Shastoni Burge has worked for a decade as a Waffle House server in Rome, Georgia, much of it on the night shift. She said she was once punched in the face by a customer. She saw someone overdose in the bathroom. One night, a man took all the steak knives...
Musk Asks SpaceX IPO Banks to Buy Grok AI Subscriptions, NYT Reports
Elon Musk is requiring banks and other advisers working on SpaceX’s planned IPO to buy subscriptions to Grok, his artificial intelligence chatbot, the New York Times reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. Some banks have agreed to spend tens of millions of dollars a year on the...
Fresno Firefighters Contain Blaze at East Ashlan Strip Mall
Firefighters battled a commercial structure fire Thursday afternoon at a strip mall on the 1600 block of East Ashlan Avenue near Blackstone, authorities said. The Fresno Fire Department responded just after 2 p.m. following multiple reports of heavy smoke. First crews on scene reported flames and smoke coming from the...
At War With Iran Again, Some Israelis Fear Conflict Is Becoming Routine
TEL AVIV, Israel — On a recent weeknight, a veteran Israeli rock singer gave a free concert to a small audience in an odd venue — an underground parking lot in central Tel Aviv that affords protection from incoming Iranian missile fire. “It’s a small escape from our miserable reality...
Cuba Begins Releasing Prisoners Under Scrutiny of Rights Groups, US Govt
Cuba began releasing prisoners from its jails on Friday just hours after its communist-run government announced a sweeping amnesty coinciding with the most intense pressure campaign applied by the U.S. in decades. More than 2,000 prisoners are slated to be released as part of Cuba's state-run media on Thursday called...
Second US Air Force Plane Crashed in Persian Gulf Region, New York Times Reports
A second U.S. Air Force combat plane crashed in the Persian Gulf region on Friday and its only pilot was then rescued, the New York Times reported, citing two U.S. officials. — (Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; editing by Michelle Nichols)
Octavia Is a Classic Sweetheart With an Eye for Love
Like many tabby girl treasures, 10-month-old Octavia is pretty sure she could manage your life and run your household if she just had opposable thumbs! With her laid-back "cattitude" and friendly spirit, she’s a wonderful observer of whatever is going on and happily keeps an eye on the world from a favorite window....
How the Iran War Has Rippled Across the World
Fighting in the Middle East has disrupted fuel, agriculture, travel and much more. — Butter chicken has disappeared from some Indian menus. So has dosa. These culinary staples consume cooking gas, which has become harder to get from India’s suppliers in the Persian Gulf. — Australian farmers are planting less...
Tehran Rejected 48-Hour Ceasefire Proposal From US, Iranian Media, Citing Source, Says
An unnamed source told Iran's semi-official Fars news agency on Friday that Tehran had rejected a U.S. proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire. The source said the proposal was made on Wednesday through another country, which was not named. There was no immediate comment or confirmation from the U.S. — (Reporting...
Exeter Post Office Will Host a Passport Fair on Saturday
With the travel season ahead, now is a good time to obtain a U.S. passport. The U.S. Postal service is promising to ease the bureaucratic hurdles by hosting a passport fair in Exeter on Saturday from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be extra staff available to speed the...