Stories by Associated Press

Storm That Slugged South, Midwest Brings Misery to Northeast

More than a foot of snow fell in parts of Pennsylvania, New York and New England on Friday but it was freezing rain and ice, accompanied by plummeting temperatures, that threatened to cause the biggest problems for travel and electric service before the storm blows out to sea late Friday and Saturday.

US Employers Shrug Off Omicron, Add 467,000 Jobs in January

The government's report Friday also drastically revised up its estimate of job gains for November and December by a combined 709,000. It also said the unemployment rate ticked up last month from 3.9% to a still-low 4%.

Scientists Race to Gather Winter Data on Warming Great Lakes

Lake scientists have long considered winter a season when aquatic activity slows. But researchers now think more is going on in the bitter depths than previously believed — including activity influenced by climate change. 

Blackhawks Owner Rocky Wirtz Apologizes for Response to Kyle Beach Talk

It was the first time the franchise’s top leaders had faced questions in public since the team published a report by an outside law firm that found the organization badly mishandled Kyle Beach’s allegations that he was assaulted by then-video coach Brad Aldrich during the team’s run to the 2010 Stanley Cup title.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger Pushes ‘Uneasy Alliance’ to Thwart Trump’s Allies

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, one of Trump’s fiercest Republican critics in Congress, has directed his political organization to initiate a novel campaign to convince non-Republicans to support anti-Trump Republican candidates in GOP primary contests across the country later this year. 

Pfizer Asks FDA to Allow COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids Under 5

The nation’s 19 million children under 5 are the only group not yet eligible for vaccination against the coronavirus. Many parents have been pushing for an expansion of shots to toddlers and preschoolers, especially as the omicron wave sent record numbers of youngsters to the hospital.

3 Former Chicago Blackhawks to Help Team with General Manager Search

Former Chicago Blackhawks forwards Eddie Olczyk, Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp have agreed to help the team in its search for a new general manager.

NAACP Urges Federal Charges in Laquan McDonald’s Killing

A letter to Garland, sent by NAACP President Derrick Johnson, comes days before former Officer Jason Van Dyke is scheduled to be released from prison Thursday after serving less than half his state prison term of six years and nine months.

Supreme Court Pick Holds Import for Black Women in Law

According to the National Association for Law Placement, Black women made up 3.17% of associates at America’s law firms in 2021 but less than 1% of partners. Women of color overall made up nearly 16% of associates at America’s law firms but only about 4% of the partners.

Stocks Mixed as Wall Street Ends Worst Month Since March ’20

Stocks are mixed Monday as Wall Street heads for its worst month since the early days of the pandemic, weighed by worries that imminent hikes in interest rates will make everything in markets more challenging.

President Joe Biden Calls for Release of Illinois Man Held Hostage in Afghanistan

President Joe Biden on Sunday called for the release of U.S. Navy veteran Mark Frerichs of Lombard, who was taken hostage in Afghanistan nearly two years ago.

Judge OKs Agreement to Destroy Gun Used by Kyle Rittenhouse

Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger said the state crime lab would destroy the gun, probably in April. Judge Bruce Schroeder, the Kenosha County judge who presided over Rittenhouse’s trial, approved the agreement.

How Many Times Can I Reuse My N95 Mask?

It depends, but you should be able to use N95s and KN95s a few times.

Chicago Bears Hire Colts Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus as Head Coach: AP Source

Matt Eberflus is the new coach of the Chicago Bears, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press, tasked with turning around a franchise mired in mediocrity for much of the past decade.

Biden: Ready For ‘Long Overdue’ Pick of Black Female Justice

In a White House ceremony marking a moment of national transition, President Joe Biden praised retiring Justice Stephen Breyer, who will have spent nearly 28 years on the high court by the time he leaves at the end of the term, as “a model public servant at a time of great division in this country.”

US Economy Grew 5.7% in 2021 in Rebound From 2020 Recession

The nation’s gross domestic product — its total output of goods and services — expanded 5.7% in 2021. It was the strongest calendar-year growth since a 7.2% surge in 1984 after a previous recession.

Justice Stephen Breyer Will Retire, Giving Joe Biden the 1st Supreme Court Pick of His Presidency

Liberal Justice Stephen Breyer will retire, giving Presoemt Joe Biden the first Supreme Court pick of his presidency.

Ukrainian Leaders: Stay Calm, Russian Invasion Not Imminent

Ukraine’s leaders sought Tuesday to reassure the nation that an invasion from neighboring Russia was not imminent, even as they acknowledged the threat is real and received a shipment of U.S. military equipment to shore up their defenses.

Pfizer Begins Testing Omicron-Matched COVID Shots in Adults

Pfizer is enrolling healthy adults to test a reformulated COVID-19 vaccine that matches the hugely contagious omicron variant, to see how it compares with the original shots.

Congressional Ethics Office Says Rep. Marie Newman May Have Broken Law

An investigative report from the Office of Congressional Ethics released Monday detailed a “substantial reason to believe” that Newman promised federal employment to a political opponent.

Stocks Climb Back After Steep Slide on Fed, Ukraine Jitters

The stock market extended its three-week decline and put the benchmark S&P 500 on track for a so-called correction — a drop of 10% or more from its most recent high. 

US Puts 8,500 Troops on Heightened Alert Amid Russia Tension

At President Biden’s direction, the Pentagon is putting about 8,500 U.S.-based troops on heightened alert for potential deployment to Europe amid rising fears of a possible Russian military move on Ukraine.

Justices To Hear Challenge To Race in College Admissions

The conservative-dominated Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a challenge to the consideration of race in college admissions, adding affirmative action to major cases on abortion, guns, religion and COVID-19 already on the agenda.

US Women’s Olympic Hockey Team Once Again Led by Hilary Knight, Who Grew Up in Lake Forest

Hilary Knight, who grew up in north suburban Lake Forest, is making her U.S. women’s hockey record-matching fourth Olympic appearance in which she’s won a gold and two silvers.

New Conservative Target: Race as Factor in COVID Treatment

The wave of infections brought on by the omicron variant and a shortage of treatments have focused attention on the policies. Medical experts say the opposition is misleading. Health officials have long said there is a strong case for considering race as one of many risk factors in treatment decisions. And there is no evidence that race alone is being used to decide who gets medicine.

Arizona Democrats Censure Sinema for Blocking Voting Bill

The moves offer a preview of the persistent opposition Sinema will likely face within her own party in the two years before she next appears on a ballot. 
 

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