Associated Press stories, Page 747
Here are some ways you can reduce financial stress during the holidays
NEW YORK — The holidays are supposed to be a joyful time, but they can also be financially stressful. With gifts, social gatherings and plane tickets home, the costs can start piling up. Household expenses continue to rise and many Americans are expressing concern about their financial futures, according to...
Ben Bryant leads Northwestern past Utah in Las Vegas Bowl
LAS VEGAS — Ben Bryant passed for 222 yards and found Bryce Kirtz in the corner of the end zone midway through the fourth quarter, helping Northwestern beat Utah, 14-7, Saturday night in the Las Vegas Bowl. Bryant went 22 for 34 with two touchdowns as Northwestern (8-5) closed out...
Gio Lopez leads South Alabama to rout of Eastern Michigan in 68 Ventures Bowl
MOBILE, Ala. — Freshman Gio Lopez threw for three touchdowns and ran for another, and South Alabama trounced Eastern Michigan, 59-10, in the 68 Ventures Bowl on Saturday night. Playing on their home field at Hancock Whitney Stadium, the Jaguars (7-6) scored on their first three possessions, led 38-3 at...
Josh Allen accounts for 3 touchdowns as Bills escape with victory over Chargers
INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Josh Allen continues to reach milestones in his sixth NFL season, but he’s more concerned about getting the Buffalo Bills back into the playoffs. Allen did his part Saturday night by rushing for two TDs and throwing for one, but it took a 29-yard field goal by...
Ethan Vasko throws 3 TD passes, Coastal Carolina beats San Jose State in Hawaii Bowl
HONOLULU — Ethan Vasko threw three touchdown passes and Coastal Carolina beat San Jose State, 24-14, in the Hawaii Bowl on Saturday night for its second bowl victory. Vasko completed 20 of 33 passes for 199 yards and ran for 50 yards on 17 carries for the Chanticleers (8-5). The...
Air Force grounds out 31-21 win over No. 24 James Madison in the Armed Forces BowlVideo
FORT WORTH, Texas — Emmanuel Michel rushed for a career-best 203 yards and two 1-yard touchdowns, and Zac Larrier passed for a TD and ran for another score, leading Air Force to a 31-21 win over No. 24 James Madison in the Armed Forces Bowl on Saturday. Air Force (9-4),...
Darren Grainger accounts for 5 TDs as Georgia State rolls past Utah State in Potato Bowl
BOISE, Idaho — Darren Grainger threw for 257 yards and three touchdowns and ran for two more, Freddie Brock rushed for a school-record 276 yards and a score and Georgia State rolled past Utah State, 45-22, in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Saturday. Georgia State (7-6), which had lost...
Rocky Lombardi, Northern Illinois beat Arkansas State in Camellia Bowl
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — Rocky Lombardi ended his seven-year college career with a win in which he made big plays and then was a spectator on the two that ultimately sealed the game. Lombardi passed and ran for a touchdown, and Northern Illinois held on for a 21-19 victory over Arkansas...
Inmate dies after he was found unresponsive at highly scrutinized West Virginia jail
BEAVER, W.Va. — An inmate at a West Virginia jail scrutinized in lawsuits citing inmate deaths and alleging poor living conditions was pronounced dead Friday morning, officials said. Correctional officers at Southern Regional Jail found the 24-year-old man unresponsive in his cell and attempted life-saving measures, according to a Division...
Alabama woman with rare double uterus gives birth to two children
DORA, Ala. — An Alabama woman with two uteri and two cervixes has given birth to two babies after carrying one of them in each uterus. Kelsey Hatcher of Dora, about 28 miles northwest of Birmingham, gave birth to two girls Wednesday and Thursday after a combined 20 hours of...
1 killed in shooting at Florida shopping mall
OCALA, Fla. — A man died in a shooting at a shopping mall in central Florida two days before Christmas in which the victim was apparently “targeted” for the attack, police said. Ocala police Chief Mike Balken told reporters Saturday evening the man was killed after he was shot multiple...
Trump says he’s eager to debate Biden in 2024, even if controversial commission plans events
NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump says he is eager to debate President Joe Biden, even if the debates are sponsored by the nonpartisan Commission on Presidential Debates. And he says he is open to debating a single Republican rival if a serious challenger emerges after the New Hampshire...
Duke holds off Troy 17-10 in Birmingham Bowl, a matchup of schools led by interim coachesVideo
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Freshman quarterback Grayson Loftis threw for 183 yards, and Duke’s defense came up with a final stop as the Blue Devils secured a winning season Saturday with a 17-10 Birmingham Bowl victory against Troy. The Sun Belt Conference champion, Troy (11-3), tried to finish the season on...
Bidens make traditional pre-Christmas visit to children’s hospital
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden joined his wife, first lady Jill Biden, on Friday for a Christmas season visit to Children’s National Hospital to meet young patients and their families. The first lady read the children “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” as the president waved and flashed smiles at the...
Battle scores 29 points, Kriisa adds 12 and 10 assists; WVU beats Toledo 91-81Video
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — RaeQuan Battle scored 22 of his 29 points in the first half, and West Virginia blew most of an 18-point lead before holding on to beat Toledo, 91-81, on Saturday in the first meeting between the programs since World War II. The Rockets beat West Virginia, 43-35,...
Vatican to publish never-before-seen homilies by Pope Benedict XVI during his 10-year retirement
ROME — The Vatican next year will publish a collection of never-before-seen homilies delivered by the late Pope Benedict XVI during his private Sunday Masses, most of them penned during his 10-year retirement, officials said Saturday. The consecrated women who tended to Benedict during his pontificate and retirement recorded the...
Czech Republic marks a day of mourning for the victims of its worst mass killing
PRAGUE — The Czech Republic came to a standstill at noon Saturday as people across the country observed a minute of silence for the victims of its worst mass killing that left 14 dead and questions about the shooter’s motive. National flags on public buildings flew at half-staff and bells...
Plans abounding for new sports stadiums across the U.S., carrying hefty public costs
Standing on a portable stage erected at home plate of the Milwaukee Brewers ballpark, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers recently praised the professional baseball team as an “essential part” of the state’s “culture and identity” and “economic success.” With fanfare, Evers then signed off on $500 million in public aid for...
Cowboys, Dolphins seek to cement contender status with win
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — At various times this season, the Miami Dolphins and the Dallas Cowboys have looked like contenders or pretenders. Both teams are 10-4, have offenses and defense ranked near the top of the league and have taken care of lesser competition — sometimes winning by eye-popping margins....
Michael Pittman Jr. speaks out on hit from Steelers’ Damontae Kazee
INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Colts receiver Michael Pittman Jr. did not appreciate the violence of a hit he took from Pittsburgh Steelers safety Damontae Kazee until he saw video of the play. Pittman, the Colts’ leading receiver, cleared the concussion protocol Friday and was listed as questionable for Sunday’s game at...
Hayneses help Georgia Tech overcome 14-point deficit in Gasparilla Bowl
TAMPA, Fla. — Haynes King threw a touchdown pass and ran for another score and Georgia Tech overcame a 14-point deficit to beat UCF, 30-17, in the Gasparilla Bowl on Friday night. King went 7 for 13 for 87 yards and ran for 89 yards on 12 carries. Jamal Haynes...
Paramedics were convicted in Elijah McClain’s death. That could make other first responders pause
BRIGHTON, Colo. — Two Denver-area paramedics were convicted Friday for giving a fatal overdose of the sedative ketamine to Elijah McClain in 2019 — a jury verdict that experts said could have a chilling effect on first responders around the country. The case involving the 23-year-old Black man’s death was...
Charlie Sheen’s neighbor accused of assaulting actor in Malibu home
LOS ANGELES — Charlie Sheen’s neighbor was arrested after being accused of assaulting the actor in a Malibu, Calif., home this week, authorities said. Electra Schrock was accused of assault with a deadly weapon, the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement Friday. She was also accused of...
Giants sign veteran kicker Mason Crosby after placing Cade York on injured reserve
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — Veteran kicker Mason Crosby signed Friday with the New York Giants, who have been hit hard by injuries at the position. Cade York was expected to kick for the Giants in Monday’s game at Philadelphia but instead he was placed on injured reserve with a quad...
Browns LB Anthony Walker Jr. has surgery; status unclear past Sunday
BEREA, Ohio — Cleveland Browns starting linebacker Anthony Walker Jr. had arthroscopic knee surgery, knocking him out of Sunday’s game at Houston and putting his playing status in question as Cleveland aims for a playoff berth. The team said Friday that Walker, one of the captains, had the procedure Thursday,...
