US intelligence says Russia is using a range of measures to denigrate Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden

The Latest: California tops 10,000 virus deaths, 3rd highest

SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California has surpassed 10,000 deaths from the coronavirus, making it the U.S. state with the third-highest deaths since the start of the pandemic. The figure was reported Friday by Johns Hopkins University, with 10,024 dead since the outbreak began in California in February. New...

Postal Service loses $2.2B in 3 months as virus woes persist

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Postal Service says it lost $2.2 billion in the three months that ended in June as the beleaguered agency — hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic — piles up financial losses that officials warn could top $20 billion over two years. But the new postmaster general,...

Milwaukee chief demoted over tear-gas use, other concerns

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — An oversight board demoted Milwaukee Police Chief Alfonso Morales after questioning how he handled multiple incidents, including ordering officers to fire tear gas and pepper spray at protesters demonstrating over George Floyd’s death. The city’s Fire and Police...

Hagerty vs. Bradshaw in race to succeed US Sen. Alexander

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The race to succeed retiring U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander in November will feature a matchup between a Republican candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump and a Black activist who pulled off an astonishing upset victory over the Democratic establishment's choice — with a...

Kansas House speaker had coronavirus; governor to get tested

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — A top Republican legislator in Kansas was hospitalized last month after testing positive for the novel coronavirus and didn't disclose it to colleagues until this week. The state's Democratic governor declared Thursday that she'll get tested because the two of them attended a meeting...

Virus talks on brink of collapse, sides still 'far apart'

WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington talks on vital COVID-19 rescue money are teetering on the brink of collapse after a marathon meeting in the Capitol Thursday night generated a wave of recriminations but little progress on the top issues confronting negotiators. “There’s a handful of very big...

Marquita Bradshaw wins Democratic Senate primary in Tennessee

Biden draws distinction on Black, Latino political diversity

ATLANTA (AP) — Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden faces new scrutiny over how he discusses race and ethnicity after drawing distinctions between Black and Hispanic populations in the United States. “By the way, what you all know but most people don’t know, unlike the African...

Congress urges Postal Service to undo changes slowing mail

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers from both parties are calling on the U.S. Postal Service to immediately reverse operational changes that are causing delays in deliveries across the country just as big volume increases are expected for mail-in election voting. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Democratic...