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Judge rejects a defense request to exhume the body of the synagogue shooter's father
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- A federal judge Wednesday rejected a request by lawyers for the Pittsburgh synagogue gunman to exhume the body of the defendant's father to prove paternity. Robert Bowers' lawyers had wanted the body disinterred for a DNA test after prosecutors raised questions about paternity during Bowers' trial for the 2018 massacre at the Tree of Life synagogue. Bowers, a 50-year-old truck driver from suburban Baldwin, faces a possible death sentence after being convicted in June of killing 11 people who had gathered for Sabbath worship and study.
Pedestrians scatter as fire causes New York construction crane's arm to collapse
NEW YORK (AP) -- A towering construction crane caught fire high above the West Side of Manhattan on Wednesday morning, causing its long arm to snap off, smash against a nearby building and plummet to the street as people ran for their lives on the sidewalk below. Four people suffered minor injuries in the collapse, but no one died, New York City Mayor Eric Adams said. The crane was operating 45 stories up when its engine compartment caught fire at around 7:25 a.m., authorities said.
Giuliani concedes he made public comments falsely claiming election workers committed fraud
ATLANTA (AP) -- Rudy Giuliani has conceded that he made public comments falsely claiming two Georgia election workers committed ballot fraud during the 2020 presidential race but is arguing that the statements were protected by the First Amendment. That assertion by Giuliani, who as part of Donald Trump's legal team tried to overturn results in battleground states, came in a filing Tuesday in a lawsuit by Ruby Freeman and Wandrea "Shaye" Moss. Their lawsuit from December 2021 accused the former New York City mayor of defaming them by falsely stating that they had engaged in fraud while counting ballots at State Farm Arena in Atlanta.
Biden chooses Martin O'Malley to lead the Social Security Administration
WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Joe Biden on Wednesday nominated former Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley to lead the Social Security Administration. If confirmed, O'Malley would run one of the biggest social programs in the nation and grapple with the surrounding uncertainty over its funding. Roughly 70 million people -- including retirees, disabled people and children -- receive Social Security benefits.. O'Malley served as Maryland's governor from 2007 to 2015 and was Baltimore mayor for two terms.
Senate GOP leader McConnell briefly leaves news conference
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell briefly left his own press conference Wednesday after stopping his remarks mid-sentence and staring off into space for several seconds, appearing to be disoriented. McConnell approached the podium for his weekly press conference and began speaking about the annual defense bill. He said the bill was proceeding with "good bipartisan cooperation." But he then appeared to lose his train of thought, trailing off. McConnell then stared vacantly for around 20 seconds before his colleagues in Republican leadership, who were standing behind him, grabbed his elbows and asked if he wanted to go back to his office.