AP News Summary at 11:55 p.m. EDT (2024)

What's next for Hunter Biden after his conviction on federal gun charges

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Hunter Biden’s legal woes are not over after his conviction on three felony firearms charges in a trial that put a spotlight on his drug-fueled past. Now, President Joe Biden’s son faces sentencing, and another trial on tax charges in the middle of his father’s reelection campaign. Jurors found Hunter Biden guilty on Tuesday after three hours of deliberations over two days in Wilmington, Delaware. The case stemmed from a gun Hunter Biden bought in 2018 while, prosecutors say, he was in the throes of a crack cocaine addiction. Defense attorney Abbe Lowell said after the verdict that they will “continue to vigorously pursue all the legal challenges available.”

Hamas responds to Gaza cease-fire plan seeking some changes. US says it's 'evaluating' the reply

BEIRUT (AP) — Hamas says it has given Qatari and Egyptian mediators its reply to the U.S.-backed proposal for a cease-fire in Gaza, seeking some “amendments” on the deal. Hamas and the smaller Islamic Jihad militant group said on Tuesday they were ready to “deal positively to arrive at an agreement” and that their priority is to bring a “complete stop” to the war. A senior Hamas official said they had “submitted some remarks on the proposal to the mediators" but did not elaborate. The foreign ministries of Qatar and Egypt said in joint statement that mediators were examining the response. The White House national security spokesman says Washington also has Hamas' response and was “evaluating” it now.

US Rep. Nancy Mace overcomes McCarthy-backed challenger to win Republican primary in South Carolina

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — U.S. Rep. Nancy Mace has won the Republican nomination after a tumultuous second term in South Carolina that saw her go from a critic to ally of former President Donald Trump and make headlines for plenty of things off the House floor. Mace defeated challengers Catherine Templeton and Bill Young. In the 3rd District, Trump backed pastor Mark Burns will face Sheri Biggs, a nurse practitioner endorsed by Gov. Henry McMaster in a June 25 runoff for the Republican nomination. Republican U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson won his party's nod in the 2nd District as he seeks a 12th term.

AP sources: 8 people with possible Islamic State ties arrested in US on immigration violations

WASHINGTON (AP) — Eight individuals from Tajikistan with suspected ties to the Islamic State group have been arrested in the United States in recent days. That's according to multiple people familiar with the matter. The people say the arrests took place in New York, Philadelphia and Los Angeles and the individuals, who entered the U.S. through the southern border, are being held on immigration violations. The nature of their suspected connections to IS was not immediately clear, but the men were tracked by the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force. They were in the custody of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which made the arrests, pending removal proceedings.

Southern Baptists expel Virginia church for believing women can serve as pastors

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) — Delegates to the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting had voted overwhelmingly to boot a Virginia church from its ranks because of its declaration that it believes women can serve in any pastoral ministry. More than 90 percent of them voted to deem First Baptist Church of Alexandria not in “friendly cooperation.” The Southern Baptists’ statement of doctrine says that only men are biblically qualified to be pastors. Some say that only applies to senior pastors, but that interpretation is disputed. The Virginia church has a female pastor to children and women, but it asserts women can serve as a senior pastor, too. The Baptists’ two-day annual meeting in Indianapolis concludes Wednesday.

1 fatally shot on Atlanta area transit bus that led officers on wild rush hour chase, police say

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta police say one person has died after being shot on a commuter bus that then led officers on a wild chase into the suburbs with frightened passengers aboard. Television news footage showed the bus barreling along for miles in rush hour traffic Tuesday afternoon, striking several vehicles. Police said officers initially responded to a report of gunfire on the bus and a possible hostage situation near downtown Atlanta but the bus took off. Authorities say 17 people were on the bus, including the driver. The vehicle was eventually stopped miles away in neighboring DeKalb County and a 39-year-old male suspect was arrested. Authorities say an adult victim was found fatally shot on the bus when passengers were evacuated.

Sandy Hook shooting survivors to graduate with mixed emotions without 20 of their classmates

NEWTOWN, Conn. (AP) — The children who survived the 2012 shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut, will be graduating high school with mixed emotions. Although they're excited to go off to college or start a career, they say they're also sad that their classmates who were killed can't be with them to celebrate and live the rest of their lives. A gunman killed 20 first graders and six educators in the attack. About 60 members of that first grade class is set to graduate Wednesday from Newtown High School. The tragic attack has made many of the students into advocates against gun violence, and some plan to continue those efforts into adulthood.

Mexico's tactic to cut immigration to the US: wear out migrants

VILLAHERMOSA, Mexico (AP) — Mexican authorities are using a simple but harsh tactic to deal with migrants trying to get to the U.S. They're wearing them out until they give up. Mexico is driven by mounting pressure from the U.S. to block millions of people headed north. But the country doesn't have the funds to deport migrants. So instead migrants are churning in limbo in Mexico. Authorities round them up across the country and dump them in southern Mexican cities of Villahermosa and Tapachula. Some migrants have been punted back as many as six times. A psychologist at the only migrant shelter in Villahermosa says, “Mexico is the wall.”

Biden and gun control advocates want to flip an issue long dominated by the NRA

ATLANTA (AP) — Gun control advocates and many Democrats see fresh openings created by hard-line positions of the gun lobby. President Joe Biden’s campaign says gun control could be a motivating issue for suburban college-educated women who may be decisive in several key battlegrounds this fall. The Biden campaign and its allies have already circulated clips of Republican former President Donald Trump saying after an Iowa school shooting in January that “we have to get over it." Trump has also promised he would impose no new restrictions on guns if elected again. Biden himself praised cheering gun-control advocates at a conference on Tuesday.

A Florida law blocking treatment for transgender children is thrown out by a federal judge

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — A federal judge has struck down as unconstitutional a 2023 Florida law that blocked gender-affirming care for transgender minors and severely restricted such treatment for adults. Senior Judge Robert Hinkle ruled Tuesday that the state went too far when it barred transgender minors from being prescribed puberty blockers and hormonal treatments with their parents' permission. He also stopped the state from requiring that transgender adults only receive treatment from a doctor and not from a registered nurse or other qualified medical practitioner. And he barred a ban on online treatment for transgender adults. Gov. Ron DeSantis' office blasted the decision, calling it erroneous. He vowed to appeal.

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