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Column: Drafting a franchise QB always a risky endeavor

One quarterback. Then another. And yet another. For the first time since 1999, the top three names in the NFL draft were all QBs. Before the opening round reached its midway point, two more signal-callers had come off the board. By all indications, this could be one of the greatest quarterback classes in the annals of the draft. But if history has taught us anything, it’s that there are sure to be some flops in this bunch. Selecting a franchise quarterback, you see, has always been a risky proposition. For every Patrick Mahomes, there is a Josh Rosen. 

Judge: Case against McCloskeys won't go back to grand jury

A judge has denied a defense request to return to a grand jury the case against a St. Louis couple accused of waving guns at racial injustice protesters last year. A St. Louis grand jury indicted Mark and Patricia McCloskey in October on felony charges of unlawful use of a weapon and tampering with evidence. Their attorney filed a motion this month seeking to remand the case to the grand jury to determine if the couple should have been indicted in the first place. Special Prosecutor Richard Callahan said that Circuit Judge David denied the motion on Friday and set trial for Nov. 1. 

The Latest: Women's world hockey rescheduled to late August

The women’s world hockey championship has been rescheduled for late August, but the International Ice Hockey Federation has yet to determine a site. The IIHF announced it's working with Hockey Canada to evaluate potential hosts for the tournament that's now scheduled to begin Aug. 20. The 10-nation event was previously set to be held in Nova Scotia in May before it was abruptly canceled by the province at the last minute due to COVID-19 concerns. It’s unclear whether Nova Scotia again will be considered to host the tournament. 

New bishop of Biden's hometown mum on Communion question

ROME (AP) — The newly appointed bishop of Joe Biden's home diocese in Delaware said Friday he would gladly speak with the president about his views on abortion but did not say whether he would allow him to continue receiving…

Exxon posts $2.7B quarterly profit after unprecedented year

Exxon Mobil has reported profits of $2.73 billion in the first quarter after a tumultuous year led to major spending reductions. The oil giant brought in $59.15 billion in revenue, up 5% from the same quarter last year. Its smaller rival Chevron reported a $1.4 billion profit in the first quarter, down from $3.58 billion at the same time last year, due to the pandemic and the impacts of winter storms. The oil industry has been struggling with massive losses after the global coronavirus pandemic curtailed demand for fuel. Some economists are projecting that demand for oil may never return to pre-pandemic levels. Investors are pressuring oil and gas companies to find different sources of revenue. 

Kanaan to make IndyCar season debut at Texas doubleheader

Tony Kanaan will make his IndyCar season debut this weekend at Texas Motor Speedway, where the series will race a doubleheader. Kanaan was expected to retire after last season but was disappointed when the pandemic kept fans from his final races. He got an opportunity to split a car this year with Jimmie Johnson and will race the four ovals on the IndyCar schedule. IndyCar is racing three consecutive weeks to open the season, including Saturday and Sunday at Texas. It is the first oval on the schedule. Scott Dixon is the defending race winner. 

Fab 15; Penguins happy but not satisfied with playoff streak

The Pittsburgh Penguins are happy but not satisfied after clinching a 15th straight playoff berth. Pittsburgh's postseason streak is the longest active streak in major North American professional sports. The team's celebration after a victory over Washington that clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs was muted. While head coach Mike Sullivan praised his team for its hard work, he said it only sets the stage for the “real fun” that will begin when the postseason starts in a little over two weeks.

AstraZeneca delays filing for US authorization of COVID shot

LONDON (AP) — AstraZeneca said Friday that it intends to seek U.S. authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine in the “coming weeks," acknowledging a delay in the much-anticipated filing that had been expected by mid-April. The Anglo-Swedish drugmaker revealed the new…

US to restrict travel from India over COVID starting Tuesday

The U.S. will restrict travel from India starting on May 4, the White House says, citing a devastating rise in COVID-19 cases in the country and the emergency of potentially dangerous variants of the coronavirus. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday that President Joe Biden’s administration made the determination on the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With 386,452 new cases, India now has reported more than 18.7 million since the pandemic began, second only to the United States. The U.S. action comes days after Biden spoke with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi about the growing health crisis in his country and pledged to send assistance.

Bustos, who led Democrats' campaign arm, won't run again

Democratic Rep. Cheri Bustos of Illinois says she will not seek reelection next year. She is stepping aside after playing a lead role in 2020 elections that unexpectedly saw her party nearly lose House control. Bustos was first elected to her largely rural district in 2012 and became chair of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee for the 2020 campaign. She had argued that Democrats needed to do more to appeal to voters in the heartland who supported Donald Trump and other Republicans in 2016. Instead, she drew fire from fellow Democrats last fall after guiding the DCCC to a near-disastrous Election Day. 

Prosecutor probed over Capitol riot interview leaves post

The former acting U.S. attorney in Washington, who was under investigation over an interview to CBS’ “60 Minutes” about the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, has left the Justice Department and can no longer be subject to any potential disciplinary action for the interview. A Justice Department spokesman said Michael Sherwin is no longer an employee at the agency. Sherwin, who until recently was leading the investigation into the Jan. 6 riot, suggested during the interview that some of the rioters could face rarely used sedition charges. Days before the interview aired in March, Sherwin was replaced as the top prosecutor in the nation’s capital.

Prosecutor in Daunte Wright's death not swayed by critics

As activists in Minnesota press for murder charges against the police officer who shot Daunte Wright, the prosecutor is sticking by the manslaughter charge he filed. Wright died April 11 when the 20-year-old Black motorist was shot during a traffic stop in a Minneapolis suburb. The city's police chief said he believed Kim Potter mixed up her gun with her Taser. Family members and some activists don't believe it, and they have protested several times at the home of prosecutor Pete Orput. Orput told protesters he would not give in to their pressure.

Former reality TV star Josh Duggar faces child porn charges

Former reality TV star Josh Duggar has been charged with receiving and possessing child pornography. Federal prosecutors on Friday announced the indictment against Duggar, who was arrested in northwest Arkansas by U.S. Marshals a day earlier. Prosecutors say Duggar possessed the material in May 2019 and some of it depicted the sexual abuse of children under the age of 12. The 33-year-old Duggar pleaded not guilty at a hearing Friday. His attorneys say they plan to defend his case “aggressively and thoroughly.” Duggar starred on TLC’s “19 Kids and Counting” until it was pulled from the network in 2015 over revelations Duggar had molested four of his sisters and a babysitter.

Russian minister: US-Russia ties worse than during Cold War

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia's top diplomat said Wednesday that relations with the United States are now even worse than during Cold War times because of a lack of mutual respect. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Moscow stands ready to…

Despite 3-week lockdown, many remain on the move in Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — Turkish security forces on Friday patrolled main streets and set up checkpoints at entry and exits points of cities, to enforce Turkey’s strictest COVID-19 lockdown to date. Still, many people were on the move as the…

Noel Clarke vows to change for better but denies misconduct

LONDON (AP) — British actor-director Noel Clarke said Friday he would be seeking professional help to “change for the better,” after 20 women accused him of sexual harassment, intimidation and bullying. Clarke, who starred in “Doctor Who” and created the…

Pope enables Vatican prosecutions of cardinals, bishops

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has sent another message to Vatican-based cardinals and bishops that he intends to hold them accountable for criminal misconduct: He removed the procedural obstacles that had spared them from being prosecuted and judged by the…

AP Source: Grammys may cut nomination review committees

The Grammy Awards are in discussion to remove its nomination review committees — groups that determine the contenders for key awards at the coveted music show.A person familiar with the Recording Academy’s discussions, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not allowed to speak about the topic publicly, told The Associated Press that a number of proposals were submitted this year regarding the role of nomination review committees and whether it’s time to eliminate them. If approved, the major change would happen just months after The Weeknd blasted the Grammys after he earned zero nominations despite his uber-successful year in music.

TikTok names exec at Chinese parent ByteDance as new CEO

Video app TikTok said Friday that its new CEO is Shouzi Chew, the new CFO of its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. He is based in Singapore, where TikTok has an office. Vanessa Pappas, based in Los Angeles, has been interim head of TikTok since Kevin Mayer, a former top Disney executive who lasted just a few months in the role as head of TikTok, resigned in August 2020. Pappas will become COO. The Biden administration has put Trump-era efforts to ban TikTok or force its sale on hold while it conducts a new review of national security threats posed by Chinese technology companies.

EXPLAINER: English soccer leads social media racism boycott

There will be no goal clips or even title celebrations. Soccer leagues, clubs and players in England are set to start four days of silence across Twitter, Facebook and Instagram in a protest against racist abuse on social media. The protest has been adopted more widely. FIFA and UEFA also said they wouldn’t post online across the four days. Such is the anger across the game that it means Manchester City could clinch the Premier League trophy on Sunday and not celebrate it on social media.

Kansas hires Buffalo's Lance Leipold as football coach

Kansas has hired Buffalo's Lance Leipold as its next football coach. The Jayhawks are turning over one of college football’s worst programs to a longtime Division III coach with Midwestern roots. Leipold signed a six-year contract and takes over for Les Miles. Miles, who won a title at LSU, parted with the Jayhawks after two losing seasons amid allegations of sexual harassment dating to his time with the Tigers. Leipold won six Division III national titles in eight seasons before going to the Bulls, where he was 37-33 the past six years.