Author: Associated Press

Man sentenced to 12 years in $200 million phone-fraud scheme

SEATTLE (AP) — A Pakistan resident has been sentenced to 12 years in prison for a conspiracy to “unlock” phones from AT&T's network, a scheme that the company says cost it more than $200 million. Muhammad Fahd began bribing employees…

Family says Laundrie is now missing; Petito still not found

NORTH PORT, Fla. (AP) — Police and the FBI are now searching for both Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito and her boyfriend, Brian Laundrie. Police in North Port, Florida, said late Friday that Laundrie’s family told authorities they haven’t seen him since…

Official says US will deport ‘massive’ number of Haitians

DEL RIO, Texas (AP) — A US official says the Biden administration is planning “massive movements” of Haitian migrants in a small Texas border town on flights to Haiti starting Sunday. Plans have yet to be finalized, but officials are…

Thousands of Haitian migrants converge on Texas border town

DEL RIO, Texas (AP) — Thousands of Haitian migrants have assembled under and around a bridge in a small Texas border town, presenting the Biden administration with a fresh and immediate challenge as it tries to manage large numbers of…

1 dead in home after gunfire exchange with Memphis police

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Officials say a man has died after exchanging gunfire with Tennessee police officers as they tried to serve an arrest warrant. Two officers received minor injuries during the confrontation. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said the…

Judge: Gov. Lee’s mask opt-out can endanger disabled kids

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A federal judge has again blocked Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee from allowing parents to opt out of school mask requirements aimed at limiting coronavirus infections in Shelby County. U.S. District Judge Sheryl Lipman issued a preliminary…

France recalls ambassadors to US, Australia over sub deal

PARIS (AP) — France says it is immediately recalling its ambassadors to the U.S. and Australia after Australia scrapped a big French conventional submarine purchase in favor of nuclear subs built with U.S. technology. It was the first time ever…

Official: Cases in largest Tennessee county slowing down

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The top health official in the only Tennessee county with an indoor mask requirement says she is cautiously optimistic that a recent coronavirus surge is slowing down, citing a drop in the number of cases and…

Biden’s ‘summer of love’ with Europe hits an abrupt break-up

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s summer of love with Europe appears to have come to an abrupt end. After promising European leaders that “America is back” and that multilateral diplomacy would guide U.S. foreign policy, Biden has angered and…

‘Jeopardy!’ hosts: Bialik, Ken Jennings will finish 2021

NEW YORK (AP) — Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings will split “Jeopardy!” hosting duties for the remainder of 2021. Sony Pictures Television announced the plan Thursday, the same week that episodes filmed by ousted host Mike Richards to begin the…

Can kids be harmed wearing masks to protect against COVID?

Experts say there's no scientific evidence showing that masks cause harm to kids' health despite claims to the contrary on social media and elsewhere. The unfounded claims are circulating just as virus outbreaks are hitting many reopened U.S. schools, particularly…

Blowers, mowers and more: American yards quietly go electric

Gas-powered home lawn-care machines for mowing, trimming and blowing have generally been accompanied by deafening roars and fumes. There's now a lower-decibel lawn-care revolution going on. Quieter, zero- to low-emissions electric lawn-care tools now have better batteries that last longer.…

Biden announces Indo-Pacific alliance with UK, Australia

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has announced that the United States is forming a new Indo-Pacific security alliance with Britain and Australia that will allow for greater sharing of defense capabilities — including helping equip Australia with nuclear-powered submarines.…

Kim Jong Un’s sister warns of ‘destruction’ of S.Korean ties

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The powerful sister of North Korea’s leader has criticized South Korean President Moon Jae-in and threatened a “complete destruction” of relations hours after Moon said South Korea’s growing missile capabilities will serve as a “sure…

Rarely seen Tennessee Williams story set in post-WWII Italy

NEW YORK (AP) — A rarely seen Tennessee Williams short story confirms his longtime passion for Italy and reveals concerns about how Italians felt about Americans. “The Summer Woman” appears this week in the fall issue of the literary quarterly…

Tennessee man sentenced to 51 years in son’s death

CHARLOTTE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee man has been sentenced to 51 years in prison in the death of his 5-year-old son, who was reported missing in 2018 and hasn’t been found. News outlets report a judge in Dickson County…

Norm Macdonald, former ‘Saturday Night Live’ comic, dies

NEW YORK (AP) — Former “Saturday Night Live” comic Norm Macdonald is dead after a nine-year battle with cancer. His death Tuesday was confirmed by his management team, Brillstein Entertainment Partners. Macdonald was on the show during the 1990s as…

Tennessee COVID-19 cases climb to top in the country

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee now ranks first in the country for new COVID-19 cases per capita as the state continues to battle its worst virus surge yet. According to researchers from Johns Hopkins, as of Tuesday, one in every…

Apple’s next iPhone mirrors last year’s, adds more storage

SAN RAMON, Calif. (AP) — Apple unveiled its next iPhone line-up, including a model that offer twice the maximum and other modest upgrades to last year’s editions that proved to be a big hit among consumers devouring the latest technology…

Reopening of 3 powerhouse Broadway shows signals new dawn

NEW YORK (AP) — We know when it paused. But when did it restart? One of the recurring debates among theater lovers has been what would signify Broadway’s return after the global pandemic shuttered live theater in March 2020. For…

Fate of California Gov. Gavin Newsom hangs on recall vote

LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) — The recall election that could remove California Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is coming to an end. Voting ends Tuesday in the rare, late-summer election that has emerged as a national battlefront on issues from COVID-19…

East Tennessee middle school teacher accused of kidnapping, rape

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee schoolteacher has been arrested on charges of aggravated kidnapping and rape. The Hamilton County Sheriff's Office says 23-year-old Kadarius Scott was charged in connection with an alleged incident in Ooltewah, not on school property.…

George Wein, Newport Jazz Festival co-founder, dies at 95

NEW YORK (AP) — George Wein, one of the great impresarios of 20th century music who helped found the Newport jazz and folk festivals and set the template for gatherings everywhere from Woodstock to the south of France, has died…

Study: Pentagon reliance on contractors hurt US in 9/11 wars

A new study says up to half of the $14 trillion spent by the Pentagon since 9/11 went to for-profit defense contractors. While much of this money went to weapons suppliers, the research points to the dependence on contractors as…

FDA experts among group opposing US booster shot plan

An international group of scientists is arguing the average person doesn't need a COVID-19 booster yet — an opinion that highlights the intense scientific divide over the question. Two of those scientists are top U.S. vaccine regulators, raising questions about…

Democrats seek corporate, wealthy tax hikes for $3.5T plan

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democrats are unveiling a sweeping proposal for tax hikes on big corporations and the wealthy to fund President Joe Biden’s $3.5 trillion rebuilding plan. The House released details on Monday as Congress speeds ahead to shape…

Epic Games appeals ruling in lawsuit alleging Apple monopoly

Epic Games filed notice that is appealing a federal judge’s decision in a lawsuit alleging that Apple has been running an illegal monopoly that stifles competition. The maker of the popular Fortnite video game said in a court filing Sunday…

Oldest US veteran of WWII celebrates his 112th birthday

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — A Louisiana man who is the oldest living World War II veteran in the United States has marked his 112th birthday. Lawrence Brooks celebrated Sunday with a drive-by party at his New Orleans home hosted…

Tennessee state senator set to face trial on theft charges

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee state senator is set to go on trial on charges that she stole more than $600,000 in federal funds. Jury selection is scheduled Monday in the federal trial of state Sen. Katrina Robinson. Robinson…

‘Shang-Chi’ tops box office again with $35.8 million

NEW YORK (AP) — “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” stayed on top at the box office, collecting $35.8 million in ticket sales in its second weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday. That total was good enough for…

FBI releases newly declassified record on Sept. 11 attacks

WASHINGTON (AP) — A declassified FBI document related to logistical support given to two of the Saudi hijackers in the run-up to the Sept. 11 attacks details contacts the men had with Saudi associates in the United States but doesn't…

Two women campaign to become France’s 1st female president

PARIS (AP) — Two French politicians have kicked off their presidential campaigns to become France’s first female leader in next year’s spring election. The far-right National Rally party's Marine Le Pen and Paris’ Socialist mayor, Anne Hidalgo, both launched…

Taliban flag rises over seat of power on fateful anniversary

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Taliban raised their flag over the Afghan presidential palace in a low-key ceremony just as the U.S. and the world marked the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks. The flag ceremony Saturday marks the…

Evangelical Lutheran church installs 1st transgender bishop

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Evangelical Lutheran Church of America is set to install its first openly transgender bishop. The Rev. Megan Rohrer will oversee nearly 200 congregations in Northern California and northern Nevada following their installation service in San…

In the News: Feds delay decision on popular E-Cigs brand

WASHINGTON (AP) - Federal health officials are delaying a decision on whether to snuff out a major e-cigarette brand. The Food and Drug Administration has held off its ruling on Juul, a popular vaping brand for adults and many teens.…

New capsule installed within pedestal where Lee statue stood

RICHMOND,Va. (AP) -- Workers at the site in Richmond, Virginia, where a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee was taken down this week have installed a new time capsule within the statue’s massive pedestal. A state government official confirmed…

The Latest: In NYC, Trump criticizes Afghanistan withdrawal

Former President Donald Trump has commemorated the 20th anniversary of the Sept. 11 attacks by visiting a fire station and police precinct in New York, where he criticized his successor for the way he pulled out of Afghanistan last month.…

Country singer Brett Eldredge encounters bear in garage

ASHEVILLE, N.C. (AP) — Country singer Brett Eldredge had an encounter with a bear in a garage at a North Carolina home. The Charlotte Observer reports Eldredge says he opened the garage door at a home in Asheville and was…