Sorted by date Results 76 - 100 of 120
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Dozens of Oklahoma inmates serving life in prison without parole have a shot at resentencing and possible release one day because of a U.S. Supreme Court decision, but seeking a second chance isn't a speedy process in this tough-on-crime state. The high court's ruling in January 2016 applies to inmates who received mandatory life without parole for killings committed when they were juveniles. But so far, no Oklahoma inmates have been resentenced. Five years ago, after already banning the death penalty for juveniles and l...
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Los Angeles reached an agreement Monday with international Olympic leaders that will open the way for the city to host the 2028 Summer Games, while ceding the 2024 Games to rival Paris, officials announced Monday. The deal would make LA a three-time Olympic city, after hosting the 1932 and 1984 Games. With the agreement, the city is taking "a major step toward bringing the Games back to our city for the first time in a generation," Mayor Eric Garcetti said in a statement. He called it a "historic day for Los Angeles, for t...
PHOENIX (AP) — Former Sheriff Joe Arpaio was convicted of a criminal charge Monday for refusing to stop traffic patrols that targeted immigrants, marking a final rebuke for a politician who once drew strong popularity from such crackdowns but was ultimately booted from office as voters became frustrated over his headline-grabbing tactics and deepening legal troubles. The federal judge's verdict represents a victory for critics who voiced anger over Arpaio's unusual efforts to get tough on crime, including jailing inmates in tents during t...
WASHINGTON (AP) — An Army medic who "ran into danger" to save wounded soldiers during a Vietnam War battle despite his own serious wounds on Monday became the first Medal of Honor recipient under President Donald Trump, 48 years after the selfless acts of bravery for which James McCloughan is now nationally recognized. McCloughan mouthed "thank you" as Trump placed the distinctive blue ribbon holding the medal around the neck of the former Army private first class. As the president and commander in chief shook McCloughan's hand, Trump said "...
BERATZHAUSEN, Germany (AP) — The subject line read: "Announcing a personal change." The U.S. Army soldier took a deep breath before hitting the button that sent the email to more than 200 fellow troops. "All considered, I am, and have been, traversing what is essentially a personal matter, but is something I must address publicly," the email stated. "I am transgender." The April 13 email officially ended the secret that burned inside Capt. Jennifer Sims, who was known as Jonathan Sims. But the feeling of relief swiftly turned to unease last w...
NEW DELHI (AP) — When Rani's husband died by drinking pesticide, he left the family in debt. But even if they could pay off the loans, Rani said their farming days are over. "There are no rains," said the 44-year-old woman from drought-stricken Tamil Nadu, one of hundreds of farmers protesting in the capital for more government support. "Even for drinking, we get water only once in 10 days." A new study suggests that India will see more such tragedies as climate change brings hotter temperatures that damage crops and exacerbate drought. For eve...
CHICAGO (AP) — A popular TV series that showed a teen ending her life may have triggered a surge in online searches for suicide, including how to do it. That's according to a new study about the show "13 Reasons Why." Netflix released all 13 episodes on March 31. Researchers found that for almost three weeks afterward, there were at least 900,000 more than expected Google searches including the word "suicide." That's a 19-percent increase based on forecasts using Google Trends and historical search trends. Searches included suicide methods, s...
There's never been a better time to be treated for a heart attack. U.S. hospitals have set a record for how quickly they open blocked arteries, averaging under one hour for the first time since these results have been tracked. More than 93 percent of patients now have their arteries opened within the recommended 90 minutes of arrival. "Things have definitely improved" from a decade ago, when less than half of heart attack patients were treated that fast, said Dr. Fred Masoudi, a University of Colorado cardiologist who led a recent report...
KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Islamic State group targeted the Iraqi Embassy in Kabul on Monday, with a suicide bomber blowing himself up outside the gates, followed by three gunmen who stormed into the building. The assault set off a four-hour firefight that ended only after Afghan security forces said they had killed all the attackers. Interior Ministry spokesman Najib Danish told reporters that two Afghan employees of the Iraq Embassy died in the attack. Three police were injured, he said. As the attack unfolded there were conflicting r...
TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — U.S. Vice President Mike Pence on Monday strongly pledged America's commitment to protecting NATO allies against attacks, including the Baltic states, which have anxiously watched a growing Russian military presence in the region. "Under President Donald Trump, the United States stands firmly behind our Article 5 pledge of mutual defense — an attack on one of us is an attack on us all," Pence told reporters after meeting with the presidents of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in the Estonian capital of Tallinn. Mutual def...
SEATTLE (AP) — The families of five Washington state high school students fatally shot in a high school cafeteria in 2014 have settled a lawsuit against the schools district's insurance company for $18 million. The Seattle Times reports (https://goo.gl/Bm4J1c ) attorney Lincoln Beauregard, who represented the plaintiffs, said the settlement amount was determined by the cap of the Marysville School District's insurance policy, which was $20 million. The settlement stems from a lawsuit alleging that a substitute teacher had been told of the p...
DENTON, Texas (AP) — An ex-Marine has been convicted of murder in the New Year's Day 2016 shooting of a University of North Texas student that happened after people in two vehicles argued following a party. Jurors in Denton found 21-year-old Eric Johnson guilty Monday in the death of 20-year-old Sara Mutschlechner (MUCH'-lehk-nur) of Martindale. Johnson faces up to life in prison. Denton police say people from both vehicles had attended the same New Year's Eve party. An affidavit says the shooting happened when men in an SUV made sexual r...
FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — The state's so-called "campus carry" law will be expanded beginning Tuesday to also include community colleges in Texas. People with a handgun license will be allowed to carry a concealed firearm on campus, although there will be some restrictions such as in performance halls or child-care centers. The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports Tarrant County College has put up signs designating some areas as gun-free zones. TCC spokesman Reginald Gates says rifles remain among the weapons banned on campus, and added that open c...
MIDLAND, Texas (AP) — Eddy Lozoya never failed a drug test in the three years he hauled water and sand across the West Texas oil patch, even though he used at least $200 a day in cocaine to keep his eyes open on brutally long days behind the wheel of a Kenworth T600 semi-truck. The Houston Chronicle reports Lozoya, like his fellow truckers, found ways to beat the tests and keep driving. Earning six-figure salaries, they consumed cocktails of drugs to push themselves to their physical limits on trips between scattered drilling sites that c...
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — More than 50 Houston business leaders, including the heads of some of the nation's top oil companies, are opposing a Texas "bathroom bill" targeting transgender people — adding to an already long list of powerful and lucrative firms opposing it. In a letter to Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday, the leaders wrote that they support "diversity and inclusion" and that "any such bill risks harming Texas' reputation and impacting the state's economic growth." Its signers included executives from Chevron, Shell, ConocoPhillips and Exx...
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration on Monday hailed a Pennsylvania-based company's deal to supply coal to Ukraine in preparation for winter heating needs, saying it would bolster a key U.S. ally often threatened by Russia. The deal, potentially worth about $79 million, calls for Xcoal Energy and Resources to ship 700,000 tons of thermal coal to Ukraine to heat homes and businesses. The first shipment is expected to leave the Port of Baltimore next month at a cost of $113 per metric ton. Energy Secretary Rick Perry said U.S. coal "...
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — The ripple effects of a drought in South Dakota where agriculture is the state's number one industry are widespread. The latest figures from the U.S. Drought Monitor put 80 percent of the state in some stage of drought, with 15 percent in extreme drought. Data shows that nearly every part of South Dakota is classified as "abnormally dry," the Argus Leader reported . Less money in agriculture results in less sales tax revenue to fund state and local governments. A sales tax hike last year forced South Dakota farmers t...
JONESBORO, Ark. (AP) — It may be summer break, but it hasn't kept Valley View senior Kaylee Southern from school. The 17-year-old girl joined the 110- to 130-member Future Farmers of America student organization as a way to meet others after she moved into the Valley View School District three years ago. She now helps sell produce at the FFA produce stand, which helps fund projects and trips during the school year. "I do it because it is a job," said Southern, who earns minimum wage. "I am getting paid for it. And to help my agri teacher. He n...
HOBART, Okla. (AP) — The newest traveling exhibit at the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum chronicles the Native Americans of the Old West through the eyes of newspaper correspondents. "When the West was opened up and a lot of people were heading out that way, there wasn't a real way to get information back about all these neat things they were seeing," said Scott Cumm, museum manager. "So these newspaper men wrote about what they saw and drew pictures as best as they could to send back to be published in the papers." "Imprin...
TULSA, Okla. (AP) — Austin Wilkes dropped two hooks on the meeting room table upstairs at Bass Pro Shops on Thursday evening — one for himself, one for his student. Roles and ages were reversed here. Wilkes, a college student, was teaching fly-tying to Brian McGuire, a father who is taking the classes with his son, Guy (absent that evening), who is about to start college at Oral Roberts University. "Wow! What is that, a size 20?" McGuire asked as he leaned over for a closer look at the hooks that seemed — to him — exceedingly small. "No, it...
PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) — Sitting in the cab of a John Deere tractor overlooking golden hills of wheat, Kuper Bracher waited patiently one morning last week and watched as a pair of combine harvesters passed slowly in the distance. This is the second year that Bracher, 13, has worked wheat harvest at the family farm north of Helix. His job is to drive the bank-out wagon, ferrying loads of grain from combines out in the field to delivery trucks bound for the storage elevator. "It's either fast-paced or it's really, really slow," said Bracher, a...
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Criticized over failing earlier to address skyrocketing pregnancy-related deaths, Texas lawmakers Monday pushed with renewed urgency efforts to examine why the state's maternal mortality rate is what researchers say is not only the highest in the U.S., but the developed world. A University of Maryland-led study last year found that the state's maternal mortality rate doubled between 2010 and 2012. The study offered no explanation for the reason, and despite proposals in the Texas Legislature earlier this year to look for a...
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican, Democratic and even bipartisan plans for reshaping parts of the Obama health care law are proliferating in Congress. But they have iffy prospects at best, and there were no signs Monday that GOP leaders have chosen a fresh pathway after last week's collapse of their struggle to repeal and rewrite the statute. Despite a weekend of tweets from President Donald Trump insisting that the Senate revisit the issue, Republican prospects for garnering 50 votes to push something through the chamber seemed to worsen after S...
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump's drug commission has called for on him to declare a national emergency to deal with the country's opioid drug epidemic. The commission sent an initial report to the Republican president on Monday saying the approximately 142 deaths each day from drug overdoses mean the death toll is "equal to September 11th every three weeks." The report is "meant to give the president some immediate steps that he can take to try to make sure that we stop the death that is happening across the country," said R...
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — A federal judge has struck down Alabama's one-of-a-kind law that enabled judges to put minors seeking abortions through a trial-like proceeding in which the fetus could get a lawyer and prosecutors could object to the pregnant girl's wishes. Alabama legislators in 2014 changed the state's process for girls who can't or won't get their parents' permission for an abortion to obtain permission from a court instead. The new law empowered the judge to appoint a guardian ad litem "for the interests of the unborn child" and i...
