US journalist goes on trial in Russia; Biden, Trump set to debate; Knicks, Nets make rare trade

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted June 26 at 8 a.m. CT:

YEKATERINBURG, Russia (AP) — Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich has gone on trial in the Russian city of Yekaterinburg on espionage charges that he, his employer and the U.S. government vehemently deny. The 32-year-old journalist appeared in the court with his head shaved and wearing a black-and-blue plaid shirt. 

CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has returned to his homeland Australia aboard a charter jet hours after pleading guilty to obtaining and publishing U.S. military secrets. 

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is pardoning potentially thousands of former U.S. service members convicted of violating a now-repealed military ban on consensual gay sex. The president says he is “righting an historic wrong” to clear the way for these service members to regain lost benefits. Biden’s action grants a pardon to those who were convicted under the Uniform Code of Military Justice’s former Article 125, which criminalized sodomy. 

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee’s top election office has sent letters to more than 14,000 registered voters asking them to prove their citizenship, a move that alarmed voting rights advocates as possible intimidation. 

In other news:

• President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are set to debate. Here's what their past performances looked like.
• Homeland Security says border arrests fall more than 40% since Biden's halt to asylum processing.
• Judge alters Trump’s gag order, letting him talk about witnesses, jury after hush money conviction.
• More than 500 people have been charged with federal crimes under the gun safety law Biden signed.
• TSA says it screened a record 2.99 million people Sunday, and bigger crowds are on the way.
• Rep. Lauren Boebert wins GOP primary after switching Colorado districts; Hurd, Crank also notch wins.
• Oklahoma Supreme Court rules publicly funded religious charter school is unconstitutional.
• NTSB concludes flaming wheel bearing caused east Ohio derailment, vent and burn was unnecessary.
• US military shows reporters pier project in Gaza as it takes another stab at aid delivery.
• Gena Rowlands has Alzheimer's, her son Nick Cassavetes says.
• The Brooklyn Nets are sending Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks, the New York Mets beat the Yankees in the Subway Series, another win for the Cleveland Guardians and 50 thousand dollars on the line for track and field athletes in the Paris Games.

—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.