Talarico targets Paxton's scandals in Texas Senate race

HOUSTON (AP) – Texas Democrat James Talarico launched his general election campaign for the U.S. Senate Wednesday by framing his Republican opponent, state Attorney General Ken Paxton, as part of a corrupt political establishment that uses power to serve itself rather than the people.

SpaceX's Starship rockets are grounded pending investigation after test flight

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) – SpaceX Starship launches are on hold pending an investigation into last week’s test flight.

The Chicks announce 'Taking the Long Way' 20th Anniversary Tour

NEW YORK (AP) – Call it a comeback, a crossover moment, or both. Twenty years ago, The Chicks released their blockbuster 2006 album “Taking the Long Way” – their first full-length after the country music industry turned their backs on them – and one of the biggest of their career. This fall, the Texas trio of Emily Strayer, Martie Maguire and Natalie Maines will take it on the road, hitting intimate theaters across the U.S.

From unfilled gas tanks to fewer frills, retailers see US consumers rethink their spending

NEW YORK (AP) – U.S. consumers haven’t stopped spending money since the Iran war drove up fuel prices, but many shoppers are reassessing what they buy and where, according to company executives and retail analysts.

Pope meets with 6 clergy abuse survivors in Spain

MADRID (AP) – Pope Leo XIV met Monday with six survivors of clergy sexual abuse in Madrid and vowed to consider their suggestions for how the Catholic Church can improve its response to the crisis, the Vatican said. The meeting, which followed in the tradition of popes meeting with abuse survivors during their foreign trips, lasted about an hour.

Cornyn went to great lengths to avoid Trump's wrath

PLANO, Texas (AP) – As it turned out, it would never be enough. U.S. Sen. John Cornyn tried for more than a year to show Donald Trump and Texas Republicans that he and the president were on the same team. Cornyn posted a photo of himself reading Trump’s “The Art of the Deal.”

The Trump Report: Latest Updates

President Donald Trump convened his Cabinet on Wednesday at a precarious moment for talks aimed at ending the war with Iran, just days after insisting that his administration and Tehran had “largely negotiated” a settlement but with the negotiations still in a state of flux. Closure to his war of choice may be unsatisfactory, putting off many critical issues to be resolved later.

Rep. Al Green defeated by freshman Rep. Christian Menefee in generational primary

WASHINGTON (AP) – In a generational contest between sitting congressmen, freshman Rep. Christian Menefee defeated veteran Rep. Al Green in a Democratic primary runoff for a Houston-area district created last year by an unusual Republican-led redistricting effort.

'Scary Movie' tops box office, slaying 'Masters of the Universe'

NEW YORK (AP) – The summer box office is booming – but not because of the usual suspects. After three weeks of indie horror dominance at the box office, the slasher spoof “Scary Movie” topped ticket sales with $55 million over the weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday, easily besting the far-from-mighty “Masters of the Universe.”