Author: The Associated Press

Biden Says Is Leader Killed During Us Raid in Syria

(AP Photo/Ghaith Alsayed) ATMEH, Syria (AP) – President Joe Biden says the leader of the Islamic State group has been killed in Syria during an operation by an elite U.S. military force. A U.S. official says that Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurayshi, one of the world’s most wanted terrorists, exploded a bomb that killed himself and members of his family during…

No Motive Revealed in Shooting That Killed Minnesota Student

(courtesy: Fox 9) RICHFIELD, Minn. (AP) – Authorities say they have not established a motive in a shooting outside a suburban Minneapolis school that left one student dead and another critically injured. The students were shot Tuesday outside South Education Center in Richfield, a suburb just south of Minneapolis. Police arrested two teen suspects at separate locations later in the…

Police Shoot Man in Downtown Minneapolis

(courtesy: Fox 9) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – A Minneapolis police officer fatally shot a male who authorities say had a loaded gun in his hand. Interim police Chief Amelia Huffman says the shooting happened at about 7 a.m. Wednesday in a downtown apartment complex. Officers from the Minneapolis department’s SWAT team were serving warrants to help the St. Paul Police Department…

Trial of 3 Cops in Floyd Death Delayed by COVID-19 Diagnosis

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The trial of three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd’s rights was abruptly recessed on Wednesday after one of the defendants tested positive for COVID-19. Judge Paul Magnuson says the court is in recess until Monday. The officer who tested positive wasn’t named by the court, but pool reporters in the courtroom…

Punxsutawney Phil Predicts Six More Weeks of Winter

(AP Photo/Barry Reeger) PUNXSUTAWNEY, Pa. (AP) — There will be six more weeks of winter, Punxsutawney Phil predicted as he emerged from his burrow Wednesday to perform his Groundhog Day duties. Thousands of people from around the nation and other countries gathered at Gobbler’s Knob as members of Punxsutawney Phil’s “inner circle” summoned him from his tree stump at dawn…

Biden Sending More Troops to Europe Amid Ukraine Tension

(Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP) BRUSSELS (AP) – President Joe Biden is sending about 2,000 troops from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, to Poland and Germany this week and sending part of an infantry Stryker squadron of roughly 1,000 troops based in Germany to Romania. That’s from a senior administration official speaking on the condition of anonymity. Biden has…

Washington’s NFL Team Unveils New Name as Commanders

(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) (AP) – Washington’s NFL team is now known as the Commanders. The new name was unveiled 18 months after the once-storied franchise dropped its old moniker following decades of criticism that it was offensive to Native Americans and under fresh pressure from sponsors. The organization committed to avoiding Native American imagery in its rebrand after being called…

Wisconsin Senate’s Top Democrat Won’t Seek Reelection

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin state Senate’s top Democrat said Tuesday that she won’t seek reelection this fall. Minority Leader Janet Bewley said she wants to spend more time with her recently retired husband and grandchildren. She said it’s time for her to make room for a new generation of “progressive and pragmatic leaders.” “Serving the people of Northern…

UPDATE: 2 Students Shot Outside Minnesota School; 1 Dead, 1 in Critical Condition

(courtesy: Fox 9) RICHFIELD, Minn. (AP) — Two students were shot, one fatally, outside a suburban Minneapolis school on Tuesday, police said. Richfield Police Chief Jay Henthorne said the students were shot about 12:07 p.m. outside South Education Center. The surviving student was in critical condition at a local hospital. Henthorne said suspects fled and police searched the area. “This…

State Seeks Long Sentence for Cop Convicted in Wright Death

(Minnesota Department of Corrections via AP) ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Prosecutors say the former suburban Minneapolis police officer who was convicted of manslaughter in the killing of Daunte Wright should face a sentence above the state’s guidelines. But defense attorneys for Kim Potter say she should get a lower sentence – or even probation. Potter is the former white…

Former Sheriff, Cop, Legislator Stanek Joins GOP Gov Field

(courtesy: Fox 9) ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – Former Hennepin County Sheriff Rich Stanek has joined the Republican field for governor. In a campaign video posted Tuesday, Stanek touted his experience in law enforcement and attacked Democrats for “letting lawlessness run rampant.” Stanek is a former Minneapolis police officer, Republican state legislator, and public safety commissioner. He lost a close…

Tom Brady Announces Retirement After 22 Seasons, 7 Super Bowl Wins

  View this post on Instagram   A post shared by Tom Brady (@tombrady) TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tom Brady, the greatest quarterback in NFL history, has retired after winning seven Super Bowls and setting numerous passing records in an unprecedented 22-year-career. “This is difficult for me to write, but here it goes: I am not going to make that…

Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine Gets Full FDA Approval

(AP) – Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine has been given full approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a shot that has been administered to millions of Americans throughout the course of the pandemic. The approval for those aged 18 and up came after the agency reviewed more data on the safety and effectiveness of the Moderna’s shot, marketed as “Spikevax.”…

Former Washington County Judge Tad Jude Announces for AG

(courtesy: judgetadjude.com) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Former Washington County Judge Tad Jude on Monday became the latest Republican hoping to unseat Democratic Attorney General Keith Ellison. Jude was a state lawmaker for nearly two decades and also served as a Hennepin County commissioner before being elected to the bench in 2010. He spent 10 years as a judge. Jude said in…

Milwaukee School Board OKs Spending $63m in COVID Dollars

MILWAUKEE (AP) – The Milwaukee school board has approved spending $63 million in federal COVID-19 relief dollars on dozens of renovation projects. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported the board signed off on the spending Thursday. The board also approved allowing each school to spend $100,000 out of a separate $13.6 million pot of federal COVID-19 aid to hire staff and…

‘Tiger King’ Joe Exotic Resentenced to 21 Years in Prison

(AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki, File) OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A federal judge resentenced “Tiger King” Joe Exotic to 21 years in prison on Friday, reducing his punishment by just a year after an appeals court ordered a new sentence. Joe Exotic — whose real name is Joseph Maldonado-Passage — was convicted in a murder-for-hire case involving animal welfare activist Carole Baskin….

Evers Proposes $150 Checks Under Plan To Spend Surplus

(Steve Apps/Wisconsin State Journal via AP, File) MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Democratic Gov. Tony Evers unveiled an election-year plan Thursday that would send $150 refund checks to every Wisconsin resident, bolster funding for K-12 schools and help defray child care costs. But don’t go spending those refund checks just yet. Evers’ plan would have to be approved by the Republican-controlled…

Walz Pitches Public Safety Spending Plan To Reduce Crime

(Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has released the public safety portion of his supplemental budget featuring hundreds of millions of dollars for law enforcement agencies and community groups to reduce crime. Funding for the Democratic governor’s health and public safety plan released Wednesday would come from the state’s $7.7 projected budget surplus and…

Steelers Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger Confirms Retirement After 18 Seasons

(courtesy: CNN) PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, 39, confirms he is retiring after 18 seasons, 2 Super Bowl titles. Roethlisberger made the announcement on his Twitter page, saying: “The time has come to clean out my locker, hang up my cleats, and continue to be all I can be to my wife and children. I retire from…

US Economy Grew 5.7% In 2021 in Rebound From 2020 Recession

WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. economy grew last year at the fastest pace since Ronald Reagan’s presidency, bouncing back with resilience from 2020′s brief but devastating coronavirus recession. The nation’s gross domestic product – its total output of goods and services – expanded 5.7% in 2021. It was the strongest calendar-year growth since a 7.2% surge in 1984 after a…

Fed Plans To Raise Rates as Soon as March To Cool Inflation

WASHINGTON (AP) – The Federal Reserve signaled Wednesday that it plans to begin raising its benchmark interest rate as soon as March, a key step in reversing its pandemic-era low-rate policies that have fueled hiring and growth but also escalated inflation. The Fed’s actions are sure to make a wide range of borrowing — from mortgages and credit cards to…

Wisconsin Assembly OKs Vaccine Passport Ban, Immunity Waiver

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Republicans who control the Wisconsin Assembly has approved bills that would require employers to count a prior coronavirus infection as an alternative to vaccination and testing and prohibit vaccine passports. Both measures would face a likely veto from Democratic Gov. Tony Evers. The governor last year vetoed a GOP bill that would have barred public health…

COVID-19 Booster Drive Is Faltering in the US

(AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File) NEW YORK (AP) – The COVID-19 booster drive in the U.S. is losing steam, worrying health experts who have pleaded with Americans to get an extra shot to shore up their protection against the highly contagious omicron variant. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, just 40% of fully vaccinated Americans have received a…

Wisconsin Budget Forecast Improves by $2.9 Billion

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin’s budget picture improved by nearly $2.9 billion with a revised forecast released driven by higher-than-expected tax collections that will force the Republican-controlled Legislature to decide whether to spend the surplus, save it or put it toward tax cuts. Republican legislative leaders said Tuesday that the money would go toward tax cuts in the next budget…

Only Citizens Could Vote in Wisconsin Under Amendment

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The Wisconsin Senate has passed a constitutional amendment that says only citizens can vote in elections. The Republican-authored amendment approved Tuesday must also pass the Assembly this year and both houses of the Legislature next session before it would go to voters to decide. The governor has no power to veto constitutional amendments. The Wisconsin Constitution…

Human Smuggling Suspect From Florida Released Without Bond

(John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP) FARGO, N.D. (AP) – A Florida man arrested for human smuggling after the bodies of four people were found near the Canada and U.S. border during a blizzard has been released from jail without having to pay the bond. Steve Shand is charged with the transport or attempted transport of illegal immigrants after the…

Pfizer Begins Testing Omicron-Matched COVID Shots in Adults

(AP) – Pfizer and BioNTech have begun studying a COVID-19 vaccine tweaked to match the omicron variant in healthy adults. COVID-19 vaccine makers have been updating their shots in case global health authorities decide a change is needed. The study announced Tuesday will include more than 1,400 volunteers ages 18 to 55. Most already are vaccinated and will get boosters…

Assembly to Vote on Bill Barring Vaccination Discrimination

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Assembly is set to vote on a Republican-authored bill that would prohibit government entities from creating COVID-19 vaccination passports. The bill’s main Assembly sponsors, Reps. Rob Stafsholt and Scott Krug, say they developed the legislation because they’re worried the Biden administration may mandate such passports. They say the bill would prevent government outreach. The…

Court Offers Mixed Views on Water Permit for Minnesota Mine

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A Minnesota appeals court has issued a mixed opinion in a complicated case contesting one of the key permits that a St. Paul-based company needs to build what would be the state’s first copper-nickel mine. The Minnesota Court of Appeals reversed a decision by regulators to issue the PolyMet Mining Corp. a water quality permit…

US Puts 8,500 Troops on Heightened Alert Amid Russia Tension

(AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) WASHINGTON (AP) – The Pentagon says that Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has put about 8,500 troops on heightened alert, so they will be prepared to deploy if needed to reassure NATO allies in the face of ongoing Russian aggression on the border of Ukraine. Pentagon press secretary John Kirby said Monday no final decisions have been made…

VP Harris Touts Replacing Lead Lines During Milwaukee Stop

(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel via AP) MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Vice President Kamala Harris says during a stop in Milwaukee that removing and replacing lead pipes is a moral imperative and must be one of the nation’s highest priorities. She noted the environmental and health risks lead exposure presents from children to the elderly. Harris said Monday that the country is…

Minnesota Police: Poison Gas That Killed 7 Came From Furnace

MOORHEAD, Minn. (AP) – Authorities say a furnace was the source of carbon monoxide that last month killed seven members of an immigrant family from Honduras living in Minnesota. Police in Moorhead have said blood samples from the victims showed a lethal level of carbon monoxide, but further testing was needed to determine whether the source was the furnace or…

Kohl’s Confirms Approach About Potential Acquisition

NEW YORK (AP) – Kohl’s is confirming that it has been approached about a possible sale of the department store chain, sending shares up more than 30% in early trading. The company said that it would not comment further, but its confirmation Monday follows media reports that the private equity firm Sycamore Partners had approached Kohl’s about a potential deal….

COVID-19 Patient at Center of Ventilator Fight Dies in Texas

(courtesy: Fox 9) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — An unvaccinated COVID-19 patient flown from Minnesota to Texas during a legal battle over whether his ventilator should be turned off died Saturday, the family’s attorney said. A Minnesota judge had issued a restraining order on Jan. 13 blocking Mercy Hospital from turning off the machine that was keeping Scott Quiner alive, after his…

Trial To Begin for Cops Accused of Violating Floyd’s Rights

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – The federal trial for three former Minneapolis police officers charged with violating George Floyd’s civil rights as Derek Chauvin pinned the Black man’s neck to the street is set to begin Monday with opening statements. J. Kueng, Thomas Lane, and Tou Thao are broadly charged with depriving Floyd of his civil rights while acting under…

All 100 Lab Monkeys Accounted For After Several Escape Crash

DANVILLE, Pa. (AP) — The last of the escaped monkeys from the crash of a truck towing a trailer load of 100 of the animals was accounted for by late Saturday, a day after the pickup collided with a dump truck on a Pennsylvania highway, authorities said. Several monkeys had escaped following Friday’s collision, Pennsylvania State Police said. But only…

Access Again an Issue at Federal Trial in Floyd’s Killing

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) – A closed hearing in the federal trial of three former Minneapolis police officers in George Floyd’s killing was canceled Friday after prosecutors and the media objected. It’s the second time in just days that access to the proceedings became an issue. U.S. District Judge Paul Magnuson scheduled the conference on the admissibility of some evidence…

Omicron Wave Leaves US Food Banks Scrambling for Volunteers

WASHINGTON (AP) – Food banks are experiencing a critical shortage of volunteers as the omicron variant frightens people away from group activities. Individual volunteers are shying away from their usual shifts, and companies and schools that regularly supply large groups of volunteers are canceling their participation over virus fears. The end result in many cases has been a serious increase…

FBI: Laundrie Admitted Killing Gabby Petito in Notebook

FORT COLLINS, Colo. (AP) — The boyfriend of slain cross-country traveler Gabby Petito admitted killing her in a notebook discovered near his body in a Florida swamp, the FBI announced Friday. It was the first time authorities squarely pinned the blame for Petito’s death on Brian Laundrie, though he was the prime suspect all along. Investigators meanwhile announced that Laundrie,…

GOP Investigator No Longer Wants to Jail Wisconsin Mayors

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – The Republican-hired investigator looking into Wisconsin’s 2020 election is no longer seeking to jail the mayors of Green Bay and Madison for allegedly not complying with a subpoena he issued last year. A judge on Friday said he needed more facts before deciding whether to compel the mayors to testify. Waukesha County Circuit Judge Ralph Ramirez…

Rittenhouse Seeks Return of Gun Used During Kenosha Protest

KENOSHA, Wis. – Kyle Rittenhouse, the Illinois man acquitted of fatally shooting two men and wounding a third during street protests in Kenosha in 2020, has filed papers in court to recover property seized by police after his arrest, including the gun he used in the shootings. A motion filed in Kenosha County Circuit Court on Wednesday states that Rittenhouse…

Florida Man Charged After 4 Found Dead at Canada-US Border

(John Woods/The Canadian Press via AP) WINNIPEG, Manitoba (AP) – A Florida man has been charged with human smuggling after the bodies of four people, including a baby and a teen, were found in Canada near the U.S. border. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Minnesota says 47-year-old Steve Shand has been charged with human smuggling after seven…

Louie Anderson Dead at 68

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Louie Anderson, whose more than four-decade career as a comedian and actor included his unlikely, Emmy-winning performance as mom to twin adult sons in the TV series “Baskets,” died Friday. He was 68. Anderson died at a hospital in Las Vegas of complications from cancer, said Glenn Schwartz, his longtime publicist. Anderson had a a type…

Enbridge Says It Has Fixed Pierced Aquifer Near Oil Pipeline

(AP Photo/Jim Mone, File) MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Enbridge Energy said it has stopped the flow of spilled artesian groundwater that began a year ago when workers installing the Line 3 oil pipeline in northwestern Minnesota punctured an aquifer. The spill near Enbridge’s terminal in Clearbrook was one of the worst environmental accidents during the construction of the 340-mile pipeline in…

Meat Loaf, ‘Bat Out of Hell’ Rock Superstar, Dies at 74

NEW YORK (AP) – Meat Loaf, the rock superstar loved by millions for his “Bat Out of Hell” album and for such theatrical, dark-hearted anthems as “Paradise By the Dashboard Light” and “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad,” has died at age 74. A family statement provided by his longtime agent says the singer born Marvin Lee Aday died Thursday…

Long-Sought Great Lakes Projects Get Funding Under New Law

(AP) – The Biden administration’s new infrastructure package will pump more funding into two high-profile Great Lakes projects. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it will devote $479 million to the construction of a new shipping lock at Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. The money will be enough to finish the long-sought lock, which will boost the passage of cargo…