February 22, 2022 4:12 am
TOKYO (AP) – World leaders are lining up to condemn Russian President Vladimir Putin after he ordered his forces into separatist regions of eastern Ukraine. Leaders in Asia and elsewhere on Tuesday voiced strong support for Ukraine’s sovereignty, along with worries about how a European war could hurt global and local economies and endanger foreign nationals trapped in Ukraine. Some nations publicly signaled a willingness to pursue punishment. Global reactions followed on Monday night’s emergency meeting of the U.N. Security Council that was called by Ukraine, the U.S. and six other countries.
March 29, 2021 4:13 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) – Operators of abortion clinics lost in court in their bid to reverse a decades-old Pennsylvania court decision upholding limits on the use of state Medicaid dollars to cover the cost of abortions. An appeal to the state Supreme Court is possible. A seven-judge panel of the Commonwealth Court on Friday ruled, with one dissent, both that the abortion clinic operators do not have standing to assert the constitutional rights of low-income women seeking an abortion and that it is bound by a 1985 state Supreme Court decision. Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf supports abortion rights, but his administration nevertheless fought the case, as did Republican lawmakers who intervened.
May 30, 2020 4:15 am
PHOENIX (AP) – Trying to stay safe during a global pandemic is hard enough, but people in Southwest desert cities like Phoenix and Las Vegas where temperatures can soar into the triple digits are also trying to protect themselves from the brutal heat. With many government-run spaces like libraries still closed this week to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the Salvation Army is among nonprofits shouldering much of a responsibility for ensuring people stay cool and hydrated amid an extreme heat warning in parts of the southwestern U.S. At the cooling sites, they are also asking people to follow protocols aimed at preventing the virus’ spread.
August 9, 2019 4:45 pm
Walmart is removing from all of its stores signs, displays or videos that depict violence following a mass shooting at an El Paso, Texas, store that killed 22 people. The retailer instructed employees in an internal memo to remove any marketing material, turn off or unplug video game consoles that show violent games, and to make sure that no violence is depicted on screens in its electronics departments. Employees were also ordered to turn off hunting season videos in the sporting goods department. Walmart spokeswoman Tara House said Friday that Walmart is taking the actions, “out of respect for the incidents of the past week.” No videos or video games that depict violence will be removed from shelves and there is no change in the company’s policy regarding gun sales.
September 23, 2024 5:21 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris raised $27 million at a packed New York City fundraiser on Sunday. That’s according to a Harris campaign aide who said it’s the largest fundraising haul since Harris took over at the top of the ticket from President Joe Biden. The aide spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private fundraising details. Harris has far more money than former President Donald Trump, but the aide says the money will be needed to compete with pricey advertising by deep-pocketed outside groups that support Trump. Harris called for Trump to debate again before the election and said she would deliver a speech Wednesday outlining her economic vision.
November 25, 2023 4:40 am
NEW YORK (AP) — Shoppers hunting for big deals packed malls on Black Friday as retailers stepped up discounts and other perks to lure customers weighed down by inflation and sticking to tighter budgets. Consumers are coming under pressure as their savings dwindle and their credit card debt grows. And although they have gotten some relief from easing inflation, many goods and services like meat and rent are still far higher than they were just three years ago. Malls including Macy’s at Herald Square in Manhattan were packed with Black Friday discount hunters. The National Retail Federation, the nation’s largest retail trade group, forecast that U.S. holiday sales will rise 3% to 4% for November through December, compared with 5.4% growth a year ago.
January 3, 2023 4:23 am
ROME (AP) – Longtime Associated Press Vatican correspondent Victor L. Simpson recalls the graciousness of Pope Benedict XVI. He says Benedict always seemed ready to offer a handshake or a comment appropriate for the occasion. But Simpson says Benedict would stand his ground and often would not back down, whatever the outside pressure He also seemed almost oblivious to the storms he would create, such as when he gave a speech in 2008 aimed at promoting tolerance among religions but ended up provoking anger – and even some violence – in the Islamic community. Simpson covered the Vatican for over 30 years for the AP before his retirement.
February 22, 2022 4:12 am
MOSCOW (AP) – Russian lawmakers authorized President Vladimir Putin to use military force outside the country. That could presage a broader attack on Ukraine. The U.S. is now calling the deployment of Russian troops in eastern Ukraine an invasion. Putin also laid out three conditions to end the crisis that has threatens to plunge Europe back into war. He called for international recognition of Crimea as part of Russia, an end to Ukraine’s NATO membership bid and a halt to weapons shipments there. The West has decried Russia’s annexation of Crimea as a violation of international law and has rejected permanently barring Ukraine from NATO.
March 29, 2021 4:11 am
PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Authorities say a motorcyclist riding past the scene of a fire in north Philadelphia ran over a fire hose, went out of control, and died after a crash. Police said the 34-year-old man was pronounced dead at the scene minutes after the crash shortly before 3:30 a.m. Sunday in the West Oak Lane neighborhood. Officials said firefighters had stretched a hose across Broad Street to battle the flames, and the motorcyclist hit the house while heading north near 68th Avenue. WPVI-TV reported that the rider was thrown about 300 feet.
May 30, 2020 4:13 am
WASHINGTON (AP) – A key ally of Joe Biden says Sen. Amy Klobuchar seems a less likely choice to become the running mate on Biden’s presidential ticket following this week’s death of a black man in police custody in Minneapolis. Rep. James Clyburn of South Carolina helped rescue Biden’s presidential campaign this year by boosting him to a primary victory in the state. Klobuchar is a Minnesota Democrat. Before coming to the Senate, she was prosecutor in the county that includes Minneapolis. Under her, no police officers involved in the deaths of people in custody were charged with crimes. Clyburn says Klobuchar faces “very tough timing.”
