Associated Press stories, Page 2603
U.S. to start warning travelers about kidnapping risk abroad
WASHINGTON — The risk of being kidnapped or taken hostage is being added to the travel advisories issued by the State Department. State Department advisories have until now included warnings about such things as crime, civil unrest or the potential for terrorism. The new “K” indicator for the potential to...
Police: 1 dead, 15 injured in North Carolina gas explosion
DURHAM, N.C. — A gas explosion that partially collapsed a North Carolina building and set it ablaze Wednesday morning killed one person and injured 15 others, police said. Police cars blocked the streets near the explosion and a thick acrid smoked hung over a shopping district near downtown Durham and...
Trump says only 1 person is in charge of immigration: Him
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump says there’s only one person in charge of his immigration policy: Him. Asked by reporters Wednesday whether he had considered tapping his influential aide, Stephen Miller, to lead the Department of Homeland Security given Miller’s focus on the issue, Trump was ready with praise —...
Trump says he won’t deliver tax returns to Congress
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump is facing an imminent congressional deadline for his administration to provide his tax returns but he says he “won’t do it” while he’s under audit by the IRS. Trump told reporters on the White House lawn Wednesday that “I would love to give them, but...
Scientists reveal first image ever made of black hole
WASHINGTON — Scientists on Wednesday revealed the first image ever made of a black hole, depicting its hot, shadowy edges where light bends around itself in a cosmic funhouse effect. Assembling data gathered by eight radio telescopes around the world, astronomers created the picture showing the violent neighborhood around a...
Netflix launches comedy channel on SiriusXM
NEW YORK — Netflix is launching its first audio venture that will feature the video streaming service’s comedy programming on SiriusXM. The companies on Wednesday announced “Netflix Is A Joke Radio” will feature highlights from such comedians as Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Ricky Gervais, Sarah Silverman, Jerry Seinfeld and Wanda...
Twitter removes Trump video for use of ‘Dark Knight’ score
WASHINGTON — Twitter removed a campaign video posted by President Donald Trump after Warner’s Bros. Pictures complained about the use of the score from its 2012 movie “The Dark Knight Rises.” Trump on Tuesday tweeted the video, which featured images of Democrats Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton juxtaposed with images...
Pa. lawmakers to honor victims of Tree of Life synagogue massacre
HARRISBURG — Victims of the Pittsburgh synagogue attack that killed 11 people last year will be remembered during a memorial service in the Pennsylvania Capitol. The unusual joint session Wednesday will bring together the House and the Senate for prayers and speeches about the Oct. 27 shooting at the Tree...
Man charged with shining laser at Patriots QB Tom Brady
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A citation has been issued against a Missouri man accused of flashing a laser at New England quarterback Tom Brady during the Patriots’ AFC championship game victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. Prosecutors said Tuesday that 64-year-old Dwyan Morgan, of Lee’s Summit, faces a single count...
Charges dropped against man accused of abandoning pet fish
WILMINGTON, N.C. — Charges have been dropped against a North Carolina man accused of leaving his pet fish behind without food when he was evicted. New Hanover County District Attorney Ben David told news outlets Tuesday that 53-year-old Michael Hinson is no longer charged with animal cruelty and abandonment. He...
Trump order would make it harder to block pipelines
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will announce an executive order during a trip to Texas on Wednesday that could make it harder for states to scuttle pipelines and other energy projects based on concerns about their impact on water quality. Trump has made it a priority to expand energy development,...
Barr to testify before Senate as Mueller report looms
WASHINGTON — Attorney General William Barr is returning to Capitol Hill for a second time this week as lawmakers, the White House and the American public anxiously await his release of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia report. Barr will speak to a Senate appropriations subcommittee Wednesday, the second of two...
Eying Supreme Court, abortion foes promote tough state bans
Emboldened by the new conservative majority on the Supreme Court, anti-abortion lawmakers and activists in numerous states are pushing near-total bans on the procedure in a deliberate frontal attack on Roe v. Wade. Mississippi and Kentucky have passed laws that would ban most abortions after a fetal heartbeat is detected...
Netanyahu appears to edge toward re-election in Israeli vote
JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared to be headed toward re-election early Wednesday, as exit polls and partial results showed him edging ahead of his main competitor in a tight race that was seen as a referendum on the long-serving leader. Both Netanyahu and former military chief Benny...
Michigan State tops AP’s way-too-early Top 25
MINNEAPOLIS — Virginia pulled off one of the great redemption stories in NCAA Tournament history, winning its first national title a year after losing to a No. 16 seed in the first round. The bad news: it’s seven months until the next season. The confetti is still being swept up...
Magic Johnson abruptly quits as Lakers president
LOS ANGELES — Magic Johnson abruptly quit as the Los Angeles Lakers’ president of basketball operations Tuesday night, citing his desire to return to the simpler life he enjoyed as a wealthy businessman and beloved former player before taking charge of this franchise just over two years ago. Johnson didn’t...
Woman lived to 99 with most organs on wrong side of body
SALEM, Ore. — Rose Marie Bentley was an avid swimmer, raised five kids, helped her husband run a feed store, and lived to the ripe age of 99. It was only after she died that medical students discovered that all her internal organs — except for her heart — were...
Corey Conners goes from Monday qualifier to Masters spotlight
AUGUSTA, Ga. — As the man in the green jacket recounted the incredulous events of the past week, Corey Conners cocked his head to one side and smiled ever so slightly. Almost as if he couldn’t believe it, either. A little over a week ago, Conners snatched the last spot...
Tony Bennett, Virginia give Dick Bennett proud dad moment
MINNEAPOLIS — Dick Bennett has a difficult time watching his son, Tony, coach Virginia. He rarely attends games. “I’m not a model of decorum or poise,” said Dick Bennett, the former longtime high school and college basketball coach. “But I needed to be here.” The Cavaliers didn’t make it easy...
Lori Loughlin, husband, others hit with money laundering charge
BOSTON — Federal prosecutors added money laundering to the list of accusations against actress Lori Loughlin, her fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli, and 14 other prominent parents Tuesday in the college admissions bribery case, increasing the pressure on them to plead guilty as other parents have agreed to do. Loughlin,...
Police: Uber driver tried to burglarize passenger’s home
SAN MATEO, Calif. — Police in Northern California say an Uber driver has been arrested for trying to break into the home of a passenger he had dropped off at the San Francisco airport, then burglarizing a neighbor’s home. The San Mateo Police Department said Monday that officers arrested 38-year-old...
Putin outlines Russia’s ambitious Arctic expansion programVideo
ST. PETERSBURG, Russia — President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday put forward an ambitious program to secure Russia’s foothold in the Arctic, including efforts to build new ports and other infrastructure facilities and expand an icebreaker fleet. Speaking at the Arctic forum in St. Petersburg attended by leaders of Finland, Iceland,...
Horses race in Nepal capital to keep devils away
KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepal’s president, top officials and diplomats gathered recently at army grounds in central Kathmandu for an annual horse festival that marks the slaying of the Hindu Gurumapa demon. Soldiers race the horses and show off warfare techniques believed to keep devil spirits away through the pounding...
Toledo police trading in patrol car for ice cream truck
TOLEDO, Ohio — Police officers in one Ohio city will be cruising neighborhoods in a new ride this summer — an ice cream truck. Toledo’s police chief says officers will be in the truck handing out ice cream to children as a way to build better relationships with the community....
Conservatives push Kris Kobach as Homeland Security chief
WASHINGTON — Outside allies of President Donald Trump have launched a public campaign urging him to nominate former Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach as his next secretary of Homeland Security. That’s despite the uphill battle Kobach would certainly face getting confirmed by the Senate. NumbersUSA, a group that seeks...
