Hot Off The Wire

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted June 24 at 8 a.m. CT:

Millions of Americans sweated through yet another scorching day, while floodwaters forced evacuations in parts of the Midwest, including a town in Iowa whose own water-level gauge was submerged. One person was killed during flooding in South Dakota, the governor said. From the mid-Atlantic to Maine, across the Great Lakes region, and throughout the West to California, public officials cautioned residents about the dangers of excessive heat and humidity. In Oklahoma, the heat index — what the temperature feels like to the human body — was expected to reach 107 degrees on Sunday.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The viability of a U.S.-backed proposal to wind down the 8-month-long war in Gaza was cast into doubt after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would only be willing to agree to a “partial” cease-fire deal that would not end the war. His comments, made in an interview with a pro-Netanyahu Israeli TV channel late Sunday, sparked an uproar from families of hostages held by Hamas.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A fire likely sparked by exploding lithium batteries has swept through a manufacturing factory near South Korea’s capital, killing 22 mostly Chinese migrant workers and injuring eight.

Hawaii authorities say a professional lifeguard has died after he was attacked by a shark while surfing off the island of Oahu. City and County of Honolulu Ocean Safety lifeguard Tamayo Perry died in the attack near Goat Island on Sunday. Shayne Enright of the Honolulu Emergency Services Department says Honolulu police, fire and rescue personnel responded to Mālaekahana Beach just before 1 p.m. after a caller reported seeing a man who appeared to have suffered shark bites.

In entertainment news, former Los Angeles-area gang leader Duane “Keffe D” Davis, accused of killing hip-hop music legend Tupac Shakur in 1996 in Las Vegas, will ask a judge next week to let him out of jail pending trial on a murder charge. "Inside Out 2" sets a record in its second weekend and the US Postal Service will honor former "Jeopardy" host Alex Trebek with a stamp.

In other news:

• "Everything is at stake" for reproductive rights in 2024, Harris says as Biden-Trump debate nears.
• GOP targets a Biden executive order on voter registration ahead of the fall election.
• Most evangelicals say that Jesus is their savior and Donald Trump is their candidate.
• A U.S. envoy visits Hanoi days after Putin, saying US-Vietnam trust is at 'all-time high'
• US aircraft carrier arrives in South Korea as a show of force against nuclear-armed North Korea.
• A fourth victim has died a day after a shooting at an Arkansas grocery store, police say.
• Taylor Swift kicks off UK Eras shows as some fans wonder if singer is ready to say "So long, London.'
• Over 1,000 pilgrims died during this year's Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia, officials say.
• The defending World Series champions get a three-time Cy Young Award winner back, the Astros finish off a home sweep, the Braves take the rubber match versus the Yankees, the Phillies keep rolling, Scottie Scheffler wins again, Christopher Bell overcomes the weather and Angel Reese leads the Sky to victory.

—The Associated Press

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On the version of Hot off the Wire posted June 22 at 6 a.m. CT:

Each Saturday Hot off the Wire looks at a variety of stories in business, science, health and more. This week's headlines include:

• How Biden and Trump are taking very different approaches to preparing for next week's debate.
• The Supreme Court upholds a gun control law intended to protect domestic violence victims.
• The IRS wants to end another major tax loophole for the wealthy and raise $50 billion in the process.
• IRS says 'vast majority' of 1 million pandemic-era credit claims show a risk of being improper.
• Study finds global luxury sales flattening amid self-inflicted creativity crisis and price hikes.
• Majority of Americans favor forgiving medical debt, AP-NORC poll finds.
• Business owners increasingly worry about payment fraud, survey finds.
• So long plastic air pillows Amazon shifting to recycled paper filling for packages in North America.
• U.S. bans on gasoline-powered leaf blowers grow, as does blowback from landscaping industry.
• Early blast of heat and humidity leaves millions sweltering across the US.
• No lie: Perfectly preserved centuries-old cherries unearthed at George Washington's Mount Vernon.
• Think cicadas are weird Check out superfans, who eat the bugs, use them in art and even striptease.
• Lost chances to treat overdose survivors are documented in new Medicare study.
• On Juneteenth, monument dedicated in Alabama to those who endured slavery.
• The Iberian lynx is back from the brink of extinction, thanks to conservation efforts.

—The Associated Press

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On the version of Hot off the Wire posted June 21 at 7:45 a.m. CT:

The heat wave that has moved across the nation this week is expected to continue through the weekend.

The cybersecurity firm Kaspersky has denied it is a security threat after the U.S. Commerce Department banned the use of its software in the United States. The Moscow-based company, whose CEO is Russian, said in a statement that the Commerce Department's decision, announced Thursday, would not affect its ability to sell and promote its cyber security products and training in the U.S. Kaspersky said the government had based its decision on the “geopolitical climate and theoretical concerns” rather than independently verifying if there was a risk. 

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has failed to qualify for next week’s debate in Atlanta. Host network CNN said Thursday the independent presidential candidate fell short of benchmarks both for state ballot qualification and polling. The missed markers mean the June 27 showdown will be solely between President Joe Biden and Donald Trump.

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israel has established a corridor for the delivery of aid into southern Gaza but a declared ‘tactical pause’ in its war with Hamas has brought little relief to desperate Palestinians. The United Nations and international aid organizations say a persistent breakdown in law and order has rendered the aid route unusable. 

MORRILTON, Ark. (AP) — An Alabama man wanted in connection with homicides in Oklahoma and Alabama has been apprehended in Arkansas. Arkansas State Police say 50-year-old Stacy Lee Drake was taken into custody Thursday around 10 a.m. in a wooded area in Morrilton, Arkansas. 

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Sutherland has died at 88. Sutherland's agents say he died in Miami on Thursday after a long illness. The Canadian actor's career stretched from “M.A.S.H” to “JFK” to “The Hunger Games." He was known for offbeat characters and epitomized the unpredictable, antiestablishment cinema of the 1970s. But over the decades, Sutherland shifted into a career as a respected character actor. He said he found more challenge in those roles. He never stopped working, ultimately appearing in nearly 200 films and series. He received an honorary Oscar in 2017.

In other news:

• Trump dwarfs Biden in latest fundraising numbers in show of political force after felony convictions.
• Appeals court panel refuses to delay Trump ally Steve Bannon’s 4-month contempt prison sentence.
• Supreme Court upholds a tax on foreign income over a business-backed challenge.
• Average long-term US mortgage rate falls again, easing to lowest level since early April.
• US jobless claims fall to 238,000 from 10-month high, remain low by historical standards.
• Border Patrol reports arrests are down 25% since Biden announced new asylum restrictions.
• Rapper Travis Scott arrested after Miami Beach police say he drunkenly yelled at people on a yacht.
• Roller coaster strikes and critically injures man in restricted area of Ohio theme park.
• NCAA presents options to expand March Madness tournaments from current 68 teams, AP source says.
• Major League Baseball highlights the Thursday sports schedule, the Lakers have their next head coach, the Bulls and Thunder pull off a trade, the WNBA features two games, and the LPGA and PGA tours complete first round play. 
• Russia obliterates front-line Ukraine towns by retrofitting bombs and expanding its air base network.
• South Korea summons Russian ambassador as tensions rise with North Korea.
• Stonehenge not visibly damaged by protest paint. It's clean and ready to rock the solstice.

—The Associated Press

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On the version of Hot off the Wire posted June 20 at 7:30 a.m. CT:

—The Associated Press

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On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April June 19 at 8 a.m. CT:

N'DJAMENA, Chad (AP) — An official says nine people were killed and more than 40 injured when a fire set off explosions at a military ammunition depot in Chad’s capital.

Israeli strikes in southern Lebanon have killed three Hezbollah fighters as a U.S. envoy tasked with avoiding a devastating regional war returned to Israel after meeting officials in Lebanon. 

The CEO of Boeing got his day in front of Congress, and it was a rocky flight. At a hearing Tuesday, senators peppered David Calhoun with questions about the company's safety record and whether it retaliates against whistleblowers.

In other news:

• Half a million immigrants could eventually get US citizenship under a sweeping new plan from President Joe Biden.
• New York's top court declines to hear Donald Trump's appeal of gag order in hush money case.
• US soldier convicted of theft in Russia and sentenced to nearly 4 years in prison.
• The shooter who killed 5 at a Colorado LGBTQ+ club pleads guilty to 50 federal hate crimes.
• Texas megachurch pastor resigns after woman says he sexually abused her in the 1980s.
• Retail sales rise a meager 0.1% in May from April as still high inflation curbs spending.
• Ship attacked by Yemen's Houthi rebels in fatal assault sinks in Red Sea in their second sinking.
• Stellantis recalling nearly 1.2 million vehicles to fix software glitch that disables rear camera.
• Baseball legend Willie Mays passes away, Edmonton forces a Game 6 in the Stanley Cup Finals, New York Mets keep winning, and the State of Kansas is trying to lure the Chiefs and Royals.
• Caitlin Clark and the WNBA are getting a lot of attention. It's about far more than basketball.
• MLB switching to challenge system full-time for robot umpires experiment at Triple-A.
• Yankees' Anthony Rizzo sidelined 8 weeks with broken forearm, Ian Hamilton and Cody Poteet also hurt.
• Singer Justin Timberlake charged with driving while intoxicated in the Hamptons.
• Actor Ian McKellen, 85, is in 'good spirits' and expected to recover from fall off stage in London.
• French actress Anouk Aimée, a Golden Globe winner for her role in 'A Man and a Woman,' dies at 92.

—The Associated Press

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On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April June 18 at 7:30 a.m. CT:

—The Associated Press

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On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April June 17 at 8:30 a.m. CT:

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign says it's using a $50 million advertising blitz targeting voters in battleground states to highlight the “stark contrast” between Biden and former President Donald Trump following Trump's New York felony conviction. 

The U.S. surgeon general has called on Congress to require warning labels on social media platforms similar to those now mandatory on cigarette boxes. In a Monday opinion piece for The New York Times, Dr. Vivek Murthy said that social media is a contributing factor in the mental health crisis among young people. 

BRUSSELS (AP) — European Union leaders are gathering for a dinner summit to take stock of recent European election results and weigh nominees for the bloc's top jobs. The June 6-9 polls saw the European Parliament shift to the right.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korean state media says Russian President Vladimir Putin will arrive in the country on Tuesday for a two-day visit. 

In other news:

• Trump blasts immigrants for taking jobs as he courts voters at a Black church, MAGA event in Detroit.
• George Clooney and Julia Roberts help Biden raise $28 million at a fundraiser featuring dire warnings about Trump.
• Some hawking stem cells say they can treat almost anything. They can't.
• 2 killed and several wounded in shooting during a Juneteenth celebration in a Texas park.
• Stores are more subdued in observing Pride Month. Some LGBTQ+ people see a silver lining in that.
• 2024 Tonys hand big awards to Daniel Radcliffe, Jeremy Strong, Danya Taymor and Shaina Taub.
• An emotional win for theaters, Hollywood ‘Inside Out 2’ scores massive $155 million opening.
• Opal Lee gets keys to her new Texas home 85 years after a racist mob drove her family from that lot.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dissolves War Cabinet that was steering war in Gaza, Israeli officials say.
• 80 countries at Swiss conference agree Ukraine's territorial integrity must be basis of any peace.
• Muslim pilgrims converge at Mount Arafat for daylong worship as Hajj reaches its peak.
• All eyes are on Kate as she returns to public view at a military parade honoring King Charles III.
• Bryson DeChambeau takes the US Open, the Red Sox withstand Aaron Judge's 26th homer, the Orioles clobber the Phillies, the Rays power past the Braves, the Mariners widen their division lead, the Brewers win with a defensive gem, the Dodgers get another shutout but lose a star and the Fever get a big game from Caitlin Clark. Correspondent Steve Carney reports.
• In this week's religion roundup, Pope Francis holds an audience of comedians, Southern Baptists oust a church over women pastors.

—The Associated Press

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On the version of Hot off the Wire posted June 15 at 6 a.m. CT:

Each Saturday Hot off the Wire looks at a variety of stories in business, science, health and more. This week's headlines include:

• Credit card delinquencies are rising. Here's what to do if you're at risk.
• Alzheimer's drug that can slow disease gets backing from FDA advisers.
• Things to know about FDA warning on paralytic shellfish poisoning in Pacific Northwest.
• African elephants call each other by unique names, new study shows.
• A jet missing since 1971 was found submerged in Vermont's Lake Champlain.
• Demand for food delivery has skyrocketed. So have complaints about some drivers.
• New research explores how a short trip to space affects the human body.
• Thefts of charging cables pose yet another obstacle to appeal of electric vehicles.
• What the new 'buy now, pay later' rule means for small businesses offering the service.
• UN migration agency says the number of internally displaced people in Sudan has surpassed 10 million.
• While youth hockey participation in Canada shrinks, the US is seeing steady growth.
• Historically Black Coconut Grove nurtured young athletes. Now that legacy is under threat.

—The Associated Press

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On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April June 14 at 8 a.m. CT:

President Joe Biden vowed to continue supporting Ukraine, but Russian President Vladimir Putin is promising to order an immediate cease-fire in Ukraine and begin negotiations if Kyiv started withdrawing troops from the four regions annexed by Moscow in 2022 and renounced plans to join NATO. An aide to Ukraine's president said there was nothing new in the proposals. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump has made a triumphant return to Capitol Hill to meet with House and Senate Republicans for the first time since the Jan. 6, 2021 attack. GOP lawmakers find themselves newly energized and reinvigorated by Trump's bid to retake the White House. A packed room of House Republicans sang “Happy Birthday” to Trump in a private breakfast meeting at GOP campaign headquarters across the street from the Capitol. 

PHOENIX (AP) — The Justice Department says Phoenix police discriminate against Black, Hispanic and Native American people, unlawfully detain homeless people and use excessive force, including unjustified deadly force. 

In other news:

• Unanimous Supreme Court preserves access to widely used abortion medication.
• Supreme Court rules California man can't trademark 'Trump too small.'
• Biden campaign calls on GOP to drop lawsuits over mail ballots, citing Trump's new fondness for it.
• Biden says he won't offer commutation to his son Hunter after gun sentence.
• Elon Musk wins back his $44.9 billion Tesla pay package in shareholder vote.
• Mortgage rates ease for second straight week, leaving average rate on a 30-year home loan at 6.95%.
• US wholesale prices dropped in May, adding to evidence that inflation pressures are cooling.
• Biden and Zelenskyy sign security deal as Ukraine's leader questions how long the unity will last.
• US, Europe agree to lock up Russian assets until it pays for Ukraine war, clearing way for $50B loan.
• European Court of Justice fines Hungary 200 million euros for failing to comply with asylum rules.
• US reporter Evan Gershkovich, jailed in Russia on espionage charges, to stand trial, officials say.
• Ukrainian winemakers visit California's Napa Valley to learn how to heal war-ravaged vineyards.
• Gospel group, basking in resurgence, releases first new music in nearly 50 years.
• Reported birth of rare white buffalo calf in Yellowstone park fulfills Lakota prophecy.
• Running out of marijuana, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket get approval to ship pot to the islands.
• The Panthers are a game away from sweeping the Stanley Cup Finals, the Celtics can sweep the NBA Finals Friday, Rory McIlroy makes headlines again on the golf course, and the NHL's new Utah team won't have a nickname next season. 

—The Associated Press

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On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April June 13 at 7:30 a.m. CT:

BORGO EGNAZIA, Italy (AP) — A Group of Seven summit has opened in Italy. Premier Giorgia Meloni has welcomed the G7 leaders and formally opened their closed-door talks on Thursday. Meloni in her opening remarks likened the bloc of industrialized nations to Puglia's famed olive trees with strong roots and branches pointing toward the future. Negotiators reached agreement hours before the official opening of the summit on a U.S. proposal to back a $50 billion loan to Ukraine using frozen Russian assets as collateral.

In other news:

• President Joe Biden faces first lawsuit over new asylum crackdown at the border.
• House votes to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt for withholding Biden audio.
• Presidential election a prime target for foreign disinformation, intelligence officials say.
• AP-NORC poll About half of US adults approve of Trump's conviction, but views of him remain stable.
• The White House isn't ruling out a potential commutation for Hunter Biden after his conviction.
• Federal Reserve sees some progress on inflation but envisions just one rate cut this year.
• US inflation cooled in May in a sign that price pressures may be easing.
• Baltimore's busy port fully reopens after bridge collapse, and a return to normal is expected.
• Elon Musk drops lawsuit against ChatGPT-maker OpenAI without explanation.
• Six years after the Parkland school massacre, the bloodstained building will finally be demolished.
• Southern Baptists narrowly reject formal ban on churches with any women pastors.
• The Celtics take a stranglehold of their NBA Finals series against the Mavericks, an NBA legend passes away, the Sun put their WNBA best record on the line at Chicago, a busy night in Major League Baseball sees the Yankees take over the league's best record, and the PGA's U.S. Open tees off Thursday. 

—The Associated Press

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On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April June 12 at 7:30 a.m. CT:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve officials on Wednesday will likely make official what’s been clear for many weeks: With inflation sticking at a level well above their 2% target, they are downgrading their outlook for interest rate cuts.

Primaries were held in South Carolina and Ohio on Tuesday.

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Hunter Biden’s legal woes are not over after his conviction on three felony firearms charges in a trial that put a spotlight on his drug-fueled past. Now, President Joe Biden’s son faces sentencing, and another trial on tax charges in the middle of his father’s reelection campaign. 

BEIRUT (AP) — Lebanon’s Hezbollah has fired scores of rockets into northern Israel to avenge the killing of a top commander. 

WARREN, Mich. (AP) — The lead singer of the Four Tops says a Detroit-area hospital restrained him and ordered a psychological exam after refusing to believe that he was part of the Motown music group. Alexander Morris filed a lawsuit Monday against Ascension Macomb-Oakland Hospital in Warren.

NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — The children who survived the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, will be graduating high school with mixed emotions. Although they're excited to go off to college or start a career, they say they're also sad that their classmates who were killed can't be with them to celebrate and live the rest of their lives. 

In other news:

• Justice Alito questions possibility of political compromise in secret recording.
• US gas prices are falling. Experts point to mild demand at the pump ahead of summer travel.
• A Florida law blocking treatment for transgender children is thrown out by a federal judge.
• Gunman wounds 3 in Atlanta food court before being shot by officer, police say.
• Southern Baptists expel Virginia church for believing women can serve as pastors.
• Waffle House raises worker pay after strikes and pressure from labor organizers.
• Union 4 Florida police officers indicted for 2019 shootout that left UPS driver and passerby dead.
• Pamela Smart, serving life, accepts responsibility for her husband's 1990 killing for the first time.
• Dog fight! Joey Chestnut out of July 4 hot dog eating contest due to deal with rival brand.
• Attraction starring Disney's first Black princess replaces ride based on film many viewed as racist.
• Defense attorney for rapper Young Thug found in contempt, ordered to spend 10 weekends in jail.
• Mexico's historic Chapultepec Castle is flying the Targaryen flag, and officials aren't amused.
• The Celtics may or may not have one of their key players for Wednesday's Game Three of the NBA Finals, the Phillies and Yankees continue to have their way with the rest of MLB, and a big name will be sitting out golf's US Open this weekend. Aaron Rodgers and Haason Reddick are not attending Jets' mandatory minicamp.

—The Associated Press

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On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April June 11 at 7:15 a.m. CT:

—The Associated Press

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On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April June 10 at 7 a.m. CT:

—The Associated Press

About this program

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April June 8 at 6 a.m. CT:

Each Saturday Hot off the Wire looks at a variety of stories in business, science, health and more. This week's headlines include:

• Is intermittent fasting better than counting calories? Maybe not, but you might stick with it.
• CEOs got hefty pay raises in 2023, widening the gap with the workers they oversee.
• Many Americans still shying away from EVs despite Biden push, AP-NORCEPIC poll finds.
• "Home Alone" house being sold. Swinging paint cans not included.
• Cancer patients often do better with less intensive treatment, new research finds.
• Zombies: Ranks of world's most debt-hobbled companies are soaring, and not all will survive.
• Climate solution Massachusetts town experiments with community heating and cooling.
• New study finds Earth warming at record rate, but no evidence of climate change accelerating.
• Online marketplace eBay to drop American Express, citing fees, and says customers have other options.
• Panel rejects psychedelic drug MDMA as a PTSD treatment in possible setback for advocates.
• Intelligence chairman says US may be less prepared for election threats than it was four years ago.
• New Orleans valedictorian lived in a homeless shelter as he rose to the top of his class.
• YouTube toughens policy on gun videos and youth; critics say proof will be in enforcement.
• Prince William is usher at wedding of aristocrat the Duke of Westminster.
• UN official highlights how better preparation has shrunk disaster deaths despite worsening climate.

—The Associated Press

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On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April June 7 at 7:45 a.m. CT:

PARIS (AP) — President Joe Biden has for the first time publicly apologized to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for a monthslong congressional holdup in American military assistance that let Russia make battlefield gains. Biden and Zelenskyy met Friday in France, where they attended ceremonies marking the 80th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

RENO, Nev. (AP) — The first heat wave of the year is expected to maintain its grip on the Southwest United States for at least another day as record-setting temperatures continue to soar past 110 degrees Fahrenheit from southeast California to Arizona. The official start of summer is still two weeks away.

WASHINGTON (AP) — US employers added a robust 272,000 jobs in May in a sign of continued economic strength.

NEW YORK (AP) — More than 1.2 million rechargeable lights are under recall in the U.S. and Canada following a report of one consumer death. According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Good Earth Lighting’s now-recalled integrated light bars have batteries that can overheat and cause the unit to catch on fire. 

In other news:

• Tim Scott, a potential Donald Trump VP pick, launches a $14 million outreach effort to minority voters.
• Election certification disputes in a handful of states spark concerns over presidential contest.
• Trump ally Steve Bannon must surrender to prison by July 1 to start contempt sentence, judge says.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu set to address Congress on July 24, AP sources say.
• Boeing's astronaut capsule arrives at the space station after thruster trouble.
• Records expunged for St. Louis couple who waved guns at protesters. They want their guns back.
• Dwindling number of D-Day veterans mark anniversary with plea to recall WWII lessons in today's wars.
• Little relief Mortgage rates ease, pulling the average rate on a 30-year home loan to just below 7%.
• Man charged in Gilgo Beach serial killings kept 'blueprint' of crimes on computer, prosecutors say.
• ‘Wheel of Fortune’ Vanna White bids an emotional goodbye to Pat Sajak.
• Diana Ross, Eminem and Jack White perform for thousands as former Detroit eyesore returns to life.
• Suzanne Collins is releasing a new 'Hunger Games' novel, 'Sunrise on the Reaping,' next year.
• Dolly Parton plans for a musical on her life using her songs to land on Broadway in 2026.
• Paris Olympics organizers unveil a display of the five Olympic rings mounted on the Eiffel Tower.
• Ex-NASCAR driver Tighe Scott and 3 other Pennsylvania men face charges stemming from Capitol riot.
• The Celtics beat the Mavericks, the Lakers may make a coaching change, the White Sox fall again and the defending champ is back in the French Open women's final.

—The Associated Press

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On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April June 6 at 7:45 a.m. CT:

World War II veterans are joining heads of state and others on the beaches of Normandy to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. The Allied invasion, which began on June 6, 1944, led to the defeat of the Nazis and the end of the war. The assault began with Allied aircraft bombing German defenses in Normandy, followed by around 1,200 aircraft that carried airborne troops. 

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian health officials say an Israeli strike on a school sheltering displaced families in central Gaza killed at least 33 people including 23 women and children. The Israeli military claims the school was being used as a Hamas compound. 

LIVONIA, Mich. (AP) — A toddler has been killed and his mother was injured when a tornado struck suburban Detroit without warning. Officials in Livonia, Michigan, say the tornado tore through several neighborhoods on Wednesday afternoon and developed so quickly that there was no advance notice from the National Weather Service or others that would have normally led to the activation of warning sirens.

KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) — Nepal's abundant hydroelectric power is helping the Himalayan nation cut its oil imports and clean up its air, thanks to a boom in sales of electric vehicles. Nearly all of the electricity produced in Nepal is clean energy, most of it generated by river-fed hydro-electricity.

NEW YORK (AP) — New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has halted a plan to charge motorists big tolls to enter the core of Manhattan. Just weeks before the nation’s first “congestion pricing” system was set to launch, she says it risks "too many unintended consequences at this time."

In other news:

• Appeals court halts Donald Trump's Georgia election case while appeal on Fani Willis disqualification pending.
• House Republicans issue criminal referrals against James and Hunter Biden, alleging false testimony.
• Hunter Biden's ex-wife and former girlfriend testify at trial about finding his drug paraphernalia.
• Ukraine uses US weapons to strike inside Russia, a Western official tells AP.
• Vladimir Putin warns that Russia could provide long-range weapons to others to strike Western targets.
• Boeing launches NASA astronauts for the first time after years of delays.
• A hail stone the size of a pineapple was found in Texas. It likely sets a state record.
• Wisconsin warden and eight staff members charged following probes into inmate deaths.
• Washington man sentenced for 20 'swatting' calls of false threats in US, Canada.
• Big Mac battle: McDonald's loses European Union trademark fight with Irish rival Supermac's.
• Big offensive nights around major league baseball, a franchise tying all time losing streak and a preview of the NBA Finals.

—The Associated Press

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On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April June 5 at 7:45 a.m. CT:

AUKAR, Lebanon (AP) — The Lebanese military said that its solidiers shot and captured a gunman who attacked the U.S. embassy near Beirut after a shootout that injured an embassy security guard. The attack took place Wednesday as tensions continued to simmer in the tiny Mediterranean country, where months of fighting between Hezbollah militants and Israeli troops has displaced thousands along the border.

PARIS (AP) — U.S. President Joe Biden is headed to France for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, where he'll join other world leaders to commemorate the invasion that helped bring an end to World War II. He will arrive at a time when the Western alliances that were forged in that era are being threatened in the United States and overseas.

FLORENCE, Italy (AP) — An Italian court has reconvicted Amanda Knox of slander, quashing her hope of removing a legal stain against her that has persisted long after her exoneration in the brutal 2007 murder of her British roommate. 

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Hunter Biden’s ex-wife is expected to be among the witnesses at his federal gun trial in Delaware. Kathleen Buhle was married to President Joe Biden’s son for roughly 20 years and says they divorced after his infidelity and drug abuse became too much to overcome. Witness testimony is expected to continue Wednesday.

MANCHESTER, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire man has been sentenced to 40 years to life in prison for fatally stabbing his mother after the two had argued about the volume on the video games he was playing. 

NEW YORK (AP) — James Kane has used a magnet to fish all manner of junk from New York City waterways, but he says the stacks of $100 bills he pulled from a safe were something else entirely. Kane’s girlfriend, Barbi Agostini, told The Associated Press on Monday that she thought he was joking as she filmed their Friday find. The magnet fisher who promotes his exploits online pulled a slimy safe out of a lake in Flushing Meadows Corona Park on Friday. The couple estimates that the safe contained $100,000 in damaged currency. 

In other news: 

• Biden says he's restricting asylum to help 'gain control' of the border.
• Biden lays into Donald Trump over convictions and says he now poses a greater threat than in 2016.
• Attorney General Merrick Garland slams attacks on the Justice Department, telling lawmakers 'I will not be intimidated.'
• Trump's lawyers ask judge to lift gag order imposed during New York trial.
• Wisconsin attorney general files felony charges against attorneys, aide who worked for Trump in 2020.
• Kim, Bashaw win New Jersey primaries for Senate seat held by embattled Menendez.
• Amid election-year push on reproductive rights, Senate to hold test vote on access to contraception.
• 3-year-old dies in what police say was random stabbing in Ohio grocery parking lot.
• US job openings fall to 8.1 million, lowest since 2021, but remain at historically high levels.
• How AP covered the D-Day landings and lost photographer Bede Irvin in the battle for Normandy.
• Silence and heavy security in China and Hong Kong on 35th anniversary of Tiananmen crackdown.
• Alec and Hilaria Baldwin announce TLC family reality series.
• Halsey reveals illness, announces new album and shares new song 'The End.'
• Muhammad Ali's childhood home is for sale in Kentucky after being converted into a museum.
• Major League Baseball makes news on and off the field, a WNBA team looks to remain undefeated, there will be a new men's champion at the French Open, a long time NHL star hangs up his skates, and a legendary NCAA women's basketball coach is given a contract extension.
• Baseball star Shohei Ohtani says he has 'closure' after ex-interpreter Ippei Mizuhara's guilty plea.

—The Associated Press

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On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April June 4 at 7:45 a.m. CT:

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Opening statements are set to begin in the federal gun case against President Joe Biden’s son Hunter. A jury of 12 and four alternates was seated Monday in Delaware. First lady Jill Biden attended the proceedings. So did Hunter Biden's sister Ashley. Hunter Biden is charged with three felonies stemming from a 2018 firearm purchase when he was, according to his memoir, in the throes of a crack addiction.

PHOENIX (AP) — Parts of California, Nevada and Arizona are expected to bake this week as the first heat wave of the season arrives with triple-digit temperatures. That includes Phoenix, which last summer saw a record 31 straight days of at least 110 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Palestinian health officials in the Gaza Strip say Israeli strikes killed at least 11 people overnight into Tuesday. A family of three was killed in the built-up Bureij refugee camp and eight police officers were hit in the central town of Deir al-Balah. In the occupied West Bank, the Israeli military said Tuesday it killed two Palestinians, who it claimed were attempting to launch a shooting attack toward Israeli communities. A cease-fire proposal announced by United States President Joe Biden has placed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a crossroads. 

BEIJING (AP) — Security in Beijing is tight around Tiananmen Square as China marks 35 years since a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests. Police checkpoints and rows of police vehicles could be seen along major roads on Tuesday, even as hundreds of tourists lined the streets leading to the square and the nearby Forbidden City. 

In other news: 

• After guilty verdict, Trump will appear on the ballot in the last presidential primaries of 2024.
• Biden prepares a tough executive order that would shut down asylum after 2,500 migrants arrive a day.
• Kamala Harris will represent the US at a Swiss 'peace summit' for Ukraine.
• A grant program for Black women business owners is discriminatory, appeals court rules.
• Ex-US soldier charged in 'international crime spree' extradited from Ukraine, officials say.
• New Jersey Democrats and Republicans picking Senate, House candidates amid Menendez corruption trial.
• Louisiana lawmakers approve surgical castration option for those guilty of sex crimes against kids.
• Sandy Hook families ask bankruptcy judge to liquidate Alex Jones' media company.
• PacifiCorp will pay $178M to Oregon wildfire victims in latest settlement over deadly 2020 blazes.
• Atlanta water woes extend into fourth day as city finally cuts off leak gushing into streets.
• Poppi faces lawsuit from consumer who questions its gut health claims.
• Company that bred beagles for research pleads guilty to neglect, ordered to pay record $35M fine.
• China's spacecraft carrying rocks from the far side of the moon leaves the lunar surface.
• Hong Kong detains an artist on the eve of the 35th anniversary of China's Tiananmen Square crackdown.
• A betting investigation is underway in Major League Baseball, the Vikings agree to a huge deal with wide receiver Justin Jefferson, Phillies beat the Brewers as baseball division leaders square off, and Evansville with the school's biggest baseball win. 

—The Associated Press

About this program

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April June 3 at 7:30 a.m. CT:

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April May 25 at 6 a.m. CT:

Each Saturday Hot off the Wire looks at a variety of stories in business, science, health and more. This week's headlines include:

• Will former President Donald Trump be sentenced to prison?Guilty Trump becomes first former US president convicted of felony crimes.
• Voter outreach groups targeted by new laws in several GOP-led states are struggling to do their work.
• Most AAPI adults think history of racism should be taught in schools, AP-NORC poll finds.
• Layoffs can be part of running a small business. Some tips for owners on handling them.
• IRS makes free tax return program permanent and is asking all states to join in 2025.
• More people make 'no-buy year' pledges as overspending or climate worries catch up with them.
• Another Michigan dairy worker has bird flu, the third US case this year.
• Hollywood movies rarely reflect climate change crisis. These researchers want to change that.
• Toyota shows 'an engine reborn' with green fuel despite global push for battery electric cars.
• What to look for in mosquito repellents.
• 'Star Trek' actor George Takei is determined to keep telling his Japanese American story.
• At 100, this vet says the 'greatest generation' moniker fits 'because we saved the world.'
• Pat Owtram used her language skills to listen in on German U-boats during WWII.
• He saw the horrors of Dachau. Now, this veteran warns against Holocaust denial.
• Jackie Robinson is rebuilt in bronze in Colorado after theft of statue from Kansas park.
• A fifth grader's fundraiser cleared his school of meal debt. It named an award for him.
• Armenians, Hmong and other groups feel US race and ethnicity categories don't represent them.
• Executions worldwide jumped last year to the highest number since 2015, Amnesty report says.
• UN refugee chief says 114 million have fled homes because nations fail to tackle causes of conflict.
• US vow more retirns of looted antiquties as Italy celebrates haul of 60 artifacts.
• In Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula, a hidden underground world is under threat by the Maya Train.
• North Korea flies trash balloons over the South as leader Kim doubles down on satellite ambitions.

—The Associated Press

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On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April May 31 at 7:30 a.m. CT:

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Joint British-U.S. airstrikes targeting Yemen’s Houthi rebels killed at least 16 people and wounded 42 others. That's according to comments from the rebels Friday.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — A Minneapolis police officer was killed when he responded to a shooting call and was providing medical attention to a man who shot him in what authorities are calling an ambush. 

In other news:

• Shares in Trump Media slump after former president convicted in hush money trial.
• President Joe Biden partially lifts ban on Ukraine using US arms in strikes on Russian territory, US officials say.
• Biden to make his first state visit to France after attending D-Day 80th commemorations next week.
• Supreme Court clears the way for the NRA’s free speech lawsuit against an ex-New York official.
• Chief Justice John Roberts rejects Senate Democrats' request to discuss Supreme Court ethics and Alito flag controversy.
• Mortgage rates snap three-week pullback, pushing average rate on a 30-year home loan back above 7%.
• US economic growth last quarter is revised down from 1.6% rate to 1.3%, but consumers kept spending.
• Amazon gets FAA approval allowing it to expand drone deliveries for online orders.
• Boeing tells federal regulators how it plans to fix aircraft safety and quality problems.
• From electric vehicles to deciding what to cook for dinner, John Podesta faces climate challenges.
• Bruhat Soma wins the National Spelling Bee after a slow night concludes with a sudden tiebreaker.
• Doomsday plot Idaho jury convicts Chad Daybell of killing wife and girlfriend's 2 children.
• Michigan reports another person working with cows got bird flu, the third US case this year.
• The Mavericks advance to the NBA Finals, another nail biter at Madison Square Garden in hockey, eight games in Major League Baseball and Hard Knocks has its team for the upcoming NFL season.
• 25 North Korea fires missile barrage toward its eastern waters days after failed satellite launch.

—The Associated Press

About this program

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April May 30 at 7:30 a.m. CT:

HOUSTON (AP) — Residents across Texas are recovering again from storms that ripped off roofs in Dallas and flooded roads in Houston. Up to 1 million homes and businesses were without power during the severe weather Tuesday. One electric utility said Wednesday that some outages could linger into the weekend. A 16-year-old construction worker was killed when a house being built near Houston collapsed. 

NEW YORK (AP) — Jury deliberations in Donald Trump's criminal hush money trial are set to enter a second day as jurors navigate the weighty task of evaluating the former president's guilt and innocence alongside the facts of the case. The panel deliberated for more than four hours Wednesday and asked the judge to rehear both jury instructions and portions of testimony from two key witnesses.

BEIJING (AP) — China's Commerce Ministry has announced it will restrict exports of aviation and aerospace-related equipment and technology beginning July 1. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — A string of security, logistical and weather problems has battered the plan to deliver desperately needed humanitarian aid to Gaza through a U.S. military-built pier. Broken apart by strong winds and heavy seas just over a week after it became operational, U.S. officials say that the pier is being repaired, then will be reinstalled and working again soon. 

The Israeli military says two soldiers have been killed in a car-ramming attack in the occupied West Bank. Violence in the West Bank has surged throughout the war in Gaza as Israel raids Palestinian towns in the territory to crack down on militancy, with incursions resulting in the deaths of more than 500 Palestinians.

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama is set to execute a man convicted of bludgeoning an elderly couple to death 20 years ago to steal prescription drugs and $140 from their home. Jamie Ray Mills is scheduled to be put to death Thursday evening at a south Alabama prison. 

Melinda French Gates says she will be donating $1 billion over the next two years to individuals and organizations working on behalf of women and families globally, including on reproductive rights in the United States. French Gates is one of the biggest philanthropic supporters of gender equity in the U.S.

Yale University has named its 24th president. Maurie McInnis will take over on July 1 and succeed Peter Salovey, who is retiring to take a faculty position after leading the New Haven, Connecticut, school for the past decade.

In other news:

• Justice Samuel Alito rejects calls to step aside from Supreme Court cases because of flag controversies.
• Two new giant pandas are returning to Washington's National Zoo from China by the end of the year.
• Key Republican calls for 'generational' increase in defense spending to counter US adversaries.
• Another US military MQ-9 Reaper drone goes down in Yemen, images purportedly show.
• Boeing reaches deadline for reporting how it will fix aircraft safety and quality problems.
• Authorities arrest man allegedly running 'likely world's largest ever' cybercrime botnet.
• McDonald's says $18 Big Mac meal was an 'exception' and news reports overstated its price increases.
• Michigan willing to spend millions to restore Flint properties ripped up by pipe replacement.
• New York prosecutors say they are weighing new charges against Harvey Weinstein.
• 14 pro-democracy activists convicted, 2 acquitted in Hong Kong's biggest national security case.
• An Iceland volcano spews red streams of lava toward an evacuated town.
• Charges dropped against golfer Scottie Scheffler, Stanley Cup series evens up between the Oilers and Stars, Dodgers sweep the Mets, and Major League Baseball combines its records with the Negro Leagues. 

—The Associated Press

About this program

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April May 29 at 7:45 a.m. CT:

NEW YORK (AP) — Jurors in Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial are expected to begin deliberations after receiving instructions from the judge on the law and the factors they may consider as they strive to reach a verdict in the first criminal case against a former American president. 

HOUSTON (AP) — Weather-weary Texas has been hammered again by powerful storms bearing forceful winds that left one person dead, collapsed homes under construction and uprooted trees.

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris head to the battleground state of Pennsylvania as they step up their reelection pitch to Black voters.

The Israeli military says three soldiers have been killed in Rafah. Israeli media reported that the soldiers were killed when a booby trap exploded Tuesday, and three other soldiers were wounded.

OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — A four-letter word sent Shradha Rachamreddy to a third-place finish in last year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee. The 14-year-old from San Jose, California, made it back as one of 245 spellers competing in this year’s bee, which began Tuesday at a convention center outside Washington. 

In other news:

• Democrats plan to nominate Biden by virtual roll call to meet Ohio ballot deadline.
• Judge nixes bid to restrict Trump statements that could endanger officers in classified records case.
• Former Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis barred from practicing in Colorado for three years.
• Judge keeps punishment of 30 years at resentencing for man who attacked Paul Pelosi.
• T-Mobile to buy almost all of U.S Cellular in deal worth $4.4 billion with debt.
• US consumer confidence rises in May after three months of declines.
• Pope apologizes after being quoted using vulgar term about gay men in talk about ban on gay priests.
• Weeks of sweltering heat scorch northern India.
• What is Manhattanhenge and when can you see it.
• Bette Nash, who was named the world's longest-serving flight attendant, dies at 88.
• Albert Ruddy, Oscar-winning producer of 'The Godfather' and 'Million Dollar Baby,' dies at 94.
• Richard Dreyfuss' comments about women, LGBTQ+ people and diversity lead venue to apologize.
• The NBA and NHL playoffs continue, the Cubs and Brewers play extra innings, the Dodgers end their losing streak, Major League Baseball's record book will have a different look, an LPGA golfer announces her retirement from full time competition and the Sun stay undefeated in the WNBA. 

—The Associated Press

About this program

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April May 28 at 7:30 a.m. CT:

A possible tornado that damaged homes and a school in Pennsylvania is the latest in a serious of powerful storms that first swept much of the U.S. over the Memorial Day holiday weekend and caused at least 22 deaths. No injuries were reported in the Pennsylvania storms. But an emergency official says there was roof damage Monday night to a high school and about six homes in Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania. The destructive storms caused deaths in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kentucky and were just north of a heat wave setting records from south Texas to Florida.

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says a “tragic mishap” was made in an Israeli strike in the southern Gaza city of Rafah that set fire to a tent camp housing displaced Palestinians. Local officials say at least 45 people were killed in Sunday's strike.

SAN CLEMENTE, Calif. (AP) — Authorities have closed a 2-mile stretch of a popular Southern California beach for the Memorial Day holiday after a shark bumped a surfer off his board the night before. Authorities announced the 24-hour closure at San Clemente after the surfer came out of the water and reported the shark’s aggressive behavior to lifeguards around 8 p.m. Sunday. 

BRUSSELS (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has received a second $1 billion promise of military aid in as many days during a whirlwind tour through the European Union. 

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Authorities fear a second landslide and a disease outbreak are looming at the scene of Papua New Guinea’s mass-casualty disaster. 

In other news:

• President Joe Biden says each generation has to 'earn' freedom, in solemn Memorial Day remarks.
• Trump, accustomed to friendly crowds, confronts repeated booing during Libertarian convention speech.
• Friday's preholiday travel breaks the record for the most airline travelers screened at US airports.
• ‘Furiosa’ sneaks past ‘Garfield’ to claim No. 1 spot over Memorial Day holiday weekend. Also, the latest in Alec Baldwin's court case, a Nicki Minaj performance and the death of Disney songwriter Richard M. Sherman.
• Sean Baker's 'Anora' wins Palme d'Or, the Cannes Film Festival's top honor.
• Prosecutors in Harvey Weinstein's New York case cry foul over defense lawyer's comments.
• Mike Tyson 'doing great' after falling ill during weekend flight from Miami to Los Angeles.
• The Celtics return to the NBA Finals, a true basketball legend passes away, the Stars shine again in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and Rafael Nadal loses his first found match at the French Open. Correspondent Tom Mariam reports.
• Newgarden goes back-to-back at Indy 500 to give Roger Penske record-extending 20th win.
• Christopher Bell wins the Coca-Cola 600 after race called with 151 laps left due to wet weather.
• On this week's AP Religion Roundup, an Italian boy takes another step toward becoming the first millennial saint, and the Catholic church revamps how it evaluates supernatural events.

—The Associated Press

About this program

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April May 25 at 6 a.m. CT:

Each Saturday Hot off the Wire looks at a variety of stories in business, science, health and more. This week's headlines include:

• Average US vehicle age hits record 12.6 years as high prices force people to keep them longer.
• Bike shops boomed early in the pandemic. It’s been a bumpy ride for most ever since.
• Small business owners are more undecided about the election than the general public.
• All that 'checkout charity' adds up. Domino's plans $174 million from it for St. Jude hospital.
• Using AI, Mastercard expects to find compromised cards quicker, before they get used by criminals.
• Sour Patch Kids Oreos Peeps Pepsi What's behind the weird flavors popping up on store shelves.
• Dangerous brew Ocean heat and La Nina combo likely mean more Atlantic hurricanes this summer.
• 'Heat dome' leads to sweltering temperatures in Mexico, Central America and US South.
• It's so hot in Mexico that howler monkeys are falling dead from the trees.
• Massive cradle of baby stars revealed in new space telescope images.
• Sites with radioactive material more vulnerable as climate change increases wildfire, flood risks.
• Can pink noise enhance sleep and memory Early research drives a color noise buzz.
• Daily marijuana use outpaces daily drinking in the US, a new study says.
• US pediatricians group reverses decades-old ban on breastfeeding for those with HIV.
• Jesus is their savior, Trump is their candidate. Ex-president's backers say he shares faith, values.
• Noncitizen voting, already illegal in federal elections, becomes a centerpiece of 2024 GOP messaging.
• Sen. Cory Booker questions US prison labor policies, calls for change.
• Barbie will make dolls to honor Venus Williams and other star athletes.
• Billionaire rains cash on UMass graduates to tune of $1,000 each, but says they must give half away.
• Three little piggies at a yoga class = maximum happiness.
• What is in-flight turbulence, and when does it become dangerous for passengers and crews?

—The Associated Press

About this program