PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Lawyers appealing the NFL’s $1 billion plan to address concussion-linked injuries in former players asked a court Thursday to reject the settlement because it excludes what they call the signature brain disease of football. Critics insist that any settlement include future payments for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the brain decay found in dozens … Continue reading
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Former Subway pitchman Jared Fogle was sentenced to more than 15 years in prison on Thursday for trading in child pornography and having sex with underage prostitutes, with the judge describing his “perversion and lawlessness” as “extreme.” Judge Tanya Walton Pratt disregarded prosecutors’ recommendation that Fogle get 12½ years behind bars, opting … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama’s nominee to lead the Food and Drug Administration defended his record Tuesday as senators pressed him about rising drug prices, slow approval times for new drugs and his ties to the pharmaceutical industry. Dr. Robert Califf, 64, is currently the No. 2 official at the agency, which regulates consumer … Continue reading
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — When President Barack Obama gathered his partners in a new trade deal to celebrate finalizing the massive accord, the group posed for a fast photo, shook some hands and got back to work. Such is the nature of Obama’s trade tour through Asia this week. Even as he marks a major … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military must harness the best talent and keep up its technological edge in order to meet the evolving security challenges of the 21st Century, Defense Secretary Ash Carter said Wednesday as he rolled out a series of initiatives aimed at attracting the next generation of service members and dragging the … Continue reading
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Hillary Rodham Clinton defended her campaign contributions from Wall Street by invoking her work to help the financial sector rebuild after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, raising eyebrows among her Democratic challengers and Republicans alike. During Saturday’s second Democratic debate, Clinton was put on the defensive by rival Vermont Sen. … Continue reading
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — President Barack Obama toured a drug rehab and met with former inmates Monday in the rough-and-tumble city of Newark, calling on the nation to ensure those regaining their freedom get a second chance instead of a return ticket to prison. Although his visit boosted his campaign for a criminal justice overhaul, … Continue reading
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) — After years of financial woes, the Port of Virginia is finally back in the black and wants the state to help it grow. When the General Assembly returns to Richmond this winter, port officials will lobby lawmakers for $350 million in upgrades to enable one of its terminals to handle more … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama on Monday signed into law a bipartisan budget bill that avoids a catastrophic U.S. default and puts off the next round of fighting over federal spending and debt until after next year’s presidential and congressional elections. Obama praised the rare bipartisan cooperation behind the deal, saying that 2-year agreement … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two high-ranking officials at the Department of Veterans Affairs refused to testify Monday night at a congressional hearing on allegations that they manipulated the agency’s hiring system for their own gain. The officials, Diana Rubens and Kimberly Graves, told a House committee they were asserting their Fifth Amendment rights under the Constitution … Continue reading
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A long-promised campaign to legalize recreational marijuana use in California next year reached the starting gate with the filing of a ballot initiative backed by technology investor Sean Parker. Four people who worked on the initiative submitted Monday, independently told The Associated Press that it was spearheaded by Parker, the billionaire … Continue reading
NEWARK, N.J. (AP) — Donald Trump is out with a new book that reads like a campaign manifesto, boasting success stories but offering few details on how he would implement his policy goals as president. But in the book, entitled “Crippled America,” the billionaire businessman, former reality TV star and Republican White House hopeful does … Continue reading
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — As the Washington Redskins defend their federal trademark registration, they argue in court papers that the government has registered plenty of companies with offensive names. Among the names cited by the NFL team: Take Yo Panties Off and Dago Swagg clothing, Midget Man condoms and inflatable sex dolls and Baked By … Continue reading
SEATTLE (AP) — Chipotle closed 43 of its Pacific Northwest locations in response to an E. coli outbreak that health officials have connected to the Mexican food chain. About two dozen people have fallen ill, and more were being tested. At least one lawsuit has been filed by a woman who says she got sick … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — The budget deal between congressional leaders and President Barack Obama, aimed at heading off a government shutdown and debt crisis, faces its first hurdle Tuesday when it goes before restive House Republicans, including rebellious arch-conservatives. The two-year pact, which would take those volatile fiscal issues off the table until after the 2016 … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — A new online streaming service launches on Monday that hopes to one day become the Netflix of Broadway, offering high-definition broadcasts of top theatrical events to computers and phones. BroadwayHD currently has a modest list of plays and musicals ready to stream but hopes to eventually be the place where theater … Continue reading
PARIS (AP) — Hot dogs, bacon, cold cuts and other processed meats raise the risk of colon, stomach and other cancers, and red meat probably contributes to the disease, too, the World Health Organization said Monday, throwing its considerable authority behind what many doctors have been warning for years. WHO’s cancer agency analyzed decades of … Continue reading
LOS ANGELES (AP) — YouTube on Wednesday unveiled a new $10-a-month subscription plan in the U.S. called Red that combines ad-free videos, new original series and movies from top YouTubers, and on-demand unlimited streaming music. Red builds on Google’s existing music streaming service by providing ad-free access to YouTube programming, along with features such as … Continue reading
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump mocked former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in his own state on Saturday, saying recent campaign cuts show he’s not ready to be president. “Here’s a guy who wants to run our country, and he can’t even run his own campaign. And you know what? He’s cutting … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Opponents of President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul are taking yet another challenge to the law to the Supreme Court, and say they will be back with more if this one fails. A new appeal being filed Monday by the Pacific Legal Foundation contends that the law violates the provision of the … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Treasury Department on Thursday told Congress that it needs to act by Nov. 3 or the government will be dangerously close to being unable to pay all its bills. That’s a little sooner than Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew said two weeks ago when he set a Nov. 5 deadline. At the … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Older Americans got a double dose of bad news Thursday: There will be no cost-of-living increase in Social Security benefits next year, and Medicare bills are set to soar for many. It’s just the third time in 40 years that Social Security payments will remain flat. All three times have come since … Continue reading
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks declined in afternoon trading Wednesday as investors assessed the latest earnings reports. Wal-Mart fell sharply after the company said that sales would be “relatively flat” this year because of currency fluctuations. JPMorgan Chase led financial stocks lower as its earnings fell short of analysts’ expectations. Industrial stocks fell as … Continue reading
WASHINGTON (AP) — Bernie Sanders said his campaign raised more than $1.3 million in the hours after the first Democratic debate of the 2016 race, and social media metrics showed he was the most-searched candidate on Google and most-discussed on Facebook and Twitter. Meanwhile, Hillary Rodham Clinton’s backers celebrated the day after what some said … Continue reading
LOS ANGELES (AP) — PETA has done a lot with a little sex, shock and shame. One of the longest-running and sexiest stunts you will see in online ads around the world is a group of naked women who choose to wear nothing rather than wear fur, said Ingrid Newkirk, president and co-founder of People … Continue reading
Spartan Echo 