• Young adult novel pulled amid online criticisms

    NEW YORK (AP) — The author of a debut young adult novel has pulled his book amid criticism of how it portrayed the Kosovo War of the late 1990s.
    Kosoko Jackson tweeted Thursday that he had asked his publisher to withdraw “A Place for Wolves,” scheduled for release in March. Jackson’s book was set during a time when Serbian and Yugoslav forces were murdering Muslim Albanians in Kosovo. On Goodreads and elsewhere online, “A Place for Wolves” was sharply criticiz
  • Coal plant owners, tribe at impasse over takeover of plant

    FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — The owners of a massive coal-fired power plant in the West say negotiations with a tribe to take over the plant have hit an impasse.
    The Navajo Generating Station on the Arizona-Utah border is scheduled to close in December.
    The Navajo Nation directed an entity it created to consider buying the plant and its feed mine to save tribal revenue and jobs.
    The Salt River Project operates the plant and said the parties have deadlocked over who ultimately would be responsib
  • The Latest: Texas jury acquits ex-Baylor football player

    WACO, Texas (AP) — The Latest on the rape trial of a former Baylor University football player (all times local):
    5 p.m.
    A Texas jury has found a former Baylor University football player not guilty of raping another student in 2016.
    The McLennan County jury deliberated about two hours in Waco on Thursday before acquitting 26-year-old Shawn Oakman of sexual assault.
    Oakman is the Bears’ career leader in quarterback sacks.
    The woman who says she was raped testified earlier that she&rsqu
  • Board director of embattled Arizona care facility resigns

    PHOENIX (AP) — The longest-serving board member of an embattled Arizona long-term care facility where an incapacitated woman was raped and later gave birth is resigning.
    Tom Pomeroy says his resignation is effective Friday. He’s been a member of Hacienda HealthCare’s board of directors for 38 years and was serving as the board’s director.
    In a statement Thursday, Pomeroy says he is stepping down to allow new leadership to come in.
    Hacienda has been in turmoil since a 29-y
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  • Temporary protections extended for some immigrants as lawsuit continues

    The Department of Homeland Security said Thursday that temporary protections for immigrants originally from El Salvador, Haiti, Nicaragua and Sudan will continue to next year.
    The department took the action Thursday to continue complying with a temporary court order in an ongoing lawsuit filed to stop the Trump administration from both terminating protections from deportation and work permits for immigrants from the countries that were granted Temporary Protected Status.
    The U.S. Department of H
  • Crime Trackers: Pima County Jail adds drug sniffing dog to the team

    TUCSON – Pima County Jail will be adding a new member to their team – and he might be a little hairier than one might expect.
    His name is Diesel. He is a 15-month-old black Labrador. His official job title is contraband detection canine.
    Joined by his handler, corrections officer Sgt. Cesar Duarte, Diesel be heading to an eight-week academy class.  Diesel is already trained in marijuana and heroin scents. But during his next training course, he will learn how to d
  • Migrant mom sues over toddler’s death after detention

     
    HOUSTON (AP) — The mother of a migrant toddler who died shortly after being released from the nation’s largest family detention center has sued the tiny Arizona city that for years was paid by the U.S. government to run the facility in name only.
    Yazmin Juarez’s lawsuit filed Thursday alleges that her 1-year-old daughter, Mariee, developed a respiratory illness at the South Texas Family Residential Center in Dilley, Texas, and medical staff did not adequately treat her b
  • Senate investigators warn of Chinese state-run centers at more than 100 U.S. colleges

    WASHINGTON — Senate investigators are warning that China has opened government-run centers at more than 100 American college campuses, pouring over $158 million into Confucius Institutes that spread Chinese influence while going largely unmonitored by the U.S. government.
    China’s government “controls nearly every aspect” of the institutes, including the funding, staffing and programming, according to a new, bipartisan report from the Senate’s Permanent Subcommittee
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  • Pirates’ Dickerson goes 1 for 3 in debut

    TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Corey Dickerson was 1 for 3 with a single in three at-bats in his first spring training game for the Pittsburgh Pirates, an 8-6 loss to the New York Yankees on Thursday.
    Dickerson and Adam Frazier are among players being eased into game action.
    “We’re trying some different things as far as when we plug guys in and the amount of work they do and the volume of work that they do to see how they respond to it,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.
    Dickerson,
  • Driver dies of crash injuries, hazing probe continues

    DOVER, Del. (AP) — Delaware State Police say a 23-year-old man has died of injuries from a crash that prompted campus officials to investigate alleged hazing at Delaware State University and suspend a campus fraternity.
    Police said Thursday that Marlon Jackson of Townsend has died.
    Jackson was driving a car carrying three other members of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity that crossed a highway median Saturday and was hit by a pickup truck traveling in the opposite direction.
    Jackson’s fron
  • ADOT closer to widening the remainder of I-10 between Tucson and Phoenix

    TUCSON – The Arizona Department of Transportation is getting closer to widening a long stretch of 2-lane highway between Tucson and Phoenix.
    There are 23 miles of Interstate 10 on the Gila River Indian Community that only have 2 lanes in each direction. ADOT has issued a request for proposals for a design concept and environmental study, which is a necessary step to receive federal funding. The study will have an accelerated 18-month timeline when it launches later this year.
    ADOT expects
  • The Latest: Workouts with Cabrera get Michigan RB pumped up

    INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — The Latest on the NFL’s annual scouting combine in Indianapolis (all times local):
    ___
    5:45 p.m.
    Running back Karan Higdon trained with plenty of big-name athletes at Michigan.
    He was never more star-struck than he was in Miami, working out alongside 11-time baseball All-Star Miguel Cabrera at Bommarito Performance Systems.
    “He’s a pure legend, one of the top three baseball players in the world,” Higdon said Thursday at the NFL’s annual sco
  • SBU looks to extend streak vs GW

    Saint Bonaventure (14-14, 10-5) vs. George Washington (8-20, 4-11)
    Charles E. Smith Center, Washington; Saturday, 4 p.m. EST
    BOTTOM LINE: Saint Bonaventure looks for its sixth straight conference win against George Washington. Saint Bonaventure’s last A10 loss came against the VCU Rams 85-55 on Feb. 9. George Washington lost 80-53 on the road to Rhode Island on Tuesday.
    LEADING THE WAY: George Washington’s DJ Williams has averaged 14.8 points and 4.8 rebounds while Justin Mazzulla ha
  • NC A&T seeks revenge on FAMU

    Florida A&M (11-18, 8-6) vs. NC A&T (16-12, 11-3)
    Corbett Sports Center, Greensboro, North Carolina; Saturday, 4 p.m. EST
    BOTTOM LINE: NC A&T seeks revenge on Florida A&M after dropping the first matchup in Tallahassee. The teams last met on Feb. 2, when the Rattlers shot 52 percent from the field while holding NC A&T’s shooters to just 29.6 percent en route to the 24-point victory.
    SENIOR STUDS: Florida A&M’s Justin Ravenel, Isaiah Martin and Tracy Hector hav
  • Montana State seeks revenge on N. Arizona

    Northern Arizona (9-18, 7-10) vs. Montana State (12-14, 9-7)
    Max Worthington Arena, Bozeman, Montana; Saturday, 4 p.m. EST
    BOTTOM LINE: Northern Arizona goes for the season sweep over Montana State after winning the previous matchup in Flagstaff. The teams last met on Dec. 31, when the Lumberjacks shot 44.1 percent from the field while limiting Montana State’s shooters to just 42.1 percent on the way to the 74-68 victory.
    TEAM LEADERSHIP: Montana State’s Tyler Hall has averaged 20 po
  • Miss. St. looks to extend streak vs Auburn

    Mississippi State (21-7, 9-6) vs. Auburn (19-9, 8-7)
    Auburn Arena, Auburn, Alabama; Saturday, 4 p.m. EST
    BOTTOM LINE: Mississippi State looks for its sixth straight conference win against Auburn. Mississippi State’s last SEC loss came against the Kentucky Wildcats 71-67 on Feb. 9. Auburn is coming off a 78-75 win on the road over Georgia on Wednesday.
    LEADING THE WAY: Auburn’s Jared Harper has averaged 15.3 points and 5.9 assists while Bryce Brown has put up 15.7 points. For the Bull
  • ETSU looks to extend streak vs WCU

    Western Carolina (7-23, 4-13) vs. East Tennessee State (22-8, 12-5)
    Freedom Hall Civic Center, Johnson City, Tennessee; Saturday, 4 p.m. EST
    BOTTOM LINE: East Tennessee State looks for its eighth straight win in the head-to-head series over Western Carolina. In its last seven wins against the Catamounts, East Tennessee State has won by an average of 16 points. Western Carolina’s last win in the series came on March 7, 2015, a 67-61 victory.
    SQUAD LEADERSHIP: East Tennessee State’s Je
  • Drake looks to sweep Missouri St.

    Drake (22-8, 11-6) vs. Missouri State (16-14, 10-7)
    JQH Arena, Springfield, Missouri; Saturday, 4 p.m. EST
    BOTTOM LINE: Missouri State seeks revenge on Drake after dropping the first matchup in Des Moines. The teams last met on Jan. 20, when the Bulldogs outshot Missouri State from the field 46.7 percent to 46.2 percent and hit seven more 3-pointers en route to the 11-point victory.
    SUPER SENIORS: Missouri State has relied heavily on its seniors this year. Tulio Da Silva, Jarred Dixon, Josh Webs
  • Charleston looks to sweep UNCW

    UNC Wilmington (9-21, 5-12) vs. College of Charleston (22-8, 11-6)
    TD Arena, Charleston, South Carolina; Saturday, 4 p.m. EST
    BOTTOM LINE: College of Charleston goes for the season sweep over UNC Wilmington after winning the previous matchup in Wilmington. The teams last faced each other on Dec. 29, when the Cougars created 14 UNC Wilmington turnovers and their offense turned the ball over just seven times en route to a 73-66 victory.
    LEADING THE CHARGE: College of Charleston’s Grant Rille
  • Authorities seize $2.5M worth of pot hidden in charcoal shipment

    TUCSON – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers have seized $2.5M worth of marijuana hidden in a load of charcoal at the Mariposa crossing in Nogales.
    Authorities say the drugs were concealed inside a tractor trailer that came through the commercial crossing on Wednesday afternoon.
    According to investigators, a CBP canine alerted officers to the 190 bundles of marijuana that had been concealed in the shipment from Mexico.
    Investigators say the truck driver, a 35-year-old Mexican natio
  • The Latest: Court denies inmate’s appeal prior to execution

    HUNTSVILLE, Texas (AP) — The Latest on the execution of a Texas inmate (all times local):
    4:15 p.m.
    The U.S. Supreme Court has refused a last-day appeal from condemned Texas inmate Billie Wayne Coble, clearing the way for his execution for killing his estranged wife’s parents and her brother.
    The 70-year-old Coble is set for lethal injection Thursday evening for the August 1989 shooting deaths of his in-laws, Robert and Zelda Vicha, and their son, Bobby Vicha, at their homes in Axtel
  • Tesla to close stores, take orders for a $35,000 Model 3

    SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Tesla says it is now taking orders for the long-awaited $35,000 Model 3, a car for the masses that is essential for the company to survive.
    The company says to reach the lower price, it’s shifting all sales worldwide from stores to online only. Some high-traffic stores, however, will remain open.
    The company will offer the standard base model, which can go 220 miles (350 kilometers) per charge. It also will offer a $37,000 version with a premium interior that acc
  • Tunnel found at vacant building in San Luis

    SAN LUIS, Ariz. – U.S. Customs and Border Protection confirmed Wednesday morning a tunnel was found inside a vacant building in San Luis.
    CBP officials said they cannot disclose what the tunnel was being used for, its dimensions or if it runs into Mexico. It is fairly close to the U.S.-Mexico border.
    U.S. Homeland Security Investigations said an active investigation was underway at the vacant building that used to serve as a Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant.
    Authorities sai
  • Maine bear cub that was abandoned is doing well

    EDINGBURG, Maine (AP) — A Maine wildlife biologist said one of three bear cubs that nearly froze to death is doing well after being placed with a surrogate den.
    The Bangor Daily News documented Randy Cross as he checked on the cub Wednesday. He easily recognized the young bruin because of signs of frostbite on the tips of its ears.
    Then the cub was placed back in the den.
    The three cubs were abandoned after a piece of logging machinery passed close to their ground den in January. Their mot
  • Detroit sees training opportunity before expected job boom

    DETROIT (AP) — Detroit says it is positioning itself to be ready to provide skilled workers for Fiat Chrysler, which announced a $4.5 billion investment in manufacturing in the Motor City and surrounding suburbs this week.
    The auto giant said Tuesday it will add about 6,500 jobs, with more than half of those at a new assembly plant in Detroit.
    Although that plant won’t open for two years, city officials are already filling the training pipeline.
    Not long ago, Detroit suffered among t
  • Wisconsin man faces 11th drunken driving charge

    OCONTO, Wis. (AP) — A Wisconsin man is facing his 11th drunken driving charge.
    Sixty-six-year-old Douglas Kluth of Green Bay was arrested early Wednesday in Oconto County. Authorities allege he had an open beer on the center console of his car.
    Officials say the State Patrol was helping with traffic when Kluth parked his vehicle and approached a trooper. The trooper saw the beer on the console.
    The complaint says Kluth had a valid driver’s license. He was charged with operating while
  • Valencia defeats Betis, will face Barcelona in Copa final

    MADRID (AP) — There will be no final at home for Real Betis.
    The team’s Benito Villamarin Stadium in Seville will host the Copa del Rey final this season, but Betis won’t be there after being eliminated by Valencia in the semifinals on Thursday.
    Valencia won 1-0 at home to reach the Copa final for the first time in more than a decade, where it will play Barcelona on May 25.
    Striker Rodrigo scored a second-half winner for Valencia, which advanced 3-2 on aggregate after a 2-2 dra
  • Kevin Spacey lawyers seek accuser’s cellphone, other records

    NANTUCKET, Mass. (AP) — Attorneys for Kevin Spacey are seeking surveillance footage, text messages and other records they say they need to defend the disgraced actor against accusations that he groped a young Massachusetts man in 2016 at a Nantucket bar.
    Kevin Spacey’s lawyers asked the judge in court documents filed this week to order the accuser to turn over his cellphone so they can retrieve messages, photos and other data.
    They also want documents from the accuser’s civil a
  • Blanca Jarrin, wife of Hall of Fame broadcaster, dies at 85

    GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — Blanca Jarrin, wife of Hall of Fame Los Angeles Dodgers Spanish-language broadcaster Jaime Jarrin, has died. She was 85.
    The Dodgers say she had a heart attack Thursday while the family was visiting Flagstaff, Arizona. Jaime Jarrin has been at the team’s spring training camp in Glendale, Arizona.
    The couple from San Marino, California, was married for 65 years.
    Besides her husband, Blanca is survived by sons Jorge and Mauricio; daughter-in-law Maggie; sisters L
  • FBI looking for victims of fraudulent insurance

    Flag of the Federal Bureau of Investigation
    TUCSON – The FBI is looking for business owners who may have bought fraudulent insurance policies.
    American Labor Alliance sold workers’ compensation insurance, health insurance and pension plans to businesses across the country. The company has many subsidiaries. The plans had names including “ALA Trust,” the “ALA Retirement Plan Trust” and the “ALA Retirement Plan and Trust.”
    Two of ALA’s exe
  • Waters start to slowly recede in parts of flooded South

    MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — The Tennessee Valley Authority says river levels in its expansive network of waterways are starting to recede, but flood-stricken residents should not exhale just yet as TVA continues to release water from dams and forecasters predict more rain in the coming days.
    TVA River Forecast Center manager James Everett says river levels have slowly begun to come down in northern Alabama and western Tennessee, which saw 10 to 13 inches (25 to 33 centimeters) of rain last week.
  • LA Galaxy’s Ola Kamara leaving for China’s Shenzhen FC

    CARSON, Calif. (AP) — Norwegian forward Ola Kamara is leaving the LA Galaxy for Shenzhen FC in the Chinese Super League.
    The Galaxy announced Kamara’s decision Thursday, two days before their season opener against Chicago.
    The 29-year-old Kamara played just one season with the Galaxy, scoring 13 goals in 31 appearances last year. He played a key complementary role up front after the Galaxy acquired Zlatan Ibrahimovic, and was expected to do the same this season.
    Galaxy general manage
  • Kings F Bagley to miss at least 1 week with injured knee

    SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Sacramento Kings rookie forward Marvin Bagley III will miss at least a week with a sprained left knee.
    Bagley underwent an MRI on Thursday after hurting the knee the previous night. The Kings say he will be re-evaluated in one to two weeks.
    Bagley is averaging 13.9 points and 7.2 rebounds per game this season.
    Sacramento also signed swingman Corey Brewer for the remainder of the season. Brewer has scored 25 points in three games for the Kings during two 10-day con
  • 2 arrested in protest over Confederate statue in Tennessee

    NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Law enforcement agents have arrested two protesters at Tennessee’s state Capitol amid a protest demanding the removal of a bust of Confederate cavalry general and early Ku Klux Klan leader Nathan Bedford Forrest.
    Thursday’s arrests marked the latest escalating demonstrations at the Tennessee Legislature this year. State troopers detained Jeneisha Harris and Justin Jones, the two activists who have led sit-ins and other protests at the Capitol this year
    P
  • Kelsey Griffin, out of WNBA for 5 years, on Lynx camp roster

    MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Lynx have signed forward Kelsey Griffin to their training camp roster, the third pick in the 2010 draft who has not played in the WNBA in five years.
    Griffin, an All-American at Nebraska, was traded by the Lynx to Connecticut on draft day. She played five seasons for the Sun until being cut in 2015 after hip surgery.
    She has since become a citizen of Australia, recently winning the regular-season and finals MVP awards of the country’s national league.
  • Venezuela’s Guaido plans to go home despite safety concerns

    CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela is waiting for Guaido.
    The man who would be paramount leader of a country in upheaval is on the move. He heads to Paraguay Friday after lobbying in Brazil for international pressure on the government back home and coordinating a failed attempt to deliver aid across the Colombian border to desperate Venezuelans.
    Caracas is also on the itinerary for Juan Guaido, the Venezuelan opposition chief who declared himself president. He says he’s going home i
  • UA Astronomers Join $242 Million NASA Mission

    Astronomers at NASA have embarked on a new space mission to study the evolution of our universe and the commonality of ingredients for life on other planets.…
  • Winter storms wash away California drought, enlarge snowpack

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — California is drenched and its mountains are piled high with snow amid a still-unfolding winter of storms that was unimaginable just a few months ago.
    The U.S. Drought Monitor reports Thursday that more than 87 percent of California is free of drought conditions or unusual dryness and just over 2 percent remains in the drought category.
    State water resources officials say the vital Sierra Nevada snowpack is now at 153 percent of average to date.
    A measurement taken Thurs
  • Kansas lawmakers struggle over school aid, Medicaid, taxes

    TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas lawmakers have hit the halfway point of their annual session and they haven’t had a hearing on a Medicaid expansion plan or pushed an education funding bill out of committee in the face of a court mandate to boost spending on public schools.
    And the GOP-dominated Legislature doesn’t just appear to be slow-walking new Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly’s big initiatives. Despite Republican supermajorities, an income tax relief bill that GOP leaders cons
  • Maryland House censures lawmaker who made racial slur

    ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The Maryland House of Delegates has voted to censure a white lawmaker who made a racial slur about a majority-black county.
    The House voted 136-0 on Thursday for the expression of severe disapproval against Del. Mary Ann Lisanti.
    In addition, House Speaker Michael Busch is kicking Lisanti off her seat on the House Economic Matters Committee. The speaker already had stripped Lisanti of a leadership post she held earlier in the week.
    Lisanti is a Harford County Democrat
  • Feeling Fortunate? The Wheelmobile Rolls into Town this Weekend

    Have you always wanted to be on the Wheel of Fortune?…
  • Claytoon of the Day: Whose Liar Is It Anyway?

    Find more Claytoonz here.…
  • XOXO: Where to Rock Thursday Feb. 28

    Violinists Laura Tagawa and Sam Bounkeua perform a lovely evening of classical violin duets. In the bar at Agustin Kitchen.…
  • Downhill race called off after cancellation of training run

    KVITFJELL, Norway (AP) — Organizers have canceled the first of this weekend’s two men’s World Cup downhill races after the only scheduled training run on Thursday was called off because of strong wind.
    Friday’s race has been replaced with another training run, necessary for the second downhill on Saturday. A race can take place only after at least one mandatory training session on the course.
    Training was supposed to start at 11 a.m. (1000 GMT) but was postponed several t
  • Seven Great Things to Do in Tucson Today: Thursday Feb. 28

    Mezcal Tastings at Exo Roast Co. Feel like drinking and learning at the same time? How about learning about what you drink?…
  • Unbroken Angel: Luis Alberto Urrea

    Luis Alberto Urrea moved to Tucson in 1994 at the summoning of Chuck Bowden, the revered border journalist who haunted the meridian between cartel and datura bloom.Luis Alberto Urrea moved to Tucson in 1994 at the summoning of Chuck Bowden, the revered border journalist who haunted the meridian between cartel and datura bloom. Urrea stayed in the Elysian Grove, hardly sleeping while spirits swirled like black confetti.…
  • Stayin’ Alive: Rialto Theatre Hosts Disco Inferno Ahead of Upcoming Makeover

    In keeping with its tradition of decade-themed annual galas, the Rialto Theatre will transform into a disco inferno for its seventh annual fundraising galaIn keeping with its tradition of decade-themed annual galas, the Rialto Theatre will transform into a disco inferno for its seventh annual fundraising gala, A Night of Disco and Decadence at Studio 54, "We're really excited that it's a theme that lends itself well to the theater setting," said Julie Ragland, development director at the Rialto
  • Painting Arizona

    Pioneer Arizona painter Smith made at least 14 paintings of the dramatic landscape that Chief Cochise had fought so hard to keep.Cézanne may have had his Mont Sainte-Victoire, and Monet his haystacks, but Effie Anderson Smith had Cochise Stronghold. Like her two French predecessors, who painted their favorite nature subjects again and again (Monet racked up at least 25 haystack paintings), pioneer Arizona painter Smith made at least 14 paintings of the dramatic landscape that Chief Cochis
  • Medical Marijuana: Strong Stuff

    A bill to settle Arizona's cannabis concentrate commotion has passed through its first committee hearing.A bill to settle Arizona's cannabis concentrate commotion has passed through its first committee hearing. Though far from landing on the governor's desk for a signture, the bill introduced by state Rep. Tony Rivero would clearly define cannabis extracts as legal in Arizona, putting to rest legal challenges that extracts are "narcotics."…
  • Know Your Product: The Bellrays

    The punk and soul in the Bellrays' music work like a chemical reaction: two independent and proficient pieces on their own which explode on contact, creating something wholly different, powerful and volatile.The punk and soul in the Bellrays' music work like a chemical reaction: two independent and proficient pieces on their own which explode on contact, creating something wholly different, powerful and volatile. Their instrumentals feature the wailing guitars and driving drums found in a garage

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