Associated Press stories, Page 1876

SAN DIEGO — Kevin Kiermaier and the Tampa Bay Rays — with big assists from two former Padres who know Petco Park’s outfield well — are one win from the second World Series berth in franchise history. Joey Wendle hit a go-ahead, two-run single two batters after another critical error...

LONDON — Northern Ireland on Wednesday introduced the tightest covid-19 restrictions in the United Kingdom, closing schools, pubs and restaurants to slow the spread of the virus. The move came as England’s new three-tiered system of restrictions took effect, with the northwestern city of Liverpool facing the most severe measures....

LANSING, Mich. — A ballot drive has turned in more than 483,000 signatures for an initiative to prohibit discrimination against LGBTQ people in Michigan by amending the state’s civil rights law. If election officials determine roughly 340,000 are valid, the bill would be placed before the Republican-led Legislature, where similar...

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A Florida municipal worker was suspended without pay for flying a flag supporting President Donald Trump’s re-election from his government truck. Palm Beach County suspended construction project specialist Randall Williams for five days for violating its rules against engaging in political activity during work hours....

BECKLEY, W.Va. — Authorities said a California inmate has been indicted in the shooting of a West Virginia school teacher whose body was found the night before her wedding in 1981. Earl James Robbins, 64, was charged Tuesday with first-degree murder in the death of 27-year-old Cynthia Miller, news outlets...

VATICAN CITY — A trial opened Wednesday in the Vatican’s criminal tribunal for two priests, one accused of sexually abusing an altar boy in the Vatican’s youth seminary and the other of covering it up. The charges read aloud in the courtroom marked the first time the Vatican had publicly...

1945 — The Chicago Cardinals snap the longest losing streak in NFL history at 29 games with a 16-7 victory over the Chicago Bears. 1951 — Detroit’s Jack Christiansen returns two punts for touchdowns, but the Lions still lose 27-21 to the Los Angeles Rams. 1962 — Houston’s George Blanda...

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The wait between games caused by the NFL’s first covid-19 outbreak left the Tennessee Titans depleted. They’re still undefeated. Ryan Tannehill threw for three touchdowns and ran for another as the Titans routed the Buffalo Bills, 42-16, on a rare Tuesday night in a showdown between two...

NEW YORK — The New York Jets have surprisingly released disgruntled running back Le’Veon Bell, ending a disappointing tenure after less than two full seasons. The team issued a statement from general manager Joe Douglas on Tuesday night in which he says the Jets made the move after having several...

NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Welcome back, Brooks Koepka. For the third time this year. And yes, it’s a phrase he’s getting tired of hearing. “Hopefully, that won’t happen again,” Koepka said Tuesday at the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek, the very tournament where last year — in a much...

The NFL has no plans to move into a bubble as it takes several new steps to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The league will begin PCR testing for covid-19 on game days starting this week, use of masks in walkthroughs are now mandatory and only play-callers will be...

LOS ANGELES — Conchata Ferrell, who became known for her role as Berta the housekeeper on TV’s “Two and a Half Men” after a long career as a character actor on stage and in movies, including “Mystic Pizza” and “Network,” has died. She was 77. Ferrell died Monday at Sherman...

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — No. 10 Florida paused all team activities Tuesday following “an increase in positive COVID tests among players.” Athletic director Scott Stricklin said the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution.” Stricklin added that coach Dan Mullen has spoken with players and parents and that he...

NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Dustin Johnson became the most prominent player to test positive for the coronavirus since golf resumed in June, forcing him to withdraw Tuesday from the CJ Cup at Shadow Creek. The PGA Tour said in a statement that Johnson notified officials he was experiencing covid-19...

The Supreme Court on Tuesday stopped the once-a-decade head count of every U.S. resident from continuing through the end of October. President Donald Trump’s administration had asked the nation’s high court to suspend a district court’s order permitting the 2020 census to continue through the end of the month. The...

Independent monitors have paused enrollment in a study testing the covid-19 antiviral drug remdesivir plus an experimental antibody therapy being developed by Eli Lilly that’s similar to a treatment President Trump recently received. Lilly confirmed Tuesday that the study had been paused “out of an abundance of caution” and said...

A much-hyped network upgrade called “5G” means different things to different people. To industry proponents, it’s the next huge innovation in wireless internet. To the U.S. government, it’s the backbone technology of a future that America will wrestle with China to control. To many average people, it’s simply a mystery....