How Ken Paxton Courted Donald Trump — and Won His Endorsement

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Lead: In a dramatic late-stage maneuver, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton secured former President Donald Trump’s endorsement for the May 26, 2026 Republican Senate runoff after a 75-day waiting period. The sequence began after the March 3 primary, when Paxton finished narrowly behind Sen. John Cornyn and Trump signaled he would choose “soon.” Paxton’s March … Read more

Live updates: Mother reported son, car and weapons missing hours before San Diego mosque shooting

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On Monday, May 18, 2026, three people were killed in a shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego, the city’s largest mosque, and authorities are treating the incident as a possible hate crime. Two teenage suspects, ages 17 and 18, were later found dead in a car near the mosque from apparent self-inflicted wounds. … Read more

S&P 500 futures fall after index posts back-to-back losses amid tech sell-off: Live updates – CNBC

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Lead: U.S. equity futures opened lower Tuesday after a technology-led sell-off left the S&P 500 and Nasdaq Composite with consecutive daily declines. As of early trading, futures tied to the S&P 500 were down about 0.23%, Nasdaq 100 futures fell roughly 0.46%, and Dow futures slipped near 58 points. The move followed Monday’s narrow S&P … Read more

Severe Weather Outbreak Tracker: Radar, Warnings and Storm Maps

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Lead: A severe weather outbreak will continue on Monday, May 18, 2026, across parts of the Plains and Midwest, bringing a heightened risk of strong to potentially intense tornadoes (EF2/EF3+), very large hail, destructive straight-line winds and heavy, flooding rainfall. National forecasting centers and local Weather Service offices are issuing watches and warnings and urging … Read more

Sandy Fire in Simi Valley: More than 1,300 acres scorched, evacuations expanded – ABC7 Los Angeles

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Lead: A fast-moving brush fire named the Sandy Fire broke out in Simi Valley on Monday, May 18, 2026, and by the early hours of May 19 had burned more than 1,300 acres. Authorities expanded evacuation orders and warnings across Ventura and Los Angeles counties as winds drove smoke and flames toward populated valleys. Airborne … Read more

Sandy Fire Burns Structures, Scorches 836 Acres in Simi Valley

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Lead: A wind-driven wildfire called the Sandy Fire tore through brush in Simi Valley this evening, scorching 836 acres and destroying at least one home on Trickling Brook Court. Thousands of residents were placed under evacuation orders or warnings as flames advanced toward residential neighborhoods, particularly the equestrian sections near Rocking Horse Drive. Fire crews … Read more

Trump says he delayed planned Iran strike at Gulf states’ request, warns of ‘large‑scale assault’ if talks fail

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Lead: US president Donald Trump said on 18 May 2026 that he postponed a planned military strike on Iran at the request of Gulf leaders and that intensive negotiations are now under way. He posted on his Truth Social account that Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE urged him to hold off while talks proceed, … Read more

Iran war risks, Trump threats keep oil elevated as diplomacy stalls

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U.S.-Iran hostilities and a fresh round of threats from President Trump on Sunday have kept global oil prices elevated and shipping in the Strait of Hormuz constrained as talks to end the 80-day war remain stalled. U.S. Central Command says American forces have been redirecting commercial traffic and disabling vessels as part of a blockade … Read more

Live updates: Iran war re-escalation risks and Trump’s new threats keep oil prices high as diplomacy stalls

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Lead Markets and militaries reacted Monday as diplomacy over the 80‑day Iran war showed signs of stalling while fresh threats from President Trump and regional incidents kept oil prices elevated. U.S. Central Command said its forces had redirected 84 commercial vessels and disabled four others amid a U.S. blockade in place since mid‑April, while Brent … Read more

‘We keep waiting and nothing is changing’: New York commuters face first major rail strike in 30 years – BBC

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Lead Long Island Rail Road operations were halted after about 3,500 union members walked off the job starting on Saturday, producing the first major LIRR strike in more than 30 years and disrupting weekday travel into New York City. The shutdown affects roughly 250,000 to 275,000 daily riders and left terminals such as Penn Station … Read more