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Weighty issue: Inequity raised in women's, men's tourneys

The teams had barely landed in Texas when complaints of inequity between the women’s and men’s tournaments roared over social media posts noting the women’s weight training facilities in San Antonio were severely lacking compared to what the men have in Indianapolis. Stanford sports performance coach for women’s basketball Ali Kershner posted a photo on Twitter making the comparison. Several top former college and current WNBA players quickly tweeted support for the women and criticism of the NCAA. Holzman said the NCAA would try to quickly improve the equipment available at the women’s tournament. 

China to open 1st trial of Canadians held on spy charges

DANDONG, China (AP) — China was expected to open the first trial Friday for one of two Canadians who have been held for more than two years in apparent retaliation for Canada’s arrest of a senior Chinese telecom executive. Canada…

House scuttles GOP attempt to boot Swalwell from intel panel

The House has rejected an attempt to boot a Democrat from the House intelligence committee. Democrats scuttled a Republican effort to remove Rep. Eric Swalwell of California from the intelligence panel. The resolution against Swalwell cited reporting that he had contact more than six years ago with a suspected Chinese spy who targeted politicians in California. Federal investigators alerted Swalwell to their concerns about Fang in 2015, at which point Swalwell says he cut off contact with her. Authorities have not charged Swalwell with any wrongdoing.  Swalwell was an impeachment manager against former President Donald Trump and briefly ran for president.

Matt Jones ties course record with 61 in Honda Classic

Matt Jones tied the course record at PGA National in the first round of the Honda Classic on Thursday with a 9-under 61. Brian Harman shot a 61 at PGA National in the second round of the 2012 Honda. Tiger Woods shot a 62 in the final round that same year. Until Thursday, they were the only rounds of 8 under or better since the event moved to PGA National 15 years ago. Jones, an Australian ranked No. 83 in the world, was flawless with nine birdies and no bogeys. 

Report: Fresno chicken plant got tip about virus inspection

A California newspaper reports that local health officials tipped off a chicken processing plant in Fresno County about a state inspection during the largest known COVID-19 workplace outbreak in the county. The Fresno Bee says emails obtained through the Public Records Act also show health officials coordinated media talking points during the crisis, withheld information from the public and issued no coronavirus-related corrective actions. Hundreds were infected in the outbreak last year at the Foster Farms plant in southeast Fresno and at least five workers have died. The county says it has taken a collaborative approach with businesses to protect employees and there was no collusion.  

LA police: Armie Hammer under sexual assault investigation

Los Angeles police said Thursday that they are investigating actor Armie Hammer for sexual assault. His attorney denies the allegation. A police spokesman says Hammer is the main suspect in an incident reported on Feb. 3. He would give no further details. At a video news conference Thursday, a woman said that in 2017 in Los Angeles, Hammer raped her for four hours and slammed her head against a wall. The woman appeared on camera but identified herself only by her first name. Her attorney Gloria Allred said they had given evidence to police, but would not confirm whether theirs was the report the LAPD is investigating. 

The Latest: Santa Anita to reopen with limited capacity

Santa Anita will reopen to the public at limited capacity next month in time for the Santa Anita Derby, the West Coast’s major prep for the Kentucky Derby. The track in Arcadia, California, will reopen April 2, a day before the $750,000 race. Fans must purchase tickets for an assigned seat in advance. Walk-up or general admission tickets cannot be sold, though that could change as COVID-19 numbers improve in Los Angeles County. Fans will be required to wear masks and maintain social distancing. The county has dropped into the red tier for COVID-19, and the state is allowing limited capacity for large sporting event venues.

With striking of Black juror, Floyd activists see racism

A prospective juror who once lived in the neighborhood where George Floyd was arrested told the attorney for an ex-officer charged in Floyd’s death that he had a personal reason for wanting to serve on the jury. He says he often wonders why police aren't held accountable in the deaths of Black men, so “maybe I'll be in the room to know why.” But the man, referred to only as Juror No. 76, wasn't chosen for the panel because Derek Chauvin's defense attorney used one of his strikes to keep him off.  It was an illustration of how difficult it can be for people who say they have personal experience with police misconduct to make it onto juries that hold them accountable.

Burns confirmed as CIA director as US faces diverse threats

WASHINGTON (AP) — Without opposition, the Senate confirmed veteran diplomat William Burns as CIA director on Thursday, giving him control of the nation's premier spy agency as the U.S. government confronts threats from China, Russia, Iran and elsewhere. The approval,…

France announces soft new virus restrictions in Paris region

PARIS (AP) — The French government backed off Thursday from ordering a tough lockdown for Paris and several other regions despite an increasingly alarming situation at hospitals with a rise in the numbers of COVID-19 patients. Instead, the prime minister…

Forecast for spring: Nasty drought worsens for much of US

Government forecasters say the spring in the United States looks like it will be dry and warm with little flooding. Thursday's spring outlook is bad news for the West, which has been under a megadrought for more than 20 years. About two-thirds of the country is now abnormally dry or under drought conditions. Forecasters say that's only going to get worse. They expect water use cutbacks, dangerous wildfires, low reservoir levels and damage to wheat crops. Forecasters expect nearly the entire country to be warmer than normal for the next three months, and that worsens drought. 

Amazon gets Thursday night games, NFL nearly doubles TV deal

The NFL will nearly double its media revenue to more than $10 billion a season with new rights agreements announced Thursday, including a deal with Amazon Prime Video that gives the streaming service exclusive rights to “Thursday Night Football” beginning in 2022. The league took in $5.9 billion a year in its current contracts. Amazon has partnered with the league to stream Thursday night games since 2017, but it will take over the entire package from Fox. Games will continue to air on CBS, Fox, NBC and ESPN, while ABC will have a limited schedule of games as well as returning to the Super Bowl rotation (two games) for the first time since the 2005 season.

Atlanta police on shooting probe: 'Nothing is off the table'

Police say “nothing is off the table” in their investigation of the deadly shootings at two Atlanta massage parlors, including whether the slayings were a hate crime. Those attacks and a third one near the suburban town of Woodstock killed eight people. The shootings prompted President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to change their plans for a previously scheduled trip to Atlanta. The pair postponed a political event in favor of meeting Friday with Asian American community leaders. A 21-year-old white man, Robert Aaron Long, is charged with murder in the killings. Six of the victims were women of Asian descent.

Biden dispatching Sen. Coons to Ethiopia amid Tigray crisis

President Joe Biden is dispatching Sen. Chris Coons to Ethiopia to meet with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed to express the administration’s “grave concerns” about the growing humanitarian crisis and human rights abuses in the Tigray region and the risk of broader instability in the Horn of Africa. National security adviser Jake Sullivan says Coons will also discuss the situation with African Union leaders. Coons, a Democrat, will be heading to Ethiopia as a long-running conflict in the Tigray intensifies and the Biden administration steps up pressure on Ahmed to withdraw troops from the northern region amid growing reports of war crimes.

German archbishop offers to resign after abuse criticism

COLOGNE, Germany (AP) — A report commissioned by Germany’s Cologne archdiocese on church officials’ handling of past cases of sexual abuse found 75 cases in which high-ranking officials neglected their duties. The findings on Thursday prompted the archbishop of Hamburg…

Harvick reflects on anniversary of emotional Atlanta victory

Kevin Harvick returns to Atlanta Motor Speedway this weekend celebrating the 20th anniversary of his first Cup win. That victory in 2001 came in just his third Cup start and during the whirlwind that followed the death of Dale Earnhardt. Harvick was moved into Earnhardt's seat to keep the car on track and the Atlanta victory was an emotional boost for the reeling team. His memories of that day are jumbled and Harvick has said that he wishes he recognized the significance of the win 20 years ago. 

Abmas leads crop of potential mid-major NCAA bracket busters

National scoring leader Max Abmas at Oral Roberts headlines a group of players at mid-major programs capable of shaking up the NCAA Tournament bracket. Abmas is averaging 24 points per game for the Golden Eagles in the program's first NCAA appearance since 2008. They face Ohio State in the first round of the tournament. The list includes guards like UNC Greensboro's Isaiah Miller and UC Santa Barbara's JaQuori McLaughlin. There are also big men poised to make an impact in Utah State 7-footer Neemias Queta and Morehead State freshman Johni Broome.

I got the COVID-19 vaccine. What can I safely do?

I got the COVID-19 vaccine. What can I safely do? You can enjoy small gatherings again, but should continue wearing a mask and social distancing in public. In the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says fully vaccinated…

Prepare the popcorn: AMC opening more movie theaters

It’s showtime! AMC Theatres says it will have 98% of its U.S. movie theaters open on Friday as a bunch of theaters reopen in California. Even more theaters are expected to open by March 26. AMC said that California is expected to open 52 of its 54 locations by Monday. The company is preparing to resume operations at the rest of its California locations once the proper local approvals are in place. AMC’s announcement is welcomed by movie fans not only because more of them will get to return to AMC’s reclining seats and stadium style format, but because it means the company has hopefully put the worst behind it. 

Wentz says goodbye to Eagles, welcomes fresh start in Indy

Carson Wentz appreciated his time in Philadelphia. He's also ready for a fresh start in Indianapolis. More than a month after being traded from the Eagles to the Colts for two draft picks, the quarterback finally got a chance to speak publicly about the deal. And after a quick and harrowing descent from being the Eagles undisputed franchise quarterback, Wentz can't wait to get started with the Colts.

Flood of Capitol riot, tribal cases swamps US prosecutors

The U.S. Justice Department’s to-do list is always intense. And now two very different legal controversies -- insurrection cases and tribal lands disputes -- are threatening to swamp a department already flooded with pandemic-delayed cases. Together, the unprecedented investigation into the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection and court decisions giving the federal government jurisdiction over crimes on Native American lands have put enormous pressure on the Justice Department. It's created an immediate challenge for new Attorney General Merrick Garland. And defendants could be waiting a long time - some of them behind bars - for their day in court. 

Indiana man charged with killing 4 after stimulus argument

An Indianapolis man has been formally charged with murder in the killings of three adults and a child he allegedly shot to death after he and a former girlfriend argued because he wanted a share of her federal COVID-19 relief money. Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced Thursday that 25-year-old Malik Halfacre faces charges including four counts of murder one count of attempted murder in Saturday’s attack. Halfacre allegedly shot a former girlfriend, critically wounding her, and fatally shot four others Saturday. Police found the bodies of 35-year-old Anthony Johnson, 23-year-old Dequan Moore, 44-year-old Tomeeka Brown, and 7-year-old Eve Moore inside the home. Halfacre’s attorney declined comment.

Students who got partial loan relief to see full discharge

The Biden administration says students who were defrauded by their colleges and received only partial relief from their federal loans could now have them fully erased. The action, announced Thursday, reverses a Trump administration policy. The Education Department says the change could lead to $1 billion in loans being canceled for 72,000 borrowers, all of whom attended for-profit schools. The department says the action applies to students who already had their claims approved and received “less than a full loan discharge.” A senior department official briefing reporters says they are reviewing the backlog of claims yet to be decided and those that have been denied.