Ingested Articles

In Texas, GOP voting bills zero in on Democratic Houston

The nation’s next big voting battle is underway in Texas. Legislation advancing in the GOP-controlled Texas Capitol could outlaw 24-hour polling places, eliminate drive-thru voting and make it a crime for elections officials to mail unsolicited absentee ballot applications. Put another way, Republicans would ban everything Democratic Houston did to expand ballot access last year, when the threat of the coronavirus made voting in-person more hazardous. Republicans have angrily rejected accusations that they are trying to suppress minority turnout, saying the measures only rein in powers county leaders never had in the first place. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott supports the measures.

College sports already adapting to new NCAA transfer rules

The NCAA has officially approved a plan that will allow all college athletes to transfer one time as an undergraduate without having to sit out a season. The exception that has been available to athletes in most college sports for years will now also be available to football, men’s and women’s basketball, men’s ice hockey and baseball players. Some in college sports, especially football, worry about potential consequences. Those include fewer scholarships available to high school recruits; power programs poaching players from small schools; and rosters turning over quicker than coaches can keep up. The change takes effect in September.

California Legislature OKs bill to help displaced workers

The California Legislature has passed a bill requiring some hotels and event centers to offer laid-off workers their jobs back. The bill lawmakers sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday applies to employees who had their jobs at least six months before the pandemic started and who lost their jobs because of coronavirus-related reasons. Many Republicans opposed the bill, arguing it puts a burden on businesses by making them susceptible to fines of $500 per employee per day. Newsom has not said if he will sign the bill. He vetoed a similar bill last year because he said it was too broad.

Florida 'anti-riot' bill goes to governor amid racial strife

Florida’s Republican-controlled Legislature has approved stiffer penalties against violent protesters. It delivers a major legislative victory to Gov. Ron DeSantis, who began campaigning for the measure following a summer of turmoil across the country over the killings of Black people by police. A divided Florida Senate approved a so-called anti-riot bill as the trial of Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin was underway for the death of George Floyd. Floyd's killing triggered waves of protests under the banner of the Black Lives Matter movement. Supporters say tougher laws are need to deter violent protests, but opponents say it would curtail the right to free speech and to peaceably assemble. 

Regulators rebuke PG&E for neglect in reducing wildfire risk

California power regulators are stepping up their oversight of Pacific Gas & Electric after finding that the utility has neglected the maintenance of an electrical grid that has ignited a series of deadly wildfires in Northern California and forced periodic blackouts affecting millions of people. The reprimand delivered Thursday to PG&E served as official notice that it hasn’t been doing enough to reduce the risks posed by a combination of crumbling equipment and overgrown trees near its power lines. It marks the first step in a process that could eventually lead to regulators revoking PG&E’s utility license. PG&E says it's made improvements to its tree-trimming program and will continue as part of its wildfire prevention efforts this summer.

Cameron Smith leads RBC Heritage after career-low 62

Cameron Smith birdied the difficult 17th and 18th holes at Harbour Town to shoot a 9-under 62 and take a one-stroke lead over Stewart Cink at the RBC Heritage. Smith followed up his second top-10 finish at the Masters in five months by matching the lowest opening round at the Heritage. The 47-year-old Cink is a two-time champion at Harbour Town who's enjoying a resurgence this season. PGA Championship winner Collin Morikawa and Matt Wallace were three shots back. World No. 1 Dustin Johnson opened with a 70. He played with Masters runner-up Will Zalatoris, who shot 68.

A $1.2 billion loss for Delta, but recovery is on the radar

Delta Air Lines says it lost $1.2 billion in the first quarter, but the airline thinks it can be profitable by late summer unless there's a resurgence of COVID-19. Delta reported the results on Thursday. CEO Ed Bastian says ticket sales have been stronger in the last two weeks than at any time since the pandemic hit the U.S. last year. Right now it’s mostly vacationers booking trips to mountains, beaches and resorts. Delta and other airlines are adding flights for summer in the expectation that passengers will show up. Delta will also stop blocking off middle seats on May 1. 

White House: Intel on Russian 'bounties' on US troops shaky

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House said Thursday that the intelligence community does not have conclusive evidence that Russian intelligence operatives encouraged the Taliban to attack American troops in Afghanistan. The assessment, revealed Thursday as the U.S. announced a host…

Canadian lawmaker caught naked during video conference

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — A Canadian Parliament member was caught stark naked in a virtual meeting of the House of Commons. William Amos, who has represented the Quebec district of Pontiac since 2015, appeared on the screens of his fellow…

Streak breaker: Kepler singles in 9th, as Twins edge Red Sox

Max Kepler’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth inning gave Minnesota a 4-3 victory over Boston, stopping a five-game losing streak for the Twins and breaking a nine-game winning string for the Red Sox. The Red Sox tied it in the eighth on Alex Verdugo’s three-run double. They were on their longest winning streak since a 10-game run in 2018, the season they won the World Series. The Twins avoided matching their longest losing streak in three years under manager Rocco Baldelli, a six-game slide from July 31-Aug. 5, 2020. Kepler singled with the bases loaded off Adam Ottavino.

NHL delays Canucks' return to play after COVID-19 outbreak

The NHL has delayed the Vancouver Canucks’ return to competition. The Canucks have not played a game since March 24 due to a COVID-19 outbreak. They were previously scheduled to host the Edmonton Oilers on Friday night. The league says the team won't play that game and it did not immediately set a new date for Vancouver's return. The league says the decision was made with input from the NHL Players’ Association and medical staff from teams. The NHL plans to announce additional changes to the schedule for North Division teams on Friday.

Cubs' Tepera suspended for 3 games, manager Ross 1 by MLB

Chicago Cubs pitcher Ryan Tepera was suspended for three games by Major League Baseball, which concluded he intentionally threw at Milwaukee’s Brandon Woodruff this week. Tepera appealed the penalty handed down by MLB senior vice president for on-field operations Michael Hill. Tepera, who also was fined, will not have to serve any discipline while the appeal is pending before MLB special adviser John McHale Jr. Cubs manager David Ross was suspended for one game and fined because of Tepera’s actions. Managers immediately serve discipline, and Ross will sit out the Cubs’ series opener against Atlanta on Friday.

Officer whose pat-down missed gun cautioned against rushing

Records show that an Ohio officer who missed a gun during a pat-down of Miles Jackson had been previously encouraged to not rush his job responsibilities, records show. Jackson died Monday after a struggle with officers over the weapon in a hospital room. Police Officer Eric Everhart is with the Westerville Police Department in suburban Columbus. Body camera footage shows Everhart conducting a pat-down on Jackson and asking if he has any weapons. Everhart's personnel file includes references to supervisors encouraging him to slow down and think things through. A police union official commended Everhart's actions as professional and compassionate.

Equal pay bill passed by House but faces long odds in Senate

House Democrats has approved legislation that they say would help close the gap between what men and women are paid in the workplace, though the measure faces little chance of overcoming Republican opposition in the Senate. The bill passed Thursday on a 217-210 vote. It would make it easier to sue employers over pay discrimination, curb the ability of companies to retaliate and beef up enforcement of existing laws. It would also ban employers from prohibiting employees from discussing their salaries. But Republicans counter it would largely be a boon for trial lawyers looking to sue.

Lawmakers fighting like cats and dogs? Not over this bill

Nine lives notwithstanding, killing a cat in a hit-and-run soon could become illegal in New Hampshire.  State law already requires drivers who injure or kill dogs to notify police or the animals’ owners, or else face a $1,000 fine. It is unclear why cats and other pets were left out of the initial law, but the state Legislature is currently considering an expansion that would give cats equal footing to canines. Republican Rep. Daryl Abbas sponsored the bill after the death of his 5-year-old cat, Arrow. The Animal League Defense Fund says there has been a trend of similar state laws that recognize the bond between animals and their human companions.

House GOP leader: Won't punish Gaetz unless charges filed

The top House Republican says Rep. Matt Gaetz is innocent until proven guilty. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy says that means he doesn't plan to punish the Florida Republican unless charges are filed against him. Gaetz has been under federal investigation for sex trafficking allegations, but he's denied the accusations and no charges have yet been filed. McCarthy tells reporters that Gaetz privately told him he's innocent. McCarthy says he told Gaetz that the party would act against him if legal action began against him. Internal House GOP rules require that lawmakers charged with serious felonies lose their membership in committees. 

Gucci celebrates 100 years with Michele's 'Aria' collection

MILAN (AP) — Gucci creative director Alessandro Michele is celebrating the fashion house’s 100th anniversary this year, giving historic sweep to a collection unveiled virtually Thursday that embraced its equestrian heritage, borrowed references from the Tom Ford-era and outright stole…

NBA says injury rate this season down slightly from normal

The NBA says the rate of players needing to miss games because of injuries is down from last season and within the normal range for what the league has seen over the last five seasons. League data shows the player injury rate this season is down about 6%. That's hardly abnormal even after several marquee players— including LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, James Harden and most recently Jamal Murray — have dealt with injuries in recent weeks. NBA teams are playing 3.6 games per week, up 5% from last year. This year's schedule compressed 72 games into 146 days, as opposed to the usual 82 games into 177 days.

12-time Oscar nominee Diane Warren hopes for 'awesome' win

Diane Warren would be overjoyed to win a best original song Oscar for her work in “The Life Ahead” starring Sophia Loren. A trophy for the Italian-language film’s song would be Warren’s first after 11 previous Academy Award nominations came up short. Warren says that winning would be “awesome,” comparing her experience to that of a baseball team that keep losing the World Series. A triumph would mean even more this year for the veteran songwriter. The Oscars were originally set for February but were moved back by the pandemic to April 25 — her late father's birthday. The show will air on ABC.

Former VP Pence undergoes surgery to implant pacemaker

Former Vice President Mike Pence has undergone surgery to have a pacemaker implanted. His office says that Wednesday's operation in Virginia went well and that Pence “is expected to fully recover and return to normal activity in the coming days.” The 61-year-old former vice president had previously been diagnosed with a heart condition called asymptomatic left bundle branch block. His office says he experienced symptoms over the past two weeks that are associated with a slow heart rate. Pence is considered a likely 2024 presidential candidate if former President Donald Trump declines to run.

Hundreds pay respects at funeral of slain US Capitol officer

The flag-draped casket of U.S. Capitol Police Officer William Evans was carried into a Massachusetts church by his fellow Capitol officers as dozens of state police troopers stood in the street in a steady downpour and saluted. The private funeral Mass at St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Adams was followed early Thursday afternoon by a procession to Bellevue Cemetery where Evans was to be laid to rest beside his father, Howard. The 41-year-old was killed this month when a driver struck him and another officer at a barricade outside the Senate. He was raised in North Adams and Clarksburg. He had served with the U.S. Capitol Police since 2003.

Polish court rules ombudsman must leave office at term end

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland’s top court ruled Thursday that the country's human rights commissioner can't remain in the job indefinitely after the end of his term until a successor is chosen. The ruling by the government-controlled Constitutional Tribunal paves…

Tribute planned for Adam Schlesinger, who died of COVID-19

NEW YORK (AP) — Members of the Monkees, R.E.M., Dashboard Confessional and The Black Keys are turning out for a virtual tribute concert next month for Adam Schlesinger, who died of COVID-19 a year ago. “Adam Schlesinger, A Musical Celebration,…