Associated Press stories, Page 2609
Trump administration appeals ruling blocking return of asylum seekers
SAN FRANCISCO — The Trump administration Wednesday appealed a judge’s ruling that would block the government from returning asylum seekers to Mexico to await court hearings. The one-sentence appeal filed in the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals did not immediately ask to stop the lower court ruling from going...
Immigrant’s death after detention raises questions for family
LOS ANGELES — A 27-year-old man died in a California hospital after he suffered a brain hemorrhage while detained by U.S. immigration authorities, his wife said Wednesday, demanding to know what caused his injury and whether he received appropriate medical care in custody. Melissa Castro said she was called Feb....
National Enquirer parent explores possible sale of tabloid
NEW YORK — The supermarket tabloid under fire for paying hush money to a former Playboy model to help Donald Trump in his 2016 presidential campaign is on the auction block. The parent of the National Enquirer said Wednesday that it is exploring a possible sale as part of a...
Court papers confirm shooting during vigil for Nipsey Hussle
LOS ANGELES — Two women were wounded by gunfire last week as a crowd scattered during a vigil for Nipsey Hussle hours after the rapper was killed, and police are looking for the shooter, according to court papers obtained Wednesday by The Associated Press. Hundreds of people had gathered to...
Deal with EU could delay Brexit until Halloween
BRUSSELS — European Union leaders and Britain on Thursday agreed to a Brexit extension that will allow the U.K. to delay its EU departure date until Halloween. Leaders of the 27 remaining EU member states met for more than six hours before agreeing after midnight to postpone Brexit until Oct....
Trump signs orders making it harder to block pipelines
CROSBY, Texas — President Trump’s support for shifting more power to states on Wednesday faded next to his affinity for oil and gas production, as he aimed to make it harder for states to block pipelines and other energy projects due to environmental concerns. At the urging of business groups,...
Analysis: Lakers have opportunity to open new chapter
EL SEGUNDO, Calif. The Los Angeles Lakers already had plenty of problems to fix during the summer after their sixth straight losing season. Replacing the person in charge of fixing those problems is suddenly at the top of the list. Magic Johnson’s shocking resignation as the 16-time NBA champions’ president...
Jordan Spieth hopes Masters memories can help end slump
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods is a winner again, making him even more appealing at the Masters. “I’ve worked my way back into one of the players that can win events,” he said. Rory McIlroy is the betting favorite — perhaps even the sentimental favorite. Facing a fifth chance at...
New Jersey principal who went into coma after bone marrow donation diesVideo
WESTFIELD, N.J. — A New Jersey high school principal who had agreed to donate bone marrow to a 14-year-old stranger in France has died, weeks after he lapsed into a coma during the procedure, his family said. Westfield High School Principal Derrick Nelson, 44, told the school’s newspaper that he...
Champion Capitals face fresh-faced Hurricanes in 1st round of playoffs
WASHINGTON — When the Carolina Hurricanes take the ice for Game 1 of their first-round series against the Capitals on Thursday, their blue line will have less playoff experience than top Washington defenseman John Carlson. Of their 342 games of NHL postseason experience, captain Justin Williams and second-line center Jordan...
Charles Van Doren, figure in game show scandals, dies at 93
HARTFORD, Conn. — Charles Van Doren, the dashing young academic whose meteoric rise and fall as a corrupt game show contestant in the 1950s inspired the movie “Quiz Show” and served as a cautionary tale about the staged competitions of early television, has died. He was 93. He died of...
Ohio lawmakers pass one of the nation’s most restrictive abortion bans
COLUMBUS — No topic seemed off limits, including tales of back alleys and coat hangers, as abortion-rights supporters in Ohio fought perhaps the last battle over a twice-vetoed heartbeat abortion ban, which Gov. Mike DeWine has said he will sign. After nearly 10 years of fighting, Democrats let loose during...
Analysis: Israel’s election exposes deep political divisions
By JOSEF FEDERMAN JERUSALEM — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s apparent election victory has deepened the fractures in a divided country. Bolstered by his base of religious and working-class voters, Netanyahu can be expected to press ahead with a hard-line agenda that will likely eliminate the last hopes of a two-state...
Chip and Joanna Gaines to debut new network next yearVideo
NEW YORK — The lifestyle team of Chip and Joanna Gaines will launch their own Discovery-affiliated television network in the summer of 2020. Discovery CEO David Zaslav announced the Gaines’ channel Wednesday prior to a sales presentation to advertisers. There’s no name yet. It will replace the current DIY network,...
U.S. budget deficit running 15% higher than a year ago
WASHINGTON — The federal government reported a $146.9 billion deficit in March, causing annual debt to rise 15% for the first half of the budget year compared to the same period in 2018. The Treasury Department said Wednesday in its monthly report that the fiscal year deficit has so far...
Blizzard warnings posted from Colorado to Minnesota
Blizzard warnings were posted from Colorado to Minnesota on Wednesday and wildfires were a concern in New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma as a storm developed that could rival last month’s devastating bomb cyclone. Up to 2½ feet of snow was expected to fall in parts of eastern South Dakota and...
RJ Barrett to enter NBA draft after 1 season at Duke
DURHAM, N.C. — RJ Barrett is leaving Duke after one season to enter the NBA draft. Barrett announced his decision Wednesday in a video posted on social media . He said playing at Duke is a dream but added that “it’s also a dream of mine to play in the...
Fight over sexual abuse victims’ lawsuits returns to Pa. Senate
HARRISBURG — Democratic lawmakers are attempting anew to give now-adult victims of child sexual abuse a reprieve from time limits in Pennsylvania law that prohibit them from suing perpetrators and institutions that may have covered it up. Senate Democrats said Wednesday they’re introducing legislation that’s been propelled by child sexual...
AG William Barr: ‘I think spying did occur’ on Trump campaign
WASHINGTON — Attorney General William Barr declared Wednesday he believes “spying did occur” on Donald Trump’s presidential campaign, suggesting the origins of the Russia investigation may have been mishandled and aligning himself with the president at a time when Barr’s independence is under scrutiny. Barr, appearing before a Senate panel,...
Jurors hear 911 calls woman made before officer killed her
MINNEAPOLIS — Jurors in on Wednesday heard the 911 calls a woman made to report a possible sexual assault before she was shot by Minneapolis officer now on trial for murder in her death. The recordings of Justine Ruszczyk Damond’s voice drew an emotional response from her family members in...
U.S. to start warning travelers about kidnapping risk abroad
WASHINGTON — The risk of being kidnapped or taken hostage is being added to the travel advisories issued by the State Department. State Department advisories have until now included warnings about such things as crime, civil unrest or the potential for terrorism. The new “K” indicator for the potential to...
Police: 1 dead, 15 injured in North Carolina gas explosion
DURHAM, N.C. — A gas explosion that partially collapsed a North Carolina building and set it ablaze Wednesday morning killed one person and injured 15 others, police said. Police cars blocked the streets near the explosion and a thick acrid smoked hung over a shopping district near downtown Durham and...
Trump says only 1 person is in charge of immigration: Him
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says there’s only one person in charge of his immigration policy: Him. Asked by reporters Wednesday whether he had considered tapping his influential aide, Stephen Miller, to lead the Department of Homeland Security given Miller’s focus on the issue, Trump was ready with praise —...
Trump says he won’t deliver tax returns to Congress
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is facing an imminent congressional deadline for his administration to provide his tax returns but he says he “won’t do it” while he’s under audit by the IRS. Trump told reporters on the White House lawn Wednesday that “I would love to give them, but...
Scientists reveal first image ever made of black hole
WASHINGTON — Scientists on Wednesday revealed the first image ever made of a black hole, depicting its hot, shadowy edges where light bends around itself in a cosmic funhouse effect. Assembling data gathered by eight radio telescopes around the world, astronomers created the picture showing the violent neighborhood around a...
