Arts and entertainment
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

FILE - In this Oct. 16, 2009, file photo, former NASCAR driver and owner Junior Johnson smiles as he speaks to media about being named to the NASCAR Hall of Fame during a news conference at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Concord, N.C. Johnson, who won 50 NASCAR Cup Series races as a driver and 132 as an owner and was part of the inaugural class inducted into the NASCAR Hall of Fame in 2010, has died at 88. (AP Photo/Bob Jordan, File)
Junior Johnson, "The Last American Hero," dies at 88

Jenna Fryer Dec. 20, 2019 07:04 PM EST

Junior Johnson, the North Carolina moonshine runner who went on to a NASCAR Hall of Fame racing career, has died at 88

Dec. 20, 2019 06:51 PM EST
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Junior Johnson, the North Carolina moonshine runner who went on to a NASCAR Hall of Fame racing career, has died at 88. ...

FILE - In this Monday, Sept. 2, 2013 file photo, Tamara Ecclestone arrives for the World Premiere of the film Rush, at a central London cinema in Leicester Square. London police are investigating the theft of a large cache of “high value jewelry” reported stolen from the palatial home of heiress Tamara Ecclestone, the daughter of former Formula 1 chief Bernie Ecclestone. The Sun newspaper said the stolen jewelry was worth about 50 million pounds ($66 million) and included rings, earrings and a Cartier bangle Ecclestone received as a wedding present. (Photo by Joel Ryan/Invision/AP, File)
Formula 1 heiress' jewel collection reported stolen in raid

Dec. 16, 2019 08:17 AM EST

Police: Drag racing led to Des Moines man's crash death

Dec. 06, 2019 07:24 AM EST
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Police in Iowa say a Des Moines man’s decision to drag race on Interstate 235 led to a crash that killed the other driver. ...

Thursday Sports in Brief

By The Associated Press Dec. 06, 2019 02:49 AM EST
COLLEGE FOOTBALL TUSCALOOSA, Ala. (AP) — Tua Tagovailoa said being assured he'd likely remain a high NFL draft pick could make “the biggest...

FILE - In this July 20, 2019, file photo, Darius Rucker performs during the Group Therapy Tour at Riverbend Music Center in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rucker will perform a pre-race concert before the Daytona 500 in February. It will be Rucker’s fourth appearance at Daytona International Speedway and first at the “Great American Race,” which will again serve as NASCAR’s Cup Series season opener. (Photo by Amy Harris/Invision/AP, File)
Darius Rucker to perform pre-race concert before Daytona 500

Dec. 03, 2019 10:00 AM EST

Mercedes driver Valtteri Bottas of Finland at the end of the second free practice at the Yas Marina racetrack in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Friday, Nov. 29, 2019. The Emirates Formula One Grand Prix will take place on Sunday. (AP Photo/Luca Bruno)
Bottas best in 2nd practice for Abu Dhabi GP then crashes

By Jerome Pugmire Nov. 29, 2019 06:19 AM EST

Jimmie Johnson answers a reporter's question during his retirement announcement from NASCAR at a news conference near Charlotte, N.C., Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Bob Leverone)
Johnson ready to end NASCAR grind and move on with life

By Jenna Fryer Nov. 21, 2019 05:18 PM EST

Dale Earnhardt Jr. named honorary starter for Daytona 500

Nov. 18, 2019 05:09 PM EST
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Dale Earnhardt Jr. will be the honorary starter for the 2020 Daytona 500, making him part of the pre-race ceremonies for the third...

Denny Hamlin (11) drives out of Turn 4 ahead of Brad Keselowski (2), Chase Elliott (9) and Kyle Busch (18) during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at ISM Raceway, Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, in Avondale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Ralph Freso)
NASCAR, NBC Sports launching TrackPass on NBC Sports Gold

Nov. 14, 2019 02:11 PM EST

Rookie NASCAR Cup driver Matt Tifft says he is focused on trying to determine what caused a seizure at Martinsville Speedway last week before a NASCAR auto race at Texas Motor Speedway, Sunday, Nov. 3, 2019, in Fort Worth, Texas. (AP Photo/Larry Papke)
Tifft leaves Front Row Motorsports to focus on health

Nov. 13, 2019 05:09 PM EST

This image released by 20th Century fox shows Christian Bale, right, and Matt Damon in a scene from "Ford v. Ferrari," in theaters on Nov. 15. (Merrick Morton/20th Century Fox via AP)
Bale and Damon go into overdrive for 'Ford v Ferrari'

By Jake Coyle Nov. 08, 2019 03:57 PM EST

Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton, of Britain, climbs into his car during first practice session for the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix auto race at the Circuit of the Americas, Friday, Nov. 1, 2019, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)
ESPN and Formula One reach new 3-year US broadcast deal

Nov. 01, 2019 02:31 PM EDT

Red Bull Racing driver Max Verstappen stands by his car along Hollywood Boulevard in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles on Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2019. The street was thronged with thousands of fans craning for a glimpse of the drivers whose sport has worldwide popularity, but makes a relatively small imprint on the lucrative U.S. market. With the United States Grand Prix in Texas this weekend, the drivers were eager to raise F1's profile on the West Coast. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel)
Burnouts on Hollywood Blvd: F1 drivers bring racing to LA

By Greg Beacham Oct. 30, 2019 07:56 PM EDT

Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco steers his car during the Japanese Formula One Grand Prix at Suzuka Circuit in Suzuka, central Japan, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. (AP Photo/Toru Hanai)
Hamilton and drivers say F1 should be more eco-friendly

By Jim Vertuno Oct. 24, 2019 03:31 PM EDT

NASCAR Xfinity drivers finish an early lap during a NASCAR Xfinity Series auto race at Kansas Speedway in Kansas City, Kan., Saturday, Oct. 19, 2019. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
Jones tops Xfinity playoff contenders in wild Kansas race

By Dave Skretta Oct. 19, 2019 05:59 PM EDT

Chase Elliott (9) passes Kevin Harvick (4) for the lead and the win during a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Sunday, Sept. 29, 2019, in Concord, N.C. (AP Photo/Mike McCarn)
Elliott wins playoff race at Charlotte in scorching heat

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 29, 2019 10:56 AM EDT

FILE - In this Aug. 24, 2019, file photo, Josef Newgarden waves before an IndyCar auto race at World Wide Technology Raceway in Madison, Ill. Newgarden can win his second IndyCar championship in three years in the season finale at historic Laguna Seca on Sunday. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)
Newgarden seeks 2nd title in 3 years in battle of Americans

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 19, 2019 04:32 PM EDT

Kyle Busch prepares for a NASCAR Cup Series auto race at Las Vegas Motor Speedway, Sunday, Sept. 15, 2019. (AP Photo/Chase Stevens)
Truex races into 2nd round with win in opening playoff race

By Jenna Fryer Sep. 15, 2019 06:05 PM EDT