US Archives - WPTF-AM

Iran fires at least 180 missiles into Israel as regionwide conflict grows

JERUSALEM (AP) — Iran launched at least 180 missiles into Israel, the latest in a series of escalating attacks in a yearslong conflict between Israel and Iran and its Arab allies. The missile attack — and a retaliation promised by Israel — threaten to push the Middle East closer toward a regionwide war. Before Iran’s attack on Tuesday, Israel had landed a series of devastating blows in recent weeks against Hezbollah’s leadership in Lebanon. It ratcheted up the pressure on the militant group — which has been firing rockets into Israel since the war in Gaza began — by launching what it said is a limited ground incursion in southern Lebanon. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says Iran will pay a price for its missile barrage.… Continue Reading

At least 11 killed in Israeli strike that hit a school in northern Gaza

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP) — Gaza’s Health Ministry says an Israeli airstrike hit a school sheltering thousands of displaced Palestinians in northern Gaza. At least 11 people were killed on Thursday and 22 others wounded including women and children. The Israeli military says it hit the school in the Jabalia refugee camp and was targeting Hamas militants inside who were planning attacks on Israeli troops. The claim couldn’t be independently confirmed. Israeli forces have repeatedly struck schools. They say Hamas fighters use them as “command centers.” The military says it uses precision weapons to avoid civilian casualties. But the strikes have brought heavy tolls.… Continue Reading

Google expert at antitrust trial says government underestimates competition for online ad dollars

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — An expert witness testifying for Google says an antitrust case brought against the tech giant drastically underestimates the company’s competition. Economist Mark Israel testified Thursday for Google during the third week of trial in Alexandria, Virginia. The Justice Department and several states contend Google holds an illegal monopoly over the technology that matches online advertisers to publishers, a multibillion-dollar industry. Israel says the government’s case doesn’t account for changes that have occurred in online advertising over the past 10 years. In particular, the government fails to recognize that social media companies and online retailers like Amazon are competing directly with Google.… Continue Reading

Israel tells its troops to prepare for a possible ground operation in Lebanon

TEL AVIV, Israel (AP) — The Israeli army chief says the military is preparing for a possible ground operation in Lebanon. He made the statement Wednesday as Hezbollah hurled dozens of projectiles into Israel, including a missile aimed at Tel Aviv that was the militant group’s deepest strike yet. Addressing troops on the northern border, Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi said the latest Israeli airstrikes were designed to ”prepare the ground for your possible entry.” Lebanon’s health ministry said Israeli strikes on Wednesday killed 72 people. That raised the death toll from the past three days to 636, with more than 2,000 people wounded. The U.S., France and other allies jointly called for an “immediate” 21-day cease-fire.… Continue Reading

Fluoride in drinking water poses enough risk to merit new EPA action, judge says

NEW YORK (AP) — A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to further regulate fluoride in drinking water because high levels could pose a risk to the intellectual development of children. U.S. District Judge Edward Chen cautioned that it’s not certain that the amount of fluoride typically added to water is causing lower IQ in kids. But he concluded that mounting research points to an unreasonable risk that it could be. He ordered the Environmental Protection Agency to take steps to lower that risk, but didn’t say what those measures should be. The agency says it is reviewing the decision.… Continue Reading

US to hand over pest inspections of Mexican avocados to Mexico and California growers aren’t happy

MEXICO CITY (AP) — California avocado growers are fuming about a U.S. decision to hand over pest inspections of Mexican orchards to the Mexican government. Inspectors hired by the U.S. Department of Agriculture have been guarding against imports of insects and diseases for decades, but they have also been threatened in Mexico for refusing to certify deceptive shipments. Threats and violence against inspectors have caused the U.S. to suspend inspections a couple of times in recent years. But California growers question whether there is any hope that Mexico’s own inspectors would be better equipped to withstand such pressure.… Continue Reading

Israel says it killed a Hezbollah commander as the two sides exchange more strikes

BEIRUT (AP) — The Israeli military says it has killed a top commander with Hezbollah’s missile and rocket unit in a strike in Beirut. Military officials made the announcement Tuesday about Ibrahim Kobeisi. They said he was responsible for launches towards Israel. The military also said “other key commanders” were with Kobeisi at the time of the strike, but officials did not say whether any of the others were killed or wounded.… Continue Reading

Hello, I’m Johnny Cash’s statue: A monument to the singer is unveiled at the US Capitol

WASHINGTON (AP) — Johnny Cash can now be seen in the unlikeliest of venues. A statue of the famed singer has been unveiled at the U.S. Capitol. Congressional leaders, Arkansas lawmakers and members of the Cash family were on hand Tuesday for the unveiling of a bronze statue in the likeness of the “Man in Black.” The Cash statue is the second figure Arkansas has sent to replace two existing ones representing the state at the U.S. Capitol. Another statue depicting civil rights leader Daisy Bates was unveiled at the Capitol earlier this year.… Continue Reading

‘Short corn’ could replace the towering cornfields steamrolled by a changing climate

WYOMING, Iowa (AP) — Taking a country drive in the Midwest means venturing into the corn zone. Snaking between 12-foot-tall green, leafy walls, the corn seems to block out nearly everything other than an occasional water tower. But soon, that towering corn might become a miniature of its former self, replaced by stalks only half as tall as the current green giants. The short corn offers farmers a variety that can withstand powerful windstorms that could become more frequent due to climate change. The smaller plants also let farmers plant at greater density, so they can grow more corn on the same amount of land and increase their profits. That is especially helpful as farmers endure low prices.… Continue Reading

Hezbollah hits back with rockets as it declares an ‘open-ended battle’ with Israel

NAHARIYA, Israel (AP) — Hezbollah has launched more than 100 rockets across a wider and deeper area of northern Israel and Hezbollah’s deputy leader Naim Kassem said Sunday that his group is now in an open-ended battle with Israel. The rocket barrage overnight was in response to Israeli attacks in Lebanon that have killed dozens, including a veteran Hezbollah commander, and an unprecedented attack targeting the group’s communications devices. Air raid sirens echoed across northern Israel, sending hundreds of thousands of people scrambling into shelters. White House national security spokesman John Kirby said the U.S. was actively engaged “quiet, assertive diplomacy” in hopes of preventing an all-out war.… Continue Reading