Associated Press stories, Page 715
Judge orders release of ‘Newburgh Four’ defendant, blasts FBI’s role in terror sting
A man convicted in a post-9/11 terrorism sting was ordered freed from prison by a judge who criticized the FBI for relying on an “unsavory” confidential informant for an agency-invented conspiracy to blow up New York synagogues and shoot down National Guard planes. U.S. District Judge Colleen McMahon on Friday...
Iran launches satellite that is part of a Western-criticized program as regional tensions spike
JERUSALEM — Iran said Saturday it had conducted a successful satellite launch into its highest orbit yet, the latest for a program the West fears improves Tehran’s ballistic missiles. The announcement comes as heightened tensions grip the wider Middle East over Israel’s continued war on Hamas in the Gaza Strip...
RaeQuan Battle, Pat Suemnick lead West Virginia over No. 3 Kansas
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — RaeQuan Battle scored 23 points and grabbed nine rebounds, Pat Suemnick added a career-high 20 points and West Virginia beat No. 3 Kansas, 91-85, on Saturday. Fans stormed the court after the Mountaineers (7-11, 2-3 Big 12) improved to 7-5 against Kansas in Morgantown and broke a...
Duquesne loses on layup in final second vs. Saint Joseph’s
PHILADELPHIA — Christ Essandoko led Saint Joseph’s with 21 points, and Cameron Brown hit the winning layup with one second left as the Hawks took down Duquesne, 71-69, on Saturday. The Dukes (9-8, 0-5 Atlantic 10) were led in scoring by Jimmy Clark III, who finished with 21 points and...
6-legged dog undergoes surgery to remove extra limbs
LONDON — A spaniel born with six legs that was found abandoned in a supermarket parking lot is now like other dogs after having her extra limbs surgically removed. Ariel, who was named for “The Little Mermaid” character because the additional appendage with two paws on the end looked a...
Josh Allen, Bills hope home-field edge will help them avoid another playoff loss to Chiefs
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — As much respect Josh Allen has for friend and occasional offseason golf partner Patrick Mahomes, the Buffalo Bills quarterback still can’t forget when his Kansas City Chiefs rival got the last laugh at his expense. The two were teammates in a made-for-TV golf event in June...
Robert Morris men extend winning streak to 3 after beating IUPUI
INDIANAPOLIS — Josh Corbin’s 20 points helped Robert Morris defeat IUPUI, 80-63, on Saturday as the Colonials extended their winning streak to three. Corbin added five assists for the Colonials (8-12, 4-5 Horizon League). Justice Williams scored 17 points, and TJ Wainwright finished with 16 points. Jlynn Counter led the...
Winter blast in much of U.S. poses serious risks like black ice, frostbite, hypothermia
ATLANTA — Freezing temperatures and wind speeds are creating dangerously cold conditions in a large part of the U.S. stretching from Montana to northern Florida. The region is not expected to begin thawing until Monday. Here are some of the dangers the winter blast poses and how to protect against...
Penn State can’t overcome early deficit, loses at Ohio State
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Evan Mahaffey, a sophomore transfer from Penn State, and Roddy Gayle Jr. each scored 16 points to help Ohio State beat the Nittany Lions, 79-67, on Saturday afternoon. The win gave Chris Holtmann his 250th career victory and his 136th win in seven seasons as head coach...
Adam Harrison, son of ‘Pawn Stars’ celebrity Rick Harrison, dead in Las Vegas at age 39
LAS VEGAS — Adam Harrison, one of three sons of reality TV show “Pawn Stars” celebrity Richard “Rick” Harrison, has died in Las Vegas, a family representative said Saturday. He was 39. Harrison family spokesperson Laura Herlovich confirmed Adam Harrison died Friday, said his death was from a suspected drug...
Ohio is poised to become the 2nd state to restrict gender-affirming care for adults
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine announced proposals this month that transgender advocates say could block access to gender-affirming care provided by independent clinics and general practitioners, leaving thousands of adults scrambling for treatment and facing health risks. Ashton Colby, 31, fears the clinic where he gets the testosterone he has taken...
No. 1 Iga Swiatek exits Australian Open in a 3rd-round loss to Czech teenager Linda Noskova
MELBOURNE, Australia — Already down a set and facing a break point against Iga Swiatek, No. 50-ranked Linda Noskova decided she had nothing to lose. She won 11 of the next 12 points to take the second set and swing momentum in their third-round match Saturday, ultimately becoming the first...
Stanford’s Tara VanDerveer earns 1,202nd victory to tie Mike Krzyzewski’s record
STANFORD, Calif. — Stanford’s players formed a postgame circle and Kiki Iriafen offered her celebratory teammates a little perspective on their coach, Tara VanDerveer: “Tara’s been winning since our parents were kids.” Yes, pushing five decades. A head coach since her mid-20s and still doing it now at 70, VanDerveer...
Josh Hader agrees to $95 million, 5-year contract with Astros, AP source says
Hard-throwing reliever Josh Hader and the Houston Astros agreed to a $95 million, five-year contract on Friday, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal was subject to a successful physical. Hader will get a $19 million salary...
Israeli airstrike on the Syrian capital killed at least 4 Iranian advisers, officials say
DAMASCUS, Syria — An Israeli strike on the Syrian capital on Saturday destroyed a building used by the Iranian paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, killing at least four Iranians, Syrian and Iranian state media reported. The Syrian army said the building in the tightly guarded western Damascus neighborhood of Mazzeh was entirely...
Zelenskyy calls Trump’s rhetoric about Ukraine’s war with Russia ‘very dangerous’
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was worried by the prospect of Donald Trump returning to the White House, branding Trump’s claim that he could stop Ukraine’s war with Russia in 24 hours as “very dangerous.” In an interview with the U.K.’s Channel 4 News that aired Friday, Zelenskyy invited...
C.J. Stroud shows poise beyond his years in leading Texans
HOUSTON — Rookie C.J. Stroud impressed fans across the country with his poise and calmness in leading the Houston Texans to a win over the Cleveland Browns in his playoff debut. Though the performance was eye-opening to many, for those in Houston who know him best, it was just what...
Miami Heat retire Udonis Haslem’s No. 40 jersey
MIAMI — Udonis Haslem averaged 7.5 points and 6.6 rebounds in his career. He never made an All-Star team. Never had a triple-double. Never signed anything close to a max contract. Never even won a player of the week award. The stats might seem ordinary. Yet, to the Miami Heat,...
Jimmie Johnson, crew chief Chad Knaus join Donnie Allison in NASCAR Hall of Fame
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Jimmie Johnson and crew chief Chad Knaus, who teamed up to win a record-tying seven Cup championships, were inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame on Friday night. The sport’s dominant duo, both first-ballot inductees, joined Donnie Allison, an original member of the “Alabama Gang,” in a...
Sam Burns leads The American Express; amateur Nick Dunlap in hunt
LA QUINTA, Calif. — Sam Burns shot the best round of his life with “RTR” shaved into the side of his head. The acronym for “Roll Tide Roll” was the LSU product’s follicular punishment for losing a bet with Justin Thomas. Alabama sophomore Nick Dunlap apparently took it literally, however:...
Lions finally giving fans, including Eminem, chance to cheer for winner
DETROIT — Eminem stood alongside Pro Football Hall of Famers Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson before the Detroit Lions hosted a playoff game for the first time in three decades, soaking up an electric atmosphere at Ford Field. “The energy in the building was amazing,” Johnson said in a phone...
Ravens ready to give Dalvin Cook a shot, but there’s no telling what to expect
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Even John Harbaugh isn’t sure what to expect from Dalvin Cook this weekend. The Baltimore coach sounds ready to put him on the field and find out. “It’s new. We haven’t seen him out there,” Harbaugh told reporters Thursday. “Just like you guys haven’t seen him,...
Yankees cut Jeter Downs, likely ending his time in New York before it started
NEW YORK — Jeter Downs’ career with the New York Yankees could end before it started. Downs was designated for assignment Friday, one month after the Yankees claimed the 25-year-old shortstop off waivers from the Washington Nationals. The Yankees needed the roster spot after claiming infielder/outfielder Diego Castillo off waivers...
Florida under NCAA investigation a year after a failed NIL deal with QB signee Jaden Rashada
GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Florida is under NCAA investigation a year after a failed name, image and likeness deal worth more than $13 million with former signee Jaden Rashada. The Gators released the NCAA’s notice of inquiry Friday to the Associated Press and the Tampa Bay Times after the newspaper’s lawyers...
Ohio State hires former Penn State coach Bill O’Brien as offensive coordinator
Ohio State hired former Houston Texans and Penn State head coach Bill O’Brien as its offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach, the program confirmed in a statement Friday. “He is an excellent and experienced offensive coach who has run NFL and Power 5 programs and developed some truly elite players throughout...

