Associated Press stories, Page 613
Retail sales up a strong 0.7% in March from February, underscoring the resiliency of the U.S. consumer
NEW YORK — Americans increased their spending pace in March at a better-than-expected pace the previous month, , underscoring how shoppers remain resilient despite inflationary pressures and other economic challenges. Retail sales rose 0.7% last month after being up a revised 0.9% in February, according to the Commerce Department’s report...
Trump’s historic hush-money trial gets underway; 1st day ends without any jurors being pickedVideo
NEW YORK — The historic hush-money trial of Donald Trump got underway Monday with the arduous process of selecting a jury to hear the case charging the former president with falsifying business records in order to stifle stories about his sex life. The day ended without any jurors being seated....
Police officer, sheriff’s deputy and suspect killed in a shootout in upstate New York, police say
LIVERPOOL, N.Y. — A police officer and a sheriff’s deputy in upstate New York were shot and killed Sunday night in an exchange of gunfire with a suspect, who also was killed, police said. The shooting took place shortly after 8 p.m. in Liverpool, about 6 miles north of Syracuse....
Horrified worshipers watch online and in person as a bishop is stabbed at a church in Sydney
SYDNEY — Horrified worshipers watched online and in person as a bishop was stabbed at the altar during a church service in Sydney on Sunday evening, and three others were stabbed as people rushed to help. Police said there were no life-threatening wounds, and a man was arrested. Hundreds of...
Ship that caused bridge collapse had apparent electrical issues while still docked
BALTIMORE — The massive container ship that caused the deadly collapse of a Baltimore bridge experienced apparent electrical issues before it left port but set out anyway, someone with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press on Monday, hours after the FBI said it was investigating whether any laws...
With ‘functional’ beverages, brands rush to quench a thirst for drinks that do more than taste goodVideo
Supermarket beverage aisles are starting to look a lot more like a pharmacy. There are sodas made with mushrooms that supposedly improve mental clarity and juices packed with bacteria that claim to enhance digestive health. Water infused with collagen carries the promise of better skin, and energy drinks offer to...
Macron says the Olympic opening ceremony on the Seine could be moved to stadium for security reasons
French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday said the opening ceremony for the Paris Olympics planned on the River Seine could be shifted instead to the Stade de France if the security threat is deemed too high. France is on high security alert ahead of the Paris Olympics and Paralympics, which...
Only 26% of Americans say they get at least eight hours of sleep, new Gallup poll says
NEW YORK — If you’re feeling — YAWN — sleepy or tired while you read this and wish you could get some more shut-eye, you’re not alone. A majority of Americans say they would feel better if they could have more sleep, according to a new poll. But in the...
Biden administration agrees to provide $6.4 billion to Samsung for making computer chips in Texas
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has reached an agreement to provide up to $6.4 billion in direct funding for Samsung Electronics to develop a computer chip manufacturing and research cluster in Texas. The funding announced Monday by the Commerce Department is part of a total investment in the cluster that,...
The IRS is quicker to answer the phone on this Tax Day
WASHINGTON — On this Tax Day, the IRS is promoting the customer service improvements the agency rolled out since receiving tens of billions in new funding dollars through Democrats’ Inflation Reduction Act. From cutting phone wait times to digitizing more documents and improving the “Where’s My Refund” tool to show...
Ludvig Aberg backs up hype, finishes 2nd at Masters
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Rory McIlroy has insisted for quite some time that Ludvig Aberg is poised to become a huge star in golf. The world found out why Sunday. Aberg, a Swede who entered the Masters ranked ninth in the world at age 24 less than a year after turning...
Lakers to face Pelicans as NBA play-in games, playoff seedings set
LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers are staying in New Orleans for a couple more days. Stephen Curry and Golden State will head back to Sacramento to face elimination again. And the Miami Heat are back in the play-in, which started their run to the NBA Finals last year....
Semiautomatic firearm ban passes Colorado’s House, heads to Senate
DENVER — Colorado’s Democratic-controlled House on Sunday passed a bill that would ban the sale and transfer of semiautomatic firearms, a major step for the legislation after roughly the same bill was swiftly killed by Democrats last year. The bill, which passed on a 35-27 vote, is now on its...
Amen Corner proves pivotal in final round of Masters
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Amen Corner brought Scottie Scheffler’s closest pursuers to their knees Sunday. That famed three-hole stretch on the back nine at Augusta National, where history has been made so often in the Masters, is where Ludvig Aberg, Collin Morikawa and Max Homa put their prayers of winning into...
Danielle Serdachny scores OT goal to lift Canada to win over U.S. in women’s hockey world finalVideo
UTICA, N.Y. — Danielle Serdachny converted a rebound in front 5:16 into overtime for a power-play goal and Canada beat the United States 6-5 on Sunday in a breathtaking women’s world hockey championship gold medal game. Canada won its tournament-leading 13th gold medal and did so on U.S. soil in...
Chase Elliott ends 42-race NASCAR winless streak with OT victory
FORT WORTH, Texas — Chase Elliott pulled ahead and cleared Ross Chastain on the first lap after the second restart in overtime Sunday at Texas Motor Speedway, ending a 42-race winless streak for NASCAR’s most popular driver. The race ended on the 16th caution after Elliott had taken the white...
Scottie Scheffler unstoppable, wins another Masters green jacket
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Scottie Scheffler had no doubts about this Masters, and neither did anyone watching. He pulled ahead with magnificent shots Sunday around the turn and poured it on along the back nine at Augusta National for a 4-under-par 68 to claim his second green jacket in three years....
House Speaker Mike Johnson says he will push for aid to Israel and Ukraine this week
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday he will try to advance wartime aid for Israel this week as he attempts the difficult task of winning House approval for a national security package that also includes funding for Ukraine and allies in Asia. Johnson, R-La., is already under immense...
Tiger Woods ends Masters with highest score as a pro
AUGUSTA, Ga. — Tiger Woods finished the Masters on Sunday with a record he could do without, walking off the course with a 16-over-par 304, his highest 72-hole score in a career that spans three decades. Woods’ previous high was 302 at the Memorial in 2015. He has only failed...
News organizations urge Biden and Trump to commit to presidential debates during the 2024 campaign
NEW YORK — Twelve news organizations on Sunday urged presumptive presidential nominees Joe Biden and Donald Trump to agree to debates, saying they were a “rich tradition” that have been part of every general election campaign since 1976. While Trump, who did not participate in debates for the Republican nomination,...
Donald Trump and Lindsey Graham are again at odds, now over abortion. The strife could help both men
COLUMBIA, S.C. — The long and occasionally quixotic relationship between Donald Trump and Lindsey Graham has again turned negative after the South Carolina senator criticized the former president for refusing to support a federal abortion ban. Trump repeatedly disparaged Graham on his social media site and said he regretted endorsing...
Divisive? Not for moviegoers. ‘Civil War’ declares victory at box office.Video
Alex Garland’s provocative “ Civil War ” didn’t only ignite the discourse. The film also inspired audiences to go to the cinemas this weekend where it surpassed expectations and earned $25.7 million in ticket sales in North America, according to studio estimates Sunday. It’s the biggest R-rated opening of the...
McCormick gets Trump’s endorsement in Pa. Senate race despite awkward history
Former President Donald Trump endorsed U.S. Senate candidate David McCormick of Pennsylvania on Saturday, urging his supporters in the state to “go out and vote for him” in one of the year’s most hotly contested Senate races. Trump’s endorsement came two years after he successfully helped sink McCormick in Pennsylvania’s...
Oldest living conjoined twins, Lori and George Schappell, die at 62
READING — Conjoined twins Lori and George Schappell, who pursued separate careers, interests and relationships during lives that defied medical expectations, died this month in Pennsylvania, according to funeral home officials. They were 62. The twins, listed by Guinness World Records as the oldest living conjoined twins, died April 7...
Rangers reliever Brock Burke broke non-throwing hand by punching wall
HOUSTON — Texas Rangers reliever Brock Burke broke his non-throwing hand while punching a wall following a poor outing Friday night against the Houston Astros. Manager Bruce Bochy said Burke, who is a left-hander, broke his right hand when he punched the wall “out of frustration” and was placed on...
