices. After the economic instability of the coronavirus pandemic, the European Commission wants a rapid

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV and TANYA TITOVA Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) — The head of the Russian sovereign fund bankrolling the shot says Russia is ready to provide up to 300 million doses of its Sputnik V vaccine to the U.N.-backed COVAX initiative. That’s despite the lack of WHO approval and Sputnik V vaccine production issues

By DANIEL ROCA and JOSEPH WILSON Associated Press LOS LLANOS DE ARIDANE, Canary Islands (AP) — Hundreds of people in Spain’s Canary Islands are fearing for their homes and property after a new lava stream from an erupting volcano threatened to engulf another neighborhood on the island of La Palma. Island authorities ordered the evacuation

By BEN FOX Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Amid an epidemic of ransomware attacks, the U.S. is discussing cybersecurity strategy with 30 countries while leaving out one key player: Russia. The country that, unwittingly or not, hosts many of the criminal syndicates behind ransomware attacks around the world was not invited to a two-day meeting

By JOSH BOAK Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has announced a deal to expand operations at the Port of Los Angeles in hopes of ending the logjam of ships waiting to unload. It is part of his effort to reassure America that he can tame high inflation. The supply chain squeeze has

By PAN PYLAS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — A logjam at the U.K.‘s busiest commercial port has ratcheted up concerns that the country could see shortages of toys, food and other items during the crucial Christmas holiday period. Worries have mounted in recent weeks that the U.K.’s economic recovery is being hobbled by an array

By YURI KAGEYAMA AP Business Writer TOKYO (AP) — Asian shares are mostly higher, tracking an overnight rally on Wall Street as investors sought out bargains, including technology stocks. Benchmarks rose in Tokyo, Seoul and Sydney in morning trading. Markets in Hong Kong were closed for a holiday. Shares in Shanghai were little changed after

By KIM TONG-HYUNG Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — “Squid Game,” a South Korea-produced Netflix show that depicts hundreds of financially distressed characters competing in deadly children’s games for a chance to escape severe debt, has captivated global audiences since its September debut. It’s the streaming platform’s biggest hit ever. But the dystopian show

By DAVID McHUGH AP Business Writer FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The International Energy Agency is urging governments to make stronger commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions at an upcoming U.N. climate summit. The Paris-based international organization is warning the world isn’t on track to contain climate change and that new investment was needed to “jolt

By DAVID KOENIG and ALI SWENSON Associated Press DALLAS (AP) — When Southwest Airlines canceled more than 2,000 flights over the weekend, unsupported claims blaming vaccine mandates began taking off. The airline cited bad weather and air traffic control issues. But Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, as well as other conservative politicians and pundits,

By KEVIN FREKING Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has approved a short-term hike to the nation’s debt limit. The vote Tuesday evening ensures the federal government can continue fully paying its bills into December. The legislation next goes to President Joe Biden’s desk to be signed into law. A default would have had

By LISA MASCARO AP Congressional Correspondent WASHINGTON (AP) — Progressive leaders in Congress are warning against what they say is a “false choice” over how to trim President Joe Biden’s now-$2 trillion proposal for beefing up social services and tackling climate change. That’s according to a letter Wednesday to Democratic congressional leaders and Biden, obtained

BEIJING (AP) — China has reported its imports slowed in September while exports grew at a slightly faster pace. Customs data released Wednesday showed the country’s trade surplus pushing higher on sustained demand in the U.S. and Asia. Exports rose 28.1% to $305.7 billion. That was faster than the 26% increase logged in August. Imports

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Distance runner Mary Cain, whose career fizzled after what she called four miserable years at the Nike Oregon Project, has filed a $20 million lawsuit against her former coach, Alberto Salazar, and their employer, Nike. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Cain accused Salazar of emotionally abusing her when she joined the team at

By DAVID BAUDER AP Media Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Considering he’s starred for more than 18 seasons on television’s most popular drama, Mark Harmon made a quiet exit from “NCIS” on Monday night. His character, Special Agent Leroy Jethro Gibbs, said he was retiring to Alaska. At Harmon’s request, CBS didn’t promote the special

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — With the governor of Texas leading the charge, conservative Republicans in several states are moving to block or undercut President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandates for private employers before the regulations are even issued. The growing battle over what some see as overreach by the

SEATTLE (AP) — The Boeing Co. has told employees they must be vaccinated against COVID-19 or possibly be fired. The Seattle Times reports the deadline for workers at the aerospace giant is Dec. 8. Employees can request exemptions “due to a disability or sincerely held religious belief.” The policy will apply to roughly 125,000 US-based

WINTER HAVEN, Fla. (AP) — A standalone Peppa Pig theme park at the Legoland Florida Resort is scheduled to open Feb. 24. Park officials also announced ticket prices on Tuesday. A one-day ticket will be $34.99 at the gate and $30.99 online. An annual pass costs $79.99. The new park is also offering several combo

By DAVID PORTER Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — A project to build a rail link connecting New York City to LaGuardia Airport has been put on hold. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey said Tuesday it is pausing the project to consider alternatives. Democratic New York Gov. Kathy Hochul had criticized

By LISA MASCARO AP Congressional Correspondent House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is warning that “difficult decisions must be made” as Democrats weigh trims to President Joe Biden’s expansive budget proposal. The $3.5 trillion proposal for expanding social services and fighting climate change is being chiseled to about $2 trillion, all paid for with higher taxes on

By MARIA DI MENTO of The Chronicle of Philanthropy Chronicle of Philanthropy Umbrella groups that serve and advocate for nonprofits or grant makers and donors are an unsexy part of the charitable world. They act as scaffolding to strengthen organizations that do good by bringing nonprofit leaders and philanthropists together to learn from one another,

By ANNE D’INNOCENZIO The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Brian Goldner, who as CEO and chairman spearheaded Hasbro’s transformation from a toy company to an entertainment force, has died. He was 58. The announcement on Tuesday came two days after the Pawtucket, Rhode Island, company said Goldner was taking a medical leave of absence.

The Associated Press Stocks ended an up-and-down day mostly lower on Wall Street as traders wait for more data on inflation and corporate earnings this week. The S&P 500, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the Nasdaq fell. Small-company stocks ended higher. A mix of retailers and other companies that rely on direct consumer spending

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks that traded heavily or had substantial price changes Tuesday: Fastenal, Valvoline rise; Signet, Columbia Banking fall.

By MATTHEW PERRONE AP Health Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — For the first time, U.S. heath officials have authorized an electronic cigarette, saying the vaping device from R.J. Reynolds can benefit smokers. The Food and Drug Administration said data submitted by the company showed its Vuse Solo e-cigarette helped smokers significantly cut back their use of

The Associated Press Closing prices for crude oil, gold and other commodities, and foreign exchange levels.

By ANTHONY IZAGUIRRE and MIKE SCHNEIDER Associated Press TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida has issued its first fine to a county it says violated a new state law banning coronavirus vaccine mandates and for firing fired 14 workers who failed to get the shots. The Florida Department of Health issued the $3.5 million fine Tuesday

By ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Associated Press BOSTON (AP) — Federal prosecutors have promised to drop their case against a former Wake Forest University coach charged in the college admissions bribery scandal if he pays a $50,000 fine and follows certain conditions. A deferred prosecution agreement unsealed Tuesday in the case against William Ferguson says that

CODY, Wyo. (AP) — Rapper, music producer and clothing entrepreneur Kanye West is selling his ranch and business properties in northwestern Wyoming. His West Ranch went on the market Monday for $11 million. The property covers six square miles of open land, tree-studded hills and outcrops south of Cody. The city of about 10,000 is

DALLAS (AP) — Southwest Airlines appears to be fixing problems that caused the cancellation of nearly 2,400 flights over the previous three days. By midday Tuesday, Southwest had canceled fewer than 100 flights, although more than 400 others were running late. That’s according to tracking service FlightAware. Southwest says bad weather and air traffic control

By JIM SALTER Associated Press The St. Louis-based natural gas company Spire Inc. is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to allow it to keep operating a pipeline through Illinois and Missouri, warning that a winter shutdown could be devastating to St. Louis-area customers. In a filing last week, Spire requested a stay that would allow

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — North Macedonia’s government says the German renewable energy company WPD will build a 500 million euro ($580 million) wind farm in the northeastern part of the small Balkan country. The prime minister said the planned 415 megawatt project is the largest German investment in the country and the biggest in

By JOSEPH PISANI AP Retail Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Companies that typically hire thousands of seasonal workers are heading into the holidays during one of the tightest job markets in decades, making it unlikely they’ll find all the workers they need. For shoppers, it might mean a less than jolly holiday shopping experience, with

By SAMUEL PETREQUIN Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Commission says it has issued its inaugural green bonds, raising 12 billion euros ($13.8 billion) from a sale that attracted strong demand from investors. The European Union’s executive branch is planning to issue up to 250 billion euros in green bonds by the end of

By RICARDO ALONSO-ZALDIVAR Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Rising inflation is expected to lead to a sizeable increase in Social Security’s annual cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, for the year 2022. Exactly how much will be revealed Wednesday morning. Over the last 10 years, the COLA averaged about 1.7% annually as inflation remained low. But the

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — American Airlines expects a busy holiday season, with more than 6,100 flights on some days, more flying than it did over the summer. American also said Tuesday that it expects to post a profit for the July-through-September quarter thanks to federal pandemic relief. The airline says that excluding the federal

SOLVANG, Calif. (AP) — Evacuation orders have been expanded for a growing wildfire driven by intense winds that has shut down a key Southern California highway for more than a day. At least 200 firefighters battled the Alisal Fire. By Tuesday the blaze had scorched 21 square miles along coastal Santa Barbara County and was