Democrats expected to quickly end Mayorkas impeachment trial; ABBA, Blondie, Notorious B.I.G. honored; Whitey Herzog dies

Hot Off The Wire

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April 17 at 7 a.m. CT:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats could end the impeachment trial of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas before arguments even begin. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is expected on Wednesday to call votes to dismiss two articles of impeachment against Mayorkas after senators are sworn in as jurors midday, a move that could scuttle the trial and frustrate Republicans who have demanded that House prosecutors be able to make their case. Democrats appear to be united in opposition to moving forward. The House narrowly voted in February to impeach Mayorkas for his handling of the U.S.-Mexico border, arguing in the two articles that he refused to enforce immigration laws.

HONOLULU (AP) — An after-action report released Tuesday says that despite devoting nearly all the personnel and vehicles it had to the wildfire effort on the island of Maui last August, the firefighters were outmatched by the unprecedented blazes that left 101 people dead in Lahaina. The report makes more than 100 recommendations including adding more equipment. The Hawaii Attorney General is expected to release another report Wednesday.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — The University of Southern California has canceled a commencement speech by its 2024 valedictorian, a Muslim student who has expressed support for Palestinians. The university is citing substantial security risks for the event, which draws 65,000 people to campus. The decision was announced in a statement Monday by Andrew T. Guzman, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs. Guzman cited the “alarming tenor” of reaction to the school's choice of valedictorian.

WASHINGTON (AP) — A voting technology company targeted by bogus fraud claims related to the 2020 presidential election has settled a defamation lawsuit against a conservative news outlet. The settlement reached Tuesday between Florida-based Smartmatic and One America News Network is the latest development in a larger legal pushback by voting equipment companies that became ensnared in wild conspiracy theories falsely claiming they had flipped votes and cost former President Donald Trump reelection.

In other headlines:

• First seven jurors are chosen for Donald Trump's hush money criminal trial; 11 more still needed.
• Facing a Republican revolt, House Speaker Johnson pushes ahead on US aid for Ukraine, allies.
• Only 1 in 3 US adults think Trump acted illegally in New York hush money case, an AP-NORC poll shows.
• Bob Graham, ex-U.S. senator and Florida governor, dies at 87.
• The IMF Outlook for the world's economy is brighter, though still modest by historical standards.
• ABBA, Blondie, and the Notorious B.I.G. enter the National Recording Registry.
• The first two games of the NBA Play In schedule are contested, a six time All Star announces his retirement, positional battles in the NHL, injuries to key players in MLB and a Hall of Fame manager dies.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.