Associated Press stories, Page 2018
U.S. officials dispute Trump’s claim Beirut was attacked
WASHINGTON — U.S. officials said Wednesday there is no indication the massive explosion in Lebanon that killed at least 100 people was an attack, contradicting President Donald Trump who said American generals told him it was likely caused by a bomb. The officials, speaking only on condition of anonymity to...
Biden won’t go to Milwaukee to accept Democratic nominationVideo
Joe Biden will not travel to Milwaukee to accept the Democratic presidential nomination because of concerns over the coronavirus, party officials said Wednesday, signaling a move to a convention that essentially has become entirely virtual. It is the latest example of the pandemic’s sweeping effects on the 2020 presidential election...
For Liam Neeson and son, ‘Made in Italy’ was a family affairVideo
When Liam Neeson sits down with a script, he usually knows within five pages whether he wants to do it. He calls it his “cup of tea” test. If he finds himself eager to get one, it’s not a good sign. But he found himself unable to break away from...
Facebook launches new TikTok clone, Instagram Reels
NEW YORK — Facebook’s Instagram is launching its answer to the hit short video app TikTok — Instagram Reels. The new Instagram feature will let users record and edit 15-second videos with audio, and will let users add visual effects. Users will be able to share Reels with followers in...
UConn becomes 1st FBS program to cancel football over virus
STORRS, Conn. — UConn canceled its 2020-21 football season Wednesday, becoming the first FBS program to do so because of the coronavirus pandemic, as other schools had taken the Huskies off their schedules and the governor was reluctant to allow UConn to travel to states with high infection rates. “After...
Tiger Woods in better place heading into PGA Championship
SAN FRANCISCO — The course is one Tiger Woods knows well and where he has winning memories. The PGA Championship is a major he has won four times, more than anyone except Jack Nicklaus and Walter Hagen. Woods learned last year that brings no guarantee of playing well. Coming off...
Adam Scott back in PGA chase after long break Down Under
Adam Scott took his own sweet time returning to competitive golf. When he finally showed up at the PGA Championship this week, everyone else ranked inside the top 50 had already revved up for the season’s first major by playing at least one tournament somewhere. But Scott, who checked in...
Jordan Spieth chasing Grand Slam and hardly anyone notices
SAN FRANCISCO — The spotlight on Jordan Spieth should be bright enough to cut through the marine layer blanketing Harding Park this week at the PGA Championship. Win this major and he joins the most exclusive club in golf with the final leg of the career Grand Slam. Only five...
Negligence probed in deadly Beirut blast amid public angerVideo
BEIRUT — Investigators probing the deadly blast that ripped across Beirut focused Wednesday on possible negligence in the storage of tons of a highly explosive fertilizer in a waterfront warehouse, while the government ordered the house arrest of several port officials. International aid flights began to arrive as Lebanon’s leaders...
Carolina completes sweep, makes Rangers 1st team sent home from NHL playoff bubble
TORONTO — Sebastian Aho scored twice in the third period while James Reimer was strong in net to help the Carolina Hurricanes beat the New York Rangers 4-1 on Tuesday night and sweep the Stanley Cup qualifier series. Warren Foegele scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period for...
Mike Trout rejoins Angels, calls for daily coronavirus testingVideo
Mike Trout remains skeptical about the wisdom of completing the full baseball season amid the coronavirus outbreak, and the Los Angeles Angels’ three-time AL MVP would like to see the addition of daily testing to the sport’s safety measures. Trout spoke Tuesday after rejoining the Angels in Seattle following the...
Experts: Obstacles to charging police in Breonna Taylor case
LOUISVILLE — Despite mounting public pressure to file criminal charges nearly five months after Breonna Taylor’s death, prosecutors may face significant obstacles to bringing homicide-related charges against police officers who were shot at when sent to her house with a warrant, legal experts said. Tensions have swelled in her home...
Virus-stricken Marlins resume season with 18 new playersVideo
MIAMI — Scrambling for replacements following a coronavirus outbreak, the Miami Marlins added a Moran, a Morin, two pitchers named Josh Smith and a former Olympic medalist in speedskating. Also among the 18 players joining the Marlins’ 30-man roster as they resumed their virus-disrupted season in Baltimore on Tuesday night...
Maple Leafs shut out Blue Jackets to even playoff seriesVideo
TORONTO — Auston Matthews and John Tavares scored and the Toronto Maple Leafs beat the Columbus Blue Jackets, 3-0, on Tuesday to even their best-of-five qualifying series at one game. Toronto defenseman Jake Muzzin was taken off the ice on a stretcher with 1 minute, 52 seconds left in the...
Images of student crowds raise questions in Georgia schoolsVideo
ATLANTA — Two suburban Atlanta school districts that began in-person classes Monday with mask-optional policies face more questions about covid-19 safety protocols after on-campus pictures showed students packed shoulder-to-shoulder. In Cherokee County, dozens of seniors gathered at two of the district’s six high schools to take traditional first-day-of-school senior photos,...
Disney to release ‘Mulan’ on streaming service, for a price
“Mulan” is no longer headed for a major theatrical release. The Walt Disney Co. said Tuesday that it will debut its live-action blockbuster on its subscription streaming service, Disney+, on Sept. 4. But this is no “Hamilton”: Customers will have to pay an additional $29.99 on top of the cost...
Juuse Saros sharp as Predators even series with win over CoyotesVideo
EDMONTON, Alberta — The Nashville Predators stumbled in their postseason opener by falling into an early hole, putting themselves in a must-win situation for Game 2. Behind steady goaltending and a dedication to clogging shooting lanes, the Predators snatched the momentum back less than 24 hours before Game 3. Ryan...
Progress ‘long ways away’ as urgency grows on coronavirus reliefVideo
WASHINGTON — Frustrated Senate Republicans re-upped their complaints on Tuesday that Democratic negotiators are staking too hard a line in talks on a broad coronavirus relief bill, but pressure is mounting for progress as covid-weary senators are eager to return to their home states for the August recess. Another negotiating...
Trump backs off mail voting attacks in Florida as Democrats build huge advantageVideo
WASHINGTON — In an abrupt reversal, President Donald Trump now is encouraging voters in the critical swing state of Florida to vote by mail after months of criticizing the practice, and only days after threatening to sue Nevada over a new vote-by-mail law. His encouragement follows a surge in Democratic...
Ohio Gov. DeWine orders children to wear masks as schools reopen
COLUMBUS — Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine issued a health order Tuesday requiring masks for children returning to in-person classes this fall. The governor pleaded with concerned parents and educators across the state to abide by the state’s health orders as K-12 schools begin to open. During his briefing Tuesday, DeWine...
Jordan Eberle scores 2 as Islanders take 2-0 series lead over PanthersVideo
TORONTO — Jordan Eberle scored twice, including the go-ahead goal, and the New York Islanders rallied to a 4-2 win over the Florida Panthers to take a 2-0 lead in their best-of-five NHL preliminary-round playoff series on Tuesday. Ryan Pulock and Matt Martin also scored, and Semyon Varlamov stopped 26...
Trump’s demand for U.S. cut of a TikTok deal is unprecedentedVideo
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump’s demand that the U.S. government get a cut from a potential Microsoft purchase of TikTok is the latest unprecedented scenario in an unprecedented situation. Microsoft is in talks to buy parts of TikTok, a forced sale after Trump threatened to ban the Chinese-owned video...
Defending champ Rafael Nadal to miss U.S. Open amid pandemicVideo
Defending champion Rafael Nadal will skip the U.S. Open because of the coronavirus pandemic, putting on hold his bid to equal Roger Federer’s men’s record for Grand Slam titles. Nadal explained his decision in a series of tweets sent in Spanish and English on Tuesday. “The situation is very complicated...
TCU football coach Gary Patterson apologizes for repeating racial slurVideo
FORT WORTH, Texas — TCU football coach Gary Patterson apologized Tuesday for repeating a racial slur when telling a player to stop using the slur in team meetings. Patterson’s tweet came a day after school Chancellor Victor Boschini said the nearly 20-year leader of TCU’s program, who is white, had...
Minnesota star WR Rashod Bateman to skip season, turn proVideo
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota star wide receiver Rashod Bateman will pass on a 2020 college football season that has been complicated — and threatened — by the pandemic. Bateman announced Tuesday he has opted out amid concerns about the coronavirus and will forgo his remaining two years of eligibility to enter...
