Stories by Associated Press
Stacey King, Longtime Bulls Broadcaster Who Played on Three Championship Teams, Dies at 59
| Associated Press
Stacey King, who played on three consecutive NBA championship teams with the Chicago Bulls from 1991-93 before returning to the organization as an Emmy-winning, fan-favorite broadcaster, has died. He was 59.
Chicago Bears QB Caleb Williams Strikes Pose for Madden NFL 27 Cover
| Associated Press
On the standard cover, Williams is depicted in a body position similar to his pivotal, scrambling, fourth-and-8 jump pass to Rome Odunze in a stirring comeback victory over Green Bay in a wild card playoff game on Jan. 10.
‘Love My Woke Pope’: Why Leo’s First Encyclical Went Viral and How It Speaks to His Papal Approach
| Associated Press
The pontiff reiterates throughout “Magnifica Humanitas” that it is the church’s responsibility to engage contemporary questions and challenges.
US Bombs Iranian Military Sites, Then Downs Missiles Tehran Fired at Troops in Kuwait
| Associated Press
The nominal ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. has been repeatedly tested with such back-and-forth attacks, even as officials from both countries try to negotiate an end to the war.
Tomatoes Become Latest Symbol of America’s Affordability Squeeze as Prices Up 40% Since Last Year
| Associated Press
Prices for tomatoes have soared more than any other food product over the past year to cement a spot as one of the consumer headaches du jour.
Mayor Brandon Johnson Sees Pope Leo XIV as Key Ally on Social Justice, Migration After Vatican Meeting
| Associated Press
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson cast Pope Leo XIV as a powerful global ally on social justice, migration and reparations after meeting the Chicago-born pontiff at the Vatican, saying their shared roots and priorities could help amplify efforts to protect vulnerable communities.
Top Federal Prosecutor in Chicago Denies Investigation Into E. Jean Carroll, Disputing Media Reports
| Associated Press
Andrew Boutros, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, issued a statement roughly 24 hours after the first report was published saying that his office “has not opened — and has never opened — a criminal investigation into E. Jean Carroll.”
ABC Stations, Including Chicago’s, Say FCC’s Early Call for License Renewal Is Unconstitutional
| Associated Press
Local TV stations owned by ABC across the United States blasted the Federal Communications Commission on Thursday for launching an “unlawful, arbitrary and unconstitutional” early review of their broadcast licenses as a dispute between the network and the Trump-controlled agency intensifies.
MLB Owners Have Proposed a Salary Cap for the First Time Since Baseball’s 1994-95 Strike
| Associated Press
Baseball owners hadn’t proposed a firm cap since 1994. Their effort prompted a 7 1/2-month strike that forced the cancellation of the World Series for the first time in 90 years.
Tulsi Gabbard Resigns as Director of National Intelligence, Citing Her Husband’s Health
| Associated Press
Tulsi Gabbard said her husband had recently been diagnosed with a rare form of bone cancer and “faces major challenges in the coming weeks and months.” She is the fourth Cabinet official to depart during Trump’s second term.
Backlash to Trump’s $1.8B Settlement Fund Delays GOP Immigration Bill
| Associated Press
Senate Republicans abruptly left Washington without voting to fund immigration enforcement agencies and at an impasse over whether to try to block a new $1.776 billion settlement fund to compensate Trump allies who believe they have been politically prosecuted.
Officers Who Defended Capitol From Rioters Sue to Block Payouts From $1.8B ‘Anti-Weaponization’ Fund
| Associated Press
The lawsuit claims the government’s “Anti-Weaponization Fund" is an illegal slush fund that Trump will use to “finance the insurrectionists and paramilitary groups that commit violence in his name.”
Barney Frank, a Liberal Congressman and Trailblazer for Gay Rights, Dies
| Associated Press
Barney Frank, the longtime Democratic congressman and leading liberal who brought new visibility to gay rights and crafted the most significant reforms to the financial system in a generation, has died. He was 86.
Chicago Sky Forward Rickea Jackson Tears ACL in Her Left Knee
| Associated Press
Chicago Sky forward Rickea Jackson suffered a torn ACL in her left knee in a win over the Minnesota Lynx, the team announced Tuesday.
Minnesota County Charges ICE Officer in Nonfatal Shooting During Trump’s Immigration Crackdown
| Associated Press
A Minnesota prosecutor on Monday announced charges against an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer in the nonfatal shooting of a Venezuelan man during the Trump administration’s crackdown in Minnesota.
Chicago Sky Off to Strong Start Although May Have Lost Rickea Jackson to Knee Injury
| Associated Press
The Chicago Sky got off to a hot start to the WNBA season, but the health of young star Rickea Jackson is foremost on their minds after she had a non-contact injury on her left knee in Sunday’s win over Minnesota.
Justice Department Announces $1.7B Fund to Compensate Trump Allies in a Deal to Drop IRS Suit
| Associated Press
he Trump administration announced Monday the creation of a $1.7 billion fund to compensate allies of the Republican president who believe they were mistreated by the Biden administration Justice Department, an arrangement that Democrats and government watchdogs derided as “corrupt.”
Democrats Test a New Red State Strategy: Back Independents Over Their Own Nominees
| Associated Press
In states like Nebraska and Alaska, Democratic officials are, in some cases, looking past their own party’s candidates while subtly encouraging — or even openly promoting — independent candidates they hope can outperform the Democratic label.
US Overdose Deaths Fell Again in 2025, but Some Worry About Policy and Drug Supply Changes
| Associated Press
About 70,000 Americans died of drug overdoses last year — about 14% fewer than the previous year, according to preliminary government data.
Pediatrics Group Issues New Guidance on Recess for the First Time in 13 Years
| Associated Press
New evidence shows that kids need pauses between concentrated bouts of learning so the brain can hold and store the information. Researchers also say recess gives kids a chance to navigate relationships and build confidence, which is just as important for older kids as younger ones.
Democrats Vow to Fight $1 Billion Senate Security Proposal for White House Ballroom
| Associated Press
Republicans returning to Washington on Monday are facing questions about a $1 billion Senate security proposal that could help pay for President Donald Trump’s ballroom as Democrats say they will try to defeat it.
Trump Says Ceasefire Is on ‘Life Support’ as Iran Standoff Deepens and Strait Remains Closed
| Associated Press
The stalled diplomacy and recent exchanges of fire could tip the Middle East back into open warfare and prolong the worldwide energy crisis sparked by the conflict, with Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz and America’s blockade of Iranian ports still in place.
Man Charged With Stealing $450 Million From Mexican Billionaire in Loan Scheme Arrested in Chicago
| Associated Press
A man with multiple aliases used the name of the famed Astor family to dupe a Mexican billionaire out of around $450 million in a bogus stock-backed loan scheme, according to a newly unsealed U.S. indictment and other court records.
Inside the Cruise Ship at the Center of a Rare Hantavirus Outbreak
| Associated Press
Three passengers have died and at least four people are sick in what health officials say is an outbreak of hantavirus, which usually spreads by inhaling contaminated rodent droppings.
GOP Bill Would Fund $1 Billion in White House Security Upgrades for Trump’s Ballroom
| Associated Press
The legislation says the money would support enhancements to the ballroom project, “including above-ground and below-ground security features,” but also specifies that the money may not be used for non-security elements.
USPS Unveils Route 66 Centennial Stamps, Born From a Photographer’s 42 Trips
| Associated Press
The U.S. Postal Service on Tuesday is releasing eight stamps marking significant parts of the road in each of the states it traverses, passing by vintage diners, gas stations and motels — many since preserved or restored — along with breathtaking vistas and wide horizons of the open road.
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