AP National News

By STACEY PLAISANCE Associated Press JEFFERSON, La. (AP) — The rapidly escalating surge in COVID-19 infections is once again overwhelming hospitals across the U.S. That is especially true in hot spots such as Louisiana, which hit a record number of coronavirus hospitalizations last week. Nearly 2,900 virus patients have been admitted to hospitals — and

By JONATHAN LEMIRE and LISA MASCARO Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s belief that bipartisanship is still possible in a deeply divided Washington was validated when Senate Democrats and Republicans came together to pass his $1 trillion infrastructure bill. But now comes an even more complicated task: keeping Biden’s own party in line.

By MALLIKA SEN The Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — After months of holding on to power, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo abruptly resigned Tuesday. What happened? What’s next? The Associated Press takes you through the allegations against him, the calculus behind his resignation, successor Kathy Hochul and what could happen to Cuomo next, along

By ROBERT BURNS and LOLITA C. BALDOR Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Afghan government forces are collapsing even faster than in the worst-case scenario sketched out by U.S. military leaders when President Joe Biden ordered a full military withdrawal last spring. It is likely too late for the United States to stop the rout and

By YURAS KARMANAU Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Belarus says it has rescinded its permission for the U.S. ambassador’s appointment and told the U.S. to cut its embassy staff in retaliation for Washington’s sanctions. President Joe Biden’s administration slapped Belarus with new sanctions Monday, the anniversary of last year’s election in Belarus that was

By ZEKE MILLER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s administration is moving at home and abroad to try to address concerns about rising energy prices slowing the nation’s recovery from the pandemic-induced recession. National security adviser Jake Sullivan is calling on the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to move faster to restore

By MICHELLE CHAPMAN and DAVID KOENIG AP Business Writers Southwest Airlines says it no longer expects to be profitable in its third quarter. Its gloomier forecast comes as a surge in COVID-19 infections fueled by the highly contagious delta variant darkens the outlook for travel. The airline said in a regulatory filing that it was

By LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The highly contagious delta variant is fueling a surge in coronavirus cases as students return to classrooms. School districts with hundreds of thousands of kids are increasingly defying Republican leaders who banned school mask mandates in several U.S. states. The showdowns have drawn in the

KINGSTON, N.H. (AP) — A man has pleaded guilty to a disorderly conduct charge stemming from an explosive gender reveal party that was heard by nearby residents in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. As part of a plea deal reached Tuesday, Anthony Spinelli, of Kingston, was convicted and fined $620. Of that, $500 will be suspended

By The Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — YouTube has suspended U.S. Sen. Rand Paul for seven days after the Kentucky Republican posted a misleading video suggesting face masks don’t prevent infection by COVID-19. The video was also removed. It’s the second time in two weeks that YouTube has removed one of Paul’s videos for

By KRISHAN FRANCIS Associated Press COLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka has filed 23,270 charges against 25 people in connection with the 2019 Easter Sunday suicide bomb attacks on churches and hotels that killed 269 people. The president’s office says the charges filed under the country’s anti-terror law include conspiring to murder, aiding and