Dr. Faisal Khan spoke at the meeting on Tuesday night as the council was considering ending the mask mandate, despite a rise in coronavirus infections fueled by the highly transmissible Delta variant. The following day, he wrote a letter to Council chairwoman Rita Heard Days, a Democrat, alleging he was subjected to “racist, xenophobic and threatening behavior” which he said was stoked by Councilman Tim Fitch and other Republican politicians....

Tityana Coppage, 21, is charged with second-degree murder and armed criminal action in the fatal shooting of 36-year-old Keith Lars in Kansas City, the Jackson County prosecutor’s office said. The shooting occurred in a parking lot at around midday on Wednesday. According to a probable cause statement, Coppage told investigators that her family believed Lars was involved in the death of her 16-year-old brother, Jayson Ugwuh Jr., earlier this month....

Qinxuan Pan allegedly shot Kevin Jiang, after Jiang got engaged to MIT graduate Zion Perry—who Pan wanted to date himself, according to police. Jiang was shot multiple times on February 6, 2021, on a street close to the Yale campus in New Haven, Connecticut. Pan and Zion had been friends, but investigators allege Pan had secretly carried a torch for her and became enraged when she accepted her boyfriend’s proposal....

“There’s no place in the Republican Party for white supremacists or antisemitism,” McConnell told Politico, when asked to comment on Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar’s attendance at the America First Political Action Conference. The rally took place in Orlando, Florida, and was organized by Nick Fuentes, a podcaster and talk show host whom the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) has labeled a white supremacist. During the event, Fuentes urged attendees to “give a round of applause for Russia” as Russian President Vladimir Putin moved to invade Ukraine just one day before....

McConnell blasted Biden for proposing a tax hike to pay for his infrastructure plan and suggested that the president could have a rough road ahead during an interview with Kentucky Educational Television that aired on Sunday. On Monday, Biden held a one-on-one meeting with Manchin, a moderate critical of his spending proposals and a host of other Democratic bills. Democrats would need to be united for the proposal to pass without Republican support since the upper chamber is split evenly, with Vice President Kamala Harris having the power to break ties....

McConnell said every “legal vote” should be counted, which follows the president’s attack on those he is deeming to have been illegally cast. Amid an ongoing backlash against the president over his comments, McConnell said: “Here’s how this must work in our great country: Every legal vote should be counted. Any illegally-submitted ballots must not. All sides must get to observe the process. And the courts are here to apply the laws & resolve disputes....

The video has begun circulating on social media since being posted on Monday and has already been viewed more than 80,000 times. Speaking to MSNBC, Romney said: “It is disgusting to invite people like that to meet the former President of the United States. “I think it has been clear that there is no bottom to the degree in which President Trump will degrade himself and the nation.” On November 24, rapper West posted a video online in which he described meeting with Trump at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida....

Senator Susan Collins, a Maine Republican, and Senator Joe Manchin, a West Virginia Democrat, had already come out publicly in opposition to Tanden’s nomination. Collins announced her decision on Monday following Manchin’s announcement on Friday. “Senator Romney has been critical of extreme rhetoric from prior nominees, and this is consistent with that position. And he believes it’s hard to return to comity and respect with a nominee who has issued a thousand mean tweets,” a Romney spokesperson told Newsweek....

Following the September 18 death of liberal icon Ruth Bader Ginsburg, President Donald Trump and Republicans have moved quickly to fill the vacancy left on the nine-member court. On Saturday, Trump nominated Barrett, a deeply conservative judge whom Democrats fear would vote to overturn abortion rights and the Affordable Care Act. “Enjoyed meeting with Judge Amy Coney Barrett, the President’s nominee to serve as Associate Justice on the Supreme Court....

Harper’s first order of business after getting this sweet new hairdo : make the All-Star Game meaningless and therefore more fun. “I mean, I’ve got to say that I think the best record in baseball should have home-field advantage (in the World Series), no matter what,” Harper told MLB Network ( via The Washington Post ). “I mean, I don’t think this game should mean anything. It’s coming out here, having fun, enjoying the game....

Great American Ballpark, opened in 2003, had been the second-oldest Major League park not to host an all-star game. Tampa Bay’s Tropicana Field, which has housed the Rays since 1998, remains the oldest stadium never to host an All-Star Game. MLB will announce the game’s starting lineups after voting closes at 11:59 p.m. ET on July 2. MORE: Photos from 2014 ASG | Padres to host in 2016 | Prepare for changes to ASG...

Of coure we’re talking about FINAL VOTE EMOJIS. (Or, as they called them, Final Vote-mojis.) MORE: Biggest All-Star snubs | 13 awful ASG performances | Meet the AL, NL starters Voting closes at 4 p.m. ET and starting at 10 a.m. ET, using the right hashtag will also trigger an emoji on Twitter. There’s a clear top two with #VoteMoose and #VoteCueto. The other ones don’t stand a chance....

The World Series champion Cubs and runner-up Indians were prominent among the nominations for the MVP, Cy Young, Rookie of the Year and Manager of the Year awards. Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager was nominated for both the National League MVP and Rookie of the Year. The Baseball Writers’ Association of America announced the nominees Monday evening on MLB Network. The winners of the awards will be announced later this month, beginning with Rookie of the Year on Nov....

NHL and NBA fans are extremely aware of the lottery, and how it doesn’t guarantee teams with the worst record will pick first overall. That’s unfortunate for the Washington Nationals, who went a league-worst 55-107 last season. The 2023 draft class doesn’t necessarily have a clear-cut first overall pick. But getting that first pick will be important for teams at the bottom of the league as they try to bolster their farm systems....

Seven men tried to lay claim to this year’s title of “Baddest Masher in the Galaxy,” but the hometown hero Harper took home the honors. Bryce Harper was my pick to win it all, so basically, I’m a genius. That boy good. Home Run Derby results 10:27 p.m.: Harper takes home the honors with a blast to deep center field 10:25 p.m.: Harper ties Schwarber with 18 and he’s got 30 more seconds to beat Schwarber....

MLB odds: Today’s lines from Las Vegas | World Series futures Athletics (55-73) vs. Diamondbacks (62-65) Sonny Gray (12-5, 2.10 ERA) vs. Chase Anderson (6-5, 4.28 ERA) Line: A’s -112Total: 7.5 (-110)Time: 9:40 p.m. ET The Diamondbacks attempt to slide their way back into NL West contention after losing their last four straight at home to the league-leading Cardinals. Arizona is taking early money from an opener of +110 but remain a slight dog to the visiting Athletics at +100 as of Friday morning....

MLB odds: Today’s lines from Las Vegas Giants (71-67) vs. Diamondbacks (66-72) Tim Hudson (6-8, 4.69 ERA) vs. Chase Anderson (6-5, 4.26 ERA) Line: Diamondbacks -108Total: 9 (-110)Time: 9:40 p.m. ET Recently activated from the 15-day disabled list (shoulder), Tim Hudson (6-8, 4.69 ERA) gets the spot start over Ryan Vogelsong, who was moved in the rotation in anticipation of Matt Cain’s return on Thursday. Manager Bruce Bochy demoted the 40-year old Hudson to the pen as a long reliever since his return, a move considered well before his injury....

In their first appearances since being named final vote candidates for the NL All-Star team on Tuesday, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, Reds starter Johnny Cueto, Cardinals pitcher Carlos Martinez and Mets closer Jeurys Familia have combined to pitch 27 shutout innings with 33 strikeouts, 15 hits, three walks, three wins and two saves. Talk about some stiff competition. The latest of those candidates to pitch was Martinez, who delivered 7 1/3 scoreless innings Thursday against the Pirates, allowing just four hits while striking out eight....

A pair of rookie third basemen were sensational Monday night. MORE: Top 10 unbreakable records | Vandy wins Game 1 of CWS finals | French girl eligible to sign with MLB club The Cubs’ Kris Bryant recorded his first career multi-home run game with his ninth and 10th bombs of the season to help Chicago earn its third straight win. He came into the came with one hit in last 18 at-bats....

Baseballs flew out of the park fast and furious Tuesday. A season-high 19 home runs were hit, including one by Mariners outfielder Nelson Cruz, who has homered in four consecutive games. MORE: Forty-two images of Jackie Robinson from SN’s archives | Harvey electrifies Queens | Fantasy advice for Wednesday’s games Dodgers second baseman Howie Kendrick provided some late-night, non-homer excitement when he slashed a two-run, walkoff single to right field as LA rallied to beat Seattle 6-5....