Associated Press stories, Page 2603
Watch live: Trump speaks to veterans after Barr report
WASHINGTON — After nearly two years of waiting, America is getting some Trump-Russia answers straight from Robert Mueller. But first: Another declaration of “no collusion” by President Donald Trump’s attorney general. Eager to get in a last word ahead of the public release of the special counsel’s report, Attorney General...
America about to see Mueller report; Barr gets in first word
WASHINGTON (AP) — After nearly two years of waiting, America is getting some Trump-Russia answers straight from Robert Mueller. Eager to get in a first word ahead of the public release of the special counsel’s report, Attorney General William Barr on Thursday laid out in advance what he said was...
‘We don’t get over it’: Pain of mass shootings stretches on
PARKLAND, Fla. — Alex Rozenblat can still hear the cries of a wounded boy calling for help as she hid from the gunfire that killed 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School last year. Talking to therapists at the school in Parkland, Florida, didn’t help. Each session had a...
Network bosses pleased with NFL TV packages for this season
Howard Katz has the most unenviable task in the National Football League. As the league’s senior vice president of broadcasting and media operations, he is the point person for formulating the schedule and trying to make the executives of the league’s four broadcast partners happy. Before the public got a...
Wild bee species critical to pollination on the decline
CONCORD, N.H. — More than a dozen wild bee species critical to pollinizing everything from blueberries to apples in New England are on the decline, according to a new study. Researchers from the University of New Hampshire wanted to understand if the documented declines hitting honeybees and bumblebees were also...
Poll: Church membership in U.S. plummets over past 20 years
NEW YORK — The percentage of U.S. adults who belong to a church or other religious institution has plunged by 20 percentage points over the past two decades, hitting a low of 50% last year, according to a new Gallup poll. Among major demographic groups, the biggest drops were recorded...
NYPD: Man with gas cans arrested at St. Patrick’s church
NEW YORK — Just days after flames ravaged the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris, a New Jersey man was arrested Wednesday night after entering St. Patrick’s Cathedral carrying two cans of gasoline, lighter fluid and butane lighters, according to the New York Police Department. The unidentified 37-year-old man had pulled...
Central Florida cities among fastest growing in US
ORLANDO, Fla. — When it came to population growth last year, cities in central Florida grew by stadiums. Metro Orlando grew by 60,000 residents last year, almost as large as the number of people who can fit into the city’s Camping World Stadium, where college football bowl teams face off...
Legionnaires’ disease found in adjacent California prisons
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Legionnaires’ disease bacteria that killed one inmate and sickened another is more widespread than expected in a California state prison, officials said Wednesday, citing new test results. Preliminary results found the bacteria in the water supply at a prison medical facility in Stockton and at two neighboring...
Florida House OKs bill requiring parental abortion consent
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Legislation that would require consent from a parent or guardian before a girl under 18 could obtain an abortion passed the Florida House on Wednesday night after a lengthy debate and amid questions about its constitutionality. The Republican-led House voted 69-44 largely along party lines for the...
Warren, in Utah, pledges changes in national-monument policy
SALT LAKE CITY — Backed by dramatic mountain peaks, Elizabeth Warren stopped in Utah on Wednesday to discuss her public-lands plan, including a promise to restore broader protections for two of the state’s high-profile national monuments if elected president. It’s a move that would not endear her to the state’s...
Parole granted for driver in deadly 1981 Brink’s heist
ALBANY, N.Y. — Former left-wing revolutionary Judith Clark was granted parole Wednesday after serving more than 37 years behind bars for her role as getaway driver in a 1981 Brink’s armored truck robbery that left two police officers and a security guard dead. “You were wrong. Your behavior was criminal....
Pirates top Tigers in 10 innings again
DETROIT — At this point, Clint Hurdle is probably used to managing for more than nine innings. Colin Moran hit an RBI single in the top of the 10th, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Detroit Tigers 3-2 on Wednesday night. It was the second straight night Hurdle’s Pirates beat...
Couple accused of forcing day laborer into sex at gunpoint
PHOENIX — A Phoenix couple are accused of forcing a Mexican day laborer into sex at gunpoint and filming another encounter to blackmail him. Jorge Murrieta, 45, and Brenda Acuna-Aguero, 39, were arrested last week on suspicion of sexual assault, aggravated assault and unlawful recording of a person, according to...
Idaho governor has unfettered chance to cut state rules
BOISE, Idaho — Idaho’s governor now has sweeping authority to eliminate thousands of state-approved rules without public participation or lawmaker oversight. That’s because the state Legislature, which is controlled by Gov. Brad Little’s fellow Republicans, failed to pass a bill approving 8,200 pages containing 736 chapters of rules and regulations...
Pennsylvania government watchdog to probe teen’s murder
A Pennsylvania state government watchdog agency has launched an investigation into the horrific case of a 14-year-old girl who had extensive contact with the child welfare system before her 2016 rape, torture and murder, a lawmaker who requested the review announced Wednesday. The Office of State Inspector General has agreed...
After Notre Dame, support for torched black churches swells
NEW ORLEANS — The crowdfunding campaign to raise money for three African American churches gutted by arson in Louisiana began a week ago, but donations surged after flames engulfed the roof of Notre Dame cathedral in Paris and the outcry provoked a conversation about the disparate reactions to the tragedies....
Despite recusal, prosecutor told deputy Smollett overcharged
CHICAGO — Despite recusing herself from the case, Chicago’s top prosecutor weighed in on the allegations against Jussie Smollett last month, telling a deputy that she believed her office had overcharged the “Empire” actor, according to newly released texts and emails. The text message exchange unfolded more than two weeks...
Pirates minor leaguer suspended 30 games for domestic violence
Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop prospect Ji-Hwan Bae was suspended for 30 games for violating minor league baseball’s domestic violence policy. Baseball commissioner Rob Manfred said the suspension will start Thursday. Bae agreed to a minor league contract in March 2018 for a $1.2 million signing bonus. He was accused by a...
Pa. House approves tougher rules on child sexual abuse reporting
HARRISBURG — The Pennsylvania House is approving tougher penalties for people who don’t report suspicions about repeated child sexual abuse and it’s clarifying that nondisclosure agreements can’t prevent people from talking to police in child molestation investigations. Lawmakers on Wednesday voted for a proposal that could also eliminate the statute...
NTSB investigates American Airlines flight tipped by wind
NEW YORK — Federal safety officials are investigating an American Airlines flight in which the plane tipped in strong wind and a wingtip hit a runway marker during takeoff from New York’s Kennedy Airport. The pilots cut short the flight to Los Angeles and landed back at JFK about 30...
Young woman ‘infatuated’ with Columbine is found dead
LITTLETON, Colo. — A young Florida woman who traveled to Colorado and bought a shotgun for what authorities feared would be a Columbine-inspired attack just days ahead of the 20th anniversary was found dead Wednesday in an apparent suicide after a nearly 24-hour manhunt. Jefferson County Sheriff Jeff Shrader said...
Scientists spur some activity in brains of slaughtered pigs
NEW YORK — Scientists restored some activity within the brains of pigs that had been slaughtered hours before, raising hopes for some medical advances and questions about the definition of death. The brains could not think or sense anything, researchers stressed. By medical standards “this is not a living brain,”...
Woman sues over melon linked to U.S. salmonella outbreak
INDIANAPOLIS — A Kentucky woman is suing an Indiana-based company that issued a recall last week for melon products linked to a salmonella outbreak. Tammy France, 50, of Louisville alleges in her federal lawsuit that she spent a week hospitalized with salmonella poisoning after eating pre-cut melon made by Caito...
60 people charged in illegal-prescription opioid crackdown
CINCINNATI — Federal authorities said Wednesday they have charged 60 people, including 31 doctors, for their roles in illegally prescribing and distributing millions of pills containing opioids and other dangerous drugs. U.S. Attorney Benjamin Glassman of Cincinnati described the action as the biggest known takedown yet of drug prescribers. Robert...
