Associated Press stories, Page 2380
Judge blasts Georgia officials’ handling of election system
ATLANTA — Georgia election officials have for years ignored, downplayed and failed to address serious problems with the state’s election management system and voting machines, a federal judge said in a scathing order this week. U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg said those problems place a burden on citizens’ rights to...
Hundreds arrive to honor El Paso victim after public invited
EL PASO, Texas — When Jordan Ballard read that one of the victims of the El Paso massacre had few relatives and the public was invited to her funeral, the Los Angeles resident bought a plane ticket and flew to Texas to honor a woman she had never met. She...
NASA picks Alabama’s ‘Rocket City’ for lunar lander job
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA picked Alabama’s “Rocket City” on Friday to lead development of the next moon lander for astronauts. Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville beat out Johnson Space Center in Houston, which managed the Apollo lunar lander a half-century ago. The new lunar lander — not yet...
Florida vacation home invaded by vomiting vultures
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — A New York couple’s luxurious vacation house in Florida has been taken over by dozens of black vultures that are vomiting and defecating everywhere. The Palm Beach Post reports the Casimano family can’t even visit the $702,000 home they purchased earlier this year in the...
Arrests precede major demonstrations in Portland, Oregon
PORTLAND, Ore. — Authorities arrested the leader of a right-wing group on the eve of a rally that’s expected to draw people from around the U.S. to Portland, Oregon, on Saturday, prompting Patriot Prayer’s Joey Gibson to urge his followers to “show up one hundred-fold” in response. Self-described anti-fascists have...
Kentucky finds 1,000 teachers violated law during ‘sickouts’
FRANKFORT, Ky. — An election-year investigation into teacher rallies at Kentucky’s Capitol found more than 1,000 educators violated state law by participating in protests that shut down some schools, Gov. Matt Bevin’s administration said Friday. No penalties will be assessed, Kentucky’s labor secretary said, but he warned “the grace extended...
NRA wants a role when Oliver North meets state investigators
NEW YORK — A National Rifle Association leader-turned-critic is meeting with New York investigators next week, and the NRA wants to be there.a New York’s attorney general’s office is questioning Oliver North on Tuesday as it probes whether the NRA broke laws governing its nonprofit status. The powerful gun lobby...
Roy Moore defamation lawsuit against accusers is paused
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A judge has paused a defamation suit filed by Roy Moore against women who accused him during his unsuccessful U.S. Senate bid of past misconduct. Circuit Judge Albert Johnson ruled last month case will be held on the administrative docket until a related defamation case against Moore...
Country’s largest tribal nation seeks congressional delegate
OKLAHOMA CITY — The newly elected chief of the Oklahoma-based Cherokee Nation plans to appoint the tribe’s first-ever delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives, which is outlined in a nearly 200-year-old treaty with the federal government. In a letter Thursday to the speaker of the Cherokee Nation Tribal Council,...
Father of kidnapping victim Elizabeth Smart comes out as gay
SALT LAKE CITY — The father of Utah kidnapping survivor Elizabeth Smart has come out as gay in a heartfelt letter that reveals he has struggled throughout his life with pain and guilt. “The decision to be honest and truthful about my orientation comes with its own set of challenges,...
Charles Santore, illustrator of children’s books, dies at 84
PHILADELPHIA — Charles Santore, an illustrator known for his richly detailed and whimsical interpretations of classic children’s books has died, his daughter said Friday. Christina Santore said her father died Sunday after a brief illness in Philadelphia, where he was born, raised and worked. He was 84. He spent over...
Shoppers panic as security officer fires at man with knife
LOS ANGELES — A man who robbed an armored car guard at a Southern California shopping plaza was captured Friday after the guard fired gunshots that sent panicked shoppers fleeing, police said. No one was injured but the exchange caused chaos and fears of a mass shooting at the Third...
NFL conditionally reinstates Patriots WR Josh Gordon
BOSTON — Josh Gordon’s winding career has included several second chances following a trail of multiple drug suspensions that cast doubt whether the talented but troubled playmaker would ever get on an NFL field again. He’s getting yet another opportunity. The NFL conditionally reinstated the Patriots wide receiver Friday. Commissioner...
‘Easy Rider’ star and writer Peter Fonda dies at age 79
LOS ANGELES — Actor Peter Fonda, the son of a Hollywood legend who became a movie star in his own right after both writing and starring in the counter-culture classic “Easy Rider,” has died. His family said in a statement that Fonda died Friday morning at his home in Los...
NASCAR Cup drivers eyeing playoff spots, job security at Bristol
BRISTOL, Tenn. — There is very little wiggle room in the race to make NASCAR’s playoffs, and as free agency hits full steam drivers are trying to secure their futures as fast as possible. Among those on the bubble is Clint Bowyer, in the 16th and final qualifying spot and...
Colorado OKs electric car requirement to fight air pollution
DENVER — Colorado tightened its air quality regulations on Friday, requiring that at least 5% of the vehicles sold in the state by 2023 emit zero pollution. The state Air Quality Control Commission, which passed the rule on an 8-1 vote, said the requirement applies to auto manufacturers, not buyers....
Sealed records on Dayton gunman pit safety against privacy
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Disturbing behavior that the Dayton gunman reportedly exhibited in his youth may be detailed in law enforcement and school files so far off limits to the public, records that could shed light on whether authorities properly handled early warning signs. The measures used to shield 24-year-old shooter...
US tells Congress of plans to sell F-16 fighters to Taiwan
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration has informed Congress it plans to sell F-16 fighters worth $8 billion to Taiwan in a move that will inflame already high tensions with China. Two U.S. officials and a congressional aide say the administration informally notified lawmakers of the proposed sale late on Thursday....
Claim: Migrant children molested in US-funded foster care
WASHINGTON — Dozens of families separated at the border as part of the Trump administration’s zero tolerance policy are preparing to sue the federal government, including several who say their young children were sexually, physically or emotionally abused in federally funded foster care. A review of 38 legal claims obtained...
Gov. Tom Wolf unveils gun violence effort after Philadelphia shooting
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf directed state police and other agencies under his control Friday to focus greater efforts on addressing gun violence, two days after a gunman shot six Philadelphia police officers. Wolf said set up a new Special Council on Gun Violence and gave it six months...
Trooper finds parked driver playing Pokemon Go on 8 phones
BURIEN, Wash. — A Washington state trooper who pulled over to help what he thought was a disabled vehicle found something else instead: The driver had eight phones simultaneously playing the video game Pokemon Go. The driver was stopped on the shoulder of Highway 518 in Burien, south of Seattle,...
Officers stake out 2 airports, nab accused turtle trafficker
ATLANTA — An investigation involving two of the world’s biggest airports and hundreds of turtles has led to federal charges that a man illegally shipped the reptiles to China. Nathan Horton is charged with violating the Lacey Act, which forbids illegal wildlife trafficking. Prosecutors took a slow-wins-the-race approach to filing...
Uber driver convicted of raping intoxicated passenger
An Uber driver has been found guilty of raping an intoxicated woman he picked up at a casino near Philadelphia. The jury deliberated for nearly 3 hours on Thursday before finding Ahmed Elgaafary guilty of rape of an unconscious person, sexual assault and indecent assault. Chester County District Attorney Tom...
Robin Thede looks to build legacy in HBO sketch comedy show
Robin Thede knew plenty of talented African-American female comedians, but only a few were getting hired on popular TV comedy shows such as “Saturday Night Live” and “Mad TV.” So, Thede decided to create her own show featuring some of the industry’s funniest black women. The comic-writer-producer-actress is breaking new...
Pa. Turnpike to close for bridge work from New Stanton to Breezewood
Motorists will face detours when a section of the Pennsylvania Turnpike closes for bridge work. The toll road will close in both directions between New Stanton Exit 75 and Breezewood Exit 161 starting at 11 p.m. Saturday until approximately 6 a.m. Sunday, weather permitting. The turnpike commission says the closure...
