Emergency management
Volunteers wearing face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus hold a social distancing sign as they gather in-line to watch the final round of the men's golf event at the 2020 Summer Olympics on Sunday, Aug. 1, 2021, in Kawagoe, Japan. Japan is playing host to the Tokyo Olympics. But the capital, as well as other populous areas, are in the middle of a government-declared "state of emergency" to curb surging COVID-19 infections. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)
EXPLAINER: What Olympic host Japan’s COVID ‘emergency’ means

By Yuri Kageyama Aug. 05, 2021 12:18 AM EDT

People wearing face masks walk past the Olympics Rings statue in Tokyo, Thursday, July 8, 2021. Japan is set to place Tokyo under a state of emergency starting next week and lasting through the Olympics, with COVID-19 cases surging and feared to multiply during the Games. (Shinji Kita/Kyodo News via AP)
Japan to declare virus emergency lasting through Olympics

By Mari Yamaguchi Jul. 07, 2021 10:42 PM EDT

Noblesville giving $1,000 to $2,000 bonuses to city workers

Jun. 28, 2021 10:23 AM EDT
NOBLESVILLE, Ind. (AP) — Another local government in Hamilton County plans to give virus-related bonuses to public employees. Firefighters...

Kentucky seeking input on efforts to expand broadband

Jun. 28, 2021 04:00 AM EDT
FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky is seeking input from broadband providers in the next phase of an effort to expand internet access, Gov. Andy Beshear said. ...

CDC gives Maine $7M to prep for future public health crises

Jun. 27, 2021 02:26 PM EDT
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — The federal government has given Maine a $7 million boost to help prepare for another public health crisis. ...

In this Wednesday, June 23, 2021, photo, lawmakers meet in the Oregon House of Representatives during the legislative session at the Oregon State Capitol in Salem, Ore. (Abigail Dollins/Statesman-Journal via AP)
Oregon Legislature adjourns 2021 session marked by COVID

By Sara Cline Jun. 26, 2021 09:17 PM EDT

FILE - In this July 23, 2020, file photo, Gov. Tim Walz signed into law a sweeping package of police accountability measures in St. Paul, Minn., making Minnesota the latest state to adopt changes to law enforcement, including a ban on neck restraints, in the wake of George Floyd's death. The bill, passed by the Legislature earlier this week, also bans chokeholds and fear-based or "warrior-style" training, which critics say promotes excessive force. (Glen Stubbe/Star Tribune via AP, File)
Walz says he'll give up COVID-19 emergency powers by Aug. 1

Jun. 26, 2021 12:01 PM EDT

FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 18, 2021 file photo, a new home is for sale in Madison, Ga. Mortgage rates rose above the 3% mark this week for the first time in 10 weeks, as the economic recovery from the pandemic recession continues while inflation remains elevated. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Friday, June 25 that the average for the key 30-year home loan rose to 3.02% from 2.93% last week. By contrast, the rate stood at 3.13% a year ago.(AP Photo/John Bazemore, File)
US mortgage rates rise over 3%; 30-year at 3.02%

Jun. 25, 2021 04:55 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2020, file photo, housing activists erect a sign in Swampscott, Mass. A federal freeze on most evictions is set to expire soon. The moratorium, put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in September, was the only tool keeping millions of tenants in their homes. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
EXPLAINER: WA tenants get modified eviction reprieve

By Rachel La Corte Jun. 25, 2021 03:09 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2020, file photo, housing activists erect a sign in Swampscott, Mass. A federal freeze on most evictions is set to expire soon. The moratorium, put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in September, was the only tool keeping millions of tenants in their homes. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
EXPLAINER: Colorado housing increases, so does homelessness

By Patty Nieberg Jun. 25, 2021 02:59 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2020, file photo, housing activists erect a sign in Swampscott, Mass. A federal freeze on most evictions is set to expire soon. The moratorium, put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in September, was the only tool keeping millions of tenants in their homes. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
EXPLAINER: Backlog of aid slows Oregon eviction response

By Sara Cline Jun. 25, 2021 02:52 PM EDT

FILE - In this Tuesday, May 12, 2020 file photo, Poland's main ruling party leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski wears a mask for protection against the coronavirus in parliament in Warsaw, Poland, during work on new legislation that is to ensure the health and safety of the postponed presidential election to be held this summer. Poland’s governing right-wing coalition lost its slim majority in parliament Friday June 25, 2021, after three lawmakers left it, criticizing government policies — mainly on phasing out coal. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski, File)
Polish ruling right-wing coalition loses parliament majority

By Monika Scislowska Jun. 25, 2021 12:55 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2020, file photo, housing activists erect a sign in Swampscott, Mass. A federal freeze on most evictions is set to expire soon. The moratorium, put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in September, was the only tool keeping millions of tenants in their homes. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
EXPLAINER: How Maryland is distributing aid to help tenants

By Brian Witte Jun. 25, 2021 12:23 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2020, file photo, housing activists erect a sign in Swampscott, Mass. A federal freeze on most evictions is set to expire soon. The moratorium, put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in September, was the only tool keeping millions of tenants in their homes. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
EXPLAINER: In Delaware, few tenants actually get evicted

By Randall Chase Jun. 25, 2021 12:08 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 14, 2020, file photo, housing activists erect a sign in Swampscott, Mass. A federal freeze on most evictions is set to expire soon. The moratorium, put in place by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in September, was the only tool keeping millions of tenants in their homes. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer, File)
EXPLAINER: Are New Jersey's eviction protections enough?

By Mike Catalini Jun. 25, 2021 11:44 AM EDT

Lawmakers vote to bank pandemic funds, boost schools funding

By Mark Scolforo Jun. 25, 2021 11:37 AM EDT
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A state budget that dumps billions in federal coronavirus money into savings, boosts spending on education and provides aid to nursing...

In this photo taken on May 16, 2021, Britain's Health Secretary Matt Hancock, right walks with aide Gina Coladangelo, outside BBC Broadcasting House in London after his appearance on the BBC1 current affairs programme, The Andrew Marr Show. Hancock has apologized for breaching social distancing rules after a newspaper ran pictures of him embracing a woman with whom he allegedly had an affair. Health Secretary Matt Hancock said in a statement that “I accept that I breached the social distancing guidance in these circumstances." He said “I have let people down and am very sorry.” The tabloid Sun newspaper reported Friday, June 25, 2021 that Hancock had an extramarital affair with a senior aide, Gina Coladangelo. (Yui Mok/PA via AP)
UK health minister admits virus rules breach with embrace

By Jill Lawless Jun. 25, 2021 09:32 AM EDT

Lawmakers OK letting students repeat year because of COVID

Jun. 24, 2021 03:37 PM EDT
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Lawmakers made a final vote Thursday to approve a bill to let parents decide whether to have their children repeat a year of school, a...

Savannah Thorpe, Lancaster, joins with multiple groups rallying on the steps of the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., to lobby lawmakers into spending more of the federal relief money on students, the poor and other communities of need, Wednesday, June 23, 2021. (Mark Pynes/The Patriot-News via AP)
Budgeteers hashing out ed funding, use of coronavirus money

By Mark Scolforo And Marc Levy Jun. 24, 2021 01:15 PM EDT

About $140 million in stimulus money targeted for tourism

Jun. 24, 2021 12:28 PM EDT
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin's tourism and entertainment businesses, hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, are getting some financial help to recover. ...