Associated Press stories, Page 1839
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...
Thomas lives on edge and rallies to win Players ChampionshipVideo
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Justin Thomas found the right time for a near-perfect performance to put a rough start to the year behind him, rallying from three shots behind with bold play to close with a 4-under-par 68 and win The Players Championship on Sunday. Thomas became only the...
Gonzaga, Baylor, Illinois, Michigan get No. 1 seeds for NCAA TournamentVideo
The biggest unknown leading into a March Madness bracket reveal more than a year in the making had nothing to do with bubble teams or top seeds. Instead, it was the not-so-simple matter of which programs would be healthy enough to play. Kansas and Virginia, two programs hit with covid-19...
No. 3 Illinois beats No. 9 Ohio State in OT to take Big Ten titleVideo
INDIANAPOLIS — Kofi Cockburn and Ayo Dosunmu both scored 16 points, both grabbed nine rebounds and both made key plays in overtime to give No. 3 Illinois a 91-88 victory over No. 9 Ohio State on Sunday for its first Big Ten Tournament title since 2005. Cockburn made the go-ahead...
Dan + Shay, Justin Bieber win country Grammy AwardVideo
Justin Bieber is a Grammy winner in the country genre for his “10,000 Hours” collaboration with Dan + Shay. Dan + Shay accepted the best country duo/group performance Grammy virtually. Bieber did not appear during the Grammys Premiere Ceremony, where the majority of Sunday’s awards are bestowed. Dan + Shay...
All Duke University undergrads must quarantine
DURHAM, N.C. — Duke University issued a quarantine order for all of its undergraduates effective Saturday night because of a coronavirus outbreak caused by students who attended recruitment parties, the school said. The university said in a statement that all undergraduate students will be forced to stay-in-place until at least...
Record-setting Saints QB Drew Brees announces retirement at 42Video
NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, the NFL’s leader in career completions and yards passing, decided to retire after 20 NFL seasons, including his last 15 with New Orleans. “Til the very end I exhausted myself to give everything to the Saints organization, my team and the...
Aaron Jones staying with Packers on 4-year, $48 million dealVideo
Pro Bowl running back Aaron Jones agreed to a new deal with the Green Bay Packers and won’t be exploring free agency. Drew Rosenhaus, Jones’ agent, confirmed his client had agreed on a four-year deal worth $48 million that includes a $13 million signing bonus. “We anticipated bigger offers in...
Fewer brackets but same number plan bets on March Madness
ATLANTIC CITY — Fewer Americans expect to fill out brackets for the NCAA’s college basketball tournament this year, but the overall number of people making bets on March Madness should remain about the same as the last time the tournament was held, according to the gambling industry’s national trade association....
St. Bonaventure beats VCU in Atlantic 10 Tournament title gameVideo
DAYTON, Ohio — Kyle Lofton scored 23 points, and Osun Osunniyi scored 14 points with 12 rebounds as St. Bonaventure beat VCU, 74-65, on Sunday in the Atlantic 10 Tournament championship to clinch an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. St. Bonaventure (16-4) entered the A-10 Tournament as the top...
Pelosi pledges swift work on major infrastructure packageVideo
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Sunday pledged swift work by Congress on a job and infrastructure package that will be “fiscally sound,” but said she isn’t sure whether the next major item on President Joe Biden’s agenda will attract Republican backing. Fresh off a major legislative victory on...
