CONWAY, S.C. (AP) — A manufacturer of cages for inmate transport vans has agreed to pay $1 million to the family of a South Carolina mental health patient who drowned during 2018’s Hurricane Florence while trapped inside a sheriff’s department van outfitted by the company. A court on Monday approved the agreement between American Aluminum […]

NEW YORK (AP) — Eight years after a judge ruled New York City police violated the constitution by stopping, questioning and frisking mostly Black and Hispanic people on the street en masse, people in communities most affected by such tactics say they’ve been shut out of the legal process to end them. Lawyers for plaintiffs […]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — An attorney who helped reach a $35 million settlement with an opioid manufacturer over the company’s role in the epidemic in Tennessee said Thursday that his team accepted the drug maker’s “last, best and final” offer, arguing the agreement avoids the possible complications of a jury verdict. Gerard Stranch, who represents […]

NEW YORK (AP) — Remy Ma, George Clinton and KRS-One are among the headliners of a series of free concerts next month meant to celebrate New York City’s emergence from the coronavirus pandemic, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Thursday. Proof of COVID-19 vaccination will be required for the “It’s Time for Hip Hop in NYC” […]

Simone Biles’ sponsors, including Athleta and Visa, are lauding her decision to put her mental health first and withdraw from the gymnastics team competition during the Olympics. It’s the latest example of sponsors praising athletes who are increasingly open about mental health issues. Tennis star Naomi Osaka found widespread support when she withdrew from the […]

LYNCHBURG, Va. (AP) — A Virginia judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by faith-based conservative groups challenging guidelines on the treatment of transgender students in public schools, ruling that the group lacked standing. Lynchburg Circuit Court Judge J. Frederick Watson, who dismissed the suit Tuesday, questioned whether suggested policies would actually affect the groups that […]

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Portugal is beginning its journey to what the country’s prime minister calls “total freedom,” with a government decision Thursday to start winding down COVID-19 pandemic restrictions ahead of a forecast 70% of people being fully vaccinated by the end of this summer. The Health Ministry says around 5.4 million people, or […]

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (AP) — The American Samoan teacher of the year said she and an Asian American friend were refused a free hotel room and other benefits provided to a white male friend when their American Airlines flight from north Alabama was canceled. Sabrina Suluai-Mahuka told WIAT-TV that she believed discrimination was behind the slight, […]

LONDON (AP) — International governments and companies have pledged more than $4 billion to educate 175 million children around the world and prevent a generation’s chances being blighted by the coronavirus pandemic. The commitments came Thursday at a conference in London hosted by Britain, Kenya and funding organization the Global Partnership for Education. Former Australian […]

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel’s prime minister on Thursday announced that the country would offer a coronavirus booster to people over 60 who have already been vaccinated. The announcement by Naftali Bennett makes Israel the first country to offer a third dose of the Pfizer/BioNtech vaccine to its citizens on a wide scale. “I’m announcing this […]