Ukraine continues push into Russia; consumers helping cool inflation

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

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine’s top military commander says his forces now control 1,000 square kilometers, or 386 square miles, of Russia’s neighboring Kursk region. His statement marked the first time a Ukrainian military official has publicly commented on the gains of the lightning incursion that has embarrassed the Kremlin. Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi made the comment in a video posted Monday to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Telegram channel. 

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump recounted his assassination attempt in vivid detail and promised the largest deportation in U.S. history during a high-profile return to the social media platform formerly known as Twitter. The conversation with X’s owner Elon Musk was plagued by technical glitches Monday night. The rare public conversation, which was overwhelmingly friendly, revealed little new about Trump’s plans for a second term. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is trying to outmaneuver former President Donald Trump and address old vulnerabilities on her policy positions as she starts to fill in how she would govern if elected in November. After four years of following President Joe Biden’s lead, Harris is taking a cautious approach to unveiling a policy vision in her own right.

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Tropical Storm Ernesto is battering the northeast Caribbean as it takes aim at Puerto Rico, where officials have shuttered schools and government agencies. The storm was located about 300 miles east-southeast of San Juan, Puerto Rico, on Tuesday morning.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The great inflation spike of the past three years is nearly spent — and economists credit American consumers for helping slay it. Some of America’s largest companies say their customers are increasingly seeking cheaper alternative products and services, searching for bargains or just avoiding items they deem too expensive. Consumers aren’t cutting back enough to cause an economic downturn. Rather, the economy appears to be returning to pre-pandemic norms, when most companies felt they couldn’t raise prices much without losing business.

In other news:

• Harris is pushing joy. Trump paints a darker picture. Will mismatched moods matter.
• FBI says it is investigating after Trump campaign said sensitive documents were hacked by Iran.
• Judge rules against RFK Jr. in fight to be on New York’s ballot, says he is not a state resident.
• MTV Video Music Awards move for US presidential debate, will still take place in September.
• Former Colorado clerk Tina Peters, one-time hero to election deniers, convicted in computer breach.
• North Dakota voters to weigh in again on marijuana legalization.
• Federal officials investigating natural gas explosion in Maryland that killed 2.
• Texas launches new investigation into Houston's power utility following deadly outages after Beryl.
• An earthquake with a magnitude of 4.4 has struck the Los Angeles area, the USGS says.
• Crews begin demolishing Texas church where gunman killed more than two dozen in 2017.
• Georgia is number one in the AP Top 25 preseason football poll by a wide margin, it looks like an appeal to return a bronze medal to USA gymnast Jordan Chiles will be unsuccessful, a major league baseball player will be suspended as he learns that words matter, and in a matchup of division leaders, the Dodgers defeat the Brewers.
• London police say a girl and a woman were stabbed in the busy theater district and a man is arrested.

—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.