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Nation and world at a glance for Sept. 11

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JD Vance takes center stage at Republican convention Day 2 DALLAS — Vice President JD Vance took the stage Thursday night on the second and final night of the Republicans’ midterm convention in Dallas. The party knows that history is not on its side this election season but is counting on President Donald Trump to propel voters to protect their House and Senate majorities. With Vance taking the primetime speaking slot just ahead of the president, the convention was also teeing up a potential post-Trump future. Vance has not said whether he will run for the White House, and ...

Little Mercury may be shrinking faster than scientists expected

National News

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A new study shows that little, wrinkly Mercury may be shrinking faster than expected, the cosmos’ version of a grape shriveling into a raisin under the sun. Scientists from the German Aerospace Center’s Institute of Space Research reported Thursday that Mercury’s shrinkage may be 30% greater than previously believed — a loss in diameter of as much as 14 miles. That’s significant for a planet barely 3,000 miles across. Mercury’s rough surface, continually reshaped by debris hurled from impact craters, may have hidden the true extent of the ...

US unemployment claims dip to 206,000 as layoffs remain rare

Business News

WASHINGTON (AP) — Slightly fewer Americans filed for unemployment claims last week as jobless claims remain at historically low levels and layoffs are still relatively rare. Filings for benefits dipped to 206,000 last week from a revised 207,000 the week before, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The four-week average of claims, which smooths out week-to-week volatility, also fell modestly to 206,000. Claims for jobless benefits are a proxy for layoffs, and economists watch them because they can be a sign of where the job market is headed. For the past year, claims have mostly ...

Trump $5K payment plan draws cheers, jeers

National News

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump’s pitch to send Americans $5,000 checks should Republicans prevail in the November midterms is drawing scorn from some members of Congress and praise from others, including U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno, R-Ohio. Economists and other political observers are voicing concerns about the potential effects on inflation and the national balance sheet. Trump told CBS News Texas in an interview that he doesn’t believe Congress would need to approve his planned payments to American adults, though he did not specify how he could spend more than $1 trillion ...

McDonald residents request moratorium for data centers

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McDONALD — While the village’s planning/zoning commission and Solicitor Doug Ross have been working on zoning ordinances that would deal with regulations for data centers, village residents want council to put a moratorium on the facilities. Nearly 100 people gathered at the McDonald High School auditorium Wednesday. The meeting location was moved to accommodate the expected large crowd who wanted to voice their concerns about a data center possibly locating at the former McDonald Steel property off Ohio Avenue. Mayor Ray Lewis said they want to hear first from Oppidan ...

Anthropic says it blocked misuse of its AI that could have supported biological weapons

Business News

Anthropic said Thursday it has blocked efforts by bad actors to use its artificial intelligence models for malicious activity such as cyberattacks, surveillance, and research that could have led to biological weapons. As AI models grow more powerful, elaborate cyberattacks no longer require sophisticated skills and even lone individuals can create threats that would not have been possible even a year ago, Anthropic said. The company said it has added stronger safeguards in its latest models to restrict biological research that could also be used to make weapons. “The cases we share ...