Religion News Service (RNS) — When former Christian artist Michael Gungor first hosted a new spiritual community in Los Angeles this year, worship began not with an organ blast or sermon series video promo, but with blowing bubbles. Appropriately dubbed “Play,” Gungor envisioned the event — which featured painting, dancing, corporate singing and meditation, but
Continue ReadingReligion News Service (RNS) — When former Christian artist Michael Gungor first hosted a new spiritual community in Los Angeles this year, worship began not with an organ blast or sermon series video promo, but with blowing bubbles. Appropriately dubbed “Play,” Gungor envisioned the event — which featured painting, dancing, corporate singing and meditation, but
Continue ReadingMARIETTA, Ga. (AP) — Election officials in Georgia’s third-largest county say they’re late in mailing more than 3,000 absentee ballots to voters, just a few days before the election. Election officials in Cobb County north of Atlanta say they’re using express mail and UPS overnight delivery in an effort to deliver the ballots on time.
Continue ReadingThe Associated Press ROME (AP) — Tourists eager to fulfill the fabled promise to return to the Eternal City are being forced to toss coins over a plastic barrier and into a small makeshift pool in front of Rome’s Trevi Fountain while the iconic attraction is being drained for maintenance. The rectangular box, unadorned and
Continue ReadingAssociated Press THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — The Dutch junior minister for finance has quit following criticism of his refusal to publish details of his personal investments. He is the first member of the new hard right-dominated Dutch Cabinet to resign since it was installed in July. Folkert Idsinga is a member of the New
Continue ReadingAP Business Writer Wendy’s plans to close 140 U.S. restaurants before the end of this year on top of the 100 it said it would close in May. But in a conference call with investors Thursday, the company said those closures will be offset by new restaurant openings. Wendy’s said it plans to open between
Continue ReadingCalMatters From the glittery bling of its name, the golden mussel sounds like it could be California’s state bivalve. Unfortunately, the creature’s only connection to the Golden State is the fact that it is California’s most recently identified invasive species — and it’s a bad one, with the capacity to clog major water supply pipes.
Continue ReadingBy MJ Lee, Kevin Liptak and Priscilla Alvarez, CNN (CNN) — Kamala Harris has a packed schedule these days: multi-state campaign stops; briefings from advisers on issues at home and abroad; a steady stream of phone calls, meetings and interviews, all as she hopes that she will defeat Donald Trump in next week’s election. But
Continue ReadingAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The IRS has announced an increase to the amount individuals can contribute to their 401(k) plans in 2025, to $23,500, up from $23,000 in 2024. The Internal Revenue Service detailed the increases on Friday in its annual cost-of-living adjustments for pension plans and other retirement accounts. The agency last week
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By Yahya Abou-Ghazala, Alison Main and Marshall Cohen, CNN (CNN) — In the closely watched battleground state of Michigan, election officials are under the microscope, with isolated mistakes or missteps serving as fodder for election deniers to lay the groundwork for widespread doubt of election results. Several incidents this week – ranging from an isolated
Continue ReadingBy Lauren Kent and Benjamin Brown, CNN (CNN) — The full horror of the flash flooding in Spain began to emerge on Friday, just as new rainfall lashed southern parts of the country. The storm has killed at least 205 people, with 202 of those in the hardest-hit region of Valencia, emergency services in the
Continue ReadingAssociated Press GENEVA (AP) — The head of a U.N.-backed fact-finding team looking into human rights violations and abuses in Sudan says the team found the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces responsible for large-scale sexual violence in areas that it controls. Mohamed Chande Othman has denounced “staggering violence” in Sudan since war broke out more than
Continue ReadingAP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tommy Richman went from sleeping on couches and floors just two years ago to now having one of the biggest songs of the year with “Million Dollar Baby.” The massive hit that could receive Grammy recognition next week. The song changed his fortunes after he posted it on
Continue ReadingBy Billy Stockwell, CNN (CNN) — Prince William has said he comes with “no other agenda” than wanting to “help people who are in need,” in a documentary series that follows the future King as he launches a five-year program he hopes will help end homelessness in six locations across the United Kingdom. The “Homewards”
Continue ReadingHOUSTON (AP) — The National Transportation Safety Board says a helicopter pilot was speaking with an air traffic controller when it crashed into a tower, killing all four people on board. The preliminary report released Thursday says pilot Samantha Grandbouche was reading instructions given by the controller when the transmission suddenly ended on Oct. 20.
Continue ReadingLOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers, including Shohei Ohtani and his dog, celebrated their eighth World Series championship with a downtown parade and a raucous on-field party on Friday. “This is so special,” said Ohtani, who usually only speaks publicly in his native Japanese but addressed a crowd of 42,458 at Dodger Stadium
Continue ReadingLOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers, including Shohei Ohtani and his dog, celebrated their eighth World Series championship with a downtown parade and a raucous on-field party on Friday. “This is so special,” said Ohtani, who usually only speaks publicly in his native Japanese but addressed a crowd of 42,458 at Dodger Stadium
Continue ReadingAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Next week’s presidential election isn’t just a referendum on Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. It’s also a measure of the influence the world’s richest man wields over American democracy. Elon Musk, the South African-born tech and business titan, has spent at least $119 million mobilizing Trump’s supporters to back the
Continue ReadingAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Next week’s presidential election isn’t just a referendum on Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. It’s also a measure of the influence the world’s richest man wields over American democracy. Elon Musk has spent at least $119 million mobilizing Trump’s supporters to back the Republican nominee. His social media platform is
Continue ReadingAssociated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — An Associated Press review shows that Israel is falling far short of U.S. demands to surge the level of humanitarian assistance allowed into Gaza or risk possible restrictions on U.S. military funding. The Biden administration on Oct. 13 gave Israel 30 days to take specific steps to improve the deteriorating
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