Stories by Associated Press

Chicago Sky Win First WNBA Title With 80-74 Win Over Phoenix

Courtney Vandersloot added 10 points and 15 assists for the Sky, who won the series 3-1, rallying from a 72-65 deficit with 4:42 left. Chicago scored the next nine points to take a two-point lead on Stefanie Dolson’s layup. She then added another basket to make it 76-72 with 45.8 seconds left.

Rodgers Throws 2 TDs, Runs for 1 as Packers Beat Bears 24-14

The Packers (5-1) beat the Bears (3-3) for the 20th time in 23 games counting the playoffs and improved to 22-5 with Rodgers as the starter against Chicago. They also prevented Chicago from tying them for the NFC North lead.

Farmers and John Deere Suppliers Worry about Strike’s Impact

More than 10,000 Deere employees went on strike last week at 14 Deere factories in Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Colorado and Georgia after the United Auto Workers union rejected a contract offer. The longer the strike continues, the greater the impact will be on the communities around the plants.

Bill Clinton Released From Southern California Hospital

Bill Clinton was released Sunday from the Southern California hospital where he had been treated for an infection. Clinton, 75, was admitted Tuesday to the hospital southeast of Los Angeles with an infection unrelated to COVID-19, officials said.

NASA’s Asteroid Hunter Lucy Soars Into Sky With Diamonds

An Atlas V rocket blasted off before dawn, sending Lucy on a roundabout journey spanning nearly 4 billion miles. Researchers grew emotional describing the successful launch — lead scientist Hal Levison said it was like witnessing the birth of a child. “Go Lucy!” he urged.

Chicago Uses Stellar Defensive Effort to Rout Phoenix 86-50

The Sky dominated on both ends, holding Brittney Griner to just four first half points on 1 of 8 shooting after she scored 29 in the Mercury’s overtime win on Wednesday. Chicago also took Diana Taurasi out of the game, holding her to five points on 1 of 10 shooting. 

Prosecutors: Capitol Cop Told Jan. 6 Rioter to Hide Evidence

The officer, Michael A. Riley, is accused of tipping off someone who participated in the riot by telling them to remove posts from Facebook that had showed the person inside the Capitol during the Jan. 6 attack, according to court documents.

Judge Firms Up Trial Date for Smollett, Won’t Dismiss Case

A judge on Friday denied a last-ditch effort to dismiss a criminal case against actor Jussie Smollett, who is accused of lying to police when he reported that he was the victim of a racist, anti-gay attack in downtown Chicago in January 2019.

Chicago Cubs Hire Carter Hawkins as General Manager

The Chicago Cubs hired Carter Hawkins as general manager on Friday, dipping into Cleveland’s front office in an effort to bolster their own player development system.

FDA Panel Endorses Booster Shot for J&J COVID-19 Vaccine

U.S. health advisers endorsed a booster of Johnson & Johnson’s COVID-19 vaccine Friday, citing growing worry that Americans who got the single-dose shot aren’t as protected as those given two-dose brands.

Man Charged in Shooting That Killed 7-Year-Old Chicago Girl

Police charged Aireon Luster, 24, on Wednesday with first-degree murder and attempted murder in the death of Serenity Broughton. He was ordered held without bond during a Thursday court hearing. 

FDA Panel Endorses Lower-dose Moderna COVID Shot for Booster

The panel of outside advisers to the Food and Drug Administration voted unanimously to recommend a booster shot for seniors, as well as younger adults with other health problems, jobs or living situations that put them at increased risk from COVID-19.

FDA Unlikely to Rule on Merck’s COVID Pill Before December

The Food and Drug Administration said Thursday it will ask its outside experts to meet in late November to scrutinize Merck’s pill to treat COVID-19.

US Unemployment Claims Fall to Lowest Level Since Pandemic

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell to its lowest level since the pandemic began, a sign the job market is still improving even as hiring has slowed in the past two months.

Deere & Co. Workers Go on Strike After Rejecting Contract

More than 10,000 Deere & Co. workers went on strike Thursday, the first major walkout at the agricultural machinery giant in more than three decades.

Mercury Even WNBA Finals With 91-86 Overtime Win Over Sky

Chicago backed up its Game 1 win with another strong offensive performance, yet couldn’t finish it off.

Chicago Police Union Head Urges Cops to Defy Vaccine Mandate

In a video posted online Tuesday, Fraternal Order of Police President John Catanzara vowed to take Mayor Lori Lightfoot’s administration to court if it tries to enforce a mandate, which requires city workers to report their vaccine status by the end of the work week. 

More Questions for J&J Vaccine Boosters Ahead of FDA Review

The Food and Drug Administration is wrestling with whether and when to offer another dose of the single-shot Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine, while a new study out Wednesday raises the prospect that using a different brand as the booster might work better.

Border Residents Rejoice as US Says It Will Lift Travel Ban

Beleaguered business owners and families separated by COVID-19 restrictions rejoiced Wednesday after the U.S. said it will reopen its land borders to nonessential travel next month, ending a 19-month freeze.

William Shatner, TV’s Capt. Kirk, Blasts Into Space

William Shatner, 90, became the oldest person in space, eclipsing the previous record — set by a passenger on a similar jaunt on a Jeff Bezos spaceship in July — by eight years.

Inflation Rises 5.4% From Year Ago, Matching 13-year High

The unexpected burst of inflation this year reflects sharply higher prices for food and energy, but also for furniture, cars, televisions, and other largely imported goods. COVID-19 has shut down factories in Asia and slowed U.S. port operations.

Altuve, Astros Going Back to ALCS After Topping White Sox

Led by their October-tested stars, the Houston Astros are going back to the AL Championship Series for the fifth straight year.

Advice Shifting on Aspirin Use for Preventing Heart Attacks

Doctors have long recommended daily low-dose aspirin for many patients who already have had a heart attack or stroke. The task force guidance does not change that advice. 

Sky Open WNBA Finals With 91-77 Win Over Mercury

The 2021 WNBA Finals is the first for both franchises since the Mercury swept the Sky in 2014.

Next on FDA’s Agenda: Booster Shots of Moderna, J&J Vaccines

With many Americans who got Pfizer vaccinations already rolling up their sleeves for a booster shot, millions of others who received the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine wait anxiously to learn when it's their turn.

Americans Quit Their Jobs at a Record Pace in August

The Labor Department said that quits jumped to 4.3 million in August, the highest on records dating back to December 2000, and up from 4 million in July.
 

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