Associated Press stories, Page 2317
Even amid impeachment probe, both sides cheer for the Nationals
WASHINGTON — As he took the podium last week in the White House briefing room, acting chief of staff Mick Mulvaney was a familiar Washington figure — a former congressman and D.C. transplant who cheers for the team that calls Capitol Hill home. “I did want to come out here...
Defense secretary says U.S. troops, armored vehicles going to Syria oil fields
BRUSSELS — The United States will send armored vehicles and combat troops into eastern Syria to keep oil fields from potentially falling into the hands of Islamic State militants, U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Friday. It was the latest sign that extracting the military from Syria is more uncertain...
GM workers ratify contract, ending contentious 40-day strike
ROMULUS, Mich. — A contentious 40-day strike that crippled General Motors’ U.S. production came to an end Friday as workers approved a new contract with the company. The four-year deal will now be used as a template in bargaining with crosstown rival Ford Motor Co., the union’s choice for the...
Judge: Justice Department must give House grand jury evidence from Mueller probe
WASHINGTON — A judge on Friday ordered the Justice Department to give the House secret grand jury testimony from special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation, handing a victory to Democrats who want it for the impeachment investigation of President Donald Trump. The ruling from Chief U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell...
RNC says it ‘wholeheartedly’ backs Trump in impeachment
WASHINGTON — The Republican National Committee moved Friday in an extraordinary vote to express that it “now more than ever wholeheartedly supports” President Donald Trump as he confronts House Democrats’ impeachment probe. The national party’s governing body expressed solidarity with Trump in condemning what it calls a “nakedly partisan impeachment...
U.S. budget deficit hits $984 billion, highest in 7 years
The federal deficit for the 2019 budget year surged to $984.4 billion, its highest point in seven years, and is widely expected to top the $1 trillion mark in coming years. The 26% surge from the 2018 deficit of $779 billion that the government reported Friday reflected such factors as...
Woman drives motorhome into casino after she’s kicked out
Police say a woman who was angered when she was kicked out of a Las Vegas-area casino intentionally drove her motorhome into the building, injuring a custodian. North Las Vegas Police spokesman Eric Leavitt says the 50-year-old woman was ejected from the Cannery casino Friday morning and drove her Winnebago...
GOP’s top leaders navigate impeachment in their own ways
WASHINGTON — One of them is a gregarious, backslapping Californian unwavering in his defense of President Donald Trump. The other is a reserved, calibrated Kentuckian who chooses his words about Trump with care and doesn’t stroke the president’s ego. But it’s more than style and temperament that separate House GOP...
Felicity Huffman released 11 days into 14-day prison term
Actress Felicity Huffman was released Friday morning from a federal prison in California on the 11th day of a 14-day sentence for her role in the college admissions scandal, authorities said. The “Desperate Housewives” star was released from the low-security prison for women on Friday morning because under prison policy,...
Trump critic gets 1st pitch at World Series game that Trump will attend
WASHINGTON — A day after President Donald Trump said he plans to attend Game 5 of the World Series, the Washington Nationals announced the ceremonial first pitch at that game will be thrown by chef José Andrés, a vocal critic of Trump. Four years ago, Andrés withdrew from plans to...
Elijah Cummings remembered as ‘fierce champion’ at funeral
BALTIMORE — Congressman and civil rights leader Elijah Cummings was remembered Friday as a “fierce champion of truth, justice and kindness” at a funeral that brought Washington politicians and ordinary people alike to the Baltimore church where he worshipped for nearly four decades. “It is no coincidence — is it?...
After son’s death, Craig Morgan finds God’s purpose in songVideo
The last evening that country singer Craig Morgan spent with his 19-year-old son, Jerry, was during one of Morgan’s performances at Grand Ole Opry three years ago. “The last pictures I have of us together is on that stage,” Morgan, 55, said backstage at the Opry House this week. “So...
NFL Week 8 previews: Browns try to spoil Patriots coach Bill Belichick’s bid for 300th win
Here’s a breakdown of the Week 8 matchups in the NFL. Browns (2-4) at Patriots (7-0)4:25 p.m. Sunday, CBSOpening line: Patriots by 11½Series record: Browns lead 13-11Last week: Browns lost to Seahawks 32-28 on Oct. 13; Patriots beat Jets 33-0Notes: With win over Browns, Patriots coach Bill Belichick would earn...
Hong Kongers use masquerade as new protest tactic
HONG KONG (AP) — Winnie the Pooh, Guy Fawkes, Pepe the Frog — these are the new faces of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy protest movement. Demonstrators masqueraded Friday night as their favorite characters in defiance of the government’s ban this month on face coverings at public gatherings. Protesters in the semi-autonomous...
Dalvin Cook, Vikings wear down Redskins for 4th straight winVideo
MINNEAPOLIS — Dalvin Cook had 171 total yards and the game’s only touchdown, helping Kirk Cousins beat his old team on the first try and carrying the Minnesota Vikings to a 19-9 victory over the Washington Redskins on Thursday night. Cook, the NFL leader in yards from scrimmage, rushed 23...
Cover your ground, for your plants’ sake
Nature abhors bare ground, and so should you. Her response to naked earth is to clothe it, a job at which many weeds excel. Bare soil is too easily blown and washed away by wind and water. Rainfall pounding on it seals pores, making it much harder for water to...
AP source: Department of Justice review of Russia probe now a criminal inquiry
WASHINGTON — The Justice Department has shifted its review of the Russia probe to a criminal investigation, a person familiar with the matter said Thursday, a move that is likely to raise concerns that President Donald Trump and his allies may be using the powers of the government to go...
Nationals’ Game 3 starter Sanchez unheralded but effective
WASHINGTON — Anibal Sanchez is not as highly touted — or as highly paid — as the three members of the Washington Nationals’ starting staff who already have pitched in this World Series. All he has done this postseason, though, is go 1-0 with a 0.71 ERA in two starts,...
Lindsey Graham’s resolution condemns ‘closed’ House impeachment probeVideo
WASHINGTON — A leading Senate ally of President Donald Trump introduced a resolution Thursday condemning the Democratic-run House for pursuing an “illegitimate impeachment inquiry” and demanding that Republicans be given more chances to question witnesses. The nonbinding resolution announced by GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina gives Senate Republicans...
Hundreds flee Northern California wildfire amid blackoutsVideo
GEYSERVILLE, Calif. — Hundreds of people were forced to flee Northern California wine country early Thursday as a wildfire exploded in size, fueled by dangerous winds that prompted utilities throughout the state to impose electrical blackouts to prevent fires. Authorities ordered the entire community of Geyserville to evacuate after the...
Pennsylvania won’t give driver’s license records to Census
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania’s transportation secretary is telling the U.S. Census Bureau that her agency won’t provide driver’s license records as part of a Trump administration effort to gather citizenship information. Secretary Leslie Richards wrote Thursday to a Census Bureau official, saying her department won’t participate in the project. More than...
Pennsylvania to get $53M in opioid treatment drug settlement
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania is in line to receive more than $53 million as part of a nationwide settlement with a British company that once distributed a drug used to treat opioid addiction. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said Thursday that the money is to settle allegations that the company defrauded...
Boris Johnson seeks December election to break Brexit impasse
LONDON — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has finally abandoned his promise of an October Brexit and pinned his hopes on a December election. Two days after lawmakers stymied Johnson’s latest attempt to pass his European Union divorce deal, he said Thursday that the only way to break Britain’s Brexit...
Jimmy Carter out of hospital after treatment for fall
ATLANTA — Former President Jimmy Carter is out of the hospital where he was treated after fracturing his pelvis in a recent fall, a spokeswoman said Thursday. Carter Center spokeswoman Deanna Congileo said in a statement that the former president had been released from Phoebe Sumter Medical Center and was...
Smart watch calls 911 after 2 hikers fall off cliff
MIDDLETOWN, N.J. — A New Jersey man says he and his hiking companion were rescued after they fell off a cliff because the impact spurred his smart watch to call 911. James Prudenciano and Paige Paruso were hiking in Hartshorne Woods Park in Middletown last week when they got lost...
