5 IUP executives fired in move to cut costs, streamline operations
Five executives at Indiana University of Pennsylvania have lost their jobs in a move the university says is designed to cut costs and streamline operations. “IUP, like colleges and universities across the nation, is facing dramatic challenges both internally and externally (and) must accelerate its progress toward student-centeredness and financial...
Ohio board approves August ballot question meant to thwart abortion rights push
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A ballot question seeking to make it more difficult to amend the Ohio Constitution was cleared for an August ballot on Thursday, and teams of Republican and Democratic lawmakers assigned to write pro and con arguments, respectively, to be presented to voters. The process before the Ohio...
Anti-migration operation on French African island of Mayotte stirs tensions, exposes inequalities
CHIRONGUI, Mayotte — Facing a migration quagmire on the French island territory of Mayotte, off Africa’s east coast, France’s government has mobilized 2,000 troops and police to carry out mass expulsions, destroy slums and eradicate violent gangs. But the operation has raised concerns of abuse, and aggravated tensions between local...
Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral cost U.K. government $200 million
LONDON — Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and lying-in-state last year cost Britain’s government an estimated 162 million pounds (around $200 million), the treasury revealed Thursday. The state funeral for the late monarch, held on Sept. 19, was the first in the U.K. since that of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill...
Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral cost UK government $200 million
LONDON — Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral and lying-in-state last year cost Britain’s government an estimated 162 million pounds (around $200 million), the treasury said Thursday. The state funeral for the late monarch, held on Sept. 19, was the first in the U.K. since that of former Prime Minister Winston Churchill...
Supreme Court sides with Google, Twitter; avoids ruling on broad protections from lawsuits
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday sided with Google, Twitter and Facebook in lawsuits seeking to hold them liable for terrorist attacks. But the justices sidestepped the big issue hovering over the cases, the federal law that shields social media companies from being sued over content posted by others....
Myanmar raises death toll from Cyclone Mocha to 54, but full extent of damage still unknown
BANGKOK — At least 54 people were killed and more than 185,000 buildings damaged in Myanmar by a powerful cyclone last weekend, state television MRTV reported Thursday. Communication difficulties in the affected areas, where infrastructure was already poor, and the military government’s tight control over information leave the actual extent...
The pandemic widened gaps in reading. Can 1 teacher ‘do something about that’?
NIAGARA FALLS, N.Y. — Richard Evans makes his way through rows of his students in his third grade classroom, stooping to pick up an errant pencil and answering questions above the din of chairs sliding on hardwood floors. The desks, once spread apart to fight covid-19, are back together. But...
Check your artificial intelligence ‘bossware’ tools for bias, says U.S. agency head
The head of the U.S. agency charged with enforcing civil rights in the workplace says artificial intelligence-driven “bossware” tools that closely track the whereabouts, keystrokes and productivity of workers can also run afoul of discrimination laws. Charlotte Burrows, chair of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, told The Associated Press that...
Supreme Court rules against Andy Warhol in copyright case with Prince photo
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that the 2016 publication of an Andy Warhol image of the singer Prince violated a photographer’s copyright, a decision a dissenting justice said would stifle the creation of art. The high court ruled 7-2 for photographer Lynn Goldsmith. “Lynn Goldsmith’s original works, like...
New Alzheimer’s drugs raise hopes and questions
The Alzheimer’s Association is stepping up public pressure on the Biden administration, hoping to convince the government to pay for a new class of promising but expensive Alzheimer’s drugs. To date, the advocacy group’s campaign has been intense but low-tech, featuring everything from critical statements in the media to a...
San Francisco to name 1st-in-nation drag laureate
SAN FRANCISCO — Anti-trans legislation is roiling the nation. Bills prohibiting drag performances are cropping up in statehouses. Violence and vitriol are turning children’s drag story hour events into headline-news protests. San Francisco is fighting back Thursday by naming the nation’s first drag laureate, an ambassador-style position designed to represent...
Egg prices have fallen after record highs left consumers scrambling
After a bird flu outbreak last year caused egg prices to skyrocket across the country, consumers are getting some relief. After significant drops over the previous four weeks, the average price for a dozen large eggs May 5 in California was $1.68, versus a high of $7.37 in January and...
Transgender rights: What to know about bills in the U.S. statehouses
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has highlighted efforts by Republican governors and statehouses across the country to embrace proposals limiting the rights of transgender people, signing new restrictions as he moves closer to a presidential bid. The restrictions are spreading quickly despite criticism from medical groups and advocates who say they’re...
Documents leak suspect had been warned about handling of classified information, prosecutors say
BOSTON — Superiors of the Massachusetts Air National Guard member charged with leaking highly classified military documents had raised concerns internally on multiple occasions about his handling or viewing of classified information, according to a court filing Wednesday. Justice Department lawyers made the disclosure in a court papers urging a...
Texas Legislature OKs ban on gender-affirming care for minors
AUSTIN — Texas would become the largest state to ban gender-affirming care for minors under a bill sent Wednesday night to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who has previously ordered child welfare officials to investigate such treatment as abuse. The bill cleared the GOP-controlled Legislature after a final vote in the...
Rudy Giuliani sued for defamation by supermarket employee he accused of assault
NEW YORK — A man who spent a night in jail for smacking Rudy Giuliani on the back and calling him a “scumbag” is suing him and several New York City police officers for false arrest and defamation. Daniel Gill brought the federal lawsuit in Manhattan court on Wednesday, accusing...
Man indicted in theft of ‘Wizard of Oz’ ruby slippers worn by Judy GarlandVideo
A man has been indicted by a grand jury on charges of stealing a pair of ruby red slippers worn by Judy Garland in “The Wizard of Oz,” federal prosecutors in North Dakota say. The shoes were stolen in 2005 and recovered in a 2018 FBI sting operation, but no...
Montana becomes 1st state to ban TikTok
HELENA — Montana became the first state in the United States to enact a complete ban on TikTok on Wednesday when Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a measure that’s more sweeping than any other state’s attempts to curtail the social media app, which is owned by a Chinese tech company....
Effort to expel George Santos falters as Republicans vote to send measure to Ethics CommitteeVideo
WASHINGTON — A resolution to expel Rep. George Santos, R-N.Y., from Congress was referred to the House Ethics Committee on Wednesday as Republicans successfully sidestepped an effort to force them into a vote that could have narrowed their already slim four-seat majority. The House voted along party lines, 221-204, to...
Abortion pill case moves to appeals court, on track for Supreme CourtVideo
NEW ORLEANS — Appellate judges with a history of supporting abortion restrictions heard arguments Wednesday over access to a drug used in the most common method of abortion. The closely watched case is likely to wind up at the Supreme Court, which already intervened to keep the drug, mifepristone, available...
Key Trump attorney says he’s departing legal team as Mar-a-Lago probe intensifies
A core member of the legal defense team representing former President Donald Trump against the Justice Department special counsel investigations has left. Tim Parlatore said in a phone call Wednesday morning that he had decided to leave the team “for personal reasons” and that his departure didn’t reflect his “opinion...
Man who killed 8 in NYC terrorist attack gets 10 life sentences plus 260 years
NEW YORK — An Islamic extremist was given 10 life sentences and another 260 years in prison on Wednesday for killing eight people with a truck on a bike path in Manhattan and severely injuring 18 others. “The conduct in this case is among the worst if not the worst...
Elizabeth Holmes will start 11-year prison sentence on May 30 after losing her bid to remain freeVideo
SAN FRANCISCO — Disgraced Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes will remain free through the Memorial Day weekend before surrendering to authorities on May 30 to begin her more than 11-year prison sentence for defrauding investors in a blood-testing scam. U.S. District Judge Edward Davila set Holmes’ revised prison-reporting date after her...
Lauren Boebert files for divorce from husband
DENVER — U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert is divorcing her husband, Jayson Boebert, who has shared a portion of the congresswoman’s spotlight and controversy during her time in politics. Boebert, of Silt, announced the impending divorce Tuesday “with a heavy weight on my heart.” “I am grateful for our years of...
