Month: April 2024

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — The Maine Legislature is nearing adjournment with unfinished business, including final votes on a series of gun safety bills introduced after the deadliest shooting in state history. Legislators faced a Wednesday deadline for completing work. Awaiting final votes were the governor’s proposals that would strengthen the state’s yellow flag law, boost

By MARK SCOLFORO Associated Press The ride-hailing company Uber says it’s banned an account that sent a driver to the Ohio home where an 81-year-old man allegedly shot the woman to death. Uber says Wednesday the March 25 shooting death of driver Loletha Hall is “a horrific tragedy” and the company has provided information to

NEW YORK (AP) — Hundreds of young dancers in white tutus and tightly coiffed hair gathered in New York’s Plaza Hotel to break the world record for dancing on pointe in one place. The spectacle was organized by Youth America Grand Prix, a ballet scholarship program that is celebrating its 25th anniversary with three nights

Associated Press SAN SALVADOR (AP) — El Salvador’s President Nayib Bukele has released the father of a Salvadoran soccer player from prison after the athlete published a plea for his release on social media. Authorities confirmed Wednesday that the father of Marcelo “El Chiky” Díaz, who plays for El Salvador’s national team, was released. In

By LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukraine and Israel both desperately need the military weapons that are being held up by Congress’ failure to pass a funding package for the two countries at war, Pentagon leaders told House appropriators Wednesday, calling the situation in Ukraine dire. “Whether it’s munitions, whether it’s vehicles,

By AMY BETH HANSON and BEATRICE DUPUY Associated Press The sound of a vehicle backfiring spooked a circus elephant while she was getting a pre-show bath in Butte, Montana, leading the pachyderm to break through a fence and take a brief walk, stopping noontime traffic on the city’s busiest street before being loaded back into

SEAN MURPHY OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — An Oklahoma judge has denied bond for the four people charged with kidnapping and killing two Kansas women. Tifany Adams; her boyfriend, Tad Cullum; and Cole and Cora Twombly made their first appearances Wednesday. The judge accepted a prosecutor’s request to deny bail, entered not-guilty pleas on their behalf

By ED WHITE Associated Press HOWELL, Mich. (AP) — The head of a specialty pharmacy will be sentenced in Michigan for 11 deaths more than a decade ago that were tied to tainted steroids. Michigan is the only state that has pursued charges against Barry Cadden for deaths resulting from a national meningitis outbreak in

By JOHN HANNA AP Political Writer TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — The board overseeing higher education in Kansas has banned state universities from requiring prospective students, potential hires and staffers seeking promotion to disclose their views on diversity initiatives. The new Kansas Board of Regents regents policy approved Wednesday would bar the universities from requiring DEI

By RUTH ALONGA Associated Press GOMA, Congo (AP) — The U.N. human rights chief says the world is forgetting the escalating violence in eastern Congo as conflicts continue in places like Ukraine and Gaza. He visited the region and called for peace and support for millions repeatedly displaced. Eastern Congo has long been overrun by

LESBOS, Greece (AP) — Most drowned making the hazardous sea crossing from nearby Turkey, while others died of natural causes in migrant camps on the Greek island of Lesbos. After years of neglect, a makeshift burial ground for migrants on the island has been cleaned up and landscaped to provide a dignified resting place for

By COREY WILLIAMS Associated Press A man has been charged in federal court in Illinois in the transport of millions of dollars worth of Masters golf tournament merchandise and memorabilia stolen from Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia. A document filed Tuesday in U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois accuses Richard Globensky

BALTIMORE (AP) — The owner of the container ship Dali has initiated a process requiring owners of the cargo on board to share salvage costs after the deadly collapse of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. The ship’s owner, Singapore-based Grace Ocean Private Ltd., made what’s known in maritime law as a “general average” declaration. This

By ELENA BECATOROS Associated Press ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece’s environment and energy minister says his country will be able to create two new major marine parks in the Ionian Sea and the Aegean Sea by the end of this year. The minister spoke during an international ocean conference in Athens. The parks will cover

SEATTLE (AP) — Alaska Airlines briefly grounded all flights Wednesday due to a technical issue. The Seattle-based airline says it requested a ground stop for all Alaska and Horizon air flights out of an abundance of caution after experiencing an issue during upgrades to the system that calculates “our weight and balance.” The ground stop

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer Toronto Raptors player Jontay Porter was banned for life from the NBA on Wednesday after a league probe found he disclosed confidential information to sports bettors and wagered on games, even betting on the Raptors to lose. Porter is the second person to be banned by Commissioner Adam Silver

By DAVID BAUDER AP Media Writer NEW YORK (AP) — A National Public Radio editor who wrote a critical essay saying that his company had become intolerant of all but liberal views has resigned. Uri Berliner, an editor on NPR’s business desk, posted his resignation letter on social media. A day earlier, NPR reported that

By STEPHEN GROVES, LISA MASCARO and KEVIN FREKING Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says that he strongly supports a proposal from Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson to provide aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. His words send crucial bipartisan support to the effort to approve $95 billion in funding for the U.S.

By JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press GENEVA (AP) — The lower house of Swiss parliament is following in the footsteps of the Senate, or upper house, and has approved a measure that would ban the use of, public wearing or display of Nazi and racist symbols that could foment extremist hate or violence. The proposal —

By EDDIE PELLS AP National Writer Olympic gymnastics all-around champion Suni Lee revealed that at the height of dealing with a kidney disease last year, she retained 45 pounds in water weight that made her question whether a return to top form was even possible. Speaking at the Team USA media summit, with 100 days

By KIM CHANDLER Associated Press MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers have advanced legislation to ensure President Joe Biden will appear on the state’s November ballot. The legislation advanced Wednesday mirrors accommodations made four years ago for then-President Donald Trump. Legislative committees in the Alabama House of Representatives and Senate approved identical bills that would

By ROB GILLIES Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — Police said nine people are facing charges in what authorities are calling the biggest gold theft in Canadian history from Toronto’s Pearson International airport a year ago. Peel Regional Police said Wednesday that 6,600 gold bars worth more than 20 million Canadian dollars ($14.5 million), and CA$2.5

By GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press Three court rulings across the U.S. this week delved into laws restricting the rights of transgender kids, including the first time the U.S. Supreme Court has gotten involved in a ban on gender-affirming care. Most Republican-controlled states have now banned gender-affirming health care such as puberty blockers and hormones for