State governments
FILE - In this Sunday, June 28, 2020, file photo, David Flynt of Hattiesburg, stands outside the state Capitol with other current Mississippi flag supporters in Jackson, Miss. "I love this flag," Flynt said. Mississippi's Republican-controlled Legislature voted Sunday to remove the Civil War emblem from the state flag. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis, File)
Confederate flag losing prominence 155 years after Civil War

By Jay Reeves Jun. 30, 2020 12:37 AM EDT

FILE - In this Thursday, March 19, 2020 file photo, a mask lies on a lawn in Willowbrook, Ill. On Friday, June 26, 2020, The Associated Press reported on stories circulating online incorrectly asserting that wearing face masks can cause fungal and bacterial pneumonia. There’s no evidence that normal use of face masks can cause fungal or bacterial infections. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
NOT REAL NEWS: A look at what didn't happen this week

By Ali Swenson, Beatrice Dupuy, Arijeta Lajka And Amanda Seitz Jun. 26, 2020 05:46 PM EDT

Fund created to help self-employed; fans allowed at NASCAR

By Kathy Mccormack Jun. 25, 2020 02:29 PM EDT
CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A fund has been created to help sole proprietors in New Hampshire experiencing hardship during the coronavirus pandemic, Gov. Chris Sununu...

A woman wears a face mask as a precaution against the new coronavirus outbreak as she receives free staple food packages provided by the government for low-income residents in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, June 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Achmad Ibrahim)
The Latest: NC judge orders race track to halt for pandemic

By The Associated Press Jun. 11, 2020 07:33 PM EDT

In this Saturday, May 23, 2020 photo, race fans pray at the Ace Speedway on in the rural Alamance County community of Altamahaw near Elon, N.C. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration has ordered closed a small stock-car track that’s allowed large crowds to gather repeatedly for weekend races well above COVID-19 limits for mass gatherings. Cooper’s health secretary says Ace Speedway in Alamance County is an “imminent hazard” for the virus' spread and can't reopen unless it creates a safety plan to keep fans away. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP)
Judge orders N.C. track with large crowds to stop races

Jun. 11, 2020 05:17 PM EDT

Editorial Roundup: Pennsylvania

By The Associated Press Jun. 10, 2020 06:26 PM EDT
Recent editorials of statewide and national interest from Pennsylvania’s newspapers: Jobless numbers deceiving Altoona...

In this Saturday, May 23, 2020 photo, race fans pray at the Ace Speedway on in the rural Alamance County community of Altamahaw near Elon, N.C. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper’s administration has ordered closed a small stock-car track that’s allowed large crowds to gather repeatedly for weekend races well above COVID-19 limits for mass gatherings. Cooper’s health secretary says Ace Speedway in Alamance County is an “imminent hazard” for the virus' spread and can't reopen unless it creates a safety plan to keep fans away. (Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP)
North Carolina speedway ordered shut because of large crowds

By Gary D. Robertson Jun. 09, 2020 02:23 PM EDT

Indianapolis Motor Speedway is empty, Sunday, May 24, 2020, in Indianapolis. The Indianapolis 500 was postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. The race will instead be held Aug. 23, three months later than its May 24 scheduled date. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
NASCAR-IndyCar doubleheader in Indy will not have fans

Jun. 04, 2020 10:34 AM EDT

The gates of St. Edwards' Lewis-Chen Family Soccer Field are locked and marked closed due to the coronavirus outbreak, Tuesday, May 5, 2020, in Austin, Texas. In response to the economic impact of COVID-19, St. Edwards says they are cutting cut six sports programs including men's and women's tennis, men's and women's golf and men's soccer. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)
The Latest: West Indies cricket cutting pay by 50%

By The Associated Press May. 29, 2020 07:36 AM EDT

Virginia Governor Ralph Northam speaks during the COVID-19 press briefing inside the Patrick Henry Building in Richmond, Va., Tuesday, May 26, 2020. (Bob Brown/Richmond Times-Dispatch via AP)
The Latest: Iowa AD looking at different football scenarios

By The Associated Press May. 28, 2020 05:34 AM EDT

FILE - In this March 18, 2020 file photo, people remove belongings on campus at the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, N.C. The University of North Carolina and North Carolina State University announced plans Thursday, May 21 to resume in-person classes in August and end fall semesters early as a precaution against spreading COVID-19. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome, File)
UNC, NC State to resume in-person classes on Aug. 10

By Sarah Blake Morgan And Jonathan Drew May. 21, 2020 04:49 PM EDT

FILE - This May 24, 2019, file photo shows Houston Astros' Aledmys Diaz (16) scoring as Boston Red Sox catcher Sandy Leon reaches to tag him at home plate during the second inning of a baseball game in Houston. The Astros were scheduled to play the Red Sox in the first of consecutive weekend series matching teams that fired World Series-winning managers in the aftermath of a sign-stealing scandal. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip, File)
Governors warming to the idea of the return of pro sports

By The Associated Press May. 18, 2020 11:21 PM EDT

Players of Hoffenheim and Hertha warm-up in the empty stadium prior to the Bundesliga soccer match between TSG 1899 Hoffenheim and Hertha BSC Berlin in Sinsheim, Germany, Saturday, May 16, 2020. The German Bundesliga becomes the world's first major soccer league to resume after a two-month suspension because of the coronavirus pandemic. (Thomas Kienzle/AFP pool via AP)
The Latest: Notre Dame plans to reopen campus in August

By The Associated Press May. 18, 2020 05:06 PM EDT

Wolf: Pocono Raceway may have to resume races without fans

May. 18, 2020 04:16 PM EDT
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf said Monday that NASCAR can hold its races at Pocono Raceway in late June if the coronavirus situation...

A group of friends exercise together at a beach in Marseille, southern France, Saturday, May 16, 2020. Beaches in Marseille have become partially accessible since the lifting of lockdown measures meant to prevent the spread of coronavirus. (AP Photo/Daniel Cole)
Restaurants and racing can resume, but new rules abound

By Rebecca Santana And Marina Villeneuve May. 16, 2020 03:02 PM EDT

FILE - In this Feb. 18, 2017 file photo, players challenge for the ball in front of the empty south tribune because of a ban following fan trouble during the German Bundesliga soccer match between Borussia Dortmund and VfL Wolfsburg at Germany's biggest stadium in Dortmund, Germany. Bundesliga will now restart on May 16, 2020 when Dortmund will play the derby against Schalke at home without spectators due to the coronavirus outbreak. (AP Photo/Martin Meissner, file)
The Latest: China's football association to cut pay

By The Associated Press May. 07, 2020 07:41 AM EDT

In this April 30, 2020, photo, protesters rally at the State Capitol in Lansing, Mich. Gun-carrying protesters have been a common sight at some demonstrations calling for coronavirus-related restrictions to be lifted. But an armed militia’s involvement in an angry protest in the Michigan statehouse Thursday marked an escalation that drew condemnation and shone a spotlight on the practice of bringing weapons to protest. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)
The Latest: New Zealand reports no new coronavirus cases

By The Associated Press May. 03, 2020 05:08 PM EDT

An entrance to Indianapolis Motor Speedway is viewed Saturday, April 18, 2020, in Indianapolis. The speedway is closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
Indianapolis could welcome back fans for Brickyard weekend

By Michael Marot May. 01, 2020 05:26 PM EDT

FILE - In this March 26, 2020, file photo, Jason Hackedorn looks into Progressive Field, home of the Cleveland Indians baseball team, in Cleveland. With the distinct possibility of pro sports resuming in empty venues, a recent poll suggests a majority of U.S. fans wouldn't feel safe attending games anyway without a coronavirus vaccine.(AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)
The Latest: Michigan emergency room nurse has hole-in-one

By The Associated Press May. 01, 2020 06:26 AM EDT

The graves of those that have died during the previous weeks are seen at the Vila Formosa cemetery, during the new coronavirus pandemic in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Thursday, April 30, 2020. (AP Photo/Andre Penner)
US jobless claims soar past 30 million; Europe reeling also

By David Crary, Christopher Rugaber And John Leicester Apr. 30, 2020 05:57 PM EDT