LONDON (AP) — The Latest on the London high-rise fire (all times local): 4:40 p.m. British Prime Minister Theresa May’s office says combustible cladding has so far been found on seven high-rise blocks in England after tests ordered by the government. The British leader said earlier Thursday that tests were being carried out on cladding … Continue reading
BRUSSELS (AP) — If European Union chief Donald Tusk is still “a dreamer” about Britain having second thoughts on leaving the EU, some other EU leaders at a summit Thursday tried to dash his hopes. Discord over whether the exit process could still be reversed surfaced at the summit as British Prime Minister Theresa May … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on Senate Republicans’ health care bill (all times local): 11:35 a.m. Democrats are roundly criticizing the Republican plan to scrap the Obama health care law. Minority Leader Chuck Schumer spoke on the Senate floor Thursday moments after the GOP’s 142-page discussion draft was posted online. Republicans had been briefed on … Continue reading
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A decade ago, alt-country rocker Steve Earle and country star Miranda Lambert shared writing credit on a hit from her debut album in 2005. But the two Grammy-winning performers never got into a writers’ room together until last year. Lambert and Earle penned a twangy breakup duet for Earle’s new album, … Continue reading
STERLING, Va. (AP) — Whether a mourner in a black robe at a mosque or a soccer mom in a T-shirt and shorts at a community vigil, reaction to 17-year-old Nabra Hassanen’s death carried a common refrain: That could have been my daughter. More than 5,000 people attended Hassanen’s funeral Wednesday in suburban Washington, grinding … Continue reading
WYOMING, Ohio (AP) — Hundreds of mourners gathered Thursday to celebrate the life of an American college student who was detained in North Korea for over a year and died shortly after being returned home to Ohio in a coma. Otto Warmbier’s brother, sister and friends were among the scheduled speakers for the funeral Thursday … Continue reading
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — A federal appeals court on Thursday upheld a 3 1/2 year prison sentence for a former CIA officer found guilty of leaking government secrets to a reporter. A three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals affirmed all but one of Jeffrey Sterling’s convictions and said there was no … Continue reading
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Latest on Tropical Storm Cindy (all times local): 10:50 a.m. MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (AP) — The National Weather Service says it expects heavy rain to spread across West Virginia starting late Thursday and continuing into Saturday. Meteorologists say a combination of two systems — remnants of former Tropical Storm Cindy and … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi is telling Democrats that next year could be the year they take back control of the House. The response from some: It better be. In the wake of a dispiriting loss for Democrats in a Georgia special House race, Pelosi is confronting renewed questions about her leadership, especially … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump said he had a secret. He dangled it on Twitter. He parried reporters’ questions about it. He milked the moment, drawing out the drama for weeks. That big tease played out in 2011, when Trump promised to reveal what his private investigators had found in Hawaii about President Barack Obama’s … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stock indexes ticked higher in morning trading Thursday after the price of oil stabilized, at least for now. This week has been dominated by oil’s tumbling price, which dropped on Wednesday to its lowest level since last summer, and how much it will affect the broader market. KEEPING SCORE: The … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans released their long-awaited bill Thursday to dismantle much of Barack Obama’s health care law, proposing to cut Medicaid for low-income Americans and erase tax boosts that Obama imposed on high-earners and medical companies to finance his expansion of coverage. The bill would provide tax credits to help people buy insurance. … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — Ron Howard is taking command of the Han Solo “Star Wars” spinoff after the surprise departure of directors Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. Lucasfilm announced their replacement director Thursday, two days after Lord and Miller left the project over creative differences. Howard gives the reeling production a veteran hand in the … Continue reading
MUNICH (AP) — Sergio Garcia opened his first event in Europe since his Masters win by shooting a 6-under 66 to lie one stroke off the lead at the BMW International Open midway through Thursday’s first round. Thomas Detry (65) was in the lead, with Joost Luiten (66) tied with Garcia. Garcia opened with six … Continue reading
LONDON (AP) — The Church of England “colluded” with and helped to hide the long-term sexual abuse of young men by one of its former bishops, the head of the church said Thursday. Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby apologized to the victims who had spoken out and helped to bring ex-bishop Peter Ball to justice … Continue reading
NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The Latest on Tropical Storm Cindy (all times local): 10:00 a.m. Forecasters say Cindy, the onetime tropical storm since downgraded to a depression, is weakening as it heads inland. But bands of heavy rain are continuing — with heavy rain in parts of Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee. The National Hurricane … Continue reading
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — This dash to third base was a bit different for Mallex Smith. The Tampa Bay left fielder rushed in to tag out speedy Billy Hamilton after a lengthy rundown, highlighting the Rays’ 8-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday. “When you get the fast guy like that, you’ve got … Continue reading
LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevada parole officials have set a July 20 date to decide whether O.J. Simpson should be paroled after serving the mandatory minimum of a nine-to-33 year sentence for an armed robbery involving two sports collectibles dealers in Las Vegas in 2007. Here’s a look at how the Nevada Board of Parole … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump questions why the Obama administration didn’t try to stop Russian interference in the 2016 election. The president’s tweet Thursday appears to cast doubt on the assessment of 17 intelligence agencies that blame Russia for election meddling. The president tweeted: “By the way, if Russia was working so hard on … Continue reading
CHICAGO (AP) — Shootings kill or injure at least 19 U.S. children each day, with boys, teenagers and blacks most at risk, according to a government study that paints a bleak portrait of persistent violence. The analysis of 2002-14 U.S. data is billed as the most comprehensive study on the topic. While it mostly confirms … Continue reading
