News

Iowans who sought to draft Christie in 2011, back him again

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Republican presidential Chris Christie got a big boost in Iowa Tuesday when six major Republican donors and activists wooed by… Continue reading

Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on "Planned Parenthood's Taxpayer Funding." (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Planned Parenthood chief rebuts videos

WASHINGTON — The head of Planned Parenthood defended the women’s health organization Tuesday before a Republican-run Congress bent on slashing its federal funding, telling lawmakers… Continue reading

Planned Parenthood Federation of America President Cecile Richards testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015, before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee hearing on "Planned Parenthood's Taxpayer Funding." (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)
An Afghan boy blows bubbles outside his family's tent at Victoria Square, where hundreds of migrants stay temporarily before trying to continue their trip to more prosperous northern European countries, in Athens on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015. The International Organization for Migration says a record number of people have crossed the Mediterranean into Europe this year, now topping a half a million. Some 388,000 have entered via Greece. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)

Amid Europe’s migrant tensions, kindness arises too

PARIS — A 24-year-old Danish woman sails refugees across windy straits to safety in Sweden. A Romanian whose ancestors were driven from their homeland opens… Continue reading

An Afghan boy blows bubbles outside his family's tent at Victoria Square, where hundreds of migrants stay temporarily before trying to continue their trip to more prosperous northern European countries, in Athens on Tuesday, Sept. 29, 2015. The International Organization for Migration says a record number of people have crossed the Mediterranean into Europe this year, now topping a half a million. Some 388,000 have entered via Greece. (AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis)
In this Sept. 24, 2015 photo, consultant Jonathan Hunt checks seedlings growing in the new marijuana growing facility on the Flandreau Santee Sioux Reservation in Flandreau, S.D. The project, according to the tribe, could generate up to $2 million a month in profit. The first joints are expected to go on sale Dec. 31 at a New Year's Eve party. (AP Photo/Jay Pickthorn)

Tribe to open nation’s first marijuana resort

FLANDREAU, S.D. — The Santee Sioux tribe has already proven its business acumen, running a successful casino, a 120-room hotel and a 240-head buffalo ranch… Continue reading

In this Sept. 24, 2015 photo, consultant Jonathan Hunt checks seedlings growing in the new marijuana growing facility on the Flandreau Santee Sioux Reservation in Flandreau, S.D. The project, according to the tribe, could generate up to $2 million a month in profit. The first joints are expected to go on sale Dec. 31 at a New Year's Eve party. (AP Photo/Jay Pickthorn)

Oregon gears up for recreational pot sales

PORTLAND, Ore. — Oregon’s medical marijuana dispensaries are getting ready for a watershed moment this week: when recreational pot users will also be able to… Continue reading

US drilling states guided on handling quakes

COLUMBUS, Ohio — A group of U.S. drilling states, seismologists, academics and industry experts issued guidance Monday in a frank new report on handling human-induced… Continue reading

Washington state suspends operations of duck tour company

SEATTLE — Washington state regulators suspended the operations of a Seattle tour company Monday after one of its amphibious vehicles swerved into an oncoming charter… Continue reading

Scramble to fill top jobs in House after Boehner exit

WASHINGTON — A chaotic scramble is on to fill the top GOP jobs in the House following Speaker John Boehner’s surprise resignation. Now the same… Continue reading

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump talks about his tax plan during a news conference, Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, in New York. The Republican front-runner is calling for an overhaul of the tax code that would eliminate income taxes for millions of Americans, while lowering them for the highest-income earners and business.(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

GOP front-runner Trump proposes tax cuts for all

NEW YORK — After weeks of vowing to raise taxes on “hedge fund guys” and high-income earners, Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump unveiled a tax… Continue reading

Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump talks about his tax plan during a news conference, Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, in New York. The Republican front-runner is calling for an overhaul of the tax code that would eliminate income taxes for millions of Americans, while lowering them for the highest-income earners and business.(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)
United States President Barack Obama, right, and Russia's President President Vladimir Putin pose for members of the media before a bilateral meeting Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Obama, Putin clash on Syria’s future

UNITED NATIONS — U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin sharply disagreed Monday over the chaos in Syria, with Obama urging a political… Continue reading

United States President Barack Obama, right, and Russia's President President Vladimir Putin pose for members of the media before a bilateral meeting Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

Key Afghan city falls to Taliban in major government setback

KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban captured the strategic northern Afghan city of Kunduz on Monday in a multi-pronged attack involving hundreds of fighters, the first… Continue reading

Spinning top, puppet among 12 Toy Hall of Fame finalists

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (AP) — The spinning top, coloring book, Wiffle Ball and puppet are vying for a place in the National Toy Hall of Fame.… Continue reading

Prison worker who helped killers escape gets up to 7 years

PLATTSBURGH, N.Y. — A sobbing former prison worker who helped two murderers escape from a maximum-security lockup said she regretted her “horrible mistake” as she… Continue reading

Don’t get drunk: advice college kids may not get from docs

CHICAGO (AP) — Government researchers say “deplorably” few college students are warned by doctors about the danger from alcohol and drugs or encouraged to reduce… Continue reading

This undated photo provided by NASA and taken by an instrument aboard the agency's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows dark, narrow, 100 meter-long streaks on the surface of Mars that scientists believe were caused by flowing streams of salty water. Researchers said Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, that the latest observations strongly support the longtime theory that salt water in liquid form flows down certain Martian slopes each summer. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona via AP)

NASA says Mars appears to have water

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — Mars appears to have flowing rivulets of water, at least in the summer, scientists reported Monday in a finding that boosts… Continue reading

This undated photo provided by NASA and taken by an instrument aboard the agency's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows dark, narrow, 100 meter-long streaks on the surface of Mars that scientists believe were caused by flowing streams of salty water. Researchers said Monday, Sept. 28, 2015, that the latest observations strongly support the longtime theory that salt water in liquid form flows down certain Martian slopes each summer. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona via AP)

States monitor alcohol offenders with twice-daily tests

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Every day before sunrise, people stream through a nondescript door behind the county jail in South Dakota’s largest city.Wearing neatly pressed… Continue reading

A familiy takes a selfie on the Champs Elysees during the "day without cars" on Sunday in Paris, France.

Pretty Paris’ dirty secret: Pollution

PARIS — Guidebooks rarely mention it, but Paris is one of the most polluted cities in the rich world. The Eiffel Tower is periodically shrouded… Continue reading

A familiy takes a selfie on the Champs Elysees during the "day without cars" on Sunday in Paris, France.

India clamping down on critics, activist groups

NEW DELHI — It takes courage to accuse a powerful politician — a man who would go on to become India’s prime minister — of… Continue reading

Boehner slams ‘false prophets’ among GOP

WASHINGTON — House Speaker John Boehner warned Sunday against “false prophets” in his own party making unrealistic promises, saying his resignation had averted a government… Continue reading

Pope Francis blesses the bread while preparing communion during Mass Sunday in Philadelphia.

Pope Francis wraps up joyful US visit with big open-air Mass

PHILADELPHIA — Pope Francis urged hundreds of thousands of the faithful gathered Sunday for the biggest event of his U.S. visit to be open to… Continue reading

Pope Francis blesses the bread while preparing communion during Mass Sunday in Philadelphia.