Coast Guard leader: More money needed to compete in Arctic

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Strapped with an aging fleet, the U.S. Coast Guard is about to award a contract for a much-needed new icebreaker to help compete against Russia and China for a presence in the Arctic, but the service needs more funding for operations and infrastructure, its commandant said Thursday. Adm....

Tennessee House passes contentious anti-discrimination bill

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee's GOP-dominated House on Thursday approved an anti-discrimination business bill that some critics say is dangerous for LGBTQ people. According to the bill, cities and state agencies would be banned from taking "discriminatory action" against businesses if they have...

The Latest: NZ imam preparing for emotional Friday prayer

CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand (AP) — The Latest on the mosque attacks in New Zealand (all times local): 11:30 a.m. An imam says he's expecting thousands of people at an emotional Friday prayer in Christchurch, New Zealand, a week after a gunman killed 42 people at his mosque and 50 people in all. Gamal Fouda...

Tenn Democratic chair apologizes for calling state racist

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Democratic Party Chairwoman Mary Mancini has apologized for calling the state racist recently while promoting less conventional candidates. The Tennessean reports Mancini said she used the wrong words during a recent tour of local county Democratic parties. Mancini's...

Assistant principal accused of harassing trans boy loses job

CLARKSBURG, W.Va. (AP) — A West Virginia assistant principal accused of harassing a transgender student will be out of his job after this school year. News outlets report the board of education in Harrison County voted not to renew a probationary contract for Lee Livengood, who allegedly followed a...

Tennessee to try anti-harassment bill again next year

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee House panel says more work is needed before the GOP-dominant statehouse can pass legislation strengthening anti-harassment protections for independent contractors. The issue has hit home in Nashville's country music industry as women have spoken out against the sexual...

Facebook to overhaul ad targeting to prevent discrimination

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Facebook will overhaul its ad-targeting systems to prevent discrimination in housing , credit and employment ads as part of a legal settlement. For the social network, that's one major legal problem down, several to go, including government investigations in the U.S. and Europe over...

Mosque shootings renew fears of terror by lone attackers

In his manifesto, the white supremacist charged with attacking two New Zealand mosques praised fellow "freedom fighters" as his role models. In reality, all were terrorists — most notable for acting alone. Investigators' growing certainty that a single gunman was responsible for the massacre that claimed...

Facebook settles five lawsuits alleging that its ad systems enabled discrimination in housing, credit and employment

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Facebook settles five lawsuits alleging that its ad systems enabled discrimination in housing, credit and employment.

Supreme Court to hear case on racial bias in jury selection

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A black Mississippi man who has been tried six times for murder says his latest conviction and death sentence should be thrown out for a familiar reason — the prosecutor's practice of keeping African-Americans off the jury. Curtis Flowers has been jailed in Mississippi for 22...