Associated Press stories, Page 54
Medicaid paid more than $207 million for dead people. A new law could help fix that
WASHINGTON — Medicaid programs made more than $200 million in improper payments to health care providers between 2021 and 2022 for people who had already died, according to a new report from the independent watchdog for the Department of Health and Human Services. But the department’s Office of Inspector General...
Royals face tough stadium decision of their own as Chiefs move to Kansas
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Now that the Chiefs are moving across the state line from their longtime home in Missouri to a $3 billion domed stadium to be built in Kansas, attention in the area has swung to the Royals, who have a similar decision to make regarding their own...
Yemen’s sides agree to release 2,900 detainees in war’s largest exchange
CAIRO — Yemen’s internationally recognized government and the Iran-backed Houthi rebels have reached an agreement to free 2,900 detainees held during the 11-year civil war, according to Saudi and Houthi officials. Saudi Ambassador Mohamed AlJabir said in a statement on X that the agreement was signed under the supervision of...
The Bills, Jaguars and Chargers are headed to the playoffs after the Colts’ 5th straight loss
The Buffalo Bills, Jacksonville Jaguars and Los Angeles Chargers qualified for the AFC playoffs with the Indianapolis Colts’ 48-27 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Monday night. A fifth consecutive loss by the Colts clinched a seventh straight postseason trip for Josh Allen and the Bills (11-4), while Justin...
Ravens, Broncos, 49ers and Seahawks lead the way with 6 players selected to Pro Bowl
Six Baltimore Ravens, Denver Broncos, San Francisco 49ers and Seattle Seahawks were selected for the Pro Bowl Games. The defending Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, along with the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions and Los Angeles Chargers, are sending five players. Reigning NFL MVP Josh Allen, Drake Maye and Justin Herbert...
Consumer confidence slides in December to lowest level since U.S. tariffs rolled out in April
WASHINGTON — Consumers were less confident in the economy in December as Americans grow anxious about high prices and the impact of President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index fell 3.8 points to 89.1 in December from November’s upwardly revised reading of...
Fast shipping is increasing emissions. Here’s why delivery has become more polluting
It feels simple: You shop, find something you want and click to buy. It shows up today, overnight or tomorrow. We’ve gotten used to that speed. But that convenience comes with a climate cost. Multiple factors shape the environmental toll of a delivery. These include the distance from a fulfillment...
U.S. economy expands at surprisingly strong 4.3% annual rate in 3rd quarter
WASHINGTON — The U.S. economy expanded at a surprisingly strong 4.3% annual rate in the third quarter, the most rapid expansion in two years, as consumer and government spending, as well as exports, all grew. U.S. gross domestic product from July through September — the economy’s total output of goods...
U.S. strikes another alleged drug-smuggling boat in eastern Pacific
WASHINGTON — The U.S. military said Monday that it had conducted another strike against a boat it said was smuggling drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean, killing one person. In a social media post, U.S. Southern Command said, “Intelligence confirmed the low-profile vessel was transiting along known narco-trafficking routes in...
Ex-aide says Netanyahu tasked him with making a plan to evade responsibility for Oct. 7 attack
JERUSALEM — A former close aide to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that immediately following the October 2023 Hamas attack that triggered Israel’s two-year war in Gaza, the Israeli leader instructed him to figure out how the premier could evade responsibility for the security breach. Former Netanyahu spokesperson Eli Feldstein,...
Major Russian drone and missile attack on Ukraine kills at least 3 people and cuts power
KYIV, Ukraine — Russia fired more than 650 drones and three dozen missiles at Ukraine in a large-scale attack that began during the night and stretched into daylight hours Tuesday, officials said. At least three people were killed, including a 4-year-old child, two days before Christmas. The barrage struck homes...
Powerball jackpot soars to $1.7 billion after another night with no big winner
The Powerball jackpot has jumped to an eye-popping $1.7 billion, after the 46th drawing passed without a big winner. The numbers drawn Monday night were 3, 18, 36, 41, 54 and the Powerball 7. Since Sept. 6, there have been 46 straight drawings without a big winner. The next drawing...
Judge rules Trump administration must allow court challenges for Venezuelan migrants sent to prison
WASHINGTON — A federal judge ruled Monday that the Trump administration must give legal due process to Venezuelan migrants flown to a notorious prison in El Salvador, either by providing court hearings or returning them to the U.S. U.S. District Judge James Boasberg ordered the government to come up with...
Hung jury ends trial of ex-New York governors’ aide accused of selling influence to China
NEW YORK — A judge declared a mistrial Monday in the corruption case of a former aide to New York governors after jurors said they were hopelessly deadlocked and couldn’t reach a verdict on charges she sold her influence to China and profited from a medical equipment scheme during the...
Analysis: John Harbaugh’s job security now a legitimate topic as Ravens limp to finish lineVideo
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Unless something wild happens in the next two weeks, Baltimore’s 2025 season will be remembered as a colossal bust. It’s reached the point now where Ravens coach John Harbaugh is being asked about his job security. “There’s no such thing as ‘your’ job or ‘my’ job....
Illinois members of Congress are latest to tour immigration facilities after judge’s ruling
BROADVIEW, Ill. — Four Illinois Democrats toured a federal immigration center outside Chicago on Monday, the latest members of Congress allowed inside immigration facilities after a judge last week lifted Trump administration limits on lawmaker visits. Six months after they were denied access, U.S. Reps. Danny Davis, Delia Ramirez, Jonathan...
Treysen Eaglestaff’s 23 points help West Virginia beat MVSU
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Treysen Eaglestaff tied his season high with 23 points and grabbed eight rebounds, Harlan Obioha had 12 points and a season-high 10 rebounds and West Virginia beat Mississippi Valley State, 86-51, on Monday night. Honor Huff hit four 3-pointers and finished with 13 points for West Virginia...
Brown University police chief placed on leave after fatal shooting, feds launch investigation
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Brown University’s president on Monday placed its campus police chief on leave as the Rhode Island university reviews its security policies after a gunman killed two students and injured nine others earlier this month. Questions surrounding Brown’s security policies have only intensified since the Dec. 13 shooting...
Browns beset by injuries on offense while still trying to evaluate Shedeur Sanders
The evaluation process of Shedeur Sanders and the state of the Cleveland Browns at quarterback could be murkier for the final two games of the season. Sanders will be without one of his prime weapons with rookie running back Quinshon Judkins slated to have surgery this week after suffering a...
Judge accepts guilty pleas from Colorado funeral home owners who acknowledged abusing 191 corpses
DENVER — A judge has accepted guilty pleas for the owners of a Colorado funeral home for the abuse of 191 corpses, many of which languished in a room-temperature building for years. Authorities say Carie and Jon Hallford, who operated a Colorado Springs funeral home, maintained a lavish lifestyle and...
U.S. regulators approve Wegovy pill for weight loss
U.S. regulators on Monday gave the green light to a pill version of the blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, the first daily oral medication to treat obesity. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s approval handed drugmaker Novo Nordisk an edge over rival Eli Lilly in the race to market an obesity...
Teen drug use remains low, but survey finds small rise in heroin, cocaine use
NEW YORK — Teen use of alcohol, nicotine and marijuana remains at record lows, according to national survey results released last week. They consume a lot of energy drinks, though. And there are slight, but concerning, increases in heroin and cocaine use. But overall, the findings indicate teens are drinking,...
No. 2 Michigan closing gap on No. 1 Arizona in AP Top 25
Arizona is still No. 1 in the Associated Press men’s college basketball poll, but No. 2 Michigan is closing the gap. The Wildcats topped the poll for the third straight week in the AP Top 25 released Monday, receiving 38 first-place votes from a 58-person panel. The Wolverines had 19...
Washington State beats Utah State in Idaho Famous Potato Bowl
BOISE, Idaho — Zevi Eckhaus threw for a season-high 334 yards with three touchdowns, and Washington State piled up 628 yards of offense, beating Utah State, 34-21, to win the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Monday at Albertsons Stadium. Eckhaus completed 26 of 44 passes but also threw three interceptions...
Trump announces plans for new Navy ‘battleship’ as part of a ‘Golden Fleet’Video
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump has announced a bold plan for the Navy to build a new, large warship that he is calling a “battleship” as part of a larger vision to create a “Golden Fleet.” “They’ll be the fastest, the biggest, and by far 100 times more powerful than...
