Associated Press stories, Page 919
What’s next in conference realignment as Pac-4 search for solutions and conferences weigh options?
The Pac-4 schools are in limbo. The Mountain West is open for additions. The American Athletic Conference is interested in growing and on-guard for being poached. The Atlantic Coast Conference can’t reach a consensus on expansion, and the Big Ten seems to be done adding West Coast schools — but...
Filippa Angeldal scores as Sweden reaches Women’s World Cup semifinals by topping Japan, 2-1
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Sweden first knocked off the United States and then bounced Japan to snag a spot in the semifinals of the Women’s World Cup. The Swedes, the World Cup runners-up in 2003 and three-time third-place finishers, eliminated previously unbeaten Japan 2-1 in Friday’s quarterfinal. With Japan out...
Highmark among insurers that won’t cover new Alzheimer’s treatment for some customers
Some private insurers are balking at paying for the first drug fully approved to slow mental decline in Alzheimer’s patients. Insurers selling coverage in North Carolina, Pennsylvania and New York, among other states, told The Associated Press they won’t cover Leqembi with insurance offered on the individual market and through...
U.S. suicides hit all-time high in 2022
NEW YORK — About 49,500 people took their own lives last year in the U.S., the highest number ever, according to new government data posted Thursday. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which posted the numbers, has not yet calculated a suicide rate for the year, but available data...
W.Va. Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin says he’s been thinking seriously about becoming an independent
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin said that he has been thinking “seriously” about leaving the Democratic Party and becoming an independent. The West Virginia lawmaker, who has raised his national profile as a swing vote on major spending packages in the closely divided U.S. Senate, made the comments...
More evacuations considered in Norway where swollen rivers continue to rise
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Authorities were on standby to evacuate more people in southeastern Norway Friday, where huge amounts of water, littered with broken trees, debris and trash, were thundering down the usually serene rivers after days of torrential rain. The level of water in swollen rivers and lakes continued to...
Death toll rises to 67 in Maui wildfires
LAHAINA, Hawaii — Incinerated cars crushed by downed telephone poles. Charred elevator shafts standing as testaments to the burned-down apartment buildings they once served. Pools filled with charcoal-colored water. Trampolines and children’s scooters mangled by the extreme heat. Residents of Lahaina were being allowed back home Friday for the first...
Jakarta is the world’s most polluted city. Blame the dry season and vehicles for the gray skies
JAKARTA, Indonesia — The dry season and and motorized vehicles are the main causes of the air pollution in Jakarta, Indonesian authorities said Friday, after a Swiss air quality technology company named the city as the most polluted in the world. Thick smoke and gray skies have appeared every morning...
Mississippi Supreme Court won’t remove Brett Favre from lawsuit over misspent welfare moneyVideo
JACKSON, Miss. — The Mississippi Supreme Court says it will not remove former NFL quarterback Brett Favre as a defendant in a civil lawsuit that seeks to recover millions of dollars of misspent welfare money meant to help some of the poorest people in the United States. A panel of...
Florida education commissioner skips forum on criticized Black history standards
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Hundreds of lawmakers, teachers, school board members and parents crowded into a South Florida church Thursday evening for a forum on Florida’s new standards for teaching Black history, which have drawn harsh criticism for requiring teachers to instruct middle-school students that enslaved people “developed skills which,...
Biden asks Congress for $40B to support Ukraine, replenish U.S. disaster aid and bolster border
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration on Thursday asked Congress to provide more than $13 billion in emergency defense aid to Ukraine and an additional $8 billion for humanitarian support through the end of the year, another massive infusion of cash as the Russian invasion wears on and Ukraine pushes a...
Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn arrested in 2021 after groping complaints at club, police records show
PHOENIX — Boris Epshteyn, a longtime aide to former President Donald Trump, was arrested in 2021 after he was accused of repeatedly groping two women in an Arizona nightclub, according to police records. Epshteyn pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct charges in Scottsdale city court after prosecutors dropped charges of attempted...
Eric Bieniemy brings vocal, winning approach as Commanders offensive coordinatorVideo
ASHBURN, Va. — Eric Bieniemy’s voice is one of the clearer ones on the practice field. On his first day of training camp since joining the Washington Commanders, it wasn’t hard to understand his message. “Let’s go!” Bieniemy shouted. “It’s work time.” Bieniemy is now at work in his new...
American Ally Ewing leads Women’s British Open after 1st round
WALTON-ON-THE-HILL, England — The United States is seeking its third female major champion of 2023 at the AIG Women’s British Open this week. Few would have predicted Ally Ewing leading the charge. Ewing made eagle from 5 feet at the par-5 16th to leapfrog a five-way tie for first place...
Jordan Spieth keeps clean card in mud to lead PGA playoff opener
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Jordan Spieth kept a clean card and clean pants, even without having to roll them up to his calves on a rain-soaked course. He opened with a 7-under-par 63 on Thursday for a one-shot lead in the FedEx St. Jude Championship. Spieth chipped in for eagle and...
How to help or donate in response to the deadly wildfire in Maui
While rescue and emergency operations continued Thursday at the deadly wildfires that swept across the Hawaiian island of Maui, many people are already looking for ways to support the response and provide relief to those affected. The full extent of the damage and the recovery needs may not be known...
Maui fire deaths surge to 53 and likely to go higher, governor says; over 1,000 structures burned
LAHAINA, Hawaii — A search of the wildfire devastation on the Hawaiian island of Maui on Thursday revealed a wasteland of obliterated neighborhoods and landmarks charred beyond recognition, as the death toll rose to at least 53 and survivors told harrowing tales of narrow escapes with only the clothes on...
6 Western nations demand Russia return 2 regions it took from neighboring Georgia 15 years ago
UNITED NATIONS — Six Western nations marked the 15th anniversary of Russia’s takeover of 20% of Georgia’s territory by demanding on Thursday that Moscow return the South Ossetia and Abkhazia regions. A joint statement by the six members of the U.N. Security Council — the United States, United Kingdom, France,...
Rocket with a lunar landing blasts off on Russia’s 1st moon mission in nearly 50 years
LONDON — A rocket carrying a lunar landing craft blasted off Friday on Russia’s first moon mission in nearly 50 years, racing to land on Earth’s satellite ahead of an Indian spacecraft. The launch from Russia’s Vostochny spaceport in the Far East of the Luna-25 craft to the moon is...
Bruce Bochy returning to Giants’ ballpark, likely loving reception
SAN FRANCISCO — Bruce Bochy landed in San Francisco on Sunday night with plenty of sunlight left to recognize his old surroundings and ponder the fond memories. And three World Series trophies. The Texas Rangers manager began thinking about the long list of people to thank for his special time...
Q&A: Kelsea Ballerini on her divorce EP and people throwing things at concerts
LOS ANGELES — Back in February, recording artist Kelsea Ballerini quietly released an EP of strikingly intimate and vulnerable songs about her recent divorce from Australian musician Morgan Evans, with no expectation of performing or promoting them in the way she would a traditional album. But after receiving an overwhelmingly...
Phil Mickelson has wagered more than $1 billion, according to book by renowned gambler Billy Walters
Phil Mickelson has wagered more than $1 billion over the last three decades and wanted to place a $400,000 bet on the 2012 Ryder Cup while playing for Team USA, according to a much-anticipated book by renowned gambler Billy Walters. Mickelson denied ever betting on the Ryder Cup. “While it...
Western officials: Niger junta warned they’d kill deposed president after any military intervention
NIAMEY, Niger — Niger’s junta told a top U.S. diplomat that they would kill deposed President Mohamed Bazoum if neighboring countries attempted any military intervention to restore his rule, two Western officials told The Associated Press. They spoke to the AP shortly before the West African bloc ECOWAS said it...
Anti-corruption presidential candidate assassinated in Ecuador as country reels from violence
QUITO, Ecuador — An Ecuadorian presidential candidate who recently pledged to root out corruption and lock up the country’s “thieves” was fatally shot at a political rally in the capital as the South American country reels from drug-related crime and violence. Fernando Villavicencio, 59, who was known for speaking up...
Russia’s military push on eastern front prompts Ukraine to evacuate thousands of civilians
KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian authorities ordered a mandatory evacuation Thursday of nearly 12,000 civilians from 37 towns and villages in the eastern Kharkiv region, where Russian forces reportedly are making a concerted effort to punch through the front line. The local military administration in Kharkiv’s Kupiansk district said residents must...
