U.S./World category, Page 951
Fay becomes post-tropical cyclone over eastern New York
MIAMI — A tropical storm that brought heavy rain to mid-Atlantic states and southern New England was downgraded twice Saturday morning as is moved over New York, forecasters said. Post-tropical cyclone Fay was about 30 miles south of Albany and had maximum sustained winds near 35 mph, the National Hurricane...
Pandemic, racism compound worries about Black suicide rate
CHICAGO — Jasmin Pierre was 18 when she tried to end her life, overdosing on whatever pills she could find. Diagnosed with depression and anxiety, she survived two more attempts at suicide, which felt like the only way to stop her pain. Years of therapy brought progress, but the 31-year-old...
Shipbuilder files complaint over union threats during strike
Navy shipbuilder Bath Iron Works on Friday filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board, accusing its largest union of threatening workers who cross the picket line during an ongoing strike in Maine. The company accused leaders of Machinists’ Local S6 of threatening so-called scabs with fines and loss...
Virus surge visible across Texas: ‘The tsunami is here’
AUSTIN, Texas — Urgent calls for field hospitals. Cars lined up for hours at drive-thru testing centers. Bars boarded up and grocery stores enforcing masks. Texas today resembles the state in the early days of the coronavirus pandemic. Except now, the outbreak is far worse. Records for COVID-19-related deaths and...
‘Alien-like’ creature resembling ET discovered in ancient area of Pacific seafloor
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A marine creature that resembles the alien E.T. has been found growing in a prehistoric area of eastern Pacific seafloor rock. The “E.T. sponge” has been classified as a new species and genus, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Thursday as it announced the discovery. The...
Amazon’s homeless shelter faces Seattle crisis, criticism
SEATTLE — A homeless shelter built on Amazon’s perfectly manicured urban Seattle campus is a major civic contribution that pushes the company to face the crisis and criticism in the hometown it has rapidly transformed. Believed to be the first homeless shelter built inside a corporate office building, Amazon’s partnership...
Serbia police detain 71 after 4th night of virus protests
BELGRADE, Serbia — Serbian police have detained 71 people after clashes during the fourth night of anti-government protests that were initially sparked by the announcement of a new coronavirus lockdown, a senior police official said Saturday. Fourteen policemen were injured in the rioting when hundreds of right-wing demonstrators tried to...
Attorney not disputing suicide findings in Black man’s death
LOS ANGELES — An attorney for the family of a Black man found hanging from a tree last month in a Southern California city park did not dispute on Friday investigators’ finding that the death was a suicide. The family of Robert Fuller was absorbing the findings and grieving, attorney...
Tensions rise over Detroit police killing of man they say fired first at officers
DETROIT — Detroit police fatally shot a man Friday afternoon while investigating a deadly Fourth of July block party — an incident that quickly escalated and sparked tensions between law enforcement and police brutality protesters. Police Chief James Craig says the victim was an alleged gang member who pulled a...
Harvey Weinstein accuser says disgraced producer gets off easy thanks to $19 million settlement paid by insurers
NEW YORK — A Harvey Weinstein accuser urged a judge to reject an $18.9 million settlement for victims on Friday, saying it let Weinstein off too easy by having insurers cover the bill. Zoe Brock, who says she was assaulted in 1998 by the convicted rapist, will not participate in...
Ex-West Virginia health chief says cuts hurt virus response
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The former West Virginia public health leader forced out by the governor says decades-old computer systems and cuts to staff over a period of years had made a challenging job even harder during a once-in-a-century pandemic. Republican Gov. Jim Justice demanded Dr. Cathy Slemp’s resignation on June...
Trump undercuts health experts — again — in schools debate
WASHINGTON — The White House seating chart spoke volumes. When the president convened a roundtable this week on how to safely reopen schools with coronavirus cases rising, the seats surrounding him were filled with parents, teachers and top White House officials, including the first and second ladies. But the head...
Ghislaine Maxwell seeks jail release in Epstein abuse case
NEW YORK — British socialite and longtime Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell was made a scapegoat for the disgraced financier since he killed himself last summer while he was facing sex abuse charges, her lawyers said in court papers filed Friday seeking her release from jail while she awaits trial....
Comet streaking past Earth, providing spectacular show
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A newly discovered comet is streaking past Earth, providing a stunning nighttime show after buzzing the sun and expanding its tail. Comet Neowise — the brightest comet visible from the Northern Hemisphere in a quarter-century — swept within Mercury’s orbit a week ago. Its close proximity...
Wisconsin high court gives mixed ruling on partial vetoes
MADISON, Wis. — The conservative-controlled Wisconsin Supreme Court on Friday overturned three of four partial budget vetoes issued by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers, bucking decades of court precedent that upheld the governor’s broad veto powers. However, the justices also upheld one of Evers’ vetoes as well as two made by...
Tropical Storm Fay churns north toward NYC, New England
MIAMI — Rain lashed the New Jersey shore Friday as the fast-moving Tropical Storm Fay churned north on a path expected to soak the New York City region. The storm system was expected to bring 2 to 4 inches (5 to 10 centimeters) of rain, with the possibility of flash...
Russia skeptical about nuclear pact extension prospects
MOSCOW — Russia’s top diplomat said Friday he’s not very optimistic about prospects for an extension of the last remaining U.S.-Russia arms control agreement because of Washington’s focus on making China sign up to the pact. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned that Russia only wants to keep the New START...
Authorities search for ‘Glee’ star Naya Rivera believed to have drowned
Authorities planned Friday to renew the search for “Glee” star Naya Rivera, who is believed to have drowned in a Southern California lake while boating with her 4-year-old son. Rivera, 33, disappeared after renting the pontoon boat for three hours Wednesday afternoon and taking it out on Lake Piru in...
What you need to know about Supreme Court ruling over Trump’s tax returns
NEW YORK — The Supreme Court ruled that Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr. can obtain President Donald Trump’s tax returns for a criminal investigation but sent a second request by Congress for the records back to lower courts. Here are some key questions and answers stemming from Thursday’s...
West Virginia mail carrier admits attempted election fraud
ELKINS, W.Va. — A West Virginia postal carrier pleaded guilty Thursday to altering mail-in requests for absentee voter ballots. Thomas Cooper entered the plea in federal court in Elkins to attempted election fraud and injury to the mail, U.S. Attorney Bill Powell said in a statement. Cooper was charged in...
D.C. judge asks for full appeal review of Michael Flynn dismissal
WASHINGTON — The U.S. District Court judge who oversaw the criminal case of President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn has requested a full appeals court review after a three-judge panel ordered him to dismiss it. U.S. District Judge Emmet Sullivan made the highly unusual the request Thursday....
Tropical Storm Fay edges north from off North Carolina coastVideo
MIAMI — Tropical Storm Fay, the sixth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, began to edge away from the North Carolina coast Thursday evening, its sights set on the mid-Atlantic coast and southern New England. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Fay was about 70 miles east of...
NYC mayor helps paint ‘Black Lives Matter’ on street outside Trump TowerVideo
NEW YORK — Mayor Bill de Blasio joined protesters Thursday in painting a vibrant yellow “Black Lives Matter” mural on the street outside Trump Tower, delivering a message to the president on his old home turf. “No justice, no peace!” chanted the demonstrators, raising their fists in solidarity as an...
Ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen back in federal prison
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, was returned to federal prison, weeks after his early release to serve the remainder of his sentence at home because of the coronavirus pandemic, the federal Bureau of Prisons said Thursday. In a statement to The Associated...
Pentagon: U.S. will respond if Russia bounty reports are trueVideo
WASHINGTON — Top Pentagon leaders told Congress on Thursday that reports of Russia offering Taliban militants bounties for killing Americans were not corroborated by defense intelligence agencies, but said they are looking into it and the U.S. will respond if necessary. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said his military commanders heard...
