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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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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Las Vegas police plan to release the ID of a man found in a barrel in Lake Mead
SUMMARY: Police in Las Vegas are poised to settle a mystery by publicly revealing the identity of a man whose body was found in a barrel in Lake Mead. Authorities have already said the man was shot. They believe he was killed between the mid-1970s and early 1980s, based on the type of shoes found with him. The discovery of the body in a barrel by boaters in 2022 sparked memories of Las Vegas’ mob era. Organized crime helped build up the city, and a body stuffed in a barrel was known to signify a mob killing. Lake Mead is at a historic low due to years of overuse, drought and hot temperatures.
WORDS: 353 - MOVED: 10/15/2026 3:10 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSLakeMeadBodystLdWritethru/aa380c6826d788a3123fd36378c7caf9/text___
Teen accused of plotting mass shooting at Chicago-area Hindu temple
SUMMARY: Police in a Chicago suburb say they have thwarted a potential mass shooting at a Hindu place of worship. Alexandros Paporakis, a 19-year-old Taco Bell cashier, faces felony charges of making a terrorist threat and unlawfully possessing weapons. Co-workers said Paporakis openly identified as a white supremacist at work and told them he couldn’t wait to kill Indian people, according to prosecutors. Prosecutors also allege Paporakis sent one coworker a manifesto describing Indian, Jewish and African American people as “subhumans” and outlining a plot to kill as many of them as possible. Police arrested him Sunday, the same day they believe he aimed to carry out an attack.
WORDS: 405 - MOVED: 10/15/2026 1:29 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSThwartedShootingIllinoisstLdWritethru/387daf2142f6f3be2400540694c7d9f3/text___
A rare family of barn owls moved into Manhattan's Upper West Side. New Yorkers are captivated
SUMMARY: Manhattan’s Upper West Side has been reveling in the company of its latest celebrities: A family of barn owls nested in a water tower atop a building near Central Park. An expert says this is the first documented instance of barn owls nesting in Manhattan in modern history. The owls have attracted nightly crowds of people in the street eager to get a glimpse of the elusive birds, including a nature photographers. Word of the owl family spread last week when an Upper West Side resident notified a local news outlet that she and her husband saw multiple owls at the water tower, located on West 75th Street close to Central Park West.
WORDS: 914 - MOVED: 10/15/2026 5:01 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSNewYorkCityOwlsstLdWritethru/f2482459907f19f542ea277a66d18087/text___
Ex-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro says new torture allegations are 'false'
SUMMARY: Ex-Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro says torture allegations against him and his wife in a rewritten drug trafficking indictment are false. Maduro told a Manhattan federal court judge Thursday that the indictment contained “false accusations and false testimony.” He and his wife, Cilia Flores, both pleaded not guilty after they were accused last week of leading a state-sponsored repression effort to torture opponents and others, including three Americans. A rewritten indictment says Maduro and Flores approved of torture techniques that included beatings and electric shocks. Flores said Thursday that she is “completely innocent.” The couple was seized from their Caracas home by the U.S. military in a January nighttime raid.
WORDS: 632 - MOVED: 10/15/2026 4:00 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSVenezuelaMadurothLdWritethru/ca502461c39b94de9c663d441cbf5c63/text___
Lawyers for New York man shot by ICE say officer fired into car without warning
SUMMARY: Lawyers for a New York man shot and wounded by federal immigration officers while in a car with his young son say the officers never identified themselves or showed a warrant. Instead, the lawyers with the Legal Aid Society say Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers rushed up to the car in plainclothes, shattered the vehicle’s windows and fired several shots inside. The lawyers for Oscar Belgal disclosed the more detailed sequence of events in a petition filed in Brooklyn federal court Wednesday seeking his release. The Department of Homeland Security didn’t immediately comment. The agency previously said the officers opened fire because Belgal had rammed their cars trying to flee.
WORDS: 714 - MOVED: 10/14/2026 9:59 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSICEShootingNewYorkrdLdWritethru/0628a20fe15b3fe10978dd5df00b2010/text___
Cornell president pressed by faculty frustrated by his handling of fraternity rape allegations
SUMMARY: Cornell University President Michael Kotlikoff faced off with angry members of the school’s faculty at a meeting to debate a no-confidence vote in his administration. The meeting on Wednesday underscored deep frustration on campus over his administration’s handling of a woman’s report that she was gang raped at a fraternity house in 2024. Kotlikoff earlier this week announced new restrictions on fraternity parties and expanded involvement by state police. He asked the faculty for more time to implement reforms.
WORDS: 955 - MOVED: 10/14/2026 6:28 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSCornellRapeInvestigationthLdWritethru/248d753cd06f2f7764c3f0ea1df5c643/text___
Police investigate report of sexual assault at a fraternity party near the University of Chicago
SUMMARY: Police are investigating a report that a woman was sexually assaulted during a fraternity party near the University of Chicago campus. Chicago police said Wednesday that no charges have been filed. The university says a person of interest has been identified. Police say the 21-year-old woman reported the attack to officers early Sunday after attending a party at the Alpha Epsilon Pi fraternity house. The fraternity says none of its members took part in the alleged assault. The Chicago case follows an uproar at Cornell University, where a woman says she was drugged and gang raped in 2024. Her attackers have never been charged with crimes.
WORDS: 557 - MOVED: 10/14/2026 9:40 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSChicagoFraternitySexualAssaultReportndLdWritethru/2eeb48127c9de959e2ea5be39d683314/text___
Prosecutors urge life sentences for Alexander luxury real estate brokers in sex trafficking case
SUMMARY: Federal prosecutors say a New York judge should send two of the nation’s most successful luxury real estate brokers and their brother to prison for life for drugging and raping dozens of women over a two-decade stretch. Prosecutors made the recommendation on Wednesday, a day after defense lawyers said 39-year-old twins Oren and Alon Alexander and 40-year-old Tal Alexander should face no more than 15 years behind bars. Judge Valerie E. Caproni is scheduled to sentence the men on Oct. 27. Prosecutors say the brothers, including real estate brokers Oren and Tal Alexander, drugged and raped women since at least 2001. Defense attorneys say they hope to reverse the convictions on appeal.
WORDS: 517 - MOVED: 10/14/2026 8:41 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSRealEstateBrothersSexTrafficking/4c77491dc9f1b1395fc4d6cc75542dcb/text___
Texas prosecutor says ICE officer appeared to intentionally strike a man with a vehicle in Houston
SUMMARY: A Texas prosecutor says a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer appeared to intentionally drive into a man in Houston, breaking his leg. Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare, a Democrat, says his office is weighing criminal charges against the driver. The ICE officer struck Miguel Parra Hernandez with a car on Saturday. Parra Hernandez has since undergone surgery. That's according to Cesar Espinosa, executive director of FIEL Houston, an immigrant rights group. The encounter has set off new protests over federal immigration enforcement in Houston, where an ICE officer fatally shot a man this summer following a pursuit by unmarked vehicles.
WORDS: 799 - MOVED: 10/14/2026 5:39 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationEnforcementHoustonthLdWritethru/1d51e45d8fd62717dabe5679853e021f/text___
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WASHINGTON/POLITICS
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Trump administration sues California to block state from counting alleged noncitizen mail-in ballots
SUMMARY: The Trump administration has sued California election officials. The lawsuit filed Thursday asks a judge to bar the state from counting mail-in ballots for next month’s midterm elections from people the federal government has identified as “likely” noncitizens until their status can be confirmed. It comes after a top Justice Department official warned California in a letter of possible legal action if the state did not review a password-protected thumb drive that contains a list of names the federal government believes are likely noncitizens who were sent ballots to participate in the Nov. 3 election. The administration has made the hunt for noncitizens voters a priority, even though the problem is rare.
WORDS: 709 - MOVED: 10/15/2026 5:15 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionNoncitizenVotingCaliforniastLdWritethru/12c62cf12a7db6480c60975b6dea49b8/text___
FBI agents and analysts fired for roles in Trump classified files probe sue to get their jobs back
SUMMARY: FBI employees fired for their roles in the investigation of President Donald Trump’s retention of classified documents at his Florida estate are suing to get their jobs back, calling their terminations unlawful acts of “political retribution.” Thursday's complaint adds to the legal challenges to mass terminations under FBI Director Kash Patel of agents who participated in investigations of the Republican president or are seen as opposed to Trump administration interests. The suit was filed in federal court in Washington on behalf of nine agents, intelligence analysts and staff operations specialists fired in February. Patel says employees he has fired had “weaponized” the FBI.
WORDS: 860 - MOVED: 10/15/2026 5:39 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSTrumpClassifiedDocumentsndLdWritethru/69d3544a73ddcdb54f164807adde85ea/text___
Authorities investigate letters with 'suspicious substances' sent to congressional, election offices
SUMMARY: Federal authorities are investigating letters with “suspicious substances” that have been mailed to congressional and election offices nationwide. Authorities are urging recipients to treat the letters as “potentially hazardous.” The Senate was informed of the investigation by a message from the Senate Sergeant at Arms that was obtained by The Associated Press. The FBI says suspicious mailings were sent to various addresses nationwide, including secretary of state offices in several states. The mailings come just three weeks before Election Day and are reminiscent of a similar threat in 2023.
WORDS: 466 - MOVED: 10/15/2026 3:25 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSLettersSuspiciousSubstancesthLdWritethru/c90253b9873a27471e63c6f1dcf979e9/text___
Trump, after bipartisan backlash, says Pentagon won't livestream execution of Fort Hood shooter
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has announced the Pentagon will no longer livestream the execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan. The decision comes after bipartisan criticism and Vice President JD Vance's comments that he would not watch it. Trump says in a social media post that airing the execution might deter terrorism but acknowledges many prefer not to see it. The Pentagon has scheduled Hasan’s execution for Dec. 3. Trump states victims' families can attend in person if they choose. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s initial announcement of a public execution faced backlash, with concerns about potential radicalization from the images.
WORDS: 643 - MOVED: 10/15/2026 2:13 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSFortHoodShootingExecutionthLdWritethru/9b48781e88660064bf0f5aa020db8df7/text___
Midterm campaigns are asking, where's the beef? And how much does it cost?
SUMMARY: In the midterm elections, meat has become a surprising political battleground. Democrats and Republicans are clashing over who supports meat consumption more. In Mississippi, Democratic Senate candidate Scott Colom criticized Republican Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith for her comments on high beef prices. A video shows a man grilling burgers, saying he'd rather choose a new senator than another protein. In Texas and Colorado, Republicans have attacked Democrats for veganism or anti-meat stances. Democrats argue that high meat prices under President Donald Trump hurt voters. Both parties are using meat to appeal to voters in key states.
WORDS: 851 - MOVED: 10/15/2026 4:06 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionBeefrdLdWritethru/08afc024f317ceabe5d95aa6e60e2b8e/text___
Rep. Ilhan Omar's phone seized and relatives subpoenaed in criminal probe, AP source says
SUMMARY: Federal authorities investigating Minnesota Rep. Ilhan Omar have seized the Democratic lawmaker’s phone and have issued more than a dozen grand jury subpoenas, including to some of her relatives, according to a person briefed on the probe. The subpoenas were issued for a grand jury collecting evidence in Minnesota as authorities probe potential fraud in Omar’s immigration paperwork, said the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation. The investigation led to the search Monday of Omar’s Washington, D.C. home just weeks before the November midterms, in which Omar is seeking reelection.
WORDS: 424 - MOVED: 10/14/2026 8:28 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSIlhanOmarSearchndLdWritethru/f968cfe403d61ad61812422f1252fd2c/text___
Frustrated with Trump, voters overwhelmingly want change in Washington, an AP-NORC poll finds
SUMMARY: A new AP-NORC poll finds that a strong majority of voters believe President Donald Trump is falling short at home and abroad, and they want major change in the upcoming midterm elections. Registered voters who identify as Democrats are more enthusiastic than Republican voters about casting a ballot. More voters want Democrats to win control of Congress and have a more negative view of Republicans. The Democratic advantage is small in some cases. But taken together, the findings paint a challenging picture for Trump and fellow Republicans, who are clinging to control of Congress under the weight of an unpopular war with Iran and surging prices at home.
WORDS: 1244 - MOVED: 10/15/2026 10:21 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSAPPollMidtermsndLdWritethru/e12dd9b19013c75a3d4ede01c1b9d0c3/text___
Trump defends gifted Air Force One from Qatar and makes 2nd Amendment pitch as he campaigns for GOP
SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has used a Western campaign swing to pitch Republicans as 2nd Amendment guardians and defend his acceptance of a gifted luxury jet from Qatar to use as Air Force One. In a Wednesday evening rally in Montana, Trump hewed closer to the kind of attack lines the GOP wants to hear as he stumps for its candidates, when he portrayed gun rights as “under siege” if Democrats win in November’s midterm elections. His message was more off script earlier in the day as he campaigned in an economically struggling corner of rural Arizona. Trump opened his remarks there by describing how the new jet parked behind him was a gift from the Qatari royal family.
WORDS: 1284 - MOVED: 10/14/2026 4:06 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionTrumpArizonaMontanathLdWritethru/e47553b45b0401455899e08caf80d9e6/text___
With anger spreading over Iran war, Democrats hope to flip Republican seats with veterans' help
SUMMARY: Veteran Jessica Killin is challenging first-term Republican Rep. Jeff Crank in Colorado’s 5th Congressional District, a conservative stronghold that includes five military facilities. The district is a longshot for Democrats, but they’re investing money here for the first time in years, counting on an unpopular war with Iran and upheaval in the armed forces to put more seats in play as the party pushes for control of the U.S. House of Representatives. Democratic candidates who previously served in the military are also running in Florida, South Carolina and Virginia.
WORDS: 1277 - MOVED: 10/15/2026 4:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionVeterans/2ea37617c912d0e4dd57414cd20c1b51/text___
Justice Department threatens California with legal action over claim of noncitizens on voter rolls
SUMMARY: The Justice Department is threatening California with possible legal action over what it says are noncitizens believed to have received mail ballots for next month’s midterm elections. A letter sent Tuesday to Secretary of State Shirley Weber from Trent McCotter, the acting deputy attorney general, says the Justice Department has provided officials in Los Angeles County with a password-protected thumb drive containing a list of names the federal government believes are likely noncitizens. The letter gives the state 48 hours to review the list. The Los Angeles County registrar says his office is reviewing the demand with the secretary of state and state attorney general.
WORDS: 1097 - MOVED: 10/14/2026 4:17 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSElectionNoncitizenVotingCaliforniathLdWritethru/e08ec04efdb1110c0e3f815f2ce6a3db/text___
Trump press secretary Katie Zacharia faces scrutiny over claims she’s a lawyer
SUMMARY: The new White House press secretary is facing mounting questions about her background and resume as she transitions into her role as the public face of the Trump administration. Katie Zacharia has long described herself as a lawyer. But so far, she and the White House have offered no evidence that she passed the bar exam in any state or in China, where she worked for a large law firm years ago. The questions add to the confusion surrounding President Donald Trump’s decision to hire Zacharia, whose debut at the podium on Tuesday has been widely panned.
WORDS: 896 - MOVED: 10/14/2026 7:34 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSWhiteHousePressSecretaryrdLdWritethru/b3b7b9747856bcd11df094f331195119/text___
ICE rejects suggestion that its officers wear body cameras that automatically activate
SUMMARY: A government report urges U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to ensure body-worn cameras are activated when needed, suggesting automatic activation in certain situations. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement disagrees, citing privacy concerns. The report, released Wednesday, highlights the need for transparency and accountability, especially after incidents where officers opened fire without wearing cameras. The Government Accountability Office report covers policies from February 2025 to September and suggests improvements for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says all offices received cameras by Aug. 5, but the report noted some officers were confused about when to activate them.
WORDS: 674 - MOVED: 10/14/2026 8:04 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSImmigrationBodyCamerasstLdWritethru/8bfc73abea866f565c06e03cbf18a3dc/text___
Social Security recipients to get 3.6% cost of living boost, an average of $75 per month
SUMMARY: The Social Security Administration projects a 3.6% cost-of-living adjustment for older adults and people with disabilities starting in 2027. Some recipients say it won't offset rising prices. This adjustment means $75 extra per month for the nearly 72 million Social Security beneficiaries and about 7.3 million Supplemental Security Income recipients. Inflation continues to pressure household budgets and savings, and some older Americans feel the increase isn't enough. The Social Security Administration faces a looming bankruptcy date if a funding shortfall isn't addressed by Congress. Lawmakers have proposed measures to replenish the trust funds, including lifting the payroll tax cap to generate substantial revenue.
WORDS: 956 - MOVED: 10/14/2026 1:37 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSSocialSecurityCostofLivingthLdWritethru/c7c73bbb304205696e7dd1afa27fc850/text___
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INTERNATIONAL
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2 killed in explosions near palace used by Yemen's government in latest Houthi attack
SUMMARY: At least six explosions have struck near the palace used by Yemen's internationally recognized government in Aden. An official says at least two people were killed Thursday and six others wounded. Iran-backed Houthi rebels quickly claimed responsibility. The attack occurred as fighting has escalated between the rebels and a Saudi-led coalition. The explosions caused panic among residents. The government said the Houthis attacked with missiles and drones. Many of Yemen's government leaders are living in exile, and those in Aden were reported safe. The escalation has complicated efforts to end the wider Iran war and further rattled global markets.
WORDS: 542 - MOVED: 10/15/2026 2:57 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLSaudiArabiaYementhLdWritethru/ed4dcdad5cfd4b08033b1af5cf81dca5/text___
School roof collapse in Pakistan kills at least 35 and injures more than 50
SUMMARY: A roof collapse at a private school in Peshawar, Pakistan, has killed at least 34 children and a teacher. More than 50 others were injured, with some in critical condition. The collapse occurred Thursday when the roofs of two classrooms collapsed. Emergency services quickly responded, rescuing those trapped. The school, Al-Khair, had children aged 13 or younger. Building collapses are common in Pakistan due to poor construction standards. Authorities have arrested the school's owner and launched an investigation. Officials, including the president and prime minister, expressed sorrow and called for safety improvements to prevent future tragedies.
WORDS: 767 - MOVED: 10/15/2026 6:25 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASPakistanSchoolRoofCollapsethLdWritethru/c0be44527f22b43ea16a1f10d4b43e54/text___
Ukraine abandons truce and attacks Russian oil refinery as Zelenskyy says he feels betrayed by Trump
SUMMARY: Ukraine attacked a Russian oil refinery, abandoning a brief truce involving energy-related targets that it said Moscow did not heed. The strike happened Thursday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he felt betrayed by U.S. President Donald Trump. The drone strike started a fire at the refinery about 300 kilometers (180 miles) southeast of Moscow in Russia’s Ryazan region. The attack could further complicate Kyiv’s relations with Trump, which have soured again in recent days. Zelenskyy said he was outraged by Russia’s continuing aerial bombardment of his country’s energy infrastructure in apparent defiance of Trump’s demand on Sunday for both sides to halt those attacks.
WORDS: 1051 - MOVED: 10/15/2026 9:06 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURussiaUkraineWarthLdWritethru/0071b4f3792c9912b977b0ee73505b18/text___
Pope Leo resumes working, sees top aide in hospital as doctors say lung recovered from surgery
SUMMARY: Pope Leo XIV is working from the hospital after doctors reported his lung has recovered well from surgery. On Thursday, Leo met with a top aide and resumed his duties. His doctor, Dr. Luigi Carbone, said Leo's post-operative tests are normal, and he is independently going about daily activities. The Vatican said Leo received Archbishop Paolo Rudelli and celebrated Mass with priests. The 71-year-old had surgery on Tuesday to remove a cancerous nodule. Doctors are awaiting further test results. Leo is expected to remain hospitalized until at least October 20.
WORDS: 362 - MOVED: 10/15/2026 12:37 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURELVaticanPopeSurgeryndLdWritethru/5f474d134cbb9b0e582620df742b0899/text___
Police seize robot that groped 16-year-old girl, investigate whether young men were at the controls
SUMMARY: German authorities have opened an investigation into possible sexual harassment involving a robot. The incident took place in Cologne, where a robot allegedly touched a 16-year-old girl’s buttocks and made thrusting movements. Police responded to the scene on Sunday after reports that the robot’s 16-year-old owner and a 19-year-old companion filmed and streamed the incident online. Emergency teams found the robot in a vehicle’s trunk and confiscated it along with the teens’ mobile phones. Authorities are investigating how the robot was functioning and whether someone was controlling it remotely.
WORDS: 349 - MOVED: 10/13/2026 6:30 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUGermanyRobotSexualHarassmentthLdWritethru/bf171b1697bd9a7119424040a303af22/text___
North Korea holds first underwater-launched missile tests in nearly 3 years
SUMMARY: North Korea has conducted its first missile test from underwater in nearly three years, in what experts say likely involved a yet-to-be-deployed submarine that the North had said is designed to launch nuclear weapons. The North’s state media says it military launched two types of submarine-launched, strategic cruise missiles in the country’s eastern waters on Wednesday. North Korea for years has been developing missiles and vessels while pursuing the ability to launch nuclear-capable missiles from submarines, which if completed would potentially increase the threat posed to its neighbors and the United States.
WORDS: 801 - MOVED: 10/14/2026 9:35 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APASKoreasTensionsthLdWritethru/a9c469a236ade7921e7dee2456542740/text___
Iran says a ship sank after striking a mine in Strait of Hormuz, and other Middle East developments
SUMMARY: Iran says a cargo ship has sunk after hitting a naval mine in the Strait of Hormuz with few immediate details. It's the first time Iran has reported a ship sinking after hitting a mine during the war. Shipping officials, meanwhile, said two cargo vessels had been hit by “unknown projectiles” as they went through the strait Tuesday and Wednesday. One sank, while the other reached safety. All crew members were evacuated from the first ship. Also Wednesday a hospital in Gaza said that the latest Israeli strike in the Palestinian territory has killed a woman. Israel's military said that it struck a Hamas militant but was still assessing the strike’s outcome.
WORDS: 801 - MOVED: 10/14/2026 7:02 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMLMideastthLdWritethru/7e2c57a29fd5c3afc7ffe0cf63954bf3/text___
UK prosecutor labels Russell Brand a ruthless sexual predator as his sex assault trial begins
SUMMARY: A British prosecutor has accused Russell Brand of being a “ruthless” sexual predator who assaulted six women over the course of a decade. Brand has pleaded not guilty to multiple charges including rape and sexual assault. The alleged offenses occurred between 1999 and 2009. Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones told jurors Wednesday that the women were assaulted in various locations including a hotel room and Brand's home. The actor-comedian is known for his risque stand-up routines and battles with drugs and alcohol. He has shifted away from mainstream media and has built a large online following.
WORDS: 779 - MOVED: 10/14/2026 9:47 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEUBritainRussellBrandthLdWritethru/a7f49e8cd37644c9d519ebe32a958a54/text___
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BUSINESS
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US consumers are muscling through higher prices, but for how long?
SUMMARY: High gas prices are intensifying inflation and vacuuming up more of Americans’ dollars, yet consumers are still digging deep to spend, powering the economy, at least for now. A slew of economic data Thursday showed that inflation accelerated last month as more expensive oil and gas began to lift prices in other parts of the economy, including shipping and warehousing, before the increases reach most Americans. At the same time, consumers also ramped up their spending. Though much of the increase reflected higher prices, consumer resilience is powering solid U.S. economic growth. It all adds up to an economy in which people are spending money but don’t feel good about it.
WORDS: 851 - MOVED: 10/15/2026 5:20 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSEconomyGasPricesstLdWritethru/28ffc9c856377d468a2fb231712806b1/text___
Average long-term US mortgage rate holds at 7.4%, remaining at highest level in nearly 3 years
SUMMARY: Mortgage rates held steady this week, keeping the average long-term U.S. home loan rate at its highest level in nearly three years. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday that the benchmark 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was unchanged from last week at 7.40%. One year ago, the average rate was 6.27%. The latest reading ends a seven-week climb for the average rate. The housing market has been stuck in a rut this year in large part because of rising mortgage rates, which can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting homebuyers’ purchasing power and prompting many to put off buying a home.
WORDS: 840 - MOVED: 10/15/2026 4:01 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMortgageRatesrdLdWritethru/ae938216d9d45a4e2c829845b40d83f5/text___
Retail sales up 0.8% in September, but a big chunk of spending went to paying gasoline bills
SUMMARY: Shoppers showed their willingness to spend in September even after a better-than-expected splurge in August. But a big chunk of their spending last month went toward filling the gas tank, according to the Commerce Department’s latest snapshot on retail sales released Thursday. Retail sales increased 0.8% last month, after a 1.3% gain in August, the Commerce Department said. Economists were anticipating a 0.3% increase for the month, according to FactSet. Excluding business at gas stations, retail sales rose 0.2% in September. The government figures aren’t adjusted for inflation, which accelerated last month as gasoline and many other goods and services became more expensive. In fact, business at gas stations rose 6.4%, helped by higher prices at the pump.
WORDS: 571 - MOVED: 10/15/2026 12:32 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSRetailSalesthLdWritethru/86bf3eb7412aa27b24febd52aae7a7f1/text___
Wall Street steadies following jarring drops for AI stocks worldwide
SUMMARY: Wall Street is steadying following jarring drops for stocks worldwide in the artificial-intelligence industry on worries about how much longer the AI frenzy will last. The S&P 500 rose 0.2% Thursday after erasing an early-morning loss, coming off its worst day since July. The weakness for AI stocks dragged the Nasdaq composite down 0.2% and sent indexes tumbling in Asia earlier in the day. But the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 470 points as the majority of U.S stocks climbed. Treasury yields eased in the bond market even though another report on inflation came in worse than expected.
WORDS: 843 - MOVED: 10/15/2026 1:50 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APFinancialMarketsthLdWritethru/e889ad7dee2b7dd959f1b8bc87366914/text___
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HEALTH/SCIENCE
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Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer called adenocarcinoma. Here's what that means
SUMMARY: Pope Leo XIV had the lower section of his right lung removed as doctors diagnosed him with the most common form of lung cancer. While lung cancer is is one of the deadliest forms of the disease worldwide, it is very treatable if caught early as the pope’s tumor appears to have been. The Vatican announced the pope’s diagnosis as lung adenocarcinoma. That is a specific subtype of lung cancer, one of the types of so-called non-small cell lung cancer. Surgery is the mainstay if lung cancer is detected early enough.
WORDS: 686 - MOVED: 10/14/2026 2:34 PM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APMEDLungCancerWhattoKnowndLdWritethru/56b1c4fa87864d157eb3999a64f94c87/text___
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CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT
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Trudy strengthens to a hurricane as system nears Mexico’s coast with major storm expected
SUMMARY: Trudy has intensified into a Category 1 hurricane as it approaches the Pacific coast of Mexico. The U.S. National Hurricane Center reports Trudy is about 300 miles southwest of Acapulco, with maximum sustained winds of 75 mph. The hurricane is moving northwest at 9 mph and is expected to approach southwestern and west-central Mexico this weekend. The center says Trudy is on track to become a major hurricane on Friday, bringing rainfall of 4 to 8 inches across Colima and Jalisco states through the weekend.
WORDS: 131 - MOVED: 10/15/2026 9:56 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APLTMexicoExtremeWeatherPacificndLdWritethru/6eb987f5a1ef914582d95b07fce244da/text___
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RELIGION
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Questions swirl about pope's future and what he knew when praying at a French shrine famed for cures
SUMMARY: Pope Leo XIV's lung cancer diagnosis raises questions about the future of his pontificate. But Vatican watchers say the 71-year-old’s diagnosis could have other unintended effects, not all of them negative. It could propel Leo to accelerate his own agenda and galvanize support for him. And it has placed Leo squarely among the “fragile” and “vulnerable” who have emerged as his central focus. The Vatican on Thursday said the pope had spent a second peaceful night in Rome’s Gemelli hospital, where he is expected to recover for about a week. The brief statement specified he got out of bed and had breakfast, which are both good signs for his recovery.
WORDS: 1078 - MOVED: 10/15/2026 4:11 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APEURELVaticanPopeFuturethLdWritethru/2189493b84bbc843ef3b2196308acaba/text___
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LIFESTYLE
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Kelly Clarkson and a Brooklyn store clashed on social media. Behind it, power dynamics loomed
SUMMARY: Kelly Clarkson's recent dispute with a Brooklyn store highlights the power dynamics between celebrities and everyday people. Over the weekend, Clarkson visited Art of Play, a store offering books, games, and magic shows. She later posted on social media, claiming she was judged as if she couldn’t afford a high-priced mechanical bird, leading to a negative interaction. The store responded, saying the item wasn't for sale and they offered alternatives, which Clarkson disputed. Since her post, the store has faced online backlash and even in-person confrontations.
WORDS: 933 - MOVED: 10/14/2026 4:05 AM PST
https://newsroom.ap.org/detail/APUSKellyClarksonBrooklynDisputestLdWritethru/ca83eb0d646fbf972b63e6b84f59fb64/text___
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