After Election Day, Trump stares down the specter of Democratic probes and the race to succeed him
WASHINGTON (AP) — For Donald Trump, Tuesday’s elections will chart the course for the final two years of his presidency. If Republicans lose control of Congress, the rest of his time in office is likely to be consumed by Democratic-led investigations into his administration and his business dealings, and possibly even another impeachment. The spotlight will also begin its shift to Republicans and Democrats vying to replace him during the 2028 presidential campaign. But if Trump defies the political odds and retains GOP majorities, then he will emerge with a stronger grip on his party, which would owe much of its success to the president’s monthlong barnstorming of conservative states where he remains very popular with voters.
Supreme Court rejects Trump administration push to set aside thousands of California ballots
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has rejected a push for California to set aside thousands of mail ballots from people President Donald Trump’s administration claims are noncitizens. The decision that comes on the eve of the pivotal midterm elections. The high court refused Monday to intervene in a case involving 20,000 people the Republican administration flagged as likely noncitizens on the largely Democratic state’s voter rolls, even as years of evidence has shown voting by noncitizens is rare. It was the latest in a flurry of election-related litigation the day before the midterm elections, which will decide control of Congress for the last two years of Trump’s second term.
Parts of a Learjet may have broken off midair before Florida crash that killed 9, investigators say
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Parts of a business jet likely started to break off before the aircraft crashed in South Florida, killing nine people. National Transportation Safety Board member Tom Chapman said Monday that evidence found at the crash site indicates the aircraft started to break up in the air. But the tragedy started earlier when the plane encountered turbulence and icing at its cruising altitude. The plane took off from Austin, Texas, on Sunday headed for the Bahamas and crashed in Greenacres near West Palm Beach. Chapman says the weather will be a major focus of the investigation. Rain pounded the region Sunday and one of the pilots reported ice conditions at a high altitude.
Victims of Florida plane crash include a 20-year-old copilot and tech entrepreneur and his family
The victims of a Sunday plane crash in Florida included a 20-year-old woman who got her pilot's license while still in high school and a technology entrepreneur and his family. Nathalia Gadelha Filgueiras was among nine people who died in the crash near West Palm Beach. Authorities say there were no survivors. Filgueiras’ mother says her daughter was the copilot flying a Learjet 60 from Austin, Texas, to the Bahamas. Filgueiras earned her license while in high school. The crash also killed Adam Robinson, his wife and their two children. Robinson was founder of Retention.com.
Reflecting Pool vs. the state of the economy: Trump and Dems clash in closing messages
WASHINGTON (AP) — As midterm campaigns careen toward their conclusion, Democrats are pushing through intraparty divisions to stay focused on voters’ economic frustrations. President Donald Trump is promoting construction projects in the nation's capital and casting his Democratic opponents as dangerous radicals. The dueling closing messages come as the nation’s two major parties battle for control of Congress and key governor’s offices. The outcome could fundamentally reshape Trump’s final two years in office. Overall, Democrats were overwhelmingly optimistic about their party’s chances Tuesday and Trump acknowledged that the midterm election may not go well for him or his party.
Far from the campaign trail, Trump promotes his Reflecting Pool makeover before Election Day
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump stood silently while triumphant music played as he held up a poster showing an image of the algae-clogged pool in front of the Lincoln Memorial. It was the final moment of his last big speech before Election Day, far away from the campaign trail where Republicans were trying Monday to make their case to voters to hang onto control of Congress. The president’s decision to spend the day before the pivotal midterms showing off his renovations in the nation’s capital instead of barnstorming around the country was a puzzling way to pitch America on keeping his party in power. He said he has more such major projects to come.
Rain clears but flood risk remains high after destructive storms swamp normally arid US Southwest
Rain is clearing but the risk of flooding remains high in storm-weary parts of the Southwest. An expert says over 20 trillion gallons of water has fallen on the Four Corners states and Nevada in the past two weeks. The flooding has kept swift-water rescue teams busy. One person died after falling into floodwaters in Flagstaff, Arizona, and police suspect a second death also is weather-related. Evacuations were also ordered along the San Juan River in New Mexico, which officials warned was still rising and could crest over the coming days.
Federal judge dismisses lawsuit against Harvard over federal demand for admissions data
BOSTON (AP) — A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit against Harvard University over its alleged failure to provide admissions records that the Justice Department demanded to ensure the Ivy League school stopped using affirmative action in admissions. The Justice Department said Harvard thwarted its efforts to investigate potential discrimination. The department accused Harvard of refusing to comply with a federal investigation and asked a judge to order the university to turn over the records. But U.S. District Judge Myong Joun concluded the department didn't take the necessary procedural steps to get the data before filing the lawsuit.
Russia bombs aid center and shelter in southern Ukraine, killing 26, officials say
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian authorities say 26 people have been killed in Russian bomb attacks on an aid distribution center and neighboring shelter in southern Ukraine. The attacks came after a limited ceasefire expired Monday in Ukraine’s southern Kherson region. The ceasefire agreement between Ukraine and Russia had allowed humanitarian aid and evacuation missions into front-line areas in Russian-occupied territory. Earlier in the day, Ukraine and Russia reported cyberattacks on their emergency alert apps. In Ukraine, users received false warnings of dangerously high radiation levels, a chemical threat and public disturbances in Kyiv. Russian officials said hackers had sent fake alerts through its emergency ministry’s app.
Judge cites 'weaponization' in tossing charges for ex-FBI agents accused of lying about Hunter Biden
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge in Washington has dismissed a criminal complaint against two former FBI officials accused of lying to Congress about Hunter Biden, citing what he calls “weaponization” of President Donald Trump's Justice Department. The judge Monday said the investigation that produced the charges was overtly political. The Justice Department may still have an opportunity to pursue a grand jury indictment against the ex-FBI officials. The case accused the former officials of misleading Congress about their knowledge of efforts to investigate a laptop the Justice Department says was dropped off by Joe Biden’s son at a Delaware computer repair shop in 2019. The case sought to echo grievances by Trump and his Republican allies.
