Top General News

Biden gives life in prison to 37 of 40 federal death row inmates before Trump can resume executions

Dec. 23, 2024 18:11 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday announced that he is commuting the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row, converting their punishments to life imprisonment just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump, an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment, takes...

House Ethics Committee accuses Gaetz of paying for sex, including with 17-year-old girl

Dec. 23, 2024 15:21 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee on Monday accused Matt Gaetz of “regularly” paying for sex, including once with a 17-year-old girl, and purchasing and using illicit drugs as a member of Congress, as lawmakers released the conclusions of a nearly four-year investigation that...

Luigi Mangione pleads not guilty to murder and weapons charges in UnitedHealthcare CEO's death

Dec. 23, 2024 18:33 PM EST

NEW YORK (AP) — The man accused of fatally shooting the CEO of UnitedHealthcare pleaded not guilty on Monday to state murder and terror charges while his attorney complained that comments coming from New York’s mayor would make it tough to receive a fair trial. Luigi Mangione,...

Man faces murder charges in the death of a woman who was lit on fire in New York City subway

Dec. 23, 2024 19:27 PM EST

A man is facing murder and arson charges in New York City for allegedly setting a woman on fire inside a subway train and then watching her die after she was engulfed in flames, police said Monday. The suspect, identified by police as Sebastian Zapeta, was taken into custody hours...

Middle East latest: Defense minister acknowledges Israel killed Hamas leader

Dec. 23, 2024 19:19 PM EST

Israel’s defense minister has confirmed that Israel assassinated Hamas’ top leader last summer and is threatening to take similar action against the leadership of the Houthi rebel group in Yemen. The comments by Israel Katz appeared to mark the first time that Israel has...

Trump again calls to buy Greenland after eyeing Canada and the Panama Canal

Dec. 23, 2024 17:12 PM EST

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — First it was Canada, then the Panama Canal. Now, Donald Trump again wants Greenland. The president-elect is renewing unsuccessful calls he made during his first term for the U.S. to buy Greenland from Denmark, adding to the list of allied countries with...

Nissan and Honda to attempt a merger that would create the world's No. 3 automaker

Dec. 23, 2024 11:27 AM EST

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese automakers Honda and Nissan have announced plans to work toward a merger that would form the world’s third-largest automaker by sales, as the industry undergoes dramatic changes in its transition away from fossil fuels. The two companies said they had signed...

Magdeburg mourns Christmas market attack victims as fears swirl of deeper German social divisions

Dec. 23, 2024 12:23 PM EST

MAGDEBURG, Germany (AP) — Mourners laid flowers near the scene of the deadly Christmas market attack on Monday as investigators puzzled over the motive of the suspect and his previous encounters with authorities were scrutinized, while fears swirled that the rampage could deepen divisions in...

How faith communities can be welcoming of believers with disabilities this holiday season and beyond

Dec. 23, 2024 11:45 AM EST

The Rev. Shannon Blosser sees how his son loves church — the music, the singing, the communion. But the United Methodist pastor said his family hasn’t always felt like 11-year-old Noah, who is autistic, has been welcome. At one point, Blosser’s wife and the couple’s two sons...

Tennessee and Auburn remain 1-2 in AP Top 25 poll featuring 10 SEC teams

Dec. 23, 2024 13:10 PM EST

Tennessee and Auburn remained Nos. 1-2 atop The Associated Press men's college basketball poll. It's a fitting spot for a pair of Southeastern Conference teams considering the league put 10 teams into Monday's AP Top 25. The Volunteers (11-0) and Tigers (11-1) spent a third straight...

Latest General News

Prosecutors withdraw appeal of dismissed case against Alec Baldwin in fatal movie set shooting

Dec. 23, 2024 20:27 PM EST

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico prosecutors won’t pursue an appeal of a court’s decision to dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting on a cinematographer on the set of a Western movie. Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey on Monday...

Inside the Gaetz ethics report, a trove of new details alleging payments for sex and drug use

Dec. 23, 2024 20:23 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House Ethics Committee's long-awaited report on Matt Gaetz documents a trove of salacious allegations, including sex with an underage girl, that tanked the Florida Republican's bid to lead the Justice Department. Citing text messages, travel receipts, online...

New Mexico prosecutors withdraw appeal of dismissed case against Alec Baldwin in fatal movie set shooting

Dec. 23, 2024 20:16 PM EST
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico prosecutors withdraw appeal of dismissed case against Alec Baldwin in fatal movie set shooting.

3 fall into ocean after California wharf partially collapses due to heavy surf from major storm

Dec. 23, 2024 19:36 PM EST

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — Two people were rescued and a third swam to safety after a California pier under construction partially collapsed and fell into the ocean Monday as the state's central coast was pounded by heavy surf from a major storm expected to bring hurricane-force winds to the seas...

Man faces murder charges in the death of a woman who was lit on fire in New York City subway

Dec. 23, 2024 19:27 PM EST

A man is facing murder and arson charges in New York City for allegedly setting a woman on fire inside a subway train and then watching her die after she was engulfed in flames, police said Monday. The suspect, identified by police as Sebastian Zapeta, was taken into custody hours...

UN investigative team says Syria's new authorities `very receptive' to probe of Assad war crimes

Dec. 23, 2024 19:27 PM EST

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. organization assisting in investigating the most serious crimes in Syria said Monday the country’s new authorities were “very receptive” to its request for cooperation during a just-concluded visit to Damascus, and it is preparing to deploy. The...

Middle East latest: Defense minister acknowledges Israel killed Hamas leader

Dec. 23, 2024 19:19 PM EST

Israel’s defense minister has confirmed that Israel assassinated Hamas’ top leader last summer and is threatening to take similar action against the leadership of the Houthi rebel group in Yemen. The comments by Israel Katz appeared to mark the first time that Israel has...

Surveillance videos appear to show 2 of 4 missing Ecuadorian kids taken by men in military uniform

Dec. 23, 2024 19:08 PM EST

GUAYAQUIL, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador's President Daniel Noboa on Monday pledged that his government would not cover up for anyone involved in the disappearance of four children who were last seen running away from a military convoy earlier this month. The statement came as Noboa's...

Bill Clinton is hospitalized with a fever but in good spirits, spokesperson says

Dec. 23, 2024 19:05 PM EST

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton was admitted Monday to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington after developing a fever. The 78-year-old was hospitalized in the “afternoon for testing and observation," Angel Urena, Clinton's deputy chief of staff,...

Latest challenge to North Carolina's power-shifting law focuses on state elections board control

Dec. 23, 2024 18:48 PM EST

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina's current governor and his successor tacked on another lawsuit Monday disputing a key provision within a GOP law that erodes the powers of several incoming Democratic state leaders — the latest in a longstanding power struggle between North Carolina's...