AP National News

By SARAH RANKIN and MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Associated Press RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Hundreds of motorists are waiting desperately for help after being stranded all night in freezing temperatures along a 50-mile stretch of highway south of the nation’s capital. Police say that part of Interstate 95 became impassable when tractor-trailers jackknifed in a winter storm.

By SYLVIE CORBET The Associated Press PARIS (AP) — The conservative candidate in France’s presidential race says she will adapt her campaign to coronavirus conditions, focusing on social media and staging small gatherings with voters instead of big rallies. Like Republicans Party candidate Valérie Pécresse who says this campaign “won’t look like any other,” contenders

By MICHAEL HILL and MARINA VILLENEUVE ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo won’t face criminal prosecution over an allegation that he fondled an aide. Albany’s top prosecutor said Tuesday he was dropping the case because he couldn’t prove it. District Attorney David Soares’ decision comes three days before the Democratic ex-governor

BOSTON (AP) — A woman is taking over as the U.S.S. Constitution’s commanding officer for the first time in the legendary warship’s 224-year history. The Navy announced Tuesday that Cmdr. Billie J. Farrell is scheduled to assume command of the ship often called Old Ironsides at an on-board ceremony Jan. 21. Farrell is a native

PARIS (AP) — Three women in France were found dead on New Year’s Day, allegedly killed by their partners, despite years of efforts by President Emmanuel Macron’s government to rein in deadly domestic violence. In all three cases, the men told police they themselves were at fault, according to local media reports. Feminist groups are

By ROBERT BURNS AP National Security Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge in Texas has granted a preliminary injunction stopping the Navy from acting against 35 sailors for refusing on religious grounds to comply with an order to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The injunction is a new challenge to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s decision

By DANICA KIRKA Associated Press LONDON (AP) — U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson says he hopes to “ride out” the pandemic without further restrictions, even as he warned that the country faces difficult days ahead as the highly transmissible omicron variant drives COVID-19 infections to record levels. Johnson told reporters in London on Tuesday that

By DAMIAN J. TROISE AP Business Writer Stocks edged higher in morning trading on Wall Street Tuesday as traders gear up for economic reports and company earnings to resume after the year-end holidays. The S&P 500 rose 0.3%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.8%. The Nasdaq fell 0.7% on weakness in some big technology

By STEPHEN WHYNO AP Sports Writer Washington’s NFL team says it will unveil its new name on Feb. 2. Team president Jason Wright confirmed that the name won’t be Wolves or RedWolves. He cited trademark challenges for not going down that path that was popular among fans. Commanders, Defenders, Red Hogs, Armada, Sentinels, Admirals Presidents,

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Someone had a warning for New Yorkers visiting former President Donald Trump’s new hometown — leave if you are “woke.” Palm Beach Police are investigating after someone placed fliers over the weekend on New York-licensed cars parked in the wealthy island reading, “If you are one of the those ‘woke’

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Growth in U.S. manufacturing slowed in December as companies continued to combat supply chain problems. The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing managers, reported Tuesday that its index of manufacturing activity fell to a reading of 58.7 in December compared to a reading

By PAUL WISEMAN AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — A record 4.5 million American workers quit their jobs in November, a sign of confidence and more evidence that the U.S. job market is bouncing back strongly from last year’s coronavirus recession. The Labor Department also reported Tuesday that employers posted 10.6 million job openings in

CANTON, Ohio (AP) — The wife of an Ohio man who was fatally shot by police just minutes into the new year says he had been firing a gun to celebrate the arrival of 2022 when an officer opened fire on him without warning. Marquetta Williams told The Repository newspaper of Canton that her 46-year-old

By DAVID McHUGH AP Business Writer FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — OPEC and allied oil-producing countries have decided to pump more oil to the world economy amid hope that travel and demand for fuel will hold up despite the rapid spread of the omicron variant of COVID-19. The 23-member OPEC+ alliance led by oil cartel member

By RAF CASERT Associated Press BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is imposing restrictions on the inks that tattoo artists can use as of Wednesday. The EU says it is a necessary move to protect the health of consumers because thousands of chemical elements now in use can cause anything from allergic reactions to cancer.

By BHARATHA MALLAWARACHI Associated Press COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka’s president has sacked a government minister after he criticized a now-abandoned government decision to ban chemical fertilizers. President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s office says education minister Susil Premajayantha was dismissed with immediate effect. It did not give a reason for his removal. Premajayanta said on

The Associated Press Stocks are off to a mostly higher start on Wall Street as traders gear up for economic reports and company earnings to resume after the year-end holidays. The S&P 500 was up 0.4% in the early going Tuesday. Weakness in some big technology companies held the Nasdaq to a gain of less

By DAVID McHUGH AP Business Writer FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — OPEC and allied oil-producing countries have decided to pump more oil to the world economy amid hope that travel and demand for fuel will hold up despite the rapid spread of the omicron variant of COVID-19. The 23-member OPEC+ alliance led by oil cartel member

By DAVID EGGERT Associated Press LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Current and former Black state lawmakers in Detroit have announced a pending lawsuit to block Michigan’s newly drawn congressional and legislative districts, contending they illegally dilute the voting strength of African Americans. The step Monday came days after the new Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission finalized U.S.