By (Reuters) - A massive plume of dust whipped up from the Sahara desert will hover over the U.S. Southeast this weekend, forecasters say, shrouding the region in a brown haze and raising more health concerns in states where the coronavirus crisis is worsening.The 3,500-mile-long (5,600 km) cloud, dubbed the “Godzilla dust cloud,” traveled 5,000 miles (8,047 km) from North Africa before reaching the region stretching from Florida west into Texas and north into North Carolina through Arkansas, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.“It’s a really dry layer of air that contains these very...…By (Reuters) - A massive plume of dust whipped up from the Sahara desert will hover over the U.S. Southeast this weekend, forecasters say, shrouding the region in a brown haze and raising more health concerns in states where the coronavirus crisis is worsening.The 3,500-mile-long (5,600 km) cloud, dubbed the “Godzilla dust cloud,” traveled 5,000 miles (8,047 km) from North Africa before reaching the region stretching from Florida west into Texas and north into North Carolina through Arkansas, the National Weather Service (NWS) said.“It’s a really dry layer of air that contains these very...WW…

By (Reuters) - Five people were found shot and killed in a home in an unincorporated town in eastern Texas on Monday, police said.Police and rescue workers responded to a call at 10:30 a.m. CST about multiple victims of an assault at a residence in Blanchard, Texas, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook.At the scene, they found several victims of gunshot wounds, the sheriff said.The sheriff did not release details about the shooting or the identities of the victims.“The scene is extremely fluid making it difficult to release information,” the sheriff said.Blanchard, Texas is an...…By (Reuters) - Five people were found shot and killed in a home in an unincorporated town in eastern Texas on Monday, police said.Police and rescue workers responded to a call at 10:30 a.m. CST about multiple victims of an assault at a residence in Blanchard, Texas, the Polk County Sheriff’s Office said on Facebook.At the scene, they found several victims of gunshot wounds, the sheriff said.The sheriff did not release details about the shooting or the identities of the victims.“The scene is extremely fluid making it difficult to release information,” the sheriff said.Blanchard, Texas is an...WW…

By (Reuters) - New York police officials on Monday blamed the COVID-19 pandemic, animosity toward law enforcement and bail reform for the rash of deadly shootings in the nation’s most populous metropolis and other cities over the Fourth of July weekend.In New York, 64 people were wounded and 11 were killed in 45 shootings, marking almost a threefold increase compared with the same three-day period last year.In Chicago, 87 people were wounded and 17 were killed, including two children. In Atlanta, more than 30 people were wounded and five people were killed in shootings since Friday.New York...…By (Reuters) - New York police officials on Monday blamed the COVID-19 pandemic, animosity toward law enforcement and bail reform for the rash of deadly shootings in the nation’s most populous metropolis and other cities over the Fourth of July weekend.In New York, 64 people were wounded and 11 were killed in 45 shootings, marking almost a threefold increase compared with the same three-day period last year.In Chicago, 87 people were wounded and 17 were killed, including two children. In Atlanta, more than 30 people were wounded and five people were killed in shootings since Friday.New York...WW…

By PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. (Reuters) - Wisconsin’s governor on Thursday predicted confusion after the state supreme court struck down his sweeping stay-at-home order, fueling a growing political divide over how and when to reopen the shattered U.S. economy.The court’s decision, which found that Governor Tony Evers and a top state health official did not have the authority to unilaterally confine residents to their homes or bar them from working, marked the first time such coronavirus restrictions had been overturned in the United States.“I can’t imagine another state that is in this...…By PORT WASHINGTON, Wis. (Reuters) - Wisconsin’s governor on Thursday predicted confusion after the state supreme court struck down his sweeping stay-at-home order, fueling a growing political divide over how and when to reopen the shattered U.S. economy.The court’s decision, which found that Governor Tony Evers and a top state health official did not have the authority to unilaterally confine residents to their homes or bar them from working, marked the first time such coronavirus restrictions had been overturned in the United States.“I can’t imagine another state that is in this...WW…

By CHICAGO (Reuters) - Three weeks after Kobe Bryant, one of the most dominant players in NBA history, was killed with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash, the global sports icon was named a finalist to the Basketball Hall of Fame.Bryant, fourth all time in NBA scoring, played for the Los Angeles Lakers during an illustrious 20-year career that was highlighted by five NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVPs and one league MVP.The announcement came during the NBA All-Star weekend in Chicago, which culminates on Sunday with an exhibition game featuring the sport’s best players....…By CHICAGO (Reuters) - Three weeks after Kobe Bryant, one of the most dominant players in NBA history, was killed with his daughter and seven others in a helicopter crash, the global sports icon was named a finalist to the Basketball Hall of Fame.Bryant, fourth all time in NBA scoring, played for the Los Angeles Lakers during an illustrious 20-year career that was highlighted by five NBA championships, two NBA Finals MVPs and one league MVP.The announcement came during the NBA All-Star weekend in Chicago, which culminates on Sunday with an exhibition game featuring the sport’s best players....WW…

By (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the execution in Texas of a convicted killer scheduled to die later in the evening, ruling that a lower court judge should consider the man’s request to have a spiritual adviser present.Ruben Gutierrez, 43, had been set to die at 6 p.m. CDT (7 p.m. EDT) at the Texas State Penitentiary in Huntsville for the 1998 murder of an elderly mobile-home park owner during a robbery.The Supreme Court granted an emergency petition by lawyers for Gutierrez for a stay of execution over a new Texas Department of Criminal Justice policy banning...…By (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed the execution in Texas of a convicted killer scheduled to die later in the evening, ruling that a lower court judge should consider the man’s request to have a spiritual adviser present.Ruben Gutierrez, 43, had been set to die at 6 p.m. CDT (7 p.m. EDT) at the Texas State Penitentiary in Huntsville for the 1998 murder of an elderly mobile-home park owner during a robbery.The Supreme Court granted an emergency petition by lawyers for Gutierrez for a stay of execution over a new Texas Department of Criminal Justice policy banning...WW…

By MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Prosecutors on Wednesday leveled new criminal charges against four Minneapolis policemen implicated in the death of a black man pinned by his neck to the street during an arrest that sparked more than a week of nationwide protest and civil strife.The added murder charge filed against one officer already in custody and the arrest of three more accused of playing a role in the killing of George Floyd, 46, came as several nights of escalating unrest gave way to mostly peaceful protests.Thousands of demonstrators massed near the White House lit up their cellphone...…By MINNEAPOLIS (Reuters) - Prosecutors on Wednesday leveled new criminal charges against four Minneapolis policemen implicated in the death of a black man pinned by his neck to the street during an arrest that sparked more than a week of nationwide protest and civil strife.The added murder charge filed against one officer already in custody and the arrest of three more accused of playing a role in the killing of George Floyd, 46, came as several nights of escalating unrest gave way to mostly peaceful protests.Thousands of demonstrators massed near the White House lit up their cellphone...WW…

By , NEW YORK/CHICAGO (Reuters) - Another wave of states prepared to ease coronavirus restrictions on U.S. commerce this week, despite health experts warning there is still too little diagnostic testing, while the White House forecast a staggering jump in the nation’s monthly jobless rate.Colorado, Mississippi, Minnesota, Montana and Tennessee were set to join several other states in reopening businesses without the means to screen systematically for infected people who may be contagious but asymptomatic, and to trace their contacts with others they might have exposed.Many merchants have...…By , NEW YORK/CHICAGO (Reuters) - Another wave of states prepared to ease coronavirus restrictions on U.S. commerce this week, despite health experts warning there is still too little diagnostic testing, while the White House forecast a staggering jump in the nation’s monthly jobless rate.Colorado, Mississippi, Minnesota, Montana and Tennessee were set to join several other states in reopening businesses without the means to screen systematically for infected people who may be contagious but asymptomatic, and to trace their contacts with others they might have exposed.Many merchants have...WW…

By CHICAGO (Reuters) - Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday called for the city to create a new foot-pursuit policy after a police officer shot and killed an 13-year-old boy during a foot chase in an alley a week ago.Adam Toledo was shot in the chest by an unidentified police officer at about 2:30 a.m. local time on March 29 in Little Village, a neighborhood in the city’s West Side, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) said.Police said Toledo was armed with a handgun. Officers were chasing him and another man after they received notification of shots fired in the area, the department...…By CHICAGO (Reuters) - Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot on Monday called for the city to create a new foot-pursuit policy after a police officer shot and killed an 13-year-old boy during a foot chase in an alley a week ago.Adam Toledo was shot in the chest by an unidentified police officer at about 2:30 a.m. local time on March 29 in Little Village, a neighborhood in the city’s West Side, the Chicago Police Department (CPD) said.Police said Toledo was armed with a handgun. Officers were chasing him and another man after they received notification of shots fired in the area, the department...WW…

By CHICAGO (Reuters) - Chicago teachers and the school district said on Friday talks will continue this weekend in hopes of reaching an COVID-19 safety plan agreement that would avoid work stoppages and allow in-person classes to resume for thousands of elementary and middle school students.Slideshow The Chicago Teachers Union, representing 28,000 public school educators, has been locked in negotiations with Chicago Public Schools, the nation’s third-largest school district, for months over a plan to gradually reopen schools for in-person learning.Both sides say discussions are focused on...…By CHICAGO (Reuters) - Chicago teachers and the school district said on Friday talks will continue this weekend in hopes of reaching an COVID-19 safety plan agreement that would avoid work stoppages and allow in-person classes to resume for thousands of elementary and middle school students.Slideshow The Chicago Teachers Union, representing 28,000 public school educators, has been locked in negotiations with Chicago Public Schools, the nation’s third-largest school district, for months over a plan to gradually reopen schools for in-person learning.Both sides say discussions are focused on...WW…