Associated Press stories, Page 1571
Coronavirus surge worsens in Midwest as states expand boostersVideo
A surge in cases in the Upper Midwest has some Michigan schools keeping students at home ahead of Thanksgiving and the military sending medical teams to Minnesota to relieve hospital staffs overwhelmed by covid-19 patients. The worsening outlook in the Midwest comes as booster shots are being made available to...
Stock indexes end mixed as traders weigh retail earnings
A wobbly day on Wall Street ended with a mixed finish for stock indexes Thursday, nudging the S&P 500 and Nasdaq to new highs. The S&P 500 rose 0.3% and the Nasdaq gained 0.5%, enough for the indexes to set new highs after a modest pullback a day earlier. After...
Browns’ Baker Mayfield practices, expected to play against LionsVideo
BEREA, Ohio — Browns quarterback Baker Mayfield returned to practice Thursday after missing one day to rest an assortment of injuries. Mayfield is dealing with shoulder, foot and knee issues. However, he is expected to play Sunday when the Browns (5-5) host the Detroit Lions (0-8-1). Mayfield was kept off...
2 Iranians charged with threatening U.S. voters in 2020Video
WASHINGTON — Two suspected Iranian computer hackers have been charged in a broad campaign of election interference aimed at intimidating American voters during last year’s presidential race and undermining confidence that the results of the contest could be trusted. The activities, prosecutors say, exploited not only computer vulnerabilities but also...
Oklahoma governor grants clemency, spares Julius Jones’ lifeVideo
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s governor spared the life of Julius Jones on Thursday, just hours before his scheduled execution that had drawn widespread outcry and protests over doubts about his guilt in the slaying of a businessman more than 20 years ago. Gov. Kevin Stitt commuted the 41-year-old Jones’ death...
Friendly fire kills guard struggling with inmate in Blair County court
ALTOONA — A jail guard was shot and killed at a Pennsylvania courthouse by what appears to be friendly fire during a struggle with an inmate who had grabbed her weapon, and authorities said Thursday they were investigating how it happened. The inmate had been taken from the Blair County...
With supply short, Ford dips toe into computer chip business
Ford Motor Co. is in talks with a computer chip maker to shore up its semiconductor supplies and avoid a repeat of this year’s auto factory shutdowns caused by semiconductor shortages. Few details of the nonbinding agreement with GlobalFoundaries Inc. were released, but the deal aims to boost supplies with...
GOP paints Biden’s choice for bank regulator as radical
President Joe Biden’s choice to run one of the agencies charged with overseeing the banking industry faced sharp questioning Thursday from Republican senators, who tried to label Saule Omarova as someone who would nationalize the U.S. banking system. Omarova, 55, was nominated in September to be the nation’s next comptroller...
German lawmakers shift in covid rules after dire warnings
German lawmakers approved new measures Thursday to rein in record coronavirus infections after the head of the country’s disease control agency warned Germany could face a “really terrible Christmas.” The measures passed in the Bundestag with votes from the center-left Social Democrats, the environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats....
Arbery’s shooter admits he was not under any threat
BRUNSWICK, Ga. — The man who killed Ahmaud Arbery testified Thursday that Arbery did not speak, show a weapon or threaten him in any way before he raised his shotgun and pointed it at him. Under cross-examination by the prosecution on his second day of testimony, Travis McMichael said he...
Top 2 Pennsylvania school pension system execs out of jobs
The top two executives at Pennsylvania’s largest public pension system will leave their jobs, under resolutions approved by the system’s board Thursday, amid two federal investigations and calls by board members for their resignations over lackluster investment returns. Under the resolutions, executive director Glen Grell and chief investment officer Jim...
Doubts over China tennis star’s email raise safety concerns
A Chinese professional tennis player not seen in public since she accused a former top government official of sexual assault purportedly sent an email claiming she was safe and that the allegation was false, a message that only amplified concerns about her safety and demands for information about her well-being...
New laws steer some teachers away from race-related topics
New measures that restrict how race is addressed in classrooms have spread confusion and anxiety among many educators, who in some cases have begun pulling books and canceling lessons for fear of being penalized. Education officials have nixed a contemporary issues class in a Tennessee district, removed Frederick Douglass’ autobiography...
Winds whip up volcanic ash from 1912 eruption in Alaska
Volcano scientists issued an alert Wednesday, warning that a cloud of ash — from an eruption more than century ago — was headed toward Alaska’s Kodiak Island. The ash is from the powerful 1912 eruption of Novarupta, a volcano on the Alaska Peninsula that dropped volcanic ash that is still...
Disney now requiring cruise guests 5 and older to be vaxxed
Disney Cruise Line will require all guests ages 5 and up to be fully vaccinated against covid-19 before setting sail starting early next year, the company announced. In a statement posted on its website on Wednesday, Disney announced the new rules will begin on Jan. 13, 2022. The vaccine was...
This date in sports history: Nov. 18
1962 — Bill Wade of the Chicago Bears passes for 466 yards and two touchdowns to edge the Dallas Cowboys 34-33. 1970 — Joe Frazier knocks out Bob Foster in the second round to retain the world heavyweight title in Detroit. 1974 — Charley Johnson of the Denver Broncos passes...
Police search 4 Colorado locations in election security probe
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. — An FBI-led law enforcement task force searched four western Colorado locations, including the home of an elections clerk, amid an investigation into allegations that the clerk was involved in a security breach of elections equipment earlier this year, a district attorney said. The FBI, the Colorado...
U.S. overdose deaths topped 100,000 in 1 year, officials say
An estimated 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses in one year, a never-before-seen milestone that health officials say is tied to the covid-19 pandemic and a more dangerous drug supply. Overdose deaths have been rising for more than two decades, accelerated in the past two years and, according to new...
Packers’ Aaron Rodgers doesn’t practice because of toe issueVideo
GREEN BAY, Wis. — The Green Bay Packers’ imperfect offense hasn’t been getting the practice it needs. And it might not get it this week, either. Reigning MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers, who missed a game because of covid-19 and didn’t rejoin the team until the day before Sunday’s 17-0 victory...
Justin Verlander agrees to $25M, 1-year deal with AstrosVideo
HOUSTON — Justin Verlander agreed to a $25 million, one-year contract with the Houston Astros that includes a conditional $25 million player option for a second season. Verlander became a free agent after completing a $94 million, three-year contract with the Astros. He played in just one game in the...
Sliding Saints sticking with steady Siemian at QB for nowVideo
METAIRIE, La. — New Orleans Saints quarterback Trevor Siemian’s fledging second stint as an NFL starter has been promising and disappointing. While New Orleans pulled out a victory over NFC South-leading Tampa Bay when Siemian replaced an injured Jameis Winston during the second quarter of a tie game, Siemian’s first...
Led by Central Catholic grad Kurt Hinish, defensive line puts Notre Dame in 1st classVideo
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — The plane trip home from Notre Dame’s 28-3 victory at Virginia couldn’t have been any more enjoyable for nose tackle Kurt Hinish. It isn’t often you get to stick out your tongue at your position coach. But that’s what Hinish, a Central Catholic grad and fifth-year...
Florida GOP limits vaccine mandates, flouting White House
TALLAHASSEE — Florida Republicans approved a sweeping bill Wednesday to hobble coronavirus vaccine mandates in businesses, rejecting claims that they were sacrificing public health to hand Gov. Ron DeSantis a win in his fight against White House virus rules. Lawmakers in GOP-controlled statehouse expedited the measure, along with a package...
Deere workers approve 3rd contract offer, will end monthlong strike
DETROIT — Deere & Co. workers approved a new contract Wednesday that will deliver 10% raises immediately and end a monthlong strike for more than 10,000 employees. The United Auto Workers union says 61% of the members approved the deal with the tractor maker on their third vote, even though...
State media release attributed to Peng raises WTA concerns
BEIJING — The head of the women’s professional tennis tour questioned the legitimacy of what Chinese state media said was a retraction by a Grand Slam doubles champion who has accused a former top government official of sexual assault. WTA Chairman and CEO Steve Simon said Wednesday that a statement...
