Iowa governor: Tip from Ashton Kutcher led to testing deal
IOWA CITY, Iowa — Iowa’s governor said the state’s $26 million contract to increase coronavirus testing was reached after she acted on a tip from acto...
Review: In ‘Bad Education,’ a gripping suburban crime saga
“A town is only as good as its school system.”
NASCAR teams OK to work in N.C. shops, a key step in return
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The governor of North Carolina said Thursday that NASCAR teams can work in their race shops if they maintain social distancing guide...
With new time and busier schedule, HBO’s ‘Axios’ thinks big
NEW YORK — No one can accuse Axios co-founder and CEO Jim VandeHei of small dreams for his bi-weekly news series on HBO, which is ramping up productio...
New House panel created to track aid dollars, virus response
WASHINGTON — The House voted Thursday to create a new subcommittee that will track more than $2 trillion in coronavirus aid, adding another layer of o...
Merkel calls for international cooperation against virus
BERLIN — German Chancellor Angela Merkel called Thursday for international cooperation on the development of a vaccine for the new coronavirus, saying...
Sources: Guaido allies take slice of first Venezuela budget
MIAMI — Opposition lawmakers in Venezuela quietly agreed to pay themselves $5,000 a month when they approved special $100 bonuses for doctors and nurs...
Virus outbreak delays US government review of e-cigarettes
WASHINGTON — Electronic cigarette companies will have four additional months to submit their products for government review because of delays tied to ...
Gov’t puts pressure on public companies to return loans
NEW YORK — Big public companies that received loans under a government program intended to help small businesses devastated by the coronavirus outbrea...
EU agrees budget, recovery plan needed to beat virus impact
BRUSSELS — European Union leaders agreed Thursday to revamp the EU's long-term budget and set up a massive recovery fund to tackle the impact of the c...
Bugged: Earth’s insect population shrinks 27% in 30 years
KENSINGTON, Maryland — The world has lost more than one quarter of its land-dwelling insects in the past 30 years, according to researchers whose big ...
South Dakota auto races go forward without fans due to virus
JEFFERSON, S.D. — Two South Dakota speedways reversed course Thursday and said they would hold their weekend races without spectators, after Gov. Kris...
Prosecutor who quit Roger Stone trial team has new job
WASHINGTON — A prosecutor on the Roger Stone trial team who abruptly resigned from the Justice Department because of a dispute over the recommended se...
Trump panel: Boost US uranium mines as strategic interest
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Thursday urged government intervention to rescue U.S. uranium mining and nuclear fuel industries in a tough g...
Rolling Stones release a song that ‘resonates’ these days
NEW YORK — The Rolling Stones have unveiled a new song the band thinks is perfect for these coronavirus times.
Supreme Court rejects EPA’s narrow view of Clean Water Act
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that sewage plants and other industries cannot avoid environmental requirements under landmark clean-wat...
Prospects ready for closeup on NFL draft night from home
Yetur Gross-Matos would have liked to have been in Las Vegas for the NFL draft on Thursday night, but the Penn State defensive lineman is OK with part...
Virus drives Peru’s zoos to breaking point as feed runs out
LIMA, Peru — The dozens of howler monkeys, macaws and sloths in a zoo called the Amazon Shelter in the jungles of Peru have enough animal feed to last...
Judges in MH17 trial allowed to consider anonymous testimony
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Judges in the trial of three Russians and a Ukrainian charged with murder for their alleged roles in the shooting down of Mal...
AP, Report for America to put 17 journalists in statehouses
NEW YORK — The Associated Press and Report for America are hiring 17 journalists to boost the AP's statehouse coverage.
Burrow to join exclusive NFL company if LSU QB is top pick
Joe Burrow has a chance to join some very exclusive company if the LSU quarterback winds up going No. 1 overall to Cincinnati.
Tokyo Olympic CEO promises ‘transparency’ over cost of delay
TOKYO — The chief executive of the Tokyo Olympics promised “transparency” with the Japanese public on Thursday regarding the cost of postponing the ga...
Belgian port to test virus bracelets amid tech tracing fears
ANTWERP, Belgium — As the spread of the coronavirus eases and people gradually return to work pondering the impact it might have on their jobs, Europe...
European economies on course for unprecedented recessions
LONDON — Europe's economies are heading for unprecedented recessions as a result of the lockdown measures put in place by governments to get a grip on...
Coronavirus cruise ship finally leaves Australian port
CANBERRA, Australia — A cruise ship that is the subject of a criminal investigation after it became Australia’s largest single source of coronavirus i...
Thailand’s tourist drought leaves space for shy sea mammal
BANGKOK — It's rare to see a threatened species of sea mammal in shallow waters in southern Thailand but thanks to travel restrictions that have strip...
Turkey marks its 100th year of parliament amid coronavirus
ISTANBUL — A Turkish Airlines plane has flown over the country drawing the Turkish flag in its flight path to mark centennial celebrations for the fou...
Iran, like wider Mideast, relies on deliveries amid pandemic
TEHRAN, Iran — For some $15 a day, deliverymen don masks and gloves in Iran's capital to zip across its pandemic-subdued streets to drop off groceries...
Legal battles loom as businesses hit by virus sue insurers
CHICAGO — A once-bustling bar and grill tucked below a Michigan Avenue overpass famously inspired a “Saturday Night Live” skit starring John Belushi a...