New York lifts many remaining pandemic rules as it hits vaccination mark: 70% of adults with at least one dose

NY lifts more COVID-19 rules as it hits vaccination mark

Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Tuesday that 70% of adults in New York have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, a threshold he said the state would celebrate by easing many of its remaining social distancing rules and shooting off fireworks. “What does 70% mean?...

Unemployment rate for May dips to below pre-pandemic rate

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire’s unemployment rate for May was 2.5%, a decrease of three-tenths of a percentage point from April and a big change from a year ago, when it was 13.4% during the coronavirus pandemic. Gov. Chris Sununu noted Tuesday that the state's...

Confirmed US death toll from the coronavirus tops 600,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins University

US COVID-19 deaths hit 600,000, equal to yearly cancer toll

The U.S. death toll from COVID-19 topped 600,000 on Tuesday, even as the vaccination drive has drastically brought down daily cases and fatalities and allowed the country to emerge from the gloom and look forward to summer. The number of lives lost, as recorded by Johns...

New Missouri law limits length of public health restrictions

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson enacted a new law Tuesday limiting the duration of local public health restrictions and barring governments from requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination to use public facilities and transportation. The law took...

GOP ends COVID emergency in Kansas; Kelly sees 'obstruction'

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas is going to struggle to vaccinate more residents and thousands of families will lose extra food aid because top Republican legislators on Tuesday ended a state of emergency for the coronavirus pandemic, a top aide Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said. ...

New York Philharmonic to resume performances Sept. 17

NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Philharmonic will resume subscription performances in September following a historic 18-month gap caused by the coronavirus pandemic, presenting a shortened schedule of 78 concerts in a season shifted from Lincoln Center’s David Geffen Hall while the...

Illinois APME announces winners in 2020 newspaper contest

CHICAGO (AP) — Winners have been announced in the Illinois Associated Press Media Editors 2020 newspaper contest. The awards were announced on May 7 during a virtual event held by the Illinois Associated Press Media Editors during the annual convention of the Illinois...

Massachusetts offers $1M prizes, scholarships for vaccinated

Massachusetts is giving away five $1 million cash prizes and five $300,000 college scholarships to residents who have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus, Gov. Charlie Baker announced Tuesday. The aim of the so-called VaxMillions Giveaway, modeled after a...