Jacksonville businesses file lawsuit to block RNC from coming to city, or shrink attendance
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Several business owners in Jacksonville have sued the city and President Donald Trump's campaign in an effort to stop the Republican National Convention from coming next month.The lawsuit claims the event would be detrimental to the health of the community.
Ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen back in federal prison
NEW YORK — President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, was returned to federal prison, weeks after his early release to serve the remainder of his sentence at home because of the coronavirus pandemic, the federal Bureau of Prisons said Thursday.In a statement to The Associated Press, the Bureau of Prisons said Cohen had “refused the conditions of his home confinement and as a result, has been returned to a BOP facility.” His return to prison comes days after the New York Post published photos of him and his wife enjoying an outdoor meal with friends at a restaurant near his Manhattan home.Cohen, who pleaded guilty to tax evasion, campaign finance fraud and lying to Congress, had been released May 21 on furlough as part of an attempt to slow the spread of the virus in federal prisons.
Black Lives Matter mural painted in front of Trump Tower in Manhattan
NEW YORK -- After a delay last week, another giant, city-funded "Black Lives Matter" mural was painted in front of Trump Tower in Midtown Manhattan on Thursday.Crews set up barriers around the section of Fifth Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street.
Court rulings keep President Trump's financial records private for now
WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court issued a mixed verdict Thursday, July 9 on demands for President Donald Trump's financial records that will keep his tax returns, banking and other documents out of the public eye for the time being.The court rejected broad arguments by President Trump’s lawyers and the Justice Department that the president is immune from investigation while he holds office or that a prosecutor must show a greater need than normal to obtain the tax records.
Melania Trump statue in Slovenia set on fire on 4th of July; suspects sought
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia -- A wooden statue of first lady Melania Trump near her hometown in Slovenia was reportedly set on fire on the Fourth of July, prompting its removal.“I want to know why they did it,” Brad Downey, an American artist who commissioned the sculpture, told Reuters.
Health official: President Trump's rally in Oklahoma 'likely' source of virus surge
OKLAHOMA CITY — President Donald Trump's campaign rally in Tulsa in late June that drew thousands of participants and large protests "likely contributed" to a dramatic surge in new coronavirus cases, Tulsa City-County Health Department Director Dr.
Vindman retiring from Army, lawyer blames President Trump
WASHINGTON — Lt.
Kanye West no longer supports President Trump, says Joe Biden not 'special'
LOS ANGELES -- Kanye West said in an interview published early Wednesday, July 8 that he no longer supports President Donald Trump, that Joe Biden is missing the "special" factor, and that he definitely plans to run for the country’s top office in 2020.
Hillary Clinton thinks she would handle coronavirus pandemic better than Pres. Trump, would beat him in November
WASHINGTON -- Former 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton believes she would have handled the coronavirus pandemic better than President Donald Trump, and that she would win if she was on the ballot this November."We wouldn't have been able to stop the pandemic at our borders the way that Trump claimed in the beginning, but we sure could have done a better job saving lives, modeling better, more responsible behavior,” she said in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter.“I don't think we necessarily should have had as deep an economic assault on livelihoods and jobs as we have,” she said. “So I know I would have done a better job."The former secretary of state lost to President Trump in 2016, but the feud between the two has dragged on long past election day.
US Supreme Court OKs limiting free birth control on religious grounds
WASHINGTON — More employers who cite religious or moral grounds can decline to offer cost-free birth control coverage to their workers, the Supreme Court ruled Wednesday, upholding Trump administration rules that could leave more than 70,000 women without free contraception.The high court ruled 7-2 for the administration, which had made a policy change to allow some employers to opt out of providing the no-cost birth control required by the Obama-era health care law.
Vice President Mike Pence says CDC will issue guidance for schools
WASHINGTON — Vice President Mike Pence says the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will be issuing new guidance for the reopening of schools in the fall.School districts across the country are struggling with how to safely reopen as the coronavirus continues to surge in some states.
President Trump threatens to cut federal aid if schools don't reopen
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump on Wednesday threatened to withhold federal funding if schools don’t reopen in the fall, and he lashed out at federal health officials over school reopening guidelines that he says are impractical and expensive.Taking to Twitter to voice his frustration, President Trump argued that countries including Germany, Denmark and Norway have reopened schools “with no problems.” He also repeated his claim that Democrats want to keep schools closed for political reasons and not because of any risks associated with the coronavirus.“The Dems think it would be bad for them politically if U.S. schools open before the November Election,” President Trump said, “but is important for the children & families.
More coronavirus stimulus checks could be on the way, but you may not qualify
WASHINGTON -- While Congress works on putting together another stimulus package as coronavirus cases continue to climb in states throughout the U.S., lawmakers appear to agree on issuing more direct payments to some American households.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said another round of stimulus payments could be included in a potential pending package – but the income threshold might be lower.Under the CARES Act, the payments are $1,200 per adult for those with adjusted gross incomes of up to $75,000.
US government launches campaign to reduce high suicide rates
WASHINGTON — The federal government launched a broad national campaign Tuesday aimed at reducing high suicide rates, urging the public to reach out to others, especially during the coronavirus pandemic, and acknowledge daily stresses in people's lives.Known as REACH, the government campaign is the core part of a $53 million, two-year effort announced by President Donald Trump to reduce suicide, particularly among veterans.Starting Wednesday, digital ads will hit the internet with the key message that “suicide is preventable” and that collective action not only by government but also by businesses, schools, nonprofits and faith-based organizations can overcome the stigma of discussing mental health and empower people to understand risk factors, stay connected with others and talk openly about problems.“Working together, we can implement this road map and end this national tragedy of suicide,” said Vice President Mike Pence’s wife, Karen Pence, a lead spokesperson for the government effort.
President Trump says Americans can expect another round of coronavirus stimulus payments
WASHINGTON -- Speaking at the White House during an interview, President Donald Trump said Tuesday that Americans can look forward to another round of stimulus checks before the end of the year.“We are working on another stimulus package, and that will take place… very soon,” President Trump said.The president declined to provide a specific date or amount for any potential future stimulus payments to Americans hard-hit by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.Last month, President Trump hinted at the possibility of Americans receiving a second coronavirus stimulus check, saying that the additional stimulus money would be “very generous.”President Trump did not say how much money Americans could see. "You'll find out about it," he said. "You'll find out."In March, President Trump signed a $2.2 trillion economic rescue package into law after swift and near-unanimous action by Congress to support businesses, rush resources to overburdened health care providers and help struggling families during the deepening coronavirus epidemic.Under the legislation, Americans received one-time direct payments of $1,200 per adult making up to $75,000 a year and $2,400 per married couple making up to $150,000, with $500 in additional payments per child.Congress passed the first round of checks nearly unanimously after both parties said the aid was essential as coronavirus lockdowns brought the economy to a near standstill.House Democrats have indicated that they are fully onboard with another cash injection into Americans’ pockets, having included direct payments in a more than $3 trillion measure known as the HEROES Act that they pushed through the House in May.Some Democrats have proposed a more aggressive approach to stimulus measures.
'Everybody wants it:' President Trump says he will pressure states to reopen schools in fall
WASHINGTON -- President Donald Trump on Tuesday launched an all-out effort to reopen schools this fall, arguing that some are keeping schools closed not because of the coronavirus pandemic, but for political reasons against the will of families.“We want to reopen the schools.
US general skeptical that bounties led to troops' deaths
WASHINGTON — The top U.S. general for the Middle East said Tuesday that the intelligence suggesting that Russia may have paid Taliban militants to kill American troops in Afghanistan was worrisome, but he is not convinced that any bounties resulted in U.S. military deaths.Gen.
Trump administration informs Congress it is officially withdrawing US from WHO amid pandemic
WASHINGTON -- The White House formally notified Congress on Tuesday that the Trump administration is moving forward with cutting ties with the World Health Organization amid the global coronavirus pandemic.Sen.
President Trump lashes out at NASCAR, Bubba Wallace over flag, rope
WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump on Monday went after NASCAR's only Black driver and criticized its decision to ban the Confederate flag at its races and venues.Exploiting racial tensions, President Trump wrongly accused Bubba Wallace of perpetrating “a hoax” after one of his crew members discovered a rope shaped like a noose in a garage stall they had been assigned to.