Stories by Associated Press

Explainer: Europe Struggles with Energy Crisis as Russia Cuts Gas

Russia has choked off the supplies of cheap natural gas that the continent depended on for years to run factories, generate electricity and heat homes. That has pushed European governments into a desperate scramble for new supplies and for ways to blunt the impact as economic growth slows and household utility bills rise.

Juul to Pay Nearly $440M to Settle States’ Teen Vaping Probe

The settlement resolves one of the biggest legal threats facing the beleaguered company, which still faces nine separate lawsuits from other states. Additionally, Juul faces hundreds of personal suits brought on behalf of teenagers and others who say they became addicted to the company’s vaping products.

Chicago Bears President Ted Phillips to Retire at End of Season

Most recently, his focus has been on purchasing a 326-acre tract of land in suburban Arlington Heights, Illinois, where a new stadium and entertainment complex could be built. 

In Return to White House Tradition, Biden to Help Unveil Obama White House Portrait Next Week

The ceremony will also mark Michelle Obama’s first visit to the White House since Obama’s presidency ended in January 2017, and only the second visit for Barack Obama. He was at the White House in April to mark the 12th anniversary of the health care law he signed in 2010.

After 2 Year Pandemic Pause, Jehovah’s Witnesses Resume Door-to-Door Ministry

Jehovah’s Witnesses suspended door-knocking in the early days of the pandemic’s onset in the United States, just as much of the rest of society went into lockdown too.

Explainer: Should You Get a New COVID Booster? If So, When?

The new boosters are combination or “bivalent” shots that contain half the original vaccine that’s been used since December 2020 and half protection against today’s dominant omicron versions, BA.4 and BA.5.

75 Migrants Bused From Texas Arrive in Chicago

Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s office confirmed that the group arrived on Wednesday night and said the city welcomes them. The immigrants are being bused from Texas as part of a strategy launched by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott this year. 

New Online Dashboard Launches to Help Flyers with Delays, Cancellations

Starting Thursday, travelers will be able to check the dashboard and see what kinds of guarantees, refunds or compensation the major domestic airlines offer in case of flight delays or cancellations. It’s designed to allow travelers to shop around and favor those airlines that offer the best compensation.

US Clears Updated COVID Boosters Targeting Newest Variants

The move by the Food and Drug Administration tweaks the recipe of shots made by Pfizer and rival Moderna that already have saved millions of lives. The hope is that the modified boosters will blunt yet another winter surge.

White Sox Manager Tony La Russa Out Indefinitely with Health Issue

The 77-year-old La Russa missed Tuesday night’s 9-7 loss to Kansas City on the recommendation of his doctors. The team said he is scheduled to undergo additional testing in Arizona with his personal physicians “over the coming days.”

Obstruction Emerges as Key Focus in Donald Trump Documents Probe

The filing offers yet another indication of the sheer volume of classified records retrieved from Mar-a-Lago, in Palm Beach, Florida. It shows how investigators conducting a criminal probe have focused not just on why the records were improperly stored there but also on the question of whether the Trump team intentionally misled them about the continued, and unlawful, presence of the top secret documents.

Prosecutors Rest in R. Kelly’s Trial-Fixing, Child Porn Case

Among the last prosecution witnesses was a 42-year-old woman who went by the pseudonym “Nia.” She was the fourth accuser to testify against the Grammy Award-winning singer at the trial in Kelly’s hometown.

US Asks Farmers: Can You Plant 2 Crops Instead of 1?

Earlier this summer, the U.S. Department of Agriculture instituted new policies to encourage American farmers to begin growing two crops on one piece of land, one after the other, a practice known as double-cropping.

‘Zombie Ice’ from Greenland Will Raise Sea Level 10 Inches

Zombie or doomed ice is ice that is still attached to thicker areas of ice, but is no longer getting fed by those larger glaciers. Meanwhile the doomed ice is melting from climate change, said study co-author William Colgan, a glaciologist at the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland.

US: Review of Possibly Privileged Trump Papers Already Over

The filing from the department follows a judge’s weekend order indicating that she was inclined to grant the Trump legal team’s request for a special master who would oversee the review of documents taken during the Aug. 8 search of the Mar-a-Lago estate. 

EPA Waives Fuel Rule in Illinois, 3 Other States After Indiana Refinery Fire

The emergency waiver was granted Saturday for Indiana, Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin, EPA Administrator Michael Regan said. In a letter to state officials, Regan said the agency determined the waiver is necessary “to minimize or prevent disruption of an adequate supply of gasoline to consumers.”

Witness: R. Kelly Manager Threatened Her Over Stolen Video

Prosecution witness Lisa Van Allen said she rummaged through a gym bag full of recordings of Kelly having sex with women and girls on a rare occasion when Kelly left it unattended at a studio one day in 2000. 

FBI: Trump Mixed Top Secret Docs With Magazines, Other Items

The 32-page affidavit — heavily redacted to protect the safety of witnesses and law enforcement officials and “the integrity of the ongoing investigation” — offers the most detailed description to date of the government records being stored at Mar-a-Lago long after Trump left the White House.

Some Cities Could Be Left Behind on Lead Pipe Replacements

As billions of dollars in new federal funding becomes available to address the problem of lead pipes contaminating drinking water, some places are in a better position than others to quickly apply for funds and start digging.

Explainer: Where Ukraine War Stands After 6 Months

Six months later, the largest military conflict in Europe since World War II has turned into a grinding war of attrition. The Russian offensive has largely bogged down as Ukrainian forces increasingly target key facilities far behind the front lines, including in Russia-occupied Crimea.

California Poised to Phase Out Sale of New Gas-Powered Cars by 2035

The decision by the California Air Resources Board came two years after Gov. Gavin Newsom first directed regulators to consider such a policy. If the goal is reached, California would cut emissions from cars in half by 2040.

Judge Orders Unsealing of Redacted Affidavit in Trump Mar-a-Lago Search

The directive from U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart came hours after federal law enforcement officials submitted under seal the portions of the affidavit that they want to keep secret as their investigation moves forward. The judge set a deadline of noon Friday for a redacted, or blacked-out, version of the document.

Defense: Key Government Witness Tried to Extort R. Kelly

Defense lawyers at R. Kelly’s child pornography trial in Chicago sought Wednesday to portray a key government witness as a liar and extortionist, contending the man first approached the R&B star in 2001 and demanded that Kelly pay $1 million or he’d go public with video that could put Kelly in serious legal peril.

Biden Announces Long-Awaited Student Debt Forgiveness Plan, Will Forgive $10,000 For Millions

Borrowers who earn less than $125,000 a year, or families earning less than $250,000, would be eligible for the $10,000 loan forgiveness, Biden announced. For recipients of Pell Grants, the federal government would cancel up to an additional $10,000 in federal loan debt.

COVID Deaths Down by 15%, Cases Fall Nearly Everywhere: World Health Organization

In its latest weekly assessment of the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.N. health agency said there were 5.3 million new cases and more than 14,000 deaths reported last week. WHO said the number of new infections declined in every world region except the Western Pacific.

Candace Parker, Chicago Sky Advance to WNBA Semis After 90-72 Win Over New York

Candace Parker had 14 points, 13 rebounds and eight assists to lead the defending champion Chicago Sky over the New York Liberty 90-72 Tuesday night in the deciding Game 3 to advance to the WNBA semifinals.
 

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