North America

WASHINGTON (AP) — On President Joe Biden ’s first day in office, he handed Congress a legislative plan to modernize the nation’s immigration system.

It went nowhere, just like so many past overhaul attempts.

ATLANTA (AP) — Residents of about 1,000 apartments in Atlanta’s Midtown neighborhood remained unable to return to their homes Tuesday after a crane partially collapsed at a nearby construction site a day earlier.

One of the crane’s counterweights became dislodged and fell, causing damage to the crane Monday afternoon, Atlanta fire chief Rod Smith said during a news conference Tuesday. Crews from his department are at the site to help secure and disassemble the crane.

NEW YORK (AP) — A recent $5 million defamation verdict hasn’t kept Donald Trump quiet. Will a stern warning from the judge in his Manhattan criminal case?

That’s the question looming over a hybrid hearing Tuesday where the former president is set be instructed on new rules barring him from using evidence in the hush-money case to attack witnesses who could testify against him.

Trump won’t have to show up to court for the afternoon hearing at a Manhattan courthouse, avoiding the mammoth security and logistical challenges that accompanied his arraignment last month.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Living in New York City, working full time and without a car, Jessica Ray and her husband have come to rely on deliveries of food and just about everything else for their home. It has meant more free time on weekends with their young son, rather than standing in line for toilet paper or dragging heavy bags of dog food back to their apartment.

“I don’t even know where to buy dog food,” said Jessica Ray of the specialty food she buys for the family’s aging dog.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Police have arrested a Missouri man they believe intentionally crashed a U-Haul truck into a security barrier at a park across from the White House.

The box truck’s driver smashed into the barrier near the north side of Lafayette Square on Monday at around 10 p.m., Secret Service spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said in a statement. He was identified as 19-year-old Sai Varshith Kandula, of Chesterfield, a St. Louis suburb.

No one was injured in the crash.

KINGSTON (Jamaica), May 22 (NNN-MERCOPRESS) — Britain Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is visiting countries across Latin America, Colombia, Chile and Brazil, and Jamaica in the Caribbean over the next 7 days to renew the UK’s relationship with the influential region.

Cleverly arrived in Jamaica on May 18, on the first leg of a 4-country trip that will focus on climate, democracy, and the links between our people.

May 22 (Reuters) - The inflation wave that crested at a 40-year high last year and remains elevated has eroded U.S. households' sense of financial security, the Federal Reserve reported Monday, with many saying they had reduced their savings to make ends meet, felt less secure about retirement, and had delayed purchases or swapped into cheaper products as they shopped.

May 21 (Reuters) - An earthquake measuring 5.5 magnitude struck off the northern California shore on Sunday, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), causing no reported damage or injuries.

The USGS said the quake occurred at a depth of 10km (6 miles) and took place 108 km (67 miles) west of Petrolia, a community of about 1,000 people in rural Humboldt County.

A handful of other towns in the sparsely populated region of northern California also reported feeling light shaking, according to the USGS.

BOCA RATON, Florida, May 22 (Reuters) - Ukrainian-American businessman Lev Parnas and his business partner were arrested in 2019, accused by the U.S. government of funneling a Russian oligarch’s money into American political campaigns. One recipient of Parnas’ donations -- Florida Governor Ron DeSantis -- has said he was barely an acquaintance.

WASHINGTON, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Three people were killed following a shooting at a bar in Kansas City in the U.S. state of Missouri early Sunday, local media reported, citing police sources.

Two of the victims were killed at the scene, and a third victim died later at a hospital, said Kansas City police.

According to the police, two other injured people have been taken to the hospital.