News Wrap: Higher gasoline prices pushed inflation up in August

Amna Nawaz:

In the day's other headlines: Inflation rose again in August, fueled by higher gasoline prices, but overall prices are cooling. Labor Department data shows the Consumer Price Index was up 3.7 percent from one year earlier. That was higher than July's year-over-year increase of 3.2 percent.

Core prices, excluding food and energy, were up 4.3 percent, the smallest increase in nearly two years. The Federal Reserve will digest the new data as it decides whether to raise interest rates again next week.

A federal judge today ordered former President Trump's lawyers to use a secure facility to review evidence in his classified documents case. That may rule out reviews at the Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida, as Mr. Trump wanted. He's charged with illegally storing secret material there.

Instead, the rules from Judge Aileen Cannon, a Trump appointee, make it likely that the reviews will take place at a federal courthouse.

A leading Trump critic, Senator Mitt Romney, will retire, instead of run for reelection in 2024. The Utah Republican announced today he will not seek a second term. He's 76 years old, and he said it's time for new leaders. He also criticized both President Biden and Mr. Trump for failing to address vital issues.

Sen. Mitt Romney(R-UT):

Oh, I think it would be a great thing if both President Biden and former President Trump were to stand aside and let their respective party pick someone in the next generation. I think both parties would be far better served if they were going to be represented by people other than those of us from the Baby Boom generation.

Amna Nawaz:

Romney is a former Republican nominee for president, but he faced criticism in his own party after twice voting to convict Mr. Trump in impeachment trials.

Ukraine has staged a major new attack in Russian-annexed Crimea, damaging two warships and wounding 24 people. A missile and a drone strike today hit a shipyard at Sevastopol, the main base for Russia's Black Sea fleet. That came as Russian attacks across Ukraine killed three people.

The Red Cross appealed for help today after 6,800 migrants descended on the Italian island of Lampedusa in just 24 hours. That's several hundred more people than the island's population. They were packed onto more than 120 flimsy boats launched from Tunisia. The flotilla overwhelmed the Italian Coast Guard and their Border Patrol.

Back, in this country, an escaped murderer in Southeastern Pennsylvania is back in custody after two weeks on the run. Danelo Souza Cavalcante was recaptured early today outside Philadelphia's suburbs, where he'd broken into homes and stolen a rifle. State Police say search teams caught up to him after a plane with a thermal imaging camera picked up his heat signal. They then sent in dogs to subdue him.

Lt. Col. George Bivens, Pennsylvania State Police:

They were able to move in very quietly. They had the element of surprise. Cavalcante did not realize he was surrounded until that had occurred. That did not stop him from trying to escape.

He began to crawl through thick underbrush, taking his rifle with him as he went. He continued to resist, but was forcibly taken into custody. No one was injured as a result of that.

Amna Nawaz:

Cavalcante's daring escape had made headlines here and in his home country of Brazil. Video from a county jail showed him here on the left crab-walking up two walls topped with razor wire. From there, he jumped from the roof and ran off.

Artificial intelligence, or A.I., was topic a today as tech leaders met with more than 60 senators. It came amid growing calls for regulation of the rapidly advancing technology. Among those attending, Meta's Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk, owner of X, formerly known as Twitter. Musk said there was bipartisan agreement.

Elon Musk, CEO, Twitter:

Well, I can't read their mind. But judging by the fact that they put their hands up when asked if they believed that some regulation is in order, I think the general — I think it's clear that there's a strong consensus, overwhelming consensus that there should be some A.I. regulation that would be in the best interest of the people.

Amna Nawaz:

It's unclear what form any regulation might take.

And on Wall Street today, the inflation news did little to move the market either way. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 70 points to close at 34575. The Nasdaq rose 40 points, and the S&P 500 added five.

And the National Toy Hall of Fame in Rochester, New York, is out with this year's finalists, and Ken tops the list. Barbie's companion joins Bingo, Battleship, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and other favorites in the running. The three toys receiving the most votes by a selection committee and the public will be inducted in November.

I'm cheering for the Ninja Turtles.

Still to come on the "NewsHour": a potential autoworkers strike looms as the deadline for an agreement approaches; the White House responds to House Republicans' impeachment inquiry against President Biden; and Colorado's secretary of state on efforts to keep former President Trump off the ballot.