A northern Illinois man who was charged with murder for his role in the beating death of his 5-year-old son, Andrew “AJ” Freund, pleaded guilty Friday to reduced charges and was sentenced to 30 years in prison.
Stories by associated press
US Bans WeChat, TikTok From App Stores, Threatens Shutdowns
The U.S. Commerce Department said Friday it will ban Chinese-owned TikTok and WeChat from U.S. app stores on Sunday and will bar the apps from accessing essential internet services in the U.S.
CDC Drops Controversial Testing Advice That Caused Backlash
U.S. health officials on Friday dropped a controversial piece of coronavirus guidance and said anyone who has been in close contact with an infected person should get tested.
US Judge Blocks Postal Service Changes that Slowed Mail
A U.S. judge on Thursday blocked controversial Postal Service changes that have slowed mail nationwide, calling them “a politically motivated attack on the efficiency of the Postal Service” before the November election.
Infection Rates Soar in College Towns as Students Return
Among the 50 large U.S. counties with the highest percentages of student residents, 20 have consistently reported higher rates of new coronavirus cases than their states have since Sept. 1, according to an Associated Press analysis.
COVID-19 Danger Continues to Drive Joblessness in US
Before the pandemic hit the economy, the number signing up for jobless aid had never exceeded 700,000 in a week, even during the depths of the 2007-2009 Great Recession. Now they've topped 700,000 for 26 straight weeks.
US Outlines Sweeping Plan to Provide Free COVID-19 Vaccines
In a report to Congress and an accompanying “playbook” for states and localities, federal health agencies sketched out complex plans for a vaccination campaign to begin gradually in January or even late this year.
Big Ten Changes Course, Aims For October Start to Football
Less than five weeks after pushing football and other fall sports to spring in the name of player safety during the pandemic, the conference changed course Wednesday and said it plans to begin its season the weekend of Oct. 24.
As MLB Plays On, The Businesses It Feeds Fight for Survival
As MLB sprints through two months, the businesses in the neighborhoods surrounding the stadiums that rely so heavily on thousands making their way through the turnstiles 81 times a year are struggling, their futures murky at best.
Petalo, Not Charmin: Virus Brings Mexican Toilet Paper to US
Demand for toilet paper has been so high during the pandemic that in order to keep their shelves stocked, retailers are buying up foreign toilet paper brands, mostly from Mexico.
Anti-Inflammatory Drug May Shorten COVID-19 Recovery Time
A drug company says that adding an anti-inflammatory medicine to a drug already widely used for hospitalized COVID-19 patients shortens their time to recovery by an additional day.
2 California Deputies Shot in Apparent Ambush in Patrol Car
Authorities searched Sunday for a gunman who shot and critically wounded two Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputies who were sitting in their squad car — an apparent ambush that drew a reward for information and an angry response from the president.
Trump’s Virus Debate: Project Strength Or Level With Public
In times of crisis, effective leaders strike a balance between inspirational rhetoric and leveling with the public about the tough times ahead. Facing the coronavirus, President Donald Trump chose a different path.
2 Ex-Child Welfare Workers Face Charges in AJ Freund Case
Two former Illinois child welfare workers who investigated abuse allegations involving AJ Freund face child endangerment charges accusing them of failing to protect him from harm, according to an indictment filed Friday.
Poll: Pandemic Takes Toll on Mental Health of Young Adults
A majority of Americans ages 18 through 34 say they've sometimes felt isolated in the past month, compared with about 4 in 10 older Americans, according to a new COVID Response Tracking Study conducted at the University of Chicago.
In A Year of Restrictions, Virus Changes Sept. 11, Too
In a year when the coronavirus pandemic has reshaped countless American rituals, even the commemoration of 9/11 could not escape unchanged.
Virus Bill Blocked in Senate as Prospects Dim for New Relief
The mostly party-line vote capped weeks of wrangling that gave way to election-season political combat and name-calling over a fifth relief bill that all sides say they want but are unable to deliver.
Return of Football Renews Fears Over More Virus Spread
The kickoff of the NFL season Thursday with 17,000 fans in the stadium illustrates the nation’s determination to resume its most popular sport in the middle of a pandemic that has already killed nearly 200,000 Americans.
States Ask Judge to Reverse Changes at US Postal Service
A group of states suing over service cuts at the U.S. Postal Service is asking a federal judge to immediately undo some of them, saying the integrity of the upcoming election is at stake.
Halt of Coronavirus Trial is ‘Safety Valve’ at Work: Fauci
The top U.S. infectious disease expert said AstraZeneca’s suspension of final testing of its COVID-19 vaccine candidate shows “one of the safety valves” built into the studies to spot any potential problems.
Tech’s Sudden Sell-Off Continues; Nasdaq Sinks 10% in 3 Days
Big technology stocks tumbled again on Tuesday, continuing the Icarus-like flight path for companies that just a week ago were the high-flyers carrying Wall Street to record heights.
Appeals Court Agrees R&B Singer R. Kelly Should Stay Jailed
R. Kelly can remain behind bars awaiting multiple trials on child pornography and other charges in three states, an appeals court in New York said Tuesday.
The Summer of COVID-19 Ends With Health Officials Worried
The Lost Summer of 2020 drew to a close Monday with many big Labor Day gatherings canceled across the U.S. and health authorities pleading with people to keep their distance from others.
Harris Meets Blake Family, Trump Goes on Attack in Labor Day Blitz
Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris met the family of Jacob Blake to kick off her Labor Day visit to the critical swing state of Wisconsin, while President Donald Trump assailed the Democratic ticket.
Census Bureau Must Temporarily Halt Winding Down Operations
The U.S. Census Bureau for now must stop following a plan that would have it winding down operations in order to finish the 2020 census at the end of September, according to a federal judge’s order.
Jacob Blake Speaks Out For First Time Since Police Shooting
Jacob Blake has spoken publicly for the first time since a Kenosha, Wisconsin, police officer shot him seven times in the back, saying he’s in constant pain from the shooting, which doctors fear will leave him paralyzed from the waist down.
