Associated Press stories, Page 1538
Study: Childhood obesity in U.S. accelerated during pandemic
NEW YORK — A new study ties the covid-19 pandemic to an “alarming” increase in obesity in U.S. children and teenagers. Childhood obesity has been increasing for decades, but the new work suggests an acceleration last year — especially in those who already were obese when the pandemic started. The...
‘Jeopardy!’ hosts: Mayim Bialik, Ken Jennings will finish 2021
NEW YORK — Mayim Bialik and Ken Jennings will split “Jeopardy!” hosting duties for the remainder of 2021. Sony Pictures Television announced the plan Thursday, the same week that episodes filmed by ousted host Mike Richards are airing. Richards, who also lost his role as “Jeopardy!” executive producer, was initially...
Best of the best: AP ranks the top Games of the Century
The mere idea of trying to rank the greatest “games of the century” doesn’t make sense, which makes it perfect for college football. The national champion, after all, for decades was determined by educated guess, which meant there could be multiple games deemed once-in-lifetime events played within a span of...
NHL expects 98% of players to be vaccinated before season
Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said Thursday the NHL expects 98% of players to be fully vaccinated against covid-19 by the start of the season. The league projects that only between 10 and 15 of roughly 700 players will not be vaccinated by the time the season begins Oct. 12. The...
Stocks end lower after a brief afternoon recovery fades
Another day of choppy trading on Wall Street left stocks mostly lower, cutting into the major indexes’ gains for the week. The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average each lost about 0.2%, while the tech-heavy Nasdaq managed to eke out a gain of 0.1%. More stocks fell than...
Tarp or tossed? Ump says he didn’t ‘eject’ O’s grounds crew
Even for baseball fans who’ve seen everything, this was a bizarre sight: The entire Baltimore Orioles’ grounds crew, perched behind the tarp and poised to spring into action as a storm approached, suddenly got told by an umpire to scram. That’s how it looked Wednesday night at Camden Yards as...
California wildfires threaten famous giant sequoia trees
THREE RIVERS, Calif. — Firefighters wrapped the base of the world’s largest tree in a fire-resistant blanket as they tried to save a famous grove of gigantic old-growth sequoias from wildfires burning Thursday in California’s rugged Sierra Nevada. The colossal General Sherman Tree in Sequoia National Park’s Giant Forest, some...
Blowers, mowers and more: American yards quietly go electric
For Jared Anderman, of Croton-on-Hudson, New York, switching from gasoline-powered tools to electric ones for lawn care was a no-brainer. “I’m concerned about climate change and wanted tools that are more eco-friendly, and also quieter. I like listening to music when I do yardwork and this way I can enjoy...
Can kids be harmed wearing masks to protect against covid?
Can kids be harmed wearing masks to protect against covid? No, there is no scientific evidence showing masks cause harm to kids’ health despite baseless claims suggesting otherwise. The claims are circulating on social media and elsewhere just as virus outbreaks are hitting many reopened U.S. schools — particularly those...
‘New’ Van Gogh drawing to go on display in Amsterdam museum
AMSTERDAM — A drawing newly attributed to Vincent van Gogh that has never been displayed publicly before is going on show at the Amsterdam museum that bears the Dutch master’s name. The “new” Van Gogh, “Study for ‘Worn Out,’” from November 1882, is part of a Dutch private collection and...
Cardinals soar into playoff position behind ageless arms
NEW YORK — On the morning of the trade deadline in late July, the St. Louis Cardinals were a .500 team sitting 7 1/2 games outside a playoff spot. Even with new slugger Nolan Arenado at third base, a season that began with big expectations appeared to be slipping away....
Police: Man killed in brawl outside Philly cheesesteak spot
PHILADELPHIA — A New York man was killed Thursday after he was beaten with a trash can lid and pummeled during a brawl outside a famous Philadelphia cheesesteak restaurant, police said. The violence at Pat’s King of Steaks may involve spectators who earlier attended a soccer game, police said. The...
Democrats push for changes to California recall efforts
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom handily defeated a recall election that could have removed him from office, but his Democratic allies in the Legislature already are seeking changes that could make it harder to mount such a challenge in the future. Those changes could include raising the standard...
Chauvin pleads not guilty to violating teen’s civil rights
MINNEAPOLIS — The former Minneapolis police officer convicted of murder in the death of George Floyd pleaded not guilty Thursday to violating the civil rights of a teenager in a separate case that involved a restraint similar to the one used on Floyd. Derek Chauvin was convicted earlier this year...
As covid-19 vaccine mandates rise, religious exemptions grow
An estimated 2,600 Los Angeles Police Department employees are citing religious objections to try to get out of the required covid-19 vaccination. In Washington state, thousands of state workers are seeking similar exemptions. And in Arkansas, a hospital has been swamped with so many such requests from employees that it...
ACC can improve performances against Power 5 teams this weekendVideo
ACC teams have some work to do when they step up in competition and play football programs from other Power Five leagues. Through two weeks of the season, some ACC teams have expectedly dominated lower division programs, but the ACC is just 2-6 against Power Five teams and Notre Dame....
Ravens secondary gearing up for clash with Patrick Mahomes
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Fresh off a startling loss at Las Vegas, Baltimore’s shaky secondary will now focus on a familiar nemesis: Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs. “The Chiefs have definitely had our number the past couple years,” cornerback Marlon Humphrey said. “I guess the way you go...
Search on for Florida woman missing from cross-country trip
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A Florida woman who vanished while on a nomadic cross-country trip in a converted camper van with her boyfriend is the subject of a nationwide search while authorities labeled him Wednesday as a person of interest in her disappearance. Investigators say Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito, 22, was...
Police: Lawyer Murdaugh arranged own death but shot grazed
COLUMBIA, S.C. — A prominent South Carolina lawyer who found the bodies of his wife and son three months ago tried to arrange his own death earlier this month so his son would get a $10 million life insurance payment, but the planned fatal shot only grazed his head, state...
SpaceX launches 4 amateurs on private Earth-circling trip
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX’s first private flight blasted off Wednesday night with two contest winners, a health care worker and their rich sponsor, the most ambitious leap yet in space tourism. It was the first time a rocket streaked toward orbit with an all-amateur crew — no professional astronauts....
Penn State finds challenges in prepping for AuburnVideo
STATE COLLEGE — Most of the intelligence No. 10 Penn State has on its upcoming opponent was compiled long ago by the team’s video production staff. How much it’s worth now is up for debate. Not only will No. 22 Auburn’s visit to Beaver Stadium provide the Nittany Lions (2-0)...
Search at Grand Canyon turns up remains of another person
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — Crews searching for a missing man at Grand Canyon National Park made an unexpected discovery this summer. They found the remains of another person, believed to be Scott Walsh, who was last seen stepping off a shuttle bus at the park’s South Rim in 2015. The clothing...
NASCAR adds Gateway, returns Homestead to playoffs for 2022
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Homestead-Miami Speedway will return to the playoff portion of the season in 2022, while St. Louis was awarded a Cup Series race and NASCAR will race on Easter Sunday for the first time in more than three decades in schedule changes released Wednesday. Homestead hosted the season...
Browns’ Odell Beckham not ready after surgery, 2021 debut delayed
BEREA, Ohio — Browns star wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. isn’t ready to play following knee surgery and won’t make his debut Sunday against Houston. Coach Kevin Stefanski ruled Beckham out Tuesday, saying he will practice on a limited basis this week but will sit out against the Texans (1-0)....
Texas abortion law strains clinics: ‘Exactly what we feared’
AUSTIN, Texas — One Texas woman traveled nearly 1,000 miles to Colorado for an abortion. Others are driving four hours to New Mexico. And in Houston, clinics that typically perform more than 100 abortions in a week are are down to a few a day. Two weeks after the nation’s...

