US & World News Archives - Page 19 of 68

Affordable Housing, Long Overlooked, Getting Federal Boost

March 27, 2022

Dan Hanger,

BOSTON (AP) – States and localities are increasingly tapping federal funds to help finance efforts to build more affordable housing, repair dilapidated units or reduce their homeless numbers. Housing advocates believe the money from the $350 billion Coronavirus State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds could transform the way communities address the growing homelessness problem and a shortage of affordable housing….

Biscuits Or Bratwurst: GOP Weighs Its Convention Choices

March 27, 2022

The Associated Press,

ASSOCIATED PRESS — In Milwaukee, one of two cities vying to host the Republican presidential convention in 2024, Democrats were pilloried by the potential visitors after predawn election results delivered Wisconsin for Joe Biden in the 2020 White House race. Rival Nashville, Tennessee, is run by a mayor whose Democratic brother was effectively redistricted out of his congressional seat by Republicans….

Biden on Russia’s Putin: `This Man Cannot Remain in Power’

Shortly after his speech, a White House official said Biden was “not discussing Putin’s power in Russia, or regime change.”

March 26, 2022

The Associated Press,

WARSAW, Poland (AP) – President Joe Biden said Saturday that Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power,” dramatically escalating the rhetoric against the Russian leader after his brutal invasion of Ukraine. The comment at the very end of a speech in Poland’s capital that served as the capstone on a four-day trip to Europe. Even as Biden’s words rocketed around the…

Supreme Court Tosses Wisconsin Legislative Voting Maps

March 23, 2022

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Wednesday threw out Wisconsin state legislative maps that were preferred by the state’s Democratic governor and selected by Wisconsin’s top court, making it unclear what the boundaries will be for the fall election. But while the justices in an unsigned opinion threw out voting maps the Wisconsin Supreme Court had selected for the…

Madeleine Albright, 1st Female US Secretary Of State, Dies

March 23, 2022

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) — Madeleine Albright, the first female U.S. secretary of state, has died of cancer, her family said Wednesday. She was 84. President Bill Clinton chose Albright as America’s top diplomat in 1996, and she served in that capacity for the last four years of the Clinton administration. At the time, she was the highest-ranking woman in the history…

Family, Friends Remember Eveleth-Native Jimmy Hill, Killed While Caring for Sick Partner in Ukraine

68-year-old Jimmy Hill was confirmed to be one of ten people gunned down by Russian forces while waiting in line for bread in the city of Chernihiv.

March 20, 2022

Arman Rahman,

The war between Russia and Ukraine hits closer to home as last week after Eveleth native Jimmy Hill was killed while waiting in line for bread – a harsh reminder of the far-reaching impacts of the conflict. “When I’d wake up the first thing I would do is check and his message would be ‘made it through the night, still…

‘No City Anymore’: Mariupol Survivors Take Train To Safety

March 20, 2022

The Associated Press,

LVIV, Ukraine (AP) — The heat on the train was as thick as the anxiety. Ukrainian survivors of one of the most brutal sieges in modern history were in the final minutes of their ride to relative safety. Some carried only what they had at hand when they seized the chance to escape the port of Mariupol amid relentless Russian bombardment. Some…

Gov. Walz Orders Minnesota Flags at Half Staff in Remembrance of U.S. Rep. Don Young

March 19, 2022

Arman Rahman,

Photo: AP/File MINNESOTA- In accordance with a proclamation issued by President Joe Biden, Governor Tim Walz ordered all flags statewide at half-staff until midnight Saturday, in honor and remembrance of U.S. Representative Don Young, who passed away Friday night. Sometimes called the Dean of the House, the 88-year-old Alaska Congressman was the longest-serving member, serving 25 terms, and was about…

UMD Grad Calls Eveleth-Native Killed in Ukraine ‘helpful guy, open-minded person’

Hill was staying in Ukraine to support his partner who was suffering from multiple sclerosis.

March 18, 2022

Arman Rahman,

MINNESOTA- We’re learning more about the Eveleth native killed waiting in line for bread in Ukraine as his friend shares some of her memories. Jimmy Hill was identified Thursday as one of several people killed when Russian forces opened fire on civilians in Chernihiv. Hill was staying in Ukraine to support his partner who was suffering from multiple sclerosis. Sasha…

Canada To Drop COVID Tests For Vaccinated Visitors: Official

March 17, 2022

The Associated Press,

TORONTO (AP) — Canada will no longer require a pre-arrival COVID-19 test for vaccinated travelers as of April 1.A senior government official confirmed the change Wednesday, speaking on condition of anonymity due to lack of authorization to speak publicly ahead of the announcement this week.Last month, Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos announced that travelers coming to Canada would be able to present a…

Minnesota-born Jimmy Hill Killed In Ukraine While Trying To Find Food

March 17, 2022

Site Staff,

(FOX 9) – The American killed during a military strike by Russia in Ukraine has been identified as Jimmy Hill. Family members confirm to FOX 9 that 68-year-old Hill, who was born in Eveleth, Minnesota and graduated from Mahtomedi High School, was killed in the city of Chernihiv in Ukraine while trying to find food. “He was only going out to try and find…

Minnesota-Native Musher Brent Sass Wins his 1st Iditarod Race Across Alaska

March 15, 2022

The Associated Press,

Photo: Marc Lester/Anchorage Daily News via AP ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) – Musher Brent Sass won the arduous Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race across Alaska on Tuesday as his team of 11 dogs dashed off the Bering Sea ice through a crowd of fans in downtown Nome. Sass mushed down Front Street and across the finish line just before 6 a.m….

Tom Brady Is Returning To Tampa To Play 23rd Season In NFL

March 13, 2022

The Associated Press,

TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Tom Brady’s retirement lasted 40 days. Brady said Sunday he’s returning to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for his 23rd NFL season. The seven-time Super Bowl champion announced his decision on Twitter and Instagram, saying he has “unfinished business.” The news stole the spotlight from the NCAA’s Selection Sunday. “These past two months I’ve realized my place…

Snapshots Of 4 Men Charged In Whitmer Kidnapping Plot

March 13, 2022

The Associated Press,

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) — After more than two days of testimony, jurors have unflattering snapshots of four men who are charged with planning to strike back against government by kidnapping Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer from her weekend home. Prosecutors introduced videos, messages and secretly recorded conversations full of antigovernment screeds, mostly expressed by Barry Croft Jr. and Adam Fox, who are described…

Liberal US Cities Change Course, Now Clearing Homeless Camps

March 13, 2022

The Associated Press,

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Makeshift shelters abut busy roadways, tent cities line sidewalks, tarps cover broken-down cars, and sleeping bags are tucked in storefront doorways. The reality of the homelessness crisis in Oregon’s largest city can’t be denied. “I would be an idiot to sit here and tell you that things are better today than they were five years ago…

Missiles Target US Consulate in North Iraq, No Casualties

March 12, 2022

The Associated Press,

BAGHDAD (AP) – Iraqi security officials say as many as 12 missiles were fired Sunday toward the U.S. consulate in Iraq’s northern city of Irbil. A U.S. defense official says missiles were launched at the city from neighboring Iran. Officials in Iraq and the U.S. are giving different accounts of damage. A U.S. official says there is no damage and…

US Slashes Russia Trade Status, Bans Alcohol and Seafood

March 11, 2022

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden announced Friday that along with the European Union and the Group of Seven countries, the U.S. will revoke “most favored nation” trade status for Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. He said the U.S. will also ban imports of Russian seafood, alcohol, and diamonds. The action on the most favored nation status will allow…

Jussie Smollett Sentenced To 150 Days In Jail In Fake Attack

March 10, 2022

The Associated Press,

CHICAGO (AP) — Jussie Smollett maintained his innocence during his sentencing hearing Thursday after a judge sentenced the former “Empire” actor to 150 days in jail for lying to police about a racist and homophobic attack that he orchestrated himself. Cook County Judge James Linn sentenced Smollett to 30 months of felony probation, including 150 days in the county jail….

Judge Denies Motion To Dismiss Jussie Smollett Conviction

March 10, 2022

The Associated Press,

CHICAGO (AP) – A judge has denied a motion to dismiss the conviction of actor Jussie Smollett for lying to Chicago police about a racist and homophobic attack he staged himself. Cook County Judge James Linn on Thursday upheld the jury’s verdict from December that found Smollett, who is Black and gay, guilty of five felony counts of disorderly conduct….

Russian Attack on Hospital Stirs Outrage as Talks Stall

March 10, 2022

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda) MARIUPOL, Ukraine (AP) – A Russian airstrike on a Mariupol maternity hospital that killed three people is stirring outrage, with Ukrainian and Western officials branding it a war crime. As talks to reach a broad cease-fire failed Thursday, emergency workers renewed efforts to get vital food and medical supplies into besieged cities and get traumatized residents out….

Man Who Received 1st Pig Heart Transplant Dies After 2 Months

March 10, 2022

The Associated Press,

(University of Maryland School of Medicine via AP) (AP) – The first person to receive a heart transplant from a pig has died, two months after the groundbreaking experiment, the Maryland hospital that performed the surgery announced Wednesday. David Bennett, 57, died Tuesday at the University of Maryland Medical Center. Doctors didn’t give an exact cause of death, saying only…

Lawyer: Man Charged in Whitmer Plot Swayed by FBI Informant

March 9, 2022

The Associated Press,

(Michigan Office of the Governor via AP File) GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) – A lawyer for one of the men charged with plotting to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020 has told jurors he was a near-homeless, pot-smoking “misfit” who was influenced by an FBI informant whom he met at a protest. Defense attorney Christopher Gibbons on Wednesday refuted…

‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill Passes in Florida, Goes to Governor

March 8, 2022

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida lawmakers have passed a bill to forbid instruction on sexual orientation and gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. The proposal, which opponents have dubbed the “Don’t Say Gay” bill, now moves to the desk of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to sign it into law. Since its inception, the…

AP Source: Biden to Ban Russian Oil Imports Over Ukraine War

March 8, 2022

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden has decided to ban Russian oil imports, toughening the toll on Russia’s economy in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the matter. The move follows pleas by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to U.S. and Western officials to cut off the imports. Energy exports have kept a steady influx…

Hundreds Rally at State Capitol in Support of Ukraine

March 7, 2022

The Associated Press,

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Hundreds of Minnesotans rallied at the state Capitol to show support for Ukraine where more than 1.7 million people have been forced from their country because of Russia’s invasion nearly two weeks ago. Luda Anastazievsky, chairman of the Minnesota Ukrainian American Advocacy Committee, called on the state Legislature Sunday to divest of any funds benefiting…

Putin says Ukraine’s Future in Doubt as Cease-Fires Collapse

March 5, 2022

The Associated Press,

(Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) LVIV, Ukraine (AP) – Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that Ukrainian statehood is in jeopardy and pinned the blame on that country’s leaders. Putin also said Saturday that Western sanctions are akin to “declaring war,” but added, “But thank God, we haven’t got there yet.” The Russian leader’s tough talk came as…

US Added 678,000 Jobs in February in Sign of Economic Health

March 4, 2022

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) – U.S. employers added a robust 678,000 jobs in February, another gain that underscored the economy’s solid health as the omicron wave fades and more Americans venture out to spend at restaurants, shops, and hotels despite surging inflation. The unemployment rate dropped from 4% to a pandemic low of 3.8%, extending a sharp decline in joblessness as the…

Fewer Americans Apply for Jobless Benefits Last Week

March 3, 2022

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) – Fewer Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week reflecting a low level of layoffs across the economy. Jobless claims fell by 18,000 to 215,000 for the week ending February 26, from 233,000 the previous week, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The four-week average for claims, which compensates for weekly volatility, fell by 6,000 to 230,500. In total,…

Pres. Biden Stops at UWS to Talk Bolstering Blatnik Bridge, Other Northland Infrastructure Needs

On his way to UWS President Biden stopped under the Blatnik Bridge to get an up-close look at the shape it was in.

March 2, 2022

Arman Rahman,

SUPERIOR, Wis.- Bridges were front and center of President Biden’s speech as he made Yellowjacket Union at UWS his first stop after the State of the Union Address Tuesday. “Hello Wisconsin, the President said to cheers, “and if you’re hearing me across the river hello Minnesota.” On his way to UWS President Biden stopped under the Blatnik Bridge near the…

Fitbit Recalls 1 Million Ionic Watches After Burn Injuries

March 2, 2022

The Associated Press,

SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — Google-owned Fitbit has recalled 1 million of its Ionic smartwatches after dozens of users reported burn injuries after the battery overheated. The fitness gadget maker says anyone who bought the $299 watch with the model number FB503 should immediately stop using the product and contact Fitbit for packaging to return it. Customers will receive a…

State of the Union: Biden Vows to Halt Russia, Hit Inflation

March 2, 2022

The Associated Press,

(Saul Loeb, Pool via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) – Addressing a concerned nation and anxious world, President Joe Biden has vowed in his first State of the Union address to check Russian aggression in Ukraine, tame soaring U.S. inflation, and deal with the fading but still dangerous coronavirus. Biden declared Tuesday night that he and all members of Congress, whatever political…

Duluth Ukrainians Relieved, Thankful City Changed Course To Light Lift Bridge

March 2, 2022

Dan Hanger,

DULUTH, Minn. – Duluth’s iconic Lift Bridge shined blue and yellow in support of Ukraine for the first time Tuesday evening, adding to the slew of iconic structures across the country and world lit to support the freedom we American’s sometimes take for granted. Tuesday morning’s update The moment came Tuesday after an overwhelming stand Duluthians took since the weekend…

Thousands Evacuate in Worst Australian Floods in a Decade

March 1, 2022

The Associated Press,

(Queensland Fire and Emergency Services via AP) BRISBANE, Australia (AP) – Tens of thousands of people have been ordered to evacuate their homes and hundreds of thousands more have been told to prepare to flee as parts of Australia’s southeast coast are inundated by the worst flooding in more than a decade. The flooding has claimed at least 10 lives….

Ukraine Seeks To Join EU as Round of Talks With Russia Ends

February 28, 2022

The Associated Press,

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – A top adviser to Ukraine’s president says the first round of talks with Russia about ending the fighting in Ukraine has concluded, and more talks could happen soon. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s president has signed an application for his country to join the European Union, in a bid to solidify its bond with the West. Volodymyr Zelenskyy has…

Target Seeks To Entice Workers With Pay of up to $24 an Hour

February 28, 2022

The Associated Press,

NEW YORK (AP) – Workers at Target stores and distribution centers in places like New York, where competition for finding and hiring staff is the fiercest, could see starting wages as high as $24 an hour this year. The Minneapolis-based discount retailer said Monday that it will adopt minimum wages that range from $15 to $24 an hour, with the…

MnDOT Lights I-35W Bridge Blue, Yellow in Support of People of Ukraine

According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation's Twitter, it'll stay those colors through the weekend in support of the people of Ukraine.

February 25, 2022

Arman Rahman,

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.- The I-35 W Bridge in Minneapolis glowed blue and yellow Friday night. According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Twitter, it’ll stay those colors through the weekend in support of the people of Ukraine. MN-DOT added: “We stand united with Ukrainians here in Minnesota and around the world.” Here in Duluth Mayor Emily Larson says she does not…

Ukraine’s Capital Under Threat as Russia Presses Invasion

February 25, 2022

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Russian troops are bearing down on Ukraine’s capital, with gunfire and explosions resonating ever closer to the government quarter. The invasion of a democratic country has fueled fears of a wider war in Europe and triggered worldwide efforts to make Russia stop. Amid growing casualties from the deadly warfare, the Kremlin said Russia…

AP Sources: Biden Taps Ketanji Brown Jackson for High Court

February 25, 2022

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) WASHINGTON (AP) – President Joe Biden will nominate federal appeals court Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to be the first Black woman on the Supreme Court. That word comes from people familiar with the matter. In selecting Jackson, Biden delivers on a campaign promise, moving to further diversify a court that was made up entirely of white men…

President Biden Will Visit Superior Next Week

February 24, 2022

Alexandra Burnley,

(AP Photo/Evan Vucci) (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) SUPERIOR, Wis. — President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden will head to Superior next Wednesday to promote the bipartisan Infrastructure Law, according to a press release from the White House. Mr. Biden plans to highlight how the law “delivers for the American people by rebuilding roads and bridges and creating good-paying, union…

CDC to Significantly Ease Pandemic Mask Guidelines Friday

February 24, 2022

The Associated Press,

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration will significantly loosen federal mask-wearing guidelines to protect against COVID-19 transmission on Friday, according to two people familiar with the matter, meaning most Americans will no longer be advised to wear masks in indoor public settings. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday will announce a change to the metrics it uses…

US Braces for Russian Cyberattacks in Wake of Ukrainian Invasion

February 24, 2022

Site Staff,

(Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) (FOX Business) – The U.S. government is on high alert for signs of Russian cyberattacks against banks and other financial institutions after Moscow launched a wide-ranging attack on Ukraine on Thursday, eliciting harsh sanctions from the international community. A homeland security source with knowledge of the matter told FOX Business on…

Officials Say Ukraine No Longer in Control of Chernobyl Site

February 24, 2022

The Associated Press,

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A presidential adviser says Ukraine lost control of the Chernobyl nuclear site, where Ukrainian forces had waged a fierce battle with Russian troops. Adviser Mykhailo Podolyak told The Associated Press that Ukrainian authorities did not know the current condition of the facilities at Chernobyl, the site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster. “After the absolutely senseless…

Wall Street Joins Global Swoon After Russia Attacks Ukraine

February 24, 2022

The Associated Press,

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks tumbled worldwide Thursday after Russia’s attack on Ukraine sent fear coursing through markets and upped the pressure on the high inflation already hurting people and businesses around the world. The S&P 500 sank 2% to continue its dismal start of the year. It’s now down almost 14% from the record high it set in early…

Russia Attacks Ukraine; Peace in Europe ‘Shattered’

February 24, 2022

The Associated Press,

(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti) WARSAW, Poland (AP) – Russian troops have launched a broad assault on Ukraine from three sides. The attack began before dawn and brought explosions to Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, and other cities. Ukraine’s leadership said Thursday at least 40 people have been killed so far in what is called a “full-scale war” targeting the country from the east,…

Russia’s Putin Announces Military Operation In Ukraine

February 23, 2022

The Associated Press,

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday announced a military operation in Ukraine and warned other countries that any attempt to interfere with the Russian action would lead to “consequences they have never seen.” He said the attack was needed to protect civilians in eastern Ukraine – a claim the U.S. had predicted he would falsely make to…

Target Drops Mask Mandate for Employees, Customers

February 23, 2022

Site Staff,

(FOX 9) – Target will no longer require its employees or customers to wear masks, according to an update on its corporate website. Through an update to its FAQ section, Target announced, “As COVID-19 cases continue to decline across the country, Target will not require U.S. team members or guests to wear masks, as local regulations allow.” In a section…

Oscars Slim Down, Will Hand Out 8 Awards Ahead of Broadcast

February 23, 2022

The Associated Press,

NEW YORK (AP) – To combat slumping ratings, the Academy Awards are undergoing a radical slimming down, with eight awards to be presented off-air during next month’s telecast. Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences President David Rubin wrote in a letter sent to members Tuesday about the change. The letter says the awards for film editing, production design, sound,…

Russia Evacuating Embassy in Ukraine as Crisis Escalates

February 23, 2022

The Associated Press,

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) – Russia began evacuating its embassy in Kyiv, and Ukraine urged its citizens to leave Russia. Those moves come as the region braced for further confrontation Wednesday after President Vladimir Putin received authorization to use military force outside his country. Hopes for a diplomatic way out of a new, potentially devastating war appeared all but sunk as…

White House Calls Russian Moves on Ukraine an Invasion

February 22, 2022

The Associated Press,

MOSCOW (AP) — The White House on Tuesday began referring to Russian troop deployments in eastern Ukraine as an “invasion” after initially hesitating to use the term — a red line that President Joe Biden has said would result in the U.S. levying severe sanctions against Moscow. Several European leaders said earlier in the day that Russian troops have moved…

Putin Orders Forces to ‘Maintain Peace’ in Eastern Ukraine

February 21, 2022

The Associated Press,

(Alexei Nikolsky, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) MOSCOW (AP) — The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin is ordering forces to maintain peace in eastern Ukraine. But it is not immediately clear whether or when troops would enter the country. The announcement follows a day of fast-moving developments in which Putin announced the recognition of separatist regions in Ukraine….