Author: reporter

By ELLEN KNICKMEYERWASHINGTON — A military judge has ruled that plea agreements struck by alleged Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed and two co-defendants are valid, voiding an order by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin to throw out the deals, a government official said Wednesday.The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the order by the judge, Air Force Col. Matthew McCall, has not yet been posted publicly or officially announced.Unless government prosecutors or others attempt to challenge the plea deals again, McCall’s ruling means that the three 9/11 defendants before long could enter guilty pleas in the U.S. military courtroom…

A Mesa County mail carrier and her friend were arrested on suspicion of identity theft and forgery after allegedly stealing at least 16 ballots and filling them out to “test” the voting signature system, the 21st Judicial District Attorney’s Office said Wednesday.Vicki Lyn Stuart, 64, was arrested Wednesday on suspicion of 16 counts of identity theft and forgery and two counts of attempting to influence a public servant, all felonies, according to an arrest affidavit.Sally Jane Maxedon, 56, was arrested on suspicion of six counts of identity theft and forgery and two counts of attempting to influence a public servant.The…

Which Christmas tree storage boxes are best? For many, Christmas trees are holiday necessities. However, finding a reliable storage option for your beloved artificial Christmas tree can be difficult once the holiday season has passed. With so many different sizes of trees on the market, it’s important to find a storage box with the space you need without being overly heavy, expensive or hard to store. Finding a storage box that can protect your tree from pests, dust and moisture is even more important. If you are looking for a Christmas tree storage container that is protective, lightweight and easy…

By COLLEEN LONGWASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump’s presidential win is going to be certified in Congress in January by the candidate he beat, Vice President Kamala Harris.Under the Constitution, the vice president is the head of the Senate, and it’s the role of the Senate president to declare the result of a White House election.That happens Jan. 6.Under normal circumstances, the vote-tallying procedure performed by the vice president is a mere formality and it’s the final step in the complicated technical process of electing a new administration.For example, in 2000, after the grueling 36-day Florida recount battle, Democrat Al Gore…

This time, things are likely to be different.This time, President-elect Donald Trump knows a lot more about how to manipulate the levers of power and plans to surround himself with loyalists willing to do his bidding in making sweeping changes to both policies and processes.It could provide a sharp contrast with what happened eight years ago when, as an unexpected victor, Trump stumbled through a disorganized transition and chose advisers who saw their jobs as keeping him from self-inflicted damage.That won’t happen again, he vows. And the Supreme Court ruling on presidential immunity will only encourage his expansive view of…

Update 10:25 a.m.: According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, the following roads were closed for crashes or snow-related “safety concerns” as of 10:25 a.m. Wednesday: Westbound I-70 between Exit 260 for C-470 and Exit 259 for Morrison Road near Golden; Eastbound I-70 from E-470 near Watkins to U.S. 24 near Limon; Westbound I-70 from Exit 438 for Rose Avenue in Burlington to U.S. 49 near Limon; U.S. 24 in both directions between Woodmen Road in Colorado Springs and U.S. 40 near Limon; Colorado 59 in both directions between Kit Carson and Haxtun, about 50 miles southwest of the Colorado-Nebraska…

Which Christmas palm tree is best? When Christmas is right around the corner, it usually means setting up and decorating a Christmas tree. However, some people prefer tropical vibes and Christmas palm trees over the standard evergreen conifers traditionally associated with the winter holiday. Palm trees remind people of summer, fair weather, beaches and even vacations. With added Christmas lights, palm trees can really liven up the atmosphere, even during the darkest days of winter. One of the best Christmas palm trees is the Puleo International Pre-Lit Artificial Palm Tree. There are different size options, with trees up to 6…

By Melissa Clark, The New York TimesWhat do you call a scone crossed with a jam cake and a cinnamon roll?The first time I tried it, I called it a Franken-scone. The pastry flattened, and the jam oozed like gloppy magma, burning at the edges of the pan. I had to resort to a butter knife to pry a tiny crumb from the baking sheet. And yet, from the first bite, the rich taste of butter, raspberry and caramel flooded my mouth. Maybe it wasn’t pretty, but I knew that with a few simple tweaks, this monstrosity could become something…

By WILL WEISSERT, Associated PressWASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump ‘s impending return to the White House means he’ll want to stand up an entirely new administration from the one that served under President Joe Biden. His team is also pledging that the second won’t look much like the first one Trump established after his 2016 victory.The president-elect now has a 75-day transition period to build out his team before Inauguration Day arrives on Jan. 20. One top item on the to-do list: filling around 4,000 government positions with political appointees, people who are specifically tapped for their jobs by Trump’s…

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