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7 Essential tracks from John Prine, folk music's Mark Twain

For nearly half a century, they tumbled out of John Prine like nothing. Prine was raised in the blue-color suburbs of Chicago by parents from Western Kentucky. The first song he performed -- when coaxed onto that Chicago open-mic stage -- was “Sam Stone.”

Driver fatally stabs 3 at Tennessee truck stop

A fourth person was wounded in the stabbing rampage near Knoxville. A motive is unknown, authorities said.

Driver fatally stabs 3 at Tennessee truck stop

A fourth person was wounded in the stabbing rampage near Knoxville. A motive is unknown, authorities said.

Nissan's China sales drop 44.9% in March due to virus

Japanese automaker Nissan said on Wednesday its sales in China fell 44.9% from a year earlier to 73,297 units in March, as the coronavirus epidemic continues to hit the world's biggest car market. Nissan, which has a joint venture with Hubei-based Dongfeng Motor , said it sees "signs of recovery in the market", according to a statement. Rival Toyota's China sales dropped 15.9% year-on-year in March while Honda's fell 50.8%.

African-Americans dying of coronavirus at higher rates, preliminary data shows

The figures were reported by state and city leaders at briefings on the coronavirus, including Louisiana Governor John Edwards who said more than 70% of the 512 people killed by the coronavirus in Louisiana as of Monday were black, a much larger percentage than the state's population that black people represent, about 33 percent. Michigan officials also said that the coronavirus took a disproportionate toll on African-Americans with 40% of the reported deaths in the state, whose population is 14% African-American.

Coronavirus live updates: New York death toll has largest single-day jump; musician John Prine dies

A global pandemic of the novel coronavirus has now killed at least 12,893 people in the United States. The U.S. has more cases than any other country, with over 398,000 people diagnosed with COVID-19, the disease caused by the new respiratory virus, according to data compiled by the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. The actual numbers are believed to be much higher due to testing shortages, many unreported cases and suspicions that some governments are hiding the scope of their nations' outbreaks.

Country folk singer John Prine dies at 73 of coronavirus complications

Grammy-winning singer John Prine, who wrote his early songs in his head while delivering mail and later emerged from Chicago's folk revival scene in the 1970s to become one of the most influential songwriters of his generation, died on Tuesday. Prine was hospitalized in Nashville on March 26 suffering from symptoms of COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the novel coronavirus, according to his wife, Fiona Whelan Prine, who was also his manager. "We join the world in mourning the passing of revered country and folk singer/songwriter John Prine," the Recording Academy said in a written statement.

Man uses Facebook to taunt NC cops looking for him. ‘Y’all think I can get a reward?’

A warrant was issued for breaking coronavirus emergency restrictions.

Man uses Facebook to taunt NC cops looking for him. ‘Y’all think I can get a reward?’

A warrant was issued for breaking coronavirus emergency restrictions.

Alaska's RavnAir may face bankruptcy fight over jets grounded by coronavirus

Alaska's North Slope Borough government has moved to seize the assets of RavnAir Group after it declared bankruptcy due to the coronavirus, aiming to protect its region's air service but also setting up a potential legal battle with the airline's lender. Ravn, Alaska's largest regional carrier, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and halted operations on Sunday after running out of cash due to the plunge in travel caused by the pandemic, threatening service to remote regions like the North Slope Borough that do not have outside road access. In a seizure order on Sunday, North Slope Borough Mayor Harry Brower said his government, which serves a mostly Inupiat population, "must, in this time of disaster, ensure that its residents have food, medical supplies, and medical transport."

Dollar creeps higher as virus worries return

The dollar found a footing on Wednesday as investors returned to safe-havens, unwinding some risk currency gains made on hopes the coronavirus crisis in Europe and New York was slowing. "Risk aversion and the U.S. dollar are going hand in hand," said Ray Attrill, head of FX strategy at National Australia Bank in Sydney. New York overnight reported 731 fatalities from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, the sharpest single-day spike, but state Governor Andrew Cuomo drew hope from an apparent levelling off in the number of hospitalisations.

U.S. oil state senators to talk crude markets with Saudi officials Saturday: source

Republican U.S. senators who have introduced a bill that would remove U.S. defense systems and troops in Saudi Arabia unless it cuts oil output will hold a call with the kingdom's officials on Saturday, a source familiar with the planning said on Tuesday. Senators Kevin Cramer and Dan Sullivan will hold a call with the officials two days after a scheduled OPEC+ meeting in which Saudi Arabia and Russia are expected to agree an output cut. The two countries have been pumping oil flat out beginning last month in a race for market share.

Wisconsin debacle spurs new calls to prepare for fall elections amid ongoing coronavirus pandemic

Images of Wisconsin voters waiting in long lines to vote in Tuesday’s primary amid the coronavirus pandemic brought renewed calls by Dems to start preparing now for fall’s presidential election.

Trump adviser warned of millions of virus deaths in January. Trump says he saw the memo only this week.

President Trump said Tuesday that he did not learn of two memos written in January and February by his own economic adviser warning that a COVID-19 pandemic could kill as many as 2 million Americans until “maybe a day ago.”

As nation battles coronavirus, Wisconsin election forges on with in-person voting

After a chaotic series of emergency orders and legal challenges, Wisconsin’s election unfolded Tuesday against the backdrop of a country waging war with a surging global pandemic. President Trump urged voters to head to polls tweeting "“Wisconsin, get out and vote NOW for Justice Daniel Kelly. In a response to ABC News' Rachel Scott, who asked if the president should be responsible if people get sick after voting in person, Trump accused Democrats of raising concerns about the matter only after he made an endorsement.

Kentucky man released from prison by ex-Gov. Matt Bevin arrested on federal child porn charges

The latest charges stem from the same sexual assault that Dayton Jones pleaded guilty to in state court.

Kentucky man released from prison by ex-Gov. Matt Bevin arrested on federal child porn charges

The latest charges stem from the same sexual assault that Dayton Jones pleaded guilty to in state court.

Butner stepping up early release of inmates as coronavirus cases spike

The Butner federal prison complex now has 60 people who have tested positive for the coronavirus, nearly all of them inmates. Releasing some inmates early would help limit the virus’ spread.

Disney might check visitors' temperatures when theme parks reopen, chairman says

Walt Disney Co might require theme park visitors to have their temperatures checked when they reopen after coronavirus restrictions on public gatherings are lifted, Executive Chairman Bob Iger said in an interview published on Tuesday. The company is considering the idea as one way to make the public feel safe about returning to Disney's parks once they are allowed to open again for business, Iger told Barron's. "Just as we now do bag checks for everybody that goes into our parks, it could be that at some point we add a component of that that takes people’s temperatures, as a for-instance," Iger added.

Durham man stabs 4 women before being fatally shot by a Tennessee deputy, cops say

Three of the women worked at the truck stop where the incident happened. The fourth was a customer.

Wynn, NCR deals a sign of yet more risk returning to bond market

U.S. casino operator Wynn Resorts Ltd and automated teller machines maker NCR Corp jointly raised $1 billion on Tuesday, in the first unsecured junk-rated bond offerings since the market was roiled by the coronavirus outbreak at the start of March. The offerings indicate investor appetite for risk is gradually returning in the market for new corporate debt rated below investment grade. The so-called high-yield market has been supported by the Federal Reserve's pledge to backstop the investment-grade market, according to Bill Zox, chief investment officer of fixed income at Diamond Hill Capital Management.

Judge is asked to untangle fight over Jeffrey Epstein’s fortune

Virgin Islands Attorney General Denise N. Rogers declared in court filings Tuesday that she is at an impasse with the estate of disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein and asked that a Superior Court judge intervene and end the protection of the late sex offender’s associates.

At-home COVID-19 deaths may be significantly undercounted in New York City

The daily tally of New York City residents who died at home with coronavirus-like symptoms exploded from 45 on March 20 to 241 on April 5, according to Fire Department of New York data - suggesting the city may be significantly undercounting COVID-19 deaths. Asked about the fire department numbers at a press conference Tuesday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio acknowledged that deaths at home haven't been fully accounted for. The fire department data are based on information collected during emergency calls involving cardiac or respiratory arrest, with fever and cough.

Levi's coming back to life in China as stores reopen, online sales rise

The company also reported better-than-expected earnings and revenue for the first quarter ended Feb. 23, even as sales in Asia declined due to store closures, sending Levi's shares up about 3%. Like many U.S. retailers, Levi's has been hit by the coronavirus crisis as lockdowns in China and the United States to curb the spread of the infection forced store closures. Levi's has stood through the world wars and the 1918 flu pandemic in its 167-year history.