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By LUIS ANDRES HENAO, KWASI GYAMFI ASIEDU and DAVID CRARY Associated Press When Americans are asked by pollsters about their religious identity, the fastest-growing major group consists of those who don’t affiliate with any organized religion. Some are atheist, some agnostic, and many describe themselves as spiritual but not religious. According to one new survey

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department will release $8.7 billion to help increase lending to small and minority-owned businesses and to people living in poorer communities with limited access to banking. The funds from the Emergency Capital Investment Program will go to 186 community-based financial institutions. Vice President Kamala Harris and Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen

MASON, Ohio (AP) — One of the Ohio cities that voted recently to criminalize abortion within its limits has reversed its decision. The city of Mason’s council repealed its ordinance in a 6-1 vote Monday. The decision came after two council members who supported the ban were expelled by voters in November and after over

By SETH BORENSTEIN AP Science Writer The Arctic continues to deteriorate as global warming increases. A new federal Arctic report card Tuesday highlights all sorts of problems for the world’s northern region. They now include expansion of beavers which are creating dams that worsen permafrost thaw. Greenland’s summit station this summer got its first ever

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Under Chair Jerome Powell, the Federal Reserve is poised this week to execute a sharp turn toward tighter interest-rate policies with inflation accelerating and unemployment falling faster than expected. The Fed will likely announce that it will reduce its monthly bond purchases at twice the rate

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — Authorities in North Macedonia have detailed 28 mostly Cuban migrants found crammed into a van driven by a suspected member of a migrant smuggling gang. The incident announced Tuesday was the second time in three days that a group of Cubans was intercepted being driven through North Macedonia. In both

By ANDREW SELSKY Associated Press McMINNVILLE, Ore. (AP) — Thousands of towns across the United States that were wracked by the opioid crisis are on the precipice of receiving billions of dollars in the second-biggest legal settlement in U.S. history. The $26 billion from three drug distributors and a pharmaceutical manufacturer would address damage wrought

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Ukraine’s defense minister says that the former Soviet republic has “no plans to attack anyone,” and its gathering of troops is purely defensive amid speculations of a possible Russian invasion of Ukraine as soon as next month. In recent weeks, there has been a massive Russian troop buildup near Ukraine’s border

The Associated Press Stocks are opening lower again on Wall Street Tuesday as traders took in the latest sign that inflation is still running high. The S&P 500 index gave up 0.5% in the early going. Technology companies had some of the biggest losses, which helped pull the Nasdaq down 0.8%. The Dow Jones Industrial

By JILL LAWLESS Associated Press LONDON (AP) — British lawmakers are to vote on whether to approve new restrictions to curb the spread of the omicron variant. The House of Commons is voting on measures ordering masks to be worn indoors in England and requiring proof of vaccination or a negative test to enter nightclubs