AP National News

The Latest: Arkansas Gov: end of mask mandate at month’s end

By The Associated Press
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by Rayos Syndication User

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said Sunday that he believes his proposal to remove a mask mandate intended to slow the spread of the coronavirus will take place as planned at the end of the month. On CNN’s ‘State of the Union,’ Hutchinson said goals he announced in February to lift the mask mandate, which include a…

The Latest: UNLV now plans in-person spring graduation

By The Associated Press
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by Rayos Syndication User

LAS VEGAS — The University of Nevada, Las Vegas is changing course and now plans in-person spring graduation ceremonies in May as the coronavirus outbreak slows. UNLV President Keith Whitfield on Friday announced the change from plans announced in February to hold graduation virtually. Whitfield said in a letter to students and staff that he firmly believes the university “can…

The Latest: LA mayor criticizes state over vaccination rules

By The Associated Press
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by Rayos Syndication User

SAN FRANCISCO — Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti says a lot of pandemic deaths could have been prevented in California if the state had focused earlier on vaccinating people in the most disadvantaged neighborhoods. Garcetti also said Friday the federal and state governments haven’t given local officials like him enough freedom to inoculate who they feel are most at risk….

The Latest: 4 more Atlanta spa shooting victims identified

AP
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by Rayos Syndication User

ATLANTA (AP) — The Latest on on the shootings at three Atlanta-area massage businesses where eight people were killed (all times local): 11:45 a.m. The names of four additional victims in the Atlanta-area spa shootings have been released. The Fulton County Medical Examiner’s Office said Friday that the four victims are 74-year-old Soon C. Park, 51-year-old Hyun J. Grant, 69-year-old…

The Latest: Australia seeks vaccine aid for Papua New Guinea

By The Associated Press
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by Rayos Syndication User

CANBERRA, Australia — Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison says he is working with U.S., Indian and Japanese partners to provide emergency coronavirus vaccine to Papua New Guinea. Australia has provided 8,000 AstraZeneca doses from its own stockpile to its nearest neighbor after an explosion of infections in the South Pacific island nation in recent weeks. Morrison said Friday that the…

New Jersey district pays $325K in Trump yearbook censorship

AP
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by Rayos Syndication User

A New Jersey school district is paying $325,000 to a former New Jersey teacher who claimed she was forced to edit a Donald Trump T-shirt worn by a student in a yearbook photo. NJ Advance Media reports the Wall Township school board approved the settlement agreement with Susan Parsons on Tuesday. The district made no admission of wrongdoing or liability. Parsons was the high school’s yearbook adviser when she claimed a secretary acting on behalf of the principal ordered her in 2017 to remove “Trump Make America Great Again” and make it appear as if the student was wearing a plain navy blue T-shirt. Parsons said she received death threats. The school district reissued the yearbook with the original unaltered photo.

James Levine, who ruled over Met Opera, dead at age 77

By RONALD BLUM - Associated Press
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by Rayos Syndication User

Conductor James Levine, who ruled over the Metropolitan Opera for more than four decades before being eased aside when his health declined and then was fired for sexual improprieties, has died. He was 77. Levine died March 9 in Palm Springs, California, of natural causes, his physician of 17 years, Dr. Len Horovitz, said Wednesday. Levine made his Met debut in 1971 and became one of the signature artists in the company’s history, conducting 2,552 performances and ruling over its repertoire, orchestra and singers as music or artistic director from 1976 until forced out by general manager Peter Gelb in 2016.