JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — State and local governments will soon gain new flexibility to spend billions of federal coronavirus relief dollars on things not directly related to the pandemic, including new roads and bridges and aid to people affected by wildfires, floods and other natural disasters.

WASHINGTON (AP) — About 100 Ukrainian troops will head to Oklahoma's Fort Sill as soon as next week to begin training on the Patriot missile defense system, getting Kyiv closer to obtaining a longsought protection against Russia continued missile attacks.

CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — The U.S. will provide $30 million in aid to Moldova to help the small country tackle an energy crisis amid economic hardships 'caused by the Kremlin's unprovoked and unjustified war' against Ukraine, a U.S. government aid agency said Thursday.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department is proposing changes to how it runs federal prisoners' deposit accounts in an effort to make sure victims are paid restitution, including from some high-profile inmates with large balances.

MONTVILLE, Conn. (AP) — Connecticut's first round of recreational cannabis sales for adults 21 and older began Tuesday at seven existing medical marijuana establishments across the state, less than two years after Gov. Ned Lamont signed legislation making Connecticut the latest state to legalize retail sales.

Go, Whirlwinds!

Clinton Middle School cheerleaders Savannah Flores, left, and Arianna Rios cheer on the CMS basketball teams Tuesday evening.

Foundation supplies books to children

Clinton Public Schools will soon benefit from Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, which helps to provide one free book a month to children from birth to 5 years old.

Brittania Brandi Mills, 42, of Butler, has been charged with assault and battery with a dangerous weapon with great bodily injury inflicted on an aged person along with another count of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon after the Custer County Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a domestic disturbance near Butler Jan. 2.

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