SPRINGFIELD, IL (AP) — State officials have released more than $14 million for improvements to state parks. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources announced Wednesday that projects are planned for six parks. Kankakee River State Park will receive $1.9 million to reopen campgrounds to visitors. Fort Massac State Park will receive $2.8 million to evaluate and stabilize…
WASHINGTON (AP) — First lady Melania Trump says she could be “the most bullied person” in the world, judging by “what people are saying about me.” She made the remark during a television interview in which she promoted her Be Best initiatives, which take on online bullying. Critics have pointed out that her husband, President…
By MICHAEL R. SISAK and TOM HAYS , Associated Press NEW YORK (AP) — Manhattan’s district attorney has decided to drop part of the criminal case against Harvey Weinstein. The development was announced in court Thursday with Weinstein looking on. The tossed charge involves allegations made by one of the three accusers in the case, Lucia…
PANAMA CITY, Fla. (AP) — The Army Corps of Engineers is sending in generators to help get power to storm-ravaged areas, and teams to start clearing debris and begin building temporary roofs. Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Brock Long said officials were just starting to go in and survey the damage but expect power to…
By DMITRY LOVETSKY , Associated Press BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan (AP) — A booster rocket failed less than two minutes after launching an American and a Russian toward the International Space Station on Thursday, forcing their emergency — but safe — landing on the steppes of Kazakhstan. It was the latest in a recent series of failures…
MO (AP) The Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Missouri has canceled an event with a preacher who once called for government regulation of homosexuality. The Kansas City Star reports that Attorney General Josh Hawley was set to appear Wednesday with Texas pastor David Barton. The newspaper asked the campaign Tuesday whether Hawley agreed with…
By ALEX VEIGA , AP Business Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) — Technology and internet stocks have led the way for much of Wall Street’s bull market run, propelling the stocks of big names like Apple, Amazon and Google’s parent company sharply higher along the way. Now those high-flying stocks are at the forefront of a wave…
By JIM SALTER , Associated Press ST. LOUIS (AP) — Delrish Moss, who took over as police chief in Ferguson as the town still grappled with the aftermath of Michael Brown’s death, is leaving at the end of this month. Mayor James Knowles III said Wednesday that Moss will return to Florida to care for…
By JAY REEVES and BRENDAN FARRINGTON , Associated Press PANAMA CITY, Fla. (AP) — Supercharged by abnormally warm waters in the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Michael slammed into the Florida Panhandle with terrifying winds of 155 mph Wednesday, splintering homes and submerging neighborhoods. It was the most powerful hurricane to hit the continental U.S. in…
JEFFERSON CITY, MO (AP) — The Missouri Department of Conservation is considering changing state regulations to slow the spread of chronic wasting disease, an always-fatal disease that affects deer, moose and elk. Barbara Keller of the conservation department said during a meeting Tuesday in Cape Girardeau that one possible change would prohibit importing deer carcasses…