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Michelle R. Smith
US Supreme Court nominee Judge Amy Coney Barrett listens as Republican Senator Jerry Moran on Kansas, not shown, speaks during their meeting on Capitol Hill, October 1, 2020, in Washington. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta, POOL)
October 7, 2020, 11:11 pm
US Supreme Court nominee served as ‘handmaid’ in religious group
Old directory pages for South Bend branch of People of Praise lists Amy Coney Barrett, who has refused to discuss her ties to the Christian group
By Michelle R. Smith and Michael Biesecker
Judge Amy Coney Barrett in Milwaukee, Aug. 24, 2018. (Rachel Malehorn, rachelmalehorn.smugmug.com, via AP)
October 7, 2020, 5:26 am
US Supreme Court nominee lived in home tied to controversial Christian sect
Amy Coney Barrett, Trump’s choice to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg, resided in house owned by co-founders of People of Praise, a mysterious group accused of subjugating women
By Michael Biesecker and Michelle R. Smith
Heather Lieberman (L), 28, receives a trial COVID-19 vaccination shot from Yaquelin De La Cruz at the Research Centers of America in Hollywood, Florida, on August 13, 2020. (Chandan Khanna/AFP)
September 3, 2020, 2:39 am
Trump admin tells states to be ready to distribute COVID-19 vaccine by Nov 1
Timeline raises concern among public health experts that vaccine approval driven by political considerations ahead of presidential election, rather than science
By Michelle R. Smith
A demonstrator holds a fist in the air next to a American flag with the names of Black people who have been killed by police as people demonstrate by the Lincoln Memorial on Juneteenth in Washington, June 19, 2020. (AP/Jacquelyn Martin)
June 20, 2020, 3:22 am
Amid protests for racial justice, Juneteenth gets new renown
Every major American city holds events marking holiday, which commemorates emancipation of slaves in US, as protesters’ demands begin to yield concrete results
By Mike Householder, JONATHAN MATTISE and Michelle R. Smith
In this Saturday, May 30, 2020 photo, police officers guard the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Chicago, as they hold back protesters during a rally and march over the death of George Floyd. Protests were held in US cities over the death of Floyd, a black man who died after being restrained by Minneapolis police officers on May 25. (John J. Kim/Chicago Tribune via AP)
June 3, 2020, 1:02 am
Protests in top 25 US virus hotspots ignite fears of contagion
Close proximity of protesters and failures in many cases to wear masks, along with the police using tear gas, could fuel new virus transmissions, leading to possible new shutdowns
By Michelle R. Smith and NICKY FORSTER
Brooklyn Nets players during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Lakers Tuesday, March 10, 2020, in Los Angeles. (AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez)
March 20, 2020, 9:01 am
Amid US test shortages, celebrities accused of jumping the line
With many sick looking to get scanned for coronavirus, sports stars and others draw criticism for unfair system that allows them to get checked before those with might need it more
By Michael Biesecker, Michelle R. Smith and Tim Reynolds
Democratic presidential candidate and former New York City mayor Mike Bloomberg waves after speaking at a campaign event in Salt Lake City, Utah, February 20, 2020. (Rick Bowmer/AP)
February 25, 2020, 12:01 pm
Years of largesse give Bloomberg his own political machine
For years people have relied on his money to win elections, change laws, fund research and pay for signature municipal and education programs, and now they are endorsing him
By RYAN J. FOLEY and Michelle R. Smith
Visitors stand outside the Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, July 30, 2009. (AP/Eric J. Shelton)
August 10, 2017, 4:12 am
Losing side wants review in fight over oldest US synagogue
Local community challenges ruling putting Rhode Island building, and $7.4 million decorative silver bells it houses, under control of NY-based congregation
By Michelle R. Smith
The historic Touro Synagogue in Newport, Rhode Island, 2005 (AP/Joe Giblin)
May 16, 2016, 9:45 pm
Oldest US synagogue to remain in hands of congregants
Judge awards Rhode Island’s Congregation Jeshuat Israel control of Touro, rejecting ownership claims by NY Congregation Shearith Israel
By Michelle R. Smith
The Myers rimonim at the center of the Touro synagogue dispute. (Courtesy: Boston Museum of Fine Arts)
September 19, 2015, 6:58 am
Trial over US’s oldest synagogue, $7.4m Torah bells, draws to close
Judge says there is ‘no smoking gun’ in battle over Touro Synagogue’s ‘rimonim,’ hasn’t specified date for decision
By Michelle R. Smith
In this Thursday, May 28, 2015 photo, employees Chuck Flippo, right, and Asa Montgomery walk through Patriots Park at the Touro Synagogue, the nation's oldest, in Newport, Rhode Island. (AP/Stephan Savoia)
June 1, 2015, 1:24 am
A bitter battle for control of oldest US synagogue
Legal dispute threatens 250-year-old Touro Synagogue in Newport, which has hosted presidents Washington, Eisenhower and Kennedy
By Michelle R. Smith
People cheer as Meb Keflezighi, an American, wins the Boston Marathon on April 21, 2014 in Boston, Massachusetts (Photo credit: Andrew Burton/Getty Images North America/AFP)
April 21, 2014, 8:32 pm
Thousands run first Boston Marathon since bombings
‘We’re taking back our race,’ event director Dave McGillivray says as city placed under tight security
By Bob Salsberg and Michelle R. Smith
Brothers Tamerlan, right, and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, pictured shortly before April 2013's Boston Marathon blasts (Photo credit: AP/Bob Leonard)
October 24, 2013, 6:27 am
Boston Marathon suspect may pin blame on brother
In effort to avoid death penalty for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, defense attorneys seek mitigating evidence from 2011 triple homocide
By Bridget Murphy and Michelle R. Smith
Boston bombing suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev (photo credit: AP/The Lowell Sun, Julia Malakie)
May 9, 2013, 7:01 pm
Boston bomber buried in secret location
A ‘courageous and compassionate’ citizen steps forward to facilitate the burial outside Worcester, police say
By Jay Lindsay and Michelle R. Smith
Katherine Russell, wife of Boston Marathon bomber suspect Tamerlan Tsarnaev, leaves the law office of DeLuca and Weizenbaum with Amato DeLuca, left, Monday, April 29, in Providence, R.I. (photo credit: AP/Stew Milne)
May 1, 2013, 3:24 am
Boston bombing suspect’s widow wants body released
Once Tamerlan Tsarnaev’s remains are handed over to the family, authorities will reveal cause of death
By Michelle R. Smith
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