Mississippi man is known as America’s TikTok Dad
Introducing you to a father figure of many! Summer Clayton is a Columbus, MS resident and a social-media father to millions. People refer to Clayton as ‘America’s TikTok…
National News
Ivana Trump, first wife of former president, has died
NEW YORK (AP) — Ivana Trump, the first wife of Donald Trump, has died in New York City, the former president announced on social media Thursday. “I am very saddened to inform all of those that loved her, of which…
Uvalde’s new anguish: Video shows police waiting in school
UVALDE, Texas (AP) — A new wave of anger swept through Uvalde on Tuesday over surveillance footage of police officers in body armor milling in the hallway of Robb Elementary School while a gunman carried out a massacre inside a…
US inflation surges again in June, raising risks for economy
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - Surging prices for gas, food and rent catapulted U.S. inflation to a new four-decade peak in June, further pressuring households and likely sealing the case for another large interest rate hike…
Baby stars, dancing galaxies: NASA shows new cosmic views
GREENBELT, Md. (AP) — A sparkling landscape of baby stars. A foamy blue and orange view of a dying star. Five galaxies in a cosmic dance. The splendors of the universe glowed in a new batch of images released Tuesday…
‘Taken too soon’: Remembering Highland Park shooting victims
CHICAGO (AP) — Two of the victims of a July Fourth parade massacre in a Chicago suburb left behind a 2-year-old son. Another was staying with family in Illinois after he was injured in car wreck. For some, it was a tradition.…
Elon Musk says he's terminating $44B Twitter buyout deal
By BARBARA ORTUTAY AP Technology Writer Elon Musk’s tumultuous $44 billion bid to buy Twitter is on the verge of collapse - after the Tesla CEO sent a letter to Twitter’s board saying he is terminating the acquisition. Twitter did…
Trooper crawls into drainage pipe to rescue missing dog
CONKLIN, N.Y. (AP) — A missing golden retriever named Lilah, discovered deep inside a culvert pipe in upstate New York, could not be lured out by her owner with peanut butter dog treats or cheese. In the end, State Trooper…
Bear cub rescued after getting head stuck in plastic jug
HARWINTON, Conn. (AP) — Wildlife biologists in Connecticut had to rescue a bear cub that got its head stuck in a plastic container, state wildlife officials said. The misadventure happened June 23 when a mother bear with three cubs knocked…
World War II-era boat emerges from shrinking Lake Mead
LAS VEGAS (AP) — A sunken boat dating back to World War II is the latest object to emerge from a shrinking reservoir that straddles Nevada and Arizona. The Higgins landing craft that has long been 185 feet (56 meters)…
76 million-year-old dinosaur skeleton to be auctioned in NYC
NEW YORK (AP) — The fossilized skeleton of a T. rex relative that roamed the earth about 76 million years ago will be auctioned in New York this month, Sotheby’s announced Tuesday. The Gorgosaurus skeleton will highlight Sotheby’s natural history…
Blind, older dog found in Alaska 3 weeks after wandering off
SITKA, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska family had given up hope of finding their blind, elderly golden retriever who wandered away from their home three weeks ago, but a construction crew found Lulu in salmonberry bushes after initially confusing her…
Biden awards Medal of Freedom to Biles, McCain, Giffords
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday presented the nation’s highest civilian honor, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to 17 people, including gymnast Simone Biles, the late John McCain, the Arizona Republican whom Biden served with in the Senate, and gun-control advocate…
A robust June jobs report clouds outlook for US economy
By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) - A strong hiring report for June has assuaged fears that the U.S. economy might be on the cusp of a recession - and highlighted the resilience of the nation’s job market.…
Biden signs order on abortion access
By SEUNG MIN KIM, ZEKE MILLER and CHRIS MEGERIAN Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) - President Joe Biden has signed an executive order to protect access to abortion, delivering impassioned remarks condemning the Supreme Court decision that ended that constitutional right.…
Chauvin gets 21 years for violating Floyd’s civil rights
By STEVE KARNOWSKI Associated Press ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - A federal judge on Thursday sentenced Derek Chauvin to 21 years in prison for violating George Floyd’s civil rights, telling the former Minneapolis police officer that what he did was…
James Caan, Oscar nominee for ‘The Godfather,’ dies at 82
James Caan, the curly-haired tough guy known to movie fans as the hotheaded Sonny Corleone of “The Godfather” and to television audiences as both the dying football player in the classic weeper “Brian’s Song” and the casino boss in “Las…
More flexibility proposed for student debt forgiveness
New rules proposed by the Biden administration on Wednesday would make it easier for borrowers to get their federal student debt forgiven through several existing programs. The action is intended to overhaul relief programs that have been criticized for their…
US allows pharmacists to prescribe Pfizer’s COVID-19 pill
WASHINGTON (AP) — Pharmacists can prescribe the leading COVID-19 pill directly to patients under a new U.S. policy announced Wednesday that’s intended to expand use of Pfizer’s drug Paxlovid. The Food and Drug Administration said pharmacists can begin screening patients…
Biden awards Medal of Honor to 4 for Vietnam War heroism
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Tuesday bestowed the nation’s highest military honor to four Army soldiers for heroism during the Vietnam War, bravery that he said had not diminished even with the passage of time. Biden presented the…
July Fourth event shooting causes panic in Philadelphia
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Scores of people watching a Fourth of July fireworks show in Philadelphia ran for cover when gunshots rang out, forcing them to leave behind strollers and other personal items as they sought refuge from what many feared…
Court battles continue across South in wake of Roe decision
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Attorneys argued over abortion laws Tuesday in three Southern states in response to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gave states the power to limit or outlaw the termination of pregnancies. In Mississippi, a judge held…
Police: Gunman fired more than 70 rounds at July 4 parade
HIGHLAND PARK, Ill. (AP) - The gunman who attacked an Independence Day parade in suburban Chicago fired more than 70 rounds with an AR-15-style gun that killed at least seven people. That's according to authorities, who said Tuesday that the…
Judge set to hear challenge of Mississippi abortion law
By EMILY WAGSTER PETTUS JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — A judge is holding a hearing Tuesday to consider a lawsuit filed by Mississippi’s only abortion clinic, which is trying to remain open by blocking a law that would ban most abortions…