Texas News Digest
Good morning! Here's a look at AP's general news and sports coverage in Texas at this hour. Questions about coverage plans are welcome and should be directed to the Dallas AP at 972-991-2100, or, in Texas, 800-442-7189. Email: [email protected]. Ken Miller is at the desk after 5:30 a.m.
Reminder: This information is not for publication or broadcast, and these coverage plans are subject to change. Expected stories may not develop, or late-breaking and more newsworthy events may take precedence. Advisories and digests will keep you up to date. All times are Central.
Some TV and radio stations will receive broadcast versions of the stories below, along with all updates.
For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at newsroom.ap.org.
TOP STORIES:
ASTROS-SIGN STEALING
HOUSTON — The Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal cost manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow their jobs, and Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora could be next. Hinch and Luhnow were fired Monday after being suspended by Major League Baseball for the team's illicit use of electronics to steal signs during Houston's run to the 2017 World Series title and again in the 2018 season. In U.S. sports' largest scandal since the New England Patriots' “Spygate,” MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred announced the discipline and strongly hinted that Cora — the Astros bench coach in 2017 — will face equal or more severe punishment. Manfred said Cora developed the sign-stealing system used by the Astros. The Red Sox are under investigation for stealing signs in Cora's first season as manager in 2018, when Boston won the World Series. By Ronald Blum and Kristie Rieken. SENT: 1760 words, photos. Moved on general and sports news services.
IMMIGRATION-SEPARATING FAMILIES
SAN DIEGO — A U.S. judge has ruled that the Trump administration is operating within its authority when separating families stopped at the Mexico border, rejecting arguments that it was quietly returning to widespread practices that drew international condemnation. U.S. District Judge Dana Sabraw indicated he was uncomfortable second-guessing government decisions to separate children on grounds that parents were considered unfit or dangerous, or in other limited circumstances like criminal history, communicable diseases and doubts about parentage. He found no evidence that the government was abusing its discretion. By Elliot Spagat. SENT: 490 words, photos.
GUN PROSECUTION LOOPHOLE
DALLAS — A subtle design feature of the AR-15 rifle has raised a technical legal question that is derailing cases against people who are charged with illegally buying and selling the gun's parts or building the weapon. At issue is whether a key piece of one of America's most popular firearms meets the definition of a gun that prosecutors have long relied on. By Jake Bleiberg and Stefanie Dazio. SENT: 1170 words, photos.
TRUMP
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump will highlight his policies on trade and domestic energy in a speech to U.S. farmers next week, the White House has announced. Trump is scheduled to address the American Farm Bureau Federation's convention on Jan. 19 in Austin, Texas. It will be his third appearance at the annual gathering. By Darlene Superville. SENT: 220 words, photos. Moved on national political and financial news services.
IN BRIEF:
— CHURCH SHOOTING-TEXAS-AWARD — Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday gave Texas' highest civilian honor to a 71-year-old man who shot and killed an armed attacker at a Fort Worth-area church last month. SENT: 170 words, photos.
IN SPORTS:
Baseball
BBA—RED SOX-SIGN STEALING
BOSTON — Alex Cora could be the next World Series-winning manager sent home for stealing signs. Commissioner Rob Manfred said the Red Sox skipper was “an active participant” in the sign-stealing scandal that cost Houston manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow their jobs Monday. Cora was Houston's bench coach when the team used electronics to illegally steal signs en route to a World Series championship in 2017. By Jimmy Golen. SENT: 330 words, photos.
With:
— BBA—ASTROS-SIGN STEALING — The Houston Astros' sign-stealing scandal cost manager AJ Hinch and general manager Jeff Luhnow their jobs, and Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora could be next. By Ronald Blum and Kristie Rieken. SENT: 1760 words, photos. Moved on general and sports news services.
— FAMOUS CHEATERS — With two recent World Series champions involved, baseball's sign-stealing controversy now takes its place alongside some other famous cheating scandals in sports. The situation brings to mind the New England Patriots' "Spygate" and SMU football's "death penalty" — along with a number of doping scandals at both the international level and in major American sports. By Noah Trister. SENT: 790 words.
Football
FBN—TEXANS WRAPUP
HOUSTON — The Houston Texans were up 24-0 in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs and looked to be headed for their first AFC championship game, which they would have hosted. Then everything fell apart. And now instead of preparing for another playoff game, the Texans are left to wonder what might have been after allowing Kansas City to orchestrate the biggest comeback in franchise history in a 51-31 win. By Kristie Rieken. SENT: 840 words, photos.
Basketball
BKO—T25-BAYLOR-PAIR OF 2S
WACO, Texas — Baylor has a pair of No. 2s in The Associated Press polls, with both the men's and women's basketball teams ranked second. The Bears and Lady Bears, both 13-1 overall, were also ranked in the top two at the same time in January 2017. “It says a lot about both of our programs, both our coaches and the kind of players that they bring into the programs,” preseason AP All-America post Lauren Cox said Monday. “We both support each other. ... We want to see the best for both teams.” SENT: 280 words, photos.
BKC—T25-COLLEGE BKB POLL
Good luck finding any team in the country that notches a better pair of road wins in the same week than Baylor, which followed up a victory at Texas Tech by invading Allen Fieldhouse and thumping Kansas on its home floor. As a result? The Bears leapfrogged the Jayhawks and Duke into the second spot in The Associated Press men's college basketball poll on Monday. They finished with 1,567 points in voting by 65 media members who regularly cover the game, just seven back of top-ranked Gonzaga — even though Baylor had 31 first-place votes and the Bulldogs had 30. By Dave Skretta. SENT: 750 words, photos.
BKW—T25-WOMEN'S BBK POLL
NEW YORK — South Carolina moved up three spots to No. 1 in The Associated Press women's college basketball poll after the top three teams from the previous week all lost. It was a rough week for ranked teams with 11 of them losing at least once. Nos. 1, 2 and 3 fell in a four-day span. Baylor moved up to second after beating former No. 1 UConn. By Basketball Writer Doug Feinberg. SENT: 640 words, photos.
Also:
— BKH—TABC RANKINGS
Golf
GLF—BYRON NELSON-LEAVING TRINITY FOREST
DALLAS — The PGA Tour will move the Byron Nelson away from Trinity Forest Golf Club after the tournament is played there for only the third time this May. The links-style course south of downtown Dallas was built in 2014 on the site of a former landfill. The Nelson moved there in 2018 after 35 years at the TPC Four Seasons in suburban Irving, Texas, about 25 miles away. The PGA Tour hasn't said where the Nelson will be played after this year's tournament. SENT: 310 words.
Soccer
— SOC—SHEBELIEVES CUP — The Women's World Cup champion U.S. team will face Spain and England, two teams it defeated on the way to the title, as well as Japan in the fifth annual SheBelieves Cup kicking off in March. Doubleheader matches in the round robin-style tournament will be held in Orlando, Florida, on March 5, in Harrison, New Jersey, on March 8 and in Frisco, Texas, on March 11. SENT: 150 words.
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