Salem News Channel

There are primary elections Tuesday in Ohio and Indiana as well as a key state Senate race in Michigan that will decide control of the chamber. In Ohio Democratic former Sen. Sherrod Brown is running to reclaim his old job. Vivek Ramaswamy, a tech entrepreneur and former presidential candidate, faces auto-racing engineer and internet personality Casey Putsch for the Republican nomination for governor. In Indiana President Donald Trump’s push to gerrymander districts across the country hit a snag last year in Indiana when half of the state’s Republican senators sided with Democrats to defeat the plan. Now the president has endorsed primary challengers against seven of those state senators.

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WASHINGTON, May 5 (Reuters) - Ten civilian sailors have died due to the ongoing conflict in the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters on Tuesday. Speaking at the White House, Rubio said the U.S. would continue to deploy its assets to defend freedom of navigation in the key thoroughfare. "They're isolated, they're starving, they're vulnerable and at least 10 sailors have died as a result, civilian sailors," Rubio said, without providing additional details. Rubio insisted the U.S. was taking defensive action in enforcing its blockade of Iranian ports. The initial military operation against Iran was over, he said. "We are only responding if attacked first. This is a defensive operation," Rubio told a press conference. "If no shots are fired at these ships and no shots are fired at us, we're not firing shots, but if we're fired on we will respond." Rubio said the United States has been in touch with a number of ships about moving out of the strait, echoing remarks made earlier by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The United Arab Emirates said it was under attack from Iranian missiles and drones on Tuesday, even as Washington said a shaky ceasefire was intact. Hegseth said hundreds of ships were lining up to pass through the critical waterway. Before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on February 28, about 20% of global oil supplies passed through the strait daily. Rubio said it was time for Tehran to "accept the reality of the situation", adding that U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were continuing to explore a diplomatic solution. That solution had to address any nuclear material that Iran still had buried "deep somewhere," Rubio said. "The president's been clear that part of the negotiation process has to be not just the enrichment, but what happens to this material that's buried deep somewhere that they still have access to if they ever wanted to dig it out," he said. Rubio declined to provide details on what progress had been made and said the actual agreement would not need to be written out in one day. "This is highly complex, and highly technical, but we have to have a diplomatic solution that is very clear about the topics that they are willing to negotiate on and the extent and the concessions they are willing to make at the front end in order to make those talks worthwhile," he said.

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CARROLLTON, Texas (AP) — Texas police say a man shot five people and two of them are dead at a shopping mall north of Dallas. The shooting happened Tuesday in area known as Koreatown in Carrollton. Police say it wasn’t a random act of gunfire and that the attacker knew the victims. The suspect ran away but was later arrested. He's identified as 69-year-old Seung Han Ho. Video posted online showed officers with their guns drawn as they walked past doors at K Towne Plaza. Agents from the FBI and another federal agency were among law enforcement at the scene.

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Will Trump and Pope Leo Ever Make Up?

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YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — Two hikers were injured in a bear attack on a popular hiking trail near Yellowstone National Park's Old Faithful geyser, park officials said Tuesday. The attack was described by officials as a single event Monday afternoon along the Mystic Falls Trail. A large area of the park near the Midway Geyser Basin was temporarily closed pending an investigation. The area includes at least five trails and several backcountry campsites. Park officials said one or more bears were involved, but did not specify which species. The park has populations of both grizzly bears and black bears, which can be difficult to tell apart at times. Grizzlies can be more aggressive and they grow much larger — as much as twice as big as black bears. Black bears usually have darker coloring. Further information — including whether the victims were hiking together and whether they were hospitalized for their injuries — was not being immediately released, said Yellowstone spokesperson Ashton Hooker. Yellowstone gets more than 4 million visits by tourists annually and attacks by grizzlies or black bears are rare. In September, a hiker suffered injuries to his chest and arm in an attack on the Turbid Lake Trail northeast of Yellowstone Lake, and a grizzly killed a woman just west of Yellowstone in 2023. The last fatal bear mauling in the park was in 2015 when a 63-year-old Billings, Montana man was killed while hiking alone in the park's Lake Village area. The fate of bears that attack humans is typically dictated by the circumstances of the encounter. Following the 2015 fatal attack, officials captured and killed an adult female grizzly because it had eaten part of the victim's body and hid the rest, which is not normal behavior for a bear defending its young. By comparison, last year's attack on the Turbid Lake Trail happened during a surprise encounter between the victim and the bear. The animal's reaction was considered natural, so it was not relocated or killed. The heavily traveled Mystic Falls trail where Monday's attack occurred includes a loop that leads to a 70-foot (21-meter) tall waterfall. The trailhead is about two miles (three kilometers) northwest of Old Faithful.

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SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The man accused of throwing a Molotov cocktail at the San Francisco home of OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has pleaded not guilty to charges of attempted murder and attempted arson. Daniel Moreno-Gama didn't speak during Tuesday's arraignment on state charges as his lawyer entered the pleas on his behalf. The 20-year-old also faces federal charges. Prosecutors say Moreno-Gama, of Spring, Texas, hurled the flammable bomb at Altman’s home last month, setting an exterior gate alight before fleeing on foot. They say he showed up at OpenAI’s headquarters about an hour later and threatened to burn down the building. During a previous court appearance, his lawyer said Moreno-Gama was experiencing a mental health crisis and has been excessively charged.

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CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — A Federal Aviation Administration employee in New Hampshire is accused of sending an email to the White House threatening to kill President Donald Trump after using his work computer to research assassination attempts and related topics. Dean DelleChiaie, 35, of Nashua, was expected to make an initial court appearance Tuesday on a charge of interstate communication of a threat against the president. According to federal prosecutors, he sent a message April 21 using his personal email account in which he identified himself and said he was going to “neutralize/kill” the president. That came nearly three months after police and U.S. Secret Service officers questioned DelleChiaie about searches made on his computer at the FAA, where he was employed as a contractor involved in mechanical engineering. According to court documents, DelleChiaie used his work computer in January to search for information about how to get a gun into a federal facility, the percentage of the population that wants the president dead, the location of the vice president’s home and the names of his children. He later asked the FAA’s information technology department to delete his search history, but the department instead reported the request to authorities, and DelleChiaie was suspended. When interviewed at his home Feb. 3, DelleChiaie admitted to making the searches and was remorseful, Secret Service Special Agent Nathaneal Gamble wrote. He also told investigators he owned three guns, was depressed and that while he was upset with the Trump administration, he had no interest in assassinations. DelleChiaie, whose attorney did not immediately respond to a phone message seeking comment, was arrested Monday, just over a week after a gunman tried to storm the White House Correspondents’ Association dinner with guns and knives. Cole Tomas Allen has been charged in that incident, in which a Secret Service officer who was wearing body armor was shot but not seriously injured.

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Ceasefire or Not with Iran?

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We Are Winning!

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Is the Ceasefire Over?

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WASHINGTON, May 5 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said on Tuesday that the ceasefire with Iran was not over, even as the U.S. and Iran exchanged fire in the Gulf as they wrestled for control of the Strait of Hormuz. Hegseth said the U.S. had successfully secured a path through the critical waterway and that hundreds of commercial ships were lining up to pass through, as Washington seeks to break a chokehold Iran has asserted on the Strait of Hormuz since the conflict began on February 28. "We know the Iranians are embarrassed by this fact. They said they control the strait. They do not," Hegseth told a Pentagon news conference. The U.S. military says it sank six Iranian small boats and intercepted Iranian cruise missiles and drones, after President Donald Trump sent the navy to escort stranded tankers through the Strait of Hormuz in a day-old campaign he called "Project Freedom." Several merchant ships in the Gulf reported explosions or fires on Monday, the first day of the operation. General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said Iran attacked Oman once on Monday and waged three attacks on the United Arab Emirates, before adding that, at least so far, "today is quieter." Caine said that since the ceasefire was announced on April 7, Iran had fired at commercial vessels nine times and seized two container ships. Iran has attacked U.S. forces more than 10 times, he added. However, the attacks fell "below the threshold of restarting major combat operations at this point," Caine told reporters. Asked whether the ceasefire with Iran still held, Hegseth said: "No, the ceasefire is not over." "We said we would defend and defend aggressively, and we absolutely have. Iran knows that, and ultimately, the president can make a decision whether anything were to escalate into a violation of a ceasefire," he said. BLOCKADE The operation is Trump's latest effort to force an end to the disruption of international energy supplies caused by Iran's blockade of the strait, which carried a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas before the war. The U.S. Navy is also enforcing a maritime blockade of Iran, which prevents ships from going to Iran or departing Iranian territory. The two military operations seek to pressure Iran to strike a deal to end the conflict on Trump's terms. But Iran has countered that there is no military solution to the crisis, and it has threatened to fight for as long as necessary. The U.S. military said on Monday two U.S. merchant ships made it through the strait, with the support of Navy guided-missile destroyers. Iran denied any crossings had taken place, though shipping company Maersk said the Alliance Fairfax, a U.S.-flagged ship, exited the Gulf under U.S. military escort on Monday. Caine estimated 22,500 mariners embarked on more than 1,550 commercial vessels were stuck in the Gulf, unable to transit. "CENTCOM, along with partner nations, is in active communication with hundreds of ships, shipping companies and insurers," Hegseth said, referring to the U.S. military's Central Command, which leads operations in the Middle East. "All of these ships from all around the world want to get out of the Iranian trap that they have been stuck inside."

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WASHINGTON, May 5 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump on Tuesday dismissed Iran's military capability and said Tehran "should wave the white flag of surrender" but is too proud to do so. Trump told reporters in the Oval Office that Iran's military has been reduced to firing "peashooters" and that Tehran privately wants to make a deal despite its public sabre-rattling. "They play games, but let me just tell you, they want to make a deal. And who wouldn't, when your military is totally gone?" he said. Trump heaped praise on the U.S. blockade of Iranian ports in the region. "It's like a piece of steel. Nobody's going to challenge the blockade. And I think it's working out very well," he said. When asked what Iran would need to do to violate the ceasefire, Trump said: "Well, you'll find out, because I'll let you know ... They know what not to do." Trump said Iran "should save the white flag of surrender." "If this were a fight, they'd stop it," said Trump.

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WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump on Tuesday revived the Presidential Physical Fitness Award as part of his push to return an annual physical fitness test to America's schools. The award is tied to the Presidential Fitness Test, which was a public-school fixture for decades but was phased out under President Barack Obama in favor of a program that minimized competition and focused on long-term health. Trump signed an order last summer to reestablish the fitness test, which was created in the 1950s. “We’re bringing it back,” Trump said at an Oval Office ceremony alongside children and professional athletes. “My administration is working very hard to defend America’s cherished athletic traditions and pass our values of excellence and competitiveness to the next generation.” The earlier exam tested students on a battery of exercises, including a 1-mile run and sit-ups. Those scoring above the 85th percentile for their gender in each component of the test received the Presidential Physical Fitness Award, though details of the revived test have yet to be released. Trump unveiled the award at his desk while flanked by Cabinet members including Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Education Secretary Linda McMahon and Housing Secretary Scott Turner. They were joined by children who said they played sports including football, volleyball, hockey and golf. The test is being made mandatory for students at 161 schools located on U.S. military installations, Hegseth said in the Oval Office. He encouraged other schools across the country to follow. “We need young, strong, healthy Americans, whether you serve in the military or any other aspect of your life,” Hegseth said. “The idea that competition is bad is the beginning of decline of a nation.” Trump, an avid golfer and sports enthusiast, emphasized the importance of balancing both physical and mental fitness, saying that it's “all about the mind” at top levels of competition. He praised the athletes at the White House event while joking about his own fitness regimen. “I work out so much, like about one minute a day, max — if I’m lucky,” Trump said. Trump said he would be signing the first copy of the new award on Tuesday. After the Oval Office event, the kids were invited to the South Lawn to play sports to a soundtrack of songs like “YMCA” and “Eye of the Tiger." Trump joined outside as the kids putted at a green, kicked soccer balls and threw a baseball with pitcher Noah Syndergaard. The president connected the initiative to Kennedy's “Make America Healthy Again” agenda. Speaking alongside Trump, Kennedy said it was “very unfortunate” that Obama discontinued the test and cited increased obesity among American children. “We need to teach people how to win and how to lose and how to process victory and defeat,” Kennedy said.

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Dana Perino Tells Mike Gallagher All About Purple State – Politics Meets Rom-Com!

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Trump’s Project Freedom Gaining Ground in the Strait

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Welcome to Salem News Channel (SNC), your source for conservative news, in-depth analysis, and straightforward commentary on the stories shaping America. We cover U.S. politics, breaking news, and cultural issues with a focus on facts, accountability, and independent thinking. Subscribe for daily updates and stay informed. New videos daily! #ConservativeNews #USPolitics #PoliticalCommentary

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Welcome to Salem News Channel (SNC), your source for conservative news, in-depth analysis, and straightforward commentary on the stories shaping America. We cover U.S. politics, breaking news, and cultural issues with a focus on facts, accountability, and independent thinking. Subscribe for daily updates and stay informed. New videos daily! #ConservativeNews #USPolitics #PoliticalCommentary

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Welcome to Salem News Channel (SNC), your source for conservative news, in-depth analysis, and straightforward commentary on the stories shaping America. We cover U.S. politics, breaking news, and cultural issues with a focus on facts, accountability, and independent thinking. Subscribe for daily updates and stay informed. New videos daily! #ConservativeNews #USPolitics #PoliticalCommentary

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The U.S. military says it has carried out another strike in the Caribbean, targeting a suspected drug-trafficking boat. Officials say two people were killed in Monday’s operation as part of an ongoing campaign launched in September. The broader operation has now reportedly killed at least 188 people, with activity intensifying in recent weeks. The military has not released evidence confirming the vessels were carrying drugs.

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Tennessee Republicans are considering a major redraw of congressional districts that could target the state’s only Democratic-held U.S. House seat in Memphis. Governor Bill Lee has called a special legislative session to consider the proposal. The plan could split a majority-Black district, potentially shifting political balance ahead of the midterm elections. Lawmakers cite a recent Supreme Court ruling that limited how race can be considered in redistricting. Critics argue the move could weaken Black voting power in West Tennessee.

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