Trump arrives at Capitol to meet with Senate GOP after calling off signing ceremony for housing bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has arrived at the Capitol for lunch with Senate Republicans, hours after he called off a signing ceremony for a housing bill. Trump said Wednesday that he won’t sign the housing bill until Congress sends him a bill to require proof of citizenship for all voters. Trump made the announcement on social media, just before he was set to arrive at the Capitol for a signing ceremony. Republicans had been hoping to use the housing bill as a selling point to voters ahead of the elections, and GOP senators were eager for a conciliatory luncheon with the president. But the Trump upended their plans.

Dispute over nuclear inspections shows how US and Iran are negotiating in public

TOKYO (AP) — The head of the U.N.’s nuclear agency signaled that Iranian nuclear enrichment sites would be visited by his inspectors, a key component in the interim U.S.-Iran deal to reach an end to the war. An Iranian diplomat instead insisted on Wednesday that any such visit would only come after a final deal. Leaders from the U.S. and Iran have repeatedly disagreed in public about what the interim deal actually means. Dueling narratives are playing out on a range of issues, including Israel’s war with Iranian-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon and how Tehran will spend billions of dollars once unfrozen. Lebanon’s state-run news agency says Israel launched an airstrike that killed two people in southern Lebanon.

Chief of staff to former NYC Mayor Eric Adams, 3 others charged in federal bribery probe

NEW YORK (AP) — A chief of staff to former New York City Mayor Eric Adams and several other people have been charged in a federal indictment in connection with alleged bribery scheme involving a city contract. Authorities say Frank Carone, along with his brother Anthony Carone, as well as a Queens hotel owner and an employee of the hotel owner, were arrested Wednesday morning. The indictment says Frank Carone accepted bribes to steer a multimillion-dollar city contract for sheltering migrants to the Queens hotel. Carone’s lawyer calls the indictment “weak” and a “sad day” for the criminal justice system. The four defendants were expected in federal court in Brooklyn on Wednesday afternoon.

New York sweep by Israel critics shines light on a fraught issue for Democrats

NEW YORK (AP) — Democratic congressional primary results in New York City are accelerating the party’s debate over the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. A trio of candidates backed by Mayor Zohran Mamdani all won after harshly criticizing Israel. Many progressives accuse Israel of genocide in Gaza, an accusation rejected by Israel, and want Democrats to take a firmer stand against the Israeli government. “Free Palestine” chants broke out Tuesday night. Some centrist Democrats warn that the left flank is too extreme on Israel and other issues, risking losses for the party in November and complicating the 2028 presidential nominating fight. They point to how the issue vexed Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2024 campaign.

Trump turns America 250 kickoff into a campaign-style rally on the National Mall

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump sees America’s 250th anniversary as a chance to get the country excited again — about Donald Trump. The president is hosting a rally on Wednesday on the National Mall in Washington. There’s a military flyover by stealth bombers, military bands, singer Lee Greenwood of “God Bless the U.S.A” fame and a speech by Trump. The rally is designed to kick off weeks of celebrations about the founding of America. Critics say he’s turning it into a partisan event to try to boost his ratings — and those of his party — ahead of November congressional elections.

Federal judge bars Trump from implementing proof of citizenship requirement to vote

A federal judge has permanently barred President Donald Trump’s administration from implementing most of his first executive order on elections. His order included provisions that would have required people to show documentary proof of citizenship to register to vote and prevented mail ballots from counting if they are received after Election Day. The ruling on Wednesday by U.S. District Court Judge Denise Casper effectively makes permanent a preliminary order she issued a year ago. Casper agreed with arguments from Democratic attorneys general who filed the lawsuit that the Constitution gives states and Congress, not the president, the power to regulate elections.

A member of the cultlike Zizians group is charged in the killings of her parents in Pennsylvania

A Pennsylvania prosecutor says a member of the cultlike group known as Zizians has been charged in the killing of her parents in 2022. Delaware County District Attorney Tanner Rouse said Wednesday that Michelle Zajko has been charged with murder, burglary and conspiracy charges in the deaths of Rita and Richard Zajko. The couple was shot to death in their home in Chester Heights on New Year’s Eve 2022, and their daughter had long been described by authorities as a person of interest. The prosecutor said she did not act alone. Michelle Zajko has denied killing her parents. She has been jailed since February 2025, when she was arrested with two other members of the group in Maryland.

Camp Mystic files for bankruptcy after catastrophic Texas floods killed 28 people at the girls’ camp

DALLAS (AP) — Camp Mystic has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization. The filing Wednesday comes nearly a year after catastrophic floods in Texas Hill Country killed 25 campers and two teenage counselors at the Christian camp for girls. Camp owner Richard Eastland also died in the flood over the July 4 weekend at the camp on the Guadalupe River. In paperwork filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Southern District of Texas in Houston, the camp listed its debt as more than $10 million. Families of the victims filed a lawsuit in November saying the camp operators failed to take the necessary steps to protect the girls as life-threatening floodwaters approached.

Rural area in Northern California jolted by its biggest quake since 1940, but no damage reported

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — A rural area of Northern California has experienced its strongest earthquake since 1940, but it caused only mild shaking with no immediate reports of damage or injuries. The U.S. Geological Survey says the epicenter of Wednesday’s quake, with a preliminary magnitude of 5.6, was about 140 miles northeast of San Francisco. It was felt widely, including in the fishing city of Fort Bragg. The initial quake was centered inland about 50 miles east of Fort Bragg at 8:10 a.m. PT, and the USGS says it was about 5 miles deep. A 2.5 magnitude quake struck near the epicenter a few minutes later.

US stocks waver as tech companies slip and oil prices continue falling

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks are wavering as technology stocks once again weigh on the market, though falling bond yields and lower oil prices helped ease some pressure. The S&P 500 fell 0.1% on Wednesday. The index is coming off two days of declines. The Dow rose 165 points, or 0.3%, and the Nasdaq fell 0.4%. Crude oil prices fell. Brent crude dropped 3.6%, bringing it closer to where it was before the war with Iran started. Gold briefly fell below $4,000 an ounce for the first time since November. Treasury yields fell. Google parent Alphabet rose. The company will replace Verizon in the Dow next week.