More extreme weather across the US; updates on Trump court cases; Hollywood strike questions answered | Hot off the Wire podcast

On this version of Hot off the Wire:

» A tornado has heavily damaged a major Pfizer pharmaceutical plant in North Carolina — the latest in a string of extreme weather events plaguing the U.S.

» A winning ticket has been sold in California for the Powerball jackpot worth an estimated $1.08 billion. The winning numbers for Wednesday night’s drawing were 7, 10, 11, 13, 24 and red Powerball 24.

» U.S. officials says that North Korea hasn’t responded to their attempts to discuss the American soldier who bolted across the heavily armed border.

» A provincial governor in Rwanda says 10 students have drowned after their boat sank in a river.

» The SAG-AFTRA and writers strikes haven’t shut down everything in Hollywood. Broadway shows are not included and certain productions are exempt or have waivers. Celebrities can still make social media appearances provided they are not promoting their work.

» American Airlines is reporting a $1.3 billion profit for the second quarter, continuing the run of strong results from the nation’s airlines.

» The Orioles take the title of best record in the American League, the Yankees struggles continue out west, the Reds use the longball to end their six-game losing streak, and a Browns defensive lineman loses his job because of ongoing legal trouble.

» U.S. officials are seeking information on Pvt. Travis King, who fled across the border from South Korea into North Korea.

» A federal judge has rejected Donald Trump’s bid to move his hush-money criminal case from New York state court to federal court.

» High-water rescue crews have been pulling people from flooded homes and vehicles in Kentucky.

» Officials say a 39-year-old woman and her 5-year-old daughter were swept away in a swollen Connecticut river and died.

The Biden administration is proposing new guidelines for corporate mergers, taking steps to disclose junk fees charged by landlords and launching a crackdown on price-gouging in the food industry.

A federal judge has denied a motion to move the trial of a man charged in last year’s attack against former U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband out of San Francisco.

New York may ban cash prizes for hunting coyotes and squirrels.

Allegations of hazing in Northwestern’s athletic programs have broadened as attorneys say male and female athletes reported misconduct within two other sports and suggested sexual abuse and racial discrimination within the football program was so rampant coaches knew about it.

A federal judge has upheld a $5 million jury verdict against Donald Trump, rejecting the ex-president’s claim the jury vindicated him by failing to conclude he raped a columnist in a New York department store in the 1990s.

With Hollywood’s actors and writers on strike, you may have some questions. Yes, you can still go see “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.” No, the guilds don’t want you to cancel Netflix — yet.

The Women’s World Cup kicks off on Thursday. The U.S. women are vying for their third-straight title.

Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges has apologized for “the pain and embarrassment” caused by the domestic violence investigation that kept him out of the league last season.

Chinese livestreamers have set their sights on selling to TikTok shoppers in the U.S. and Europe.