Associated Press stories, Page 2543
Florida man finds bright green iguana in toilet, calls 911
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A Florida man called 911 after going to the bathroom and finding a bright green iguana swimming in his toilet. Fort Lauderdale Battalion Chief Stephan Gollan tells the Miami Herald the man “freaked out and didn’t know what to do.” He says firefighter Jeff Kurus put...
Trump, world leaders offer condolences after New Zealand mosque attack
BRUSSELS — World leaders expressed condolences and condemnation Friday following the deadly attacks on mosques in the New Zealand city of Christchurch, while Muslim leaders said the mass shooting was evidence of a rising tide of violent anti-Islam sentiment. In a tweet, U.S. President Donald Trump sent “warmest sympathy and...
Investigator: West Virginia man raped, killed partner’s baby
RIPLEY, W.Va. — The lead investigator in the trial of a man accused of killing his girlfriend’s 10-month-old baby testified that he has no doubt the man raped and murdered the girl. The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports Jackson County Sheriff’s Chief Deputy Ross Mellinger said Thursday that Benjamin Taylor had blood...
SEC charges Volkswagen, former CEO with defrauding investors
WASHINGTON — U.S. regulators charged Volkswagen and former CEO Martin Winterkorn with defrauding investors during its massive diesel emissions scandal. The charges from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission come two years after the German automaker settled with the United States over criminal and civil charges, as the company tries...
Sadly, attacks on houses of worship aren’t rare
As Pittsburgh knows all too well, houses of worship — what should be places of reflection and peace — can be the deadly target of an attack by extremists. Here are some of the deadly assaults — from around the world — over the past decade: Oct. 31, 2010: Al-Qaida...
Former Steelers RB Le’Veon Bell feels ‘amazing’ about joining Jets
NEW YORK — Le’Veon Bell is leaving all the number crunching to the critics. The star running back said he slept soundly after finally making his long-awaited decision on where to restart his NFL career, agreeing to a four-year, $52.5 million deal from the New York Jets early Wednesday morning...
49 dead in mass shootings at New Zealand mosques; 1 man charged
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — At least 49 people were killed in mass shootings at two mosques full of worshippers attending Friday prayers in an attack broadcast in horrifying, live video by an immigrant-hating white nationalist wielding at least two rifles. One man was arrested and charged with murder, and two...
Georgia Senate committee hears testimony on abortion bill
ATLANTA — A Georgia Senate committee listened to emotional testimony Thursday over a proposal that would ban most abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected. The committee did not take a vote, and it was unclear when they might. Women in Georgia can currently seek an abortion during the...
Penn State ousted from Big Ten Tournament by Minnesota in overtime
CHICAGO — Amir Coffey scored 10 of his 22 points in the final minute, and Minnesota rallied for a 77-72 overtime victory over Penn State in the second round of the Big Ten Tournament on Thursday night. Coffey put the Golden Gophers (20-12) on top for good 69-66 when he...
Duquesne falls to Saint Joseph’s in A-10 Tournament
NEW YORK — Charlie Brown Jr. scored 28 points as 10th-seeded St. Joseph’s defeated seventh-seeded Duquesne, 92-86, in the second round of the Atlantic 10 Tournament on Thursday. Eric Williams Jr. led the Dukes (19-13) with 23 points. Lamar Norman Jr. added 18, and Marcus Weathers finished with 17. Jared...
Tommy Fleetwood, Keegan Bradley tied for lead at Players Championship
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — A big finish for Tommy Fleetwood and a fast start for Keegan Bradley led each to a 7-under-par 65 on Thursday for a share of the lead in the opening round of The Players Championship. Fleetwood kept a clean card in the March wind, kept...
Phil Mickelson ‘shocked’ college company he used caught in scheme
PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Phil Mickelson said he might be “more shocked than anyone” to learn a college consulting company he has used the last three years has been accused of orchestrating a massive bribery scheme. He said he never contributed to William “Rick” Singer’s foundation tied to his...
Ohio governor wants nearly $1B for Lake Erie, waterways
TOLEDO, Ohio — Gov. Mike DeWine wants to spend nearly $1 billion on water quality projects to clean up toxic algae in Lake Erie and protect other lakes and rivers throughout the state. The money would come out of this year’s new state budget, which DeWine will reveal Friday, and...
Senate rejects Trump border emergency as Republicans defect
WASHINGTON — The Republican-run Senate rejected President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the southwest border on Thursday, setting up a veto fight and dealing him a conspicuous rebuke as he tested how boldly he could ignore Congress in pursuit of his highest-profile goal. The Senate voted 59-41...
Tribeca Film Festival to host ‘Say Anything…’ reunion
NEW YORK — The Tribeca Film Festival has added a “Say Anything…” reunion screening to its upcoming festival, as well as the premiere of a documentary on Phish lead singer and guitarist Trey Anastasio. Tribeca announced Thursday that writer-director Cameron Crowe and the cast of “Say Anything…” led by John...
1 killed when 2 small planes collide on Los Angeles-area runway
COMPTON, Calif. — A small plane ran into another aircraft on a Los Angeles-area runaway in a fiery crash that killed one person and injured another. Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor says a Cessna with two people aboard landed Wednesday night at Compton/Woodley Airport. A North American T-28 then...
Squirrels are damaging some maple syrup operations
DANVILLE, Vt. — Maple syrup producers are contending with a late start to the season in the Northeast and an abundant squirrel population with the critters chomping on plastic sap tubing and spouts. Damage from wildlife — deer, bear woodpeckers, and squirrels — is not unusual for maple operations, but...
Ohio judge grants transgender teen’s name change
LEBANON, Ohio — An Ohio judge has reversed his earlier denial of a transgender 15-year-old’s legal name change and is allowing that change. The Cincinnati Enquirer reports Warren County Probate Judge Joseph Kirby ruled Tuesday that the name change “is in the best interest of the child.” Kirby previously said...
U.K. lawmakers reject having new Brexit referendum
LONDON — Britain’s Parliament has voted against holding a new Brexit referendum, at least for now. Lawmakers defeated by a decisive 334-85 vote a motion that called for another public vote on whether to stay in the European Union or leave. Campaigners for a new referendum are divided over whether...
$878 million South Carolina lottery winner sharing with charities
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina woman who won $878 million in the biggest jackpot payout to one winner in U.S. history wants to share her windfall with the city and state where her good fortune happened. The winner still wishes to remain anonymous because she wants to “live a...
Whoopi Goldberg cheered on her return to ‘The View’
NEW YORK — Whoopi Goldberg received a standing ovation from the audience and hugs from her castmates as she returned to “The View.” Goldberg surprised everyone as she appeared on the ABC program Thursday, less than a week after she said in a video that she nearly died of pneumonia....
MLB players, owners to start labor talks 2 years early
NEW YORK — Major League Baseball and its players’ union reached an unprecedented agreement to discuss renegotiating their labor contract that has three seasons remaining, part of a deal that includes modest rule changes for 2020 and drops pitch clocks until 2022 at the earliest. Players have been furious at...
Grand Canyon National Park’s 1st female leader is resigning
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. — The first female superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park is resigning after less than three years at the helm of one of the country’s most popular tourist destinations. Christine Lehnertz is the park’s first openly gay, female superintendent and the second consecutive Grand Canyon chief to leave...
IS militants, families surrender after offensive in Syria
BAGHOUZ, Syria — U.S.-backed Syrian fighters said Thursday a “large number” of Islamic State militants and their families are surrendering a day after intense fighting in the last speck of land the extremists still hold in eastern Syria. At the edge of Baghouz, the village where the militants are still...
Court rules gun maker Remington can be sued over Newtown shooting
HARTFORD, Conn. — A divided Connecticut Supreme Court has ruled gun maker Remington can be sued over how it marketed the Bushmaster rifle used to kill 20 children and six educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012. Justices issued a 4-3 ruling that reinstated a wrongful death lawsuit and...
