Author: Associated Press

Bubba Wallace earns 1st victory in rain-shortened race

TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) — Bubba Wallace became just the second Black driver to win at NASCAR’s top Cup Series level when rain stopped the playoff race at Talladega Superspeedway. Wallace had driven through a crash and to the front of…

Biden lifts abortion referral ban on family planning clinics

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is reversing a ban on abortion referrals by federally funded family planning clinics. Monday's action by the Department of Health and Human Services lifts a Trump-era restriction as political and legal battles over abortion…

Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram suffer worldwide outage

Facebook and its Instagram and WhatsApp platforms were down across wide swathes of the world on Monday. The company said it was aware that "some people are having trouble accessing (the) Facebook app" and that it was working on restoring…

Justices back at Supreme Court after nearly 19-month absence

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has begun a momentous new term, back in the courtroom after a nearly 19-month absence because of the coronavirus pandemic. Abortion, guns and religion all are on the agenda for a court with a…

Star Trek’s Captain Kirk rocketing into space next week

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Star Trek's Captain Kirk is rocketing into space this month. Actor William Shatner will blast off from West Texas on Oct. 12. Jeff Bezos’ space travel company, Blue Origin, announced Monday that Shatner will join…

Tennessee: $116K from FEMA for flood victims’ mental health

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee officials say they are receiving more than $116,000 in federal funding to address the mental health needs of victims of deadly flooding in August. The Tennessee Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services says…

Reaching pre-pandemic levels, ‘Venom’ debuts with $90.1M

NEW YORK (AP) — Pandemic moviegoing is finally starting to look like pre-pandemic moviegoing. Sony Pictures’ Marvel sequel “Venom: Let There Be Carnage” blew away expectations to debut with $90.1 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday, making…

Leaked records open a “Pandora” box of financial secrets

(AP) --- Hundreds of world leaders, powerful politicians, billionaires, celebrities, religious leaders and drug dealers have been hiding their investments in mansions, exclusive beachfront property, yachts and other assets for the past quarter-century. The findings are based on a review…

Former NASCAR driver Townley killed in Georgia shooting

ATHENS, Ga. (AP) — Investigators say a former driver in NASCAR’s lower divisions has been killed in a shooting in Georgia that also wounded a woman. Athens-Clarke County Coroner Sonny Wilson told the Athens Banner-Herald that 31-year-old John Wes Townley…

No winner: Biggest Powerball jackpot in months grows larger

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The biggest lottery prize in more than eight months is growing larger after no ticket matched all five numbers and the Powerball in Saturday night’s drawing. The estimated jackpot for the next drawing on Monday…

Memphis officer hit, killed while investigating crash

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Officials say a Tennessee police officer investigating a crash on Interstate 40 was hit and killed by a tractor-trailer. Memphis Police tweeted that 34-year-old Officer Darrell Adams was struck Saturday while investigating the two-car crash. He…

Major oil spill off Southern California fouls beaches

HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) — A major oil spill off the coast of Southern California fouled popular beaches and killed wildlife while crews scrambled Sunday to contain the crude before it spread further into protected wetlands. A statement from the…

3rd victim dies after angry co-worker’s rampage

DAVENPORT, Fla. (AP) — Authorities say a third victim has died following a violent attack where an angry electrician wielding a knife and baseball bat killed three co-workers and injured another at the Florida home they shared. Polk County Sheriff’s…

Florida school shooting suspect faces trial for jail brawl

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — The suspect in the 2018 killing of 17 people at a Florida high school goes on trial this week for allegedly attacking a jail guard. Jury selection begins Monday on charges Nikolas Cruz attacked a…

Authorities: Body of missing Florida college student found

MIAMI (AP) — Authorities say they've found the body of a missing Florida college student who disappeared a week ago. Orange County Sheriff John Mina said Saturday that authorities found Miya Marcano’s body near an apartment building. Marcano vanished on…

Tennessee illegally jailed minors elligble for settlement

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) — About 1,450 people jailed illegally as minors in Tennessee can claim part of a $11 million class-action settlement, but fewer than 200 people have filed eligible claims. The Daily News Journal reports the Rutherford County Juvenile…

White House announces new immigration rules

WASHINGTON (AP) - Facing bipartisan criticism over its approach to immigration, the Biden administration has announced new rules that require authorities to only pursue migrants who recently crossed into the country without permission - or are considered a threat to…

Pollution charges: Louisiana Firestone plant to pay $4M

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - A synthetic rubber manufacturer in southwest Louisiana has agreed to pay $4 million and make numerous improvements to settle a long list of air pollution complaints. The consent decree with Firestone Polymers LLC, of Sulphur was…

Women’s march targets Supreme Court, with abortion on line

WASHINGTON (AP) - The first big women’s march of the Biden administration heads straight for the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court. The march in Washington on Saturday will be part of protests around the country demanding continued access to…

Gloria Estefan reveals she was sexually abused as a child

NEW YORK (AP) - Gloria Estefan says it's important to know that many children are abused by people their families know and trust. She says she knows this because it happened to her. She spoke about being abused at age…

Man arrested in Molotov cocktail attack on Austin Dems’ HQ

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Investigators in Texas have arrested a man suspected of throwing a Molotov cocktail inside Travis County Democratic Party headquarters in Austin. The actions were caught on surveillance video. A fire official says 30-year-old Ryan Faircloth was…

Powerball jackpot is biggest lottery prize in over 8 months

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The biggest lottery prize in more than eight months will be up for grabs in Saturday night's Powerball drawing. The Powerball jackpot has slowly climbed to an estimated $635 million thanks to 39 consecutive drawings…

Pharmacies face 1st trial over role in opioid crisis

CLEVELAND (AP) — A bellwether trial is set to start Monday in federal court in Cleveland to determine whether retail pharmacy chains are liable for costs related to the opioid crisis in two Ohio counties. Lake and Trumbull counties have…

Flooded Tennessee town wrestles with how, where to rebuild

WAVERLY, Tenn. (AP) — A hundred years ago, the massive rural Tennessee flood that killed 20 people could have been chalked up to a fluke of nature. But experts say climate change is making the type of flood-producing rainfall that…

COVID cases are falling, but US on the brink of 700,000 dead

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A decline in COVID-19 cases across the United States over the past several weeks has given overwhelmed hospitals some relief. But administrators are bracing for yet another possible surge as cold weather drives people indoors. Health experts…

1 person detained after 3 killed at Tennessee home

COLUMBIA, Tenn. (AP) — Officials say two adults and an 11-year-old girl have died in a shooting at a Tennessee home, and a family member has been detained. Maury County Sheriff Bucky Rowland said another person was in the home…

Southern Baptists press for sex abuse review to advance

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A top committee in the Southern Baptist Convention is facing mounting pressure from within the denomination over issues related to sexual abuse. Many seminary presidents, state leaders and pastors want the Executive Committee to stop delaying…

Biden’s popularity slipping amid series of crises, poll shows

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s popularity has slumped — with half of Americans now approving and half disapproving of his leadership. That's according to a new poll by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Support for the…

Boy shot and wounded at Tennessee school; juvenile detained

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Authorities say a teenage boy was shot and wounded at a school in Memphis, Tennessee, and they have detained a second boy believed to be the shooter. Memphis Police said the shooting was reported Thursday morning…

Biden signs bill to avert partial government shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — With only hours to spare, President Joe Biden has signed legislation that would avoid a partial federal shutdown and keep the government funded through Dec. 3. Congress had passed the bill earlier Thursday. The legislation will avert…

Dre, Snoop, Eminem, Blige, Lamar to perform at Super Bowl

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige and Kendrick Lamar will perform for the first time together on stage at the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show. The NFL, Pepsi and Roc Nation announced Thursday that…

Tennessee state senator found guilty of 4 wire fraud counts

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee state senator has been found guilty of wire fraud in federal court. News outlets report a jury in Memphis found Sen. Katrina Robinson guilty of four of the five counts remaining against her. She…

Tennessee gov extends school mask opt-outs blocked by judges

DICKSON, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee says he will extend an executive order that lets families opt their children out of school mask mandates to prevent the spread of COVID-19, despite federal court rulings that have blocked the…

Military suicides rise 15% as senior leaders call for action

WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of military suicides jumped by 15% in 2020, fueled by significant increases in the Army and Marine Corps that senior leaders said were troubling and require more effort to prevent. Data released by the Pentagon…

Congress passes bill to avert partial government shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — With only hours to spare, Congress passed legislation that would avoid a partial federal shutdown and keep the government funded through Dec. 3. The bill now goes to President Joe Biden to be signed into law. The…

Gunmaker Smith & Wesson moving to Tennessee, adding 750 jobs

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson plans to relocate its headquarters from Massachusetts in a $125 million investment expected to create 750 jobs in Tennessee. The company founded in 1852 is currently centered in Springfield, Massachusetts. Tennessee's…

Tennessee works to make child care more affordable

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee officials say they are increasing the reimbursement rate the state pays child care providers on behalf of families who need help shouldering the cost of care. The Tennessee Department of Human Services says child care…

At least 100 dead in gang clash at Ecuador jail; 5 beheaded

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuadorian officials say the death toll from a gang battle inside a penitentiary in the coastal city of Guayaquil has risen to more than 100 as authorities find more bodies. Ecuador’s prison service said Wednesday that…

Sick deer reports in Mississippi on rise

JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi wildlife officials said Wednesday they’ve received an increasing number of reports of sick or deceased deer over the past few weeks. Biologists with the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks suspect the state may…

Judge suspends Britney Spears’ father from conservatorship

LOS ANGELES (AP) — A judge has suspended Britney Spears’ father from the conservatorship that has controlled the singer’s life and money for 13 years. Superior Court Judge Brenda Penny agreed Wednesday with a petition from Spears and her attorney…

Dollar Tree breaks the $1 barrier as costs take a bite

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (AP) — Dollar Tree, the national chain of stores that promises everything for a buck, will begin introducing items on its shelves that will exceed $1. The company said this week that it's responding to customer requests and…