Associated Press stories, Page 1685
Georgia man on way to prison escapes at convenience store
ATLANTA — Authorities were searching Friday morning for an inmate who escaped from custody while being taken to a state prison and residents in neighborhoods south of Atlanta’s airport were being asked to lock their doors. Devonte Detuan Ross slipped away from a private transport company at a QuikTrip where...
Germany pledges to adjust climate law after court verdict
BERLIN — The German government on Friday announced that it will swiftly adjust its law aiming to curb climate change, after the country’s top court ruled that existing legislation places an unfair burden on younger generations. Germany’s Constitutional Court said Thursday that the government must set clear goals for reducing...
U.S. wages and benefits jump as economy reopens
WASHINGTON — Wages and benefits grew quickly for U.S. workers in the first three months of the year, a sign that businesses are starting to offer higher pay to fill newly-opened jobs. U.S. workers’ total compensation rose 0.9% in the January-March quarter, the largest gain in more than 13 years,...
Jim Litke: Betting millions on QBs who can turn clubs around on a dime
Last season wasn’t just the strangest in the 100 years of pro football, it was also the highest-scoring by almost any measure — average score, total points and especially passing touchdowns. And because the NFL is a copycat league, you didn’t have to be a general manager, scout or even...
Counting the costs of America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — America’s longest war, the two-decade-long conflict in Afghanistan that started in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, killed tens of thousands of people, dogged four U.S. presidents and ultimately proved unwinnable despite its staggering cost in blood and treasure. This final chapter, with...
Europe’s economy shrinks in 1st quarter as U.S. rolls ahead
Europe’s economy shrank 0.6% in the first three months of the year as slow vaccine rollouts and extended lockdowns delayed a hoped-for recovery - and underlined how the region is lagging other major economies in rebounding from the coronavirus pandemic. The fall in output for the 19 countries that use...
Pope facilitates Vatican prosecutions for cardinals, bishops
Pope Francis has sent another message to Vatican-based cardinals and bishops about his intent to hold them accountable for criminal misconduct: He removed the procedural obstacles that had spared them from being prosecuted by the Vatican’s criminal tribunal. A new law published Friday makes clear that Vatican city-state prosecutors have...
Religious festival stampede in Israel kills 45, injures 150
JERUSALEM — A stampede at a religious festival attended by tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews in northern Israel killed at least 45 people and injured about 150 early Friday, medical officials said. It was one of the country’s deadliest civilian disasters. The stampede began when large numbers of people...
EU accuses Apple of antitrust breach over App Store rules
LONDON — European Union regulators are accusing Apple of violating the bloc’s antitrust laws, alleging that the company distorts competition for music streaming through rules for its App Store. The EU’s executive Commission said Friday it objected to how Apple applies rules in its App Store to music streaming services...
Florida GOP awaits governor’s signature on new voting rules
TALLAHASSEE — Florida Republicans passed a series of sweeping voter restrictions Thursday targeting mailed ballots, drop boxes and other popular election methods, becoming the latest GOP-controlled state to tighten voting rules after massive turnout in 2020. The bill now heads to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who just months ago touted...
Stampede at Israeli religious festival kills nearly 40Video
JERUSALEM — A stampede broke out early Friday at a Jewish religious festival attended by tens of thousands of people in northern Israel, killing nearly 40 people and leaving some 150 hospitalized, medical officials said. The stampede, one of the deadliest civilian disasters in Israeli history, occurred during the celebrations...
Packers stay committed to Aaron Rodgers amid report QB wants outVideo
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst reiterated Thursday that the team remains committed to quarterback Aaron Rodgers amid a report the reigning MVP doesn’t want to return to Green Bay. “As we’ve stated since the season ended, we are committed to Aaron in 2021 and beyond,” Gutekunst...
As expected, QBs take top 3 spots as NFL Draft gets underway amid some normalcyVideo
No suspense at the top of this NFL draft: Quarterback, quarterback and, yep, quarterback. With fans in attendance, prospects on hand and commissioner Roger Goodell dispensing greetings to players being selected Thursday night, Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence went to the Jacksonville Jaguars to get things started. Next was BYU’s Zach Wilson...
Derby favorite Essential Quality brings strongest resume
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Horse racing could be in line for another Triple Crown bid, and this time the likely candidate is an undefeated horse from a barn other than Bob Baffert’s. Baffert, of course, is the sport’s dominant trainer who guided American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018 to...
NFL Draft: Players selected in the first round
1. Jacksonville Jaguars Trevor Lawrence, QB, 6-foot-6, 213 pounds, Clemson Breakdown: Lawrence has been the presumptive No. 1 pick in this draft since his freshman season. Prototypical size, top-notch speed and athleticism and rare arm talent. Want to pick some nits? His delivery is a little long and deep ball...
Former reality TV star Josh Duggar arrested, jailed in Arkansas
FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Former reality TV star Josh Duggar was jailed in northwest Arkansas on Thursday after his arrest by federal authorities. It was unclear what charges he may face. Duggar was held at the Washington County jail after being arrested in the afternoon by U.S. marshals, according to the...
Bradley has no stress and no bogeys to lead at PGA Tour Valspar ChampionshipVideo
PALM HARBOR, Fla. — Keegan Bradley can’t recall having an easier time than he did Thursday at Innisbrook. He missed only one green. His longest par putt was just over 4 feet. It added up to a 7-under-par 64 and another great start in the Valspar Championship. It is the...
Brazil tops 400,000 coronavirus deaths amid fears of renewed surge
SAO PAULO — Brazil on Thursday became the second country to officially top 400,000 covid-19 deaths, losing another 100,000 lives in just one month, as some health experts warn there may be gruesome days ahead when the Southern Hemisphere enters winter. April was Brazil’s deadliest month of the pandemic, with...
Idaho lawmaker accused of rape resigns after expulsion recommended
BOISE — An Idaho lawmaker accused of rape by a 19-year-old legislative intern has resigned after an ethics committee found he should be formally censured. The investigation into Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger began in March after a young staffer reported he raped her in his apartment after the two had...
Mayor Bill de Blasio says New York City will ‘fully reopen’ by July 1Video
NEW YORK — New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said Thursday he expects to see covid-19 restrictions lifted and the city “fully reopen” by July 1. “We are ready for stores to open, for businesses to open, offices, theaters, full strength,” the Democratic mayor said on MSNBC. De Blasio...
5 arrested in violent robbery of Lady Gaga’s dogs
LOS ANGELES — The woman who returned Lady Gaga’s stolen French bulldogs was among five people arrested in connection with the theft and shooting of the music superstar’s dog walker, Los Angeles police said Thursday. Detectives do not believe that the thieves knew the dogs belonged to the pop star,...
8 indicted in alcohol-related death after fraternity party at Bowling GreenVideo
TOLEDO, Ohio — Seven college students in Ohio and another man were indicted in the alcohol-related death of a 20-year-old who was found unconscious after a fraternity party, prosecutors said Thursday. A grand jury indicted the eight on charges ranging from involuntary manslaughter to hazing. Stone Foltz, 20, died three...
Jaromir Jagr leads his club back to top Czech league at 49
KLADNO, Czech Republic — Jaromir Jagr was celebrating on the ice again Thursday. The 49-year-old right winger had an assist to help his hometown club Kladno Knights return to the top Czech league by beating Jihlava, 5-2, to clinch their playoff series 4-3. Jagr made his debut for Kladno as...
U.S. vows again to ban menthol flavor in cigarettes, cigarsVideo
U.S. health regulators pledged again Thursday to try to ban menthol cigarettes, this time under pressure from African American groups to remove the mint flavor popular among Black smokers. The Food and Drug Administration has attempted several times to get rid of menthol but faced pushback from Big Tobacco, members...
Ryan Miller’s time: Ducks goalie to retire at end of season
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Ryan Miller smiled and choked up a bit when he considered how his career as the winningest American-born goalie in professional hockey history almost never happened. When Miller first became fascinated with goaltending as a youngster growing up in Michigan, he says his father, Dean, gently tried...
