Associated Press stories, Page 764
Democratic West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin won’t seek reelection, giving GOP a key pickup opportunityVideo
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia announced Thursday that he won’t seek reelection in 2024, giving Republicans a prime opportunity to pick up a seat in the heavily GOP state. Manchin, 76, said in a statement that he had made the decision “after months of deliberation...
From Hollywood to auto work, organized labor is flexing its muscles. Where do unions stand today?
NEW YORK — Once again, U.S. labor unions are flexing their muscles in the national spotlight. In Hollywood, the actors union reached a tentative deal with major studios late Wednesday to end a months-long strike. Las Vegas hotel workers also scored breakthough agreements with Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International...
The man accused of attacking Nancy Pelosi’s husband was caught up in conspiracies, defense says
SAN FRANCISCO — The man accused of bludgeoning former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer was caught up in conspiracies when he broke into her San Francisco home last year, his defense attorney said at his trial opened Thursday. The attack on then-82-year-old Paul Pelosi in the early...
Can Michigan activists keep Trump off the ballot? A judge heard arguments today
A judge in Michigan heard arguments Thursday on whether Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has the authority to keep Donald Trump’s name off state ballots for president. Activists sued Benson in the Michigan Court of Claims to force her to keep Trump’s name off ballots and to assess Trump’s constitutional...
Review: The Hunger Games return in ‘The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes,’ with the odds in its favorVideo
Two hours and 37 minutes is pretty long for a “ballad,” but you can’t call it “The Hunger Games: The Three-Cycle Opera of Songbirds and Snakes” now, can you? Concision was never much in favor in the four “Hunger Games” films, which reached a seeming finale with 2015’s “The Hunger...
Hollywood’s strikes are both now over as actors reach deal with studios, return to work with writers
LOS ANGELES — On Thursday, for the first time in more than six months, neither Hollywood’s actors nor its writers will be on strike. The long-awaited clearing in the industry’s stormiest season in decades comes as a deal was reached late Wednesday to end what was, at nearly four months,...
Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial will go on after lawyers seek early verdict ending case
NEW YORK — Donald Trump’s lawyers were thwarted Thursday in their longshot bid to immediately end the New York civil fraud trial that threatens the former president’s real estate empire. Judge Arthur Engoron didn’t rule on the request, but indicated the trial will go on as scheduled Monday with Donald...
Israel agrees to 4-hour daily pauses in Gaza fighting to allow civilians to flee, White House says
WASHINGTON — The White House said Israel has agreed to put in place four-hour daily humanitarian pauses in its assault on Hamas in northern Gaza starting on Thursday, as the Biden administration said it has secured a second pathway for civilians to flee fighting. President Joe Biden had asked Israeli...
Census Bureau sees an older, more diverse America in 2100 in 3 immigration scenarios
By the end of the century, the U.S. population will be declining without substantial immigration, older adults will outnumber children and white, non- Hispanic, residents will account for less than 50% of the population, according to projections released Thursday by the U.S. Census Bureau. The population projections offer a glimpse...
Man receives the first eye transplant plus a new face
NEW YORK — Surgeons have performed the world’s first transplant of an entire human eye, an extraordinary addition to a face transplant — although it’s far too soon to know if the man will ever see through his new left eye. An accident with high-voltage power lines had destroyed most...
The designated hitter hasn’t always lived up to its title after 2 full MLB seasons in both leagues
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The universal designated hitter has been part of Major League Baseball for two full seasons and, much to the chagrin of some National League traditionalists, the sport has survived and even thrived. In a somewhat surprising development, though, many teams are struggling to get much production from...
National Zoo’s giant pandas fly home amid uncertainty about future panda exchanges
WASHINGTON — The day that panda lovers have been dreading has finally come. The National Zoo’s three giant pandas, Mei Xiang, Tian Tian and their cub Xiao Qi Ji. on Wednesday began their long trip to China, leaving behind an empty panda exhibit with no certainty that pandas ever would...
Minnesota Supreme Court dismisses ‘insurrection clause’ challenge and allows Trump on primary ballot
MINNEAPOLIS — Former President Donald Trump will stay on the Minnesota primary ballot after the state supreme court on Wednesday dismissed a lawsuit seeking end his candidacy under a rarely-used constitutional provision that forbids those who “engaged in insurrection” from holding office. The Minnesota Supreme Court declined to become the...
Israeli strikes pound Gaza City, which tens of thousands have fled in recent days
KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip — Israeli strikes pounded Gaza City overnight into Thursday as ground forces battled Hamas militants in dense urban neighborhoods from which tens of thousands have fled in recent days. Israeli troops were around 3 kilometers (2 miles) from Shifa Hospital in the heart of downtown, the...
Lainey Wilson wins 5 CMA Awards including entertainer of the year, album of the year
Lainey Wilson took home five trophies including entertainer of the year Wednesday night at the Country Music Association Awards. The 31-year-old Louisiana singer was the undisputed star of the night at Nashville’s Bridgestone Arena, where she also was named female vocalist of the year, won album of the year for...
Robert Saleh: There’s no ‘conspiracy theory’ in Jets’ decision to stick with Zach Wilson at QB
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Zach Wilson appeared on the verge of taking the major step for which so many around the New York Jets — and their frustrated fans — have been waiting. The third-year quarterback outplayed Patrick Mahomes in a 23-20 loss to Kansas City in front of a...
8 dead in crash after police chased a suspected human smuggler, Texas officials say
AUSTIN, Texas — Eight people died Wednesday when the driver of a car suspected of carrying smuggled migrants fled police and smashed into an oncoming vehicle on a South Texas highway. The crash happened around 6:30 a.m. when the driver of a 2009 Honda Civic tried to outrun deputies from...
Clash of NFL’s top 2 defenses when Browns, Ravens meet in key AFC North matchupVideo
BEREA, Ohio — Deshaun Watson’s most recent view of Baltimore’s stingy, snarling defense came from the safety of Cleveland’s sideline. This week, he’ll be in harm’s way. Watson, who returned last week after missing four games — including a 28-3 loss to the Ravens on Oct. 1 — with a...
Shohei Ohtani free agency sweepstakes off to a clandestine start
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — The race to add two-way baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani in a blockbuster free agency deal is off to a clandestine start. “Special player, that’s all I’ll say,” said Chris Young, general manager of the World Series champion Texas Rangers. “We’re going to be interested in looking at...
Michigan responds to Big Ten, saying commissioner doesn’t have discipline authorityVideo
ANN ARBOR, Mich. — The University of Michigan warned Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti about overstepping his authority and rushing to judgment, insisting Wednesday he cannot discipline coach Jim Harbaugh under the conference’s sportsmanship policy for an alleged sign-stealing scheme that has rocked college football. Parts of the blistering 10-page...
GOP presidential candidates unified on Israel but divided on China as they debate without TrumpVideo
MIAMI — In their first debate since the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war, the Republican presidential candidates all declared hawkish support for Israel but squabbled over China and Ukraine as they faced growing pressure to try to catch Donald Trump — who was again absent. At center stage were Ron...
Angels hire Ron Washington as manager to replace Phil Nevin
ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels hired Ron Washington to be their new manager Wednesday, turning to a veteran baseball mind in an attempt to end nearly a decade of losing. The 71-year-old Washington became the majors’ oldest current manager and only the second active Black manager, joining the...
U.S. launches airstrike on Syrian site in response to attacks by Iranian-backed militias
WASHINGTON — The U.S. launched an airstrike on a facility in eastern Syria used by Iranian-backed militias, in retaliation for what has been a growing number of attacks on bases housing U.S. troops in the region for the past several weeks, the Pentagon said. Wednesday’s strike by two U.S. F-15...
Vikings designate WR Justin Jefferson for return from IR
EAGAN, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings designated wide receiver Justin Jefferson for return from injured reserve Wednesday, bringing the 2022 NFL Offensive Player of the Year back to practice with three weeks to assess the readiness of his strained right hamstring for game action. Jefferson’s four-week minimum on IR ended...
Timika Lane wins court seat, as Pennsylvania Democrats sweep 4 statewide judicial races
HARRISBURG — Democrat Timika Lane won a seat on a statewide appellate court in Pennsylvania, giving Democrats a sweep of four statewide judicial races in Tuesday’s election, including an open seat on the state’s highest court. Vote-counting continued into Wednesday and put Lane, a Philadelphia Common Pleas Court judge, over...
