AP-National

By STEVE KARNOWSKI Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A state commission selected a basic design concept Friday for a new state flag for Minnesota to replace a current banner that is considered offensive to Native Americans, but will need more time to add the finishing touches. The final choice came down to two templates. The

By PATRICK WHITTLE and DAVID SHARP Associated Press PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — An independent report conducted for a police agency clears the agency’s response to growing concerns about the mental health of a man who later went on to commit the deadliest mass shooting in Maine history, but it does reveal missed opportunities to intervene

By AUDREY McAVOY Associated Press HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii Gov. Josh Green on Friday said he wants 3,000 condos and homes that are normally rented to Maui tourists converted to long-term housing for displaced wildfire survivors who are now living in hotels. Green said he’s prepared to use the “hammer” of post-fire emergency orders to

By JULIE CARR SMYTH and SAMANTHA HENDRICKSON Associated Press COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Campaign finance reports show this fall’s fight over abortion rights in Ohio cost a combined $70 million. Voters overwhelmingly passed November’s Issue 1, which guaranteed an individual’s right “to make and carry out one’s own reproductive decisions.” That made Ohio the seventh

By DENNIS WASZAK Jr. AP Pro Football Writer FLORHAM PARK, N.J. (AP) — Solomon Thomas was lost, stuck in a dark place mentally while desperately trying to overcome the anxiety, depression and sadness that gnawed at him. He needed help. He wasn’t sure if he could overcome it all. And he didn’t know where to

WASHINGTON (AP) — ABC’s “This Week” — Former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, a Republican presidential candidate; Gov. Chris Sununu, R-N.H.; Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md. ___ NBC’s “Meet the Press” — Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.; Rep. Debbie Dingell, D-Mich. ___ CBS’ “Face the Nation” — Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.; Rep. Tony Gonzales,

By JOHN RABY AP Sports Writer CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — The NCAA and a coalition of states have jointly asked a federal court to extend a small window for multiple-transfer athletes to compete through at least the winter and spring semesters. The motion filed Friday seeks to extend a temporary restraining order barring the NCAA

By EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations peacekeeping chief says he was very satisfied with the strong support of many countries for its far-flung operations at a recent ministerial meeting, despite “headwinds and challenges and problems.” Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the undersecretary-general for peace operations, said in an interview with AP

By ALMUDENA CALATRAVA Associated Press BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) — Argentine President Javier Milei has raffled off the last salary he received as a lawmaker before being sworn in earlier this month as president. The 53-year-old populist went on Instagram to do a live broadcast to show off his office, boast his attributes as president

Associated Press PITTSFIELD, Mass. (AP) — The remains of a U.S. Air Force staff sergeant from Massachusetts who was one of eight service members lost when a CV-22 Osprey crashed off the coast of Japan are being returned home. The body of 24-year-old Jacob “Jake” Galliher was expected to arrive at the Westover Air Force

WAUKEGAN, Ill. (AP) — A suburban Chicago man who told his estranged wife “If I can’t have them neither can you” has pleaded guilty but mentally ill to three counts of first-degree murder for killing their three young children. Lake County State’s Attorney Eric Rinehart says 36-year-old Jason Karels of Round Lake Beach will be

By BECKY BOHRER Associated Press JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — A military investigation report released Friday says a U.S. Army helicopter hit another military aircraft and crashed in a mountain pass in Alaska earlier this year as they were returning from a training exercise, killing three soldiers. The accident safety report from the United States Army

By ANDREW DALTON AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Matthew Perry died from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine, according to the results of an autopsy on the 54-year-old “Friends” actor released Friday. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said in the autopsy report that Perry also drowned in “the heated

By DOUG FERGUSON AP Golf Writer ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — No wonder Tiger Woods jokingly refers to the PNC Championship as the fifth major. Woods was together with 14-year-old son Charlie on Friday, their swings eerily similar and the encouraging words coming as only Woods can deliver them. They were warming up ahead of the

SANTIAGO (AP) — Chile’s police  have arrested at least 55 people in a fiscal fraud case that could be one of the biggest in the history of the Andean nation, amounting to about $275 million. Those implicated in the scheme work in small and mid-sized companies in different parts of the country. Marcelo Freyhoffer, a

By JACK JEFFERY Associated Press CAIRO (AP) — An Israeli strike killed a Palestinian cameraman for the TV network Al Jazeera and wounded its chief Gaza correspondent as they reported at a school in the south of the besieged territory. The network said cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa and correspondent Wael Dahdouh had gone to the

By REGINA GARCIA CANO Associated Press CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — U.S. diplomats have injected confusion into next year’s presidential election in Venezuela by applauding the purported inclination of opposition leader Maria Corina Machado and other foes of the Venezuelan government to appeal their bans on running for office. A tweet on Friday from the U.S.

Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has sat down with former late-night television host Conan O’Brien for an interview on the comedian’s podcast. The White House confirms Biden and O’Brien taped the interview on Friday afternoon for “Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend.” O’Brien was spotted by reporters in the White House briefing room

By WAYNE PARRY Associated Press ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — Internet gambling and sports betting set new records in New Jersey in November as the Atlantic City gambling market continues to evolve and become less dependent on physical casinos. New figures released Friday show that over $171 million was won from online table games and