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In the news today: Former FBI director James Comey has been indicted; Donald Trump says he will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank; and the cleanup of Helene's fury seems never-ending in North Carolina's rivers and streams. Also, how the foraging trend is transforming our plates. |
Former FBI director James Comey on the way to a secure room to continue his testimony to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, on Capitol Hill in Washington, June 8, 2017. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
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Ex-FBI Director James Comey indicted after Trump pushes for prosecution of longtime foe
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James Comey was charged Thursday with lying to Congress in a criminal case filed days after President Donald Trump appeared to urge his attorney general to prosecute the former FBI director and other perceived political enemies. Read more. |
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- The indictment makes Comey the first former senior government official involved in one of Trump's chief grievances, the long-concluded investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, to face prosecution. Trump has for years derided that investigation as a "hoax" and a "witch hunt" despite multiple government reviews showing Moscow interfered on behalf of the Republican's campaign.
Comey, in a video he posted after his indictment, said: "My heart is broken for the Department of Justice but I have great confidence in the federal judicial system, and I'm innocent. So let's have a trial." Comey was fired months into Trump's first administration and since then has remained a top target for Trump supporters seeking retaliation related to the Russia investigation.
Trump on Thursday hailed the indictment as "JUSTICE FOR AMERICA!" Justice Department Attorney General Pam Bondi, a Trump loyalist, and FBI Director Kash Patel, a longtime vocal critic of the Russia investigation, issued similar statements. "No one is above the law," Bondi said.
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Trump says he will not allow Israel to annex the West Bank
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President Donald Trump vowed Thursday not to allow Israel to annex the occupied West Bank, offering strong assurances that he'd block a move that Arab leaders in the region have staunchly opposed. Read more. |
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Possible annexation has been floated in Israel in response to a string of countries moving to recognize a Palestinian state. Trump said he'd spoken to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but that he'd be firm in not allowing annexation, adding, "It's been enough. It's time to stop now."
Trump prides himself on his full-throated support for Israel, but has also sought to broker an end to the fighting in Israel's ongoing war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip. His comments constituted a rare instance of potential pushback against top Israeli officials.
- Israel's current government strongly opposes Palestinian statehood and supports the eventual annexation of much of the West Bank. Netanyahu leads Israel's most nationalist government in history, and has been under pressure from key coalition allies to deepen Israel's control over the occupied territory.
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On North Carolina's rivers and streams, the cleanup of Helene's fury seems never-ending
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It's been only a year since Hurricane Helene hammered the southeast U.S. from Florida to the Carolinas. The worst wreckage has been cleared away, but cleanup crews are still at work plucking smaller debris from waterways throughout the region. Some also fear that the recovery efforts compounded Helene's impact on the ecosystem. Read more. |
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Contractors hired to remove vehicles, shipping containers, shattered houses and other large debris from waterways sometimes damaged sensitive habitat. Conservationists found instances of contractors cutting down healthy trees and removing live root balls, said Jon Stamper, river cleanup coordinator for MountainTrue, the North Carolina-based nonprofit conducting the French Broad work.
The Army Corps of Engineers said in a statement that debris removal missions "are often challenging" and that it trains its contractors to minimize disturbances to waterways and to prevent harm to wildlife. North Carolina Emergency Management said debris removal after Helene took into account safety and the environment.
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Nelda Quigley, of Beverly, Mass., smells a plant during a foraging class, May 8, 2025, in Wenham, Mass. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
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Foraging is experiencing a revival that is bringing more wild food indoors
Humans first began foraging for food some 12,000 years ago, yet some chefs and foraging enthusiasts say the search for wild mushrooms, edible plants, shellfish, and seaweed has grown more popular in recent years. The renewed interest ranges from those wanting to be budget-conscious to those wanting to be more mindful of their environmental footprint. |
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