Ukraine crisis may be felt by Illinois agricultural growers | local business

BLOOMINGTON – Illinois farmers could soon experience market disruption from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, but it’s unclear how long and how significant the impact could be. Kreg Ruhl, an area manager at Bloomington-based agricultural cooperative Growmark, said American farmers were paying “the highest prices in fertilizer history” even before the invasion. Fertilizer prices have doubled … Read more

S. Korea Drops Vaccine Detection, Test to Support Virus Response | Health

By KIM TONG-HYUNG – Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea will no longer require people to present proof of vaccination or negative tests to enter an indoor space effective Tuesday, nullifying an important preventive measure during a rapidly developing omicron surge that is increasing hospitalizations and deaths will. The Health Ministry’s announcement … Read more

Average US gas price up 10 cents to $3.64 in 2 weeks | nation

CAMARILLO, Calif. (AP) — The average U.S. price of a gallon of regular gasoline rose 10 cents in the past two weeks to $3.64 a gallon (3.8 liters). Industry analyst Trilby Lundberg of the Lundberg Survey said Sunday the price jump came after crude oil prices rose on global supply concerns following Russia’s invasion of … Read more

Biden’s Russia sanctions could let Moscow benefit from oil and gas | national politics

By JOSH BOAK – Associated Press There is one glaring exception to President Joe Biden’s sanctions against Russia: oil and natural gas from that country will continue to flow freely to the rest of the world, and money will continue to flow to Russia. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Biden defended his decision to maintain … Read more

Utah orders removal of Russian liquor from state stores | national politics

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah’s governor on Saturday signed an executive order requiring the Utah Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control to immediately remove all Russian-made and branded products from its shelves. Governor Spencer Cox’s move was in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and mirrors moves by governors of other states. “Russia’s reckless assault … Read more

West unleashes SWIFT bans, more scathing penalties against Russia | national politics

By ZEKE MILLER, RAF CASERT, ELLEN KNICKMEYER and KEN SWEET – Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States and European nations on Saturday agreed to impose their most potentially crippling fines yet on Russia over its relentless invasion of Ukraine, targeting central bank reserves that prop up Russia’s economy and some Russian banks separate … Read more

White House: US, EU and UK pledge to remove ‘select’ Russian banks from SWIFT, impose restrictions on Central Bank of Russia | national politics

WASHINGTON (AP) – White House: US, EU and UK pledge to remove “select” Russian banks from SWIFT, impose restrictions on the Central Bank of Russia. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, transcribed or redistributed without permission. Keep up to date with the latest local and national … Read more

War via TikTok: Russia’s new propaganda machine tool | national politics

By DAVID KLEPPER – Associated Press The Russian TikTok video has it all: a cat, puppies and a throbbing background beat. It’s cute, worth seeing, and hardly seems the stuff of government propaganda. In 2014, Russia flooded the internet with fake accounts spreading disinformation about its takeover of Crimea. Eight years later, experts say Russia … Read more