AP-Newswatch

Trump rally gunman looked online for information about Kennedy assassination, FBI director says

WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI Director Christopher Wray has told lawmakers that a laptop tied to the Trump rally gunman included a Google search of “How far away was Oswald from Kennedy?” That’s a reference to Lee Harvey Oswald, the gunman who killed President John F. Kennedy in Dallas. The Google search, apparently by rally gunman Thomas Matthew Crooks, was done on July 6, a week before the shooting in Butler, Pennsylvania. Wray disclosed the new details in a hearing Wednesday before the House Judiciary Committee.

Netanyahu’s visit sparks wave of protests in DC, with all sides criticizing the Israeli leader

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hundreds of protesters are rallying within sight of the Capitol building, denouncing Israel’s war in Gaza and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hours before was set to address members of Congress. Protesters carrying signs that read “arrest Netanyahu” and “end all US aid to Israel” shouted “Free, Free Palestine,” a day after a sit-in at a congressional office building that ended with multiple arrests. Several protesters erected a large effigy of Netanyahu with devil horns and blood dripping from its mouth. Police lining Pennsylvania Ave led away several protesters who were sitting in the street.

Netanyahu seeks support for war in Gaza with speech to Congress but sparks protests and boycotts

WASHINGTON (AP) — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will try to bolster U.S. support for his country’s fight against Hamas and other Iran-backed militants in a speech before Congress. Many Democratic lawmakers plan to boycott his appearance and protesters amass around the Capitol Wednesday to condemn the brutal war in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis it has created. Netanyahu also wants to project the image of a respected statesman for an increasingly critical audience back in Israel, but that task is complicated by Americans’ divided views on Israel and the war, which has emerged as a key issue in the U.S. presidential election.

Harris visits Indiana to address historically Black sorority as campaign hopes to win women of color

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris has arrived in the solidly Republican state of Indiana to speak to a key Democratic constituency as her campaign sees advantages with female, Black, Latino, Asian and younger voters. Harris will address the biennial gathering of the historically Black sorority Zeta Phi Beta in Indianapolis on Wednesday, just days since entering the 2024 race after President Joe Biden’s departure. The Democratic campaign previously saw a narrow path for Biden but now sees a wider avenue for Harris, who’s of Black and South Asian descent. Campaign chair Jen O’Malley Dillon calls enthusiasm for Harris “unprecedented.” Harris speaks Thursday in Houston to the American Federation of Teachers, which has endorsed her candidacy.

Republican leaders urge colleagues to steer clear of racist and sexist attacks on Harris

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican leaders are warning party members against using overtly racist and sexist attacks against Vice President Kamala Harris as they and former President Donald Trump’s campaign scramble to adjust to the reality of a new Democratic rival less than four months before Election Day. At a closed-door meeting of House Republicans early Tuesday, National Republican Congressional Committee chairman Richard Hudson urged lawmakers to instead stick to criticizing Harris for her role in Biden-Harris administration policies. Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters after the meeting the election “will be about policies and not personalities.”

Biden will make a case for his legacy – and for Harris to continue it – in his Oval Office address

WASHINGTON (AP) — Even though President Joe Biden won’t be on the ballot this November, voters still will be weighing his legacy. As Vice President Kamala Harris moves to take his place as the Democratic standard-bearer, Biden’s accomplishments remain very much at risk should Republican Donald Trump prevail. Biden will have an opportunity to make a case for his legacy on Wednesday night when he delivers an Oval Office address about his decision to bow out of the 2024 race and “what lies ahead.” How Biden’s one term is remembered will be intertwined with Harris’ electoral success in November, particularly as the vice president runs tightly on the Biden administration’s achievements.

Man who attacked author Salman Rushdie charged with supporting terrorist group

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) — The New Jersey man charged with attempted murder in connection with a knife attack that severely wounded author Salman Rushdie now faces an additional federal charge. An indictment unsealed in U.S. District Court in Buffalo Wednesday charges Hadi Matar with providing material support to Hezbollah, a militant group based in Lebanon and backed by Iran. Matar’s lawyer didn’t immediately return a phone message seeking comment. The new charge comes after Matar earlier this month rejected a plea deal that would have resolved all of the charges he now faces. Matar is accused of repeatedly stabbing Rushdie as he was about to give a lecture in western New York two years ago.

NASA telescope spots a super Jupiter that takes more than a century to go around its star

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Astronomers have directly observed a super Jupiter around a nearby star. And they say it takes more than a century for the giant planet to orbit it. Scientists had long suspected a big planet circled this star 12 light-years away, but not this massive or far from its star. A German-led team collected the images by the Webb Space Telescope last year and published the findings Wednesday in the journal Nature. The planet is roughly the same diameter as Jupiter, but with six times the mass. Launched in 2021, Webb is the biggest and most powerful observatory ever placed in space.

Can you guess Olympians’ warmup songs? World’s top athletes share their favorite tunes

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Curious about the songs fueling the Olympians competing in Paris starting this month? The Associated Press has an idea. From far and wide, some of the world’s top athletes shared their favorite warmup tracks, revealing what gets them pumped before a crucial game, meet or match. In more than a dozen interviews, the AP spoke with several Olympians and Paralympians from the United States, like hurdler Rai Benjamin and swimmer McKenzie Coan. The list also includes competitors such as Cuban canoeist Fernando Dayan and taekwondo specialist Rebecca McGowan from the United Kingdom. Their chosen songs span several genres, including hip-hop, pop, R&B and rock.

This is one of the oldest games in North America. You’ve likely never heard of it

CHOCTAW, Miss. (AP) — Indigenous peoples have been playing stickball for centuries. It’s perhaps the oldest game in North America, and every summer since 1975, teams have competed in Mississippi to become champion. A game of physicality and endurance, stickball is often called the grandfather of field sports. The Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians has been producing some of the country’s best players for generations. and their annual tournament in Mississippi is the game’s premier event. In any tournament or exhibition game in the country, a team from Mississippi will almost certainly be the one to beat in the competition for glory, and a ceremonial drum.