AP-Newswatch

Biden’s candidacy faces new peril as Pelosi, Clooney and more Democrats weigh in

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden’s imperiled reelection campaign is hitting new trouble. Rather than urging him to stay in, on Wednesday Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said “it’s up to the president to decide” if he should. Celebrity donor George Clooney said he should not run, and Democratic senators expressed fresh fear about his ability to beat Republican Donald Trump. It all shows how unsettled the questions over Biden’s candidacy remain among Democrats, despite Biden’s insistence he is staying in the race. Pelosi has been widely watched for signals of how top Democrats are thinking about Biden’s candidacy. And Clooney’s portrayal of Biden as “the same man we all witnessed at the debate” shows the depth of concerns.

A defiant Biden borrows some tactics from his rival as he tries to put debate debacle behind him

NEW YORK (AP) — He’s calling in to his favorite morning cable news show, bashing the “elites” of his party and dismissing unfavorable polls. He’s even talking up his crowd sizes. As an increasingly defiant President Joe Biden rejects calls to step aside after a disastrous debate performance that has put his competence into question, he’s been embracing some of the tactics used by a man he calls a mortal threat to democracy: his rival, former President Donald Trump. 

Israeli military orders the evacuation of Gaza City, an early target of its war with Hamas

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The Israeli military has urged all Palestinians to leave Gaza City and head south. The evacuation orders issued Wednesday indicated that Israel was pressing ahead with a fresh offensive across the north, south and center of the embattled territory that has killed dozens of people over the past 48 hours. The stepped-up military activity came as U.S., Egyptian and Qatari mediators were meeting with Israeli officials in the Qatari capital, Doha, for talks seeking a long-elusive cease-fire deal with Gaza’s Hamas militant group. Israel informed people in Gaza of the evacuation order by dropping leaflets.

Frustration builds in Houston as utility struggles to restore power cut by Hurricane Beryl

HOUSTON (AP) — Houston’s primary utility company came under mounting pressure Wednesday over its response to Hurricane Beryl. Nearly 1.4 million homes and businesses in the area remained without power and residents continued to search for places to cool off, fuel up and find something to eat. A CenterPoint Energy official defended the company’s response in a meeting with Houston City Council members, noting more than 1 million power customers had been restored since Monday. The National Weather Service issued a heat advisory for the area and described the conditions as potentially dangerous given the lack of power and air conditioning.

Man suspected of killing the family of BBC radio commentator has been found, British police say

LONDON (AP) — British police say they have found the man suspected of killing three women with a crossbow near London and that he’s receiving medical treatment for his injuries. The Hertfordshire Police said 26-year-old Kyle Clifford was found on Wednesday in the Enfield area of north London. The BBC has confirmed that the women killed were the family of its well-known radio racing commentator John Hunt. Police confirmed no shots had been fired and that they weren’t looking for anyone else in connection with the killings. Police had been scouring a park in north London, near the home of Clifford, after being alerted Tuesday about the killings in a house in Bushey, a residential area in northwestern London.

Defense attorney says ‘Alec Baldwin committed no crime; he was an actor, acting’ at trial openings

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — A defense attorney says that Alec Baldwin’s shooting of a cinematographer was “an unspeakable tragedy,” but that he “committed no crime, he was an actor, acting.” Baldwin’s attorney Alex Spiro gave the opening statement Wednesday at his involuntary manslaughter trial in New Mexico. Prosecutor Erlinda Ocampo Johnson told jurors Baldwin “violated the cardinal rules of firearm safety” in her opening. The trial will delve into the confluence of gun safety, high-wattage celebrity and a low-budget Western movie on a remote movie ranch. Baldwin was the lead actor and co-producer on “Rust.” He has pleaded not guilty and says he followed instructions in pointing the gun and didn’t pull the trigger.

Judge says Rudy Giuliani bankruptcy case likely to be dismissed. But his debts aren’t going away

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge says he is leaning toward throwing out Rudy Giuliani’s bankruptcy case after lawyers for the cash-strapped former New York City mayor and his biggest creditors agreed this was the best way forward. A dismissal would end Giuliani’s pursuit of bankruptcy protection, but it wouldn’t let him off the hook for his debts. The case has been roiled by allegations Giuliani is flouting bankruptcy laws and potentially hiding assets. His biggest creditors are two ex-Georgia election workers who won a $148 million defamation judgment against him. A U.S. bankruptcy judge said Wednesday he plans to issue a decision on dismissing the case by the end of the week.

Specialists say there are benefits to couples sleeping separately

NEW YORK (AP) — Couples who sleep in separate rooms see no lack of intimacy, only quality sleep. Specialists agree there are benefits to sleeping apart. For couples considering the split, the experts urge people to seek a sleep evaluation. The problem that’s causing chaos may be treatable, such as sleep apnea. While there’s no shame in sleeping apart, technology has helped make sharing a bed easier in some ways. White noise machines, cooling pillows and bedding, mattresses with dual temperature controls and dual control electric blankets can help. Some couples have given up sharing blankets, using their own, to make sleep easier.

Astronauts confident Boeing space capsule can safely return them to Earth, despite failures

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Two astronauts who should have been back on Earth weeks ago say they’re confident that Boeing’s space capsule can return them safely. NASA test pilots Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams launched aboard Boeing’s Starliner capsule early last month. Leaks and thruster failures almost derailed their arrival at the International Space Station, and has kept them there much longer than planned. In their first news conference from orbit Wednesday, the pair said they expect to return once thruster testing is complete here on Earth. They say they’re not complaining about getting extra time in orbit, and are enjoying helping the station crew.

Ex-NBA player Jontay Porter pleads guilty in case tied to gambling scandal that tanked his career

NEW YORK (AP) — Former NBA player Jontay Porter has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud in a federal criminal case tied to the betting scandal that got him banned from the league. The former Toronto Raptors center entered the plea Wednesday at his arraignment in a New York federal court. His lawyer had previously said that Porter was cooperating with authorities while being treated for a gambling addiction. An NBA probe found earlier this year that Porter wagered on games and gave bettors confidential information about his health. The former center is set to be sentenced Dec. 18. He is set to be released on $250,000 bond.