World

GOP rallies solidly against Democrats' virus relief package

WASHINGTON - Republicans are closing ranks against Democrats' proposed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill, even as the White House seemed to rule out a procedural Senate power play to protect one prov...

Feb 25, 2021

A mister no more: Mr. Potato Head goes gender neutral

NEW YORK - Mr. Potato Head is no longer a mister. Hasbro, the company that makes the potato-shaped plastic toy, is giving the spud a gender neutral new name: Potato Head. The change will appear on box...

Feb 25, 2021

Former Michigan Gov. Granholm confirmed as energy secretary

WASHINGTON - Former Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm won Senate confirmation Thursday to be President Joe Biden's energy secretary. The vote was 64-35. Granholm, who served two terms as governor in a s...

Feb 25, 2021

Ex-US Olympics gymnastics coach with ties to Nassar charged

LANSING, Mich. - A former U.S. Olympics gymnastics coach with ties to disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar was charged Thursday with two dozen crimes, including sexual assault, human trafficking and r...

Feb 25, 2021

Lady Gaga's dog walker shot, French bulldogs stolen in LA

LOS ANGELES - Lady Gaga's dog walker was shot and two of the singer's French bulldogs were stolen in Hollywood during an armed robbery, police said. The dog walker was shot once Wednesday night and is...

Feb 25, 2021

Anticipating 2021 boom, Q4 GDP revised up slightly to 4.1%

WASHINGTON - The economy grew at a 4.1% pace in the final three months of 2020, slightly faster than first estimated, ending a year in which the overall economy, ravaged by a global pandemic, shrank m...

Feb 25, 2021

Diverse group of cities have highest rates of gay households

ORLANDO, Fla. - Once known for singer Anita Bryant's anti-gay rights campaign and a ban on gay and lesbian adoptions, Florida is now home to two metro areas with among the highest concentrations of ga...

Feb 25, 2021

US contracts to buy homes decline, still a January record

SILVER SPRING, Md. - The number of Americans who signed contracts to buy homes declined again with the number of properties for sale not matching the surging demand in the U.S. The National Associatio...

Feb 25, 2021

US jobless claims fall to 730,000 but layoffs remain high

WASHINGTON - The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits fell sharply last week but remained high by historical standards. Applications for benefits declined 111,000 from the previous week t...

Feb 25, 2021

German charged with passing parliament floor plans to Russia

BERLIN - A German man has been charged with espionage for allegedly passing information on properties used by the German parliament to Russian military intelligence, prosecutors said Thursday. The sus...

Feb 25, 2021