Associated Press stories, Page 1740
Iran’s final report on Ukraine jet crash blames human error
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — After a yearlong investigation, Iran’s civil aviation agency on Wednesday released its final report on the crash of a Ukrainian passenger plane that killed 176 people last year, revealing no new details about the shootdown that has provoked outrage from affected countries and concerns from...
Millions across Southeast bracing for potential tornadoes
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Hundreds of schools, covid-19 vaccination clinics, businesses and more shut down across the Deep South on Wednesday as forecasters warned of waves of severe weather including massive tornadoes, downpours and hail the size of tennis balls. While nearly 16 million people in the Southeast could see powerful...
AP source: Bills agree to sign ex-Steelers receiver Emmanuel Sanders
BUFFALO, N.Y. — The Buffalo Bills have reached an agreement to sign veteran receiver Emmanuel Sanders, a person with direct knowledge of the move confirmed with the The Associated Press on Wednesday. The agreement is pending Sanders, who played for the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2010-13, passing a physical, the person...
Experts: Virus surge in Europe a cautionary tale for U.S.
Optimism is spreading in the U.S. as covid-19 deaths plummet and states ease restrictions and open vaccinations to younger adults. But across Europe, dread is setting in with another wave of infections that is closing schools and cafes and bringing new lockdowns. The pandemic’s diverging paths on the two continents...
2 jurors dropped from Derek Chauvin trial after $27M settlement
MINNEAPOLIS — A judge on Wednesday dismissed two jurors who had been seated for the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer accused in George Floyd’s death over concerns they had been tainted by the city’s announcement of a $27 million settlement with Floyd’s family. Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill...
Senate confirms Katherine Tai as Biden’s top trade envoy
WASHINGTON — The Senate confirmed Katherine Tai as the top U.S. trade envoy in an overwhelming bipartisan vote on Wednesday . She will be the first Asian American and first woman of color to hold the position. Tai is considered a problem-solving pragmatist, and her nomination by President Joe Biden...
Sabres fire coach Ralph Krueger after losing streak hits 12 games
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Twelve consecutive losses — and with no indication of the skid ending — were enough for Sabres first-year general manager Kevyn Adams to determine it was time to fire coach Ralph Krueger on Wednesday. The Sabres made the move the morning after a 3-2 loss at New...
Wall Street closes higher after Fed says will keep rates low
Stock closed higher Wednesday, reversing an early slide after the Federal Reserve reassured Wall Street that it expects to keep its key interest rate near zero through 2023. The central bank’s renewed commitment to keeping rates at rock bottom lows comes even as its latest economic forecast calls for growth...
St. Patrick’s Day to be largely virtual in NYC for 2nd year
NEW YORK — A largely virtual St. Patrick’s Day was planned for New York City on Wednesday, one year after the annual parade celebrating Irish heritage was canceled because of the pandemic. Although the city’s usual huge parade with floats and marching bands was canceled, Mayor Bill de Blasio joined...
Child border crossings are surging, straining U.S. facilities
WASHINGTON (AP) — A surge of migrants on the Southwest border has the Biden administration on the defensive, with the head of Homeland Security acknowledging the depth of the problem but insisting it’s under control and saying he won’t revive a Trump-era practice of immediately expelling teens and children. The...
This date in sports history: March 17Video
1871 — The National Association of Professional Baseball Players is organized to replace the amateur National Association. 1897 — Bob Fitzsimmons knocks out Jim Corbett in the 14th round to win the world heavyweight title in Carson City, Nev. It is the first boxing match photographed by a motion picture...
2 people dead in Southern California fireworks explosionVideo
ONTARIO, Calif. — Two people were killed when a large fireworks stash exploded Tuesday in inland Southern California, setting off a series of blasts that shattered windows across the residential neighborhood and sent up a huge plume of smoke, authorities said. Authorities — including the FBI — are investigating the...
Sister Jean thrilled to join Loyola Chicago for NCAA TournamentVideo
CHICAGO — Loyola Chicago is back in the NCAA Tournament. And Sister Jean will be there, too. The 101-year-old team chaplain’s lobbying paid off Tuesday when the school reversed course and announced she will go. That means she gets to watch her beloved Ramblers in person for the first time...
Tiger Woods returns to Florida to continue recovery from car crashVideo
Tiger Woods is back at home in Florida to resume his recovery from career-threatening leg injuries he suffered when his SUV ran off a road and down a hill in the Los Angeles suburbs last month. “Happy to report that I am back home and continuing my recovery,” Woods said...
Massage parlor shootings leave 8 dead, many of Asian descentVideo
ATLANTA — A series of shootings over nearly an hour at three Atlanta-area massage parlors left eight people dead and raised fears that the attack was yet another hate crime against Asian Americans. Police arrested a 21-year-old Georgia man and said the motive wasn’t immediately known, though many of the...
LeBron James reportedly becomes partner in group that owns Red SoxVideo
LeBron James is becoming a part-owner of the Boston Red Sox. A person with knowledge of the situation said Tuesday that James — the Los Angeles Lakers star — and his longtime business partner Maverick Carter now are partners in the Fenway Sports Group. The person, who did not reveal...
Virginia governor restores voting rights to 69,000 ex-felons
RICHMOND — Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam announced Tuesday that he has restored voting rights to more than 69,000 former felons who have completed their prison sentences but are still on probation. Northam’s move mirrors a proposed constitutional amendment recently approved by the General Assembly that would automatically restore voting rights...
How arenas work to keep fans safe attending indoor sportsVideo
Allen Hershkowitz won’t use the word “safe” because there is no certainty in life sciences. But the 65-year-old Ph.D with decades of environmental science experience says he would feel comfortable going to an socially distanced indoor sporting event with one of his children. “Given the protocols, I would feel OK...
6 officials out of NCAA Tournament after 1 tests positiveVideo
INDIANAPOLIS — Parts of the NCAA’s finely honed plan for playing March Madness amid the pandemic came into question Tuesday just as teams began gearing up for practices to tune up for the games later this week. One referee tested positive for covid-19, forcing him and five others who went...
NFL teams spend big bucks on 2nd day of ‘legal tampering’Video
For people wondering where is all the free-agent quarterback movement as the NFL’s “legal tampering” period enters its second day, well, calm down. The busy spenders at the position thus far have been two teams keeping their supposed guy: Cam Newton in New England and Jameis Winston in New Orleans....
Utah campaign against porn marches on with phone filter plan
SALT LAKE CITY — Conservative lawmakers in Utah have fired another salvo in their longtime campaign against online porn with a new requirement that all cellphones and tablets sold in the state automatically block pornography in a plan that critics call a significant intrusion on free speech. Supporters and critics...
Lobbyist named in $60M Ohio bribery investigation found dead
COLUMBUS — A powerful Ohio lobbyist who spent decades at the center of most of the state’s significant policy battles was found dead in Florida as he faced charges in a sweeping federal bribery investigation, authorities said Tuesday. Neil Clark, 67, was found dead Monday by a bicyclist in an...
AP source: Browns to sign DE McKinley to help GarrettVideo
CLEVELAND — Looking to bolster their pass rush and complement All-Pro Myles Garrett, the Cleveland Browns plan to sign free agent defensive end Takkarist McKinley, a person familiar with the negotiations told the Associated Press on Tuesday. McKinley, who was a first-round pick by Atlanta in 2017, will sign a...
U.S.: Putin approved operations to help Trump against Biden
WASHINGTON — Russian President Vladimir Putin authorized influence operations to help Donald Trump in last November’s presidential election, according to a declassified intelligence assessment that found broad efforts by the Kremlin and Iran to shape the outcome of the race but ultimately no evidence that any foreign actor changed votes...
Man suspected of killing 4 in fight over stimulus check
INDIANAPOLIS — An Indianapolis man suspected of killing three adults and a child told police he fatally shot the four victims after he and his girlfriend argued because he wanted a share of her federal covid-19 relief money, according to a court document and one of the girlfriend’s relatives. Malik...
