RACIAL INJUSTICE-PORTLAND

Portland protest groups sue US over tear gas, rubber bullets

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Groups protesting in Portland, Oregon against federal agents sent to guard a courthouse have sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security over the agents’ use of tear gas and rubber bullets. The Wall of Moms and Don’t Shoot Portland groups allege that the methods used nightly to drive protesters away from the courthouse are unlawful. The lawsuit came as the mayor of six major U.S. cities asked Congress to make it illegal for the U.S. government to deploy agents to cities that don’t want them. A top U.S. officials says the agents will stay in Portland as long as courthouse attacks continue.

AP-BBN-MARLINS-VIRUS

MLB temporarily suspends Marlins season through the weekend

MIAMI (AP) — Major League Baseball has temporarily suspended the Miami Marlins’ season through Sunday because of their worsening coronavirus outbreak. And the three remaining games in this week’s New York Yankees-Philadelphia Phillies series also were postponed because of virus worries. In a statement Tuesday, MLB said it wanted to allow the Marlins time to focus on providing care for their players and plan for a resumption of play early next week. The Marlins remained stranded in Philadelphia, where they played last weekend. The Phillies-Yankees games through Thursday were postponed “out of an abundance of caution,” MLB said, although no Phillies players have tested positive.

BC-FINANCIAL MARKETS

Late slump leaves stocks lower; gold holds at record high

A late slump left stocks broadly lower on Wall Street Tuesday, while cautious investors continued to push money into gold and Treasurys, leaving gold at another record high. Weak earnings from several big U.S. companies also dampened the mood. The S&P 500 gave up 0.6% after falling steadily in the last hour of trading. Weakness in technology stocks pulled the Nasdaq down 1.3%. A sizable loss in 3M pulled the Dow Jones Industrial Average lower. The maker of n95 masks reported earnings that fell shy of analysts’ expectations. McDonald’s also dropped after reporting earnings for the spring that were weaker than analysts had forecast.

AP-US-CONGRESS-FBI-HEADQUARTERS

McConnell: No room for new FBI building in virus aid bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate’s top Republican says he opposes a push by President Donald Trump to include in a new coronavirus aid package nearly $1.8 billion to rebuild the FBI headquarters in downtown Washington. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell told reporters he opposes inclusion of the FBI money and all other measures not related to the government’s response to the virus. McConnell’s comments came after Democrats accused Trump of self-dealing on the FBI building, which sits across the street from a downtown hotel that Trump owns on Pennsylvania Avenue, blocks from the White House. The Trump International Hotel could face competition if the FBI moves from the site and another hotel is developed on the property.

ELECTION 2020-TRUMP COMPLAINT

Watchdog group: Trump campaign improperly masking payments

WASHINGTON (AP) — A government oversight group says President Donald Trump’s reelection effort is hiding nearly $170 million in spending from mandatory public disclosure by routing payments through companies tied to his former campaign manager. The nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center made the allegation in a complaint filed Tuesday with the Federal Election Commission. The group says the use of firms linked to former campaign manager Brad Parscale masked the ultimate recipients of the money, which it described as a “laundering” effort that violates election law. Trump communications director Tim Murtaugh disputed the allegations and said the “campaign complies with all campaign finance laws and FEC regulations.”

AP-US-ELECTION-2020-BIDEN

Biden says post-pandemic economy can fight racial inequality

WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) — Joe Biden has unveiled a plan to ensure that the nation’s post-pandemic economic recovery is built around promoting racial equality and promising to drastically spur investment in Black-owned small businesses. It also would encourage home ownership and closing wealth gaps among minority communities. Much of the proposal and the billions in federal spending needed to pay for it had already been promised as part of previous, larger Biden plans to revive the economy when the coronavirus outbreak begins to recede. But as protests against institutional racism and police brutality have swept the country, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee is attempting to show voters he’s committed to implementing major plans to aid economic equality should he win November’s election.

RACIAL INJUSTICE-TRUMP-LAFAYETTE SQUARE

Barr, Park Police distance Trump from clearing of protesters

The head of U.S. Park Police is denying that his officers violently turned on protesters near the White House to clear the area for a photo event by President Donald Trump. But in testimony Tuesday before the House Natural Resources Committee, Gregory T. Monahan was unable to identify any immediate threat from the crowd that justified the use of force. Democrats are investigating the offensive on protesters at Lafayette Square on June 1 and examining whether Park Police acted to allow Trump to stage the photo opportunity. Attorney General William Barr, testifying at another House hearing, says the decision to rout protesters was independent of Trump’s photo event.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-REOPENING SCHOOLS

National teacher union supports strikes over reopening plans

One of the nation’s largest teachers unions is authorizing its members to strike if their schools plan to reopen without proper safety measures. The American Federation of Teachers represents 1.7 million school employees. It released a resolution Tuesday saying it will support any local chapter that decides to strike over reopening plans. The group says school buildings should open only where coronavirus infections are low enough and if schools enact certain safety measures. The union’s president blasted President Donald Trump for pressuring schools to reopen even as the virus continues to surge. Randi Weingarten says Trump’s response has been chaotic and has left teachers afraid.

AP-VIRUS OUTBREAK-THE LATEST

The Latest: Chile eases lockdown orders despite criticism

Chile’s government has eased lockdown orders on more than 1 million people in the greater Santiago region, despite criticism from some health experts. Tuesday’s order means residents in seven of the metropolitan region’s 32 districts can leave home without seeking permission from Monday through Friday, open small businesses and go to work — so long as their workplace is in an area where the restrictions have been eased. Large businesses, restaurants, theaters and cafes remain closed and a curfew is in force from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. Metropolitan Santiago as a whole holds 8 million of the country’s 19 million people.

VIRUS OUTBREAK-CONGRESS

Democrats, GOP far apart as virus aid talks intensify

WASHINGTON (AP) — The differences in Washington over the next coronavirus aid package are vast. Democrats propose $3 trillion in relief. Republicans have a $1 trillion counteroffer. And millions of Americans’ jobless benefits, school reopenings and eviction protections are at stake. The White House negotiators are returning to Capitol Hill on Tuesday to meet at House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office. It’s apparent that Democrats have the leverage. Republicans are so divided over the prospect of big government spending they are leaving Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell with a severely weakened hand as a $600 federal unemployment assistance and eviction protections expire Friday.

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