Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
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Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
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NATIONAL
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Bible stories would be part of a new Texas public schools reading list drawing attention
SUMMARY: Biblical stories like Jonah and the whale would be required reading for Texas public schools students under proposals that are putting the state at the center of another contentious wrangling over the role of religion in classrooms. Religious leaders, teachers, parents and students spent hours Tuesday before the state education board arguing about the reading list for the state’s 5.4 million kindergartners to 12th-graders. The board also is considering social studies standards that have been criticized as too state-centric. The list stems from a state law passed in 2023 that calls for the creation of a state-approved list of high-quality reading materials.
WORDS: 851 - MOVED: 04/07/2026 11:25 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTexasCurriculumBiblethLdWritethru/6c25559a83a7975dfb09a9a2f68e279b/text___
Man who killed a deputy serving an eviction notice was run over, California sheriff says
SUMMARY: Authorities say a man shot and killed a central California sheriff’s deputy while authorities were serving an eviction notice. Authorities killed him after an hourslong standoff. Tulare County Sheriff Mike Boudreaux says deputies were serving an eviction notice Thursday when a 60-year-old man opened fire on them. When more officers arrived to help, one was shot and later died at a hospital. The man left his home hours later and a SWAT team in an armored car ran him over while he fired at the vehicle. It happened in the Central Valley city of Porterville.
WORDS: 435 - MOVED: 04/09/2026 11:04 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCaliforniaDeputyKilledthLdWritethru/29ef95775bd79da00f1d7e41c825c1e8/text___
Immigration board denies Mahmoud Khalil's appeal, bringing activist one step closer to deportation
SUMMARY: The Board of Immigration Appeals has denied Mahmoud Khalil's latest attempt to dismiss his deportation case. This decision brings the former Columbia University student and Palestinian activist one step closer to possible expulsion. For now, Khalil remains free on a separate judge's order in federal court. Khalil decried the latest ruling as "biased and politically motivated." Khalil, a legal permanent resident, was the first publicly known arrest during the Trump administration’s crackdown on noncitizens critical of Israel. He denies any connection to Hamas or allegations of antisemitism. His attorneys recently requested a U.S. appeals court reconsider a separate decision that found he could be deported.
WORDS: 421 - MOVED: 04/10/2026 1:16 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCampusProtestMahmoudKhalil/94e926c5a6bfd7fbcb0fe52066a77dbb/text___
Appeals court judges raise questions about severity of Sean 'Diddy' Combs' four-year prison sentence
SUMMARY: Appeals court judges are questioning whether a judge who sentenced Sean “Diddy” Combs to over four years in prison on prostitution-related charges went too far in considering evidence supporting behavior he was acquitted of. Three federal appellate judges heard arguments for two hours Thursday in New York before saying they'll rule at a later date. Combs is in federal prison in New Jersey. He's challenging his conviction and his prison sentence. His attorneys say his conviction should be reversed, or he should at least be freed and resentenced to less time. Prosecutors oppose the arguments.
WORDS: 510 - MOVED: 04/09/2026 4:04 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSexualMisconductDiddyndLdWritethru/07d806dfdf5144237a6f0087ce431227/text___
Former NYPD officer gets 3 to 9 years in prison for throwing a cooler that caused fatal crash
SUMMARY: A former New York City police officer has been sentenced to three to nine years in prison for tossing a picnic cooler full of drinks at a fleeing suspect, who then crashed his motorized scooter and died. Former Sgt. Erik Duran was convicted of manslaughter in the 2023 death of Eric Duprey. Duran had pleaded not guilty. He testified at trial that he was trying to protect other officers from the approaching scooter on a Bronx sidewalk. Prosecutors argued the sergeant had enough time to warn others but tossed the cooler in frustration. Duran is the first former NYPD officer sentenced to prison for an on-duty death in at least two decades.
WORDS: 809 - MOVED: 04/09/2026 4:10 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSNYPDFatalCoolerThrowthLdWritethru/63f8537712e6de2a2dd4d98a359ed0b1/text___
Cadets recount how ROTC leader and members subdued gunman who targeted them at Old Dominion
SUMMARY: Army ROTC cadets who subdued the gunman attacking their classroom at Virginia's Old Dominion University last month are recounting dramatic details publicly for the first time. In a video from the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, two cadets say they pulled out knives and stabbed Mohamed Bailor Jalloh after he shot an ROTC leader who grappled with him, Lt. Col. Brandon Shah. Cadets say Jalloh confirmed it was an ROTC group and shouted “Allahu akbar” before opening fire. Shah and Jalloh died. A cadet who stabbed the attacker was shot and wounded. He received the Purple Heart as one of several cadets awarded medals for their response.
WORDS: 738 - MOVED: 04/09/2026 6:28 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSUniversityShootingVirginiastLdWritethru/408278e91f7bbb62faac1c96fdf6591c/text___
Trump promised to cut electric costs in half. Bills in energy-rich West Virginia now top mortgages
SUMMARY: West Virginia resident Rebecca Michalski struggles with soaring electricity bills that exceed her income. Despite efforts to conserve energy, her February bill hit $940.08. Many West Virginians are facing similar challenges, with utility costs surpassing rents and mortgages. President Donald Trump promised to cut electricity bills, but prices have risen instead. Nationwide, electricity increased 4.8% in February over a year earlier, with natural gas prices up 10.9%. during the same period. Rising energy costs are driven by increased demand, extreme weather, and infrastructure upgrades. West Virginia's reliance on coal-fired plants contributes to the problem, leaving residents burdened by high utility costs.
WORDS: 2935 - MOVED: 04/09/2026 4:06 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSoaringUtilitiesndLdWritethru/38ad648f99a42eb2c73d7affaddadbcb/text___
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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Vance warns Iran not to 'play' the US as he departs for negotiations aimed at ending their war
SUMMARY: Vice President JD Vance is warning Iran not to “play” the U.S. as he heads for negotiations aimed at ending their war. President Donald Trump has tasked the member of his inner circle who's seemed to be the most reluctant defender of the 6-week-old conflict to now find a resolution. Vance has long been skeptical of foreign military interventions. The Republican vice president set off Friday to lead mediated talks with Iran in Pakistan. Vance says he's “looking forward to the negotiation” and thinks it'll be positive. Vance's trip comes as a tenuous, temporary ceasefire appears to be on the precipice of collapsing.
WORDS: 1306 - MOVED: 04/10/2026 4:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIranUSVancethLdWritethru/b82625fd24adb2336a5a9615b6953629/text___
A president and a pope: The world's most influential Americans are at odds over Iran
SUMMARY: Donald Trump is accustomed to criticism from coast to coast — Democrats, disaffected Republicans, late-night comedians, protesters. Yet Trump’s most influential American critic doesn’t live in the country but at the Vatican. The first American pope has directly assailed the American president over the war in Iran. Pope Leo XIV declared that Trump’s belligerence was “truly unacceptable.” Never before has the relationship between Washington and the Vatican revolved around two Americans — a 79-year-old politician from Queens and a 70-year-old pontiff from Chicago. They come from the same generation and share some common cultural roots yet bring jarringly distinct approaches to their positions of vast power. And the relationship comes with risks for both sides.
WORDS: 1329 - MOVED: 04/10/2026 4:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpLeostLdWritethru/8473f1d8b8127a77ef94ba2f4ad378fb/text___
By the numbers: US thrashed military targets in Iran, but some capabilities remain
SUMMARY: Since the ceasefire between Iran and the U.S. was announced, leaders in President Donald Trump's administration have been quick to say the Iranian military and its capacity have sustained significant damage during the weeks of fighting. But there's also an acknowledgment Tehran retains some capabilities, whether to strike back or defend itself. Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Dan Caine this week said the U.S. military has hit more than 13,000 targets. Caine lists high percentages for attacks or destruction to Iran’s air defenses, navy and weapons factories. But the totals stop short of Iran’s military capabilities being “obliterated” or “decimated” as the Republican president has asserted.
WORDS: 845 - MOVED: 04/10/2026 10:30 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIranUSMilitaryBytheNumbers/71c389bc3f308e7d00acce7adc74f528/text___
Trump’s tenuous Iran exit plan isn't healing Republican rifts exposed by the war
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump's efforts to exit the war in Iran are causing tension within the Republican Party. His approach, marked by threats followed by a shaky ceasefire, has sparked criticism from some conservatives. Laura Loomer, a conservative activist, opposes negotiating with Iran, while former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has called for Trump's removal. Despite social media backlash, Republican leaders in Congress remain mostly silent. The GOP faces uncertainty as midterm elections approach, with concerns about Trump's handling of the situation and its impact on voters. Rising gas prices and potential military involvement add to the challenges.
WORDS: 1223 - MOVED: 04/10/2026 4:04 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIranUSRepublicans/6fe581f139a851a2d2daec3fe5dbc8b2/text___
Federal judge finds Pentagon is violating court order to restore access to reporters
SUMMARY: A federal judge has ruled that the Defense Department is violating his earlier order to restore access to the Pentagon for reporters. U.S. District Judge Paul Friedman sided with The New York Times earlier this month in deciding that the Pentagon’s new credential policy violated journalists’ constitutional rights to free speech and due process. He sided again with the Times in saying that the Pentagon had tried to evade his ruling by putting in new rules that expel all reporters from the building unless guided by escorts. Friedman had ordered Pentagon officials to reinstate the press credentials of seven Times reporters and stressed that his decision applies to “all regulated parties.”
WORDS: 766 - MOVED: 04/09/2026 9:56 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMediaPentagonPressAccessthLdWritethru/6487d7bf4a4a87ad1bf9864a275b5239/text___
Melania Trump delivers statement at the White House denying knowledge of Jeffrey Epstein's crimes
SUMMARY: First lady Melania Trump has delivered a statement at the White House denying ties to Jeffrey Epstein and knowledge of his crimes. In the extraordinary moment on Thursday, the first lady denied any association with Epstein and called accusations that she was involved in Epstein’s crimes “baseless lies.” The seemingly out-of-the-blue message came as her husband, President Donald Trump, and his administration had finally seemed to move past more than a year of controversy surrounding Epstein, especially as the Iran war had become all-consuming in Washington. A spokesman for the first lady said the West Wing knew beforehand that she'd be giving a statement, but it wasn't clear it the content of her remarks were known.
WORDS: 1103 - MOVED: 04/09/2026 6:44 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMelaniaTrumpEpsteinthLdWritethru/1df98e9902386609608886f7bd256980/text___
Democrats grow bolder on talk about removing Trump from office after his Iran threats
SUMMARY: Dozens of Democratic lawmakers are saying President Donald Trump should be removed from office after he threatened Iranian civilization would “die” if it didn’t meet his demands. The episode unleashed demands for Democrats to oppose the Republican president in the strongest possible terms even though he eventually pulled back on his threat and agreed to a two-week ceasefire. Lawmakers are showing no sign they'll back off as they return to Washington. The new imperative from Democrats underscores how seriously many in Washington take Trump’s talk of a mortal threat to a country of 91 million people. The White House has defended Trump’s rhetoric as effective.
WORDS: 1072 - MOVED: 04/09/2026 11:39 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIranCongressDemocratsstLdWritethru/ea13fc589d1dd75e552de883f2e86e71/text___
'We got our butts kicked': Republicans reckon with Democratic success ahead of the midterms
SUMMARY: Republicans have had some setbacks this election year, with recent Democratic wins Wisconsin and Georgia. According to Tom Tiffany, a congressman running for governor in Wisconsin, Republicans got their "butts kicked" Tuesday in races for the state Supreme Court and the mayor's office in a Milwaukee suburb. In Georgia, the Republican candidate won by a slimmer margin than expected in a congressional election. These results suggest Democratic momentum heading into November. Some Republicans argue there's no need to panic even as they raise concerns about Democrats gaining ground.
WORDS: 953 - MOVED: 04/09/2026 4:08 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionDemocratsrdLdWritethru/ffbfa23ad75aabcbdf034c87ee12c85c/text___
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INTERNATIONAL
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US and Iran prepare for high-level talks as Israel and Hezbollah trade more fire
SUMMARY: With the ceasefire in Iran still shaky, U.S. and Iranian negotiators are heading to Pakistan for high-level talks with Iranian officials. Many issues could derail the truce and the negotiations aimed at making a broader deal to stop the fighting permanently. Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency claimed that the talks set for Saturday would not happen unless Israel stopped its attacks in Lebanon. U.S. President Donald Trump complained that Iran was doing "a very poor job” by not allowing the free flow of ships through the strait, through which 20% of the world’s traded oil once passed.
WORDS: 1039 - MOVED: 04/10/2026 6:12 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranUSthLdWritethru/1acfb8e733e476b0919689e0682cbb05/text___
Gaza marks 6 months of a ceasefire that may offer lessons for the Iran war
SUMMARY: Friday marks six months since the ceasefire in Gaza took effect, but progress remains limited. The fighting between Israeli forces and Hamas-led militants has mostly stopped, yet challenges persist. Disarming Hamas, deploying an international stabilization force and beginning reconstruction are pending. The U.S.-created Board of Peace has not met since its initial meeting, and Hamas has not responded to a disarmament proposal. Such challenges could represent what’s to come in the latest war in the Middle East, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s approach to peacemaking appears to focus on stopping bombardment while leaving the bigger picture for others to work out.
WORDS: 1051 - MOVED: 04/10/2026 8:03 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastWarsGazaSixMonthsOnrdLdWritethru/5435d3ebd95d00d6dcbe395c14f2e524/text___
Hungary's election could end Orbán's journey from liberal firebrand to far-right leader
SUMMARY: Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán faces a potential defeat in Sunday's elections that would end his long journey from post-Cold War liberal to far-right friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Polls show him trailing the Tisza party led by Péter Magyar. Orbán is the European Union’s longest-serving leader. His government has clashed with the EU over many issues and drawn the praise and support of the Trump administration. Magyar calls the election a “referendum” on Hungary's democratic future. Orbán in campaigning has resorted to tactics that would have shocked his early supporters, and likely his younger self.
WORDS: 981 - MOVED: 04/10/2026 11:34 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUHungaryElectionOrban/ddfa788e93f95fe3b5d4f583f0a1bf33/text___
Zelenskyy says Ukrainian forces shot down Shahed drones in Middle Eastern countries during Iran war
SUMMARY: President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukrainian military personnel shot down Iranian-designed Shahed drones in multiple Middle Eastern countries during the Iran war, describing the operations as part of a broader effort to help partners counter the same weapons used by Russia in Ukraine. He made his first public acknowledgment of the operations Wednesday in remarks to reporters that were embargoed until Friday. Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces took part in active operations abroad using domestically produced, battle-tested interceptor drones.
WORDS: 833 - MOVED: 04/10/2026 6:10 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarthLdWritethru/4a5a6e01f0377a20404ab29093e69f12/text___
Taiwan's opposition leader meets China's Xi Jinping as both sides call for peace
SUMMARY: Taiwan's opposition leader has met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, marking the first such encounter in over a decade. Both sides affirmed the need for peace around Taiwan, which China claims as its territory. Xi and Cheng Li-wun, head of the Kuomingtang Party, expressed a desire for peaceful reunification. China has increased military exercises around Taiwan. Cheng opposes large defense spending increases in Taiwan and has blocked a special defense budget. Both leaders upheld the 1992 Consensus, opposing Taiwan's independence, and aim to prevent the Taiwan Strait from becoming a conflict flash point.
WORDS: 720 - MOVED: 04/10/2026 5:45 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASChinaTaiwanrdLdWritethru/9735f829b2d9d68525ad192253e47fac/text___
Venezuelan lawmakers approve a sweeping mining bill to lure foreign investors
SUMMARY: Venezuelan lawmakers have approved a bill to regulate mining as the country seeks to attract leery foreign investors to a once-private industry that has long been exploited by criminal groups with ties to the government. It is the latest legislative initiative by acting President Delcy Rodríguez since the self-proclaimed socialist government that has ruled Venezuela for 26 years came under pressure from the Trump administration in January, when the U.S. military deposed then-President Nicolás Maduro. The lengthy bill will now be reviewed by the country’s high court to determine if it is constitutional.
WORDS: 546 - MOVED: 04/09/2026 9:11 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APLTVenezuelaUSMineralsthLdWritethru/ef9087b82cc9623bff68744fb66973c6/text___
Why Pakistan has emerged as a mediator between US and Iran
SUMMARY: Pakistan has emerged as a key mediator between Iran and the United States, hosting talks in Islamabad this week. The negotiations follow a 14-day ceasefire agreement reached on Tuesday. Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other leaders have been actively involved in facilitating dialogue. Islamabad's unique position, with ties to both Washington and Tehran, has enabled it to step into this role. The country has a vested interest in resolving the conflict due to economic and energy security concerns. Pakistan's history as a mediator includes facilitating U.S.-China relations and the Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan.
WORDS: 1120 - MOVED: 03/27/2026 7:27 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASIranUSPakistanWhattoKnowrdLdWritethru/f4e809dd3f93b3d67b54f9d75d33d55c/text___
What to know about the ongoing war between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon
SUMMARY: Israel has escalated its attacks against Hezbollah in Lebanon after the U.S. and Iran announced a tentative ceasefire. Health officials say the Israeli strikes in central Beirut and other areas killed more than 300 people and wounded more than 1,150 others. Israel says it targeted Hezbollah sites and killed an aide to the group's leader. But the country's health ministry said that the attacks also killed more than 100 women, children and older people. Experts say a negotiated settlement is necessary between Israel and Hezbollah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel had agreed to enter into direct talks with Lebanon that would focus on disarming Hezbollah and a possible peace deal.
WORDS: 1059 - MOVED: 04/09/2026 4:51 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLLebanonIsraelHezbollahExplainerndLdWritethru/995a8b2126eef9949beae3066715ce60/text___
Rutte the 'Trump whisperer' faces a fresh test as the US leader turns on NATO over Iran
SUMMARY: NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte is refusing to say whether President Donald Trump wants to quit the military organization. Trump's threat to leave this time comes over the U.S.-Israel war on Iran, which NATO is not a party to and was not consulted about. Trump has criticized NATO allies as "cowards." He complains that NATO ignored his call for help when Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz. Rutte has won acclaim as a "Trump whisperer," but he's struggling to keep Trump engaged in NATO. He's been praising Trump for successes in the war, and for boosting defense spending. At the same time, Rutte insists NATO will not join the war.
WORDS: 964 - MOVED: 04/09/2026 12:10 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUNATOUSExplainerndLdWritethru/e43e774a64341e3ad8d1b73823f07298/text___
Lebanon digs for survivors after Israeli attack kills over 300, as surprise word of talks emerges
SUMMARY: Lebanon is reeling after the deadliest day of renewed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The death toll has exceeded 300 as more bodies are found. Israel has authorized direct talks with Lebanon despite no diplomatic ties. The Health Ministry on Thursday reported 1,150 wounded in strikes that rocked Lebanon on Wednesday including busy parts of Beirut. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that talks would focus on disarming Hezbollah. Israel's military targeted Hezbollah sites. But strikes hit densely packed areas that led to civilian casualties. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun called the attacks “barbaric.” The conflict has displaced more than a million people.
WORDS: 901 - MOVED: 04/09/2026 1:18 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLLebanonIsraelHezbollahthLdWritethru/46a82d3758b7d0df9ac6df7bd18f936a/text___
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BUSINESS
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Stocks waver and oil prices hold steady ahead of planned US-Iran talks
SUMMARY: Stocks are wavering on Wall Street and oil prices are holding steady amid a shaky ceasefire agreement between the U.S. and Iran. The S&P 500 fell 0.1% in afternoon trading Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 261 points, and the Nasdaq composite rose 0.3%. Iran’s semiofficial Tasnim news agency claimed that talks set for Saturday wouldn’t happen unless Israel stopped its attacks in Lebanon. The government reported a sharp spike in inflation in the U.S. in March because of the biggest monthly jump in gas prices in six decades, but the increase wasn't quite as bad as economists were expecting.
WORDS: 629 - MOVED: 04/10/2026 5:31 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/7ef6ebab1aaa731d2da6406b3cbde6dd/text___
Federal court hears new case against Trump's latest global tariffs
SUMMARY: The centerpiece of President Donald Trump’s economic policy — sweeping taxes on global imports — is under legal assault again. The U.S. Court of International Trade is hearing oral arguments Friday in an attempt to overturn the temporary tariffs Trump turned to after the Supreme Court in February struck down his preferred choice — even bigger, even more sweeping tariffs. Defeated at the high court, Trump reached for a stopgap solution — imposing temporary worldwide tariffs under a 1974 trade law. Now two dozen states and some businesses are challenging the president's authority to impose the new tariffs.
WORDS: 443 - MOVED: 04/10/2026 4:03 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpTariffsLawsuit/612954e80e705c48c3ef82e87c6078a3/text___
War in Iran sends inflation soaring and the mood of American consumers plunging
SUMMARY: The largest monthly jump in gas prices in six decades caused a sharp spike in inflation in March, creating major challenges for the inflation-fighters at the Federal Reserve and heightening the political challenges of rising costs for the White House. The gas price shock stemming from the Iran war has shifted inflation’s trajectory, from a slow, gradual decline to a sharp increase further away from the Fed’s 2% target. As a result, the central bank will almost certainly postpone any cut in interest rates for months. Gas prices are also a highly visible cost that has outsize impacts on consumer confidence and political sentiment.
WORDS: 1103 - MOVED: 04/09/2026 10:30 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSConsumerPricesthLdWritethru/bf00c3105d5da88a0b01d9107ed4ecee/text___
Travelers face higher costs and fewer flight options as jet fuel prices swing
SUMMARY: Air travelers are facing a new reality of higher fees, fewer flights and tough choices about whether a trip is worth the cost. The culprit is volatile oil and jet fuel prices that have been swinging since the war in the Middle East started and fighting near the Strait of Hormuz disrupted global oil shipments. Airlines around the world are responding by trimming schedules and raising fees and fares. Experts say budget carriers and the customers who rely on them will feel the pinch first, but even business travelers and front-cabin passengers won’t escape higher costs. Relief may not come quickly even if oil prices start to drop, experts warn, because airlines can take months to adjust fares while they wait for energy markets to stabilize.
WORDS: 1217 - MOVED: 04/09/2026 11:41 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIranFlightPricesrdLdWritethru/2fe2a63c92c0478b3625ac3419491067/text___
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HEALTH/SCIENCE
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Too young for the MMR shot, babies become 'sitting ducks' in measles outbreaks
SUMMARY: Babies too young to be vaccinated are among the most vulnerable in measles outbreaks like the one in South Carolina, which is the largest the U.S. has seen in decades. Babies lack protection against the disease and are more likely to suffer severe complications or die. They completely depend on herd immunity, which requires nearly everyone to be vaccinated. But dropping vaccination rates have eroded protection in South Carolina and across the nation. Increasingly, some policymakers and officials push a view of vaccination as an issue of individual freedom, rather than one of public health. South Carolina’s outbreak, totaling about 1,000 cases, has slowed. But measles is spreading in many states, and the U.S. on the verge of losing its status as a country that has eliminated measles.
WORDS: 1358 - MOVED: 04/10/2026 4:15 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMEDMeaslesBabies/85b2ab8ec8baec808f258987b13af9dc/text___
Artemis II astronauts describe their lunar voyage as surreal and profound ahead of Earth return
SUMMARY: The Artemis II astronauts are tidying up their lunar cruiser for Friday's “fireball” return to Earth. They're also reflecting on their historic journey around the moon, describing it as surreal and profound. The three Americans and one Canadian are now under 150,000 miles from home. Humanity's first lunar explorers in more than a half-century, they set a new distance record during Monday's lunar flyby. Artemis II is aiming for a splashdown in the Pacific off the San Diego coast.
WORDS: 748 - MOVED: 04/09/2026 4:48 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSCINASAArtemisMoonshotstLdWritethru/a482b37eebf19ac5adb75f3bc20657ef/text___
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RELIGION
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From 'BuddhaBot' to $1.99 chats with AI Jesus, the faith-based tech boom is here
SUMMARY: The faith-based AI market is expanding, with tools for various religions. For example, there's an AI Jesus that — for $1.99 per minute — will offer words of prayer and encouragement. As AI tools designed with religion in mind become increasingly common, many are reckoning with how these technologies shape their relationship to faith and spiritual guidance. Concerns include misinformation and data privacy as well as spiritual and ethical implications. Some worry about AI's potential to exploit religious users, while others see it as a tool for spiritual exploration.
WORDS: 1316 - MOVED: 04/10/2026 11:04 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APRELReligiousAIChatbots/e1ed4832b25a23ee85292da681a0ec37/text___
A country-by-country glance at Pope Leo XIV's trip to Africa
SUMMARY: Pope Leo XIV’s trip to Africa is so dizzying in its complexity it recalls some of the early globetrotting odysseys of St. John Paul II. Themes Leo is expected to raise include Christian-Muslim coexistence, the exploitation of the continent's natural and human resources, corruption and migration. The 11-day trip begins Monday in Algeria. That stop carries the most personal importance for Leo, given his ties to St. Augustine, the inspiration of his religious order who lived and died there. He'll then travel to Cameroon and Angola and conclude the trip in Equatorial Guinea.
WORDS: 973 - MOVED: 04/10/2026 5:08 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APRELVaticanAfricaGlance/1420c2425d627d4f3affc67f2a7c4813/text___
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ENTERTAINMENT
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Hip-hop pioneer Afrika Bambaataa dies at age 68
SUMMARY: Afrika Bambaataa, a hip-hop pioneer, has died of prostate cancer in Pennsylvania at age 68, according to his lawyer. Known for tracks like “Planet Rock,” Bambaataa was a key figure in hip-hop's development and founded the Universal Zulu Nation art collective. Born Lance Taylor in the South Bronx, was influential in shaping hip-hop and electro-funk music. His legacy has been celebrated worldwide, but recent years saw it overshadowed by allegations of sexual abuse from multiple men. Despite his contributions, the serious allegations have complicated his impact on the music world.
WORDS: 790 - MOVED: 04/09/2026 11:58 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSObituaryAfrikaBambaataastLdWritethru/c3c5f8e1ce674256a8edff6d190666df/text___
Dave Chappelle helps keep Ohio radio station rooted in hometown with restored building
SUMMARY: Dave Chappelle has helped secure the future of a small-town radio station by funding the renovation of a historic building in Yellow Springs. The newly restored 19th-century schoolhouse will house NPR affiliate WYSO, preventing its relocation. More than 200 people gathered Thursday to celebrate the ribbon-cutting. Chappelle's investment allows the station to stay locally rooted and maintain editorial independence. He emphasized the station's importance as a "beacon for sanity" in a fragmented media landscape. The project reflects Chappelle's ongoing commitment to his community, where he has become deeply embedded.
WORDS: 699 - MOVED: 04/09/2026 10:00 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTDaveChappelleRadioStationstLdWritethru/1297aeb70e20d61e5a46481f0b660332/text___
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SPORTS
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McIlroy atop Masters leaderboard again, while DeChambeau and Rahm will have to fight to make the cut
SUMMARY: Rory McIlroy and Sam Burns enter Friday’s second round tied for first at the Masters after opening with 5-under 67s at Augusta National. Those in striking distance include past champions like Patrick Reed and Scottie Scheffler, plus a few others who have come close here in Justin Rose, Jason Day, Shane Lowry and Xander Schauffele. Further back, a couple LIV Golf stars aren’t yet certain of making the weekend. Bryson DeChambeau shot 76 on Thursday, and Jon Rahm was two shots worse.
WORDS: 545 - MOVED: 04/10/2026 5:46 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APGLFMasters/7933f5985c6fb7480f222d381f4ff40c/text___
Olympic hero Jack Hughes has new chiclets as NHL dentists get a moment in the spotlight
SUMMARY: Jack Hughes became famous for scoring the Olympic gold-medal-winning goal in overtime for the United States against Canada. His gap-toothed grin was just as famous afer getting his front teeth knocked out earlier in the game. It underscored the importance of hockey dentists and the work they do. The special responsibilities of dentists can include on-site root canals, sutures and more. Dentists are key in a sport where sticks, pucks and everything else can cause mouth damage that players are eager to shake off so they can get back on the ice. Hughes has already had his teeth fixed.
WORDS: 1351 - MOVED: 04/09/2026 2:19 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APHKNHockeyDentistryrdLdWritethru/97c5e8c02a9956d09ade2e59a79bf0d8/text___
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