AP National News

Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has signed the annual defense authorization bill into law despite his objections to language banning transgender health care for military children. The legislation Biden signed Monday also aims to counter China’s growing power, authorizes significant pay raises for junior enlisted service members and boosts overall military spending

SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — El Salvador’s Congress has approved a law that would lift the country’s seven-year-old ban on mining for metals. The law, proposed by President Nayib Bukele and passed Monday on a 57 to 3 vote, would allow mining everywhere except nature reserves and sensitive watersheds. It’s expected to go into

Associated Press SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — New Mexico prosecutors won’t pursue an appeal of a court’s decision to dismiss an involuntary manslaughter charge against Alec Baldwin in the fatal shooting on a cinematographer on the set of a Western movie, the Santa Fe district attorney’s office announced Monday. Special Prosecutor Kari Morrissey withdrew the

Associated Press UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. organization assisting in investigating the most serious crimes in Syria said Monday the country’s new authorities were “very receptive” to its request for cooperation during a just-concluded visit to Damascus, and it is preparing to deploy. The visit led by Robert Petit, head of the International, Impartial

Associated Press RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper and Gov.-elect Josh Stein have filed another lawsuit against a GOP-inspired law that strips away powers from several incoming Democratic state leaders. The newest suit filed Monday focuses on a key provision in the law that moves state election board appointment powers from the governor

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — The office of Republican Rep. Kay Granger of Texas says she is having “unforeseen health challenges. A statement provided by her office Monday did not specify what health problems the 81-year-old has been having over the past year. Granger has not cast a vote in Washington since July. She announced

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. (AP) — A federal judge has struck down key parts of an Arkansas law that would have allowed criminal charges against librarians and booksellers for providing so-called “harmful” materials to minors. U.S. District Judge Timothy Brooks issued the ruling Monday. He found that elements of the law are unconstitutional. Arkansas Attorney General Tim

Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — A triptych of criminal charges paints a searing, sometimes disparate portrait of the man accused of ambushing and killing UnitedHealthcare’s CEO Brian Thompson. Filed separately in state courts in New York and Pennsylvania and a federal court in Manhattan and totaling 20 counts, the charges brand Luigi Mangione as

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Bill Clinton was admitted Monday to MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington after developing a fever. The 78-year-old was hospitalized in the “afternoon for testing and observation,” Angel Urena, Clinton’s deputy chief of staff, said in a statement. “He remains in good spirits and deeply appreciates the excellent care he

Associated Press SANTA CRUZ, Calif. (AP) — A major storm pounded California’s central coast on Monday, bringing flooding and high surf that was blamed for fatally trapping a man beneath debris on a beach and later partially collapsing a pier, tossing three people into the Pacific Ocean. The storm was expected to bring hurricane-force winds

BOGOTÁ, Colombia (AP) — One of Colombia’s legendary drug lords and a key operator of the Medellin cartel has been deported back to the South American country, after serving 25 years of a 30-year prison sentence in the United States. Shortly after landing on Monday in Bogota, Fabio Ochoa was a free man. The former

Associated Press Child advocacy centers, recovery housing and diversion programs in West Virginia will receive grants as part of the initial round of $10.4 million distributed by the nonprofit allocating opioid settlement funds. West Virginia is the U.S. state with the highest overdose rate. The West Virginia First Foundation has announced funding for 38 programs

Associated Press Burt, the huge crocodile that rose to fame with a cameo in the movie “Crocodile Dundee” and continued to impress visitors with his fiery temper and commanding presence, has died. Burt died over the weekend, the Crocosaurus Cove reptile aquarium in Darwin, Australia, said. He was at least 90 years old. “Known for

Associated Press PANAMA CITY (AP) — President-elect Donald Trump is decrying rising shipping fees Panama has imposed to use the Panama Canal. He’s even threatened to have the U.S. take back control of the waterway linking the Atlantic and Pacific oceans once he becomes president next month, if things don’t change. The U.S. helped engineer

Associated Press TORONTO (AP) — A source says embattled Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is not expected to announce a decision on his future over the Christmas holidays. The person spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to speak publicly on the matter. The Prime Minister will be traveling to British Columbia