Suspect in Charlie Kirk killing became more political, opposed activist's views, authorities say
OREM, Utah (AP) — A 22-year-old Utah man who was booked on murder charges in the assassination of Charlie Kirk held deep disdain for the conservative activist’s provocative viewpoints and indicated to a family member that he was responsible for the shooting. That's what authorities said Friday as they announced the arrest of Tyler Robinson, which marked a major break in a case that shocked the country and raised fresh alarms about political violence in a deeply polarized United States. Utah Governor Spencer Cox said Robinson had become “more political” in the run-up to the shooting and mentioned during a dinner with family that Kirk would be visiting Utah. Cox credited Robinson’s family with helping turn him in.
Man arrested in Charlie Kirk's killing had no known criminal history, had become 'more political'
ST. GEORGE, Utah (AP) — The family of the young Utah man accused of shooting Charlie Kirk has told authorities he had recently become “more political” and recounted a dinner table conversation where they discussed whether the conservative activist was spreading hate. That’s according to a probable cause statement released Friday. A judge ordered Tyler James Robinson held without bail. Utah state records show the 22-year-old is registered to vote but not affiliated with a political party. His address is listed as his parents’ home in a suburb outside of St. George in southern Utah. Social media posts made by his mother through 2022 show an active family that spent time outdoors. It wasn’t immediately clear whether Robinson had a lawyer.
What to know about the killing of Charlie Kirk, the co-founder of Turning Point USA
Authorities have arrested a 22-year-old Utah man in the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. “We got him,” Gov. Spencer Cox told reporters at a news conference Friday announcing the arrest of Tyler Robinson in Wednesday’s killing of Kirk during an outdoor debate at Utah Valley University. Authorities say Robinson, a student at a different college, was taken into custody Thursday night. Robinson’s father recognized him from images released by authorities and encouraged him to turn himself in, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation. Cox says Robinson’s family said Robinson had been critical of Kirk.
Missouri Senate passes Trump-backed plan that could help Republicans win an additional US House seat
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Missouri Senate has passed a plan backed by President Donald Trump that could help Republicans win an additional U.S. House seat. The Senate’s vote Friday sends the measure to Republican Gov. Mike Kehoe for his expected signature. But opponents immediately announced a referendum petition that could force a statewide vote on the new map. Missouri is the third state to take up congressional redistricting ahead of the 2026 elections. Republicans in Texas passed a new House map aimed at winning five more seats. Democrats in California countered with their own redistricting plan aimed at picking up five seats, but it still needs voter approval.
Trump says he’ll send National Guard to Memphis, escalating his use of troops in US cities
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — President Donald Trump says he'll send the National Guard to Memphis, Tennessee, to address crime concerns there. The president told Fox News on Friday that “the mayor is happy” and “the governor is happy” about the pending deployment. Democratic Mayor Paul Young pushed back on Trump’s assertion, saying “I did not ask for the National Guard and I don’t think it’s the way to drive down crime.” Tennessee's Republican Gov. Bill Lee confirmed the deployment was coming and said he planned to speak with the president Friday to work out details of the mission. Trump has also mused about sending troops to New Orleans, another majority-Black city in a Republican-leaning state.
States are taking steps to ease access to COVID-19 vaccines as they await federal recommendation
The governors of Arizona, Illinois, Maine and North Carolina have signed orders intended to make COVID-19 vaccines available in pharmacies for people without individual prescriptions. At least a dozen states have taken similar steps this month as this season's version of the vaccine becomes available and a federal advisory council has not recommended yearly shots for nearly everyone as it did in previous years. Nearly all the governors taking action are Democrats. But the pharmacy chain CVS says most states have existing policies that allow access to the shots anyway.
UN assembly votes overwhelmingly to back two-state solution to Israel-Palestinian conflict
UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The U.N. General Assembly has voted overwhelmingly to support a two-state solution to the Israel-Palestinian conflict. It also urges Israel to commit to a Palestinian state, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vehemently opposes. The 193-member world body approved a nonbinding resolution endorsing the “New York Declaration,” which sets out a phased plan to end the nearly 80-year conflict. The vote on Friday was 142-10 with 12 abstentions. The nearly two-year war in Gaza and the broader Israeli-Palestinian conflict are expected to be at the top of the agenda of world leaders at their annual gathering at the General Assembly starting on Sept. 22.
Schumer warns of a shutdown if Republicans don’t accept Democrats’ health care demands
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer is willing to risk a government shutdown at the end of the month if Republicans don’t accept Democratic demands on health care. Schumer tells The Associated Press he and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries oppose any legislation that doesn’t include key health care provisions and a commitment not to roll them back. Schumer argues the country is in a different place than it was earlier this year, when he argued against a shutdown. The New York senator weathered backlash from fellow Democrats in March when he voted with Republicans to keep the government open. President Donald Trump said Friday Republicans should not “even bother” negotiating with Democrats.
Kavanaugh says no one has too much power in US system. Critics see Supreme Court bowing to Trump
WACO, Texas (AP) — Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh says the genius of the American system of government is that no one should have too much power. That's even as Kavanaugh and other conservatives on the high court face criticism for deferring repeatedly to President Donald Trump. Kavanaugh says the framers of the Constitution were set on avoiding the concentration of power. Kavanaugh said Thursday at an event honoring his onetime boss Kenneth Starr that "no one person or group of people should have too much power in our system.” Trump’s robust effort to remake the federal government did not come up at the event.
The rise of AI tools forces schools to reconsider what counts as cheating
High school and college educators say that student use of artificial intelligence has become so widespread that they need to rethink how to assign and assess students. Many teachers have shifted all writing to the classroom. Some are returning to pen and paper exams to avoid cheating. As the new school year gets underway, educators say it's clear that AI is transforming how students learn and study and how teachers teach. But it is also creating new confusion over what constitutes cheating. Students say they often turn to AI with good intentions for things like brainstorming or editing help but sometimes it's hard to know where to draw the line.
