AP

By Associated Press ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A flotilla of hot air balloons ascended into a clear desert sky on Saturday to kick off a colorful mass ascension at the 52nd annual Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. The nine-day gathering draws hundreds of thousands of spectators and pilots to New Mexico each fall for the rare opportunity

By Metro Creative Some occasions call for a light dish, and such occasions tend be more common in warm weather. Gone are the days of heavy, stick-to-your-ribs meals, and in their places are fresh, light and easy meals. Salad is more than just lettuce and other greens, and that’s notable in this recipe for “Salmon,

By Metro Creative Traditional mole sauce typically gets some of its depth from the addition of bittersweet chocolate. This recipe for “Sweet Potato Chorizo Mole” from Joy Manning and Tara Mataraza Desmond’s “Almost Meatless” (Ten Speed Press) utilizes bittersweet chocolate as well. The result is a flavorful dish that’s sure to please. Sweet Potato Chorizo

By Associated Press KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs head into the fifth week of the regular season as one of two unbeaten teams in the NFL, and a big reason why is their ability to hold or take the lead in the fourth quarter, when games often are on the line. The Saints, who

By Associated Press NEW YORK — Crude prices jumped Thursday on worries that worsening tensions in the Middle East could disrupt the global flow of oil, while U.S. stocks pulled back further from their records. The S&P 500 fell 0.2% amid a shaky week that’s knocked the index off its all-time high set on Monday.

By Associated Press Retailers are ramping up hiring for the holiday season, but fewer seasonal employees are expected to be taken on this year to help customers in stores and assemble online orders in warehouses. E-commerce giant Amazon said Thursday it will hire 250,000 full, part-time and seasonal workers for the crucial shopping period, rounding

By Associated Press COUNCIL BLUFFS, Iowa — Thousands sang, cheered and prayed as multiple preachers declared Donald Trump to be God’s favored candidate to defeat what one called the “forces of darkness.” Headliners denounced Democrat Kamala Harris — Trump’s campaign rival — as influenced by demons and the spirit of the wicked biblical queen Jezebel.

By Associated Press WASHINGTON — A federal judge in Missouri put a temporary hold on President Joe Biden’s latest student loan cancellation plan on Thursday, slamming the door on hope it would move forward after another judge allowed a pause to expire. Just as it briefly appeared the Biden administration would have a window to

By Associated Press MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Three former Memphis officers were convicted Thursday of charges of witness tampering in the 2023 fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, and two were acquitted of federal civil rights violations in a death that sparked national protests and calls for broad changes in policing. Jurors deliberated for about six hours

By Associated Press KAOHSIUNG, Taiwan — Typhoon Krathon made landfall Thursday in Taiwan’s major port city of Kaohsiung, bringing torrential rains and fierce winds to the island’s south. Trees were brought down by high winds and roads were flooded, prompting the closure of schools and businesses. Krathon made landfall in the industrial Siaogang district of

By Associated Press RIPON, Wisc. — Liz Cheney, one of Donald Trump’s fiercest Republican antagonists, will join Democrat Kamala Harris at a campaign event in Wisconsin on Thursday aimed at reaching out to moderate voters and rattling the former president. Cheney was the top Republican on the House committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021,

By Associated Press CHICAGO — Melania Trump revealed her support for abortion rights Thursday ahead of the release of her upcoming memoir, exposing a stark contrast with her husband, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, on the crucial election issue. In a video posted to her X account Thursday morning, the former first lady defended women’s

By Associated Press BALTIMORE — After another September loss gave the Kansas City Royals a second seven-game slide in the final month of the season, Will Smith saw the upcoming off day as a chance to make his teammates laugh. “You guys are looking at this the wrong way,” Smith said. “The bright side is

By Associated Press Kansas (1-4, 0-2 Big 12) at Arizona State (3-1, 0-1) BetMGM College Football Odds: Arizona State by 2 1/2. Series record: First meeting. What’s at stake? The Sun Devils and Jayhawks are two teams trying to find their footing in the Big 12 after rough starts to conference play. Arizona State won

By Associated Press BEIRUT — The Israeli military on Thursday warned people to evacuate a city and other communities in southern Lebanon that are north of a U.N.-declared buffer zone, signaling that it may widen a ground operation launched earlier this week against the Hezbollah militant group. Israel has told people to leave Nabatieh, a

By Associated Press BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. — Hurricane Helene’s death toll reached 200 on Thursday and could rise higher still, as searchers made their way toward the hardest to reach places in the mountains of western North Carolina, where the storm washed out roads and knocked out electricity, water and cellular service. Officials in Georgia

By Metro Creative Children and young adults enter foster care for a variety of reasons, including neglect, abandonment or abuse. When these children are no longer able to live safely with their families, agencies look to provide safe care, often with a goal of pairing children with adoptive parents and families. According to AdoptUSKids.org and

By Missouri Independent via TN Content Exchange Missouri’s defense of a state law barring minors from beginning puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones will depend on whether the judge in the case puts stock in expert witnesses touting retracted studies and conspiracy theories about Jerry Sandusky. Wright County Circuit Court Judge Craig Carter, who is presiding

By Missouri Independent via TN Content Exchange The Missouri Supreme Court declined to force an investigation into donations to Attorney General Andrew Bailey connected to a witness in a case his office was handling. In a filing Tuesday evening, the judges denied a request from Lucas Cierpiot, son of state Sen. Mike Cierpiot, to require