KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — The Afghan president today suspended talks with the United States on a new security deal to protest the way his government was being left out of initial peace negotiations with the Taliban meant to find a way to end the nearly 12-year war. The move by Hamid Karzai raises tensions significantly […]

DENVER (AP) — Bob and Barbara Schmidt dashed to their home on a dirt road in a heavily wooded area northeast of Colorado Springs as smoke from what would become the most destructive wildfire in Colorado history filled the air. After quickly grabbing a few items, they spotted their neighbors. “They were sitting on their […]

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Internal Revenue Service is about to pay $70 million in employee bonuses despite an Obama administration directive to cancel discretionary bonuses because of automatic spending cuts enacted this year, according to a GOP senator. Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa says his office has learned that the IRS is executing an agreement […]

SEATTLE (AP) — A Boeing 787 flying from Denver to Tokyo diverted to Seattle because of an oil filter issue, a United Airlines spokeswoman said. An airline maintenance team was inspecting the jet after Flight 139 landed normally Tuesday afternoon at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, United spokeswoman Mary Ryan said in an email statement. United just […]

ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) — A heat wave hitting Alaska may not rival the blazing heat of Phoenix or Las Vegas, but to residents of the 49th state, the days of hot weather feel like a stifling oven — or a tropical paradise. With temperatures topping 80 degrees in Anchorage, and higher in other parts of […]

BOSTON (AP) — A former enforcer for James “Whitey” Bulger is expected to face more tough cross-examination by Bulger’s lawyers when he returns to the witness stand for a third day. James Martorano, who admitted killing 20 people, is set to continue testifying today. On Monday and Tuesday, Martorano described a string of killings he […]

BERLIN (AP) — Trying to tamp down concerns about government over-reach, President Barack Obama today defended U.S. Internet and phone surveillance programs as narrowly targeted efforts that have saved lives and thwarted at least 50 terror threats. “This is not a situation in which we are rifling through ordinary emails” of huge numbers of citizens […]

AUGUSTA (AP) — A Corinna man has pleaded guilty to sex offenses against two young girls that occurred more than a quarter of a century ago. Glenn Graves pleaded guilty Tuesday in Kennebec County Superior Court just before he was scheduled to go on trial on three charges of gross sexual misconduct. Prosecutors say the […]

BANGOR (AP) — A Maine man accused of using a phony Facebook profile to lure a 15-year-old girl to her death is due in court. Kyle Dube, 20, of Orono was indicted on murder and kidnapping charges in last month’s asphyxiation death of Nichole Cable. He was due to be arraigned today at the Penobscot […]

PORTLAND (AP) — Four chefs from high-end hotels in South Korea are continuing their visit to Maine to learn about lobsters. During their five-day visit that began Monday, the chefs are getting a hands-on education about Maine’s signature seafood by going out on a lobster boat, touring processing plants and attending a lobster cooking class […]