Associated Press stories, Page 2291
Snapping into place: Jigsaw puzzles have ardent following
There are jigsaw puzzle nights at coffee shops and libraries. Puzzle groups and puzzle games online. Hand-cut wooden puzzles that cost thousands of dollars. And puzzle designs that range from edgy, original artwork to your own, custom-ordered family photos. Jigsaw puzzles for grown-ups are in vogue. “I was not as...
Edie Falco talks new show ‘Tommy’ and staying close to homeVideo
In her role in the news CBS drama “Tommy,” actress Edie Falco plays the first female chief of police in Los Angeles, but the native New Yorker found a way to shoot the show in her hometown. The Emmy-award winning actress known best for her roles in “The Sopranos” and...
MLB commish Rob Manfred: No beanball tolerance in wake of Astros scamVideo
NORTH PORT, Fla. — With baseball ablaze over the Houston Astros’ cheating scandal, commissioner Rob Manfred met with nearly half of the major league managers Sunday and told them to knock off any notion of get-even beanballs. “I hope that I made it extremely clear to them that retaliation in-game...
Exes’ reported driveway shootout kills stuntwoman, husbandVideo
YELLOW SPRINGS, Ohio — An Ohio man who fatally shot his ex-wife and her husband indicated they ambushed him and his current wife in the driveway of their luxury home and a shootout erupted. Authorities responding to the property near Yellow Springs after the gunfire Wednesday morning found Hollywood stuntwoman...
Brother of Antwaan Randle El surrenders, charged in double homicideVideo
CHICAGO — A former University of Wisconsin football player who is the brother of former Pittsburgh Steelers receiver Antwaan Randle El surrendered to Chicago police Saturday in connection with the deaths of two people who were found with gunshot wounds on a road in Janesville, Wisc. Marcus Randle El, 33,...
After Big 3, SEC loaded with NCAA Tournament bubble teamsVideo
The SEC has three teams that should be locks for the NCAA Tournament. The rest of the conference has work to do. No. 11 Auburn (22-3) climbed as high as No. 5 in the AP Top 25 and was among the top 16 seeds in the NCAA’s preliminary rankings earlier...
Costa Rica seizes 5 tons of cocaine headed for Netherlands
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — Costa Rican officials say they have seized more than 5 tons of cocaine, the largest such haul in the Central American country’s history. The Public Security Ministry said the 11,128 pounds of cocaine were found Saturday evening in a shipping container at the Caribbean port...
Tavian Dunn-Martin helps Duquesne get past pesky FordhamVideo
NEW YORK — Tavian Dunn-Martin had 15 points off the bench to lift Duquesne to a 59-54 victory over Fordham on Sunday. Dunn-Martin made 3 of 8 shots from beyond the 3-point arc and all four of his free throws for the Dukes (19-6, 9-4 Atlantic 10). Reserve Baylee Steele...
Trump takes Daytona 500 warmup lap in presidential limousineVideo
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — President Donald Trump gave an election-year embrace to NASCAR and its fans Sunday when he became the second president ever to attend the Daytona 500. The presidential motorcade took to the track to join in a warm-up lap after he had told the crowd that the...
Banksy’s Valentine’s Day mural covered after it was defaced
LONDON — The family that owns a house in southwest England where an artwork from Banksy appeared in time for Valentine’s Day has covered the mural after it was defaced. Temporary fencing was also added Saturday to the home in Bristol and closed-circuit television has been installed to protect the...
At a Pa. Catholic seminary, hope for church beyond scandals
WYNNEWOOD, Pa. — The seminarians walk along a hallway lined with photos of classes of priests who came before them. Some are pious alumni who have become their teachers and mentors; others climbed the Catholic hierarchy to be revered as bishops and cardinals. But there are others: Raymond Leneweaver, Class...
Panthers’ road woes continue with loss at Virginia Tech
BLACKSBURG, Va. — During Virginia Tech’s recent skid, its fans and players had been searching for answers to help the Hokies solve some of their recent end-of-game issues, particularly after two close losses to Boston College and one to Florida State. Pitt had been searching for answers to its road...
Kobe Bryant casts shadow as NBA’s best meet in All-Star GameVideo
CHICAGO — Kobe Bryant always seemed to be in top form when he stepped onto the court for the NBA All-Star Game. The league’s current best will try to match his effort when Team LeBron and Team Giannis meet Sunday. The All-Star festivities return to Chicago for the first time...
West Viriginia latest to lose against No. 1 BaylorVideo
WACO, Texas — Jared Butler said he wasn’t trying to make up for the absence of Baylor’s second-leading scorer behind him as the top-ranked Bears chased the Big 12 record for consecutive wins. Maybe it just seemed that way when the junior guard connected on a 3-pointer just 21 seconds...
Americans on quarantined ship in Japan to be flown home
TOKYO — The U.S. says Americans aboard a quarantined cruise ship will be flown home on a chartered flight Sunday, but they will face another two-week quarantine. About 380 Americans are aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship, which has docked at Yokohama, a port city southwest of Tokyo. So far,...
Taliban deal promising but not without risk, Pentagon chief Esper says
MUNICH — Defense Secretary Mark Esper said Saturday that a truce agreement between the United States and the Taliban that could lead to the withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan is not without risk but “looks very promising.” Ahead of a formal announcement of the seven-day “reduction in violence” deal,...
Daytona 500 up for grabs as no clear theme emerges
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. — The first four events leading into the Daytona 500 have produced four different winners. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. put his new team on the pole, while Erik Jones outlasted a crash-fest to win a qualifying race. Joey Logano and William Byron won the qualifying races. No clear...
World Series MVP Strasburg doesn’t want to be asked how he is feelingVideo
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — Stephen Strasburg has no interest in engaging in the typical spring training chatter between a pitcher and his manager or coaching staff or GM. How did it go out there today? How’s the arm after that bullpen session? How do you feel? “I kind of...
U.K. faces another fierce storm; 2 found dead in rough seas
LONDON — Rescuers pulled two male bodies from rough seas off the coast of southeast England and military personnel mobilized to help build flood barriers Saturday as Britain braced for a second straight weekend of stormy weather. The fourth named storm of the season, dubbed Dennis by Britain’s Met Office...
Week 4 of Weinstein trial: Closing arguments, two universes
NEW YORK — Harvey Weinstein grinned as he left court, and his lawyers said he was confident heading into what could be his last weekend of freedom as his New York City rape trial moves closer to a verdict. Jurors are set to start deliberating Tuesday, their task put off...
No. 13 Penn State reaches 20 wins with victory over Northwestern
STATE COLLEGE — Penn State coach Patrick Chambers has watched his teams cough up enough leads late to know this squad is different. The No. 13 Nittany Lions are hanging on and closing out games. Lamar Stevens scored 23 points to lead Penn State over Northwestern, 77-61, on Saturday. Myles...
Mating snakes prompt closure of part of Florida park
LAKELAND, Fla. — A Florida city shut down a section of a lake Thursday after receiving reports of swarming snakes. Turns out, the slithery creatures were just celebrating Valentine’s Day a little early. The Lakeland Parks & Recreation department wrote on its Facebook page that a group of non-venomous water...
Police: 14-year-old held in Barnard College student death
NEW YORK — A 14-year-old has been arrested in the fatal stabbing of a Barnard College student in a park during a robbery in December, a crime that rattled New York City residents, authorities said Saturday. Rashaun Weaver has been indicted by a grand jury and was taken into custody...
Shift to digital census raises fear of Iowa-like breakdown
ORLANDO, Fla. — The stakes are high when a major civic exercise involves a large population, new technology that has not been thoroughly tested and an entire country waiting on the results. Just ask the organizers of the Iowa caucuses, which offered a cautionary tale on the technological woes that...
Ex-Pirates outfielder Starling Marte says Diamondbacks can ‘win it’Video
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Starling Marte has fond memories of his eight seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, especially the stretch from 2013 to 2015 when the franchise made it to the playoffs three straight seasons. A few minutes of research revealed his new team has a great chance to get him...
