Allman Brothers Band co-founder and legendary guitarist Dickey Betts dies at 80
Dickie Betts, who died Thursday at age 80, really was born a ramblin’ man.
NYC squatters got engaged, spent big after stuffing slay victim in duffel bag, prosecutors say
NEW YORK — The young squatter couple accused of beating a Manhattan woman to death and stuffing her body in a duffel bag went on a wild shopping spree, got engaged while on the lam and even bought a diamond ring with the victim’s credit card to seal the deal, authorities said Thursday.
US vetoes widely supported resolution backing full UN membership for Palestine
UNITED NATIONS — The United States vetoed a widely backed U.N. resolution Thursday that would have paved the way for full United Nations membership for Palestine, a goal the Palestinians have long sought and Israel has worked to prevent.
NASA Langley is testing solar sail technology that could reduce costs of space missions
A sunlight-propelled satellite floating though space on huge metallic sails sounds like an idea straight from science fiction.
Meta’s newest AI model beats some peers. But its amped-up AI agents are confusing Facebook users
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Facebook parent Meta Platforms unveiled a new set of artificial intelligence systems Thursday that are powering what CEO Mark Zuckerberg calls “the most intelligent AI assistant that you can freely use.”
House leaders toil to advance Ukraine and Israel aid. But threats to oust speaker grow
WASHINGTON — House congressional leaders were toiling Thursday on a delicate, bipartisan push toward weekend votes to approve a $95 billion package of foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as well as several other national security policies at a critical moment at home and abroad.
In a Manhattan court, a jury is picked to judge a president
NEW YORK — At 4:34 p.m. Thursday, 12 citizens were selected to decide the guilt or innocence of a former president for the first time in American history, a moment that could shape the nation’s political and legal landscapes for generations to come.
Kennedy clan endorses Biden, in a show of force against RFK Jr.
WASHINGTON — A broad coalition of the Kennedy family endorsed President Joe Biden on Thursday at a campaign rally in Philadelphia, pointedly rejecting one of their own in Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the independent candidate who many Democrats believe poses a significant threat to Biden’s reelection chances.
Biden seeking to appeal to key constituencies with targeted policies
WASHINGTON — Last week, it was forgiving student loans. This week, it was calling for tariffs on Chinese steel. Soon, President Joe Biden is expected to protect federal land in the Alaskan wilderness.
Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in US more likely to believe in climate change: AP-NORC poll
Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders in the United States are more likely than the overall adult population to believe in human-caused climate change, according to a new poll. It also suggests that partisanship may not have as much of an impact on this group’s environmental views, compared to Americans overall.
Trump complains jury selection moving too fast in Manhattan hush money trial
NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump complained Wednesday about jury selection in his Manhattan hush money case as the trial moves faster than expected toward opening statements.
Netanyahu brushes off calls for restraint, saying Israel will decide how to respond to Iran’s attack
JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday his country would be the one to decide whether and how to respond to Iran’s major air assault earlier this week, brushing off calls for restraint from close allies.
Boeing put under Senate scrutiny during back-to-back hearings on aircraft maker’s safety culture
An engineer at Boeing said Wednesday that the aircraft company, in rushing to produce as many planes as possible, is taking manufacturing shortcuts that could lead to jetliners breaking apart.
Tesla asks shareholders to restore $56B Elon Musk pay package that was voided by Delaware judge
DETROIT — Tesla is asking shareholders to restore a $56 billion pay package for CEO Elon Musk that was rejected by a Delaware judge this year, and to shift the company’s corporate home to Texas.
Communications breakdown left authorities in the dark and residents without alerts amid Maui fire
HONOLULU — As unpredictable wildfires roared across Maui last August, the head of the emergency management agency dragged his heels about returning to the island amid the unfolding crisis, while a broad communications breakdown left authorities in the dark and residents without emergency alerts, according to a report released Wednesday.
Inside the late-night parties where Hawaii politicians raked in money
HONOLULU — For the better part of a decade, some of Hawaii’s most powerful people huddled together at late-night parties in a cramped second-floor office where lobbyists and executives seeking government contracts lined up to drop cash and checks into a metal lockbox.
Biden vows to shield US steel industry by blocking Japanese merger and seeking new Chinese tariffs
PITTSBURGH — President Joe Biden promised cheering, unionized steelworkers on Wednesday that his administration would block the acquisition of U.S. Steel by a Japanese company, and he called for a tripling of tariffs on Chinese steel, seeking to use trade policy to win over working-class votes in the battleground state of Pennsylvania.
Senate rejects impeachment articles against Mayorkas, ending trial against Cabinet secretary
WASHINGTON — The Senate dismissed all impeachment charges against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas on Wednesday, ending the House Republican push to remove the Cabinet secretary from office over his handling of the the U.S.-Mexico border and shutting down his trial before arguments even began.
Supreme Court questions obstruction charges brought against Jan. 6 rioters and Trump
The Supreme Court on Tuesday questioned whether federal prosecutors went too far in bringing obstruction charges against hundreds of participants in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. But it wasn’t clear how the justices would rule in a case that also could affect the prosecution of former President Donald Trump, who faces the same charge for his efforts to overturn his election loss in 2020.
USC cancels valedictorian’s speech after pro-Israel groups object
The University of Southern California said it has canceled plans for a graduation speech by this year’s valedictorian, Asna Tabassum, who is Muslim. The school said the decision stemmed from security concerns based on emails and other electronic communications warning of a plan to disrupt the commencement, including at least one that targeted Tabassum.
