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VOL. 48 | NO. 19 | Friday, May 10, 2024

Science of cicadas

Bug experts have their day as the hordes emerge after 13 years

Very soon, through big swathes of the Volunteer State, the cicadas are gonna remind you of Roy Kent.

Two broods emerging, but only one in Tennessee

The Central U.S. is swimming in cicadas this summer. The 13-year Brood XIX is the flavor of periodic cicada emerging in Tennessee over the next few weeks.

JOE ROGERS: MY TAKE

Mental evaluations for legislators? How did that not pass?

Just as one invading species – state legislators – has departed Nashville, we’re steeling ourselves for the imminent arrival of another: Brood XIX cicadas. Of the two, which is more irksome?

Local Weather
Currently
Nashville, TN
45.0°F
Overcast
Wind: Northwest at 8.1 mph
Humidity: 77%

EVENTS

Gallatin Young Professionals. Join other young professionals each month at a different venue for lunch and networking. Double Dogs, 1620 Nashville Pike. Members responsible for cost of their own meal. Wednesday, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Information

more events »

RICHARD COURTNEY: REALTY CHECK

Belle Meade's Westview hits jackpot with 2 $10M+ sales in 1 month

Four homes in Nashville have sold for $10 million or more in the past 12 months, with one of them being the Frist home with its 49.72 acres of land and selling for $32 million, making it a space oddity since none of the others have anywhere near that acreage.

REAL ESTATE

Average long-term US mortgage rate snaps five-week string of increases, but remains above 7%

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The average rate on a 30-year mortgage fell for the first time in four weeks, a slight relief for home shoppers already facing the challenges of rising housing prices and a shortage of homes for sale.

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Saros’ future back in spotlight as season ends

It was a playoff appearance not many expected for the Predators, but despite exceeding expectations this season, they could not find the same late-season magic that got them into the postseason in their playoff series against the Vancouver Canucks.

Brunette wary of Adams Award spotlight

Predators coach Andrew Brunette hopes history doesn’t repeat itself, at least when it comes to being named by the NHL as a finalist for the Jack Adams Award, given annually to the league’s coach of the year.

NEWSMAKERS

Bradley’s Dalton named ECPC chair

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP’s Alé Dalton has been appointed chair of the American Health Lawyers Association’s Early Career Professionals Council (ECPC). Her two-year term will begin at the AHLA’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C. in June.

BRIEFS

O’Connell proposes $3.27B FY25 budget

Last week, Nashville Mayor Freddie O’Connell proposed a $3.27 billion budget that intends to build on campaign promises of “Nashville for Nashvillians” as Metro government’s revenues stabilize after four years of pandemic uncertainty.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

Crossovers hybrids: Kia Niro vs. Toyota Corolla Cross

Many car shoppers simply want a vehicle that’s practical, easy to drive and relatively inexpensive. High fuel economy is increasingly a popular desire as well. If this sounds like what you’re looking for in your next vehicle, consider the 2024 Kia Niro or the 2024 Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid.

BUSINESS BOOK REVIEW

Get-rich-quick schemes often come with a BITE

The Benjamins in your wallet are lonesome. They want more of their fellow fivers around, perhaps a few hundred, if it’s possible. And it might happen if you believe the pitch from that old college pal you rarely hear from or the guy in your church who wants you in his sales group.

YOUR MONEY

How sustained high interest rates impact us

Mortgage rates, credit card rates, auto loan rates, and business loans with variable rates will all likely maintain their highs, with consequences for consumer spending, after the Federal Reserve indicated Wednesday that it doesn’t plan to cut interest rates until it has “greater confidence” that price increases at the consumer level are slowing to its 2% target.

VANDERBILT SPORTS

Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington brings Jaylen Carey with him from James Madison

Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington has landed a second portal transfer in as many days, this time forward Jaylen Carey following him from James Madison to his new job.

COURTS

Jurors in Trump's hush money trial are getting a front row seat to history – most of the time

A gag order. The House Speaker turning up outside court. Angry denouncements of the judge overseeing the case.

Lies, loyalty and a gag order upheld: Tuesday's Trump hush money trial takeaways

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump's attorneys started grilling prosecutors' star witness in his hush money trial Tuesday, portraying former attorney Michael Cohen as a media-obsessed liar who's determined to see the former president behind bars.

Cohen gives insider details at trial as Trump's defense attorney accuses him of seeking vengeance

NEW YORK (AP) — It wasn't until after a decade in the fold, after his family pleaded with him, after the FBI raided his office, apartment and hotel room, Michael Cohen testified Tuesday, that he finally decided to turn on Donald Trump.

ELECTION 2024

Biden and Trump, trading barbs, agree to 2 presidential debates, in June and September

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump on Wednesday agreed to hold two campaign debates — the first on June 27 hosted by CNN and the second on Sept. 10 hosted by ABC — setting the stage for their first presidential face-off to play out in just over a month.

What we know, and don't know, about the presidential debates

WASHINGTON (AP) — After months of questions about whether general election debates would happen, President Joe Biden and Republican nominee Donald Trump have agreed to participate in two of them: one in June and one in September.

EDUCATION

70 years ago, school integration was a dream many believed could actually happen. It hasn't

WASHINGTON (AP) — Seventy years ago this week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled separating children in schools by race was unconstitutional. On paper, that decision — the fabled Brown v. Board of Education, taught in most every American classroom — still stands.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Morocco's automotive industry shifts gears to prep for electric vehicle era

TANGIERS, Morocco (AP) — A train that travels from rural northern Morocco to a port on the Mediterranean Sea carries no passengers. Three times a day, it brings hundreds of cars stacked bumper to bumper from a Renault factory outside Tangiers to vessels that transport them to European dealerships.

TRANSPORTATION

House signs off on FAA bill that addresses aircraft safety and and refund rights of passengers

Congress gave final approval Wednesday to a $105 billion bill designed to increase the number of air traffic controllers, add more safety inspectors at aircraft factories, and require airlines to automatically pay refunds to travelers whose flights are canceled or significantly delayed.

The US says Boeing violated a 2021 settlement. That doesn't mean the company will face charges

The Justice Department's determination that Boeing violated corporate probation for deceiving federal regulators does not necessarily mean federal prosecutors will revive criminal charges against the giant aircraft manufacturer.

ENERGY

CNX plans $1.5B hydrogen fuels plant at Pittsburgh airport, but wants federal tax credit to build it

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Natural gas producer CNX Resources said it plans to build a $1.5 billion facility at Pittsburgh's airport to make hydrogen-based fuels, but only if President Joe Biden's administration allows coal mine methane to qualify for tax credits that are central to the Democrat's plan to fight climate change.

ECONOMY

US inflation eased last month in the first slowdown of 2024

WASHINGTON (AP) — Led by lower food and auto prices, inflation in the United States cooled slightly last month after three elevated readings, likely offering a tentative sigh of relief for officials at the Federal Reserve as well as President Joe Biden's re-election team.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street rallies to records after inflation finally slows

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rallied to records on hopes that inflation is heading back in the right direction.

Billionaire Frank McCourt says he's putting together a consortium to buy TikTok

Billionaire businessman and real estate mogul Frank McCourt said he's putting together a consortium to purchase TikTok's U.S. business, adding to the number of investors hoping to benefit from a new federal law that requires TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the popular platform or face a ban.

Retail sales were unchanged in April from March as inflation and interest rates curb spending

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans unexpectedly paused their spending in April from March as inflation continued to sting and elevated interest rates made taking on debt more burdensome.

Walmart lays off hundreds of employees and requires others to relocate

BENTONVILLE, Ark. (AP) — Walmart on Tuesday announced layoffs affecting several hundred jobs at the retail giant's campus offices.

Labor laws largely exclude nannies. Some are partnering to protect themselves

NEW YORK (AP) — Map all doors in the home and figure out how to escape. Make a list of items in each room that you can use to defend yourself. Shelves, dishes, night stands, kitchen knives -- all can be weapons if you are attacked.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

The Biden administration is planning more changes to quicken asylum processing for new migrants

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is preparing more changes to the nation's asylum system meant to speed up processing and potential removal of migrants who continue to arrive at the southern border, an interim step as President Joe Biden continues to mull a broader executive order to crack down on border crossings that may come later this year.

US to send an unofficial delegation as Taiwan's president is sworn in. It will test ties with China

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House will send an unofficial delegation to Taiwan this weekend for the inauguration of the island's democratically elected president, the Biden administration announced Wednesday, in a move that is certain to upset China but unlikely to draw excessive responses from Beijing as the two countries try to stabilize relations.

Senators urge $32 billion in emergency spending on AI after finishing yearlong review

WASHINGTON (AP) — A bipartisan group of four senators led by Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is recommending that Congress spend at least $32 billion over the next three years to develop artificial intelligence and place safeguards around it, writing in a report released Wednesday that the U.S. needs to "harness the opportunities and address the risks" of the quickly developing technology.

Biden administration is moving ahead on new $1B arms sale to Israel, congressional aides say

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has told key lawmakers it plans to move forward on a new $1 billion sale of arms and ammunition to Israel, three congressional aides say.


TUESDAY, MAY 14
MUSIC INDUSTRY

Jason Aldean will honor Toby Keith with a performance at the 2024 ACM Awards

The time has come to raise a red solo cup. Jason Aldean will pay tribute to the late Toby Keith at the 2024 Academy of Country Music Awards.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Gov. Lee OKs bill allowing death penalty for child rape convictions

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee has approved legislation allowing the death penalty in child rape convictions, a change the Republican-controlled Statehouse championed amid concerns that the U.S. Supreme Court has banned capital punishment in such cases.

New Builders initiative looks to fight polarization by encouraging collaboration, alliances

NEW YORK (AP) — Adam Luke remembers entering the first meeting of what would become the Citizen Solutions pilot project thinking, "Oh god, this is going to suck."

Kentucky governor to speak out against strict abortion ban in Tennessee

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear's upcoming trip to neighboring Tennessee to speak out against that state's sweeping abortion ban is the latest sign that the Democrat known for defeating Donald Trump-backed rivals is looking to improve his party's prospects in GOP territory and build up his own name recognition.

COURTS

Check stubs, fake receipts, blind loyalty: Cohen offers inside knowledge in Trump's hush money trial

NEW YORK (AP) — It wasn't until after a decade in the fold, after his family pleaded with him, after the FBI raided his office, apartment and hotel room, Michael Cohen testified Tuesday, that he finally decided to turn on Donald Trump.

Speaker Mike Johnson's appearance at Trump's felony trial marks a remarkable moment in US politics

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson assailed the U.S. judicial system on Tuesday, becoming the highest-ranking Republican to show up at court with Donald Trump and using his powerful position to attack the hush money case against the former president as an illegitimate "sham."

Star witness Cohen says Trump was intimately involved in all aspects of hush money scheme

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump was intimately involved with all aspects of a scheme to stifle stories about sex that threatened to torpedo his 2016 campaign, his former lawyer said Monday in matter-of-fact testimony that went to the heart of the former president's hush money trial.

TikTok content creators sue the U.S. government over law that could ban the popular platform

Eight TikTok content creators sued the U.S. government on Tuesday, issuing another challenge to the new federal law that would ban the popular social media platform nationwide if its China-based parent company doesn't sell its stakes within a year.

Anti-abortion activist who led a clinic blockade is sentenced to nearly 5 years in prison

WASHINGTON (AP) — An anti-abortion activist who led others on an invasion and blockade of a reproductive health clinic in the nation's capital was sentenced on Tuesday to nearly five years in prison.

ELECTION 2024

DeSantis is planning to raise money for Trump in Florida and Texas, AP sources say

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is planning to raise money for former President Donald Trump in the coming weeks, putting into action the commitment he made at a meeting with Trump last month to help his former rival for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, according to two people familiar with the matter.

CRIME

Assaults on law enforcement in the US reached a 10-year high in 2023, the FBI says

WASHINGTON (AP) — The rate of assaults on American law enforcement reached a 10-year high in 2023, with more than 79,000 officer attacks reported, according to a new FBI report released Tuesday.

HEALTH CARE

Will AI replace doctors who read X-rays, or just make them better than ever?

WASHINGTON (AP) — How good would an algorithm have to be to take over your job?

TECHNOLOGY

Google unleashes AI in search, raising hopes for better results and fears about less web traffic

MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) — Google on Tuesday rolled out a retooled search engine that will frequently favor responses crafted by artificial intelligence over website links, a shift promising to quicken the quest for information while also potentially disrupting the flow of money-making internet traffic.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Europe's Stellantis and China's Leapmotor will sell electric cars in Europe from September

HONG KONG (AP) — European carmaker Stellantis on Tuesday said it had formed a joint venture with the Chinese electric vehicle startup Leapmotor that will begin selling EVs in nine European countries later this year.

Waymo is latest company under investigation for autonomous or partially automated technology

DETROIT (AP) — The U.S. government's highway safety agency has opened another investigation of automated driving systems, this time into crashes involving Waymo's self-driving vehicles.

ENVIRONMENT

K-pop fans around globe rally for climate and environment goals

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — Fans of Korean pop bands around the world are increasingly channeling their millions-strong online community into climate and environmental activism, protesting business deals linked to coal power, urging K-pop entertainers to cut waste and raising awareness about climate-related issues.

ENERGY

New industry readies for launch as researchers hone offshore wind turbines that float

ORONO, Maine (AP) — As waves grew and gusts increased, a wind turbine bobbed gently, its blades spinning with a gentle woosh. The tempest reached a crescendo with little drama other than splashing water.

Arthur Irving, who grew his family's oil business and was one of Canada's richest men, dies at 93

SAINT JOHN, New Brunswick (AP) — Arthur L. Irving, one of Canada's richest people and the son of industrialist K.C. Irving, has died at 93 after a life spent growing the oil business his father founded.

ECONOMY

Fed's Powell downplays potential for a rate hike despite higher price pressures

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Tuesday that the central bank is unlikely to raise its key interest rate in response to signs of stubborn inflation and underscored his view that price increases would soon start to cool again.

Wholesale price increases accelerated in April as inflation remains sticky

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. wholesale prices rose sharply last month, a sign that inflation pressures remain stubbornly high after three elevated readings in consumer prices to start the year.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street ends higher, sending Nasdaq to a record high

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks rose on Wall Street Tuesday, pushing the Nasdaq composite to another record and leaving the S&P 500 sitting just shy of its own all-time high.

Red Lobster closes dozens of locations across the US just months after 'endless shrimp' losses

NEW YORK (AP) — Dozens of Red Lobster locations across the U.S. are on the chopping block.

Meme stocks are roaring again. This time may be different

NEW YORK (AP) — Meme stocks are shaking Wall Street once again. That shouldn't be much of a surprise.

Biden hikes tariffs on Chinese EVs, solar cells, steel, aluminum — and snipes at Trump

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden slapped major new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles, advanced batteries, solar cells, steel, aluminum and medical equipment on Tuesday, taking potshots at Donald Trump along the way as he embraced a strategy that's increasing friction between the world's two largest economies.

US suggests additional tariffs if production of Chinese electric vehicles moves to Mexico

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is suggesting that additional tariffs could be put in place if the Chinese makers of electric vehicles try to move their production to Mexico to avoid newly announced import taxes.

Ten federal agencies receive 'A+' in annual scorecard measuring small business contracting goals

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal grants can be a huge boost for small businesses. And some federal agencies do better at giving grants to small businesses than others.

Boeing orders tumble as troubled aircraft maker struggles to overcome its latest crisis

Boeing orders tumbled in April and were outnumbered by canceled sales in another sign of the crisis gripping the troubled aircraft manufacturer.

Home Depot's sales continue to soften in 2024 as inflation, delayed start to spring weigh on sales

Home Depot's sales continued to soften in the first quarter as the nation's largest home improvement retailer was not only constrained by high mortgage rates and higher inflation for its customers, but it also had to deal with a delayed start to spring.

Biden blocks Chinese-backed crypto mining firm from land ownership near Wyoming missile base

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Monday issued an order blocking a Chinese-backed cryptocurrency mining firm from owning land near a Wyoming nuclear missile base, calling its proximity to the base a "national security risk."

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

FBI, Homeland Security warn of possible threats to LGBTQ events, including Pride Month activities

WASHINGTON (AP) — Foreign terrorist organizations or their supporters might target LGBTQ-related events and venues as part of June's Pride Month, federal agencies warned in a recent public announcement.


MONDAY, MAY 13
NASHVILLE SC

Agyemang, Kahlina lead Charlotte to 1-0 victory against Nashville

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Patrick Agyemang scored early in the second half and Kristijan Kahlina made three saves to lead Charlotte FC to a 1-0 victory over Nashville SC on Saturday night.

COURTS

Star witness Cohen directly implicates Trump in testimony at hush money trial

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump's fixer-turned-foe, Michael Cohen, directly implicated the former president in a hush money scheme Monday, telling jurors that his celebrity client tasked him on several occasions to stifle stories about sex that he feared could torpedo his 2016 presidential campaign.

What to know about Trump fixer-turned-foe Cohen's pivotal testimony in the hush money trial

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump's hush money trial reached a pivotal moment Monday when Trump's onetime loyal attorney and fixer, Michael Cohen, took the witness stand to testify against his former boss.

Donald Trump's GOP allies show up in force as Michael Cohen takes the stand in hush money trial

With Donald Trump barred from publicly attacking the key witness in his hush money trial, his campaign brought to court a phalanx of Republican elected officials to speak for him.

Michael Cohen: A challenging star witness in Trump's hush money trial

NEW YORK (AP) — He once said he would take a bullet for Donald Trump. Now Michael Cohen is prosecutors' biggest piece of legal ammunition in the former president's hush money trial.

Key players: Who's who at Trump's hush money criminal trial

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Cohen, who was once Donald Trump's personal lawyer and fixer, is expected to take the stand Monday as the prosecution's star witness in the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president.

Trump hush money trial: A timeline of key events in the case

NEW YORK (AP) — The events at the center of former President Donald Trump's hush money case date back almost two decades, with new dates coming to light as the trial plays out in a Manhattan courtroom. Here are the key moments in the case, as described in trial testimony and court documents:

Hedge fund operators go on trial after multibillion-dollar Archegos collapse

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal fraud trial began Monday for the owner and chief financial officer of a hedge fund that collapsed when it defaulted on margin calls, costing leading global investment banks and brokerages billions of dollars.

ELECTION 2024

Trump suggests Chinese migrants are in the US to build an 'army.' The migrants tell another story

NEW YORK (AP) — It was 7 a.m. on a recent Friday when Wang Gang, a 36-year-old Chinese immigrant, jostled for a day job in New York City's Flushing neighborhood.

Trump tells Jersey Shore crowd he's being forced to endure 'Biden show trial' in hush money case

WILDWOOD, N.J. (AP) — Sandwiched between his appearances in court, Donald Trump headed on Saturday to the Jersey Shore, where he repeatedly blamed President Joe Biden for the criminal charges he's facing as the presumptive nominees prepare to face off in the November election and called his New York hush money case "a Biden show trial."

ENERGY

US energy panel approves rule to expand transmission of renewable power

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal energy regulators on Monday approved a long-awaited rule to make it easier to transmit renewable energy such as wind and solar power to the electric grid — a key part of President Joe Biden's goal to eliminate carbon emissions economy-wide by 2050.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Amazon's self-driving robotaxi unit Zoox under investigation by US after 2 rear-end crashes

DETROIT (AP) — Amazon's self-driving robotaxi unit is being investigated by the U.S. government's highway safety agency after two of its vehicles braked suddenly and were rear-ended by motorcyclists.

GM's Cruise to start testing robotaxis in Phoenix area with human safety drivers on board

DETROIT (AP) — General Motors' troubled Cruise autonomous vehicle unit said Monday it will start testing robotaxis in Arizona this week with human safety drivers on board.

Seagull, a small, well-built Chinese EV, poses a big threat to the US auto industry

LIVONIA, Mich. (AP) — A tiny, low-priced electric car called the Seagull has American automakers and politicians trembling.

TRAVEL

US airlines are suing the Biden administration over a new rule to make certain fees easier to spot

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. airlines are suing to block the Biden administration from requiring greater transparency over fees that the carriers charge their passengers, saying that a new rule would confuse consumers by giving them too much information during the ticket-buying process.

NONPROFITS

Melinda French Gates resigns as Gates Foundation co-chair, 3 years after divorce

NEW YORK (AP) — Melinda French Gates will step down as co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the nonprofit she and her ex-husband Bill Gates founded and built into one of the world's largest philanthropic organizations over the past 20 years.

MEDIA

Australian judge lifts court ban on X showing video of Sydney church stabbing

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian judge Monday lifted a ban on the social media platform X showing Australians a video of a bishop being stabbed in a Sydney church.

MILITARY

US aims to stay ahead of China in using AI to fly fighter jets, navigate without GPS and more

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two Air Force fighter jets recently squared off in a dogfight in California. One was flown by a pilot. The other wasn't.

ECONOMY

Are US interest rates high enough to beat inflation? The Fed will take its time to find out

WASHINGTON (AP) — The sharp interest rate hikes of the past two years will likely take longer than previously expected to bring down inflation, several Federal Reserve officials have said in recent comments, suggesting there may be few, if any, rate cuts this year.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street drifts around the edge of its record

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks drifted to a mixed close near their record heights.

Roaring Kitty is back, and so are meme stocks, GameStop, AMC surge like its 2021

The man at the center of the pandemic meme stock craze appeared online for the first time in three years, sending the prices of thee quirky and volatile shares sharply higher Monday.

Microsoft pledges $4.3B investment at Macron's 'Choose France' summit

PARIS (AP) — Microsoft announced its most substantial commitment yet to France, pledging on Monday to invest 4 billion euros ($4.3 billion) this year to bolster the country's burgeoning artificial intelligence sector.

Report: Trump may face a $100 million-plus tax bill if he loses IRS audit fight over Chicago tower

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump may face an IRS bill in excess of $100 million after a government audit indicates he double-dipped on tax losses tied to a Chicago skyscraper, according to a report by The New York Times and ProPublica that drew on a yearslong audit and public filings.

Apple Store employees in Maryland vote to authorize a first strike over working conditions

TOWSON, Md. (AP) — Workers at the first Apple Store to unionize have now also authorized a first strike against the tech giant's retail operations.


FRIDAY, MAY 10
SPORTS

Tennessee State hires San Antonio assistant Candice Dupree as new women's coach

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee State has hired seven-time WNBA All-Star Candice Dupree as the Tigers' new women's basketball coach.

COURTS

Judge directs Michael Cohen to keep quiet about Trump ahead of his hush money trial testimony

NEW YORK (AP) — With Donald Trump's fixer-turned-foe Michael Cohen expected to take the witness stand Monday, the judge in the former president's hush money case issued prosecutors a stern warning: Get Cohen to stop his taunting posts and jabs at Trump.

Appeals court upholds Steve Bannon's contempt of Congress conviction

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court panel on Friday upheld the criminal conviction of Donald Trump's longtime ally Steve Bannon for defying a subpoena from the House committee that investigated the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Stormy Daniels delivers shocking testimony about Trump, but trial hinges on business records

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump's defense attorney on Thursday accused Stormy Daniels of slowly altering the details of an alleged 2006 sexual encounter with Trump, trying to convince jurors that a key prosecution witness in the former president's hush money criminal trial cannot be believed.

Trump is limited in what he can say about his court case. His GOP allies are showing up to help

Former President Donald Trump is limited in what he can publicly say as he fights charges that he made payments to a porn actor to illegally influence the 2016 election. But he's getting help from some GOP allies who are glad to show up and talk.

ELECTION 2024

FBI warns that foreign adversaries could use AI to spread disinformation about US elections

WASHINGTON (AP) — The FBI is concerned that foreign adversaries could deploy artificial intelligence as a means to interfere in American elections and spread disinformation, a senior official said Thursday, describing the technology as an area "that's probably going to see growth over the coming years."

TRENDS

Liam and Olivia are still the most popular US baby names, and Mateo makes his debut on the list

WASHINGTON (AP) — Liam and Olivia have for a fifth year together topped the list of baby names for brand new boys and girls born in the U.S. in 2023. And Mateo joins the top 10 baby names list for the first time.

MEDIA

Film academy launches $500M fundraising campaign ahead of 100th Oscar anniversary

ROME (AP) — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced a $500 million fundraising campaign Friday to ensure long-term, global support for its Oscar prizes, museum and educational programming in view of its 100th anniversary in 2028.

Australian judge extends ban on X sharing video of Sydney bishop's stabbing

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian judge on Friday extended a ban on X allowing videos of the stabbing of a Sydney bishop in his church last month after government lawyers condemned the social media company's free speech argument for keeping the graphic images circulating.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Japanese automaker Honda reports booming profit on sales growth, weak yen

TOKYO (AP) — Honda's profit for the fiscal year through March jumped 70% as vehicle sales grew and a weak yen buoyed overseas earnings, the Japanese automaker reported Friday.

ECONOMY

US consumer sentiment drops to 6-month low on inflation, unemployment fears

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumer sentiment fell sharply in May to the lowest level in six months as Americans cited stubbornly high inflation and interest rates, as well as fears that unemployment could rise.

British economy rebounds strongly in first quarter of the year, ending 'technical recession'

LONDON (AP) — The British economy bounced back strongly in the first three months of the year, bringing to an end to what economists termed a "technical recession", official figures showed Friday.

European companies are less upbeat about China's vast market as its economy slows

BEIJING (AP) — China is actively seeking foreign investment to boost its slowing growth, but that very sluggishness is weighing on company plans to expand their businesses in the world's second largest economy, an annual survey of more than 500 European companies found.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street coasts to the finish line of another winning week

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks coasted to the close of another winning week with a quiet, mixed finish.

Target to reduce number of stores carrying Pride-themed merchandise after last year's backlash

NEW YORK (AP) — Target confirmed Friday that it won't carry Pride Month merchandise at all stories this spring after the discount retailer experienced backlash and lower sales over its collection honoring LGBTQ+ communities.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Biden administration won't conclude Israel violated terms of US weapons agreements, AP sources say

WASHINGTON (AP) — A soon-to-be-released Biden administration review of Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in its war in Gaza does not conclude that Israel has violated the terms for their use, according to three people who have been briefed on the matter.

US is expected to announce a new $400M package of weapons for Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. is expected to announce a new $400 million package of military aid for Ukraine on Friday, U.S. officials said, as Kyiv struggles to hold off advances by Russian troops in the northeast Kharkiv region.

A top Biden aide highlights a coming showdown with GOP over 2017 tax cuts that are due to expire

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden White House wants voters to know about its differences with Republicans over taxes, with a top aide making the case for higher rates on corporations and the ultra-wealthy.

The Biden-Netanyahu relationship is strained like never before. Can the two leaders move forward?

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have long managed a complicated relationship, but they're running out of space to maneuver as their views on the Gaza war diverge and their political futures hang in the balance.

Senate passes bill improving air safety and service for travelers, a day before FAA law expires

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has passed a $105 billion bill designed to improve safety and customer service for air travelers, a day before the law governing the Federal Aviation Administration expires.

New rule aims to speed up removal of limited group of migrants who don't qualify for asylum

WASHINGTON (AP) — A new Biden administration rule announced Thursday aims to speed up asylum processing at the southern border for a a limited group of people believed to have committed serious crimes or who have terrorist links and ultimately more quickly eject them from the country.


THURSDAY, MAY 9
UT SPORTS

Vols announce addition of Igor Milicic Jr. from Charlotte. Croatian was among the top big men in AAC

Igor Milicic Jr., one of the top big men in the American Athletic Conference at Charlotte last season, will play his final year at Tennessee.

MUSIC INDUSTRY

Supreme Court sides with music producer in copyright case over sample in Flo Rida hit

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court sided with a music producer in a copyright case Thursday, allowing him to seek more than a decade's worth of damages over a sample used in a hit Flo Rida song.

Country star Cindy Walker to be posthumously inducted into Songwriters Hall of Fame

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Country star Cindy Walker will be posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, it was announced Thursday.

Life after Florida Georgia Line: Brian Kelley ready to reintroduce himself with new solo album

NEW YORK (AP) — Allow Brian Kelley to reintroduce himself.

REGION

TVA ignores warnings in moving forward with new natural gas plant

NASHVILLE (AP) — The nation's largest public utility is moving ahead with a plan for a new natural gas plant in Tennessee despite warnings that its environmental review of the project doesn't comply with federal law. The Tennessee Valley Authority announced in April that it would replace the aging coal-burning Kingston Fossil Plant with gas amid growing calls for the agency's new board of directors to invest in renewables.

COURTS

Financial executive convicted of insider trading in case over acquisition of Trump's media company

NEW YORK (AP) — A financial executive was convicted Thursday of enabling his boss and others to make over $22 million illegally by trading off his tips ahead of the public announcement that an acquisition firm was taking former President Donald Trump's media company public.

Trump attorney and Stormy Daniels trade barbs during questions about alleged 2006 sexual encounter

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump's defense attorney on Thursday accused Stormy Daniels of slowly altering the details of an alleged 2006 sexual encounter with Trump, trying to persuade jurors that a key prosecution witness in the former president's hush money trial cannot be believed.

Court rejects Hunter Biden's appeal in gun case, setting stage for trial to begin next month

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hunter Biden's federal gun case should move forward, an appeals court ruled Thursday, setting the stage for the president's son to stand trial on criminal charges next month in Delaware.

Divided Supreme Court rules no quick hearing required when police seize property

WASHINGTON (AP) — A divided Supreme Court ruled Thursday that authorities do not have to provide a quick hearing when they seize cars and other property used in drug crimes, even when the property belongs to so-called innocent owners.

ELECTION 2024

Trump-affiliated group releases new national security book outlining possible second-term approach

WASHINGTON (AP) — Making future military aid to Ukraine contingent on the country participating in peace talks with Russia. Banning Chinese nationals from buying property within a 50-mile radius of U.S. government buildings. Filling the national security sector with acolytes of Donald Trump.

Barron Trump, 18, to make political debut as Florida delegate to the Republican convention

MIAMI (AP) — Former President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has been chosen to serve as a Florida delegate to the Republican National Convention, the state party chairman said Wednesday.

CRIME

Guns are being stolen from cars at triple the rate they were 10 years ago, a report finds

WASHINGTON (AP) — The rate of guns stolen from cars in the U.S. has tripled over the last decade, making them the largest source of stolen guns in the country, an analysis of FBI data by the gun safety group Everytown found.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Chevrolet Malibu heads for the junkyard as GM shifts focus to electric vehicles

DETROIT (AP) — The Chevrolet Malibu, the last midsize car made by a Detroit automaker, is heading for the junkyard.

Nissan reports 92% jump in profit as sales surge

TOKYO (AP) — Nissan's profit for the fiscal year through March jumped 92% to 426.6 billion yen ($2.7 billion) as sales grew in all major global markets except China, the Japanese automaker said Thursday.

TRANSPORTATION

Boeing 737 catches fire and skids off the runway at a Senegal airport. Ten people are injured

DAKAR, Senegal (AP) — A Boeing 737-300 plane carrying 85 people caught fire and skidded off a runway at Senegal's main airport, near the capital of Dakar. Ten people were injured in the crash, including the pilot, the country's transport minister said Thursday.

HEALTH CARE

AstraZeneca pulls its COVID-19 vaccine from the European market

LONDON (AP) — The pharma giant AstraZeneca has requested that the European authorization for its COVID-19 vaccine be pulled, according to the EU medicines regulator.

TECHNOLOGY

Technology crushing human creativity? Apple's 'disturbing' new iPad ad has struck a nerve online

NEW YORK (AP) — A newly released ad promoting Apple's new iPad Pro has struck quite a nerve online.

Net neutrality restored as FCC votes to regulate internet providers

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The Federal Communications Commission voted Thursday to restore "net neutrality" rules that prevent broadband internet providers such as Comcast and Verizon from favoring some sites and apps over others.

Judge grills Apple exec about whether company is defying order to enable more iPhone payment options

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — A federal judge on Wednesday questioned whether Apple has set up a gauntlet of exasperating hurdles to discourage the use of alternative payment options in iPhone apps, despite a court order seeking to create more ways for consumers to pay for digital services.

MEDIA

TikTok to start labeling AI-generated content as technology becomes more universal

TikTok will begin labeling content created using artificial intelligence when it's been uploaded from outside its own platform in an attempt to combat misinformation.

ECONOMY

Despite numbers showing a healthy economy overall, lower-income spenders are showing the strain

NEW YORK (AP) — Cracks are showing in one of the main pillars keeping the economy out of a recession: resilient spending by U.S. households.

US weekly jobless claims hit highest level since August of 2023, though job market is still hot

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits jumped to its highest level in more than eight months last week, another indication that the red hot U.S. labor market may be softening.

Bank of England edges closer to rate cut, possibly in June, as it predicts below-target inflation

LONDON (AP) — The Bank of England maintained its key U.K. interest rate at a 16-year high of 5.25% though it gave a broad hint that a reduction could be on the cards as soon as June as inflation is forecast to fall below target.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street rises to pull S&P 500 back within 1% of its record

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose Thursday to pull the S&P 500 back within 1% of its record following a rough April.

Union push pits the United Farm Workers against a major California agricultural business

In a meeting room at a hotel in California's crop-rich Central Valley, a fight is taking place that could help shape the future of farm labor in fields that grow a chunk of the country's food.

Norfolk Southern shareholders to decide Thursday whether to back investors who want to fire the CEO

Norfolk Southern shareholders will decide Thursday morning whether to back an activist investor's bid to take over the railroad's board and replace management.

Beyond Meat urges investors to look past bumpy Q1, says new US burger could reignite sales

Plant-based meat maker Beyond Meat urged investors to look past its mixed first quarter results Wednesday, saying a new, healthier burger hitting U.S. shelves now will help reignite weak sales.

Airbnb shares slide on lower revenue forecast despite a doubling of net income

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Airbnb's profit more than doubled last quarter, but management's disappointing revenue forecast sparked a roughly 7% drop in its stock in after-market trading Wednesday.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

US says Rafah offensive would jeopardize cease-fire talks as Biden threatens to halt more Israel aid

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States warned on Thursday that Israel will be dealing a strategic victory to Hamas if it carries out plans for an all-out assault on Rafah, the militants' last major stronghold in Gaza.

In a revived case, a former congressman is charged with lying about an illegal campaign contribution

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former Rep. Jeff Fortenberry has been charged with lying to federal authorities about a foreign billionaire's illegal $30,000 contribution to his campaign, reviving a case that was derailed by an appellate court.

China and US resume cooperation on deportation as Chinese immigrants rush in from southern border

WASHINGTON (AP) — Beijing and Washington have quietly resumed cooperation on the deportation of Chinese immigrants who are in the U.S. illegally, as the two countries are reestablishing and widening contacts following their leaders' meeting in California late last year.

Ship loaded with aid heads for US-built Gaza pier, but it's unclear when or how it will be delivered

JERUSALEM (AP) — The first aid ship bound for an American-built floating pier to be installed in Gaza departed early Thursday. But it's unclear when the corridor will be up and running, and humanitarian groups say there are still major obstacles to getting food to starving Palestinians in the war-ravaged enclave.

Despite charges, few call for Democratic Congressman Henry Cuellar to resign from office

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, is facing charges of bribery, money laundering and working on behalf of a foreign government. He is the third lawmaker in Congress to face a federal indictment this session.

Biden says US won't supply weapons for Israel to attack Rafah, in warning to ally

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said that he would not supply offensive weapons that Israel could use to launch an all-out assault on Rafah — the last major Hamas stronghold in Gaza — over concern for the well-being of the more than 1 million civilians sheltering there.

House Speaker Mike Johnson survived a motion to vacate. Here's why his job is far from safe.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Mike Johnson's job isn't safe yet. In a stunning show of unity in the often divided House, Democrats joined a majority of Republicans on Wednesday to save the GOP speaker from an attempt by fellow Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene to remove him from his post.

Biden administration will propose tougher asylum standards for some migrants at the border

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration plans to propose a new rule Thursday aimed at speeding up the asylum claims process for some migrants — a potential prelude to broader actions from President Joe Biden later this year that would impose a bigger crackdown at the border.

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