BREAKING NEWS Rafael strengthens into Cat 1 hurricane

Florida judge approves new map for Florida Senate districts

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – In a decision that could signal the end of Republican domination of the Florida Legislature, a circuit judge on Wednesday approved a new map for 40 state senate districts. Judge George Reynolds, in a widely anticipated ruling, rejected boundaries for Senate districts drawn up by a top Republican. Reynolds instead signed […]

Governor: Puerto Rico to default on $37M in interest due

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) – Puerto Rico’s governor announced Wednesday that the U.S. territory will meet $594 million in bond payments due next week but will still default on $37 million in interest. Gov. Alejandro Garcia Padilla said the payment includes $329 million in general obligation bonds. However, he warned there is no money […]

Obama, lawmakers see centennial as chance to boost parks

WASHINGTON (AP) – Under President Dwight D. Eisenhower, the nation prepared for the 50th birthday of the National Park Service with a spending splurge that refurbished Independence Hall in Philadelphia and helped complete the Gateway Arch in St. Louis and the 469-mile Blue Ridge Parkway. Next year, the world-famous system turns 100 and the celebration […]

Security gets boost for New Year’s Eve in Las Vegas

LAS VEGAS (AP) – Officials are urging New Year’s Eve revelers in Las Vegas to leave bags, backpacks and strollers at home as police ready for hundreds of thousands of partiers to flood the casino-filled corridor on Thursday. It’s not a first-of-its-kind request, but it’s getting extra emphasis on the Las Vegas Strip following deadly […]

Brussels cancels New Year’s Eve fireworks due to threat

BRUSSELS (AP) – The New Year’s Eve fireworks display is being canceled in Belgium’s capital due to threats of an extremist attack. Brussels Yvan Mayeur, the Belgian capital’s mayor, said the decision was taken Wednesday evening after consultation with government officials. “We are forced to cancel considering the risk analysis done by the Crisis Center,” […]

Mayor says Chicago police changes will focus on use of force

CHICAGO (AP) – Mayor Rahm Emanuel said Wednesday that Chicago police must be better trained to distinguish between when they can use a gun and when they should use a gun, after a series of shootings by officers sparked protests and complaints that police are too quick to fire their weapons. Emanuel announced changes in […]

Court papers: NYC postal worker dumped 1k pieces of mail

NEW YORK (AP) – Federal court papers say a postal worker was so overwhelmed by the holiday season workload on his delivery route that he dumped 1,000 pieces of mail in the trash. The New York Post is reporting (http://nyp.st/1ZA3PcX ) that Queens postman Daniel Darby was charged with unlawfully delaying and destroying the mail. […]

Georgia AG: State can’t stop resettlement of Syrian refugees

ATLANTA (AP) – Georgia cannot exclude Syrian refugees from resettlement in the state or deny them federally funded benefits, the state attorney general wrote in an official opinion Wednesday. Gov. Nathan Deal had asked Attorney General Sam Olens for an opinion on an executive order he issued in November directing state agencies to “halt any […]

Prosecutor: Driver held in Vegas crash had pot in system

LAS VEGAS (AP) – A woman accused of intentionally plowing a car into a crowd of pedestrians on a Las Vegas Strip sidewalk had marijuana in her system, but prosecutors said Wednesday that it’s unlikely she will be charged with driving under the influence. Tests showed that Lakeisha Nicole Holloway, 24, had more than the […]

Eagles CEO says coach following Kelly needs people skills

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – The next Eagles coach better have some people skills. A day after firing Chip Kelly, CEO Jeffrey Lurie made it clear he wants a coach who can relate to his players and everyone else in the building. “You’ve got to open your heart to players and everybody you want to achieve peak […]