CHICAGO (AP) — The Democratic National Convention’s third night showcased a familiar former president in Bill Clinton and introduced more Americans to Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz. He was little known outside his state until Vice President Kamala Harris selected him as her running mate. Walz used his background as a former teacher and football coach to put a home-town spin on the Democrats’ agenda of protecting individual freedoms and rejecting what they paint as the intrusive policies of Republican Donald Trump.

ASHEBORO, N.C. (AP) — Donald Trump spoke from behind bulletproof glass in North Carolina at his first outdoor rally since last month's attempted assassination. The focus of Wednesday's event was national security, but he also criticized his predecessor Barack Obama as “nasty” for comments made the night before at the Democratic National Convention.

TORONTO (AP) — Both of Canada’s major freight railroads have come to a full stop because of a contract dispute with their workers, an impasse that could bring significant economic harm to businesses and consumers in Canada and the U.S. if the trains don't resume running soon. 

BROOKLYN CENTER, Minn. (AP) — The head of the FBI says America is facing heightened threats from many corners at a time when law enforcement agencies are struggling. FBI Director Christopher Wray says he is “hard pressed to think of a time in my career where so many different kinds of threats are all elevated at once.” Wray spoke Wednesday in an exclusive interview with The Associated Press while visiting the Minneapolis field office to talk about partnerships between law enforcement agencies and also with other entities. 

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukrainian commanders and soldiers say some new troops refuse to fire at the enemy. Others struggle to assemble weapons or to coordinate basic combat movements. A few have even walked away from their posts, abandoning the battlefield altogether. The commanders made the comments to The Associated Press as Ukraine is losing precious ground along the country’s eastern front. 

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.