Associated Press stories, Page 2479
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signs abortion ban into law
MONTGOMERY — Alabama’s Republican governor signed the most stringent abortion legislation in the nation Wednesday, making performing an abortion a felony in nearly all cases. “To the bill’s many supporters, this legislation stands as a powerful testament to Alabamians’ deeply held belief that every life is precious and that every...
Bob Baffert to saddle favorite Improbable in search of record 8th Preakness win
BALTIMORE — In a field without the top three finishers in the Kentucky Derby, the odds Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert wouldn’t have the favorite in the Preakness are, well, Improbable. Baffert will seek a record-setting eighth Preakness victory Saturday with 5-2 morning line favorite Improbable, who will start...
Francesco Molinari seeks redemption for meltdown at Masters
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. — For the past month, the golf world has been riding the high of seeing Tiger Woods win the Masters. What has been forgotten is Woods’ unexpected victory pretty much was courtesy of British Open champion Francesco Molinari. Forgotten already? Molinari had a two-shot lead with seven holes...
Kareem Hunt tells Browns: ‘You can trust me,’ after violent past
BEREA, Ohio — Once he found the courage, Kareem Hunt watched the infamous video of him shoving a woman and then kicking her while she was on the ground. Like millions of others, he was disturbed. “I was like, ‘Wow, it’s pretty bad. That’s not me,’ ” he said, recalling...
Lawsuit filed to stop Ohio abortion ban after 1st heartbeat
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Planned Parenthood and abortion clinics sued Wednesday to thwart Ohio’s latest and most restrictive abortion law, an anticipated move that’s part of a national anti-abortion strategy to challenge the landmark Roe v. Wade decision. The lawsuit is similar to legal fights in several southern states that recently...
Students in Colorado shooting face murder, other charges
CASTLE ROCK, Colo. — Two students suspected of shooting nine classmates, one fatally, in their Colorado charter school appeared in court Wednesday to face dozens of criminal charges that included murder, attempted murder, theft and arson. The charges were filed on the same day a memorial service was scheduled for...
Jets fire GM Mike Maccagnan; coach Adam Gase acting GM
NEW YORK — Mike Maccagnan helped lead the Jets’ coaching search this offseason, spent big money in free agency and oversaw the team’s draft. Now, stunningly, he’s out as New York’s general manager. Team chairman and CEO Christopher Johnson announced the decision to fire Maccagnan in a statement posted Wednesday...
These events have led to heightened tensions between U.S., Iran
Tensions between the United States and Iran have soared in recent weeks, with Washington dispatching warships and bombers to the Persian Gulf, and Tehran threatening to resume higher uranium enrichment. The tensions come a year after President Donald Trump withdrew from Iran’s 2015 nuclear accord with world powers and restored...
Pennsylvania boosts student-loan aid to bolster opioid fight
HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf’s administration is devoting $5 million in federal grants to a student-loan repayment program in high opioid-use areas where there’s a shortage of substance-abuse treatment professionals. The application period opened May 1 and runs through June 3. An administration spokesman says the new program is fairly...
Lawsuit: Johnstown practice, hospital covered for pedophile pediatrician
EBENSBURG — A civil suit says a Pennsylvania pediatric practice knew that one of its physicians was a threat to molest young patients but covered it up. The suit says Laurel Pediatric Associates in Johnstown knew at least two decades ago that Dr. Johnnie Barto’s patients were in “serious danger,”...
Police: 5-year-old brings crack cocaine to Philadelphia preschool
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia police are investigating after a 5-year-old boy brought about two dozen vials of crack cocaine into a preschool at a Roman Catholic church. Police say the boy told a teacher’s aide at St. Cyprian Children’s Center that the person who handed him the bag told him to...
Chicago-area police warn of ‘zombie raccoons’ with distemper
RIVERSIDE, Ill. — The warning about “zombie raccoons” may sound like something out of a bad television show, but a suburban Chicago police department says they present serious dangers to family pets. The critters are called zombies because those carrying the distemper virus often stagger on their hind legs and...
Mom runs inside burning home to rescue kids; all 3 die
TAMPA, Fla. — Authorities say a Florida woman ran back into her burning apartment after realizing her two children hadn’t made it out. All three died in the fire. Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister said during a Wednesday morning news conference that the woman and another adult living in the...
Family questions how inmate jailed 17 months got pregnant
ROCKFORD, Ala. — Relatives of a jailed Alabama woman are questioning how the woman became pregnant. Al.com reports 26-year-old Latoni Daniel has been jailed for 17 months and is set to give birth to her first child this month. The U.S. National Guard veteran became pregnant while at a Coosa...
American Express buys restaurant reservation service Resy
NEW YORK — American Express is buying the online reservation startup Resy, the latest move by AmEx to establish and maintain a foothold for its card members in some of the world’s most desired restaurants. AmEx and Resy declined to disclose the terms of the deal. However, Resy announced it...
Doctor charged with driving drunk, striking pedestrians
BOSTON — Authorities have charged a prominent Massachusetts doctor with driving drunk, striking three pedestrians in a crosswalk and then leaving the scene. Dr. Michael Watkins, a vascular surgeon at Massachusetts General Hospital, was released on $1,500 bail after pleading not guilty Tuesday to charges including assault and battery by...
Judge: Florida newlywed lost at sea declared dead
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A judge has declared a missing Florida newlywed dead, almost two years to the day she disappeared while honeymooning in the Bahamas with her husband. Palm Beach County Circuit Court Judge Scott Suskauer’s May 9th order declares that 41-year-old Isabella Hellman is presumed dead...
Kamala Harris wants ban on importing AR-15-style assault weapons
NASHUA, N.H. — Kamala Harris wants to ban the importation of AR-15-style assault weapons by executive action if elected president. On Wednesday, the Democratic senator from California is set to detail her proposal to stop importing the weapons until the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives can analyze whether...
Josh Bell homers twice to lead Pirates past DiamondbacksVideo
PHOENIX — Josh Bell is on the best hitting streak of his career, and the Pittsburgh Pirates are along for the ride. Bell homered twice and Joe Musgrove allowed one hit through seven strong innings as the Pirates beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-2 Tuesday night. Phoenix native Cole Tucker hit...
Warriors ease to win in Western Conference finals opener vs. Trail BlazersVideo
OAKLAND, Calif. — Stephen Curry made nine 3-pointers and scored 36 points, and the Golden State Warriors beat the Portland Trail Blazers, 116-94, on Tuesday night in Game 1 of the Western Conference finals while playing without injured star Kevin Durant once again. Curry shot 12 for 23 in his...
Democrats may fund parts of Trump’s $4.5B border request
WASHINGTON — Congressional Democrats are signaling a willingness to include major elements of President Trump’s $4.5 billion request for humanitarian and security needs on the U.S.-Mexico border in an unrelated, widely backed disaster aid bill that appears to finally be breaking free of a partisan logjam. Democratic aides said Tuesday...
Goalie switch can’t save Hurricanes vs. Bruins in Game 3
RALEIGH, N.C. — Chris Wagner and Brad Marchand scored 5 minutes, 7 seconds apart in the second period, and the Boston Bruins beat the Carolina Hurricanes, 2-1, on Tuesday night to take a 3-0 lead in the Eastern Conference finals. Tuukka Rask stopped 35 shots for the Bruins, who have...
College student who says he mistook mom for intruder and beat her to death with a bat charged with murder
GENEVA, Ill. — A suburban Chicago man charged in the beating death of his mother mistook the woman for an intruder when he repeatedly hit her with a baseball bat, an attorney said. Thomas J. Summerwill of Campton Hills is charged with two counts of second-degree murder in the March...
U.K.’s Theresa May to make new push on Brexit deal next month
LONDON — British Prime Minister Theresa May will try again next month to secure Parliament’s backing for a Brexit deal so that the U.K. can leave the European Union this summer, May’s office said Tuesday. Downing Street said May intends to ask lawmakers to vote on a withdrawal agreement bill...
Alabama ban on nearly all abortions in GOP governor’s hands
MONTGOMERY — Alabama legislators have given final approval to a ban on nearly all abortions, and if the Republican governor signs the measure, the state will have the strictest abortion law in the country. The legislation would make performing an abortion a felony at any stage of pregnancy with almost...
