Florida man sentenced to 50 years for stabbing mom to death

PALM COAST, Fla. (AP) — A Florida man was sentenced to 50 years in prison Wednesday for stabbing his mother to death after he got angry when she threatened to kick him out of the house.

Senate report: Opioid industry has paid advocacy groups $65M

A bipartisan congressional investigation released Wednesday found that key players in the nation’s opioid industry have spent $65 million since 1997 funding nonprofits that advocate treating pain with medications, …

Extradition delayed for Wisconsin man charged in kidnap plot

PORTAGE, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin man accused in a plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer should be extradited to Michigan, but he will be given a chance to appeal first, a judge ruled.

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Venezuelan village mourns 23 drownings, seeks those missing

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Twinkling Christmas lights have been turned off in the remote fishing village of Güiria in Venezuela as hundreds mourn and gather on its shores to await word of loved ones who remain missi…

IS widow convicted in Charlie Hebdo, kosher market attacks

PARIS (AP) — The fugitive widow of an Islamic State gunman and a man described as his logistician were convicted Wednesday of terrorism charges and sentenced to 30 years in prison in the trial of 14 people linked t…

Israel signs extradition order in Australia sex-crime case

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s justice minister on Wednesday said he has signed an extradition order to send a former teacher to Australia to face charges of child sex abuse.

Mexico to name education secretary as new US ambassador

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said Wednesday he will nominate current Education Secretary Esteban Moctezuma as Mexico’s next ambassador to the United States.

World's space achievements a bright spot in stressful 2020

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Astronauts blasted into orbit from the U.S. for the first time in nearly a decade, three countries sent spacecraft hurtling toward Mars, and robotic explorers grabbed rocks from the moon…

UK: Air pollution listed as cause of 9-year-old's death

LONDON (AP) — A British coroner ruled Wednesday that excessive air pollution from traffic fumes contributed to the death of a 9-year-old girl who died of a fatal asthma attack. The girl is believed to be the first …

Attorney general speaks publicly about fatal crash

PIERRE, S.D. (AP) — South Dakota Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg said he's confident he didn't commit a crime when he struck and killed a man as he drove along a dark highway in September.

Virus Outbreak-COVID 2020 Atlas, ADVISORY

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Cookies, hot cocoa, pick-me-up notes: 'Sparks' of kindness

A tin of cookies is left on the running board of an ambulance outside a nursing home with a note for the emergency workers who operate it: “You’re AMAZING! Yes, you!”

Chihuahua dog missing for 5 years in California is found

POMONA, Calif. (AP) — A Chihuahua dog named Sweet-Pea who went missing five years ago in Southern California has been found and is back home.

Islamic State attacker's fugitive widow, man described as chief logistician sentenced to 30 years for 2015 Paris attacks

PARIS (AP) — Islamic State attacker's fugitive widow, man described as chief logistician sentenced to 30 years for 2015 Paris attacks.