Tennessee voters oust Trump-backed congressman, set fall matchup for redrawn Memphis-area House seat
MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — Former Tennessee Agriculture Commissioner Charlie Hatcher has defeated Congressman Andy Ogles in a Republican primary. Ogles' defeat marks a rare rejection of a candidate endorsed by President Donald Trump. Voters also chose two Memphis area lawmakers — Republican state Sen. Brent Taylor and Democratic state Rep. Justin Pearson — to face off in a reconfigured district. The primaries test a new U.S. House map redrawn by Republican state lawmakers. Republicans are aiming for a clean sweep of Tennessee's congressional seats in November. The redistricting has sparked controversy, with some voters expressing concerns about diluted representation.
Man charged with arson in Spokane, Washington, told police he planned wildfire for weeks
Police say a man charged with starting one of the wildfires in Spokane, Washington, that have destroyed hundreds of buildings planned the crime for weeks and researched when the weather would be best for igniting it. Detective Michael Drapeau said in a court filing Wednesday that Aaron Farinacci confessed to sparking the fire, described his planning process and explained how he created a device to ignite the blaze. Farinacci has been charged with five counts of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails fire and four previous smaller blazes. He was scheduled to be arraigned Thursday, but his lawyer asked for a competency evaluation before he enters a plea.
Court orders Instagram and Facebook's Meta to pay $567M to address kids' mental health online
A New Mexico court has ordered Instagram and Facebook parent company Meta to pay $567 million to address harms to young people from its platforms. The order came late Thursday in the second phase of a landmark trial that the social media giant lost in March. Judge Bryan Biedscheid said $420 million of the money will be used for treatment services for young people. The rest will go toward awareness and prevention, screening services and other costs over the next five years. Meta said in a statement that it disagreed with the ruling and will appeal it. Meta added that it remains confident in its record of protecting teens online.
Senate committee votes to hold Fauci in contempt for refusing to answer COVID questions
WASHINGTON (AP) — A Senate committee has voted along party lines to hold Dr. Anthony Fauci in contempt of Congress over his refusal to answer questions at a hearing on his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. The vote Thursday sets up a referral to the Department of Justice for potential investigation over whether the country’s longtime top infectious disease official properly exercised his constitutional rights. A department spokesperson confirmed Thursday evening that the department had received the contempt referral, is “reviewing it and will work with the Senate accordingly." A referral from Congress doesn't compel prosecutors to act. Democrats are questioning whether the referral would be valid if the full Senate was bypassed.
Fauci contempt vote reflects the enduring politics of COVID
NEW YORK (AP) — Six years after the world was thrust into a global pandemic, Republicans in power aren’t leaving it in the past. Instead, they're bringing COVID-19 politics to center stage for new scrutiny and demanding accountability. A Republican-led Senate committee's contempt vote against Dr. Anthony Fauci on Thursday represented their efforts to steer how America remembers the pandemic and who is held responsible for it. Political scientists and historians said the focus on COVID grievances demonstrates how some of the wounds it opened have never been closed. Democrats have slammed the federal government’s blaming of Fauci as a performative distraction that’s not based in facts.
Possible Strait of Hormuz deal, a large attack in Yemen and other Mideast news
Iran says it is in the final stage of drafting an agreement on the Strait of Hormuz waterway with Oman. At least two ships were hit in the strait in the past week, while several others reported near misses or warnings from entities claiming to represent Iran’s Revolutionary Guard. Yemen's Houthi rebels attacked government forces, killing at least 30 in one of the biggest such assaults since a 2022 truce. Two Israeli soldiers have been killed in southern Lebanon.
FACT FOCUS: A look at Trump's false and misleading claims about the Reflecting Pool
In April, President Donald Trump announced that the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool was being renovated to address long-standing cosmetic and structural issues. He initially promised a gleaming blue pool that would be fixed in a week at a cost of $1.5 million, much less than what previous administrations had paid for work on the national landmark. But four months later the results of the project have not lived up to Trump’s rhetoric, which has in some cases become increasingly hyperbolic.
FACT FOCUS: Trump boasts about the economy but there's more to the story
President Donald Trump has been highlighting his economic achievements, pointing to record stock market highs and claims of increased hiring, manufacturing, and investment. Some claims are true, while others are exaggerated or unclear. Ahead of the November 3 midterms, voters are frustrated with the economy and high living costs. An AP-NORC poll in late July showed only 32% of U.S. adults approved of Trump’s handling of the economy. Meanwhile, 69% described the economy as “poor,” with many citing the cost of essentials like groceries and gas as major stressors.
Trump administration moves forward with Head Start overhaul, proposing to eliminate regulations
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s administration plans to overhaul Head Start, a key early education program for the nation's neediest children. Officials from the Department of Health and Human Services say the changes posted online Thursday would encourage more local decision-making by eliminating many federal regulations. Critics argue this could undermine Head Start's effectiveness. The program currently serves around 700,000 vulnerable children, including those who are homeless or in foster care. The proposed changes would replace extensive federal regulations with state and local requirements. Officials claim this could save more than $2 billion and expand the program's reach, but experts warn it may lower standards. The public has 60 days to weigh in.
New kind of flu shot is on the way as the FDA approves Moderna's mRNA-based vaccine
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Food and Drug Administration has approved a new flu vaccine for older people, the first made with the same mRNA technology that was key to ending the COVID-19 pandemic. Moderna announced the approval late Wednesday. The Cambridge, Massachusetts-based company says it expects some supply to be available in certain stores soon. The shot is called mFlusiva and is for adults age 50 or older. It offers an additional option among the multiple flu vaccines available, including three specifically recommended for people age 65 or older who are especially vulnerable to influenza.
