Symphony, union accept Emanuel offer to help end strike

CHICAGO (AP) — Both striking musicians and management of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra have welcomed an offer by Mayor Rahm Emanuel to help end a nearly two-month work stoppage over pensions and wages. Representatives for the two sides issued statements accepting Emanuel's Wednesday evening proposal that...

Nepal quake-hit villages struggle with reconstruction

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Four years since a catastrophic earthquake destroyed much of central and eastern Nepal, a remote Himalayan area is still reeling with what looks like irreparable damage. Nestled in the foothills of Langtang Mountain, Helambu has become a textbook example of how not to rebuild after...

FBI, IRS agents search Baltimore mayor's homes, City Hall

BALTIMORE (AP) — Federal agents raided the homes and offices of Baltimore's embattled mayor on Thursday amid widening probes to determine whether she used sales of her children's books to disguise government kickbacks. The searches pushed the latest political scandal for Maryland's largest city to a...

The Latest: Mayor says uprooted trees 'cut houses in half'

RUSTON, La. (AP) — The Latest on a tornado that tore through Louisiana early Thursday(all times local): 11 a.m. The mayor of a northern Louisiana town hit by a tornado says trees uprooted by the winds "cut houses in half." Ruston Mayor Ronny Walker says he took a helicopter flight over the town of about...

The Latest: Mayor probe expands with searches of associates

BALTIMORE (AP) — The Latest on investigations involving Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh (all times local): 11:00 a.m. Federal agents have expanded their searches related to embattled Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh to include the work address of one of her attorneys, and the home of one of her aides. FBI...

Many California towns lack wildfire evacuation plans

PARADISE, California (AP) — Wildfire surrounded Darrel Wilken and the three hospital patients in his car. But instead of evacuating Paradise, they were stuck in traffic along with thousands of others. Cars burned in front of them. Trees, homes and buildings exploded into flames as the gusting firestorm...

Maryland governor calls for Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh to resign 'for the good of the city.'

FBI: Agents are executing search warrants at Baltimore Mayor Catherine Pugh's homes and City Hall

Dallas expands powers of police oversight board

DALLAS (AP) — The Dallas City Council has expanded the powers of the independent panel that oversees city police and hears complaints about officer misconduct. Council members voted unanimously Wednesday to give the newly renamed Community Police Oversight Board a budget and staff of four to monitor...

NYC mayor takes aim at glass towers as energy hogs

NEW YORK (AP) — New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio presides over a city that's known for its skyscrapers but he is no fan of the glass towers that have transformed the Manhattan skyline in recent decades. De Blasio, a Democrat who is hinting at a presidential run, vowed this week to introduce a bill to ban...