Associated Press stories, Page 886
Venus Williams will begin her 24th Wimbledon appearance against Elina Svitolina
WIMBLEDON, England — Five-time Wimbledon champion Venus Williams will begin her 24th appearance at the tournament against 2019 semifinalist Elina Svitolina, while Friday’s draw put two-time titlist Andy Murray up against wild-card entry Ryan Peniston in an all-British first-round matchup. Williams, who is 43 and has played just five matches...
Judge rejects Donald Trump’s request to toss out defamation claims by columnist
NEW YORK — Former President Donald Trump’s claims that absolute presidential immunity and free speech rights shield him from the defamation claims of a New York columnist were rejected Thursday by a federal judge. The writer, E. Jean Carroll, can continue to press claims that Trump owes her at least...
Already hectic NBA offseason now poised for free agents to make movesVideo
Chris Paul already has been traded twice this offseason, ending up with Golden State. Bradley Beal is now with Phoenix, John Collins was sent to Utah, and Kristaps Porzingis is about to start anew with Boston in a deal that sent Marcus Smart to Memphis. They have new places to...
Changing their tune? Pennsylvania lawmakers consider replacing the state’s official song
HARRISBURG — Pennsylvania may soon be changing its tune. A proposal to establish a new state song got a positive vote Thursday in the House of Representatives, although there was some discord. The resolution to establish an independent commission to review the history, solicit suggestions from the public and make...
Taylor Moore, Peter Kuest lead Rocket Mortgage Classic; Dylan Wu 1 back after albatross
DETROIT — Taylor Moore and Monday qualifier Peter Kuest shot 8-under-par 64s to share the first-round lead in the Rocket Mortgage Classic on Thursday, with a slew of players chasing in what’s expected to be a shootout. Dylan Wu had the third albatross on the PGA Tour this season and...
New York City school food chief convicted in bribery case tied to tainted chicken tenders
NEW YORK — A man who oversaw food service for New York City schools was convicted Wednesday in a bribery case that picked apart how chicken tenders riddled with bone and bits of metal were served for months in the nation’s biggest public school system. Former city Department of Education...
Angels’ Mike Trout elected to 11th All-Star Game; 4 Texas players chosen to startVideo
NEW YORK — Mike Trout will see a bunch of new faces surrounding him at this year’s All-Star Game. The Los Angeles Angels center fielder was selected for his 11th appearance on Thursday, and four Texas Rangers were chosen by fans for the American League’s lineup for the July 11...
Biden’s Iran envoy placed on unpaid leave pending a review of his handling of classified documents
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration’s special envoy for Iran has been placed on unpaid leave and had his security clearance suspended pending a review of allegations he may have mishandled classified information, U.S. officials said Thursday. Rob Malley has led administration efforts to revive the faltering Iran nuclear deal and...
Flat salary cap, lack of high-profile stars dull start of NHL free agency
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Bill Guerin didn’t need to be reminded of how thin the upcoming crop of NHL free agents is regarded, or how numerous teams already have maxed out their payroll because of a salary cap that’s remained relatively flat since the covid-19 pandemic hit. What the Minnesota Wild...
Man wanted on Jan. 6 charges arrested in former President Obama’s Washington neighborhood
WASHINGTON — A man armed with explosive materials and weapons, and wanted for crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, was arrested Thursday in the Washington neighborhood where former President Barack Obama lives, law enforcement officials said. Taylor Taranto, 37, was spotted by law enforcement...
NHL draft wraps up with 11 picks for Chicago, dearth of trades ahead of free agency
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The Chicago Blackhawks acquired their latest generational talent along with a big dose of speed in one of the NHL’s largest draft hauls. They also made another big move for their future Thursday by adding veteran Corey Perry to help teach No. 1 overall pick Connor Bedard...
Former No. 1 Caroline Wozniacki returning to tennis 3 years after retiringVideo
Caroline Wozniacki, a former No. 1-ranked tennis player and the 2018 Australian Open champion, announced Thursday that she is returning to competition three years after she retired to start a family. The U.S. Tennis Association said it will grant Wozniacki a wild-card invitation to participate in the U.S. Open, which...
Michigan officer performs CPR and saves the life of 2-year-old girl whose mother had stabbed her, chief says
ALBION, Mich. — Quick action, including CPR by a Michigan police officer, saved the life of a 2-year-old girl whose mother had stabbed her and tried to drown her, a public safety chief said. Albion police Lt. Aaron Phipps broke through the door of a bathroom Saturday, pulled the girl...
J.J. Watt signs multi-year deal to be studio analyst for CBS Sports
NEW YORK — J.J. Watt has signed a multi-year deal with CBS Sports to serve as a studio analyst. The announcement was made Thursday by CBS Sports President David Berson. Watt’s first appearance will be on “The NFL Today” during Week 1 on Sept. 9. He also will be an...
Saying strike is ‘imminent,’ UPS gets a deadline from union to come up with a better contract
Frustrated by an “appalling counterproposal” earlier this week, the head of the union representing 340,000 UPS workers said a strike is imminent and gave the shipping giant a deadline on Friday to improve its offer. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters walked away from negotiations Wednesday, demanding that UPS give its...
Ex-GOP Ohio House speaker sentenced to 20 years for role in $60M bribery scheme; appeal expectedVideo
CINCINNATI — Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder was sentenced to 20 years in prison on Thursday for his role in the largest corruption scandal in state history. The 64-year-old Republican appeared before U.S. District Judge Timothy Black, who meted out the punishment, about an hour after he and his...
Pennsylvania budget agreement is elusive as fiscal-year deadline nears
HARRISBURG — Gov. Josh Shapiro and Pennsylvania’s politically divided Legislature appeared on track Thursday to start the state’s fiscal year without a spending plan in place, with closed-door talks yielding optimism from Republicans, but discontent from Democrats. For Shapiro, getting his first budget across the finish line is perhaps the...
Deputy acquitted of all charges for failing to act during deadly Parkland school shootingVideo
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — A Florida sheriff’s deputy was acquitted Thursday of felony child neglect and other charges for failing to act during the 2018 Parkland school massacre, concluding the first trial in U.S. history of a law enforcement officer for conduct during an on-campus shooting. Former Broward County Deputy...
NFL suspends 3 players indefinitely, 4th gets 6 games for violating gambling policy
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The NFL suspended three players indefinitely Thursday for violating the league’s gambling policy and a fourth was sidelined for six games. Isaiah Rodgers and Rashod Berry of the Indianapolis Colts, along with free agent Demetrius Taylor, received indefinite suspensions through at least this season for betting on...
Expect a hot, smoky American summer — and here’s why you’d better get used to it
The only break much of America can hope for anytime soon from eye-watering dangerous smoke from fire-struck Canada is brief bouts of shirt-soaking sweltering heat and humidity from a southern heat wave that has already proven deadly, forecasters say. And then the smoke will likely come back to the Midwest...
Hiroshima peace park, Pearl Harbor memorial park forge sister park deal to promote peace
TOKYO — Hiroshima and Pearl Harbor, two symbols of World War II animosity between Japan and the United States, are now promoting peace and friendship through a sister park arrangement. U.S. Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui signed a sister park agreement on Thursday for Hiroshima’s...
2024 Grammys will be held Feb. 4 in Los Angeles
LOS ANGELES — The Grammy Awards are returning to Los Angeles on the first Sunday in February. The Recording Academy announced several key dates ahead of its 66th annual show honoring the best in music. CBS will air the main ceremony starting at 8 p.m. Eastern on Feb. 4 from...
British royals’ public spending has gone up 5% in a year of historic change
LONDON — A change in monarchs, double-digit inflation and ongoing costs to renovate Buckingham Palace contributed to a 5% increase in publicly funded spending by Britain’s royals, according to accounts published Thursday. The palace’s annual Sovereign Grant report showed that net spending was up 107.5 million pounds ($135 million) in...
Supreme Court solidifies protections for workers who ask for religious accommodations
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday used the case of a Christian mailman who didn’t want to work Sundays to solidify protections for workers who ask for religious accommodations. In a unanimous decision the justices made clear that workers who ask for accommodations, such as taking the Sabbath off,...
What is Bidenomics? President embraces moniker as campaign theme
Forty years ago, we had Reaganomics. Today, we’re hearing more and more about Bidenomics, a moniker that brands President Joe Biden’s efforts to grow the economy and jobs and fight inflation. Biden is leaning into the name as an early campaign theme of his reelection bid. But what exactly is...
