Associated Press stories, Page 23
Neck guards are mandatory in hockey at the Olympics. That’s an adjustment for NHL players
MILAN — There will be a big visual difference between hockey at the Milan Cortina Olympics and the version played in the NHL: Every player is required to wear a neck guard. “I haven’t worn a neck guard since youth hockey,” U.S. forward Brady Tkachuk said. “But it’s good.” The...
King Charles III seeks ‘moral high ground’ with pledge to help police as Epstein scandal deepensVideo
LONDON — In an earlier era, Britain’s royal family might have tried to bury the scandal surrounding Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s friendship with Jeffrey Epstein. Not during the reign of King Charles III. Since October, the king has stripped his younger brother of the right to be called prince, forced him to...
NFL has a short break before it’s time for the combine, free agency and the draft
Don’t blink because the NFL will be back in less than two weeks. Now that the Seattle Seahawks have been crowned Super Bowl champions, it’s on to the 2026 season. That will kick off with the annual scouting combine from Feb. 23-March 2 in Indianapolis. Free agency follows March 9...
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick acknowledges meetings with Epstein that contradict previous claimsVideo
WASHINGTON — Under questioning from Democrats on Tuesday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick acknowledged that he had met with Jeffrey Epstein twice after the late financier’s 2008 conviction for soliciting prostitution from a child, reversing Lutnick’s previous claim that he had cut ties with him after 2005. Lutnick again downplayed his...
Governors won’t hold Trump meeting after White House only invited Republicans
WASHINGTON — The National Governors Association will no longer hold a formal meeting with President Donald Trump when the group of state leaders meet in Washington later this month after the White House planned to invite only Republicans. “NGA staff was informed that the White House intends to limit invitations...
A person has been detained for questioning in the disappearance of Nancy GuthrieVideo
TUCSON, Ariz. —A person has been detained for questioning in the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, according to two people familiar with the matter. The people said the person was detained Tuesday in an area south of Tucson. They did not immediately provide additional details, and it wasn’t clear if the...
Man convicted of killing a traveling salesman scheduled for 1st Florida execution of 2026
STARKE, Fla. — A man convicted of killing a traveling salesman during a robbery is set to be executed Tuesday evening in the first lethal injection this year in Florida. Ronald Palmer Heath, 64, is scheduled to receive a three-drug injection starting at 6 p.m. at Florida State Prison near...
Trump set to gut U.S. climate change policy and environmental regulations: White House official
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration is expected this week to revoke a scientific finding that long has been the central basis for U.S. action to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and fight climate change, according to a White House official. The Environmental Protection Agency will issue a final rule rescinding a...
Syria joining anti-IS coalition ‘marks a new chapter’ in global security, U.S. envoy says
BEIRUT — The U.S.-led international coalition to fight the Islamic State group has welcomed Syria in the fight against the extremists, saying that the priorities include the swift transfer of IS detainees to Iraq and third-country repatriation of families linked to IS held in two camps in Syria. The State...
Susan Collins announces reelection bid in pivotal Maine Senate race
PORTLAND, Maine — Republican Sen. Susan Collins announced her reelection bid Tuesday, betting that she can hold onto her coveted Maine seat despite a renewed Democratic effort to oust her in a race that could determine control of the U.S. Senate. The campaign will test Collins’ political survival skills. The...
ICE chief defends his officers’ actions before Congress after the deaths of 2 protesters
WASHINGTON — Todd Lyons, the acting head of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, defended his agency’s officers before Congress on Tuesday, standing behind their tactics and saying they would not be intimidated as they carry out the president’s mass deportation plans. Lyons was one of the three heads of agencies implementing...
Russia can’t attack NATO this year but plans to boost its own forces, an intelligence chief says
LONDON — Russia cannot launch an attack on NATO this year or next but is planning to increase its forces significantly along the alliance’s eastern flank, depending on the outcome of the war in Ukraine, a senior European intelligence official said. Speaking in an online briefing with journalists, Kaupo Rosin,...
Israeli drone strike kills 2 cyclists in Gaza as death toll mounts despite ceasefire
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Two Palestinians on bicycles were killed in an Israeli drone strike on Tuesday, hospital officials said, marking the latest deaths since an October ceasefire that hasn’t halted deadly attacks in the Gaza Strip. Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital said the two men were hit near the ceasefire...
When conflict meets competition: Trump’s immigration agenda roils opening days of Winter Olympics
LIVIGNO, Italy — As the Winter Olympics opened in Milan, Vice President JD Vance hailed the competition as “one of the few things that unites the entire country.” That unity didn’t last long. The early days of the Milan Cortina Games have been roiled by the tumultuous political debate in...
How Americans’ optimism about their future has changed, according to new polling
WASHINGTON — Americans’ hope for their future has fallen to a new low, according to new polling. In 2025, only about 59% of Americans gave high ratings when asked to evaluate how good their life will be in about five years, the lowest annual measure since Gallup began asking this...
Democrats say White House offer on ICE is ‘insufficient’ as Homeland Security funding set to expire
WASHINGTON — Democratic leaders say a proposal from the White House is “incomplete and insufficient” as they are demanding new restrictions on President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown and threatening a shutdown of the Homeland Security Department. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer and House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a...
No. 9 Kansas beats top-ranked, previously undefeated Arizona
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Flory Bidunga had a double-double, and No. 9 Kansas defeated top-ranked and previously unbeaten Arizona, 82-78, on Monday night. Arizona (23-1, 10-1 Big 12) entered Allen Fieldhouse with the second-longest winning streak in Division I men’s basketball. Kansas (19-5, 9-2) played without freshman guard Darryn Peterson, who...
Raiders officially hire Klint Kubiak as head coach after his Super Bowl win with Seahawks
HENDERSON, Nev. — The Las Vegas Raiders made it official Monday by announcing Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak will be their next head coach. Kubiak arrived in Las Vegas on Monday fresh off a 29-13 Super Bowl victory over the New England Patriots on Sunday. Among the questions facing...
Despite Super Bowl loss, Patriots believe they have ability to return and win more titles
Just as New England Patriots coach Mike Vrabel had done throughout his team’s surprise run to the NFL’s biggest stage, he made sure he was the first person to offer hugs to his players as they exited the field following Sunday’s Super Bowl loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Yes, the...
MLB spring training brings attention to robot umps, WBC
Just 102 days after a thrilling World Series ended with the Los Angeles Dodgers becoming the first repeat champion in a quarter century, pitchers and catchers are back on the field Tuesday as spring training begins with an initial focus on ABS and WBC. In what could be the last...
Browns tight end David Njoku says it’s time for a new home
CLEVELAND — David Njoku appears to be looking to leave the Cleveland Browns after playing tight end for the franchise for nine seasons. “The time for me to find a new home has come,” Njoku posted on social media Monday night. NFL free agency begins next month. The 29-year-old Njoku...
Duke surges to No. 11 in Top 25 women’s poll with 15-game streak
Duke climbed up to No. 11 in the Associated Press women’s basketball Top 25 poll Monday thanks to a 15-game winning streak. The Blue Devils took over sole possession of first-place in the ACC last week with a one-point victory over then-No. 6 Louisville. Duke, which jumped six places this...
‘Don’t jump in them’: Olympic athletes’ medals break during celebrationsVideo
MILAN — Handle with care. That’s the message from gold medalist Breezy Johnson at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics after she and other athletes found their medals broke within hours. Olympic organizers are investigating with “maximum attention” after a spate of medals have fallen off their ribbons during celebrations on...
Arizona holds No. 1 spot for 9th week in AP Top 25
Arizona remained firmly atop the Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for a ninth consecutive week Monday, whereas Houston jumped back into the top five and Kentucky returned to the rankings for the first time since December. Tommy Lloyd’s Wildcats (23-0) claimed all 59 first-place votes in the...
Trump threatens to block new bridge between Detroit and Canada from opening
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to block the opening of a new Canadian-built bridge across the Detroit River, demanding that Canada turn over at least half of the ownership of the bridge and agree to other unspecified demands in his latest salvo over cross-border trade issues. “We...
