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VOL. 48 | NO. 21 | Friday, May 24, 2024

Plaza Mariachi, the Hispanic community’s hub

Growing population finds its link between old countries, new life

Struggling big box stores could take a page from Plaza Mariachi Music City. Nashville’s dynamic maze of Latin-infused cafes, bars, specialty shops and restaurants is the city’s epicenter for all things Hispanic, including an art gallery, hall of fame and a suite of comprehensive services for Spanish-speaking newcomers to Nashville.

Hispanic population, businesses increasing

Hispanic businesses are growing steadily along with the growing Latino population in the greater Nashville area, says Yuri Cunza, president and chief executive officer of the Nashville Area Hispanic Chamber of Commerce

JOE ROGERS: MY TAKE

Knoxville has a new fan in this Ole Miss alum

For Kayne, it was a chance to revisit some of her college haunts and to relive days gone by. For me, it was a debt repaid. And a long drive to get some pizza.

Local Weather
Currently
Nashville, TN
37.9°F
Overcast
Wind: South at 4.6 mph
Humidity: 55%

EVENTS

UT Extension Lunch & Learn. All About Lawn Care: Learn how to sow grass seed, when to fertilize and how to calibrate your spreader. UT Extension office, 658 Hartsville Pike. Wednesday, 12-1 p.m. Free. Information

more events »

AUTO RACING

Newgarden dragging heavy load in pursuit of Indy repeat

Josef Newgarden’s affable smile is back. Not that it really left, but the Nashville driver has been riding an unexpected emotional roller-coaster since capturing his first Indianapolis 500 championship last year.

RICHARD COURTNEY: REALTY CHECK

April sales surge, inventory rises as market bounces back

April real estate sales increased 11% for the area compared to April 2023 with 3,060 closings, according to the Greater Nashville Realtors reports. There were 2,753 closings in April in 2023.

REAL ESTATE

Top Davidson County commercial real estate transactions April 2024

Top Davidson County commercial real estate sales for April 2024, as compiled by the Nashville Ledger.

Long-term mortgage rates ease for third straight week, dipping to just below 7%

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The average rate on a 30-year mortgage dipped this week to just below 7% for the first time since mid April, a modest boost for home shoppers navigating a housing market dampened by rising prices and relatively few available properties.

NEWSMAKERS

Buchalter welcomes real estate shareholder

Bradley Siegal, who has expertise in real estate law, particularly in multifamily, retail, office, mixed-use and industrial sectors throughout the Southeastern United States, has joined Buchalter as shareholder.

BRIEFS

FAFSA deadline extended for TN Promise applicants

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission announced the Free Application for Federal Student Aid deadline for the Tennessee Promise scholarship program will be extended to Friday, May 31.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

5 things to know before buying your first used Tesla

It’s a good time to be in the market for a used Tesla. Tesla’s significant price cuts during the past year on its new cars have caused the prices of used Teslas to drop significantly. But buying a used Tesla isn’t as straightforward as buying a used Toyota, especially if you’ve never owned one.

BUSINESS BOOK REVIEW

Reading this book might change your life – or not

If only things were different. If you’d had other parents, if you’d grown up in another place, you likely wouldn’t be the same person you are. What if you’d zigged when you could’ve zagged, traveled here and not there, picked a different spouse or a different career?

NASHVILLE PREDATORS

Predators bring back goalie guru Mitch Korn as director of goaltending

NASHVILLE (AP) — Longtime goalie guru Mitch Korn is back with the Nashville Predators to oversee their operation at the most important position in hockey.

NASHVILLE SC

Nashville SC's Zimmerman makes the US roster for pre-Olympic training camp

CHICAGO (AP) — Nashville defender Walker Zimmerman was the only overage player selected Wednesday for the United States' 25-man training camp roster ahead of its final pre-Olympic friendly, against Japan on June 11 at Kansas City, Kansas.

SPORTS

Roster sizes, the future of walk-ons and other topics on minds of SEC's football coaches

DESTIN, Fla. (AP) — Southeastern Conference football coaches are bracing for the impact of a potential downsizing of rosters around the NCAA.

STATE GOVERNMENT

Gov. Lee OKs penalizing adults who help minors receive abortions, gender-affirming care

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee's governor has approved legislation designed to block adults from helping minors get an abortion or receive gender-affirming care without parental consent, proposals that are both likely to face immediate legal challenges when they go into effect later this year.

COURTS

Jury in Trump's hush money case asks to rehear testimony as deliberations get underway

NEW YORK (AP) — The jury in Donald Trump's hush money trial asked to rehear testimony Wednesday less than four hours after beginning deliberations in the first criminal case against a former American president.

Trump's hush money case has gone to the jury. What happens now?

NEW YORK (AP) — After nearly two dozen witnesses, 16 days of testimony and hours of lawyers' closing arguments, it's time for the jurors to have their say in Donald Trump's hush money trial.

Alito rejects calls to step aside from Supreme Court cases because of flag controversies

WASHINGTON (AP) — Justice Samuel Alito is rejecting calls to step aside from Supreme Court cases involving former President Donald Trump and Jan. 6 defendants because of the controversy over flags that flew over his homes.

Prosecutor says Trump tried 'to hoodwink voters' while defense attacks key witness in last arguments

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump engaged in a conspiracy "to hoodwink voters" in 2016, a prosecutor told jurors Tuesday during closing arguments in the former president's hush money trial, while a defense lawyer branded the star witness as the "greatest liar of all time" and pressed the panel for an across-the-board acquittal.

Cohen's credibility, campaigning at court and other takeaways from Trump trial's closing arguments

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump's lawyers and Manhattan prosecutors made their final pitches Tuesday to jurors who will decide whether the Republican will be the first former U.S. president convicted of a crime, squaring off over the strength of the evidence and credibility of the prosecution's star witness as his hush money trial drew toward a close.

Former Trump lawyer Jenna Ellis barred from practicing in Colorado for three years

DENVER (AP) — Colorado legal officials on Tuesday approved an agreement with Jenna Ellis, a onetime attorney for former President Donald Trump, barring her from practicing law in the state for three years after she pleaded guilty to helping Trump try to overturn the 2020 election.

Two ex-FBI officials who traded anti-Trump texts close to settlement over alleged privacy violations

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two former FBI officials have reached a tentative settlement with the Justice Department to resolve claims that their privacy was violated when the department leaked to the news media text messages that they had sent one another that disparaged former President Donald Trump.

ELECTION 2024

Biden, Harris to launch Black voter outreach effort amid signs of diminished support

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are stepping up their reelection pitch to Black voters, a key part of their 2020 winning coalition that has shown signs of fraying.

PHILANTHROPHY

Less than 2% of philanthropic giving goes to women and girls. Can Melinda French Gates change that?

Melinda French Gates ' has a long history of supporting the women's movement, but it's her new eye-popping funding commitments that could finally change women's groups' long-running lament that less than 2% of philanthropic giving in the United States directly benefits women and girls.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Nissan warns owners of 2002-06 vehicles not to drive them due to risk of exploding air bag inflators

DETROIT (AP) — Nissan is urging the owners of about 84,000 older vehicles to stop driving them because their Takata air bag inflators have an increased risk of exploding in a crash and hurling dangerous metal fragments.

EDUCATION

Most AAPI adults think the history of racism should be taught in

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. schools should teach about issues related to race, most Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders believe. They also oppose efforts to restrict what subjects can be discussed in the classroom, according to a new poll.

CRIME

Authorities arrest man allegedly running "likely world's largest-ever" cybercrime botnet

WASHINGTON (AP) — An international law enforcement team has arrested a Chinese national and disrupted a major botnet that officials said he ran for nearly a decade, amassing at least $99 million in profits by reselling access to criminals who used it for identity theft, child exploitation and financial fraud including pandemic relief scams.

TECHNOLOGY

California advances measures targeting AI discrimination and deepfakes

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — As corporations increasingly weave artificial intelligence technologies into the daily lives of Americans, California lawmakers want to build public trust, fight algorithmic discrimination and outlaw deepfakes that involve elections or pornography.

AGRICULTURE

Farmers must kill 4.2 million chickens after bird flu hits Iowa egg farm

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — More than 4 million chickens in Iowa will have to be killed after a case of the highly pathogenic bird flu was detected at a large egg farm, the state announced Tuesday.

MEDIA

Owner of UK's Royal Mail says it has accepted a takeover offer from a Czech billionaire

LONDON (AP) — The owner of Britain's Royal Mail said Wednesday it has accepted a 3.6 billion pound ($4.6 billion) takeover offer from Czech investor Daniel Kretínský.

PHILANTHROPHY

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman pledges to donate most of his wealth

NEW YORK (AP) — The Giving Pledge announced Tuesday that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has joined its list of wealthy philanthropists committed to donating over half their fortunes.

TRAVEL

Black men who were asked to leave a flight sue American Airlines, claiming racial discrimination

NEW YORK (AP) — Black passengers who were briefly ordered off an American Airlines plane in January sued the airline Wednesday, alleging that they were victims of racial discrimination.

Bette Nash, recognized as the world's longest-serving flight attendant, dies at 88

NEW YORK (AP) — Bette Nash, recognized as the world's longest-serving flight attendant, has died. She was 88.

BANKING

Cleveland Fed names former Goldman Sachs executive Beth Hammack to succeed Mester as president

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Cleveland branch of the Federal Reserve said Wednesday that Beth Hammack, a former executive at investment bank Goldman Sachs, would be its next president effective Aug. 21.

ECONOMY

Inflation pressures lingering from pandemic are keeping Fed rate cuts on pause

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hopes for interest rate cuts this year by the Federal Reserve are steadily fading, with a stream of recent remarks by Fed officials underscoring their intention to keep borrowing costs high as long as needed to curb persistently elevated inflation.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street wilts to trim its May gains as bond yields keep rising

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks closed lower under the weight of higher yields in the bond market.

ConocoPhillips buying Marathon Oil for $17.1 billion in all-stock deal as energy prices rise

ConocoPhillips is buying Marathon Oil in an all-stock deal valued at approximately $17.1 billion as energy prices rise and big oil companies reap massive profits.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Key Republican calls for 'generational' increase in defense spending to counter US adversaries

WASHINGTON (AP) — The top-ranking Republican on a Senate committee that oversees the military is calling for a "generational investment" in America's defense, saying aggressive and significant spending increases are necessary to deter coordinated threats from U.S. adversaries like Russia, Iran and China.


TUESDAY, MAY 28
VANDERBILT SPORTS

Wright transfers to Vanderbilt from Southern California

NASHVILLE (AP) — Vanderbilt coach Mark Byington has added Kijani Wright as a transfer from Southern California, giving him a 6-foot-9 former McDonald's All-American for his first roster.

SPORTS

Play ball! Things to know entering the NCAA baseball regionals

The NCAA baseball tournament opens Friday with play in 16 double-elimination regionals.

COURTS

Trump prosecutor focuses on 'cover-up' in closing arguments while defense attacks key witness

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump engaged in "a conspiracy and a cover-up," a prosecutor told jurors during closing arguments Tuesday in the former president's hush money trial, while a defense lawyer branded the star witness as the "greatest liar of all time" and pressed the panel for an across-the-board acquittal.

Judge denies request to restrict Trump statements about law enforcement in classified records case

WASHINGTON (AP) — The judge overseeing Donald Trump's classified documents case in Florida on Tuesday denied prosecutors' request to bar the former president from making public statements that could endanger law enforcement agents participating in the prosecution.

Ryan Salame, part of the 'inner circle' at collapsed crypto exchange FTX, sentenced to prison

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday sentenced former FTX executive Ryan Salame to more than seven years in prison, the first of the lieutenants of failed cryptocurrency mogul Sam Bankman-Fried to receive jail time for their roles in the 2022 collapse of the cryptocurrency exchange.

Appeals court upholds retired NYPD officer's 10-year prison sentence for Capitol riot attack

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court on Tuesday upheld a retired New York Police Department officer's conviction and 10-year prison sentence for assaulting a police officer during the Jan. 6, 2021, siege at the U.S. Capitol.

Supreme Court leaves in place Avenatti conviction for plotting to extort up to $25M from Nike

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Tuesday left in place lawyer Michael Avenatti's conviction for plotting to extort up to $25 million from Nike.

ELECTION 2024

Democrats plan to nominate Biden by virtual roll call to meet Ohio ballot deadline

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will be formally nominated as the Democratic presidential nominee through a virtual roll call ahead of the party's official convention in Chicago in August — a maneuver that will allow Biden to appear on the November ballot in Ohio.

Biden campaign sends allies De Niro and first responders to Trump's NY trial to keep focus on Jan. 6

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden's campaign on Tuesday showed up outside former President Donald Trump's New York City criminal hush money trial with actor Robert De Niro and a pair of former police officers in an effort to refocus the presidential race on the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol insurrection.

Voter outreach groups targeted by new laws in several GOP-led states are struggling to do their work

WASHINGTON (AP) — During the presidential election four years ago, the Equal Ground Education Fund hired over 100 people to go door-to-door and attend festivals, college homecomings and other events to help register voters across Florida. Their efforts for this year's elections look much different.

Trump endorses challenger to Freedom Caucus chair Bob Good ahead of closely watched Virginia primary

WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump has endorsed the Republican opponent of a Virginia congressman who leads the hard-right House Freedom Caucus in what could be a defining moment in the GOP primary set for June 18.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Japan's Toyota shows 'an engine reborn' with green fuel despite global push for battery electric cars

TOKYO (AP) — "An engine reborn." That's how Japanese automaker Toyota introduced plans to cast a futuristic spin on the traditional internal combustion engine.

PHILANTHROPHY

Melinda French Gates to donate $1B over next 2 years in support of women's rights

Melinda French Gates says she will be donating $1 billion over the next two years to individuals and organizations working on behalf of women and families globally, including on reproductive rights in the United States.

YOUR MONEY

More people make 'no-buy year' pledges as overspending or climate worries catch up with them

NEW YORK (AP) — A 35-year-old Brooklyn resident gave up buying new clothes. A 22-year old in San Diego swore off retail therapy at Target. A 26-year old in England banned carbonated drinks from her shopping list.

Tempted to try a no-buy year? Here are tips from people doing it

NEW YORK (AP) — The rules of a no-buy challenge are self-imposed and simple: Make a list of the non-essential items you won't spend money on for a set period of time and stick to it. Easier said than done.

TECHNOLOGY

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman joins Giving Pledge, focusing his money on tech that 'helps create abundance'

NEW YORK (AP) — The Giving Pledge announced Tuesday that OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has joined its list of wealthy philanthropists committed to donating over half their fortunes.

BANKING

US opens up banking to private Cuban businesses as it aims to boost private sector

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. lifted some financial restrictions against Cuba on Tuesday, in a move designed to boost private businesses on the island.

ECONOMY

US consumer confidence rises in May after three months of declines

WASHINGTON (AP) — Consumer confidence in the U.S. rose in May after three straight months of declines, though Americans are still anxious about inflation and interest rates.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Most of Wall Street slips in quiet trading after returning from a 3-day weekend

NEW YORK (AP) — Most U.S. stocks fell in a quiet day of trading Tuesday after a tick higher in bond yields tightened the screws a bit on Wall Street.

Layoffs can be part of running a small business. Some tips for owners on handling them

NEW YORK (AP) — With stubborn inflation and higher costs, layoffs at small businesses are sometimes a necessity.

T-Mobile to buy almost all of U.S Cellular in deal worth $4.4 billion with debt

T-Mobile is buying U.S. Cellular's wireless operations and certain spectrum assets in a deal valued at $4.4 billion, and further consolidating the industry.


MONDAY, MAY 27
UT SPORTS

UT earns No. 1 national seed for NCAA baseball tournament, Vanderbilt extends streak to 18

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Tennessee, the Southeastern Conference regular-season and conference tournament champion and the consensus No. 1 team in the country for a month, on Monday was awarded the top national seed for the NCAA Tournament.

Tennessee holds on for 4-3 victory over defending national champ LSU to win SEC Tournament

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — Billy Amick hit a three-run home run, catcher Cal Stark picked off a runner at third with the bases loaded to end the sixth inning and Aaron Combs struck out the final two batters with the tying run on second to help preserve top-seeded Tennessee's 4-3 victory over defending champion LSU in the championship game of the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Sunday.

Valentine grand slam, Briski pitching carry Alabama to 4-1 win over Tennessee, into WCWS

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Riley Valentine hit a first-inning grand slam, Jocelyn Briski took a two-hitter into the seventh inning and 14th-seeded Alabama upended No. 3 seed Tennessee on Sunday in the finale of the best-of-three Knoxville Super Regional, earning the Crimson Tide a spot in the Women's College World Series.

AUTO RACING

Newgarden salvages his season with an Indy 500 win on a last-lap defeat of a heartbroken O'Ward

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — As Roger Penske investigated the cheating incident that cost Josef Newgarden his IndyCar season-opening victory, never did Newgarden worry about his job security at Team Penske.

COURTS

Closing arguments, jury instructions and maybe a verdict? Major week looms in Trump hush money trial

WASHINGTON (AP) — The testimony in Donald Trump's New York hush money trial is all wrapped up after more than four weeks and nearly two dozen witnesses, meaning the case heads into the pivotal final stretch of closing arguments, jury deliberations and possibly a verdict.

Here's what every key witness said at Trump's hush money trial. Closing arguments are coming

NEW YORK (AP) — After 22 witnesses, including a porn actor, tabloid publisher and White House insiders, testimony is over at Donald Trump's criminal trial in New York.

ELECTION 2024

Trump, accustomed to friendly crowds, confronts repeated booing during Libertarian convention speech

WASHINGTON (AP) — Donald Trump was booed repeatedly while addressing the Libertarian Party National Convention on Saturday night, with many in the crowd shouting insults and decrying him for things like his COVID-19 policies, running up towering federal deficits and lying about his political record.

Libertarians nominate Chase Oliver for president, spurning both Trump, Kennedy

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Libertarian Party on Sunday nominated party activist Chase Oliver for president, rejecting former President Donald Trump and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. after they each spoke at the party's convention.

TECHNOLOGY

Elon Musk's xAI says it has raised $6 billion to develop artificial intelligence

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A group of investors will put up $6 billion to fund development of artificial intelligence by Elon Musk's xAI.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Major retailers are offering summer deals to entice inflation-weary shoppers

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans who spend Memorial Day scouting sales online and in stores may find more reasons to celebrate the return of warmer weather. Major retailers are stepping up discounts heading into the summer months, hoping to entice inflation-weary shoppers into opening their wallets.

Nigeria is emerging as a critical mineral hub. The government is cracking down on illegal operations

ABUJA, Nigeria (AP) — Nigeria's government is cracking down on illegal mining, making dozens of arrests of unlicensed miners since April for allegedly stealing the country's lithium, a critical mineral used in batteries for electric vehicles, smartphones and power systems.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Biden says each generation has to 'earn' freedom, in solemn Memorial Day remarks

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden marked Memorial Day with a pledge that the country would continue the work of the nation's fallen toward a more perfect union, "for which they lived, and for which they died."

China has threatened trade with some countries after feuds. They're calling 'the firm' for help

WASHINGTON (AP) — Business is good at "the firm." The eight-person team at the State Department is leading Washington's efforts to ease the economic blowback for countries targeted by China.


FRIDAY, MAY 24
VANDERBILT SPORTS

Diaz, Thompson lead Vanderbilt to 4-3 victory over Mississippi State at SEC Tournament

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — Davis Diaz gave Vanderbilt the lead for good with a two-run single in the third inning and JD Thompson pitched six strong innings to lead the eighth-seeded Commodores to a 4-3 victory over No. 5 seed Mississippi State at the Southeastern Conference Tournament on Thursday night.

UT SPORTS

Causey extends his SEC-best win total to 11 as UT tops Texas A&M, avoids elimination

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — Kavares Tears went 3 for 5 with four RBIs, Christian Moore also had three hits and top-seeded Tennessee beat No. 4 seed Texas A&M 7-4 on Thursday to avoid elimination at the SEC Tournament.

SPORTS

NCAA, leagues back $2.8B settlement, setting stage for current, former athletes to be paid

The NCAA and the nation's five biggest conferences announced Thursday night that they have agreed to pay nearly $2.8 billion to settle a host of antitrust claims, a monumental decision that sets the stage for a groundbreaking revenue-sharing model that could start steering millions of dollars directly to athletes as soon as the 2025 fall semester.

With college athletes on cusp of revenue-sharing, there are Title IX questions that must be answered

The looming athlete pay system that will upend the traditional college sports model and still-to-be-determined details about how millions of dollars will be distributed are certain to bring questions about gender equity.

WEST TENNESSEE

Tennessee AG looking into attempt to sell Graceland in foreclosure auction

MEMPHIS (AP) — Tennessee's attorney general said Thursday that his office is looking into a company's attempt to sell Elvis Presley's home Graceland at a foreclosure auction, a move that was stopped by a judge after the king of rock n' roll's granddaughter filed a lawsuit claiming fraud.

MUSIC INDUSTRY

The Justice Department is suing Ticketmaster and Live Nation. What does that mean for concertgoers?

Will the Justice Department's lawsuit against Ticketmaster and Live Nation give concertgoers, sports fan and theater patrons some relief from surging ticket prices?

COURTS

Democratic senators request meeting with Chief Justice Roberts over flags flown at Alito's homes

WASHINGTON (AP) — Two Democratic senators are requesting a meeting with Chief Justice John Roberts after reports that two separate flags carried by rioters at the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol had flown outside of houses owned by Justice Samuel Alito.

Prosecutor tells jury that self-exiled wealthy Chinese businessman cheated thousands of $1B

NEW YORK (AP) — A self-exiled wealthy Chinese businessman became an internet sensation and conned thousands of people worldwide into sending him $1 billion, enabling him to spend lavishly on a mansion, two yachts and even a $35,000 mattress, a prosecutor told a New York jury Friday at the start of his fraud trial.

Trump swaps bluster for silence, and possibly sleep, in his hush money trial

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump isn't known for letting slights pass.

Manhattan DA's office won't be punished for document dump that delayed start of Trump criminal trial

NEW YORK (AP) — Manhattan prosecutors won't be penalized for a last-minute document dump that caused former President Donald Trump's hush money criminal trial to start later than scheduled, a judge ruled Thursday.

ELECTION 2024

'Green blitz': As election nears, Biden pushes slew of rules on environment, other priorities

WASHINGTON (AP) — As he tries to secure his legacy, President Joe Biden has unleashed a flurry of election-year rules on the environment and other topics, including a landmark regulation that would force coal-fired power plants to capture smokestack emissions or shut down.

AUTO INDUSTRY

UAW files objection to Mercedes vote, accuses company of intimidating workers

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The United Auto Workers on Friday accused Mercedes of interfering in a union election at two Alabama factories by intimidating and coercing workers into voting no.

Workers at Georgia school bus maker Blue Bird approve their first union contract

FORT VALLEY, Ga. (AP) — A year after they voted to unionize, workers at a Georgia school bus manufacturer have approved their first contract.

TRAVEL

Memorial Day travelers withstand higher prices in the hurry to kick off summer fun

Widespread flight delays across the U.S. tested the patience of travelers who tried to get a jump start on Memorial Day weekend, but the relatively few canceled flights raised hopes that airlines would be able to handle the bigger crowds expected Friday.

MEDIA

Australian judge rules that social media platform X must answer to hate speech complaint

MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — An Australian judge has ruled that the social media platform X is subject to a state's anti-discrimination law even though it does not have an office in Australia.

TECHNOLOGY

Harris announces plans to help 80% of Africa gain access to the internet, up from 40% now

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris announced Friday the formation of a new partnership to help provide internet access to 80% of Africa by 2030, up from roughly 40% now.

HEALTH CARE

Despite surging demand for long-term care, providers struggle to find workers

The hardest part of Culix Wibonele's first job in long-term care was not getting injured.

Eli Lilly beefs up plan to expand manufacturing for popular drugs Zepbound, Mounjaro

Eli Lilly will spend more than $5 billion to expand an Indiana manufacturing site and eventually make more doses of its popular weight-loss and diabetes treatments, Zepbound and Mounjaro.

UN countries adopt treaty to better trace origins of genetic resources under global patent system

GENEVA (AP) — U.N. member countries on Friday concluded a new treaty to ensure that genetic resources used in inventions, like new medicines derived from exotic plants in the Andes mountains, are properly traced.

MILITARY

Families of Marines killed in 2022 Osprey crash sue aircraft manufacturers Boeing, Bell, Rolls Royce

WASHINGTON (AP) — Families of four of the five Marines killed when their Osprey crashed in California in June of 2022 filed a federal lawsuit Thursday alleging that the aircraft's manufacturers failed to address known mechanical failures that led to the deaths.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Nasdaq sets another record as Wall Street wins back earlier losses

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. stocks rose Friday in a bounce back from Wall Street's worst day since April.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Blinken will head to eastern Europe as concerns mount about Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia

WASHINGTON (AP) — Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to eastern Europe next week as concerns mount about Russia's advances in Ukraine, potential Russian interference in neighboring Moldova and pro-Moscow legislation being promoted in the former Soviet republic of Georgia, the State Department said Friday.

Judge weighs proposed changes to Google's Android app store to prevent anticompetitive tactics

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Google is tried to confront the latest in a succession of legal attacks on its digital empire on Thursday as federal judge began to address anticompetitive practices in the app market for smartphones powered by its Android software.

US pushes for Ukraine aid, united front against China's trade practices at G7 finance meeting

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — The U.S. sought to build support for squeezing more money for Ukraine out of frozen Russian assets and for uniting against China's trade practices as finance ministers from the Group of Seven rich democracies opened a two-day meeting on Friday on the shores of northern Italy's scenic Lago Maggiore.

The 'Appeal to Heaven' flag evolves from Revolutionary War symbol to banner of the far right

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito is embroiled in a second flag controversy in as many weeks, this time over a banner that in recent years has come to symbolize sympathies with the Christian nationalist movement and the false claim that the 2020 presidential election was stolen.


THURSDAY, MAY 23
TENNESSEE TITANS

NFL closer to filling every day of the week with a game as league's reach keeps growing

NASHVILLE (AP) — The NFL hasn't scheduled a game for every day of the week. Yet. "We're going to be the new 7-Eleven," New Orleans Saints defensive end Cameron Jordan said. "NFL, 24 hours, you can watch them play any given day."

UT SPORTS

Manning says he has no desire to go from broadcasting to an NFL executive position

DENVER (AP) — Peyton Manning was honored for his community work at a banquet Wednesday night. Ahead of the event, he was asked if he had any desire to run an NFL franchise and he said he'd rather stick to his "Monday Night Football" Manningcast with brother Eli that just won its second Sports Emmy award.

VANDERBILT SPORTS

Espinal has 5 RBIs, Vanderbilt scores 13 runs on 15 hits in SEC tourney win against Vols

HOOVER, Ala. (AP) — Alan Espinal had two home runs and five RBIs, Jonathan Vastine added a homer and three RBIs, and No. 8 seed Vanderbilt beat top-seeded Tennessee 13-4 on Wednesday in the double-elimination portion of the SEC Tournament.

NASHVILLE AREA

Metro Council rejects proposed sign for Morgan Wallen's new bar, decrying his behavior

NASHVILLE (AP) — Nashville councilmembers have rejected plans for a glowing sign to be erected at Morgan Wallen's new bar along the city's neon-lit strip of honky tonks, citing his use of a racial slur that caused controversy in 2021 and recent criminal charges accusing the country star of throwing a chair off a rooftop near two police officers.

MUSIC INDUSTRY

Justice Department says illegal monopoly by Ticketmaster and Live Nation drives up prices for fans

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department filed a sweeping antitrust lawsuit against Ticketmaster and parent company Live Nation Entertainment on Thursday, accusing them of running an illegal monopoly over live events in America — squelching competition and driving up prices for fans.

COURTS

American Airlines retreats after blaming a 9-year-old for not seeing a hidden camera in a lavatory

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — American Airlines has distanced itself from a court filing in which the carrier said a 9-year-old girl should have noticed there was a camera taped to the seat of an airplane lavatory.

Supreme Court finds no bias against Black voters in a South Carolina congressional district

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court 's conservative majority on Thursday preserved a Republican-held South Carolina congressional district, rejecting a lower-court ruling that said the district discriminated against Black voters.

Norfolk Southern will pay modest $15M fine as part of federal settlement over Ohio derailment

The federal government agreed to a modest $15 million fine for Norfolk Southern over last year's disastrous derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, and the railroad promised to pay more than $300 million to complete the efforts to improve safety that it announced after the crash and address community health concerns.

Trump might be stuck in a Manhattan courtroom, but he knows his fave legal analysts

NEW YORK (AP) — If there are bragging rights associated with Donald Trump praising your legal acumen when he speaks after a day's testimony at his criminal trial, Fox News analyst Andy McCarthy has already been cited at least a dozen times.

FACT FOCUS: Trump distorts use of 'deadly force' language in FBI document for Mar-a-Lago search

Former President Donald Trump pointed to standard language in an FBI documentunsealed Tuesday to baselessly claim that the Biden administration wanted to kill him during a search of his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach nearly two years ago.

Heated hearing in classified documents case as lawyer for Trump co-defendant challenges prosecutors

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — A lawyer for Donald Trump's personal valet took aim at the conduct of prosecutors in the classified documents case in a heated hearing Wednesday, the first since a judge indefinitely postponed the trial.

Senate confirms 200th federal judge under Biden as Democrats surpass Trump's pace

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate on Wednesday confirmed the 200th federal judge of President Joe Biden's tenure, about a month earlier than when Donald Trump hit that mark in his term, though Trump still holds the edge when it comes to the most impactful confirmations — those to the Supreme Court and the country's 13 appellate courts.

Second flag carried by Jan. 6 rioters displayed outside house owned by Justice Alito, report says

WASHINGTON (AP) — A second flag of a type carried by rioters during the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, was displayed outside a house owned by Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito, The New York Times reported Wednesday.

ELECTION 2024

'Ron, I love that you're back': Trump, DeSantis put an often personal primary fight behind them

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Donald Trump, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis are signaling to donors that they are putting their rivalry behind them after a contentious and often personal primary fight.

Political consultant behind fake Biden robocalls faces $6 million fine and criminal charges

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A political consultant who sent artificial intelligence-generated robocalls mimicking President Joe Biden's voice to voters ahead of New Hampshire's presidential primary faces a $6 million fine and more than two dozen criminal charges.

Trump is holding a rally in the South Bronx as he tries to woo Black and Hispanic voters

NEW YORK (AP) — Former President Donald Trump will campaign in one of the most Democratic counties in the nation Thursday, holding a rally in the South Bronx to woo minority voters days before a Manhattan jury will begin deliberations on whether to convict him of felony charges in his criminal hush money trial.

HEALTH CARE

Black Americans are underrepresented in residential care communities, AP/CNHI News analysis finds

Norma Upshaw was living alone south of Nashville when her doctor said she needed to start in-home dialysis.

If you've tried meditating but can't sit still, here's how – and why – to try again

The first time Marcelle Hutchins sat down to meditate, she put on a guided session, relaxed her shoulders and tried to close her eyes. She lasted two minutes.

MEDIA

OpenAI to start using news content from News Corp. as part of a multiyear deal

Joining news organizations that have chosen to collaborate rather than fight with the best-known artificial intelligence company, News Corp. has struck a multiyear deal to share news content with OpenAI for both training purposes and to answer questions from users.

New York will set aside money to help local news outlets hire and retain employees

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — New York is offering up to $90 million in tax credits for news outlets to hire and retain journalists in an effort to help keep the shrinking local news industry afloat.

ECONOMY

Borrowers, especially the young, struggle with credit card debt in potentially bad sign for economy

NEW YORK (AP) — Consumers are increasingly struggling to pay their credit card bills, raising concerns about severe delinquencies spiraling and sapping consumer spending.

US applications for jobless benefits fall as labor market continues to thrive

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell last week as layoffs remained historically low despite the Federal Reserve's efforts to loosen the labor market.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street slumps to worst day since April on worries about interest rates

NEW YORK (AP) — In the latest example of how good news for the economy can be bad for Wall Street, most U.S. stocks slumped Thursday after strong economic reports raised the possibility of interest rates staying painfully high. The weakness was widespread and overshadowed another blowout profit report from market heavyweight Nvidia.

Independent booksellers continued to expand in 2023, with more than 200 new stores opening

NEW YORK (AP) — Three years ago, Erin Decker was a middle school librarian in Kissimmee, Florida, increasingly frustrated by the state's book bans and worried that she couldn't make a difference remaining in her job.

Dangerous brew: Ocean heat and La Nina combo likely mean more Atlantic hurricanes this summer

WASHINGTON (AP) — Get ready for what nearly all the experts think will be one of the busiest Atlantic hurricane seasons on record, thanks to unprecedented ocean heat and a brewing La Nina.

Nvidia's profit soars, underscoring its dominance in chips for artificial intelligence

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Nvidia on Wednesday overshot Wall Street estimates as its profit skyrocketed, bolstered by the chipmaking dominance that has made the company an icon of the artificial intelligence boom.

Nvidia's stock market value is up $1 trillion in 2024. How it rose to AI prominence, by the numbers

Nvidia's stock price has jumped 92% this year as of Wednesday, increasing the company's market value by more than $1 trillion. Those numbers are headed higher again Thursday after the company reported better-than-expected quarterly results.

Top Apple exec acknowledges shortcomings in effort to bring competition in iPhone app payments

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Longtime Apple executive Phil Schiller on Wednesday acknowledged a court-ordered makeover of the U.S. payment system in its iPhone app store hasn't done much to increase competition — a shortcoming that could result in a federal judge demanding more changes.

Abrupt shutdown of financial middleman Synapse has frozen thousands of Americans' deposits

NEW YORK (AP) — The bank accounts of tens of thousands of U.S. businesses and consumers have been frozen in the aftermath of the abrupt shutdown and bankruptcy of financial technology company Synapse, which acts as a middleman between financial technology companies and banks.

Buy now, pay later companies must adhere to credit card standards, consumer agency says

NEW YORK (AP) — Buy now, pay later companies must provide consumers with the same legal rights and protections as credit card lenders do, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said Wednesday in a new rule.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Border bill fails Senate test vote as Democrats seek to underscore Republican resistance

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans again blocked a bill meant to clamp down on the number of migrants allowed to claim asylum at the U.S.-Mexico border as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer sought Thursday to underscore GOP resistance to the proposal.

Biden, Kenyan President Ruto urge global leaders to help lessen developing nations' crushing debt

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is rolling out the red carpet for Kenyan President William Ruto with the first state visit to the United States by an African leader in more than 15 years.

State dinner honoring Kenya showcases country star Brad Paisley and gospel music

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is throwing one of its biggest-ever state dinners for Kenyan President William Ruto and leaning in to the African leader's tastes by showcasing two uniquely American types of music: gospel and country.

With Ukraine losing ground, allies debate how to squeeze cash for Kyiv out of frozen Russian assets

FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) — Ukraine's allies are wrestling with how to squeeze money out of frozen Russian assets to support Kyiv's war effort, a debate getting more urgent as Russia gains territory on the battlefield and as the outlook for Ukraine's state finances looks shakier.

US will announce $275M more in artillery and ammunition for Ukraine, officials say

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States is expected to announce an additional $275 million in military aid for Ukraine on Friday as Kyiv struggles to hold off advances by Russian troops in the Kharkiv region, two U.S. officials say.

Putin signs decree allowing seizure of Americans' assets if US confiscates Russian holdings

President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing Russia to confiscate assets of U.S. companies and individuals to compensate for any Russian assets confiscated in the United States.

Florida Sen. Rick Scott, a close Trump ally, joins race to succeed Mitch McConnell as GOP leader

WASHINGTON (AP) — Florida Sen. Rick Scott said Wednesday that he will run for Senate Republican leader when Mitch McConnell steps down from the post, becoming the third Republican in the race.

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