WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court on Wednesday rejected a bid to release from jail a former FBI informant who is charged with fabricating a multimillion-dollar bribery scheme involving President Joe Biden’s family. Alexander Smirnov 's lawyers had urged the California-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to overturn a lower court judge's order that the man remain behind bars while he awaits trial. But a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit said the lower court was right to conclude Smirnov is a flight risk and there are no conditions of release that would reasonably assure he shows ..read more

HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH) -- State lawmakers are debating a wide-ranging climate bill that would introduce new incentives for businesses and individuals to adopt clean energy technologies. “This bill is full of incentives," Rep. Christine Palm (D-District 36) said. "Tax credits, waivers, business fee waivers for B Corps -- that’s benefit corps -- those that pivot to sustainability." Republicans raised objections to those incentives. “There’s a lot of incentives for people to switch to green -- who’s gonna pay for them?” Rep. Pat Callahan (R-District 108), the ranking House Republican on the envir ..read more

WASHINGTON (AP) — Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira, who pleaded guilty to federal criminal charges for leaking highly classified military documents about the war in Ukraine and other national security secrets, will face a military justice proceeding later this month, officials said Wednesday. Teixeira, of North Dighton, Massachusetts, faces two charges in the military justice system, including obstructing justice and failing to obey a lawful order, Air Force officials said. Prosecutors will present evidence during the military proceeding on May 14 at Hanscom Air Force Base ..read more

BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — A Montana man who pleaded guilty to leaving voicemail messages threatening to kill Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester and his family was sentenced Wednesday to 2 1/2 years in prison, the U.S. Attorney's Office said. Anthony James Cross, 30, of Billings pleaded guilty in January to making threats to injure and murder a U.S. senator. U.S. District Court Judge Susan Watters accepted a plea agreement that called for dismissing a charge that Cross made threats against President Joe Biden. Tester's office did not immediately respond to an emailed request seeking comment. His offi ..read more

WASHINGTON (AP) — More than 40% of Americans now label China as an enemy, up from a quarter two years ago and reaching the highest level in five years, according to an annual Pew Research Center survey released Wednesday. Half of Americans think of China as a competitor, and only 6% consider the country a partner, according to the report. The findings come as the Biden administration is seeking to stabilize U.S.-China relations to avoid miscalculations that could result in clashes, while still trying to counter the world's second-largest economy on issues from Russia's war in Ukraine to Taiwan ..read more

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has a new curator and Donna Hayashi Smith is the first Asian American to hold the post. The White House announced her appointment Wednesday, the start of Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Originally from Wahiawa, Hawaii, Hayashi Smith joined the White House curator's office in 1995 and has now served under five presidents. She had been serving in an acting capacity since last year after the retirement of her predecessor, Lydia Tederick. As curator, Hayashi Smith will oversee the care of thousands of artifacts in the White Hou ..read more

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is voting Wednesday on legislation that would establish a broader definition of antisemitism for the Department of Education to enforce anti-discrimination laws, the latest response from lawmakers to a nationwide student protest movement over the Israel-Hamas war. The bill — co-sponsored by nearly 50 Republicans and more than a dozen Democrats — would codify the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism in Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, a federal anti-discrimination law that bars discrimination based on shared ancestry, eth ..read more

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump will speak at the Libertarian National Convention in Washington, D.C. later this month as he tries to woo voters beyond the Republican base and avoid losing support to independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. “Libertarians are some of the most independent and thoughtful thinkers in our Country, and I am honored to join them in Washington, DC, later this month," Trump said in a statement issued Wednesday. “We must all work together to help advance freedom and liberty for every American, and a second Trump Administration will achieve that goal." H ..read more

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. on Wednesday imposed new sanctions on hundreds of firms and people tied to Russia's weapons development program, more than a dozen Chinese firms accused of helping Russia find workarounds to sanctions and individuals tied to the death of Russian dissident Alexey Navalny. The sanctions imposed by the Treasury and State departments target Russia’s military-industrial base, chemical weapons programs and people and firms in third countries that help Russia acquire weapons components as its invasion of Ukraine has entered its third year. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen sa ..read more

WASHINGTON (WTNH) -- Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) joined a group of bipartisan lawmakers on Wednesday to introduce a potential law that would ban people from owning primates. The Captive Primate Safety Act would make it illegal to privately own a monkey or ape. “This measure protects both primates and people," Blumenthal said in a written announcement. "Wild animals belong in the wild, not shackled and mistreated in someone’s backyard. Humans often are injured by wild animals kept as pets because their deeply ingrained instincts resist domestication, causin ..read more