Judge holds Rudy Giuliani liable in Georgia election workers’ defamation case, orders him to pay fees
WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Wednesday held Rudy Giuliani liable in a defamation lawsuit brought by two Georgia election workers who say they were falsely accused of fraud, entering a default judgment against the former New York City mayor and ordering him to pay tens of thousands of dollars...
Pennsylvania is considering an earlier 2024 presidential primary, partly to avoid voting on Passover
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania is considering changing the state’s 2024 presidential primary to an earlier day, although the proposed move may do little to give the state’s voters more say in deciding presidential nominees. State lawmakers plan to vote on legislation Wednesday that would change Pennsylvania’s primary from late April to...
Supermoon could team up with Hurricane Idalia to raise tides higher
A rare blue supermoon could raise tides above normal just as Hurricane Idalia lashes Florida’s west coast, exacerbating flooding from the storm. The moon was closest to the Earth on Wednesday, the same day Idalia made landfall as a high-end Category 3 hurricane near Keaton Beach in Florida’s sparsely populated...
Neurosurgeon investigating patient’s mystery symptoms plucks worm from woman’s brain
CANBERRA, Australia — A neurosurgeon investigating a woman’s mystery symptoms in an Australian hospital says she plucked a wriggling worm from the patient’s brain. Surgeon Hari Priya Bandi was performing a biopsy through a hole in the 64-year-old patient’s skull at Canberra Hospital last year when she used forceps to...
Hurricane Idalia hits Florida with 125 mph winds, flooding streets, snapping trees and cutting powerVideo
PERRY, Fla. — Hurricane Idalia tore into Florida at the speed of a fast-moving train Wednesday, splitting trees in half, ripping roofs off hotels and turning small cars into boats before sweeping into Georgia as a still-powerful storm that flooded roadways and sent residents running for higher ground. “All hell...
Millions more workers would be entitled to overtime pay under a proposed Biden administration rule
NEW YORK — The Biden administration will propose a new rule Wednesday that would make 3.6 million more U.S. workers eligible for overtime pay, reviving an Obama-era policy effort that was ultimately scuttled in court. The new rule, shared with The Associated Press ahead of the announcement, would require employers...
As Trump and Republicans target Georgia’s Fani Willis for retribution, the state’s governor opts out
ATLANTA — Some Republicans in Washington and Georgia began attacking Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis immediately after she announced the Aug. 14 indictment of former President Donald Trump for conspiring to overturn the 2020 presidential election results. But others, including Gov. Brian Kemp, have been conspicuous in their unwillingness...
Manor mayor seeks to ‘unite the community’ in 1st Labor Day celebration in over 20 years
For the first time in 21 years, Manor will host its Labor Day carnival. The event used to be hosted by the borough’s fire department, said Mayor Ed Malinoski, but it ceased in 2002. For the past year, Malinoski has spearheaded efforts to revive the event, which he has dubbed...
Dentist accused of killing wife by poisoning her protein shakes expected to plead not guilty
DENVER — A Colorado dentist accused of killing his wife by lacing her protein shakes with poison is expected to plead not guilty to charges including first-degree murder in October, his defense attorneys said Tuesday. Police said James Craig, who began an affair before his wife’s death on March 18,...
Lawyers indicted with Trump say they were doing their jobs. But that may be a tough argument to make
WASHINGTON — As John Eastman prepared to surrender to Georgia authorities last week for an indictment related to efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, he issued a statement denouncing the criminal case as targeting attorneys “for their zealous advocacy on behalf of their clients.” Another defendant, Rudy Giuliani, struck...
West Virginia University would end world language majors, continue Spanish, Chinese instruction
West Virginia University administrators reversed course Tuesday on two world languages, saying they will now recommend to the board of governors that Spanish and Chinese continue to be taught in person. But administrators said their final recommendations will include asking the board on Sept. 15 to eliminate foreign language majors...
West Virginia University recommends keeping some language classes, moving forward with axing majors
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — West Virginia University plans to eliminate its world languages department but is recommending retaining five teaching positions and letting students take some language courses as electives, the university announced Tuesday as it faces a $45 million budget shortfall. The office of the provost for the state’s flagship...
5 people hospitalized in E. coli outbreak at the University of Arkansas
Health officials are investigating an outbreak of E. coli food poisoning among students at the University of Arkansas, with dozens reporting symptoms and five people needing treatment in the hospital. Among those affected are two 19-year-old sorority members who developed a serious complication that can lead to kidney failure after...
University of North Carolina graduate student left building right after killing adviser, police sayVideo
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — A University of North Carolina graduate student charged with killing his faculty adviser walked into a classroom building, shot the victim and then left, authorities said Tuesday, shedding light on an attack that led to a campuswide lockdown as police searched for the gunman. Tailei Qi,...
A new Titanic expedition is planned. The U.S. is fighting it, says wreck is a grave site
NORFOLK, Va. — The U.S. government is trying to stop a planned expedition to recover items of historical interest from the sunken Titanic, citing a federal law and an international agreement that treat the shipwreck as a hallowed gravesite. The expedition is being organized by RMS Titanic Inc., the Georgia-based...
Officials say gas explosion destroyed NFL player Caleb Farley’s home, killing his dad
MOORESVILLE, N.C. — Fire investigators have determined that a natural gas explosion destroyed Tennessee Titans cornerback Caleb Farley’s North Carolina home, killing the NFL player’s father and injuring a family friend, officials announced Tuesday. It wasn’t clear where the gas leak originated, and the remaining structure is so unstable that...
Chicago TV news crew robbed at gunpoint while reporting on a string of robberies
CHICAGO — A Chicago television news crew reporting on a string of robberies ended up robbed themselves after they were accosted at gunpoint by three armed men wearing ski masks. Spanish-language station Univision Chicago said a reporter and photographer were filming just before 5 a.m. Monday in Chicago’s West Town...
Rapper Eminem tells GOP presidential candidate to stop using his music at campaign events
The real Slim Shady is standing up and telling a Republican presidential candidate to sit down. Grammy Award-winning rapper Eminem recently sent a cease-and-desist letter to Vivek Ramaswamy. The GOP presidential candidate, who has been polling in third behind former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, is known...
127-year-old water main gives way under NYC’s Times Square, flooding streets, subwaysVideo
NEW YORK — A 127-year-old water main under New York’s Times Square gave way early Tuesday, flooding midtown streets and the city’s busiest subway station. The 20-inch water main gave way under 40th Street and Seventh Avenue at 3 a.m., said Rohit Aggarwala, commissioner of New York City’s Department of...
After Supreme Court curtails federal power, Biden administration weakens water protections
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration weakened regulations protecting millions of acres of wetlands Tuesday, saying it had no choice after the Supreme Court sharply limited the federal government’s jurisdiction over them. The rule would require that wetlands be more clearly connected to other waters like oceans and rivers, a policy...
No. 2 House Republican Steve Scalise diagnosed with blood cancer, undergoing treatment
WASHINGTON — Rep. Steve Scalise, the No. 2-ranking House Republican, said Tuesday he has been diagnosed with a form of blood cancer known as multiple myeloma and is undergoing treatment. Scalise, 57, said he will continue to serve in the House. He described the cancer as “very treatable” and said...
3M agrees to pay $6 billion to settle earplug lawsuits from U.S. service members
NEW YORK — Chemical and consumer product manufacturer 3M has agreed to pay $6 billion to settle numerous lawsuits from U.S. service members who say they experienced hearing loss or other serious injuries after using faulty earplugs made by the company. The settlement, consisting of $5 billion in cash and...
The math problem: Kids are still behind. How can schools catch them up?
On a breezy July morning in South Seattle, a dozen elementary-aged students ran math relays behind an elementary school. One by one, they raced to a table, where they scribbled answers to multiplication questions before sprinting back to high-five their teammate. These students are part of a summer program run...
Massive wildfire in northeastern Greece persists for 11th day despite European firefighting efforts
ATHENS, Greece — A massive wildfire was burning unabated in northeastern Greece for the 11th day Tuesday despite the efforts of hundreds of firefighters and a fleet of water-dropping aircraft from Greece and several of its European Union partners. After burning across vast tracts of land, the blaze in the...
See which drugs President Biden is targeting for Medicare price-lowering talks
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is targeting the blood thinner Eliquis, diabetes treatment Jardiance and eight other medications for Medicare’s first-ever drug price negotiations as it seeks to lower medical costs for Americans. The administration on Tuesday released a list of the 10 drugs for which prices will be negotiated...
