Harris wins Democratic virtual roll call; White Sox lose 21st straight game

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 6 at 7:30 a.m. CT:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris’ coronation as the Democrats' standard-bearer for the 2024 presidential election is now official after the Democratic National Committee announced the formal results of the online voting by delegates on Monday night. It caps a tumultuous period for the party prompted by President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance and his subsequent withdrawal from the race. 

HORSESHOE BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Tropical Storm Debby has moved menacingly into some of America’s most historic Southern cities in what is expected to be a prolonged event of torrential downpours and flooding after slamming into Florida with heavy rain and high winds. Record-setting rain from the storm that killed at least five people on Monday was causing flash flooding in Savannah, Georgia, and Charleston, South Carolina, among other areas of coastal Georgia and South Carolina. 

The National Transportation Safety Board is about to hold a two-day hearing into the blowout of a panel from the side of a Boeing 737 Max airliner. The safety board's hearing starts Tuesday in Washington, D.C. 

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — The Chicago White Sox lost their 21st straight game, tying the American League record with a 5-1 defeat to the Oakland Athletics as Max Schuemann hit a tiebreaking, two-run single in the fourth inning. Chicago is on the longest losing streak since the 1988 Baltimore Orioles lost 21 in a row. The NL record since 1900 is held by the 1961 Philadelphia Phillies, who lost 23 straight. The major league low belongs to the 1889 Louisville Colonels, an American Association team that lost 26 consecutive games during a 27-111 season.

In other news:

• Rally dates are set. Venues are chosen. The only thing missing for Harris' blitz is her VP choice.
• Ex-Trump attorney Jenna Ellis to cooperate in Arizona fake electors case, charges to be dropped.
• Justice Clarence Thomas took undisclosed 2010 trip with GOP megadonor, Democratic senator finds.
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. says he left a dead bear in Central Park as a prank.
• Google loses massive antitrust case over its search dominance.
• Pope Francis' close ally, Cardinal Sean O'Malley, retires as archbishop of Boston at age 80.
• Japan's share benchmark soars nearly 11% a day after massive sell-offs that shook Wall Street.
• Families whose loved ones were left rotting in Colorado funeral home owed $950M, payout unlikely.
• Venezuela's top prosecutor announces criminal probe against opposition leaders González, Machado.
• A rebuilt bronze Jackie Robinson statue will be unveiled 6 months after the original was stolen.
• Snoop Dogg has exploded on the Olympics' global stage. He's just being himself.
• Olympics security means minorities and others flagged as potential terror threats can’t move freely.
• Two more medals for the US on the final day of gymnastics competition, the White Sox lose an AL record 21st straight game, the Dodgers win a battle of NL division leaders and the Chiefs will get their kicks out of Harrison Butker for four additional years.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

Hot Off The Wire is a collection of news, sports and entertainment reports. The program is produced by Lee Enterprises with audio provided by The Associated Press.