Wind could ground big balloons at NYC’s Thanksgiving parade
NEW YORK — Smokey Bear might feel like he’s battling Santa Ana winds — if he even gets a chance to fly.
Evacuation orders ended as rain douses California wildfire
GOLETA, Calif. — A strong storm moved into Southern California on Wednesday, almost completely dousing a wildfire that had threatened thousands of hom...
The small-town movie house braces for an unexpected threat
NEW YORK — The Callicoon Theater is a single-screen cinema along the banks of the Delaware River in the Catskills, in rural upstate New York. It has a...
Sticky impeachment trial questions: How long? Who testifies?
WASHINGTON — What will the impeachment trial look like?
Fed survey finds US economy expanding despite trade fallout
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve said Wednesday that the U.S. economy was expanding at a modest pace in October and early November, supported by growi...
Study: For babies born with HIV, start treatment right away
WASHINGTON — When babies are born with HIV, starting treatment within hours to days is better than waiting even the few weeks to months that’s the nor...
In Lebanon, financial collapse and security concerns loom
BEIRUT — Hundreds of Lebanese women marched across a former front line in the Lebanese capital Wednesday carrying white roses and Lebanese flags to de...
Judge denies challenge to Indiana religious objection limits
INDIANAPOLIS — An Indiana judge has canceled a trial challenging limits on the state’s religious objections law, finding conservative groups failed to...
Iran says protesters attacked hundreds of banks, blaming US
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Protesters angry over government-set gasoline prices spiking in Iran attacked hundreds of banks, police outposts and gas...
Australian journalist, writer and wit Clive James dies at 80
LONDON — Clive James, an Australian journalist, joker and intellectual who had a long career as a writer and broadcaster in the U.K., has died. He was...
Labour says UK health service ‘for sale’ in US trade talks
LONDON — Britain’s health system became a battleground in the country’s election campaign on Wednesday, as opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corby...
‘How can I live?’ Quake survivor mourns relatives’ deaths
DURRES, Albania — Stopping at intervals to listen for sounds of survivors, local and international rescue crews searched through the rubble of collaps...
Sheriff: Marine deserter captured at Virginia murder scene
ROANOKE, Va. — A Marine deserter wanted in the fatal shooting of his mother’s boyfriend was captured Wednesday after a weekslong, multistate manhunt t...
GoFundMe donations spike for SFA player after upset of Duke
DURHAM, N.C. — The biggest winner in the aftermath of Stephen F. Austin’s shocking upset of No. 1 Duke might be the fundraising effort for the family ...
Winter storm threatens to scramble Thanksgiving travel plans
MINNEAPOLIS — A day after bringing havoc to the Rocky Mountains, a powerful winter storm rolled across the Midwest on Wednesday, threatening to scramb...
Experts: Leadership key to changing anti-gay police culture
CLAYTON, Mo. — It is possible to change the police culture in St. Louis County, which was on the losing end of a $20 million jury award to a gay offic...
5 dead, 3 hurt in ‘devastating’ Minneapolis high-rise fire
MINNEAPOLIS — A fire swept through a Minneapolis high-rise apartment building early Wednesday, killing five people and sending three others to the hos...
Impeachment fight leaves voters cold in contested Wisconsin
RACINE, Wis. — There’s not a lot that Republicans and Democrats in this political battlefield agree on, but the impeachment probe into President Donal...
Providing a unique experience is retailers’ holiday strategy
NEW YORK — As Amy Witt prepared for the grand opening of her Dallas clothing store, she read up on the demise of thousands of chain stores this past y...
No more menthol cigarettes: New ban on tobacco, vape flavors
BOSTON — Massachusetts’ governor signed into law Wednesday a groundbreaking ban on the sale of flavored tobacco and vaping products, including menthol...
Holiday TV forecast: a sleighful of movies, music, a Grinch
LOS ANGELES — There are enough holiday TV movies to overturn Santa’s sleigh this season, with Oprah Winfrey’s OWN channel and a new streaming service ...
Director, Beyond the Fringe star Jonathan Miller dies at 85
LONDON — Jonathan Miller, the polymath British stage director, filmmaker and comedian who co-created groundbreaking comedy revue “Beyond the Fringe,” ...
Jane Seymour on finding new love in her mid-60s: No Tinder
LOS ANGELES — Jane Seymour was in her mid-60s when her husband of 20 years decided it was over. The actress was floored.
Assad: IS members in Syrian Kurds jails to stand local trial
DAMASCUS, Syria — Syrian President Bashar Assad said in remarks published Wednesday that members of the Islamic State group held in the country will s...
Hikers answer plea to find wedding ring lost on mountaintop
MANCHESTER, N.H. — A man’s quest to find his wedding ring on a 4,000-foot snow-covered mountain in New Hampshire has been completed by a couple of hik...
US durable goods orders rebound in October, rising 0.6%
WASHINGTON — Orders to U.S. factories for big-ticket manufactured goods rebounded last month on a surge in demand for military aircraft.
Actor Lin-Manuel Miranda encourages shopping small
NEW YORK — With the holiday shopping season upon us, actor and “Hamilton” creator Lin-Manuel Miranda is encouraging people to take part in Small Busin...
Tibetans say the Dalai Lama should choose his successor
DHARMSALA, India — More than 150 Tibetan religious leaders said on Wednesday that their spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, should have the sole authori...
Empty stores along NYC’s 5th Avenue dressed for holidays
NEW YORK — Some vacant stores along New York City’s luxury shopping corridor will be dressed for Christmas as if retailers like Tommy Hilfiger and Ral...
World markets mostly rise on trade optimism
BEIJING — World shares mostly rose Wednesday, spurred by optimism over trade talks between the U.S. and China.