August 18, 2026 5:00 am
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Florida voters cast ballots Tuesday for Republican and Democratic nominees for governor, U.S. Senate and several congressional races. The primaries will define a midterm ballot set to test President Donald Trump’s grip on his adopted state. Congressman Byron Donalds is hoping with Trump’s backing to dominate the Republican field and be elected in November as Florida’s first Black governor. Eleven-term Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz is running in a new near-majority Black district under a GOP-led redrawing of congressional districts. And Ashley Moody, the Senate appointee who replaced Marco Rubio when he became secretary of state, is seeking the GOP nod to run for the final two years of the term.
August 18, 2026 5:05 am
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement is pitching a plan to help shield local police officers who make immigration arrests from possible financial consequences if they are accused of on-duty misconduct. A planning document released Friday says the agency is proposing to subsidize liability insurance for state and local officers who are trained and deputized to enforce federal immigration laws. ICE’s partnerships with local departments have soared since President Donald Trump returned to the White House last year and may get an additional boost with liability insurance by removing a hurdle that has made some local police departments reluctant to join. The Associated Press is the first to report on this insurance proposal.
August 18, 2026 5:02 am
OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Opening statements started Tuesday in a pivotal trial for Meta Platforms in a California federal court, where states are seeking billions of dollars in damages for social media harms to children. Attorneys general from California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey are seeking extensive financial damages plus changes to how the company operates Facebook and Instagram. Twenty-nine states sued the tech giant in 2023 over child safety and privacy. The other 25 will go to trial later. The company also faces lawsuits in state courts. Meta said in a statement that it believes it has a strong case.
August 18, 2026 5:03 am
SANTA ANA ZIROSTO, Mexico (AP) — Authorities have lifted a U.S. security alert that halted avocado exports from Michoacán, Mexico’s main avocado-producing state. The alert had left around 200,000 workers in limbo while the military set up increased security measures. By the weekend, orchards and packing plants were back in operation, and U.S. inspectors had returned to certify the fruit. Some workers are relieved to have their wages back, while others fear the calm won’t last. The region is plagued by violence and extortion from local cartels. Increased security measures have been deployed, but growers remain cautious, hoping for lasting improvements.
August 17, 2026 4:40 am
Authorities say 13 former or current Penn State University students participated in a cocaine-trafficking ring that involved two fraternities. Authorities say the cocaine was packaged mainly at two off-campus fraternity houses and distributed primarily to students. Pennsylvania’s top prosecutor says fraternity brothers packaged the cocaine and that authorities found a pattern of some pledges being indoctrinated through cutting and bagging cocaine. Penn State University said in a news release that the university is placing Delta Upsilon on interim suspension while the college investigates the incident. Sigma Chi is not recognized and operates outside of Penn State’s oversight.
August 17, 2026 5:17 am
Hayden Panettiere has died at age 36. The actor starred in television series including “Heroes” and “Nashville.” Police in Greenville, South Carolina, say Panettiere was found unresponsive at an apartment complex on Sunday. They say an autopsy found no signs of trauma and her death remains under investigation. Panettiere’s father announced the actor’s death in a statement provided to ABC News. Panettiere had a prolific career dating to 1996. She appeared in “Remember the Titans” and voiced Dot in the Disney animated movie “A Bug’s Life.” Her role as a superpowered cheerleader in “Heroes” propelled her to fame two decades ago.
August 18, 2026 5:50 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — Frank Beard, the drummer for ZZ Top, has died at 77. He passed away Tuesday at his ranch in Richmond, Texas, with family by his side. ZZ Top sold over 50 million records and had six No. 1 singles on Billboard’s Mainstream Rock Airplay chart. The band, formed in 1969, was known for hits like “Sharp Dressed Man” and “Legs.” They maintained their original lineup for over five decades. Their unique style and humor made them popular in Hollywood and MTV. Beard is survived by his wife, Debbie Meredith, and three children. (Photo: AP)
August 17, 2026 5:46 pm
HONOLULU (AP) — Tropical Storm Lala has left behind a muddy mess from intense rainfall and flooding as it moved past Hawaii’s main islands. The storm weakened from a hurricane on Sunday without making landfall. Cleanup efforts are expected to begin Monday. But, the National Hurricane Center says life-threatening surf and rip currents remain. Heavy rainfall could still cause landslides, though winds are no longer a threat. Laupahoehoe on the Big Island recorded the heaviest rainfall at 43.54 inches. The storm caused serious flooding that swept about 100 homes from their foundations.
August 17, 2026 5:45 pm
NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. kindergarten vaccination rates have declined again, with exemptions reaching a record high. Federal data released Monday shows 4.2% of children are exempted from vaccine requirements, up from 3.6% the previous year. This marks the fourth consecutive year of rising exemption rates, mostly due to nonmedical reasons. Experts blame confusion in vaccination recommendations. The CDC reports a slight drop in measles-mumps-rubella shots, and that vaccination rates for polio and other diseases also are falling. The U.S. is experiencing its worst measles year since 1991. Some state health officials are urging parents to vaccinate their children as schools can be hot spots for outbreaks.
August 17, 2026 5:43 pm
(AP) – The 60-day deadline for an agreement to end the Iran war and resolve the dispute over its nuclear program is expiring. An interim agreement reached in June has collapsed, and Washington and Tehran are even further apart than they were then. Talks appear to be mostly indirect through mediators and have focused on reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The crucial waterway for global energy has been largely closed by Iranian attacks on shipping. Iran has issued far-reaching demands for opening it, while the U.S. appears to be banking on economic pressure to get Tehran to back down. Fighting flared in July and could resume at any time.
