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AP White House Correspondent WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump’s transition team has signed an agreement to allow the Justice Department to conduct background checks on his nominees and appointees after a weeks-long delay. The step lets Trump transition aides and future administration staffers obtain security clearances before Inauguration Day to access classified information about

Associated Press SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Closing arguments in the murder trial of a tech consultant charged in the stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee have concluded and the case will go to jurors. Prosecutors say Nima Momeni stabbed Lee in April 2023 after a dispute involving Momeni’s younger sister. But defense attorney

AP Health Writer New research shows that nearly three out of 10 U.S. drugstores that were open during the previous decade had closed by 2021. A study published Tuesday in Health Affairs says Black and Latino neighborhoods were most vulnerable to the retail pharmacy closures, which can chip away at already-limited care options in those

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — A former Florida ballerina has been sentenced to 20 years in prison following her manslaughter conviction for fatally shooting her estranged husband in 2020. Manatee County court records show Circuit Judge Matt Whyte imposed the sentence Tuesday on 32-year-old Ashley Benefield after rejecting her request for a new trial based on

Associated Press HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut residents, past and present dignitaries, and state Capitol insiders are paying tribute to former Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell, who died in late November. On Tuesday, she lay in state inside the Connecticut Capitol building, with her casket covered in the state’s blue flag. A funeral service was

Associated Press Ohio’s top elections official has rejected a Republican challenge over the legal residency of one of the state’s Democratic members of Congress. Secretary of State Frank LaRose made the decision late last week. LaRose says the complainant brought by a political activist did not provide “clear and convincing” proof that Rep. Emilia Sykes

Associated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina House opened its newest session with an unsuccessful long shot challenge of the Speaker that could be a preview of fighting among Republicans over which group truly deserves to identify as conservative. House Speaker Murrell Smith was elected to a second two-year term by a 102-17

Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials are urging telecommunication companies to boost network security following a Chinese hacking operation that gave officials in Beijing access to the private texts and phone conversations of Americans. The warning issued Tuesday by the FBI and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency includes technical recommendations designed to prevent

Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats reelected Chuck Schumer as party leader on Tuesday as the party moves into a deeply uncertain time, with no real consensus on a strategy as President-elect Donald Trump prepares to take office. Schumer faced no opposition in the party leadership elections, in which Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin was

Associated Press FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky lawmakers seem ready to resume work on a bill dealing with diversity, equity and inclusion practices at public universities. But the outcome could be different next year because they have had months to try to work out their differences, the state Senate’s new majority floor leader said Tuesday.

DENVER (AP) — Misdemeanor charges have been dropped against two Colorado law enforcement officers in the fatal shooting of a 22-year-old man unrdergoing a mental health crisis in 2022. The two officers work for the state’s gaming division and were among six officers charged last year with failing to intervene to stop the actions of

Associated Press LONDON (AP) — An artist whose work exploring her Scottish Sikh identity includes a vintage Ford car draped in a crocheted doily has won the U.K.’s prestigious Turner Prize. Jasleen Kaur was awarded the 25,000-pound prize by actor James Norton during a ceremony at the Tate Britain gallery that was picketed by pro-Palestinian

Associated Press LOS ANGELES (AP) — A California man has been charged with shipping weapons and ammunition to North Korea. Federal authorities in Los Angeles say 41-year-old Shenghua Wen told investigators they were to be used for a surprise attack on South Korea. Wen is expected to appear in court on Tuesday. Authorities say Wen

Associated Press NABATIYEH, Lebanon (AP) — Lebanon’s Health Ministry and state media say Israeli forces have carried out several drone and artillery strikes in southern Lebanon, killing one person. The new strikes further shake a tenuous 6-day-old ceasefire, a day after Israeli launched its heaviest barrage of the south of the past week in retaliation