AP News Summary at 11:24 p.m. EDT (2024)

Biden vows to keep running as signs point to rapidly eroding support for him on Capitol Hill

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is vowing to keep running for reelection as he rejects pressure from within his Democratic Party to withdraw after a disastrous debate performance raised questions about his readiness. But in an ominous sign, one of his top allies publicly suggested Wednesday a way that the party might choose someone else. According to a campaign aides, Biden told his staff that “no one is pushing me out” of the race. But there are signs that support for Biden is rapidly eroding among Democrats on Capitol Hill. Rep. Jim Clyburn, a longtime Biden ally, says he’d support a “mini-primary” in the run-up to the Democratic National Convention next month if Biden were to leave the race.

Biden at 81: Often sharp and focused but sometimes confused and forgetful

WASHINGTON (AP) — Behind closed doors, in the Oval Office, on Air Force One or in meetings around the world, many people describe President Joe Biden in the same dual way. He is often very sharp and focused. But he also has moments, particularly later in the evening, when his thoughts seem jumbled and he trails off mid-sentence or seems confused, and he doesn’t grasp the finer points of some foreign policy details. The president is 81. And that he would be less sharp than he once was is not surprising. But these moments have taken on a fresh resonance following Biden’s disastrous debate performance.

Trump, for now, is ceding the spotlight to Biden as the president's campaign reels from bad debate

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump typically likes to be the one in the spotlight. But in the days since President Joe Biden’s disastrous debate performance, the presumptive Republican nominee has kept a low profile, leaving the focus on the drama engulfing the Democratic Party. The strategy comes as Trump and his campaign revel in a series of legal and political victories heading into the Republican National convention this month. Those victories include a Supreme Court ruling Monday that former presidents have broad immunity from prosecution and a ruling Tuesday by the judge in Trump's New York criminal hush money trial to delay his sentencing, which had been scheduled for next week.

Life and death in Gaza's 'safe zone' where food is scarce and Israel strikes without warning

KHAN YOUNIS, Gaza Strip (AP) — Palestinian hospital authorities and witnesses say an Israeli airstrike slammed into a residential building right next to the main medical center in Gaza’s southern city of Khan Younis. Health officials say Tuesday's strike wounded at least seven people. Nasser Hospital sits in the western part of Khan Younis, an area inside the Israeli-designated humanitarian “safe zone.” That's where Palestinians have been told to flee. However, the head of the U.N. humanitarian office for the Palestinian territories says there are bombings even in so-called safe areas, like the one Wednesday. The Israeli military estimates some 1.9 million people are now clustered in central Gaza.

Hurricane Beryl roars by Jamaica after killing at least 7 people in the southeast Caribbean

KINGSTON, Jamaica (AP) — Hurricane Beryl is roaring by Jamaica, bringing fierce winds and heavy rain after the powerful Category 4 storm earlier killed at least seven people and caused significant damage in the southeast Caribbean. The U.S. National Hurricane Center says Beryl’s eyewall is “brushing the south coast of Jamaica.” Wind-whipped rain pounded the island for hours as residents heeded authorities’ all to shelter until the storm had passed. Power was knocked out in much of the capital. A hurricane warning is in effect for Jamaica, Grand Cayman, Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. Beryl is forecast to weaken slightly over the next day or two.

New Mexico denies film incentive application on 'Rust' movie after fatal shooting by Alec Baldwin

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Producers of the western movie “Rust” may have to forgo a robust economic incentive as they try to sell the newly completed film to distributors. Records obtained by The Associated Press show that New Mexico's tax agency recently denied the producers' application for $1.6 million in economic incentives. An attorney for the company says that money was meant to help fulfill a financial settlement with the family of a cinematographer who was fatally shot by Alec Baldwin during rehearsal in 2021. Producers have until the end of July to appeal the decision. The state tax agency declined to comment, citing concerns about confidential information.

Abortion measures could be on Arizona and Nebraska ballots after organizers submit signatures

PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona and Nebraska organizers have turned in enough signatures to get abortion-related questions before their states' voters in November. Election officials must now verify them. Measures that would explicitly enshrine abortion rights are already on the ballots in five states, and voters in a sixth will consider one that supporters say would also protect the right. In Nebraska, backers of dueling amendment campaigns announced Wednesday that they had turned in enough signatures. One measure would expand abortion rights, the other would keep into place the current ban on abortions after the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.

Worsening floods and deterioration pose threats to US dam safety

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Floodwaters in rural Minnesota carved a path around a century old dam early last week, causing severe erosion to a riverbank. Several days later, intense rain damaged a dam in Texas. There are roughly 90,000 significant dams in the U.S. More than 4,000 are in poor or unsatisfactory condition and could either kill people or just harm the environment if they failed, according to data from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Many dams are in great shape run by competent operators. But other owners have little money to make needed repairs. States have limited power to force fixes and climate change is making bad rain events in some areas more intense, increasing risk.

Why mass shootings and violence increase in the summer

Violence and mass shootings often surge in the summer months. That’s especially true around the Fourth of July. It's usually one of the deadliest days of the year. The Gun Violence Archive tracks mass shootings and shows June, July, and August have had the highest total number over the past decade. Independence Day tops the list with 58 mass shootings over the last 10 years. Researchers point to a combination of factors that have caused the summer months to see an increase historically in violence and shootings. They say the reasons include more social events, teens out of school and hotter temperatures.

From 'latte makeup' to 'girl dinners,' TikTok has launched tons of trends. Will its influence last?

NEW YORK (AP) — TikTok and its bite-sized videos arrived in the United States as a global version of the Chinese app Douyin. Less than six years later, the social media platform is deeply woven into the fabric of American consumerism, having shortened the shelf life of trends and revamped how people engage with food and fashion. The popularity of TikTok coupled with its roots in Beijing led Congress, citing national security concerns, to pass a law that would ban the video-sharing app unless its Chinese parent company sells its stake. Both the company, ByteDance, and TikTok have sued on First Amendment grounds. But while the platform faces uncertain times, its influence remains undisputed and for now, arguably unrivaled.

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