Maine’s top court dismisses appeal of judge’s decision on Trump’s ballot status
PORTLAND, Maine — Maine’s top court has declined to weigh in on whether former President Donald Trump can stay on the state’s ballot, keeping intact a judge’s decision that the U.S. Supreme Court must first rule on a similar case in Colorado. Democratic Secretary of State Shenna Bellows concluded that...
Donald Trump testifies in his defense in E. Jean Carroll defamation suit
NEW YORK — He testified for under three minutes. But former President Donald Trump still broke a judge’s rules on what he could tell a jury about writer E. Jean Carroll’s sexual assault and defamation allegations, and he left the courtroom Thursday bristling to the spectators: “This is not America.”...
Jersey Shore town trying not to lose the man vs. nature fight on its eroded beaches
NORTH WILDWOOD, N.J. — A New Jersey shore town locked in a legal battle with the state over tens of millions of dollars it has spent trying — mostly in vain — to hold back the ocean now is more vulnerable than ever. A recent winter storm destroyed part of...
Man convicted of murder for arson at Japanese anime studio that killed 36
TOKYO — A man was convicted of murder and other crimes Thursday for carrying out a shocking arson attack on an anime studio in Kyoto, Japan, that killed 36 people and drew an outpouring of grief from anime fans worldwide. The Kyoto District Court said it found Shinji Aoba mentally...
Zero-emission goal still eludes the EU, where most cars emit the same CO2 levels as 12 years ago
BRUSSELS — Most passenger cars in the European Union still emit the same quantity of carbon dioxide as 12 years ago, the European Union’s auditing agency warned on Wednesday. The European Court of Auditors said the 27-nation bloc must “shift up gear” to come close to a zero-emissions car fleet,...
W.Va. GOP majority pushes contentious bills arming teachers, restricting bathrooms, books
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia’s Republican-dominated Legislature pushed forward a slate of contentious bills Wednesday that would arm teachers, allow people to sue libraries over books that offend them and restrict where transgender kids can use the bathroom at school. Described by conservatives as efforts to protect children while they...
Deputies find 6 bodies at remote Mojave Desert crossroads
EL MIRAGE, Calif. — Deputies found the bodies of six people at a remote dirt crossroads in the Mojave Desert, a scene described as so grisly that Southern California TV stations blurred some of the images captured by their helicopters overhead. San Bernardino County Sheriff’s deputies responding to a request...
Texas school’s punishment of Black student who wears hair in locs is going to trial
ANAHUAC, Texas — A judge ordered Wednesday that a trial be held next month to determine whether a Black high school student in Texas can continue being punished by his district for refusing to change a hairstyle he and his family say is protected by a new state law. Darryl...
More than 70 dead after unregulated gold mine collapses in Mali, official says
BAMAKO, Mali — An unregulated gold mine collapsed late last week in Mali, killing more than 70 people, an official said Wednesday, and a search continued amid fears that the toll could rise. Karim Berthé, a senior official at the government’s National Geology and Mining Directorate, confirmed the details to...
In-N-Out to close Oakland, California, restaurant due to wave of car break-ins, armed robberies
OAKLAND, Calif. — In-N-Out Burger will close its only restaurant in Oakland, Calif., because of a wave of car break-ins, property damage, theft and armed robberies targeting customers and employees alike, the company announced. The fast-food burger joint in a busy corridor near Oakland International Airport will close on March...
Ring will no longer allow police to request doorbell camera footage from users
NEW YORK — Amazon-owned Ring will stop allowing police departments to request doorbell camera footage from users, marking an end to a feature that has drawn criticism from privacy advocates. In a blog post on Wednesday, Ring said it will sunset the “Request for Assistance” tool, which allows police departments...
State university workers reach tentative contract with Pa. university system
The union representing 700 state university employees who work in admissions and financial aid, residence life, career services and other student support has reached a tentative contract agreement with the State System of Higher Education. The pact involving members of the State College and University Professional Association (SCUPA) would span...
U.S. scientist brews up storm by offering Britain advice on tea
LONDON — An American scientist has sparked a trans-Atlantic tempest in a teapot by offering Britain advice on its favorite hot beverage. Bryn Mawr College chemistry professor Michelle Francl says one of the keys to a perfect cup of tea is a pinch of salt. The tip is included in...
Judge OKs state motion to ban Lancaster County ‘raw milk’ farm from producing, selling products
The owners of a Lancaster County farm accused of selling raw milk and raw milk products without the required permits and licenses can no longer manufacture, process, market, sell, or distribute their products after a county judge approved the state’s emergency motion Wednesday. A lawsuit — brought against Amos and...
Philadelphia-area woman charged with torturing and killing animals live on the internet
UPPER DARBY — A Philadelphia-area woman has been charged with animal cruelty after police allege videos she posted show her torturing and killing animals while soliciting encouragement on social media. Anigar Monsee, 28, of Upper Darby, was charged with four felony counts of aggravated cruelty to animals — torture, according...
Heavy rain soaks Texas and closes schools as downpours continue drenching parts of the country
HOUSTON — Heavy rain in Texas on Wednesday closed schools and elevated flooding risks around Houston in another round of soaking downpours that have made for a soggy and dangerous week across large portions of the United States. A stretch of wet and freezing winter weather has swept away vehicles...
Colorado pastor accused of defrauding investors of $3M via crypto scheme says he got help from ‘the Lord’
DENVER — A Colorado pastor for an online church who is accused of defrauding investors of more than $3.2 million through a cryptocurrency marketplace he ran with his wife says “the Lord” helped him orchestrate the venture. Colorado’s securities commissioner filed civil fraud charges against Eli Regalado and his wife...
Arizona GOP boss quits after leaked tape shows him floating a job for Kari Lake to skip Senate raceVideo
PHOENIX — Arizona Republican Party Chairman Jeff DeWit resigned Wednesday after he could be heard in a leaked recording offering a job and asking U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake to name a price that would keep her out of politics. DeWit’s departure shakes up the Republican Party in a battleground...
Alabama inmate waiting to hear court ruling on scheduled nitrogen gas execution
MONTGOMERY — An Alabama inmate scheduled to be the first person in the United States to be put to death with nitrogen gas is waiting to see if he will receive a last-minute reprieve from federal courts in his bid to halt the execution. Unless blocked by the courts, Alabama...
Ohio bans gender-affirming care and restricts transgender athletes despite GOP governor’s veto
COLUMBUS — Ohio has banned gender-affirming care for minors and restricted transgender women’s and girls’ participation on sports teams, a move that has families of transgender children scrambling over how best to care for them. The Republican-dominated Senate voted Wednesday to override GOP Gov. Mike DeWine’s veto. The new law...
State university workers reach tentative contract with Pa. university system
The union representing 700 state university employees who work in admissions and financial aid, residence life, career services and other student support has reached a tentative contract agreement with the State System of Higher Education. The pact involving members of the State College and University Professional Association (SCUPA) would span...
The primaries have just begun. But Trump and Biden are already shifting to a November mindset
NEW YORK — Barely 400,000 votes have been cast in two rural Republican primaries over the span of eight days. But both Donald Trump and Joe Biden are behaving like their parties’ nominees already. Trump’s double-digit victory Tuesday in independent-minded New Hampshire, where he was considered more vulnerable than perhaps...
Proud Boys member sentenced to 6 years in prison for Capitol riot role after berating judge
WASHINGTON — A man who stormed the U.S. Capitol with fellow Proud Boys extremist group members was sentenced on Wednesday to six years in prison after he berated and insulted the judge who punished him. Marc Bru repeatedly interrupted Chief Judge James Boasberg before he handed down the sentence, calling...
Who are No Labels’ donors? Democratic groups file complaints in an attempt to find out
WASHINGTON — For months, the centrist group No Labels has stockpiled cash and diligently worked to secure ballot access for a potential third-party presidential bid, striking fear among allies of President Joe Biden that the effort could siphon away votes and hand the White House to Donald Trump. Now, with...
Scientists spot previously unknown colonies of emperor penguins in Antarctica
Previously unknown colonies of emperor penguins have been spotted in new satellite imagery. Emperor penguins, considered “near threatened” with extinction, are the world’s largest penguins. They raise their chicks in Antarctic winter on patches of frozen sea ice. But if the ice breaks up before the chicks have fledged, most...
