New Starbucks holiday cups causing controversy

For millions of coffee-drinkers, the arrival of Starbucks’ holiday-themed cups means Christmas is on the way. “It’s huge. People who don’t even go to Starbucks regularly, they come during the holidays because we have the red cups,” Starbucks employee Skylar Shelley said. But some critics say the image of this year’s holiday cup was like […]

UNESCO rejects membership for Kosovo in victory for Serbia

PARIS (AP) – Members of the U.N. cultural agency narrowly rejected Kosovo’s bid for membership on Monday in a victory for Serbia and Russia and a blow to Kosovo’s mission for global recognition as a state. Most nations that participated in the vote at UNESCO headquarters in Paris favored Kosovo’s membership, with 92 “yes” votes […]

Wealth may give advantage for getting organ transplants

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – You can’t buy hearts, kidneys or other organs but money can still help you get one. Wealthy people are more likely to get on multiple waiting lists and score a transplant, and less likely to die while waiting for one, a new study finds. The work confirms what many have long […]

Target to open at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day

NEW YORK (AP) – Target will open its doors at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, the same time as last year. But shoppers don’t have to trek to a store after eating turkey and stuffing; the same deals will be available online at Target.com on Thanksgiving morning, the Minneapolis-based retailer says. Target Corp.’s plan is […]

Russia faces Olympic ban after hugely critical doping report

GENEVA (AP) — Russian track and field athletes could be banned from next year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro after a devastatingly critical report accused the country’s government of complicity in widespread doping and cover-ups. The World Anti-Doping Agency commission set up to investigate doping in Russia said even the country’s intelligence service, the FSB, […]

Retrial set for man in $300M vacation rental fraud case

MIAMI (AP) – A second trial is set for a former resort company president accused of bank fraud and other charges in an alleged $300 million vacation rental scam. Jury selection is scheduled to start Monday in Miami federal court for Fred Davis “Dave” Clark Jr., former chief of now-defunct Cay Clubs Resorts and Marinas. […]

VW offers diesel owners $1,000 in gift cards and vouchers

DETROIT (AP) – Volkswagen is offering $1,000 in gift cards and vouchers as a goodwill gesture to owners of small diesel-powered cars involved in an emissions cheating scandal. The offer announced Monday goes to owners of 482,000 cars in the U.S., many who are angry at the company because they paid extra for the cars […]

Hardy tweets ‘regret’ over domestic violence case

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy tweeted “regret” on Saturday night after photos of his bruised ex-girlfriend from his domestic violence case were released by Deadspin a day earlier. Hardy said on Twitter that he “had to say I express my regret 4 what happened in past” and that he’s “dedicated to being the best […]

Disney’s Planet Hollywood to lay off 468 workers next year

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) – Planet Hollywood at Disney Springs is making plans to lay off more than 450 workers. According to a notice posted on the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity website Monday, the company plans 468 layoffs to take place between Jan. 6 and 19. In February Planet Hollywood announced it was transforming its […]

Attorney General won’t ask court to block pot measure

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, who loudly opposed a medical marijuana measure that appeared on the 2014 ballot, is staying on the sidelines this time around. Bondi said she is still opposes the effort to legalize medical marijuana, but the state’s top legal officer is remaining silent on whether the Florida […]