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VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has received a new soccer-themed toy: his very own foosball table. Francis played a round on the table that was presented to him Wednesday at the end of his general audience by representatives of a Tuscany-based table football association. The mayor of Altopascio, Sara D’Ambrosio, wrote on Facebook that

By PATTY NIEBERG Associated Press/Report for America DENVER (AP) — The FBI has joined a criminal investigation into an alleged security breach of a rural Colorado county’s voting equipment. The federal probe comes after Colorado’s Secretary of State Jena Griswold alerted federal cyber security officials of the suspected breach. Griswold accused Mesa County Clerk and

By MARTIN CRUTSINGER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve officials last month discussed the timing for beginning to dial back their extraordinary support for the U.S. economy, which has been steadily recovering from the pandemic recession. They made no firm decision on a timetable but appear to be moving toward starting a pullback

By KAT STAFFORD Associated Press The federal government deliberately targeted Black Lives Matter protesters via heavy-handed criminal prosecutions in an attempt to disrupt and discourage the global movement that swept the nation last summer in the wake of the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd. That’s according to a new report released Wednesday by The

By CARLA K. JOHNSON AP Medical Writer U.S. health officials plan to offer COVID-19 booster shots to vaccinated Americans to shore up their protection amid the surging delta variant and evidence that the vaccines’ effectiveness is declining. The effort could start Sept. 20, pending an evaluation by the Food and Drug Administration and advisers to

By MICHAEL BALSAMO and ERIC TUCKER Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Yogananda Pittman, who was the top Capitol Police intelligence official when thousands of pro-Trump rioters descended in January and who served as the agency’s acting chief, is back in charge of intelligence. Officials are preparing for what’s expected to be a massive rally at

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A 13-year-old New Mexico boy accused of shooting and killing a classmate will remain in custody pending trial. A Children’s Court judge agreed with prosecutors Tuesday and ordered the boy to remain at the Bernalillo County Youth Services Center. He’s charged with an open count of murder and unlawful carrying of

By GEOFF MULVIHILL Associated Press Former Purdue Pharma president and chair Richard Sackler says he, his family and the company do not have any responsibility for the opioid crisis in the United States. Sackler is a member of the family that owns the company. He testified Wednesday in a hearing to determine whether the company’s

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is urging Ethiopian leaders to find a peaceful resolution to the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia that has displaced tens of thousands and left millions hungry. He also said his country was willing to mediate between Ethiopia and Sudan to resolve a separate border dispute. Erdogan spoke

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Country star Garth Brooks is canceling his remaining stadium tour dates in five cities due to rising COVID-19 cases. Brooks had said weeks ago that he would be reassessing the tour in light of the surge in cases. Tickets will be refunded for shows scheduled in Cincinnati; Charlotte, North Carolina; Baltimore;

By JANET McCONNAUGHEY Associated Press NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Local prosecutors have reached a $2 million settlement with a New Orleans man who spent 23 years in prison before being cleared on charges including rape and manslaughter. Robert Jones says that after so many years he welcomes what he calls “this measure of justice.” He