This undated booking photo provided by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department shows former Jared Foundation executive director Russell Taylor. A federal judge is scheduled to sentence Taylor, the former head of a foundation started by Subway pitchman Jared Fogle, on child exploitation and child pornography charges on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015. (Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department via AP)

Ex-Fogle associate gets 27 years on child-porn charges

INDIANAPOLIS — The former director of a foundation started by ex-Subway pitchman Jared Fogle begged a judge not to send him to “rot in the… Continue reading

This undated booking photo provided by the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department shows former Jared Foundation executive director Russell Taylor. A federal judge is scheduled to sentence Taylor, the former head of a foundation started by Subway pitchman Jared Fogle, on child exploitation and child pornography charges on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015. (Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department via AP)

City marshals indicted in killing of 6-year-old in Louisiana

MARKSVILLE, La. — A grand jury in Louisiana indicted two deputy city marshals on second-degree murder charges Thursday in the fatal shooting of a 6-year-old… Continue reading

Obama’s executive actions could open door for successors

WASHINGTON — While the White House has condemned Donald Trump’s call for a ban on Muslim immigrants as “disqualifying” and “toxic,” President Barack Obama may… Continue reading

The sisters of Yvette Velasco release doves of during a memorial service on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015 in Covina, Calif. Velasco died in a mass shooting in San Bernardino, Calif., that killed 14 and injured 21 last Wednesday. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

US officials search for missed red flags ahead of shootings

WASHINGTON — The U.S. government appears not to have picked up on extremist messages exchanged during the online courtship two years ago between the American-born… Continue reading

The sisters of Yvette Velasco release doves of during a memorial service on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015 in Covina, Calif. Velasco died in a mass shooting in San Bernardino, Calif., that killed 14 and injured 21 last Wednesday. (AP Photo/Chris Carlson)

A 1st for women in Saudi Arabia: Votes

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Outside of the Saudi capital, in one of the country’s most conservative provinces, Jowhara al-Wably is making history. She’s running in… Continue reading

Text to mom reveals 3rd Bataclan attacker

PARIS — It took a text message from Syria to a mother in northeast France to reveal the identity of the third killer at the… Continue reading

Wall of trees being planted across Africa to halt desert

Wall of trees being planted across Africa to halt desert

MBAR TOUBAB, Senegal — It seems like Mission Impossible: Stop the Sahara Desert from spreading farther south, its incursion into arable land fueled by climate… Continue reading

Wall of trees being planted across Africa to halt desert
In this Jan. 17, 1967  photo, pupils of Shiohama Elementary School wear face masks to protect themselves from fumes containing sulfurous acid gas from adjacent industrial complex in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, central Japan.

Lessons from Japan for China’s smog

TOKYO — The face masks, thick dark haze and pollution warnings plaguing residents of China’s capital this week once were a fact of life for… Continue reading

In this Jan. 17, 1967  photo, pupils of Shiohama Elementary School wear face masks to protect themselves from fumes containing sulfurous acid gas from adjacent industrial complex in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, central Japan.
Robert Lewis Dear talks to Judge Gilbert Martinez during a court appearance on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Dear, accused of killing three people and wounding nine others at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood clinic on Nov. 27, was charged with first-degree murder. (Andy Cross/The Denver Post via AP, Pool)

Suspect: ‘I am a warrior for the babies’

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. — The man accused of killing three people at a Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic stunned a courtroom Wednesday when he declared himself… Continue reading

Robert Lewis Dear talks to Judge Gilbert Martinez during a court appearance on Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2015, in Colorado Springs, Colo. Dear, accused of killing three people and wounding nine others at a Colorado Springs Planned Parenthood clinic on Nov. 27, was charged with first-degree murder. (Andy Cross/The Denver Post via AP, Pool)

FBI: Calif. shooters radicalized at least 2 years ago

WASHINGTON — The two San Bernardino shooters were radicalized at least two years ago — well before one of them came to the U.S. on… Continue reading

Chicago mayor apologizes for teen’s death, vows reforms

CHICAGO (AP) — Mayor Rahm Emanuel, known for keeping vise-like control over Chicago and his own political image, finds himself in the weakest position of… Continue reading

Supreme Court torn over Texas affirmative action program

WASHINGTON (AP) — Torn as ever over race, the Supreme Court on Wednesday weighed whether it’s time to end the use of race in college… Continue reading

Officer testifies in his own defense at Freddie Gray trial

BALTIMORE (AP) — Officer William Porter was poised and calm as he testified in his own defense Wednesday, telling jurors that he didn’t call an… Continue reading

Feeling like a Grinch? At least it won’t shorten your life

LONDON (AP) — There’s good news for grumpy women: Being happy apparently has no effect on how long you might live.That’s the conclusion of the… Continue reading

Mining sector in turmoil as Anglo American sheds 85,000

LONDON — The decision by a London-based mining company to shed 85,000 jobs is the sign of a global industry in crisis, with conglomerates reassessing… Continue reading

NCLB rewrite nears final OK

WASHINGTON — The nation is on the verge of a sweeping shift in education, with states poised to gain greater control over school accountability and… Continue reading

US life expectancy flat for third- straight year

NEW YORK — Life expectancy in the United States has stalled for three straight years, the government announced Wednesday.A child born last year can expect… Continue reading

Republican presidential candidate, businessman Donald Trump, speaks during a rally coinciding with Pearl Harbor Day at Patriots Point aboard the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Monday, Dec. 7, 2015. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)

Trump’s Muslim ban idea pushes GOP toward chaos

WASHINGTON — Donald Trump’s plan to ban Muslims from entering the United States is shoving the Republican Party to the edge of chaos, abruptly pitting… Continue reading

Republican presidential candidate, businessman Donald Trump, speaks during a rally coinciding with Pearl Harbor Day at Patriots Point aboard the aircraft carrier USS Yorktown in Mt. Pleasant, S.C., Monday, Dec. 7, 2015. (AP Photo/Mic Smith)

Calif. attack shows difficulty ID’ing terrorists

LOS ANGELES — By the time the married couple who carried out the deadly San Bernardino terrorist attack came to the attention of police, it… Continue reading

Boston College: 80 sickened after eating at Chipotle

BOSTON (AP) — Boston College said Tuesday the number of students complaining of gastrointestinal symptoms after eating at a Chipotle this weekend has climbed to… Continue reading