By Steve Contorno and Kit Maher, CNN Manchester, New Hampshire (CNN) — Florida’s top public health official, a leading voice behind Gov. Ron DeSantis’ controversial pandemic approach, joined his boss on the campaign trail Wednesday for an unusual appearance that further blurred the lines between the Republican presidential candidate’s day job and his political aspirations.
Continue ReadingBy DIANE JEANTET Associated Press RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva says armed forces will boost security at some of the country’s most important airports, ports and along its international borders as part of a renewed effort to tackle organized crime. The decision comes days after members of a
Continue ReadingBy Jack Forrest, CNN (CNN) — Republican Rep. Ken Buck, a hardline conservative who has clashed with his own party, will not seek reelection, he announced Wednesday. “Our movement has always been fueled by immutable truths about human nature individual liberty and economic freedoms,” the Colorado Republican said in his video announcement. “The Republican Party
Continue ReadingBy FARNOUSH AMIRI Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is expected on Wednesday to consider resolutions that would punish two of its most polarizing members, Democratic Rep. Rashida Tlaib of Michigan and Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, in a partisan tit-for-tat over inflammatory rhetoric. The resolutions would deliver the punishment of censure,
Continue ReadingCNN By Lauren del Valle, Kara Scannell and Jeremy Herb, CNN New York (CNN) — Donald Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., testified on Wednesday that he was not involved in the preparation of his father’s financial statements at any point in time – including after his father became president in 2017 and he was
Continue ReadingDETROIT (AP) — Toyota is recalling nearly 1.9 million RAV4 small SUVs in the U.S. to fix a problem with batteries that can move during forceful turns and potentially cause a fire. The recall covers certain RAV4s from the 2013 through 2018 model years. Toyota said in a statement Wednesday that some replacement 12-volt batteries
Continue ReadingBy MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Lewiston, Maine, has taken another step in its recovery from the state’s deadliest mass shooting as a storied high school football rivalry resumes. Last Friday’s game between Lewiston High School and Edward Little High School was postponed to Wednesday night. Lewiston won 34-18. James Taylor sang
Continue ReadingWATERBURY, Conn. (AP) — A Connecticut man has been sentenced to 90 years in prison for his role in the stray-bullet killing of the mother of a two-time Olympian rifle shooter from Puerto Rico. Judge Brian Preleski handed down the sentence to Franklin Robinson on Wednesday. Robinson is one of three men charged in the death
Continue ReadingBy Aileen Graef and Kaanita Iyer, CNN Washington (CNN) — The White House announced Wednesday the administration will develop a National Strategy to Counter Islamophobia in the United States. “President Biden ran for office to restore the soul of our nation. He is unequivocal: There is no place for hate in America against anyone. Period,” White
Continue ReadingBy HILLEL ITALIE AP National Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Britney Spears’ memoir “The Woman in Me” has sold 1.1 million copies through its first week. Spears says in a statement Wednesday that she poured her “heart and soul” in the book and that she is grateful to fans for “their unwavering support.” “The Woman
Continue ReadingBy Kevin Liptak, CNN Northfield, Minnesota (CNN) — Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison, a key Muslim American ally of President Joe Biden, said Wednesday it would be helpful for the president to speak out more forcefully about the imperative of protecting civilians in Gaza. “I think it would help a lot,” Ellison told CNN on
Continue ReadingBy JONATHAN LANDRUM Jr. AP Entertainment Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — While Usher gears up for his 2024 Super Bowl halftime performance, the singer will lean on his previous experience of hitting the NFL’s biggest stage to help him prepare. The Grammy winner says he’s using his appearance with Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am in
Continue ReadingBy BRENDAN FARRINGTON Associated Press TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida’s Republican attorney general is asking the state Supreme Court to keep a proposed abortion rights amendment off the ballot. Attorney General Ashley Moody told the court Tuesday that proponents of an amendment they want to place on next year’s ballot are fighting to protect the
Continue ReadingBy KEN RITTER Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — The former Southern California street gang leader charged with killing Tupac Shakur in 1996 in Las Vegas has lost his bid to be represented at his arraignment by the lawyer who spoke publicly about his defense two weeks ago. Attorney Ross Goodman told The Associated Press
Continue ReadingBy KEN RITTER Associated Press LAS VEGAS (AP) — The former Southern California street gang leader charged with killing Tupac Shakur in 1996 in Las Vegas has lost his bid to be represented at his arraignment by the lawyer who spoke publicly about his defense two weeks ago. Attorney Ross Goodman told The Associated Press
Continue ReadingSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Airbnb said Wednesday it earned $4.37 billion in the third quarter as it booked a large tax benefit and posted higher-than-expected revenue during the summer travel season. However, the rental giant’s forecast of fourth-quarter revenue fell short of Wall Street expectations. Its shares fell more than 2% in after-hours trading. Airbnb
Continue ReadingBy MATTHEW DALY Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and 22 other Democratic senators are urging federal regulators to investigate multibillion-dollar acquisitions by oil giants ExxonMobil and Chevron, saying the deals could lead to higher prices at the gas pump. In a letter Wednesday to the Federal Trade Commission, the lawmakers
Continue ReadingCNN By Manu Raju and Morgan Rimmer, CNN (CNN) — Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, who has been indicted on federal corruption charges including allegations of improperly assisting the government of Egypt, attended a classified briefing on Ukraine Wednesday morning, raising concerns among some of his colleagues who believe that he should no longer be a
Continue ReadingBy MICHAEL CASEY Associated Press LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Lewiston, Maine, takes another step in its recovery from the state’s worst mass shooting, as high school football returns. Last Friday’s game between Lewiston High School and Edward Little High School was postponed and now will be played Wednesday night. Known as the Battle of the
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