Archive By Section - Signal AP
Immigrants to avoid deportation in some crimes
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) - A new policy in Alameda County is instructing prosecutors to consider filing lesser criminal charges for some legal immigrants in an effort to avoid convictions with mandatory deportation.
Appeals court hears challenge to Florida drug test law
ATLANTA (AP) - Lawyers on both sides of a battle over a Florida law requiring welfare applicants to pass a drug test appeared before a federal appeals court Thursday, presenting technical arguments about constitutional protections against unreasonable searches.
Weekly applications for US jobless aid dip to 363K
WASHINGTON (AP) - Applications for U.S. unemployment benefits dropped 9,000 to a seasonally adjusted 363,000 last week, a level consistent with modest hiring.
Consumers give U.S. economy a lift before election
WASHINGTON (AP) - A flurry of reports Thursday showed that U.S. consumers are growing more confident and spending more, boosting a still-weak economy just five days before the presidential election.
US stocks rise on strong economic data
U.S. stocks rose strongly Thursday following positive reports about manufacturing and consumer confidence, two keys elements of the economic recovery.
Presidential politics reignites in Sandy's wake
ROANOKE, Va. (AP) - Presidential politics reignited in the wake of natural disaster Thursday, with the candidates beginning their full-throttle closing arguments with new vigor on the same pocketbook concerns that have dominated the campaign from the start.
Salmon swim across flooded road in Washington
UNION, Wash. (AP) - A flooding river covered a road in Washington, allowing some migrating salmon to swim across the pavement.
Raft of office-buying fuels disgust from Chinese
XILINHOT, China (AP) - In a small town in northern China's Inner Mongolia where sheep and cattle easily outnumber humans, Fan Chen paid a Communist Party boss three times an average urban resident's annual salary to become a local police chief.
Broker: Wright-designed Ariz. home to be preserved
PHOENIX (AP) - A Frank Lloyd Wright-designed Phoenix home that had been slated for demolition will apparently survive under a new owner.
Wind kicks up 100-year-old volcanic ash in Alaska
JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) - A smog-like haze that hung over part of Alaska's Kodiak Island this week was courtesy of a volcanic eruption - 100 years ago.
Louisiana ex-con executed for 2003 Texas killing
HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) - Donnie Lee Roberts, convicted in his girlfriend's 2003 slaying in Texas, was executed Wednesday for fatally shooting the woman and taking items from her home to sell or trade to support his drug habit.
Fire erupts at Ky chemical train derailment site
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Flames from a derailed train car sent people rushing out of neighborhoods and an entire town near Louisville on Wednesday while firefighters tried to douse the chemical blaze that left three workers badly burned.
Greece outlines new austerity as debt load rises
ATHENS, Greece (AP) - Greece's government on Wednesday outlined the new austerity measures it intends to take over the next two years, a series of painful spending cuts and tax hikes that its international bailout creditors are demanding in exchange for rescue loans.
Brad Pitt donates $100K for gay marriage effort
WASHINGTON (AP) - Brad Pitt has agreed to donate $100,000 to help the Human Rights Campaign raise money for its efforts to support same-sex marriage initiatives in several states.
Syria presses heavy air bombardment of rebels
BEIRUT (AP) - Syrian warplanes fired missiles at opposition strongholds around Damascus and in the north on Wednesday as Turkey, a key backer of the anti-regime rebels, appeared to distance itself from an earlier call to impose a no-fly zone.
Articles by Section - Signal AP
Obama: IRS acting commissioner has resigned
WASHINGTON (AP) - President Barack Obama on Wednesday announced the resignation of the top official at the Internal Revenue Service following a controversy over the agency's targeting of conservative political groups.
Los Angeles apartment evacuated and devices found
LOS ANGELES (AP) - A police bomb squad was detonating homemade explosive devices found in an apartment on Wednesday after a traffic stop revealed a potentially dangerous liquid in a man's car, authorities said.
Holder defends subpoenas for AP telephone records
WASHINGTON (AP) - Attorney General Eric Holder told Congress Wednesday that a serious national security leak required the secret gathering of telephone records at The Associated Press as he stood by an investigation in which he insisted he had no involvement.
Shrinks, critics face off over psychiatric manual
CHICAGO (AP) - In the new psychiatric manual of mental disorders, grief soon after a loved one's death can be considered major depression. Extreme childhood temper tantrums get a fancy name. And certain "senior moments" are called "mild neurocognitive disorder."
Google unveils maps, photo, music features
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - Google's sixth annual conference for software developers opened Wednesday with a chance for the company to showcase its latest services. Announcements included new features for online games, maps and search, a new music-streaming service and enhancements to its Google Plus social network, including tools for sharing and enhancing photos.
House panel set to OK cut in food stamp program
WASHINGTON (AP) - A House committee rebuffed Democratic efforts Wednesday to keep the $80 billion-a-year food stamp program whole, as debate on the farm bill turned into a theological discourse on helping the poor.
OJ testifies in bid for new trial
LAS VEGAS (AP) - More than four years after the world last heard from O.J. Simpson in court, one of the nation's most famous prisoners spoke again Wednesday in a bid to win freedom from a sentence that could keep him behind bars until he dies.
Convicted Pa. abortion doctor gets life in prison
PHILADELPHIA (AP) - An abortion doctor convicted of killing three babies born alive at his rogue clinic dodged a possible death sentence on Tuesday in a hasty post-verdict deal with prosecutors.
Hikers won't have to pay cost of rescue
SANTA ANA (AP) - Two hikers lost for days in the Southern California wilderness won't be charged the $160,000 it took to find them.
Justice investigating IRS targeting of tea party
WASHINGTON (AP) - The Justice Department is investigating the Internal Revenue Service for targeting tea party groups for extra scrutiny when they applied for tax exempt status, Attorney General Eric Holder said Tuesday, widening a probe that includes investigations by three committees in Congress.
Tougher drunken driving threshold recommended
WASHINGTON (AP) - States should cut their threshold for drunken driving by nearly half- from .08 blood alcohol level to .05_matching a standard that has substantially reduced highway deaths in other countries, a federal safety board recommended Tuesday. That's about one drink for a woman weighing less than 120 pounds, two for a 160-pound man.
2 co-op startups in Ore. health insurance market
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - Two startup cooperatives have joined a crowded health insurance market in Oregon, offering a consumer-run experience and hoping to draw customers who prefer smaller not-for-profits, or who support underdogs and alternative, DIY culture.
Officials ID 3 of 5 found dead in northern Nevada
RENO, Nev. (AP) - Authorities have identified three of the five people found dead in string of homicides in northern Nevada.
At actress's Geneva jewel auction, $3M for 1 gem
GENEVA (AP) - Sotheby's has auctioned off jewels belonging to actress Gina Lollobrigida, fetching just under $3 million for a fancy yellow diamond once owned by a shah of Persia.
Former Saints, Chargers RB Chuck Muncie dead at 60
METAIRIE, La. (AP) - Chuck Muncie, a Pro Bowl running back with both the New Orleans Saints and San Diego Chargers, has died at age 60, the NFL clubs and a family spokesman said Tuesday.
