Israeli troops

press forward

JERUSALEM (AP) — Israeli troops and tanks are pushing deeper into Gaza City as more people flee the devastated area. Strikes cut off phone and internet services on Wednesday, making it harder for Palestinians to summon ambulances during the military’s new offensive. Meanwhile, the Palestinian death toll in the Israel-Hamas war surpassed 65,000. The Israeli military said air force and artillery units had struck the city more than 150 times in the last few days, ahead of ground troops moving in. The offensive began Monday and aims to take full control of the city.

Robinson feared

police shooting

OREM, Utah (AP) — A Utah sheriff says the 22-year-old man charged with killing with Charlie Kirk was afraid of being shot by police and agreed to surrender as long as it was done peacefully.

Washington County Sheriff Nate Brooksby says Tyler Robinson appeared quiet and somber when he turned himself in with his parents last Thursday. He surrendered a little over a day after Kirk was shot and killed at Utah Valley University.

Robinson is now charged with murder. He faced his first hearing in the case Tuesday where prosecutors said they’ll seek the death penalty. The Associated Press left a message seeking comment from Robinson’s public defender.

Raffensperger to

run for governor

ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger says he’s running for governor in 2026. The Republican made the announcement Wednesday.

He famously rejected Donald Trump’s request to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia, a state he lost to Democrat Joe Biden. Raffensperger is likely to aim his appeal at Republicans who have at times been lukewarm on Trump. Lt. Gov. Burt Jones and Attorney General Chris Carr are already seeking the GOP nomination.

Raffensperger won reelection in 2022 despite Trump’s opposition. Although he starts later than other major candidates, voters already know who Raffensperger is. Plus the engineering entrepreneur can self-finance his campaign.

Ben & Jerry’s

co-founder quits

(AP) — Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Jerry Greenfield is leaving the ice cream brand after 47 years. He says the freedom the company used to have to speak up on social issues has been stifled.

Co-founder Ben Cohen posted Greenfield’s letter on social media platform X on Greenfield’s behalf. Greenfield said that he felt the independence the brand had to speak on social issues and events was lost to Unilever. A spokesperson for The Magnum Ice Cream Company says it will be forever grateful to Greenfield for his contributions to Ben & Jerry’s, but it is not aligned with his viewpoint.