Associated Press stories, Page 224
Burro racing wins over runners in backcountry ode to mining history
CERRILLOS, N.M. — Backcountry runners are embracing the physical and emotional challenge of racing with pack burros that don’t always move at their pace. Burro races honor Old West history and hinge on a delicate partnership between runner and beast of burden. Burros, a Spanish-derived word for donkeys and their...
Appreciation: Gregg Popovich’s vision changed Spurs and NBA
Gregg Popovich understood the world. That goes back long before the basketball world knew who he was. It probably can be traced to at least Popovich’s time at the U.S. Air Force Academy, where he majored in Soviet studies and was on his way to becoming a spy. He became...
Cavaliers ready for fast-paced NBA playoffs series against Pacers
CLEVELAND — Kenny Atkinson has one simple message for his Cleveland Cavaliers going into their Eastern Conference semifinals series against the Indiana Pacers. Put your track shoes on. The top-seeded Cavaliers had the NBA’s top offense in the regular season, averaging 121.9 points. The fourth-seeded Pacers averaged 117.4 points (seventh-best)...
Warren Buffett shocks shareholders by announcing his intention to retire at the end of the year
OMAHA, Neb. — Warren Buffett shocked an arena full of his shareholders Saturday by announcing that he wants to retire at the end of the year. Buffett said he will recommend to Berkshire Hathaway’s board that Greg Abel should become CEO at the end of the year. “I think the...
Trump draws criticism with AI image of himself as the pope ahead of the papal conclave
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump posted an artificial intelligence-generated image of himself dressed as pope as the mourning of Pope Francis continues and just days before the conclave to elect his successor is set to begin. Trump’s action drew rebukes from a group representing Catholic bishops in New York...
Russian drone attack wounds 47 in Ukraine’s 2nd-largest city of Kharkiv
KYIV, Ukraine — A Russian drone strike on Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, wounded 47 people, officials said, and prompted another appeal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for more decisive support from the country’s allies. Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said drones hit 12 locations across the city late Friday. Residential buildings,...
Marco Rubio criticized Germany. The foreign ministry hit back
BERLIN — Germany’s foreign ministry hit back at U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio after he criticized the decision to classify the Alternative for Germany party as a “right-wing extremist” organization. The spat deepened Friday to embroil the foreign office, Rubio, U.S. Vice President JD Vance and tech billionaire Elon...
Witnesses, aid groups report looting in Gaza after 2 months of Israeli blockade
TEL AVIV, Israel — Warehouses in northern Gaza have been looted, including by armed groups, as desperation for aid spikes after more than two months of Israel’s blockade, say locals and aid workers, as Israeli airstrikes continued, killing over a dozen people. Organizations in Gaza, messages circulated between security officials...
Blues score 3 goals in 2:13 of the second period to beat Jets 5-2 and force a Game 7Video
ST. LOUIS — Cam Fowler, Brayden Schenn and Nathan Walker scored in a 2:13 span of the second period and the St. Louis Blues beat the Winnipeg Jets, 5-2, on Friday night to force a Game 7 in the first-round series. Philip Broberg had a goal and an assist, Alexey...
Trump administration sues Colorado, Denver, alleging interference in immigration enforcement
DENVER — The Department of Justice sued Colorado and Denver on Friday, alleging interference with federal efforts to enforce immigration laws, the latest attempt by the Trump administration to crack down on what some call sanctuary cities and policies. The lawsuit claims the state and its most populous city, Denver,...
Scottie Scheffler leads at 18 under through 36 holes after long weather delay at the Byron NelsonVideo
McKINNEY, Texas — Scottie Scheffler and Jordan Spieth share a strong desire to win their hometown event, the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. The top-ranked player has a great chance to do it first. Playing with his good friend who is also a fellow Dallas resident and Texas alum, Scheffler padded...
2 women shot on campus of small technical college near Los Angeles
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Two women were shot on the campus of a Southern California technical college Friday and taken to the hospital, the city’s mayor said. Mayor James Butts of Inglewood said the shooting occurred about 4 p.m. on the Spartan College of Aeronautics and Technology Campus. Aerial TV video...
Hawaii lawmakers raise hotel tax to help the islands cope with climate change
HONOLULU — Hawaii lawmakers passed on Friday first-of-its-kind legislation that will increase the state’s lodging tax to raise money for environmental protection and strengthening defenses against climate change -fueled natural disasters. Gov. Josh Green supports the bill, indicating he will sign it. The bill adds a 0.75% levy to the...
NBC’s coverage of Kentucky Derby has grown and evolved over 25 yearsVideo
When NBC carried the Kentucky Derby for the first time in 2001, the broadcast lasted only 90 minutes. On Saturday, when it carries the Run for the Roses for the 25th time, 90 minutes wouldn’t be enough for all the feature stories that will run leading up to post time....
Bucks’ Damian Lillard has surgery to repair torn Achilles tendon
MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard had surgery Friday to repair the left Achilles tendon he tore Sunday in a playoff loss to the Indiana Pacers. The Bucks said Dr. Neal ElAttrache performed the surgery in Los Angeles, with consultation from team orthopedic surgeon Dr. Carole Vetter. Lillard was...
Donovan Mitchell uses Jazz’s playoff disappointment from 2021 to fuel Cavaliers’ runVideo
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — Donovan Mitchell hasn’t allowed himself to enjoy leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to the top seed in the Eastern Conference. As the Cavaliers continued to surpass expectations and wrapped up the regular season with the NBA’s second-best record, the painful memories of what happened the last time he...
Guardians’ José Ramírez leaves game after being hit by throw, stumbling over first base
TORONTO — Cleveland Guardians star José Ramírez left Friday’s game against the Toronto Blue Jays in the third inning after being hit by a throw from pitcher Chris Bassitt and stumbling awkwardly over first base on an infield single. With Steven Kwan at first base and two outs, Ramírez hit...
7 people dead after a truck, tour van collided near Yellowstone, police say
BOISE, Idaho — A pickup and a tour van with international visitors — including two people from Italy — collided on a highway leading to Yellowstone National Park, leaving seven people dead and eight injured, Idaho State Police said. The crash happened just before 7:15 p.m. Thursday on U.S. Highway...
Blade Tidwell to make big league debut for Mets
ST. LOUIS — Pitching prospect Blade Tidwell will be called up by the New York Mets to make his major league debut as the starter Sunday at the St. Louis Cardinals, manager Carlos Mendoza said Friday. The Mets are in a stretch of playing on 13 consecutive days, and promoting...
Orioles GM takes heat for starting rotation collapse: ‘That’s my responsibility’
BALTIMORE — If the second half of 2024 was a reality check for the Baltimore Orioles — their first real stretch of mediocrity since they became contenders again — the start of this season is a near-crisis. This young Baltimore team experienced very little failure while winning 101 games in...
Military parade to celebrate Army’s 250th anniversary will be held on Trump’s birthday
WASHINGTON — The Army on Friday confirmed there will be a military parade on President Donald Trump’s birthday in June, as part of the celebrations around the service’s 250th birthday. Plans for the parade, as first detailed by the Associated Press on Thursday, call for about 6,600 soldiers to march...
Mike Trout is going on the injured list again with a bone bruise in his left kneeVideo
ANAHEIM, Calif. — Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout is headed back to the 10-day injured list because of a bone bruise in his surgically repaired left knee. Angels manager Ron Washington made the announcement late Thursday night after a 10-4 loss to the Detroit Tigers. The team said there...
Steelmaker Cleveland Cliffs to idle 3 steel plants in Pennsylvania and Illinois
HARRISBURG — Steelmaker Cleveland-Cliffs will indefinitely idle three steel plants this summer, saying Friday it is being buffeted by sluggish demand and pricing for some products, including high carbon steel sheets. The company said the idling of two Pennsylvania plants, one in Steelton and one in Conshohocken, and one in...
Court says no rights violated when Michigan school told girl to remove hat with image of a gun
DURAND, Mich. — A Michigan school did not violate the free-speech rights of a third-grade student who was told to remove a hat that had an image of an AR-15-style rifle and the message “come and take it” in capital letters, a federal court said Friday. The principal at Kerr...
Wall Street extends its gains to a 9th straight day, reclaiming losses since tariff escalation
Wall Street extended its gains to a ninth straight day, marking its longest winning streak since 2004 and reclaiming the ground it lost since President Donald Trump escalated his trade war in early April. The rally on Friday was spurred by a better-than-expected report on the job market and resurgent...

