Associated Press stories, Page 644
James Crumbley, who bought gun used by son to kill 4 students, guilty of manslaughter in MichiganVideo
PONTIAC, Mich. — The father of a Michigan school shooter was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter Thursday, a second conviction against the teen’s parents who were accused of failing to secure a gun at home and doing nothing to address acute signs of his mental turmoil. The jury verdict means...
Philadelphia’s population declined for 3rd straight year, census data shows
PHILADELPHIA — Federal estimates released Thursday showed that more than 16,000 residents left Philadelphia last year, marking the third straight year the city’s population has declined. The U.S. Census Bureau data indicates Philadelphia’s population now stands at about 1.6 million residents, meaning a 1% drop occurred between July 2022 and...
Seahawks trade for Commanders QB Sam Howell
WASHINGTON — The Seattle Seahawks are acquiring quarterback Sam Howell from the Washington Commanders in a swap of draft picks, according to a person familiar with the trade. Seattle is getting Howell and fourth- and sixth-round picks from Washington for third- and fifth-rounders, the person said. The person spoke to...
Lions extend contracts of coach Dan Campbell, GM Brad Holmes
DETROIT — With the franchise coming off its best season in 32 years, the Detroit Lions extended the contracts of coach Dan Campbell and general manager Brad Holmes through the 2027 season. “They have been the driving force behind the rebuild of our football team and the success that we...
Bengals bolster defense, add Sheldon Rankins and Vonn Bell
The Cincinnati Bengals have bolstered their defense by agreeing on contracts with defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins and safety Vonn Bell, two people familiar with the terms told the Associated Press on Thursday. Both people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deals haven’t been finalized. Rankins gets...
NFL reviewing whether Eagles and Falcons violated tampering policies
The NFL is reviewing whether the Atlanta Falcons and Philadelphia Eagles violated tampering policies during the legal tampering window, a league spokesman said Thursday. The Falcons agreed to a contract with four-time Pro Bowl quarterback Kirk Cousins shortly after teams were permitted to start negotiating with unrestricted free agents Monday....
Judge rejects bid by Donald Trump to throw out classified documents case on constitutional grounds
FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A federal judge on Thursday rejected a bid by Donald Trump to throw out out his classified documents criminal case, and appeared skeptical during hours of arguments of a separate effort to scuttle the prosecution ahead of trial. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon issued a two-page...
Prosecutors say they’re open to delaying start of Donald Trump’s March 25 hush-money trial
NEW YORK — New York prosecutors said Thursday they are open to delaying the start of Donald Trump’s New York hush-money criminal trial by up to a month to give the former president’s lawyers time to review evidence that was only recently turned over. The Manhattan district attorney’s office said...
U.S. opens 1st large offshore wind farm, with more to come
America’s first commercial-scale offshore wind farm is officially open, a long-awaited moment that helps pave the way for a succession of large wind farms. Danish wind energy developer Ørsted and the utility Eversource built a 12-turbine wind farm called South Fork Wind 35 miles east of Montauk Point, New York....
Ohio Senate race, Chicago homeless tax and other races to watch in next Tuesday’s primary elections
The presidential primary contests may be over, but there are plenty of consequential down-ballot elections still to come. Voters across the country will vote next Tuesday night on combatting homelessness in Illinois, choosing candidates who could determine which party controls Congress next year and replacing ousted Speaker of the House...
Nigerian leader rules out ransoms for abducted students as observers urge dialogue
ABUJA, Nigeria — Nigeria’s leader has ruled out the payment of ransoms for nearly 300 schoolchildren abducted from their school in the conflict-hit north a week ago, raising questions from analysts on Thursday about how best to rescue the children without hurting them. Meanwhile, at least two people with extensive...
NFL considers rule changes that include challenges for penalties
The Indianapolis Colts are proposing a rule change that would allow coaches to challenge any penalty call for the first time. The NFL released a list of several rule change proposals Wednesday made by teams that included an option to run a fourth-and-20 play in lieu of an onside kick,...
February retail sales up 0.6%, but some cracks emerge in what has been a driving force for economy
NEW YORK — Shoppers picked up their spending a bit in February after a pullback the previous month, reflecting the mixed feelings Americans have in an economy where prices are up, but jobs are plentiful. Retail sales rose 0.6% last month after falling a revised 1.1% in January, dragged down...
North Korea’s Kim test drives a new tank and orders troops to prepare for war
SEOUL, South Korea — North Korean leader Kim Jong Un joined troops training on a new model of tank and drove one himself, state media reported Thursday, as his rivals South Korea and the U.S. wrapped up their annual military exercises. It’s the third time Kim was reported to have...
Report claims Yemen’s Houthis have a hypersonic missile, possibly raising stakes in Red Sea crisis
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Yemen’s Houthi rebels claim to have a new, hypersonic missile in their arsenal, Russia’s state media reported Thursday, potentially raising the stakes in their ongoing attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and surrounding waterways against the backdrop of Israel’s war on Hamas in the...
Biden opposes plan to sell US Steel to a Japanese firm, citing the need for ‘American steel workers’
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden came out in opposition to the planned sale of U.S. Steel to Nippon Steel of Japan, saying Thursday the U.S. needs to “maintain strong American steel companies powered by American steel workers.” In a statement, Biden added: “U.S. Steel has been an iconic American steel...
What’s Pi Day all about? Math, science, pies and more
Math enthusiasts around the world, from college kids to rocket scientists, celebrate Pi Day on Thursday, which is March 14 or 3/14 — the first three digits of an infinite number with many practical uses. Around the world many people will mark the day with a slice of pie —...
Evangelical Christians are fierce Israel supporters. Now they are visiting as war-time volunteers
TEL AVIV, Israel — When Shawn Landis, an evangelical Christian from Pennsylvania, heard about the Oct. 7 Hamas attack on southern Israel, he knew he would come to Israel to volunteer as soon as it was safe. Five months later, he was chopping vegetables in a Tel Aviv kitchen, preparing...
Zach Hicks has 6 threes, 20 points to lead Penn State over Michigan in first round of Big Ten Tournament
MINNEAPOLIS — Zach Hicks posted season highs with six 3-pointers and 20 points and 11th-seeded Penn State defeated 14-seed Michigan 66-57 in the first round of the Big Ten Tournament on Wednesday. The Nittany Lions (16-16) will play sixth-seeded Indiana in Thursday’s second round. Ace Baldwin Jr. added 17 points...
Kirk Cousins looks to build his postseason legacy with the FalconsVideo
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Kirk Cousins has a single playoff victory in his long career. Even so, the Atlanta Falcons are betting at least $100 million that he is the quarterback who can lead this star-crossed franchise to its first Super Bowl championship. Cousins was introduced Wednesday evening by the...
NFL teams scramble to catch Chiefs as free agency begins
Calvin Ridley is heading to the Tennessee Titans, the highlight of the official start of free agency Wednesday when teams began reshaping their rosters in a quest to unseat the two-time defending champion Kansas City Chiefs. Ridley — who had been expected to re-sign with the Jaguars — and the...
Georgia governor signs law reviving prosecutor sanctions panel. Democrats fear it’s aimed at Fani Willis
ATLANTA — Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed a law Wednesday that lets a state commission begin operating with powers to discipline and remove prosecutors, potentially disrupting Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis’ prosecution of former President Donald Trump. “This legislation will help us ensure rogue and incompetent prosecutors are held...
Death of nonbinary teen Nex Benedict after school fight is ruled a suicide, medical examiner says
OKLAHOMA CITY — The death of a nonbinary high school student the day after a fight inside an Oklahoma high school restroom has been ruled a suicide, the state medical examiner’s office said Wednesday. “From the beginning of this investigation, Owasso Police observed many indications that this death was the...
Former Pitt, Central Valley star Jordan Whitehead returning to Bucs on 2-year deal
TAMPA, Fla. — Safety Jordan Whitehead and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers agreed on a two-year, $9 million contract worth up to $10.5 million, a person familiar with the deal told the Associated Press on Wednesday. Whitehead, 27, returns to Tampa Bay after spending the past two seasons with the New...
Reports: WR Calvin Ridley agrees to 4-year, $92M deal with Titans
Wide receiver Calvin Ridley and the Tennessee Titans have agreed on a four-year, $92 million contract, a person with knowledge of the terms told The Associated Press on Wednesday. The person, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been finalized, said Ridley gets $50 million guaranteed. He...
