Carroll probe

clarified

WASHINGTON (AP) — The top federal prosecutor in Chicago denies that his office has opened an investigation into E. Jean Carroll, the longtime advice columnist who said Donald Trump sexually assaulted her in a New York department store 30 years ago.

The Associated Press and other news organizations, citing anonymous sources, reported that the federal prosecutors’ office in Chicago has opened an investigation into Carroll examining possible perjury allegations. But Andrew Boutros, the U.S. attorney for the Northern District of Illinois, denied that.

A person familiar with the matter, who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity, later clarified that the actual focus was on a nonprofit that had helped fund Carroll’s case.

Judge blocks

fund payouts

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal judge has temporarily blocked President Donald Trump’s administration from paying any claims through a new $1.776 billion settlement fund for the Republican president’s allies who believe they were victims of a weaponized government. U.S. District Judge Leonie Brinkema in Alexandria, Virginia, on Friday also barred the government from moving forward with the fund’s creation while litigation is pending to challenge it.

The judge scheduled a June 12 hearing for arguments on whether to extend the order blocking payouts from an “Anti-Weaponization Fund,” which the government created to resolve Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service over the leak of his tax returns. The White House declines to comment.

Bus hits cars

in Virginia

(AP) — Virginia State Police say a bus crashed into vehicles slowing for a work zone on Interstate 95 early Friday, killing five people in two cars and sending dozens to hospitals.

The crash happened at about 2:35 a.m. on southbound I-95 in Stafford County. A state police statement says all five of those killed were from Massachusetts. Most of the injured were taken to hospitals in Stafford and Fredericksburg. Three were in critical condition, police said.

Police said the crash is under investigation and charges are pending. The southbound lanes were reopened by noon, with traffic backups.

Blue Origin

rocket explodes

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin is assessing damage to its Florida launch pad after a rocket exploded during a test firing. The company fueled the massive New Glenn rocket Thursday night, hoping to briefly ignite the engines ahead of a satellite launch next week.

But the 321-foot rocket blew up, taking part of the pad with it. Emergency officials are warning the public to avoid any wreckage that might wash ashore and instead call 911.

New Glenn is the rocket that Blue Origin plans to use to launch landers to the moon for NASA.