Stories
Delta variant challenges China's costly lockdown strategy
BEIJING (AP) — The delta variant is challenging China’s costly strategy of isolating cities, prompting warnings that Chinese leaders who were confident they could keep the coronavirus out of the country need a less disruptive approach.
Progressives see blueprint for next fights in eviction win
WASHINGTON (AP) — The rare clash this week between the Biden administration and congressional Democrats over a lapsed eviction moratorium could become a blueprint for even larger fights that lie ahead.
Facebook shuts out NYU academics' research on political ads
Facebook has shut down the personal accounts of a pair of New York University researchers and shuttered their investigation into misinformation spread through political ads on the social network.
British navy group: Hijackers have left vessel off UAE coast
FUJAIRAH, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The hijackers who captured a vessel off the United Arab Emirates in the Gulf of Oman left the ship Wednesday, the British navy reported, as radio traffic appeared to reveal a crew member onboard saying Iranian gunmen had stormed the asphalt tanker.
Will McConnell lift roadblock of Biden for infrastructure?
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell had vowed to be “100% focused” on stopping President Joe Biden’s agenda. But when it comes to the bipartisan infrastructure plan, McConnell is sounding like a go.
US plans to require COVID-19 shots for foreign travelers
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is taking the first steps toward requiring nearly all foreign visitors to the U.S. to be vaccinated for the coronavirus, a White House official said Wednesday.
Will McConnell clear Biden roadblock on public works bill?
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell had vowed to be “100% focused” on stopping President Joe Biden’s agenda. But when it comes to the bipartisan infrastructure plan, McConnell is sounding like a go.
NC sports betting bill gets winning vote from Senate panel
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — Legislation to license and tax sports betting throughout North Carolina cleared its first Senate committee Wednesday, with supporters, for now, overcoming social conservatives who argue it will create more gambling addicts.
Wildfire reaches Turkey power plant, prompts evacuations
MUGLA, Turkey (AP) — A coal-fueled power plant in southwest Turkey and nearby residential areas were being evacuated Wednesday evening as flames from a wildfire reached the plant, a mayor and local reporters said as sirens from the plant could be heard blaring.
Man who fatally stabbed Pentagon officer had troubled past
WASHINGTON (AP) — As officials seek clues about what prompted a Georgia man to fatally stab a Pentagon police officer, details of the suspect’s troubled past emerged Wednesday through interviews and court records.
Polish official: Belarusian Olympic sprinter who feared for her safety at home arrives in Poland
WARSAW (AP) — Polish official: Belarusian Olympic sprinter who feared for her safety at home arrives in Poland.
Nursing home to workers: Get vaccine or lose your job
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. nursing home industry’s resistance to forcing workers to get vaccinated against COVID-19 for fear that too many of them might quit began to crack this week when its biggest player announced its employees must get the shot to keep their jobs.
Pompeo got $5,800 whisky gift from Japan, but where is it?
WASHINGTON (AP) — The State Department said Wednesday it’s looking into the apparent disappearance of a nearly $6,000 bottle of whisky given more than two years ago to then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo by the government of Japan.
EXPLAINER: Will new CDC moratorium keep tenants housed?
BOSTON (AP) — After a federal eviction moratorium was allowed to
Brown supports Portland I-5 highway expansion proposal
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon Gov. Kate Brown supports moving forward with a plan that would expand Interstate 5 through Portland’s Rose Quarter while spending more than $1 billion to build a “cap” over the freeway to rebuild a community wrecked by its initial construction.
For Missouri Rep. Cori Bush, the eviction fight is personal
WASHINGTON (AP) — Roughly two decades before she was elected to Congress, Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri lived in a Ford Explorer with her then-husband and two young children after the family had been evicted from their rental home.
US blocks seafood from Fiji ship accused of enslaving crew
WASHINGTON (AP) — A tuna fishing boat based in the Pacific island nation of Fiji that has been accused of essentially enslaving its crew was blocked Wednesday from importing seafood into the United States, part of an increasing effort to keep goods produced with forced labor from entering the country.
Pentagon IDs officer slain in attack as officials seek clues
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal investigators were digging Wednesday into the background of a Georgia man who officials say fatally stabbed a Pentagon police officer at a transit station outside the building before being shot and killed himself.
Belarus Olympic runner who feared going home lands in Poland
WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Belarusian Olympic sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya, who feared for her safety at home after criticizing her coaches on social media, flew into Warsaw on Wednesday night on a humanitarian visa after leaving the Tokyo Olympics, a Polish diplomat confirmed.
Pentagon IDs officer killed in violence outside building
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon police force on Wednesday identified the officer who was fatally stabbed at a transit center outside the Pentagon.
Belarus Olympic sprinter arrives in Vienna amid safety fears
VIENNA, Austria (AP) — A plane carrying a Belarusian Olympic sprinter seeking refuge landed in Austria on Wednesday after she resisted an attempt by her Olympic team’s officials to send her home, where she feared reprisals from the authoritarian government.
Cuomo investigation: What we know and what's next
NEW YORK (AP) — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s monthslong fall from grace reached a nadir Tuesday, when
Senators try to sell $1T infrastructure plan to public
WASHINGTON (AP) — The senators who spent months stitching together a
Belarus runner flies to Europe after feud with team managers
MOSCOW (AP) — A Belarusian sprinter left Tokyo en route to Europe on Wednesday after resisting an attempt by her Olympic team's officials to send her home to Belarus, where the athlete said she could be in danger from authorities who have relentlessly cracked down on dissent.
Ready to roll: Moses Lake Fire Department brings new apparatuses into service, gives awards
The Moses Lake Fire Department officially brought two new trucks into service Tuesday, retiring the old rigs for backup and significantly improving upon the fleet.
ML school board asks for investigation into ‘financial concerns’
MOSES LAKE — The Moses Lake School Board decided at a special meeting Tuesday morning to ask the North Central Education Service District (NCESD) in Wenatchee to investigate unspecified “financial concerns” in the Moses Lake School District.
Sports wagering slated for N. Carolina Senate panel debate
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A bill that would regulate sports gambling across North Carolina and give the state a piece of the revenues is finally getting a hearing this year in the legislature.
EXPLAINER: What is behind Belarus athlete's Olympics crisis?
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A feud between Belarusian Olympic sprinter Krystsina Tsimanouskaya and team officials that prompted her to seek refuge in the European Union has again cast a spotlight on the repressive environment in the athlete's home country, an ex-Soviet nation where authorities have unleashed a relentless crackdown on dissent.
Firing on all cylinders: New chief of Grant County Fire District 8 takes the wheel
MATTAWA — Joe Noonchester, who started July 1 as the new chief for Grant County Fire District 8, said he discovered what he really wanted to do after a conversation with a friend.
Pack to school: Verizon-Cellular Plus in Ephrata holds backpack giveaway
EPHRATA — Verizon-Cellular Plus at 1115 Basin St. SW, Suite A, in Ephrata had something special in store for families on Saturday, where a rainbow of more than 30 backpacks lined the wall of phone cases.
Loraine Snell
Margaret (Loraine) Snell died of a sudden illness on July 25 in Lacey, Washington.
Joyce Mulliken
A devout public servant and interpreter for the deaf, Senator Joyce (Curtis) Mulliken’s love and impact on those around her did not come to an end with her death. On June 26, 2021, Joyce passed away after a courageous battle with cancer at 75 in Gilbert, Arizona.
Royal School District approves 2021-22 budget
ROYAL CITY — The Royal School District board on July 26 approved the budget for the 2021-22 school year.
Mattawa to celebrate Wahluke Community Day this month
MATTAWA — Mattawa’s town celebration will return from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Aug. 28 at Wahluke High School with a revised name, Wahluke Community Day.
In-person registration for Othello students next week
OTHELLO — Parents of Othello School District students can register their children for the 2021-22 school year in person from 1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Aug. 11 and 12 in the Othello High School gym, 340 S. Seventh Ave.
Adams County residents vote on parks levy, races
Adams County voter turnout Tuesday night was 20% of the 7,552 registered voters, with about 200 ballots left to count. The next count will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, and the results will be certified Aug. 17.
South Africa quickens vaccine drive, gets more doses from US
JOHANNESBURG (AP) — The cars lined up by the strikingly modern mosque and were guided to parking bays where the drivers soon got jabs.
US expands Afghan refugee program as Taliban violence rises
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Monday expanded its efforts to assist at-risk Afghan citizens flee Taliban violence as fighting intensifies ahead of the
Bipartisan bill leaves out key climate, clean energy steps
WASHINGTON (AP) — The $1 trillion
NLRB preliminary finding revives labor organizing at Amazon
NEW YORK (AP) — A recommendation to nullify the election results of an Amazon union vote in Bessemer, Alabama is breathing new life into the labor movement.
Union: NLRB officer recommends new vote for Amazon workers
The union that tried — and failed — to organize Amazon warehouse workers in Bessemer, Alabama may get a do-over.
Pelosi, Democrats call on Biden to extend eviction ban
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the House Democratic leaders on Sunday called on the Biden administration to immediately extend
Texas audit proposed by GOP would miss minor but real errors
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A group of Texas Republicans wants to audit the 2020 election results in just the large, mostly Democratic counties across the state. If they get their way, they'll miss many of the real — but minor — errors in the state's vote count.
Seattle mayoral primary sets up fight between liberal camps
SEATTLE (AP) — Voters in Seattle’s mayoral primary on Tuesday set up a choice between candidates representing the political divide between activist-left residents and more moderate progressives in one of the nation’s most liberal cities.
Breakneck pace of crises keeps National Guard away from home
SHADDADI, Syria (AP) — In the searing 108-degree heat, far from his Louisiana health care business, Army Col. Scott Desormeaux and his soldiers are on a dusty base near Syria’s northern border, helping Syrian rebel forces battle Islamic State militants and keeping an eye on Russian troops in the region.
Dems ask McCarthy to recant Pelosi taunt as tensions rise
WASHINGTON (AP) — Several House Democrats have called on House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy to apologize to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi or resign after audio surfaced of him saying at a weekend fundraiser that it would be “hard not to hit her” with a gavel if he’s sworn in as speaker after the 2022 midterm elections.
Big 12 warns of losing 50% of TV value following UT/OU exit
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Big 12 Conference could see the value of its television deal cut in half once Texas and Oklahoma bolt for the Southeastern Conference, Big 12 Commissioner Bob Bowlsby said Monday at a hearing of Texas lawmakers.
Will Trump be spoiler as California GOP seeks Newsom recall?
LOS ANGELES (AP) — California could witness a stunning turnabout in a nation of deeply polarized politics if the liberal state dumps Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and elects a Republican to fill his job in a September recall election.
Russia hands Navalny ally parole-like sentence over protests
MOSCOW (AP) — A court in Moscow on Tuesday sentenced a close ally of imprisoned opposition leader Alexei Navalny to 1 1/2 years of parole-like restrictions in a controversial criminal case the government launched against opposition supporters after mass protests shook Russia this year.
Cuomo urged to resign after probe finds he harassed 11 women
NEW YORK (AP) — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo faced mounting pressure Tuesday to resign, including from President Joe Biden and other onetime Democratic allies, after an investigation found he sexually harassed nearly a dozen women and worked to retaliate against one of his accusers.
It's in - and big: Senators produce $1T infrastructure bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — After much delay, senators unveiled a nearly
Biden chides Republican governors who resist vaccine rules
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden called on resistant Republican governors to “get out of the way” of vaccine rules aimed at containing the more transmissible and dangerous COVID-19 variant. He backed city and private mandates requiring people to be vaccinated to go about some daily activities.
Turkey's Erdogan faces mounting criticism over wildfires
BOZALAN, Turkey (AP) — As Turkish fire crews pressed ahead Tuesday with their weeklong battle against blazes tearing through forests and villages on the country's southern coast, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government faced increased criticism over its apparent poor response and inadequate preparedness for large-scale wildfires.
NYC will require vaccination proof for indoor dining, gyms
NEW YORK (AP) — New York City will soon require proof of COVID-19 vaccinations for anyone who wants to dine indoors at a restaurant, see a performance or go to the gym, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Tuesday, making it the first big city in the U.S. to impose such restrictions.
Children stopped at border likely hit record-high in July
SAN DIEGO (AP) — The number of children traveling alone who were picked up at the Mexican border by U.S. immigration authorities likely hit an all-time high in July, and the number of people who came in families likely reached its second-highest total on record, a U.S. official said Monday, citing preliminary government figures.
UK eases travel restrictions as industry lobbies for more
LONDON (AP) — Britain opened its borders to fully vaccinated travelers from the U.S. and the European Union on Monday as travel industry leaders urged the government to further ease restrictions and allow people to enjoy the benefits of a successful COVID-19 inoculation program.
Officer dead, suspect killed in violence outside Pentagon
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Pentagon police officer died after being stabbed Tuesday during a burst of violence at a transit center outside the building, and a suspect was shot by law enforcement and died at the scene.
Mother of would-be Reagan assassin John Hinckley Jr. dies at 95, son's lawyer says
WASHINGTON (AP) — Mother of would-be Reagan assassin John Hinckley Jr. dies at 95, son's lawyer says.
Landlords, tenants fill courts as eviction moratorium ends
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Gabe Imondi, a 74-year-old landlord from Rhode Island, had come to court hoping to get his apartment back. He was tired of waiting for federal rental assistance and wondered aloud “what they’re doing with that money?”
$1T infrastructure bill gets first action as senators dig in
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sought to speed up consideration of a nearly
US hits 70% vaccination rate -- a month late, amid a surge
The U.S. on Monday finally reached President Joe Biden’s goal of getting at least one COVID-19 shot into 70% of American adults -- a month late and amid a fierce surge by the delta variant that is swamping hospitals and leading to new mask rules and mandatory vaccinations around the country.
Analysis: Delta variant upends politicians' COVID calculus
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s administration drew up a strategy to contain one coronavirus strain, then another showed up that’s much more contagious.
CDC issues new eviction ban for most of US through Oct. 3
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a new eviction moratorium that would last until Oct. 3, as the Biden administration sought to quell intensifying criticism from progressives that it was allowing vulnerable renters to lose their homes during a pandemic.
Senators behind $1T infrastructure plan show off their work
WASHINGTON (AP) — The senators who spent months stitching together a
For Missouri congresswoman, eviction fight is personal
WASHINGTON (AP) — Roughly two decades before she was elected to Congress, Rep. Cori Bush of Missouri lived in a Ford Explorer with her then-husband and two young children after the family had been evicted from their rental home.
Missouri governor pardons gun-waving St. Louis lawyer couple
O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) — Missouri Gov. Mike Parson announced Tuesday that he made good on his promise to pardon a couple who gained notoriety for pointing guns at social justice demonstrators as they marched past the couple's home in a luxury St. Louis enclave last year.
Graham 1st vaccinated senator to test positive for COVID-19
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Sen. Lindsey Graham has become the first senator to disclose a breakthrough infection after being vaccinated against the coronavirus, saying Monday he is “very glad” he received the vaccine, without which his current symptoms would be “far worse.”
Pandemic eviction crisis leads to greater tenant protections
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) — In a mostly empty conference room at a Virginia cultural arts center, Tara Simmons was looking for someone who might help her stave off eviction.
Trump's kingmaker status faces test in Ohio special election
GROVE CITY, Ohio (AP) — As soon as it became clear last week that a Texas congressional candidate backed by Donald Trump would be
Judge blocks Texas troopers from stopping migrant transports
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A federal judge Tuesday blocked Texas from allowing state troopers to stop vehicles carrying migrants on the grounds that they may spread COVID-19 as worries and new cases are rising along the U.S.-Mexico border.
White House calls on states to prevent evictions
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House moved Monday to pressure state and local governments to swiftly adopt policies to protect renters after an
With evictions resuming, tenants scramble for assistance
BOSTON (AP) — The eviction system, which saw a dramatic drop in cases before a federal moratorium expired over the weekend, rumbled back into action Monday, with activists girding for the first of what could be millions of tenants to be tossed onto the streets as the delta variant of the coronavirus surges.
Trump-backed Carey, centrist Brown win Ohio US House races
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Mike Carey, a coal lobbyist backed by former President Donald Trump, beat a bevy of Republicans in central Ohio, while Cuyahoga County Council member Shontel Brown pulled out a victory for the Democratic establishment in Cleveland, in a pair of primary elections for open House seats Tuesday.
EXPLAINER: Where does harassment report leave Andrew Cuomo?
NEW YORK (AP) — New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s monthslong fall from grace reached a nadir Tuesday, when
Seattle mayoral primary will be test of progressive movement
SEATTLE (AP) — A year after racial justice and anti-police demonstrators took over part of Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood, there are lines outside the restaurants in and around the former protest zone.
Lawmaker who named rape accuser says she did nothing wrong
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho state lawmaker refused to answer questions she deemed “irrelevant” during a hearing Monday to determine whether she violated ethics rules by publicizing in disparaging social media posts the name of a woman who accused another lawmaker of rape.
Fauci: More 'pain and suffering' ahead as COVID cases rise
Dr. Anthony Fauci warned Sunday that more “pain and suffering” is on the horizon as COVID-19 cases climb again and officials plead with unvaccinated Americans to get their shots.
Families urge using new DNA tech to ID Pearl Harbor unknowns
HONOLULU (AP) — William Edward Mann enlisted in the Navy after graduating from high school in rural Washington state. A guitar player, he picked up the ukulele while stationed in Hawaii.
Pushback challenges vaccination requirements at US colleges
INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The quickly approaching fall semester has America’s colleges under pressure to decide how far they should go to guard their campuses against COVID-19 while navigating legal and political questions and rising infection rates.
Tennessee won't incentivize COVID shots but pays to vax cows
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee has sent nearly half a million dollars to farmers who have vaccinated their cattle against respiratory diseases and other maladies over the past two years.
'This attack happened': Medals to honor Jan. 6 responders
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has voted to award Medals of Honor to the Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department for protecting Congress during the Jan. 6 insurrection, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden for his signature.
