Associated Press stories, Page 2683
Judge declares Iowa fetal heartbeat law unconstitutional
DES MOINES, Iowa — A state judge on Tuesday struck down Iowa’s restrictive “fetal heartbeat” abortion law, which would have been the most restrictive anti-abortion law in the nation. Judge Michael Huppert found the law unconstitutional, concluding that the Iowa Supreme Court’s earlier decisions that affirm a woman’s fundamental right...
5 Hyundai, Kia models have high fire insurance claim rates
DETROIT — Owners of five Hyundai and Kia cars and SUVs file fire insurance claims at a rate far higher than the average for comparable vehicles, according to an insurance industry study. The Highway Loss Data Institute, which analyzes data from insurers representing about 85 percent of the U.S. industry,...
Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski coming alive at right timeVideo
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Even as Rob Gronkowski turned in a vintage performance with his big grabs down the stretch in the AFC championship game, the veteran Patriots tight end also did plenty of dirty work. Gronk the blocker? The label didn’t fit in the past. But this season, one of...
Netflix joins MPAA lobbying group, its 1st streaming member
NEW YORK — On the same day Netflix scored its first best picture nomination from the Oscars, the streaming company is also joining the lobbying group the Motion Picture Association of America. The MPAA announced Tuesday that Netflix will join its ranks, becoming the first streaming service to do so....
Well-traveled QB Gardner Minshew hoping to find NFL home
MOBILE, Ala. — Gardner Minshew carved his own meandering path from walk-on to NFL prospect. He began as a walk-on at Troy, took a sharp left to junior college, bounced over to East Carolina, made a beeline toward Alabama and finally ended with one terrific season at Washington State. “I...
Mariano Rivera 1st unanimous selection to Baseball Hall of Fame
NEW YORK — Mariano Rivera became baseball’s first unanimous Hall of Fame selection, elected Tuesday with Roy Halladay, Edgar Martinez and Mike Mussina. Rivera received all 425 votes in balloting by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced. The quartet will be enshrined in Cooperstown along with Today’s Game Era...
Stocks sink on growth fears, possible snag in trade talks
NEW YORK — Stocks fell sharply Tuesday following new signs the global economy is weakening and reports of difficulties in trade talks between the United States and China. That broke a four-day winning streak for U.S. indexes. Major global indexes traded lower after the International Monetary Fund trimmed its economic...
Senate set to vote on 2 competing plans to end shutdown
WASHINGTON — Senate leaders reached an agreement on Tuesday to vote this week on two competing proposals to end the government shutdown, including President Trump’s plan to have Congress pay for the long-stalled wall along the U.S.-Mexico border that’s likely to fail. The other measure, from Democrats, also seems unlikely...
Doping agency forgives Russia, but says more work needed
The World Anti-Doping Agency straddled the wide gulf between vindication and capitulation Tuesday, agreeing to keep Russia’s anti-doping operation in business after receiving much-sought-after lab data that could be used to prosecute hundreds of cheaters. But the decision came with a warning: Fool us again, and we can bar you...
Pelosi works her health care strategy from the ground up
WASHINGTON — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is laying out her strategy on health care and first up is improvements to “Obamacare” and legislation to lower prescription drug costs. “Medicare for all” will get hearings. Pelosi and President Donald Trump have been sounding similar themes about the need to address the...
Trump moving ahead with State of the Union speech next week
WASHINGTON — The White House is moving forward with plans for President Donald Trump to deliver his State of the Union speech next week in front of a joint session of Congress — despite a letter from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi requesting he delay it. The White House sent an...
UK’s world-famous Beefeaters on strike over pensions
LONDON — Workers at the Tower of London and Hampton Court Palace — including some of London’s famed Beefeaters — are on strike in a dispute over pensions. The historic attractions, among London’s most popular, remained open Tuesday despite the work slowdown, which is the second in the last two...
Tentative contract reached in L.A. teachers strike
LOS ANGELES — Contentious contract negotiations have resulted in a tentative deal between Los Angeles school officials and the teachers union that will allow striking educators to return to classrooms on Wednesday. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced the deal Tuesday. He says it requires the approval of the teachers...
Build it and the Super Bowl will come
Build it and the Super Bowl will come. While that’s not exactly how the sites of the NFL’s championship extravaganza are determined, it sure doesn’t hurt to have a brand new, billion-dollar facility in your city. Including the 2004 game in Houston, the league will have staged nine Super Bowls...
Man accused of Facebook post vowing to kill ‘as many girls as I see’
SALT LAKE CITY — A man is under arrest in Utah after police say he posted on Facebook about “killing as many girls as I see” the same weekend that Women’s Marches were held around the country. Jail documents filed by police in the city of Provo say 27-year-old Christopher...
Boys school shuts down amid fallout over Washington videos
COVINGTON, Ky. — A Kentucky boys’ school shut down its campus on Tuesday as a precaution and a small protest was held outside their diocese as fallout continued over an encounter between white teenagers, Native American marchers and a black religious sect outside the Lincoln Memorial last week. President Donald...
Poll: Disasters influence thinking on climate change
WASHINGTON — When it comes to their views on climate change, Americans are looking at natural disasters and their local weather, according to a new poll. Lately, that means record deadly wildfires in California, rainfall by the foot in Houston when Hurricane Harvey hit and the dome of smog over...
Democrats lurch left on top policies as 2020 primary begins
NEW YORK — Democratic presidential contender Julian Castro launched his campaign by pledging support for “Medicare for All,” free universal preschool, a large public investment in renewable energy and two years of free college for all Americans. That wasn’t enough for some of his party’s most liberal members. Critics on...
9 brains, 3 hearts: Some wild facts about octopuses
Mythology and superstition have portrayed octopuses as alien beings or evil creatures dwelling in the terrifying dark depths of oceans. Little wonder, considering they are a bit unusual. The giant Pacific octopus has three hearts, nine brains and blue blood, making reality stranger than fiction. Things to know about the...
Afghan security service suffers heavy toll in Taliban attack
KABUL, Afghanistan — Dozens of people killed in a brazen Taliban attack on a military base were members of Afghanistan’s intelligence agency, officials said Tuesday, in a severe blow to the government that already has lost control of nearly half of the country to the insurgents. At least 45 people...
Philly apartment building fire injures 3, residents flee into cold
A fast-moving fire at a Philadelphia apartment building left three people injured and sent residents fleeing into the bitter cold. The fire in the six-story building broke out around 11:30 p.m. Monday. Firefighters soon arrived and saw flames shooting out of a third-story unit. The building’s fire alarm system alerted...
Arconic no longer considering sale, shares slide
NEW YORK — Shares of Arconic are sliding at the opening bell after the aluminum maker said it’s no longer exploring a sale. The company formerly known as Alcoa had considered a sale over the past year, but said Tuesday that it didn’t receive any offers it thought was in...
Supreme Court lets military implement transgender restrictions
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday allowed the Trump administration to go ahead with its plan to restrict military service by transgender people while court challenges continue. The high court split 5-4 in allowing the plan to take effect, with the court’s five conservatives greenlighting it and its four...
Supreme Court returns to gun rights for first time in 9 years
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court said Tuesday it will take up its first gun rights case in nine years, a challenge to New York City’s prohibition on carrying a licensed, locked and unloaded handgun outside the city limits. The court’s decision to hear the appeal filed by three New York...
Commuter’s ‘delay scarf’ bought by German train company
BERLIN — Germany’s biggest rail company, under fire for its unpunctual service, is trying to mollify one disgruntled commuter by buying her “delay scarf.” Deutsche Bahn, which on Thursday announced plans to hire 22,000 more staff, bought the hand-made scarf in an online auction for 7,550 euros ($8,600). The money...
