Associated Press stories, Page 296
Trump orders creation of sovereign wealth fund, says it could own part of TikTok
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order directing the U.S. to take steps to start developing a government-owned investment fund that he said could be used to profit off of TikTok if he’s successful at finding it an American buyer. Trump signed an order on his...
A 1714 Stradivarius violin up for auction could become most expensive music instrument ever sold
NEW YORK — A violin made by the famed Antonio Stradivari in 1714 has the potential to become the most expensive musical instrument ever sold when it goes up for auction on Friday at Sotheby’s in New York. The auction house is estimating the value of the “Joachim-Ma Stradivarius” at...
How Trump’s pledge to punish South Africa reflects Elon Musk’s criticism of his homeland
CAPE TOWN, South Africa — U.S. President Donald Trump said he will cut all funding to South Africa over what he called a human rights violation, a move that reflects Elon Musk’s repeated and false claims over the years that authorities in his country of birth are anti-white and even...
New York shields abortion pill prescribers after doctor was indicted in Louisiana
ALBANY — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul on Monday signed a bill to shield the identities of doctors who prescribe abortion medications, days after a physician in the state was charged with prescribing abortion pills to a pregnant minor in Louisiana. The new law, which took effect immediately, allows doctors...
Longtime Florida State coach Leonard Hamilton to step down at end of seasonVideo
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Longtime Florida State basketball coach Leonard Hamilton is stepping down at the end of the season. Hamilton, who is being sued by six former players over allegations he failed to deliver on name, image and likeness promises, announced his decision Monday following a team meeting. “I’m very...
Cooper Kupp says the Rams intend to trade him. He’s disappointed to end his 8 years with the team
LOS ANGELES — Receiver Cooper Kupp says the Los Angeles Rams are attempting to trade him after eight seasons with the club, and he doesn’t like the move. The Super Bowl 56 MVP made the announcement on social media Tuesday, saying the Rams told him they “will be seeking a...
Super Bowl might hinge on fierce interior pass rushes for Chiefs, EaglesVideo
Once Josh Allen backpedaled from the shotgun snap after the Buffalo Bills had just gone ahead of Kansas City, this crucial 2-point conversion play late in the third quarter of the AFC championship game quickly turned into chaos. Allen retreated to the 14-yard line, sized up the pressure and desperately...
Elon Musk tightens his grip on federal government as Democrats raise alarms
WASHINGTON — Elon Musk is rapidly consolidating control over large swaths of the federal government with President Donald Trump ‘s blessing, sidelining career officials, gaining access to sensitive databases and dismantling a leading source of humanitarian assistance. The speed and scope of his work has been nothing short of stunning....
Senate confirms fossil fuel CEO Chris Wright as energy secretary. He vows to ‘unleash’ U.S. resources
WASHINGTON — The Senate on Monday confirmed fossil fuel executive Chris Wright to serve as energy secretary, a key post to promote President Donald Trump’s efforts to achieve U.S. “energy dominance” in the global market. Wright, CEO of Denver-based Liberty Energy, has been one of the industry’s loudest voices against...
Roger Goodell says perception that officials favor Chiefs is ‘ridiculous theory’Video
NEW ORLEANS — NFL commissioner Roger Goodell disputed the perception that officials favor the Kansas City Chiefs, saying it’s a “ridiculous theory.” Goodell addressed several topics, including diversity, an 18-game season, international expansion, Tom Brady’s dual role as a broadcaster and co-owner and more during his annual news conference that...
Lawsuit blames deaths on Ohio train derailment as JD Vance says U.S. needs ‘to do better on rail safety’
EAST PALESTINE, Ohio — A lawsuit alleging for the first time that people died because of the disastrous 2023 East Palestine train derailment was announced on Monday’s second anniversary of the toxic crash near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border amid a flurry of new litigation. On Monday, Vice President JD Vance visited...
Ex-deep-sea treasure hunter jailed for nearly 10 years scores a legal win but won’t be freed
COLUMBUS, Ohio — A former deep-sea treasure hunter who has served nearly a decade in jail for refusing to disclose the whereabouts of missing gold coins has had that term ended by a federal judge in Ohio, but he will remain behind bars for now. U.S. District Judge Algenon Marbley...
Wall Street falls as a result of Trump’s tariffs, but not as badly as feared in the morning
NEW YORK — The threat of a punishing trade war sent Wall Street on a roller coaster Monday. After initially falling sharply on worries about President Donald Trump’s tariffs, U.S. stocks pared their losses after Mexico said it had negotiated a one-month reprieve. The S&P 500 ended up falling 0.8%...
Umpire Pat Hoberg fired by MLB for sharing sports gambling accounts with friend who bet on baseball
NEW YORK — Umpire Pat Hoberg was fired by Major League Baseball on Monday for sharing his legal sports gambling accounts with a friend who bet on baseball games and for intentionally deleting electronic messages pertinent to the league’s investigation. MLB opened the investigation last February when it was brought...
Dozens of Education Department workers are put on leave over Trump’s anti-DEI order
WASHINGTON — Dozens of employees at the U.S. Education Department were put on paid administrative leave in response to President Donald Trump’s order banning diversity, equity and inclusion programs in the federal government, according to a labor union that represents hundreds of workers in the agency. It’s unclear how many...
In Kentucky bourbon country, the newest trade war feels like a hangover that won’t go away
LAWRENCEBURG, Ky. — In the rolling hills of Kentucky where most of the world’s bourbon supply is crafted, the prospect of a new trade war feels like an aching hangover that won’t go away. Kentucky bourbon producers again find themselves in the crosshairs as a target for retaliation after President...
Controlling owner Josh Harris says Washington Commanders name not changing
ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Commanders controlling owner Josh Harris said Monday the team name is not changing. Harris said the name is here to stay after inheriting it when he and his group bought the team from longtime owner Dan Snyder in 2023. “I think it’s now being embraced by...
Pacific Coast Highway reopens nearly a month after devastating Southern California wildfires
LOS ANGELES — The Pacific Coast Highway reopened Monday, nearly a month after it was closed when flames from the deadly Palisades Fire ripped through hillside Los Angeles neighborhoods, destroying properties all the way down to the beach. Traffic along the scenic shoreline route began moving again at 8 a.m....
New York attorney general tells hospitals to continue transgender care after Trump’s executive order
NEW YORK — New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday told hospitals that they would be violating state law if they stop offering gender-affirming care for people under age 19 in response to an executive order from President Donald Trump aimed at curtailing federal funding for such treatments. In...
Justice Department rescinds stop-work order for programs that provide guidance in immigration courts
Two days after nonprofit groups sued the federal government over a stop-work order targeting programs that provide information and guidance to people facing deportation, the U.S. Justice Department reversed course and ordered that funding to the programs be restored. The four federally funded programs educate people in immigration courts and...
Wall Street swerves lower after Trump announces tariffs and then puts some on hold
NEW YORK — Wall Street swung between sharp and more modest losses on Monday as stock markets worldwide sank on concerns President Donald Trump’s tariffs may ignite a punishing trade war. The S&P 500 was down 0.9% in afternoon trading after Asian and European indexes logged worse drops. The Dow...
Auburn, Duke remain 1-2 atop latest AP Top 25; Maryland jumps in for 1st time since 2023
Auburn and Duke remain 1-2 atop The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for the third straight week, while Maryland is back in the rankings for the first time in nearly two years. Bruce Pearl’s Tigers (20-1) held the No. 1 ranking for the fourth consecutive week in...
Southern Cal drops to No. 7 after loss; UCLA, South Carolina, Notre Dame remain atop women’s Top 25
Southern Cal’s second loss of the season dropped the Trojans to seventh in The Associated Press Top 25 women’s basketball poll Monday. The previously No. 4 Trojans were shocked in Iowa when the Hawkeyes beat them 76-69 Sunday on a day Caitlin Clark’s jersey was retired. USC’s only other loss...
Cleveland Browns star Myles Garrett requests to be traded so he can have chance at Super Bowl
CLEVELAND — Star defensive end Myles Garrett has requested a trade from the Cleveland Browns with the hope of better positioning himself to win a Super Bowl, according to a statement he sent to media outlets Monday. The Browns finished last in the AFC North with a 3-14 record, and...
What is USAID? Explaining the U.S. foreign aid agency and why Trump and Musk want to end it
WASHINGTON — Dozens of senior officials put on leave. Thousands of contractors laid off. A freeze put on billions of dollars in humanitarian assistance to other countries. Over the past two weeks, President Donald Trump’s administration has made significant changes to the U.S. agency charged with delivering humanitarian assistance overseas...
