U.S./World category, Page 859
Beijing begins to test venues for 2022 Winter Olympics
BEIJING — The organizers of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics started 10 days of testing Thursday for the hockey and other indoor venues. A curling mixed doubles competition was held at the refashioned “Water Cube,” where an ice surface has been laid over the pool that hosted the swimming events...
Gunman in Southern California mass shooting knew his victims
ORANGE, Calif. — The gunman who killed four people and critically wounded a fifth at a Southern California office building knew all the victims and apparently before opening fire chained shut the gates to two entrances, delaying police from getting inside, authorities said Thursday. Among the victims of the “horrific...
Mexican electoral court: President can’t praise achievements
MEXICO CITY — Mexico’s electoral tribunal ruled Wednesday that President Andrés Manuel López Obrador cannot talk about his administration’s achievements during the campaign leading up to June 6 mid-term elections. The court’s ruling places the president in a tough spot. López Obrador has held news conferences almost every weekday since...
New Mexico advances bills to legalize recreational marijuana
SANTA FE, N.M — Legislators mounted a charge toward legalizing recreational marijuana in New Mexico, as House lawmakers on Wednesday sent an approved framework for pot sales, business licenses and taxation to the state Senate for consideration. The Senate prepared for a decisive evening vote on a House-approved bill to...
Covid-19 pushed total U.S. deaths beyond 3.3 million last year
The covid-19 pandemic pushed total U.S. deaths last year beyond 3.3 million, the nation’s highest annual death toll, the government reported Wednesday. The coronavirus caused about 375,000 deaths, and was the third leading cause of death in 2020, after heart disease and cancer. Covid-19 deaths in the U.S. now top...
Ever Given crew could face criminal charges for Suez Canal incident
The 25-member Indian crew of the Ever Given, a massive container ship that remained stuck in the Suez Canal for nearly week, could face criminal charges. Investigators boarded the 1,300-foot-long vessel and launched their investigation on Wednesday, shortly after its arrival in Egypt’s Great Bitter Lake. The probe is expected...
France to close schools, ban domestic travel as virus surges
PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday announced a three-week nationwide school closure and a month-long domestic travel ban, as the rapid spread of the virus ramped up pressure on hospitals. In a televised address to the nation, Macron said new efforts are needed as “the epidemic is accelerating.”...
Missing film designer found dead under garbage in NYC home
NEW YORK — An Emmy-winning production designer who was known to be a hoarder has been found dead under a pile of garbage in her New York City home. Evelyn Sakash, 66, was found Tuesday lying on her kitchen floor buried under garbage, a police spokesperson said. Sakash was found...
‘My soul is lighter’: Serial killer’s death brings closure
SPOKANE, Wash. — Serial killer Joseph Edward Duncan III died in U.S. prison recently, having admitted to slaughtering seven people — including five children — in Idaho, Washington state, Montana and California. Some question whether Duncan, whose victims included four members of a single family, killed even more people. Following...
2 views of George Floyd onlookers: Desperate to help or angry mob
To the prosecution, the witnesses who watched George Floyd’s body go still were regular people — a firefighter, a mixed martial arts fighter, a high school student and her 9-year-old cousin in a T-shirt emblazoned with the word “Love” — going about their daily lives when they happened upon the...
Scientists: Grizzlies expand turf but still need protection
BILLINGS, Mont. — Grizzly bears are slowly expanding the turf where they roam in parts of the northern Rocky Mountains but need continued protections, according to government scientists who concluded that no other areas of the country would be suitable for reintroducing the fearsome predators. The Fish and Wildlife Service...
New York is latest state to legalize recreational marijuana
New Yorkers over the age of 21 can now possess and use up to 3 ounces of cannabis in public under a legalization bill signed Wednesday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, while sales of recreational-use marijuana won’t become legal for an estimated 18 months until the state draws up regulations. Advocates...
Ohio’s lieutenant governor digs in heels on ‘Wuhan virus’ tweet
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio’s lieutenant governor dug in his heels Wednesday on a tweet in which he referred to covid-19 as the “Wuhan virus,” even as advocates warn such rhetoric is a driving force behind violence against Asian Americans, including the recent attacks in Georgia and New York. Republican Lt....
Wisconsin Supreme Court strikes down governor’s mask mandate
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ statewide mask mandate Wednesday, stripping the governor of one of his last remaining tools to curb large-scale spread of covid-19 as the state stands on the precipice of another surge in infections. The conservative-leaning court ruled 4-3...
Holy days arrive for the faithful as pandemic eases in U.S.
For Christians across the United States, Easter services on Sunday will reflect an extra measure of joy as the nation experiences rising optimism after a year of pandemic. Even if still observing restrictions, many churches may draw the largest numbers of in-person worshippers in months. It’s a season of major...
Suspect in attack on Asian American woman in NYC is arrested
NEW YORK — A parolee convicted of killing his mother nearly two decades ago was arrested on charges, including felony assault as a hate crime, in an attack on an Asian American woman in New York City, police said early Wednesday. Police said Brandon Elliot, 38, is the man seen...
Some Capitol riot suspects apologize as consequences sink in
PHOENIX — The helmet-wearing Idaho man photographed dangling by one hand from the Senate’s balcony during the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol turned himself in six days later. While buckled in the vehicle delivering him to the Boise jail, Josiah Colt made a video apologizing and expressing shame...
Murrysville-Export club join international Rotary effort to ‘End Plastic Soup’Video
After growing up in Ireland, Noreen Hill-Olszewski was surprised to find how comparatively little recycling was happening in the United States. “We’re used to separating our trash, our different types of recyclables, our ‘compostibles,’” Hill-Olszewski said. Local recycling has taken a step back in recent years, with several regional haulers...
Virginia governor seeks to accelerate marijuana legalization
RICHMOND, Va. — Adults in Virginia could legally possess and grow small amounts of marijuana beginning in July, about three years sooner than initially envisioned, under changes the governor proposed Wednesday to legislation passed earlier this year. “Our Commonwealth is committed to legalizing marijuana in an equitable way,” Democratic Gov....
NCAA, former athletes head to Supreme Court over how football, basketball players are rewarded
WASHINGTON — The NCAA and former college athletes are getting ready to play ball at the Supreme Court. With the March Madness basketball tournament ongoing, the high court will hear arguments Wednesday in a case about how colleges can reward athletes who play Division I basketball and football. The NCAA...
G. Gordon Liddy, unrepentant Watergate burglar who became talk show host, dies at 90
G. Gordon Liddy, the tough-guy Watergate operative who went to prison rather than testify and later turned his Nixon-era infamy into a successful television and talk show career, has died at age 90. Liddy died Tuesday at his daugher’s house in Virginia, his son Thomas P. Liddy told The Washington...
‘Major’ pain: Biden’s dog involved in 2nd biting incident
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s younger dog Major this week was involved in his second biting incident of the month, the White House said Tuesday. The dog “nipped someone while on a walk” on Monday, said Michael LaRosa, press secretary to first lady Jill Biden, adding that the dog “is...
Pittsburgh man, Boston man arrested after fatal Hawaii vacation rental fight
HONOLULU — Two visitors from the East Coast were under arrest for manslaughter as a result of a deadly fight at a Hawaii vacation rental, police said. Big Island police were dispatched to Kailua-Kona rental early Monday where a 30-year-old man wasn’t breathing. A preliminary investigation found that an argument...
Garland orders Justice Department to examine ‘disturbing trend’ in hate crimesVideo
WASHINGTON — Attorney General Merrick Garland directed Justice Department employees to give priority to investigating and prosecuting hate crimes and incidents, especially a recent outbreak of violence against Asian Americans. In a memo Tuesday to all department employees, Garland ordered a review to be completed in a month to determine...
Video shows vicious attack of Asian American woman in New YorkVideo
NEW YORK — A vicious attack on an Asian American woman near New York City’s Times Square is drawing widespread condemnation and raising alarms about the failure of bystanders to intervene amid a rash of anti-Asian violence across the country. A lone assailant was seen on surveillance video Monday kicking...
