Author: Associated Press

All-female ensemble set for broadcast of NBA game on ESPN

On the court, it will be the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans Pelicans. Taking center stage, an all-female ensemble that will produce the broadcast. FILE - Malika Andrews speaks during an NBA basketball game between the…

Oldest reference to Norse god Odin found in Danish treasure

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Scandinavian scientists said Wednesday that they have identified the oldest-known inscription referencing the Norse god Odin on part of a gold disc unearthed in western Denmark in 2020. Photo from the National…

Tyre Nichols probe: 7 from Memphis police fired, 1 retired

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A seventh Memphis Police Department employee has been fired for his role in the fatal arrest of Tyre Nichols, while an eighth police employee retired before it was recommended he lose his job for his part in…

How passengers teamed up to restrain man on chaotic flight

BOSTON (AP) — A passenger who helped restrain a threatening man on a weekend flight from Los Angeles to Boston said Tuesday that the entire chaotic episode was over within seconds thanks to teamwork. This booking photo provided…

Coming soon: Reese’s Cups, chocolate bars made from plants

Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups are getting the vegan treatment. The Hershey Co. said Tuesday that Reese’s Plant Based Peanut Butter Cups, which go on sale this month, will be its first vegan chocolates sold nationally. A second plant-based offering, Hershey’s…

2 kidnapped Americans found dead in Mexico, 2 others alive

MEXICO CITY (AP) — A Mexican official says two U.S. citizens missing since their violent abduction Friday in the northern Mexican border city of Matamoros have been found dead and two others were alive. Tamaulipas Gov. Américo Villarreal said Tuesday…

Father of Nashville Waffle House shooter gets 18 months

PEKIN, Ill. (AP) — An Illinois man has received an 18-month prison sentence after being convicted of illegally giving his son an assault-style rifle he later used in a 2018 shooting attack that killed four people at a Waffle House…

Biden will seek Medicare changes, up tax rate in new budget

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has started to unveil parts of his budget proposal being released later this week. The Democratic president is beginning with his plan for Medicare, including higher taxes on wealthy people to increase funding for…

Judy Heumann, disability rights activist, dies at age 75

By Brian P. D. Hannon and Heather Hollingsworth - Associated Press Judy Heumann, a renowned activist who helped secure legislation protecting the rights of disabled people, has died at age 75. News of her death Saturday in Washington, D.C., was…

A box office K.O.: ‘Creed III’ debuts to $58.7 million

By Lindsey Bahr - AP Film Writer "Creed III" punched above its weight at the domestic box office in its first weekend in theaters. The MGM release knocked "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania" out of first place and far surpassed…

Death row inmate who acted as own attorney seeks new trial

By Travis Loller - Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee man on death row who was forced to act as his own lawyer is seeking a new trial, claiming multiple violations of his constitutional rights. Howard Willis was…

Nations reach accord to protect marine life on high seas

By Christina Larson and Patrick Whittle - Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — For the first time, United Nations members have agreed on a unified treaty to protect biodiversity in the high seas - representing a turning point for vast stretches…

UT Chattanooga program aims to lessen nursing shortage

By CARMEN NESBIT, Times Free Press undefined CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — As the county and nation suffer from a nursing shortage, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga is launching an accelerated nursing degree program to get more nurses in the…

Grizzlies’ Clarke out indefinitely with torn Achilles

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Memphis Grizzlies forward Brandon Clarke tore his left Achilles tendon and will be out indefinitely, the team announced Saturday. Clarke was injured Friday night late in the first quarter of the Grizzlies' 113-97 loss to the…

Chase Elliott out of NASCAR indefinitely after tibia surgery

By Mark Anderson - AP Sports Writer LAS VEGAS (AP) — Chase Elliott is out indefinitely after undergoing a successful three-hour surgery to repair a fractured tibia, Hendrick Motorsports general manager Jeff Andrews said Saturday. Andrews said there was no…

Judge in Young Thug trial orders probe of leaked evidence

ATLANTA (AP) — The judge overseeing the racketeering and gang case against Atlanta rapper Young Thug and others has ordered an investigation into the leak of a video that shows a state's witness offering information in exchange for leniency. Jury…

Chris Rock to finally have his say in new stand-up special

By Jake Coyle - AP Film Writer A year after Will Smith smacked him on the Academy Awards stage, Chris Rock is poised to finally have his say. The 58-year-old comedian on Saturday night will perform his first stand-up special…

New Easter Island statue found in volcanic crater’s dry lake

SANTIAGO, Chile (AP) — Researchers have found a new moai (MOH'-eye) statue in a dry lake on the Chilean island of Rapa Nui, joining the approximately 1,000 other iconic monolithic sculptures on what is internationally known as Easter Island. The…

First evidence for horseback riding dates back 5,000 years

By Christina Larson - AP Science Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — Archaeologists have found the earliest direct evidence for horseback riding – an innovation that would transform history – in 5,000 year old human skeletons in central Europe. "When you get…

Tom Sizemore, ‘Saving Private Ryan’ actor, dies at 61

By The Associated Press undefined BURBANK, Calif. (AP) — Tom Sizemore, the "Saving Private Ryan" actor whose bright 1990s star burned out under the weight of his own domestic violence and drug convictions, died Friday at age 61. The actor…

Can’t take statins? New pill cuts cholesterol, heart attacks

By Lauran Neergaard - AP Medical Writer In a major study, a new kind of cholesterol-lowering drug helped people who can't take the first choice, pills called statins. Researchers tested the drug Nexletol in those hard-to-treat people and found it…

Paid express lanes grow more popular in once-reluctant South

By JEFF McMURRAY Associated Press Southern states are more frequently turning to pay-to-use express lanes as a way to address highway congestion without raising taxes. Republican Gov. Bill Lee wants to consider them in Tennessee, one of 14 states without…

New TN aquarium exhibit showcases Appalachian aquatic life

By Emily Crisman, Times Free Press undefined CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (AP) — About two years ago Jeff Worley's ideas for a new Tennessee Aquarium exhibit existed only in his mind. Worley, the Tennessee Aquarium's senior manager of exhibit services, turned those…

Alex Murdaugh gets life in prison in murder of wife, son

WALTERBORO, S.C. (AP) — A judge has sentenced South Carolina attorney Alex Murdaugh to life in prison a day after he was convicted of murder in the shooting deaths of his wife and son. The sentence issued Friday carries no…

Tennessee GOP lawmaker apologizes over ‘hanging’ comment

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A Tennessee Republican lawmaker on Thursday apologized after asking earlier this week if “hanging by a tree” could be added to the state's execution methods, a comment that has shocked Black lawmakers who point to the…

Kremlin accuses Ukrainian saboteurs of attack inside Russia

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The Kremlin on Thursday accused Ukrainian saboteurs of crossing into western Russia and firing on villagers. Ukraine denied the claim and warned that Moscow could use the allegations to justify stepping up its own attacks in…

Documents detail EMTs’ failure to aid Tyre Nichols

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Two Memphis Fire Department emergency medical technicians who were fired and had their licenses suspended for failing to give aid to Tyre Nichols for 19 minutes while he struggled with injuries from being brutally beaten by police, did…

Tennessee measure restricting drag shows heads to governor

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee lawmakers have advanced legislation on certain drag shows on public property or at private establishments where children could attend. Republican Gov. Bill Lee is expected to sign the change into law. He has brushed off…

Tennessee pushes to define ‘sex,’ could risk federal funding

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee Republican lawmakers on Wednesday advanced legislation that would prevent transgender people from changing their driver's licenses and birth certificates, a move that officials warn could cost the state millions in federal funding. “In my view,…

Tennessee officers’ conduct probed in woman’s death

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Four Tennessee police officers are being investigated for their treatment of a woman whose pleas for help they repeatedly ignored as they accused her of faking illness after she was discharged from a hospital. The woman…

Why the pronouns used for God matter

(THE CONVERSATION) The Church of England is considering what language and pronouns should be used to refer to God. The church’s General Synod has, however, clarified that it will not abolish or substantially revise any of the currently authorized liturgies. Nonetheless, this news made…

Tenn. governor vows to sign anti-drag bill as photo surfaces

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Republican Gov. Bill Lee says it would be “ridiculous” to conflate a recently surfaced yearbook photo of him wearing women's clothing in high school to drag show performances currently under attack in Tennessee and other GOP-led…

Tennessee GOP congressman was ‘mistaken’ on college degree

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee U.S. Rep. Andy Ogles says he was “mistaken” when he said he graduated with an international relations degree after a local news outlet raised questions over whether the Republican had embellished his education. Ogles said…

Why TikTok is being banned for some government employees

(AP) -- The White House is giving U.S. federal agencies 30 days to delete popular Chinese-owned social media app TikTok from all government-issued mobile devices amid growing concerns about security. Canada announced a similar ban. Congress, the White House itself…

Tennessee family killed in fire caused by space heater

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Four people died and one person was injured early Tuesday in a house fire in Memphis, authorities said. Firefighters responded to the one-story home around 2 a.m., Memphis Fire Department spokeswoman Qwanesha Ward said in a…

Lawmakers: Tennessee AG has legal concerns over abortion ban

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Lawmakers say Tennessee's top legal chief has voiced concerns about the legality of the state's abortion law, adding an extra layer of urgency among some Republicans to insert exemptions into one of the strictest bans in the country. [caption id="attachment_1352947"…

‘Take It Down:’ a tool for teens to remove explicit images

(AP) -- “Once you send that photo, you can’t take it back,” goes the warning to teenagers, often ignoring the reality that many teens send explicit images of themselves under duress, or without understanding the consequences. A new online tool…

2023 US recession now expected to start later than predicted

WASHINGTON (AP) — A majority of the nation’s business economists expect a U.S. recession to begin later this year than they had previously forecast, after a series of reports have pointed to a surprisingly resilient economy despite steadily higher interest…

Trans people face ‘horrifying’ rhetoric at statehouses

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — A Little Rock pharmacist's testimony before a legislative committee about gender affirming care for minors resulted in an Arkansas lawmaker asking about her genitalia. The exchange highlights the type of hostile rhetoric that transgender people…

Contaminated waste shipments from Ohio derailment to resume

EAST PALESTINE, Ohio (AP) — Shipment of contaminated waste from the site of a fiery train derailment earlier this month in eastern Ohio near the Pennsylvania state line will resume Monday to two approved sites in Ohio, according to federal…

Angela Bassett, ‘Wakanda Forever’ top NAACP Image Awards

PASADENA, Calif. (AP) — Angela Bassett won entertainer of the year at Saturday's NAACP Image Awards on a night that also saw her take home an acting trophy for the television series "9-1-1." The Bassett-led Marvel superhero sequel "Black Panther:…

Bills would let transgender people seal name-change requests

By Hannah Schoebaum, Sophie Austin and Manuel Valdes - Associated Press/Report for America SEATTLE (AP) — You can change your name, but in many states you can't completely shed your old one — something that's of particular concern to transgender…

1 killed, 4 wounded in Memphis shooting

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — One person was killed and four others were wounded in a shooting Sunday at a Memphis intersection, according to police. Police were summoned to a hospital where the five injured people were taken in a personal…