Associated Press stories, Page 1702
New York school principal charged with sexually abusing 9 studentsVideo
HILTON, N.Y. — A Rochester, N.Y.-area elementary school principal was charged with sexually abusing nine students during school in a case that prosecutors say goes back at least four years. Kirk Ashton, the longtime principal of Northwood Elementary School in Hilton, was arraigned Wednesday night on multiple counts of first-degree...
Weather delays divers from searching for Louisiana shipwreck survivorsVideo
PORT FOURCHON, La. — Families anxiously awaited news of the 12 people missing from a capsized oil industry vessel Thursday while stormy weather delayed divers from reaching the ship to search for survivors. Rescuers don’t know whether any of the missing might be caught inside the lift boat that flipped...
Capitol Police watchdog says force needs a ‘culture change’Video
WASHINGTON — The top watchdog for the U.S. Capitol Police told a House committee Thursday that there is a need for a culture change within the force after broad failures in its response to the Jan. 6 insurrection, including missed intelligence predicting a “war” and weapons that were so old...
Democrats begin long-shot push to expand the Supreme Court
WASHINGTON — A group of congressional Democrats introduced legislation Thursday to add four seats to the Supreme Court, a long-shot bid designed to counter the court’s rightward tilt during the Trump administration and criticized by Republicans as a potential power grab that would reduce the public’s trust in the judiciary....
Video: Chicago boy wasn’t holding gun when shot by officerVideo
CHICAGO — Disturbing bodycam video released after public outcry over the Chicago police shooting of a 13-year-old boy shows the youth appearing to drop a handgun and begin raising his hands less than a second before an officer fires his gun and kills him. A still frame taken from Officer...
Mercedes rolls out luxury electric car in duel with Tesla
FRANKFURT, Germany — Daimler AG on Thursday unveiled a battery-powered counterpart to its top Mercedes-Benz luxury sedan as German carmakers ramp up their challenge to electric upstart Tesla. The EQS is the first Mercedes-Benz vehicle to be built on a framework designed from the start as an electric car, rather...
Gucci heirs worry over family depiction in Ridley Scott film
MILAN — The great-grandchildren of Guccio Gucci, who founded the luxury fashion house that bears his name a century ago in Florence, are appealing to filmmaker Ridley Scott to respect their family’s legacy in a new film that focuses on a sensational murder. “The House of Gucci,” starring Lady Gaga...
France hits unwanted milestone: Over 100,000 virus deaths
PARIS — France on Thursday became the third country in Europe after the U.K. and Italy to reach the unwanted milestone of 100,000 covid-19-related deaths as new infections and deaths surged due to virus variants. The country of 67 million is the eighth nation in the world to reach the...
Son, father appear in court for hearing in 1996 disappearance of Kristin Smart
LOS ANGELES — A former California college student charged with murder in the 1996 disappearance of classmate Kristin Smart and the defendant’s father, who is accused of helping hide the young woman’s body, made their first court appearance Thursday but did not enter pleas. Paul Flores, 44, was charged with...
9 deceased new members of Hall of Fame, including Steelers scout Bill Nunn, to be honored in May
CANTON, Ohio — The nine new members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who are deceased will be honored in a television special next month. Eight men who were selected for the 2020 centennial class and one from the 2021 group will be recognized. They are Bobby Dillon, Winston...
Google Earth adds time lapse video to depict climate change
The Google Earth app is adding a new video feature that draws upon nearly four decades of satellite imagery to vividly illustrate how climate change has affected glaciers, beaches, forests and other places around the world. The tool unveiled Thursday is rolling out in what is being billed as the...
Canadian lawmaker caught naked during video conference
OTTAWA, Ontario — A Canadian Parliament member was caught stark naked in a virtual meeting of the House of Commons. William Amos, who has represented the Quebec district of Pontiac since 2015, appeared on the screens of his fellow lawmakers completely naked Wednesday. The pandemic has meant many Canadian lawmakers...
Colorful coffins lighten mood at New Zealand funerals
WELLINGTON, New Zealand — When the pallbearers brought Phil McLean’s coffin into the chapel, there were gasps before a wave of laughter rippled through the hundreds of mourners. The coffin was a giant cream donut. “It overshadowed the sadness and the hard times in the last few weeks,” said his...
Coronavirus hug image named World Press Photo of the Year
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A photo symbolizing “love and compassion” of an 85-year-old Brazilian woman getting her first embrace in five months from a nurse through a transparent “hug curtain” was named the World Press Photo of the Year on Thursday. The choice of a winning photo portraying the global...
Ex-Minnesota cop faces hearing in shooting of Daunte Wright
BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. — Black community leaders and family members of Daunte Wright were calling for more serious charges against a white police officer in Wright’s death, comparing her case to the murder charge brought against a Black officer who killed a white woman in nearby Minneapolis. Former Brooklyn Center...
Chauvin won’t testify at murder trial in George Floyd’s death
MINNEAPOLIS — The defense at the murder trial of former Officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd rested its case Thursday without putting Chauvin on the stand, presenting a total of two days of testimony to the prosecution’s two weeks. Closing arguments are set to begin Monday morning,...
Dow crests 34,000 on more proof that economy is recovering
NEW YORK — Wall Street notched more milestones Thursday, as a broad market rally pushed the S&P 500 to an all-time high and the Dow Jones Industrial Average crossed above the 34,000 mark for the first time. The S&P 500 rose 1.1%, with technology, health care and communication stocks accounting...
Jennifer Lopez, Alex Rodriguez split, call off engagement
LOS ANGELES — J-Lo and A-Rod are no longer J-Rod — officially. Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez told the “Today” show Thursday in a joint statement that they are calling off their two-year engagement. “We have realized we are better as friends and look forward to remaining so. We will...
U.S. expels Russian diplomats, imposes sanctions for hackingVideo
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration announced Thursday the U.S. is expelling 10 Russian diplomats and imposing sanctions against dozens of companies and other people, holding the Kremlin accountable for interference in last year’s presidential election and the hacking of federal agencies. The sweeping measures are meant to punish Russia for...
Blinken in Afghanistan to sell Biden troop withdrawal
KABUL, Afghanistan — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken made an unannounced visit to Afghanistan on Thursday to sell Afghan leaders and a wary public on President Joe Biden’s decision to withdraw all American troops from the country and end America’s longest war. Blinken sought to assure senior Afghan politicians...
Senior royals to skip uniforms at Prince Philip’s funeral
LONDON — Senior royals must wear civilian clothes to Prince Philip’s funeral, defusing potential tensions over who would be allowed to don military uniforms. Queen Elizabeth II’s decision means Prince Harry won’t risk being the only member of the royal family not in uniform during Saturday’s funeral for his grandfather,...
Sydney man finds snake in lettuce bought at Australian Aldi
CANBERRA, Australia — Alex White thought he was watching a huge worm writhing in plastic-wrapped lettuce he’d just brought home from a Sydney supermarket — until a snake tongue flicked. “I kind of completely freaked out when I saw this little tongue come out of its mouth and start flicking...
French lawmakers OK security bill increasing police powers
PARIS — France’s parliament passed a security bill Thursday to extend police powers despite criticism from civil rights activists who fear it threatens efforts to denounce police abuse. The bill was approved by 75 votes for and 33 against at the National Assembly, where French President Emmanuel Macron’s party, which...
This date in sports history: April 15
1918 — Babe Ruth pitched a four-hitter for Boston in the season opener and drove in two runs in a 7-1 win over Philadelphia. 1937 — The Detroit Red Wings beat the New York Rangers, 3-0, to take the Stanley Cup in the fifth and final game. 1947 — Jackie...
White Sox LHP Carlos Rodon throws no-hitter against Indians
CHICAGO — Carlos Rodon threw the majors’ second no-hitter of the season Wednesday night, losing his bid for a perfect game on a hit batter in the ninth inning, and the Chicago White Sox cruised to an 8-0 victory over the Cleveland Indians. Working quickly in short sleeves with the...
