Judge OKs reworked NCAA concussions settlement

CHICAGO (AP) – A federal judge in Chicago has given preliminary approval to a reworked head-injury settlement between former college athletes and the NCAA. U.S. District Judge John Lee said Tuesday his is giving his OK to a deal hammered out after he rejected the initial agreement in 2014. Lee praised the new deal for […]

Champagne backs United States for 2022 if Qatar is stripped

GENEVA (AP) – The United States should directly get to host the 2022 World Cup if Qatar is stripped of the tournament, according to FIFA presidential candidate Jerome Champagne. The 2018 and 2022 bidding contests are under scrutiny by Switzerland’s attorney general who is investigating suspected money laundering, and American federal prosecutors’ wider probe of […]

FSU booster group to pay attorney fees from lawsuit

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) – Florida State University’s booster organization will pay most of the defense fees from a lawsuit brought by a former student who said the school failed to adequately investigate allegations that she was raped by quarterback Jameis Winston. Seminole Boosters Chairman David Rancourt said in an email to members that the organization […]

US athletes urge expansion of Russian probe

U.S. Olympic athletes have sent a letter to leaders of the International Olympic Committee and World Anti-Doping Agency urging them to expand the investigation into Russian doping to sports beyond track and field. The letter came in response to the two-part report detailing doping inside Russia’s track team, the sport’s international governing body and allegations […]

Appeals court: Airports have wide latitude to kill birds

NEW YORK (AP) – A federal appeals court in Manhattan says the operator of New York City’s airports has the legal right to kill migratory birds when necessary to protect planes. The 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said Tuesday that the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey was within its rights to […]

Chase planning rollout of card-free ATMs

NEW YORK (AP) – JPMorgan Chase will install new ATMs later this year that will allow customers to withdraw cash or initiate other transactions using their cellphone. The move will include new cash machines that don’t require a card and upgrades to existing machines that will allow customers to withdraw more money and in different […]

Public prayer reviewed; 1st case since Supreme Court ruling

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) – A federal appeals court will consider whether county commissioners in North Carolina violated the Constitution by delivering Christian prayers at their meetings and inviting audience members to join. The case marks the first time a federal appeals court has considered how local councils conduct prayers since a 2014 U.S. Supreme Court […]

Police: Homeless woman smashed window to escape cold

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Virginia authorities say a homeless woman threw a piece of concrete through a window at the General Assembly Building in an apparent attempt to get arrested so she could escape the cold. Capitol Police said in a news release Tuesday that 51-year-old Sherri Finley has been charged with felony vandalism and […]

Health care fines press millenials as sign-up deadline nears

WASHINGTON (AP) – Millions of young adults healthy enough to think they don’t need insurance face painful choices this year as the sign-up deadline approaches for President Barack Obama’s health care law. Fines for being uninsured rise sharply in 2016 – averaging nearly $1,000 per household, according to an independent estimate. It’s forcing those in […]

Obama has plan to expand access to retirement accounts

WASHINGTON (AP) – President Barack Obama will pitch some new proposals to expand access to retirement savings accounts and revisit some old ones when issuing his budget next month. Many Americans are not well prepared for retirement, with nearly one in three yet to retire having any savings or pension available for their later years, […]