Nation

Puerto Rico crisis deepens over governor

Published on Mon, 08/05/2019 - 3:27pm

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Puerto Rico’s constitutional crisis was expected to deepen on Monday after the island’s Senate filed a lawsuit seeking to oust a veteran politician recently sworn in as the island’s governor as legislators squabble over who should lead the U.S. territory.

The lawsuit seeks a preliminary injunction ordering Pedro Pierluisi to cease his functions immediately and also asks that the court declare unconstitutional a 2005 law that states a secretary of state does not have to be approved by both House and Senate if he has to step in as governor.

Arms control treaty dies; US to test new weapon

Published on Fri, 08/02/2019 - 4:08pm
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States plans to test a new missile in coming weeks that would have been prohibited under a landmark, 32-year-old arms control treaty that the U.S. and Russia ripped up on Friday.

Ratcliffe, Trump pick for national intelligence director, is withdrawing

Published on Fri, 08/02/2019 - 4:06pm
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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says his pick for national intelligence director has decided to withdraw from the running, citing unfair media coverage.

In a tweet Friday, Trump said Republican Rep. John Ratcliffe of Texas had decided to stay in Congress. Questions about Ratcliffe’s experience have dogged him since Trump announced his candidacy five days ago.

Trump didn’t cite any specific media reports, but tweeted that “rather than going through months of slander and libel,” he would be returning to Capitol Hill.

Robert F. Kennedy’s granddaughter found dead

Published on Fri, 08/02/2019 - 3:29pm
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BOSTON (AP) — A granddaughter of Robert F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1968 while running for president, has died. 

Saoirse Kennedy Hill was 22.

The Kennedy family confirmed the death in a statement Thursday night following reports that a person had been found unresponsive that day at the storied Kennedy compound in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts, after police responded to a call about a possible drug overdose. The statement was issued by Brian Wright O’Connor, a spokesman for Saoirse Hill’s uncle, former congressman Joseph P. Kennedy II.

Delivery drivers involved in Amazon theft ring

Published on Fri, 08/02/2019 - 3:27pm

SEATTLE (AP) — The two contract delivery drivers working for Amazon had a clear-cut assignment: They were supposed to bring packages from a warehouse south of Seattle to a post office for shipping, or sometimes drive to Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to pick up items that were being returned to the company.

Trump denounces Dems at rally

Published on Fri, 08/02/2019 - 3:26pm
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CINCINNATI (AP) — President Donald Trump used a revved-up rally in Cincinnati to tear into the Democrats he has been elevating as his new political foils, attacking four liberal congresswomen of color and their party’s urban leaders, while also directing fire at those he could be facing in 2020.

Blast leaves 1 dead, 5 injured, 7 missing

Published on Thu, 08/01/2019 - 3:57pm
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 JUNCTION CITY, Ky. (AP) — A regional gas pipeline ruptured early Thursday in Kentucky, causing a massive explosion that killed one person, hospitalized five others, destroyed railroad tracks and forced the evacuation of a nearby mobile home park, authorities said.

Some structures were completely consumed by the blaze, and five to seven people were unaccounted for when firefighters extinguished the flames hours later, Lincoln County Emergency Management Director Don Gilliam said.

Hard-won budget, debt deal clears Senate

Published on Thu, 08/01/2019 - 3:55pm

WASHINGTON (AP) — A hard-won budget and debt deal easily cleared the Senate on Thursday, powered by President Donald Trump’s endorsement and a bipartisan drive to cement recent spending increases for the Pentagon and domestic agencies.

The legislation passed by a 67-28 vote as Trump and his GOP allies relied on lots of Democratic votes to propel it over the finish line.

Capital One hacker barely bothered to hide

Published on Thu, 08/01/2019 - 3:55pm
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SEATTLE (AP) — The 33-year-old former Amazon software engineer accused of hacking Capital One made little attempt to hide her attack. In fact, she effectively publicized it.

It’s one of many riddles swirling around Paige Thompson, who goes by the online handle “erratic.” Well-known in Seattle’s hacker community, Thompson has lived a life of tumult, with frequent job changes, reported estrangement from family and self-described emotional problems and drug use. 

Fed cuts key rate for 1st time in more than decade

Published on Wed, 07/31/2019 - 4:12pm
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WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve cut its key interest rate Wednesday for the first time in a decade to try to counter threats ranging from uncertainties caused by President Donald Trump’s trade wars to chronically low inflation and a dim global outlook.

The Fed also repeated a pledge to “act as appropriate to sustain the expansion” — wording that the financial markets have interpreted as a signal for possible future rate cuts.