■'Gorilla Hail' sizes ranged from golf balls to softballs. ■Unconfirmed reports of tornadoes and damaged structures in Wabaunsee and Shawnee counties. ■Other parts of the country, like Colorado, also experienced severe weather. ST. LOUIS — Massive chunks of hail pelted parts of Kansas and Missouri on Wednesday night, bringing traffic...
Top Democrat Schumer Calls for New Elections in Israel, Saying Netanyahu Is an Obstacle to Peace
■The Senate Majority Leader accuses Netanyahu of tolerating civilian toll in Gaza. ■Schumer blames right-wing Israelis, Hamas, and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas for the lack of peace. ■Schumer expresses his responsibility as the highest ranking Jewish elected official in the U.S. to speak out. WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader...
Musk Cancels ‘The Don Lemon Show’ on X After He Sits for Program’s First Interview
SAN FRANCISCO — Elon Musk abruptly canceled “The Don Lemon Show" on his social media network X after the former CNN anchor recorded an interview with the billionaire for its as-yet unaired first episode. Musk owns X, formerly known as Twitter, and frequently proclaims himself a “free speech absolutist.” In...
Dollar Tree to Close Nearly 1,000 Stores, Posts Surprise Fourth Quarter Loss
■Shares of Dollar Tree fell 14% at the opening bell Wednesday. ■Revenue climbed to $8.64 billion, slightly below Wall Street's estimate. ■Dollar Tree anticipates earnings between $6.70 and $7.30 per share for fiscal 2024. Dollar Tree swung to a surprise fourth-quarter loss and will close nearly 1,000 stores after the...
49ers Acquire Maliek Collins from Texans, Rework Juszczyk’s Contract
■Maliek Collins is the latest addition to the 49ers' revamped defensive line. ■Collins has base salaries of $8 million and $9.5 million for the next two seasons. ■The 49ers have also reworked the contract of All-Pro fullback Kyle Juszczyk. SANTA CLARA — The San Francisco 49ers have added more help...
Putin Warns Again That Russia Is Ready to Use Nuclear Weapons If Its Sovereignty Is Threatened
■Putin sends a clear message to NATO allies supporting Kyiv. ■Putin expects Ukraine and its Western allies to accept a deal on Russian terms. ■Russian authorities report major attacks by Ukrainian drones. President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that Russia is ready to use nuclear weapons if its sovereignty or independence...
Evangelical Christians Are Fierce Israel Supporters. Now They Are Visiting as War-Time Volunteers
■Evangelical Christian Shawn Landis volunteered in Israel after hearing about the Hamas attack. ■Landis is part of a wave of religious “voluntourism” to Israel. ■In the U.S., support for Israel has become a top priority for evangelical Christians. TEL AVIV, Israel — When Shawn Landis, an evangelical Christian from Pennsylvania,...
Trader Joe’s $3 Mini Totes Went Viral on TikTok. Now, They’re Reselling for Hundreds
■Trader Joe's does not condone the reselling of its products. ■The mini totes are not the first product to go viral, with Stanley cups also gaining online fame. ■More mini totes are expected to be available in stores by late summer. NEW YORK — Trader Joe’s mini canvas tote is...
Former UFC Champion Mark Coleman in the Hospital After Saving His Parents From a House Fire in Ohio
■Coleman's mother, Connie, thanked God for their survival and asked for prayers for Mark. ■Coleman attempted to save the family dog, Hammer, but the dog did not survive. ■A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Coleman's medical expenses. TOLEDO, Ohio — UFC Hall of Famer and former champion...
Judge Dismisses Some Charges Against Trump in the Georgia 2020 Election Interference Case
■The ruling is a blow for Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis. ■Defense attorneys applauded the ruling, citing lack of specific allegations. ■The order leaves Mark Meadows facing only a RICO charge. ATLANTA — The judge overseeing the Georgia 2020 election interference case on Wednesday dismissed some of the charges...