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The defense attorney for the former Minneapolis police officer on trial in the death of George Floyd has tried to show that Floyd yelled “I ate too many drugs” as officers pinned him to the ground. Attorney Eric Nelson didn’t get the clear confirmation he was seeking. But he may have planted a seed in jurors’ minds anyway as he seeks to sow reasonable doubt about the prosecution’s case against Derek Chauvin. His strategy includes deflecting responsibility away from Chauvin and onto Floyd himself. One witness couldn't tell from a clip what Floyd said. Another initially agreed with the defense, but after hearing the clip again concluded Floyd said, “I ain’t do no drugs.”

Atlanta pinch-hitter Pablo Sandoval drove a two-run homer to the deepest part of the ballpark off a Washington reliever who took over after Stephen Strasburg’s six scoreless innings to lift the Braves to a 2-0 victory over the Nationals and a doubleheader sweep. In the opener, Ronald Acuña Jr. led the way with a double and a pair of singles to help Atlanta snap a season-starting four-game losing streak by edging Washington 7-6. Sandoval, the 2012 World Series MVP for San Francisco, signed a minor league contract in January with the Braves, setting him for a one-year, $1 million deal if he made the 40-man roster. 

No one needed to see the colorful blooms at Augusta National to realize this will be a much different Masters than the last one. The greens looked yellow. And it was only Wednesday. The Masters that was held in November because of the pandemic is a distant memory. Excitement for the first major of the year was mixed with trepidation because of the conditions. The course is usually not this tough until the weekend. The wild card is what the weather brings. But it figures to be far different from when Dustin Johnson won last time at 20-under par.

The Biden administration and allies in the states are combating vaccine hesitancy among older Americans, one person at a time. The vaccination rate for this top-priority group is reaching a plateau even as virus supplies have dramatically expanded. Federal officials say about 76% of Americans aged 65 and older have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccines. But the rate of new vaccinations among the group has slowed in recent week. It’s a growing source of concern, not only because of the potential for preventable deaths and serious illness among seniors, but also for what it could portend for the broader population.  

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two House Republicans are demanding that the Environmental Protection Agency provide records related to a decision by the agency's new leader to remove dozens of scientists and other experts from two key advisory boards. EPA Administrator Michael…

Arizona has parted ways with men’s basketball coach Sean Miller as the program awaits its fate in an NCAA infractions investigation. The school announced Miller will be leaving the program and associate head coach Jack Murphy will serve as interim head coach. Miller and the Wildcats have been in the NCAA’s crosshairs since being ensnared in a 2017 FBI investigation into shady recruiting practices. The NCAA issued a Notice of Allegations last year and the case is currently going through the Independent Accountability Resolution Process. Arizona issued a self-imposed postseason ban this year and finished 17-9.

President Joe Biden will unveil a series of executive actions aimed at addressing gun violence on Thursday, according to a person familiar with the plans, delivering his first major action on gun control since taking office. He’s also expected to nominate David Chipman, a former federal agent and adviser at the gun control group Giffords, to be director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. If confirmed, Chipman would be the agency’s first permanent director since 2015. Biden is expected to announce tighter regulations requiring buyers of homemade “ghost guns” to undergo background checks.

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — An aide who accused New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo of groping her at his official residence told a newspaper in her first public interview it was a frightening physical encounter in which the Democrat slammed a…

Heisman Trophy winner DeVonta Smith of Alabama is scheduled to appear in person in Cleveland at the NFL draft later this month. Quarterback Mac Jones, defensive lineman Christian Barmore and cornerback Patrick Surtain II will be there as well from the national champion Crimson Tide. Also attending will be LSU wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, North Dakota State quarterback Trey Lance, Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, Miami edge rusher Gregory Rousseau, Penn State linebacker Micah Parsons, and Virginia Tech cornerback Caleb Farley.

Nike has suspended its endorsement contract with Deshaun Watson amid allegations of sexual assault and harassment against the Houston Texans quarterback. Watson has been accused of sexual assault or harassment in lawsuits filed by 22 women. Watson’s attorney, Rusty Hardin, has called the allegations “meritless” and questioned the claims against Watson, alleging they were made following a failed attempt to blackmail his client.

Wisconsin athletic director Barry Alvarez is retiring after a three-decade run in which he transformed the university’s football program and later guided the Badgers to their greatest all-around sports success in school history. The 74-year-old Alvarez announced Tuesday he would retire on June 30. He arrived at Wisconsin in 1990 as football coach and turned one of the Big Ten’s weakest programs into one of its strongest. He became athletic director in 2004 and briefly served in a dual role before stepping down as football coach after the 2005 season.

Former Vice President Mike Pence has launched a new advocacy group as he and other Trump administration officials look to boost their post-White House plans. Pence’s group, Advancing American Freedom, will serve as a counterpoint to President Joe Biden's agenda — as well as a potential springboard for Pence's own presidential campaign. It's one of several groups launched in recent weeks by former Trump aides who are hoping to capitalize on the former president's continued popularity with the Republican base. They include former senior policy adviser Stephen Miller, who has created a new legal group that aims to be an American Civil Liberties Union for conservatives. 

Jon Rahm arrived at the Masters on Wednesday, after not sleeping much or touching a club for the past few days. Such is life for a first-time father. Rahm and his wife, Kelley, welcomed their son on Friday and it’s been a predictable whirlwind ever since for the world’s No. 3 player. Rahm had said he would leave the Masters if that was when the baby decided to arrive. The baby named Kepa is healthy. Rahm’s wife is healthy. And now, Rahm is ready to go at Augusta National.

The face mask that former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin has been required to wear during his trial in George Floyd’s death has hidden his reaction to testimony. That includes any sympathy or remorse that legal experts say can make a difference to jurors. Instead, Chauvin's impassive expression at the scene has become an enduring image throughout the trial. The teenager who captured it on a cellphone camera described it as “cold” and “heartless.” Legal experts say the image presents a problem for Chauvin’s defense because it could  influence how jurors feel about the former officer.