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VOL. 47 | NO. 33 | Friday, August 11, 2023

Pay scale, politics make it harder to find, keep teachers

Largest pay raise in state history still has school systems scrambling to fill classrooms

One way to get teachers into Tennessee classrooms, and keep them there? Show them the money.

Listening tour seeks answers directly from state’s teachers

The Tennessee Department of Education wanted to speak directly to educators as it formulated pay-raise efforts and other programming. A listening tour wrapped earlier this year, with findings released in June.

JOE ROGERS: MY TAKE

Have I mentioned baseball is a wonderful game?

Good fortune and good friends led me to three baseball games last week, a sports bonanza that couldn’t fail to cheer my soul.

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

EVENTS

Industry Roundtable. A meeting designed to promote community over competition: a place where you can discuss what’s happening in your business sector and also mingle with others from different industries to make valuable connections. Coffee will be provided, and a Chamber team member will be at each meeting, in an effort for our team to better connect our members to resources. This program is included in your chamber membership. Registration is required. The Hampton Inn, 980 Village Green Crossing, Gallatin. Thursday, 8:30-9:30 a.m. Information

more events »

RICHARD COURTNEY: REALTY CHECK

Strobel got more people into homes than any Realtor

This column normally deals with those who own homes and the Realtors who place the homeowners into their homes. This week the story is of the person who almost single-handedly put more people into housing – temporary or permanent – than any Realtor in history.

REAL ESTATE

Top Davidson Co. residential real estate sales for July 2023

Top Davidson County residential real estate sales for July 2023, as compiled by the Nashville Ledger.

Average long-term US mortgage rate climbs to 6.96% this week, matching highest level this year

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The average long-term U.S. mortgage rate rose this week to just under 7%, the latest setback for would-be homebuyers already facing affordability challenges due to a housing market limited by a shortage of homes for sale.

TENNESSEE TITANS

Free agent signee LB Key adds leadership, levity

What’s needed most is consistent play

Arden Key enjoys being the life of the party. The veteran linebacker, who signed with the Titans as a free agent this spring, figures to have the role that Bud Dupree had the past couple of years.

Landry looking for productive, healthy season after missing 2022

Last year, the Tennessee Titans plan of having bookend edge rushers in a healthy Bud Dupree and Harold Landry derailed pretty quickly.

UT SPORTS

Vols love Iamaleava – but only in an emergency

Nico Iamaleava generated plenty of headlines during his recruitment to the University of Tennessee. From his athletic ability to his reported $8 million NIL deal to sign with the Vols, the five-star prospect was in the spotlight.

NEWSMAKERS

Malone-Smolla tapped for bankruptcy judges’ program

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP associate Erin Malone-Smolla has been accepted into the National Conference of Bankruptcy Judges’ 2023 Next Generation program.

BRIEFS

Metro runoffs early voting begins Aug. 25

Early voting for the Metro Nashville general election runoffs begins Aug. 25 and concludes Sept. 9. Election Day is Sept. 14.

BEHIND THE WHEEL

Electric luxury: Mercedes-Benz EQS vs. BMW i7

BMW and Mercedes-Benz are well known for their 7 Series and S-Class flagship sedans. But now you should get familiar with their electric counterparts: the BMW i7 and Mercedes EQS sedan.

PERSONAL FINANCE

When is it better to repair or replace your appliances

When our 17-year-old refrigerator started wheezing, I fully expected we’d need a new one. I was shocked – and frankly a little disappointed – when a repair technician fixed it for less than $200. I had to postpone my dream of a shiny French-door replacement, but our no-frills Frigidaire is still working fine eight years later.

MILLENNIAL MONEY

Issuer closing your credit card? Act fast to preserve credit

It’s not uncommon for credit card issuers to close accounts. Sometimes they do so to lessen their risk when the economy is in distress, generally as a reaction to your spending activity – or lack thereof.

COURTS

Georgia prosecutor seeks March trial date for Trump, 18 others in election case

ATLANTA (AP) — The prosecutor in Atlanta who obtained an indictment this week against former President Donald Trump and 18 others wants to take the case to trial in March.

Some abortion drug restrictions are upheld by an appeals court in a case bound for the Supreme Court

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — New restrictions on access to a drug used in the most common form of abortion in the U.S. would be imposed under a federal appeals court ruling issued Wednesday, but the Supreme Court will have the final say.

A former fundraiser for Santos has been charged with wire fraud, identity theft

NEW YORK (AP) — A former fundraiser for U.S. Rep. George Santos was indicted Wednesday on federal charges that he impersonated a high-ranking congressional aide while soliciting contributions for the New York Republican's campaign.

Court watchdog files complaint against a judge who ordered 'religious-liberty training' for lawyers

A court watchdog has filed a complaint against the federal judge who ordered "religious-liberty training" for a trio of Southwest Airlines lawyers as part of their punishment for not fully following his orders in a case involving speech about abortion.

Plea negotiations could mean no 9/11 defendants face the death penalty, the US tells families

WASHINGTON (AP) — The suspected architect of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks and his fellow defendants may never face the death penalty under plea agreements now under consideration to bring an end to their more than decadelong prosecution, the Pentagon and FBI have advised families of some of the thousands killed.

Tuohys' lawyers to respond to Michael Oher's accusations as he fights conservatorship

MEMPHIS (AP) — Lawyers for a prominent Memphis couple planned to speak with reporters Wednesday about former NFL player Michael Oher's effort to take control of his finances in a now-public dispute involving those who inspired the Oscar-nominated movie "The Blind Side."

DeSantis' appointees ask judge to rule against Disney without need for trial

A Florida judge should rule without trial against Disney as the company fights Gov. Ron DeSantis' takeover of a board that oversees Walt Disney World, the Republican governor's appointees said in a Tuesday court filing.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Orlando debuts self-driving shuttle that will whisk passengers around downtown

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — There is going to be a new way to get around downtown Orlando, Florida, and it's not going to require any human drivers.

UAW to vote on strike authorization next week as president says talks with Detroit 3 moving slowly

DETROIT (AP) — About 146,000 members of the United Auto Workers union will vote next week whether to authorize their leaders to call strikes against the Detroit automakers.

ENVIRONMENT

A plan for how Indonesia will spend $20 billion to transition to cleaner energy has been submitted

JAKARTA, Indonesia (AP) — A plan for how Indonesia will spend $20 billion to transition to cleaner energy was submitted Wednesday to the government and its financing partners, the planners said.

TECHNOLOGY

OK, we can relax. The iPhone 'hang up' button might not be moving much after all

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Almost a week after the Apple faithful collectively gasped at the first evidence that the iPhone's red "end call" button might soon be vacating its center position to take up residence one column to the right, it looks like it might have been mostly a false alarm.

ECONOMY

UK inflation falls to 17-month low of 6.8% but unlikely to derail another interest rate rise

LONDON (AP) — The rate of inflation in the U.K. fell sharply in July to a 17-month low largely on the back of lower energy prices, official figures showed Wednesday, a welcome development for hard-pressed households struggling during the cost of living crisis.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street falls as the bond market cranks up the pressure

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street's weak August worsened, and the S&P 500 is closing 0.8% lower. The Dow dropped roughly 180 points Wednesday, and the Nasdaq fell 1.1%.

Federal Reserve minutes: Too-high inflation, still a threat, could require more rate hikes

WASHINGTON (AP) — Most Federal Reserve officials last month still regarded high inflation as an ongoing threat that could require further interest rate increases, according to the minutes of their July 25-26 meeting released Wednesday.

Aldi to buy 400 Winn-Dixie, Harveys groceries in Southern US

Discount grocer Aldi said Wednesday it plans to buy 400 Winn-Dixie and Harveys supermarkets in the southern U.S.

Teamsters add their heft to dozens of Amazon delivery drivers picketing around the country

NEW YORK (AP) — The Teamsters flexed their muscles during contract negotiations with UPS last month, securing pay hikes for drivers and scoring other wins.

$5.4B international chip deal with Intel is off after greenlight from China never arrives

HONG KONG (AP) — A $5.4 billion acquisition of Israeli chip manufacturer by Intel has been called off after China failed to sign off on the deal amid rising tensions with the United States.

Target Q2 sales ebb on inflation, Pride month shopper backlash; profit outlook cut for 2023

NEW YORK (AP) — Target's second quarter sales were hit by inflation and a negative reaction by some customers, widely publicized on social media, to its Pride merchandise.

American industrial icon US Steel is on the verge of being absorbed as industry consolidates further

With two bidders revealed in a matter of days and more in the wings, United States Steel Corp. — a symbol of American industrialization that for more than a century helped build everything from the United Nations building in New York City to the New Orleans Superdome — appears be on the cusp of being absorbed.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

House Oversight Committee member asks chairman to refer Snyder to the DOJ for investigation

WASHINGTON (AP) — The ranking Democrat on the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform is asking the Republican chair in charge to refer former Washington Commanders owner Dan Snyder to the Department of Justice for lying under oath.

Biden is set to mark the anniversary of his signing of a major climate, health, tax law

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House is ramping up its efforts to illustrate the real-world impact of President Joe Biden's signature climate, health care and tax law by showing how various Americans say they've benefited from his economic policies on the anniversary of the so-called Inflation Reduction Act.

Americans are divided along party lines over Trump's actions in election cases, AP-NORC poll shows

WASHINGTON (AP) — Americans are deeply divided along party lines in their views of President Donald Trump's actions in the most recent criminal cases brought against him, a new poll shows, with about half saying his alleged attempt to interfere in Georgia's 2020 vote count was illegal.

Trump enjoys strong support among Republicans. The general election could be a different story

NEW YORK (AP) — After every new indictment, Donald Trump has boasted that his standing among Republicans only improves — and he has a point.

McCarthy floats stopgap funding to prevent a government shutdown at the end of next month

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congressional leaders are pitching a stopgap government funding package to avoid a federal shutdown after next month, acknowledging the House and Senate are nowhere near agreement on spending levels to keep federal operations running.


TUESDAY, AUGUST 15
TENNESSEE TITANS

Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill takes to the skies with his pilot's license

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee running back Derrick Henry is delighted that his Titans teammate Ryan Tannehill enjoys flying and earned his pilot's license this summer.

VANDERBILT SPORTS

Lea targets bowl game for Vanderbilt knowing the Dores' have only a thin margin for error

NASHVILLE (AP) — Clark Lea makes his goals for Vanderbilt very clear. He wants his Commodores playing in the postseason no matter how tough that is in the mighty Southeastern Conference.

UT SPORTS

No. 12 Tennessee sets its sights high, targeting SEC East title and maybe more after breakthrough

Josh Heupel and his 12th-ranked Tennessee Volunteers have their sights set high for his third season.

COURTS

Georgia election indictment highlights wider attempts to illegally access voting equipment

ATLANTA (AP) — A day after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, as the country was still reeling from the violent attempt to halt the transfer of presidential power, a local Republican Party official greeted a group of computer experts outside the election office in a rural county in south Georgia, where they were given access to voting equipment.

Special prosecutor will examine actions of Georgia's lieutenant governor in Trump election meddling

ATLANTA (AP) — A Georgia state agency said Tuesday that it will name a special prosecutor to consider whether the state's Republican lieutenant governor should face criminal charges after former president Donald Trump and 18 of his allies were indicted Monday for working to overturn the state's 2020 election results.

Trump and 18 allies charged in Georgia election meddling as former president faces 4th criminal case

ATLANTA (AP) — Donald Trump and 18 allies were indicted in Georgia on Monday over their efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state, with prosecutors using a statute normally associated with mobsters to accuse the former president, lawyers and other aides of a "criminal enterprise" to keep him in power.

How the Georgia indictment against Donald Trump may be the biggest yet and other case takeaways

The fourth indictment of former President Donald Trump may be the most sweeping yet.

Trump has been indicted in a fourth case. Here's where all the investigations stand

Donald Trump has now been indicted in a fourth case, with the former president being charged Monday in Georgia over his efforts to overturn his 2020 general election defeat in the state.

How a law associated with mobsters is central to charges against Trump

ATLANTA (AP) — Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis opened her investigation into Donald Trump after the release of a recording of a January 2021 phone call between Trump and Georgia's secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger.

A look at the 19 people charged in Georgia indictment connected to Trump election scheme

ATLANTA (AP) — Donald Trump and 18 other associates were charged Monday in Georgia as part of a sweeping indictment alleging they schemed to illegally overturn his 2020 election loss and stop the peaceful transition of power.

How Fani Willis oversaw what might be the most sprawling legal case against Donald Trump

ATLANTA (AP) — Long before the FBI began investigating Donald Trump's hoarding of classified documents or Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special prosecutor to probe the former president, Fani Willis was at work.

Georgia court's apparent error in early publishing of charges gives Trump opening to attack case

Hours before a Georgia grand jury handed down an indictment charging Donald Trump and 18 allies over efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss late Monday, a mysterious document posted on the court's website erroneously suggested the former president had already been charged before the file was quickly deleted.

Mar-a-Lago property manager pleads not guilty to charges in Trump's classified documents case

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — Mar-a-Lago property manager Carlos De Oliveira pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to scheming with Donald Trump to try to delete security footage sought by investigators probing the former president's hoarding of classified documents.

Prosecutors in Hunter Biden case deny defense push to keep gun charge agreement in place

WASHINGTON (AP) — A legal showdown over the derailed plea deal for Hunter Biden continued Tuesday as prosecutors asserted that an agreement on a gun charge is dead along with the rest of the deal as the case makes a major shift into a special counsel investigation.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Auto parts maker Shinhwa plans $114M expansion at Alabama facility, creating jobs

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — An auto parts supplier plans a $114 million investment to expand its facility in Alabama to support the production of electric vehicle parts, Gov. Kay Ivey's office announced Tuesday.

ENVIRONMENT

Environmentalists sue Puerto Rican government over location of renewable energy projects

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) — Activists and environmental groups including the Sierra Club sued Puerto Rico's government Monday over the planned location of dozens of renewable energy projects meant to ease the U.S. territory's power woes.

MEDIA

Wendy McMahon and Ingrid Ciprian-Matthews take lead news executive roles at CBS

NEW YORK (AP) — CBS on Monday appointed executive Wendy McMahon to an expanded role that puts her in charge of the network's news division, its locally owned stations and its syndication business.

ECONOMY

China skips giving update on surging youth unemployment as economic slump deepens

BEIJING (AP) — China's government skipped giving an update on a politically sensitive spike in unemployment among young people as official data Tuesday showed an economic slump deepened in July.

Japanese economic growth surges on strong exports and tourism

TOKYO (AP) — Japan's economic growth jumped at an annual pace of 6% in the April-June period, marking the third straight quarter of growth as exports and inbound tourism recovered.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street drops as faltering Chinese economy sets off global slide

NEW YORK (AP) — A sharp drop for Wall Street capped a day of declines worldwide after discouraging data on China raised worries about the global economy.

WeWork sounds the alarm, prompting speculation around the company's future

NEW YORK (AP) — WeWork has sounded the alarm on its ability to stay in business, prompting speculation around the future of the troubled workspace-sharing company.

Retail sales rose solidly last month in a sign that consumers are still spending freely

NEW YORK (AP) — Americans increased their purchases at retailers last month – for clothing, dining out, online goods and other areas – in a sign that solid consumer spending is still powering a resilient U.S. economy.

Home Depot tops expectations again, but signs of spending pullback by Americans continues to emerge

ATLANTA (AP) — Home Depot topped profit and sales expectations in its most recent quarter, but sales continued to decline as inflation and soaring interest rates play a larger role in the spending choices made by Americans.

Warren Buffett's firm invests in the biggest homebuilders while reducing GM stake in portfolio moves

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Warren Buffett's company appears to be betting on the housing market picking up because Berkshire Hathaway bought more than $700 million worth of homebuilder DR Horton's stock this spring along with smaller stakes in fellow builders Lennar Corp. and NVR Corp.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Will Donald Trump show up at next week's presidential debate? GOP rivals are preparing for it

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — He says he won't sign the pledge required to participate, but former President Donald Trump's Republican rivals are actively preparing as if he will be onstage for the GOP's first 2024 presidential debate next week.

US, Japan, South Korea to announce deeper defense cooperation at Camp David summit

WASHINGTON (AP) — The United States, Japan and South Korea are expected to announce plans for expanded military cooperation on ballistic missile defenses and technology development in the face of growing concern about North Korea's nuclear program when the countries' leaders gather at Camp David for a summit Friday, according to two senior Biden administration officials.

'Bidenomics' delivered a once-in-generation investment. It shows the pros and cons of policymaking

WASHINGTON (AP) — There are so many dots on the maps they blur into blobs — each one reflecting trillions of public and private dollars flowing in the U.S. this past year to build thousands of roads, bridges and manufacturing projects in communities large and small, in states red and blue.

President Biden focuses on factory jobs in Wisconsin, ignoring latest Trump indictment

MILWAUKEE (AP) — On the heels of a fourth indictment for Donald Trump, President Joe Biden focused on manufacturing jobs in a speech at a Wisconsin factory — putting his ideas for growth up against his Republican rivals in a bid to win over voters in a key state in next year's presidential election.


MONDAY, AUGUST 14
TENNESSEE TITANS

The Tennessee Titans are letting Willis and Levis compete to back up Tannehill at QB

NASHVILLE (AP) — The Tennessee Titans have a competition for the job backing up quarterback Ryan Tannehill at this point of the preseason.

MUSIC INDUSTRY

Clarence Avant, 'Godfather of Black Music,' benefactor of athletes, politicians, dies at 92

NEW YORK (AP) — Clarence Avant, the judicious manager, entrepreneur, facilitator and adviser who helped launch or guide the careers of Quincy Jones, Bill Withers and many others and came to be known as the "Black Godfather" of music and beyond, has died. He was 92.

WEST TENNESSEE

Michael Oher, former NFL tackle known for 'The Blind Side,' sues to end Tuohys' conservatorship

NASHVILLE (AP) — Michael Oher, the former NFL tackle known for being the inspiration for the movie "The Blind Side," filed a petition Monday in a Tennessee probate court accusing Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy of lying to him by having him sign papers making them his conservators rather than his adoptive parents nearly two decades ago.

COURTS

Trump assails judge in 2020 election case after she warned him not to make inflammatory remarks

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump is assailing the federal judge overseeing the election conspiracy case against him, days after she warned him not to make inflammatory statements about the case.

Judge in Donald Trump's hush-money case denies bias claim, won't step aside

NEW YORK (AP) — The judge in Donald Trump's Manhattan hush-money criminal case has rejected the former president's demand to step aside, denying defense claims that he's biased against the Republican front-runner because he's given cash to Democrats and his daughter is a party consultant.

Hunter Biden's lawyers say gun portion of plea deal remains valid after special counsel announcement

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorneys for Hunter Biden are pushing to keep part of a plea deal they reached with the prosecutor whose new status as special counsel has intensified the tax investigation into the president's son ahead of the 2024 election.

EDUCATION

Manning joins UT Communications and Information faculty

KNOXVILLE (AP) — Peyton Manning, the five-time NFL MVP and member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, has a new title.

AUTO INDUSTRY

Biden says auto workers need 'good jobs that can support a family' in union talks with carmakers

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is asking major U.S. automakers and their workers' union to reach an agreement that takes "every possible step to avoid painful plant closings" as the sector transitions to electric vehicles.

Ford lures Apple executive to oversee its new software subscription services unit

DETROIT (AP) — Ford has hired away a key Apple executive to run a new business unit that will sell software-related subscription services to vehicle owners.

MEDIA

CNN revamps schedule, with new roles for Phillip, Coates, Wallace, Amanpour

NEW YORK (AP) — CNN is emphasizing homegrown stars and reporting chops in a schedule reboot that gives weeknight shows to Abby Phillip and Laura Coates, along with bringing Christiane Amanpour back onto the domestic network regularly.

For Mark Zuckerberg's Threads, the real rival is still TikTok -- not the former Twitter

Threads, the simple, bare-bones text-based social network created by Facebook owner Meta, burst onto the scene during a particularly bad week for the rival then still known as Twitter. It quickly amassed 100 million signups — a huge feat for a newcomer in the space — and was dubbed as a "Twitter killer."

TECHNOLOGY

Amazon is rolling out a generative AI feature that summarizes product reviews

Amazon is rolling out a new generative AI feature that summarizes product reviews for customers.

Don't expect quick fixes in 'red-teaming' of AI models. Security was an afterthought

BOSTON (AP) — White House officials concerned by AI chatbots' potential for societal harm and the Silicon Valley powerhouses rushing them to market are heavily invested in a three-day competition ending Sunday at the DefCon hacker convention in Las Vegas.

BANKING

UBS to pay $1.44B to settle 2007 financial crisis-era mortgage fraud case, last of such cases

NEW YORK (AP) — UBS will pay U.S. authorities $1.44 billion to settle the last lingering legal case over Wall Street's role in the housing bubble of the early 2000s, which ultimately led to the 2008 financial crisis and Great Recession.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Wall Street drifts higher ahead of a big week for retailers

NEW YORK (AP) — Wall Street drifted higher Monday ahead of a week of reports showing how strong U.S. shoppers remain, amid hopes their spending can keep the economy out of a recession.

Russia's currency hits the lowest level since beginning of the war in Ukraine

LONDON (AP) — The Russian ruble has reached its lowest value since the early weeks of the war in Ukraine as Western sanctions weigh on energy exports and weaken demand for the national currency.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

David McCormick is gearing up for a Senate run in Pennsylvania. But he lives in Connecticut

WASHINGTON (AP) — David McCormick had a clear explanation for why his fellow Republican, Dr. Mehmet Oz, lost a critical Pennsylvania Senate seat last year: Voters viewed the daytime television celebrity as an interloper from New Jersey with limited ties to the state he hoped to represent.


FRIDAY, AUGUST 11
TENNESSEE TITANS

Titans' Williams hopes NFL follows Vrabel's lead with preseason head coaching chance

NASHVILLE (AP) — Terrell Williams' stint as the Tennessee Titans' acting head coach is more than just for their preseason opener Saturday in Chicago.

NASHVILLE AREA

VUMC faces civil rights investigation over release of transgender health records

NASHVILLE (AP) — Vanderbilt University Medical Center is facing a federal civil rights investigation after turning the medical records of transgender patients over to Tennessee's attorney general, hospital officials have confirmed.

COURTS

Attorney General Merrick Garland appoints a special counsel in the Hunter Biden probe

WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Friday he has appointed a special counsel in the Hunter Biden probe, deepening the investigation of the president's son ahead of the 2024 election.

Judge warns of restraints to what evidence Trump can talk about, agrees to limited protective order

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal judge overseeing the election conspiracy case against Donald Trump warned Friday that there are limits on what the former president can publicly say about evidence in the investigation as he campaigns for a second term in the White House.

Prosecutors seek Jan. 2 trial date for Donald Trump in his 2020 election conspiracy case

Prosecutors with special counsel Jack Smith's team asked a judge on Thursday to set a Jan. 2 trial date for former President Donald Trump in the case charging him with plotting to overturn his 2020 election loss.

Trump adviser Boris Epshteyn arrested in 2021 after groping complaints at club, police records show

PHOENIX (AP) — Boris Epshteyn, a longtime aide to former President Donald Trump, was arrested in 2021 after he was accused of repeatedly groping two women in an Arizona nightclub, according to police records.

Fund sued over grant program for Black women enlists prominent civil rights attorneys to fight back

Attorneys for an Atlanta-based venture capital firm being sued over a grant program for Black women vowed Thursday to fight back against the lawsuit, calling it misguided and frivolous.

FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried returns to New York as prosecutors push for his incarceration

NEW YORK (AP) — FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried is returning to New York City for a court hearing Friday that could decide whether the fallen cryptocurrency wiz must go to jail while he awaits trial.

HEALTH CARE

Insurers won't cover new Alzheimer's treatment for some customers

Some private insurers are balking at paying for the first drug fully approved to slow mental decline in Alzheimer's patients.

AUTO INDUSTRY

In the twilight of the muscle car era, demand for the new 486-horsepower V-8 Ford Mustang is roaring

DETROIT (AP) — New versions of the Mustang muscle car will begin shipping next week and more than two thirds of the orders include the big, 5-liter V-8 engine, Ford said Friday.

TECHNOLOGY

Foundations seek to advance AI for good — and also protect the world from its threats

While technology experts sound the alarm on the pace of artificial-intelligence development, philanthropists — including long-established foundations and tech billionaires — have been responding with an uptick in grants.

Worldcoin scans eyeballs and offers crypto. What to know about the project from OpenAI's CEO

NEW YORK (AP) — Weeks after its international launch, Worldcoin is drawing the attention of privacy regulators around the world, with the Kenya's government going so far as to shut down the service indefinitely.

ENVIRONMENT

EPA weighs formal review of vinyl chloride, the toxic chemical that burned in Ohio train derailment

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration says it could soon launch a formal evaluation of risks posed by vinyl chloride, the cancer-causing chemical that burned in a towering plume of toxic black smoke following the fiery train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

BANKING

UBS ends billions in taxpayer-funded support that paved way for Credit Suisse takeover

GENEVA (AP) — Swiss taxpayers are off the hook from a government-engineered rescue plan that doled out billions to help UBS, the country's largest bank, take over its ailing rival Credit Suisse.

ECONOMY

Wholesale inflation in US edged up in July from low levels

WASHINGTON (AP) — Wholesale prices in the United States picked up in July yet still suggested that inflationary pressures have eased this year since reaching alarming heights in 2022.

British economy unexpectedly grows by 0.2% in Q2 largely because of June weather boost

LONDON (AP) — The British economy unexpectedly grew in the second quarter of the year largely as a result of a strong rebound in June when many businesses, particularly in the leisure sector benefited from the warm and settled weather, official figures showed Friday.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stock market today: Wall Street ends mixed, closing out another losing week

Stocks ended another choppy day of trading mixed, leaving the market with its second losing week in a row.

Thousands rally on Las Vegas Strip in support of food service workers demanding better pay, benefits

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Thousands of hospitality workers rallied Thursday evening beneath the glittery lights of the Las Vegas Strip to call attention to ongoing union contract negotiations for higher pay and better benefits for food service workers at one of the largest arenas on the famed tourist corridor.

Chinese tech giant Huawei reports sales, profit up despite US sanctions

BEIJING (AP) — Chinese tech giant Huawei on Friday reported its revenue rose 3% over a year earlier in the first half of 2023 and its profit margin widened despite sanctions that block access to U.S. processor chips and other technology.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Trump says he won't sign Republican loyalty pledge, flouting debate requirement

Former President Donald Trump said Wednesday he won't sign a pledge to support the Republican nominee if he loses the GOP presidential primary, flouting a requirement for appearing in the first debate later this month.

Biden asks Congress for $40 billion to support Ukraine, replenish US disaster aid and bolster border

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration has asked Congress to provide more than $13 billion in emergency defense aid to Ukraine and an additional $8 billion for humanitarian support through the end of the year, another massive infusion of cash as the Russian invasion wears on and Ukraine pushes a counteroffensive against the Kremlin's deeply entrenched forces.

Two years after fall of Kabul, tens of thousands of Afghans languish in limbo, waiting for US visas

ISLAMABAD (AP) — When the Taliban took control of Afghanistan, Shukria Sediqi knew her days in safety were numbered. As a journalist who advocated for women's rights, she'd visited shelters and safe houses to talk to women who had fled abusive husbands. She went with them to court when they asked for a divorce.

US government sanctions Russians on the board of Alfa Group in response to war in Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. Treasury Department on Friday imposed financial sanctions against four Russians on the board of Alfa Group, one of Russia's largest conglomerates with interests in oil, natural gas and banking.


THURSDAY, AUGUST 10
STATE GOVERNMENT

Lawsuit says Tennessee's US House, state Senate maps discriminate against communities of color

NASHVILLE (AP) — Tennessee is facing its first court challenge over a congressional redistricting map that carved up Democratic-leaning Nashville to help Republicans flip a seat in last year's elections, a move that the plaintiffs say has unconstitutionally diluted the power of Black voters and other communities of color.

COURTS

Indictment shows White House lawyers struggling for control as Trump fought to overturn election

WASHINGTON (AP) — A few hours after rioters laid siege to the Capitol, overpowering police in a violent attack on the seat of American democracy on Jan. 6, 2021, the White House's top lawyer, Pat Cipollone, called his boss with an urgent message.

Trump valet pleads not guilty in classified documents case; property manager's arraignment postponed

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — Donald Trump's valet pleaded not guilty on Thursday to new charges in the case accusing the ex-president of illegally hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate while the property manager had his arraignment postponed because he still hasn't secured a Florida-based attorney.

Supreme Court blocks OxyContin maker's bankruptcy deal that would shield Sackler family members

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Thursday blocked a nationwide settlement with OxyContin maker Purdue Pharma that would shield members of the Sackler family who own the company from civil lawsuits over the toll of opioids.

Appeals court rules against longstanding drug user gun ban cited in Hunter Biden case

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal appeals court Wednesday ruled against a longstanding ban on unlawful drug users possessing guns — the latest legal upheaval regarding the nation's gun laws since a U.S. Supreme Court decision last year set new standards.

Mar-a-Lago property manager, Trump's aide are due back in court in the classified documents case

FORT PIERCE, Fla. (AP) — The property manager of Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate and an aide to the former president are due back in federal court in Florida on Thursday to face charges in the case accusing Trump of illegally hoarding classified documents at his resort after leaving the White House.

EDUCATION

Paper exams, chatbot bans: Colleges seek to 'ChatGPT-proof' assignments

When philosophy professor Darren Hick came across another case of cheating in his classroom at Furman University last semester, he posted an update to his followers on social media: "Aaaaand, I've caught my second ChatGPT plagiarist."

ENVIRONMENT

Utah's multibillion dollar oil train proposal chugs along amid environment and derailment concerns

DUCHESNE, Utah (AP) — On plateaus overlooking the Uinta Basin's hills of sandstone and sagebrush, pumpjacks bob their heads as they lift viscous black and yellow oil from the earth that will eventually make everything from fuel to polyester fabric.

MEDIA

Twitter-turned-X CEO Linda Yaccarino focuses on winning back big brands on Elon Musk's platform

NEW YORK (AP) — The new CEO of the company formerly known as Twitter says she's spent much of the past eight weeks trying to get big brands back and advertising on the social media platform that's been in upheaval since it was bought last year by Elon Musk.

Disney to boost prices for ad-free Disney+, Hulu services, vows crackdown on password sharing

Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger vowed to make its streaming services profitable via a planned October price hike on its ad-free Disney+ and Hulu plans and a crackdown on password sharing expected to extend through next year.

ECONOMY

From eggs to electronics to used cars, consumer inflation eased its grip on US households in July

WASHINGTON (AP) — Inflation in the United States edged up in July after 12 straight months of declines. But excluding volatile food and energy costs, so-called core inflation matched the smallest monthly rise in nearly two years, a sign that the Federal Reserve's interest rate hikes have continued to slow price increases.

Number of Americans applying for jobless aid rises, but not enough to cause concern

The number of Americans applying for jobless benefits jumped last week, but not enough to raise concern about the consistently strong U.S. labor market.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS

Stock market today: Wall Street ends mixed after US inflation report

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks wobbled to a mixed close on Wall Street following the latest update on inflation across the U.S. The S&P 500 ended just barely higher Thursday after having been up as much as 1.3% earlier in the day. It was only the second gain in eight days for the benchmark index. The Dow added 52 points and the Nasdaq rose 0.1%. The inflation report bolstered hopes that the Federal Reserve's campaign to grind down inflation is making progress and that it won't raise interest rates at its next meeting, at the least.

Is that all there is? Big companies' 2nd quarter profit reports earn a big yawn from Wall Street

NEW YORK (AP) — Big U.S. companies are telling investors they earned fatter profits during the spring than feared. All they're getting from Wall Street is a fat yawn.

A global law firm separates from its Chinese partner, citing cybersecurity and data rules

BEIJING (AP) — One of the world's biggest law firms said Thursday it is separating from the Chinese firm that was part of its global network for eight years, citing changes in cybersecurity and other rules that have rattled foreign companies.

Big fashion is getting bigger. Parent of Coach will buy Versace owner Capri in $8.5B deal

NEW YORK (AP) — Tapestry, the parent company of luxury handbag and accessories retailer Coach, is buying the owner of fashion brands including Michael Kors, Versace and Jimmy Choo, Capri Holdings.

Las Vegas food service workers demanding better pay and benefits are set to rally on the Strip

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Food service workers at a Las Vegas Strip arena demanding higher pay and better benefits are set to rally Thursday evening beneath the glittery lights of the famed tourist corridor amid ongoing negotiations for a union contract.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Targeting DeSantis, Trump team warns state parties that super PACs can't act as an arm of a campaign

NEW YORK (AP) — Donald Trump's campaign is seeking to blunt the efforts of a super PAC supporting rival Ron DeSantis' presidential campaign by sending a letter to all state Republican parties on Thursday arguing that they cannot work with a super PAC as if it is representing a candidate.

Major gun safety groups come together to endorse Joe Biden for president in 2024

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation's most prominent gun safety groups are joining together to back President Joe Biden in 2024, an early endorsement that underscores Biden's grip on key Democratic coalitions as the party seizes on gun policy as a politically advantageous issue ahead of his reelection campaign.

Biden asks Congress for more than $13B to support Ukraine and $12B for disaster fund

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration on Thursday asked Congress to provide more than $13 billion in emergency defense aid to Ukraine and an additional $8 billion for humanitarian support through the end of the year, another massive infusion of cash as the Russian invasion wears on and Ukraine pushes a counteroffensive against the Kremlin's deeply entrenched forces.

Biden issues an executive order restricting US investments in Chinese technology

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden signed an executive order Wednesday to block and regulate high-tech U.S.-based investments going toward China — a move the administration said was targeted but it also reflected an intensifying competition between the world's two biggest powers.

Trump says he won't sign Republican loyalty pledge, flouting debate requirement

Former President Donald Trump said Wednesday he won't sign a pledge to support the Republican nominee if he loses the GOP presidential primary, flouting a requirement for appearing in the first debate later this month.

China accuses US of trying to block its development and demands that technology curbs be repealed

BEIJING (AP) — China accused Washington on Thursday of trying to block its development after President Joe Biden stepped up a feud over technology and security by tightening controls on U.S. investments that might help Beijing develop its military.

Putin profits off global reliance on Russian nuclear fuel

WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. and its European allies are importing vast amounts of nuclear fuel and compounds from Russia, providing Moscow with hundreds of millions of dollars in badly needed revenue as it wages war on Ukraine.

Biden welcoming Australian leader to White House for state dinner in October

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will welcome Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to the White House on Oct. 25 for the visit and state dinner that the U.S. promised when Biden had to scrap a stop in Australia earlier this year to focus on debt limit talks in Washington.

US to send $200 million in military aid to Ukraine

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Pentagon will provide Ukraine with $200 million in weapons and ammunition to help sustain Kyiv's counteroffensive as troops on the front lines face significant hurdles against a well-entrenched Russian defense, according to two U.S. officials.

Biden reelection campaign offering joint meeting with Obama as ex-president enters 2024 fray early

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is raising money for his reelection campaign by offering donors the chance to meet himself and Barack Obama, meaning the former president will be entering the 2024 political fray earlier than he did during last year's midterms or the last presidential election.

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