Thursday 30 April 2020

3.8 million Americans sought jobless benefits last week as pandemic extends its grip

The latest claims bring the total number to roughly 30 million in six weeks. The outbreak and subsequent recession have wiped away all jobs created since the 2008 financial crisis.
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Inaugural season of cricket's The Hundred postponed to 2021

The inaugural season of The Hundred was pushed back a year on Thursday, with English cricket leaders conceding the task of delivering their glossy and controversial competition during a pandemic was too difficult.

The month-long competition was scheduled to start on July 17 with the aim of capitalizing on England ...
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LePage says Gov. Mills 'ought to resign' over virus response

PORTLAND, Maine (AP) - Former Republican Gov. Paul LePage isn't cutting his Democratic successor any slack as she deals with a global pandemic that has killed more than 50 Mainers and tens of thousands across the country.

LePage told a conservative radio show host on Wednesday that Gov. Janet Mills ...
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3.8 million Americans sought jobless benefits last week

The latest claims bring the total number to roughly 30 million in six weeks and show the pandemic's extended grip on the U.S. workforce.
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EPL's Saudi piracy concerns as Newcastle takeover assessed

The English Premier League has to decide whether to approve Saudi Arabia's takeover of Newcastle while concerned that piracy of its broadcasts from the kingdom poses a "significant risk" to the competition's revenue.

The league wrote to the Office of the United States Trade Representative in February complaining about the ...
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In Lebanon, sickness amid the cedars

The Lebanese were watching for the virus. But the outbreak in a secluded and stunningly beautiful place was not what they had expected.
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Comcast profit slides as pandemic hits movies, theme parks

Comcast's net income slid in the first three months of the year as the coronavirus pandemic forced it to shut down its theme parks and its movies were kept out of shuttered theaters.

Comcast also reported Thursday that it lost 409,000 cable TV customers, the biggest source of the company's ...
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The Latest: Track meet in Lausanne may be pushed back

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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The Diamond League track meet in Lausanne, Switzerland, won't happen as scheduled on Aug. 20.

Organizers of the Athletissima say they are now looking at "alternative options and formats that could still be considered in ...
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The Latest: WHO leader: Europe still 'in the grip' of virus

The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.

TOP OF THE HOUR:

- As economies stagger, pressures grow to ease virus lockdowns.

...
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Before the virus: Looking back on some last 'normal' moments

The coronavirus scare has done something to time.

The days, weeks, and now the months, have blurred and stretched as talk of reopening the world has taken over for millions waiting and wondering at home.

There are few of life's usual rhythms. And like so many cataclysms before ...
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Wild will seek spark anew from surging Fiala when NHL's back

Frozen by the virus shutdown but not forgotten was Kevin Fiala's emergence, a surge that gave the Minnesota Wild a glimpse of the go-to scorer they have lacked for much of their history.

Emelia Parise will remember it as well as anyone.

Zach Parise's daughter became quite the fan ...
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Wednesday 29 April 2020

Don’t buy the Steve Dalkowski stories? Davey Johnson will make you a believer.

The former Nationals and Orioles manager has seen it all in baseball, but one legendary pitcher trumps them all.
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Virus leaves New York City artists in a 'tailspin'

NEW YORK (AP) - Dancer and choreographer Netta Yerushalmy has built a career in movement and community. Both are gone now. Her world is still, isolated - and fearful.

"Dancers I know are in a muted, depressed state right now," she said from her apartment in Manhattan. "The metaphor ...
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NCAA board supports name, image and likeness compensation

The NCAA is moving forward with a plan to allow college athletes to earn money for endorsements and a host of other activities involving personal appearances and social media.

The NCAA announced Wednesday that its Board of Governors supports a plan that gives athletes the ability to cash in on ...
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From a loft studio on a farm, professor teaches painting

Fred Haag, an associate professor of visual arts at Penn State York, normally teaches his Art 50: Introduction to Painting course in a large studio at a state-of-the art performing arts center. But because of the COVID-19 outbreak, classes are now being held remotely from a loft studio at his ...
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U.S. economy shrank 4.8 percent in first quarter, the biggest decline since the Great Recession

The worst is yet to come, many analysts say. The second quarter is likely to show a decline of 30 percent -- or more.
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Italian soccer's chances of resuming looking bleak

MILAN (AP) - The chances of Italy's soccer season resuming are looking increasingly unlikely and a definitive decision could even be made by the end of the week.

Premier Giuseppe Conte announced Sunday that professional sports teams can resume training on May 18. The move means that in theory Serie ...
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Police file reveals suspicions of Blatter in FIFA TV deal

GENEVA (AP) - Swiss investigators concluded Sepp Blatter knew that a World Cup broadcasting contract was breached illegally and that it would cost FIFA millions of dollars, according to a federal police file obtained by The Associated Press.

Investigation reports sent to prosecutors in December and January showed FIFA wrote ...
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40 KU leaders to take 10% pay cuts in wake of virus effects

LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) - The University of Kansas has announced that 40 of its top-paid employees, including its chancellor, will take temporary 10% pay cuts to help cushion the financial impact of the coronavirus outbreak.

KU Chancellor Douglas Girod announced the cuts in a letter this week, Wichita station ...
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The Latest: Path to resuming soccer season in Italy narrow

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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The Italian sports minister says it is increasingly unlikely the soccer season will resume.

Italian Premier Giuseppe Conte announced Sunday that professional sports teams can resume training on May 18. That means Serie A could ...
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IOC official disagrees COVID-19 vaccine needed for Olympics

SYDNEY (AP) - The head of the IOC's coordination commission for the Tokyo Olympics said Wednesday he disagrees with suggestions by some scientists and doctors that a vaccine for COVID-19 is needed to hold the games.

John Coates, an International Olympic Committee member from Australia who is a lawyer, said ...
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Irrfan Khan, of 'Slumdog Millionaire,' 'Life of Pi,' dies

NEW DELHI (AP) - Irrfan Khan, a veteran character actor in Bollywood movies and one of India's most well-known exports to Hollywood, has died. He was 54.

Khan died Wednesday after he was admitted to Mumbai's Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani hospital due to a colon infection, his spokesperson said.

"Irrfan was ...
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Tuesday 28 April 2020

Indian news media fight virus on financial, political fronts

NEW DELHI (AP) - India's news publishers face a delicate balancing act as they look to offset financial losses from sinking ad sales with support from a government seeking to control the narrative on the coronavirus, sometimes by prosecuting journalists for reporting on the detrimental consequences of official pandemic policy.

...
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Trey Mancini, Orioles star, undergoing treatment for stage 3 colon cancer

Six weeks after he had a malignant tumor removed from his colon, Baltimore Orioles star Trey Mancini revealed he has stage 3 colon cancer.

Mancini, 27, left the team just before Major League Baseball put a halt to spring training in March due to the coronavirus pandemic. He said Orioles ...
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High Times owner to acquire marijuana stores in California

LOS ANGELES (AP) - The owner of High Times is going to start selling marijuana after championing its use in the pages of its magazine for nearly half a century.

Hightimes Holding Corp. said Tuesday is acquiring 13 dispensaries from Harvest Health and Recreation, one of the largest multi-state ...
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English Premier League set for post-Brexit transfer criteria

MANCHESTER, England (AP) - All players from overseas seeking to join Premier League clubs are set to be subject to points-based criteria after Britain's departure from the European Union is complete.

Currently, only players from outside of the European single market have to meet certain soccer-specific immigration requirements. But new ...
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The Latest: Track body sets up fund to help athletes

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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Athletes in track and field can apply for money from a $500,000 fund to help them get through the coronavirus pandemic.

World Athletics and the International Athletics Foundation have launched the fund to help athletes ...
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Amid pressure for more testing, White House puts states in charge

President Trump announced a "blueprint" for increasing testing capacity that leaves the onus on states to develop their own plans and rapid-response programs. The federal role would include "strategic direction and technical assistance," according to a document.
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Hi-tech scans get under skin of 'Girl with a Pearl Earring'

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - Researchers using a battery of modern imaging techniques have gotten under the skin of Johannes Vermeer's "Girl with a Pearl Earring," but tests haven't answered the key question about the world famous painting's enigmatic subject.

"Who was the girl?" Martine Gosselink, Director of the Mauritshuis ...
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Engines off: Canceled iconic F1 race dents Monaco's prestige

PARIS (AP) - Casino wheels have stopped turning, the Champagne is stuck on ice, and yachts bob silently in the famous harbor.

Formula One's raucous circus won't be coming on May 24 for the iconic Monaco Grand Prix. The race was canceled on March 19 because of the coronavirus outbreak, ...
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What does a pandemic sound like? For many of us at home, it’s a heartbreaking silence.

The silence we have been experiencing is not so much a well-earned gift as a voracious monster that has snuffed out the reassuring rumble and roar of daily life.
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Michael Robinson, soccer player and broadcaster, dies at 61

MADRID (AP) - Michael Robinson, who played in a European Cup-winning team at Liverpool and became a respected soccer broadcaster in Spain, has died. He was 61.

His death was announced on Tuesday by his family on his official Twitter account. The cause of Robinson's death was not given, though ...
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The Latest: Turkey sends protective equipment to the US

The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.

TOP OF THE HOUR:

- Virus tamed in New Zealand, while Brazil emerges as ...
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Virus tamed in New Zealand, while Brazil emerges as hot spot

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) - Surfers in New Zealand hit the waves at dawn, builders returned to construction sites and baristas fired up their espresso machines as the nation eased a strict lockdown Tuesday amid hopeful signs the coronavirus has been all but vanquished Down Under - at least for ...
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Monday 27 April 2020

Nadal does't see tennis back soon, is worried about injuries

MADRID (AP) - Rafael Nadal says it will be "very difficult" for tennis to return to action any time soon and is concerned about the risk of injuries when the sport resumes.

Nadal spoke in a joint interview with NBA player Pau Gasol that was published by Spanish newspapers on ...
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An all-star virtual graduation awaits college students

NEW YORK (AP) - Though college students have seen their in-person graduations canceled or scaled back, one organization is promising to celebrate the Class of 2020 with a virtual all-star celebration featuring Eva Longoria, Andrew Yang, Liam Payne and more.

Her Campus, a website geared to women in college, is ...
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Social distancing could last for months, Birx says

The White House coronavirus coordinator's comments came even as several governors said they were moving to relax measures meant to stem the spread of the virus.
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Formula One chairman Carey hopes season starts July 5

PARIS (AP) - The Formula One season could start in July despite the first 10 races being canceled or postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, F1 chairman Chase Carey said Monday.

The French Grand Prix on Monday canceled its race scheduled for June 28 rather than postponing it, making July ...
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Tulane basketball player charged with murder in Georgia

MCDONOUGH, Ga. (AP) - A Tulane University basketball player who recently declared for the NBA draft is charged with murder and other counts in a Georgia slaying.

Teshaun Hightower, who led the Green Wave in scoring last season, was booked into jail Saturday on multiple charges, including murder and aggravated ...
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King's Day at Home: Dutch monarch's birthday muted by virus

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - The Dutch national birthday party for their king was a muted affair Monday, dubbed King's Day at Home because of coronavirus restrictions.

King Willem-Alexander was celebrating his 53rd birthday with his family at home in their palace in a forest on the edge of The ...
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Tech companies, like college athletes, eager to cash in

Imagine a major-college quarterback with a sizable social media following who posts entertaining and informative updates about his life on and off the field.

Now imagine a restaurant hiring him as its pitchman and paying him $500 or $1,000 each time he posts content with its messaging.

That scenario could ...
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The Latest: British GP planning for F1 race with no fans

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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British Grand Prix organizers say they are talking to the government about the viability of holding the Formula One race on July 19 with no fans amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The season was due to ...
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Man charged in drive-by shooting at 'Duck Dynasty' estate

WEST MONROE, La. (AP) - A man was arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting at the Louisiana estate of "Duck Dynasty" star Willie Robertson.

Daniel King Jr. was booked into a correctional center after two homes in West Monroe were struck by gunfire on Friday afternoon, the Ouachita ...
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Marshall holds virtual spring fountain ceremony

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) - Marshall University has held a quiet ceremony to turn on a fountain dedicated to the victims of a deadly plane crash involving its football team 50 years ago.

Marshall athletic director Mike Hamrick and President Jerome Gilbert spoke Saturday without an audience in the annual spring ...
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Bluegrass museum offers new virtual tour for fans

OWENSBORO, Ky. (AP) - The Bluegrass Music Hall of Fame and Museum in western Kentucky is encouraging fans to visit by taking a new virtual tour of its exhibits.

The museum in Owensboro has been closed to the public for over a month due to the coronavirus pandemic and thought ...
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Sunday 26 April 2020

Florida guard Andrew Nembhard declares for NBA draft again

GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) - Florida point guard Andrew Nembhard, who ranked second in the Southeastern Conference in assists last season, has declared for the NBA draft for the second consecutive year.

The Gators made the announcement Sunday, the final day underclassmen had to decide on their futures. Nembhard hired NCAA-certified ...
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AP source: Saints, Winston in 'advanced' negotiations

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - The Saints and quarterback Jameis Winston are working on a contract proposal to make the former Buccaneers starter a backup to Drew Brees in New Orleans, a person familiar with the situation told The Associated Press.

Winston and the Saints are in "advanced" talks, the person ...
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Chris Matthews calls Laura Bassett allegation 'credible,' admits 'inappropriate' behavior at MSNBC

Chris Matthews is admitting to "inappropriate" behavior as an MSNBC host and praised as "very credible" the complaint that ended his 20-year career as "Hardball" host.

Mr. Matthews told Vanity Fair in his first interview since his resignation that he "didn't argue about" and "didn't deny" journalist Laura ...
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2-year-old colt dies after accident at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) - A 2-year-old colt has died after what was called an accident at Santa Anita, making it the 12th fatality at the track since late December.

Last Renegade, who had yet to make his racing debut, died Friday, according to information posted on the California Horse Racing ...
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Brad Pitt plays Anthony Fauci on 'SNL'

NEW YORK — Brad Pitt portrayed Dr. Anthony Fauci in the second at-home episode of "Saturday Night Live," that featured musical guest Miley Cyrus, an Adam Sandler cameo and plenty of disinfectant jokes.

A bespectacled Pitt, speaking in Fauci's raspy voice, tried to recast false assurances and misstatements pitched by ...
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Maine virus cases pass 1,000; Senator warns of check scams

BOSTON (AP) - A look at developments around New England related to the coronavirus pandemic:

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MAINE

The number of people with confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Maine passed the 1,000 mark on Sunday with 25 new cases bringing the total to 1,015, the state Center for Disease Control ...
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Saudi Arabia ends death penalty for minors and floggings

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) - Saudi Arabia's King Salman has ordered an end to the death penalty for crimes committed by minors, according to a statement Sunday by a top official.

The decision comes on the heels of another ordering judges to end the practice of flogging, replacing ...
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Reopening of America accelerates as states prepare to relax restrictions

Governors are preparing to lift restrictions as the calendar turns to May — and crossing their fingers that the novel coronavirus doesn't come roaring back.
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Delaware photographer captures portraits of health workers

MILFORD, Del. (AP) - John Mollura wanted to bring attention to what health care workers are going through during the COVID-19 crisis.

The Milford-based photographer's new project "Sacrifice & Light" focuses on those on the front-lines of the pandemic.

Mr. Mollura is creating portraits of health care workers, projected onto ...
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Virginia triathlete moves past struggles to restart career

ROANOKE, Va. (AP) - Parker Albright clung to the side of a rescue boat watching other triathletes swim past her in the water.

"Do you want to continue?" asked the volunteer operating the small row boat.

No, she didn't.

It was the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Argentina. Parker, 16 ...
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Jane Castor, Tampa mayor, issues 'letter of apology' to Tom Brady

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — When it comes to first impressions, Tampa didn't exactly give the best of welcomes to one of its newest and most famous residents when NFL superstar Tom Brady was ejected from a downtown park while working out.

Mayor Jane Castor tried to make amends by issuing a ...
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Saturday 25 April 2020

US journalists seek to help colleagues affected by virus

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Journalists from around the U.S. are finding ways to help their colleagues simply pay rent or buy groceries as they face lost or reduced paychecks because of layoffs and furloughs caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Writers in Oklahoma can be paid stipends to continue chronicling the ...
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A potential Trent Williams trade to the Vikings fell apart Friday. He says he didn’t block it.

Williams and his agent said Saturday that neither of them blocked a deal to Minnesota.
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Earnhardt race car up for auction to fund virus relief work

WELCOME, N.C. (AP) - NASCAR team owner Richard Childress is auctioning off one of racing legend Dale Earnhardt's cars to raise money for coronavirus relief efforts.

The Charlotte Observer reports that this is the first time Childress has sold or given away an original Earnhardt car from his personal collection.

...
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The Patriots may have lost Tom Brady, but Bill Belichick is still Bill Belichick

During this year's NFL draft, Belichick has reminded everyone that he's going to run his team the same way he always has.
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VA health chief acknowledges a shortage of protective gear for its hospital workers

Richard Stone said some Veterans Affairs hospitals are at "austerity levels" as supplies are being diverted to the national stockpile.
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Author’s live writing sessions take readers for a ride

WINCHESTER, Va. (AP) - On March 26, Woodstock author Jason Wright and his daughter Oakli Van Meter, 24, announced a challenge. He would spend an hour or so each day working on a new novel, live on Google Docs, and she would copy edit while readers followed along.

"I don't ...
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Nashville musicians find themselves without jobs or benefits

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Colin Poulton moved to Nashville in 2008 to study commercial guitar. He dropped out of college but stuck with the city and the guitar, first playing in a series of original bands and more recently making his living in the honky-tonks of Lower Broadway along with ...
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The Latest: EPL team Norwich won't reverse furlough decision

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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Despite high-profile reversals by Liverpool and Tottenham, Norwich has defended its decision to place some non-playing staff on furlough during the coronavirus outbreak.

The Canaries are one of only two English Premier League clubs using ...
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AP Interview: Darts queen on fame, equality and trailblazing

Fallon Sherrock is casting her mind back four months, to a time when the world was a very different place, when sporting venues were full, and when she was briefly the talk of Britain.

She had become the first woman to beat a man at darts' flagship world championship - ...
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Drive-in movie night returns as new outdoor cinema

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) - Connie DeGolier always wanted to organize an outdoor movie night.

She and her husband, Kevin, have been talking about it ever since they opened Tipsy Tiki outdoor bar and restaurant nearly three years ago.

But the coronavirus pandemic changed their plans.

With movie theaters closed ...
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Miami, Nebraska still waiting for 1st player taken in draft

Miami and Nebraska dominated college football from the 1980s through the early 2000s.

Since the Hurricanes and Cornhuskers played for the 2001 national championship they have been trending in the wrong direction, and both are coming off losing seasons in 2019.

So maybe it should be no surprise that neither ...
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Friday 24 April 2020

For Aaron Rodgers, the fun may be over before it had barely begun again

By moving up to take Jordan Love, the Packers signal the future Hall of Famer's time is dwindling.
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Georgia restaurants get governor’s okay to reopen, but for many it’s just too soon

No matter how much they want to rehire laid-off and furloughed workers, greet customers and start pulling in money again, they aren't ready to open their dining rooms, certain that they can't yet ensure the safety of their staff and customers.
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New show 'Defending Jacob' is a homecoming for Chris Evans

NEW YORK (AP) -

Chris Evans' latest TV project had a nice lure built in - he was able to stay close to his Boston-area home.

"I got to sleep in my own bed and see my family on the weekends. And it felt really, for a little while, ...
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VIRUS DIARY: Kept inside for weeks, triplets emerge in Spain

MADRID (AP) - It will be only an hour. It will probably feel like a lot longer.

On Sunday, for the first time in nearly six weeks, my 12-year-old triplets will step out of our three-bedroom apartment in Madrid.

They will enjoy their first 60 minutes of freedom after 44 ...
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Firm behind monster trucks, ice shows lays off workers

PALMETTO, Fla. (AP) - The company that brings live shows ranging from "Disney on Ice" to monster trucks to local arenas has laid off nearly 1,500 workers because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Florida-based Feld Entertainment said in a notification to the state that the coronavirus-induced prohibitions against mass gatherings had ...
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Farmers dump unused food as needy families go hungry. The government hopes to fix that.

Breakdowns in distribution have led to a disconnect between where food is produced and the food banks and low-income areas that need it.
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The Latest: Cricket in England on hold amid pandemic

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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England will try to reschedule its test series with the West Indies after announcing there will be no professional cricket played in the country until July 1 at the earliest because of the coronavirus pandemic.

...
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Meghan suit set for hearing in UK High Court

LONDON (AP) - A preliminary hearing in the Duchess of Sussex's legal case against a British newspaper is set to take place in Britain's High Court on Friday as Meghan challenges the publication of a letter she wrote to her father.

Meghan is suing the Mail on Sunday and its ...
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Redskins didn't get close to trading second pick. Here's why

The Washington Redskins didn't receive a trade package enticing enough to consider moving off the second overall pick, and even then, they might not have done it.

That's what Redskins coach Ron Rivera said Thursday hours after his team selected pass rusher Chase Young. Washington saw three players in this ...
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Teens give Titans coach unique backdrop during NFL draft

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Many NFL general managers and coaches had their children appear with them on camera from home as teams made selections on the opening night of a most unusual NFL draft during the coronavirus pandemic.

The scene behind Titans coach Mike Vrabel stood out Thursday, with one ...
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NFL draft 2020, pick-by-pick: Packers surprise by taking QB Jordan Love

Here's who fared the best and worst during the first round of the NFL's remote draft Thursday.
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Thursday 23 April 2020

UEFA keener on playoffs to finish suspended domestic leagues

UEFA is keener on leagues adopting new formats to determine final league places for European qualification if suspended domestic competitions cannot be completed due to government restrictions or financial concerns caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

The statement on Thursday opens the door to leagues temporarily adopting playoff formats so qualification ...
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4.4 million Americans sought jobless benefits last week as economic pain continued

The White House and Congress have tried to arrest the downturn, but the pandemic has kept pushing Americans out of the labor force.
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AP Week in Pictures, Middle East, Afghanistan and Pakistan

This photo gallery highlights some of the most compelling images made or published by Associated Press photographers in the Middle East, Afghanistan & Pakistan Region between April 16-22, 2020.

This week's selection includes scenes across the region, where the coronavirus and the measures to stop the spread of the pandemic ...
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Incentive deal to move Carolina Panthers to S.C. approved

ROCK HILL, S.C. (AP) - A county in South Carolina approved a deal loaded with tax breaks for the Carolina Panthers to move their headquarters and practice site.

The York County Council approved the deal in a 4-3 vote after listening to public comments during their virtual meeting on ...
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Streaming video, online retailers escape pandemic pounding

NEW YORK (AP) - COVID-19 may have knocked U.S. stocks into a bear market and pummeled the U.S. economy, but the disease has also left some companies asking the question: "What recession?"

Streaming media services, video game makers, and consumer staples companies have all gained ground as people stay home, ...
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4.4 million Americans sought jobless benefits last week, as economic pain continued

The White House and Congress have tried to arrest the downturn, but the pandemic has kept pushing Americans out of the labor force.
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Study: Olympians should push for collective bargaining

A study of the worldwide Olympic bureaucracy's finances concludes there's far more money available for athletes than what they receive, and that they would be best served by the sort of collective-bargaining arrangement that's common in pro leagues.

The study, a collaboration between the Global Athlete advocacy group and ...
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The Latest: Baseball and soccer in Japan not expecting fans

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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It's still not clear when baseball or soccer will resume in Japan but it will likely be without fans when it does.

That was the decision when the heads of Japanese professional baseball and soccer ...
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The Latest: Hungary allows sports clubs to cut salaries

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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A decree issued by the Hungarian government allows most professional sports clubs and soccer teams to cut the salaries of players and other personnel like managers and trainers by up to 70%.

The decree signed ...
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Legal battles loom as businesses hit by virus sue insurers

CHICAGO (AP) - A once-bustling bar and grill tucked below a Michigan Avenue overpass famously inspired a "Saturday Night Live" skit starring John Belushi and Bill Murray. But the money the Billy Goat Tavern is losing during the coronavirus outbreak is no joke.

The tavern and millions of other ...
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N. Carolina man arrested in football player's shooting death

DURHAM, N.C. (AP) - A man indicted in the fatal shooting of a North Carolina college football player has been arrested, police said.

Investigators arrested Denzel James Fitzgerald, 20, Durham police said in a news release. News outlets said Fitzgerald, who was indicted this week, turned himself in to police ...
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Wednesday 22 April 2020

‘A recipe for disaster’: American prison factories becoming incubators for virus

Inmates across the country are going to work, whether they want to or not, as prisons shift to become pandemic supply chains. Meanwhile, thousands of inmates are getting sick and guards are spreading the virus back out to their communities.
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The NFL draft is an overblown spectacle. Thank God it’s almost here.

A relatively normal diversion is exactly what sports fans could use right now.
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Virus dings AT&T results, telecom withdraws year guidance

The effects of the coronavirus pandemic hurt AT&T's revenue and profit in the first quarter, and it withdrew its financial guidance for the year.

Revenue fell 4.6% to $42.8 billion, with a $600 million impact from the virus thanks to lower wireless equipment sales and a hit to ad sales ...
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Alabama track to adopt out greyhounds after ending racing

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - An Alabama race course will need to find homes for more than 500 dogs after discontinuing live greyhound racing at the venue, officials said.

The Jefferson County Racing Association announced Friday that it would no longer hold live greyhound races at the Birmingham Race Course, ...
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The NCAA saved money in case of a canceled March Madness. Then it spent it.

Why didn't the NCAA have more insurance for the men's basketball tournament? It didn't need it five years ago.
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Maxwell Berning, winner of 3 US Opens, gets in Hall of Fame

Susie Maxwell Berning, one of six women to capture the U.S. Women's Open at least three times, has been elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame.

The Hall of Fame announced the election Wednesday morning, making Maxwell Berning the fourth and final member of the 2021 induction class that ...
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Oh, Canada: NWHL confirms plans to expand into Toronto

Professional women's hockey is set to make its return to Canada with the National Women's Hockey League officially announcing it is expanding into Toronto.

The yet to be named franchise has an ownership group headed by former Harvard captain Johanna Boynton, features former Brown University coach Margaret "Digit" Murphy as ...
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5 things to know today - that aren't about the virus

Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that are being talked about today:

1. IRAN LAUNCHES SATELLITE AMID US TENSIONS The military launch immediately raises concerns among experts on whether the technology used could help Iran develop intercontinental ballistic missiles.

2. MICHELLE OBAMA'S STAR POWER COULD ...
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The Latest: Berlin Marathon can't be run as planned in Sept.

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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The Berlin Marathon says the race cannot be held as planned in September because of new restrictions in the city related to the coronavirus pandemic.

City authorities have extended a ban on major events with ...
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Australian Rugby League pushes ahead with May 28 NRL restart

SYDNEY (AP) - Australian Rugby League commissioner Wayne Pearce says players in the top-flight national competition will be back in training early next month and organizers are pushing ahead with the planned season re-start on May 28.

After two days of commission meetings and a telephone conference with the chief ...
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Blues Music Awards to be presented during online show

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - The Blues Music Awards will be held online next month, hosted by singer Shemekia Copeland from her living room.

The Memphis, Tennessee-based Blues Foundation said in a news release Tuesday that the awards show will be live-streamed on the foundation's Facebook page and broadcast on its ...
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Tuesday 21 April 2020

Soap star Benard says quarantine hard on his mental health

NEW YORK (AP) - Longtime "General Hospital" star Maurice Benard says sheltering in place can take its toll on your mental health. The actor is open about suffering from bipolar disorder and also writes about it in his new best-selling book, "Nothing General About It: How Love (And Lithium) Saved ...
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USA Track and Field switches Olympic trials to June 2021

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - USA Track and Field has rescheduled its Olympic trials for June 18-27, 2021, at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon.

The national governing body for track announced the new dates Tuesday in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic postponing the Tokyo Olympics to 2021.

USATF worked with ...
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WNBA draft most second-most watch in its history

NEW YORK (AP) - The WNBA draft drew its second-highest television audience.

The draft, held virtually last Friday because the coronavirus, averaged 387,000 viewers on ESPN, up 123% from last year's draft. It was also up 33% from the last time it aired on the network in 2011.

Only the ...
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Michael Savage slams Rush Limbaugh over coronavirus comments: 'Are there no standards in the media?'

Rush Limbaugh came under fire Monday from fellow right-wing radio host Michael Savage for disputing the effectiveness of efforts meant to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Mr. Savage, the host of "The Savage Nation" radio show, renewed criticism of his conservative contemporary in light of Mr. Limbaugh continuing ...
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Swiss trial in 2006 World Cup case suspended, nears collapse

GENEVA (AP) - The first trial held in Switzerland's five-year investigation of corruption in soccer moved closer Tuesday to ending without a judgment amid problems running a court during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Swiss federal criminal court said it extended a suspension of the prosecution - of three German organizers ...
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The Latest: Italian teams favor finishing soccer season

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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The 20 clubs in Italy's top soccer division have unanimously voted in favor of finishing the current season.

The Lega Serie A held an assembly with the 20 clubs by videoconference. It released a statement ...
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Barcelona to sell title rights to Camp Nou to raise money

BARCELONA, Spain (AP) - Barcelona will sell the title rights to its storied stadium for one year in an effort to raise money for the fight against the coronavirus.

The Spanish club's executive board said Tuesday it will donate the entire fee raised by selling the title rights to the ...
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Queen Elizabeth II marks 94th birthday without fanfare

LONDON (AP) - Britain is marking Queen Elizabeth II's 94th birthday with silence Tuesday, as the nation in lockdown amid the COVID-19 pandemic forgoes the usual gun salutes and ringing of bells.

With thousands dead amid the outbreak, the monarch decided that the celebratory display of military firepower would not ...
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Djokovic says he may reconsider his anti-vaccination stand

BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) - Novak Djokovic has reiterated he is against taking an anti-coronavirus vaccination if it becomes mandatory to travel once the pandemic subsides, but says he's open to changing his mind.

The top-ranked Djokovic said in a statement emailed to The Associated Press on Tuesday, ''Personally I ...
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Top Fijian official leaves World Rugby role amid allegations

A top Fijian official left his position on the World Rugby council and will not be seeking a place on the governing body's executive committee in the upcoming elections following allegations of discriminatory conduct against him.

The Fiji Rugby Union is investigating allegations against its chairman, Francis Kean, which were ...
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The Latest: South Korean baseball season to start May 5

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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South Korea's professional baseball league has decided to begin its season on May 5.

The games will be played without fans until the risk of infection from the coronavirus is gone.

The league plans to ...
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Monday 20 April 2020

Stepping up: Mets PA announcer offers kind voice amid virus

NEW YORK (AP) - The requests come by the hundreds: the son of an emergency room nurse, the husband of a doctor, a hospital patient.

Colin Cosell studies them, sorts them. Normally he'd be at Citi Field, rousing the crowd as public address announcer for the New York Mets. Now ...
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ESPN omits 'Bullets' from Michael Jordan documentary, 'The Last Dance'

The Washington Bullets didn't become the Washington Wizards until 1997. But the team's fans noticed something off Sunday when watching "The Last Dance," ESPN's 10-part documentary about Michael Jordan's final season with the Chicago Bulls.

During a section about the 1986 season, when Jordan's Bulls sneaked into the playoffs as ...
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Pandemic couldn't derail new 'Talking Sopranos' podcast

NEW YORK (AP) - The corovavirus pandemic almost upended a new podcast about the hit TV series "The Sopranos" before it even started. But hosts and series actors Michael Imperioli and Steve Schirripa said fans pleaded with them to find a way to do it.

They did and watchers of ...
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Giants doing homework on Justin Herbert despite drafting Daniel Jones last year

All throughout the offseason, the Washington Redskins and new coach Ron Rivera have been questioned whether they're truly committed to Dwayne Haskins. But could it actually be another NFC East team that is souring on its young quarterback?

The NFL Network reported Monday that the New York Giants have spent ...
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Celebrity birthdays for the week of April 26-May 2

Celebrity birthdays for the week of April 26-May 2:

April 26: Actress-comedian Carol Burnett is 87. Guitarist-songwriter Duane Eddy is 82. Singer Maurice Williams of Maurice and the Zodiacs is 82. Singer Bobby Rydell is 78. Singer Gary Wright is 77. Actor Giancarlo Esposito ("Better Call Saul," ″Breaking Bad") is ...
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Concern for players' mental health with soccer shut down

Socially isolated, cut off from their teammates. Worried about when they will play again. Concerned about their finances and the future of their sport.

The global union for soccer players has found its members are struggling with increased levels of anxiety and depression during the coronavirus pandemic that has shut ...
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Heung-min Son starts 3-week military service in South Korea

LONDON (AP) - Tottenham forward Heung-min Son started a three-week period of military service in his native South Korea on Monday.

The 27-year-old Son reported to a Marine Corps unit on the southern island of Jeju, according to South Korea's Yonhap News Agency, and will be in camp until May ...
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Harry and Meghan say they won't cooperate with UK tabloids

LONDON (AP) - The Duke and Duchess of Sussex say they will no longer cooperate with several British tabloid newspapers because of what they call "distorted, false or invasive" stories.

Meghan and Prince Harry have written to the editors of The Sun, the Daily Mail, the Daily Express and the ...
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Rugby Australia, players agree pay cuts after lengthy talks

SYDNEY (AP) - Australia's top rugby players will demand a greater say in the future of the sport after reaching agreement Monday on pay cuts designed to allow the game to weather the financial fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

Some players reportedly will give up as much as 60 percent ...
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The Latest: Trump, Congress expect agreement on aid package

The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.

TOP OF THE HOUR:

- Trump administration and Congress expect agreement on aid package. ...
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Marshall University Empty Bowls fundraiser goes online

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. (AP) - An annual fundraiser at Marshall University to help feed needy families has moved online.

Marshall says its art school is teaming up with a pottery studio for the Empty Bowls alternative event.

Marshall says in a news release that the Pottery Place of Huntington has ...
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Sunday 19 April 2020

Yemen rebels arrest former minister in capital, family says

CAIRO (AP) - Yemen's rebels on Sunday detained a former culture minister and writer who was a vocal critic of their rule, his family and lawyer said.

The rebels, known as Houthis, stormed Khalid al-Rwaishan's home in a suburb of the capital Sanaa at dawn, seizing personal papers and documents. ...
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GOP senators ask NC governor to allow racing at Charlotte

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Five Republican state senators are asking North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper to allow NASCAR races - without fans - next month at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

In a normal year, NASCAR would run the Coca-Cola 600 at the Charlotte track over Memorial Day weekend.

Like other, sports, ...
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Vermont Arts Council gets $47K in relief funding for artists

MONTPELIER, Vt (AP) - The New England Foundation for the Arts has awarded $47,000 to the Vermont Arts Council to support artists struggling financially amid the coronavirus outbreak, the council said.

The funds will supplement an artists' relief fund the council started last month to provide grants of up ...
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Deserted icons: Frontier Days important bonanza for Cheyenne

CHEYENNE, Wyo. (AP) - Country singer Blake Shelton still remains scheduled to appear on center stage. Same with the biggest names in the rodeo game.

Billed as the "Daddy of 'em all," Cheyenne Frontier Days has been held for 123 straight years. But the clock on the festival's website ticking ...
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Books, dance lessons, ‘Sopranos’ — freebies abound online

NEW YORK (AP) - We might not be totally free these days, but there's a lot out there that is.

Companies like Pure Barre and Peloton are offering free access to fitness classes. Amazon is giving away book classics like "The Call of the Wild" and "Emma," and MasterClass has ...
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Amid virus gloom, glimpses of human decency and good works

NEW YORK (AP) - The idea formed on a day when all the news headlines were dire. The coronavirus was surging worldwide; Nashville had lost lives in a devastating tornado and children had their lives upended as they separated from beloved classmates to shelter at home.

But only bad news ...
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'The Last Dance': How to watch Michael Jordan documentary, what time, TV, when

"The Last Dance" is finally here.

The long-awaited Michael Jordan documentary begins its five-week run Sunday, starting 9 p.m. on ESPN. The series spans Jordan's last go-around with the Chicago Bulls from the 1997-98 season. Originally slated for a June release, ESPN moved up the documentary amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

...
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Taylor Swift cancels all 2020 performances, appearances

NEW YORK — Taylor Swift is canceling all of her performances and appearances for the rest of the year because of the coronavirus pandemic.

"With many events throughout the world already cancelled, and upon direction from health officials in an effort to keep fans safe and help prevent the spread ...
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Glance at plans sports leagues have made to resume play

The Associated Press canvassed major sports around the world asking what the plan was to return to action. Most leagues gave aggressive and optimistic plans to start play within weeks, while fall sports said they plan to start on schedule.

Key stakeholders confirmed, however, that they have less optimistic ...
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2 women make history at BYU by ballroom dancing together

PROVO, Utah (AP) - Before walking out onto the ballroom floor together, Ayane Matsuda tugged at the oversized tuxedo jacket she had borrowed backstage while her partner, Yume Honda, checked that each of the rhinestones on her handmade gown were still in place.

The two women were nervous. They had ...
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The Latest: Spain reports fewest daily deaths for a month

The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.

TOP OF THE HOUR:

- Spain reports 410 deaths in last 24 hours, fewest ...
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Saturday 18 April 2020

MLS to get its kicks with 5-week video game tournament

Sporting Kansas City midfielder Wan Kuzain is more than your average gamer. He's got street cred.

That's because when he was 17, Kuzain accepted a challenge from noted video game enthusiast (and former NFL player) Chad Johnson - and beat him.

The former Pro Bowler known as Ochocinco ...
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Pandemic costing youth sports millions, creating uncertainty

DALLAS (AP) - Less than a month ago, AAU President Roger Goudy watched membership in the long-running youth sports organization drop from 20,000 ahead of last year's pace to about 3,000 behind in just a week.

For now, he hopes a girls volleyball tournament he helped turn into one of ...
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How 'The Last Dance' started with a simple idea in 1997

The year was 1997. Andy Thompson had an idea. Adam Silver liked his plan.

Neither had any clue what they concocted.

The ESPN and Netflix documentary "The Last Dance" - the story based around Michael Jordan and the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls - premieres Sunday night with the first two episodes ...
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UMass Fine Arts Center named for former chancellor

AMHERST, Mass. (AP) - The massive UMass Fine Arts Center at the heart of the Amherst campus is getting a name for the first time in its 45-year life.

The university's Board of Trustees voted unanimously this week to name the building for the late Randolph W. "Bill" Bromery, the ...
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Chicago Sky center Stefanie Dolson says she got COVID-19

CHICAGO (AP) - Chicago Sky center Stefanie Dolson announced that she tested positive for the coronavirus, making her the first known Chicago professional athlete to contract COVID-19.

Dolson said in a video that aired Friday night during ESPN's broadcast of the WNBA draft that she and her "whole family" tested ...
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Teachers on TV: Classes hit the airwaves during pandemic

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Using his cat's blanket as green screen, history teacher Bill Smith recorded himself teaching a lesson on New Jersey's underground railroad, taking student viewers on a tour of sites including a river where slave hunters would try to reenslave people attempting crossings.

The lesson was ...
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Spain set to finish soccer season without fans in stadiums

MADRID (AP) - Soccer matches and other sports events in Spain will take place in empty venues at least until the end of the summer, the mayor of Madrid said Saturday.

José Luis Martínez-Almeida told the Onda Cero radio station that the coronavirus pandemic likely "won't be under control" by ...
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West Ham CEO Brady says date for EPL return is no clearer

LONDON (AP) - West Ham chief executive Karren Brady believes the timescale for an English Premier League return is no clearer than when the coronavirus lockdown started almost a month ago.

The EPL stated after talks with the 20 clubs on Friday that its objective remains to complete the season ...
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International Wildlife Film Festival kicks off -- virtually

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) - With a plethora of free films and educational resources galore, Missoula's 43rd annual International Wildlife Film Festival kicks off this weekend in a virtual format that brings the wonders of animals from around the world to the viewer at home.

Streaming films through their website and ...
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Nations debate easing virus restrictions as economies falter

BEIJING (AP) - Governments around the world are wrestling with when and how to lift economically painful virus-control measures as unemployment rises and rent payments come due.

Many places have mandated strict restrictions on movement to try to stop the spread of a new coronavirus that has infected more than ...
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Wings bolster franchise with 3 of top 7 picks in WNBA draft

The Dallas Wings had been focused on the 2020 WNBA draft for about two years, and went into the night with three of the top seven picks.

"I think when we look back five or 10 years from now, we're going to realize how important tonight was in terms of ...
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Friday 17 April 2020

NFL to hold practice remote draft on Monday

The NFL will hold a practice remote draft on Monday, three days before the real thing is done in the same way.

Detroit Lions general manager Bob Quinn said Friday morning that the mock draft will be Monday. He didn't provide any details on the proceedings, other than what the ...
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Asian rapper Rich Brian is proving he belongs in hip-hop

When Brian Imanuel was a budding teen rapper in Jakarta, Indonesia, he wanted a rap name that would go well with a song that he was putting out on SoundCloud.

He felt his own name, Brian Imanuel Soewarno, was too long, but a suggestion by his friend caught his ...
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The Latest: NBA, WNBA selling face covers for charity

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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The NBA and WNBA say they plan to sell cloth face coverings bearing team and league logos and that all proceeds generated by the league will go to charity.

The proceeds will go to Feeding ...
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Marion Hollins elected to 2021 class of Golf Hall of Fame

Marion Hollins financed and developed a golf course for women in New York and was the brains behind two fabled golf courses in California. And with one determined swing, she set in motion plans for the famous par-3 16th at Cypress Point.

A visionary in golf course architecture, a confidante ...
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SC theater shuttered by virus moving its movies online

A South Carolina theater that's closed because of the coronavirus is making a switch to showing movies online.

Larry Mann and his wife have owned the Park Plaza Cinema on Hilton Head Island for more than a decade. Like other movie theaters in the U.S., they've had to shut ...
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Spanish sports clinic becomes center for virus patients

MADRID (AP) - Like for many people, things have changed for doctors at one of Spain's top sports medicine clinics.

Instead of performing shoulder and knee surgeries or helping athletes recover from injury, they are now putting patients on ventilators and working to save the lives of people infected with ...
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Baltimore NAACP uses sound truck to broadcast virus safety

BALTIMORE (AP) - The NAACP in Baltimore has started circulating a sound truck blasting requests to "stay-at-home" during the coronavirus pandemic.

The truck, which features messages from local celebrities, politicians and athletes, has started driving around areas where residents have continued to gather despite Gov. Larry Hogan's stay-at-home order, ...
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Former Leeds defender Norman Hunter dies at 76 with COVID-19

LEEDS, England (AP) - Norman Hunter, a former Leeds defender who was part of England's World Cup-winning squad in 1966, died Friday with COVID-19. He was 76.

Hunter, who earned the nickname "Bites Yer Legs" because of his tough tackling, was admitted to the hospital last week and died early ...
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The Latest: Golf tournaments in Germany and France canceled

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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The BMW International Open in Germany and the Open de France golf tournaments have been canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic and the Scottish Open has been postponed.

The BMW International Open was to be ...
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Pro cyclist in Italy uses his bike to deliver medicine

ROVATO, Italy (AP) - There are no fans lining the road. No teammates providing support. And there is no race to win.

Professional cyclist Davide Martinelli has achieved a moral victory, though, by using his bike to help deliver medicine to elderly residents and others in need during the coronavirus ...
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MTSU works with indigenous filmmakers on Amazon project

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) - Two professors at Middle Tennessee State University are helping indigenous filmmakers in Brazil tell the story of their efforts to save the Amazon rainforest, according to a news release from the school.

The professors previously created a film with the indigenous Kayapó people about the descent ...
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Thursday 16 April 2020

Sudan protest image wins prestigious World Press Photo award

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - An emotion-charged photo of a young man illuminated by cellphone lights as he recites poetry amid a crowd of protesters calling for civilian rule in Sudan won the prestigious World Press Photo award on Thursday.

The image, titled "Straight Voice," was captured by Japanese photographer ...
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ETSU adds guard Jalen Johnson as graduate transfer from Vols

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (AP) - East Tennessee has added guard Jalen Johnson as a graduate transfer from Tennessee to a team that won the Southern Conference Tournament title and went 30-4 this season.

Coach Steve Forbes announced the signing Thursday.

The 6-foot-6 Johnson graduated from Tennessee in December and decided ...
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Staff shakeup at US Soccer Federation under new CEO

CHICAGO (AP) - Chief administrative officer Brian Remedi has been fired by the U.S. Soccer Federation as part of a staff shakeup in the transition to new CEO Will Wilson.

Tonya Wallach, chief talent and inclusion officer since 2018, also was fired Wednesday. The departures were first reported by Soccer ...
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UConn lands transfer guard Tyrese Martin from Rhode Island

STORRS, Conn. (AP) - UConn has added guard Tyrese Martin, a transfer from Rhode Island, to its roster, the school announced Thursday.

The 6-foot-6 rising junior started all 30 games for the Rams last season, averaging 12.8 points and 7.1 rebounds per game.

Martin was recruited to Rhode Island by ...
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Northern Illinois nursing home reports 23 coronavirus deaths

JOLIET, Ill. (AP) - Twenty-two residents and one staff member at a nursing home in the northern Illinois community of Joliet have died of the coronavirus, a spokeswoman for the facility said.

In announcing the deaths Wednesday, Symphony of Joliet, which reported a total of three deaths as recently as ...
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Travelers Championship plans to go forward without fans

CROMWELL, Conn. (AP) - The Travelers Championship is planning to go forward as scheduled in June, but without allowing fans to attend the golf tournament.

The decision was announced Thursday by the PGA Tour as it released its tentative revised schedule for the season.

The tournament at TPC River ...
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PGA Tour hopes to resume in June at Colonial with no fans

The PGA Tour laid out an ambitious plan to resume its season Thursday, with hopes of a restart at Colonial on June 11-14 and keeping fans away for at least the first month.

If government and health authorities give golf the green light, the tour will have an official event ...
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Facebook to warn users who "liked" coronavirus hoaxes

NEW YORK (AP) - Have you liked or commented on a Facebook post about the COVID-19 pandemic that turned out to be a hoax?

The social media company says it is now going to let users know if they liked, reacted or commented on posts with harmful information about ...
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Jordan: Winning 6th NBA title with Bulls was 'trying year'

CHARLOTTE, N.C (AP) - Michael Jordan described his final NBA championship season with the Chicago Bulls as a "trying year."

"We all were all trying to enjoy that year knowing it was coming to an end," Jordan told Good Morning America on Thursday via video conference from his home in ...
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Bundesliga aim to restart in May without fans hit by order

BERLIN (AP) - Extending the ban on large gatherings in Germany to the end of August threatens soccer officials' aim of restarting the Bundesliga in May without spectators.

Chancellor Angela Merkel's announcement on Wednesday, maintaining gatherings of no more than two people in public to to try and contain the ...
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Saudi Arabia executes man who attacked Spanish performers

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia (AP) - Saudi Arabia on Thursday executed a Yemeni man found guilty of attacking a Spanish dance troupe and wounding three people on stage before a stunned audience in the capital last year.

The Interior Ministry announced the execution in a statement and identified the man as ...
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Annual Alabama beachfront festival postponed due to virus

GULF SHORES, Ala. (AP) - An annual beachfront musical festival held in Alabama was postponed until next year amid restrictions on large gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic.

Organizers for the Hangout Fest announced Wednesday the festival has been moved to May 2021. This year's lineup was set to feature various ...
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Wednesday 15 April 2020

Washington freshman Jaden McDaniels declares for NBA draft

SEATTLE (AP) - Washington freshman swingman Jaden McDaniels has declared for the NBA draft, becoming the latest one-and-done player for the Huskies.

McDaniels, who is projected to go in the middle of the first round, announced his decision on social media late Tuesday night.

McDaniels was inconsistent during ...
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New York hoops coaches unite in fight against coronavirus

New York's 44 Division I men's and women's basketball coaches have united under the banner of TEAM NEW YORK to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Each coach has committed to using his or her platform in an effort to share messages that will encourage proper action to ...
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Essence Fest moves to 2021 after mayor signals need to shift

NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Amid the spread of the coronavirus, the organizers of Essence Festival said Wednesday they would move their festival to next year after the New Orleans mayor suggested that major spring and summer festivals that had been postponed to later this year should not be held at ...
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St. Louis, KC areas consider extending stay-at-home orders

O'FALLON, Mo. (AP) - Regional leaders in St. Louis and Kansas City may decide by the end of the week whether to extend stay-at-home orders in Missouri's two largest urban areas, regardless of whether the statewide mandate is allowed to expire.

Kansas City, St. Louis and their suburbs invoked stay-at-home ...
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AP source: Liberty trade Charles to Mystics in 3-team deal

NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Liberty have traded All-Star Tina Charles to the Washington Mystics as part of a three-team deal, a person familiar with the trade told The Associated Press.

New York will receive the 12th pick in the WNBA draft from Washington as well as the ...
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Sean Hannity: Barack Obama 'can't get Fox News out of his head'

Fox News host Sean Hannity fired back at former President Barack Obama late Tuesday in light of the latter seemingly referring to the cable network as a "propaganda" outlet.

Mr. Obama "can't get Fox News out of his head," the host of "Hannity" said during the latest episode of his ...
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Steelers keeping options open without first-round pick

49. PITTSBURGH (8-8)

LAST SEASON: Steelers got long glimpse of what life might look like without QB Ben Roethlisberger when two-time Super Bowl winner was lost for year at halftime of Week 2 with right elbow injury. Backups Mason Rudolph and Devlin "Duck" Hodges didn't exactly cement themselves as Roethlisberger's ...
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VIRUS DIARY: For the smallest ballplayers, an unsure spring

MONROEVILLE, Pa. (AP) - The question comes frequently. Usually in the morning, when the day is still brimming with confidence.

"Are we going to have a season this year?" my 10-year-old asks, sometimes with a glove on his left hand and a baseball in his right.

My answer for the ...
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The Latest: Tour de France rescheduled to start Aug. 29

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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This year's Tour de France will start on Aug. 29 and finish on Sept. 20 and will be followed by cycling's two other major races.

The International Cycling Union announced the new dates after consulting ...
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Pandemic delays stadium renovations for Madrid and Barcelona

MADRID (AP) - For Barcelona and Real Madrid, the coronavirus pandemic has affected more than their games and player salaries - it has also taken a toll on their stadium renovation plans.

Both Spanish soccer clubs are working on hefty renovation projects for their famed venues, with construction already underway ...
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Ionescu, Sabally, Cox headline WNBA mock draft

NEW YORK (AP) - The Associated Press had a panel of WNBA coaches and general managers hold a mock draft over the course of the season. This is the final installment with the draft on Friday.

The coaches weren't allowed to select players for their own team. Oregon players ...
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Tuesday 14 April 2020

Springsteen, other NJ stars holding COVID-19 fundraiser

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi and at least a dozen other New Jersey natives will be doing a COVID-19 fundraiser for vulnerable victims in the state later this month, a relief fund announced Tuesday.

The New Jersey Pandemic Relief Fund said the singers and celebrities ...
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AP Interview: Sports medicine leader promotes virus protocol

ROME (AP) - While soccer leagues around Europe are still debating whether and when to resume playing, the leader of the continent's Federation of Sports Medicine Associations is calling for a detailed series of tests to clear athletes before they return to training.

Maurizio Casasco, who is also president of ...
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Tax change in coronavirus package overwhelmingly benefits millionaires, congressional body finds

The change will cost taxpayers about $90 billion in 2020 alone, part of a set of tax changes that will add close to $170 billion to the national deficit over the next 10 years, according to the Joint Committee on Taxation.
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The best 26-man roster in MLB history

If you could build a team using the best players at every position through MLB's history, this is what it would look like.
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Dak Prescott to skip virtual offseason program without new deal

If the Dallas Cowboys decide to host a virtual offseason program, there's a good chance Dak Prescott won't participate in it. 

Pro Football Talk reported Tuesday the quarterback plans to skip the workouts without a long-term deal in place. The Cowboys gave Prescott the franchise tag this offseason, keeping him ...
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New playing field for Jackie Robinson Day: online tributes

NEW YORK (AP) - Forced from the field by the new coronavirus, Major League Baseball is moving its annual celebration of Jackie Robinson online.

The Jackie Robinson Foundation is launching a virtual learning hub to coincide with the 73rd anniversary Wednesday of Robinson breaking the major league color barrier.

...
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New York Liberty get new logo along with move to Brooklyn

NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Liberty logo is getting an update for the first time since the team joined the WNBA 24 years ago in the league's inaugural season.

The Liberty are moving away from the orange-and-blue color scheme that was associated with their previous owner, New York ...
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Singer Jon Bon Jovi asks kindergartners to 'Do What You Can'

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. (AP) - A Florida kindergarten teacher took his virtual classroom to new levels on Monday when rock icon Jon Bon Jovi popped in on a writing lesson about life in the coronavirus quarantine.

Last month, the Grammy award-winning 80s rocker released an incomplete version of "Do ...
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'64 Tokyo Olympics: A man from Hiroshima lights the cauldron

TOKYO (AP) - It was the year Cassius Clay won the heavyweight championship and became Muhammad Ali. When Roy Emerson of Australia and Maria Bueno of Brazil took the titles at Wimbledon, when Arnold Palmer claimed his fourth and final Masters, and when the Beatles arrived on a Pan Am ...
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In shutdown, a glimpse of life without movie theaters

NEW YORK (AP) - Jennifer Page jokes that four months in, this decade is already the worst of her life.

A server at a nearby resort, she's out of work due to the pandemic. After someone tested positive at her mother's nursing home, Page moved her into a room ...
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Transfer portal causing college basketball coaches headaches

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) - Gregg Marshall began his career as an assistant at tiny Randolph-Macon and Belmont Abbey, but it was during eight years on the staff of Hall of Fame coach John Kresse at College of Charleston that he learned to build a basketball program.

Marshall learned how to ...
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Monday 13 April 2020

Krasinski, Ortiz thank workers fighting COVID-19 pandemic

BOSTON (AP) - Actor John Krasinski and retired Boston Red Sox player David Ortiz have given a major boost to some tireless Boston health care workers on the front lines in the fight against the new coronavirus.

The pair announced during Krasinski's "Some Good News" YouTube show Sunday that workers ...
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Celebrity birthdays for the week of April 19-25

Celebrity birthdays for the week of April 19-25

April 19: Actress Elinor Donahue ("Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," "Father Knows Best") is 83. Keyboardist Alan Price of The Animals is 78. Actor Tim Curry is 74. Singer Mark "Flo" Volman of The Turtles is 73. Actor Tony Plana ("Ugly Betty") is ...
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Kentucky's Quickley enters NBA draft after breakout season

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky guard Immanuel Quickley will enter the NBA draft and sign with an agent, leaving school after a breakout season in which he was an honorable mention All-America selection by The Associated Press.

Southeastern Conference coaches voted the 6-foot-3 sophomore Player of the Year after he ...
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ABC's Stephanopoulos positive for coronavirus but feels well

NEW YORK (AP) - "Good Morning America" host George Stephanopoulos revealed Monday that he's tested positive for the coronavirus, but has been relatively symptom-free.

The ABC newsman revealed his diagnosis on the show, telling co-host Robin Roberts that, "I feel fine."

Stephanopoulos' wife, Ali Wentworth, had come down with COVID-19 ...
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NFL draft details: Roger Goodell to work from his basement, time for picks remains same

The 2020 NFL draft promises to be much different, much stranger, than what football fans are used to seeing every April because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

NBC Sports's Peter King reported in his weekly column that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will announce first-round picks live from the basement ...
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Hertha Berlin's new coach Labbadia preparing for 'Day X'

BERLIN (AP) - Hertha Berlin presented Bruno Labbadia as coach on Monday despite not knowing when the 54-year-old German can lead a normal training session or when his first game can be played.

The Bundesliga, like other major soccer leagues around Europe, has been suspended indefinitely because of the coronavirus ...
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The Latest: Real Sociedad reverses plan to resume training

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

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Spanish soccer club Real Sociedad is going back on its plan to resume practicing at the team's training center during the coronavirus pandemic.

The club says it made the decision after discussions with the Spanish ...
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What Would Have Been: Live sports events shuttered by virus

With the national sports calendar now in its second month on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic, The Associated Press looks at what would have been held the week of April 13-19:

MLB:

- Every player would have been wearing No. 42 on Wednesday for Jackie Robinson Day. ...
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Delay costs IOC 'several hundred million'; Japan pays rest

TOKYO (AP) - The International Olympic Committee will face "several hundred million dollars" of added costs because of the postponement of the Tokyo Games, the body's president said.

Thomas Bach spoke in an interview with German newspaper Die Welt on Sunday.

Estimates in Japan put the overall cost of the ...
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Popular NYC sports photographer dead at 48 from COVID-19

NEW YORK (AP) - Anthony Causi, a highly skilled and exceedingly popular sports photographer for The New York Post who covered the city's teams for 25 years, died Sunday from the new coronavirus. He was 48.

The newspaper reported Causi's death on its website Sunday night and included an image ...
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Sale of Derby merchandise to help those impacted by virus

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky Derby merchandise with the original race date of May 2 will go on sale this week with 20% of proceeds going to funds set up to help people who have been financially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, officials said.

Merchandise will be sold online from ...
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Sunday 12 April 2020

Ogunquit art museum's new director has New England ties

OGUNQUIT, Maine (AP) - An art museum in southern Maine has named a Michigan art professor as its new executive director.

The Ogunquit Museum of American Art will be led by Amanda Lahikainen starting May 1, the museum's board president said. Lahikainen is the chair of the art department at ...
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Deserted icons: Oklahoma City loses NCAA softball WCWS

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Last spring, Brandon Baker seized a rare chance to break out his rain playlist in front of nearly 10,000 people.

Storms near USA Softball Hall of Fame Stadium had knocked out the right field lights during the May 31 evening session of the Women's College World ...
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City Lights Bookstore launches successful GoFundMe campaign

NEW YORK (AP) - One of the world's most famous independent booksellers, City Lights Bookstore in San Francisco, was in dire financial shape because of the coronavirus outbreak and asked for help.

Help quickly arrived.

Within days of starting a GoFundMe campaign last week seeking $300,000, the store ...
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One player can’t fix all of the Redskins’ issues. That’s why they should trade the No. 2 pick.

Chase Young is the best player in the NFL draft, but Washington needs more than that.
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Comedian Tim Brooke-Taylor of The Goodies dies with COVID-19

LONDON (AP) - British performer Tim Brooke-Taylor, a member of comedy trio The Goodies, has died after contracting the new coronavirus. He was 79.

Brooke-Taylor's agent says he died Sunday morning "from COVID-19."

Brooke-Taylor was part of Cambridge University's Footlights revue, the breeding ground of several generations of British comic ...
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