Associated Press A debate over the debt ceiling is at the center of a dispute over funding that is pushing Washington to the brink of a federal government shutdown. President-elect Donald Trump has demanded that a provision raising or suspending the nation’s debt limit — something that his own party routinely resists — be included
Continue ReadingPONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A judge has refused to allow a Michigan school shooter to withdraw his guilty plea to two dozen charges, including terrorism and first-degree murder. Ethan Crumbley’s appellate lawyers cited his mental health and other factors when he waived his right to trial and pleaded guilty to killing four students at Oxford
Continue ReadingAssociated Press UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly has approved a resolution asking the U.N.’s highest court to state what Israel’s obligations are in Gaza and the West Bank to provide humanitarian assistance essential for the survival of Palestinian civilians. The vote Thursday on the Norwegian-sponsored resolution seeking an advisory opinion from the
Continue ReadingMINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minnesota man yelled “Y’all don’t stop fighting” to his supporters after a judge decided not to free him from custody as he appeals his conviction in a gun and drug case. That case drew attention because it followed the commutation of his life sentence in a high-profile murder case. Myon Burrell
Continue ReadingAssociated Press TORONTO (AP) — The premier of Canada’s oil-rich province of Alberta says Americans will pay a lot more for gas if President-elect Donald Trump imposes a 25% tariff on all Canadian products. Alberta Premier Danielle Smith told The Associated Press in an interview on Thursday that American refineries won’t have much choice but
Continue ReadingAssociated Press LONDON (AP) — It’s that time of year when crowds of pagans, druids, hippies and tourists head to Stonehenge in Britain to celebrate the winter solstice, with the shortest day and the longest night in the Northern Hemisphere. Thousands are expected on Saturday at the megalithic circle on a plain in southern England
Continue ReadingLOS ANGELES (AP) — Two new baby lizards have hatched at the Los Angeles Zoo, the first of their species to be bred there, zoo officials said Thursday. Perentie lizards, or Varanus giganteus, are native to Australia and one of the world’s largest lizards, dwarfed only by the Komodo dragon and a few others. “It
Continue ReadingAssociated Press FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — A food company has chosen Kentucky for a facility that will employ more than 900 people, Gov. Andy Beshear said Thursday, saying the project ranks as the fifth-largest jobs project since he took office. Kitchen Food Co., an Australia-founded premium ready-meals business, will locate a prepared foods facility in
Continue ReadingAssociated Press Congress has until midnight Friday to come up with a way to fund the government, or federal agencies will shutter. It’s up to each federal agency to determine how it handles a shutdown, but there would be disruptions in many services. Benefits checks for Social Security and Medicare recipients would go out, though.
Continue ReadingAP Sports Writer Sports bettors in the U.S. are expected to set another record in 2024 for the amount of money wagered legally. That coincides with what has been a year of reckoning for U.S. sports betting, which was rocked by scandals. The bad publicity included Jontay Porter’s lifetime ban from the NBA for trading
Continue ReadingAssociated Press FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky is under no legal requirement to use taxpayer money to cover the costs of gender-affirming surgeries for people incarcerated in state prisons, Attorney General Russell Coleman said Thursday. The Kentucky Department of Corrections requested the opinion from the state’s Republican attorney general as the agency amends its administrative
Continue ReadingAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon is warning that Republicans’ decision to abandon a congressional spending plan will cost more than 2 million troops their paychecks over the holidays unless some agreement is reached before Friday’s deadline to prevent a government shutdown. The Pentagon press secretary, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, says even if they
Continue ReadingAssociated Press/Report for America SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Several environmental groups are suing California air regulators over their continuing support for biofuels. The lawsuits say a recent update of a contentious climate program fails to address their environmental impacts. They want California to incentivize more charging infrastructure for electric vehicles. The California Air Resources Board
Continue ReadingAssociated Press McALLEN, Texas (AP) — U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement deported more than 270,000 people to 192 countries over a recent 12-month period, the highest annual tally in a decade, according to a report released Thursday that illustrates some of the financial and operational challenges that President-elect Donald Trump will face to carry out
Continue ReadingAP Sports Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — A provision to transfer the land that is the site of the old RFK Stadium from the federal government to the District of Columbia is no longer included in Congress’ slimmed-down, short-term spending bill that lawmakers are racing to pass before a government shutdown. The removal Thursday of that
Continue ReadingAP Sports Writer CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Sports marketer Max Muhleman, who was credited with the concept of developing the permanent seat license in professional sports and helping the Carolina Panthers and Charlotte Hornets land expansion teams, has died at 88. Muhleman died on Saturday in Charlotte peacefully after battling some heart-related issues, according to
Continue ReadingKANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri judge has rejected arguments that a bank mismanaged painter Thomas Hart Benton’s estate by selling his artwork for less than what it was worth and losing more than 100 pieces. Judge Mark Styles ruled last week that there were only five unaccounted-for pieces by Benson. Radio station KCUR
Continue ReadingAssociated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A businessman with no experience in public office is taking over as mayor of Oregon’s biggest city. Voters elected trucking company executive Keith Wilson as Portland mayor last month after he ran on an ambitious pledge to end unsheltered homelessness within a year. Wilson was sworn in on Thursday
Continue ReadingAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — A Chinese national has been charged with acting as an illegal agent for Beijing when serving as the campaign manager for an unnamed local California politician. The arrest of Yaoning “Mike” Sun has come at a time of rising concerns that the Chinese government has cultivated a network of operatives
Continue ReadingPHILADELPHIA (AP) — The Philadelphia 76ers have won city council approval for a $1.3 billion downtown arena despite vocal opposition from nearby residents. The City Council voted 12-5 Thursday to approve the project at a packed City Hall meeting. Owners of the NBA team hope to move in by 2031. Mayor Cherelle Parker says the
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