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President Joe Biden is using his first address before a joint session of Congress to make the case that his administration has made progress during the first 100 days he’s been in office, confronting the public health and economic maelstrom caused by the coronavirus pandemic. Biden is also using the prime-time address to make his pitch directly to Americans for his expansive — and expensive — vision to rebuild the nation’s roads, bridges, water pipes and other infrastructure, bolster public education and extend other benefits for a wide swath of Americans. Here are some key takeaways from the president’s address.

BANGKOK (AP) — Myanmar government forces launched airstrikes against ethnic minority guerrillas in two areas of the country on Wednesday, local reports said. Fighting has been raging daily in northern Myanmar in territory controlled by the Kachin Independence Organization, representing…

Video released in Chicago shows an officer shooting an armed suspect in the back as he sought to elude capture. The videos released Wednesday by Chicago’s independent police review board again put a spotlight on police use of deadly force. For many, shooting fleeing suspects when their backs are turned, as in the case of Anthony Alvarez, is never justified. State laws and Supreme Court precedent do permit it under certain circumstances. From the videos released by the police review board, there’s no disputing that Alvarez had a gun. It is clearly visible. But the fact that a fleeing suspect has a gun doesn’t automatically make shooting them legal. A key point of dispute in Alvarez's case is whether he turned or was beginning to turn toward the officer when he was shot.

Republican Sen. Tim Scott is crediting former President Donald Trump and fellow members of the GOP with creating what he calls “a joyful springtime for our nation.” Scott gives that nod to Trump and the party as part of his prepared remarks on behalf of Republicans in response to President Joe Biden's speech to a joint session of Congress. Biden is striking an optimistic tone in excerpts released ahead of his speech, declaring that the U.S. is “turning peril into possibility, crisis into opportunity.” But Scott's remarks indicate his is ascribing the turnaround to the GOP.

When the Tokyo Olympics was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, U.S. women's water polo star Kiley Neushul decided to retire from the national team. The decision created a giant hole in the lineup for a powerhouse U.S. team going for a third consecutive gold medal this summer. Neushul had been a key performer for the U.S. on each side of the pool. Coach Adam Krikorian says replacing her is “impossible.” In her first interview since her decision, Neushel tells The Associated Press she wouldn't “have been in the right headspace to continue on.” She says she's excited about pursuing other interests.

Producer Charlie Yook and NFL Network didn’t have their own draft broadcast last year, but he was able to glean a couple of things from last year’s joint effort with ESPN. The biggest is when it comes to the draft, sometimes simple works best and that it is OK to combine resources. While 12 prospects will be in Cleveland waiting to be selected and pose with commissioner Roger Goodell, the NFL has sent 45 camera kits to prospects homes with iPhones, lighting, a backdrop and the hats of each team. NFL Network and ESPN will also have access to all 32 team war room cams after years of competing to see which teams they could get exclusive access.

An Idaho lawmaker facing rape allegations from a 19-year-old intern refused to answer some questions during a legislative ethics hearing Wednesday after his attorney told him to invoke his constitutional right against self-incrimination. Lewiston Republican Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger’s ethics hearing is expected to last one day. The investigation into von Ehlinger’s conduct began in March after the intern told a supervisor that von Ehlinger raped her at his apartment after the two had dinner at a restaurant. The Boise Police Department is investigating. Von Ehlinger has denied the allegations and maintains the sexual activity was consensual.

Columbus Mayor Andrew Ginther has asked the Department of Justice for an investigation into the city’s police department following a series of police killings of Black people. The Democratic mayor says while the city is committed to reform and has already established a number of “significant” changes in the past few years, it is not enough. Wednesday's request said a culture change is needed inside the police department. The Justice Department recently announced it’s opening probes into policing in Louisville, Kentucky, over the March 2020 death of Breonna Taylor, and in Minneapolis following last year’s death of George Floyd. 

Atlanta’s two biggest outdoor pro sports stadiums will both allow 100% capacity at events beginning next month. The Braves say they will return to normal capacity at 41,084-seat Truist Park beginning May 7, when they face the Philadelphia Phillies to begin their third homestand of the season. They'll join the Texas Rangers, who opened the season at 100%. Officials also say Mercedes-Benz Stadium will return to 100% capacity beginning May 15 when Atlanta United hosts a Major League Soccer match against CF Montreal. Mercedes-Benz Stadium can hold more than 70,000 fans. Face coverings will continue to be required at both stadiums. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on President Joe Biden's first joint address to Congress (all times local): 5:30 p.m. The White House says President Joe Biden's speech to Congress will call on lawmakers to lower prescription drug costs by acting…

Return To Normalcy! That’s not exactly the slogan for the NFL draft being staged Thursday through Saturday in Cleveland. It’s more at the top of the league’s wish list as it allows some prospects and fans to attend the festivities — yes, there are those going on by the shores of Lake Erie. Sure the draft is the NFL’s most popular event other than the Super Bowl and opening day. And it being held virtually in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic was a most emphatic sign that very little would be normal for pro football last year. The league is taking a more optimistic approach this week.

Federal authorities have released videos showing Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick being attacked with a chemical spray as the pro-Trump mob descended on the U.S. Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection. The videos were released Wednesday after media outlets, including The Associated Press, went to court to demand that they be made available to the press. Sicknick died after defending the Capitol. The Washington medical examiner’s office found that Sicknick suffered a stroke and died from natural causes. The release of the video comes as the two men charged in the assault on Sicknick and other officers are fighting to be released from jail.

A man has used a sledgehammer to smash the face of a Virgin of Guadalupe mural painted on tiles at a Los Angeles church. The man was recorded on security camera video during the attack at St. Elisabeth Catholic Church in the city's Van Nuys neighborhood last week. A church website statement calls the vandalism that happened before dawn on April 21st one of the parish's saddest moments. The Virgin of Guadelupe is considered central to Mexican identity and is widely worshipped as the patron saint of the Americas. The parish is seeking donations to restore the 35-year-old mural and install a plexiglass casing for protection.

Drew Lock now has some serious competition for his starting quarterback job in Denver. The Broncos' new general manager George Paton acquired veteran QB Teddy Bridgewater from the Carolina Panthers in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the upcoming NFL draft. Paton has said since he succeeded John Elway that he wanted to bring in competition for Lock, who is 8-10 in his two years Denver's starter. Paton might also draft a quarterback in the first round Thursday night. The Broncos own the ninth overall pick and have had their eyes on several of the quarterbacks in this draft class.

BERLIN (AP) — More than half of Europe's population should have received the coronavirus vaccine in the next two months, allowing governments to consider easing lockdown rules for those who've been immunized, the head of German pharmaceutical company BioNTech said…

WASHINGTON (AP) — The first Senate hearing for President Joe Biden’s judicial nominations featured two African American nominees for appeals court openings, giving Democrats an early chance to promote racial diversity on the bench and provide a contrast to the…

The National Women's Hockey League is doubling its salary cap to $300,000 for each of its six teams. At the same time, Boston Pride chairman Miles Arnone says the league is putting off adding an expansion franchise in Montreal until the 2022-23 season because of continuing uncertainties due to the coronavirus pandemic. Arnone has a stake in the BTM ownership group behind the Montreal expansion bid and operates the Toronto Six. The dramatic increase of the salary cap is based on league projections indicating that the NWHL is making strides in achieving financial stability entering its seventh season. The move comes after a year in which the league was restricted to playing a two-week season, which was disrupted further by an outbreak of COVID-19.