Author: admin

By MARK VANCLEAVE and HANNAH FINGERHUT NORTHWOOD, Iowa (AP) — Iowans attending a forum Wednesday hosted by Sen. Chuck Grassley started to turn on each other as the lawmaker faced heated questions about President Donald Trump ‘s first months in office. The room of about 100 people in north-central Worth County, near the Minnesota border, was largely critical of the administration and peppered Grassley with questions about mass deportations, including Kilmar Abrego Garcia’s, Elon Musk and cuts to the federal workforce and tariffs. But when one woman used her turn to apologize to Grassley for “all the grief you’ve gotten…

With the NFL draft beginning Thursday, here’s a look at where UCLA prospects can expect to be selected over the weekend. Carson Schwesinger Position: Linebacker Year: Redshirt junior Projections: Schwesinger has gone from walk-on to All-American and there is still upside to him. He bypassed his final year of college football eligibility to declare for the draft and met with all 32 NFL teams before holding his own private pro day with 30 teams present. Athleticism and quickness have gotten Schwesinger attention, but it’s his instincts and football IQ that have scouts projecting him as a possible second-round pick and…

By DAMIAN J. TROISE, AP Business Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Uncertainty over tariffs and an unpredictable trade war is weighing heavily on companies as they report their latest financial results and try to give investors financial forecasts. Some tariffs remain in place against key U.S. trading partners, but others have been postponed to give nations time to negotiate. The tariff and trade picture has been shifting for months, sometimes changing drastically on a daily basis. Those shifts make it difficult for companies and investors to make a reliable assessment of any impact to costs and sales. On Tuesday, Treasury Secretary…

By CHRISTINA A. CASSIDY ATLANTA (AP) — Florida’s “hanging chads” ballot controversy riveted the nation during the 2000 presidential contest and later prompted Congress to create an independent commission to help states update their voting equipment. The U.S. Election Assistance Commission has operated in relative anonymity since, but is now central to President Donald Trump’sexecutive order seeking to overhaul elections. One of the commission’s boards will meet Thursday in North Carolina, the first commission-related meeting since the directives were announced. Among other things, Trump directed the agency to update the national voter registration form to add a proof of citizenship…

Antonio Gates is headed to Canton, Ohio, this summer for his enshrinement in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, and the Chargers will be traveling right along with him when they play in the annual Hall of Fame exhibition game against the Detroit Lions, the Hall announced on Wednesday. Enshrinement week is set for July 31 to Aug. 3. The Chargers’ preseason game against the Lions is scheduled for July 31 at 5 p.m. (PDT). Fans can buy tickets starting Monday at 7 a.m. (PDT) at https://www.profootballhof.com/tickets/. Gates, a tight end, holds franchise career records for receptions with 955, receiving…

It is becoming increasingly difficult in an ever-fractured society to find uncontested facts with which to make judgments on the critical issues of the day.  It is hard to maintain a functioning democracy without civil discourse. Working against such civil discourse are social media platforms and unrepentant politicians who have no compunction about openly lying if they think it will help keep them in office.  In addition, the so-called legacy media—print, broadcast and even cable—are rapidly losing audiences and influence. In their place, social media, in all its manifestations, has become the primary source of information shaping politics and governing. …

By ELAINE KURTENBACH SHANGHAI (AP) — Leading automakers are showcasing their latest designed-for-China and the world models at the Shanghai auto show this week, fighting not to be edged aside in the world’s largest car market while watching for U.S. President Donald Trump’s next steps in his trade war. This year’s show in the sprawling industrial outskirts of Shanghai comes at a pivotal moment. Three decades after Beijing set out to build a world-class auto industry, local manufacturers account for about two-thirds of sales inside China, and a growing share of global exports. But with U.S. President Donald Trump raising…

By WAFAA SHURAFA and SAMY MAGDY DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — An overnight Israeli strike on a school-turned-shelter in Gaza City killed 23 people, as Arab mediators worked on a proposal to end the war with Hamas that would include a five-to-seven-year truce and the release of all remaining hostages, officials said Wednesday. There was no immediate Israeli comment on the strike, which set several tents ablaze, burning people alive. The military says it only targets combatants and blames civilian deaths on Hamas because its fighters are embedded in densely populated areas. Another six people were killed in separate…

With the NFL draft beginning Thursday, here’s a look at where USC prospects can expect to be selected over the weekend. Jonah Monheim Position: Offensive line Size: 6-foot-4, 302 pounds Projection: Monheim has experience playing multiple positions on the offensive line and doing so at a high level. He appeared in 51 games, starting 46 of them, across his last four seasons at USC and displayed consistency and durability. While he excelled at right tackle as a sophomore and junior, and willingly made the shift to the blind side this past season, Monheim may be looked at as a guard in the…

I didn’t run for office to play political games or climb a ladder. I ran because I’m tired of watching hard-working Californians—especially our blue-collar families—get crushed under the weight of high taxes, extreme regulation, and tone-deaf leadership that’s out of touch with everyday life. I was born and raised in Riverside County. I’ve lived the reality that most working families now face: working long hours, trying to stretch every dollar, and watching the price of everything go up while Sacramento keeps taking more. That’s why every single bill I introduce has one goal—to give working people a fair shot. Let…