Nurses unionize at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children

Battered spouse shelter settles suit against county agency

PAWLEYS ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — The Latest from the 2016 campaign trail (all times local): 12:45 p.m. Michael Bloomberg sees an opportunity emerging in presidential politics after Hillary Clinton's blowout defeat in New Hampshire and Donald Trump's victory there. But those close to the former New York City mayor caution that he's not rushing to join the race. Bloomberg — widely considered a fiscal conservative but social liberal — has taken the first steps to mount an independent campaign. If he runs, he'd be looking to tap interest among middle-of-the-road voters in an election year dominated by candidates supported by those on the fringes of their parties. But even as Trump and self-described "democratic socialist" Bernie Sanders emerged victorious in New Hampshire Tuesday, Bloomberg's aides suggested that Clinton's shortfall may not be enough to compel his third-party run. ___ 12:39 p.m. A group of Latino celebrities is condemning Donald Trump and his Republican presidential rivals, saying the bombastic billionaire speaks for the GOP's anti-immigrant, anti-Latino agenda. The group is urging the nation's 55 million Latinos to "vote for candidates who support our community, and slamming GOP presidential candidates who are "pandering to the anti-immigrant base of the Republican Party that idolizes" Trump. In an open letter written in English and Spanish, the group did not endorse either Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton or Bernie Sanders. The list of Latino celebrities includes actress America Ferrera, comedian George Lopez and legendary musician Carlos Santana. People for the American Way, the liberal organization founded by TV producer Norman Lear, organized the group. In denouncing Trump, they say he's spent "the entirety of his presidential bid stoking unfounded anti-immigrant fears and deeply offending our communities." ___ 12:31 p.m. Civil rights leader John Lewis says he never saw, nor met, Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders during his work for racial justice in the 1960s. The Georgia Democrat told reporters at a news conference Thursday that he was involved in the sit-ins, the Freedom Rides, the March on Washington and the march from Selma to Montgomery. Lewis said he also chaired the Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee for three years. Asked about Sanders, who said he attended the 1963 March on Washington, Lewis said, "I never saw him. I never met him." On his campaign website, Sanders says he has a long history of fighting for the rights of black Americans, including time as a student leader of the Congress of Racial Equality. He also said he was arrested for protesting segregation. Lewis made the comments as the political action committee of the Congressional Black Caucus endorsed Sanders' rival, Hillary Clinton. ___ 12:09 p.m. Marco Rubio says that having a brokered national convention this year would not necessarily be a bad thing. The Florida Republican said Thursday his campaign is prepared to compete until the GOP nomination is decided — and even if that means the GOP has to select a nominee at its July convention. He made the comments while having a late breakfast with reporters at an Okatie, South Carolina Cracker Barrel. He says the rules were never designed "to have everybody drop out after a certain time — it's just the way it's worked historically because people have run out of money or they don't see a path forward. I don't think it necessarily is negative." Having finished third and fifth place in the first two primary contests, Rubio said his team is focused on collecting delegates in what could become a long slog to his presidential nomination. ___ 11:35 a.m. The political action committee of the Congressional Black Caucus has endorsed Hillary Clinton. Rep. Gregory Meeks said Thursday that the Democratic presidential candidate has been a long term partner who understands the racial divide. In a tacit swipe at Sen. Bernie Sanders, Meeks said her knowledge of the racial split wasn't something Clinton acquired recently. Members of the CBC board including civil rights icon John Lewis said they would travel to South Carolina to campaign for Clinton. The announcement, anticipated days, came at a news conference at Democratic Party headquarters in Washington. The political action committee is separate from the Congressional Black Caucus, not all of whom have endorsed Clinton. Reps. James Clyburn of South Carolina and Barbara Lee of California have not endorsed a candidate. And Rep. Keith Ellison, D-Minn., has endorsed Sanders. ___ 10:35 a.m. John Kasich says he's a "scrappy guy" who won't "take crap from anybody" — but he's still pledging to run a positive campaign. Speaking to voters at a pancake house on South Carolina's coast Thursday, the Ohio governor is responding to questions over how he'll cut through the noise of a chaotic GOP race. Kasich notes his rivals are already ramping up attacks against him after his second place finish in New Hampshire on Tuesday. He says he'll defend his record, but doesn't see the point of running a negative campaign. Still, he's giving Jeb Bush a poke. "I'm worried about Jeb, it's all negative. How the heck can you sell negative?" Kasich says. He adds, "I'm gonna keep doing what I'm doing, either it will work or it won' ___ 10:15 a.m. Marco Rubio is turning up the heat on his Republican rivals as he campaigns in South Carolina. The Florida senator jabbed Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and Jeb Bush on national security while facing hundreds of South Carolina voters at an Okatie retirement community Thursday morning. "Donald Trump has zero foreign policy experience — negotiating a hotel deal in another country is not foreign policy experience," Rubio charged. He also questioned Bush's foreign policy experience and criticized Cruz for supporting military budget cuts. Rubio's sharp remarks come a day after he promised to be more aggressive with other Republicans after faltering in last week's debate — a performance he has apologized for after his fifth place finish in the New Hampshire primary.

The Latest: Bloomberg sees chance in NH primary results