Associated Press stories, Page 585
Dog Show 101: What’s what at the Westminster Kennel Club
NEW YORK — To the casual viewer, competing at the Westminster Kennel Club dog show might look pretty simple: Get a dog. Groom it. Pose it. Lead it around a ring. But there’s a lot more involved in reaching the pinnacle of U.S. canine events, now in its 148th year....
Israel orders new evacuations in Gaza’s last refuge of Rafah as it expands military offensive
RAFAH, Gaza Strip — Israel ordered new evacuations in Gaza’s southern city of Rafah on Saturday, forcing tens of thousands more people to move as it prepares to expand its military operation closer to the heavily populated central area, in defiance of growing pressure amid the war from close ally...
Panama’s next president says he’ll try to shut down one of the world’s busiest migration routes
PANAMA CITY — Panama is on the verge of a dramatic change to its immigration policy that could reverberate from the dense Darien jungle to the U.S. border. President-elect José Raúl Mulino says he will shut down a migration route used by more than 500,000 people last year. Until now,...
Russia claims capture of villages in northeast Ukraine as more than 1,700 civilians flee
VOVCHANSK, Ukraine — Moscow’s forces have captured five villages as part of a renewed ground assault in Ukraine’s northeast, the Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday. Ukrainian journalists reported Friday that Russian troops took the villages of Borysivka, Ohirtseve, Pylna and Strilecha, all of which lie in a militarily contested “gray...
Flash floods kill more than 300 people in northern Afghanistan after heavy rains, UN says
ISLAMABAD — Flash floods from unusually heavy seasonal rains in Afghanistan have killed more than 300 people and destroyed more than 1,000 houses, the U.N. food agency said Saturday. The World Food Program said it was distributing fortified biscuits to the survivors of one of the many floods that hit...
Disgruntled Marlins fans protest team after Luis Arraez trade
MIAMI — As a sparse crowd headed into loanDepot Park to watch the Miami Marlins face the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday evening, a handful of disgruntled Miami fans remained on the outskirts of the ballpark, yelling passionately in hopes their message would be heard. The small demonstration of no more...
Strong solar storm hits Earth, could disrupt communications, spur northern lights
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — An unusually strong solar storm hitting Earth could produce northern lights in the U.S. this weekend and potentially disrupt power and communications. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration issued a rare severe geomagnetic storm warning when a solar outburst reached Earth on Friday afternoon, hours sooner...
Judge strikes down N.Y. county’s ban on female transgender athletes after roller derby league sues
EAST MEADOW, N.Y. — A New York judge on Friday struck down a Long Island county’s order banning female transgender athletes after a local women’s roller derby league challenged it. Judge Francis Ricigliano ruled Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman didn’t have the authority to issue his February executive order, which...
Orioles owner takes turn spraying fans with hose
BALTIMORE — New Orioles owner David Rubenstein turned out to be quite a rally starter at Camden Yards. Rubenstein made a guest appearance Friday night in the “Splash Zone” in left field, where fans are sprayed with a hose in celebration after big plays. Rubenstein was put in charge of...
Federal judge temporarily halts Biden plan to lower credit card late fees to $8
LOS ANGELES — A federal judge in Texas temporarily halted a plan by the Biden administration to lower late fees on credit cards to $8 that was slated to go into effect next week. The temporary nationwide injunction imposed by Judge Mark Pittman in the Northern District of Texas is...
Billy Graham statue for U.S. Capitol to be unveiled next week
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A statue of the late Rev. Billy Graham set to stand inside the U.S. Capitol to represent North Carolina will be unveiled next week in a ceremony. House Speaker Mike Johnson, other congressional members and the family of the Charlotte-born evangelist are expected to attend unveiling of...
Falcons QB Michael Penix Jr. says he’s ‘super blessed’ to learn from Kirk Cousins
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Michael Penix Jr. insists he’ll have no difficulty adjusting to his role as the backup to new Atlanta Falcons starting quarterback Kirk Cousins. Before taking the field Friday for rookie minicamp, Penix was greeted by Cousins at the team’s practice facility. Others have speculated there could...
WABC Radio suspends Rudy Giuliani for flouting ban on discussing discredited 2020 election claims
NEW YORK — Rudy Giuliani was suspended Friday from WABC Radio and his daily show was canceled over what the station called his repeated violation of a ban on discussing discredited 2020 election claims. Giuliani said the station’s ban is overly broad and “a clear violation of free speech.” Giuliani...
Bears coach Matt Eberflus says top pick Caleb Williams will open season as No. 1 QB
LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Caleb Williams is the Chicago Bears’ starting quarterback. Just in case there was a shred of doubt the No. 1 overall draft pick is the team’s No. 1 QB, coach Matt Eberflus erased it on Friday. “No conversation. He’s the starter,” he said. Eberflus’ comment was...
49ers counting on new defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — The San Francisco 49ers’ experiment of bringing in a defensive coordinator from the outside didn’t work out, with the team firing Steve Wilks after just one season. Now they’re counting on the internal promotion of Nick Sorensen into that role — with a dose of outside...
Civil War General William T. Sherman’s sword, other relics to be auctioned in Ohio
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Bidders will fight with their dollars next week at an Ohio auction house for the sword of the Civil War Union general who led a scorched-earth campaign across Georgia and coined the phrase, “War is hell.” General William Tecumseh Sherman’s wartime sword, likely used between 1861 and...
Man pleads guilty in theft of bronze Jackie Robinson statue from Kansas park
WICHITA, Kan. — A 45-year-old man has pleaded guilty in the theft of a bronze Jackie Robinson statue that was cut off at the ankles and found days later smoldering in a trash can in a city park in Kansas. Ricky Alderete entered the plea during his arraignment Thursday. A...
Xander Schauffele shoots 67, leads by 4 over Rory McIlroy, Jason Day at Wells Fargo ChampionshipVideo
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Xander Schauffele has been a mainstay near the top of the leaderboard most of the year. Now he’s hoping to close the door. Schauffele shot a 4-under-par 67 on Friday after opening with a 64, leaving him at 11-under 131 and four shots ahead of Rory McIlroy...
Michigan’s Edwards, Texas’ Ewers, Colorado’s Hunter among 6 on college football video game cover
Michigan running back Donovan Edwards, Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers and Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter are among the six players displayed on the cover of EA Sports College Football 25, which is set to return after being discontinued 11 years ago. The cover for the deluxe edition of the popular...
U.S. to impose tariffs on EVs, other Chinese green energy imports, sources say
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration plans to impose major new tariffs on electric vehicles, semiconductors, solar equipment and medical supplies imported from China, according to a U.S. official and another person familiar with the plan. Tariffs on electric vehicles, in particular, could quadruple — from 25% to 100%. The plan...
U.S. says Israel’s use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence incomplete
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration said Friday that Israel’s use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law, but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes. The administration’s finding of “reasonable” evidence to conclude its ally breached international law in its conduct...
U.S. announces new $400 million package of weapons for Ukraine to try to hold off Russian advances
WASHINGTON — The U.S. announced a new $400 million package of military aid for Ukraine on Friday, as Kyiv struggles to hold off advances by Russian troops in the northeast Kharkiv region. This is the third tranche of aid for Ukraine since Congress passed supplemental funding in late April after...
Missouri State moves up to Conference USA in 2025 from FCS, becoming 12th football member
Missouri State will move up to the highest tier of Division I college football and join Conference USA in 2025, the league announced Friday. Missouri State will become the 12th full member of CUSA and the third school to move up from the Championship Subdivision to the Bowl Subdivision and...
Third week of testimony in Trump’s hush money trial draws to a close, with Michael Cohen yet to come
NEW YORK — In the wake of salacious testimony from porn actor Stormy Daniels, prosecutors in Donald Trump’s hush money trial narrowed their focus to checks and phone records Friday as they laid the groundwork for jurors to hear from their star witness: Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney. With the...
Target to reduce number of stores carrying Pride-themed merchandise after last year’s backlash
NEW YORK — Target confirmed Friday that it won’t carry Pride Month merchandise at all stories this spring after the discount retailer experienced backlash and lower sales over its collection honoring LGBTQ+ communities. Target, which operates roughly 2,000 stores, said decisions about where to stock Pride-themed products, including adult apparel,...
