Associated Press stories, Page 1534
Upstarts Cincinnati, Michigan crashing CFP party with Alabama, GeorgiaVideo
Cincinnati quarterback Desmond Ridder and the breakthrough Bearcats aren’t caught up in what their unprecedented playoff appearance could mean for other non-Power 5 teams. This is their journey. After a season-long debate about whether the outsider deserved a spot in the College Football Playoff — and being the only team...
Colorado wildfires burn hundreds of homes, force evacuationsVideo
DENVER — An estimated 580 homes, a hotel and a shopping center have burned and tens of thousands of people were evacuated in wind-fueled wildfires outside Denver, officials said Thursday evening. Boulder County Sheriff Joe Pelle said only one injury has been reported, but didn’t rule out finding out later...
Colts’ Darius Leonard off covid-19 list; Browns’ JC Tretter, Greg Newsome activatedVideo
Indianapolis Colts linebacker Darius Leonard couldn’t wait to get back to work Thursday. He has even bigger plans for Sunday. Less than three hours after team officials activated the two-time All-Pro and two other starters from the reserve/covid-19 list, Leonard explained how difficult it was to miss Saturday’s game at...
Browns’ Baker Mayfield downplays death threats after Packers lossVideo
CLEVELAND — Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield downplayed death threats he received after his four-interception performance at Green Bay, and he called social media critics “keyboard warriors that make empty threats.” Mayfield didn’t provide details on the threats, which were first revealed in an Instagram post earlier this week by his...
NFL exec Troy Vincent hopes Rooney Rule becomes unnecessaryVideo
NFL executive Troy Vincent hopes hiring minority candidates becomes so common that the Rooney Rule is unnecessary. “We should be creating a workplace culture that doesn’t require mandates to interview people of color and minorities,” Vincent told the Associated Press on Thursday. “They should be doing the right thing for...
Florida sees spike in covid cases as hospitalizations rise
MIAMI — Florida is seeing a sharp rise in coronavirus infections as the omicron variant rages through the state. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported more than 58,000 new cases for Wednesday and revised its tallies to add thousands of cases to the daily counts of...
CDC warns against cruises, regardless of vaccination status
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warned people on Thursday not to go on cruises, regardless of their vaccination status, because of onboard outbreaks fueled by the omicron variant. The CDC said it has more than 90 cruise ships under investigation or observation as a result of covid-19...
New York jury holds drugmaker Teva liable in opioid crisis
Drugmaker Teva Pharmaceuticals is responsible for contributing to the opioid crisis, a suburban New York jury ruled Thursday in one of few verdicts so far among thousands of lawsuits nationwide over the painkillers. A separate trial will follow to determine what Teva will have to pay in the case, part...
A late slide pulls major US indexes just below record highs
A late slide pulled major indexes into the red on Wall Street Thursday, leaving the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average slightly below the record highs they set a day earlier. The benchmark S&P 500 gave up 0.3%. The Dow and the Nasdaq each fell 0.2%. Trading was...
Do at-home covid-19 tests detect the omicron variant?
Yes, but U.S. health officials say early data suggests they may be less sensitive at picking it up. Government recommendations for using at-home tests haven’t changed. People should continue to use them when a quick result is important. “The bottom line is the tests still detect covid-19 whether it is...
Tesla Model 3 recall over rear camera connection
Tesla is recalling certain Model 3s because a coaxial cable for its backup camera can become worn and fail to transmit images to the dashboard console. All Model 3s from model years 2017 to 2020 are included in the recall, with as many as 356,309 cars affected, according to the...
Israel to offer 4th vaccine dose to most vulnerable
JERUSALEM — Israel has approved a fourth vaccine dose for people most vulnerable to covid-19, becoming the first country to do so as it braces for a wave of infections fueled by the omicron variant. Nachman Ash, the director general of the Health Ministry, announced the decision at a press...
Why are so many flights being canceled?
The forces that have scrambled thousands of flights since Christmas Eve could ease in January, but that’s cold comfort to the millions of flyers with New Year’s plans. And if 2021 has taught us anything, it’s that 2022 will likely be just as unpredictable. Here’s a look at what has...
Iran launches rocket into space amid Vienna nuclear talks
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran launched a rocket with a satellite carrier bearing three devices into space, authorities announced Thursday, without saying whether any of the objects had entered Earth’s orbit. It was not clear when the launch happened or what devices the carrier brought with it. Iran aired footage of...
U.S. children hospitalized with covid in near-record numbers
SEATTLE — The omicron-fueled surge that is sending covid-19 cases rocketing in the U.S. is putting children in the hospital in close to record numbers, and experts lament that most of the youngsters are not vaccinated. “It’s just so heartbreaking,” said Dr. Paul Offit, an infectious-disease expert at Children’s Hospital...
Mom: Daughter mistaken for intruder by father, fatally shot
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The mother of a 16-year-old girl who was fatally shot in her family’s Columbus home has told authorities that the teen’s father accidentally killed her because he mistook the girl for an intruder. The shooting on the city’s Southeast side was reported around 4:30 a.m., authorities said....
Times Square show will go on despite virus surge, mayor says
NEW YORK — New York City will ring in 2022 in Times Square as planned despite record numbers of covid-19 infections in the city and around the nation, Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday. “We want to show that we’re moving forward, and we want to show the world that...
U.S. unemployment claims drop to 198,000
WASHINGTON — The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell below 200,000, more evidence that the job market remains strong in the aftermath of last year’s coronavirus recession. Jobless claims dropped by 8,000 to 198,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The four-week average, which smooths out week-to-week volatility, fell...
Tiger fatally shot after biting arm of man near enclosure
NAPLES, Fla. — A sheriff’s deputy shot a Malayan tiger that grabbed the arm of a man who was either feeding or petting the animal at a zoo in southwest Florida, authorities said. The Collier County Sheriff’s Office said the man, believed to be in his 20s, was seriously injured...
U.S. Navy seizes $4 million worth of heroin in Arabian Sea
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — U.S. Navy vessels seized 385 kilograms (849 pounds) of heroin in the Arabian Sea worth some $4 million, in a major bust by the international maritime operation in the region, officials said Thursday. The USS Tempest and USS Typhoon seized the drugs hidden aboard a...
Oklahoma jumps on Oregon in Alamo Bowl
SAN ANTONIO — Kennedy Brooks ran for 142 yards and three touchdowns as No. 14 Oklahoma rode a dominant first half to a 47-32 victory over No. 15 Oregon in the Alamo Bowl on Wednesday night. Caleb Williams threw three touchdown passes for the Sooners, who gave interim coach Bob...
Clemson tops Iowa State in Cheez-It Bowl for Dabo Swinney’s 150th winVideo
ORLANDO, Fla. — Clemson coach Dabo Swinney became the sixth-fastest coach in college football history to reach 150 voctory. He gave the credit to his players following the No. 19 Tigers’ 20-13 victory over Iowa State on Wednesday night in the Cheez-It Bowl. “This team’s journey was full of adversity...
Suspect in Denver shootings wrote books previewing attacksVideo
DENVER — A man accused of killing five people in a rampage in Denver is believed to have written fictional books self-published online that named some of his real-life victims and described similar attacks. The writings are part of the investigation into what led Lyndon James McLeod to carry out...
Coroner finds 3 siblings at Johnstown home died of covid
JOHNSTOWN — A Pennsylvania coroner said Wednesday that three siblings found dead at a home near Johnstown two months ago all died from covid-19. Cambria County Coroner Jeff Lees said he drew that conclusion after autopsies, toxicology tests and microbiology examinations. “They were positive for covid-19, the lungs were heavy...
Aaron Rodgers says he won’t drag out decision on future
Aaron Rodgers says he won’t drag out any offseason decisions regarding his future with the Green Bay Packers. Rodgers, 38, said he would make a decision after talking to his loved ones as well as team officials such as CEO/President Mark Murphy, general manager Brian Gutekunst and executive vice president/director...
