BALTIMORE — In an effort to address Maryland’s growing budget deficit, two Democratic lawmakers are considering a tax on sugary beverage distributors — a proposal that has sparked controversy among Republicans and retailers.

House Bill 1469, sponsored by Montgomery County Delegate Emily Shetty and Delegate Joseline Peña-Melnyk, who represents Prince George’s and Anne Arundel counties, would add a 2-cent-per-ounce excise tax on the distributors of sugary beverages, powders or syrups.

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Former MLB outfielder Tyler Naquin says his comeback attempt as a pitcher started last year
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Former MLB outfielder Tyler Naquin says his comeback attempt as a pitcher started last year

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Former major league outfielder Tyler Naquin says his attempted comeback as a right-handed pitcher was over a year in the making. Naquin played the outfield for four different major league teams from 2016-23. He has signed a minor league contract with the Guardians in hopes of making it back to the big leagues as a pitcher. Naquin says he started working out as a pitcher in January 2024. The 33-year-old Naquin says he hasn’t pitched in an actual game since throwing in a scrimmage while playing for Texas A&M in 2010. He said he also pitched in high school.

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Judge denies Georgia state senator's request for criminal charges against state House staffer

  • By KATE BRUMBACK - Associated Press

A judge on has declined a Georgia state senator’s request for an arrest warrant against a state House staffer following a confrontation between the two earlier this year. State Sen. Colton Moore, a Republican from Trenton, had sought the arrest warrant against Keith Williams, a lawyer in the House speaker’s office. The two men were involved in a scuffle outside the House chamber in January. Fulton County Magistrate Judge Robert Wolf said at the end of a hearing that he hadn’t seen sufficient evidence to support probable cause that criminal charges were warranted. A lawyer for Moore said they intend to appeal the judge's decision to Fulton County Superior Court.

Ukraine supporters focus on hope and resilience as US relations sour and war carries on
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Ukraine supporters focus on hope and resilience as US relations sour and war carries on

  • By PETER SMITH - The Associated Press

Religious leaders, scholars and diplomats have gathered at Notre Dame University in Indiana for a conference on Ukraine studies with a theme of hope. The timing may not seem good. It comes amid a deterioration of relations between Washington and Kyiv as Russia presses its attacks on Ukraine. But speakers said it’s more important than ever to maintain hope — not as a pie-in-the-sky sentiment but as a force that energizes Ukrainians’ resistance. “Hope is not only a spiritual resource” but a “strategic security asset,” said Taras Dobko, rector of Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv. The three-day conference, “Revolutions of Hope: Resilience and Recovery in Ukraine,” concludes Saturday.

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Quinerly scores 24, sets up her game winner as No. 16 West Virginia women beat No. 20 K-State 73-69

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JJ Quinerly made a critical steal to set up her game-winning basket and scored 24 points to lift No. 16 West Virginia to a 73-69 win over No. 20 Kansas State in the quarterfinals of the Big 12 Tournament. The Wildcats attempted a sideline inbounds lob into the key when Quinerly soared in to intercept the ball with a minute to go. She then drove into the lane for a floater that put West Virginia on top 71-69 with 44.2 seconds remaining. Temira Poindexter missed a wide-open 3 from the right sideline before Sydney Shaw iced it with two free throws. The fourth-seeded Mountaineers face the winner of Colorado and TCU in Saturday’s semifinals. Jordan Harrison scored 17 of her 19 points in the second half for West Virginia. Kennedy Taylor scored 21 points for the Wildcats

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Big 12 Conference moves 10 football games to Fridays next fall

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The Big 12 has moved six of its conference football games to Friday nights next fall, along with another matchup of league teams that won’t count in the standings. Those were among the 10 games involving Big 12 teams selected Friday by the league’s television partners, ESPN and Fox, for Friday night broadcasts. There will be two games on three of those nights. The first will be the opening weekend of the season when Baylor hosts SEC team Auburn, and Colorado is home against ACC team Georgia Tech on Aug. 29.

West Texas reports nearly 200 measles cases. New Mexico is up to 30
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West Texas reports nearly 200 measles cases. New Mexico is up to 30

  • By DEVI SHASTRI - AP Health Writer

Health officials say West Texas now has almost 200 measles cases and New Mexico's case number has tripled to 30. The case counts were updated on Friday. A child died of measles in Texas last week. New Mexico health officials said Thursday they are investigating a possible adult measles death. Federal health officials announced they would send a team to Texas this week. Most of the cases are in people younger than 18 and people who are unvaccinated or have an unknown vaccination status.

Vols' Josh Heupel says traditional spring game valuable for giving players experience on big stage
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Vols' Josh Heupel says traditional spring game valuable for giving players experience on big stage

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Tennessee will hold its spring game in the usual scrimmage format on April 12. Coach Josh Heupel said creating a big stage this time of year benefits development. The Volunteers’ spring game attracted more than 58,000 fans in 2023. Neyland Stadium’s spring-game capacity was reduced to 10,000 last year because of a renovation project and the limit will be about 45,000 this year. Heupel said it's important for young players to experience playing in front of a big crowd before the fall. Schools such as Nebraska, Ohio State, Texas and Southern California have scrapped their spring games this year.

Trump order would deny student loan relief to nonprofit workers engaged in 'improper' activity
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Trump order would deny student loan relief to nonprofit workers engaged in 'improper' activity

  • By COLLIN BINKLEY - AP Education Writer

President Donald Trump is ordering changes to the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program that would disqualify workers of nonprofit groups deemed to have engaged in “improper” activities. An executive order being signed Friday directs the Education Department to modify the program to deny loan relief to some borrowers. White House officials said the order would exclude loan forgiveness for people whose work is tied to illegal immigration, foreign terrorist groups or other illegal activity. Congress created the program in 2007 to encourage careers in the government or nonprofit groups. It offers to cancel any remaining student debt after borrowers make 10 years of payments while working in public service.

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New leader takes over Haiti's transitional presidential council as violence persists

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The council tasked to prepare eventual presidential elections in Haiti has sworn in a new leader, as the country keeps struggling with a persistent gang violence. Fritz Alphonse Jean is an economist and former central bank governor. He has replaced Leslie Voltaire in the rotating presidency of the transitional presidential council, formed in 2024 after a violent gang siege of the capital that forced then Prime Minister Ariel Henry to resign. The council helps run the country and organizing general elections, aimed for February 2026.

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Daylight saving time is coming and the golf industry can't wait

  • By MARGERY A. BECK - Associated Press

Every year, bills are introduced in state legislatures across the country seeking to end the changing of clocks twice a year. Now with a growing number of states weighing bills that would do away with daylight saving time, many in the golf industry are pushing back. They say that extra hour of daylight at the end of the day is needed for those who can only find time to golf after work or school. A recent survey of stakeholders by the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America shows the vast majority favor either keeping the status quo or make daylight saving time permanent.

Flabbergasted Wisconsin elections officials to depose Madison workers over uncounted ballots
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Flabbergasted Wisconsin elections officials to depose Madison workers over uncounted ballots

  • By TODD RICHMOND - Associated Press

Wisconsin election officials plan to call Madison city workers in for depositions to learn more about how nearly 200 absentee ballots went uncounted in the November election. The uncounted ballots didn't affect any race results but the Wisconsin Elections Commission is investigating how they were missed and whether Madison City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl violated state law or otherwise abused her discretion. Commissioners appeared flabbergasted at the failure to count the ballots during a meeting Friday. The panel voted unanimously to call city workers, including Witzel-Behl, in for depositions, question-and-answer periods in which the subject provides sworn testimony.

Scientists date remains of an ancient child that resembles both humans and Neanderthals
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Scientists date remains of an ancient child that resembles both humans and Neanderthals

  • By ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN - AP Science Writer

Scientists have dated the skeleton of an ancient child that caused a stir when it was first discovered because it carries features from both humans and Neanderthals. The child’s remains were discovered 27 years ago in the Lagar Velho rock shelter in central Portugal. Small roots had pierced through the bones, and contamination prevented scientists from determining their age. But new techniques have allowed the researchers to date part of an arm bone to about 28,000 years ago. At the time of the initial discovery, it had not been established that humans and Neanderthals mixed, and that people today carry Neanderthal DNA. The research published Friday in the journal Science Advances.

Trump administration cancels $400M in grants and contracts with Columbia University
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Trump administration cancels $400M in grants and contracts with Columbia University

  • By JENNIFER PELTZ - Associated Press

The Trump administration says it’s pulling $400 million from Columbia University. Multiple federal agencies announced Friday that they're canceling grants and contracts because of what the government describes as the Ivy League school’s lackluster efforts to squelch antisemitism on campus. The notice came after Columbia set up a new disciplinary committee and ramped up its own investigations into students critical of Israel, alarming free speech advocates. Nonetheless, federal Education Secretary Linda McMahon says Columbia has “abandoned” its obligation to Jewish students. Columbia is vowing to work with the government to try to get the money back.

Which US companies are pulling back on diversity initiatives?
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Which US companies are pulling back on diversity initiatives?

  • By The Associated Press

A growing number of prominent companies have scaled back or set aside the diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that much of corporate America endorsed following the protests that accompanied the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, a Black man, in 2020. The changes have come in a response to a campaign by conservative activists to target workplace programs in the courts and social media, and more recently, President Donald Trump’s executive orders aimed at rooting out DEI policies in both the federal government and private sector.

Bosnia's top court temporarily suspends separatist laws adopted by Bosnian Serbs
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Bosnia's top court temporarily suspends separatist laws adopted by Bosnian Serbs

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Bosnia’s top court has temporarily suspended a set of laws enacted by separatist Bosnian Serb authorities that barred the state judiciary and police from operating in the Serb-controlled part of the country. The contentious legislation has fueled tensions in the ethnically divided Balkan country. Bosnia’s Constitutional Court said it had to act quickly because the newly adopted laws “could harm the constitutional order of Bosnia-Herzegovina.” It is expected to declare the laws invalid after thorough deliberation. Bosnian officials on Thursday lodged an appeal against the law.

No. 14 Tar Heel women dominate boards, freshman Grant clutch at line in 60-56 win over No. 22 FSU
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No. 14 Tar Heel women dominate boards, freshman Grant clutch at line in 60-56 win over No. 22 FSU

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Alyssa Ustby scored 12 points and grabbed 18 rebounds and freshman Lanie Grant made two free throws with 7.3 seconds left to give No. 14 North Carolina a 60-56 win over No. 22 Florida State in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. Reniya Kelly hit a jumper with just over a minute remaining to give the Tar Heels the lead and she connected again near the foul line to make it 58-54 with 20.4 seconds left. Ta’Niya Latson made two free throws for the Seminoles with 11.4 to go but then they had to foul three times before Grant went to the line. The fifth-seeded Tar Heels play the winner of No. 7 N.C. State and Georgia Tech in Saturday’s semifinals. Makayla Timpson had 15 points, eight rebounds and she tied a tournament record with eight blocks for the fourth-seeded Seminoles.

Which US companies are pulling back on diversity initiatives?
Ap
AP

Which US companies are pulling back on diversity initiatives?

  • By The Associated Press

A growing number of prominent companies have scaled back or set aside the diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives that much of corporate America endorsed following the protests that accompanied the Minneapolis police killing of George Floyd, a Black man, in 2020. The changes have come in a response to a campaign by conservative activists to target workplace programs in the courts and social media, and more recently, President Donald Trump’s executive orders aimed at rooting out DEI policies in both the federal government and private sector.

Bosnia's top court temporarily suspends separatist laws adopted by Bosnian Serbs
Ap
AP

Bosnia's top court temporarily suspends separatist laws adopted by Bosnian Serbs

  • AP

Bosnia’s top court has temporarily suspended a set of laws enacted by separatist Bosnian Serb authorities that barred the state judiciary and police from operating in the Serb-controlled part of the country. The contentious legislation has fueled tensions in the ethnically divided Balkan country. Bosnia’s Constitutional Court said it had to act quickly because the newly adopted laws “could harm the constitutional order of Bosnia-Herzegovina.” It is expected to declare the laws invalid after thorough deliberation. Bosnian officials on Thursday lodged an appeal against the law.

No. 14 Tar Heel women dominate boards, freshman Grant clutch at line in 60-56 win over No. 22 FSU
Sports
AP

No. 14 Tar Heel women dominate boards, freshman Grant clutch at line in 60-56 win over No. 22 FSU

  • AP

Alyssa Ustby scored 12 points and grabbed 18 rebounds and freshman Lanie Grant made two free throws with 7.3 seconds left to give No. 14 North Carolina a 60-56 win over No. 22 Florida State in the quarterfinals of the ACC Tournament. Reniya Kelly hit a jumper with just over a minute remaining to give the Tar Heels the lead and she connected again near the foul line to make it 58-54 with 20.4 seconds left. Ta’Niya Latson made two free throws for the Seminoles with 11.4 to go but then they had to foul three times before Grant went to the line. The fifth-seeded Tar Heels play the winner of No. 7 N.C. State and Georgia Tech in Saturday’s semifinals. Makayla Timpson had 15 points, eight rebounds and she tied a tournament record with eight blocks for the fourth-seeded Seminoles.

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What to know about Social Security office closures driven by Musk's DOGE

  • By MEG KINNARD - Associated Press

Across-the-board cuts at the Social Security Administration are prompting questions about how the benefits of millions of recipients may be affected. Among the potential changes are layoffs for more than 10% of the agency’s workforce and the closure of dozens of its 1,200 field offices throughout the U.S. It’s all part of the Trump administration’s efforts to shrink the size of the federal workforce through the Department of Government Efficiency, inspired by President Donald Trump’s adviser Elon Musk. Advocates for those receiving Social Security benefits have claimed agency reductions will result in diminished services. The Republican president has vowed Social Security benefits “won’t be touched.”

Trump administration throws hundreds of affordable housing projects into limbo after contract cuts
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Trump administration throws hundreds of affordable housing projects into limbo after contract cuts

  • By JESSE BEDAYN - Associated Press/Report for America

The Associated Press has found that the Trump administration has stalled at least $60 million in funding intended largely for affordable housing developments nationwide. The holdup has thrown hundreds of projects into a precarious limbo. The move is part of a flurry of funding freezes, staffing cuts and contract cancellations by the Trump administration at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The changes have instilled widespread uncertainty in the affordable housing industry. A spokesperson for HUD said the program is not being cut, but the contracts to distribute the funds are being consolidated. It's remains unclear when or how the money will get to local nonprofits.

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AP

Red Rocks 2025 concert season kicks off this weekend

  • John Wenzel - The Denver Post (TNS)

DENVER — The merry month of May used to be an outlier on the Red Rocks Amphitheatre calendar, and any artist that dared book past September tempted the wrath of show-stopping cold and snow.

VMI's first Black superintendent says ouster is based on politics, not job performance
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VMI's first Black superintendent says ouster is based on politics, not job performance

  • By BEN FINLEY - Associated Press

The first Black superintendent of the Virginia Military Institute says his forced departure is the result of politics rather than his job performance. VMI's board voted last week against renewing its contract for Retired Army Maj. Gen. Cedric Wins. The board's decision follows diversity and inclusion efforts that were implemented under Wins' leadership. Wins said in a statement Thursday that the decision was “a partisan choice" that abandons VMI's values of honor and integrity. Wins is a 1985 graduate of the school. He became superintendent in 2021, when VMI was undergoing a racial reckoning and diversity programs were being put into place.

Slovakian crowds continue protest against pro-Russian policies of populist premier Robert Fico
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Slovakian crowds continue protest against pro-Russian policies of populist premier Robert Fico

  • AP

Thousands of people have taken to the streets across Slovakia again to voice their opposition to populist Prime Minister Robert Fico and his pro-Russian policies. The protests are fueled by Fico’s recent trip to Moscow for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a rare visit to the Kremlin by a European Union leader since Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine and his recent remarks that Slovakia might consider leaving the 27-nation EU and NATO. The crowd has condemned recent pro-Russian activities of Fico’s close associates. The protesters have called Fico “a traitor” and repeatedly chanted “Slovakia is Europe.”