AFN NEWS

Thursday, April 18, 2019　

1) From ABC News, I’m Chuck Sivertsen. Federal officials say Sol Pais, the Florida 18-year old infatuated with Columbine massacre has been found dead. She was obsessed with the Columbine shooting, had made threats online and talked her friends. She bought three one-way tickets to Colorado and she bought a shotgun immediately after landing in Denver. The FBI Dean Phillips says that’s why the manhunt was so urgent. “It was really a combination of her actions and comments. She made several comments to folks that we obtained through interviews.” Hundreds of schools here in Colorado were shut down. Most will reopen on Thursday. Alex Stone, ABC News, Denver.

2) North Korea has test-fired a new tactical guided weapon which, South Korea’s news agency says, was supervised by North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un. 

3) Attorney General William Barr will hold a news conference at 9:30 tomorrow morning Eastern Time on the release of the Russia report.

4) The Trump Administration has imposed new sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela. National Security Advisor John Bolton addressing the U.S. Bay of Pigs invasion veterans in Miami, announcing new sanctions against Cuba and Venezuela, including stopping Venezuelan oil shipping to Houston this week. “So we have a ship’s captain out there wondering where he’s gonna go next,” More than a half dozen new sanctions on Cuba and Venezuela aimed at overturning what President Trump calls brutal and repressive governments. Andy Field, ABC News.

5) Acing Homeland Security Secretary Kevin McAleenan is in McAllen, Texas to draw attentions to the number of families crossing the southern border. “Yesterday in one 24-hour period, we had over 4,800 people cross our border, a new record for the modern era.” McAleenan says congressional action is needed.

6) A British member of the elite international diving team that helped rescue the Thai soccer team from a cave last summer is now missing in a Tennessee cave.

7) Wall Street major indexes closed slightly lower. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network, stocks ending slightly lower as the healthcare sector continues to sell off, with the Dow falling 3 points, the NASDAQ down 4, S&P 500 down 7. // And Neiman Marcus is getting serious about the fast-growing secondhand luxury business. The luxury retailer acquiring a minority stake in Fashionphile, an online seller of preowned designer handbags and accessories. At select Neiman Marcus stores, customers will be able to not only receive an immediate quote for their items from Fashionphile but also payments they can spend immediately on new items at the store. // And you wanna find some happy employee? Check out Trader Joe’s. The California-based grocer has officially been dubbed the best large-sized employer of the year. Forbes releasing its annual list of best employers with Trader Joe’s and Southwest Airlines claiming the top two spots of large companies this year. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.

AFN NEWS

Thursday, April 11, 2019　

1) From ABC News, I’m Daria Albinger. President Trump speaking in Crosby, Texas, signing two executive orders making it easier for energy companies to build oil and gas pipelines over state objections. “The United States is now the number-one producer of oil and natural gas anywhere in the world, anywhere on the planet, not even close.”

2) Earlier in San Antonio, the President talked border security, saying cartels take money from migrants falsely promising them safety. “They’ll be dropped off and they start walking and they’ll say Houston is right down the road but it’s actually 300 miles away, and we find dead people from Guatemala, Honduras, from El Salvador, from Mexico.” The President says he will be sending more troops to the border.

3) Attorney General William Barr tells the Senate Committee he believes there was spying on the 2016 Trump presidential campaign. “Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff responding that statement was exactly what the President wanted to hear. “I’m sure that was music to Donald Trump’s ears but I’m sure it was also a body blow to the hardworking men and women at the FBI.” Mark Warner, the Vice Chair of the Senator Intelligence Committee, responded to Barr on Twitter, saying Mr. Barr knows how counter-intel investigations work and that giving a wink and a nod to this long-debunked spying conspiracy theory is irresponsible. Serena Marshall, ABC News at the Capitol.

4) Durham, North Carolina Fire Chief Bob Zoldos says firefighters were responding to reports of the gas leak when there was a sudden explosion. “While in the middle of their evacuation of all the unit behind us, there was an explosion that involved approximately five buildings on this block including catastrophic damage to one.” One person died and firefighters among several injured.

5) A historic win for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a special election result shows he’s likely to win his 5th term. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network; shoppers digging deeper into their pockets to pay for food and fuel. Consumer prices rising nearly half percent last month, which is the biggest jump we’ve seen in 14 months. The cost of gas hurting the most of energy prices accounting for 16% of the rise. Americans are also paying more for food and housing. Now speaking of those rising gas prices, they are all up nearly 30 cents in the past month, and the national average cost for regular’s now 2.76 a gallon. // And look it up if you drive a Ford. The automaker’s recalling 327,000 F-Series pickup trucks for the second time in the past few months. Apparently there are still problems with heater cables in the engine that could catch fire. // And talk about paying the price to try to look your best. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeon, Americans had 17.7 million cosmetic procedures in 2018, total price tag $16.5 million. That’s 4% more than 2017. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Connell McShane.

AFN NEWS

Thursday, April 4, 2019　

1) From ABC News, I’m Daria Albinger. There are some new details about what may have contributed to a deadly plane crash. Two aviation sources who are familiar with the investigation tell ABC News that the Ethiopian Airlines crash was apparently triggered by a damaged sensor on the plane. The anti-stall system engaged, sources say, but the pilots did not correctly first try to use the button to electronically pull up the nose of the plane, but instead they shut off power to the electronic system on nose down which made manually bringing up the nose difficult. Not having success, the pilots turned the electronic system back on, which engaged the nose down again and the pilots could not regain control of the plane. Alex Stone, ABC News.

2) A number of parents caught up in Operation Varsity Blues got their day in court, “-- criminal charge that carries up to 20 years in prison. The scene outside the court might have been mistaken for a red carpet that Lori Loughlin walked with her husband Mossimo Giannulli. Cameras clicked away as Laughlin in a camel pantsuit left the court after affirming to the judge she understood the conspiracy charge against her. Felicity Huffman did the same. Executives, lawyers, dentists were among other parents who appeared. Federal prosecutors said all paid bribes to have their children’s test scores doctored or to have their children admitted to schools as athletic recruits. Aaron Katersky, ABC News, Boston.”

3) The Judiciary Committee OK’d subpoenas for the full and unredacted report from Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Chair Jerrold Nadler says he will give Attorney General William Barr time to respond before issuing them.

4) Former Vice President Biden tweeting that he’ll be more mindful of the people’s personal space. “Social norms began to change. They’ve shifted and the boundaries of protecting personal space have been reset and I get it, I get it. I hear what they are saying. I understand it.” Biden who’s accused by two women of the inappropriate conducts says he worked his entire life to empower women to prevent abuse. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network; on Wall Street, the major averages closing in the green on investor’s optimism about trade negotiations between the U.S. and China. With the Dow closing up 39 points, for the NASDAQ and S&P 500 hitting all-time highs today for the year, with the NASDAQ closing 47 points, S&P 500 up 6. // And T-Mobile partnering with Viacom for its upcoming streaming service intensifying the looming battle for customers as several top companies are getting near to launch their own online video platforms. T-Mobile is also awaiting federal approval for $26.5 billion merger with Sprint, and both of them say it’s necessary in order to compete against AT&T and Verizon on 5th generation wireless technology. And speaking of which, Verizon turning on its 5G wireless network today in select areas of Chicago and Minneapolis. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.

AFN NEWS

Thursday, March 28, 2019　

1) From ABC News, I’m Daria Albinger. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill are pressing top transportation officials about airline safety. “FAA’s Acting Administrator Den Elwell providing insight about the agency’s decision to ground Boeing 737 Max planes, saying the decision was made after noticing similarities in the flight path of the Lion Air and Ethiopian Airlines crashes. ‘When you have the possibility of a link between two accidents of the same type of aircraft, it’s prudent to ground them until you find what that link is.’ The FAA’s decision making in grounding the Max planes will be part of the audit ordered by the Department of Transportation. Mark Remillard, ABC News.” In Washington State, Boeing is demonstrating software update to the 737 Max series to customers and regulators. Officials say pilot training will be computer-based and will require simulator.

2) A federal judge in Washington, D.C. is blocking Medicaid work requirements in Arkansas and Kentucky.

3) An Ohio man pleads guilty to federal hate crimes for the 2017 Charlottesville car attack. James Alex Fields Jr. admitting in court that he intended to kill Heather Heyer and others when he drove a car. It was 2017 crowded counter protests in Charlottesville, Virginia. The state court convicted him and now he’s admitted he was also a federal hate crime. “His affection for Adolf Hitler, Nazis Germany.” U.S. Attorney Thomas Cullen saying he frankly feels he would now serve two life sentences, one each for federal and state crime. Andy Field, ABC News.

4) British Prime Minister Theresa May offers up her job in exchange for getting an EU divorce deal to pass. “In a sense, you could say the blackmail. Theresa May trying for the third time to give her already-failed plan through really on the scales of what people are looking at. They wanna get rid of her, but in order to do that they’re gonna have to pass a deal which the country hates as well.” ABC’s Tom Rivers in London.

5) Stocks closed lower today. You’re listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network; on Wall Street, the major averages ending lower on weakness in healthcare, technology and banks, then also on lingering fears of a slowing global economy with the Dow falling 32 points, the NASDAQ down 48, S&P 500 down 13. // And a big acquisition in the healthcare stage. Health insurer Centene will be buying competitor Wellcare Health for over $15 billion which will create a giant in the business of managing government health programs. The move comes after the Trump Administration recently renewed its attack on striking down the Affordable Care Act. Centene is the largest provider of plan to ACA market places. // And kick off for April, and just in time for Easter of Peeps and Dunkin’ collaboration. Dunkin’ will be releasing a new Peeps donut and a marshmallow-flavored coffee for a limited time. The Peeps donut features a yellow marshmallow chick on top of a green and egg-shaped sprinkle donut and Java will be infused with a creamy taste of classic Peeps marshmallow. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.

AFN NEWS

Thursday, March 21, 2019　

1) From ABC News, I’m Daria Albinger. John’s defense spending and the late Senator John McCain, President Trump visited a factory in Lima, Ohio, where he continued to criticize the Republican. The President telling Ohio tank plant workers that they too should be angry with the late Senator John McCain for passing wrong information about Mr. Trump that, he claims, led to the Mueller investigation. “And what did he do? He didn’t call me. He turned it over to the FBI, hoping to put me in jeopardy.” In fact, FBI officials testified that it was not that dossier but one of the President’s own campaign advisers who sparked suspicions that led to the Russia investigation. Andy Field, ABC News. Before he left for Ohio, the President told reporters that he thinks Special Counsel Robert Mueller‘s report on the Russia investigation should be released to the public. He also called it ridiculous.

2) In an address to the nation, British Prime Minister Theresa May says the country won’t leave the European Union on time next week with a deal. “Today I have written to Donald Tusk, the President of the European Council, to request a short extension of Article 50 up to the 30th of June to give MPs the time to make a final choice.” And Tusk says the block will grant a Brexit extension if May gets a deal passed in Parliament.

3) Sources familiar with the matter tell ABC News that the FBI has a look working with other federal authorities to look into the certification of the Boeing 737 Max in the wake of two recent plane crashes.

4) Elemental fire at a Texas chemical storage plant is out. Company spokesperson Alice Richardson says firefighters will try to find out what caused it. “Harris County‘s fire investigative team has begun their investigation, and that’s the starting point.” The cleanup efforts have also started at the site of the fire. You are listening to ABC News.

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From the Fox Business Network; on Wall Street, the major averages closing mixed with the Dow giving back earlier gains on conflicting reports over the progress of U.S.-China trade talks, with the Dow closing down 27 points, the NASDAQ up 10, S&P 500 down a faction. // And shares of FedEx plunging in the extended session after reporting quarterly results in missing earnings and revenue estimate and slashing its full-year earnings forecast for the second time. // And music publishers are suing Peloton, accusing the maker of video-streaming exercise bikes of using more than 1,000 songs of Lady Gaga, Drake, Gwen Stefani, Justin Timberlake and others without permission. The copyright infringement lawsuit is looking for more than $150 million in damages. // And Starbucks is revamping its rewards loyalty program offering a new way for you to get free stuff, starting on April the 16th. Members will earn rewards points sooner and you will be able to use those points to buy more items than before. With the Fox Business Report, I’m Hilarie Barsky.