AP California

By SUSAN MONTOYA BRYAN Associated Press ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Smokey Bear said it best: “Only you can prevent wildfires.” Following in the footsteps of their famous mascot, U.S. Forest Service managers in the drought-stricken Southwest are urging people to swap their fireworks this Fourth of July for glow sticks, noisemakers and cans of red,

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer Max Strus helped Miami get to the NBA Finals, and his stock soared in the process. Strus is headed to the Cleveland Cavaliers, agreeing to a $63 million, four-year deal that was finalized Saturday by making the transaction part of a three-team trade, according to two people familiar with

By TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer Fred VanVleet bet on himself, and the Houston Rockets are the beneficiaries. On an opening night of free agency where most big names — Kyrie Irving, Draymond Green, Khris Middleton, Kyle Kuzma and more — stayed put, VanVleet is headed to a new home. He agreed to a three-year

CINCINNATI (AP) — Spencer Steer hit a game-winning two-run home run in the 11th inning and the Cincinnati Reds overcame Alexis Díaz’s first blown save of the season in a wild 7-5 win over the stumbling San Diego Padres on Friday. Elly De La Cruz doubled to drive in Jonathan India with the tying run

By JANIE McCAULEY AP Sports Writer SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Draymond Green is sticking around to chase more championships with the Golden State Warriors after agreeing to a new $100 million, four-year contract, a person with direct knowledge of the agreement said. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday as

By DAVE SKRETTA AP Sports Writer KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Daniel Hudson made his long-awaited return to the big leagues and the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night, ending an odyssey for the veteran right-hander that began with torn ligaments in his left knee and included several setbacks in his recovery. Hudson officially rejoined

By BERNIE WILSON AP Sports Writer SAN DIEGO (AP) — San Diego State University informed the Mountain West on Friday that it is not withdrawing from the conference, according to a person with direct knowledge of the situation. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Friday due to the sensitivity of

By MATTHEW BROWN Associated Press BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — U.S. officials on Friday said they will make it easier for scientists to relocate plants and animals outside their historical ranges as a last resort to save species threatened with extinction by climate change. Relocations of species struggling because of climate change have been carried out

By WALTER BERRY Associated Press It was one of the deadliest wildland fires ever in the U.S., killing 19 members of an elite central Arizona firefighting crew in 2013 after flames trapped them in a brush-choked canyon. The city of Prescott and the neighboring town of Yarnell marked a decade without the fallen Granite Mountain

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Dodgers’ Mookie Betts will compete in the All-Star Home Run Derby in Seattle on July 10, joining Seattle’s Julio Rodríguez and Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero in the eight-man competition. Elected to start in the All-Star Game for the National League, Betts leads the Dodgers with 20 home runs. Betts

By TOM DAVIES and KRISTIN M. HALL Associated Press INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Smoky haze, hot weather and powerful storms brought dangerous and uncomfortable conditions to parts of the U.S. heading into a long July Fourth weekend that typically draws Americans to outdoor gatherings. From heat waves in the South and West to unhealthy air quality