AP National News

By THOMAS BEAUMONT Associated Press MANKATO, Minnesota (AP) — Right-wing provocateur Charlie Kirk has built a well-funded and growing organization aimed at reaching the next generation of conservatives. Now he’s on a tour of college towns, attacking critical race theory in terms that are confrontational and, some say, dangerous. Yet he’s drawing large crowds and

By DAMIAN J. TROISE and ALEX VEIGA AP Business Writers Stocks wobbled in afternoon trading on Wall Street Thursday as investors reviewed the latest earnings reports from retailers and an update on the employment market. The S&P 500 rose 0.3%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.1% and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.3%. Financial companies

By DON BABWIN Associated Press CHICAGO (AP) — The Illinois State Police say one person has been killed and another wounded in shootings on Chicago expressways. The agency says the shootings happened early Thursday morning on Interstate 55 in Chicago. The first victim suffered non-life threatening injuries and the second victim was pronounced dead at

By QASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRA Associated Press BAGHDAD (AP) — Iraq’s influential Shiite cleric who emerged as a winner in last month’s general elections has called on the country’s myriad pro-Iran Shiite armed factions to disband if they want to join his upcoming government. He also asked them to over their weapons to the government-sanctioned umbrella known

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A firebrand Republican has joined the crowded GOP field hoping to unseat Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger of Virginia next year. State Sen. Amanda Chase announced her bid Wednesday. She is an ardent supporter of gun rights who promotes herself as “Trump in heels” and has a long history of clashing with

By TALI ARBEL AP Technology Writer U.S. communications regulators are requiring that phone companies allow people to text as well as call a new “988” number for the suicide-prevention hotline. The Federal Communications Commission last summer voted to require phone companies support the 988 number for people to call to reach an existing suicide-prevention hotline.

By TRAVIS LOLLER and ACACIA CORONADO Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — New measures that restrict how race is addressed in classrooms have spread confusion and anxiety among many educators. In some cases educators have begun pulling books and canceling lessons for fear of stirring controversy. Education officials still waiting to see how the laws

By JAMEY KEATEN Associated Press GENEVA (AP) — Switzerland’s financial markets watchdog says it has reprimanded and set restrictions on two Swiss banks for violating their obligation to fight money laundering in connection with clients in Venezuela, notably with links to state-run oil giant PDVSA. Banca Zarattini & Co. SA and CBH Compagnie Bancaire Helvetique

By MARCIA DUNN AP Aerospace Writer CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA says the International Space Station remains at increased risk from orbiting debris following this week’s Russian weapons test. On Monday, Russia used a missile to destroy a satellite in an orbit just above the space station. NASA says the highest risk to the

By THOMAS ADAMSON Associated Press PARIS (AP) — It’s a neutral pronoun that’s proving anything but: A non-binary pronoun added to an esteemed French dictionary has ignited a fierce linguistic squabble in the country. Le Petit Robert introduced the word “iel” — an amalgamation of “il” (he) and “elle” (she) — to its online edition

By EDGAR H. CLEMENTE Associated Press MEXICO CITY (AP) — As Mexico President Andrés Manuel López Obrador opens talks on immigration and other issues with his North American counterparts in Washington, a new migrant caravan has walked out of the southern Mexican city of Tapachula. The new group of migrants heading north Thursday served as

By ADRIAN SAINZ and RYAN PEARSON Associated Press MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Police are scouring the city of Memphis, Tennessee, as they search for suspects in the killing of influential rapper Young Dolph at a popular local cookie shop. Wednesday’s shooting drew shocked and mournful reactions from the music world and throughout the rapper’s hometown.

By MICHAEL TARM, SCOTT BAUER and AMY FORLITI Associated Press KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) — The jury at Kyle Rittenhouse’s trial has begun deliberating for a third day with a new defense request for a mistrial hanging over the politically and racially fraught case. The mistrial motion was sparked by a jury request Wednesday to re-watch

By TOM KRISHER AP Auto Writer DETROIT (AP) — Consumer Reports says electric SUVs generally are among the least reliable vehicles on the road, but it’s not because of the batteries or electric motors that power them. The magazine and website’s annual auto reliability survey found that it’s because of glitch-prone electronics including climate controls

By DAMIAN J. TROISE AP Business Writer Stocks fell broadly in morning trading on Wall Street Thursday as investors reviewed the latest earnings reports from retailers and an update on the employment market. The S&P 500 fell 0.1%, the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.6% and the Nasdaq composite fell 0.3%. Banks and financial companies

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Supreme Court has rejected a request by Steven Avery to review his conviction for killing a young photographer in 2005, a case that became the focus of a popular Netflix series “Making a Murderer.” Avery has been fighting unsuccessfully for years to have his conviction overturned. His latest appeal

By RUSS BYNUM and JEFFREY COLLINS Associated Press BRUNSWICK, Ga. (AP) — The man who fatally shot Ahmaud Arbery has testified that the 25-year-old Black man did not speak, show a weapon or threaten him in any way before he raised his shotgun and pointed it at him. On his second day of testimony Thursday,

By KEN SWEET AP Business Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s choice to run one of the agencies charged with overseeing the banking industry faced sharp questioning Thursday from Republican Senators, who tried to label Saule Omarova as someone who would nationalize the U.S. banking system. Omarova, 55, was nominated in September to be

By LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer The Screen Actors Guild has selected Dame Helen Mirren as their 57th Life Achievement Award Recipient, the union said Thursday. The 76-year-old English stage and screen actor has credits spanning over 50 years and has played everything from a gangster’s girlfriend in “The Long Good Friday” to Queen Elizabeth

By KELVIN CHAN AP Business Writer LONDON (AP) — Customers are caught in the middle of a growing dispute between Amazon and Visa over transaction fees. The online retail giant moved this week to stop shoppers from using Visa credit cards issued in the United Kingdom starting next year. It’s the latest salvo in a