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Magnitude-7.4 quake hits western Colombia, collapsing buildings and killing at least 79 people
BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) -- A powerful 7.4 magnitude earthquake strikes western Colombia, killing at least 79 people and trapping residents under collapsed buildings. The quake hit Monday in San Jose Del Palmar and was felt as far as Bogotá. Local officials confirm significant damage in regions like Risaralda and Valle del Cauca. Authorities warn of aftershocks and report injuries across the country. Colombia’s interior minister says more than 20 municipalities are affected. This is the most powerful quake in Colombia in a decade. President Abelardo de la Espriella pledges government support, while international aid offers pour in.
Trump scoffs at Iran’s demand for war reparations and other Mideast developments
President Donald Trump is scoffing at Iran’s demands that the U.S. pay for devastation caused by five months of war. A spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry stressed Monday that reopening the Strait of Hormuz is tied to reparations from the U.S. and other concessions. Trump responded on social media that he now demands that Iran pay for hundreds of American troops killed and wounded by Iran-backed militants over several decades -- including more than 600 U.S. service members killed in Iraq between 2003 and 2011.
Wisconsin and Minnesota primaries next to feature progressive clash with Democratic establishment
MADISON, Wis. (AP) -- Progressive candidates for governor in Wisconsin and U.S. Senate in Minnesota are making their final pushes ahead of Tuesday’s election. Democratic incumbents in Connecticut are also trying to fend off progressive challengers. The primaries come a week after progressive Abdul El-Sayed narrowly defeated Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens in Michigan’s divisive and costly U.S. Senate primary. El-Sayed’s victory has energized the left while stoking fears among Democratic Party leaders. That fear is particularly strong in battleground states like Michigan and Wisconsin, where mainstream Democrats worry progressive wins make it more difficult to defeat Republicans in November.
A man accused of orchestrating Tupac Shakur’s 1996 killing is on trial. Here’s what to know
LAS VEGAS (AP) -- The trial of a man accused of orchestrating the 1996 killing of rapper Tupac Shakur has started. The unsolved case has gripped the hip-hop world for 30 years. The trial began Monday and is expected to last about a month. Duane “Keffe D” Davis has pleaded not guilty to one charge of murder with a deadly weapon. At the time, Davis was a leader of the South Side Compton Crips. People who will testify include those who saw Shakur moments before he was shot, as well as people who were affiliated with rival record labels. Shakur was on his way to perform at a Las Vegas club when a car pulled up beside him. Shakur was shot multiple times and died a week later.
Contiguous US breaks its record for hottest month ever, NOAA says
KENSINGTON, Maryland (AP) -- The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says the contiguous United States set a record for its hottest month ever in July. Last month averaged 76.89 degrees Fahrenheit across the Lower 48 states, eclipsing the Dust Bowl’s July 1936 by an eighth of a degree. Although it was unusually cool in Alaska, hotter than normal conditions blanketed the Lower 48, with the most excessive heat in the Mountain West, Southwest, Northern Plains and Southeast. The biggest driver of the heat was at night. Nighttime lows, which are crucial for people and agriculture to recover from hot days, smashed the old record for hottest minimums by 0.7 degrees, the NOAA said. Scientists say hotter nights are a sign of human-caused climate change.
Congressional Democrats launch probe into efforts to deport US military members and their families
Congressional Democrats say they are investigating the Trump administration’s efforts to deport military service members and their families. The news follows an Associated Press investigation that found that more than 50 active-duty troops’ spouses and parents have been detained by immigration authorities. Democrats sent a letter Sunday evening to the Department of Homeland Security, the Defense Department and Department of Veterans Affairs. They say they will investigate whether the Pentagon and DHS are coordinating to deport military service members and their families. DHS, the VA and the Defense Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Washington grapples with a National Guard deployment extended until 2029
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Washington residents and officials see President Donald Trump’s extended National Guard deployment as an attempt to restrict the heavily Democratic city’s autonomy. The Republican president announced a crime emergency in the nation’s capital a year ago, saying the guard would make the city “safe and beautiful.” The temporary deployment has been extended through January 2029. The presence of troops raises questions about its necessity, as crime was already declining. The deployment into 2029 will cost another $1.4 billion. Political candidates are prioritizing Washington’s autonomy and statehood but face challenges due to the city’s status as a congressionally established federal district. Concerns persist about the impact on upcoming elections with troops on the streets.
Ukraine’s push to cripple Russia in Crimea is just getting started, drone chief tells AP
EASTERN UKRAINE (AP) -- Ukraine’s drone forces could strike seven times more targets in Crimea if Western funding came faster, according to the commander leading Ukraine’s drone war. Maj. Robert “Magyar” Brovdi tells The Associated Press that despite the funding delays, Ukraine’s summer campaign in Crimea has already damaged rail bridges, oil depots and power infrastructure. The effort aims to make Crimea unusable as a Russian military staging ground for attacks on Ukraine, he says.
Trump officials propose new requirements for food additives and ingredients
WASHINGTON (AP) -- U.S. health officials want food manufacturers to provide more information about new additives and ingredients. Under a proposal announced Monday, food companies would have to notify the Food and Drug Administration before introducing new colors, flavorings, sweeteners and other ingredients found in processed food. The change would reverse a decades-old policy allowing companies to self-certify that new ingredients are safe. That policy has long been criticized by health advocates, who blame it for allowing thousands of additives into the U.S. food supply. Reforming the system has been a key pledge for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his “Make America Healthy Again” movement.
Ben Jones, good ol’ boy ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ actor and 2-term US House member, dies at 84
“The Dukes of Hazzard” star Ben Jones has died at 84. He played the mechanic known as Cooter in the TV series. Jones’ wife says on social media he suffered a heart attack Sunday at their home in Washington, Virginia. Jones gained fame as Cooter Davenport, the mechanic who helped the Duke boys in their adventures in fictional Hazzard County, Georgia. After the show, he pursued a political career, serving two terms in the U.S. House. Jones embraced his role as Cooter, opening country stores featuring show memorabilia. Jones credited the series with transforming his life and promoting family-friendly values.