Columbia Basin Herald

December 4, 2020 10:27 a.m.

House votes to decriminalize marijuana at federal level

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-controlled House on Friday approved a bill to decriminalize and tax marijuana at the federal level, reversing what supporters call a failed policy of criminalizing pot use and taking steps to address racial disparities in enforcement of federal drug laws.

December 4, 2020 10:08 a.m.

Ben Simmons all in on 76ers’ new buzzword: accountability

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The idea of Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid as a modern-day odd couple bunking together in a Center City condominium trash-talking during games of “FIFA 21” after playing taxing real NBA games momentarily got a rise out of 76ers fans.

December 4, 2020 10:07 a.m.

Venezuela's Maduro seeks to tighten his grip via election

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — With the political opponents of President Nicolás Maduro boycotting Sunday's election for the National Assembly, his socialist party is expected to dominate the vote, giving him control of the last major institution in Venezuela outside his grasp.

December 4, 2020 9:07 a.m.

A rundown of AP's year-end coverage.

EDITORS:

December 4, 2020 8:36 a.m.

Japan court revokes permits at 2 reactors over quake safety

TOKYO (AP) — A Japanese court on Friday revoked the operating permits of two nuclear reactors for having inadequate earthquake safeguards, a ruling that challenges safety assessments conducted by the nuclear regulator and could influence the outcome of other court cases.

December 4, 2020 8:03 a.m.

California fire danger remains high even as winds ease

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Fire danger remained high Friday amid unpredictable wind gusts and dry conditions in Southern California, as crews made progress against blazes that burned several homes and injured two firefighters.

December 4, 2020 8:03 a.m.

Wall Street heads back toward highs despite dour jobs report

U.S. stocks are ticking higher and heading back toward record highs on Friday, despite discouraging data detailing how much damage the deepening pandemic is doing to the job market.

December 4, 2020 7:31 a.m.

Ivory Coast ex-president plans to return home from exile

ABIDJAN, Ivory Coast (AP) — Ivory Coast’s former president Laurent Gbagbo plans to return to his home country after his passport was returned following his acquittal at The Hague last year, his lawyer said Friday.

December 4, 2020 6:09 a.m.

Six vice presidents talk about job once considered invisible

NEW YORK (AP) — After interviewing Dan Quayle in Arizona for his documentary on the vice presidency, filmmaker Jeffrey Roth was rushing to the airport to catch a flight to Wyoming, where he had an appointment with Dick Cheney the next morning.

December 4, 2020 5:30 a.m.

Qatar rules out normalization of Israel ties for now

ROME (AP) — Qatar's foreign minister said Friday that his country remains committed to the creation of a Palestinian state with its capital in east Jerusalem, and that progress on that front would need to be “at the core” of any agreement to normalize relations with Israel.

December 4, 2020 5:12 a.m.

First Rohingya refugees arrive at isolated Bangladesh island

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — Authorities in Bangladesh on Friday sent the first group of more than 1,500 Rohingya refugees to an isolated island despite calls by human rights groups for a halt to the process.

December 4, 2020 5:03 a.m.

Election 2020 Today: Biden adjusting for a divided Congress

Here’s what’s happening Friday in

December 4, 2020 4:31 a.m.

Roadside bomb kills 1 in Pakistani city of Rawalpindi

ISLAMABAD (AP) — A roadside bomb exploded near a busy bus terminal in the Pakistani garrison city of Rawalpindi on Friday, killing at least one person and wounding seven others, police said.

December 4, 2020 4:30 a.m.

AP News Digest 7:10 a.m.

Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All Times EST. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan at

December 4, 2020 4:07 a.m.

UK says EU trade talks at tricky point as hopes of deal dim

LONDON (AP) — U.K.-EU trade talks are at a “difficult” point, the British government said Friday, as U.K. officials poured cold water on hopes of an imminent breakthrough — and France said it could veto any agreement it didn’t like.

December 4, 2020 4:03 a.m.

Poland says it's not backing down ahead of EU budget summit

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Polish government officials insisted on Friday that they are sticking to their tough negotiating position ahead of a key European Union summit next week that should finalize the bloc's next seven-year budget and a major pandemic recovery package.