A modest stone building holy to Jews in the midst of Nablus, an Arab city in the West Bank, is becoming an increasingly volatile friction point, drawing growing numbers of pilgrims on nighttime prayer visits, unnerving Palestinian residents and putting Israel’s military into conflict with some of the worshipers it is meant to protect.
Women breaking barriers in Navy, not SEALs
While America’s last 10 years of war have propelled women into new and far more risky roles across the military, there are still some doors that are closed. Chief among those are the special operations forces. But perhaps that door is inching open.
Empty summer in the city for kids hit by cutbacks
A rising number of children can look forward to excruciatingly boring school breaks this year as budget crises in many cities rob them of activities and programs that have defined summer in the city. Swimming pools are being closed. Recreation centers are locking their doors. Library summer reading programs are suffering. It’s a headache for parents but an economic reality for cities.
GOP presidential hopefuls shift on global warming
One thing that Tim Pawlenty, Jon Huntsman, Newt Gingrich and Mitt Romney have in common is that they are distancing themselves from their past positions on global warming, driven by their party’s loud doubters who question the science and disdain government solutions. All four have stepped back from previous stances on the issue.
After European tour, challenges at home
While President Obama has traveled Europe, he has kept watchful on events at home as he’s devoted the week to the business of strengthening relationships with Western allies and marshaling support for democratic stirrings in the Middle East and North Africa. On Friday he arrived in Poland, the final stop on his itinerary.
Compressed air turns NZ trucker into human balloon
A New Zealand truck driver said he blew up like a balloon when he fell onto the fitting of a compressed air hose that pierced his buttock and forced air into his body at 100 pounds a square inch.
Steven McCormack was standing on his truck’s foot plate Saturday when he slipped and fell, breaking a compressed air hose off an air reservoir that powered the truck’s brakes.
Senator Franken calls for smartphone app privacy policies
Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., sent letters to the two companies Wednesday asking that all apps for the iPhone, iPad and devices running Google’s Android software provide “clear and understandable privacy policies.” Such policies would tell users what personal information the app collects and how that information is used and potentially shared. Right now, it’s up to individual developers whether to spell that out.
Volunteers sought for Mpls. post-tornado outreach
The University of Minnesota is seeking volunteers for outreach teams following Sunday’s tornado that ripped through north Minneapolis.
The University of Minnesota is seeking volunteers for outreach teams following Sunday’s tornado that ripped through north Minneapolis.
High school baseball unifies tsunami-hit Japan
TOKYO — If Japan has a field of dreams, it’s a well-groomed patch of grass and dirt called Koshien. Twice a year, high school baseball teams compete at the field outside Kobe in nationally televised tournaments that rivet the country. Last week, at the start of the spring tournament, a teen stood on a podium …
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Lawmakers consider flood relief bonding
Minnesota legislators consider borrowing for flood control projects as state officials begin to deal with rising waters.
Man charged in death of teen who took drug
A Minnesota man was being held on a murder charge Monday in Minneapolis after authorities said he brought a synthetic drug to a party that killed one teen and sent 10 others to the hospital.
Pawlenty announces presidential exploratory committee
Former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty pressed toward a White House campaign Monday by formally announcing an exploratory committee. Pawlenty’s announcement almost certainly will lead to a full candidacy for the GOP nomination in a field that has been slow to form.
Give me back my sign! Horoscope readers atwitter
Sofia Whitcombe began her day with the startling realization that she might not be exactly who she thought she was.
“My whole life, I thought I was a Capricorn,” the 25-year-old publicist said. “Now I’m a Sagittarius? I don’t feel like a Sagittarius!”
Twitter is full of regional ‘accents,’ study finds
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Tweeting about what club “y’all” are going to tonight? Must be from the South. Looking forward to “suttin” special? Then you probably live in New York. Think that new movie was “koo?” Northern California.
Dayton Medicaid order turns into Minn. town hall
ST. PAUL, Minn. — Gov. Mark Dayton shared the podium with tea party protesters on Wednesday as he completed his first official act — deepening Minnesota’s participation in the federal health care overhaul by expanding Medicaid coverage for the poor.
The Democratic governor turned his first news conference into an impromptu town hall meeting, but laid down ground rules before giving equal time to opponents of the Medicaid expansion who jammed into the Capitol reception room.