Stories by Associated Press
Biden’s $6T Budget: Social Spending, Taxes on Business
| Associated Press
President Joe Biden on Friday unveiled a $6 trillion budget for next year that’s piled high with new safety net programs for the poor and middle class, but his generosity depends on taxing corporations and the wealthy to keep the nation’s spiking debt from spiraling totally out of control.
GOP Blocks Bipartisan Probe of Deadly Jan. 6 Riot at Capitol
| Associated Press
Senate Republicans on Friday blocked creation of a bipartisan panel to study the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
Facebook Won’t Remove Posts Claiming COVID-19 is Human-Made
| Associated Press
Facebook says it will no longer remove claims that COVID-19 is human-made or manufactured “in light of ongoing investigations into the origin of COVID-19 and in consultation with public health experts.”
Boeing to Pay $17 Million to Settle Plane Production Issues
| Associated Press
The Federal Aviation Administration said Thursday that the settlement covers the installation of unapproved sensors and other parts on some Boeing 737 NG and 737 Max planes built between 2015 and 2019.
Cops Who Kill Often Catch a Break at Sentencing Time
| Associated Press
As former Minneapolis Police Officer Derek Chauvin waits to be sentenced for killing George Floyd, it’s worth remembering what happened in Chicago after a jury convicted a white police officer in the shooting death of 17-year-old Laquan McDonald.
‘School of Rock’ Actor Kevin Clark Killed in Bike Accident
| Associated Press
Kevin Clark, who played drummer Freddy “Spazzy McGee” Jones in the 2003 movie “School of Rock” with Jack Black, was killed when he was struck by a car while riding his bicycle along a Chicago street early Wednesday.
Karine Jean-Pierre Makes History Giving White House Briefing
| Associated Press
Karine Jean-Pierre on Wednesday became the first openly gay woman to deliver the White House press briefing and only the second Black woman in history to take on the role.
Leading Dems Seek Input on ‘Public Option’ Health Care Plan
| Associated Press
Two leading congressional Democrats issued a call Wednesday for ideas on a “public option” health insurance plan, a campaign promise of President Joe Biden’s that faces long odds politically.
Exxon: At Least 2 Board Members Lose Seats in Climate Fight
| Associated Press
Exxon Mobil’s shareholders have voted to replace at least two of the company’s 12 board members with directors who are seen as better suited to fight climate change, bolster Exxon’s finances and guide it through a transition to cleaner energy.
Biden Asks US Intel Officials to Investigate COVID-19 Origin
| Associated Press
President Joe Biden on Wednesday asked U.S. intelligence officials to “redouble” their efforts to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic, including any possibility the trail might lead to a Chinese lab.
Grief, Smiles as Floyd Family Meets Biden a Year After Death
| Associated Press
George Floyd’s family met with President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris at the White House on Tuesday to commemorate their loss and continue to push for legislation.
Rallies, Moments of Silence Honor George Floyd a Year Later
| Associated Press
George Floyd was honored Tuesday with a moment of silence in the city where he died at the hands of police, a death captured on a wrenching bystander video that galvanized the racial justice movement and continues to ripple a year later.
Iran, World Powers Resume Talks on US Return to Nuclear Deal
| Associated Press
World powers opened a fifth round of talks with Iran aimed at bringing the United States back into the landmark 2015 nuclear deal meant to prevent the Islamic Republic from obtaining an atomic bomb, with both sides expressing hope Tuesday that it might be the final series of negotiations.
US to Reopen Jerusalem Consulate, Upgrading Palestinian Ties
| Associated Press
Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced Tuesday that the U.S. would reopen its consulate in Jerusalem — a move that restores ties with Palestinians that had been downgraded by the Trump administration.
Board Fight at Exxon Intensifies Spotlight on Climate Change
| Associated Press
ExxonMobil is facing a major challenge from a group of investors in one of the biggest fights a corporate boardroom has endured over its stance on climate change, an issue of rising urgency for many shareholders.
Moderna Says Its COVID-19 Shot Works in Kids as Young as 12
| Associated Press
Moderna said Tuesday its COVID-19 vaccine strongly protects kids as young as 12, a step that could put the shot on track to become the second option for that age group in the U.S.
Families Urge Legal Changes to Prevent More Police Killings
| Associated Press
Parents and siblings of Black men killed by police urged people during a discussion in the city where George Floyd was killed a year ago to join them in pursuing legal changes they say can make similar deaths less likely in the future.
Explainer: Why Has the Price of Bitcoin Been Falling?
| Associated Press
Even by Bitcoin’s standards, last week was pretty wild. The price of the famously volatile digital currency fell nearly 30% at one point after the China Banking Association warned member banks of the risks associated with digital currencies.
Tribune Shareholders Approve Hedge Fund Alden’s Bid
| Associated Press
Shareholders of Tribune Publishing, one of the country’s largest newspaper chains, approved a $630 million takeover bid by hedge fund Alden Global Capital on Friday, the company said in a brief statement.
Last Cat Out of the Tiger King Park Bag as Seizure Completed
| Associated Press
Federal officials have removed the last of the 68 big cats from the private zoo in Oklahoma that had been the center of the “Tiger King” saga.
Growing Mystery of Suspected Energy Attacks Draws US Concern
| Associated Press
The Biden administration is facing new pressure to resolve a mystery that has vexed its predecessors: Is an adversary using a microwave or radio wave weapon to attack the brains of U.S. diplomats, spies and military personnel?
COVID Testing’s Value Shrinks as Vaccines Beat Back Virus
| Associated Press
Federal health officials’ new, more relaxed recommendations on masks have all but eclipsed another major change in guidance from the government: Fully vaccinated Americans can largely skip getting tested for the coronavirus.
Biden to Host George Floyd’s Family at White House
| Associated Press
President Joe Biden will host George Floyd’s family at the White House on Tuesday to mark the first anniversary of his death at the hands of a white Minneapolis police officer.
‘Head Lesbian,’ Singer and Feminist, Alix Dobkin, Dies at 80
| Associated Press
The lesbian singer and feminist activist who appeared in an iconic and recently resurgent 1975 photo wearing a t-shirt that read “The Future is Female,” has died. Alix Dobkin of Woodstock, New York, was 80.
Cooks, Nurses Guard Inmates With US Prisons Down 6K Officers
| Associated Press
Nearly one-third of federal correctional officer jobs in the United States are vacant, forcing prisons to use cooks, teachers, nurses and other workers to guard inmates.
Virgin Galactic Rocket Ship Ascends From New Mexico
| Associated Press
Virgin Galactic on Saturday made its first rocket-powered flight from New Mexico to the fringe of space in a manned shuttle, as the company forges toward offering tourist flights to the edge of the Earth’s atmosphere.
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