Republican convention to focus on immigration a day after a bandaged Trump makes triumphant entrance
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The Republican National Convention resumes Tuesday with a focus on immigration. The issue is central to former President Donald Trump’s political brand that helped endear him to the GOP base when he began his first campaign in 2015. Trump appeared triumphantly at the convention’s opening night Monday with a bandage over his right ear, two days after surviving an attempted assassination. Republicans have nominated Trump to lead their presidential ticket and cheered enthusiastically after he unveiled Ohio Sen. JD Vance as his running mate. Republican Party Chairman Michael Whatley hailed the ticket as an ideal team to defeat President Joe Biden and Democrats in November.
JD Vance is a relative political unknown. He’s been asked to help Donald Trump avenge his loss
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Ohio Sen. JD Vance is supposed to help Donald Trump win the Midwest this fall. But almost immediately after he was announced as Trump’s vice presidential pick on Monday, one thing became clear: Vance, a 39-year-old Republican with less than two years in Congress, is barely known among many Republicans even in the swing states Trump hopes he’ll deliver. Trump’s team has less than four months to strengthen Vance’s profile. Already, a collection of political foes — Democrats and Republicans — is working to fill the information void with a series of attacks seizing on Vance’s inexperience in government, his nationalist views, and his history of condemning Trump himself.
Signs of trouble at Trump rally were evident in minutes before gunman opened fire
BUTLER, Pa. (AP) — Signs of trouble were evident in the minutes before shots rang out at Donald Trump’s rally in Pennsylvania: Police had a report of a suspicious man pacing near the magnetometers and were apparently exchanging photos of the suspect. Witnesses pointed and shouted at an armed man on a nearby roof. When a police officer climbed up to the roof to investigate, the gunman turned and pointed his rifle at him. But the officer did not — or could not — fire a single shot. A sniper cut down 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks within seconds of him firing an AR-style rifle toward Trump, but it was too late.
Trump’s escape from disaster by mere inches reveals a tiny margin with seismic impact
NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump had a narrow escape in Saturday’s assassination attempt – the projectile that whizzed toward him in an assassination attempt left the Republican presidential candidate with a bloodied right ear, initially shaken but otherwise unharmed and ready to continue his campaign. It was a tiny margin for survival, with a seismic impact. And an unforgettable example of a hard truth about the history, the events that shape us and our society – sometimes, it can come down to chance, to circumstances falling in one direction and not another, to timely interventions or missteps that allow for disruption.
Far-right groups that block aid to Gaza receive tax-deductible donations from US and Israel
JERUSALEM (AP) — Under American pressure, Israel has pledged to deliver large quantities of humanitarian aid into the war-ravaged Gaza Strip. But at the same time, the U.S. and Israel have allowed tax-deductible donations to far-right groups that have blocked that aid from being delivered. The Associated Press and the Israeli investigative site Shomrim have found that three groups that have prevented humanitarian aid from reaching Gaza — including one accused of looting or destroying supplies — have raised more than $200,000 from donors in the U.S. and Israel. Critics say incentivizing these donations by making them tax-deductible runs counter to America’s and Israel’s stated commitment to allow unlimited aid to Gaza.
Texas governor criticizes Houston energy as utility says power will be mostly restored by Wednesday
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The Houston area’s main utility company says it expects to have power restored to most residents by Wednesday. But Gov. Greg Abbott continued to criticize CenterPoint Energy on Monday for its storm preparation and response. He said the company seems “incapable of doing their job.” Yet some energy experts are questioning whether Abbott and state regulators have long failed to get tough on utilities or modernize and toughen the state’s power delivery system. Texas has experienced repeated mass outages from weather events. CenterPoint has defended its response and pace of restoring outages following Hurricane Beryl. A spokesperson did not respond to an email seeking comment Monday.
California is 1st state to ban school rules requiring parents get notified of child’s pronoun change
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed a law barring school districts from passing policies requiring schools to notify parents if their child asks to change their gender identification. The law bans rules requiring school staff to disclose a student’s gender identity or sexual orientation to any other person without the child’s permission. Proponents of the legislation say it will help protect LGBTQ+ students who live in unwelcoming households. But opponents say it will hinder schools’ ability to be more transparent with parents. It comes amid a nationwide debate over local school districts and the rights of parents and LGBTQ+ students.
Federal judge dismisses Trump classified documents case over concerns with prosecutor’s appointment
WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge in Florida has dismissed the classified documents case against former President Donald Trump, siding with defense lawyers who said the special counsel who filed the charges was illegally appointed by the Justice Department. Hours later, special counsel Jack Smith’s office said it would appeal the order, which could result in it eventually being overturned by a higher court. But for now at least, the dismissal Monday by U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon brings a stunning and abrupt halt to a criminal case that at the time it was filed was widely regarded as the most perilous of all the legal threats the Republican former president confronted.
Border arrests plunge 29% in June to the lowest of Biden’s presidency as asylum halt takes hold
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Arrests for illegally crossing the border from Mexico plunged 29% in June to the lowest month of Joe Biden’s presidency. Figures released Monday by U.S. Customs and Border Protection provide another window on the impact of a rule to temporarily suspend asylum. Arrests totaled less than 84,000 to mark the lowest monthly tally since January 2021. CBP says a seven-day average of daily arrests fell more than half from when the asylum measure was announced June 4 to the end of the month. San Diego was the busiest corridor for illegal crossings, followed by Tucson, Arizona.
Dodgers’ Hernández beats Royals’ Witt for HR Derby title, Alonso’s bid for 3rd win ends in 1st round
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Los Angeles Dodgers’ Teoscar Hernández won the Home Run Derby when he beat local star Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals 14-13 in the final round. The 31-year-old Hernández hit 49 homers over three rounds that totaled 3.98 miles. He is the first Dodgers player to win the derby. Kansas City has never had a winner. Witt, needing one to tie with one out remaining, drove a ball to one of the deepest parts of the park in left-center, where it hit halfway up the wall.
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