Here are the AP's latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit Coverage Plan at https://newsroom.ap.org.

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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NATIONAL

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US--GEORGE SANTOS

Disgraced former US Rep. George Santos to begin serving his 7-year fraud sentence

SUMMARY: Disgraced former U.S. Rep. George Santos is set to begin serving a seven-year prison sentence for the fraud charges that got him ousted from Congress. The New York Republican is slated to report to federal prison by 2 p.m. on Friday. It’s unclear where he’ll serve his time. Santos and his lawyers have declined to comment, as has the federal Bureau of Prisons. Santos pleaded guilty last summer to federal wire fraud and aggravated identity theft. He admitted that he deceived donors and stole the identities of nearly a dozen people to fund his congressional campaign. He served less than a year in Congress before being expelled in 2023.

WORDS: 661 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 1:02 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:29cdb8a9e9dfe7283d53091a6e20b1ba&mediaType=text

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US--FLORIDA-IMMIGRATION DETENTION CENTER

Deportation flights from Florida’s ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ detention center have begun, DeSantis says

SUMMARY: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says deportation flights from the remote Everglades immigration lockup known as ”Alligator Alcatraz″ began in the past few days. DeSantis said Friday that the flights operated by the Department of Homeland Security have transferred about 100 detainees from the immigration detention center to other countries. He expects that number to increase soon. Officials say two or three flights have happened, though they didn’t say which countries those flights headed to. Critics have condemned the facility as cruel and inhumane, but DeSantis and other Republicans have defended it as part of the state’s aggressive push to support President Donald Trump’s crackdown on illegal immigration.

WORDS: 417 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 12:49 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:264b9d3cf49be876ed6bcb32c07e23bb&mediaType=text

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US--IMMIGRATION-MILITARIZED BORDER

A man is halted climbing the US-Mexico border wall. Under new Trump rules, US troops sound the alarm

SUMMARY: U.S. troops are sharing command stations and vehicles with civilian immigration authorities at the southern U.S. border under an emergency declaration from President Donald Trump. A two-star general general leads 7,600 border troops and an assortment of helicopters and drones, and says the military has been freed from menial work to help apprehend immigrants, protect newly designated militarized turf and disrupt smuggling cartels. Legal experts say the strategy flouts a ban on law enforcement by the military on U.S. soil and thrusts the armed forces into a potentially politicized mission. In a twist of fate, immigrants are part of the U.S. fighting forces at the border.

WORDS: 1592 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 11:11 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:be3ee9f55a62c323ac5e03b5366f5d25&mediaType=text

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US--HAWAII-VACATION RENTALS

Maui panel passes bill to curb vacation rentals and boost housing supply after Lahaina wildfire

SUMMARY: Lawmakers on Maui have passed legislation aimed at eliminating a large percentage of the Hawaiian island’s vacation rentals. The bill aims to address a housing shortage exacerbated by the Lahaina wildfire two years ago. The Maui County Council’s housing committee voted 6-3 Thursday to pass the bill, which would close a loophole allowing condos in apartment zones to be rented for days or weeks instead of months. The council still needs to vote on the bill but the committee’s result is a strong indication of the final outcome because all nine council members sit on the housing panel. The mayor proposed the bill and is expected to sign it.

WORDS: 704 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 1:15 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2f73c657e2fb40b65d707889bac56b63&mediaType=text

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US--TRUMP SHOOTING ATTEMPT

Man accused of attempting to assassinate Trump can represent himself at trial, judge says

SUMMARY: A federal judge says a man charged with trying to assassinate President Donald Trump last year in South Florida can represent himself during his trial. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon on Thursday signed off on Ryan Routh’s request to represent himself during his trial. But she said court-appointed attorneys need to remain as standby counsel. The federal public defenders had asked to be taken off the case, saying Routh had refused repeated attempts to meet with them. Routh is scheduled to stand trial in September, a year after prosecutors say a U.S. Secret Service agent thwarted his attempt to shoot Trump as he played golf.

WORDS: 749 - MOVED: 07/24/2025 2:40 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:644c71bc607e4ebad5115f2a490b314c&mediaType=text

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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US--TRUMP-NEW JERSEY PROSECUTOR

Trump administration clears way to keep Alina Habba as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has taken steps to keep Alina Habba as the top federal prosecutor in New Jersey. The Republican president withdrew Habba’s nomination for the permanent position Thursday, allowing her to transition from interim U.S. attorney to acting U.S. attorney for 210 days. Habba announced her new role on social media, emphasizing her commitment to justice. Earlier in the week, judges had declined to extend Habba’s tenure, appointing Desiree Leigh Grace instead. However, Grace was later removed by Attorney General Pam Bondi. Habba’s office has been involved in several high-profile cases, including against Democratic Newark Mayor Ras Baraka and U.S. Rep. LaMonica McIver.

WORDS: 714 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 11:33 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:93dfa4de0a68b15a659ef5272e6b193d&mediaType=text

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US--AP POLL-SUPREME COURT

How views of the Supreme Court have changed since 2022 abortion ruling, according to AP-NORC polling

SUMMARY: A new poll shows Americans’ views of the Supreme Court have moderated somewhat since the court’s standing dropped sharply after its ruling overturning Roe v. Wade in 2022. But the AP-NORC poll shows concern the court has too much power is rising, fueled largely by Democrats. The poll finds about a third of U.S. adults have hardly any confidence in the court, but that’s down from 43% three years ago. The decrease in negative opinion about the court is driven by Republicans and independents. Still, views of the nation’s highest court remain more negative than they were as recently as early 2022, before the high-profile Dobbs ruling that overturned the constitutional right to abortion.

WORDS: 925 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 11:10 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:dc4ef3a6adaee2ee9cc32d22dce0a74e&mediaType=text

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US--POSTAL SERVICE 250-ABRIDGED

From Benjamin Franklin to Pony Express to anthrax: How the US Postal Service shaped a nation

SUMMARY: The U.S. Postal Service is turning 250. Saturday’s anniversary comes as the agency faces financial challenges. The postal service was established in 1775, when the Second Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin as postmaster general. Its service predates the United States, launched nearly a year before the colonies declared their break from British rule. A key link between colonial leaders and the Continental Army, it also helped unify the fragmented colonies by spreading ideas of liberty and independence and would help shape the nation throughout its history. It still reaches nearly every American daily.

WORDS: 997 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 10:03 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6fa04e83fb0fa8672c87949f436b8304&mediaType=text

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US--POSTAL SERVICE 250

From Benjamin Franklin to Pony Express to anthrax: How the US Postal Service shaped a nation

SUMMARY: The U.S. Postal Service is turning 250. Saturday’s anniversary comes as the agency faces financial challenges. The postal service was established in 1775, when the Second Continental Congress appointed Benjamin Franklin as postmaster general. Its service predates the United States, launched nearly a year before the colonies declared their break from British rule. A key link between colonial leaders and the Continental Army, it also helped unify the fragmented colonies by spreading ideas of liberty and independence and would help shape the nation throughout its history. It still reaches nearly every American daily.

WORDS: 1648 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 10:02 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f3767d7216b8779a95a6b27cd8082737&mediaType=text

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US--ELECTION 2026-GOVERNOR-SOUTH CAROLINA

Rep. Ralph Norman, among House’s most conservative, set to enter South Carolina governor’s race

SUMMARY: Republican congressman Ralph Norman is entering South Carolina’s 2026 governor’s race. Norman’s campaign confirms he plans to file his candidacy paperwork Friday. Norman is a wealthy real estate developer and one of the most conservative Republicans in the U.S. House and has long considered running for the state’s highest office. Unlike some of Norman’s rivals, he isn’t expected to seek President Donald Trump’s endorsement. Norman joins other candidates including Attorney General Alan Wilson and Lt. Gov. Pamela Evette in the GOP primary. Part of the House Freedom Caucus, Norman has been in the U.S. House since 2017 and is known as among the chamber’s most conservative members.

WORDS: 711 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 7:06 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a3175ade72b18813d47c9bdf6f4e568b&mediaType=text

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US--MIDEAST WARS

US cuts short Gaza ceasefire talks and accuses Hamas of lacking ‘good faith’

SUMMARY: The United States is cutting short Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar, saying the latest response from Hamas “shows a lack of desire” to reach a truce. President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said Thursday that mediators have made a great effort but Hamas does not appear to be acting in good faith. Witkoff says the U.S. will “consider alternative options to bring the hostages home and try to create a more stable environment for the people of Gaza.” The State Department offered no details at a press briefing on those “alternative options.” A breakthrough in talks on a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas has eluded Trump’s Republican administration for months.

WORDS: 1212 - MOVED: 07/24/2025 9:06 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4d713a205d5d33e664b7c5853c6f5a1a&mediaType=text

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US--TRUMP-FEDERAL RESERVE

Trump and Powell bicker over Fed building renovations as president ratchets up pressure campaign

SUMMARY: After months of criticizing Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, President Donald Trump took the fight to the Fed’s front door on Thursday, publicly scorning the central bank chief over the ballooning costs of a long-planned building project. Powell pushed back, challenging the president’s latest price tag as incorrect. The visit represented a significant ratcheting up of the president’s pressure on Powell to lower borrowing costs, which Trump says would accelerate economic growth and reduce the government’s borrowing costs. Presidents rarely visit the Fed’s offices, though they are just a few blocks from the White House, an example of the central bank’s long-standing independence from day-to-day politics.

WORDS: 1151 - MOVED: 07/24/2025 7:55 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:145b0189a8c7acaab9fcfb097dc376c9&mediaType=text

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US--JUSTICE DEPARTMENT-JEFFREY EPSTEIN

Justice Dept. official meets with Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein’s imprisoned former girlfriend

SUMMARY: The Justice Department’s No. 2 official has met with Ghislaine Maxwell, the imprisoned former girlfriend of financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The meeting between Maxwell and Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche is part of a Justice Department effort to cast itself as transparent following backlash from parts of President Donald Trump’s base over an earlier refusal to release additional Epstein records. A lawyer for Maxwell says she “answered all the questions truthfully, honestly and to the best of her ability.” Maxwell was convicted of helping Epstein sexually abuse underage girls. Epstein died in a New York jail in 2019 awaiting trial.

WORDS: 639 - MOVED: 07/24/2025 7:12 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b828f96be4a438edfe8051511be8c5da&mediaType=text

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US--ELECTION 2026-WISCONSIN-GOVERNOR

Democratic Gov. Tony Evers won’t seek third term in battleground Wisconsin

SUMMARY: Democratic Gov. Tony Evers of Wisconsin will not seek a third term in 2026, creating the first open race for governor in the battleground state in 16 years. Evers announced his decision Thursday. The race will be the highest profile one next year in Wisconsin, as Democrats also try to win control of the Legislature under friendlier boundary lines. Democrats are also targeting two Republican-held congressional seats. Evers’ tenure as governor has been marked by his often contentious relationship with the Legislature, which Republicans have controlled since 2011.

WORDS: 1045 - MOVED: 07/24/2025 4:23 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:78b32ffc51dff53512fd7499f21e9878&mediaType=text

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US--TRUMP-OVAL OFFICE REPLICA

A replica Oval Office near the White House just got a Trump makeover

SUMMARY: A replica Oval Office on display near the White House has been made over to look exactly like President Donald Trump’s Oval Office. But it isn’t the gilded version that the Republican is currently using. Instead, it’s a mirror image of the Oval Office from Trump’s first term. The replica initially looked like Democrat Joe Biden’s office when the White House Historical Association opened “The People’s House” educational center last fall. It takes time to get copies made of every item in the real Oval Office. It will be fully revamped next year to mirror Trump’s second-term office. Visitors starting Thursday will experience it as it was in Trump’s first term.

WORDS: 560 - MOVED: 07/24/2025 2:14 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1a918d2c892cf5338eab2a41c96e55f5&mediaType=text

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INTERNATIONAL

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EU--EUROPE-MIDEAST WARS

UK, French and German leaders press Israel over Gaza aid after Macron backs a Palestinian state

SUMMARY: The leaders of Britain, France, and Germany have demanded Israel allow unrestricted aid into Gaza to end a “humanitarian catastrophe.” It comes after President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will recognize a Palestinian state, making it the first major Western power to do so. This decision highlights differences among the European allies on addressing the humanitarian crisis and ending the Israel-Hamas war. Germany and Britain support a Palestinian state in principle but have not followed France’s lead. The situation in Gaza has caused alarm among Israel’s allies, with calls for urgent action to address the crisis and build lasting peace.

WORDS: 843 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 1:08 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1f6874adbfe1d5be1fddce5a69c0f6ac&mediaType=text

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EU--FRANCE-SYRIA

France’s highest court upholds some of Bashar Assad’s legal protections, but permits future warrants

SUMMARY: France’s highest court has upheld some of Bashar Assad’s immunity as a former head of state. But it allowed for potential future war crime warrants against him. The Cour de Cassation ruled Friday that new arrest warrants could be issued for alleged war crimes since Assad is no longer in office. Activists hoped the court would remove his immunity which could have set a precedent for prosecuting leaders accused of atrocities. Human rights lawyers and activists argue that international law should allow prosecution of such leaders while they are in power.

WORDS: 1096 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 1:08 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1363d17e1aa4578bba06a4591aca377c&mediaType=text

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ML--LEBANON-FRANCE-MILITANT RELEASED

Militant Georges Abdallah arrives in Lebanon after more than 40 years in French detention

SUMMARY: A Lebanese pro-Palestinian communist militant has arrived in Lebanon following his release after more than 40 years in detention in France. Georges Ibrahim Abdallah, 74, was serving a life sentence for complicity in the murders of two diplomats, one American and one Israeli, in Paris in 1982. The Paris Court of Appeal ruled last week that Abdallah could be released on the condition that he leave the country and never return. Abdallah was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1987 for complicity in the assassinations of U.S. Army Lt. Col. Charles Ray, who was stationed in Paris as an assistant military attaché, and Israeli diplomat Yacov Barsimantov.

WORDS: 417 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 1:06 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:91da54b4365db12e86e392e3b5304f2e&mediaType=text

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EU--TRUMP-SCOTLAND-SECURITY

‘Why isn’t he paying?’ Trump’s golf visit to cost Scottish taxpayers

SUMMARY: U.S. President Donald Trump’s visit to his Scottish golf resorts has prompted a major police operation. Thousands of officers in reflective yellow vests are patrolling Friday around his Turnberry golf course to provide security and manage planned protests. The operation is expected to cost Scottish taxpayers millions of pounds. The union representing officers is concerned about the strain on already overworked police. Policing for Trump’s previous visit to the U.K. in 2018 cost about $19 million. Assistant Chief Constable Emma Bond says the operation involves local, national and specialist resources. Protests are planned in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dumfries.

WORDS: 531 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 12:20 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:cd2431a5ef8729be68567243f4435880&mediaType=text

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AS-THAILAND-CAMBODIA

Tens of thousands flee their homes as Thailand and Cambodia clash

SUMMARY: Fighting between Thailand and Cambodia over disputed border areas has entered a second day, leaving at least 15 dead and displacing more than 80,000 people. Clashes flared up again Friday in multiple areas along the border, including near an ancient temple claimed by both countries. The Thai army accused Cambodian forces of using heavy artillery, prompting what Thai officials described as “appropriate supporting fire” in return. Malaysia has expressed concern and offered to mediate. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has also called for restraint and urged both countries to resolve disputes through dialogue.

WORDS: 1037 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 12:16 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:deaa0baeecf76876340105a26651653f&mediaType=text

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ML--MIDEAST WARS

Netanyahu says Israel considering alternatives to ceasefire talks with Hamas, deepening uncertainty

SUMMARY: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his government was considering “alternative options” to ceasefire talks with Hamas after it and the U.S. recalled their negotiating teams. His statement came even as a Hamas official said he expected negotiations to resume next week. The United States recalled its negotiating team from Qatar and after President Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff said Hamas’ latest response to the negotiations showed a “lack of desire” to reach a truce. The sides have held weeks of talks in Qatar reporting small signs of progress but no major breakthroughs.

WORDS: 747 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 11:11 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:86ad3aef03cb43cbc8b05c8037e8c5c0&mediaType=text

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EU--RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR

Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says defenses are holding firm against Russia’s summer push

SUMMARY: Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukrainian forces are holding back a concerted summer push by Russia’s bigger army to break through defenses along parts of the front line. He says Ukraine has thwarted Russian efforts to get into Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region. He says the situation has also improved in the northeastern Sumy border region. Analysts say Russia has recently made only incremental gains in its slow and costly advance against Ukrainian defenses. With the war now in its fourth year after Russia’s February 2022 invasion of its neighbor, the effort is draining resources on both sides, although Russia can sustain the fight for longer while Ukraine seeks further support from Western partners.

WORDS: 748 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 10:54 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e69e6b1a6ce4b6cc02b6899d945ddeab&mediaType=text

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ML--IRAN-NUCLEAR

European and Iranian diplomats meet in Istanbul as return of sanctions looms over nuclear deadlock

SUMMARY: Talks between Iranian and European diplomats in Istanbul have ended with the sides agreeing to meet again to seek to unpick the deadlock over Tehran’s nuclear program. Representatives from Britain, France and Germany gathered at the Iranian Consulate building Friday. The gathering was the first time that talks were held between Iran and the European countries known as the E3 since Iran’s 12-day war with Israel in June. The talks ended after four hours. They centered on the possibility of reimposing sanctions on Iran that were lifted in 2015 in exchange for Iran accepting restrictions and monitoring of its nuclear program. European leaders have said the reinstating of sanctions will start by the end of August if there’s no progress on containing Iran’s nuclear program.

WORDS: 908 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 9:32 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:f8fa3bb6e939545872b33220702bb46d&mediaType=text

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AS--INDIA-SCHOOL-ROOF COLLAPSE

School roof collapse in western India kills 7 children and injures at least 21

SUMMARY: A government school building’s roof collapsed in Rajasthan, India, killing seven children and injuring at least 21. The incident occurred Friday as students were about to start their school assembly. The school is located in Piplod village, Jhalawar district, and serves students up to eighth grade. Around 35 students were present, and the deceased were from seventh and eighth grade. Injured students have been admitted to two local hospitals. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences, calling the accident “tragic” and “deeply saddening.” Authorities are providing assistance to those affected.

WORDS: 251 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 7:34 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a4684047c7b3b6c8effb9eb60166859c&mediaType=text

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CN--CANADA MINE ACCIDENT

3 workers rescued from Canadian mine after 60 hours underground

SUMMARY: Three workers trapped at a gold and copper mine in Western Canada have been rescued after more than 60 hours underground. Newmont Corp. says the men were safely brought to the surface late Thursday after being trapped by two rockfalls on Tuesday morning. The rescue operation involved drones and a remote-controlled scoop to clear a massive rockfall. The workers had consistent access to food, water, and air while in the refuge chamber. British Columbia’s Mining Minister expressed relief that the workers can return home to their families. The mine is located in remote northern British Columbia.

WORDS: 311 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 6:52 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5a95ea73ce3346d61101b4ae87ad3cbf&mediaType=text

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AS--THAILAND-CAMBODIA-EXPLAINER

What’s behind the fighting between Thailand and Cambodia

SUMMARY: Serious armed clashes have erupted between Thailand and Cambodia over a disputed border area. The fighting, which erupted on Thursday, included gunfire exchanges and shelling and rocket fire, which Thai authorities say killed a Thai soldier and 13 civilians and injured 14 soldiers and 32 other civilians. Thailand has responded with air strikes. It was the second armed confrontation since a Cambodian soldier was shot dead in May. Border disputes are long-standing issues that have caused periodic tensions between the two neighbors. Thailand and Cambodia share more than 800 kilometers of land border. The contesting claims stem largely from a 1907 map drawn under French colonial rule.

WORDS: 627 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 4:44 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0eb99510a4ea16ee769a5934e0c07383&mediaType=text

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EU--FRANCE-MIDEAST WARS

French President Macron says France will recognize Palestine as a state

SUMMARY: French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will recognize Palestine as a state, amid snowballing global anger over people starving in Gaza. Macron said in a post Thursday on X that he will formalize the decision at the U.N. General Assembly in September. “The urgent thing today is that the war in Gaza stops and the civilian population is saved.″ The French president offered support for Israel after the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks and frequently speaks out against antisemitism, but he has grown increasingly frustrated about Israel’s war in Gaza, especially in recent months.

WORDS: 784 - MOVED: 07/24/2025 9:34 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:800ed63143f0653a7f215ad96f7038d3&mediaType=text

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ML--MIDEAST-WARS-DYING OF HUNGER

Dozens of kids and adults in Gaza have starved to death in July as hunger surges

SUMMARY: Health workers and aid groups fear hunger that has been building in Gaza for months under Israel’s blockade is now reaching a tipping point into accelerating death. The Gaza Health Ministry says that in the past three weeks, at least 48 people died of causes related to malnutrition, including 20 children. That’s up from 10 children who died in the five previous months of 2025. At the main emergency center for malnourished kids in northern Gaza, five children died in rapid succession over four days last week, with staff unable to treat them because key medicines had run out.

WORDS: 1318 - MOVED: 07/24/2025 8:27 p.m. EDT

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RACE AND ETHNICITY

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US--HULK HOGAN-BLACK WRESTLING FANS

Hulk Hogan’s death resurfaces painful contradictions for Black wrestling fans

SUMMARY: Hulk Hogan’s death has sparked mixed reactions, especially among Black wrestling fans and commentators. Many remember Hogan as a wrestling icon who broadened the sport’s appeal. However his well-documented racism and controversial behavior have resurfaced. Some fans struggle with his legacy, while others celebrate his achievements. Yet, his past use of racial slurs and political endorsements have left many questioning his sincerity. This reflects broader issues of race in wrestling and American society. Some fans remain devoted to the sport despite the contradictions.

WORDS: 966 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 1:18 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:bde576793d6de5954d8b903f33de5fb7&mediaType=text

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BUSINESS

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FINANCIAL-MARKETS

US stocks coast toward the finish of a record-setting week

SUMMARY: U.S. stocks are hanging around their records and coasting toward the close of another winning week. The S&P 500 rose 0.4% Friday, coming off its latest all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 119 points, and the Nasdaq composite added 0.4% to its record set the day before. Deckers helped lead the market after the company behind Ugg boots and Hoka shoes reported stronger profit and revenue for the spring than analysts expected. It helped offset a sharp drop for Intel, which said it would cut thousands of jobs as it tries to turn around its struggling fortunes.

WORDS: 734 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 1:11 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:2882d3cf706eb9891bdc0600e46e6524&mediaType=text

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US-PARAMOUNT-SKYDANCE

Federal regulators approve Paramount’s $8 billion deal with Skydance, capping months of turmoil

SUMMARY: Federal regulators on Thursday approved Paramount’s $8 billion merger with Skydance, clearing the way to close a deal that combined Hollywood glitz with political intrigue. The stamp of approval from the Federal Communications Commission comes after months of turmoil revolving around President Donald Trump’s legal battle with “60 Minutes,” the crown jewel of Paramount-owned broadcast network CBS. With the specter of the Trump administration potentially blocking the hard-fought deal with Skydance, Paramount earlier this month agreed to a $16 million settlement with the president.

WORDS: 962 - MOVED: 07/24/2025 8:43 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:74836c0da9dc0b33f580f714a3f2bfbb&mediaType=text

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UNITEDHEALTH-FEDERAL INVESTIGATION

UnitedHealth says it is under a federal investigation and cooperating

SUMMARY: UnitedHealth Group says it is cooperating with federal criminal and civil investigations involving its market-leading Medicare business. The health care giant said Thursday that it had contacted the Department of Justice after reviewing media reports about investigations into certain elements of its business. The Wall Street Journal has been reporting that federal officials had launched investigations into how the company records diagnoses that lead to extra payments for its Medicare Advantage plans. Those are privately run versions of the government’s Medicare coverage program mostly for people ages 65 and over. UnitedHealth runs the nation’s largest Medicare Advantage business.

WORDS: 430 - MOVED: 07/24/2025 2:31 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e798e8c5305043d757714277e0c5a75c&mediaType=text

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HEALTH/SCIENCE

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ML--ISRAEL-ANCIENT BURIAL SITE

A 100,000-year-old burial site in Israel is changing what we know about early humans

SUMMARY: Archaeologists in central Israel are excavating one of the world’s oldest-known burial sites, dating back 100,000 years. The site, Tinshemet Cave, contains remarkably preserved remains of early humans, carefully arranged and with what are likely ceremonial objects. Experts believe this site showcases a significant shift in how early humans treated their dead and thought about spirituality and the afterlife. Researchers are still studying whether the remains belong to Neanderthals, Homo sapiens, or a hybrid population.

WORDS: 1052 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 12:27 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:6813bf418566721409f2c3c94b5d627c&mediaType=text

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US--AP POLL-ABORTION

How US adults feel about legal abortion 3 years after Roe was overturned, according to AP-NORC poll

SUMMARY: A new poll finds that despite dramatic changes in abortion availability, support for abortion rights among U.S. adults is close to where it was just before the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. The AP-NORC poll shows about two-thirds think abortion should be legal in all or most cases. Half think abortion should be legal in their state if someone does not want to be pregnant for any reason. There’s stronger support for abortion in extreme circumstances: About 8 in 10 adults say their state should allow abortion in cases of fetal abnormalities that would prevent the baby from living outside the womb or if the woman’s health is endangered by the pregnancy.

WORDS: 1126 - MOVED: 07/24/2025 3:02 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5f7b5b95babbce4666d574db3e878c32&mediaType=text

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ENTERTAINMENT

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ENT--TV--SOUTH PARK-TRUMP

‘South Park’ co-creator jokes he’s ‘terribly sorry’ over premiere that drew White House anger

SUMMARY: “South Park” co-creator Trey Parker has briefly responded to anger from the White House over the season premiere of the animated series. The episode showed a naked President Donald Trump in bed with Satan. Parker said, “We’re terribly sorry,” followed by a long, deadpan-comic stare. Parker was asked for his reaction to the fracas as he sat on the stage at San Diego’s Comic-Con International on Thursday. Earlier in the day, a White House said in a statement that the show “hasn’t been relevant for 20 years” and is “desperate for attention.”

WORDS: 454 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 10:09 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:492c0bf68acbe3d18682891301242ef6&mediaType=text

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ENT--OBIT-CHUCK MANGIONE

Jazz legend Chuck Mangione, known for ‘Feels So Good,’ dies at 84

SUMMARY: Jazz musician Chuck Mangione, known for his hit “Feels So Good,” has died at 84. His attorney, Peter S. Matorin, says Mangione died Tuesday at his home in Rochester, New York. He achieved international fame in 1977 with “Feels So Good,” a smooth-jazz staple. He also composed “Give It All You Got” for the 1980 Winter Olympics. Mangione released over 30 albums and won two Grammy Awards. He started his career as a bebop musician inspired by Dizzy Gillespie. In 2009, he donated memorabilia to the Smithsonian. Mangione retired in 2015, leaving a lasting legacy in jazz music.

WORDS: 471 - MOVED: 07/24/2025 6:36 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a795d6fbc77cab5c8e85124dc3dffd1d&mediaType=text

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US--OBIT-HULK HOGAN

Hulk Hogan, icon in professional wrestling, dies at age 71

SUMMARY: Hulk Hogan, the mustachioed, headscarf-wearing icon in the world of professional wrestling, has died at age 71. Police in Clearwater, Florida, say authorities responded to a call about a cardiac arrest. No foul play is suspected. Hogan’s real name was Terry Bollea, and he was perhaps the biggest star in WWE’s long history. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre the Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even company chairman Vince McMahon. Hogan was also a celebrity outside the wrestling world, appearing in movies and TV shows, including a reality show on VH1, “Hogan Knows Best.”

WORDS: 1247 - MOVED: 07/24/2025 6:21 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:cc767794b616e155079b9f374c769ad0&mediaType=text

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SPORTS

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HKN--HOCKEY CANADA-SEXUAL ASSAULT

Judge acquits 5 former Canadian junior hockey players in sexual assault case that rattled the nation

SUMMARY: An Ontario judge has acquitted five former members of Canada’s world junior hockey team in their sexual assault case, saying the complainant’s allegations lacked the credibility needed to justify the charges. Superior Court Justice Maria Carroccia said Thursday that prosecutors could not meet the onus of proof for the charges against Michael McLeod, Carter Hart, Alex Formenton, Dillon Dube and Callan Foote. All five players had pleaded not guilty to sexual assault in the encounter that took place in a London, Ontario, hotel room in the early hours of June 19, 2018.

WORDS: 819 - MOVED: 07/25/2025 8:05 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ea704c28f7b2f305d39cfefdb9d4e309&mediaType=text

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