YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio (AP) — Authorities say a massive explosion killed a bank employee, injured several other people and left an apartment building uninhabitable in Youngstown, Ohio. Police and emergency officials initially blamed natural gas, but the fire chief later said the cause is under investigation. The blast blew out part of the ground floor of
Continue ReadingBy Donald Judd, CNN Washington (CNN) — First lady Dr. Jill Biden on Wednesday urged Americans to “choose good over evil” by backing her spouse come November and defended her husband against concerns about his age. The first lady also offered a preview of Biden’s upcoming campaign travel during an interview on ABC’s “The View,”
Continue ReadingBy Mike Schwartz and Christian Edwards, CNN (CNN) — The war in Gaza will likely continue through at least the end of the year, an Israeli official warned Wednesday, seeming to dismiss the idea that fighting would end after the military offensive against Hamas in Rafah. Israel’s national security adviser, Tzachi Hanegbi, said the year
Continue ReadingBy LINDSEY BAHR AP Film Writer Jacqueline Stewart is leaving her post leading the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures to return to the University of Chicago. Academy Museum veteran Amy Homma will succeed her as director and president, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said Wednesday. Stewart, a prominent film scholar and Turner
Continue ReadingBy CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The Cleveland branch of the Federal Reserve says that Beth Hammack, an executive at investment bank Goldman Sachs, would be its next president effective Aug. 21. Hammack, 52, has worked at Goldman Sachs since 1993. She was most recently the cohead of global finance, and has
Continue ReadingBy MATTHEW LEE and VADIM GHIRDA Associated Press CHISINAU, Moldova (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has pledged $135 million in aid to Moldova for energy security and to counter Russian disinformation. The Western-leaning nation is struggling to blunt Russia’s push for influence that’s been buoyed by recent successes in its war in
Continue ReadingNEW YORK (AP) — Jury deliberations in Donald Trump’s criminal trial have begun following the delivery of jury instructions by the judge and a whirlwind day of closing arguments. Jurors began deliberations Wednesday after receiving instructions about the law governing the hush money case and what they can consider as they evaluate the former president’s
Continue ReadingMIDDLETON, Wis. (AP) — Police say one person died when a house exploded in southern Wisconsin. Elise Schaffer, a spokesperson for the Dane County Sheriff’s Office, says sheriff’s deputies and firefighters responded about 11 p.m. Tuesday after the house exploded just outside the city of Middleton. She says one person was killed and that the
Continue ReadingBy ELÉONORE HUGHES Associated Press RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has withdrawn his ambassador to Israel after months of tensions between the two countries over the war in Gaza. It’s the latest repercussion from a South American nation over Israel’s military campaign in the Palestinian territory. Wednesday’s move
Continue ReadingSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The man sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for bludgeoning Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer inside their San Francisco home returned to a courtroom Wednesday to face state charges, including attempted murder. A federal jury found David DePape, 44, guilty of attempting to hold Pelosi hostage and assaulting her
Continue ReadingSAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The man sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for bludgeoning Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer inside their San Francisco home returned to a courtroom Wednesday to face state charges, including attempted murder. A federal jury found David DePape, 44, guilty of attempting to hold Pelosi hostage and assaulting her
Continue ReadingBy DINO HAZELL Associated Press WASHINGTON (AP) — Months after the nation’s capital bid an emotional farewell to its giant pandas, the National Zoo is expecting a renewed surge in panda-mania with the announcement that two more of the furry black-and-white icons will be coming to Washington. The zoo announced Wednesday that a fresh agreement
Continue ReadingBy TIM REYNOLDS AP Basketball Writer Bronny James is keeping his name in the NBA draft, with the hopes of joining his father in the league next season. “He’s a really good prospect who has a lot of room for growth,” Rich Paul, the CEO of Klutch Sports Group, told ESPN, which first reported the
Continue ReadingBERLIN (AP) — A court says a prominent member of the far-right Alternative for Germany party who was fined for knowingly using a Nazi slogan in a speech will go on trial again next month for allegedly using the slogan a second time. The state court in Halle on Wednesday scheduled the proceedings against Björn
Continue ReadingBy ADITHI RAMAKRISHNAN AP Science Writer DALLAS (AP) — Six planets will link up before dawn on June 3 in what’s known as a planetary parade. But the spectacle won’t be as eye-catching as expected: Only two planets will be visible to the naked eye. Here’s what to know about this fairly common celestial event.
Continue ReadingBy KIMBERLEE KRUESI Associated Press NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee’s governor has approved legislation designed to block adults from helping minors get an abortion or receive gender-affirming care without parental consent. Both proposals are likely to face immediate legal challenges when they go into effect later this year. Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, quietly signed
Continue ReadingNEW YORK (AP) — Jury deliberations in Donald Trump ‘s criminal hush money trial are expected to begin Wednesday after the panel receives instructions from the judge on the law governing the case and what they can take into account in evaluating the former president’s guilt or innocence. The historic deliberations follow Tuesday’s whirlwind of
Continue ReadingBy CHRISTOPHER RUGABER AP Economics Writer WASHINGTON (AP) — The Cleveland branch of the Federal Reserve says that Beth Hammack, an executive at investment bank Goldman Sachs, would be its next president effective Aug. 21. Hammack, 52, has worked at Goldman Sachs since 1993. She was most recently the cohead of global finance, and has
Continue ReadingMEXICO CITY (AP) — Mexico is holding the last day of campaigning ahead of Sunday’s nationwide elections. But the closing campaign rallies Wednesday were darkened by a wave of attacks on candidates. Late on Tuesday, a mayoral candidate in the western state of Jalisco was shot multiple times by intruders in his home. Two of
Continue ReadingBy MELANIE LIDMAN, WAFAA SHURAFA and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israel’s war with Hamas is likely to last through the end of the year, a top Israeli official said Wednesday, a grim prediction for a war already in its eighth month that has killed tens of thousands, deepened Israel’s global
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