Michelle Obama tells Oprah that 2016 election ‘was painful’
WASHINGTON (AP) – First lady Michelle Obama tells Oprah Winfrey that this past election was “painful.” Mrs. Obama sat down with Winfrey at the White House for an hourlong special that was broadcast Monday on CBS. On the topic of the recent campaign she said: “This past election was challenging for me as a citizen…
More charges filed in Flint water probe
FLINT, Mich. (AP) – More charges have been filed by Michigan’s attorney general in the investigation into the lead-tainted water crisis in Flint, Michigan, including against two former state-appointed emergency managers. Attorney General Bill Schuette on Tuesday charged former emergency managers Darnell Earley and Gerald Ambrose with multiple 20-year felonies for their failure to protect…
Brain changes seen in pregnancy, may help preparing for baby
EW YORK (AP) – Scientists have found evidence that pregnancy can change parts of a woman’s brain. When researchers compared brain scans of women before and after pregnancy, they spotted some differences in 11 locations. They also found hints that the alterations help women prepare for motherhood. For example, they might help a mother understand…
McCrory says he’ll call session to undo HB2
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – North Carolina’s outgoing Republican Gov. Pat McCrory says he will call a special session so that legislators can repeal a law limiting protections for LGBT people. McCrory issued a statement Monday not long after the state’s incoming governor, Democrat Roy Cooper, said that legislators plan to come back Tuesday for a…
Raider of DC pizza shop pleads not guilty, jailed on assault
WASHINGTON (AP) – A man who police said was inspired by false internet rumors to fire an assault weapon inside a Washington pizzeria has pleaded not guilty to charges including assault with a dangerous weapon. A public defender for 28-year-old Edgar Maddison Welch waived her right to argue for his release at a hearing Friday,…
Immigrant elector who backed Cruz says he’ll vote for Trump
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) – A Mexican-American elector says he’s sticking with his pledge to vote for Missouri’s winning candidate, Donald Trump. Hector Maldonado told The Associated Press he won’t change his mind Monday in what’s shaping up to be an unusually controversial Electoral College vote. The child of a migrant worker, Maldonado moved to…
Jurors convict Dylann Roof on all charges in church slayings
CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) – A federal jury has convicted Dylann Roof in the racially motivated slayings of nine black church members in South Carolina. The jury reached its verdict after less than two hours of deliberations. They convicted the 22-year-old white man of hate crimes and other charges. They will reconvene next month to decide…
Senate Democrats have bill to force Trump to sell
WASHINGTON (AP) – Senate Democrats have unveiled legislation to require President-elect Donald Trump to sell his businesses and put all of his assets in a blind trust. The legislation comes as Trump is grappling over how to distance himself from potential conflicts of interest between his sprawling business empire and the actions he will take…