Fourth of July

FILE - In this July 3, 2020, file photo, President Donald Trump stands at Mount Rushmore National Memorial, near Keystone, S.D. South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem says she gave former president Donald Trump a $1,100 bust depicting the president on Mount Rushmore last year because she knew it was something he wanted to receive. The gift was presented to Trump when he visited South Dakota on Friday, July 3, 2020 for an Independence Day fireworks celebration. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)

SD governor gave Trump bust with face on Mount Rushmore

Jan. 21, 2021 5:20 PM EST

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem on Thursday said she gave former president Donald Trump a $1,100 bust depicting the president on Mount Rushmore last year because she knew it was something he wanted to receive. The gift was presented to Trump when he visited South Dakota on July 3 for an...

FILE -- This May 2, 2019 file photo shows lawmakers meet on the floor of the state House of Representatives at the Hawaii State Capitol in Honolulu. Cut spending, raise taxes, or perhaps both. Hawaii lawmakers face tough choices as they convene a new legislative session this week amid a pandemic that has pummeled tourism, the state's biggest industry, and depleted tax revenue. Lawmakers expect to spend time addressing how to spend federal funds allocated to help Hawaii test for the coronavirus, distribute vaccines, and bolster hospitals. They'll also consider how to help Hawaii's economy recover from the public health crisis. (AP Photo/Audrey McAvoy, File)

Hawaii lawmakers face tough choices amid pandemic recession

Jan. 18, 2021 9:04 AM EST

HONOLULU (AP) — Cut spending, raise taxes or perhaps both. Hawaii lawmakers face tough choices as they convene a new legislative session this week amid a pandemic that has pummeled tourism, the state's biggest industry, and depleted tax revenue. Lawmakers expect to spend time addressing how to spend...

In this image provided by Sun Literary Arts, Amanda Gorman, 22, is poses for a photo on Jan. 14, 2019. The country's next inaugural poet is an old pro at ceremonial occasions — and she's only 22. Amanda Gorman has written for everything from a July 4 celebration featuring the Boston Pops Orchestra to the inauguration at Harvard University for school president Larry Bacon. (Kelia Anne/Sun Literary Arts via AP)

Poet Amanda Gorman, 22, will read at Biden inaugural

Jan. 15, 2021 11:10 AM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — At age 22, poet Amanda Gorman, chosen to read at the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden, already has a history of writing for official occasions. "I have kind of stumbled upon this genre. It's been something I find a lot of emotional reward in, writing something I can make people...

NW Indiana mayor fires worker after New Year's gunshots

Jan. 5, 2021 11:54 AM EST

HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) — A northwest Indiana mayor has fired a city worker after the man allegedly put others at risk by firing gunshots into the air to celebrate the New Year. Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott said Monday in a social media posting that he fired a water department worker after a video surfaced on...

New Year's fireworks could degrade Southern California air

Dec. 31, 2020 2:20 PM EST

LOS ANGELES (AP) — An advisory for likely pollution from New Year’s Eve fireworks went into effect Thursday in a large portion of Southern California. The South Coast Air Quality Management District said the advisory for high levels of particulate matter and metal air pollutants would be in effect...

Editorial Roundup: South Carolina

Dec. 16, 2020 3:42 PM EST

Recent editorials from South Carolina newspapers: ___ Dec. 14 The Times and Democrat on South Carolina’s highway death toll: With South Carolina counting down toward a highway death toll that will again be at or near 1,000 killed for the year, a report from CoPilot should come as a warning for the...

This combination photo shows, from left, Gavyn Batiste, 7, dressed as Black Panther and surrounded by action figures in Lafayette, La. on Aug. 31, 2020, actor Chadwick Boseman in character as T'Challa in

Pop Culture in (ugh) 2020, from the bizarre to the sublime

Dec. 10, 2020 11:06 AM EST

And now, for our annual look at the year in pop culture…. Oh, wait. This was 2020. The year everything stopped cold. Well, not really. Truth is, people turned to culture of all kinds in 2020 — highbrow and lowbrow — to satisfy varied and sometimes conflicting needs: Distraction, inspiration,...