The president on Saturday moved to bypass lawmakers as he claimed the authority to defer payroll taxes and extend an expired unemployment benefit after negotiations with Congress on a new coronavirus rescue package collapsed.
Stories by Associated Press
States Race to Pass Policing Reforms After George Floyd's Death
The urgency to reform is bipartisan, as both Democratic and Republican majorities in various legislatures have moved quickly to pass bills banning chokeholds, making it easier to hold officers legally accountable for their actions and other reforms.
Trump Seems Ready, Willing to Bypass Lawmakers on Virus Aid
The White House signaled Saturday that the president was soon expected to sign four executive orders, contending Washington's gridlock had compelled him to act as the pandemic undermined the country's economy and the November election nears.
Biden Risks Alienating Young Black Voters After Race Remarks
Joe Biden’s gaffes concerning Black Americans risk exacerbating his challenges with young Black voters who have been more skeptical of him than their older counterparts.
Schools Face Big Virus Test as Students Return to Classroom
As educators prepare to welcome students back to class, schools’ ability to quickly identify and contain coronavirus outbreaks before they get out of hand will be put to the test in thousands of districts around the country.
Entire Cubs-Cards Series Postponed After More Positive Tests
The entire three-game series between the Chicago Cubs and St. Louis at Busch Stadium was postponed Friday night after two more Cardinals players and a staff member tested positive for the coronavirus.
US Reports Show Racial Disparities in Kids with COVID-19
Racial disparities in the U.S. coronavirus epidemic extend to children, according to two sobering government reports released Friday.
Cardinals’ Game Against Cubs Postponed After Positive Test
The Cardinals have been off since last Friday, when two players returned positive coronavirus tests. Eight players in total have tested positive, including star catcher Yadier Molina.
US Rescinds Global ‘Do Not Travel’ Coronavirus Warning
The Trump administration on Thursday rescinded its warnings to Americans against all international travel because of the coronavirus pandemic, saying conditions no longer warrant a blanket worldwide alert.
1.2 Million Seek Jobless Aid After $600 Federal Check Ends
It is the 20th straight week that at least 1 million people have sought jobless aid. Before the pandemic hit hard in March, the number of Americans seeking unemployment checks had never surpassed 700,000 in a week.
Biden Won’t Go to Milwaukee to Accept Democratic Nomination
Joe Biden will not travel to Milwaukee to accept the Democratic presidential nomination because of concerns over the coronavirus, party officials said Wednesday, signaling a move to a convention that essentially has become entirely virtual.
Massive Beirut Blast Kills More Than 70, Injures Thousands
A massive explosion rocked Beirut on Tuesday, flattening much of the city’s port, damaging buildings across the capital and sending a giant mushroom cloud into the sky.
Progress Slow on Virus Relief Bill as Negotiations Continue
Negotiators on a huge coronavirus relief bill reported slight progress after talks resumed Monday afternoon in the Capitol, but multiple obstacles remain.
Field of Dreams Game in Iowa Postponed to 2021 Due to Virus
The game at a newly constructed ballpark on the cornfield adjacent to the site of the 1989 movie had been scheduled for Aug. 13 in Dyersville, Iowa.
Microsoft Confirms Talks Seeking to Buy US Arm of TikTok
Microsoft says it is in talks with Chinese company ByteDance to acquire the U.S. arm of its popular video app TikTok and has discussed with President Donald Trump his concerns about security and censorship surrounding such an acquisition.
SpaceX Capsule and NASA Crew Make 1st Splashdown in 45 Years
Two NASA astronauts returned to Earth on Sunday in a dramatic, retro-style splashdown, their capsule parachuting into the Gulf of Mexico to close out an unprecedented test flight by Elon Musk’s SpaceX company.
Debate Begins For Who’s First in Line For COVID-19 Vaccine
Who gets to be first in line for a COVID-19 vaccine? U.S. health authorities hope by late next month to have some draft guidance on how to ration initial doses, but it’s a vexing decision.
Blackhawks Stun Oilers 6-4 in Series Opener
Rookie winger Dominik Kubalik scored two goals and added three assists, leading the Chicago Blackhawks to a 6-4 win over the host Edmonton Oilers in the opener of their best-of-five qualifying round series on Saturday.
Rent’s Due, Again: Monthly Anxieties Deepen as Aid Falls Off
Another month passes. The coronavirus pandemic marches on. And Americans struggling amid the economic fallout once again have to worry as their next rent checks come due Aug. 1.
Summer Road Trip? Quarantines Are Crimping Some US Travelers
Families trying to squeeze in a summer vacation before school starts better do some homework on COVID-19 restrictions before loading up the minivan.
‘We Love Baseball’: Wrigley Ballhawks Stay on During Pandemic
While Major League Baseball is beginning this season without fans in its stadiums, the famed ballhawks of Wrigley Field remain at their post amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Some Educators of Color Resist Push For Police-Free Schools
School districts nationwide are working to remove police officers from campuses, but some Black and Indigenous educational leaders are resisting the push prompted by the national reckoning over racial injustice and police brutality.
2nd US Virus Surge Hits Plateau, But Few Experts Celebrate
While deaths from the coronavirus in the U.S. are mounting rapidly, public health experts are seeing a flicker of good news: The second surge of confirmed cases appears to be leveling off.
Trump Floats Idea of Election Delay, A Virtual Impossibility
President Donald Trump, lagging in the polls and grappling with deepening economic and public health crises, on Thursday floated the startling idea of delaying the Nov. 3 presidential election.
Women Embrace #ChallengeAccepted, But Some Ask: To What End?
To some, #challengeaccepted represents a clear example of “slacktivism” — campaigns based on social platforms that require little effort of participants. There’s no donation requested, no volunteer shift required, just a few minutes to post a message or image that people are unlikely to fight over.
