AP-Newswatch

A baby evacuated from Gaza lost an eye and most of his family in the war

CAIRO (AP) — When Mostafa Qadoura was a week old, an Israeli strike on his home in Gaza launched his crib into the air, sent shrapnel into his right eye that damaged it beyond repair, and killed one of his brothers. Evacuated to Egypt weeks later when the hospital treating him came under siege by the Israeli army, Mostafa has since grown into a smiling and active 10-month-old with chubby cheeks. But he still faces huge challenges. His mother and other brother were killed in a separate Israeli strike. He needs a series of surgeries for his artificial eye. And it’s unclear whether he will return to Gaza before the war is over.

Texas, other GOP-led states sue over program to give immigrant spouses of US citizens legal status

Sixteen Republican-led states are suing to end a federal program that could potentially give nearly half a million immigrants without legal status who are married to U.S. citizens a path to citizenship. The coalition filed suit Friday to halt the program launched by President Joe Biden in June, saying in court filings that the administration bypassed Congress to create a pathway to citizenship for “blatant political purposes.” Under the policy, many spouses without legal status can apply for something called “parole in place,” offering permission to stay in the U.S., apply for a green card and eventually get on a path to citizenship. The suit contends that the new policy is an abuse of parole power.

Competing measures to expand or limit abortion rights will appear on Nebraska’s November ballot

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska voters will choose between two competing abortion measures to either expand abortion rights or limit them to the current 12-week ban — a development likely to drive more voters to the polls in a state that could see one of its five electoral votes up for grabs in the hotly contested presidential race. Nebraska Secretary of State Bob Evnen announced Friday that the rival initiatives each gathered enough signatures to get on the November ballot, making it the first state to carry competing abortion amendments on the same ballot since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022.

The ‘joyful’ Democratic convention is over. The real test for Kamala Harris’ campaign now begins

CHICAGO (AP) — Over and over, the Democrats gathered at their national convention predicted Kamala Harris would defeat Donald Trump. But a stark reality exists as thousands of Democratic activists, operatives and party leaders begin leaving Chicago: The real test for Harris has only just begun. Harris has barely started to outline detailed policy plans. She has yet to sit down for even one comprehensive media interview to face difficult questions about her flip-flops on policy. And she remains largely undefined in the minds of many voters. Michelle Obama offered a sober warning about the 73-day sprint to Election Day: “No matter how good we feel tonight or tomorrow or the next day, this is going to be an uphill battle.”

Powell at Jackson Hole: ‘The time has come’ for the Fed to soon begin reducing interest rates

JACKSON, Wyoming (AP) — With inflation nearly defeated and the job market cooling, the Federal Reserve is prepared to start cutting its key interest rate from its current 23-year high, Chair Jerome Powell said Friday. Powell did not say when rate cuts would begin or how large they might be, but the Fed is widely expected to announce a modest quarter-point cut in its benchmark rate when it meets in mid-September. “The time has come for policy to adjust,” Powell said in his keynote speech at the Fed’s annual economic conference in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Powell emphasized that inflation, after the worst price spike in four decades inflicted pain on millions of households, appears largely under control.

RFK Jr. is set to speak in Arizona hours before Trump as questions swirl around a possible alliance

PHOENIX (AP) — Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Donald Trump are set to appear separately in Arizona as speculation grows that Kennedy could drop his independent presidential bid and endorse the Republican nominee. Kennedy will speak Friday afternoon in Phoenix about his campaign’s path forward. Hours later, Trump will hold a rally in neighboring Glendale, and his campaign has teased a “special guest.” The Trump and Kennedy campaigns have ramped up their compliments to each other and their behind-the-scenes talks in recent weeks. While Kennedy hasn’t revealed the reason for his speech, it comes as his campaign has faced mounting challenges and dwindling poll numbers.

Prosecutor says ex-sheriff’s deputy charged with manslaughter in shooting of an airman at his home

FORT WALTON BEACH, Fla. (AP) — A Florida Panhandle sheriff’s deputy is facing a charge of manslaughter with a firearm in the fatal shooting of an airman who opened his apartment door while holding a gun. Former Okaloosa County deputy Eddie Duran was charged in connection with the May 3 shooting death of Senior Airman Roger Fortson. That is according to Assistant State Attorney Greg Marcille. That is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years in prison. Marcille said Friday that a warrant has been issued for Duran’s arrest but he is not in custody as of early Friday afternoon.

Canadian union issues 72-hour strike warning to freight railroad hours after it resumes service

TORONTO (AP) — A Canadian workers union issued a 72-hour strike notice to one of Canada’s two major freight railroads only three hours after the company’s trains had begun rolling again following a potentially economically devastating stoppage. Teamsters Canada spokesperson Marc-André Gauthier says the union filed its strike notice against Canadian National shortly after it announced that it plans to challenge a government order that forced it into arbitration with both CN and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Ltd. Canadian National spokesman Jonathan Abecassis said the railroad is committed to getting back to powering the economy while the union is focused on returning to the picket line. CPKC railroad’s trains remain parked in the middle of the messy labor dispute.

Justice Department accuses RealPage of a scheme to help landlords hike rents in antitrust lawsuit

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has filed an antitrust lawsuit against real estate software company RealPage, accusing it of an illegal scheme that allows landlords to coordinate to hike rental prices. The lawsuit accuses the company of violating antitrust laws through its algorithm that landlords use to get recommended rental prices for apartments. Justice Department officials say the algorithm allows landlords to align their prices and avoid competition that would keep rents down. In a statement, RealPage said the Justice Department’s claims were “devoid of merit and will do nothing to make housing more affordable.”