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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3 people killed, several others injured after driver crashes into crowd in Oakland, California
SUMMARY: Authorities say a driver crashed into multiple cars and pedestrians in Oakland, California, late Saturday night, killing three people. The crash happened shortly after 11 p.m. Three people were pronounced dead at the scene, and five others were injured. The Oakland Fire Department says two of the injured are in critical condition. The driver involved in the crash was also injured, but officials describe those injuries as minor. Authorities have not released additional details about what led to the crash, and the driver’s identity has not been made public. The crash remains under investigation.
WORDS: 111 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 11:08 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSDeadlyCrashCalifornia/6ee81efd1b09ae176f2d7e39b2737303/text___
With North America’s largest commuter rail system shut down, NY governor begs unions to resume talks
SUMMARY: New York's governor is pleading with unions whose workers serve North America’s largest commuter rail system to return to the negotiating table, saying she'll provide refreshments if they'll work to end a 2-day-old strike. Gov. Kathy Hochul appeared at a Manhattan news conference Sunday with the chief executive of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which runs the Long Island Rail Road in New York. It shut down early Saturday after five unions representing about half its workforce walked off the job. The two sides have been negotiating for months on a new contract.
WORDS: 824 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 4:36 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSLongIslandRailRoadStrike/c3e05bd1593e41f736dfca74d03e234b/text___
US-Mexico border wall construction is desecrating sacred sites, Indigenous leaders say
SUMMARY: Indigenous leaders say that federal contractors are desecrating sacred Native American places and cultural sites at an unprecedented pace in the rush to build more walls on the U.S.-Mexico border. Construction accelerated after the U.S. Department of Homeland Security waived cultural and environmental laws. The action allows more barriers along the border even as illegal crossings have plummeted. The Trump administration says the border walls are needed for national security and are meant to keep people, including drug smugglers, from entering the U.S. illegally. Trump’s “big, beautiful bill” devoted over $46 billion to the effort.
WORDS: 1277 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 1:03 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationBorderWallSacredSites/76a2a05e82643bfe7fa5cfadaadb668e/text___
On the voting rights trail, bus riders to Montgomery retrace old steps while fighting a new fight
SUMMARY: The year was 1965 and Black Americans had come to Montgomery, Alabama, to demonstrate peacefully voting rights. Many were beaten by state troopers, but marchers returned two weeks later to complete their mission under federal protection. Keith Odom was a toddler then. Now he's 62 and a grandfather of three. On Saturday, Odom came from Aiken, South Carolina, to Atlanta, and joined several dozen other activists on buses to Montgomery. A few hours later they were on Dexter Avenue, where the original march concluded. Saturday’s “All Roads Lead to the South” rally was the first mass organizing response after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling that severely diminished the Voting Rights Act of 1965.
WORDS: 1307 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 12:12 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSVotingRightsOntheBus/3eb3d70073023a8e3b08ad116541c184/text___
Hawaii’s worst flooding in 20 years leaves farmers struggling and fewer veggies at the market
SUMMARY: Hawaii's recent catastrophic flooding has devastated local farms, leaving many farmers struggling. Bok Kongphan's farm, once thriving with lemongrass, cucumber and okra, is now covered in dried mud. The storms in March brought Hawaii's worst flooding in 20 years. Without insurance, farmers like Kongphan are trying to obtain government aid and figure out how to resume growing food. Oahu's North Shore, known for big-wave surfing, was hit hard, affecting local food production. Hawaii’s agriculture officials are urging farmers not to give up, stressing that local agriculture is crucial for the isolated archipelago. The state is offering support with seeds and starter plants, but recovery remains difficult for many.
WORDS: 953 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 4:03 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSHawaiiFloodingSmallFarmsstLdWritethru/8db6092578f0aa6e8edab359c189ea00/text___
As electric bills rise, some states are focusing on the growing profits of utilities
SUMMARY: The artificial intelligence boom is leading to fights in some states over growing utility profits. Governors, attorneys general and others are protesting rising electricity bills and say cash-strapped residents are stuck in a broken system. Officials in over a half-dozen states are going to new lengths to try to block rate increases proposed by utilities. Some are pressing utilities to completely change their model for financing major system upgrades. The push comes during a midterm election year in which “affordability” is the leading theme in Democrats’ attempts to loosen Republicans’ control of Washington.
WORDS: 1136 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 4:13 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectricityBillsStates/4d09ba20e41fcc8ba68834ffae031c96/text___
In the birthplace of Civil Rights Movement, groups rally to defend Black political representation
SUMMARY: Thousands of people gathered in Montgomery, Alabama, to mobilize support for voting rights amid concerns about redistricting efforts. Organizers say states are moving to dismantle congressional districts that expanded representation opportunities. The rally began in Selma and moved to the Alabama Capitol. Participants and veterans of past struggles warn that recent legal decisions threaten decades of progress. Leaders and activists say the moment requires renewed commitment to protecting voting rights and preserving representation gains.
WORDS: 1017 - MOVED: 05/16/2026 3:57 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionVotingRightsRallythLdWritethru/a71782f45369654ab86e0e66e633fcf4/text___
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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Trump administration promotes program to check voter eligibility. Critics fear a midterm purge
SUMMARY: The Trump administration has run the names of at least 67 million voters through government databases as it looks for noncitizens and people who've died. The effort is fueling a push for more aggressive purges of state voter rolls before the November elections. But thousands of hits using a federal program known as SAVE include mistakes. In Texas, Anthony Nel's registration lapsed last fall while he obtained a new passport to document his citizenship as an immigrant from South Africa. At least 25 states, most controlled by Republicans, have used SAVE to check their voter rolls. Critics say outdated and incomplete data will lead to eligible voters being wrongly disenfranchised.
WORDS: 1274 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 11:06 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionVoterListsstLdWritethru/8f78773f583e4404136707c62acc648a/text___
Senate parliamentarian deals blow to $1 billion security proposal for White House
SUMMARY: A proposal to fund $1 billion in security additions for the White House campus and the president’s new ballroom fails to meet procedural rules. That ruling by the Senate parliamentarian deals a blow to Republican plans to include it as part of a bill to fund immigration enforcement agencies for the next three years. The parliamentarian's decision released late Saturday by Senate Democrats said that a project as large and complex as President Donald Trump’s massive East Wing renovation is too broad to be included in the budget bill, which only needs a simple majority to pass. It’s unclear if Republicans will be able to salvage any part of the billion-dollar Secret Service proposal.
WORDS: 668 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 2:39 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressWhiteHouseBallroomstLdWritethru/042dc61b41d1163e08ee095e7ffb2e48/text___
Sen. Cassidy knocked out of Louisiana Republican primary as Trump-backed Letlow, Fleming make runoff
SUMMARY: U.S. Rep. Julia Letlow and state Treasurer John Fleming have advanced to a runoff in Louisiana’s Republican Senate primary. Letlow capitalized on the power of President Donald Trump’s endorsement in another attempt to purge his party of people he views as disloyal. Trump supported Letlow over incumbent Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of the few Republican senators who voted to convict him during his second impeachment trial over the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Cassidy has also clashed with Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. By receiving less than 50% of the vote, Letlow and Fleming were unable to avoid a runoff. It takes place June 27.
WORDS: 1216 - MOVED: 05/16/2026 3:58 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionLouisianaSenatethLdWritethru/1c8b927fd981c40cb4a538b0f89671dc/text___
USS Ford returns home after 11-month deployment supporting the Iran war and Maduro's capture
SUMMARY: The USS Gerald R. Ford has returned home to Virginia. The world's largest aircraft carrier is back in port at Naval Station Norfolk after an 11-month deployment. That's the longest since the Vietnam War. The Ford supported the U.S. war with Iran and the capture of Nicolás Maduro when he was Venezuela’s president. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was on hand for the arrival Saturday of the warships, which included the destroyers USS Bainbridge and USS Mahan.
WORDS: 514 - MOVED: 05/16/2026 2:50 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSAircraftCarrierRecordDeploymentrdLdWritethru/ecb685f08110eec315a1dddb13e2bca4/text___
Brass bands in Beijing make way for sticker shock at home as Trump returns to escalating inflation
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has returned from his state visit to China to face a challenging U.S. economy. Consumer inflation rose to 3.8% annually in April, driven by the Iran war and tariffs. The Cleveland Federal Reserve estimates inflation could reach 4.2% in May. Trump's trip to China seems unlikely to help despite his claims of trade deals. Many U.S. voters are facing rising costs for essentials. Democrats criticize Trump for being indifferent to inflation concerns. Trump insists he's focused on growth and affordability, but inflation continues to affect businesses and interest rates. The November elections could be influenced by these economic pressures.
WORDS: 1092 - MOVED: 05/16/2026 12:14 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpChinaEconomyndLdWritethru/7fc3aaa0b59bbdcde16b1ffd49473ac8/text___
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INTERNATIONAL
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Drone strike sparks fire at UAE nuclear power plant in latest blow to Iran ceasefire
SUMMARY: A drone strike has targeted the United Arab Emirates’ sole nuclear power plant, sparking a fire on its perimeter. There were no reports of injuries or radiological release. But Sunday's incident highlighted the risk of renewed war as the Iran ceasefire remains tenuous. No one immediately claimed responsibility, and the UAE did not blame anyone. Israel says U.S. President Donald Trump has spoken with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Trump has suggested hostilities with Iran could resume. Tensions continue over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy waterway that remains in Iran's grip. Diplomatic efforts for a more durable peace have repeatedly faltered.
WORDS: 878 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 10:34 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranUSthLdWritethru/71e7e58f45193b7dee3df28740532a7b/text___
What to know about the Ebola outbreak that the WHO has declared a global health emergency
SUMMARY: The World Health Organization has declared the Ebola disease outbreak in Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. Sunday's declaration came after more than 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths. Africa’s top public health body first confirmed a new Ebola outbreak in Congo’s Ituri province on Friday. All the cases are in Congo, except for two recorded in neighboring Uganda. One major concern health authorities have is the proximity of affected areas to Uganda and South Sudan. The Ebola virus is highly contagious and can be transmitted to people from wild animals.
WORDS: 1002 - MOVED: 05/15/2026 11:00 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFMEDCongoEbolaWhattoKnowthLdWritethru/d59a194e6032e1783b6085b56d84b0f0/text___
Taiwan’s president defends US arms purchases that Trump called 'bargaining chip'
SUMMARY: Taiwan’s president says arms purchases from the United States are crucial for regional stability, after President Donald Trump questioned continued U.S. support for Taiwan following his visit to China. President Lai Ching-te said Sunday that U.S. arms sales and security cooperation are essential for peace. Trump previously approved an $11 billion arms package to Taiwan in December. However, he recently indicated that a new $14 billion package depends on China. Taiwan reassures that U.S. policy remains unchanged, despite concerns raised by Trump’s comments. China views Taiwan as a critical issue in U.S.-China relations.
WORDS: 596 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 3:53 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASTaiwanUSstLdWritethru/9b281ac90e9bcb71aee8011435dec0c2/text___
WHO declares global health emergency over Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda
SUMMARY: The World Health Organization has declared an Ebola outbreak in Congo and Uganda a public health emergency of international concern. More than 300 suspected cases and 88 deaths have been reported. The outbreak is caused by the rare Bundibugyo virus which has no approved treatments or vaccines. A laboratory-confirmed case also has been reported in Congo’s capital Kinshasa. WHO's emergency declaration aims to prompt international action. But the response to past declarations has been mixed. Conflict and migration in the region complicate containment efforts. The outbreak started in April but slow detection delayed the response.
WORDS: 987 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 4:38 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFCongoEbolathLdWritethru/6f93a87ff28107bdda8990599bbcd52d/text___
Ukraine conducts large-scale drone strikes on Russia, killing 4 and wounding a dozen others
SUMMARY: Russian officials say overnight Ukrainian drone strikes killed at least four people including three near Moscow. A dozen others were wounded. Authorities said Sunday that debris fell on Russia’s largest airport without causing damage. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed the drone strikes. He said that they were “entirely justified.” Russia has repeatedly launched similar attacks on Ukraine’s capital and other cities during the war. An expert said that the strikes appeared to be retaliation for recent Russian attacks on Kyiv. Ukrainian authorities said that Russian drone strikes on Ukraine overnight wounded eight people.
WORDS: 951 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 7:57 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarthLdWritethru/3164d723ca8331e5780ec7942245a2e6/text___
Researchers stunned by a forgotten medieval book in Rome hiding the oldest English poem
SUMMARY: Researchers in Dublin have uncovered the oldest surviving English poem in a Roman library. The poem, "Caedmon’s Hymn," was composed in Old English by a Northumbrian worker in the seventh century. It appears within the Latin text "Ecclesiastical History of the English People" by the monk known as the Venerable Bede. The discovery highlights the diffusion of the English language centuries earlier than previously believed. The manuscript had a complex history, traveling across Europe and the Atlantic before being found in Rome's public library. The library's digitization efforts may lead to more discoveries.
WORDS: 1019 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 5:29 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUItalyOldEnglishPoemthLdWritethru/106769c014901cf06d8a56839d56ac90/text___
Young Kyiv couple killed in a fierce Russian airstrike hoped to start a family, mourners say
SUMMARY: Maryna Homeniuk fled Ukraine after Russia’s full-scale invasion four years ago. She managed to complete her degree in the Czech Republic before returning home the following year and meeting her beloved, Yurii Orlov. Homeniuk and Orlov, who captained the Kyiv Floorball Club after a hockey career, were among the 24 people killed Thursday during Russian airstrikes that Ukrainian officials described as the biggest barrage of the war. Family and friends paid their final respects to Homeniuk on Saturday. They recalled how the 24-year-old English teacher loved to travel and learn languages. They had hoped to honor Orlov, too, but his body wasn’t ready for burial yet.
WORDS: 479 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 7:59 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarLoveStorystLdWritethru/8283434fbf298047fd9bb973244cfd94/text___
Rwandan genocide suspect Kabuga dies in custody in The Hague
SUMMARY: Félicien Kabuga, accused of bankrolling the Rwandan genocide, died in a hospital in The Hague while in custody, a U.N. court said. Kabuga, whose exact birthday is not known but was over 90, had dementia and had been stranded in legal limbo since 2023 when judges ruled that he was not fit to stand trial. He was one of the last fugitives charged in connection with the 1994 genocide, accused of encouraging and bankrolling the mass killing of Rwanda’s Tutsi minority. After years of evading international efforts to track him down, Kabuga was arrested near Paris in May 2020.
WORDS: 500 - MOVED: 05/16/2026 6:13 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFRwandaGenocideSuspectndLdWritethru/d9c0156deb1359429cb22ea8441974e9/text___
It's official: Wes Streeting of the Labour Party wants to be Britain's next prime minister
SUMMARY: Wes Streeting's ambition to head the British government was one of the worst-kept secrets in U.K. politics. The former health secretary made it official on Saturday, announcing his intention to challenge Prime Minister Keir Starmer, a move that's likely to lead to an intense leadership contest within the Labour Party. Starmer has become unpopular due to missteps and disastrous losses for his party in the May 7 local elections, leading to calls for his resignation. Streeting, who became the first to quit Starmer's Cabinet, is an effective communicator who rose from humble beginnings to a key political figure tasked with saving an ailing state-run health system.
WORDS: 916 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 8:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUBritainPoliticsStreetingstLdWritethru/ffeb9e78cf0f156abc70e1e794f7fa23/text___
Bulgaria wins the 70th Eurovision Song Contest with upbeat party anthem 'Bangaranga'
SUMMARY: Bulgaria has won the 70th Eurovision Song Contest with singer Dara’s party anthem “Bangaranga.” Dara beat 24 other competitors during Saturday’s grand final in Vienna. The song’s infectious beats and tightly choreographed dance routine was a hit with both viewers and national juries. It’s Bulgaria’s first-ever Eurovision victory. Israeli competitor Noam Bettan came second after a contest clouded by protests against the country’s participation. Romania’s Alexandra Căpitănescu came third and Australian star Delta Goodrem fourth. Five countries — Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland — boycotted in protest of Israel’s inclusion in the contest following the war in Gaza. Several hundred protesters marched near the contest arena in Vienna.
WORDS: 990 - MOVED: 05/16/2026 4:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUAustriaEurovisionthLdWritethru/9798646a3ba5d4b21321b19decaf607c/text___
Venezuela says it deported a close ally of Maduro to face criminal proceedings in US
SUMMARY: Venezuela’s government says it has deported a close ally of Nicolás Maduro to face judicial proceedings in the U.S. less than three years after the business owner was pardoned by President Joe Biden as part of a prisoner swap. The Venezuelan government in a statement Saturday did not explicitly say where it had deported Alex Saab but said its decision was based on several ongoing criminal investigations in the U.S. The Associated Press reported in February that federal prosecutors have been digging for month into Saab’s role in an alleged bribery conspiracy involving Venezuelan government contracts to import food.
WORDS: 933 - MOVED: 05/16/2026 10:47 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APLTVenezuelaUSMaduroAllyrdLdWritethru/057c22fe6e9b7022388eaeea2f1ecb52/text___
Canadian cruise passenger gets a presumptive positive hantavirus test result after ship outbreak
SUMMARY: Canadian officials have reported that one of four Canadians returning from a cruise ship with a hantavirus outbreak has a “presumptive positive” test result. Confirmation from the National Microbiology Lab in Winnipeg is expected soon. British Columbia's public health officer says the patient in their 70s is stable with mild symptoms. The outbreak on the MV Hondius has led to three deaths and 12 cases. Nine of them are confirmed. Henry reassures that hantavirus isn't like COVID-19 and lacks pandemic potential. She emphasizes that infection control measures are in place to ensure public safety.
WORDS: 368 - MOVED: 05/16/2026 9:09 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APCNCanadaHantavirus/880ad45b272c59a96a9fb07bf6425d45/text___
Driver plows into pedestrians in Modena, 8 injured as driver detained after attempted escape
SUMMARY: A driver has plowed into pedestrians in the northern Italian city of Modena, injuring eight people, four of them critically, before trying to flee and being detained by police, local authorities said. They added the man, a second-generation Italian, was known to local heath services official for mental disorders. Authorities identified the driver as Salim El Koudri, a 31-year-old man born in Bergamo and living in the province of Modena. El Koudri, who holds a degree in economy, is currently unemployed. He was detained and questioned at police headquarters in Modena as investigators tried to determine whether he acted deliberately. Investigators said there was no immediate indication the man was under the influence of drugs or alcohol. No links to extremist groups had emerged.
WORDS: 420 - MOVED: 05/16/2026 5:24 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUItalyCarHitsPedestriansthLdWritethru/2aa8c070ca6a007d57ba26ae30008682/text___
Israeli strike kills Hamas’ military wing leader, who Israel says was an architect of Oct 7 attacks
SUMMARY: An Israeli airstrike in Gaza has killed Hamas military wing leader Izz al-Din al-Haddad. The Israeli military said Saturday that al-Haddad was one of the last surviving architects of the Hamas-led militant attacks on southern Israel that triggered the war on Oct. 7, 2023. Hamas confirmed his death. The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas remains fragile with accusations of violations from both sides. Violence has flared in the West Bank meanwhile. Israeli troops shot and killed a 34-year-old Palestinian in the Jenin refugee camp. The Israeli military said that the man was shot after failing to comply with warning shots.
WORDS: 689 - MOVED: 05/16/2026 10:32 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastWarsGazathLdWritethru/2ae7c8e7a59b943a47f7a68fdc61051b/text___
Maldives suspends search for 4 Italians in underwater cave after military diver dies
SUMMARY: Maldivian authorities have suspended the search for four Italian divers believed to be trapped in an underwater cave. The decision follows the death of a military diver who suffered decompression sickness during the mission. The divers disappeared Thursday while exploring a cave at Vaavu Atoll, exceeding the Maldives' recreational diving limit. The search involved eight local divers and was hampered by rough weather. The Italian Foreign Ministry said the cave has three chambers, but only two have been explored. Authorities are awaiting Finnish experts to reassess the strategy. The cause of the accident remains under investigation.
WORDS: 847 - MOVED: 05/16/2026 8:39 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APItalyMaldivesDiveAccidentthLdWritethru/5cb0af32ad85149c9319b8861921d43b/text___
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BUSINESS
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Tiny patients, big fight: NICU parents win leave in 2 states and push for more
SUMMARY: Parents with newborns in intensive care units have long faced a difficult but overlooked plight: Any parental leave they might have does not take into account the days or even months their newborns spend in intensive care. Many choose to return to work immediately rather than use up leave they will need when their baby comes home. Colorado and Illinois became the first states this year to adopt dedicated neonatal leave programs, galvanizing a grassroots movement for more state programs and a federal policy.
WORDS: 1578 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 1:05 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSNeonatalLeave/992ead042faad3f6ec8c8d6b9b6fb74c/text___
Demand for cruises appears undimmed despite hantavirus and other onboard outbreaks
SUMMARY: Recent outbreaks of hantavirus and norovirus on cruise ships are making headlines, but they’re unlikely to dim vacationers’ growing love of cruises. CruiseCompete.com, an online cruise marketplace, said it booked 31.7% more cabins in the first two weeks of May than it did during the same period last year. And Viking said earlier this week that demand softened slightly in the first quarter after the Iran war began before picking up steam again. Rob Kwortnik, an associate professor at Cornell University’s Nolan School of Hotel Administration, said current news cycles rarely impact cruise demand because cruises are generally booked at least 6 months — and often as much as a year – in advance.
WORDS: 927 - MOVED: 05/16/2026 10:10 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APHantavirusCruiseTravelDemand/d85e4a85a7548073fb5ca549c09701a6/text___
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HEALTH/SCIENCE
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A look at major Ebola outbreaks and when the disease was first identified
SUMMARY: Health authorities say there is a new Ebola outbreak in the Central African country of Congo, with more than 300 suspected cases and at least 88 deaths. Cases have also been reported in neighboring Uganda. The outbreak was declared a public health emergency of international concern by the World Health Organization on Sunday. The severe disease that is often fatal was first identified in 1976 after two outbreaks in quick succession in what is now South Sudan and Congo, according to the WHO. All major Ebola outbreaks have been in sub-Saharan Africa, where the viruses that cause it are native. Very few cases have been recorded outside Africa.
WORDS: 826 - MOVED: 05/15/2026 4:04 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFEbolaPreviousOutbreaksstLdWritethru/f187db59b290ee4c6749872b54f8d735/text___
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RELIGION
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Thousands flock to the National Mall in Washington for an America-themed prayer rally
SUMMARY: Thousands of people have streamed onto the National Mall in Washington for a daylong prayer rally. The event Sunday is billed as a “rededication of our country as One Nation under God.” President Donald Trump is expected to address the crowd in a video message Sunday. The event is part of the celebrations this year marking 250 years of U.S. independence. The conservative Christian lineup features guests who often argue that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. That narrative is disputed by many historians and other religious traditions.
WORDS: 550 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 3:24 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APRELAmericaWashingtonPrayerGatheringstLdWritethru/e65950eac5f7aed8be529333cbd301b3/text___
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ENTERTAINMENT
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Steven Soderbergh used AI in a documentary about John Lennon. And he wants to talk about it
SUMMARY: The day John Lennon was shot in 1980, he and Yoko Ono gave an interview to a San Francisco radio crew from their home in New York’s Dakota Apartments. In “John Lennon: The Last Interview,” Steven Soderbergh pp those surviving tapes into a new documentary that debuted Saturday at the Cannes Film Festival. But his decision to fill in some visuals using Meta's AI software has prompted an outcry. One of America’s leading filmmakers was using AI? In a film about a Beatle, no less? Soderbergh has placed himself at the forefront of an industrywide debate about the uses of AI in moviemaking. But for him, it’s a conversation he’s eager to have.
WORDS: 1173 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 2:39 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTCannesJohnLennonAIDocumentarystLdWritethru/7794a4344ed455cae4c5780fa6610860/text___
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SPORTS
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NBA tipoff: Only a Game 7 left in Round 2, with Cavaliers-Pistons on Sunday
SUMMARY: New York has to wait a bit longer to find out its Eastern Conference finals opponent. But in the Western Conference, the final is set — and it’ll be the teams that finished with the two best records in the NBA this season. Oklahoma City and San Antonio will play for the West title, their series beginning Monday on the Thunder’s home floor. Meanwhile, Detroit and Cleveland are headed to a Game 7 on Sunday for the right to play the Knicks for the East crown.
WORDS: 859 - MOVED: 04/14/2026 1:36 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APBKNTipoffthLdWritethru/21ad890604b4cb2895cf3613378c5813/text___
Xabi Alonso hired by Chelsea on 4-year deal in return to coaching after Real Madrid disappointment
SUMMARY: Chelsea has hired Xabi Alonso as its latest manager on a four-year deal, with the former Real Madrid coach set to take over on July 1. Alonso replaces Liam Rosenior, who was fired last month, and will become the fifth permanent coach appointed by Chelsea’s American owners Todd Boehly and Clearlake Capital since they bought the club in 2022. Alonso lasted eight months at Madrid before leaving the club by mutual consent in January after poor results and widespread media reports that he lost control of the locker room. Before that, he was at Bayer Leverkusen, which he led to the German title and an unbeaten domestic season.
WORDS: 608 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 8:15 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APSOCChelseaAlonsondLdWritethru/7ccc0abd9caa7e4cd0cbd887b22fc716/text___
Ronda Rousey stops Gina Carano with an armbar 17 seconds into their double comeback bout
SUMMARY: Ronda Rousey stopped Gina Carano with her signature armbar just 17 seconds into the iconic fighters’ mixed martial arts comeback bout. The 39-year-old Rousey ended a 9 1/2-year absence from MMA when she took the cage with the 44-year-old Carano, who hadn’t fought in 17 years since 2009. Rousey wasted absolutely no time when the cage door finally close, charging and tackling Carano an instant after the opening bell. Rousey quickly moved into position and applied her famous finishing move, wrenching Carano’s arm as the fight was stopped. This improbable double comeback bout united two of the most important fighters from MMA’s past two decades.
WORDS: 678 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 4:17 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMMARouseyCaranondLdWritethru/f5676858fe9e4bd002d788d2bc002074/text___
Napoleon Solo holds off Iron Honor by 1 1/4 lengths to win the Preakness at Laurel Park
SUMMARY: Napoleon Solo has held off Iron Honor in the stretch to win the Preakness Stakes, rebounding from a pair of fifth-place showings for his first victory of the year. Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo was held out of the race, leaving a wide-open field of 14 horses to contest the middle jewel of the Triple Crown. The Preakness was held at Laurel Park this year because Pimlico in Baltimore is being rebuilt. Taj Mahal was the top choice at 9-2 — the longest odds for a Preakness favorite since the race moved to its current distance of 1 3/16 miles in 1925. Napoleon Solo went off at 7-1.
WORDS: 839 - MOVED: 05/16/2026 4:01 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APRACPreaknessrdLdWritethru/10333548a40dd96d76e73c24f28fa290/text___
Aaron Rodgers agrees to a 1-year deal to return to the Pittsburgh Steelers, AP sources say
SUMMARY: Aaron Rodgers is running it back with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Two people with knowledge of the decision told The Associated Press that the four-time NFL MVP agreed to a one-year deal to return to Pittsburgh on Saturday. The people spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been announced. The 42-year-old Rodgers guided Pittsburgh to an AFC North title last year, throwing for 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Now he's back for his 22nd and perhaps final season. Rodgers reunites with former Packers coach Mike McCarthy, hired to lead the Steelers in January after Mike Tomlin stepped down.
WORDS: 665 - MOVED: 05/17/2026 12:11 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFBNSteelersRodgersstLdWritethru/55a90e238ab6822b7b774cbd5039651e/text___
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