On the version of Hot off the Wire posted April 11 at 7:30 a.m. CT:

SLIDELL, La. (AP) — Officials in a Louisiana city are assessing the damage from a tornado spawned by a system of severe weather also blamed for a death in Mississippi and damage from Texas to the Florida panhandle. No deaths or critical injuries were reported when the suspected tornado hit Slidell, Louisiana, on Wednesday. The storm ripped off roofs and partially collapsed some buildings. The storms dumped close to 8 inches of rain on parts of the New Orleans area as the city dealt with problems with the antiquated system of pipes and pumps that drains the streets.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A joyful celebration of the end of Ramadan devolved into panic Wednesday in Philadelphia after rival groups exchanged gunfire, leaving at least three people injured. Hundreds of parents and children fled the Eid al-Fitr event in the city's Parkside neighborhood after the 2:30 p.m. shooting. Philadelphia Police Commissioner Kevin Bethel says about 30 shots rang out during a gunfight between rival groups. Bethel says that five people are in custody. They include a 15-year-old boy who police say had a gun and was shot in the leg and shoulder. Officials say one man was shot in the stomach and a juvenile victim suffered a wound to the hand.

BEIJING (AP) — China has announced rare sanctions against two U.S. defense companies over what it says is their support for arms sales to Taiwan. Beijing claims the self-governing island democracy as its own territory to be recovered by force if necessary. The announcement freezes the assets of General Atomics Aeronautical Systems and General Dynamics Land Systems held within China. It also bars their management from entering the country. Filings show General Dynamics operates a half-dozen Gulfstream and jet aviation services operations in China. General Atomics produces the Predator and Reaper drones used by the U.S. military. General Dynamics helps make the Abrams tank being purchased by Taiwan.

DETROIT (AP) — The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a March crash near Philadelphia that killed two people and involved a Ford electric vehicle that may have been operating on a partially automated driving system. The agency says a Mustang Mach E sport utility vehicle hit two stationary passenger cars on Interstate 95 at 3:19 a.m. March 3. Both drivers of the stationary cars were killed. In a posting Wednesday on X, the agency said it will coordinate with the Pennsylvania State Police. The Mach E hit a parked Toyota Prius and rammed it into a Hyundai Elantra. Ford said it is researching the crash and collaborating with investigators. The crash is the second this year involving a Mach E that the NTSB is investigating. The first occurred on Feb. 24 in San Antonio, Texas.

OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Canada’s emergency preparedness minister is warning the country’s wildfire season could be more explosive than last year that unprecedented smoke conditions across much of the country and into the United States. Persistent drought and months of above-average temperatures have raised the risk of a repeat of last year’s record-breaking wildfires, prompting federal ministers to wave a red warning flag about the desperate need to address climate change. Emergency Preparedness Minister Harjit Sajjan says they can expect that the wildfire season will start sooner, end later and potentially be more explosive. The 2023 fire season was Canada’s worst on record, burning more than 15 million hectares and forcing more than 230,000 people from their homes.

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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