House Republicans adopt $95 billion package for the Iran war and Trump's priorities
WASHINGTON (AP) — The House adopted a Republican-only $95 billion budget proposal, a long-shot effort to fund the Iran war and other White House priorities. Speaker Mike Johnson worked Wednesday to push it over objections from Democrats and some GOP holdouts as a priority before the midterm elections. The package includes $73 billion for the Pentagon and other national security needs, $12 billion for farmers struggling under President Donald Trump’s tariffs and $10 billion for voting law changes that are a Trump priority. Democrats argued the money should be spent at home, particularly on efforts to lower costs for Americans. It next goes to the Senate.
Millions have signed up for Trump Accounts, but some families are still waiting for baby's $1,000
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says Trump Accounts could lift children out of poverty and help more Americans invest in the stock market. But some parents are still waiting for the money. Trump promoted the accounts at a rally in Georgia on Wednesday. Trump Accounts offer $1,000 to every child born during his second term. The accounts went live July 4. They can be opened for any child under 18, with contributions from family and others. The money is invested and can be accessed at 18. Some parents say they were told the money could take weeks to arrive. The Treasury Department says most families wait only one or two days.
Trump pays respects to 4 US service members killed in the Middle East
DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del. (AP) — President Donald Trump is honoring the lives of four U.S. service members who were killed in the Middle East and returned to their families at an air force base in Delaware. Trump saluted Wednesday as four transfer cases carrying the service members' remains were escorted off an airplane during the dignified transfer. Earlier in the day, he called the ritual over the loss of life as “one of the hardest things to do as a president.” The service members were identified as 25-year-old Tyler James Feehan of Hawaii, 19-year-old Isabella Gonzales of Texas, 28-year-old Angel S. Rampersad of New York, and 30-year-old Michael Emmanuel Swinton of North Carolina.
US military carries out strikes on Iran as both sides threaten civilian infrastructure
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — The U.S. military has announced that it is conducting a 12th night of strikes against Iran as both sides increasingly target civilian infrastructure. U.S. Central Command said Wednesday the strikes are designed to “further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters” as the U.S. pushes to regain control over the Strait of Hormuz and restore the flow of international shipping. U.S. President Donald Trump warned earlier Wednesday that the U.S. will destroy one bridge or power plant each time Iran shoots at a ship in the strait.
Rubio to revive prospect of US helping end war in Ukraine in meeting with Russian counterpart
MANILA, Philippines (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is set to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in the Philippines. Rubio is expected to renew the prospect of the U.S. trying to broker an end to the war in Ukraine. The meeting between Rubio and Lavrov is slated to occur Thursday on the sidelines of a summit by Southeast Asian foreign ministers. It's among the most high-profile side meetings that leaders are having at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations gathering in Manila. U.S. efforts to broker an end to the Russia-Ukraine war have dropped off as indirect talks stalled and the Iran war took center stage.
Tropical Storm Bertha makes landfall on southern Louisiana with threatening winds
Tropical Storm Bertha has made landfall on the southern tip of Louisiana. The storm moving slowly along the Gulf Coast on Wednesday is packing strong winds that extend as much as 100 miles from its center. Damaging wind and storm surge are the main threats for the Deep South states. The National Hurricane Center says a tropical storm warning includes New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. Storm surge up to 3 feet is possible, as well as heavy rain. Bertha is expected to weaken as moves toward Texas. The storm earlier forced beach closures in the Florida Panhandle and along the tips of Alabama and Mississippi.
US and Saudi Arabia sign new nuclear agreement that could pave way for kingdom to enrich uranium
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration has forged a new agreement with Saudi Arabia that could potentially provide the kingdom with uranium enrichment capability for its civilian nuclear program. U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy Abdulaziz bin Salman on Wednesday signed the nuclear cooperation agreement, known as a “123 agreement,” alongside what the Trump administration described as a “bilateral safeguards agreement.” The U.S. administration released scant details of the deal. But the framework of the agreement paves the way for the building of a uranium enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia after a joint U.S.-Saudi study. That's according to two people familiar with the matter who were not authorized to comment publicly.
June 1 trial date set for Venezuela's Nicolás Maduro in his US drug trafficking case
NEW YORK (AP) — A June 1 trial date has been set for Nicolás Maduro to face drug trafficking charges in New York. The trial date was set on Wednesday during a brief hearing in Manhattan federal court. His lawyer says he plans to contest the charges against his client on sovereign immunity grounds, among others. Defense lawyers have objected to the U.S. military action that snatched Venezuela’s president from power. Maduro was being returned to a Brooklyn jail. Maduro and his wife have pleaded not guilty to charges that they sided with drug dealers in a multidecade scheme to ship large quantities of drugs to the United States.
Independent autopsy of Nolan Wells finds 'undetermined' cause of death
CHICAGO (AP) — An independent autopsy commissioned by Nolan Xavier Wells' family finds his cause of death "undetermined" pending further investigation. Civil rights attorney Ben Crump announced the preliminary findings Wednesday at the NAACP National Convention in Chicago. The autopsy was conducted by forensic pathologist Dr. Roger Mitchell and cited body decomposition and missing facts as reasons for the inconclusive result. Wells disappeared after a July 4 boat trip to an island off Mississippi. His body was found two days later. The Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office has not released its autopsy results. A $125,000 reward is offered for information leading to an arrest.
AP Exclusive: A boater's photo may be 'the last picture' of group drowned in an Ohio river
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Marcus L. Martin felt instant trepidation when he saw five adults wading thigh- and waist-deep in the Scioto River last weekend. The Baptist pastor is a frequent boater on that area of the central Ohio waterway north of Columbus. He knew the area where the group was standing Sunday to be treacherous due to a steep drop-off. He took a photo of the group when he returned past them. It may be the last portrait of a group of friends who drowned that day, two Honduran married couples and their friend. Authorities have not yet confirmed the individuals pictured in the pastor's photo.
