AP-Newswatch

Residents flee, airlifts begin as wildfire approaches capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories

YELLOWKNIFE, Northwest Territories (AP) — Residents of the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories are fleeing an approaching wildfire in long convoys of cars, while air evacuations are underway for those who cannot leave by road. Fire was within 10 miles of the northern edge of Yellowknife on Wednesday. Residents of the city of 20,000 at highest risk have been told to leave as soon as possible while those in other areas should be out by noon Friday, because strong north winds could push the fire toward the highway needed for evacuation. Canada has seen a record number of wildfires this year with more than 5,700 fires burning more than 53,000 square miles. As of Thursday, 1,053 wildfires were burning, more than half of them out of control.

Maui residents fill philanthropic gaps while aid makes the long journey to the fire-stricken island

Nonprofits and volunteers in Maui have cobbled together countless improvised and urgent solutions since the deadliest wildfire in over a century hit their community. Kami Irwin, who runs a military nonprofit, was coordinating donation distributions out of the tasting room of the Maui Brewing Company. Her organization learned last week that 100 pounds of insulin was grounded at Kona International Airport on the big island. They spent several hours trying to link health officials with a general aviation pilot who could complete the medical delivery to their community. She was frustrated that volunteers were doing such vital work but she says, “We will be OK if us residents keep building together.”

Biden’s approval rating on the economy stagnates despite slowing inflation, AP-NORC poll shows

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has devoted the past several weeks to talking up the positive impacts of his policies — but his efforts have yet to meaningfully register with the public. Only 36% of U.S. adults approve of Biden’s handling of the economy, slightly lower than the 42% who approve of his overall performance. That’s according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Both figures are close to where Biden’s approval numbers have stood for about the past year and a half. Signs of an improving economic outlook have done little to sway how people feel about him as Biden could face his predecessor and 2020 opponent, Republican Donald Trump, in next year’s election.

Pentagon review calls for reforms to reverse spike in sexual misconduct at military academies

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new report says the U.S. military academies must improve their leadership, stop toxic practices such as hazing, and shift behavior training into the classrooms in order to address an alarming spike in sexual assaults and misconduct. The report says the academies must train student leaders better to help their classmates, and upend what has been a disconnect between what the cadets and midshipmen are learning in school and the often negative and unpunished behavior they see by those mentors. The review calls for additional senior officers to work with students and provide expanded training. The report was released Thursday.

Mississippi judge declares mistrial for 2 white men charged in attack on Black FedEx driver

BROOKHAVEN, Miss. (AP) — A Mississippi judge has cited police errors in declaring a mistrial for two white men accused of chasing and shooting at a Black FedEx employee who was making a delivery. Brandon Case and his father, Gregory Case, are charged with attempted first-degree murder, conspiracy and shooting into the vehicle driven by D’Monterrio Gibson in January 2022. Judge David Strong said he made the mistrial decision Thursday because of errors by a Brookhaven Police Department detective. The officer failed to provide evidence to prosecutors and defense attorneys. The judge said the officer also improperly testified about some guns that were found in the home of one of the men on trial and about shell casings outside the home.

Taliban official says women lose value if their faces are visible to men in public

KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — A Taliban official says women lose value if their faces are visible to men in public, and that the only way to wear the hijab, or the Islamic headscarf, is if the face is hidden. Afghanistan’s Taliban government that took over the country in August of 2021 has cited the failure of women to observe the proper way to wear the hijab as a reason for barring them from most public spaces, including parks, jobs and university. The Taliban’s restrictions on girls and women have caused global outrage. But the official, from the Ministry of Vice and Virtue, said Thursday that Afghans are in favor of the hijab.

Canadian woman sentenced to nearly 22 years for 2020 ricin letter sent to Trump in White House

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Canadian woman has been sentenced to nearly 22 years in prison for mailing a threatening letter containing the poison ricin to then-President Donald Trump at the White House. Pascale Ferrier, 56, had pleaded guilty to violating biological weapons prohibitions in letters sent to Trump and to police officials in Texas. Her defense attorney Eugene Ohm said Thursday that Ferrier was a French immigrant who had earned a master’s degree in engineering and raised two children as a single parent. U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich handed down the 262-month sentence outlined in a plea agreement that also requires Ferrier to leave the country after release.

Average long-term US mortgage rate climbs to 7.09% this week to highest level in more than 20 years

The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate jumped this week to its highest level in 20 years. That’s grim news for would-be homebuyers already facing high home prices caused a lack of supply. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the average rate on the benchmark 30-year home loan jumped to 7.09% from 6.96% last week. That’s the highest since April of 2002, when the average rate clocked in at 7.13%. Sharply higher rates are contributing to a dearth of available homes, as homeowners who locked into lower borrowing costs two years ago are now reluctant to sell and jump into a higher rate on a new property.

Composer Bernstein’s children defend Bradley Cooper’s prosthetic nose after ‘Maestro’ is criticized

NEW YORK (AP) — After Bradley Cooper’s prosthetic nose in the trailer for the upcoming Leonard Bernstein biopic “Maestro” stoked criticism of antisemitism, the conductor’s children have come to the defense of the actor. The teaser trailer for “Maestro,” which Cooper directs and stars in, debuted this week. It offered the first close-up look at Cooper’s makeup and performance as the American composer and longtime music director of the New York Philharmonic. Cooper, who isn’t Jewish, dons a prosthetic nose as part of his transformation into Bernstein, who was Jewish.

Sidelines are crowded because NFL teams are carrying 90-man rosters throughout preseason

More NFL hopefuls are getting an opportunity to stick around a little longer to showcase their skills this summer. One cutdown deadline will make things more difficult for personnel staffs because 1,184 players will become available at the same time. Teams are relying on their scouting evaluations to be prepared to scoop up talented players who get cut. Plus, they’ll be busy assembling a 16-man practice squad so it’s going to be a hectic time. When the league eliminated the first two rounds of roster cuts in March, it allowed teams to carry 90 players throughout the preseason. Rosters have to be trimmed to 53 by Aug. 29.