Bill Cosby drops defamation claims against 7 accusers
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Bill Cosby has dropped his countersuit against seven women who accused him of sexually assaulting them. Court papers filed Friday show the four-year defamation case in Massachusetts is now over. Cosby’s insurer had settled with the women last month for an undisclosed sum. The 81-year-old comedian objected...
Death penalty repeal movement surfaces in Pa. Legislature
In a turnabout that few could have predicted, Pennsylvania appears poised to join at least a half-dozen other states where Republicans and Democrats together are pushing to repeal capital punishment. Four Keystone State lawmakers — three Democrats and a Republican — have launched a drive seeking support to repeal the...
Swimmer is oblivious to shark circling her at Florida beachVideo
A man had been watching a shark swimming along a Florida beach for about two hours when a swimmer entered the scene. Stan Battles told the Panama City News Herald the shark had been doing figure 8s in the muck and sea grass at Panama City Beach Wednesday morning. He...
SAT’s new rating system faces its own adversity
College admissions testing was long viewed as a great equalizer. All students could aim for a maximum 36 on the ACT or 1600 on the SAT, no matter where they grew up or went to school. Their scores functioned as a currency of merit for a nation that aspired to...
IRS proposes update to Form W-4 to increase accuracy
The IRS has proposed an update to the Form W-4 that it says will increase its accuracy and reduce its complexity. But experts caution that it will feel different to employees and may prove a bit more difficult for some. Employees currently fill out a one-page form that asks a...
Union warns Disney World fire department is understaffed
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. — Firefighters for Walt Disney World’s private government say they’re understaffed and that poses a safety risk as the Florida theme park resort grows even bigger with this year’s openings of a new Star Wars land and air gondolas. “We just don’t have enough firefighters on...
Tornado that ravaged parts of Ohio packed 170 mph winds
DAYTON, Ohio — The National Weather Service says one of the tornadoes that tore through western Ohio this week was the strongest in the state since 2010. Survey teams have confirmed at least 18 tornadoes touched down in the region during storms Memorial Day evening and early Tuesday. The Weather...
Tariffs aimed at Mexico, but U.S. companies in line of fire
The surprise imposition by President Donald Trump of an escalating tariff regime against Mexico sent ripples through almost every economic sector in the U.S. Friday, hammering American companies that sell automobiles or run railroads, grow vegetables or create medical devices. Trump vowed to slap a 5% tariff on all Mexican...
4 million gallons of water to be drained from Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool
About 4 million gallons of water will be drained from the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool so crews can fix a broken water line that’s caused algae to form in it. “The problem with the water line has compromised the circulation system in the pool, leading to issues with the water...
Police: Suicide car bomb hits Afghan capital, 7 casualties
KABUL, Afghanistan — A car bomb targeting a U.S. convoy exploded early Friday in an eastern Kabul neighborhood leaving seven Afghan casualties, police said. It was the second suicide attack in as many days to rattle the Afghan capital. Bob Purtiman, public affairs officer with the U.S. military in Kabul,...
Aliens, droids and starships: Images from new Star Wars land
ANAHEIM, Calif. — From animatronic aliens to droidprints in the ground, Disneyland’s latest addition immerses visitors in a brand new locale in the “Star Wars” universe. Every detail of the Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge land is meant to look and feel like it was plucked from a “Star Wars” film,...
Man accused of vandalizing Scranton school while naked
SCRANTON — A man accused of entering a Pennsylvania elementary school, stripping naked and spilling Murphy Oil Soap on the gym floor is in custody. Scranton police tell WNEP-TV the man is undergoing a mental health evaluation and faces charges stemming from the vandalism. His name has not been released....
Poland’s leaders campaign to save wild cows from slaughter
WARSAW, Poland — Poland’s ruling party leader and the president have weighed in to save the lives of a herd of some 180 cows and bulls that went feral after years of neglect and were ordered slaughtered. Poland’s most powerful politician, Jaroslaw Kaczynski, said this week the herd in the...
Trump prompts protests with promise of new Mexican tariffs
WASHINGTON — In a surprise announcement that could derail a major trade deal, President Donald Trump has announced that he is placing a 5% tariff on all Mexican imports, effective June 10, to pressure the country to do more to crack down on the surge of Central American migrants trying...
National Spelling Bee runs out of challenging words, crowns 8 co-champions
OXON HILL, Md. — The Scripps National Spelling Bee was broken Thursday night, brought to its knees by eight spellers who were too poised, too prepared and too savvy for any word thrown their way. Faced with a dwindling word list and a group of spellers that showed no weakness,...
Bird migrations hint at climate change in Erie
The gray catbird isn’t the most popular of birds, but to Jerry McWilliams and others it is the equivalent of the canary in a coal mine. The bird is telling us something. “It used to arrive here in the last week of April and it left in late September,” said...
Ben & Jerry’s plans CBD-infused ice cream
We always knew Ben and Jerry were cool, but now we know just how cool. Ben & Jerry’s, those purveyors of our delicious ice dreams — are ready to hop on the latest trend: CBD-infused food — well, as soon as they can legally do it. The company announced on...
Military judge frees Navy SEAL Edward Gallagher in advance of murder trial
SAN DIEGO — A decorated Navy SEAL facing a murder trial in the death of an Islamic State prisoner was freed from custody Thursday when a military judge cited interference by prosecutors. The unexpected move drew gasps in a San Diego courtroom after lawyers for Special Operations Chief Edward Gallagher...
Trump hitting Mexico with 5% tariff in response to migrants
WASHINGTON — President Trump is preparing to threaten Mexico with sweeping new tariffs as part of an attempt to force the country to crack down on a surge of Central American migrants, administration officials said Thursday, a risky move that could rattle already jittery financial markets and imperil an impending...
Pompeo to Europe to seek backing, easing of Iran tensions
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was off to Europe on Thursday to seek support and a potential diplomatic climb-down to ease rising tensions between the U.S. and Iran. Even as the Trump administration revels in its “maximum pressure” campaign against Iran, Pompeo is traveling to Germany, Switzerland, the...
Fire destroys barn at popular Amish country produce stand
STRASBURG — A barn fire in the heart of Pennsylvania’s Amish country sent up a plume of smoke visible for miles and required a hazardous materials team to respond to runoff into a stream. LNP newspaper reported the Wednesday night blaze in Strasburg occurred on the site of Pop’s Produce...
U.S. measles cases in first five months of 2019 surpass total for any year since 1994
The United States has reported 971 cases of measles in the first five months of 2019, the greatest number since 1994, when 963 cases were reported for the entire year, federal health officials said Thursday. The agency has typically been updating its measles cases weekly, on Mondays, but announced the...
Mixed verdict reached in Penn State frat-fall death case
BELLEFONTE — The former manager of a Penn State fraternity where a pledge fell during a night of hazing and drinking and later died has been convicted of hindering apprehension but acquitted of evidence tampering and obstruction. The Centre Daily Times reported a jury deliberated about five hours before issuing...
Georgia police officer charged with beating homeless woman
DECATUR, Ga. — An Atlanta-area police officer who was captured on video beating a homeless woman inside a convenience store was indicted Thursday on felony charges, a prosecutor said. A grand jury indicted DeKalb County police Officer Phillip Larscheid, 29, on charges of aggravated assault and violation of his oath...
Man reportedly attacked by emotional-support dog on flight sues owner, Delta
A man is suing Delta Air Lines and one of its passengers after an emotional-support dog reportedly mauled him on a flight. Alabama resident Marlin Jackson suffered “extensive facial damage,” including lacerations to his nose and mouth, and bled so profusely “that the entire row of seats had to be...
