Latest reopenings mark return to business in mainland US
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon and Washington on Wednesday lifted most of their COVID-19 restrictions to become two of the last states to broadly ease virus orders put in place in the very first days of the pandemic.
UK Methodist Church votes to allow same-sex marriages
LONDON (AP) — Britain’s Methodist Church announced Wednesday that same-sex couples will be allowed to get married on its premises. After
Annamie Paul to face non-confidence vote by party brass in less than three weeks
OTTAWA — Green Leader Annamie Paul is facing a non-confidence vote next month as internal strife continues to roil the party ahead of a possible election this year. Liana Cusmano, president of the party's federal council, told grassroots members in a
Biden signs three bills to overturn Trump-era rules
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed three separate laws Wednesday that dismantle part of the Trump era, blocking payday lenders from avoiding caps on interest rates, restricting climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions from oil and gas drillin...
New Mexico opens door to new era of civil rights lawsuits
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Efforts among a handful of states to hold police accountable for brutality and misconduct are expanding Thursday as New Mexico opens the door to civil rights lawsuits against government agencies in state court.
NCAA clears athletes for compensation as state laws kick in
DALLAS (AP) — The NCAA cleared the way for athletes to profit off their name Thursday, the eve of legislation becoming law in several states that would allow for such compensation.
Business Highlights: The scramble to hire, minimum tax
___ As US companies scramble to hire, workers enjoy upper hand
First lady, second gentleman push COVID-19 shots in Arizona
PHOENIX (AP) — Jill Biden on Wednesday appealed to Arizona residents to get vaccinated against COVID-19, aiming to counter skepticism by declaring that the vaccines are safe and have been vigorously tested.
Man claiming he was tortured into cop murder confession sues
CHICAGO (AP) — A victim of torture by Chicago police officers under the command of convicted perjurer Jon Burge has filed a federal lawsuit against city officials and Cook County prosecutors, lawyers for Jackie Wilson announced Wednesday.
California hate crime up 31% in 2020, led by anti-Black bias
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Hate crime in California surged 31% in 2020, fueled mainly by a big jump in crimes targeting Black people during a year that saw the worst racial strife in decades, according to an annual report released