Estonia's ruling party taps climate minister for the Baltic country's top job

HELSINKI (AP) — Estonia’s ruling center-right Reform Party has chosen Saturday Climate Minister Kristen Michal to replace outgoing leader Kaja Kallas as prime minister of the Baltic country. The unanimous decision to nominate Michal was made following a closed-door meeting by...

Virginia House repeals eligibility restrictions to veteran tuition benefits

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Virginia's House of Delegates voted unanimously Friday to restore free college tuition at state schools for families of veterans who were killed or seriously disabled while on active duty. The 92-0 vote would repeal restrictions to the Virginia Military...

Mississippi sets new laws on Medicaid during pregnancy, school funding, inheritance and alcohol

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi is enacting several new laws, including one that says sign language courses may replace foreign language courses for students to earn credit toward high school graduation. A look at some of the other new laws taking effect on July 1: ...

Trump and Biden tangle over the economy in their opening exchange, trading barbs over inflation, jobs and tax policy

Delaware lawmakers approve a $1.1 billion capital budget for the fiscal year starting Monday

DOVER, Del. (AP) — Delaware lawmakers on Thursday unanimously approved a $1.1 billion capital budget for construction, transportation, maintenance and economic development projects in the fiscal year that starts Monday. The spending plan is about $300 million less than this...

Michigan ban on taxpayer-funded abortions targeted by lawsuit

DETROIT (AP) — Abortion-rights supporters filed a lawsuit Thursday seeking to overturn Michigan’s longtime ban on taxpayer-funded abortions for low-income residents, arguing it cannot stand after voters in 2022 approved a sweeping constitutional amendment ensuring access to the medical...

Panel's approval of liquefied natural gas export terminal puts more pressure on Biden to block it

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — What would be the nation's largest export terminal for liquefied natural gas won approval from a federal commission Thursday, although when the Louisiana project will be completed remains unclear in light of a Biden administration delay announced this year on such projects. ...

Kentucky to open applications for the state's medical marijuana business

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Businesses that want to sell, process or grow medical marijuana for Kentucky can start applying for permits starting Monday, part of an accelerated push to have products available in early 2025, Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday. Doctors and advanced practice...

A closer look at what's in New Jersey's proposed $56.6 billion budget, from taxes to spending

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — New Jersey lawmakers are poised to send a $56.6 billion fiscal year 2025 budget to Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy this week, hiking taxes on high-earning businesses and funding for many state services and programs. The annual spending plan is expected to get...

US weekly jobless claims fall, but the total number collecting benefits is the most since 2021

Fewer people applied for unemployment benefits last week but the total number of Americans collecting jobless benefits rose to the highest level in more than two years. The Labor Department reported Thursday that jobless claims for the week ending June 22 fell by 6,000 to 233,000...