EXPLAINER: Trump's election challenges falling flat in court

While President Donald Trump vows to press ahead with efforts to overturn the election, judges across the country have consistently swatted down his legal challenges.

Supreme Court clears path for 8th federal execution

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (AP) — The U.S. Supreme Court is clearing the path for the federal government to carry out the execution of a man convicted of kidnapping and raping a 16-year-old Texas girl, bludgeoning her with a shovel and burying her alive.

The Latest: No. 19 Richmond pauses men's basketball

The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world:

Court rejects Trump's broad claims, but records stay private

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rejecting President Donald Trump’s complaints that he's being harassed, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday in favor of a New York prosecutor’s demands for the billionaire president’s tax records. But in good political news for Trump, his taxes and other financial records almost certainly will be kept out of the public eye at least until after the November election.

Virus cases rise in U.S. states amid new world restrictions

MIAMI (AP) — Arizona, Texas and Florida together reported about 25,000 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday as restrictions aimed at combating the spread of the pandemic took hold in the United States and around the world in an unsettling sign reminiscent of the dark days of April.

Court rejects Trump's broad claims, but records stay private

WASHINGTON (AP) — Rejecting President Donald Trump’s complaints that he's being harassed, the Supreme Court ruled Thursday in favor of a New York prosecutor’s demands for the billionaire president’s tax records. But in good political news for Trump, his taxes and other financial records almost certainly will be kept out of the public eye at least until after the November election.

Business Highlights

___

The Latest: South Africa reports record daily infections

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa has announced another record daily number of confirmed coronavirus cases with 9,064, as Africa’s most developed country shows signs of strain in coping with the pandemic.

The Latest: South Africa reports record daily infections

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa has announced another record daily number of confirmed coronavirus cases with 9,064, as Africa’s most developed country shows signs of strain in coping with the pandemic.

Sunbelt states rush to line up hospital beds, not barstools

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Florida and other states across the Sunbelt are thinning out the deck chairs, turning over the barstools and rushing to line up more hospital beds as they head into the height of the summer season amid a startling surge in confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

Sunbelt states rush to line up hospital beds, not barstools

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Florida and other states across the Sunbelt are thinning out the deck chairs, turning over the barstools and rushing to line up more hospital beds as they head into the height of the summer season amid a startling surge in confirmed cases of the coronavirus.

China approves contentious Hong Kong national security law

HONG KONG (AP) — China on Tuesday approved a contentious national security law that will allow authorities to crack down on subversive and secessionist activity in Hong Kong, a move many see as Beijing’s boldest yet to erase the legal firewall between the semi-autonomous territory and the mainland’s authoritarian Communist Party system.

State cattle industry split on court decision

Some hope Canadian border stays closed, others fear long-term damage

Jan. 2 is last day for hatchery steelhead, whitefish angling

MOSES LAKE - Impact on wild steelhead is given as the reason for the closures of hatchery steelhead and whitefish fishing on the upper Columbia River and several tributaries. The last day for these fisheries will be Jan. 2 from Rock Island Dam to Chief Joseph Dam, as well as steelhead fisheries on the Wenatchee, Icicle, Entiat and Methow rivers.

Spencer enjoys outdoor adventures

Thursday Sports in Brief

NBA

Trump convention blurs official business and politics

WASHINGTON (AP) — Plenty of presidents have walked right up to the line separating official business from politics — or even stepped over it. President Donald Trump has blown past it with a bulldozer, and his planned Republican convention speech from the White House lawn this week might be the latest and most blatant example yet.

Putin: Russia is ready to provide security help to Belarus

MINSK, Belarus (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin warned that he stands ready to send police to Belarus if protests there turn violent but sees no such need now, while Belarusian police dispersed a protest in the capital and detained scores Thursday, raising pressure on the opposition.

New virus cases decline in the US and experts credit masks

NEW YORK (AP) — The number of Americans newly diagnosed with the coronavirus is falling — a development experts say most likely reflects more mask-wearing but also insufficient testing — even as the disease continues to claim nearly 1,000 lives in the U.S. each day.

New US virus cases fall as masks gain favor but testing lags

NEW YORK (AP) — The number of Americans newly diagnosed with the coronavirus is falling — a development experts say most likely reflects more mask-wearing but also insufficient testing — even as the disease continues to claim nearly 1,000 lives in the U.S. each day.