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Tag: Associated Press

  • Cavaliers beat Hornets 118-113 for 7th straight victory

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    CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Donovan Mitchell scored 13 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter and the streaking Cleveland Cavaliers held off the Charlotte Hornets 118-113 on Friday night for their seventh straight victory and 12th win in 13 games.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Cleveland Cavaliers held off the Charlotte Hornets 118-113 for their seventh straight victory Friday night

    • Donovan Mitchell scored 13 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter

    • The Cavs will be at Oklahoma City on Sunday

    Jared Allen had 25 points and 14 rebounds and James Harden added 18 points and eight assists for the Cavaliers.

    Charlotte’s Kon Knueppel finished with 33 points on seven 3-pointers, giving him 193 made 3s for the season — the second most in NBA history by a rookie. Keegan Murray holds the record with 206 set in the 2022-23 season.

    LaMelo Ball and Brandon Miller each had 18 points and rookie Ryan Kalkbrenner added 12 points and 13 rebounds for Charlotte.

    Miller’s and-one layup off a no-look feed from Ball cut Cleveland’s lead to four with a minute remaining, but Mitchell made a short jumper and four free throws in the final 40 seconds to seal the win.

    The Cavaliers built a 14-point lead in the second quarter and looked like they were preparing to break the game open, but Knueppel began to heat up, finishing with four 3s and 16 points in the first half to cut Cleveland’s lead in to six. Charlotte took the lead late in the third quarter behind three more Knueppel 3s.

    But Mitchell began to take over with his physical play. He got to the line 13 times and made 12 free throws.

    Charlotte played without suspended forwards Miles Bridges and Moussa Diabate and Grant Williams, who sat out with knee injury management forcing them to play younger, less experienced players in the frontcourt.

    The Cavaliers outscored the Hornets 50-28 in the paint.

    The Hornets have now lost three of their last four games after winning nine straight games just before the All-Star break.

    Up next

    Cavaliers: At Oklahoma City on Sunday.

    Hornets: At Washington on Sunday night.

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    Spectrum News Staff, Associated Press

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  • Hungary Says It Will Block a Key EU Loan to Ukraine Until Russian Oil Shipments Resume

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    BUDAPEST, Hungary (AP) — Hungary will block a planned 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) European Union loan to Ukraine until the flow of Russian oil through the Druzhba pipeline resumes, Hungary’s foreign minister said.

    Russian oil shipments to Hungary and Slovakia have been interrupted since Jan. 27, after Ukrainian officials said a Russian drone attack damaged the Druzhba pipeline, which carries Russian crude across Ukrainian territory and into Central Europe.

    Hungary and Slovakia, which have both received a temporary exemption from an EU policy prohibiting imports of Russian oil, have accused Ukraine — without providing evidence — of deliberately holding up supplies.

    In a video posted on social media Friday evening, Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó accused Ukraine of “blackmailing” Hungary by failing to restart oil shipments. He said his government would block a massive interest-free loan the EU approved in December to help Kyiv to meet its military and economic needs for the next two years.

    “We will not give in to this blackmail. We do not support Ukraine’s war, we will not pay for it,” Szijjártó said. “As long as Ukraine blocks the resumption of oil supplies to Hungary, Hungary will block European Union decisions that are important and favorable for Ukraine.”

    Hungary’s decision to block the key funding for Ukraine came two days after it suspended shipments of diesel to its embattled neighbor until oil flows through the Druzhba were resumed, and only days before the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.

    Nearly every country in Europe has significantly reduced or entirely ceased Russian energy imports since Moscow launched its war in Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022. Yet Hungary — an EU and NATO member — has maintained and even increased its supply of Russian oil and gas.

    Hungary’s nationalist Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has long argued Russian fossil fuels are indispensable for its economy and that switching to energy sourced from elsewhere would cause an immediate economic collapse — an argument some experts dispute.

    Widely seen as the Kremlin’s biggest advocate in the EU, Orbán has vigorously opposed the bloc’s efforts to sanction Moscow over its invasion, and blasted attempts to hit Russia’s energy revenues that help finance the war. His government has frequently threatened to veto EU efforts to assist Ukraine.

    Not all of the EU’s 27 countries agreed to take part in the 90-billion-euro loan package for Ukraine. Hungary, Slovakia and the Czech Republic opposed the plan, but a deal was reached in which they did not block the loan and were promised protection from any financial fallout.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • No. 12 Florida rolls past Ole Miss 94-75, tightening SEC grip

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    OXFORD, Miss. (AP) — Alex Condon scored 24 points and No. 12 Florida tightened its grip atop the Southeastern Conference standings with a 94-75 win over Mississippi on Saturday.

    Florida (21-6, 12-2 SEC) entered as the conference leader with a two-game cushion in the loss column over Alabama, Arkansas and Tennessee with four games remaining.

    The win was the seventh consecutive for the Gators and extended its SEC road game winning streak to six. Florida improved to 16-2 since mid-December and remained unbeaten in February.

    Thomas Haugh added 20 points and nine rebounds as Florida had five players in double figures. Reserves Urban Klavzar scored 15 points while Xaivian Lee and Boogie Fland had 11 points apiece.

    The Gators trailed in the opening five minutes before building a first half leads of 14 points on two occasions and led by as many as 22 points on Hough’s dunk with 3:14 remaining.

    Malik Dia scored 24 points for Ole Miss (11-16, 3-11), the ninth consecutive loss for the Rebels. Ilias Kamardine had 14 points and Patton Pinkins added 10, but Ole Miss never got within single digits in the final 18 minutes.

    Florida led 43-32 at halftime on the strength of a 14-2 run midway through the first half. Condon and Hough combined for 10 points in the surge that built what proved to be an insurmountable 24-14 lead with 9:15 left in the first half.

    The Gators dominated the rebound battle with a 39-24 edge and finished 11 of 22 from three-point range. Ole Miss forced 19 turnovers, but shot only 25 of 61, 41 percent, including 2 of 16 from the 3-point line.

    Up next

    Florida: The Gators complete a two-game road trip to Texas on Wednesday.

    Ole Miss: The Rebels complete a two-game home stand by hosting LSU on Wednesday.

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  • Request for Jesse Jackson to lie in honor at Capitol denied

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    WASHINGTON — The late Rev. Jesse Jackson will not lie in honor in the United States Capitol Rotunda after a request for the commemoration was denied by the House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office due to past precedent.

    What You Need To Know

    • House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office has denied a request to have the late Rev. Jesse Jackson lie in honor in the United States Capitol Rotunda due to precedents that such honors are usually only designated for presidents

    • Johnson’s office said it received a request from the family to have Jackson’s remains lie in honor at the Capitol

    • The Jackson family has announced scheduled dates for memorial services to honor the civil rights icon in Chicago, South Carolina and Washington, DC

    • No locations or times have yet been outlined for the events in South Carolina and Washington

    Johnson’s office said it received a request from the family to have Jackson’s remains lie in honor at the Capitol, but the request was denied, because of the precedent that the space is typically reserved for former presidents, the military and select officials.

    The civil rights leader died this week at the age of 84. The family and some House Democrats had filed a request for Jackson to be honored at the U.S. Capitol.

    Amid the country’s political divisions, there have been flare ups over who is memorialized at the Capitol with a service to lie in state, or honor, in the Rotunda. During such events, the public is generally allowed to visit the Capitol and pay their respects.

    Recent requests had similarly been made, and denied, to honor Charlie Kirk, the slain conservative activist, and former Vice President Dick Cheney.

    There is no specific rule about who qualifies for the honor, a decision that is controlled by concurrence from both the House and Senate.

    The Jackson family has announced scheduled dates for memorial services beginning next week that will honor the late reverend’s life in Chicago, Washington, D.C. and South Carolina. In a statement, the Jackson family said it had heard from leaders in both South Carolina, Jackson’s native state, and Washington offering for Jackson to be celebrated in both locations. Talks are ongoing with lawmakers about where those proceedings will take place. His final memorial services will be held in Chicago on March 6 and 7.

    Typically, the Capitol and its Rotunda have been reserved for the “most eminent citizens,” according to the Architect of the Capitol’s website. It said government and military officials lay in state, while private citizens in honor.

    In 2020, Congressman John Lewis, another veteran of the Civil Rights movement, was the first Black lawmaker to lie in state in the Capitol Rotunda after a ceremony honoring his legacy was held outside on the Capitol steps due to pandemic restrictions at the time.

    Later that year, then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi allowed services for Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the Capitol’s Statuary Hall after agreement could not be reached for services in the Capitol’s Rotunda.

    It is rare for private citizens to be honored at the Capitol, but there is precedent – most notably Civil Rights icon Rosa Parks, in 2005, and the Reverend Billy Graham, in 2018.

    A passionate civil rights leader and globally-minded humanitarian, Jackson’s fiery speeches and dual 1984 and 1988 presidential campaigns transformed American politics for generations. Jackson’s organization, the Rainbow PUSH Coalition, became a hub for progressive organizers across the country.

    His unapologetic calls for a progressive economic agenda and more inclusive policies for all racial groups, religions, genders and orientations laid the groundwork for the progressive movement within the Democratic Party.

    Jackson also garnered a global reputation as a champion for human rights. He conducted the release of American hostages on multiple continents and argued for greater connections between civil rights movements around the world, most notably as a fierce critic of the policies of Apartheid South Africa.

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    Associated Press

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  • Goepper Walks Away With Knee Sprain, Hurt Shin After Crash in All-Or-Nothing Olympic Halfpipe Gamble

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    LIVIGNO, Italy (AP) — U.S. freeskier Nick Goepper checked out of the hospital with only a knee sprain and a bad shin bruise after a scary fall in the halfpipe finals at the Winter Olympics, team officials said Saturday.

    The 31-year-old Goepper, who learned to ski on baby hills near his hometown in Indiana, went flying above the halfpipe and came down on his back in Friday night’s final before bouncing to the bottom. He stood up and was walked gingerly to the bottom, holding his back.

    The all-or-nothing trick Goepper threw down said a lot about his goals and the sport itself. He came out of retirement after the last Olympics to move from slopestyle to the halfpipe. He already has two Olympic silver medals and a bronze, and clearly wasn’t in the contest for second or third again.

    He was in third place when he dropped in for his final run. His final trick — an attempt to add a full extra rotation to the same jumps he had landed earlier to close his runs — was his final gambit to win the gold.

    Shortly after his wreck, Canada’s Brendan Mackay landed a strong run to push Goepper off the podium and into fourth place.

    “He is just absolutely unbelievable,” said Goepper’s teammate, gold medalist Alex Ferreira. “He is a great competitor and great teammate and friend, and for him to go for it in that moment took serious guts. He is a real man.”

    Goepper was not the only freeskier to go down hard in the halfpipe.

    Top-ranked Finley Melville Ives of New Zealand suffered a scary crash in qualifying earlier in the day. Team officials said he briefly fell unconcious but was stable after he was taken off in a stretcher.

    “We’re really disappointed that it happened like that last night but so, so glad that she’s going to be OK,” he said.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • British royal family faces its worst crisis in generations

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    LONDON — King Charles III’ s brother was under arrest. Police were searching two royal properties, and news commentators were endlessly discussing the details of a sex scandal with tentacles that stretched to the gates of Buckingham Palace.

    What You Need To Know

    • The British royal family sought to carry on with their normal duties in the hours after the former Prince Andrew was arrested

    • The king attended the first day of London Fashion Week

    • Queen Camilla attended a lunchtime concert, and Princess Anne visited a prison

    • The decision to continue their usual activities was more than just an example of British stoicism in the face of the monarchy’s biggest crisis in almost a century

    So how did Britain’s royal family spend Thursday afternoon? The king sat in the front row on the first day of London Fashion Week. Queen Camilla attended a lunchtime concert, and Princess Anne visited a prison.

    The decision to continue normal royal duties was more than just an example of British stoicism in the face of the monarchy’s biggest crisis in almost a century. It was the opening act of the House of Windsor’s fight for survival as the arrest of the former Prince Andrew threatens to undermine public backing for the monarchy.

    After pledging to support the police investigation into his brother’s friendship with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the king stressed his intentions.

    “My family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all,” he said in a statement signed “Charles R.,” using the abbreviation for Rex, the Latin word for king.

    Biggest crisis since 1936 abdication

    The simple fact that Charles made the statement showed the scale of the problem created by the arrest of the king’s 66-year-old sibling, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was held for 11 hours and then released under investigation, meaning he was neither charged nor exonerated.

    The event was so unprecedented that commentators had to reach back to the 1640s and the arrest and execution of King Charles I during the English Civil War to find a parallel.

    Mountbatten-Windsor’s arrest on suspicion of misconduct in public office is shaping up to be the monarchy’s biggest crisis since Edward VIII abdicated in 1936 to marry an American divorcee, Wallis Simpson.

    That scandal weakened public support for the monarchy, which did not fully recover for 15 years. The turnaround came only after Edward’s successor, King George VI, refused to flee Britain during World War II, demonstrating his solidarity with a nation ravaged by Nazi bombs.

    Even before she ascended the throne, Queen Elizabeth II followed her father’s lead and publicly pledged her life in service to Britain.

    But while the impact of Edward’s abdication lingered for years, the crisis reached a crescendo in a few days. And the solution in that case was relatively simple: Edward stepped aside, and his oldest brother took his place.

    By contrast, the drama surrounding Mountbatten-Windsor is ongoing, with no end in sight.

    No ‘clear route forward’

    The current crisis stems from revelations about the relationship between the former prince and Epstein that were uncovered when the U.S. Justice Department released millions of pages of documents last month from its investigation into Epstein.

    Police have previously cited reports that Mountbatten-Windsor sent trade information to Epstein, a wealthy investor, in 2010, when the former prince was Britain’s special envoy for international trade.

    At least eight U.K. police forces have said they are looking into issues raised by the documents.

    Compared with previous royal scandals, “this time there doesn’t seem to be any clear route forward,” said Ed Owens, author of “After Elizabeth: Can the Monarchy Save Itself?” “There’s no blueprint to follow” in terms of how the monarchy and associated organizations deal with the allegations.

    The last time the monarchy had to manage these kinds of questions was after the death of Princess Diana, Charles’ ex-wife. Elizabeth and Charles were criticized for failing to respond to the outpouring of public grief as tens of thousands of people swarmed to Kensington Gardens to lay flowers outside the late princess’ home. Some even called for Charles to step aside as heir to the throne in favor of his son William.

    The queen later commissioned focus groups to better understand the public mood and determine why people felt so strongly about a person they never met. The crisis forced the royals to recognize that Diana’s common touch had connected with people in ways that had not yet occurred to the House of Windsor.

    Those lessons have since inspired other royals, including Diana’s sons, Princes William and Harry, to be more informal and approachable.

    But this moment is different, in part because it is taking place in a rapidly changing media environment at a time when people are demanding transparency from their leaders.

    Family could face uncomfortable questions

    Moving forward also means facing uncomfortable questions about what the institution — and the family members themselves — may have known about Mountbatten-Windsor’s activities. The palace has sought to draw a bold line separating the former prince and the rest of the monarchy by stripping him of his titles, including the right to be called a prince.

    In another blow for the former prince, the British government is considering formally removing him from the line of succession to the crown. Despite losing his status and his honors, Andrew remains eighth in line to the throne. That can only be changed with legislation.

    Charles is the first monarch “that has to meet our expectations of figures in public life, which is to be accountable and to explain yourself,” said Craig Prescott, a royal expert at Royal Holloway, University of London. “And you always have to work to earn the support of the public. And that is a particular challenge when you’re facing a controversy such as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.”

    Critics argue that the monarchy was slow to respond to the pressure, given that Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to Epstein have been discussed for more than a decade.

    The best outcome for the monarchy is for the police investigation to focus solely on the information in the Epstein files and how that relates to Mountbatten-Windsor, said Peter Hunt, a former BBC royal correspondent. The worst outcome would be if police expand their inquiries to what the broader institution might have known and when.

    “Were questions raised about his behavior as a trade envoy over those 10 years? Were they answered? What did people do about them?” Hunt said on the BBC.

    And perhaps there’s more to learn.

    “Will there be files?” he asked.

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    Associated Press

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  • Utah’s Supreme Court Rejects Appeal to Overturn Congressional Map With Democratic-Leaning District

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    SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Utah’s Supreme Court rejected on Friday an appeal by Republican lawmakers and left in place a congressional map that gives Democrats a high chance of picking up one of the state’s four Republican-held U.S. House seats in the fall.

    In the order signed by Chief Justice Matthew B. Durrant, the court explained that they do not have “jurisdiction over Legislative Defendants’ appeal.”

    The lawmakers had appealed a decision in November in which a Utah judge adopted a congressional map creating a Democratic-leaning district over one poised to protect all four of the state’s U.S. House seats held by Republicans.

    The map keeps Salt Lake County almost entirely within one district, instead of dividing the heavily Democratic population center among all four districts, as was previously the case.

    Republicans have argued the court does not have legal authority to enact a map that wasn’t approved by the Legislature.

    Utah’s Republican Senate President Stuart Adams pushed back on the ruling, saying the “chaos continues.”

    “We will keep defending a process that respects the Constitution and ensures Utah voters across our state have their voices respected,” he said in a statement.

    Katharine Biele, president of the League of Women Voters of Utah, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, applauded the ruling.

    “We are encouraged that the court dismissed this improper appeal and allowed the process to move forward without disruption to voters or election administrators,” she said in a statement.

    The redistricting stems from an August decision in which Judge Dianna Gibson struck down the Utah congressional map adopted after the 2020 census because the Legislature had circumvented anti-gerrymandering standards passed by voters.

    The ruling pushed the state into a national redistricting battle as President Donald Trump urged Republican-led states to take up mid-decade redistricting to try to help the GOP retain control of the House in 2026.

    The approved map gives Democrats a much stronger chance to flip a seat in a state that last had a Democrat in Congress in early 2021.

    Emma Petty Addams, co-executive director of Mormon Women for Ethical Government, another plaintiff in the lawsuit, said in a statement Friday that “the courts have provided an important check on the Legislature, affirming the people’s constitutional right to alter and reform their government.”

    The ruling comes weeks before the deadline to file for reelection.

    There is another appeal pending in federal court that was spearheaded by two of the state’s Republican members of Congress. The lawsuit filed in February argues the state judge violated the U.S. Constitution by rejecting the congressional districts drawn by the Republican-led state Legislature.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • Thames Leads Second-Half Rally, No. 18 Saint Louis Beats VCU 88-75 as Benches Empty

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    ST. LOUIS (AP) — Kellen Thames scored 16 points and No. 18 Saint Louis rallied from a 10-point deficit in the second half for an 88-75 win over VCU on Friday night in a game in which both benches emptied in the final seconds.

    A St. Louis player was dribbling out the final seconds near center court when, with just over three seconds remaining, VCU’s Nyk Lewis stole the ball from behind and threw up a 3-point shot from halfcourt before being bumped into the broadcast table by the Billikens’ Robbie Avila. That prompted members of both teams to charge off their benches and set off a scrum on the court with 1.1 seconds left.

    Staff from both teams rushed to break up the scuffle, and officials disqualified VCU’s Barry Evans and Saint Louis’ Quentin Jones, along with nearly all bench players from both teams.

    The teams returned to the court and Lewis converted three free throws before time expired.

    Amari McCottry, Avila and Ishan Sharma added 13 points apiece for Saint Louis (25-2, 13-1 Atlantic 10), which bounced back after suffering its first conference loss on Tuesday at Rhode Island. The Billikens have won 20 straight at Chaifetz Arena and have a two-game lead in the conference and the head-to-head tiebreaker over VCU (21-7, 12-3) with two weeks left in the regular season.

    Lazar Djokovic scored 19 points and Brandon Jennings contributed 18 for the Rams, who had a 10-game winning streak halted.

    The Billikens’ reserves turned the game around in the second half, with Thames scoring seven points in a 24-4 surge that erased a nine-point deficit. His second steal and runout layup in that sequence put SLU ahead 66-59 and forced VCU coach Phil Martelli Jr. to spend a timeout to try to stop the momentum.

    The Rams still came up empty on their next three possessions as the deficit grew to 70-59 after a Thames free throw, and the lead was never less than seven after that.

    VCU: Hosts Fordham on Feb. 28

    Saint Louis: At Dayton on Tuesday night.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • Netflix Releases a Posthumous Interview With Eric Dane After His Death From ALS

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    “I think when the lights go out, it’s over,” he said in an interview for “Famous Last Words,” a Netflix series that’s available now. “I do believe that once we go to sleep or however it is we — we go, once we’re gone, we’re gone.”

    He also hoped in the interview that his two daughters, Billie and Georgia, would remember how he was present in their lives. He went to beach volleyball games and dance recitals, adding that he’d seen “The Nutcracker” many times and his review was, “That thing drones on, man.”

    “Famous Last Words” is based on a show that originated in Denmark. The premise is that a person is interviewed — executive producer Brad Falchuk does the questioning in the Netflix show — and it will not be released until their death.

    Dane’s interview is the second episode. The first was with primatologist and conservationist Jane Goodall, who died last October. Falchuk tells The Associated Press he’s recorded five conversations already with plans for more.

    No one else was present on set for the taping last November and even the camera operators were in a different room.

    “The guest needs to be totally safe to speak honestly and say whatever they want and know that they’re leaving something for people to experience with them not here,” Falchuk said on Friday. Only a small number of people work on the production of the show afterward. “Very, very few people have seen it and very, very people even know whose done it,” explained Falchuk.

    “Famous people don’t often get an opportunity to speak honestly about themselves and about what they think in the world,” said Falchuk who is married to Oscar winner Gwyneth Paltrow. “They have to be very protective, especially nowadays. They say things and it goes everywhere and it gets misinterpreted and they also want to keep working or keep you know doing what they do, so this is an opportunity for them not to have to be guarded.”


    Dane’s ALS advocacy lives on

    After his ALS diagnosis, Dane became an advocate to raise awareness and money to fight the disease. After his death, the organization I AM ALS released clips of him recorded for an upcoming documentary.

    “It’s a tough thing to respond to, it’s a tough thing to live with, yeah. But it’s really hard for the people around me too. And it’s almost like — in a weird way, it’s to some benefit, because I spend a lot of my time consoling others,” he said in a clip released Friday.

    Filmmaker Chris Burke also captured Dane on a trip to Washington D.C. where he lobbied politicians for a bill that would help accelerate research, expand access to treatment and secure one billion dollars in federal funding for ALS patients.

    “He understood that ALS is not just a diagnosis; it is a call to action for families, for answers, and for change,” the organization said in a statement after Dane’s death.


    Dane’s last message to his daughters

    In the Netflix show, Dane also reflected on the lifelong impact of losing his father at age 7 and subsequent struggles with addiction to drugs and alcohol. He said he immediately knew he would marry Rebecca Gayheart when he met her and shared a memory of a family vacation to France where he spent a car ride speaking with a “spot on” French accent that made everyone laugh.

    The most poignant part of the taping was at the end — when Falchuk left the room for Dane to look into the camera and deliver a final message which he dedicated to his daughters. Dane shared that his diagnosis with ALS taught him to be present. He also hoped the girls would “fall in love,” whether it be with a person or something that would make them want to wake up each morning.

    “I hope you won’t just listen to me. I hope you’ll hear me,” he said.

    Falchuk said this final message is something each guest has the opportunity to do. “People do all different kinds of stuff. Some people write it. Jane improvised hers. Eric wrote his,” said Falchuk, who was visibly emotional at the idea of Dane’s daughters watching his message.

    “It’s hard to think about that,” he said. “They’re grieving and he loved them so much. They loved him so much and they’re just a beautiful family. I don’t know. Maybe they’ll watch it. Maybe they’ll never watch it, whatever it may be.”

    Falchuk and Dane had dinner prior to filming and they didn’t know each other well, but a new friendship had developed from the experience.

    ”I’m grieving Eric a lot right now. It’s very hard. I was not expecting this to happen this soon. And I miss him,” said Falchuk. “It’s hard when they die. It is hard.”

    The exchange seemed to also have an impact on Dane, who told Falchuk, “This is probably the most revealing and in-depth conversation I’ve had with just about anybody.”

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • US Economy Grows at 1.4% Rate in the Fourth Quarter, Slower Than Economists Expected

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    WASHINGTON (AP) — America’s gross domestic product — the nation’s output of goods and services — increased at an 1.4% annual rate in the fourth quarter, the Commerce Department reported Friday, down from 4.4% in the July-September quarter and 3.8% in the quarter before that.

    A downturn in government and consumer spending contributed to the slowdown in fourth-quarter growth, the government said. Consumer spending rose just 2.2%, a significant slowdown from the third quarter’s healthy 3.5% gain.

    The report underscores an odd aspect of the U.S. economy: It is growing steadily, but without creating many jobs. Growth was a fairly healthy 2.2% in 2025, yet a government report last week showed that employers added less than 200,000 jobs last year — the fewest since COVID struck in 2020.

    Economists point to several possible reasons for the gap: The Trump administration’s crackdown on immigration has sharply slowed population growth, reducing the number of people available to take jobs. It’s one reason that the unemployment rate rose only slightly — to 4.3% from 4% — last year, even with the nearly non-existent hiring.

    Some businesses may also be holding back on adding jobs out of uncertainty about whether artificial intelligence will enable them to produce more without finding new employees. And the cost of tariffs has reduced many companies’ profits, possibly leading them to cut back on hiring.

    The economy is also unusual right now because growth is solid, inflation has slowed a bit, and unemployment is low, but surveys show that Americans are generally gloomy about the economy. In January, a measure of consumer confidence fell to its lowest level since 2014, yet consumers have kept spending, propelling growth.

    Some of that spending may be disproportionately driven by upper-income consumers, in a phenomenon known as the “K-shaped” economy. Yet data from many large banks suggests lower-income consumers are still raising their spending, even if by not as much.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • Cleveland Browns announce new coordinators

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    BEREA, Ohio — Late last month, the Cleveland Browns announced they hired Todd Monken as the new head coach, replacing Kevin Stefanski, who was fired on Jan. 5, the day after Cleveland finished a 5-12 season.

    But a football team is a lot more than just the head coach. Now, the team has announced its three coordinators for 2026.

    What You Need To Know

    • The Cleveland Browns have named three individuals as coordinators for 2026

    • They are Travis Switzer, Mike Rutenberg and Byron Storer

    • The team hired Todd Monken as the new head coach last month

    “You’re always looking for coaches that never forget that we have a job for our players,” Monken said. “That’s first and foremost, and our job is to maximize our players’ measurable skill set. I always say to aspire to be the best coach they’ve ever had.”

    For the position of offensive coordinator, they are bringing in Travis Switzer, who spent nine seasons with the Baltimore Ravens. Monken had spent his previous three seasons as the offensive coordinator with Baltimore.

    “He was our run game coordinator, and that’s where it all starts with your ability to run the football,” Monken said in the release. “So, he’s ready for this challenge. He’s intentional, he’s intelligent and he can teach.”

    For the position of defensive coordinator, they’re adding Mike Rutenberg, a coach with 14 years of experience in the league.

    “He’d been in a similar system, but not the exact system because Jim (Schwartz) was unique,” Monken said in the release. “And they can say attacking style, but then there’s attacking style, which is what they’ve done here up front. And I think that background of being a four-down attacking style, but not exact, (and) to add some things that they had done before that I thought would mesh really well with the current staff, was a big part of that. And I thought his energy, his ability to teach, his juice, I mean, it popped. It was what I was looking for.”

    Finally, for special teams coordinator, the Browns will have Byron Storer. He’d been with the Green Bay Packers for four seasons and has 12 years coaching experience in the NFL.

    “First off, his journey – going to Cal, playing special teams little bit in the NFL, into coaching, out of coaching and into the business world, then back into coaching. Being with one of the best special teams to ever do it in Rich Bisaccia. Matt LaFleur just absolutely standing on the table for him was huge,” Monken said in the release. “Unbelievable presentation when we interviewed him, he was more than ready. It was obvious when I got done interviewing him that we had to have him here.”

    Earlier this month, Defensive Coordinator Jim Schwartz resigned from the position after three seasons.

    Schwartz has led one of the league’s top defenses over the past three seasons but was upset about being passed over for the head coach job, after many thought he was the favorite to replace Kevin Stefanski.

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  • Alysa Liu Walked Away From Skating. Her Fresh Outlook When She Returned Helped Her Win Olympic Gold

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    MILAN (AP) — Alysa Liu probably cared the least of all the women in figure skating at the Milan Cortina Olympics about winning the gold medal.

    Maybe that is why she won it.

    The 20-year-old with the striped hair, prominent frenulum piercing and carefree attitude never showed any worry or strain when she took the ice for her free skate on Thursday night. Instead, Liu waved up at her friends and family in the stands, grinned throughout her program, and acted as if she was going through just another training session at the Oakland Ice Center back in California.

    “My family is out there. My friends are out there. I had to put on a show for them,” Liu said afterward. “When I see other people out there smiling, because I see them in the audience, then I have to smile, too. I have no poker face.”

    It was all smiles for her crew after Donna Summer’s version of “MacArthur Park” came to a conclusion. Liu earned a score of 226.79 points, sending her surging past silver medalist Kaori Sakamoto and Japanese teammate Ami Nakai, who took bronze.

    Liu’s coaches, Phillip DiGuglielmo and Massimo Scali, embraced in a hug, content in knowing that a comeback two years in the making had achieved something incredible: The first women’s figure skating gold medal for the U.S. since Sarah Hughes in 2002.

    Liu’s family members stood and cheered, as did the rest of the crowd inside the Milano Ice Skating Arena.

    No doubt every official at U.S. Figure Skating, and every member of its Olympic team, also felt a surge of joy. Or relief. It had been a frustrating Winter Games on a number of levels, beginning with some controversial ice dance scoring that denied Madison Chock and Evan Bates the gold medal, and continuing right through Ilia Malinin’s struggles in his free skate earlier in the week.

    The only golden moment until Thursday night had been the team event, when Liu helped the U.S. defend its Olympic title.

    “If I had a nickel for every gold medal I have here,” Liu joked, “I would have two!”

    That’s the kind of “dad joke” only Liu would crack after triumphing on figure skating’s grandest stage.

    Four years ago, the daughter of a Chinese immigrant was in a much different mental state. Liu had just finished sixth at the Beijing Games as a 16-year-old prodigy, but she might as well have finished last. She was so burned out by figure skating that her prevailing thought after that Olympic free skate was relief that it was over, rather than pride in what she had accomplished.

    She was the kid who’d get dropped off at the rink in the morning and picked up at night. Her childhood revolved around practice, and not of her own choosing. When she became the youngest U.S. champion at 13, and defended her title the following year, it only upped the ante among those who saw her following in the footsteps of Kristi Yamaguchi, Michelle Kwan and Tara Lipinski.

    Liu was trying to fit the mold that everyone wanted for her.

    So, she quit. Walked away. Abruptly decided to retire after the Beijing Games, leaving all of that mental strain behind her.

    For two years, Liu did what she wanted, which had little to do with skating. She went on backpacking trips with friends and began studying psychology at UCLA. She got the frenulum piercing that shows across her front teeth when she smiles. In short, she became her own person, one whose individualism has made her a hero to the alt, emo and punk crowd.

    She broke just about every mold for a figure skater.

    “I love that Alysa is showing the entire world, and especially our skating world, that there is more than one way to win,” said Johnny Weir, the two-time Olympian, who along with Lipinski called her free skate for NBC on Thursday night.

    Indeed, when Liu launched a comeback two years ago, she did it her way. She would only spend as much time at the practice rink as she wanted. She would be involved in every decision when it came to designing her programs. She even had a say in her dresses, with her favorite being the glittering gold ensemble that fit the moment so perfectly Thursday night.

    “Honestly, it was more than just work, it was experience,” Liu said. “The last time I was skating, it was so rough. I genuinely can’t begin to start on it. It took a lot to get to this point, and studying psychology has really helped. I love psychology.

    “All I want in my life is human connection and, damn, now I am connected with a hell of a ton of people.”

    That includes women like Tenley Albright, who won Olympic gold at the 1956 Cortina d’Ampezzo Games, and was watching from the crowd on Thursday night. And other U.S. champions, such as Carol Heiss, Peggy Fleming and Dorothy Hamill.

    It’s a connection to everyone who has walked away from something and found their way back. Who cut ties with something they once loved so that they could learn to love it again. And who had to go searching far and wide to discover who they really are.

    “I have no idea how I am going to deal with it. I’ll probably wear some wigs when I go outside,” Liu said, when asked how she plans to handle her sudden fame. “I hope with all this attention I can raise awareness about mental health in sports, and mental health more generally. I think my story is very cool. Hopefully, I can inspire some people.”

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • Eric Dane, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Euphoria’ star, has died at 53

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    Eric Dane, the celebrated actor best known for his roles on “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria” and who later in life became an advocate for ALS awareness, died Thursday. He was 53.

    His representatives said Dane died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known also as Lou Gehrig’s disease, less than a year after he announced his diagnosis.

    What You Need To Know

    • Dane developed a devoted fanbase when his big break arrived in the mid-2000s: He was cast as Dr. Mark Sloan, aka McSteamy, on the ABC medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy”

    • In 2019, he did a complete 180 from the charming McSteamy and became the troubled Cal Jacobs in HBO’s provocative drama “Euphoria,” a role he continued in up until his death

    • In April 2025, Dane announced he had been diagnosed with ALS, a progressive disease that attacks nerve cells controlling muscles throughout the body

    • He became an advocate for ALS awareness, speaking a news conference in Washington on health insurance prior authorization

    “He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world,” said a statement that requested privacy for his family. “Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight. He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received.”

    Dane developed a devoted fanbase when his big break arrived in the mid-2000s: He was cast as Dr. Mark Sloan, aka McSteamy, on the ABC medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy,” a role he would play from 2006 until 2012 and reprise in 2021.

    Although his character was killed off on the show after a plane crash, Dane’s character left an indelible mark on the still-running show: Seattle Grace Hospital became Grey Sloan Memorial Hospital.

    In 2019, he did a complete 180 from the charming McSteamy and became the troubled Cal Jacobs in HBO’s provocative drama “Euphoria,” a role he continued in up until his death.

    Dane also starred as Tom Chandler, the captain of a U.S. Navy destroyer at sea after a global catastrophe wiped out most of the world’s population, in the TNT drama “The Last Ship.” In 2017, production was halted as Dane battled depression.

    In April 2025, Dane announced he had been diagnosed with ALS, a progressive disease that attacks nerve cells controlling muscles throughout the body.

    ALS gradually destroys the nerve cells and connections needed to walk, talk, speak and breathe. Most patients die within three to five years of a diagnosis.

    Dane became an advocate for ALS awareness, speaking a news conference in Washington on health insurance prior authorization. “Some of you may know me from TV shows, such as ‘Grey’s Anatomy,’ which I play a doctor. But I am here today to speak briefly as a patient battling ALS,” he said in June 2025. In September of that year, the ALS Network named Dane the recipient of their advocate of the year award, recognizing his commitment to raising awareness and support for people living with ALS.

    Dane was born on Nov. 9, 1972, and raised in Northern California. His father, who the actor said was a Navy veteran and an architect, died of a gunshot wound when Dane was 7. After high school, he moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting, landing guest roles on shows like “Saved by the Bell,” “Married…With Children,” “Charmed” and “X-Men: the Last Stand,” and one season of the short-lived medical drama “Gideon’s Crossing.”

    A memoir by Dane is scheduled to be published in late 2026. “Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments” will be released by Maria Shriver’s The Open Field, a Penguin Random House imprint. According to Open Field, Dane’s memoir covers key moments in his life, from his first day at work on “Grey’s Anatomy” to the births of his two daughters and learning that he had ALS.

    “I want to capture the moments that shaped me — the beautiful days, the hard ones, the ones I never took for granted — so that if nothing else, people who read it will remember what it means to live with heart,” Dane said in a statement about the book. “If sharing this helps someone find meaning in their own days, then my story is worth telling.”

    Dane is survived by his wife, actor Rebecca Gayheart, and their two teen daughters, Billie Beatrice and Georgia Geraldine. Gayheart and Dane wed in 2004 and separated in September 2017. Gayheart filed for divorce in 2018, but later filed to dismiss the petition. In a December essay for New York magazine’s The Cut reflecting on Dane’s diagnosis, Gayheart called their dynamic “a very complicated relationship, one that’s confusing for people.” She said they never got a divorce, but dated other people and lived separately.

    “Our love may not be romantic, but it’s a familial love,” she said. “Eric knows that I am always going to want the best for him. That I’m going to do my best to do right by him. And I know he would do the same for me. So whatever I can do or however I can show up to make this journey better for him or easier for him, I want to do that.”

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  • Eric Dane, ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ and ‘Euphoria’ star, has died at 53

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    Eric Dane, the celebrated actor best known for his roles on “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Euphoria” and who later in life became advocate for ALS awareness, died Thursday. He was 53.

    His representatives said Dane died from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, known also as Lou Gehrig’s disease, less than a year after he announced his diagnosis.

    “He spent his final days surrounded by dear friends, his devoted wife, and his two beautiful daughters, Billie and Georgia, who were the center of his world,” said a statement that requested privacy for his family. “Throughout his journey with ALS, Eric became a passionate advocate for awareness and research, determined to make a difference for others facing the same fight. He will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always. Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received.”

    Dane was born on November 9, 1972 and raised in California. His father, a Navy man, died of a gunshot wound when he was 7. After high school, he moved to Los Angeles to purse acting, landing guest roles on shows like “Saved by the Bell,” “Married…With Children,” “Charmed” and “X-Men: the Last Stand,” and one season of the short-lived medical drama “Gideon’s Crossing.”

    His big break arrived in the mid-2000s, when he was cast as Dr. Mark Sloan, a.k.a. McSteamy, on the ABC medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy,” a role he would play from 2006 until 2012 and reprise in 2021. In 2019, he did a complete 180 and became Cal Jacobs, a troubled married man, in HBO’s provocative drama, “Euphoria,” a role he continued in up until his death.

    Dane also starred as Tom Chandler, the captain of a U.S. Navy destroyer at sea after a global catastrophe wiped out most of the world’s population, in the TNT drama “The Last Ship.” In 2017, production was halted as Dane battled depression.

    In April 2025, Dane announced he had been diagnosed with ALS, a progressive disease that attacks nerve cells controlling muscles throughout the body.

    ALS gradually destroys the nerve cells and connections needed to walk, talk, speak and breathe. Most patients die within three to five years of a diagnosis.

    Dane became an advocate for ALS awareness, speaking a news conference in Washington on health insurance prior authorization. “Some of you may know me from TV shows, such as “Grey’s Anatomy,” which I play a doctor. But I am here today to speak briefly as a patient battling ALS,” he said in June 2025. In September of that year, the ALS Network named Dane the recipient of their advocate of the year award, recognizing his commitment to raising awareness and support for people living with ALS.

    A memoir by Dane is scheduled to be published in late 2026. “Book of Days: A Memoir in Moments” will be released by Maria Shriver’s The Open Field, a Penguin Random House imprint. According to Open Field, Dane will look back upon key moments in his life, from his first day at work on “Grey’s Anatomy” to the births of his two daughters and learning that he has ALS.

    “I want to capture the moments that shaped me — the beautiful days, the hard ones, the ones I never took for granted — so that if nothing else, people who read it will remember what it means to live with heart,” Dane said in a statement around the book’s announcement. “If sharing this helps someone find meaning in their own days, then my story is worth telling.”

    Dane is survived by his wife, actor Rebecca Gayheart, and their two teen daughters, Billie Beatrice and Georgia Geraldine. Gayheart and Dane wed in 2004 and separated in September 2017. Gayheart filed for divorce in 2018, but later filed to dismiss the petition. In a December essay for New York magazine’s The Cut reflecting on Dane’s diagnosis, Gayheart called their dynamic “a very complicated relationship, one that’s confusing for people.” She said they never got a divorce, but dated other people and lived separately.

    “Our love may not be romantic, but it’s a familial love,” she said. “Eric knows that I am always going to want the best for him. That I’m going to do my best to do right by him. And I know he would do the same for me. So whatever I can do or however I can show up to make this journey better for him or easier for him, I want to do that.”

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  • Republicans Hope Supreme Court Can Stop New Lines Being Drawn for NYC’s Only GOP House Seat

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    ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — Republicans are looking to the U.S. Supreme Court to stop the boundaries of the only red congressional seat in New York City from being redrawn, after suffering a bruising loss in state court on Thursday.

    The attempts to stop U.S. Rep. Nicole Malliotakis’ district from changing are the latest moves in a winding legal battle that could have major implications in this year’s fight for control of the House.

    A state judge threw out the boundaries last month, after an election law firm aligned with the Democratic Party argued the district dilutes the power of Black and Latino voters in Staten Island and southern Brooklyn.

    After weeks of uncertainty, a state appeals court issued a brief decision Thursday that sided with Democrats, effectively telling the state’s redistricting commission to start working on a new congressional map.

    Now, Republicans are hoping the the U.S. Supreme Court will step in, after Malliotakis and GOP elections officials last week filed emergency appeals seeking to put a hold on the original ruling.

    “The U.S. Supreme Court has been unequivocal: race-based redistricting violates the U.S. Constitution,” Malliotakis said in a statement Thursday. “I look forward to the Supreme Court’s intervention in this case to uphold the rule of law and preserve the integrity of our elections.”

    The Supreme Court has recently allowed Texas and California to use new maps for this year’s election.

    New lines in Malliotakis’ district could provide an opportunity for Democrats in this year’s midterm elections, as both political parties have been aggressively angling for any advantage as they battle for control of the House.

    But the redrawn map is still far from clear even as candidate petitioning — a vital step to get on the ballot — is set to begin next Tuesday. Even if the Supreme Court declines to intervene, it would still take time for the state commission charged with drawing new lines to complete the politically sensitive task.

    The uncertainty reverberates beyond Malliotakis’ district, too, since changing the boundaries of one district affects others, said Blair Horner of the New York Public Interest Research Group.

    “The clock is not the candidates’ friend on this one — unless the courts rule that Pearlman got it wrong and everything stays the way that it is,” Horner said, referencing the trial court judge, Jeffrey Pearlman, who threw out the district’s borders.

    In the appeal to the Supreme Court, an attorney for Malliotakis wrote that Pearlman’s ruling has thrown “New York’s upcoming election into chaos.”

    She has asked the high court to decide by Monday, so that petitioning can begin the next day under the current congressional map. The Trump administration’s Department of Justice filed a brief supporting the requests.

    Democrats were required to file documents to the Supreme Court on Thursday, though it’s not clear exactly when the court would rule in the New York case.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • 5 Miners Are Trapped Deep Underground After a Mudslide at a South African Diamond Mine

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    JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Five miners were trapped deep underground at a South African diamond mine after a mudslide flooded a shaft they were working in, mine officials and a labor union said Thursday.

    The miners have been trapped since the early hours of Tuesday, according to the Congress of South African Trade Unions — an alliance of labor unions that includes the main mineworkers union. The congress said the miners were thought to be trapped around 800 meters (half a mile) underground.

    Ekapa Mining General Manager Howard Marsden, whose company operates the mine, told national broadcaster SABC on Wednesday that rescuers were pumping water out of the shaft while a separate team was trying to drill a hole to where the miners were believed to be trapped to try to establish communication with them “or any proof of life.”

    The mine is in the central city of Kimberley, which is renowned for its diamond mines and was at the heart of the global industry after diamonds were discovered in the area in the late 1800s.

    The Minerals Council of South Africa said this month in its annual safety report that 41 miners died in mining accidents in South Africa last year, a record low and down from hundreds a year in the 1990s and early 2000s.

    South Africa is among the world’s biggest producers of diamonds and gold, and the top producer of platinum.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • Asian Shares Advance, Tracking a Wall St Rally Led by Nvidia

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    Asian shares were higher Thursday after a rally on Wall Street that was led by computer chip giant Nvidia.

    U.S. futures edged lower and oil prices rose as media reports said the likelihood was rising of conflict with Iran.

    U.S. President Donald Trump has been weighing whether to take military action against Iran as his administration surges military resources to the region while holding indirect talks with Tehran over its nuclear program. That is raising concerns that any attack could spiral into a larger conflict in the Middle East.

    Markets in Greater China were closed for Lunar New Year holidays, while some others reopened for trading.

    In Tokyo, the Nikkei 225 added 0.8% to 57,582.93, while in South Korea, the Kospi jumped 2.8% to 5,661.22 as markets reopened following holidays earlier in the week.

    Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 advanced 0.9% to 9,088.70.

    Southeast Asian markets surged, with Thailand’s SET up 0.9%. India’s Sensex edged 0.1% higher.

    During European trading Wednesday, London’s FTSE 100 climbed 1.2% after the latest update on U.K. inflation bolstered expectations that the Bank of England may soon cut interest rates.

    On Wall Street, the S&P 500 rose 0.6% to 6,881.31 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average added 0.3%, to 49,662.66. The Nasdaq composite gained 0.8% to 22,753.63.

    Nvidia helped lift the market and climbed 1.6% after Meta Platforms announced a long-term partnership where it will use millions of chips and other equipment from Nvidia for its artificial-intelligence data centers.

    “No one deploys AI at Meta’s scale,” Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang said. Because his company is the most valuable on Wall Street, Nvidia’s stock was the single most powerful force pulling the S&P 500 higher.

    Meta’s stock fell as much as 1.7% before recovering and rising 0.6%.

    Another worry is that if AI succeeds in creating tools to do complicated tasks more cheaply, companies in industries as far flung as software, legal services and trucking logistics could see their businesses get undercut. Investors have suddenly and aggressively sold stocks of companies seen as under threat in what analysts have likened to a “shoot first-ask questions later” mentality.

    Several profit reports from companies helped to lift stocks Wednesday. They continued what’s been a strong reporting season for the big U.S. companies in the S&P 500.

    In the bond market, Treasury yields ticked higher following reports on the U.S. economy that came in better than economists expected. The yield on the 10-year Treasury rose to 4.08% from 4.05% late Tuesday.

    One report said industrial production improved last month by more than economists expected. Another said orders for computers, fabricated metal products and other long-lasting manufactured goods also rose more in December than economists had forecast, when not including airplanes and other transportation equipment. A third report said homebuilders broke ground on more new homes in December than anticipated.

    Such strong data could encourage the Federal Reserve to keep interest rates steady.

    The Fed has put its cuts to interest rates on hold, but many on Wall Street expect it to resume later this year. The widespread forecast is that will come during the summer, after a new chair is scheduled to step in atop the Fed.

    Lower rates can give a boost to the economy and prices for investments, but that comes at the cost of potentially worsening inflation.

    In other dealings early Thursday, U.S. benchmark crude oil gained 30 cents to $65.36 per barrel. Brent crude, the international standard, was up 27 cents at $70.62.

    Prices of gold and silver held steady.

    The price of bitcoin fell 1.3% to about $67,000.

    AP Business Writer Stan Choe contributed.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • Unruly Passenger Prompts Plane’s Return to Houston Airport Just After Takeoff

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    HOUSTON (AP) — A flight returned to a Houston airport just after takeoff early Wednesday because of an unruly passenger, authorities said.

    There were reports that a male passenger on Flight 2557 from Houston’s Hobby Airport to Atlanta had tried to break into the cockpit, but that wasn’t the case, Delta Air Lines said in a statement. The passenger did exhibit “unruly and unlawful behavior toward other customers” and met by police after the flight returned to the airport, it said.

    A Houston police spokesperson said that when officers were called, dispatch was told that a person was trying to breach a cockpit. Officers detained one male, said the spokesperson, who hadn’t heard of any reported injuries.

    The flight departed again and arrived in Atlanta about 90 minutes behind schedule, said Delta, which didn’t go into specifics about the passenger’s behavior.

    The Federal Aviation Administration said it will investigate.

    Last year, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy launched an air travel civility campaign, noting that the FAA had seen a 400% increase of in-flight outbursts since 2019 and 13,800 unruly passenger incidents since 2021.

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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  • US star Mikaela Shiffrin wins slalom to break 8-year Olympic drought

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    CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Mikaela Shiffrin’s turbulent, 12-year Olympic journey came full circle Wednesday when she won the slalom by a massive 1.50 seconds to break her long medal drought at the Winter Games.

    Shiffrin put in two dominant runs in gorgeous conditions amid the jagged peaks of the Dolomites to show, again, why she is regarded by many as the greatest Alpine skier of all time.

    It was the third-largest margin of victory in a women’s Olympic slalom, the event she won as a fresh-faced teenager in Sochi in 2014 to underline her status as a skiing star.

    Twelve years later, she delivered again in her favorite race and the emotions came out in the finish area after being embraced by world champion Camille Rast of Switzerland, who took silver, and bronze-medalist Anna Swenn Larsson of Sweden.

    The 30-year-old Shiffrin pumped her fists to the crowd and then was fighting back tears as she approached her mom and coach, Eileen, for a long hug on the sidelines.

    Shiffrin said it was “really hard to understand and process” her victory.

    “Maybe,” she added, “just today, I realized what happened in Sochi. It’s crazy.”

    For Shiffrin, maybe it also was a release of all the pressure after failing to win an Olympic medal since adding gold and silver to her collection in Pyeongchang in 2018.

    A nightmarish 0-for-6 performance in Beijiing was followed in Cortina d’Ampezzo this year with an 11th place in the giant slalom and a fourth-place finish with Breezy Johnson in the team combined, in which Shiffrin placed 15th in the slalom portion.

    That’s all in the past.

    Shiffrin has now won three golds and a silver at the Olympics to add to her record total on World Cup wins — it’s 108 and counting, including 71 in slalom.

    ___

    AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics

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  • Texas Tech Star JT Toppin Injures Lower Right Leg in Loss to Arizona State

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    TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Texas Tech star JT Toppin was doing his usual work in the paint Tuesday night, pouring in buckets and grabbing rebounds against Arizona State in a tough road environment.

    The 13th-ranked Red Raiders can recover from their 72-67 loss to the Sun Devils. But it’s going to be much harder if the 6-foot-9 Toppin — a preseason All-America selection averaging nearly 22 points per game — is out for an extended period.

    Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland said Toppin injured his lower leg with 6:03 remaining, but wasn’t sure about the severity. Toppin stayed down for a few minutes before needing assistance to gingerly limp off the court.

    “It’s hard to say until we get it looked at closely,” McCasland said. “But I just know he’s really disappointed. He’s such a competitor. We’ll get back and get him looked at.”

    Toppin finished with 20 points, eight rebounds, four assists and four blocks, and the Red Raiders were obviously shaken when he left the floor. He sat on the bench for a brief period before going back to the locker room.

    “I hope he’s OK, and I hate to see a guy go out of a game like that. He’s one of the best players in the country,” Arizona State coach Bobby Hurley said. “My heart goes out to him and hope that he’s back soon for them.”

    Texas Tech was trailing 61-56 at the time of the injury and fell behind 67-56 over the next few minutes. The Red Raiders regrouped and pulled to 70-67 in the final seconds, but Christian Anderson turned the ball over, costing them a chance to tie the game with a 3-pointer.

    “It knocked us on our heels a little bit,” McCasland said of Toppin’s injury. “But, man, we’ve got a competitve group and found a way to get it to a one-possession game. Gave ourselves a chance late, which is what you want. I told our team that I loved the group that was on the floor at the end and the fight.

    “If we had done that for the previous 38, 37 minutes, then we would have put ourselves in better position.”

    Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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