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Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 52F. Winds light and variable..
Partly cloudy skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 52F. Winds light and variable.
FILE - Marion Koopmans, right, and Peter Ben Embarek, center, of the World Health Organization team say farewell to their Chinese counterpart Liang Wannian, left, after a WHO-China Joint Study Press Conference at the end of the WHO mission in Wuhan, China on Feb. 9, 2021. Experts drafted by the World Health Organization to help investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic say further research is needed to determine how COVID-19 first began. They say they need a more detailed analysis of the possibility it was a laboratory accident.
FILE - A worker in protectively overalls and carrying disinfecting equipment walks outside the Wuhan Central Hospital, China on Feb. 6, 2021. Experts drafted by the World Health Organization to help investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic say further research is needed to determine how COVID-19 first began. They say they need a more detailed analysis of the possibility it was a laboratory accident.
FILE - Marion Koopmans, right, and Peter Ben Embarek, center, of the World Health Organization team say farewell to their Chinese counterpart Liang Wannian, left, after a WHO-China Joint Study Press Conference at the end of the WHO mission in Wuhan, China on Feb. 9, 2021. Experts drafted by the World Health Organization to help investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic say further research is needed to determine how COVID-19 first began. They say they need a more detailed analysis of the possibility it was a laboratory accident.
FILE - A worker in protectively overalls and carrying disinfecting equipment walks outside the Wuhan Central Hospital, China on Feb. 6, 2021. Experts drafted by the World Health Organization to help investigate the origins of the coronavirus pandemic say further research is needed to determine how COVID-19 first began. They say they need a more detailed analysis of the possibility it was a laboratory accident.
BEIJING (AP) — China on Friday attacked the theory that the coronavirus pandemic may have originated as a leak from a Chinese laboratory as a politically motivated lie, after the World Health Organization recommended in its strongest terms yet that a deeper probe is needed into whether a lab accident may be to blame.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian also rejected accusations that China had not fully cooperated with investigators, saying it welcomed a science-based probe but rejected any political manipulation.
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Wyndham Clark closed with an unlikely par save Friday to take a one-stroke lead over defending champion Rory McIlroy and four other players into the weekend in the RBC Canadian Open. After bogeying Nos. 15 and 16 in windy conditions at St. George’s, Clark got up-and-down from about 50 feet from a semi-plugged lie on the downslope in a greenside bunker on the par-4 18th. He was 7 under after an even-par 70. McIlroy shot a 68. He was tied with Matt Fitzpatrick, Alex Smalley, Keith Mitchell and Jim Knous.McIlroy had to wait three years to defend his 2019 title because of the COVID-19 pandemic that canceled golf’s fourth-oldest championship the last two years.
Democrat Sydney Kamlager advances to November general election in California's 37th Congressional District.
Meat-packing giant Smithfield Foods says it will close its only California plant next year, citing the escalating cost of doing business in the state. The Farmer John meat-packing plant in an industrial suburb south of Los Angeles is expected to shut in February. Its 1,800 workers will get severance pay, and some will have the option of relocating to other facilities owned by the Virginia-based Smithfield Foods Inc. A Smithfield executive says the costs of taxes, water and other utilities are much higher in California than elsewhere. Some operations will be moved to the Midwest.
LOS ANGELES — For the second time in 11 days, a website has asked a court to throw out a defamation suit filed by Dodgers pitcher Trevor Bauer.
Justin Bieber says a rare disorder that paralyzed half of the superstar performer’s face is the reason behind his tour postponement. The Grammy winner says in video he posted Friday on Instagram that he’s suffering from Ramsey Hunt syndrome. The syndrome causes facial paralysis and affects nerves in the face through a shingles outbreak. Bieber’s post comes after he cancelled his shows in Toronto and Washington, D.C. The singer demonstrated in the video that he was could barely move one side of his face, calling the ailment “pretty serious.” Bieber said he’s unsure how long he will take to heal. He appeared positive about making a full recovery through rest and therapy.
CHICAGO — Former Cleveland President Gabe Paul once quipped that “a manager really gets paid for how much he suffers.”
A Texas 18-year-old was charged with first-degree murder Friday in the stabbing of her baby after giving birth on her own while visiting Colorado with family. Court documents say Leiyla Cepeda told an investigator the baby was quiet and not moving and did not seem to be breathing but declined to explain why the baby had stab wounds. A coroner determined the baby was alive when born at the home of her relatives in the small town of Nunn. It's not known if Cepeda has a lawyer yet. A prosecutor's spokesperson says Cepeda was 17 when the baby was born but turned 18 on Friday. She has been charged as an adult.
PHILADELPHIA — Last Sunday, Phillies shortstop Bryson Stott stepped up to the plate with the game and a series sweep of the Angels on the line. The Phillies were losing, 7-6, and down to their final out. Stott saw five pitches and worked his way to a 3-2 count.
The largest documented wildfire burning through tundra in southwest Alaska is within miles of two Alaska Native villages. Residents in the communities of St. Mary's and Pitkas Point were put on notice Friday to prepare for possible evacuation. This came a day after about 80 elders and those with health concerns voluntarily evacuated. The fire is consuming dry grass, alder and willow bushes on the largely treeless tundra as gusts of up to 30 mph are pushing the fire in the general direction of both communities. The fire was 78 square miles and 7 miles from St. Mary's.
A New York judge says the state attorney general’s lawsuit against the National Rifle Association is no mere “witch hunt.” A decision issued Friday dismisses the gun rights advocacy group’s claims that the case is a political vendetta. The ruling means the legal fight can continue. Attorney General Letitia James' 2020 lawsuit accused top NRA executives of financial improprieties. The NRA alleged in a court filing last year that James was retaliating against the group because of its views. Manhattan Judge Joel Cohen says that James' investigation was prompted by reports of serious misconduct and cannot be written off as a politically motivated “witch hunt.”
Australian rookie Stephanie Kyriacou shot a 6-under 67 on Friday to take the first-round lead in the ShopRite LPGA Classic at Seaview Hotel and Golf Club. The 21-year-old Kyriacou, a two-time winner on the Ladies European Tour, teed off at 7:15 a.m. in the first group of the day off No. 1 on the Bay Course, before the tricky wind began to blow off Reeds Bay. Sweden’s Frida Kinhult was a stroke back. Top-ranked Jin Young Ko was at 67 with Brooke Henderson, Dottie Ardina and New Jersey player Marina Alex. Alex won the Palos Verdes Championship in early May in California for her second tour title.
Canada is poised to become the first country in the world to require that a warning be printed on every cigarette. The move builds on Canada’s mandate to include graphic photo warnings on tobacco products’ packaging -- a policy that started an international trend when it was introduced two decades ago. A consultation period for the proposed change is set to begin Saturday, and the government anticipates the changes coming into force in the latter half of 2023. While the exact messaging printed on cigarettes could change, Minister of Mental Health and Addictions Carolyn Bennett Bennett says the current proposal is: “Poison in every puff.”
Democrat Jimmy Gomez advances to November general election in California's 34th Congressional District.
Outfielder Clint Frazier was designated for assignment in a surprise decision by the Chicago Cubs, who also placed pitcher Marcus Stroman on the 15-day injured list with right shoulder inflammation as part of a flurry of roster moves Friday. Wade Miley was activated from the IL to start the opener of a three-game series against the major league-leading New York Yankees. The left-hander had been sidelined since May 26 with a shoulder strain. Chicago also reinstated catcher Yan Gomes and infielder Jonathan Villar from the 10-day injured list. Right-hander Michael Rucker and infielder Alfonso Rivas were optioned to Triple-A Iowa. In addition, Cubs reliever Chris Martin was reinstated from the restricted list after spending more than the maximum seven days on the bereavement list.
A judge has extended a ban on bullfighting in Mexico City indefinitely, raising the likelihood that the season will be cancelled at the world's largest remaining venue. La Plaza Mexico, as the stadium is know, issued a statement Friday calling on fans to protest the ruling. The stadium urged bullfight supports to post pictures of themselves with the word “freedom” written on their hands. The company said it would appeal the ruling. However, a higher court rejected one appeal earlier this week. The judge originally decreed a temporary ban in May, based on complaints that bullfights violated resident's rights to a healthy environment free from violence.
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has doubled down on his arms buildup in face of what he described as an aggravating security environment. Meanwhile, he concluded a major political conference that came as U.S. and South Korean officials said his plans to conduct another nuclear test explosion was imminent. Kim’s comments published by North Korea’s state-run Korean Central News Agency on Saturday didn’t include any direct criticism of the United States or rival South Korea amid a prolonged deadlock in nuclear diplomacy during the three days of discussions that wrapped up Friday.
LOS ANGELES — Rep. Karen Bass has gained ground in the Los Angeles mayor's race, but still trails developer Rick Caruso, the latest election results show.
A day after ordering a two-strike intentional walk that backfired, White Sox manager Tony La Russa said he’d do it all over again. In the sixth inning of Thursday's 11-9 loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers, La Russa walked right-handed hitting speedster Trea Turner with a 1-2 count. Left-handed hitting Max Muncy followed with a three-run homer off lefty reliever Bennett Sousa that opened Los Angeles lead to 10-5. Muncy had five RBIs in his return after missing 11 games with left elbow inflammation. He entered hitting .150 to Turner’s .303.
DALLAS — The Stars created more salary cap flexibility on Friday by sending Ben Bishop’s contract and their 2022 seventh-round pick to Buffalo for future considerations.
A suburban Seattle city will pay more than $1.5 million to settle a dispute with a former assistant police chief who was disciplined for posting a Nazi rank insignia on his office door and joking about the Holocaust. The Seattle Times reports former Kent Assistant Police Chief Derek Kammerzell was initially disciplined with two weeks off without pay after the 2020 incident. Outraged residents prompted Mayor Dana Ralph to demand Kammerzell’s resignation and put him on paid leave. The city’s attempt to essentially discipline Kammerzell a second time led to a dispute that the city said Friday was resolved by it paying Kammerzell $1,520,000 to resign.
A Nevada honors student has reached a tentative agreement to settle a federal lawsuit against administrators he accused of helping students bully him with hoax calls to an anonymous school threats hotline. Reno High School junior Lucas Gorelick was scheduled to graduate Friday, a day after a judge gave initial approval to a pact between his lawyer and Washoe County School District attorneys. Terms were not disclosed. Gorelick filed the lawsuit last month in U.S. District Court in Reno. He argued that school district officials violated his constitutional rights by repeatedly searching his backpack and pickup truck after hoax calls to a state Department of Education hotline called SafeVoice.
Texas judge halts 2 transgender child abuse probes
ROME — Pope Francis has canceled his trip to Africa next month because of ongoing knee problems, in what has become a persistent ailment for the 85-year-old pontiff.
The prime-time telecast of the House Select Committee hearings on the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol was watched by 20 million TV viewers across multiple networks on Thursday.
The Texas Rangers have put right-hander Glenn Otto on the COVID-19-related injured list. The move came hours before he was scheduled to start Friday night against the White Sox in Chicago. Catcher Mitch Garver also was put on the list. The 26-year-old Otto is 4-2 with 4.24 ERA in eight starts. The rookie has won his last three starts with a 2.25 ERA in the span.
Baltimore Orioles CEO John Angelos was accused in a lawsuit this week of seizing control of the team at the expense of his brother Lou — and in defiance of their father Peter’s wishes. Peter Angelos became the Orioles’ owner in 1993, but his public role has diminished in recent years. John Angelos is now the club’s chairman and CEO, with Peter and Lou listed on the team’s website as part of its limited partnership group. A lawsuit was filed Thursday in Baltimore County Circuit Court. Lou Angelos is the plaintiff in the lawsuit. John Angelos and their mother Georgia are defendants.
Rachel Heck, Rachel Kuehn and Amari Avery each won two matches Friday at Merion Golf Club to help the United States take a 5-1 lead over Great Britain and Ireland in the Curtis Cup. Heck and Kuehn teamed to beat Hannah Darling and Annabell Fuller 1-up in the morning four-ball matches. In the afternoon foursomes, Kuehn and Avery topped Caley McGinty and Emily Price 3 and 2, and Heck and Rose Zhang beat Charlotte Heath and Amelia Williamson 4 and 2. In the morning, Avery and Megha Ganne edged McGinty and Lauren Walsh 3 and 2. After another day of four-ball and foursomes matches, the amateur event will close Sunday with eight singles matches. The United States leads the series 30-8-3.
A federal judge has ordered the North Carolina state employee health plan provide “medically necessary services" for transgender people linked to gender confirmation. U.S. District Judge Loretta Biggs ruled Friday it was unlawfully biased for the State Health Plan to exclude coverage for such treatments. The plan had offered such coverage in 2017 but stopped doing so afterward. Monetary damages could be decided after a trial next month. The office of State Treasurer Dale Folwell oversees the plan. A spokesperson said the office was still reviewing the ruling and had no immediate additional comment.
LOS ANGELES — Let us guess: Your invitation to Britney Spears’ wedding at her Southern California home got lost in the mail too, right?
The Charlotte Hornets have agreed to terms on a contract with Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson to be their next head coach, says a person familiar with the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday because Atkinson has not yet signed the contract. Atkinson was 118-190 in three-plus seasons as head coach of the Brooklyn Nets as the organization was undergoing a rebuilding process. Atkinson is the second Golden State assistant to accept a new job during the Warriors’ playoff run this spring. Warriors assistant Mike Brown has taken the job to be Sacramento’s new coach, though is remaining with Golden State through the end of the NBA Finals.
President Joe Biden could have looked out the window of his limousine on his drive last weekend to his beach home and seen firsthand why he's struggled to contain inflation. Lining Delaware’s Coastal Highway as it leads into Rehoboth Beach are miles of strip malls, outlet stores, restaurants, hotels and gas stations. The advertised price of gasoline was approaching $5 a gallon. Vacationgoers had packed into the parking lots of pubs and taquerias. No one's happy inflation is close to a 40-year high, but it'll be hard to bring down prices so long as people keep eagerly spending. Biden needs consumers to pull back just enough so inflation eases, but not so much the economy risks plunging into a recession.
A lawyer for Roy Moore is trying to persuade three federal judges to revive a $95 million lawsuit the former Alabama candidate for U.S. Senate brought against comedian Sacha Baron Cohen. Attorney Larry Klayman complained during arguments Friday before a skeptical 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that Moore wasn't treated fairly when a judge tossed his lawsuit. He urged a reinstatement of the lawsuit so he could gather evidence to prove that the former chief justice of the Alabama Supreme Court was defamed and subject to emotional distress and fraud when he was tricked into an interview with Cohen.
The family of Ashli Babbitt — the woman shot dead while storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 — still hasn’t filed the wrongful-death suit for which their legal team raised $460,000, a news outlet in her former hometown reports.
Kendall Pettis had two RBI singles, Jake Bennett struck out eight in seven innings and Oklahoma held off Virginia Tech 5-4 in the Blacksburg Super Regional. The best-of-three series continues on Saturday with Oklahoma (41-21) seeking its 11th College World Series appearance, and first since 2010. Bennett won his ninth game of the season and Trevin Michael picked up his 10th save. Michael struck out the side in the eighth and made it four straight strikeouts in the ninth before getting some help on the final out when John Spikerman made a diving catch in right. Brett Squires hit a two-out RBI single in the sixth and later scored from first on Pettis’ single to give Oklahoma 5-0 lead.
AP source: Golden State Warriors assistant Kenny Atkinson agrees to deal to become Charlotte Hornets head coach.
The 8-year-old Philadelphia Phillies fan caught on TV praying for Bryson Stott in the ninth inning of a game this week got to meet his new favorite player before Friday's game. Caden Marge had his hands pressed together, Phillies rally cap turned inside out and was on the verge of tears when Stott hit in the ninth inning with the Phillies losing Sunday against the Angels. Stott hit a three-run homer Sunday with two outs in the ninth inning. The 24-year-old rookie met Marge before the game against Arizona at Citizens Bank Park and gave him an autographed bat that read, “To Caden. Thanks For The Help! Go Phils!”
Wisconsin Parole Commission Chairman John Tate has resigned, a month after Democratic Gov. Tony Evers made a hasty appeal to Tate in the midst of Republican criticism over parole plans for a convicted murderer. Evers asked Tate to step down. Tate had come under fire from GOP gubernatorial candidates when Douglas Balsewicz appeared to be on his way to freedom last month after serving less than 25 years of his 80-year sentence for stabbing his wife to death in 1997. Tate changed his mind after the governor said the family hadn’t gotten a chance to fully respond to the move. Tate did not mention the Balsewicz case but said in his resignation letter he has done his best to be “fair, just and understanding.”
Justin Bieber is battling a rare disease that causes facial paralysis, which has forced him to cancel multiple shows.
The Tampa Bay Lightning know what type of effort it will take to finish off the New York Rangers. The two-time defending champions are one win away from a third straight trip to the Stanley Cup Final, where they would continue their bid to become the first team in 40 years to win three consecutive NHL titles. The Rangers are down 3-2 to the Lightning in the Eastern Conference final but have been especially resilient this postseason. In addition to overcoming a 3-2 playoff series deficit to eliminate the Pittsburgh Penguins in the opening round, New York rebounded from losing the first two games to Carolina in the second round to oust the Hurricanes in seven games. Game 6 is Saturday night at Amalie Arena, where the Lightning wons Game 3 and 4 after losing the first two on the road.
The early days of motocross were technically the same as today. Riders raced dirt bikes over humps and around berms, fastest person wins. But after 50 years, it actually looks almost like a different sport. The motorcycles are faster and more powerful. The riders come from around the globe and are among the fittest athletes in any sport. The tracks feature jumps the old-school riders wouldn’t have even considered, obstacles that would have been unfathomable. And the exposure has skyrocketed.
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