Associated Press stories, Page 1739
Sheltered from virus, Kauai plans cautious return to tourism
As the coronavirus ravaged other parts of the U.S., residents of this rural Pacific island watched safely from afar. Kauai, one of the world’s most sought-after vacation destinations, has been nearly impossible to visit for most of the past year, with officials bucking pressure to ease quarantine rules as the...
U.S. schools prepare summer of learning to help kids catch up
After a dreary year spent largely at home in front of the computer, many U.S. children could be looking at summer school — and that’s just what many parents want. Although the last place most kids want to spend summer is in a classroom, experts say that after a year...
White supremacist propaganda surged in 2020, report says
NEW YORK — White supremacist propaganda reached alarming levels across the U.S. in 2020, according to a new report that the Anti-Defamation League provided to The Associated Press. There were 5,125 cases of racist, anti-Semitic, anti-LGBTQ and other hateful messages spread through physical flyers, stickers, banners and posters, according to...
U.S. jobless claims rise to 770,000 with layoffs still high
WASHINGTON — The number of Americans seeking unemployment benefits rose last week to 770,000, a sign that layoffs remain high even as much of the U.S. economy is steadily recovering from the coronavirus recession. Thursday’s report from the Labor Department showed that jobless claims climbed from 725,000 the week before....
Italy honors covid dead with living monument on anniversary
ROME — Italy inaugurated a living monument to its covid-19 dead Thursday as it marked the anniversary of one of the most haunting moments of the pandemic: when Bergamo’s death toll reached such heights that an army convoy had to transport coffins out because its cemeteries and crematoriums were full....
China ‘deeply concerned’ about anti-Asian violence in U.S.
BEIJING — China called on the U.S. to take measures to stem violence against people of Asian heritage after eight people were killed at Atlanta-area massage parlors. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Thursday that violence against Asians in the U.S. was “outrageous and distressing,” leaving China “deeply concerned.” American...
Divided House OKs Dems’ bill helping Dreamer immigrants
WASHINGTON — The House voted Thursday to unlatch a gateway to citizenship for young Dreamers and immigrants who have fled war or natural disasters abroad, giving Democrats a win in the year’s first vote on an issue that once again faces a steep uphill climb in Congress. On a near...
France set to unveil new restrictions amid covid-19 spike
PARIS — France is set to announce new coronavirus restrictions on Thursday, including a potential lockdown in the Paris region and in the north of the country, as the number of covid-19 patients in intensive care units spikes. “We will make the decisions we need to make,” French President Emmanuel...
Putin cites ills in U.S. society after Biden’s killer remark
President Vladimir Putin responded Thursday to President Joe Biden’s description of him as a killer by citing America’s past and present troubles, from slavery and the slaughter of Native Americans to racial injustice. Biden was asked in an interview this week whether he thought Putin was a killer, and he...
Rangers hand Flyers historic beatdown
NEW YORK — Mika Zibanejad had three goals and three assists in New York’s seven-goal second period, and the Rangers beat the Philadelphia Flyers 9-0 Wednesday night. Pavel Buchnevich had two goals and two assists — all in the second period — and Brendan Lemieux, Artemi Panarin, Jacob Trouba and...
U.S. sends investigators to probe another Michigan Tesla crash
LANSING, Mich. — For the second time this week, the U.S. government’s road safety agency is sending a team to investigate a Tesla crash in Michigan. This time, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is sending a special crash investigation team because a Tesla using the company’s Autopilot partially automated...
Patient, relentless Brad Underwood has top-seeded Illini rolling
Brad Underwood arrived at Illinois in the spring of 2017 tasked with trying to restore wagger to a program that had become an afterthought in the Big Ten. He preached patience. He preached recruiting kids with character instead of kids who are characters. He talked about creating a culture built...
Westwood, a bit weary after a hot streak, set to play HondaVideo
PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. — Lee Westwood’s streak of runner-up finishes is longer than some might realize. He was second to Bryson DeChambeau at Bay Hill two weeks ago, then was second to Justin Thomas at The Players Championship last week. And Tuesday, he played alongside 19-year-old son Sam at...
NCAA Tournament East preview: BYU could give No. 1 Gonzaga scareVideo
Heading into the season, there wasn’t a lot of talk about BYU. This was supposed to be a rebuilding season in Provo, Utah, for coach Mark Pope and his Cougars. Well, guess again. BYU went 20-6 starting a senior guard, three transfers and a freshman. The Cougars also are getting...
NCAA Tournament South preview: Ohio State back on track after late skid
The late-season stumble was big enough to push Ohio State into fifth place in the loaded Big Ten, an ill-timed four-game losing streak they carried into the conference tournament that raised some questions about how equipped the Buckeyes were for a march through March. Duane Washington Jr. and his schedule-toughened...
NCAA Tournament West preview: Eastern Washington coach faces role modelVideo
Bill Self will see a lot of Bill Self-like schemes against Eastern Washington. The imitation is purely a show of respect toward the longtime Kansas coach. Eagles coach Shantay Legans borrows offensive and defensive concepts straight from Self because, well, they work. Legans will get a chance to test his...
For Biden, questions about N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo grow harder to ignore
NEW YORK — President Joe Biden’s relentless effort to avoid the day-to-day distractions of the political world is being put to the test by the growing calls for New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo to resign. Throughout the campaign and during his first two months in office, Biden’s team installed zealous...
States sue Biden in bid to revive Keystone XL pipeline
BILLINGS, Mont. — Attorneys general from 21 states on Wednesday sued to to overturn President Joe Biden’s cancellation of the contentious Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada. Led by Ken Paxton of Texas and Austin Knudsen of Montana, the states said Biden had overstepped his authority when he revoked the...
Republicans seize on immigration as border crossings surge
WASHINGTON — Delegation trips to the border. Apocalyptic warnings. A flurry of press conferences. Republicans still divided over former President Donald Trump’s legacy are seizing on his signature campaign issue, turning their focus to immigration as they try to regain the political upper hand. Faced with President Joe Biden’s early...
Closed circuit: March Madness trip leads to life on lockdown
INDIANAPOLIS — At Victory Field in downtown Indianapolis on Wednesday, a couple of coaches running laps around the warning track passed different diversions scattered across the minor league ballpark. In one section, a badminton net. In others, a soccer ball and a football. No sign of a basketball. When the...
Trump’s taxes in hand, Manhattan DA’s probe heats up
NEW YORK — With former President Donald Trump’s tax returns finally in hand, a team of New York prosecutors led by a newly hired former mob-buster is sending out fresh subpoenas and meeting face-to-face with key witnesses, scrutinizing Trump’s business practices in granular detail. Amid the swirl of activity, the...
IRS will delay tax filing due date until May
The Internal Revenue Service is delaying the traditional tax filing deadline from April 15 until May 17, according to the House Ways and Means Committee. The IRS and Treasury Department didn’t immediately comment Wednesday or provide further details. But the committee confirmed and applauded the move, which provides added time...
Ravens lineman arrested in Virginia for property destruction
ARLINGTON, Va. — A Baltimore Ravens defensive lineman was arrested in Northern Virginia after police say he was trying to break into parked cars. Arlington County Police say Broderick Washington, 24, of Baltimore was charged with destruction of property, both as a felony and a misdemeanor, and tampering with a...
Fed expects to keep its key rate near zero through 2023
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve foresees the economy accelerating quickly this year but still expects to keep its benchmark interest rate pinned near zero through 2023, despite concerns in financial markets about potentially higher inflation. With its brightening outlook, the Fed on Wednesday significantly upgraded its forecasts for growth and...
Police investigate suspect’s motive in Atlanta-area killings
ATLANTA — A white gunman accused of killing eight people, most of them women of Asian descent, at three Atlanta-area massage parlors was charged with murder Wednesday in an attack that sent terror through the Asian American community that’s increasingly been targeted during the coronavirus pandemic. Robert Aaron Long, 21,...
