News for August 10, 2026
Magnitude 7.4 quake hits western Colombia, killing at least 111 people
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake has struck western Colombia, killing at least 111 people and damaging hundreds of buildings. President Abelardo de la Espriella declared an emergency to expedite funding for recovery. The quake hit the remote Choco region on Monday and was felt as far as Bogotá. Local officials confirmed deaths across several regions, including Risaralda and Valle del Cauca. The quake is the most powerful in Colombia in the last decade. Authorities are concerned about aftershocks, and flights have been suspended in several airports. International support and aid have been offered.
Trump scoffs at Iran’s demand for war reparations and other Mideast developments
President Donald Trump is scoffing at Iran’s demands that the U.S. pay for devastation caused by five months of war. A spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry stressed Monday that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is tied to reparations from the U.S. and other concessions. Trump responded on social media that he now demands that Iran pay for hundreds of American troops killed and wounded by Iran-backed militants over several decades — including more than 600 U.S. service members killed in Iraq between 2003 and 2011.
Wisconsin and Minnesota primaries next to feature progressive clash with Democratic establishment
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Progressive candidates for governor in Wisconsin and U.S. Senate in Minnesota are making their final pushes ahead of Tuesday’s election. Democratic incumbents in Connecticut are also trying to fend off progressive challengers. The primaries come a week after progressive Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan’s divisive and costly U.S. Senate primary. El-Sayed’s victory has energized the left while stoking fears among Democratic Party leaders. That fear is particularly strong in battleground states like Michigan and Wisconsin, where mainstream Democrats worry progressive wins make it more difficult to defeat Republicans in November.
A man accused of orchestrating Tupac Shakur’s 1996 killing is on trial. Here’s what to know
LAS VEGAS (AP) — The trial of a man accused of orchestrating the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur has started. The unsolved case has gripped the hip-hop world for 30 years. The trial began Monday and is expected to last about a month. Duane “Keffe D” Davis has pleaded not guilty to one charge of murder with a deadly weapon. At the time, Davis was a leader of the South Side Compton Crips. People who will testify include those who saw Shakur moments before he was shot, as well as people who were affiliated with rival record labels. Shakur was on his way to perform at a Las Vegas club when a car pulled up beside him. Shakur was shot multiple times and died a week later.
Contiguous US breaks its record for hottest month ever, NOAA says
KENSINGTON, Maryland (AP) — The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the contiguous United States set a record for its hottest month ever in July. Last month averaged 76.89 degrees Fahrenheit across the Lower 48 states, eclipsing the Dust Bowl’s July 1936 by an eighth of a degree. Although it was unusually cool in Alaska, hotter than normal conditions blanketed the Lower 48, with the most excessive heat in the Mountain West, Southwest, Northern Plains and Southeast. The biggest driver of the heat was at night. Nighttime lows, which are crucial for people and agriculture to recover from hot days, smashed the old record for hottest minimums by 0.7 degrees, the NOAA said. Scientists say hotter nights are a sign of human-caused climate change.
Trump to sign executive order calling for spacing out childhood shots
NEW YORK (AP) — President Donald Trump will sign an executive order calling for spacing out childhood vaccines into separate medical visits and splitting the combined measles, mumps and rubella vaccine into three different shots. Trump has long suspected that the number or timing of vaccines could play a role in autism spectrum disorder, even as scientific consensus and decades of studies have firmly concluded there is no link. Childhood vaccines, and how and when to give them, go through rigorous studies and safety tracking continues for years as the shots are used.
Congressional Democrats launch probe into efforts to deport US military members and their families
Congressional Democrats say they are investigating the Trump administration’s efforts to deport military service members and their families. The news follows an Associated Press investigation that found that more than 50 active-duty troops’ spouses and parents have been detained by immigration authorities. Democrats sent a letter Sunday evening to the Department of Homeland Security, the Defense Department and Department of Veterans Affairs. They say they will investigate whether the Pentagon and DHS are coordinating to deport military service members and their families. DHS, the VA and the Defense Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Washington grapples with a National Guard deployment extended until 2029
WASHINGTON (AP) — Washington residents and officials see President Donald Trump’s extended National Guard deployment as an attempt to restrict the heavily Democratic city’s autonomy. The Republican president announced a crime emergency in the nation’s capital a year ago, saying the guard would make the city “safe and beautiful.” The temporary deployment has been extended through January 2029. The presence of troops raises questions about its necessity, as crime was already declining. The deployment into 2029 will cost another $1.4 billion. Political candidates are prioritizing Washington’s autonomy and statehood but face challenges due to the city’s status as a congressionally established federal district. Concerns persist about the impact on upcoming elections with troops on the streets.
Ukraine’s push to cripple Russia in Crimea is just getting started, drone chief tells AP
EASTERN UKRAINE (AP) — Ukraine’s drone forces could strike seven times more targets in Crimea if Western funding came faster, according to the commander leading Ukraine’s drone war. Maj. Robert “Magyar” Brovdi tells The Associated Press that despite the funding delays, Ukraine’s summer campaign in Crimea has already damaged rail bridges, oil depots and power infrastructure. The effort aims to make Crimea unusable as a Russian military staging ground for attacks on Ukraine, he says.
Ben Jones, good ol’ boy ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ actor and 2-term US House member, dies at 84
“The Dukes of Hazzard” star Ben Jones has died at 84. He played the mechanic known as Cooter in the TV series. Jones’ wife says on social media he suffered a heart attack Sunday at their home in Washington, Virginia. Jones gained fame as Cooter Davenport, the mechanic who helped the Duke boys in their adventures in fictional Hazzard County, Georgia. After the show, he pursued a political career, serving two terms in the U.S. House. Jones embraced his role as Cooter, opening country stores featuring show memorabilia. Jones credited the series with transforming his life and promoting family-friendly values.
