Associated Press stories, Page 541
Bird flu is highly lethal to some animals, but not to others. Scientists wants to know why
NEW YORK — In the last two years, bird flu has been blamed for the deaths of millions of wild and domestic birds worldwide. It’s killed legions of seals and sea lions, wiped out mink farms, and dispatched cats, dogs, skunks, foxes and even a polar bear. But it seems...
Microsoft delays controversial AI Recall feature on new Windows computers
REDMOND, Wash. — New laptops equipped with Microsoft Windows start shipping to customers next week without a flagship feature called Recall that drew concerns about privacy and cybersecurity. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella touted the new Recall feature at a showcase event last month, describing it as a step toward artificial...
Supreme Court strikes down Trump-era ban on bump stocks, gun accessories used in 2017 massacre
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Friday struck down a Trump-era ban on bump stocks, the rapid-fire gun accessories used in the deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, in a ruling that threw firearms back into the nation’s political spotlight. The high court’s conservative majority found that the Trump...
Illinois is hit with cicada chaos. This is what it’s like to see, hear and feel billions of bugs
RIVERWOODS, Ill. — The ground had seemed to undulate at night, alive with bugs. Crawling cicada nymphs, striving to get higher after 17 years underground, marched en masse toward and up trees, pausing to shed their skin and emerge as adults. And then the fun began. Cicada chaos is flourishing...
How do cicadas make their signature sound, so eerie and amazingly loud?
WHEATON, Ill. — The most noticeable part of the cicada invasion blanketing the central United States is the sound — an eerie, amazingly loud song that gets in a person’s ears and won’t let much else in. “It’s beautiful chaos,” said Rebecca Schmidt, a U.S. Department of Agriculture research entomologist....
Ready to renew your U.S. passport? You can now apply online
WASHINGTON — There’s an easier way to renew your passport — online. The State Department has opened a trial run allowing a limited number of people to apply for their updated travel documents with a few clicks. You can’t just start anytime — windows will open at midday Eastern time...
Make mine medium-rare: Men really do eat more meat than women, study says
CHICAGO — Vacationing in Chicago this week from Europe, Jelle den Burger and Nirusa Naguleswaran grabbed a bite at the Dog House Grill: a classic Italian beef sandwich for him, grilled cheese for her. Both think the way their genders lined up with their food choices was no coincidence. Women,...
Swedish officials say weak replacement parts caused a fatal roller coaster derailment last year
COPENHAGEN, Denmark — Swedish accident investigators on Friday said the country’s oldest amusement park didn’t properly test new parts for a roller coaster that derailed last year and sent some passengers plunging to the ground, killing one and injuring nine others, one seriously. The June 25 derailment at the Grona...
Putin offers truce if Ukraine exits Moscow-occupied areas and drops NATO bid — a nonstarter for Kyiv
Russian President Vladimir Putin promised Friday to “immediately” order a cease-fire in Ukraine and begin negotiations if Kyiv started withdrawing troops from the four regions annexed by Moscow in 2022 and renounced plans to join NATO. Such a deal appears a nonstarter for Kyiv, which wants to join the military...
NATO approves a plan to speed security aid and training to Ukraine’s beleaguered armed forces
BRUSSELS — NATO defense ministers on Friday approved a plan to provide reliable long-term security aid and military training for Ukraine after delays in Western deliveries of funds, arms and ammunition helped invading Russian forces to seize the initiative on the battlefield. Kyiv’s Western backers have mostly concentrated their efforts...
Pope Francis meets more than 100 comedians at the Vatican: ‘You also make God smile’
VATICAN CITY — Before flying to Italy’s southern Puglia region to meet world leaders at the Group of Seven summit, Pope Francis hosted a very different audience at the Vatican on Friday celebrating the importance of humor. The pontiff welcomed more than 100 comedians from 15 nations, including U.S. celebrities...
Celtics on brink of 18th title, can close out Mavericks in Game 4 of NBA Finals
DALLAS — It’s over. That’s what the numbers say. There will be a record-setting 18th championship for the Boston Celtics to celebrate soon, maybe very soon. They have a 3-0 lead in the NBA Finals, a lead that has never been wasted in any NBA series, ever. The stats are...
Barkov, Bobrovsky and the Panthers beat Oilers 4-3 in Game 3 to move within win of Stanley Cup titleVideo
EDMONTON, Alberta — Aleksander Barkov led the way offensively, Sergei Bobrovsky was in peak form in goal again and the Florida Panthers are on the verge of lifting the Stanley Cup. Barkov set up a goal and scored another, Bobrovsky made 32 saves to extend his run of dominance and...
Ludvig Aberg at 4-under, seeks to become first rookie to win U.S. Open since 1913
PINEHURST, N.C. — Seemingly unflappable and definitely in contention, Ludvig Aberg’s U.S. Open debut couldn’t have gone much better. And if the 24-year-old Swede can maintain his ball-striking ability over the next 54 holes, he has a chance to become the first rookie to win the tournament in more than...
Scottie Scheffler opens U.S. Open with 71, leaving him with ground to make up
PINEHURST, N.C. — Scottie Scheffler spent his opening round at the U.S. Open in a strange situation. He was over par. The world’s top-ranked player had played 21 holes all season when he was over par for a tournament, yet that’s where Scheffler found himself after a bogey at the...
Trump refers to Milwaukee as ‘horrible’ just before the city hosts the Republican conventionVideo
MADISON, Wis. — Former President Donald Trump used the word “horrible” in talking about Milwaukee — the city where he will accept the Republican nomination next month — during a closed-door meeting Thursday with GOP congressmen, according to several people in the room who spoke afterward. The comment, first reported...
Mt. Lebanon’s Neal Shipley puts off turning pro, shoots even-par 70 at U.S. Open
PINEHURST, N.C. — Mt. Lebanon native Neal Shipley finished his college career at Ohio State and is ready to take the next step. Just not right now. He was exempt to the U.S. Open as the runner-up in the U.S. Amateur last summer. But unlike the winner, Nick Dunlap, Shipley...
Rory McIlroy showing major form with bogey-free 65 to share U.S. Open lead
PINEHURST, N.C. — Rory McIlroy had his first bogey-free round in a major since his last time winning one 10 years ago, a 5-under-par 65 that gave him a share of the lead with nemesis Patrick Cantlay on Thursday in the U.S. Open. McIlroy had one of two clean cards,...
QB Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars agree to 5-year, $275M contract extension
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Trevor Lawrence and the Jacksonville Jaguars agreed Thursday to a five-year, $275 million contract extension that makes him one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in NFL history, according to multiple reports. Lawrence’s deal includes $200 million guaranteed and a $37.5 million signing bonus. Lawrence will get an average...
Virginia, Tennessee, Florida expect experience from ’23 College World Series to provide an edge
OMAHA, Neb. — The game’s the same. It’s what happens away from the field and how players deal with it that can affect how long a team sticks around at the College World Series. The CWS opens Friday with North Carolina (47-14) playing Virginia (46-15), and Florida State (47-15) facing...
Justice Clarence Thomas took more trips paid for by donor Harlan Crow, Senate panel revealsVideo
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin says his committee has uncovered at least three additional trips given to Justice Clarence Thomas by GOP megadonor Harlan Crow as part of the panel’s ethics investigation into the Supreme Court. Durbin, D-Ill., said Thursday the committee obtained information from Crow that Thomas took...
Dan Hurley says he belongs at UConn after turning down ‘obviously tempting’ offer from LakersVideo
STORRS, Conn. — Dan Hurley considered the opportunity to try to lead UConn to a third consecutive national title or the chance to become coach of one of the NBA’s most storied franchises and asked himself one question. “Where do you belong?” Hurley said Thursday at UConn’s basketball headquarters. The...
Tropical rainstorms in South Florida lead to flight delays and streets jammed with stalled carsVideo
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A tropical disturbance that brought a rare flash flood emergency to much of southern Florida delayed flights at two of the state’s largest airports and left vehicles waterlogged and stalled in some of the region’s lowest-lying streets. “Looked like the beginning of a zombie movie,” said...
Panthers downplay their travel delay and late arrival in Edmonton during the Stanley Cup FinalVideo
EDMONTON, Alberta — The Florida Panthers’ decision to spend more time at home and wait an extra day to travel from one corner of the continent to the other during the Stanley Cup Final became the talk of the series when their flight Wednesday got delayed by severe storms in...
President Biden says he won’t offer commutation to his son Hunter after gun sentenceVideo
FASANO, Italy — President Joe Biden said Thursday that he will not use his presidential powers to lessen the eventual sentence that his son Hunter will receive for his federal felony conviction on gun crimes. Biden, following the conclusion of a news conference held at the Group of Seven summit...
