Stories by Associated Press

Donald Trump’s Tirade on ‘Racist’ District Attorneys Echoes Other Racist Tropes

The diatribe left the clear impression that Donald Trump, who rode the politics of white grievance into the White House, thinks he can’t possibly be treated fairly by Black officials. The comments carry the echoes of racist messages that have proliferated in recent years

Amir Locke, Killed by Minneapolis Cop, Wanted Music Career

The 22-year-old Black man had filed paperwork to start a music business, his mother said, and had already designed a logo. Next week, he planned to move to Dallas, where he would be closer to his mom and — he hoped — build a career as a hip-hop artist, following in the musical footsteps of his father.

EXPLAINER: Olympic Ski Jumpers Count on Technique and Timing

Here’s a look at what to watch, starting Saturday when the women go for gold, from the moment ski jumpers sit on a bar about as high as a 40-story building until they glide over machine-made snow and wait to see how far they flew and how the judges scored their performance.

Trump’s GOP: Party Further Tightens Tie to Former President

As Republican officials from across the country gathered in Utah this week for the RNC’s winter meeting, party leaders devoted considerable energy to disciplining Trump’s rivals and embracing his grievances. 

GOP Censures Cheney, Kinzinger as It Assails Jan. 6 Probe

GOP officials took a voice vote to approve censuring Cheney and Kinzinger at the Republican National Committee’s winter meeting in Salt Lake City. On Thursday, members of an RNC subcommittee decided to advance the censure resolution against the pair instead of calling for their expulsion from the party.

COVID Falling in 49 of 50 States as Deaths Near 900,000

New cases per day have tanked by almost a half-million nationwide since mid-January, the curve trending downward in every state but Maine. And the number of Americans in the hospital with COVID-19 has fallen 15% over that period to about 124,000.

Storm That Slugged South, Midwest Brings Misery to Northeast

More than a foot of snow fell in parts of Pennsylvania, New York and New England on Friday but it was freezing rain and ice, accompanied by plummeting temperatures, that threatened to cause the biggest problems for travel and electric service before the storm blows out to sea late Friday and Saturday.

US Employers Shrug Off Omicron, Add 467,000 Jobs in January

The government's report Friday also drastically revised up its estimate of job gains for November and December by a combined 709,000. It also said the unemployment rate ticked up last month from 3.9% to a still-low 4%.

Scientists Race to Gather Winter Data on Warming Great Lakes

Lake scientists have long considered winter a season when aquatic activity slows. But researchers now think more is going on in the bitter depths than previously believed — including activity influenced by climate change. 

Blackhawks Owner Rocky Wirtz Apologizes for Response to Kyle Beach Talk

It was the first time the franchise’s top leaders had faced questions in public since the team published a report by an outside law firm that found the organization badly mishandled Kyle Beach’s allegations that he was assaulted by then-video coach Brad Aldrich during the team’s run to the 2010 Stanley Cup title.

Rep. Adam Kinzinger Pushes ‘Uneasy Alliance’ to Thwart Trump’s Allies

Rep. Adam Kinzinger, one of Trump’s fiercest Republican critics in Congress, has directed his political organization to initiate a novel campaign to convince non-Republicans to support anti-Trump Republican candidates in GOP primary contests across the country later this year. 

Pfizer Asks FDA to Allow COVID-19 Vaccine for Kids Under 5

The nation’s 19 million children under 5 are the only group not yet eligible for vaccination against the coronavirus. Many parents have been pushing for an expansion of shots to toddlers and preschoolers, especially as the omicron wave sent record numbers of youngsters to the hospital.

3 Former Chicago Blackhawks to Help Team with General Manager Search

Former Chicago Blackhawks forwards Eddie Olczyk, Marian Hossa and Patrick Sharp have agreed to help the team in its search for a new general manager.

NAACP Urges Federal Charges in Laquan McDonald’s Killing

A letter to Garland, sent by NAACP President Derrick Johnson, comes days before former Officer Jason Van Dyke is scheduled to be released from prison Thursday after serving less than half his state prison term of six years and nine months.

Supreme Court Pick Holds Import for Black Women in Law

According to the National Association for Law Placement, Black women made up 3.17% of associates at America’s law firms in 2021 but less than 1% of partners. Women of color overall made up nearly 16% of associates at America’s law firms but only about 4% of the partners.

Stocks Mixed as Wall Street Ends Worst Month Since March ’20

Stocks are mixed Monday as Wall Street heads for its worst month since the early days of the pandemic, weighed by worries that imminent hikes in interest rates will make everything in markets more challenging.

President Joe Biden Calls for Release of Illinois Man Held Hostage in Afghanistan

President Joe Biden on Sunday called for the release of U.S. Navy veteran Mark Frerichs of Lombard, who was taken hostage in Afghanistan nearly two years ago.

Judge OKs Agreement to Destroy Gun Used by Kyle Rittenhouse

Assistant District Attorney Thomas Binger said the state crime lab would destroy the gun, probably in April. Judge Bruce Schroeder, the Kenosha County judge who presided over Rittenhouse’s trial, approved the agreement.

How Many Times Can I Reuse My N95 Mask?

It depends, but you should be able to use N95s and KN95s a few times.

Chicago Bears Hire Colts Defensive Coordinator Matt Eberflus as Head Coach: AP Source

Matt Eberflus is the new coach of the Chicago Bears, a person with direct knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press, tasked with turning around a franchise mired in mediocrity for much of the past decade.

Biden: Ready For ‘Long Overdue’ Pick of Black Female Justice

In a White House ceremony marking a moment of national transition, President Joe Biden praised retiring Justice Stephen Breyer, who will have spent nearly 28 years on the high court by the time he leaves at the end of the term, as “a model public servant at a time of great division in this country.”

US Economy Grew 5.7% in 2021 in Rebound From 2020 Recession

The nation’s gross domestic product — its total output of goods and services — expanded 5.7% in 2021. It was the strongest calendar-year growth since a 7.2% surge in 1984 after a previous recession.

Justice Stephen Breyer Will Retire, Giving Joe Biden the 1st Supreme Court Pick of His Presidency

Liberal Justice Stephen Breyer will retire, giving Presoemt Joe Biden the first Supreme Court pick of his presidency.

Ukrainian Leaders: Stay Calm, Russian Invasion Not Imminent

Ukraine’s leaders sought Tuesday to reassure the nation that an invasion from neighboring Russia was not imminent, even as they acknowledged the threat is real and received a shipment of U.S. military equipment to shore up their defenses.

Pfizer Begins Testing Omicron-Matched COVID Shots in Adults

Pfizer is enrolling healthy adults to test a reformulated COVID-19 vaccine that matches the hugely contagious omicron variant, to see how it compares with the original shots.

Congressional Ethics Office Says Rep. Marie Newman May Have Broken Law

An investigative report from the Office of Congressional Ethics released Monday detailed a “substantial reason to believe” that Newman promised federal employment to a political opponent.
 

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