Salem News Channel

NEW YORK (AP) — Oil giant Chevron is confirming that it is expanding its operations in Venezuela, just days after President Donald Trump announced an ambitious deal to develop the nation’s oil reserves and give the Pentagon a stake in the profits. Chevron said Wednesday that it has been assigned additional acreage in the Orinoco Belt, where the company has an established position. Joint venture plans include investing more than $7 billion over the next five years, more than doubling production to approximately 600,000 barrels a day compared with 2026.

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PLYMOUTH, Mass. (AP) — Jurors in the Lindsay Clancy trial have gone home without a verdict after a fifth day of deliberations. They have twice said they can’t agree on whether the Massachusetts mother is criminally responsible for killing her three young children. The jury will return on Thursday. The judge told them to keep deliberating when they said for a second straight day that they were at an impasse. This raises the chance of a hung jury and the trial ending without a resolution. Clancy doesn’t deny strangling her three children in 2023. Her attorney argues postpartum psychosis led to her actions, while prosecutors say she knew what she was doing.

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Hugh Hewitt discusses whether President Trump’s strategy toward Iran has changed amid escalating tensions. He concludes that his approach remains largely the same, relying on sanctions, pressure, and the threat of military action. The administration is also focused on keeping oil and gas flowing from the Arabian Gulf and limiting Iran’s impact on global energy markets.

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Mark lays out the theory—establishment Republicans are so bitter about voters rejecting their handpicked candidate, John Cornyn, they're willing to punish the very voters who defied them . A Talarico win would be the ultimate "I told you so" from the GOP establishment . But here's the reality: Texas Republicans can't afford sabotage . With recent polling showing Talarico leading Paxton the party needs to unify, or risk losing the Senate seat.  --- M and M Extra! If you love smart unscripted talk show chemistry, you’re in the right place. Two iconic talk radio hosts. One unfiltered daily conversation. No scripts. No spin. Just Mike Gallagher and Mark Davis breaking down the news the way it should be with zero apologies. Like and subscribe to youtube.com/@MandMExtra for more content. Watch full episodes here: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8EGNf1WbbwMRurHjD-q-sft3OQfbxop8 Check out highlight clips from all our shows: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL8EGNf1WbbwPQn44WIEh9LfT3hP1lng9w

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PROVO, Utah (AP) — The murder case against the Utah man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk is headed for trial. Defendant Tyler Robinson faces a potential death sentence if convicted. Utah District Judge Tony Graf on Tuesday sided with prosecutors who said they had “overwhelming” evidence that Robinson shot Kirk as he addressed a crowd last September in Orem, Utah. Robinson’s lawyers have tried to block the case from proceeding to trial. They said prosecutors didn’t give enough evidence to warrant seeking the death penalty. One of Robinson’s attorneys entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf following the decision. Kirk’s family called the ruling “an important step in our family’s pursuit of justice.” Posting on X, widow Erika Kirk wrote this after the court's decision Tuesday night: "STATEMENT ON BEHALF OF THE KIRK FAMILY: Today’s decision, which comes nearly a year since Charlie was taken from us, marks an important step in our family’s pursuit of justice for him. Every step in this process carries the weight of all that Charlie’s murder has taken from his family, especially his children who will grow up without their father. We are grateful to all who have continued to pray for us, support us, and stand with us through a year of unimaginable grief. As the next phase of the judicial process begins, our family remains united in our love for Charlie, our commitment to the pursuit of justice, and our prayer for a transparent and timely process."

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An adult was wounded in a shooting at a Virginia elementary school Wednesday morning, according to an official who responded to the scene and confirmed no children were injured. Jim Wood, a Waynesboro city council member whose district includes Westwood Hills Elementary School, said in a phone interview that the shooting was an isolated event and that the shooter is no longer a threat. He declined to further elaborate on the suspect's status. “This is a one-on-one incident,” said Wood, who was at a nearby event Wednesday morning and went to the scene. He later went to a church, where he said children were being reunited with their families. The adult victim was taken to a hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening, Wood said. Robin Lawson, a spokeswoman for Virginia State Police, also confirmed that initial reports indicate one adult was injured and no children were harmed. Waynesboro police have not yet released a full statement on the shooting, but Lawson said one would be forthcoming Wednesday afternoon. Wood said he could not identify the suspect or confirm any connection between that person and the victim. Video from local media showed several emergency vehicles outside the school. In social media posts, the school system confirmed police were “managing an emergency” Wednesday morning, later confirming that all “Westwood students, teachers, and staff are accounted for and are safe.” Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger said she was monitoring the incident. “My heart is with these young students, their parents and families, and the teachers and staff at the school,” Spanberger said on social media. “Thank you to the first responders who are assisting at the scene.” Waynesboro is about 96 miles (155 km) northwest of Richmond.

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PORT ARTHUR, Texas (AP) — Tropical Storm Edouard has weakened into a depression but is still dumping heavy rain and flooding parts of Texas. Schools and municipal offices were closed Wednesday, and residents were told to stay home. The National Hurricane Center says the storm made landfall Tuesday near the Texas-Louisiana border with winds of 60 mph. About 75,000 utility customers were without power. In the Pacific Ocean, there are two hurricanes and a tropical storm. Lowell and Karina are powerful Category 4 hurricanes, and Tropical Storm Marie was expected to become a hurricane on Wednesday.

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President Donald Trump is thinking about another name change, this time for the Strait of Hormuz. Posting on Truth Social, Trump writes: "Now that we have it under U.S.A. control, should we change the name Hormuz Strait to TRUMP STRAIT??? Like America itself, it would be "hotter" than ever before!"

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Gold legend Tiger Woods will have his driver's license suspended for 5 years after reaching a plea deal in his DUI case. Woods pleaded no contest to a reduced reckless driving charge and refusing to submit to a lawful test in Florida. He also agreed to pay $1,500 in fines and was found guilty of careless driving.

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PROVO, Utah (AP) — The murder case against the Utah man accused of assassinating conservative activist Charlie Kirk is headed for trial. Defendant Tyler Robinson faces a potential death sentence if convicted. Utah District Judge Tony Graf on Tuesday sided with prosecutors who said they had “overwhelming” evidence that Robinson shot Kirk as he addressed a crowd last September in Orem, Utah. Robinson’s lawyers have tried to block the case from proceeding to trial. They said prosecutors didn’t give enough evidence to warrant seeking the death penalty. One of Robinson’s attorneys entered a not-guilty plea on his behalf following the decision. Kirk’s family called the ruling “an important step in our family’s pursuit of justice.”

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DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranian attacks have targeted U.S. allies across the Gulf as renewed fighting with the United States ended a monthlong lull. An Iranian drone sparked a fire at a residential complex in Kuwait City without causing casualties, while Bahrain intercepted incoming drones. Other attacks overnight and into Wednesday targeted Jordan, the United Arab Emirates and Iraq’s Kurdish region. The escalation followed U.S. strikes on Iran, including one that Iranian officials say hit a wedding party, killing at least four people and wounding 68.

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A local Virginia official says an adult was wounded in a shooting at an elementary school. Waynesboro city council member Jim Wood confirmed no children were injured in Wednesday morning's shooting at Westwood Hills Elementary School. He said the shooting was an isolated incident and the shooter is no longer a threat. The adult victim was taken to a hospital with injuries not considered life-threatening. Wood could not identify the suspect or confirm any connection to the victim. Authorities plan to provide more details later Wednesday. Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger said she is monitoring the incident and thanked first responders for their assistance.

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Dalilah’s father rejects the hollow sympathy surrounding his daughter’s suffering as Democrats use his family’s pain for political grandstanding instead of confronting the policies at the heart of the tragedy.

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A House vote offered Democrats a clear opportunity to distance themselves from socialism with a resolution condemning socialism —but the overwhelming opposition raised new questions about where the party is headed. With socialist candidates gaining ground and some lawmakers openly embracing the label, the debate is moving from the fringes to the center of the political conversation.

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Zack Kraft, the RNC spokesman, provides an in-depth look at the upcoming midterm convention, set to take place in the DFW area. This historic event, the first of its kind, aims to rally Republicans and inform the American people about the stakes in the upcoming elections. With President Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance headlining, the convention will feature a series of speakers highlighting Republican achievements and contrasting them with Democratic policies.

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This insightful conversation with Adam Guillette from Accuracy and Media sheds light on the current state of the public school system, particularly focusing on school choice and parental rights. Guillette discusses the expansion of school choice across the country, emphasizing the importance of awareness about rights and available options for parents. He highlights issues such as excessive spending without corresponding educational outcomes and the progressive nature of some school curricula. The discussion also touches on the differing approaches to exposing misconduct in various states and offers advice on how parents can engage in local school activism effectively. Guillette points out the use of controversial educational projects and the importance of parental notification and opt-out rights regarding certain inclusive instructions. This conversation provides a comprehensive overview of the challenges and potential actions parents can take to influence their children's education.

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Jurors in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial are back deliberating after telling the judge they were unable to reach a unanimous decision, raising the possibility of a mistrial if the deadlock continues. The jury reported the impasse Tuesday, but the judge instructed jurors to continue deliberations. They are considering whether Clancy was criminally responsible when she strangled her three young children at the family's Massachusetts home in 2023. Clancy does not deny killing the children. Her attorneys argue she was suffering from postpartum psychosis and was not criminally responsible for her actions. Prosecutors contend she understood what she was doing at the time of the killings. If jurors ultimately cannot reach a unanimous verdict, the judge could declare a mistrial. Prosecutors would then have to decide whether to retry Clancy on the murder charges. Legal experts say prosecutors could also pursue other options, including offering Clancy a plea agreement or deciding not to bring the case to trial again.

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Police in Tucson, Arizona, are investigating a shooting outside a gay bar that left three people dead, including the suspected shooter, as a possible hate crime. Police said Vincent Anthony Siqueiros, 42, and Cameron Davis Capara, 33, were shot in the parking lot of Venture-N shortly after midnight Monday. Both men died at the scene. The suspected shooter, identified as 44-year-old Ousman Ceesay, also suffered a gunshot wound and was later pronounced dead at a hospital. Authorities have not yet released details about how Ceesay was shot. Investigators said Ceesay was carrying a note listing several businesses associated with the LGBTQ+ community. Initial evidence indicates he confronted the two victims in the parking lot before shooting them. Police have increased their presence around other gay-friendly businesses in the Tucson area as the investigation continues. Authorities said there is no known active threat to the community. Tucson Police Chief Monica Prieto said investigators are examining evidence and pursuing leads to determine the full circumstances surrounding the shooting and whether it was motivated by bias.

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The Justice Department has filed a federal lawsuit against Kansas City, Kansas, Public Schools over its policies involving transgender students and parental access to information. The Trump administration alleges the district violated federal law by maintaining policies that could allow schools to withhold information about a student’s gender transition from parents. The district uses students’ preferred names and pronouns and says requests from students who do not want their parents involved are evaluated on a case-by-case basis. The Education Department began investigating the district and three other Kansas school systems following a complaint alleging their policies prevented disclosure of a student’s transgender status without the student’s consent. In April, the department determined the districts were violating the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA. The Kansas City district disputes that it is out of compliance with federal law and said it is disappointed by the Justice Department’s decision to sue. The lawsuit is the Trump administration’s first using FERPA to assert a parent’s right to know about a child’s gender transition at school. The Justice Department is seeking to require the district to change its policies and provide parents greater access to student records. Assistant Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon said “parental rights are paramount” in public schools, while advocates for LGBTQ+ students argue that disclosing a student’s gender identity without consent can put some children at risk.

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The death toll from catastrophic flooding in Nepal has climbed above 1,100 as rescue crews continue searching for thousands of people still missing. Government officials say at least 1,118 people have died and more than 3,900 remain unaccounted for following widespread flooding and landslides that devastated communities across the region. Authorities say more than 300 foreign nationals have been rescued. Hundreds of foreign tourists had been listed as missing, although some have since contacted authorities to confirm they are safe. Among those who made contact were two Americans, two Spanish citizens and a Belgian national. Officials say search and rescue operations remain underway for other missing tourists and residents. Floodwaters, landslides and damaged roads have complicated efforts to reach some of the hardest-hit areas as emergency crews continue searching through mud and debris. The disaster has become one of the deadliest flooding events to hit the region in years, with officials warning the casualty figures could continue to rise as crews reach isolated communities.

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