Tropical Storm Barry starts lashing Louisiana
NEW ORLEANS — Homeowners sandbagged their doors and tourists trying to get out of town jammed the airport Friday as Tropical Storm Barry began rolling in, threatening an epic drenching that could test how well New Orleans has strengthened its flood protections in the 14 years since Hurricane Katrina. With...
Chevron spills 800,000 gallons of oil, water in California
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California authorities said Friday that crews are beginning to clean up a massive oil spill that dumped nearly 800,000 gallons of oil and water into a Kern County canyon, making it larger — if less devastating — than the state’s last two major oil spills. The seep,...
Dems, Republicans air warring views on migrants’ conditions
WASHINGTON — Four House Democratic freshmen who recently toured detention stations for migrants along the Texas border told a House committee Friday of jam-packed, fetid holding areas “in front of the American flag” and accused President Trump of intentional cruelty to discourage future arrivals. Firing back, a quartet of Republicans...
California governor opposes increase in fracking permits
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom said Friday he wants to move the nation’s most populous state away from hydraulic fracturing, a day after he fired the state’s top oil and gas regulator for issuing twice as many fracking permits this year compared to last. “I don’t think anyone...
Pennsylvania GOP settles fight over contested race for chair
Pennsylvania’s Republican Party is trying to amicably settle a contested race for chairman between a candidate who had backing from top Trump campaign officials and a rival who previously had support from many Trump-aligned party activists. Bernadette Comfort instead will serve as the Trump campaign’s chairwoman in the presidential battleground...
EPA restores broad use of pesticide opposed by beekeepers
WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency will allow farmers to resume broad use of a pesticide over objections from beekeepers, citing private chemical industry studies that the agency says show the product does only lower-level harm to bees and wildlife. Friday’s EPA announcement — coming after the agriculture industry accused...
Trump accuses big tech of bias against conservative voices
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Thursday that big tech companies must not be allowed to censor the voices of the American people on social media, even as he hailed conservative critics for using the platforms to get around the “fake news filter.” Trump has weaponized social media to eviscerate...
Memories of 2016 flood haunt Baton Rouge ahead of Barry
BATON ROUGE, La. — Memories of an epic flood that caused billions of dollars in damage had Louisiana’s capital on edge Friday as Barry gained strength in the Gulf of Mexico more than 150 miles away. Storms that dumped more than 20 inches of rain across southeastern Louisiana three years...
Trump unloads on Paul Ryan after ‘American Carnage’ book excerpts
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump criticized former Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan on Friday, calling him a “baby” and a “terrible speaker,” who didn’t know what he was doing. Trump unleashed his criticism on one of Wisconsin’s favorite sons just before leaving to go to the state he wants to...
Purl jam: Finland hosts heavy metal knitting championship
JOENSUU, Finland — Armed with needles and a yarn of wool, teams of avid knitters danced Thursday to the deafening sounds of drums beating and guitars slashing at the first-ever Heavy Metal Knitting World Championship in eastern Finland. With stage names such as Woolfumes, Bunny Bandit and 9” Needles, the...
Cannabis found in Vermont Statehouse flower beds
Vermont police say they found dozens of cannabis plants in the flower beds in front of the Statehouse. Police say they found a total of 34 plants this week among the cultivated flowers that line the walkway in front of the building in Montpelier. Capitol Police Chief Matthew Romei says...
Labor Secretary Acosta resigning amid Epstein deal scrutiny
WASHINGTON — Labor Secretary Alexander Acosta said Friday he is resigning following renewed scrutiny of his handling of a 2008 secret plea deal with wealthy financier Jeffrey Esptein , who is accused of sexually abusing dozens of underage girls. President Donald Trump, with Acosta at his side, made the announcement...
Device leads to shutdown of Philadelphia airport’s baggage room
PHILADELPHIA — The Transportation Security Administration says officers closed the checked baggage room at Philadelphia International Airport after finding a device that resembled a pipe bomb. The room was evacuated and closed for about 40 minutes on Wednesday after officers spotted the device in a checked bag. The TSA says...
Man fatally beaten after stealing car with kids inside, Philadelphia cops say
PHILADELPHIA — Authorities say a man who stole a car with three young children inside was fatally beaten by their father and other men. Philadelphia police say the car was parked at a pizza restaurant with its engine running when the man drove off around 9:15 p.m. Thursday. The children’s...
As Democrats debate busing, southern schools slowly desegregate
CLEVELAND, Miss. — This small Mississippi Delta town serves as a reminder that fierce debates over the integration of black and white students are not a thing of the past. Two rival high schools in Cleveland, one historically black and the other historically white, had to be merged just two...
Court: ‘Extreme bias’ in sending pregnant woman to prison
DETROIT — A woman who was sentenced to prison because a judge believed she would use drugs while pregnant has been released after the Michigan appeals court accused him of “extreme bias.” Samantha Hughes gave birth to a boy on July 2. The appeals court on Tuesday threw out a...
US growing largest crop of marijuana for research in 5 years
The U.S. government is growing the largest crop of research marijuana in five years, responding to interest in varieties with high levels of THC and CBD. The government is the only source of pot for nearly all research in the U.S., while it still considers it illegal and dangerous. Scientists...
AP Explains: How do immigration authorities make arrests?
After postponing an immigration-enforcement operation late last month, the Trump administration plans to go ahead with the raids as soon as this weekend. The sweep is expected to be similar to others that authorities have done regularly since 2003 and often netted hundreds of arrests. This one is different because...
Newer buildings show little damage after California quakes
LOS ANGELES — The two Southern California desert communities rocked by last week’s powerful earthquakes may have sustained as little damage as they did because they have no tall buildings and many of the homes in one are fairly new and were built to stricter earthquake standards. California’s Seismic Safety...
LA police chief aims to wipe out minor warrants for homeless
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said he is working to eliminate thousands of homeless people’s old warrants for minor offenses in the coming weeks as part of a solution to help get people off the streets. “This is a humanitarian crisis of our generation,” Moore said...
Trump administration plans immigration enforcement operation
CHICAGO — The Trump administration is moving forward with a nationwide immigration enforcement operation targeting migrant families, despite loud opposition from Democrats and questions over whether it’s the best use of resources given the crisis at the border. The operation could happen as soon as this weekend after being postponed...
Western Pa. pipeline battle over fuel delivery continues with regulators
The Texas-based owner of a petroleum pipeline that serves Western Pennsylvania is not taking “no” for an answer. Houston-based Buckeye Partners LP and its subsidiary, Laurel Pipe Line Co., which operates an east-to-west pipeline through Pennsylvania, want the option to deliver fuel from west-to-east, but can’t get the necessary regulatory...
Marijuana surplus poses problem in Oregon
Five years after it legalized recreational marijuana, Oregon has a new problem and it’s not the munchies. Stateline reports a large surplus of recreational weed in Oregon storehouses and processing plants has led to concerns that licensed growers may turn to the black market or look across state lines to...
Pa. adds anxiety to qualifying conditions for medical pot
The Pennsylvania Health Department is adding anxiety disorders and Tourette’s syndrome to the list of conditions that can qualify people to obtain legal medical marijuana. The heath secretary, Dr. Rachel Levine, announced Thursday she’ll be adding them as of July 20. Levine says her decision was based on the recommendation...
Hempfield WWII veteran Joseph Churbock Sr. valued family
Joseph Churbock Sr. of Hempfield Township was part of the Greatest Generation of Americans, who served their country in war and came home to marry and raise a family. “He instilled the importance of family in us,” said his son, David Churbock of Hudson, Ohio. “He was always busy with...
