Ingested Articles

Small Icelandic town rallies behind Oscar-nominated song

The writers behind the Oscar-nominated song “ Husavik (My Hometown) ” knew that they wanted it to be an emotional core to the otherwise silly Will Ferrell movie “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga.” But they had no…

Chauvin trial puts Court TV's revival in the public eye

The Derek Chauvin trial marks the public reemergence of Court TV. The network that burst into public consciousness with the O.J. Simpson trial in the 1990s folded 13 years ago. But it was revived in 2019, led by a former producer who had worked in television legal coverage for many years. Network top executive Scott Tufts hopes the trial of the former Minneapolis police officer accused in George Floyd's death will alert viewers who weren't aware that Court TV is back. The network is providing full coverage of the trial and copious amounts of discussion. Court TV cameras are providing every television network covering the case with a live feed of what's going on in the courtroom.

Kentucky limits no-knock warrants after Breonna Taylor death

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has signed a partial ban on no-knock warrants a year after the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor. The law Beshear signed Friday is not the total ban many demonstrators called for — a proposal introduced as “Breonna's Law.” But it only permits no-knock warrants if there is “clear and convincing evidence” of a violent crime. Taylor was a 26-year-old Louisville emergency medical technician studying to become a nurse. She was shot multiple times in her home on March 2020 after being roused from her bed by police during a botched drug raid. Her death set off nationwide demonstrations and sparked calls to ban the warrants. 

Senegal, Spain leaders seek to encourage legal migration

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — Senegal and Spain signed a memorandum of understanding on Friday to discourage illegal migration that has been increasing amid the coronavirus pandemic. “Spain wants to order migratory flows through legal channels,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez…

Veteran Greek crime reporter shot dead near home in Athens

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A veteran Greek crime reporter was gunned down Friday near his home in southern Athens, police said. Giorgos Karaivaz was found dead early in the afternoon with several gunshot wounds beside his car in the Alimos…

'Blue wall of silence' takes hit in Chauvin's murder trial

Police accused of wrongdoing can usually count on the blue wall of silence — protection from fellow officers that includes everything from shutting off body cameras to refusing to cooperate with investigators. But that’s not the case with Derek Chauvin, with many colleagues quick to condemn his actions in George Floyd’s death and some even taking the stand against him. Minneapolis Police Chief Medaria Arradondo and homicide detective Lt. Richard Zimmerman are among several police officials who have testified against Chauvin's actions. Fourteen officers signed a critical letter last year. Experts say it's difficult for even Chauvin's colleagues to justify what is seen on video of the arrest.

Wisconsin Supreme Court says don't purge voters from rolls

The Wisconsin Supreme Court has ruled that the state elections commission should not remove from the rolls voters flagged as possibly having moved, something conservatives have wanted done for nearly two years. The court’s 5-2 ruling Friday means about 69,000 people on the list of likely movers will not have their voter registrations deactivated. When the lawsuit was first brought in 2019, about 234,000 were on the list. Of those who remain, the Wisconsin Elections Commission says none voted in the 2020 presidential election. The court said the job of removing voters from the rolls was up to local municipal elections officials, not the state commission. 

After delays, South Africa announces mass vaccination drive

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — After a false start and an unconventional test run, South Africa on Friday announced the launch of its mass vaccination campaign against COVID-19 with a goal of inoculating more than 40 million people by February next year.…

Pearl Jam guitarist McCready proud of 30 years of 'Ten'

Pearl Jam guitarist Mike McCready remembers the band was already great as it prepared to record its classic debut album “Ten.” Pearl Jam started recording sessions in late March 1991 and the album that launched the band out of Seattle’s meteoric rise was released five months later. Pearl Jam should be on the road celebrating 30 years of “Ten” with a tour.  Pearl Jam’s postponed European tour was rescheduled for June and July 2022. The delay not only put any plans to celebrate “Ten” on hold, Pearl Jam has still yet to tour in support of last year’s release, “Gigaton.” McCready says the band is ready to hit the road and tour again after a lengthy break.

Biden's ambitious expansion of long-term care sparks debate

President Joe Biden has proposed a major expansion of the government’s role in long-term care, but questions are being raised over his use of the low-income Medicaid program and piggybacking the whole idea on an infrastructure bill. Funneling the money through Medicaid would mean leaving out middle-class people with pressing needs of their own. Still, the size of the financial commitment — about 17% of Biden’s $2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal — leaves no doubt he intends to put his mark on long-term care.

Philip, in role with no job description, was queen’s bedrock

It was a role with no job description that was thrust upon Prince Philip far earlier than he had expected. His wife’s ascent to the throne marked the end of his own ambitions for a successful naval career. But at that crucial moment, he carved out the part he would carry through the decades, as the queen’s honest and unwavering bedrock of support. It was a role he played until his death Friday. His marriage both defined and constricted his life, placing the irascible, tough-minded Philip three steps behind the queen in public, even if he played a significant role at home, including in raising four children.

Pandemic, hunger forces thousands into sex work in Mexico

Hardships caused by the coronavirus pandemic have forced former sex workers in Mexico back into the trade years after they left. It has also made it more dangerous, and reduced some to having sex in cars or on sidewalks for lack of available hotels. An activist group known as “The Street Brigade” says it found 15,200 sex workers on Mexico City’s streets during a survey in August. That's about twice the number before the pandemic. The group's leader estimates 40% of those on the streets now are women forced to return by the pandemic.

Kremlin says it fears full-scale fighting in Ukraine's east

The Kremlin says it fears the resumption of full-scale fighting in eastern Ukraine and could take steps to protect endangered civilians there. The stark warning by Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman on Friday comes amid a troop buildup along Russia's border with Ukraine. The statement reflected the Kremlin’s determination to prevent Ukraine from using force to try to reclaim control over separatist-controlled territory in the country’s east. Ukrainian forces and Russia-backed separatists have been fighting in eastern Ukraine since shortly after Moscow’s 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula. Officials in Ukraine and in the West have raised concerns about increasingly frequent cease-fire violations, as well as the Russian troop movements.

Back in Business: WrestleMania ready to rumble with fans

WWE is set to welcome back fans for the first time in more than a year when 25,000 spectators are expected on both Saturday and Sunday nights for WrestleMania at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. Drew McIntyre is back in the main event when he takes on WWE champion Bobby Lashley on Saturday. Roman Reigns defends the Universal championship in a triple-threat match against Edge and Daniel Bryan in Sunday’s big match. Grammy-winning performer and recent “Saturday Night Live” musical guest Bad Bunny makes his wrestling debut as part of a tag-team match.

The Latest: Flags to fly half-mast until Philip's funeral

Reaction from around the world on the death of Prince Philip at age 99: LONDON — The British government says all official flags, including the Union Flag, will fly at half-mast across all U.K. government buildings until 8 a.m. the…

Zidane hopes Messi’s 45th ‘clásico’ is not his last

Lionel Messi is set to play his 45th “clásico” match against Real Madrid. And it could be his last. Messi has said he will decide his future when his contract expires at the end of the season. But not even Real coach Zinedine Zidane wants Saturday to be Messi's last game against his team. Zidane hopes Messi stays put because "it’s also good for the Spanish league." Messi has scored a “clásico” a record 26 times against Madrid. But he has gone six matches against Madrid without scoring. Barcelona enters the match one point behind struggling Spanish league leader Atlético Madrid. Madrid is another two points adrift.

Japan imposes new virus measures in Tokyo ahead of Olympics

Japan says it will raise the coronavirus alert level in Tokyo to allow tougher measures to curb the rapid spread of a more contagious variant ahead of the Summer Olympics. Japan’s vaccination drive has lagged and most people in the capital still have not been inoculated as infections have surged. The raised status announced by Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga will allow Tokyo’s governor to mandate shorter opening hours for bars and restaurants, along with punishments for violators and compensation for those who comply. The measures are to begin Monday and continue through May 11. Many of Tokyo’s cases have been linked to nightlife and dining.

AP Interview: Stacey Abrams on voting rights, her next move

In a new interview with The Associated Press, voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams says a new Georgia law makes it harder for people to vote by restricting early voting, in-person absentee voting and the use of drop boxes. She also objected to Republican Gov. Brian Kemp's touting of a provision in the law that sets aside money to make state IDs free. She says people still have to pay to procure documentation required to obtain the state IDs and still need transportation to reach the Department of Motor Vehicles. When asked whether she would run for governor in 2022, she said she wasn't focused on that right now.

US envoy Kerry discusses climate challenges in Bangladesh

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — John Kerry, the special U.S. envoy on climate, said Friday that President Joe Biden is eager to work with Bangladesh in dealing with the impact of climate change after the United States' return to the Paris…

Amazon union organizers deflated as vote tilts against them

Amazon is heading into the final stretch of a union push in Bessemer, Alabama with a sizeable lead over labor organizers. With nearly half the ballots counted Thursday night, 1,100 warehouse workers had rejected the union while 463 voted in favor of it. The count resumed Friday morning in Birmingham, Alabama, where agents for the National Labor Relations Board are counting each vote by hand. The Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union said that 3,215 votes were sent in. That's about 55% of the nearly 6,000 workers who were eligible to vote.

AP PHOTOS: Prince Philip's lifetime in the royal spotlight

Like his future wife, Prince Philip was born into royalty and a great-great-grandchild of Queen Victoria. He spent most of his life in the spotlight after marrying into an even-more high-profile royal family. From his first appearances at the side…

Japan to announce Fukushima water release into sea soon

TOKYO (AP) — The Japanese government has decided to dispose of massive amounts of treated but still radioactive water stored in tanks at the wrecked Fukushima nuclear plant by releasing it into the Pacific Ocean, local media reported Friday, a…

Wholesale prices up 1% in March, energy leads the way again

SILVER SPRING, Md. (AP) — Wholesale prices jumped again in March pushed by another big increase in energy prices, the government reported Friday. The Labor Department’s producer price index, which measures inflation before it reaches consumers, rose 1% in March,…