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Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom’s Coverage Plan.
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NATIONAL
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AP Exclusive: ICE officer in Maine shooting has history of violent behavior, family and records say
SUMMARY: The Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer who shot a Colombian man in Maine this week is an Army veteran who has struggled with serious mental health issues since early childhood, according to close relatives who spoke to The Associated Press. Several of David Brouillette's close relatives say he told them he was the ICE officer who shot 25-year-old Johan Sebastián Durán Guerrero on Monday. They say Brouillette never should have been given a badge and gun, and they accuse him of attacking women in his life over the years. His troubling past further challenges how thoroughly the Department of Homeland Security has vetted recruits as it went on a hiring spree to help carry out President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
WORDS: 1893 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 10:58 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSICEShootingMaineOfficerthLdWritethru/dbc30d6d59e2a95fb470afc188e125c6/text___
Parts of Texas face threats of dangerous flooding while previously hit areas launch cleanup efforts
SUMMARY: Parts of Texas remain under threat for dangerous flash flooding as cleanup efforts begin in hard-hit areas. The storms and flooding that began Tuesday are being blamed for two deaths, while more than 200 people were rescued by first responders in boats and helicopters. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency Friday morning for the city of Sonora, about 170 miles northwest of San Antonio. Local officials are urging residents to evacuate low-lying areas. Flash flood warnings were posted for several counties in the Texas Hill Country. The National Weather Service says the flooding threat will continue through the weekend in downstream areas.
WORDS: 600 - MOVED: 07/17/2026 2:36 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTexasFloodsndLdWritethru/2f17c4d45a7189d7a7c404fdadac545a/text___
Lawmakers demand answers after 'bombshell' report of ICE officer shooting in Maine
SUMMARY: Democratic members of Congress are demanding answers about Homeland Security’s vetting and training of immigration enforcement officers. The reaction comes after it was disclosed that the Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer involved in a deadly shooting this week in Maine had a history of mental health issues and violent behavior. The Associated Press reported that David Brouillette, the ICE officer who shot a Colombian man in Maine this week, is an Army veteran who has struggled with serious mental health issues since early childhood, according to several of his close relatives. The top Democrat on the House Homeland Security Committee, Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, said the senseless tragedy must be investigated.
WORDS: 642 - MOVED: 07/17/2026 5:04 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSICEShootingMaineOfficerReaction/788167305f5564df14ce1b2774035c7b/text___
Trump administration revives rule that could deny green cards to immigrants who use public benefits
SUMMARY: The Trump administration is reviving a rule that could deny green cards to immigrants who use public benefits that could include food stamps, Medicaid, housing vouchers and more. The policy appeared Thursday in the Federal Register and comes into effect Sept. 18. The policy was first implemented in February 2020 as one of President Donald Trump’s moves to limit legal immigration during his first administration, but it was reversed after Democratic President Joe Biden came to power. Federal law already requires those seeking permanent residency or legal status to demonstrate that they will not become a public charge. The new rule broadens the grounds for disqualification.
WORDS: 780 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 4:18 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationPublicBenefitsthLdWritethru/2d631ee59e141da4cf471817ef414829/text___
2 of 8 men charged in alleged plot to attack the White House UFC event plead not guilty
SUMMARY: Two of the eight men indicted in an alleged drone and sniper plot to attack President Donald Trump’s UFC cage-fighting event on the White House lawn have pleaded not guilty to federal conspiracy charges. Nineteen-year-old Tycen Proper, of Danville, Ohio, and 21-year-old Chandler Scaggs, of Chapmanville, West Virginia, entered their pleas Thursday in federal court in Columbus, Ohio. Judge Edmund Sargus Jr. scheduled their trial to begin Sept. 14. Proper, Scaggs and six others are charged with conspiracy to provide material support to terrorists and conspiracy to commit murder on federal government territory and of a federal government official. The UFC Freedom 250 event was held in June to celebrate the nation's 250th anniversary.
WORDS: 629 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 1:38 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpUFCFBIArreststhLdWritethru/ef44975bff65810dd1077bb3535a43cf/text___
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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Maine Democrats running to replace Platner as Senate nominee scramble to woo his voters
SUMMARY: Democrats hoping to replace Graham Platner on the Maine ballot for U.S. Senate are scrambling to woo his supporters. Those Democrats also are trying to turn focus away from Platner to the November election against Republican Sen. Susan Collins. Platner dropped out of the race after an accusation of sexual assault, which he denies. Platner's replacement will be chosen at a Maine Democratic Party convention on July 25. The process to pick a new nominee is unprecedented, with less than three weeks to organize. Candidates must gather 500 signatures to qualify for the convention vote of 601 delegates. The recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement shooting in Maine has also become a key issue.
WORDS: 1144 - MOVED: 07/17/2026 2:02 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionMaineSenatendLdWritethru/e5f78995c7fa60f9d5feb9e497f500e1/text___
Trump doubles down on US election attacks in his primetime speech
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has used a primetime address to question the legitimacy of U.S. elections and push for more restrictive voting laws. The Republican president on Thursday revisited debunked theories about his 2020 loss to Democrat Joe Biden, despite ongoing voter concerns about other pressing issues. Trump claimed election interference but provided no evidence of manipulated votes. Former intelligence official Sue Gordon calls Trump's speech "dangerous." Some networks choose not to air the address live. Democrats accuse Trump of trying to discredit the upcoming 2026 midterm elections. Democrats argue Trump's claims are baseless and aim to sow confusion.
WORDS: 1286 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 4:08 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpSpeechthLdWritethru/5c84a59dffc20c12ed2fcb822fa950c9/text___
Maine shooting and officer's background raise new questions about ICE's rapid hiring
SUMMARY: Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been rapidly expanding its workforce, hiring thousands of new officers. This expansion is part of the Trump administration's effort to increase immigration arrests and deportations. Concerns have been raised about the agency's hiring practices and whether new officers are properly vetted. An ICE officer recently involved in a shooting had a history of mental health issues, his relatives told The Associated Press, highlighting these concerns. ICE claims most new hires are police and military veterans, but some applicants with questionable histories may not have been fully vetted. The agency promises rigorous vetting, but some officers started work before full background checks.
WORDS: 1135 - MOVED: 07/17/2026 12:40 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSICEHiringWhatToKnowstLdWritethru/68d4a9d7d178311549f01f8fd5144511/text___
Blanche meets with Epstein accusers after demand from Republican senator crucial to confirmation
SUMMARY: Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has met with accusers of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein following the demand of a Republican senator whose support is crucial to his nomination to lead the Justice Department. Blanche met for about an hour Thursday with a group of Epstein’s accusers at Justice Department headquarters in Washington. After the meeting, he told reporters that he encouraged the accusers to come to the FBI with any information that could help investigators. “It wasn’t all cordial,” Blanche said. One accuser called it a “mere ‘check-the-box’ exercise intended to secure votes for his confirmation.”
WORDS: 865 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 5:41 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressBlanchethLdWritethru/3a5877e7cd70bf545fbf2d318188b0d9/text___
Why American elections are so complicated — and secure
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump said in a speech to the nation that he's using federal power to secure elections from being “stolen.” In fact, one of the strongest security features of U.S. elections is their decentralized nature. This complexity makes rigging a national election — as Trump has said was done to him — virtually impossible. Trump has spent six years insisting he won the 2020 election, a vote he lost to former President Joe Biden by millions of votes. An Associated Press review in 2021 dug into every potential case of voter fraud in the six battleground states that Trump disputed and found the number of cases would have made no difference in the election results.
WORDS: 747 - MOVED: 07/17/2026 3:29 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionsExplainer/db0a438023d8451c2854940504b48547/text___
To air or not to air? Nation's TV networks struggle to find the right balance for Trump speech
SUMMARY: To air or not to air? The nation’s TV networks and their news operations spent the hours leading up to President Donald Trump’s address Thursday night debating how to cover it. They were struggling to balance delivering the news with handing over their airwaves to potential falsehoods about the 2020 elections. The dilemma took place against a backdrop of deep tension between the media and a president working to exert control over it by whatever means he can. Even in his speech itself, Trump excoriated networks that chose not to carry it live. He said “NBC and ABC fake news” avoided it and threatened consequences, using the presidential pulpit to suggest they should be sanctioned for their editorial decisions.
WORDS: 971 - MOVED: 07/17/2026 3:44 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpSpeechMedia/4e83fa4cf50ea0e29afacba3f56156db/text___
Hopes for US-Iran diplomacy still alive as fighting intensifies over the Strait of Hormuz
SUMMARY: Fighting between the U.S. and Iran has intensified. But hopes for a possible diplomatic solution have shown stubborn signs of life. Vice President JD Vance told podcaster Joe Rogan that the U.S. will not indefinitely bomb Iran and that “you’ve got to actually be willing to talk and to try to figure out the problem.” Mediators from countries that include Pakistan, Qatar and Egypt also have been working to resume talks. Pakistan's Foreign Ministry spokesman said Thursday that the parties eventually “will have to come to the negotiating table to settle all outstanding issues.”
WORDS: 1164 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 7:13 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIranUSDiplomacy/476de0b0c341ead38126e617234d0939/text___
House Republicans' $95 billion Iran war package clears first hurdle
SUMMARY: Republicans on the House Budget Committee have advanced a $95 billion package for the Iran war, farm aid and President Donald Trump’s push for strict new voter ID requirements. The long-shot effort cleared the committee on a party-line vote Thursday and now moves to the full House. But there is trouble ahead. House Speaker Mike Johnson is going it alone, steamrolling past Democrats and relying on his slim majority for passage. It would next go to the Senate, where Republicans have largely panned the effort. Budget Committee Chairman Jodey Arrington framed the proposal as one last push for Republicans to deliver for voters ahead of the midterm elections that will determine control of Congress.
WORDS: 855 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 7:52 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCongressBudgetndLdWritethru/47056fcf87e5937bd1bb3f9ae0388d37/text___
Rubio gathers countries on left-wing political violence as it becomes a Trump focus in elections
SUMMARY: Secretary of State Marco Rubio has convened leaders from over 60 countries to take part in the Trump administration’s latest effort to quell what it calls “left-wing” political terrorism. The conference on Thursday highlighted one of the marquee issues for Republicans heading into the midterm elections. Rubio and other U.S. officials painted a dark image of the future if the “communists and Marxists” perpetrating these supposed acts are not defeated. He urged leaders in attendance — mostly from European and Latin American countries — to join together to address the global trend, which he says has been a “blind spot” in counterterrorism doctrine.
WORDS: 887 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 5:10 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSRubioPoliticalTerrorismstLdWritethru/e1dad3924bd1b018e43d5b89ac07bb0b/text___
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INTERNATIONAL
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A 7.3 earthquake hits Mexico-Guatemala border with no immediate damage reported
SUMMARY: A strong earthquake has struck the southern Mexican Pacific coast, right on the border with Guatemala. The U.S. Geological Survey reports it had a magnitude of 7.3. The epicenter was southwest of Aquiles Serdan, near Chiapas. Authorities have not reported any severe damage or casualties. In Tapachula, the tremor began mildly but intensified, prompting evacuations. In Guatemala City, the quake frightened residents during rush hour. In Mexico City, buildings shook, but the earthquake alert did not sound. Coastal areas near Suchiate are being monitored for tsunami risk, according to local officials.
WORDS: 371 - MOVED: 07/17/2026 4:10 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APLTMexicoEarthquakethLdWritethru/5fd814654cc71416982a2b3b5e85aea6/text___
Landslide in China's Chongqing city kills at least 8 and leaves 34 missing
SUMMARY: A landslide in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing has killed at least eight people and left 34 missing. The disaster struck Friday in Pengshui County, burying over 10 residential buildings and forcing more than 1,100 people to evacuate. State media reported that 10 people were rescued, including two seriously injured. Over 800 rescuers are on site, but efforts are hindered by unstable terrain. Water, electricity and gas supplies were cut off in the area to prevent further disruptions. Authorities have sent more than 8,000 disaster relief items to the area.
WORDS: 283 - MOVED: 07/17/2026 5:26 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASChinaLandslidethLdWritethru/127e504babcf9d70773e4ec67af34952/text___
Israeli strike on funeral kills 7 and wounds 22 in Gaza, local hospital says
SUMMARY: An Israeli strike on a funeral in the Gaza Strip has killed at least seven people and wounded another 22. That's according to a local hospital. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. The Awda Hospital in the Nuseirat refugee camp confirmed the number of casualties, saying people were struck at the funeral for a Palestinian killed in a strike earlier on Friday.
WORDS: 248 - MOVED: 07/17/2026 3:25 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastWarsGazastLdWritethru/9b0b91dca3ee1950bc0c5ff96d4a5259/text___
US strikes bridges in Iran, which targets a water desalination plant in Kuwait
SUMMARY: The United States has expanded its airstrike campaign against Iran by hitting more bridges and collapsing a tower at a key Iranian port. The latest strikes early Friday came after U.S. President Donald Trump’ had threatened to start striking infrastructure to pressure Tehran to ease its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also launched new missile attacks against U.S.-allied nations in the Middle East, including Qatar, a key mediator in the war. The interim ceasefire agreed to last month has collapsed, and the region has endured days of back-and-forth attacks by the U.S. and Iran as they battle for control of the strait. Iran reported new casualties in Friday’s strikes.
WORDS: 1143 - MOVED: 07/17/2026 4:11 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIranUSthLdWritethru/2ad0cfe592eb258cb15a9eb04411d58a/text___
Andy Burnham is declared leader of UK's Labour Party, pledges to restore hope
SUMMARY: Andy Burnham has been officially declared leader of Britain’s governing Labour Party, clearing his final hurdle to taking office as prime minister next week. The center-left party announced the result of a leadership contest to replace departing Prime Minister Keir Starmer, in which Burnham was the only contender. The announcement was a forgone conclusion after he secured nominations from 379 of the 403 Labour lawmakers in the House of Commons. In his acceptance speech Burnham promised to bring hope to the British people and economic growth across the whole country. He will become prime minister on Monday.
WORDS: 858 - MOVED: 07/17/2026 8:27 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUBritainPoliticsLabourthLdWritethru/eba3703e98f3f9790f74f2cd7ee4cee1/text___
Ukraine fights under an interim defense chief after Zelenskyy's contested government shake-up
SUMMARY: Ukraine is navigating a leadership shake-up amid its ongoing war with Russia. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has dismissed Defense Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, sparking protests and highlighting tensions between military traditionalists and innovators. Zelenskyy has appointed Maj. Gen. Yevhen Khmara as interim defense minister, but his formal approval faces bureaucratic hurdles and a confirmation vote in Parliament. Fedorov, known for advancing drone technology, has defended his record. Meanwhile, Russian attacks have killed civilians in Ukraine, and Ukraine has targeted Russian vessels in the Black Sea. The situation remains tense as both countries continue their military campaigns.
WORDS: 891 - MOVED: 07/17/2026 9:38 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarstLdWritethru/966aa6f66b81df96310531af1f11fba5/text___
Andy Burnham, a mayor from England's north, is poised to become Britain's next prime minister
SUMMARY: Andy Burnham is about to become Britain’s 59th prime minister, following the sudden downfall of Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Burnham has risen through a mix of patience and risk-taking. A decade ago, he left a 20-year climb up the Labour Party ladder to run for mayor of Greater Manchester. He returned to Parliament a month ago by winning a risky special election. Known for his “Manchesterism” approach, he promises to apply a “place before politics” strategy to running the country. Critics question his experience, but supporters highlight his persuasive storytelling, empathy and determination.
WORDS: 1174 - MOVED: 07/17/2026 4:00 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUBritainPoliticsBurnhamProfilestLdWritethru/d9b573820fc8eda4975d8c67d60b2a28/text___
A former prime minister who led Israel out of Lebanon fears mistakes are being repeated
SUMMARY: Israel has again occupied much of southern Lebanon, 26 years after ending its 18-year occupation. Many Israelis now support this presence, but some, including former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, fear repeating past mistakes. Barak warns that the occupation may not serve Israeli security. Israel invaded Lebanon in March after Hezbollah's attacks and now controls significant territory. A recent agreement with Lebanon aims to remove Hezbollah weapons, but Hezbollah opposes it. Barak and others worry about the occupation's effectiveness and potential to rally support for Hezbollah. Despite challenges, some see a diplomatic opportunity with Lebanon's current leadership.
WORDS: 1281 - MOVED: 07/17/2026 5:10 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLIsraelLebanonOccupation/0d3a44e70b3c75e7011a93e09cf431e1/text___
The ex-CEO of Italian highway operator and 31 others convicted in deadly 2018 bridge collapse
SUMMARY: An Italian court has convicted the former CEO of Italy's main highway operator and 31 others in the Genoa Morandi bridge collapse in 2018. The disaster killed 43 people and exposed serious maintenance lapses. Giovanni Castellucci, the former chief executive of Autostrade per l'Italia, received a 12-year prison sentence. The court handed down other sentences ranging from nearly two years to 12 years for those convicted. Prosecutors argued that neglect led to the collapse, while defendants blamed construction defects. The tragedy occurred when a section of the bridge gave way during a rainstorm, sending vehicles plunging to the ground.
WORDS: 904 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 5:05 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUItalyBridgeCollapseTrialthLdWritethru/377f7cee85d2a3515c2b692109de8528/text___
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BUSINESS
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World Cup beer sales are hopping. Brewers hope the stout demand outlasts the tournament
SUMMARY: The World Cup has been a bonanza for beer in the United States. Bars in Boston reported needing emergency deliveries to keep taps from running dry on some game days. FIFA says fans downed a total of 290,000 stadium beers during the six matches in Philadelphia. But all that frothy foam obscures a cold reality: Beer sales have been struggling globally for about a decade. Many consumers are cutting back on alcohol for health reasons. Brewers say they're hopeful the World Cup will remind people how much they like to socialize over beer. It’s unclear if soccer’s world championship tournament can reverse the trend despite having three countries as co-hosts this year.
WORDS: 1035 - MOVED: 07/17/2026 12:12 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APSOCWCupBeerSales/3f9a7246bfd1b0185ffdfbc58e662515/text___
AI stocks keep falling, while oil prices keep climbing
SUMMARY: More swings for computer chip companies and other AI winners are yanking stock markets lower. The S&P 500 fell 0.7% Friday after dropping as much as 1.4% in the morning. It’s on track for its first losing week in the last three and only its third since March, just a couple days after it climbed within 0.5% of its all-time high. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dipped 13 points after briefly erasing all of its early loss of 566 points, while the Nasdaq composite fell 1.4%. Brent crude rose another 2.5% on worries about the war with Iran.
WORDS: 869 - MOVED: 07/17/2026 4:34 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/65449e9565fba441a617f9517e097f5a/text___
China's Xi calls for more global efforts to guide AI, chides US for its curbs on tech sharing
SUMMARY: Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for more global cooperation in the development and governance of artificial intelligence, while promising support for other countries. Speaking at a conference in Shanghai, he reiterated China's objections to what he called the “overstretching” of national security concerns. Xi said AI should not be dominated by any single nation. American-led restrictions have blocked China from accessing some of the world's most advanced technologies, intensifying the rivalry between the world's two biggest economies. China plans to provide 5,000 AI training opportunities to developing countries over the next five years. Xi also announced the establishment of AI cooperation centers with various organizations in the developing world.
WORDS: 759 - MOVED: 07/17/2026 5:38 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASChinaAIndLdWritethru/df4cfc7e1b260e765b5449b6d71a48e5/text___
Trump administration races the clock to rebuild US tariff wall knocked down by Supreme Court
SUMMARY: The U.S. Treasury last year swelled with revenue from President Donald Trump’s double-digit taxes on imports from almost every country on earth. But the money dried up after the Supreme Court struck down the biggest and boldest of Trump’s tariffs in February. The question now is: Can the president’s trade team make good on its promise to replace the lost revenue? A July 24 deadline is approaching rapidly. But trade attorneys and analysts are confident the tariff-happy Trump administration will manage to beat the clock. “They’re going to raise the tariff wall again,’’ said one trade lawyer.
WORDS: 1025 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 4:02 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpTariffsstLdWritethru/ec2bd8d8d928baafc619a161670d7725/text___
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HEALTH/SCIENCE
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Lettuce at Taco Bell in 5 states confirmed as a source of diarrhea-causing parasite
SUMMARY: Federal health officials have identified lettuce from Mexico served by Taco Bell locations across five U.S. states as a source of the widespread outbreak of diarrhea-causing parasite cyclospora. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention late Thursday confirmed the source and warned consumers not to eat shredded iceberg lettuce from Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. Officials have identified a single supplier of the lettuce. The federal warnings to consumers did not identify the company, but a federal official who was briefed on the investigation and not authorized to discuss it told The Associated Press it was Taylor Farms of Salinas, California. Taylor Farms didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.
WORDS: 547 - MOVED: 07/17/2026 11:46 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMEDCyclosporaOutbreakstLdWritethru/13d9e9ebdc46a4d05a58da2ae8e8d0de/text___
FDA approves a first-of-its-kind pill to cut cholesterol in high-risk patients
SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration has approved a first-of-its-kind pill that can drastically reduce cholesterol. The drug cleared Thursday can lower dangerous cholesterol in a way that’s previously only been available with expensive, injectable drugs. The Lipfendra pill from Merck is the first noninjectable option for blocking a liver protein that interferes with the body’s ability to clear cholesterol from the blood. Biotech injectables targeting the protein have been available from other drugmakers for more than a decade. But patient access has been limited by high prices, insurance restrictions and low prescribing by doctors.
WORDS: 437 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 5:48 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSMEDCholesterolDrugstLdWritethru/035bb7838b21fa15d5bba38e4c0639d4/text___
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CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT
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Wildfire smoke kills tens of thousands of people a year. Here's how it attacks the body
SUMMARY: Wildfire smoke, which is increasing in the Northern Hemisphere as the climate warms, attacks nearly every system in the body. And medical studies show that it is killing tens of thousands of people a year. Within hours, ambulance calls increase. And then emergency room visits soar for breathing problems, especially asthma. People start having heart issues. ER visits for mental health concerns also jump. People have trouble focusing. Pregnant women give birth prematurely and to underweight babies. Men’s sperm is weakened. That's because smoke as an irritant triggers the immune system. And smoke has thousands of chemicals in it, many of them toxins.
WORDS: 1081 - MOVED: 07/17/2026 1:02 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSClimateWildfireSmokeHealthndLdWritethru/65b51f04cd29648d952a7e41160841d3/text___
Weather conditions again brought devastating floods to a vulnerable swath of Texas
SUMMARY: Severe storms have dumped over 20 inches of rain in parts of Texas, causing significant flooding. The Guadalupe River rose rapidly early Thursday, affecting areas still recovering from last year's deadly flash floods. Experts say slow-moving storms fueled by lots of moisture created days of downpours. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said drones and helicopters are being used for rescues. Experts said the flooding is severe but not as bad in some areas as last year. Climate change may be creating conditions that make storms like these more common.
WORDS: 922 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 10:23 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTexasFloodsClimatendLdWritethru/e3e46b001ea1bf687d909134e80ed7e3/text___
Wildfire smoke makes air unhealthy from the US Midwest to East Coast. Officials say stay inside
SUMMARY: Heavy smoke from wildfires is darkening skies from the U.S. Midwest to the East Coast. The smoke on Thursday prompted warnings that breathing the air outside could be dangerous for people. The smoke is coming from fires that are burning primarily in Canada but also in northern Minnesota. A National Weather Service Meteorologist in Detroit says a lingering high pressure system has trapped the smoke close to the ground. Officials in many cities are urging residents to stay inside or wear masks outside as air quality reaches unhealthy to hazardous levels, meaning it’s unhealthy for anyone, regardless of health conditions.
WORDS: 954 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 3:18 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSClimateWildfiresSmokethLdWritethru/ae4b2bd09a97919a081e26ede6a6d355/text___
Trump cites national security to stop offshore wind development. Here's what to know
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump's administration has worked to stop offshore wind development on the grounds it’s a national security risk since late last year, halting work on major projects and buying back leases. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum says a classified report from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth proves offshore wind is a national security threat. This comes against the backdrop of the Republican president’s hatred of wind turbines and desire to boost fossil fuels for “energy dominance” in the global market. Wind turbines interfere with radar, but that isn’t a new problem. The Pentagon reviews wind farm construction plans and can deem areas off limits. And there are upgrades to radar to mitigate turbine impacts.
WORDS: 1195 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 6:39 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpOffshoreWindWhattoKnowndLdWritethru/82fa9799462f7eaa40556a201c9840a5/text___
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SPORTS
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Jackson Suber leads a day of surprises at Birkdale with a 65 in his first British Open
SUMMARY: So much focus was on the new Royal Birkdale. What the British Open delivered Thursday was a bunch of newcomers. Leading the way is Jackson Suber. This not only is his first time on links golf, it's his first time to Europe. But the 26-year-old American delivered superb shots at the end of his 65 to lead over Dan Brown and Sungjae Im. Bryson DeChambeau quietly had a 67. He was joined by four players in the British Open for the first time. Defending champion Scottie Scheffler shot 68. Rory McIlroy had a rough day on the greens for 72.
WORDS: 1092 - MOVED: 07/16/2026 6:26 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APGLFBritishOpenndLdWritethru/e86ca543d83bb9418c6811da464336d2/text___
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