Associated Press stories, Page 377
Browns restructure QB Deshaun Watson’s contract to create cap space, flexibilityVideo
BEREA, Ohio — The Cleveland Browns have again restructured quarterback Deshaun Watson’s massive contract to create salary-cap space and give them future flexibility, a person familiar with the move told the Associated Press on Friday. Watson has been limited to just 19 games in three seasons because of an NFL...
Jalen Hurts out for Eagles, former Steeler Kenny Pickett to start Sunday vs. CowboysVideo
PHILADELPHIA — Jalen Hurts is still in the NFL’s concussion protocol, forcing the Philadelphia Eagles to play against Dallas without their star quarterback. The Eagles will turn to backup Kenny Pickett on Sunday because Hurts is still dealing with the lingering effects of a concussion suffered against Washington. Hurts was...
Sinkhole in New Jersey keeps I-80 closed after a section collapses into an abandoned mine
WHARTON, N.J. — Road crews were repairing a short stretch of Interstate 80 in northern New Jersey on Friday where a sinkhole forced the eastbound lanes to shut down, but it was still unknown when they will reopen. The highway’s guardrail still hung suspended in the air across the gaping...
Capitals’ Alex Ovechkin takes part in full practice, could return Saturday at TorontoVideo
ARLINGTON, Va. — Alex Ovechkin’s pursuit of Wayne Gretzky’s NHL career goals record should be back on very soon. Signs point to Ovechkin returning to the Washington Capitals’ lineup Saturday night at the Toronto Maple Leafs after missing five weeks with a broken left leg. Ovechkin skated with regular linemates...
Navy gets 95-yard TD run from Horvath and stops 2-point try to beat Oklahoma in Armed Forces BowlVideo
FORT WORTH, Texas — Blake Horvath set a Navy record with a 95-yard touchdown run and then scored a go-ahead 6-yarder with 4 minutes, 34 seconds left as the Midshipmen overcame an early two-touchdown deficit and stopped a late 2-point conversion attempt to beat Oklahoma, 21-20, in the Armed Forces...
No. 20 Colorado cherishing matchup with No. 17 BYU in Alamo Bowl as Sanders, Hunter complete careers
SAN ANTONIO — Colorado is relishing the chance to end its season on a high note regardless of the outcome of the Alamo Bowl. While a number of teams are shuffling their roster with players opting out of bowl games to enter the transfer portal or prepare for the NFL...
FDA proposes new testing rules to ensure cosmetics are asbestos-free
WASHINGTON — Cosmetic companies would have to take extra steps to ensure that any products containing talc are free of asbestos under a federal rule proposed Thursday. The proposal from the Food and Drug Administration and mandated by Congress is intended to reassure consumers about the safety of makeup, baby...
Man indicted in burning death of woman inside New York City subway train, prosecutors say
NEW YORK — The man accused of burning a sleeping woman to death inside a New York City subway train has been indicted on murder and arson charges, a prosecutor said on Friday, as authorities continue working to confirm the victim’s identity. The indictment comes days after Sebastian Zapeta’s arrest...
The year in review: Influential people who died in 2024
It was a murder case almost everyone had an opinion on. O.J. Simpson’s “trial of the century” over the 1994 killings of his ex-wife and her friend bared divisions over race and law enforcement in America and brought an intersection of sports, crime, entertainment and class that was hard to...
Israeli troops burn northern Gaza hospital after forcibly removing staff and patients, officials say
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli troops stormed one of the last hospitals operating in northern Gaza on Friday, igniting fires and forcing many staff and patients outside to strip in winter weather, the territory’s health ministry said. Kamal Adwan Hospital has been hit multiple times over the past three...
Chinese man sentenced to death for killing 35 people after driving into crowd
BEIJING — A court in China has sentenced a man to death for killing 35 people last month by driving into a crowd, in an attack that raised national concern about mass killings. Fan Weiqiu was venting his anger because he was unhappy with his divorce settlement, the court in...
Jaylen Raynor, Zak Wallace lead Arkansas State past Bowling Green in the 68 Ventures Bowl
MOBILE, Ala. — Jaylen Raynor passed for 221 yards and two touchdowns to go with a rushing score, and Zak Wallace had 99 yards rushing and a TD to help Arkansas State beat Bowling Green, 38-31, on Thursday night in the 68 Ventures Bowl. Wallace scored on a 14-yard run...
Florida condo owners look at higher costs as new regulations take effect in the new year
MIAMI — Florida condominium owners are looking at higher costs from condo associations in the new year, a consequence of a safety law passed by state lawmakers in 2022. It requires associations to have sufficient reserves to cover major repairs and to conduct a survey of reserves every decade. Because...
Ukrainian drone attack was under way before Azerbaijani plane’s crash, Russian aviation chief says
Russia’s aviation chief said Friday that a Ukrainian drone attack was under way in the region of Chechnya at the time an Azerbaijani airliner attempted to land before diverting to Kazakhstan and crashing there earlier this week. Dmitry Yadrov, head of Russia’s civil aviation authority Rosaviatsia, didn’t comment on statements...
Another jackpot surpasses $1 billion. Is this the new normal?
Remember this moment because it probably won’t last: A U.S. lottery jackpot is projected to soar above $1 billion, and that’s still a big deal. Friday’s Mega Millions drawing is worth an estimated $1.15 billion, evoking headlines and likely luring more people to convenience stores with dreams of private spacewalks...
Williams, Woolen lead way as Seahawks beat struggling Bears 6-3 to boost playoff hopesVideo
CHICAGO — Riq Woolen intercepted Caleb Williams’ late pass, and the Seattle Seahawks boosted their fading playoff hopes, squeezing past Chicago, 6-3, on Thursday night to hand the Bears their 10th straight loss. Jason Myers kicked field goals on the game’s first possession and near the end of the second...
Dylan Edwards scores 3 TDs, Kansas State rallies to beat Rutgers, 44-41, in Rate BowlVideo
PHOENIX — Dylan Edwards ran for 196 yards and scored his third touchdown on a 36-yard run in the fourth quarter, helping Kansas State rally past Rutgers, 44-41, in the Rate Bowl on Thursday night. The Scarlet Knights (7-6) led by 10 at halftime and went up 34-17 on Ja’shon...
Cowboys shutting down CeeDee Lamb with 2 games to go because of shoulder injuryVideo
FRISCO, Texas — The Dallas Cowboys are shutting down CeeDee Lamb with two games remaining after their 2023 All-Pro receiver spent the second half of the season dealing with a sprained right shoulder. The team said Thursday that additional exams revealed enough damage to keep Lamb off the field Sunday...
At least 65 million tune in for Netflix NFL Christmas Day games. NBA holiday ratings also skyrocketVideo
LeBron James is going to have to make room for the NFL. Wednesday’s doubleheader on Netflix set records as the most-streamed NFL games in U.S. history, with numbers nearly five times more than the NBA. The Baltimore Ravens’ 31-2 victory over the Houston Texans averaged 24.3 million, and Kansas City’s...
Pavia leads Vanderbilt against King, Georgia Tech in Birmingham BowlVideo
Georgia Tech knocked off two top-10 teams, and Vanderbilt toppled then-No. 1 Alabama. The two opponents in Friday’s Birmingham Bowl have taken highly ranked teams into multiple overtimes. They also are led by mobile quarterbacks who throw few interceptions. There’s a reason that Vandy coach Clark Lea calls the teams...
Penn State offensive coordinator Andy Kotelnicki’s creativity has team humming in CFPVideo
Andy Kotelnicki likes to tinker. It’s just kind of his way. The Penn State first-year offensive coordinator is wary of growing stagnant. No matter how deep into the season it gets, there’s always time for a new wrinkle, a new play, anything to give an upcoming opponent a little something...
Texas Tech coach Joey McGuire ready for Liberty Bowl eager to quiet Arkansas fansVideo
Joey McGuire grew up on the Texas-Arkansas border with his family season-ticket holders for the Razorbacks, a team known locally as the Hogs. The number for his first landline telephone as a teenager literally ended in 1464, or 1HOG. McGuire is wrapping up his third season as coach at Texas...
Analysis: Some Chiefs could rest for 24 days after team clinches No. 1 seed in AFCVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs earned a much-deserved extended rest after their Christmas Day rout of the Pittsburgh Steelers, which capped an unbeaten stretch of three games in 11 days and clinched them the No. 1 seed in the AFC playoffs. That extended rest? Well, it can...
Powerful thunderstorms rumble across Texas, delaying holiday travelVideo
DALLAS — Some flights were delayed or canceled on Thursday in Texas after a line of thunderstorms started moving across parts of the state in a system the National Weather Service predicted could bring damaging wind, hail and possible tornadoes. More than 100 flights were delayed and dozens more canceled...
Analysis: Texans must get on track before playoffs after lopsided loss to RavensVideo
HOUSTON — The Houston Texans certainly didn’t look like a playoff team in a rout by the Baltimore Ravens on Wednesday. With just one game left until the playoffs begin, the AFC South champions know they’ll have to get much better to be competitive in the postseason. “That’s not who...

