Judges reject foes of sentencing reform and pot initiatives

PHOENIX (AP) — Maricopa County judges on Friday rejected challenges to two proposed voter initiatives, one implementing criminal sentencing reform and the other legalizing recreational marijuana.

Judge bans indoor services at defiant California church

VENTURA, Calif. (AP) — A California church that for weeks has held indoor worship in defiance of anti-coronavirus health orders must close its doors, a judge ruled Friday.

Cowboys for Trump resists reveal of financial contributors

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The support group Cowboys for Trump and its founder Couy Griffin are resisting pressure to disclose financial contributors in what could be a test case of a 2019 New Mexico state law that requ…

Florence prison sergeant arrested in sexual assault case

FLORENCE, Ariz. (AP) — A corrections sergeant assigned to a state prison in Florence has been arrested and accused of crimes that include sexual assault, kidnapping and sexual abuse, the Arizona Department of Corre…

KS-Winners

Auditor: Official key to tracing contract refused interview

LANSING, Mich. (AP) — A state official involved in a coronavirus contact-tracing contract that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer canceled refused to be interviewed by auditors who investigated, the auditor general's office sai…

Kanye West's nomination papers challenged in Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Rapper Kanye West's attempt to get on Wisconsin's presidential ballot as a third-party candidate is being challenged.

Big jump in Italy's daily new cases driven by travel

ROME (AP) — The number of daily new coronavirus infections in Italy jumped 38% higher Friday, with 552 confirmed cases registered compared to the previous day.

US health chief to visit Taiwan, a COVID-19 success story

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Health Secretary Alex Azar said Friday he wants to learn about Taiwan's “incredibly effective” response to the cornavirus even though the island did things that the U.S. has fumbled, such as …

Campfires banned on all state and U.S. lands in Nevada

RENO, Nev. (AP) — State and federal officials are banning campfires and elevating other restrictions in Nevada and parts of eastern California due to severe wildfire risks and an unusually high number of human-caus…

New director named of Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — The deputy director of the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority will serve as interim director of the authority, officials announced Friday.

Governor tests negative; Kansas COVID-19 cases jump past 30K

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly tested negative for the coronavirus Friday as a Republican legislative leader faced criticism from some Democrats for not telling colleagues until this week that he’d bee…

Official: California fixed glitch that backlogged COVID data

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A technical glitch that has plagued the data system the state relies on to make decisions about reopening businesses and schools has been fixed, but it could take up to 48 hours to get the numb…

Top state lawmakers want a presidential debate in N.C.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — At a time when many voters are growing weary of the contentious campaign ads that have flooded the airwaves, North Carolina’s top legislative leaders want even more political drama in the swing…

Retail, construction tax revenue up in state despite virus

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Increased retail sales and unhindered construction projects generated higher tax revenues in April and May compared with the same time last year despite the pandemic, according to a new report…