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Primaries test Trump's GOP power

Primaries across the country delivered mixed results for former President Donald Trump overall, as his highest-profile endorsees lost or faced a too-close-to-call struggle. Finland and Sweden have applied to join NATO in a move driven by security concerns over Russia’s war in Ukraine. Lawmakers on Capitol Hill will vote on a bill that tackles the baby formula shortage. The U.S. has surpassed the grim milestone of 1 million COVID-19 deaths and nursing homes are vying to keep pace with the pandemic. And, it’s almost tip-off time for the NBA Western Conference Finals.

I'm Nicole, and here's Wednesday's news.

🌅 Up first: President Joe Biden said ''white supremacy is a poison'' and vowed that ''hate will not prevail'' during a trip Tuesday to Buffalo, New York, where he and first lady Jill Biden grieved with family members of 10 victims killed Saturday in a racially motivated mass shooting at a supermarket.

President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visit the scene of a shooting at a supermarket to pay respects and speak to families of the victims of Saturday's shooting in Buffalo, N.Y., Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden visit the scene of a shooting at a supermarket to pay respects and speak to families of the victims of Saturday's shooting in Buffalo, N.Y., Tuesday, May 17, 2022. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

More news to know now:

🟦 A suspect who officials said opened fire on Irvine Taiwanese Presbyterian Church members in California was charged in an attack federal authorities are investigating as a hate crime.

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🏦 Miami-Dade fire rescue officials released a report on the Surfside condo building collapse recounting the attempted rescue effort of a woman trapped under the rubble.

📞 The Justice Department requested transcripts of interviews conducted by the House committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, signaling an escalation of the inquiry.

The average gas price is above $4 in every state. How long will they continue to rise?

This Shell station in Bridgeport, Calif., was the most expensive gas a USA Today reporter could find in Mono County on May 12, 2022.
This Shell station in Bridgeport, Calif., was the most expensive gas a USA Today reporter could find in Mono County on May 12, 2022.

😷 With COVID cases on the rise, our product experts at Reviewed have gathered where you can buy a KN95 mask.

🎧 On today's 5 Things podcast, Supreme Court correspondent John Fritze looks at the court’s view on campaign loan repayments. You can listen to the podcast every day on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your smart speaker.

Pennsylvania GOP Senate race remains uncalled, primaries a Trump litmus test

The Pennsylvania GOP Senate race between Dr. Mehmet Oz and businessman David McCormick remained uncalled early Wednesday – and could trigger an automatic recount. Dr. Oz and McCormick were within 0.5% of each other, the figure that would trigger an automatic recount. Conservative commentator Kathy Barnette was in third. Oz had former President Donald Trump's endorsement, but some Pennsylvania Republicans questioned the television doctor's commitment to conservatism and went for one of the other candidates. In a win for Trump, state senator and retired Army colonel Doug Mastriano won the Republican nomination for governor of Pennsylvania. Mastriano has repeatedly supported Trump's falsehoods about Biden's victory, although he attempted to tone down his rhetoric during a victory speech. The busiest primary day of the year so far Tuesday featured the apparent defeat of controversial congressman Madison Cawthorn in North Carolina, and also included contests in Kentucky, Idaho and Oregon.

🔴 Tuesday primary takeaways: It wasn't a good or bad night for Trump, as his highest-profile endorsees lost or faced a too-close-to-call struggle.

🔴 Celebrities? Outsiders? Oz, Fetterman (and Trump) put fame to the test in Pennsylvania primary.

🔴 Pennsylvania Senate candidate John Fetterman suffered a stroke just days before winning his primary election.

🔴 Cocaine and orgies? Madison Cawthorn, Western North Carolina GOP silent amid competing stories.

Polling place worker Donna Appleby holds her dog Daisy Mae as she waits for voters during the Pennsylvania primary election at the LSL Sportsman's club in Orrstown, Pa., Tuesday, May 17, 2022.
Polling place worker Donna Appleby holds her dog Daisy Mae as she waits for voters during the Pennsylvania primary election at the LSL Sportsman's club in Orrstown, Pa., Tuesday, May 17, 2022.

Finland and Sweden apply to join NATO, Blinken to meet with Turkish counterpart

Finland and Sweden have applied to join NATO, the world’s biggest military alliance, its Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said. The move is driven by security concerns over Russia’s war in Ukraine. "I warmly welcome the requests by Finland and Sweden to join NATO. You are our closest partners," Stoltenberg told reporters Wednesday after a receiving their application letters. The application must now be weighed by the 30 member countries. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has expressed reservations about Finland and Sweden joining. Secretary of State Antony Blinken plans to meet with Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu Wednesday in response to the issue. President Joe Biden will host leaders of Sweden and Finland at the White House Thursday to discuss their push to join NATO, and European security broadly, the White House said.

🟡 A look into the past: As Finland seeks to join NATO, look back at photos of the 1939 Soviet-Finnish War.

🟡 Tuesday's recap: Sweden seeks to join NATO, drawing objection from Turkey; Ukraine evacuates 260 fighters from Mariupol steel plant.

Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces Micael Byden gives a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 16, 2022.
Supreme Commander of the Swedish Armed Forces Micael Byden gives a press conference in Stockholm, Sweden, on May 16, 2022.

Just for subscribers:

''I have no idea how to fly'': How air traffic controllers helped a passenger land a plane.

💵 $7 a gallon. This county has the highest gas prices in America.

🟡 Children in a Ukrainian orphanage were moved to Berlin. The war followed them.

🟦 Amid a suicide crisis, the Army says it will rush mental health providers to Alaska.

These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. You can sign up here.

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House to vote on bill to combat baby formula shortage

The U.S. House of Representatives is set to vote Wednesday on the Access to Formula Act, the bill that would give the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children – the federal assistance scheme known as the WIC program – emergency authority to ease non-safety restrictions, the Wall Street Journal reported. The bill would allow WIC participants to use vouchers on any formula brand, rather than be limited to a brand that could be unavailable amid the nationwide formula shortage. House Democrats also unveiled a $28 million spending bill to increase Food and Drug Administration staffing to boost international supplier inspections and gather stronger data on the marketplace. The FDA is looking to increase imports with a more streamlined review process.

🍼 Texas restaurant owner gives out free baby formula to families in need amid shortage.

🍼 Nestlé is flying Gerber baby food formula to the United States from the Netherlands and Switzerland to alleviate shortages.

🍼 Baby formula shortage costing parents: ''It's a desperate situation for many families.''

🍼 Looking for baby formula? Here's where to safely search online.

Shelves typically stocked with baby formula sit mostly empty at a store in San Antonio on May 10, 2022.
Shelves typically stocked with baby formula sit mostly empty at a store in San Antonio on May 10, 2022.

As COVID-19 deaths pass 1 million, a pandemic nursing home report card

As the United States surpasses 1 million COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic began, USA TODAY is opening up access to a report card of infections and deaths in nursing homes during the worst of the pandemic. The tool allows users to scrutinize the nation’s 15,000 nursing homes by their performance as the largest surge of COVID infections swept through those facilities during a five-month period starting in October 2020. The information is based on data the facilities themselves began filing weekly with the federal government several months into the pandemic. Check out the tool.

❗ ''We must not grow numb to such sorrow'': COVID death toll in U.S. reaches 1 million.

A third round of free COVID test kits is available. Here’s how to order the at-home tests.

The FDA has approved the Pfizer COVID booster shot for kids 5 to 11 years old.

The U.S. has surpassed 1 million COVID-19 deaths.
The U.S. has surpassed 1 million COVID-19 deaths.

ICYMI: Some of our top stories yesterday

👽 ''Where are they coming from?'': Congress held the first public UFO hearing in more than 50 years.

🔵 One person is dead in the collapse of a hole on a New Jersey beach that siblings were digging.

👙 ''I have been made fun of by people young and old'': Plus-size travelers face additional scrutiny at the beach.

🍕 Taco Bell relaunched Mexican pizza. Here’s how to order one today.

🟠 Amber Heard ended her testimony after four days on the witness stand in the libel suit filed against her by ex-husband Johnny Depp.

US actress Amber Heard looks on in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, on May 17, 2022.
US actress Amber Heard looks on in the courtroom at the Fairfax County Circuit Courthouse in Fairfax, Virginia, on May 17, 2022.

Mavericks, Warriors open series for NBA West crown

It's a classic case of old vs. new, seasoned veterans against young up-and-comers, as the Dallas Mavericks and the Golden State Warriors tip off Wednesday in the NBA Western Conference Finals. After a two-year absence, Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson have the Warriors back in the conference finals and are looking to add a fourth championship to their trophy case next to the 2015, 2017 and 2018 titles. To do it, they'll have to go through the Mavs' Luka Dončić, who is second all-time behind Michael Jordan in playoff scoring at 32.7 points per game. The best-of-seven series opens at the Chase Center in San Francisco (9 ET, TNT).

🏀 Mavericks' Luka Doncic delivers ''knockout punch'' to Suns in Game 7 win. Being the underdog motivated him.

🏀 Butler scores 41, Heat take Game 1 from Celtics 118-107.

🏀 The X-factor: Players who will make the difference in playoffs.

Jalen Brunson (13) and the Mavericks bench reacts after a play against the Suns in Game 7.
Jalen Brunson (13) and the Mavericks bench reacts after a play against the Suns in Game 7.

📷 Photo of the day: 75th Cannes Film Festival 📷

US model Lori Harvey arrives to attend the screening of "Final Cut (Coupez !)" ahead of the opening ceremony of the 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 17, 2022. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP) (Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775804571 ORIG FILE ID: AFP_32AB6CR.jpg
US model Lori Harvey arrives to attend the screening of "Final Cut (Coupez !)" ahead of the opening ceremony of the 75th edition of the Cannes Film Festival in Cannes, southern France, on May 17, 2022. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP) (Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775804571 ORIG FILE ID: AFP_32AB6CR.jpg

Hollywood's biggest names are in the South of France for the glamorous Cannes International Film Festival, which runs May 17-28. The red carpet rolled out, and so have the fashionable gowns and ensembles. The start of the glamorous festival kicked off with an eye turned to Russia's war in Ukraine and a live satellite video address from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who called on a new generation of filmmakers to confront dictators.

Click here to see more photos of the stars' arrival at Cannes.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Pennsylvania GOP Senate race, NATO bids, formula shortage: Daily Briefing Wednesday