U.S./World category, Page 993
Stocks drop as recession fears take hold; Dow loses 1,300
NEW YORK —Stocks tumbled more than 5% on Wall Street Wednesday, and the Dow erased virtually all its gains since President Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration. Even prices for investments seen as safe during downturns fell as the coronavirus outbreak chokes the economy and investors rush to raise cash. Markets have...
Report: Surge in white nationalism ramps up violence threat
SILVER SPRING, Md. — A recent surge in white nationalism in the U.S. has led to a growing threat of violence by factions that embrace bloodshed and advocate for a race war, according to a report released Wednesday by an organization that tracks far-right extremists. The Southern Poverty Law Center’s...
Trump invokes emergency authority as ‘wartime president’
MINNEAPOLIS — President Donald Trump on Wednesday moved to invoke a federal law that allows the government to marshal the private sector to deal with the coronavirus epidemic, as the economic damage mounted with word that Detroit’s Big Three automakers agreed to shut down all their factories to protect workers....
SpaceX puts 60 satellites into orbit despite engine failure
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX launched 60 more of its internet satellites into orbit Wednesday despite an engine failure shortly after liftoff on a recycled rocket flying a record five times. SpaceX chief executive Elon Musk said one of the nine main engines shut down prematurely during liftoff, a rare...
Toddler falls out of pickup and is struck by car; 2 charged
COSHOCTON, Ohio — Two people have been charged in Ohio after a toddler fell from a pickup truck, was struck by another vehicle and was critically injured. A 15-month-old child fell from the rear passenger side of the pickup and landed in the road in Coshocton on Monday morning, according...
Police: Ohio mother charged with killing 11-year-old son
LAUREL, Miss. — An Ohio woman who killed her 11-year-old son and left his body in a Mississippi hotel was arrested in New Orleans on Wednesday, police said. Latina Marie Oates, 33, of Powell, Ohio, was arrested about 9 a.m. Wednesday, Laurel, Miss., Police Chief Tommy Cox told the Associated...
William Barr creating task force on federal prison officers’ misconduct
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is creating a special task force to address criminal misconduct by federal Bureau of Prison officers at several correctional facilities after a loaded gun was found at the same jail where wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein killed himself, Attorney General William Barr told the Associated Press....
Treasury wants to send rounds of checks to Americans, starting April 6Video
WASHINGTON — The Treasury Department wants to start issuing direct payments to Americans by early next month as the centerpiece of a $1 trillion plan to stabilize the economy as the coronavirus epidemic threatens a body slam to taxpayers and businesses. In a memorandum issued Wednesday, Treasury is calling for...
5.7-magnitude quake shakes Utah, Salt Lake airport closed
SALT LAKE CITY — A 5.7-magnitude earthquake shook Salt Lake City and its suburbs early Wednesday, sending spooked residents fleeing their homes, knocking out power for tens of thousands and closing the city’s airport. The epicenter was just southwest of Salt Lake City and about 2.8 million in the state...
This year’s spring is earliest in over a century
Back in February (remember those carefree days?), Punxsutawney Phil predicted an early spring. What many didn’t realize: His prediction was foolproof — no matter what happened with the weather. This year’s vernal equinox will arrive at 11:50 p.m. March 19 — the earliest “first day of spring” any of us...
Urban coyotes eat lots of cats — and human garbage, study of their poop reveals
A study that “dissected” 3,100 pieces of coyote poop discovered domestic cats are a big part of what urban coyotes eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner, according to the National Park Service. Human garbage was their chief source of food, however, the study found. The multi-year study focused on coyotes...
Ohio Democratic Party sues over delay of primary election
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Politicians of all stripes expressed frustration Tuesday after Ohio’s primary was postponed until June by the state’s elected officials amid concerns attendance at polling places would contribute to the coronavirus pandemic. The Ohio Democratic Party sued Tuesday afternoon over Secretary of State Frank LaRose’s decision to set...
In New York, making a life out of bottles and cans
NEW YORK — When the Brooklyn clothing factory where she worked closed its doors, Josefa Marín started picking up cans and bottles from trash cans to make ends meet. A decade later, the 50-year-old Mexican immigrant is handed hundreds of recyclables by bars and clubs and by concierges of private...
Millions in San Francisco area cope with virus restrictions
SAN FRANCISCO — Millions in the San Francisco Bay Area found empty highways, shuttered stores and vacant streets Tuesday as officials began enforcing an order for residents to stay at home and only leave for “essential” reasons in a desperate attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Miguel Aguirre,...
When Irish eyes are absent: Virus subdues St. Patrick’s Day
BOSTON — St. Patrick’s Day revelers across the world tried to salvage the holiday with makeshift celebrations after parades and parties were scrapped and residents were urged to hunker down at home to slow the spread of the new coronavirus. It was the first St. Patrick’s Day in more than...
Outer Banks closed to visitors as coronavirus pandemic spreads
The Outer Banks area of North Carolina closed to visitors starting at 2 p.m. Tuesday as the coronavirus pandemic continues to spread, Dare County officials said in a news release. “While there are currently no individuals who have tested positive for covid-19 in Dare County, officials weighed the potential benefits...
More wipes, no jeans: Amazon limits shipments to warehouses
NEW YORK — Amazon, in an attempt to fill its warehouses with toilet paper, hand sanitizer and other items in high demand, said Tuesday that it will limit what suppliers can send to its warehouses for the next three weeks. Among the items that suppliers and third-party sellers can ship...
White House seeks $850 billion economic stimulus as coronavirus spreads
WASHINGTON — The White House is proposing a roughly $850 billion emergency economic rescue package Tuesday for businesses and taxpayers amid the coronavirus crisis, a sweeping stimulus package unseen since the Great Recession. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will outline the package to Senate Republicans at a private lunch, with officials...
DOJ dropping case for 2 Russian companies in troll probe
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department is moving to drop charges against two Russian companies that were accused of funding a social media campaign to sway American public opinion during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Concord Management and Consulting LLC and Concord Catering were among three companies and 13 individuals charged...
5 dead, including officer and gunman, in Missouri shootingVideo
SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — A man fired randomly from his vehicle several times while driving through a southwest Missouri city before eventually crashing into a convenience store, where he walked inside, opened fire and left five people dead, including a police officer and himself, police said Monday. The dead from Sunday...
Israel takes step toward monitoring phones of virus patients
Israel has long been known for its use of technology to track the movements of Palestinian militants. Now, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu wants to use similar technology to stop the movement of the coronavirus. Netanyahu’s Cabinet on Sunday authorized the Shin Bet security agency to use its phone-snooping tactics on...
Canada closing borders to non-citizens, Americans exempted
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday he will close the country’s borders to anyone not a citizen, an American or a permanent resident — and even they have to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival — due to the coronavirus pandemic. “Let me be clear: If you are abroad,...
Easter Egg Roll on White House lawn called off
The White House is canceling its annual Easter Egg Roll over coronavirus concerns. The event, in which thousands of children and adults roll hard-boiled eggs across the lawn and play other games, had been scheduled for April 13. Melania Trump announced the cancellation Monday, saying it was being done “out...
U.S. officials: Foreign disinformation stoking virus fears
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is alleging that a foreign disinformation campaign is underway aimed at spreading fear in the country amid the coronavirus pandemic, three U.S. officials said Monday. On Sunday, federal officials began confronting what they said was a deliberate effort by a foreign entity to sow fears...
Supreme Court postpones arguments because of virus outbreak
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court announced Monday that it is postponing arguments for late March and early April because of the coronavirus, including fights over subpoenas for President Donald Trump’s financial records. Other business will go on as planned, including the justices’ private conference on Friday and the release of...
