AP National News

The Latest: US strikes at IS in retaliation for bombing

By The Associated Press

by Rayos Syndication User

WASHINGTON — The United States military struck back at the Islamic State on Saturday, bombing an IS member in Afghanistan less than 48 hours after a devastating suicide bombing claimed by the group killed as many as 169 Afghans and 13 American service members at the Kabul airport. U.S. Central Command said the U.S. conducted a drone strike against an…

The Latest: Family stunned as COVID kills high schooler

By The Associated Press

by Rayos Syndication User

MIAMI — In Columbia County, which now leads Florida in COVID-19 cases per capita, 17-year-old Jo’Keria Graham died just days before she started her senior year of high school. The teen, who loved taking care of kids and called her grandparents daily to check on them or help at their office, was still in quarantine at her Lake City home…

Judge urges talks between Purdue Pharma and holdout states

By GEOFF MULVIHILL - Associated Press

by Rayos Syndication User

A federal bankruptcy judge is urging the 10 states that oppose a settlement plan with Purdue Pharma to try to work out differences with the OxyContin maker before he issues a ruling next week. During a videoconference hearing on Friday, Judge Robert Drain warned of lengthy and expensive appeals if he approves the plan over their objections. The key objection for most of the states is that members of the Sackler family would be granted protection from lawsuits over the opioid crisis, even though it is the company — not the family — that is going through bankruptcy proceedings.

Virtual schools saw little disruption, got equal virus aid

By COLLIN BINKLEY and CAMILLE FASSETT - Associated Press

by Rayos Syndication User

An Associated Press investigation has found that more than $500 million in K-12 pandemic aid allocated by Congress went to privately operated schools that were entirely virtual even before the COVID-19 outbreak. Officials at virtual schools say the funding was needed to serve a wave of students who transferred from traditional schools during the pandemic. But leaders of some other schools wonder why any money went to virtual charters that didn’t have to pivot to online learning and don’t have to worry about measures such as social distancing or sanitizing.

The Latest: New Zealand extends virus lockdown

By The Associated Press

by Rayos Syndication User

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — New Zealand’s government has extended a strict nationwide lockdown through Tuesday as it tries to quash its first outbreak of the coronavirus in six months. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said Friday the government expects to keep Auckland, where most of the cases have been found, in full lockdown for at least two more weeks. But she…

New sinking in tilting San Francisco high-rise halts repair

AP

by Rayos Syndication User

A $100 million fix to stop a San Francisco luxury high-rise from sinking and tilting even more is on hold while engineers try to learn why the building has sunk another inch during the repair. A spokesman for the Millennium Tower said in a statement that pile installation to beef up the building’s foundation is on hold for two to four weeks. He said the building remains safe. The 58-story tower opened in 2009 and high-profile residents have included former San Francisco 49er Joe Montana. Residents sued after they learned the building had sunk more than a foot and was tilting.

Pandemic windfall for US schools has few strings attached

By COLLIN BINKLEY, GEOFF MULVIHILL, CAMILLE FASSETT and LARRY FENN - Associated Press

by Rayos Syndication User

The Biden administration says the historic amount of federal pandemic aid flowing to the nation’s K-12 schools presents a moment for reimagining all aspects of American education. But there are no guarantees that’s going to happen, in large part because the government has imposed few requirements about how the money is spent. Many schools plan to use it for more practical needs such as building repairs. Officials also say they fear locking their districts into long-term programs they won’t be able to afford once the money runs out. The $190 billion is bigger than anything U.S. schools have seen before.

The Latest: Australia state easing rules as vaccine goal met

By The Associated Press

by Rayos Syndication User

SYDNEY — Authorities in Australia’s New South Wales state say they will ease pandemic restrictions for vaccinated adults next month even as they are reporting a record 1,029 coronavirus infections and three deaths from COVID-19. The record reported Thursday surpassed the previous high for a 24-hour period of 919 infections just a day earlier. State Premier Gladys Berejiklian says the…

The Latest: S Korea nearly matches its high for new cases

By The Associated Press

by Rayos Syndication User

SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has reported 2,155 new coronavirus cases, nearly matching a record daily increase set earlier this month amid an alarming spread of infections. With Wednesday’s report, the country has tallied more than 1,000 new cases for 50 consecutive days, including a record 2,221 on Aug. 11. The virus has shown no signs of slowing despite…

The Latest: Mexico accepts its 1st group of Afghan refugees

By The Associated Press

by Rayos Syndication User

MEXICO CITY — Mexico has accepted its first group of refugees from Afghanistan. The five women and one man arrived Tuesday in Mexico City, where they were welcomed by Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard. Ebrard told the group, “Welcome to your home.” The refugees belong to a group involved in the field of robotics. They had to travel through six…