Beryl makes landfall in Texas; Democratic division persists

On this version of Hot off the Wire:

MATAGORDA, Texas (AP) — The National Weather Service says Beryl has made landfall on the middle Texas coast near Matagorda with a dangerous storm surge and strong winds. The storm’s center hit land as a Category 1 hurricane around 4 a.m. Monday about 85 miles southwest of Houston with top sustained winds of 80 mph while moving north at 12 mph.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Deeply torn over President Joe Biden’s candidacy, Democratic lawmakers are returning to Washington at a pivotal moment. They are deciding whether to work to revive Biden’s campaign or edge out the party leader after his dismal performance in the debate. 

The Justice Department says Boeing has agreed to plead guilty to a criminal fraud charge stemming from two deadly crashes of 737 Max jetliners. Now it’s up to a federal judge whether to accept the plea and a sentence that is part of the aerospace giant’s deal with U.S. prosecutors. 

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Officials in Ukraine say a major Russian missile attack has killed at least 28 people and injured almost 100 across the country. One missile struck a large children’s hospital in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and emergency crews searched the rubble for casualties. 

PARIS (AP) — Election results show French voters have chosen to give a broad leftist coalition the most parliamentary seats in pivotal legislative elections. That keeps the far right away from power. Yet no party has won an outright majority, putting France in an uncertain, unprecedented situation. President Emmanuel Macron’s centrist alliance arrived in second position and the far right in third.

• Biden tells supporters to ‘stick together’ amid growing calls for him to leave the presidential race.
• Donald Trump denies knowing about Project 2025, his allies’ sweeping plan to transform the US government.
• Can you ‘Trump-proof’ NATO As Biden falters, Europeans look to safeguard the military alliance.
• Second gentleman Doug Emhoff tests positive for COVID. Vice President Harris has tested negative.
• House Republicans unite on spending cuts to non-defense programs, but Senate roadblock awaits.
• ‘Despicable Me 4’ debuts with $122.6M as boom times return to the box office.
• Alec Baldwin is about to go on trial in the death of a cinematographer. Here are key things to know.
• Jon Landau, Oscar-winning ‘Titanic’ and ‘Avatar’ producer, dies at 63.
• Major League Baseball fills out its rosters for the upcoming All-Star Game, the Yankees downward spiral continues, the Royals end their losing skid, the Braves finish off a series win over the Phillies, the Mets use a late comeback to get back to .500, Giannis Antetokounmpo leads his national team to an Olympic berth, the top American woman is upset at Wimbledon, a long winless drought ends in NASCAR, and Davis Thompson sets a record en route to his first career PGA Tour win.
• Hundreds of mostly exiled Tibetans celebrate the Dalai Lama’s 89th birthday in India’s Dharamshala
• In this week’s religiona roundup, a judge rules school shooter’s writings can’t be released, the Vatican excommunicates it’s former ambassador to the U.S.

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.