Top 8 today

Top eight stories for today including a jury found Steve Bannon guilty on two criminal contempt charges; Ukraine and Russia agreed to open safe passages for grain, food and fertilizer shipments in the Black Sea; Johnny Depp appealed a split verdict that awarded his ex-wife $2 million in compensatory damages, and more.

National

Bannon guilty of contempt of Congress

A jury found Steve Bannon guilty Friday on two criminal contempt charges for failing to comply with a subpoena from the Jan. 6 committee.

Former White House strategist Steve Bannon departs federal court in Washington on July 22, 2022, after a jury found him guilty on both counts in his contempt-of-Congress trial. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)

High court splits affirmative action cases, allowing Jackson to weigh in

The Supreme Court announced Friday it would no longer be consolidating two challenges to affirmative action set to be a blockbuster case next term. The justices will instead hear the challenges separately.

Students walk near the Widener Library in Harvard Yard at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass., in 2019. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)

Depp appeals $2 million judgment awarded to Heard

Seven weeks ago, a laborious defamation trial pitting Johnny Depp against his ex-wife, Amber Heard, ended with a split verdict: The jurors found that Heard had defamed Depp in an op-ed and that one of Depp’s lawyers defamed Heard. Now, one day after Heard filed notice that she would appeal the verdict, Depp’s lawyers fired back with an announcement that they, too, will appeal.

Actor Johnny Depp gestures to the gallery as he leaves for a break in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Va., Monday, May 23, 2022. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, Pool)

Regional

Arizona GOP candidates take on voting machines they call exploitable

Attorneys for the state of Arizona sparred with Republican challengers who want electronic voting machines barred in the upcoming midterm election.

Kari Lake speaks to the audience at her gubernatorial rally in Morristown, Ariz., on March 5, 2022. (Michael McDaniel/Courthouse News)

Cracks are showing a year after Arizona legalized sports gambling

Nearly a year after lawmakers in Arizona legalized sports gambling, questions remain on the impact it will have on the public due to a lack of state oversight.

In this March 15, 2018 photo, people watch coverage of the first round of the NCAA college basketball tournament at the Westgate Superbook sports book in Las Vegas. In 2018, The U.S. Supreme Court struck down a federal law barring gambling on football, basketball, baseball and other sports in most states, giving states the go-ahead to legalize betting on sports. (AP Photo/John Locher)

Lyft dodges drivers’ bid to be classified as employees

A California appellate panel has declined to revive a bid by a group of Lyft drivers to force the ride-hail company to classify them as employees, saying a change in law has mooted their request.

A Lyft sign is shown at a shared ride pickup location for automobiles Tuesday, March 24, 2020 in Detroit. (Paul Sancya/AP)

International

Deal reopens Ukraine grain ports, war grinds on with heavy losses

In a major diplomatic breakthrough, Kyiv and Moscow on Friday agreed to guarantee the safe resumption of vital grain, food and fertilizer exports from Ukraine and Russia through the Black Sea, easing fears over global food shortages.

Grain fields burn on the outskirts of Kurakhove, Ukraine, on Thursday, July 21, 2022. (AP Photo/Nariman El-Mofty)

Genocide case against Myanmar moves forward at World Court

The United Nations’ top court has given the green light for charges of genocide to move forward against Myanmar.

An exterior view of the International Court of Justice in The Hague, Netherlands, on Friday, July 22, 2022. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong)

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