Associated Press stories, Page 2448
Near-record ‘dead zone’ predicted in Gulf of Mexico
NEW ORLEANS — Scientists are predicting a near-record Gulf of Mexico “dead zone” where the water holds too little oxygen to sustain marine life. “A major factor contributing to the large dead zone this year is the abnormally high amount of spring rainfall in many parts of the Mississippi River...
Woodstock 50 in doubt but organizers say in talks with venue
The fate of the Woodstock 50 festival was unclear Monday when the host of the event pulled out, but organizers said they were in talks with another venue. The festival has faced a series of setbacks, and the latest came Monday afternoon, when Watkins Glen International announced it’s not hosting...
Samoa bans Elton John movie ‘Rocketman’ due to homosexualityVideo
The Pacific nation of Samoa has banned the Elton John biopic “Rocketman” because of its depictions of homosexuality. About 97% of people in Samoa identify as Christian, and the society is generally considered conservative and traditional. Under Samoa’s 2013 Crimes Act, sodomy is deemed an offense that is punishable by...
Warriors stay alive with Game 5 victory in NBA Finals
TORONTO — The Golden State Warriors aren’t letting go of the NBA title just yet. Stephen Curry scored 31 points, Klay Thompson added 26 and they led a season-saving surge that gave the Warriors a 106-105 victory over the Toronto Raptors on Monday night in Game 5 of the NBA...
Braves outslug Pirates after Joe Musgrove tossed in 1st inning
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Braves stayed hot by hitting five home runs on a night a first-inning, stare-down contest created the biggest stir. Ronald Acuna Jr. hit a grand slam, Ozzie Albies added two homers and the Braves beat Pittsburgh 13-7 on Monday night after Pirates starter Joe Musgrove was...
O.J. Simpson says ‘life is fine’ after prison
LOS ANGELES — Twenty-five years after the grisly killings that transformed him from Hall of Fame football hero to murder suspect, 71-year-old O.J. Simpson says he is happy and healthy living in Las Vegas, plays golf nearly every day and stays in touch with his children. “Life is fine,” Simpson...
Pole-sitter Logano wins NASCAR race at Michigan International
BROOKLYN, Mich. — Joey Logano won the pole in qualifying and then led for more than three-quarters of the race. It was an impressive display, but all that could have gone for naught if he hadn’t been sharp on the final restart. Logano won his second NASCAR Cup Series race...
Ex-NFL player Kellen Winslow Jr. convicted of rapeVideo
SAN DIEGO — Former NFL player Kellen Winslow Jr. — the son of a Hall of Famer who himself earned more than $40 million during his career — has been convicted of raping a 58-year-old homeless woman last year in his picturesque beach community of Encinitas, north of San Diego....
Pirates’ Joe Musgrove, Braves’ Josh Donaldson tossed after skirmishVideo
ATLANTA — Pittsburgh right-hander Joe Musgrove and Atlanta third baseman Josh Donaldson have been ejected for triggering a benches-clearing confrontation. Pirates manager Clint Hurdle also was ejected by home-plate umpire Brian Gorman for arguing the decision to toss Musgrove. Josh Donaldson and Joe Musgrove get into it.Both were ejected after...
Bruins’ consistency faces final test in Stanley Cup Final vs. BluesVideo
ST. LOUIS — The strains of Jay-Z and Linkin Park’s “Numb/Encore” mashup emanated from a small speaker on the hallway floor outside the visiting locker room following the Boston Bruins’ morning skate. “I don’t know what you’re expecting of me … put under the pressure … of walking in your...
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice slams Michael Bloomberg’s clean energy plan
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s $500 million effort to close the nation’s coal plants isn’t sitting well in West Virginia. West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice criticized the clean energy plan at a news conference Monday, saying it will destroy the economy of his coal-producing state....
Unretired Witten says he wants to blend in with Cowboys
FRISCO, Texas — Jason Witten talks a lot about just wanting to blend in now that he is back for a club-record 16th season with the Dallas Cowboys after a year in retirement. Ask about playing time among a group of decidedly younger tight ends, and, well, the franchise leader...
U.S. national soccer coach Jill Ellis downplays comments by ex-goalie Hope Solo
REIMS, France — U.S. national team coach Jill Ellis downplayed critical comments made by former goalkeeper Hope Solo, who said the World Cup-winning coach “cracks under pressure.” Ellis addressed the remarks Monday, a day before the defending champion U.S. team opens World Cup play against Thailand, saying, “Comments are comments.”...
USGA might face more pressure than players at U.S. OpenVideo
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — The stage is set for what should be the ideal U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, perhaps the most popular of all U.S. Open courses with its magnificent Pacific coastline and small greens, with its history of high drama and great champions. The fairways are roughly the...
John Dean calls Mueller report ‘road map’ for Trump investigationVideo
WASHINGTON — John Dean, a star witness during Watergate who helped bring down the Nixon presidency, testified Monday that special counsel Robert Mueller has provided Congress with a “road map” for investigating President Trump. He told the House Judiciary Committee he saw parallels between Mueller’s findings and those of congressional...
Helicopter crashes on roof of Manhattan skyscraper; pilot killedVideo
NEW YORK — A helicopter crashed on the roof of a rain-shrouded midtown Manhattan skyscraper Monday, killing the pilot and briefly triggering memories of 9/11, after an erratic trip across some of the nation’s most restricted airspace. Authorities said they did not suspect terrorism. The crash near Times Square and...
Ex-Red Sox slugger David Ortiz flown to Boston after being shot in a bar
SANTO DOMINGO, Dominican Republic — David Ortiz was flown to Boston for more medical care Monday after the former Red Sox slugger was ambushed by a gunman at a bar in his native Dominican Republic, authorities said. The 43-year-old was in stable condition in intensive care at a Santo Domingo...
Grandmother of dad who killed 5 kids asks to spare his life
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The grandmother of a South Carolina man facing a possible death sentence for killing his five children is asking a jury to spare his life. She says the family has already been through too much. Roberta Thornsberry testified Monday that along with losing her five great-grandchildren when...
Prince Philip marks 98th birthday in private
Senior royals are congratulating Prince Philip as the husband of Queen Elizabeth II celebrates his 98th birthday in private. In a tweet Monday, the royal family wished Philip “a very happy” birthday. The British Army plans to fire gun salutes in Philip’s honor. The Army tweeted that it is “determined...
Mother charged with putting newborn in garbage bag in wooded area pleads not guilty
CHARDON, Ohio — A woman who authorities say put her newborn baby boy in a garbage bag and left him in a wooded area in 1993 has pleaded not guilty to charges including aggravated murder. Forty-nine-year-old Gail Eastwood-Ritchey pleaded not guilty Monday in Geauga County to aggravated murder and murder...
Wildfire prompts evacuation at California Six Flags park
SANTA CLARITA, Calif. — A fast-moving brush fire erupted near a huge amusement and water park in Southern California on Sunday, sending hundreds of visitors to the exit to escape clouds of smoke and ash before fire officials asked them to stay put while they worked to contain the blaze....
Deputies urge woman in Robert Kraft-related sex ring to say she was trafficked
STUART, Fla. — The Chinese masseuse shrinks into her chair as the Florida sheriff’s detective tells her deputies installed hidden cameras in her spa’s ceiling. He knows she and other women had sex with men for money. But you can save yourself, Martin County Detective Mike Fenton and others tell...
Seagull photobombs, steals woman’s lobster roll
Alicia Jessop knew Friday was going to be a memorable day, but she didn’t realize it would be one she’d never forget. The 34-year-old Pepperdine University professor planned to finally visit New England, hitting some of the last seven states she’d never been to, and try her first-ever lobster roll....
Canada to ban single-use plastics
TORONTO — Canada will ban single-use plastics as early as 2021, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Monday. Trudeau said the specific items to be banned will be determined based on a science-based review, but the government is considering items such as water bottles, plastic bags and straws. “As early as...
Seniors more likely to work longer in big metropolitan areas
CHICAGO — Seniors in major metropolitan areas, especially in the Northeast and around Washington, D.C., are more likely to continue working past age 65 than those in other areas around the country, according to an analysis of Census data by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. “Those are...
