ROCKFORD — Two Jefferson High School students took top honors in the regional Poetry Out Loud competition in Chicago. Olivia Vereb took first place while Kelcey Dodd took second place. They will now advance to the state competition March…

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — An Illinois appeals court has dismissed an appeal of a judge's ruling that invalidated Gov. J.B. Pritzker's requirement that masks be worn in schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The ruling late Thursday…

By Bobby Ross Jr. Associated Press MAYFIELD, Ky. (AP) — Mayfield First United Methodist Church, a century-old temple with stately columns and stained-glass windows, has long been an anchor in the life of Kathy O’Nan, the city’s…

By David A. Lieb and Camille Fassett Associated Press State and local governments lost at least $117 billion of expected revenue early in the pandemic, according to an Associated Press analysis, but many are now awash in record amounts…

By Nicholas Riccardi Associated Press As he struggled to survive the 2020 Democratic primary, Joe Biden made a striking pledge before voting began in heavily African American, must-win South Carolina: His first Supreme Court appointment…

By Jill Bleed and Sean Murphy Associated Press OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A federal judge resentenced “Tiger King” Joe Exotic to 21 years in prison on Friday, reducing his punishment by just a year despite pleas from the former zookeeper for…

By Lolita C. Baldor, Vladimir Isachenkov and Yuras Karmanau Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Friday the buildup of Russian forces along Ukraine's border has reached the point where President…

By Mark Lewis Associated Press STAVANGER, Norway (AP) — Convicted mass murderer Anders Behring Breivik spends his days in a spacious three-room cell, playing video games, exercising, watching TV and taking university-level courses in…

By Jill Lawless Associated Press LONDON (AP) — For Boris Johnson, facts have always been flexible. The British prime minister’s career is littered with doctored quotes, tall tales, exaggerations and mistruths. When called out, he…

By Ben Finley and Kate Brumback Associated Press Roger Strukhoff was being treated for intestinal bleeding at a hospital outside Chicago this month when he suffered a mild heart attack. Normally, the 67-year-old would have been…

By John Pye Associated Press MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Within an hour of her third-round loss at the Australian Open, defending champion Naomi Osaka had consigned it to the past. It's part of her new resolution for 2022. No…