Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs is denied bail after mixed verdict clears him of top charges in sex crimes case

NEW YORK (AP) — A judge has declined to set Sean “Diddy” Combs free on bail to await sentencing in his sex crimes case. Combs was convicted Wednesday of federal prostitution-related offenses but acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges. The 55-year-old Combs has been behind bars since his September arrest. He stands convicted of two counts of a crime that carries a maximum of 10 years in prison. But the jury cleared him of charges that could have put him behind bars for life. The judge will decide Combs’ punishment and suggested Oct. 3 as a sentencing date. A virtual hearing is set for Tuesday on the defense's request for an earlier date.

Bryan Kohberger admits to killing 4 Idaho students but motive remains unclear

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Bryan Kohberger pleaded guilty Wednesday to murder in the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students. He entered the plea in a deal with prosecutors that will allow him to avoid the death penalty. He had been set to go to trial in August. Kohberger remained impassive as he confirmed to the judge that he stabbed the four victims. He was a graduate student at nearby Washington State University when prosecutors say he sneaked into a rental home in Moscow, Idaho, and stabbed the four students. The killings terrified the campus and set off a nationwide search in 2022. No motive has emerged for the killings.

A Q-tip and spotless car were key evidence linking Bryan Kohberger to murders of 4 Idaho students

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The man charged with killing four University of Idaho students in 2022 pleaded guilty, capping a mystifying murder case that's long captured the nation's attention. The hearing Wednesday described new details of the moments when Bryan Kohberger entered a home and stabbed the four students to death. Kohberger then worked to hide the crime, scrubbing his apartment, office and car before investigators looked over them. It's still unknown why Kohberger decided to kill those students, or if he was targeting all four of them. The now 30-year-old will be sentenced in July, and is facing life in prison.

House back to work as GOP leaders try to win over holdouts on Trump's tax bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans were at risk of failing to advance President Donald Trump’s tax and spending cuts package. A procedural vote late Wednesday was being held open for more than an hour as holdouts refused to support the package. Republican leaders spent the day working furiously to convince skeptics and send it to his desk by the Fourth of July deadline. Speaker Mike Johnson recalled lawmakers to Washington, eager to seize on the momentum of the 887-page bill's passage the day before in the Senate. Some GOP lawmakers are criticizing the legislation as straying from the party's fiscal goals. But Trump and House Republican leaders are determined to get it over the finish line.

US contractors say their colleagues are firing live ammo as Palestinians seek food in Gaza

BEERSHEBA, Israel (AP) — American contractors guarding aid distribution sites in Gaza are using live ammunition and stun grenades as hungry Palestinians scramble for food, according to accounts and videos obtained by The Associated Press. Two U.S. contractors, speaking to the AP on condition of anonymity because they were revealing their employers’ internal operations, said they were coming forward because they were disturbed by what they considered dangerous and irresponsible practices. The contractor who provided the videos said the bullets were fired in all directions — in the air, into the ground and at times towards the Palestinians. The testimonies offer a rare glimpse inside an often-chaotic scene at these sites.

Judge blocks order barring asylum access at border and gives administration two weeks to appeal

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has ruled that an executive order by President Donald Trump suspending asylum access at the southern border is unlawful. Wednesday's decision could throw into doubt one of the key pillars of the president’s plans to crack down on immigration at the southern border. But the judge gave the Trump administration two weeks to appeal. In an executive order Jan. 20, Trump declared that the situation at the southern border was an invasion, and he was “suspending the physical entry” of migrants and their ability to seek asylum until he decides it is over.

Some education grants in limbo were used for ‘leftwing agenda,’ Trump administration says

The Trump administration has accused states and schools of using federal education grants to help fund “a radical leftwing agenda.” The administration this week froze over $6 billion in federal education grants meant for immigrant and low-income students. Officials say they are reviewing the funds to ensure alignment with President Donald Trump’s priorities. On Wednesday, the Office of Management and Budget claimed some grants were misused to support immigrants in the country illegally or promote LGBTQ+ inclusion. Programs for English learners and migrant children are among those affected, leaving schools scrambling to adjust. Advocates say the majority of children in English language programs were born in the United States.

FDA vaccine official restricted COVID vaccine approvals against the advice of agency staff

WASHINGTON (AP) — A top official at the Food and Drug Administration recently overruled government scientists on the availability of two COVID-19 vaccines. Newly released documents show the FDA’s vaccine chief, Dr. Vinay Prasad, intervened to restrict approval of two new shots from vaccine makers Novavax and Moderna. FDA staff reviewers recommended the shots be approved for anyone 12 and older. But the FDA memos show Prasad limited the use to seniors and certain higher-risk Americans. It’s the latest in a series of vaccine restrictions imposed by officials working under Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

7 missing after explosion at California fireworks warehouse sets off massive blaze

ESPARTO, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say seven people are missing following an explosion at a fireworks warehouse in rural Northern California that caused a massive fire. The California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection says Wednesday that emergency crews and investigators are working with the property’s owner and monitoring the area using drones to find the individuals. It's not immediately clear if those missing worked at the warehouse or lived nearby. People were urged to avoid the area near the community of Esparto for several days following the Tuesday night blast, which set off a barrage of fireworks and caused a blaze that led to other spot fires and collapsed the building in the farming community northwest of Sacramento.

Knicks offer coaching job to Mike Brown and are working on a deal, AP source says

NEW YORK (AP) — A person with knowledge of the details says the New York Knicks have offered their coaching job to Mike Brown and are working to finalize a deal with the two-time NBA Coach of the Year. Brown would replace Tom Thibodeau, who was fired last month despite leading the Knicks to the Eastern Conference finals for the first time in 25 years. He had his second interview with the Knicks on Tuesday before the job was offered, the person told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity Wednesday because details of the search were to remain private.