Skip to Content

AP National News

Kentucky attorney general finds no requirement to use tax dollars to pay for inmate gender surgeries

Associated Press FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky is under no legal requirement to use taxpayer money to cover the costs of gender-affirming surgeries for people incarcerated in state prisons, Attorney General Russell Coleman said Thursday. The Kentucky Department of Corrections requested the opinion from the state’s Republican attorney general as the agency amends its administrative

Continue Reading

Max Muhleman, who revolutionized seat licensing and helped bring pro sports to Charlotte, dies at 88

AP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Sports marketer Max Muhleman, who was credited with the concept of developing the permanent seat license in professional sports and helping the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte Hornets land expansion teams, has died at 88. Muhleman died on Saturday in Charlotte peacefully after battling some heart-related issues, according to

Continue Reading

Pentagon warns that a government shutdown will cost troops their pay over the holidays

Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is warning that Republicans’ decision to abandon a congressional spending plan will cost more than 2 million troops their paychecks over the holidays unless some agreement is reached before Friday’s deadline to prevent a government shutdown. The Pentagon press secretary, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, says even if they

Continue Reading

Man gets life without parole in ‘axe murder’ and Baltimore jail strangulation death

Associated Press BALTIMORE (AP) — A man has been sentenced to life without parole for fatally strangling his deaf cellmate while he was in Baltimore’s jail awaiting a murder trial. Thirty-five-year-old Gordon Staron was sentenced Thursday after he pleaded guilty to strangling Javarick Gantt. A jury had already convicted him in the earlier case, which

Continue Reading

Farmers, business owners, fire survivors face uncertainty after $100B in disaster relief flounders

Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — American farmers, small business owners and wildfire survivors are among those who will suffer if Congress cannot agree on a new spending bill after President-elect Donald Trump abruptly rejected a bipartisan plan that included more than $100 billion in disaster aid. The money is urgently needed after Hurricanes Helene

Continue Reading

New House GOP budget proposal revives Farm Bill extension and aid money but drops ethanol provision

Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — American farmers are hoping that aid to agriculture will be revived as Congress struggles to avert a looming partial government shutdown. A one-year extension of federal farm programs, around $30 billion in economic relief and a break for the ethanol industry were part of a bipartisan deal that collapsed Wednesday

Continue Reading

Millions of people may get expanded Social Security benefits. Who are they and how would it happen?

Associated Press ATLANTA (AP) — Nearly 3 million people could receive a boost in Social Security payments under legislation that’s set for a final vote in the Senate. The Social Security Fairness Act would end longtime provisions that reduce the federal benefit for people who are also eligible for other pensions. The policies have heavily

Continue Reading

DC leaders, NBA commissioner celebrate the start of an $800M downtown arena renovation

AP Sports Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington Capitals and Wizards owner Ted Leonsis, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser and other area leaders celebrated the start of an $800 million downtown arena renovation Thursday. The event came several hours before an attempt to potentially get the NFL’s Washington Commanders back into

Continue Reading

Canada’s Trudeau to shuffle his Cabinet Friday amid resignation calls and rising discontent

Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will shuffle his Cabinet on Friday. The prime minister’s office says Trudeau will participate in the swearing-in ceremony and chair a meeting with his new Cabinet later Friday. New Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc says Trudeau has “full support of his Cabinet” and that he respects

Continue Reading

Former Virginia sheriff convicted of bribery in cash-for-badges scheme

CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — A former Virginia sheriff has been convicted on federal bribery charges for deputizing individuals in exchange for cash payments. The jury in Charlottesville, Virginia, convicted former Culpeper Sheriff Scott Jenkins on all counts Wednesday night after several hours of deliberations. News outlets report that Jenkins took the stand in his own

Continue Reading

2 killed, 3 injured when freight train derails in small West Texas city after collision

Associated Press Two Union Pacific employees were killed and three people were injured when a freight train collided with a tractor-trailer and derailed in a small West Texas city, authorities said Thursday. The train derailed around 5 p.m. Wednesday in Pecos after the collision at a railway crossing, authorities said. Union Pacific, based in Omaha,

Continue Reading

White House says Biden will visit Pope Francis, Meloni in final international trip of his presidency

Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will travel to Italy next month to meet with Pope Francis and top Italian officials for what is expected to be the final international trip of his presidency. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says Biden will meet with the Pope, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and

Continue Reading