Ingested Articles

President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Justice Department’s criminal division is facing scrutiny over a plea deal he brokered with a Louisiana district attorney who was accused of coercing sexual favors from as many as two dozen women. Kenneth Polite was New Orleans' top federal prosecutor in 2016 when he struck the deal that allowed longtime St. Charles Parish District Attorney Harry Morel to escape sexual misconduct charges and serve less than two years for obstructing a federal investigation. Morel's accusers and a former FBI agent say Polite lacked the courage to seek justice in the case.

Is there a more woebegone movie genre than the video game adaptation? In the 27 years since the first video game movie, “Super Mario Bros.,” these adaptations have been so regularly mocked that you might think the genre was -- like a teetering fighter in “Mortal Kombat” — on its last legs. And yet, Hollywood is increasingly viewing video games as one of the ripest, richest veins of intellectual property outside of comic books. The video game movie isn’t finished. It might even be just pressing “Start.” A new “Mortal Kombat” movie opening this Friday signals a new cycle for video game movies. 

The Man in Black is about to get his own day in Arkansas. The Arkansas House on Tuesday gave unanimous final approval to a bill that would make Feb. 26 “Johnny Cash Day,” sending it to Gov. Asa Hutchinson, who plans to sign it. The day won’t be a legal holiday but instead will be a memorial day marked by an annual proclamation from the governor. It is the state’s latest effort to honor Cash, who was born in tiny Kingsland, about 60 miles south of Little Rock. The Legislature in 2019 voted to replace its two statues at the U.S. Capitol with ones of Cash and civil rights leader Daisy Bates.

Caleb Farley was the first top prospect to make the decision that has added a whole new layer of uncertainty to the annual crapshoot that is the NFL draft. The talented Virginia Tech cornerback decided back in July to skip the 2020 season because of the coronavirus. Farley had plenty of players follow his lead, including several others set to be high draft picks next week such as LSU receiver Ja’Marr Chase, Oregon tackle Penei Sewell, Northwestern tackle Rashawn Slater and Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons. Now it’s up to NFL teams to figure out how much to weigh those decisions in their draft evaluations.

NEW YORK (AP) — When a killer whale slowly circled back toward wildlife photographer Brian Skerry in the middle of the ocean after discarding the giant sting ray it was devouring, panic is not what came to mind: “Part of…

European Union officials have unveiled proposals for reining in high-risk uses of artificial intelligence such as live facial scanning that could threaten people’s safety or rights. The draft regulations from the EU’s executive commission made public on Wednesday include rules on the use of the expanding technology in activities such as choosing school, job or loan applicants. They also would ban artificial intelligence in a few situations, such as government “social scoring" systems. The proposals are the 27-nation bloc’s latest move to maintain its role as the standard-bearer for technology regulation. EU officials say they want to balance the need to protect data privacy against the need to encourage innovation. 

Congressional leaders and colleagues have used a memorial service for Rep. Alcee Hastings to remember him as a straight-talking champion for the disadvantaged who overcame hurdles in his own life. The Florida Democrat died early this month at age 84 after serving nearly three decades in the House. The socially distanced ceremony was held in the Capitol’s Statuary Hall, a few steps from the House chamber. Fellow lawmakers recalled the professional and social bonds they’d formed with Hastings. No. 3 House Democratic leader James Clyburn of South Carolina called Hastings a consoler, a counselor and a friend. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi is renewing her push for a bipartisan commission to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, floating a new proposal to Republicans that would evenly split the panel's membership between the two parties. Pelosi…

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Greece says its tourism services will open on May 15 when a ban on travel between different regions of the country will also be lifted. Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis made the announcement in a televised address…

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Indonesia's navy is searching for a submarine that went missing north of the resort island of Bali with 53 people on board, the military said Wednesday. Military chief Hadi Tjahjanto said the KRI Nanggala 402 was…

NEW YORK (AP) — The cast appears at first chatting amiably as they enter a theater. They're in street clothes — hoodies, sneakers and backpacks. They seem blissfully unaware that not all will survive the next hour or so. So…

Utah's governor has defended his position to support a minority scholarship program sponsored by the Utah Jazz despite criticism from some who have called the program racist. FOX13 reported Monday that Republican Gov. Spencer Cox on a radio show last week was asked about an initiative started under Jazz owner Ryan Smith for the team to offer a four-year scholarship to an underrepresented or minority student for each of the team's wins this season. Cox told a caller that he did not think the program was racist and later reinforced his comments on Twitter. He was supported by retired NBA legend Dwyane Wade.

Several North Amercian hockey leagues were unable to hold full seasons or play at all because of the coronavirus pandemic. That put a dent in hockey's developmental pipeline. Some draft-eligible players relocated to Europe just to show their development. On Tuesday, the Ontario Hockey League abandoned its plans to play this season. U.S. college, European and the other three Canadian junior leagues got on the ice, making the evaluation of teenagers an even more difficult job.

Queen Elizabeth II has expressed her thanks for all the “support and kindness” shown following the death of her husband, Prince Philip. In a statement Wednesday posted on social media on her 95th birthday and which she personally signed off as Elizabeth R, the monarch said it has been “a comfort” to “see and to hear all the tributes to my husband” from within the U.K., the Commonwealth and around the world. She is marking her birthday in a low-key fashion at Windsor Castle. Some members of the royal family are expected to be with her on Wednesday. Her birthday falls within the two-week royal mourning period for Philip that is being observed until Friday.

PARIS (AP) — France will impose new entry restrictions on travelers from India to fight a contagious coronavirus variant spreading in that country, an official said Wednesday. The restrictions come in addition to those previously announced regarding four other countries…