Most states have cut back public health powers amid pandemic
Republican legislators in more than half of U.S. states, spurred on by voters angry about lockdowns and mask mandates, are taking away the powers that state and local officials use to protect the public against infectious diseases.
Zimbabwe's older people often sent to homes amid pandemic
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AP) — Banana bread was served at a recent birthday party at Melfort Old People’s home, where a group of residents mustered a raspy happy birthday tune.
Sidelined by rivals, Germany's far-right AfD bides time
BERLIN (AP) — Migration is a side issue in this year's German election campaign, but that hasn't stopped the country's biggest far-right party from trying to play it up.
Serb unity day triggers worries across the Balkans
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) — Serbia kicked off a new national holiday on Wednesday with a display of military power and calls for all Serbs in the Balkans to unite under one flag, triggering unease among its neighbors decades after similar calls led to the bloody wars in the 1990s.
California Gov. Newsom crushes Republican-led recall effort
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Despite warnings the race would be close, California Gov. Gavin Newsom decisively
5 takeaways after California governor handily defeats recall
California Gov. Gavin Newsom ably fended off a recall attempt from Republicans on Tuesday, changing the stakes of the contest from a referendum on his own performance and into a partisan fight over Trumpism and the coronavirus.
As war in Ukraine threatens global wheat supply, Washington farmers 'pray for rain' and good harvest
WASHINGTON — Russia's invasion of Ukraine has sent global food prices soaring, but Washington wheat farmers like Marci Green aren't celebrating. Green, a sixth-generation farmer who grows wheat outside Fairfield, is concerned rising costs of supplies like fuel and fertilizer will whittling away at this year's profits even after wheat prices hit a record high in March. She's also worried about the threat of a global food crisis as the war threatens to cut the supply of wheat and other crops from Ukraine and Russia...
Two Lewis-McChord pilots taken to hospital after crash
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. (AP) — An Army helicopter crashed at a military base in Washington state during a routine training exercise Monday night, sending the two pilots to a hospital.
If voters decide to allow WA Cares op-out, will the state refund tax collections?
(The Center Square) – More than nine months since Washington state workers started paying into the state-mandated long-term care insurance program known as WA Cares, most working Washingtonians have contributed at least a few hundred dollars to the program.
Ag market May 6: Grains, Livestock mixed
Wheat for May was up 26.25 cents at $6.3225 a bushel; May corn rose 10 cents at $4.57 a bushel, May oats was off .75 cent at $3.9525 a bushel; while May soybeans gained 33 cents at $12.3475 a bushel. Beef mixed and pork lower on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Jun. live cattle was up .30 cent at $1.7697 a pound; May feeder cattle dropped 1.90 cents at $2.4140 a pound; while May lean hogs lost .25 cent at $.9217 a pound.
