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.

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 14 at 7:15 a.m. CT: As Hawaii residents mourned those killed in ferocious wildfires, officials warned that the full human and environmental toll was not yet known and the recovery only just beginning from the destruction wrought by flames that galloped a mile every minute. Authorities say five people, including an adolescent, were found dead after a house explosion in western Pennsylvania that destroyed three structures and damaged at least a dozen others. An airline flight from Australia to Malaysia has returned to Sydney where a passenger was arrested hours later in what police described as an emergency incident. Niger’s mutinous soldiers say they will prosecute deposed President Mohamed Bazoum for “high treason” and undermining state security. Democrats were already concerned about President Joe Biden’s age, his leadership on the economy and his stalled agenda in Congress. And on Friday, Attorney General Merrick Garland exposed another significant vulnerability for Biden’s reelection by appointing a special counsel to probe the president’s son, Hunter Biden. U.S. officials say the Pentagon is developing plans to restructure the National Guard in Washington, D.C. The goal is to address problems highlighted by the chaotic response to the Jan. 6 riot and safety breaches during the 2020 protests over the murder of George Floyd. Thanks to his victory at the Brickyard 200, a NASCAR driver has qualified for the playoffs, the tight race in the American League West remains the same after the Rangers and Astros each lose, and in basketball, the US World Cup team picks up a nice pre-tournament win. “Barbie” is cruising atop the box office. Studio estimates Sunday said director Greta Gerwig’s film phenomenon remained a runaway No. 1 in its fourth week, bringing in $33.7 million. The Margot Robbie-led and produced film from Warner Bros. surpassed $500 million in North America overall. The organizer of a Malaysian music festival is seeking $2.7 million in losses from British band The 1975 over a breach of contract. The Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight" is credited by hip-hop artists as a major influence as the genre turned 50. Tom Jones, the lyricist, director and writer of “The Fantasticks,” the longest-running musical in history, has died. He was 95. —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 a number of streaming shows that have returned with new seasons, such as "Only Murders in the Building," "Reservation Dogs" and "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty." Listen to the latest episode of Streamed & Screened here.  This week’s top headlines include: An extended look at the 50th anniversary of hip-hop music. The Emmy Awards have a new date due to the strikes in Hollywood. MTV Video Music Award nominations were announced. Musicians Robbie Robertson and Sixto Rodriguez died, as did Oscar-winning director William Friedkin. Those stories and more from The Associated Press. But first, Bruce Miller and I discuss the return of "Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty" on HBO 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 Aug. 11 at 3 p.m. CT: Attorney General Merrick Garland has appointed a special counsel in the Hunter Biden probe, deepening the investigation of the president’s son ahead of the 2024 election. The federal judge overseeing the election conspiracy case against Donald Trump is warning that there are limits on what the former president can publicly say about the investigation as he campaigns for a second term in the White House.  The Federal Election Commission has begun a process to potentially regulate AI-generated deepfakes in political ads ahead of the 2024 election. Nationwide, students have been absent at record rates since schools reopened after COVID-forced closures. More than a quarter of students missed at least 10% of the 2021-22 school year. A woman in suburban Detroit says she got a scare when she discovered a live frog in a container of spinach she had just bought at a grocery store. A summer sleepaway camp in California serves as a haven for Jewish children of color. —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. 11 at 7:05 a.m. CT: Maui County says 55 people were killed in the devastating Maui wildfires, and the death toll will likely continue to rise. The federal judge overseeing the 2020 election conspiracy case against Donald Trump will hear arguments over a request by prosecutors for a protective order seeking to bar the former president from publicly disclosing evidence shared by the government. China's national security authority says it has detained a worker from a military industrial group on suspicion of spying for the CIA. Some 14,000 people are being evacuated in the eastern Polish town of Lublin after a construction worker uncovered a massive unexploded bomb. About 49,500 people took their own lives last year in the U.S., the highest number ever. In sports: Betting accusations concerning Phil Mickelson, gambling charges mount against Iowa and Iowa State football players, the Pirates rally past the Braves and Twins struggle on offense again. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 10 at 4 p.m. CT: President Joe Biden has declared Hawaii a disaster area, clearing the way for federal aid to help Maui residents and businesses recover from devastating wildfires. Prosecutors with special counsel Jack Smith’s team have asked a judge to set a Jan. 2 trial date for ex-President Donald Trump in the Washington case charging him with plotting to overturn his 2020 election loss. Donald Trump’s valet, Walt Nauta, has pleaded not guilty to new charges in the case accusing the ex-president of illegally hoarding classified documents at his Florida estate. The judge accepted a not guilty plea the Republican former president made in court papers last week. Federal forecasters are doubling chances of a nasty Atlantic hurricane season this summer and fall. Kentucky’s largest school system has cancelled the second and third day of school after a disastrous overhaul of the transportation system. Some children didn't arrive home until almost 10 p.m. on opening day. The Biden administration is asking Congress to provide more than $13 billion in emergency defense aid to Ukraine and an additional $8 billion for humanitarian support through the end of the year. Ukrainian authorities have ordered a mandatory evacuation of nearly 12,000 civilians from 37 towns and villages in the Kupiansk district of Ukraine’s eastern Kharkiv region. The strike-delayed 75th Emmy Awards have a new date — one that places them directly in Hollywood’s awards season for a change. Fox announced Thursday that the Emmys will air Jan. 15 from the Peacock Theater at LA Live in downtown Los Angeles. Inflation in the United States edged up in July after 12 straight months of declines. But excluding volatile food and energy costs, so-called core inflation matched the smallest monthly rise in nearly two years, a sign that the Federal Reserve’s interest rate hikes have continued to slow price increases. The number of Americans applying for jobless benefits jumped last week, but not enough to cause concern about a still-strong U.S. labor market. —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. 10 at 7:04 a.m. CT: Thousands of Hawaii residents raced to escape homes on Maui as blazes swept across the island, destroying parts of a centuries-old town and killing at least 36 people in one of the deadliest U.S. wildfires in recent years. The property manager of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate and an aide to the former president are due back in federal court in Florida to face charges in the case accusing Trump of illegally hoarding classified documents at his club. Russian officials say air defense systems have shot down two drones heading toward Moscow for the second straight day. Virgin Galactic is finally taking its first space tourists on a rocket ship ride after years of delays. One of rock’s greatest songwriters and musicians, Robbie Robertson, has died at 80. As the guitarist and lead writer for The Band, Robertson mined American music and history for such classics as “The Weight” and “The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down.” Zoom became a symbol of remote work during the pandemic but the company is now joining a growing return-to-office trend. In sports, a no-hitter for a pitcher in just the second start for his team, Shohei Ohtani wins his 10th, the AL West race tightens, the NL division leaders continue to win and the ACC is in no rush to expand. Former Las Vegas Raiders player Henry Ruggs has been sentenced to at least three years in a Nevada prison for killing a woman in a fiery crash while driving his sports car drunk at speeds up to 156 mph on a city street nearly two years ago. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 9 at 4 p.m. CT: Special counsel Jack Smith’s team obtained a search warrant in January for records related to former President Donald Trump’s Twitter account, and a judge levied a $350,000 fine on the company for missing the deadline to company. A single lottery ticket sold in Florida has won a $1.58 billion Mega Millions jackpot but the prize has not yet been claimed and may not be for some time. Wind-whipped wildfires are racing through parts of Hawaii, burning structures in a historic town on the island of Maui, forcing evacuations and leading some to flee to the relative safety of the ocean, where they were rescued by the Coast Guard. An aid organization in Haiti says that American nurse Alix Dorsainvil and her daughter have been freed nearly two weeks after they were kidnapped in the capital Port-au-Prince. Sen. Dianne Feinstein fell in her home and went to the hospital for a short time. Waves of severe thunderstorms in the U.S. during the first half of this year led to $34 billion in insured losses, an unprecedented level of financial damage in such a short time as climate change contributes to the frequency and severity of violent meteorological events. A member of an outlaw motorcycle club accused of killing an associate member and leaving his body in a crypt at a Philadelphia cemetery has been convicted of murder and other charges. Donald Trump and his legal team face long odds in their bid to move his 2020 election conspiracy trial out of Washington. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday suspended the top prosecutor in Orlando, again wielding his executive power over local government in taking on a contentious issue in the 2024 presidential race. Sixto Rodriguez, who lived in obscurity as his music career flamed out early in the U.S. only to find success in South Africa and a stardom he was unaware of, has died in Detroit. He was 81. In the five decades since hip-hop emerged out of New York City, it has spread around the country and the world. This year is being marked as a 50th anniversary celebration. —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. 9 at 7 a.m. CT: Ohio voters have resoundingly rejected a Republican-backed measure that would've made it more difficult to pass abortion protections. The vote sets up a fall campaign that'll become the nation’s latest referendum on the issue since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a nationwide right to abortion last year. A single lottery ticket sold in Florida is good for a $1.58 billion Mega Millions jackpot. The winning numbers drawn Tuesday night were: 13, 19, 20, 32, 33 and the yellow ball 14. Russian officials say air defenses have shot down two drones aimed at Moscow overnight. Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey declared a state of emergency Tuesday, citing an influx of migrants seeking shelter at a time when the cost of housing continues to rise. The Astros use a late grand slam to earn a win in Baltimore, the Marlins snap their losing skid by beating the Reds, the Nationals and Phillies split a doubleheader, a Georgia Bulldogs staffer who survived a car accident that killed a football player has been fired by the school, and the ACC has its eyes on two Pac-12 teams. A judge has sentenced rapper Tory Lanez to 10 years in prison Monday for shooting and wounding hip-hop superstar Megan Thee Stallion. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 8 at 4 p.m. CT: President Joe Biden has signed a national monument designation for the greater Grand Canyon, declaring it good “not only for Arizona but for the planet.” Thousands of Los Angeles city employees, including sanitation workers, engineers and traffic officers, walked off the job for a 24-hour strike alleging unfair labor practices. The White House held its first-ever cybersecurity “summit” on the ransomware attacks plaguing U.S. schools. The Supreme Court is reinstating a regulation aimed at reining in the proliferation of firearms without serial numbers, called ghost guns. In late June, the Amazon city of Guajara-Mirim approved a law that designates the Komi Memem River “as a living entity and subject to rights.” U.S. auto safety investigators have opened a probe into reports that some older Ram 1500 pickup trucks can lose their power-steering assistance with little or no warning. Taylor Swift tops the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards nominations with eight. She's followed by SZA, who has six. Willie Perry Jr., a Chicago disc jockey known as “DJ Casper” and creator of the iconic “Cha Cha Slide” dance, has died. He was 58. Authorities say a woman was seriously injured when a shark bit her on the leg while she was swimming at a New York City beach. A new study concludes that Antarctica is already being and will continue to be affected by more frequent and severe extreme weather events, a known byproduct of human-caused climate change. —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. 8 at 7:05 a.m. CT: At least two people have died, thousands of U.S. flights have been canceled and more than 1 million have lost power as destructively strong storms moved through the eastern U.S. Thousands of Los Angeles city employees, including sanitation workers, engineers and traffic officers, walked off the job for a 24-hour strike alleging unfair labor practices. A Colombian man once seen as one of the world’s most dangerous drug lords is facing sentencing to at least 20 years in a U.S. prison. Dairo Antonio Úsuga — known as Otoniel — is due to be sentenced Tuesday in a federal court in New York. President Joe Biden will use his visit to Arizona to announce a national monument designation for the greater Grand Canyon. National climate adviser Ali Zaidi confirms Biden is visiting the area Tuesday and is expected to announce plans to preserve more than 1,500 square miles just outside Grand Canyon National Park. The Dodgers, Red Sox, Brewers, Blue Jays, Reds and Giants pull out impressive wins on the diamond, discipline is handed out following an on-field fight, a NASCAR race is decided in Michigan and the ACC may be looking to expand. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 7 at 4 p.m. CT: Tou Thao, the last former Minneapolis police officer convicted in state court for his role in the killing of George Floyd, didn't show any repentance or admit any wrongdoing as he was sentenced to nearly five years. A federal judge has tossed out former President Donald Trump’s countersuit against the writer who won a sex abuse lawsuit against him. The judge ruled Monday that Trump can’t claim that E. Jean Carroll defamed him by continuing to say she was not only sexually abused but raped. New York Mayor Eric Adams says the city will house as many as 2,000 migrants on an island in the East River where a migrant center was set up last year and then taken down weeks later. Authorities say a body has been found on the grounds of the Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix for the second time in less than two weeks. President Joe Biden says he can relate to Dusty Baker, the oldest manager to win the World Series. Baker was 73 when he guided the Houston Astros to the title last year. The team celebrated at the White House on Monday. Chicago’s Tim Anderson has been suspended six games and Cleveland’s José Ramírez for three games by Major League Baseball for fighting and touching off a lengthy, wild brawl between the White Sox and Guardians on Saturday night. William Friedkin, the Oscar winning director of two gripping film classics, “The French Connection” and “The Exorcist,” has died. He was 87. Elon Musk says he may need to get surgery before a proposed “cage match” with Mark Zuckerberg. The U.S. government’s most ambitious plan ever to slash planet-warming greenhouse gas emissions from passenger vehicles faces skepticism about how realistic it is and whether it goes far enough. In a small South Carolina town, a community is getting ready to show off a little-remembered part of the history of the segregated South. The restoration of the Rosenwald school in St. George is nearly complete. The Loch Ness Centre in Scotland is calling for “budding monster hunters” and volunteers to join in what it dubs the largest search for the Loch Ness Monster since the 1970s. —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. 7 at 7:15 a.m. CT: The Justice Department has asked a federal judge overseeing the criminal case against former President Donald Trump in Washington to step in after he released a post online that appeared to promise revenge on anyone who goes after him. Prosecutors want U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan to issue a protective order concerning evidence in the case. Chutkan gave Trump’s legal team until 5 p.m. Monday to respond to the government’s request. Authorities say three passengers died after a charter bus carrying up to 50 people collided with a vehicle on an interstate in Pennsylvania. Emergency officials say three people were killed after two firefighting helicopters collided in Southern California while fighting a blaze in Riverside County. Russia unleashed a missile and drone barrage across parts of Ukraine that officials in Kyiv say killed six people, as Moscow followed through on its promise to retaliate for a Ukrainian drone attack on a Russian tanker in the Black Sea near Crimea late Friday. Pope Francis says his recovery from his latest abdominal surgery is going well. Tou Thao, the last former Minneapolis police officer to face sentencing in state court for his role in the killing of George Floyd, is expected to learn Monday whether he’ll spend any additional time in prison. In sports, there were great performances throughout the majors on Sunday, the U.S. women's soccer team goes down down under and Lucas Glover earns a spot in the St. Jude Championship. “Barbie,” which Greta Gerwig directed and co-wrote, added another $53 million from 4,178 North American locations this weekend, according to studio estimates on Sunday. Warner Bros. said the film will cross $1 billion before the end of the day. Second place went to “Meg 2: The Trench,” with $30 million, while “Oppenheimer” landed in third place in its third weekend, with “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem” close behind in fourth. Rapper Tory Lanez is expected to be sentenced for shooting hip-hop star Megan Thee Stallion in the feet and wounding her. Country superstar Keith Urban and Kix Brooks of powerhouse country duo Brooks & Dunn will be inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame this year. Actor Mark Margolis, who indelibly played murderous former drug kingpin Hector Salamanca in “Breaking Bad” and its prequel “Better Call Saul,” has died at 83 following a short illness, his son announced. The Pro Football Hall of Fame inducted its class of 2023 on Saturday. Elon Musk says his potential in-person fight with Mark Zuckerberg would be streamed live on his social media site X, formerly known as Twitter. —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. 5 at 4 p.m. CT: The IRS says it is ending its decades-old policy of making unannounced home and business visits — in a an effort to keep its workers safe and combat scammers who pose as IRS agents. Effective immediately, the change follows a number of other actions the agency has taken to improve worker safety. Food manufacturers who deliberately add sesame to their products and include it on their labels are not violating a new federal allergy law. That's according to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. More companies are adding sesame flour to foods that didn’t have it before because they say its easier to do that than try to keep the allergen away from other foods and equipment. After a three-year exile driven by the pandemic, San Francisco’s downtown has waited for the crowds, the commuters and electric ambience to return. Instead, it has become a prime example of what downtowns shouldn’t look like: vacant, crime-ridden and in decay. Japan's population has declined in all of its 47 prefectures for the first time in a record drop, while its population of foreign residents reached a new high of almost 3 million people, highlighting the increasing role that non-Japanese people play in the shrinking and aging country. A system of ocean currents that transports heat northward across the North Atlantic could collapse this century, according to a new study. The Atlantic meridional overturning circulation has been weakening over the last several decades, scientists found. Scientists earlier have said a complete collapse could lead to more extreme weather in Europe and rising sea levels in the United States. A United Nations report says the Asia-Pacific region needs to drastically increase its investments in disaster warning systems and other tools to counter rising risks from climate change. Thousands of crime victims each year are confronted with the difficult financial reality of state compensation programs that are billed as safety nets to offset costs like funerals, medical care, relocation and other needs. Many programs require victims to pay for those expenses first and exhaust all means of payment before they reimburse costs, often at rates that don’t fully cover expenses. — 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.

Donald Trump pleaded not guilty Thursday to trying to overturn the results of his 2020 election loss, answering for the first time to federal charges that accuse him of orchestrating a brazen and ultimately unsuccessful attempt to block the peaceful transfer of presidential power. Ukrainian drones have attacked a major Russian port on the Black Sea. Two U.S. Navy sailors were charged Thursday with providing sensitive military information to China — including details on wartime exercises, naval operations and critical technical material. The two sailors, both based in California, were charged with similar moves to provide sensitive intelligence to the Chinese. But they were separate cases, and it wasn’t clear if the two were courted or paid by the same Chinese intelligence officer as part of a larger scheme. Federal officials at a news conference in San Diego declined to specify whether the sailors were aware of each other’s actions. Phoenix rises to 113F again. Mega Millions jackpot tops $1.2 Billion. Expelled Tennessee lawmakers win back their seats. PAC12 may be getting thinner as 3 of the 9 remaining schools have expressed interest in other conferences. MLB news and scores —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.

Former President Donald Trump is expected appear at an arraignment in Washington, D.C. on Thursday following his indictment on felony charges for working to overturn the results of the 2020 election in the run-up to the violent riot by his supporters at the U.S. Authorities say a man who posed as an undercover police officer kidnapped a woman in Seattle, drove her hundreds of miles to his home in Oregon and locked her in a cinder block cell until she bloodied her hands breaking the door to escape. A Russian court on Thursday imposed fines on Apple and the host of Wikipedia for failing to remove material deemed to be “false information” about Russia’s military actions in Ukraine. NYC calls for help amid migrant crisis after seeing 2300 arrive in the past week. Braves playing like the best team in baseball Cubs set scoring record as they surge over Reds —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.

3rd Trump indictment, due in court tomorrow Hollywood writers' union to resume talks to end 3 month strike U.S. soldier dies in Germany Europeans forced to consider air conditioning Dow gains Astros' Valdez gets no-hitter while Verlander returns MLB highlights —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.

The National Weather Service calls the south central U.S. heat "dangerous" Suspect critical in Memphis after police stopped his attempt to enter a jewish school while brandishing a gun Mega Millions tops $1 Billion Women's World Cup - U.S. ties Paul Reubens - who famously played Pee Wee Herman - dies after long cancer battle at 70 Actor Angus Cloud dead at 25 MLB teams break through trade deadlines Baseball scores —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.

Trump accused of asking Mar-A-Lago worker who is headed to court today, to delete camera footage in Florida classified documents case. Campaigning in Pennsylvania Sunday, Trump calls on GOP to rally around him. Extreme heat in south central U.S. punctuates what will likeley be the hottest July on record. China is restricting exports of civilian drones Suicide bomber blows himself up in Pakistan injuring nearly 200 Joe Biden, the oldest sitting American president, needs young voters to win reelection MLB news - The Cincinnati Reds take 1st place in NL Central, PGA, NASCAR Richmond news —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 our thoughts on “Barbenheimer” as we each saw the blockbuster films “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” last week.  Listen to the latest episode of Streamed & Screened here.  This week’s top headlines include: Jason Aldean's “Try That in a Small Town” rocketed to No. 2 on charts after a music video controversy. Hollywood stars joined a SAG-AFTRA rally in Times Square in support of striking actors and writers. A jury in London acquitted Kevin Spacey of sexual assault charges. Singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor died at age 56. Two-way star Shohei Ohtani will remain with the Angels through the end of the season. And Scott Rolen and Fred McGriff entered the Baseball Hall of Fame. Those stories and more from The Associated Press. But first, Bruce Miller talks about how “Barbie” could be in the mix for multiple Oscars 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 July 28 at 4 p.m. CT: Signs that inflation pressures in the United States are steadily easing emerged Friday in reports that consumer prices rose in June at their slowest pace in more than two years and that wage growth cooled last quarter. Together, the figures provided the latest signs that the Federal Reserve’s drive to tame inflation may succeed without triggering a recession, an outcome known as a “soft landing.” Ford is recalling more than 870,000 F-150 pickup trucks in the U.S. because the electric parking brakes can turn on unexpectedly. The recall covers certain pickups from the 2021 through 2023 model years with single exhaust systems. Federal officials are considering a crackdown on defective lithium-ion batteries that power hoverboards, scooters and motorized bicycles because of a rash of deadly fires caused by exploding batteries. The effort comes as New York City implements new laws meant to reduce the number of fires, injuries and deaths in a city where e-bikes have become ubiquitous. Homeless kids often fell through the cracks during the tumult of the pandemic, when many schools struggled to keep track of families with unstable housing. The number of children identified as homeless by schools nationwide dropped by 21% from the 2018-2019 school year to the 2020-2021 school year, according to federal data. But the decrease, representing more than 288,000 students, likely includes many kids whose homelessness was unknown to schools. A new analysis shows students across the U.S. fell further behind academically last school year despite extensive efforts to help them recover from learning setbacks tied to the COVID-19 pandemic. The research comes from K-12 assessment and research organization NWEA. The analysis found that the average student will need the equivalent of 4.1 additional months of schooling to catch up in reading and 4.5 months for math. —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 July 28 at 7:06 a.m. CT: Nearly 200 million people in the United States are under either a heat advisory or flood warning of some kind, as high temperatures and severe storms are to continue blazing and battering the nation. Former President Donald Trump is facing new accusations that he and aides asked a staffer to delete camera footage at his Florida estate in an effort to obstruct the classified documents investigations. The allegations were made Thursday in an updated grand jury indictment that adds new charges against Trump and adds another defendant to the case. Pay is rising for many public sector employees as governments try to compete for new workers and stem a tide of retirements and resignations. Randy Meisner, a founding member of the Eagles who added high harmonies to such favorites as “Take It Easy” and “The Best of My Love” and sang and co-wrote the hit “Take It to the Limit,” has died at 77. Friday night's Mega Millions estimated $910 million prize has been building since someone last won the jackpot April 18. Shohei Ohtani's big day in Detroit leads to a doubleheader sweep for the Angels, Cardinals pitcher Miles Mikolas adds another chapter to the rivalry with the Cubs, a young star NFL quarterbacks has a scary moment in training camp, and the Colorado Buffaloes are saying goodbye to the Pac 12 conference. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted July 27 at 4 p.m. CT: Lawyers for Donald Trump have met with members of special counsel Jack Smith’s team ahead of a potential indictment over the former president’s efforts to overturn the results of the 2020 election. With heat waves spreading across the United States, President Joe Biden has announced new steps to protect workers, improve weather forecasts and make drinking water more accessible. A derailment of an Amtrak train in Montana that killed three people in 2021 was caused by a poor track conditions at the accident site, federal investigators said in a final report on the accident. Russian President Vladimir Putin says the fighting in the Zaporizhzhia region of southeastern Ukraine has “intensified significantly.” At least 100,000 people in the U.S. have become allergic to red meat since 2010 because of a weird syndrome triggered by tick bites. Sometime this summer, if President Vladimir Putin can be believed, Russia moved some of its short-range nuclear weapons into Belarus, closer to Ukraine and onto the doorstep of NATO’s members in Central and Eastern Europe. The declared deployment of the weapons onto the territory of its neighbor and loyal ally marks a new stage in the Kremlin’s nuclear saber-rattling over its invasion of Ukraine. Shohei Ohtani is staying with the Los Angeles Angels, at least for the rest of the season. The playoff-contending team said Thursday it has decided not to deal the two-way superstar, just days before MLB’s trade deadline. LeBron James says his family is “safe and healthy” three days after his oldest son, Bronny, went into cardiac arrest. President Joe Biden says the first cancer-focused initiative under his advanced health research agency is a “major milestone in the fight to end cancer as we know it.” Archaeologists said Wednesday that the ruins of Nero’s Theater have been discovered under the garden of the future Four Seasons Hotel. —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 July 27 at 7:12 a.m. CT: President Joe Biden plans to announce new steps to address the extreme heat that has threatened millions of Americans, most recently in the Southwest. The White House says officials are working on worker protections, improved weather forecasts and more accessible drinking water. Ukraine has launched a major push to dislodge Russian forces from the country's southeast as part of its weekslong counteroffensive, committing thousands of troops to the battle. Mutinous soldiers in the African nation of Niger claim to have overthrown the democratically elected president, announcing on state television that they have put an end to the government over the country’s deteriorating security. A former Air Force intelligence officer has testified that the U.S. is concealing a longstanding program that retrieves and reverse engineers unidentified flying objects. In sports, Aaron Rodgers gives the Jets some salary cap room, MLB's commissioner is staying put, the Red Sox sweep the Braves, the Phillies take a series, the Guardians pull another game closer to the AL Central lead and the Brewers blank the Reds. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted July 26 at 4 p.m. CT: The plea deal in Hunter Biden’s criminal case unraveled during a court hearing Wednesday after a federal judge raised concerns about the terms of the agreement that has infuriated Republicans who believe the president’s son is getting preferential treatment. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell briefly left his own press conference Wednesday after stopping his remarks mid-sentence and staring off into space for several seconds, appearing to be disoriented. The Federal Reserve raised its key interest rate for the 11th time in 17 months, a streak of hikes that are intended to curb inflation but that also carry the risk of going too far and triggering a recession. A London jury has acquitted Kevin Spacey on sexual assault charges stemming from allegations by four men dating back 20 years. New York City officials plan to set up a shelter for up to 1,000 migrants in the parking lot of a state psychiatric hospital as thousands of asylum seekers continue to arrive in the city weekly. President Joe Biden has nominated former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley to lead the Social Security Administration. Singer-songwriter Sinéad O’Connor has died at 56. The gifted and troubled Irish performer was known for her shaved head and for her fierce and expressive voice. Hugh “Sonny” Carter Jr. has died. He's the Carter who helped organize the “Peanut Brigade” that helped elect his cousin Jimmy to the White House and later enforced the president’s frugal ways in the West Wing. Gas prices are going up, but it's not due to demand. Supplies are tight, so prices are going up according to AAA. The water temperature on the tip of Florida hit hot tub levels, exceeding 100 degrees two days in a row, which meteorologists say could potentially be the hottest seawater ever measured. The president of the International Olympic Committee has formally invited the world’s nations but not Russia or its military ally Belarus to gather in one year in Paris for the 2024 Games. Volunteers are working frantically on a second day to save dozens of pilot whales that have stranded themselves on a beach in Western Australia, but more than 50 have already died. —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 July 26 at 7:10 a.m. CT: Even after inflation has steadily eased this year, the Federal Reserve’s policymakers still think prices are rising too fast and are almost certain to lift their key interest rate by a quarter-point on Wednesday. President Joe Biden’s son Hunter is expected to appear before a federal judge in Delaware to plead guilty to two tax crimes and admit possessing a gun as a drug user. The extreme heat of the South and Southwest is moving into the Midwest and is expected to continue East. Major fires raging in parts of Greece and in other Mediterranean countries have advanced causing additional deaths, destroying homes and threatening nature reserves during a third successive wave of extreme temperatures. Tens of thousands of doctors in Britain’s state-funded health service will go on strike for a further four days in August as their pay dispute with the government shows few if any signs of resolution. There was no winner in Tuesday's Mega Millions drawing. The State Department says a former U.S. Marine who was released from Russia in a prisoner swap last year has been injured while fighting in Ukraine. The Rays, Reds, Astros, Phillies, Mets and Dodgers pick up wins on the diamond, Michigan football coach Jim Harbaugh could be facing suspension, LeBron James’ son has a medical scare, the Celtics and Jaylen Brown are on the verge of a record deal, and Patrice Bergeron retires from the NHL. SAG-AFTRA held its largest and most star-studded rally yet on Tuesday in Times Square. Jessica Chastain and Brendan Fraser were among those joining the throngs of demonstrators. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted July 25 at 4 p.m. CT: A proposed constitutional amendment guaranteeing access to abortion will appear on Ohio’s fall ballot. That sets up a volatile and expensive fight rife with emotional messaging and competing factual claims. A federal judge has blocked a rule that allows immigration authorities to deny asylum to migrants who arrive at the U.S.-Mexico border without first applying online or seeking protection in a country they passed through. UPS has reached a contract agreement with its 340,000-person strong union Tuesday, averting a strike that had the potential to disrupt logistics nationwide for businesses and households alike. Bronny James, son of NBA superstar LeBron James, is hospitalized in stable condition a day after going into cardiac arrest while participating in a basketball practice at the University of Southern California. Republican presidential contender Ron DeSantis is cutting far more campaign staff than previously thought as he works to reset his stumbling campaign amid unexpected financial trouble. U.S. consumer confidence shot to the highest level in two years this month as inflationary pressures eased and the American economy continued to show resilience in the face of dramatically higher interest rates. Philippines made history at its first Women’s World Cup with its first goal and first win, holding on under pressure to upset co-host New Zealand. Casey Phair has become the youngest player in soccer World Cup history at the age of 16 years and 26 days. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement says one of its agents was driving Gov. Ron DeSantis' vehicle in a motorcade when it was involved in a multi-car accident in Tennessee. Secret Service records show that President Joe Biden's dog Commander has bitten or attacked agency officers stationed at the White House 10 times between October 2022 and January. Former President Barack Obama’s personal chef has drowned near the Obama family’s home on Martha’s Vineyard. Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town” is experiencing exponential growth following controversy over its music video. The song, which was released in May, debuted at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 this week just behind BTS’s Jung Kook solo single “Seven,” featuring Latto. —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 July 25 at 6:47 a.m. CT: The Justice Department is suing Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott over a floating barrier that the state placed on the Rio Grande to stop migrants from entering the U.S. Climate change’s sweaty fingerprints are all over the July heat waves gripping much of the globe. A new study finds these intense and deadly hot spells in the American Southwest. European Union agriculture ministers are meeting to discuss ways of moving grain vital to global food security out of Ukraine after Russia halted a deal that allowed the exports.  President Joe Biden’s administration has announced new rules meant to push insurance companies to increase their coverage of mental health treatments. An Arkansas truck driver who beat a police officer with a flagpole attached to an American flag during the U.S. Capitol riot has been sentenced to more than four years in prison. An Atlanta suburb is trying to recover nearly $800,000 that it lost in an email scam. The city of East Point lost the money in 2021 after someone hacked the city’s email system and sent fake invoices from city email addresses asking for money to be wired.  Another gambling-related player suspension in the NFL, eleventh-hour heroics for the Brewers, Rangers, Orioles and Blue Jays, and the US Women's team gears up for its next game at the World Cup. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted July 24 at 5 p.m. CT: The Justice Department is suing Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott over a floating barrier that the state placed on the Rio Grande to stop migrants from entering the U.S. The American-led U.N. Command says it has started a conversation with North Korea about a U.S. soldier who ran into the North last week across one of the world’s most heavily fortified borders. The hazing scandal at Northwestern University has widened to include a volleyball player who has become the first female athlete to sue the university over allegations she was retaliated against for reporting mistreatment and a new lawsuit by former Northwestern quarterback Lloyd Yates. Ary Borges has scored a hat trick as Brazil made a flying start at the Women’s World Cup by beating Panama 4-0. Green Bay Packers CEO Mark Murphy says it will probably take “at least half a season” for the team to know what it has in new starting quarterback Jordan Love.  Elon Musk has unveiled a new “X” logo to replace Twitter’s famous blue bird as he follows through with a major rebranding of the social media platform he bought for $44 billion last year. As the deadline to reach a new contract nears, a potential UPS strike feels closer than ever. Excessive heat continues to bear down on sections of the United States, a reminder of the impetus for the The Inflation Reduction Act, the significant climate legislation that turns one year old on August 16. On this week's AP Religion Roundup, Europe's iconic churches struggle to accommodate both worship and tourism. —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 July 24 at 6:30 a.m. CT: Phoenix is still sweltering and the heat dome that was across the Southwest is starting to expand across the country. The American-led U.N. Command says it has started a conversation with North Korea about a U.S. soldier who ran into the North last week across one of the world’s most heavily fortified borders. Russian authorities have accused Ukraine of launching a drone attack on Moscow during which one of the aircraft fell near the Defense Ministry’s main headquarters. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been released from the hospital after an emergency heart procedure, as the nation braces for a vote on the first major piece of a contentious overhaul of the country’s justice system. Elon Musk has unveiled a new black and white “X” logo to replace Twitter’s famous blue bird as he follows through with a major rebranding of the the social media platform he bought for $44 billion last year. Scott Rolen and Fred McGriff have been inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Rolen was the only player to be voted in by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America this year, and McGriff was selected unanimously by the Contemporary Baseball Era Players Committee. In sports: Brian Harman runs away with the British Open, Cooperstown inducts two new members, the Orioles fly higher atop the AL East, and the Rangers win the battle of Western division leaders. In entertainment: “Barbenheimer” didn’t just work – it spun box office gold. Warner Bros.’ “Barbie” claimed the top spot with a massive $155 million in ticket sales from North American theaters from 4,243 locations. Universal’s “Oppenheimer” also soared past expectations, taking in $80.5 million from 3,610 theaters. And few artists could match Tony Bennett's ability to transcend generations. The legend died Friday. A White House official says President Joe Biden will establish a national monument honoring Emmett Till and his mother, Mamie Till-Mobley. Emmett Till is the Black teenager from Chicago who was tortured and killed in 1955 after being accused of whistling at a white woman in Mississippi. A deadlocked jury has prompted a mistrial in the double murder trial of rapper YNW Melly in South Florida. The panel could not reach a unanimous verdict Saturday after three days of deliberations. —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 state of the actors and writers strikes.  Listen to the latest episode of Streamed & Screened here.  This week’s top headlines include: Things to know about the Hollywood strikes. Jason Aldean released a controversial new music video. There was an update in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur. And style icon Jane Birkin died. — 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 July 21 at 3 p.m. CT: Tony Bennett, the eminent stylist and last of the great saloon singers whose devotion to classic American songs and knack for creating new standards such as “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” graced a decadeslong career, has died at 96. A federal judge in Florida has set a trial date for next May for former President Donald Trump in a case charging him with illegally retaining hundreds of classified documents. The May 20, 2024, trial date was set Friday by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon. President Joe Biden has chosen Adm. Lisa Franchetti to lead the Navy. If confirmed, she will be the first woman to be a Pentagon service chief and the first female member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. President Joe Biden is praising new commitments by Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft and other companies that are leading the development of artificial intelligence technology to meet a set of AI safeguards brokered by his White House as an important step toward managing the “enormous” promise and risks posed by the technology. TV meteorologist Chris Gloninger faced intensifying harassment as he did more reporting on climate change during local newscasts. So on June 21, he announced that he was leaving KCCI — and his 18-year career in broadcast journalism altogether. Gloninger’s experience is all too common among meteorologists across the country who are encountering reactions from viewers as they tie climate change to extreme temperatures, blizzards, tornadoes and floods in their local newscasts. —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 July 21 at 6:36 a.m. CT: Extreme heat and severe weather are in the forecast for much of the nation on Friday. The US is trying to determine the motivation for Pvt. Travis King to cross the border into North Korea. A knife-wielding man has stabbed at least four pedestrians on a street in the South Korean capital, Seoul. One person has died. Poland's Defense Ministry says a U.S. military drone crashed in the woods in the southwest of the country after contact was lost during training. Amazon, Google, Meta, Microsoft and other technology companies that are leading the development of artificial intelligence technology have agreed to meet a set of AI safeguards brokered by President Joe Biden’s administration. The search for an elusive and potentially dangerous animal sighted on the edge of Berlin and suspected to be a lioness has stretched into a second day. Some unlikely names top the leaderboard at the British Open, the Orioles go ten innings to beat the Rays in a battle for the AL East top spot, and the Washington Commanders will soon be under new management. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted July 20 at 4 p.m. CT: The White House is deeply concerned about the well-being of a U.S. soldier who bolted across the heavily armed North Korea border earlier this week. Administration officials say North Korea has yet to respond to U.S. requests for basic information about the AWOL soldier, Pvt. Travis King. A tiny neighborhood store in downtown Los Angeles near Skid Row has sold the winning ticket for the Powerball jackpot worth an estimated $1.08 billion. A South Florida jury awarded $800,000 in damages to a little girl who received second-degree burns when a hot Chicken McNugget fell on her leg as her mother pulled away from the drive-thru of a McDonald’s restaurant. Miami police say an 18-year-old mother tried to hire a hitman to kill her 3-year-old son, who was living with his grandmother at the time. A sea otter launched into the national spotlight after social media images circulated of her aggressively wresting surfboards away from surfers off the coast of Santa Cruz, California is building a fan club as she continues to evade capture. Country music star Jason Aldean has released a controversial music video for his latest single, “Try That In A Small Town." Country Music Television removed it Monday from rotation, three days after its release. Pop star Shakira is facing more trouble from Spain’s tax office after a court near Barcelona agreed to open an investigation into a second case of alleged tax fraud by the Colombian singer. A row of tightly trimmed ficus trees along a stretch of sidewalk outside Universal Studios has become a hot spot in the face-off between Hollywood studios and striking screenwriters and actors. Security was heightened ahead of Thursday night’s opening Women’s World Cup game after a gunman killed two people at a downtown construction site in Auckland, roughly 12 hours ahead of co-host New Zealand’s match against Norway. —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 July 20 at 7:10 a.m. CT: A tornado has heavily damaged a major Pfizer pharmaceutical plant in North Carolina — the latest in a string of extreme weather events plaguing the U.S. A winning ticket has been sold in California for the Powerball jackpot worth an estimated $1.08 billion. The winning numbers for Wednesday night’s drawing were 7, 10, 11, 13, 24 and red Powerball 24. U.S. officials says that North Korea hasn’t responded to their attempts to discuss the American soldier who bolted across the heavily armed border. A provincial governor in Rwanda says 10 students have drowned after their boat sank in a river. The SAG-AFTRA and writers strikes haven't shut down everything in Hollywood. Broadway shows are not included and certain productions are exempt or have waivers. Celebrities can still make social media appearances provided they are not promoting their work. American Airlines is reporting a $1.3 billion profit for the second quarter, continuing the run of strong results from the nation's airlines. The Orioles take the title of best record in the American League, the Yankees struggles continue out west, the Reds use the longball to end their six-game losing streak, and a Browns defensive lineman loses his job because of ongoing legal trouble. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted July 19 at 4 p.m. CT: U.S. officials are seeking information on Pvt. Travis King, who fled across the border from South Korea into North Korea. A federal judge has rejected Donald Trump’s bid to move his hush-money criminal case from New York state court to federal court. High-water rescue crews have been pulling people from flooded homes and vehicles in Kentucky. Officials say a 39-year-old woman and her 5-year-old daughter were swept away in a swollen Connecticut river and died. The Biden administration is proposing new guidelines for corporate mergers, taking steps to disclose junk fees charged by landlords and launching a crackdown on price-gouging in the food industry. A federal judge has denied a motion to move the trial of a man charged in last year’s attack against former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband out of San Francisco. New York may ban cash prizes for hunting coyotes and squirrels. Allegations of hazing in Northwestern’s athletic programs have broadened as attorneys say male and female athletes reported misconduct within two other sports and suggested sexual abuse and racial discrimination within the football program was so rampant coaches knew about it. A federal judge has upheld a $5 million jury verdict against Donald Trump, rejecting the ex-president's claim the jury vindicated him by failing to conclude he raped a columnist in a New York department store in the 1990s. With Hollywood’s actors and writers on strike, you may have some questions. Yes, you can still go see “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.” No, the guilds don’t want you to cancel Netflix — yet. The Women's World Cup kicks off on Thursday. The U.S. women are vying for their third-straight title. Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges has apologized for “the pain and embarrassment” caused by the domestic violence investigation that kept him out of the league last season. Chinese livestreamers have set their sights on selling to TikTok shoppers in the U.S. and Europe. —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 July 19 at 7:15 a.m. CT: The extreme heat scorching Phoenix set a record Tuesday, the 19th consecutive day temperatures hit at least 110 degrees Fahrenheit in a summer of suffering that's echoing around much of the globe. Sarah Leslie thought she was witnessing a stunt when she saw an American soldier start sprinting toward North Korea. Fifteen people including six policer officers have died by electrocution after a transformer exploded near a sewage treatment plant in northern India. Israel’s president speaks to Congress in an appearance aimed at demonstrating what he calls the “unbreakable bond” between Israel and the U.S. At least five protesters have been injured in Kenya as police clash with demonstrators who are calling for the government to lower the cost of living. A lawyer representing Chinese citizens in Florida has told a federal judge that a new law banning them and some other foreign nationals from purchasing property in large swaths of the state violates federal housing discrimination laws. In sports, it was a monster night of offense in baseball and there was an apology from Hornets player Miles Bridges.  Authorities in Nevada say they have served a search warrant in connection with the long-unsolved killing of rapper Tupac Shakur in September 1996. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted July 18 at 4 p.m. CT: Former President Donald Trump said Tuesday that he's been notified he is a target of the Justice Department investigation into efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. U.S. officials say an American soldier who fled across the heavily armed border from South Korea into North Korea had been facing military disciplinary actions.  An Australian sailor who was rescued by a Mexican tuna boat after being adrift at sea with his dog for three months has stepped foot on dry land for the first time since their ordeal began. An ongoing eruption of a remote volcano in Alaska’s Aleutian Islands produced an ash cloud so large Tuesday warnings were sent to pilots about potentially dangerous conditions. Detectives investigating the long-unsolved slayings known as the Gilgo Beach killings have searched a storage facility in the Long Island community of Amityville over the weekend. Americans increased their spending last month as inflation eased in many areas, and the job market remained remarkably strong. The Biden administration and major consumer tech players are launching an effort to put a nationwide cybersecurity certification and labeling program in place. A meeting in India of finance chiefs and central bank governors of the Group of 20 leading economies has ended without consensus because of differences over the war in Ukraine. Farm workers are 35 times more likely to die of heat exposure than workers in other industries, according to the National Institutes of Health. —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 July 18 at 6:59 a.m. CT: The U.N. Command says an American national has crossed the border from South Korea into North Korea. The U.S.-led body that oversees the area tweeted Tuesday that the U.S. citizen was on a tour to the border village of Panmunjom and crossed the border into the North without authorization. A heat wave continues across the South with blistering temperatures in New Mexico and Phoenix. A Florida judge who issued a court ruling last year that critics said was unduly favorable to Donald Trump is set to preside over the first pretrial conference in his landmark criminal case concerning the willful retention of classified documents. President Joe Biden is hosting Israel’s figurehead president Isaac Herzog at the White House.  The Powerball jackpot rose yet again to an estimated $1 billion after no winning ticket was sold for the latest drawing.  A pack of dingoes has injured a woman who was jogging on a popular Austrailian tourist island in the latest clash between humans and native dogs.  The Orioles end their eight game winning streak, Shohei Ohtani homers in the Angels comeback win, Cardinals boss signals change is on the way, and NFL running backs' Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs and their respective teams fail in contract extention talks.  On the version of Hot off the Wire posted July 17 at 4 p.m. CT: Russia has halted a breakthrough wartime deal that allows grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where hunger is a growing threat and high food prices have pushed people into poverty. Authorities in Oregon say the deaths of four women whose bodies were found over three months are linked and that at least one person of interest has been identified. Longtime police official Edward Caban has been sworn is as commissioner of the New York Police Department, becoming the first Latino to lead the 178-year-old department. U.S. officials have approved a new long-acting drug to protect babies and toddlers against RSV, a respiratory virus that causes thousands of hospitalizations each year. New research shows another experimental Alzheimer's drug can modestly slow patients' inevitable worsening. Elton John has testified for the defense at Kevin Spacey’s sexual assault trial as the actor’s lawyer attempted to discredit a man who claimed Spacey aggressively grabbed his crotch in a car on the way to the singer’s house. A red sweater adorned with a flock of sheep worn by the young Princess Diana is expected to sell for more than $50,000 at auction. A Florida neighborhood is having to deal with a growing group of domestic rabbits on its streets after a breeder illegally let hers loose. Between 60 and 100 lionhead rabbits have taken up residence in the yards of a suburban Fort Lauderdale community. The World Health Organization says more than two dozen cats have been infected with bird flu across Poland, but no people appear to have been sickened. On this week's AP Religion Roundup, New Mexicans are fighting for the survival of their historic churches. —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 July 17 at 7:15 a.m. CT: Heavy rains are pounding an already saturated Northeast for the second time in a week, spurring another round of flash flooding, canceled airline flights and power outages. A heat wave continues to stretch across the South from California to Florida. Authorities say officers killed a man in an exchange of gunfire as they tried to arrest the suspect in the weekend killings of four people near Atlanta. Vehicle traffic on the single bridge that links Russia to Moscow-annexed Crimea and serves as a key supply route for the Kremlin’s forces in the war with Ukraine has come to a standstill after one of its sections was blown up. Russia has halted a breakthrough wartime deal that allows grain to flow from Ukraine to countries in Africa, the Middle East and Asia where hunger is a growing threat and high food prices have pushed people into poverty. Lots of sweeps and exciting finishes in Major League Baseball Sunday, Rory McIlroy supplied the exciting finish in golf and a marathon exciting Men's final at Wimbledon that was won by Carlos Alcaraz. The sidewalks of Hollywood and midtown Manhattan teemed with actors joining Hollywood's writers in protest outside the corporate offices of studios, streamers, and production companies. After a globe-trotting publicity blitz by star Tom Cruise, “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part One” launched with a franchise-best $80 million over five days, though it came in shy of industry expectations with a $56.2 million haul over the three-day weekend. Actor, singer and style icon Jane Birkin has died in France, a country she charmed with her English grace and accented French and made her home. She was 76. —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 disappointing start for “Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny,” the return of “What We Do in the Shadows” and the sleeper hit “Sound of Freedom.”  Listen to the latest episode of Streamed & Screened here.  This week’s top headlines include: Hollywood actors vote to strike and join writers on picket lines. Emmy Nominations were announced with HBO’s “Succession,” “The Last of Us” and “The White Lotus” leading the way. An autopsy report revealed the cause of death for Lisa Marie Presley. And it was a big week of baseball with the All-Star Game and Home Run Derby. — 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 July 14 at 4 p.m. CT: The House has passed a sweeping defense bill that provides a pay raise for service members but strays from traditional military policy with Republicans add-ons blocking abortion coverage, diversity initiatives at the Pentagon and transgender care. Iowa’s ban on most abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy has been signed into law by Gov. Kim Reynolds, but a judge is still considering abortion advocates’ request to put the restrictions on hold. The Rev. Jesse Jackson plans to step down from leading the Chicago civil rights organization Rainbow PUSH Coalition he founded in 1971. A Long Island architect has been arrested in connection with three of the long-unsolved killings known as the Gilgo Beach murders. Hollywood productions and promotional tours around the world have been put on indefinite hold as actors join writers on the picket lines. French fighter jets trailed red-white-and-blue smoke over Paris monuments and families held picnics around France to celebrate Bastille Day. A little more than a week after contract talks between UPS and the union representing 340,000 of its workers broke down, UPS said it will begin training many of its non-union employees in the U.S. to step in should there be a strike. IRS leaders have laid out how they netted $38 million in delinquent taxes from more than 175 high-income taxpayers in the past few months. A new poll finds that only about 1 in 10 U.S. adults give high ratings to the way democracy is working in the United States or how well it represents the interests of most Americans. The NCAA has fined Tennessee more than $8 million and issued a scathing report outlining more than 200 infractions during the three-year tenure of former football coach Jeremy Pruitt. —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 July 14 at 6:48 a.m. CT: Actors will join screenwriters in a combined strike that will have huge consequences for Hollywood. Leaders of SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents the actors, voted Thursday to strike after contract talks collapsed with the studios and streaming services that hire them.  Temperatures in Death Valley National Park, the largest national park in the Lower 48 states, are expected to intensify over the weekend, potentially setting new records amid a major U.S. heat wave. Vermont continues to recover from severe storms as more wet weather is on the way to the Northeast. China is accusing the United States of militarizing outer space, a day after it protested the passage of a Navy P-8A Poseidon anti-submarine aircraft through the Taiwan Strait. Russian President Vladimir Putin says he has offered mercenaries from the Wagner private military company to keep serving as single unit under the same officer. The Wimbledon women's final is set, Northwestern fires another coach, lawsuit stemming from Georgia football car crash, March Madness expansion on hold, the SEC rewards its boss and the Jets lock up an All-Pro defensive end. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted July 13 at 4 p.m. CT: Actors will join screenwriters in a combined strike that will have huge consequences for Hollywood. Leaders of SAG-AFTRA, the union that represents the actors, voted Thursday to strike after contract talks collapsed with the studios and streaming services that hire them. The gunman who killed 11 people at a Pittsburgh synagogue in 2018 is eligible for the death penalty. Wall Street’s winning streak barreled into a fourth day following the latest signal that inflation is easing its chokehold on the economy. U.S. officials have approved the first over-the-counter birth control pill, a major change that will broaden access for women and teenagers. No fingerprints or DNA turned up on the baggie of cocaine found in the West Wing lobby last week despite a sophisticated FBI crime lab analysis, and surveillance footage of the area didn’t identify a suspect, according to summary of the Secret Service investigation obtained by The Associated Press. President Joe Biden says it is “irresponsible” of an Alabama senator to block confirmation of military officers in protest of a Defense Department policy that pays for travel when a service member has to go out of state to get an abortion or reproductive care. President Joe Biden says he’s serious about pursuing a prisoner exchange for a Wall Street Journal reporter who has been detained in Russia for more than 100 days. The NCAA Division I men’s basketball committee discussed possible expansion of March Madness at its meetings this week but said no moves were imminent to increase the field beyond the current 68 teams. —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 July 13 at 6:44 a.m. CT: The union representing film and television actors says no deal has been reached with studios and streaming services and its leadership will vote on whether to strike later Thursday. The National Weather Service says a tornado touched down near Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport prompting passengers to take shelter and disrupting hundreds of flights. A heat wave that’s been scorching much of the U.S. Southwest is bringing triple digit temperatures and an increased risk of wildfires to California. A Russian general in charge of forces fighting in southern Ukraine has been relieved of his duties after speaking out about the problems faced by his troops. Ukrainian officials said air defenses shot down 20 Iranian-made drones fired by Russia mostly at the Kyiv region. U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry will travel to Beijing next week to discuss strategies for limiting global warming. Vice President Kamala Harris has tied the record for the most tiebreaking votes in the U.S. Senate. The only other vice president to play the role of tiebreaker so many times was John C. Calhoun. However, Harris reached the record in two and a half years, compared to Calhoun's eight. It'll be another year without a U.S. Wimbledon champ, the Celtics lock up their new center, the 2024 MLB season will open in South Korea and the Pro Football Hall of Fame names its 2024 semifinalists. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted July 12 at 4 p.m. CT: U.S. President Joe Biden is declaring “we will not waver” in defense of Ukraine. He made the pledge Wednesday in Vilnius, Lithuania, where he was attending this week's NATO summit. A prisoner suspected of stabbing Larry Nassar at a federal penitentiary in Florida said the disgraced former sports doctor provoked the attack by making a lewd comment while they were watching a Wimbledon tennis match. A Florida judge says the 2018 Parkland high school massacre can be reenacted on campus by both sides in lawsuits against former Broward Sheriff's Deputy Scot Peterson, the sheriff's office and others. HBO dominates this year's Emmy nominations, with the elite trio of “Succession,” “The White Lotus” and “The Last of Us” combining for a whopping 74 nods. Volunteers have showed up with snow shovels across Vermont to help communities clear the mud from epic floods. Spain is sweltering under an unrelenting heat wave as temperatures start to build toward what is forecast to be a torrid weekend across southern Europe. Sen. Dick Durbin, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, says it's time for Supreme Court justices to bring their conduct in line with the standards of other branches of government. FBI Director Chris Wray defended what he calls the “real FBI” before a contentious hearing of the Republican-led House Judiciary Committee. Unionized Hollywood actors on the verge of a strike have agreed to allow a last-minute intervention from federal mediators. Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred will consider increasing time on the pitch clock for the postseason but is reluctant to adjust an innovation the sport considers a great success. A PGA Tour executive has told Congress that Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund agreed to invest more than $1 billion in a new commercial entity controlled by the tour. —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 July 12 at 7:14 a.m. CT: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday praised NATO’s decision to simplify Ukraine’s path to eventual membership and hailed new security guarantees and military aid for his country emerging from the alliance summit. The Kremlin considers plans by G7 nations to offer Ukraine security guarantees “extremely ill-judged and potentially very dangerous,” spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday. Even desert residents accustomed to scorching summers are feeling the grip of an extreme heat wave smacking the Southwest this week. Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico and Southern California are getting hit with 100-degree-plus temps and excessive heat warnings.  New England may get even more rain this week. Iowa’s Republican-led Legislature has passed a bill banning most abortions after roughly six weeks of pregnancy.  The National League finally beats the American League in the All-Star Game, Novak Djokovic advances to another major semifinal, the women's top-ranked player is ousted at Wimbledon and the NBA makes a couple of rule changes. Charles Manson follower Leslie Van Houten has been released from a California prison after serving more than 50 years of a life sentence for two infamous killings. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted July 11 at 4 p.m. CT: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who was to meet with NATO leaders Wednesday, had expressed deep frustration that the alliance was providing no firm timetable for when his country could join, calling that “absurd.” A storm that dumped two months of rain in two days is bringing more flooding across Vermont.  A federal judge has handed Microsoft a major victory by declining to block its looming $69 billion takeover of video game company Activision Blizzard. Bank of America must reimburse customers more than $100 million and pay $150 million in fines for “double-dipping” on overdraft fees, withholding reward bonuses on credit cards and opening accounts without customer consent. Mikala Jones, a surfer from Hawaii known for shooting awe-inspiring photos and videos from the inside of massive, curling waves, has died after a surfing accident in Indonesia. A German surgeon has been ordered to pay a fine of $7,900 for parachuting into the stadium before a European Championship match in Munich two years ago as part of a botched climate protest. The Environmental Protection Agency is enforcing stricter limits on hydrofluorocarbons, highly potent greenhouse gases used in refrigerators and air conditioners that contribute to global warming. Few Republicans have high confidence that votes will be tallied accurately in next year’s presidential contest, suggesting years of sustained attacks against elections by former President Donald Trump and his allies have taken a toll. The fossilized skeletons of an aerial predator with a 20-foot wingspan and an aquatic reptile with a snake-like neck will be auctioned in New York this month. The two ancient creatures will be sold July 26 at Sotheby's. —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 July 11 at 6:55 a.m. CT: Lethal flooding has simultaneously hit India, Japan, China, Turkey and the U.S. Northeast. Scientists have long warned that more extreme rainfall is expected in a warming world. Work remained to determine a path forward for Ukraine's future with NATO. Its president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, is traveling to Lithuania to join the summit and his frustration could renew tensions just as they are beginning to subside. Records obtained by The Associated Press show that Supreme Court justices have attended publicly funded events at colleges and universities that allowed the schools to put the justices in the room with influential donors, including some whose industries have had interests before the court. Authorities in Iceland have warned tourists and other spectators to stay away from a newly erupting volcano that is spewing lava and noxious gases from a fissure in the country’s southwest. Police say the suspect in the 1982 Tylenol poisonings that killed seven people in the Chicago area and triggered a nationwide scare has died. In sports: Northwestern fired football coach Pat Fitzgerald, Blue Jays slugger Vladimir Guerrerro Jr. won the Home Run Derby, starting pitchers were announced for the All-Star Game, and the Spurs' Victor Wembayama finished NBA Summer League play.  On the version of Hot off the Wire posted July 10 at 4 p.m. CT: Disgraced sports doctor Larry Nassar has been stabbed multiple times during an altercation with another inmate at a federal prison in Florida. Nassar is serving decades in prison after admitting sexually assaulting athletes at Michigan State University and at Indianapolis-based USA Gymnastics, including Olympic medalists. Heavy rain has washed out roads and forced evacuations in the Northeast as more downpours were forecast throughout the day. Heavy downpours with possible flash flooding were forecast in parts of Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont and Maine. The New York Yankees’ Gerrit Cole will start Tuesday night’s All-Star Game for the American League and Arizona’s Zac Gallen will open on the mound for the NL. After postponing her career-spanning Celebration Tour due to a “serious bacterial infection" last month and spending several days in an intensive care unit, Madonna says she's “on the road to recovery.” Torrential rain has pounded southwestern Japan, triggering floods and mudslides and leaving two people dead and at least six others missing. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says his country might approve Sweden’s membership in NATO if European Union nations “open the way” to Turkey’s bid to join the EU. The New York Times is getting rid of its sports department and will instead rely on sports coverage from its website The Athletic going forward. A jury has been selected in Michigan in a dispute over the estate of music superstar Aretha Franklin. The Republicans who lead three key House committees are joining forces to probe the Justice Department’s handling of charges against Hunter Biden after making sweeping claims about misconduct at the agency. —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 July 10 at 7:15 a.m. CT: Heavy rain has spawned extreme flooding in New York’s Hudson Valley, killing at least one person and forcing road closures. The flooding came Sunday night as much of the rest of the Northeast U.S. prepared for a major storm. Extreme heat continues in the Southwest. It will be 106 in Yuma, Arizona. President Joe Biden’s itinerary this week in Europe is dominated by the war in Ukraine. But first, he'll have a royal visit with King Charles III at Windsor Castle. The Kremlin’s spokesman says Russian President Vladimir Putin met with Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin days after a short-lived rebellion by the mercenary chief and his private army. Nearly 50,000 Russian soldiers have died in the war in Ukraine, according to a new statistical analysis. Indiana Jones’ reign atop the box office was short-lived. In its second weekend in theaters, the Disney release was usurped by another franchise fifth -– “Insidious: The Red Door.” Pope Francis has announced he has chosen 21 new cardinals, including prelates from Jerusalem and Hong Kong, places where Catholics are a small minority. Senator Chuck Schumer on Sunday called on the Food and Drug Administration to investigate PRIME over its potentially dangerous levels of caffeine. The beverage brand was launched last year by YouTube stars Logan Paul and KSI and has become something of an obsession among the influencers’ legions of young followers. —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 the holiday week comes to an end, we're taking this opportunity to provide you with a special episode filled with feature stories covering a variety of topics. Headlines include: Scientists have finally "heard" the chorus of gravitational waves that ripple through the universe. Families push for full school days for children with disabilities. Buzzworthy: Honeybee health is blooming at federal facilities across the country. California condors confront bird flu in flight from extinction. Animal sedative adds new suffering to opioid drug crisis, but is it driving up deaths? More states legalize fentanyl test strips to combat surging opioid deaths. A new menopause drug for hot flashes gets FDA approval. Some Dutch people seeking euthanasia cite autism or intellectual disabilities, researchers say. — 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.

A week of record-breaking temperatures gets attention. U.S. officials granted full approval to Leqembi, a closely watched Alzheimer’s drug on Thursday, clearing the way for Medicare and other insurance plans to begin covering the treatment for people with the brain-robbing disease. The Texas gunman who killed 23 people in a racist 2019 attack at a Walmart has returned to federal court for sentencing. Patrick Crusius is facing multiple life sentences after pleading guilty to one of the deadliest mass shootings in U.S. history. Russia’s war in Ukraine is set to complete 500 days since its beginning. Off the coast of Long Island, drones are sweeping over the ocean, patrolling the water for danger that might be lurking off the coast as officials and beachgoers grow more vigilant because of a recent spate of human encounters with sharks. At a sprawling Kentucky military installation, workers are close to destroying rockets holding the last of the United States’ declared chemical weapons arsenal. An Army facility in Colorado destroyed its stockpile in June. Sons battle over Aretha Franklin will MLB scores and Wimbledon highlights —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.

The planet’s temperature spiked this week to its hottest day in at least 44 years and likely much longer.  A missing 2-year-old girl from Lansing, Michigan was found dead in Detroit on Wednesday, authorities announced. The disappearance of Wynter Cole Smith sparked a massive three-day search. 2 New Jersey firefighters died battling a blaze deep in a ship carrying 5,000 cars. Prosecutors on Thursday charged a 55-year-old Swede with fraud and falsifying records for allegedly putting his dead companion in a freezer and cashing in her pension. Some Federal Reserve officials pushed to raise the Fed’s key interest rate by one-quarter of a percentage point at their meeting last month to intensify their fight against high inflation, though the central bank ultimately decided to forgo a rate hike. Major League Baseball - Reds and Braves are heating up the National league. —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.

Nine people were shot and wounded, including two juveniles, early Wednesday in Washington, D.C., police said. Shortly before 1 a.m. police responded to a report of a shooting on Meade Street in the northeastern quadrant of the U.S. capital Eating superstar Joey “Jaws” Chestnut shook off a rain delay and gobbled his way to another win at Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest, downing 62 franks and buns in 10 minutes. The U.N. nuclear agency gave its endorsement on Tuesday to Japan’s planned release of treated radioactive wastewater into the sea from the damaged Fukushima nuclear plant, saying it meets international standards and its environmental and health impact would be negligible. Meta is poised to unveil a new app that appears to mimic Twitter — a direct challenge to the social media platform owned by Elon Musk Ohtani leaves Angels game with blister, unlikely to pitch in All-Star Game Roger Federer received a standing ovation of 1 1/2 minutes from spectators as he entered the Royal Box at Centre Court on Tuesday, when he was celebrated during a brief ceremony for his career and his men’s-record eight singles championships at Wimbledon. —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.

It's July 4 and Independence Day in the United States. So we're taking this opportunity to provide you with a special episode filled with feature stories covering a variety of topics. Headlines include: The U.S. has tons of leftover food. Upcycling seeks to turn would-be trash into ice cream and pizza. Arizona's Oak Flat is sacred land to some Native Americans, but it's endangered by a plan for a mine. Vending machines are the latest tool for fighting opioid overdoses. New Zealand says it's the first to ban thin plastic bags from supermarkets. New York skyscrapers are turning to carbon capture to lessen climate change. High art becomes body art as visitors to Amsterdam's Rembrandt House Museum get inked. Sex, sexual intercourse, neither: Teens weigh in on evolving definitions and habits. Professional sports leagues balance profit vs. integrity risks in the legal betting era. — 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.

Excessive heat warnings remain in place in many areas across the U.S. and are expected to last at least through Monday. In Arizona’s largest metro area, Phoenix and surrounding communities flirted with a high of 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46 degrees Celsius) on Sunday. The National Weather Service in Phoenix is forecasting 116 degrees for Monday, just two degrees off the record high for that date set in 1907, before temperatures drop a few degrees for the next three days. Police in Baltimore say two people were killed and 28 wounded in a mass shooting, including three people who are in critical condition. Acting Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley says the shooting took place at a block party early Sunday. Russia’s armed forces are bruised but by no means beaten in the war in Ukraine, a top NATO military officer said Monday, as he laid out the biggest revamp to the organization’s military plans since the Cold War should Moscow dare to widen the conflict. The U.S. recommended Americans reconsider traveling to China because of arbitrary law enforcement and exit bans and the risk of wrongful detentions. Two-way star Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Angels and Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuña Jr. were elected Thursday to start in the July 11 All-Star Game at Seattle’s Safeco Field. —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 have a special holiday-themed episode as we discuss the greatest patriotic films in advance of Independence Day. Listen to the latest episode of Streamed & Screened here.  This week’s top headlines include: A serious illness forces Madonna to postpone her Celebration tour. Ryan Seacrest will host “Wheel of Fortune” after Pat Sajak retires. Rediscovered photos from Paul McCartney offer a unique look at Beatlemania. And Olympic gymnast Simone Biles will compete again. — 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 June 30 at 7:15 p.m. CT: A divided Supreme Court has struck down affirmative action in college admissions, declaring race cannot be a factor and forcing institutions of higher education to look for new ways to achieve diverse student bodies. A former Florida sheriff’s deputy has been found not guilty of failing to act during the 2018 Parkland high school massacre. Dangerous heat and humidity is smothering parts of the South and Midwest. An attorney for rap superstar Travis Scott says a grand jury has declined to indict him in a criminal investigation of a massive crowd surge that killed 10 people at the 2021 Astroworld music festival in Houston. California’s first-in-the-nation reparations task force met for a final time in a crowded hearing room in Sacramento Thursday. The NFL has suspended three players indefinitely for violating the league’s gambling policy and a fourth was sidelined for six games. Isaiah Rodgers and Rashod Berry of the Indianapolis Colts along with free agent Demetrius Taylor received indefinite suspensions through at least this season for betting on NFL games in 2022. Tennessee Titans right tackle Nicholas Petit-Frere was suspended for the first six games of the 2023 season for betting on non-NFL sports at the team’s facility. Showing surprising resilience in the face of higher interest rates, the U.S. economy grew at a 2% annual pace from January through March as consumers spent at the fastest pace in nearly two years. James Harden picked up his $35.6 million contract option for next season with the Philadelphia 76ers, with the franchise exploring trades to move the veteran scorer, a person familiar with the decision told The Associated Press. Olympics boss Tony Estanguet vows the 2024 Paris Games will be safe and  says no resignations are planned following two police probes. —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 June 29 at 6:30 a.m. CT: Air travelers have been putting up with widespread delays all month, and it's continuing again heading into the July 4 holiday weekend, as bad weather rakes the Northeast. Scorching heat blamed for at least 13 deaths in Texas and another in Louisiana is blanketing more of the Southeast. Smoke from Canadian wildfires has lowered curtains of haze on broad swaths of Canada and the United States, pushing into southern Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, and moving into parts of West Virginia. Former President Donald Trump’s criminal indictment on charges of mishandling government secrets appears to have dented his popularity among Republicans — but only slightly. Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell says the central bank may have to tighten its oversight of the American financial system after the failure of three large U.S. banks this spring. The U.S. Coast Guard says it has likely recovered human remains from the wreckage of the Titan submersible. The White House says President Joe Biden has started using a continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP, machine at night to help with sleep apnea. Madonna has postponed her career-spanning 2023 “Celebration” tour due to what her manager calls a “serious bacterial infection.” In sports: Yankees pitcher Domingo German joins one of the most exclusive clubs in baseball, the Astros rally late in St. Louis, the Brewers pull away late to beat the Mets, and Olympic champion Simone Biles plans to return to gymnastics. Also: The NBA released the full Collective Bargaining Agreement to its teams on Wednesday and Mets owner Steven Cohen is threatening his underperforming team with the prospect of a trade deadline selloff. —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 June 28 at 6:16 a.m. CT: The haze of unhealthy air that settled over the Great Lakes region Tuesday reminded U.S. residents from the Midwest to the Northeast and as far south as Kentucky to brace for more depending on which way the wind blows as Canadian wildfires rage on. An unrelenting heat wave in Texas is testing the state's power grid as demand soars during a second week of triple-digit temperatures. Ukraine’s counterintelligence service arrested a man they accused of helping Russia direct a deadly missile strike that killed at least 10 people at a popular pizza restaurant. More than $200 billion may have been stolen from two large COVID-19 relief initiatives. That's according to new estimates from a federal watchdog investigating federally funded programs designed to help small businesses survive the worst public health crisis in more than a hundred years. In sports: The Braves win again, the Reds and Rangers end their skids, Shohei Ohtani leads the Angels and a former Arkansas standout quarterback dies. Authorities have confirmed that British actor Julian Sands died while hiking on a Southern California mountain. On the version of Hot off the Wire posted June 27 at 4 p.m. CT: A court appearance has been postponed for a Donald Trump valet charged with helping the ex-president hide classified documents the Justice Department wanted back. A lawyer for valet Walt Nauta told a judge Nauta had been unable to find a Florida-based attorney and was stuck in New Jersey after his flight was canceled. A New York appeals court dismissed Ivanka Trump on Tuesday from a wide-ranging fraud lawsuit brought against her father and his company last year by the state’s attorney general. Former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley is criticizing former President Donald Trump for being too friendly to China during his time in office while also warning that weak support for Ukraine would “only encourage” China to invade Taiwan. The Justice Department’s watchdog says negligence, misconduct and job failures enabled Jeffrey Epstein to take his own life at a federal jail in New York City while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. The Supreme Court has ruled that state courts can act as a check on their legislatures in redistricting and other issues affecting federal elections. The American consumer’s confidence jumped in June to its highest level in 18 months as a strong labor market continues to buoy the U.S. economy. A community college in eastern Kentucky says Bluegrass musician Bobby Osborne has died. He was 91. Ryan Seacrest will become the new “Wheel of Fortune” host after Pat Sajak’s retirement next year. Britain’s National Portrait Gallery is offering a fresh perspective on The Beatles with an exhibition of band’s-eye-view images taken by Paul McCartney as the group shot to global fame. Double Academy Award-winner Kevin Spacey, whose stellar acting career was derailed by sex assault allegations, goes on trial in London this week, accused of sexual offenses. —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.