Kennedy Center will close for renovations after judge blocks returning Trump's name to building
WASHINGTON (AP) — The board of the Kennedy Center has voted to close the facility over financial issues and a dispute over putting President Donald Trump’s name on the iconic performing arts venue. That's according to people familiar with the matter. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a private meeting. Prior to Tuesday’s board meeting, a federal judge blocked the Kennedy Center board from adding Trump’s name to the structure or grounds, saying it would violate an earlier ruling that his name was illegally added to the building. Trump says the Justice Department will appeal the judge's ruling.
Trump and the court: If he wins, he's happy. When he loses, he ridicules justices he appointed
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has scored a series of wins at the Supreme Court, but he's had some setbacks on key issues, despite the court’s conservative majority. On Monday, the justices rejected his administration’s planned restrictions on mail ballots for the midterm elections. None of the justices he appointed publicly disagreed. Trump criticized the court on social media, expressing frustration over losses on tariffs and birthright citizenship. While the court has allowed Trump to advance much of his agenda, including on immigration and transgender rights, some high-profile losses have rankled him. The court’s recent decisions also suggest a reluctance to intervene in election litigation before the midterms.
Trump's push to restrict mail ballots has failed. Other efforts to reshape the midterms are ongoing
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump's efforts to assert federal control over elections are marching on despite a recent loss in the Supreme Court. Monday's rejection of his bid to restrict mail voting left several other attempts to reshape voting in various states of play with November's midterms looming. The Constitution grants the power to run elections to states, not the federal government. But Trump has used federal agencies to pressure states into taking several actions that he says will secure the vote. The Department of Justice has filed lawsuits to push states to share sensitive voter data. And the Department of Homeland Security is investigating noncitizen voters in a move criticized by a whistleblower.
Helicopter crashes and bursts into flames, killing at least 3 people near an LA bus collision
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Officials say a helicopter crashed in Los Angeles and killed at least three people near a deadly bus crash. It was not immediately clear Tuesday whether anyone had survived the helicopter crash. An official says one person killed was outside in a parking lot. Officials say that earlier in the day, two people were killed and six others were injured after an SUV crashed into a city bus in Los Angeles. Photos and videos online showed around half of an SUV lodged into the side of an MTA bus and a large fire crew working around the crash.
Nick Reiner avoids death penalty over his parents' killings but still faces life in prison
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Prosecutors say Nick Reiner, son of filmmaker Rob Reiner, will not face the death penalty over charges he killed his parents in Los Angeles last year. If convicted, the 33-year-old could receive life without parole. Tuesday's announcement followed a review by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office, which considered input from the Reiner family and mitigating factors. Nick Reiner has twice pleaded not guilty first-degree murder. In a statement, his public defender said prosecutors had made the right decision and highlighted Reiner's mental illness and struggles with self-medication. A trial is not expected until next year.
FBI chief Kash Patel defends hiring policy changes on prostitution, bestiality at fiery hearing
WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Kash Patel is defending the bureau’s loosening of hiring requirements regarding prostitution and bestiality, saying the changes were meant to enable victims of those acts to apply for employment without fear of automatic disqualification. The subject arose during a contentious Senate Judiciary Committee hearing in which Patel clashed with Democrats over his firing of agents who participated in investigations of President Donald Trump, a spate of media leak probes, and whether employees would be dispatched to the polls on Election Day in light of the bureau’s ongoing election-related investigations and Trump’s repeated and false claims about the existence of pervasive voter fraud.
Senate blocks cryptocurrency regulation as Democrats push back on Trump investments
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats have blocked legislation to create a new regulatory framework for cryptocurrency. In doing so, they are stalling an industry-backed effort to place new guardrails around digital assets after demanding more limits on President Donald Trump’s investments. Tuesday's vote was a pivotal election-year test for the $2.3 trillion cryptocurrency market and came as Trump has amassed significant crypto wealth while in office. While some Democrats are friendly toward the industry and support the idea of regulation, they have been adamant that the bill include strong ethics safeguards to prevent Trump and his family from enriching themselves in office.
Saudi crown prince goes to Egypt for support against Houthi strikes, and other Mideast developments
Saudi Arabia’s crown prince is reaching out to Egypt for support against Yemen’s Houthi rebels who have disrupted key avenues of commerce, contributing to a spike in the global cost of oil. Egypt is unlikely to offer military help to Saudi Arabia but the country is influential in the Arab world and can help rally support. Yemenis, meanwhile, are trying to flee violence in that country by crossing the Red Sea, but the high cost of fuel is a factor. Houthi rebels are fighting Saudi Arabia and Yemen's internationally recognized government.
US stocks slip after oil prices and the bond market crank up the pressure
NEW YORK (AP) — The U.S. stock market slipped as oil prices and the bond market cranked up the pressure on Wall Street. The S&P 500 fell 0.4% Tuesday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 0.6%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 0.8%. They felt pressure as the yield on the 10-year Treasury climbed with oil prices. Higher yields mean everyone must pay more in interest to borrow money, which slows the overall economy. They also make people less willing to pay high prices for stocks because they can earn more from sitting in bonds, which are considered safer investments.
Ed Sheeran's tour in trouble after opening acts drop out in solidarity with rapper Macklemore
NEW YORK (AP) — Four supporting acts have quit Ed Sheeran’s tour after Macklemore was removed for his pro-Palestinian comments onstage. Irish acts Aaron Rowe and Beoga, Denmark's Lukas Graham, and Finneas posted separately on social media Tuesday that they would withdraw from the tour. The posts appeared hours after Sheeran said he refused to be drawn into a discussion about the war in Gaza. Sheeran stated on Instagram that the decision to remove Macklemore was solely the tour promoter's. Macklemore says he was dropped after expressing support for Palestinians during a concert in New Jersey.
