Helicopters in Kentucky crash are versatile Army workhorses
March 30, 2023 GMTTwo U.S. Army Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopters crashed during training Wednesday night in Kentucky, killing nine soldiers.
A college in upheaval: War on ‘woke’ sparks fear in Florida
March 30, 2023 GMTSARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Professors at the New College of Florida are using personal email because they’re afraid of being subpoenaed.
Students are concerned, too. Some fear for their physical safety.
In Germany, Charles III makes organic ‘king cheese’
March 30, 2023 GMTBERLIN (AP) —
After schmoozing with Berlin's political elite in the morning, King Charles III headed to the German countryside for a down-to-earth afternoon visit at an organic farm, where Britain's monarch helped make an orange-colored cheese with a crown imprint.
Manhattan claws back people as urban counties stem outflow
March 30, 2023 GMTTurns out the pandemic hasn't permanently dissuaded people — especially immigrants — from seeking their fortunes amid Manhattan's bustling streets.
The county that encompasses Manhattan added more than 17,000 residents in the year ending last July after losing almost 111,000 people in the previous 12-month period, according to population estimates released Thursday by the U.S.
A look at how the largest US counties gained or lost people
March 30, 2023 GMTSeveral large, urban counties across the United States gained residents or stemmed population declines in the year ending last July after losing residents in the previous 12-month period amid the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the U.S.
A versatile spring vegetable for holiday meals: Asparagus
March 29, 2023 GMTWhat better ingredient for a spring holiday meal than a seasonal food favorite like asparagus? It's at the top of my can’t-wait-for-spring vegetable list.
Asparagus can be steamed, boiled, stir-fried, roasted, baked, grilled, or broiled.
Large numbers of Hispanics didn’t pick single race in census
March 28, 2023 GMTMore than 43% of Hispanics either didn't respond to the question asking them to select their race or selected the “some other race” box on the 2020 census form, the U.S. Census Bureau said Tuesday, lending support to arguments that the federal government should change its race and ethnicity categories.
Planets on parade: 5 will be lined up in night sky this week
March 28, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Keep an eye to the sky this week for a chance to see a planetary hangout.
Five planets — Mercury, Jupiter, Venus, Uranus and Mars — will line up near the moon.
Care, ‘magic’ help DC’s cherry blossom trees defy age
March 28, 2023 GMTPeak bloom has arrived for the thousands of Japanese cherry blossom trees at the National Mall in Washington, and the area is awash in magnificent pink and white.
Predicting the timing of peak bloom — defined as when 70% of the blossoms have opened — has been getting harder.
Planting a garden from seed is easy and can start now
March 28, 2023 GMTThe catalogs have been thumbed through, and the seed racks are sprouting like weeds at local nurseries and garden centers.
Dior transforms Mumbai’s Gateway of India into fashion ramp
March 31, 2023 GMTMUMBAI (AP) — In a glittering splash of luxury fashion Thursday, Dior transformed Mumbai’s grand, historic Gateway of India monument into a runway laden with celebrity, beauty and craftsmanship.
Gwyneth Paltrow won her ski case. Here’s how it played out
March 31, 2023 GMTPARK CITY, Utah (AP) — When two skiers collided on a beginner run at an upscale Utah ski resort in 2016, no one could foresee that seven years later, the crash would become the subject of a closely watched celebrity trial.
North Dakota governor vetoes transgender pronouns bill
March 30, 2023 GMTNorth Dakota's Republican governor vetoed a bill that would generally prohibit public schools teachers and staff from referring to transgender students by pronouns other than those reflecting the sex assigned to them at birth.
Camila Cabello celebrates grandmother’s novel and strength
March 30, 2023 GMTMALAGA, Spain (AP) — Camila Cabello credits the strong women in her life for her success as an artist and a person. So it was only natural that she was there to celebrate her grandmother's milestone — the publication of a novel.
A college in upheaval: War on ‘woke’ sparks fear in Florida
March 30, 2023 GMTSARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Professors at the New College of Florida are using personal email because they’re afraid of being subpoenaed.
Students are concerned, too. Some fear for their physical safety.
Should you buy now, pay later for your wedding?
March 30, 2023 GMTAs wedding season approaches, couples are booking venues, compiling guest lists and hiring a dizzying array of vendors — and they’re digging deep into their pockets to pay for it.
Anatomy of a political takeover at Florida public college
March 30, 2023 GMTSARASOTA, Fla. (AP) — Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has targeted a tiny, public liberal arts college on the shores of Sarasota Bay, as a staging ground for his war on “woke.”
The governor and his allies say the New College of Florida, known as a progressive school with a prominent LGBTQ+ community, is indoctrinating students with leftist ideology and should be remade into a more conservative institution.
DeSantis’ board says Disney stripped them of power
March 30, 2023 GMTLAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (AP) — Board members picked by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to oversee the governance of Walt Disney World said Wednesday that their Disney-controlled predecessors pulled a fast one on them by passing restrictive covenants that strip the new board of many of its powers.
California may end travel ban to states with anti-LGBTQ laws
March 30, 2023 GMTSACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — When North Carolina in 2016 banned transgender people from using the bathroom of their gender identity in public buildings, California retaliated by banning state-funded travel to that state and any other state with laws it deemed discriminatory against LGBTQ people.
West Virginia bans marriage for children age 15 or younger
March 29, 2023 GMTCHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — West Virginia will no longer allow children under 16 to marry, after the governor signed a compromise bill Wednesday.
The law signed by Republican Gov. Jim Justice continues allowing children ages 16 and 17 to get married with restrictions.
Edmunds: BMW-X1 vs Mercedes-Benz GLB
March 29, 2023 GMTExtra- small luxury SUVs are a great way to cruise around in luxury without paying an excessive amount. As an example, check out the Mercedes-Benz GLB.
Should U.S. airlines pay passengers for delays like the EU?
March 29, 2023 GMTSouthwest Airlines spent the early part of 2023 trying to make good after a historic meltdown resulted in more than 16,700 canceled flights during the 2022 holidays. The airline reimbursed passengers for the cost of alternative travel arrangements and sent many travelers additional loyalty points.
Poll: Cut federal spending — but not big-ticket programs
AP-NORC PollMarch 29, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — In the federal budget standoff, the majority of U.S. adults are asking lawmakers to pull off the impossible: Cut the overall size of government, but also devote more money to the most popular and expensive programs.
Elephant in the dining room: Startup makes mammoth meatball
March 29, 2023 GMTAMSTERDAM (AP) — Throw another mammoth on the barbie?
An Australian company on Tuesday lifted the glass cloche on a meatball made of lab-grown cultured meat using the genetic sequence from the long-extinct pachyderm, saying it was meant to fire up public debate about the hi-tech treat.
Acadia National Park increases entry fees effective Saturday
March 28, 2023 GMTBAR HARBOR, Maine (AP) — The National Park Service approved the first entrance fee increase in five years for Acadia National Park, officials said Tuesday.
Much of the fee increase effective Saturday will give a boost to the Island Explorer bus system, which is critical to addressing traffic congestion in the park, and other projects that benefit visitors, officials said.
‘Bachelor’ creator Mike Fleiss exits reality TV franchise
March 28, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Mike Fleiss, the creator of “The Bachelor,” has exited the reality TV franchise more than two decades after the iconic dating show launched.
His departure was confirmed Tuesday, a day after “The Bachelor” aired its season 27 finale.
Is my money safe? What you need to know about bank failures
March 28, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Recent turmoil in the banking industry may have you worried about your money.
The recent collapses of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, which catered mostly to the tech industry, were the second- and third-biggest bank failures in U.S.
Millennial Money: Manage the costs of a chronic condition
March 28, 2023 GMTFor millennials with chronic medical conditions — or those raising kids with chronic conditions — health care can be an enormous monthly expense. About 44% of older millennials born between 1981 and 1988 have at least one chronic health condition, including migraines, major depression and asthma, according to a 2021 survey of over 4,000 adults conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of CNBC Make It.
Handmade blankets welcome refugees, immigrants to US
March 28, 2023 GMTBURLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — "Welcome to the USA," says a note attached to a hand-crocheted blanket of purple, white and gray stripes.
Hollie Shaner-McRae, of Burlington, who made the blanket as a gift for a refugee, wrote of her great-grandparents coming to the United States from Ukraine, Russia and Poland.
Queen and Adam Lambert eager for their post-pandemic tour
March 28, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Queen and Adam Lambert are hitting the road this fall for a North American expansion of their Rhapsody Tour, with a freshly minted knight onstage and plenty of post-pandemic energy.
Biden’s moves on Alaska drilling, TikTok test young voters
March 27, 2023 GMTTEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Recent moves by President Joe Biden to pressure TikTok over its Chinese ownership and approve oil drilling in an untapped area of Alaska are testing the loyalty of young voters, a group that’s largely been in his corner.
Kimberly Palmer: How to use a tax refund to fight inflation
March 27, 2023 GMTIf inflation has eaten away at your budget the way waves erode a beach, then your tax refund might just provide a much-needed protective barrier.
As of March, prices are up 6% over the past 12 months, according to the most recent consumer price index.
Taron Egerton slots Tetris story into place in new biopic
March 27, 2023 GMTThe origin story of the iconic computer game “Tetris” is more thrilling than you may think.
It involves border crossing, authority dodging, underhand deals, putting your house on the line and — finally — trying to secure the rights for the game from behind the Iron Curtain.
Sicilian swordfish cooks gently in rustic tomato-caper sauce
March 27, 2023 GMTFrom May to August each year, the turbulent waters between Sicily and Calabria erupt with fishermen searching for what’s known as the king of the strait, swordfish. Once on land, the massive fish is cut into succulent steaks for one of Southern Italy’s most emblematic summertime dishes, pesce spada alla ghiotta.
Residents protest zipline on Rio’s iconic Sugarloaf Mountain
March 27, 2023 GMTSome 200 protesters gathered beneath Rio de Janeiro's world-famous Sugarloaf Mountain to protest the ongoing construction of ziplines aimed at boosting tourism, alleging it will cause unacceptable impacts.
Pray for rain: Spanish farmers hold unique Mass amid drought
March 26, 2023 GMTL'ESPUNYOLA, Spain (AP) — When Josep Altarriba looks across his parched fields, the Spanish farmer can't remember a time of such widespread drought in Catalonia.
Judge rules online archive’s book service violated copyright
March 25, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge has sided with four publishers who sued an online archive over its unauthorized scanning of millions of copyrighted works and offering them for free to the public. Judge John G.
Darcelle, world’s oldest working drag queen, dies at 92
March 25, 2023 GMTPORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Walter Cole, better known as the iconic drag queen who performed for decades as Darcelle XV and a fearless advocate for Portland's LGBTQ+ community, has died of natural causes in Portland, Oregon.
Indigenous artists help skateboarding earn stamp of approval
March 25, 2023 GMTPHOENIX (AP) — Years ago, skateboarding was branded as a hobby for rebels or stoners in city streets, schoolyards and back alleys. Those days are long gone.
Skateboarding, which has Native Hawaiian roots connected to surfing, no longer is on the fringes.
Drag community shows up to protest Nebraska drag show bill
March 25, 2023 GMTLINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A bill that would criminalize exposing anyone 18 or younger to a drag show in Nebraska was the last one to get a public hearing in this year's legislative session late Friday.
Debt, expenses stress lower income households: AP-NORC poll
March 24, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Personal finances are a major source of stress for about half of the lower income households in the U.S., a new poll shows, illustrating the toll of high inflation and economic uncertainty on those who can least afford it.
UK watchdog softens position on Microsoft Activision deal
March 24, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — British antitrust regulators scrutinizing Microsoft's blockbuster purchase of videogame maker Activision Blizzard on Friday dropped concerns that the deal would hurt the console gaming market, narrowing the scope of their investigation.
In Your Debt: Doing the bare minimum with debt can cost you
March 24, 2023 GMTWhen you’re carrying a credit card balance, paying at least the minimum due each month is certainly a start. If those payments aren’t making your overall budget feel squeezed, you have all the more reason to put payments on autopilot and not think about the total cost of your debt.
Classic cocktails, with variations, for summer entertaining
March 24, 2023 GMTThe arrival of spring means summer entertaining season isn’t far behind, which is an excellent excuse for a home bartending refresher. Because like changing a tire and ironing a shirt, crafting a cocktail is one of those skills adults should have at least a passing familiarity with.
Lawsuit challenges Florida ban on gender-affirming care
March 23, 2023 GMTTALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Four families challenging Florida’s prohibition against puberty-blocking hormones and gender-affirming surgeries for minors filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against state health officials.
Disney World reaches union deal with minimum $18 hourly wage
March 23, 2023 GMTORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Unions for service workers at Walt Disney World reached a tentative deal with the company on Thursday that would raise the starting minimum wage from $15 to $18 an hour by the end of the year in a pact that could set the basement for starting pay throughout central Florida's sprawling tourism industry.
Autism now more common among Black, Hispanic kids in US
March 23, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — For the first time, autism is being diagnosed more frequently in Black and Hispanic children than in white kids in the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Thursday.
Book ban attempts hit record high in 2022, library org says
March 23, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Attempted book bans and restrictions at school and public libraries continue to surge, setting a record in 2022, according to a new report from the American Library Association released Thursday.
Ohio toxic train derailment upends school baseball, track
March 23, 2023 GMTEAST PALESTINE, Ohio (AP) — On the surface, everything looks normal.
There's the East Palestine High School baseball team learning the finer points of baserunning at one edge of Reid Memorial Stadium.
Why you should bench credit cards for March Madness bets
March 23, 2023 GMTBy the end of the 2023 NCAA tournament, an estimated one in four Americans will have wagered $15.5 billion in bets on the various games, according to the American Gaming Association. Last year, Matt Cappelen — a 34-year-old firefighter from Elk Grove Village, Illinois — would have been in the middle of the action.
March Madness: Athletes balance privacy, online profile
March 23, 2023 GMTAliyah Boston recalls her parents prodding her to be more active on social media, to extend her brand as her basketball prowess began to draw national attention.
She said she would be more active — and then post just one photo in two months, which is no way for an athlete influencer to earn big money in the era of name, image and likeness compensation.
Transgender youth: ‘Forced outing’ bills make schools unsafe
March 23, 2023 GMTTULSA, Okla. (AP) — Al Stone-Gebhardt worked hard in school to make sure he graduates in May, and he spent hundreds of dollars on commencement regalia, but he is fully prepared not to participate in the ceremony.
Gwyneth Paltrow ski collision trial brings doctors to stand
March 22, 2023 GMTPARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Two doctors on Wednesday described X-rays, brain scans and neurological tests documenting the medical condition of a man suing Gwyneth Paltrow for a 2016 ski collision at an upscale Utah ski resort.
TikTok sends influencers to Washington as its troubles grow
March 22, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — TikTok is ramping up a public relations campaign to fend off the possibility of a nationwide ban by the Biden administration, and it’s bringing some unconventional advocates to help: online influencers.
Fed raises key rate by quarter-point despite bank turmoil
March 22, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve extended its year-long fight against high inflation Wednesday by raising its key interest rate by a quarter-point despite concerns that higher borrowing rates could worsen the turmoil that has gripped the banking system.
What to know about new research on coffee and heart risks
March 22, 2023 GMTCoffee lovers — and their doctors — have long wondered whether a jolt of java can affect the heart. New research published Wednesday finds that drinking caffeinated coffee did not significantly affect one kind of heart hiccup that can feel like a skipped beat.
Stylist Law Roach working on his health post-retirement
March 22, 2023 GMTLOS ANGELES (AP) — Celebrity stylist Law Roach, who helped reinvent Zendaya and turned Celine Dion into a fashion icon, shocked the industry last week when he announced his retirement from dressing the rich and famous.
What the Fed rate increase means for your credit card bill
March 22, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The Federal Reserve raised its key rate by another quarter point Wednesday, bringing it to the highest level in 15 years as part of an ongoing effort to ease inflation by making borrowing more expensive.
Credit card debt is at record high as Fed raises rates again
March 22, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — As the Federal Reserve raises interest rates again, credit card debt is already at a record high, and more people are carrying debt month to month.
Los Angeles strike highlights paltry US school worker pay
March 22, 2023 GMTSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Bus drivers shuttle America’s children to schools where cafeteria workers feed them and teacher aides assist students who need the most help.
A quarter of world population lacks safe drinking water: UN
March 22, 2023 GMTUNITED NATIONS (AP) — A report issued on the eve of the first major U.N. conference on water in over 45 years says 26% of the world’s population doesn’t have access to safe drinking water and 46% lacks access to basic sanitation.
Holy month of Ramadan begins for Muslims across the world
March 22, 2023 GMTDUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The Muslim holy month of Ramadan began at sundown on Wednesday, as the faithful prepared for a month of dawn-to-dusk fasting intended to bring them closer to God and to remind them of the suffering of those less fortunate.
New Hampshire House passes bill honoring fallen ‘Old Man’
March 22, 2023 GMTCONCORD, N.H. (AP) — New Hampshire’s fallen Old Man of the Mountain would be honored annually under a bill passed by the House on Wednesday.
The massive, naturally formed granite profile attracted tourists to Franconia Notch for about 200 years before it crumbled in 2003.
Quick spring refreshes: Making the old place feel like new
March 22, 2023 GMTMaybe you had hoped to be in a new home this year but were deterred by high housing prices.
Once a TV show, ‘Smash’ to make its Broadway bow in 2024
March 22, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — The glitzy, fictional Broadway musical about the life of Marilyn Monroe that formed the heart of the TV show “Smash” will make the leap to an actual Broadway stage next season.
Producers said Wednesday that “Smash” is slated for Broadway in the 2024-25 season, welcome news to many of the show's fans and the Broadway community who embraced its look at the inner workings of their industry.
Summer travel is likely to remain hot, so book early
March 22, 2023 GMTTravel last summer was, in a word, wild.
Pent-up “revenge” travel combined with relaxed restrictions caused a surge in demand. High fuel prices and limited airline capacity drove up costs, with overall travel prices increasing 17% over pre-pandemic levels by June 2022, according to NerdWallet’s Travel Price Index.
Climate solution: Downsize laundry jugs to cut emissions
March 22, 2023 GMTLaundry detergent is looking a little different these days. A growing number of companies are making bulky plastic jugs smaller and concentrating the detergent or soap.
Without all that water, less fossil fuels are required for transport, because the products are lighter and more can be shipped in a single trip.
Edmunds: The hottest electric cars to check out in 2023
March 22, 2023 GMTElectric vehicles, or EVs, had their best-selling year in 2022. Their market share surpassed 5% according to Edmunds data, which is nearly double than 2021. In 2023, EV sales should continue to soar.
Gwyneth Paltrow’s lawyer calls Utah ski collision story ‘BS’
March 22, 2023 GMTPARK CITY, Utah (AP) — Gwyneth Paltrow's lawyer called the story of a retired optometrist who is suing her over a 2016 ski collision “utter B.S.” on Tuesday during the trial's opening day in Utah, where the actor-turned-lifestyle influencer appeared in court looking somber.
Biden creates national monuments in Nevada, Texas mountains
March 21, 2023 GMTWASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Tuesday he is establishing national monuments on more than half a million acres in Nevada and Texas and creating a marine sanctuary in U.S. waters near the Pacific Remote Islands southwest of Hawaii.
Paul Newman’s camp for sick kids rises from the ashes
March 21, 2023 GMTASHFORD, Conn. (AP) — Amarey Brookshire was devastated when she heard about the fire at the Hole in the Wall Gang Camp for seriously ill children — her camp.
The February 2021 blaze destroyed much of the retreat in the woods of eastern Connecticut, which was founded by the late actor Paul Newman in 1988 to give children with devastating medical conditions a place to, as he said, “raise a little hell.”
Itching to start spring garden cleanup? Not so fast!
March 21, 2023 GMTWhen the blare of the year’s first leaf blower awakened me one morning last week, I realized spring cleanup had commenced -- no matter that March could still roar like a lion here in my Long Island, New York, neighborhood.
Van Zweden to end NY Philharmonic tenure with Mahler’s 2nd
March 21, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — Jaap van Zweden will conduct Mahler’s Second Symphony in his farewell concerts as the New York Philharmonic’s music director from June 6-8, 2024, ending a season that will spotlight the 100th anniversary of the orchestra’s Young People’s Concerts.
TikTok bans deepfakes of young people as it updates guidelines
March 21, 2023 GMTLONDON (AP) — TikTok went on a counteroffensive Tuesday amid increasing Western pressure over cybersecurity and misinformation concerns, rolling out updated rules and standards for content as its CEO warned against a possible U.S.
Coconut? Marshmallows? Feelings run hot for ambrosia salad
March 21, 2023 GMTNEW YORK (AP) — “My name’s Joyce,” drawls a neighbor to Edward Scissorhands, “and I noticed that you have not tasted any of the ambrosia salad that I made especially for you.”
Millennial Money: Is being a landlord worth it?
March 21, 2023 GMTReal estate has been a popular investment for a very long time — for those who can afford it. But in recent years, trends such as house flipping, “house hacking” (living in one room of a property while renting out the others) and short-term vacation rentals have made real estate investment much more accessible, especially for millennials seeking a second income stream in an uncertain economy.
Dodge unveils last super-fast gasoline muscle car
March 21, 2023 GMTDETROIT (AP) — The last gas-powered muscle car from Dodge isn't leaving the road without some squeals, thunder and crazy-fast speed.
The 2023 Challenger SRT Demon 170 will deliver 1,025 horsepower from its 6.2-liter supercharged V-8, and the automaker says it will be the quickest production car made.
Heaps of garbage in Paris streets become protest symbol
March 21, 2023 GMTPARIS (AP) — Garbage. Heaps, mounds and piles of it are growing daily — and in some places standing higher than a human being.
A strike by Paris garbage collectors, which begins its 16th day on Tuesday, is taking a toll on the renowned aesthetics of the French capital, a veritable blight on the City of Light.