Associated Press Ukraine has received the first F-16 fighter jets that it has sought for months to fight back against an onslaught of Russian missile strikes, a U.S. official confirmed to the Associated Press. Ukraine has been pushing its Western allies for F-16s for Ukraine for months, saying they were critically needed to fight back
Continue ReadingJACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — The former head of a north Florida public utility was sentenced to four years in prison for a scheme to privatize the authority which prosecutors said would have enriched himself and his associates by tens of millions of dollars at the expense of taxpayers. Aaron Zahn was sentenced to federal prison
Continue ReadingAssociated Press New federal protections for transgender students at U.S. schools and colleges have launched, but not everywhere. Most Republican-led states challenged the rule from President Joe Biden’s administration, took effect Thursday. In response, judges have blocked enforcement in 21 states plus hundreds of individual schools and colleges. Some states already have policies that protect
Continue ReadingAP National Writer Every few years when the Olympics would roll around, the unmistakable pangs Jen Castellano knew were coming but was powerless to stop would hit. Of chalk on her hands. The beam underneath her feet. The sounds and smell of a packed gym. The intoxicating mix of frustration, determination and joy while trying
Continue ReadingLJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — A Russian couple arrested on spying charges in December 2022 have pleaded guilty and were sentenced in the Slovenian capital to 19 months in prison each and released on time served. The Ljubljana court Wednesday also banned the sleeper agents from returning to Slovenia for a period of five years. The
Continue ReadingAP Sports Writer PARIS (AP) — The Dutch beach volleyball player who served time in prison after he was convicted of raping a 12-year-old girl in England has won his second match at the Paris Olympics. Steven van de Velde received an even harsher reaction from the crowd on Wednesday than for his first match.
Continue ReadingBERLIN (AP) — The German city of Gelsenkirchen, which temporarily renamed itself “Swiftkirchen” before the American superstar played three concerts there in mid-July, said Wednesday it received about 1,400 bids from Germany and abroad for signs it put up with the name. The new name was one of a flurry of fan attractions around the
Continue ReadingKYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s air force says Ukrainian forces shot down all 89 Shahed drones launched by Russia in a nighttime attack on the country, in what was one of the largest drone barrages this year. No damage or injuries were immediately reported in the bombardment, which mostly targeted the region of Kyiv, the
Continue ReadingCHICAGO (AP) — John Mangum has been hired to succeed Anthony Freud as general director of the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The 49-year-old Mangum had been CEO of the Houston Symphony since April 2018. He previously worked at the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, New York Philharmonic, San Francisco Symphony and Philharmonic
Continue ReadingBRADENTON, Fla. (AP) — A former Florida ballerina has been convicted of manslaughter in the 2020 shooting death of her estranged husband. Court records show that a Manatee County jury returned the guilty verdict late Tuesday against Ashley Benefield. She had been charged with second-degree murder, but the jurors opted for a lesser offense. The
Continue ReadingAP Health Writer U.S. health officials are warning that several types of ground cinnamon sold at certain discount and specialty grocery stores are contaminated with high levels of lead. The Food and Drug Administration issued alerts for at least 10 types of packaged ground cinnamon sold at Dollar Tree, Patel Brothers, Eurogrocery and other stores
Continue ReadingSPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A Missouri woman will spend the rest of her life in prison after admitting in federal court that she kidnapped and killed a pregnant Arkansas woman in what prosecutors say was an attempt to claim her baby. Amber Waterman of Pineville, Missouri, pleaded guilty Tuesday to one count each of kidnapping
Continue ReadingAssociated Press COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Supreme Court has ruled the state’s death penalty is legal. All five justices agreed Wednesday with at least part of the ruling, opening the door to restart executions in a state that hasn’t put an inmate to death since 2011. South Carolina’s death penalty now includes
Continue ReadingWASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is suspending $95 million in U.S. assistance to Georgia after its parliament adopted legislation related to foreign agents that critics say was inspired by a Russian law used to crack down on political dissent. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday he’s decided to pause the aid directly benefiting
Continue ReadingAssociated Press/Report for America ATLANTA (AP) — During the Civil Rights Movement, young people put their bodies on the line as Freedom Riders, boarding buses to protest segregation. One of those riders spoke to young leaders in Atlanta as Democrats adjust to the entry of Vice President Kamala Harris in the presidential race. Her campaign
Continue ReadingAssociated Press ANNANDALE-ON-HUDSON, N.Y. (AP) — A demagogue and religious fanatics impose a theocracy. What sounds like a ripped-from-the-headlines 21st century story portrayed by Giacomo Meyerbeer 175 years ago in “Le Prophète” was brought back in a compelling production by Bard’s SummerScape festival. A success at Paris’ Salle Le Peletier in 1849, “Le Prophète” became
Continue ReadingAssociated Press CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — President Nicolás Maduro on Wednesday asked Venezuela’s high court to conduct an audit of the presidential election after opposition leaders disputed his claim of victory, drawing criticism from foreign observers who said the court is too close to the government to produce an independent review. Maduro told reporters that
Continue ReadingAP Film Writer The second part of Kevin Costner’s “Horizon: An American Saga” will have its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in September, organizers said Wednesday. “Chapter Two” was originally set for a mid-August theatrical debut but was pulled from the schedule after “Chapter One” underperformed. The continuation of the Western epic will
Continue ReadingAssociated Press LONDON (AP) — Within hours of a stabbing attack in northwest England that killed three young girls and wounded several more children, a false name of a supposed suspect was circulating on social media. Hours after that, violent protesters were clashing with police outside a nearby mosque. Police say the name that was
Continue ReadingAP Business Writer Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian says the airline is facing $500 million in costs related to a global tech outage this month that disrupted emergency services, communications and thousands of businesses. Speaking on CNBC, Bastian said Wednesday that the monetary amount represents lost revenue as well as “the tens of millions
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