US Rep Byron Donalds wins GOP nod for Florida governor against Ex-Rep David Jolly for the Democrats
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Byron Donalds has won the Republican nomination for Florida governor and former Rep. David Jolly has picked up the Democratic nod, setting the stage for a fall campaign to replace outgoing Gov. Ron DeSantis and decide the state's future political direction. Donalds would become Florida's first Black governor if elected. Jolly is a former Republican congressman who switched parties last year. Also Tuesday, progressive state Rep. Angie Nixon won the Democratic nomination and will face the GOP pick, Sen. Ashley Moody, in a special election for the last two years of Marco Rubio's Senate term. Rubio left the Senate last year to become secretary of state.
The Latest: Byron Donalds and David Jolly will compete to replace Ron DeSantis as Florida governor
Voters in the Alabama, Florida, and Wyoming primary are deciding which candidates to advance to the general election in races for governor, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House. California is holding a special election to fill U.S. Rep. Eric Swalwell's seat after his resignation. In an open contest to replace term-limited Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, Rep. Byron Donalds won the nomination on the Republican side and former Rep. David Jolly won the Democratic nomination. Alaska voters are narrowing down candidates for a competitive U.S. Senate seat. Wyoming's primary features open-seat races after two prominent Republican officials announced their retirements. Alaska uses ranked choice voting, which supporters say encourages more moderate candidates.
Trump threatened to bomb Oman because he's unhappy with country's deal with Iran, officials say
CAIRO (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Oman because he is unhappy the country is close to a deal with Iran to manage ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. That's what two regional officials said on Tuesday, a day after Trump leveled the threat. The officials said the Trump administration has told Oman it is opposed to parts of the yet-to-be-announced deal, including the joint Iranian and Omani management of the exit route out of the passage. The strait is critical to global supplies of oil and natural gas. The officials were briefed on the U.S. position and how the administration views Oman’s position.
Trump says US and Canada have reached last-minute deal to delay 50% US tariffs on Canadian imports
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he is delaying the 50% U.S. tariffs on $20 billion worth of Canadian imports after the two countries reached a last-minute deal hours before the sanctions were to go into effect. The announcement, which Trump made late Tuesday on his social media platform, buys time for more negotiations and avoids, for now, another strain in already tense relations between the historic allies. Trump said he had paused the tariffs “based on the fact that Canada and the U.S.A., subject to the finalization of documents, have a DEAL!” Trump’s import taxes would have hit about 5% of what Canada ships to the United States every year, including products ranging from hockey sticks to tongue depressors.
Hayden Panettiere's on-and-off boyfriend was at apartment where she died, police report says
GREENVILLE, S.C. (AP) — Hayden Panettiere’s on-and-off boyfriend Brian Hickerson and his brother Zach Hickerson were at the South Carolina apartment where the actor died over the weekend. That is according to a police report released Tuesday. A Greenville police officer who responded to the residence Sunday afternoon was met by the brothers and then observed paramedics performing CPR on an unresponsive woman. No cause has been determined, and her death remains under investigation. An autopsy found no signs of trauma, and officers saw no signs of foul play. The onetime child star, who soared to fame in the TV shows “Heroes” and “Nashville” while enduring struggles with addiction, would have turned 37 on Friday.
ABC sues FCC over challenge to its broadcast licenses, saying actions present 'existential threat'
ABC has filed a lawsuit against the Trump administration’s Federal Communications Commission, alleging violation of its First Amendment rights. Tuesday's lawsuit was a sharp escalation of the network's battle against what it sees as the administration's efforts to police its content. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has defended his agency’s actions against ABC, saying broadcasters have a duty to “operate in the public interest.” The FCC launched a review in April of eight ABC-owned broadcast licenses years before they expire. The order came after a joke by ABC late night host Jimmy Kimmel infuriated President Donald Trump.
Liberia agrees to take 1,200 third-country deportees from the US
MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) — Liberia has agreed to accept up to 1,200 third-country deportees from the United States, according to authorities in the West African country. The deportees will be received within a year, with the first group of 20 expected on Thursday. Liberia’s Information Minister, Jerolinmek Piah, said the deportees will include Africans as well as nationals from North America, South America, and the Caribbean. This arrangement is part of a broader U.S. policy under the Trump administration aimed at deterring illegal migration. Liberia will receive support from the U.S. to manage the program and strengthen its migration system.
US Navy destroyer with 300 sailors aboard broke down for four days in the Pacific
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Navy has confirmed that a destroyer with about 300 sailors aboard suffered a major breakdown in the Pacific Ocean last month that left it without power for four days. Navy spokesman Cmdr. Matthew Comer said in a statement that the USS Benfold “reported an engineering casualty involving its generators, causing a loss of power” on July 24. The breakdown meant the crew went without drinking water, meals, functioning toilets and air conditioning for four days. The incident only became public on Friday when it was first reported by USNI News. It comes as the Pentagon grapples with serious questions about the quality of life aboard naval vessels and the military’s ability to supply ships during the conflict with Iran.
Before-and-after NASA images show crater carved by a SpaceX rocket that slammed into the moon
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — A NASA spacecraft circling the moon is providing the sharpest views yet of the crater carved by a crashing SpaceX rocket. The space agency on Tuesday released before-and-after photos of the impact area. The Falcon rocket's upper stage plowed into the moon two weeks ago after drifting through space for more than a year. It launched a pair of private moon landers in 2025 as part of NASA's push to commercialize lunar exploration. Scientists say based on these new photos, the fresh crater appears to be 60 feet across and less than 10 feet deep.
Frank Beard, drummer of boogie-rock trio ZZ Top, dies at 77
NEW YORK (AP) — Frank Beard, the drummer for ZZ Top, has died at 77. He passed away Tuesday at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, with family by his side. ZZ Top sold over 50 million records and had six No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. The band, formed in 1969, was known for hits like “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Legs.” They maintained their original lineup for over five decades. Their unique style and humor made them popular in Hollywood and MTV. Beard is survived by his wife, Debbie Meredith, and three children.
