Associated Press stories, Page 2164
U.S. military rethinking links to Confederate Army symbols
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military is rethinking its traditional connection to Confederate Army symbols, mindful of their divisiveness at a time the nation is wrestling with questions of race after the death of George Floyd in police hands. Defense Secretary Mark Esper and Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy, both former Army...
Confederate monument in Virginia covered with trash bagsVideo
PORTSMOUTH, Va. — Protesters in Portsmouth, Va., covered a Confederate monument in the city with trash bags and sheets Wednesday, several hours after the city’s council members had a meeting to figure out ways to relocate it. A white sheet that read “BLM” covered the fence in front of the...
Ford, VW to collaborate on vans, pickup, electric vehicleVideo
DEARBORN, Mich. — Ford and Volkswagen will each offer a small city van, a larger cargo van, a small pickup truck and an electric vehicle as part of their global alliance announced last year. The companies announced some details of what the venture will yield Wednesday, with the city van...
Grammys make awards changes, address conflicts of interest
The Recording Academy is making changes to several Grammy Awards categories, including the often-debated best new artist title, and having nomination review committee members sign disclosure forms to prevent conflicts of interest. The new rules announced Wednesday will affect the 63rd annual Grammy Awards, which will air live on Jan....
Russia detains managers of plant that spilled fuel in ArcticVideo
MOSCOW — Russian authorities have detained three top managers of an Arctic power plant that leaked 20,000 tons of diesel fuel into the ecologically fragile region. Plant director Pavel Smirnov, chief engineer Alexei Stepanov and his deputy, Yuri Kuznetsov, have been detained on suspicion of violating environmental regulations, the spokeswoman...
Stocks slide on glum growth forecast, eye Fed decisionVideo
BANGKOK — World shares turned lower on Wednesday after a downbeat forecast for the global economy and as investors awaited the outcome of a Federal Reserve policy meeting. Markets in Europe and Wall Street futures shed their gains and were largely down for the day after the Organization for Economic...
4 ‘Vanderpump’ regulars ousted over slurs, racial profiling
Four cast members are not returning for another season of Bravo’s “Vanderpump Rules” — two over their racist social media posts, and the others after they racially profiled a coworker. Bravo released a statement Tuesday confirming that Stassi Schroeder, Kristen Doute, Max Boyens and Brett Caprioni would not return to...
Pennsylvania GOP seeks to dismantle Wolf’s shutdown
A Republican proposal that aims to force Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf to end the pandemic disaster declaration occupied the Legislature for hours on Tuesday, but its legal impact was disputed. Senate Republicans said the state law that gave Wolf the ability to issue the March 6 declaration also gives lawmakers...
‘He is going to change the world’: Funeral held for George Floyd
HOUSTON — George Floyd was fondly remembered Tuesday as “Big Floyd” — a father and brother, athlete and neighborhood mentor, and now a catalyst for change — at a funeral for the black man whose death has sparked a global reckoning over police brutality and racial prejudice. More than 500...
Video shows prison guard mocking George Floyd killing
FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, N.J. — A corrections officer who participated in a counterprotest to a Black Lives Matter demonstration in New Jersey in which people reenacted the death of George Floyd was suspended after the video was widely shared on social media. In the video, protesters march along a street Monday...
Body camera: Dying man pleads ‘save me’ during Taser arrest
AUSTIN, Texas — A black man died in custody last year after sheriff’s deputies in Texas repeatedly used stun guns on him, despite his pleas that he was sick and couldn’t breathe, according to recently released police video and documents. Williamson County deputies attempted to pull 40-year-old Javier Ambler over...
‘Cops,’ on air for 33 seasons, dropped by Paramount Network
LOS ANGELES — After 33 seasons on the air, “Cops” has been dropped by the Paramount Network as protests against police proliferate around the world. “Cops is not on the Paramount Network and we don’t have any current or future plans for it to return,” a spokesperson for the cable...
Analysis: Colin Kaepernick has stronger platform outside footballVideo
It certainly would be a difficult decision for Colin Kaepernick to make. Yet if he comes to the realization his platform of advocacy is now stronger than ever, attempting a return to the NFL might be unwise. Kaepernick has been a leader in the fight for social justice by people...
Torkelson, Martin, Lacy lead list of top MLB draft prospectsVideo
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball’s amateur draft begins Wednesday night with the first of a pandemic-shortened five rounds. Detroit has the No. 1 overall pick for the second time in three years after taking pitcher Casey Mize in 2018. Here’s a look at the top college and high school...
Trump administration opposes extending enhanced unemployment benefit
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration opposes a Democratic proposal to extend a $600 per week federal unemployment benefit approved in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia said Tuesday. The $600 payment, which is in addition to normal unemployment benefits, “was the right thing to do,” Scalia said,...
VA says it lacks adequate medical gear for 2nd virus wave
WASHINGTON — The Veterans Affairs Department on Tuesday defended itself against criticism of past shortages of masks and other medical gear to protect employees from the coronavirus but acknowledged its current supplies may not be enough to handle a second wave. Dr. Richard Stone, the top health official at VA,...
NASCAR appears nearer to banning Confederate flag on its propertiesVideo
The familiar scene of Confederate flags waved by fans at NASCAR tracks soon could be a relic of racing’s good ol’ boy roots. Bubba Wallace, the lone black driver in the sport, wants the stock car series with deep ties to the South to ban the flag at its properties...
NASCAR to allow limited number of fans for upcoming events at Homestead-Miami, TalladegaVideo
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — NASCAR is set to allow fans back at the track for races this month at Homestead-Miami Speedway and Talladega Superspeedway. NASCAR will allow up to 1,000 Florida service members, representing the Homestead Air Reserve Base and U.S. Southern Command in Doral, to attend the Cup Series...
Questions remain regarding U.S. Open tennis — if it is played as scheduledVideo
Novak Djokovic is fretting about “harsh” restrictions on players’ entourages and other “extreme” changes proposed for the U.S. Open, if it is played starting in August. As things stand, defending champion Rafael Nadal would not want to be in Flushing Meadows. While the tennis world awaits a decision, which could...
PGA Tour to leave 8:46 tee time vacant at Colonial in tribute to George FloydVideo
FORT WORTH, Texas — The PGA Tour is leaving the 8:46 a.m. tee time vacant this week at Colonial as part of a tribute to George Floyd and to support efforts to end racial and social injustice. In a memo to players Tuesday, vommissioner Jay Monahan said there would be...
Pro Football Hall of Fame to reopen on Wednesday
CANTON, Ohio — The Pro Football Hall of Fame will reopen Wednesday after nearly a three-month closure caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The hall closed on March 16, but permission has been granted by Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine for museums, science centers and zoos to open. “Since its grand opening...
Woman arrested in hit-run that left officer hospitalized
PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia woman has been charged with attempted murder after police say she ran over a bicycle officer during the burglaries and vandalism that happened after the first night of protests over the death of George Floyd. Court documents indicate that 41-year-old Angela Hall faces charges of attempted...
Emily Giffin releases 10th novel, apologizes for Meghan Markle criticisms
Best-selling author Emily Giffin is apologizing for recent negative comments she made about Meghan Markle. The “Something Borrowed” author frequently posts about the British royal family on her social media. When Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, released a video last month for her son Archie’s first birthday. Giffin posted a...
Voting delays, long lines bring chaos to Georgia primariesVideo
ATLANTA — Long lines snaked around polling places Tuesday, and some voters faced waits of an hour or longer as Georgia held twice-delayed primary elections with a shortage of poll workers and social-distancing precautions caused by the coronavirus. Widespread problems included trouble with Georgia’s new voting system that combines touchscreens...
Trump pushes conspiracy theory about Buffalo protester
President Donald Trump on Tuesday advanced an unfounded conspiracy theory about a 75-year-old protester in Buffalo, New York, who was pushed down by police officers, tweeting without evidence that the confrontation may have been a “set up.” Trump, who has called himself “your president of law and order,” was once...
