Associated Press stories, Page 73
Average long-term mortgage rate ticks up to 6%, ending 3-week slide
The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate came off its lowest level in three and a half years this week, as bond yields marched higher following a spike in oil prices because of the war with Iran. The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate ticked up to 6% from 5.98% last...
Panel reviewing Trump’s White House ballroom project gets deluge of public criticism
WASHINGTON — A federal panel reviewing President Donald Trump’s plans to build a ballroom at the White House got an earful Thursday from members of the public. Most speakers said they opposed the project and criticized it as too big and unnecessary. Only one of the 28 people who addressed...
U.S. Postal Service expects to run out of cash in a year without help from Congress, postmaster says
The U.S. Postal Service will run out of cash within a year unless Congress lifts a decades-old cap and allows the agency to borrow more money, the new postmaster general warned in an interview. If it doesn’t, the Postal Service might not be able to pay its employees or vendors...
House narrowly rejects Iran war powers resolution in early test of Trump’s strategy
WASHINGTON — The House narrowly rejected a war powers resolution Thursday to halt President Donald Trump’s attacks on Iran, an early sign of unease in Congress over the rapidly widening conflict that is reordering U.S. priorities at home and abroad. It’s the second vote in as many days, after the...
Stocks drop after oil spikes to its highest price since the summer of 2024
NEW YORK — Stocks sank Thursday on Wall Street when the price of oil spiked to its highest level since the summer of 2024 because of the war with Iran. The S&P 500 fell 0.6% and erased what had been a small gain for the year so far. The Dow...
Capitol rioter who was pardoned by Trump gets life sentence for molesting 2 children in Florida
WASHINGTON — A Florida handyman who was sentenced on Thursday to life in prison for molesting two children had been convicted of storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, but was pardoned by President Donald Trump. Andrew Paul Johnson, 45, is among several Jan. 6 defendants who have been charged...
Reports: Bills to acquire WR D.J. Moore in trade with Bears
The Buffalo Bills agreed Thursday to acquire wide receiver D.J. Moore from the Chicago Bears, according to multiple reports. Buffalo is sending Chicago a second-round pick in this year’s draft in return for Moore and a fifth-round pick. The deal cannot become official until the start of the new league...
More than 20 states sue over new global tariffs Trump imposed after his stinging Supreme Court loss
WASHINGTON — Some two dozen states challenged President Donald Trump’s new global tariffs on Thursday, filing a lawsuit over import taxes he imposed after a stinging loss at the Supreme Court. The Democratic attorneys general and governors in the lawsuit argue that Trump is overstepping his power with planned 15%...
House Republican leaders urge Tony Gonzales to end reelection bid after he admitted to affair with aide
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Mike Johnson and the GOP leadership are calling for Republican Rep. Tony Gonzales of Texas to withdraw from his reelection race after he admitted having an affair with a former staff member who later died by suicide. The Republican leadership announced its decision Thursday, a day...
Intense Israeli strikes target Iran and Lebanon as U.S. warns bombardment to ‘surge dramatically’
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Intense Israeli airstrikes pounded the capitals of Iran and Lebanon early Friday as the U.S. apparently struck an Iranian drone carrier at sea, intensifying its campaign targeting the Islamic Republic’s fleet of warships. Iran launched new retaliatory attacks in the Middle East at the end...
Trump fires Homeland Security Secretary Noem after mounting criticism over her leadershipVideo
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Thursday fired his embattled Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, after mounting criticism over her leadership of the department, including the handling of the administration’s immigration crackdown and disaster response. Trump, who said he would nominate Oklahoma Republican Sen. Markwayne Mullin in her place, made...
Wisconsin man accused of setting fire to congressman’s office over TikTok ban gets 7 years in prison
MADISON, Wis. — A Wisconsin man who allegedly told police he tried to set fire to a Republican congressman’s office last year because he was angry that the lawmaker backed a bill requiring TikTok’s Chinese owner to sell off its U.S. operations was sentenced Thursday to seven years in prison....
No chance asteroid will slam into the moon in 2032, NASA says
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA issued a welcomed all-clear Thursday, saying there’s now zero chance that asteroid 2024 YR will crash into the moon in 2032. The space agency had been predicting a 4.3% chance of a direct hit. But observations by the Webb Space Telescope in February helped scientists...
Stranded travelers share firsthand accounts from the Middle East
Hundreds of thousands of people have been stranded across the Middle East amid the U.S. and Israel’s joint war against Iran. And between swaths of flight cancellations and airspace closures, many are still scrambling for next steps. In a matter of days, the conflict has continued to escalate — particularly...
Savannah Guthrie makes offscreen visit to ‘Today’ show, her 1st since her mother went missing
NEW YORK — Savannah Guthrie made an off-camera appearance Thursday at NBC’s “Today” show studios to thank colleagues for their support since her mother Nancy went missing from her Arizona home a month ago. The “Today” show said Guthrie, a longtime co-host of the morning news program, plans to return...
Hegseth urges Latin American allies to go on offense against drug cartelsVideo
MIAMI — Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Thursday urged Latin American countries to take a more aggressive approach against drug cartels, warning that the Trump administration would be forced to act by itself if governments fail to effectively combat criminal organizations that directly threaten the United States and border security....
‘Christ is king’ becomes a loaded phrase in U.S. political debates, especially on the right
On its own, the phrase “Christ is king” sums up a core tenet of the Christian faith, that Jesus is the divine ruler of the universe. Catholics and many Protestants celebrate a Christ the King Sunday each year. But the ancient proclamation can morph into something political, controversial or even...
Britney Spears arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs
LOS ANGELES — Britney Spears was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs near her Southern California home and released, authorities said. A statement from Spears’ representative calls the arrest “inexcusable.” The California Highway Patrol said officers received a report shortly before 9 p.m. Wednesday...
They have a nose for finding people. Bloodhounds and their low-tech sniffers help police track
FARGO, N.D. — The North Dakota Highway Patrol’s newest recruit has floppy ears, four legs and an amazing knack for finding people. Beau, a 12-week-old puppy, is joining a band of bloodhounds who are in demand for difficult cases across the upper Midwest. They trail missing children, people with dementia...
Blackout is still on in western Cuba as crews rush to repair damaged thermoelectric plant
HAVANA — Swaths of Cuba remained without power on Thursday nearly a day after a massive blackout hit the western part of the island in the latest outage blamed on a fragile electric grid and a lack of fuel. Crews worked overnight to repair a broken boiler at one of...
Chaos sown by Iran’s attacks across the Persian Gulf is key to its strategyVideo
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — For years, Iran’s theocratic government warned it would blanket the Middle East with missile and drone fire if it felt its existence was threatened. Now, the Islamic Republic is doing just that. Since the U.S. and Israel launched the war Saturday and killed Iranian Supreme...
Aaron Judge crushes 453-foot HR as U.S. dominates again in WBC exhibition game
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Aaron Judge looks ready for his first World Baseball Classic. Alex Bregman does, too. As for the recently retired Clayton Kershaw? Understandably a little rust. Judge crushed a 453-foot solo homer in the first inning of the team’s exhibition game against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday, the...
Patriots tell 4-time Pro Bowl receiver Stefon Diggs he’ll be released next week
The New England Patriots informed wide receiver Stefon Diggs that he’ll be released when the new league year begins next week, according to multiple reports Wednesday. Diggs posted a goodbye on social media, thanking the Patriots for the season and saying: “We family forever.” Diggs led the team with 85...
Fight at Coastal Carolina, South Alabama women’s Sun Belt game injures ref, results in 8 ejectionsVideo
PENSACOLA, Fla. — A brawl between South Alabama and Coastal Carolina in the women’s Sun Belt Tournament on Wednesday left eight players ejected and knocked a referee to the floor where she required medical attention. One player, Coastal Carolina’s Tracey Hueston, was suspended for the rest of the 2026 postseason....
Penn State men put up little fight in loss to Ohio State
UNIVERSITY PARK — John Mobley Jr. scored 28 points, and Bruce Thornton added 18 in Ohio State’s 94-62 win over Penn State on Wednesday night. Penn State (12-18, 3-16 Big Ten) was led in scoring by Freddie Dilione V and Ivan Juric with 15 each. Dominick Stewart added 11. Ohio...
