Stories by Associated Press

Prosecutors: Capitol Cop Told Jan. 6 Rioter to Hide Evidence

The officer, Michael A. Riley, is accused of tipping off someone who participated in the riot by telling them to remove posts from Facebook that had showed the person inside the Capitol during the Jan. 6 attack, according to court documents.

Judge Firms Up Trial Date for Smollett, Won’t Dismiss Case

A judge on Friday denied a last-ditch effort to dismiss a criminal case against actor Jussie Smollett, who is accused of lying to police when he reported that he was the victim of a racist, anti-gay attack in downtown Chicago in January 2019.

Chicago Cubs Hire Carter Hawkins as General Manager

The Chicago Cubs hired Carter Hawkins as general manager on Friday, dipping into Cleveland’s front office in an effort to bolster their own player development system.

FDA Panel Endorses Booster Shot for J&J COVID-19 Vaccine

U.S. health advisers endorsed a booster of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine Friday, citing growing worry that Americans who got the single-dose shot aren’t as protected as those given two-dose brands.

Man Charged in Shooting That Killed 7-Year-Old Chicago Girl

Police charged Aireon Luster, 24, on Wednesday with first-degree murder and attempted murder in the death of Serenity Broughton. He was ordered held without bond during a Thursday court hearing. 

FDA Panel Endorses Lower-dose Moderna COVID Shot for Booster

The panel of outside advisers to the Food and Drug Administration voted unanimously to recommend a booster shot for seniors, as well as younger adults with other health problems, jobs or living situations that put them at increased risk from COVID-19.

FDA Unlikely to Rule on Merck’s COVID Pill Before December

The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it will ask its outside experts to meet in late November to scrutinize Merck’s pill to treat COVID-19.

US Unemployment Claims Fall to Lowest Level Since Pandemic

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell to its lowest level since the pandemic began, a sign the job market is still improving even as hiring has slowed in the past two months.

Deere & Co. Workers Go on Strike After Rejecting Contract

More than 10,000 Deere & Co. workers went on strike Thursday, the first major walkout at the agricultural machinery giant in more than three decades.

Mercury Even WNBA Finals With 91-86 Overtime Win Over Sky

Chicago backed up its Game 1 win with another strong offensive performance, yet couldn’t finish it off.

Chicago Police Union Head Urges Cops to Defy Vaccine Mandate

In a video posted online Tuesday, Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara vowed to take Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration to court if it tries to enforce a mandate, which requires city workers to report their vaccine status by the end of the work week. 

More Questions for J&J Vaccine Boosters Ahead of FDA Review

The Food and Drug Administration is wrestling with whether and when to offer another dose of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, while a new study out Wednesday raises the prospect that using a different brand as the booster might work better.

Border Residents Rejoice as US Says It Will Lift Travel Ban

Beleaguered business owners and families separated by COVID-19 restrictions rejoiced Wednesday after the U.S. said it will reopen its land borders to nonessential travel next month, ending a 19-month freeze.

William Shatner, TV’s Capt. Kirk, Blasts Into Space

William Shatner, 90, became the oldest person in space, eclipsing the previous record — set by a passenger on a similar jaunt on a Jeff Bezos spaceship in July — by eight years.

Inflation Rises 5.4% From Year Ago, Matching 13-year High

The unexpected burst of inflation this year reflects sharply higher prices for food and energy, but also for furniture, cars, televisions, and other largely imported goods. COVID-19 has shut down factories in Asia and slowed U.S. port operations.

Altuve, Astros Going Back to ALCS After Topping White Sox

Led by their October-tested stars, the Houston Astros are going back to the AL Championship Series for the fifth straight year.

Advice Shifting on Aspirin Use for Preventing Heart Attacks

Doctors have long recommended daily low-dose aspirin for many patients who already have had a heart attack or stroke. The task force guidance does not change that advice. 

Sky Open WNBA Finals With 91-77 Win Over Mercury

The 2021 WNBA Finals is the first for both franchises since the Mercury swept the Sky in 2014.

Next on FDA’s Agenda: Booster Shots of Moderna, J&J Vaccines

With many Americans who got Pfizer vaccinations already rolling up their sleeves for a booster shot, millions of others who received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine wait anxiously to learn when it's their turn.

Americans Quit Their Jobs at a Record Pace in August

The Labor Department said that quits jumped to 4.3 million in August, the highest on records dating back to December 2000, and up from 4 million in July.

Southwest Cancels Hundreds More Flights, Denies Sickout

Southwest Airlines canceled more than 350 flights Monday following a weekend of major disruptions that it blamed on bad weather and air traffic control issues. 

Astros Dismiss Sign-stealing Implications by Sox Pitcher

The Houston Astros found themselves in familiar territory Monday, brushing aside comments by Chicago White Sox reliever Ryan Tepera after he implied they stole signs while winning the first two games of the AL Division Series in their ballpark.

Game 4 of Astros-White Sox ALDS Postponed Because of Forecast

Game 4 of the AL Division Series between the Houston Astros and Chicago White Sox has been postponed because of rain in the forecast.

Most Deere Workers Reject Contract Offer From Tractor Maker

Negotiators will return to the bargaining table Monday to try and work out a new deal to cover more than 10,000 workers at 14 plants across the United States. The union set a strike deadline of 11:59 p.m. Wednesday.

Merck Asks US FDA to Authorize Promising Anti-COVID Pill

If cleared by the Food and Drug Administration — a decision that could come in a matter of weeks — it would be the first pill shown to treat COVID-19. All other FDA-backed treatments against the disease require an IV or injection.

Facebook Unveils New Controls for Kids Using Its Platforms

Facebook is also planning to introduce new controls for adults of teens on an optional basis so that parents or guardians can supervise what their teens are doing online. These initiatives come after Facebook announced late last month that it was pausing work on its Instagram for Kids project. 
 

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