Italy shuts down 4 regions as Europe tries lighter lockdowns

MILAN (AP) — The center of Milan stood remarkably empty as luxury boutiques, jewelry shops and other non-essential businesses in Italy’s vibrant financial capital closed on the first day of a partial lockdown. Restrictions imposed in four Italian regions on Friday to stop the coronavirus’s resurgence allow a great deal more freedom than the nationwide…

Biden wins Wisconsin and Michigan, narrowing Trump’s path

WASHINGTON (AP) — Joe Biden has won Michigan and Wisconsin, pushing him closer to 270 Electoral College votes and narrowing President Donald Trump’s path to reelection. Only a handful of battleground states remain uncalled including Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania. Both Michigan and Wisconsin represent parts of the “blue wall” that slipped away from Democrats…

Trump wins Florida, locked in other tight races with Biden

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump carried Florida, the nation’s most prized battleground state, and then he and Democrat Joe Biden focused early Wednesday on three Northern industrial states in the race for the White House. Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania could prove crucial in determining who wins the election. However, the somewhat-normal back-and-forth jockeying for…

The Latest: Pelosi says election about ‘the soul of America’

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the presidential campaign (all times local): 12:20 p.m. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she’s “absolutely certain” that Democrats will “solidly hold” onto their House majority. On an Election Day conference call with reporters, the California Democrat said “this election is about nothing less than taking back the soul of America, whether…

Judge rejects GOP effort to throw out 127,000 Houston votes

HOUSTON (AP) — A federal judge has rejected a last-ditch Republican effort to invalidate nearly 127,000 votes in Houston. U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen’s ruling Monday concerned ballots cast at drive-thru polling centers that were established during the pandemic. The lawsuit was brought by conservative Texas activists who have railed against expanded voting access in…