Associated Press stories, Page 20
Demand for World Cup tickets could make resellers big winners
MANCHESTER, England — World Cup ticket prices are at exorbitant levels, yet fans are still queueing up in their millions to attend soccer’s biggest tournament. There is a such an over-demand for the event being staged in the United States, Canada and Mexico this year that FIFA president Gianni Infantino...
After applying pressure all season, Broncos produce turnovers in playoffs
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Finally, all that pressure paid off for pass rusher Nik Bonitto and the Denver defense. Finally, the Broncos produced what’s been missing much of the season — takeaways. It’s been a long time coming for a defense that’s been one of the best in the NFL. The...
Ukraine, Russia, U.S. discuss fraught issue of territorial concessions in Abu Dhabi
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the future of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region would be a key focus as negotiators from Ukraine, Russia and the United States meet in Abu Dhabi for talks to end Russia’s nearly four-year full-scale invasion. The UAE’s foreign ministry said the talks, which commenced Friday and...
Defensive coordinators are 3 of first 5 NFL coaching hires
Jesse Minter, Robert Saleh and Jeff Hafley earned their head coaching opportunities on the defensive side of the ball. Three of the five new hires this coaching cycle are former defensive coordinators. There are five openings still remaining and a few more defensive coaches could get a job, including Sean...
What Trump officials and immigration lawyers say about ICE detaining a 5-year-old
MINNEAPOLIS — The detention of a 5-year-old Ecuadorian boy with his father outside their home in Minnesota has become the latest lightning rod for America’s divisions on immigration under the Trump administration. Versions offered by government officials and the family’s attorney and neighbors offer contradictory versions of whether the parents...
Jaguars offensive coordinator Grant Udinski gets 2nd interview for Browns’ head coach opening
CLEVELAND — Grant Udinski completed his second interview with the Cleveland Browns for their head coaching vacancy Friday. The 30-year old Jacksonville Jaguars offensive coordinator had his first interview with the team Jan. 17. Udinski just completed his first season with the Jaguars. Even though coach Liam Coen called the...
Former 49ers quarterback John Brodie, an NFL MVP and a prolific passer, dies at 90
John Brodie, who won an MVP award and was one of the NFL’s most prolific passers during a 17-year career with the San Francisco 49ers, has died. He was 90. The 49ers said Brodie’s family said he died Friday. Brodie had a stroke on Oct. 24, 2000. “The 49ers family...
Cooper Kupp invaluable to Seahawks ahead of NFC Championship against former team
RENTON, Wash. — Perhaps it was because of his ever-growing playoff beard that veteran wide receiver Cooper Kupp felt inclined to comment on how hot it was inside the Seattle Seahawks’ meeting room Thursday. On a balmy January day in the Emerald City, Kupp stood before a gaggle of reporters...
U.S. carries out 1st known strike on alleged drug boat since Maduro’s capture
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military said Friday it has carried out a deadly strike on a vessel accused of trafficking drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, the first known attack since the raid that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro this month. U.S. Southern Command said on social media the boat...
Meta pauses teen access to AI characters
Meta is halting teens’ access to artificial intelligence characters, at least temporarily, the company said in a blog post Friday. Meta Platforms Inc., which own Instagram and WhatsApp, said, starting in the “coming weeks,” teens will no longer be able to access AI characters “until the updated experience is ready”...
No. 17 Alabama plans to play 7-footer Charles Bediako, who turned pro in 2023, against Tennessee
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. — Charles Bediako will play against Tennessee on Saturday, Alabama coach Nate Oats said Friday, even while calling the NCAA system that allowed professional players to return to college “broken.” “We are planning to play him,” Oats said. “He’s eligible to play. We’re going to follow the court...
Buffalo Bills interview Philip Rivers for head coaching job
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — Philip Rivers interviewed with the Buffalo Bills for their head coaching job Friday, the latest twist in a busy couple of months for one of the most prolific passers in NFL history. The 44-year-old Rivers has no previous NFL coaching experience, having worked since his initial...
Indiana QB Fernando Mendoza officially declares for the NFL draft and could be the No. 1 pick
BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — The Las Vegas Raiders are on the clock, and Heisman Trophy winner Fernando Mendoza is officially available. Mendoza formally declared for the NFL Draft on Friday and could be headed to the Raiders with the No. 1 pick in April. Mendoza led Indiana to a 16-0 season...
Injury questions linger for many top men’s hockey teams at Milan Olympics
EAST MEADOW, N.Y. — With less than three weeks to go before the start of the men’s hockey tournament at the Olympics in Milan, several of the top contenders have significant injury questions. One of those looked to be answered Friday as Canada’s Bo Horvat was back practicing after missing...
Review confirms journalist Hunter S. Thompson’s 2005 death was a suicide
DENVER — A review of the 2005 shooting death of journalist Hunter S. Thompson has confirmed authorities’ original finding that his death was a suicide, Colorado investigators said Friday. The review by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation was announced in September after Thompson’s wife, Anita Thompson, contacted authorities with “new...
Philadelphia sues over removal of slavery exhibit at Independence National Historical Park
PHILADELPHIA — Outraged critics accused President Donald Trump of “whitewashing history” on Friday after the National Park Service removed an exhibit on slavery at Philadelphia’s Independence National Historical Park in response to his executive order “restoring truth and sanity to American history” at the nation’s museums, parks and landmarks. Empty...
College Football Playoff to remain at 12 teams after SEC and Big Ten fail to agree on expansion
The College Football Playoff resolved a few of its thorny issues Friday — including how to deal with Notre Dame — but left the toughest one unresolved, staying at 12 teams for next year and failing to expand the postseason to 16 or more. The CFP’s management committee made the...
Former NFL player Kevin Johnson killed at homeless encampment, medical examiner says
LOS ANGELES — Former Philadelphia Eagles defensive lineman Kevin Johnson died from “blunt head trauma and stab wounds” at a homeless encampment, according to the medical examiner. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner said Johnson, 55, was pronounced dead Wednesday morning after being found unconscious. His death was ruled a...
Colts confirm FBI has opened investigation into death of former owner Jim Irsay
The FBI has opened an investigation into the death of former Indianapolis Colts owner Jim Irsay, team officials confirmed Friday. When Irsay died in May, the team issued a statement saying he died “peacefully in his sleep.” But in late August, The Washington Post reported Irsay continued to battle a...
Icebreakers, the key tech to unlock Greenland, are only made by either U.S. allies or adversaries
BRUSSELS — The cold, hard reality facing any U.S., NATO or European plans for Greenland is the ice. It chokes harbors, entombs minerals and freezes shorelines into minefields of white and blue shards that threaten ships all year. And the only way to break through all that is, well, with...
Why freezing rain has millions at risk of losing power — and heat
ATLANTA — Every morning this week, Newberry Electric Cooperative CEO Keith Avery walks into his office and turns on The Weather Channel. Then he starts making calls, lining up crews and equipment to respond to outages if a forecasted ice storm cripples power across South Carolina. Avery has dealt with...
Immigrants often don’t open the door to ICE, but that may no longer stop officers
SAN DIEGO — Since coming to the United States 30 years ago from Mexico, Fernando Perez said U.S. immigration officers have stopped by his home numerous times, but he has never once answered the door. “There are rules and I know them,” said Perez, speaking in a mix of English...
Canada’s Carney fires back at Trump after Davos speech
TORONTO — Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney responded to U.S. President Donald Trump comment that “Canada lives because of the United States” on Thursday by saying Canada thrives because of Canadian values. Carney said Canada can show the world that the future doesn’t have to be autocratic after returning from...
Iranian prosecutor denies Trump’s claim 800 prisoners were spared execution
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Iran’s top prosecutor on Friday called U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that he halted the hangings of 800 detained protesters there “completely false.” Meanwhile, the overall death toll from a bloody crackdown on nationwide demonstrations rose to at least 5,032, activists said. Activists fear...
Scottie Scheffler starts new year with 63 at The American Express
LA QUINTA, Calif. — The idea for Scottie Scheffler was to get a gauge on his game at The American Express, and all appeared to be in good working order Thursday. He made birdies on half of his holes for a 9-under-par 63 to join a parade of low scores...
