National News

Tennessee’s House speaker to resign after no confidence vote

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by Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Tennessee’s embattled House Speaker Glen Casada says he plans to resign following a vote of no confidence by his Republican caucus.

Casada announced the decision Tuesday, just a day after previously shrugging off calls to step aside from his legislative leadership position.

Gov. Bill Lee had said he would call a special legislative session if Casada didn’t voluntarily give up the key spot.

Casada says he plans on meeting with Republican caucus leadership June 3 when he returns from vacation to “determine the best date” to resign as speaker.

Casada has been dogged by

Fallen firefighter remembered as selfless public servant

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by Associated Press

APPLETON, Wis. (AP) — The Wisconsin firefighter killed by gunfire after responding to a medical call has been remembered as a proud father, loving husband, loyal friend and selfless public servant.

The funeral service for Mitchell Lundgaard Monday evening at Appleton Alliance Church included eulogies from family and friends. Longtime friend Justin Wisneski talked about how Lundgaard found his calling as a firefighter. Wisneski says Lundgaard switched his college major from architecture to pursue a career as a firefighter following the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The 36-year-old Lundgaard,

The Latest: McGahn defies subpoena, no-show at House hearing

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by Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the House Judiciary Committee and Donald McGahn (all times local):

10:10 a.m.

Former White House Counsel Donald McGahn is a no-show at a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee, defying a subpoena for his testimony.

President Donald Trump directed McGahn to ignore the committee’s subpoena to testify on Tuesday. A lawyer for McGahn said he would follow the president’s directive.

House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler said the committee will vote to hold McGahn in contempt of Congress if he did not testify. It is one of several actions against

Texas man gets prison for smuggling immigrants in furniture

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by Associated Press

CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (AP) — A Houston-area man has been sentenced to nearly two years in prison for trying to smuggle immigrants in furniture after three people were found in a plastic-wrapped dresser that was nailed shut.

Federal prosecutors say 23-year-old Yabar Ayan Portes-Arevalo of Katy was sentenced Monday in Corpus Christi to 21 months.

Portes-Arevalo in February was convicted of transporting immigrants living in the country illegally and endangering their lives. He could lose his status as a legal permanent U.S. resident.

Investigators say Portes-Arevalo in December was driving a

GM Maven car-sharing stops serving 8 N. American markets

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by Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) — Maven, General Motors’ car-sharing service, is being shut down in about half of the 17 North American markets it operates.

The company wouldn’t say Tuesday where Maven will continue to operate, but it confirmed that it’s pulling out of New York and Chicago.

GM said in a prepared statement that it’s not scrapping Maven, but rather concentrating on markets where it has the strongest demand and growth potential.

Maven, begun in 2016, allowed people to rent GM vehicles for short periods with an app. GM vehicles were strategically placed in in metro areas including Denver, Los

US home sales fell 0.4% in April amid limited supply

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by Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. home sales slipped 0.4% in April, as would-be homebuyers face affordability challenges and a limited supply of starter houses.

The National Association of Realtors says that existing homes sold at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.19 million last month, down from 5.21 million in March.

Despite the solid job market and lower mortgage rates, sales have tumbled 4.4% from a year ago. The sales decline is entirely concentrated in homes worth less than $250,000, a likely reflection of a shortage of properties at those price points being listed for sale.

Homes are still

GM Maven car-sharing stops serving 8 N. American markets

Posted:
Updated:

by Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) — Maven, General Motors’ car-sharing service, is being shut down in about half of the 17 North American markets it operates.

The company wouldn’t say Tuesday where Maven will continue to operate, but it confirmed that it’s pulling out of New York and Chicago.

GM said in a prepared statement that it’s not scrapping Maven, but rather concentrating on markets where it has the strongest demand and growth potential.

Maven, begun in 2016, allowed people to rent GM vehicles for short periods with an app. GM vehicles were strategically placed in in metro areas including Denver, Los

Greek fighter jets overfly North Macedonia under NATO tests

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by Associated Press

SKOPJE, North Macedonia (AP) — North Macedonia says fighter jets from neighboring Greece have carried out NATO-linked test overflights of its territory as part of the country’s process of joining the alliance.

The defense ministry said Tuesday’s two flights tested radar and communications coverage of North Macedonia.

North Macedonia has no fixed-wing military aircraft, and NATO has a program to protect the airspace of members that do not have sufficient means of their own.

North Macedonia is set to become NATO’s 30th member by the end of this year, after NATO member Greece dropped its