Crystal ball drops in frigid Times Square to mark 2018

NEW YORK (AP) " The glittering crystal ball dropped with a burst of confetti and dazzling fireworks as revelers rang in 2018 in frigid Times Square " the second-coldest celebration there on record.It was only 10 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 12 Celsius) in the city, and the celebration was less crowded than other years. Some of the metal pens, usually packed with people, were only partially full. Bundled up in hats, gloves, face masks and numerous layers of clothing, partygoers danced and [...]

Trump rings in 'fantastic' new year at Palm Beach club

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " President Donald Trump predicted a "fantastic 2018" on Sunday night as he strolled down a red carpet to bid farewell to 2017 with an exclusive bash at his private club.Accompanied by first lady Melania Trump and son Barron, a tuxedoed Trump spoke to reporters as he entered the gilded ballroom at Mar-a-Lago. He said the stock market will continue to rise and that companies are going to continue to come into the U.S.Asked for his reaction to North Korea [...]

People gather in frigid Times Square for 2018 celebration

NEW YORK (AP) " New Yorkers, celebrity entertainers and tourists from around the world gathered in a frigid Times Square on Sunday to mark the start of 2018 with a glittering crystal ball drop, a burst of confetti and midnight fireworks.It was only 10 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 12 Celsius) in the city at 10 p.m., making it one of the coldest New Year celebrations on record " and one of the least crowded. Some of the metal pens, usually packed with people, were only half-full. Some [...]

Roberts: Judiciary will review sexual misconduct policies

WASHINGTON (AP) " Chief Justice John Roberts used his annual report on the federal judiciary Sunday to promise a careful evaluation of its sexual misconduct policies and to highlight the work of court employees following the year's destructive hurricanes.Roberts touched only briefly on the issue of workplace sexual misconduct, which has in recent months brought down men in entertainment, politics and the media. In December, prominent federal appeals court judge Alex Kozinski retired [...]

Trump offers New Year's Eve message

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " President Donald Trump capped 2017 on Sunday with a video self-tribute touching on what he sees as the high points of his achievements and rhetoric from his first year in office. He gave a plug to American exceptionalism, too.In the video running 3 ½ minutes, scenes of Trump with military personnel, Border Patrol agents and other world leaders are set to a stirring soundtrack as he declares of his country: "We gave birth to the modern world and we will [...]

The Latest: President Trump tweets: 'What a year it's been'

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " The Latest on President Donald Trump (all times local):2:45 p.m.President Donald Trump is offering a New Year's Eve message, saying, "What a year it's been, and we're just getting started."Trump also tweeted Sunday: "Together, we are MAKING AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Happy New Year!!"The tweet included a celebratory video recap of the president's first year in office, showing gauzy footage of him meeting with world leaders, visiting disaster [...]

Ohio's move to toss inactive voters from rolls goes to court

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) " Joseph Helle was expecting a different sort of reception when he returned home from Army tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and showed up to vote in his small Ohio town near Lake Erie.His name was missing from the voting rolls in 2011, even though Helle had registered to vote before leaving home at 18 and hadn't changed his address during his military service.Helle, now the mayor of Oak Harbor, Ohio, is among thousands of state residents with tales of being [...]

Thousands begin gathering ahead of Times Square's 2018 party

NEW YORK (AP) " New Yorkers, celebrity entertainers and tourists from around the world will pack into Times Square on Sunday for what's expected to be a flashy but frigid start to the new year.Revelers began lining up well before noon, hours ahead of when the city will mark the start of 2018 with a glittering crystal ball drop, a burst of more than a ton of confetti and midnight fireworks.It could be one of the coldest celebrations on record, held under tight security after a [...]

Thousands to ring in 2018 in Las Vegas under tight security

LAS VEGAS (AP) " Tens of thousands of revelers will ring in the new year in Las Vegas under the close eye of law enforcement just three months after the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history.Tourism officials expect about 330,000 people to come to Las Vegas for the festivities that are anchored by a roughly eight-minute firework display at the top of seven of the destination's casino-hotels.Inside properties across Sin City, acts including Bruno Mars, Britney Spears, [...]

Words banned for the new year? 'Fake news' gets top vote

DETROIT (AP) " Let me ask you this: Would a story that unpacks a list of tiresome words and phrases be impactful or a nothingburger? Worse, could it just be fake news?Northern Michigan's Lake Superior State University on Sunday released its 43rd annual List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness . The tongue-in-cheek, non-binding list of 14 words or phrases comes from thousands of suggestions to the Sault Ste. Marie school.This [...]

Minnesota Lt. Gov. Smith to join Senate, dive into campaign

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) " Minnesota Lt. Gov. Tina Smith is vowing to "hit the ground running" as she joins the U.S. Senate this week while preparing to run in November.Gov. Mark Dayton appointed Smith, his second-in-command, to replace Democratic Sen. Al Franken. Franken announced his resignation after a string of sexual misconduct allegations. The resignation takes effect Tuesday. Smith will be sworn in by former Vice President Walter Mondale on Wednesday.Smith tells the Star Tribune [...]

Anticipation high as California rolls out retail pot sales

LOS ANGELES (AP) " Californians may awake on New Year's Day to a stronger-than-normal whiff of marijuana as America's cannabis king lights up to celebrate the state's first legal retail pot sales.The historic day comes more than two decades after California paved the way for legal weed by passing the nation's first medical marijuana law, though other states were quicker to allow the drug's recreational use.From the small town of Shasta Lake just south of Oregon to San Diego on [...]

Trump to have lunch with Florida governor

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " President Donald Trump planned to lunch with Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Sunday, as he spends the holidays in Palm Beach.White House spokeswoman Helen Ferre said Trump invited the Republican governor "to discuss ongoing hurricane recovery efforts, the need to improve the nation's aging infrastructure and other matters important to Floridians."Scott spokesman John Tupps said the governor "looks forward to speaking with the president about issues that are [...]

Throngs expected for flashy, frigid Times Square ball drop

NEW YORK (AP) " New Yorkers, celebrity entertainers and tourists from around the world will pack into Times Square Sunday for what's expected to be a flashy but frigid start to the new year.Revelers are expected to begin lining up in the bitter cold in the early afternoon, hours ahead of when the city will mark the start of 2018 with a glittering crystal ball drop, a burst of more than a ton of confetti and fireworks.It could be one of the coldest celebrations on record, held [...]

Angry at Trump, North Carolina Democrats hope for 2018 gains

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) " North Carolina Democrats say they're energized for 2018, intent on regaining their historical control of the state's General Assembly.And they've got candidates in place to show for it.Party officials say they've already recruited candidates for 100 of all 170 seats up for grabs in November. Democrats say they're encouraged by recent election outcomes, especially Gov. Roy Cooper's win in late 2016 and Democratic legislative gains in neighboring Virginia in [...]

Supreme Court to take up Ohio's purges of inactive voters

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) " Joseph Helle was expecting a different sort of reception when he returned home from Army tours in Iraq and Afghanistan and showed up to vote in his small Ohio town near Lake Erie.His name was missing from the voting rolls in 2011, even though Helle had registered to vote before leaving home at 18 and hadn't changed his address during his military service.Helle, now the mayor of Oak Harbor, Ohio, is among thousands of state residents with tales of being [...]

Erica Garner dies; fought police brutality after dad's death

NEW YORK (AP) " The daughter of key Black Lives Matter figure Eric Garner died Saturday after a weeklong hospital stay following a heart attack."She was a warrior to the end. She stood up for justice for her father," the Rev. Al Sharpton said in announcing the death of Garner, 27, at a New York hospital.Garner's official Twitter account, run by her family and friends since she became ill, asked that she be remembered as a mother, daughter, sister and aunt with a heart "bigger [...]

List bans 'fake news,' 'covfefe' and 'let me ask you this'

DETROIT (AP) " Let me ask you this: Would a story that unpacks a list of tiresome words and phrases be impactful or a nothingburger? Worse, could it just be fake news?Northern Michigan's Lake Superior State University on Sunday released its 43rd annual List of Words Banished from the Queen's English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness . The tongue-in-cheek, non-binding list of 14 words or phrases comes from thousands of suggestions to the Sault Ste. Marie school.This [...]

2 Las Vegas security guards fatally shot in hotel-casino

LAS VEGAS (AP) " Two Las Vegas security guards were fatally shot Saturday while investigating a disturbance in a room at a hotel-casino and the suspected shooter is facing critical injuries after turning the gun on himself, police said.The gunman's motive wasn't known but investigators believe it was an isolated incident."I want you to know right now that this has nothing to do with terrorism," Capt. Robert Plummer told reporters outside the scene of the shooting.The [...]

Deep South braces for blast of freezing weather as 2017 ends

ATLANTA (AP) " Forecasters issued winter weather advisories across much of the Deep South ahead of plunging temperatures that are expected to last for the next several days.The advisories Saturday covered eastern Louisiana and most of Mississippi and Alabama.The National Weather Service warned that freezing rain and a wintry mix of precipitation was possible through the weekend.In Georgia, advocates for the homeless feared the unusually long stretch of frigid weather for [...]

Warm hearts, subzero temps: Couple gets engaged on mountain

SARGENT'S PURCHASE, N.H. (AP) " Extreme cold didn't get in the way of a heartwarming proposal on an icy mountainside.Josh Darnell, 31, of Londonderry, New Hampshire, dropped to his knee and popped the question after climbing to a scenic spot Thursday on Tuckerman's Ravine, on the southeastern side of Mount Washington. That same day it hit minus 34 (-37 Celsius) on the mountain's summit, which is more than 6,200 feet (1889.76 meters) high.There's a happy ending: Rachel Raske, 27, [...]

Australian diplomat's tip a factor in FBI's Russia probe

WASHINGTON (AP) " An Australian diplomat's tip appears to have helped persuade the FBI to investigate Russian meddling in the U.S. election and possible coordination with the Trump campaign, The New York Times reported Saturday.Trump campaign adviser George Papadopoulos told the diplomat, Alexander Downer, during a meeting in London in May 2016 that Russia had thousands of emails that would embarrass Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, the report said. Downer, a former foreign [...]

Judge: Woman unfit to care for horse after DUI while riding

BARTOW, Fla. (AP) " A Florida judge says a sheriff's office must retain custody of a horse whose owner was charged with drunken driving while riding the animal.In a report by The Ledger , Polk County Judge Sharon Franklin said 53-year-old Donna Byrne was unfit to care for the horse. Franklin also said Byrne must complete treatment for alcohol addiction.Byrne was arrested Nov. 2 after riding her horse down a highway. Police said her blood-alcohol level twice Florida's legal [...]

Joker the dog survives 8-day airport, city adventure

DANIA BEACH, Fla. (AP) " Joker the dog had one heckuva Christmas adventure.Joker's owner, Summer Burgos, flew him to Florida on Dec. 21 to live with family while she trains in the Navy. As soon as Burgos' mother-in-law opened the crate at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, the 2-year-old Canaan bolted past her. For eight days, in a strange city, Joker roamed the streets.On Christmas Eve, the Sun Sentinel reports that Joker was spotted near some shops in Fort [...]

New California laws cover immigration, marijuana, education

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) " California state lawmakers in 2017 passed nearly 900 bills that Gov. Jerry Brown then signed into law. Most of them take effect Monday. The new laws cover topics ranging from the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, to the state's new recreational cannabis market, to the price of a college education.Here are some of the laws taking effect with the new year:IMMIGRATIONPolice will no longer be able to ask people about their immigration [...]

Black Lives Matter icon Eric Garner's daughter dies at 27

NEW YORK (AP) " The daughter of Black Lives Matter icon Eric Garner died Saturday after a weeklong hospital stay following a heart attack."She was a warrior to the end. She stood up for justice for her father," the Rev. Al Sharpton said in announcing the death of Garner, 27, at a New York hospital.Garner's official Twitter account, run by her family and friends since she became ill, asked that she be remembered as a mother, daughter, sister and aunt with a heart "bigger than [...]

Transgender people cleared to join military, for now

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Justice Department has made clear its proposed ban on transgender military recruits is on hold, meaning their enlistment can start Monday.But the future for transgender people in the armed forces remains murky. The Justice Department isn't dropping its court fight to institute the ban on transgender enlistment but said Friday it would wait for a Pentagon study on the issue in coming weeks before deciding what to do next.President Donald Trump said in July [...]

Extreme cold to test New Year's revelers; some events iced

Dress in layers, lay off the booze and bring some hand warmers. Those are some of the tips offered for the huge crowd of revelers expected in Times Square for what could be one of the coldest New Year's Eve ball drops on record.Brutal weather has iced plans for scores of events in the Northeast from New Year's Eve through New Year's Day, but not in New York City, where people will start gathering in Times Square up to nine hours before the famous ball drop."Hundreds of [...]

State Department releases emails from Clinton aide

WASHINGTON (AP) " The State Department has released emails from Huma Abedin, a top aide to Hillary Clinton, that were found by the FBI on her husband's laptop.Some of the emails found on former Rep. Anthony Weiner's laptop were marked classified. It was unclear whether they were deemed classified at the time they were sent or when the State Department was preparing them for release.The emails were released in response to a lawsuit filed by the conservative watchdog group [...]

Despite minus 34 temp, couple gets engaged on mountain

SARGENT'S PURCHASE, N.H. (AP) " A New Hampshire man hasn't let extreme cold get in the way of a heartwarming proposal.WMUR-TV reports that 31-year-old Josh Darnell, of Londonderry, dropped to his knee and popped the question after climbing Tuckerman's Ravine on Thursday, the same day it hit minus 34 (-37 Celsius) on Mount Washington.There's a happy ending: twenty-seven-year-old Rachel Raske (RASS'-kee), of Lowell, Massachusetts, said yes.Raske tells WMUR that Darnell had [...]

Prosecutor: Doctor reused one-use anal catheters on patients

EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J. (AP) " A New Jersey surgeon's medical license has been temporarily suspended for allegedly reusing disposable anal catheters on multiple patients.Attorney General Christopher Porrino says East Brunswick-based colon and rectal surgeon Sanjiv Patankar allegedly washed and reused the one-use catheters that are inserted into patients during medical procedures.State officials say they have evidence that Patankar ordered only five catheters during time when he [...]

The Latest: Big Apple ball drop is on; Boston transit woes

BOSTON (AP) " The Latest on a deep freeze across the country. (all times local):6:30 a.m.Brutally cold weather has iced plans for scores of events in the Northeast from New Year's Eve through New Year's Day, but the show will go on in New York City, where people will start gathering in Times Square up to nine hours before the famous ball drop.Authorities are warning revelers to dress in layers, cover exposed skin, lay off the booze and bring some hand warmers. They say [...]

Police: Man kills 2, then himself at Houston auto shop

HOUSTON (AP) " A man walked into a Houston auto shop where he used to work Friday and fatally shot two employees before going outside and killing himself, police said.The man, whose name wasn't immediately released, entered Bemer Plus about 4 p.m. and officers received a call minutes later about "a shooting in progress," Executive Assistant Police Chief Troy Finner said in a news conference.Multiple people, including customers and other employees, were at the shop when the [...]

The Latest: Cold causing delays for Boston's transit system

BOSTON (AP) " The Latest on a deep freeze across the country. (all times local):3:15 p.m.The frigid conditions in Boston are taking their toll on the nation's fifth-largest transit system.The Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority has spent heavily to winterize what's known as the "T'' since it was crippled by record-breaking snowfall in 2015.But the agency reported "severe delays" on one of its lines Friday, citing a broken piece of track and a disabled train [...]

2 dead, 1 hurt in shooting at Southern California law firm

LOS ANGELES (AP) " A man walked into the Southern California law firm where he worked and shot two men Friday before turning the gun on himself, police said.Police arrived to find the gunman and one victim dead and learned that the second victim had driven himself to a hospital, Long Beach police Sgt. Brad Johnson said at a news conference.The injured man was in stable condition.Police didn't fire any shots, Johnson said. A SWAT team searched the rest of the building and [...]

Police: Prank led to police shooting unarmed Kansas man

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) " Police and the FBI are investigating whether an argument over an online game prompted a hoax call that led to a house where an officer shot and killed a Kansas man who apparently wasn't involved in the dispute.Wichita Deputy Police Chief Troy Livingston on Friday blamed a "prankster" who called 911 and made up a story about a shooting and kidnapping. He did not mention reports that an argument over online gaming was at the heart of the prank, although he said [...]

Police: Multiple people shot at Southern California business

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) " Police say multiple people have been shot at a business in Southern California.Long Beach police say the incident is now over but didn't elaborate. They received reports of a shooter around 2:25 p.m. Friday.Police say there are multiple victims at the scene but nothing about the number or their conditions.Video showed people running from an unmarked building shouting about a shooting inside.The two-story building is home to several law [...]

New technology aims to slow damage to Georgia O'Keeffe works

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) " Chemical reactions are gradually darkening many of Georgia O'Keeffe's famously vibrant paintings, and art conservation experts are hoping new digital imaging tools can help them slow the damage.Scientific experts in art conservation from Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the Chicago area announced plans this week to develop advanced 3-D imaging technology to detect destructive buildup in paintings by O'Keeffe and eventually other artists in museum collections around the [...]

Police investigate if video game prank led to shooting death

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) " Police and the FBI are investigating whether an argument over an online game prompted a prank call that led to a house where an officer shot and killed a Kansas man who apparently wasn't involved in the dispute.Police say the death Thursday in Wichita, Kansas, may have been the result of a practice called "swatting," in which a person makes up a false report to get a SWAT team to descend on an address.Wichita Deputy Police Chief Troy Livingston said an [...]

Trump administration aims to trim rules on offshore drilling

DALLAS (AP) " The Trump administration is proposing to rewrite or kill rules on offshore oil and gas drilling that were imposed after the deadly 2010 rig explosion and oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.The administration says the rules are an unnecessary burden on industry and rolling them back will encourage more energy production.An offshore-drilling group is welcoming the rollback, while environmentalists say President Donald Trump is raising the risk of more deadly oil spills. [...]

Trump welcomes Coast Guard members to golf club

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " President Donald Trump welcomed members of the U.S. Coast Guard to one of his Florida golf courses Friday.The president invited Coast Guard members to Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach to play and have lunch. He warmly greeted the roughly 60 members on a pristine green next to a gurgling waterfall and posed for a photo with the group.Trump, who was wearing a red USA hat and white polo shirt, praised the Coast Guard, calling it [...]

Police investigate if shooting death followed prank call

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) " Authorities are investigating whether a deadly police shooting in Wichita stemmed from someone making up a false report to get a SWAT team to descend upon a home in a prank common in the online gaming industry known as "swatting."Deputy Police Chief Troy Livingston said the shooting happened Thursday while an officer was responding to a report that a father had been shot in the head and that the shooter was holding his mother, brother and sister hostage, The [...]

Medley of agencies tasked with enforcing California pot laws

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) " Licensed businesses around California can begin legally growing and selling marijuana for recreational use Monday, and a hodgepodge of enforcement agencies will be trying to make sure they adhere to a slew of new pot laws.Since no single agency has overarching responsibility, supporters and opponents of legalization worry how well the laws will be followed.Three state agencies will issue a combined 19 types of permits to growers, retailers, manufacturers [...]

Trump invites Coast Guard members to play golf

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " President Donald Trump has invited members of the U.S. Coast Guard to play golf.The White House said Friday that Trump had invited Coast Guard members to Trump International Golf Club, with some coming from nearby Coast Guard Station Lake Worth Inlet. About 60 members are expected to participate, and the White House says the president will also host the group for lunch.White House spokesman Hogan Gidley said Trump "wanted to thank these service members [...]

Mattis: US determined to reduce civilian casualties in Yemen

WASHINGTON (AP) " Defense Secretary James Mattis said Friday the U.S. is determined to reduce the number of civilian casualties in the Saudi-led campaign against rebels in Yemen and will press ahead with efforts to train Saudi pilots to identify legitimate targets.His comments to reporters at the Pentagon followed a U.N. report on Thursday that said more than 100 civilians had been killed in airstrikes in Yemen in just the past 10 days."We are going to continue to train them [...]

Trump trains crosshairs on favorite target, again - Amazon

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " President Donald Trump returned to a favorite target Friday, saying that the U.S. Postal Service should charge Amazon.com more money to ship the millions of packages it sends around the world each year.Amazon has been a consistent recipient of Trump's ire. He has accused the company of failing to pay "internet taxes," though it's never been made clear by the White House what the president means by that.In a tweet Friday, Trump said Amazon should be [...]

Mother: Alabama police beat black 17-year-old son

TROY, Ala. (AP) " An Alabama woman said Friday that police officers severely beat her black 17-year-old son while he was handcuffed and she wants answers from authorities about what happened.Angela Williams shared a photo of her son's bloodied face on Facebook and it went viral. Representatives for the family said Ulysses Wilkerson was startled by police on the night of Dec. 23 and he ran away. Officers caught up to him and beat him, they said.Pike County District Attorney Tom [...]

Mattis nixes holiday tradition of seeing troops in war zones

WASHINGTON (AP) " For only the second time since 9/11, America's defense secretary didn't visit U.S. troops in a war zone during December, breaking a long-standing tradition of personally and publicly thanking service members in combat who are separated from their families during the holiday season.Pentagon boss Jim Mattis, who spent more than four decades in the Marine Corps and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, made a five-day trip through the Middle East in early December. He [...]

What to buy every month of the year in 2018

In 2018, you may resolve to save more , spend less or budget better . Whatever your money goal, the one common key to your success is shopping smart. That means knowing the best time to buy just about anything.To help you out, we've created a purchase calendar to help you plan your shopping for the year.JANUARYWith a fresh page on the calendar comes a fresh start for sales. These products are discounted in January :"BEDDING AND LINENS. Department stores hold [...]

Russian space experts regain control of 1st Angola satellite

MOSCOW (AP) " Russia's space experts say they have managed to regain control of Angola's first satellite launched earlier this week.The Russian-built satellite successfully entered a designated orbit after Tuesday's launch from the Baikonur pad in Kazakhstan, but experts couldn't immediately establish contact.The state-run Energia company that built the AngoSat 1 satellite said Friday its engineers have finally established communications with the craft and received data [...]

Correction: Uber-Softbank story

NEW YORK (AP) " In a story Dec. 28 about SoftBank's investment in Uber, The Associated Press misidentified Rajeev Misra as SoftBank's CEO. He is the CEO of SoftBank Investment Advisers.A corrected version of the story is below:SoftBank group acquires major stake in UberGroup led by SoftBank succeeds in acquiring 18 percent stake in UberBy ALEXANDRA OLSONAssociated PressNEW YORK (AP) " A group led by Japanese technology conglomerate Softbank has [...]

Experts try to keep Georgia O'Keeffe paintings from fading

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) " Chemical reactions are gradually darkening many of Georgia O'Keeffe's famously vibrant paintings, and art conservation experts are hoping new digital imaging tools can help them slow the damage.Scientific experts in art conservation from Santa Fe, New Mexico, and the Chicago area announced plans this week to develop advanced 3-D imaging technology to detect destructive buildup in paintings by O'Keeffe and eventually other artists in museum collections around the [...]

Trump criticizes Post Office, Amazon over shipping rates

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " President Donald Trump is criticizing the U.S. Postal Service, saying the agency is "losing many billions of dollars a year" and asking why it is "charging Amazon and others so little to deliver their packages."Trump tweeted Friday that the post office "should be charging MUCH MORE!"The post office has lost money for 11 straight years, mostly because of pension and health care costs. While online shopping has led to growth in its package-delivery [...]

Singer Joy Villa demands apology from Corey Lewandowski

WASHINGTON (AP) " Singer Joy Villa says she wants an apology from Corey Lewandowski for hitting her twice on her buttocks during a Washington gathering last fall. And she's defending herself against a video that shows her slapping another man's buttocks at a separate event.Villa is a Trump supporter and potential congressional candidate who wore a dress displaying Trump's "Make America Great Again" slogan to the Grammys. Lewandowski was Trump's campaign manager until being fired in [...]

Few options for Roy Moore as Alabama certifies Jones win

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) " With Alabama officials certifying Doug Jones' win in the U.S. Senate election, Republican Roy Moore has few options left to turn back a defeat that he has yet to concede.The state's Republican governor, secretary of state and attorney general on Thursday certified Jones' win by 21,924 votes, a margin of 1.6 percent, over Moore. Jones is scheduled to be sworn in on Jan. 3, when Congress returns from break. Jones' win came after Moore was dogged by accusations of [...]

Trump says East could use some 'global warming' this weekend

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " President Donald Trump says the East Coast "could use a little bit of that good old Global Warming" as bitterly cold temperatures are expected to freeze large swaths of the country this holiday weekend.Trump wrote on Twitter Thursday, "In the East, it could be the COLDEST New Year's Eve on record." He added: "Perhaps we could use a little bit of that good old Global Warming that our Country, but not other countries, was going to pay TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS to [...]

California law enforcement readies for new marijuana laws

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) " Licensed businesses around California can begin legally growing and selling marijuana for recreational use Monday, and a hodgepodge of enforcement agencies will be trying to make sure they adhere to a slew of new pot laws.Since no single agency has overarching responsibility, supporters and opponents of legalization worry how well the laws will be followed.Three state agencies will issue a combined 19 types of permits to growers, retailers, manufacturers [...]

Trump administration rescinding rules for oil, gas drilling

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) " President Donald Trump's administration is rescinding proposed rules for hydraulic fracturing and other oil- and gas-drilling practices on government lands, government officials announced Thursday.The rules developed under President Barack Obama would have applied mainly in the West, where most federal lands are located. Companies would have had to disclose the chemicals used in fracking, which pumps pressurized water underground to break open hydrocarbon [...]

Trump says East Coast could use 'Global Warming' during cold

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " President Donald Trump said Thursday the East Coast "could use a little bit of that good old Global Warming" as bitterly cold temperatures are expected to freeze large swaths of the country this holiday weekend.Trump wrote on Twitter, "In the East, it could be the COLDEST New Year's Eve on record." He added: "Perhaps we could use a little bit of that good old Global Warming that our Country, but not other countries, was going to pay TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS to [...]

The Latest: Trump says he thinks Mueller 'will be fair'

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " The Latest on President Donald Trump in Florida (all times local):9:35 p.m.President Donald Trump says he believes special counsel Robert Mueller "will be fair" to him, because "everybody knows that there was no collusion" between Trump's presidential campaign and Russia.Mueller is leading the federal investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.Trump tells The New York Times in an interview posted Thursday night that [...]

Actress Rose Marie of 'Dick Van Dyke Show' fame dies at 94

LOS ANGELES (AP) " Rose Marie, the wisecracking Sally Rogers of "The Dick Van Dyke Show" and a show business lifer who began as a bobbed-hair child star in vaudeville and worked for nearly a century in theater, radio, TV and movies, died Thursday. She was 94.Marie had been resting in bed at her Los Angeles-area home when a caretaker found she had stopped breathing, said family spokesman Harlan Boll."Heaven just got a whole lot funnier" was the tribute posted atop a photo of [...]

Apple apologizes for secretly slowing older iPhones

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) " Apple apologized for secretly slowing down older iPhones, a move it said was necessary to avoid unexpected shutdowns related to battery fatigue.Many customers had interpreted the move as a way to for Apple to juice demand for newer iPhone models, their suspicions fueled by the fact that the company didn't initially disclose the slowdowns or its reasons for them.Apple also said it will cut the price of a battery replacement by $50 to $29 through next year. [...]

Mobster acquitted in 'Goodfellas' heist gets prison in arson

NEW YORK (AP) " A legendary airport robbery recounted in the movie "Goodfellas" came back to haunt an 82-year-old mobster on Thursday, when a judge cited evidence of his role in it while sentencing him to eight years in prison for an unrelated road rage arson.Vincent Asaro, balding and bespectacled, reacted to the sentence with disgust."I don't care what happens to me at this point," he grumbled.He looked at U.S. District Judge Allyne R. Ross, saying: "What you sentenced [...]

SoftBank group acquires major stake in Uber

NEW YORK (AP) " A group led by Japanese technology conglomerate Softbank acquired a major stake in Uber, a deal that curtails the influence of ousted CEO Travis Kalanick, Uber's founder.In a tender offer that expired Thursday, SoftBank acquired a 15 percent stake in the troubled ride-hailing company. Others in the group got about 3 percent, according to a person familiar with the situation who was not authorized to publicly discuss details.In a statement, Uber confirmed that [...]

US officials say they wrongly announced coal mine expansion

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) " U.S. officials said Thursday that they misspoke when they recently announced they had approved an expansion of a Montana coal mine that would keep it operating for another 19 years.U.S. Interior Department spokeswoman Heather Swift said the 60-million-ton mine expansion is under review. In an email, she blamed "internal miscommunication" for the incorrect announcement last Friday about Westmoreland Coal Company's Rosebud Mine.Officials with Englewood, [...]

Apple sorry for slowing iPhones, cuts battery price by $50

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) " Apple is apologizing for secretly slowing down older iPhones, which it says was necessary to avoid unexpected shutdowns related to battery fatigue.Many customers had interpreted the move as a way to juice demand for newer models.Apple also says it will cut the price of a battery replacement by $50 to $29. It previously cost $79 for those who didn't purchase the Apple Care maintenance plan.The replacement plan begins in late January for anyone with an [...]

Trump criticizes China after report of NKorea oil transfer

WASHINGTON (AP) " President Donald Trump criticized China on Thursday following reports that Chinese ships transferred oil to North Korean vessels at sea in violation of U.N. sanctions over the North's nuclear weapons program.Trump said on Twitter that China had been "Caught RED HANDED," adding he was "very disappointed that China is allowing oil to go into North Korea.""There will never be a friendly solution to the North Korea problem if this continues to happen!" the [...]

Prosecutor needs longer on cop's killing of Australian woman

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) " A Minnesota prosecutor said Thursday that he needs more time to decide whether to charge a police officer who fatally shot an Australian after she called 911 for help.Minneapolis Officer Mohamed Noor shot 40-year-old life coach Justine Ruszczyk Damond on July 15, just minutes after she called 911 to report a possible sexual assault in the alley behind her home.Her death drew international attention, cost Minneapolis' then-police chief her job and forced major [...]

Trump physical scheduled for Jan. 12

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " The White House says President Donald Trump will undergo the customary presidential physical on Jan. 12.Spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders confirmed the date Thursday. The White House had previously said Trump would have the physical early in the year at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.Sanders has said the results will be released after the physical.The 71-year-old president has released limited information about his health. [...]

Names released of 2 women, 2 children found slain in home

A city youth group was planning grief counseling and police renewed a plea Thursday for people to come forward with any information leading to the killer of two women and two young children in what the police chief called the worst act of "savagery" he's seen in four decades on the job.Troy police on Thursday identified the victims as 36-year-old Shanta Myers; her children, 11-year-old Jeremiah Myers and 5-year-old Shanise Myers; and 22-year-old Brandi Mells. Police say the women were [...]

Police won't cite woman who hit former lawmaker with her car

WATERBURY, Conn. (AP) " Police have decided not to cite a woman who hit and critically injured a former Connecticut lawmaker and prominent businessman with her car.The Republican-American reports authorities found Birgit Clemente's vision may have been obscured by bushes and a glare from the sun when she struck former Republican state Rep. Selim Noujaim on Oct. 30 in Waterbury.Noujaim had been placing signs for his nephew, who was running for office. He suffered a head injury [...]

30-year veteran of St. Louis department named police chief

ST. LOUIS (AP) " A 30-year veteran of the department will be the new police chief of St. Louis, Mayor Lyda Krewson announced Thursday.John Hayden currently commands a patrol division on the city's north side. He was chosen from among six finalists after a national search.Hayden said his first priority will be addressing violent crime in the city, including the rising homicide rate. He said he supports community policing and will seek input from residents.More than 200 [...]

The Latest: Trump reminds world of long-ago NKorea warnings

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Latest on President Donald Trump's statements related to North Korea (all times local):2:55 p.m.President Donald Trump is reminding the world that he's long warned about the dangers posed by North Korea's nuclear program.Trump tweeted a compilation video Thursday that includes edited footage of an interview he did with NBC's "Meet the Press" nearly two decades ago.In the interview, Trump said he'd be willing to launch a pre-emptive strike [...]

Milwaukee police officers rescue teens from burning car

MILWAUKEE (AP) " Two young Milwaukee police officers are being hailed as heroes for rescuing two unconscious teenagers from a burning car.Officers Nicholas Schlei and Nicholas Reid, both 23, were on patrol Tuesday night when a Pontiac Grand Am crashed into a utility pole and overturned. Flames erupted from the car's engine compartment.One teen escaped by kicking out a window, but the driver and another boy were unconscious, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.The two [...]

Government seeks change to order lifting Trump refugee ban

SEATTLE (AP) " Lawyers with the Department of Justice have asked a federal judge to change his order that partially lifted a Trump administration refugee ban.Just before Christmas, U.S. District Judge James Robart in Seattle imposed a nationwide injunction that blocks restrictions on reuniting refugee families and partially lifted a ban on refugees from 11 mostly Muslim countries. Robart limited that part of the injunction to refugees who have a bona fide relationship with people or [...]

Democrat Jones officially declared winner over Roy Moore

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) " Democrat Doug Jones' historic victory over Republican Roy Moore was declared official Thursday as Alabama election officials certified him the winner of the special Senate election earlier this month, despite claims of voter irregularities from his opponent.Jones defeated Moore on Dec. 12 by about 22,000 votes in a stunning victory in a deeply red state. It was the first Democratic Senate victory in a quarter-century in Alabama. Moore was dogged by accusations [...]

Police: Woman ruined $300K worth of art on date with lawyer

HOUSTON (AP) " Authorities say an intoxicated Dallas woman on a first date with a prominent Houston trial lawyer caused at least $300,000 in damage to his art collection, including two Andy Warhol paintings.Lindy Lou Layman was arrested Saturday on criminal mischief charges after her date with Anthony Buzbee. She was released on $30,000 bond. Online court records don't list an attorney for her.Prosecutors say Buzbee told investigators that the 29-year-old Layman got too [...]

Trump attacks China after report of North Korea oil transfer

WASHINGTON (AP) " President Donald Trump attacked China on Thursday following reports that Chinese ships transferred oil to North Korean vessels at sea in violation of U.N. sanctions over the North's nuclear weapons program.Trump said on Twitter that China had been "Caught RED HANDED," adding he was "very disappointed that China is allowing oil to go into North Korea.""There will never be a friendly solution to the North Korea problem if this continues to happen!" the president [...]

'Obamacare' sign-up tally dips slightly to 8.7M

WASHINGTON (AP) " The government says more than 8.7 million people have signed up for coverage next year under the Obama-era health care law, exceeding expectations for a program that President Donald Trump has unsuccessfully tried to repeal.The final tally released Thursday for the 39 HealthCare.gov states showed about 80,000 fewer sign-ups than an initial count provided last week. A spokesman for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services said the slight dip was due to late [...]

Trump lashes out at Vanity Fair over Clinton video

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " President Donald Trump is lashing out at the magazine Vanity Fair, after the publication said a video mocking Hillary Clinton "missed the mark."On Twitter Thursday, Trump said the magazine was "bending over backwards in apologizing for the minor hit."The video posted over the weekend shows editors of Vanity Fair's Hive website offering New Year's resolutions for Clinton, including that she take up knitting or any hobby that would keep her from [...]

Police: Suspect wearing "Trust Me" T-shirt steals car

FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) " A suspect wearing a T-shirt emblazoned with "Trust Me" allegedly stole a car with an accomplice in Fairfax County, Virginia.The Washington Post reports that the two suspects from Falls Church were arrested by police in the stolen car not long after the unlocked Honda Civic was taken as it warmed up.Police say they also found several forged checks during the arrests.The newspaper says Wilmer Lara Garcia has been charged with auto theft and two [...]

Charity gets a jolt from tax law _ but due to drop next year

WASHINGTON (AP) " In this season of giving, charity seems to be getting an extra jolt because next year the popular tax deduction for donations will lose a lot of its punch.Traditionally generous Americans may be feeling even more so this year, or maybe they're concerned about the state of a deeply divided country and volatile world.But a big reason is a lot more concrete: The newly minted tax law. The changes that will make it less advantageous for people to donate to charity [...]

Trump, in Washington, doesn't get out much

WASHINGTON (AP) " After living in Washington for nearly a year, President Donald Trump has yet to enjoy a single non-working meal at a restaurant that doesn't pay him rent. He hasn't taken in a performance at the Kennedy Center; hasn't been to a sporting event; hasn't toured most of the sights.It's one of the peculiarities of the Trump presidency and one of a long list of ways in which he's changing the office, as well as its relationship with the District of Columbia."I would [...]

Trump, GOP congressional leaders to meet at Camp David

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " Eager for more legislative achievements before Washington's focus shifts to the midterm elections, President Donald Trump plans to open the new year by meeting with Republican congressional leaders to map out the 2018 legislative agenda, the White House said.After returning to Washington from Florida, where he is spending the holidays, Trump will quickly host Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin at the [...]

Roy Moore files lawsuit to block Alabama Senate result

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) " Republican Roy Moore filed a lawsuit to try to stop Alabama from certifying Democrat Doug Jones as the winner of the U.S. Senate race.The court filing occurred about 14 hours ahead of Thursday's meeting of a state canvassing board to officially declare Jones the winner of the Dec. 12 special election. Jones defeated Moore by about 20,000 votes.Moore's attorney wrote in the complaint filed late Wednesday that he believed there were irregularities during [...]

Ferry gets stuck on sandbar with 27 people aboard off NYC

NEW YORK (AP) " A ferry carrying more than two dozen people hit a sandbar and got stuck for hours Wednesday, spurring an evacuation on a frigid night in the waters off New York City.No injuries were reported in the second stranding in a month for the city's newly-expanded ferry service.The city-sponsored, privately run ferry left the Rockaway peninsula in Queens at 5:15 p.m., bound for lower Manhattan on a 20-degree evening. About 10 minutes into the trip, "we just came to a [...]

Power restored at Disneyland after guests taken off rides

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) " Power was fully restored at Disneyland on Wednesday after an outage at the California theme park forced some guests to be escorted from stalled rides.A transformer problem caused the late-morning outage in Toontown and Fantasyland, affecting 12 rides, park spokeswoman Suzi Brown said.An unknown number of guests were taken off rides and no one was hurt.Power was restored in Toontown and much of Fantasyland within a couple of hours. It was fully [...]

Ferry stuck on sandbar; 27 people aboard to be evacuated

NEW YORK (AP) " Rescuers worked to evacuate 27 people from a ferry that got stuck on a sandbar on a frigid night Wednesday, the second stranding in a month for New York City's ferries.There were no reports of injuries on the rush-hour boat that got stuck around 6 p.m. in Jamaica Bay between Brooklyn and the Rockaway peninsula in Queens."The boat stopped on a dime " you can clearly tell we hit something," passenger Jake Nicholson told the Daily News. He said passengers were [...]

Trump, GOP congressional leaders to plot agenda in January

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " Eager for more legislative achievements before Washington's focus shifts to the midterm elections, President Donald Trump plans to start the new year by meeting with Republican congressional leaders to plot the 2018 legislative agenda, the White House said.After returning to Washington from Florida, where he is spending the holidays, Trump will host House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky at the rustic [...]

Power mostly back at Disneyland after guests taken off rides

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) " Power was largely restored at Disneyland on Wednesday after an outage at the California theme park forced some guests to be escorted from stalled rides.A transformer problem caused the late morning outage in Toontown and Fantasyland, park spokeswoman Suzi Brown said.About 12 rides were affected, No one was hurt, she said.An unknown number of guests were taken off rides.Power was restored in Toontown and much of Fantasyland within a couple [...]

Stylist accused of giving man unwanted 'Stooges' hairdo

MADISON, Wis. (AP) " Police in Madison, Wisconsin, arrested a hairstylist after he gave a customer a very unwanted Larry Fine hairdo.Police spokesman Joel DeSpain says the 22-year-old victim told officers the stylist asked him to stop fidgeting and moving his head during the Friday haircut. The Wisconsin State Journal reports that DeSpain says the stylist then nicked the customer's ear with his clippers before running them down the middle of the man's head on their shortest attachment, [...]

Federal murder complaint filed against postal worker

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) " A federal criminal complaint says a disgruntled Ohio postal worker murdered two U.S. government employees for performing their official duties.The complaint signed by a U.S. postal inspector was filed Wednesday in U.S. district court in Columbus. Twenty-four-year-old Deshaune Stewart was arrested Saturday, accused of fatally shooting his supervisor at a post office in suburban Columbus and then killing a postmaster outside her apartment.Authorities say [...]

Free bird: Officer rescues snowy owl from prison barbed wire

HUNTINGDON, Pa. (AP) " A resourceful Pennsylvania wildlife conservation officer has helped to engineer a daring prison escape.A snowy owl that had become trapped in barbed wire in a perimeter fence at the Smithfield prison in Huntingdon was rescued on Christmas Day.Pennsylvania Game Commission officer Amanda Isett used a crate, a net and an Army blanket to coax the bird out.The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports the owl escaped with only some minor skin tears and a few [...]

The Latest: Trump meets firefighters, touts tax bill

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " The Latest on President Donald Trump in Florida (all times local):4:35 p.m.President Donald Trump is paying a post-Christmas visit to firefighters in West Palm Beach, Florida.Trump is touting his legislative accomplishments, including the GOP tax bill, before the first responders stationed at West Palm Beach Fire Rescue.The president says the firefighters are "great people" who do "a fantastic job," and he is thanking them for their [...]

Victims in basement apartment were mom, 2 kids, 2nd woman

TROY, N.Y. (AP) " Police worked Wednesday to try and unravel the mystery of who killed a woman, her partner and her two young children, whose bodies were found in a riverfront apartment house the day after Christmas."After being in this business for 43 years, I can't describe the savagery of a person who would do this," said Troy Police Chief John Tedesco.Investigators revealed little about the deaths, declining to identify the victims or say how they were killed. But the chief [...]

Special delivery: Family welcomes 2nd Christmas Eve baby

STONY BROOK, N.Y. (AP) " For one suburban New York family, Christmas Eve is turning into a tradition of very special deliveries.Newsday says Stony Brook residents Jacki and Josh Grossman had their second son on Sunday, four years after their first son arrived.Baby Elliott and older brother Oliver were delivered at Stony Brook University Hospital by Dr. Phil Schoenfeld. The doctor has worked Christmas Eve at the hospital for the past 17 years.Jacki Grossman says she [...]

Trump campaign associate denies violating judge's gag order

WASHINGTON (AP) " A former Trump campaign associate who was indicted earlier this year is denying that he violated a judge's gag order.A lawyer for Rick Gates acknowledged in a court filing Wednesday that Gates taped a video to thank attendees at a fundraiser recently held in his behalf. The Dec. 19 event raised money to help defray Gates' legal costs.The defense lawyer says that while Gates wanted to show gratitude to supporters, he also specifically said in the video that he [...]

Trump, GOP Hill leaders to meet at Camp David in January

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " Eager for more legislative achievements before Washington's focus shifts to the midterm elections, President Donald Trump plans to open the new year by meeting with Republican congressional leaders to map out the 2018 legislative agenda, the White House said.After returning to Washington from Florida, where he is spending the holidays, Trump will quickly host Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin at the [...]

Senate Majority PAC backed Jones' winning Alabama campaign

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) " A mysterious super PAC that spent millions of dollars backing Democrat Doug Jones in Alabama's Senate race was heavily funded by the Democratic Senate Majority PAC.Chris Hayden, spokesman for the Senate Majority PAC, said Tuesday that the group was the primary backer of the PAC called Highway 31, which spent $6 million on hard-hitting advertising, mailings and other efforts to help defeat Republican Roy Moore. Because of reporting and payment schedules, Highway [...]

Evaluation ordered for postal worker in colleagues' slayings

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) " A mental evaluation has been ordered for a disgruntled postal worker accused of fatally shooting his supervisor at an Ohio post office and then killing a postmaster outside her apartment.Franklin County court records Wednesday didn't elaborate on the evaluation. No attorney was listed for the worker, Deshaune Stewart, of Columbus.Police say Stewart was naked during both attacks. They say he first killed Lance Dempsey at a post office in suburban Dublin [...]

Norway prime minister to visit Trump on Jan. 10

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " Prime Minister Erna Solberg of Norway will be the first foreign leader to call on President Donald Trump in the new year.The White House announced Tuesday that Trump will welcome Solberg to the White House on Jan. 10. The White House says Trump looks forward to exchanging views with Solberg on relations between the U.S. and Norway, as well as on how to make progress on regional and global security issues and economic prosperity.The leaders also plan [...]

Clarification: Defense Department-Lawsuit story

NEW YORK (AP) " In a story Dec. 26 on cities suing the Department of Defense, The Associated Press reported that 26 people were killed inside a Texas church last month. The story should have made clear that the gunman killed 25 people at the church and that authorities have put the official toll at 26, because one of the victims was pregnant.A clarified version of the story is below.Cities sue Defense Dept. over gun-check system failuresThree cities have filed a federal [...]

'Something did survive' California wildfires: Goldfish

SANTA ROSA, Calif. (AP) " What Logan Hertel and his friends found in the scorched remains of their Northern California neighborhood wasn't a photo album, wedding ring or even a skittish cat separated from its family for months.What they discovered were goldfish " plain, sickly and living off ash in a grimy tub.Somehow the unspectacular goldfish had survived infernos that had wiped out neighborhoods, and Hertel was determined to reunite the fish with their owners, he told The [...]

American sorry for accusing NBA G League players of theft

DALLAS (AP) " American Airlines has apologized to two players on the Memphis Grizzlies' minor league affiliate who were kicked off a plane in Dallas after a flight attendant wrongfully accused them of stealing blankets, which an assistant coach suggested happened because they are black.Airline spokesman Joshua Freed said Tuesday that Memphis Hustle guard Marquis Teague and forward Trahson Burrell boarded the Sunday flight from Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport to Sioux Falls, [...]

A cougar in your luggage? Hunting carcass found at airport

LAS VEGAS (AP) " Police say a hunter's trip home hit a snag in Las Vegas after security screeners found a dead cougar in his luggage.No crime was committed because the man had a hunting tag. But police Lt. David Gordon told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Transportation Security Administration agents held the man at McCarran International Airport late Tuesday to confirm the validity of the Utah hunting tag.His name and where he was headed weren't released.Airport [...]

As California legalizes pot, laws collide at US checkpoints

PINE VALLEY, Calif. (AP) " California legalizes marijuana for recreational use Monday, but that won't stop federal agents from seizing the drug " even in tiny amounts " on busy freeways and backcountry highways.Marijuana possession still will be prohibited at eight Border Patrol checkpoints in California, a reminder that state and federal laws collide when it comes to pot. The U.S. government classifies marijuana as a controlled substance, like heroin and LSD."Prior to Jan. 1, [...]

Historic White House magnolia cut back for safety reasons

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " A different kind of tree-trimming took place at the White House on Wednesday when part of a historic magnolia tree on the south grounds was cut off because it had become a safety risk, a spokeswoman for first lady Melania Trump said.The nearly 200-year-old tree was cut back while President Donald Trump and his family are in Florida for the holidays.Spokeswoman Stephanie Grisham said earlier in the week that Mrs. Trump had given her OK for a large [...]

Letters describe slugger Ted Williams' service in Korean War

BIDDEFORD, Maine (AP) " Most folks know Ted Williams as the Red Sox slugger and Hall of Famer. But letters going up for auction describe his hiatus from baseball to serve in the Korean War.The 38 letters penned to a mistress from 1952 to 1954 include one in which he describes crash-landing a fighter jet with "holes all over the plane."Another letter written after his father's death described Williams' anguish and regret over having not spent more time with him.Yet [...]

Plane returns to LA because passenger was on wrong flight

LOS ANGELES (AP) " An airline says a Tokyo-bound flight returned to Los Angeles hours into the journey after the crew discovered that one of the passengers had boarded the wrong plane.A statement from All Nippon Airways says the pilot decided to return to the originating airport as part of the airline's security procedures.Flight 175 left Los Angeles International Airport at 11:36 a.m. Tuesday and returned to LAX at 7:33 p.m.Model Chrissy Teigen was aboard and live- [...]

Edmunds Sizes Up New Car-Safety Technology

We are in a new era of car safety: The focus has shifted from reducing death and injury in a vehicle collision to preventing a crash from happening in the first place. Safety features designed to avoid accidents are becoming increasingly common in new cars.Here is an overview of the advanced safety features you're likely to encounter when shopping for a new car, along with examples of what carmakers call their versions of the features.FORWARD COLLISION WARNING: If you come up [...]

Police release few details on 4 bodies found in apartment

TROY, N.Y. (AP) " Investigators are still at a New York apartment house where four bodies were found in a basement apartment, but they aren't releasing many details.Police in Troy say they're investigating the deaths as homicides. Officials say a property manager discovered the bodies early Tuesday afternoon in the city's Lansingburgh section.Investigators are still working at the scene Wednesday morning. They haven't released the victims' identifies or say how they were killed. [...]

Florida man says he punched ATM for giving too much cash

COCOA, Fla. (AP) " A Florida man told investigators he punched an automatic teller machine because it gave him too much cash.An arrest report says 23-year-old Michael Joseph Oleksik man caused about $5,000 in damage to an ATM at a Wells Fargo bank branch in Cocoa on Nov. 29. He was arrested Dec. 22 on a criminal mischief charge after bank officials decided to press charges.Florida Today reports surveillance video captured Oleksik pummeling the touch screen.An arrest [...]

Police: Man attempted to rob store with fake furniture gun

AKRON, Ohio (AP) " Police say a man who tried and failed to rob an Ohio convenience store with a fake gun made from pieces of furniture has been charged with robbery.Akron police say the man walked into a local Circle K store Monday afternoon waving what appeared to be a rifle and demanding cash. An employee realized the rifle was a fake and confronted the man with the help of three customers.The man tried to flee but was subdued and detained by the people in the store until [...]

Part of weakened White House magnolia tree to be removed

GREENACRES, Fla. (AP) " A large portion of a famed magnolia tree planted on the south grounds of the White House by President Andrew Jackson will be removed because it is weak and poses a safety risk, a spokeswoman for first lady Melania Trump says.Removal is planned for this week while President Donald Trump and his family are at their Florida home for the holidays.Stephanie Grisham, a spokeswoman for Mrs. Trump, said Tuesday the first lady reviewed reports from the U.S. [...]

Singer files sex assault complaint against former Trump aide

WASHINGTON (AP) " A singer and potential congressional candidate says she has filed a sexual assault complaint against President Donald Trump's former campaign manager for hitting her twice on her buttocks during a Washington gathering in November.Joy Villa, a Trump backer who wore a "Make America Great Again" dress at the Grammys this year, said Tuesday she plans to meet with detectives in Washington next week about the complaint against Corey Lewandowski.In a phone interview [...]

Deputy who rescued boy from pond says he was desperate, numb

NEW HARMONY, Utah (AP) " A Utah sheriff's deputy said Tuesday he was desperate and numb from the cold as he punched and stomped his way into a frozen pond on Christmas Day to pull out an 8-year-old boy who had fallen through the ice while chasing his dog.With cuts on his forearms, Washington County sheriff's Sgt. Aaron Thompson said at a news conference that rescuers believe the child was in the 37-degree water for about 30 minutes until the deputy rescued him."I couldn't feel [...]

Bitter cold expected until New Year in US Midwest, Northeast

CHICAGO (AP) " A white Christmas for much of the Northeast and Midwest has given way to bitter cold until the New Year.Residents should expect colder-than-normal temperatures for the rest of the week, according to Chicago-area National Weather Service meteorologist Amy Seeley. Temperatures hovered around zero degrees in Chicago on Tuesday.A Christmas storm also dumped a record amount of snow on the Erie, Pennsylvania, area.The National Weather Service said 34 inches of [...]

Treasury issues sanctions against 2 North Korean officials

WASHINGTON (AP) " The U.S. Treasury Department issued sanctions Tuesday against two officials it describes as "key leaders of North Korea's unlawful weapons programs."The sanctions against Kim Jong Sik and Ri Pyong Chol block them from any property or interests in property within U.S. jurisdiction, and prohibit them from transactions with American citizens. Treasury said the men are senior officials in North Korea's Munitions Industry Department.Treasury Secretary Steven [...]

Police: California couple used drone to deliver drugs

RIVERSIDE, Calif. (AP) " Authorities say a Southern California couple used a drone to deliver illegal drugs to their customers.Benjamin Baldassarre and Ashley Carroll, of Riverside, were charged Tuesday with possessing controlled substances for sale and child endangerment.It's unclear if they have attorneys who can comment on the charges.Police arrested the couple last Thursday after neighbors suspected they were selling drugs.Authorities say a drone delivered [...]

2 investors, including 'Twilight' backer, convicted of fraud

NEW YORK (AP) " Two tech entrepreneurs, including a man who invested in the film studio that made the "Twilight" movies, were convicted of fraud on Tuesday in New York.A federal jury convicted Kaleil Isaza Tuzman, 45, and Omar Amanat, 44, of all charges after a six-week trial.The convictions stemmed from the men's role in the technology startup Kit Digital.U.S. District Judge Paul G. Gardephe revoked Amanat's bail after Assistant U.S. Attorney Andrea Griswold said he was [...]

Starfish making comeback after syndrome killed millions

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) " Starfish are making a comeback on the West Coast, four years after a mysterious syndrome killed millions of them.From 2013 to 2014, Sea Star Wasting Syndrome hit sea stars from British Columbia to Mexico. The starfish would develop lesions and then disintegrate, their arms turning into blobs of goo.The cause is unclear but researchers say it may be a virus.But now, the species is rebounding. Sea stars are being spotted in Southern California [...]

Deputy recalls breaking through frozen pond to pull out boy

NEW HARMONY, Utah (AP) " A Utah sheriff's deputy said Tuesday he was desperate and numb from the cold as he punched and stomped his way into a frozen pond on Christmas Day to pull out an 8-year-old boy who had fallen through the ice while chasing his dog.With cuts on his forearms, Washington County sheriff's Sgt. Aaron Thompson said at a news conference that rescuers believe the child was in the 37-degree water for about 30 minutes until the deputy rescued him."I couldn't feel [...]

UN operating budget cut by $285M; US claims credit for it

The United Nations' budget is set to shrink by over $285 million next year " a 5 percent cut that the U.S. government says it negotiated.The U.N. General Assembly voted Sunday to approve the nearly $5.4 billion regular operating budget for 2018-2019. The Secretary-General's office says the new budget include cuts to most departments and offices.The regular budget pays for many U.N. activities, but not peacekeeping or some humanitarian appeals, for example.The U.S. is the [...]

Singer files sex assault complaint against former Trump aide

WASHINGTON (AP) " A singer and potential congressional candidate said Tuesday that she has filed a sexual assault complaint against President Donald Trump's former campaign manager for hitting her twice on her buttocks during a Washington gathering in November.Joy Villa, a Trump backer who wore a "Make America Great Again" dress at the Grammys this year, said she plans to meet with detectives in Washington next week about the complaint against Corey Lewandowski.In a phone [...]

The Latest: Trump says tax cuts will make 2018 'great year'

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " The Latest on President Donald Trump during his Christmas holiday in Florida (all times local):5:37 p.m.President Donald Trump says tax cuts he signed into law last week will make 2018 a "great year" for companies and jobs.He predicts the stock market will have another successful year, too.Trump tweeted Tuesday: "All signs are that business is looking really good for next year, only to be helped further by our Tax Cut Bill. Will be a great [...]

Part of White House Magnolia tree to be removed for safety

GREENACRES, Fla. (AP) " A large portion of a famed Magnolia tree planted on the south grounds of the White House by President Andrew Jackson will be removed because it is weak and poses a safety risk, a spokeswoman for first lady Melania Trump said Tuesday.Removal is planned for this week while President Donald Trump and his family are at their Florida home for the holidays.Stephanie Grisham, a spokeswoman for Mrs. Trump, said the first lady reviewed reports from the U.S. [...]

Lifelong best friends discover they're actually brothers

HONOLULU (AP) " Two Hawaii men who grew up as best friends recently learned that they're actually brothers and revealed the surprise to family and friends over the holidays.Alan Robinson and Walter Macfarlane have been friends for 60 years. Born in Hawaii 15 months apart, they met in the sixth grade and played football together at a Honolulu prep school.Macfarlane never knew his father, and Robinson was adopted. Separately, they sought answers about their ancestry. [...]

Construction halted at church destroyed in Sept. 11 attacks

NEW YORK (AP) " Construction on a Greek Orthodox church to replace one that was crushed in the Sept. 11 attacks has been temporarily suspended amid rising costs and questions over how donations have been managed.The St. Nicholas National Shrine next to the World Trade Center memorial plaza was to replace a tiny church that was obliterated by the trade center's south tower.The new building was designed by renowned architect Santiago Calatrava, who also created the soaring white [...]

California salmon lose way after ride downstream in drought

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) " A desperate decision to truck California's native baby salmon toward the Pacific Ocean during the state's drought may have resulted in generations of lost young salmon now hard-pressed to find their way back to their reproductive grounds.With fewer native fall-run Chinook salmon able to make their way back home to the leading salmon hatchery in the state, that hatchery could have only about half as many young salmon as usual to release next spring, the [...]

Part of weakened White House magnolia tree to be removed

GREENACRES, Fla. (AP) " A "large portion" of a famed Magnolia tree planted on the south grounds by President Andrew Jackson will be removed because it is weak and poses a safety risk, the White House said Tuesday.Removal is planned for this week while President Donald Trump and his family are at their Florida home for the holidays.Stephanie Grisham, a spokeswoman for Melania Trump, says the first lady reviewed reports from the U.S. National Arboretum about the nearly 200-year- [...]

Man arrested in Phoenix killings of estranged wife, 2 kids

PHOENIX (AP) " A man has been arrested in the shooting deaths of his estranged wife and their two children at a Phoenix apartment complex before getting into a Christmas Day shootout with officers, authorities said.Police responded Monday afternoon to a report of gunfire and found a woman dead in the parking lot. Officers later found the bodies of a 10-month-old girl and an 11-year-old boy inside the apartment.Police tried to talk to the suspect, who barricaded himself inside [...]

Cities sue Defense Dept. over gun-check system failures

NEW YORK (AP) " Three large U.S. cities filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against the Department of Defense, arguing that many service members who are disqualified from gun ownership weren't reported to the national background check system.New York City, San Francisco and Philadelphia said in court papers that the military's broken system for relaying such information helped spur the massacre of 26 people inside a Texas church last month."This failure on behalf of the Department [...]

The Latest: 13 Days in July shaped Trump White House

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " The Latest on President Donald Trump during his Christmas holiday in Florida (all times local):12:25 p.m.They are the 13 days that transformed the White House.The two-week span between July 19-31 laid bare the splintering of Trump's relationships with two influential Cabinet members, foreshadowed the reach of the Russia probe into the interior of his orbit; saw the dramatic, last-minute defeat of one of the president's signature campaign promises [...]

US jury acquits Peruvian defendant in FIFA bribery case

NEW YORK (AP) " A former South American soccer official charged a U.S. trial stemming from the FIFA bribery scandal was acquitted of a corruption charge Tuesday, after two others were convicted last week.Jurors found Manuel Burga, the 60-year-old former president of Peru's soccer federation, not guilty of a single racketeering conspiracy charge.On Friday, the jury told U.S. District Court Judge Pamela Chen they were deadlocked, but had reached guilty verdicts on multiple [...]

Bitter cold expected until New Year in Midwest and Northeast

CHICAGO (AP) " A white Christmas for much of the Northeast and Midwest has given way to bitter cold until the New Year.Chicago-area National Weather Service meteorologist Amy Seeley says to expect colder-than-normal temperatures the rest of the week.Temperatures hovered around zero degrees in Chicago on Tuesday.Meteorologists warn of sub-zero frigid arctic air and dangerously cold wind chills.Wind chill advisories or warnings are in effect for all of North Dakota [...]

Woman stunned to find electric bill listed as $284 billion

ERIE, Pa. (AP) " A Pennsylvania woman says she went online to check her electric bill and was stunned at the amount " more than $284 billion.The Erie Times-News reports that Mary Horomanski said her eyes "just about popped out" of her head when she saw the amount. She suspected that her family had put up their Christmas lights wrong.The silver lining was that she didn't have to pay the full amount until November 2018 " only a $28,156 minimum payment was due for December. [...]

Tilt! Old-school pinball is no longer old-school

ELK GROVE VILLAGE, Ill. (AP) " The old-school arcade game of pinball is resurging in popularity.Interest has skyrocketed over the last decade or so, with the number of players and competitions growing worldwide, according to the International Flipper Pinball Association. There were 500 players in 50 competitions worldwide in 2006, according to the IFPA. In 2017, there were nearly 4,500 competitions and more than 55,000 players."Pinball is not going away," says pinball player [...]

Trump predicts GOP and Dems will agree on health care plan

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " President Donald Trump is predicting that Democrats and Republicans will "eventually come together "on a new health care plan for the country.Sending a Twitter post early Tuesday from his Florida resort, Trump said "the very unfair and unpopular Individual Mandate has been terminated as part of our Tax Cut Bill, which essentially Repeals (over time) Obamacare."Much of former President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act remains intact, however, and the [...]

In break with tradition, Trump doesn't host a state dinner

WASHINGTON (AP) " President Donald Trump couldn't stop talking about the red carpets, military parades and fancy dinners that were lavished upon him during state visits on his recent tour of Asia. "Magnificent," he declared at one point on the trip.But Trump has yet to reciprocate, making him the first president in almost a century to close his first year in office without welcoming a visiting counterpart to the U.S. with similar trappings.Trump spoke dismissively of state [...]

In break with tradition, Trump doesn't host a state dinner

WASHINGTON (AP) " President Donald Trump couldn't stop talking about the red carpets, military parades and fancy dinners that were lavished upon him during state visits on his recent tour of Asia. "Magnificent," he declared at one point on the trip.But Trump has yet to reciprocate, making him the first president in almost a century to close his first year in office without welcoming a visiting counterpart to the U.S. with similar trappings.Trump spoke dismissively of state [...]

Woman, 2 children shot to death at Phoenix apartment complex

PHOENIX (AP) " Police say a man shot and killed a woman and two children at an apartment complex in Phoenix before getting into a shootout with officers.Police were called to the scene Monday afternoon on a report of a shooting and found a woman dead outside.Sgt. Jonathan Howard says officers tried to talk to the suspect, who had barricaded himself inside an apartment. Howard says the unidentified man indicated to them that he had killed two children.Several hours later, [...]

JetBlue plane slides off taxiway at Boston's Logan Airport

BOSTON (AP) " Airline officials say a JetBlue Airways plane slid off of the taxiway at Boston's Logan Airport.Officials say JetBlue Flight 50 from Savannah, Georgia, briefly skidded when it landed around 7:15 p.m. Monday. Firefighters helped passengers off of the plane and they were bused to the terminal.Authorities say no one was injured.The Massachusetts Port Authority tells WHDH-TV that snow forced the airport to close its runways for a short period Monday morning. [...]

US jury set to resume deliberations in FIFA bribery case

NEW YORK (AP) " After convicting two former South American soccer officials of bribery, a U.S. jury is set to return to court on Tuesday to decide the fate of a third official charged in the FIFA scandal.Jurors found Juan Napout, of Paraguay, and Jose Maria Marin, of Brazil, guilty on multiple conspiracy charges after a week of deliberations in federal court in Brooklyn. But they told U.S. District Judge Pamela Chen that they were divided over a verdict for Manuel Burga, of Peru, on [...]

Trump celebrates Christmas like most of America, with family

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " President Donald Trump is celebrating Christmas the way millions of Americans do: surrounded by family, the White House said.But unlike most Americans, he released a brief video in which his wife, Melania, joined him to "wish America and the entire world a very Merry Christmas."The first lady says that at this time of year "we see the best of America and the soul of the American people" in children packing boxes to help brighten Christmas for service [...]

US says it negotiated $285M cut in United Nations budget

The U.S. government says it has negotiated a significant cut in the United Nations budget.The U.S. Mission to the United Nations said on Sunday that the U.N.'s 2018-2019 budget would be slashed by over $285 million. The mission said reductions would also be made to the U.N.'s management and support functions.The announcement didn't make clear the entire amount of the budget or specify what effect the cut would have on the U.S. contribution.U.S. ambassador to the U.N. [...]

Secret Service interviews person over manure sent to Mnuchin

LOS ANGELES (AP) " The U.S. Secret Service says it has interviewed someone claiming responsibility for delivering a gift-wrapped package of horse manure addressed to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin (mih-NOO'-shin).The box was found Saturday at the home of Mnuchin's neighbor in the wealthy Bel Air neighborhood in Los Angeles. The LAPD bomb squad responded to the package, which police say was marked as being from "the American people."Secret Service spokesman Cody Starken said [...]

Winds scuttle Washington's crossing despite kids' efforts

WASHINGTON CROSSING, Pa. (AP) " The kids did their part, but Mother Nature had the final say in scuttling the annual Christmas Day trip across the Delaware River by George Washington and his troops.Organizers said high winds Monday prompted cancellation of the annual reenactment, which draws thousands of people to the banks of the river in Washington Crossing, Pennsylvania, and Titusville, New Jersey. The National Weather Service says winds have been gusting 45 or 50 mph or even a bit [...]

Christmas brings Northeast blizzard, bitter cold in Midwest

CHICAGO (AP) " The good news for many in the Northeast and Midwest is that it's a white Christmas. The bad news is a blizzard swept into parts of New England and bitter cold enveloped much of the Midwest.Motorists in New England were in for tough sledding as a Christmas storm was expected to bring nearly a foot of snow in places. A blizzard warning was issued Monday for portions of central and northern Maine, and part of the New Hampshire coast. Forecasters warned that snow of up to [...]

Cities, volunteers clash over feeding homeless in public

ATLANTA (AP) " When Adele MacLean joined others in an Atlanta park to feed the hungry the Sunday before Thanksgiving, she left with a citation and a summons to appear in court.The case was dropped when she showed up in court earlier this month, but she and her lawyers say the citation for serving food without a permit was improper and demonstrates callousness toward the homeless. The city and some advocates say feeding people on the streets can hinder long-term solutions and raises [...]

College students come up with plug-in to combat fake news

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (AP) " A team of college students is getting attention from internet companies and Congress after developing a browser extension that alerts users to fake and biased news stories and helps guide them to more balanced coverage.The plug-in, "Open Mind ," was developed earlier this month during a 36-hour problem-solving competition known as a hackathon at Yale University.The winning team was comprised of four students: Michael Lopez-Brau and Stefan Uddenberg, both [...]

Pardoned by Christie, woman pushes for change to US gun laws

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) " The handgun that Shaneen Allen was carrying when she was pulled over on a New Jersey highway could have sent her to prison for years if not for a pardon from Republican Gov. Chris Christie.Now the legal saga that kept the Pennsylvania mother of two in jail for 48 days has helped inspire a measure that could change handgun laws across the country."Hopefully I'll be at the White House next to (President) Trump signing this bill," said Allen, who has become a [...]

Money raised for girl brutally attacked by raccoon

PHILADELPHIA (AP) " People have come forward to help the family of a 4-month-old girl brutally attacked by a raccoon inside their Philadelphia home.People had donated more than $1,000 to a GoFundMe page set up to help Journi Black's family find a new home to rent.Her mother, Ashley Rodgers, says the attack happened on Wednesday on their first nightThe Philadelphia Inquirer reports Journi underwent four hours of surgery on Thursday and got 65 stitches after the raccoon [...]

Lobsterman's gift at Christmas: Free lobsters for the needy

THOMASTON, Maine (AP) " A lobsterman in Maine is carrying on his tradition of giving away lobsters to those in need on Christmas.Noah Ames set up his pickup truck in a parking lot in Thomaston on Sunday with a sign that read "Free lobsters today for families truly in need."The Portland Press-Herald reports that Ames started the tradition four years ago to demonstrate to his children that Christmas is about more than present wish lists.He gave out 400 pounds of lobster in [...]

George Washington's river crossing saved by group of kids

WASHINGTON CROSSING, Pa. (AP) " George Washington and his troops' annual Christmas Day trip across the Delaware River has been saved by boats made by children.Organizers had feared Monday's crossing would have to be canceled because low water levels in the river between Pennsylvania and New Jersey would have made it impossible for re-enactors to navigate their wooden Durham boats.But Philadelphia Waterborne, a nonprofit that teaches boat-building skills to middle- and high- [...]

India's new 'driverless' metro train keeps driver for now

NEW DELHI (AP) " India's capital launched a metro train with driverless technology Monday, though officials said it would operate with a driver for at least a year or two.Prime Minister Narendra Modi took an inaugural ride on a short section of the 12.6-kilometer (7.8-mile) Magenta Line, which connects the southern part of New Delhi with the satellite city of Noida, an IT hub across the Yamuna river.The Delhi Metro Rail Corp. has said the highly automated train will run [...]

Trump takes note of who's naughty and nice at Christmas

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " Heading into his first Christmas in office, President Donald Trump took note of those he considers naughty (a top FBI official, the news media) and nice (U.S. troops stationed overseas and their families, kids eagerly awaiting Santa's arrival). He also squeezed in time for golf, time with family and time for church."Merry Christmas," Trump said Sunday night as he and first lady Melania Trump arrived at the Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea in Palm Beach, Florida. [...]

AP FACT CHECK: Trump on making Christmas great again

WASHINGTON (AP) " To hear Donald Trump talk, you'd think Barack Obama was the president who stole Christmas.Although Trump doesn't generally single him out by name on this subject, the president's meaning is unmistakable when he declares, as he has done since long before the holiday season, that's he making it OK to talk about Christmas again. Obama, it would seem, did not. But that's not what the record shows.A look at that matter and others that arose in a week bristling with [...]

Daughter of man who died after police chokehold hospitalized

NEW YORK (AP) " The oldest daughter of a New York City man killed by a police chokehold has been hospitalized in critical condition after suffering a heart attack.Family members tell the Daily News that 27-year-old Erica Garner went into cardiac arrest Saturday night.The woman's father, Eric Garner, died after a white police officer put Garner, who is black, in a chokehold while arresting him on Staten Island in 2014. Erica Garner became a vocal advocate against police [...]

Trump's busy Christmas Eve: calls to troops, talk of Santa

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " President Donald Trump's first Christmas Eve in office was a busy one that unfolded like this: tweet against perceived adversaries, cheer U.S. troops spending the holidays overseas, play golf, chat with children anxious to know when Santa will bring their presidents, eat dinner with the family and attend a church service."Today and every day, we're incredibly thankful for you and for your families," Trump told the troops via video hook-up from his Florida [...]

The Latest: Trumps attend services at Episcopal church

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " The Latest on President Donald Trump and his Christmas holiday (all times local):10:50 p.m.President Donald Trump is attending Christmas Eve worship services at an Episcopal church in Palm Beach, Florida.Trump and his wife, Melania, arrived Sunday night at the Church of Bethesda-by-the-Sea. The Trumps were married at the church in 2005.The first lady recently said that attending church on Christmas Eve is a family tradition.Earlier [...]

Raja the cat returned to family 3 years later

GEORGETOWN, Del. (AP) " Raja the cat once was lost, but now is found " three years later.On Tuesday, a man brought a stray cat to a shelter in Georgetown, Delaware, run by the Brandywine Valley chapter of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.Staffers there found the cat's microchip, and through some sleuthing connected 6-year-old Raja to his owners, the Tuttle family.As it turns out, the Tuttles lost Raja back in 2014 when they were living in Florida. The [...]

NORAD takes calls from kids around the world awaiting Santa

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AP) " Hundreds of volunteers at an Air Force base in Colorado were answering questions on Sunday from eager children who wanted to know where Santa was on his Christmas Eve travels. President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump also pitched in and took calls for the NORAD Tracks Santa program from their Florida estate.It is the 62nd year for the wildly popular program run by the U.S. and Canadian militaries.Some key facts about the [...]

The Latest: Trump takes calls from children on Christmas Eve

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " The Latest on President Donald Trump and his Christmas holiday (all times local):4:30 p.m.President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump are taking questions from children who want to know where Santa Claus is.The president and first lady fielded calls on separate phones in the living room of their Florida estate, where they are spending the holidays. The calls came by way of the Track Santa program operated by the North American Aerospace [...]

White Christmas on its way for Northeast, Midwest

CHICAGO (AP) " If you live in the Northeast or Midwest, you're not dreaming: It's probably going to be a white Christmas.But the trade-off is hazardous driving conditions across New England and the Great Plains. Out west, the Rocky Mountains have been pounded this weekend.The storm system attacking the Mississippi River and to the east started in Nebraska, swept across Iowa and will dump several inches of snow on Chicago. Aside from a lake-effect dump of as much as 4 inches (10 [...]

Former Texas Congressman says he was abused at boys ranch

AMARILLO, Texas (AP) " A former Texas Congressman has said he was among the teens who were abused at a ranch that houses at-risk children in the Texas Panhandle, just days after allegations of abuse at Cal Farley's Boys Ranch first surfaced.Former Texas Congressman Bill Sarpalius told the Amarillo Globe-News in a report published Saturday that he was sexually abused when he lived at the ranch in the 1960s. Britain's The Guardian newspaper reported Wednesday that generations of former [...]

For 62nd year, NORAD takes calls from kids awaiting Santa

PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. (AP) " Hundreds of volunteers at an Air Force base in Colorado were answering questions on Sunday from eager children who wanted to know where Santa was on his Christmas Eve travels.NORAD Tracks Santa got underway early Sunday morning at Peterson Air Force Base in Colorado Springs, Colorado. It was the 62nd year for the wildly popular program run by the U.S. and Canadian militaries.Some key facts about the program:HOW TO GET NORAD [...]

Sen. Flake dangles possibility of running against Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) " Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona says President Donald Trump is certain to face an independent challenge in the next presidential election, if not one from within the party. And Flake is not ruling out being that challenger.Flake has been fiercely critical of Trump, even while supporting parts of his agenda, like the new tax cuts. Trump in turn has denounced the senator, who's not seeking re-election next year.Flake says if Trump continues on his path, [...]

Canadian orchestra launches probe after Dutoit allegations

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) " A Canadian orchestra is launching an investigation in the wake of sexual assault allegations against renowned conductor Charles Dutoit.A spokesman for the Montreal Symphony Orchestra, where Dutoit served as music director for nearly 25 years, confirmed Sunday he is the subject of a complaint. Pascale Ouimet said he could not provide any additional information.The orchestra on Saturday announced an independent, third party would conduct an investigation of [...]

Box of horse manure addressed to US treasury secretary

LOS ANGELES (AP) " Authorities say a gift-wrapped box of horse manure addressed to U.S. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin (mih-NOO'-shin) was found near his home in Los Angeles.The package was found Saturday night in the tony Bel Air neighborhood after it was dropped off at a neighbor's house.The Los Angeles Police Department's bomb squad was called to the home and officers opened the box, finding a pile of horse manure inside. Police said the package had been gift wrapped and [...]

Adviser: Trump confident in FBI director despite attacks

WASHINGTON (AP) " A presidential adviser says Donald Trump has full confidence in his new FBI director despite a series of attacks on the impartiality of his soon-to-retire deputy.Marc Short tells "Fox News Sunday" the president is "very pleased" with Director Chris Wray and "the changes that are taking place." The comments came as Trump continued to assail Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, who plans to retire from the bureau next year.McCabe's supervision of the Hillary Clinton [...]

Obituary project makes homicide victims more than just stats

PHILADELPHIA (AP) " It was a bloody day in Philadelphia: five people shot or stabbed dead. One of the shooting victims was Trina Singleton's 24-year-old son, Darryl.In this city of 1.6 million people that tallied 269 homicides last year, Darryl's death on Sept. 13, 2016, earned him a few lines near the end of a newspaper story, his loss overshadowed by the death of a 21-year-old cousin of rap star Meek Mill."He was totally overlooked," Trina Singleton said. "There were so many [...]

Secret Santa hands out $100 bills to strangers in Topeka

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) " Kansas City's Secret Santa is at it again, this time focusing his annual good cheer on Kansas' capital city.A reporter for the Kansas City Star tagged along recently as Secret Santa followed his long tradition of handing out $100 bills to strangers in Topeka places where the hurting and downtrodden gather, including a shelter and thrift store.At each stop, the arrival of Santa and his "elves" was met with quizzical stares. By the time they left, there were [...]

Trump sends Christmas greetings to US troops abroad

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " President Donald Trump is sending Christmas greetings to U.S. troops stationed around the world.From the Florida estate where Trump is spending the holidays, he spoke by video hook-up on Christmas Eve to members of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard, stationed in Qatar, Kuwait and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.Trump told the troops that Americans are thankful for them and their families. He says they're "the greatest people on earth."He [...]

New York joining states requiring paid family leave

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) " When her baby boy is born in March, Kim Lyons will have an added worry. The child needs surgery to remove extra fingers and toes. But she'll also have an extra safety net.Under New York's new paid family leave law, billed as the nation's most generous, she will be able to take eight weeks off from work at half her regular pay."I'm so grateful that I'll be able to take more time to spend with my newborn," said Lyons, who lives in Highland in the Hudson Valley. [...]

Judge partially lifts Trump administration ban on refugees

SEATTLE (AP) " A federal judge in Seattle on Saturday partially lifted a Trump administration ban on certain refugees after two groups argued that the policy prevented people from some mostly Muslim countries from reuniting with family living legally in the United States.U.S. District Judge James Robart heard arguments Thursday in lawsuits from the American Civil Liberties Union and Jewish Family Service, which say the ban causes irreparable harm and puts some people at risk. [...]

Trump criticizes FBI deputy director as he plans retirement

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " President Donald Trump again questioned the impartiality of the deputy director of the FBI, Andrew McCabe, who is planning to retire from the bureau in the months ahead after being buffeted by attacks over alleged anti-Trump bias in the agency.In a tweet Saturday, the president wrote: "How can FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, the man in charge, along with leakin' James Comey, of the Phony Hillary Clinton investigation (including her 33,000 illegally [...]

O Christmas tree! Storm topples Tennessee's holiday spruce

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) " O Christmas Tree! A Grinch of a storm has toppled the official holiday spruce in Tennessee's capital city.Area media outlets report that Nashville's 40-foot (12-meter) Norway spruce was toppled overnight, with officials blaming a combination of wind, rain and possibly a defective anchor.More than 2,000 people had turned out Dec. 1 for the tree's lighting ceremony with Nashville Mayor Megan Barry, including a performance by the husband-and-wife duo of [...]

Man's 1944 love letter found within remodeled home's walls

GREENFIELD, Mass. (AP) " Massachusetts police have a new mystery to solve: Who wrote a 1944 love letter discovered within the walls of a house being remodeled?The Greenfield Police Department took to Facebook on Saturday to ask for the public's help in figuring out the backstory behind the handwritten letter. Police say the letter is dated April 19, 1944, and was penned by a man who identified himself only as Walter.The letter was addressed to Miss Betty Miller, of Greenfield. [...]

Trump reacts to reports of FBI deputy director's retirement

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) " President Donald Trump is reacting to reports about the retirement of FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe by retweeting falsehoods about McCabe's wife.Trump tweeted Saturday: "How can FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, the man in charge, along with leakin' James Comey, of the Phony Hillary Clinton investigation (including her 33,000 illegally deleted emails) be given $700,000 for wife's campaign by Clinton Puppets during investigation?"McCabe's wife, [...]

Edward Snowden unveils phone app, Haven, to spy on spies

NEW YORK (AP) " The former National Security Agency contractor who exposed U.S. government surveillance programs by disclosing classified material in 2013 has a new job: app developer.Edward Snowden in a video message Friday unveiled a new phone app he helped create, called Haven, that aims to protect laptops from physical tampering.Snowden says it's an open-source tool designed for human rights activists and other people at risk and it uses an Android phone's sensors to detect [...]

Life-size elf decoration turns heads, even loses his own

ROCKPORT, Mass. (AP) " A life-size elf mannequin on display in a Massachusetts yard has been turning heads " and occasionally losing his own.Actress Melissa McMeekin has been having a little fun by moving her 6-foot-tall elf doll to different locations outside her Rockport home.During the countdown to Christmas, Daryl the red-suited elf has appeared seated on a tree branch, riding a bicycle, lying on a hammock and tied up like a hostage.McMeekin tells the Gloucester [...]

US agrees to send lethal weapons to Ukraine, angering Russia

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Trump administration has approved a plan to provide lethal weapons to Ukraine, a long-awaited move that deepens America's involvement in the military conflict and may further strain relations with Russia. Moscow responded angrily on Saturday.The new arms include American-made Javelin anti-tank missiles, U.S. officials said late Friday. Ukraine has long sought to boost its defenses against Russian-backed separatists armed with tanks that have rolled through [...]

Prosecutor: 'No doubt' gunman was targeting police officers

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) " There's "no doubt" a gunman who fired at police in several locations in the state capital, wounding one of them before they shot and killed him, was targeting police officers, a prosecutor said.Ahmed Aminamin El-Mofty fired at a Harrisburg police officer on Friday afternoon and later at a state trooper, wounding and then pursuing her, Dauphin County District Attorney Ed Marsico said."He fired several shots at a Capitol police officer and at a Pennsylvania [...]

California's top marijuana regulator talks legalization

LOS ANGELES (AP) " California's legal pot market opens for business on Jan. 1. The day will be a milestone, but what exactly will happen then and, especially, in the weeks and months to come is unclear.Lori Ajax is the state's top pot regulator and has been at the center of the effort to establish rules for a legal pot economy valued at $7 billion.Here's her thoughts on what to expect:___Q. It's a question many people are asking: Can I buy legal pot on Jan. 1? [...]

Appeals court: Trump exceeded authority with travel ban

HONOLULU (AP) " A federal appeals court panel has ruled that President Donald Trump once again exceeded the scope of his authority with his latest travel ban, but the judges on the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals put their decision on hold pending review by the U.S. Supreme Court, meaning the ban involving six majority Muslim countries will remain in effect.The 77-page ruling released late Friday says Trump's proclamation makes no finding whatsoever that simply being from one of the [...]

Teacher cuts finger, still wins Food Network cookie contest

BOURNE, Mass. (AP) " A Massachusetts teacher is one tough cookie " he cut his finger on the Food Network's "Christmas Cookie Challenge" show and still won the competition.Doug Alley lives in Rhode Island but teaches culinary arts at Upper Cape Cod Regional Technical School in Bourne, Massachusetts, and took the $10,000 top prize.Alley tells the Cape Cod Times he and his fellow contestants have been texting each other since the episodes began being aired in the run-up to [...]

Wild truffle grows on Paris rooftop, in scientific mystery

PARIS (AP) " Urban scientists and Paris foodies are getting excited about a bizarre discovery atop a hotel near the Eiffel Tower: the first-ever wild truffle growing in the French capital.It's just one 25-gram (0.9-ounce) winter truffle. But truffles normally sprout only in limited areas of southern Europe, and are so rare that the most prized versions can sell for thousands of euros per kilogram.The National Museum of National History, which confirmed the discovery Friday, [...]

New year to be a challenge for Republicans in Congress

WASHINGTON (AP) " Their tax bill triumph in the rear-view mirror, Republicans running Congress face a 2018 in which they'll need Democratic votes to get almost anything done.And that won't be easy. Short of a few must-pass items, divisions within both parties plus a natural election-year tendency to draw distinctions with the other side means achievements and cooperation will be minimal.The pressure will be on the GOP, which controls the White House, Senate and House and would [...]

DC appeals court denies stay of transgender military ban

WASHINGTON (AP) " The White House has lost another attempt to put a hold on a requirement that it allow transgender people to enlist in the military starting on Jan. 1.A decision by the three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia is the latest court decision to go against the White House, meaning the issue may end up before the Supreme Court.President Donald Trump tweeted in July that the federal government "will not accept or allow" transgender [...]

US officials say lethal weapons headed to Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) " Ukraine will soon have more lethal American-made weapons to help it fight Russian-backed separatists.U.S. officials said Friday that the Trump administration approved a plan to provide lethal weapons to Ukraine, in a long-awaited move that deepens America's involvement in the military conflict and may further strain relations with Russia.The new arms include American-made Javelin anti-tank missiles that Ukraine has long sought to boost its defenses against [...]

Officials: US agrees to provide lethal weapons to Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Trump administration has approved a plan to provide lethal weapons to Ukraine, U.S. officials said Friday, in a long-awaited move that deepens America's involvement in the military conflict and may further strain relations with Russia.The new arms include American-made Javelin anti-tank missiles that Ukraine has long sought to boost its defenses against Russian-backed separatists armed with tanks that have rolled through eastern Ukraine during violence that has [...]

Appeals court: Trump exceeded authority with travel ban

HONOLULU (AP) " A federal appeals court panel ruled Friday that President Donald Trump once again exceeded the scope of his authority with his latest travel ban.However, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals judges put their decision on hold pending review by the U.S. Supreme Court, meaning the ban involving six majority Muslim countries will remain in effect.The ruling says Trump's proclamation makes no finding whatsoever that simply being from one of the countries cited in [...]

Rocket lights sky as it carries satellites from California

VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) " A reused SpaceX rocket carried 10 satellites into orbit from California on Friday, leaving behind a trail of mystery and wonder as it soared into space.The Falcon 9 booster lifted off from coastal Vandenberg Air Force Base, carrying the latest batch of satellites for Iridium Communications.The launch in the setting sun created a shining, billowing streak that was widely seen throughout Southern California and as far away as Phoenix. [...]

US appeals court denies stay of transgender military ban

WASHINGTON (AP) " A federal appeals court in the District of Columbia on Friday refused the Trump administration's request to put a hold on a requirement that it allow transgender people to enlist in the military starting on Jan. 1.The decision by the three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia is the second appellate decision to go against the White House, meaning the issue may end up before the Supreme Court.President Donald Trump tweeted in [...]

Sessions wants review of Obama-era Hezbollah investigations

WASHINGTON (AP) " Attorney General Jeff Sessions on Friday ordered a review of the Obama administration's handling of a Drug Enforcement Administration program targeting drug trafficking by Iranian-backed Hezbollah.Sessions didn't say what prompted the review and stopped short of accusing the prior administration of wrongdoing. But the announcement comes after a Politico report that raised questions about whether Obama administration officials thwarted investigators' work on the [...]

Toshiba unveils device for Fukushima nuclear reactor probe

YOKOHAMA, Japan (AP) " Toshiba Corp.'s energy systems unit on Friday unveiled a long telescopic pipe carrying a pan-tilt camera designed to gather crucial information about the situation inside the reactor chambers at Japan's tsunami-wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant.The device is 13 meters (43 feet) long and designed to give officials a deeper view into the nuclear plant's Unit 2 primary containment vessel, where details on melted fuel damage remain largely unknown.The Fukushima [...]

Immigrant teen denied abortion threatened to hurt herself

HOUSTON (AP) " An immigrant teen who was denied an abortion by a U.S. government official, even though her pregnancy was caused by rape, had threatened to harm herself if she was forced to have the child, according to a government memo released Friday.The memo is addressed to Scott Lloyd, director of the Office of Refugee Resettlement, which shelters thousands of unaccompanied immigrant minors in the U.S. without legal permission. The American Civil Liberties Union posted the memo as [...]

Apple hit with $25K per day fine in Qualcomm antitrust case

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) " Apple is being fined $25,000 per day for missing a court-imposed deadline to produce evidence in a government lawsuit that alleges mobile chip supplier Qualcomm has been imposing unfair licensing terms on the makers of smartphones.The fine imposed Thursday by a federal magistrate judge in San Jose, California, is retroactive to Dec. 16 and will remain in effect until Dec. 29. If Apple hasn't produced all 1.3 million documents covered by an order issued in October, [...]

Los Angeles won't join California's legal pot party Jan. 1

LOS ANGELES (AP) " There will be no legal pot party in Los Angeles on Jan. 1.California kicks off recreational sales on New Year's Day, becoming the largest state in the nation with legal marijuana. But Los Angeles officials announced Friday that dispensaries in the city won't be part of the celebration.The city won't begin accepting applications to sell legal recreational pot until Jan. 3, and it could take weeks before those businesses are properly licensed with the city and [...]

Justice Dept. won't budge on terms of intelligence law

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Trump administration is unwilling to compromise with lawmakers demanding changes to the soon-to-expire foreign intelligence collection program, the Justice Department's No. 2 official said Friday, generating further uncertainty about the future of the law intelligence agencies see as vital in helping track foreign spies, terrorists, weapons traffickers and cyber criminals.Congress must reauthorize the program in its entirety to protect the public from such [...]

Suit: Apple slowed iPhones, forcing owners to buy new ones

CHICAGO (AP) " IPhone owners from several states sued Apple Inc. for not disclosing sooner that it issued software updates deliberately slowing older-model phones so aging batteries lasted longer, saying Apple's silence led them to wrongly conclude that their only option was to buy newer, pricier iPhones.The allegations were in a lawsuit filed Thursday in Chicago federal court on behalf of five iPhone owners from Illinois, Ohio, Indiana and North Carolina, all of whom say they never [...]

FBI: Man threatened San Francisco tourist area on Christmas

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) " The FBI said Friday that it found a martyrdom letter and several guns in the home of a former Marine who may have been planning a Christmas Day attack on a popular San Francisco tourist destination.Everitt Aaron Jameson, 26, a Modesto tow-truck driver, was charged Friday with attempting to provide material support to a foreign terrorist organization. It was not clear if he had an attorney.Jameson told an undercover agent he believed to be associated [...]

Trump signs tax cut in "rush job" Oval Office signing event

WASHINGTON (AP) " In the end, Donald Trump's top achievement as president" a $1.5 trillion tax overhaul " was finalized in a "rush job" of an affair. And that was OK with him.None of the members of Congress who muscled through the biggest tax overhaul in 30 years were in the Oval Office on Friday as Trump signed the measure into law. That's because the president was not pleased with news coverage that morning questioning whether he would get the bill signed before Christmas. So he [...]

Congress' GOP, Dems face divisions in run-up to '18 midterms

WASHINGTON (AP) " Their tax bill triumph in the rear-view mirror, Republicans running Congress face a 2018 in which they'll need Democratic votes to get almost anything done.And that won't be easy. Short of a few must-pass items, divisions within both parties plus a natural election-year tendency to draw distinctions with the other side means achievements and cooperation will be minimal.The pressure will be on the GOP, which controls the White House, Senate and House and would [...]

Mattis: 'Storm clouds gathering' over Korean Peninsula

FORT BRAGG, N.C. (AP) " "Storm clouds are gathering" over the Korean Peninsula, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis declared Friday. And as diplomats try to resolve the nuclear standoff, he told soldiers that the U.S. military must do its part by being ready for war.Without forecasting a conflict, Mattis emphasized that diplomacy stands the best chance of preventing a war if America's words are backed up by strong and prepared armed forces."My fine young soldiers, the only way our [...]

NASA astronaut, 1st to fly untethered in space, dies at 80

HOUSTON (AP) " NASA astronaut Bruce McCandless, the first person to fly freely and untethered in space, has died. He was 80.McCandless died Thursday in California, NASA's Johnson Space Center announced Friday. No cause of death was given.He was famously photographed in 1984 flying with a hefty spacewalker's jetpack, alone in the cosmic blackness above a blue Earth. He traveled more than 300 feet away from the space shuttle Challenger during the spacewalk.McCandless said [...]

Bitcoin goes on wild ride and it may only get crazier

NEW YORK (AP) " What's a bitcoin worth? Lately nobody knows for sure, but after a wild ride on Friday, it's worth a good deal less than it was Thursday.After losses over the last few days, the digital currency fell as much as 30 percent overnight in Asia, and the action became so frenzied that the website Coinbase suspended trading. It later made up much of that ground, and slumped 9.5 percent to $14,042 Friday, according to the tracking site CoinDesk.Experts are warning that [...]