Tuesday morning news: October 1, 2019

House committees subpoena Giuliani for Ukraine records » House Democrats have subpoenaed President Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani for documents related to his interactions with officials in Ukraine. The House Intelligence, Foreign Affairs and Oversight Committees announced the subpoena Monday. 

Giuliani has said he contacted Ukraine to inquire about investigations related to former Vice President Joe Biden and his son Hunter. And he said it was not his idea.

GIULIANI: I did it at the request of the State Department. And I have all of the text messages to prove it. And I also have a thank you from them for doing a good job. 

And House Democrats want to see those text messages and all other relevant communications. They’re demanding to see them by October 15th. 

They also want more information from Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. New reports suggest the secretary was on that controversial July phone call between President Trump and the president of Ukraine. 

Meanwhile The New York Times is reporting that President Trump pushed the Australian prime minister during a recent phone call to help with an investigation. 

The Times, citing unnamed sources, reports that Trump asked Prime Minister Scott Morrison to help Attorney General William Barr gather information for the Justice Department—possibly related to an inquiry into the origins of the Russia probe. 

Rep. Chris Collins resigns ahead of expected insider trading plea » New York Congressman Chris Collins resigned on Monday and is expected to plead guilty today in an insider trading case. WORLD Radio’s Kristen Flavin has more. 

KRISTEN FLAVIN, REPORTER: A federal judge in Manhattan scheduled a hearing for Collins to enter a guilty plea today. The charges reportedly include wire and securities fraud. A similar hearing is scheduled Thursday for the congressman’s son, Cameron Collins.

The Republican lawmaker allegedly shared non-public information from a biopharmaceutical company with his son after a drug trial failed. Prosecutors say the tip allowed Cameron Collins and another man to avoid nearly $800,000 in stock losses.

It will be up to Governor Andrew Cuomo to call a special election to fill the seat in New York’s 27th District. 

Reporting for WORLD Radio, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Hong Kong residents fear possible violence amid National Day protests » Hong Kong police have warned of potential violence today, as protesters return to the streets during a national holiday. The Communist Party in China is celebrating 70 years in power. But protesters say it’s no cause for celebration. 

Demonstrators say they fear police brutality. Meantime, a police spokesman said they had information to suggest some protesters were inciting others to commit “extreme acts” such as killing police.

Activists ridiculed that claim as propaganda meant to scare people from taking to the streets.

WORLD East Asia reporter June Cheng is in Hong Kong. She spoke to several protesters leading up to today’s holiday—including Christians who gathered to pray. 

AUDIO: So we come together to pray for Hong Kong, and pray for righteousness, and also peace for Hong Kong. 

A group of about a hundred people gathered at Prince Edward Station—where protesters say police stormed a train one month ago and attacked demonstrators. Christians lit candles on the floor that spelled out “liberate HK” and sang together. 

Protesters in Haiti call for president to resign » Meantime, in Haiti, thousands of demonstrators set fires Monday and chanted calls for the president to resign. WORLD Radio’s Anna Johansen reports. 

ANNA JOHANSEN, REPORTER: Schools, businesses, and government offices sat empty and silent on Monday, as protesters shouted in the streets. 

They chanted “Down with Jovenel!” But President Jovenel Moïse has resisted calls to resign. 

By mid-afternoon police fired tear gas and scattered thousands of protesters.

Opposition leaders and supporters say they’re angry about public corruption on top of worsening conditions. Many Hatians are suffering from food and water shortages. And the country is running out of fuel—forcing many gas stations in Port-au-Prince to close. 

Reporting for WORLD Radio, I’m Anna Johansen.

CA gov. signs law allowing college athletes to earn money from endorsements, hire agents » California just passed a first-in-the-nation law that will let college athletes hire agents and make money from endorsements. 

Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law on Monday. He signed it during a special episode of HBO’s “The Shop: Uninterrupted” alongside NBA superstar LeBron James and other athletes. Newsom said the change is long overdue. 

NEWSOM: The gig’s up. Billions and billions of dollars. $14 plus billion dollars goes to these universities, goes to these colleges. A billion plus revenue goes to the NCAA themselves. And the actual product, the folks that are putting their lives on the line, putting everything on the line, are getting nothing. 

Newsom predicted other states will introduce similar legislation. Two lawmakers in South Carolina have already announced plans to do so.

The law will take effect in 2023. It’s a move that could upend amateur sports across the country and trigger a legal challenge.

September snowstorm slams Montana » The snowstorm that blanketed parts of Montana in white over the past few days was like “a February storm in September.” That’s the way one Montana park official described the wintery storm that struck just one week after the end of summer. 

Dan Petersen with the National Weather Service said the storm is over now, but not before it dumped several feet of snow in some places. 

PETERSEN: The heaviest snow occurred in north-central Montana and inside Glacier National Park. And so towns like Butte, Montana received the heaviest of snow, and so we’re getting reports of 3-4 feet in those areas. 

Governor Steve Bullock issued a state of emergency on Sunday as the heavy, wet snow and high winds closed roads, toppled trees, and knocked out power to thousands. Hard freeze warnings remain in effect for much of the state until tomorrow.

(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) In this May 5, 2018, file photo, Rudy Giuliani, an attorney for President Donald Trump, speaks in Washington.

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