Author: The Associated Press

Vikings Agree to Deals with Ex-Rival RB Jones and QB Darnold as Sub for Cousins, AP Sources Say

The Vikings also released defensive lineman Dean Lowry, who started four games and finished the season on injured reserve.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings stayed aggressive in free agency Tuesday by adding former Green Bay running back Aaron Jones and 2018 third overall draft pick Sam Darnold as a temporary replacement at quarterback for Kirk Cousins. Jones, who was released Monday by the Packers after they landed 2022 All-Pro Josh Jacobs, gets a one-year, $7 million contract with…

Biden And Trump Could Clinch Nominations In Tuesday’s Contests, Ushering In General Election

NEW YORK (AP) — Joe Biden and Donald Trump hope to clinch their parties’ presidential nominations with dominant victories in a slate of state primaries on Tuesday as the 2024 fight for the White House moves into a new phase. Neither Biden, a Democrat, nor Trump, a Republican, faces significant opposition in primary contests across Georgia, Washington state, Mississippi and Hawaii. The only question…

Vikings Shore Up Post-Cousins Defense by Striking Deals with Greenard, Van Ginkel, Cashman

Greenard and Cashman left the Houston Texans. Van Ginkel departed the Miami Dolphins.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings said goodbye to quarterback Kirk Cousins and quickly began building up their depleted defense as the free agent negotiation window opened Monday in the NFL, agreeing to contracts with edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel and inside linebacker Blake Cashman. Greenard will get a four-year, $76 million deal with $42 million guaranteed,…

Packers Agree to Free Agent Deals with Josh Jacobs and Xavier McKinney, AP Sources Say

The team also released running back Aaron Jones and offensive tackle David Bakhtiari.

GREEN BAY, Wis.- (AP) The Green Bay Packers got off to a busy start in free agency, agreeing to deals with running back Josh Jacobs and safety Xavier McKinney, and releasing longtime running back Aaron Jones. Two people familiar with the deals said Monday that the Packers will sign Jacobs and McKinney at the start of the new league year…

Cousins Agrees to 4-Year Contract with Falcons, Leaving Vikings to Look for New QB

Cousins had a 103.8 passer rating in eight games for the Vikings last season that was still the third best in the league despite the lost time.

EAGAN, Minn.- (AP) Kirk Cousins is leaving Minnesota for Atlanta, landing another big contract with a well-timed foray into free agency. Cousins agreed Monday to a four-year deal with the Falcons, his agent Mike McCartney announced on social media. Atlanta had a glaring need at quarterback after cycling through Tyler Heinicke and Desmond Ridder last season, and Cousins’ wife, Julie,…

Biden Uses Feisty State of the Union to Contrast with Trump, Sell Voters on Second Term

Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden turned his State of the Union speech Thursday night into an animated argument for a second term as he laced into GOP front-runner Donald Trump for espousing “resentment, revenge and retribution” and jeopardizing freedom at home and abroad. Over and over, Biden delivered broadsides at “my predecessor” without mentioning Trump by name,…

Sweden Officially Joins NATO, Ending Decades Of Post-World War II Neutrality

WASHINGTON (AP) — Sweden on Thursday formally joined NATO as the 32nd member of the transatlantic military alliance, ending decades of post-World War II neutrality and centuries of broader non-alignment with major powers as security concerns in Europe have spiked following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. President Joe Biden congratulated Sweden on its admission and said it was a sign that Russian President Vladimir…

Biden Will Announce A Plan For A Temporary Port On Gaza’s Coast To Increase Flow Of Humanitarian Aid

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will announce a plan in his State of the Union address Thursday for the U.S. military to help establish a temporary port on the Gaza coast, increasing the flow of humanitarian aid for the beleaguered territory during the Israel-Hamas war, according to administration officials. The officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to preview…

Nikki Haley Suspends Campaign; Leaves Donald Trump Last Major Republican Candidate

NEW YORK (AP) — Nikki Haley suspended her presidential campaign on Wednesday after being soundly defeated across the country on Super Tuesday, leaving Donald Trump as the last remaining major candidate for the 2024 Republican nomination. Haley didn’t endorse the former president in a speech in Charleston, South Carolina. Instead, she challenged him to win the support of the moderate…

Coast-To-Coast Super Tuesday Contests Poised To Move Biden And Trump Closer To November Rematch

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are poised to move much closer to winning their parties’ nominations Tuesday during the biggest day of the primary campaign, setting up a historic rematch that many voters would rather not endure. Super Tuesday elections are being held in 16 states and one territory — from Alaska and California to Vermont and Virginia. Hundreds…

Facebook, Instagram, Messenger And Threads Down In Widespread Outage

(AP) — Users of Meta’s Facebook, Instagram, Threads and Messenger platforms are experiencing login issues in what appears to be a widespread outage. Internet traffic observer Down Detector is reporting vast outages on several Meta platforms Tuesday. The problems are being reported across the world, suggesting that the outage could be global. London-based internet monitoring firm Netblocks said on X that…

What To Know About Super Tuesday And Why It Matters

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s almost Super Tuesday when voters in 16 states and one territory will cast their ballots in the 2024 presidential primaries. Here’s why the day matters — and why it looks a little different this year. What is Super Tuesday? It’s traditionally the biggest day nationwide for primary elections and caucuses before the actual Election Day in November. Until now,…

Supreme Court restores Trump to ballot, rejecting state attempts to ban him over Capitol attack

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday restored Donald Trump to 2024 presidential primary ballots, rejecting state attempts to hold the Republican former president accountable for the Capitol riot. The justices ruled a day before the Super Tuesday primaries that states cannot invoke a post-Civil War constitutional provision to keep presidential candidates from appearing on ballots. That power resides with Congress, the court…

Biden Approves Military Air Drops Of Aid Into Gaza After Chaotic Encounter Left More Than 100 Dead

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Friday that the U.S. will begin air-dropping humanitarian assistance into Gaza, a day after more than 100 Palestinians were killed during a chaotic encounter with Israeli troops. The president announced the move after at least 115 Palestinians were killed and more than 750 others were injured, according to Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry, on…

McConnell Will Step Down As The Senate Republican Leader In November After A Record Run In The Job

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mitch McConnell, the longest-serving Senate leader in history who maintained his power in the face of dramatic convulsions in the Republican Party for almost two decades, will step down from that position in November. McConnell, who turned 82 last week, announced his decision Wednesday in the well of the Senate, the chamber where he looked in awe from its back…

Thousands Expected At Memorial Service For 3 Slain Minnesota First Responders

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Thousands of law enforcement officers, firefighters and paramedics are expected to pack a Minnesota church on Wednesday for a memorial service for three first responders who were gunned down while responding to a report of a domestic incident at a home with seven children inside. The Minneapolis suburb of Burnsville has been in mourning in the week and a…

Biden, Trump Win Michigan Primaries

DEARBORN, Mich. (AP) — President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump won the Michigan primaries on Tuesday, further solidifying the all-but-certain rematch between the two men. Biden defeated Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips, his one significant opponent left in the Democratic primary. But Democrats were also closely watching the results of the “uncommitted” vote, as Michigan has become the epicenter…

Americans reporting nationwide cellular outages from AT&T, Cricket Wireless and other providers

A number of Americans are dealing with cellular outages on AT&T, Cricket Wireless, Verizon, T-Mobile and other service providers, according to data from Downdetector. AT&T had more than 73,000 outages around 9:30 a.m. ET, in locations including Houston, Atlanta and Chicago. The outages began at approximately 3:30 a.m. ET. The carrier has more than 240 million subscribers, the country’s largest….

Federal Student Loans For Nearly 153,000 Borrowers Are Being Automatically Canceled, Biden Says

CULVER CITY, Calif. (AP) — President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that his administration was automatically canceling federal student loans for nearly 153,000 borrowers, putting the spotlight on his debt cancellation efforts as he ramps up his reelection campaign. Biden, who is in the midst of a three-day campaign swing through California, made the announcement as part of a new repayment plan that offers…

Wisconsin Republican-Controlled Senate Votes To Reject Evers Appointees

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Senate voted Tuesday to reject four of Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ appointees, including a member of the state’s natural resources policy board and a former lieutenant governor who was to serve on a hospital governing board. That brings to 13 the number of Evers appointees that the Senate has rejected, which has the effect…

Republican Eric Hovde Seeks To Unseat Democrat Baldwin In Wisconsin Race For US Senate

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Republican businessman and real estate mogul Eric Hovde launched his bid for the U.S. Senate against Wisconsin Democratic incumbent Sen. Tammy Baldwin on Tuesday, saying in a video that “America is slipping away” and “everything is going in the wrong direction.” This is Hovde’s second Senate campaign; he ran in 2012 but lost in the GOP primary to former Gov….

Eriksson Ek, Kaprizov Score Hat Tricks, Wild Get Record-Filled 10-7 Victory Over Canucks

Minnesota's six scores in a span of 5:45 was the fastest such flurry in the NHL in 25 years.

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Joel Eriksson Ek and Kirill Kaprizov each had hat tricks and tied the franchise record with six points for the Minnesota Wild, who faced a three-goal deficit in the second period before storming back with six unanswered goals in a record-filled 10-7 victory over the NHL-leading Vancouver Canucks on Monday. “You could feel the way…

Mike Conley Agrees to 2-Year Contract Extension with Timberwolves, AP Source Says

The 36-year-old Conley is in his first full season with Minnesota.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Timberwolves and point guard Mike Conley agreed Monday to a two-year contract extension worth about $21 million that would last through his 19th season in the NBA, according to a person with knowledge of the deal. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the contract had not yet been finalized….

Gaza Health Ministry Says Over 29,000 Palestinians Have Been Killed In Israel-Hamas War

RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Israel’s assault in Gaza has killed more than 29,000 Palestinians since Oct. 7, the territory’s Health Ministry said Monday, marking another grim milestone in one of the deadliest and most destructive military campaigns in recent history. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue the offensive until “total victory” against Hamas after the militants’ Oct. 7 attack on…

Wisconsin’s Democratic Governor Signs His New Legislative Maps Into Law After Republicans Pass Them

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin Democratic Gov. Tony Evers signed new legislative district maps into law on Monday that he proposed and that the Republicans who control the Legislature passed to avoid having the liberal-controlled state Supreme Court draw the lines. Democrats hailed the signing as a major political victory in the swing state where the Legislature has been firmly under Republican…

2 officers, 1 first responder killed at the scene of a domestic call in Minnesota; suspect dead

A police vehicle with what appears to be bullet pockmarks on its windshield is parked near the scene where two police officers and a first responder were shot and killed Sunday, Feb. 18, 2024, in Burnsville, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)BURNSVILLE, Minn. (AP) — Two police officers and a first responder were shot and killed early Sunday and a third officer…

Donald Trump Fraud Verdict: $364 Million Penalty In Civil Fraud Case

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York judge ruled Friday against Donald Trump, imposing a $364 million penalty over what the judge ruled was a yearslong scheme to dupe banks and others with financial statements that inflated the former president’s wealth. Judge Arthur Engoron issued his decision after a 2½-month trial that saw the Republican presidential front-runner bristling under oath…

2 Juveniles Charged In Mass Shooting At The Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl Parade

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Two juveniles were charged with crimes connected to the mass shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl rally, authorities said Friday, as the city tries to recover in the aftermath of the violence. A news release from the Jackson County Family Court said the juveniles were charged Thursday and are being detained in the county’s…

Protests, Poisoning And Prison: The Life And Death Of Russian Opposition Leader Alexei Navalny

(AP) — Alexei Navalny, Russia’s top opposition leader and President Vladimir Putin’s fiercest foe, died in prison on Friday, a statement from the Federal Penitentiary Service said. Navalny, who was serving a 19-year sentence on charges of extremism, felt unwell after a walk and collapsed, it said. The politician’s team had no immediate confirmation of his death. Navalny was moved in December…

More People Die After Smoking Drugs Than Injecting Them, US Study Finds

NEW YORK (AP) — Smoking has surpassed injecting as the most common way of taking drugs in U.S. overdose deaths, a new government study suggests. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention called its study published Thursday the largest to look at how Americans took the drugs that killed them. CDC officials decided to study the topic after seeing reports…

Shooting After Chiefs Super Bowl Parade Seemed To Stem From Dispute Among Several People, Police Say

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The mass shooting that unfolded amid throngs of people at the Kansas City Chiefs’ Super Bowl celebration appeared to stem from a dispute between several people, authorities said Thursday. Police Chief Stacey Graves said that the 22 people injured in the shooting ranged between the ages of 8 and 47 years old, half of whom were under…

1 Dead And Up To 15 Injured After Shooting Near Kansas City Chiefs Parade, Police Chief Says

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — At least one person was killed Wednesday in a shooting at the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl parade, police say. Kansas City Police Chief Stacey Graves said at a news conference that one person is dead and up to 15 were injured. It’s not clear how many were injured by gunshots “I’m angry at what…

Flu Hangs On In US, Fading In Some Areas And Intensifying In Others

NEW YORK (AP) — The flu virus is hanging on in the U.S., intensifying in some areas of the country after weeks of an apparent national decline. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data released Friday showed a continued national drop in flu hospitalizations, but other indicators were up — including the number of states with high or very high…

Senate Passes A $95.3 Billion Aid Package For Ukraine And Israel, But Fate In The House Is Uncertain

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate early Tuesday passed a $95.3 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, pushing ahead after months of difficult negotiations and growing political divisions in the Republican Party over the role of the United States abroad. The vote came after a small group of Republicans opposed to the $60 billion for Ukraine held the Senate floor through…

Wreck Of Ship That Sank In 1940 Found In Lake Superior

Courtesy: Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society WHITEFISH POINT, Mich. (AP) — Shipwreck hunters have discovered a merchant ship that sank in Lake Superior in 1940, taking its captain with it, during a storm off Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society and shipwreck researcher Dan Fountain announced Monday the discovery of the 244-foot (74-meter) bulk carrier Arlington in about 650…

Patrick Mahomes Rallies The Chiefs To 2nd Straight Super Bowl Title

(AP) LAS VEGAS (AP) — Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce and the Kansas City Chiefs are back-to-back Super Bowl champions. Mahomes threw a 3-yard touchdown pass to Mecole Hardman with 3 seconds left in overtime, and the Chiefs rallied to beat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 on Sunday, becoming the first repeat Super Bowl champs in 19 years and ninth overall….

Police Search For Person Who Shot A Tourist In Times Square Then Fired At An Officer

NEW YORK (AP) — A suspected shoplifter opened fire inside a Times Square sporting goods store after being confronted by a security guard Thursday night, hitting a tourist in the leg before fleeing into the street, according to police. As police chased the shooter a few blocks on the busy streets of Midtown, Manhattan, he fired twice at an officer,…

First-Ever February Tornado Forms In Wisconsin

MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The first-ever tornado in February was spotted Thursday just south of Madison, the National Weather Service confirmed. It was the first tornado ever for the state of Wisconsin during the month since records have been kept, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported. Rock County officials, in the area where the tornado was reported, received reports of about…

Minnesota Wild’s Bill Guerin Named GM of U.S. 2026 Olympic and 2025 NHL 4-Nations Face-Off Teams

Guerin is in his fifth season as the Wild’s general manager.

ST. PAUL, Minn.- (AP) Minnesota Wild general manager and three-time U.S. Olympian Bill Guerin will be responsible for overseeing the building of the United States teams competing in the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off tournament next year and the 2026 Winter Games, USA Hockey announced on Thursday. The hiring of Guerin as GM is a carryover from three years ago, when…

The Supreme Court Seems Poised To Reject Efforts To Kick Trump Off The Ballot Over The Capitol Riot

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court seems poised to reject attempts to kick former President Donald Trump off the 2024 ballot. A definitive ruling for Trump, the leading Republican candidate for president, would largely end efforts in Colorado, Maine and elsewhere to prevent his name from appearing on the ballot. Conservative and liberal justices alike questioned during arguments Thursday whether Trump can be disqualified from being president again because of…

Special Counsel: Biden ‘Willfully’ Disclosed Classified Materials, But No Criminal Charges Warranted

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden “willfully” retained and disclosed highly classified materials when he was a private citizen, including documents about military and foreign policy in Afghanistan and other sensitive national security matters, according to a Justice Department report that nonetheless says no criminal charges are warranted for him or anyone else. The report from special counsel Robert Hur, released Thursday, represents…

Packers Announce Members of Search Committee to Decide on Murphy’s Successor

The search committee will work in conjunction with the search firm Korn Ferry.

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — The Green Bay Packers have chosen the members of the selection committee to find a successor to Mark Murphy, who will retire as the team’s president and CEO next year. Murphy is required to retire when he turns 70 in July 2025. Susan Finco, the Packers’ executive committee vice president and lead director, will chair…

Senate Republicans Block Bipartisan Border Package, Scuttling Deal They Had Demanded From Democrats

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans blocked a bipartisan border package Wednesday, scuttling months of negotiations with Democrats on legislation intended to cut back record numbers of illegal border crossings. Many Republicans said the election-year compromise wasn’t enough, even as supporters of the bill insisted it was the best possible in divided government. The 49-50 vote, far short of the 60 ayes…

Twins Finalize Carlos Santana Contract, Sign Jay Jackson For More Bullpen Depth

The switch-hitting Santana and the Twins agreed to a deal last week, after the 37-year-old split last season with Pittsburgh and Milwaukee.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Twins finalized their $5.25 million, one-year contract with first baseman Carlos Santana and added to their bullpen Wednesday by signing right-hander Jay Jackson and claiming right-hander Zack Weiss off waivers. Jackson, a late bloomer who had a strong 2023 season with Toronto, got a $1.5 million, one-year contract. The switch-hitting Santana and the Twins agreed…

Missing Marine Corps Helicopter Carrying 5 Troops From Nevada To California Has Been Located

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A Marine Corps helicopter that had been missing with five troops aboard as an historic storm continued drenching California was found Wednesday morning in a mountainous area outside San Diego. The aircraft was located just after 9 a.m. by civil authorities near the mountain community of Pine Valley, about a 45-mile (72-kilometer) drive from San Diego but rescue…

Toby Keith, Country Singer-Songwriter, Dies At 62 After Stomach Cancer Diagnosis

(AP) — Toby Keith, a hit country crafter of pro-American anthems who both riled up critics and was loved by millions of fans, has died. He was 62. The “Should’ve Been a Cowboy” singer-songwriter, who had stomach cancer, died peacefully Monday surrounded by his family, according to a statement posted on the country singer’s website. “He fought his fight with grace and…

Jury Finds Michigan School Shooter’s Mother Jennifer Crumbley Guilty Of Manslaughter

PONTIAC, Mich. (AP) — A Michigan jury convicted a school shooter’s mother of involuntary manslaughter Tuesday in a first-of-its-kind trial to determine whether she had any responsibility in the deaths of four students in 2021. Prosecutors say Jennifer Crumbley was grossly negligent when she failed to tell Oxford High School that the family had guns, including a 9 mm handgun that…

Carl Weathers, Linebacker-Turned-Actor Who Starred In ‘Rocky’ Movies And ‘The Mandalorian,’ Dies

NEW YORK (AP) — Carl Weathers, a former NFL linebacker who became a Hollywood action movie and comedy star, playing nemesis-turned-ally Apollo Creed in the “Rocky” movies, facing off against Arnold Schwarzenegger in “Predator” and teaching golf in “Happy Gilmore,” has died. He was 76. Matt Luber, his manager, said Weathers died Thursday. His family issued a statement saying he died “peacefully…

Tesla Recalling Nearly 2.2M Vehicles For Software Update To Fix Warning Lights That Are Too Small

DETROIT (AP) — Tesla is recalling nearly all of the vehicles it has sold in the U.S. because some warning lights on the instrument panel are too small. The recall of nearly 2.2 million vehicles announced Friday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is a sign of stepped-up scrutiny of the electric vehicle maker. The agency also said it…

Warm Weather Forces Park Officials To Suspend Isle Royale Wolf Count For First Time In Decades

(AP) — A stretch of unusually warm weather has forced federal officials to suspend researchers’ annual wolf-moose count in Isle Royale National Park for the first time in more than six decades. Isle Royale is a 134,000-acre (54,200-hectare) island situated in far western Lake Superior between Grand Marais, Minnesota, and Thunder Bay, Canada. The park is a wildlife biologist’s dream…