U.S./World category, Page 1290
Measles outbreak grows in northwest U.S., 30 cases reported
VANCOUVER, Wash. — The number of confirmed measles cases near Portland grew to 30 on Friday — an outbreak boosted by lower-than-normal vaccination rates in what has been called an anti-vaccination U.S. “hot spot.” Public health officials in southwest Washington, just across the Columbia River from Portland, said people may...
Ex-teacher charged with trying to support Islamic State
WASHINGTON — A former substitute teacher from Texas has been indicted on federal charges alleging he tried to provide material support to the Islamic State, the Justice Department said Friday. Warren Christopher Clark, 34, appeared in court in Houston on Friday and was ordered held without bail. Clark was captured...
St. Louis officer charged after deadly game with revolver
ST. LOUIS — A male St. Louis police officer was charged Friday with involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a female officer during what was described as a deadly game with a revolver. Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner announced the charge against Nathaniel Hendren, 29, in the death of 24-year-old...
Why Venezuela military leaders are standing behind Maduro
CARACAS, Venezuela — Even as Venezuelans fill the streets rallying behind opposition leader Juan Guaido and the list of foreign nations recognizing him as the country’s rightful president grows, the top members of the all-important military are sending a different message: Forget about it. In back-to-back proclamations Thursday, high-ranking generals...
Alabama inmate escaped prison by hiding in furniture trailer
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — An inmate serving a life sentence for human trafficking escaped from an Alabama prison by hiding inside a trailer used to haul furniture, state officials said Friday. Law enforcement authorities are continuing to search for 30-year-old Corey Aris Davis, who escaped from the St. Clair Correctional Facility...
St. Louis officer charged after deadly game with revolver
ST. LOUIS — A male St. Louis police officer was charged Friday with involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of a female officer during what was described as a deadly game with a revolver. Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner announced the charge against Nathaniel Hendren, 29, in the death of 24-year-old...
Experts: Decent chance Van Dyke’s sentence will be tossed
CHICAGO — Some legal experts believe there’s a reasonable chance the prison sentence of less than seven years imposed on a white Chicago police officer last week for second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of black teenager Laquan McDonald 16 times could be tossed out and a new sentencing ordered....
Fire report could complicate PG&E bankruptcy decision
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A state fire investigation’s conclusion that Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. equipment was not to blame for a 2017 wildfire that killed 22 people in Northern California wine country could hamper lawsuits by victims of the blaze and complicate the utility’s plans to file for bankruptcy. In...
Whole Foods recalls products with baby spinach
Grocery chain Whole Foods on Wednesday announced a voluntary recall of numerous prepared food items containing baby spinach because of possible salmonella contamination. Whole Foods said in a notice the potentially contaminated products were sold in eight states and contain baby spinach and mesclun from Satur Farms - a Cutchogue,...
Militia leader sentenced to 30 years in Kansas bomb plot
WICHITA, Kan. — Two militia members convicted of taking part in a foiled plot to massacre Muslims in southwest Kansas were sentenced Friday to decades in prison during an emotional court hearing in which one of the targeted victims pleaded: “Please don’t hate us.” U.S. District Judge Eric Melgren sentenced...
200 reported missing after Brazil dam collapse
SAO PAULO — An iron ore tailings dam collapsed in southeastern Brazil on Friday, inundating a nearby community in mining waste and leaving an estimated 200 missing, according to Minas Gerais state firefighters. Brazilian mining company Vale SA said in a statement that tailings reached the community of Vila Ferteco...
Greek lawmakers ratify Macedonia name-change deal
ATHENS, Greece — Greek lawmakers ratified an agreement Friday to end a nearly three decade-long dispute over neighboring Macedonia’s name, in a landmark vote that will see the small country renamed North Macedonia and clear its path to NATO membership. The deal passed with 153 votes in the 300-member parliament,...
Hawaiian Air flight diverted after flight attendant dies
SAN FRANCISCO — A Hawaiian Airlines flight from Honolulu to New York City was diverted to San Francisco after a flight attendant died of an apparent heart attack, officials said Friday. Hawaiian Airlines Flight 50 landed Thursday night after a crew member had “a suspected heart attack,” San Francisco airport...
Police: Woman drove drunk on vanilla extract
NEW CANAAN, Conn. — Police say a Connecticut woman charged with driving under the influence was drunk on vanilla extract, which contains a significant amount of alcohol. Hearst Connecticut Media reports that New Canaan police found 50-year-old Stefanie Warner-Grise sitting in a car at an intersection with her eyes closed...
Faraway space snowman is pitted and has bright ‘collar’
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — The space snowman visited by NASA on New Year’s Day is pitted all over and has a bright “collar” between its two fused spheres. These are the newest details to emerge about Ultima Thule, the most distant object ever explored. A close-up picture taken by NASA’s...
Marijuana business owners plead to drug, racketeering counts
DENVER — The owners of a Denver marijuana business have pleaded guilty to drug and racketeering charges, stemming from a yearlong grand jury investigation that prosecutors say uncovered more than two tons of marijuana entering the black market. Matthew Aiken, Christian Johnson and Anthony Sauro pleaded guilty Friday to violating...
Several flights between Pittsburgh, New York delayed over FAA staffing
Several flights between Pittsburgh and New York were delayed Friday morning following a “slight increase in sick leave” at two East Coast air traffic control facilities, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. At least four flights traveling from LaGuardia to Pittsburgh were delayed, along with at least seven flights from...
Sanders says White House wants shutdown deal
WASHINGTON — White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders says the administration wants to negotiate a government shutdown deal but is not saying how much President Donald Trump wants as a “down payment” on his long-promised U.S.-Mexico border wall. Sanders spoke to reporters at the White House on Friday, a day...
Coast Guard halts search for missing Royal Caribbean crewmember
MIAMI — The Coast Guard has ended the search for a crewmember from a cruise ship in the Atlantic Ocean off Florida’s coast. According to the Royal Caribbean cruise line, co-workers saw the 26-year-old crewmember go overboard from the Majesty of the Seas early Thursday. The ship was about 40...
Japan court upholds sterilization to register gender change
TOKYO — Human rights and LGBT activists on Friday denounced a ruling by Japan’s Supreme Court upholding a law that effectively requires transgender people to be sterilized before they can have their gender changed on official documents. The court said the law is constitutional because it was meant to reduce...
Pakistan to ease restrictions on visas to promote tourism
ISLAMABAD — Pakistan has announced plans to ease visa restrictions for tourists from 90 countries, including the U.S. and Europe, in a bid to revive its tourism sector, decimated by years of negligence and problems with militants. Cabinet minister Fahmida Mirza announces the plans on Friday in Islamabad. She pledged...
2 UN peacekeepers killed in attack in central Mali
BAMAKO, Mali — The spokeswoman for the United Nations mission in Mali says two Sri Lankan peacekeepers have been killed after their convoy struck an explosive device in the central Mopti region. Myriam Dessables says the blast occurred early Friday in the Douentza area. She says several other people were...
NATO chief says missile pact in danger after Russia talks
BRUSSELS — NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg warned Friday that Russia shows no sign of respecting a major Cold War-era missile treaty and that the future of the pact is in danger as the United States readies to start pulling out of it next week. “The treaty is now in jeopardy...
Video shows brutal knife attack on helpless Ohio inmates
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A newly released video shows the brutality of an Ohio inmate’s knife attack on four prisoners who were handcuffed to a table and unable to defend themselves. The video obtained by the Associated Press reveals for the first time the extent of the victims’ injuries and raises...
Trump associate Stone arrested, faces obstruction charge
WASHINGTON — Roger Stone, a confidant of President Donald Trump, was arrested Friday morning in the special counsel’s Russia investigation and was charged with lying to Congress and obstructing the probe. The seven-count indictment against Stone, a self-proclaimed “dirty trickster,” is the first criminal case in months from special counsel...
