MINNESOTA

Man pleads to killings

MINNEAPOLIS — A Minnesota man who assassinated the top Democrat in the Minnesota House and her husband has pleaded guilty so that federal prosecutors would not seek the death penalty.

Vance Boelter fatally shot Minnesota House Speaker Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman on June 14, 2025. He is also charged in the nonfatal shootings of state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Spy powers to expire

WASHINGTON — A key surveillance tool that allows the United States to collect intelligence abroad appears certain to expire. That’s because the House and Senate on Thursday failed to temporarily extend the program, which is set to expire on midnight tonight.

The impasse could soon result in limitations on what intelligence the U.S. government can collect abroad just as World Cup games begin in cities around the country and ahead of celebrations for the nation’s 250th anniversary.

ALABAMA

Execution rejected

ATMORE — The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to let Alabama execute a man with nitrogen gas. The justices refused to lift an injunction blocking the state from carrying out the nation’s ninth execution by that method.

Alabama had planned to put 49-year-old Jeffery Lee to death Thursday using nitrogen. Lee was convicted of killing Jimmy Ellis and Elaine Thompson while robbing a pawnshop on Dec. 12, 1998.

England

Stabbing sets off riots

LONDON — A knife attack in Belfast, Northern Ireland, has sparked violent riots fueled by anti-migrant rhetoric. A 30-year-old Sudanese asylum seeker appeared in court Wednesday, charged with attempted murder and other offenses. The attack led to masked men setting fires to homes, vehicles, and a bus, leaving over two dozen people homeless.

Anti-immigrant sentiment is rising, with far-right figures seizing the moment to push their agendas. Some blame the open border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland for complicating immigration enforcement.

THailand

Men get death

BANGKOK — A court in Thailand has sentenced two Uyghur men to death for a 2015 bombing at Bangkok’s Erawan shrine. The attack killed 20 people and injured more than 120.

Yusufu Mieraili and Bilal Mohammad were convicted Thursday. They were allegedly linked to the bombing by video, fingerprints and other evidence.