Associated Press stories, Page 1032
Jimmie Johnson provides early Daytona thrills in NASCAR comeback
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — “New leader … 84.” Jimmie Johnson sent a jolt through the track when he shot to the top of the leaderboard in practice for the Daytona 500. Ol’ seven-time has returned to NASCAR after a humbling two years in IndyCar as part owner and sometimes driver...
West Virginia can’t stop streaking Texas Tech men’s team
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Jaylon Tyson had a career-high 27 points, and Fardaws Aimaq scored Texas Tech’s last eight points in leading the Red Raiders to a 78-72 win over West Virginia on Saturday. Tyson and Aimaq combined for 25 second-half points for Tech (15-12, 4-10), which started the day tied...
Jimmy Carter, 39th U.S. president, enters hospice care at home
ATLANTA — Former President Jimmy Carter, who at 98 years old is the longest-lived American president, has entered home hospice care in Plains, Georgia, a statement from The Carter Center confirmed Saturday. After a series of short hospital stays, the statement said, Carter “decided to spend his remaining time at...
Norfolk Southern CEO visits East Palestine after derailment
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — The president of Norfolk Southern made a visit to East Palestine, Ohio, on Saturday following criticism from residents and political leaders about the company’s response to the fiery derailment of a freight train carrying toxic materials earlier this month. Fox Business reports that company president and...
U.S.: Russia has committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine
MUNICH — The United States has determined that Russia has committed crimes against humanity in Ukraine, Vice President Kamala Harris said Saturday, insisting that “justice must be served” to the perpetrators. Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Harris said the international community has both a moral and a strategic interest...
Hamlin, fellow Toyota drivers skip last Daytona 500 practice
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — Three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin and his six fellow Toyota drivers skipped the final practice for “The Great American Race.” Even action sports star Travis Pastrana, who has little experience at Daytona International Speedway, sat out the 50-minute session Saturday. He is driving a third...
China’s top diplomat renews criticism of U.S. balloon downing
MUNICH — China’s top diplomat on Saturday renewed Beijing’s criticism of the United States for shooting down what Washington says was a Chinese spy balloon, arguing at a conference in Germany that the move doesn’t point to U.S. strength. Beijing insists the white orb shot down off the Carolina coast...
Turmoil in courts on gun laws in wake of justices’ ruling
WASHINGTON — A landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision on the Second Amendment is upending gun laws across the country, dividing judges and sowing confusion over what firearm restrictions can remain on the books. The high court’s ruling that set new standards for evaluating gun laws left open many questions, experts...
How to keep your Twitter account secure — without paying
LOS ANGELES — Twitter users were greeted early Saturday with an ultimatum from the social media app: Subscribe to the platform’s new premium service or lose a popular account security feature. A pop-up message warned users they will lose the ability to secure their accounts via text message two-factor authentication...
North Korea fires missile as U.S., S. Korea prepare for drills
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korea on Saturday fired a long-range missile from its capital into the sea off Japan, according to its neighbors, a day after it threatened to take strong measures against South Korea and the U.S. over their joint military exercises. According to the South Korean and...
Bird flu costs pile up as outbreak enters 2nd year
OMAHA, Neb. — The ongoing bird flu outbreak has cost the government roughly $661 million and added to consumers’ pain at the grocery store after more than 58 million birds were slaughtered to limit the spread of the virus. In addition to the cost of the government response and rising...
FBI records deepen mystery of dig for Civil War-era gold
CLEARFIELD, Pa. — The court-ordered release of a trove of government photos, videos, maps and other documents involving the FBI’s secretive search for Civil War-era gold has a treasure hunter more convinced than ever of a coverup — and just as determined to prove it. Dennis Parada waged a legal...
Why balloons are now in the public eye — and military crosshairs
WASHINGTON — Wafting across the United States and into the attention of an alarmed national and global public, a giant Chinese balloon has changed Americans’ awareness of all the stuff floating in the air and how defense officials watch for it and respond. President Joe Biden said Thursday that the...
NYC police cruiser kills pedestrian in multivehicle accident
NEW YORK — A New York City police cruiser struck and killed a 52-year-old woman in a multivehicle accident while responding to an emergency call, police said. The crash happened at about 8:30 p.m. Friday in the Far Rockaway section of Queens. Officials said the police SUV had its emergency...
Max Homa feeling at home as Tiger Woods makes Genesis cut
LOS ANGELES — Max Homa in the lead at his hometown PGA Tour event used to give him chills. Now he’s playing so well it almost feels normal. Homa, a winner last month down the coast at Torrey Pines, ran off three birdies around the turn at Riviera and tossed...
AP source: Commanders finalizing hire of Eric Bieniemy as OC
Eric Bieniemy is finalizing terms of a deal to become the Washington Commanders’ offensive coordinator and assistant head coach, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. The person spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because the deal was not yet completed. It’s expected to...
1st class of Ukraine fighters finishes advanced U.S. training
ABOARD A US MILITARY AIRCRAFT — The first class of 635 Ukrainian fighters has finished a five-week advanced U.S. training course in Germany on sophisticated combat skills and armored vehicles that will be critical in the coming spring offensive against the Russians, the Pentagon said Friday. Pentagon press secretary Brig....
2 train derailments have similar risks, different outcomes
TRAVERSE CITY, Mich. — Police Chief Jason Wright feared the worst as he rushed to the scene of a freight train derailment in Michigan’s Van Buren Township, mindful of a fiery rail crash this month in Ohio that led to evacuations and a toxic chemical release. Instead, the situation a...
Gasol, Nowitzki, Parker, Popovich among Hoop Hall finalists
SALT LAKE CITY — Pau Gasol, Dirk Nowitzki, Tony Parker and Gregg Popovich are one step closer to basketball immortality. The three international greats — Gasol, Nowitzki and Parker — were among the list of Class of 2023 finalists unveiled Friday by the Basketball Hall of Fame, putting them on...
Sheriff: Gunman kills 6, including ex-wife, in Mississippi
ARKABUTLA, Miss. — A lone gunman killed six people including his ex-wife and stepfather Friday at multiple locations in a tiny rural community in northern Mississippi, the sheriff said, leaving investigators searching for clues to what motivated the shocking rampage. Armed with a shotgun and two handguns, 52-year-old Richard Dale...
Murdaugh prosecutors reveal flurry of steps after killings
Alex Murdaugh’s cellphone showed a sudden flurry of activity just before he drove away in his SUV some 16 minutes after investigators think his wife and son were killed, a state agent testified Friday at the disgraced South Carolina lawyer’s double murder trial. GPS data from Murdaugh’s SUV and cellphone...
Ohio ex-speaker ill, corruption trial pauses after big week
CINCINNATI — The racketeering trial of former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and lobbyist Matt Borges was cancelled due to illness again Friday, giving jurors a long holiday weekend to mull striking new details revealed this week by players directly involved in an alleged $60 million bribery scheme. It marked...
Paul Newberry: Take that, all you imaginary haters!
Forget the U.S. hockey team knocking off the mighty Soviets at the 1980 Winter Olympics. That shocking upset doesn’t come close to the Kansas City Chiefs winning the Super Bowl against all imaginary odds. Or the Georgia Bulldogs somehow capturing a second straight national championship that no one except everyone...
Updated Next Gen car to get real-world test in Daytona 500
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The latest version of NASCAR’s Next Gen car still is awaiting a real-world test. It’s sure to come in the Daytona 500. Reacting to driver complaints and concussions to Kurt Busch and Alex Bowman, the sanctioning body made changes to the crumple zones in the backend...
DOJ search of Pence’s office turns up no new classified docs
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department searched the office of former Vice President Mike Pence ‘s Washington advocacy group for several hours Friday as part of its investigation into the discovery of sensitive documents at the homes and offices of current and former top U.S. officials. Pence adviser Devin O’Malley said...
