Associated Press stories, Page 2258
Death of Iranian general spurs anxiety over fate of U.S. hostages
WASHINGTON — The killing of a top Iranian general has ratcheted up the anxiety of families of Americans held in Iran, one month after the release of a New Jersey student had given them hope. The Trump administration has made a priority of bringing home hostages held abroad, but the...
Giants nearing deal with Patriots’ Joe Judge to become coachVideo
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The New York Giants and New England Patriots assistant Joe Judge are working on a deal for him to become the team’s coach, a surprising move for the four-time Super Bowl-winning franchise that tumbled to the bottom of the NFL in recent years, a person familiar...
Trump donor Imaad Zuberi charged with obstructing inauguration inquiry
NEW YORK — Federal prosecutors on Tuesday charged a major donor to President Donald Trump’s inaugural committee with obstructing a federal investigation into whether foreign nationals unlawfully contributed to the inaugural celebrations. The donor, Imaad Zuberi, recently pleaded guilty in a separate case in Los Angeles to campaign finance violations,...
Lawyer: Husband of missing Connecticut woman charged with murderVideo
HARTFORD, Conn. — The estranged husband of a missing Connecticut mother of five was arrested Tuesday and charged with murder in her disappearance, his lawyer said. State police took Fotis Dulos, 52, from his Farmington home. He was being held in lieu of a $6 million bond. Jennifer Dulos, of...
Facebook bans deepfakes in fight against online manipulation
LONDON — Facebook says it is banning “deepfake” videos, the false but realistic clips created with artificial intelligence and sophisticated tools, as it steps up efforts to fight online manipulation. The social network said late Monday that it’s beefing up its policies to remove videos edited or synthesized in ways...
Company fires worker who criticized holiday gift via Twitter
WINONA, Minn. — A man who complained on social media about his company’s holiday gift — barbecue sauce and a grill scraper — wound up getting fired for it. The man, a Canadian branch manager for Minnesota company Fastenal, was dismissed just before New Year’s Day after he posted a...
Uber to let riders use pin codes to help identify right car
NEW YORK — Uber is offering riders a four-digit pin code to help ensure they’re getting into the right car. The ride-hailing company rolled out the new feature across the U.S. and Canada Tuesday and said all riders in those two countries will be able to use pin codes by...
Justice Department: Ex-Trump aide Michael Flynn deserves up to 6 months in prison
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn deserves up to six months behind bars, the Justice Department said Tuesday, reversing its earlier position that he was entitled to avoid prison time because of his extensive cooperation with prosecutors. The government’s sentencing memo is a sharp rebuke...
Police: Multiple injuries in 30-car Maine highway pileup
CARMEL, Maine — Multiple people were injured in a major pileup involving about 30 vehicles during the Tuesday morning commute on a highway in Maine, state troopers said. There were no fatalities, but several ambulances and a medical helicopter were dispatched to the crash site on Interstate 95 near Bangor,...
Southern Minnesota officer shot in head, ‘gravely injured’
WASECA, Minn. — A police officer in southern Minnesota was gravely injured when he was shot in the head while responding to a report of a suspicious person, officials said Tuesday. Officer Arik Matson, 32, was shot at about 8 p.m. Monday in Waseca, and was taken by air to...
Ex-pastor in Canada sentenced to 15 years in death of pregnant wife
TORONTO — A former Toronto pastor convicted in the death of his pregnant wife has been sentenced to 15 years behind bars. Philip Grandine was sentenced in a Toronto courtroom on Tuesday nearly a year after jurors found him guilty of manslaughter in the drowning of his wife Anna Grandine....
AP source: Panthers completing coaching deal with Matt Rhule
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Carolina Panthers are completing a contract to hire Baylor’s Matt Rhule as their coach, according to a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to the Associated Press on Tuesday on condition of anonymity because the deal is not done. The Panthers have not spoken...
Police: Officer may have saved lives in New Orleans Walmart shooting
NEW ORLEANS — An officer working at a New Orleans Walmart may have saved lives by quickly arresting a gunman who had walked in and killed a store employee and wounded another person, police said. New Orleans Police Chief Shaun Ferguson commended the actions of the unidentified officer, who was...
Predators hire former Devils coach John Hynes as new coach
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Nashville Predators have hired former New Jersey Devils coach John Hynes as the third coach in franchise history after firing Peter Laviolette. The Predators announced the hiring Tuesday before a morning skate. Nashville hosts Boston on Tuesday night. “John Hynes is a bright young coach and...
Double forward passes? Overtime ‘shootouts’? XFL set to unveil rules innovations
NEW YORK — When the XFL debuts in February, it will take a “Star Trek” approach of going where no football league has gone before. The eight-team league will have options for extra points worth one, two or three points. It will allow double forward passes behind the line of...
Researchers: Some pet products touted as CBD don’t have any
Companies have unleashed hundreds of CBD pet health products accompanied by glowing customer testimonials claiming the cannabis derivative produced calmer, quieter and pain-free dogs and cats. But some of these products are all bark and no bite. “You’d be astounded by the analysis we’ve seen of products on the shelf...
White House proposes guidelines for regulating the use of AI
The Trump administration is proposing new rules to guide future federal regulation of artificial intelligence used in medicine, transportation and other industries. But the vagueness of the principles announced by the White House is unlikely to satisfy AI watchdogs who have warned of a lack of accountability as computer systems...
Man accused in Austin stabbings dies of injuries from fall, police say
AUSTIN, Texas — The man accused of stabbing two people inside an Austin restaurant, killing a manager, has died of injuries he sustained after jumping from the roof of the building, police said. The attack happened Friday morning on a busy downtown avenue of restaurants and apartments just south of...
U.S. prepares for possible Iranian reprisal after drone strike
WASHINGTON — U.S. officials braced for Iran to respond to the killing of its most powerful general, noting heightened military readiness in the country and preparing for a possible “tit-for-tat” attempt on the life of an American military commander. They warned ships across Mideast waterways crucial to global energy supplies...
6.4 quake strikes Puerto Rico amid heavy seismic activity
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A 6.4-magnitude earthquake struck Puerto Rico before dawn on Tuesday, and was followed three hours later by an aftershock measuring 6.0. They are the largest in a series of quakes that have struck the U.S. territory in recent days and caused heavy damage in some...
Stampede kills 56 at funeral for Iran Gen. Qassem Soleimani killed by U.S.
TEHRAN, Iran — A stampede broke out Tuesday at the funeral for a top Iranian general slain in a U.S. airstrike, and at least 56 people were killed and more than 200 were injured as thousands thronged the procession, Iranian news reports said. The stampede took place in Kerman, the...
Pier 1 Imports closing nearly half of stores as sales falter
FORT WORTH, Texas — Pier 1 Imports is closing nearly half its 942 stores as it struggles to draw consumers and compete online. The home decor company said Monday it is closing up to 450 stores and will also shutter distribution centers. It didn’t say where the store closures would...
Former Passionist priest, who once served in Pittsburgh, gets probation for ‘unnatural acts’ on a minor
BOSTON — A Catholic priest has pleaded guilty to two counts of “unnatural acts” with a minor for accusations of sexual abuse dating back to the 1970s. James Randall Gillette was sentenced to five years of probation in Suffolk Superior Court in Boston on Jan. 2, according to court records....
Kirk Cousins, Mike Zimmer quiet skeptics in playoff win for VikingsVideo
EAGAN, Minn. — In their boisterous locker room in New Orleans after the overtime victory, the Minnesota Vikings roared in celebration when coach Mike Zimmer gave the game ball to quarterback Kirk Cousins. “How does it feel to win a playoff game?” Zimmer asked Cousins with a question that needed...
In midst of slump, Nashville Predators fire coach Peter LavioletteVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Nashville fired Peter Laviolette on Monday after he coached the Predators into the playoffs in each of the previous five seasons. Assistant coach Kevin McCarthy also was dismissed. The Predators (19-15-7) have dropped four of five heading into Tuesday night’s game against the Boston Bruins. They are...
