On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Oct. 2 at 7 a.m. CT: STOCKHOLM (AP) — Two scientists have won the Nobel Prize in medicine for discoveries that enabled the development of mRNA vaccines against COVID-19 and could be used in the future to create other shots. Katalin Karikó is a professor at Sagan’s University in Hungary and an adjunct professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Drew Weissman the director of the Penn Institute for RNA Innovations at the University of Pennsylvania. The panel said they were awarded the prize Monday for “their groundbreaking findings, which have fundamentally changed our understanding of how mRNA interacts with our immune system.” LOS ANGELES (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has named Democratic strategist and Kamala Harris 2020 presidential campaign adviser Laphonza Butler to fill the U.S. Senate seat made vacant by Sen. Dianne Feinstein's death. Newsom is fulfilling his pledge to appoint a Black woman if Feinstein’s seat became open. The long-serving Democratic senator died Thursday after a series of illnesses. Butler leads Emily’s List, a political organization that supports women who favor abortion rights. Butler lives in Maryland but owns a home in California and is expected to reregister to vote there. Newsom had faced pressure from some Black politicians and advocacy groups to select Barbara Lee, a prominent Black congresswoman who's already running for the seat. WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court justices are taking the bench for the first time since late June. Their new term begins Monday with ethics concerns swirling around the court. The only case being argued Monday concerns the meaning of the word “and” in a federal law dealing with prison terms for low-level drug dealers. The length of thousands of sentences a year is at stake. The court also is expected to get rid of hundreds of appeals that accumulated over the summer. The term is shaping up as an important one for social media as the court grapples with applying older laws and rulings to the digital age. WASHINGTON (AP) — New polling finds America’s college campuses are seen as far friendlier to liberals than to conservatives when it comes to free speech. Polling from the University of Chicago and the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds 47% of adult Americans say liberals are free to express their views on college campuses, while 20% say the same of conservatives. Free speech debates have roiled campuses in recent years, with conflicts arising over conservative guest speakers. Republican lawmakers in dozens of states have proposed bills limiting public colleges from teaching topics considered divisive. The poll finds 30% of Americans say states should be allowed to restrict what state universities teach. MOREAU, N.Y. (AP) — Police were searching for a missing 9-year-old girl who had been camping with her family in upstate New York. Charlotte Sena was last seen on Saturday evening in Moreau Lake State Park, about 35 miles north of Albany. Gov. Kathy Hochul told reporters that the girl had been riding her bike around a loop in the bucolic park around dinnertime with other children when she decided to ride one last loop by herself. Her parents became alarmed when the fourth grader failed to come back after 15 minutes. Police said it was possible she was abducted. The more than 100 searchers Sunday included police, forest rangers and civilians. VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis will open this week a global gathering of Catholic bishops and laypeople to discuss the future of the church. It's a meeting where women, their voices and their votes, will take center stage for the first time. Francis earlier this year agreed to let women and laypeople vote alongside bishops at the synod, putting the laity and hierarchy on equal ground. Supporters say that as a result of this, the gathering, which starts on Wednesday, is a watershed moment for the Catholic Church and quite possibly the most consequential thing Francis will have undertaken as pope. The meeting runs through Oct. 29, and will be followed by a second session next year. ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter put off his usual Sunday practice of watching church services online to instead celebrate his 99th birthday with his wife, Rosalynn, and their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren in Plains. The gathering will take place in the same one-story structure where the Carters lived before he was first elected as a state senator in 1962. Carter's family views it as a way to honor his personal legacy. But tributes have come from around the world, with celebrities and political figures wearing “Jimmy Carter 99” caps as they offer video messages to the former president. The Jimmy Carter Library & Museum and The Carter Center hosted a full weekend of festivities, including a naturalization ceremony Sunday for 99 new U.S. citizens on Sunday. LOS ANGELES (AP) — The unsolved killing of rapper Tupac Shakur has taken a major turn. Duane “Keffe D” Davis was arrested Friday morning and indicted on a murder charge. The case returned to the spotlight in July when Nevada authorities served a search warrant this week in connection with the rap star’s shooting death. The renewed activity comes nearly 30 years after Shakur was gunned down on Sept. 7, 1996. Shakur, one of the most prolific figures in hip-hop, releasing hit records while he was alive as well as posthumously. Friday's arrest reopens, again, one of the most infamous killings in hip-hop history. LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ahead of Dustin Lynch’s sixth studio album, “Killed the Cowboy,” the 38-year-old country star sensed some inner conflict. He had achieved many of his goals; he spent the last decade securing country radio hits and ranking in a cumulative billions of streams. The question became, what next? Should he settle down and, figuratively kill his interior cowboy? “Where do I want to be in five, 10, 20, 30 years?” he told AP. That question isn't exactly answered on the record, but no vulnerability is left unexplored across it: from the sole collaboration with Jelly Roll, “Chevrolet,” a reimagination of Dobie Gray’s 1973 hit “Drift Away” to playful tracks like “Honky Tonk Heartbreaker” and “George Strait Jr.” LAS VEGAS (AP) — Two helicopters zoomed through the starlit skies before producing spotlights over a Las Vegas desert and U2 frontman Bono, who kneeled to ground while singing “Vertigo.” This scene may seem customary, but the visuals were created by floor-to-ceiling graphics inside the immersive Sphere. It was one of the several impressive moments during U2’s “UV Achtung Baby” first residency show at the high-tech, globe-shaped venue, which opened Friday night. The legendary rock band performed for two hours inside the massive,state-of-the-art spherical venue. Throughout the night, U2 took 18,000 attendees on a musical journey accompanied by a plethora of attractive visuals. NEW YORK (AP) — After several quiet weeks in movie theaters, four films entered wide release over the weekend. “PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie” came out the top dog, with $23 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. The performances of all four films – “PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie,” “Saw X,” “The Creator” and “Dumb Money” – told a familiar story at the box office. What worked? Horror and animated franchises. What didn’t? Originality and comedy. “Saw X" managed to bounce back from a franchise low with an opening weekend of $18 million. “The Creator,” made for $80 million, debuted with a modest $14 million. The GameStop stock comedy “Dumb Money” disappointed with $3.5 million in nationwide expansion. VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis has presided over a ceremony to create 21 new cardinals. They include key figures at the Vatican and in the field who will help enact his reforms and cement his legacy. With the ceremony Francis has further expanded his influence on the College of Cardinals who will one day elect his successor. Nearly three-quarters of the voting-age “princes of the church” owe their red hats to the Argentine Jesuit. Among the new cardinals is the controversial new head of the Vatican’s doctrine office, Cardinal Victor Manuel Fernandez. Leaders of the church in geopolitical hotspots like Hong Kong, Jerusalem and South Sudan filled out the roster. Francis said their variety and geographic diversity would serve the church like musicians in an orchestra. Footage from deep in the Pacific Ocean has given the first detailed look at three World War II aircraft carriers that sank in the pivotal Battle of Midway. The video could help solve mysteries about the days-long barrage in 1942 that marked a shift in control of the Pacific theater from Japanese to U.S. forces. Remote submersibles operating 3 miles below the surface conducted extensive archeological surveys in September of the U.S.S. Yorktown, as well as the Akagi and Kaga, two of the four Japanese aircraft carriers destroyed. The imagery is expected to provide insight into conflicting reports about what happened in the battle. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

Welcome to the weekly bonus episode of Hot off the Wire, where we look back at some of the top headlines from the week in the world of sports and entertainment.  As always, be sure to check out our latest episode of Streamed & Screened, a podcast dedicated to movies and television.  This week Bruce Miller and I discuss the end of the writers strike and a number of streaming and movie options to hold you over until new programming arrives. Listen to the latest episode of Streamed & Screened here.  This week’s top headlines include: The writers strike is over and actors will resume negotiations with studios, giving hope that Hollywood production will soon be back to normal.  Usher will headline the Super Bowl halftime show in Las Vegas. Actors David McCallum and Michael Gambon along with baseball legend Brooks Robinson died this week. And the Phillies said no to an emotional support alligator. Those stories and more from The Associated Press.  But first, Bruce Miller talks about the upcoming film “Fair Play” from Netflix during the latest episode of Streamed & Screened.  — Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 29 at 3 p.m. CT: WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy's last-ditch plan to keep the government temporarily open has collapsed. Friday's vote a day before the deadline makes a government shutdown almost certain. The vote was 198-232, with 21 hard-right Republicans voting to sink the package. The White House and Democrats called the Republican package with its steep spending cuts of up to 30% too extreme. The bill included severe border security provisions demanded by the hard-right flank. The bill would've kept government operations open through Oct. 31. The Senate is working on its own bipartisan plan that is widely supported by both parties to continue funding at current levels. The Senate plan is headed for votes this weekend. LAS VEGAS (AP) — A grand jury in Las Vegas has indicted one of the last living witnesses to the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur in the rapper’s death. Duane “Keffe D” Davis was charged Friday with murder. Davis is the uncle of the suspected shooter and has long been linked to the case. He has admitted publicly that he was in the car with his nephew when Shakur was killed in a drive-by shooting near the Las Vegas Strip. The nephew was fatally shot two years later in California. Las Vegas police searched Davis' home in mid-July. DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers union expanded its strikes against Detroit automakers, ordering 7,000 more workers to walk off the job in Illinois and Michigan. The move announced Friday is supposed to put more pressure on the companies to improve their offers. It marked the second time the union has widened the walkout, which started two weeks ago at three assembly plants. The most recent additions are a Ford plant in Chicago and a General Motors assembly factory near Lansing. Union President Shawn Fain told workers in a video appearance that the strikes were escalated because Ford and GM refused “to make meaningful progress” in contract talks. BALTIMORE (AP) — The Catholic Archdiocese of Baltimore announced Friday it filed for Chapter 11 reorganization days before a new state law goes into effect removing the statute of limitations on child sex abuse claims and allowing victims to sue their abusers decades after the fact. In a statement posted on the archdiocese website, Archbishop William E. Lori says the step will “allow the archdiocese to equitably compensate victim-survivors of child sexual abuse” while the local church continues its mission and ministries. On Sunday, Maryland will end the state’s statute of limitations for when civil lawsuits for child sexual abuse can be filed against institutions. Victims are already poised to file lawsuits when the law takes effect. WASHINGTON (AP) — Tributes are pouring in for Dianne Feinstein, the trailblazing California senator, who has died at 90. President Joe Biden called her “a true trailblazer." Former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton said the same. Opening the Senate on Friday, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that “earlier this morning, we lost a giant in the Senate.” She was an advocate for liberal priorities but was also known as a pragmatic lawmaker who reached out to Republicans. She had been in failing health for months, but refused growing requests to retire. WASHINGTON (AP) — The Navy will begin randomly testing its special operations forces for steriods and other performance-enhancing drugs beginning in November. It's a groundbreaking step that military leaders have long resisted. Rear Adm. Keith Davids, the commander of Naval Special Warfare Command, announced the new program Friday in a message to his force. He says it is necessary to protect their health, safety and military readiness. A driving factor in the announcement was the death of a Navy SEAL candidate early last year. It has been in the works for months. BEIRUT (AP) — The Armenian diaspora has been stunned by the swift fall of the Armenian-majority enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh to Azerbaijani troops and the exodus of much of its population. Traumatized by a widely acknowledged genocide a century ago, Armenians now fear the erasure of what they consider a key and beloved part of their historic homeland. Protests have been held in Lebanon, Europe and the United States, home to large Armenian populations, the descendants of genocide survivors. Outside the modern country of Armenia itself, the mountainous land was one of the only surviving parts of a heartland that centuries ago stretched across what is now eastern Turkey, into the Caucasus region and western Iran. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered one of the top commanders of the Wagner military contractor to take charge of “volunteer units” fighting in Ukraine. The order signals the Kremlin’s effort to keep using the mercenaries after the death of their chief, Yevgeny Prigozhin. Putin told Andrei Troshev that his task is to form volunteer units that could perform combat tasks, primarily in the war zone. The meeting appeared to reflect the Kremlin’s plan to redeploy some of Wagner mercenaries to the front line in Ukraine following their brief mutiny in June and Prigozhin’s suspicious death in a plane crash Aug. 23. JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. (AP) — Army Gen. Mark Milley delivered a full-throated defense of democracy and not-so-subtle swipes at former President Donald Trump during a packed ceremony as he closed out his four, often tumultuous years as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Milley never mentioned the former president by name. but he practically shouted that the U.S. military swears to protect the Constitution “against ALL enemies, foreign AND domestic.” As chairman, Milley pushed back against a host of Trump’s plans. President Joe Biden also spoke at Friday's ceremony and he continued the democracy theme. He praised Milley’s staunch defense of the Constitution, which he said “has always been Mark’s North Star.” LOS ANGELES (AP) — iHeartRadio has unveiled its star-studded 2023 Jingle Ball lineup, including performances by Olivia Rodrigo, Usher, Nicki Minaj, SZA, Niall Horan, and Jelly Roll. The 11-city tour will hit Tampa and the Miami area, the Dallas area, Los Angeles, Chicago, Detroit, New York, Boston, Washington, Philadelphia and Atlanta. Other acts include OneRepublic, AJR, Sabrina Carpenter, Miguel, Big Time Rush, NCT DREAM, Flo Rida. The concert will be carried live across the country on iHeartRadio and the iHeartRadio app. Under a new agreement with ABC, a television special will air Dec. 21. Tickets go on sale for the general public Oct. 6. PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona and Utah will keep iconic national parks in those states open if a federal government shutdown cuts off funding nationwide. People can keep visiting Arizona’s orange-striped Grand Canyon and the sheer red cliffs of Utah’s Zion Valley. Most importantly for state budgets, visitors can keep spending their money near the parks. A cutoff could come Sunday. The economic impact of the national parks is so important that Arizona’s Democratic governor and Utah’s Republican governor have decided to invest state funds in keeping Grand Canyon, Zion, Arches, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef and Canyonlands national parks open. For Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, it’s a simple question of economics. NEW YORK (AP) — TikTok has become a key marketing channel for vendors promoting steroids and other bodybuilding drugs to millions of the app’s users, according to a report released Thursday that the social media company disputes. In the study, the nonprofit Center for Countering Digital Hate says popular videos encouraging use of the products for aesthetic or athletic gain are being posted by influencers who often downplay the risks associated with them. TikTok spokesperson Ben Rathe criticized the report, saying the group’s methodology doesn’t distinguish between harmful videos and positive content that talks about recovery from steroids or their side effects. Deion Sanders' immediate impact after taking over a Colorado football program that won just one game last year is providing hope for other Black coaches looking to land Power Five jobs. There are only 14 Black head coaches roaming the sidelines at the 133 Football Bowl Subdivision programs while roughly half the players are Black. Notre Dame’s Marcus Freeman and Penn State’s James Franklin are the only ones at what would be considered traditional powerhouses. It's too early to say whether the national attention that Sanders has generated leads to more opportunities for Black coaches but it has sparked conversations. WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is asking America’s colleges to step up their efforts to make campuses more racially diverse. A new Education Department report urges schools to boost scholarships and minority recruiting and place “meaningful emphasis” on the adversity students face because of their race or finances. The report promotes strategies to boost diversity in the wake of a Supreme Court decision from June barring colleges from considering the race of applicants in the admission process. It fulfills a request from President Joe Biden to help colleges advance diversity without running afoul of the court’s decision. BOSTON (AP) — The U.S. military, employers and economic development specialists have been raising alarms about the implications of American students' low math scores for the country's competitiveness and national security. The Defense Department calls for a major initiative to support education in science, technology, engineering and math, or STEM. The number of jobs in math occupations is projected to grow dramatically, but only one in five college-bound American high school students is prepared for college-level courses in STEM, according to the National Science and Technology Council. More research is showing that we carry genes from other kinds of ancient humans, and their DNA affects our lives today. DNA research has found that our Homo sapiens ancestors mated with Neanderthals and Denisovans long ago. We were the only ones to survive, which may have to do with how our ancestors were able to adapt to many parts of the world. But we still carry these other groups in our genes. And a growing body of science is uncovering how their DNA affects us today. Neanderthal genes have been linked with our immune systems and COVID-19 response, while Denisovan genes may help adapt to high altitudes. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 29 at 7:06 a.m. CT: WASHINGTON (AP) — The House is in a familiar position with little time left to prevent a government shutdown: It's effectively paralyzed as conservatives feud with Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The California congressman has pushed his Republican conference to embrace a short-term spending plan that would include a sweeping Republican proposal for the southern border. But a small group of hard-line conservatives has defied McCarthy’s leadership in a quest to get rid of stopgap funding plans even if it means a government shutdown. The conflict has resulted in a House Republican conference struggling to pass spending legislation just as government funding expires. The deadline is Saturday. WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans have spent more than six hours making their case for pursuing an impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden. They launched their first hearing Thursday promising to “provide accountability” as they probe the family's finances and the lucrative business dealings of Biden's son Hunter. Republicans so far have shown no hard evidence of wrongdoing by the president, and key witnesses said they do not yet see hard evidence of impeachable offenses. It all comes just before a potential government shutdown. The White House called the hearing a “baseless stunt.” Oversight Chairman James Comer later issued subpoenas for additional Biden family bank records. The National Weather Service is warning of heavy rains and the chance of flooding in the Northeast, including New York City and Connecticut. HONOLULU (AP) — Hawaii authorities are looking for a man who fled with a handgun after getting into a scuffle while trying to talk to soldiers at an Army base. No shots were fired but the Army treated it as an “active shooter situation” and two military bases on Oahu went into lockdown for several hours. The Army is working with the Honolulu Police Department to find the suspect, who is still at large. Wheeler Army Airfield also went into lockdown. Schofield Barracks is on Oahu and is about 20 miles north of Honolulu. It hosts the 25th Infantry Division and the 8th Theater Sustainment Command. QUETTA, Pakistan (AP) — Authorities in Pakistan say at least 52 people were killed and nearly 70 wounded after a powerful bomb exploded in a crowd of people celebrating the Prophet Muhammad’s birthday in the southwest of the country. The bombing, one of the deadliest in recent years, occurred in Mastung, a district in Baluchistan province, an area that has witnessed scores of attacks by insurgents. Videos showed an area near a mosque strewn with the shoes of the dead and wounded. Some of the bodies had been covered with bedsheets. Two people were killed in a separate blast at a mosque in the northwest. A champion is crowned in the American League East, the Mariners win a crucial game with a late inning rally, the Blue Jays now have a firm hold on the American League's second wild card spot, the race for the final two wild card spots in the National League remains tight with weather adding a wrinkle to the already tension filled race, and the Lions move to 3-1. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 28 at 4 p.m. CT: WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans are making the case for pursuing an impeachment inquiry against President Joe Biden. They launched their first hearing Thursday with testimony from outside experts in tax law, criminal investigations and constitutional legal theory. It’s a high-stakes opening act for Republicans as as they try to link the business dealings of Biden's son, Hunter, to the president. But so far they have no hard evidence of wrongdoing by the president. it comes just before a potential government shutdown. Oversight Chairman James Comer says they want to “provide accountability” to Americans. But Democrats argued Donald Trump who is Biden's chief rival in 2024 is egging them on, with no evidence of Biden wrongdoing. THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — Police in the Netherlands say a lone gunman wearing a bulletproof vest opened fire in an apartment and a hospital in the Dutch port city of Rotterdam, killing three people, including a 14-year-old girl. The shooting sent patients and medics fleeing the Erasmus Medical Center in downtown Rotterdam, including some who were wheeled out of the building in beds. Police Chief Fred Westerbeke says the shooter was a 32-year-old student from Rotterdam. He was arrested at the hospital carrying a firearm. The suspect's identity has not been released, and the motive for the shootings remains under investigation. WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. economy grew at a 2.1% annual pace from April through June, extending its sturdy performance in the face of higher interest rates, the government said Thursday, leaving its previous estimate unchanged. The second-quarter expansion of the nation’s gross domestic product — its total output of goods and services — marked a modest deceleration from the economy’s 2.2% annual growth from January through March. Consumer spending, business investment and state and local government outlays drove the second-quarter economic expansion. The economy and job market have shown surprising resilience even as the Federal Reserve has dramatically raised interest rates to combat inflation, which last year hit a four-decade high. SAN ANTONIO (AP) — The Pentagon says that the American soldier who sprinted into North Korea across the heavily fortified border between the Koreas more than two months ago was whisked to a Texas Army base for medical checks and interviews after his return to the U.S. North Korea abruptly announced a day earlier that it would expel Pvt. Travis King. The White House says his return was organized with the help of ally Sweden and rival China. While officials have said King is in good health and the immediate focus will be on caring for him and reintegrating him into U.S. society, his troubles are likely far from over. King ran into the North while on a civilian tour of a border village on July 18. Lawmakers probing the cause of last month’s deadly Maui wildfire did not get many answers during Thursday’s congressional hearing on the role the electrical grid played in the disaster. Hawaii’s top public utility officials and the president of Hawaiian Electric testified in the hearing about the role the electrical grid played in last month’s deadly Maui wildfire. Hawaiian Electric president Shelee Kimura promised to provide the committee with more details about the timeline that day. The Lahaina fire killed at least 97 people and destroyed more than 2,000 buildings. It erupted on Aug. 8, when strong winds appeared to cause a Hawaiian Electric power line to fall, igniting dry brush and grass near a large subdivision. WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — From Sunday, workers at the main United States base in Antarctica will no longer be able to walk into a bar and order a beer, after the federal agency overseeing the research program decided to stop serving alcohol. The National Science Foundation says researchers and support staff can still buy a weekly ration of alcohol from the McMurdo Station store. But the changes could prove significant because the bars have been central to social life in the isolated environment. The changes come as concerns grow that sexual misconduct has been allowed to flourish at McMurdo. An investigation by The Associated Press last month uncovered a pattern of women who said their claims of sexual harassment and assault were minimized by their employers. BOSTON (AP) — A California man has pleaded guilty to arranging hundreds of sham marriages in an effort to circumvent immigration laws. That is according to federal prosecutors. Forty-nine-year-old Marcialito Biol Benitez, a Philippine national living in Los Angeles, pleaded guilty Wednesday to conspiracy to commit marriage fraud and immigration document fraud. U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper scheduled sentencing for Jan. 10. The U.S. attorney’s office in Boston said Benitez operated a large-scale marriage fraud agency in which he arranged marriages between foreign nationals and American citizens. Prosecutors alleged the agency charged up to $35,000 to submit false paperwork substantiating the sham marriages. NEW YORK (AP) — Hollywood actors will resume negotiations with studios and streaming services next week. The announcement Wednesday comes the same day that a nearly five-month writers strike formally ended. That strike's end quickly led to announcements that TV’s late-night hosts would return to the air by Monday. That's the same day negotiators from the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists will resume talks on a new contract. They've been on strike more than two months, leading to a complete shutdown of movie and film productions. This week's end to the writers strike raised hopes that a deal with actors could be reached soon. LONDON (AP) — Michael Gambon, the Irish-born actor knighted for his long and storied career on the stage and screen and who gained admiration from a new generation of moviegoers with his portrayal of Hogwarts headmaster Albus Dumbledore in six of the eight “Harry Potter” films, has died. He was 82. A statement by his family, issued by his publicist on Thursday, said he died following “a bout of pneumonia.” While the Potter role raised Gambon’s international profile and found him a huge audience, he had long been recognized as one of Britain’s leading actors. His work spanned TV, theater, film and radio over five decades. He was cast as the much-loved Dumbledore after his predecessor, Richard Harris, died in 2002. DETROIT (AP) — Miguel Cabrera's career will end with the Detroit Tigers on Sunday against Cleveland at Comerica Park, where a sold-out crowd will include a few thousands fans paying for standing-room only tickets to cheer for him one more time. The 12-time All-Star leaves the game with quite a legacy. The popular player has also provided a desperately needed jolt of joy in his native Venezuela during a crisis that has pushed millions into poverty and compelled 7.3 million people to migrate. Cabrera has put himself in the conversation with all-time greats at the plate. NEW YORK (AP) — Elton John, Brandi Carlile, Dave Matthews, H.E.R., Chris Stapleton, St. Vincent and New Edition will perform at this fall’s Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which will be broadcast live for the first time. The ceremony will be live on Disney+ on Nov. 3 and streamable afterward. ABC will air a special featuring performance highlights and standout moments on Jan. 1. The inductees this year include Missy Elliott, Willie Nelson, Sheryl Crow, Chaka Khan, “Soul Train” creator Don Cornelius, Kate Bush and the late George Michael. Nominees were voted on by more than 1,000 artists, historians and music industry professionals. The curtain is finally coming down on Netflix’s once-iconic DVD-by-mail service, a quarter century after the birth of a concept that obliterated Blockbuster video stores while providing a springboard into video streaming that has transformed entertainment. The DVD service that has been steadily shrinking in the shadow of Netflix’s video streaming service will shut down after its five remaining distribution centers mail out their final discs Friday to the fewer than 1 million remaining subscribers. It marks the end of a service that began when a first-class stamp cost 32 cents, less than half today's price, and went on make its red-and-white envelopes a welcome sight in mailboxes. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 28 at 5:55 a.m. CT: Video appears to show the American soldier who sprinted into North Korea across the heavily fortified border between the Koreas more than two months ago arriving back in the U.S. The White House said Wednesday that Pvt. Travis King’s return was organized with the help of ally Sweden and rival China. North Korea said it would expel King earlier the same day. King appeared to walk off a plane in San Antonio, Texas, early Thursday. King ran into the North while on a civilian tour of a border village on July 18. He had served in South Korea. SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — Several of Donald Trump’s rivals stepped up their attacks against him in Wednesday’s second Republican presidential debate. They were urgently trying to dent the former president’s commanding primary lead during an event that often seemed like an undercard without him. The debate’s tone was far removed from the campaign’s overall tone. Trump has dominated the field with attacks on his rivals and democratic institutions as well as his grievances about the criminal indictments and civil cases targeting him and his businesses. The moderators did not ask about the indictments or why the people onstage were better qualified than Trump. CLINTON TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — As his Republican rivals sparred onstage in California at their second primary debate, Donald Trump was in battleground Michigan Wednesday night working to win over blue-collar voters in the midst of an autoworkers’ strike. Trump in his speech lambasted President Joe Biden and his push for electric cars a day after Biden joined striking workers on the picket line in Detroit. The dueling appearances had the feel of the opening salvo of the 2024 general election, which is increasingly looking like a rematch between Trump and Biden, even though voting won't begin until next year. BERLIN (AP) — Volkswagen says production is resuming after a problem with the German automaker’s information technology network caused a severe disruption. Volkswagen said on Wednesday evening that the IT disruption caused production to halt at its four vehicle manufacturing plants in Germany — its Wolfsburg headquarters, Emden, Zwickau and Osnabrueck. It also affected some other facilities, including at subsidiary Audi. The company said Thursday morning that the IT infrastructure problems were resolved during the night and production was resuming, German news agency dpa reported. It said there were no indications of any external cause for the disruption. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — The Powerball jackpot climbed to an estimated $925 million after no one beat the immense odds and won the giant prize. The winning numbers drawn Wednesday night were: 1, 7, 46, 47, 63 and red Powerball 7. With the latest bit of lottery losing, there now have been 30 consecutive drawings without a jackpot winner, dating back to July 19 when a player in California won $1.08 billion. That winless streak is due to the tough odds of winning the Powerball jackpot, at 1 in 292.2 million. Although the game highlights the $925 million prize, that is for a winner who is paid through an annuity over 30 years. Most winners choose the cash payout option. For the next drawing Saturday night, that will be an estimated $432 million. DETROIT (AP) — Hyundai and Kia are recalling nearly 3.4 million vehicles in the U.S. and telling owners to park them outside due to the risk of engine compartment fires. The recalls cover multiple models from the 2010 through 2019 model years including Hyundai’s Santa Fe SUV and Kia’s Sorrento SUV. Documents posted Wednesday by U.S. safety regulators say the anti-lock brake control module can leak fluid and cause an electrical short. That can touch off a fire while the vehicles are parked or being driven. Dealers will replace the anti-lock brake fuse at no cost to owners, but owners won’t be notified by mail until November. In sports: History was made by Ronald Acuna Jr. in Atlanta, the Marlins pull closer in the NL standings, the Astros created some separation in the AL, Terry Francona was honored in Cleveland, and a massive trade in the NBA sends Damian Lillard to the Bucks.  On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 27 at 4 p.m. CT: WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate is marching ahead with a bipartisan approach to prevent a government shutdown. But on the House side, Speaker Kevin McCarthy is back to square one. The Republican leader laid out his strategy Wednesday behind closed doors. He asked hard-right Republicans to do what they've said they'd never do, and pass their own temporary measure to keep the government open. A House test vote is set for Friday, one day before the shutdown deadline. Their plan would cut spending by 8% and toughen border security. The Senate bill would fund the government, adding $6 billion for Ukraine aid and $6 billion for U.S. disaster relief. NEW YORK (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey will address his Democratic colleagues on Thursday as calls grow for Menendez to resign over federal bribery charges. Schumer hasn't said that Menendez should step down, although more than half of the Democrats in the Senate have done so. Menendez pleaded not guilty Wednesday in New York to federal charges alleging he accepted bribes in exchange for exerting his political influence to secretly advance Egyptian interests and do favors for local businessmen. Menendez's wife and two businessmen named in the indictment also pleaded not guilty. Menendez was released on a $100,000 bond. His wife, Nadine, and the other co-defendants were also freed pending trial. WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says the American soldier who sprinted into North Korea across the heavily fortified border between the Koreas two months ago has been released into U.S. custody. Pvt. Travis King's release was secured with the help of ally Sweden and rival China. Earlier Wednesday, North Korea said it would expel Pvt. King. The announcement has surprised some observers who expected the North to drag out his detention in the hopes of squeezing concessions from Washington at a time of high tensions between the rivals. King’s expulsion almost certainly does not end his troubles. His fate remains uncertain, having been declared AWOL by the U.S. government. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Lottery officials in Florida say the winner of the $1.6 billion Mega Millions jackpot from August has come forward to claim the prize. Under a new Florida law, the winner’s name remains anonymous for 90 days. The winning ticket was sold at a Publix supermarket in Neptune Beach on the Atlantic Coast. In Florida, winners have 60 days to claim the lump sum amount or 180 days from the date of the drawing to take the full annuity, which is paid out in annual installments. Lottery officials did not say whether the winner chose to take the the lump sum or annuity. STOCKHOLM (AP) — A moose which was found wandering down the tracks of the Stockholm subway and causing havoc was shot dead by a wildlife ranger on Wednesday after the service on the southern part of a busy line had to be suspended. The moose somehow managed to enter the enclosure that surrounds the track on a part of the subway network where the stations are above ground. As many as seven stations had to close, disrupting the service. After failed efforts to catch it, the moose was shot and killed at about 3 p.m. after which the traffic slowly resumed. Damian Lillard is being traded by Portland to play alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo in Milwaukee, according to a person with knowledge of the agreement. The deal ends a three-month saga surrounding Lillard's wish to be moved elsewhere with hopes of winning an NBA title and his 11-year run with the Trail Blazers. The seven-time All-Star goes from the Trail Blazers to the Bucks in a three-team deal that sends Jrue Holiday from the Bucks to Portland, Deandre Ayton from Phoenix to Portland and Jusuf Nurkic from the Blazers to the Suns. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because none of the involved teams had announced the agreement. NEW YORK (AP) — TV’s late-night hosts planned to return to their regular evening sketches and monologues as the flow of topical humor is set to return after five silent months due to the just-ended Hollywood writers strike. “Real Time with Bill Maher” will be back on the air Friday. The hosts of NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon” and “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” and “The Late Show With Stephen Colbert” on CBS announced they’d also return, all by Monday. “Last Week Tonight” with John Oliver will return to the air Sunday. Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show” will return Oct. 16. A NASA astronaut and two Russians are back on Earth after being stuck in space for just over a year. The trio landed in Kazakhstan on Wednesday, descending in a Soyuz capsule that was rushed up as a replacement. The extended mission means that NASA astronaut Frank Rubio now holds the record for longest spaceflight by an American. Rubio and his crewmates should have returned last spring from the International Space Station, but their flight ended up being doubled in length after their original capsule was hit by space junk and leaked all its coolant. The world record for a single spaceflight is 14 1/2 months, held by Russia. NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Government test data shows new passenger vehicles in the U.S. are extremely safe, but roadway deaths are steadily rising. Some of the biggest increases are deaths of pedestrians and cyclists. That surge has coincided with a steep rise in sales of SUVs and pickup trucks. Experts say the height and boxy front ends of many of those vehicles create large blind spots. They also hit pedestrians higher in the body than sedans, meaning hits more often result in serious injury or death. U.S. safety ratings only consider the safety of people inside a vehicle. But a coalition of transportation safety groups wants the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration to begin factoring the safety of those outside vehicles into its 5-star safety ratings. INDEPENDENCE, Mo. (AP) — Hundreds of school systems around the country have adopted four-day weeks in recent years, mostly in rural and western parts of the U.S. Districts cite cost savings and advantages for teacher recruitment. Still, some experts question the effects on students who already missed out on significant learning during the pandemic. For parents, there is also the added complication, and cost, of arranging child care for that extra weekday. In Missouri, the number of districts routinely getting three-day weekends has more than doubled since the pandemic hit. Some lawmakers have pushed back, arguing students need more time with teachers. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 27 at 6:39 a.m. CT: SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — North Korea says that it will expel a U.S. soldier who crossed into the country through the heavily armed border between the Koreas in July. The North’s official Korean Central News Agency said Wednesday that authorities have finished their questioning of Pvt. Travis King. It said that he confessed to illegally entering the North and quoted him criticizing the U.S. Verifying the authenticity of the comments attributed to King is impossible. The agency did not say when authorities plan to expel King or to where. The White House, the State Department and the Pentagon did not have any immediate comment on the report. LOS ANGELES (AP) — The strike by Hollywood screenwriters is over. Leaders of the writers union declared their nearly five-month-old strike over Tuesday after board members approved a contract agreement with studios. The governing boards of the eastern and western branches of the Writers Guild of America both voted to accept the deal, and afterward declared that the strike would be over and writers would be free to work starting at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday. The vote came after numerous writers joined striking actors on picket lines. The writers deal brought renewed optimism to the pickets. There are currently no negotiations set between the actors and the alliance of studios, streaming services and producers. PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Police and witnesses say groups of teenagers swarmed into stores in Philadelphia’s Center City, stuffing plastic bags with merchandise and fleeing. Police made several arrests. Police say an Apple store was one of those hit Tuesday, but fleeing teenagers dropped iPhones and a pile of iPads. Eyewitness video and news reports showed mobs of masked youngster in hoodies at that store, Lululemon and Foot Locker, where a guard reportedly was assaulted. Police say some arrests were made. No injuries were immediately reported. NEW YORK (AP) — Target says it's closing nine stores in four states, including one in New York City’s East Harlem neighborhood, and three in the San Francisco Bay Area. It says theft and organized retail crime have threatened the safety of its workers and customers. The closings will be effective Oct. 21 and will also include three stores in Portland, Oregon and two in Seattle. The Minneapolis retailer said Tuesday it will offer affected workers the opportunity to transfer to other stores. The store closings account for just a fraction of the 1,900 stores Target operates nationwide. But they underscore the challenges that retailers face in reducing theft in stores as they wrestle with protecting their workers and customers while trying to serve the community. SIMI VALLEY, Calif. (AP) — Republicans are meeting for their second presidential debate as top rivals seek to blunt the momentum of Donald Trump. The former president is so confident that he will continue to cruise through the party’s primary that he’s again forgoing sharing a stage with his competitors. Seven GOP White House candidates are squaring off at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in California for a debate Wednesday sponsored by Fox Business. Rather than attend, Trump will be in Detroit, delivering a primetime speech that will compete for airtime with the debate and take place before a crowd of current and former union members. DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran is claiming that it has successfully launched an imaging satellite into space. The state-run IRNA news agency is quoting the country’s communication minister as saying the Noor-3 satellite had been put in orbit 450 kilometers, or 280 miles, above the Earth’s surface. There was no immediate acknowledgment from Western officials of the launch or of the satellite being put into orbit. Iran has had a series of failed launches in recent years. The United States has alleged that Iran’s satellite launches defy a U.N. Security Council resolution and has called on Tehran to undertake no activity related to ballistic missiles capable of delivering nuclear weapons. BLACK MOUNTAIN, N.C. (AP) — The National Park Service says a South Carolina woman died after falling from a scenic overlook along the Blue Ridge Parkway in western North Carolina. The park service says dispatchers received a report of a woman who fell down a cliff at Glassmine Falls Overlook on Saturday afternoon. Rescuers found the woman about 150 feet below the overlook. Officials identified the woman as 61-year-old Nancy Sampson of Greer, South Carolina, and confirmed she had succumbed to injuries from her fall. The parkway known for its views of the Appalachian Highlands stretches 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina. In sports: The Brewers clinch the NL Central, the NL wild card race remains right, the Orioles win a game but lose a legend, and the Rangers maintain their lead in the AL West despite a loss. BALTIMORE (AP) — Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson, whose deft glovework and folksy manner made him one of the most beloved and accomplished athletes in Baltimore history, has died. He was 86. The Orioles announced his death in a joint statement with Robinson’s family. The statement did not say how Robinson died. Coming of age before the free agent era, Robinson spent his entire 23-year career with the Orioles. He almost single-handedly helped Baltimore defeat Cincinnati in the 1970 World Series and homered in Game 1 of the Orioles’ 1966 sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers for their first crown. NEW YORK (AP) — Breanna Stewart won the WNBA’s Most Valuable Player award for the second time in her career Tuesday in a very close race. There were only 13 points separating Stewart from second-place finisher Alyssa Thomas of Connecticut and last year’s MVP, A’ja Wilson of Las Vegas. Stewart received 446 points. Thomas had 439 points and Wilson received 433 points. All the WNBA awards are voted on by a 60-person national media panel and had them vote for their top five choices for the MVP award. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 26 at 4 p.m. CT: VAN BUREN TOWNSHIP, Mich. (AP) — President Joe Biden has joined picketing United Auto Workers in Michigan on the 12th day of their strike against major carmakers. It's a demonstration of support for organized labor unparalleled in presidential history. He told workers Tuesday to “stick with it." He exchanged fist bumps with grinning workers a day before former President Donald Trump makes his own visit to meet with UAW members. Biden has repeatedly sided with the UAW during the strike. Strikers chanted “no deals, no wheels” and “no pay, no parts” as Biden arrived at the General Motors distribution center west of Detroit. PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Relatives of a man shot and killed by a Philadelphia police officer during a traffic stop for erratic driving are stunned and distraught by a judge's dismissal of all charges. Relatives of Eddie Irizarry said Tuesday after the ruling that police should not need to fatally shoot someone just because they speed or act irrationally. The judge dismissed a murder count and other charges against Officer Mark Dial after watching police bodycam video of the traffic stop and shooting. The defense asserted that Dial acted in self-defense when he fired through the driver’s side window of Irizarry’s sedan in August. WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic Sen. Cory Booker is calling on fellow New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez to resign. Booker said in a statement Tuesday that the federal bribery charges against Menendez, also a Democrat, contain ”shocking allegations of corruption and specific, disturbing details of wrongdoing.” Booker’s statement comes as a growing number of Democratic senators are calling for the three-term senator to step aside. Menendez, the chairman of the powerful Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and his wife Nadine were indicted on Friday, accused of using his position to aid the authoritarian government of Egypt and also to pressure federal prosecutors to drop a case against a friend. The Federal Trade Commission and 17 state attorneys general have filed an antitrust lawsuit against Amazon. They allege the e-commerce behemoth uses its position in the marketplace to inflate prices on and off Amazon, overcharge sellers and stifle competition. The complaint is the result of a yearslong investigation into Amazon’s businesses and one of the most significant legal challenges brought against the company in its nearly 30-year history. The agency and states that joined the lawsuit are asking the court to issue a permanent injunction that they say would prohibit Amazon from engaging in its unlawful conduct and restore competition. Amazon says the FTC is “wrong on the facts and the law." SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a law that will raise taxes on guns and ammunition. The federal government already taxes guns at 10% or 11%. The law Newsom signed on Tuesday adds an 11% tax on top of that. The money will pay for things like security improvements in public schools and violence prevention programs. The law takes effect July 1, 2024. Newsom also signed laws to overhaul the state’s rules for carrying concealed weapons and require semiautomatic pistols to have microstamping technology. The California Rifle and Pistol Association has promised to challenge California’s new tax in court. LOS ANGELES (AP) — Striking actors have voted to expand their walkout to include the lucrative video game market, a step that could put new pressure on Hollywood studios to make a deal with the performers who provide voices and stunts for games. The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Radio and Television Artists announced the move late Monday, saying that 98% of its members voted to go on strike against video game companies if ongoing negotiations are not successful. The announcement came ahead of more talks planned for Tuesday. Acting work in video games can include voice, motion capture and stunts. WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is allowing work to proceed on a new Alabama congressional map with greater representation for Black voters. The new districts could help Democrats trying to flip control of the House of Representatives. The justices Tuesday rejected Alabama’s plea to retain Republican-drawn lines turned down by a lower court. The justices left in place an order directing a court-appointed special master to propose new lines for the state with a second district where Black voters constitute a majority or close to it. The lead plaintiff in the redistricting case calls the ruling a “victory for all Alabamians.” Federal lawsuits over state and congressional districts are pending in Georgia, Louisiana and Texas. WASHINGTON (AP) — A political adviser to Rudy Giuliani is slamming Hunter Biden’s lawsuit against the former mayor. Hunter Biden sued Giuliani and another attorney on Tuesday, claiming the two wrongly accessed and shared his personal data after obtaining it from the owner of a computer repair shop. Giuliani adviser Ted Goodman says it was false to claim Giuliani manipulated the laptop hard drive, but that he was “not surprised ... considering the sordid material and potential evidence of crimes on that thing.” The lawsuit is the latest in a new strategy by Hunter Biden to strike back against Republican allies of Donald Trump who have traded and passed around his private data including purported emails and embarrassing images in their effort to discredit President Joe Biden. Lawyers for former President Donald Trump are slamming prosecutors’ request for a narrow gag order in his 2020 election subversion case in Washington, calling it an effort to “unconstitutionally silence” his political speech. Trump's attorneys in court papers filed late Monday urge U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan to deny the proposal to bar the Republican ex-president from making inflammatory and intimidating comments about witnesses, lawyers and other people involved in the criminal case. Special counsel Jack Smith’s team in seeking the order pointed to what it calls a pattern of “false and inflammatory” statements from Trump about the case. NEW YORK (AP) — A former aide in Donald Trump's White House says chief of staff Mark Meadows burned papers so often after the 2020 election his wife complained his suits smelled “like a bonfire.” Cassidy Hutchinson describes the burning papers in a book being released Tuesday. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the book, titled “Enough.” Hutchinson was a White House staffer in her 20s who worked for Meadows. Hutchinson testified on national television about the inner workings of the White House leading up to and including the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. A Meadows lawyer hasn't responded to a request for comment. NEW YORK (AP) — Taylor Swift’s trip to watch the Kansas City Chiefs’ Travis Kelce didn’t just have the internet talking nonstop. Following the 12-time Grammy Award winner’s appearance at Arrowhead Stadium, jersey sales for the All-Pro tight-end seemingly skyrocketed. According to sportswear and fan merchandise company Fanatics, Kelce saw a nearly 400% increase in sales the same day that Swift went to watch the Chiefs. Kelce did not speak to reporters afterward, but he was spotted leaving Arrowhead with Swift by his side. Swift, who is currently on a break from her Eras tour, has always been reluctant to discuss her personal life in public — but rumors have been flying about the popstar and the pro football player in recent months. LOS ANGELES (AP) — Actor David McCallum, who became a teen heartthrob in the hit series “The Man From U.N.C.L.E.” in the 1960s and was the eccentric medical examiner in the popular “NCIS” 40 years later, has died. He was 90. "The Man From “U.N.C.L.E” drew mixed reviews but eventually caught on, particularly with teenage girls attracted by McCallum’s good looks and enigmatic, intellectual character. McCallum’s work with “U.N.C.L.E.” brought him two Emmy nominations, and he got a third as an educator struggling with alcoholism in a 1969 Hallmark Hall of Fame drama called “Teacher, Teacher.” McCallum returned to television in 2003 in another series with an agency known by its initials — CBS’ “NCIS.” —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 26 at 6:43 a.m. CT: WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s decision to stand alongside United Auto Workers pickets in Michigan during their strike against major carmakers underscores an allegiance to labor unions that appears to be unparalleled in presidential history. Experts in presidential and U.S. labor history say they cannot recall an instance when a sitting president has joined a strike. The Democratic president will join the pickets Tuesday, the 12th day of their strike. It comes a day before former President Donald Trump makes his own visit to meet with striking UAW members. Biden has repeatedly sided with the UAW during their strike. Biden says the workers should participate in the carmakers’ riches “now that the industry is roaring back.” WASHINGTON (AP) — With five days to go before a government shutdown, Congress returns to work in crisis mode. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy faces an insurgency from hard-right Republicans eager to slash spending even if it means closing federal offices to millions of Americans. On Tuesday evening, the House is expected to vote on a package of government funding bills, but it’s not at all clear that McCarthy has the support needed. Meanwhile, the Senate is trying to stave off a federal closure with its own bipartisan plan for a stopgap measure. It would buy some time and keep offices funded past Saturday’s deadline. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A white Texas gunman who killed 23 people in a racist attack on Hispanic shoppers at a Walmart in 2019 has agreed to pay more than $5 million to families of the victims. U.S. District Judge David Guaderrama signed off Monday on the amount that Patrick Crusius must pay in restitution. Crusius was sentenced to 90 consecutive life sentences in July after pleading guilty to federal hate crime charges following one of the nation’s worst mass killings. Crusius still faces a separate trial in a Texas court that could end with him getting the death penalty. HONOLULU (AP) — Authorities on Monday will begin allowing the first residents and property owners to return to their devastated properties in Lahaina, many for the first time since the historic town was demolished by a wildfire nearly seven weeks ago. The prospect of returning has stirred strong emotions in residents who fled in vehicles or on foot as the wind-whipped flames raced across Lahaina. Some survivors jumped over a sea wall and sheltered in the waves as black smoke blotted out the sun. The wildfire killed at least 97 people and destroyed more than 2,000 buildings, most of them homes. Officials are urging people not to sift through the ashes for fear of raising toxic dust. WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration meets this week to consider a much-debated treatment for Lou Gehrig’s disease. The deadly neurological disease has few treatment options. NurOwn, a stem cell therapy, is at the center of a yearslong lobbying campaign by patients seeking access to experimental medicines. But the FDA has repeatedly rebuffed drugmaker Brainstorm. The agency says the company's only study failed to show a benefit for patients. The review is the starkest test yet of FDA's commitment to “regulatory flexibility” to help patients with rare, deadly conditions. Advocates see reasons for optimism. The FDA has approved two new treatments for ALS in the past year after intense lobbying by patients. Monday's sports news: The Eagles remain unbeaten, the Bengals get their first win, Jimmy Garoppolo is in concussion protocol, and the Astros beat the Mariners in a pivotal game. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 25 at 4 p.m. CT: UNION CITY, N.J. (AP) — Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey is rejecting calls to resign, saying that nearly half a million dollars in cash found in his home was from personal savings, not from bribes. He predicted on Monday that he would be exonerated in his federal bribery case and would still be "New Jersey’s senior senator.” An indictment alleges Menendez illegally took cash, gold bars and a luxury car in exchange for using his position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee to help Egypt and New Jersey business associates. Democratic Party support for Menendez in the state where he’s held office for nearly five decades has significantly eroded. NEW YORK (AP) — The exclusive online livestream for the second Republican presidential debate this week will take place on Rumble, an alternative video-sharing platform that has been criticized for allowing far-right extremism, bigotry, election disinformation and conspiracy theories. Rumble was the choice of the Republican National Committee, whose chairwoman said earlier this year that the decision was aimed toward “getting away from Big Tech.” Some of the GOP contenders have begun posting their campaign videos on the site, including former President Donald Trump, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. The platform says it has policies against speech promoting violence, antisemitism and racism. LOS ANGELES (AP) — A tentative agreement between striking screenwriters and Hollywood studios offers some hope that the industry’s dual walkouts may be over soon. But when will your favorite shows return? Well, it's complicated. Late-night talk shows — and talk shows in general — will likely be the first productions to come back on the air. Actors remain on strike, and that will complicate the return of filming on shows such as “Stranger Things” and movies like the “Deadpool” sequel. Before shooting starts again on most projects, the 11,500-member Writers Guild of America must first approve the proposed agreement. LONDON (AP) — British police have opened a sex crimes investigation triggered by news reports about comedian Russell Brand. London’s Metropolitan Police force said Monday that it had “received a number of allegations of sexual offences” after a television documentary and newspaper investigations. The police force did not name Brand in its statement, but referred to the recent articles and documentary. It said detectives were investigating allegations of “non-recent” sexual offenses, both in London and elsewhere. Brand, 48, denies allegations of sexual assault made by four women in a Channel 4 television documentary and The Times and Sunday Times newspapers. 219 dogs hit the red carpet — and set a world record — at the movie premiere for "PAW Patrol: The Mighty Movie." In this week's AP religion roundup, the Adidas CEO apologized for comments about Kanye West, Pope Francis touted migrants in Marseille, and a TikTok video landed a Muslim woman in prison. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 25 at 7 a.m. CT: LOS ANGELES (AP) — A tentative deal has been reached to end Hollywood’s writers strike after nearly five months. The Writers Guild of America reached the deal Sunday with an alliance of studios, streaming services and production companies. The guild's board and members must approve the agreement before the strike officially ends. Hollywood's actors remain on strike with no deal yet in the works. The writers walked off the job May 2 over issues including the size of staffs on shows, long-term payment for their work and the use of artificial intelligence in scripts. The terms of the new deal were not immediately announced. Auto workers remain on strike and President Joe Biden says he will go to Michigan on Tuesday to support the union. WASHINGTON (AP) — Allies of Speaker Kevin McCarthy are working furiously to shore up support for the latest Republican plan to prevent a government shutdown. McCarthy is planning to start voting as soon as Tuesday on various bills to keep the government funded before next weekend’s Sept. 30 deadline for a shutdown. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian officials say a Russian drone and missile strike near Odesa damaged port infrastructure, a grain silo and an abandoned hotel and injured one person. The Ukraine president's office said Monday four civilians were killed and 13 wounded in the past day as the war entered its 20th month. Russia has continuously targeted port and grain storage facilities in Odesa since pulling out of a deal that allowed Ukrainian grain exports to countries facing the threat of hunger. The attacks have destroyed silos, warehouses, oil terminals and other infrastructure critical for storage and shipping. Russia says it downed several Ukrainian drones, with some buildings damaged but no injuries reported. A space capsule carrying NASA’s first asteroid samples has landed in the Utah desert. The Osiris-Rex spacecraft released the capsule Sunday, following a seven-year journey to asteroid Bennu and back. The capsule peeled away 63,000 miles from Earth, four hours ahead of the planned landing. Scientists expect to get at least a cup of rubble from Bennu. Japan collected about a teaspoon in a pair of asteroid missions. The pristine samples are believed to be leftover building blocks from the dawn of our solar system. Osiris-Rex, the mothership, is already targeting another asteroid. PLAINS, Ga. (AP) — The Carter Center says former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, took a ride through the Plains Peanut Festival in their Georgia hometown over the weekend. In a social media post on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Carter Center said the former first couple enjoyed “a ride through the Plains Peanut Festival” on Saturday and highlighted the former president's upcoming birthday on Oct. 1. The former president is 98 and has been in home hospice care since February. The former first lady has been diagnosed with dementia. The couple this summer marked their 77th wedding anniversary, extending their record as the nation’s longest-married first couple. The Dolphins roll past the Broncos to remain unbeaten, the Lions' defense leads them past the Falcons, the Packers rally late to stun the Saints, numerous Major League Baseball playoff races remain undecided as the season enters the final week and NASCAR races in Texas. Correspondent Mike Reeves reports. LOS ANGELES (AP) — Usher has a new confession: The Grammy winner will headline the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show in Las Vegas. The NFL, Apple Music and Roc Nation announced Sunday that Usher would lead the halftime festivities from Allegiant Stadium on Feb. 11. The music megastar, who has won eight Grammys, said he’s looking forward to performing on the NFL’s biggest stage. Usher spring boarded into superstardom with “Confessions,” which sold more than 10 million units in the U.S. The 44-year-old is 44, is currently headlining his “Usher: My Way” residency in Las Vegas, which has drawn sold-out shows and rave reviews. LOS ANGELES (AP) — Sylvester Stallone and Jason Statham weren’t enough to save “Expend4bles” from a debut box office flop. Comscore reported on Sunday that the fourth installment suffered the franchise’s worst opening weekend while “The Nun 2” took home the top spot for a third straight week. The film, also known as “Expendables 4,” pulled in a mediocre $8.3 million for the big-budget project. It’s been nearly a decade since the franchise released a film, which opened with $15.8 million and eventually grossed $214 million globally. But times have changed, as the film barely placed second behind “The Nun 2,” a horror movie that earned $8.4 million in its first week. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

Welcome to the weekly bonus episode of Hot off the Wire, where we look back at some of the top headlines from the week in the world of sports and entertainment.  As always, be sure to check out our latest episode of Streamed & Screened, a podcast dedicated to movies and television.  This week Bruce Miller and I discuss movies and TV shows that tell true stories. The episode includes an interview Bruce had with Jann Mardenborough, the real-life driver who was portrayed in the movie “Gran Turismo.” Listen to the latest episode of Streamed & Screened here.  This week’s top headlines include: ABC is adding NFL football games to fill the void due to the writers and actors strikes. The strikes already led to the postponement of the Emmy Awards, which should have been held Sept. 18.  YouTube suspended Russell Brand from making money off the streaming site following  sexual assault claims. And the Tampa Bay Rays moved a step closer to securing a new stadium in St. Petersburg. Those stories and more from The Associated Press. But first, Bruce Miller talks about true stories turned into movies during the latest episode of Streamed & Screened. — Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 22 at 2:30 p.m. CT: NEW YORK (AP) — Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey has been indicted, accused of using his foreign affairs influence to help Egypt in return for bribes from the authoritarian regime. He says he’s been falsely accused and won’t be “distracted” from Senate work. Menendez was charged with his wife on Friday. A lawyer for her says she’ll ”vigorously contest these charges in court.” Prosecutors say a search of the couple’s home found $100,000 in gold bars and $480,000 in hidden cash. Menendez will have to step down as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee now that he’s been indicted. The indictment alleges Menendez provided sensitive U.S. government information and took other steps to secretly help Egypt. Auto workers have expanded their strike against major carmakers, walking out of 38 General Motors and Stellantis parts-distribution centers in 20 states. In announcing the strike's expansion Friday, United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain said Ford was spared additional strikes because the company has met some of the union’s demands during negotiations over the past week. The union is pointing to the companies’ huge recent profits as it seeks wage increases of 36% over four years. The companies have offered a little over half that amount. The UAW has other demands, including a 32-hour work week for 40 hours of pay and a restoration of traditional pension plans for newer workers. WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is preparing to direct federal agencies to get ready for a shutdown after House Republicans left town for the weekend with no viable plan to keep the government funded. Speaker Kevin McCarthy said Friday the House would return next week to start voting on the latest plan. He has just five days until the Sept. 30 deadline. A hard-right flank of Republicans has essentially seized control and is demanding spending cuts. The Republican McCarthy was unable to convince his rebellious flank to approve a temporary funding measure to prevent closures. Instead, House Republicans will try Tuesday to pass some of the individual spending bills in a typically lengthy process. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A Ukrainian missile struck the headquarters of Russia's navy in Crimea. The Russian Defense Ministry initially said one servicemember was killed in the Friday attack, but then issued a statement saying he was missing. Images posted on social media showed plumes of smoke over the Black Sea Fleet headquarters in the city of Sevastopol. Russia said five missiles were shot down by its air defense systems responding to the attack. The attack comes a day after Russian missiles and artillery pounded cities across Ukraine, killing at least five people. Military experts say it is essential for Ukraine to keep up its attacks on targets in Crimea to degrade Russian morale. HANGZHOU, China (AP) — In the first Asian Games since the Taliban regained control of Afghanistan, two teams of athletes are arriving in the Chinese city of Hangzhou, looking very different. One, sent from Afghanistan where women are now banned by the Taliban from participating in sports, consists of about 130 all-male athletes, a Taliban-appointed spokesman for the Afghanistan’s Olympic Committee, told The Associated Press. Another, competing under the black, red and green flag of the elected government the Taliban toppled in 2021, is drawn from the diaspora of Afghan athletes around the world, and includes 17 women. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Another member of K-pop supergroup BTS has begun his mandatory military service in South Korea. Suga started serving on Friday as a social service agent, an alternative form of military service in the country. The 30-year-old is the group’s third member to start carrying out military service. The two others, Jin and J-Hope, are already performing active service at army bases. In South Korea, all able-bodied men must serve in the military for 18 to 21 months. Individuals with physical and mental issues can instead carry out their duties at non-military facilities such as welfare centers, community service centers and post offices. Local media reported Suga’s alternative service was likely related to a shoulder surgery. WASHINGTON (AP) — A Maryland man who attacked an Associated Press photographer and threw a flagpole and smoke grenade at police officers guarding the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, has been sentenced to five years in prison. Prosecutors say 56-year-old Rodney Milstreed prepared himself for violence on Jan. 6 by injecting steroids and arming himself with a four-foot wooden club disguised as a flagpole. Before U.S. District Judge James Boasberg sentenced Milstreed on Friday, a prosecutor showed videos of the rioter's attacks on the photographer and police. A Capitol police officer suffered a concussion when Milstreed hurled his wooded club at a line of officers. Amazon’s Prime Video will begin showing adds during shows and movies early next year, joining other streaming services that have added different tiers of subscriptions. The company said Friday that members of Amazon Prime can pay $2.99 per month in the U.S. to keep their service ad-free. Amazon says limited advertisements will be aired during shows and movies starting early next year so that it can “continue investing in compelling content and keep increasing that investment over a long period of time.” Ads in Prime Video content will start in the U.S., U.K., Germany, and Canada in early 2024, followed by France, Italy, Spain, Mexico, and Australia later in the year. MILWAUKEE (AP) — Pfizer and Moderna say they have sent out millions of doses of the new COVID-19 vaccines in the past week. But availability depends on where you live. People across the country are having trouble getting the new shots. Some insurance providers have not updated their systems to cover the vaccines. Some pharmacies have canceled appointments at the last minute because of supply issues. Others are still waiting for their first doses. NEW YORK (AP) — Many baseball fans, especially older ones, originally fell in love with America’s pastime by listening to ballgames on AM radio. In fact, next month will mark the 100th anniversary of the first World Series broadcast to a national radio audience. But a century later, some consider AM stations a dying medium in the modern age of digital technology. Several major automakers are eliminating broadcast AM radio from newer models, prompting lawmakers on Capitol Hill to propose legislation that would prevent the practice for safety and other reasons. A bill with bipartisan support, the “AM for Every Vehicle Act” is winding its way through Congress. In the meantime, there's no denying the profound impact AM radio has had on the growth and popularity of baseball through the years. HARDIN, Mont. (AP) — Kaysera Stops Pretty Places’ death remains unsolved four years after her body was found in a Native American reservation border town. Now her grandmother Yolanda Fraser is using the tragedy to highlight missing and murdered Indigenous peoples across the U.S. The Northern Cheyenne woman says the voices of victims’ families are getting louder as they band together. Meanwhile, federal agencies are dedicating more agents to solving such cases. Yet thousands of cases remain unsolved. Investigators continue to be hindered by jurisdictional limits that leave their hands tied if a crime occurs off-reservation. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 22 at 6:42 a.m. CT: WASHINGTON (AP) — With the collapse of House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s latest plan to avert a federal shutdown, lawmakers have left town with no endgame in sight. The White House will tell federal agencies on Friday to prepare for a shutdown, according to an official with the Office of Management and Budget who insisted on anonymity to discuss the upcoming instructions. That’s standard seven days out from a federal disruption. A core group of Republicans refused to vote with the speaker, whose job is on the line. Afterward, McCarthy acknowledged his frustration, saying, “This is a whole new concept of individuals who just want to burn the whole place down.” MIAMI (AP) — The National Hurricane Center says a storm off the eastern U.S. will deliver tropical storm conditions to the coast of North Carolina. The storm was forecast to make landfall in North Carolina on Friday. The center reports the storm, currently designated Potential Tropical Cyclone Sixteen, is located located about 330 miles southeast of Charleston, South Carolina, and about 325 miles south Cape Hatteras, North Carolina. It's moving north around 14 mph with top sustained winds of 50 mph. Storm surges between 3 and 5 feet are forecast for parts of North Carolina with localized rainfall up to 7 inches in some places. TORONTO (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is to speak before the Canadian Parliament on Friday as part of his campaign to shore up support from Western allies for Ukraine’s war against the Russian invasion. Zelenskyy flew into Canada's capital late Thursday after meetings with U.S. President Joe Biden and lawmakers in Washington where he faced questions about the flow of American dollars has helped keep his troops in the fight against Russian forces. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau greeted Zelenskyy at Ottawa's airport and will also speak to Parliament on Friday. It is Zelenskyy’s first visit to Canada since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — Police in Albuquerque say two people have been arrested in connection with a drive-by shooting outside a baseball stadium that killed an 11-year-old boy and prompted New Mexico's governor to issue a controversial gun ban. Police say the two men were arrested Thursday over the Sept. 6 shooting after an Albuquerque Isotopes game. Froylan Villegas was killed and his cousin, Tatiana Villegas, was left partially paralyzed. On Thursday, Albuquerque's police chief said the two men had argued with people during the ball game and mistakenly opened fire on the truck carrying the boy and his family as it was leaving the parking lot because it closely resembled the truck of the intended targets. MIDDLETOWN, N.Y. (AP) — A charter bus carrying high school students to a band camp careened off a New York highway and tumbled down an embankment, killing two adults and seriously injuring several others. Gov. Kathy Hochul said a front-tire failure could have contributed to the early Thursday afternoon accident on Interstate 84 in the town of Wawayanda, about 45 miles northwest of New York City. The two adults who died were 77-year-old Beatrice Ferrari of Farmingdale and 43-year-old Gina Pellettiere of Massapequa. Five of the 44 passengers on board were critically injured. according to state police. UNITED NATIONS (AP) — It’s one of the United Nations’ more obscure bodies, with no space to call its own within the riverside headquarters. And there is scant insight into how it decides a question of far-reaching impact: Who gets let through the door? With an anodyne name, the U.N. Credentials Committee has long gone unnoticed; it doesn’t even appear on the U.N.’s own organizational chart of its many councils, agencies and departments. But when it comes to countries riven by political divisions or coups, the nine-member body is the gatekeeper to the world’s stage at the U.N. General Assembly’s annual meeting. Leaders of factions within divided nations know that the committee’s decision stands to withhold or bestow some much-desired legitimacy. The 49ers rough up the Giants, Milwaukee and Philadelphia get closer to postseason berths, the Rays pad their postseason resume, and other results in baseball’s penultimate Thursday of the regular season. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 21 at 4 p.m. CT: WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s latest plan to prevent a looming federal shutdown by appeasing his hard-right flank quickly collapsed Thursday. It's a crushing defeat that makes a disruption in government services almost certain. A government closure is increasingly likely as time runs out for Congress to act. WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is delivering an upbeat message to U.S. lawmakers in a whirlwind visit to Washington. Zelenskyy briefed lawmakers on the state of the war Thursday and told them Ukrainians “are winning." Zelenskyy was facing Republicans who are now questioning the flow of American dollars that for 19 months has helped keep his troops in the fight against Russian forces. Zelenskyy will also meet with President Joe Biden at the White House. It's Zelenskyy’s second visit to Washington since Russia invaded and comes as Biden’s request to Congress for another $24 billion for Ukraine is hanging in the balance. NEW YORK (AP) — Rupert Murdoch is stepping down as leader of both Fox’s parent company and his News Corp. media holdings. Fox says he will become chairman emeritus of both corporations. His son, Lachlan, will control both companies. The 92-year-old Australian media magnate’s creation of Fox News made him a force in American politics. He built his empire from a single newspaper in Australia. He moved to England, then the United States with the invention of Fox News and the purchases of both the New York Post and The Wall Street Journal. Forbes estimated the Murdoch family’s net worth at roughly $19 billion in 2020. Fox News Channel has profoundly influenced television and the nation’s politics since its start in 1996, making Murdoch a hero to some and pariah to others. JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Mississippi's state auditor says numerous social science and humanities degree programs are “indoctrination factories.” Auditor Shad White argues in a new report the state should defund several college majors and invest in subjects that match the state’s workforce needs. He proposed tying public investment to workforce needs instead of providing funds without regard for the degree programs offered. In numerous statements on social media leading up to the report’s publication, White said there should be no taxpayer funding for “useless degrees” in “garbage fields.” White statements and his report arrive as education, from K-12 to the university level, remains at the center of America’s culture wars. NEW YORK (AP) — John Grisham, Jodi Picoult and George R.R. Martin are among 17 authors suing OpenAI for “systematic theft on a mass scale.” Their suit was filed Tuesday in New York and is the latest in a wave of legal action by writers concerned that AI programs are using their copyrighted works without permission. The suit was organized by the Authors Guild, and also includes David Baldacci, Sylvia Day, Jonathan Franzen and Elin Hilderbrand among others. A handful of similar suits were recently filed in California. OpenAI did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Silicon Valley tech giant Cisco is buying cybersecurity firm Splunk in a $28 billion deal as it looks to keep up with potential security threats that could be brought about by the increasing use of artificial intelligence. Cisco will pay $157 per Splunk Inc. share. CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh has pleaded guilty in federal court to financial crimes. Thursday’s court appearance is the first time the disbarred attorney has admitted responsibility for a crime before a judge. Murdaugh is serving life in prison without parole for killing his wife and son, but he adamantly denied shooting them from the witness stand at his double murder trial. In federal court, Murdaugh pleaded guilty to 22 counts of financial fraud and money laundering. He will be sentenced at a later date. The federal guilty plea likely locks in years if not decades in prison, even if the double murder conviction is overturned. CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — Convicted murderer Alex Murdaugh has pleaded guilty in federal court to financial crimes. Thursday’s court appearance is the first time the disbarred attorney has admitted responsibility for a crime before a judge. Murdaugh is serving life in prison without parole for killing his wife and son, but he adamantly denied shooting them from the witness stand at his double murder trial. In federal court, Murdaugh pleaded guilty to 22 counts of financial fraud and money laundering. He will be sentenced at a later date. The federal guilty plea likely locks in years if not decades in prison, even if the double murder conviction is overturned. A coalition of 25 governors and the Biden administration are set to announce a pledge Thursday morning to quadruple the number of heat pumps in U.S. homes by 2030. Heat pumps are important because they use little electricity, yet are able to heat and cool buildings. Since they often replace oil or gas furnaces that add greenhouse gases to the air, they can meaningfully address climate change. The pledge on heat pumps is a collection of state initiatives to work toward the goal of ramping down emissions to zero by 2050. PARIS (AP) — King Charles III has made an emotional stop in front of Paris' fire-damaged Notre Dame cathedral on the second day of his state visit to France. He also met with young athletes in a working-class, multicultural suburb of the capital. Earlier, Charles made an address to French lawmakers at the Senate, praising France and the United Kingdom’s “indispensable relationship” and its capacity to meet the world’s challenges, including the war in Ukraine and climate change. Thursday's busy schedule came a day after he was greeted by French President Emmanuel Macron during a ceremony at Paris’ Arc de Triomphe and attended a state dinner at the Palace of Versailles. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Bob Ross was known for his unpretentious approach to painting on his long-running show, “The Joy of Painting,” but now the painting he completed on his first episode in 1983 is for sale for nearly $10 million. Minneapolis gallery owner Ryan Nelson calls the painting, “A Walk in the Woods,” the “rookie card” for Ross. Nelson bought the painting last year and then priced it at $9.85 million. Ross' paintings are hard to get and are expensive, but none has sold for nearly that much. Nelson says he's in no hurry to sell and would like to display the painting so that lots of people get to see Ross' work and understand his efforts to encourage regular people to paint. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 21 at 6:40 a.m. CT: WASHINGTON (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is returning to Washington for a whirlwind one-day visit. This time, Zelenskyy will face the Republicans now questioning the flow of American dollars that for 19 months has kept his troops in the fight against Russian forces. Zelenskyy on Thursday will meet with President Joe Biden at the White House, speak with U.S. military leaders at the Pentagon and stop at Capitol Hill to talk privately with Republican and Democratic leaders of the House and the Senate. It's Zelenskyy’s second visit to Washington since Russia invaded and comes as Biden’s request to Congress for another $24 billion for Ukraine is hanging in the balance. Detroit carmakers are announcing more layoffs that they blame on fallout from the United Auto Workers strike. General Motors said Wednesday it idled a plant in Kansas with 2,000 workers because they don't have auto parts to work with. The plant that makes those parts is on strike. And Stellantis, the maker of Jeep and Chrysler, says it expects to lay off more than 300 workers in Ohio and Indiana. The layoff are adding to tension just two days before the UAW is expected to call for expanding its strike, which right now is limited to three vehicle-assembly plants. WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration says it’s granting temporary legal status to hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans already in the country. The move Wednesday to give Venezuelans who arrived in the country as of July 31 temporary protected status essentially makes it easier and faster for them to get authorization to work. That's been a key demand of Democratic mayors and governors struggling to care for an increased number of migrants in their care. Venezuelans account for a large number of the migrants who've been arriving in the country in recent years. Eagle Pass, Texas, has announced a state of emergency over what it calls a “severe undocumented immigrant surge." NEW YORK (AP) — A growing number of Americans are finding it difficult to afford insurance on their homes, a problem only expected to worsen because insurers and lawmakers have underestimated the impact of climate change, a new report says. A report from the non-profit First Street Foundation released Wednesday says states such as California, Florida and Louisiana, which are prone to wildfires and damaging storms and flooding, are likely to see the most dramatic increases in premiums. But the fire that destroyed the Hawaiian community of Lahaina, as well as the historic flooding in Vermont and Maine, are recent examples of events that could drive up insurance costs for homeowners in other states. WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has confirmed Gen. CQ Brown as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, putting him in place to succeed Gen. Mark Milley when he retires at the end of the month. Brown’s confirmation on a 83-11 vote, months after President Joe Biden nominated him for the post, comes as Democrats try to maneuver around holds placed on hundreds of nominations by Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville over the Pentagon’s abortion policy. The Senate is also expected to confirm Gen. Randy George to be Army Chief of Staff and Gen. Eric Smith as commandant of the U.S. Marine Corps this week. The AL West contenders all win, the Rays waste a chance to cut into the Orioles lead, the Twins are on the verge of a title and the Brewers pad their division lead. LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Chicago Bears defensive coordinator Alan Williams has resigned, saying he needs to tend to his health and his family. Williams' resignation comes just two games into his second season. In a statement, Williams thanked the Bears and their front office and ownership, and vowed to coach again. He missed last week’s loss at Tampa Bay for what the team said were personal reasons after working the opener against Green Bay. Coach Matt Eberflus called the defense in Williams’ absence and figures to do so again when the Bears visit Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 20 at 4 p.m. CT: WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Reserve left its key interest rate unchanged for the second time in its past three meetings, a sign that it’s moderating its fight against inflation as price pressures have eased. But Fed officials also signaled that they expect to raise rates once more this year. Consumer inflation has dropped from a year-over-year peak of 9.1% in June 2022 to 3.7%. Yet it’s still well above the Fed’s 2% target, and its policymakers made clear that they aren’t close to declaring victory over the worst bout of inflation in 40 years. The Fed’s latest decision left its benchmark rate at about 5.4%, the result of 11 rate hikes it unleashed beginning in March 2022. WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans have clashed with Attorney General Merrick Garland, accusing him of the “weaponization” of its work under President Joe Biden. The Republicans used a routine oversight hearing on Wednesday to grill Garland about a special prosecutor's investigation of the president's son, Hunter Biden. Garland's appearance comes at an unprecedented moment in the Justice Department’s history. The department is overseeing two cases against Donald Trump, the first former president to face criminal charges, and another against the sitting president’s son. WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has announced that it is providing $600 million in funding to produce new at-home COVID-19 tests and is restarting a website allowing Americans to again order up to four free tests per household. It is aiming to prevent possible shortages during a rise in coronavirus cases that has typically come during colder months. The Department of Health and Human Services says orders can be placed at COVIDTests.gov starting Sept. 25, and that no-cost tests will be delivered for free by the United States Postal Service. Twelve manufacturers in seven states have been awarded funding and will produce 200 million over-the-counter tests to replenish federal stockpiles for government use, in addition to producing enough tests to meet demand for tests ordered online. UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Ukraine’s president is accusing Russia of undermining all norms of war and the United Nations Charter. The allegation was aired Wednesday at a meeting of the U.N. Security Council. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told the council that his proposal to end the 19-month war starts with adherence to the charter that ensures the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all 193 U.N. member nations. He stressed that restoration of all Ukrainian territory is the key to peace. Before the meeting started, there was intense speculation about whether Zelenskyy and Russia’s top diplomat, Sergey Lavrov, would clash, speak or totally avoid each other. But no confrontation happened because Zelenskyy left the council soon after his address. NEW YORK (AP) — The nationwide surge in book bannings continues. The American Library Association is reporting that challenges to books in schools and public libraries will likely reach record highs in 2023, topping what had been a record pace in 2022. School libraries had long been the predominant target, but in 2023 reports have been near-equally divided between schools and libraries open to the general public, the ALA announced Wednesday. The ALA released its numbers in advance of its annual banned books week, Oct. 1-7, when libraries highlight challenged works. Budweiser parent company Anheuser-Busch InBev announced Wednesday that its iconic Clydesdales will no longer have their tails shortened using a common, yet controversial, procedure that has drawn the ire of animal activists. The brewer said in a statement that the change was made earlier this year, stressing that the safety of the horses was a “top priority.” The statement coincided with an announcement that it had obtained an animal welfare certification for the horses, as well as the dalmatians that serve as their companions. The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, led protests and mounted a nationwide ad campaign, with billboards depicting the horses reading “Severed Tails: Cruelty to Clydesdales.” WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says he won't give up in trying to pass a conservative bill to prevent a government shutdown. The California Republican is confronted with dwindling time and no sure support from his hard-right flank to avert a shutdown by the end of the month. McCarthy said Wednesday he still has time. Other lawmakers aren't so sure and are looking at other options. McCarthy is trying to pass a temporary bill including 8% cuts to many government services. Hard-line conservatives want more cuts. Even if McCarthy is able to pass the bill, it would be rejected by the Democratic-held Senate, which is working with Republicans on other plans. Kraft Heinz is recalling more than 83,000 cases of individually-wrapped Kraft Singles American processed cheese slices because part of the wrapper could stick to the slice and become a choking hazard. The company says one of its wrapping machines developed a temporary issue that makes it possible for a thin strip of film to remain on the slice even after it’s been removed from the wrapper. The machine has since been fixed. Kraft Heinz says it initiated the recall after it received several consumer complaints, but no injuries or serious health issues have been reported. ATLANTA (AP) — An author's clash with a Georgia school district over a brief mention of homosexuality in a presentation highlights the reach of conservatives' push for what what they call parents' rights. Author Marc Tyler Nobleman at first complied with a request not to mention that the son of Batman's co-creator was gay but then rebelled. He and LGBTQ+ advocates say the Forsyth County district in suburban Atlanta was wrong. The district says schools shouldn't engage in such discussions without parents knowing in advance. It's just one example of how schools are censoring LGBTQ+ themes even in states that don't have specific laws banning such talk. MADRID (AP) — Most of Spain’s World Cup-winning players have ended their boycott of the women’s national team after the government intervened to help shape an agreement to make immediate structural changes at the country’s soccer federation. Only two players opted to leave the team’s training camp after receiving guarantees from the government that they would not be sanctioned. The rest stayed after being told that some of their demands for reform would be met. The federation soon fired its general secretary to meet one of those demands. Players had reported to camp on Tuesday after being picked by new coach Montse Tomé against their will on Monday in the latest twist in the crisis that has engulfed Spanish soccer. WASHINGTON (AP) — Parents whose kids bought virtual gear without their knowledge on the popular Fortnite video game could soon be able to get a refund. U.S. regulators are starting to notify more than 37 million people by email that they may be eligible for compensation as part of a legal settlement with Fortnite’s maker, Epic Games Inc. The Federal Trade Commission announced late last year that Epic Games would pay $520 million in penalties and refunds to settle complaints revolving around children’s privacy and its payment methods that tricked players into making unintended purchases. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 20 at 6:57 a.m. CT: ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — As migration to the United States from Venezuela and other countries soars, Democratic elected officials are pressing the Biden administration to quickly grant work permits for asylum-seekers while their cases wind through immigration courts. In New York City, tens of thousands of migrants have arrived over the past year. Mayor Eric Adams has increasingly sounded alarms and Gov. Kathy Hochul is floating the idea of state-issued work permits. Asylum-seekers must wait at least six months before they can get a work permit. That cannot be changed without Congress, but some Democrats say there are other steps that President Joe Biden could take. The Fed is set to make an announcement on interest rates later Wednesday. The expectation is for it to announce no change. The United Auto Workers union is preparing to expand its strike against Detroit’s Big Three unless it sees progress in contract negotiations. UAW President Shawn Fain says workers at more factories will join those already on strike at noon Friday unless there is “serious progress” toward agreements. Meanwhile, Canadian union Unifor said late Tuesday that it reached a tentative agreement with Ford covering 5,600 workers in Canada.. But in the U.S., the UAW strike, which is limited to three plants, is now in its fifth day. A White House official says the Biden administration reversed a plan to send the acting Labor Secretary and a senior White House adviser to Detroit this week to meet with both sides. KANSAS CITY NATIONAL SECURITY CAMPUS, Mo. (AP) — The U.S. will spend more than $750 billion over the next decade to overhaul nearly every part of its nuclear defenses and replace systems that in some cases are more than 50 years old. But until each of those programs is ready, it's up to young military troops and government technicians across the U.S. to care for the existing bombs, often through delicate maintenance performed by hand. The Associated Press was granted rare access inside military nuclear missile bases and government weapons facilities to report on how they are adjusting to meet the increasing workload. HUEHUETOCA, Mexico (AP) — A Mexican railway operator has announced it is suspending train runs in the northern part of the country because so many migrants are climbing aboard freight cars and getting hurt in the process. The Ferromex railway said Tuesday that it has temporarily ordered a halt to 60 trains. The company said in a statement that “in recent days, there have been about a half-dozen regrettable cases of injuries or deaths” among migrants hopping freight cars. The company, part of Grupo Mexico, said some even hopped on moving freight cars with children “despite the grave danger that represents.” It comes as migrants are increasingly desperate to reach the U.S. border. The Orioles win a battle of the AL's top two teams, the AL West race tightens, the AL and NL Central leaders lower their magic numbers, and surgery for Shohei Ohtani and Nick Chubb.  On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 19 at 4 p.m. CT: UNITED NATIONS (AP) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Russia is “weaponizing” everything from food and energy to abducted children in its war against Ukraine. And he's warning other world leaders that the same could happen to them. Zelenskyy spoke Tuesday at the U.N. General Assembly’s annual top-level meeting. He noted the war's effect on global food and fuel supplies highlighted the situation of Ukrainian children who were taken from their families after Moscow’s invasion. Russia hasn't yet had its turn to address the assembly. UNITED NATIONS (AP) — President Joe Biden has made his case before the U.N. General Assembly that the world must remain united in defending Ukraine against Russian aggression. In an address in New York on Tuesday, Biden warned that no nation can be secure if “we allow Ukraine to be carved up” as he tries to rally support for Kyiv’s effort to repel a nearly 19-month-old Russian invasion that has no end in sight. The U.S. president called on world leaders not to let support for Ukraine diminish and he argued that Russia is counting on countries to grow tired of prolonged conflict in Kyiv which would “allow it to brutalize Ukraine without consequence.” Biden is scheduled to host talks Thursday at the White House with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans plan to hold their first hearing next week in their impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden over his family’s business dealings. The Sept. 28 hearing is expected to focus on “constitutional and legal questions” that surround allegations of Biden’s involvement in his son Hunter's overseas businesses. That is according to a spokesperson for the House Oversight Committee, which is leading the hearing. The committee also plans to subpoena the personal and business bank records of Biden’s son. The White House has called the effort by House Republicans “extreme politics at its worst.” EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) — Suspended Michigan State football coach Mel Tucker says he's “disappointed — but not surprised” that the school intends to fire him for misconduct involving activist and rape survivor Brenda Tracy. In a statement Tuesday, Tucker suggests that “other motives are at play” in the school’s decision. The university informed Tucker on Monday that he will be fired without compensation for misconduct involving Tracy, who said Tucker sexually harassed her during an April 2022 phone call. She later filed a complaint with the school’s Title IX office. Tucker has called the allegations “completely false.” He said Tuesday that, “A cursory reading of the facts and timeline should cause any fair-minded person to conclude that other motives are at play." NEW YORK (AP) — Amazon said on Tuesday that it will hire 250,000 full and part-time workers for the holiday season, a 67% jump compared to last year. The company wrote in a blog post that it will also raise the average pay for warehouse and transportation roles from $19 to over $20.50 per hour. The company noted more jobs are available because it opened over 50 new fulfillment centers, delivery stations and same-day delivery sites in the U.S. this year. Other retailers have also begun announcing their holiday plans. Target said on Tuesday it will add nearly 100,000 seasonal roles for the holiday season. Macy’s Inc, which owns the department stores Macy’s and Bloomingdale’s, said on Monday it planned to hire more than 38,000 full- and part-time seasonal employees. DETROIT (AP) — Michigan’s attorney general is suggesting conservative politics played a role in the acquittal of three men in the final trial related to a plan to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. Like Whitmer, Dana Nessel is a Democrat. She told a liberal group Monday that the trial was held in a “very right-leaning county.” William Null, twin brother Michael Null and Eric Molitor were found not guilty of providing material support for the scheme's leaders last week. They were the last of 14 men to face charges in state or federal court. Nessel says the verdicts last week were “terrifying.” A former federal prosecutor, Matthew Schneider, says the remarks were inappropriate and that it's not helpful to "trash" the “American jury system.” The Walt Disney Co. is planning to invest approximately $60 billion into its theme parks and cruise lines over the next decade, as the company looks to continue growing one of its more successful business segments. The company said in a regulatory filing on Tuesday that the planned investment is nearly double what it spent in the prior 10-year period. NEW YORK (AP) — Rudy Giuliani’s former lawyer has sued him, alleging the ex-New York City mayor has paid only a fraction of nearly $1.6 million in legal fees he’s racked up from investigations into his efforts to keep Donald Trump in the White House. Robert Costello and his law firm, Davidoff Hutcher & Citron LLP, say Giuliani has paid them just $214,000 and still has a $1.36 million tab. Giuliani’s last payment, according to the lawsuit, was $10,000 on Sept. 14 — about a week after Trump hosted a $100,000-a-plate fundraiser for Giuliani at his Bedminster, New Jersey, golf club. Giuliani said Monday that he “can’t express how personally hurt I am by what Bob Costello has done.” ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — The playoff-bound Tampa Bay Rays put the finishing touches on plans for a new 30,000-seat ballpark in St. Petersburg. It's part of a $6.5 billion development project announced Tuesday that includes affordable housing, retail, bars and restaurants and a Black history museum. The site is on the same 86-acre tract of downtown land where Tropicana Field now sits. An official with the Rays says that domed, oddly-tilted ballpark will be demolished once the new one is built, in time for opening day in 2028. The plan would keep the Rays in St. Petersburg for the foreseeable future. But, it still has to clear some political hurdles on funding and approvals. LONDON (AP) — YouTube says Russell Brand will no longer make money from the video streaming site after several women made allegations of sexual assault against the comedian-turned influencer. YouTube says Brand’s account has been suspended “following serious allegations against the creator.” Brand's main account has more than 6.6 million subscribers. He denies allegations of sexual assault made by four women in a Channel 4 television documentary and The Times and Sunday Times newspapers. The accusers have not been named. One of them said she was sexually assaulted during a relationship with him when she was 16. Another woman says Brand raped her in Los Angeles in 2012. NEW YORK (AP) — A taped package containing several thousand dollars' worth of fentanyl was discovered inside the New York City day care center where a 1-year-old child died of an opioid overdose last week. But the owner of the day care center, Grei Mendez, maintained she had no knowledge of the presence of the highly potent opioid. Her attorney noted she had rented a room in the apartment to a man, Carlist Acevedo Brito, who may have been responsible for the drug operation. Mendez pleaded not guilty in court Sunday night to the charges. Brito was awaiting arraignment. His attorney did not immediately response to a request for comment. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 19 at 7 a.m. CT: WASHINGTON (AP) — The Americans released by Iran after being detained for years have arrived back home and declared, “Freedom!” The former prisoners posed for a group photograph with their families at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, early Tuesday. The brother of one of the five freed Americans says “The nightmare is finally over." The Americans were freed as part of a politically risky deal that saw President Joe Biden agree to the release of $5.9 billion in frozen Iranian assets. The successful negotiations for the Americans’ freedom brought Biden profuse thanks from their families but heat from Republicans for the monetary arrangement with one of America’s top adversaries. NEW YORK (AP) — President Joe Biden will use his annual address before the U.N. General Assembly to make the case to world leaders — and the 2024 U.S. electorate — that he’s reestablished U.S. leadership on the world stage. White House officials say Biden will use his Tuesday address to make a robust case for leaders to continue to back Ukraine’s effort to repel a nearly 19-month-old Russian invasion that has no end in sight. In a pair of fundraisers on Monday night, Biden underscored to supporters that he stood up to Vladimir Putin’s invasion, and questioned whether former President Donald Trump would have even attempted to help Ukraine stop the Russian land grab if he were in power. NEW YORK (AP) — Ukraine's leader and Russia’s top diplomat could cross paths at the United Nations this week. And Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy suggested Monday that the world body needs to answer for allowing his country’s invader a seat at the tables of power. Zelenskyy is due to address world leaders at the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, then speak Wednesday at a U.N. Security Council meeting about Ukraine. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also is expected at the council meeting. Zelenskyy says that if there's still a place for Russia in the U.N., that's “a question to all the members.” He spoke while visiting injured Ukrainian military members at New York's Staten Island University Hospital. MOSCOW (AP) — A senior Kremlin official has called for closer policy coordination between Moscow and Beijing to counter Western efforts to contain them as he hosted China’s top diplomat for security talks. Nikolai Patrushev, the secretary of Russia’s Security Council chaired by President Vladimir Putin, told Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi that Moscow wants to further strengthen “strategic cooperation” with China. He reaffirmed Russia’s support for Beijing’s policy on issues related to Taiwan, the western Xinjiang region and Hong Kong, which he said “are being used by the West to discredit China.” The Kremlin has continuously expressed support for Beijing as Russia and China have grown increasingly close while their relations with the West deteriorate. MOSCOW (AP) — Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal reporter who was detained on espionage charges, appeared in a Moscow court Tuesday to appeal his arrest. A 31-year-old United States citizen, Gershkovich was arrested in the city of Yekaterinburg while on a reporting trip to Russia in late March. He and his employer deny the allegations, and the U.S. government declared him to be wrongfully detained. Russian authorities have not provided any evidence to support the espionage charges. Gershkovich is the first American reporter to face espionage charges in Russia since September 1986, when Nicholas Daniloff, a Moscow correspondent for U.S. News and World Report, was arrested by the KGB. NEW DELHI (AP) — India has expelled a senior Canadian diplomat and accuses Canada of interfering in its internal affairs, escalating a breach with Ottawa over alleged Indian involvement in the killing of a Sikh activist in Canada. It came a day after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there were credible allegations that India was connected to the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh independence advocate who was gunned down on June 18 outside a Sikh cultural center in Surrey, British Columbia, and Canada expelled a top Indian diplomat. India rejected the allegations as “absurd.” India has fought against a movement to establish an independent Sikh homeland known as Khalistan since the 1980s. In sports: Two NFL Monday night games with close scores, Patrick Mahomes wins without even playing, Adam Wainwright reaches a career milestone and big games down the stretch in Major League Baseball.  On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 18 at 4 p.m. CT: DOHA, Qatar (AP) — Americans held for years in Iranian custody walked arm-in-arm off a plane into freedom. Monday's release was part of a painstakingly negotiated deal between the United States and Iran. The U.S.-Iran prisoner swap saw the Biden administration agree to the release of nearly $6 billion in frozen Iranian assets owed by South Korea. Despite the release, tensions remain high between the U.S. and Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program and other matters. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi suggests the deal could be used to build trust with the U.S. But the exchange has unfolded during ongoing disputes between the two rivals and an American military buildup in the Persian Gulf. ROMEOVILLE, Ill. (AP) — A couple, their two children and three dogs have been found fatally shot in a suburban Chicago home. Police say Monday that their bodies were found about 8:40 p.m. Sunday in Romeoville by officers sent to the home by concerned family members. Police say the victims were believed to have been shot between Saturday night and early Sunday. The adults were identified as Roberto Rolon and Zoraida Bartolomei. The names and ages of their children were not immediately released. Police say the deaths are being investigated as murders. Romeoville is about 30 miles southwest of Chicago. WASHINGTON (AP) — Hunter Biden has filed a lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service. He's arguing that two agents violated his right to privacy when they publicly aired his tax information as they pressed claims that a federal investigation of Biden had been improperly handled. The lawsuit filed Monday says that his personal tax details shared during congressional hearings and interviews was not allowed by whistleblower protections. The suit comes days after Biden was indicted on federal firearms charges amid a long-running Justice Department investigation. The charges alleging that he lied about his drug use to buy and possess a gun in October 2018 could put the case on track toward a possible high-stakes trial as the 2024 election looms. ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — It wasn’t an escapee from the Country Bear Jamboree attraction, but a wild black bear managed to be the star of its own show at Walt Disney World. The bear was eventually captured Monday afternoon. The presence of the black bear in a tree in the Magic Kingdom delayed the opening of Frontierland, Liberty Square and Adventureland. Disney World says in a statement that staffers with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission were at the park, attempting to capture and relocate the bear. Wildlife officials say the bear was likely in search of food as it looks to pack on fat reserves for the winter. ISLAMABAD (AP) — Two years after the Taliban banned girls from school beyond sixth grade, Afghanistan is the only country in the world with restrictions on female education. Now, the rights of Afghan women and children are on the agenda of the United Nations General Assembly Monday in New York. The U.N. children’s agency says more than 1 million girls are affected by the ban. It triggered global condemnation and remains the Taliban’s biggest obstacle to gaining recognition as the legitimate rulers of Afghanistan. But the Taliban has gone further, excluding women and girls from higher education, public spaces like parks and most jobs. LOS ANGELES (AP) — ABC will be airing more “Monday Night Football” games than originally planned. An additional 10 games originally set to appear only on ESPN will be simulcast on ABC. The move is because of the ongoing strikes by the Writers Guild of America and the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists against the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents Disney, Netflix, Amazon and others. The strikes, which have been going on for months, have delayed most of the upcoming fall television season. The move also means that ABC has a game all 18 weeks of the regular season along with simulcasts of two playoff games. MONT BELVIEU, Texas (AP) — A Black high school student in Texas has been punished with an in-school suspension over his hairstyle for over two weeks, his mother said. The family has argued he is not violating the dress code, but when he arrived Monday wearing his hair still in twisted dreadlocks tied on top of his head, he was suspended again. School officials say Darryl George's dreadlocks violate the district’s dress code. His mother says he isn't violating rules about hair length for boys. The incident recalls debates over hair discrimination in schools and the workplace. COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — The same Ohio river valley where the Wright brothers pioneered human flight will soon manufacture cutting-edge electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft. An agreement announced Monday between the state and Joby Aviation Inc. will bring air taxi production to a 140-acre site at Dayton International Airport by 2025. Futuristic eVTOL aircraft are making their way toward market around the world as a ridesharing alternative in crowded cities. California-based Joby's Ohio facility would produce up to 500 of the quiet aircraft a year, creating some 2,000 jobs. The project is supported by about $325 million in the state of Ohio, JobsOhio and local investment. BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Louisiana has had an unprecedented wildfire season, exacerbated by extreme heat and dry conditions. In August alone, there were more than 550 fires across the state, and officials say the season is far from over. One of the largest wildfires in Louisiana history continues to burn through land and threaten rural communities, which are used to flooding and hurricanes this time of year rather than drought and blazes. Louisiana’s excessive wildfire season is just one climate disaster in a summer of weather anomalies that have plagued the country — from the first-ever tropical storm watch issued for southern California, destructive flooding in the Northeast and deadly wildfires in Maui. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 18 at 6:45 a.m. CT: Some $6 billion of Iranian assets once frozen in South Korea is now in Qatar, a key element for a planned prisoner swap between Tehran and the United States. The United Auto Workers union has made CEO pay a central part of their argument for a big worker wage increase. UAW President Shawn Fain has repeatedly said that because Detroit’s three automakers raised CEO pay by 40% over the past four years, workers should get similar raises. Russia’s new ambassador to the Vatican is meeting with Pope Francis for a protocol visit to present his diplomatic credentials. He's meeting the pontiff as signs emerge that the Vatican's Ukraine peace ambassador could soon be undertaking a second mission to Moscow. Authorities in Maine say a man who was reported missing has been found trapped in his pickup truck after two days in a muddy, wooded area in New Hampshire. Authorities say four of the nine juveniles who escaped from a detention center in Pennsylvania have been caught. Authorities are asking for the public’s help and offering a $250,000 reward as investigators search for the assailant who shot and killed a Los Angeles County sheriff’s deputy as he sat in his patrol car at an intersection. Former President Donald Trump repeatedly declined in an interview aired Sunday to answer questions about whether he watched the Capitol riot unfold on television. He said on NBC's “Meet the Press” that he would “tell people later at an appropriate time.” A Giant comeback, big comeback wins also for the Commanders and Falcons, the defending Super Bowl champions earn their first win of the season and the defending World Series champions extend their lead in the A.L. West. If it were a normal year, the 75th Emmy Awards would be held Monday night. But this is no normal year. With both actors and writers on strike, the Emmys were postponed until January. Voting did take place on the original timeline however. Jann Wenner, a founder of both Rolling Stone magazine and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame, has been removed from the hall’s board of directors after making disparaging comments toward Black and female musicians. Drew Barrymore, who drew criticism for taping new episodes of her daytime talk show despite the ongoing writers and actors strikes, now says she’ll wait until the labor issues are resolved. Rapper Jeezy has filed for divorce from TV personality Jeannie Mai after two years of marriage. Hugh Jackman and Deborra-lee Jackman have decided to end their marriage after 27 years and two children. “The Nun 2” and “A Haunting in Venice” virtually tied for the No. 1 spot in U.S. and Canadian theaters over the weekend, with a slight edge carrying the horror sequel over the Hercule Poirot mystery. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

Welcome to the weekly bonus episode of Hot off the Wire, where we look back at some of the top headlines from the week in the world of sports and entertainment.  As always, be sure to check out our latest episode of Streamed & Screened, a podcast dedicated to movies and television.  This week Bruce Miller talks with director Jim Capobianco and composer Alex Mandel about their passion project “The Inventor.” Listen to the latest episode of Streamed & Screened here.  This week’s top headlines include: Taylor Swift had a big night at the MTV Video Music Awards.  Aaron Rodgers first season as quarterback with the New York Jets came to an abrupt end. And the NBA is taking steps to make sure star players are appearing in more games. Those stories and more from The Associated Press. But first, Bruce Miller talks about the animated film “The Inventor” about Leonardo Da Vinci during the latest episode of Streamed & Screened.  — Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 15 at 3 p.m. CT: President Joe Biden says he’s dispatching two of his top aides to Detroit to help resolve the strike by unionized autoworkers. Biden expressed sympathy Friday for the union by suggesting the Big 3 automakers should share their “record profits.” A jury has acquitted three men in the last trial connected to a plan to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The three men were the last of 14 to face charges in state or federal court. Nine others were convicted. Renowned Colombian painter and sculptor Fernando Botero, whose depictions of people and objects in plump, exaggerated forms became emblems of Colombian art around the world, has died. He was 91. From Europe to Africa to southeast Asia, tens of thousands of climate activists around the world launched protests Friday to call for an end to the burning of planet-warming fossil fuels as Earth suffers from dramatic weather extremes. For a generation and more, Starbucks' throwaway cup has been a cornerstone of consumer society, first in the United States and then globally. Now, in the name of the environment and sustainability, the company's disposable cup may be on its way to extinction thanks to an unlikely force: Starbucks itself. European regulators have slapped TikTok with a $368 million fine for failing to protect children's privacy. It's the first time that the popular short video-sharing app has been punished for breaching Europe’s strict data privacy rules. Contract talks that could end Hollywood’s writers strike are set to resume next week. The alliance that represents studios, streaming services and production companies said in a statement Thursday that they had reached out to leaders of the writers union, and the two sides agreed to resume negotiations next week. On Friday, Sean “Diddy” Combs released his new album called “The Love Album - Off the Grid.” His fifth studio project features nearly 30 guests. It’s his first solo studio project since his 2006 chart-topping “Press Play.” —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 15 at 7:10 a.m. CT: About 13,000 U.S. auto workers have stopped making vehicles and headed for the picket lines. Their leaders have been unable to bridge a giant gap between United Auto Workers union demands in contract talks and what Detroit’s three automakers are willing to pay. After days of torrential rain, flooding, sinkholes and tornadoes, New England is about to face Hurricane Lee. A federal indictment says Hunter Biden lied on a form required for every gun purchase when he bought a Colt Cobra Special while he was a drug user. The Justice Department is challenging efforts by ex-President Donald Trump to disqualify the Washington judge presiding over the case charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 election. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has peered into the cockpit of Russia’s most advanced fighter jet at an aircraft factory on his extended visit to the country. The Eagles outscore the Vikings, the Rays and Rangers move closer to first place and the Brewers widen their division gap. AP correspondent Dave Ferry reports. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 14 at 4 p.m. CT: A federal indictment says Hunter Biden lied on a form required for every gun purchase when he bought a Colt Cobra Special while he was a drug user. About half of Americans have little or no confidence that the Justice Department is handling its investigation into Hunter Biden in a fair and nonpartisan way. And 1 in 3 are highly concerned about whether President Joe Biden may have committed wrongdoing related to his son’s business dealings, according to a poll by The Associate Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is telling fellow Republicans threatening to oust him: Go ahead and try. The embattled GOP leader was angry and frustrated during a closed door meeting Thursday. The Wisconsin Senate has voted to fire the state’s top elections official as misinformation about the 2020 election influences elections administration in the battleground state. Democrats say the vote on Thursday to oust nonpartisan Wisconsin Elections Commission Administrator Meagan Wolfe was held improperly, and will go to court. The Libyan Red Crescent aid organization says that the death toll from floods in the eastern Libyan city of Derna has soared to 11,300. The United States is sanctioning more than 150 businesses and individuals as it tries to crack down on evasion and deny Russia access to technology, money and financial channels that fuel Moscow's war in Ukraine. Authorities says the luxury cruise ship MV Ocean Explorer has been successfully pulled free three days after running aground in Greenland with 206 people on board. Bad news if you’re looking forward to new episodes of “Grey’s Anatomy” and “Law & Order” airing anytime soon. Many of your favorite TV shows will not be back this fall because of the strikes by Hollywood actors and screenwriters. The NBA has taken steps to try to ensure that its star players appear in more games, particularly nationally televised matchups and the in-season tournament that is being added this year. The Washington Nationals are giving Mike Rizzo a chance to finish what he started as the team’s longtime president of baseball operations and general manager. The club has signed Rizzo to a multiyear extension. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 14 at 6:47 a.m. CT: A hurricane watch is in place for portions of Maine, while a large area of coastal New England is under a tropical storm watch as Hurricane Lee is expected to reach the region later this week. With just over 24 hours left before a strike deadline, United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain says offers from Detroit automakers aren’t enough and the union is getting ready to strike. The operator of a luxury cruise ship that ran aground in Greenland with 206 people on board says at three passengers have contracted COVID-19. Firefighters around the country are concerned that gear laced with PFAS, a group of toxic industrial compounds, could be one reason why cancer rates among their ranks are rising. American researcher Mark Dickey says he thought he would die after falling ill while exploring a Turkish cave system. At a closed-door Senate forum, tech leaders loosely endorsed the regulation of artificial intelligence. In sports, it was a busy night of Major League Baseball as the Braves dominance of the NL East continued, the Astros came up just short of a history making pitching performance, the AL East race got tighter and NFL players made their concerns known regarding the safety of playing surfaces. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 13 at 4 p.m. CT: North Korea’s Kim Jong Un vowed “full and unconditional support” for Russia’s Vladimir Putin as the two leaders isolated by the West held a summit that the U.S. warns could lead to a deal to supply ammunition for Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Escaped murderer Danelo Cavalcante was captured after eluding hundreds of searchers for two weeks in rural southeastern Pennsylvania. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Schumer said more than 60 senators attended a forum on artificial intelligence and that there was some broad consensus in building a foundation for bipartisan AI policy. Utah Republican Sen. Mitt Romney will not run for reelection in 2024. The former presidential candidate and Massachusetts governor announced his intentions in a video statement Wednesday, creating a wide-open contest in a state that heavily favors Republicans and is expected to attract a crowded field. Preventing dengue fever has long meant teaching people to fear mosquitoes and avoid their bites. But now mosquitoes are bred in laboratories to carry bacteria that halt the spread of dengue. Authorities say a wandering bull moose has been captured in downtown Santa Fe and relocated to a suitable habitat in northern New Mexico. The famous stopwatch will still announce the show as “60 Minutes.” But for six episodes this fall, the long-running CBS newsmagazine will become 90 minutes. A former NFL Media journalist is accusing the league of refusing to address what he calls long-standing institutional discrimination and says his contract was not renewed because he repeatedly voiced concerns regarding equity and racial injustice. After months of testing, TikTok is fully launching its e-commerce product in the U.S., in an effort to translate the app’s cultural relevance among young consumers to sales. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 13 at 7 a.m. CT: A local health official in eastern Libya says the flood death toll in the city of Derna has risen to more than 5,100. North Korea’s Kim Jong Un vowed “full and unconditional support” for Russia’s Vladimir Putin as the two leaders isolated by the West held a summit that the U.S. warns could lead to a deal to supply ammunition for Moscow’s war in Ukraine. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says he's directing the House to open an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. The White House dismisses the impeachment push as politically motivated. A government watchdog agency in France has ordered Apple to withdraw the iPhone 12 from the French market, saying it emits levels of electromagnetic radiation that are too high. Government advisers say the leading decongestant used by millions of Americans to treat nasal congestion doesn't actually work. The Food and Drug Administration convened an expert panel to review the latest data on phenylephrine. Taylor Swift took home the top prize at the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards for her “Anti-Hero” music video on a night full of surprises. In sports: Another busy night in Major League Baseball with the home run leader going deep again, a veteran pitcher nearing a milestone mark and close pennant race games. Also, an injury to Aaron Rodgers is confirmed. Apple on Tuesday unveiled its next generation of iPhones — a lineup that will boast better cameras, faster processors, a new charging system and a price hike for the fanciest model. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 12 at 4 p.m. CT: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says he's directing a House committee to open an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. Five former Memphis police officers have been charged with federal civil rights violations in the beating death of Tyre Nichols. Iran has identified the five prisoners it hopes to see freed in the United States in exchange for five Iranian-Americans now held in Tehran and billions in assets once held by South Korea. Emergency workers in Libya's eastern city of Derna have uncovered more than 1,500 bodies after devastating flooding. It's feared the toll could spiral with more than 10,000 missing. Google is confronting a threat to its dominant search engine as federal regulators launch an attempt to dismantle its internet empire in the biggest U.S. antitrust trial in a quarter century. New York Jets coach Robert Saleh says Aaron Rodgers has a torn left Achilles tendon and the 39-year-old quarterback will miss the rest of the season. Jussie Smollett’s lawyers have told an Illinois appellate court that it should toss the former “Empire” actor’s convictions for staging a racist, homophobic attack against himself in 2019 and then lying about it to Chicago police. Thousands of soldiers from the United States, Indonesia, Australia and other allied forces demonstrated their armor capabilities in combat drills on the Indonesian island of Java at a time of increased Chinese aggression in the region. The famous marching bands at historically Black colleges and universities have been putting on their must-watch shows for decades. They are a treasured hallmark of the Black community, which is eager to embrace them. Recent food recalls have been spurred by foreign objects like rocks, insects and plastic. The U.S. Department of Agriculture says this type of contamination is one of the top reasons for food recalls. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 12 at 6:57 a.m. CT: Authorities in Pennsylvania are warning that escaped murderer Danelo Souza Cavalcante, who has evaded capture in southeastern Pennsylvania for nearly two weeks, is armed. Heavy rainfall has flooded parts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, with one city declaring a state of emergency as water poured into homes, creating moats around their foundations, and stranded drivers. Turkish officials say Mark Dickey, an American researcher who was pulled out of a deep Turkish cave after becoming too sick to climb out on his own, was doing well in a Turkish hospital. Russian President Vladimir Putin has asserted that the criminal cases against former U.S. President Donald Trump are political revenge that show the fundamental corruption of the United States. The World Food Program is warning that humanitarian funding cuts by governments are forcing the U.N. agency to drastically cut food rations to the world’s hungriest people. The Jets lose Aaron Rodgers but rebound to win, the Braves' Matt Olson hits his 50th homer, the Cubs rally to stay 3 behind the Brewers and Rockets guard Kevin Porter junior is arrested.  On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 11 at 4 p.m. CT: Bells tolled at ground zero and solemn tributes unfolded across the country as Americans looked back on the horror and legacy of 9/11. People gathered Monday at memorials, firehouses, city halls, campuses and elsewhere to observe the 22nd anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. Sports betting company DraftKings has apologized after using the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks to entice people to bet on baseball and football games. U.S. regulators have approved updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna, shots aimed at revving up protection this fall and winter. The head of one of Libya’s rival governments says flooding that swept through the eastern parts of the north African nation has left as many as 2,000 people feared dead. The president of the Dominican Republic says he has suspended issuing visas to Haitians, and he is threatening to shut down land, air and sea traffic between the two neighbors over their latest dispute. Casino and hotel giant MGM Resorts International says a cybersecurity issue led to the shutdown of computer systems at its properties across the U.S. After the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in college admissions, concerns have arisen that a pathway into medicine may become much harder for students of color. Heightening the alarm: the medical field’s reckoning with longstanding health inequities. A rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump may be on the horizon in 2024, whether voters like it or not. President Joe Biden has wrapped up a five-day diplomatic sprint through Vietnam and India that put a spotlight on complicated relationships he believes will be crucial for global stability. One of three active-duty Marines who stormed the U.S. Capitol together has been sentenced to probation instead of prison time. U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes also on Monday ordered Dodge Hellonen to perform 279 hours of community service. She said that's one hour for every Marine who was killed or wounded fighting in the Civil War. Spanish soccer is ready to move forward three weeks after its women’s team won the Women’s World Cup but had its celebrations marred by a kiss that ignited a crisis. Luis Rubiales resigned late Sunday following weeks of relentless pressure after the Spanish soccer federation president kissed a player on the lips without her consent during the trophy ceremony in Australia last month. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 11 at 6:45 a.m. CT: Americans are looking back on the horror and legacy of 9/11. People are gathering Monday at memorials, firehouses, city halls, campuses and elsewhere to observe the 22nd anniversary of the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. Authorities say an escaped murderer who has eluded capture since breaking out of a southeastern Pennsylvania prison a week and a half ago slipped out of the search area, changed his appearance and stole a dairy delivery van, abandoning it miles away. Moroccan soldiers and aid teams in trucks and helicopters are battling to reach remote mountain towns devastated by a monstrous earthquake that killed more than 2,400 people. Russia and North Korea confirmed Monday that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will visit Russia. Ashton Kutcher and Mila Kunis are apologizing for character letters the celebrity couple wrote on behalf of fellow “That ’70s Show” actor Danny Masterson before he was sentenced for rape this week. Police say one person has been shot and wounded at a concert headlined by rapper Lil Baby in Memphis, Tennessee. Country music star Zach Bryan says he was arrested by the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and jailed briefly in northeast Oklahoma. Bryan said he supports law enforcement, called himself an idiot and said he later shook hands with the officer and apologized. Dallas wins big in NFL Sunday night opener, the Dolphins’ offense sparks a late-game rally in Los Angeles, Green Bay opens the Jordan Love era in style and the Browns shut down Joe Burrow. Novak Djokovic and Coco Gauff  are winners at the U.S Open. And there were big wins for the Braves, Dodgers and Astros. Like many horrors before it, bad reviews didn’t scare off moviegoers from buying tickets for “The Nun II.” The sequel to the 2018 hit earned an estimated $32.6 million, the studio said Sunday. “The Nun II” bumped Denzel Washington’s “Equalizer 3” to second place in its second weekend. Third place went to another new movie: The third installment of Nia Vardalos’ “My Big Fat Greek Wedding,” which earned an estimated $10 million despite largely negative reviews. On this week's AP Religion Roundup, Pope Francis considers the future of the Catholic church, Ukraine complains about the pope's remarks about Russia's past, and new research reveals how Catholic convents saved Jews in World War II. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

Welcome to the weekly bonus episode of Hot off the Wire, where we look back at some of the top headlines from the week in the world of sports and entertainment.  As always, be sure to check out our latest episode of Streamed & Screened, a podcast dedicated to movies and television.  This week Bruce Miller previews the fall TV lineup, which seems a little thinner than normal due to the ongoing writers and actors strikes. Listen to the latest episode of Streamed & Screened here.  Also, be sure to check out our special Hot off the Wire bonus episode previewing the NFL season. That episode dropped on Wednesday. This week’s top headlines include: The Rolling Stones are back with a studio album of new material called Hackney Diamonds. Lainey Wilson leads the 2023 Country Music Award nominations for a second year in a row. And Joe Jonas filed for divorce from Sophie Turner after four years of marriage. Those stories and more from The Associated Press.  Those stories and more from The Associated Press. But first, Bruce Miller talks about the show that got him most excited when he was 12 during the latest episode of Streamed & Screened.  — Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 8 at 4 p.m. CT: A special grand jury investigating efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 presidential election results recommended indictments against a much larger group than prosecutors ultimately charged, including one current and two former U.S. senators. The grand jury report released Friday shows the jurors recommended charges against 39 people, compared to the 18 charged along with ex-President Donald Trump. Those not indicted include Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, former U.S. Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue of Georgia and former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn. The IRS is launching an effort to crack down on 1,600 millionaires and 75 large business partnerships that owe hundreds of millions of dollars in past due taxes. Apple released a significant security update for iPhones and iPads Thursday to patch newly discovered security vulnerabilities in the devices' system software. The White House Situation Room — a space of great mystique and even higher secrecy — just got a $50 million facelift. The 5,500-square-foot, highly secure complex of conference rooms and offices in the West Wing has undergone a gut renovation that took a year to complete. A growing number of parents across the U.S. are being criminally charged with murder or manslaughter after their children die from exposure to fentanyl. The arrival of indoor plumbing in an Alaska village is a godsend for residents who can now turn on a tap for their drinking water or start a machine to do their laundry. But most of all, they're grateful to say goodbye to the “honey bucket” — the humble indoor pail that provided relief in homes without plumbing. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 8 at 6:50 a.m. CT: A Turkish official says an American researcher who fell ill more than 3,000 feet  below the entrance of a cave has recovered sufficiently for rescue teams to start moving him out. Hurricane Lee is charging through warm Atlantic waters as the season’s first Category 5 storm and threatening to unleash heavy swells across the northeast Caribbean. Extreme heat is expected throughout the Southwest. Trump White House official Peter Navarro has been convicted of contempt of Congress charges for refusing to cooperate with a congressional investigation into the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, this year’s Group of 20 meeting host, has pledged Ukraine won’t overshadow his focus on the needs of developing nations in the so-called Global South, but the war has proved hard to ignore. The NFL season kicks off with an upset, the Diamondbacks snake ahead in the NL Wild Card race, the Braves continue to hammer homers and Coco Gauff advances to her first US Open Women's Final. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 7 at 4 p.m. CT: That ’70s Show” star Danny Masterson has been sentenced to 30 years to life in prison for the rapes of two women two decades ago. Los Angeles Judge Charlaine Olmedo handed down the sentence to the 47-year-old Masterson at a hearing on Thursday. Rescuers from across Europe rushed to a cave in Turkey to save an American researcher who became trapped around 3,000 feet below the cave's entrance after suffering stomach bleeding. The hunt for an elusive murderer who escaped a Pennsylvania prison has stretched into a second week. Residents of the Philadelphia suburbs where he's believed to be hiding say they’re unsettled and perhaps frustrated — but not panicked. U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh has told attendees at a judicial conference in Ohio that addressing recent ethics concerns can increase public confidence in the institution. Ta’Kiya Young, the 21-year-old pregnant Black woman who was fatally shot by police in a supermarket parking lot near Columbus, Ohio, on Aug. 24., was mourned at a funeral for her on Thursday. Political ads using artificial intelligence on Google and YouTube must soon be accompanied by a prominent disclosure if imagery or sounds have been synthetically altered. Lainey Wilson leads the 2023 Country Music Association Awards nominations for a second year in a row with nods in six categories. Wilson is followed by Jelly Roll with five nominations and Luke Combs and HARDY with four each. A person familiar with the situation says LSU women's basketball coach Kim Mulkey has agreed to a 10-year contract worth about $32 million. Researchers have discovered new documentation that substantiates reports that Catholic convents and monasteries in Rome sheltered Jews during World War II. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 7 at 6:56 a.m. CT: Record temperatures are expected again in Phoenix while extreme heat lingers over the South and East. Federal prosecutors plan to seek a grand jury indictment of President Joe Biden’s son Hunter before the end of the month, according to newly filed court documents. A British soldier awaiting trial on terror-related charges has escaped from a prison in southwest London and police have launched an urgent manhunt. Five drones were shot down over three Russian regions overnight, officials said Thursday. The rain clouds have passed and the temple has burned. Now it’s time to clean up what remains in the northeastern Nevada desert after heavy rain flooded the annual Burning Man festival. President Joe Biden has refused to approve conditions that lawyers for the defendants in the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks had sought in a possible plea bargain in the case. That's according to a White House National Security Council official. The Biden administration has canceled the remaining seven oil and gas leases in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, overturning sales held in the Trump administration’s waning days and angering Republicans. The Cubs cut into the Brewers' division lead, the Marlins crush the Dodgers, the Astros crush the Rangers for the third straight day, Madison Keys wins again at Flushing Meadows and the 49ers lock up their best defensive player. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 6 at 4 p.m. CT: The judge overseeing the Georgia election subversion case involving former President Donald Trump has denied requests by two of the 19 defendants to be tried alone, instead saying the pair would be tried together starting next month. Prosecutors are estimating a trial would take four months and that they’d call more than 150 witnesses. The head of the United Auto Workers warned that the union plans to go on strike against any Detroit automaker that hasn’t reached a new agreement by the time contracts expire next week. President Joe Biden was holding but not wearing a mask, just days after after First Lady Jill Biden tested positive for COVID-19. A Russian missile tore through an outdoor market in eastern Ukraine, killing 17 people and wounding dozens. A high school football coach in Washington state who won his job back after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled he could pray on the field resigned Wednesday after just one game. A blast of late summer heat caused disruptions Wednesday for schools from Michigan to Virginia, with some districts dismissing students early and others holding classes online just days into the new academic year. A liberal group has filed a lawsuit to bar former President Donald Trump from the primary ballot in Colorado. The lawsuit contends Trump is ineligible to run for the White House again under a rarely used clause in the U.S. Constitution aimed at candidates who have supported an “insurrection.” Four months after a civil trial jury found Donald Trump sexually abused and defamed advice columnist E. Jean Carroll, a federal judge has ruled still more of the ex-president’s comments about her were libelous. The Rolling Stones are back, and they’ve brought a few famous friends. The band is releasing “Hackney Diamonds,” its first album of new songs in 18 years. Joe Jonas has filed for divorce from Sophie Turner after four years of marriage and two children. Cricket, breakdancing and flag football are still waiting to find out if they will be added to the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Edge rusher Carl Nassib, the NFL’s first openly gay player to play in a regular-season game, announced his retirement on Wednesday. Spanish state prosecutors say soccer player Jenni Hermoso has accused Luis Rubiales of sexual assault for kissing her on the lips without her consent after the Women’s World Cup final. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

Welcome to this bonus episode of Hot Off The Wire that looks at the upcoming NFL season. The season kicks off on Thursday, Sept. 7, when the Kansas City Chiefs host the Detroit Lions. While most Thursday night games will be broadcast by Amazon Prime Video, the opening game will be on NBC. As has been the case in recent years, FOX will broadcast Sunday afternoon matchups between NFC teams, CBS will broadcast Sunday afternoon matchups between AFC teams, and the two networks will split crossover games between the two conferences. NBC will air Sunday Night Football and ESPN will handle Monday Night Football. The NFL Network will also air select games throughout the season. What’s new for this season? YouTube TV begins its first season as the carrier of NFL Sunday Ticket. As always, check your local listings to see what games are available to you on each network.  In this episode, Rob Maaddi, Pro Football Writer for The Associated Press, provides a breakdown on the top players at each position. But first, Maaddi’s Pro Picks column from September 1 made predictions for the season. So which team’s come out on top? Here are his predictions: NFC division winners: Cowboys, Lions, Saints, 49ers NFC wild-card teams: Eagles, Vikings, Seahawks NFC championship: Cowboys over 49ers AFC division winners: Jets, Bengals, Jaguars, Chiefs AFC wild-card teams: Bills, Ravens, Chargers AFC championship: Bengals over Jets Super Bowl: Bengals over Cowboys You can read his complete column here: Pro Picks: Bengals over Cowboys in Super Bowl 58 Get more NFL coverage from The Associated Press here. About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 6 at 6:50 a.m. CT: Miserable heat is baking the mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Texas and the South. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken arrived in Ukraine’s capital Wednesday for an unannounced visit hours after Russia launched a missile attack on the city, in a trip intended to show confidence in Kyiv’s forces amid a grinding counteroffensive. Vice President Kamala Harris says those responsible for the effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and the ensuing violence at the U.S Capitol must be held accountable, including Donald Trump. Egyptian authorities say a four-story apartment building has collapsed in Cairo, killing at least four people. Cairo’s governate says three others were injured Wednesday when the building collapse some 2 miles from the city center. It's unclear what caused the collapse. New regulations on short-term rentals have gone into effect in New York City. Officials and housing advocates pushing for the new rules say they're necessary to protect the city’s housing stock and to stop apartments from becoming de facto hotels. Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for orchestrating a failed plot to keep Donald Trump in power after the Republican lost the 2020 presidential election. An American tennis teenager makes history at the US Open, the Dodgers could soon be without one of their top pitchers, the Astros regain in the lead in the American League West and the Chiefs might need a new starting tight end for their season opener. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 5 at 4:15 p.m. CT: President Joe Biden has awarded the Medal of Honor to an Army pilot from the Vietnam War who risked his life to rescue a reconnaissance team that was about to be overrun by the enemy — facing almost certain death. Strong ocean rip currents along the mid-Atlantic coast created hazardous swimming conditions in the aftermath of two hurricanes. Rip current warnings remained in effect Tuesday from New York to North Carolina. The impeachment trial of Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton that could lead to his permanent removal from office is underway. A U.S. official says North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may travel to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin. Saudi Arabia and Russia have agreed to extend their voluntary oil production cuts through the end of the year. Gov. Phil Scott says the U.S. Department of Agriculture has designated Vermont a natural disaster area from the catastrophic July flooding, making farms eligible for emergency federal loans. The coach of Spain’s World Cup-winning women’s soccer team has been fired. The firing on Tuesday came less than three weeks after the victory celebration that led to the suspension of the country’s soccer federation president for kissing a player. Backers of an international agreement that bans cluster munitions are striving to prevent erosion in support for it after what one leading human rights group calls an “unconscionable” U.S. decision to ship such weapons to Ukraine for its fight against Russia. Fierce rainstorms are battering neighboring Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria, causing at least seven deaths. The U.S. Capitol physician says 81-year-old Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell’s health episodes show no evidence of a stroke or seizure disorder. The front-runners for their party’s presidential nomination, Republican Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden, are barely campaigning in crucial early-voting states as the primary season enters the fall rush. No. 21 Duke and No. 22 Colorado have jumped into the Associated Press Top 25 college football poll after scoring the biggest upsets of the opening weekend of the season. Tight end Travis Kelce hyperextended his knee during the Chiefs’ final practice before their opener against Detroit on Tuesday, leaving his status in question for Thursday night's game. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Sept. 5 at 7:15 a.m. CT: Former Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio will be sentenced for a plot to attack the U.S. Capitol in a bid to stop the transfer of power after Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election. Congress is returning to Capitol Hill to try to avert a government shutdown, while House Republicans consider whether to pursue an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden. Senators return Tuesday. First lady Jill Biden has tested positive for COVID-19. The White House says the first lady received the positive test result Monday. Partygoers stranded for days at a counterculture festival by a late summer storm were allowed to start leaving Monday afternoon after muddy roads dried up enough for them to begin their exodus from the northern Nevada desert. Much of the nation will be dealing with extreme heat Monday. A U.S. official said that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un may travel to Russia to meet President Vladimir Putin. That's a trip that would bring the two isolated leaders closer together. The race for the top spot in the American League West division is heating up, the Twins win big to extend their division lead, Cubs pitcher Justin Steele notches another victory, the Orioles pad their lead in the American League East division and a top ten college football team loses on the road. After a mild start to the U.S. Open, the forecast calls for much higher temperatures in the second week. The U.S. Open often is the hottest of the four majors in any given year. Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Julio Urías was arrested near BMO Stadium, where Lionel Messi was playing in a Major League Soccer game with numerous celebrities in attendance. Major League Baseball is keeping the pitch clock the same for the postseason as it was for the regular season, brushing aside urging from some players. Police say former Georgia and NFL linebacker Jarvis Jones was arrested for speeding and reckless driving ahead of the Bulldogs’ season opener. Steve Harwell, the longtime frontman of the Grammy-nominated pop rock band Smash Mouth, has died. He was 56. A statement on Jimmy Buffett's website has disclosed the cause of the singer-songwriter's death: a rare, aggressive skin cancer. Adam Driver talked about starring in the upcoming biopic "Ferrari" at the Venice Film Festival. According to studio estimates, the third installment in the Denzel Washington-led “Equalizer” franchise has topped the domestic box office this weekend with $34.5 million. “Barbie” officially became the biggest movie of 2023 while Christopher Nolan’s “Oppenheimer” sailed past $850 million globally. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

As this Labor Day holiday, this special episode of Hot off the Wire looks at select feature stories from the past month, including: A new study says Alexa, Siri and other voice assistants could do a better job giving instructions on CPR to help bystanders respond in emergencies. Researchers asked voice assistants questions that might be posed by someone witnessing a cardiac arrest. Republican and independent support for gun restrictions is slipping a year after Congress passed the most comprehensive firearms safety legislation in decades with bipartisan support. A poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows the gap between Democrats and Republicans on the issue of guns is widening. Federal safety regulators are warning airlines to make sure that workers stay away from jet engines that are still running. The Federal Aviation Administration said Friday that the alert follows “multiple" incidents of workers being hurt or killed during ground operations. A neurosurgeon investigating a woman’s mystery symptoms in an Australian hospital has plucked a 3-inch wriggling worm from the patient’s brain. Hari Priya Bandi was performing a biopsy through a hole in the 64-year-old patient’s skull at Canberra Hospital last year when she pulled the parasite out with forceps. North America’s grassland birds are in trouble 50 years after adoption of the Endangered Species Act as habitat loss, land degradation and climate change threaten what remains of a once-vast ecosystem. Their overall population fell by more than half since 1970 — more than any other type of bird, with some species declining 75% or greater. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

Welcome to the weekly bonus episode of Hot off the Wire, where we look back at some of the top headlines from the week in the world of sports and entertainment.  As always, be sure to check out our latest episode of Streamed & Screened, a podcast dedicated to movies and television.  This week Bruce Miller talks about some movies getting less buzz than the big summer blockbusters that you won’t want to miss as they will likely gain traction as awards season approaches. Listen to the latest episode of Streamed & Screened here.  Also, on this week’s episode of our personal finance podcast PennyWise, we have an episode dedicated to the Swifties, with financial advice before you splurge on Taylor Swift tickets or merch. Listen to the Taylor Swift episode of PennyWise here. This week’s top headlines include: An update on the actors strike with a star from “Breaking Bad.” Legendary game show host Bob Barker died. And the US Open has become the noisiest Grand Slam tournament. Those stories and more from The Associated Press.  But first, Bruce Miller and I discuss streaming platforms during the latest episode of Streamed & Screened. And then we have a clip from our PennyWise podcast on saving money for Taylor Swift. — Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

As we head into the weekend, this special episode of Hot off the Wire looks at select feature stories from the past month, including: Liberal groups are trying to end Donald Trump's attempt to return to the White House by arguing he's ineligible to be president after trying to overturn the 2020 election. The groups cite a rarely used provision of the 14th Amendment barring from public office those who swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and then engaged in “insurrection” against it. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has delivered a recommendation to the Drug Enforcement Administration on marijuana policy. HHS recommended that marijuana be moved from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance. President Joe Biden is planning to request more money from Congress to develop another new coronavirus vaccine, as scientists track new waves and hospitalizations rise, though not like before. A nearly 200-year-old time capsule that appeared to yield little more than dust when it was opened at West Point actually contained centuries-old coins potentially worth thousands of dollars. A Connecticut man says he didn't steal the $5,000 in cash he found in a bag, lying in a parking lot in May. But police disagree and have charged him with larceny. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez and 13 other top prosecutors from around the U.S. are uniting in support of efforts to compensate people sickened by exposure to radiation during nuclear weapons testing. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 31 at 4 p.m. CT: Former President Donald Trump has pleaded not guilty and sought to sever his case from other defendants accused along with him of illegally trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election in Georgia. Joseph Biggs of the far-right Proud Boys extremist group has been sentenced to 17 years in prison for the U.S. Capitol attack to try to keep Donald Trump in power after the Republican lost the 2020 presidential election. A Missouri judge has ruled that an 84-year-old white man will stand trial for shooting Ralph Yarl, a Black teen who went to the man’s house by mistake. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas is acknowledging that he took three trips last year aboard a private plane owned by Republican megadonor Harlan Crow. A federal judge has blocked a new Texas law that drag artists fear will be used to shut them down or put them in jail. The attending physician to Congress says he's cleared Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell to continue with his planned schedule. That word from Dr. Brian Monahan comes after he evaluated an incident Wednesday when McConnell appeared to freeze up at an event in Kentucky.  Italian authorities say a speeding out-of-service train has slammed into a group of workers doing nighttime track maintenance, killing five of them. The Biden administration is proposing a new rule that would require thousands more firearms dealers to run background checks. If you're squeezing in one last summer trip over the Labor Day weekend, expect lots of company. The Chicago White Sox promoted Chris Getz to general manager, staying inside the organization for the position almost two decades after the franchise last won a playoff series. Gil Brandt, overshadowed by coach Tom Landry and general manager Tex Schramm as part of the trio that built the Dallas Cowboys into “America’s Team” in the 1970s, has died. He was 91. The University of Nebraska laid claim to the world record for largest attendance at a women’s sporting event with 92,003 filling Memorial Stadium for the Cornhuskers’ volleyball match against Omaha. Prosecutors in Finland have filed charges against four Finnish men, who are part of a radicalized domestic group, for plotting attacks against migrants, critical infrastructure and their perceived political opponents, authorities said. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 31 at 7:10 a.m. CT: Tropical Storm Idalia is barreling through the Carolinas on its way to the Atlantic Ocean after leaving a trail of flooding and devastation throughout the Southeast. Idalia was a hurricane when it made landfall Wednesday in a remote area of Florida, where it shredded homes and submerged streets. It weakened to a tropical storm but still packed 60-mph winds as it raced into Georgia and then into South Carolina. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell appeared to briefly freeze up and was unable to answer a question from a reporter at an event in Kentucky on Wednesday. He had a similar episode weeks ago in Washington. 14 million travelers are expected to fly this weekend for the Labor Day holiday. Gas is $3.82 a gallon nationally.  The federal Medicaid agency says some children may have been wrongly dropped from the government health-care program as states undertake a massive eligibility review. A federal judge has held Rudy Giuliani liable in a defamation lawsuit brought by two Georgia election workers who say they were falsely accused of fraud. The Rangers fall from first to third place as the Mariners and Astros now share the AL West lead, the Cubs keep their playoff hopes brewing, a milestone homer for Bryce Harper and Novak Djokovic advances at the US Open along with Coco Gauff. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 30 at 4 p.m. CT: President Joe Biden on Wednesday called Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to let him know that federal support would be available to deal with any destruction from Hurricane Idalia.  Idalia made landfall as a dangerous Category 3 hurricane in the lightly populated Big Bend region, where the Florida Panhandle curves into the peninsula. Then it moved east of Tallahassee toward Valdosta, Georgia, where downed powerlines shut down part of the interstate highway into town. President Biden announced more funds would be made available to Hawaii following wildfires. The United States, the United Kingdom, South Korea and Japan are urging North Korea to halt arms negotiations with Russia following revelations Russian and North Korean talks on a weapons sale are advancing. A Massachusetts judge has ruled that once-powerful Roman Catholic Cardinal Theodore McCarrick is not competent to stand trial on charges he sexually assaulted a teenage boy decades ago. Cuba's President Miguel Díaz-Canel addressed his nation following Hurricane Idalia. Former Proud Boys national leader Enrique Tarrio’s sentencing for orchestrating the far-right extremist group’s attack on the U.S. Capitol has been delayed until Sept. 5. The judge was sick Wednesday. The stars of "Breaking Bad" and "Better Call Saul" reunited on the picket line to call for studios to resume negotiations with actors. The U.S. economy expanded at a 2.1% annual pace from April through June, showing continued resilience in the face of higher borrowing costs for consumers and businesses, the government said in a downgrade from its initial estimate. Some 15,000 people, including many tourists, have pasted each other with tomatoes in Spain’s annual “Tomatina” street battle in the eastern town of Buñol. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 30 at 6:39 a.m. CT: Hurricane Idalia strengthened to a dangerous Category 4 storm Wednesday morning as it steams toward Florida’s Big Bend region and threatens to unleash life-threatening storm surges and rainfall. The Biden administration is proposing a new rule that would make 3.6 million more U.S. workers eligible for overtime pay, reviving an Obama-era policy effort that was ultimately scuttled in court. Former Proud Boys national leader Enrique Tarrio is scheduled to be sentenced for orchestrating the far-right extremist group’s attack on the U.S. Capitol. The Justice Department is seeking a 33-year prison sentence. Gabon’s president called on his citizens to “make noise” after a coup attempt in the Central African country, saying he was speaking from detention in his residence. President Joe Biden is celebrating a new phase of his administration's efforts to lower medical costs. Officials on Tuesday announced the first 10 drugs that would be targeted for Medicare price negotiations. U.S. officials say the FBI and its partners in Europe infiltrated and seized control of a major malware network that was used for more than 15 years to commit a gamut of online crimes including crippling ransomware attacks. A near no-hitter, a big win for Houston, a mass waiver exodus for the Angels, a Ryder Cup roster update and Venus Williams an early out at the US Open. Correspondent Josh Rowntree reports. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 29 at 4 p.m. CT: Idalia has strengthened into a hurricane as it barrels toward Florida’s Gulf Coast. Authorities are warning residents of vulnerable areas to pack up and leave to escape the twin threats of high winds and devastating flooding. President Joe Biden is celebrating a new phase of his administration's efforts to lower medical costs. Officials on Tuesday announced the first 10 drugs that would be targeted for Medicare price negotiations. The Biden administration will send an additional $250 million in weapons and ammunition to Ukraine as part of its ongoing support of Kyiv's counteroffensive. A judge has ordered a University of North Carolina graduate student held without bond on charges alleging that he shot and killed his faculty advisor. A person with direct knowledge of the decision confirmed to The Associated Press that Buffalo Bills safety Damar Hamlin has made the 53-player cut. Tennessee lawmakers have ended a special session initially touted to improve public safety in the wake of a deadly school shooting. A neurosurgeon investigating a woman’s mystery symptoms in an Australian hospital has plucked a3-inch wriggling worm from the patient’s brain. The second ranking House Republican says he has been diagnosed with blood cancer. Rep. Steve Scalise of Louisiana said Tuesday that he has been diagnosed with multiple myeloma. Chemical and consumer product manufacturer 3M has agreed to pay $6 billion to settle numerous lawsuits from U.S. service members who say they experienced hearing loss or other serious injuries from using earplugs made by the company. A private burial has been held for Yevgeny Prigozhin, ending a tumultuous journey from St. Petersburg street thug to Kremlin-financed mercenary leader. Zach Johnson has filled out his U.S. Ryder Cup team with some familiar faces. He has added Justin Thomas and Rickie Fowler among his six captain's picks. Another choice of his is LIV Golf player and five-time major champion Brooks Koepka. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 29 at 6:58 a.m. CT: Idalia became a hurricane on Tuesday as it intensified on a path toward Florida’s Gulf coast, with the National Hurricane Center warning of an increasing risk of life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds in Florida in the next two days. Police are searching for both the weapon and the motive in a shooting at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill that left one faculty member dead and prompted an hours-long lockdown. The Norfolk Southern railroad is recovering from a “hardware-related technology outage” that impacted its rail systems Monday, but there may be lingering effects for at least a couple of weeks. The Kremlin says Russian President Vladimir Putin isn’t planning to attend the funeral of Yevgeny Prigozhin, who died last week in a plane crash two months after launching his brief rebellion. Amazon has been quietly raising the amount some customers must spend on its site to get free shipping. To qualify for no-cost deliveries, some Amazon customers who don’t have Prime memberships now need to spend $35, up from $25 previously. Baseball action favors the Braves, the Brewers, the Astros and the Rangers while Billy Jean King celebrates a historic moment at the US Open. Correspondent Chuck Freimund reports. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 28 at 4 p.m. CT: The University of North Carolina has ended the lockdown after an apparent shooting at its flagship campus in Chapel Hill. Although school officials and local authorities didn’t provide details about the alleged shooting on campus, Gov. Roy Cooper posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, that he had spoken to the Orange County sheriff and the state’s public safety secretary and “pledged all state resources needed to capture the shooter and protect the UNC campus.” Florida residents are evacuating from homes in low-lying areas along the Gulf Coast as forecasters predict that Tropical Storm Idalia will hit the state as a major hurricane by Wednesday. A judge has set a March 4, 2024, trial date for Donald Trump in the federal case in Washington charging the former president with trying to overturn the results of the 2020 election. A lead box believed to have been placed in the base of a West Point monument by cadets almost two centuries ago yielded no bombshells when unsealed during a livestreamed event, just silt. A medical rescue helicopter has crashed into an apartment complex near Fort Lauderdale, Florida, killing a fire captain and a woman on the ground. The man who became known as “Joe the Plumber” during the 2008 U.S. presidential election has died. He was 49 and had pancreatic cancer. Hawaii’s electric utility acknowledged Sunday night its power lines started a wildfire on Maui but faulted county firefighters for declaring the blaze contained and leaving the scene, only to have a second wildfire break out nearby and become the deadliest in the U.S. in more than a century. The Russian authorities have announced an endeavor to boost production of movies glorifying Moscow’s actions in Ukraine this year. On this week's AP religion roundup, amputees in Oregon can get their body parts back for spiritual reasons and oil activities encroach on sacred sites in Uganda. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 28 at 7:15 a.m. CT: The National Hurricane Center says Tropical Storm Idalia is near the coast of Cuba on a potential track to come ashore as a hurricane in the southern U.S. Forecasters say they expect Idalia to become a hurricane on Tuesday in the Gulf of Mexico and then curve northeast and approach Florida on Wednesday with winds up to 100 mph, becoming a Category 2 hurricane. Hundreds of people have gathered at prayer vigils and in church to mourn yet another racist attack in America. Authorities say a white, 21-year-old man who left behind white supremacist writings killed three Black people Saturday at a dollar store in Jacksonville, Florida. A new poll finds rare agreement across partisan lines and in this case President Joe Biden is the unifying figure, though not the way he would prefer to be. A hefty 77% in the AP-NORC poll say he's too old to be effective in a second term. The Associated Press has found that 14 of the 20 most populous U.S. cities are experimenting with removing police from some nonviolent 911 calls and sending behavioral health clinicians. Eight U.S. Marines remain in a hospital in the Australian north coast city of Darwin after they were injured in a fiery crash of tiltrotor aircraft that killed three of their colleagues. Donald Trump's campaign says he's raised $7.1 million since Thursday when he was booked at the Fulton County Jail in Georgia on charges that he illegally schemed to overturn the 2020 election in the state and became the first former president in U.S. history to ever have a mug shot taken. The Mariners sail into first place, the Rays and Phillies continue to lead their league wild card races, the FedEx Cup championship has a new victor and California comes up big in the Little League World Series. A publicist says the enduring and dapper game show host Bob Barker has died at his home in Los Angeles. Barker was 99 and was a household name for more than a half-century as host of “Truth or Consequences” and “The Price Is Right.” Dotun Olubeko talks about love following "The Bachelorette." “Gran Turismo: Based on a True Story” and “Barbie” are in a dead heat for the box-office crown, with the video game adaptation just edging Greta Gerwig’s pop sensation, according to studio estimates Sunday. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

Welcome to the weekly bonus episode of Hot off the Wire, where we look back at some of the top headlines from the week in the world of sports and entertainment.  As always, be sure to check out our latest episode of Streamed & Screened, a podcast dedicated to movies and television.  This week Bruce Miller shares tales from the many television sets he has visited during his career as an entertainment reporter. Listen to the latest episode of Streamed & Screened here.  This week’s top headlines include: A change for the voice of Nintendo’s Mario character. The investigation of Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Wander Franco. And the list of college football’s preseason All-Americans has been announced. Those stories and more from The Associated Press.  But first, Bruce Miller talks about visiting the sets of Gray’s Anatomy and ER during the latest episode of Streamed & Screened. — Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

As we head into the weekend, this special episode of Hot off the Wire looks at select feature stories from the past month, including: Federal officials estimate that local governments now have spending plans in place for most of the money they received under a prominent pandemic relief law. The American Rescue Plan, passed two years ago, provided $350 billion of flexible aid to be divided among thousands of governments. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is accusing Facebook of putting profits over people’s safety during Canada’s wildfire emergencies. Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, announced earlier this summer it would keep its promise to block news content in Canada on its platforms in response to a new law that requires tech giants to pay publishers for linking to or otherwise repurposing their content online. A new report says female soldiers face rampant sexism, sexual harassment and other gender-related challenges in male dominated Army special operations units. The Air Force says no harmful levels of carcinogenic PCBs were found inside the launch facilities at a nuclear missile base in Wyoming. F.E. Warren Air Force Base is among three bases the service is investigating as it looks for possible causes for the number of cancers being reported among its nuclear missile community. Lawyers and unions representing rail workers say there is a clear pattern across the industry of railroads retaliating against workers who report safety violations or injuries on the job. A giraffe born without spots at a northeastern Tennessee zoo may be plain, but she's anything but ordinary. The female reticulated giraffe was born July 31 at the family-owned Brights Zoo in Limestone, a rural community in northeastern Tennessee. A new study shows a promising procedure to treat severe injuries in one eye by using stem cells from the other. Researchers take a small biopsy from the healthy eye, grow and expand the stem cells in a lab and then transplant them into the injured eye. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 24 at 4:15 p.m. CT; updated at 9 p.m.: Former President Donald Trump has been booked at a jail in Atlanta, surrendering on charges that he illegally schemed to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia. Unlike his bookings for three other batches of charges, this one yielded a historic first: a mug shot of a former American president. A preliminary U.S. intelligence assessment has found that the plane crash presumed to have killed Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was intentionally caused by an explosion. That's according to U.S. and Western officials. The U.S. is joining NATO allies in hosting training for Ukrainian pilots on U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets, beginning at an Arizona Air National Guard base in October. Maui County has sued Hawaiian Electric Company over the fires that devastated Lahaina, saying the utility negligently failed to shut off power despite exceptionally high winds and dry conditions. Heavy rain has flooded an Ohio highway where people were rescued from their cars, closed a busy airport terminal outside Detroit for a few hours and covered the Las Vegas Strip with water. Russian state news agency Tass says the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained on espionage charges, has been extended to Nov. 30. Prince Harry is expected to return to the U.K. next month to attend a charity awards ceremony on the eve of the first anniversary of Queen Elizabeth II’s death. Fran Drescher says the strike she's leading as head of the actors union is a huge moment for both Hollywood and the world of work beyond it. A person with knowledge of the situation tells The Associated Press that Washington Nationals pitcher Stephen Strasburg has decided to retire. The 2019 World Series MVP has had his career derailed by injuries. The Arizona Cardinals have traded Isaiah Simmons to the New York Giants, moving on from the No. 8 overall pick in the 2020 draft after three seasons. FIFA has opened a disciplinary case against the Spanish soccer official who kissed a player on the lips while celebrating the team’s victory in the Women’s World Cup final. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 24 at 7:05 a.m. CT: The Republican presidential candidates vying to be the leading alternative to front-runner Donald Trump fought — sometimes bitterly — over abortion rights, U.S. support for Ukraine and the future of the party during the first primary debate of the 2024 campaign. Donald Trump is set to surrender to authorities in Georgia on charges he schemed to overturn the 2020 election in the state. Temperatures are soaring in the central U.S., leading to deaths and damage. A National Weather Service official says more dangerous heat is expected this week. Authorities say three people were killed and five others were wounded in a shooting at a Southern California biker bar. Authorities in Pittsburgh say a man facing eviction opened fire at officers from inside a home, prompting evacuations and a police siege that lasted much of the day and ended with authorities saying he was dead. Russian state news agency Tass says the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained on espionage charges, has been extended to Nov. 30. During the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century, a developer of land around a threatened Maui community urgently asked state officials for permission to divert stream water to help fight the growing inferno. Donald Trump skipped the debate stage typically relished by presidential candidates on Wednesday and instead appeared in an online interview peppered with his election lies, attacks on his rivals and lavish praise for the crowd of supporters he spoke to before they stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Russian mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and some of his top lieutenants were presumed dead in a plane crash — widely seen as an assassination to avenge a mutiny that challenged President Vladimir Putin’s authority. In sports, Boston, San Francisco, Baltimore and Milwaukee are among baseball’s winners, Shohei Ohtani is hit with injuries for the Angels, and the ACC is again exploring expansion. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 23 at 4 p.m. CT: Russian mercenary leader Yevgeny Prigozhin was on the passenger list of a private jet that crashed Wednesday, killing all 10 people on board, emergency officials said. It wasn’t immediately clear if Prigozhin was on the plane. Former President Donald Trump won’t be at the GOP’s first presidential debate but his presence will be felt. The first Republican presidential debate was expected to be North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum's introduction to the national stage, but his attendance is now in doubt after an injury. Around 100 million Americans are experiencing extreme temperatures. Tropical Storm Franklin is unleashing heavy floods and landslides in the Dominican Republic after making landfall in the country’s southern region. Authorities evacuated neighbors from a Pittsburgh neighborhood after someone reportedly facing eviction began firing from inside a home. Sixty years ago, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. issued his resounding call for racial harmony that set off decades of push and pull toward progress. The historic March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom remains a marker by which progress is measured. Rudy Giuliani has surrendered to authorities in Georgia to face an indictment alleging he acted as former President Donald Trump’s chief co-conspirator in a plot to subvert the 2020 election. India became the first country to land a spacecraft near the moon’s south pole on Wednesday — a historic voyage to uncharted territory that scientists believe could hold vital reserves of frozen water, and a technological triumph for the world’s most populous nation. U.S. regulators have announced a settlement with the company that runs Dollar Tree and Family Dollar aimed at improving worker safety at thousands of the bargain stores across the country. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 23 at 7:05 a.m. CT: Ex-president and GOP front-runner Donald Trump will loom large at the first Republican presidential primary debate even though he won't be on the Milwaukee stage. The candidates hoping to take on Democrat Joe Biden in November face off for the first time Wednesday night. Families close to a Nashville fatal school shooting broke down in tears after Republican leaders ordered state troopers to remove them and others from a legislative hearing room while they waited to testify in favor of gun control measures. Tropical Storm Franklin has made landfall on the island of Hispaniola amid warnings of landslides and heavy flooding in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. Children's advocacy groups including Fairplay and Common Sense Media are asking the Federal Trade Commission to investigate Google, saying the tech giant serves personalized ads to kids on YouTube despite federal law prohibiting the practice. Officials say that Russia and Ukraine have traded nighttime drone attacks again. They say Kyiv targeted Moscow and the Kremlin’s forces launched another bombardment of Ukrainian grain storage depots early Wednesday. Gen. Sergei Surovikin, a former commander of Russia’s forces in Ukraine who was linked to the leader of an armed rebellion, has been dismissed from his job as chief of the air force, according to Russian state media. The Mariners remain baseball's hottest team, while the Rays, Jays, Brewers and Phillies continue their respective marches toward postseason play with victories, and the NBA fines Sixers guard James Harden. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 22 at 4 p.m. CT: John Eastman, a conservative attorney who pushed a plan to keep Donald Trump in power, has turned himself in to authorities on charges in the Georgia case alleging an illegal plot to overturn the then-president’s 2020 election loss. Army commandos using helicopters and a makeshift chairlift rescued eight people from a broken cable car as it dangled hundreds of feet above a canyon in Pakistan. Newly released video shows the 98-year-old mother of a Kansas newspaper publisher confronting police officers as they searched her home in a raid that has drawn national scrutiny. Thousands of homes and businesses in the South Texas city of Corpus Christi are without power after the state’s first tropical storm of the hurricane season made landfall, bringing strong winds, welcome rain and cooler temperatures following months of hot, dry weather. Authorities say a school bus full of children overturned after a crash with a minivan in Ohio, killing one child and injuring 23 others, one seriously. Wander Franco was placed on administrative leave indefinitely by Major League Baseball while authorities in the Dominican Republic investigate the Tampa Bay Rays' All-Star shortstop for an alleged relationship with a minor. The NBA has fined Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden $100,000 for public comments he made about his status with the team. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes fell last month to the slowest pace since January, as elevated mortgage rates and a stubbornly low inventory of homes on the market combined to discourage many would-be homebuyers. Gov. Ron DeSantis’ appointees to a board that oversees Disney World’s governing district have launched a battle against the company on a new front — free passes and discounts for employees. Washington Nationals manager Dave Martinez has agreed to a new multiyear contract with the club he led to the 2019 World Series championship. The team announced the new deal Tuesday. Spain’s acting prime minister has greeted the country's Women’s World Cup champions at the presidential palace in Madrid and slammed the head of the Spanish soccer federation for kissing a team member on the lips without her consent. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 22 at 7:10 a.m. CT: President Joe Biden has told survivors of Hawaii’s wildfires that the nation “grieves with you.” He promised that the federal government will help "for as long as it takes” Hawaii to recover from the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century. Maui authorities say more than 800 people remain unaccounted for two weeks after the deadliest U.S. wildfire in more than a century destroyed the community of Lahaina. Crews worked to dig roads, buildings and care home residents out of the mud across a wide swath of Southwestern U.S. desert Monday, as the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years headed north, prompting flood watches and warnings in half a dozen states. A new U.N. report says more than 200 extrajudicial killings of former Afghan government officials and security forces have taken place since the Taliban took over the country two years ago. A populist Thai party linked to former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra won a vote in parliament to lead the country, hours after the divisive former leader returned from years of self-imposed exile and began an eight-year prison sentence. A cable car carrying six children and two adults dangled hundreds of feet above the ground in a remote part of Pakistan after it broke on Tuesday. Russian President Vladimir Putin will be notably absent when Chinese President Xi Jinping and other leaders from the BRICS group of emerging economies begin a three-day summit in South Africa on Tuesday. Ukraine media are reporting that a pair of recent drone attacks on air bases deep inside Russia that hit parked bomber aircraft were the work of Ukrainian saboteurs coordinated by Kyiv’s military intelligence services. Former President Donald Trump says he will surrender to authorities in Georgia on Thursday to face charges in the case accusing him of illegally scheming to overturn his 2020 election loss. Hours earlier, his bond had been set at $200,000. Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh will serve a three game suspension; the College Football preseason All-American team has been announced; the Astros bounce back to beat the Red Sox; and the Colts give running back Jonathan Taylor permission to seek a trade. Correspondent Chuck Freimund reports. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 21 at 4 p.m. CT: Tropical Storm Hilary drenched Southern California from the coast to the desert resort city of Palm Springs before heading east. The first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years, Hilary dropped more than half an average year’s worth of rain on some areas. Tropical Storm Franklin is churning through the Caribbean Sea as authorities in Haiti and the Dominican Republic warn residents to prepare for floods and landslides. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are flying to Maui to comfort survivors of the wildfires that ripped through the western part of the Hawaiian island. A Little League World Series coach with Cuba’s first-ever team in the series has gone missing. A Little League International spokesperson said Monday that Bayamo Little League coach Jose Perez left the Little League International Grove late Saturday night and did not return. House conservatives in a group known as the Freedom Caucus have unveiled a list of demands they want included in a stopgap spending measure to keep the federal government running after the end of September. Charles Martinet, the original voice of Mario in Nintendo games since the 1990s, is stepping down. Still haven’t seen “Barbie” or “Oppenheimer”? This Sunday, you’ll be able to catch up for $4 a ticket in movie theaters nationwide. Theater owners announced Monday that the second annual National Cinema Day will be held Sunday, Aug. 27. General Motors’ Cruise autonomous vehicle unit has agreed to cut its fleet of San Francisco robotaxis in half as authorities investigate two recent crashes in the city. In this week's AP religion roundup, recovery begins with prayers and difficult questions for those affected by deadly wildfires in Hawaii. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 21 at 7 a.m. CT: Tropical Storm Hilary deluged arid parts of Mexico and then drenched Southern California from the coast to inland mountains and deserts, forcing rescuers to pull several people from swollen rivers. The remains of 114 people have been found, most of them yet to be identified. Hawaii Gov. Josh Green has said the death toll will likely rise in the days to come as the painstaking search for remains continues in the heaps of rubble and ash in Lahaina, a seaside community of 12,000 and a tourist hotspot on Maui. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are traveling to Maui to comfort survivors of the devastating wildfires. On Monday, the Biden administration announced a new investment of $667 million to build broadband infrastructure in rural areas of the country. Former President Donald Trump has confirmed that he will be skipping Wednesday’s first Republican presidential primary debate — and likely others as well. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has thanked Danish lawmakers for helping his country resist Russia’s invasion. He visited Copenhagen on Monday, a day after Denmark and the Netherlands announced they will provide Kyiv with American-made F-16 warplanes. Just five years ago, a price-conscious auto shopper in the United States could choose from among a dozen new small cars selling for under $20,000. Now, there’s just one: The Mitsubishi Mirage. Starbucks has been ordered to pay an additional $2.7 million in lost wages to a former regional manager who was fired after two Black men were arrested at a Starbucks in 2018. Another busy Sunday with lots of major league baseball action, a record breaking round in golf, a repeat winner on the NASCAR racing circuit and a thrilling match in men's tennis. Spain won its first Women's World Cup title, beating England 1-0 in the final. The DC superhero film “Blue Beetle” led weekend ticket sales with an estimated $25.4 million, according to studio estimates, dethroning “Barbie” from the top spot after a record-setting run that left movie theaters colored pink for a month. A New York City drug dealer has been sentenced to 10 years in prison for providing “The Wire” actor Michael K. Williams with fentanyl-laced heroin, causing his death. Ron Cephas Jones, who won two Emmys for his role on the NBC television series “This Is Us,” has died at age 66. Paul & Paula, Ray Hildebrand, who formed half of the pop duo Paul & Paula with Jill Jackson, died Friday. They had a No. 1 hit in 1963 with "Hey Paula." —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

Welcome to the weekly bonus episode of Hot off the Wire, where we look back at some of the top headlines from the week in the world of sports and entertainment.  As always, be sure to check out our latest episode of Streamed & Screened, a podcast dedicated to movies and television.  This week Bruce Miller and I discuss the top movies and television shows to date from 2023.  Listen to the latest episode of Streamed & Screened here.  This week’s top headlines include: Britney Spears’ marriage is coming to an end. There was a coaching shakeup following the U.S. women’s soccer team’s early World Cup exit. And Georgia begins its quest for another national championship as the preseason favorite. Those stories and more from The Associated Press. But first, Bruce Miller talks about binging shows at home rather than seeing mediocre movies in a theater during the latest episode of Streamed & Screened. — Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

As we head into the weekend, this special episode of Hot off the Wire looks at select feature stories from the past month, including: A national political movement that could offer an independent presidential ticket in 2024 as an alternative to major-party nominees has now won ballot access in 10 states. The latest happened in North Carolina when the State Board of Elections voted Sunday to recognize the No Labels Party as an official party following a successful petition effort. Almost a week after the Apple faithful collectively gasped at the first evidence that the iPhone's “end call” button might soon be shifting upward and a column to the right, it looks like the whole thing might have been a false alarm. New York surgeons transplanted a pig's kidney into a brain-dead man and for over a month it's worked normally. COVID-19 has taken a toll on the nation's heart health but how profound is only starting to emerge. Heart attack deaths spiked early in the pandemic, erasing years of progress in battling cardiovascular disease. Researchers in heavily drilled Pennsylvania are adding to a body of evidence suggesting links between the natural gas industry and certain health problems. Fifty years after the U.S. Endangered Species Act took effect, officials say 99% of the animals and plants it protects have survived. But some scientists and activists fear the act itself is in trouble. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 17 at 4:30 p.m. CT: Wall Street fell for a third straight day as rising yields in the bond market keep cranking up the pressure. The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate jumped this week to 7.09%, its highest level in 20 years. On Maui, another day of waiting for some to hear word of their loved ones while others worry about jobs and their homes. Residents of the capital of Canada’s Northwest Territories are fleeing an approaching wildfire in long convoys of cars, while air evacuations are underway for those who cannot leave by road. A Mississippi judge has cited police errors in declaring a mistrial for two white men accused of chasing and shooting at a Black FedEx employee who was making a delivery. More than 1.5 million dehumidifiers are under recall following reports of nearly two dozen fires, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission said Wednesday. The recall impacts 42 models of dehumidifiers sold under five brand names: Kenmore, GE, SoleusAir, Norpole and Seabreeze. Britney Spears' husband Sam Asghari is seeking financial support from the pop superstar in his divorce filing. Police in eastern Pakistan have arrested 129 Muslims after a mob angered over an alleged desecration of a Quran by two men attacked more than a dozen churches and homes of minority Christians. A new scientific study suggests the world should start preparing to protect the ecosystems that emerge from under the disappearing ice, as a warming planet is inevitably causing glaciers to melt. Only 36% of U.S. adults approve of President Joe Biden’s handling of the economy, slightly lower than the 42% who approve of his overall performance. Maximizing player rest and limiting travel demands were again part of the NBA’s formula for the coming regular season. That's what the league indicated Thursday when announcing the schedule for 2023-24. Twila Kilgore will serve as interim coach of the U.S women’s national team following the resignation of coach Vlatko Andonovski. U.S. Soccer formally announced Andonovski’s resignation on Thursday. Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon has been found not guilty of aggravated menacing in a January traffic dispute. A new study on inclusion in film shows just how much of a rarity “Barbie” is. For every woman as a speaking character in the most popular films of 2022, there were more than two men, according to report by University of Southern California’s Annenberg Inclusion Initiative. The world’s top chess federation has ruled that transgender women cannot compete in its official events for women until an assessment of gender change is made by its officials. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 17 at 7 a.m. CT: The American Red Cross has set up help for victims of wildfires in Maui. President Joe Biden will visit Hawaii on Monday. A Russian court on Thursday imposed a $32,000 fine on Google for failing to delete allgedly false information about the conflict in Ukraine. The prosecutor in Atlanta who obtained an indictment this week against former President Donald Trump and 18 others wants to take the case to trial on March 4. A person close to Britney Spears' husband, Sam Asghari, says the model and actor has filed to divorce the pop superstar. Walmart is reporting strong second-quarter sales results as the retailer’s low-price model continues to attract budget conscious consumers in a tough economic environment. An organization in Ukraine is helping former soldiers who lost their vision in combat against Russia to reclaim a sense of autonomy. The Braves blank the Yankees again, the Dodgers win again, Bryce Harper regains his home run stroke, Reid Detmers nearly pitches his second no-hitter, and a coaching change coming for the U.S. women's soccer team. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 16 at 4 p.m. CT: In Hawaii, the Federal Emergency Management Agency says it has opened its first disaster recovery center on Maui to help victims of the Lahaina wildfires.  Rural areas near California’s border with Oregon are under evacuation orders after gusty winds from a thunderstorm sent a lightning-sparked wildfire racing through national forest lands. New restrictions on access to a drug used in the most common form of abortion would be imposed under a federal appeals court ruling. But those restrictions won’t take effect, at least right away, because the Supreme Court previously intervened to keep the drug available during the legal fight. A Kansas prosecutor says that he found insufficient evidence to support the police raid of a weekly newspaper and that all seized material should be returned. Most Federal Reserve officials last month still regarded high inflation as an ongoing threat that could require further interest rate increases, according to the minutes of their July 25-26 meeting. A new poll shows Americans are deeply divided along party lines in their views of President Donald Trump’s actions in the most recent criminal charges brought against him. The U.N. special envoy for global education says the International Criminal Court should prosecute Taliban leaders for crimes against humanity for denying education and employment to Afghan girls and women. Former West Virginia men’s basketball coach Bob Huggins has entered a 12-month diversion program to resolve a drunken driving arrest. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 16 at 7:08 a.m. CT: A mobile morgue unit arrived Tuesday to help Hawaii officials working painstakingly to identify remains, as teams intensified the search for more dead in neighborhoods reduced to ash. The death toll rose to 106. North Korea is asserting Pvt. Travis King bolted across the border last month after becoming disillusioned with the inequality of American society and racial discrimination in its Army. Nearly two-thirds of Republicans — 63% — say they want former President Donald Trump to run again, according to new polling from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. President Joe Biden stopped in the battleground state of Wisconsin to discuss how economic policies he calls “Bidenomics” are boosting the economy. The Braves continue to roll, the Dodgers extend a lengthy winning streak, the Colts have settled on a week one starting quarterback, and a soccer star continues to contribute to his new team. The rapper Magoo, known for his work in the hip-hop duo Timbaland & Magoo and the hit song “Up Jumps da Boogie” featuring Aaliyah and Missy Elliott, has died at 50. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 15 at 4 p.m. CT: President Joe Biden says he and first lady Jill Biden will visit Hawaii “as soon as we can” to survey the Maui wildfire damage. He said he doesn’t want his presence to interrupt recovery and cleanup efforts. The mother of a 6-year-old who shot his teacher in Virginia pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of felony child neglect, seven months after her son used her handgun to critically wound the educator in a classroom full of students. Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago property manager, Carlos De Oliveira, has pleaded not guilty to scheming with Trump to try to delete security footage sought by investigators probing the former president’s hoarding of classified documents. The presidents of 13 universities are elevating free speech on their campuses this academic year, as part of a new nonprofit initiative announced Tuesday. Americans increased their purchases at retailers last month – for clothing, dining out, sporting goods and other areas – in a sign that solid consumer spending is still powering a resilient U.S. economy. Pets and people are recovering this week after fleeing Maui wildfires that claimed over 90 lives and decimated a historic town. The Maui Humane Society estimates 3,000 animals from Lahaina are lost or missing. Outdoor dining was a rare part of the pandemic that many people actually liked. As New York City has moved out from under its pandemic-era regulations, how to handle the new landscape of outdoor dining structures has been a growing question. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 17 at 7 p.m. CT: Donald Trump and 18 allies have been indicted in Georgia over efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. The criminal case announced Monday night is the fourth brought against the ex-president and the second this month to allege that he tried to subvert the results of the vote. Hawaii officials are working painstakingly to identify the 99 people confirmed killed in wildfires that ravaged Maui. Russian forces have unleashed a barrage of missiles on regions across Ukraine, killing civilians and damaging civilian infrastructure. Texas wants Planned Parenthood to give back millions of dollars in Medicaid reimbursements and pay far more in fines on top of that. The case goes before a federal judge Tuesday in Texas. In sports: Authorities want more information about a relationship between a Rays star and a minor. An Orioles rookie leads a win over the Padres, the Braves win big and the Rangers' new ace is sharp against the Angels. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 14 at 4 p.m. CT: Court officials in Atlanta published a list of criminal charges against former President Donald Trump. But as a Fulton County grand jury began hearing from witnesses Monday, there was no public indication that Trump had been indicted in a long-running investigation of the 2020 presidential election. Donald Trump is attacking the federal judge overseeing the election conspiracy case against him days after she warned him not to make inflammatory statements about the case. New guidance from the Biden administration urges colleges to use a range of strategies to promote racial diversity on their campuses after the Supreme Court struck down affirmative action in admissions. Georgia begins its drive for an unprecedented college football championship three-peat as the No. 1 team in The Associated Press preseason Top 25. Clarence Avant, the manager, entrepreneur, facilitator and adviser who helped launch or guide the careers of Quincy Jones, Bill Withers and many others and came to be known as the "Black Godfather" of entertainment and beyond has died at 92. A small central Kansas police department is facing a torrent of criticism after it raided the offices of a local newspaper and the home of its publisher and owner. Patients taking blockbuster drugs like Wegovy for weight loss may face potentially deadly complications if they need surgery or other procedures that require empty stomachs for anesthesia. On this week's religion roundup, a congregation wants to see its historic church demolished. —The Associated Press About this program Host Terry Lipshetz is a senior producer 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 producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate. Lee Enterprises produces many national, regional and sports podcasts. Learn more here.