By Betsy Klein, CNN (CNN) — White House executive chef Cristeta Comerford has retired after nearly three decades cooking for five commanders-in-chief and their families, a White House official tells CNN. Comerford, who broke ground as the first woman and person of color to hold the top job in the White House kitchen, arrived at
Continue ReadingAssociated Press CONAKRY, Guinea (AP) — A Guinea court has sentenced former junta leader Moussa “Dadis” Camara to 20 years in prison after finding him guilty of crimes against humanity in the 2009 stadium massacre by the military that killed at least 157 people and left dozens of women raped. Guinea’s Criminal Court convicted him
Continue ReadingAssociated Press ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigerians are planning nationwide protests this week against the country’s worst cost-of-living crisis in a generation. Momentum is soaring on social media for the demonstrations planned for Thursday. However, authorities fear a replay of the deadly 2020 rallies against police brutality in this West African nation — or a
Continue ReadingAssociated Press CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — A former U.S. Green Beret who organized a failed cross-border raid in 2020 to remove Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been arrested in New York. An unsealed federal indictment out of Tampa, Florida, accuses Jordan Goudreau and a Venezuelan partner of violating U.S. arms control laws when they allegedly
Continue ReadingAssociated Press DENVER (AP) — A lawyer for former Colorado county clerk Tina Peters, a hero to election conspiracy theorists who is accused of orchestrating a breach of election security equipment, was trying to prevent voting information from being erased and didn’t break any laws. The comments came during opening statements Wednesday in Peters’ trial.
Continue Reading
Dubbed the “Godfather of Boxing,” Lee Espinoza has been around the sport for more than 40 years. The 76-year-old was inducted into the California Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005 and the West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame in 2021. He opened his boxing gym in 1985, which is now named the Lee Espinoza Coachella
Continue ReadingAssociated Press Soprano Anna Netrebko is scheduled to give a recital at the Palm Beach Opera for its gala on Feb. 3 in what would be her first U.S. appearance in six years. Considered the world’s top soprano, Netrebko was dropped by the Metropolitan Opera in 2022 after she refused a demand by Met general
Continue ReadingAssociated Press DETROIT (AP) — The Michigan Supreme Court has overruled the Legislature and reinstated major changes to the state’s minimum wage and sick leave laws. It’s victory for low-wage workers and especially people paid with tips. The court ruled 4-3 that Republican lawmakers violated the state constitution. The laws were the result of a
Continue ReadingCANTON, Ga. (AP) — A weather system that produced severe thunderstorms in the Southeast left one man dead in Georgia, caused damage in a South Carolina town and left hundreds of thousands of electricity customers without power. The Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office says a 27-year-old man was found dead after a tree fell on his
Continue ReadingCNN Editorial Research (CNN) — Here’s a look at the life of Jim McGreevey, former governor of New Jersey. Personal Birth date: August 6, 1957 Birth place: Jersey City, New Jersey Birth name: James Edward McGreevey Father: Jack McGreevey, trucking company director Mother: Veronica (Smith) McGreevey, teacher Marriages: Dina (Matos) McGreevey (2000-2008, divorced); Kari (Schutz)
Continue ReadingAssociated 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 ReadingCNN Editorial Research (CNN) — Here is a look at the Voting Rights Act of 1965, which serves to protect and enforce the 14th and 15th Amendments. It was enacted in response to voter suppression in the 1960s by state governments, local governments and law enforcement. Important sections Original jurisdictions: Alabama, Alaska, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi,
Continue ReadingCNN Editorial Research (CNN) — Here’s a look at the bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania on August 7, 1998, which killed 224 people. Terrorist group al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the bombings. Facts The bombings took place eight years to the day after US troops were ordered to Saudi Arabia in the
Continue ReadingCNN Editorial Research (CNN) – Here’s a look at the life of Bill Clinton, 42nd president of the United States. Personal Birth date: August 19, 1946 Birth place: Hope, Arkansas Birth name: William Jefferson Blythe III Father: William Blythe Mother: Virginia (Kelley) Blythe Marriage: Hillary (Rodham) Clinton (October 11, 1975-present) Children: Chelsea Victoria, February 27,
Continue ReadingCNN Editorial Research (CNN) — Here’s a look at the life of award-wining filmmaker, philanthropist and environmentalist Robert Redford. Personal Birth date: August 18, 1936 Birth place: Santa Monica, California Birth name: Charles Robert Redford Jr. Father: Charles Redford Sr., an accountant Mother: Martha (Hart) Redford Marriages: Sibylle Szaggars (July 11, 2009-present); Lola Van Wagenen
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 ReadingCalMatters Of all the insidious threats faced by wildland firefighters — extreme heat, desiccated forests, unpredictable fire behavior and a nearly year-round fire season — what might be the most fearsome? Humans. People do dangerous things, things that start wildfires. Pushing a burning car into a gully. Mowing the lawn on a hot summer day.
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 Reading