WASHINGTON (AP) — The number of people seeking unemployment benefits fell slightly last week to the lowest point in four years, a further sign that the U. S. job market is steadily improving. The Labor Department says a seasonally adjusted 351,000 people sought unemployment aid, down from 353,000 the previous week. That matches the four- […]

LONDON ( AP) — Queen Elizabeth II, the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall went out for tea today at London’s posh Fortnum & Mason store. The event was a rare joint appearance by the queen and the former Kate Middleton along with Camilla, the wife of Prince Charles. The trio met military […]

SULAIMANIYAH, Iraq ( AP) — An American gym teacher was killed today when a student in the crowded classroom pulled out a gun, shot the teacher and then as his terrified classmates fled the room, shot himself, officials and eyewitnesses said. The incident marked a rare violent death of an American in the relatively peaceful […]

BEIRUT ( AP) — Syria’s main opposition group formed a military council today to organize and unify all armed resistance to President Bashar Assad’s regime as the conflict veered ever closer to civil war. The Paris-based leadership of the Syrian National Council said its plan was coordinated with the most potent armed opposition force — […]

HAVANA Angela Castro, the eldest sister of Cuban revolutionary leaders Fidel and Raul Castro, has died following a long illness, another sibling who lives in exile confirmed Wednesday. At 88, Angela was the first of the seven Castro brothers and sisters to die, and her passing served as another reminder of the looming mortality facing […]

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. Davy Jones, the heartthrob singer who helped propel the made-for-TV rock band The Monkees to the top of the pop charts as an American version of the Beatles, died Wednesday. He was 66. His publicist, Helen Kensick, confirmed Jones died of a heart attack in Indiantown, where he had lived. Jones […]

NEWBURGH (AP) — A Maine man owed $3,000 to the Florida firefighter he is suspected of killing and told police the firefighter threatened him and his family during a game of pool, according to an arrest warrant. Jerry Perdomo, a Seminole County firefighter and married father of two, disappeared in Maine on Feb. 16. A […]

PORTLAND (AP) — A lawsuit seeking to have a 36-foot mural depicting Maine’s labor history returned to a state office lobby will be at stake when a federal judge hears arguments on whether the suit should be dismissed. A group of six Mainers filed a complaint last March to have the mural returned to the […]

PHILLIPS ( AP) — A Phillips man has been arrested after allegedly pointing a shotgun at a coyote hunter. Police say a group of hunters with dogs were confronted by 60-year-old Mark Cosenza on Wednesday. A spokesman for the Franklin County Sheriff ’s Department says there was a verbal confrontation, after which Cosenza allegedly pointed […]

BANGOR (AP) — A top federal official says the National Park Service has no plans in the coming year to study conservationist Roxanne Quimby’s proposal for a national park in the North Woods of Maine. Department of Interior Secretary Ken Salazar told U.S. Sen. Susan Collins of Maine there is no effort under way for […]