Associated Press stories, Page 729
Dodgers, Shoei Ohtani got creative with $700M deal; both still have risk
PHOENIX — Once the initial shock wore off on the price tag of Shohei Ohtani’s record-shattering $700 million, 10-year deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers, details about the contract emerged that were nearly as stunning. A total of $680 million — 97% of the money — was deferred until 2034-43...
Latino Democrats shift from quiet concern to open opposition to Biden’s concessions in border talks
WASHINGTON — Prominent Latinos in Congress looked on quietly, at first, privately raising concerns with the Biden administration over the direction of border security talks. Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla of California was on the phone constantly with administration officials questioning why the Senate negotiations did not include any meaningful consideration...
Netanyahu says Israel is as ‘committed as ever’ to war after soldiers mistakenly killed 3 hostages
JERUSALEM — Three Israeli hostages who were mistakenly shot by Israeli troops in the Gaza Strip had been waving a white flag and were shirtless when they were killed, military officials said Saturday, in Israel’s first such acknowledgement of harming any hostages in its war against Hamas. Prime Minister Benjamin...
Tiger Woods and son settle for nice family affair at PNC Championship
ORLANDO, Fla. — Tiger Woods never has had a family outing quite like the PNC Championship on Saturday, even in the rain. He was competing with his 14-year-old son, Charlie, and his 16-year-old daughter, Sam, on the bag as caddie for the first time. The only thing missing were enough...
Tee Higgins’ savvy play, Evan McPherson’s field goal lift Bengals
CINCINNATI — Tee Higgins made a savvy goal-line move to score a touchdown and force overtime, and Evan McPherson made a 29-yard field goal to seal a 27-24 victory Saturday for Cincinnati over the Minnesota Vikings, keeping the Bengals’ playoff hopes alive without their star quarterback. Higgins caught a 21-yard...
Penn State loses to Georgia Tech in OT after controversial call
NEW YORK — Miles Kelly made two free throws with 2.1 seconds left in overtime after a controversial foul call, and Georgia Tech beat Penn State, 82-81, with a frantic finish in a Holiday Festival matchup Saturday at Madison Square Garden. On the Yellow Jackets’ last possession and down 81-80,...
Jeremy Moussa throws 3 4th-quarter TDs, Florida A&M beats Howard in Celebration Bowl
ATLANTA — Jeremy Moussa overcame a frustrating first half to throw three fourth-quarter touchdown passes, including two to Kelvin Dean Jr., powering Florida A&M’s comeback past Howard, 30-26, on Saturday in the Celebration Bowl. Florida A&M (12-1) closed the season with 11 consecutive wins. Moussa connected with Dean on scoring...
Reserves Rickey Hunt, Parker Navarro lead Ohio to victory over Georgia Southern in Myrtle Beach Bowl
CONWAY, S.C. — Freshman Rickey Hunt ran for four touchdowns and caught a fifth as Ohio overcame a host of transfer portal losses to win its fifth straight bowl game, beating Georgia Southern, 41-21, at the Myrtle Beach Bowl on Saturday. The Bobcats (10-2) forced five turnovers, four off Eagles...
With Iowa’s caucuses a month away, Trump urges voters to hand him a blowout
CORALVILLE, Iowa — Donald Trump was uncharacteristically serious when he implored an audience in eastern Iowa to carry him to a blowout in next month’s Republican caucuses. “The margin of victory is very important, it’s just very important,” Trump told about 1,000 people attending a Wednesday rally aimed at organizing...
Mayim Bialik says she’s out as a host of TV quiz show ‘Jeopardy!’
LOS ANGELES — Mayim Bialik won’t be giving answers as a host of “Jeopardy!” anymore. “The Big Bang Theory” actor posted news of her departure on Instagram on Friday. “Sony has informed me that I will no longer be hosting the syndicated version of Jeopardy!” Bialik wrote. “I am incredibly...
Arizona’s governor sending National Guard to border to help with migrant influx
PHOENIX — Arizona’s governor Friday ordered the state’s National Guard to the border with Mexico to help federal officials manage an influx of migrants. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs said she issued the executive order because “the federal government is refusing to do its job to secure our border and keep...
Tesla driver to pay $23K in restitution for 2019 crash that killed 2
LOS ANGELES — A Tesla driver will pay more than $23,000 in restitution for the deaths of two people during a 2019 car crash in a Los Angeles suburb, a decision announced the same day the automaker recalled nearly all vehicles sold in the U.S. Wednesday’s court hearing wrapped up...
Georgia teacher accused of threatening student in dispute over Israeli flag
WARNER ROBINS, Ga. — A middle school teacher in Georgia was arrested because witnesses told a sheriff’s investigator he threatened to cut off the head of a student who objected to an Israeli flag in his classroom. Benjamin Reese, a teacher at Warner Robins Middle School, was taken into custody...
Matt Carpenter acquired by Braves in multiplayer trade with Padres
SAN DIEGO — First baseman Matt Carpenter was acquired by the Atlanta Braves along with left-hander Ray Kerr and cash from the San Diego Padres on Friday for outfielder Drew Campbell. A three-time All-Star with St. Louis, the 38-year-old Carpenter revived his career with the New York Yankees in 2022...
Catcher Austin Hedges, Cleveland Guardians finalize $4 million, 1-year contract
CLEVELAND — Catcher Austin Hedges and the Cleveland Guardians finalized their $4 million, one-year contract on Friday. Hedges, who played in Cleveland from 2020-22, is solid defensively and, perhaps most importantly, he’s a clubhouse leader. The Guardians missed his presence last season and especially having him as an influence for...
NCAA, states seek to extend restraining order, letting transfer athletes play through the spring
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The NCAA and a coalition of states suing the organization asked a federal court Friday to extend a small window for multiple-transfer athletes to compete through at least the winter and spring semesters. The motion seeks to extend the 14-day temporary restraining order barring the NCAA from...
State Supreme Court hands control of Pac-12 to Oregon State, Washington State
The Washington state Supreme Court declined on Friday to review the Pac-12’s appeal of a lower court ruling that gives full control of the conference to Oregon State and Washington State, keeping in place a legal victory for the league’s two remaining schools over its 10 departing members. Last month,...
Tiger Woods and son get another crack at PNC Championship. Woods jokingly calls it the 5th major
ORLANDO, Fla. — No wonder Tiger Woods jokingly refers to the PNC Championship as the fifth major. Woods was together with 14-year-old son Charlie on Friday, their swings eerily similar and the encouraging words coming as only Woods can deliver them. They were warming up ahead of the pro-am, hitting...
Matthew Perry died from effects of drug ketamine, coroner says
LOS ANGELES — Matthew Perry died from the acute effects of the anesthetic ketamine, according to the results of an autopsy on the 54-year-old “Friends” actor released Friday. The Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner said in the autopsy report that Perry also drowned in “the heated end of...
Rangers’ Max Scherzer has back surgery, will miss start of 2024 season
ARLINGTON, Texas — Max Scherzer had surgery for a herniated disk in his lower back and will miss a significant portion of next season. The 39-year-old right-hander, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, had surgery Thursday after injections and other less evasive treatments didn’t relieve the pain. He is due...
Dozens stranded in stuck elevators as lights flicker in brief NYC power outage
NEW YORK — Lights flickered, subway service was disrupted and firefighters rescued scores of people trapped in elevators after a small explosion at an electrical facility caused a momentary power outage in New York City. The brief outage just before midnight Thursday affected most of the city, officials said. “Essentially,...
Jury awards $148 million in damages to Georgia election workers over Rudy Giuliani’s 2020 vote lies
WASHINGTON — A jury awarded $148 million in damages on Friday to two former Georgia election workers who sued Rudy Giuliani for defamation over lies he spread about them in 2020 that upended their lives with racist threats and harassment. The damages verdict follows emotional testimony from Wandrea “Shaye” Moss...
Court upholds $75,000 in fines against Alex Jones for missing Sandy Hook case deposition
HARTFORD, Conn. — A Connecticut appeals court on Friday upheld $75,000 in fines against conspiracy theorist Alex Jones for missing a deposition in the lawsuit by Sandy Hook families, which led to a $1.4 billion judgment against Jones for repeatedly calling the 2012 Newtown school shooting a hoax. The state...
Mother of 6-year-old who shot teacher in Virginia gets 2 years in prison for child neglect
NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — The mother of a 6-year-old who shot his teacher in Virginia was sentenced Friday to two years in prison for felony child neglect, nearly a year after her son used her gun to critically wound the educator. Friday’s sentencing was the second time Deja Taylor was...
Israeli military says it mistakenly killed 3 Israeli hostages in Gaza
RAMALLAH, West Bank — The Israeli military on Friday mistakenly killed three Israeli hostages during its ground operation in the Gaza Strip, military officials said. The army’s chief spokesman, Rear Adm. Daniel Hagari, said Israeli troops found the hostages and erroneously identified them as a threat. He said it was...
