Dangerous flooding from a tropical disturbance inundated much of southern Florida, blocking roads, floating vehicles and delaying the Florida Panthers on their way to Stanley Cup games in Canada against the Edmonton Oilers. The disorganized storm system was pushing across Florida from the Gulf of Mexico on Wednesday, bringing extended periods of heavy rain across much of the state. In Fort Lauderdale, the mayor declared a state of emergency late Wednesday afternoon, due to flooded thoroughfares near the city's downtown. In nearby Hollywood, drivers also encountered rising water across residential streets for much of the afternoon.

Republicans loyal to Donald Trump are largely echoing the former president’s claim that the Justice Department has treated President Joe Biden’s son with kid gloves while zealously prosecuting Trump. They used Hunter Biden's conviction Tuesday for charges related to buying a gun while addicted to drugs to press unsubstantiated or debunked allegations that Joe Biden acted while vice president to advance his family members’ foreign business interests. Trump’s campaign issued a statement calling the verdict “nothing more than a distraction from the real crimes of the Biden Crime Family.”

Negotiators for the Group of Seven have reached an agreement on a plan to provide Ukraine with $50 billion backed by frozen Russian assets, two people familiar with the matter told the Associated Press. President Joe Biden and President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will also sign a security agreement Thursday between the U.S. and Ukraine when they meet on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy, aiming to send a signal to Russia of American resolve in supporting Kyiv. Biden, who's fearful of being pulled into direct conflict between the nuclear-armed powers, is not committing U.S. troops to Ukraine, the administration said. Biden plans to meet with his counterparts from the world’s leading democracies, who have an urgency to get big things done.

The House has voted to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress for refusing to turn over audio of President Joe Biden’s interview in his classified documents case. It is a move that comes just weeks after the White House blocked release of the recording to lawmakers. The contempt action represents House Republicans’ latest and strongest rebuke of the Justice Department and of Garland’s leadership. And it's playing out against the backdrop of an extraordinary conflict over the rule of law that has animated the presidential campaign. But it is unlikely that the Justice Department — which Garland oversees — would prosecute him.

Several immigrant advocacy groups are suing the Biden administration over President Joe Biden's directive last week to stop asylum processing at the southern border. They say it's no different than a similar ban under the Trump administration that was ultimately blocked in the courts. Biden's order limits asylum claims once encounters with migrants between ports of entry reach 2,500 per day. It went into effect immediately. Lee Gelernt, who is leading the legal challenge, says the groups had “no choice” but to sue because it was “legally indistinguishable” from former President Donald Trump's actions.

As police responded to reports of multiple people shot at a downtown Atlanta food court, Joseph Grier was on the sidewalk outside, rambling to reporters about his mental health, criminal record and banking history. Police say that just a short while later, he hijacked a commuter bus, ordering the driver at gunpoint to hit the gas and sending panic through the seats. Authorities say that by the time the bus rolled to a stop some 40 minutes later Tuesday afternoon, Grier had fatally shot a passenger and led officers on a dramatic chase. The food court shooting and bus hijacking created a sense of chaos in Atlanta. In the aftermath, city leaders decried the prevalence of guns on the streets.