Associated Press stories, Page 1802
‘Sharp decline’ in covid cases among L.A. firefighters after vaccinations
LOS ANGELES — The number of Los Angeles firefighters testing positive for the coronavirus has dropped significantly since the city fire agency began offering its members vaccinations, Fire Chief Ralph Terrazas said in a memo to firefighters this week. Terrazas, in a memo dated Tuesday and obtained by The Times,...
AP sources: Michael Strahan tests positive for covid-19
Pro Football Hall of Famer and “Good Morning America” host Michael Strahan tested positive for covid-19 and is self-quarantining, according to people familiar with the situation. Strahan is currently not experiencing any severe symptoms from covid-19. The people spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity Wednesday because of...
E.J. Liddell’s late FTs lift Ohio State over Penn State
COLUMBUS, Ohio — E.J. Liddell scored 22 points, including the tiebreaking free throws with 59.7 seconds left, and No. 13 Ohio State held off Penn State, 83-79, on Wednesday night. The Buckeyes (13-4, 7-4 Big Ten) squandered a 12-point first-half lead but rallied from a seven-point deficit in the second...
Far-right influencer charged in 2016 Clinton voter scheme
NEW YORK — A self-styled far-right propagandist was arrested in Florida on Wednesday on charges he used social media to try to suppress votes for Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in the 2016 presidential election, federal prosecutors said Wednesday. A criminal complaint accused 31-year-old Douglass Mackey — known on the internet...
Buccaneers fans set to cheer inside, outside Super Bowl stadium
TAMPA, Fla. — Warren Sapp wishes fans of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers could pack the stands for the first Super Bowl played in a host team’s home stadium. Because of coronavirus pandemic concerns, the NFL’s decision to limit capacity to 22,000 at Raymond James Stadium and soaring prices for a...
San Francisco to strip Washington, Lincoln from public school namesVideo
SAN FRANCISCO — The names of Abraham Lincoln, George Washington and other prominent figures including U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California will be removed from 44 San Francisco public schools, a move that stirred debate Wednesday on whether the famously liberal city has taken the national reckoning on America’s racist...
McIlroy looking for win, U.S. Open prep at Torrey PinesVideo
SAN DIEGO — Rory McIlroy is playing the Farmers Insurance Open for just the third time, looking for his first tour victory since 2019 while getting a feel for the course that will host the U.S. Open in June. With seven-time winner Tiger Woods missing one of his favorite tournaments...
TE Jason Witten says he’s retiring again after 17th season
DALLAS — Jason Witten said he is retiring again, apparently for good this time. The longtime Dallas Cowboys tight end who spent his final season with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2020 told ESPN on Wednesday that he was walking away “knowing that for 17 seasons I gave it my...
U.S. puts hold on foreign arms sales, including F-35s to United Arab Emirates
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has put a temporary hold on several major foreign arms sales initiated by former President Donald Trump. Officials say that among the deals being paused is a massive $23 billion transfer of stealth F-35 fighters to the United Arab Emirates. That sale and several other...
Retirement age? Super Bowl coaches Arians, Reid just getting startedVideo
There’s no retirement age in the NFL, and that’s a good thing for Super Bowl-bound Kansas City and Tampa Bay. Andy Reid and Bruce Arians are two of the league’s five oldest coaches. Reid is closing in on 63, and Arians turned 68 in October. They have a combined 55...
Oklahoma seeking to return $2M worth of hydroxychloroquine
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma attorney general’s office is attempting to return $2 million worth of a malaria drug once touted by former President Donald Trump as an effective treatment for covid-19, a spokesman said Wednesday. Alex Gerszewski, a spokesman for Attorney General Mike Hunter, said Hunter is attempting to...
Oscar and Emmy-winning actor Cloris Leachman dies at 94Video
LOS ANGELES — Cloris Leachman, an Oscar-winner for her portrayal of a lonely housewife in “The Last Picture Show” and a comedic delight as the fearsome Frau Blücher in “Young Frankenstein” and neighbor Phyllis on “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” has died. She was 94. Leachman died in her sleep...
Pennsylvania Senate OKs $912M pandemic recovery aid bill
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s state Senate on Wednesday unanimously approved legislation to distribute just over $900 million to aid schools and hospitality-related businesses hit hard by the coronavirus, as well as people struggling to pay rent or utility bills. The bill still requires approval from the state House of Representatives and...
Virus will kill many more, White House projects as briefings resume
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration launched its new level-with-America health briefings Wednesday with a projection that as many as 90,000 more in the U.S. will die from the coronavirus in the next four weeks — a sobering warning as the government strains to improve delivery and injection of vaccines. The...
Pa. voters to get final say on limiting governor disaster powers
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania voters will likely soon get the final say about whether to limit the governor’s powers during a disaster emergency after a divided state House of Representatives endorsed a proposed constitutional amendment Wednesday. House members voted 116 to 85 in the latest legislative approval vote. One more vote...
Child sexual abuse lawsuit ‘window’ moves near referendum
HARRISBURG — The state House has given its final approval to a proposal to change the Pennsylvania Constitution to give those who say they were victims of child sexual abuse a retroactive two-year “window” in which to file civil lawsuits, no matter how long ago the alleged abuse occurred. State...
2 CBS executives shelved pending diversity investigation
NEW YORK — CBS has placed two top executives on administrative leave as it investigates charges of a hostile work environment for women and minorities at news operations in some of its largest individual stations. Peter Dunn, president of the CBS Television Stations, and David Friend, senior vice president for...
Hurricanes set to return from covid-19 pause, postponementsVideo
The Carolina Hurricanes played just three games this season before having to shut down workouts and postpone four games because of covid-19 concerns. They returned to practice this week and are set to play Thursday against Tampa Bay in what amounts to a second try at starting the season, although...
Empty seas: Shark numbers in ‘devastating’ worldwide decline
WASHINGTON — When marine biologist Stuart Sandin talks about sharks, it sounds like he’s describing Jedis of the ocean. “They are terrific predators, fast swimmers and they have amazing senses — they can detect any disturbance in the ocean from great distance,” such as smells or tiny changes in water...
U.S. terrorism alert warns of politically motivated violenceVideo
WASHINGTON — The Department of Homeland Security issued a national terrorism bulletin Wednesday warning of the potential for lingering violence from people motivated by anti-government sentiment after President Joe Biden’s election, suggesting the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol may embolden extremists and set the stage for additional attacks. The...
Bernie Sanders’ mittens, memes help raise $1.8M for charity
About those wooly mittens that U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders wore to the presidential inauguration, sparking endless quirky memes across social media? They’ve helped to raise $1.8 million in the last five days for charitable organizations in Sanders’ home state of Vermont, the independent senator announced Wednesday. The sum comes from...
Census data for congressional seats still months away
The numbers used for divvying up U.S. congressional seats among the states won’t be ready until the end of April, a Census Bureau official said Wednesday. The new goal for finishing data processing for the apportionment numbers is now April 30, said Kathleen Styles, a top bureau official. The deadline...
Fed stresses its commitment to low rates for the long run
WASHINGTON — The Federal Reserve pledged on Wednesday to keep its low interest rate policies in place even well after the economy has sustained a recovery from the viral pandemic. The Fed said in a statement after its latest policy meeting that the improvement in the economy and job market...
NFL picks 3 honorary captains, including Aliquippa man, for Super Bowl coin toss
NEW YORK — The NFL has selected three people who have served during the coronavirus pandemic as honorary captains for the Super Bowl along with inaugural poet Amanda Gorman for an original poem. Commissioner Roger Goodell announced Wednesday that Marine veteran James Martin, educator Trimaine Davis and nurse manager Suzie...
All 33 sports ‘unanimously’ want Tokyo Games
ROME — The IOC is adamant the Tokyo Olympics will be held this year despite the pandemic. So, too, are Japanese organizers. Now hear it from the man who represents the track and field, swimming and gymnastics federations as well as every other Summer Games sport. “At the moment, we’re...
