Associated Press stories, Page 816
Man admits stealing ‘Wizard of Oz’ ruby slippers from museum in 2005, but details remain mystery
MINNEAPOLIS — A man charged in the museum heist of a pair of ruby slippers that Judy Garland wore in the “The Wizard of Oz” pleaded guilty Friday in a deal that could keep him out of prison due to his failing health, but only cleared up some of the...
Microsoft closes deal to buy Activision Blizzard after antitrust fights
Microsoft has completed its acquisition of video game-maker Activision Blizzard for $69 billion, closing one of the most expensive tech acquisitions in history that could have repercussions across the video game industry. The notice that the deal has gone through came seven hours after Microsoft got final approval from Britain’s...
Biden awards $7 billion for clean hydrogen hubs, including West Virginia
WASHINGTON (AP) — Clean-energy projects in seven states from Pennsylvania to California have been selected by the Biden administration for a $7 billion program to kickstart development and production of hydrogen fuel, a key component of President Joe Biden’s agenda to slow climate change. His goal is to establish seven...
Ford recalls over 238,000 Explorers to replace axle bolts that can fail after U.S. opens investigation
DETROIT — Ford is recalling more than 238,000 Explorers in the U.S. because a rear axle bolt can fail, potentially causing a loss of drive power or allowing the SUVs to roll away while in park. The recall comes after U.S. safety regulators opened an investigation into the problem after...
Teacher dies, 2 wounded in stabbing in France; antiterror police investigating
PARIS — A man armed with a knife killed a teacher at the high school in northern France he once attended and critically wounded another teacher and a security guard Friday, authorities said, an attack being investigated as potential terrorism amid soaring global tensions over the war between Israel and...
7 killed, 16 injured as a van overloaded with migrants crashes in southern Germany
BERLIN — A van packed with migrants crashed at a highway junction in southern Germany on Friday after the driver accelerated to avoid a police check, killing seven people and injuring 16, authorities said. A police patrol noticed the overloaded vehicle on the A94 highway east of Munich at about...
Biden is talking about green energy and jobs in Pennsylvania again. Will his message break through?
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is returning to Pennsylvania to use the critical battleground state again as a backdrop for some of his favorite political themes, championing steep increases in public works spending and detailing how bolstering green energy can spur U.S. manufacturing. This time, he’ll be in Philadelphia to...
Some want to grant temporary House speaker more power as Republican gridlock stalls Congress
WASHINGTON — When Rep. Patrick McHenry took the House speaker’s gavel for the first time, he slammed it down with such force at adjournment that it gained viral internet attention as the defining image of a House in turmoil. But since his abrupt appointment as speaker pro tempore last week...
Palestinians flee northern Gaza after Israel orders 1 million to evacuate as ground attack looms
JERUSALEM — Palestinians fled in a mass exodus Friday from northern Gaza after Israel’s military told some 1 million people to evacuate to the southern part of the besieged territory ahead of an expected ground invasion in retaliation for the surprise attack by the ruling Hamas militant group nearly a...
Shooting at Philadelphia airport garage kills 1 police officer and wounds another
PHILADELPHIA — A Philadelphia police officer was shot and killed and a second officer was wounded when they confronted people breaking into a car at Philadelphia International Airport, police said. A person who was brought to a hospital privately and died there may have been involved in the Thursday night...
Fresh off bye week, No. 6 Penn State ready to resume against UMass
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State coach James Franklin had his players do some self-scouting during their bye last week. The Nittany Lions liked what they saw. They believe a slight tweak here or there is all they need. “I think we’re in a good place,” Franklin said. No. 6 Penn...
Castellanos hits 2 homers, powers Phillies past Braves 3-1 and into NLCS for 2nd straight seasonVideo
PHILADELPHIA — Nick Castellanos became the first player to hit multiple homers in consecutive postseason games, sending the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-1 victory in Game 4 of their NL Division Series on Thursday night that knocked the 104-win Atlanta Braves out of the playoffs for the second straight year....
Mahomes throws TD pass, Kelce has big game with Swift watching again as Chiefs beat Broncos 19-8Video
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Patrick Mahomes threw for 306 yards and a touchdown, Harrison Butker kicked four field goals, and the Kansas City Chiefs held off the Denver Broncos, 19-8, on Thursday night for their 16th straight win over their longtime AFC West rivals. Travis Kelce had nine catches for...
To cap wild final minute, Houston beats West Virginia on Hail MaryVideo
HOUSTON — Donovan Smith threw a 49-yard touchdown pass that was caught by Stephon Johnson as time expired to give Houston a thrilling 41-39 win over West Virginia on Thursday night. Smith finished 21 of 27 for 253 yards and four touchdowns. He threw a Hail Mary from midfield, the...
With Aaron Donald still drawing attention, Rams look for more from pass rush
THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. — Growing pains were expected from the Los Angeles Rams’ significantly overhauled pass rush. After the Rams totaled eight sacks through their first five games, which puts them 28th in the NFL, defensive lineman Aaron Donald said he hopes the group is close to turning potential into...
GOP’s Steve Scalise ends his bid to become House speaker after failing to secure the votes to win gavelVideo
WASHINGTON — Republican Steve Scalise has ended his bid to become House speaker after failing to secure the votes to win the gavel. Scalise told GOP colleagues at a closed-door meeting late Thursday of his decision. Next steps are uncertain as the House is essentially closed while Republicans try to...
1 officer convicted, 1 acquitted in death of Elijah McClain
BRIGHTON, Colo. — Jurors convicted a Denver-area police officer Thursday and acquitted another of charges in the 2019 death of Elijah McClain, a Black man whose name became a rallying cry in protests over racial injustice in policing. Aurora police officer Randy Roedema was found guilty of criminally negligent homicide...
Rudolph Isley, founding member of Isley Brothers and Rock and Roll Hall of Fame member, dies at 84
Rudolph Isley, a founding member of the Isley Brothers who helped perform such raw rhythm and blues classics as “Shout” and “Twist and Shout” and the funky hits “That Lady” and “It’s Your Thing,” has died at 84. “There are no words to express my feelings and the love I...
Pennsylvania counties tell governor, lawmakers it’s too late to move 2024’s primary election date
HARRISBURG — Counties in Pennsylvania have told Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro and lawmakers that it is too late to move up the state’s 2024 presidential primary date if counties are to successfully administer the election. In a letter, the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania said there is no longer enough...
U.S., Qatar agree to prevent disbursal of recently unfrozen Iranian funds as Israel-Hamas war ragesVideo
WASHINGTON — The U.S. and Qatar have reached an agreement that the Qataris will not act on any request from Tehran for the time being to access $6 billion in Iranian funds that were unblocked as part of a prisoner swap last month, a U.S. official said Thursday. The move,...
Florida judge scolds prosecutors as she delays hearing for co-defendant in Trump classified documents case
FORT PIERCE, Fla. — A judge on Thursday scolded federal prosecutors in the classified documents case against Donald Trump as she postponed a hearing to determine if the lawyer for one of the former president’s co-defendants had a conflict of interest. U.S District Judge Aileen Cannon admonished prosecutors for “wasting...
Man arrested after 5 drug task force officers were shot and wounded in MinnesotaVideo
PRINCETON, Minn. — Five drug task force officers were shot and wounded Thursday while serving a search warrant near the Minnesota city of Princeton and a suspect was arrested, authorities said. Benton County Sheriff Troy Heck said at a news conference that the officers announced their arrival at the suspect’s...
Wisconsin Republican leader won’t back down from impeachment threat against Supreme Court justice
MADISON, Wis. — The Republican leader of Wisconsin’s Assembly refused to back down Thursday from possibly impeaching a newly elected liberal state Supreme Court justice over her refusal to step aside in a redistricting case, even after two former conservative justices advised him against the unprecedented move. Assembly Speaker Robin...
Billie Jean King still globetrotting in support of investment, equity in women’s sports
NEW YORK — Billie Jean King is still globetrotting in support of more investment and equity in women’s sports. She attended the Women’s World Cup in Australia, kicked off the player draft for the new women’s professional hockey league in Toronto and is opening an office in London for a...
A new indictment charges Sen. Menendez with being an unregistered agent of the Egyptian government
NEW YORK — Federal prosecutors have rewritten their indictment against U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey and his wife to charge them with conspiring to have him act as an agent of Egypt and Egyptian officials. The superseding indictment, filed in Manhattan federal court on Thursday, accuses Menendez of...
