Oklahoma towns hard hit by tornadoes begin long cleanup; ‘Challengers’ wins weekend box office; 2024 election updates

Hot Off The Wire

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April 29 at 7:30 a.m. CT:

SULPHUR, Okla. (AP) — Small towns in Oklahoma are beginning a long cleanup after tornadoes flattened home and buildings and killed at least four people, including an infant. The damage Monday was extensive in the community of Sulphur, where a weekend tornado crumpled many downtown buildings and sheared the roofs off houses across a 15-block radius. The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management said hospitals across the state reported about 100 injuries, including people apparently cut or struck by debris. White House officials said President Joe Biden spoke to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt on Sunday and offered the full support of the federal government.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Protests are roiling college campuses across the U.S. as upcoming graduation ceremonies are threatened by disruptive demonstrators, with students and others sparring over the war in Gaza and its mounting death toll. About 275 people were arrested on Saturday at campuses including Indiana University at Bloomington, Arizona State University and Washington University in St. Louis, pushing the number of arrests nationwide to nearly 900 since April 18.

Palestinian health officials say Israeli airstrikes on the southern Gaza city of Rafah have killed at least 22 people, including six women and five children. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday begins his seventh diplomatic mission to the Middle East since the Israel-Hamas war began in October.

NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Police in Kenya say at least 40 people have died after a dam collapsed in the country’s west. The floodwaters swept through houses and cut off a major road.

HOUSTON (AP) — The Rolling Stones are showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon. They kicked off their latest tour Sunday night at Houston’s NRG Stadium.

The sexy tennis drama “Challengers” won the box office this weekend with $15 million in ticket sales, according to studio estimates Sunday. The film was considered a test for Zendaya's star power on her own outside of supporting roles in big brands like “Spider-Man” and “Dune.”

SAN DIEGO (AP) — A pair of giant pandas will soon make the journey from China to the U.S., where they will be cared for at the San Diego Zoo. It's all part of an ongoing conservation partnership between the two nations.

In other headlines:

• Donald Trump's lawyers try to discredit testimony of prosecution's first witness in hush money trial.
• Trump promised big plans to flip Black and Latino voters. Many Republicans are waiting to see them.
• Have you heard the one about Trump? President Joe Biden tries humor on the campaign trail.
• Class of 2024 reflects on college years marked by COVID-19, protests and life's lost milestones.
• In this week's entertainment roundup, prosecutors say they are preparing for a Harvey Weinstein retrial, Nicole Kidman won the AFI Life Achievement Award and Jerry Seinfeld's "Unfrosted" movie about Pop Tarts is coming to Netflix.
• Anthony Edwards leads the Timberwolves to round 2 of the NBA Playoffs, Jalen Brunson and the Knicks are up three games to one, the Rangers advance to the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, while the Avalanche, Canucks and Oilers all move within one game of winning their series, the top teams in the American and National Leagues meet on the diamond, and a thrilling finish on the NASCAR track.
• A long flu season winds down in the U.S.
• Biden officials indefinitely postpone ban on menthol cigarettes amid election-year pushback.
• CDC says it's identified the first documented cases of HIV transmitted through cosmetic needles.
• Russian President Vladimir Putin likely didn’t order death of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, U.S. official says.
• It's 30 years since apartheid ended. South Africa's celebrations are set against growing discontent.
• Dozens in Italy give a fascist salute on the anniversary of Mussolini's execution.
• Pope visits Venice to speak to the artists and inmates behind the Biennale's must-see prison show.
• On this week's AP Religion Roundup, college campuses across the U.S. erupt in protests, and a group of teens are arrested in the stabbing of a bishop.

—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.