Associated Press stories, Page 1722
New York is latest state to legalize recreational marijuana
New Yorkers over the age of 21 can now possess and use up to 3 ounces of cannabis in public under a legalization bill signed Wednesday by Gov. Andrew Cuomo, while sales of recreational-use marijuana won’t become legal for an estimated 18 months until the state draws up regulations. Advocates...
Board OKs $1.5 million renovation of governor’s offices in Pennsylvania Capitol
HARRISBURG — The group that oversees maintenance and construction in the Pennsylvania Capitol voted unanimously Wednesday to spend nearly $1.5 million to renovate the governor’s suite. The Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee authorized an overhaul of the 10-room suite that is expected to be finished by year’s end. The work will...
Ohio’s lieutenant governor digs in heels on ‘Wuhan virus’ tweet
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio’s lieutenant governor dug in his heels Wednesday on a tweet in which he referred to covid-19 as the “Wuhan virus,” even as advocates warn such rhetoric is a driving force behind violence against Asian Americans, including the recent attacks in Georgia and New York. Republican Lt....
Sports cards have gone virtual, and in a big way
SILVER SPRING, Md. — Maybe the Luka Doncic rookie basketball card that recently sold at auction for a record $4.6 million was a bit rich for your blood. Perhaps you’d be interested in a more affordable alternative — say, a virtual card of the Dallas Mavericks forward currently listed for...
Indians not allowing headdresses, painted faces at games
CLEVELAND — While moving forward with a plan to change their name, the Cleveland Indians said they will not permit fans inside Progressive Field wearing Native American headdresses or face paint. The team announced the fan dress policy for the 2021 season on Wednesday in advance of Monday’s home opener...
Wisconsin Supreme Court strikes down governor’s mask mandate
MADISON, Wis. — The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ statewide mask mandate Wednesday, stripping the governor of one of his last remaining tools to curb large-scale spread of covid-19 as the state stands on the precipice of another surge in infections. The conservative-leaning court ruled 4-3...
Wall Street ticks higher, led by tech and smaller stocks
NEW YORK — U.S. stocks are drifting higher in morning trading on Wednesday, as investors wait to hear the details about Washington’s next mammoth push for the economy. The S&P 500 was up 0.6%, ahead of a speech later in the day where President Joe Biden is expected to discuss...
Holy days arrive for the faithful as pandemic eases in U.S.
For Christians across the United States, Easter services on Sunday will reflect an extra measure of joy as the nation experiences rising optimism after a year of pandemic. Even if still observing restrictions, many churches may draw the largest numbers of in-person worshippers in months. It’s a season of major...
Suspect in attack on Asian American woman in NYC is arrested
NEW YORK — A parolee convicted of killing his mother nearly two decades ago was arrested on charges, including felony assault as a hate crime, in an attack on an Asian American woman in New York City, police said early Wednesday. Police said Brandon Elliot, 38, is the man seen...
Volkswagen hoaxes media with fake statement on name change
DETROIT — Volkswagen of America issued false statements this week saying it would change its brand name to “Voltswagen,” to stress its commitment to electric vehicles, only to reverse course Tuesday and admit that the supposed name change was a joke. Mark Gillies, a company spokesman, confirmed Tuesday that the...
Jim Litke: Final Four set, a question left: Can anybody beat Gonzaga?
It’s not easy to bury a team as good as USC, let alone in a half, no matter how easy Gonzaga made it look. Somehow, coach Mark Few called it in advance. While everyone was fixating on the top-seeded Bulldogs’ make-it-rain offense, one reporter took the opposite tack. He asked...
Chrissy Teigen graces cover of People’s ‘Beautiful Issue’
Chrissy Teigen will grace the front of People magazine’s “The Beautiful Issue” in a cover story that delves into her evolved definition of beauty, facing racism growing up and her heartbreaking miscarriage last year. The magazine revealed the cover Wednesday of the annual issue, which hits newsstands Friday. On this...
Some Capitol riot suspects apologize as consequences sink in
PHOENIX — The helmet-wearing Idaho man photographed dangling by one hand from the Senate’s balcony during the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol turned himself in six days later. While buckled in the vehicle delivering him to the Boise jail, Josiah Colt made a video apologizing and expressing shame...
Hunter Biden says he wouldn’t repeat work for Ukrainian firm
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s son Hunter says his service on the board of a Ukrainian gas company, which Republicans tried to turn into a negative during the 2020 presidential campaign, wasn’t unethical and didn’t represent a lack of judgment on his part. But the younger Biden wouldn’t do it...
Virginia governor seeks to accelerate marijuana legalization
RICHMOND, Va. — Adults in Virginia could legally possess and grow small amounts of marijuana beginning in July, about three years sooner than initially envisioned, under changes the governor proposed Wednesday to legislation passed earlier this year. “Our Commonwealth is committed to legalizing marijuana in an equitable way,” Democratic Gov....
NCAA, former athletes head to Supreme Court over how football, basketball players are rewarded
WASHINGTON — The NCAA and former college athletes are getting ready to play ball at the Supreme Court. With the March Madness basketball tournament ongoing, the high court will hear arguments Wednesday in a case about how colleges can reward athletes who play Division I basketball and football. The NCAA...
Pfizer says its covid-19 vaccine protects younger teens
Pfizer announced Wednesday that its covid-19 vaccine is safe and strongly protective in kids as young as 12, a step toward possibly beginning shots in this age group before they head back to school in the fall. Most covid-19 vaccines being rolled out worldwide are for adults, who are at...
This date in sports history: March 31
1909 — Baseball’s National Commission rules that players who jump contracts will be suspended five years. Players joining outlaw organizations will be suspended three years as punishment for going outside organized baseball. 1923 — The Ottawa Senators of the NHL complete a two-game sweep of the WCHL’s Edmonton Eskimos with...
No. 11 seed UCLA knocks off Michigan, earns spot in Final Four
INDIANAPOLIS — Johnny Juzang poured in 28 points while playing most of the second half on a hurt ankle, and UCLA survived a series of nail-biting misses by top-seeded Michigan in the closing seconds for a 51-49 victory Tuesday night that made the Bruins the fifth No. 11 seed ever...
An unwelcome prank: Volkswagen purposely hoodwinks reporters
NEW YORK — Journalists are used to being wary about odd pranksters pulling April Fool’s Day hoaxes at this time of year. Few expect it from a multi-billion dollar corporation. Volkswagen admitted Tuesday that it had put out a false news release saying that it had changed the name of...
Gonzaga reaches Final Four, stays undefeated with win over USC
INDIANAPOLIS — Gonzaga got on a roll and put on a show Tuesday night, moving to 30-0 on the season and cruising into the Final Four with an 85-66 beatdown of previously rolling Southern Cal. Drew Timme had 23 points and five rebounds and, after one dunk, pretended to slick...
Column: Golfer Bennett looks at his arm to lean on father’s adviceVideo
Before he takes back the club, Sam Bennett takes one last look at the tattoo on the inside of his arm. “Don’t wait to do something.” Those words, exactly how they appear on a handwritten note from his father last June, remind him of the last advice his father gave...
NCAA president to meet with protesting basketball playersVideo
NCAA president Mark Emmert is planning to meet this week with a group of basketball players who used a social media campaign at the start of March Madness to protest rules banning college athletes from earning money from their names, images and likenesses. Ramogi Huma, executive director of the National...
GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz investigated over alleged sexual relationship with underage girl
WASHINGTON — Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, a prominent conservative in Congress and a close ally of former President Donald Trump, said Tuesday he is being investigated by the Justice Department over a former relationship but denied any criminal wrongdoing. Gaetz, who represents parts of western Florida, told Axios that his...
Column: Bristol avoided the mess most feared for a dirt race
BRISTOL, Tenn. — The pandemic gave NASCAR an overdue opportunity to break from the way things had always been done in the sport. The traditional three-day race weekend was scrapped as NASCAR scrambled to complete a season while following covid-19 protocols. Practice was scrapped and few complained, the same for...
