INDIANAPOLIS — Southern Baptists narrowly rejected a proposal Wednesday to enshrine a ban on churches with women pastors in the denomination's constitution after opponents argued it was unnecessary because the denomination already has a way of ousting such churches. Vote Fails to Get Supermajority The vote received support from 61%...
Wall Street Surges as Bitcoin and Gold Rise Following Unexpected Slowdown in Inflation
NEW YORK — U.S. stocks are jumping amid a worldwide rally Wednesday following a surprisingly encouraging update on inflation. The S&P 500 was 1.1% higher in afternoon trading and on track to add to its all-time high set a day earlier. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 57 points,...
US Broadens Sanctions Against Russia, Aiming to Dissuade China from Engaging in Moscow Trade
The United States widened its sanctions against Russia Wednesday as G7 leaders prepared to gather in Italy for a summit where the top priorities will be boosting support for Ukraine and grinding down Russia’s war machine. Wednesday's package targeted Chinese companies which help Russia pursue its war in Ukraine and...
Dog Fight! Joey Chestnut ‘Gutted’ to Be Out of July 4 Hot Dog Eating Contest
NEW YORK — Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, the reigning champion of the Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, will not participate in this year's event after signing a deal with a rival brand, organizers said Tuesday. Chestnut, 40, has long been the face — not to mention the...
New Pro-Palestinian Protests at UCLA Lead to Dozens of Arrests
LOS ANGELES — Police thwarted attempts by pro-Palestinian demonstrators to set up a new encampment at the University of California, Los Angeles, where officers cleared a previous camp this spring after it was attacked by counterprotesters. 27 Arrested During Demonstration Officers arrested 27 people late Monday during the demonstration, Rick Braziel,...
Federal Appeals Court Backs California’s Ban on Gun Shows at County Fairs
SAN FRANCISCO — A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld California's ban on gun shows at county fairs and other public properties, deciding the laws do not violate the rights of firearm sellers or buyers. Court Overturns Federal Judge Ruling The 3-0 decision by the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals...
California Doctors Rally for Ballot Measure to Increase State Medicaid Funding
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom last year agreed to a tax increase that aimed to do two things: Help balance a budget with a multibillion-dollar shortfall, and pay doctors more money to treat patients covered by Medicaid — the taxpayer-funded health insurance program for people with low incomes...
Blinken: Some Hamas Ceasefire Plan Adjustments Viable, Others Not
BEIRUT — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Wednesday that mediators would keep trying to close an elusive cease-fire deal after Hamas proposed numerous changes to a U.S.-backed plan, some of which he said were “workable” and some not. The back-and-forth laid bare frustration over the difficulty of reaching an...
Rory McIlroy and Wife End Divorce Proceedings to Stay Together as a Family
PINEHURST, N.C. — Rory McIlroy and his wife Erica have scrapped plans to divorce and are putting their marriage back together. They filed for a voluntary dismissal of the case on Tuesday. A Dramatic Turn of Events It was another dramatic turn of events for McIlroy. News broke when he...
US Cricket Team Is Closing in on a Major Achievement at the Twenty20 World Cup
The sport of cricket is as foreign to most Americans as driving on the left-hand side of the road or drinking warm beer. This year, though, the United States is getting a close-up view of the bat-and-ball sport originally from England that resembles a cockeyed version of baseball where the...