Top General News
Drought haves, have-nots test how to share water in the West
MADRAS, Ore. (AP) — Phil Fine stands in a parched field and watches a harvester gnaw through his carrot seed crop, spitting clouds of dust in its wake. Cracked dirt lines empty irrigation canals, and dust devils and tumbleweeds punctuate a landscape in shades of brown. ...
Outbreaks strand some students at home with minimal learning
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Within his first week back at school after a year and a half, 7-year-old Ben Medlin was exposed to a classmate with COVID-19, and he was sent home, along with 7,000 other students in the district, for 14 days of quarantine. Not much learning went on...
Biden's 'summer of love' with Europe hits an abrupt break-up
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s summer of love with Europe appears to have come to an abrupt end. After promising European leaders that “America is back” and that multilateral diplomacy would guide U.S. foreign policy, Biden has angered numerous allies...
Idaho rations health care statewide amid massive COVID surge
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho public health leaders on Thursday expanded health care rationing statewide amid a massive increase in the number of coronavirus patients requiring hospitalization. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare made the announcement after St....
Murdaugh surrenders to face charges in $10M insurance fraud
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Lawyer Alex Murdaugh surrendered Thursday to face insurance fraud and other charges after state police said he arranged to have himself shot in the head so that his son would get a $10 million life insurance payout. The shooter only grazed him. A...
Budget bill reopens moderate vs. progressive divide for Dems
WASHINGTON (AP) — One side is energized by the prospect of the greatest expansion of government support since the New Deal nearly a century ago. The other is fearful about dramatically expanding Washington's reach at an enormous cost. They're all Democrats. Yet each...
California recall could boost Newsom's clout for 2022
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The recall election that once threatened to derail California Gov. Gavin Newsom's political future has instead given it new life, offering a rare midterm vote of confidence that could fuel an ambitious legislative agenda featuring new coronavirus vaccine mandates,...
Study: Childhood obesity in U.S. accelerated during pandemic
NEW YORK (AP) — A new study ties the COVID-19 pandemic to an “alarming” increase in obesity in U.S. children and teenagers. Childhood obesity has been increasing for decades, but the new work suggests an acceleration last year — especially in those who already...
Lawyer charged in Durham probe with making false statement
WASHINGTON (AP) — The prosecutor tasked with examining the U.S. government's investigation into Russian election interference charged a prominent cybersecurity lawyer on Thursday with making a false statement to the FBI. The case against the attorney, Michael Sussmann...
California wildfires threaten famous giant sequoia trees
THREE RIVERS, Calif. (AP) — Multiple forest fires on Thursday were threatening groves of gigantic sequoias in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains that are home to some of the world's largest trees. Flames would likely reach the famous Giant Forest in Sequoia...
Latest General News
Helicopter with 3 people on board crashes in Georgia forest
MONTICELLO, Ga. (AP) — A helicopter with three people on board crashed in a national wildlife preserve in Middle Georgia and search crews were looking for the wreckage, federal authorities said. Teams of people were searching Thursday for the downed aircraft after it...
Court halts use of health order to expel migrant families
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge ruled Thursday that the U.S. government must stop using a public health order to quickly expel migrants with children who are apprehended along the U.S.-Mexico border. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan gave the government two weeks to...
Corrections shakeup follows new allegations at Long Creek
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Three senior officials in the Maine Department of Corrections are leaving or being reassigned because of ongoing problems at the Long Creek Youth Development Center, officials said. The superintendent at Long Creek has resigned; an associate...
Missouri officer dies after being shot responding to call
A Missouri officer who graduated from the police academy two months ago was shot and killed by a man being sought on burglary and theft charges, authorities said. The suspect also died in a shootout with officers. Independence Officer Blaize Madrid-Evans, 22, was...
NY governor vows to fight lawsuit over vaccine mandate
ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul vowed this week to fight a lawsuit launched by a group of Christian health care practitioners who argue that New York’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for many health care workers is unconstitutional because it lacks a religious exemption. ...
Ballistic vest saves Rockford officer from gunshot wound
ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — A northern Illinois police officer was shot early Thursday but wasn't hurt because he was wearing a ballistic vest, authorities said. Officers were gathered in an area when they heard a gunshot from close range, the Rockford Police Department said....
Michigan's top court rejects redistricting lawsuit _ for now
LANSING, Mich. (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a challenge to deadlines set by a commission that is drawing new maps for seats in Congress and the Legislature, but the legal battle is not over. The court turned down an opportunity to immediately...
Biden slammed for challenging nuclear workplace health law
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Officials in Washington state are upset the Biden administration is challenging a law making it easier for workers who become ill at a former nuclear weapons production site to be compensated. The Supreme Court will likely decide in the next few...
Nebraska girl slaps boy over rumors that class lizard died
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Rumors that a middle school class gecko had died prompted one Nebraska girl to slap another student. Police said the girl admitted slapping a 13-year-old boy during a football game at Millard Central Middle School on Monday because the lizard was...
Federal court allows Wisconsin redistricting case to proceed
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — A three-judge panel of federal judges on Thursday denied a request by Republicans to dismiss a redistricting lawsuit brought by Democrats, a move that keeps the case alive while the GOP-controlled Legislature wants the battle to instead be fought in state courts. ...
