Associated Press stories, Page 1339
Number of Ukraine refugees passes worst-case U.N. estimate
MEDYKA, Poland — The number of people who have fled Ukraine since Russian troops invaded has surpassed 4 million, the United Nations reported Wednesday as shelling continued in places where Moscow had vowed to ease its military operations. “I do not know if we can still believe the Russians,” refugee...
FIFA, Qatar prepare for unprecedented World Cup finals draw
DOHA, Qatar — A World Cup like no other in its 92-year history will take shape this week at an unprecedented tournament draw. When FIFA and host nation Qatar stage the draw ceremony show Friday, three of the 32 entries will be placeholders because the three-year qualifying program was delayed...
California governor rejects parole for Manson family member
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — California Gov. Gavin Newsom on Tuesday blocked parole for Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten, reversing a panel’s recommendation that she be freed after spending a half-century in prison. Van Houten, 72, “currently poses an unreasonable danger to society if released from prison at this time,” Newsom...
‘The Flash’ actor Ezra Miller arrested at Hawaii karaoke bar
HONOLULU — An actor known for playing “The Flash” in “Justice League” films was arrested at a Hawaii karaoke bar, where police say Ezra Miller yelled obscenities, grabbed a mic from a singing woman and lunged at a man playing darts. Miller took issue late Sunday with people singing the...
Into the wild: Animals the latest frontier in covid fight
GRAND PORTAGE, Minn. — To administer this covid test, Todd Kautz had to lay on his belly in the snow and worm his upper body into the narrow den of a hibernating black bear. Training a light on its snout, Kautz carefully slipped a long cotton swab into the bear’s...
What the law says about presidential records
WASHINGTON — Revelations of a roughly eight-hour gap in official records of then-President Donald Trump’s phone calls on the day of last year’s insurrection at the U.S. Capitol are raising fresh questions about the diligence — or lack thereof — of his record keeping. The committee investigating the Jan. 6,...
GOP’s Senate campaign chief won’t back down from party fight
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Rick Scott likes to think of himself as Gen. Ulysses S. Grant during the Civil War. Barely halfway through his first Senate term, the Florida Republican is already leaning into a fight against his own party’s leadership as he navigates a delicate alliance with former President Donald...
Saints sign veteran QB Andy Dalton as possible Jameis Winston backupVideo
METAIRIE, La. — The Saints signed veteran quarterback Andy Dalton, giving New Orleans a second experienced signal-caller behind returning starter Jameis Winston. Dalton, whose signing was announced Tuesday by Saints general manager Mickey Loomis, is a former starter in Cincinnati and is now with his fourth team in four years...
Marshall, ODU, Southern Miss get OK to exit C-USA for Sun Belt
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Conference USA has agreed to allow Marshall, Old Dominion and Southern Miss to expedite their move to the Sun Belt. The resolution announced in a brief, joint statement Tuesday allows the three schools to withdraw from Conference USA by the end of the current academic year. Marshall,...
Buffalo police: 3 officers hit by gunfire during chase
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Three Buffalo police officers were hit by gunfire Tuesday after a motorist fled a traffic stop and led them on a chase through the city’s streets, firing at officers from the vehicle, authorities said. Officers shot and wounded the driver at an intersection in front of a...
Kansas heads to Final Four with 2020 still on its mindVideo
LAWRENCE, Kan. — Christian Braun’s eyes opened wide when he learned that after Kansas had beaten Miami to return to the Final Four such a raging party had broken out back in Lawrence that authorities had to shut down Massachusetts Street, the popular bar and restaurant district near campus. It...
North Carolina, Duke set for 1st NCAA Tournament meeting in Final FourVideo
CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Duke and North Carolina are taking their much-talked-about and often-debated men’s basketball rivalry on the road to a place it has never been. The neighboring schools are preparing for another first in a series filled with big-name players and intense finishes: playing each other in the...
Close to reaching World Cup, U.S. looks to avoid last-day flopVideo
SAN JOSE, Costa Rica — American soccer’s harrowing memory of the loss in Trinidad 4 1/2 years ago remains omnipresent, if no longer raw. Denied a berth in the 2018 World Cup by a 2-1 defeat to an already-eliminated opponent, U.S. players try not to think about the fact they...
Pennsylvania bill targets transgender girls in school sports
HARRISBURG — A Republican proposal to prevent transgender girls from competing in girls’ school sports passed the Pennsylvania House Education Committee on Tuesday, over Democratic opposition. The 15-9 party-line vote advanced the “Save Women’s Sports Act” bill so it can be considered by the GOP-majority chamber. It would restrict players...
Sandy Hook families reject Alex Jones settlement offer
HARTFORD, Conn. — Infowars host Alex Jones offered to pay $120,000 per plaintiff to resolve a lawsuit by relatives of Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting victims who said he defamed them by asserting the massacre never happened, according to court filings Tuesday. The offer was quickly rejected by the families....
Albany investigating men’s hoops coach Dwayne Killings
ALBANY, N.Y. — Albany coach Dwayne Killings is away from the program while the school investigates a report of a physical confrontation with a player early in the season. A release from the university said its Office of Employee Relations was made aware of the allegation in February. School officials...
Census Bureau looking at adjusting for undercounts in some numbers
The U.S. Census Bureau is going to look at ways to possibly adjust its annual population estimates to account for the undercounts of some minority groups in the 2020 census numbers, a top official at the statistical agency said Tuesday. A technical research team within the Census Bureau is looking...
Shanghai lockdown tests ‘zero-covid’ limits, shakes marketsVideo
BEIJING — Chinese authorities sought to reassure companies and jittery investors on Tuesday as a two-phase lockdown of Shanghai’s 26 million people entered its second day, casting an unusual quiet over the normally bustling center of finance, manufacturing and trade. The omicron outbreak in Shanghai is one of a series...
Poll: Americans ease up on masks, coronavirus safeguards
Many Americans have taken significant steps back from once-routine coronavirus precautions, with less than half now saying they regularly wear face masks, avoid crowds and skip nonessential travel. Americans are letting down their guard even as experts warn a new wave of covid-19 cases is coming. A new poll from...
Twins add former Pirates pitcher Chris Archer as potential rotation boostVideo
FORT MYERS, Fla. — Right-hander Chris Archer and the Minnesota Twins agreed to a $3.5 million, one-year contract Monday, a potential boost for their rotation with a two-time All-Star who is coming off an injury-ruined season. The former Pittsburgh Pirate has a $2.75 million salary, and the deal includes a...
Woods arrives at Augusta National as Masters talk mountsVideo
Tiger Woods flew to Augusta National on Tuesday, sparking even greater speculation the Masters next week could be his first time competing against the best since a car crash 14 months ago severely injured his right leg. Various plane-tracking websites showed a Gulfstream registered to Woods leaving South Florida at...
Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk dies from illness at 62
OTTAWA, Ontario — Ottawa Senators owner Eugene Melnyk has died from an illness, the team said Monday night. He was 62. The team announced Melnyk’s death with a statement from his family that mentioned “an illness he faced with determination and courage.” The statement did not explain what the illness...
FTC sues Intuit to stop ‘bait-and-switch’ TurboTax ads
The Federal Trade Commission is suing TurboTax maker Intuit, saying its ads for “free” tax filing misled consumers. Intuit says it will fight the suit. The consumer protection agency said Tuesday that millions of consumers cannot actually use the free tax-prep software option — two-thirds of tax filers in 2020....
Bills deal renews debate over public dollars for stadiums
ALBANY, N.Y. — New York looks poised to become the next place to give a huge subsidy to a professional sports arena, despite questions about whether the civic pride of having a team justifies giving so much public money to a private business. Gov. Kathy Hochul proposed a deal Monday...
Jaguars to play 1 home game annually at Wembley through 2024
The Jacksonville Jaguars have reupped their commitment to playing annually at Wembley Stadium in London. The Jaguars received formal approval Monday at the NFL owners meetings in Palm Beach, Fla., to move forward with a three-year contract to play at Wembley, a deal that gives the small-market franchise exclusivity at...
