On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April 25 at 7:15 a.m. CT:

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — With graduations looming, student protesters continue to double down on their discontent of the Israel-Hamas war on campuses across the country as universities, including ones in California and Texas, have become quick to call in the police to end the demonstrations and make arrests. Police peacefully arrested pro-Palestinian student protesters at the University of Southern California Wednesday evening without incident. The arrests came hours after police at a Texas university aggressively detained 34 demonstrators. It was the latest clash between law enforcement and those protesting the Israel-Hamas war on campuses nationwide.

ISTANBUL (AP) — A top Hamas political official has told The Associated Press the Islamic militant group is willing to agree to a five-year truce with Israel and that it will lay down its weapons and convert into a political party if an independent Palestinian state is established along pre-1967 borders. Khalil al-Hayya made the comments Wednesday amid a stalemate in months of cease-fire talks. But it's unlikely Israel would consider such a scenario.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court is taking up former President Donald Trump's bid to avoid prosecution over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss to Joe Biden. Trump and his legal team are putting to the test the foundational belief that no one is above the law, not even the president. The Supreme Court hears the case Thursday.

COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — A technical problem caused aviation authorities in Norway to temporarily close the airspace over the south of the country, leading to significant delays at Oslo airport. The state-owned airport operator said the airspace was gradually reopened after more than three hours, but delays would continue throughout the day. 

NEW YORK (AP) — The number of U.S. births fell last year. It was the lowest count in more than 40 years. A little under 3.6 million babies were born in the U.S. in 2023, about 76,000 fewer than the year before. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released the provisional statistics on Thursday.

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.