Associated Press stories, Page 937
Sinéad O’Connor, gifted and provocative Irish singer, dies at 56
LONDON — Sinéad O’Connor, the gifted Irish singer-songwriter who became a superstar in her mid-20s and was known as much for her private struggles and provocative actions as for her fierce and expressive music, has died at 56. “It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our...
Whistleblower tells Congress the U.S. is concealing ‘multi-decade’ program that captures UFOs
WASHINGTON — The U.S. is concealing a longstanding program that retrieves and reverse engineers unidentified flying objects, a former Air Force intelligence officer testified Wednesday to Congress. The Pentagon has denied his claims. Retired Maj. David Grusch’s highly anticipated testimony before a House Oversight subcommittee was Congress’ latest foray into...
Hurricanes sign Sebastian Aho to an 8-year contract extension worth $78 million
Sebastian Aho signed an eight-year contract extension worth $78 million with the Carolina Hurricanes, the team announced Wednesday. The deal will go into effect for the 2024-25 NHL season. Aho will count $9.75 million against the salary cap from that point through 2032. Aho gets a raise from the nearly...
South Florida waters hit hot tub level and may have set world record for warmest seawater
The water temperature around the tip of Florida has hit triple digits — hot tub levels — two days in a row. Meteorologists say it could be the hottest seawater ever measured, although some questions about the reading remain. Scientists are already seeing devastating effects from prolonged hot water surrounding...
Rudy Giuliani is not disputing that he made false statements about Georgia election workers
ATLANTA — Rudy Giuliani is not disputing that he made public comments falsely claiming two Georgia election workers committed ballot fraud during the 2020 presidential race but he argues that his words are constitutionally protected statements, according to a court filing. That assertion by Giuliani, who as part of Donald...
ESPN considers adding sports leagues as partners as it transitions from cable to digital
SANTA MONICA, Calif. — ESPN chairman Jimmy Pitaro said the network could take on a sports league as a minority partner as the network continues its transition from a cable channel to a digital company. “I will emphasize that we believe there are parties out there that can help us...
Jury acquits Kevin Spacey in London on sexual assault charges dating back to 2001
LONDON — A London jury acquitted Kevin Spacey on sexual assault charges on Wednesday after a four-week trial in which the actor said he was a “big flirt” who had consensual flings with men and whose only misstep was touching a man’s groin while making a “clumsy pass.” Three men...
Fire on New York construction crane causes arm to collapse and hit a building as it falls
NEW YORK—A towering construction crane caught fire high above the West Side of Manhattan on Wednesday morning, causing its long arm to snap off, smash against a nearby building and plummet to the street as people ran for their lives on the sidewalk below. At least six people suffered minor...
Car buyers bear a heavy burden as Federal Reserve keeps raising rates
NEW YORK — The Federal Reserve’s expected move Wednesday to raise interest rates for the 11th time could once again send ripple effects across the economy. Mortgage rates, which have surged since the Fed began lifting rates in March 2022, could rise further. So could rates on credit cards and...
W.Va. residents are at a loss after newspaper that bound community together shuts down
WELCH, W.Va. — Months after Missy Nester ended The Welch News’ 100-year run, she can barely stand to walk through the office doors of the newspaper her mother taught her to read with growing up in West Virginia’s southern coalfields. It’s too painful. The Welch News owner and publisher’s desk...
Women’s World Cup rematch pits United States against ailing Dutch squad
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — The United States and the Netherlands meet again on the Women’s World Cup stage — with smaller stakes than the 2019 title game won by the Americans — and the Dutch team collecting injuries at a terrible time of the tournament. The Netherlands will most likely...
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy floats an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says Republican lawmakers may consider an impeachment inquiry of President Joe Biden over unproven claims of financial misconduct, responding to enormous GOP pressure to demonstrate support for Donald Trump ahead of the 2024 presidential election. In remarks Tuesday at the Capitol, McCarthy said the...
Biden’s son Hunter pleads not guilty to 2 tax crimes after agreement with prosecutors falls through
WILMINGTON, Del. — President Joe Biden’s son Hunter pleaded not guilty Wednesday to two tax crimes after a deal with federal prosecutors unraveled during a court hearing following the judge’s concerns over the agreement. Hunter Biden was charged last month with two misdemeanor tax crimes of failure to pay more...
Rival Koreas mark armistice anniversary in 2 ways that highlight rising tensions
SEOUL, South Korea — The truce that stopped the bloodshed in the Korean War turns 70 years old on Thursday and the two Koreas are marking the anniversary in starkly different ways, underscoring their deepening nuclear tensions. North Korea has invited delegations from China and Russia as it prepares to...
No Mega Millions winner — jackpot rises to $910 million
The Mega Millions jackpot climbed to an estimated $910 million after Tuesday night’s drawing produced no big winners, extending a stretch of bad luck dating back to April. The numbers drawn were: 3, 5, 6, 44, 61 and the yellow ball 25 The absence of a winner for the estimated...
Mike Vrabel, Derrick Henry helped lure WR DeAndre Hopkins to TitansVideo
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — DeAndre Hopkins has had a good relationship with Mike Vrabel since their Houston days, a man who was one of the first to congratulate the three-time All-Pro receiver on being traded to Arizona and also the first to call him out for not making a catch for...
Chicago Blackhawks owner Rocky Wirtz dies at age 70Video
CHICAGO — Rocky Wirtz, who won three Stanley Cup titles as owner of the Chicago Blackhawks and presided over the team during one of the NHL’s biggest scandals, has died. He was 70. The Blackhawks said in a release that Wirtz died Tuesday, calling it a “sudden passing.” No further...
Browns CB Greg Newsome II hopes number change leads to big interception numbersVideo
WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. — Greg Newsome II is zeroed in this summer — literally. The Browns’ third-year cornerback has switched jersey numbers, shedding No. 20 for No. 0, which is how many interceptions the former first-round pick has recorded in two seasons for Cleveland. “I kind of wanted a...
ACC commissioner Jim Phillips says league benefiting from ‘difficult’ conversationsVideo
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The ACC has spent the past year facing questions about its financial picture, enough to raise uncertainty about the long-term future of the league itself. Still, commissioner Jim Phillips figures recent blunt conversations among schools about what’s ahead have helped. Earlier this year, Florida State athletic director...
A judge blocks limits on asylum at U.S.-Mexico border but gives Biden administration time to appeal
WASHINGTON — A federal judge on Tuesday blocked a rule that allows immigration authorities to deny asylum to migrants who arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border without first applying online or seeking protection in a country they passed through. But the judge delayed his ruling from taking effect immediately to give...
Chargers, QB Justin Herbert agree to 5-year extension worth $262.5MVideo
Justin Herbert is set to become the NFL’s highest-paid quarterback by annual salary, agreeing to a five-year, $262.5 million extension with the Los Angeles Chargers on Tuesday. The extension came as the Chargers reported for training camp earlier in the day. Their first practice will be Wednesday. Herbert’s total value...
Unexplained outage at Chase Bank leads to interruptions at Zelle payment network
An unexplained outage at Chase Bank led to interruptions for users of the Zelle payment network, who took to social media to complain. Zelle said on Twitter that its network is functioning normally and pointed a finger at Chase, saying the bank was experiencing trouble with payment processing. “The rest...
Georgia Tech’s Key and Louisville’s Brohm aim to deliver 1st-year spark to alma maters
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Brent Key grew accustomed to the days as an assistant coach with Georgia Tech players popping into his office, plopping down on the couch and venting a bit. Now that he’s the Yellow Jackets’ head coach? Not so much. “All of a sudden, I get named head...
Cowboys, Trevon Diggs agree on $97M; guard Zack Martin becomes camp holdoutVideo
There’s a new No. 1 on the to-do list at training camp as the Dallas Cowboys once again start their pursuit of the playoff breakthrough that has eluded them for 27 years. Owner/general manager Jerry Jones and company did manage to scratch one thing off the list Tuesday. Dallas and...
Ohio marijuana legalization question falls short on signatures for fall ballot, gets 10 more days
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A proposal to legalize adult use of marijuana in Ohio fell short Tuesday of the signatures it needed to make the fall statewide ballot. Backers will have 10 days, or until Aug. 4, to gather more. Republican Secretary of State Frank LaRose determined the Coalition to Regulate...
