Associated Press stories, Page 1782
U.S. closes in on 100 million Americans fully vaccinated
Disneyland reopened Friday and New York’s mayor predicted the big city will be up and running again at full strength by July 1, as the number of Americans fully vaccinated against covid-19 closed in on 100 million. Visitors cheered and screamed with delight as the Southern California theme park swung...
U.S. officials: Anxiety drove vaccine reactions in 5 states
It was anxiety — and not a problem with the shots — that caused fainting, dizziness and other short-term reactions in dozens of people at coronavirus vaccine clinics in five states, U.S. health officials have concluded. Experts say the clusters detailed Friday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention...
Kansas hires Buffalo’s Lance Leipold as football coach
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas hired Buffalo’s Lance Leipold on Friday, turning over one of college football’s worst programs to a longtime Division III coach with strong Midwestern roots. Leipold signed a six-year contract and takes over for Les Miles, who won a national championship at LSU. Miles parted with Kansas...
Fans still mad as Man United pledges no Super League revival
MANCHESTER, England — Manchester United tried to reassure skeptical fans that it won’t revive plans for the Super League, though many supporters still expressed outrage on Friday. The exchange took place in a team-run fan forum with United attempting to make amends amid reports that thousands of supporters plan to...
Sam Darnold to make $18.9 million after Panthers pick up option
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers upped their commitment to Sam Darnold on Friday, picking up the fifth-year option on the quarterback’s rookie contract. He will now make $18.9 million for the 2022 season. Darnold’s contract would have expired after the 2021 season, and he would have become an unrestricted...
Trial of other cops charged in Floyd’s death to be broadcast
MINNEAPOLIS — Derek Chauvin’s murder trial was the first Minnesota criminal trial to be broadcast live on television. It won’t be the last. Some in the Minnesota legal system were apprehensive about allowing the live broadcast of Chauvin’s trial over the killing of George Floyd, but the video feed had...
AP source: Grammys may cut nomination review committees
NEW YORK — The Grammy Awards are in discussion to remove its nomination review committees — groups that determine the contenders for key awards at the coveted music show. A person familiar with the Recording Academy’s discussions, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak...
Arizona: 1 officer killed, 1 hurt by suspect in stolen car
GILBERT, Ariz. — A suspect in a stolen car struck and killed one police officer and critically injured another during a wild chase involving gunfire and multiple law enforcement agencies that ended in a Phoenix suburb, authorities said Friday. Chandler Police Officer Christopher Farrar was killed and a Gilbert police...
Eyeing 2024, Mike Pence says he’ll push back on ‘liberal agenda’
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Former Vice President Mike Pence, positioning himself for a possible return to elected office, told an audience in early-voting South Carolina that he will spend the coming months “pushing back on the liberal agenda” he says is wrong for the country. “We’ve got to guard our values...
Explainer: English soccer leads social media racism boycott
There will be no goal clips, lineup announcements, banter between clubs or even title celebrations. Four days of silence across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram by soccer leagues, clubs and players in England began on Friday in a protest against racist abuse that has been adopted more widely. Such is the...
Georgia man on way to prison escapes at convenience store
ATLANTA — Authorities were searching Friday morning for an inmate who escaped from custody while being taken to a state prison and residents in neighborhoods south of Atlanta’s airport were being asked to lock their doors. Devonte Detuan Ross slipped away from a private transport company at a QuikTrip where...
Germany pledges to adjust climate law after court verdict
BERLIN — The German government on Friday announced that it will swiftly adjust its law aiming to curb climate change, after the country’s top court ruled that existing legislation places an unfair burden on younger generations. Germany’s Constitutional Court said Thursday that the government must set clear goals for reducing...
U.S. wages and benefits jump as economy reopens
WASHINGTON — Wages and benefits grew quickly for U.S. workers in the first three months of the year, a sign that businesses are starting to offer higher pay to fill newly-opened jobs. U.S. workers’ total compensation rose 0.9% in the January-March quarter, the largest gain in more than 13 years,...
Jim Litke: Betting millions on QBs who can turn clubs around on a dime
Last season wasn’t just the strangest in the 100 years of pro football, it was also the highest-scoring by almost any measure — average score, total points and especially passing touchdowns. And because the NFL is a copycat league, you didn’t have to be a general manager, scout or even...
Counting the costs of America’s 20-year war in Afghanistan
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — America’s longest war, the two-decade-long conflict in Afghanistan that started in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, killed tens of thousands of people, dogged four U.S. presidents and ultimately proved unwinnable despite its staggering cost in blood and treasure. This final chapter, with...
Europe’s economy shrinks in 1st quarter as U.S. rolls ahead
Europe’s economy shrank 0.6% in the first three months of the year as slow vaccine rollouts and extended lockdowns delayed a hoped-for recovery - and underlined how the region is lagging other major economies in rebounding from the coronavirus pandemic. The fall in output for the 19 countries that use...
Pope facilitates Vatican prosecutions for cardinals, bishops
Pope Francis has sent another message to Vatican-based cardinals and bishops about his intent to hold them accountable for criminal misconduct: He removed the procedural obstacles that had spared them from being prosecuted by the Vatican’s criminal tribunal. A new law published Friday makes clear that Vatican city-state prosecutors have...
Religious festival stampede in Israel kills 45, injures 150
JERUSALEM — A stampede at a religious festival attended by tens of thousands of ultra-Orthodox Jews in northern Israel killed at least 45 people and injured about 150 early Friday, medical officials said. It was one of the country’s deadliest civilian disasters. The stampede began when large numbers of people...
EU accuses Apple of antitrust breach over App Store rules
LONDON — European Union regulators are accusing Apple of violating the bloc’s antitrust laws, alleging that the company distorts competition for music streaming through rules for its App Store. The EU’s executive Commission said Friday it objected to how Apple applies rules in its App Store to music streaming services...
Florida GOP awaits governor’s signature on new voting rules
TALLAHASSEE — Florida Republicans passed a series of sweeping voter restrictions Thursday targeting mailed ballots, drop boxes and other popular election methods, becoming the latest GOP-controlled state to tighten voting rules after massive turnout in 2020. The bill now heads to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, who just months ago touted...
Stampede at Israeli religious festival kills nearly 40Video
JERUSALEM — A stampede broke out early Friday at a Jewish religious festival attended by tens of thousands of people in northern Israel, killing nearly 40 people and leaving some 150 hospitalized, medical officials said. The stampede, one of the deadliest civilian disasters in Israeli history, occurred during the celebrations...
Packers stay committed to Aaron Rodgers amid report QB wants outVideo
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst reiterated Thursday that the team remains committed to quarterback Aaron Rodgers amid a report the reigning MVP doesn’t want to return to Green Bay. “As we’ve stated since the season ended, we are committed to Aaron in 2021 and beyond,” Gutekunst...
As expected, QBs take top 3 spots as NFL Draft gets underway amid some normalcyVideo
No suspense at the top of this NFL draft: Quarterback, quarterback and, yep, quarterback. With fans in attendance, prospects on hand and commissioner Roger Goodell dispensing greetings to players being selected Thursday night, Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence went to the Jacksonville Jaguars to get things started. Next was BYU’s Zach Wilson...
Derby favorite Essential Quality brings strongest resume
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Horse racing could be in line for another Triple Crown bid, and this time the likely candidate is an undefeated horse from a barn other than Bob Baffert’s. Baffert, of course, is the sport’s dominant trainer who guided American Pharoah in 2015 and Justify in 2018 to...
NFL Draft: Players selected in the first round
1. Jacksonville Jaguars Trevor Lawrence, QB, 6-foot-6, 213 pounds, Clemson Breakdown: Lawrence has been the presumptive No. 1 pick in this draft since his freshman season. Prototypical size, top-notch speed and athleticism and rare arm talent. Want to pick some nits? His delivery is a little long and deep ball...
