Postal Service chief frustrated at criticism, but promises 'heroic' effort to deliver mail ballots
The U.S. Postal Serviceโs leader is expressing frustration with ongoing criticism of how it handles mail ballots.
Election officials push back against draft federal rule for reporting potential cyberattacks
A group of state election officials is urging the nationโs cybersecurity agency to revise a draft rule that would require election offices to disclose suspected cyberattacks to the federal government, casting the mandate as too burdensome on overworked local officials.
Saudi Arabia will host the women's tennis WTA Finals for the next three years
Saudi Arabia will host the WTA Finals as part of a three-year deal with the womenโs professional tennis tour that will increase the prize money for this Novemberโs season-ending championship to a record $15.25 million.
WTA Chairman Steve Simon will relinquish his CEO duties and President Micky Lawler is leaving
Steve Simon will relinquish his CEO duties at the womenโs tennis tour while staying on as Executive Chairman under an organizational restructuring of the WTA.
Iga Swiatek says female tennis players are united as they seek improvements from the WTA
Iga Swiatek says she and other womenโs tennis players are more united than in the past as they seek changes on the WTA Tour, including improvements to prioritize the athletesโ well-being.
Efforts to deceive are a top concern among state election officials heading into 2024
Efforts to deceive the public about voting and elections remain a top concern for state election officials as they dig into preparations for the 2024 election.
Saudi money could be headed to tennis next. Is it about sportswashing, women's rights or both?
Tennis appears set to follow the path of golf and other sports by doing business with Saudi Arabia and its $650 billion sovereign wealth fund.
The women's tennis tour plans for its players to earn the same as men at more events
It took more than three decades after the founding of the Womenโs Tennis Association for all four Grand Slam tournaments to agree to give the same prize money to female and male players.
Women's tennis tour ends Peng Shuai-inspired China boycott
The womenโs professional tennis tour will return to China later this year, ending a boycott instituted in late 2021 over concerns about the safety of former player Peng Shuai after she accused a high-ranking government official there of sexual assault.
In-person voting starts in Minnesota, 3 other early states
In-person voting for the midterm elections has started in Minnesota, South Dakota, Virginia and Wyoming, in a landscape that has changed since the pandemic drove a shift to mail balloting in the 2020 presidential contest.
Election skeptics advance in key Wisconsin, Minnesota races
Longtime Wisconsin Secretary of State Doug La Follette has won his Democratic primary, advancing to a general election in which Republicans hope to win back the seat and give it power over elections.
GOP seeking power over elections in Wisconsin, Minnesota
Republicans who are running to be secretary of state in Wisconsin and Minnesota in primaries Tuesday are repeating Donald Trumpโs false claims about the last presidential election and they've suggested they want more authority over how elections are run, especially in Democratic-leaning counties.
Where is Peng Shuai? T-shirts will be OK at Australian Open
Restrictions which resulted in the removal of a spectator for wearing a T-shirt supporting Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai at the Australian Open have been overhauled after international backlash.
Peng Shuai tells paper she never wrote of being assaulted
Chinese tennis star Peng Shuai has denied saying she was sexually assaulted, despite a November social media post attributed to her that accused a former top Communist Party official of forcing her into sex.
Women's tennis' China stance could be unique, cost millions
The stand the women's professional tennis tour is taking in China over concern about Grand Slam doubles champion Peng Shuai's well-being could cost the WTA millions of dollars.
WTA remains "concerned' about Peng's ability to speak freely
The head of the Women's Tennis Association says he remains โdeeply concernedโ about the whereabouts of Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai and her ability to โcommunicate freely, openly and directlyโ after allegations that a powerful politician forced her to have sex.
IOC call with Chinese tennis star Peng raises more questions
A video call between the head of the International Olympic Committee and Chinese tennis player Peng Shuai was meant to reassure the world that she was safe โ but instead has raised more questions.
Photos of missing Chinese tennis star posted online
An employee of Chinese state TV has posted photos of missing tennis star Peng Shuai online in a new effort to dispel concern about her disappearance after she accused a senior leader of sexual assault.
Tennis players take on Communist Party: Where is Peng Shuai?
Some of the worldโs most famous tennis players are distraught by the disappearance of colleague Peng Shuai and are challenging Chinaโs Communist Party to get answers.
China says 'not aware' of tennis player Peng Shuai issue
China's Foreign Ministry is sticking to its line that it isn't aware of the controversy surrounding tennis professional Peng Shuai, who disappeared after accusing a former top official of sexually assaulting her.
Doubts over China tennis star's email raise safety concerns
A Chinese professional tennis player not seen in public since she accused a former top government official of sexual assault purportedly sent an email claiming she was safe and that the allegation was false.
State media release attributed to Peng raises WTA concerns
The head of the womenโs professional tennis tour is questioning the legitimacy of a retraction Chinese state media says was from a Grand Slam doubles champion who has accused a former top government official of sexual assault.
WTA CEO calls for investigation of China assault allegation
The head of the womenโs professional tennis tour is calling for a full investigation of sexual assault allegations made by a two-time Grand Slam doubles champion from China against a former top government official in that country.
Activist, champion: Naomi Osaka is AP Female Athlete of Year
FILE - In this Sept. 12, 2020, file photo, Naomi Osaka, of Japan, holds up the championship trophy after defeating Victoria Azarenka, of Belarus, in the women's singles final of the U.S. Open tennis tournament in New York. Osaka has been selected by The Associated Press as the Female Athlete of the Year. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)With tennis, like so much of the world, shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic, Naomi Osaka found herself with time to read and think. LeBron James was announced Saturday as the AP Male Athlete of the Year. I cannot be more excited.โ___Follow Howard Fendrich on Twitter at https://twitter.com/HowardFendrich___More AP tennis: https://apnews.com/apf-Tennis and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
Roanoke County Fire & Rescue chief retiring after 34 years as a first responder
ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. โ After more than 30 years serving the community, Roanoke Countyโs Fire & Rescue chief is stepping down. โItโll be challenging for me to leave but I do think itโs a good time now,โ Simon said. Simon has spent 34 years as a first responder, mostly with Roanoke County Fire & Rescue, and almost six years as chief. โIt was predominantly a volunteer system but society has changed and less people choose to volunteer,โ Simon said. An interim chief will be named in the coming months as the search begins for a permanent replacement.
Virus surges in key battleground states as election nears
In some states, voting early still has carried health risks. There are three lines trying to get up this way,โ Howard-Penn said outside the Franklin County election board. Election officials in Wisconsin said the state's presidential primary provided lessons that were guiding current preparations. Minnesota election officials have recruited all 30,000 poll workers they believe are needed to run the general election. Officials in the battleground states reported no plans to close polling places, even if virus cases continue to spike.
US Rep. Craig asks supporters to vote despite snag in race
In a statement, Democratic U.S. Rep. Angie Craig urged voters to mark their ballots in her race anyway. "You should continue to vote for the entire ballot, including for this congressional race. Simon said the special election would be Feb. 9. Craig hinted that a legal challenge to the special election may be getting planned. Someone could argue that the state law violates that federal law, he said.
Roanoke County Fire and Rescue chief touts no employees infected on the job
ROANOKE COUNTY, Va. At Roanoke County Fire and Rescue, the day starts with COVID-19 conversations and ends with them. In a Zoom meeting, Chief Steve Simon said first responders are working hard to protect the community from COVID-19 while also responding to fires, water rescues and medical emergencies. I am very, very proud to say not one employee from Roanoke County, police, fire and rescue, or sheriff have been infected by the job. Now, we have had some exposures that theyve got off the job that theyve had to be quarantined, but our people treat this thing very seriously, said Simon. Chief Simon said the county has increased its social media and online presence in an effort to continue interacting with the public.