Associated Press stories, Page 423
Matt Gaetz once faced a sex trafficking investigation by the Justice Department he could now lead
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump’s pick for attorney general, Rep. Matt Gaetz of Florida, was once embroiled in a sex trafficking investigation by the Justice Department he’s been tapped to lead, and has been under scrutiny by the House Ethics Committee over allegations including sexual misconduct. That probe effectively ended...
1 million migrants in the U.S. rely on temporary protections that Trump could target
NEW YORK — Maribel Hidalgo fled her native Venezuela a year ago with a 1-year-old son, trudging for days through Panama’s Darien Gap, then riding the rails across Mexico to the United States. They were living in the U.S. when the Biden administration announced Venezuelans would be offered Temporary Protected...
Trump’s mainstream picks for top foreign policy posts could reassure allies — and worry China
WASHINGTON — President-elect Donald Trump is famously unconventional, but he made conventional picks for his two top foreign policy positions. That could be reassuring to American allies, while China and Iran have reasons to be wary. Trump on Wednesday announced his choice of Sen. Marco Rubio for secretary of state....
Trump issues early challenge to GOP Senate with defiant nominations
WASHINGTON — Just hours after Republican Sen. John Thune was elected as the incoming Senate majority leader on Wednesday, President-elect Donald Trump presented him with one of his first tests — an announcement that he intends to nominate controversial Rep. Matt Gaetz as attorney general. The Florida Republican is one...
Liberals pressure Senate Democrats to confirm more Biden judges while they can
WASHINGTON — Demand Justice, a progressive organization focused on the judiciary, is set to bombard Capitol Hill with a message for the closing weeks of the 118th Congress: Do “whatever it takes” to confirm President Joe Biden’s nominees as a second Donald Trump presidency looms. The Republican president-elect’s victory and...
Gaetz pick shows value Trump places on loyalty — and retribution — as he returns to Washington
WASHINGTON — Donald Trump has had few defenders in Congress as reliable as Matt Gaetz, who has thundered at one prosecutor after another for perceived bias against the president-elect and emphatically amplified the Republican’s rallying cry that the criminal investigations into him are “witch hunts.” That kinship was rewarded Wednesday...
Women’s baseball players could soon have a league of their own againVideo
For nearly every highlight of Julie Croteau’s trailblazing baseball career — all except her time as a double in “A League of Their Own,” really — she shared the field with men. Frequently as teammates. Always as foes. That’s mostly how it’s been for generations of female players. So when...
Pittsburgh native Curt Cignetti helps turn unbeaten Indiana into the toast of college footballVideo
Ed Miller has attended Indiana football and basketball games since the early 1970s, and he’s never seen a fall quite like this. As the leaves change colors and flutter to the ground, and the action ramps up for one of college basketball’s true blueblood programs, everyone around Bloomington is focused...
Jets’ Aaron Rodgers on returning next season: ‘I think so, yeah’Video
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Aaron Rodgers’ stint with the New York Jets could still extend beyond this season — despite plenty of losses and disappointments. The star quarterback, who’ll turn 41 on Dec. 2, previously said he’d like to play a few more years. And he insisted Wednesday that the...
Republicans win 218 U.S. House seats, giving Donald Trump and the party control of government
WASHINGTON — Republicans have won enough seats to control the U.S. House, completing the party’s sweep into power and securing their hold on U.S. government alongside President-elect Donald Trump. A House Republican victory in Arizona, alongside a win in slow-counting California earlier Wednesday, gave the GOP the 218 House victories...
ACC still fighting for respect in CFP rankings
Rhett Lashlee has done the math. It rolls around in the SMU coach’s head every week. The more he thinks about it, the more it doesn’t add up. Why, Lashlee wonders, is the ACC fighting what seems to be an uphill battle for respect from the College Football Playoff committee?...
Bills QB Josh Allen dismisses comparisons to Patrick Mahomes ahead of matchup with ChiefsVideo
ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — There are several reasons Josh Allen spent much of Wednesday referring to the AFC East-leading Bills’ much-hyped showdown against Patrick Mahomes and the undefeated Chiefs on Sunday as merely one regular-season game among 17. Outside the practice facility, a long line of CBS transport trucks were...
FBI: Investigation into Chinese hacking reveals ‘broad and significant’ spying effort
WASHINGTON — A federal investigation into Chinese government efforts to hack into U.S. telecommunications networks has revealed a “broad and significant” cyberespionage campaign aimed at stealing information from Americans who work in government and politics, the FBI said Wednesday. Hackers affiliated with Beijing have compromised the networks of “multiple” telecommunications...
Prosecutor failed to show that Elon Musk’s $1M-a-day sweepstakes was an illegal lottery, judge says
PHILADELPHIA — The $1 million voter sweepstakes linked to billionaire Elon Musk was allowed to continue through Election Day because Philadelphia’s top prosecutor failed to show that it was an illegal lottery, a judge said in a new opinion. District Attorney Larry Krasner had filed suit last month to try...
Special counsel Jack Smith asks court to pause appeal seeking to revive Trump’s classified documents case
WASHINGTON — Special counsel Jack Smith asked a court Wednesday to pause prosecutors’ appeal seeking to revive the classified documents case against President-elect Donald Trump in light of the Republican’s presidential victory. Smith’s team has been evaluating how to wind down the classified documents and the federal 2020 election interference...
Colts give Anthony Richardson starting QB job back
INDIANAPOLIS — Anthony Richardson showed the Indianapolis Colts over the past two weeks off the field that he could be their starting quarterback. Again. Two ugly losses might have helped convince Indy’s brain trust, too. Either way, Richardson has won back the job. Coach Shane Steichen announced Wednesday that he...
All-Pro safety Kyle Hamilton at practice but not in uniform as Ravens prepare for SteelersVideo
OWINGS MILLS, Md. — Baltimore Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton was working off to the side — not in uniform — during the portion of practice open to reporters Wednesday. Hamilton injured his ankle in last week’s victory over Cincinnati. The All-Pro did some stretching and light jogging Wednesday and seemed...
Philadelphia mass transit users face fare hikes of more than 20% and possible service cuts
PHILADELPHIA — Philadelphia’s mass transit system has proposed an across-the-board 21.5% fare increase that would start New Year’s Day as well as severe service cuts that would take effect next summer. The Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority announced its plans on Tuesday and scheduled a Dec. 13 public hearing on them....
Trump picks ex-Rep. Tulsi Gabbard as director of national intelligence, Rubio for Secretary of State
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump has chosen Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic member of Congress and presidential candidate, to serve as director of national intelligence, continuing to stock his Cabinet with loyal personalities complimentary to his own, rather than long-term professionals in their requisite fields. “As a...
Bluesky has added 1 million users since U.S. election as people seek alternatives to X
LOS ANGELES — Social media site Bluesky has gained 1 million new users in the week since the U.S. election, as some X users look for an alternative platform to post their thoughts and engage with others online. Bluesky said Wednesday that its total users surged to 15 million, up...
Birth control and abortion pill requests have surged since Trump won the election
Hours after Donald Trump was elected president for the second time, Dr. Clayton Alfonso had two messages from patients seeking to replace their IUDs. Over the next few days, three women inquired about getting their tubes tied. All of them said the election was the reason they were making these...
U.S. overdose deaths are down, giving experts hope for an enduring decline
NEW YORK — The decline in U.S. drug overdose deaths appears to have continued this year, giving experts hope the nation is seeing sustained improvement in the persistent epidemic. There were about 97,000 overdose deaths in the 12-month period that ended June 30, according to provisional Centers for Disease Control...
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had a stroke earlier this month, is expected to make full recovery
Basketball Hall of Famer Gregg Popovich has been away from the team because he suffered a mild stroke earlier this month, the San Antonio Spurs announced Wednesday. Popovich is in his 29th season as coach of the Spurs and there is no timetable for his return to the sideline, the...
Republican John Thune of South Dakota is elected the next Senate majority leader
WASHINGTON — Republicans have elected South Dakota Sen. John Thune as the next Senate majority leader, completing a momentous shift in their leadership that elevates a top deputy of Mitch McConnell into a key position as President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House. Thune, 63, is in his fourth...
What to know about Pete Hegseth, Trump’s pick to serve as defense secretary
In picking Fox News Channel host Pete Hegseth to lead the Department of Defense, President-elect Donald Trump has selected a military veteran and popular conservative media personality with a large following of his own. Hegseth, 44, has developed a close rapport with Trump, who also reportedly considered him for a...
