Associated Press stories, Page 212
EPA announces rollback for some Biden-era limits on ‘forever chemicals’ in drinking waterVideo
The Environmental Protection Agency said Wednesday that it plans to weaken limits on some “forever chemicals” in drinking water that were finalized last year, while maintaining standards for two common ones. The Biden administration set the first federal drinking water limits for PFAS, or perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, finding they...
Philadelphia Flyers hire Rick Tocchet as coach, turning to alum to end playoff drought
The Philadelphia Flyers hired Rick Tocchet as their coach Wednesday, hoping his return to the franchise will push them out of an extended rebuild and into playoff contention. Tocchet spent 2 1/2 seasons in Vancouver and won the Jack Adams Award as NHL coach of the year in 2023-24 for...
Georgetown student released from immigration detention after federal judge’s ruling
ALVARADO, Texas — A Georgetown University scholar from India who was arrested in the Trump administration’s crackdown on foreign college students was released from immigration detention Wednesday after a federal judge’s ruling. Badar Khan Suri said he was glad to be released as he left a federal detention facility in...
1st female mayor of Omaha concedes in race against likely first Black mayor
OMAHA, Neb. — Omaha’s first female mayor has conceded the mayoral race to a man who will likely become the community’s first Black mayor. Voters in Omaha were making history Tuesday by either reelecting the city’s first female mayor to a rare fourth term or electing the community’s first Black...
Trump marvels at wealth of his Arab hosts while he eyes White House and Air Force One upgrades
DOHA, Qatar — Donald Trump is the most powerful and famous person on the planet, at the helm of the biggest economy and the strongest military. But on his trip to the Middle East this week, the American president is sounding more than a little envious of his Arab hosts....
Virginia boy swept away as heavy rains and flooding hit several states
The body of a 12-year-old boy has been found after he was swept away by rushing water on a Virginia roadway, while a dozen students stayed overnight at a Maryland high school as heavy rains led to flooding in several states, officials said. A 911 caller reported Tuesday night that...
U.S. overdose deaths fell 27% last year, the largest 1-year decline ever seen
There were 30,000 fewer U.S. drug overdose deaths in 2024 than the year before — the largest one-year decline ever recorded. An estimated 80,000 people died from overdoses last year, according to provisional Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data released Wednesday. That’s down 27% from the 110,000 in 2023....
Newark problems and recent crashes put focus on air traffic controller shortage and aging equipment
The recent chronic delays and cancellations at New Jersey’s largest airport have highlighted the shortage of air traffic controllers and the aging equipment they use, which President Donald Trump’s administration wants to replace. The Federal Aviation Administration is working on a short-term fix to the problems at the Newark airport...
Lawmakers question Kennedy on staffing cuts, funding freezes and policy changes at health departmentVideo
WASHINGTON — Republicans and Democrats alike on Wednesday questioned the deep staffing cuts, research funding freezes and drastic policy changes that U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has made in a few short months at the helm of the nation’s health department. Kennedy, who was to...
Thai officials seize over 200 tons of illegally imported electronic waste from U.S.
BANGKOK — Thai officials on Wednesday said they seized 238 tons of illegally imported electronic waste from the United States at the port of Bangkok, one of the biggest lots they’ve found this year. The waste, which came in 10 large containers, was declared as mixed metal scrap but turned...
Democrats are deeply pessimistic about the future of their party, an AP-NORC poll finds
NEW YORK — Six months after Donald Trump’s presidential victory, Democrats remain deeply pessimistic about the future of their party, although neither the Democratic Party nor the Republican Party is viewed favorably by a majority of U.S. adults. A new poll conducted earlier this month by The Associated Press-NORC Center...
Israeli airstrikes in Gaza kill 70 people, including 22 children, health officials say
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli airstrikes pounded northern and southern Gaza on Wednesday, killing at least 70 people, including almost two dozen children, according to local hospitals and health officials, a day after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said there was “no way” he would halt Israel’s offensive in...
Trump meets with Syria’s insurgent-turned-leader in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — U.S. President Donald Trump met with interim Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the first encounter between the two nations’ leaders in 25 years and one that could mark a turning point for Syria as it struggles to emerge from decades of international...
Federal judge OKs use of Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelans who are labeled gang members
A federal judge says President Donald Trump can use the Alien Enemies Act to deport Venezuelan citizens who are shown to be members of the Tren de Aragua gang. The ruling Tuesday from U.S. District Judge Stephanie Haines in Pennsylvania appears to be the first time a federal judge has...
Flash flooding forces evacuation of elementary school in western MarylandVideo
BALTIMORE — Flooding in rural western Maryland forced the evacuation of an elementary school Tuesday afternoon as water began to breach the second floor, according to local officials. Homes and businesses in downtown Westernport were also inundated with floodwaters as a result of hours of heavy rain. Officials reassured the...
Federal grand jury indicts Wisconsin judge in immigration case, allowing charges to continue
MADISON, Wis. — A federal grand jury on Tuesday indicted a Wisconsin judge accused of helping a man evade immigration authorities, allowing the case against her to continue. The arrest of Milwaukee County Circuit Judge Hannah Dugan escalated a clash between President Donald Trump’s administration and local authorities over the...
All-Pro pass rusher Trey Hendrickson shows up at Bengals practice frustrated over contractVideo
CINCINNATI — A text from coach Zac Taylor led Bengals All-Pro defensive end Trey Hendrickson to head to Cincinnati, attend Tuesday’s optional team practice as a spectator and speak to reporters. Hendrickson, entering the final year of his contract, has been seeking a new deal and also requested a trade....
Bryson DeChambeau looks to keep rolling at PGA Championship
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Bryson DeChambeau left Augusta National last month frustrated over his final-round meltdown at the Masters and perplexed by his poor iron play. The burly 6-foot-1, 220-pound DeChambeau has put that disappointing loss behind him and feels he’s fixed the iron issue — or at least put a...
Democrats endorse set of changes to Pennsylvania election rules, sending bill to state Senate
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania voters would get more than a week of early voting and county election officials would have more time to start processing mail-in ballots under an election law proposal that advanced out of the state House on Tuesday by a single vote, with all Republicans opposed. The wide-ranging...
Tatum to miss remainder of playoffs after Achilles tendon surgery, imperiling Celtics’ repeat hopesVideo
BOSTON — Boston Celtics star Jayson Tatum had surgery Tuesday to repair a ruptured right Achilles tendon that will sideline him for the remainder of the playoffs, the team announced. The Celtics announced the extent of Tatum’s injury and the surgery a day after the six-time All-Star went down in...
More than 200 firefighters battle massive warehouse blaze in Baltimore. No injuries reported
BALTIMORE — More than 200 firefighters battled a massive blaze that broke out at a west Baltimore warehouse, disrupting Amtrak service in the area and prompting officials to move dozens of area residents. Commuter rail service was canceled Tuesday amid fears the building could collapse onto railroad tracks. Firefighters were...
Newark mayor returns to immigration detention center days after trespassing arrest
NEWARK, N.J. — Newark Mayor Ras Baraka briefly returned Tuesday to the gates of the federal immigration detention center where he was arrested last week on trespassing charges. Baraka, a Democrat running for governor in the June 10 primary, was turned away from Delaney Hall, the facility where he was...
Royals sign former Pirates pitcher Rich Hill to minor-league dealVideo
HOUSTON — The Kansas City Royals are giving former Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Rich Hill another chance to pitch in the big leagues. The Royals signed the 45-year-old left-hander to a minor-league deal Tuesday, and he will report soon to the club’s spring training facility in Surprise, Ariz. Once he gets...
NFL pauses accelerator program aimed at increasing diverse hirings
The NFL will not hold its accelerator program aimed at increasing diversity among coaches at the upcoming spring meetings as the league plans to make changes to the program before bringing it back next year. The latest event in the program, which began in 2022, was scheduled to have coaching...
Chuck Schumer vowing to hold up Justice Department nominees for answers about luxury plane from Qatar
WASHINGTON — Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said Tuesday that he will hold up all Department of Justice nominations on the Senate floor until he gets more answers about the free Air Force One replacement that President Donald Trump says would be donated by Qatar. Trump said this week that...
