The jury spent 19 hours deliberating before coming to its verdict. Allen was arrested in 2022, five years after investigators found 13-year-old Abigail Williams and 14-year-old Liberty German dead near a trail.
The case garnered national attention after video and audio of a suspect was discovered on Libby’s phone. Investigators eventually identified the “bridge guy” as Allen who was working at local CVS pharmacy until his arrest.
The Associated Press has reported Allen could be sentenced to up to 130 years in prison. His sentencing is set for Dec. 20.
Trump speaks of ‘incredible’ win after projected to be next US president
Donald Trump is poised to win the presidency again. How Georgia, North Carolina and Pennsylvania helped put him over the top. And while Republicans have picked up seats in the Senate, will they also take the House? A look at where things stand. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Wednesday, Nov. 6, 2024.
Trump speaks of ‘incredible’ win after projected to be next U.S. president
Former President Donald Trump declared victory while addressing supporters in Florida early Wednesday morning, Nov. 6, as his lead over Vice President Kamala Harris grew. He picked up critical wins in key battleground states Pennsylvania, Georgia, and North Carolina.
“We overcame obstacles that nobody thought possible, and it is now clear that we’ve achieved the most incredible political thing,” Trump said. “Look what happened — is this crazy? But it’s a political victory that our country has never seen before, nothing like this. I want to thank the American people for the extraordinary honor of being elected your 47th president and your 45th president.”
Harris’ path to the 270 electoral votes has become less of a possibility, with most media outlets projecting Trump as the winner Wednesday morning. As of the time this article was published, Fox News, ABC, NBC, CBS, the Associated Press and Decision Desk HQ, a forecasting and analysis organization, have projected him to be the winner.
Donald Trump wins presidency for second time, completing improbable comeback https://t.co/VGPT8X5I88
Trump, who survived two assassination attempts during the campaign, was surrounded by family, Republican leaders, and his running mate Ohio Sen. JD Vance as he addressed the crowd inside the Palm Beach Convention Center around 2:30 a.m. ET Wednesday.
“America has given us an unprecedented and powerful mandate,” he told supporters. “Many people have told me that God spared my life for a reason and that reason was to save our country and to restore America to greatness and now we are going to fulfill that mission together.”
Vice President Harris, who picked up wins in California and New York, did not speak Tuesday night, Nov. 5, but earlier in the evening campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond spoke to supporters at Howard University. He said the vice president was not giving up the fight despite how the numbers were going.
“We will continue overnight to fight to make sure that every vote is counted, that every voice has spoken, so you won’t hear from the vice president tonight, but you will hear from her tomorrow,” he said. ”She will be back here tomorrow to address not only the HU family, not only to address our supporters, but to address the nation.”
Multiple news networks have confirmed Harris is slated to speak Wednesday morning. However, it is worth noting there reportedly has been no concession call yet from Harris to Trump.
Ray Bogan recaps election night from Washington
Washington is going to look a lot different in January.
Donald Trump made an extraordinary comeback. He lost the electoral and popular votes in 2020 after stinging defeats in Georgia, Arizona and Pennsylvania. This time around Trump won back both Georgia and Pennsylvania. He also took Wisconsin.
Republicans also won a majority in the Senate, with key victories in Ohio and West Virginia pushing them over the top. This will give them a key advantage as they work to confirm Trump’s cabinet picks and judicial nominations.
It’s important to remember that the majorities in Congress are razor-thin and nowhere near filibuster-proof in the Senate. So passing legislation will require bipartisanship.
The big question now is – who will be the Senate majority leader? The three candidates are John Thune from South Dakota, John Cornyn from Texas and Rick Scott from Florida.
Balance of power in Congress shifts, GOP retakes control of Senate
As Ray mentioned, the balance of power is shifting in Congress. Republicans will retake control of the Senate for the first time in four years.
The GOP flipped seats in West Virginia and Ohio, giving Republicans at least a 51-seat majority in the Senate.
In West Virginia, Republican Gov. Jim Justice is slated to replace the outgoing Sen. Joe Manchin, an independent who caucused with Democrats. In Ohio, Republican Bernie Moreno is projected by multiple outlets to defeat incumbent Democrat Sen. Sherrod Brown.
How the House of Representatives will play out remains to be seen. Republicans are hoping to retain control of the chamber.
They currently hold a slim majority, yet there are still over 100 races yet to be determined as of the time of publishing. Going into the night, Democrats needed to flip four seats to gain.
Stein wins in NC governor’s race, Republicans see victory in other states
Voters in 11 states also chose their next governors. While Republicans won big, Democrats did manage to retain power in several states.
North Carolina remained blue after the state’s Democratic attorney general, Josh Stein, beat out controversial Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson. Robinson — who made history as the first Black lieutenant governor in the state — was already trailing in the polls, but his numbers took a dive in mid-September after CNN released a report detailing comments he allegedly made on a pornography website message board more than a decade ago on race, gender and abortion.
Thank you, North Carolina! I am honored to serve as your next governor. Tonight, we came together to resoundingly embrace a vision that is optimistic, forward-looking, and welcoming. I couldn't have done this without each of you. pic.twitter.com/3eeGGTVHed
In Delaware, Democrat Matt Meyer wins the race for governor. Meyer defeated Republican Mike Ramone and will take over from two-term Democratic Gov. John Carney.
Washington state will stay blue after Attorney General Bob Ferguson beat out Republican challenger Dave Reichert for the job. The seat was up for grabs after Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee said he would not be running again after serving three terms.
Indiana went from blue to red, with Republican Mike Braun defeating Democrat Jennifer McCormick. McCormick is a former Republican who split with the party after serving as the state’s schools superintendent.
Meanwhile, Republican Missouri remained red. The state’s Lt. Gov. Mike Kehoe is set to replace term-limited Republican Gov. Mike Parson.
North Dakota stayed red, as well. Kelly Armstrong is projected to succeed Gov. Doug Burgum, who also chose not to run again after serving three terms. It is possible Burgum will get a place in the Trump administration.
Republicans will now have governors in 27 states; Democrats in 23.
*Editor’s Note: This story has been updated since our recording to correct that North Carolina did not flip blue as the current governor, Roy Cooper, is a Democrat.
Voters in four states chose whether to enshrine abortion as a constitutional right. The measure did not pass in Florida, Nebraska or South Dakota, but did in Colorado and Nevada.
Nebraska voters actually had two abortion-related measures on their ballot. While the constitutional right to an abortion failed, the other measure, which would prohibit abortions after the first trimester, passed.
Five other states were deciding on the right to an abortion. The measures passed in Arizona, Maryland, Missouri, and New York and is expected to make it through in Montana.
3 newly elected senators, 1 congresswoman making history
History was made in three states on Election Day.
In Delaware, Lisa Blunt Rochester — who already made history as the first woman and first Black person to represent the state in Congress — will now become the first Black woman to represent Delaware in the U.S. Senate.
Maryland Democrat Angela Alsobrooks will be the first Black candidate to represent her state in the Senate.
We just won our Senate race! As a son of immigrants, a public school kid, I never could’ve imagined I’d get to serve as a US Senator. I’m deeply humbled and grateful to NJ and for everyone who got us here. I promise I’ll serve with honor and integrity as a public servant for all. pic.twitter.com/qpuobm9Vf3
New Jersey Democrat Andy Kim will become the first Korean-American ever elected to the Senate. At 42 years old, he’ll also be the Senate’s third youngest member.
Finally, Sarah McBride, who won Delaware’s only open House seat, will be the first openly transgender person to be elected to Congress.
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Republicans claim Senate majority, end Democrats’ four-year hold
US sending troops, anti-missile system to Israel as war escalates
The United States is sending troops and an anti-missile system to Israel. And an incredible landing has SpaceX cheering and thinking about future missions. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Oct. 14, 2024.
US sending troops, anti-missile system to Israel as war escalates
Iran has now warned Washington to keep American military forces out of Israel.
“While we have made tremendous efforts in recent days to contain an all-out war in our region, I say it clearly that we have no red lines in defending our people and interests,” Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi posted on X.
This comes as Israel said at least four of its soldiers were killed in a drone attack by the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah Sunday, Oct. 13. At least 60 other people were injured in the attack on an army base in central Israel, including seven soldiers.
http://twitter.com/IDF/status/1845719319449145830
Hezbollah said the attack was in response to Israeli strikes on Beirut last week that left 22 people dead.
An attack this deadly in Israel is unusual. Its advanced air defense systems usually spot a threat well beforehand. Israel has said it’s investigating how the drone entered the country without triggering an alert.
Meanwhile, Israeli strikes left at least 40 people dead in Gaza Sunday, including 13 children, according to local officials. One of those strikes was at a hospital in central Gaza, where thousands of displaced Palestinians were sheltering.
The Israeli military said it was a precise strike on a Hamas command center “embedded inside a compound that previously served as the ‘Shuhadah Al-Aqsa’ hospital.” Israel’s military also said it took steps to limit harm to civilians in the attack.
Authorities said the Nevada man had a shotgun, a loaded handgun, ammunition and several fake passports with him when he was stopped near where the rally was being held in Coachella.
Deputies assigned to the rally said they stopped the 49-year-old suspect as he was driving an unregistered vehicle with a “homemade” license plate. They said the man claimed to be a journalist.
The man passed an outer security boundary before being stopped at an inner perimeter, patrolled by local deputies. Authorities said former President Trump was not yet at the rally when the arrest happened, and he was “not in any danger.”
The suspect has since been released on $5,000 bail. Court records show his next appearance is scheduled for Jan. 2.
Biden approves $612 million to support Florida’s hurricane-ravaged communities
As hundreds of thousands remain without power and flooding continues to be an issue, President Biden visited Florida on Sunday for the second time in less than a week. This time it was to get a firsthand look at communities ravaged by Hurricane Milton.
On Saturday, Biden approved a disaster declaration to give federal funding to people affected by Milton, including grants for temporary housing, home repairs and loans. Biden said more than 250,000 Floridians have already registered for help, which he said was “the most in a single day ever in the history of this country.”
Trial begins in mysterious murders of 2 Indiana teenagers
Investigators arrested Allen in 2022 in connection to the deaths of 14-year-old Libby German and 13-year-old Abby Williams, five years after the girls disappeared while walking on a trail in the town of Delphi near an abandoned bridge. Searchers found their bodies a day later.
SpaceX pulled off an incredible feat on Sunday, successfully launching its fifth test flight of its unmanned Starship spacecraft. However, it was the return of the Super Heavy rocket booster that wowed the crowd, as well as SpaceX CEO Elon Musk.
For the first time, after breaking off from the Starship, the 232-foot-tall booster returned to Earth but didn’t land in the ocean like the spacecraft would. Instead, it returned to the Texas launch pad, caught by two mechanical arms which SpaceX calls “chopsticks.”
Elon Musk called the moment a “big step towards making life multiplanetary.”
SpaceX is hoping its Starship system will one day take people to the moon and Mars — with plans to use the capsule to transport NASA astronauts to the moon as soon as 2026.
‘Game of Thrones’ Iron Throne sells for $1.49 million
One “Game of Thrones” fan is sitting pretty, or at least powerfully, after taking the iconic “Iron Throne.” Unlike the characters in the HBO drama, the winner didn’t have to go through eight seasons of fighting, just a six-minute bidding war and $1.5 million.
This 310-pound plastic version of the throne was used during promotional and touring events for the series.
In total, Heritage auctions said its three-day auction in Dallas raked in more than $21 million dollars, making it the company’s second biggest entertainment event ever — behind the $22.8 million record set in 2011 by the Debbie Reynolds sale.
Judge rules state must pay for convicted murderer’s transgender surgery
A federal judge has ruled that the state of Indiana must provide transgender surgery to an inmate serving time for murder. The ruling sparked a heated response from the state, highlighting ongoing tensions over state laws and the constitutional rights of incarcerated individuals.
Autumn Cordellione, previously known as Jonathan Richardson, is currently serving a 55-year sentence in an all-male state prison for the murder of the inmate’s 11-month-old stepdaughter.
In 2023, the inmate filed a lawsuit with the assistance of the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, challenging a state law that prohibits taxpayer funding for medical procedures for transgender individuals in prison. The court ruled in favor of the ACLU, stating that the surgery is necessary for Cordellione’s treatment of gender dysphoria, a condition the inmate was diagnosed with in 2020.
The court has ordered the Indiana Department of Corrections to take all reasonable actions to facilitate the requested procedure for the transition surgery.
“Today marks a significant victory for transgender individuals in Indiana’s prisons,” ACLU Legal Director Ken Falk said in a statement. “Denying evidence-based medical care to incarcerated people simply because they are transgender is unconstitutional. We are pleased that the court agreed.”
The state attorney general has indicated that the legal fight is not over, promising to appeal the decision and predicting that it will ultimately reach the highest court.
“These cases are bubbling up all over the country,” Attorney General Todd Rokita said. “I anticipate that whether it’s this case or one just like it, you’re going to see the Supreme Court make a decision, and it should be pretty easy.”
Speaker Johnson unveils stopgap funding bill to avoid government shutdown
With just days to spare until a government shutdown, congressional leaders have agreed on a short-term funding bill. And the manhunt continues for suspects in a weekend shooting in Birmingham, Alabama that left four killed and more than a dozen injured. These stories and more highlight your Unbiased Updates for Monday, Sept. 23, 2024.
Speaker Johnson unveils stopgap government spending bill to avoid shutdown
With just about a week to spare, Congress has reached a deal to avoid a government shutdown. House Speaker Mike Johnson said Sunday, Sept. 22, the House will vote this week on a three-month stopgap funding bill that would keep the federal government open until Dec. 20.
In a letter to house members, Johnson said the bill is “bare bones” and only includes “the extensions that are absolutely necessary.” Unlike a previous version, this bill does not include legislation concerning proof of citizenship to register to vote, but it does include an additional $230 million for Secret Service funding.
The Rules Committee is set to review the spending bill Monday afternoon, Sept. 23. House GOP leaders say lawmakers will likely vote on it on Wednesday, Sept. 25.
If this bill does not pass, government funding is slated to run out next Monday, Sept. 30.
Race tightens with 43 days to go until Election Day
With 43 days to go until Election Day, a new poll is showing just how close the race is between Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump. A CBS News poll released Sunday, Sept. 22, found Harris leading Trump 52% to 48% among likely voters.
This comes as former President Trump says this run for the presidency will be his last. He revealed that information Sunday during an interview on “Full Measure with Sharyl Attkinson.”
Also over the weekend, the vice president said she has agreed to another debate with the former president. Harris said she would debate Trump on CNN on Oct. 23. In response, Trump told supporters at a North Carolina rally it’s too late for another debate as early voting has already begun in some states.
Looking ahead, Trump will be campaigning in Indiana Monday while Harris is expected to release more on her economic plan this week.
No suspects in custody after 4 killed, 17 hurt in Alabama shooting
They believe it was a paid “hit” on one specific person, with everyone else caught in the crossfire. Witnesses say multiple suspects pulled up in a car, got out and fired dozens of gunshots, then quickly took off.
Birmingham’s mayor said this is not the first time this year the city has seen gun violence like this. During a news conference Sunday, he called it a “solvable problem.”
“We don’t have any interest in this whole debate about second amendment rights,” said Mayor Randall Woodfin. “We don’t have any interest in people who want to protect their homes, militia or whatever else you want to say. There’s a certain element in this city, there’s a certain element in this community who are too comfortable running around with semi-automatic weapons, automatic weapons, conversion switches and everything else, whose only intent, hell bent intent, is to harm people, shoot people, kill people.”
Investigators say they do believe the person who was targeted is among the people who died.
Israel warns residents to leave areas in Lebanon near Hezbollah targets
The Lebanese health ministry said one person was killed and six injured in the latest attacks across the southern and eastern portions of the country. These latest strikes come after last week’s explosions targeting walkie-talkies and pagers, and Friday’s, Sept. 20, attack on Beirut which killed 45 people, including a senior Hezbollah commander.
When asked if the latest assaults indicate an imminent ground invasion, an IDF spokesperson said right now, Israel is focused on its aerial campaign.
Embattled Secret Service faces big test at U.N. General Assembly
The agency is already facing heavy criticism after two separate assassination attempts on former President Trump. Now it’s tasked with protecting more than 140 world leaders, including those from Israel, Palestine, and Ukraine.
The U.S. General Assembly is considered the biggest event that the Secret Service is charged with protecting each year — bigger than the Super Bowl, which is also considered a major national security event.
The agency is working with multiple others, from the NYPD to the Coast Guard, to keep everyone safe, and maintains it is confident they will do just that.
Chicago White Sox lose 120th game to tie modern-day MLB record
Since 1900, only the 1962 New York Mets have lost so many games in a season. The White Sox already surpassed the 2003 Detroit Tigers for the most losses by an American League team.
With six games to go in the regular season, it’s looking like Chicago is going to set another record. The White Sox’s next game is Tuesday, Sept. 24, against the Los Angeles Angels in Chicago.
Police test using artificial intelligence to write incident reports
Artificial intelligence is being used to make human lives easier when it comes to everything from deciding what to cook for dinner to helping people keep up with their appointments. Now it’s even being used in police work. The Oklahoma City Police Department is among a handful of law enforcement agencies using AI to help write crime reports.
Officers will have an AI chatbot listen to body camera video then write up a first draft of an incident report for the officer. The head start saves valuable time that could otherwise be spent protecting and serving. Police officers who have tried the technology have given positive feedback about its accuracy and efficiency, according to The Associated Press.
However, some prosecutors, police watchdogs and legal scholars are concerned. They worry officers may lean too heavily on AI and not be able to offer information on the witness stand.
There are also concerns about racial bias and prejudices, which have already been found to be an issue in AI.
AI is not necessarily a new tool in fighting crime. Many police agencies have already adopted algorithmic tools to read license plates, recognize suspects’ faces, detect gunshot sounds and predict where crimes might occur — all of which have led to privacy and civil rights debates.
Lawmakers have created safeguards for those, but AI-generated police reports are so new, there are few, if any, protections.
Before testing AI-written police reports in Oklahoma City, the department ran it by prosecutors, who advised some caution before using it on high-stakes criminal cases. For now, the technology is only being used for minor incident reports that don’t lead to someone getting arrested.
The new AI is called Draft One and was built with the same technology used for ChatGPT by Axon. Axon is the main supplier of police body cameras in the U.S. and is also known for creating tasers.
Other police departments trying out the Draft One technology include Lafayette, Indiana and Fort Collins, Colorado.
Axon is not the only company creating AI tools for police. Startups like Policereports.ai and Truleo also have similar products.
Millions of dollars illegally seized from FedEx packages: Lawsuit
FedEx delivers over 3 billion packages a year and what is inside the packages can be anything from clothes to toys to even money. However, a new class action lawsuit alleged not all the money in those FedEx packages is going to the rightful recipient.
According to the Institute for Justice, the nonprofit libertarian law firm representing the plaintiffs, law enforcement and prosecutors seized millions of dollars a year in cash from these packages that are sent through the FedEx Express World Hub in Indianapolis, where up to 99,000 packages are processed every hour.
Authorities can seize these packages through civil asset forfeiture laws, which allow police to take property if it is suspected of being connected to a crime, even when no charges are filed.
The Department of Justice said asset forfeiture is “designed to deprive criminals of the proceeds of their crimes, to break the financial backbone of organized criminal syndicates and drug cartels, and to recover property that may be used to compensate victims and deter crime.”
However, the Institute for Justice said the legal process “turns justice on its head, making cops into robbers rather than crime fighters.”
In its suit against the state of Indiana and the Marion County prosecutor, the institute said the cash is being taken without a legitimate reason while presenting the case of a couple who owns a wholesale jewelry business in California.
According to the suit, one of their customers from Virginia sent them money through FedEx. An Indianapolis officer seized the package and prosecutors began forfeiture proceedings to keep the cash.
The institute said prosecutors have not been able to connect the cash with a crime, adding that the reasons given for its initial seizure were based in large part on a slate of factual inaccuracies.
Officers said the package did not have a signature when it did, and they called the package “suspicious” because all the seams were sealed with tape, which is a recommendation on the FedEx website.
Earlier this year, a civil forfeiture case brought before the Supreme Court led to a 6-3 ruling. The decision said a preliminary hearing to determine whether police may keep the seized property was not constitutionally required.
In her dissenting opinion, Justice Sonia Sotomayer wrote the process is “vulnerable to abuse” as “police agencies often have a financial incentive to seize” and keep the property.
In this class action lawsuit, the Institute for Justice is seeking for the California couple to get their money back and for the Marion County prosecutor’s policies to be declared illegal and unconstitutional.
Korea semiconductor company SK Hynix gets $450 million in CHIPS Act grant
The U.S. will officially host five of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturers after dolling out tens of billions of dollars in grant money. The Biden administration announced Tuesday, Aug. 6, it’s awarding hundreds of millions in grants to South Korea’s SK Hynix for its new facility in West Lafayette, Indiana.
“These are the only companies in the world capable of producing leading-edge chips at scale,” Commerce Secretary Gina Raimonda said of the five companies establishing production on U.S. soil.
The Commerce Department now says it has dished out more than $30 billion of the $39 billion set aside as part of the bipartisan CHIPS Act.
Meanwhile, defense contractor BAE Systems received the first CHIPS Act grant totaling $35 million to quadruple the manufacturing of chips used in F-15 and F-35 fighter jets.
The bottom line
Semiconductors are crucial to the artificial intelligence boom the tech sector is facing today, and only about 10% of chips are made in the United States. That’s down from roughly 37% in 1990.
The Semiconductor Industry Association said the increased investment from the government and private sector will triple U.S. capacity by 2032. However, that will still only account for 14% of global manufacturing.
American Rounds to expand footprint of ammo vending machines
The company behind ammunition vending machines reportedly announced its intention to expand its footprint across the United States on Friday, Aug. 2. The company known as American Rounds said that it plans to expand to the western part of the United States into states, including California.
The western expansion is reportedly already underway with the first ammunition vending machine being installed in Colorado this week.
Meanwhile, the ammo vending machines are already in states including Texas, Alabama and Oklahoma. American Rounds also said that it has received requests from stores in Indiana and Kentucky.
According to American Rounds, stores in more than 40 states have requested machines. So far there are no specific state-by-state expansion plans.
In order for people to get ammunition from the vending machine, they must have a valid identification card and be alright with using facial recognition technology to verify their identity. The machines hold ammunition for handguns, rifles and shotguns.
“As a family we are pro-Second Amendment, but we are also for responsible gun ownership,” Orin Lagree, the president of LaGree Food Stores, said. “We believe the technology in these machines will help keep ammo out of the wrong hands.”
However, critics say while security measures are fine, it’s the location of the vending machines that is the problem.
“Innovations that make ammunition more secure via facial recognition, age verification and the tracking of serial sales are promising safety features that belong in gun stores, not in the place where you buy your kids’ milk,” Nick Suplina, the senior vice president of Everytown Gun Safety, said.
“In a country awash in guns and ammo, where guns are the leading cause of deaths for kids, we don’t need to further normalize the sale and promotion of these products,” Suplina added.
The company’s CEO contends that it’s a misconception to think they’re “going to put these everywhere that a vending machine-style product would go.”
“We’re not interested in putting them in every location,” CEO Grant Magers said.
President Biden to address the nation on his decision to end 2024 campaign
President Joe Biden is set to address the nation for the first time after dropping out of the 2024 presidential race. And the story of another American athlete heading to Paris hoping to bring their sport to the Olympics. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, July 24, 2024.
President Biden to address the nation on his decision to end 2024 campaign
President Joe Biden will address the nation on Wednesday, July 24, to explain why he ended his 2024 presidential campaign. He’s also set to lay out what he will focus on in the six months remaining in his presidency.
Biden arrived back in Washington from his home in Delaware on Tuesday, July 23, for the first time in six days since he was diagnosed with COVID-19. He answered only one question from reporters upon his return, saying he’s “feeling well” after now testing negative for the virus.
In Wednesday night’s address, President Biden is expected to also explain why he believes Vice President Kamala Harris is the best candidate to take on former President Donald Trump in November.
Harris held her first rally in Wisconsin Tuesday, July 23, and she’ll address a historically Black sorority convention in Indianapolis Wednesday. On Thursday, July 25, she’s set to address a teachers union that endorsed her on July 22.
Vice President Kamala Harris rallied Democrats on Tuesday in Wisconsin, vowing to defeat Donald Trump by attacking him as a prosecutor. Harris listed her campaign pledges, which included expanding abortion rights and building a strong middle class. https://t.co/9nF2OMLKDQpic.twitter.com/Au3BeuipG0
Trump will rally in North Carolina Wednesday and then he and his running mate, Sen. JD Vance, R-Ohio, will hold a joint rally in Minnesota on Saturday, July 27.
This comes as the first few polls conducted after Harris launched her presidential campaign have been released.
In a head-to-head matchup, an NPR poll found Trump at 46% and Harris with 45% of support among registered voters. However, a Reuters poll has Harris ahead with 44% compared to Trump’s 42%.
Trump’s campaign to hold indoor rallies in aftermath of assassination attempt
Former President Trump’s campaign will reportedly now stop holding outdoor rallies on the Secret Service’s advice after he was wounded in an assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania rally. The campaign says current plans are to hold indoor events and maybe smaller outdoor ones, but only in more controlled settings.
Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle stepped down Tuesday, July 23, after calls for her resignation in the wake of the assassination attempt.
CAMPAIGN CA$H: "Kamala Harris is in the process of committing the largest campaign finance violation in American history." Why the Trump campaign says the Harris campaign is violating finance laws: https://t.co/DeWSsaDYtDpic.twitter.com/qE22Rnf98f
The Trump campaign has also filed a complaint with the FEC in an effort to block President Biden’s campaign from transferring $91 million to Vice President Harris’ campaign. Trump’s team says Harris improperly took over the cash after the Biden campaign account changed its name to “Harris for President.”
Harris’ campaign spokesperson has dismissed the filing.
Mass protest at U.S. Capitol ahead of Netanyahu speech
Dozens of demonstrators showed up to the U.S. Capitol Tuesday, July 23, to protest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit to the U.S. The protest was organized by the group Jewish Voice for Peace.
Tuesday’s demonstration had a similar message as other high profile war protests, with demonstrators chanting “free Palestine,” “not in our name” and “stop genocide.” They protesters staged a sit-in at a congressional office building. Capitol police arrested more than 200 people.
The protest came as Netanyahu is in Washington meeting with U.S. lawmakers. Multiple other protests are already planned for Wednesday as Netanyahu is set to deliver a speech to Congress.
Netanyahu is expected to meet with President Joe Biden Thursday, July 25. He’ll also meet with Vice President Kamala Harris Thursday and former President Donald Trump on Friday, July 26, as he looks to lock in support for Israel from both candidates ahead of November’s election.
Looking forward to seeing Bibi Netanyahu on Friday, and even more forward to achieving Peace in the Middle East! DJT@realDonaldTrump Donald Trump Truth Social 10:06 PM EST 07/23/24 pic.twitter.com/duBKAOiFyD
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) July 24, 2024
The law originally passed last year but was then placed on hold. In June, Iowa’s Supreme Court ruled there was no constitutional right to an abortion in the state, lifting the hold.
🚨 BREAKING: Iowa’s extreme 6-week abortion ban will go into effect on Monday, July 29 at 8 a.m.
Iowans will lose the ability to make private medical decisions even though most of us believe abortion should remain legal. We will never stop fighting for reproductive freedom.
Previously, abortion in Iowa was legal for up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. Iowa will now join three other states that ban abortions after about six weeks.
Menendez resigning from Senate after federal bribery conviction
New Jersey Sen. Bob Menendez, D, will be resigning. He’s stepping down after his conviction earlier this month on 16 counts. The charges include including bribery, extortion, wire fraud, obstruction of justice and acting as a foreign agent.
Menendez’s resignation will take effect Aug. 20, giving his staffers time to find new jobs. The New Jersey lawmaker was facing mounting pressure to step down or face being expelled from the Senate.
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy, D, is expected to appoint a replacement to fill the remainder of Menendez’s term, which ends on Jan. 3.
Tesla earnings down amid weak electric vehicle sales
Tesla’s profit is down more than 40% for the second quarter of this year and that can mostly be attributed to weak auto sales. From April to June, the company’s revenue from its electric vehicles is down more than $1.3 billion compared to the same time last year.
Experts say Tesla is facing a double whammy of more competition from big automakers and an overall decline in EV sales.
However, Tesla owner Elon Musk is focused on the company’s future. He announced this week Tesla will have its humanoid robots “in production to be used within the company next year.”
Tesla has been working up robot models for several years as part of its efforts to expand into robots and artificial intelligence.
U.S. athletes hope showcase launches beach handball into Olympics
This is the third installment in our weeklong series taking a closer look at Team USA members and their sports ahead of the start of the Paris Olympics.
When the Olympic Games open on Friday, July 26, in Paris, viewers be able to watch beach volleyball at the Eiffel Tower Stadium.
But for USA’s Christine Mansour, Ebiye Udo-Udoma and Drew Donlin, their attention will be on another beach sport 15 miles away — beach handball.
“It’s a dream come true,” Udo-Udoma told Straight Arrow News. “There are still some preparations. I don’t think the magnitude of playing in Paris has hit me because I’m still focused on training.”
Mansour, fresh off getting her MBA, means business when it comes to giving beach handball its due.
“I always view it as a startup sport,” Mansour said. “Not that many people know about it, especially in the States. It’s so interesting because once I explain this sport to people and show them a clip, the interest is immediately piqued.”
Just like the sport itself, Udo-Udoma is better known outside the U.S., often referred to internationally by his nickname “Handball Ninja.”
“I remember shaking hands with an opponent,” Udo-Udoma said. “I said, ‘My name’s Ebiye.’ He said ‘Ninja, you don’t have to introduce yourself, we all know who you are.’ I just chuckled.”
Unlike the indoor version, beach handball is not yet an official part of the Olympics. But this year in Paris, beach handball is an exhibition sport played alongside the Olympic Games.
Mansour and Udo-Udoma are among 64 of the world’s best athletes from 18 different countries playing in a showcase with hopes for the sport to be granted a permanent spot.
“It’s very important to me that you have these mediums in life like sport where you can transcend barriers whether they are political, social or geographical,” Udo-Udoma said. “It’s nice to have something to connect you to other human beings independent of superficial restrictions.”
After playing Division 1 basketball at Harvard, Mansour found beach handball while living in California and excelled — becoming the top scorer in the 2022 World Championship, moving to the Netherlands and creating a dual-nation team. Now she is being named the only female player from North America for the showcase.
“We’re all entrepreneurs in the sense,” Mansour said. “We’re all doing our part to build this community and build this sport, build awareness, so we can continue to reach higher levels and with that the ultimate goal is reaching the Olympics.”
Mansour said one of the big differentiators setting this sport apart from others is the points for spectacular goals, including the alley oops and the spin shots.
It was those moves that first caught the attention of the future “Handball Ninja.” Udo-Udoma played at Oregon State University and joined the national team a decade ago.
“For really a couple decades worth of work to culminate into something like getting the opportunity to play under the rings, the flood of emotion that initially hit me was immense,” Udo-Udoma said.
Olympic gold is not the goal this year for these Americans. They are just out to prove beach handball belongs at the Olympics and they’re not going to miss their shot —spinning or not — to showcase that.
“So to have this opportunity as we shoot to get it on the program for Los Angeles 2028, Brisbane 2032, and to be an integral part of the history of something; that’s something that has even more value on top of what I accomplish as an individual athlete or as a competitor — to be part of something bigger than me,” Udo-Udoma said.
“For me to be part of an Olympic showcase of a sport that I’m obsessed with, that I love, and I wish the whole world knew about is the greatest honor,” Mansour added.