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Biden taps Montana environmentalist for US public lands boss

President Joe Biden has nominated Tracy Stone-Manning of Missoula, Montana, to direct the Interior Department’s Bureau of Land Management. She will oversee roughly a quarter-billion acres of federally owned land in Western states. It’s the latest in a string of political appointments raising concerns among Republicans as Biden moves to curtail energy production from public reserves. The bureau has jurisdiction over vast reserves of oil, gas and coal and is set to play a key role in Biden’s commitment announced Thursday to cut climate warming emissions from fossil fuels by at least half by 2030.

Jaguars' draft prospects, including Lawrence, lured Meyer

Jacksonville’s draft prospects helped lure Urban Meyer out of coaching retirement. The Jaguars have five of the first 65 picks. It's a chance to land several young starters to build the team around. They have the No. 1 choice. It's an opportunity to grab Clemson star Trevor Lawrence and secure a franchise quarterback for the foreseeable future. It was too good for Meyer to pass up. Now, he hopes to not mess it up. The first pick will be easy. Meyer has been locked on Lawrence for months. He’s widely considered the best quarterback prospect to come out of college since Andrew Luck in 2012.

Feds fund mental health crisis teams to stand in for police

Police responding to a person gripped by a mental health or drug crisis can lead to tragic results. Now a government health program will help communities set up an alternative: mobile teams of behavioral health practitioners and paramedics trained in de-escalating such potentially volatile situations. The effort to reinvent policing after the death of George Floyd in police custody is getting an assist from Medicaid, the federal-state health insurance program for low-income people. President Joe Biden’s recent coronavirus relief bill calls for an estimated $1 billion over 10 years in federal payments to states that set up mobile crisis teams, now locally operated in only a handful of places, including Oregon.

Biden to make first overseas trip in office to UK, EU

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will embark on his first overseas trip in office in June, the White House announced Friday, with the aim of demonstrating his administration's commitment to the transatlantic alliance and reengagement with key allies. Biden…

Super Bowl champ Bucs focused on building depth in NFL draft

Jason Licht is enjoying the perks that come with being the general manager of a reigning Super Bowl champion. That includes the challenge of getting a late start on preparing for the NFL draft and not having a selection until the tail end of the first round. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers continue to get acclimated to what life’s like with Tom Brady. With all 22 starters from the Super Bowl returning, the Bucs find themselves in unfamiliar territory for a club that missed the playoffs 12 consecutive seasons before Brady’s arrival set a new course in March 2020. 

Anthony Bourdain documentary ‘Roadrunner’ set for summer

A documentary about the late celebrity chef Anthony Bourdain is coming to theaters this summer. Directed by Academy Award winner Morgan Neville, Focus Features said Friday that “Roadrunner: A Film About Anthony Bourdain” will hit theaters on July 16. Bourdain…

Ceferin warns 4 clubs to reject Super League to avoid CL ban

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin says the Spanish and Italian clubs still clinging to the Super League must disavow the breakaway project or face being banned from the Champions League. Although the Super League rapidly imploded this week after being abandoned by most clubs, Real Madrid, Barcelona, Juventus and AC Milan have not left the project. Ceferin tells The Associated Press “if they say we are a Super League, then they don’t play Champions League, of course."

'Machine' Zdeno Chara set to play in 1,600th NHL game

Zdeno Chara is set to become the 13th player in NHL history to skate in 1,600 regular-season games. Chara should reach the milestone Saturday when he and the Washington Capitals visit the New York Islanders. Chara began his NHL career with the Islanders. The Slovak defenseman is now 44 with his name on the Stanley Cup from Boston's championship in 2011. Chara is still playing a regular role in his mid-40s because of his legendary workout habits. He has also adjusted over time.

Steelers CB Layne arrested on gun charge after traffic stop

Pittsburgh Steelers cornerback Justin Layne has been arrested in Ohio after police say they found a loaded gun in his car during an early morning traffic stop. Willoughby Hills police say Layne was arrested on a fourth-degree felony charge of improper handling of a firearm in a motor vehicle. Police say they stopped Layne for speeding and conducted a search after smelling marijuana and seeing loose particles scattered throughout the vehicle. That search revealed there was a loaded Glock pistol in the center console. According to the police report, Layne acknowledged the gun was his and said he forgot it was there. A Steelers spokesman says the team is aware of the incident and is still gathering information.

Biden holding Georgia rally next week to promote jobs plan

President Joe Biden is heading to Georgia next week to mark his first 100 days in office and promote his infrastructure and jobs plan with a drive-in rally. The White House says the president and his wife, Jill Biden, will travel to Atlanta on April 29. It comes a day after he delivers his first address to a joint session of Congress. Next week's trip will mark Biden’s second visit to the state since becoming president. His first was derailed by a series of shootings at Atlanta-area spas that killed eight people, including six Asian women.

At Texas, a QB competition emerges between Thompson and Card

Casey Thompson's Alamo Bowl performance made him look like an easy pick to be starting quarterback at Texas in 2021. A coaching change and the talent of backup Hudson Card have turned the position into a battle ahead of next season. Thompson once considered leaving Texas after his freshman season. He's now glad he stuck it out in Austin for his chance to lead the Longhorns.

NBC's Kristen Welker reveals difficulties with infertility

NEW YORK (AP) — NBC News' Kristen Welker, shortly before she expects the birth of a daughter through a surrogate, is revealing the struggles with infertility that she and her husband, John Hughes, have gone through. Welker, NBC's chief White…

Sen. Johnson on others getting shots: 'What do you care?'

Republican Sen. Ron Johnson, of Wisconsin, questioned the need for widespread COVID-19 vaccinations, saying in a radio interview “what do you care if your neighbor has one or not?” Johnson, who has no medical expertise or background, made the comments Thursday during an interview with conservative talk radio host Vicki McKenna. Contrary to what medical experts advise, Johnson has said he doesn’t need to be vaccinated because he had COVID-19 in the fall. He went further on Thursday, questioning why anyone would get vaccinated or worry about why others have not. Johnson says he sees “no reason to be pushing vaccines on people."

NY won't say what it told DOJ about nursing home outbreaks

Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office won’t reveal what it told the U.S. Justice Department about COVID-19 outbreaks in nursing homes. Federal investigators asked the state last year to turn over basic statistics related to deaths and infections inside nursing homes. Cuomo’s office said it began sending records to federal authorities in the fall. But in response to an open records request from The Associated Press, the governor’s office said it would not share those same documents with the public now. It said doing so would be “an invasion of personal privacy." It also said disclosing the records would “interfere with law enforcement investigations."

13 players, 5 from Alabama, to attend NFL draft in Cleveland

Thirteen prospects will attend next week’s NFL draft in person. One year after the entire draft was conducted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the league is attempting to return to some normalcy. Most of the 13 players coming to Cleveland are expected to be selected in the first round. Five members of national champion Alabama will attend. They are quarterback Mac Jones, defensive lineman Christian Barmore, cornerback Patrick Surtain II and receivers Jaylen Waddle and Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith. The NFL says an additional 45 prospects will participate virtually. That includes likely No. 1 overall selection quarterback Trevor Lawrence of Clemson.

Therapy bunny at SF ballpark brings smiles, is instant hit

It’s just not every day you see a rabbit at a baseball game. A golden-colored therapy bunny named Alex came to the ballpark and stole the hearts of San Francisco Giants fans, attending the series opener against Miami with owners Kei Kato and Josh Row. Sporting a dark bow tie with orange crabs to represent the Giants’ colors, 4 1/2-month-old Alex earned some major screen time in the early innings. The bunny in the stands is believed to be a first in the 22-year history of Oracle Park, according to Giants spokeswoman Staci Slaughter. Kato lost her brewery restaurant during the coronavirus pandemic and now runs a small café in the U.S. Immigration office. The bunny helps her deal with the anxiety and stress of no longer having her main source of income and fulfillment.

Caitlyn Jenner says she will run for governor of California

Republican Caitlyn Jenner says she will run for governor of California. Jenner says in statement posted Friday on Twitter that she has filed initial paperwork to run. Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom is facing a likely recall election this year. Election officials are still reviewing petition signatures required to qualify the recall for the ballot. Several other Republicans have also announced plans to run. The 71-year-old transgender rights activist described herself as economically conservative and socially progressive in a People magazine interview last year. Jenner immediately stands out in an emerging field that so far has failed to attract a nationally known contender. 

Democrats move 2 bills showing strength and limits of power

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democrats were on a roll. The House voted along party lines to make the nation’s capital the 51st state and two hours later, the Senate overwhelmingly approved bipartisan legislation to address violence against Asian Americans. Thursday’s twin…

How struggling households can get federal rental assistance

An estimated 8.8 million Americans are behind on their rent, according the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. While relief efforts have staved off some of the housing crisis, rent is still going to come due. The federal government has approved two…

French prosecutors open terror probe in officer's killing

PARIS (AP) — French prosecutors have opened a terrorism investigation into the fatal stabbing of a police officer inside her police station. The assailant was shot and killed by officers nearby. The national anti-terrorism prosecutor’s office said it has taken…

Hungary walks back controversial laws after EU court rulings

BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary's government is walking back two controversial pieces of legislation that targeted foreign universities and civil society groups after they were struck down by the European Union's top court. Yet some affected groups say the changes…