September 23, 2024 5:24 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders have a deal on a short-term spending bill that will fund federal agencies for about three months. The agreement announced Sunday averts a possible partial government shutdown when the new budget year begins Oct. 1 and pushes final decisions until after the November election. Bipartisan negotiations began in earnest shortly after a failed vote last week in the House. House Speaker Mike Johnson dropped his plan to link temporary funding with a mandate that would have compelled states to require proof of citizenship when people register to vote.
November 26, 2023 3:46 am
A Washington man was arrested on Thanksgiving afternoon after a car chase through the City of Washington. According to police, the incident began as a domestic dispute. Demoreaze Betts, 31 is accused of trying to break into a woman’s home by removing an air conditioner. He climbed through the window and threatened the woman with a gun. The victim called police after Betts left. Police found him when he returned to the scene and gave chase. Demoreaze is in the Washington County Jail unable to post $150,000 bond. He faces burglary and terroristic threats charges among others. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for December 6.
January 3, 2023 4:23 am
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia is preparing to step up its attacks on Ukraine using Iranian-made exploding drones. Moscow is looking for ways to keep up the pressure on Kyiv after months of battlefield setbacks for the Kremlin’s war strategy. Zelenskyy said in his nightly video address late Monday that Ukraine has information Russia is planning a prolonged attack by exploding drones. He said the goal is to break Ukraine’s resistance by “exhausting our people, (our) air defense, our energy” more than 10 months after Russia invaded its neighbor. Russian President Vladimir Putin needs to shore up confidence in Moscow’s flawed war effort which in recent months has been dented by a Ukrainian counteroffensive backed by Western-supplied weapons.
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.
