AP News Summary at 11:53 p.m. EDT
Firearms instructor treated at mental health facility is person of interest in Maine shooting: cops
LEWISTON, Maine (AP) — Police say firearms instructor recently treated at mental health facility is person of interest in Maine massacre. A man opened fire at a bowling alley and a bar in Lewiston, Maine, on Wednesday night, killing at least 16 people and engulfing the state’s second-largest city in chaos. The suspect remained at large as authorities ordered residents and business owners to stay inside and off the streets. Two law enforcement officials told The Associated Press dozens of people also had been wounded. The officials were not authorized to publicly discuss details of the ongoing investigation and spoke to AP on condition of anonymity.
A list of mass killings in the United States since January
The latest mass killing in the United States happened Wednesday in Lewiston, Maine. A man opened fire at a bowling alley and a bar, killing at least 16 people. Law enforcement officials told The Associated Press that dozens of people were also wounded. 聽The shooting was the country’s 36th mass killing this year. So far this year, the nation has witnessed one of the highest numbers on record of mass killings and deaths to this point in a single year, second only to the year 2019.
Autoworkers reach a deal with Ford, a breakthrough toward ending strikes against Detroit automakers
DETROIT (AP) — The United Auto Workers union says it has reached a tentative contract agreement with Ford that could be a breakthrough to end the nearly 6-week-old strikes against Detroit automakers. The four-year deal still has to be approved by 57,000 union members at the company. It could bring a close to the union’s series of strikes at targeted factories run by Ford, General Motors and Jeep maker Stellantis. The Ford deal could set the pattern for agreements with the other two automakers, although no other agreements were announced Wednesday.
Mike Johnson, a staunch Louisiana conservative, is elected House speaker as GOP moves past chaos
WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican congressman Mike Johnson of Louisiana has been elected House speaker. Republicans eagerly gave Johnson the gavel on Wednesday by a vote of 220-209, with a few absences. Johnson picked up an important nod of support from Donald Trump. Johnson was the fourth candidate Republicans nominated to replace Kevin McCarthy. The Republican majority has been desperate to end the chaos after ousting Kevin McCarthy at the start of the month. Johnson was quickly sworn into office. He said Republicans would “restore the people’s faith” in the House. President Joe Biden congratulated the new speaker, saying it’s time for all to “act responsibly” addressing the nation’s challenges.
UN warns Gaza blockade could force it to sharply cut relief missions as Israeli bombings rise
RAFAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees has warned that it is on the verge of running out of fuel in the Gaza Strip, forcing it to sharply cut back relief operations across the Gaza Strip. The territory has been blockaded and hit by devastating Israeli airstrikes since Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel more than two weeks ago. Hospitals in Gaza are struggling to treat masses of wounded with dwindling resources. Health officials in the Hamas-ruled territory say the airstrikes killed more than 750 people between Tuesday and Wednesday. It’s not clear how many of those killed were militants, and The Associated Press could not independently verify the death toll.
Trump is fined $10,000 over a comment he made outside court in his New York civil fraud trial
NEW YORK (AP) — The judge in Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial has fined the former president $10,000. The judge says Trump violated a limited gag order barring personal attacks on court staffers. The fine was issued Wednesday after Trump complained outside court about what he called “a person who’s very partisan sitting alongside” the judge in the case, Arthur Engoron. Weeks ago, Engoron ordered all participants in the case not to comment publicly about his staff. The Oct. 3. gag order came after Trump made a social media post maligned the judge’s principal law clerk, who sits beside him in court. Trump said his comment Wednesday was about witness Michael Cohen, not the clerk. Engoron said Trump’s claim was “not credible.”
White House throws lavish state dinner for Australia but turns down pizazz a notch in time of war
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House has turned down the pizazz for Wednesday’s state dinner. But more than 300 guests from politics, business, government and beyond came out to celebrate U.S. ties to ally Australia while striking a measured tone in a time of suffering in the Middle East. The celebrity quotient was lower than usual for the fourth state dinner of President Joe Biden’s term, but actor John Leguizamo happily represented Hollywood. Instead of party music performed by the B-52s, as originally planned for the after-dinner entertainment, first lady Jill Biden opted for instrumental music provided by U.S. military bands. Members of the B-52s attended as guests instead.
Hurricane Otis unleashes massive flooding in Acapulco, triggers landslides before dissipating
ACAPULCO, Mexico (AP) — Hurricane Otis ripped through Mexico’s southern Pacific coast as a powerful Category 5 storm, unleashing massive flooding in the resort city of Acapulco, ravaging roads and leaving large swaths of the southwestern state of Guerrero without power or cellphone service. While little is known about possible deaths or the full extent of the damage, experts are calling Otis the strongest storm in history to make landfall along the Eastern Pacific Coast. Acapulco was still mostly inaccessible by road as of late Wednesday. By Wednesday afternoon, Otis had dissipated over the mountains.
Driver in Malibu crash that killed 4 college students pleads not guilty to murder, held on $4M bail
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Authorities say the 22-year-old driver of a BMW that struck and killed four Pepperdine University students in Malibu has pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder. Prosecutors say Fraser Bohm was speeding at more than 100 mph moments before the crash. His attorney says the crash occurred as Bohm was being chased following a road rage incident. Authorities have said the driver lost control and sideswiped parked vehicles before crashing into the students walking on the scenic Pacific Coast Highway. Two others were also injured. Prosecutors say that if Bohm is convicted as charged, he could face multiple life sentences.
International terror defendants face longer prison terms than domestic counterparts, new study finds
A new study has found that people convicted of crimes related to domestic extremism face far shorter prison terms than those convicted in international terrorism cases, even when the crimes are similar. The first-of-its-kind analysis by terrorism researchers at the University of Maryland comes amid scrutiny of the outcomes of Jan. 6 cases, including for some Oath Keepers and Proud Boys who received sentences years lower than what was called for by prosecutors and sentencing guidelines. President Joe Biden has called domestic terrorism the “most urgent terrorism threat” faced by the country, yet the data show that on average, the penalties associated with the crimes don’t reflect that.