Fed’s preferred inflation gauge shows price pressures stayed elevated last month
WASHINGTON — A measure of inflation closely tracked by the Federal Reserve remained uncomfortably high in March, likely reinforcing the Fed’s reluctance to cut interest rates anytime soon and underscoring a burden for President Joe Biden’s re-election bid.
Trump’s lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution’s first witness in hush money trial
NEW YORK — Donald Trump’s defense team attacked the credibility of prosecutors’ first witness in his hush money case on Friday, seeking to discredit testimony detailing a scheme to bury negative stories to protect the Republican’s 2016 presidential campaign.
Midwest tornadoes cause severe damage in Omaha suburbs
OMAHA, Neb. — A tornado plowed through suburban Omaha, Nebraska, on Friday afternoon, damaging hundreds of homes and other structures as the twister tore for miles along farmland and into subdivisions. Some injuries were reported but there were no immediate reports that anyone was killed.
Columbia protesters say they’re at an impasse with administrators and will continue anti-war camp
NEW YORK — Columbia University students who inspired pro-Palestinian demonstrations across the country said Friday that they reached an impasse with administrators and intend to continue their encampment until their demands are met.
USDA tells producers to reduce salmonella in certain frozen chicken products
Poultry producers will be required to bring salmonella bacteria in certain chicken products to very low levels to help prevent food poisoning under a final rule issued Friday by U.S. agriculture officials.
Biden officials indefinitely postpone ban on menthol cigarettes amid election-year pushback
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden’s administration is indefinitely delaying a long-awaited menthol cigarette ban, a decision that infuriated anti-smoking advocates but could avoid a political backlash from Black voters in November.
US announces new Patriot missiles for Ukraine as part of new $6 billion aid package
WASHINGTON — The U.S. will provide Ukraine additional Patriot missiles for its air defense systems as part of a massive $6 billion additional aid package, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Friday.
Supreme Court seems skeptical of Trump’s claim of absolute immunity but decision’s timing is unclear
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday appeared likely to reject former President Donald Trump’s claim of absolute immunity from prosecution over election interference, but several justices signaled reservations about the charges that could cause a lengthy delay, possibly beyond November’s election.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
NEW YORK — As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Harvey Weinstein’s rape conviction is overturned by New York’s top court
NEW YORK — New York’s highest court on Thursday threw out Harvey Weinstein ‘s 2020 rape conviction with a ruling that shocked and disappointed women who celebrated historic gains during the #MeToo era and left those who testified in the case bracing for a retrial against the ex-movie mogul.
USC cancels graduation ceremony and dozens are arrested on other campuses as anti-war protests grow
The University of Southern California canceled its main graduation ceremony and dozens more college students were arrested at other campuses nationwide Thursday as protests against the Israel-Hamas war continued to spread.
United Methodists endorse change that could give regions more say on LGBTQ and other issues
United Methodist delegates have overwhelmingly endorsed a constitutional amendment seen by advocates as a way of defusing debates over the role of LGBTQ people in the church by giving rule-making autonomy to each region of the international church.
US births fell last year, marking an end to the late pandemic rebound, experts say
NEW YORK — U.S. births fell last year, resuming a long national slide.
Hamas again raises the possibility of a 2-state compromise. Israel and its allies aren’t convinced
The Palestinian militant group Hamas has said for more than 15 years that it could accept a two-state compromise with Israel — at least, a temporary one. But Hamas has also refused to say that it would recognize Israel or renounce its armed fight against it.
New deep-water channel allows first ship to pass Key bridge wreckage in Baltimore
BALTIMORE — The first cargo ship passed through a newly opened deep-water channel in Baltimore on Thursday after being stuck in the harbor since the Francis Scott Key Bridge collapsed four weeks ago, halting most maritime traffic through the city’s port.
Tennessee lawmakers OK bill criminalizing adults who help minors receive gender-affirming care
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — Tennessee’s GOP-controlled Statehouse on Thursday gave their final approval to legislation criminalizing adults who help minors receive gender-affirming care without parental consent, clearing the way for the first-in-the-nation proposal to be sent to Gov. Bill Lee’s desk for his signature.
Over 100 pilot whales beached on western Australian coast have been rescued, officials say
MELBOURNE, Australia — More than 100 long-finned pilot whales that beached on the western Australian coast Thursday have returned to sea, while 29 died on the shore, officials said.
What a TikTok ban in the US could mean for you
No, TikTok will not suddenly disappear from your phone. Nor will you go to jail if you continue using it after it is banned.
Arizona indicts 18 in case over 2020 election in Arizona, including Giuliani and Meadows
PHOENIX — An Arizona grand jury has indicted former President Donald Trump’s chief of staff Mark Meadows, lawyer Rudy Giuliani and 16 others for their efforts to use so-called fake electors to try to overturn Trump’s loss to Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election.
Arizona House advances a repeal of the state’s near-total abortion ban to the Senate
PHOENIX — A proposed repeal of Arizona’s near-total ban on abortions won approval from the state House Wednesday after two weeks of mounting pressure on Republicans over an issue that has bedeviled former President Donald Trump’s campaign to return to the White House.
