TOP HEADLINES provided by UPI©

• Suspect killed by FBI in California bank standoff; hostages unharmed
  A 15-hour standoff at a California bank ended with the suspect shot dead and all hostages freed without injury, police said Wednesday.
• Trump pick loses in Iowa; Karen Bass advances to L.A. mayoral runoff
  Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass will be part of a runoff election in November while the president's pick for Iowa governor lost his primary.
• Former Rep. Santos allegedly bet against himself on prediction market
  Former N.Y. Rep. George Santos is being investigated for insider trading after allegedly betting on himself on prediction market site Kalshi.
• ADP: Private payrolls grew by 122,000 in May; better than expected
  Wednesday's jobs report showed U.S. employers added 122,000 workers in May, beating the Dow Jones consensus estimate of 110,000, ADP reports.
• USTR to add tariffs on 60 countries alleging forced labor violations
  The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has proposed new tariffs of up to 12% on 60 countries it accuses of not enforcing forced labor bans.
• Florida sues OpenAI, CEO Altman over safety concerns
  Florida's attorney general announced Monday that the state is suing OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, saying the company chose "profits over public safety."
• Florida executes man for baby’s murder in 1996
  Authorities in Florida executed a Jacksonville, Fla., man Tuesday for the 1996 murder of Gabrielle Hanshaw, his girlfriend's 5-month-old daughter.
• Trump supporters wounded in Butler, Pa., sue government
  Two supporters of President Donald Trump injured during a 2024 campaign rally in Butler, Pa., are suing the federal government for negligence.
• Anti-weaponization fund is ‘dead,’ acting U.S. attorney general says
  Acting U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche said Tuesday that the Department of Justice will not operate a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund.
• Association reschedules White House Correspondents’ Dinner for July
  Officials have rescheduled the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner for July 24, several weeks after a gunman disrupted the original event.
• New Jersey sues operator of Delaney Hall detention center for access
  The New Jersey attorney general filed a lawsuit Tuesday against the GEO Group, operator of the Delaney Hall detention center in Newark, N.J.
• Marco Rubio: Iran must reopen Strait of Hormuz, discuss nuclear program
  Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Senate on Tuesday that Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz and commit to talks on its nuclear program.
• Trump signs voluntary executive order on artificial intelligence
  President Donald Trump signed an executive order Tuesday requesting that AI companies provide models to the government for testing before release.
• Job openings reach two-year high at 7.6 million
  The number of job openings in the United States increased to 7.6 million in April, the highest level in nearly two years.
• 7 states sue Trump administration for N.Y. wind farm cancellation
  Seven Democrat-led states sued the President Donald Trump administration Tuesday over a deal to block a windfarm off the coast of New York.
• Trump: William Pulte to replace Tulsi Gabbard as acting DNI
  President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that Bill Pulte of the FHFA will replace Tulsi Gabbard as acting director of national intelligence.
• Democrats eye key primaries in Iowa, California, Montana
  Democrats will determine their candidates to try to flip Iowa's governor and a Senate seat blue Tuesday as Republicans look to hold open seats.
• U.S. Trade Representative announces 25% tariffs on Brazil
  The President Donald Trump administration announced a proposed 25% tariff on several Brazilian imports saying the country had unfair trade practices.
• Trump administration unveils Medicaid work requirement
  The Trump administration unveiled a new rule Monday adding work requirements to Medicaid eligibility, attracting condemnation from patient groups.
• Six killed in Iowa domestic dispute; gunman also killed
  At least six people were killed Monday in a series of shootings in an Iowa city that authorities said stemmed from a domestic dispute.
• Appeals court blocks Trump from expelling transgender troops
  The Trump administration's ban on transgender servicemembers in the U.S. military is "both arbitrary and based upon animus," a court ruled Monday.
• Iran to cut off peace talks with U.S. over cease-fire violations
  Iran has stopped peace negotiations with the U.S. as it alleges it has violated their cease-fire agreement, Iran state media reported Monday.
• Sources: Trump backing off plans for anti-weaponization fund
  President Donald Trump is backing off plans for a $1.8 billion "anti-weaponization" fund after bipartisan criticism, sources said Monday.
• NY Fed: Rise in remote work may be related to youth unemployment
  A report from the New York Fed says a rise in remote work since the COVID-19 pandemic is connected to a rise in unemployment among younger employees.
• Anthropic confidentially files for initial public offering
  Artificial intelligence company Anthropic confidentially filed Monday for an initial public offering with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

BBC America©

• The end of Trump's 'weaponisation' fund is another sign Republicans are fighting back
  The $1.8bn fund would have paid people the Trump administration decided were unjustly and politically targeted.
• Trump-backed candidate in Iowa loses primary
  Randy Feenstra's defeat could prove to be a case of the president's political instincts being off.
• Ex-UK political aide and Biden cabinet secretary lead California governor primary vote count
  Another Democrat, billionaire climate activist Tom Steyer, is in third place as the tally continues.
• Man shot dead by FBI after taking hostages at California bank
  Two hostages were released on Tuesday, and the remaining hostages released on Wednesday were unharmed, police said.
• CBS News fires correspondent Scott Pelley from 60 Minutes
  The veteran host had accused leadership of "murdering" the news show in a confrontation at a staff meeting this week.
• Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass advances to run-off in race to run California's biggest city
  The mayor's opponent could be either Republican newcomer and reality TV star Spencer Pratt, or a fellow Democrat, council member Nithya Raman.
• She watched a wildfire destroy her town, so she's building fire-proof bunkers
  Linda Cantey - and other US entrepreneurs - are channelling trauma into efforts to mitigate the damage of wildfires.
• Celine Dion 'heartbroken' by death of Beauty and the Beast singer Peabo Bryson
  Bryson was best known as the voice behind Disney songs like A Whole New World and Beauty and the Beast.
• Mysteriously missing congressman wins primary after Trump endorsement
  Republican lawmaker Tom Kean Jr has not been seen in Washington or his New Jersey district for several months.
• New Jersey alleges 'unsanitary' conditions at migrant facility rocked by protests
  The state claims health violations at a centre that is a focal point for sometimes violent protests.
• US announces new tariffs over forced labour concerns
  It comes after the US Supreme Court struck down many of US President Donald Trump's previous duties in February.
• Canada formally requests 16-year renewal of North American free trade pact
  In a letter to his North American counterparts, US-Canada Trade Minister Dominic LeBlanc said the three countries should renew the USMCA trade deal.
• New York police investigate videos of men emerging from city's sewer system
  Authorities warn that entering the sewer system is both illegal and extremely dangerous.
• Video shows elaborate drug-smuggling tunnel between US and Mexico
  Four people have been arrested and charged with trafficking more than $45 million in cocaine, according to federal officials.
• Watch: Men seen entering NYC sewer manholes in surveillance footage
  The individuals are believed to be "treasure hunters" and urban explorers looking for valuables in the sewer system, police say.
• Watch: Massive hailstones pound Denver in powerful storm
  Strong winds, intense rain and hailstones the size of golf balls pelted the city and the surrounding area on Monday.
• BBC at New Jersey ICE detention centre as curfew enforced
  Nada Tawfik is at Delaney Hall, where protesters have clashed with police and authorities have imposed a curfew across a half-mile area surrounding the facility.
• No, Trump's name hasn't been removed from the Kennedy Center
  An AI video of President Trump’s name being ripped off the front of the building has been seen by millions online.
• He was a reality show villain. Can he be the mayor of one of America's largest cities?
  Republican Spencer Pratt, known for his TV role on The Hills, appears to be in a tight race with two Democrats in Los Angeles.
• Bowen: Trump needs this war to end but Iran is not backing down
  Under pressure from the polls and Gulf allies, the White House is pushing for a deal but Iran wants concessions, writes BBC's international editor.
• Iran attacks damage 20 US military sites since start of war, satellite images show
  Analysts told BBC Verify that Tehran's strikes were more extensive than publicly acknowledged.
• Trump's doctor says he's in excellent health - but are US presidents' health checks a PR exercise?
  Every president in modern history - including Donald Trump this week - has taken an annual physical exam that is as much about messaging as it is about health.
• 'Men written by women': How ice hockey romances like Off Campus became TV's hottest new genre
  The Amazon Prime adaptation of Elle Kennedy's ice hockey romance book is an early hit with viewers.
• California teen wins US spelling bee - but could you compete? Take our quiz
  Nine kids have battled it out in the 2026 Scripps National Spelling Bee finals - can you spell as well as they did?

NPR©

• How a single decision made a century ago split a family in half by race
  Pope Leo's Black family roots inspired journalist Susan Saulny to research her Creole great-uncle who moved to Chicago, became white and didn't return. She describes her journey to reunite her family.
• Greetings from Porto, whose lanes are lined with colorful textiles
  Linen scarves, cotton aprons and dishtowels adorn the entrances to souvenir shops, many of which are run by Bangladeshis whose home country shares Portugal's rich tradition of textile manufacturing.
• Takeaways from Iowa's primaries. And, DOJ nixes Trump's 'anti-weaponization' fund
  Polls have now closed in six states that held primary elections yesterday. Here are the key takeaways. And, the Justice Department has scrapped plans for Trump's "anti-weaponization" fund.
• President Trump seeks control of science funding
  The White House Office of Management and Budget is moving to take more control of billions of dollars in federal grants. Critics say the proposed change would jeopardize the integrity of U.S. science.
• Ukrainian drones strike a St. Petersburg oil terminal ahead of Putin visit
  Ukrainian drones struck an oil terminal in St. Petersburg and set it ablaze, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as the city hosted an annual economic forum promoted by President Putin.
• We finally know enough about how the brain breaks to focus on fixing it, experts say
  The Allen Institute in Seattle says scientists have now learned enough about how the brain works to start fixing it when it breaks.
• The White House's new site about 'aliens' has nothing to do with UFOs
  The site compares undocumented immigrants to extraterrestrials, refers to people as "it," and says "they do not belong here."
• Thieves are targeting the world's copper. This phone company is fighting back
  The value of copper is rising, and thieves can make money by stripping it from phone poles, streetlights and EV chargers. But those thefts cost the rest of us.
• Sen. Warner warns of risks from Pulte's intelligence appointment
  NPR's Steve Inskeep asks Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence committee, about mortgage chief Bill Pulte's move to acting director of national intelligence.
• California's primary for governor is undecided as candidates vie to be in the top two
  Republicans and Democrats all compete together in the unusual primary to set the one-on-one race in November. Two Democrats and one Republican were in close contention.

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