In Miami, Trump’s ardent backers are a sign of the city’s rightward shift

MIAMI (AP) — The federal charges against former President Donald Trump over classified documents have propelled the city of Miami to the center of a storyline that had been thought to be unfolding in Washington. Miami is the site of Trump’s first court appearance on Tuesday, a once-Democratic stronghold that has shifted rightward in recent…

Donald Trump described Pentagon plan of attack and shared classified map, indictment says

MIAMI (AP) — Former President Donald Trump is facing 37 felony charges related to the mishandling of classified documents. That’s according to an indictment unsealed Friday that also alleges that he described a Pentagon “plan of attack” and shared a classified map related to a military operation. The indictment marks the Justice Department’s first official…

Supreme Court rules in favor of Black Alabama voters in unexpected defense of Voting Rights Act

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court has issued a surprising ruling in favor of Black voters in a congressional redistricting case, rejecting a Republican-led effort to weaken a landmark voting rights law. Conservative Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh joined with the court’s liberals in affirming a lower-court ruling that found a likely…

Missouri governor signs bill banning gender-affirming care for transgender minors, some adults

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Transgender minors and some adults soon will be banned from accessing puberty blockers, hormones and gender-affirming surgeries under a bill signed by Missouri’s Republican governor. Gov. Mike Parson also on Wednesday signed legislation that will block transgender girls and women from playing on female sports teams at all school levels,…

St. Louis County prosecutor Wesley Bell vies for GOP Sen. Hawley’s seat

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — A Black prosecutor who stepped into leadership during protests over the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown is running for Republican U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley’s Missouri seat. St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Wesley Bell announced his candidacy for the Democratic nomination Wednesday. Bell is a former municipal judge who was…

Utah district bans Bible in elementary and middle schools ‘due to vulgarity or violence’

SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The Bible has been banned at elementary and middle schools in one Utah school district after a committee decided it wasn’t age appropriate “due to vulgarity or violence.” The decision by the Davis School District north of Salt Lake City comes as parent activists throughout the United States sow alarm…

Missouri professor not guilty by reason of insanity in stabbing death of colleague

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. (AP) — A former history professor at Missouri State University who was charged in the stabbing death of a colleague has been found not guilty by reason of insanity. The Springfield News-Leader reports that Edward Gutting, who was charged with first-degree murder in the 2016 killing of Marc Cooper in Springfield, was found…

Body of Missouri ER doctor had apparent gunshot wound, was found in Arkansas lake

Authorities say a missing emergency room doctor from Missouri whose body was found in an Arkansas lake had died of an apparent gunshot wound. But they’re still investigating what happened in the week since Dr. John Forsyth was last seen. The Benton County Sheriff’s Office said Wednesday that a kayaker discovered the 49-year-old’s body a…

Presidential hopeful DeSantis inspires push to make book bans easier in Republican-controlled states

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (AP) — As he vies for the Republican presidential nomination, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is touting a series of measures he has pushed that have led to an upswing in banned or restricted books — not just in Florida schools but in an increasing number of other conservative states. Florida last year became…