Harris joy and Gaza despair present an emotional conflict for many Democrats

CHICAGO — Love and good cheer permeated opening night of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago save for a small confrontation in the nose-bleed section of the packed United Center. A Muslim delegate holding a sign that read "Stop Arming Israel" during President Joe Biden's speech was purposely hit by another audience member's "We Love Joe" sign.

The kerfuffle represented a much larger divide within the party. But it's not the only internal conflict Dems are experiencing as a result of the Israel-Hamas war.

A new wave of joy and an old sense of despair live side by side in Democrats who are energized by the arrival of the Harris-Walz ticket but deeply bothered by the party's inaction over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

The happiness many Kamala Harris supporters feel from the new campaign is at odds with the anger and betrayal they've felt around U.S. policy in Israel. Call it the joy conundrum.

—Los Angeles Times

Richard Simmons’ cause of death confirmed by family

Fitness guru Richard Simmons died from heart disease and complications from a fall, his family confirmed Wednesday.

“This morning, Richard Simmons’ brother, Lenny, received a call from the L.A. Coroner’s office,” family spokesperson Tom Estey told People in a statement. “The coroner informed Lenny that Richard’s death was accidental due to complications from recent falls and heart disease as a contributing factor.”

“The toxicology report was negative other than medication Richard had been prescribed,” the statement continued. “The family wishes to thank everyone for their outpouring of love and support during this time of great loss.”

Simmons was found dead at his Hollywood Hills home on July 13, a day after his 76th birthday. He had felt dizzy and fallen in his bathroom but declined to seek medical attention, telling his housekeeper he would go to the doctor the next day if he didn’t feel better.

—New York Daily News

FDA authorizes first over-the-counter syphilis test to use at home

Worried you might have syphilis but are afraid to go to a clinic? Now you can get tested at home.

The Food and Drug Administration has authorized the first over-the counter antibody test for detecting syphilis in human blood. The move is an effort to stall the recent increase in cases within the United States.

This new test will be available without a prescription and inform the user of their status within 15 minutes, according to the FDA. The test is just an indicator of syphilis antibodies, however. Anyone who tests positive should see their doctor.

Between 2018 and 2022, the Atlanta-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported an 80% increase in syphilis cases within the U.S., moving from 115,000 cases to more than 207,000, a development that had been part of a decades-long trend.

—The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

5 bodies found on sunken luxury yacht off coast of Sicily

LONDON — Five bodies have been found inside the wreck of a luxury yacht that sank in a storm off the coast of Sicily.

Three body bags were seen being taken to the port of Porticello on Wednesday afternoon following the sinking of the yacht at around 5 am local time on Monday.

The head of Sicily’s civil protection agency Salvatore Cocina said that four bodies had been recovered and efforts to bring a fifth to shore were “ongoing.” He said there will be an investigation in due course, but the priority was to find those who are still missing.

As the three body bags were taken back to the port of Porticello, dozens of emergency services staff were waiting, and one was seen being put in the back of an ambulance. The Italian coastguard previously did not rule out the possibility that those missing, including technology tycoon Mike Lynch and his 18-year-old daughter Hannah, may still be alive, with experts speculating air pockets could have formed as the yacht sank.

—dpa