November 9, 2023 3:26 pm
WASHINGTON (AP) — Authorities are trying to determine who sent suspicious letters, including some containing fentanyl or other substances, to local election offices in at least three states. It’s the latest instance of threats faced by election workers around the country. Elections offices in Washington, Oregon and Georgia appeared to have been targeted. The Pierce County auditor’s office in Tacoma, Washington, released images of the letter it received, showing the letter was postmarked in Portland, Oregon, and read in part: “End elections now.” Authorities are also trying to intercept a letter headed to an elections office in Fulton County, Georgia, the largest voting jurisdiction in one of the nation’s most important presidential swing states.
November 9, 2023 10:55 am
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Liberal and moderate candidates have won seats in high-profile polarizing elections against social conservatives across the U.S. Candidates backed by Moms for Liberty and the 1776 Project, groups that question open discussions on race and sexuality in schools, lost Tuesday in closely watched races in Iowa, Pennsylvania, Virginia and elsewhere, though both groups claimed successes overall. While school boards deal with nitty-gritty local issues, they have increasingly been at the center of battles over what to teach about race, gender and sexuality — and how to treat transgender students. Conservatives fared well in school board races in Pennsylvania’s York County and Minnesota’s largest school district and suburban Houston.
November 9, 2023 5:07 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon says the U.S. has carried out an airstrike on a weapons warehouse in eastern Syria. It targeted a facility linked to Iranian-backed militias, in retaliation for what has been a growing number of attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in the region for the past several weeks. In Wednesday’s strike, U.S. officials say two U.S. F-15 fighter jets dropped multiple bombs on the warehouse, which was known to be used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. This is the second time in less than two weeks that the U.S. has bombed facilities used by the militant groups, who U.S. officials say have carried out at least 40 such attacks since Oct. 17.
November 9, 2023 5:05 am
MIAMI (AP) — The Republican presidential candidates at Wednesday’s debate all say they support Israel, but they are squabbling over China and Ukraine. Donald Trump was again absent, holding his own event nearby. At center stage were Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley, who are fighting for a distant second place in the Republican field. Both traded allegations that the other had welcomed Chinese investment into their state. Tim Scott, Chris Christie and Vivek Ramaswamy were also onstage. They face new urgency to cut into Trump’s margins with the leadoff Iowa caucuses just two months away.
November 9, 2023 5:04 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hunter Biden’s attorney says subpoenas issued by House Republicans to members of President Joe Biden’s family are a “political stunt.” Wednesday’s subpoenas are the most aggressive step yet by Republicans in an impeachment inquiry bitterly opposed by Democrats. The move by House Oversight Committee chair James Comer to subpoena the Democratic president’s son Hunter and brother James comes as Republicans look to gain ground in their nearly yearlong investigation. The Republicans have thus far failed to uncover evidence directly implicating the president in any wrongdoing. The White House and the family’s lawyers say the investigation has been a political ploy but Hunter’s attorney indicated that he could be inclined to appear “at the right time.”
November 9, 2023 5:01 am
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — A judge in Michigan is expected to hear arguments Thursday on whether Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has the authority to keep Donald Trump’s name off state ballots for president. Activists are suing to force Benson to keep the former president’s name off ballots. His attorneys are demanding that Trump be allowed on the 2024 Republican primary ballot. Liberal groups have filed similar lawsuits in other states, portraying Trump as the inciter of the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack. Activists point to part of the U.S. Constitution that prohibits a person from running for federal office if they have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the U.S. or given aid or comfort to those who have.
November 9, 2023 5:00 am
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Hollywood’s actors union has reached a deal with studios to end its strike. The contract agreement reached Wednesday must still be approved by the union’s board and its members, but the leadership said actors will be allowed to return to work starting Thursday. They can rejoin writers, whose own long strike ended in late September. For the first times since spring, all the parts of Hollywood production will be back in action. The actors chief negotiator Duncan Crabtree-Ireland tells The Associated Press that they reached a deal that was worth the cost on issues including pay and the use of artificial intelligence in production.
November 9, 2023 4:58 am
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israeli strikes pounded Gaza City overnight as ground forces battled Hamas militants in dense urban neighborhoods from which tens of thousands have fled in recent days. Israel has been vague on troop movements, but officials say Gaza’s largest city is the focus of their campaign to crush Hamas’ military and governing capabilities following its deadly Oct. 7 assault inside Israel. Officials told The Associated Press that international mediators are closing in on a possible deal for a three-day humanitarian cease-fire in exchange for the release of around a dozen of the estimated 240 hostages captured by Hamas.
November 9, 2023 2:54 am
A Centerville teenager that was driving at an excessive speed when he crashed his car into an embankment killing a passenger learned his fate in court on Wednesday. Nineteen year old Ruben Miller pleaded guilty to a single charge of misdemeanor involuntary manslaughter. According to State police, Miller was travelling 65-80 mph on Sunset Dr. in West Pike Run Twp. before the fatal crash that killed 13 year old Jayden Anderson of Fredricktown and injured another passenger. Miller received 5 years probation with 9 months on electronic home monitoring. He was initially charged with felony vehicular homicide. Anderson’s mother Heather Laidella asked for a lighter sentence for Miller, stating that her son and Miller were just like brothers. She said that Miller has “already sentenced himself to life in prison without parole.” She has forgiven Miller and does not want to hinder his future life.
November 8, 2023 5:04 am
WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans are divided over Israel’s response to Hamas’ attack one month ago. That is according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. While 40% of Americans believe Israel has gone too far, 38% said the counterattack has been appropriate. Only 36% said it’s extremely or very important to provide aid to Israel’s military to fight Hamas. At the same time, Americans have become more likely to describe Israel as an ally that shares U.S. interests and values since the war began. The poll was conducted from Nov. 2 to 6.
