Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, joining a crowded Republican primary field in the race for the seat currently held by Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown. LaRose expressed his concern for the direction of the country and his commitment to defending the values that made America the hope of the world. The Ohio Senate race is expected to be one of the most competitive in the country next year, with the winner of the Republican primary facing Brown in the general election in November 2024.
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On Monday, a married couple and their daughter were killed and wounded, respectively, after a section of the Kerch Bridge between Russia and the Moscow-annexed Crimean Peninsula was blown up. The incident has caused tension between the two countries, with both accusing each other of being responsible, and has sparked international outrage. The United Nations Security Council is expected to hold an emergency meeting to discuss the incident.
Kevin Spacey is on trial in the U.K. for sexual assault allegations from four men, with Elton John providing testimony in support of Spacey's version of events. Spacey's lawyers are arguing that the accuser confused the year of the ball and that Spacey was not present at the time of the alleged assault. The trial is ongoing and a verdict is yet to be reached.
Teams and riders at the Tour de France are calling on spectators to be mindful of their behavior and respect the riders, following a mass crash caused by a spectator on Sunday. The incident, which involved around two dozen riders, has prompted overall leader Jonas Vingegaard to urge fans to “enjoy the race and be there to cheer for us without standing on the road or pouring beers on us.” Unverified reports suggest the spectator who caused the crash was using a cell phone.
Iranian authorities have announced a new campaign to enforce the wearing of Islamic headscarves and the return of morality police to the streets, 10 months after the death of a woman in their custody sparked nationwide protests. The morality police are tasked with enforcing the dress code and other social norms, and the return of the morality police has been met with mixed reactions from the public. The new campaign is part of a larger effort by the Iranian government to reassert its authority and control over the population.
This week's Powerball lottery is offering an estimated $900 million jackpot, with no winner in Saturday night's drawing. Three tickets matched all five white balls, however, and are eligible for $1 million prizes. Monday's drawing will offer a choice between an annuitized prize or a one-time lump sum before taxes, with odds of 1 in 292,201,338. It is the third biggest Powerball jackpot and the seventh largest in U.S. lottery history.
After a 24-hour manhunt, Andre Longmore, the suspect accused of killing four people in a Georgia suburb, was fatally shot by law enforcement forces. Henry County Sheriff Reginald B. Scandrett declared the suspect "neutralized" and "dead" at a news conference, while officials are still working to determine a motive for the killings. A Henry County sheriff's deputy and a Clayton County police officer were injured in the attempt to arrest Longmore.
Senator Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, is blocking hundreds of military promotions over a Pentagon abortion policy, causing a potential national security crisis. President Joe Biden and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan have denounced the move, and Senator Tammy Duckworth has warned it will jeopardize the U.S.' ability to lead the free world. Sullivan has warned that the blockade could soon leave the U.S. without a chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or a chief of Naval Operations.