Associated Press stories, Page 1743
ACC to allow transfers within conference to play immediately
GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Atlantic Coast Conference has eliminated its rule requiring athletes to sit out a season if they transfer within the league. The move is the latest across college sports to loosen restrictions on transferring athletes so they can switch schools and play right away. The NCAA is...
Men from Morgantown, State College charged in assault of Capitol officer who died after riotVideo
WASHINGTON — U.S. officials have arrested and charged two men with assaulting U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick with bear spray during the Jan. 6 riot, but they do not know yet whether it caused the officer’s death. George Tanios, 39, of Morgantown, W.Va., and Julian Khater, 32, of State...
Stocks extend gains for fifth day, led by technology shares
Stocks shook off an early stumble and closed broadly higher Monday, nudging some of the major U.S. indexes to more all-time highs as the market added to its recent string of gains. The S&P 500 rose 0.7% after having been down 0.5% in the early going, extending its winning streak...
Drew Brees joins NBC Sports after retiring from NFL
NEW YORK — Drew Brees is headed from the Superdome to the Golden Dome. The quarterback great joined NBC Sports on Monday, a day after announcing his retirement from the NFL. He will serve as an analyst for Notre Dame games as well as work from the studio during “Football...
YouTube to broadcast 21 games as part of 3rd MLB season
NEW YORK — YouTube will broadcast a Major League Baseball package of games for a third season, The series of 21 telecasts start at 1:10 p.m. Wednesday, April 7, when the Boston Red Sox host the AL champion Tampa Bay Rays in the finale of a two-game series, MLB and...
Much of Europe tightens anti-pandemic rules as virus surges
ROME — Tighter restrictions aimed at reining in surging coronavirus infections took hold in much of Italy and parts of Poland on Monday, while in France, Paris risks being slapped with a weekend lockdown as ICUs near saturation with covid-19 patients. In line with an Italian government decision late last...
U.S. prison guards refusing vaccine despite covid-19 outbreaks
A Florida correctional officer polled his colleagues earlier this year in a private Facebook group: “Will you take the covid-19 vaccine if offered?” The answer from more than half: “Hell no.” Only 40 of the 475 respondents said yes. In Massachusetts, more than half the people employed by the Department...
Dallas Seavey wins Iditarod, matches most wins by a musher
ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Dallas Seavey on Monday won the pandemic-shortened Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, matching the most wins ever by a musher. Seavey brought his 10 dogs across the finish line near the community of Willow, Alaska, with a healthy lead over the second-place musher, Aaron Burmeister. It was...
Now comes the hard part for 68 NCAA Tournament teams
The 68 teams whose names popped up in the March Madness bracket only thought it was time to celebrate: The next four or five days figure to be the most nerve-wracking part of their seasons. Welcome to Bubble Ball — the NCAA Tournament is being played in a pandemic, where...
Several top teams seeking 1st title in this NCAA Tournament
If you’re tired of watching the same old powerhouses, this is an NCAA Tournament for you. Duke, Kentucky and Louisville didn’t qualify. UCLA, Michigan State and Syracuse barely did. North Carolina is a No. 8 seed. Connecticut is a No. 7. The four No. 1 seeds are Gonzaga, Baylor, Illinois...
What to do if you are a victim of unemployment fraud
Unemployment fraud in the U.S. has reached dramatic levels during the pandemic — the Labor Department inspector general’s office estimates that more than $63 billion has been paid out improperly through fraud or errors since March 2020. Criminals are seizing on the opportunity created by the pandemic. Using data stolen...
7 jurors picked, 7 to come in ex-cop’s trial in George Floyd death
MINNEAPOLIS — Jury selection continues Monday in the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged in George Floyd’s death, with the process halfway complete after the first week. Seven people have been picked to hear evidence in the trial against Derek Chauvin, who is charged with murder and manslaughter....
Stuck in quarantine, Virginia has spot in tournament waiting
Virginia has a spot in the NCAA Tournament. Whether the Cavaliers can get to Indianapolis with enough available players is to be determined. Virginia was forced to withdraw from the Atlantic Coast Conference Tournament semifinals Friday because a person with the team tested positive for covid-19. Coach Tony Bennett said...
2 key U.S. Cabinet members visit Japan for China-focused talks
TOKYO — Shared concerns about China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific region will take center stage when President Joe Biden’s defense chief and secretary of state visit Japan for their first in-person talks with their Japanese counterparts. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Tokyo...
‘Mank,’ ‘Nomadland,’ ‘Chicago 7’ lead Oscar nominationsVideo
NEW YORK — David Fincher’s “Mank” has led nominations to the 93rd Academy Awards with 10 nods, and for the first time, two women — Chloé Zhao and Emerald Fennell — were nominated for best director. Eight films were nominated for best picture. “Mank” was joined by Fennell’s “Promising Young...
Vatican excludes gay union blessing as God ‘can’t bless sin’
ROME — The Vatican decreed Monday that the Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex unions since God “cannot bless sin.” The Vatican’s orthodoxy office, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, issued a formal response Monday to a question about whether Catholic clergy can bless gay unions. The answer, contained...
Pa. cheerleader’s mom accused of making ‘deepfakes’ of rivals
DOYLESTOWN — A Pennsylvania woman is accused of doctoring photos and video of her daughter’s cheerleading rivals to try to get them kicked off the squad, officials said. The Bucks County District Attorney’s Office last week charged Raffaela Spone, 50, with three misdemeanor counts of cyber harassment of a child...
State TV: Iran inaugurates new underground missile facility
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s paramilitary Revolutionary Guard on Monday inaugurated a new underground facility designated for missile storage, the country’s state TV reported. The report quotes Guard commander Gen. Hossein Salami as saying that cruise and ballistic missiles will empower the force’s navy even more. The TV report showed footage...
Arrest warrant issued after woman rejects mask at Texas bank
GALVESTON, Texas — An arrest warrant was issued for a woman who refused to wear a mask at a Texas bank, saying to a police officer: “What are you going to do, arrest me?” Police have issued a warrant for the arrest of Terry Wright, 65, of Grants Pass, Oregon....
This date in sports history: March 15Video
1869 — The Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first pro baseball team, are organized by George Ellard and Harry Wright. 1940 — Colorado, led by Bob Doll’s 15 points, beats Duquesne, 51-40, for the NIT championship. 1985 — Larry Holmes scores a 10th-round knockout of David Bey in Las Vegas to...
Beyoncé, Taylor Swift make history at the GrammysVideo
The Grammys are drunk in love with Beyoncé and Taylor Swift: the singers both made history at the 2021 show. Swift, 31, became first woman to win album of the year three times. “We just want to thank the fans,” said Swift, who won the top prize with “folklore.” Swift...
Picking the NCAA Tournament bracket: The Big Ten will feel right at homeVideo
This is the annual story to tell you how to win your office NCAA tournament pool. We will begin with one important caveat. Logic will not apply this year. Don’t pretend otherwise. Nobody knows who will handle this quasi-bubble situation in Indianapolis well. Nobody knows which team will see its...
NCAA field missing mainstays Duke, Kentucky and LouisvilleVideo
Duke, Kentucky and Louisville are NCAA Tournament regulars. Not this year, though. The Blue Devils, Wildcats and Cardinals were left out in the cold when the March Madness brackets were unveiled on Sunday. It is the first time since 1976 all three schools missed the tournament in the same year....
Coworkers: Army reservist charged in Capitol riot had a Hitler mustache
WASHINGTON — An Army reservist charged with taking part in the attack on the U.S. Capitol was known as a Nazi sympathizer who wore a Hitler mustache, coworkers told federal investigators. Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, 30, was employed as a security contractor at a Navy base when he was alleged to have...
Truex Jr. pulls away late to win NASCAR race at PhoenixVideo
AVONDALE, Ariz. — Martin Truex Jr. pulled away in the final laps Sunday at Phoenix Raceway for his first NASCAR Cup Series victory of the season and 28th overall. Truex beat the four championship finalists from last year. He had failed to advance into the season-ending finale for the first...

