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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Powerful winds and reported tornadoes rip through the Midwest, leaving heavy damage but no deaths
SUMMARY: A series of reported tornadoes has torn through the midwestern United States, ripping roofs off homes and leaving roads impassable. Officials in Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota have expressed relief that the storms did not result in loss of life. In Wisconsin, homes were damaged and residents were trapped in basements. Minnesota saw at least 30 homes damaged. The National Weather Service says the damage was likely caused by tornadoes. Recovery efforts are underway, with officials emphasizing the need for community support and rebuilding.
WORDS: 463 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 3:32 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSevereWeatherthLdWritethru/a25ba029dcd1ac477c886acaddaa8f1a/text___
Federal judge blocks Nexstar-Tegna TV station merger until antitrust lawsuit is settled
SUMMARY: A federal judge has blocked the $6.2 billion merger between local television giants Nexstar Media Group and Tegna until an antitrust lawsuit is resolved. The merger would create a company owning 265 TV stations across 44 states. On Friday, U.S. District Court Chief Judge Troy L. Nunley issued an order halting the deal. Attorneys general in eight states and DirecTV sued to stop the merger, arguing it could raise consumer prices and harm local journalism. Nexstar’s attorneys say the deal has already been vetted and approved by the Federal Communications Commission and the Department of Justice.
WORDS: 547 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 1:01 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSNexstarTegnaMergerLawsuitndLdWritethru/ec9f2def13e1b31b0e2c0437b635a932/text___
Weapons-grade chemical carfentanil surges as dangerous substitute for fentanyl
SUMMARY: Carfentanil has experienced a drastic resurgence across the U.S., causing hundreds of unsuspecting drug users to overdose. It is a weapons-grade chemical that the Drug Enforcement Administration says is 10,000 times more potent than morphine and 100 times stronger than fentanyl. DEA intelligence bulletins show the rise coincides with a recent crackdown by the Chinese government on the sale of precursors used to make fentanyl. The bulletins say that is likely leading traffickers in Mexico to use carfentanil to boost the potency of a weakened version of fentanyl. The surge comes even as fentanyl seizures and overall drug overdose deaths continue a multiyear decline.
WORDS: 1116 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 3:57 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCarfentanilSurge/6b32fe6450861754d8689a595fb830a5/text___
Defense team in Charlie Kirk murder case says courtroom cameras are unfairly tilting case
SUMMARY: Defense witnesses in the prosecution of the man accused of killing Charlie Kirk say conjecture about the case is making it impossible to have a fair trial. The testimony came as attorneys for Tyler Robinson on Friday urged a Utah a judge to ban cameras from the courtroom. Media organizations, prosecutors and Kirk’s widow want cameras allowed and say they promote transparency. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty for Robinson if he is convicted in the Sept. 10 shooting of Kirk. The conservative activist had been addressing a crowd of thousands on the Utah Valley University campus in Orem.
WORDS: 906 - MOVED: 04/17/2026 4:00 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCharlieKirkShotthLdWritethru/39c6672b630539a97b7caaffa4cd9e43/text___
Patients and dental community mourn Dr. Cerina Fairfax, killed by Virginia's ex-lieutenant governor
SUMMARY: Patients and colleagues in the Virginia dental community are remembering Dr. Cerina Fairfax as a devoted mother, a caring dentist and the rock at the center of her family, after she was killed by her estranged husband, former Virginia Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax. Virginia Rep. Jennifer McClellan knew Dr. Fairfax through her husband’s campaign and the time he spent in office as lieutenant governor and said her two teenaged children were “the people she cherished most.” Leaders in the state’s dental community praised her accomplishments and commitment to patients.
WORDS: 766 - MOVED: 04/17/2026 4:54 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSVirginiaFormerLtGovDeathrdLdWritethru/802965d14f3dffa70b1974cfa8d78a17/text___
Takeaways from AP investigation that found problems in the backgrounds of some new ICE officers
SUMMARY: Some new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers started working before passing background checks and had problems in their past. ICE announced in January that it completed an unprecedented hiring spree, adding 12,000 officers and agents to double its force. Their mission is to help carry out President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign. But the speed with which they were brought on to the payroll, to jobs considered important for national security, has raised alarm. The Associated Press found one new ICE hire had filed for bankruptcy twice and worked for six law enforcement agencies in three years. Another was accused of lying in a police report to justify a felony charge against an innocent woman. A third quit his only prior policing job after three weeks.
WORDS: 843 - MOVED: 04/17/2026 7:14 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationICEVettingTakeawaysstLdWritethru/31b38620cf2fea7783042e61d6d27ce9/text___
ICE went on a hiring spree. Sterling credentials were not required, AP investigation finds
SUMMARY: Some new U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers started working before passing background checks and had problems in their past. ICE announced in January that it completed an unprecedented hiring spree, adding 12,000 officers and agents to double its force. Their mission is to help carry out President Donald Trump’s mass deportation campaign. But the speed with which they were brought on to the payroll, to jobs considered important for national security, has raised alarm. The Associated Press found one new ICE hire had filed for bankruptcy twice and worked for six law enforcement agencies in three years. Another was accused of lying in a police report to justify a felony charge against an innocent woman. A third quit his only prior policing job after three weeks.
WORDS: 1753 - MOVED: 04/17/2026 7:04 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationICEVettingrdLdWritethru/8ae6b7b850f7c0265b3cb8b5060ef8fd/text___
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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Trump's dyslexia barbs stir anguish and anger, perpetuating a myth about the learning disability
SUMMARY: Some of the harshest words that President Donald Trump has used against a leading Democratic rival aren't about political differences but rather a learning disability. Trump's insults geared toward California Gov. Gavin Newsom's struggle with dyslexia are stirring anguish and anger from the president's supporters and critics. Advocates for people with dyslexia are concerned Trump's comments perpetuate a myth about dyslexia. Trump has called the governor “stupid,” “low IQ,” “mentally disabled” and unfit to become president. Dyslexia affects the link between the brain and printed language, and a large body of research has found that dyslexia and IQ are unrelated.
WORDS: 1263 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 11:46 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpNewsomDyslexiastLdWritethru/53e47ca7c7d4d0d16eb42a9a012a85e0/text___
A big midterms year in Arizona kicks off with the state's largest county embroiled in election drama
SUMMARY: Much of the political spotlight this election year in Arizona has been focused on the office that runs elections in Maricopa County, the state’s largest. Republican Justin Heap is overseeing elections in the Phoenix-area and he's an election skeptic. Heap is in a legal feud with the county board over election procedures. He's put in place a controversial system for checking signatures on mail ballots. And he's run voter files through a federal system to check for noncitizens despite questions about the system's accuracy. His actions have drawn pushback from members of the county board, as well as rebukes from the attorney general and secretary of state.
WORDS: 1248 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 12:49 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionArizonaMaricopaCounty/b52cbdb4812604fac7c412f842b283c1/text___
Indiana primary will test Trump's control over Republican Party after redistricting defiance
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump's influence on the Republican Party is facing a test in Indiana's upcoming primary. After state senators opposed Trump's push for redistricting, he endorsed seven primary challengers in the May 5 election. One Republican incumbent being challenged is Spencer Deery. He resisted Trump's pressure, and now he's facing nearly $1 million in campaign spending against him. Deery says he works for his constituents, not Trump. Indiana's governor, Republican Mike Braun, says he supports the challengers not because of redistricting but because he needs their help to advance his agenda. Meanwhile, one former governor, Republican Mitch Daniels, is working to back incumbents like Deery who've drawn Trump's ire.
WORDS: 1175 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 11:37 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionIndiana/a93a4b89c859fd52eebe4e03c7b8b57b/text___
US and Cuban officials met recently in Havana amid new diplomatic push
SUMMARY: An American delegation has met recently with Cuban government officials in the island nation. It marks a renewed diplomatic push even as U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to intervene in Cuba and its leader said this week that his country is prepared to fight if that should happen. A senior State Department official met with the grandson of retired Cuban leader Raúl Castro last week during the trip. That's according to a department official who spoke Friday on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive matter. The official didn't say who from the U.S. met with Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro. A second U.S. official said Secretary of State Marco Rubio was not part of the delegation that visited Havana.
WORDS: 535 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 1:41 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSUnitedStatesCuba/af47a0625038a9f34d843b088300bab8/text___
Key prosecutor in John Brennan investigation has been removed from case, AP source says
SUMMARY: A lead prosecutor in the John Brennan investigation has been removed from the case after expressing concerns to Justice Department officials about the viability of a potential criminal prosecution of the former CIA director. That's according to a person familiar with the matter. Maria Medetis Long told defense lawyers involved in the investigation that she was no longer participating in the Brennan investigation. Her departure from the investigation came after she conveyed doubt that there was sufficient evidence for a criminal case against Brennan. The Justice Department did not dispute that Medetis Long was no longer part of the investigation but also did not elaborate on the circumstances.
WORDS: 522 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 12:23 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpRussiaProbestLdWritethru/3a2d8a77cdaa3ff339d079879f9f0ec6/text___
US extends waiver on Russian oil sanctions to ease Iran war shortages despite Bessent denial
SUMMARY: The U.S. Treasury Department has extended its pause on sanctions on Russian oil shipments to ease shortages from the Iran war, days after Secretary Scott Bessent ruled out such a move. The general license means U.S. sanctions will not apply for 30 days on deliveries of Russian oil that has been loaded on tankers as of Friday. It extended a similar 30-day license issued in March for Russian oil that had been loaded by March 11. The extension underscores how the fallout from the Iran war has boosted Moscow’s ability to profit from its energy exports, which had been restrained since the invasion of Ukraine. The administration did not immediately explain the reversal.
WORDS: 160 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 2:45 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIranUSRussianOil/95ae06ece63f4f8c1f72ac3c2dc4251f/text___
White House chief of staff meets with Anthropic CEO over its new AI technology
SUMMARY: White House chief of staff Susie Wiles has met with Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to discuss the company's new AI model, Mythos. The model has gained attention for its advanced capabilities and potential use by the federal government. A White House official says the administration is engaging with AI labs about their models. The meeting Friday follows tensions between the Trump administration and Anthropic over the use of AI technology in federal agencies. Anthropic has limited the Mythos model's use to select customers due to its ability to surpass human cybersecurity experts in finding vulnerabilities.
WORDS: 907 - MOVED: 04/17/2026 6:39 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpAnthropicthLdWritethru/f3c590fcee98297832973d02d3979c87/text___
Senate extends surveillance powers until April 30 after chaotic votes in House
SUMMARY: Congress has approved a short-term renewal of a controversial surveillance program used by U.S. spy agencies just days before it was set to expire. A bill extending the program until April 30 cleared the Senate by voice vote Friday as Congress raced to send it to President Donald Trump for his signature. Lawmakers turned to a short-term extension of the program after an attempt to pass a five-year renewal failed in a late-night House vote. The short-term fix sets the stage for another showdown in a matter of weeks. The program permits key national security agencies to collect and analyze vast amounts of overseas communications without a warrant.
WORDS: 951 - MOVED: 04/17/2026 4:19 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressForeignSurveillancethLdWritethru/3dc3e84c3b9b03f52b84dfb3b01fc770/text___
The Supreme Court hands a win to oil and gas companies fighting environmental lawsuits in Louisiana
SUMMARY: The Supreme Court is handing a win to oil and gas companies fighting lawsuits over coastal land loss and environmental degradation in Louisiana. The unanimous procedural decision gives the companies a new day in federal court after a state jury ordered Chevron to pay upward of $740 million to clean up damage to the state’s coastline, one of multiple similar lawsuits. The companies were backed by the Trump administration and argued that the case belongs in federal court because they began oil production and refining during World War II as U.S. contractors. Louisiana’s coastal parishes have lost more than 2,000 square miles of land over the past century.
WORDS: 676 - MOVED: 04/17/2026 3:46 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSupremeCourtLouisianaChevronthLdWritethru/8928e73be9545de69089b0e578b1b8d2/text___
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INTERNATIONAL
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Macron says a French soldier was killed and 3 were wounded in attack on peacekeepers in Lebanon
SUMMARY: French President Emmanuel Macron says a French soldier was killed and three others wounded in an attack on U.N. peacekeepers in southern Lebanon. Macron identified the soldier as Staff Sgt. Florian Montorio from the 17th Parachute Engineer Regiment. He added that three of Montorio’s comrades were wounded and evacuated. He said that Hezbollah is likely responsible for the attack. Macron demanded that Lebanese authorities arrest those responsible and work with UNIFIL, the U.N. mission in southern Lebanon. Macron expressed respect and support for the families of the soldiers and all military personnel in Lebanon.
WORDS: 927 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 12:44 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLLebanonIsraelthLdWritethru/5856353ddea6c1654c38c8aadf803ed7/text___
Ukrainian police shoot dead gunman who killed at least 6 and took hostages in a supermarket
SUMMARY: A gunman who killed at least six people in the streets of Kyiv Saturday before taking hostages and barricading himself in a nearby supermarket has been shot dead by police, Ukrainian officials said. The head of Ukraine’s Interior Ministry, Ihor Klymenko, said in a statement on social media that special tactical police units stormed the store after attempts to contact the gunman with a negotiator failed. Speaking to reporters at the scene, Klymenko said that the government had killed four bystanders while on the street, before entering the supermarket and killing a fifth person. A sixth victim died from her injuries in hospital.
WORDS: 314 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 3:20 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUUkraineShootingthLdWritethru/884436efb1c6bbc22a83156ffb697a87/text___
Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again over US blockade and fires on ships
SUMMARY: The standoff over the Strait of Hormuz has escalated again as Iran reverses its reopening of the crucial waterway and fires on ships attempting to pass. Saturday's developments come after the United States said it would continue its blockade of Iranian ports. The strait's closure threatens to deepen the global energy crisis. Meanwhile, Pakistani mediators are working to organize new negotiations between the countries. Iran says it has received new proposals from the United States. But Iran's deputy foreign minister tells the AP that Tehran isn't ready for new face-to-face talks because the Americans “have not abandoned their maximalist position.”
WORDS: 1028 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 8:28 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranUSthLdWritethru/ab475cb979825b956a10d60103026b37/text___
The Latest: Iranian gunboats fire on tanker in Strait of Hormuz as Iran reimposes restrictions
SUMMARY: Iran has reversed course on reopening the Strait of Hormuz and fired on a tanker attempting to pass the waterway. It said it will continue blocking transit as long as the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports remained in effect. The announcement Saturday came after U.S. President Donald Trump said the blockade “will remain in full force” until Tehran reaches a deal with the U.S. that includes its nuclear program. Tehran had reopened the strait Friday to commercial vessels. Roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes through the strait. Pakistani officials say the United States and Iran are moving closer to a deal ahead of the April 22 ceasefire deadline.
WORDS: 2871 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 4:56 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranUSTheLatestndLdWritethru/c70f6221aa2d9d8ac10d058cb302b54a/text___
Eyewitnesses recount three deadly Israeli strikes on medics in southern Lebanon
SUMMARY: Israeli strikes targeted three different medical teams in the span of mere minutes in southern Lebanon, killing four medics and wounding six. Emergency workers from Nabatiyeh were responding to a distress call when they were attacked, prompting another team to come to their rescue. But that team came under fire, too, leading a third team, Nabatiyeh Emergency Services, to launch another rescue attempt. But they were also hit by an Israeli strike that killed their team leader, Mahdi Abu Zaid. Eyewitnesses on Friday, the first day of a ceasefire in the war, recalled the events and exprssed hope that the attack would serve as a reminder of how Israel's campaign has stripped them of all protections.
WORDS: 1058 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 9:30 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLLebanonIsraelMedicsKilled/28c96d95a16d7561b9de868f7337ae5a/text___
Starmer's Mandelson nightmare never ends. This time, it may cost him his job as UK leader
SUMMARY: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces renewed scrutiny over his decision to appoint Peter Mandelson as ambassador to the U.S. Mandelson, a known associate of the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, was initially denied security clearance. The Guardian revealed this on Thursday, raising questions about Starmer's claim that “full due process” was followed. Starmer, who campaigned on integrity, is accused of misleading Parliament. The fallout has already led to a resignation in the Foreign Office. Starmer plans to address Parliament on Monday, but his leadership is under pressure, especially with upcoming elections in May.
WORDS: 1018 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 4:00 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUBritainStarmerMandelsonExplainerndLdWritethru/35c2c302e7370efcd0098b5b9419c72e/text___
Russia has looted thousands of Ukrainian cultural objects in the war. Finding them is a challenge
SUMMARY: Ukraine is struggling to recover thousands of artworks and other cultural objects lost during Russia’s full-scale invasion. Missing records and lack of access to occupied territories make the full scale of damage impossible to know. Some institutions like the Kherson Art Museum preserved detailed digital archives that now aid investigations. But many others lack sufficient documentation to prove what was taken. Prosecutors say cases cannot proceed without precise inventories. Ukrainian officials estimate that thousands of cultural sites have been damaged and tens of thousands of items looted. A recent extradition case in Europe offers a rare prospect of accountability.
WORDS: 999 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 6:27 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarLostHeritage/93f96dac8cfb7af675abc1a5f90bcd40/text___
Pope Leo XIV's visit to an African church linked to slavery reflects on his own complex heritage
SUMMARY: The pope’s planned visit to a Catholic chapel in Angola that was connected to the slave trade is seen as a symbolic moment by some Africans. Pope Leo XIV will pray Sunday at the Church of Our Lady of Muxima, where enslaved Africans were baptized before being sent to the coast to be put on ships to the Americas. More slaves set off from Angola than any other country. It’s unclear if the first American pope will address slavery on his visit to Africa, but it may still prompt reflections on his own heritage. Last year, a genealogist discovered that Leo had Black and white ancestors in Louisiana who included both enslaved people and slave owners.
WORDS: 1162 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 1:16 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFAngolaPopeSlaveryChurch/16df3604b4dd1a2722e43687b930b720/text___
Families in Iran struggle with school closures even as the airstrikes have stopped
SUMMARY: Schools have been closed across Iran since the United States and Israel launched the war on Feb. 28, with no word on when in-person instruction will resume. The fear of airstrikes has lifted since a fragile ceasefire went into effect, but life has not returned to normal. As with the COVID closures six years ago, it’s especially difficult for working parents with small children. The war has killed at least 3,000 people in Iran, including more than 165 people killed in a strike on an elementary school. The ceasefire is set to expire early next week, with the U.S. and Iran still divided on key issues like Iran’s enriched uranium.
WORDS: 769 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 5:09 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranStressonFamilies/1c9bc54c547b75017b7d158ff79899c8/text___
The truce in Lebanon is key to ending the wider Iran war, but challenges remain
SUMMARY: A truce took hold Friday between Israel and Lebanon’s Hezbollah, providing relief on both sides of the border and an opening for Iran and the United States to reach a deal to end the wider war. The ceasefire appears to have paved the way for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, easing the global energy crisis. But major obstacles remain, as Hezbollah has not formally agreed to the truce and wants Israel to withdraw from southern Lebanon. Israel says it is “not finished” dismantling the Iran-backed militant group and shows no sign of ending its occupation.
WORDS: 1050 - MOVED: 04/17/2026 6:07 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLLebanonIsraelHezbollahExplainer/35f32a4baffcc542b618d2d3fc2b7428/text___
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RACE AND ETHNICITY
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Stories of Black and Indigenous patriots come into focus as US remembers the American Revolution
SUMMARY: The stories of Black and Indigenous men who fought during the American Revolution are sometimes overlooked. History books traditionally focus on the roles of white leaders such as George Washington and Paul Revere. As America prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary, patriots of color are being celebrated through programs nationwide that aim to tell a more complete story of the birth of the nation. Christopher Brown, a historian at Columbia University, says “a more accurate view of the past” has emerged that showcases the diverse collection of men and women who played critical roles in the fight for freedom. The National Park Service estimates 5,500 patriots of color served on the colonial side.
WORDS: 1200 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 4:05 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSAmericaBattleofLexingtonstLdWritethru/70a4a423a0ba52813db469c69b0e44f5/text___
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BUSINESS
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Oil prices drop 9% and Wall Street rallies to a record after Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz
SUMMARY: Oil prices dropped back to where they were in the early days of the Iran war, and U.S. stocks raced to another record. The S&P 500 leaped 1.2% Friday after Iran said the Strait of Hormuz is open again for commercial tankers carrying crude. The Dow Jones Industrial Average leaped as many as 1,100 points before paring its gain and ended with a jump of nearly 870 points, or 1.8%, while the Nasdaq composite climbed 1.5%. A freer flow of oil could take pressure off prices not only for gasoline but also for groceries and all kinds of other products. Oil prices fell 9%.
WORDS: 893 - MOVED: 04/17/2026 4:24 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/50e10bf2aa9b0b658c51e17db3eb3b13/text___
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HEALTH/SCIENCE
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Trump signs order to speed review of psychedelics, including the controversial drug ibogaine
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has directed his administration to speed up reviews of certain psychedelic drugs, including ibogaine. That drug and other psychedelics remain banned under the government’s most restrictive category for illegal, high-risk drugs. But the administration is taking steps to ease restrictions and spur research on using the drugs for medical purposes, including conditions such as severe depression. Trump signed an executive order Saturday that he says will help “dramatically accelerate” access to potential treatments. Veteran organizations and others say ibogaine shows promise for conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder and opioid addiction. But ibogaine is known to sometimes trigger potentially fatal heart problems.
WORDS: 1047 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 2:16 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMEDPsychedelicDrugTrumpthLdWritethru/a9940fa57fa1457fc064eb5165003524/text___
The Lyrid meteor shower is visible now and peaking soon. Here's how to spot it
SUMMARY: The Lyrid meteor shower is expected to bring fiery streaks to the night sky. The shower peaks Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Ten to twenty meteors are generally visible per hour. The show will be visible across the globe, but views will be best in the Northern Hemisphere. Meteor showers happen when Earth plows through debris trails left behind by space rocks. To see the Lyrids, go outside after midnight and look to the northeastern sky. Avoid looking at your phone to let your eyes get used to the night sky. The meteors will look like trails of light.
WORDS: 394 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 12:03 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APSCIMeteorShower/6ee128bd19dabb929c49954d09195496/text___
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RELIGION
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Pope Leo XIV challenges Angola's leaders while delivering a message of encouragement for its people
SUMMARY: Pope Leo XIV has challenged Angola's leaders to “break the cycles of interests” that have plundered and exploited Africa for centuries. Leo issued the message after arriving in Angola on Saturday with a message of encouragement to its long-suffering people. Leo is opening the third leg of his four-nation trip through Africa. Leo had further comments en route to Angola from Cameroon about his back-and-forth with U.S. President Donald Trump over the Iran war. Leo said that it was “not in my interest at all” to debate the president but that he would continue preaching the Gospel message of peace.
WORDS: 866 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 9:24 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFRELAfricaPopethLdWritethru/afc7a60bc2a5ccb48eac34489c70fc9c/text___
Pope Leo XIV says ‘not in my interest at all’ to debate Trump but will keep preaching peace
SUMMARY: Pope Leo XIV says it is “not in my interest at all” to debate U.S. President Donald Trump about the war in Iran but that he will continue preaching the Gospel message of peace. Leo spoke to reporters aboard the papal plane flying from Cameroon to Angola on Saturday. He addressed the spiraling back-and-forth saga of Trump’s critiques of his peace message which have dominated news headlines this week. But the American pope also sought to set the record straight. Leo insisted that his preaching isn't directed at Trump but that it reflects the broader Gospel message of peace. Leo is on an 11-day tour of Africa.
WORDS: 590 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 1:50 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APAFRELAfricaPopeTrumpthLdWritethru/f9980c81d36fad024cce788c915c16eb/text___
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ENTERTAINMENT
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What to know about singer D4vd's arrest in 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez's killing
SUMMARY: Seven months after a 14-year-old girl’s body was found in D4vd’s towed SUV, authorities say the alt-pop singer has been arrested on suspicion of killing her. Los Angeles police say detectives arrested the 21-year-old, whose legal name is David Burke, on Thursday on suspicion of murder in the investigation of the killing of Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Authorities had not publicly named Burke as a suspect until his arrest. Investigators are expected to present a case to prosecutors on Monday, police said. Burke’s lawyers have declared his innocence.
WORDS: 915 - MOVED: 04/17/2026 4:37 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APENTDvdArrestWhattoKnowndLdWritethru/7d278e5f2fc1e3c4bce9dabb0bdc2098/text___
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SPORTS
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Inside the Numbers: Some notes going into the NBA playoffs
SUMMARY: This NBA season has been unusual, with three teams finishing over .500 but missing the playoffs. Charlotte, Miami and the Los Angeles Clippers all had winning records but didn't qualify. The only other years when that happened were 1971 and 2022. Miami's coach, Erik Spoelstra, noted the difference from his first year when 43 wins secured a fifth seed. Meanwhile, James Harden continues his playoff streak, now with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He’s aiming for a top-10 spot in career playoff scoring. In other news, the Detroit Pistons will host their first playoff opener since 2008, facing Orlando.
WORDS: 1067 - MOVED: 04/18/2026 6:42 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APBKNPlayoffsThingstoKnowstLdWritethru/fdb09f9574d2a17d05ab1add2a4c3fe2/text___
San Diego Padres are nearing a whopping sale, AP source says
SUMMARY: The family of late San Diego Padres owner Peter Seidler is nearing a sale of the team, a person with knowledge of the negotiations tells The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Padres aren’t commenting publicly on the process. The Wall Street Journal first reported the progress of a deal with private equity billionaire Jose E. Feliciano and his wife, Kwanza Jones. While the deal hasn’t been finalized, the team is expected to be sold for $3.9 billion, a record valuation for a Major League Baseball team.
WORDS: 841 - MOVED: 04/17/2026 6:08 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APBBOPadresSalendLdWritethru/fd7c380dc7b569aebf428239e3e5db51/text___
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