Associated Press stories, Page 1567
7 killed in Kabul airport chaos as Taliban patrols capital
KABUL, Afghanistan — Thousands of Afghans rushed into Kabul’s main airport Monday, some so desperate to escape the Taliban that they held onto a military jet as it took off and plunged to their deaths. At least seven people died in the chaos, U.S. officials said, as America’s longest war...
Chasing Tide: Alabama is No. 1 in preseason AP Top 25 again
Another college football season will start with everyone chasing the Tide. Alabama is No. 1 in the Associated Press Top 25 preseason poll for fourth time in the past six seasons. Coming off their sixth national championship under Nick Saban, the Crimson Tide enter the season loaded with potential replacements...
Many Bible Belt preachers silent on shots as covid-19 surges
Dr. Danny Avula, the head of Virginia’s covid-19 vaccination effort, suspected he might have a problem getting pastors to publicly advocate for the shots when some members of his own church referred to them as “the mark of the beast,” a biblical reference to allegiance to the devil, and the...
Biden says he stands ‘squarely behind’ Afghanistan decisionVideo
WASHINGTON — Striking a defiant tone, President Joe Biden said Monday that he stands “squarely behind” his decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Afghanistan and that the Afghan government’s collapse was quicker than anticipated. Biden said he was faced with a choice between sticking to a previously negotiated agreement to...
Greece wildfires: New blazes burning outside of Athens
More wildfires broke out Monday in hard-hit Greece, with two blazes fanned by strong winds triggering evacuation alerts for villages southeast and northwest of the Greek capital. The first blaze, which broke out in the morning in the Keratea region southeast of Athens, quickly burned through shrubland and was heading...
Column: Why would the ACC, Big Ten, Pac-12 form an alliance?
The Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten and Pac-12 are exploring ways to counter the Oklahoma-Texas expansion and curtail the Southeastern Conference’s growing power in college football. The commissioners of the ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 have discussed how creating an alliance between leagues that span the country could provide both...
Taliban take over Afghanistan: What we know and what’s next
The Taliban have seized power in Afghanistan two weeks before the U.S. was set to complete its troop withdrawal after a costly two-decade war. The insurgents stormed across the country, capturing all major cities in a matter of days, as Afghan security forces trained and equipped by the U.S. and...
U.S. agency opens formal probe into Tesla Autopilot system
DETROIT — The U.S. government has opened a formal investigation into Tesla’s Autopilot partially automated driving system after a series of collisions with parked emergency vehicles. The investigation covers 765,000 vehicles, almost everything that Tesla has sold in the U.S. since the start of the 2014 model year. Of the...
This Date in Sports History: Aug. 16
1920 — Cleveland shortstop Ray Chapman is hit in the head with a pitch by New York’s Carl Mays. Chapman suffers a fractured skull and dies the next day. It’s the only field fatality in major-league history. 1924 — Helen Wills Moody beats Molla Bjurstedt Mallory again 6-1, 6-3 to...
Trey Lance makes intriguing debut at QB for 49ersVideo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Trey Lance’s up-and-down debut performance in the preseason has done little to alter the timeline the San Francisco 49ers have for when their rookie quarterback will get more time with the first team in practice and possibly take over as starter. Lance had a few dazzling...
JOK shines in Browns’ debut; team awaits results on Mack Wilson
CLEVELAND — Mack Wilson’s shoulder injury could push Cleveland Browns rookie linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah into the starting lineup sooner than expected. The team was awaiting MRI results on Wilson, a projected starter on Cleveland’s revamped defense after he injured his shoulder early in Saturday night’s 23-13 exhibition win at Jacksonville....
USDA to permanently boost food stamp benefits by 25%
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has approved a significant and permanent increase in the levels of food stamp assistance available to needy families—the largest single increase in the program’s history. Starting in October, average benefits for food stamps (officially known as the SNAP program) will rise more than 25 percent...
‘Free Guy’ gives box office a lift, opening with $28.4MVideo
NEW YORK — “Free Guy,” an action comedy starring Ryan Reynolds as a background character in a videogame, opened better than expected over the weekend, collecting an estimated $28.4 million in ticket sales despite a marketplace challenged by covid-19. After a few weeks of declining audiences and underwhelming debuts amid...
Former Penn State QB Will Levis to start for Kentucky
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky coach Mark Stoops named Penn State transfer Will Levis the Wildcats’ starting quarterback over holdovers Joey Gatewood and Beau Allen. Levis arrived in June and quickly had to pick up new offensive coordinator Liam Coen’s pro style system that promises to speed up the SEC worst...
Man stabbed at Los Angeles anti-vaccination protest leaves hospitalVideo
LOS ANGELES — A man who was stabbed when a Los Angeles protest against vaccine mandates turned violent has been released from the hospital, police said Sunday. The man was stabbed and a news reporter was kicked after a fight broke out Saturday between anti-vaccination demonstrators and counterprotesters in front...
Kevin Kisner wins 6-man playoff at Wyndham ChampionshipVideo
GREENSBORO, N.C. — Kevin Kisner finally broke his playoff drought to win the Wyndham Championship. He hopes the victory will help him achieve another milestone: representing the United States in the Ryder Cup. Kisner stuck his approach to 3 feet on the second extra hole and made the putt to...
Allmendinger gets 1st Indy win in crash-marred Brickyard 200Video
INDIANAPOLIS — AJ Allmendinger took advantage of two frightening multi-car crashes, the leader getting spun out and a penalty — all in the final five laps — to win the Brickyard 200 on Sunday at Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Making only his second NASCAR Cup start of the season, the 39-year-old...
St. Thomas GOP chairwoman arrested in trafficking caseVideo
MINNEAPOLIS — The chairwoman of the University of St. Thomas College Republicans has been arrested in Florida on suspicion of recruiting minors for a sex trafficking ring. Gisela Castro Medina, 19, was arrested Thursday in Fort Walton Beach, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported Saturday. The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office’s website...
Trudeau triggers Canadian election, voting day Sept. 20
TORONTO — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau triggered an election Sunday as he seeks to capitalize on Canada being one of the most fully vaccinated countries in the world. Trudeau announced the election would be held on Sept. 20 after visiting the governor general, who holds a mostly ceremonial position representing...
Death toll of powerful earthquake in Haiti soars to 1,297Video
LES CAYES, Haiti — The death toll from a 7.2-magnitude earthquake in Haiti climbed to 1,297 on Sunday, a day after the powerful temblor turned thousands of structures into rubble and set off frantic rescue efforts ahead of a potential deluge from an approaching tropical storm. Saturday’s earthquake also left...
Rural population losses add to farm and ranch labor shortage
OMAHA, Neb. — Rural America lost more population in the latest census, highlighting an already severe worker shortage in the nation’s farming and ranching regions and drawing calls from those industries for immigration reform to help ease the problem. The census data released last week showed that population gains in...
Fred strengthens to tropical storm as it heads to U.S. coast
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — The National Hurricane Center said Fred regained its tropical storm status in the Gulf of Mexico early Sunday as parts of the Caribbean were gearing up for impacts from Tropical Storm Grace. Fred was forecast to move across the Gulf before reaching the coast Monday night...
Spain clocks heat record of 116.96 degrees
MADRID — Spain set a new provisional heat record of 116.96 Fahrenheit on Saturday as Southern Europe sweltered under a relentless summer sun. Italy put 16 cities on red alert for health risks and Portugal warned 75% of its regions that they faced a “significantly increased risk” of wildfires. Data...
Taliban sweep into Afghan capital after government collapses
KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban swept into Afghanistan’s capital Sunday after the government collapsed and the embattled president joined an exodus of his fellow citizens and foreigners, signaling the end of a costly two-decade U.S. campaign to remake the country. Heavily armed Taliban fighters fanned out across the capital, and...
After UN climate report, individuals seek to do their part
HOBOKEN, Belgium — Young urban shepherd Lukas Janssens guides his flock among the graves in Schoonselhof, one of Belgium’s iconic cemeteries, knowing sheep are kinder to nature than lawnmowers. Limiting emissions of carbon dioxide, a key contributor to climate change, and promoting biodiversity are two key goals of De Antwerpse...
