Daily Briefing: Kanye's publicist, RICO charges and false statements

Former President Donald Trump and his 18 co-defendants in a Georgia racketeering case will be booked at a county jail − in contrast to the courthouse processing in his other three criminal cases. Also in the news: A painful process continues in Maui as teams search scorched Lahaina for missing people and Matildas madness has taken over as Australian fans vie for a home World Cup win.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. These star gazers inundated Joshua Tree National Park, left trash and set illegal campfires.

Now, here we go with Wednesday's news.

Trump and allies will be booked on charges at Georgia jail, not court

An indictment by a Georgia grand jury poses an especially serious threat because, unlike former President Donald Trump's two federal indictments, a conviction in Georgia state court could not be subject to a future presidential pardon.

The key distinction of the Georgia indictment is that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis charged Trump under the state's Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, or RICO, a law that is historically used to take down drug operations and gangs.

• Prosecutors argue Trump and his allies constituted a "criminal organization" whose members engaged in a wide range of criminal activity − including providing false statements.

• Among the people listed in the case is Trevian C. Kutti, who at one time was a publicist for hip-hop artist Ye, formerly known as Kanye West. Kutti is accused of trying to intimidate a Georgia election worker.

• Officials said bookings will happen at the Rice Street jail, although plans could change without notice.

Keep reading: Seven moments in Trump's Georgia call are now deemed ''overt act of conspiracy.''

The search for the dead is a grim mission in Maui

A week after the deadly blazes scorched the historic town of Lahaina, authorities raised the death toll to 106 late Tuesday, and released the first names of people killed by wildfires. The county said in a statement Lahaina residents Robert Dyckman, 74, and Buddy Jantoc, 79 were among the dead, the first people so named. A further three victims have been identified, the county wrote, and their names will be released once their next of kin have been notified. Dozens of “human remains” have been recovered and are awaiting identification, the county said. Read more

• Private developers have started approaching residents with offers to buy the land where homes once stood.

• A power company was a "substantial factor" in the devastating Maui wildfires, lawsuit alleges.

• Specialized teams of morticians, coroners and other death investigation experts are helping with the grim task of identifying the people killed.

• No stranger to tragedy, Maui Police Chief John Pelletier led response to 2017 Vegas massacre.

More news to know now

• Arkansas Department of Education: Students can't earn credit for AP African American Studies.

• North Carolina's GOP-controlled General Assembly is seeking Wednesday to override the governor’s veto of legislation banning gender-affirming health care for minors.

• Hunter Biden's criminal lawyer asked to quit the case, saying he may become a witness.

• Michigan State University workers stumbled across a buried, 142-year-old campus observatory.

• On today's 5 Things podcast, Tesla launches a cheaper range of cars, but with a catch. Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your smart speaker.

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Heat prompts Louisiana to declare emergency

While parts of the South may get a brief break in the extreme heat this week, the Pacific Northwest is sweltering and the National Weather Service warns record-breaking temperatures will expand into the Central U.S. by Friday. Continued heat and drought conditions in Louisiana prompted Governor John Bel Edwards to declare a statewide emergency on Monday, as much of the South endures an ongoing heat wave. The Louisiana declaration also underscores the continued danger of heat baking parts of the nation. Read more

• A Pennsylvania house that exploded was having ''hot water tank issues.''

North Korea asserts US soldier Travis King crossed border after becoming disillusioned with America

North Korea is asserting Pvt. Travis King bolted across the border last month after becoming disillusioned with the inequality of American society and racial discrimination in its Army. The state media report Wednesday was the first word on North Korea's detention of King. It said North Korea’s investigation into King’s “illegal” entry would continue. It's impossible to verify the authenticity of the comments attributed to King. The United States and others have accused North Korea of using past detainees to wrest diplomatic concessions. A U.S. Defense Department official said the Pentagon was working to bring King back to the U.S. Read more

• As Typhoon Lan looms, Japan issues mass evacuations and cancels over 900 flights.

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• Have we reached tipping fatigue? Bars to coffee shops to carryouts solicit consumers.

• Dottie Fideli went viral when she married herself. There's much more to her story.

• New York will spend $25 million in state funds to rent homes for thousands of asylum seekers.

• NASA is moving toward a Artemis II liftoff, but the program's future remains uncertain.

• New SAVE student loan plan will drive down payments for many: Here's how it works.

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'The Blind Side' subject Michael Oher is suing the Tuohy family

Former NFL star Michael Oher has sued the family that took him in, alleging they never legally adopted him and only sought to profit at his expense. Taken in by Sean and Leigh Anne Tuohy while experiencing poverty and navigating the foster care system, Oher became a first-round draft pick after attending the Tuohys alma mater, Ole Miss. His life story was made into the 2009 blockbuster movie "The Blind Side" after the 2006 Michael Lewis book of the same name. In his petition Monday, Oher requested the Tuohy family stop using his name and likeness in addition to back pay for any money he may be owed. Read more

• An ex-San Jose State athletic trainer pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting female athletes.

• Lionel Messi, Inter Miami cruise past Philadelphia Union, reach Leagues Cup final.

Quick hits

• Madonna turns 65 today, so naturally we ranked her 65 best songs.

• Darren Kent, the British actor from ''Game of Thrones'' and ''Dungeons & Dragons,'' has died at age 39.

• You can claim a tax credit for an EV: Your guide to incentives and rebates.

• Intersex surgery stole their joy. Now they're trying to get it back.

• Fifty-two doctors are among those who spread medical misinformation during the pandemic.

Photo of the day: World Cup semifinal stages Australia-England rivalry

Australia’s Matildas are up against rivals England’s Lionesses in the World Cup semifinals Wednesday. England lost semifinals at the 2015 and 2019 Women’s World Cups. Matildas madness is raging among fans as Australia is into the final four for the first time, and aiming to be just the second host to win the title on home soil. Read more

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com or follow along with her musings on Twitter. Support journalism like this – subscribe to USA TODAY here.

Associated Press contributed reporting.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: RICO charges, Trump indictment, Georgia, Maui, heat, wildfire, weather, North Korea, transgender, World Cup: Daily Briefing