National News

CHICAGO (AP) — Thousands of children in the Midwest got a rare snow day off school Friday as a winter storm moved through the Great Lakes region, dumping nearly a foot of the white powder in some places with more on the way. Midwest residents often boast that they are well prepared for winter weather…

By FOSTER KLUG, Associated Press PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (AP) — In an extraordinary show of unexpected unity, North and South Korea sat side by side Friday night under exploding fireworks that represented peace, not destruction, as the 2018 Winter Olympics opened on a Korean Peninsula riven by generations of anger, suspicion and bloodshed. The sister of…

By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The House moved swiftly early Friday to reopen the federal government and pass a $400 billion budget deal, overcoming opposition from both liberal Democrats and tea party conservatives to endorse enormous spending increases despite looming trillion-dollar deficits. The 240-186 vote came in the pre-dawn hours, putting to bed…

By MARCIA DUNN, AP Aerospace Writer CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — The world's first space sports car is cruising toward the asteroid belt, well beyond Mars. SpaceX chief Elon Musk confirmed the new, more distant route for his rocketing Tesla Roadster. The red electric convertible was the unorthodox cargo aboard his company's brand new Falcon Heavy…

By ANDREW TAYLOR, Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate leaders brokered a long-elusive budget agreement Wednesday that would shower the Pentagon and domestic programs with an extra $300 billion over the next two years. But both Democratic liberals and GOP tea party forces swung against the plan, raising questions about its chances just a day before…