Author: The Associated Press

Police Identify 3 Who Died From Medical Emergencies During Capitol Breach

The Police Chief Would not go Into Detail About Their Exact Cause of Death

WASHINGTON (AP) – District of Columbia police have identified the three people who had medical emergencies and died during the storming of the Capitol. They are 55-year-old Kevin Greeson, of Athens, Alabama; 34-year-old Rosanne Boyland, of Kennesaw, Georgia; and 50-year-old Benjamin Phillips, of Ringtown, Pennsylvania. Police Chief Robert Contee would not go into detail about the exact causes of their…

The Latest: Pelosi Calls for Using 25th Amendment on Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says President Donald Trump should immediately be removed from office or Congress may proceed to impeach him. Pelosi on Thursday joined those calling on the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to force Trump from office. It came a day after a violent mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, forcing the building…

Capitol Police Chief Defends Response to ‘Criminal’ Rioters

WASHINGTON (AP) — Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund is defending his department’s response to Wednesday’s violent breach at the Capitol. In a statement Thursday, he said officers “acted valiantly when faced with thousands of individuals involved in violent riotous actions” as they stormed the Capitol. He said rioters “actively attacked” Capitol police and other law enforcement officers Wednesday with metal…

Mick Mulvaney Says He’s Resigning From Trump Administration After Capitol Riot

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Donald Trump’s former acting White House chief of staff resigned his post as special envoy to Northern Ireland on Thursday, saying “I can’t do it. I can’t stay.” Mick Mulvaney joined a growing list of Trump administration officials who are leaving following the violent riot at the Capitol on Wednesday. The riot occurred after Trump addressed a massive…

Wisconsin Republicans Disagree on COVID-19 Bill

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature is divided on a coronavirus response bill that the state Assembly was passing on Thursday but that the Senate GOP leader said his chamber opposes. Even if the current bill were to somehow pass, Democratic Gov. Tony Evers has signaled his opposition and would likely veto the measure. Evers and Assembly Democrats…

GOP Sen. Johnson Says No Decision on His Political Future

Johnson is Weighing Whether to Seek a Third Term

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson says he has not made a decision yet on his political future as the vocal backer of President Donald Trump faces two years in the minority and mounting calls for him to step aside. The update from the Republican comes a day after the U.S. Capitol was stormed by Trump supporters….

Facebook Bans Trump Through Biden Inauguration, Maybe Longer

(AP) – Facebook will bar President Donald Trump from posting on its system at least until the inauguration of President-elect Joe Biden. In a post on Thursday morning, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said the risk of allowing Trump to use the platform is too great, following his incitement of a mob that later touched off a deadly riot in the…

Lawmakers Vow to Investigate Police After Capitol Breach

Rioters Overwhelmed the Complex and Sent Lawmakers Into Hiding

Rioters break TV equipment outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawmakers are vowing an investigation into how police handled Wednesday’s violent breach at the Capitol. The Democratic chairwoman of the House Administration Committee, California congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, says the breach “raises grave security concerns” and that her committee will work with House and…

4 People Died as Violent Mob Stormed U.S. Capitol

WASHINGTON (AP) — Four people died as rioters violently occupied the U.S. Capitol. Washington, D.C., Police Chief Robert Contee said the dead on Wednesday included a woman who was shot by the U.S. Capitol Police, as well as three others who died in “medical emergencies.” Police said both law enforcement and Trump supporters deployed chemical irritants during the hourslong occupation…

Biden Win Confirmed After Pro-Trump Mob Storms U.S. Capitol

Biden Confirmed by Congress as Winner of 2020 Presidential Election

WASHINGTON (AP) – Early Thursday morning, Congress confirmed Democrat Joe Biden as the presidential election winner, hours after violent protesters loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol. Lawmakers resolved to work almost through the night to uphold the will of the voters. The Capitol was under siege for hours Wednesday, forcing lawmakers into hiding before being evacuated by…

Ossoff Seals Democrats’ Sweep; Will Be Youngest Us Senator

ATLANTA (AP) — Democrats have won both Georgia Senate seats — and with them, the U.S. Senate majority. That’s a stunning defeat for President Donald Trump in his final days in office and it dramatically improves the fate of President-elect Joe Biden’s progressive agenda. Jon Ossoff and Raphael Warnock, Democratic challengers who represented the diversity of their party’s evolving coalition,…

The Latest: Woman Shot Inside Capitol During Riot Has Died

WASHINGTON (AP) – A woman who was shot inside the U.S. Capitol during the violent pro-Trump protest has died. That’s according to two officials familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday on condition of anonymity because they weren’t authorized to speak publicly. The Metropolitan Police Department said it was taking the lead on the shooting…

At Least 1 Explosive Device Found Near Us Capitol

WASHINGTON (AP) – At least one explosive device has been found near the U.S. Capitol amid a violent occupation of the building by supporters of President Donald Trump. Law enforcement officials said the device was no longer a threat Wednesday afternoon. Thousands of supporters of the president occupied the Capitol complex as lawmakers were beginning to tally the electoral votes…

Pence Defies Trump, Says He Can’t Reject Electoral Votes

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defying President Donald Trump, Vice President Mike Pence says he doesn’t have the power to discard electoral votes that will make Democrat Joe Biden the next president on Jan. 20. That’s what Pence says in a statement issued minutes before he was to begin presiding over a joint session of Congress to count those votes. Pence says…

The Latest: 1,100 DC National Guard Members Being Mobilized

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon says about 1,100 D.C. National Guard members are being mobilized to help support law enforcement as violent supporters of President Donald Trump breached the U.S. Capitol. Pentagon spokesperson Jonathan Hoffman said Wednesday afternoon that defense leaders have been in contact with the city and congressional leadership. A defense official said all 1,100 of the D.C. Guard…

One Person Shot at U.S. Capitol

WASHINGTON (AP) – One person has been shot at the U.S. Capitol as dozens of supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the building and violently clashed with police. That’s according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to The Associated Press on Wednesday on condition of anonymity amid a chaotic situation. The exact circumstances surrounding the shooting were…

Walz Loosens Virus Rules for Bars, Restaurants, Other Venues

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – Gov. Tim Walz will allow bars and restaurants to resume limited indoor service starting Monday as he also loosens up Minnesota’s coronavirus restrictions on youth sports, gyms, entertainment venues and churches. The dialing back returns bars and restaurants about to where they were before the governor imposed a “pause” in response to soaring cases in November. “The…

Wisconsin Surpasses 5,000 Deaths Due to COVID-19

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – Wisconsin surpassed 5,000 deaths from COVID-19, as the total number of cases neared half a million. The state Department of Health Services reported 60 additional deaths on Wednesday, bringing the total to 5,039. There have been nearly 495,000 positive cases to date. The number of positive COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin peaked in mid-November and had been…

The Latest: Police Order Evacuation of Buildings on Hill

(courtesy: Fox News) WASHINGTON (AP) – The U.S. Capitol Police are evacuating some congressional office buildings due to “police activity” as thousands gather outside the Capitol to protest the electoral vote. Police told congressional staff members they should evacuate the Cannon House Office Building and the building that houses the Library of Congress. It wasn’t immediately clear what specifically sparked…

Trump Protesters Breach US Capitol

LATEST: Lawmakers are being evacuated from the U.S. Capitol after protesters breached security and entered the building. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other senators were led out, escorted by staff and police on Wednesday afternoon. Members of the House were also being evacuated. Both chambers had been debating the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the Electoral College. The…

Biden to Name Judge Merrick Garland as Attorney General

WASHINGTON (AP) — President-elect Joe Biden has selected Merrick Garland, a federal appeals court judge, as his attorney general, two people familiar with the selection process said Wednesday. Garland, a federal appeals court judge, was snubbed by Republicans for a seat on the Supreme Court in 2106. Biden is expected to announce Garland’s appointment on Thursday, along with other senior…

Fire Deaths Increased in Minnesota Last Year

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Health officials say careless smoking was the leading cause of fatal fires in Minnesota in 2020. Fifty-three people died in fires last year, a 13% increase over 2019. Seven deaths last year were attributed to careless smoking, the fifth consecutive year it led to fatal fires, according to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. Six victims died…

Will COVID-19 Vaccines Work on the New Coronavirus Variant?

(AP) – Experts believe so, but they’re working to confirm that. A coronavirus variant in the United Kingdom has caused alarm because of the possibility that it might spread more easily. But even if that turns out to be true, experts say the COVID-19 vaccines being rolled out will likely still work on the variant. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the top…

Two People Fatally Stabbed in Kenosha, One Arrested

KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) — Two people were fatally stabbed in Kenosha early Wednesday and one person is in custody, according to police. About 4:20 a.m. officers responded to the stabbing scene, located about a mile north of where protests occurred hours earlier following a prosecutor’s decision against charging a white officer who shot a Black man in the back, partially…

Warnock Makes History With Senate Win as Democrats Near Majority

The Race Between Republican David Perdue and Democrat Jon Ossoff is Still Too Close to Call

ATLANTA (AP) – This morning, Democrat Raphael Warnock has won one of Georgia’s two Senate runoffs, becoming the first Black senator in his state’s history and putting the Senate majority within the party’s reach. Warnock, a pastor who spent the past 15 years leading the Atlanta church where Martin Luther King Jr. preached, defeated Republican incumbent Kelly Loeffler. It’s a…

No Charges Against Wisconsin Officer Who Shot Jacob Blake

KENOSHA, Wis. (AP) – A Wisconsin prosecutor has declined to file criminal charges against a white police officer who shot a Black man in the back last summer. Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveley said Tuesday that he had decided not to charge Officer Rusten Sheskey and other officers, saying he didn’t think he could prove Sheskey and other officers…

Illinois Teen Pleads Not Guilty in Kenosha Protest Slayings

MADISON, Wis. (AP) – An Illinois teenager who fatally shot two people and wounded a third amidst sometimes violent summer protests on the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin, has pleaded not guilty to charges including intentional homicide. Kyle Rittenhouse, 18, entered his plea Tuesday in a brief hearing conducted by teleconference. Prosecutors say Rittenhouse, who is white, left his home in…

Gun Dealers Still Trying to Keep up With Demand in Wisconsin

(AP Photo/Alan Diaz, File) MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gun dealers say the spike in demand for guns and ammunition driven by the coronavirus pandemic has not subsided in Wisconsin. Dealers say they are still having trouble keeping their stores stocked ten months after the first COVID-19 cases started showing up in the state. At Superior Shooters Supply in Superior, Pat…

Federal Judge Rejects Lawsuit Seeking to Overturn Trump Loss

MADISON, Wis, (AP) — A federal judge has rejected a lawsuit filed by two Republican Wisconsin lawmakers, voting rights groups, and others seeking to overturn the 2020 presidential election results in Wisconsin and four other swing states. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg rejected the lawsuit Monday. He says it “rests on a fundamental and obvious misreading of the Constitution.” The…

Prosecutor: Wisconsin Pharmacist Thought Vaccine Was Unsafe

PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. (AP) — A prosecutor says a Wisconsin pharmacist told police he tried to ruin hundreds of doses of coronavirus vaccine because he felt the shots weren’t safe. Police in Grafton, about 20 miles north of Milwaukee, arrested Advocate Aurora Health pharmacist Steven Brandenburg last week following an investigation into the 57 spoiled vials of the Moderna vaccine….

Minnesota to Ramp up Vaccinations Amid Questions of Pace

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota officials are aiming to ramp up vaccination efforts as the pace to administer doses to healthcare workers and long-term care residents and staff move slower than expected. The Minnesota Department of Health reported on Monday that providers across the state have administered 78,402 doses of their nearly 300,000 doses of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines — less…

Pelosi Narrowly Reelected Speaker, Faces Difficult Two Years

WASHINGTON (AP) — Nancy Pelosi has been narrowly re-elected as House speaker. Her victory gives her the reins of Democrats’ slender House majority as she and President-elect Joe Biden set a challenging course of producing legislation to tackle the pandemic, revive the economy and address other party priorities. The California Democrat received 216 votes compared to 209 for California Republican…

Evers Calls on Legislature to Pass COVID-19 Bill First

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers is calling on the Republican-controlled Wisconsin Legislature to pass his proposed COVID-19 relief bill before any other in the session that begins Monday. Evers renewed his request to lawmakers to take up his proposed compromise, first floated on Dec. 21, saying it would be “inexplicable” to take up anything else first. The Senate…

Holding Company Buys Lake Michigan Car Ferry SS Badger

LUDINGTON, Mich. (AP) — A coal-fired ferry that carries people and cars across Lake Michigan between Michigan and Wisconsin has been sold. The Ludington Daily News reports that Interlake Holding Co. announced Wednesday that it bought the SS Badger. The Middleburg Heights, Ohio-based company also purchased a tug-barge called the SS Spartan and the Lake Michigan Carferry and Pere Marquette…

Supco Ruling: ‘Revenge Porn’ Not Protected Free Speech

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Supreme Court has upheld the state’s revenge porn law, ruling that sharing nude images of a person without their consent is not constitutionally protected free speech. The Star Tribune reports the unanimous ruling Wednesday reverses an earlier order by the state Court of Appeals, which struck down the 2016 law which made it a crime to…

Police Investigate Deliberate Spoiling of 500 Vaccine Doses

GRAFTON, Wis. (AP) — Police and federal authorities are investigating after a Wisconsin health system said an employee admitted to deliberately spoiling 500 doses of coronavirus vaccine. Aurora Medical Center first reported that the doses had been spoiled on Saturday, saying they had been accidentally left out unrefrigerated overnight by an employee at Aurora Medical Center in Grafton. The health…

Michigan Governor Signs $106M COVID Relief Plan

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Gov. Gretchen Whitmer has signed into law a $106 million plan to provide relief to businesses and fund efforts to fight the economic impact of the coronavirus. Though the plan was a collaborative effort between the governor and the legislature, Whitmer told reporters on Tuesday that the legislature strayed from the original and the $465 million…

Wisconsin Democrats Threaten to Skip Assembly Inauguration

MADISON, Wis., (AP) – Wisconsin Assembly Democrats might skip the inauguration next week because Republicans aren’t requiring masks in the chamber. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that Minority Leader Gordon Hintz says he’s afraid the lack of masks could spread the coronavirus. He says having Democrats skip Monday’s ceremony is “a real possibility.” Gov. Tony Evers swore in all 38…

Trump’s $2,000 Checks Stall in Senate as GOP Blocks Vote

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s push for bigger $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks has stalled out in the Republican-led Senate. With Republican senators deeply split over new spending, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday blocked a swift vote proposed by Democrats. The GOP leader signaled an alternative approach that links Trump’s demand for aid with restrictions the president wants on…

Man Suspected of Abusing Wife Fatally Shot by Sister-in-Law

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Bemidji woman is accused of fatally shooting her brother-in-law on Christmas Day at his home, allegedly for mistreating her sister. The Star Tribune reports Janelle L. Johnson was charged Tuesday with second-degree intentional murder in connection with the death of 48-year-old Jesse Farris at his house near Bemidji. Johnson remains jailed in lieu of $500,000 bail ahead…

First Reported US Case of COVID-19 Variant Found in Colorado

DENVER (AP) – The first reported U.S. case of the COVID-19 variant that’s been seen in the United Kingdom has been discovered in Colorado. Gov. Jared Polis and state health officials announced Tuesday that the case was found in a man in his 20s who’s in isolation and has no travel history. Today we discovered Colorado’s first case of the…

Wisconsin Prosecutors Add Curfew Charge Against Rittenhouse

(Antioch Police Department via AP) MILWAUKEE (AP) — Prosecutors have charged a 17-year-old Illinois teen accused of shooting three people during a protest in southeastern Wisconsin with violating curfew. Kyle Rittenhouse was charged in Kenosha County in August with multiple counts, including homicide, endangerment, and being a minor in possession of a firearm. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports that prosecutors…

Minnesota Reports 36 Deaths as Testing Dwindles Over Holiday

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Department of Health on Tuesday reported 36 more people have died due to COVID-19, and 988 new infections on a lower-than-normal testing volume. It was the first time since October that daily new cases fell below 1,000. Testing volume has fallen due to testing sites closing during the Christmas holiday. State health officials reported 7,742…

Senate GOP Blocks Democratic Push for Trump’s $2k Checks

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has blocked Democrats’ push to immediately bring President Donald Trump’s demand for bigger $2,000 COVID-19 relief checks up for a vote. The GOP leader said the Senate would “begin a process” to address the issue. But the next steps are highly uncertain. Trump has been pushing to more than triple the $600…

Evers Administration Plans to Simplify Unemployment Claims

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Gov. Tony Evers’ administration is looking for public feedback on simplified applications for unemployment benefits. The state Department of Workforce Development announced Monday that it’s planning to simplify initial and weekly claim applications starting this spring to feature what the agency is calling “plain language” as much as possible. The department says the language is intended…