A Congolese refugee’s 8-year struggle to reunite with her family in the US

BOISE, Idaho — The Congolese woman’s search for safety sent her on a terrifying trek of nearly 2,300 miles (3,700 kilometers) through southern Africa on foot when she was just 15. Reuniting with her family has been a more difficult journey. For eight years, she clung to hope through delays and setbacks as she navigated […]
Massachusetts sheriff arrested on charges of pressuring cannabis company over stock purchase

BOSTON — A sheriff in one of Massachusetts’ largest counties was charged Friday with allegedly pressuring a Boston-based cannabis firm to sell him stock in the company. Sheriff Steven Tompkins, 67, who oversees about 1,000 employees in the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, is facing two counts of extortion. He was taken into custody in Florida […]
Storms kill 1, injure another and displace hundreds of inmates in Nebraska

OMAHA, Neb. — Strong storms before dawn Saturday in eastern Nebraska killed one person and seriously injured another in a state park and displaced hundreds of inmates after two prison housing units were damaged, officials said, even as other Midwest states also braced for bad weather. The Waterloo Volunteer Fire Department was called to Two […]
Russia and Ukraine hold fast to their demands ahead of a planned Putin-Trump summit

The threats, pressure and ultimatums have come and gone, but Russian President Vladimir Putin has maintained Moscow’s uncompromising demands in the war in Ukraine, raising fears he could use a planned summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Alaska to coerce Kyiv into accepting an unfavorable deal. The maximalist demands reflect Putin’s determination to reach […]
Loved ones of paddleboarder killed in Maine to hold a celebration of life

ST. GEORGE, Maine — Friends and family of a Maine woman whose killing on a rural pond shocked the community plan to celebrate her life with a maritime service on Sunday. Sunshine Stewart, 48, of St. George, went missing in July while paddleboarding on Crawford Pond, a popular summer destination in Union. She was later […]
‘Chimp Crazy’ star sentenced to nearly 4 years in prison for lying that primate had died

A Missouri woman who starred in the HBO documentary series “Chimp Crazy” has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison after she lied that a movie star primate that she was accused of mistreating had died. Tonia Haddix, 56, was also ordered Thursday to serve three years of supervised release after her 46-month prison […]
Astronauts return to Earth with SpaceX after 5 months at the International Space Station

Astronauts return to Earth with SpaceX after 5 months at the International Space Station
Trump says he will meet with Putin on Aug. 15 in Alaska

Trump says he will meet with Putin on Aug. 15 in Alaska
Iowa man dies after shooting 2 neighbors and setting his house on fire, officials say

GLENWOOD, Iowa — A 71-year-old man who shot and killed two neighbors then set his house on fire in a small Iowa city has died of burn injuries, authorities said. Dennis Burnell had extensive burns when he exited his home on Wednesday evening, and died Friday at the Kansas University Medical Center Burn Unit, the […]
Andy Nilsson ends North Carolina Senate bid after Trump backs Michael Whatley

RALEIGH, N.C. — A Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in North Carolina next year said Friday that he’s ending his bid now that Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley has entered the race with President Donald Trump’s support. Several months ago, Andy Nilsson revealed his candidacy for the Senate seat currently held by GOP incumbent […]