Month: August 2023

HAMBURG, Calif. (AP) — Firefighters battling lightning-sparked blazes in northwest California have gotten some help from wet weather. The Head Fire in Klamath National Forest remains at approximately 5.5 square miles after light rain overnight moderated its behavior. The fires were sparked over several days this week as unstable air brought thunderstorms and lightning to

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Authorities in the Dominican Republic say it could take months to identify all of the 28 victims who died in a powerful explosion near the country’s capital this week. The announcement comes as friends and family keep trying to confirm whether their loved ones died in Monday’s explosion in

By JONATHAN MATTISE Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A district attorney in Tennessee has said his office has dropped 30 to 40 cases involving the five former officers who have been charged with second-degree murder in the January beating death of Tyre Nichols. In a statement Thursday, Shelby County District Attorney Steven Mulroy’s office

GATLINBURG, Tenn. (AP) — Victims of a deadly 2016 wildfire that began in Great Smoky Mountains National Park before it burned through a Tennessee tourist town will have another chance to seek compensation from the federal government. Several lawsuits claim park employees failed to warn the city of Gatlinburg and its residents of the danger

By ANDREW DeMILLO Associated Press LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — The six Arkansas schools that planned to offer Advanced Placement African American Studies are moving forward with the course despite the state saying it won’t count toward a student’s graduation credit. The Little Rock, North Little Rock and Jacksonville North Pulaski school districts and eStem

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Democratic National Committee has asked a federal appeals court to dismiss a case centered on Alabama party infighting that could test the requirements of the Voting Rights Act. Randy Kelley asked a federal judge in 2021 to declare that party bylaws enacted two years before had violated the Voting Rights

CINCINNATI (AP) — Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon was found not guilty Thursday of aggravated menacing in a January traffic dispute. Hamilton County Municipal Court Judge Gwen Bender acquitted Mixon of the misdemeanor charge after a four-day bench trial. A woman had accused the 27-year-old of pointing a gun at her as their cars

By Yuras Karmanau TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu on Thursday visited Belarus and said his country would increase military cooperation with Russia’s neighbor, where Moscow is deploying tactical nuclear weapons. Li met with strongman President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk and said “the purpose of my visit to Belarus is precisely the

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The New Hampshire attorney general says a sheriff has been arrested and charged with eight felonies as part an investigation into accusations he misused county credit cards. Attorney General John Formella announced Thursday that Strafford County Sheriff Mark Brave is charged with one count of theft by deception over accusations he

ERIE, Pa. (AP) — Contract negotiations between the country’s largest locomotive manufacturer and its striking unions are continuing in Erie, Pennsylvania, nearly two months after some 1,400 workers walked off the job. The session followed comments by Erie County Executive Brenton Davis expressing concerns the dispute could result in an end to manufacturing at Wabtec’s

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Lack of rain and hot conditions in central New Mexico are leaving one of North America’s longest rivers in dire shape again. Water managers warned Thursday that stretches of the Rio Grande in the Albuquerque area could dry up without any rain. The irrigation district that covers the region is working

By RUSS BYNUM Associated Press Authorities in Georgia are investigating threats made against the grand jurors who indicted former President Donald Trump and 18 allies. The Fulton County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement Thursday that it’s working to track down the origin of the threats with assistance from other local, state and federal law

By SUMMER BALLENTINE Associated Press A South Dakota state lawmaker is resigning after agreeing to repay $500,000 in federal COVID-19 relief funding her day care business received in violation of the state constitution. Republican Sen. Jessica Castleberry stepped down Thursday. Republican Attorney General Marty Jackley began investigating her at the urging of Gov. Kristi Noem.