Trump's Justice Department is investigating whether DC police officials falsified crime data

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department has opened an investigation into whether police officials in Washington, D.C., have falsified crime data. That’s according to two people familiar with the probe who weren't authorized to publicly discuss an open investigation. The investigation, reported Tuesday, comes amid an escalating showdown between the Trump administration and the city over control of the police department. It wasn’t immediately clear what federal laws could have been violated by the possible manipulation of crime data. Mayor Muriel Bowser's office declined to comment.

As out-of-state Guard troops arrive, Trump's federal crackdown ripples through DC neighborhoods

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump’s decision to increase federal law enforcement and immigration agents in Washington, D.C., has had an impact on neighborhoods like Columbia Heights. On Tuesday, vendors noticed fewer customers, especially Spanish speakers. The White House reported 450 arrests since the federal operation began on August 7. The Republican president has declared a crisis in the Democratic-controlled city, despite declining crime statistics, and has taken control of the police department for 30 days. National Guard members from West Virginia, South Carolina, Mississippi and Louisiana have begun arriving in Washington to perform similar duties to D.C. Guard members already on the streets, including protecting landmarks and crowd control.

US troops won’t be sent to help defend Ukraine, Trump says

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump is offering his assurances that U.S. troops won't be sent to help defend Ukraine against Russia. The Republican president on Monday did not rule out sending U.S. troops to join any such effort as he met with Ukraine's president and other European leaders. But during a TV interview Tuesday on Fox News Channel, he was asked what assurances he can give going forward and beyond his term that U.S. troops would not be on the ground. Trump replied, “You have my assurance, and I'm president.” Trump also said Ukraine should give up on the hope of joining NATO and regaining the Crimean Peninsula from Russia.

Nebraska announces plan for immigration detention center dubbed the 'Cornhusker Clink'

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Nebraska has announced plans for an immigration detention center in the state’s remote southwest corner as President Donald Trump’s administration races to expand the infrastructure necessary for increasing deportations. The Trump administration is adding new detention facilities across the country to hold the growing number of immigrants it has arrested and accused of being in the country illegally. The facilities include the remote detention center in the Florida Everglades known as “Alligator Alcatraz." The Nebraska facility has already been dubbed the “Cornhusker Clink.” U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement centers held more than 56,000 immigrants in June, the most since 2019.

Qatar urges a Gaza ceasefire after a 'positive response' from Hamas

JERUSALEM (AP) — A key mediator on Gaza is stressing the urgency of brokering a ceasefire after Hamas showed a “positive response” to a proposal. But Israel has yet to weigh in as its military prepares an offensive on some of the territory’s most populated areas. The prospect of an expanded assault on areas sheltering hundreds of thousands of civilians has sparked international outrage. Palestinians say nowhere is safe, and many Israelis fear for the remaining hostages held in Gaza. Qatar on Tuesday warned that even if a ceasefire deal is reached, it will not be “instantaneously implemented.”

Is this thing on? Accidental authenticity of Trump's hot mic moment is latest in a long global list

LONDON (AP) — Hot mics have a knack for revealing unguarded moments in politics. On Monday, one captured President Donald Trump and eight European leaders chatting at a White House news conference about Ukraine. Trump told French President Emmanuel Macron that Russian President Vladimir Putin wants to make a deal with him. Hot mics have historically caught leaders off guard, revealing their true thoughts. From President Ronald Reagan's joke about Russia to President Joe Biden's comment on the Affordable Care Act, these moments often reveal more than scripted speeches. Leaders are reminded that in public, privacy is a luxury.

Hurricane Erin churns up dangerous waves and closes beaches along US East Coast

RODANTHE, N.C. (AP) — Hurricane Erin is churning slowly toward the eastern U.S. coast and stirring up waves that already have forced dozens of beach rescues. The biggest storm surges are expected over the coming two days. Forecasters remain confident the center of the monster storm will remain far offshore. But the outer edges are likely to bring damaging tropical-force winds, large swells and life-threatening rip currents. The hurricane lashed the Turks and Caicos Islands on Tuesday. Warnings about rip currents have been posted from Florida to the New England coast. Authorities are prohibiting people from swimming in beaches in New York City, Long Island and New Jersey.

California redistricting hearing turns heated as Republicans mount opposition campaign

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A California hearing on Democrats' redistricting effort turned into a shouting match Tuesday. A Republican lawmaker pressed for answers over a partisan plan aimed at winning Democrats five more House seats. He argues that California should spend money on other issues such as health care instead. California's plan is a counter to a similar effort by Texas Republicans that President Donald Trump pushed for. California Republicans on Tuesday filed an emergency petition to the state Supreme Court to try to stop Democrats' plan. Democrats advanced the proposal anyway. They have supermajorities in both houses and don't need any Republican vote to approve their plan.

Trump administration vying to own a big stake in Intel after SoftBank's $2 billion bet on company

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Tuesday confirmed the U.S. government is vying for a 10% stake in Silicon Valley pioneer Intel in an unusual deal that would deepen the Trump administration’s financial ties with major computer chip manufacturers and punctuate a dramatic about-face from the president’s recent push to oust the company’s CEO. The ambitions that Lutnick confirmed in a televised interview with CNBC came the day after various news outlets reported on the negotiations between the Trump administration and Intel. The talks come on the heels of a $2 billion investment that Japanese technology giant SoftBank Group announced late Monday.

Oklahoma ideology test for teachers from New York and California draws criticism

Oklahoma will require applicants for teaching jobs from California and New York to pass an exam that the state’s top education official says is designed to safeguard against “radical leftist ideology.” Opponents decry the exam as a “MAGA loyalty test.” Ryan Walters, the state public schools superintendent, said Monday that any teacher coming from the two blue states will be required to pass Oklahoma’s PragerU assessment test before getting a certification. PragerU is short for Prager University and promotes itself as a leading conservative nonprofit. State education officials say the 50-question test is finalized and will be rolling out “very soon.”