Chronicle of Philanthropy The Trust for Civic Life — a collaborative of 15 grantmakers, mostly high-profile national funders — sees small, local groups as instruments of change — modern versions of the organizations that scholars from Alexis de Tocqueville to Robert Putnam have singled out as a distinguishing feature of American democracy. The trust announced
Continue ReadingAP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — After getting trounced by their larger rivals for years, some of the smallest stocks on Wall Street have shown much more life recently. Hopes for coming cuts to interest rates have pushed investors to look at smaller stocks through a different lens, and they soared recently during a
Continue ReadingAP Sports Writer PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley says he was portrayed fairly in the HBO show “Hard Knocks.” Barkley did say he had no idea his side of the conversation with New York Giants management in the midst of free agency would be recorded and aired on the documentary television
Continue ReadingAssociated Press Beneath the blazing summer sun on a former slave plantation, Lamont Gross and fellow prisoners stooped in long rows, picking vegetables by hand under the watchful eyes of armed guards on horseback. He said breaks were short and infrequent, with nothing to protect workers from the heat. “I saw guys collapse,” Gross said
Continue ReadingAP Business Writer Fewer Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week, but applications remained at recently elevated, though not troubling levels. Jobless claims for the week ending July 20 fell by 10,000 to 235,000 from 245,000 the previous week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. It’s the ninth straight week claims came in above 220,000. Before
Continue ReadingTOKYO (AP) — Heavy rain has hit northern Japan, triggering floods and landslides, disrupting transportation systems and sending hundreds of residents to take shelter at safer grounds. The Japan Meteorological Agency Thursday issued emergency warnings of heavy rain for several municipalities in the Yamagata and Akita prefecture, where warm and humid air was flowing. According
Continue ReadingAssociated Press PHOENIX (AP) — As much of the world swelters, it’s not just people who need help with the dog days of summer. Pet owners have to consider how to both shield and cool down furry family members as intense — at times deadly — heat waves become more common. “It’s really important to
Continue ReadingNEW YORK (AP) — A New York City bus driver suffered an apparent medical episode and crashed his bus into a closed fast food restaurant. Police say the driver crashed into a Burger King in Brooklyn just after midnight. He was taken to a hospital for treatment. Neither of the two passengers on the bus
Continue ReadingAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Black clergy who know Vice President Kamala Harris, now the frontrunner for the Democratic presidential nomination, marvel at the fusion of traditions and teachings that have molded her religious faith and social justice values. A Baptist married to a Jewish man, she’s inspired by the work of the Rev. Martin
Continue ReadingAssociated Press PARIS (AP) — Palestinian Olympic athletes have been greeted with a roar of a crowd and gifts of food and roses as they arrived in Paris. The chants of “free Palestine” echoing through the Paris Charles de Gaulle airport upon their arrival Thursday show how conflict and the political tension are rippling through
Continue ReadingAP Soccer Writer The head of Argentina’s soccer federation said the chaotic ending to its Olympic soccer match against Morocco on Wednesday “makes no sense,” and Argentina’s coach called the scene “a scandal.” The opening match of the men’s soccer tournament was suspended for nearly two hours during added time after Morocco fans invaded the
Continue ReadingAssociated Press KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has called on Hong Kong to prevent Russia and Russian businesses from using the region to circumvent sanctions. Kuleba visited Hong Kong on Thursday and met with leader John Lee. Separately, debris from what is believed to be a Russian drone landed in a
Continue ReadingAssociated Press KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — The United Nations’ cultural agency has decided against putting the Buddhist pilgrimage destination of Lumbini on its list of heritage sites in danger, instead giving authorities in Nepal more time to help restore the famous gardens and temple that are falling into disrepair. Lumbini is the birthplace of Buddha
Continue ReadingZAGREB, Croatia (AP) — Croatia has declared three senior Montenegrin government officials persona non grata after they led a declaration in Montenegro’s parliament stating that genocide was committed in a World War II concentration camp operated by a pro-Nazi Croatian regime at the time. Croatia’s Foreign Ministry informed neighboring Montenegro in a diplomatic note on
Continue ReadingBy Alexandra Banner, CNN (CNN) — Vice President Kamala Harris is less than two weeks away from naming her running mate, with vetting and polling underway. Sources say the roster of leading contenders includes North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly. Here’s what else you need to know
Continue ReadingLAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A panel of U.N.-backed independent experts has expressed grave concern about increased discrimination and violence against the minority Ahmadi community in Pakistan and urged authorities to ensure their protection. The experts, who work under a Human Rights Council mandate but do not speak for the United Nations, said in a statement
Continue ReadingAP Airlines Writer DALLAS (AP) — Goodbye, cattle call. Southwest Airlines said Thursday that it plans to drop the open-boarding system it has used for more than 50 years and will start assigning passengers to seats, just like all the other big airlines. The airline said it has been studying seating options, running tests and
Continue ReadingBy Ray Sanchez, CNN (CNN) — The law enforcement killing of Sonya Massey in her Illinois home earlier this month has thrust the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act back in the national spotlight, with renewed calls for passage of the failed legislation targeting racial bias and use of force. Body-camera footage released Monday showed
Continue ReadingAssociated Press TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s fiery speech to Congress may have been delivered in Washington, but his words appeared aimed at an audience back home. Israelis heard their leader deliver a forceful case for Israel’s actions in the war in Gaza on a global stage. He aimed to
Continue ReadingBy Christian Edwards, CNN (CNN) — Families of hostages held captive in Gaza condemned Benjamin Netanyahu’s speech to the United States Congress, as pressure grows on the Israeli prime minister to agree to a deal to secure their release. “The speech and applause won’t erase the one sad fact: The words ‘Deal Now!’ were absent
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