Associated Press stories, Page 2261
Cautious optimism on Wall Street sends stocks higher
NEW YORK — Stocks capped a wobbly day on Wall Street with solid gains Thursday, reflecting cautious optimism among investors that emergency action by the U.S. government and central banks will cushion the global economy from a looming recession caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The swings in the market were...
U.S. seeks $3 billion to boost oil producers as prices plunge
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration said Thursday that it is seeking $3 billion from Congress to top up the country’s strategic petroleum reserves, potentially propping up U.S. oil producers after crude prices crashed globally. President Trump had directed the Energy Department last week to fill the United States’ emergency stash...
Layoffs spike in U.S., Europe as virus shuts businesses
WASHINGTON — Just a couple of weeks ago, Erika Vega hoped her temp job at a cafeteria would soon become permanent. But instead, the viral outbreak shut down the building where she worked and left her wondering where her next paycheck will come from. Like millions of Americans and people...
Eagles trade pair of picks for Lions CB Darius SlayVideo
Darius Slay got what he was waiting for — a trade out of Detroit and a big new contract. The Lions agreed to trade Slay to the Philadelphia Eagles, ending the standout cornerback’s seven-year stint in Detroit. Agent Drew Rosenhaus confirmed the trade Thursday and that Slay agreed to a...
AP source: Broncos waiving injured QB Joe FlaccoVideo
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — Another veteran NFL quarterback is hitting the open market. The Denver Broncos are waiving Joe Flacco with a failed physical designation, a person with knowledge of the move told the Associated Press on Thursday. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the team didn’t announce the...
Los Angeles Rams release running back Todd GurleyVideo
LOS ANGELES — The Los Angeles Rams released Todd Gurley, their superstar running back with a massive contract and a troubling injury history. The Rams made the move Thursday, several minutes before roughly $10 million in the three-time Pro Bowl selection’s contract became fully guaranteed. Gurley will consume $20.15 million...
MLB gives minor leaguers spring per diems; salaries TBDVideo
NEW YORK — Minor league players shut out of spring training camps will receive allowances from teams through April 8, and a plan is underway to compensate those players during the postponed portion of the regular season. Major League Baseball said Thursday that minor leaguers will receive their allowances —...
Italian death toll overtakes China’s as virus spreadsVideo
ROME — The death toll in Italy from the coronavirus overtook China’s on Thursday in a stark illustration of how the outbreak has pivoted toward Europe and the United States. Italy, with a population of 60 million, recorded at least 3,405 deaths, or roughly 150 more than in China —...
U.S.-Canada border to close late Friday to non-essential trips
TORONTO — The Canadian government said Thursday the Canada-U.S. border will be closed to all non-essential travel in both directions Friday night. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also said it will take “weeks to months” for social-distancing measures in his country to be lifted amid the coronavirus pandemic. Both the U.S....
Trump weighs controls on companies that take coronavirus bailouts
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Thursday the government should take an equity stake in some companies that need bailouts because of devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic on the U.S. economy. Trump told a briefing he has executive authority to curb the impact on businesses. “There’s a lot of...
Rosie O’Donnell revives talk show for one time only
Rosie O’Donnell is reviving her old daytime talk show for one time only — and her guest list is impressive. A who’s-who of Broadway and Hollywood — including Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker, Neil Patrick Harris, Morgan Freeman, Gloria Estefan and Barry Manilow — plan to join O’Donnell March...
Minnesota jury acquits sheriff’s deputy in shooting death
STILLWATER, Minn. — A Minnesota sheriff’s deputy was acquitted of second-degree manslaughter on Thursday in the 2018 fatal shooting of a suicidal man who held a gun to his own head as he knelt in the street during a 40-minute standoff with police. Prosecutors said Washington County Sheriff’s Deputy Brian...
England suspends soccer until April 30, will extend season
English soccer authorities reached an unprecedented agreement to extend the season “indefinitely” on Thursday in an effort to complete all competitions disrupted by the virus outbreak that has brought sport almost to a standstill worldwide. As well as announcing that the professional game in England will remain suspended until at...
Celebrities get coronavirus tests, raising concerns of inequality
WASHINGTON — Celebrities, politicians and professional athletes faced a backlash this week as many revealed that they had been tested for the coronavirus, even when they didn’t have a fever or other tell-tale symptoms. That’s fueling a perception that the wealthy and famous have been able to jump to the...
Virus concerns close Greenbrier resort in West Virginia
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia governor’s lavish resort, which served as a secret Cold War-era bunker for the federal government, closed Thursday over concerns about the coronavirus pandemic. The Greenbrier resort in White Sulphur Springs said on its website that it shut down at noon Thursday and plans to...
California governor: 60,000 homeless could get virus
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — As worries about the spread of the coronavirus confine millions of Californians to their homes, concern is growing about those who have no homes in which to shelter. Gov. Gavin Newsom estimates up to 60,000 homeless could end up infected. California has more than 150,000 homeless people,...
Conan O’Brien to return to air, with an iPhone from home
NEW YORK — With iPhones and Skype, Conan O’Brien is going back on the air. The late-night host said he will resume putting out new episodes of TBS’ “Conan” on March 30. His staff will remain at home, and the show will be cobbled together with O’Brien on an iPhone...
Mnuchin: Family of 4 could get $3K under virus relief planVideo
WASHINGTON — The first federal checks to families could be $3,000 for a family of four under the White House proposal to unleash $1 trillion to shore up households and the U.S. economy amid the coronavirus outbreak. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said Thursday that the “checks in the mail” would...
Tulsi Gabbard ends long-shot 2020 bid, gives support to BidenVideo
WASHINGTON — Hawaii congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard is suspending her presidential campaign, ending a long-shot effort that saw her feuding with Hillary Clinton and raising fears among Democrats that she would mount a third-party 2020 bid. She’s offering her full support to former Vice President Joe Biden. She made the announcement...
‘Quarantine shaming’: U.S. navigates radical new social normsVideo
Ryan Winkle, the chairman of Arizona’s Asian Chamber of Commerce, didn’t see much downside to attending a small dinner at a local restaurant to bolster the business and bring together other leaders to discuss how to help Asian-American eateries devastated by the coronavirus. That was, at least, until he posted...
AP-NORC poll: Fear of virus infection spikes among Americans
CHICAGO — Concern among Americans that they or a loved one will be infected by the coronavirus rose dramatically in the past month, with two-thirds of the country now saying they’re at least somewhat concerned about contracting the covid-19 illness. That’s up from less than half who said so in...
Pa. prisons work to set up video chats for inmates, families
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s prisons are working to set up video conferences between inmates and family members now that visits have been suspended in an effort to keep the coronavirus from spreading to people inside the institutions. Corrections Secretary John Wetzel said this week that the service should be available soon...
Central banks deploy trillions to keep economy runningVideo
Airlines are warning they may need bailouts as the virus outbreak brings more countries into lockdown, while central banks are injecting trillions of dollars more into the financial system to grease the gears of the global economy. Business confidence is sliding, meanwhile, suggesting major economies are diving into recession. Amid...
Mideast airlines lose $7B as airports shut to combat virusVideo
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Seven Middle Eastern countries have suspended all commercial flights due to a fast-spreading new virus as the aviation industry’s largest trade association announced Thursday that airlines in the region have already lost more than $7 billion in revenue. The International Air Transport Association, which represents...
Chinese city Wuhan offers hope on coronavirus front; Italy nears stark warningVideo
BEIJING — Thursday was a day of contrasts on the front lines of the battle against the new coronavirus. In a sign of hope, the Chinese city of Wuhan reported no new homegrown infections, but in a stark warning for the world, Italy appeared set to surpass China’s death toll...
