Feds won’t play ‘whack-a-mole’ by sending more vaccines to MichiganVideo
DETROIT — The federal government will not change its covid-19 vaccine distribution strategy, “playing whack-a-mole,” by sending more doses to Michigan, said Andy Slavitt, White House senior adviser for covid-19 response, during a Monday morning news briefing. Michigan is in the midst of another massive spike in coronavirus cases, with...
One shot of vaccine may be enough for covid-19 survivors, studies suggest
For people who have bared their arms for a two-dose covid-19 vaccine, the message from public health officials has been clear: Get the second shot if you want full protection. But an emerging body of evidence suggests that there may be an exception to that rule. If you’ve already battled...
‘Skilled predator’ FBI boss harassed 8 women, watchdog finds
NEW YORK — One woman carried a ruler at FBI headquarters so she could smack James Hendricks’ hands when he reached for her legs and breasts. Another went home shaken after he tugged on her ear and kissed her cheek during a closed-door meeting. And when Hendricks went on to...
Tweaked covid vaccines being tested with aim to fend off variants
Dozens of Americans are rolling up their sleeves for a third dose of covid-19 vaccine — this time, shots tweaked to guard against a worrisome mutated version of the virus. Make no mistake: The vaccines currently being rolled out across the U.S. offer strong protection. But new studies of experimental...
Ukraine leader’s request to talk to Putin ignored: official
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine’s leader has asked for a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the Russian troop buildup across his country’s border and the escalating tensions in eastern Ukraine, but the request has not been answered so far, his spokeswoman said Monday. The concentration of Russian troops...
New covid cases still high in Pennsylvania, but data show signs of surge easing
While Pennsylvania continues to see new covid cases at higher numbers than last month, there are signs that the surge is easing a bit. In the state Department of Health’s latest two-day report of new cases released Monday, the state added 6,450 new cases — 3% fewer new cases than...
All adults in Pa. will be eligible for covid vaccine Tuesday, 1 week early
Covid-19 vaccine appointments will be available to all Pennsylvanians beginning Tuesday, nearly a week ahead of schedule, Gov. Tom Wolf said Monday. “We need to maintain acceleration of the vaccine rollout, especially as case counts and hospitalization rates have increased,” Wolf said in a statement. “Therefore, just as President Biden...
Off-duty Italy art cops find looted statue in Belgian shop
Italian police say they have recovered a 1st century Roman statue that was stolen from an archaeological site in 2011 and found in a Belgian antiques shop by two off-duty Italian art squad police officers. An Italian businessman who used a Spanish pseudonym has been referred to prosecutors for further...
Georgia sheriff: 3 officers wounded, 1 suspect dead, 1 held
VILLA RICA, Ga. — Authorities in Georgia said three officers were wounded in a police chase that ended Monday morning with one suspect killed and another in custody. A Georgia State Patrol trooper clocked a car going 111 mph on Interstate 20 and initiated a traffic stop around 3:30 a.m.,...
White House issuing reports on states’ infrastructure needs
WASHINGTON — The Biden White House is amplifying the push for its $2.3 trillion infrastructure package with the release of state-by-state breakdowns that show the dire shape of roads, bridges, the power grid and housing affordability. The figures in the state summaries, obtained by The Associated Press, paint a decidedly...
George Floyd’s brother sheds tears on stand during Chauvin’s trial
MINNEAPOLIS — George Floyd’s younger brother took the witness stand Monday and lovingly recalled how George used to make the best banana mayonnaise sandwiches, how George drilled him in catching a football, and the way George used to mark his height on the wall as a boy because he wanted...
‘Huge’ explosion rocks St. Vincent as volcano keeps erupting
KINGSTOWN, St. Vincent — La Soufriere volcano fired an enormous amount of ash and hot gas early Monday in the biggest explosive eruption yet since volcanic activity began on the eastern Caribbean island of St. Vincent late last week, with officials worried about the lives of those who have refused...
Investigation finds Syria likely behind 2018 chlorine attack
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — An investigation by the global chemical weapons watchdog found “reasonable grounds to believe” that a Syrian air force military helicopter dropped a chlorine cylinder on a Syrian town in 2018, sickening 12 people, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said Monday. It is the...
Tokyo adopts tougher virus rules, starts vaccinating elders
TOKYO — Tokyo adopted tougher measures against the coronavirus Monday as Japanese authorities struggle to curb the spread of a more contagious variant ahead of the Olympics in a country where less than 1% of people have been vaccinated. Japan started its vaccination drive with medical workers and expanded that...
Iran blames Israel for sabotage at Natanz nuclear site
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran blamed Israel on Monday for a sabotage attack on its underground Natanz nuclear facility that damaged centrifuges it uses to enrich uranium, warning that it would avenge the assault. Israel has not claimed responsibility for the attack. However, suspicion fell immediately on it as...
Russia: Feminist activist on trial on pornography charges
MOSCOW — A Russian court on Monday opened the trial of a feminist activist and artist charged with disseminating pornography after she shared artwork depicting female anatomy online — a case in line with the Kremlin’s conservative stance promoting “traditional family values” that has been widely seen as controversial and...
Police: Minnesota officer meant to draw Taser, not handgun in Daunte Wright deathVideo
BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. — The police officer who fatally shot a Black man during a traffic stop in a Minneapolis suburb apparently intended to fire a Taser, not a handgun, as the man struggled with police, the city’s police chief said Monday, as police clashed with protesters for the second...
Brazil’s covid outlook darkens amid vaccine supply snags
RIO DE JANEIRO — April is shaping up to be Brazil’s darkest month yet in the pandemic, with hospitals struggling with a crush of patients, deaths on track for record highs and few signs of a reprieve from a troubled vaccination program in Latin America’s largest nation. The Health Ministry...
Top official admits Chinese vaccines have low effectiveness
BEIJING — In a rare admission of the weakness of Chinese coronavirus vaccines, the country’s top disease control official says their effectiveness is low and the government is considering mixing them to get a boost. Chinese vaccines “don’t have very high protection rates,” said the director of the China Centers...
Police declare unlawful assembly as tensions increase among rival demonstrators at Huntington Beach rallyVideo
LOS ANGELES — Huntington Beach police declared an unlawful assembly Sunday afternoon around the city’s famous pier as tensions increased among protesters who clashed with Donald Trump supporters and others displaying allegiance to white supremacist groups. Several hundred people gathered in the plaza area at the base of the pier...
Iran calls Natanz atomic site blackout ‘nuclear terrorism’Video
Iran on Sunday described a blackout at its underground Natanz atomic facility an act of “nuclear terrorism,” raising regional tensions as world powers and Tehran continue to negotiate over its tattered nuclear deal. While there was no immediate claim of responsibility, suspicion fell immediately on Israel, where its media nearly...
Blinken warns China on Taiwan encroachment, Russia on UkraineVideo
Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned China against encroaching on Taiwan, and blamed secrecy by the government in Beijing for helping to hasten the spread of covid-19. In an interview with NBC News, Blinken voiced concern about tension fomented by Chinese “aggressive actions” in the Taiwan Strait and said the...
Trump goes after Pence, McConnell in speech to party donorsVideo
PALM BEACH, Fla. — It was supposed to be a unifying weekend for a Republican Party at war with itself over former President Donald Trump’s divisive leadership. But Trump himself shattered two days of relative peace in his closing remarks to the GOP’s top donors when he insulted the party’s...
Nevada GOP censures elections official who defended results
LAS VEGAS — Nevada’s Republican Party voted to censure the secretary of state, accusing her of failing to fully investigate allegations of fraud in the 2020 election. She says there was no widespread fraud and that her own party is attacking her for refusing to “put my thumb on the...
Black Army officer sues Virginia police after being held at gunpoint, pepper sprayed during traffic stopVideo
An Army second lieutenant was driving his brand new car with his dog in the back seat when the night took a violent turn. Moments later, the Black and Latino driver would be pepper-sprayed, threatened and thrown to the ground in a caught-on-video traffic stop that has sparked outrage across...
