Wednesday morning news - May 11, 2022

For WORLD Radio, I'm Kent Covington. 

Biden deflects anger over inflation toward Republicans » President Biden on Tuesday looked to deflect anger over soaring inflation toward Republicans.

Speaking at the White House, Biden told Americans…

BIDEN: I know you gotta be frustrated. I know. I can taste it. Frustrated by high prices, by gridlock in Congress.

He said the GOP, particularly what he called “ultra-MAGA” Republicans have scuttled his spending plans in Congress and are largely to blame for inflation.

MAGA is shorthand for Donald Trump’s “Make American Great Again” slogan.

But South Dakota Sen. John Thune pointed a finger right back at the White House.

THUNE: Stop the out of control spending. And I think that’s what—do no more harm. And his administration right now has no solution except to spend more.

The president also said the Federal Reserve plays a critical role in fixing inflation and called on the Senate to confirm his nominees to the agency.

McConnell: Congress closer to passing Ukraine aid package » Sen. Minority Leader Mitch McConnell says lawmakers are closer to approving a massive new aid package for Ukraine.

MCCONNELL: I think we’re on the path to getting that done. Discussions are underway between the House and Senate appropriators on the crafting of the passage. It needs to be clean of extraneous matters; directly related to helping Ukrainians win the war.

It is those—quote—“extraneous matters” that have been the sticking point.

Republicans have bristled at attempts by Democrats to include things like funds to fight COVID-19 and food insecurity in the same bill as the aid to Ukraine.

But both sides agree on the need to further bankroll Ukraine’s defense.

President Biden asked Congress to approve $33 billion dollars in additional aid.

Meantime, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy again condemned Russia’s invasion.

ZELENSKYY: [Speaking in Ukrainian]

He also said he has completed the answers to a "special questionnaire” as Ukraine applies to join the European Union.

Russia has pummeled the vital port of Odesa this week, an apparent effort to disrupt supply lines and shipments of Western weapons.

Ukraine said Russian forces fired seven missiles at Odesa, hitting a shopping center and a warehouse in the country's largest port. At least one person was killed.

Shanghai re-tightens on COVID, frustrating trapped residents » The city of Shanghai is doubling down on pandemic restrictions after briefly easing its lockdowns. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN, REPORTER: Residents in China’s financial center hoped that a more than monthlong lockdown would finally ease as COVID-19 cases fell.

But on Tuesday, the government suspended service on the last two subway lines still in operation, marking the first time the city’s entire system has shut down.

Residents who contract the virus are often taken into quarantine. They’re forced to turn over their keys so teams in white protective suits can spray disinfectant and sanitize their homes.

China's Communist government is showing no sign of backing off from its zero tolerance COVID strategy.

The entire world is feeling Shanghai’s restrictions. The city is China’s major business center, and the lockdown puts further pressure on the global supply chain.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Gas prices hit new record high » Gas prices have once again hit new record highs, climbing to $4.37 per gallon for regular unleaded.

This driver in Brooklyn said he’s definitely feeling the pinch.

AUDIO: This is ridiculous, know what I’m saying? It’s like, the money, your salary is practically the same and everything is going up.

AAA spokesman Andrew Gross says the war in Ukraine is a huge factor.

GROSS: It’s grinding on. You’re having all these sanctions being put on by all these countries who are trying to turn off the tap on Russia’s war machine, and that tap is an oil tap.

The highest average price in the country, as usual, California, at $5.84 per gallon.

The lowest average price right now is in Georgia, $3.90 per gallon. That’s due in part to a suspension of the state’s gas tax.

Minor league players, MLB reach deal in minimum wage suit » Minor league players and Major League Baseball have reached a settlement in a lawsuit alleging teams violated minimum wage laws. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has more.

JOSH SCHUMACHER, REPORTER: Terms of the settlement in the eight-year-old case were not immediately released. But the Associated Press reports that the sides had been discussing a possible settlement of around $200 million.

Several minor league players filed the suit in 2014. They claimed violations of labor laws and wage standards for a work week they estimated at 50 to 60 hours.

Chief Magistrate Judge Joseph C. Spero with the U.S. District Court in San Francisco wrote in a pretrial ruling that minor leaguers are year-round employees who should be paid for travel time to road games and to practice.

And he found that Major League Baseball violated wage requirements in multiple states.

As of last year, many minor league players earned less than $20,000 per year.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher.

I’m Kent Covington. For more news, features, and analysis, visit us at wng.org.

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