Associated Press stories, Page 1853
U.S. angling to secure more of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine
WASHINGTON — U.S. officials say they’re actively negotiating for additional purchases of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine after passing up a chance to lock in a contract this summer since it was still unclear how well the shots would work. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and special adviser Dr. Moncef...
Arizona ties, sets records for virus deaths, hospital usage
PHOENIX — Arizona on Wednesday tied a previous record of coronavirus deaths in one day during the current virus surge while its available hospital bed capacity dropped to a record-low since the start of the pandemic. As the state’s vaccination program began to ramp up, the state Department of Health...
MLB reclassifies Negro Leagues as major league
NEW YORK (AP) — Willie Mays will add some hits to his record, Monte Irvin’s big league batting average should climb over .300 and Satchel Paige may add nearly 150 victories to his total. Josh Gibson, the greatest of all Negro League sluggers, might just wind up with a major...
Kenyan man charged with plotting 9/11-style attack on U.S.
NEW YORK — Federal authorities have unsealed an indictment charging a Kenyan man with trying to stage a 9/11-style attack on the United States on behalf of the terrorist organization al-Shabab. Cholo Abdi Abdullah, 30, who was arrested in the Philippines in 2019, was transferred to U.S. custody Tuesday on...
Iran nuclear deal members urge Tehran return to compliance
BERLIN — World powers that are part of a landmark 2015 nuclear deal with Iran urged Tehran on Wednesday to roll back violations of the accord and return to full compliance during a virtual meeting in Vienna, a German official said. The meeting came as the signatories to the agreement...
Shoulder lands Bengals DT Geno Atkins on injured reserve
CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals on Wednesday put defensive tackle Geno Atkins on injured reserve with a right shoulder injury. The 11-year veteran missed the first four games of the season with the injury suffered in training camp and has played sparingly since. Atkins has one tackle in seven games....
McConnell warns GOP off Electoral College brawl in Congress
WASHINGTON — Fending off a messy fight that could damage Republicans ahead of Georgia Senate runoffs, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell warned fellow GOP senators not to join President Donald Trump’s extended assault on the Electoral College results. In public remarks and private warnings on Tuesday, McConnell worked to push ahead...
S&P 500 nears record following stimulus progress, Fed moves
NEW YORK — The S&P 500 ticked up to the edge of its record Wednesday after the Federal Reserve pledged to keep buying bonds until the economy makes substantial progress from its virus-wracked state. In a mixed and muted day of trading, the S&P 500 rose 6.55 points, or 0.2%,...
Negotiators near agreement on long-delayed covid-19 aid bill
WASHINGTON — Congressional negotiators closed in Wednesday on a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package that would deliver additional “paycheck protection” subsidies to businesses, $300 per week jobless checks, and $600 or so stimulus payments to most Americans. The long-delayed measure was coming together as Capitol Hill combatants finally fashioned difficult...
Turning the page? Republicans acknowledge Biden’s victory
WASHINGTON — More than a month after the election, top Republicans finally acknowledged Joe Biden as the next U.S. president, a collapse in GOP resistance to the millions of voters who decisively chose the Democrat. Foreign leaders joined the parade, too, including Russia’s Vladimir Putin. Speaking on Tuesday from the...
Retail sales fell 1.1% in November, biggest drop in 7 months
NEW YORK — Retail sales fell 1.1% in November, the biggest drop in seven months, and a sign Americans held back on spending during the start of the holiday shopping season. The U.S. Commerce Department also revised October’s number, saying on Wednesday that retail sales actually fell 0.1% that month,...
China indicts 10 Hong Kong residents over attempt to flee
HONG KONG — Chinese prosecutors on Wednesday announced the indictment of 10 people from Hong Kong over an attempt to flee the city amid a crackdown on opposition political activity. The Yantian district prosecutor’s office in the city of Shenzhen just across the border from Hong Kong said on its...
Iran leaders: Biden arrival won’t guarantee better relations
TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s supreme leader and the country’s president both warned America on Wednesday that the departure of President Donald Trump does not immediately mean better relations between the two nations. The remarks come as Iran approaches the first anniversary of the U.S. drone strike that killed Revolutionary Guard...
Investigation opened after women’s symbol put on Polish flag
WARSAW, Poland — Prosecutors have opened an investigation into whether the Polish flag was publicly insulted after a family in Warsaw hung a flag from their balcony combined with a lightning bolt, a symbol for women’s rights in Poland. It’s the latest incident to raise questions about freedom of expression...
This date in sports history: Dec. 16Video
1918 — Jack Dempsey knocks out Carl Morris in 14 seconds in a heavyweight bout in New Orleans. 1930 — Golfer Bobby Jones wins the first James E. Sullivan Award. The award is given to “the most outstanding amateur athlete in the United States.” 1940 — Joe Louis knocks out...
NFL not allowing mandated local bubbles during postseasonVideo
NFL teams won’t be allowed to create local bubbles during the postseason by mandating players stay in a hotel, except for the night before a game. “Clubs may not require players and staff to stay at a hotel in their local area,” reads a league memo obtained Tuesday by the...
Cyberattack may have exposed deep U.S. secrets; damage yet unknownVideo
BOSTON — Some of America’s most deeply held secrets may have been stolen in a disciplined, monthslong operation being blamed on elite Russian government hackers. The possibilities of what might have been purloined are mind-boggling. Could hackers have obtained nuclear secrets? Covid-19 vaccine data? Blueprints for next-generation weapons systems? It...
Ex-Houston officer accused of assault in bogus voter fraud claim
HOUSTON — A former Houston police captain was charged with assault on Tuesday after running a man off the road and holding him at gunpoint in an effort to prove what authorities have called a bogus voter fraud scheme. Mark Aguirre claimed that an air conditioner repairman was the mastermind...
Ravens hope win over Browns provides spark for playoff pushVideo
An emotional, uplifting victory on the road against a division rival strongly enhanced the Baltimore Ravens’ chances of reaching the playoffs and provided a positive vibe during a season marred by injuries, a three-game skid and an outbreak of covid-19. Now, with a soft schedule in front of them, the...
Virginia Tech AD says coronavirus significantly impacted football teamVideo
Virginia Tech athletic director Whit Babcock painted a stark picture Tuesday of what the Hokies went through during the football season amid the coronavirus pandemic. “Well over half of our team, maybe three-fourths, contacted covid since March,” Babcock said in an hourlong Zoom call. “Eight of our 10 full-time coaches...
No surprises as Alabama, Notre Dame, Clemson, Ohio State top college playoff rankingsVideo
Alabama, Notre Dame, Clemson and Ohio State will enter championship weekend in position to make the College Football Playoff with very little drama. The top five teams were locked into their places Tuesday night for the fourth straight week, with the Crimson Tide (10-0) leading the way as it prepares...
Trump’s company ordered to give evidence to New York investigators
NEW YORK — A New York judge on Tuesday ordered President Donald Trump’s company to give state investigators documents related to a suburban estate that’s the subject of a civil investigation into the family’s business practices. Judge Arthur Engoron said the Trump Organization must turn over to the New York...
Unbeaten Ohio State seeks style points in Big Ten championship gameVideo
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A group of university administrators on a Zoom call decided Ohio State would play in the Big Ten championship game. Now the No. 3 Buckeyes are eager to show not only are they the dominant team in the conference, but they also unequivocally deserve a spot in...
Browns learn tough lesson in gut-wrenching loss to RavensVideo
CLEVELAND — On their way to likely ending the NFL’s current longest playoff drought, the Browns are learning lessons every week. Some of them are tougher than others. Monday’s was: don’t shrink. While showing resilience, toughness, grit and all the other coaching cliches against Baltimore in a 47-42 loss that...
Fashion mogul Peter Nygard arrested in Canada on sex charges
NEW YORK — Canadian fashion mogul Peter Nygard was arrested on charges alleging he sexually abused women and girls after luring them into his orbit with opportunities in fashion and modeling over the last 25 years. Nygard, 79, was detained after a Winnipeg, Canada, court appearance Tuesday after his Monday...
