Virgin Islands suit alleges decades-long abuse by Jeffery Epstein
HAVANA — A lawsuit filed by prosecutors in the Virgin Islands says multimillionaire sex offender Jeffery Epstein used two private islands in the U.S. territory to engage in a nearly two-decade conspiracy to traffic and abuse girls. At one point, the suit filed Wednesday alleges, Epstein and associates organized a...
Fever chart: Earth had its hottest decade on record in 2010sVideo
WASHINGTON — The decade that just ended was by far the hottest ever measured on Earth, capped off by the second-warmest year on record, two U.S. agencies reported Wednesday. And scientists said they see no end to the way man-made climate change keeps shattering records. “If you think you’ve heard...
Michigan lawmakers push sexual harassment probe of colleague Pete Lucido
LANSING, Mich. — A Republican state lawmaker should be subject to a sexual harassment investigation for telling a young female reporter she could have “a lot of fun” with a group of high school boys visiting the Michigan Capitol, legislative leaders said Wednesday. State Sen. Pete Lucido, 59, of Macomb...
Key takeaways from Democratic presidential debate in Iowa
DES MOINES, Iowa — Some key takeaways from Tuesday’s Democratic presidential debate in Des Moines, the final forum before the Iowa caucuses: Civility and substance over fighting and friction After the United States’ killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, Democrats were bracing for fights over foreign policy. Instead, a whole...
Harrisburg University, Nerd Street Gamers partner for new esports degreeVideo
Harrisburg University has launched a new esports degree in partnership with Nerd Street Gamers. Beginning this spring semester, students at the Pennsylvania school will be able to enroll in Harrisburg’s esports program, which will help provide with them skillsets for a career in this industry, reports Cheddar Business. Nerd Street...
Scranton man sentenced for online threat made to Ohio high school
YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio — A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for sending an online message to a suburban Cleveland high school student in 2018 about a shooting he warned would occur the next day. That warning led hundreds of students to miss classes, authorities said. Russell...
‘OK, Boomer’ makes a Supreme Court appearance in age case
WASHINGTON — “OK, Boomer” made its first appearance in the Supreme Court on Wednesday, invoked by baby boomer Chief Justice John Roberts 12 days before he turns 65. The phrase is a favorite of younger generations and Roberts used it in questions in a case about age discrimination in the...
Authorities charge Florida man with killing wife, 3 children, dogVideo
KISSIMMEE, Fla. — A physical therapist killed his wife, three young children and dog in an affluent Florida suburb near Walt Disney World and then left their bodies there for days, authorities said Wednesday. Osceola County Sheriff Russ Gibson said at news conference that Anthony Todt faces homicide charges for...
Virginia House votes to ratify Equal Rights Amendment
RICHMOND, Va. — State lawmakers took a major step Wednesday toward making Virginia the critical 38th state to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, though it is far from certain the measure will ever be added to the U.S. Constitution. The Virginia House advanced ratification of the gender equality measure in...
Tennessee Guard airbase on lockdown, reports of shots fired
ALCOA, Tenn — The McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base is on lockdown after receiving reports of shots being fired, Tennessee National Guard Sgt. First Class William Jones said Wednesday. He called it a developing situation. Officer Travers Hurst, a spokesman at the air base in Tennessee, said the Blount...
Democrats to investigate ‘profoundly alarming’ Ukraine texts
WASHINGTON — A House committee chairman said his panel will investigate what he says are “profoundly alarming” text messages that have raised questions about the possible surveillance of former Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch before she was ousted by the Trump administration last spring. House Democrats on Tuesday night released...
Pa. churches, nonprofits can get grants to improve security
Religious organizations such as churches and synagogues looking to improve security can now get help from the state. Gov. Tom Wolf on Wednesday announced that $5 million in security grants is being made available to religious organizations and other nonprofits that serve communities deemed vulnerable to hate crimes. The Nonprofit...
Pelosi names Schiff, Nadler as prosecutors for Trump trial
WASHINGTON — Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday named two House chairmen who led President Donald Trump’s impeachment inquiry as prosecutors for Trump’s Senate trial. Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, who led the probe, and Judiciary Chair Rep. Jerrold Nadler, whose committee approved the impeachment articles, as among the managers of...
Russian prime minister submits resignation to Putin
MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed a constitutional overhaul Wednesday to boost the powers of parliament and the Cabinet, a move signalling Putin’s intention to carve out a new position for himself after his current term ends. Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev submitted his resignation hours after Putin discussed the...
Theories persist about mystery drones seen in rural Western regions
CHEYENNE, Wyo. — People insist they have spotted fleets of large drones crisscrossing rural America’s night sky, their mission mysterious, raising questions that have veered into conspiracy theories and launching an investigation. Authorities in Colorado have tried to put those theories to rest, announcing that they have confirmed nothing unusual...
FAA investigating Delta jet fuel-dumping on schoolkids in California
CUDAHY, Calif. — Federal authorities will investigate why an airliner with engine trouble dumped jet fuel over a densely populated area of Southern California while making an emergency return to the airport, dousing dozens of schoolchildren in a smelly vapor. Delta Air Lines Flight 89 to Shanghai, with 181 passengers...
Can a woman win the presidency? Clash exposes deeper issue
WASHINGTON — The smoldering political flareup between Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders has rekindled debate over a question that has been gnawing at Democratic primary voters for more than three years: Can a woman beat President Donald Trump? Many voters openly support the idea of the first female president but...
Key takeaways from Democratic presidential debate in Iowa
DES MOINES — Some key takeaways from Tuesday’s Democratic presidential debate in Des Moines, the final forum before the Iowa caucuses: CIVILITY AND SUBSTANCE OVER FIGHTING AND FRICTION After the United States’ killing of Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani, Democrats were bracing for fights over foreign policy. Instead, a whole lot...
Student fatally shot at Texas high school; suspect arrested
BELLAIRE, Texas — A 16-year-old student was shot to death Tuesday at a Texas high school, and a suspect was arrested hours later, officials said. Grenita Lathan, interim superintendent of the Houston Independent School District, confirmed the shooting victim at Bellaire High School had died. She gave no other information...
Prosecutor: Avenatti arrested on alleged bail violation
NEW YORK — Michael Avenatti, the embattled former attorney for the porn actress Stormy Daniels, was arrested Tuesday evening in California for alleged bail violations, according to a court filing by federal prosecutors. The arrest came as Avenatti was appearing before the State Bar Court in Los Angeles, which is...
Ex-Trump aide Michael Flynn seeks to withdraw guilty plea
WASHINGTON —Former Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn filed court papers Tuesday to withdraw his guilty plea, saying federal prosecutors had acted in “bad faith” and breached their deal with him. The request comes one week after the Justice Department changed its position on Flynn’s punishment by recommending that...
Video: NYC tenant behind on rent appears to shove landlord down steps to his deathVideo
A tenant who was reportedly behind on rent was charged with manslaughter after he allegedly pushed his landlord down the front steps of the New York City home he was renting when the landlord came to collect money. The incident occurred in the borough of Queens, according to NBC’s New...
Police: Florida woman tried to light explosive device in Walmart
TAMPA, Fla. — A woman tried to build an explosive device inside a Walmart store in Florida, authorities said. Emily Stallard was charged with attempted arson of a structure, fire bombing, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, child abuse and battery on an officer, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s office...
Ohio teen missing for weeks found dead in vacant home’s chimneyVideo
TOLEDO, Ohio — A three-week-long search for a missing Ohio teenager who was last seen walking to school ended when authorities announced Tuesday they found his body trapped inside the chimney of a vacant house near his home. Authorities said 14-year-old Harley Dilly’s death is currently being considered an accident...
Jet returning to LAX for emergency landing dumps fuel on school playground; 17 children treatedVideo
CUDAHY, Calif. — Jet fuel dumped by an aircraft returning to Los Angeles International Airport fell onto an elementary school playground where children were playing Tuesday, fire officials said. The Los Angeles County Fire Department said firefighters assessed 17 children and nine adults who complained of minor injuries and none...
