AP Headline News May 17 2019 22:00 (EDT)

 

AP Radio News. I'm Tim McGuire.

 

Amid a trade war with China, President Trump is moving to ease tension with allies. AP's Sagar Meghani has more from the White House.

The President is lifting import taxes on Canadian and Mexican steel and aluminum, clearing the way for approval of trade pact between the 3 nations. He slapped on the tariffs last year in the name of national security and Canada had resisted approving the deal while they were in place.

"They were hurting Canadian consumers, Canadian workers and American workers and American consumers."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Ontario shortly before President Trump spoke here in Washington where he did not address the tariffs but push congress to approve the deal.

"A fantastic deal for our country."

The White House says he's now holding off on deciding whether to put tariffs on foreign vehicles which would have a big impact on Europe and Japan. Sagar Meghani at the White House.

 

Missouri House overwhelmingly approves a bill to ban almost all abortions in the States after 8 weeks of pregnancy. State representative Keri Ingle of Democrat voted against that measure.

"There's really no way to describe. It feels like we're failing to save Missouri."

Missouri governor is expected to sign the bill.

 

In Chicago, prosecutors released a court filling describing how Clarisa Figueroa and her daughter Desiree allegedly killed 19-year-old Marlen Ochoa Lopez. Assistant state attorney James Murphy first described how the 2 were set to have strangled the young pregnant woman then.

"Defending Clarisa took a knife and sliced open the victim's abdomen from side to side. Defending Clarisa then removed the umbilical cord , the placenta and the baby from inside the victim."

The young woman's body was found in the trash can behind Figueroa's home. Murphy says the infant is hospitalized in grave condition with no brain activity. Both Figueroas and Clarisa's boy friend are being held without bond. This is AP Radio News.

 

A federal judege in Oakland hears arguments in 2 lawsuits filed to block the Trump administration from building the wall along the border with Mexico. California and 19 other states brought 1 suit, the Sierra Club and communities along the border represented by the American Civil Liberties Union brought the other. They want an injucntion to stop the government. The judge said he will make a decision next week. In Washington, the U.S. House has asked the federal judge to block the use of Defense Department money on the wall.

 

Ohio State university president Michael Drake vows to do something about a doctor accused of sex abuse. A report released today says former team doctor Richard Strauss sexually abused at least 177 male students from 1970s into '90s. Strauss killed himself in 2005. AP's Andrew (?) reports on a crucial part of that investigation.

"What's key is that it appears the university was aware of the allegations of Strauss fairly early on."

I'm Tim McGuire. AP Radio News.