Who’s in, who’s out, who’s boycotting: The 8 candidates expected onstage for the first GOP debate

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Donald Trump won't be on the Republican debate stage Wednesday. But the former president is driving the conversation on and off the debate stage anyway. Trump supporters including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene will be in Milwaukee. There are questions about how many of his campaign surrogates will be allowed into Fox News' spin room. The network has restricted their access unless they are the guests of

A right-wing sheriffs group that challenges federal law is gaining acceptance around the country

BY TJ L'HEUREUX, ADRIENNE WASHINGTON, ALBERT SERNA JR., ANISA SHABIR, ISAAC STONE SIMONELLI, THE HOWARD CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM AND ARIZONA CENTER FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - Against the background hum of the convention center, Dar Leaf settled into a club chair to explain the sacred mission of America's sheriffs, his bright blue eyes and warm smile belying the intensity of the cause. "The sheriff is supposed to

North Carolina unveils its first park honoring African American history

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina state officials joined historians and Black community leaders Wednesday under a sprawling oak tree in the heart of downtown Raleigh for the long-anticipated unveiling of the state's first park honoring the African American struggle for freedom. Located between the state Legislative Building and the governor's Executive Mansion, the new North Carolina Freedom Park stands as a beacon of hope for Black North Carolinians and

In session reacting to school shooting, Tennessee GOP lawmaker orders removal of public from hearing

BY JONATHAN MATTISE AND KIMBERLEE KRUESI NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Families close to a Nashville fatal school shooting broke down in tears Tuesday after a Tennessee Republican leader ordered state troopers to remove them and others from a legislative hearing room while they waited to testify in favor of gun control measures. The emotional scene was just one of several chaotic moments that erupted during the second day of Tennessee's special

Teva to pay $225M to settle cholesterol drug price-fixing charges

BY THE ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON (AP) - The generic drug maker Teva Pharmaceuticals agreed Monday to pay $225 million to settle price-fixing charges related to sales of a major cholesterol-lowering drug. The U.S. Department of Justice said the agreement also requires Teva to divest its business making and selling the drug, pravastatin, a generic version of the brand-name medicine Pravachol. Another generic drug maker, Glenmark Pharmaceuticals, agreed to pay a $30

Global food security is at a crossroads as rice shortages and surging prices hit the most vulnerable

BY ANIRUDDHA GHOSAL AND EVELYNE MUSAMBI Francis Ndege isn't sure if his customers in Africa's largest slum can afford to keep buying rice from him. Prices for rice grown in Kenya soared a while ago because of higher fertilizer prices and a yearslong drought in the Horn of Africa that has reduced production. Cheap rice imported from India had filled the gap, feeding many of the hundreds of thousands of residents

Starbucks told to pay $2.7 million in lost wages to manager fired after arrest of 2 Black men

CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) - A judge has ordered Starbucks to pay an additional $2.7 million in lost wages and tax damages to a former regional manager who was earlier awarded more than $25 million after alleging she and other white employees were unfairly punished following the high-profile arrests of two Black men at a store in 2018. In June, Shannon Phillips won $600,000 in compensatory damages and $25 million in

Prosecutor asks judge to throw out charges against Black truck driver mauled by police dog in Ohio

CIRCLEVILLE, Ohio (AP) - A prosecutor in Ohio wants a judge to dismiss charges, at least for now, against a Black truck driver who was bitten by a police dog while he was surrendering along a highway last month. "There is insufficient evidence to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt," that Jadarrius Rose's operation of his truck caused a substantial risk of serious physical harm to people or property, attorney Jeffrey

Hurricanes extend their arena lease in Raleigh through 2044 as part of a major renovation project

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - The Carolina Hurricanes have extended the lease at their arena in Raleigh for 20 years through the 2043-44 NHL season. The extension announced Tuesday comes with major renovations to the building and development of the land around it into a dining and entertainment district with multifamily homes, a hotel and a separate music venue. The agreement was made in conjunction with North Carolina State because the

NC State won with defense last year. Now the Wolfpack’s new offense will take center stage

BY AARON BEARD RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - North Carolina State relied on defense to get through a season in which its offense started four quarterbacks due to injuries. Both units look different for Dave Doeren's 11th season. Last year's Wolfpack (8-5, 4-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) reached eight wins for the fifth time in six years. The defense was one of the nation's top units while the offense was inconsistent even before