Associated Press stories, Page 417
Social Security recipients will get a 2.5% cost-of-living boost in 2025, smaller than in recent past
WASHINGTON — Millions of Social Security recipients will get a 2.5% cost-of-living increase to their monthly checks beginning in January, the Social Security Administration announced Thursday. The cost-of-living adjustment, or COLA, for retirees translates to an average increase of more than $50 for retirees every month, agency officials said. About...
U.S. jobless claims hit 258,000, the most in a year. Analysts point to Hurricane Helene, Boeing strike
The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits last week jumped to its highest level in a year, which analysts are saying is more likely a result of Hurricane Helene — and the Boeing machinist strike — than a broader softening in the labor market. The Labor Department reported Thursday...
U.S. inflation reaches lowest point since February 2021, though some price pressures remain
WASHINGTON — Inflation in the United States dropped last month to its lowest point since it first began surging more than three years ago, adding to a spate of encouraging economic news in the closing weeks of the presidential race. Consumer prices rose just 2.4% in September from a year...
Trump lashes out at Harris and ‘The View’ co-hosts, as Hurricane Milton makes landfall
SCRANTON, Pa. — Former President Donald Trump hurled insults at his rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, and other women Wednesday — saying he had no interest in stopping his attacks even if they turn off female voters — as Hurricane Milton made landfall, lashing Florida with rain, tornadoes and tropical-storm-force...
Nobel Prize in literature is awarded to South Korean author Han Kang for her ‘intense poetic prose’
STOCKHOLM — The Nobel Prize in literature was awarded Thursday to South Korean author Han Kang for what the Nobel committee called “her intense poetic prose that confronts historical traumas and exposes the fragility of human life.” Nobel committee chairman Anders Olsson praised Han’s “physical empathy for the vulnerable, often...
Rays say it may take ‘weeks’ to fully assess damage at Tropicana Field
The Tampa Bay Rays said it may take weeks to fully assess how much damage was done to Tropicana Field, which saw its roof ripped to shreds by the force of Hurricane Milton as the deadly storm barreled across much of Florida. The team said no one was injured when...
Twin boys born conjoined celebrate 1st birthday after separation surgery
PHILADELPHIA — Twin brothers who were born conjoined recently celebrated their first birthday after undergoing successful separation surgery. Amari and Javar Ruffin, whose family lives in Philadelphia, were born via cesarean section on Sept. 29, 2023. The brothers — who shared part of their sternum, diaphragm, abdominal wall and liver...
Hurricane Milton live feed: Views from around FloridaVideo
Hurricane Milton barreled into the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday after plowing across Florida as a Category 3 storm, pounding cities with ferocious winds and rain, whipping up a barrage of tornadoes and causing an unknown numbers of deaths. It compounded the misery wrought by Helene while sparing Tampa a direct...
What to know about Hurricane Milton after it slammed Florida’s Gulf Coast
Hurricane Milton slammed into Florida as a Category 3 storm, bringing powerful winds, heavy rain and tornadoes to much of the Gulf Coast, including communities already battered by deadly Hurricane Helene. By early Thursday, Milton — weakened, but still dangerous — was moving off Florida’s east coast as a Category...
22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal will retire from tennis after next month’s Davis Cup finals
MADRID — Rafael Nadal announced Thursday he will retire from tennis at age 38 following next month’s Davis Cup finals. Nadal won 22 Grand Slam singles titles during an unprecedented era he shared with his rivals in the so-called Big Three, Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic. “Really, everything I have...
Israeli strike on school-turned-shelter in Gaza kills 27
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — An Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced people in the Gaza Strip killed at least 27 people on Thursday, Palestinian medical officials said. The Israeli military said it targeted militants, but people sheltering there said the strike hit a meeting of aid workers. Israel...
Milton causes widespread power outages and several deaths in Florida
TAMPA, Fla. — Rescue teams plucked Florida residents from the flotsam of Hurricane Milton on Thursday after the storm smashed through coastal communities where it tore homes into pieces, filled streets with mud and spawned a barrage of deadly tornadoes. At least eight people were dead. Arriving just two weeks...
Dodgers clobber Padres to force winner-take-all Game 5
SAN DIEGO — Mookie Betts homered for the second straight night, Shohei Ohtani hit an RBI single and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat Dylan Cease and the San Diego Padres, 8-0, Wednesday night to force a deciding Game 5 in their tense NL Division Series. Will Smith and Gavin Lux...
ACC’s additions of Cal, Stanford create test for coast-to-coast basketball scheduling plans
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Brooke Demetre was ready to go. The Stanford forward isn’t deterred by the idea of the cross-country travel that awaits the Cardinal and California men’s and women’s basketball teams in the newly expanded Atlantic Coast Conference. No, just like for this week’s flight to the state of...
QB struggles and injuries prove to be a tough obstacle for FSU, UNC and NC State
The plan seemed straightforward for Florida State: Find a veteran quarterback in the transfer portal, then plug him in for the reigning Atlantic Coast Conference champion and preseason favorite to win it again. N.C. State and North Carolina made similar bets to bolster their offenses. Yet things have gone awry....
Photo collection: Hurricane Milton pounds Florida
Hurricane Milton has made landfall along Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 3 storm. It has lashed the state with damaging wind, deadly storm surge and potential flooding. The cyclone had maximum sustained wind of 120 mph when it roared ashore near Siesta Key, Florida, at 8:30 p.m., the Miami-based...
Giancarlo Stanton hits go-ahead HR as Yankees beat Royals in Game 3 of ALDSVideo
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Giancarlo Stanton hit a go-ahead homer in the eighth inning amid a battle of the bullpens, and the New York Yankees beat the Kansas City Royals, 3-2, on Wednesday night in Game 3 of their AL Division Series at Kauffman Stadium. Stanton finished with three hits,...
Israeli defense minister warns an attack on Iran would be ‘lethal’ and ‘surprising’
JERUSALEM — Israel’s defense minister warned on Wednesday that his country’s retaliation for a recent Iranian missile attack will be “lethal” and “surprising,” while the Israeli military pushed ahead with a large-scale operation in northern Gaza and a ground offensive in Lebanon against Hezbollah militants. On the diplomatic front, Israeli...
Deshaun Watson under siege as QB’s dismal play leads to criticism, calls for benching
BEREA, Ohio — Deshaun Watson is taking hits from all sides, and not just on the field. Everyone seems to be coming after the polarizing quarterback, whose poor play through five games — he hasn’t passed for 200 yards in a game — has prompted calls for the Browns to...
Francisco Lindor’s grand slam sends Mets into NLCS over Phillies
NEW YORK — Francisco Lindor hit a grand slam in the sixth inning, his latest clutch swing in an extraordinary season full of them, and the New York Mets reached the National League Championship Series with a 4-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on Wednesday. Edwin Diaz struck out Kyle...
Tigers blank Guardians in Detroit, take 2-1 in ALDS lead
DETROIT — Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson each drove in a run, and six pitchers combined to lift the Detroit Tigers to a 3-0 win over Cleveland Guardians on Wednesday and a 2-1 lead in their AL Division Series. The Tigers, baseball’s hottest team the past two months, will have...
Tatis homers again as the Padres beat the Dodgers for a 2-1 NLDS leadVideo
SAN DIEGO — Fernando Tatis Jr.’s towering two-run home run highlighted a six-run second inning, and the San Diego Padres held on to beat Shohei Ohtani and the rival Los Angeles Dodgers 6-5 on Tuesday night to take a 2-1 lead in a tense NL Division Series. The Padres moved...
Jets QB Aaron Rodgers denies allegations he played role in Robert Saleh’s firingVideo
Aaron Rodgers insisted he played no role in the firing of Robert Saleh as the New York Jets coach and called such allegations “patently false.” The star quarterback made his weekly appearance on “The Pat McAfee Show” on Wednesday, a day after Jets owner Woody Johnson fired Saleh after the...
NFL leading WR Nico Collins to miss at least 4 games after Texans place him on IRVideo
HOUSTON — Nico Collins, the NFL’s leading receiver, will miss at least four games after the Houston Texans placed him on injured reserve with a hamstring injury Wednesday. Collins left Houston’s 23-20 victory over the Bills on Sunday after scoring on a 67-yard reception late in the first quarter. Coach...
Patriots name top pick Drake Maye starter at QB
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Jacoby Brissett won only one game as the New England Patriots’ starting quarterback. Now we’ll find out if he was any better as a mentor for first-round draft pick Drake Maye. The Patriots are going with Maye as the starter for Sunday’s game against the Houston Texans,...
