President Joe Biden has toured hurricane-ravaged areas of Florida, surveying storm damage by helicopter and bringing a pledge that federal, state and local governments will work as one to help rebuild homes, businesses and lives. Biden says he's putting politics on mute for now to focus on those in need in and around Fort Myers. He comforted local residents Wednesday, walking among them with Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential 2024 rival. The OPEC+ alliance of oil-exporting countries has decided to sharply cut production to support sagging oil prices. The move Wednesday could deal the struggling global economy another blow and raise politically sensitive pump prices for U.S. drivers just ahead of key national elections. A Democratic congressman who has made his opponent’s questionable record fighting the opioid epidemic a central theme of his campaign for Ohio’s open U.S. Senate seat has accepted campaign donations over the years from drug distributors blamed for key roles in the crisis. An Associated Press review found U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan received $27,000 in combined contributions from the nation's three largest drug distributors between 2007 and this August. Authorities say a Mexican citizen who was shot at a U.S. Border Patrol station in Texas has died from his wounds. The man was in custody at the Ysleta Border Patrol Station in El Paso on Tuesday when he was shot. Oscar-winning actors Marion Cotillard and Juliette Binoche, as well as other French screen and music stars, have filmed themselves chopping off locks of their hair in a video to support protesters in Iran. The video, released Wednesday on Instagram and hashtagged HairForFreedom, comes as Iran is engulfed by anti-government protests. The family of a cinematographer shot and killed by Alec Baldwin on the set of the film “Rust” has agreed to settle a lawsuit against Baldwin and the movie's producers, and production may resume on the project in January. Dallas baseball fan Cory Youmans made the catch of a lifetime, snagging the ball that New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge hit for his American League-record 62nd home run. Youmans caught the prized souvenir on the fly Tuesday night at Globe Life Field, home of the Texas Rangers. Ukrainian soccer federation president Andriy Pavelko says hosting World Cup matches in 2030 would be “the dream of people who survived the horrors of war” after his country launched a joint bid with Spain and Portugal. Health insurers will flood the Medicare Advantage market again this fall with enticing offers of plans that have no monthly price tag. The number of so-called zero-premium plans has been growing for years, and they can appeal to retirees who live on fixed incomes. But experts say shoppers should exercise caution before jumping at the bargain. —The Associated Press

President Joe Biden is traveling to hurricane-ravaged Florida with a pledge that federal, state and local governments will work as one to help rebuild homes, businesses and lives. Biden plans to put politics on mute for now to focus on those in need during his tour Wednesday afternoon of Fort Myers, Florida. Biden plans to meet with residents and small business owners, and to thank government officials providing emergency aid and removing debris. Joining Biden in Florida will be two of his most prominent Republican critics, Gov. Ron DeSantis and Sen. Rick Scott. This year’s Nobel Prize in chemistry has been awarded in equal parts to Americans Carolyn R. Bertozzi and K. Barry Sharpless, and Danish scientist Morten Meldal for developing a way of “snapping molecules together." that can be used to design better medicines. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed laws absorbing four Ukrainian regions into Russia, a move that finalizes the annexation carried out in defiance of international law. Earlier this week, both houses of the Russian parliament ratified treaties making the Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions part of Russia. Iran says an 85-year-old Iranian-American held by Iran has left the country for Oman. The state-run IRNA news agency published video of Baquer Namazi boarding a Royal Oman air force jet in Tehran. "Best before” labels are coming under scrutiny as concerns about food waste grow around the world. The labels have nothing to do with safety, and some worry they encourage consumers to throw away food that’s perfectly fine to eat. Lawyers for former President Donald Trump have asked the U.S. Supreme Court to step into the legal fight over the classified documents seized during an FBI search of his Florida estate. The Trump team asked the court Tuesday to overturn a lower court ruling and permit an independent arbiter, or special master, to review the roughly 100 documents with classified markings that were taken in the Aug. 8 search. In sports, the Yankees and the Rangers traded wins in a doubleheader but Aaron Judge and Gerrit Cole were setting records. Seventy-nine deaths have been blamed on Ian, including 71 in Florida, five in North Carolina and three in Cuba. Authorities say the death toll could rise as crews continue searching homes in the hardest-hit areas. The U.S. announced its providing an additional $625 million in military aid to Ukraine, a package that includes additional advanced rocket systems credited with helping the country’s military gain momentum in its war with Russia. Russian troops abandoned a key Ukrainian city so rapidly that they left the bodies of their comrades in the streets. The scene offered more evidence Tuesday of Moscow’s latest military defeat as it struggles to hang on to four regions of Ukraine that it illegally annexed last week.  Some of the Supreme Court's conservative justices seem sympathetic to Alabama’s arguments in a case seeking to force the state to create a second Black majority congressional district. It's the latest showdown over the landmark Voting Rights Act. President Joe Biden spoke with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida to discuss their next steps after North Korea conducted its longest ever test launch by firing nuclear-capable ballistic missile over Japan. As California’s drought deepens, more rural communities are running out of water. Heavy pumping is depleting groundwater supplies that aren’t being replenished by rain and snowmelt. Thrifters who flock to Goodwill stores will now be able to do more of their treasure hunting online. The Goodwill Industries International Inc., the 120 year-old non-profit organization that operates 3,300 stores in the U.S., and Canada, has launched an online business as part of a newly incorporated venture called GoodwillFinds. Elon Musk is offering to go through with his original proposal to buy Twitter for $44 billion. The Tesla CEO said in a regulatory filing Tuesday that he notified Twitter of plans to go through with the deal. The number of available jobs in the U.S. plummeted in August compared with July, a sign that businesses may pull back further on hiring and potentially cool chronically high inflation. Loretta Lynn, the Kentucky coal miner’s daughter who became a pillar of country music, has died. Lynn's family said she died Tuesday at her home in Tennessee. She was 90. A new report says Georgia Republican Senate nominee Herschel Walker paid for an abortion for his girlfriend in 2009. Walker has vehemently opposed abortion rights and calls the accusation in The Daily Beast a “flat-out lie." U.S. officials say Russia is working to amplify doubts about the integrity of American elections while China is interested in influencing policy perspectives in favor of Beijing. That concern aligns with unclassified intelligence advisory obtained by The Associated Press that says China is probably seeking to influence select races to “hinder candidates perceived to be particularly adversarial to Beijing.” —The Associated Press

Nearly a week after Hurricane Ian smashed into Florida and carved a path of destruction that reached into the Carolinas, 78 deaths have been blamed on Ian, with 71 of them reported in Florida. A Florida sheriff issued a blunt warning to potential looters. President Joe Biden promises to “rebuild it all” after visiting Puerto Rico on Monday to survey damage from Hurricane Fiona, as tens of thousands of people remain without power two weeks after the storm hit. Biden says he's “committed to this island,” and acknowledges that Fiona was only the latest in a string of disasters that have battered the U.S. territory in recent years. Biden will visit Florida on Wednesday. Three scientists have jointly won this year’s Nobel Prize in physics for their work on quantum information science that has significant applications, for example in the field of encryption. Alain Aspect, John F. Clauser and Anton Zeilinger were cited by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences for discovering the way that particles known as photons can be linked, or “entangled,” with each other even when they are separated by large distances. The city council of Kyiv says it is providing evacuation centers with potassium iodine pills in preparation for a possible nuclear strike on the capital, Ukraine’s largest city. Potassium iodine pills can help block the absorption of harmful radiation by the thyroid gland if taken just before or immediately after exposure to nuclear radiation. North Korea has conducted its longest-ever weapons test, a nuclear-capable ballistic missile that flew over Japan and could reach the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam and beyond. The launch early Tuesday forced the Japanese government to issue evacuation alerts and halt trains. Former President Donald Trump has gone to court against CNN, a familiar target when he was president. He's seeking $475 million in damages, saying the network's reports are trying to short-circuit any future political campaign. Trump’s lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Florida, focuses primarily on use of the term “The Big Lie” about Trump's false claims of widespread fraud that he says cost him the 2020 presidential election. Last month, new auto prices averaged $45,622, the fourth-highest monthly price on record, according to J.D. Power. In addition, average auto loan interest rates hit 5.7% between July and September, up from 4.3% a year ago, with terms stretched to average over 70 months, Edmunds said. In sports, one National League team clinched a wild card spot while another tried to clinch a division crown, Albert Pujols passed another milestone, the 49ers continued to dominate the Rams and Tua Tagovailoa will get next Sunday off. Wall Street rallied to its best day since July as falling bond yields eased some of the pressure that’s battered markets. The S&P 500 rose 2.6% Monday, the latest swing for a scattershot market that’s been mostly falling this year on worries about a possible global recession. Ukrainian forces have scored more gains in their counteroffensive across a broad front. The troops advanced Monday in the very areas Russia is trying to absorb. Prosecutors are saying at the opening of the most serious case to reach trial in the attack on the U.S. Capitol that the founder of the Oath Keepers extremist group and four associates planned for an “armed rebellion” to stop the transfer of presidential power. Apple Music is about to reach a huge milestone, offering its eye-and-ear-popping 100 millionth song on the streaming service. The music giant tells The Associated Press that internal data indicates Apple Music will reach the heady mark on Monday. Every day, 20,000 singers and songwriters release music on the service. Bono’s next tour will be without U2 or a new album to support. He will, instead, be promoting his memoir “Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story,” which comes out Nov. 1. The Supreme Court began its new term Monday with a new justice on the bench, the public back in the courtroom and a spirited debate in a case that pits environmental protections against property rights. The new member of the court, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson, wasted no time joining the lively give-and-take, asking questions throughout nearly two hours of arguments in the dispute over the nation’s main anti-water pollution law, the Clean Water Act. The long list of celebrities promoting cryptocurrencies just got shorter. Kim Kardashian is being barred from doing so for three years — and will pay a $1 million fine — to settle federal charges that she recommended a crypto security to her 330 million Instagram followers without making clear that she was paid to do so. Andrew Lloyd Webber is saying goodbye to his last remaining show on Broadway and welcoming another. The musical theater icon announced Monday that his retooled version of “Cinderella” will land in New York at the Imperial Theatre in February with new songs, a new leading lady and a new title: “Bad Cinderella.” The actor and activist who declined Marlon Brando’s 1973 Academy Award for “The Godfather” on his behalf in an indelible protest of how Native Americans had been portrayed on screen has died. Sacheen Littlefeather was 75. In this week's religion roundup, Jewish pilgrims gathered in Ukraine despite the war, Brazil's president exhorted evangelicals to help keep him in office, and the Vatican imposed disciplinary sanctions on a Nobel Peace Prize-winning Bishop. —The Associated Press

Days after Hurricane Ian carved a path of destruction from Florida to the Carolinas, the dangers persisted, and even worsened in some places. It was clear the road to recovery from the monster storm will be long and painful. Search and rescue efforts are ongoing Monday. And Ian still is not done. The storm doused Virginia with rain Sunday. It was dissipating as it moved offshore, but officials warned there still was the potential of severe flooding along Virginia's coast and a coastal flood warning was in effect Monday. Ian was one of the strongest storms to make landfall in the United States. An investigation by The Associated Press and the PBS series “Frontline” has documented a sophisticated Russian-run smuggling operation that has used falsified manifests and seaborne subterfuge to steal Ukrainian grain worth at least $530 million. Legal experts say the theft is a potential war crime. Swedish scientist Svante Paabo has won this year’s Nobel Prize in medicine for his discoveries on human evolution, the award’s panel said Monday. Paabo spearheaded the development of new techniques that allowed researchers to compare the genome of modern humans and our closest extinct relatives, the Neanderthals and Denisovans. Moviegoing audiences kicked off the month of October with a horror movie. Studio estimates Sunday show Paramount’s “Smile” easily topped the North American charts with $22 million in ticket sales and left Universal’s rom-com “Bros” in the dust. Doctors have a message for vaccine-weary Americans: Don't skip your flu shot this fall. And for the first time, seniors are urged to get a special extra-strength kind. Because seniors don't respond as well, the U.S. now recommends they get one of three types made with higher doses or an immune-boosting ingredient. In sports, the Chiefs handled the Buccaneers, the Eagles remained perfect, the Bills rallied against the Ravens, the Braves are on the verge of another division title, Albert Pujols caught the Babe, Aaron Judge's power-drought continued, the Padres extended their season and the Phillies have a magic number of one. Distraught family members were struggling to comprehend the sudden loss of loved ones at the Indonesia soccer match in East Java’s Malang city that was watched only by hometown Arema FC fans. The organizer had banned visiting Persebaya Surabaya's supporters due to Indonesia's history of violent soccer rivalries. 125 people were crushed at the match. A Wisconsin man accused of killing six people and injuring dozens more when he allegedly drove his SUV through a Christmas parade in suburban Milwaukee last year is set to go on trial Monday. Darrell Brooks faces nearly 80 charges in the 2021 disaster in Waukesha and will represent himself.  Congressional districts that a federal court panel said were unconstitutional because they dilute representation for Black voters in Alabama are nevertheless being used for the November election after the U.S. Supreme Court allowed them. The high court hears arguments in the case on Tuesday.  Venezuela’s government has freed seven Americans imprisoned in the South American country in exchange for the release of two nephews of President Nicolás Maduro’s wife who had been jailed for years by the United States on drug smuggling convictions. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has called on state regulators to relax rules on oil refineries in an effort to lower soaring fuel prices. According to AAA, the average cost of a gallon of gas in California is $6.30. That's far above the national average of $3.80. President Joe Biden has signed into law a bill that finances the federal government through mid-December and provides another infusion of military and economic aid to Ukraine. He signed the bill Friday after lawmakers acted to avert a partial government shutdown set to begin after midnight. Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed treaties to illegally annex parts of Ukraine, while Kyiv has submitted an “accelerated” application to join NATO. Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the West of sabotaging the Russia-built gas pipelines under the Baltic Sea to Germany. Putin claimed that the West had turned from sanctions against Russia to “terror attacks,” sabotaging the Nord Stream 1 and 2 pipelines. The White House said Putin's comments were outlandish and just an attempt to distract the world from his annexation on Friday of four parts of Ukraine. Civil rights lawyer John Burris is Northern California's go-to attorney when it comes to police brutality. At age 77, he continues to travel the state to appear with victims big and small to allege violations against law enforcement. Consumers spent a bit more in August than the previous month, a sign the economy is holding up even as inflation lifts prices for food, rent, and other essentials. Americans boosted their spending at stores and for services such as haircuts by 0.4% in August, after it fell 0.2% in July, the Commerce Department said Friday. Wall Street closed out a miserable September with a loss of 9.3%, the worst monthly decline since March 2020. The S&P 500 fell 1.5% Friday and is at its lowest level in almost two years. The ranks of late-night television comedy are thinning. Trevor Noah told his studio audience during Thursday's taping that he's leaving as host of Comedy Central's “The Daily Show.” —The Associated Press

In this bonus episode of Hot off the Wire, we look back at some of the top headlines from the week in the world of sports and entertainment.  Rihanna is scheduled to headline the Super Bowl halftime show. Two players reached home run milestones as Albert Pujols became only the fourth player to reach 700 career home runs and Aaron Judge tied Roger Maris’ American League record with his 61st blast of the season. The NFL is ditching the Pro Bowl in favor of a skills competition and flag football. Post Malone had another medical setback and Elton John performed at the White House. A 1990s rap star as well as an Oscar-winning actor died. Those stories and more. — Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports

Hurricane Ian dominated news cycles for much of the week. After forming and eventually leaving Cuba without power after slamming the island, the Category 4 storm became one of the strongest ever to hit the U.S. As of this recording on Friday morning, the storm had killed at least six people in Florida and was tracking north toward Charleston, South Carolina.   For historical context, we take a look at how the storm progressed through the week. By Tuesday morning, Ian had intensified into a Category 3. In the afternoon, concerns grew that the storm would continue to intensify. More than one million people in Cuba were left without electricity. On Wednesday morning, Ian’s winds were reaching 155 mph and the region around Tampa, Florida, was bracing for a direct hit. By the afternoon, the storm’s eyewall had reached Florida and more than 2.5 million people were told to evacuate.  By Thursday morning, Ian had been downgraded to a tropical storm as the state dealt with the destruction. Meteorologists also warned that the storm could intensify once again. On Friday, Ian was once again a Category 1 storm and tracking north along the Atlantic Coast. There were several stories of note related to Capitol riots of Jan. 6, 2021. A trial began for the founder of the Oath Keepers and four associates. In separate trials, a rioter received a 7-year sentence and another was convicted. Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, spoke with the House committee investigating the events of the day. In other national news, President Joe Biden had an embarrassing moment during a press conference. Sirhan Sirhan, who assassinated Robert F. Kennedy, asked for his release. A gunmaker is being sued over a July 4 parade shooting. And students in Virginia protested transgender policies. In science, health and technology news, NASA rammed an asteroid. Pumpkin farmers are adapting to changing conditions. Nightly newscasts are morphing due to streaming habits. And teens are seeking out birth control following the Supreme Court’s abortion ruling. In economic news, consumers have been gaining confidence as gas prices have fallen. Fewer people applied for unemployment benefits. The White House wants airlines to show more details about prices on plane tickets. Apple is shifting iPhone production and Amazon plans another Prime Day. And in international news, Russia annexed four regions of Ukraine on Friday. Edward Snowden was granted Russian citizenship. Patrol boats spotted Chinese and Russian naval ships off the coast of Alaska. — Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports

A revived Hurricane Ian is bearing down on South Carolina’s coast and the historic city of Charleston, with forecasters predicting a storm surge and floods. Earlier, the megastorm caused catastrophic damage in Florida, leaving people trapped in flooded homes and was blamed in growing reports of deaths in the state. China is dismissing complaints from two U.S. lawmakers over the quarantining of American diplomats and their family members under the country's strict COVID-19 regulations. Republican Congressmen James Comer and Michael McCaul wrote to Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Wednesday asking for clarification of the quarantines. Russia plans to annex four regions of Ukraine on Friday. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is making her first appearance on the Supreme Court bench in a brief courtroom ceremony three days ahead of the start of the high court’s new term. President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and their spouses are expected Friday at Jackson’s ceremonial investiture. Hundreds of royal fans have lined up outside Windsor Castle for the chance to pay their final respects to Queen Elizabeth II as the chapel where the late monarch is buried opened to the public for the first time since her death. Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, stood by the false claim that the 2020 election was fraudulent during an interview with the House panel investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection. That is according to Rep. Bennie Thompson, the panel's Democratic chairman. In sports, the Dolphins lost a game and their quarterback to a concussion, the Chiefs-Buccaneers game will go on as scheduled Sunday in Tampa, and the race for the National League's final Wild Card between the Phillies and Brewers remains tight. Previous updates President Joe Biden says the entire United States "hurts" along with the people of Florida after Hurricane Ian flooded communities across the state, knocked out power and raised fear of a "substantial loss of life.” Biden went to the Washington headquarters of the Federal Emergency Management Agency for a briefing on federal response efforts. Congress is moving quickly to avoid a government shutdown. The Senate on Thursday passed a short-term spending bill that would finance federal agencies into mid-December. British Prime Minister Liz Truss has defended her economic plan that roiled financial markets, saying she’s willing to make “difficult decisions” to get the economy growing. The number of Americans filing for jobless benefits dropped last week, a sign that few companies are cutting jobs despite high inflation and a weak economy. Applications for unemployment benefits for the week ending Sept. 24 fell by 16,000 to 193,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The man who assassinated presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy in 1968 said from a California prison that he wants a judge to free him so he can live the rest of his life in peace. Now 78-years-old, Sirhan Sirhan has been incarcerated for 54 years. Nearly a dozen lawsuits in Illinois accuse gun-maker Smith & Wesson of illegally targeting young men at risk of violence with ads for firearms. The 11 suits filed Wednesday cite the 22-year-old gunman accused of opening fire on a July Fourth parade in suburban Chicago and killing seven people. A scientist who built a global COVID-19 website received this year's Lasker award for public service. The Lasker Foundation, which gives out annual prizes for medical research, announced this year's winners on Wednesday. —The Associated Press

Hurricane Ian has left a path of destruction in southwest Florida, trapping people in flooded homes and knocking out power to 2.5 million people. It's now aiming for the Atlantic Coast as a tropical storm. Russia has confirmed it will formally annex four parts of Ukraine where occupied areas held a Kremlin-orchestrated “referendum” on living under Moscow’s rule that the Ukrainian government and the West denounced as illegal and rigged. Three Russian cosmonauts returned safely from a mission to the International Space Station. The Soyuz MS-21 spacecraft carrying Oleg Artemyev, Denis Matveyev and Sergey Korsakov touched down softly on time at a designated site in the steppes of Kazakhstan. The body of a famed U.S. extreme skier who fell from the world’s eighth-highest mountain has been recovered. Hilaree Nelson was skiing down from the summit of Mount Manaslu with her partner on Monday when she fell. President Joe Biden sought out a deceased congresswoman during his remarks at a hunger conference Wednesday. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre later said Rep. Jackie Walorski was “top of mind” to Biden when he called out “Where's Jackie?” In sports, Aaron Judge owns a piece of baseball history, the Mets regained sole possession of first place in the NL East and the Brewers moved closer to a playoff slot. Coolio, the rapper who was among hip-hop’s biggest names of the 1990s with hits including “Gangsta’s Paradise” and “Fantastic Voyage,” has died. Manager Jarez Posey tells The Associated Press that Coolio, whose legal name was Artis Leon Ivey Jr., died at the Los Angeles home of a friend on Wednesday. Coolio was 59. Earlier update Hurricane Ian has made landfall in southwestern Florida as a massive Category 4 storm. About 2.5 million people had been ordered to evacuate the area before the storm hit the coast on Wednesday with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph. The storm was heading inland, where it was expected to weaken, but residents in central Florida could still experience hurricane-force winds. Before making its way through the Gulf of Mexico to hit Florida, Hurricane Ian tore into western Cuba as a major hurricane Tuesday, killing two people and bringing down the country’s electrical grid. Arnold Schwarzenegger has visited the site of the Auschwitz Nazi death camp to send a message against hatred. The “Terminator” actor and former California governor was given a tour of the site, where he viewed barracks, watchtowers and the remains of gas chambers that endure as evidence of the German extermination of Jews and others during World War II. A published report indicates Saudi-funded LIV Golf might be close to a TV deal. Golfweek is citing sources as saying LIV Golf is nearing an agreement to buy time with FS1. Katie Couric says she was diagnosed with breast cancer on the first day of summer, and since has undergone surgery and radiation treatment. The 65-year-old media personality memorably underwent screening for colon cancer on the "Today" show in 2000, two years after her first husband died of the disease at age 41. Clergy in 33 states are exempt from laws requiring professionals such as teachers, physicians and psychotherapists to report information about alleged child abuse to police or child welfare officials. An Associated Press review found that over the past two decades, more than 130 bills have been proposed in state legislatures to create or amend child sex abuse reporting laws. After intense opposition from religious groups, the clergy privilege remained unchanged. For more than half a century, ABC, CBS and NBC have aired evening newscasts each weeknight on television. This fall, the competition has spread to another medium. With the launch of “CBS News Prime Time” with John Dickerson a few weeks ago, all three networks are now also streaming competing evening newscasts. Pumpkin farmers are adapting to changing conditions and trying to lower the carbon footprint of their crops. —The Associated Press

The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Ian has rapidly intensified off Florida's coast, gaining top winds of 155 mph, just shy of the most devastating Category 5 hurricane status. Ian is pushing a storm surge that could cause catastrophic damage along the state’s heavily populated Gulf Coast from Bonita Beach to the Tampa Bay region. Forecasters say the stretch from Naples to Sarasota is at highest risk. At least 2.5 million people were ordered to evacuate. Winds and rain have begun intensifying, a day after Ian battered the western tip of Cuba, leaving the entire island without electricity. At the White House, President Joe Biden said his administration was sending hundreds of Federal Emergency Management Agency employees to Florida and sought to assure mayors in the storm’s path that Washington will meet their needs. South Korea says North Korea has fired two ballistic missiles toward its eastern waters a day before a visit by U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff say the missiles were launched Wednesday from its capital region. Russia is poised to formally annex areas of Ukraine where it has military control after referendums there reportedly endorsed Moscow’s rule. But the ballots were widely discredited and earned the Kremlin no relief from international pressure over its assault on Ukraine. An Iowa man who admitted to taking part in the assault of a police officer as part of his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol was sentenced to seven years in prison Tuesday after the judge called him one of the most serious offenders on that day. Judge Amy Berman Jackson called Kyle Young a “one man wrecking ball" as she sentenced him to prison. In sports, the Yankees clinched another AL East title, the Rays topped the Guardians, the Mariners continued their slide, the Mets lost and are now even with the Braves in the NL East. Denmark says it believes “deliberate actions” by unknown perpetrators were behind big leaks, which seismologists said followed powerful explosions, in two natural gas pipelines running under the Baltic Sea from Russia to Germany. European leaders and experts pointed to possible sabotage amid the energy standoff with Russia provoked by the war in Ukraine. Over 194,000 Russian nationals have entered Kazakhstan, Georgia and Finland in the week since President Vladimir Putin announced a partial mobilization of reservists to fight in Ukraine. Student activists have walked out of class across Virginia to protest Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s proposed changes to the state’s guidance on district policies for transgender students. If adopted by districts after they become final, the new policies would roll back some accommodations for transgender students. A New Orleans social services nonprofit long known as the Kingsley House has ditched the name of a Victorian clergyman found to have held profoundly racist views. It was named in 1896 for both social reformer Charles Kingsley and the founder’s son Kingsley Warner, who died as a toddler. Now the organization is named “Clover." U.S. consumers grew more confident for the second month in a row as gas prices continued to fall. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose to 108 in September, from 103.6 in August. The Biden administration has an ambitious goal for America: ending hunger in the U.S. by 2030. The administration's plan includes expanding monthly benefits that help low-income Americans buy food. It also seeks to promote healthy eating and physical activity so that fewer people are afflicted with diabetes, obesity, hypertension and other diet-related diseases. Biogen has agreed to pay $900 million to resolve allegations that it violated federal law by paying kickbacks to doctors in the form of speakers and consulting fees to persuade them to prescribe its multiple sclerosis drugs. Jury selection is underway in one of the most serious cases to emerge from the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. The founder of the far-right Oath Keepers extremist group and four associates are charged with seditious conspiracy. Stewart Rhodes and the others are the first Jan. 6 defendants charged with the the rare Civil War-era offense to stand trial. King Charles III’s new monogram has been unveiled, as the official period of mourning for his mother Queen Elizabeth II came to a close. The emblem, known as the king’s cypher, will appear on government buildings, state documents and some post boxes in the coming months and years. The cypher unveiled Tuesday features the initial C intertwined with the letter R for Rex, the Latin word for king. The Roman numeral III sits in the center of the R and a crown hovers above the letters. —The Associate Press

Hurricane Ian has made landfall in western Cuba, lashing the island with rain and winds as it barreled north toward the Florida coast. The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Ian hit Cuba early Tuesday as a Category 3 storm as it continued to strengthen, with sustained winds of 125 mph. The hurricane is expected to strike Florida as early as Wednesday, possibly as a Category 4 storm. As Russia's war in Ukraine continues continues, a spokesperson for China's foreign ministry said Tuesday that the U.N. Security Council should help mediate the end of the conflict. Also, a top Russian security official has issued the sternest warning yet that Moscow has the right to use nuclear weapons against Ukraine if under threat, saying that the West won’t dare intervene. A NASA Dart spacecraft has rammed an asteroid in an unprecedented test to see if a potentially menacing space rock could be knocked off course. The galactic grand slam occurred at a harmless asteroid 7 million miles away Monday. A senior member of the Taliban-run government has called on the Taliban to reopen schools for girls in Afghanistan beyond the sixth grade, saying there is no valid reason in Islam for the ban. Experts say the U.S. Supreme Court’s June ruling overturning Roe v. Wade appears to be sending more teens to their doctors in search of birth control, including long-acting reversible forms like intrauterine devices and implants. The U.S. Coast Guard says a ship on routine patrol in the Bering Sea came across a guided missile cruiser from China about 86 miles north of Alaska's Kiska Island. The U.S. patrol ship, known as a cutter, found two other Chinese ships and four Russian naval vessels, including a destroyer. In sports, the NFL has dropped the Pro Bowl, the Cowboys knocked the Giants out from the unbeaten ranks, the Yankees' Judge is still sitting on 60 home runs, and NASCAR great Jimmie Johnson plans to scale back. Japan’s assassinated hawkish former leader, Shinzo Abe, has been honored by a rare and divisive state funeral that was full of militaristic pomp and surrounded by throngs of mourners as well as by widespread protests. Officials say one person was shot and a Chicago police officer was wounded during an incident inside a police facility on the city’s West Side. Shots were fired shortly before noon Monday at the building in Homan Square, police spokesman Tom Ahern told WGN-TV. A Kentucky man who killed three fellow students and wounded five others when he was 14 years old will spend the rest of his life in prison without another opportunity to seek parole. The Kentucky Parole Board voted 7-0 on Monday to deny parole to 39-year-old Michael Carneal, and ordered him to serve out his full life sentence. Authorities say a gunman has killed 15 people and wounded 24 others in a school in central Russia. According to officials, 11 children were among those killed in the Monday morning shooting in School No. 88 in Izhevsk, a city 600 miles east of Moscow in the Udmurtia region. The governor of the region said the gunman killed himself after the attack. President Joe Biden says the Atlanta Braves will be “forever known as the upset kings of October” for their improbable 2021 World Series win. He called their drive an “unstoppable, joyful run.” Biden welcomed the champs for a packed East Room ceremony on Monday. Oath Keepers militia group founder Stewart Rhodes was once a promising Yale Law School graduate. Rhodes was born in California and spent time in Nevada and once secured an Arizona Supreme Court clerkship. But Rhodes' deep distrust of government and thirst for greatness led him down a different path. Rhodes built one of the country’s largest anti-government militia groups with members who'd eventually storm the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The 57-year-old Rhodes and four others tied to the group head to trial this week on charges of seditious conspiracy. Russian President Vladimir Putin has granted Russian citizenship to Edward Snowden, a former contractor with the U.S. National Security Agency. He has been living in Russia since 2013 to escape prosecution in the U.S. after leaking classified documents detailing government surveillance programs. Biden plans to announce a new initiative that would eventually allow consumers to see a more complete price on airline tickets before they buy them. That would include baggage and change fees. The White House says the proposed rule from the Department of Transportation will prevent airlines from hiding the “true cost” of airline tickets, which would help consumers save money up front and encourage more competition among airlines to offer better fares. New York City’s mayor says he plans to erect hangar-sized tents as temporary shelter for thousands of international migrants who have been bused into the Big Apple as part of a campaign by Republican governors to disrupt federal border policies. In this week's religion roundup: Tens of thousands gathered to pray at Jerusalem's Western Wall, monks offered Buddhist prayers for Queeen Elizabeth II and the Unification Church promised reforms. —The Associated Press

Forecasters say Tropical Storm Ian has strengthened into a hurricane as it moves closer to Cuba on a track expected to take it to Florida in the coming days. A hurricane warning was in effect for Grand Cayman and the Cuban provinces of Isla de Juventud, Pinar del Rio and Artemisa. The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Ian should reach the far-western part of Cuba late Monday and it could become a major hurricane late Monday. After seven weary months of war, many Ukrainians fear more suffering and political repression awaits them. Kremlin-orchestrated referendums conducted under gun barrels portend Russia’s imminent annexation of four occupied regions. Apple Inc. has announced it will make its iPhone 14 in India. Manufacturers have been shifting production from China amid geopolitical tensions and pandemic restrictions that have disrupted supply chains for many industries. Amazon says it is holding a second Prime Day-like shopping event in October. The company is the latest major retailer to offer holiday deals earlier this year to entice cautious consumers dealing with tighter budgets. After off-screen drama threatened to consume Olivia Wilde’s “Don’t Worry Darling,” the Warner Bros. release opened No. 1 at the box office. The film debuted with $19.2 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. Last week’s top film, Gina Prince-Bythewood’s African epic “The Woman King,” starring Viola Davis, slid to second place with $11.1 million. California will not expand education to make kindergarten mandatory after Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a law meant to address decreasing attendance during the pandemic. Newsom said it was among many unfunded proposals lawmakers sent to him. In sports, the Ravens won in Foxborough, the Bengals got their first victory, the Eagles remained perfect, the Colts stunned the Chiefs, the Mets mauled the A's, the Guardians clinched a title and the US won the Presidents Cup. Rihanna is set to star in February’s Super Bowl halftime show. The singer, who declined to perform in the 2019 Super Bowl halftime show out of solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, on Sunday posted an image on Instagram of an arm holding up an NFL football. Post Malone went to the hospital again Saturday after experiencing what he described on social media as difficulty breathing and stabbing pain, forcing him to postpone a scheduled show in Boston. He was treated for bruised ribs after falling into a hole on stage at the Enterprise Center in St. Louis last weekend. Oscar winner Louise Fletcher has died at age 88. Fletcher set a new standard for screen villains with the role of Nurse Ratched opposite Jack Nicholson in 1975's “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest." Fletcher won the Academy Award for best actress for the role. While the coronavirus pandemic was not the main focus of the U.N. General Assembly, the conversations were still happening on the sidelines. The U.N. Secretary-General gathered together with the head of the World Health Organization and others to discuss equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments. Elton John transformed the White House South Lawn into a musical lovefest Friday night as he played a farewell gig to honor everyday “heroes” like teachers, nurses and AIDS activists. But as it turns out, the event was also to honor the 75-year-old British songwriter — President Joe Biden surprised him with the National Humanities Medal for being a “tidal wave” who helped people rise up for justice. An Iowa man has been convicted of charges that he led a crowd of rioters in chasing a U.S. Capitol police officer up a staircase and accosting other officers guarding the Senate. A federal jury deliberated for roughly four hours before convicting Douglas Jensen of felony charges that he obstructed Congress from certifying the Electoral College vote on Jan. 6, 2021, and that he assaulted or interfered with police officers during the siege. —The Associated Press

In this bonus episode of Hot off the Wire, we look back at some of the top headlines from the week in the world of sports and entertainment.  The end is near for “The Phantom of the Opera” on Broadway. The Golden Globes television hiatus is over and will return to NBC. “Ted Lasso” is about to return, but not in the way you think. Kanye West – or Ye as he goes by now – apologized too Kim Kardashian and talked about his future. There was upheaval in the sports world, plus an update in a scandal that has raised questions about the role played by Hall of Fame quarterback Brett Favre.  — Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports

It was a week of setbacks for former President Donald Trump. Eric Tucker, in his article “Trump's legal woes mount without protection of presidency” for The Associated Press, wrote: Stark repudiation by federal judges he appointed. Far-reaching fraud allegations by New York’s attorney general. It's been a week of widening legal troubles for Donald Trump, laying bare the challenges piling up as the former president operates without the protections afforded by the White House. The bravado that served him well in the political arena is less handy in a legal realm dominated by verifiable evidence, where judges this week have looked askance at his claims and where a fraud investigation that took root when Trump was still president burst into public view in an allegation-filled 222-page state lawsuit. In politics, “you can say what you want and if people like it, it works. In a legal realm, it’s different,” said Chris Edelson, a presidential powers scholar and American University government professor. “It’s an arena where there are tangible consequences for missteps, misdeeds, false statements in a way that doesn't apply in politics.” You can read the full article through this link. There was also a report that Virginia Thomas has agreed to an interview with the House panel investigating the January 6, 2021, insurrection. Plus, the House passed a bill that would overhaul an election certification law. In other national news, President Joe Biden pledged help for Puerto Rico after the island was slammed by Hurricane Fiona. He also met with the families of Americans being detained in Russia. There were responses to Republican governors sending migrants to states led by Democrats. The subject of the first season of the “Serial” podcast had his conviction overturned. Sarah Sanders, the Republican candidate for governor of Arkansas, was released from a hospital after undergoing successful surgery to treat cancer. The Federal Reserve board continued its bid to hold down inflation by raising interest rates. Mortgage rates continued to rise. The financial stress families are experiencing led Walmart and Target to both reveal plans to start holiday shopping deals sooner to ease the sting of inflation. The funeral for Queen Elizabeth II was held this week. The United Kingdom and the rest of the world said farewell. In a week where the leaders of the world met for the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly, the Russian invasion of Ukraine was front and center. And in other news, an American contractor was released in a prisoner exchange, there were two large earthquakes in Mexico, and protests in Iran. And finally, in science and health news, the latest on the updated COVID booster shot, NASA prepares for a test that could save the planet and a recommendation for adults to be screened for anxiety. — Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports

Hurricane Fiona is pounding Bermuda with heavy rains and winds as it sweeps by the island and is forecast to approach northeastern Canada as a still-powerful storm late Friday. More than 4 million Americans have rolled up their sleeves for the new omicron-specific booster shots. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the count Thursday. The new shots are designed to target the most common omicron strains of the coronavirus. A NASA spacecraft is about to clobber a small, harmless asteroid millions of miles away in the first save-the-world experiment of its kind. The spacecraft named Dart will zero in on the asteroid Monday, intent on slamming it head-on at 14,000 mph. The impact should be just enough to nudge the asteroid into a slightly tighter orbit around its companion space rock. Protesters across Iran have continued to clash violently with security forces following the death of a young woman in police custody, as Iranian state TV suggested the death toll from the unrest could be as high as 26, without offering details. In sports, the Cleveland Browns defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Yankees clinced a playoff spot and the Boston Celtics suspended coach Ime Udoka for the season. The United States has made its case at the U.N. Security Council for why Russia should face further censure and isolation over the Ukraine invasion. It comes the day after Ukraine’s president laid out a forceful case against Russia’s invasion at the United Nations. President Joe Biden says the full force of the federal government is ready to help Puerto Rico recover from the devastation of Hurricane Fiona. Speaking in New York Thursday, he said hundreds of FEMA and other federal officials are already on the ground with more help coming. A former director of Mississippi’s welfare agency pleaded guilty Thursday to federal and state charges in a conspiracy to misspend tens of millions of dollars that were intended to help needy families. The scandal also raised questions about retired NFL quarterback Brett Favre and former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant. Wildlife experts have rescued 32 of 230 whales that were found stranded on the wild and remote west coast of Australia’s island state of Tasmania.  A former professional tennis player-turned-coach from Chile has received a lifetime ban from the sport for a record-high number of match-fixing offenses. Walmart and Target plan to begin offering deals and price matching offers earlier this year to keep up with Americans pressed by soaring inflation and looking for ways to take the sting out of holiday shopping. Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates jumped by more than a quarter-point this week to their highest level since 2008, a result of the Federal Reserve’s intensified effort to tamp down decades-high inflation and cool the economy. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year rate climbed to 6.29% from 6.02% last week. The fictional soccer team from the Emmy-winning “Ted Lasso” are included in the FIFA 23 video game from EA Sports. Kanye West, who now goes by Ye, apologized "for any stress that I have caused" to ex-wife Kim Kardashian. —The Associated Press

A federal appeals court has lifted a judge’s hold on the Justice Department’s ability to use classified records seized from former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate in its ongoing criminal investigation. The ruling Wednesday from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta clears the way for investigators to continue scrutinizing the documents as they evaluate whether to bring criminal charges over the storage of top-secret government records at Mar-a-Lago. An earthquake with a preliminary magnitude of 6.8 has caused buildings to sway in Mexico’s capital and left at least one person dead. The earthquake struck early Thursday, just three days after a 7.6-magnitude earthquake shook western and central Mexico, killing two people. Intensifying its fight against high inflation, the Federal Reserve raised its key interest rate by a substantial three-quarters of a point for a third straight time and signaled more large rate hikes to come — an aggressive pace that will heighten the risk of an eventual recession. Ukraine has completed a high-profile prisoner swap with Russia, the culmination of months of efforts to free many of the Ukrainian fighters who defended a steel plant in the port of Mariupol during a months-long Russian siege. In exchange, Ukraine gave up an ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin it was holding. Britain’s government has confirmed it is lifting a ban on fracking in England, arguing that the move will help boost the country’s energy security following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. New Prime Minister Liz Truss announced within days of taking office earlier September that she will reverse a 2019 ban on hydraulic fracturing, a controversial technique used to extract oil and gas from shale rock. The wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, conservative activist Virginia Thomas, has agreed to participate in a voluntary interview with the House panel investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection. The House has passed legislation to overhaul the rules for certifying the results of a presidential election as lawmakers accelerate their response to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection and Donald Trump’s failed attempt to remain in power. The bill is similar to bipartisan legislation moving through the Senate. In sports, Aaron Judge went homerless but his Yankees hit three homers, the Mets took a beating from the Brewers, the Guardians closed in on the AL Central title and a tennis legend will end his career playing with, not against, his top rival. New York’s attorney general has sued former President Donald Trump and his company, alleging business fraud involving some of their most prized assets, including properties in Manhattan, Chicago and Washington, D.C. Attorney General Letitia James’ lawsuit was filed Wednesday in state court in New York. President Joe Biden has declared that Russia has “shamelessly violated the core tenets” of the United Nations charter with its “brutal, needless war” in Ukraine. Biden on Wednesday delivered a forceful condemnation of Russia’s invasion to the international body, saying abuses against civilians in Ukraine “should make your blood run cold.” Robert Sarver says he has started the process of selling the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury, a move that comes only eight days after he was suspended by the NBA over workplace misconduct including racist speech and hostile behavior toward employees. Pope Francis spoke out against the cruelty suffered by the Ukrainian people in Saint Peter's Square. The Kansas City Royals have fired longtime general manager Dayton Moore, who took the club from a perennial 100-game loser to two World Series and the 2015 championship before its return to mediocrity. Lottery officials say two people who wish to remain anonymous have claimed a $1.337 billion Mega Millions jackpot after a single ticket was sold in a Chicago suburb for a late July drawing, opting to take a lump sum payment of $780.5 million. Firefighters have rescued a 13-year-old blind dog that fell into a hole at a California construction site. KABC-TV reports that the dog, named Cesar, lives next to the site in Pasadena with his owner. Cesar apparently wandered onto the site Tuesday night and fell into the hole, which was about 15 feet deep and 3 feet wide. Roger Federer says he is at peace with his choice to retire from professional tennis and plans to close his career with one doubles match at the Laver Cup perhaps with longtime rival Rafael Nadal by his side. The International Space Station is welcoming three new residents following a smooth Russian launch. The Soyuz capsule rocketed into orbit from Kazakhstan on Wednesday and, just three hours later, pulled up at the space station. Two Russians and one American are checking in for a six-month stay. —The Associated Press

Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a partial mobilization of reservists in Russia. He is risking a deeply unpopular step that follows a string of humiliating setbacks for his troops nearly seven months after invading Ukraine. It’s the first mobilization in Russia since World War II. The Russian leader also warned the West on Wednesday he isn’t bluffing over using all the means at his disposal to protect Russia’s territory, in what appeared to be a veiled reference to Russia’s nuclear capability. President Joe Biden is ready to make the case at the U.N. General Assembly that Russia's “naked aggression” in Ukraine is an affront to the heart of what the international body stands. In his address Wednesday morning, the American president is looking to rally allies to continue to back the Ukrainian resistance. The U.S. Federal Reserve is expected to raise its key short-term rate by a substantial three-quarters of a point for the third consecutive time. Many Fed watchers will be paying particular attention to Chairman Jerome Powell’s remarks at a news conference afterward. Hurricane Fiona strengthened into a Category 4 storm Wednesday after lashing the Turks and Caicos Islands and was forecast to squeeze past Bermuda later this week. The storm was blamed for causing at least four direct deaths in its march through the Caribbean, where it unleashed torrential rain in Puerto Rico, leaving a majority without power. In sports, Aaron Judge blasted his 60th homer, the Atlanta Braves clinched a playoff spot, the New York Mets rallied for a win, and Nathan MacKinnon is now the NHL's highest paid player. The separatist leaders of four Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine say they are planning to hold referendums this week for the territories to become part of Russia as Moscow loses ground in the war it launched. The votes will be held in the Luhansk, Kherson and partly Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk regions. There are reports that more migrants are on the move and will land in President Joe Biden's home state of Delaware. A British official says around a quarter of a million people joined the huge queue to see Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin lying in state in London’s Westminster Hall. The figure was released a day after Britain ended 10 days of national mourning for the late monarch. Jimmy Kimmel is celebrating his 20th anniversary as ABC’s late-night host early, signing a three-year contract extension for “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” His show debuted in January 2003, and the new deal means he will remain with it into the 2025-26 season. After a year spent off air, the Golden Globe Awards are returning to NBC in January, when the embattled Hollywood Foreign Press Association will seek a primetime comeback. The 80th Golden Globes will be held January 10, airing both on NBC and Peacock. Federal authorities have charged 47 people in what they're calling the largest fraud scheme yet to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic by stealing and defrauding the government of $250 million. Lawyers for former President Donald Trump are resisting independent arbiter Raymond Dearie's request for information about whether the seized records had been declassified, as Trump has maintained. In a letter to Dearie on Monday night, the lawyers said that issue could be part of Trump’s defense in the event of an indictment. After bashing the proceedings on his web show, conspiracy theorist Alex Jones has made his first appearance outside a courthouse in Connecticut where a jury will determine how much in damages he should pay for telling his audience the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting was a hoax. Jones showed up and made comments outside, but left a short time later. An influential health guidelines group says U.S. doctors should regularly screen adults for anxiety. It’s the first time the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has recommended anxiety screening in primary care for adults without symptoms. —The Associated Press

A Texas sheriff has opened a criminal investigation into two flights of migrants sent to Martha’s Vineyard by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. But Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar on Monday did not say what laws may have been broken in putting 48 Venezuelans on private planes last week from San Antonio. Hurricane Fiona dumped more rain on Puerto Rico. The deluge came after the storm knocked out power and water to most of the island. The storm is now barreling toward the Turks and Caicos Islands as a Category 3 hurricane. Student loan borrowers who paid down their debt during a pandemic freeze that started in March 2020 can get a refund — and then apply for forgiveness. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is warning that the world is in “great peril." And he says world leaders meeting in-person for the first time in three years at the U.N. General Assembly must tackle conflicts and climate catastrophes, increasing poverty and inequality, and divisions among major powers that have gotten worse since Russia invaded Ukraine. A Baltimore judge has ordered the release of Adnan Syed after overturning Syed’s conviction for a 1999 murder that was chronicled in the hit podcast “Serial.” Circuit Court Judge Melissa Phinn on Monday ordered that Syed’s conviction be vacated and she approved the release of the now-41-year-old who has spent more than two decades behind bars. On Sept. 20, 1973, Billie Jean King beat Bobby Riggs in straight sets to win the Battle of the Sexes and the $100,000 winner-take-all purse at Houston’s Astrodome. In sports, the Eagles and the Bills dominated Monday night football and the Mets clinched a playoff berth. Britain and the world said farewell to Queen Elizabeth II with pomp and pageantry. Crowds massed in the streets of London and at Windsor Castle to honor a monarch whose 70-year reign defined an era. The first state funeral since Winston Churchill’s drew world leaders and other royalty. Before the service, a bell tolled 96 times for each year of Elizabeth’s life. Royal Navy sailors pulled a gun carriage carrying her flag-draped coffin to Westminster Abbey before pallbearers bore it inside. Atop the coffin sat a handwritten note from King Charles III. After a committal service at a chapel in Windsor Castle, the coffin was lowered into the royal vault. In movie theatres and pubs, on giant screens and smartphones, people watched and pundits droned on as the funeral in London flooded the airwaves live across time zones and continents. An American contractor held hostage in Afghanistan for more than two years by the Taliban has been released. The White House and family members of Mark Frerichs said Monday his release came in an exchange for a convicted Taliban drug lord jailed in the United States. A Northern California woman has been sentenced to 18 months in prison for faking her own kidnapping so she could go back to a former boyfriend, which led to an three-week, multi-state search. Forty-year-old Sherri Papini pleaded guilty last spring under a plea bargain. The number of people killed on U.S. roadways fell slightly from April through June. But the government says traffic fatalities are still at a crisis level. Estimates from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration show that 20,175 people died in crashes from January through June, an increase of 0.5% over the same period last year. The United Arab Emirates will launch its first lunar rover in November. The rover would be launched from the Kennedy Space Center aboard a Falcon 9 SpaceX rocket and deposited on the moon by a Japanese ispace lander sometime in March. A Russian missile has blasted a crater close to a nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine, damaging nearby industrial equipment but not hitting its three reactors. Ukrainian authorities denounced Monday's attack as an act of “nuclear terrorism." In this week's religion roundup, pastors offer a mixed response to Republican transports of migrants to Democratic-run jurisdictions, while a faith-led group seeks missing migrants in the US-Mexico desert. And Pope Francis calls for peace in Ukraine. —The Associated Press

Britain and the world are saying a final goodbye to Queen Elizabeth II at a state funeral that drew presidents and kings, princes and prime ministers. Crowds massed along the streets of London to honor a monarch whose 70-year reign defined an age. In a country known for pomp and pageantry, the first state funeral since Winston Churchill’s was filled with spectacle. Royal Navy sailors drew the gun carriage carrying Elizabeth’s coffin to Westminster Abbey. King Charles III and his sons Princes William and Harry walked behind as pipers played. Pall bearers then carried the coffin into the Abbey. Around 2,000 people ranging from world leaders to health care workers gathered to mourn her. After the funeral, the queen's coffin left the abbey to start a procession through central London. Hurricane Fiona is bearing down on the Dominican Republic after knocking out the power grid and unleashing floods and landslides in Puerto Rico, where the governor said the damage was “catastrophic.” No deaths have been reported, but authorities in the U.S. territory said it was too early to estimate the damage from a storm that was still forecast to unleash torrential rain across Puerto Rico on Monday. World leaders are gathering at the United Nations this week under the shadow of Europe’s first major conflict since World War II. It is taking place as many countries across the globe are also confronting inequality, an escalating climate crisis, the threat of multiple famines and increasing misinformation and hate speech. The Viola Davis-led action epic “The Woman King” easily conquered the North American box office in its first weekend in theaters, against a crowded market of new releases. It surpassed expectations and earned $19 million in ticket sales, according to estimates from Sony on Sunday. The horror movie “Barbarian,” a 20th Century Studios release, took second place in its second weekend with $6.3 million. In sports, a roundup of action in the NFL, the Yankees' Aaron Judge hit his 58th and 59th home runs and the Mets completed a four-game sweep. “The Phantom of the Opera” — Broadway’s longest-running show — is scheduled to close in February 2023, a victim of post-pandemic softening in theater attendance in New York. A spokesperson says the closing will come less than a month after its 35th anniversary. Former White House press secretary and Arkansas GOP gubernatorial candidate Sarah Sanders has been released from a hospital following surgery for thyroid cancer. President Joe Biden met with family members of WNBA star Brittney Griner and another American detained in Russia, Paul Whelan. The meetings Friday at the White House were the first face-to-face encounter between the president and the relatives of Griner and Whelan. Immigration lawyers are threatening legal action as they claim Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott are breaking the law by sending migrants out of their states. The Justice Department has asked a federal appeals court to lift a judge’s order that temporarily barred it from reviewing a batch of classified documents seized during an FBI search of former President Donald Trump’s Florida home last month.  —The Associated Press

In this bonus episode of Hot off the Wire, we look back at some of the top headlines from the week in the world of sports and entertainment.  "Ted Lasso" and "Succession" won top prizes at this year’s Emmy Awards. Men’s and women’s champions were crowned at this year’s U.S. Open. Meanwhile, former Open champion Roger Federer announced his retirement. R. Kelly was convicted in his federal trial. New details were revealed in a Mississippi case involving former Packers great Brett Favre. A rapper was killed in Los Angeles. In other news, a jazz legend and an iconic French director died. Longtime St. Louis Cardinals teammates made history. The owner of the Phoenix Suns and Mercury was fined and suspended. — Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports

The state of the economy has been a major concern this past year and was nearly derailed further by a labor dispute. Early Thursday, rail companies and their workers reached a tentative agreement to avert a strike that could have shut down the nation’s freight trains, further adding to supply chain problems that have persisted since the start of the pandemic. Mortgage rates hit another high this week, topping 6% for the first time since the housing crash in 2008. A year ago the rate was below 3%. Small businesses are feeling the crunch as consumers pull back on spending, and income inequality has been on the rise. Meanwhile, President Joe Biden unveiled a plan to modernize airports during a stop in Boston and touted a commitment to electric vehicles at the auto show in Detroit. The midterm elections are right around the corner, so we’ll take a look at how President Biden has altered messaging as well as his approval rating, potential abortion legislation, shifting politics in Georgia and the latest news on former President Donald Trump. This past Sunday was the 21st anniversary of the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. We listen to details on memorials from the day as well as the status of the mastermind behind the attacks. In other national news, there have been many societal changes since the start of the pandemic. Two suspicious packages, including one that exploded, were found in Boston. A onetime aid to Andrew Cuomo is suing the former New York governor. A deal ended a teacher’s strike in Seattle. Ken Starr, who investigated former President Bill Clinton, died. It was the 60th anniversary of President Kennedy’s moonshot speech. And there was an unwanted patron at a North Dakota bar. Details have been released for Monday’s funeral services for Queen Elizabeth II as the United Kingdom mourns its longtime monarch.  In other international news, Ukraine has made progress in pushing back its Russian invaders. We listen to details, as well get an update on the state of a nuclear plant and Russia’s attempts to influence foreign politics. Plus, Iranian citizens have been charged in a hacking campaign and the state of COVID in the Philippines.   And finally, in health and technology news, a look at the perception of healthcare in the U.S. and concerns over misinformation on TikTok. — Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports

A federal judge has appointed a veteran New York jurist to serve as an independent arbiter in the criminal investigation into the presence of classified documents at Donald Trump’s Florida home. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon has also refused to permit the Justice Department to resume its use of the highly sensitive records seized in an FBI search last month. Cannon on Thursday empowered the newly named special master, Raymond Dearie, to review all the documents taken in the Aug. 8 search of Mar-a-Lago and set a November deadline for his work. Republican governors are escalating their practice of sending migrants without advance warning to Democratic strongholds, including a wealthy summer enclave in Massachusetts and the Washington, D.C., home of Vice President Kamala Harris. The White House is calling the practice a “cruel, premeditated political stunt.” Ukrainian authorities are expected to begin recovering bodies from a mass burial site in a forest recaptured from Russian forces. It's a delicate task that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said would help show the world “what the Russian occupation has led to.” It was discovered close to Izium after a rapid counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces retook the northeastern city and much of the Kharkiv region. People are being told not to join the line to view Queen Elizabeth II’s coffin after a surge in numbers. British officials said Friday morning that the organized line was at capacity and no one will be allowed to join it for at least six hours. Medical centers around the country say fires, flooding, heat waves and other extreme weather are increasingly jeopardizing medical services, damaging health care facilities and forcing patients to flee their hospital beds. That's according to findings released Thursday in a report from the House Ways and Means Committee. In a memoir Anne Heche worked on last year, the actor shared candid thoughts on her 3-year relationship with Ellen DeGeneres in the late 1990s, when they were among Hollywood’s first openly gay couples. Democrats are punting a vote to protect same-sex and interracial marriages until after the November midterm elections, pulling back just days after Majority Leader Chuck Schumer vowed to put the Senate on the record on the issue “in the coming weeks.” In sports, the Chiefs were three points better than the Chargers, the Twins and White Sox inched closer to the Guardians, the Rays made MLB history, the Mets ended their skid, a tennis great retired and the WNBA Finals will stretch into the weekend. Rail companies and their workers reached a tentative agreement to avert a nationwide strike that could have shut down the nation’s freight trains and devastated the economy less than two months before the midterm elections. President Joe Biden announced the deal Thursday. Biden plans to meet at the White House on Friday with the families of WNBA star Brittney Griner and Michigan corporate security executive Paul Whelan, both of whom remain jailed in Russia. The meetings are to be the first in-person encounter between Biden and the families and come amid sustained but so far unsuccessful efforts by the administration to secure the two Americans' release. A boil-water notice has been lifted in Mississippi’s capital city after nearly seven weeks. Gov. Tate Reeves and Jackson officials made the announcement Thursday. A Virginia man who stormed the U.S. Capitol while wearing an antisemitic “Camp Auschwitz” sweatshirt over a Nazi-themed shirt has been sentenced to 75 days of imprisonment. Photographs of Robert Keith Packer wearing the sweatshirt went viral after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Thousands of mourners are waiting for up to nine hours in line to file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II as she lies in state at Westminster Hall. The queue to pay respects to the late monarch stretched for 4.4 miles past Tower Bridge on Thursday. Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping for his “balanced” approach to the Ukrainian crisis and blasted Washington’s “ugly” policies at a meeting that followed a major setback for Moscow in the war. Roger Federer has announced that he is retiring from professional tennis at the age of 41 after winning 20 Grand Slam titles. Federer has not competed since Wimbledon in July 2021. Two minutes of silence will be observed Monday across the United Kingdom at the end of Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral at Westminster Abbey. That's to give the British public a chance to pay their respects to the late monarch. Buckingham Palace released details Thursday of the state funeral and a ceremony at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor ahead of her private interment later Monday. Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates climbed over 6% this week for the first time since the housing crash of 2008, threatening to sideline even more homebuyers from a rapidly cooling housing market. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year rate rose to 6.02% from 5.89% last week. President Joe Biden’s popularity has improved substantially from his lowest point this summer, but concerns about his handling of the economy persist. That's according to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. Support for Biden recovered from a low of 36% in July to 45%, driven in large part by a rebound in support from Democrats just two months before the November midterm elections. Newly revealed text messages show how deeply a Mississippi governor was involved in the state paying more than $1 million in welfare money to Brett Favre to help pay for one of the retired NFL quarterback’s pet projects. Instead of the money going to help low-income families in one of the nation’s poorest states, as intended, it was funneled through a nonprofit group to Favre and was spent on a new volleyball facility at a university both men attended. —The Associated Press

President Joe Biden says a deal has been reached to avert a looming freight-rail strike that could have disrupted numerous commuter rail services across the country. A strike would also intensify snarls in the nation’s supply chain that have contributed to rising prices. Thousands of mourners have lined up through the night to file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in Parliament’s Westminster Hall. The queue to see the queen lying in state stretched for nearly four miles past Tower Bridge. The queen's coffin will lie in state at Westminster Hall until the morning of her funeral on Monday. During the first two years of the pandemic, the number of people working from home tripled, home values grew and the percentage of people who spend more than a third of their income on rent went up. That's according to survey results released Thursday which provide the most detailed data on how life changed in the U.S. under COVID-19. A onetime aide to former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has sued him, saying he tried to groom her for a sexual relationship at the start of the pandemic and then later smeared her reputation publicly. The lawsuit filed in Manhattan federal court Wednesday by Charlotte Bennett also named three former aides of Cuomo as defendants. A federal jury in Chicago convicted R. Kelly on Wednesday of producing child pornography and enticing girls for sex after a monthlong trial in his hometown. It's another legal blow to a singer who was once one of the world’s biggest R&B stars. In sports, the two top NL East contenders lost, the Padres and Brewers fell, and a pair of Cardinals made history. President Joe Biden spent a good portion of his day Wednesday showcasing his administration’s efforts to promote electric vehicles at the Detroit auto show. Biden is a self-proclaimed “car guy” who owns a 1967 Corvette Stingray. He announced approval of the first $900 million in infrastructure money to build EV chargers across 53,000 miles of the national highway system and 35 states. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has made a rare foray outside Ukraine's capital and highlighted Moscow’s embarrassing retreat from a Ukrainian counteroffensive. Hand on heart, Zelenskyy watched his country’s flag rise above the recaptured city of Izium on Wednesday. Russian forces left the city last week as Kyiv’s soldiers advanced in the northeastern Kharkiv region. Attorneys for Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz have suddenly and surprisingly rested their case, leading to a shouting match after the judge accused them of a lack of professionalism. Cruz has pleaded guilty of murdering 17 at Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018. The trial is to decide whether he is sentenced to death or life without parole. Voting is open on which toys should go into the National Toy Hall of Fame this year. The class of 2022 finalists were announced Wednesday. They are: bingo, Breyer Horses, Catan, Lite-Brite, Nerf Toys, Masters of the Universe, piñata, Phase 10, Pound Puppies, Rack-O, Spirograph, and the top. MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell says federal agents have seized his cellphone. He says they also questioned him Tuesday about a Colorado clerk who has been charged in what prosecutors say was a “deceptive scheme” to breach voting system technology used across the country. The Justice Department says three Iranian citizens have been charged in the United States with ransomware attacks that targeted power companies, local governments and small businesses and nonprofits, including a Pennsylvania domestic violence shelter. A U.S. firm that monitors false online claims reports that searches for information about prominent news topics on TikTok are likely to turn up results riddled with misinformation. The NewsGuard firm says its researchers ran searches on news topics including COVID-19, Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the 2020 U.S. election and found that nearly 1 in 5 of the videos recommended by the site contained misinformation. Inflation at the wholesale level jumped 8.7% in August from a year earlier, a slowdown from July yet still a painfully high level that suggests prices will keep spiking for months to come. —The Associated Press

Thousands of people in London will watch Queen Elizabeth II's coffin that will be taken from Buckingham Palace by horse-drawn gun carriage to the Houses of Parliament to lie in state for four days before Monday’s funeral at Westminster Abbey. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has visited an area of northeastern Ukraine that was recently retaken from Russian forces, witnessing largescale devastation as prosecutors claimed that local residents had been tortured and killed during the half-year occupation. A package has exploded on the campus of Northeastern University in Boston, and the college says a staff member suffered minor injuries. Authorities say another suspicious package was found near a prominent art museum Tuesday evening, and the FBI was assisting with the investigation. School will begin Wednesday in Seattle following a weeklong teachers strike that delayed the start of classes. Residents of a city in China’s far western Xinjiang region say they are experiencing hunger, forced quarantines and dwindling supplies of medicine and daily necessities after more than 40 days in a virus lockdown. A woman walked into a North Dakota bar carrying a raccoon, leading health officials to warn those who had contact with the animal about possible rabies exposure. Bartender Cindy Smith said she was serving drinks at the Maddock Bar last week when a local resident brought in the animal during happy hour. Ken Starr, a former federal appellate judge and a prominent attorney whose criminal investigation of Bill Clinton led to the president’s impeachment, died Tuesday at age 76, his family says. A former colleague, attorney Mark Lanier, says Starr died at a hospital of complications from surgery. In sports, the Yankees needed 10 innings to beat the Red Sox, the Brewers and Cubs came out on top, the Las Vegas Aces won Game 2 of the WNBA Finals and NBA Phoenix owner Robert Sarver was fined and suspended. The stock market fell the most since June 2020 following Wall Street’s humbling realization that inflation is not slowing as much as hoped. The Dow lost more than 1,250 points and the S&P 500 sank 4.3%. A hotter-than-expected report on inflation Tuesday has traders bracing for the Federal Reserve to ultimately raise interest rates even higher than expected, with all the risks for the economy that entails. Freight railroads and their unions are facing increasing pressure from business groups and the White House to settle their contract dispute. They face a looming strike deadline on Friday. Ukrainian troops are piling pressure on retreating Russian forces, pressing a counteroffensive that has produced major gains and a stunning blow to Moscow’s military prestige. Upending the midterm elections, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham has introduced a nationwide abortion ban. The bill would prohibit abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, except in cases of rape, incest or danger to the physical health of the mother. Income inequality in the U.S. increased last year for the first time in more than a decade. But childhood poverty was cut almost in half due to expansion of the federal government’s child tax credit and stimulus payments made in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has filed an ethics complaint against state Attorney General Letitia James, reiterating his oft-repeated concerns about a sexual harassment investigation that led to his resignation last year. A congressional oversight committee has requested an assessment from the National Archives on whether presidential records removed by former President Donald Trump remain unaccounted for and potentially in his possession. The State Department says Russia has covertly spent more than $300 million since 2014 to try to influence politicians and other officials in more than two dozen countries. Highly influential French film director Jean-Luc Godard has died at age 91. His family said in a statement that Godard died peacefully and surrounded by his loved ones on Tuesday at his home in the Swiss town of Rolle, on Lake Geneva. Philadelphia rapper PnB Rock was fatally shot during a robbery in South Los Angeles. PnB Rock is best known for his 2016 hit “Selfish.” He released his latest song, “Luv Me Again,” on Sept. 2. —The Associated Press

Seattle Public Schools said late Monday it had reached a tentative agreement with the union for teachers who went on strike last week over issues like pay and classroom support. Earlier Monday the district had cancelled classes Tuesday, the fifth school day that students have missed since the strike began began Sept. 7. That was supposed to be the first day for approximately 49,000 students in the district. The public in Scotland was given a chance to mourn Queen Elizabeth II. The queen’s coffin, accompanied by King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, traveled to Edinburgh’s St. Giles’ Cathedral where it will stay for 24 hours so the public can pay their respects. Ukrainian troops piled pressure on retreating Russian forces on Tuesday, pressing a counteroffensive that has produced major gains and a stunning blow to Moscow's military prestige. A former security chief at Twitter will testify Tuesday before Congress the social platform misled regulators about its cyber defenses and efforts to control millions of fake accounts.  The Emmy Awards have spread honors around repeat winners – Zendaya, Jason Sudeikis and Jean Smart – and some first timers, like Sheryl Lee Ralph and Quinta Brunson of “Abbott Elementary.” Zendaya and Sudeikis won their second acting Emmys Monday, while Smart won back-to-back trophies for “Hacks.” So did Sudeikis' comedy “Ted Lasso,” which claimed the top comedy prize and “Succession,” which took home the top drama honor. In sports, Seattle spoiled Russell Wilson's return as a Bronco, Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott will miss time, the Dodgers grabbed a playoff spot and the Angels' Mike Trout homered again. Renowned jazz pianist Ramsey Lewis has died. He was 87. His son, Bobby Lewis, says Ramsey Lewis died Monday at his Chicago home. Lewis’ music entertained fans over a more than 60-year career. He’s revered in jazz circles for such 1960s hits as “The ‘In’ Crowd,” “Hang on Sloopy” and “Wade in the Water.” He earned three Grammy awards and seven gold records. The Chicago native began composing large-scale musical works later in his career. He spent his early days using his gospel and classical roots to create his own jazz style in neighborhood venues that hired young jazz musicians. NASA celebrated anniversary of former President John F. Kennedy's moonshot speech. Donald Trump’s lawyers dismissed as a “storage dispute” the former president's retention of top-secret documents at his Florida home, urging a judge Monday to keep in place a directive that temporarily halted key aspects of the Justice Department’s criminal probe. The Trump team also said it opposed the candidates the Justice Department proposed for an independent arbiter who is to be tasked with reviewing the documents seized during the FBI's Aug. 8 search of Mar-a-Lago. An Indiana judge won’t hear arguments until next week on a lawsuit seeking to block the state’s abortion ban, leaving that new law set to take effect on Thursday. Attorneys for Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz began building their case Monday that his birth mother's alcohol abuse left him with severe behavioral problems that eventually led to his 2018 murder of 17 people at Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. Cruz, 23, pleaded guilty in October. His trial is only to decide whether he is sentenced to death or life without parole. President Joe Biden has stopped talking so much about inflation worries. It's a self-edit ahead of the midterm elections in November, prompted in part by the easing of inflationary pressures. But Biden is also attempting to shift the spotlight to his legislative wins, the loss of abortion protections and the threats he says are posed to democracy by the many Republican leaders still under the sway of former President Donald Trump. Inflation isn’t only costing small businesses money. It’s costing them customers as well. For much of the pandemic, small business customers were largely tolerant of price increases and kept on spending. But now owners say they’re seeing some pushback. R. Kelly is a sexual predator who parlayed his fame to abuse minors, a prosecutor said Monday during closing arguments at the R&B star's child pornography and trial-fixing trial in Chicago, Kelly’s hometown. In this week's religion roundup, former national security adviser Michael Flynn sees a new career as a political holy warrior and Netflix is feeling the heat from Arab Muslim countries about its programming. —The Associated Press

King Charles and his wife Camilla, the Queen Consort, will take part in a procession bearing his late mother’s coffin to St Giles’ Cathedral in Scotland. Charles addressed lawmakers in Britain’s Parliament, telling them: “I cannot but help feel the weight of history which surrounds us.” President Joe Biden has formally accepted an invitation to attend the state funeral service for Queen Elizabeth II. Ukraine has kept the counteroffensive momentum in its war against Russia going. It says it liberated one village after another amid a claim that in one region it had pushed the invaders back right up to the borders they came from. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. is extending a state of calamity declared by his predecessor more than two years ago to deal with continuing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic. The shutdown of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant cuts the risk of a radiation disaster that has haunted the world. The last of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia plant’s six nuclear reactors was shut down Sunday because Russia’s war in Ukraine had repeatedly cut reliable external power supplies. Americans remembered 9/11 with tear-choked tributes and pleas to “never forget,” 21 years after the deadliest terror attack on U.S. soil. Victims’ relatives and dignitaries gathered Sunday at all three places where hijacked jets crashed on Sept. 11, 2001 — the World Trade Center in New York, the Pentagon and a Pennsylvania field. President Joe Biden told the Pentagon gathering that the U.S. would continue working to root out terrorists. Nearly two decades after his capture in Pakistan, the self-described mastermind of the Sept. 11 terror attacks is still in a legal limbo. Khalid Shaikh Mohammed and four other men accused of 9/11-related crimes continue to sit in a U.S. detention center in Guantanamo Bay. A majority of adults in the U.S. say health care is not handled well in the country. That's according to a new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll reveals public satisfaction with the U.S. health care system is remarkably low, with fewer than half of Americans saying it's handled well in general. In Sunday's sports highlights, a teen won at the U.S. Open, while the Steelers and Saints pulled out week one wins late, and Albert Pujols moved closer to 700 home runs. The horror film “Barbarian” won the weekend as the late-summer doldrums at the box office continued. Sunday studio estimates say the debut film from director Zach Cregger brought in $10 million in North America to earn the No. 1 spot for Disney subsidiary 20th Century Studios. Coming in a distant second with $4.4 million was “Brahmāstra: Part One: Shiva,” an Indian, Hindi-language fantasy epic from Star Studios, another subsidiary of Disney. Older Hollywood fare, “Bullet Train” and “Top Gun: Maverick,” occupied the three and four spots. Planned Parenthood leaders from across the country met in California to discuss how to defend abortion rights. Their goal is to create a blueprint for protecting abortion rights now that the U.S. Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade. Georgia’s Republican Party once relied on votes in Atlanta’s close-in suburbs, but today the GOP increasingly relies on the mountains of north Georgia for its votes. An analysis by The Associated Press shows a 41-county region of north Georgia now has as many GOP voters as the core of metro Atlanta. Major League Baseball is ready to voluntarily accept the formation of a minor league union, a key step that will lead to collective bargaining and possibly a strike threat at the start of next season. The Major League Baseball Players Association launched the unionization drive on Aug. 28 and told MLB on Tuesday it had obtained signed authorization cards from the approximately 5,000 to 6,500 players with minor league contracts. —The Associated Press

In this bonus episode of Hot off the Wire, we look back at some of the top headlines from the week in the world of sports and entertainment.  A new NFL season is underway, but it didn’t start as planned for the defending Super Bowl champions. There was a boost at the box office Labor Day weekend thanks to a promotion. Lainey Wilson leads the nominations for the CMA Awards. The Weeknd had to abruptly cancel a show due to vocal problems. Dodgers closer Craig Kimbrel is leaving hitters ‘Frozen’ with his entrance music. Legendary Beatles drummer Ringo Starr is back on the road. Sherri Shepherd is ready to launch her daytime talk show. Jane Fonda reveals she has cancer. Former CNN anchor Bernard Shaw has died. And singer Ricky Martin is suing a nephew over sexual abuse claims. — Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports

The death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday was perhaps the biggest story of the week. The longest-reigning monarch in Britain’s history died at age 96, just days after Liz Truss became the 15th Prime Minister during her reign. Winston Churchill was the first. For more on her death and reactions, please listen to a special bonus episode of Hot off the Wire, which you can listen to through this link. The focus of this week’s show will instead be political news out of the United States. President Joe Biden spent Labor Day making an appeal to swing state voters while railing against MAGA Republicans. Former President Donald Trump was handed a victory when a judge ruled in his favor and appointed a special master in the investigation over documents recovered from his Florida home. The Justice Department said it would appeal the ruling. In other news, a political action committee tied to Trump is reportedly part of a federal grand jury investigation.   Longtime Trump ally Steve Bannon pleaded not guilty to charges in a case over fundraising for a border wall. Another Trump ally, Michael Flynn, has been building a following and a national movement. Oath Keepers membership documents were leaked, revealing connections to politicians and law enforcement officials. And the Obamas were back at the White House. In last week’s episode, we focused on the return to school. However, school was not in session this week in Seattle due to a teacher’s strike. Students in Uvalde, Texas, and Jackson, Mississippi, did return to classes for the first time this school year. Also, survivors of the 2012 school shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School have advice for Uvalde’s survivors. California is dealing with extreme heat and wildfires. In other national news, the body of Eliza Fletcher was found and a deadline shooting spree was livestreamed in Memphis, Tennessee. A man threatened to crash a plane into a Walmart. The Coast Guard ended a search following a plane crash. And a judge approved a reorganization plan for the Boy Scouts. Chair of the Federal Reserve Jerome Powell doesn’t believe higher interest rates will lead to a deep recession. That reassurance came as mortgage rates hit highs not seen in more than a decade. Consumers are cutting back, but not on everything. That includes beauty items. The prices of electric vehicles are starting to come down. A return to the moon will have to wait due to a fuel leak. President Biden will channel a predecessor with a moonshot goal to end cancer. Updated coronavirus boosters are available, but should you get one? And in other COVID news, New York has ended a mask requirement on public transportation. And finally, in international news, the United Kingdom has a new prime minister and a funeral was held for the last leader of the Soviet Union. — Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports

Bells have tolled around Britain and mourners are flocking to palace gates to honor Queen Elizabeth II. The country prepared Friday for a new age under a new king. King Charles III spent much of his 73 years preparing for the role. He planned to meet with the prime minister and address a nation grieving the only British monarch most of the world had known. He takes the throne in an era of uncertainty for both his country and the monarchy itself. As the country began a 10-day mourning period, people around the globe gathered at British embassies to pay homage to the queen. She died Thursday. Ukraine’s state nuclear energy operator says Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, caught in the Ukraine-Russia war, is operating in emergency mode with elevated risk. The last power line connecting the plant to the Ukrainian electricity grid was cut on Monday, leaving the plant without an outside source of electricity and receiving power for its own safety systems from the only one of the six reactors that remains operational. President Joe Biden wants to put the spotlight on a rare bipartisan down payment on U.S. manufacturing. He visits Ohio on Friday for the groundbreaking of a new Intel computer chip facility.  Firefighters are struggling to control raging California wildfires that have grown explosively during extreme heat and forced thousands of residents to flee mountain communities at both ends of the state. Meanwhile Tropical Storm Kay could reach northern Baja on Friday, when it's expected to bring strong winds, heavy rain and flash floods to Southern California. The Justice Department is preparing to appeal a judge’s decision to name an independent arbiter to review records seized by the FBI from former President Donald Trump’s Florida home. Law enforcement officials said in a filing Thursday that they would suffer “irreparable harm” if the directive remained in place. A federal grand jury is reportedly seeking information about Donald Trump’s Save America leadership PAC as investigations into the former president continue to expand. ABC News first reported Thursday that subpoenas issued in recent weeks have asked recipients about the political action committee’s formation, its fundraising activities and its spending. Former President Donald Trump’s longtime ally Steve Bannon has pleaded not guilty to New York state charges of duping donors who gave money to build a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border. An earlier federal prosecution on similar charges ended before trial when Trump pardoned Bannon. A Delaware bankruptcy judge has approved a $2.46 billion reorganization plan proposed by the Boy Scouts of America. The plan approved Thursday would allow the organization to continue operating while compensating tens of thousands of men who say they were sexually abused as children while involved in Scouting. In sports, the start of the NFL season, baseball's longest-running battery is matched, two American League division races tighten, the U.S. Open's women's final matchup is set as is the WNBA Finals. —The Associated Press

Buckingham Palace says Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, has died. She was 96. Elizabeth spent more than seven decades on the throne as the U.K. rebuilt from war, lost an empire, transformed its economy and both entered and left the European Union. She was a constant presence, the only monarch most Britons have ever known, and she guided the institution of the monarchy through choppy waters. She likely met more people than anyone in history, and her image, which adorned stamps, coins and bank notes, was among the most reproduced in the world. But her inner life and opinions remained largely an enigma. The impact of her loss will be huge, and unpredictable. —The Associated Press

Buckingham Palace says Queen Elizabeth II, Britain’s longest-reigning monarch, has died. She was 96. Elizabeth spent more than seven decades on the throne as the U.K. rebuilt from war, lost an empire, transformed its economy and both entered and left the European Union. She was a constant presence, the only monarch most Britons have ever known, and she guided the institution of the monarchy through choppy waters. She likely met more people than anyone in history, and her image, which adorned stamps, coins and bank notes, was among the most reproduced in the world. Her 73-year-old son Prince Charles automatically became king and will be known as King Charles III, his office announced. Charles' second wife, Camilla, will be known as the Queen Consort. In a statement, Charles called his mother's death “a moment of the greatest sadness for me and all members of my family,” adding: “I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the Realms and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.” British Prime Minister Liz Truss, appointed by the queen just 48 hours earlier, pronounced the country “devastated” and called Elizabeth “the rock on which modern Britain was built.” The last time the Federal Reserve faced inflation as high as it is now, in the early 1980s, it jacked up interest rates to double-digit levels — and in the process caused a deep recession and sharply higher unemployment. On Thursday, Chair Jerome Powell suggested that this time, the Fed won’t have to go nearly as far. A special prosecutor in Michigan has been appointed to investigate whether the Republican candidate for attorney general and others should be criminally charged for their attempts to gain access to voting machines after the 2020 election. A French police officer is in custody after shooting to death a driver who failed to obey an order to stop. This is the latest in a string of similar incidents that are raising questions about the use of deadly force by French police. Bernard Shaw, CNN’s chief anchor for two decades and a pioneering Black broadcast journalist best remembered for calmly reporting the beginning of the Gulf War in 1991 as missiles flew around him in Baghdad, has died. He was 82. Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates jumped again this week to their highest level in almost 14 years, certain to keep even more potential buyers out of a housing market that’s cooled considerably since the Federal Reserve began jacking up its benchmark borrowing rate. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year rate jumped to 5.89%. Auto companies are rolling out more affordable electric vehicles that should widen their appeal to a larger group of buyers. That's despite rising battery costs. The latest EV came Thursday from General Motors, a Chevrolet Equinox small SUV. It has a starting price around $30,000 and a range-per-charge of 250 miles. Puerto Rican superstar Ricky Martin has filed a lawsuit against his nephew accusing him of extortion, malicious persecution, abuse of law and damages stemming from false allegations that attorneys say cost the singer and actor millions of dollars in lost income. Los Angeles Dodgers closer Craig Kimbrel is taking the mound to the song “Let It Go,” known to millions as the big hit from the movie “Frozen.” The 2013 Kimbrel's wife, Ashley, suggested the tune and it seems to be working. Kimbrel hasn't given up a hit in his last six games since the song began blaring from Dodger Stadium's speakers. —The Associated Press

Police in Memphis, Tennessee, have arrested a man they say drove around the city for hours shooting at people. Four victims are dead and three others wounded after seven shootings and at least two carjackings. Police say 19-year-old Ezekiel Kelly was arrested without incident at around 9 p.m. Wednesday after crashing a stolen car. Police Director Cerelyn “CJ” Davis said Kelly livestreamed his actions on Facebook Wednesday. The last suspect in a horrific stabbing rampage that killed 10 and wounded 18 in western Canada is dead following his capture. One official says 32-year-oldid Myles Sanderson died from self-inflicted injuries after police forced the stolen car he was driving off a highway in Saskatchewan. Sanderson’s 30-year-old brother, Damien, was the other suspect and he was found dead Monday. A new report says Ukrainian forces have retaken portions of Russian-held territory in the northeastern Kharkiv region. Sherri Shepherd, who spent seven years on The View and filled in for Wendy Williams on occasion, launches her new Fox talk show on Monday. The daytime program will focus on pop culture, celebrities and the stories of real people. A skeleton from 31,000 years ago may be the earliest evidence found of an amputation surgery in humans. According to a study published Wednesday in Nature, the remains show a child from Indonesia who had part of their left leg cut off on purpose. A judge has struck down Michigan’s 1931 anti-abortion law, months after suspending it last spring. Judge Elizabeth Gleicher of the Court of Claims said the law violates the Michigan Constitution. It was long dormant before the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June. Former President Barack Obama and former first lady Michelle Obama have unveiled their official White House portraits. President Joe Biden on Wednesday hosted a ceremony at the White House where America’s first Black president and first lady revealed portraits with a modern vibe. Operators of California’s electricity grid say a miscommunication led to a small number of power shutoffs as the power system was under great strain.  New York state is dropping its mask requirement on public transportation thanks in part to the availability of new booster shots targeting the most common strain of COVID-19. Civil rights groups have filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of three transgender Oklahoma schoolchildren against the state's new anti-transgender school bathroom bill. Seattle Public Schools canceled Wednesday’s first day of school after teachers voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike over issues that include pay, mental health support, and staffing ratios for special education and multilingual students. Buckingham Palace says Queen Elizabeth II has postponed a meeting of senior governmental advisers known as the Privy Council after doctors advised her to rest. President Joe Biden will highlight his plans for drastically reducing cancer deaths and boosting treatments for the disease in what he has calls “this generation’s moonshot." Biden’s speech at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Boston on Monday will come on the 60th anniversary of his predecessor’s speech outlining his vision for putting the first man on the moon. The retired Army general and former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn has been focusing on the future. In the past Flynn was part of the effort to overthrow the 2020 election. More recently, an investigation by The Associated Press and the PBS series “Frontline” finds that Flynn has been building a political movement mixing conspiracy theory with Christian nationalist ideas. Louisiana-native Lainey Wilson is having a breakout year as she tops the Country Music Association nominations in her first year as a nominee, earning nods in six categories. The CMA Awards, hosted by Luke Bryan and Peyton Manning, will air Nov. 9 on ABC. The survivors who were able to walk out of Sandy Hook Elementary school nearly a decade ago want to share a message of hope with the children of Uvalde, Texas: You will learn how to live with your trauma, pain and grief. And it will get better. —The Associated Press

A brutal Western heat wave brought California to the verge of ordering rolling blackouts but the state’s electrical grid has managed to handle record-breaking demand as temperatures in many areas soared past 100 degrees. Salt Lake City recorded a high of 105 degrees, the highest September temperature since 1874. A new report says that the names of hundreds of U.S. law enforcement officers, elected officials and military members appear on the leaked membership rolls of a far-right extremist group that’s accused of playing a key role in the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. The Anti-Defamation League Center on Extremism pored over more than 38,000 names on leaked Oath Keepers membership lists to find more than 370 people it believes are currently working in law enforcement agencies. Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed the war in Ukraine will go on. Seattle Public Schools canceled Wednesday’s first day of school after teachers voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike over issues that include pay, mental health support, and staffing ratios for special education and multilingual students. Authorities say a shark has attacked and killed a U.S. cruise ship passenger who was snorkeling in waters around the Bahamas. Indiana will tax student debt relief as income, reflecting similar policies in other U.S. states following the Biden administration's announcement of a forgiveness plan last month. Rents are starting to come down after spiking to record levels this past summer, but experts are uncertain if the slowdown will continue. In sports, a big Yankees-Twins game was postponed while the Orioles and Pirates pulled off wins. At the U.S. Open, Coco Gauff was defeated. Students in Uvalde, Texas, went back to school for the first time since a gunman killed 19 children and two teachers in a classroom attack that shocked the country. Children began arriving at Uvalde Elementary before dawn, walking through newly installed 8-foot metal fencing that surrounds the campus and past a state trooper standing guard outside an entrance. Students in Mississippi’s capital were able to return to class for the first time in a week with assurances that the toilets in sinks in their buildings would finally work. Jackson remained under a boil water advisory, but officials said the drop in water pressure that had brought the system to near collapse appeared to be resolved. Electronic cigarette maker Juul Labs has agreed to pay nearly $440 million to settle a multi-state investigation into its vaping products, which have long been blamed for sparking a national surge in teen vaping. Connecticut announced the deal Tuesday on behalf of the 33 states plus Puerto Rico. Police in Memphis, Tennessee, said Tuesday that a body found during a search the day before is a woman who was abducted and forced into an SUV during an early morning jog. Police said on Twitter that investigators identified the body of 34-year-old Eliza Fletcher, a school teacher and granddaughter of a prominent Memphis businessman. The U.N. atomic watchdog agency is urging Russia and Ukraine to establish a “nuclear safety and security protection zone” around the Zaporizhzhia power plant amid mounting fears the fighting could trigger a catastrophe in a country still haunted by the Chernobyl disaster. A new report says Russia sent significantly more oil and coal to India and China over the summer compared with the start of the year, while European countries that long relied on Russian energy have cut back sharply in response to the war in Ukraine. Georgia moved up to No. 2 in the first Associated Press college football poll of the regular season. The Bulldogs passed Ohio State after the defending national champions dominated their opener. Alabama remained No. 1 in the AP Top 25 presented by Regions Bank, receiving 44 of 63 first-place votes. A federal judge has granted a request by former President Donald Trump’s legal team to appoint a special master to review documents seized by the FBI during a search of his Florida home last month. AP correspondent Eric Tucker explains the ruling and what it means for the Justice Department's investigation. Liz Truss has taken over as U.K. prime minister and is immediately facing up to the enormous tasks ahead of her. The challenges include pressure to curb soaring prices, boost the economy, ease labor unrest and fix a health care system burdened by long waiting lists and staff shortages. At the top of her inbox is the energy crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which threatens to push energy bills to unaffordable levels. In the latest religion roundup, Pope Francis expanded the ranks of cardinals who'll likely pick his successor, while the Vatican deflected rumors that he's retiring anytime soon. Pope Francis also stepped up his criticism of the war in Ukraine. —The Associated Press

The National Weather Service is predicting temperatures as high as 115 degrees inland, making work difficult for firefighters dealing with 14 wildfires throughout the state.  On the East Coast, heavy rain and flash flooding is expected from the South up into New England.  A new and worrisome school year begins Tuesday in Uvalde, Texas. There's high fencing around the city's public school campuses that still isn’t finished and a heavy police patrol that many families don’t trust after officers in May allowed a gunman to shoot inside Robb Elementary School for more than 70 minutes. Nineteen children and two teachers were killed in one of the deadliest classroom shootings in U.S. history. According to an arrest affidavit, U.S. Marshals arrested 38-year-old Cleotha Abston on Saturday after police detected his DNA on a pair of sandals found near where Eliza Fletcher was last seen. While the 34-year-old woman has not been found, Memphis police say they believe she was seriously injured in the abduction, which was caught on surveillance video. Liz Truss has become U.K. prime minister to replace Boris Johnson in the post. Truss immediately needs to confront the enormous task ahead of her including increasing pressure to curb soaring prices. A newly downgraded U.S. intelligence finding says the Russian Ministry of Defense is in the process of purchasing millions of rockets an artillery shells from North Korea for its ongoing fight in Ukraine. French President Emmanuel Macron is calling for a sharp 10% reduction in the country’s energy use in coming weeks and months to avoid the risk of rationing and cuts this winter. Police and local authorities in eastern Slovakia have urged residents to be cautious after a tiger that escaped from private hands in neighboring Ukraine was seen over the weekend in a border area. President Joe Biden is assailing “MAGA Republicans" and the extreme right in Labor Day remarks to union members. He addressed workers' gatherings in Milwaukee and outside Pittsburgh. Labor Day traditionally kicks off political crunch time, with campaigns scrambling to excite voters for Election Day on Nov. 8. A federal judge has granted a request by former President Donald Trump’s legal team to appoint a special master to review documents seized by the FBI during a search of his Florida home last month. The decision by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon came despite the objections of the Justice Department, which said an outside legal expert was not necessary in part because officials had already completed their review of potentially privileged documents. In sports, Aaron Judge hit his major league-leading 54th home run and at the U.S. Open, Frances Tiafoe ended Rafael Nadal’s 22-match winning streak. The search for nine people who were missing after a floatplane crashed in the waters northwest of Seattle has been suspended. The body of a 10th person was recovered by a good Samaritan on Sunday. The U.S. Coast Guard says all next of kin had been notified of Monday's decision to suspend the search. New COVID-19 boosters targeting today’s most common omicron strains should begin arriving within days. The new shots offer Americans a chance to get the most up-to-date protection at yet another critical period in the pandemic. But health officials recommend waiting at least three months after their last booster or a COVID-19 infection before getting the new booster to ensure the best results. Authorities say a man who stole a plane and flew it over Mississippi after threatening to crash it into a Walmart store faces charges of grand larceny and terroristic threats. Tupelo Police Chief John Quaka says 29-year-old Cory Wayne Patterson didn't have a pilot's license but had some flight instruction and was an employee of Tupelo Aviation. NASA has called off a second launch attempt for its new moon rocket because of yet another fuel leak. The test flight is now off for at least a few weeks, if not months. Mission managers decided after Saturday’s scrub to haul the 322-foot rocket back into the hangar for further repairs and system updates. “Spider-Man: No Way Home” swings back on top of the box office during a holiday weekend where American theaters aimed to lure moviegoers with discounted $3 tickets. The first “National Cinema Day” nationwide promotion is the highest-attended day of the year, with The Cinema Foundation estimating there were 8.1 million moviegoers on Saturday. The Weeknd suddenly ended his sold-out concert in Southern California after losing his voice during a mid-song performance. The four-time Grammy winner was performing his third song “Can’t Feel My Face” before he abruptly stopped his show Saturday at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California. Legendary drummer of The Beatles Ringo Starr is back on stage after being sidelined by COVID-19. Jane Fonda says she has cancer. The 84-year-old actor said in an Instagram post Friday that she has been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and has begun a six-month course of chemotherapy. Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev has been buried in Moscow after a ceremony attended by thousands of mourners but snubbed by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin’s refusal to formally declare a state funeral reflects its uneasiness about the legacy of Gorbachev. Americans are splurging on beauty as they tighten their budgets elsewhere. According to market research company IRI, sales of eye, face and lip makeup has gone up across stores. It comes as major retailers slashed their financial outlooks for the year after seeing shoppers pull back on many discretionary items in the latest quarter. —The Associated Press

In this bonus episode of Hot off the Wire, we look back at some of the top headlines from the week in the world of sports and entertainment.  Taylor Swift won big at MTV’s Video Music Awards and surprised fans during the show by announcing a new album. Will the members of BTS soon find themselves in the military? It’s a decision the South Korean government will soon have to decide. The prosecution rested its case in R. Kelley’s federal trial.  A rookie running back for the Washington Commanders was shot and according to NFL.com, will miss at least the first four games of the season. It was an exciting week for fans of the New York Mets. On Old Timer’s Day, the team retired Willie Mays’ number 50 years after an initial promise. A few days later, an Australian musician electrified the crowd in Queens in the second game of a series with the Los Angeles Dodgers. A Mickey Mantle baseball card set a new record during a memorabilia auction. And finally, a pair of crime stories. In Atlanta, prosecutors say a gang has been targeting celebrities. And a man was sentenced in a Super Bowl ring scheme.  — Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports

The calendar flipped from August to September this past week, and as the summer winds down millions of children have already returned to school or will do so in the coming days. But the challenges of a new school year go beyond remembering locker combinations, completing homework assignments and studying for tests. The COVID-19 pandemic has created learning challenges due to remote learning and teachers are struggling with mental health. Learning challenges are not limited to students in the United States. With a war raging in Ukraine, children there began a new academic year for the first time since Russia’s invasion of the country in February. On Thursday night outside of Independence Hall in Philadelphia, President Joe Biden gave a fiery speech about an ongoing battle for the “soul of the nation.” Biden declared that Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans “fan the flames of political violence” and are trying to subvert democracy. The speech came just hours after a judge heard arguments whether to appoint a special master to review records seized from former President Trump’s Florida home. That hearing came after new details revealed the focus of the investigation may be over criminal obstruction. In other related news, Georgia is continuing its investigations as to whether Trump tried to pressure officials into overturning the results of the 2020 election. And a man affiliated with the Proud Boys was sentenced for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot. We often take it for granted, but obtaining clean water has become a challenge for residents in Jackson, Mississippi. The city has been dealing with trouble at a water treatment plant which was made worse by recent flooding. The fencing around the Supreme Court came down this past week, but its ruling on abortion is being felt around the country. Plus, an update on what has happened since the court ruled on tuition reimbursement for religious schools. In other national news, we look at sexual assaults in the military, gun violence, young people following the news, immigration, an American being held in Venezuela and pay to stay laws for American prisoners. In business and financial news, we look at several reports covering consumer confidence, mortgages and jobs. In international news, Biden called leaders of veteran groups one year after withdrawing from Afghanistan. The last leader of the Soviet Union died as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continued. And Aug. 31 marked the 25th anniversary of the death of Princess Diana.  And finally, in health, science and technology news, a return to the moon was put on hold. Life expectancy has decreased in the U.S. There are concerns over future heat waves and rising sea levels. And details of a technology tool that is available to law enforcement. — Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports

Holding little back, President Joe Biden is sounding an alarm about what he views as extremist threats to the nation’s democracy from what he views as the evil force of Trumpism. In a newly confrontational speech Thursday night, he framed the November elections as part of an ongoing battle for the “soul of the nation.” In the speech from Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Biden declared that Donald Trump and MAGA Republicans “fan the flames of political violence” and subvert American democracy. House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy said it is the Democratic president, not Republicans, trying to divide Americans. “In the past two years, Joe Biden has launched an assault on the soul of America, on its people, on its laws, on its most sacred values.” Heavy fighting and shelling is continuing near Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, in a Russian-controlled area of eastern Ukraine. Friday's fighting comes a day after experts from the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog agency voiced concerns about structural damage to the sprawling Zaporizhzhia plant. An Associated Press analysis found many U.S. states barely use “red flag” laws that allow police to take guns away from people threatening to kill, a trend blamed on lack of awareness of the laws and a reluctance to enforce them even as gun deaths soar. Argentina's president says a man tried to kill politically powerful Vice President Cristina Fernández outside her home, but failed because the handgun misfired. The man was quickly overpowered in the incident Thursday night and the vice president appeared unhurt. The White House says the administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency will visit Mississippi's capital city on Friday as local, state and federal officials deal with a water system crisis. Flooding early in the week exacerbated problems with Jackson's long-troubled water system. In sports, the Dodgers lost to the Mets but welcomed back a star pitcher, a Braves rookie set a team strikeout record, a big NBA trade, another big NFL quarterback contract and Day 4 at the U.S. Open. A federal judge has heard arguments on whether to appoint an outside legal expert to review government records seized by the FBI last month in a search of former President Donald Trump’s Florida home. There was no immediate ruling after arguments Thursday. Lawyers for Trump say the appointment of a special master is necessary to ensure an independent inspection of the documents. The Justice Department says an appointment is unwarranted because investigators have completed their review of potentially privileged records. Chicago officials say 75 immigrants have arrived in the city on buses from Texas, as part of a border policy by Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. Mayor Lori Lightfoot's office confirmed that the migrants arrived Wednesday night and that the city has welcomed them and will make sure they receive shelter and food.  About 2 in 10 Americans say they've had a personal experience with gun violence or a connection to someone who experienced it. That's according to a new poll that also found racial and ethnic disparities in how Americans experienced gun violence. One of Atlanta’s largest hospitals says it plans to shut down in two months after experiencing more than $100 million in losses over the past year. Wellstar Health System announced late Wednesday that the Atlanta Medical Center will close on Nov. 1. A judge ruled that the jury for school shooter Nikolas Cruz can see the swastikas he drew on class assignments. Cruz pleaded guilty to the 2018 killings at Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The trial is to decide whether he's sentenced to death or life without parole. Local law enforcement agencies from suburban Southern California to rural North Carolina have been using an obscure cellphone tracking tool, at times without search warrants, that empowers them to follow people’s movements months back in time. Lawyers for John Eastman say they advised their client to assert attorney-client privilege and invoke his constitutional right to remain silent when testifying before a special grand jury investigating possible election interference in Georgia. Charles Burnham and Harvey Silverglate confirmed Wednesday that Eastman had appeared in court in Fulton County, complying with a subpoena the district attorney had issued to him. Average long-term U.S. mortgage rates rose to their highest level in two months this week, providing no relief for a slumping housing market. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year rate rose to 5.66% from 5.55% last week. Fewer Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week as the labor market continues to shine despite weakening elements of the U.S. economy. Applications for jobless aid for the week ending Aug. 27 fell by 5,000 to 232,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The Department of Transportation has launched a customer service dashboard to help vacationers ahead of the travel-heavy Labor Day weekend. Starting Thursday, travelers will be able to check the dashboard and see what kinds of guarantees, refunds or compensation the major domestic airlines offer in case of flight delays or cancellations. Reports of sexual assaults across the U.S. military jumped by 13% last year, driven by significant increases in the Army and the Navy as bases began to move out of pandemic restrictions and public venues opened back up. Bed Bath & Beyond says that it will shutter stores and lay off workers in a bid to turn around its beleaguered business. The home goods retailer based in Union, New Jersey, said Wednesday it will close about 150 of its namesakes stores and slash its workforce by 20%. A new study says that what meteorologists consider dangerous heat will happen at least three times more often in coming decades as climate change worsens. An unprecedented red tide in the San Francisco Bay Area is killing thousands of fish and other marine life whose carcasses are washing ashore, creating a foul odor that experts say could get worse during this weekend’s expected heat wave. The United States says it has determined that Russia is suffering “severe manpower shortages” in its six-month-old war with Ukraine and that is has become more desperate in its efforts to find new troops to send to the front lines. South Korea may conduct a public survey to help determine whether to grant exemptions to mandatory military service to members of the K-pop boyband BTS. By law, all able-bodied men in South Korea must serve 18-21 months in the military. But exemptions are granted to certain athletes, musicians and artists. —The Associated Press

People are waiting in lines for water in Jackson, Mississippi, after the partial failure of the the city water system. Some homes and businesses have running water, but many do not. Flooding of the Pearl River worsened longstanding problems in one of two water-treatment plants. An FBI investigation into the presence of top-secret information at Mar-a-Lago is zeroing in on the question of whether former President Donald Trump’s team obstructed the probe. A court filing late Tuesday alleges that government records were concealed and removed and that law enforcement officials were misled about the continued presence of classified documents at the property. About 2 in 10 Americans say they've had a personal experience with gun violence or a connection to someone who experienced it. The poll by the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found 23% of Americans overall reported a personal tie to gun violence. Russian President Vladimir Putin has paid tribute to former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev but will not attend the weekend funeral, a decision reflecting the Kremlin’s ambivalence about Gorbachev’s legacy. About 21 million people have been ordered to stay home in the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu following a spike in COVID-19 cases. It's the first day of school in Ukraine, but children won't be sharing memories from their holidays. Their stories are of surviving war. For many, their last day of school was the day before the Feb. 24 Russian invasion of their country. In sports, Serena Williams advanced again at the U.S. Open, a college football playoff expansion will get another look Friday, Jacob deGrom led the New York Mets in a playoff atmosphere win, and Atlanta's Kyle Wright won his 17th game. President Joe Biden will deliver a prime-time address “on the continued battle for the soul of the nation" Thursday outside Independence Hall in Philadelphia. The White House is billing it as a major address just over two months before the midterm elections. Biden will discuss how the nation’s standing in the world and its democracy are at stake. The White House says, “He will talk about the progress we have made as a nation to protect our democracy, but how our rights and freedoms are still under attack. And he will make clear who is fighting for those rights, fighting for those freedoms, and fighting for our democracy.” Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is warning that a failure to place a price cap on Russian oil would hurt the global economy. She says without a price cap, “we face the threat of a global energy price spike if the majority of Russian energy production gets shut in.”  A Palestinian detainee held without charge or trial by Israel says he is ending his nearly six-month hunger strike after reaching an agreement to be released in October.  A 19-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder in a series of apparently random shootings over roughly two hours last weekend in Detroit that left three people dead and a fourth wounded. A rapid deployment team of FBI cyber experts is heading to Montenegro to investigate a massive and coordinated attack on the tiny Balkan nation’s government and its services. Last weekend, Montenegro’s Agency for National Security said the country was “under a hybrid war” blaming the attack squarely on Russia, though without providing evidence. Authorities say a woman killed while looking out the window of her South Carolina home was intentionally shot by a neighbor shooting at targets in his yard. Prosecutors upgraded the charge against 30-year-old Nicholas Lucas to murder on Monday. U.S. regulators have authorized updated COVID-19 boosters, the first to directly target today's most common omicron strain. The move on Wednesday by the Food and Drug Administration tweaks the recipe of shots made by Pfizer and rival Moderna. The hope is that the modified boosters will blunt yet another winter surge. U.S. life expectancy dropped for the second consecutive year in 2021, falling by nearly a year from 2020. That's according to a new government report. In the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, the estimated American lifespan has shortened by nearly three years. Scientists are trying to help people reach a goal humans have been chasing throughout history: staying active and vital in old age. They are part of the skyrocketing scientific field of cellular senescence, which is built upon the idea that cells eventually stop dividing. Ford is recalling more than 277,000 pickup trucks and cars in the U.S. because the rear view camera lens can get cloudy and reduce visibility for the driver. The recall covers certain F-250, 350 and 450 trucks as well as the Lincoln Continental, all from the 2017 through 2020 model years. A Los Angeles attorney detained for five months in Venezuela is pleading for help from the Biden administration. Eyvin Hernandez says in a jailhouse message that he feels forgotten by the U.S. government as he faces criminal charges at the hands of one of America’s top adversaries. It was a warm Saturday evening and journalists had gathered at a Paris restaurant to enjoy the last weekend of summer. At sometime past midnight, phones around the table began to ring all at once. News desks were contacting reporters and photographers to alert them that Princess Diana’s car had crashed in the Pont de l’Alma tunnel in Paris. That's how the news unfolded in the early hours of Aug. 31, 1997. Mounting evidence from around the country shows that students who spent more time learning remotely during the 2020-2021 school year, many of them Black and Latino, lost about half of an academic year of learning. That’s twice as much as their peers who studied in person that year. Atlantic City, New Jersey, is fighting a rising sea as flooding becomes a regular problem. —The Associated Press

The Justice Department says classified documents were “likely concealed and removed” from former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate as part of an effort to obstruct the federal investigation into the discovery of the government records. A court filing made Tuesday night shows the FBI also seized 33 boxes containing more than 100 classified records during its Aug. 8 search of Mar-a-Lago and found classified documents stashed in Trump’s office. Mississippi’s capital city is struggling with multiple water problems — too much on the ground after heavy rainfall in the past week, and not enough safe water coming through the pipes for people to use. Parts of Jackson were without running water Tuesday because flooding worsened problems in one of two water-treatment plants. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Tuesday that the federal government is prepared to help Mississippi respond to the water crisis. United Nations inspectors are making their way toward Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant. Theirs is a long-anticipated mission that the world hopes will help secure the Russian-held facility in the middle of a war zone and avoid catastrophe. Israeli archaeologists recently unearthed the titanic tusk of a prehistoric pachyderm near a kibbutz in southern Israel, a remnants of a behemoth once hunted by early people around half a million years ago. A survey of people ages 16 to 40 finds that millennials and Generation Z follow the news but aren't that happy with what they're seeing. The study conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and the American Press Institute says 79% of people in that age group follow news daily, contrary to perceptions that many are tuned out. But only 32% say they enjoy following the news, down sharply from 53% in a similar study seven years ago. Mikhail Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union, has died at 91. He waged a losing battle to salvage a crumbling empire but produced extraordinary reforms that led to the end of the Cold War. The Central Clinical Hospital in Moscow said in a statement that Gorbachev died after a long illness. In sports, Rafael Nadal won in his U.S. Open return, Venus Williams lost her opener but will root on sister Serena, Alex Leatherwood and Josh Rosen are among those released on NFL’s 53-man roster cutdown day, and the Dodgers reached 90 wins. Prosecutors have rested at R. Kelly’s federal trial in Chicago after presenting two weeks of evidence in a case that accuses the singer of enticing underage girls for sex and producing child pornography. Kelly’s legal team now gets its chance to attack the government’s case. Closing arguments are expected to happen in the middle of next week. A surge in fighting on Ukraine's southern front is fueling speculation that the long-awaited Ukrainian counteroffensive to try to turn the tide of the war is underway. Ukraine claims it destroyed bridges and ammunition depots and pounded command posts in the Russian-occupied Kherson region, while Russia says it repelled the attack and inflicted heavy casualties. The mayor of Memphis, Tennessee, says the 2020 census undercounted his city by almost 16,000 residents, leading him to join other big cities in challenging the results of the once-a-decade head count in the U.S. Parents of children enrolled in Maine religious schools fought all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court for the state to treat tuition reimbursements the same as other private schools. But only one religious school has signed up to participate so far. Religious schools have been in no rush to apply after the state attorney general said they’d have to abide by the same state antidiscrimination laws as other schools. Following three straight monthly declines, U.S. consumer confidence rebounded in August as inflation moderated and gas prices fell. The Conference Board said Tuesday that its consumer confidence index rose in August to 103.2 from 95.3 in July. The number of open jobs in the United States rose in July after three months of declines, a sign that employers are still urgently seeking workers despite slowing economic growth and high inflation. There were 11.2 million open jobs available on the last day of July — nearly two jobs, on average, for every unemployed person. With abortion limits enacted or looming nationwide, an Ohio provider has been referring hundreds of patients to its sister clinic in Indianapolis. Their pregnancies exceed Ohio’s six-week limit, passed when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The women are racing a political clock. Indiana recently passed a near-total abortion ban. It takes effect Sept. 15. People who drink tea may be a little more likely to live longer than those who don't. That's according to a large study of British tea drinkers published Monday in Annals of Internal Medicine. Scientists found two or more cups daily was tied with a modest benefit: a 9% to 13% lower risk of death from any cause. As sea levels rise and buildings by coasts are increasingly endangered, communities around the world are turning to the small but mighty oyster to help stabilize shorelines. By establishing oyster colonies along badly eroded shorelines, governments and volunteer groups are creating natural speed bumps designed to blunt the force of waves and slow down erosion. A new study finds that Greenland has more than 120 trillion tons of ice that can be thought of as zombie ice that's going to raise sea level globally by at least 10 inches. The study looks at the edges of Greenland's ice sheet, ice that authors say is starving and dead. It will unavoidably melt and increase sea level rise no matter what else happens with future carbon pollution. —The Associated Press

Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves says he is declaring a state of emergency after excessive rainfall worsened problems in a water treatment plant in the capital city. Reeves says the state will distribute drinking water and water for flushing toilets. The Pearl River flooded streets and at least one home in Jackson, days after storms dumped heavy rain. Severe storms that brought damaging winds, heavy rains and flash flooding to parts of the Midwest and the South are being blamed for the deaths of two children in Michigan and Arkansas. The British defense ministry said Tuesday that as of early Monday “several brigades of the Ukrainian Armed Forces increased the weight of artillery fires in front line sectors across southern Ukraine.” Tesla CEO Elon Musk has again filed paperwork to terminate his agreement to buy Twitter. This time it's based on information in a whistleblower complaint filed by Twitter’s former head of security. A prosecutor in Atlanta has announced a sprawling indictment targeting members of what she called a violent street gang that targeted the homes of famous athletes, entertainers and others. The indictment announced Monday says singer Mariah Carey, Marlo Hampton of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta,” Atlanta United player Brad Guzan and other victims all had their Atlanta-area homes broken into. A New Jersey man who posed as a former New England Patriots player in order to buy and sell Super Bowl rings that he claimed were gifts to Tom Brady’s family has been sentenced to three years in federal prison. Scott Spina Jr. of Roseland was sentenced Monday in Southern California. President Joe Biden has called the leaders of two U.S. veterans groups assisting Afghans who have fled from the country on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The White House said Biden on Monday spoke to the leaders of the veterans-led #AfghanEvac and Honor the Promise groups to express his appreciation for their work resettling Afghan allies in the United States since the U.S. ended the 20-year war in Afghanistan. A Maryland man affiliated with the far-right Proud Boys extremist group has been sentenced to more than four years in prison for storming the U.S. Capitol. Authorities say Joshua Pruitt encountered then-Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer as his armed security detail led the New York Democrat to safety on Jan. 6, 2021. In sports, it was a winning night for Serena Williams, as well as the Angels, Brewers and Diamondbacks. And Jimmy Garoppolo has a new contract. A legal filing shows the Justice Department has completed its review of potentially privileged documents seized from former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate this month. Monday's filing says the department has identified “a limited set of materials that potentially contain attorney-client privileged information." The filing from the department follows a judge’s weekend order indicating she was inclined to grant the Trump legal team’s request for a special master to review the seized documents and to set aside any that may be covered by claims of legal privilege. A hearing is set for Thursday in federal court in Florida. NASA has scrubbed the launch of its new moon rocket on a no-crew test flight after a cascade of last-minute problems, including unexplained trouble related to an engine. The next launch attempt won't be until Friday at the earliest. A U.N. nuclear watchdog team has set off on an urgent mission to safeguard the endangered Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia atomic power plant which has been at the heart of fighting in Ukraine. Cubans are fleeing their country in the largest numbers in more than four decades. The migrants choose to stake their lives and futures on a dangerous journey to the United States by air, land and sea to escape the island’s political and economic woes. It has been nearly 25 years since Princess Diana died in a high-speed car crash in Paris. People are stopping near the tunnel, which has become a memorial for the late icon. A judge has ruled that Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp must testify before a special grand jury that’s investigating possible illegal attempts to influence the 2020 election in the state. But the judge agreed to postpone the governor's appearance until after the November election. The large fencing that has encircled the U.S. Supreme Court for months has now been removed. The building, closed in 2020 because of the coronavirus pandemic, remains off-limits to the public. School districts around the country are starting to invest in programs aimed at addressing the mental health of teachers. A few states have been amending or repealing “pay-to-stay” laws that require former prisoners to reimburse states for the cost of their jail stays, sometimes at daily rates exceeding what they would have paid to stay in a luxury hotel. In a roundup of the week's top religion stories, Pope Francis suffered setbacks in his Ukraine diplomacy. Also, two movies offer views of saints and sinners in drama and satire.  —The Associated Press

Fuel leaks during final liftoff preparations are threatening to delay the launch of NASA’s mighty new moon rocket Monday on its shakedown flight with three test dummies aboard. As precious minutes ticked away, NASA repeatedly stopped and started the fueling of the Space Launch System rocket with nearly 1 million gallons of super-cold hydrogen and oxygen because of a leak. The rocket is set to lift off on a mission to put a crew capsule into orbit around the moon. The head of the International Atomic Energy Agency says that the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s long-awaited expert mission to the Zaporizhzhia power plant in Ukraine “is now on its way.” The site is Ukraine’s and Europe’s biggest nuclear facility. The Russian military says it will launch sweeping military drills in the country’s east that will involve forces from China. The maneuvers that start on Thursday reflect increasingly close military ties between Moscow and Beijing amid the tensions with the West over the Kremlin’s action in Ukraine. International aid is reaching Pakistan, as the military and volunteers desperately tried to evacuate many thousands stranded by widespread flooding driven by “monster monsoons” that have claimed more than 1,000 lives this summer. Students in Ohio’s largest school district were returning to classrooms after members of the union representing teachers and other employees approved a contract, ending a strike. For one day, movie tickets will be just $3 in the vast majority of American theaters as part of a newly launched “National Cinema Day” to lure moviegoers during a quiet spell at the box office. The Cinema Foundation, a non-profit arm of the National Association of Theater Owners, announced that Sept. 3 will be a nationwide discount day in more than 3,000 theaters and on more than 30,000 screens. The horror film “The Invitation” needed just $7 million to finish at the top of the weakest weekend of the summer at the North American box office. Sony also had the No. 2 movie with the Brad Pitt vehicle “Bullet Train,” which brought in an estimated $5.6 million in its fourth week, putting its domestic total past $78 million. The Washington Commanders say rookie running back Brian Robinson Jr. was shot during an attempted robbery or carjacking. The 23-year-old former Alabama player was taken to the hospital with what the team called non-life-threatening injuries. Taylor Swift took home the top prize at the 2022 MTV Video Music Awards before she closed out the show with a surprisingly big announcement: Her new album. The pop star said Sunday night that her new album called "Midnights" will be released Oct. 21.  In sports highlights, Rory McIlroy won another FedEx Cup title, the Cardinals doubled up the Braves, the Astros saw their top hurler make an early exit, the Mets failed to sweep the Rockies, the Dodgers kept winning and Hawaii claimed Little League bragging rights. In a surprise salute at Citi Field, the Mets have retired Willie Mays’ No. 24 as part of festivities for the organization’s first Old-Timers’ Day since 1994. Mets charter owner Joan Whitney Payson told Mays he would be the last player in franchise history to wear No. 24. But Payson died not long after Mays’ retirement in 1973, and the Mets finally made good on her promise nearly 50 years later. A mint condition Mickey Mantle baseball card has sold for $12.6 million, blasting into the record books Sunday as the most expensive ever paid for a piece of sports memorabilia. The rare Mantle card eclipsed the record just posted a few months ago — $9.3 million for the jersey worn by Diego Maradona when he scored the controversial “Hand of God” goal in soccer’s 1986 World Cup. A car driven by Princess Diana in the 1980s sold for $764,000 at auction Saturday, just days before the 25th anniversary of her death. Silverstone Auctions says there was “fierce bidding” for the black Ford Escort RS Turbo before the sale closed. The U.K. buyer, whose name was not disclosed, paid a 12.5% buyer’s premium on top of the selling price, according to the classic car auction house. Russia has blocked agreement on the final document of a four-week review of the U.N. treaty considered the cornerstone of nuclear disarmament which criticized its takeover of Europe’s largest nuclear plant soon after Russian troops invaded Ukraine. The deputy director of the Russian Foreign Ministry’s Non-Proliferation and Arms Control Department told Friday’s delayed final meeting of the conference reviewing the 50-year-old Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty that “unfortunately there is no consensus on this document.” —The Associated Press

In this bonus episode of Hot off the Wire, we look back at some of the top headlines from the week in the world of sports and entertainment.  Vanessa Bryant, the widow of NBA legend Kobe Bryant, was awarded $16 million over grisly photos released from the scene of the helicopter crash. Actor Gary Busey was charged with sex crimes in New Jersey. Rapper Fetty Wap is facing facing prison time following a guilty plea over drug charges. Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson, Buddy Holly’s drummer Jerry Allison and golf champion Tom Weiskoph have died. Tom Brady’s break from training camp ended and Alabama gave Nick Saban a new contract. And finally, a new type of sports bar is gaining in popularity in the Pacific Northwest. —Content provided by The Associated Press. Material compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz, senior producer for Lee Enterprises

It was another eventful week related to the Justice Department’s investigation into former President Donald Trump. On Friday it released a partially blacked out document explaining the justification for an FBI search of Trump’s Florida estate this month. This news came days after lawyers tried to block the FBI from reviewing those documents.  Meanwhile, President Joe Biden followed through on his promise to provide student loan forgiveness, a move that was met by opposition from Republicans. The announcement by Biden preceded his visit to Maryland, where he hoped to energize Democrats ahead of the midterm elections days after key primaries in Florida and New York. And in other political news, Liz Cheney and former Vice President Mike Pence weighed in on the possibility of Pence testifying before the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. A recent poll reveals that Americans support tougher gun laws. That report came ahead of the Uvalde, Texas, school board voting to fire its police chief in response to the deadly school shooting. And in the case involving the shooting death of Breonna Taylor in Louisville, a former police detective pleaded guilty to a federal charge. In other news, there were convictions in a plot to kidnap Michigan’s governor. Anthony Fauci announced his retirement as a House panel looked into the response to the coronavirus pandemic. A recount in Kansas reaffirmed that the majority of voters want to protect abortion rights in the state. In a related story, Walmart is expanding abortion coverage for employees. Also, a deal was reached to end a teacher’s strike in Ohio’s largest school district. In international news, the U.S. is pledging more support for Ukraine six months into Russia’s invasion of the country. Tensions remain high between the United States and China over Taiwan as well as COVID-19. In the Middle East, Israel is urging the US to avoid a new deal with Iran. Meanwhile, the U.S. hit targets in Syria with airstrikes. The United Kingdom prepares to say farewell to its Prime Minister while Finland’s PM apologized over party photos. And a new aviation record was established this week. In business and economic news, airlines are under pressure from the government to help passengers. Fewer Americans are applying for unemployment, however, fears of a recession continue while shoppers grapple with high prices. And Hyundai and Kia are recalling large SUVs. Finally, in health, science and technology news, be sure to update your Apple devices if you haven’t already for an important security update. In other security news, a former Twitter employee has filed whistleblower complaints against the company. Amazon will shut down its health service by the end of the year, plus we have updates on COVID shots for kids and the latest on Monkeypox. California wants to crack down on cyber flashers. And the James Webb space telescope has captured more striking images. — Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports

The Justice Department is set to release a heavily blacked-out document explaining the justification for an FBI search of Donald Trump’s Florida estate earlier this month, when agents removed top secret government records and other classified documents. The document, expected by noon, is likely to offer at least some new details about an ongoing criminal investigation that has brought fresh legal peril for Trump just as he lays the groundwork for another presidential run. Justice Department officials are expected to have removed sensitive details about witnesses, and the scope and direction of the probe, but even a redacted affidavit may contain some fresh revelations. The U.S. government is suspending 26 flights by Chinese airlines from the United States to China in a dispute over anti-virus controls after Beijing suspended flights by American carriers. The Department of Transportation accused Beijing of violating an air travel agreement while enforcing anti-virus controls that are among the world’s most extreme. Ukrainian officials say that a mission from the U.N.’s International Atomic Energy Agency is expected to visit the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant next week after it was temporarily knocked offline and more shelling was reported in the area overnight. Planned Parenthood leaders in Oregon said there has been a surge in the number of people traveling from out of state for abortions, including from neighboring Idaho, where most of a near-total abortion ban has taken effect. President Joe Biden is calling on Democrats “to vote to literally save democracy once again” in the midterm elections — and comparing Republican ideology to “semi-fascism” — as he led a kickoff rally and a fundraiser in Maryland.  In sports, the Mariners and Orioles, each seeking to end lengthy absences from baseball's postseason, each won on Thursday. The Phillies held on to their wild-card spot with a win and the Cardinals were victorious, thanks in large part to Triple Crown candidate Paul Goldschmidt. Masters winner Scottie Scheffler is off to a good start at the Tour Championship and Serena Williams prepares for the final tournament of her career, the U.S. Open. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis slammed the Biden administration's plan to forgive some student loan debt forgiveness. A federal appeals court has agreed with a judge's ruling preventing the state from enforcing a ban on transgender children receiving gender affirming medical care. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the Russian military to increase the number of troops by 137,000 to a total of 1.15 million amid Moscow’s military action in Ukraine. The Columbus school board and union representing teachers and other employees in Ohio’s largest school district say they have reached a “conceptual agreement,” tentatively ending a strike which began Monday. Fewer Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week as the labor market continues to stand out as one of the strongest segments of the U.S. economy. Applications for jobless aid for the week ending Aug. 20 fell by 2,000 to 243,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The U.S. economy shrank at a 0.6% annual rate from April through June, the government said in an upgrade from its initial estimate. It marked a second straight quarter of economic contraction, which meets one informal sign of a recession. The moving vans have already started arriving at Downing Street, as Britain’s Conservative Party prepares to evict Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Debate about what mark he will leave on his party, his country and the world will linger long after he departs in September. The number of monkeypox cases reported globally dropped 21% in the last week, reversing a month-long trend of rising infections. A federal jury has found that Los Angeles County must pay Kobe Bryant’s widow $16 million for emotional distress caused by deputies and firefighters sharing photos of the bodies of the NBA star and his daughter taken at the site of the 2020 helicopter crash that killed them. —The Associated Press

The Uvalde school district’s embattled police chief has been fired following allegations that he made several critical mistakes during a mass shooting that left 19 students and two teachers dead. The district’s board of trustees said Wednesday day that it voted to dismiss Chief Pete Arredondo, who has faced criticism since the May 24 massacre at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas. Officers armed with rifles waited in a school hallway for more than an hour while the gunman carried out the shooting. President Joe Biden has announced his long-awaited plan to deliver on his campaign promise to provide $10,000 in student debt cancellation for millions of Americans — and up to $10,000 more for those with the greatest financial need. Biden announced in a Wednesday tweet that borrowers who earn less than $125,000 a year, or families earning less than $250,000, would be eligible for the $10,000 loan forgiveness. For recipients of Pell Grants, which are reserved for undergraduates with the most significant financial need, the federal government would cancel up to an additional $10,000 in federal loan debt. A Ukrainian official says the death toll from a Russian rocket attack on Ukraine's Independence Day has risen to 25. The deputy head of the Ukrainian presidential office reported Thursday that the victims included an 11-year-old boy found under the rubble of a house and a 6-year-old killed in a car fire near a train station that was the target. Three journalists are on trial in Finland on charges of revealing national defense secrets for allegedly publishing classified documents in a newspaper article. Amazon is shutting down the hybrid virtual, in-home care service it’s spent years developing. It's a surprising move that underscores the challenges Amazon faces as it moves into health care. A new study adds evidence that a fossil species from Africa could be our earliest known ancestor. Researchers examined arm and leg bones linked to a 7-million-year-old skull that was found two decades ago.  The Braves moved closer to first, the Guardians added to their lead in the AL Central and more highlights and news in the world of sports. First lady Jill Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 again in an apparent “rebound” case, after she initially tested negative for the virus over the weekend. President Joe Biden, who spent three days with his wife at their Rehoboth Beach, Del. vacation home, continues to test negative, the White House said. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has rejected clemency for a man facing execution for the 1997 hammer killing of a man. Stitt’s decision on Wednesday paves the way for 50-year-old James Coddington to be executed by lethal injection on Thursday. A psychologist who treated Florida school shooter Nikolas Cruz when he was 8 years old testified that Cruz was a “peculiar child” who had many behavioral and developmental issues. Cruz pleaded guilty to 17 murders in 2018 at Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. The trial will determine if he's sentenced to death or life without parole. Israel's prime minister says the West is letting Iran manipulate talks over an emerging “bad deal” to curb Tehran's nuclear capabilities. The Israeli caretaker premier, Yair Lapid, told reporters in Jerusalem on Wednesday that Israel staunchly opposes any agreement with Iran. He spoke as the Biden administration was expected to consider terms of a deal as soon as this week. A special House panel looking into the government's coronavirus response says the Trump White House tried to pressure U.S. health experts into reauthorizing the drug hydroxychloroquine that had been discredited as a COVID-19 treatment. The report by the Democratic-led subcommittee provides new evidence of the administration’s efforts to override Food and Drug Administration decisions early in the pandemic. Hall of Fame quarterback Len Dawson, who helped the Kansas City Chiefs to their first Super Bowl title, died Wednesday. The MVP of the Chiefs’ victory over the Vikings in January 1970 had been in declining health for years. Drummer Jerry Allison, who played and co-wrote songs with rock pioneer and childhood friend Buddy Holly and whose future wife inspired the classic “Peggy Sue,” has died. He was 82. Finland’s prime minister has apologized after the publication of a photo that showed two women kissing and posing topless at the official summer residence of the country’s leader. The photo came out after a video leaked last week showed Prime Minister Sanna Marin dancing with friends prompted a debate about whether the 36-year-old head of government is entitled to party. A 17-year-old pilot has become the youngest person to fly solo around the world in a small aircraft after he landed in Bulgaria. That's the country where Mack Rutherford's journey kicked off five months ago. —The Associated Press

U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist has won the Democratic nomination for governor in Florida, putting him in position to challenge Gov. Ron DeSantis this fall in a campaign the Republican incumbent is eyeing as the first step toward a potential White House run. In selecting Crist on Tuesday, Florida Democrats sided with a candidate backed by many in the party’s establishment who viewed him as the safest choice. Carolyn Maloney, a 15-term incumbent Democrat from New York who chairs a powerful House committee, lost to her longtime colleague, congressman Jerry Nadler, following redistricting that put the two into the same district. Millions of Americans are waiting to learn the fate of their federal student debt as President Joe Biden prepares to deliver on his campaign promise to provide up to $10,000 in debt cancellation. Residents of Kyiv have awoken to air raid sirens as Ukraine observes its Independence Day exactly six months since the start of the Russian invasion. Gas is down 48 cents in a month to $3.88 a gallon. Victims who receive unsolicited sexually graphic material by text, email, app or other electronic means could sue the sender under a bill approved by California lawmakers. The bill they sent to Gov. Gavin Newsom on Monday targets what’s known as “cyber flashing,” where victims receive such unwelcome surprises often from strangers. “House of the Dragon” landed as the most-watched series premiere ever for HBO. The Nielsen company said nearly 10 million people watched the “Game of Thrones” prequel on its first night on Sunday, either by streaming or linear TV. The U.S. military says it carried out airstrikes in eastern Syria that targeted areas used by militias backed by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. The U.S. military’s Central Command said the strikes hitting Deir Ez-Zor “took proportionate, deliberate action intended to limit the risk of escalation and minimize the risk of casualties.” A former Louisville police detective who helped falsify the warrant that led to the deadly police raid at Breonna Taylor’s apartment has pleaded guilty to a federal charge. Goodlett appeared in a federal courtroom in Louisville on Tuesday afternoon and admitted to conspiring with another Louisville police officer to falsify the warrant. In sports, the Yankees swept the Mets, the Phillies topped the Reds, Justin Verlander went six no-hit innings, Kevin Durant is staying with the Nets and Nick Saban got a new contract. A jury has convicted two men of conspiring to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020. Prosecutors described the plot as a rallying cry for a U.S. civil war by anti-government extremists. The jury also found Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. guilty of conspiring to obtain a weapon of mass destruction. A specially appointed prosecutor said he will not pursue charges against the two white Atlanta police officers who clashed with Rayshard Brooks during a June 2020 encounter that ended with the 27-year-old Black man’s fatal shooting. The National Archives and Records Administration recovered more than 100 documents bearing classified markings, totaling more than 700 pages, from a initial batch of 15 boxes retrieved from Mar-a-Lago earlier this year. That's according to newly public government correspondence with the Trump legal team. U.S. officials say that as Russia’s war on Ukraine drags on, U.S. security assistance is shifting to a longer-term campaign that will likely keep more American military troops in Europe into the future. They say a new aid package to be announced includes an additional roughly $3 billion to train and equip Ukrainian forces to fight for years to come. Paul Pelosi, the husband of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi pleaded guilty Tuesday to misdemeanor driving under the influence charges related to a May crash in California’s wine country and was sentenced to five days in jail and three years of probation. Hyundai and Kia are telling owners of some large SUVs to park them outdoors and away from structures after a series of fires involving trailer hitch wiring. The Korean automakers are recalling more than 281,000 vehicles in the U.S. because of the problem, but they haven’t figured out how to fix it yet. Kevin Durant and the Brooklyn Nets plan to stay together after all. The All-Star forward asked to be traded earlier this summer. The Nets said Tuesday that the team’s leadership met a day earlier with Durant and business partner Rich Kleiman in Los Angeles and “agreed to move forward with our partnership,” according to general manager Sean Marks.  A former head of security at Twitter alleged that the company misled regulators about its poor cybersecurity defenses and its negligence in attempting to root out fake accounts that spread disinformation, according to a whistleblower complaint filed with U.S. officials. Peiter Zatko, Twitter’s security chief until he was fired early this year, filed the complaints last month with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Trade Commission and the Department of Justice. Pfizer’s says its COVID-19 vaccine was 73% effective in protecting children younger than 5 as omicron spread in the spring. Vaccinations for babies, toddlers and preschoolers opened in the U.S. in June after months of delay. Macy’s is trimming its expectations for the year despite topping expectations in its most recent quarter as it faces a glut of unsold inventory that has afflicted almost the entire retail sector. The world's newest and most powerful space telescope is showing Jupiter as never before, auroras and all. Scientists released new images of the solar system’s biggest planet Monday. The Webb Space Telescope took the photos in July, capturing unprecedented views of Jupiter's northern and southern lights. A Belgian-British teenage pilot is set to become the youngest person to fly around the world solo in a small plane. Mack Rutherford landed Tuesday in southern Belgium ahead of the penultimate leg of his global odyssey. Weather permitting, the 17-year-old aviator is due to land in the Bulgarian capital, Sofia, on Wednesday, some five months after setting out. —The Associated Press

Heavy rain across the drought-stricken Dallas-Fort Worth area is causing streets to flood and submerging vehicles as officials warn motorists to stay off the roads. The National Weather Service says over 9 inches of rain fell at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport over 24 hours ending at noon Monday. At least one fatality has been blamed on the downpour as emergency officials say they've responded to dozens of locations with high water on the roads. Lawyers for former President Donald Trump have asked a federal judge to prevent the FBI from continuing to review documents recovered from his Florida estate until a neutral special master can be appointed. The attorneys asserted Monday in a court filing, their first since the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago two weeks ago, that the sets of documents taken from the residence were “presumptively” covered by executive privilege. Most U.S. adults think gun violence is increasing nationwide and want to see gun laws made stricter. That's according to a new poll that finds broad public support for a variety of gun restrictions. The poll comes from the University of Chicago Harris School of Public Policy and The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. The poll found 71% of Americans say gun laws should be stricter, including about half of Republicans and a majority of those in gun-owning households. On Tuesday’s Ukrainian Flag Day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stressed defiance rather than worry when he raised the flag at a memorial. “The blue and yellow flag of Ukraine will again fly where it rightfully should be. In all temporarily occupied cities and villages of Ukraine,” he said, including the Crimea peninsula which has been annexed by Russia since 2014. About 3,000 white-collar workers at Ford Motor Co. will lose their jobs as the company cuts costs to help make the long transition from internal combustion vehicles to those powered by batteries. Florida governor and Republican powerhouse Ron DeSantis will learn the identity of his general election opponent after Tuesday's primary voting. Florida Democrats are deciding a fiercely fought contest between congressman and former governor Charlie Crist and Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried. In New York, congressional primaries include a race between two powerful Democratic committee chairs, Carolyn Maloney and Jerry Nadler, and other incumbents fending off challenges from the left. The movie theater industry is navigating a tenuous recovery after the pandemic shut theaters worldwide. Box-office revenue has rebounded this summer, but it's still running nearly 20% below pre-pandemic levels. In sports, the Yankees got on track, Tom Brady returned to the Bucs, Baker Mayfield was named the starter for Carolina and Alabama stars led the AP Preseason All-America team. Authorities believe a body found in a Northern California reservoir is that of 16-year-old Kiely Rodni, who went missing after attending a large party at a Sierra Nevada campground two weeks ago. Nevada County Sheriff Shannan Moon has told a press conference Monday that the body has not been identified but it is believed to be Rodni. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert, is leaving the federal government in December. Fauci became a household name — and the subject of partisan attacks — during the COVID-19 pandemic. He's served the government for more than five decades. A federal judge has acknowledged that redactions to an FBI affidavit spelling out the basis for the search of former President Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate might be so extensive as to make the document “meaningless” if released to the public. But he said Monday that he continued to believe it should not remain sealed in its entirety because of the public interest in the ongoing criminal investigation. The son of a former Alaska lawmaker faces charges of manslaughter and evidence tampering in the death of his father, former state Rep. Dean Westlake. That's according to charging documents filed by the state Department of Law. Rapper Fetty Wap has pleaded guilty to a conspiracy drug charge that carries a mandatory five-year prison sentence. The plea in Central Islip federal court occurred Monday. A South Dakota ethics board has found enough information that Gov. Kristi Noem may have “engaged in misconduct” when she intervened in her daughter’s application for a real estate appraiser license to potentially take action against the Republican governor. Election officials say a decisive statewide vote in favor of abortion rights in Kansas has been confirmed with a partial hand recount. Nine of the state’s 105 counties recounted votes at the request of two activists who questioned the conduct of the election without providing evidence of problems. Traditional Indigenous foods — like wild rice, bison, fresh vegetables and fruit in the Midwest — are often inaccessible for Native families with low incomes in urban areas, and the recent inflation spike has propelled these foods even further out of reach. The Sports Bra in Portland, Oregon, is providing a place to gather and watch women's sporting events. The sports bar only shows women's events and it has been so popular that the concept is expanding to Seattle.  —The Associated Press

There are new claims of Russian shelling close to the Zaporizhzhya nuclear plant facilities in Russia. They came Monday only hours after international pleas to spare the area around Ukraine’s main nuclear plant from attacks. Nikopol is on the the opposite bank of the Dnieper River and about 6 miles downstream from the plant and came under fire three times during the night from rockets and mortars. As the war in Ukraine nears its six-month mark, officials say there will soon be referendums on the captured regions joining Russia. Russian authorities say a car bomb killed the adult daughter of an influential political theorist who is often referred to as “Putin’s brain.” The Moscow branch of the Russian Investigative Committee said preliminary information indicated a bomb exploded in the SUV driven by 29-year-old Daria Dugina. An adviser to Ukraine's president denied Ukrainian involvement in the car bomb attack. Rep. Liz Cheney says the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the United States Capitol has been talking with lawyers of former Vice President Mike Pence about testifying. Three law enforcement officers in Arkansas have been suspended after a video posted on social media showed a suspect being held down on the ground and beaten by police. Major champion and golf course architect Tom Weiskopf has died of pancreatic cancer. His wife says Weiskopf died Saturday at their home in Big Sky, Montana. Weiskopf's contributions to golf go far beyond his 16 PGA Tour wins and his British Open title at Troon in 1973. He was blunt and accurate when he worked as a TV analyst. And he was equally successful as a golf course architect. Weiskopf was diagnosed with cancer in December 2020. Laurie Weiskopf says he was still working on design projects in the week leading to his death. Tom Weiskopf was 79. CNN ended its ‘Reliable Sources’ program after 30 years. Indiana’s Republican governor has begun a visit to Taiwan, following two recent high-profile visits by U.S. politicians that drew China’s ire and Chinese military drills. Gov. Eric Holcomb will focus on economic exchange, particularly semiconductors, and is expected to meet with Taiwan’s President Tsai Ing-wen. Former Vice President Mike Pence said he refused to leave the Capitol on Jan. 6 during an interview in Iowa with The Associated Press.  In sports, the Yankees finally won, the Astros avoided a sweep, the Dodgers kept rolling, the Mets padded their lead in the NL East, the Brewers and Cardinals won, and Patrick Cantlay moved into position to win a huge paycheck. The Ford Motor Co. says it plans to appeal a $1.7 billion verdict against the automaker after a pickup truck crash claimed the lives of a Georgia couple. A Georgia jury returned the verdict late last week. A horror movie convention promoter says it is assisting authorities following charges against actor Gary Busey involving alleged sexual offenses at an event in New Jersey earlier this month. The 78-year-old actor was charged Friday with fourth-degree criminal sexual contact, attempted criminal sexual contact and harassment after the Aug. 12-14 Monster Mania Convention in Cherry Hill. Walmart, the nation’s largest employer, is expanding its abortion coverage for employees after staying largely mum on the issue following the Supreme Court ruling that scrapped a nationwide right to abortion. In a memo sent to employees on Friday, the company said its health care plans will now cover abortion for employees “when there is a health risk to the mother, rape or incest, ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage or lack of fetal viability.” Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg is telling airlines to do a better job of helping stranded travelers or they will face new regulations. Buttigieg wants airlines to provide lodging for passengers stranded overnight. He also says they should give out meal vouchers when flights are delayed three hours or longer. Apple regularly issues updates to the software powering the iPhone, and sometimes it’s OK to dawdle when it comes to installing them. But that’s not the case with its latest — an upgrade that Apple released Wednesday to close a security hole that could allow hackers to seize control of iPhones and several other popular Apple products. —The Associated Press

In this bonus episode of Hot off the Wire, we look back at some of the top headlines from the week in the world of sports and entertainment.  We look back at the King of Rock ’n’ Roll, Elvis Presley, who died 45 years ago this week.  Actor Anne Heche and director Wolfgang Petersen were among the notable celebrities who passed away recently. The Associated Press released its preseason Top 25 poll for college football with a familiar team at No. 1. And the federal sex and pornography trial for singer R. Kelly began. —Content provided by The Associated Press. Material compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz, senior producer for Lee Enterprises

Investigations into former President Donald Trump remained in the news this week. Trump, as well as media organizations, want the search warrant affidavit to be released following the FBI’s search of his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who served as Trump’s personal lawyer, testified before a grand jury in Atlanta as an investigation following the 2020 election results continues. Trump’s former Vice President, Mike Pence, signaled he may be willing to testify if asked. And a former Trump Organization CFO pleaded guilty as part of a deal with prosecutors. Meanwhile, the former president’s presence could still be felt in primaries that were held in Wyoming and Alaska this week. And as the 2022 midterms loom, Planned Parenthood plans to ramp up political spending. There were several shootings this week, including one at a Midwest theme park. In other news, traffic deaths are on the rise. Southern Baptist clergy are under investigation related to claims of sex abuse. An author is recovering after an attack. Controversy tied to the Pledge of Allegiance. And human remains were found in Nashville. Home sales are slumping, however, the job market remains a bright spot in the economy. Home Depot and Target reported fiscal results and Best Buy announced job cuts. GM is recalling SUVs and American Airlines is looking to the future with supersonic jets. Arizona and Nevada face water cuts and July had the hottest nights on record. The CDC is shaking up its organization and the FDA will make it easier to get a hearing aid. And finally, international news, tensions remain high between China, the US and Taiwan. Brittney Griner is appealing her sentence in Russia. The Taliban celebrated a year since taking control of Afghanistan. — Compiled and narrated by Terry Lipshetz from Associated Press reports

A federal judge has ordered the Justice Department to put forward proposed redactions as he committed to making public at least part of the affidavit supporting the search warrant for former President Donald Trump’s estate in Florida. U.S. Magistrate Judge Bruce Reinhart on Thursday gave prosecutors a week to submit a copy of the affidavit with proposed redactions for the information it wants to keep secret. It comes a little more than a week after the FBI seized classified and top secret information during a search at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate last week. President Joe Biden will host a White House summit next month aimed at combatting a spate of hate-fueled violence in the U.S. The Democrat is working to deliver on his campaign pledge to “heal the soul of the nation.” The White House announced Friday that Biden will host the United We Stand Summit on Sept. 15, highlighting the “corrosive effects” of violence on public safety and democracy. Two planes collided in Northern California while trying to land at a local airport and at least two of the three occupants were killed. Officials say multiple fatalities were reported but it was not immediately clear whether anyone survived. An Arizona judge is set to hear arguments on the state’s request to allow it to enforce a near-total ban on abortions under a law that has been blocked for nearly 50 years. Abortion-rights advocates are fighting the request from Republican Attorney General Mark Brnovich. Apple has disclosed serious security vulnerabilities for iPhones, iPads and Macs. The software flaws could potentially allow attackers to take complete control of these devices, Apple said Wednesday. The school board in Fargo, North Dakota, has reversed course on its decision to stop reciting the Pledge of Allegiance at its monthly meetings. The group decided to reconsider at a special meeting Thursday following complaints from conservative lawmakers and widespread bashing from citizens. A Pennsylvania man has been charged with abuse of a corpse, receiving stolen property and other charges after police say he allegedly tried to buy stolen human remains from an Arkansas woman for possible resale on Facebook. Three men, including a Mafia hitman, have been charged in the killing of notorious Boston crime boss James “Whitey” Bulger in a West Virginia prison. The Justice Department announced the charges against Fotios “Freddy” Geas, Paul J. DeCologero and Sean McKinnon on Thursday. In sports, the Brewers topped the Dodgers, the Astros crushed the White Sox, the Cardinals pounded the Rockies and college football got a new TV deal. A woman who has been central to R. Kelly’s legal troubles for more than two decades has testified that the R&B singer sexually abused her “hundreds” of times before she turned 18 years old, starting when she was just 15. Jane — the pseudonym for the 37-year-old woman at Kelly’s trial on child pornography and obstruction of justice charges — told jurors Thursday that in the late 1990s when she was 13, she asked Kelly to be her godfather because she saw him as an inspiration and mentor. She said within weeks, Kelly would call her and say sexual things. She said he first touched her touched her breasts when she was 14 and that they first had sex when she was 15. Deshaun Watson has reached a settlement with the NFL and will serve an 11-game unpaid suspension and pay a $5 million fine rather than risk missing his first season as quarterback of the Cleveland Browns following accusations of sexual misconduct. A top executive at former President Donald Trump’s family business has pleaded guilty to evading taxes. The deal could potentially make him a star witness against the company at a trial this fall. Longtime Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg admitted at a court hearing Thursday that he dodged taxes on lavish fringe benefits he got from the company. A judge has refused to grant bail to the man accused of trying to kill Salman Rushdie as the acclaimed author prepared to give a talk in western New York. Hadi Matar appeared in a western New York courtroom after a grand jury indicted him on charges that he rushed the stage at the Chautauqua Institution and stabbed Rushdie multiple times. An anti-abortion coalition in Michigan filed a challenge on Thursday to keep an abortion rights question off of the November ballot due to what it said are 60 errors in the text of a proposed constitutional amendment. Firefighters are putting out the remnants of two wildfires on a Sicilian island that forced fashion designer Giorgio Armani and dozens more to flee vacation villas overnight. The head of the region’s civil protection agency said Thursday that arson was suspected in the wildfires that forced some 30 people to seek refuge in boats or on safer parts of the island of Pantelleria. Officials in the northern German city of Bremen say an iconic lighthouse at the city's port has tilted sideways and could soon topple over entirely. Slightly fewer Americans filed for unemployment benefits last week as the labor market continues to be the strongest segment of the U.S. economy. Applications for jobless aid for the week ending August 13 fell by 2,000 to 250,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The housing market’s comedown from its high-flying days early this year is deepening, with home sales in July falling for the sixth straight month. Sharply higher mortgage rates, surging inflation and prices that remain near all-time highs are making homes less affordable. The National Association of Realtors said Thursday that sales fell 20.2% from July last year. The trend of rising U.S. traffic deaths that began two years ago is continuing into 2022. Roadway deaths rose 7% during the first three months of the year to an estimated 9,560 people. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says that's the highest number for a first quarter in two decades.  A Saudi court has sentenced a doctoral student and women’s rights advocate to 34 years in prison for spreading “rumors” on Twitter and retweeting dissidents. The decision has drawn growing global condemnation. Court documents obtained by The Associated Press on Thursday show the unusually harsh ruling, so far unacknowledged by Saudi Arabia. —The Associated Press