Top General News
Francis becomes 1st pope to endorse same-sex civil unions
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis became the first pontiff to endorse same-sex civil unions in comments for a documentary that premiered Wednesday, sparking cheers from gay Catholics and demands for clarification from conservatives, given the Vatican’s official teaching on the issue. The papal thumbs-up came...
US officials call out Iran, Russia for election interference
BOSTON (AP) — Iran is responsible for emails meant to intimidate American voters and sow unrest in multiple states, U.S. officials said Wednesday night in calling out both Tehran and Russia for activities meant to interfere in the upcoming presidential election. The announcement at a rare news conference...
In rebuke of Trump, Obama urges voters to show up for Biden
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Former President Barack Obama blasted President Donald Trump’s handling of the coronavirus pandemic, his response to racial unrest and his fundamental unfitness for the job in his first in-person campaign pitch Wednesday for Joe Biden, his former vice president. With less than...
Face to face: Trump, Biden to meet for final debate
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden are set to square off in their final debate Thursday, one of the last high-profile opportunities for the trailing incumbent to change the trajectory of an increasingly contentious campaign. Worried about losing the White...
If Google's a monopoly, who is harmed by its market power?
Google has long defended itself against charges of monopoly by stressing that its products are free and that no one has to use them. And it's avoided tough government scrutiny for years based in part on the idea that people searching the internet are not Google’s true customers. We’re its product....
OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma to plead to 3 criminal charges
WASHINGTON (AP) — Drugmaker Purdue Pharma, the company behind OxyContin, the powerful prescription painkiller that experts say helped touch off an opioid epidemic, will plead guilty to federal criminal charges as part of a settlement of more than $8 billion, the Justice Department announced Wednesday. ...
Next up in hunt for COVID-19 vaccine: Testing shots in kids
The global hunt for a COVID-19 vaccine for kids is only just beginning — a lagging start that has some U.S. pediatricians worried they may not know if any shots work for young children in time for the next school year. Older adults may be most vulnerable to the coronavirus, but ending the pandemic will...
Virus spikes have officials looking to shore up hospitals
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Hospitals across the United States are starting to buckle from a resurgence of COVID-19 cases, with several states setting records for the number of people hospitalized and leaders scrambling to find extra beds and staff. New highs in cases have been reported in states big and small...
Pandemic relief faces uncertainty in postelection session
WASHINGTON (AP) — Negotiations on a COVID-19 relief bill are inching forward, but it's clear the window for action before the Nov. 3 election is closing and the issue will be tossed to a postelection lame-duck session of Congress. The only thing that seems certain beyond that is uncertainty, with Capitol...
Divided reactions in US as pope backs same-sex civil unions
LGBTQ Catholics and their allies in the U.S. welcomed Pope Francis’ endorsement of same-sex civil unions, the first time he’s done so as pontiff, while some prominent members including a bishop said Wednesday that he was blatantly contradicting church teaching. Bishop Thomas Tobin of Providence,...
Latest General News
US officials call out Iran, Russia for election interference
BOSTON (AP) — Iran is responsible for emails meant to intimidate American voters and sow unrest in multiple states, U.S. officials said Wednesday night in calling out both Tehran and Russia for activities meant to interfere in the upcoming presidential election. The announcement at a rare news conference...
The Latest: Pandemic straining hospitals in northern Idaho
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho — Health officials in Idaho say people with COVID-19 in the northern part of the state soon may have to be sent for treatment in Seattle or Portland, Oregon, because the region’s hospitals are nearing capacity. Kootenai Health said in a statement Wednesday that its hospital is...
Major Hurricane Epsilon: Tropical storm warning for Bermuda
MIAMI (AP) — Epsilon rapidly gained major hurricane strength on Wednesday afternoon and is expected to skirt east of Bermuda in the coming day, the U.S. National Hurricane Center says. The Category 3 storm is packing top sustained winds of 115 mph (185 kph) and Bermuda remains under a tropical storm...
Court ruling could block thousands of Iowa ballot requests
IOWA CITY, Iowa (AP) — A split Iowa Supreme Court on Wednesday upheld a new Republican-backed law that could bar county elections commissioners from mailing absentee ballots to thousands of people who omitted information on their applications. The 4-3 ruling means that voters who want to cast mail-in...
Face to face: Trump, Biden to meet for final debate
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden are set to square off in their final debate Thursday, one of the last high-profile opportunities for the trailing incumbent to change the trajectory of an increasingly contentious campaign. Worried about losing the White...
Watchdog group cites interference at polls in Latino areas
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A voting rights group says that caravans of flag-waving President Donald Trump supporters appeared to obstruct and intimidate voters at two polling location in predominantly ethnic-minority neighborhoods last weekend in the Albuquerque area. Common Cause New Mexico Executive Director...
Son of ex-U of Nebraska official accused of sexual assault
LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A 21-year old Nebraska man previously convicted of child pornography charges is accused of sexually assaulting a 12-year-old boy at a sleepover three years ago, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday. Jack Eichorst, son of University of Nebraska's former athletic director Shawn...
Kentucky Democrats outpace Republicans in absentee voting
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Democrats have cast absentee ballots at more than twice the rate as Republicans, but more GOP voters are turning out for early in-person voting, according to voting figures. Through Tuesday, more than 282,400 Democrats statewide had returned absentee ballots, compared with...
Whitmer: Michigan at 'dangerous moment' as virus cases spike
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer warned Wednesday that Michigan on average has more confirmed daily cases of the coronavirus than ever, noting a sharp increase since the state Supreme Court invalidated her sweeping orders earlier this month. The number of COVID-19 cases had been gradually rising...
Canada avoids snap election after Parliament vote
TORONTO (AP) — Justin Trudeau's Liberal government avoided being toppled in a confidence vote Wednesday after a majority of Parliament members voted against a Conservative motion to create a special anti-corruption committee The Liberal government had declared the motion to be a matter of confidence....
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