Associated Press stories, Page 734
U.S. airstrike in Baghdad kills Iran-backed militia leader as regional tensions escalate
BAGHDAD — A U.S. airstrike on the headquarters of an Iran-backed militia in central Baghdad on Thursday killed a high-ranking militia commander, militia officials said. Thursday’s strike comes amid mounting regional tensions fueled by the Israel-Hamas war and fears that it could spill over into surrounding countries. It also coincides...
Vatican says no heresy in allowing blessings for same-sex couples after pushback by some bishops
ROME — After pushback by some bishops in Africa, Poland and elsewhere, the Vatican on Thursday defended the recent move by Pope Francis to allow blessings for same-sex couples, insisting there is nothing “heretical” involved. In a five-page statement, the Holy See’s office to safeguard doctrinal orthodoxy expressed understanding that...
Teen gamer becomes 1st to beat the ‘unbeatable’ Tetris — by breaking it
SAN FRANCISCO — The falling-block video game Tetris has met its match in 13-year-old Willis Gibson, who has become the first player to officially “beat” the original Nintendo version of the game — by breaking it. Technically, Willis — aka “blue scuti” in the gaming world — made it to...
Speaker Johnson demands hard-line policies during a border visit as Ukraine aid hangs in the balance
EAGLE PASS, Texas — U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson led about 60 fellow Republicans in Congress on a visit Wednesday to the Mexican border to demand hard-line immigration policies in exchange for backing President Joe Biden’s emergency wartime funding request for Ukraine. He expressed serious doubts about whether he would...
Nevada judge attacked by defendant during sentencing in Vegas courtroom scene captured on videoVideo
LAS VEGAS — A Nevada judge was attacked Wednesday by a defendant in a felony battery case who leaped over a defense table and the judge’s bench, landing atop her and sparking a bloody brawl involving court officials and attorneys, officials and witnesses said. In a violent scene captured by...
Diggins scores 16 as Massachusetts downs Duquesne 80-61Video
AMHERST, Mass. — Rahsool Diggins scored 16 points, and Massachusetts beat Duquesne, 80-61, in an Atlantic 10 opener on Wednesday night. Diggins shot 5 of 8 from the field and 6 for 7 from the line for the Minutemen (10-3). Matt Cross scored 15 points and added eight rebounds. Jaylen...
Brock Purdy, Tua Tagovailoa were selected to their 1st Pro Bowl as the starting quarterbacksVideo
Brock Purdy and Tua Tagovailoa were selected to their first Pro Bowl as the starting quarterbacks for their respective conferences. It’s the first time the two starting QBs are first-time picks since the 1999 season when Pro Football Hall of Famers Peyton Manning and Kurt Warner were chosen. Purdy was...
More hospitals requiring masks as flu and covid-19 cases surge
NEW YORK — More U.S. hospitals are requiring masks and limiting visitors as health officials face an expected but still nasty post-holiday spike in flu, covid-19 and other illnesses. While many experts say this season likely won’t prove to be as deadly as some other recent winters, it still could...
New vehicle sales rise 12% as buyers shake off high prices, interest rates, and auto strikesVideo
DETROIT — Undeterred by high prices, rising interest rates, autoworker strikes and a computer-chip shortage that slowed assembly lines, American consumers still bought 15.6 million new vehicles last year, 12% more than in 2022, the biggest increase in more than a decade. Yet sales still haven’t returned to the 17...
Justice Department sues Texas over law that would let police arrest migrants who enter U.S. illegally
AUSTIN, Texas — The Justice Department on Wednesday sued Texas over a new law that would allow police to arrest migrants who enter the United States illegally, taking Republican Gov. Greg Abbott to court again over his escalating response to border crossers arriving from Mexico. The lawsuit draws Texas into...
Alzheimer’s drugs might get into brain faster with new ultrasound tool
WASHINGTON — Scientists have found a way to help Alzheimer’s drugs seep inside the brain faster by temporarily breaching its protective shield. The novel experiment was a first attempt in just three patients. But in spots in the brain where the new technology took aim, it enhanced removal of Alzheimer’s...
Firefighters put out large fire at the home of Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek HillVideo
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Miami Dolphins receiver Tyreek Hill and his family are safe after fire rescue crews responded to a large fire at his South Florida home Wednesday afternoon. The house, which is located in Southwest Ranches about 30 miles northwest of Miami, was shown Wednesday on local station...
Michigan QB McCarthy says sign-stealing saga masked work of players who ‘did things the right way’Video
The sign-stealing scandal that has hung over Michigan’s season has overshadowed the work the team has put in to go unbeaten and reach the College Football Playoff championship game, quarterback J.J. McCarthy said Wednesday. Michigan plays Washington for the national title in Houston on Monday as the NCAA continues to...
Trump asks Supreme Court to review Colorado ruling barring him from the ballot over Jan. 6 attack
DENVER — Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to review a ruling barring him from the Colorado ballot, setting up a high-stakes showdown over whether a constitutional provision prohibiting those who “engaged in insurrection” will end his political career. Trump appealed a 4-3 ruling in...
McIlroy eases off criticism of LIV Golf. He’s says Rahm defection was a smart business moveVideo
KAPALUA, Hawaii — Rory McIlroy has gone from being the harshest critic of LIV Golf to extending an olive branch. He said on a British soccer podcast Wednesday he was too judgmental about players defecting and has accepted that LIV is “part of our sport now.” He referred to Jon...
Lamar Jackson to be held out of Ravens’ regular-season finale. Tyler Huntley set to start at QBVideo
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Lamar Jackson again is missing the end of the regular season, except this time it’s a good sign for the Baltimore Ravens. Jackson will not play in Baltimore’s finale against the Pittsburgh Steelers this weekend, coach John Harbaugh said Wednesday. Harbaugh said Tyler Huntley will start...
Browns resting QB Joe Flacco, other starters for finale against Bengals
BEREA, Ohio — Joe Flacco will sit out the regular-season finale at Cincinnati — along with some other regulars — to rest for the playoffs. Cleveland will go with Jeff Driskel, a franchise-record fifth quarterback to start for the team this season. Coach Kevin Stefanski said the Browns have earned...
Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes to sit regular-season finale vs. Chargers with AFC West secured
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes will sit out the Kansas City Chiefs’ regular-season finale against the Chargers on Sunday in Los Angeles with their eighth straight AFC West title secured and the No. 3 seed in the playoffs already locked up. The Chiefs can do no better or worse...
Imam killed in shooting outside Newark mosque, shooter at large, authorities say
NEWARK, N.J. — A New Jersey imam was shot multiple times and killed outside his mosque Wednesday, and authorities continue to search for the shooter, officials said. Imam Hassan Sharif was in his car when he was shot more than once at about 6 a.m. near the Masjid-Muhammad Mosque in...
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. qualifies for presidential ballot in Utah, the 1st state to grant him access
SALT LAKE CITY — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has collected enough signatures to appear on the 2024 presidential ballot in Utah, election officials say, marking the first state where the independent candidate and prominent anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist has qualified. Kennedy has met the 1,000-signature requirement needed to qualify in Utah...
Unsealed court records offer new detail on old sex abuse allegations against Jeffrey Epstein
NEW YORK — Amid great hype, a court began to release a new batch of previously secret court documents late Wednesday related to Jeffrey Epstein, the jet-setting financier who killed himself in 2019 while awaiting trial on sex-trafficking charges. Social media has been rife in recent weeks with posts speculating...
Russia and Ukraine exchange hundreds of prisoners of war in biggest release so far
Russia and Ukraine on Wednesday exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war in the biggest single release of captives since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukrainian authorities said that 230 Ukrainian prisoners of war returned home in the first exchange in almost five months. Russia’s Defense Ministry said that 248...
Djokovic struggles with wrist injury as Australia stuns Serbia in quarterfinals of United Cup
PERTH, Australia — Novak Djokovic continued to struggle with his wrist injury as Australia stunned Serbia with a 3-0 win in the quarterfinals of the United Cup on Wednesday. Poland also qualified for the semifinals with a 3-0 victory over China, while France and Greece completed sweeps of Italy and...
The 49ers have a rare quartet of 1,000-yard players. Dolphins and Lions could do the same.
The San Francisco 49ers and their deep group of playmakers accomplished a rare feat. They soon could have company from the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions. Tight end George Kittle became the latest Niners player to eclipse 1,000 yards from scrimmage this season, joining Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo...
Founder of retirement thoroughbred farm in Kentucky announces he’s handing over reins to successor
GEORGETOWN, Ky. — Michael Blowen’s love for horses stretched far beyond the racetrack and spurred him into starting a mid-life career as founder of a retirement farm in Kentucky, where older thoroughbreds could spend their remaining years in dignity and security — long after their earning days were over. For...
