The Latest: US confirms extended protections for Syrians

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Latest on extending temporary special protections for 7,000 Syrians (all times local):8 p.m.The Trump administration confirms it is extending protections for nearly 7,000 Syrian citizens living in the U.S. for another 18 months, saying the action is justified by civil war.Facing a Wednesday deadline, Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen says "the ongoing armed conflict and extraordinary conditions" were reasons to let them remain until [...]

Former North Dakota GOP chairman announces bid for US Senate

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) " Bismarck businessman and former North Dakota Republican Party Chairman Gary Emineth announced Wednesday he's running for U.S. Senate, calling himself the party's best hope for toppling Democratic Sen. Heidi Heitkamp."I'm in," Emineth told The Associated Press. "I can and will beat Heidi this fall."Emineth, 59, said earlier this week he began considering a run after U.S. Rep. Kevin Cramer passed up a challenge to Heitkamp. Emineth is a close friend of [...]

Lawyer: Ammo dealer saw nothing suspicious in Vegas gunman

LAS VEGAS (AP) " An Arizona man who sold ammunition to the gunman in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history was disturbed that he didn't spot any suspicious signs about his one-time customer, the man's lawyer said Wednesday.Douglas Haig had no reason to believe Stephen Paddock would launch the Oct. 1 shooting in Las Vegas that killed 58 people, attorney Marc Victor said.He said Haig wishes he could have figured out the intentions of Paddock but defends the sale of [...]

Iowa county pays $285,000 to man wrongly jailed for 68 days

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa (AP) " An Iowa county agreed Wednesday to pay $285,000 to an Arizona man who was arrested, transported across the country and jailed for 68 days for a crime that he did not commit.The payment will resolve a federal lawsuit that 23-year-old Joseph McBride filed in early January against Linn County and its longtime top prosecutor, County Attorney Jerry Vander Sanden.McBride was wrongly accused of participating in a Jan. 1, 2017, home invasion in Cedar Rapids in [...]

APNewsBreak: Alaska cop cleared in shooting death of suspect

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) " An Alaska police officer has been cleared in a fatal shooting of a handcuffed suspect who had been placed in the back of the officer's idling patrol car and managed to start driving it away, according to a decision by the state attorney general's office.The office in a letter obtained by The Associated Press following a public records request said it was reasonable for Officer Michael "Eddie" Armstrong to use deadly force in the Oct. 1 shooting of Micah [...]

Pence touts tax cuts, slams Manchin in West Virginia

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) " Vice President Mike Pence paid a visit Wednesday to a truck dealership in West Virginia, touting the tax cuts enacted by the Republican-controlled Congress while slamming the state's Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin, who voted against the plan.Manchin faces re-election this year. Pence praised Republican Rep. Evan Jenkins, who attended the speech, for voting for the tax bill. Jenkins is running for Manchin's seat."People of the Mountain State, you [...]

Facebook's latest 'fixes' at a glance

CEO Mark Zuckerberg has made fixing Facebook his personal challenge this year, and the company has already announced a slew of changes to this end. Among them, showing users more "meaningful" content from friends and family and emphasizing local news. There will be more changes coming in the next weeks and months.For now, here are the highlights of what the company has announced so far:"MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS"While the company has said before that it will emphasize [...]

New Mexico bill would force students to apply to college

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) " New Mexico's high school juniors would be required to apply to at least one college or show they have committed to other post-high school plans as part of a new high school graduation requirement being pushed by two state lawmakers.The proposal is scheduled for its first legislative hearing on Thursday. If it eventually becomes law, New Mexico would be the first state to require post-high school plans of students, said Jennifer Zinth, who is the director of high [...]

Puerto Rican voter registration drive gets state help

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) " As advocates prepare efforts register hurricane-displaced Puerto Ricans to vote in the U.S. mainland, the chief elections officer in Connecticut is putting the weight of her office behind drives to sign up as many eligible newcomers as possible.Residents of the Caribbean island are U.S. citizens, but they are barred from voting for president unless they are registered in the U.S. mainland.Secretary of the State Denise Merrill, a Democrat, said Wednesday [...]

Minorities hear division in Trump call for unity

President Donald Trump's call for American unity in his first State of the Union address struck an us-versus-them tone for many minorities, raising questions as to what extent Americans are put off by a leader who continually draws criticism as bigoted and xenophobic.For many people of color, Trump's address before Congress on Tuesday night hardly reflected a shift in his ideology or his bruising style of governance. It was not lost on them that the president simply softened what he's [...]

Trump infrastructure plan seeks to shift burden to states

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) " When President Donald Trump called for a $1.5 trillion infrastructure investment in his State of the Union address, he didn't pledge that the federal government actually would provide that much money for roads, bridges, rail and waterways.To the contrary, Trump's plan counts on state and local governments working with private investors to come up with much of the cash.Exactly how that would work remained unclear Wednesday, as state transportation [...]

Abuse victims say they were required to see disgraced doctor

CHARLOTTE, Mich. (AP) " Another wave of victims confronted Larry Nassar on Wednesday, this time about sexual abuse at an elite Michigan gymnastics club where young athletes felt they had to use the disgraced doctor's services and could not question the adults who ran the facility.The judge presiding over the case said the number of people who allege they were abused by Nassar has topped 265. That total includes 150-plus victims who offered statements at a different hearing last week, [...]

FBI clashes with Trump, has 'grave concerns' on Russia memo

WASHINGTON (AP) " In a remarkably public clash of wills with the White House, the FBI declared Wednesday it has "grave concerns" about the accuracy of a classified memo on the Russia election investigation that President Donald Trump wants released.The FBI's short and sharp statement, its first on the issue, laid bare a Trump administration conflict that had previously played out mostly behind closed doors in meetings between top Justice Department and White House officials."As [...]

Environmental groups sue to block road through Alaska refuge

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) " Nine environmental groups sued the U.S. government Wednesday to block a land trade that could lead to construction of a road through a national wildlife refuge in Alaska that is habitat for migrating waterfowl.The groups sued Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who signed an agreement last week to swap land in Izembek National Wildlife Refuge for private land held by an Alaska Native village corporation.The village of King Cove wants a road through Izembek [...]

Royal audience as SpaceX launches satellite for Luxembourg

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) " SpaceX had a royal audience as it launched a satellite for Luxembourg.The Falcon 9 rocket blasted off late Wednesday afternoon from Cape Canaveral, Florida, hoisting GovSat-1 for the government of Luxembourg and SES, the country's prime satellite operator, SES. The satellite will support both military and civilian security efforts.Witnessing the launch were Luxembourg's Prince Guillaume and his wife, Stephanie. The country's prime minister, Xavier [...]

Microsoft and LinkedIn: Is their marriage working?

It's been just over a year since Microsoft swallowed the career networking site LinkedIn. That's long enough to start asking: Was the $27 billion deal worth it?Critics warned at the time of the deal that Microsoft was overpaying for a declining business. Others argued that Microsoft's largest-ever acquisition fit into a strategy of building up the company's Office suite of workplace productivity products and its cloud-computing business.Microsoft on Wednesday posted second- [...]

Facebook's 'fixes'- meaningful or just skin deep?

NEW YORK (AP) " To Mark Zuckerberg, fixing Facebook means many things " protecting users from abuse, preventing elections meddling from malicious actors, weeding out fake news and "making sure time spent on Facebook is well spent."To critics, it's all that and then some. But many of the steps Facebook has taken so far strike them as insufficient, and in some cases aimed as much at keeping people glued to the service down the line as at really addressing Facebook's underlying problems. [...]

Gov. Colyer promises 'new day' for Kansas after taking oath

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) " Republican Jeff Colyer promised a "new day" of openness shortly after taking the oath Wednesday as Kansas' governor, addressing the public and a GOP-controlled Legislature that is deeply divided over a court order to increase state spending on public schools.Colyer, the state's longest-serving lieutenant governor, replaced former GOP Gov. Sam Brownback immediately after Brownback stepped down to become U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom. [...]

Officials: No charges for officers who killed Dallas sniper

DALLAS (AP) " A grand jury has declined to bring charges against Dallas police officers who used a bomb-carrying robot to kill a sniper who had just gunned down five officers during a downtown rally, prosecutors announced Wednesday.The Dallas County District Attorney's office said in a release that investigators presented their findings to a grand jury more than a year after the July 7, 2016, attack by Micah Johnson, a 25-year-old Army reservist who investigators said was upset by [...]

Train carrying GOP lawmakers strikes trash truck; 1 killed

CROZET, Va. (AP) " A train carrying dozens of Republican members of Congress to a policy retreat in the countryside slammed into a garbage truck in rural Virginia on Wednesday, killing one person in the truck and sending several lawmaker-doctors rushing to help the injured.No serious injuries were reported among those on the train, an Amtrak charter that set out from the nation's capital with lawmakers and staff for the luxury Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. [...]

Experts warn of risk of sinkhole in popular New Mexico area

Experts are painting a dire picture about the impending collapse of a giant cavern under a highway interchange that serves as a gateway to two national parks and the heart of New Mexico's oil and gas country.They told lawmakers Tuesday during a legislative meeting that new cracks are developing at the site on the edge of the city of Carlsbad, indicating that things are beginning to move underground."It is happening right now. It is happening in slow motion," said George Veni, [...]

Court rejects lawsuit against Twitter over IS attack

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) " A federal appeals court on Wednesday rejected a lawsuit that sought to hold Twitter liable for the deaths of two U.S. contractors in Jordan three years ago in an attack for which the Islamic State group claimed responsibility.The lawsuit failed to establish Twitter accounts used by IS directly caused the men's deaths, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said. The unanimous decision by a three-judge panel upheld a lower court ruling.Lloyd Fields and James [...]

Can 3 business titans cure the US health care system?

NEW YORK (AP) " Can a legendary investor, the king of on-line retail and a Wall Street financier find a cure for what ails America's health care system?The trio of Warren Buffett, Jeff Bezos and Jamie Dimon have had enough success in their respective industries that they are at least being given the benefit of the doubt.They have announced they're forming a new company to address health care costs for their U.S. employees, and possibly for many more Americans. The news was [...]

Loaded grenade launcher left at Florida Goodwill store

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) " Talk about one heckuva an explosive donation.Authorities say a grenade launcher, loaded with a live grenade, was left with other donated items at a Florida Goodwill store.The Bradenton Herald reports that employees at a Goodwill store near Tampa reported the weapon on Sunday.The Manatee County Sheriff's Office says the store manager told deputies that the grenade launcher had come in a shipment from another store several days earlier. The employees [...]

The Latest: Minnesota Rep. Jason Lewis taken to hospital

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Latest on the accident involving a train carrying lawmakers to a policy retreat in West Virginia (all times local):2:30 p.m.Staff members say Rep. Jason Lewis of Minnesota has been taken to a hospital after being injured in a train accident in Virginia.Members of his staff tweeted that the first-term congressman was being checked for a possible concussion after the Wednesday crash.Officials say the train was carrying Republican lawmakers from [...]

Startup hub reflects Macron's changing French economy

PARIS (AP) " For a glimpse at President Emmanuel Macron's vision for the new French economy, look no farther than Station F.Entrepreneurs don virtual reality goggles and share ideas with business angels in this old Paris train station-turned-startup incubator.The buzzing business center founded by telecom tycoon Xavier Niel hosts over 3,500 people, all hoping to see some of the 1,000 startups based here bloom into a global firm capable of competing with Silicon Valley behemoths. [...]

Nearby residents recall sights, sounds as chopper hits home

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) " Three people were killed and two others were injured when a helicopter crashed into a house in a suburban Southern California neighborhood just a few minutes after taking off, officials said.The helicopter hit a house in Newport Beach with such force that it was barely recognizable. The crushed metal sat in a heap on the side of the home, its tail rotor sticking out of the roof of a nearby home and a 6-foot chunk landing in the street in front of yet [...]

Another wave of victims confronts disgraced sports doctor

CHARLOTTE, Mich. (AP) " Another wave of victims confronted disgraced former gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar at his third and final sentencing hearing Wednesday, this time about sexual abuse at an elite Michigan club run by an Olympic coach.The judge presiding over the case said the number of people who allege they were abused by Nassar has climbed to 265. That total includes 150-plus victims who offered statements at a different hearing last week, as well as scores of new ones who are [...]

Apple to respond to US probes into slowdown of old iPhones

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) " Apple is cooperating with U.S. government inquiries into its secret slowdown of older iPhones, further complicating its efforts to move past an issue that irked customers whose devices bogged down.The company acknowledged the probes after both The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg had reported the U.S. Justice Department and Securities and Exchange Commission were investigating how investors have been affected by Apple's handling of the situation.A software [...]

US officials consider new tool to combat mine spills: Robots

DENVER (AP) " Crumbling mine tunnels awash with polluted waters perforate the Colorado mountains, and scientists may one day send robots creeping through the pitch-black passages to study the mysterious currents that sometimes burst to the surface with devastating effects.One such disaster happened at the inactive Gold King Mine in southwestern Colorado in 2015, when the Environmental Protection Agency accidentally triggered the release of 3 million gallons (11 million liters) of [...]

Stone tools in India suggest earlier human exit from Africa

NEW YORK (AP) " Just a week after scientists reported evidence that our species left Africa earlier than we thought, another discovery is suggesting the date might be pushed back further.Homo sapiens arose in Africa at least 300,000 years ago and left to colonize the globe. Scientists think there were several dispersals from Africa, not all equally successful. Last week's report of a human jaw showed some members of our species had reached Israel by 177,000 to 194,000 years ago. [...]

Owner receives letter granting dog unemployment benefits

SAUGATUCK, Mich. (AP) " Michael Ryder had been approved for $360 every week in Michigan unemployment benefits " until the state learned he'd been dogging it at the Detroit-area restaurant chain where he supposedly worked.Ryder is a German Shepherd owned by attorney Michael Haddock on the other side of the state in Saugatuck.WZZM-TV reports that Haddock received a benefits letter addressed to "Michael Ryder" from Michigan's Unemployment Insurance Agency. The station says Haddock [...]

Rep. Trey Gowdy announces plans to retire

  WASHINGTON (AP) — South Carolina GOP Rep. Trey Gowdy added his name Wednesday to the growing list of committee chairmen announcing they will not seek re-election, saying this is the right time for him to leave politics and return to the justice system.Gowdy is chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee and will be remembered for leading a two-year investigation into the deadly 2012 attacks in Benghazi, Libya, which focused heavily [...]

US prosecutors won't retry Menendez on corruption charges

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) " Federal prosecutors decided Wednesday not to retry Sen. Bob Menendez on corruption charges that ended in a hung jury last fall, lifting the legal cloud hanging over the New Jersey Democrat as he gears up for re-election this year.Prosecutors filed a motion with the court on Wednesday to throw out the case after a judge threw out some of the counts last week. The first trial for Menendez and Florida eye doctor Salomon Melgen ended in a hung jury last November. [...]

Train carrying GOP lawmakers to policy retreat hits truck

WASHINGTON (AP) " A chartered train carrying dozens of GOP lawmakers to a Republican retreat in West Virginia struck a garbage truck south of Charlottesville, Virginia, on Wednesday. No lawmakers were believed injured, but it at least one person in the truck was said to be seriously injured."We're fine, but our train hit a garbage truck. Members with medical training are assisting the drivers of the truck," Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., wrote on Twitter.A GOP aide said the train is [...]

Olympics draw Korean adoptees as South Korea confronts past

When Megan Olson lands in South Korea for the Winter Olympics next week, she'll feel something that is both surreal and vivid.An intoxicating sense of belonging.A deep sense of loss.Pride, for the motherland she barely knows after being secretly adopted away.The 33-year-old social worker from Minnesota is joining dozens of fellow South Korean adoptees who are returning to their birth country for the 2018 Winter Games in Pyeongchang.Many endured cultural, [...]

The Latest: Interim school leader says not time for politics

LANSING, Mich. (AP) " The Latest on the sexual abuse cases and investigations surrounding former sports doctor Larry Nassar (all times local):11:50 a.m.Former Michigan Gov. John Engler says he won't be political as interim president of Michigan State University, as it deals with scathing criticism over disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar.The Republican told reporters Wednesday, "This is not the time to be political." He says working to change things "starts today. [...]

Lunar showstopper: Super blue blood moon awes and wows

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) " The moon put on a rare cosmic show Wednesday: a red blue moon, super big and super bright.It's the first time in 35 years a blue moon has synced up with a supermoon and a total lunar eclipse, or blood moon because of its red hue.Hawaii and Alaska had the best seats, along with the Canadian Yukon, Australia and Asia. The western U.S. also had good viewing, along with Russia.At the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, hundreds gathered on the [...]

Hillary Clinton expresses regret over not firing adviser

NEW YORK (AP) " Hillary Clinton says she should not have let a senior campaign adviser keep his job after a female staffer accused him of sexual harassment in 2007."The most important work of my life has been to support and empower women," Clinton wrote on Facebook Tuesday night . "So I very much understand the question I'm being asked as to why I let an employee on my 2008 campaign keep his job despite his inappropriate workplace behavior. The short answer is this: If I had it to do [...]

The Latest: Nassar's final sentencing hearing underway

LANSING, Mich. (AP) " The Latest on the sexual abuse cases and investigations surrounding former sports doctor Larry Nassar (all times local):10:10 a.m.The final sentencing hearing is underway in a Michigan courtroom for disgraced former sports doctor Larry Nassar, who has been accused by scores of girls and women of sexual abuse.The hearing that started Wednesday centers on his assaults at Twistars, a Lansing-area gymnastics club that was run by 2012 Olympic coach John [...]

Kennedy SOTU response: 'Bullies may land a punch,' don't win

  WASHINGTON (AP) — Soaring stock prices under President Donald Trump have boosted investor portfolios and corporate profits but have not eased the economic anxieties of middle-class families, Massachusetts Rep. Joe Kennedy III said Tuesday night in the Democratic response to Trump's first State of the Union address.In calling on Americans to reject the "chaos" of the Trump era, Kennedy also outlined a Democratic vision that promises a "better deal for [...]

Trump favors Russia memo release, likely to come soon

WASHINGTON (AP) " President Donald Trump was overheard Tuesday night telling a Republican lawmaker he is "100 percent" in favor of releasing a classified memo on the Russia investigation, and his chief of staff says the document is likely to be released "pretty quick."The memo has sparked a political fight pitting Republicans against the FBI and the Justice Department."Oh yeah, don't worry," the president told South Carolina Rep. Jeff Duncan on the House floor after his first [...]

Trump's time, Democrats' grumbles, Melania's white pantsuit

WASHINGTON (AP) " Scenes from the Capitol on a night of pomp, pageantry and politics for the State of the Union address:___It wasn't the longest State of the Union address. That designation still goes to former President Bill Clinton.But an hour and 20 minutes of President Donald Trump talking Tuesday was plenty long enough for House Democrats. Just before Trump finished, their leader, Rep. Nancy Pelosi, made eye contact with Rep. Joe Crowley of New York and pointed [...]

No, that wasn't drool on his lips, Rep. Joe Kennedy says

WASHINGTON (AP) " No, that wasn't drool on the lips of Massachusetts Rep. Joe Kennedy III. He says it was ChapStick.Twitter lit up with jibes about the 37-year-old Democrat's response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union. In his televised speech Tuesday, Kennedy's lips appeared wet and glistening, leading to tweets about Kennedy's "drool."Kennedy joked on ABC's "Good Morning America" Wednesday that he "decided to go a little bit light on the ChapStick this morning ... [...]

Moment of silence set to honor Memphis sanitation workers

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) " Rain was falling in Memphis, Tennessee, when two sanitation workers picking up trash sought shelter in the back of a city garbage truck on Feb. 1, 1968.The poorly-maintained truck's compactor malfunctioned, crushing Echol Cole and Robert Walker to death.Fed up with bad working conditions, low pay and a lack of benefits, 1,300 black sanitation workers went on strike. Their walk-out drew support from civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr., who came to [...]

Maine city's attempt to break beer can record comes up short

BANGOR, Maine (AP) " Residents of a Maine city came just 28 beer cans short of setting a world record last week.Attendees at Bangor's Annual Chamber Dinner were attempting to break the record for simultaneously opening beer cans. WABI-TV reports the vast majority of the beers were supplied by Geaghan Brothers Brewing.The Brewer-based brewery says they received word they did not break the record from Guinness World Records recently after sending video of the attempt.The [...]

Why did Melania wear white? Some see hidden meanings

WASHINGTON (AP) " Twitter went wild with speculation when first lady Melania Trump showed up for her husband's first State of the Union address in an ivory Christian Dior pantsuit.Some suggested sarcastically her attire was a tribute to Hillary Clinton, her husband's 2016 Democratic opponent, who favors pantsuits. Or, was she honoring the suffragettes, who made white their signature color? Others tweeted that Mrs. Trump looked "divine."Her suit was in contrast to the black worn [...]

Trump's clapping draws amusement, derision on social media

WASHINGTON (AP) " President Donald Trump's repeated clapping throughout his first State of the Union drew reactions from amusement to derision on social media.Trump's applause during Tuesday night's address was audible over and over again as cameras cut away from the president and showed lawmakers and others offering varied levels of approval to his remarks.Twitter users posted videos of Trump clapping for himself, with some noting that it became an annoying distraction. Others [...]

Trump calls for optimism in spite of warnings of danger

WASHINGTON (AP) " Addressing a deeply divided nation, President Donald Trump summoned the country to a "new American moment" of unity in his first State of the Union, challenging Congress to make good on long-standing promises to fix a fractured immigration system and warning darkly of evil forces seeking to undermine America's way of life.Trump's address Tuesday night blended self-congratulation and calls for optimism amid a growing economy with ominous warnings about deadly gangs, [...]

Lunar Showstopper: 1st super blue blood moon in 35 years

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) " The moon is putting on a rare cosmic show Wednesday.It's the first time in 35 years a blue moon has synced up with a supermoon and a total lunar eclipse.Hawaii and Alaska have the best seats, along with the Canadian Yukon, Australia and Asia. The western U.S. should have good viewing, too, along with Russia. The U.S. East Coast, Europe and most of South America and Africa are out of luck for the eclipse.The second full moon in a calendar month [...]

Health care's Three Amigos? The big names behind a new push

NEW YORK (AP) " Three guys walk into a bar. They're Warren Buffett, Amazon.com's Jeff Bezos and JPMorgan Chase's Jamie Dimon. They decide to transform the American health care system.That's probably not how these three men decided to form a new company to address health care costs for their U.S. employees, and possibly for many more Americans. The three companies, with a combined market cap of $1.62 trillion, did not provide details of how the collaboration between their CEOs came [...]

Arizona man says he sold ammunition to Las Vegas shooter

LAS VEGAS (AP) " An Arizona man named in court documents as a "person of interest" during the investigation of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history said he had met the shooter one time and sold ammunition to him.Douglas Haig told The Associated Press on Tuesday that he had been contacted earlier by investigators in the case.Speaking at his suburban home in Mesa, Haig said he planned to hold a news conference later this week to answer questions about his name [...]

Hawaii worker who sent false alert had problems but kept job

HONOLULU (AP) " Hawaii emergency management officials knew for years that an employee had problems performing his job. Then, he sent a false alert warning of an imminent missile attack earlier this month.The worker had mistakenly believed drills for tsunami and fire warnings were actual events, and colleagues were not comfortable working with him, the state said Tuesday. His supervisors counseled him but kept him for a decade in a position that had to be renewed each year.The [...]

Robots could descend into old mines to prevent toxic spills

DENVER (AP) " Crumbling mine tunnels awash with polluted waters perforate the Colorado mountains, and scientists may one day send robots creeping through the pitch-black passages to study the mysterious currents that sometimes burst to the surface with devastating effects.One such disaster happened at the inactive Gold King Mine in southwestern Colorado in 2015, when the Environmental Protection Agency accidentally triggered the release of 3 million gallons (11 million liters) of [...]

Australia probes sale of secret papers in filing cabinets

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) " The Australian government on Wednesday launched an urgent investigation into the loss of thousands of classified documents that were sold with two second-hand filing cabinets.The cabinets were sold by a Canberra furniture shop at a discount price because they were locked and no one could find keys, Australian Broadcasting Corp. reported.The ABC has not identified the buyer who removed the locks with a drill and found thousands of Cabinet documents [...]

3 dead, 2 injured as helicopter crashes into California home

NEWPORT BEACH, Calif. (AP) " Three people were killed and two injured when a helicopter crashed into a house in a suburban Southern California neighborhood just a few minutes after taking off, officials said.The helicopter crashed into the house with such force that it was barely recognizable. The crushed metal sat in a heap on the side of the house, its tail rotor sticking out of the roof of a nearby home and a 6-foot chunk landing in the street in front of yet another house. [...]

Trump favors release of memo White House wants reviewed

WASHINGTON (AP) " President Donald Trump was overheard Tuesday night telling a Republican lawmaker he is "100 percent" in favor of releasing a classified memo on the Russia investigation that has sparked a political fight pitting Republicans against the FBI and the Justice Department."Oh yeah, don't worry," the president told South Carolina Rep. Jeff Duncan on the House floor after his first State of the Union address. "100 percent."Duncan had implored Trump to "release the [...]

Trump signs order to keep Guantanamo Bay prison open

WASHINGTON (AP) " President Donald Trump has signed an executive order to keep open the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, marking a formal reversal of his predecessor's eight-year effort to shut it down.Trump made it clear during his campaign that he wanted Guantanamo to remain open and to "load it up with some bad dudes," but he has not yet sent a new detainee to the facility.The order, which Trump signed Tuesday night just before delivering his first State of the Union [...]

Nassar to face another sentence, victims in return to court

LANSING, Mich. (AP) " Larry Nassar, the sports doctor accused of sexually assaulting more than 150 women and girls, will be confronted again by scores of victims as he faces another prison sentence for molesting gymnasts, this time at an elite Michigan club run by an Olympic coach.Judge Janice Cunningham has set aside several days for roughly 60 people who want to confront Nassar or have their statement read in court. The event starting Wednesday could unfold much the same as a [...]

New Kansas governor faces skeptical lawmakers, schools fight

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) " Republican Jeff Colyer is preparing to take over as Kansas' next governor, facing a skeptical Legislature deeply divided over a court mandate to increase state spending on public schools.Colyer is the state's longest-serving lieutenant governor and was scheduled to be sworn in as governor Wednesday afternoon.He is replacing GOP Gov. Sam Brownback, who's stepping down to become U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom.The biggest [...]

Massachusetts gambling regulators to review Wynn allegations

BOSTON (AP) " Massachusetts gambling regulators are holding a special meeting to discuss sexual misconduct allegations against casino magnate Steve Wynn, whose company is building a $2.4 billion casino outside Boston.The Massachusetts Gaming Commission will receive an update on an investigation Wednesday.Republican Gov. Charlie Baker says if the allegations are true, Wynn would "fail to meet the suitability standard under the state gaming law."The Wall Street Journal [...]

US teacher in trouble in Vietnam over offensive comments

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) " An American teacher in Vietnam is in trouble for making offensive comments about one of the country's most revered figures.Daniel Hauer, an English teacher in Hanoi, commented on Facebook that he was getting a genital piercing with a part in the shape of late Gen. Vo Nguyen Giap, a national hero who fought the French and American invaders. Giap died at age 102 in 2013.The comments drew a furious public response, with many calling for his deportation. [...]

Trump says he's '100 percent' for releasing GOP memo

WASHINGTON (AP) " President Donald Trump was overheard Tuesday telling a Republican lawmaker he is "100 percent" in favor of releasing a classified memo on the Russia investigation that has sparked a political fight pitting Republicans against the FBI and the Justice Department."Oh yeah, don't worry," the president told South Carolina Rep. Jeff Duncan on the House floor after his first State of the Union address. "100 percent."Duncan had implored Trump to "release the memo. [...]

So much for speech: Trump on hot mic says he'll release memo

WASHINGTON (AP) " Scenes from the Capitol on a night of pomp, pageantry and politics for the State of the Union address:Talk about stepping on one's message.Schmoozing in the House chamber after delivering his maiden State of the Union speech, a hot mic caught President Donald Trump telling a Republican lawmaker that he was "100 percent" in favor of making public a classified Republican intelligence memo. That was further than the White House had gone on the matter and not [...]

Sydney's Ferry McFerryface renamed after children's author

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) " A Sydney Harbor ferry christened Ferry McFerryface three months ago has been renamed after a political squabble.New South Wales Minister for Transport and Infrastructure Andrew Constance said in November that McFerryface came second place in a competition after the now famous choice, Boaty McBoatface.But Constance said Wednesday that McFerry was only a temporary name to entertain children during the southern summer and the ferry had been permanently [...]

The Latest: Trump says US military needs 'unmatched power'

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Latest on President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech (all times local):10:20 p.m.President Donald Trump says "unmatched power" is the surest defense against threats from rogue regimes, terrorist groups and rivals like China and Russia.He says that's why he's asking Congress to remove budget caps on defense spending and fully fund the U.S. military.The president says the U.S. defense must also include a nuclear weapons arsenal so [...]

Texas executes Dallas man for killing ex-girlfriend in 1999

HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) " A Dallas man was executed Tuesday for the 1999 slaying of his ex-girlfriend while he already was on parole for killing his estranged wife.William Rayford, 64, became the nation's second inmate put to death this year, both in Texas, when he received lethal injection for beating, stabbing and strangling 44-year-old Carol Lynn Thomas Hall. Her body was found about 300 feet (91 meters) inside a drainage pipe behind her home in South Dallas' Oak Cliff area. Hall's [...]

Arizona man says he sold ammunition to Las Vegas shooter

LAS VEGAS (AP) " An Arizona man named in court documents as a "person of interest" during the investigation of the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history said Tuesday he had met the shooter one time and sold ammunition to him.Douglas Haig told The Associated Press that he had been contacted earlier by investigators in the case.Speaking at his suburban home in Mesa, Haig said he planned to hold a news conference later this week to answer questions about his name [...]

Earnings surge for Samsung Electronics on huge chip profit

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) " Quarterly earnings surged again for Samsung Electronics, thanks to its record-breaking chip business.The South Korean company said Wednesday that its October-December earnings jumped 74 percent to 12 trillion won ($11.2 billion), compared with 6.9 trillion won a year earlier. It was slightly higher than analysts' consensus of 11 trillion won, according to financial data provider FactSet.Sales and operating profit also rose in line with Samsung's [...]

The Latest: Lawmakers claim prime seats for big speech

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Latest on President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech (all times local):8:15 p.m.An hour before President Donald Trump's big speech, the House chamber is beginning to fill with lawmakers eying prime seats and making small talk.Republicans seem more intent on arriving early. The GOP side is filling steadily while Democrats are taking a bit more time getting to their posts. Indeed, about a dozen Democratic lawmakers have announced they won't be [...]

Pelosi to Dems: Let Trump's 'slobbering self' be SOTU star

WASHINGTON (AP) " Scenes from the Capitol on a night of pomp, pageantry and politics for the State of the Union address:House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi is advising Democrats to be on their better behavior during President Donald Trump's speech " for strategy's sake."Let the attention be on his slobbering self," Pelosi told members during a closed caucus meeting, according to a Democratic aide in the room who was not authorized to discuss internal discussions publicly and [...]

Montana lawmaker who attacked reporter to advise GOP aides

DENVER (AP) " Montana Rep. Greg Gianforte will advise a group of Republican aides on how to hire good personnel nine months after he assaulted a reporter and his campaign spokesman made false statements about the attack.Gianforte, a Republican, is scheduled to make the presentation on Feb. 13 in Washington to a Republican "communicators" group.The regular gathering of GOP press aides is being expanded to include congressional legislative directors and chiefs of staff so they [...]

A taxpayer-backed bank for pot money? Maybe in California

LOS ANGELES (AP) " California officials announced Tuesday that they will take a detailed look at the possibility of creating a taxpayer-backed bank to handle what could be billions of dollars in revenue generated by the state's legal marijuana industry.State Treasurer John Chiang stopped short of endorsing the idea but said his office would work with the state attorney general to examine how a weed bank might function for California's emerging pot economy, estimated to grow to $7 [...]

Hawaii worker who sent false alert had problems but kept job

HONOLULU (AP) " Hawaii's emergency management leader has resigned and a state employee who sent an alert falsely warning of an incoming ballistic missile has been fired, officials said Tuesday, weeks after the mistake caused widespread panic.Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Vern Miyagi stepped down Tuesday, state Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Joe Logan said. A second agency worker quit before disciplinary action was taken and another was being suspended without pay, Logan [...]

Regulators vote to protect more corals in Atlantic Ocean

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) " Federal fishing regulators on Tuesday approved a compromise they said would expand the amount of coral habitat preserved in the Atlantic Ocean while also protecting fishing interests.The New England Fishery Management Council voted on coral protections in an area south of Georges Bank, one of the most important commercial fishing areas in the Northeast. The decision came about seven months after the council approved protections in another key New England fishing [...]

Texas inmate asking US Supreme Court to keep him alive

HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) " A Texas death row inmate looked to the U.S. Supreme Court to keep him from being executed Tuesday for the 1999 slaying of his ex-girlfriend while he already was on parole for killing his estranged wife.William Rayford, 64, would be the nation's second inmate executed this year if his lethal injection is carried out Tuesday evening. He was convicted in the beating, stabbing and strangling death of 44-year-old Carol Lynn Thomas Hall.Hall's body was found [...]

Reports: DOJ, SEC probe Apple for slowing older iPhones

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) " U.S. authorities are investigating Apple's slowing of older iPhones, according to published reports.The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg reported Tuesday that the Department of Justice and the Securities and Exchange Commission are probing whether Apple violated securities laws. In December, Apple apologized for the slowdown after a blogger's tests revealed the secretive practice.Apple has previously been rebuked by lawmakers, and faces a French probe and [...]

Congressman: Deport 'illegal aliens' at State of the Union

WASHINGTON (AP) " Any "illegal aliens" who attend Tuesday's State of the Union address as guests of Democrats should be arrested and deported, a Republican congressman from Arizona said.More than 20 Democratic lawmakers have invited "Dreamers," young immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children and are living here illegally, to President Donald Trump's first State of the Union address. Congress has been unable to come up with a legislative solution for their legal status, which [...]

Police release photo of unidentified boy found dead in Texas

DALLAS (AP) " Police released a photo Tuesday of a still-unidentified boy whose dead body washed ashore three months ago in Galveston, Texas.Investigators made the unusual move in hopes of generating new leads after hundreds of other tips have not provided answers. Previously, a police sketch artist drew a portrait of the boy that was widely released in news outlets, on billboards from Texas to Kentucky and through national missing children's foundations.Police spokesman Josh [...]

'Person of interest' redacted from Vegas shooting records

LAS VEGAS (AP) " Search warrant records unsealed Tuesday show that in the first hours after the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, Las Vegas police and FBI agents identified two people of interest along with the lone gunman, Stephen Paddock.The name of one of those people is blacked out in the court records released to The Associated Press.The Las Vegas Review-Journal, citing police documents, identified that person as Douglas Haig. He could not immediately be [...]

Emergency alerts to be sent less widely to make them useful

NEW YORK (AP) " Regulators want to make emergency alerts on cellphones more useful by requiring wireless carriers to distribute them less widely.The Federal Communications Commission says carriers must transmit the alerts to more specific locations, rather than broadly. That could help make alerts more relevant. The fear is that consumers will disregard alerts if they come too often or don't address an emergency in their immediate area.These messages appear on phones like texts [...]

Facebook says it's banned 'misleading' financial ads

NEW YORK (AP) " Facebook says it is banning ads for financial products often associated with deceptive practices, including those involving cryptocurrencies such as bitcoin.The new policy says ads can't promote such services, which also include those involving initial coin offerings. Those offerings are a means of raising capital by selling digital currency that can then be traded. The digital coins or tokens represent an interest in a company.Facebook says examples of [...]

Top official resigns after false missile alert in Hawaii

HONOLULU (AP) " Hawaii's emergency management leader has resigned and a state employee who sent an alert falsely warning of an incoming ballistic missile has been fired, officials said Tuesday, after the mistake caused widespread panic earlier this month.Hawaii Emergency Management Agency Administrator Vern Miyagi stepped down Tuesday, state Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Joe Logan said. A second agency worker quit before disciplinary action was taken and another was being suspended [...]

Feds vote to protect more corals in Atlantic Ocean

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) " Federal fishing regulators say they have reached a compromise to expand the amount of coral habitat preserved in the Atlantic Ocean while also protecting fishing interests.The New England Fishery Management Council voted on coral protection Tuesday. It approved protections in another key fishing area, the Gulf of Maine, in June.The new protections would apply to an area south of Georges Bank, which is one of the most important commercial fishing areas in [...]

Meryl Streep, Debbie Harry named to New Jersey Hall of Fame

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) " Academy Award winner Meryl Streep, former New York Yankees pitcher Al Leiter (LY'-tur) and E Street Band member Steven Van Zandt are among the 20 newest members of the New Jersey Hall of Fame.The class of 2017 also includes singers Debbie Harry and Frankie Valli and "Cake Boss" reality TV star Buddy Valastro for the performing arts. Authors Harlan Coben and Anna Quindlen represent arts and letters.The inductees for public service are astronauts Mark and [...]

Lawsuits say Mexican gray wolf recovery plan is flawed

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) " U.S. wildlife managers failed to adopt a recovery plan for the endangered Mexican gray wolf that would protect against illegal killings and the consequences of inbreeding, according to lawsuits filed Tuesday by environmentalists.Two coalitions of environmental groups filed separate complaints in federal court in Arizona, marking the latest challenges in a decades-long battle over efforts to re-establish the predator in its historic range in the American [...]

5 ideas win $10,000 each in Ohio opioid technology challenge

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) " Virtual reality, neural feedback and digital therapy were among five ideas to help solve the U.S. opioid crisis that won a global technology challenge on Tuesday.Winners were selected from hundreds of ideas submitted by researchers, caregivers, service providers and individuals from Ohio, other states and nine countries. Each will receive $10,000 to take their idea to the next phase.The $8 million Ohio Opioid Technology Challenge is modeled after the Head [...]

Senate set to pass bill in response to sports doctor scandal

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Senate is poised to respond to the sex abuse scandal involving sports doctor Larry Nassar by approving legislation that requires governing bodies for amateur athletics to quickly report claims of abuse to law enforcement.Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the bill's main sponsor, said at a press conference that the bill could pass the Senate by voice vote later Tuesday. The measure would then be sent to President Donald Trump for his signature. The House [...]

5 ideas win $10,000 each in Ohio opioid science challenge

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) " Virtual reality, neural feedback and digital therapy were among five ideas to help solve the U.S. opioid crisis that won a global technology challenge on Tuesday.Winners were selected from hundreds of ideas submitted by researchers, caregivers, service providers and individuals from Ohio, other states and nine countries. Each will receive $10,000 to take their idea to the next phase.The $8 million Ohio Opioid Technology Challenge is modeled after the Head [...]

WH reviewing classified GOP memo alleging surveillance abuse

WASHINGTON (AP) " The White House said Tuesday it will conduct a legal and national security review before President Donald Trump decides whether to release a classified memo on the Russia investigation that has sparked a political firestorm pitting Republicans against the FBI and the Department of Justice.Trump has five days to object to the release of the memo, though he has signaled he wants it made public. The memo arrived at the White House Monday evening after Republicans on the [...]

The Latest: Trump economic, security aides help with speech

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Latest on President Donald Trump's State of the Union speech (all times local):12:18 p.m.President Donald Trump's top economic and national security advisers help with his State of the Union address.A White House official says national security adviser H.R. McMaster and economic adviser Gary Cohn contributed to the speech Trump plans to deliver Tuesday night at the Capitol. The official says they were assisted by policy adviser Stephen Miller, staff [...]

Volkswagen suspends executive over monkey tests

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) " Automaker Volkswagen has suspended its head of external relations and sustainability in response to widespread public criticism over experiments in which monkeys were exposed to diesel exhaust.The company said in a statement Tuesday that Thomas Steg was stepping away from his duties at his own request.The statement from the automaker said that the company was "drawing the first consequences" as it investigates the activities of EUGT, the entity backed [...]

5 ideas win $10K each in Ohio opioid science challenge

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) " Virtual reality, neural feedback and digital therapy were among five ideas to help solve the U.S. opioid crisis that won a global technology challenge in Ohio on Tuesday.Winners were selected from hundreds of ideas submitted by researchers, caregivers, service providers and individuals from Ohio, other states and nine countries. Each will receive $10,000 to take their idea to the next phase.The $8 million Ohio Opioid Technology Challenge is modeled after [...]

Prosecutors: Reputed mob boss orchestrated insurance fraud

NEW YORK (AP) " A reputed Philadelphia mob boss who reinvented himself as a restaurateur relapsed into a life of crime by orchestrating a health care fraud that made a fortune for an East Coast crime syndicate, a prosecutor said Tuesday in opening arguments at his federal trial.Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino was a tough-talking "fixer" in a widespread scheme to collect insurance payments by bribing doctors to write bogus prescriptions for a pain cream, Assistant U.S. Attorney Max [...]

Poultry in motion: Bill targets owners of trespassing fowl

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) " Why did the chicken cross the road? In New Hampshire, the answer may soon cost its owners.The Legislature is considering a bill that would make trespassing fowl a violation, not for the chicken, but for its owners. Under the proposal, anyone who knowingly, recklessly or negligently allows their domestic fowl to enter someone else's property without permission can be convicted of a violation if the birds damage crops or property.The law already makes such [...]

An island without gas? That's happening in North Carolina

OCRACOKE, N.C. (AP) " It's a good thing Ocracoke Island in North Carolina is small enough to walk or bike around. The island along the Outer Banks has lost its only gas station.Hyde County manager Bill Rich tells The Virginian-Pilot in Norfolk, Virginia, that the fuel provider for Ocracoke Station shut off the pumps because the owner couldn't pay the bills.The station was damaged by Hurricane Matthew in October 2016. Rich says the owner has spent his money repairing the station [...]

Human error, inadequate safeguards blamed in missile alert

NEW YORK (AP) " The Federal Communications Commission says human error and inadequate safeguards are to blame for a missile alert that was sent mistakenly in Hawaii.The FCC said Tuesday that the individual who sent the false alert refused to talk to the agency, but provided a written statement. The FCC says Hawaii has been testing alert capabilities, and he mistook a drill for a real warning about a missile threat. He responded by sending the alert. There was no sign-off from a [...]

AI researcher Ng launches $175 million investment fund

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) " The artificial intelligence researcher who has said he wants to free humanity from repetitive mental drudgery also wants to save AI entrepreneurs time spent raising funds.Andrew Ng (unh) says he's launching a $175 million fund to invest in AI startups, backed by private-equity firms NEA, Sequoia, Greylock Partners and Softbank.Ng's the co-founder of online education platform Coursera who's led AI teams at Google and Baidu. He says his background will help [...]

Aussie military says tracking app doesn't breach security

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) " Australia's military said on Tuesday that a fitness tracking application did not breach security despite revelations that an interactive, online map using its data can show troop locations around the world.The Pentagon announced this week that it was doing a broad review of how the U.S. military forces use exercise trackers and other wearable electronic devices after the revelations about GPS tracking company Strava's application. Strava's online Global Heat [...]

Victim's dad: Son, killer had run-in before jealous rampage

MELCROFT, Pa. (AP) " The father of one of four people gunned down by a woman's jealous ex-boyfriend says the shooter had an altercation with his son at a bar hours before the deadly rampage.Scott Porterfield tells the Tribune Review he's seen security footage from Tall Cedars lounge in Donegal, about 50 miles (80 kilometers) southwest of Pittsburgh, that shows the shooter placing his hand on his son Billy Porterfield's shoulder early Sunday morning.He says a staff member asked [...]

New TV talker Christie says Trump shouldn't sit with Mueller

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) " Chris Christie does not think President Donald Trump should sit down face to face with special prosecutor Robert Mueller.The former Republican governor of New Jersey spoke Tuesday during his first appearance as a political contributor for ABC News. Christie was characterized on "Good Morning America" as a friend and adviser to President Donald Trump.Christie, who served as the U.S. attorney for New Jersey before he was elected, says he doesn't think there [...]

Top jobs in Congress no longer the prize they used to be

WASHINGTON (AP) " Lawmakers spend their careers eying coveted committee chairmanships, angling for the chance at the perks and power that came with the top spot.New Jersey Republican Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen is bowing out after one term.Frelinghuysen's announcement Monday that he would not seek re-election, giving up the chairmanship of the House Appropriations Committee, punctuated the dwindling prestige and influence of the positions once considered an apex of power on [...]

UK actor Tennant accepts damages over tabloid phone hacking

LONDON (AP) " Former "Doctor Who" star David Tennant has accepted an apology and damages from Rupert Murdoch's newspaper company over phone hacking by a now-defunct tabloid.Tennant is one of six people whose claims against News Group Newspapers were settled Tuesday at the High Court in London.Lawyer Sara Mansoori said Tennant was "outraged and shocked by the invasions of his privacy by individuals working for or acting on behalf of the News of the World."News Group [...]

EU warns of legal action over air quality standards

BRUSSELS (AP) " The European Union's top environment official on Tuesday warned several member countries that they face legal action if they continue to flout the bloc's air quality standards.Environment Commissioner Karmenu Vella said Tuesday that "we cannot go on postponing and delaying," noting that some countries are still failing to meet deadlines set for 2005 and 2010.Vella didn't specify which countries he warned, but his comments came after talks with ministers from [...]

Putin: US took 'hostile step' in publishing Russia list

MOSCOW (AP) " Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Tuesday the Trump administration made a "hostile step" when it published a list of Russian businessmen and politicians as part of a sanctions law against Moscow.The long-awaited U.S. publication appears to be mainly a list of people in Russian government, along with 96 "oligarchs" from a Forbes magazine ranking of Russian billionaires.The list, ordered by Congress in response to Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential [...]

US, Qatar reach agreement on subsidy spat with airlines

WASHINGTON (AP) " The United States and Qatar have reached a deal to resolve a years-old quarrel over alleged airline subsidies, as Qatar's government works to defuse tensions with the Trump administration.A formal announcement could come Tuesday, when Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis meet with a Qatari delegation.The agreement will see state-owned Qatar Airways agree voluntarily to open up its accounting books, the individuals said. U.S. [...]

Volkswagen suspends executive over monkey trials

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) " Automaker Volkswagen has suspended its head of external relations and sustainability in response to controversy over experiments in which monkeys were exposed to diesel exhaust.The company said in a statement Tuesday that Thomas Steg was stepping away from his duties at his own request. Steg had said in an interview published in the Bild newspaper that he had known about the experiment but did not inform the company's then-CEO, Martin Winterkorn.The [...]

Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie hired by ABC News

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) " Chris Christie is known for speaking his mind. Now, he'll get paid to do it.The former Republican governor of New Jersey on Tuesday made his first appearance as a political contributor for ABC News. Christie was characterized on "Good Morning America" as a friend and adviser to President Donald Trump.Christie will appear during the network's coverage of Trump's State of the Union address on Tuesday night.Christie said Trump should use the speech to [...]

Mark Ruffalo leads counter-event to Trump State of the Union

NEW YORK (AP) " Celebrities and activists have taken part in an evening of speeches and music in Manhattan billed as "The People's State of the Union."Monday's event was planned in response to President Donald Trump's first State of the Union address on Tuesday.It was held at The Town Hall, a historic venue founded as a meeting spot for suffragists more than 90 years ago.Speakers included Mark Ruffalo, Kathy Najimy, John Leguizamo and Democratic New York City Mayor Bill [...]

The Latest: Putin says US list of Russians is 'hostile step'

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Latest on the Trump administration and Russia sanctions (all times local):7:15 a.m.Russian President Vladimir Putin says the Trump administration's list of top officials and businesspeople is a "hostile step" that harms relations between Russia and the United States.Just 12 minutes before the deadline, the administration late on Monday released a long-awaited list of 114 Russian politicians and 96 "oligarchs" who have flourished under Putin, [...]

The Latest: Official says US trying to meddle in Russia vote

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Latest on the Trump administration and Russia sanctions (all times local):6:10 a.m.The chairwoman of the upper chamber of the Russian parliament says Monday's publication of the list of Russian officials and businessmen as part of a U.S. law on sanctions against Russia is an attempt to influence Russia's upcoming presidential vote.The Trump administration late on Monday published a long-anticipated list of top Russian officials and "oligarchs" who [...]

The Latest: Navalny lauds listing of 'crooks and thieves'

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Latest on the Trump administration and Russia sanctions (all times local):2:55 a.m.Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny has lauded the Trump administration's list of Russian oligarchs and politicians as a "good list."The list released late on Monday was required by a sanctions law, adopted last year against Russia for meddling in the 2016 U.S. election. Although it does not trigger any U.S. sanctions against the individuals, the very [...]

The Latest: Russian politician says list is just 'who's who'

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Latest on the Trump administration and Russia sanctions (all times local):2:20 a.m.Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich has dismissed the Trump administration's list of Russian politicians and businessmen as simply a "who's who" of Russian politics.The list released by the Trump administration late on Monday includes 114 political figures and 96 people the U.S. Treasury deems to be "oligarchs." The list, required by a law passed by [...]

Lawyers chase O.J. Simpson over $70M wrongful death judgment

LOS ANGELES (AP) " O.J. Simpson is cashing in on autographs since his release from prison and should pay the money toward a wrongful death judgment that now exceeds $70 million, according to a lawyer for the family of Fred Goldman whose son was killed in 1994 along with Simpson's ex-wife.Attorney David Cook is asking a Los Angeles Superior Court judge Tuesday to order Simpson to hand over future money he makes from celebrity appearances or autographing sports memorabilia to satisfy [...]

Trump to herald economic progress in State of the Union

WASHINGTON (AP) " President Donald Trump will herald a robust economy and push for bipartisan congressional action on immigration in Tuesday's State of the Union address, as he seeks to rally a deeply divided nation and boost his own sagging standing with Americans.The speech marks the ceremonial kickoff of Trump's second year in office and is traditionally a president's biggest platform to speak to the nation. However, Trump has redefined presidential communications with his high- [...]

Republicans vote to release classified memo on Russia probe

WASHINGTON (AP) " Brushing aside opposition from the Justice Department, Republicans on the House intelligence committee voted to release a classified memo that purports to show improper use of surveillance by the FBI and the Justice Department in the Russia investigation.The four-page memo has become a political flashpoint, with President Donald Trump and many Republicans pushing for its release and suggesting that some in the Justice Department and FBI have conspired against the [...]

Yet another House chairman giving up a coveted post

WASHINGTON (AP) " Lawmakers spend their careers eying coveted committee chairmanships, angling for the chance at the perks and power that came with the top spot.New Jersey Republican Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen is bowing out after one term.Frelinghuysen's announcement Monday that he would not seek re-election, giving up the chairmanship of the House Appropriations Committee, punctuated the dwindling prestige and influence of the positions once consider an apex of power on Capitol [...]

Lawmakers sending their own messages during Trump's speech

WASHINGTON (AP) " President Donald Trump won't be the only one trying to send a message when he delivers his first State of the Union address.A look at some of the ways lawmakers are using the speech to make a point:___#METOOMany female Democratic lawmakers plan to follow the lead of celebrities at this year's Golden Globe Awards by wearing black to the State of the Union.Allegations of sexual harassment have had a big impact on Capitol Hill in recent [...]

Guests to State of the Union speech carry political messages

WASHINGTON (AP) " President Donald Trump's guests for his State of the Union speech Tuesday include an Ohio welder who will benefit from his tax overhaul plan and the parents of two Long Island teenagers who were believed to be killed by MS-13 gang members.Among his other guests are rescuers who battled wildfires in California and flooding in Texas, as well as a Marine who re-enlisted after losing his legs and going blind from a roadside bomb.The guests will be seated in the [...]

Reputed Philadelphia mob boss faces NYC fraud trial

NEW YORK (AP) " A reputed Philadelphia mob boss known for beating murder raps, surviving attempts on his life and reinventing himself as a restaurateur is back in court facing federal fraud charges.Opening statements in the trial of Joseph "Skinny Joey" Merlino are set for Tuesday in federal court in Manhattan.Merlino, 55, was among nearly four dozen defendants arrested in a 2016 crackdown on an East Coast syndicate that prosecutors say committed crimes including extortion, [...]

Ginsburg to skip State of the Union to speak in Rhode Island

BRISTOL, R.I. (AP) " U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is skipping President Donald Trump's first State of the Union address while she travels to Rhode Island to speak to a group of law students.Ginsburg is scheduled to speak on Tuesday at Roger Williams University School of Law in Bristol.The talk will only be open to students, faculty and staff, although members of the media are allowed.During her trip to Rhode Island, Ginsburg also is set to make stops at [...]

Coral protections in Atlantic Ocean up for key vote

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) " Federal fishing regulators are set to vote on a proposal that could protect nearly 90 percent of the coral habitat in a key commercial fishing area off New England.The New England Fishery Management Council is expected to vote on the proposal on Tuesday. The council approved protections in another key fishing area, the Gulf of Maine, in June.The same council has held off on voting on protections for an area south of Georges Bank until it could get more [...]

Judge who freed detained immigrant raises targeting issue

NEW YORK (AP) " A federal judge who ordered a detained immigration rights activist facing deportation to be immediately released raised "grave concern" over the argument that he had been targeted because of his political activities, a concern also expressed by immigrants and their advocates over his and others' cases.During a hearing in Manhattan federal court on Monday over the detention of Ravi Ragbir, U.S. District Judge Katherine B. Forrest asked a prosecutor what U.S. Immigration [...]

US issues 'Putin list' of Russian politicians, oligarchs

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Trump administration late Monday released a long-awaited list of 114 Russian politicians and 96 "oligarchs" who have flourished during the reign of President Vladimir Putin, fulfilling a demand by Congress that the U.S. punish Moscow for interfering in the 2016 U.S. election.Yet the administration paired that move with a surprising announcement that it had decided not to punish anybody " for now " under new sanctions retaliating for the election-meddling. Some U. [...]

US, Qatar reach agreement on subsidy spat with airlines

WASHINGTON (AP) " The United States and Qatar have reached a deal to resolve a years-old quarrel over alleged airline subsidies, seven individuals familiar with the deal said Monday, as Qatar's government works to defuse tensions with the Trump administration.The agreement will see state-owned Qatar Airways agree voluntarily to open up its accounting books, the individuals said. U.S. airlines say the company receives billions of dollars in government payments that leave them at a [...]

House passes bill prompted by sports doctor scandal

WASHINGTON (AP) " The House followed up on the sex abuse scandal involving sports doctor Larry Nassar by passing legislation Monday that requires governing bodies for amateur athletics to promptly report abuse claims to law enforcement.Nassar was sentenced last week to up to 175 years in prison for sexually abusing more than 150 women and girls over 25 years.The sentencing sparked new calls from lawmakers to complete action on legislation that had already received widespread [...]

The Latest: House passes bill after sports doctor scandal

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Latest on a bill before Congress to requires governing bodies for amateur athletics to promptly report abuse claims to law enforcement (all times local):10 p.m.The House has followed up on the sex abuse scandal involving sports doctor Larry Nassar by passing legislation that requires governing bodies for amateur athletics to promptly report abuse claims to law enforcement.Nassar was sentenced last week to up to 175 years in prison for sexually [...]

House intel committee votes to release classified memo

WASHINGTON (AP) " Brushing aside opposition from the Justice Department, Republicans on the House intelligence committee voted Monday to release a classified memo that purports to show improper use of surveillance by the FBI and the Justice Department in the Russia investigation.The four-page memo has become a political flashpoint, with President Donald Trump and many Republicans pushing for its release and suggesting that some in the Justice Department and FBI have conspired against [...]

Once power players, committee chairmen head for the exits

WASHINGTON (AP) " Lawmakers spend their careers eying coveted committee chairmanships, angling for the chance at the perks and power that came with the top spot.Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen is bowing out after one term.Frelinghuysen's announcement Monday that he would not seek re-election, giving up the chairmanship of the House Appropriations Committee, punctuated the dwindling prestige and influence of the positions once consider an apex of power on Capitol Hill. Term limits, [...]

State Department says no new Russia sanctions at this time

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Trump administration has notified Congress that it will not impose new sanctions on Russia at this time.The State Department says it's confident that new legislation enacted last year is significantly deterring Russian defense sales.Spokeswoman Heather Nauert estimates foreign governments have abandoned several billion dollars in planned or announced Russian purchases.The decision comes amid ongoing concerns from critics of the president that his [...]

The Latest: FBI deputy director abruptly steps down

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Latest on the departure of FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe (all times local):8:05 p.m.FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe has abruptly stepped down from his position.McCabe had been publicly and repeatedly lambasted over the past year by President Donald Trump, who accused him of bias because of his wife's political connections and an FBI investigation that produced no criminal charges against Hillary Clinton.The departure comes as FBI [...]

Facebook says it will prioritize local news posts

SELMA, Ala. (AP) " Facebook plans to prioritize posts from local news sources in the news feeds of people who live in the communities served by those outlets, the company said Monday.Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg told The Selma Times-Journal on Monday that the decision stems from a cross-country tour he took with his wife in which he spoke with people in communities of different sizes. They visited the small community newspaper in Alabama on last year's trip.Zuckerberg told the [...]

Pentagon reviewing military use of exercise trackers

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Pentagon is doing a broad review of how military forces use exercise trackers and other wearable electronic devices, in the wake of revelations that an interactive, online map can pinpoint troop locations, bases and other sensitive areas around the world.Army Col. Rob Manning, a Pentagon spokesman, said Monday that the review will determine if there should be additional training or restrictions on the use of the devices, such as Fitbits.The Global Heat Map, [...]

Michigan AG seeks university emails, texts in Nassar review

LANSING, Mich. (AP) " State Attorney General Bill Schuette is asking Michigan State University for emails and text messages related to Larry Nassar, an initial salvo in his investigation into how the college handled complaints against the longtime campus sports doctor who was sentenced to decades in prison last week for sexually assaulting female athletes.In a letter released Monday, Schuette and his special independent counsel, William Forsyth, requested the communications of 20 [...]

Haley suggests action on Iran missiles could save nuke deal

WASHINGTON (AP) " U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley says the United States is encouraging other U.N. Security Council countries to set aside the nuclear deal loathed by President Donald Trump and focus on cracking down on Iran's missiles and other non-nuclear transgressions.Haley is speaking to reporters after bringing fellow Security Council ambassadors on a field trip to Washington. She says the U.S. campaign to encourage other countries to denounce Iran's non- [...]

DHS plans tougher screening for refugees from 11 countries

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Department of Homeland Security is resuming normal processing of refugees from 11 countries that had previously only been admitted on a "case-by-case" basis.But DHS officials say they are working to implement new screening measures for applicants from those high-risk countries following a 90-day review.Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said during a speech at the Woodrow Wilson Center Monday that the changes were aimed at better protecting the country against [...]

Daughter writes humorous obituary for father in Indiana

DEMOTTE, Ind. (AP) " A northwest Indiana woman has honored her father's memory with a humorous obituary that recounts his fondness for his family and details how he left behind 32 jars of Miracle Whip, 17 boxes of Hamburger Helper and other items that could prove helpful in a zombie apocalypse.The obituary for Terry Ward also says he "escaped this mortal realm" with a belief that "The Blues Brothers" was the best movie ever. It recounts how he drove one of his Illinois high school [...]

Striking Amazon 'Spheres' landmark opens in downtown Seattle

SEATTLE (AP) " Amazon.com boss Jeff Bezos has inaugurated his striking rainforest conservatory built of glass and white steel in downtown Seattle."The Spheres" domed structure that opened Monday is the newest headquarters building for the online retail behemoth.Bezos and his wife were on hand to celebrate Amazon's Amazon-esque rainforest conservatory that is home to more than 40,000 plants from 50 countries on five continents.The status of the new Seattle landmark is [...]

FBI's McCabe, a frequent Trump target, abruptly leaves post

WASHINGTON (AP) " FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, a frequent target of aggressive criticism from President Donald Trump, has stepped down from his position ahead of his planned retirement this spring, people familiar with the decision said Monday.A 22-year veteran of the FBI, McCabe has held a number of leadership roles and has been heavily involved in investigations into major crimes including the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing. But he's been publicly and repeatedly lambasted over [...]

Cleveland Indians dropping Chief Wahoo logo from uniforms

CLEVELAND (AP) " The Cleveland Indians announced Monday they are dropping the Chief Wahoo logo from their uniforms next year, bowing to decades of complaints that the grinning, red-faced caricature used in one version or another since 1947 is racist.The move came after protracted discussions between team owner Paul Dolan and baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred.The cartoonish image of a big-toothed American Indian with a scarlet face and a single feather in his headdress will come [...]

Once an outsider's badge of honor, Bannon backing now tricky

Some Republican Senate candidates who once trumpeted the blessing of former White House adviser Steve Bannon are now denying he ever endorsed them.Once seen as coveted validation with Republicans' unsettled base, Bannon's backing has become a predicament for some since his falling-out with President Donald Trump. A number of conservatives have abruptly found themselves caught between a high-profile ally and a president who prizes loyalty above all else.The most recent example [...]

Tyson Foods invests in firm trying to make meat from cells

SPRINGDALE, Ark. (AP) " Tyson Foods Inc. has invested in a food-tech startup that's developing methods to produce meat directly from animal cells.The Arkansas-based company announced Monday that its venture capital arm, Tyson Ventures, now has a minority stake in Memphis Meats. The terms of the deal haven't been disclosed, but Memphis Meats says it expects to use the funds to accelerate product development.Tyson says the investment reflects the company's commitment to find new, [...]

Apple's stock sinks as high hope for iPhone X sales fade

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) " Apple's stock is backtracking from its recent highs amid mounting concerns that iPhone X sales will fall short of the high hopes for a device that brought facial recognition technology and a $1,000 price tag to the company's flagship product line.Speculation about disappointing demand for the iPhone X have been swirling for the past week, contributing to a 6 percent decline in Apple's stock since it hit an all-time high of $180.10 on Jan. 18. The shares sank $3.11 [...]

Blue moon, supermoon, total lunar eclipse rolled into one

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) " The moon is providing a rare triple treat this week.On Wednesday, much of the world will get to see not only a blue moon and a supermoon, but also a total lunar eclipse, all rolled into one. There hasn't been a triple lineup like this since 1982 and the next won't occur until 2037.The eclipse will be visible best in the western half of the U.S. and Canada before the moon sets early Wednesday morning, and across the Pacific into Asia as the moon rises [...]

Michigan governor refuses temporary oil pipeline shutdown

TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. (AP) " Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder has rejected a call to shut down twin oil pipelines in a Great Lakes waterway so their external coating can be inspected for gaps.Snyder told the Michigan Pipeline Safety Advisory Board in a letter Monday the state could run short of propane if the flow of oil and liquid natural gas through Enbridge Inc.'s Line 5 were halted during winter.Snyder also turned down two other proposals from board members. One would renegotiate [...]

The Latest: Sanders: Trump not involved in McCabe departure

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Latest on the departure of FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe (all times local):2:10 p.m.The White House says it has nothing to do with FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe's departure from the law enforcement agency.Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Monday that the White House was not involved in McCabe's decision to leave weeks before his planned retirement.She says, "The president wasn't part of this decision-making process. [...]

Some in GOP heed call to return Wynn money, post-allegations

Some Republicans in Congress are donating their contributions from Las Vegas billionaire Steve Wynn to charity in light of sexual misconduct allegations against the former Republican National Committee finance chairman.The announcements come in light of a Wall Street Journal report Friday that Wynn, a casino mogul and prolific Republican donor, sexually harassed several women. Wynn, chairman and CEO of Wynn Resorts, has denied the allegationsWynn's home-state senator Dean [...]

Couple, married 70 years, renew vows _ this time in church

UXBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) " A Massachusetts couple have finally gotten the church wedding they always wanted " 70 years after first tying the knot.The Telegram & Gazette reports 90-year-old Edward Gouin and 89-year-old Lena Gouin renewed their vows Saturday at the Roman Catholic Church of the Good Shepherd in Uxbridge thanks to some careful planning by their family.Edward is Catholic and Lena is Congregationalist so a wedding in a church was barred when they were first married. [...]

FBI deputy director leaving post ahead of planned retirement

WASHINGTON (AP) " FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, a frequent target of President Donald Trump's criticism who led the bureau for months last year following the firing of James Comey, is leaving his position ahead of a previously planned retirement this spring, people familiar with the decision said Monday.McCabe had been widely expected to retire upon his eligibility date, but his departure from the FBI's No. 2 slot is effective Monday, according to the people, who spoke on [...]

Reported plan for government wireless network gets panned

NEW YORK (AP) " Telecommunications regulators and industry groups voiced opposition Monday to a government-built wireless network that the Trump administration is reportedly considering .The news website Axios reported Sunday that national security officials may want a government-built next-generation "5G" mobile network because of concerns about China and cybersecurity. A White House spokesman referred inquiries to the National Security Council, which did not immediately respond to [...]

Half-ton of undelivered mail found in Italy postman's garage

ROME (AP) " Italians fed up with the country's lousy postal service may now have found a culprit: Police say they discovered nearly a half-ton of undelivered mail in a rogue postman's garage.The postal police said the 573-kilogram stash in the Vicenza home of the 56-year-old postman was the biggest seizure of mail ever undertaken in Italy.The missing mail had been collecting for the past eight years and included utility bills, bank statements, old phone books and political [...]

Blue moon, super moon, total lunar eclipse rolled into one

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) " The moon is providing a rare triple treat this week.On Wednesday, much of the world will get to see not only a blue moon and a super moon, but also a total lunar eclipse, all rolled into one. There hasn't been a triple lineup like this since 1982, and the next won't occur until 2037. The eclipse will be visible best in the western half of the U.S. and Canada before the moon sets early Wednesday, and across the Pacific into Asia as the moon rises Wednesday [...]

Secret Service warns financial companies of ATM cyberattacks

WASHINGTON (AP) " The Secret Service is warning financial institutions about a type of cyberattack known as jackpotting.Secret Service officials say the crime involves installing malicious software or hardware at ATMs that force the machines to release large quantities of cash on demand.They say criminals have been able to find vulnerabilities in financial institutions that operate ATMs, typically stand-alone machines located in pharmacies, big-box retailers and drive-thrus. [...]

Powerful GOP Appropriations chair Frelinghuysen to retire

WASHINGTON (AP) " Veteran Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, the powerful chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, announced Monday that he will not seek re-election and will retire at the end of his term.The New Jersey Republican was facing his first competitive re-election race in decades and joins a growing roster of GOP veterans who are heading for the exits.Frelinghuysen said in a statement that he was proud of his efforts to work in a bipartisan manner to advance the [...]

Alex Azar sworn in as secretary of Health and Human Services

WASHINGTON (AP) " Alex Azar (AY'-zahr) has been sworn in as President Donald Trump's second health secretary.The former drug company executive and official in George W. Bush's administration succeeds former Republican Georgia congressman Tom Price, who resigned last fall following an outcry over his use of costly private charter aircraft for official travel.Azar's nomination as secretary of Health and Human Services was approved by the Senate last week, largely along party [...]

Ohio's Portman returns money from ex-RNC finance chairman

Ohio Sen. Rob Portman has donated money he received from Steve Wynn, the Las Vegas billionaire accused of sexual misconduct, to charities aimed at stemming human sex-trafficking, his office said Monday.Wynn resigned Saturday as the Republican National Committee's finance chairman after a Wall Street Journal report on allegations of sexual harassment made by several women.Portman is among dozens of mainly Republican lawmakers, candidates and party organizations the casino mogul [...]

Tyson Foods invests in firm trying to make meant from cells

SPRINGDALE, Ark. (AP) " Tyson Foods Inc. has invested in a food-tech startup that's developing methods to produce meat directly from animal cells.The Arkansas-based company announced Monday that its venture capital arm, Tyson Ventures, now has a minority stake in Memphis Meats. The terms of the deal haven't been disclosed, but Memphis Meats says it expects to use the funds to accelerate product development.Tyson says the investment reflects the company's commitment to find new, [...]

Gold! Treasure lost at sea in 1857 shipwreck goes on display

SANTA ANA, Calif. (AP) " More than $50 million worth of gold bars, coins and dust that's been described as the greatest lost treasure in U.S. history is about to make its public debut in California after sitting at the bottom of the ocean for more than 150 years.The 3,100 gold coins, 45 gold bars and more than 80 pounds (36 kilograms) of gold dust recovered from the wreckage of the S.S. Central America steamship are now sitting in a makeshift laboratory just south of Los Angeles. [...]

Pressure on Apple shares continues over iPhone X worries

NEW YORK (AP) " Apple is having its worst day of the year on growing fears that the iPhone X has not been a hit with customers.Shares began to decline several days ago, and billions of the company's market capitalization has been erased.J.P. Morgan analyst Narci Chang said last week that manufacturing of Apple's flagship phone, which go for at least $1,000 a pop, could be down 50 percent between the December and March quarters.Shares of Apple Inc. fell 2.5 percent Monday, [...]

Victims' families: Jealousy drove car wash shooting suspect

A man suspected of gunning down four people at a Pennsylvania car wash was driven by jealousy, according to family members of the shooting victims.State police said Timothy Smith, 28, was armed with a semi-automatic rifle, a .308-caliber rifle and a handgun and was wearing a body armor carrier without the ballistic panels inserted when he opened fire early Sunday morning at Ed's Car Wash in Saltlick Township, a rural town about 55 miles (89 kilometers) southeast of Pittsburgh. [...]

German police hunt thieves who stole 44 tons of chocolate

BERLIN (AP) " Police say two truck trailers loaded with 44 tons (48.5 U.S. tons) of chocolate were stolen in southern Germany and there's no sign of the sticky-fingered perpetrators.Police said Monday the trailers packed with 400,000 euros ($496,100) worth of chocolate were stolen from an industrial park in Freiburg on Friday night.One was found Saturday hauled by a Polish truck that had stopped at a rest area near the German-French border. The driver fled on foot and the [...]

GOP senators call on Trump to show restraint in Russia probe

WASHINGTON (AP) " Two Republican senators said Sunday that President Donald Trump would be wise to keep a public silence on an independent investigation into his 2016 campaign's contacts with Russia in the wake of news reports that he sought to fire the special counsel.The senators, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Susan Collins of Maine, also urged special counsel Robert Mueller to review whether Trump tried to fire him last June, an accusation the president has labeled "fake [...]

GOP senators call on Trump to show restraint in Russia probe

WASHINGTON (AP) " Two Republican senators say President Donald Trump would be wise to keep a public silence on an independent investigation into his 2016 campaign's contacts with Russia.That's in the wake of news reports that he sought to fire the special counsel.The senators, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Susan Collins of Maine, also urged special counsel Robert Mueller Sunday to review whether Trump tried to fire him last June, an accusation the president has labeled [...]

GOP senators call on Trump to show restraint in Russia probe

WASHINGTON (AP) " Two Republican senators say President Donald Trump would be wise to keep a public silence on an independent investigation into his 2016 campaign's contacts with Russia.That's in the wake of news reports that he sought to fire the special counsel.The senators, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Susan Collins of Maine, also urged special counsel Robert Mueller Sunday to review whether Trump tried to fire him last June, an accusation the president has labeled [...]

GOP senators call on Trump to show restraint in Russia probe

WASHINGTON (AP) " Two Republican senators say President Donald Trump would be wise to keep a public silence on an independent investigation into his 2016 campaign's contacts with Russia.That's in the wake of news reports that he sought to fire the special counsel.The senators, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Susan Collins of Maine, also urged special counsel Robert Mueller Sunday to review whether Trump tried to fire him last June, an accusation the president has labeled [...]

Can Trump stick to a script beyond the State of the Union?

WASHINGTON (AP) " No natural orator, President Donald Trump has nonetheless shown at times that he can deliver a powerful speech that effectively outlines his vision, strikes an emotional chord and moves commentators to declare that he, at last, looks presidential. And then the teleprompter gets turned off.Time and again, Trump has followed up a well-received, stuck-to-the-script address with moments of wild indiscipline, quickly losing any momentum in a controversy of his own making. [...]

Kochs warm to Trump policies, not behavior

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) " For the Koch brothers and their powerful donor network, the trouble with President Donald Trump isn't what he's doing. It's how he's doing it.Huddled at a private retreat in the California desert, the conservative movement's elite money men worried aloud this weekend that the Republican president's undisciplined behavior is clouding his achievements " and making it harder for the GOP to protect its grip on Congress heading into the 2018 midterms. [...]

Tillerson aims to sell 'America First' to wary allies

WARSAW, Poland (AP) " As President Donald Trump declared that "America First does not mean America alone" at a global economic forum in Switzerland, his top diplomat was on a European trip of his own, trying to convince skeptical allies that the oft-repeated phrase is more than just lip service.Yet a year into Trump's presidency, his administration has demonstrated that "America First" may, indeed, mean "America alone," though it remains unclear if that has helped Secretary of State [...]

Clinton, Cabello and Monae provide Grammys political moments

NEW YORK (AP) " One-time Grammy winner Hillary Clinton made it back to the awards show Sunday night in a role she no doubt relished.She was a surprise guest in a skit by host James Corden, supposedly auditioning for the spoken word recording of Michael Wolff's best-seller on President Donald Trump's administration, "Fire and Fury."She followed John Legend, Cher, Snoop Dogg, Cardi B and DJ Khaled, all of whom Corden found wanting. The final "auditioner" lowered the book from in [...]

Bruno Mars has a magical night at Grammys, winning 6 for 6

NEW YORK (AP) " Bruno Mars owned the Grammys with his R&B-inspired album "24K Magic," winning all six awards he was nominated for at a show where hip-hop was expected to have a historical night.Jay-Z, the leading nominee with eight, walked away empty handed Sunday " a year after his wife lost album of the year to Adele, causing fans and peers to criticize the Recording Academy for not properly rewarding Beyonce's bold "Lemonade" project.And though Kendrick Lamar won five awards, [...]

Hillary Clinton appearance among Grammys political moments

NEW YORK (AP) " One-time Grammy winner Hillary Clinton made it back to the awards show Sunday night in a role she no doubt relished.She was a surprise guest in a skit by host James Corden, supposedly auditioning for the spoken word recording of Michael Wolff's best-seller on President Donald Trump's administration, "Fire and Fury."She followed John Legend, Cher, Snoop Dogg, Cardi B and DJ Khaled, all of whom Corden found wanting. The final "auditioner" lowered the book from in [...]

Man accused in terror plot asked for deportation over prison

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) " A court filing shows an Ohio man who plotted to kill U.S. military personnel in Texas asked a federal judge to deport him instead of sending him to prison.The filing says Abdirahman Sheik Mohamud (ab-dee-RAH'-mahn shayk moh-HAH'-mud) told Judge Michael Watson in December that he didn't deserve prison because he'd been cooperative.Mohamud was born in Somalia and came to the U.S. at 2 years old. He told the judge that he didn't want to leave his family and [...]

Grammy political references come in pre-planned moments

NEW YORK (AP) " Sexual misconduct, gun violence, the dreamers and Donald Trump were all referenced on the Grammy Awards stage in pre-planned segments on Sunday.Hillary Clinton made a surprise appearance. In a pre-taped skit, host James Corden "auditioned" celebrities including former Trump opponent Clinton to read passages from Michael Wolff's best-seller, "Fire and Fury."Singer Camila Cabello spoke in favor of protections for immigrants brought to the United States as children. [...]

With powerful women behind her, Kesha wows at Grammys

NEW YORK (AP) " Kesha gave a passionate performance at the Grammy Awards with the help of powerful women behind her, including the Resistance Revival Chorus.She was joined by Cyndi Lauper, Camila Cabello, Julia Michaels, Andra Day and Bebe Rexha for her Grammy-nominated song, "Praying," on Sunday at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Dressed in white, they won over the audience and hugged at the song's end as some audience members cried, including Hailee Steinfeld.Kesha, [...]

Police, family say jealous shooter killed 4 at car wash

A shooter driven by jealousy opened fire and killed four people at a car wash early Sunday morning in Pennsylvania, while a woman hiding in the back of a pickup truck suffered only minor injuries, according to state police and family of the victims.Police said Timothy Smith, 28, was on life support and not expected to survive after suffering a gunshot wound to his head during the attack at Ed's Car Wash around 3 a.m. in Saltlick Township, a rural town about 55 miles (89 kilometers) [...]

Jeff Sessions weathers turbulent year as attorney general

WASHINGTON (AP) " Jeff Sessions was in his office, looking unusually deflated. He had just received another public lashing from President Donald Trump.Trump had browbeaten his attorney general for months after Sessions' decision to step aside from the intensifying Russia investigation. Never mind that Sessions has proved fiercely devoted to his boss, carrying out Trump's agenda while giving him credit every step of the way. Trump was unforgiving.This attack came on an autumn [...]

Pence to headline fundraiser at Trump hotel

WASHINGTON (AP) " Vice President Mike Pence is headlining a fundraiser Monday at the Trump Hotel in Washington to benefit his leadership PAC to help Republican candidates in the 2018 mid-term elections.The fundraiser is expected to raise about $500,000 and Pence is expected to be introduced by Donald Trump Jr., the president's son. That's according to a person familiar with the planned fundraiser. The person was not authorized to speak publicly about the private event.The [...]

Bruno Mars, Kendrick Lamar win 3 Grammys each before show

NEW YORK (AP) " Bruno Mars and Kendrick Lamar are walking into Grammy Awards with three wins each, putting them as favorites for top awards like album and record of the year.Mars won best R&B album, best R&B performance and best R&B song in the pre-telecast Sunday in New York City. Lamar picked up best rap album, best rap performance and best music video.Posthumous Grammys were also handed out to actress Carrie Fisher, singer Leonard Cohen and engineer Tom Coyne, who worked on [...]

Kendrick, Carrie Fisher, Lin Manuel win early Grammys

NEW YORK (AP) " Kendrick Lamar, the late actress Carrie Fisher and Lin-Manuel Miranda picked up early Grammy Awards during the awards show premiere ceremony held hours before the big show.Fisher beat Bruce Springsteen for best spoken word album for "The Princess Diarist" on Sunday. She died in 2016.Oscar winner Justin Hurwitz picked up two honors, including best compilation soundtrack for visual media and best score soundtrack for visual media for "La La Land."Miranda, [...]

Family: Dispute spurred fatal shooting at car wash; 5 dead

Five people were found dead early Sunday at a car wash in suburban Pennsylvania and police say they have no motive yet for the shooting, though family members of the victims say a domestic dispute spurred the violence.The shooting at Ed's Car Wash occurred shortly before 3 a.m. in the Melcroft community of Saltlick Township, about 55 miles (89 kilometers) southeast of Pittsburgh. The victims were identified only as three men and two women in their 20s and 30s. One person was injured. [...]

Sen. Marco Rubio fires chief of staff for "improper conduct"

WASHINGTON (AP) " Florida Sen. Marco Rubio announced that he fired his chief of staff after getting reports of "improper conduct" with subordinate staffers.The statement from Rubio's office was released Saturday evening. His office did not respond to requests for details on Sunday.The statement said Rubio had been made aware of "allegations of improper conduct by my Chief of Staff while under the employment of my office," Rubio wrote.He added that he had "sufficient [...]

Menendez to face challenger for Democratic Senate nomination

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) " A Democratic political pundit and attorney is challenging New Jersey's U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez for their party's nomination.Michael Starr Hopkins has filed paperwork to run in the June primary against the two-term incumbent, who's facing a retrial on federal corruption charges after his first trial ended in a hung jury last fall.Hopkins says it's important politicians reflect their constituents' values. The Jersey City resident outlined his reasons for [...]

In State of Union, Trump to make case that America is back

WASHINGTON (AP) " Seeking to move past the shadow of the Russia investigation, President Donald Trump intends to use his first State of the Union address to cite economic progress under his watch while pushing for bipartisanship with Democrats on issues such as rebuilding roads and bridges.The White House said Sunday that the president would point to a robust economy and low unemployment during his first year and the benefits of a tax overhaul during Tuesday's address to Congress and [...]

GOP senators: Trump needs to show restraint in Russia probe

WASHINGTON (AP) " Two Republican senators said Sunday that President Donald Trump would be wise to keep a public silence on an independent investigation into his 2016 campaign's contacts with Russia in the wake of news reports that he sought to fire the special counsel.The senators, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Susan Collins of Maine, also urged special counsel Robert Mueller to review whether Trump tried to fire him last June, an accusation the president has labeled "fake [...]

Indiana teaching assistant accused of molesting 17 kids

JEFFERSONVILLE, Ind. (AP) " An 18-year-old southern Indiana man has been arrested on charges alleging he molested 17 children ages 3 to 7 while he worked at a YMCA and as an elementary school teaching assistant.Michael Begin Jr., of Jeffersonville, was charged with two counts of child molestation in October. Clark County Prosecutor Jeremy Mull said Friday that he was filing another 20 counts against him.Authorities say the received reports of more victims after Begin was [...]

After Adele's album of the year win, Grammys change tune

NEW YORK (AP) " Though Adele's win for album of the year at last year's Grammys was not a complete surprise, it marked another loss for Beyonce in the show's major category.The Recording Academy was heavily criticized for not rewarding "Lemonade," an album that moved the needle and dominated pop culture in different ways than Adele's colossal sales. Critics felt the Academy failed to recognize the creative and artistic elements of an R&B-based album, in the same ways they have passed [...]

Teacher killed in space shuttle Challenger disaster honored

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) " New Hampshire has proclaimed a day in tribute to a local teacher who died in the NASA space shuttle Challenger disaster decades ago.Republican Gov. Chris Sununu (soo-NOO'-noo) said Sunday would be known as Christa McAuliffe Day in honor of the Concord (KAHN'-kard) woman selected to become the first educator in space out of 11,000 applicants.McAuliffe never made it to orbit because she and six crewmates were killed when the Challenger broke apart shortly [...]

5 killed in shooting at Pennsylvania car wash

State police say three men and two women have been found dead in a shooting at a Pennsylvania car wash.The shooting occurred shortly before 3 a.m. Sunday in the Melcroft community of Saltlick Township, about 55 miles (89 kilometers) southeast of Pittsburgh.Police said Sunday they have no motive yet for the deadly shooting. Four of the victims were pronounced dead at the scene, while another died at a hospital.Two victims died inside a vehicle and two were found outside [...]

2 GOP senators: Party should consider returning Wynn money

WASHINGTON (AP) " Two Republican senators say their party should immediately consider returning contributions from casino mogul Steve Wynn in light of sexual harassment allegations against him.Wynn has been a prolific Republican donor. He led the Republican National Committee's fundraising efforts during President Donald Trump's first year, helping the committee rake in more than $130 million.Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina tells ABC's "This Week" on Sunday that the money [...]

After Adele's album of the year win, Grammys change its tune

NEW YORK (AP) " Though Adele's win for album of the year at last year's Grammys was not a complete surprise, it marked another loss for Beyonce in the show's major category.The Recording Academy was heavily criticized for not rewarding "Lemonade," an album that moved the needle and dominated pop culture in different ways than Adele's colossal sales. Critics felt the Academy failed to recognize the creative and artistic elements of an R&B-based album, in the same ways they have passed [...]

Trump wants Jay-Z to know black jobless rate at record low

WASHINGTON (AP) " President Donald Trump is urging his followers to inform rapper Jay-Z that "because of my policies," unemployment among black Americans is at the "LOWEST RATE EVER RECORDED!"The president's tweet Sunday appears to be in response to a CNN interview in which the rapper said the president's vulgar comments about African countries and Haiti were "disappointing" and "hurtful."Jay-Z said on the debut episode of "The Van Jones Show" on Saturday that lower [...]

Battered but still loyal to Trump, Sessions endures as AG

WASHINGTON (AP) " Jeff Sessions was in his office, looking unusually deflated. He had just received another public lashing from President Donald Trump.Trump had browbeaten his attorney general for months after Sessions' decision to step aside from the intensifying Russia investigation. Never mind that Sessions has proved fiercely devoted to his boss, carrying out Trump's agenda while giving him credit every step of the way. Trump was unforgiving.This attack came on an autumn [...]

Trump: I would be 'tougher' in Brexit talks than UK's May

LONDON (AP) " U.S. President Donald Trump is claiming he would take a "tougher" attitude toward Brexit negotiations with the European Union than the approach now being used by British Prime Minister Theresa May.Without providing specifics, Trump says in an ITV interview to be broadcast Sunday night that he would have used different tactics."Would it be the way I negotiate? No, I wouldn't negotiate it the way it's (being) negotiated... I would have had a different attitude," he [...]

Florida Sen. Marco Rubio fires chief of staff

WASHINGTON (AP) " Florida Sen. Marco Rubio said Saturday that he has fired his chief of staff after getting reports of "improper conduct" with subordinate staffers."By early this afternoon, I had sufficient evidence to conclude that while employed by this office, my Chief of Staff had violated office policies regarding proper relations between a supervisor and their subordinates. I further concluded that this led to actions which in my judgment amounted to threats to withhold [...]

Trump wishes royal couple well amid uncertain wedding invite

LONDON (AP) " President Donald Trump says Britain's Prince Harry and his fiancee, American actress Meghan Markle, look like a "lovely couple" and he doesn't know if he's been invited to their May wedding.Trump also told Britain's ITV News in an interview to be broadcast Sunday that his administration might not withdraw from the Paris climate accord if terms more favorable to the United States are reached, in part because he likes French President Emmanuel Macron.The interviewer, [...]

Kochs to spend $20 million to promote tax overhaul

INDIAN WELLS, Calif. (AP) " The political network backed by conservative industrialists Charles and David Koch plan to spend $20 million to promote the tax overhaul recently signed into law by President Donald Trump.The investment marks an early focus of the Koch brothers' 2018 political strategy.The Kochs' chief lieutenants previewed the strategy Saturday, the first day of a three-day private donor retreat at a luxury resort in the California desert. They previously announced [...]

Justice Ginsburg signals her intent to work for years more

WASHINGTON (AP) " In different circumstances, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg might be on a valedictory tour in her final months on the Supreme Court. But in the era of Donald Trump, the 84-year-old Ginsburg is packing her schedule and sending signals she intends to keep her seat on the bench for years.The eldest Supreme Court justice has produced two of the court's four signed opinions so far this term. Outside court, she's the subject of a new documentary that includes video of her [...]

Tillerson seeks to show 'America First' isn't America alone

WARSAW, Poland (AP) " As President Donald Trump declared that "America First does not mean America alone" at a global economic forum in Switzerland, his top diplomat was on a European trip of his own, trying to convince skeptical allies that the oft-repeated phrase is more than just lip service.Yet a year into Trump's presidency, his administration has demonstrated that "America First" may, indeed, mean "America alone," though it remains unclear if that has helped Secretary of State [...]

Cop to runaway horse: 'Will You Stop?' Horse: 'Neigh'

HUDSON, Fla. (AP) " A Florida deputy was caught on video politely pursuing a four-legged suspect on a busy road.Pasco County Sheriff's Cpl. Art Madden on Wednesday spotted a chestnut-and-white horse galloping in and out of traffic on a road north of Tampa. Rolling down his law enforcement vehicle's window, he asked the animal to "please stop." He also made kissy noises, to no avail.According to authorities, he was able to herd the animal into a nearby housing development, and [...]

Casino mogul Steve Wynn resigns as top GOP finance chairman

WASHINGTON (AP) " Casino mogul Steve Wynn resigned Saturday as finance chairman of the Republican National Committee amid allegations of sexual harassment and assault.Wynn has been a prolific Republican donor and led the RNC's fundraising efforts during President Donald Trump's first year, helping the committee rake in more than $130 million."Today I accepted Steve Wynn's resignation as Republican National Committee finance chair," said RNC chairwoman Ronna McDaniel.The [...]

Amid turmoil, Trump seeking a reset with State of the Union

WASHINGTON (AP) " Beset by poor poll numbers and the grind of the Russia investigation, President Donald Trump will look to reset his term with his first State of the Union address, arguing that his tax cut and economic policies will benefit all Americans.The theme of his Tuesday night address to Congress and the country is "Building a safe, strong and proud America," and the president is looking to showcase accomplishments of his first year while setting the tone for the second. [...]

Justice Ginsburg, 84, signals intent to work for years more

WASHINGTON (AP) " In different circumstances, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg might be on a valedictory tour in her final months on the Supreme Court. But in the era of Donald Trump, the 84-year-old Ginsburg is packing her schedule and sending signals she intends to keep her seat on the bench for years.The eldest Supreme Court justice has produced two of the court's four signed opinions so far this term. Outside court, she's the subject of a new documentary that includes video of her [...]

Lawyers say condemned killer early victim of opioid epidemic

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) " Ohio Gov. John Kasich should consider his fight against the state's deadly opioid epidemic when deciding whether to spare a condemned killer whose life spiraled out of control after becoming addicted to painkillers, say attorneys trying to stop the killer's execution less than three weeks from now.Death row inmate Raymond Tibbetts was doing fine until he was inappropriately prescribed painkillers for a work injury in the mid-1990s, according to documents provided [...]

The Latest: MSU didn't give Nassar victim full 2014 report

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) " The Latest on the fallout from the Larry Nassar sexual abuse scandal at Michigan State University (all times local):11:50 a.m.Michigan State University didn't share the full conclusions of a 2014 Title IX investigation into disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar with a patient who accused him of sexual assault.The patient, Amanda Thomashow, received an abbreviated version of the 2014 report, which found that Nassar's conduct wasn't sexual in [...]

Jump in late mortgages after Harvey sparks foreclosure fears

FRIENDSWOOD, Texas (AP) " As Jacob Lerma surveyed the skeletal beams of his suburban Houston home that was flooded during Hurricane Harvey, he kept muttering three words as he wondered if his family would ever be able to move back in: "I don't know."Like many Texans whose homes were flooded during Harvey, Lerma faces mounting expenses and hasn't paid his mortgage in months. His insurance payment wasn't enough to rebuild his home and he was only offered a small loan after applying with [...]

Clinton 'dismayed' by harassment complaint involving ex-aide

WASHINGTON (AP) " Hillary Clinton says she was "dismayed" by sexual harassment accusations made against a senior adviser to her 2008 presidential campaign.Clinton tweeted that on Friday she called the former campaign worker who reported the harassment to tell her she was proud she came forward.Clinton says she wanted "to make sure she knows what all women should: we deserve to be heard."Clinton's tweets came after a New York Times report that she declined to fire the [...]