What to know about Labor Day and its history
DALLAS — From barbecues to getaways to shopping the sales, many people across the U.S. mark Labor Day — the federal holiday celebrating the American worker — by finding ways to relax. This year is the 130th anniversary of the holiday, which is celebrated on the first Monday of September....
U.S. government report says fluoride at twice the recommended limit is linked to lower IQ in kids
NEW YORK — A U.S. government report expected to stir debate concluded that fluoride in drinking water at twice the recommended limit is linked with lower IQ in children. The report, based on an analysis of previously published research, marks the first time a federal agency has determined — “with...
Blackouts in extreme weather drive demand for cleaner backup power
Software engineer Kenna Ofoegbu in Houston, Texas tries hard to keep his three kids cool during the summer and that means air conditioning. Yet their house has lost power three times in just the past two and a half months. One of those outages lasted three days. That time, Ofoegbu...
Shapiro takes DNC stage to rally party faithful for Harris: ‘America, let’s get to work’
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro took to the Democratic National Convention stage late Wednesday with a freedom-themed, primetime speech and warnings about a second Trump administration. In a nearly 6-minute address in front of a cheering crowd in Chicago and millions more on TV, Shapiro echoed many of the same points...
German president inaugurates the rebuilt tower of a church with Nazi-era historical baggage
BERLIN — Germany’s president on Thursday inaugurated the rebuilt tower of a church that became associated with the Nazis’ takeover of power and whose remains were demolished under communist rule. President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said it offers an opportunity to reflect on the country’s complicated past amid a surge in authoritarian...
Thousands of Indonesians attempt to storm parliament to protest changes to election law
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesian police fired tear gas and water cannon to disperse thousands of protesters who attempted to storm parliament on Thursday after they tore down a section of fence and threw stones at police. The unrest forced the legislature to delay a vote on controversial changes to election...
Walz’s night, Bill Clinton’s dig at Trump, influencers flexing clout. DNC Day 3 takeaways
CHICAGO — The Democratic National Convention’s third night showcased a familiar former president, Bill Clinton, and introduced more Americans to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, little known outside his state until Vice President Kamala Harris selected him as her running mate. Walz, with his background as a former teacher and football...
Police raid Andrew Tate’s home in Romania as new allegations emerge involving minorsVideo
BUCHAREST, Romania — Masked police officers in Romania carried out fresh raids early Wednesday at the home of divisive internet influencer Andrew Tate, who is awaiting trial on charges of human trafficking, rape and forming a criminal gang to sexually exploit women. Romania’s anti-organized crime agency, DIICOT, said it was...
Harris’ running mate Tim Walz introduces himself to the nation after Bill Clinton tears into TrumpVideo
CHICAGO — Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz accepted his party’s nomination for vice president Wednesday night, using his Democratic National Convention address to thank the packed arena for “bringing the joy” to an election transformed by the elevation of his running mate, Vice President Kamala Harris. “We’re all here tonight for...
Hunter Biden’s lawyer accuses prosecutors of trying to smear him with salacious details at tax trial
LOS ANGELES — An attorney for Hunter Biden accused prosecutors Wednesday of wanting to introduce salacious details about partying and spending by President Joe Biden’s son to smear his character in front of jurors at his upcoming trial on federal tax charges. During a lengthy hearing in Los Angeles federal...
Report: Pa. State police pull over drivers at similar rates regardless of a driver’s race
Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit newsroom producing investigative and public-service journalism that holds power to account and drives positive change in Pennsylvania. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania State Police pulled drivers over at about the same rate regardless of the motorists’ race or...
Trump speaks from behind bulletproof glass at first outdoor rally since his attempted assassinationVideo
ASHEBORO, N.C. — At his first outdoor rally since last month’s attempted assassination, Donald Trump spoke from behind bulletproof glass Wednesday in North Carolina at an event focused on national security. On politics, he called his predecessor Barack Obama “nasty” for his comments the night before at the Democratic National...
Heat dome moves into Texas with record highs expectedVideo
AUSTIN, Texas — A heat dome that has led to nearly 90 consecutive days of triple-digit temperatures in Phoenix moved Wednesday into Texas, with record highs expected to fall by the weekend, according to the National Weather Service. Meanwhile, energy demand in Texas hit an unofficial all-time high Tuesday, according...
Democrats get a 3rd-party hopeful knocked off Pennsylvania ballot, as Cornel West tries to get on
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Democrats have won legal challenges keeping the left-wing Party for Socialism and Liberation off the battleground state’s presidential ballot, at least for now, while a lawyer with deep Republican Party ties is working to help independent candidate Cornel West get on it. The court cases are among...
RFK Jr. to speak Friday amid speculation he’ll drop independent presidential bid and support Trump
PHOENIX — Independent presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. will speak Friday “about the present historical moment and his path forward,” his campaign announced Wednesday, fueling growing speculation that Kennedy could drop out and support Republican nominee Donald Trump. Kennedy’s running mate openly discussed the possibility on a podcast this...
Detroit judge is sued after putting teen in handcuffs, jail clothes during field trip
DETROIT — Attorneys for a teenager who was ordered into jail clothes and handcuffs during a field trip to a Detroit court filed a lawsuit against a judge Wednesday, accusing him of humiliation, false arrest and unlawful detention. It is the latest fallout since Judge Kenneth King singled out 15-year-old...
Key mediator Egypt expresses skepticism about Gaza cease-fire proposal as more details emerge
CAIRO — Key mediator Egypt expressed skepticism Wednesday about the proposal meant to bridge gaps in cease-fire talks between Israel and Hamas as more details emerged a day before negotiations were expected to resume in Cairo. The challenges around the so-called bridging proposal appeared to undermine the optimism for an...
Babysitter pleads guilty to manslaughter for death of man she injured when he was a baby in 1984
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A former babysitter pleaded guilty to manslaughter Wednesday for the 2019 death of a man she was accused of disabling as an infant 40 years ago and was sentenced to three years in prison, finally admitting that she hit him numerous times. Terry McKirchy, 62, accepted...
At least 55 arrested after clashes with police outside Israeli Consulate in Chicago during DNC
CHICAGO — At least 55 protesters were arrested following violent clashes with police in Chicago on the second night of the Democratic National Convention, a situation the police chief called “a danger to our city.” Chicago Police Superintendent Larry Snelling said Wednesday that those arrested outside the Israeli Consulate, about...
2 Clearfield County men charged with fatal house bombing over drug debt
Two Clearfield County men have been charged with bombing a Clearfield apartment and killing a person over a drug debt of a few hundred dollars, according to federal prosecutors. Western District of Pennsylvania U.S. Attorney Eric Olshan announced Wednesday that Clint Addleman, 47, of Morrisdale and Kris J. Nevling, 47,...
Cornel West cleared to appear on ballot in Maine, where ranked voting is in play
AUGUSTA, Maine — Independent presidential candidate Cornel West can appear on the ballot in Maine, the state’s secretary of state has ruled. Shenna Bellows’ decision came Tuesday, about a week after the withdrawal of a challenge to another long-shot candidate, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. The presence of multiple third-party candidates...
GOP lawmakers praise University of Kentucky for removing Office of Institutional Diversity
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Republican lawmakers who sponsored anti-DEI bills earlier this year are praising the University of Kentucky for deciding to eliminate its Office of Institutional Diversity. The GOP-controlled state legislature this spring tried but failed to pass bills targeting diversity, equity and inclusion programs — commonly referred to as...
Trump is set to hold 1st outdoor rally since last month’s assassination attempt
ASHEBORO, N.C. — Donald Trump is holding his first outdoor rally since narrowly surviving an attempted assassination in Pennsylvania last month. Trump’s podium at the North Carolina Aviation Museum & Hall of Fame, where he is slated to deliver remarks on national security Wednesday afternoon, is surrounded by panes of...
Divers find 5 bodies during search of superyacht wreckage after it sank off Sicily, 1 still missing
PORTICELLO, Sicily — Divers searching the wreck of a superyacht that sank off Sicily found the bodies of five passengers Wednesday and searched for one more as questions intensified about why the vessel sank so quickly when a nearby sailboat remained largely unscathed. Rescue crews brought four body bags ashore...
FAA sent 43 more cases of unruly airline passengers to the FBI for possible prosecution
WASHINGTON — U.S. officials say they are referring fewer unruly airline passengers to the FBI for possible prosecution than they did during the pandemic, although they say the number of incidents remains too high. The Federal Aviation Administration said Wednesday that it referred 43 reports to the Federal Bureau of...
