House rejects temporary funding bill; songwriter JD Souther dies

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has rejected Speaker Mike Johnson's bill to temporarily fund the government. The legislation that failed Wednesday would have linked temporary government funding with a mandate that states require proof of citizenship when people register to vote.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kamala Harris and Donald Trump are set to make appearances that are meant to fire up core supporters. Harris is participating in a livestream Thursday night with Oprah Winfrey in Michigan. Trump is scheduled to attend an evening event in Washington with prominent Jewish donors before addressing a gathering of the Israeli-American Council. 

Israel’s defense minister has declared the start of a “new phase” of the war as Israel turns its focus toward the northern front against Hezbollah militants in Lebanon. Two waves of explosive attacks hit Syria and Lebanon: an apparent Israeli attack targeting pagers used by Hezbollah that killed at least 12 and wounded nearly 3,000 on Tuesday, and exploding walkie-talkies and other electronics Wednesday across Lebanon that killed at least 20 people and injured 450 others.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Authorities say they believe the body of a man suspected of shooting and wounding five people on a Kentucky interstate highway has been found. Col. Phillip “PJ” Burnett said that the body found Wednesday is believed to be Joseph Couch, of Woodbine, Kentucky. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — A longtime CIA officer who drugged, photographed and sexually assaulted more than two dozen women in postings around the world has been sentenced to 30 years in federal prison. Brian Jeffrey Raymond’s sentencing Wednesday came after an emotional hearing in Washington in which victims described being deceived by a man who "is supposed to protect the world from evil.”

In other news:

• Voters view Harris more favorably as she settles into role atop Democratic ticket AP-NORC poll.
• Iranian hackers tried but failed to interest Biden's campaign in stolen Trump info, FBI says.
• Teamsters union declines to endorse Trump or Harris for president.
• Officials say online reports of explosives found in a car near a Trump rally are false.
• Residents of Springfield, Ohio, hunker down and pray for a political firestorm to blow over.
• Federal Reserve cuts key rate by sizable half-point, signaling end to its inflation fight.
• 'Hidden Figures' of the space race receive Congress' highest honor at medal ceremony.
• Justice Department sues over Baltimore bridge collapse and seeks $100M in cleanup costs.
• Lack of citizenship documents might keep many from voting in Arizona state and local races.
• California laws cracking down on election deepfakes by AI face legal challenges.
• Iconic Tupperware Brands seeks Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
• Vermont town official, his wife and her son found shot to death in their home.
• JD Souther, a singer-songwriter who penned hits for the Eagles and Linda Ronstadt, dies at 78.
• Second judge refuses to grant home release to Sean 'Diddy' Combs.
• Harvey Weinstein hit with new sex crime charge in New York.
• MrBeast and Amazon sued by competitors from his $5M reality show over alleged 'unsafe' conditions.
• There's no taming the Tigers these days, the Guardians get a wild, walk-off win, the Brewers clinch before beating the Phillies, the four NL wild-card contenders all win, the Rams keep their top wideout off IR, the Packers practice with their top QB and the Bruins await their No. 1 netminder.
• Eli Manning leads the list of candidates for this year's Pro Football Hall Fame election.
• Adrian Wojnarowski is leaving ESPN for alma mater to become GM of St. Bonaventure men's basketball team.
• Rogers Communications buys out Bell stake in Maple Leafs Sports for $3.5 billion.
• Google wins legal bid to overturn 1.5 billion euro antitrust fine in EU digital ad case.
• Australian police infiltrate encrypted messaging app Ghost and arrest dozens.
• Vatican gives green light to devotion at Bosnia site in Medjugorje where Madonna reportedly appeared.

—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.