News

Expectations low, NYC commuters brace for a 'summer of hell'

Published on Fri, 07/07/2017 - 2:36pm
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NEW YORK — A massive two-month repair project will launch Monday at the country's busiest train station, temporarily exacerbating the daily commuting struggle during what New York's governor has predicted will be a "summer of hell."

But it's only a stopgap measure against a root problem it won't solve: that one of the world's great cities increasingly seems unable to effectively transport its workforce.

While gunshots were flying, hospital staff was saving lives

Published on Fri, 07/07/2017 - 2:31pm
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NEW YORK — A disgruntled doctor had slipped into his former workplace and was firing through the halls of Bronx Lebanon Hospital. But the staff there still had patients to take care of — like the newborn with a bowel obstruction who needed intensive care.

"It was the middle of the lockdown," said Dr. Madgy Mikhail, head of the department. But the baby was vomiting. So the doctor and a nurse shielded the infant and, with an armed SWAT team escort, went down a floor to the neonatal intensive care unit so the baby could be treated.

Islamic militant attack in Egypt's Sinai kills 23 troops

Published on Fri, 07/07/2017 - 2:23pm
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EL-ARISH, Egypt — Islamic militants in Egypt's Sinai unleashed a suicide car bomb and dozens of masked and heavily armed gunmen who descended in multiple SUVs on a remote security outpost in the desert peninsula on Friday, killing at least 23 soldiers and wounding 33, officials said.

The brazen attack was the deadliest in the past two years in Sinai and though there was no immediate claim of responsibility, it bore all the hallmarks of the Islamic State group.

Trump confronts Putin on election hacking in first meeting

Published on Fri, 07/07/2017 - 2:20pm
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HAMBURG, Germany — At long last face to face, President Donald Trump confronted Russian President Vladimir Putin directly Friday over Moscow's meddling in the 2016 presidential campaign, as the two leaders sought to use their historic first meeting to move past the issue and forge closer cooperation on Syria.

Israelis outraged by UNESCO decision on Hebron holy site

Published on Fri, 07/07/2017 - 2:17pm
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JERUSALEM — The U.N. cultural agency on Friday declared the old city in the West Bank town of Hebron as a Palestinian world heritage site, a decision that outraged Israeli officials who say the move negated the deep Jewish ties to the biblical town and its ancient shrine.

The move was the latest chapter in Israel's contentious relationship with UNESCO, an agency it accuses of being an anti-Israeli tool that makes decisions out of political considerations.

Ex-Gitmo inmate gets apology, millions from Canada

Published on Fri, 07/07/2017 - 2:14pm
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TORONTO — A former Guantanamo Bay prisoner who pleaded guilty to killing a U.S. soldier in Afghanistan received an apology and a multimillion-dollar payment from the Canadian government after a court ruling said his rights were abused.

North-central Montana wildfire grows to 13 square miles

Published on Fri, 07/07/2017 - 12:48pm
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LANDUSKY (AP) — More crews and equipment were brought in Friday to help battle a wildfire south of the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation in north-central Montana as the growing fire threatened the small town of Landusky.

The fire, burning in grass and timber in the Little Rocky Mountains grew from 2.5 square miles (6.5 square kilometers) on Wednesday to 13 square miles (33 square kilometers) late Thursday, after the wind shifted, the Bureau of Land Management said.

Native Americans say grizzly bear decision violates religion

Published on Fri, 07/07/2017 - 12:45pm

HELENA (AP) — Native American tribes, clans and leaders from seven states and Canada say the U.S. government's recent decision to lift protections for grizzly bears in the Yellowstone National Park area violates their religious freedom.

They are suing to block the government from removing Yellowstone grizzlies from the endangered and threatened species list, which would allow Montana, Wyoming and Idaho to hold grizzly bear hunts.

Interior secretary calls for quicker oil and gas permits

Published on Fri, 07/07/2017 - 12:44pm

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) — President Donald Trump's efforts to increase U.S. energy production got a boost Thursday from Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke, who pledged to streamline permitting for oil and gas drilling and hold more frequent sales of drilling rights on federal lands.

Zinke signed an order calling for faster and more efficient oil and gas permitting to clear a backlog of federal drilling permits in U.S. Bureau of Land Management offices out West.

"There has to be a process that doesn't over-delay things so we can't get anything done in this country," Zinke said.

Montana woman admits to being drunk during fatal car crash

Published on Fri, 07/07/2017 - 12:43pm

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A Montana woman has admitted in court that she was drunk driving last September when she crashed her car into another vehicle, killing two teenagers and injuring one.

The Billings Gazette reports  24-year-old Thyanna Faith Littlesun pleaded guilty on Thursday in federal court to two counts of involuntary manslaughter and to one count of assault resulting in serious injury. There was no plea agreement.