Author: The Associated Press

Barack and Michelle Obama endorse Kamala Harris, giving her expected but crucial support

ATLANTA (AP) — Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama have endorsed Kamala Harris in her White House bid, giving the vice president the expected but still crucial backing of the nation’s two most popular Democrats. The endorsement, announced Friday in a video showing Harris accepting a joint phone call from the former first couple, comes as Harris builds momentum as…

Biden Delivers Solemn Call To Defend Democracy As He Lays Out Reasons For Quitting Race

Courtesy: AP WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Wednesday delivered a solemn call to voters to defend the country’s democracy as he laid out in an Oval Office address his decision to drop his bid for reelection and throw his support behind Vice President Kamala Harris. Insisting that “the defense of democracy is more important than any title,” Biden…

Vikings Agree to 4-Year Extension with LT Christian Darrisaw to Put Him Under Contract Through 2029

Darrisaw, the 23rd overall pick in the 2021 draft out of Virginia Tech, will be under contract through the 2029 season.

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings agreed to a four-year extension Tuesday with left tackle Christian Darrisaw, their latest big-money deal for a core player. Darrisaw, the 23rd overall pick in the 2021 draft out of Virginia Tech, will be under contract through the 2029 season. He has two years remaining on his rookie deal. According to Pro Football…

Secret Service Director Resigns after Assassination Attempt Against Donald Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — The director of the Secret Service said Tuesday she’s resigning following the assassination attempt against ex-President Donald Trump that unleashed intensifying outcry about how the agency tasked with protecting current and former presidents could fail in its core mission. Kimberly Cheatle, who had served as Secret Service director since August 2022, had been facing growing calls to resign and…

Columbus Blue Jackets Hire Former Wild Coach Dean Evason as their Next Coach

Evason spent parts of the past five seasons coaching the Minnesota Wild.

COLUMBUS, Ohio. (AP)- The Columbus Blue Jackets have hired Dean Evason as coach. This is his second head coaching job in the NHL. Evason spent parts of the past five seasons coaching the Minnesota Wild. New Blue Jackets general manager Don Waddell fired Pascal Vincent not long after taking over control of the organization’s hockey operations department. Evason will be…

QB Jordan Love Won’t Be Practicing with Packers with Contract Situation Unsettled

Love, 25, completed 64.2% of his passes for 4,159 yards with 32 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last year.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Jordan Love won’t be practicing with the Green Bay Packers as long as the quarterback’s negotiations on a contract extension remain unresolved, general manager Brian Gutekunst said Monday. Gutekunst said Love reported to camp last week but wouldn’t be working out until a deal is reached. Love’s contract is set to expire at the end…

Kenny Clark and the Packers agree on a $64 million, 3-year contract extension, AP source says

34 sacks in 109 career starts

GREEN BAY, Wis.- Three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kenny Clark and the Green Bay Packers have agreed on a $64 million, three-year contract extension, a person familiar with the negotiations told The Associated Press on Sunday. The person, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal hasn’t been signed, said Clark will make $29 million this…

Beltré, Helton, Mauer and Leyland inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame

Mauer received 76.1% of the BBWAA vote in his first year

COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. (AP) — Adrian Beltré, Joe Mauer and Todd Helton were pegged as athletic phenoms from a young age and all three lived up to expectations with their induction to the Baseball Hall of Fame on Sunday. The Los Angeles Dodgers were so sold on Beltré early on that they broke MLB rules to sign him before he turned…

President Joe Biden Drops Out Of 2024 Race

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden dropped out of the 2024 race for the White House on Sunday, ending his bid for reelection following a disastrous debate with Donald Trump that raised doubts about his fitness for office just four months before the election. The decision comes after escalating pressure from Biden’s Democratic allies to step aside following the June 27 debate, in which…

How a faulty CrowdStrike update crashed computers around the world

The Associated Press.,– Airlines, banks, hospitals and other risk-averse organizations around the world chose cybersecurity company CrowdStrike to protect their computer systems from hackers and data breaches. But all it took was one faulty CrowdStrike software update to cause global disruptions Friday that grounded flights, knocked banks and media outlets offline, and disrupted hospitals, retailers and other services. “This is a function…

Widespread Global Tech Outage Disrupts Flights, Banks, and Hospitals

DULUTH, Minn. — The Duluth International Airport posting on their Facebook page Friday that “system outages” are affecting flights there. They let customers know to check the status of their flights before arriving to the airport and to call their airline directly for assistance. FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — A global technology outage caused by a faulty software update grounded flights, knocked banks…

Out-of-State Officers Shot and Killed a Man Wielding Two Knives Blocks Away From the RNC, Police Say

MILWAUKEE (AP) — Ohio police officers in Wisconsin for the Republican National Convention shot and killed a man who was wielding two knives near the convention, Milwaukee’s police chief said Tuesday. Five members of the Columbus, Ohio, police department fired on the man, who had a knife in each hand, refused police commands and charged at an unarmed man before police fired,…

The Secret Service is Investigating How a Man Who Shot and Injured Trump Was Able to Get so Close

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Secret Service is investigating how a gunman armed with an AR-style rifle was able to get close enough to shoot and injure former President Donald Trump at a rally Saturday in Pennsylvania, a monumental failure of one of the agency’s core duties.   The gunman, who was killed by Secret Service personnel, fired multiple shots at the stage from an “elevated…

Trump Whisked From Stage Following Apparent Gunfire at Rally, Says He is Fine

BUTLER, Pa. (AP) — Donald Trump’s campaign said in a statement that the former president was “fine” after a shooting at his rally in Butler, Pennsylvania. A local prosecutor says the suspected gunman and at least one attendee are dead. “President Trump thanks law enforcement and first responders for their quick action during this heinous act,” spokesman Steven Cheung said…

Twins Utilityman Willi Castro Added to American League Roster for All-Star Game

Castro is a first-time all-star.

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn.- Marcus Semien of the host Texas Rangers will replace Houston’s Jose Altuve as the American League’s starting second baseman for the All-Star Game on Tuesday night. Major League Baseball says Altuve will rest his left hand, which has been sore since he was hit by a 94.3 mph slider from Minnesota’s Josh Winder on July 5. Minnesota infielder/outfielder…

Vikings’ Khyree Jackson, 2 Former College Football Players Killed in Car Crash in Maryland

Jackson selected by Minnesota in 2024 NFL Draft

UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) — Vikings rookie cornerback Khyree Jackson was killed Saturday morning in a car crash in Maryland, police and the team said. Jackson, 24, was one of three people who died in an overnight three-car crash in Prince George’s County, according to Maryland State Police. The Vikings released a statement saying the team spoke to Jackson’s family,…

Wisconsin Republicans are Improperly Blocking Conservation Work, Court Says

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin Legislature’s Republican-controlled budget committee can’t legally block conservation projects initiated by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ administration, the state Supreme Court ruled Friday. The decision marks a victory for Evers, whose relationship with Republican lawmakers has deteriorated since he took office in 2019, as well as environmentalists across the state. “I’ve spent years working against near-constant Republican…

Brewers’ Contreras & Yelich Named All-Star Starters for National League

The game will take place July 16th in Arlington, Texas.

NEW YORK (AP) — Shohei Ohtani became the first player elected to start at designated hitter in four straight All-Star Games, joined by New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge as the only holdovers in the lineups announced Wednesday for the July 16 game at Arlington, Texas. Philadelphia could have three of the four National League infielders after fans voted shortstop…

Twins Place Third Baseman Royce Lewis on the Injured List, Call Up Prospect Brooks Lee

Lee, who was the No. 8 overall pick by Minnesota in the 2022 draft, is rated as the No. 13 overall prospect in baseball

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Royce Lewis was placed on the 10-day injured list by the Minnesota Twins on Wednesday with a right adductor strain, the latest setback in the star infielder’s young career, and called up prospect Brooks Lee in his place. Lewis, 25, is on the injured list for the second time this season after he missed 58 games with…

Worsening Floods and Deterioration Pose Threats to US Dam Safety

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Early last week, floodwater in rural Minnesota pushed debris against a more than century-old dam and then carved a path around it, eroding so much of the riverbank that most of a house fell into the river. Several days later, intense rain damaged a dam that holds drinking water for Houston, forcing officials to issue a potential…

Giuliani is disbarred in New York as court finds he repeatedly lied about Trump’s 2020 election loss

NEW YORK (AP) — Rudolph Giuliani, the former New York City mayor, federal prosecutor and legal adviser to Donald Trump, was disbarred in the state on Tuesday after a court found he repeatedly made false statements about Trump’s 2020 election loss. A New York appeals court in Manhattan ruled that Giuliani, who had already had his New York law license suspended in 2021…

Wild Add Grit with Trenin as Dead Cap Space for Parise-Suter Buyouts Keeps Them on Bargain Hunt

The 6-foot-2, 201-pound Trenin was traded from Nashville to Colorado before the deadline last season.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Wild are almost done with their dead weight. They have one more summer to serve in salary cap jail. With the upper limit of the 2024-25 salary cap set at $88 million per club, the Wild carried a charge of more than $14.7 million into the beginning of free agency on Monday for…

7:30 PM On FOX 21: Biden, Trump In First 2024 Presidential Debate

ATLANTA (AP) — The first general election debate of the 2024 election season is here, and it’s a historic moment no matter what happens on stage. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are taking part in Thursday night’s debate in Atlanta. Not only is it the first-ever matchup between a sitting president and a former one, but it’s also the first debate…

Bucks Select AJ Johnson No. 23 Overall at 2024 NBA Draft

Johnson is a California native who played most recently for the Illawarra Hawks of Australia's National Basketball League.

MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Milwaukee Bucks selected AJ Johnson in the first-round draft of the 2024 NBA draft. Johnson is a California native who played most recently for the Illawarra Hawks of Australia’s National Basketball League. The 19-year-old Johnson is raw and will probably need time to work his way into an NBA rotation. The Bucks would love to see…

Wolves Confidently Take Terrence Shannon at No. 27 After Illinois Star Found Not Guilty in Rape Case

The 6-foot-6 Shannon, who turns 24 next month, can play both guard positions.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves did some extra digging into Terrence Shannon Jr. before the NBA draft. They found plenty of sources vouching for his character, bolstering their confidence in a dynamic player whose final season at Illinois was overshadowed by a rape charge he was recently exonerated of. “The off-court reputation is sterling. Talk to the coaches at…

Timberwolves Agree to Trade with Spurs to Get Rob Dillingham with 8th Overall Pick

The 6-foot-1, 164-pound Dillingham spent his only college season at Kentucky.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves agreed on a trade with the San Antonio Spurs to get Kentucky guard Rob Dillingham, the eighth overall pick in the NBA draft on Wednesday night. The Timberwolves will complete the deal by sending to the Spurs their unprotected 2031 first-round pick and make a 2030 swap that’s protected for the top pick, both…

Carleton and Collier Lead Minnesota to Commissioner’s Cup Title with 94-89 Win Over New York Liberty

The Lynx became the fourth different team to win the Cup in the event's four-year history.

NEW YORK (AP) — Bridget Carleton scored 23 points and Napheesa Collier added 21 to help the Minnesota Lynx win their first Commissioner’s Cup championship with a 94-89 victory over the New York Liberty on Tuesday night. The Lynx became the fourth different team to win the Cup in the event’s four-year history and continued the trend of the host…

Top Cats: Panthers Win Their 1st Stanley Cup, Top Oilers 2-1 in Game 7

There was no collapse. The Florida Panthers are Stanley Cup champions for the first time, and they took about the hardest path possible to the title.

SUNRISE, Fla. (AP) — There was no collapse. The Florida Panthers are Stanley Cup champions for the first time, and they took about the hardest path possible to the title. Sam Reinhart and Carter Verhaeghe scored goals, Sergei Bobrovsky made 23 saves and the Panthers beat the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 on Monday night in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup…

Ed Policy to Take Over as Packers President and CEO after Mark Murphy’s Retirement Next Summer

Policy, 53, joined the Packers as vice president and general counsel in August 2012 and was promoted to COO in January 2018.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Green Bay Packers chief operating officer and general counsel Ed Policy will take over as the team’s president and CEO next year following the retirement of Mark Murphy. Policy, the son of former San Francisco 49ers and Cleveland Browns president Carmen Policy, will assume the role when the NFL’s only publicly owned franchise holds its…

Midwest Flooding Collapses A Rail Bridge, Forces Evacuations And Kills At Least 1

(AP) — A railroad bridge collapsed during flooding in the Midwestern U.S. that has forced water rescues, led to evacuations, caused at least one death and brought additional misery during a vast and stubborn heat wave. The bridge connecting North Sioux City, South Dakota, with Sioux City, Iowa, collapsed into the Big Sioux River late Sunday, an emergency manager said….

78 Countries at Swiss Conference Agree Ukraine’s Territorial Integrity Must Be Basis of Any Peace

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that negotiations with Russia “can start tomorrow” as long as Putin withdraws troops from Ukrainian territory.

OBBÜRGEN, Switzerland (AP) — Nearly 80 countries called Sunday for the “territorial integrity” of Ukraine to be the basis for any peace agreement to end Russia’s two-year war, though some key developing nations at a Swiss conference did not join in. The way forward for diplomacy remains unclear. The joint communique capped a two-day conference marked by the absence of Russia, which was not invited. Many…

Biden Campaign and Jill Biden to Make Stop in Duluth Thursday, Extending Outreach to Older Voters

Biden campaign and Jill Biden launch outreach to older voters with bingo nights and pickleball games.

WASHINGTON (AP) — First lady Jill Biden is kicking off her husband’s outreach to older voters, an effort that will blend rallies and phone banks with social events like bingo nights and pickleball games. While President Joe Biden is in Italy attending the Group of Seven summit, the first lady will travel to four swing states to launch the Seniors…

Biden Calls For Solidarity With Ukraine At D-Day Anniversary Ceremony Near The Beaches Of Normandy

COLLEVILLE-SUR-MER, France (AP) — President Joe Biden marked the 80th anniversary of D-Day on Thursday by pledging “we will not walk away” from the defense of Ukraine and allow Russia to threaten more of Europe. “To surrender to bullies, to bow down to dictators, is simply unthinkable,” he said during a ceremony at the American cemetery in Normandy. “If we were to…

Wisconsin Attorney General Files Felony Charges Against Attorneys, Aide Who Worked For Trump In 2020

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul filed felony forgery charges Tuesday against two attorneys and an aide who helped submit paperwork falsely saying that former President Donald Trump had won the battleground state in 2020. The charges were filed against attorneys Kenneth Chesebro, 62, and Jim Troupis, 70, and former Trump aide Mike Roman, 51, who allegedly…

Prosecutors To Dismiss Charges Against Minnesota Trooper Who Shot Motorist Ricky Cobb

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Prosecutors plan to dismiss murder and manslaughter charges against a white Minnesota state trooper who fatally shot Ricky Cobb II, a Black motorist, as Cobb tried to pull away from a traffic stop, saying the decision comes in response to recent statements from the trooper’s attorney and new analysis of video from the scene. Hennepin County Attorney Mary…

Vikings Reach Agreement with Jefferson on 4-Year Extension to Give Him NFL’s Richest Non-QB Contract

Star wide-receiver will be highest paid NFL player--who is not a quarterback.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Justin Jefferson became the latest player to cash in on the league-wide push for elite pass catchers. Matching the historic start to his career, Jefferson will be paid — for now — like no one else at his position. The Minnesota Vikings and their superstar wide receiver agreed Monday to a four-year extension, the richest contract in…

Minneapolis Mass Shooting Suspect Identified

Mustafa Ahmed Mohamed MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Minnesota law enforcement on Saturday identified the man who they believe fatally shot a Minneapolis officer in what police are calling an ambush. Minnesota Public Safety Department spokesperson Bonney Bowman named 35-year-old Mustafa Mohamed as the suspected shooter. He was later shot and killed by another responding officer. Minneapolis officer Jamal Mitchell was responding…

Donald Trump Tries To Turn His Guilty Verdict Into Campaign Fuel And Attacks Criminal Justice System

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump launched into attacks on the judge in his criminal trial and continued to undermine New York’s criminal justice system Friday as he tried to repackage his conviction on 34 felony charges as fuel, not an impediment, to his latest White House bid. Trump spoke to reporters at his namesake tower in Manhattan on Friday, his return…

Doncic’s 36 Points Spur Mavericks to NBA Finals with 124-103 Toppling of Timberwolves in Game 5

Anthony Edwards scored 28 points and Karl-Anthony Towns had 28 points and 12 rebounds for the third-seeded Wolves.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Luka Doncic had a 20-point first quarter on his way to 36 points for his high this postseason, and the Dallas Mavericks beat the Minnesota Timberwolves 124-103 on Thursday night to breeze through the Western Conference finals in five games. Kyrie Irving also scored 36 points for the Mavericks, who built a 29-point halftime lead on 61%…

Guilty: Trump Becomes First Former U.S. President Convicted Of Felony Crimes

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump became the first former president to be convicted of felony crimes Thursday as a New York jury found him guilty of falsifying business records in a scheme to illegally influence the 2016 election through hush money payments to a porn actor who said the two had sex. Jurors deliberated for 9.5 hours over two days before…

Minnesota Beats Boston 3-0, Wins Inaugural Walter Cup as Professional Women’s Hockey League champs

Former Bulldog Michela Cava made it 2-0 midway through the third period.

LOWELL, Mass. (AP) — Minnesota won the inaugural championship of the Professional Women’s Hockey League on Wednesday night, getting 17 saves from Nicole Hensley to beat Boston 3-0 in a winner-take-all Game 5 and claim the Walter Cup. Three nights after prematurely celebrating a would-be game-winner in double overtime that was waved off for goaltender interference, Minnesota finished the job…

Jury In Donald Trump’s Hush Money Case Asks To Rehear Testimony As Deliberations Get Underway

NEW YORK (AP) — The jury in Donald Trump’s hush money trial asked to rehear testimony Wednesday less than four hours after beginning deliberations in the first criminal case against a former American president. The four requests included testimony related to a 2015 meeting at Trump Tower where a tabloid publisher agreed to identify negative stories about Trump so that they could…

Towns, Edwards Lift Wolves Over Mavs 105-100 to Avoid Sweep in West Finals

Karl-Anthony Towns finally found his rhythm, and the Timberwolves finally closed a game in the Western Conference finals.

DALLAS (AP) — Karl-Anthony Towns finally found his rhythm, and the Timberwolves finally closed a game in the Western Conference finals. Now they head back to Minnesota to see if they can make things even more interesting against Dallas. Towns scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half and the Wolves held off the Mavericks 105-100 on Tuesday…

Luka Doncic and Kyrie Irving Each Score 33 Points as Mavs Beat Wolves for 3-0 Lead in West Finals

No team in NBA playoff history has rallied from 3-0 down.

DALLAS (AP) — Luka Doncic lunged for the ball after a steal by Anthony Edwards, knocking it far enough away to create a scramble and a jump ball the Dallas superstar won. The Mavericks made all the big plays again — on both ends of the court — and are a win away from their first trip to the NBA…

Muller Scores Late in 2nd OT, Lifting Boston Over Minnesota to Send PWHL Finals to Decisive Game 5

The final game is Wednesday in Boston.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Alina Muller scored 18:36 into the second overtime to give Boston a 1-0 win over Minnesota on Sunday night, sending the battle for the Walter Cup as the first Professional Women’s Hockey League champion to a fifth game. The final game is Wednesday in Boston. Theresa Schafzahl picked off a loose puck before she exited…

Biden Says Each Generation Has To ‘Earn’ Freedom, In Solemn Memorial Day Remarks

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden marked Memorial Day with a pledge that the United States would continue the work of the nation’s fallen toward creating a more perfect union, “for which they lived, and for which they died for.” Delivering remarks at a solemn remembrance ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery, Biden said each generation must ensure the sacrifice of the country’s…

At Least 21 Dead In Memorial Day Weekend Storms That Devastated Several US States

(AP) — A series of powerful storms swept over the central and southern U.S. over the Memorial Day holiday weekend, killing at least 21 people and leaving a wide trail of destroyed homes, businesses and power outages. The destructive storms caused deaths in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kentucky and were just north of an oppressive, early season heat wave setting records from…

Doncic Lifts Mavericks with Go-Ahead 3 with 3 Seconds Left to Top Wolves 109-108 for 2-0 Lead

Naz Reid went 7 for 9 from 3-point range for 23 points, but his last try at the buzzer rimmed in and out to send the Wolves to Dallas for Game 3 on Sunday in a big hole.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Luka Doncic hit the go-ahead 3-pointer with Rudy Gobert guarding him at the top of the key with 3 seconds left, posting his fifth triple-double of the playoffs to lead the Dallas Mavericks to a 109-108 victory and a 2-0 lead over the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Western Conference finals on Friday night. Doncic had 32 points,…