AFN NEWS 

Thursday, September 13, 2018　

1) From ABC News, I’m Chuck Sivertsen. More than 10 million people are now under storm watches or warnings in Carolina and Virginia as Hurricane Florence shifts south. “Florence is now a Category 3 storm, but don’t let that fool you. We are on the wrong side of this storm where most of the damage is done.” North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper says life-threatening rain may last for days as he urges people who haven’t evacuated the coast to leave now. “The Red Cross already housing more than 1600 people fleeing storm from South and North Carolina. They’ll open more evacuation centers today. Red Cross officials say as many as 100,000 residents may need places to stay and wait out the storm. The Red Cross supplementing local schools and stadium shelters with FEMA making sure they get supplies they need. Andy Field, ABC News. Forecasters say Florence will hit the Carolinas and then stall extending the length of Hurricane-force winds, storm surge, and rainfall.

2) Former Trump campaign Chairman Paul Manafort is in negotiations with special counsel Robert Mueller’s office over a possible plea agreement. Sources tell ABC News. Manafort’s second trial on failing to register as a foreign agent is slated to begin later this month.

3) President Trump has signed an executive order that will impose sanctions for election interference. “Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats says the administration signs an attempted interference in U.S. elections, not just by Russia but from China and capabilities from potentially Iran and North Korea. Coats told reporters on a conference call, there’s an ongoing effort to catch and stop these attempts. In an effort they will continue on a 24-hour basis until the midterm election. The DNI said the administration wants to have a full assessment after the election to, quote, ensure the American people know exactly what may or may not have happened. Karen Travers, ABC News at the White House.

4) Food and Drug Administration calls e-cigarettes an epidemic among miners. The agency has written fines to retailers found unlawfully selling e-cigarettes to those underage. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network, on Wall Street major averages ending mixed with weakness in the tech sector pushing the NASDAQ in the red. The Dow closing up 28 points. The NASDAQ down 18. S&P500 up a point. // And for the third straight year, household income rising with a median average of $61,372, according to the Census Bureau, boosted by a large number of Americans with full-time jobs and calling back some losses in income from the great recession that started at the end of 2007. Yet, householders are still earning essentially the same income that they did back then as inflation adjusted median income remains below the record for a typical household which was $62,000 in 1999. // And mobile devices are driving 60% of all e-commerce traffic, according to data provided by customer relationship management company Salesforce. Additionally, 71% of shoppers use mobile devices in store to read reviews, make purchases. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.

AFN NEWS 

Thursday, September 6, 2018　

1) From ABC News, I’m Daria Albinger. President Trump calls the New York Times Op-Ed piece by a senior administration official gutless, while Press Secretary Sarah Sanders says that person should resign. “The Times to see unusual step of granting an anonymity to the official who says I’m part of a liberal resistance instead of working to preserve our democratic institutions while thwarting Mr. Trump’s more misguided impulses until he is out of office. It’s not clear where exactly in the administration the official serves or what the level of direct access to the President might be. Alex Stone, ABC News, Washington.”

2) President Trump also continues to push back on Bob Woodward‘s book that’s critical of his administration. “We do run a strong White House. There’s no question about it and we are doing things that nobody else has ever been able to do and our country is stronger now than it’s ever been.” The President calls the book pure fiction.

3) Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh answering pointed questions during his confirmation hearing. Constitutionality of investigating sitting president, something he says he hasn’t taken a position on. “No one is above the law in the United States including the President of the United States.” The question’s coming from Republican Sent. Ben Sasse of Nebraska. “If you believe that presidents should have the power to do whatever they wanted, I couldn’t vote for you, either. So I’m headed toward voting for you because I don’t believe any of those things are true.” Protesters have interrupted the hearings for the second day.

4) Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey spending a day fielding questions from House Committee members on allegations that the company suppresses conservative views, something New Jersey Democrat Frank Pallone takes exceptions to. “I think it’s the height of hypocrisy that President Trump and congressional Republicans criticize Twitter for its supposed liberal bias, when President Trump uses the platform every day for his juvenile tweets and spreading lies and misinformation to the whole country and to the world.” The hearing was briefly interrupted by a protester.

5) A magnitude 6.6 earthquake hit northern Japan. Officials don’t know the extent of the damage at this point. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network, on Wall Street, major averages closing mixed with tech stocks dropping which weighed on the NASDAQ. The Dow closing up 23 points, the NASDAQ down 96, S&P500 down 8. // And shares of American Express falling after the Wall Street Journal reported the FBI has launched probe into the company’s foreign exchange pricing practices. The investigation is in its early stages and is focused on whether the foreign exchange international payments division misrepresented pricing to clients in order to win their business. // And Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi says that the ride-hailing company is on track to launch an initial public offering next year and it has no plans to sell its self-driving car research arm, Advanced Technologies Group. In fact, Khosrowshahi says that the company is quite optimistic. It’ll be able to reduce testing of self-driving cars later this year, this after a fatal crash involving an autonomous Uber car in Tempe, Arizona. With the Fox Business Report, I am Hilarie Barsky.

AFN NEWS ON THE HOUR

Thursday, August 30, 2018　

1) From ABC News, I’m Chuck Sivertsen. Hundreds of people have lined up to file past Sen. John McCain’s casket at the Arizona State Capitol. “Linda Gordon was the first one in line so she could pay a respect to John McCain, arriving seven hours early. “We are respecting him and showing him. We love him and thank you so much that we’re grateful.” Many in line hear veterans who say they want to thank McCain for his service. McCain’s casket is protected by the Arizona National Guard. Alex Stone, ABC News, Phoenix.” At the end of an earlier ceremony, Sen. McCain’s wife Cindy could be seen laying her cheek on his flag-draped casket.

2) President Trump praising outgoing White House counsel Don McGahn, who will leave this fall. “Don McGahn‘s a really good guy, been with me for a long time. Privately before this, he represented me. Been here now, it’ll be almost two years and a lot of affections for Don.” McGahn represents the office of the President.

3) In a series of tweets, President Trump says joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises have been called off, citing costs. He also downplayed the report that talks with North Korea broken down. At the White House, the President blaming his trade fight with China for derailing talks to denuclearize North Korea. “I have a fantastic relationship with Chairman Kim as you probably know, and we’re just going to have to see how it all ends up.” China appears to ease their economic sanctions on North Korea, giving the U.S. less leverage to make a deal with North Korea. Andy Field, ABC News, Washington.

4) Chief Clinical Officer Dr. Kirk Tucker says 29 people at the Ross Correctional Institution in Chillicothe, Ohio were being treated for likely exposure to fentanyl including 23 correctional officers. “This is a very unique event. This is once in a lifetime event, something in my position ___ ___ have to experience.”

5) Temporarily, prisons in Pennsylvania are on lockdown for following the treatment of 29 employees at ten prisons for exposure to drugs in recent weeks.

6) A major up day on Wall Street today. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network, on Wall Street, stocks continuing their upward march to end in the green with the major averages boosted by the new trade talks with the U.S. and Canada. // And a rally in tech stocks with Amazon and Apple hitting new record high, the Dow closing up 61 points, the NASDAQ notching a new record high up 80, the S&P 500 also hitting a new record high up 17. // And after the closing bell, Salesforce reporting quarterly earnings with the customer-relationship management software company’s quarterly result beating Wall Street estimates but its earnings outlook for the third quarter did not. // And Chick-fil-A is heading into fall, and adding some new menu items in catering option. New to the menu, 30-count nuggets, waffle potato chips, and an improved fruit cup. Additions to its catering menu include a grilled chicken bundle which allows you to assemble your own grilled chicken sandwiches and a spicy chilled grilled chicken sub. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.

AFN NEWS ON THE HOUR

Thursday, August 23, 2018　

1) From ABC News, I’m Daria Albinger. The bull market: it is now the longest in history. That means for more than 3400 days the benchmark, S&P 500 Index of major stocks, has gone without a drop of 20% or more. “Consumers are spending in more buying the product that corporate America makes. When corporate America is making more money because of that and also paying fewer taxes, facing fewer regulations, they make more money. Stock investors turn around and buy those companies.” ABC’s Rebecca Jarvis. The S&P closed down a point today. The Dow Jones 88.

2) __ __ __. Co-owner of Yarrabee Farms, Dane Lang, says the man accused of murdering Mollie Tibbetts, 24-year-old Cristhian Rivera, gave them a different identity when he applied for a job four years ago. “In this case, the individual did provide a state-issued photo-ID and the social security card.” Dane Lang didn’t say what identity Rivera who’s in the country illegally gave.

3) FEMA Administrator Brock Long says they’re ready for what Hurricane Lane now a Category-5 storm is to bring to Hawaii. “Bottom line is a lot of uncertainty in the track forecasts that we’re currently monitoring. However, what is certain is that Hawaii is going to be impacted and see torrential rains over the next several days.” So far, Lane is forecast to pass west of the Big Island tomorrow and come close to Honolulu on Friday.

4) White House Spokeswoman Sarah Sanders says President Trump did nothing wrong one day after former Attorney Michael Cohen said in court that then candidate Trump directed them to make   hush money payments to two women. Sanders says there are no charges against the President.

5) The President awarded the Medal of Honor to Air Force Technical Sergeant John Chapman who died on an Afghan mountain top of fighting two bunkers of Al-Qaeda militants in 2002. “At over 10,000 feet, they fought the enemy at the highest altitude of any battle in the history of the American military.” Chapman was providing a cover for his teammate trying to carry out the rescue mission. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network, Stocks entering the longest bull run ever on Wednesday. The current rally started 3,453 days ago on March 9th of 2009. The major indexes have been soaring. That’s welcome to folks investing in their golden years. In fact, nearly 3 in 10 working Americans just telling Bankrate.com that they’re stashing away more money for retirement this year than last year. // But fewer folks are investing in homes. The National Association of Realtors is reporting existing home sales slipping in July for the 4th straight month. The combination of rising prices and the shortage of homes on the market keeping many potential buyers on the third __. // And finally parents can relate to this. More than half of all teens in America say they spend too much time on their cellphones. The study from Pew Research also says that the same number of teens are trying to cut back on their usage. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Connell McShane.

AFN NEWS ON THE HOUR

Thursday, August 16, 2018　

1) From ABC News, I’m Richard Cantu. Citing alleged erratic behavior in unfounded and outrageous allegations, White House Spokeswoman Sarah Sanders announced that President Trump is revoking the security clearance of Obama-era CIA Director John Brennan. “He was pressed in a briefing about how there have been violations of his classified information of after all, as Sarah citing her statement that has to do with the President’s constitutional responsibility to protect the confidential information, but they have no evidence. The only thing they do have is that Brennan has made the statements that have been upsetting to this President.” ABC’s Jordyn Phelps.

2) After closing arguments concluded the jury in Paul Manafort‘s bank and tax-fraud trial is getting instructions from the judge. Prosecutors presented Manafort as a liar and a schemer while his defense blames former business partner Rick Gates for embezzling money. “They didn’t deliver a case at all. They didn’t present the case at all. They’re really relying on that cross examination of Gates last week, and then they’re closing arguments again to bring it all back to Manafort’s former business partner Rick Gates as the man behind all of these crimes.” ABC’s Katherine Faulders.

3) In an effort to crack down on Mexican drug cartels, the Chicago Police and multiple federal law enforcement agencies are joining forces with Mexican authorities to launch a new taskforce. Authorities say they’ll target cartel revenue and high-level leaders.

4) “Authorities in New Haven, Connecticut say at least 40 people have overdosed on what they say may have been synthetic marijuana. “New Haven Fire Chief John Alston says a number of the overdoses occurred in New Haven Green, a park in the city’s downtown, and so far there have been no death. Doctors say the K2 may have been raised with opioid but its toxicology report will need to confirm now.” ABC’s Mark Remillard.

5) An Ohio man missing for a week on Mt. St. Helens in Washington State has been found alive. Rescuers say they found Matthew Matheny on a flank of the volcano. He’s been airlifted to a hospital.

6) Down day on Wall Street with the Dow losing 137 points and the NASDAQ closing off 97.

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From the Fox Business Network, lots of workers feeling like they are stuck in a rut. A new survey from LinkedIn shows more than a third of professionals feel they don’t have a good sense of where their careers going, and that surprisingly. Many say that lack of direction is keeping them from changing jobs. // The job site Glassdoor reviewing that its latest, highest-paying jobs in America with a temping list. The physician tops that list. The median based salary for doctor is near $200,000 a year. // Stocks sinking ahead on Wednesday after Turkey raised tariffs on U.S. imports. The Dow, NASDAQ, S&P500 all closing down but well off the __ of the day as investors dealt with new worries about a potential trade war. // Shoppers are showing any signs of worries this summer, however, retail sales jumping more than expected in July. The government says the consumers were spending out things like clothes, appliances, cars, a lot at the restaurants. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Neil Cavuto.