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Iran, US intensify airstrikes in war

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The United States launched new airstrikes against Iran early Thursday, and Tehran responded by targeting U.S.-allied Mideast countries in an exchange of fire that threatened an interim deal intended to help end the war in the Middle East. Back-and-forth ...

PepsiCo blames beverage losses on war, gas prices

NEW YORK (AP) — PepsiCo reported stronger-than-expected revenue in the second quarter despite weaker demand in North America, where it said consumers tightened their budgets as the Iran war caused gas prices to spike. “I think the consumer is worse than what we had anticipated, and it’s driven mainly by gas prices,” PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said Thursday during a conference call with investors. PepsiCo’s shares fell 4% in morning trading Thursday. The food and beverage giant said its net revenue rose 6.4% to $24.2 billion for the April-June period. That was better than ...

Nation and world at a glance for July 10

Democrats in Maine begin search for new US Senate candidate PORTLAND, Maine — Democrats in Maine are beginning a sprint to nominate a new candidate for a pivotal U.S. Senate seat. The drive began after progressive nominee Graham Platner announced he’s withdrawing from the race after a sexual assault allegation. Democrats need to pick a candidate to replace Platner on the ballot by July 27, less than four months before the nominee will face longtime Republican Sen. Susan Collins in a race Democrats need to win to take back the chamber. Potential candidates began to come into ...

Suspect in Lincoln Reflecting Pool vandalism pleads not guilty

WASHINGTON (AP) — A former Olympic canoe racer pleaded not guilty on Thursday to deliberately damaging the recently renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool, a politically charged case that his defense attorneys and other Trump administration critics have derided as an abuse of prosecutorial power. David Hearn, who competed in three Summer Olympics, entered the plea through one of his attorneys during his initial appearance in D.C. Superior Court. Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, was indicted last Thursday on a single felony count of property destruction. Before the country’s ...

Lordstown officials approve $150K income tax payments to school district

LORDSTOWN — The village has approved payments of more than $150,000 to the Lordstown Local School District from the income tax of employees who work in the village. Council voted this week to have Village Clerk William Blank pay the school district $64,499 from TJX HomeGoods, $9,558 from Matalco Inc. and $80,125 from Ultium Cells LLC. The village and school district have an income tax sharing agreement in which the schools receive some of the income tax from employees who work at the three companies. Council also approved final reading on placing a temporary moratorium not to ...

Warren man pleads guilty in Youngstown teen’s slaying

Staff report WARREN — A Warren man accused in the Feb. 11 shooting death of a Youngstown teen refused a plea offer Tuesday in the courtroom of Trumbull County Common Pleas Court Judge Cynthia Westcott, but changed his mind and entered a plea on Wednesday. Willis L. Smith IV, 18, originally refused an offer from the Trumbull County Prosecutor’s Office to plead guilty to an amended indictment of involuntary manslaughter with a three-year firearm specification and tampering with evidence. His jury trial that was set for July 27 was canceled after he pleaded guilty to those charges ...