Trump cancels WH meeting with Schumer and Jeffries despite risk of a government shutdown

WASHINGTON (AP) — Democratic leaders have accused President Donald Trump of throwing a tantrum and chickening out after he canceled a meeting with them ahead of a potential federal government shutdown. The Republican president refuses to negotiate over Democratic demands to shore up health care funds as part of any deal. Congress must approve legislation to fund the government by Oct. 1. Trump on Tuesday rejected this week’s sit-down, which the White House had agreed to a day before with Sen. Chuck Schumer and Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, saying no meeting with them could be productive. Jeffries says, “Trump Always Chickens Out.” He called on House lawmakers to return to Washington next week. Schumer says Trump would “rather throw a tantrum than do his job.”

‘Nightmare bacteria’ cases are increasing in the US

NEW YORK (AP) — Government scientists say infection rates from drug-resistant “nightmare bacteria” have been increasing dramatically. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention scientists say rates rose almost 70% between 2019 and 2023. They published their findings Monday in the Annals of Internal Medicine. A subgroup of bacteria with a gene that provides a level of drug resistance that is extremely difficult to treat primarily drove the increase. The rate of those cases jumped more than 460% in recent years in 29 states. Once considered exotic, these bacteria are now more common in the U.S.

Powell signals Federal Reserve to move slowly on interest rate cuts

WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Tuesday signaled a cautious approach to future interest rate cuts, in sharp contrast with other Fed officials this week who have called for a more urgent approach. In remarks in Providence, Rhode Island, Powell noted that there are risks to both of the Fed’s goals of seeking maximum employment and stable prices. But with the unemployment rate rising, he noted, the Fed agreed to cut its key rate last week. Yet he did not signal any further cuts on the horizon. If the Fed were to cut rates “too aggressively,” Powell said, “we could leave the inflation job unfinished and need to reverse course later” and raise rates.

Missouri woman gets more than 4 years in prison for trying to sell off Graceland

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) — A Missouri woman has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for scheming to defraud Elvis Presley’s family by trying to auction off his Graceland home and property before a judge halted the brazen foreclosure sale. U.S. District Judge John T. Fowlkes Jr. sentenced Lisa Jeanine Findley in Memphis federal court Tuesday to four years and nine months in prison. Findley pleaded guilty in February to a charge of mail fraud related to the scheme. Findley, of Kimberling City, falsely claimed Presley’s daughter borrowed $3.8 million from a bogus private lender and had pledged Graceland as collateral for the loan before her death in January 2023.