Associated Press stories, Page 874
Drag artists and LGBTQ+ advocates sue to block Texas law expanding ban on sexual performances
AUSTIN, Texas — A group of drag performers and LGBTQ+ rights advocates have filed a federal lawsuit seeking to block a new Texas law that expands what is considered an illegal public performance of sexual conduct, arguing it is meant to target drag shows and could also criminalize ballet and...
Two years after Tokyo, Simone Biles is coming back from ‘the twisties’
For years in gymnastics, the phrase “the twisties” was usually uttered in hushed tones, as if saying the slang term for an athlete’s sudden loss of air awareness during a routine would only deepen the problem. “It’s almost like a mythical kind of thing,” longtime Oklahoma men’s gymnastics coach Mark...
U.S. military may put armed troops on commercial ships in Strait of Hormuz to stop Iran seizures
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The U.S. military is considering putting armed personnel on commercial ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, in what would be an unheard of action aimed at stopping Iran from seizing and harassing civilian vessels, five American officials told The Associated Press on Thursday. Since...
USA Gymnastics to expand its partnership with Nike, a sign it’s gaining trust in the post-Nassar era
USA Gymnastics and Nike have reached an agreement on a sponsorship deal that will make the athletic giant the exclusive apparel and footwear provider for the men’s and women’s national teams. The deal, which USA Gymnastics says is the largest ever in terms of annual and total value for the...
Keith Urban, Kix Brooks of Brooks & Dunn to be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame
LOS ANGELES — Country superstar Keith Urban and Kix Brooks of powerhouse country duo Brooks & Dunn will be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame this year. The organization announced its newest inductees on Thursday. They also include Casey Beathard and David Lee Murphy, in the contemporary songwriter...
Saudi Arabia extends cut of 1M barrels of oil a day through September, trying to boost prices
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Saudi Arabia said Thursday it will extend its unilateral production cut of 1 million barrels of oil a day through the end of September in its effort to boost flagging energy prices. The Saudi reduction, which began in July, comes as the other OPEC+ producers...
Michael Jordan’s sale of majority ownership of Hornets is finalized
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The sale of the majority stake of the Charlotte Hornets from six-time NBA champion Michael Jordan to Gabe Plotkin and Rick Schnall has been finalized, the team announced Thursday. The Hornets planned to introduce Plotkin and Schnall at a news conference later in the day. Jordan, who...
The Billie Jean King Cup has a new part-owner: Billie Jean King
The Billie Jean King Cup has a new part-owner: Billie Jean King herself. The International Tennis Federation and TWG Global, a holding company led by Los Angeles Dodgers principal owner Mark Walter, signed a partnership agreement Thursday for a joint venture to market and promote the women’s tennis competition that...
Assault trial for actor Jonathan Majors postponed until September
NEW YORK — Actor Jonathan Majors’ domestic violence trial was postponed until at least Sept. 6 after New York City prosecutors asked Thursday for more time to prepare. Majors, 33, appeared in court for what was to have been the start of his trial on charges stemming from a March...
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife separating after 18 years of marriage
TORONTO — Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife, Sophie, are separating after 18 years of marriage. The two said in statements posted on Instagram that they made the decision after “many meaningful and difficult conversations.” A statement from the prime minister’s office said they both have signed a...
Mexico recovers 2 bodies from the Rio Grande, 1 found near a floating barrier that Texas installed
MEXICO CITY — Mexican authorities are trying to identify two bodies found in the Rio Grande this week, including one that was spotted along the floating barrier that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott had installed recently in the Rio Grande, across from Eagle Pass, Texas. Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department reported for...
Lizzo says she’s ‘not the villain’ after her former dancers claim sex harassment
LOS ANGELES — Lizzo said Thursday that she’s “not the villain” that three of her former backup dancers falsely accuse her of being in a sexual harassment lawsuit. The civil lawsuit filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court claims Lizzo pressured the dancers to engage with nude performers at a...
Swaths of U.S. living through brutal summer, and it’s a climate wake-up call for many
Veronica Iordanova remembers Octobers growing up in Arizona when it was too cold to trick-or-treat in a short-sleeved Halloween costume. She can’t imagine that anymore. The summer heat lasts longer and feels more intense now, and she knows that is a result of human-caused global warming. She worries about her...
Diana Taurasi becomes first WNBA player to reach 10,000 career points
Diana Taurasi is an icon in the world of hoops, and the perennial All-Star known as the “White Mamba” added another milestone to her illustrious WNBA career Thursday night. The 41-year-old became the first player in WNBA history to score 10,000 points, hitting the mark with a long 3-pointer during...
2-time champion Germany out of Women’s World Cup after 1-1 draw with South Korea
Brisbane, Australia — Germany failed to reach the knockout stage for the first time at the Women’s World Cup after being held to a 1-1 draw against South Korea on Thursday. Morocco’s 1-0 win over Colombia meant Germany needed a win to advance. Led by captain Alexandra Popp, Germany created...
Morocco makes more Women’s World Cup history, reaching knockout rounds with 1-0 win over Colombia
PERTH, Australia — Morocco beat Colombia 1-0 to make it to the Women’s World Cup knockout round, creating yet more history at the global tournament. Morocco is the first Arab or North African nation to go beyond the group stage at the Women’s World Cup, and the only one of...
Adidas brings in $437 million from the first Yeezy sale. Part of that will go to anti-hate groups
FRANKFURT, Germany — Adidas brought in 400 million euros ($437 million) from the first release of Yeezy sneakers left over after breaking ties with Ye, the rapper formerly known as Kanye West, as the German sportswear maker tries to offload the unsold shoes and donate part of the proceeds to...
Bud Light parent says U.S. market share stabilizing after transgender promotion cost sales
Bud Light’s parent company expressed confidence Thursday that its U.S. market share has stabilized after a promotion with a transgender influencer cost it sales. Anheuser-Busch Inbev said Thursday that its U.S. revenue fell 10.5% in the second quarter. Bud Light sales plunged amid a conservative backlash after the brand sent...
Republicans don’t dare criticize Trump over Jan. 6. Their silence fuels his bid for the White House
WASHINGTON — When Senate Leader Mitch McConnell rose to announce his vote to acquit Donald Trump of impeachment charges in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol, the Republican assured the public the former president would have his day in court. “He didn’t get away with anything yet —...
Trump pleads not guilty to federal charges that he tried to overturn 2020 electionVideo
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Thursday to trying to overturn the results of his 2020 election loss, answering for the first time to federal charges that accuse him of orchestrating a brazen and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to block the peaceful transfer of presidential power. The former president appeared...
Florida State will consider leaving the ACC without ‘radical change’ to revenue model, school’s president says
Florida State President Rick McCullough believes the Seminoles will have to consider leaving the Atlantic Coast Conference unless there is a “radical change to the revenue distribution.” McCullough made his remarks at a board of trustees meeting Wednesday, stoking more speculation that FSU is poised to break a grant of...
Sam Howell out to show Ron Rivera he should be Commanders’ QB
ASHBURN, Va. — Sam Howell wanted no part of being featured in “Quarterback,” the docuseries that profiled Patrick Mahomes, Kirk Cousins and Marcus Mariota. He didn’t need the distraction clouding his focus. Plus, the spotlight is already shining plenty bright on Howell as he tries to become the Washington Commanders...
Caden Sterns emerging as Justin Simmons’ sidekick in Denver’s stacked secondary
ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — The biggest highlight of training camp for the Denver Broncos so far came when Justin Simmons deflected a Russell Wilson pass, and his sidekick at safety made a diving interception and celebrated by punting the ball toward the cheering crowd. Only, this time it wasn’t veteran Kareem...
Ohio State coach Ryan Day isn’t ruling out playing both QBs
COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ryan Day hopes to pick a new starting quarterback in the first couple weeks of preseason camp, but the Ohio State coach won’t rule out playing two QBs if the competition doesn’t produce a clear winner by the Sept. 2 opener at Indiana. “Somebody has to emerge...
Body seen along floating barrier Texas installed in the Rio Grande, Mexico says
MEXICO CITY — The Mexican government reported for the first time Wednesday that a body was spotted along the floating barrier that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott installed recently in the Rio Grande river, across from Eagle Pass, Texas. Mexico’s Foreign Relations Department said authorities were trying to recover the body,...
