Kerry links better US-Vietnam ties to rights on anniversary

HANOI, Vietnam (AP) – U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry on Friday celebrated the 20th anniversary of normalized relations between the United States and Vietnam but said ties would not reach their full potential without improvements in the communist nation’s human rights record. Speaking in Hanoi, Kerry extolled the virtues of reconciling with former enemies […]

Baconfest coming to Cape Coral Saturday, tickets on sale

CAPE CORAL, Fla — On Saturday, August 8, the South Cape Hospitality & En tertainment Association will host the second annual South Cape Baconfest. Join the bars and restaurants of the South Cape for a fun-filled night of food, drinks, and of course, bacon. Travel on a fleet of trolleys as they ride around the South […]

Thailand bans commercial surrogacy for foreign parents

BANGKOK (AP) – Thailand, once a top choice for would-be parents around the world who were seeking a surrogate, has narrowed the choices for people looking to hire a woman to carry a fetus in her womb. It had been one of the handful of Asian countries where commercial surrogacy was not specifically banned. And […]

France expands hunt for debris in week-long Reunion search

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia (AP) – A French search plane lifted off Friday for a bird’s-eye view of Reunion Island, seeking any more potential debris from Malaysia Airlines Flight 370. French authorities said Friday they’ve launched a one-week-long operation with boats and aircraft scouring the Indian Ocean island, where a wing fragment was discovered nine days […]

In split with Obama, Sen. Chuck Schumer opposes Iran deal

WASHINGTON (AP) – Sen. Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat expected to be the party’s next leader in the Senate, said he will oppose the Iran nuclear deal in spite of President Barack Obama’s intense lobbying in favor of the accord. The deal, struck last month with Tehran and Western powers, would curb Iran’s nuclear […]

South Florida inmate captured after briefly escaping

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) – An inmate who escaped from the West Palm Beach Community Release Center has been captured. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement tells local media that 27-year-old Antwane Anglin was captured Thursday afternoon, less than 12 hours after officials say he fled while on work release. Department of Corrections officials […]

Trump jolts first GOP debate, rivals scramble for attention

CLEVELAND (AP) – A combative Donald Trump, the billionaire businessman-turned-presidential candidate, jolted the first Republican debate of the 2016 campaign by warning he might run as an independent if denied the GOP nomination. His startling declaration left his onstage rivals scrambling to compete for attention the rest of the night. Asked in the debate’s opening […]

Planned Parenthood responds to state investigation

FORT MYERS, Fla.- Planned Parenthood is facing sharp criticism after some state clinics were accused of performing abortions that are not allowed under their licenses. The organization is trying to determine how best to fight back against the accusations they say are not true. Planned Parenthood says it was blind-sided by the state findings. It accuses the state […]