AOC's first congressional endorsements reflect subtle shift away from outsider status

It was seemingly an offbeat choice for the first endorsement by the leader of the Democratic insurgency heading into a presidential election year, when New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez threw her support behind Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., last week. Markey is a 73-year-old incumbent, and AOC's announcement was part of an effort by Markey to roll out as many endorsements as possible, to demonstrate that the party is with him and not with his 38-year-old challenger, Rep. Joe Kennedy III.

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  Kennedy mystique could factor into Massachusetts Senate race

  Associated Press
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  Joseph Kennedy III Formally Announces His Run for Senate

  Town & Country

Bill de Blasio's net worth as he pulls out of 2020 presidential race

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced this week he is officially out of the 2020 presidential race. The official statement comes after weeks of speculation that the presidential hopeful planned on dropping his 2020 bid. De Blasio joins the likes of Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, Rep. Eric Swalwell and Gov. Jay Inslee, among others, who have given up ambitions to potentially become the 48th President of the United States.

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  NYC Mayor de Blasio ends 2020 bid

  Reuters Videos
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  Why Bill de Blasio’s Campaign Failed (Hint: Nobody Liked Him)

  FiveThirtyEight

'It's happening': Alien enthusiasts descend on Area 51 for a UFO party

The RVs, packed with UFO enthusiasts, conspiracy theorists and those just looking to party in a remote area of the Nevada desert for “Storm Area 51,” a gathering that began as an internet joke but is expected to attract several thousand people here over the next three days. It's here,” said Connie West, co-owner of the Little A'Le'Inn, which is hosting one of two competing “Alienstock” events this weekend. The original “Storm Area 51, They Can't Stop All of Us'” Facebook post was supposed to be a joke inspired by a recent documentary on the once secret military research site known as Area 51, part of the Nevada Test and Training Range, where conspiracy theorists allege the U.S. government is engaged in extraterrestrial research.

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  Senior SETI astronomer on 'Storm Area 51' and the search for intelligent life in the universe

  FOX News Videos
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  Storm Area 51: World-famous DJ performs to crowd of 100 alien-chasers because ‘I do believe there’s something out there’

  The Independent

'Shocked and devastated': Connecticut father, son die in tragic fall after riding ATVs in abandoned quarry

"[Mark's] dad went to look at something, tripped and his son went to grab him and they both fell," the witness said during a 911 call reporting the incident. The father and son, who were both pronounced dead at the scene, spent a lot of time together, according to friends and family. "They're the type of guys that at 2 a.m. in the morning if your house was on fire, they'd be the first ones there," their boss, Dan Siracusa, told WFSB-TV.

On Kavanaugh and the FBI, time to investigate the investigation: Sen. Whitehouse

When I was a U.S. attorney, I worked closely with the FBI. When the FBI investigators were looking at something, what they wanted was information. The FBI is a machine for the acquisition and retention of information on cases. When the FBI began repelling and deflecting information in its investigation of Judge Brett Kavanaugh's alleged history of sexual misconduct last year, that was unusual — a warning flag. Because of my position on the Senate Judiciary Committee, people reached out to my office to find out where to go in the FBI with information relevant to the allegations against Kavanaugh.

The Latest: Man suspected of shooting Chicago cop captured

The Latest on the nonfatal shooting of a Chicago police officer (all times local): 4:40 p.m. Chicago police say a man believed to be the suspect in the shooting and wounding of an officer has been shot and captured. Police spokesman Anthony Guglielmi (goo-lee-EHL'-mee) tweeted Saturday that officers apprehended a "person of interest" believed to be 45-year-old Michael Blackman following an armed encounter with officers and a daylong manhunt.

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  Chicago officer bikes 300 miles to bring attention to opioid crisis

  WLS – Chicago
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  Chicago police officer shot on South Side: Police

  WLS – Chicago

Intelligence whistleblowers face a dangerous path to Congress

Intelligence Community Inspector General Michael Atkinson met with members of the House Intelligence Committee over a recent whistleblower complaint against President Trump by an intel analyst. WASHINGTON — When House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff, D-Calif., issued a rare subpoena to acting spy chief Joseph Maguire, commanding him to share with Congress an “urgent” and “credible” disclosure reportedly relating to the president, it kicked off a heated debate across different government agencies and Capitol Hill over how to handle the anonymous complaint. One of the most perplexing questions for outsiders is if the complaint was so urgent, why didn't the whistleblower go straight to Congress, bypassing the jurisdictional battle between overseers?

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  Donald Trump’s Whistleblower Scandal

  HuffPost
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  Trump denounces 'partisan' whistleblower but says identity unknown

  KTRK – Houston

3 people have died as Tropical Depression Imelda strikes Texas with flash floods 'worse than Harvey'

Tropical Depression Imelda is hitting southeastern Texas with devastating flooding. Fannet, Texas saw 43 inches of rain, making it one of the top ten wettest cyclones in United States history. Officials say the flooding could be worse than that of Hurricane Harvey, which hit the same area two years ago.

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  2 Reported Dead in Texas Floods as Mattress Salesman Turns Showroom Into Shelter for Victims

  People
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  Major flooding in Texas claims at least two lives

  ABC News Videos

Texas man wanted for allegedly divorcing his wife without her knowledge

A Texas man is wanted by police after he allegedly filed for and completed divorce proceedings against his wife without her knowledge. Paul Nixon, 51, was accused of aggravated forgery — a felony charge — after authorities discovered his fraudulent divorce paperwork, the Houston Chronicle reports. Nixon apparently filed the paperwork on Feb. 15, the day after Valentine's Day.

At LGBTQ forum, Democratic candidates offer support, defend records

Ten Democrats spoke passionately Friday night about their support for the LGBTQ community, even as some faced tough questions about their record on same-sex marriage and trans rights. The presidential candidates spoke at a forum at Coe College in Cedar Rapids dedicated to LGBTQ issues and organized by The Cedar Rapids Gazette, The Advocate, GLAAD and One Iowa. The candidates were largely united in their goals, with many saying they would pass the Equality Act, an anti-discrimination bill, and promising to repeal President Donald Trump's ban on transgender people serving in the military.

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  Warren lists 18 trans women of color killed in 2019

  Reuters Videos
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  Democratic Presidential Candidates Face Tough Questions At LGBTQ Forum In Iowa

  Deadline

Dozens detained in Kazakhstan at anti-China protests

ALMATY/NUR-SULTAN (Reuters) - Police detained dozens in Kazakhstan's two largest cities on Saturday as they took part in the latest protest against China's influence in the Central Asian republic. Neighboring China is already one of Kazakhstan's largest investors and trade partners and a plan to relocate a number of Chinese plants and factories to the former Soviet republic has faced public opposition. The latest round of protests on Saturday was organized by supporters of Mukhtar Ablyazov, a fugitive banker living in France who has been the fiercest critic of Kazakhstan's first president, Nursultan Nazarbayev.

Reactor at worst US nuclear accident site finally closed

The last reactor at the Three Mile Island nuclear power plant in Pennsylvania was finally shut down Friday, marking the end of the operation of the site of the worst civilian nuclear accident in US history. The plant's first reactor -- which went online in September 1974 -- was shut down at noon local time (1600 GMT), according to the plant's owner Exelon, and the site will be dismantled in the coming weeks. On March 28, 1979, the second reactor experienced a cooling problem that -- coupled with a human error -- resulted in the partial melting of the reactor and the evacuation of 14,000 people.

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  Three Mile Island Has Powered Down

  Popular Mechanics
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  Three Mile Island, site of America's worst nuclear power accident, shuts down

  FOX News Videos

Woman convicted in texting suicide case denied parole

The Massachusetts woman convicted of encouraging her boyfriend to kill himself via text messages has been denied early release.

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  Harmeet Dhillon on taking California Gov. Newsom to court

  FOX News Videos
• Michelle Carter, who encouraged boyfriend to kill himself, denied early release from prison

  USA TODAY

High school sparks controversy over 'ridiculous' lunch: 'It's honestly sad'

A Minnesota high school is facing criticism for serving a meal that many people have since called "ridiculous." Last Friday, Maryn Holler, a student at Apollo High School in St. Cloud, shared two photos of a lunch tray filled with baby carrots, a cup of marinara sauce and a hot dog bun filled with melted cheese. "Alright so i paid for this to eat at lunch today," she wrote on Facebook.

History buff finds ships that sank in 1878 in Lake Michigan

A diver and maritime history buff has found two schooners that collided and sank into the cold depths of northern Lake Michigan more than 140 years ago. Bernie Hellstrom, of Boyne City, Michigan, said he was looking for shipwrecks about 10 years ago when a depth sounder on his boat noted a large obstruction about 200 feet (60 meters) down on the lake bottom near Beaver Island. "I've made hundreds of trips to Beaver Island and every trip I go out the sounder is on," he told The Associated Press on Friday.

Israel Could Not Survive Hamas' Missiles Without The Iron Dome

Key point: Israeli missile defense technology is cutting edge. On July 15th, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced it was deploying more Iron Dome missile defense systems near Tel Aviv and other parts of southern Israel. The Iron Dome is Israel's most effective defense system against short-range projectiles.

Architect Reinaldo Leandro on the Art of Building Design and Personal Style

The prominent architect and co-founder of the multidisciplinary design firm Ashe Leandro shares his thoughts on how the way he dresses relates to his design sensibility Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest

U.S. Plan to Add Mideast Troops After Attack Draws Pelosi Rebuke

The U.S. will send a “moderate” number of troops to the Middle East and additional missile defense capabilities to Saudi Arabia in response to last weekend's attack on oil facilities, top Pentagon officials said. The top Democrat in Congress said the actions are unacceptable. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper said Friday that the decision came at the request of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates and represented a “first step” in the U.S. response.

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  Inside Saudi Arabia's response to a raid on the heart of the oil kingdom

  Reuters
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  US to deploy additional troops, military equipment to Saudi Arabia, UAE after attack on oil facilities

  KABC – Los Angeles

Billionaire Robert F. Smith's $34 million gift to Morehouse grads includes parent loans

Turns out the ultimate graduation gift – paying the education loan debt of nearly 400 graduates – costs $34 million. Four months after billionaire Robert F. Smith surprised the Morehouse College class of 2019 by pledging zero college debt, the Atlanta-based historically black, all-male college released more details of Smith and his family's donation. Not only will the donation pay off student loans, but loans their parents took out will be included, the college said in a news release Friday about the new Morehouse College Student Success Program.

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  Donor to Pay Off Morehouse College Parents’ Debts Along With Students’

  The Wall Street Journal
• Billionaire Robert Smith makes good on pledge to pay Morehouse grads' student debt

  Fox Business

Stacks of cash shown at trial of Sudan's toppled leader Bashir

Stacks of cash piled high were shown as evidence on Saturday against ousted Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir at his trial on charges of possessing illicit foreign currency and corruption. Millions of euros and Sudanese pounds were found at Bashir's residence in April after he was overthrown and detained by the military following months of demonstrations against his rule. The court heard four defense witnesses on Saturday, including Abubakr Awad, who was minister of state for the presidency until Bashir's fall, before it was adjourned until next Saturday.

Strong earthquake in Albania damages buildings and sends residents fleeing

Albania was rattled by its strongest earthquake in decades Saturday, officials said, sending people fleeing into the streets in several cities, damaging buildings and triggering power cuts in the capital. The epicentre of the shallow 5.6-magnitude quake, was near Durres, less than 40 kilometres (25 miles) west of the capital Tirana, according to the US Geological Survey. Albania's defence ministry said it was the "strongest earthquake in the country in the last 20 to 30 years".

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  Cars Destroyed by Falling Debris as Earthquake Rocks Albania

  Storyful
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  Magnitude 5.6 earthquake rocks buildings in Albania

  Reuters

White supremacist who praised ‘psychedelic Nazis’ caught with stockpile of guns and LSD

In a secret chat last November, according to court filings, two associates of a violent white supremacist group discussed whether drug use was in line with their political beliefs. There's nothing more Aryan than entheogenic drug use,” Andrew Thomasberg, 21, texted a friend, according to prosecutors, referencing plants that have psychedelic effects. Thomasberg was arrested at his home in McLean, Virginia, on Thursday, according to court filings, accused of possessing guns as a drug user and illegally buying an AK-47 in 2017 for that friend, who is cooperating with authorities.

‘House Hunters’ host Suzanne Whang dies at 56 after long battle with cancer

Suzanne Whang, who hosted HGTV's "House Hunters" for nearly a decade, died on Thursday after a long battle with breast cancer. Whang's partner, Jeff Vezain, took to Facebook to announce her death in an emotional message. "On Tuesday evening around 7:20pm, Suzanne breathed her last breath here at home, as I knelt beside her and caressed her.

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  'House Hunters' Host Suzanne Whang Has Died at 56 After Her 13-Year Battle With Cancer

  Country Living
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  'House Hunters' star Suzanne Whang dead at 56

  Yahoo Lifestyle Videos

Parachutists jump over Dutch heath to mark WWII operation

Parachutes glowing gold and white against clear blue skies, hundreds of paratroopers floated to the ground in the eastern Netherlands on Saturday to mark the 75th anniversary of a daring but ultimately unsuccessful mission that Allied commanders hoped would bring a swift end to World War II. Operation Market Garden dropped nearly 35,000 paratroopers deep behind enemy lines in the Nazi-occupied Netherlands. After landing, the troops were to capture and secure key roads and bridges so Allied forces massed in Belgium could pour into Germany's industrial heartland.

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  Battle of Arnhem anniversary: Prince of Wales watches mass parachute drop

  The Telegraph
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  Arnhem veteran, 97, set to parachute into city as part of memorial display 75 years on

  The Telegraph

India Has Reason To Fear China's Submarines In The Indian Ocean

Key point: Preventing Indian access to vital sea lanes would be existential. This week, the Indian-based news outlet, NDTV, cited unnamed Indian naval sources as saying that India's Navy is worried by China's increasingly frequent submarine deployments in the Indian Ocean. In September 2013, China confirmed for the first time that a nuclear attack submarine would transit the Indian Ocean on its way to carry out the international anti-piracy mission in the Gulf of Aden.