AP National News

By AMY TAXIN Associated Press HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) — A group of environmental organizations is demanding the Biden administration suspend and cancel oil and gas leases in federal waters off the California coast after a recent crude oil spill. The Center for Biological Diversity and about three dozen organizations sent a petition Wednesday to

By ALEXANDRA JAFFE Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Jill Biden is speaking candidly about the challenges of her job as first lady. Speaking Wednesday at an event for the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy at the Kennedy Center, Biden offered tribute to Barbara Bush and her ability to handle controversy with grace. She said

SANDERSVILLE, Ga. (AP) — Defense experts at a Georgia murder trial are denying that three fired deputies used too much force when they repeatedly shocked a man with stun guns before he died. Prosecutors say Henry Lee Copeland, Michael Howell and Rhett Scott had no reason to detain Eurie Martin. The white deputies confronted the

KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) — Police say three people are dead and two others critically wounded following a shooting at a home in the southeastern Wisconsin city of Kenosha. Interim Police Chief Eric Larsen on Wednesday described Tuesday’s night’s shooting as a domestic situation. Additional details weren’t immediately released, but the Kenosha Police Department said earlier

By WAYNE PARRY Associated Press ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — The NFL is kicking off a $6.2 million campaign for problem gambling programs across the country. The effort aims to get fans to set limits on their wagers, understand the risks of betting and know where to go for help. The league is partnering with

By ED WHITE Associated Press DETROIT (AP) — The only Michigan official fired in the Flint water disaster likely was a “public scapegoat” who lost her job because of politics. That’s the opinion of an arbitrator who is ordering $191,880 in lost wages and other compensation for Liane Shekter Smith. She served as head of

By WAYNE PARRY Associated Press ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. (AP) — The NFL is kicking off a $6.2 million campaign for problem gambling programs across the country. The effort aims to get fans to set limits on their wagers, understand the risks of betting, and know where to go for help. The league is partnering with

By MONIKA SCISLOWSKA Associated Press WARSAW, Poland (AP) — The jury of the Frederic Chopin international piano competition is hearing the last finalists in Warsaw before announcing the winner of the 40,000-euro ($45,000) first prize in the prestigious event that launches world careers. The jury will gather for the crucial deliberations late Wednesday after hearing

By DAMIAN J. TROISE AP Business Writer Stocks rose in midday trading on Wall Street Wednesday and health care companies were leading the way for the second day in a row. The S&P 500 was up 0.3%, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.4% and the Nasdaq rose 0.1%. Abbott Laboratories, Biogen and Anthem

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is visiting Romania Wednesday as part of a three-country tour to reassure Black Sea allies on security issues amid ongoing tensions with Russia.. He met Romanian officials Wednesday and visited an eastern airbase. “The security and stability of the Black Sea are in the U.S.’s national

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) — Amherst College says it will no longer give admissions preference to the children of alumni. The liberal arts college announced Wednesday that it’s dropping legacy admissions to create a fairer admissions system and to promote diversity on campus. Amherst President Biddy Martin said the shift will make the school accessible to

By MATTHEW PERRONE and LAURAN NEERGAARD Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators expect to rule Wednesday on authorizing booster doses of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccines. That’s according to a Food and Drug Administration official at a government meeting. The decision is expected to include allowing the mixing and matching of

By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) — President Vladimir Putin has ordered many of Russia’s workers to stay off work for a week starting later this month amid rising coronavirus infection and death numbers. Putin has also strongly urged reluctant citizens to get vaccinated. The government task force on Wednesday reported 1,028 coronavirus deaths

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A $650 million plan would give the Los Angeles Zoo a theme park-style transformation over the next 20 years. The Los Angeles Times says the city-owned zoo would get exhibit upgrades and new attractions including a 60-foot-deep canyon for rock climbing and a hilltop feature in the style of a Yosemite

By STEVE KARNOWSKI Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Biden administration has dealt a serious blow to the proposed Twin Metals copper-nickel mine on the edge of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area in northeastern Minnesota. The government ordered a study Wednesday that could lead to a 20-year ban on mining upstream from the wilderness. The

By DAVID BAUDER AP Media Writer NEW YORK (AP) — As he brings “American Utopia” back to Broadway following the pandemic pause, David Byrne says it’s evident how thrilled people are simply to be enjoying live entertainment again. He’s also noticed that his audience seems a little younger and more diverse than before shutdown. He

By AMY FORLITI Associated Press MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minneapolis police officer who fatally shot an unarmed woman after she called 911 to report that she heard a possible rape happening behind her home will be sentenced on a lesser charge. Mohamed Noor was initially convicted of third-degree murder and manslaughter in the July 2017

By DAVID PITT Associated Press DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — A state audit has found that Iowa’s privatized Medicaid system has illegally denied services or care to program recipients, and both private insurance companies managing the system have violated terms of their contracts with the state. Auditor Rob Sand on Wednesday released the report from

By HALELUYA HADERO AP Business Writer The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation says it will spend $120 million to boost access to generic versions of drugmaker Merck’s antiviral COVID-19 pill for lower income countries, if the drug gets approved by regulators. The private foundation says it will use the funds to “support the range of

EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Michigan State University is short of help and pleading with staff to volunteer in campus dining halls. The Lansing State Journal says MSU’s residential services department has already asked 132 full-time employees to work eight hours a week, but it’s apparently not enough. Vennie Gore, a senior vice president, says