Pompeo to meet head of UN nuclear watchdog as council votes
VIENNA — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in Austria, where he will see the head of the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog as members of the U.N. Security Council vote on a long-shot American bid to extend an arms embargo on Iran. The vote in New York will likely...
Harris bringing energy, dollars and more to Biden’s campaign
Wilmington, Del. — In her first two days as Joe Biden’s running mate, Kamala Harris has fired off the campaign’s sharpest criticism of President Donald Trump’s shortcomings. She has vouched for Biden’s character on race and more. And the enthusiasm surrounding her historic candidacy has brought in a record $36...
Highmark CEO: Covid-19 pandemic has not deterred growth across Pa., neighboring states
Despite recent plunges in hospital revenues statewide, the covid-19 pandemic has not thwarted Highmark Health from strengthening its overall financial position and increasing its reach across Pennsylvania and neighboring states, Highmark CEO David Holmberg said Thursday. “We believe that we are very well-positioned for the long term,” Holmberg told reporters...
More U.S. churches sue to challenge covid-19 restrictions
Churches in California and Minnesota, backed by a conservative legal group, filed lawsuits this week against the governors of their states challenging restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus outbreak that they contend are violations of religious liberty. They’re the latest in a long series of legal challenges, many of them...
Death toll from storm rises in Iowa as power outages persist
DES MOINES, Iowa — It will take five days or longer to restore power to some Iowa homes and businesses that have been without electricity since Monday’s wind storm left damage across the Midwest and killed at least four people, officials said Thursday. The straight-line winds that toppled trees and...
Prince Harry, Meghan Markle move into new California home
LOS ANGELES — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have moved into a new family home, a representative for the couple said Thursday without providing its location or other details. Real estate agents and tax records point to a seven-acre estate in Santa Barbara County, according to The Los Angeles Times....
Trump, Biden trade barbs on coronavirus response
WILMINGTON, Del. — President Donald Trump on Thursday attacked Joe Biden for calling on governors to mandate that all Americans wear masks for the next three months, accusing the Democratic presidential candidate of politicizing an issue Trump himself has used for political gain in recent months. Trump claimed Biden has...
Bill to create Purple Heart coin series gains traction in CongressVideo
Josh Marino suffered a traumatic brain injury when an enemy mortar exploded a few feet away from him during his 2007 deployment to Baghdad. In the moment, he had no idea what had happened. “At the time I thought, ‘Man, those cannons we have on base are really loud. They’re...
Trump opposes postal money that would help vote-by-mail
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump declared Thursday that he opposes additional funding for the U.S. Postal Service, acknowledging that his position would starve the agency of money Democrats say it needs to process an anticipated surge in mail-in ballots during the coronavirus pandemic. Trump also claimed anew — falsely —...
Georgia governor to drop lawsuit over Atlanta mask mandate
ATLANTA — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp on Thursday said he’s dropping a lawsuit against the city of Atlanta in a dispute over the city’s requirement to wear masks in public and other restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Kemp had sued Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and the City Council....
Feds now investigating Florida man accused of making bombs
BOYNTON BEACH, Fla. — Federal agents are taking over the investigation of a Florida man who was arrested after police found more than two dozen pipe bombs near his home, including some that contained nails, screws and metal pellets. Boynton Beach police said Thursday that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco,...
Portland protest clashes re-emerge near U.S. courthouse
PORTLAND, Ore. — Protesters and police clashed in downtown Portland in a demonstration that lasted into the predawn hours of Thursday, with some in the crowd setting a fire and exploding commercial grade fireworks outside a federal courthouse that’s been a target in months of conflict for Oregon’s largest city....
For Americans waiting on virus aid, no new relief in sight
WASHINGTON — With talks on emergency coronavirus aid having stalled out, both sides played the blame game Thursday rather than make any serious moves to try to break their stalemate. Official Washington is emptying, national politics is consuming the airwaves and the chasm between the warring sides appears too great...
Pennsylvania posts near-1,000 covid-19 case increase, largest thus far in August
Pennsylvania reported 991 new covid-19 cases Thursday, according to the state Department of Health. The new coronavirus cases mark the largest increase thus far in August and bring the case total to 122,121 in the state. In addition, 24 deaths were reported, bringing Pennsylvania’s death toll to 7,409. Of the...
Pompeo, in Slovenia, pushes 5G security, warns about China
BLED, Slovenia — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is in Slovenia to make the case for high-speed wireless networks that bar Chinese companies like Huawei. On the second leg of a four-nation tour of central and eastern Europe, Pompeo was meeting Slovenian officials in the mountain lake town of...
Biden raises $26M in 24 hours after Harris VP announcement
WILMINGTON, Del. — Joe Biden raised $26 million in the 24 hours after he named Kamala Harris as his running mate, doubling his previous one-day record and signaling enthusiasm among Democrats following the selection of the first Black woman on a major party’s presidential ticket. “It’s really palpable, the excitement,”...
Thousands in Belarus form ‘lines of solidarity’ in protest
MINSK, Belarus — Thousands of people were back on the streets of Belarus’ capital on Thursday to keep protesting against a vote that extended the 26-year rule of the country’s authoritarian leader, and against a brutal crackdown on peaceful demonstrations. In several areas of Minsk, hundreds of women formed long...
Air Force helicopter shot at while flying over Virginia, injuring 1
WASHINGTON — An Air Force helicopter was forced to make an emergency landing at a Virginia airport this week when someone shot at it, injuring a member of the crew, local and military officials said. The UH-1N Huey helicopter is assigned to the 1st Helicopter Squadron at Joint Base Andrews....
QAnon-supporting candidate unrepentant despite GOP criticismVideo
ATLANTA — Political newcomer Marjorie Taylor Greene was mocked as a supporter of QAnon conspiracies and denounced for videos deemed racist even by fellow Republicans who withdrew endorsements and declared her unfit for Congress. The businesswoman from northern Georgia had a blunt message for her critics as she coasted to...
Texas surpasses 9,000 coronavirus deaths as testing remains low
AUSTIN — Texas surpassed 9,000 confirmed coronavirus deaths Wednesday while testing again dropped to the lowest levels since June, and infection rates hit another record. The state on Wednesday reported 324 additional deaths, bringing the total number of confirmed new deaths added from covid-19 over the past week alone to...
Trump weighs replacing Mark Esper at Pentagon after November election
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has privately said he intends to replace Secretary of Defense Mark Esper after the November election, according to people familiar with internal discussions. One person said Esper, a Uniontown native, has told people close to him that he intends to leave regardless of the election’s...
Let it flow: Trump Administration eases showerhead rules
WASHINGTON — The Trump Administration wants to change the definition of a showerhead to let more water flow, addressing a pet peeve of the president who complains he isn’t getting wet enough. Publicly talking about the need to keep his hair “perfect,” President Donald Trump has made increasing water flow...
Biden introduces VP choice Kamala Harris; much history, no crowdVideo
WILMINGTON, Del. — Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and his newly chosen running mate Kamala Harris campaigned together for the first time Wednesday, as the former primary rivals sought to solidify their advantage over President Donald Trump and secure their place in American history. Biden, a 77-year-old white man, embraced...
Florida sheriff bans masks for staff, visitors with some exceptions
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A central Florida sheriff says his deputies won’t be allowed to wear face masks except under some conditions, and neither will visitors to the sheriff’s office. Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said this week in an email to staff that he had weighed both sides of...
‘Kicked in the teeth’: Devastation mounts from Midwest stormVideo
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The impact of a wind storm that tore through the Midwest continued to grow Wednesday, as widespread power outages kept businesses closed, limited communication, spoiled food and caused long lines at gas stations. The rare storm known as a derecho hit Monday, devastating parts of the...
