Paxton dominates Cornyn in Texas US Senate runoff, the latest sign of Trump's hold on GOP
PLANO, Texas (AP) — Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. He defeated four-term Sen. John Cornyn. Paxton was endorsed by President Donald Trump last week. His victory in Tuesday’s runoff makes Cornyn the first Republican senator from Texas to lose the party’s nomination for reelection. Trump endorsed Paxton as part of his effort to dislodge GOP officeholders he views as less than devout in their support of him. Cornyn said in 2023 as Trump was running to return to the White House that his time “has passed him by.” Paxton will run against state Rep. James Talarico in November.
1 dead, 9 others missing and feared dead in Washington state chemical tank implosion
LONGVIEW, Wash. (AP) — Authorities have confirmed that one person died and 9 others remain unaccounted for after a chemical tank imploded at a pulp and paper mill in Washington state. They say there is no hope to rescue those missing. Nine others were injured in Tuesday morning's spill, some severely. Emergency responders plan to resume recovery efforts at Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co. in Longview on Wednesday morning. Authorities say those efforts are being hampered by the danger posed by 90,000 gallons of the dangerous liquid that remain in the unstable tank.
Iran condemns US strikes as a show of 'bad faith' and begins restoring internet after long shutdown
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iran has denounced the most recent U.S. strikes as a sign of bad faith as negotiations press on toward a possible deal to end the war. Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic began restoring internet access after a monthslong national shutdown. The U.S. military characterized Monday’s strikes in southern Iran as defensive, saying targets included missile launch sites and minelaying boats. American military officials said the U.S. acted with restraint in light of the weekslong ceasefire. On Tuesday, Iran’s foreign ministry called the strikes a ceasefire violation and warned that Washington would bear responsibility for all consequences, without elaborating.
South Carolina Senate rejects Trump’s call to redraw congressional map for midterm elections
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Senate has rejected President Donald Trump’s push to redraw the state’s congressional districts in hopes Republicans could gain an extra seat. The proposal passed the South Carolina House on May 20 after two days of long debate. But senators rejected the effort Tuesday, as early in-person voting got underway for the state's June 9 primaries. Some senators said it was simply too late to make a change. Others worried the move could backfire and get an extra Democrat elected to the U.S. House. The proposal would have scheduled a special primary in August for the new congressional map.
Southern California officials lift all evacuation orders for residents near damaged chemical tank
GARDEN GROVE, Calif. (AP) — Officials have lifted evacuation orders for final 16,000 residents near a damaged chemical tank in California. Officials had said earlier that the risk of a catastrophic explosion had largely passed. Officials had ordered evacuations in the Orange County city of Garden Grove last Thursday after the tank at an aerospace plant overheated. The tank contains methyl methacrylate, which is highly flammable. Health officials have assured residents that there was no contamination or fumes released. Officials say they will keep monitoring the air for several months and checking the sewer and storm drains.
Trump wraps up 3-hour medical visit to Walter Reed and declares 'Everything checked out PERFECTLY'
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has wrapped up a three-hour visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for what the White House describes as preventive medical and dental exams. In a social media post after Tuesday's visit, the 79-year-old Trump said, “Everything checked out PERFECTLY.” It was Trump's fourth publicly disclosed medical exam since returning to office 16 months ago. The tradition of the presidential physical goes back decades and offers a glimpse of the chief's fitness — though the White House decides what to reveal. Trump has recently talked about how good he feels, even as he jokes about his fondness for fast food and his minimal exercise regimen.
NASA lays out moon base plans with landers, buggies and drones at the top of the list
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA is already ordering landers, rovers and drones for a sprawling moon base, less than two months after the Artemis II mission. The space agency outlined the first phase of its moon base plans on Tuesday, awarding hundreds of millions of dollars in contracts to U.S. companies. Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin will provide the landers that will deliver a pair of moon buggies to the lunar surface at a spot near the moon's south pole. Those will be built by Astrolab and Lunar Outpost. Firefly Aerospace will get drones to the moon. All this hardware should arrive ahead of the first Artemis astronauts' landing, which is planned for as early as 2028.
Venue gets mixed reviews as National Spelling Bee returns to DC ahead of White House UFC event
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Scripps National Spelling Bee has moved from suburban Maryland to downtown Washington, and not all spellers and their families appreciate the change. The Bee is being held at Constitution Hall, a nearly century-old concert venue just blocks from the White House and the Washington Monument. Spellers are dealing with logistical hurdles including crowded hallways, limited dining options and shuttle bus rides. The quickest route between the venue and the hotel where spellers are staying would be to walk across the Ellipse south of the White House. But that's been fenced off for a UFC event on President Donald Trump's 80th birthday.
As US stock market hits new highs, 2 of 3 Americans are cutting back on spending, survey shows
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. consumer confidence declined slightly this month as gas prices stayed high and inflation remained elevated, a sharp contrast to soaring stock prices that have neared record levels. The Conference Board’s consumer confidence index on Tuesday slipped 0.7 points to 93.1 in May, the first decline after three months of gains. Americans have soured on President Trump’s economic policies, polls show, potentially creating problems for Republicans heading into the midterm elections. Gas prices have soared to a nationwide average of $4.49 a gallon from $2.98 just before the war began at the end of February, and have been at or above $4.50 a gallon for nearly all of May.
Supreme Court won't intervene in discrimination suit led by Black ex-head coach Flores against NFL
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has refused to intervene in a discrimination lawsuit led by former Miami Dolphins head coach Brian Flores against the NFL, allowing the case to proceed toward trial. The justices Tuesday rebuffed an appeal from the league, which wanted the case handled through its arbitration process rather than open court in New York. Flores sued the league and three teams in 2022, alleging the league was “rife with racism” regarding its hiring practices when it comes to Black coaches. Flores was joined in the lawsuit by fellow Black coaches Steve Wilks and Ray Horton. The NFL says it respects the Supreme Court decision but is prepared to defend itself as the case proceeds.
