On the version of Hot off the Wire posted Aug. 19 at 7:45 a.m. CT:

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris is entering the Democratic National Convention with increased excitement from Democrats and a steady rise in her favorability ratings among Americans as a whole. A new poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research shows 48% of U.S. adults now have a very or somewhat favorable view of Harris. That is up from 39% at the beginning of the summer, before President Joe Biden’s poor debate performance. The latest measure is in line with how Americans viewed Harris at the beginning of Biden's term. It suggests some renewed positivity toward Harris, but she risks hitting a ceiling as she approaches her previous highest approval rating.

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Republicans have released their initial impeachment inquiry report on President Joe Biden. The yearlong probe by Republicans stops short of alleging any criminal wrongdoing by the president over his son Hunter Biden's business dealings. Instead, the almost 300-page report out Monday, before the Democratic National Convention, covers familiar ground. 

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken says now is “maybe the last” opportunity to reach a Gaza cease-fire agreement that would return hostages held by Hamas and bring relief to Palestinian suffering after more than 10 months of war in Gaza. Blinken on Monday was on his ninth mission to the Middle East since the conflict began.

Former U.S. Rep. George Santos is due in court on Long Island on Monday afternoon, where a person familiar with the matter has said the New York Republican is expected to plead guilty to multiple counts in his federal fraud case. 

Ernesto has regained hurricane status as the storm churns away from Bermuda and heads farther out into the northeastern Atlantic Ocean. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Sunday that Ernesto’s maximum sustained winds were 75 mph, just barely Category 1 hurricane strength. But swells and dangerous surf and rip currents generated by Ernesto are affecting the U.S. East Coast and Canada’s Atlantic coast. 

CAIRO (AP) — A cholera outbreak has killed nearly two dozen people and sickened hundreds more recently in Sudan, which has been roiled by a 16-month conflict and devastating floods. Health Minister Haitham Mohamed Ibrahim said Sunday that at least 22 people have died and 354 cases of cholera have been confirmed across the county. 

In other news:

—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.