Defense attorney says ‘Alec Baldwin committed no crime; he was an actor, acting’ at trial openings
SANTA FE, N.M. — A defense attorney told jurors Wednesday that the shooting death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was an “unspeakable tragedy” but that ” Alec Baldwin committed no crime; he was an actor, acting.” Baldwin’s lawyer Alex Spiro emphasized in his opening statement in a Santa Fe, New Mexico,...
U.K. police are searching for a man with a crossbow after family of BBC radio commentator killed
LONDON — British police launched a huge manhunt Wednesday for a man believed to be armed with a crossbow and potentially other weapons after three women were killed in a house northwest of London. The BBC said the women killed were the family of well-known radio racing commentator John Hunt....
California fast food workers now earn $20 per hour. Some franchisees respond by cutting hours
LOS ANGELES — Lawrence Cheng, whose family owns seven Wendy’s locations south of Los Angeles, took orders at the register on a recent day and emptied steaming hot baskets of French fries and chicken nuggets, salting them with a flourish. Cheng used to have nearly a dozen employees on the...
Should Biden take a cognitive test? Here’s what it would — and wouldn’t — tell us
It seemed like a sensible suggestion for assessing the capabilities of an 81-year-old man seeking voters’ approval to remain in the White House until January 2029. To reassure the American people, ABC’s George Stephanopoulos asked President Biden, would he be willing to take a cognitive test and share the results...
Pelosi says ‘it’s up to the president’ to decide whether to stay in the race
WASHINGTON — Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday “it’s up to the president to decide” if he should stay in the 2024 race despite President Joe Biden’s insistence he is still running for re-election, showing how unsettled the question remains among prominent Democrats and Capitol Hill. “We’re all encouraging him...
Political ads on social media rife with misinformation and scams, new research finds
WASHINGTON — The online advertisement to Donald Trump supporters was clear enough: Click here, and receive a free Trump 2024 flag and a commemorative coin. All in exchange for taking a quick survey and providing a credit card number for the $5 shipping and handling. “You’ll get two free gifts...
Israeli strikes in central Gaza kill 20 Palestinians as mediators make new push on cease-fire deal
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli airstrikes early Wednesday killed 20 Palestinians in central Gaza, including six children and three women, some of them inside a purported “safe zone” declared by the Israeli military, hospital authorities said. This second straight night of deadly strikes in the central town of Deir...
Biden administration to tax foreign-made steel and aluminum imports routed through Mexico
WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is imposing tariffs on steel and aluminum shipped from Mexico that were made elsewhere — an attempt to stop China from avoiding import taxes by routing goods through one of the United States’ closest trading partners. Lael Brainard, director of the White House National Economic...
Presidential battle could play role in control of Pennsylvania capitol, other swing states
HARRISBURG, Pa. — Two swing districts in a swing county may very well decide which party controls the House in the swing state of Pennsylvania, one of several where pivotal legislative battles are playing out in the shadow of the presidential campaign. Democrat Brian Munroe and Republican Joe Hogan were...
Las Vegas eyes record of 5th consecutive day over 115 degrees as heat wave continues to scorch U.S.
LAS VEGAS — Used to shrugging off the heat, Las Vegas residents are now eyeing the thermometer as the desert city is on track Wednesday to set a record for the most consecutive days over 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46.1 Celsius) amid a lingering hot spell that will continue scorching much...
Milk, eggs and now bullets for sale in handful of U.S. grocery stores with ammo vending machines
MONTGOMERY, Ala. — A company has installed computerized vending machines to sell ammunition in grocery stores in Alabama, Oklahoma and Texas, allowing patrons to pick up bullets along with a gallon of milk. American Rounds said their machines use an identification scanner and facial recognition software to verify the purchaser’s...
President Joe Biden saw neurologist at White House for Jan. 17 exam, press secretary says
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden saw a neurologist at the White House on Jan. 17 for a neurological exam, the results of which were later reported as part of his annual physical more than a month later, the White House said on Tuesday. The confirmation came after the White House...
Democrats on Capitol Hill express concerns about Biden in private but stay quiet in public
WASHINGTON — After meeting for around two hours Tuesday to discuss whether President Joe Biden should remain at the top of their presidential ticket, Senate Democrats seemed to agree on one thing — it’s best not to talk about it publicly. Behind closed doors, several Democrats expressed deep concerns about...
Chaos swirling since Biden’s debate flub is causing cracks in a White House known for discipline
WASHINGTON — Internal drama. Leaks. Second-guessing. The pressure and chaos swirling since Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance is causing cracks in a White House that until now had been marked by discipline and loyalty. For three-plus years, the Biden administration has been mostly a restrained and staid operation, defined more...
Biden will meet Wednesday with top union leaders as he seeks to reassure worried Democrats
WASHINGTON — Facing pressure from within his own party to abandon his reelection campaign, President Joe Biden is relying on labor unions to help make the case that his record in office matters more than his age. The 81-year-old Democrat is set to meet Wednesday with the executive council of...
Trump revels in Democratic turmoil as he returns to campaign trail and teases VP pick
MIAMI — Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday reveled in the mounting turmoil surrounding President Joe Biden ‘s campaign in the wake of their debate and teased the expected announcement of his Republican running mate with one of the top contenders, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, in attendance. After days spent...
Nevada county votes against certifying recount results, a move that raises longer-term questions
RENO, Nev. — Commissioners in Nevada’s second most populous county on Tuesday refused to certify the results of two local recounts from last month’s primary, a rare move that has potential implications for the presidential race in one of the nation’s most important swing states. The three Republican members on...
New Mexico village ravaged by wildfire gets another pounding by floodwatersVideo
RUIDOSO, N.M. — Roads throughout a mountain village in southern New Mexico that was recently ravaged by wildfire were closed Tuesday as authorities tried to keep vehicles out of the path of rushing water. Officials in Ruidoso reported that several bridge crossings were closed as mud and debris-laden water could...
Navy sailor disciplined for trying to access Biden’s health records early this year
WASHINGTON — A Navy sailor tried to access President Joe Biden’s medical records early this year, but the Pentagon said no information was compromised. According to the Navy, a sailor assigned to Navy Medicine Readiness and Training Command searched for the name “Joseph Biden” in the military’s health care system,...
Justice Sotomayor’s security detail shoots man during attempted carjacking, authorities say
WASHINGTON — A member of Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s security detail shot an armed man during an attempted carjacking in the early morning hours, according to court documents. It happened as two deputy U.S. marshals were on duty in a government car in Washington, D.C., about 1 a.m. July...
Vatican will prepare a document on the role of women in leadership in the Catholic Church
VATICAN CITY — The Vatican said Tuesday that its doctrine office will prepare a document on women in leadership roles in the Catholic Church, a new initiative to respond to longstanding demands by women to have a greater say in the church’s life. The document will be written by the...
Biden’s support on Capitol Hill grimly uncertain. A seventh Democrat says he should drop out
WASHINGTON — The mood on Capitol Hill turned grimly uncertain Tuesday as Democrats wrestled over President Joe Biden’s reelection and the extraordinary question before them — whether to stand behind his candidacy or push the president to bow out amid concerns over his ability to lead them to victory. House...
US disrupts Russian government-backed disinformation campaign that relied on AI technology
WASHINGTON — A Russian propaganda campaign backed by the Kremlin that spread online disinformation in the United States and was boosted by artificial intelligence has been disrupted, the Justice Department said Tuesday. U.S. officials described the internet operation as part of an ongoing effort to sow discord in the U.S....
Key senators reach agreement on spending levels for next year, setting up clash with House
WASHINGTON — The Senate will pursue a spending increase next year of about 3.4% for defense and 2.7% increase for non-defense programs under an agreement reached by top Democratic and Republican lawmakers on the Senate Appropriations Committee, setting up a certain clash with the House, which is pursuing less spending...
Rescuers search for dozens buried by an Indonesian landslide that killed at least 23 people
JAKARTA, Indonesia — Rescue workers dug through tons of mud and rubble on Tuesday as they searched for dozens of missing people after a landslide hit an unauthorized gold mining area on Indonesia’s Sulawesi island, killing at least 23 people. More than 100 villagers were digging for grains of gold...
