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American Press
7 days ago
- American Press
Motorcyclist killed in Jeff Davis crash
Associated Press Archives A fatal single-vehicle motorcycle crash near Jennings on Sunday claimed the life of an Iota man. Louisiana State Police Troop D is investigating the crash, which claimed the life of 46-year-old Chad McClelland of Iota. The incident happened shortly after 7 a.m. on LA 26, south of La. 1126. Preliminary findings indicate that McClelland was riding a 2023 Harley-Davidson motorcycle northbound on La 26 when, while in a curve, the motorcycle crossed the centerline into the southbound lane. It then exited the roadway to the left and entered a ditch. Although McClelland was wearing a DOT-approved helmet, he sustained fatal injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. A standard toxicology sample was collected from McClelland and has been submitted for analysis. You Might Like
American Press
24-07-2025
- Entertainment
- American Press
Hulk Hogan, icon in professional wrestling, dies at age 71
Hulk Hogan fires up the crowd between matches at WrestleMania 21 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, April 3, 2005, (Associated Press Archives) Hulk Hogan, the mustachioed, headscarf-wearing icon in the world of professional wrestling, has died at the age of 71, Florida police and WWE said Thursday. In Clearwater, Florida, authorities responded to a call Thursday morning about a cardiac arrest. Hogan was pronounced dead at a hospital, police said in a statement on Facebook. Hogan, whose real name was Terry Bollea, was perhaps the biggest star in WWE's long history. He was the main draw for the first WrestleMania in 1985 and was a fixture for years, facing everyone from Andre The Giant and Randy Savage to The Rock and even company chairman Vince McMahon. He won at least six WWE championships and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2016, a Florida jury awarded Hogan $115 million in his sex tape lawsuit against Gawker Media and then added $25 million in punitive damages. Hogan sued after Gawker in 2012 posted a video of him having sex with his former best friend's wife. He contended the post violated his privacy. Hogan smiled and wore black throughout the three-week trial. 'Everywhere I show up, people treat me like I'm still the champ,' he said of the support from fans. WWE posted a note on X saying it was saddened to learn about Hogan's death. 'One of pop culture's most recognizable figures, Hogan helped WWE achieve global recognition in the 1980s. WWE extends its condolences to Hogan's family, friends, and fans,' it said.
American Press
23-07-2025
- Politics
- American Press
Trump deflects questions about Epstein files and revives old grievances
President-Donald Trump. (Associated Press Archives) President Donald Trump on Tuesday deflected questions over the Justice Department's decision to interview Jeffrey Epstein's former girlfriend Ghislaine Maxwell, who was convicted of helping the financier sexually abuse underage girls and is now serving a lengthy prison sentence. Trump instead lashed out at old grievances following a new report from his intelligence director aimed at casting doubt on long-established findings about Moscow's interference in the 2016 election. Trump is under pressure from conspiracy-minded segments of his political base to release more about the Epstein case. He's tried to move on, which Democrats say is because of his association with Epstein. Trump has denied knowledge or involvement of Epstein's crimes and said he ended their friendship years ago. Also Tuesday, Trump said after meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House that the two countries had agreed on a trade deal. Here's the latest: Japanese prime minister acknowledges trade agreement with US Shigeru Ishiba said the deal placing a 15% U.S. tariff on imports from Japan would benefit both sides and help them work together to serve their international roles. Ishiba, who faces growing calls to step down over his party's historic loss in Sunday's parliamentary election, declined to comment on his possible move, saying he first has to examine the trade deal closely. Colorado attorney general accuses sheriff's deputy of illegally sharing information with immigration agents Phil Weiser, a Democrat, sued the deputy for allegedly helping federal immigration agents find and arrest a college student over an expired visa. Weiser said he was acting Tuesday under a new state law that bars agencies from sharing information with immigration officials. Weiser said he wanted to send a message that the law will be enforced. The deputy allegedly shared the driver's license, vehicle registration and other information of a 19-year-old female nursing student in a Signal chat. He is also accused of providing immigration officers with information about another motorist, who overstayed his visa. Weiser also disclosed that his office is investigating whether other officers on a regional drug task force that the deputy worked on have been sharing information to help immigration agents make arrests in violation of state law limiting such cooperation. The Trump administration has sued Colorado over such laws. ▶ Read more about the attorney general's actions and the deputy Trump calls Tulsi Gabbard 'hottest person in the room' after Russia report The president praised his director of national intelligence as 'hotter than everybody' after she issued a new report aimed at casting doubt on long-established findings about Moscow's interference in the 2016 election. Trump has sometimes used 'hottest' to mean something akin to in-demand or buzzy, including during his 45-minute remarks Tuesday night, when he repeatedly referred to the U.S. as 'the hottest country anywhere in the world.' Trump said he was very happy with Gabbard and said: 'Tulsi, great job — and I know you have a lot more coming.' In issuing the report, Gabbard appeared to recover her standing in Trump's orbit, which just one month ago seemed uncertain after the president said she was 'wrong' when she previously said she believed Iran was not building a nuclear weapon. Appeals court declines to reinstate AP access to presidential events An appeals court in Washington turned down the news organization's request for immediate reinstatement into covering smaller presidential events like meetings with reporters in the Oval Office and Air Force One. But that doesn't end the legal wrangling related to the president's decision last February to bar AP access because of is refusal to rename the Gulf of Mexico, as Trump has sought, in all of its copy. AP sued and won a district court ruling against Trump, but the administration successfully convinced a three-judge appeals court panel to delay implementation of that ruling until its full appeal can be heard this fall. An AP spokesperson expressed disappointment in Tuesday's ruling, saying, 'As we've said throughout, the press and the public have a fundamental right to speak freely without government retaliation.' The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
American Press
16-07-2025
- Politics
- American Press
Trump slams his own supporters as 'weaklings' for falling for what he now calls the Epstein 'hoax'
Jeffrey Epstein, center, appears in court in West Palm Beach, Fla., on July 30, 2008. (Associated Press Archives) President Donald Trump is lashing out at his own supporters, accusing them of being duped by Democrats, as he tries to clamp down on criticism over his administration's handling of much-hyped records in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation, which Trump now calls a 'Hoax.' 'Their new SCAM is what we will forever call the Jeffrey Epstein Hoax, and my PAST supporters have bought into this 'bull——,' hook, line, and sinker,' Trump wrote Wednesday on his Truth Social site, using an expletive in his post. 'They haven't learned their lesson, and probably never will, even after being conned by the Lunatic Left for 8 long years.' 'Let these weaklings continue forward and do the Democrats work, don't even think about talking of our incredible and unprecedented success, because I don't want their support anymore! Thank you for your attention to this matter,' he went on. The rhetoric marks a dramatic escalation for the Republican president, who has broken with some of his most loyal backers on issues in the past, but never with such fervor. Though Trump cannot legally run for another term, he will need strong support from a united party to pass his remaining legislative agenda in a narrowly-divided Congress and an energized base to turn out in next year's midterm elections. Dangled documents The schism centers on the Trump administration's handling of documents related to Epstein, who was found dead in his New York jail cell in August 2019, weeks after his arrest on sex trafficking charges. Last week, the Justice Department and the FBI acknowledged in a memo that Epstein did not maintain a 'client list' to whom underage girls were trafficked. They also said no more files related to the investigation would be made public, despite past promises from Attorney General Pam Bondi that had raised the expectations of conservative influencers and conspiracy theorists. 'It's a new administration and everything is going to come out to the public,' she had said. The reversal sparked fury among Trump's most loyal defenders, who have turned on Bondi, in particular. But Trump has repeatedly said he maintains confidence in his attorney general and had instead chided those who continue to press the issue. 'I don't understand what the interest or what the fascination is,' he said Tuesday, after unsuccessfully urging his ''boys' and, in some cases, 'gals'' to stop wasting 'Time and Energy on Jeffrey Epstein, somebody that nobody cares about.' In an Oval Office appearance Wednesday after the Truth post, Trump made clear that he was done with the story and said he had 'lost a lot of faith in certain people.' 'It's all been a big hoax,' he told reporters. 'It's perpetrated by the Democrats, and some stupid Republicans and foolish Republicans fall into the net.' He complained that Bondi has been 'waylaid' over her handling of the case and has given out all 'credible information' about the wealthy financier. 'If she finds anymore credible information she'll give that, too,' Trump said. 'What more can she do than that?' Trump and many figures in his administration, including FBI Director Kash Patel and his deputy, Dan Bongino, have spent years stoking dark and disproved conspiracy theories like those surrounding Epstein, including embracing QAnon-tinged propaganda that casts Trump as a savior sent to demolish the 'deep state.' Anger still brewing Trump's comments have not been enough to quell those who are still demanding answers. Some of the podcasters and pro-Trump influencers who helped rally support for Trump in the 2024 campaign said Wednesday they were disappointed or puzzled by his comments. Far-right conspiracy theorist and podcaster Alex Jones called Trump's handling of the Epstein situation 'the biggest train wreck I've ever seen.' 'It's not in character for you to be acting like this,' he said in a video Tuesday. 'I support you, but we built the movement you rode in on. You're not the movement. You just surfed in on it.' Benny Johnson, a conservative podcaster, said on his show that he is a fan of Trump's movement but is trying to 'give tough love and speak on behalf of the base.' 'Maybe it hasn't been framed correctly for the president,' Johnson said. 'I don't know.' House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., in an interview on Benny Johnson's show Tuesday, had called for the Justice Department to 'put everything out there and let the people decide.' His first-term national security adviser, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn implored Trump in a lengthy message to correct course. 'All we want at this stage is for a modicum of trust to be reestablished between our federal government and the people it is designed to serve. That's all (PERIOD!),' he wrote. 'With my strongest recommendation, please gather your team and figure out a way to move past this.' Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk on his podcast attempted some damage control on Trump's behalf. 'Don't take too seriously this whole Truth Social here,' Kirk told his audience. 'I know some people are getting fired up about this. I don't believe he was trying to insult anybody personally.' He also offered a message to Trump. 'The grassroots is not trying to make you look bad,' he said. 'We want to try and make sure the bad people that have done such terrible things to you can finally be held accountable.' Other Trump allies have stuck by his side, suggesting he does not need the influencers who have capitalized on Epstein conspiracy theories to make money and earn viewers. 'He lent you his clout and voters,' Brenden Dilley, the head of a group of meme makers who have lent their support to Trump, wrote on X on Wednesday. 'They don't belong to you.'
American Press
14-07-2025
- Business
- American Press
Trump threatens Russia with tariffs and boosts US weapons for Ukraine
President-Donald Trump. (Associated Press Archives) President Donald Trump on Monday threatened Russia with steep tariffs and announced a rejuvenated pipeline for American weapons to reach Ukraine, hardening his stance toward Moscow after months of frustration about unsuccessful negotiations for ending the war. The latest steps reflect an evolving approach from the Republican president, who promised to swiftly resolve the war Russian President Vladimir Putin started when he invaded Ukraine three years ago. Trump has often criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for allowing the war to happen but more recently has expressed growing irritation toward Putin. 'It just keeps going on and on and on,' Trump said. 'Every night, people are dying.' Trump said he would implement 'severe tariffs' unless a peace deal is reached within 50 days. He provided few details on how they would be implemented, but he described them as secondary tariffs, meaning they would target Russia's trading partners in an effort to isolate Moscow in the global economy. 'I use trade for a lot of things,' Trump added. 'But it's great for settling wars.' Trump also said that European allies would buy 'billions and billions' of dollars of U.S. military equipment to be transferred to Ukraine, replenishing the besieged country's supplies of weapons. He made the announcement in the Oval Office alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte. Included in the plan are Patriot air defense systems, a top priority for Ukraine as it fends off Russian drones and missiles. Doubts were recently raised about Trump's commitment to supply Ukraine when the Pentagon paused shipments over concerns that U.S. stockpiles were running low. Rutte said Germany, Finland, Canada, Norway, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Denmark would be among the buyers to supply Ukraine. He said 'speed is of the essence here,' and he said the shipments should make Putin 'reconsider' peace negotiations. Trump exasperated with Putin Trump has long boasted of his friendly relationship with Putin and after taking office in January repeatedly asserted that Russia was more willing than Ukraine to reach a peace deal. At the same time, Trump accused Zelenskyy of prolonging the war and called him a 'dictator without elections.' But Russia's relentless onslaught against civilian areas of Ukraine wore down Trump's patience. In April, Trump urged Putin to 'STOP!' launching deadly barrages on Kyiv, and the following month said in a social media post that the Russian leader 'has gone absolutely CRAZY!' as the bombardments continued. Meanwhile, Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, met with Zelenskyy in Kyiv on Monday. Zelenskyy said he had 'a productive conversation' with Kellogg about strengthening Ukrainian air defenses, joint arms production and purchasing U.S. weapons in conjunction with European countries, as well as the possibility of tighter international sanctions on the Kremlin. 'We hope for the leadership of the United States, because it is clear that Moscow will not stop unless its … ambitions are stopped by force,' Zelenskyy said on Telegram. Talks on sending Patriot missiles Russia has pounded Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv, with hundreds of drones and cruise and ballistic missiles that Ukraine's air defenses are struggling to counter. June brought the highest monthly civilian casualties of the past three years, with 232 people killed and 1,343 wounded, the U.N. human rights mission in Ukraine said. Russia launched 10 times more drones and missiles in June than in the same month last year, it said. At the same time, Russia's bigger army is making a new effort to drive back Ukrainian defenders on parts of the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line. Trump confirmed the U.S. is sending Ukraine more badly needed Patriot air defense missiles and that the European Union will pay the U.S. for the 'various pieces of very sophisticated' weaponry. While the EU is not allowed under its treaties to buy weapons, individual EU member countries can and are, just as NATO member countries are buying and sending weapons. Germany has offered to finance two Patriot systems, government spokesperson Stefan Kornelius said Monday in Berlin. As far as other European countries financing more systems is concerned, that would have to be seen in talks, he said. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius was traveling to Washington on Monday to meet with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Germany has already given three of its own Patriot systems to Ukraine, and Pistorius was quoted as saying in an interview with the Financial Times that it now has only six. 'Weapons flowing at a record level' A top ally of Trump, Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said Sunday that the conflict is nearing an inflection point as Trump shows growing interest in helping Ukraine fight back against Russia's full-scale invasion. It's a cause that Trump had previously dismissed as being a waste of U.S. taxpayer money. 'In the coming days, you'll see weapons flowing at a record level to help Ukraine defend themselves,' Graham said on CBS' 'Face the Nation.' He added: 'One of the biggest miscalculations Putin has made is to play Trump. And you just watch, in the coming days and weeks, there's going to be a massive effort to get Putin to the table.' Kirill Dmitriev, Putin's envoy for international investment who took part in talks with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia in February, dismissed what he said were efforts to drive a wedge between Moscow and Washington. 'Constructive dialogue between Russia and the United States is more effective than doomed-to-fail attempts at pressure,' Dmitriev said in a post on Telegram. 'This dialogue will continue, despite titanic efforts to disrupt it by all possible means.'
