Associated Press stories, Page 1859
Some Pa. Dems want maskless House GOP lawmakers sworn in last
HARRISBURG — A group of Democrats in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives wants their adamantly maskless Republican colleagues to be sworn in next month after everyone else, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. As a safety measure, the 203 state representatives will take the oath of office on Jan....
FDA panel endorses widespread use of Pfizer covid-19 vaccine
WASHINGTON — A government advisory panel endorsed widespread use of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine Thursday, putting the country just one step away from launching an epic vaccination campaign against the outbreak that has killed close to 300,000 Americans. Shots could begin within days, depending on how quickly the Food and Drug...
Stock indexes end mixed as damage to the economy piles upVideo
U.S. stock indexes closed mostly lower Thursday following more evidence that the pandemic is tightening its grip on the economy while Congress remains in a stalemate over how to do something about it. The S&P 500 slipped 0.1% after flipping between gains and losses in the early going. The index...
Taylor Swift surprises fans with ‘Evermore,’ a new album due tonight
Taylor Swift fans are getting a double reason to celebrate this year — the singer-songwriter is about to release her second album in 2020. “To put it plainly, we just couldn’t stop writing songs,” Swift wrote in social media posts Thursday morning. “I’ve never done this before. In the past...
U.S. jobless claims jump to 853,000 amid resurgence of virus
WASHINGTON — The number of people applying for unemployment aid jumped last week to 853,000, the most since September, evidence that companies are cutting more jobs as new virus cases spiral higher. The Labor Department said Thursday that the number of applications increased from 716,000 the previous week. Before the...
Tensions rise over masks as virus grips smaller U.S. cities
MISSION, Kan. (AP) — Arguments over mask requirements and other restrictions have turned ugly in recent days as the deadly coronavirus surge across the U.S. engulfs small and medium-size cities that once seemed safely removed from the outbreak. In Boise, Idaho, public health officials about to vote on a four-county...
Despite Trump’s venting and threats, Biden’s win is sealed
WASHINGTON — There’s plenty of noise but no cause for confusion as President Donald Trump vents about how the election turned out and vows to subvert it even still. This truth is self-evident: Joe Biden is on track to become president Jan. 20. The machinery of government and democracy is...
This day in sport history: Dec. 10Video
1939 — The Green Bay Packers register the first shutout in an NFL championship game by beating the New York Giants, 27-0. 1961 — Billy Cannon of the Houston Oilers rushes for 216 yards and catches five passes for 114 yards and scores five touchdowns in a 48-21 victory over...
LSU self-imposes bowl ban for current season amid NCAA probeVideo
BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU is self-imposing a one-year ban on postseason play for this season as part an effort to cooperate with an NCAA probe into rules violations. “LSU leadership made this decision after careful deliberation and review of the NCAA rules violations that have been discovered in the...
California man charged with decapitating son, daughterVideo
LANCASTER, Calif. — A Southern California father of four has been charged with decapitating his teenage son and 12-year-old daughter and abusing his two other boys, prosecutors said. Maurice Jewel Taylor Sr., 34, faces two felony counts each of murder and child abuse under circumstances or conditions likely to cause...
Senate falls short of halting Trump’s $23B arms sales to UAE
WASHINGTON — The Senate fell short Wednesday in trying to halt the Trump administration’s proposed $23 billion arms sales to the United Arab Emirates, despite bipartisan objections to the package of F-35 fighter jets and drones stemming from a broader Middle East peace agreement. Senators argued the sale of the...
Browns step from shadows into spotlight during playoff pushVideo
CLEVELAND — The Browns quickly have stepped out of the shadows and into the spotlight. This time, they’ll try not to let it melt them. Fresh off an impressive road win at Tennessee last week, Cleveland’s Dec. 20 matchup against the New York Giants was moved Wednesday by the NFL...
Finally healthy and running hot, Ravens seek strong finish
BALTIMORE — The sight of Lamar Jackson racing toward the end zone on a 37-yard, fourth-down trek showed just how effective the Baltimore Ravens’ offense can be when their quarterback is the centerpiece of a multi-faceted running attack. Jackson faked a handoff, broke slightly to his right and zipped through...
Former Alabama, N.Y. Giants coach Ray Perkins dies at 79
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Ray Perkins, who replaced Hall of Famer Bear Bryant as Alabama’s football coach and started the transition with the New York Giants that led to two Super Bowl titles, died Wednesday in Tuscaloosa. He was 79. The school announced his passing on Wednesday, and daughter Rachael Perkins...
Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes’ arm angles causing defenses fits
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes grew up in baseball parks, tagging along with his big leaguer father and spending plenty of time on the diamond himself, often goofing around by slinging the ball sidearm and sinker-style along with traditional pitching. Who knew those summer afternoons would serve him so...
NFL: All proper procedures followed with Dez Bryant
The NFL’s medical director says all procedures followed before the Baltimore Ravens’ game Tuesday night when receiver Dez Bryant tested positive for covid-19 were done properly and in the same manner as for every case. Bryant had an inconclusive test result after he was active for the game. He was...
DeChambeau caddie at Open again, this time for Lexi Thompson
HOUSTON — Lexi Thompson has some U.S. Open experience on her bag this week at Champions Golf Club, along with an entirely new set of metrics and vocabulary. Air density. Ground force. That comes from Tim Tucker, the caddie for U.S. Open champion Bryson DeChambeau. Thompson is between caddies at...
Big Ten audible: Ohio State will play for title vs. Northwestern
COLUMBUS, Ohio — The Big Ten Conference dropped its six-game minimum requirement for the league championship game Wednesday, clearing that way for No. 3 Ohio State to take on No. 15 Northwestern in another chance for the Buckeyes to burnish their playoff credentials. The Buckeyes (5-0) will try for their...
Lawmakers act to avert shutdown, buying time for covid relief talks
WASHINGTON — Still spinning their wheels on covid-19 relief, lawmakers grabbed a one-week government funding extension on Wednesday that buys time for more talks — though there is considerable disagreement over who is supposed to be taking the lead from there. Amid the uncertainty, the House easily passed a one-week...
Al Michaels voted Frick winner for baseball’s Hall of Fame
NEW YORK — Al Michaels refers to his lack of baseball for much of his career “the one regret I might have.” An absence from regular baseball broadcasts for the past quarter-century didn’t prevent the 76-year-old from reaching the Hall of Fame. Michaels was voted the Ford C. Frick Award...
5 dead, including 3 children, as a result of house fire in West VirginiaVideo
WILLIAMSBURG, W.Va. — Five people, including three children, died and emergency crews were looking for a possible sixth victim following a house fire in West Virginia, officials said. Fire crews, the Greenbrier County Sheriff’s Office and the West Virginia State Police responded to the blaze Tuesday afternoon at a home...
AP-NORC poll: Only half in U.S. want shots as vaccine nearsVideo
WASHINGTON — As states frantically prepare to begin months of vaccinations that could end the pandemic, a new poll finds only about half of Americans are ready to roll up their sleeves when their turn comes. The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows about a...
Hunter Biden tax probe examining Chinese business dealingsVideo
WILMINGTON, Del. — The Justice Department is investigating the finances of President-elect Joe Biden’s son, including scrutinizing some of his Chinese business dealings and other transactions, a person familiar with the matter told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The revelations put a renewed spotlight on questions about Hunter Biden’s financial...
West Virginia chemical plant blast kills 1, injures 3Video
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — An explosion and fire at a West Virginia chemical plant that shook surrounding homes killed one person while injuring three others, authorities said Wednesday. It occurred after 10 p.m. Tuesday on the Chemours property site in the Kanawha County community of Belle, the county commission said in...
U.S. govt, states bring antitrust action against FacebookVideo
WASHINGTON — Federal regulators on Wednesday sued Facebook, seeking forced divestment of its Instagram and WhatsApp messaging services. In a separate case, 48 states and districts accused the company of abusing its market power in social networking to crush smaller competitors. The antitrust lawsuits were announced by the Federal Trade...
