Associated Press stories, Page 2256
Republicans ‘got greedy’ in drawing Pennsylvania congressional maps, documents say
PHILADELPHIA — A trove of documents recently released by the daughter of a deceased GOP strategist includes some clues about what Republicans were thinking almost a decade ago when they redrew Pennsylvania’s congressional maps in a way that was later ruled unconstitutional. The documents, compiled at least partly amid the...
UK royals scramble to contain Harry, Meghan announcement
Britain’s royal family scrambled Thursday to contain the fallout from the surprise announcement by Prince Harry and Meghan that they plan “to step back” from royal duties, a shift that ignited media outrage and public unease in the U.K. The couple’s declaration that they planned to forge a “progressive” new...
Iran says Ukrainian plane was on fire, tried to turn back
TEHRAN, Iran — The crew of a Ukrainian jetliner that crashed in Iran, killing all 176 people on board, never made a radio call for help and were trying to turn back for the airport when their burning plane went down, an initial Iranian investigative report said Thursday. Ukraine, meanwhile,...
Statue mocking Donald Trump torched in Slovenia
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia — A wooden statue mocking U.S. President Donald Trump was burned to the ground Thursday in Slovenia, the birthplace of his wife Melania, authorities said. The nearly eight-meter (26-foot) high construction, erected last year in a village in northeast of Slovenia, showed Trump with his trademark hair style,...
McConnell, Pelosi stand firm as impeachment remains frozen
WASHINGTON — The standoff over President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial deepened as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said there will be “no haggling” with Democrats as House Speaker Nancy Pelosi demands for more details and witnesses. McConnell’s Senate majority has the leverage Republicans need to launch Trump’s trial toward swift...
Baby dies after being put in backpack; Texas man charged
LUBBOCK, Texas — A West Texas man accused of putting his girlfriend’s 10-month-old daughter in a backpack and leaving her in a car trunk for five hours was charged Wednesday with capital murder. Trevor Marquis Rowe of Lubbock was arrested Tuesday night for the death of Marion Jester-Montoya. He was...
Can Clemson’s versatile defenders flummox LSU, Joe Burrow?Video
Top-ranked LSU and Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow head into the national championship game peaking, matching their record-setting offense with a healthy and improving defense. Clemson has not lost since sophomore quarterback Trevor Lawrence joined the team in 2018. The third-ranked Tigers are looking for their third national title in...
Duquesne rips Saint Joseph’s for 3-0 start in Atlantic 10
PHILADELPHIA — Marcus Weathers scored 15 points, leading four into double figures, as Duquesne defeated Saint Joseph’s, 78-60, on Wednesday night, holding the Hawks to 29% shooting. Sincere Carry added 14 points and six rebounds for the Dukes, Baylee Steele added 12 and Maceo Austin 11. The Dukes (13-2) have...
Arizona official quits amid charges he paid women to give up babies
PHOENIX — An elected official in metro Phoenix resigned Tuesday, months after being charged with running a human smuggling operation that paid pregnant women from the Marshall Islands to give up their babies in the United States. The resignation of Maricopa County Assessor Paul Petersen occurred when leaders in the...
Pitt rallies past North Carolina, snaps 22-game ACC road-game losing streak
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Pitt’s road skid is over. North Carolina’s problems at home are far from it. Trey McGowens scored 24 points and Pitt ended a 22-game losing streak in conference road games with a 73-65 victory against North Carolina on Wednesday night. Justin Champagnie added 22 points for...
Allegheny County judge says parents can sue diocese over abuse reporting
PHILADELPHIA — A Pennsylvania judge has ruled that parents of children in the Roman Catholic Church and survivors of sexual abuse by clergy members can move forward with a lawsuit against the Diocese of Pittsburgh alleging that it has not fulfilled its obligations under state law to report child sexual...
Mike McCarthy gets chance with another iconic franchise in DallasVideo
FRISCO, Texas — Mike McCarthy used to drive by the statues every day when arriving for work at Lambeau Field, so there never was much need to tell him what he was getting into as coach of the Dallas Cowboys. Nearly 10 years after winning a Super Bowl with one...
Deadly crash of a Boeing jet in Iran adds to company’s woesVideo
Still reeling from a crisis involving its long-grounded Max jet, Boeing faces new questions after an earlier model of the 737 crashed Wednesday in Iran. It is too early to know what caused the crash and whether Boeing bears any responsibility for the lives of all 176 people who died...
New Panthers coach Matt Rhule faces major QB decisionVideo
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — One of the biggest decisions new Carolina Panthers coach Matt Rhule will have to make is choosing a quarterback, a move that could determine the direction of his tenure and the franchise’s future for years to come. Rhule said Wednesday he spoke to Cam Newton after accepting...
Mack Trucks to lay off 300 at Pennsylvania assembly plant
MACUNGIE — Mack Trucks plans to lay off 305 employees at its assembly plant north of Philadelphia, the company said Wednesday. Mack blamed the layoffs at its Lower Macungue Township plant on a downturn in the heavy-duty truck market. They will take effect at the end of February, The (Allentown)...
House to vote Thursday on curbing Trump actions against IranVideo
WASHINGTON — Speaker Nancy Pelosi set a House vote for Thursday on limiting President Donald Trump’s ability to take military action against Iran as Democratic criticism of the U.S. killing of a top Iranian general intensified. Pelosi, D-Calif., announced the plan in a one-page statement that said last week’s drone...
West Virginia’s Bob Huggins fined for calling officials ‘three blind mice’Video
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — The Big 12 Conference fined West Virginia coach Bob Huggins $10,000 on Tuesday for referring to an officiating crew as “three blind mice” after a recent loss at No. 3 Kansas. The league announced the fine and issued a public reprimand in a statement. “Coach Huggins’ comments...
Idaho resort looks for skier after avalanche; 2 others die
KELLOGG, Idaho — Officials were searching Wednesday for a missing skier at an Idaho resort where a series of avalanches killed two skiers and injured five others the day before. The Silver Mountain Resort was closed Wednesday “to focus all available resources on the search,” the resort said on Facebook....
Browns continue coaching search, interview Eagles’ Jim SchwartzVideo
CLEVELAND — Jim Schwartz began his NFL career as a gofer with the Browns. If he comes back, he can boss people around. The Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator, who started as a scout and errand runner under coach Bill Belichick in Cleveland, interviewed Wednesday to be the Browns’ next coach....
Indiana teen gets 65 years in pregnant schoolmate’s killingVideo
SOUTH BEND, Ind. — A 17-year-old northern Indiana boy has been sentenced to 65 years in prison in the fatal stabbing of a schoolmate who was pregnant with his child. St. Joseph Superior Court Judge Elizabeth Hurley sentenced Aaron Trejo on Tuesday to 55 years for murder and 10 years...
Milwaukee teen: Man started shooting after snowball hit carVideo
MILWAUKEE — One of two Milwaukee children who were shot by a man because they threw a snowball at his car said he didn’t expect the driver to retaliate. “I didn’t think twice,” 13-year-old Nicholas Johnson told “CBS This Morning” on Wednesday. Johnson said he didn’t see the driver react...
Penn State RB Journey Brown, LB Micah Parsons named to AP All-Bowl TeamVideo
Penn State running back Journey Brown and linebacker Micah Parsons were named to the Associated Press All-Bowl Team for their efforts in the 13th-ranked Nittany Lions’ 53-39 triumph over No. 15 Memphis in the Cotton Bowl. Brown rushed for 202 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries. Parsons had seven...
Oscars to go host-less for 2nd straight year
PASADENA, Calif. — The Oscars are going without a host again this year. ABC Entertainment President Karey Burke said the Feb. 9 telecast will focus on what worked last year: “huge entertainment value, big musical numbers, big comedy and star power.” Last year’s ceremony attracted 29.6 million viewers, the second-smallest...
Macy’s closing 29 more stores — 2 in Pennsylvania
NEW YORK — Macy’s is closing 29 stores in coming weeks despite the company reporting some improvement in comparable-stores sales during the crucial holiday shopping season. In an email to the Associated Press, the Cincinnati-based retailer said the store closures include 28 Macy’s locations and one Bloomingdale’s store. It was...
Prince Harry and Meghan to ‘step back’ as senior UK royals
In a stunning declaration, Britain’s Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, said they are planning “to step back” as senior members of the royal family and “work to become financially independent.” A statement issued by the couple Wednesday evening also said they intend to “balance” their time between the U.K....
