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RNC Chair Michael Whatley says 'politics is secondary' after Trump assassination attempt

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RNC Chair Michael Whatley says 'politics is secondary' after Trump assassination attempt

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley said Sunday that “politics is secondary” after the assassination attempt on former President Trump. 

Appearing on “Fox News Sunday,” Whatley said he still expects Trump to attend the upcoming nominating convention in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, that begins on Monday. 

Host Shannon Bream asked Whatley about the Sunday editorial in the Wall Street Journal that the assassination attempt at the rally in Butler, Pennsylvania presents an opportunity for Trump and his party to call for political unity at the Republican National Convention. The Journal editors argued that Trump “will make a mistake if he blames Democrats for the assassination attempt” on Saturday, and “if the Trump campaign is smart, and thinking about the country as well as the election, it will make the theme of Milwaukee a call to political unity and the better angels of American nature.” 

The board added that “the country wants civil disagreement and discourse, not civil war.”

“Look, I think unity is obviously very important. I think strength is obviously very important. But right now, this morning, I think politics is secondary,” Whatley said in response. 

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RNC co-chair Michael Whatley leaves Fiserv Forum, which will host the Republican National Convention, shortly after former President Trump was shot in Pennsylvania on July 13, 2024, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

“I think right now we need to be praying for these families that have been affected,” he added. “I think we need to be grateful that President Trump is alive and is actually going to be here, and certainly, we look forward to him being here in Milwaukee, and I think it’s going to be tremendously important for him to be here, and to deliver that message to America.” 

Bream also asked the chairman whether he feels that the shooting “is a bit of a wake-up call that rhetoric has gotten so heated,” given Democrats have claimed Trump’s re-election would end democracy as we know it. Trump’s former attorney general, Bill Barr, told Fox News on Saturday night that Democrats must stop their “grossly irresponsible talk” about Trump being “an existential threat to democracy.”

Former President Trump pumps his fist as he is rushed offstage during a rally on July 13, 2024, in Butler, Pennsylvania.  (Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

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“Where do we go in our political conversation? I mean, this country is built on being able to disagree and do it in a very heated way, but what about this?” Bream posed to Whatley. 

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“Well, it is, but there is no place in politics in any way, shape or form for this kind of violence, for these types of action,” Whatley said. “It’s a horrific act, and we certainly don’t know all of the details and we’re going to have time for investigations on it. But right now, I think everybody in America needs to stop. They need to pause. They need to reflect on what is actually important for us in this political process going forward.”

“And, you know, fortunately, we are here in Milwaukee and the show is going to take place,” he added. “I think it’s tremendously important for us as a country that the Republican Party is going to move forward. We are going to be strong. We are going to be resilient and certainly, President Trump is going to be strong and resilient.” 

The Fiserv Forum ahead of the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee on Thursday, July 11, 2024. (Al Drago/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

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On security at the convention, which had taken more than 18 months to plan, Whatley said the “arena’s set, the security is here, and we feel very comfortable that we’re working with the Secret Service.” 

He said the RNC is working with 40 different law enforcement agencies on security for the convention.

“This is going to be a facility where we’re going to be able to have 50,000 delegates and alternates and guests and members of the media who are going to be here and who are going to be safe. That’s very critical for us,” he said. “Look, our business is critically important for the process, right? We’re going to be nominating President Trump for the president, and we’re going to be nominating a vice president. They’re going to give their speeches to accept those nominations, and then we’re going to move back into the field. We’re going to roll up our sleeves, and we’re going to go to work.”

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Illinois

Man found dead near Chicago Executive Airport may have been killed in crash: police

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Man found dead near Chicago Executive Airport may have been killed in crash: police


WHEELING, Ill. (WLS) — North suburban police believe a man found dead near the Chicago Executive Airport viewing area on Sunday morning may have been killed in a crash.

Prospect Heights police said its officers responded to the area of 79 Palatine Frontage Road in Wheeling just after 9 a.m.

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There, officers found a man lying on the ground along the fence. Police said the man, who was unconscious and cold to the touch, was pronounced dead on the scene.

A preliminary investigation indicates that the man may have been hit by a vehicle, police said.

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When officers arrived on the scene, there were no witnesses or vehicles that appeared to be connected to the possible crash.

East Palatine Frontage Road at Milwaukee Avenue is closed as police investigate.

No one is in custody. The Prospect Heights Police Department asked anyone with information to call them at 847-398-5511.

Authorities did not immediately provide further information.

Copyright © 2026 WLS-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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Indiana

Indiana football to visit White House, Fernando Mendoza may skip

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Indiana football to visit White House, Fernando Mendoza may skip


The Indiana Hoosiers are on top of the football world and are enjoying the perks that come with being national champions.

One of those spoils involves a trip to the White House to commemorate their achievement later this month, but the most popular player from that team might not be there.

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USA TODAY Sports covered the conflicted decision former Hoosiers and current Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza faces about the White House visit.

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Mendoza might not attend due to a scheduling issue involving his new team.

“I believe May 11 is the first day of OTAs,” Mendoza said. “If I’m not mistaken, I have the calendar — I mean, I don’t have a calendar, so… If it is on the first day of OTAs, like I said, I’m on the bottom of the totem pole here. I gotta prove myself. I can’t miss practice … I’m a rookie. I don’t think that’s a good look.”



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Iowa

Ford’s walk-off slam lifts Cyclones in must-win thriller

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Ford’s walk-off slam lifts Cyclones in must-win thriller


AMES — In a must-win scenario, Iowa State prevailed, battling back and forth with the No. 22 UCF Knights. The Cyclones are sitting in ninth place in the Big 12 standings, right behind Utah. 

Iowa State fell behind 4-0 but scored four in the bottom of the fourth, then took the lead in the fifth, scoring four more. A blown seventh-inning lead led to another chaotic fight to the finish, with the Cyclones coming out on top 13-9. 

“Really proud of the grit, really proud of the way they came back,” head coach Jamie Pinkerton said. 

In the fourth inning, as the Cyclones were getting no-hits up to that point, sophomore catcher Karlee Ford had a change of plans. On a 1-0 count, she roped a solo homer over the left-field wall to start a rally. 

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“I always have the same mentality of just putting the ball in play,” Ford said.

Iowa State then scratched across three straight base hits, scoring one in the process, before senior center fielder Tatum Johnson came to the plate. She wouldn’t disappoint, connecting with the first pitch and tripling to left field, tying the game at four.

The fifth inning was more of the same for the Cyclones. Ford came up to the plate with one out and drew her second walk of the game, bringing up senior leader Sydney Malott. Malott had seven hits in 19 at-bats over her last six games, after a 3-for-29 stretch dating back to April 5. 

“I automatically knew Syd [Malott] was going to hit me around,” Ford said.

Malott came through, crushing a two-run home run off the top of the scoreboard in left field, her third homer in her recent stretch. 

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“It’s definitely ups and downs, and you have to keep a steady mind,” Malott said. “Just trying to do whatever I can for my team.”

Two more runners would score after sophomore left fielder Jessie Clemons drove them in with a single down the left-field line. 

When it looked like the game would be over in the seventh inning, with the Cyclones up 8-4, the Knights had other plans. 

Junior right-handed pitcher Lauren Schurman came out to the circle to start the seventh, having not allowed a run since the fourth inning after relieving freshman right-handed pitcher Liv Palumbo. 

Pinkerton made a defensive change, moving senior Tiana Poole to right field to replace sophomore Hayleigh Oliver. 

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This decision proved costly as, on the first batted ball of the inning, a deep fly ball to right field was misjudged, resulting in a triple.

This started a rally for UCF, as it reached base in six consecutive at-bats on four singles, one walk and one hit batter, scoring four runs to tie the game at 8-8. 

Senior right-handed pitcher Jaiden Ralston came in to relieve Schurman and faced three batters but allowed the go-ahead run to score on a sacrifice fly, giving the Knights a 9-8 lead heading into the bottom half of the inning. 

UCF brought in redshirt sophomore ace right-handed pitcher Isabella Vega, who previously threw a complete game and struck out eight Cyclones in game one. 

After junior pinch hitter Isabelle Nosan recorded the first out of the inning, senior third baseman McKenna Andrews drew a nine-pitch walk. She was out at second on a Clemons fielder’s choice for the second out.

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Johnson and senior shortstop Reagan Bartholomew then drew full-count walks, bringing up sophomore second baseman Kadence Shepherd.

Shepherd roped the third pitch of her at-bat through the left side, tying the game at 9-9. 

That brought up Ford, who was 1-for-2 with two walks, including her solo homer that broke up the no-hitter in the fourth inning. 

On a 2-2 count, Ford didn’t miss, crushing a grand slam over the right-center wall.

“Karlee Ford’s been clutch all year,” Pinkerton said. “Huge hit.”

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For Malott, the moment reflected the team’s mindset throughout the game.

“We just kept fighting the whole game,” Malott said. “No one ever thought we were out of it.”

The win pushed Iowa State’s conference record to 9-14. Utah sits at 9-13-1 after its win against Arizona.

For the Cyclones to make the tournament, they need to win the season finale against UCF and have Utah lose its finale against Arizona.

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