AP National News

NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. (AP) — Authorities say a car stuck in the icy waters above Niagara Falls was likely driven into the river on purpose. The New York State Park Police said Thursday “entry into the water appears to be an intentional act,” and an investigation was ongoing. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter crew recovered

By BOBBY CAINA CALVAN Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Noncitizens in the country’s most populous city are closer to gaining the right to vote in municipal elections. The New York City Council overwhelmingly approved a measure Thursday that would give access to the ballot box to 800,000 green card holders and so-called Dreamers. Only

By CHRISTOPHER WEBER Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California woman faces criminal charges because authorities say she told her basketball player daughter “you better hit her” before the girl punched an opposing player in the head during a game. Orange County District Attorney Todd Spitzer said Thursday that the mother’s words were the

By JOSHUA GOODMAN and JIM MUSTIAN Associated Press TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — A once-standout U.S. narcotics agent who used his badge to build a lavish lifestyle of luxury cars and Tiffany jewelry has been sentenced to 12 years in federal prison for conspiring to launder money with a Colombian cartel. But even as Jose Irizarry

WASHINGTON (AP) — Travelers love to hate airline fees, and several congressional Democrats say it’s time to regulate the extra charges for things like checking a bag. Several lawmakers announced Thursday that they will introduce legislation to require that airline fees are “reasonable” and relate to the airline’s cost of providing the service.  Airlines say

By DON BABWIN and SARA BURNETT Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — A jury has reached a verdict in the trial of actor Jussie Smollett on charges he staged a racist, anti-gay attack on himself and lied to Chicago police about it. It is expected to be read aloud in court later Thursday. The jury deliberated

By BRIAN MELLEY Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — California’s rugged Lost Coast is about to become less forbidding. A conservation group on Thursday says it plans to purchase a 5-mile stretch of the scenic coastline from a lumber company to protect it from logging and eventually open it up to the public. Save the

Associated Press DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A student at an aeronautical university in Florida was arrested after authorities received tips from other students that he was planning to shoot people on campus on the last day before winter break. When officers arrested 19-year-old  John Hagins on Thursday morning at his apartment in Daytona Beach,

By BRIAN WITTE Associated Press ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The Maryland General Assembly has voted to override Gov. Larry Hogan’s veto of Maryland’s congressional map. The Republican governor said Thursday the veto override would not be the end of the process, because the map will be challenged in court. Hogan says the map for the

By ERIC TUCKER and ZEKE MILLER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court has ruled against an effort by former President Donald Trump to shield documents from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol. The three-judge panel said Thursday there was a “unique legislative need” for documents that the

By ELLEN KNICKMEYER, MATTHEW LEE and NOMAAN MERCHANT Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has reached out to Ukraine’s leader as the United States moves to take a more direct role in diplomacy between that country and Russia. It’s part of a broader effort to dissuade Russia from a destabilizing invasion of its

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The U.N. political chief says she had “frank and useful” discussions with a wide range of Afghans including senior Taliban officials during a three-day visit. She says the aim is “an Afghanistan that is inclusive, abides by its human rights obligations and is a resolute partner in suppressing terrorism.” She pointed

By DEBORA ALVARES Associated Press BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazil will require international travelers who aren’t vaccinated against the coronavirus to quarantine for five days in their city of destination after arriving by plane. The government decision was published in the nation’s official gazette on Thursday. The administration of President Jair Bolsonaro will start enforcing

By BRUCE SCHREINER Associated Press FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s governor has declared an emergency over the state’s chronic nursing shortage amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. Gov. Andy Beshear took executive actions Thursday aimed at boosting enrollment in nurse-training programs. He says Kentucky is projected to need more than 16,000 additional nurses by 2024. His

By CHRISTOPHER SHERMAN Associated Press MEXICO CITY (AP) — Allegations from the U.S. government that El Salvador President Nayib Bukele’s administration negotiated with the country’s powerful street gangs touched a sensitive topic. Previous administrations in El Salvador have done so and paid a political price. Prosecutions of some former officials are ongoing for past pacts.

By JOSH FUNK AP Business Writer Newspaper publisher Lee Enterprises has rejected a takeover offer from the Alden Global Capital hedge fund that is one of the largest newspaper owners in the country with a reputation for intense cost cuts and layoffs. Lee said Thursday that its board unanimously rejected Alden’s offer to buy the

By ANDREW WELSH-HUGGINS Associated Press COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Ohio’s capital city has agreed to pay $5.75 million to people injured during last year’s racial injustice and police brutality protests, plaintiffs’ lawyers and city officials said Thursday. The payouts will vary based on the extent of protesters’ individual injuries, and will be determined during a

By JOCELYN GECKER and TERRY SPENCER Associated Press The Los Angeles Board of Education has chosen the longtime superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools to be the next superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District, the second largest in the nation. The board announced the appointment of Alberto Carvalho after a unanimous vote Thursday. An

By ADAM BEAM Associated Press SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California truck drivers could soon have to worry about pollution tickets along with speeding tickets. The California Air Resources Board on Thursday is proposing a new smog check program for heavy duty trucks. Many newer trucks have computers on board that monitor emissions and send data