South Carolina firefighter dies after partial collapse at burning apartment building

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A 25-year-old firefighter from South Carolina has died after part of a burning apartment building collapsed while firefighters were inside. Authorities said James Muller of the Irmo Fire District died Friday while he was providing aid during the response to a...

Baby eels remain one of America's most valuable fish after strong year in Maine

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Fishermen in the U.S.'s only commercial-scale fishing industry for valuable baby eels once again had a productive season searching for the tiny fish. Baby eels, called elvers, are often worth more than $2,000 per pound because of how valuable they are to...

Judge halts South Carolina’s new stricter abortion law until state Supreme Court review

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A judge put South Carolina’s new law banning most abortions around six weeks of pregnancy on hold Friday until the state Supreme Court can review the measure, giving providers a temporary reprieve in a region that has enacted strict limits on the procedure. ...

North Dakota Gov. Burgum expected to announce GOP campaign for president, Republican allies say

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum is expected to announce his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, two GOP operatives told The Associated Press on Friday, putting him in an already crowded field dominated by ex-President Donald Trump. The Republicans, who had...

Louisiana lawmakers pressed to resurrect bill banning gender-affirming care for minors

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — A longtime Republican lawmaker, in rural Louisiana, is facing national backlash following his tie-breaking vote to kill a bill that would ban gender-affirming medical care for transgender youths in the state. State Sen. Fred Mills told The Associated Press...

School bus and tanker truck collide in South Carolina; 18 sent to hospital

GILBERT, S.C. (AP) — A school bus collided with a tanker truck Thursday in South Carolina, sending at least 18 people, mostly children, to the hospital, authorities said. The bus was carrying 36 passengers when it collided with the tanker at about 4 p.m. at an intersection near...

Judge halts South Carolina’s new law banning abortions around 6 weeks of pregnancy so state Supreme Court can review

DeSantis pushes past embarrassing campaign start, raises $8.2M ahead of early state blitz

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Thursday sought to push past an embarrassing beginning to his presidential campaign, outlining an aggressive travel schedule as his allies insisted they remain well funded and well positioned for a long Republican primary fight ahead. ...

GOP leaders in Kansas back off threat to sue Democratic governor over education funding

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Leaders of Kansas' Republican-controlled Legislature backed off a threat to sue the state's Democratic governor for vetoing parts of a GOP education funding bill, saying Thursday that they still doubt the legality of her actions but now question whether a court challenge would...

Texas A&M knocks out South Carolina behind combined 1-hitter

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — Trevor Werner went 3 for 4 with an RBI triple, freshman Justin Lamkin struck out nine in a seven-inning start and Texas A&M beat South Carolina 5-0 on Thursday in the SEC Tournament. Texas A&M (34-24), the No. 10 seed, advances to the semifinals on...