Associated Press stories, Page 1542
U.S. seeks interest to build solar on public lands in West
BILLINGS, Mont. — U.S. officials moved Tuesday to open more than 140 square miles of public lands in western states to potential solar energy development, as part of the Biden administration’s effort to counter climate change by shifting away from fossil fuels. The U.S. Bureau of Land Management on Tuesday...
U.S. population growth at lowest rate in pandemic’s 1st year
U.S. population growth dipped to its lowest rate since the nation’s founding during the first year of the pandemic as the coronavirus curtailed immigration, delayed pregnancies and killed hundreds of thousands of U.S. residents, according to figures released Tuesday. The United States grew by only 0.1%, with only an additional...
Rite Aid to close 63 stores and expects to close more locations next year
Rite Aid, the long-time East Pennsboro Township-based pharmaceutical chain that will soon be based on Philadelphia, announced on Tuesday that it will close 63 stores. The company made the announcement as part of its third quarter results from 2021. Rite Aid said the move will save the company $25 million....
WVU plays host to Youngstown St.
Youngstown State (7-3) vs. West Virginia (10-1) WVU Coliseum, Morgantown, West Virginia; 6 p.m. Wednesday Bottom line: Youngstown State and West Virginia both look to put winning streaks together . Each program is coming off of a victory on Saturday. West Virginia earned a 65-59 win in Birmingham over UAB,...
St. Francis looks for home win vs. Robert Morris
Robert Morris (1-9) vs. St. Francis (Pa.) (4-6) DeGol Arena, Loretto, Pennsylvania; 7 p.m. Wednesday Bottom line: St. Francis (Pa.) looks for its seventh straight win over Robert Morris at DeGol Arena. The last victory for the Colonials at St. Francis (Pa.) was a 66-60 win on Feb. 13, 2014....
NFL could become trend-setter for covid-19 testing policies
The NFL’s decision to reduce covid-19 testing for asymptomatic, vaccinated players could signal a trend for pro sports leagues and provide an example for society to follow heading into 2022. Despite a rising number of positive cases that forced three games to be rescheduled over the weekend, the NFL, in...
NIL was factor on signing day; how big of one up for debate
The three-day signing period last week put name, image and likeness in the spotlight, especially with No. 1 national recruit Travis Hunter de-committing from Florida State to sign with second-tier Jackson State. Neither Hunter nor other top recruits said whether NIL compensation had anything to do with their school choices....
SpaceX launches Christmas presents, supplies to station
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — SpaceX launched Christmas gifts, goodies and supplies to the International Space Station on Tuesday and got a present in return: the company’s 100th successful rocket landing. The predawn liftoff from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center was barely visible in the fog and clouds, as the Falcon rocket...
Texas governor’s decision: Whether to pardon George Floyd
AUSTIN, Texas — Doling out pardons is a holiday tradition for Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, who around every Christmas grants them to a handful of ordinary citizens, typically for minor offenses committed years or decades ago. But one name stands out on his desk: George Floyd. Abbott has not said...
Putin blames West for tensions, demands security guarantees
MOSCOW — The Russian president on Tuesday reiterated his demand for guarantees from the U.S. and its allies that NATO will not expand eastwards, blaming the West for “tensions that are building up in Europe.” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s speech at a meeting with Russia’s top military brass came just...
Biden to pledge 500M free covid-19 tests to counter omicron
WASHINGTON — With the omicron variant on the march, President Joe Biden plans to announce 500 million free rapid tests for Americans, increased support for hospitals under strain and a redoubling of vaccination and boosting efforts. In a speech scheduled for Tuesday afternoon, Biden is announcing major changes to his...
Chris Noth out at ‘The Equalizer’ amid sex assault claims
LOS ANGELES — Chris Noth will no longer be part of the CBS series “The Equalizer” in the wake of sexual assault allegations against the actor. Universal Television and CBS made a joint announcement Monday that Noth would no longer be part of filming “effective immediately.” Noth has played a...
This date in sports history: Dec. 21
1891 — Dr. James Naismith introduces the first game of basketball. Based on 13 rules created by Naismith, the game is tested by 18 students at the School for Christian Workers in Springfield, Massachusetts. Using a soccer ball, two peach baskets and two teams of nine players each, the objective...
Cousins throws for 2 touchdowns as Vikings beat Bears
CHICAGO — Kirk Cousins threw two touchdown passes, and the Minnesota Vikings beat the struggling and short-handed Chicago Bears 17-9 on Monday night. The Vikings (7-7), part of a tight pack of teams vying for one of the NFC’s seven playoff spots, were in line for their most lopsided win...
Boston to require vaccination proof for restaurants, others
Workers and customers at restaurants, gyms and many other indoor businesses in Boston will be required to show proof of coronavirus vaccination starting in mid-January in an effort to curb a rise in new cases across the city and state, Mayor Michelle Wu said Monday. In addition, city employees will...
NHL shutting down from Wednesday through Saturday
The NHL is beginning a leaguewide shutdown Wednesday amid a rise in positive covid-19 test results among players, and with 10 of the league’s 32 teams’ schedules already paused and their facilities closed. The league announced Monday night that it will open its annual holiday break two days earlier than...
AP: Several asymptomatic NFL players test positiveVideo
Several asymptomatic, vaccinated NFL players tested positive for covid-19 on the first day of “targeted” testing, a person familiar with the results told the Associated Press on Monday. Overall, 47 players were placed on the reserve/covid-19 list, the most in a single day since the pandemic began. The person, speaking...
Raiders beat covid-ravaged Browns on late field goalVideo
Daniel Carlson’s 48-yard field goal as time expired sent the Las Vegas Raiders to a 16-14 win Monday night over the covid-19-depleted Cleveland Browns in a game pushed back two days by the NFL amid an uptick of virus cases across the league. With his team down by a point,...
Adversity ‘fuels’ Tulsa to win over Old Dominion in Myrtle Beach BowlVideo
CONWAY, S.C. — Tulsa cornerback Tyon Davis thinks his team needs a little adversity to get themselves going. That was certainly true at the Myrtle Beach Bowl, where the Golden Hurricane endured Old Dominion’s stunning start — a 100-yard return touchdown by LeMareon James on the opening kickoff — on...
California sues Walmart over disposal of hazardous waste
SACRAMENTO — Retail giant Walmart illegally dumps more than 1 million batteries, aerosol cans of insect killer and other products, toxic cleaning supplies, electronic waste, latex paints and other hazardous waste into California landfills each year, state prosecutors alleged Monday in a lawsuit that the company labeled “unjustified.” “As we...
Jan. 6 committee seeks interview with Pennsylvania Rep. Scott Perry
WASHINGTON — The House panel investigating the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection requested an interview and documents from Republican Rep. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania on Monday, marking the first time the committee publicly sought to sit down with a sitting member of Congress. The latest request launches a new phase...
Omicron sweeps across nation, now 73% of U.S. covid-19 cases
NEW YORK — Omicron has raced ahead of other variants and is now the dominant version of the coronavirus in the United States, accounting for 73% of new infections last week, federal health officials said Monday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention numbers showed nearly a six-fold increase in...
Man who joined Capitol melee gets nearly 4 years in prison
A man who joined a mob in one of the most violent attacks on police during the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol was sentenced on Monday to nearly four years in prison. Devlyn Thompson, 28, wrote an apology letter to the officer whom he assaulted during a melee...
Jury ends first day of deliberations in Kimberly Potter trialVideo
MINNEAPOLIS — The suburban Minneapolis police officer who says she meant to use her Taser instead of her gun when she shot and killed Black motorist Daunte Wright made a “blunder of epic proportions” and did not have “a license to kill,” a prosecutor told jurors on Monday shortly before...
Pentagon issues rules aimed at stopping rise of extremism
WASHINGTON — Warning that extremism in the ranks is increasing, Pentagon officials are issuing detailed new rules prohibiting service members from actively engaging in extremist activities. The new guidelines come nearly a year after some current and former service members participated in the riot at the U.S. Capitol, triggering a...
