Associated Press stories, Page 1365
Wisconsin All-American Johnny Davis entering NBA Draft, hiring agentVideo
MADISON, Wis. — Wisconsin’s Johnny Davis is ready to turn pro after delivering a superb sophomore season. Davis announced Thursday he is entering the NBA Draft and hiring an agent. The 6-foot-5 guard is regarded as a likely lottery selection and could be Wisconsin’s first top-10 overall pick since the...
Final Four gets experience boost from transfer portal, covid-19Video
NEW ORLEANS — A bunch of one-and-done phenoms brought together by Kentucky coach John Calipari stepped onto the floor into the spotlight of the cavernous Superdome 10 years ago, oozing with the kind of NBA potential that made it clear their college basketball careers were about to end at the...
Severe storms pummel South, killing at least 2 in FloridaVideo
A line of severe storms packing isolated tornadoes and strong wind ripped across the Deep South overnight — killing at least two in the Florida Panhandle, toppling trees and power lines and leaving homes and businesses damaged as the vast weather front raced across several states. In Florida, the Washington...
Relieved more than joyful, U.S. turns attention to Qatar in World CupVideo
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Christian Pulisic and Tyler Adams had relief on their faces as they headed straight from the stadium for a charter jet to Europe and weekend club games. “This is whatever I’ve always wanted to be, and right now emotions are a bit crazy,” Pulisic said,...
LB Bobby Wagner agrees to 5-year deal with RamsVideo
LOS ANGELES — Linebacker Bobby Wagner agreed to a five-year deal to join his hometown Los Angeles Rams. The Super Bowl champions announced the deal Thursday for Wagner, who became one of the NFL’s top linebackers during a decade with the Seattle Seahawks. ESPN reported Wagner’s deal is worth $50...
Explainer: What is the Strategic Petroleum Reserve?
DALLAS — President Joe Biden is again dipping into the nation’s petroleum stockpile to try to corral rising energy prices. The White House announced Thursday that Biden ordered the daily release of 1 million barrels of oil from the strategic petroleum reserve for the next six months. Biden will also...
Ukrainian communities in U.S. prepare to support refugees
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — As the United States prepares to accept up to 100,000 Ukrainian refugees following Russia’s invasion of their country, existing communities in cities like Sacramento and Seattle are already mobilizing to provide food, shelter and support to those fleeing the war. The federal government hasn’t said when the...
Scientists finally finish decoding entire human genome
Scientists say they have finally assembled the full genetic blueprint for human life, adding the missing pieces to a puzzle nearly completed two decades ago. An international team described the first-ever sequencing of a complete human genome — the set of instructions to build and sustain a human being —...
Fox News hires Caitlyn Jenner as contributor, commentator
NEW YORK — Fox News Channel says it has hired Caitlyn Jenner as a contributor, with her first appearance set for Thursday on Sean Hannity’s program. Jenner, the former Olympic decathlete, ran an unsuccessful campaign for California governor last year. The network said she’ll offer commentary and analysis across various...
Masters ’22: Anticipations of roars, and plenty of mystery
AUGUSTA, Ga. — The anticipation is greater than ever for the return of the roars to Augusta National. Even greater is the mystery surrounding the Masters, on so many levels. It’s not just about trying to get a sense of who might be best suited for a green jacket on...
MLB, players keep automatic runners in extras for 2022
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball finalized the rules change Thursday to bring back automatic runners in extra innings for a third straight season. Despite an easing of pandemic restrictions, MLB and the players’ association agreed to keep the controversial rule that starts each team with a runner on second...
Russian forces leaving Chernobyl after radiation exposure
KYIV, Ukraine — Russian troops began leaving the Chernobyl nuclear plant after soldiers got “significant doses” of radiation from digging trenches at the highly contaminated site, Ukraine’s state power company said Thursday as heavy fighting raged on the outskirts of Kyiv and other fronts. Energoatom, the operator, gave no immediate...
Chris Rock takes to comedy mic, still processing Oscars slap
BOSTON — Chris Rock received several standing ovations before he told one joke Wednesday at his first comedy show since Will Smith slapped him in the face onstage at the Oscars. Rock only briefly addressed the slap to the sold out crowd in Boston, saying he was “still kind of...
Biden to mark Transgender Day of Visibility with new actions
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is commemorating Transgender Day of Visibility by celebrating prominent transgender Americans and advocating against what his administration terms “dangerous anti-transgender legislative attacks” that have passed in statehouses across the country. Biden on Thursday is announcing new measures aimed at making the federal government more inclusive...
A key inflation gauge sets 40-year high as gas and food soar
WASHINGTON — An inflation gauge closely monitored by the Federal Reserve jumped 6.4% in February compared with a year ago, with sharply higher prices for food, gasoline and other necessities squeezing Americans’ finances. The figure reported Thursday by the Commerce Department was the largest year-over-year rise since January 1982. Excluding...
More Americans apply for jobless benefits; layoffs still low
WASHINGTON — More Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week, but layoffs remain at historic lows. Jobless claims rose by 14,000 to 202,000 for the week ending March 26, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The previous week’s tally of 188,000 claims was the fewest since 1969. First-time applications for jobless...
U.S. returns to World Cup despite loss at Costa Rica in final qualifying matchVideo
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — The United States men are returning to the World Cup after the trauma of missing the 2018 tournament, clinching a berth for this year’s championship in Qatar on Wednesday despite a 2-0 loss to Costa Rica on the final night of qualifying. Juan Pablo Vargas...
Biden planning to tap oil reserve to control gas prices
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is preparing to order the release of up to 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve, according to two people familiar with the decision, in a bid to control energy prices that have spiked as the U.S. and allies...
Wisconsin judge orders Robin Vos held in contempt over election records
MADISON, Wis. — A judge on Wednesday has ordered that Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos be held in contempt for failing to produce emails and text messages related to the investigation he ordered into the 2020 presidential election. Dane County Judge Valerie Bailey-Rihn, who last week told the Rochester Republican...
Facebook resorts to old smear tactics against TikTok
WASHINGTON — Eleven years ago, Facebook was caught red-handed after it hired a prominent public relations firm to try to plant stories harshly criticizing Google’s privacy practices in leading news outlets. In 2018, it hired the PR firm Definers to do opposition research on the company’s critics, including billionaire philanthropist...
Nationals allow 29 runs in spring game vs CardinalsVideo
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Washington Nationals fans have reasons to doubt 2022 will be their year. They got 29 more of them Wednesday. Pitchers Anibal Sanchez and Cade Cavalli allowed 10 runs each while the Nationals were shellacked 29-8 by the St. Louis Cardinals in a spring training game...
Brazil, Argentina look like World Cup contenders againVideo
SAO PAULO — Brazil is about to overtake top spot in the FIFA rankings, and Argentina hasn’t lost a match in 1,000 days. It’s clear the two South American soccer powers have more than just Neymar and Lionel Messi going for them as they head to the World Cup in...
3-time Pro Bowl safety, activist Malcolm Jenkins retiresVideo
Malcolm Jenkins is retiring after a 13-year NFL career in which he established himself as one of the league’s best all-around safeties, most durable players and leading voices for social justice. Jenkins helped both the New Orleans Saints and Philadelphia Eagles win their only Super Bowl and made a major...
Saint Peter’s Shaheen Halloway hired by Seton Hall after magic run
Shaheen Holloway is leaving Cinderella Saint Peter’s for Seton Hall just days after helping the little Jesuit school make history by becoming the first No. 15 seed to reach the Elite Eight in the NCAA Tournament. Seton Hall athletic director Bryan Felt announced the hiring of the 45-year-old early Wednesday...
Tackle prospect Evan Neal takes center stage at Alabama’s pro dayVideo
Evan Neal was the big man at Alabama’s pro day, and not just because of his towering physical presence. The Crimson Tide’s 6-foot-7, 337-pound left tackle was easily the highest-rated prospect going through pro day Wednesday before representatives of all 32 NFL teams. It didn’t matter that he was just...
