U.S. and world news for July 31

Poll of Republicans: A new New York Times Siena College poll of likely Republican primary voters confirms that Donald Trump continues to be the dominant force in the Republican Party, despite his indictments on criminal charges and the prospect of more indictments to come. Among likely Republican primary voters, 76% view Trump somewhat or very favorably. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis gets a 66% somewhat or very favorable rating. Former Vice President Mike Pence is viewed somewhat or very favorably by 44% of the likely Republican primary voters. If the Republican primary were held now, 84% of the likely voters would vote for Trump while 8% said they’d vote for DeSantis.

Georgia indictments: Fulton County Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis said in a local TV news interview that she will announce any indictments of Trump and his associates for attempting to overturn the 2020 Presidential Election in Georgia by September 1. “The work is accomplished” and “We’re ready to go” are two quotes from Willis. Barriers have been erected for security around the Fulton County Courthouse.

Florida arraignment: Trump’s Mar-a-Lago employee Carlos De Oliveira, who was charged with Trump and Trump employee Walt Nauta in the superseding indictment for federal crimes in the classified documents case, appeared in federal court in Miami today. He was ordered released in $100,000 bond pending arraignment on August 10 in a court in Fort Pierce, Florida. A plea was not entered today because De Oliveira did not have an attorney who is admitted to practice in Florida.

New nuclear power plant: Georgia Power announced this morning that the first commercial nuclear power plant to be built in the U.S. in more than 30 years has been put into commercials service. It’s Georgia Power’s Vogtle Unit 3 at Augusta, Georgia. The nuclear plant is expected to be in service for the next 60 to 80 years and can power an estimated 500,000 homes and businesses. Another nuclear reactor at Augusta is undergoing testing prior to being put into commercial service.

Pakistan bombing: The toll stands at 54 dead and more than 200 injured in a suicide bombing at a political rally in Bajur, Pakistan. The bombing was to target a political party that supports the Taliban. About 1,000 people were crowded into a tent for the political rally.

Yellow shuts down: The nationwide trucking company named Yellow Corp. and based in Nashville has filed for bankruptcy and has shut down its operations, laying off an estimated 30,000 employees. Yellow was about $1.5 billion in debt as of March, with almost $730 million owed to the federal government. Under the Trump Administration, the company was given a government loan of $700 million. A congressional investigation last month found that the company had been in a precarious financial position when the loan was made and the loan exposed taxpayers to serious risk of loss.

Photo by Gage Skidmore / Flickr Creative Commons