Democrat Dave Min won election to a U.S. House seat representing California on Wednesday, holding a competitive district for House Democrats. Democratic Rep. Katie Porter left this Orange County seat open to run for U.S. Senate, backing Min to take her place. Min, a state senator, defeated Republican Scott Baugh, who came up short in
Continue Reading Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A tech consultant charged in Cash App founder Bob Lee’s stabbing death has testified that the famous entrepreneur suddenly attacked him in a rage. Nima Momeni said in court Wednesday that Lee pulled a knife on him after he tried to put an end to a late night of
Continue Reading AP Business Writer OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — The flurry of contract agreements announced early this fall — including two more Wednesday — offer evidence that major railroads and their unions are working to avoid the standoffs that led them to a brink of a national strike two years ago. Both sides are also now keenly
Continue Reading Associated Press CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — A former West Virginia correctional officer has pleaded guilty to a federal civil rights violation in the death of a man who died less than a day after being booked into a jail. Quantez Burks was booked into the Southern Regional Jail on a wanton endangerment charge in March
Continue Reading Associated Press/Report for America RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Democratic lawmakers who wield control of the Virginia Legislature are hoping to make good on promises made on the campaign trail, including becoming the first Southern state to expand constitutional protections for abortion access. Members of the House Privileges and Elections Committee met on Wednesday to debate
Continue Reading Associated Press NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Lawyers for the state of Louisiana are asking a federal appeals court in New Orleans to immediately block a judge’s ruling ordering education officials to tell all local districts that a law requiring schools to post the Ten Commandments in classrooms is unconstitutional. A judge found the law unconstitutional
Continue Reading BURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — A judge has found that the man charged with shooting and wounding three college students of Palestinian descent in Vermont last year is fit to stand trial. The decision on Jason Eaton’s status came during a hearing at Chittenden County Superior Criminal Court on Tuesday by Judge John Pacht, who also
Continue Reading LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A federal judge has denied an effort to temporarily block enforcement of a constitutional amendment Arkansas voters approved that revokes the state’s license for a planned casino. Judge D. Price Marshall Jr. on Tuesday denied Cherokee Nation Entertainment’s request to block the measure voters approved last week that blocks its
Continue Reading TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Federal prosecutors say a California teenager pleaded guilty Wednesday in a case involving the swatting of a Florida mosque, among other institutions and individuals. Swatting is the practice of making a prank call to emergency services in an attempt to bring about the dispatch of a large number of armed police
Continue Reading Associated Press JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi Republican Gov. Tate Reeves said Wednesday that he will continue pushing lawmakers to phase out the state income tax, even with the possibility of federal spending cuts that could affect states after Donald Trump begins his second term as president. Mississippi is one of the poorest states in
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Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal investigation into Chinese government efforts to hack into U.S. telecommunications networks has revealed a “broad and significant” cyberespionage campaign aimed at stealing information from Americans who work in government and politics, the FBI said Wednesday. Hackers affiliated with Beijing have compromised the networks of “multiple” telecommunications companies to
Continue Reading Associated Press MEXICO CITY (AP) — U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar lashed out Wednesday at Mexico’s failure to accept aid in the fight against drug cartels, claiming the country “closed the doors” on security cooperation. In a press conference, Salazar launched his harshest criticism yet of rampant violence, police corruption and the Mexican government’s mistaken attitude
Continue Reading Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, was once embroiled in a sex trafficking investigation by the Justice Department he’s been tapped to lead, and has been under scrutiny by the House Ethics Committee over allegations including sexual misconduct. That probe effectively ended Wednesday, though,
Continue Reading Associated Press SAO PAULO (AP) — A man who failed in an attempt to break into Brazil’s Supreme Court killed himself in explosions outside the building Wednesday that forced justices and staff to evacuate, authorities said. The two strong blasts were heard about 7:30 p.m. after the day’s session finished and all the justices and
Continue Reading Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Special counsel Jack Smith has asked a court to pause prosecutors’ appeal seeking to revive the classified documents case against President-elect Donald Trump in light of the Republican’s presidential victory. Smith’s team has been evaluating how to wind down the classified documents and the federal 2020 election interference case in
Continue Reading Associated Press BALTIMORE (AP) — Several U.S. Catholic bishops on Wednesday encouraged the church to boldly share Vatican teachings on a range of hot-button issues, including the condemnation of abortion, euthanasia, surrogacy and gender-affirming surgery. The prelates acknowledged theirs is often a countercultural view. “We have been too apologetic for too long,” said Bishop Robert
Continue Reading Associated Press In picking Rep. Matt Gaetz as his nominee for attorney general, President-elect Donald Trump is looking to install a fierce loyalist — who has been seen as divisive even within his own party — over some of the more established attorneys whose names had been mentioned for the nation’s top federal prosecutor post.
Continue Reading Associated Press COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The Republican-led Ohio Senate has approved a bill banning transgender students from using bathrooms that fit their gender identities. Wednesday’s 24-7 vote sends the measure to GOP Gov. Mike DeWine, who plans a legal review. The bill applies to public K-12 schools, colleges and universities. It would not apply
Continue Reading OWASSO, Okla. (AP) — A federal investigation into an Oklahoma school district launched after the death of a nonbinary student has led to the school agreeing to develop policies to prevent sexual discrimination and harassment. The death of 16-year-old Owasso High School student Nex Benedict the day after a fight in a school bathroom was
Continue Reading Associated Press PARIS (AP) — Protests have erupted in Paris against a controversial gala organized by far-right figures in support of Israel. The Wednesday event is intended to raise funds for the Israeli military and included Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich among its invited guests. The minister, a hard-line settler leader, has been accused of
Continue Reading AP Business Writers In picking billionaire Elon Musk to be “our cost cutter” for the U.S. government, President-elect Donald Trump won’t be the first American president to empower a business tycoon to look for ways to dramatically cut federal regulations. President Ronald Reagan tapped J. Peter Grace to lead a bureaucratic cost-cutting commission in 1982.
Continue Reading Associated Press PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A Philadelphia judge said the $1 million voter sweepstakes linked to Elon Musk was allowed to continue through Election Day because prosecutors failed to show that it was an illegal lottery. District Attorney Larry Krasner called the daily sweepstakes a scam. But Common Pleas Judge Angelo Foglietta in an opinion
Continue Reading Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The FBI is offering up to $25,000 as a reward for information about the suspect behind recent ballot box fires in Oregon and Washington state. Authorities believe a male suspect was behind three ballot box fires in Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington, last month. One fire damaged hundreds of
Continue Reading AP Health Writer At least 104 people have been sickened, with 34 hospitalized, in an outbreak of E. coli food poisoning tied to onions served on McDonald’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers, federal health officials said Wednesday. Cases have been detected in 14 states, according to an update from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Continue Reading Associated Press CAIRO, Egypt (AP) — Sudan’s military-controlled government says a key border crossing with Chad will stay open to keep much-needed humanitarian aid flowing into the western Darfur region which has been a center of fighting in the country’s ongoing war. Sudan’s ruling Sovereign Council says the decision on the Adre crossing followed a
Continue Reading Associated Press MEXICO CITY (AP) — The last words Michelle Reed heard from her 6-year-old adopted son in early November were: “Mom, come get me.” But after American authorities blocked airlines from traveling to Haiti on Tuesday for 30 days after a number of planes were shot by gangs, 51-year-old Reed is once again cut
Continue Reading Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump has tapped former Hawaii Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard to be the next director of national intelligence. If confirmed by the Senate Gabbard would take over a powerful position that sits atop the nation’s intelligence services. Gabbard is a veteran who deployed to Iraq and Kuwait and who later
Continue Reading AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — European food delivery giant Just Eat Takeaway.com is selling Grubhub for $650 million, a fraction of the billions it spent to buy the U.S. platform just three years ago. Wonder Group, a New York-based food ordering company that touts “fast fine” dining, is set to be Grubhub’s new
Continue Reading GALVESTON, Texas (AP) — An endangered sea turtle that was found about a year ago some 5,000 miles (8,047 kilometers) from its native waters has been released into the Gulf of Mexico, according to the Houston Zoo. The Kemp’s ridley sea turtle, named Boeier after the boat that rescued it, was found off the coast
Continue Reading Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Tenants searching for an apartment in New York City have long been forced to pay thousands of dollars to real estate brokers. That was true even if that person was hired by the landlord. But a new bill passed Wednesday would shift those costs to landlords, bringing New York
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