U.S./World category, Page 1217
3 people killed in train-vehicle collision on Long Island
WESTBURY, N.Y. — Authorities say three people were killed when their vehicle was struck by Manhattan-bound commuter train on Long Island. Nassau County police say the vehicle was “trying to beat the gate” when it was struck at an intersection in Westbury just before 7:30 p.m. Tuesday. Police say all...
United Methodist delegates defeat bid to ease LGBT bans
ST. LOUIS — The United Methodist Church, America’s second-largest Protestant denomination, faces a likely surge in defections and acts of defiance as a result of delegates at a crucial conference Tuesday rejected a move to ease the faith’s ban on same-sex marriage and ordination of LGBT clergy. Some supporters of...
U.S. disrupted Internet access of Russian troll factory on day of 2018 midterms
The U.S. military blocked Internet access to an infamous Russian entity seeking to sow discord among Americans during the 2018 midterms, several U.S. officials said, a warning that the group’s operations against the United States are not cost-free. The strike on the Internet Research Agency in St. Petersburg, a company...
U.S. keeps air pollution standard established under Obama
BILLINGS, Mont. — U.S. environmental regulators Tuesday announced they are leaving intact an air quality standard for power plant pollution that can worsen asthma in children, despite calls by health advocates for a tougher standard. The move keeps in place a threshold for sulfur dioxide pollution established in 2010 by...
Crews rescue fat rat wedged in manhole
Once upon a time (Sunday) … in a town far, far away (Germany) … there was a damsel in distress. “She had a lot of winter flab and was stuck fast at her hip — there was no going forward or back,” animal rescuer Michael Sehr told local media, according...
Attack on Argentine chief rabbi raises fear of anti-Semitism
BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — An attack that badly injured Argentina’s chief rabbi has alarmed authorities both in the South American nation and in Israel, who raised concerns on Tuesday that it could have been prompted by anti-Semitism. Several assailants entered the Buenos Aires home of Rabbi Gabriel Davidovich on Monday...
Nigeria president’s campaign says he has numbers to win vote
KANO, Nigeria — Nigeria’s president appeared poised to win a second term in Africa’s largest democracy, with unofficial results on Tuesday showing a victory, a campaign spokesman said — news that set off celebrations in the capital. With President Muhammadu Buhari leading by nearly 3.5 million votes, it appeared his...
Brexit: Parliament to decide between no deal and delay
LONDON — Britain’s bumpy journey out of the European Union took a major turn Tuesday, as Prime Minister Theresa May handed the steering wheel to Parliament, giving lawmakers the power to slam on the brakes and divert Britain away from a disruptive and chaotic Brexit. Bowing to pressure from within...
Tornado Alley could see more severe storm risks this year
FORT WORTH, Texas — It’s that time of year to start worrying about the spring storm season. And one private weather forecaster, AccuWeather, is predicting a higher frequency of severe storm risks in Tornado Alley, which will include parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. “We believe that the more...
Sides clash in officer’s trial for killing black motorist
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Both sides agreed Tuesday that the fatal shooting of a stranded black motorist by a then-Florida police officer was a tragedy. But while a prosecutor told jurors during opening statements that former Palm Beach Gardens officer Nouman Raja’s actions turned what should have been...
Illinois police release audio from Aurora warehouse shooting
AURORA, Ill. — Authorities have released the audio of 911 calls reporting a shooting at an Illinois warehouse that resulted in five deaths. One caller in the Feb. 15 recordings tells the dispatcher that he’s hiding in the Henry Pratt Co. facility in Aurora and pleads for help to be...
Man spends $540 on cookies to help Girl Scouts get out of the cold
Some good deeds can be quite delicious. It was a chilly night for a pair of young Girl Scouts trying to make some cash for Troop 1574 in Greenville, S.C. A man came up and asked for seven boxes of cookies. He handed the girls $40 and told them to...
American Airlines flight returns to airport after reports of smoke in cockpit
WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — A Chicago-bound passenger jet had to return to a Connecticut airport after smoke was reported in the cockpit. Authorities say the American Airlines flight made an emergency landing at Bradley International Airport on Tuesday shortly after takeoff. There were 138 people on board but it was...
Search continues for body at Texas plane crash site
ANAHUAC, Texas — Authorities have been searching a bay off southeast Texas for clues about what caused a cargo plane carrying Amazon packages to nose-dive into the shallow water. All three men on board were killed Saturday when the Houston-bound Boeing 767 crashed in Trinity Bay, about 35 miles (55...
Fiat Chrysler to add 6,500 jobs in Detroit area with $4.5B investment
DETROIT — Fiat Chrysler on Tuesday announced a $4.5 billion investment plan it said would increase its workforce in Detroit and the surrounding suburbs by about 6,500 jobs to build all-new or next-generation SUVs. Under the plan, the company said it would reopen a shuttered engine plant in the city...
Amtrak train stuck in Oregon for more than a day is moving
PORTLAND, Ore. — Passengers stranded on an Amtrak train for more than a day in a remote and snowed-in part of Oregon said the train was moving again Tuesday after it got stuck when it hit a tree that fell on the tracks. “It’s just like relief. I’m just excited...
New York City considers less annoying sirens
NEW YORK — If two New York City lawmakers get their way, the long, droning siren from police cars, fire trucks and ambulances that has been part of the city’s soundtrack for generations — WAAAAAhhhhhhh — would be replaced by a high-low wail similar to what’s heard on the streets...
Feb. 26 marks 26 years since first World Trade Center attack
Today marks 26 years since six people were killed and more than 1,000 were injured in the Feb. 26, 1993 attack on New York’s World Trade Center. At 12:18 p.m., a small group of terrorists detonated about 1,200 pounds of explosives in the underground parking garage below the World Trade...
People are taking selfies outside spa where Patriots owner Robert Kraft was busted
The massage parlor where New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and 24 others, including a Pittsburgh man, were busted in a prostitution sting is now attracting gawkers taking photos and selfies. Patriots haters and other curious onlookers stopped by the Orchids of Asia Day Spa in Jupiter, Fla. recently to...
New fitness test presents challenges for Army GuardVideo
WASHINGTON — The Army National Guard is looking for nearly 5,000 fitness instructors and buying roughly $40 million in workout equipment in the next seven months to help its soldiers meet new physical fitness standards being set by the military service. But even as commanders begin delivering the new 10-pound...
Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers orders troops to leave southern border
MADISON — Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers on Monday ordered the state’s National Guard troops to withdraw from the border with Mexico, drawing the ire of a Republican congressman from Illinois who serves as a pilot in the Wisconsin detachment. Former Republican Gov. Scott Walker ordered troops to Arizona in June...
Mike Pence in Colombia announces new sanctions on Maduro
BOGOTA, Colombia — The Trump administration announced new sanctions Monday on allies of Venezuela’s Nicolas Maduro as it struggles to find new ways to boost his opponent after an effort to deliver humanitarian aid to the economically devastated nation faltered amid strong resistance from security forces loyal to the socialist...
100 mph winds in Sierra, snow from Oregon to Montana
RENO, Nev. — A fierce winter storm packing winds in excess of 100 mph and predicted to bring as much as 8 feet of snow to the Sierra Nevada barreled into the West on Monday, toppling trucks and trees, triggering power outages and closing roads and schools from Oregon to...
Cardinal George Pell, the most senior Catholic charged with child sex abuse, convicted in Australia
MELBOURNE, Australia — The most senior Catholic cleric ever charged with child sex abuse has been convicted of molesting two choirboys moments after celebrating Mass, dealing a new blow to the Catholic hierarchy’s credibility after a year of global revelations of abuse and cover-up. Cardinal George Pell, Pope Francis’ top...
Lawmakers, first responders sound alarm on 9/11 fund
WASHINGTON — More than 17 years after the 9/11 attacks, first responders and their advocates were back at the Capitol on Monday urging Congress to ensure that a victims’ compensation fund does not run out of money. Members of the New York delegation, joined by first responders, survivors and family...
