No 'rubber stamp' for Hunter Biden plea deal
A federal judge put Hunter Biden’s plea deal on hold. Trailblazing singer Sinéad O’Connor died at 56. And actor Kevin Spacey was acquitted of sexual assault charges in the U.K.
👋 Hello! Laura Davis here, comin’ in hot with Wednesday’s news.
🐾 But first: Sure, your pooch can sit, shake and speak – but can they mow the lawn? Meet Brewski, a TikTok-famous dog from Mississippi who’s taking tricks to a whole new level.
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Hunter Biden plea deal on hold
A federal judge refused Wednesday to accept a plea agreement with Hunter Biden after an unexpected disagreement about the terms between prosecutors and defense lawyers temporarily upended the deal. Judge Maryellen Noreika urged both sides to come to an agreement – but wanted more time to review the proposal before accepting it. "You all are telling me, 'just rubber stamp the agreement, Your Honor,’” Noreika told the lawyers. The plea deal covered tax and gun charges and aimed to resolve a five-year investigation. The case remains a flashpoint for Republican investigations into Hunter Biden and his father, President Joe Biden. 👉 Here's the latest.
Sinéad O’Connor dies at 56
The incomparable Irish artist Sinéad O’Connor has died, according to a statement from her family. She was 56. The trailblazing singer's 1990 version of Prince's song “Nothing Compares 2 U” spent four weeks at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and was nominated for three Grammy Awards including Record of the Year. O'Connor endured enormous fallout from her 1992 “Saturday Night Live” appearance, during which she tore up a picture of Pope John Paul II while singing Bob Marley's "War," in protest of child sex abuse in the Catholic Church. Her cause of death has not yet been revealed. 🎶 Read more about her life and legacy.
What everyone's talking about
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Fed bumps up interest rates again
Despite a recent pullback in inflation, the Federal Reserve raised its key interest rate by a quarter point Wednesday and signaled another hike is at least on the table, if not likely, in coming months amid a solid economy. The move nudged the federal funds rate to a range of 5.25% to 5.5%, the highest level in 22 years. Fed Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged inflation's slowdown in June but added that while it's "welcome, it's just one report, one month of data." He said the process of lowering inflation to the Fed's 2% goal "has a long way to go." 📈 What we know.
Actor Kevin Spacey acquitted of all 9 sexual assault charges
"House of Cards" actor Kevin Spacey was acquitted of sexual assault charges Wednesday by a London jury at the conclusion of a four-weeklong trial. The Academy Award winner was accused of sexual offenses against four men in Britain. Tears rolled down Spacey’s cheeks as the final “not guilty” verdict was read. It was his 64th birthday. There were nine charges against Spacey, who pleaded not guilty to all, including multiple counts of sexual and indecent assault and one count of causing a person to engage in penetrative sexual activity without consent. He had faced 13 charges until July 19, when the judge removed four counts that duplicated the same allegations under an older statute. 🔎 A look at the allegations and trial.
A break from the news
- 📚 Banned Book Club: A new app lets you read banned books in your area.
- 💌 Relationship advice: What is orbiting? This exhausting behavior can undermine your love life.
- 🦈 Dun-dun ... dun-dun ... dun-dun ... It's Shark Week! Here's some cool merch and when to watch.
Laura L. Davis is an Audience Editor at Paste BN. She loves new Twitter pals and emails from readers: laura@usatoday.com. This is a compilation of stories from across the Paste BN Network. Support quality journalism like this? Subscribe to Paste BN here.