Warren, in Utah, pledges changes in national-monument policy
SALT LAKE CITY — Backed by dramatic mountain peaks, Elizabeth Warren stopped in Utah on Wednesday to discuss her public-lands plan, including a promise to restore broader protections for two of the state’s high-profile national monuments if elected president. It’s a move that would not endear her to the state’s...
Parole granted for driver in deadly 1981 Brink’s heist
ALBANY, N.Y. — Former left-wing revolutionary Judith Clark was granted parole Wednesday after serving more than 37 years behind bars for her role as getaway driver in a 1981 Brink’s armored truck robbery that left two police officers and a security guard dead. “You were wrong. Your behavior was criminal....
Couple accused of forcing day laborer into sex at gunpoint
PHOENIX — A Phoenix couple are accused of forcing a Mexican day laborer into sex at gunpoint and filming another encounter to blackmail him. Jorge Murrieta, 45, and Brenda Acuna-Aguero, 39, were arrested last week on suspicion of sexual assault, aggravated assault and unlawful recording of a person, according to...
Idaho governor has unfettered chance to cut state rules
BOISE, Idaho — Idaho’s governor now has sweeping authority to eliminate thousands of state-approved rules without public participation or lawmaker oversight. That’s because the state Legislature, which is controlled by Gov. Brad Little’s fellow Republicans, failed to pass a bill approving 8,200 pages containing 736 chapters of rules and regulations...
Pennsylvania government watchdog to probe teen’s murder
A Pennsylvania state government watchdog agency has launched an investigation into the horrific case of a 14-year-old girl who had extensive contact with the child welfare system before her 2016 rape, torture and murder, a lawmaker who requested the review announced Wednesday. The Office of State Inspector General has agreed...
O’Rourke urges Virginia Democrats to move beyond Richmond scandals
Democratic presidential candidate Beto O’Rourke came to northern Virginia on Wednesday to whip up enthusiasm for Virginia’s General Assembly elections, hoping to re-energize blue voters buffeted by scandals in Richmond. During the final leg of a two-day state tour, the former congressman from Texas said a Democratic takeover this fall...
After Notre Dame, support for torched black churches swells
NEW ORLEANS — The crowdfunding campaign to raise money for three African American churches gutted by arson in Louisiana began a week ago, but donations surged after flames engulfed the roof of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris and the outcry provoked a conversation about the disparate reactions to the tragedies....
Despite recusal, prosecutor told deputy Smollett overcharged
CHICAGO — Despite recusing herself from the case, Chicago’s top prosecutor weighed in on the allegations against Jussie Smollett last month, telling a deputy that she believed her office had overcharged the “Empire” actor, according to newly released texts and emails. The text message exchange unfolded more than two weeks...
Liquor Control hearing to address Pennsylvania’s taproom tax
A public hearing examining a new beer tax in Pennsylvania is set for Tuesday at the Spoonwood Brewing Company in Pittsburgh. The hearing, hosted by state Rep. Natalie Mihalek, R-Upper St. Clair, will look into the state Department of Revenue’s recent tax bulletin, which requires breweries to collect the state’s...
Kim Jong Un, Vladimir Putin appear on course for summit
TOKYO — Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un may finally be ready to meet for the first time, as Russia seeks to extend its influence and North Korea tries to hedge its bets after the failed summit with President Trump. The potential of closer ties between Putin and Kim carries...
Pa. House approves tougher rules on child sexual abuse reporting
HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania House is approving tougher penalties for people who don’t report suspicions about repeated child sexual abuse and it’s clarifying that nondisclosure agreements can’t prevent people from talking to police in child molestation investigations. Lawmakers on Wednesday voted for a proposal that could also eliminate the statute...
U.S. recession looks less likely in 2020, boosting Trump’s chances of re-election
WASHINGTON — A noticeable shift has taken place on Wall Street and among many economists and business leaders in recent weeks: Fears of an imminent recession have faded and been replaced with cautious optimism, especially about 2020, a trend that bodes well for President Donald Trump as he seeks re-election....
NTSB investigates American Airlines flight tipped by wind
NEW YORK — Federal safety officials are investigating an American Airlines flight in which the plane tipped in strong wind and a wingtip hit a runway marker during takeoff from New York’s Kennedy Airport. The pilots cut short the flight to Los Angeles and landed back at JFK about 30...
Young woman ‘infatuated’ with Columbine is found dead
LITTLETON, Colo. — A young Florida woman who traveled to Colorado and bought a shotgun for what authorities feared would be a Columbine-inspired attack just days ahead of the 20th anniversary was found dead Wednesday in an apparent suicide after a nearly 24-hour manhunt. Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Shrader said...
Scientists spur some activity in brains of slaughtered pigs
NEW YORK — Scientists restored some activity within the brains of pigs that had been slaughtered hours before, raising hopes for some medical advances and questions about the definition of death. The brains could not think or sense anything, researchers stressed. By medical standards “this is not a living brain,”...
Woman sues over melon linked to U.S. salmonella outbreak
INDIANAPOLIS — A Kentucky woman is suing an Indiana-based company that issued a recall last week for melon products linked to a salmonella outbreak. Tammy France, 50, of Louisville alleges in her federal lawsuit that she spent a week hospitalized with salmonella poisoning after eating pre-cut melon made by Caito...
60 people charged in illegal-prescription opioid crackdown
CINCINNATI — Federal authorities said Wednesday they have charged 60 people, including 31 doctors, for their roles in illegally prescribing and distributing millions of pills containing opioids and other dangerous drugs. U.S. Attorney Benjamin Glassman of Cincinnati described the action as the biggest known takedown yet of drug prescribers. Robert...
Fox News to host town hall meeting with Amy Klobuchar
NEW YORK — Sen. Amy Klobuchar has agreed to become the second Democratic presidential candidate to hold a town hall meeting on Fox News Channel. Fox’s announcement comes two days after Sen. Bernie Sanders participated in a similar meeting on Fox. It reached 2.55 million viewers, more than any other...
US astronaut to spend 11 months in space, set female record
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A NASA astronaut will spend nearly a year at the International Space Station, setting a record for women. Station astronaut Christina Koch will remain on board for about 11 months, until February — approaching but not quite breaking Scott Kelly’s 340-day U.S. record. “One month down....
Trauma for cops after school shootings is largely unstudied
LITTLETON, Colo. — The first SWAT team members to see the horror in the Columbine High School library had to step around bodies and ignore a wounded student’s plea for help as they searched for shooters they didn’t know had already died by their own hands. As member Grant Whitus...
Pet deer kills man and injures wife in rural Australia
MELBOURNE, Australia— A man was killed and his wife critically injured on Wednesday when they were attacked by their pet deer on a rural Australian property, police said. The 46-year-old man entered the stag’s enclosure in the morning at Moyhu in Victoria state, Police Sergeant Paul Pursell said. “His wife...
Ben Affleck, Susan Sarandon, other stars donate to 2020 Dems
WASHINGTON — From Ben Affleck and Susan Sarandon to Anna Wintour and Willie Nelson, celebrities lined up to give money — and a dash of star power — to their favorite Democratic presidential candidates ahead of this week’s first quarter fundraising deadline. For months, candidates in the crowded field of...
Tattoo links body found in river to woman beheaded a year earlier
The canine had been inked in black and white, with wild eyes and jagged teeth that gave it the look of a snarling wolf. “Sheepdog,” a banner below said in block letters. The cryptic tattoo was one of the only clues police had to work with. On April 7, 2018,...
Fashion capital New York considers banning sale of fur
NEW YORK — A burgeoning movement to outlaw fur is seeking to make its biggest statement yet in the fashion mecca of New York City. Lawmakers are pushing a measure that would ban the sale of all new fur products in the city where such garments were once common and...
Police: Man accused of throwing iguana in restaurant
PAINESVILLE, Ohio — Police say an unruly customer at a restaurant in Ohio pulled an iguana from under his shirt, swung it around and threw it at the manager. Painesville police were called to the Perkins restaurant around noon Tuesday. Police say they apprehended the suspect a few blocks away...
