News

Fidelio Desbradel and his wife Leonor Desbradel, of the Dominican Republic, take a selfie in front of a Tulip Magnolia tree in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. (Cliff Owen | The Associated Press)

Early bird special: Spring pops up super early in much of US

WASHINGTON — Spring has sprung early — potentially record early — in much of the United States, bringing celebrations of shorts weather mixed with unease… Continue reading

Fidelio Desbradel and his wife Leonor Desbradel, of the Dominican Republic, take a selfie in front of a Tulip Magnolia tree in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday. (Cliff Owen | The Associated Press)

Gene therapy to fight a blood cancer succeeds in major study

An experimental gene therapy that turns a patient’s own blood cells into cancer killers worked in a major study, with more than one-third of very… Continue reading

In this June 4, 2010 photo, dressed in jeans and blue suede loafers, Kim Jong Nam, the eldest son of then North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, waves after his first-ever interview with South Korean media in Macau. (Shin In-seop | JoongAng Ilbo)

The strange life, and sudden death, of a North Korean exile

MACAU — The heavy-set man got out of a taxi one night last September and headed for the lobby bar of the swank Wynn Macau… Continue reading

In this June 4, 2010 photo, dressed in jeans and blue suede loafers, Kim Jong Nam, the eldest son of then North Korean leader Kim Jong Il, waves after his first-ever interview with South Korean media in Macau. (Shin In-seop | JoongAng Ilbo)
This Jan. 20 photo shows the still-under-construction Trump International Hotel and Tower in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The 69-story tower has drawn praise for its sleek, twisting design. Prices for the condominiums have set records. But the politics of President Donald Trump have caused such outrage that the mayor won’t attend the Feb. 28 grand opening and has lobbied for a name change. (Darryl Dyck | The Canadian Press)

Trump sons open newest hotel in Vancouver

VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Ignoring protests, claims their newest real estate venture clashes with Canadian values and a no-show mayor who tried to change the… Continue reading

This Jan. 20 photo shows the still-under-construction Trump International Hotel and Tower in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. The 69-story tower has drawn praise for its sleek, twisting design. Prices for the condominiums have set records. But the politics of President Donald Trump have caused such outrage that the mayor won’t attend the Feb. 28 grand opening and has lobbied for a name change. (Darryl Dyck | The Canadian Press)
In this Feb. 21 photo, lifelong ham radio operator and expert tinkerer Tom Thompson, looks at a representation of radio waves on his computer inside his basement home office in Boulder, Colorado, where he operates a ham radio and other devices. After discovering that radio interference was being caused by high-powered lights from home marijuana growers, Thompson built an electronic filter and has given them to nearby growers. (Brennan Linsley | The Associated Press)

What’s the buzz? Pot-growing lights vex ham radio operators

AUGUSTA, Maine — Retired Coast Guard officer Roger Johnson sometimes notices a harsh buzz when he turns on his amateur radio, and he blames high-powered… Continue reading

In this Feb. 21 photo, lifelong ham radio operator and expert tinkerer Tom Thompson, looks at a representation of radio waves on his computer inside his basement home office in Boulder, Colorado, where he operates a ham radio and other devices. After discovering that radio interference was being caused by high-powered lights from home marijuana growers, Thompson built an electronic filter and has given them to nearby growers. (Brennan Linsley | The Associated Press)

Big surge for military in Trump budget, big cuts elsewhere

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is proposing a huge $54 billion surge in U.S. military spending for new aircraft, ships and fighters in his first… Continue reading

House probe into Russia ties to Trump off to rocky start

WASHINGTON — A simmering dispute between leaders of the House intelligence committee spilled into the public Monday over an investigation into whether President Donald Trump… Continue reading

SpaceX says it will fly 2 people to moon next year

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX said Monday it will fly two people to the moon next year, a feat not attempted since NASA’s Apollo heyday… Continue reading

President Donald Trump speaks to a meeting of the National Governors Association, Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, at the White House in Washington. (Evan Vucci | The Associated Press)

Trump looks to refocus his presidency in address to Congress

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s first address to Congress gives him a welcome opportunity to refocus his young administration on the core economic issues that… Continue reading

President Donald Trump speaks to a meeting of the National Governors Association, Monday, Feb. 27, 2017, at the White House in Washington. (Evan Vucci | The Associated Press)
One ounce of dried marijuana is shown. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)

White House expects Justice crackdown on legalized marijuana

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department will step up enforcement of federal law against recreational marijuana, White House spokesman Sean Spicer said Thursday, offering the Trump… Continue reading

One ounce of dried marijuana is shown. (Michael Penn | Juneau Empire file)
In this Feb. 2 photo, a man stands on a commercial fishing boat docked at Pier 38 in Honolulu. (Caleb Jones | The Associated Press)

Hawaii bill would ban licenses for some foreign fishermen

HONOLULU — Hawaii lawmakers are considering a proposal with the potential to cripple the state’s commercial fishing industry after an Associated Press investigation found foreign… Continue reading

In this Feb. 2 photo, a man stands on a commercial fishing boat docked at Pier 38 in Honolulu. (Caleb Jones | The Associated Press)
This image provided by NASA/JPL-Caltech shows an artist’s conception of what the surface of the exoplanet TRAPPIST-1f may look like, based on available data about its diameter, mass and distances from the host star. The planets circle tightly around a dim dwarf star called Trappist-1, barely the size of Jupiter. Three are in the so-called habitable zone, where liquid water and, possibly life, might exist. The others are right on the doorstep. (NASA/JPL-Caltech via the Associated Press)

7 Earth-size worlds found orbiting star; could hold life

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — For the first time ever, astronomers have discovered seven Earth-size planets orbiting a nearby star — and these new worlds could… Continue reading

This image provided by NASA/JPL-Caltech shows an artist’s conception of what the surface of the exoplanet TRAPPIST-1f may look like, based on available data about its diameter, mass and distances from the host star. The planets circle tightly around a dim dwarf star called Trappist-1, barely the size of Jupiter. Three are in the so-called habitable zone, where liquid water and, possibly life, might exist. The others are right on the doorstep. (NASA/JPL-Caltech via the Associated Press)

Tribes hope Trump’s ‘America first’ helps first Americans

BOSTON — Native Americans hope President Donald Trump doesn’t forget America’s first inhabitants as he promises to put “America first.” Tribes have been reaching out… Continue reading

In this Feb. 8 photo, Amy Scarton, the new director of the Washington State Ferries, poses for a photo at Colman Dock in Seattle, Washington. (Larry Steagall | Kitsap Sun)

New Washington ferry director young and passionate

SEATTLE — There’s a new generation leading Washington’s ferries. Forty-year-old Amy Scarton became director Feb. 1, bumping interim boss Elizabeth Kosa back to her No.… Continue reading

In this Feb. 8 photo, Amy Scarton, the new director of the Washington State Ferries, poses for a photo at Colman Dock in Seattle, Washington. (Larry Steagall | Kitsap Sun)
In this Feb. 24, 2015 photo, members of the National Guard patrol along the Rio Grande at the Texas-Mexico border in Rio Grande City, Texas. The Trump administration is considering a proposal to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants, including millions living nowhere near the Mexico border, according to a draft memo obtained by The Associated Press. (Eric Gay | The Associated Press file)

AP Exclusive: DHS weighed National Guard for immigration roundups

The Trump administration considered a proposal to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants, including millions living nowhere near… Continue reading

In this Feb. 24, 2015 photo, members of the National Guard patrol along the Rio Grande at the Texas-Mexico border in Rio Grande City, Texas. The Trump administration is considering a proposal to mobilize as many as 100,000 National Guard troops to round up unauthorized immigrants, including millions living nowhere near the Mexico border, according to a draft memo obtained by The Associated Press. (Eric Gay | The Associated Press file)

Trump says White House ‘fine-tuned machine,’ despite turmoil

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump mounted an aggressive defense of his young presidency Thursday, lambasting reports that his campaign advisers had inappropriate contact with Russian officials… Continue reading

Lawyer: Florida airport shooting suspect mentally competent

MIAMI — Defense lawyers say the Alaska man accused of fatally shooting five people and wounding six at a major airport in Florida is mentally… Continue reading

In a Monday, Feb. 6, 2017 photo, family members who have just arrived from Syria embrace and are greeted by family who live in the United States upon their arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Organizers in cities across the U.S. are telling immigrants to miss class, miss work and not shop on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, as a way to show the country how important they are to America’s economy and way of life. “A Day Without Immigrants” actions are planned in cities including Philadelphia, Washington, Boston and Austin, Texas. (Craig Ruttle | The Associated Press)

Immigrant workers, families to protest by staying home

PHILADELPHIA — Organizers in cities across the U.S. are telling immigrants to miss class, miss work and not shop on Thursday as a way to… Continue reading

In a Monday, Feb. 6, 2017 photo, family members who have just arrived from Syria embrace and are greeted by family who live in the United States upon their arrival at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York. Organizers in cities across the U.S. are telling immigrants to miss class, miss work and not shop on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2017, as a way to show the country how important they are to America’s economy and way of life. “A Day Without Immigrants” actions are planned in cities including Philadelphia, Washington, Boston and Austin, Texas. (Craig Ruttle | The Associated Press)
In this Nov. 19, 2016 file photo, then-President-elect Donald Trump walks Labor Secretary-designate Andy Puzder from Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse in Bedminster, New Jersey. Puzder’s nomination appeared to be in serious trouble Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017, as Republicans said they were concerned over his failure to pay taxes for five years on a former housekeeper who wasn’t authorized to work in the U.S. (Carolyn Kaster | The Associated Press file)

Puzder withdraws nomination to be Trump’s labor secretary

WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s nominee for labor secretary abruptly withdrew his nomination Wednesday after Senate Republicans balked at supporting him, in part over taxes… Continue reading

In this Nov. 19, 2016 file photo, then-President-elect Donald Trump walks Labor Secretary-designate Andy Puzder from Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse in Bedminster, New Jersey. Puzder’s nomination appeared to be in serious trouble Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2017, as Republicans said they were concerned over his failure to pay taxes for five years on a former housekeeper who wasn’t authorized to work in the U.S. (Carolyn Kaster | The Associated Press file)

Officials: Trump knew Flynn misled White House weeks before ouster

WASHINGTON — Just six days into his presidency, Donald Trump was informed his national security adviser had misled his vice president about contacts with Russia.… Continue reading