Rally attracts Republicans who disagree with Trump
ATLANTA — There were few to no red hats to be seen at a recent conservative conference in Georgia hosted by influential radio host Erick Erickson, nor were there any rousing promises to “make America great again.” Instead, the group spent two days criticizing the course of Republicans in the Donald Trump era and wringing its hands over the possibility of a Kamala Harris president. The dynamic is particularly problematic for the former president in Georgia, a longtime Republican stronghold that has all but morphed into a bona fide swing state. The group is a reminder that despite his near-total takeover of Republicans in the party, there are still some critics whose support Trump will likely need to regain power.
Family and friends of Johnny Wactor call for further measures to find his killers
LOS ANGELES — Family and friends of former “General Hospital” actor Johnny Wactor are publicly pleading for help in finding and convicting his killers. At a news conference outside City Hall on Tuesday, Wactor’s mother, Scarlett Wactor, asked anyone who knew anything to come forward, saying it would help her and her surviving sons heal from the death. Wactor, 37, was leaving work at a downtown Los Angeles bar on May 25 when he encountered three suspects stealing the catalytic converter from his car, and one of them shot him. On Aug. 5, police released surveillance images of the suspects and asked the public for help identifying them.
Tropical Storm Ernesto devastates northeastern Caribbean and targets Puerto Rico
SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Tropical Storm Ernesto is ravaging the northeastern Caribbean and targeting Puerto Rico, where authorities have closed schools and government offices. Ernesto is expected to become a hurricane late Tuesday as the storm’s center moves north of Puerto Rico toward Bermuda. Meteorologists have issued a hurricane warning for the U.S. and British Virgin Islands, as well as the small Puerto Rican islands of Vieques and Culebra, which are popular with tourists. Authorities in Puerto Rico warned of widespread power outages amid a crumbling electrical grid.
Faced with the threat of a major war, the US approves $20 billion worth of arms sales to Israel
WASHINGTON — The United States has approved $20 billion worth of arms sales to Israel, including numerous fighter jets and advanced air-to-air missiles, the State Department announced Tuesday. Congress was informed of the impending sale, which includes more than 50 F-15 fighter jets, advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAMs), 120mm tank ammunition, as well as high-explosive mortars and tactical vehicles. The sale comes at a time when there are deep fears that Israel could become embroiled in a major war in the Middle East.
Google launches Pixel 9 phones earlier than usual
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. — Google has unveiled the next generation of its Pixel phones. The launch Tuesday gives the Android software maker a head start on the next iPhone in the race to bring more artificial intelligence to devices that have become people’s constant companions. The presentation near Google’s headquarters in Mountain View, Calif., came two months earlier than the company typically launches the next models in its Pixel phone line. And Google left little doubt that the Pixel 9 phones are intended as a vessel for the AI technology expected to reshape society. The Pixel 9 phones cost between $800 and $1,800. They begin shipping on Aug. 22.
A wealth of artifacts from the last Egyptian dynasty were found in 63 tombs
CAIRO — An antiquities authority official said a wealth of artifacts from Egypt’s last dynasty have been found in 63 tombs in the Nile Delta, and experts are working to restore and classify the finds. The artifacts include gold pieces and jewelry from Egypt’s late and Ptolemaic periods. The Ptolemaic dynasty was the last Egyptian dynasty before it became part of the Roman Empire. An Egyptian archaeological mission with the Supreme Council of Antiquities discovered the mud-brick tombs in the Tell al-Deir necropolis in the town of Damietta in Damietta governorate. Some items may later be displayed in one of Egypt’s museums.
The scorching heat in Death Valley kills the second man this summer
LOS ANGELES — A California man died of overheating in Death Valley National Park after hiking on a day when temperatures reached nearly 120 degrees Fahrenheit (49 degrees Celsius). He was returning from a hiking trail on Aug. 1 and drove his car down a 20-foot embankment, officials said Monday. Witnesses say he initially refused their help and his reactions made no sense. Passersby said he was breathing until shortly before emergency responders arrived. Officials say it is the second heat-related death of the summer, after a motorcyclist died in July while traveling with a group through the desert basin.
Want to speed up a road or transit project? Just host a political convention
CHICAGO — Cities rarely launch major infrastructure projects to host a party convention, but hosting the high-profile events is often a spur to speed up construction. Chicago had planned to open a new elevated rail station near the United Center more than four years ago, but the project was repeatedly delayed. But with the Democratic National Convention coming to town next week, construction crews are racing to open the state-of-the-art station before delegates arrive. Milwaukee has changed the schedule of some of its road projects to accommodate last month’s Republican convention. And Cleveland officials saw the 2016 Republican convention it hosted as a major spur to complete overdue airport improvements, a park and a new hotel.
Emergency services are battling isolated fires in Athens suburbs, aided by weaker winds and reinforcements
ATHENS, Greece — Firefighters in Greece are battling isolated fires and hoping to bring an end to the large wildfire that has raged in the northern suburbs of Athens, prompting evacuations and killing at least one person. As the strong winds that fanned the flames on Sunday and Monday subsided overnight, the fire service said the fire no longer had any active, advancing fronts and firefighters focused their efforts Tuesday on dousing flames in hundreds of slow-burning areas. The European Union’s Copernicus civil protection service, which provides mapping services for natural disasters using satellite imagery, said the fire had burned 8,500 hectares by Monday.
