US Domestic News Roundup: Trump rejects racism charge; Puerto Ricans worry about political turmoil

Following is a summary of current US domestic news briefs.

U.S. judge sets July 29 hearing in Trump lawsuit over tax returns

A U.S. judge will hear arguments on July 29 in President Donald Trump's lawsuit seeking to block a House of Representatives committee from obtaining his New York state tax returns, according to a court filing issued Sunday. U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols in Washington scheduled the hearing so he could resolve an "emergency" lawsuit Trump's personal lawyers filed last week against the Democrat-controlled House Ways and Means Committee Kamala Harris releases Medicare-for-all plan ahead of second 2020 U.S. Democratic debate

U.S. Senator Kamala Harris on Monday released a Medicare-for-all proposal ahead of the second Democratic presidential debate when candidates' differing approaches to giving Americans greater access to affordable health insurance is expected to feature prominently. Harris' plan would allow Americans to buy into the Medicare government health insurance program, establishing a 10-year phase-in period during which newly born children would be automatically enrolled and healthcare providers can transition. The plan would allow private health insurers to offer Medicare plans if they meet requirements on costs and benefits, according to a preview of the plan provided to Reuters by her campaign.

Trump rejects racism charge, throws it at black lawmaker

President Donald Trump on Sunday said disparaging comments he made about a prominent African-American lawmaker and his Baltimore district were not racist and, without citing any evidence for his claim, he called the congressman a racist. "If racist Elijah Cummings would focus more of his energy on helping the good people of his district, and Baltimore itself, perhaps progress could be made in fixing the mess that he has helped to create over many years of incompetent leadership," Trump said in a tweet.

Motive a mystery as California police hunt for accomplice in festival shooting

Police was searching on Monday for a suspected accomplice of the gunman who killed three people, including a 6-year-old boy, in a mass shooting at a food festival in California. The gunman was shot dead by police officers within minutes of opening fire early on Sunday evening at the three-day Gilroy Garlic Festival, about 30 miles (48 km) southeast of the city of San Jose.

Ratcliffe tapped to replace Coats as U.S. spy chief

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he would nominate Representative John Ratcliffe, a Texas Republican who strongly defended him at a recent congressional hearing, to replace Dan Coats as the U.S. spy chief. Coats, the current U.S. director of national intelligence who has clashed with Trump over-assessments involving Russia, Iran, and North Korea, will step down on Aug. 15, the president said as he announced his decision on Twitter.

Alaska ferry workers, state try mediation to end strike

Alaska ferry workers and state officials were seeking a federal mediator's help on Saturday to end a strike that has disrupted travel during the peak summer tourist season as the labor dispute surfaced in the 2020 presidential campaign. The strike, which started on Wednesday, has halted traffic for the Alaska Marine Highway System, the state-operated ferry system that serves 35 coastal towns, most of them without outside road access.

U.S. Supreme Court lets Trump use disputed funds for border wall

The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday handed President Donald Trump a victory by letting his administration redirect $2.5 billion in money approved by Congress for the Pentagon to help build his promised wall along the U.S.-Mexico border even though lawmakers refused to provide funding. The conservative-majority court on a 5-4 vote with the court's liberals in dissent blocked in full a ruling by a federal judge in California barring the Republican president from spending the money on the basis that Congress did not specifically authorize the funds to be spent on the wall project fiercely opposed by Democrats and Mexico's government.

Puerto Ricans worry political turmoil could further delay federal aid

The nonprofit All Hands and Hearts arrived here in January 2018, to fix roofs in the rural town where Hurricane Maria made its first, most damaging landfall. "We kept an open-door policy," partnership manager Nicole Franks said at the group's makeshift compound in an old schoolhouse. "We said: 'If you need help, come put your name on our list."

U.S. teen wins $3 million at video game tournament Fortnite World Cup

American teenager Kyle Giersdorf won $3 million on Sunday after taking the top prize in a tournament in New York for the popular online video game Fortnite. Giersdorf, 16, from Pennsylvania, was one of at least 100 players competing for $30 million in total prize money, as the booming popularity of video and online games has drawn top-dollar investments and fueled the emerging professional sport.

Exclusive: First big U.S. offshore wind project hits snag due to fishing-industry concerns

Trump administration infighting is holding up approval of the first major U.S. offshore wind energy project, with agencies sparring over whether the proposal does enough to protect the fishing industry, according to interviews and agency documents. The delays are a setback to President Donald Trump's efforts to fast-track big energy infrastructure projects and could threaten the administration's plans to launch a promising new domestic industry.