Associated Press stories, Page 2243

AUSTIN, Texas — Officials lifted evacuation orders Friday for around 50,000 people on the Texas Gulf Coast, determining a massive fire was finally under control at a chemical plant rocked by two major explosions three days earlier. “We are in a position to say it’s contained. We feel comfortable with...

BELLEVILLE, Kan. — Authorities say four children have been killed in a Thanksgiving Day crash. Kansas Highway Patrol Trooper Ben Gardner said in a tweet that the crash happened around 11:30 a.m. when a vehicle went off the side of a road and into a pond in Republic County, near...

CHICAGO — Chicago police say an officer is being investigated for body-slamming a man who spat in his face. Police say the 29-year-old man was hospitalized following the incident Thursday afternoon. The 32-year-old officer also went to a hospital for evaluation. Police say the officer approached the man for drinking...

SANDY SPRINGS, Ga. — Police say a Georgia woman fired a gun into a KFC after learning her order lacked napkins and a fork. News outlets report 33-year-old Jonelle Jade Dare was arrested Tuesday in Sandy Springs, Georgia, on an outstanding warrant from Shelbyville, Kent., where’s she’s accused of shooting...

BERLIN — Protesters in cities across the world staged rallies Friday demanding leaders take tougher action against climate change, days before the latest global conference, which this year takes place in Madrid. The rallies kicked off in Australia, where people affected by recent devastating wildfires joined young environmentalists protesting against...

LONDON — A man wearing a fake explosive vest stabbed several people Friday in London, killing two in what police are treating as a terrorist attack before being tackled by members of the public and then fatally shot by officers on London Bridge, officials said. Metropolitan Police Chief Cressida Dick...

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Ohio State has turned one of the greatest rivalries in sports into a one-sided series against Michigan by simply having more talent. That seems to be true throughout the rosters, and it makes the largest difference on the offensive and defensive lines. The Buckeyes (11-0, 8-0...

FORT WORTH, Texas — West Virginia will not make it to a bowl this season, so the Mountaineers will try to spoil TCU’s postseason hopes. Garret Wallow and TCU are in the same position as last season, having to win their last regular-season game just to get bowl eligible. “It’s...

WASHINGTON — A liberal activist group is launching a digital ad campaign targeting the Federalist Society, a conservative legal organization that has championed judges appointed by President Trump, such as Supreme Court Justices Brett Kavanaugh and Neil Gorsuch. The ads, to appear on LinkedIn and Facebook, assail major law firms...

DETROIT — Mitchell Trubisky started and closed strong to overcome some shaky decisions and plays in between to keep the Chicago Bears in the NFC playoff picture. Trubisky threw a go-ahead, 3-yard touchdown pass to David Montgomery with 2:17 left, lifting Chicago to a 24-20 win over the slumping Detroit...

BAGRAM AIR FIELD, Afghanistan — President Donald Trump paid a surprise Thanksgiving visit to Afghanistan, where he announced the United States and Taliban have been engaged in ongoing peace talks and said he believes the Taliban wants a ceasefire. In his first trip to the site of America’s longest war,...

FARMINGTON, N.M. — New Mexico’s largest electric provider says continued operation of a coal-fired power plant using carbon-capture technology wouldn’t be in the best interest of utility customers. Public Service Co. of New Mexico made the declaration in testimony filed with state regulators who are weighing the pending closure of...

The NFL apparently underestimated Americans’ eagerness to volunteer. As part of its centennial season celebration, the league sought 100 million minutes of volunteerism from its fans through Huddle for 100. With folks across the nation giving 100 minutes of their time to community initiatives, that goal already has been reached....

THE HAGUE, Netherlands — A Dutch father accused of holding six of his children against their will on an isolated farm for nine years is now also suspected of sexually abusing two of his other children, prosecutors said Thursday. The abuse allegations add a grim new element to a case...

SIOUX CITY, Iowa — A northwest Iowa man has pleaded guilty to wire fraud, admitting that his scheme caused about 30 people to lose more than $550,000. Authorities say 61-year-old Lon Friedrichsen entered the plea Monday in U.S. District Court in Sioux City. His sentencing has not been scheduled. Court...

PARIS — NATO leaders must stop bickering over defense spending and have a deep discussion about the future of the military alliance and how ties with Russia can be improved at a summit, French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday. Macron’s call for intensive talks on how to shore up security...

CANCUN, Mexico — Oscar Tshiebwe scored 19 points and grabbed a career-high 18 rebounds to lead West Virginia to a 75-63 win over Wichita State on Wednesday night in the championship game of the Cancun Classic. Emmitt Matthews Jr. added 13 points for the Mountaineers (6-0), who pulled away in...

FORT MYERS, Fla. — As the horn blew after Pitt’s 72-59 win over Northwestern in the Fort Myers Tip-Off championship game Wednesday night, Jeff Capel and Chris Collins approached each other and shared a big hug, with Capel telling his former teammate, “I love you. Talk to you tomorrow.” Capel...