By PATRICK WHITTLE Associated Press PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — A storm barreled up the East Coast on Monday, flooding roads and downing trees in the Northeast, knocking out power to hundreds of thousands, and forcing flight cancelations and school closures. More than 5 inches (13 centimeters) of rain had fallen in parts of New Jersey
Continue ReadingLEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — One Kentucky family got a little something extra when they picked out their Christmas tree this year: an owl. Lexington resident Michele White tells WDKY-TV that it’s a tradition for the family to pick out a Christmas tree every year and this year seemed no different. They had the tree in
Continue ReadingBy JOVANA GEC Associated Press BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia’s weekend snap election was held in “unjust conditions,” with multiple reports of irregularities, international observers said on Monday, as opponents of populist President Aleksandar Vucic took to the streets claiming the vote was rigged. Political tensions spiked in the Balkan country over the parliamentary and
Continue ReadingBy DAVID CRARY Associated Press The Catholic Church, in its doctrine, still rejects same-sex marriage and condemns any sexual relations between gay or lesbian partners as “intrinsically disordered.” Yet Pope Francis, during his nearly 11-year papacy, has done far more than any previous pope to make the church a more welcoming place for LGBTQ+ people.
Continue ReadingLEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — In a December 15, 2023, story about an owl found in a Christmas tree, The Associated Press, citing WDKY-TV, erroneously reported that the owl was a baby. The owl’s age is unknown.
Continue ReadingBy MARK KENNEDY AP Entertainment Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Leonard Bernstein was a towering figure on Broadway. So it seems only fitting that the new film darma of him leans on the Great White Way to get the story right. Bradley Cooper’s movie “Maestro” is studded with theater stars — 29 of the 38
Continue ReadingBy EDITH M. LEDERER Associated Press UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. Security Council has delayed a vote on an Arab-sponsored resolution calling for a halt to hostilities in Gaza to allow unhindered access to deliver humanitarian aid to the massive number of civilians in need of food, water and medicine until Tuesday morning, as
Continue ReadingBy KATIE WORKMAN Associated Press If you’re looking to make pretty Christmas cookies without any fuss or fancy decorating, drop cookies are a simple and delicious way to go. AP food writer Katie Workman says her Big Chewy Brownie Cookies check those boxes, and are easy to ship as well. Nuggets of red dried cherries
Continue ReadingBy TODD RICHMOND Associated Press MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The University of Wisconsin-Madison is launching a new program to cover Indigenous students’ full costs, including tuition, fees and housing. Chancellor Jennifer Mnookin announced Monday that the Wisconsin Tribal Educational Promise program will begin covering Indigenous students’ costs in the fall 2024 semester at the state
Continue ReadingBy MATTHEW BARAKAT Associated Press FALLS CHURCH, Va. (AP) — A federal judge has issued a temporary restraining order barring removal of a memorial to Confederate soldiers at Arlington National Cemetery. A group called Defend Arlington, affiliated with a group called Save Southern Heritage Florida, filed a lawsuit Sunday in federal court in Alexandria seeking
Continue ReadingBRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is imposing sanctions on Russia over its war against Ukraine, targeting the lucrative diamonds industry as well as more than 140 officials, companies and organizations. Monday’s measures will also close loopholes that Moscow has used to bypass previous measures. It’s the 12th round of sanctions that the EU has
Continue ReadingLONDON (AP) — British media report that comedian Russell Brand has been questioned for a second time by police investigating allegations of sexual offenses. Brand, 48, was interviewed under caution last week over six “non-recent” allegations, the Press Association agency reported. Brand was questioned by police in November over three other claims. The Metropolitan Police
Continue ReadingBy COURTNEY BONNELL AP Business Writer LONDON (AP) — The attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea by Yemen’s Houthi rebels have scared off some of the world’s top shipping companies and oil giants, effectively rerouting global trade away from a crucial artery for consumer goods and energy supplies that is expected to trigger
Continue ReadingCNN Jason Kravarik, CNN Malibu, California (CNN) — Bridget Thompson says she should be dead. If not for a late cheer team meeting on a Tuesday night in October, the Pepperdine University senior would have been with her four best friends — three were her roommates — heading to an off-campus mixer. “I should have
Continue ReadingLAS VEGAS (AP) — A player with the Sacramento Kings’ G League affiliate and his girlfriend have been arrested in the killing of a woman whose remains were found earlier this month near Las Vegas, authorities said. Chance Comanche, 27, and Sakari Harnden, 19, face charges of murder and kidnapping in the killing of 23-year-old
Continue ReadingLAS VEGAS (AP) — A player with the Sacramento Kings’ G League affiliate and his girlfriend have been arrested in the killing of a woman whose remains were found earlier this month near Las Vegas, authorities said. Chance Comanche, 27, and Sakari Harnden, 19, face charges of murder and kidnapping in the killing of 23-year-old
Continue ReadingBy TARA COPP, MELANIE LIDMAN and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin discussed with Israeli leaders Monday ways to scale back major combat operations in Gaza but said Washington was not imposing a timetable despite international calls for a cease-fire. Austin and other U.S. officials have repeatedly
Continue ReadingBy Devan Cole, CNN (CNN) — The late Justice Sandra Day O’Connor was honored Monday morning at the Supreme Court during a ceremony in which she was lauded for her collegiality on the bench, role as a moderate jurist and status as the first woman to serve on the court. Justice Sonia Sotomayor drew on
Continue ReadingBRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union is imposing sanctions on Russia over its war against Ukraine, targeting the lucrative diamonds industry as well as more than 140 officials, companies and organizations. Monday’s measures will also close loopholes that Moscow has used to bypass previous measures. It’s the 12th round of sanctions that the EU has
Continue ReadingBy DOUG FEINBERG AP Basketball Writer NEW YORK (AP) — The WNBA is changing its Commissioner’s Cup format, playing half as many games and contesting them all during a two-week period in early June. Teams now will play only five games — once against every other team in the conference — which is down from
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