On the version of Hot off the Wire posted March 28 at 6:45 a.m. CT:

BALTIMORE (AP) — The U.S. Coast Guard says the cargo ship that crashed into and collapsed a bridge in Baltimore underwent “routine engine maintenance” in port beforehand. U.S. Coast Guard Rear Admiral Shannon Gilreath said at a news conference Wednesday that authorities had been informed that the ship was going to undergo the maintenance. He added that they were not informed of any problems. The ship collided into a support pillar early Tuesday, causing the span to buckle into the river. The bodies of two of six workers who plunged into the water were recovered earlier in the day. The others are presumed dead.

ROCKFORD, Ill. (AP) — Authorities say four people have been killed and seven have been hurt when a man went on a stabbing rampage across multiple locations in a northern Illinois community. Rockford Police Chief Carla Redd says that a suspect is in police custody and has been questioned over Wednesday's attacks.

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — Former Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut has died, according to his family. He was 82 and died Wednesday of complications from a fall. Lieberman nearly won the vice presidency on Democrat Al Gore's ticket in the disputed 2000 White House race. Eight years later, he came close to joining the GOP ticket as John McCain’s running mate. The Democrat-turned-independent stepped down from the Senate in January 2013 after 24 years.

President Joe Biden is announcing new steps to protect consumers who buy short-term health insurance plans that critics say amount to junk. A new rule finalized by the Democratic president's administration will limit short-term health insurance to just three months. 

DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza (AP) — An international team of doctors was prepared for the worst before visiting a hospital in central Gaza. The doctors were nevertheless stunned by the gruesome impact that Israel’s war against Hamas is having on Palestinian children. One toddler died from a brain injury caused by an Israeli strike. His cousin, an infant, is still fighting for her life. These gut-wrenching casualties were described to The Associated Press by Tanya Haj-Hassan, a pediatric intensive care doctor from Jordan. She was part of a seven-doctor team that recently finished a two-week stint in Gaza, whose hospitals have been devastated by the war that began on Oct. 7.

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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