Social affairs
FILE - In this July 4, 1984, file photo, President Ronald Reagan congratulates stock car driver Richard Petty, who won the Firecracker 400 race at the Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. President Donald Trump will look to rev up his appeal with a key voting demographic Sunday — NASCAR fans — as he takes in the Daytona 500. (AP Photo/Ira Schwarz, File)
Trump looks to rev up his base at Daytona 500

By Kevin Freking Feb. 15, 2020 12:39 AM EST

FILE - In this Aug. 7, 2019, file photo, Rep. Elijah Cummings, D-Md., speaks during a luncheon at the National Press Club in Washington. Cummings died from complications of longtime health challenges, his office said in a statement on Oct. 17, 2019. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)
Final goodbye: Recalling influential people who died in 2019

By Bernard Mcghee Dec. 23, 2019 10:13 AM EST

Police remove car over similarity to one used in attack

Dec. 13, 2019 06:43 AM EST
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — The Charlottesville Police Department is taking a Dodge Challenger out of service because of its similarity to the car used in a...

Man convicted in 2017 Charlottesville car attack to appeal

Dec. 12, 2019 06:08 PM EST
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (AP) — An Ohio man plans to appeal his convictions for driving his car into a crowd of counterprotestors during a 2017 white nationalist...

South Carolina fan wins Betty Jane France Humanitarian Award

Jenna Fryer Dec. 05, 2019 08:16 PM EST
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Joe Vaughn, a longtime volunteer and leader with the South Carolina-based Project HOPE Foundation that serves the autism community, won...

Denny Hamlin celebrates in Victory Lane after winning the NASCAR Cup Series auto race Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
NASCAR’s final 4 in fun mode ahead of championship race

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 14, 2019 03:54 PM EST

FILE - In this July 1, 2017, file photo, Pastor Robert Jeffress of the First Baptist Dallas Church Choir speaks as he introduces President Donald Trump during the Celebrate Freedom event at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington. The Megachurch pastor has been selected by Talladega Superspeedway to give Sunday's pre-race invocation and wave the green flag. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
Pastor, Trump ally Robert Jeffress to give Talladega prayer

By Jenna Fryer Oct. 12, 2019 02:33 PM EDT

FILE - In this June 29, 2018, file photo, Ricky Stenhouse Jr., talks to media during a practice for the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series auto race at Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Ill. Ricky Stenhouse Jr. and Roush Fenway Racing will split at the end of the season and Chris Buescher will replace him in 2020. Although his contract is believed to run through 2021, the team said Wednesday, Sept. 25, 2019, it will part ways with the two-time Xfinity Series champion at the end of the year. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
Stenhouse firing makes for frenzied NASCAR free agency

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 27, 2019 05:41 PM EDT

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail shows James Alex Fields Jr. Fields, sentenced to life in prison on federal hate crime charges for slamming his car into anti-racism protesters during a white nationalist rally in Virginia is set to be sentenced on state murder and wounding charges. Fields will be sentenced Monday, July 15, 2019, for killing one person and injuring dozens during the "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville on Aug. 12, 2017 (Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail via AP, File)
The Latest: Charlottesville victims describe pain of attack

Jul. 15, 2019 01:34 PM EDT

A Charlottesville Sheriff's van carrying James Alex Fields Jr., approaches the temporary General District Court courthouse in Charlottesville, Va., Monday, July 15, 2019. Fields is due to be sentenced in state court Monday, for his role in the Unite The Right rally in 2017. (AP Photo/Steve Helber)
Man sentenced to 2nd life term in Charlottesville car attack

By Denise Lavoie Jul. 15, 2019 01:03 AM EDT

Developers propose $500M arts campus near Kansas Speedway

Jul. 10, 2019 10:21 AM EDT
BONNER SPRINGS, Kan. (AP) — Developers are proposing a $500 million arts-and-entertainment campus in the Kansas City area with housing for students and seniors. ...

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail shows James Alex Fields Jr. A sentencing hearing has been moved up for the self-avowed white supremacist convicted of federal hate crimes for plowing his car into a crowd of anti-racism protesters at a 2017 white nationalist rally in Virginia. Fields was originally scheduled to be sentenced July 3, 2019. A notice filed in court says the hearing has been moved to June 28. (Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail via AP, File)
The Latest: Life sentence for man in Charlottesville attack

Jun. 28, 2019 11:40 AM EDT

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail shows James Alex Fields Jr. A sentencing hearing has been moved up for the self-avowed white supremacist convicted of federal hate crimes for plowing his car into a crowd of anti-racism protesters at a 2017 white nationalist rally in Virginia. Fields was originally scheduled to be sentenced July 3, 2019. A notice filed in court says the hearing has been moved to June 28. (Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail via AP, File)
Avowed white supremacist gets life sentence in car attack

By Denise Lavoie Jun. 28, 2019 01:08 AM EDT

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail shows James Alex Fields Jr. A sentencing hearing has been moved up for the self-avowed white supremacist convicted of federal hate crimes for plowing his car into a crowd of anti-racism protesters at a 2017 white nationalist rally in Virginia. Fields was originally scheduled to be sentenced July 3, 2019. A notice filed in court says the hearing has been moved to June 28. (Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail via AP, File)
Sentencing looms in Charlottesville attack; man seeks mercy

By Alan Suderman Jun. 22, 2019 12:33 PM EDT

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail shows James Alex Fields Jr. A sentencing hearing has been moved up for the self-avowed white supremacist convicted of federal hate crimes for plowing his car into a crowd of anti-racism protesters at a 2017 white nationalist rally in Virginia. Fields was originally scheduled to be sentenced July 3, 2019. A notice filed in court says the hearing has been moved to June 28. (Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail via AP, File)
Sentencing moved up for man in deadly Charlottesville rally

Jun. 17, 2019 10:10 AM EDT

Kyle Larson pis during the NASCAR All-Star Race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C., Saturday, May 18, 2019. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
NASCAR changes play part in thrilling All-Star Race

By Pete Iacobelli May. 19, 2019 01:05 PM EDT

FILE - In this April 30, 2019 file photo John T. Earnest appears for his arraignment hearing in San Diego. Federal officials announced Thursday, May 9, 2019, that they have filed 109 hate crime charges against Earnest accused of opening fire in a Southern California synagogue on April 27, the last day of Passover, a major Jewish holiday. (Nelvin C. Cepeda/The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP, Pool, File)
Gunman told 911 'I just shot up a synagogue' after attack

By Julie Watson And Elliot Spagat May. 10, 2019 01:21 AM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 12, 2017 file photo, people fly into the air as a vehicle is driven into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va. A man convicted in the deadly car attack on a crowd of counterprotesters at a white nationalist rally in Virginia is expected to change his plea to federal hate crime charges. An online court docket updated late Tuesday, March 26, 2019, says James Alex Fields Jr. is scheduled to appear in federal court Wednesday for a change-of-plea hearing. (Ryan M. Kelly/The Daily Progress via AP, File)
The Latest: Man pleads guilty to hate crimes in car attack

Mar. 27, 2019 04:00 PM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 12, 2017 file photo, people fly into the air as a vehicle is driven into a group of protesters demonstrating against a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville, Va. A man convicted in the deadly car attack on a crowd of counterprotesters at a white nationalist rally in Virginia is expected to change his plea to federal hate crime charges. An online court docket updated late Tuesday, March 26, 2019, says James Alex Fields Jr. is scheduled to appear in federal court Wednesday for a change-of-plea hearing. (Ryan M. Kelly/The Daily Progress via AP, File)
Man pleads guilty to federal hate crime charges in deadly car attack at white nationalist rally in Virginia

Mar. 27, 2019 03:59 PM EDT

FILE - This undated file photo provided by the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail shows James Alex Fields Jr. Fields who was convicted in a deadly car attack on a crowd of counterprotesters at a white nationalist rally in Virginia is expected to change his plea to federal hate crime charges. An online court docket updated late Tuesday, March 26, 2019, says Fields is scheduled to appear in U.S. District Court in Charlottesville on Wednesday for a change-of-plea hearing. (Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail via AP, File)
Guilty plea to hate crimes in deadly car attack at rally

By Denise Lavoie Mar. 27, 2019 01:03 AM EDT