AP Briefs

By NewsPress Now Massachusetts lawmakers push for an effort to ban all tobacco sales BOSTON | A handful of Massachusetts lawmakers are hoping to persuade their colleagues to support a proposal that would make the state the first to adopt a ban meant to eliminate the use of tobacco products over time. Other locations have

By NewsPress Now College sports reform could advance in GOP-controlled Congress WASHINGTON | The NCAA’s yearslong efforts to get lawmakers to address myriad problems in college sports could finally pay off in the new, Republican-controlled Congress. Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican who is set to take over as chair of the powerful Commerce Committee,

By The Associated Press Democratic lawmakers from Connecticut report bomb threats WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. | At least six Democratic members of Congress from Connecticut have been targeted by bomb threats on their homes. Sen. Chris Murphy and all five House members — Reps. Jim Himes, Joe Courtney, John Larson, Jahana Hayes and Rosa DeLauro

By The Associated Press Hyundai recalling over 226,000 cars and SUVs DETROIT | Hyundai is recalling more than 226,000 SUVs and small cars in the U.S. because the rearview camera image may not show up on the screens. The recall covers certain Santa Fe and Elantra vehicles from the 2021 and 2022 model years. Hyundai

By NewsPress Now The IRS is at risk of losing $20 billion in funding WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. | Already bracing for funding cuts under a new Trump administration, U.S. Treasury officials are calling on Congress to unlock $20 billion in IRS enforcement money that is tied up in legislative language that has effectively rendered

By The Associated Press Microsoft 365 users report outage issues NEW YORK | Thousands of Microsoft 365 customers worldwide reported having issues with services like Outlook and Teams on Monday. In social media posts and comments on platforms like outage tracker Downdetector, some impacted said that they were having trouble seeing their emails, loading calendars

By Associated Press Nov. 29 In 1929, Navy Lt. Cmdr. Richard E. Byrd, pilot Bernt Balchen, radio operator Harold June and photographer Ashley McKinney made the first airplane flight over the South Pole. In 1961, Enos the chimp was launched from Cape Canaveral aboard the Mercury-Atlas 5 spacecraft, which orbited earth twice before returning. In

By NewsPress Now SEC Chair Gary Gensler to step down Securities and Exchange Commission Chair Gary Gensler, who was aggressive in his oversight of cryptocurrencies and other financial markets, will step down from his post on Jan. 20. Gensler pushed changes that he said protected investors, but the industry and many Republicans bristled at what

By NewsPress Now Australia beats the United States at the Davis Cup MALAGA, Spain | Australia reached the Davis Cup semifinals for the third consecutive year, eliminating the United States 2-1 when Matt Ebden and Jordan Thompson beat the surprise, last-minute pairing of Ben Shelton and Tommy Paul 6-4, 6-4 in the deciding doubles match

By The Associated Press Georgia election workers seek more penalties against Giuliani Two former Georgia election workers who won a $148 million defamation judgment against Rudy Giuliani asked a judge Wednesday to penalize him even further for continuing to falsely accuse them of tampering with ballots during the 2020 presidential election. Attorneys for Ruby Freeman

By The Associated Press Social media ban for children introduced in Australia’s Parliament MELBOURNE, Australia | Australia’s communications minister introduced a world-first law into Parliament on Thursday that would ban children younger than 16 from social media, saying online safety was one of parents’ toughest challenges. Michelle Rowland said TikTok, Facebook, Snapchat, Reddit, X and

By The Associated Press Comcast to spin off cable networks WASHINGTON | Comcast is spinning off into a new company many of its cable television networks that were once at the heart of the entertainment giant, as consumers increasingly swap out their cable TV subscriptions for streaming platforms. Those one-time stars for Comcast’s NBCUniversal cable

By NewsPress Now Canada shares U.S. concerns about Mexican trade with China TORONTO | Canada’s point person for U.S-Canada relations said Tuesday she shares U.S. concerns about Mexico serving as a back door for China to import cheaper goods into the North American market as a review of the trade pact known as the U.S.-Mexico-Canada

By The Associated Press McDonald’s investing $100M to bring customers back McDonald’s is investing $100 million to bring customers back to stores after an outbreak of E. coli food poisoning tied to onions on the fast-food giant’s Quarter Pounder hamburgers. The investments include $65 million that will go directly to the hardest-hit franchises. The U.S.

By Associated Press Nov. 22 In 1718, English pirate Edward Teach — better known as “Blackbeard” — was killed during a battle off what is now North Carolina. In 1935, a flying boat, the China Clipper, took off from Alameda, California, carrying more than 100,000 pieces of mail on the first trans-Pacific airmail flight. In

By The Associated Press Dozens sickened, one dead after eating carrots contaminated with E. coli NEW YORK | An outbreak of E. coli has infected dozens of people who ate bagged organic carrots. One person died from the infection. The CDC says 39 people were infected, and 15 people were hospitalized in 18 states after