US Domestic News Roundup: Puerto Rico's new governor is challenged in court: newspaper; Trump urges gun background checks after mass shootings roil nation

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

'We have a long way to go:' Descendants of first black Americans on race relations

Four hundred years after the first ship carrying enslaved Africans arrived on the coast of Virginia, the descendants of one of the first black American families say race relations in the United States still have "a long way to go." The Tucker family, who trace their ancestry to the 1624 census of the then British colony of Virginia, has experienced every chapter of African-American history.

U.S. Senate leader McConnell fractures shoulder in fall

U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell fell at his home in Kentucky on Sunday and fractured his shoulder, a spokesman said. "This morning, Leader McConnell tripped at home on his outside patio and suffered a fractured shoulder. He has been treated, released, and is working from home in Louisville," McConnell spokesman David Popp said in a statement.

Single murder charge filed against Texas shooting suspect, case treated as domestic terrorism

A single capital murder charge was filed on Sunday against the man accused of killing 20 people and wounding more than two dozen others at a Walmart store in El Paso, mass shooting authorities are viewing as a case of domestic terrorism. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said Saturday's rampage in the heavily Hispanic city appeared to be a hate crime, and police cited a manifesto they attributed to the suspect as evidence that the bloodshed was racially motivated.

El Paso lands in heart of debates over gun violence and immigration

Artist Manuel Oliver had planned to unveil his mural on Sunday at a community event in El Paso, the latest of his works to celebrate the life of his murdered son. The boy, fatally shot with 16 others in 2018 at a Parkland, Florida, high school, would have turned 19 on Sunday, Oliver said. Joaquin Oliver had been quietly devoted to the cause of immigrants, his father said, and the artist chose El Paso because he saw the border city as an immigration success story.

Walmart massacre in Texas investigated by authorities as domestic terrorism

U.S. authorities investigating what drove a young man from the Dallas area to kill 20 people at a Walmart store hundreds of miles away in the border city of El Paso said on Sunday they are treating it as a case of domestic terrorism. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said Saturday's rampage appeared to be a hate crime, and police cited a manifesto they attributed to the suspect as evidence that the bloodshed was racially motivated.

Texas police seek clues to explain Walmart shooting that killed 20

Police and FBI investigators in Texas searched for clues on Sunday to explain what drove a young gunman from the Dallas area to kill 20 people at a Walmart store hundreds of miles away in the border city of El Paso. Texas Governor Greg Abbott said Saturday morning's rampage appeared to be a hate crime, and police cited a "manifesto" they attributed to the suspect as evidence that the bloodshed was racially motivated.

Dayton shooter had troubled past, threatening fellow students with 'hit list'

The 24-year-old gunman who killed nine people in a rampage in Dayton, Ohio had a troubled past, including threatening fellow students in high school, authorities said, but police said it was too soon to establish a motive for the slaughter. The gunman, wielding an assault-style rifle and wearing body armor and a mask, inflicted carnage on a neighborhood known for its nightlife. Police identified the shooter as Connor Betts, 24, of Bellbrook, Ohio.

Florida man who sent explosives to critics of Trump faces sentencing

A Florida man who mailed pipes filled with explosives to prominent Democrats and critics of U.S. President Donald Trump was expected to be sentenced on Monday. Cesar Sayoc, 57, was expected to appear before U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff at 2 p.m. EDT (1800 GMT) in Manhattan federal court.

Puerto Rico's new governor is challenged in court: newspaper

The legitimacy of Puerto Rico's newly-installed governor has been challenged in court, the Wall Street Journal reported on Monday, adding further drama to who will lead the U.S. territory after weeks of protests. Pedro Pierluisi, the handpicked successor to disgraced former governor Ricardo Rossello, was sworn in on Friday.

Trump urges gun background checks after mass shootings roil nation

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday called on lawmakers to pass strong gun background checks after two mass shootings over the weekend killed 29 people and sought to blame the nation's rising violence and divisions on the media. Trump, who is scheduled to deliver public remarks later on Monday following the attacks, appeared to dismiss accusations following the two shootings in Texas and Ohio that his rhetoric has stoked racial hatred and provoked attacks amid a deepening political divide.

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