Новости за 03.01.2018

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — The Illinois Community College Board is planning to roll out several alternative ways people can earn their high school equivalency certificate other than passing a test. The State Journal-Register reports that the board plans to offer the other methods by the fall of 2018 and get more people into the workforce pipeline. Jennifer Foster is the board's deputy director for adult education and workforce. She says 1.2 million people in Illinois don't have a high school equivalency certificate... Читать дальше...

LONDON (AP) — A man was stabbed to death and two others were injured in separate attacks on the streets of Ireland Wednesday, and police investigating the incidents said terrorism is one line of inquiry. Police say one man has been arrested and detained at the Dundalk Police Station in the Republic of Ireland just south of the border with Northern Ireland. Media reports say the man in custody is an 18-year-old Egyptian. The suspect has not been identified or charged. Irish media reported that the... Читать дальше...

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland's tax collector says a report on how the federal tax overhaul will affect the state will be released in a few weeks. Comptroller Peter Franchot said Wednesday the new law has resulted in a lot of confusion and anxiety among tax professionals, state and local governments and taxpayers across the country. Gov. Larry Hogan is planning to introduce legislation to mitigate the impact on Maryland taxpayers who could end up paying more taxes, because of a cap on federal tax exemptions and deductions. Читать дальше...

An estimated $460 million jackpot is up for grabs in Wednesday night's Powerball lottery drawing, making it potentially the 10th largest prize in the nation. Here is a look at the 10 largest U.S. jackpots drawn so far and the states where the winning tickets were sold: 1. $1.6 billion, Powerball, Jan. 13, 2016 (three tickets, from California, Florida, Tennessee) 2. $758.7 million, Powerball, Aug. 23, 2017 (one ticket, from Massachusetts) 3. $656 million, Mega Millions, March 30, 2012 (three tickets, from Kansas, Illinois and Maryland) 4. Читать дальше...

HALLOCK, Minn. (AP) — A northern Minnesota sheriff says his office is better equipped than state or federal officials to investigate when wolves are suspected in the death of ranchers' livestock. Minnesota Public Radio reports that Kittson County Sheriff Steve Porter is using a Minnesota law that allows sheriffs to investigate whether livestock deaths were caused by wolves. Such investigative duties have previously fallen to the state Department of Natural Resources or the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services. Читать дальше...

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — A veteran Ohio politician is calling for a special state fund to help counties boost employment, fight opioid abuse and cover basic expenses. Any of the state's 88 counties, large or small, would be eligible to draw from the equalization fund proposed Wednesday by Republican Gene Krebs. The former state representative is a farmer and public policy expert from Preble County who's running for state Senate. Krebs cited a Center for Community Solutions study that found Ohio's small... Читать дальше...

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The estimated Powerball jackpot has climbed to $460 million, making it the nation's 10th largest lottery prize. Players have until Wednesday night to spend $2 for a chance at the big prize, awarded to anyone matching five white balls drawn from one drum and a red Powerball drawn from another. The odds of winning are one in 292.2 million. It's the biggest Powerball jackpot since a $758.7 million prize won last August. The $460 million prize refers to the annuity option, paid over 29 years. Читать дальше...

ORANGE, Va. (AP) — Experts at former President James Madison's Virginia estate are searching for the burial grounds of slaves who worked there. The Washington Post reports that a team led by James Madison University geophysicist Shane McGary is using ground-penetrating radar and other techniques to identify the gravesites of Montpelier's enslaved population. More than 100 slaves lived at Montpelier at the time of Madison's death, but little is recorded about their lives. The apparent gravesites a... Читать дальше...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Attorneys for a politically prominent Florida eye doctor say he may have committed Medicare fraud but that doesn't mean the federal government lost money. Dr. Salomon Melgen's attorneys argued Wednesday at a sentencing hearing that he may have told Medicare he was treating patients for diseases they didn't have but they had other diseases and benefited from his care. Prosecutors say Melgen stole more than $100 million, and they want a 30-year sentence. Melgen's attorneys say he took $64,000 and deserves less time. Читать дальше...

The trailer from Blumhouse’s upcoming “Truth or Dare” dropped on Wednesday, and Universal Pictures announced the thriller will hit theaters on April 27. In the trailer above, Lucy Hale and Tyler Posey play teenagers who get caught up in a deadly game of truth or dare. If you don’t tell the truth (Hale’s character is forced to spill that her best friend is cheating on her boyfriend) or do the dare (her best friend is forced to break her hand in trailer) — then you die. “The game only ends when all the players die,” the voiceover declares. Читать дальше...

SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) — A brutal winter storm dumped snow, sleet and freezing rain from normally balmy Florida up the Southeast seaboard Wednesday, delivering a white coating that some cities hadn't seen in decades. Cars spun out of control on icy overpasses from Texas to Georgia. The water park at Disney World and other Florida theme parks closed because of the unusually cold temperatures, adding to the misery of a dayslong bitter cold snap across the country. Forecasters warned that conditions could worsen, especially in the Northeast. Читать дальше...

SAUGUS, Mass. (AP) — Police have charged a juvenile with stealing about $1,000 in funds from a Massachusetts high school intended to benefit students with special needs. The Daily Item of Lynn reports that the money was stolen from a cabinet at Saugus High School two weeks ago. The money was from the Life Skills program at the school. The students raised the funds by creating and selling scarves, ornaments, fudge, and other small gift items. The money was to be spent on activities that teach life skills. Читать дальше...

NEW YORK (AP) — A jury deliberating the fate of a Turkish banker charged with helping Iran evade U.S. economic sanctions asked a judge Wednesday what happens if it reaches a verdict on only some charges in a trial that has angered Turkey government officials. The Manhattan federal court jury asked the question in its first hour of work after returning from holiday break in the trial of Halkbank executive Mehmet Hakan Atilla. The trial has drawn heated criticism from Turkish leaders, who say it is... Читать дальше...

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — The Latest on snow, sleet and freezing rain in eastern South Carolina (all times local): 11:10 a.m. The snow and ice moving into South Carolina has prompted officials to close Charleston International Airport. The airport said in a twitter message that Joint Base Charleston has closed the runways because of ice. The airport shares runways with the U.S. Air Force at the North Charleston facility. The airport said flight operations would not resume until the Air Force determines... Читать дальше...

ST. LOUIS (AP) — A lawsuit alleging that Missouri's new voter identification law was intended to make it harder for poor and minority residents to cast their ballots has been dismissed. Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beetem on Tuesday dismissed the suit filed in June by the ACLU and the Advancement Project on behalf of the Missouri NAACP and the League of Women Voters. Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved a November 2016 ballot measure instituting voter ID. The law became effective June 1. Republican... Читать дальше...

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — One day after the Kentucky House speaker temporarily ceded power in the aftermath of a secret sexual harassment settlement, he and his colleagues are headed off to mandatory training aimed at curbing the problem. Jeff Hoover had announced he would resign as speaker two months ago, shortly after acknowledging he secretly settled a sexual harassment claim outside of court with a woman who worked for the House Republican Caucus. But Tuesday, when the legislature convened, Hoover did not resign. Читать дальше...

FLINT, Mich. (AP) — A 10-year-old mid-Michigan boy has died following a possible drive-by shooting. Jacues Allen was inside his Flint home late Monday night when he was wounded. Police said Wednesday that he later died at an area hospital. Next-door neighbor Evelyn Cleaves tells WJRT-TV that the gunfire was like a "boom, boom, boom, boom." State police have said it's believed the shooting was a drive-by. No arrests have been made and the shooting remains under investigation. George Cleaves says Jacues... Читать дальше...

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Canadian ex-hostage Joshua Boyle made a brief appearance via video link for a preliminary hearing on Wednesday after being charged with 15 offences, including sexual assault, following his release from captivity in Afghanistan. A justice of the peace granted lawyer Ninetta Caparelli's request for adjournment until Monday so the defense can work on a bail plan. Boyle had a beard and wore an orange jumpsuit in Wednesday's appearance, which lasted a few minutes. Boyle, his wife... Читать дальше...

CHICAGO (AP) — Early trading on the Chicago Board of Trade Wed.: OpenHighLowLastChg.WHEAT5,000 bu minimum; cents per bushelMar435¼436¾432¾433½May447¼449445446¼Jul460¾462458459¾Sep473¼474¼470¾472½Dec490490¾487¼489Mar500½502500½500½May507Jul511¾Sep522Dec538½Mar545¾May545¾Jul545½Est. sales 48,757. Tue.'s sales 111,072Tue.'s open int 523,988CORN5,000 bu minimum; cents per bushelMar353354¾352½353¼May361362¾360¾361¼Jul369½371369369¾Sep377378¼376½377¼Dec386387½385¼386½Mar395396½394¾395½May400¼401¾400¼401¼Jul406407405¾405¾Sep403½Dec405¾407½405½406¼Mar

Jon Gruden told his current employer, ESPN, on Wednesday morning there’s “a good chance” he will accept the Raiders’ head coaching job if offered. It comes a day after Gruden’s first public acknowledgment of his candidacy for the Raiders’ coaching job, which he previously held from 1998-2001. A potential reunion between Gruden and the Raiders gathered steam over the weekend, with the Raiders firing previous head coach Jack Del Rio after their season finale Sunday. Читать дальше...

As a light rain storm sweeps the Bay Area, bringing some much needed rain to the region, forecasters said the heaviest showers would occur by the late afternoon on Wednesday. The amount of rain expected with the incoming storm isn’t powerful enough to dig the Bay Area out of what’s been an unusually dry winter season so far, but every drop will help, said Drew Peterson, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service. “It will be significant in the fact that we... Читать дальше...

WASHINGTON (AP) — There will be some familiar but stubborn clashes facing lawmakers Wednesday as Congress begins its 2018 session staring at the year's first potential calamity — an election-year government shutdown unless there's a bipartisan spending pact by Jan. 19. Looking to prevent a closure of federal agencies, top White House officials planned to meet at the Capitol on Wednesday with House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and each chamber's top Democrat. Читать дальше...

Good news, “Bright” fans (and haters). The sequel rumors were true! David Ayer will write and direct a follow-up film to the widely panned sci-fi flick, with Will Smith and Joel Edgerton expected to return in the lead roles, Netflix announced Wednesday. Of course, the streaming service broke the news in the most “Bright” way imaginable. Eric Newman and Bryan Unkeless are set as producers for the sequel. Also Read: Netflix's 'Bright' Might Have Had $98 Million Opening - If Its 11 Million Viewers... Читать дальше...

It’s no secret that a lot of people don’t like Sean Hannity. In a bit of humorous self-awareness just before the close of Tuesday evening’s show, the Fox News host plugged an official hotline haters could call to scream at him, at least virtually. “The hate Hannity hotline is back. Now you can say anything you want to me. As a matter of fact, I encourage you. Just let it out. This is the year that a lot of truth is going to come out that they won’t be reporting in the lamestream media,” said Hannity. Читать дальше...

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Two women convicted of second-degree animal cruelty will avoid jail time but have been banned from owning goats or similar animals for two years. A Thurston County judge on Tuesday suspended the jail sentence for Carolyn Lattin and Debbie Lattin, who run Lattin's Country Cider Mill and Farm in Olympia. But District Court Judge Sam Meyer ordered them to forfeit 18 goats and pay about $6,700 restitution to an animal rescue group that cared for their goats when the animals were seized. Читать дальше...