News

By REBECCA SANTANA and KEVIN McGILL Associated Press NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New Orleans was counting on the music playing again, recruiting The Rolling Stones to headline a rescheduled Jazz Fest in September. The tourism industry was slowly picking itself up again. Then came delta, the highly contagious virus variant that has hospitals overrun with

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says that he has tested negative for COVID-19, four days after testing positive. He said in a video clip he tweeted on Saturday that he’s been told his infection was brief and mild because he was vaccinated. The 63-year-old Abbott was vaccinated in December. The Republican governor

By AMY BETH HANSON and LINDSAY WHITEHURST Associated Press HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A shortage of bus drivers is complicating the start of a new school year already facing a surge in COVID-19 cases and conflicts over whether masks should be required in school buildings. School districts are offering hiring bonuses, training to get commercial

MIAMI (AP) — U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida eloped to Southern California, marrying his girlfriend Ginger Luckey in a small ceremony on Catalina Island. The 39-year-old Republican announced the Saturday wedding on his personal Twitter page. He exclaimed “I love my wife!” along with a photo of them together. Vanity Fair reports that a

By MAE ANDERSON AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Pop-up restaurants, many started as stopgap measures by struggling chefs and owners, may have staying power as consumers continue to embrace takeout and delivery and the delta variant threatens to make dining in less of an option. Cheaper to operate than regular restaurants because they

STOCKHOLM (AP) — Stefan Lofven, Sweden’s Social Democratic prime minister since 2014, is stepping down as head of government and the party in November. Sunday’s surprise announcement came ahead of next year’s general election and after Lofven in June became the first Swedish leader ever to  lose a motion in parliament. He said he had

By DAVID KLEPPER Associated Press New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will resign in disgrace this week. His departure comes after a state investigation found he sexually harassed 11 women. It’s a stunning reversal for a powerful politician who not that long ago was considered a possible contender for the White House. Observers and people who

By EVENS SANON and MARKO ALVAREZ Associated Press LES CAYES, Haiti (AP) — Haitians have resumed services in or outside damaged churches, sometimes for the first time since the devastating Aug. 14 earthquake. The country’s Civil Protection Agency now says 2,207 died in that temblor. Relief operations are expanding, but authorities have struggled with security.

By ROBERT BURNS and DARLENE SUPERVILLE Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says the U.S.-led evacuation of Americans, at-risk Afghans and others from the Kabul airport has picked up speed this weekend. Speaking at the White House on Sunday, Biden said 11,000 evacuees had been airlifted out of the Afghan capital in a

By PREDRAG MILIC Associated Press CETINJE, Montenegro (AP) — Several thousand people have demonstrated in Montenegro over the planned inauguration of the new head of the Serbian Orthodox Church in the small Balkan state. Ethic tensions have soared over the scheduled ceremony in September for Metropolitan Bishop Joanikije II. The protesters waved Montenegrin flags and

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Qatar has announced Oct. 2 as its date for the country’s first election to vote for members of its top advisory panel, known as the Shura Council. The date was announced Sunday by royal decree. The Shura Council election aims to give the country’s citizens more say on how