Associated Press stories, Page 1182
‘Avatar 2’ makes waves with $134 million domestic debut
”Avatar: The Way of Water” didn’t make quite as big of a splash as many assumed it would, but James Cameron’s big budget spectacle still helped breathe life into the box office this weekend. The sequel earned $134 million from North American theaters and $300.5 million internationally for a $434.5...
Messi wins World Cup, Argentina beats France on penalties
LUSAIL, Qatar — Lionel Messi, wearing a black Qatari robe over his blue-and-white Argentina shirt, kissed the World Cup, shuffled toward his teammates and hoisted the golden trophy high in the air. It was an iconic sight that finally — definitively — places the soccer superstar in the pantheon of...
McCarthy’s race for speaker risks upending House on Day One
WASHINGTON — In his quest to rise to House speaker, Kevin McCarthy is charging straight into history — potentially becoming the first nominee in 100 years unable to win the job on a first-round floor vote. The increasingly real prospect of a messy fight over the speaker’s gavel on Day...
What to watch as Jan. 6 committee wraps up its investigation
WASHINGTON — The House committee investigating the Capitol riot will make its final public presentation Monday about the unprecedented effort by Donald Trump to overturn the results of the presidential election he lost in 2020. The committee has called it an “attempted coup” that warrants criminal prosecution from the Justice...
ALS patients contend with $158K price tag on new drug
WASHINGTON — For two years, Becky Mourey pushed the Food and Drug Administration to approve an experimental drug for her Lou Gehrig’s disease. She went to members of Congress and health regulators to make the case for Relyvrio, until patient-advocates finally prevailed. In September, Relyvrio became only the third drug...
Anti-LGBTQ hate thrives online, spurs fears of more violence
In the days after a gunman killed five people at a gay nightclub in Colorado last month, much of social media lit up with the now familiar expressions of grief, mourning and disbelief. But on some online message boards and platforms, the tone was celebratory. “I love waking up to...
Journalist suspensions widen rift between Twitter and media
Elon Musk’s abrupt suspension of several journalists who cover Twitter widens a growing rift between the social media site and media organizations that have used the platform to build their audiences. Individual reporters with The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN, Voice of America and other news agencies saw...
Cecily Strong leaves ‘Saturday Night Live’ after 11 seasonsVideo
After 11 seasons, Cecily Strong has said farewell to “Saturday Night Live.” A few hours before the last episode of the season Saturday, the TV show’s Instagram account posted a cue card saying, “we’ll miss you, Cecily.” The caption read “Tonight we send off one of the best to ever...
BYU stops late SMU comeback try, wins New Mexico Bowl
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Cornerback Jakon Robinson stopped SMU quarterback Tanner Mordecai on a 2-point conversion try with eight seconds left in the game, and BYU beat the Mustangs, 24-23, Saturday night in the New Mexico Bowl. “I’d go for it again a heartbeat,” SMU coach Rhett Lashlee said of the...
Bills clinch 4th straight playoff berth, beat Dolphins 32-29
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Once the snow began falling at the start of the fourth quarter, Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills found themselves in their element against the warm-weather Miami Dolphins. The AFC-leading Bills (11-3) overcame an eight-point deficit with Allen overseeing scoring drives on the final two possessions,...
QB Taylen Green, Boise State beat North Texas in Frisco Bowl
FRISCO, Texas — Boise State quarterback Taylen Green accounted for 256 yards and three touchdowns and the Broncos beat North Texas, 35-32, on Saturday night in a back-and-forth Frisco Bowl. Green, who is from nearby Lewisville, ran for two touchdowns during Boise State’s bowl-program-record 22-point third quarter that saw five...
Ravens miss scoring chances, field goals in loss to Browns
CLEVELAND — Justin Tucker worked his way around the Baltimore Ravens locker room, apologizing to some of his teammates for two mistakes. It was that kind of day for the Ravens. Even Mr. Automatic couldn’t be counted on. The most accurate kicker in NFL history, Tucker missed a 48-yard field...
Frank Gore Jr. runs for bowl-record 329 yards, Southern Miss tops Rice
MOBILE, Ala. — Frank Gore Jr. ran for an NCAA bowl-record 329 yards and accounted for three touchdowns to help Southern Miss hold off Rice, 38-24, on Saturday night in the LendingTree Bowl. Gore, the son of the former NFL star, had a 64-yard scoring run in the second quarter,...
Mims, Haener lead Fresno St. past Washington St. in LA BowlVideo
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Jordan Mims rushed for a career-high 205 yards and two scores, Jake Haener threw two TD passes and Fresno State completed the biggest in-season turnaround in Football Bowl Subdivision history with a 29-6 victory over Washington State in the LA Bowl on Saturday. Fresno State — which...
North Carolina Central beats Jackson State in Deion Sanders’ final game
ATLANTA — Deion Sanders was sentimental before his final game at Jackson State, and those emotions grew after coming up short in the Celebration Bowl for the second straight year. Quarterback Davius Richard ran for 97 yards and two touchdowns, including a 1-yard scoring plunge in overtime, and North Carolina...
Vikings mount NFL’s biggest comeback ever to beat Colts
MINNEAPOLIS — With the Minnesota Vikings gathered in their humbled locker room at halftime in a huge hole, cornerback Patrick Peterson set the tone for a historic escape by promising his offensive teammates the defense would do its part to hold the Indianapolis Colts. “You just need five touchdowns,” Peterson...
Deshaun Watson wins home debut as Browns down Ravens
CLEVELAND — Deshaun Watson threw a touchdown pass in his home debut for Cleveland, leading the Browns to an ugly 13-3 win Saturday over the AFC North-leading Baltimore Ravens, who need injured star quarterback Lamar Jackson to get back quickly. Watson wasn’t spectacular, but he did enough in his third...
No. 7 Oregon State dominates Florida to win Las Vegas BowlVideo
LAS VEGAS — Deshaun Fenwick came off the bench to rush for 107 yards, and No. 17 Oregon State nearly dealt Florida a rare shutout, winning the Las Vegas Bowl, 30-3, on Saturday. The Beavers (10-3) reached 10 victories for the third time program history and the first time in...
Louisville beats Cincinnati for Keg of Nails and Fenway Bowl
BOSTON — Jawhar Jordan ran for 115 yards, breaking free for two long touchdowns, and Louisville beat erstwhile rival Cincinnati, 24-7, on Saturday in the twice-delayed first edition of the Fenway Bowl at the chilly home of the Boston Red Sox. With a gridiron laid out over the diamond and...
Croatia beats Morocco to take 3rd place at World Cup
AL RAYYAN, Qatar — Luka Modric led Croatia to third place in what was likely the midfield great’s last appearance at the World Cup. The runners-up from four years ago secured another medal by beating Morocco, 2-1, in the third-place match Saturday. Mislav Orsic scored the decisive goal shortly before...
Brown’s 2 TDs lead UAB past Miami (OH) 24-20 in Bahamas BowlVideo
NASSAU Bahamas — Jermaine Brown Jr. rushed for 116 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns, Trea Shropshire had 183 yards receiving and a score, and UAB held off Miami (Ohio), 24-20, on Friday in the Bahamas Bowl. UAB (7-6) won its second bowl game in a row — beating No. 13...
Lionel Messi’s hometown in Argentina yearns for World Cup victory
ROSARIO, Argentina — Fernanda Quiroga still remembers how Lionel Messi played soccer in what were then dirt roads around their working class neighborhood in Rosario, Argentina’s third-largest city. “(Messi) was always kicking something, a ball, a bottle cap,” said Quiroga, who at 35 is the same age as the captain...
No. 22 Troy rallies past No. 22 USTA 18-12 in Cure BowlVideo
ORLANDO, Fla. — Gunnar Watson’s 12-yard scoring pass to RaJae’ Johnson in the third quarter put No. 23 Troy ahead to stay, and the Trojans forced five turnovers in an 18-12 come-from-behind win over No. 22 USTA in the Duluth Trading Cure Bowl on Friday. Troy (12-2) closed out the...
Jan. 6 panel eyes recommending 3 criminal charges for Trump
WASHINGTON — The House panel investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol is considering recommending the Justice Department pursue an unprecedented criminal charge of insurrection and two other counts against former President Donald Trump. Besides insurrection, an uprising aiming to overthrow the government, the panel is also considering...
Deion Sanders aims for perfect finish with Jackson StateVideo
ATLANTA — It goes without saying that Deion Sanders is eager to win his last game with Jackson State. The Tigers (12-0) aim to beat North Carolina Central (9-2) in the Celebration Bowl on Saturday and cap an unbeaten season. Sanders then will turn his focus to Colorado, the next...

