What to Know
- President Donald Trump signaled a willingness to negotiate with North Korea to end its nuclear weapons program
- The Air Force acknowledged it failed to enter Devin Patrick Kelley's conviction into a database that would have stopped him from buying guns
- Actor Ben Affleck says the storm of sexual harassment allegations engulfing Hollywood has led him to examine his own behavior
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In Seoul, Trump Calls for North Korea to "Make a Deal"
President Trump, on his first day on the Korean peninsula, signaled a willingness to negotiate with North Korea to end its nuclear weapons program, urging Pyongyang to "come to the table" and "make a deal." In a notable shift from his aggressive rhetoric toward North Korea, Trump took a more optimistic tone, suggesting that "ultimately, it'll all work out." And while he said the United States would use military force if needed, he expressed his strongest inclination yet to deal with rising tensions with Pyongyang through diplomacy. Trump said he's seen "a lot of progress" in dealing with North Korea though he stopped short of saying whether he wanted direct diplomatic talks.
Texas Killer Was Able to Buy Guns Because of Air Force Lapse
The Air Force acknowledged it had failed to enter Devin Patrick Kelley's domestic violence conviction into a national database that would have prevented him from buying the Ruger AR-556 rifle he used to kill 26 people in a small Texas church. Kelley was found guilty by a court-martial of assaulting his wife and fracturing his infant stepson's skull in 2012, but that information was not forwarded to a national database used for background checks of would-be gun purchasers, according to Ann Stefanek, an Air Force spokeswoman. Federal gun regulations prohibit anyone with a domestic violence conviction, even at the misdemeanor level, from purchasing a gun. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott told “CBS This Morning” that the law should have blocked Kelley from obtaining the rifle.
Voters to Pick Christie's Replacement for Governor; NYC Voters to Chose Mayor
Local
New Jersey voters are going to the polls to pick Republican Gov. Chris Christie's successor. Democrat Phil Murphy and Republican Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno are the two major party candidates vying to replace the two-term, term-limited incumbent in the election. Murphy has a double-digit lead in polls and cast himself as a check on unpopular Republican President Donald Trump. He also has pinned his campaign on Christie's low approval ratings. Guadagno's campaign has focused almost entirely on her promise to lower property taxes, but recently she's steered into a discussion on immigration policy calling for a ban on sanctuary cities. In New York, Voters in New York City are poised to decide whether to give Mayor Bill de Blasio a second term leading the nation's largest city. The Democrat is expected to prevail in a crowded race on Tuesday after facing only token opposition. De Blasio's toughest challenger is Republican state Assemblywoman Nicole Malliotakis of Staten Island. He also faces several third-party candidates.
Ben Affleck Speaks Out on Sexual Harassment in Hollywood
Ben Affleck says the storm of sexual harassment allegations engulfing Hollywood has led him to examine his own behavior. After condemning Harvey Weinstein's actions, Affleck was forced to defend his own conduct. He apologized for groping the actress Hilarie Burton on camera in 2003 when she was a host on MTV's "Total Request Live." Another video from 2004 showed Affleck pulling Montreal TV host Anne-Marie Losique onto his lap. Affleck said two things need to happen, that "more women need to be pushed to power" and that sexual harassment has to also be "a men's issue" where guys call out inappropriate behavior.
Rapper Meek Mill Sentenced to Prison for Probation Violation
A judge sentenced popular rapper Meek Mill to two to four years in prison for violating probation in a nearly decade-old gun and drug case. When sentencing the 30-year-old musician, Common Pleas Judge Genece Brinkley cited a failed drug test and a failure to comply with a court order restricting his travel. Mill, born Robert Rihmeek Williams, was convicted on drug and gun charges in 2008 but released in 2009 under a five-year parole agreement. Since then prosecutors say Mill has violated parole by repeatedly changing his court-approved travel schedule and ducking a drug test. Mill's lawyer has vowed to appeal.
