Alabama school band director says he was ‘just doing my job’ before police arrested him

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) - An Alabama high school band director said Wednesday that he was just "doing my job" when police officers arrested him and shocked him with a stun gun after he refused to immediately stop the band as it played in the bleachers following a football game. Johnny Mims, the band director at Minor High School, told The Associated Press he was confused when officers pulled him from

Republican legislatures flex muscles to keep power in closely divided North Carolina and Wisconsin

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - In 2020, North Carolina seemed the model of an evenly-divided swing state. Then-President Donald Trump barely won, beating Democrat Joe Biden by just over a percentage point. Meanwhile, the state's Democratic governor, Roy Cooper, won reelection by a relatively comfortable 5 points. Even last year, as Republicans won two seats on the state Supreme Court, North Carolina's congressional delegation split evenly between Democrats and the GOP.

NCAA troubled by UNC criticism of handling of Walker waiver, says committee members received threats

(AP) - The NCAA Board of Directors said Tuesday it was "troubled" by North Carolina's public criticism of the decision to deny an eligibility waiver to Tar Heels transfer receiver Tez Walker, adding that some committee members have received threats of violence. The statement comes less than a week after North Carolina said the NCAA had denied appeal efforts for immediate eligibility for Walker, an announcement that included pointed criticism from

School district takes teachers union to court for wave of absences that forced school closures

LAS VEGAS (AP) - School district officials in Las Vegas are asking a judge to put an end to what they claim is a coordinated union campaign of teacher absences during a bitter contract battle, forcing school closures and classroom disruptions in a state where it is illegal for public employees to strike. Since Sept. 1, unexpected staff shortages have forced seven schools to cancel classes for the day and

TikTok Shop launches in the U.S. as the company bets big on e-commerce

NEW YORK (AP) - After months of testing, TikTok is fully launching its e-commerce product in the U.S. in an effort to translate the app's cultural relevance among young consumers to sales. The company said Tuesday its shopping wing, called TikTok Shop, will include several features such as a "Shop Tab," a marketplace its been testing on the app since August; affiliate videos in user's feed that allows creators to

What to know about renters insurance and what it does and doesn’t cover

NEW YORK (AP) - When the unexpected happens - whether fire, hail, or human error - renters insurance can provide much-needed stability. But many choose not to purchase coverage, including in places most frequently and hardest hit by natural disasters, new research shows. Linda Klamm, who works as an attorney for insurance policyholders after catastrophes, lost her home to a firestorm in Oakland, California, in 1991, and has firsthand experience

HBCU coalition receives $124M gift from nonprofit funder Blue Meridian Partners

NEW YORK (AP) - The HBCU Transformation Project, a coalition of 40 historically Black colleges and universities, on Wednesday announced a $124 million gift from philanthropic funders Blue Meridian Partners to increase enrollment, graduation rates and employment rates for the schools' graduates. Michael Lomax, president and CEO of UNCF, which is acting as an intermediary overseeing the funding, called the donation a vote of confidence in the coalition, which includes

NC Gov. Roy Cooper appoints Democrat to fill Supreme Court vacancy

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper appointed an appellate judge and longtime voting rights attorney to fill a vacancy on the North Carolina Supreme Court created when one of two Democratic justices stepped down early. Allison Riggs, a registered Democrat, will replace outgoing Justice Michael Morgan, who resigned last week from the panel where Republicans hold a 5-2 majority. Riggs currently serves on the North Carolina Court of

5 former officers charged with federal civil rights violations in Tyre Nichols beating death

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) - Five former Memphis police officers were charged Tuesday with federal civil rights violations in the beating death of Tyre Nichols as they continue to fight second-degree murder charges in state courts arising from the killing. Tadarrius Bean, Desmond Mills, Demetrius Haley, Emmitt Martin and Justin Smith were indicted in U.S. District Court in Memphis. The four-count indictment charges them with deprivation of rights under the color

Disney, Charter settle cable dispute hours before ‘Monday Night Football’ season opener

NEW YORK (AP) - Hours before the fall's first "Monday Night Football" game, Disney and Charter Communications have settled a business dispute that had left some 15 million cable TV customers without ESPN and other Disney channels. Disney said that because of the deal, the majority of its ESPN customers would have service restored to Charter's Spectrum cable system immediately. Charter confirmed the deal Monday. The agreement was announced hours