Top Stories Digest

Here are the AP's top stories and promotable content. All times U.S. Eastern. For up-to-the minute information on AP's coverage, visit AP Newsroom's Coverage Plan.

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NEW AND DEVELOPING

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NATIONAL

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US--TEXAS FLOODS-FEMA MAP

FEMA removed dozens of Camp Mystic buildings from 100-year flood map before expansion, records show

SUMMARY: Federal regulators repeatedly granted appeals to remove Camp Mystic's buildings from their 100-year flood map, as the camp operated and expanded in a dangerous flood plain in the years before rushing waters swept away children and counselors. The Federal Emergency Management Agency included the prestigious camp for girls in a "Special Flood Hazard Area" in its National Flood Insurance map for Kerr County in 2011, which means it was required to have flood insurance and faced tighter regulation on any future construction projects. But in map amendments in 2013, 2019 and 2020, FEMA granted appeals to remove 30 Camp Mystic structures from the map. The amendments shielded buildings at the original site, as well as at a second camp site.

WORDS: 1231 - MOVED: 07/12/2025 9:55 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e12bee8d5f88301363861ca12c19b929&mediaType=text

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US--COLORADO DENTIST-WIFE POISONED

Colorado dentist accused of poisoning his wife's protein shakes going on trial for murder

SUMMARY: A Colorado dentist is set to go on trial next week, accused of killing his wife by poisoning her protein shakes. Prosecutors say James Craig bought poison online just before his wife began experiencing symptoms that baffled doctors. After his initial attempts to kill her failed, prosecutors allege he ordered a rush shipment of potassium cyanide, saying it was needed for a surgery. Craig's attorneys have argued that testing of his wife's shake containers did not turn up signs of at least one poison blamed for killing her. Craig is also accused of asking a fellow jail inmate to kill the lead detective in the case.

WORDS: 907 - MOVED: 07/12/2025 12:02 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0bd3a82981dff1381e6e47aece0ae8b4&mediaType=text

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US--FLOODING-VERMONT

Flash floods once again hit Vermont, damaging homes and roads

SUMMARY: Communities in rural Vermont face damaged homes and washed-out roads after heavy rainfall caused flash flooding. Up to 5 inches of rain fell in just a few hours on Thursday, swelling waterways and isolating nearly 20 homes in Sutton. Swift-water rescue teams evacuated residents from two homes. This marks the third consecutive summer of severe flooding in the state. According to the National Weather Service, Vermont's frequent floods can be linked to climate change and its mountainous terrain. Meanwhile, Massachusetts also experienced flash flooding on Thursday, with over seven inches of rain disrupting businesses and commuters.

WORDS: 510 - MOVED: 07/11/2025 10:55 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5c358c58633fcc8d566596e157cbf094&mediaType=text

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US--TEXAS-FLOODING-VICTIMS

Teen who helped family escape from van is among those killed in Texas floods

SUMMARY: Malaya Grace Hammond is among the latest fatalities identified from the Texas floods. Hammond's family said she was swept away by floodwaters on Saturday in Travis County. Another of the most recently identified victims is 76-year-old Mollie Sylvester Schaffer of Houston. She and her husband were at an annual reunion with best friends at the River Inn on the banks of the Guadalupe River in Hunt. The couple had been married for 57 years. They evacuated early July Fourth in their SUV, but the vehicle was overtaken by the rising water. So far, 120 people have died in the flash flooding.

WORDS: 3642 - MOVED: 07/11/2025 10:44 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:68b25cdb4d72f7eddff576af4ef7d400&mediaType=text

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US--NATIONAL PARKS-WILDFIRES

Wildfires force evacuations at Grand Canyon and Black Canyon of the Gunnison parks

SUMMARY: Wildfires have forced evacuations at two U.S. national parks in the West as summer monsoon storms increase lightning in the region. Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park in Colorado closed Thursday after lightning sparked fires on both rims. The South Rim fire has burned 2.5 square miles with no containment. The Grand Canyon's North Rim in Arizona also closed due to a wildfire that has burned over 17 square miles. Hot, dry and windy conditions have worsened fire risks across the West. Firefighters are working to contain the blazes, while hundreds of visitors and staff have been evacuated.

WORDS: 587 - MOVED: 07/11/2025 10:19 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:5d3e0a391a650d74f837f80cd9eb573c&mediaType=text

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US--BOEING CRASH LAWSUIT

Boeing settles with a man whose family died in a 737 Max crash in Ethiopia

SUMMARY: Boeing has reached a settlement with a man whose wife and three children were killed in a deadly 2019 plane crash in Ethiopia. The deal announced Friday comes just days before the scheduled start of the first trial stemming from the devastating Boeing 737 Max jetliner crash that left 157 people dead. The jury trial at Chicago's federal court was supposed to determine damages for Paul Njoroge of Toronto, whose family was heading to their native Nigeria when the plane crashed. The 41-year-old had planned to testify at trial about how the crash affected his life. Terms of the deal have not been disclosed.

WORDS: 618 - MOVED: 07/11/2025 9:33 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:60be60c3452402d7884555ff7c2dfa0d&mediaType=text

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US--FATHER BEHEADED-VIDEO

Adult son convicted, sentenced to life for shooting and beheading father in Pennsylvania

SUMMARY: A Pennsylvania man who posted a YouTube video of his father's severed head has been convicted of murder. Bucks County Judge Stephen A. Corr issued the guilty verdict against Justin D. Mohn on Friday in the January 2024 shooting death of his father at their home in the Philadelphia suburbs. The judge sentenced him to life without parole. Prosecutors said Mohn shot his 68-year-old father and decapitated him. The 33-year-old was arrested after scaling a fence at the state's National Guard headquarters. His lawyer is declining to say if Mohn will appeal.

WORDS: 716 - MOVED: 07/11/2025 4:31 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ee1069e457493b47ea7601724a14a1a6&mediaType=text

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US--TEXAS-FLOODS

More than 160 people are still missing after deadly Texas floods, governor says

SUMMARY: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says more than 160 people are believed to be still missing days after flash floods killed more than 100 people across central Texas. Abbott says many of those who are not accounted for were staying in the state's Hill Country but did not register at a camp or hotel. The big jump in the number of missing came after authorities set up a hotline for families to call. Abbott says search crews will not stop working until everyone is located. He says the 161 missing were believed to be in Kerr County. That's where most of the victims have been recovered.

WORDS: 1127 - MOVED: 07/11/2025 4:26 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:ea38edadc7e965fb2c76c0ec46245a82&mediaType=text

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US--MEXICO-SINALOA-CARTEL

Son of 'El Chapo' pleads guilty in US drug case, promising cooperation for lighter sentence

SUMMARY: The son of notorious Mexican drug kingpin "El Chapo" has pleaded guilty to U.S. drug trafficking charges. Ovidio Guzman Lopez is the first of El Chapo's sons facing similar charges to enter a plea deal. Prosecutors allege Ovidio Guzman Lopez, along with his brother, Joaquin Guzman Lopez, ran a faction of the Sinaloa cartel that exported fentanyl to the United States. Ovidio Guzman Lopez previously pleaded not guilty, but on Friday pleaded guilty to drug trafficking, money laundering and firearms charges tied to his leadership role in the cartel as part of a plea deal.

WORDS: 603 - MOVED: 07/11/2025 3:10 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:68614b0ed663925eca1a72d9539403cd&mediaType=text

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WASHINGTON/POLITICS

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US--TRUMP-TARIFFS

Trump announces 30% tariffs against EU, Mexico to begin Aug. 1, rattling major US trading partners

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has announced he's levying tariffs of 30% against the European Union and Mexico starting Aug. 1. Trump detailed the planned tariffs Saturday in letters posted to his social media account. It's a move that could cause massive upheaval between the U.S. and two of its biggest trade partners. European Union Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU may adopt "proportionate countermeasures" if Trump moves ahead with the tariffs. Mexico's government in a statement described the proposed move by Trump as "unfair treatment." The letters are part of an announcement blitz by Trump of new tariffs with allies and foes alike, a bedrock of his 2024 campaign that he said would set the foundation for reviving a U.S. economy.

WORDS: 1315 - MOVED: 07/12/2025 1:07 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:66bf84d97dcd69bbd1f1108e42283afd&mediaType=text

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US--JUSTICE DEPARTMENT-JEFFREY EPSTEIN

Furor over Epstein files sparks clash between Bondi and Bongino at the Justice Department

SUMMARY: The fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein files flap is cascading, further roiling a Justice Department and FBI that have struggled for months to appease the demands of far-right conservative personalities and influential members of President Donald Trump's base. In a sign of continued tumult, Attorney General Pam Bondi and FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino were revealed to have had a contentious conversation at the White House earlier in the week over the Epstein documents and a recent story that described divisions between the FBI and Justice Department. The turmoil arising from the Epstein investigation lays bare the struggles of FBI and Justice Department leaders to resolve the conspiracy theories and amped-up expectations that they had stoked.

WORDS: 834 - MOVED: 07/12/2025 12:09 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:0f02f67b6c97fc50e4d93bc4dbf4c4d0&mediaType=text

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US--DOGE-STATES

DOGE sprouts in red states, as governors embrace the cost-cutter brand and make it their own

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump's Department of Government Efficiency has spawned state-level DOGE initiatives as Republican governors and lawmakers aim to show that they're in step. Critics say some of these initiatives are nothing new or duplicative, while some governors are using their DOGE vehicles to target welfare programs or diversity, equity and inclusion programs. The state initiatives have a markedly different character than Trump's slash-and-burn approach. Steve Slivinski of the libertarian Cato Institute says much of what he's seen is the same mundane stuff states routinely do to save money. Analysts at the pro-labor Economic Policy Institute say some governors and lawmakers are using DOGE agendas to consolidate power.

WORDS: 1052 - MOVED: 07/12/2025 1:03 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9126dc6c2ed98ec7e8eeefc53a9425f5&mediaType=text

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US--STATE DEPARTMENT-CUTS

State Department lays off over 1,300 employees under Trump administration plan

SUMMARY: The State Department is firing over 1,300 employees in line with a dramatic reorganization plan initiated by the Trump administration earlier this year. A senior State Department official said Friday the department is sending layoff notices to 1,107 civil servants and 246 foreign service officers with domestic assignments in the United States. While lauded by President Donald Trump's administration as overdue and necessary to make the department leaner and more efficient, the cuts have been roundly criticized by current and former diplomats who say they will weaken U.S. influence and its ability to counter existing and emerging threats abroad.

WORDS: 1269 - MOVED: 07/11/2025 10:44 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:bfdb86767b7bd5b6570819d404a7782e&mediaType=text

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US--TRUMP-TEXAS

Trump tours Texas flood sites and defends officials as questions mount about response

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump toured the devastation from catastrophic flooding in Texas and lauded local officials amid mounting criticism that they failed to warn residents quickly enough that a deadly wall of water was coming their way. Trump met Friday with first responders and other state and local officials gathered at an emergency operations center inside an expo hall in Kerrville. The president said his administration "is doing everything it can to help Texas" and insisted that good people were running the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Since the July 4 disaster, the president has been conspicuously silent on his past, repeated promises to do away with FEMA.

WORDS: 1156 - MOVED: 07/11/2025 10:40 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:b77d9681d2d39f8c201351b54ecf944f&mediaType=text

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US--TRUMP-TARIFFS-CANADA

Trump plans to hike tariffs on Canadian goods to 35%

SUMMARY: Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney says Canada will keep working toward a new trade framework with the United States despite U.S. President Donald Trump saying he'll raise taxes on many imported goods from Canada to 35%. Trump's move deepens a rift between two North American countries that have suffered a debilitating blow to their decades-old alliance. Trump's letter Thursday to Carney is an aggressive increase to the top 25% tariff rates the Republican president first imposed in March after months of threats. Carney says through the current trade negotiations with the U.S., Canada has defended its workers and business. Stock market futures are down Friday, a sign Trump's tariff letters may be concerning investors.

WORDS: 981 - MOVED: 07/11/2025 5:59 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:572b7a2ac58145153443663cf818d598&mediaType=text

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US--GUANTANAMO-9/11

Appeals court throws out plea deal for alleged mastermind of Sept. 11 attacks

SUMMARY: A divided federal appeals court has thrown out an agreement that would've allowed accused Sept. 11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed to plead guilty in a deal sparing him the risk of execution for al-Qaida's 2001 attacks. Friday's decision undoes an attempt to wrap up more than two decades of military prosecution beset by legal and logistical troubles. It suggests no quick end to the long struggle by the U.S. military and successive administrations to bring to justice the man charged with planning one of the deadliest attacks on the United States. Mohammed is accused of developing the plot to crash hijacked airliners into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. One hijacked plane crashed in Pennsylvania.

WORDS: 706 - MOVED: 07/11/2025 5:39 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1a982f469fe828f3dcd01de39ab11987&mediaType=text

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US--POLLING-IMMIGRATION

How US views of immigration have changed since Trump took office, according to Gallup polling

SUMMARY: A Gallup poll shows a substantial jump in the share of Americans who view immigration as positive for the U.S. since President Donald Trump took office. About 8 in 10 U.S. adults say immigration is a "good thing," marking a 25-year high. The poll finds the share of Americans wanting U.S. immigration reduced has dropped from 55% to 30% in the past year, largely driven by Republicans becoming more content with the country's immigration levels. Americans have grown less supportive of deporting immigrants in the country illegally and more supportive of pathways to citizenship for those brought to the U.S. illegally as children. These shifting attitudes could complicate Trump's push for sweeping deportations.

WORDS: 792 - MOVED: 07/11/2025 3:05 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d138992f803e2d0b5b399aa9eaa36581&mediaType=text

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INTERNATIONAL

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AS--INDIA-PLANE-CRASH-PROBE

Fuel to Air India plane was cut off moments before crash, investigation report says

SUMMARY: Preliminary findings into last month's Air India plane crash suggest the aircraft's fuel control switches were turned off, causing a loss of engine thrust shortly after takeoff. The report, issued by India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau on Saturday, also indicated that both pilots were confused over the change to the switch setting. The report did not say how the switches could have flipped to the cutoff position. The June 12 crash occurred in India's western city of Ahmedabad when the plane struck a residential area shortly after takeoff, killing at least 260 people, including 19 on the ground. Only one passenger survived the crash.

WORDS: 556 - MOVED: 07/12/2025 1:11 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1da81c28862041317f29f547d3f00348&mediaType=text

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ML--MIDEAST WARS-GAZA

52 Palestinians in Gaza are killed by Israeli airstrikes or shot dead while seeking aid

SUMMARY: Witnesses and health workers say another two dozen Palestinians have been shot dead in Gaza while seeking food aid. Separately, hospitals say Israeli airstrikes killed at least 28 Palestinians overnight and into Saturday. Israel's military has not responded to a request for comment on the airstrikes. It says it fired warning shots toward people it said were behaving suspiciously and was not aware of any casualties. The 21-month war has left much of Gaza's population of over 2 million reliant on outside aid while food security experts warn of famine. There is no sign of a breakthrough in ceasefire talks.

WORDS: 944 - MOVED: 07/12/2025 12:55 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:c4c28f93ab77584f7909b5cd63aeb22e&mediaType=text

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EU--RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR

Russian drone, cruise missile and bomb attacks kill at least 6 in Ukraine

SUMMARY: Russia has intensified its bombing campaign on Ukraine, launching hundreds of drones and missiles overnight into Saturday. Ukrainian officials report at least six people killed and dozens wounded across multiple regions. In the southwest, two people died from falling drone debris, while attacks in Lviv in the west and Kharkiv in the northeast injured several others. Ukraine's air force says it intercepted or jammed most of the nearly 600 drones and cruise missiles. Meanwhile, Russia said it downed 33 Ukrainian drones.

WORDS: 362 - MOVED: 07/12/2025 11:52 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:9dd97f34ea780d84c08bbe3e25abfc67&mediaType=text

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LT--CUBA-US-VISAS

US sanctions Cuban President Díaz-Canel and other officials for human rights violations

SUMMARY: The U.S. government has announced sanctions against Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel and other officials for human rights violations. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday that visa restrictions will target officials involved in detaining and torturing protesters from demonstrations in July 2021. The protests sparked by blackouts were the largest in decades and highlighted Cuba's economic crisis. Human rights groups say authorities and pro-government groups suppressed the demonstrations, leading to over 1,000 arrests. The Cuban government has blamed U.S. sanctions and media campaigns for the unrest. Advocacy groups report hundreds remain imprisoned, though some were granted conditional release earlier this year.

WORDS: 354 - MOVED: 07/12/2025 10:57 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4d158a947e5690500325359205b2adce&mediaType=text

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AS--NORTH KOREA-RUSSIA

Russia warns US, South Korea and Japan against forming security alliance targeting North Korea

SUMMARY: Russia's foreign minister has warned the U.S., South Korea and Japan against forming a security partnership targeting North Korea. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey made the comments Saturday during a trip to North Korea. The U.S., South Korea and Japan have been expanding or restoring their regular combined military exercises in response to North Korea's advancing nuclear program. At the same time, North Korea and Russia have been upgrading their military and other cooperation, with the North supplying troops and weapons to support Russia's war against Ukraine.

WORDS: 528 - MOVED: 07/12/2025 8:53 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:27e06451ab945fbfc74d9703fac7b581&mediaType=text

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EU-TURKEY-PKK-PEACE-PROCESS

Turkish president hails the start of disarmament by militant Kurdish separatists

SUMMARY: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has hailed the disarmament of militant Kurdish separatists as the end of a "painful chapter" in Turkey's history. Erdogan told a meeting of his ruling party in Ankara Saturday that the more than 40-year-old "scourge of terrorism" by the Kurdistan Workers' Party - or PKK - is on its way to ending. The Turkish president said a parliamentary commission would be established to oversee the peace process. The PKK has waged an armed insurgency against Turkey since 1984 which morphed from establishing a Kurdish state to ensuring autonomy and rights for Kurds within Turkey. In May, the PKK announced it would heed jailed PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan's calls to formally disarm and disband.

WORDS: 404 - MOVED: 07/12/2025 6:47 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:a23b5269e7e8926c3a8d1dc22c4b9db8&mediaType=text

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US--RUSSIA-UKRAINE-WAR

US is selling weapons to NATO allies to give to Ukraine, Trump says

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump says the United States is selling weapons to its NATO allies in Europe so they can provide them to Ukraine as it struggles to fend off a recent escalation in Russia's drone and missile attacks. Trump said in an NBC interview, "NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%." Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday some of the U.S.-made weapons Ukraine is seeking are deployed with NATO allies in Europe. Rubio says those weapons could be transferred to Ukraine, with European countries buying replacements from the U.S. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says talks with the U.S. president have been "very constructive."

WORDS: 1297 - MOVED: 07/11/2025 10:35 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:05ba74cd9fbefcd81cc90886d091af5a&mediaType=text

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AF--TRUMP-AFRICA-DEPORTEES

Trump administration has floated deporting third-party nationals to Africa. Here's what we know

SUMMARY: South Sudan has accepted eight third-country deportees from the U.S. and Rwanda says it's in talk with the administration of President Donald Trump on a similar deal. Nigeria meanwhile says it's rejecting pressure to do the same. These initiatives in Africa mark an expansion in U.S. efforts to deport people to countries other than their own. It has sent hundreds of Venezuelans and others to Costa Rica, El Salvador and Panama but has yet to announce any major deals in Africa, Asia or Europe. While proponents see such programs as a way of deterring what they describe as unmanageable levels of migration, human rights advocates have raised concerns over sending migrants to countries where they have no ties.

WORDS: 959 - MOVED: 07/11/2025 4:58 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:1978d5923e8f110ec1c390a7a01723df&mediaType=text

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ML--IRAQ-TURKEY-PKK-DISARMAMENT

Kurdish separatist fighters in Iraq begin laying down weapons as part of peace process with Turkey

SUMMARY: Fighters with a Kurdish separatist militant group that has waged a decades-long insurgency in Turkey have begun laying down their weapons. About 30 fighters took part in a symbolic ceremony Friday in northern Iraq. The move was the first concrete step toward a promised disarmament as part of a peace process. The Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, announced in May it would disband and renounce armed conflict to end four decades of hostilities. The move came after PKK leader Abdullah Öcalan urged his group in February to convene a congress and formally disband and disarm. Öcalan has been imprisoned on an island near Istanbul since 1999.

WORDS: 1106 - MOVED: 07/11/2025 3:45 p.m. EDT

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RACE AND ETHNICITY

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US--IMMIGRATION RAIDS-LOS ANGELES LAWSUIT

Judge orders Trump administration to halt indiscriminate immigration stops, arrests in California

SUMMARY: A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to halt indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests in Southern California. The order Friday also bars the federal government from restricting attorney access at a Los Angeles immigration detention facility. Immigrant advocacy groups filed the lawsuit last week accusing President Donald Trump's administration of systematically targeting brown-skinned people in Southern California during its ongoing immigration crackdown. A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security says the allegations are "disgusting and categorically false."

WORDS: 996 - MOVED: 07/12/2025 1:10 p.m. EDT

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BUSINESS

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US--TRUMP TARIFFS-COUNTRIES

A look at the countries that received Trump's tariff letters

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump has been sending letters to countries outlining higher tariffs they'll face if they don't make trade deals with the U.S. by Aug. 1. The letters were posted on Truth Social. Trump warned countries that they would face even higher tariffs if they retaliated by increasing their own import taxes. Brazil is facing a 50% tariff and Canada 35% if they don't reach deals. Mexico and the European Union are both facing 30% tariffs.

WORDS: 1433 - MOVED: 07/12/2025 11:40 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:166230b4fa2be33ece1825322b34ff6a&mediaType=text

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EU--EUROPE-US-TARIFFS

30% US tariff on European goods threatens to shake up a key trade relationship

SUMMARY: President Donald Trump's announcement of 30% tariffs on the European Union will have repercussions for companies and consumers on both sides of the Atlantic. The tariffs could make everything from French cheese and Italian leather goods to German electronics and Spanish pharmaceuticals more expensive in the U.S. As of earlier this week, the EU's executive commission said its leaders were still hoping to strike a deal with the Trump administration. Without one, the EU said it was prepared to retaliate with tariffs on hundreds of American products, ranging from beef and auto parts to beer and Boeing airplanes.

WORDS: 1138 - MOVED: 07/12/2025 9:58 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:49893d3983cd60384ca2e8557ca2c7b1&mediaType=text

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US--WYOMING COAL MINE-RARE EARTHS

Wyoming's first new coal mine in decades to extract rare earths

SUMMARY: Wyoming's first new coal mine in 50 years is said to be operating soon but it won't rely on the fossil fuel to make money. Ramaco Resources plans to process the coal to extract rare earth elements it says are present in profitable quantities. Rare earths are a family of 17 metallic elements used in technologies like wind turbines, electric car batteries, and military targeting hardware. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and others attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday for the Brook Mine in northern Wyoming. China supplies almost 90% of the world's rare earth elements, and the Trump administration is seeking to encourage more U.S. production.

WORDS: 820 - MOVED: 07/12/2025 2:30 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:e4a3eff0b20039491df2dac99fa8ef0f&mediaType=text

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FINANCIAL-MARKETS

S&P 500 and Nasdaq composite pull back from their all-time highs

SUMMARY: Stocks closed lower on Wall Street, pulling the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq composite below the records they set a day earlier. The S&P 500 fell 0.3% Friday. The Dow Jones Industrial Average gave back 0.6%. The Nasdaq composite slipped 0.2%. Levi Strauss jumped 11% after the jeans maker easily beat Wall Street's sales and profit targets and raised its full-year forecast, despite expecting higher costs from tariffs. European markets closed broadly lower, and Asian markets closed mixed. Treasury yields rose in the bond market. The yield on the 10-year Treasury note climbed to 4.42%.

WORDS: 879 - MOVED: 07/11/2025 7:17 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:fd74377af3bc0d4617fe7263e053ffc0&mediaType=text

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US--MUSK-AI-GROK

Musk's latest Grok chatbot searches for billionaire mogul's views before answering questions

SUMMARY: Elon Musk's new AI chatbot, Grok 4, is raising eyebrows for its unusual behavior. The chatbot, released Wednesday by Musk's company xAI, sometimes searches Musk's views online before answering questions. Experts say this behavior appears to align Grok's responses with Musk's opinions, especially on controversial topics. For example, when asked about the Middle East conflict, Grok searched Musk's comments on the issue for guidance. Critics are concerned about the lack of transparency and the chatbot's alignment with Musk's personal values. While Grok shows strong technical capabilities, experts warn its unpredictable behavior could undermine trust in the tool.

WORDS: 687 - MOVED: 07/11/2025 5:48 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:14d575fb490c2b679ed3111a1c83f857&mediaType=text

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CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENT

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US--CLIMATE-TEXAS FLOODS-FARMERS

Texas floodwaters damaged crops and endangered livestock. Now farmers and ranchers are cleaning up

SUMMARY: Along the banks of creeks and rivers outside of Austin, farmers growing everything from Christmas trees to ostriches have been affected by flooding. Contending with downed fences and debris, moving animals to different pastures and cleaning up the wreckage are all part of the challenge when extreme weather collides with tight margins. The pressure is especially on for specialty growers who rely on local events, seasonal tourists or specific markets to sell their crops.

WORDS: 1229 - MOVED: 07/12/2025 10:06 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:d7a36d6186fbb2eaefb6233724334f97&mediaType=text

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ENTERTAINMENT

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EU--BRITAIN-SALT PATH-CONTROVERSY

'The Salt Path' is a book that captured the hearts of millions. Now it's mired in controversy

SUMMARY: The memoir "The Salt Path" by Raynor Winn, which inspired a film starring Gillian Anderson and Jason Isaacs, is now embroiled in controversy. On Friday, Penguin delayed the release of Winn's next book after allegations surfaced about fabrications in her story. A report by The Observer newspaper claims Winn misrepresented key details, including her and her husband's homelessness and his rare neurological condition. Winn denies the claims but admits to past mistakes. The controversy has sparked debates about the memoir's authenticity and could impact book sales, the film's success, and Winn's future projects. Legal actions may follow.

WORDS: 855 - MOVED: 07/12/2025 4:30 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:202a7afe0226f9771fe4ea34d371e730&mediaType=text

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SPORTS

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TEN--WIMBLEDON

Iga Swiatek defeats Amanda Anisimova 6-0, 6-0 to win her first Wimbledon title

SUMMARY: Iga Swiatek has won her first Wimbledon championship with a 6-0, 6-0 victory over Amanda Anisimova in the final. Saturday's victory at the All England Club took just 57 minutes and gave Swiatek her sixth Grand Slam title overall. She is now 6-0 in major title matches. The 24-year-old from Poland already owned four trophies from the French Open's red clay and one from the U.S. Open's hard courts. This is the first title of her pro career at a grass-court tournament. It also is first women's final at Wimbledon in 114 years in which one player failed to claim a single game.

WORDS: 777 - MOVED: 07/12/2025 1:05 p.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:dfd0e0b0abe53ab43383e9718f562ef2&mediaType=text

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TEN--WIMBLEDON-MEN'S FINAL PREVIEW

The Alcaraz-Sinner final at Wimbledon is the first French Open rematch since Federer-Nadal in 2008

SUMMARY: It sure seems fitting that the Wimbledon final between Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner on Sunday represents the first time the same two men meet for that title right after playing for the French Open trophy since a couple of guys named Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal did so every year from 2006-2008. That's because the only real competition the No. 1-ranked Sinner and the No. 2-ranked Alcaraz face at the moment comes from each other, not anyone else currently on the men's tennis tour. And the only comparisons that feel somewhat appropriate come by measuring them against the greatness of the Big Three.

WORDS: 838 - MOVED: 07/12/2025 6:00 a.m. EDT

https://newsroom.ap.org/home/search?query=itemid:4d969c948bb5b0a025c6d48982ab018b&mediaType=text

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