Associated Press stories, Page 1537

WASHINGTON — The effectiveness of the Pfizer vaccine wanes slightly over time but it remains strongly protective for at least six months after the second dose, according to company data released Wednesday. The findings are one piece of evidence that U.S. health authorities will consider in deciding if and when...

CHICAGO — The hordes of people expected to descend on Chicago’s Grant Park for the Lollapalooza music festival this week will be required to show proof that they’ve been vaccinated for covid-19 or tested negative for the disease within the last three days. The four-day festival starts Thursday and is...

BEREA, Ohio — For Browns defensive star Myles Garrett, there was never a choice on whether to get the covid-19 vaccine. “I got sick,” the All-Pro end said Wednesday as Cleveland opened training camp. “I didn’t want to get sick again. So it was kind of point-blank apparent for me.”...

Cade Cunningham spent years honing his game for a shot at becoming the No. 1 overall pick in the NBA draft. The Oklahoma State one-and-done star could accomplish that goal Thursday night as the headliner of a class that includes scorers, playmakers and potentially elite defenders at the top. “I’ve...

States and businesses scrambled Wednesday to change course after the federal government issued new guidance calling for the return of mask wearing in virus hot spots amid a dramatic spike in covid-19 cases and hospitalizations nationwide. Nevada and Kansas City were among the locations that moved swiftly to re-impose indoor...

MACUNGIE, Pa. — President Joe Biden hoped to connect with blue-collar workers Wednesday at a truck factory in Pennsylvania during a visit to push new “buy American” efforts and advocate for government investments and clean energy as ways to strengthen U.S. manufacturing. Biden was touring the Lehigh Valley operations facility...

It had only been hinted at in previous public examinations of the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection: Scores of rioters attacked police officers not just with makeshift weapons, stun guns and fists, but with racist slurs and accusations of treason. Four officers, two from the U.S. Capitol Police and two from...

TOKYO — Katie Ledecky will be the first to concede that her standards are almost impossible to meet, especially at this stage of her stellar swimming career. She always wants to go faster, faster, faster — a singular vision that has carried her to the pinnacle of her sport. Yet...

TOKYO — For decades, they were told to shake it off or toughen up — to set aside the doubt, or the demons, and focus on the task at hand: winning. Dominating. Getting it done. For years, Simone Biles was one of the very best at that. Suddenly — to...

KAWAGOE, Japan — Justin Thomas is playing in his first Olympics and it all feels so familiar. Thomas played another practice round with his fellow Americans — two of them, anyway, with Patrick Reed a late arrival as an alternate. They have matching uniforms and “USA” stitched on their blue...

TOKYO — Simone Biles will not defend her Olympic title. The American gymnastics superstar withdrew from Thursday’s all-around competition to focus on her mental well-being. USA Gymnastics said in a statement on Wednesday that the 24-year-old is opting to not compete. The decision comes a day after Biles removed herself...

TYRONE — One person was found dead after a house explosion in central Pennsylvania that reportedly injured five other people, authorities said. Emergency dispatchers in Blair County said the blast in Tyrone was reported shortly after 1 p.m. Monday and flames spread to two other houses. Deputy coroner Samantha Kimberling...

WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday condemned an incident in which a swastika was carved into an elevator wall at the State Department’s main headquarters. Blinken said in a message sent to all department employees that the vandalism is a painful reminder that antisemitism remains an issue...

The Defense Department has dragged its feet on protecting service personnel from “forever chemicals” at military installations and isn’t doing enough to track health effects from exposure to the toxic compounds, according to an internal audit. Officials have taken steps to find and clean groundwater contaminated with firefighting foam containing...

HARRISBURG — A Pennsylvania man who boasted of macing police at the breach of the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection is facing federal charges. Agents detained Samuel Lazar, 37, Monday in Ephrata, on charges of assaulting police and obstruction of law enforcement, according to court filings unsealed Tuesday....

LOS ANGELES — Robinhood is disrupting another stock market norm — and taking a big risk — by giving ordinary investors access to a huge slice of its initial public offering. The popular online brokerage is taking the unusual step of allowing users of its trading app to buy up...