News

Over 1M refugees enter Europe in 2015

GENEVA — More than 1 million people driven out of their countries by war, poverty and persecution entered Europe in this record-breaking year, migration experts… Continue reading

Weird pattern turns weather upside-down across nation

SEATTLE — A weather pattern partly linked with El Nino has turned winter upside-down across the U.S. during a week of heavy holiday travel, bringing… Continue reading

Man who loaned gun to bomber gets time served

BOSTON — A man who loaned a gun used by the Boston Marathon bombers to kill a police officer was sentenced Tuesday to the 17… Continue reading

Woman accused of Las Vegas Strip crash had improved her life

LAS VEGAS — Not long ago, the woman accused of crashing her car into pedestrians on the Las Vegas Strip seemed to have turned her… Continue reading

In this Monday, Dec. 21, 2015 photo, Iraqi soldiers plant the national flag over a government building in Ramadi as security forces advance their position in northern Ramadi, 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi forces on Tuesday reported progress in the military operation to retake the city of Ramadi from the Islamic State group, saying they made the most significant incursion into the city since it fell to the militants in May. (AP Photo)

Iraqi troops advance in battle for IS-held city

BAGHDAD — Iraqi forces on Tuesday reported progress in the military operation to retake the city of Ramadi from the Islamic State group, saying they… Continue reading

In this Monday, Dec. 21, 2015 photo, Iraqi soldiers plant the national flag over a government building in Ramadi as security forces advance their position in northern Ramadi, 70 miles (115 kilometers) west of Baghdad, Iraq. Iraqi forces on Tuesday reported progress in the military operation to retake the city of Ramadi from the Islamic State group, saying they made the most significant incursion into the city since it fell to the militants in May. (AP Photo)

UN: Most attacks on Yemen civilians from Saudi coalition

UNITED NATIONS — A “disproportionate amount” of attacks on civilians in Yemen’s conflict appear to be carried out by the Saudi-led and U.S.-supported coalition, the… Continue reading

Man who put bank robbery video on Instagram pleads guilty

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) — Authorities say a man who posted a photo and videos of himself on Instagram robbing a Virginia Beach bank has… Continue reading

Man jailed after student threatened over “Star Wars” spoiler

HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A Montana man is charged with threatening to shoot a boy for sharing information about a subplot of the new “Star… Continue reading

Republican presidential candidate, businessman Donald Trump addresses supporters at a campaign rally, Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, in Grand Rapids, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Trump uses crude language to mock Clinton

WASHINGTON — Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump labeled Democrat Hillary Clinton “disgusting” for using the restroom during a commercial break at the last Democratic debate… Continue reading

Republican presidential candidate, businessman Donald Trump addresses supporters at a campaign rally, Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, in Grand Rapids, Mich. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

Budget deal done, Obama and Congress go their own ways

WASHINGTON — Five days after Paul Ryan was sworn in as House speaker, the White House promised to invite him to meet President Barack Obama… Continue reading

U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl leaves the courthouse Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015, after his arraignment hearing at Fort Bragg, N.C. Bergdahl, who disappeared in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban for five years, was scheduled to appear Tuesday before a military judge on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (Andrew Craft /The Fayetteville Observer via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Bergdahl arraigned at N.C. Army base

FORT BRAGG, N.C. — Wearing a dress blue uniform, Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl faced a military judge Tuesday for the first time since the U.S. Army… Continue reading

U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl leaves the courthouse Tuesday, Dec. 22, 2015, after his arraignment hearing at Fort Bragg, N.C. Bergdahl, who disappeared in Afghanistan in 2009 and was held by the Taliban for five years, was scheduled to appear Tuesday before a military judge on charges of desertion and misbehavior before the enemy. (Andrew Craft /The Fayetteville Observer via AP) MANDATORY CREDIT

Shark kills Venezuelan during Coast Guard rescue near Aruba

ORANJESTAD, Aruba (AP) — One of seven Venezuelan men whose boat capsized near Aruba died after he was attacked by a shark while being rescued,… Continue reading

After students disappear, city tries to turn page

IGUALA, Mexico — The previous elected mayor is in jail, and the new one wants to “turn the page” on the ugliest chapter in the… Continue reading

Former Miss Universe Paulina Vega, center, removes the crown from Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez, left, before giving it to Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, right, at the Miss Universe pageant on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, in Las Vegas. Gutierrez was incorrectly named the winner before Wurtzbach was given the Miss Universe crown. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Angry Colombians look for blame in mix-up

BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombians celebrated for a little more than two minutes what appeared to be an unprecedented feat for this beauty pageant-obsessed South American… Continue reading

Former Miss Universe Paulina Vega, center, removes the crown from Miss Colombia Ariadna Gutierrez, left, before giving it to Miss Philippines Pia Alonzo Wurtzbach, right, at the Miss Universe pageant on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, in Las Vegas. Gutierrez was incorrectly named the winner before Wurtzbach was given the Miss Universe crown. (AP Photo/John Locher)

US troops killed near Bagram, Taliban insurgency intensifies

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A suicide attacker rammed an explosives-laden motorcycle into a joint NATO-Afghan patrol Monday killing six foreign troops, among them Americans, in… Continue reading

This photo provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department shows Lakeisha N. Holloway, who police said smashed into crowds of pedestrians on the Las Vegas Strip on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, killing one person and injuring dozens. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via AP)

Sheriff: Driver told valet to call 911 after Vegas crash

LAS VEGAS — A woman with her 3-year-old daughter in the car smashed into crowds of visitors on the Las Vegas Strip, then drove to… Continue reading

This photo provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department shows Lakeisha N. Holloway, who police said smashed into crowds of pedestrians on the Las Vegas Strip on Sunday, Dec. 20, 2015, killing one person and injuring dozens. (Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department via AP)
File-This Aug. 6, 2015, file photo shows a lion named Tommy in the Hwange National Park where Cecil the Lion was killed about 700 kilometres south west of Harare, Zimbabwe. The Obama administration is expected to extend Endangered Species Act protections for two breeds of lions, in response to a large decline in their numbers in Africa over the past two decades. The listings are to be announced Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, and include an order that appears to touch on circumstances surrounding the killing of a well-known lion named Cecil in Zimbabwe earlier this year. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, File)

Obama administration enacts protections for lions

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration’s decision to extend Endangered Species Act protections for two breeds of lions is a turning point for the lions now… Continue reading

File-This Aug. 6, 2015, file photo shows a lion named Tommy in the Hwange National Park where Cecil the Lion was killed about 700 kilometres south west of Harare, Zimbabwe. The Obama administration is expected to extend Endangered Species Act protections for two breeds of lions, in response to a large decline in their numbers in Africa over the past two decades. The listings are to be announced Monday, Dec. 21, 2015, and include an order that appears to touch on circumstances surrounding the killing of a well-known lion named Cecil in Zimbabwe earlier this year. (AP Photo/Tsvangirayi Mukwazhi, File)

Obama: Trump exploiting blue-collar fears in race

HONOLULU — President Barack Obama, in a broadside against the leading Republican presidential candidate, says billionaire Donald Trump is “exploiting” the fears that working-class men… Continue reading

In this Dec. 17, 2015 photo, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks at the CWA headquarters in Washington. A growing debate over America's role in promoting regime change in the Middle East is creating unusual alliances among 2016 presidential candidates that cross party lines. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

Regime change talk creates odd alliances

WASHINGTON — America’s 2016 presidential candidates are split on promoting regime change in the Middle East, but not along the usual party lines.GOP contenders Donald… Continue reading

In this Dec. 17, 2015 photo, Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., speaks at the CWA headquarters in Washington. A growing debate over America's role in promoting regime change in the Middle East is creating unusual alliances among 2016 presidential candidates that cross party lines. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)
In this Dec. 17, 2015 photo, a New York City Police detective holds a credit card skimmer that was used by a street gang to copy metadata from legitimate credit cards for use in the manufacture of counterfeit cards and possibly identity theft. A new trend is emerging that shows street crews and local gangs giving up more traditional activities like gun point robberies or drug running for more white-collar varieties of crime like identity theft or credit card fraud. (AP Photo/Colleen Long)

Gangs migrate from drugs to white-collar crimes

NEW YORK — The Van Dyke Money Gang in New York made off with more than $1.5 million this year — but it wasn’t in… Continue reading

In this Dec. 17, 2015 photo, a New York City Police detective holds a credit card skimmer that was used by a street gang to copy metadata from legitimate credit cards for use in the manufacture of counterfeit cards and possibly identity theft. A new trend is emerging that shows street crews and local gangs giving up more traditional activities like gun point robberies or drug running for more white-collar varieties of crime like identity theft or credit card fraud. (AP Photo/Colleen Long)