AP-Newswatch

Israel-Hamas war protests close on a handful of US campuses as arrests exceed 2,300

NEW YORK (AP) — Demonstrations have ceased at a small number of U.S. universities after school leaders struck deals with pro-Palestinian protesters. The agreements this week have fended off possible disruptions of final exams and graduation ceremonies. The negotiations at schools including Northwestern and Rutgers stand out amidst the chaotic scenes playing out on campuses nationwide. More than 2,300 people have been arrested since April 17. Deals have included commitments by universities to at least review their investments in Israel, a longtime U.S. ally. Protesters have also focused on university links to the Israeli military as the war grinds on in Gaza

Democratic US Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife are indicted over ties to Azerbaijan

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar of Texas and his wife have been indicted on conspiracy and bribery charges in connection with a federal probe into their ties with the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan. The U.S. Department of Justice said the couple surrendered to authorities on Friday and were taken into custody. It said they made an initial appearance before a federal judge in Houston and were each released on $100,000 bond. Cuellar released a statement Friday denying any wrongdoing. According to the federal indictment, the couple accepted nearly $600,000 in bribes from an Azerbaijan-controlled energy company and a bank in Mexico in exchange for advancing the interests of the country and the bank in the U.S.

US employers scaled back hiring in April. How that could let the Fed cut interest rates

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s employers pulled back on their hiring in April but still added a decent 175,000 jobs in a sign that persistently high interest rates may be starting to slow the robust U.S. job market. Last month’s hiring gain was down sharply from the blockbuster increase of 315,000 in March. Yet the moderation in the pace of hiring, along with a slowdown last month in wage growth, will likely be welcomed by the Federal Reserve, which has kept interest rates at a two-decade high to fight persistently elevated inflation. Hourly wages rose a less-than-expected 0.2% from March and 3.9% from a year earlier, the smallest annual gain since June 2021.

An AI-controlled fighter jet took the Air Force leader for a historic ride. What that means for war

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — An experimental F-16 fighter jet has taken Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall on a history-making flight controlled by artificial intelligence and not a human pilot. Kendall said he came out of Thursday’s flight in California, witnessed by The Associated Press, confident enough in AI’s capabilities that he would trust it to fire weapons. The flight is serving as a public statement of confidence in the future role of AI in air combat. The military is planning to use the technology to operate an unmanned fleet of 1,000 aircraft. Arms control experts and humanitarian groups are concerned that AI might one day be able to take lives autonomously and are seeking greater restrictions on its use.

Heavy rains over Texas have led to water rescues, school cancellations and orders to evacuate

HOUSTON (AP) — Torrential rain is inundating southeastern Texas, forcing schools to cancel classes and closing numerous highways around Houston. The National Weather Service on Friday reported more than 9 inches of rain during the past 24 hours. The agency has issued a flood warning until Tuesday for the region. A flash flood warning is in effect in the area Friday morning. No injuries or deaths have been reported, but officials have reported several people being rescued from high waters. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo on Thursday issued a mandatory evacuation order for people along a portion of the San Jacinto River in northern Harris County. Hidalgo said a school bus carrying children required a rescue after driving near high waters but that everyone on board was safe.

New York made Donald Trump and could convict him. But for now, he’s using it to campaign

NEW YORK (AP) — After a years-long breakup with his hometown, former President Donald Trump is back in New York, this time as a criminal defendant. The Queens-born presumptive GOP nominee has been conjuring images of his old days as a celebrity real estate developer, reality TV star and tabloid fixture. It’s a shift borne of necessity. The felony trial has curtailed Trump’s ability to campaign across the country and to make fundraising calls. But it also means Trump is often spending four days a week in the nation’s media capital, with access to ready-made locations for campaign events that can reach specific demographics he’s courting in November.

New Hampshire jury finds state liable for abuse at youth detention center and awards victim $38M

BRENTWOOD, N.H. (AP) — A New Hampshire jury has found the state liable for abuse at its youth detention center and has awarded $38 million to a former resident who says he was beaten and raped as a teen in the 1990s. David Meehan’s lawsuit against the state was the first of more than 1,100 to be filed and the first to go to trial. In a ruling in his favor Friday jurors found the state’s negligence in hiring, training and supervising employees allowed his abuse. The state had tried to cast doubt on Meehan’s credibility. But the state also is prosecuting 11 former workers, including those Meehan accuses.

Ex-government employee charged with falsely accusing co-workers of joining Capitol riot

A former government employee has been charged with repeatedly submitting fake tips to the FBI reporting that several of his co-workers in the intelligence community were part of a mob that attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Court records unsealed on Friday say that Miguel Eugenio Zapata was arrested in Chantilly, Virginia, on Thursday on a charge that he made false statements to law enforcement. A charging document says Zapata submitted at least seven anonymous tips to the FBI’s website claiming that seven government employees and contractors were involved in the riot at the Capitol. Court records don’t identify which government agency employed Zapata.

The Lakers fire coach Darvin Ham after just 2 seasons in charge and 1st-round playoff exit

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The Los Angeles Lakers fired coach Darvin Ham after just two seasons in charge. The Lakers announced on social media that they were dismissing Ham four days after their season ended with a first-round playoff loss to Denver in five games. Ham led Los Angeles to the Western Conference finals less than a year ago in his first season as an NBA head coach. Ham presided over a disappointing year for the Lakers, who went 47-35 in the regular season and won the NBA’s inaugural In-Season Tournament. General manager Rob Pelinka says the move “is the best course of action following a full review of the season.”