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Plans solidify for 93rd Oscars: No Zoom, no sweatshirts

With nominations set and just over a month until showtime, details are trickling out about the 93rd Oscars and neither sweatshirts nor Zoom have made the cut. Producers Jesse Collins, Stacy Sher and Steven Soderbergh say in a statement Friday that their plan is for the Oscars to “look like a movie, not a television show.” They’ve enlisted Emmy and Tony Award winning director Glenn Weiss to direct the live broadcast on April 25.  Although considerably scaled down from a normal year, the producers have said they are committed to holding an in-person event at Los Angeles’ Union Station for nominees, presenters and limited guests.

Volleyball parents want answers from Oregon St president

Parents of former Oregon State volleyball players urged the school’s trustees to consider president F. King Alexander’s handling of abuse allegations in that program while they’re discussing his future because of unrelated cases while he was at LSU. An independent investigation at that school found a “serious institutional failure” in LSU’s handling of abuse cases during Alexander’s tenure there, which ended in 2019. The volleyball parents pointed out that the board didn’t have to look that far back to get a glimpse into how Alexander handles such cases. 

Slain spa worker toiled tirelessly to support her family

One of the eight people killed by a gunman who opened fire at three massage businesses in the Atlanta area was a single mother who worked tirelessly to support two sons. Hyun Jung Grant also loved music and dancing. Authorities on Friday named Grant as one of the victims. Her 22-year-old son Randy Park says he learned the moonwalk dance move as a child watching his mother do it while vacuuming. He says she worked almost daily at one of the massage businesses to support him and his younger brother. 

'We're owed a March': Hoop fans flock to bet on NCAA tourney

Last year, it was March sadness as the NCAA college basketball tournament got canceled days before it was supposed to start, because of the coronavirus. This year it's March gladness, particularly for college hoops fans who like to bet on the big dance. Fans flocked to casinos and tracks around the country, and many more used their phones to bet online in what is the biggest gambling event of the year in terms of sports betting, exceeding even the Super Bowl. Jonathan Price of Staten Island, New York, went to Atlantic City's Borgata casino to watch and bet after last year's washout. “We're owed a March,” he says.

Amid border surge, confusion reigns over Biden policies

A new migrant camp in Tijuana, Mexico, shows how confusion has undercut the message from U.S. President Joe Biden that it's not the time to come to the United States. Badly misinformed, some 1,500 migrants who set up tents across the border from San Diego harbor false hope that Biden will open entry briefly and without notice. Or they think he may announce a plan that will put them first in line to claim asylum, though he hasn’t said anything to support that theory. Biden has promised to create "a humane asylum system” but hasn't detailed the new approach or said when it will be unveiled, creating an information void. 

The Latest: Florida without Omar Payne trails Virginia Tech

Florida will have to contend with Virginia Tech without sophomore forward Omar Payne. The 6-foot-10 Payne is being held out of the seventh-seeded Gators’ first-round matchup with the 10th-seeded Hokies. The school says the decision was made by head coach Mike White. Payne is averaging 3.7 points and 3.2 rebounds in about 16 minutes a game this season for Florida. The Gators had issues with Virginia Tech’s size in the first half. The Hokies dominated in the paint for stretches while building a 33-27 lead.

'Very angry': Democrats face tough choices on immigration

Democrats who long blistered the Trump administration’s hard-line immigration policies are suddenly in a tough political bind. The Biden administration is responding to a wave of children crossing the southern border into the U.S. with some of the very tactics that evoked moral outrage from Democrats when they were embraced by former President Donald Trump. That includes accommodating children in hastily improvised lockups. Democrats have little appetite to condemn President Joe Biden in the same terms as Trump. Biden, after all, is pushing for a massive immigration overhaul and has spoken of compassion toward migrants. But in taking a softer stance, Democrats risk being branded by the GOP as hypocrites.

Minneapolis police review force used in homeless camp clash

The Minneapolis police department is reviewing use of force by its officers after their attempt to clear out a homeless encampment led to a violent clash between officers and civilians who tried to stop them. Police say five people were arrested and five officers sustained minor injuries Thursday. A fight broke out between officers and civilians who shoved back and forth. The group MNUprising shared a video on Twitter that appeared to show an officer trying to restrain a person by kneeling on that person’s neck or upper back. The clash came as a jury is being seated for the murder trial of a former Minneapolis police officer who pressed his knee against George Floyd's neck for about nine minutes last May.

A hopeful pandemic note: Tanglewood music festival to resume

The Boston Symphony Orchestra hasn't played live for fans since the coronavirus pandemic hit a year ago, but it's returning to the stage in July for the outdoor Tanglewood festival. The event, one of the nation's premier summer music festivals, was canceled in 2020 for the first time since World War II. The acclaimed orchestra says it will perform a six-week run at the outdoor venue in the Berkshires of western Massachusetts — about half as long as the usual festival. Symphony music director Andris Nelsons says he hopes Tanglewood's revival will help spread the healing power of music.

Powell: US economy gaining, but recovery 'far from complete'

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell reiterated his belief Friday that while the U.S. economy has been steadily rebounding from the devastation caused by the pandemic recession, the recovery is far from complete and needs continued support from…

Indonesian Muslim body clears AstraZeneca use in emergency

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — AstraZeneca's vaccine against COVID-19 was cleared Friday for use in Indonesia after the drug regulator declared it safe and clerics in the world’s most populous Muslim nation approved it for emergency use. Southeast Asia’s biggest economy…

L.L. Bean sees sales boom amid pandemic's push to outdoors

Maine-based retailer L.L. Bean saw the best sales in nearly a decade during pandemic. Officials say the Freeport-based retailer started its fiscal year with store closings and worries about survival but the company weathered the turbulent times to revenue growth of 5%. That’s the best showing since 2011. Analyst say L.L. benefited from two of the hottest retail segments during the pandemic — comfort items like slippers, pajamas and loungewear, and outdoor gear like hiking boots, fishing gear and canoes. CEO Steve Smith said the company’s board awarded a cash bonus of 10% of workers’ salary and an additional 401(k) contribution equal to 8% of salary.

Manhattan courthouses adapt to COVID so trials can return

The two big, busy federal courthouses in Manhattan took the adage that justice delayed is justice denied to heart when the coronavirus hit. Now, over 100 jury trials are scheduled, all protected by a safety system so extensive that no document will change hands without being sprayed with disinfectant. Everyone wears double masks, except for witnesses who sit with their faces exposed in a plexiglass booth mere feet from a judge and jury. Four jury trials are going on now simultaneously in specially fitted courtrooms. A court official says there has been no traceable spread of the coronavirus in two courthouses during 16 jury trials since the fall.

Liz Mills takes big step for female basketball coaches

Liz Mills is a rarity. She's a woman who coaches men's basketball teams. She's done it for 10 years in Africa at the club and national level. The Australian is now head coach of Kenya and the only woman in the world currently in charge of a men's national basketball team. She took another major step last month when she led Kenya to the African championships for the first time since 1993. She did it by masterminding a victory over record 11-time champion Angola in qualifying. Kenya had never before beaten Angola.

US moves to reengage Europe in person after Trump snubs

WASHINGTON (AP) — America's top diplomat is heading to Europe next week as the Biden administration moves to restore closer U.S. ties with European and NATO allies after four years of snubs and tension under former President Donald Trump. The…

Fed to end relaxed capital requirements for large banks

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve says it will restore capital requirements for large banks that were relaxed as part of the Fed’s efforts to shore up the financial system during the early days of the pandemic. The Fed said…

Vaccine delay in Britain stirs equity debate in India

NEW DELHI (AP) — Indian health experts and activists on Friday said it was hypocritical for Britain to blame vaccine delays on India’s Serum Institute, amid a debate over equitable access stirred by comments from top officials in London. Activists…

The Latest: Georgia sheriff's spokesman replaced on case

A Georgia sheriff’s office captain has been replaced as the spokesman in the investigation into the recent massage business slayings after the spokesman drew widespread outrage for saying the suspect in the killings had had a “really bad day.” Cherokee County Communications Director Erika Neldner announced in a statement Thursday that she will be handling media inquiries related to Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office’s investigation into Tuesday’s slayings. The statement did not give details about the status of Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Capt. Jay Baker. Baker was criticized for saying during a news conference Wednesday that the 21-year-old suspect had had “a really bad day” and “this is what he did.”

New mom, Army vet among 8 killed in Georgia spa shootings

A new mother and an Army veteran who installed security systems are among eight people killed by a gunman who opened fire at three massage businesses in the Atlanta area. Family members say 33-year-old Delaina Yaun went to Youngs Asian Massage Parlor on Tuesday to get a rare break from caring for her 8-month-old daughter. A brother of 54-year-old Paul Michels says he was considering a change of careers after doing electrical work for more than 25 years. John Michels says his brother was considering opening a spa of his own. Police have not released the names of all the victims.

Morehead St seeks another NCAA upset after 10-year absence

Preston Spradlin didn’t fret when Morehead State stumbled out of the gate, and he’s making sure the Eagles aren’t comfortable despite their red-hot roll. After all, there’s so much to achieve in their long-awaited return to the NCAA Tournament, as Kentucky’s lone representative yet. This week marks 10 years since Morehead State’s first-round upset of No. 4 seed Louisville in its last NCAA appearance. A chance to repeat history looms when the No. 13 seed Eagles face No. 4 West Virginia at Lucas Oil Stadium. The Eagles enter the tournament on a 19-1 roll including winning the OVC championship.

Final polls: Israeli PM's fate rests on razor-thin margins

JERUSALEM (AP) — A final batch of polls by Israeli media outlets on Friday showed a razor-thin election, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's fate likely turning on the performance of small parties and a former ally who has criticized him…

Scottish leader under fire after lawmakers fault testimony

LONDON (AP) — Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon has dismissed suggestions that she misled lawmakers, saying opposition members of a legislative panel had made up their minds before they heard her evidence. Sturgeon told Sky News that she stands by the…

Myanmar garment workers urge global brands to denounce coup

Garment workers in Myanmar are urging major international brands to denounce the recent military coup there and put more pressure on factories to protect workers from being fired or harassed — or worse arrested and killed for participating in protests. Major brands like H&M and Mango increasingly flocked to Myanmar in search of cheap labor as the Southeast Asian country began moving toward democracy over the past decade. Now, those brands face a conundrum: whether to stay or pull out. At stake are the livelihoods of more than 600,000 garment workers who have been at the forefront of the pro-democracy demonstrations.

Tokyo Olympics ready to announce ban on fans from abroad

Tokyo organizers and the International Olympic Committee are poised to finally make it official that most fans from abroad will be prohibited from attending the postponed Olympics. The announcement is expected to come after “five-party” talks this weekend with the IOC, local organizers, the Japanese government, the Tokyo metropolitan government and the International Paralympic Committee. A sticking point seems to be with international federations and national Olympic committees that have sponsors with tickets who wish to attend. They are expected to get some type of exemption. The Olympics open on July 23. The Paralympics follow on Aug. 24.