Associated Press stories, Page 356
Syrians cheer end of 50 years of Assad rule at first Friday prayers since government fell
DAMASCUS — Exuberant Syrians observed the first Friday prayers since the ouster of President Bashar Assad, gathering in the capital’s historic main mosque, its largest square and around the country to celebrate the end of half a century of authoritarian rule. The newly installed interim prime minister delivered the sermon...
Miami Dolphins release veteran receiver Odell Beckham Jr.Video
MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — The Miami Dolphins released wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. on Friday, ending the former Pro Bowler’s short tenure with the team. Beckham had missed the past two days of practice for what the team called personal reasons. Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel indicated Friday that the decision...
Analysis: Win or lose at UNC, Bill Belichick’s NFL legacy is cemented
Bill Belichick didn’t wait around for a call that he might not get from an NFL team. With no guarantees that another opportunity might come his way — only the Atlanta Falcons interviewed Belichick last offseason — and unsure whether he could find the right fit in the NFL, the...
Yankees get closer Devin Williams from Brewers for Nestor Cortes, Caleb DurbinVideo
NEW YORK — After acquiring Juan Soto for a one-year rental and failing to keep him as a free agent, the New York Yankees are taking the same chance with Devin Williams. New York acquired the All-Star closer from the Milwaukee Brewers for left-hander Nestor Cortes and infield prospect Caleb...
New West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez says leaving for Michigan 17 years ago was a ‘mistake’Video
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — New West Virginia coach Rich Rodriguez admitted Friday he made a mistake by leaving West Virginia for Michigan 17 years ago. Based on the welcome he got from the thousands of fans who attended his introductory news conference Friday, much seemed to be forgiven, except for one...
Feds propose protection for giant salamanders devastated by Hurricane Helene
You never forget your first time seeing a giant salamander, according to Andy Hill. He was a teenager, standing thigh-high in the Watauga River outside Boone, North Carolina, casting a line on an early fall day when he saw his first eastern hellbender. The salamander stretched 2 feet long and...
Cubs acquiring All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker in trade with the Astros, AP source saysVideo
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs are acquiring All-Star outfielder Kyle Tucker in a trade with the Houston Astros, paying a big price for one of baseball’s best hitters, a person familiar with the situation said. The person spoke to the Associated Press on Friday on condition of anonymity because the...
Texas sues New York doctor for prescribing abortion pills by telemedicine
Texas has sued a New York doctor for prescribing abortion pills to a Texas woman via telemedicine. The lawsuit was filed in Collin County, Texas, by the state’s Attorney General Ken Paxton on Thursday and announced Friday. It appears to be the first challenge anywhere in the U.S. to a...
Musk says U.S. is demanding he pay penalty over disclosures of his Twitter stock purchases
DETROIT — Elon Musk says the Securities and Exchange Commission wants him to pay a penalty or face charges involving what he disclosed — or failed to disclose — about his purchases of Twitter stock before he bought the social media platform in 2022. In a letter posted by Musk...
Nancy Pelosi hospitalized after she ‘sustained an injury’ on official trip to Luxembourg
WASHINGTON — Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has been hospitalized after she “sustained an injury” during an official engagement in Luxembourg, according to a spokesman. Pelosi, 84, was in Europe to mark the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Her spokesman, Ian Krager, said...
Woman who falsely accused Duke lacrosse players of rape in 2006 publicly admits she lied
RALEIGH, N.C. — The woman who in 2006 falsely accused three Duke University lacrosse players of raping her — making national headlines that stirred tensions about race, class and the privilege of college athletes — has admitted publicly for the first time that she made up the story. Crystal Mangum,...
Canadian government asks labor board to intervene in Canada Post strike as Christmas nears
OTTAWA, Ontario — Canada’s labor minister announced Friday he is asking the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order about 55,000 striking Canada Post employees back to work after a four week work stoppage that disrupted mail service during the busy holiday season. Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon said if the board...
Bank groups sue the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over a proposed cap on overdraft fees
Some banks and banking trade groups are suing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over a finalized rule that limits overdraft fees banks can charge. The rule is part of President Joe Biden administration’s campaign to reduce junk fees that hit consumers on everyday purchases, including banking services. But banks argue...
U.S. and allies mark the 80th anniversary of WWII Battle of the Bulge
BASTOGNE, Belgium — The United States, its European allies and a dwindling number of veterans will mark on Friday the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge, one of the most important and deadly battles in World War II which stopped Adolf Hitler’s last-ditch offensive and opened the way...
U.S. Olympic and Paralympic officials put coach on leave after AP reports sexual abuse allegations
The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee placed an employee on administrative leave Thursday after the Associated Press reported that one of its coaches was accused of sexually abusing a young biathlete, causing her so much distress that she attempted suicide. Rocky Harris, USOPC chief of sport and athlete services, sent...
Bird strike disables jetliner engine, forces emergency landing at JFK airport
NEW YORK — A bird strike involving an American Airlines jetliner disabled one of the plane’s two engines shortly after takeoff from New York’s LaGuardia Airport, forcing the flight to turn around and land at John F. Kennedy International Airport, authorities said Friday. No one was injured in the incident...
Back trouble and brain fog bothered suspect in UnitedHealthcare CEO killing, his posts show
After Luigi Mangione made the difficult decision to undergo spinal surgery last year for chronic back pain, he became a proponent of the procedure that changed his life for the better. He repeatedly posted on Reddit about his recovery and offered words of encouragement for people with similar conditions, telling...
Some in seafood industry see Trump as fishermen’s friend, but tariffs could make for pricier fish
PORTLAND, Maine — The incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump is likely to bring big changes for one of the oldest sectors of the U.S. economy — seafood — and some in the industry believe the returning president will be more responsive to its needs. Economic analysts paint a more...
A nonprofit leader, a social worker: Here are the stories of the people on Biden’s clemency list
A nonprofit leader who supports at-risk New Orleans youth. A social worker who fosters animals. A counselor and recovery coach who volunteers at organizations that fight sexual assault and domestic violence. They are among the roughly 1,540 people whose sentences were commuted or who were pardoned by President Joe Biden...
Rams get 4 field goals to beat 49ers 12-6 in sloppy gameVideo
SANTA CLARA, Calif. — Joshua Karty kicked four field goals, and the Los Angeles Rams survived a slugfest a week after winning a shootout, beating the San Francisco 49ers, 12-6, on Thursday night in a key game in the NFC West race. Four days after beating Josh Allen and Buffalo,...
Rested Ravens big favorite over struggling Giants, who are mired in 8-game losing streakVideo
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. — The Baltimore Ravens are doing their best to avoid all the speculation that their game against the struggling New York Giants is going to be a blowout. The Ravens (8-5) are coming off a bye week and are heading to New Jersey to face the Giants...
UNLV hires former Florida, Mississippi State head coach Dan MullenVideo
LAS VEGAS — UNLV is reaching into the SEC to keep momentum going for its 24th-ranked football team, hiring former Florida and Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen on Thursday. He will be introduced in a news conference Friday morning. UNLV athletic director Erick Harper, in a news release, called Mullen...
Juan Soto introduced by Mets at Citi Field after striking record $765 million, 15-year dealVideo
NEW YORK — The New York Mets wanted Juan Soto to know his future with them could be set in stone. When the free agent outfielder traveled to owner Steve Cohen’s house in Beverly Hills, Calif., for a presentation last month, the team showed a video that included an image...
Colorado’s Travis Hunter piles up awards; Indiana’s Curt Cignetti named coach of the yearVideo
BOULDER, Colo. — Travis Hunter is a throwback-type player — an elite receiver one moment, a lockdown cornerback the next — who rarely leaves the field and has a knack for making big plays all over it. The Colorado Buffaloes’ two-way standout even celebrates at an elite level, unveiling imaginative...
American who says he crossed into Syria on foot is free after 7 months in detentionVideo
DAMASCUS, Syria — An American who turned up in Syria on Thursday said he was detained after crossing into the country on foot seven months ago on a Christian pilgrimage. Travis Timmerman appears to have been among thousands of people released from the country’s notorious prisons after rebels reached Damascus...
