CHICAGO (AP) — The number of COVID-19 cases in Illinois is continuing to drop with the state’s seven-day positivity rate on all tests remaining under 1%. The Illinois Department of Public Health reported 298 new and confirmed cases on Sunday, along with 11 new deaths. At the same time, more than half of the state’s…
CHICAGO (AP) — Zach Davies tossed two-hit ball into the seventh inning to outduel Carlos Martinez, and the Chicago Cubs beat the St. Louis Cardinals 2-0 on Sunday night to complete a three-game sweep. The Cubs have won five straight and 15 of 20 to remain in a tie with the Milwaukee Brewers atop the…
CHICAGO (AP) — Authorities say two people were killed and at least 30 others wounded in mass shootings overnight in three states. The shootings Friday night and early Saturday further stoked concerns a spike in U.S. gun violence during the coronavirus pandemic could continue into summer amid an easing of COVID-19 restrictions. Authorities said one…
LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. (AP) — Missouri’s Republican Gov. Mike Parson has signed a bill banning local enforcement of federal gun laws. Parson signed the legislation Saturday at a Kansas City-area gun store and shooting range. The measure allows local police departments to be sued and fined $50,000 for every violation. Republicans argued the measure is…
WASHINGTON (AP) — Over the past 18 months, 29 prisoners have escaped from federal lockups across the U.S., and nearly half still have not been caught. At some institutions, doors are left unlocked, security cameras are broken and officials sometimes don’t notice an inmate is missing for hours. At one Texas lockup, security is so…
CHICAGO (AP) — Illinois will hit a milestone Friday. That’s when the state lifts all capacity limits on bars, restaurants, businesses and other venues. It comes nearly 15 months after the first stay-at-home order during the coronavirus pandemic. The Illinois health department says more than 68% of Illinois residents who are 18 or older have…
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Health officials and experts in Asia have welcomed U.S. plans to share 500 million more doses of the Pfizer vaccine with the developing world, but some say it would take more than donations alone to address huge vaccination gaps that threaten to prolong the pandemic. President Joe Biden was set…
A federal appeals court panel has blocked Missouri from enforcing a sweeping state abortion law that bans the procedures at or after eight weeks of pregnancy. A three-judge panel of the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Louis handed down the ruling Wednesday. The panel heard arguments in September in the legal battle…
ST. LOUIS (AP) — Adam Wainwright allowed two runs in seven innings, Tyler O’Neill homered twice and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Cleveland Indians 8-2 Wednesday night to stop a six-game losing streak. “I like stepping into that role,” Wainwright said about being a stopper. “I like a little extra incentive for whatever situation.…
ST. LOUIS (AP) — José Ramírez homered and drove in four runs, leading Shane Bieber and the Cleveland Indians over St. Louis 10-1 Tuesday night and sending the Cardinals to their sixth straight loss. St. Louis’ skid is its longest since a seven-game slide in June 2017. Cleveland has won four of six. Bieber (7-3)…