AP Briefs

By The Associated Press Beyoncé drops new songs, ‘Act II’ will arrive in March LOS ANGELES | Beyoncé is back with two new country tracks — “Texas Hold ‘Em” and “16 Carriages.” After a Verizon commercial starring Beyoncé aired during the Super Bowl ended with the superstar saying “They ready, drop the new music,” the

By Associated Press Art exhibit honors fun-loving man killed in mass shooting in Maine WINSLOW, Maine | Peyton Brewer-Ross was the life of the party, with wraparound sunglasses and an outlandish Randy “Macho Man” Savage Slim Jim jacket. He also was a Navy shipbuilder, the father of a 2-year-old girl, and engaged to be married.

By Associated Press Christian Bale breaks ground on foster homes he’s fought for 16 years to see built PALMDALE, Calif. | Christian Bale broke ground Wednesday on a project he’s been pursuing for 16 years — the building of a dozen homes and a community center in Los Angeles County intended to keep siblings in

By Associated Press A giant statue of Emperor Constantine looks out over Rome again with help from 3D technology ROME | Emperor Constantine, the 4th century ruler whose embrace of Christianity helped spread the faith throughout the Roman Empire, now has a reconstructed statue befitting his larger-than-life role in history. Rome authorities on Tuesday unveiled

By NewsPress Now Russia says Tucker Carlson has interviewed Vladimir Putin Russian President Vladimir Putin has been interviewed by former FOX News host Tucker Carlson, the Kremlin confirmed Wednesday. It is Putin’s first interview to a Western media figure since his full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago. Carlson had released a video from Moscow

By NewsPress Now No. 15 Gamecocks play with an AP Top 25 ranking Josh Gray admitted he spent a few weeks wondering about whether his surging South Carolina team might pop in the next edition of The Associated Press men’s college basketball poll. The 15th-ranked Gamecocks are there now, playing with confidence and a number

By NewsPress Now Usher announces post-Super Bowl North American tour LOS ANGELES | After two years of his popular Las Vegas residency at Park MGM, releasing his first solo album in eight years, and headlining the 2024 Super Bowl halftime show, Usher will embark on a North American tour. The R&B-pop icon will embark on

By Associated Press The Census Bureau halts changing how it asks about disabilities following backlash The U.S. Census Bureau on Tuesday halted plans to change how it asks people about disabilities after facing a growing backlash. Advocates for disabled people had argued that proposed changes to disability questions on the bureau’s American Community Survey would

By The Associated Press King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer LONDON | Buckingham Palace says that King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer and has begun treatment. The palace said Monday the cancer is not related to the king’s recent treatment for a benign prostate condition. It did not say what form

By NewsPress Now UConn, Purdue and North Carolina stay atop Top 25 Reigning national champion Connecticut, Purdue and North Carolina remained atop The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll for the third consecutive week, while South Carolina cracked the rankings for the first time in nearly seven years. The Huskies earned 45 of

By NewsPress Now Taylor Swift wins album of the year at the Grammy Awards for the fourth time LOS ANGELES | Taylor Swift won album of the year at the Grammy Awards for “Midnights,” breaking the record for most wins in the category with four. She began her speech by thanking her producer and friend

By NewsPress Now Commodores get first SEC win over Tigers NASHVILLE, Tenn. | Ezra Manjon scored 17 points, including 5 of 6 free throws in the last 32 seconds, and Vanderbilt beat Missouri 68-61 on Saturday in a battle of teams searching for their first Southeastern Conference victory. Ven-Allen Lubin, who had 12 points, also

By The Associated Press Irish nationalist will lead Northern Ireland’s government LONDON | An Irish nationalist has made history by becoming Northern Ireland’s first minister. Sinn Fein Vice President Michelle O’Neill was nominated Saturday as first minister as the government returned to work after a two-year boycott by unionists. Under terms of the 1998 Good

By Associated Press Los Angeles Opera to present Puccini’s ‘Madama Butterfly’ reimagined on film soundstage The Los Angeles Opera opens its 2024-25 season Sept. 21 with Puccini’s “Madama Butterfly” reimagined in a film studio and said Saturday it will present the company premiere of Osvaldo Golijov’s “Ainadamar” while reducing its offerings from six main-stage productions

By Associated Press Dissident Russian rock band in Israel after deportation from Thailand TEL AVIV, Israel | A dissident Russian rock band angered by Moscow’s war in Ukraine has arrived in Israel after being deported from Thailand under suspected pressure from the Kremlin, the performers said Thursday. The seven members of the band Bi-2 were

By NewsPress Now After lawsuit, Providence health system erases or refunds $158M SEATTLE | Providence health care system is refunding nearly $21 million in medical bills paid by low-income residents of Washington — and it’s erasing $137 million more in outstanding debt for tens of thousands of others — to settle the state’s allegations that