Police clear pro-Palestinian demonstration; concerns over inflation; a wild night in NBA, NHL

Hot Off The Wire

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted May 1 at 7 a.m. CT:

Dueling groups of protesters have clashed at the University of California, Los Angeles, grappling in fistfights and shoving, kicking and using sticks to beat one another. Hours earlier, police burst into a building at Columbia University that pro-Palestinian protesters took over and broke up a demonstration that had paralyzed the school.

JERUSALEM (AP) — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has met with Israeli leaders in his push for a cease-fire deal between Israel and Hamas to impress on them that “the time is now" for an agreement that would free hostages and bring a pause in the nearly seven months of war.

BOCA RATON, Fla. (AP) — Florida’s ban on most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy has gone into effect, and some doctors are concerned that women in the state will no longer have access to needed health care.

A subsidiary of Johnson & Johnson is now proposing paying approximately $6.48 billion over 25 years as part of a settlement in the U.S. to cover allegations that its baby powder containing talc caused ovarian cancer.

WESTMORELAND, Kan. (AP) — Authorities say one person died when a tornado ripped through the small northeastern Kansas city of Westmoreland and destroyed houses, RVs and outbuildings.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Trade Commission is challenging patents on 20 brand-name drugs, including the blockbuster weight-loss injection Ozempic. Tuesday's announcement is part of a wider effort by the Biden administration targeting pharmaceutical industry practices that contribute to high prices.

In other news:

• The ship that brought down a Baltimore bridge to be removed from collapse site in the coming weeks.
• The Fed's Jerome Powell will likely to signal that lower inflation is needed before Fed would cut rates.
• Four law officers serving warrant are killed, four wounded in shootout at North Carolina home, police say.
• Judge finds Donald Trump violated gag order in hush money trial nine times, fines him $9,000.
• US drug control agency will move to reclassify marijuana in a historic shift, AP sources say.
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vows to invade Rafah "with or without a deal" as cease-fire talks with Hamas continue.
• McDonald's plans to step up deals, marketing to combat slower fast food traffic.
• Chinese scientist who published COVID-19 virus sequence allowed back in his lab after sit-in protest.
• "Hell's Kitchen" and "Stereophonic" lead Tony Award nominations, shows honoring creativity's spark.
• Late heroics in NBA playoff action, big goals in NHL playoffs, a long win streak in major league baseball continues and a star player will be sidelined again.

—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.