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Judge orders Kevin Spacey accuser to reveal his identity

A judge says a man cannot anonymously accuse actor Kevin Spacey of sexually abusing him at age 14 after meeting him in Spacey's suburban New York acting class. U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan issued the decision Monday in a lawsuit in which the man wished to be identified only as “C.D.” Kaplan said C.D.'s privacy interest does not outweigh the presumption of open judicial proceedings and the prejudice to Spacey that would occur if he could proceed anonymously. Kaplan noted that C.D. for decades has spoken to an unknown number of people about his claims against Spacey.

Chicago schools chief plans to leave post later this year

The leader of Chicago Public Schools is leaving the post later this year and is saying it's time for “the next chapter.” The CEO of the nation's third-largest school district, Janice Jackson, took the job in 2018 after serving in the position temporarily twice after scandals of two predecessors. She said Monday that she will not renew her contract when it expires June 30. Jackson grew up in Chicago and has long worked for the district, serving as a teacher, principal and in district leadership. Her departure comes after a tumultuous few years in the district, including a 2019 teachers strike and bitter fights with the union over reopening plans during the pandemic. 

Review: 'Human Factor' gets personal about Mideast peace

Ready for a documentary about three decades of agonizing fits and starts of the Mideast peace process, from the perspective of U.S. negotiators? You’re probably thinking that doesn’t sound too enticing right about now. But there’s a reason “The Human…

Lower-round QBs face long odds to make it in NFL

History dictates that it’s likely at least a couple of the five first-round quarterbacks won’t fulfill the hopes of the teams that drafted them. The odds facing the five QBs picked later in the draft are much longer with only three of the 26 QB picked in rounds two through four in the past eight drafts turning into successful NFL starters so far. The days of first-round snubs going onto superstar careers such as Tom Brady, Brett Favre, Drew Brees, or becoming solid long-term starters such as Matt Hasselbeck, Trent Green and Mark Brunell are much rarer these days.

Insider Q&A: Ex-biodefense chief on stopping the next COVID

WASHINGTON (AP) — When COVID-19 hit the U.S. early last year, public health scientist Rick Bright had an up-close view of what worked and what didn't. As head of the federal government’s biodefense agency Bright was responsible for securing tests,…

McConnell says GOP open to $600 billion for infrastructure

The top Republican in the Senate is opening the door to backing a smaller infrastructure bill. Sen. Mitch McConnell says Republicans are willing to spend up to $600 billion for roads, bridges and other projects. That's far less than what President Joe Biden is seeking, but is in line with a new $568 billion proposal put forward by other Senate Republicans. Biden is pushing a $2.3 trillion infrastructure proposal that would be paid for with an increase in corporate taxes. McConnell and other Republicans say they will not back the tax increase.

Analysis: After draft, some obstacles ahead for NFL in 2021

With a successful in-person draft in Cleveland behind it, the NFL inexorably moves on. What’s ahead might not go so smoothly as the selection process did on the shore of Lake Erie. For one, the league and the players’ union likely will be hassling over offseason programs for, well, the rest of the offseason. For another, while Commissioner Roger Goodell and the 32 team owners rather loudly are embracing the idea of full stands come the regular season, there are far too many uncertainties with the COVID-19 pandemic still a significant factor.

Los Angeles Times hires ESPN's Kevin Merida as new editor

The Los Angeles Times says Monday ESPN's Kevin Merida will be its new executive editor. Merida has run ESPN's The Undefeated site, which deals with issues on race and culture along with sports, for the past several years. He's had extensive newspaper experience, including 22 years at The Washington Post, and the Times owners say they want him to work on the newspaper's transition to the digital age. Merida, who is Black, has been hired when the Times and other journalistic institutions have taken tough looks at their own diversity in both staffing and in who and what they cover.

Healthy again, Rodón savoring every moment with White Sox

Healthy again after a series of injuries, Carlos Rodón is delivering on the promise he showed after he was selected with the No. 3 pick in the 2014 amateur draft out of North Carolina State. The 28-year-old left-hander is a perfect 4-0 with a sparkling 0.72 ERA in four starts for the Chicago White Sox, striking out 36 in 25 innings. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, he is the eighth pitcher since 1900 to win each of his first four outings of a season with at least 35 strikeouts.

New this week: 'Girls5eva' and 'The Boy From Medellín'

Here’s a collection curated by The Associated Press’ entertainment journalists of what’s arriving on TV, streaming services and music platforms this week. MOVIES — Eight months after first debuting in theaters, Christopher Nolan’s “Tenet” is finally streaming. Whereas many other…

Asian American business leaders seek to fight discrimination

Asian American business leaders are launching a new foundation to challenge discrimination. The Asian American Foundation, which announced its launch on Monday, said it has raised $125 million from its board members to support Asian American and Pacific Islander organizations over the next five years. The group says its the largest philanthropic commitment in history by Asian Americans geared to support members of their own community. The foundation has also raised another $125 million from individual and corporate donors. It will kick off on Tuesday by hosting a virtual event where  former Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama are scheduled to speak.

When Buffett is gone, Abel will take over as Berkshire CEO

Vice Chairman Greg Abel will succeed billionaire Warren Buffett as Berkshire Hathaway CEO, according to a report. Buffett confirmed the succession plan to CNBC on Monday, after Berkshire Vice Chairman Charlie Munger hinted at the news during the company’s annual meeting on Saturday. Abel currently oversees all of Berkshire's non-insurance companies. Berkshire has long said it planned to split Buffett's job into three parts when he is gone: CEO, investment management and a separate chairman. But in the past Buffett has refused to name the CEO candidate. The 90-year-old Buffett has said he has no plans to retire. 

UK's Johnson voices optimism over lockdown easing route

LONDON (AP) — British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Monday there's a “good chance” that social distancing rules in England will be scrapped on June 21, a potential boon to hard-hit pubs and cinemas. Johnson told reporters in the north…

Clean megaprojects divide surprise group: environmentalists

America’s patchwork of environmental and conservation groups have disparate opinions about large-scale renewable energy projects that could rise during President Joe Biden's tenure. The groups all agree about the need to reduce U.S. fossil fuel use to fight climate change. But there are deep disputes about the wisdom of projects that will have their own impact on the environment. Some argue that projects like the planned Vineyard Wind offshore wind project off New England will kill birds. Other projects, such as the Champlain Hudson Power Express clean power cable in New York, have generated complaints from environmentalists about ecosystem loss. Elsewhere projects have sparked debate about whether they are simply too big.

Meredith to sell TV station division to Gray Television

Magazine publisher and multimedia company Meredith Corp. is selling its Local Media Group consisting of 17 television stations to Gray Television Inc. for $2.7 billion in cash and will focus on expanding its print and digital magazines business. The Des Moines, Iowa-based company publishes more than 20 magazines including People and Better Homes & Gardens in print and online digital versions. It will retain the Meredith Corp. name and New York Stock Exchange trading ticker symbol MDP. The company will remain headquartered in Iowa. The company says the cash will allow it to extinguish corporate debt and pay $14.50 a share to Meredith stockholders who will maintain a 1-for-1 equity share in the company after the sale which is expected to close late this year.

A decision on suspended Trump Facebook account this week

Former President Donald Trump will find out this week whether he gets to return to Facebook. The social network’s quasi-independent Oversight Board says it will announce its decision Wednesday on a case concerning the former president's account. Trump’s account was suspended for inciting violence that led to the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riots. After years of treating Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric with a light touch, Facebook and Instagram took the drastic step of silencing his accounts on Jan. 7, saying at the time he’d be suspended “at least” through the end of his presidency.  

Amazon to take over "Thursday Night Football" package in '22

Amazon Prime Video will become the exclusive home of the NFL’s “Thursday Night Football” package a year earlier than originally anticipated. Amazon and the league announced Monday that Prime Video will take over the entire package in 2022, which will make it an 11-season deal through 2032. It was originally supposed to begin in 2023 when the league’s new media rights deals kick in. This is the first time a streaming service has had the full rights to an NFL package. Prime Video will carry 15 regular-season games on Thursday night along with one preseason game. 

Minors primer: What's new as MiLB returns in 2021?

Minor league teams across the country are set to open their seasons Tuesday, returning baseball to communities denied the old national pastime during the coronavirus pandemic. Capacities will differ by jurisdiction, but for most, it will be the first opportunity to see pro players in person since the entire 2020 season was canceled. Of course, much has changed since the last affiliated games were played in 2019. There are fewer teams and leagues and Major League Baseball has introduced plans to use the minors as a testing ground for changes that could improve pace of play or reduce player injuries.

Man United violence the peak of toxic fan-owner relationship

The storming of Old Trafford crystalized 16 years of disconnect between Manchester United fans and its distant ownership. Choosing not to engage with supporters, the Glazers can’t have avoided seeing the levels of rage against them on Sunday. Not when it led to the unprecedented postponement of a Premier League game due to fan unrest. Three months after celebrating success in the Super Bowl with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it was the Glazer family’s ill-fated bid to lead United into a European Super League that made their relationship with fans in England more toxic than ever before.

Baffert mulling Medina Spirit's next step after Derby win

As Bob Baffert digests a record seventh Kentucky Derby win that even caught him off guard, the Hall of Fame trainer and Medina Spirit’s connections must determine whether the colt will turn around quickly for the Preakness on May 15. A collection of rested horses and revenge-minded competitors would await Medina Spirit in Baltimore. Shorter than the Derby at 1 3/16 miles, the Preakness sets up well for horses that skipped Churchill Downs for the sprint at Pimlico Race Course.

NY Times, Washington Post, NBC correct articles on Giuliani

The Washington Post, New York Times and NBC News all issued similar corrections to stories about former President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Rudolph Giuliani and his dealings in Ukraine. Each news organization removed reports from their articles reports that Giuliani had been warned in a briefing by the FBI that he was the target of an effort by the Russians to influence the presidential election. NBC says that a second source now tells the network that an FBI briefing on this topic was prepared for Giuliani but not delivered. The former New York City mayor called on the newspapers to reveal sources for the incorrect report, but they did not respond to that demand on Monday.

Cafes, restaurants reopen in Greece for outdoor service

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Cafes and restaurants reopened in Greece on Monday for sit-down service for the first time in nearly six months, as the country began easing coronavirus-related restrictions with a view to opening the vital tourism industry in…

The Latest: NBA's Hawks to increase attendance in playoffs

The Atlanta Hawks are planning to increase capacity at State Farm Arena in the postseason, including a new section for fully vaccinated fans. The team has been allowing about 3,000 fans per game in its 17,000-seat arena during the regular season. It plans to increase that total to 7,625 for the playoffs. A section with about 500 seats will be available behind the existing courtside seating for those who are fully vaccinated. The Hawks are working on several options for fans to provide proof of vaccination and will still require all fans to wear masks and maintain social distancing.

Belarus opposition leader in Slovenia before EU presidency

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) — The exiled Belarusian opposition leader on Monday called for sustained international focus on the struggle for democracy in her country against long-ruling authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya spoke during her visit to Slovenia, a small…