Top General News
Biden promotes milestone of 300M vaccine shots in 150 days
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden took a cautious victory lap Friday in his quest to bring the COVID-19 pandemic under control, announcing that 300 million vaccine shots have been administered in the 150 days since he took office. Biden credited scientists,...
US Catholic bishops OK steps toward possible rebuke of Biden
U.S. Catholic bishops overwhelmingly approved the drafting of a “teaching document” that many of them hope will rebuke Catholic politicians, including President Joe Biden, for receiving Communion despite their support for abortion rights. The decision, vehemently...
Brazil still debating dubious virus drug amid 500,000 deaths
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — As Brazil hurtles toward an official COVID-19 death toll of 500,000 — second-highest in the world — science is on trial inside the country and the truth is up for grabs. With the milestone likely to be reached this weekend, Brazil's Senate is...
Apathy greets Iran presidential vote dominated by hard-liner
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranians voted Friday in a presidential election dominated by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's hard-line protege after the disqualification of his strongest competition, fueling apathy that left some polling places largely deserted despite pleas to...
Western heat wave threatens health in vulnerable communities
PHOENIX (AP) — Extreme temperatures like the ones blistering the American West this week aren't just annoying, they're deadly. The record-breaking temperatures this week are a weather emergency, scientists and health care experts say, with heat responsible for more...
Biden objects to raising gas tax to pay for infrastructure
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House made clear Friday that President Joe Biden was opposed to letting the federal gasoline tax rise at the rate of inflation to help pay for an infrastructure package that a bipartisan group of 21 senators is trying to craft. The gas tax...
Fierce Capitol attacks on police in newly released videos
Videos released under court order provide a chilling new look at the chaos at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, including body camera footage that shows a man charging at a police officer with a flagpole and tackling him to the ground. Federal judges ordered the release of the...
Federal holiday pressures companies to give Juneteenth off
NEW YORK (AP) — The declaration of Juneteenth as a federal holiday is putting the pressure on more U.S. companies to give their employees the day off, accelerating a movement that took off last year in response to the racial justice protests that swept the country. ...
Declaration of Juneteenth holiday sparks scramble in states
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Congress and President Joe Biden acted with unusual swiftness this week in approving Juneteenth as a national holiday. That shifted the battle to the states, where the holiday faces a far less enthusiastic response. Nearly all states recognize...
Bourbon tourism shaking off pandemic slump in Kentucky
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — With tourists flocking to distilleries, concerns about a pandemic hangover for Kentucky’s world-famous bourbon industry are quickly evaporating. A $19 million tourist center that Heaven Hill Distillery opened just days ago in the heart of the...
Latest General News
AP Interview: India says it hopes to resume vaccine exports
NEW DELHI (AP) — India, the world’s largest manufacturer of vaccines, wants to resume exports of coronavirus jabs but can’t do so until its domestic needs are met, the head of the country’s COVID-19 task force said Friday. “Once our immediate need of vaccinating...
The Latest: Crouser breaks 31-year-old shot put WR
EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — The latest on U.S. Track and Field Olympic trials (All times PDT): ___ 7:20 p.m. Ryan Crouser broke a 31-year-old world record in the shot put at U.S. Olympic trials with a heave of 76 feet, 8 1/4 inches...
Wildfire forces evacuations in forest northeast of Phoenix
STRAWBERRY, Ariz. (AP) — A wildfire that broke out near a popular camping area in the mountains northeast of Phoenix forced officials to order evacuations of the small communities of Strawberry and Pine. The Gila County Sheriff's office ordered the town of Strawberry's...
Connecticut is 1st state to make all prison phone calls free
HARTFORD, Connecticut (AP) — Connecticut became the first state this week to make all prison phone calls free, addressing one of the biggest emotional and financial burdens faced by incarcerated men and women and their families as they try to stay in touch. The state...
Plume of smoke towers as parked car catches fire in New York
NEW YORK (AP) — At least one parked car caught fire in New York’s Long Island City neighborhood on Friday, throwing up a plume of smoke that was visible from other boroughs. In footage posted on social media, emergency crews can be seen dousing the car with water and...
Alaska special legislative session limps toward end
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The special legislative session limped toward a bitter end Friday, with Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy and House majority leaders sharply disagreeing over the adequacy of the budget passed by lawmakers earlier this week. Dunleavy called the budget...
Sharpton condemns Honolulu police shooting of Black man
HONOLULU (AP) — Civil rights activist the Rev. Al Sharpton is condemning the Honolulu Police Department for the fatal shooting of a Black man as various versions of what led to the death continue to emerge. “Lindani Myeni’s killing is yet another sensational...
North Korean leader swears to overcome economic hardships
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un “solemnly swore” to navigate his country out of deepening economic troubles as he concluded a major ruling party meeting, acknowledging food shortages and urging officials to prepare for both dialogue and confrontation with the...
2 fatal shootings in 1 week for Hawaii Police Department
HONOLULU (AP) — Police on Hawaii's Big Island shot and killed a man they say cut an officer with a knife. Friday's shooting was the second time this week Hawaii County officers killed a man. Officers responded to a break-in at a vacant home in...
19-year-old accused of firing at people across Phoenix area
PHOENIX (AP) — An Arizona teenager suspected of killing one person and injuring a dozen others during a 90-minute string of drive-by shootings in metropolitan Phoenix told police he believed people were after him because of his involvement in another shooting, according to court documents...
