Maine mass killing suspect has been found dead, ending search that put entire state on edge

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — The man wanted in the mass shooting at a bowling alley and bar that killed 18 people and wounded 13 has been found dead, bringing an end to a search that put the entire state of Maine on edge for the last two days. Authorities say Robert Card was found dead Friday in Lisbon Falls, Maine. Commissioner of Maine Department of Public Safety Mike Sauschuck says Card was found at 7:45 p.m. near the Androscoggin River of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. He declined to provide a specific address. Card was a trained firearms instructor who recently had been treated for mental health issues.

Israel steps up air and ground attacks in Gaza and cuts off the territory’s communications

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Israeli army says its ground forces are “expanding their activity” in the Gaza Strip, as it moves closer to a full-on ground invasion of the besieged territory. Internet and phone services collapsed Friday in Gaza under intensified Israeli bombardment, largely cutting off its 2.3 million people from the outside world and each other. Israel has amassed hundreds of thousands of troops along the Gaza border. The expected ground offensive is aimed at uprooting the Hamas militant group in response to its bloody incursion on  Oct. 7. Explosions from airstrikes lit up the Gaza sky Friday night. Casualties from new airstrikes could not be immediately known in the information blackout.

Live updates | UN calls for ‘humanitarian truce’ in Gaza as Israel expands activity in the territory

The Israeli military says its ground forces will expand their activities in Gaza. The announcement on Friday night came hours after Israel’s defense minister said the country expects to launch a long and difficult ground invasion of the Hamas-ruled territory. That same day, the U.N. General Assembly called for a “humanitarian truce” in Gaza. The Palestinian death toll in Gaza passed 7,300, and in the occupied West Bank, more than 100 Palestinians have been killed in violence and Israeli raids since Oct. 7. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians slain during the initial Hamas attack. Also, 229 people were taken hostage during the incursion and remain in captivity in Gaza.

Agreement reached for Biden-Xi talks, but details still being worked out, official tells AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to meet on the sidelines of next month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco. That’s according to a U.S. official familiar with the planning. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the two sides worked out an agreement in principle to hold a meeting during the summit. The agreement was worked out as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Friday with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan. The official added that two sides have not worked out details on the exact day of the meeting, venue and other logistics.

Maine’s close-knit deaf community is grieving in the wake of shootings that killed 4 beloved members

FALMOUTH, Maine (AP) — Maine’s close-knit community of deaf and hard of hearing people is grieving in the wake of the Lewiston shootings that killed beloved members, many of whom were ardent advocates. The Maine Educational Center for the Deaf says Friday the shootings at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston, killed at least four members of their community. The shootings killed 18 people in total and injured 13 others. The educational center is located on an island in Falmouth, Maine, and it became a site for grieving and sharing memories on Friday even though school was officially closed.

Families hunt for loved ones not heard from since Hurricane Otis pummeled Acapulco

ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) — Desperate families are making missing posters and joining online groups to find loved ones out of touch since Hurricane Otis devastated the Mexican Pacific coast city of Acapulco. Officials say they are moving in supplies and getting people out of the devastated city of 1 million. Cell phone signals are returning to some parts of the city. Many residents are looking for relatives with the help of friends and relatives living in other parts of Mexico and the United States. They are sharing information and searching for the missing.

Pope orders Vatican to reopen case of priest accused of adult abuse but allowed to keep ministering

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has ordered the Vatican to reopen the case of a well-known priest-artist accused of sexually, psychologically and spiritually abusing adult women. The Vatican says Francis has removed the statute of limitations on their claims to allow a canonical trial to proceed. The announcement came just a day after the case of the Rev. Marko Ivan Rupnik again made headlines when a diocese in his native Slovenia confirmed it had welcomed him after he was expelled by his Jesuit order this summer. A Vatican statement said Pope Francis’ abuse prevention commission had flagged “serious problems” in the way the case was handled, prompting Francis to act.

Donald Trump is set to testify Nov. 6 in civil fraud trial. Daughter Ivanka also will testify

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is set to testify Nov. 6 in the civil business fraud case against him, following testimony from his three eldest children. State lawyers disclosed the schedule in court Friday, when the judge ruled that the former president’s daughter Ivanka also must take the stand. It was already expected that the ex-president and sons Donald Jr. and Eric would testify. But the timing became clear Friday. The schedule sets up a blockbuster stretch of the trial of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit. She alleges that the former president overstated his wealth for years on financial statements. The ex-president denies any wrongdoing.

A salty problem for people near the mouth of the Mississippi is a wakeup call for New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Drought. Sea level rise. Dredging for cargo ships. Those are just some of the complex factors blamed for an inland flow of salt water from the Gulf of Mexico into the Mississippi River. Salty water was a problem for months for low-population communities at Louisiana’s southeastern tip. Fears that the salt water would reach the heavily populated New Orleans area have abated for now. But people in rural Plaquemines Parish say too little was done to help them. Meanwhile, New Orleans-area officials say long-rage plans are needed for the return of the salt water threat.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The post AP Information Abstract at 11:29 p.m. EDT | Nationwide Information appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Israel steps up air and ground attacks in Gaza and cuts off the territory’s communications

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Israeli army says its ground forces are “expanding their activity” in the Gaza Strip, as it moves closer to a full-on ground invasion of the besieged territory. Internet and phone services collapsed Friday in Gaza under intensified Israeli bombardment, largely cutting off its 2.3 million people from the outside world and each other. Israel has amassed hundreds of thousands of troops along the Gaza border. The expected ground offensive is aimed at uprooting the Hamas militant group in response to its bloody incursion on  Oct. 7. Explosions from airstrikes lit up the Gaza sky Friday night. Casualties from new airstrikes could not be immediately known in the information blackout.

Law enforcement official tells Associated Press that Maine mass killing suspect has been found dead

LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Authorities say a man suspected of fatally shooting 18 people and wounding 13 in Maine has been found dead. Robert Card, who was wanted in connection with the shootings at Schemengees Bar and Grille and at Just-In-Time Recreation bowling alley in Lewiston, is believed to have died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, a law enforcement official tells The Associated Press. The official was not authorized to discuss details of the investigation publicly and spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity. A 10 p.m. news conference was scheduled by police.

Live updates | UN calls for ‘humanitarian truce’ in Gaza as Israel expands activity in the territory

The Israeli military says its ground forces will expand their activities in Gaza. The announcement on Friday night came hours after Israel’s defense minister said the country expects to launch a long and difficult ground invasion of the Hamas-ruled territory. Shortly before, communication services in the territory were also cut. The Palestinian death toll in Gaza passed 7,300, and in the occupied West Bank, more than 100 Palestinians have been killed in violence and Israeli raids since Oct. 7. More than 1,400 people in Israel have been killed, mostly civilians slain during the initial Hamas attack. Also, 229 people were taken hostage during the incursion and remain in captivity in Gaza.

Agreement reached for Biden-Xi talks, but details still being worked out, official tells AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping have agreed to meet on the sidelines of next month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in San Francisco. That’s according to a U.S. official familiar with the planning. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity, said the two sides worked out an agreement in principle to hold a meeting during the summit. The agreement was worked out as Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met Friday with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan. The official added that two sides have not worked out details on the exact day of the meeting, venue and other logistics.

Maine’s close-knit deaf community is grieving in the wake of shootings that killed 4 beloved members

FALMOUTH, Maine (AP) — Maine’s close-knit community of deaf and hard of hearing people is grieving in the wake of the Lewiston shootings that killed beloved members, many of whom were ardent advocates. The Maine Educational Center for the Deaf says Friday the shootings at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston, killed at least four members of their community. The shootings killed 18 people in total and injured 13 others. The educational center is located on an island in Falmouth, Maine, and it became a site for grieving and sharing memories on Friday even though school was officially closed.

Families hunt for loved ones not heard from since Hurricane Otis pummeled Acapulco

ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) — Desperate families are making missing posters and joining online groups to find loved ones out of touch since Hurricane Otis devastated the Mexican Pacific coast city of Acapulco. Officials say they are moving in supplies and getting people out of the devastated city of 1 million. Cell phone signals are returning to some parts of the city. Many residents are looking for relatives with the help of friends and relatives living in other parts of Mexico and the United States. They are sharing information and searching for the missing.

Pope orders Vatican to reopen case of priest accused of adult abuse but allowed to keep ministering

ROME (AP) — Pope Francis has ordered the Vatican to reopen the case of a well-known priest-artist accused of sexually, psychologically and spiritually abusing adult women. The Vatican says Francis has removed the statute of limitations on their claims to allow a canonical trial to proceed. The announcement came just a day after the case of the Rev. Marko Ivan Rupnik again made headlines when a diocese in his native Slovenia confirmed it had welcomed him after he was expelled by his Jesuit order this summer. A Vatican statement said Pope Francis’ abuse prevention commission had flagged “serious problems” in the way the case was handled, prompting Francis to act.

Donald Trump is set to testify Nov. 6 in civil fraud trial. Daughter Ivanka also will testify

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is set to testify Nov. 6 in the civil business fraud case against him, following testimony from his three eldest children. State lawyers disclosed the schedule in court Friday, when the judge ruled that the former president’s daughter Ivanka also must take the stand. It was already expected that the ex-president and sons Donald Jr. and Eric would testify. But the timing became clear Friday. The schedule sets up a blockbuster stretch of the trial of New York Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit. She alleges that the former president overstated his wealth for years on financial statements. The ex-president denies any wrongdoing.

A salty problem for people near the mouth of the Mississippi is a wakeup call for New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Drought. Sea level rise. Dredging for cargo ships. Those are just some of the complex factors blamed for an inland flow of salt water from the Gulf of Mexico into the Mississippi River. Salty water was a problem for months for low-population communities at Louisiana’s southeastern tip. Fears that the salt water would reach the heavily populated New Orleans area have abated for now. But people in rural Plaquemines Parish say too little was done to help them. Meanwhile, New Orleans-area officials say long-rage plans are needed for the return of the salt water threat.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The post AP Information Abstract at 9:32 p.m. EDT | Nationwide Information appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Government shutdown averted with little time to spare as Biden signs funding before midnight

WASHINGTON (AP) — The threat of a federal government shutdown ended late Saturday night after Congress approved a temporary funding bill to keep federal agencies open until Nov. 17. The bill passed just hours before the midnight deadline and President Joe Biden quickly signed it. He called it “good news for the American people.” The package drops aid for Ukraine but adds money for U.S. disaster assistance. House approval came after Speaker Kevin McCarthy abandoned plans for steep spending cuts and relied on Democratic help. Biden said he expects McCarthy to keep “his commitment” to the Ukrainian people and push for aid “at this critical moment” in the war with Russia.

A truck crash in Illinois kills 5, seriously injures 5 and forces an evacuation due to ammonia leak

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Five people were killed and five were critically injured when a semitruck carrying anhydrous ammonia crashed in central Illinois. Illinois State Police said the accident occurred Friday and involved “multiple” vehicles. It happened about a half-mile east of Teutopolis on U.S. Highway 40. Police said Saturday that due to the plume from the ammonia leak, an evacuation was ordered within an approximate one-mile radius of the crash, including northeastern parts of Teutopolis. Crews were working to contain the leak. The National Transportation Safety Board said Saturday it will review the crash. Teutopolis is about 110 miles northeast of St. Louis.

Dianne Feinstein was at the center of a key LGBTQ+ moment. She’s being lauded as an evolving ally

The nation’s LGBTQ+ leaders are lauding the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein as a longtime friend who learned and evolved to become an ally. Feinstein died Thursday at her home in Washington. She became mayor of San Francisco after the sitting mayor and her pioneering gay colleague Harvey Milk were assassinated by a disgruntled former fellow county supervisor. She led the city and its large gay population through the AIDS crisis. And the Human Rights Campaign is extolling her “sterling record” of support for LGBTQ+ people during her three decades in the U.S. Senate.

Arrest in Tupac Shakur killing stemmed from Biggie Smalls death investigation

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The first arrest in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur had its roots in the investigation of the killing of Biggie Smalls. Duane Keffe D. Davis was arrested and charged with murder Friday, with prosecutors saying he ordered and masterminded the Shakur killing. Retired Los Angeles police detective Greg Kading tells The Associated Press that he interviewed Davis as a person of interest in the Biggie Smalls shooting death. The detective says Davis revealed his role in the Shakur killing in that interview, then said the same thing in public interviews and a memoir. That gave new life to the Las Vegas investigation, and led to his arrest and indictment.

The Supreme Court will take up abortion and gun cases in its new term while ethics concerns swirl

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is returning to a new term with familiar topics such as guns and abortion, as well as concerns about ethics swirling around the justices. The year also will have a heavy focus on social media and how free speech protections apply online. The new term begins on Monday. A big unknown is whether the court will be asked to weigh in on any aspect of the criminal cases against former President Donald Trump or on efforts in some states to keep Trump off the 2024 presidential ballot because of his role in trying to overturn the results of the last presidential contest.

When Kula needed water to stop wildfire, it got a trickle. Many other US cities are also vulnerable

Hours before fires largely destroyed the historic Hawaiian town of Lahaina, residents of another part of Maui were trying to stop flames reaching their homes despite a frustrating loss of pressure in their water system. Officials say when electricity was knocked out, the lack of backup power for pumps seriously hindered firefighting efforts in Kula. The scale of damage and loss was far smaller than in Lahaina, where at least 97 people died. But Kula’s experience highlighted a vulnerability that exists in many water systems across the United States. Experts say adding backup power to water systems is expensive, and it’s not required.

California governor rejects bill to give unemployment checks to striking workers

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California won’t be giving unemployment checks to workers on strike. While state lawmakers passed a bill to make California the third state to do this, Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed it Saturday. Newsom says he rejected the bill because the fund the state uses to pay unemployment benefits is in debt. The money comes from a tax on businesses that hasn’t changed since 1984. Labor unions argue that making striking workers eligible for benefits would not have much of an impact on the fund. Lawmakers could attempt to pass the law anyway, but it’s been decades since a governor’s veto was overruled in California.

The police chief who led a raid of a small Kansas newspaper has been suspended

The police chief who led a highly criticized raid of a small Kansas newspaper has been suspended. Marion Mayor Dave Mayfield on Saturday confirmed to The Associated Press that he suspended Chief Gideon Cody this week. The mayor declined to discuss his decision further. The chief’s suspension is a reversal of the mayor’s earlier stance. Mayfield previously said he would wait for results from a state police investigation before taking action. Police seized computers and cellphones during searches of the Marion County Record’s office and the home of its publisher last month.

Federal agency sues Chipotle after a Kansas manager allegedly ripped off an employee’s hijab

A federal agency has sued Chipotle, accusing it of religious harassment and retaliation. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleges in its lawsuit that a manager at a Chipotle restaurant in Kansas forcibly removed a Muslim employee’s hijab in 2021. The complaint alleges that the manager repeatedly harassed the employee by asking her to show him her hair, despite her refusal. The lawsuit claims this created a hostile working environment based on religion. Chipotle’s chief corporate affairs officer, Laurie Schalow, said the company has no tolerance for discrimination and has fired the manager in question.

The Dianne Feinstein they knew: Women of the Senate remember a tireless fighter and a true friend

WASHINGTON (AP) — In tributes to Sen. Dianne Feinstein after her death, her female colleagues talked about her indomitable, fierce intelligence and how she had paved the way for so many women. But colleagues also mentioned their private times with the California Democrat that were at odds with Feinstein’s tough public persona. They spoke of how she would invite them out to dinners and sometimes give them the clothes off her back. Feinstein was the first female mayor of San Francisco, one of California’s first two female senators and the first female chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The 90-year-old Feinstein died on Thursday night at her home in Washington.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The post AP Information Abstract at 11:36 p.m. EDT | Nationwide Information appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

Threat of government shutdown ends as Congress passes a temporary funding plan and sends it to Biden

WASHINGTON (AP) — The threat of a federal government shutdown ended late Saturday night after Congress approved a temporary funding bill to keep federal agencies open until Nov. 17. The bill passed just hours before the midnight deadline and was sent to President Joe Biden to sign. He called it “good news for the American people.” The package drops aid for Ukraine but adds money for U.S. disaster assistance. House approval came after Speaker Kevin McCarthy abandoned plans for steep spending cuts and relied on Democratic help. Biden said he expects McCarthy to keep “his commitment” to the Ukrainian people and push for aid “at this critical moment” in the war with Russia.

A truck crash in Illinois kills 5, seriously injures 5 and forces an evacuation due to ammonia leak

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Five people were killed and five were critically injured when a semitruck carrying anhydrous ammonia crashed in central Illinois. Illinois State Police said the accident occurred Friday and involved “multiple” vehicles. It happened about a half-mile east of Teutopolis on U.S. Highway 40. Police said Saturday that due to the plume from the ammonia leak, an evacuation was ordered within an approximate one-mile radius of the crash, including northeastern parts of Teutopolis. Crews were working to contain the leak. The National Transportation Safety Board said Saturday it will review the crash. Teutopolis is about 110 miles northeast of St. Louis.

Dianne Feinstein was at the center of a key LGBTQ+ moment. She’s being lauded as an evolving ally

The nation’s LGBTQ+ leaders are lauding the late Sen. Dianne Feinstein as a longtime friend who learned and evolved to become an ally. Feinstein died Thursday at her home in Washington. She became mayor of San Francisco after the sitting mayor and her pioneering gay colleague Harvey Milk were assassinated by a disgruntled former fellow county supervisor. She led the city and its large gay population through the AIDS crisis. And the Human Rights Campaign is extolling her “sterling record” of support for LGBTQ+ people during her three decades in the U.S. Senate.

Arrest in Tupac Shakur killing stemmed from Biggie Smalls death investigation

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The first arrest in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur had its roots in the investigation of the killing of Biggie Smalls. Duane Keffe D. Davis was arrested and charged with murder Friday, with prosecutors saying he ordered and masterminded the Shakur killing. Retired Los Angeles police detective Greg Kading tells The Associated Press that he interviewed Davis as a person of interest in the Biggie Smalls shooting death. The detective says Davis revealed his role in the Shakur killing in that interview, then said the same thing in public interviews and a memoir. That gave new life to the Las Vegas investigation, and led to his arrest and indictment.

The Supreme Court will take up abortion and gun cases in its new term while ethics concerns swirl

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is returning to a new term with familiar topics such as guns and abortion, as well as concerns about ethics swirling around the justices. The year also will have a heavy focus on social media and how free speech protections apply online. The new term begins on Monday. A big unknown is whether the court will be asked to weigh in on any aspect of the criminal cases against former President Donald Trump or on efforts in some states to keep Trump off the 2024 presidential ballot because of his role in trying to overturn the results of the last presidential contest.

When Kula needed water to stop wildfire, it got a trickle. Many other US cities are also vulnerable

Hours before fires largely destroyed the historic Hawaiian town of Lahaina, residents of another part of Maui were trying to stop flames reaching their homes despite a frustrating loss of pressure in their water system. Officials say when electricity was knocked out, the lack of backup power for pumps seriously hindered firefighting efforts in Kula. The scale of damage and loss was far smaller than in Lahaina, where at least 97 people died. But Kula’s experience highlighted a vulnerability that exists in many water systems across the United States. Experts say adding backup power to water systems is expensive, and it’s not required.

The police chief who led a raid of a small Kansas newspaper has been suspended

The police chief who led a highly criticized raid of a small Kansas newspaper has been suspended. Marion Mayor Dave Mayfield on Saturday confirmed to The Associated Press that he suspended Chief Gideon Cody this week. The mayor declined to discuss his decision further. The chief’s suspension is a reversal of the mayor’s earlier stance. Mayfield previously said he would wait for results from a state police investigation before taking action. Police seized computers and cellphones during searches of the Marion County Record’s office and the home of its publisher last month.

Federal agency sues Chipotle after a Kansas manager allegedly ripped off an employee’s hijab

A federal agency has sued Chipotle, accusing it of religious harassment and retaliation. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleges in its lawsuit that a manager at a Chipotle restaurant in Kansas forcibly removed a Muslim employee’s hijab in 2021. The complaint alleges that the manager repeatedly harassed the employee by asking her to show him her hair, despite her refusal. The lawsuit claims this created a hostile working environment based on religion. Chipotle’s chief corporate affairs officer, Laurie Schalow, said the company has no tolerance for discrimination and has fired the manager in question.

The Dianne Feinstein they knew: Women of the Senate remember a tireless fighter and a true friend

WASHINGTON (AP) — In tributes to Sen. Dianne Feinstein after her death, her female colleagues talked about her indomitable, fierce intelligence and how she had paved the way for so many women. But colleagues also mentioned their private times with the California Democrat that were at odds with Feinstein’s tough public persona. They spoke of how she would invite them out to dinners and sometimes give them the clothes off her back. Feinstein was the first female mayor of San Francisco, one of California’s first two female senators and the first female chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The 90-year-old Feinstein died on Thursday night at her home in Washington.

Video provides first clear views of WWII aircraft carriers lost in the pivotal Battle of Midway

Footage from deep in the Pacific Ocean has given the first detailed look at three World War II aircraft carriers that sank in the pivotal Battle of Midway. The video could help solve mysteries about the days-long barrage in 1942 that marked a shift in control of the Pacific theater from Japanese to U.S. forces. Remote submersibles operating 3 miles below the surface conducted extensive archeological surveys in September of the U.S.S. Yorktown, as well as the Akagi and Kaga, two of the four Japanese aircraft carriers destroyed. The imagery is expected to provide insight into conflicting reports about what happened in the battle.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The post AP Information Abstract at 10:19 p.m. EDT | Nationwide appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

On the brink of a federal shutdown, the House passes a 45-day funding plan and sends it to Senate

WASHINGTON (AP) — On the brink of a federal government shutdown, the House has swiftly approved a 45-day funding bill to keep federal agencies open. House passage came after Speaker Kevin McCarthy dropped plans for steep spending cuts and relied on Democratic help. The measure now goes to the Senate, which also is meeting Saturday. The bill drops aid for Ukraine but adds U.S. disaster assistance. Without a deal in place by midnight, millions of federal workers will face furloughs and programs and services that Americans rely on will begin to face disruptions. Senators are expected to pass it later Saturday. House passage came on a 335-91 vote, with most Republicans and almost all Democrats supporting the bill.

Biden says a possible shutdown wouldn’t be his fault. Would Americans agree with him?

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has pinned the blame for a possible government shutdown on House Republicans who, until Saturday, had been paralyzed by their inability to pass a funding package. President Joe Biden is hoping the rest of the country would see things the same way. But that’s an uncertain proposition at a time of extreme political polarization. On Saturday, with a midnight deadline looming, the House approved a 45-day funding bill to keep federal agencies open and send the package to the Senate, which is meeting in a rare weekend session. A shutdown would mean even more chaos in Washington at a time when Biden is running for reelection.

A truck crash in Illinois kills 5, seriously injures 5 and forces an evacuation due to ammonia leak

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Five people were killed and five were critically injured when a semitruck carrying anhydrous ammonia crashed in central Illinois. Illinois State Police said the accident occurred Friday and involved “multiple” vehicles. It happened about a half-mile east of Teutopolis on U.S. Highway 40. Police said Saturday that due to the plume from the ammonia leak, an evacuation was ordered within an approximate one-mile radius of the crash, including northeastern parts of Teutopolis. Crews were working to contain the leak. The National Transportation Safety Board said Saturday it will review the crash. Teutopolis is about 110 miles northeast of St. Louis.

The Dianne Feinstein they knew: Women of the Senate remember a tireless fighter and a true friend

WASHINGTON (AP) — In tributes to Sen. Dianne Feinstein after her death, her female colleagues talked about her indomitable, fierce intelligence and how she had paved the way for so many women. But colleagues also mentioned their private times with the California Democrat that were at odds with Feinstein’s tough public persona. They spoke of how she would invite them out to dinners and sometimes give them the clothes off her back. Feinstein was the first female mayor of San Francisco, one of California’s first two female senators and the first female chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The 90-year-old Feinstein died on Thursday night at her home in Washington.

Arrest in Tupac Shakur killing stemmed from Biggie Smalls death investigation

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The first arrest in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur had its roots in the investigation of the killing of Biggie Smalls. Duane Keffe D. Davis was arrested and charged with murder Friday, with prosecutors saying he ordered and masterminded the Shakur killing. Retired Los Angeles police detective Greg Kading tells The Associated Press that he interviewed Davis as a person of interest in the Biggie Smalls shooting death. The detective says Davis revealed his role in the Shakur killing in that interview, then said the same thing in public interviews and a memoir. That gave new life to the Las Vegas investigation, and led to his arrest and indictment.

The Supreme Court will take up abortion and gun cases in its new term while ethics concerns swirl

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is returning to a new term with familiar topics such as guns and abortion, as well as concerns about ethics swirling around the justices. The year also will have a heavy focus on social media and how free speech protections apply online. The new term begins on Monday. A big unknown is whether the court will be asked to weigh in on any aspect of the criminal cases against former President Donald Trump or on efforts in some states to keep Trump off the 2024 presidential ballot because of his role in trying to overturn the results of the last presidential contest.

Federal agency sues Chipotle after a Kansas manager allegedly ripped off an employee’s hijab

A federal agency has sued Chipotle, accusing it of religious harassment and retaliation. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleges in its lawsuit that a manager at a Chipotle restaurant in Kansas forcibly removed a Muslim employee’s hijab in 2021. The complaint alleges that the manager repeatedly harassed the employee by asking her to show him her hair, despite her refusal. The lawsuit claims this created a hostile working environment based on religion. Chipotle’s chief corporate affairs officer, Laurie Schalow, said the company has no tolerance for discrimination and has fired the manager in question.

When Kula needed water to stop wildfire, it got a trickle. Many other US cities are also vulnerable

Hours before fires largely destroyed the historic Hawaiian town of Lahaina, residents of another part of Maui were trying to stop flames reaching their homes despite a frustrating loss of pressure in their water system. Officials say when electricity was knocked out, the lack of backup power for pumps seriously hindered firefighting efforts in Kula. The scale of damage and loss was far smaller than in Lahaina, where at least 97 people died. But Kula’s experience highlighted a vulnerability that exists in many water systems across the United States. Experts say adding backup power to water systems is expensive, and it’s not required.

Video provides first clear views of WWII aircraft carriers lost in the pivotal Battle of Midway

Footage from deep in the Pacific Ocean has given the first detailed look at three World War II aircraft carriers that sank in the pivotal Battle of Midway. The video could help solve mysteries about the days-long barrage in 1942 that marked a shift in control of the Pacific theater from Japanese to U.S. forces. Remote submersibles operating 3 miles below the surface conducted extensive archeological surveys in September of the U.S.S. Yorktown, as well as the Akagi and Kaga, two of the four Japanese aircraft carriers destroyed. The imagery is expected to provide insight into conflicting reports about what happened in the battle.

Apple says it will fix software problems blamed for making iPhone 15 models too hot to handle

Apple is blaming a software bug and other issues tied to popular apps such as Instagram and Uber for causing its recently released iPhone 15 models to heat up and spark complaints about becoming too hot to handle. The Cupertino, California, company said Saturday that it is working on an update to the iOS17 system that powers the iPhone 15 lineup to prevent the devices from becoming uncomfortably hot. In a short statement provided to The Associated Press, the company didn’t specify the timeline for its software fix. Apple says it’s also working with the apps that have been causing problems, saying Instagram modified its app for iPhones this week.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

The post AP Information Abstract at 4:54 p.m. EDT | Nationwide appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.

On the brink of a government shutdown, McCarthy pivots to a 45-day plan relying on Democratic help

WASHINGTON (AP) — On the brink of a federal government shutdown Speaker Kevin McCarthy has announced a dramatic pivot. The Republican leader will try on Saturday to push a 45-day funding bill through the House with Democratic help. It’s a move that could keep government open but most certainly risks his job as speaker. Hard-right Republicans in Congress have rejected any temporary measure. Senators also are at work in a rare weekend session. Without a deal in place by midnight, millions of federal workers will face furloughs and programs and services that Americans rely on will begin to face disruptions. The House is preparing for a quick vote, but Democrats want time to read the 71-page bill.

President Biden says the looming shutdown isn’t his fault. Will Americans agree with him?

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has pinned the blame for a looming government shutdown on House Republicans who’ve been paralyzed by their inability to pass a funding package. President Joe Biden is hoping the rest of the country will see things the same way.  That’s an uncertain proposition at a time of extreme political polarization, when many Americans are dug into their partisan corners regardless of the facts of the matter. Biden already faces low poll numbers and concerns about the economy. A government shutdown that could begin Sunday would mean even more chaos in Washington at a time when he’s running for reelection.

The Supreme Court will take up abortion and gun cases in its new term while ethics concerns swirl

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is returning to a new term with familiar topics such as guns and abortion, as well as concerns about ethics swirling around the justices. The year also will have a heavy focus on social media and how free speech protections apply online. The new term begins on Monday. A big unknown is whether the court will be asked to weigh in on any aspect of the criminal cases against former President Donald Trump or on efforts in some states to keep Trump off the 2024 presidential ballot because of his role in trying to overturn the results of the last presidential contest.

Arrest in Tupac Shakur killing stemmed from Biggie Smalls death investigation

LAS VEGAS (AP) — The first arrest in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur had its roots in the investigation of the killing of Biggie Smalls. Duane Keffe D. Davis was arrested and charged with murder Friday, with prosecutors saying he ordered and masterminded the Shakur killing. Retired Los Angeles police detective Greg Kading tells The Associated Press that he interviewed Davis as a person of interest in the Biggie Smalls shooting death. The detective says Davis revealed his role in the Shakur killing in that interview, then said the same thing in public interviews and a memoir. That gave new life to the Las Vegas investigation, and led to his arrest and indictment.

The Dianne Feinstein they knew: Women of the Senate remember a tireless fighter and a true friend

WASHINGTON (AP) — In tributes to Sen. Dianne Feinstein after her death, her female colleagues talked about her indomitable, fierce intelligence and how she had paved the way for so many women. But colleagues also mentioned their private times with the California Democrat that were at odds with Feinstein’s tough public persona. They spoke of how she would invite them out to dinners and sometimes give them the clothes off her back. Feinstein was the first female mayor of San Francisco, one of California’s first two female senators and the first female chairwoman of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The 90-year-old Feinstein died on Thursday night at her home in Washington.

New York stunned and swamped by record-breaking rainfall as more downpours are expected

NEW YORK (AP) — One of New York’s wettest days in decades has left the metropolitan area stunned and swamped. Heavy rainfall on Friday knocked out several subway and commuter rail lines, stranded drivers on highways, flooded basements and shuttered a terminal at LaGuardia Airport for hours. Some 8.65 inches of rain had fallen at John F. Kennedy Airport by nightfall. The National Weather Service says Friday’s weather broke the airport’s rainfall record for any September day. More downpours were expected Saturday. The deluge came two years after the remnants of Hurricane Ida dumped record-breaking rain on the Northeast and killed at least 13 people in New York City.

Anti-abortion groups are at odds on strategies ahead of Ohio vote. It could be a preview for 2024

COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Abortion opponents in Ohio are at odds over how to frame their opposition to a reproductive rights amendment on the state’s November ballot and over longer-term goals on how severely they would restrict the procedure. The disagreements come just six weeks before Election Day and they’re providing a window into the challenges that the wider movement is preparing to navigate next year. Initiatives to protect reproductive rights are expected in multiple states and abortion will be a central issue in candidate races up and down the ballot, including for president.

Pope Francis creates 21 new cardinals who will help him to reform the church and cement his legacy

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has presided over a ceremony to create 21 new cardinals. They include key figures at the Vatican and in the field who will help enact his reforms and cement his legacy. With the ceremony Francis has further expanded his influence on the College of Cardinals who will one day elect his successor. Nearly three-quarters of the voting-age “princes of the church” owe their red hats to the Argentine Jesuit. Among the new cardinals is the controversial new head of the Vatican’s doctrine office, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez. Leaders of the church in geopolitical hotspots like Hong Kong, Jerusalem and South Sudan filled out the roster. Francis said their variety and geographic diversity would serve the church like musicians in an orchestra.

When Kula needed water to stop wildfire, it got a trickle. Many other US cities are also vulnerable

Hours before fires largely destroyed the historic Hawaiian town of Lahaina, residents of another part of Maui were trying to stop flames reaching their homes despite a frustrating loss of pressure in their water system. Officials say when electricity was knocked out, the lack of backup power for pumps seriously hindered firefighting efforts in Kula. The scale of damage and loss was far smaller than in Lahaina, where at least 97 people died. But Kula’s experience highlighted a vulnerability that exists in many water systems across the United States. Experts say adding backup power to water systems is expensive, and it’s not required.

Becky G proudly shows her roots in ‘Esquinas,’ inspired by regional Mexican music

MEXICO CITY (AP) — Growing up on the border between Mexico and the United States, Becky G spoke English, but sang corridos, boleros and mariachi in Spanish. All her life she dreamed of an album that would honor her family’s roots and delve into those genres that she enjoys so much. On “Esquinas,” that dream has become a reality. The album released Thursday. “A lot of the times they would tell me that I am too Mexican to be American or too American to be Mexican and that you can’t be in the middle,” Becky G told the Associated Press.

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Tropical Storm Ophelia moving inland over North Carolina as coastal areas lashed with wind and rain

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Ophelia has made landfall on the North Carolina coast, lashing coastal areas with damaging winds and dangerous surges of water. The center of the tropical storm came ashore at around 6:15 a.m. near Emerald Isle with maximum sustained winds of 70 miles per hour. Life-threatening flooding caused by the weather system is forecast for parts of eastern North Carolina and southeastern Virginia. The storm promises a weekend of windy conditions and heavy rain in the mid-Atlantic region through Sunday, but is forecast to weaken after landfall.

The federal government is headed into a shutdown. What does it mean, who’s hit and what’s next?

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal government is heading toward a shutdown that will disrupt many services, squeeze workers and roil politics. It comes as Republicans in the House, fueled by hard-right demands for deep cuts, force a confrontation over federal spending. While some government entities will be exempt, others will be severely curtailed. Social Security checks, for example, will still go out. But federal agencies will stop all actions deemed non-essential. And millions of federal employees, including members of the military, won’t receive paychecks. The shutdown will begin Oct. 1 if Congress is not able to enact a funding plan.

White House preparing for government shutdown as House Republicans lack a viable endgame for funding

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has direct federal agencies to get ready for a shutdown after House Republicans left town for the weekend with no viable plan to keep the government funded. Speaker Kevin McCarthy says the House will return next week to start voting on the latest plan. He has just five days until the Sept. 30 deadline. A hard-right flank of Republicans has essentially seized control and is demanding spending cuts. McCarthy was unable to persuade his rebellious flank to approve a temporary funding measure to prevent closures. Instead, House Republicans will try Tuesday to pass some of the individual spending bills in a typically lengthy process.

Bribery case against Sen. Menendez shines light on powerful NJ developer accused of corruption

NEW YORK (AP) — The sweeping bribery case brought against U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez includes allegations that he took cash and gold in exchange for interfering in a criminal case against a New Jersey real estate developer. The indictment says Menendez pestered the U.S. attorney for New Jersey and another top federal prosecutor about a bank fraud case involving his friend, developer Fred Daibes. In his home base of Edgewater, Daibes is widely credited with building out a “gold coast” of luxury high rises. An attorney for Daibes says he is confident his client will be “completely exonerated.” Menendez has denied any wrongdoing.

Many states are expanding their Medicaid programs to provide dental care to their poorest residents

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — A growing number of states are offering dental care to low-income adults who once had to rely on charity or the emergency room to treat their tooth problems. From Tennessee to Maine, lawmakers have agreed to spend hundreds of millions of dollars so adults on Medicaid, the federal health program, can get dental care. The federal government doesn’t require that states provide such care. But state lawmakers have come to embrace the idea that expanded oral care saves money and has other health benefits. Nearly 30 states have begun offering or expanded care in the past three years.

A month after Prigozhin’s suspicious death, the Kremlin is silent on his plane crash and legacy

A month after Yevgeny Prigozhin was killed in a suspicious plane crash, the Kremlin seems to be succeeding in keeping the demise of the profane and outspoken Wagner chief as low-key as possible. What caused Prigozhin’s private jet to plummet into a field northwest of Moscow is still a mystery. The Russian military leaders he tried to oust with his armed rebellion remain in power. His mercenary army is under new management. And President Vladimir Putin, whose authority was badly dented by the short-lived mutiny, seems as strong as ever, with Prigozhin’s fiery death sending a chilling message to anyone who dares to challenge him.

Cracks in Western wall of support for Ukraine emerge as Eastern Europe and US head toward elections

WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Once rock-solid, the support Ukraine has received from its biggest backers for its defense against Russia is showing cracks. Political posturing in places like Poland and Slovakia, where a trade dispute with Ukraine has exacerbated tensions, and Republican reticence in the United States about Washington’s big spending to prop up Ukraine’s military have raised new uncertainties about the West’s commitment to its efforts to expel Russian invaders more than 18 months into the war. U.S. and Polish officials have sought to play down any tiff that some say plays into the hands of Russian President Vladimir Putin.

With temporary status for Venezuelans, the Biden administration turns to a familiar tool

MEXICO CITY (AP) — The Biden administration’s grant of temporary legal status to nearly 500,000 Venezuelans already in the United States may complicate its messaging abroad. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas warned in May that anyone contemplating a journey to the U.S. would be swiftly deported if found to be in the country illegally. But his expansion of Temporary Protected Status this week applies to Venezuelans who arrived by July 31. Critics say it encourages others to come, figuring that warnings against illegal entry ring hollow. But others say Venezuelans will come with or without prospects for temporary status.

Meet Lachlan Murdoch, soon to be the new power behind Fox News and the Murdoch empire

For Lachlan Murdoch, this has been a long time coming — assuming, that is, his moment has actually arrived. On Thursday, his father Rupert Murdoch announced that in November he’s stepping down as the head of his two media companies: News Corp. and Fox Corp. That will finally put Lachlan Murdoch in the top job for a chairman of News Corp. while remaining the chief executive at Fox Corp., the parent of Fox News Channel. But in Murdoch World, nothing is ever written in stone. Rupert, now 92, has long had a penchant for building up his oldest children in order to set them against one another, often flipping the table without notice.

Ronald Acuña Jr. joins exclusive 40-40 club with 40th home run of the season for Braves

WASHINGTON (AP) — Ronald Acuña Jr. has joined baseball’s exclusive 40-40 club by hitting his 40th home run of the season for the Atlanta Braves to go along with his 68 stolen bases. The only other players to have at least 40 homers and 40 steals in the same year were Alfonso Soriano for Washington in 2006, Alex Rodríguez for Seattle in 1998, Barry Bonds for San Francisco in 1996, and Jose Canseco for Oakland in 1988. Acuña connected off Nationals left-hander Patrick Corbin leading off the top of the first inning. It was his 34th career leadoff homer and eighth this season. The 25-year-old Acuña was already the only player in major league history with 30 homers and 60 stolen bases in one season.

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At least 55 people died on Maui. Residents had little warning before wildfires overtook a town

LAHAINA, Hawaii (AP) — Maui residents who made desperate escapes from flames, some on foot, asked why Hawaii’s famous emergency warning system didn’t alert them as fires raced toward their homes, in interviews at evacuation centers Thursday. Officials confirmed that emergency management records show no indication that the warning sirens were triggered before a devastating wildfire wiped out the town of Lahaina. Maui County says 55 people were killed in the devastating Maui wildfires, and the death toll will likely continue to rise. Gov. Josh Green says search and rescue operations are continuing, and officials expect it will become the state’s deadliest natural disaster since a 1961 tsunami killed 61 people on the Big Island.

Judge Chutkan will hear arguments in protective order fight in Trump’s 2020 election conspiracy case

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal judge overseeing the 2020 election conspiracy case against Donald Trump will hear arguments over a request by prosecutors for a protective order seeking to bar the former president from publicly disclosing evidence shared by the government. Prosecutors have raised concerns Trump may reveal sensitive case information they’re legally obligated to hand over to the defense. The protective order sought by special counsel Jack Smith’s team has become an early flashpoint in the case accusing the Republican of illegally scheming to cling to power after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Friday’s hearing will be the first time the lawyers appear before U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan.

With hundreds lost in the migrant shipwreck near Greece, identifying the dead is painfully slow

ATHENS, Greece (AP) — Nearly two months after a dilapidated fishing trawler crammed with people heading from north Africa to Italy sank in the central Mediterranean, killing hundreds, relatives are still frantically searching for loved ones among the missing and dead. As many as 750 people are believed to have been on board. Only 104 survived and 82 bodies were recovered. By early August, around half the recovered bodies had been identified through a painstaking process combining DNA analysis, fingerprints and interviews with survivors and relatives. For some still searching for lost relatives, the lack of a body to bury means they still hold out hope, however improbable, that their loved one is alive.

Two years after fall of Kabul, tens of thousands of Afghans languish in limbo waiting for US visas

ISLAMABAD (AP) — When the U.S. pulled out of Afghanistan in August 2021 it airlifted tens of thousands of Afghans to safety. But two years later, tens of thousands of others are still waiting to be resettled. They are Afghans who helped the war effort by working with the U.S. government and military, or as journalists and aid workers now at risk under the Taliban. Processing of U.S resettlement programs for Afghans has moved painfully slowly. In the meantime, many of the applicants who have fled Afghanistan are swiftly running through savings, living in limbo in exile.

Ecuador arrests 6 Colombians in slaying of presidential candidate as violence weighs on nation

QUITO, Ecuador (AP) — Ecuador’s transformation into a major drug trafficking hub and the ensuing three-year surge of violence is weighing on the nation following the killing of a presidential candidate whose life’s work was to fight crime and corruption. Six Colombian men were arrested Thursday in connection with the fatal shooting of Fernando Villavicencio on Wednesday in the capital, Quito. He was not a front-runner in the race, but his assassination in broad daylight less than two weeks before the special presidential election underscored the challenge Ecuador’s next leader will face in any attempt to curb gangs and cartels whose activities have claimed thousands of lives.

Two rival robotaxi services win approval to operate throughout San Francisco despite safety concerns

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — California regulators have approved an expansion that will allow two rival robotaxi service to operate throughout San Francisco at all hours. The vote by the state’s Public Utilities Commission came despite reservations from city officials and residents spurred by erratic behavior that resulted in unmanned vehicles blocking traffic, including the path of emergency vehicles. The regulators voted to approve rival services from Cruise and Waymo to operate the around-the-clock service. It will make San Francisco first major U.S. city with two fleets of driverless vehicles competing for passengers against ride-hailing and taxi services dependent on humans to operate the cars.

Millions of kids are missing weeks of school as attendance tanks across the US

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — Nationwide, students have been absent at record rates since schools reopened after COVID-forced closures. More than a quarter of students missed at least 10% of the 2021-22 school year. Before the pandemic, only 15% of students missed that much school. All told, an estimated 6.5 million additional students were chronically absent. That’s according to data compiled by Stanford University education professor Thomas Dee in partnership with The Associated Press. The analysis is based on the most recent data available, from 40 states and Washington, D.C. It provides the most comprehensive accounting of absenteeism nationwide. The absences come on top of time missed during school closures. They cost crucial time in classrooms as schools work to recover from massive learning setbacks.

More evacuations considered in Norway where the level in swollen rivers continues to rise

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — Authorities are on standby to evacuate more people in southeastern Norway, where huge amounts of water, littered with broken trees, debris and trash, are thundering down the usually serene rivers after days of torrential rain. The level of water in swollen rivers and lakes continued to grow Friday despite two days of dry but overcast weather, flooding abandoned houses, coating cars in mud and swamping camping sites. In one of the most affected places where a river running through a town had gone over its banks, authorities were thinking about moving more people downstream out of fear of landslides. Norway’s prime minister and king were planning to visit affected sites.

A rocket with a lunar landing craft blasts off on Russia’s first moon mission in nearly 50 years

TALLINN, Estonia (AP) — A rocket carrying a lunar landing craft has blasted off on Russia’s first moon mission in nearly 50 years, racing to land on Earth’s satellite ahead of an Indian spacecraft. The launch from Russia’s Vostochny spaceport in the Far East of the Luna-25 craft to the moon is Russia’s first since 1976 when it was part of the Soviet Union. The Russian lunar lander is expected to reach the moon on Aug. 23, about the same day as an Indian craft. The Russian spacecraft will take about 5.5 days to travel to the moon’s vicinity, then spend three to seven days orbiting before heading for the surface.

EPA weighs formal review of vinyl chloride, the toxic chemical that burned in Ohio train derailment

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration says it could soon launch a formal evaluation of risks posed by vinyl chloride, the cancer-causing chemical that burned in a towering plume of toxic smoke following the fiery train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio. The Environmental Protection Agency this year is set to review risks posed by a handful of chemicals and is considering those used for plastic production as a key benchmark. Vinyl chloride is used to make PVC plastic pipes and toys and is among chemicals eligible for review. The EPA says a risk evaluation would take at least three years. Environmental and public health groups have long pushed to ban the chemical.

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Kyiv is said to have launched a major push against Russian forces in southeastern Ukraine

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Kyiv has launched a major push to dislodge Russian forces from southeastern Ukraine as part of its weeks-long counteroffensive, committing thousands of troops to the battle in the country’s southeast. That’s according to Western and Ukrainian officials and analysts. One Western official says the surge in firepower and manpower has been centered on the southeastern Zaporizhzhia region. Fighting has intensified in recent weeks at multiple points along the 1,500-kilometer (930-mile) front line. Ukraine is deploying its Western-supplied advanced weapons and Western-trained troops against the deeply entrenched Kremlin’s forces who invaded 17 months ago.

Bluffing or not, Putin’s declared deployment of nuclear weapons to Belarus ramps up saber-rattling

Sometime this summer, if President Vladimir Putin can be believed, Russia moved some of its short-range nuclear weapons into Belarus, closer to Ukraine and onto the doorstep of NATO’s members in Central and Eastern Europe. The declared deployment of the weapons onto the territory of its neighbor and loyal ally marks a new stage in the Kremlin’s nuclear saber-rattling over its invasion of Ukraine. Neither Putin nor his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, said how many were moved — only that Soviet-era nuclear arms depots in the country had been readied to accommodate the weapons, and that Belarusian pilots and missile crews have been trained to use them. The U.S. and NATO haven’t confirmed the move and doubts remain.

Trump once condemned the Jan. 6 rioters. Now he’s become one of their biggest supporters

NEW YORK (AP) — The day after Jan. 6, 2021, then-President Donald Trump denounced the rioters who had violently stormed the Capitol building. Two and a half years later, his public characterizations have dramatically changed. Since leaving office, Trump has downplayed the violence, lionized the rioters as patriots and spread false claims about who was involved. He’s not only vowed to pardon a “large portion” of Jan. 6 defendants if he wins a second term in the White House, but he has also fundraised for them, met with their families and collaborated on a song that became a surprise iTunes hit.

Hunter Biden’s plea deal on hold after federal judge raises concerns over the terms of the agreement

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — The plea deal in Hunter Biden’s criminal case unraveled during a court hearing Wednesday after a federal judge raised concerns about the terms of the agreement that has infuriated Republicans who believe the president’s son is getting preferential treatment. Hunter Biden was charged last month with two misdemeanor crimes of failure to pay more than $100,000 in taxes from over $1.5 million in income in both 2017 and 2018. He had been expected to plead guilty after making an agreement with prosecutors, who were planning to recommend two years of probation.

Mutinous soldiers claim to have overthrown Niger’s president

NIAMEY, Niger (AP) — Mutinous soldiers in the African nation of Niger claim to have overthrown the democratically elected president, announcing on state television that they have put an end to the government over the country’s deteriorating security. The announcement Wednesday night comes after a day of uncertainty as members of Niger’s presidential guard surrounded the presidential palace, detaining President Mohamed Bazoum. It was unclear where the president was at the time of the announcement or if he had resigned. Threats to Bazoum’s leadership would undermine the West’s efforts to stabilize Africa’s Sahel region, which has been overrun with coups in recent years. Mali and Burkina Faso have had four coups since 2020.

Biden looks to provide relief from extreme heat as record temperatures persist

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden plans to announce new steps to address the extreme heat that has threatened millions of Americans, most recently in the Southwest. The White House says officials are working on improved weather forecasts and more accessible drinking water. The leaders of the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, as well as the mayors of Phoenix, Ariz., and San Antonio, Texas, will participate in the event with Biden. Both cities have seen long stretches of broiling triple-digit temperatures.

Church sex abuse revelations are an unwelcome diversion as Pope Francis visits scandal-hit Portugal

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Pope Francis is making a five-day visit next week to Portugal, where a scandal that erupted earlier this year over Catholic Church sex abuse is still simmering. A panel of experts reported in February that at least 4,815 Portuguese boys and girls had been abused since 1950. Before those findings, senior Portuguese church officials maintained there had been only a few cases of clergy sex abuse. Church officials have hesitated over such central issues as reparations for victims and whether to suspend active members of the clergy named in the panel’s report. The scandal is unfinished business in Portugal, where Francis will attend World Youth Day. Hundreds of thousands of people are due to attend.

Accused of bomb threats they say they didn’t make, family of Chinese dissident detained in Thailand

BANGKOK (AP) — The wife and daughter of exiled Chinese dissident Gao Zhi are in detention on immigration charges in Thailand, after a series of bomb threats made in their names against airports, luxury hotels and the Chinese embassy in Bangkok derailed the family’s plan to join Gao in the Netherlands. The threats appear to be part of Beijing’s increasingly sophisticated efforts to harass Chinese dissidents living overseas and their families. While parts of the story Gao Zhi and his son told couldn’t be independently confirmed, their predicament echoes accounts by other Chinese dissidents who believe Chinese authorities are making bomb threats in their names to control their political activities.

How many transgender and intersex people live in the US? Anti-LGBTQ+ laws will impact millions

New laws targeting LGBTQ+ people are proliferating in GOP-led states, but the conversations often lack a clear understanding of how many people will be directly affected. Data collection on the number of LGBTQ+ people living in the U.S. has been relatively scant. The best data currently available comes from UCLA’s Williams Institute and a KFF/The Washington Post poll. Those studies show there are between 1 and 2 million adults in the U.S. who identify as transgender. Most advocacy groups estimate that 1.7% percent of people are born intersex, which means they have genitalia, reproductive organs, chromosomes and/or hormone levels that don’t fit typical definitions of male or female.

Elon Musk wants to turn tweets into ‘X’s’. But changing language is not quite so simple

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Elon Musk may want to send “tweet” back to the birds, but the ubiquitous term for posting on the site he now calls X is here to stay — at least for now. For one, the word is still plastered all over the website formerly known as Twitter. With “tweets,” Twitter accomplished in just a few years something few companies have done in a lifetime: It became a verb and implanted itself into the lexicon of America and around the world. Upending that takes more than a top-down declaration, even if it is from the owner of Twitter-turned-X who also happens to be one of the world’s richest man.

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France is rioting for the fifth time over the killing of a teenager by police, amid signs the violence is waning

PARIS (AP) – Young rioters clashed with police and aimed a burning car at the home of a mayor as France sparked the fifth night of riots by the police killing of a teenager. Overall, overnight violence on Saturday appeared to have eased compared to previous nights. Police made 719 arrests across the country by early Sunday following a mass deployment of security forces aimed at quelling France’s worst social unrest in years. The crisis poses a new challenge for President Emmanuel Macron’s leadership. It also reveals the deep-rooted dissatisfaction in low-income areas with discrimination and lack of opportunities. The 17-year-old, whose death caused a stir on Tuesday, was buried in a Muslim ceremony on Saturday.

Two people were killed and 28 injured, including three critically, in a shooting at a block party in Baltimore, police said

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BALTIMORE (AP) — A mass shooting killed two and injured 28 victims, including three who are in critical condition, according to Baltimore police. Acting Commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department Richard Worley says there were a total of 30 victims in the shooting, which he says took place just after 12:30 p.m. Sunday at a block party in the Brooklyn Homes neighborhood at the 800 block of Gretna Avenue . Worley says all of the victims were adults. Nine victims were transported by ambulance and 20 victims were taken to area hospitals with injuries from the shooting. Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott has asked anyone with information about the shooting to help investigators.

Moms for Liberty’s focus on statewide school races leads to political conflict with teachers’ unions

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — The “parental rights” group Moms for Liberty wants to expand its efforts to elect school board candidates in 2024 and beyond and get involved in other educational competitions. The group’s co-founder said during their annual summit in Philadelphia that Moms for Liberty will use its political action committee to get involved in school board elections, state education board elections and elected principal elections. These efforts will face opposition from teachers’ unions and others on the left, who view the group as a toxic presence in public education. Even if there is a presidential election in 2024, the school board elections will continue to be among the most contentious political debates next year.

Russia launches first drone attack on Kiev in 12 days and all are shot down

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) – Ukrainian officials say Russia has launched a drone attack on the capital Kiev. It was the first such attack of the war in 12 days. The head of Kyiv’s municipal government said Sunday that all Iran-made Shahed-type exploding drones had been spotted and shot down. The surrounding Kiev region was also attacked. The Kyiv regional government reported that one person was injured by falling debris from a destroyed drone. Officials from the Ukrainian capital did not provide details on the number of drones that attacked the city. However, Ukraine’s Air Force said the Russians fired eight Shahed missiles and three Kalibr cruise missiles across the country.

Elon Musk imposes daily limits on reading posts on Twitter

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Elon Musk has capped the number of tweets Twitter users can see each day. He described the restrictions as an attempt to prevent unauthorized tapping of potentially valuable data from the social media platform. The site now requires users to log in to view tweets and profiles. That’s a change in longstanding practice that allows anyone to read the babble. The restrictions could result in users being banned from Twitter for a day after scrolling through several hundred tweets. Thousands of users complained on Saturday that they could not access the site. Musk said after facing backlash that he will raise the thresholds on how many tweets accounts can read per day.

The 2024 Republican presidential nominee field continues to grow. So why aren’t there more women?

CHICAGO (AP) — Republicans continue to rush into the presidential race in 2024. More than a dozen candidates are battling for the party’s nomination in what is proving to be the most diverse Republican presidential field of all time. But among them is only one woman. This is Nikki Haley, a former UN Ambassador and Governor of South Carolina. America has never had a female commander in chief, and Republicans have historically focused less on voting for female candidates in general than the Democratic Party. And while women make up more than 50% of the population, they are underrepresented in public office, be it in city halls, state legislatures or in Washington.

Are you facing a high medical bill? Go ahead with a plan—and these tips

A huge medical bill can trigger a wave of panic, but experts say patients should approach the problem with a plan. The amazing bill that came in the mail might not be what you end up paying. Errors or slow insurance payments could have increased this total. If correct, financial assistance or other assistance may be available to correct it. Actions to take include double-checking the numbers, possibly enlisting outside help, and thinking carefully about a payment plan. Sometimes a simple phone call can clear things up. Don’t ignore the bill.

Transgender woman challenges societal norms by applying to enter Miss Venezuela beauty pageant

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuelans’ enthusiasm for beauty pageants is unprecedented and Miss Venezuela — the crown jewel of them all — may be the only event that can unite a deeply divided country. But behind the cheers and applause for the women vying for the coveted title lies a deeply conservative society with little or no tolerance for any disregard for heteronormative standards. Sofia Salomón is ready to challenge that. The influencer and the model have applied to take part in this year’s competition. If accepted, she will be the first transgender woman to attend. She says her participation could bring visibility to the LGBTQ+ community. The winners of “Miss Venezuela” then enter the “Miss Universe” pageant, and the global competition was opened to transgender contestants in 2012.

What you should know about the origins and traditions of the 4th of July holiday

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The Fourth of July is essentially Americana: parades and cookouts and cold beers and, of course, fireworks. Those pyrotechnics also make it a particularly dangerous vacation, typically resulting in more than 10,000 trips to the emergency room. Nonetheless, fireworks remain the focus of Independence Day, a holiday that has been invoked for 247 years. The holiday celebrates the unanimous acceptance by the Second Continental Congress of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, a document heralding the separation of the colonies from Britain. A year later, according to the Library of Congress, an impromptu celebration of the anniversary of American independence was held in Philadelphia. However, throughout the emerging country, celebrations of the holiday only became commonplace after the War of 1812.

Fanfare, golf and boos marked the 4th of July for US Presidents. Zachary Taylor’s was the worst

WASHINGTON (AP) — Throughout history, July 4th has been a day for some presidents to declare their independence from the public. They have retired to the beach, the mountains, the golf course, the farm, or the ranch. Other presidents have come to the fore on Independence Day. Teddy Roosevelt drew hundreds of thousands of people to his Fourth of July oratory. In 2019, Donald Trump assembled the war machine in a celebration usually about military force. In 2021, Joe Biden raised eyebrows as he gathered hundreds of people for a holiday event that took place when the coronavirus pandemic was far from over.

Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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The post AP Information Abstract at 10:25 a.m. EDT appeared first on DAILY SAN FRANCISCO BAY NEWS.