On the version of Hot off the Wire posted March 26 at 6:45 a.m. CT:

BALTIMORE (AP) — A container ship has rammed into a major bridge in Baltimore, causing it to snap in a few places and plunge into the river below. Several vehicles fell into the chilly waters, and rescuers were initially searching for at least seven people. Baltimore Fire Chief James Wallace says two people were pulled from the waters under the Francis Scott Key Bridge, one in serious condition. According to video posted on social media, the cargo ship appears to have crashed into one of the bridge’s supports during the middle of night when traffic would be expected to be lighter. The vessel caught fire, and thick, black smoke billowed out of it.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is hearing arguments in its first abortion case since conservative justices overturned the constitutional right to an abortion two years ago. At stake in Tuesday's arguments is the ease of access to a medication that was used in nearly two-thirds of all abortions in the U.S. last year. Abortion opponents want the justices to ratify an appeals court ruling that would limit access to mifepristone, one of two drugs used in medication abortions. The election-year decision is expected by early summer. The practical consequences could be dramatic, possibly halting mail delivery of mifepristone, reducing when in pregnancy it can be used and ending increasingly popular telehealth visits at which the drug can be prescribed.

MOSCOW (AP) — A Moscow court has ordered Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich to remain in jail on espionage charges until at least late June. The 32-year-old U.S. citizen was arrested in late March 2023 while on a reporting trip and has spent nearly a year behind bars. Gershkovich and his employer have denied the allegations, and the U.S. government has declared him to be wrongfully detained. His arrest in the city of Yekaterinburg rattled journalists in Russia, where authorities have not detailed what, if any, evidence they have to support the espionage charges.

UNITED NATIONS (AP) — The United Nations Security Council issued its first demand for a cease-fire in Gaza, with the U.S. angering Israel by abstaining from the vote. Israel responded to Monday's vote by canceling a visit to Washington by a high-level delegation in the strongest public clash between the allies since the war began. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the U.S. of retreating by allowing the vote to pass without conditioning the cease-fire on the release of hostages held by Hamas. The resolution was approved 14-0 by the 15-member council after the U.S. decided not to use its veto power.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The IRS is warning taxpayers that they may be leaving more than $1 billion on the table. The federal tax collector said Monday that roughly 940,000 people in the U.S. have until May 17 to submit tax returns for unclaimed refunds for tax year 2020, which total more than $1 billion nationwide. The average median refund is $932 for 2020. Texas, California, Florida and New York are states with the largest amount of people potentially eligible for these refunds. The IRS advises taxpayers to request their forms from their employer or bank or order a free wage and income transcript at IRS.gov.

In other headlines: 

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.

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