CORRECTS: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says he is ending his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination.

WASHINGTON (AP) — CORRECTS: New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio says he is ending his campaign for the Democratic presidential nomination. (Corrects APNewsAlert to lower case 'de' and put a space before Blasio)

Labor pick will seek ethics advice on brokers conflict rule

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's pick for Labor secretary sought to quell concerns among Democrats that he's too close to the corporate world, telling lawmakers Thursday that if confirmed he'll ask ethics officials if he can participate in the crafting of a conflict of interest rule for...

Trump names hostage envoy O'Brien national security adviser

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Wednesday named Robert O'Brien, his chief hostage negotiator and an established figure in Republican policy circles, as his new national security adviser. O'Brien, the fourth person in two years to hold the job, becomes the administration's point person on...

University of California chief Janet Napolitano to step down

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — University of California President Janet Napolitano, who oversaw historic expansions of the 10-campus system and championed immigrant students, but whose management structure faced criticism and embarrassing scrutiny, said Wednesday she will step down in August 2020. Napolitano, a...

Israeli vote leaves Netanyahu's political future in doubt

JERUSALEM (AP) — After a decade of mesmerizing world leaders, subduing his rivals and eking out dramatic election victories, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's political future is suddenly in doubt. With near-final results from Israel's election on Tuesday, he has been left well short of the parliamentary...

Grassley questions Trump Labor chief pick on whistleblowing

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Sen. Charles Grassley is expressing concern about President Donald Trump's nominee for U.S. Secretary of Labor, questioning Eugene Scalia's record on whistleblower protections. Grassley said Wednesday on a call with reporters that he's concerned about briefs Scalia wrote while...

AG's chief of staff confirmed to head utilities commission

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The Executive Council has confirmed the attorney general's chief of staff to be the next head of the New Hampshire Public Utilities Commission. The council voted in favor of Dianne Martin on Wednesday. Martin, of Deerfield, has been associate attorney general and chief of staff to...

New West Virginia delegate appointed to fill vacancy

CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has appointed Trenton C. Barnhart to a vacant state House of Delegates seat. Justice's office said in a news release that Barnhart is a lifelong resident of Pleasants County and lives in St. Marys. His was among three names that the West Virginia...

Governor's lawyer declines court nod amid uproar

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown's general counsel declined an appointment to the Court of Appeals after the state's public records advocate accused him of unethical behavior, a situation Brown said she deeply regretted and took responsibility for on Tuesday. Public Records Advocate Ginger McCall...

Oklahoma governor appoints Kane to state Supreme Court seat

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has appointed Osage County District Judge John Kane to a vacant seat on the state Supreme Court. Stitt announced the appointment on Tuesday, choosing from among three applicants submitted by the Judicial Nominating Commission. Kane will serve in the seat...