Associated Press stories, Page 862
Best Buy plans to phase out sales of physical DVD movies in the coming months
NEW YORK — Best Buy is saying goodbye to movie-watching with physical discs. The consumer electronics retailer plans to phase out its DVD and Blu-ray sales by early 2024 — with physical movies set to be sold in-stores and online as they are today through the holidays, Best Buy confirmed...
Black student disciplined over hairstyle hopes to ‘start being a kid again’
For over a month, Darryl George, a Black high school student in Texas, spent each school day sitting by himself in punishment over his hairstyle. This week, he was sent to a separate disciplinary program, where he’s been told he will spend several more weeks away from classmates. In an...
U.S. oil production hits all-time high, conflicting with efforts to cut heat-trapping pollution
United States domestic oil production hit an all-time high last week, contrasting with efforts to slice heat-trapping carbon emissions by the Biden administration and world leaders. And it conflicts with oft-repeated Republican talking points of a Biden “war on American energy.” The U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration reported...
NASA spacecraft launched to mysterious and rare metal asteroid in 1st mission of its kindVideo
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — NASA’s Psyche spacecraft rocketed away Friday on a six-year journey to a rare metal-covered asteroid. Most asteroids tend to be rocky or icy, and this is the first exploration of a metal world. Scientists believe it may be the battered remains of an early planet’s core,...
GOP quickly eyes Trump-backed hardliner Jim Jordan as House speaker but not all Republicans back him
WASHINGTON — Increasingly desperate Republicans convened behind closed doors again Friday as the endless search for a House speaker drags deeper into a second week leaving the GOP majority spiraling into chaos for the foreseeable future. Attention swiftly turned to Rep. Jim Jordan, the Trump-allied Judiciary Committee chairman and founder...
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,...
