WKMG News 6 & ClickOrlando

1 injured in Lake Mary shooting, deputies say

Mon, 20 Jul 2026 02:03:59 +0000

Seminole County deputies responded to a shooting Sunday evening in Lake Mary, according to the sheriff’s office.

Deputies were called to the area of Brightview Drive and Old Lake Mary Road at 7:20 p.m.

The victim’s injuries are not life-threatening, officials said. Investigators believe the incident was isolated.

The investigation is active and ongoing. The Sheriff’s Office said more information will be released as it becomes available.

China's new AI model halts new subscriptions as demand swamps capacity

Chan Ho-Him, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:16:56 +0000

The new, powerful Chinese artificial intelligence model Kimi K3, which has caused a stir in the U.S. tech industry, has suspended new subscriptions after a flood in demand overwhelmed capacity within days of the launch.

The development highlighted challenges faced by Chinese AI models in serving a growing user base at home and abroad at a time the U.S.-China tech race is heating up.

Chinese open-source, lower-cost advanced AI models, including DeepSeek’s latest V4, have been moving fast in gaining global attention. In early 2025, DeepSeek shook world markets and helped China to be recognized as a serious competitor to the U.S., where Chinese frontier AI models are largely open source, meaning they are made accessible for people to examine and build upon.

“Kimi K3 has received far more love than we expected,” Moonshot AI, which is Beijing-based, wrote in a X post late on Sunday. “Over the past 48 hours, demand has pushed close to the limits of our current capacity.”

Moonshot said that it’s prioritizing existing subscribers and would be temporarily pausing new ones. “We’re adding capacity as fast as we can and will reopen new subscription spots in batches," it added. The AI startup also posted a similar message on Chinese social media.

K3’s public rollout late last week, aiming at challenging more advanced AI models by Anthropic,OpenAI and others, has rattled U.S. rivals. At 2.8 trillion parameters, a measurement of an AI model’s capabilities, it's deemed as the world’s largest open-source AI model.

“New model releases generally trigger massive interest, which can strain existing compute infrastructure,” said Lian Jye Su, a chief analyst at the technology research and advisory group Omdia. “This does show Moonshot AI does not have sufficient compute chips to serve the current surge in demand.”

Su said that the key reason was more likely due to Moonshot not fully anticipating the surge in K3’s popularity. K3 is “very demanding” in terms of compute requirements, he said, making compute allocation challenging and expensive.

By measure of front-end coding capability, a metric for AI models’ performances, Kimi K3 topped the chart of the major advanced AI models in rankings on Arena — an AI model evaluation platform — after its public release.

K3’s release has also put pressure on stocks of American technology titans on worries that more affordable Chinese AI models may undercut the pricing power and demand at the U.S. AI companies, even as U.S.-led restrictions have already barred China from accessing some of the world’s advanced technologies, including the most cutting-edge chips.

K3 is one of the latest new Chinese AI models coming out that have drawn strong global reactions.

Over the weekend, China’s Alibaba also previewed its latest Qwen3.8 Max AI model, which the tech giant said had 2.4 trillion parameters as one of the world’s most powerful models and was second only to Anthropic’s Fable 5. Last month, Chinese startup Zhipu, or Z.ai, also rolled out its GLM-5.2 model, which saw rapid adoption across the world.

Central Florida man charged with forgery, fraud after News 6 investigation into sick, dying puppies

Erika Briguglio — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

A man accused of selling sick puppies alongside fraudulent veterinary and pedigree certificates is now facing criminal charges - five months after News 6 began asking the state questions about his business.

Jesus Sheldon Jude Barker faces several charges, including forgery and scheme to defraud, according to investigators with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

‘I got a sick dog’

Christine Messina paid $3,000 for a puppy she named Daisy through a website called Florida Goldens — flgoldens.com — in November 2025.

According to the website, Florida Goldens is a “marketplace for you to find your golden or goldendoodle of your dreams.”

“She was going to be my family,” Messina said.

Four days after Messina brought the puppy to her Tavares home, Daisy died.

“I did not get a healthy dog; I got a sick dog,” Messina told News 6.

According to the necropsy report, the likely cause of Daisy’s death was an intestinal intussusception. This means a portion of the puppy’s small intestine had folded into the next section, causing a severe blockage and cutting off blood flow to that part of the gut.

After Daisy’s death, Messina says she tried reaching out to Florida Goldens multiple times, but did not receive a response. Eventually, later that month, the man who sold her the dog agreed to give her a refund, Messina claimed, but the money never arrived.

“On the 15th (of December) they emailed me and claimed the check got returned (in the mail),” Messina said.

As of this report, Messina has yet to be refunded.

Fake paperwork

When Messina picked up Daisy at a home in Winter Park, she said she received two documents: a veterinary health certificate which claimed the dog was healthy and an American Kennel Club certificate confirming the dog’s pedigree. News 6 uncovered both documents are fraudulent.

The American Kennel Club stated the pedigree form was fake.

The American Kennel Club told News 6 this form is fraudulent.

“That’s not how our logo looks at all, and that’s actually not our executive secretary’s signature either,” said Brandi Munden, V.P. of Communications, American Kennel Club.

The veterinarian whose name appeared on the health certificate, Dr. Hiram Pomales, is listed as an equine veterinarian — meaning he specializes in horses.

Dr. Pomales told News 6 and later told investigators that he did not fill out the form, and it had been altered.

News 6 investigation cited in arrest warrant

The arrest warrant specifically cites News 6’s investigation and an on-camera interview with a man at the Winter Park home where Messina said she picked up Daisy.

“Oh well, like, I mean if there’s like, so I help people find like, so we deliver dogs so like I would put her directly with the breeder that she got her dog from. I don’t breed dogs at all,” the man responded.

The day after we went to that home, the Florida Goldens website shut down, replaced with a message thanking its supporters.

Florida Goldens posted this message on its website after News 6 started asking questions.

Pattern of alleged fraud, multiple victims

Investigators say Messina is not the only victim.

According to records, Barker sold puppies with forged veterinary and pedigree paperwork to at least two other buyers. The document stated one woman paid $2,850 for a golden retriever in November 2025. When she arrived home, she noticed the health certificate was a photocopy with the bottom cut off, investigators said. She later confirmed with Dr. Pomales that the paperwork had been altered.

Meantime, a man told investigators he paid $2,500 for a puppy also in November 2025. His dog was later diagnosed with coronavirus and giardia. His veterinarian told him the records appeared inaccurate, according to court documents.

According to investigators, Barker purchased 12 golden retrievers for $800 each- a total of $9,600 - then individually resold them at significantly higher prices, ranging from $2,500 to $3,000 per dog.

Investigators say Barker’s pattern extended beyond these three cases. Court documents note he operated several businesses that shut down after complaints were received, and review websites showed repeated patterns of dogs not matching what was advertised, altered paperwork, and sellers going silent when buyers asked for documentation.

Charges

Barker faces 16 counts total, including:

One count of scheme to defraud (third-degree felony)
Three counts of forgery (third-degree felony)
Three counts of uttering forged instruments (third-degree felony)
Three counts of fraudulent use of personal identification information (third-degree felony)
Three counts of using a two-way communication device to facilitate a felony (third-degree felony)
Three counts of failure to provide an official certificate of veterinary inspection for a dog offered for sale (first-degree misdemeanor)

Barker has not yet responded to these allegations in court.

Under Florida law, anyone who sells a dog or cat must provide a health certificate.

Tropical Depression No. 2 tracks west as storms linger across Central Florida. Here’s what to expect this week

Candace Campos — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 09:51:52 +0000

Tropical Depression Two continues to organize over the northern Gulf.

Although it will stay well west of Florida, it will still help fuel scattered showers and storms across Central Florida through Monday afternoon.

Rain chances sit around 40-50% Monday afternoon, with the greatest coverage expected across the interior where the east and west coast sea breezes collide. Some storms could become strong, producing lightning, gusty winds, and heavy rain.

As TD Two pulls away, it is expected to take the deepest tropical moisture with it, allowing drier air to take over the area starting Tuesday.

Drier pattern returns

Rain chances are expected to drop below normal Tuesday through Thursday, with only isolated afternoon storms developing each day. While many neighborhoods may stay dry, temperatures will continue climbing into the mid 90s, with some inland spots nearing the upper 90s by midweek.

Even with fewer storms, it will still feel steamy. Heat index values will range from 100 to 107 degrees, and heat advisories may be possible towards the end of the week.

Watching the weekend

Rain chances will start to climb into the weekend as a stalled front approaches Northern Florida. The further south the boundary settles, the more moisture Central Florida could see.

For now, rain chances remain relatively low on Friday before gradually increasing into the weekend, though it does not look like a washout at this point.

Expect typical summertime heat to continue with highs in the low to mid 90s and heat index values above 100 degrees.

World shares are mixed and South Korea's Kospi drops 4.5% as some AI stocks swoon

Chan Ho-Him, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 04:35:30 +0000

World shares were mixed on Monday and South Korea’s Kospi fell 4.5% as investors unloaded more stocks linked to artificial intelligence.

U.S. futures edged higher.

In early European trading, Britain's FTSE 100 fell 0.4% to 10,561.22. France's CAC 40 was up 0.3% to 8,362.37, and Germany's DAX added 0.3% to 24,905.61.

Oil prices stabilized after rising earlier in the day as the U.S. and Iran moved closer to resuming an all-out war. Early Monday, the U.S. announced more attacks for a ninth straight night. Iran has been responding to U.S. strikes by hitting U.S. allies across the Middle East.

Brent crude, the international standard, fell 0.4% to $87.77 per barrel but still remained much higher than prewar levels. Benchmark U.S. crude dropped 0.8% to $81.13 per barrel.

“The U.S. and Iran continue to exchange strikes, which are proving to be deadly for both sides,” ING commodities strategists Warren Patterson and Ewa Manthey wrote in a commentary Monday. “If this escalation goes unchecked, we could return to an environment of wide-scale attacks across the Persian Gulf.”

Tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global oil transport, have nearly ground to a halt, adding to pressures on supplies, they noted. On Monday, U.S. gas prices again surged to an average of $4 a gallon.

In Asia, Japan’s markets were closed Monday for a holiday. South Korea's Kospi, which has benefited substantially from the global AI frenzy, sank 4.5% to 6,516.27. Two of its most valuable stocks booked losses. Samsung Electronics lost 4.3%, while memory chipmaker SK Hynix fell 4.2%.

Taiwan’s Taiex, also heavy in AI-related stocks, was 0.5% lower as its leading chipmaker, TSMC, or Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., climbed 1.3%. It had fallen 7.3% on Friday after the company announced it plans to spend an additional $100 billion to expand its chipmaking capacity in the U.S.

Hong Kong’s Hang Seng rose 2.4% to 25,143.05, while the Shanghai Composite index traded 0.9% higher at 3,796.28.

Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 fell less than 0.1% to 8,791.30. India's Sensex slipped 0.6%.

AI-related shares including chipmaking stocks declined on Friday, pulling world markets lower. Pledges of huge spending on AI are fueling worries the sector may be in a bubble, and many investors have opted to sell to lock in profits from recent big gains.

“The return to war in the Strait of Hormuz may start to weigh more heavily on financial markets before too long, especially if even strong tech earnings reports continue to be met with skepticism,” Jonas Goltermann, chief markets economist at Capital Economics wrote in a note Monday.

Markets were also shaken by the rollout of another powerful Chinese AI model, this time by Beijing-based Moonshot AI.

The impact of the new Kimi K3 open-source AI model was similar to when China’s “ DeepSeek moment” rattled world markets in early 2025. It was viewed as another sign of how lower-cost, capable Chinese AI models are increasingly challenging rivals like Anthropic’s Claude and OpenAI’s GPT.

On Wall Street, the benchmark S&P 500 ended the week down 1% at 7,457.69. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.8% to 52,146.42, while the technology-heavy Nasdaq composite lost 1.4% to 25,520.24.

Chipmaking stocks took a hit, with Nvidia falling 2.2%, while Broadcom and AMD, or Advanced Micro Devices, fell 1%.

SpaceX, Elon Musk’s rocket company, dropped 5.4% after dropping below its initial public offering price of $135 a share, reaching its lowest point since its stock began public trading on the Nasdaq last month.

In other dealings, the U.S. dollar was mostly unchanged at 162.43 Japanese yen. The euro was trading at $1.1430, down from $1.1438.

Pamela Smart, serving life, seeks a new trial as a New Hampshire judge weighs her latest petition

Kathy Mccormack And Holly Ramer, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:24:14 +0000

Lawyers for Pamela Smart, who’s serving life in prison for orchestrating the murder of her husband by her teenage student in 1990, hope that a New Hampshire judge on Monday will allow her latest petition for a new trial to move forward.

Smart's trial was one of the first in the nation to be broadcast live on television from start to finish. She was a 22-year-old high school media coordinator when she began an affair with a 15-year-old boy who later fatally shot her husband, Gregory Smart, in Derry.

The shooter was freed in 2015 after serving a 25-year sentence. Though Smart denied knowledge of the plot, she was convicted of being an accomplice to first-degree murder and other crimes and was sentenced to life without parole.

Her petition for habeas corpus relief was filed in January. It seeks to overturn her conviction over what her lawyers claim were several constitutional violations.

Smart, 58, will be allowed to attend the hearing remotely from the Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women in New York.

Smart's lawyers say transcripts of recordings during trial were inaccurate

Smart's lawyers argue that prosecutors misled the jury by providing them with inaccurate transcripts of surreptitiously recorded conversations of Smart that included words that were not audible on the recordings.

Among the words they claim weren’t audible but in the transcript were the word “killed” in the sentence “you had your husband killed,” the word “busted” in the sentence “I’m gonna be busted” and the word “murder” in the sentence “this would have been the perfect murder.”

“Modern science confirms what common sense has always told us: when people are handed a script, they inevitably hear the words they are shown,” Smart’s attorney, Matthew Zernhelt, said in a statement earlier this year. “Jurors were not evaluating the recordings independently — they were being directed toward a conclusion, and that direction decided the verdict.”

Smart's lawyers also argued that the verdict was tainted by the media attention and due to faulty instructions to the jury. They argued jurors were told they must find that Smart acted with premeditation, and were not told they must consider only evidence presented at trial.

They also argued the trial court gave her a mandatory life sentence without parole for being an accomplice to first-degree murder, despite New Hampshire not mandating that sentence for the charge.

Lawyers for the state say Smart's petition should be dismissed

Lawyers for the state asked the judge to dismiss the petition, saying nearly all of the claims are barred because they already were raised on appeal and resolved by the New Hampshire Supreme Court, or could have been raised on appeal with the court but were not.

They noted that during Smart's trial, the defense only expressed concern that the recording transcripts allegedly failed to account for the “doubling” of voices when two people speak at once. The judge instructed jurors that if the tapes differed from what they were reading, they should use what they heard, instead. The state Supreme Court noted that Smart's lawyers did not make any “particularized showing of inaccuracies in the transcripts relative to the recordings or how she may have been prejudiced” by them.

Smart's team hasn't proven other claims, such as ineffective assistance of counsel and having the case argued in New York, rather than in New Hampshire, the lawyers for the state said.

Smart's legal options are limited. She has unsuccessfully sought a sentence reduction hearing several times with an elected state council in New Hampshire that approves contracts and appointees to the courts and state agencies. She appealed one rejection to the state Supreme Court, which dismissed her petition in 2023.

Her latest petition was filed after New Hampshire Gov. Kelly Ayotte rejected her request last year to put the matter before the council again. Ayotte said she reviewed the case and decided it was not deserving of a hearing.

Smart took full responsibility for husband's death in video

In 2024, Smart took full responsibility for her husband’s death. She said in a video she spent years deflecting blame “almost as if it was a coping mechanism.”

Smart’s trial was a media circus and one of America’s first high-profile cases about a sexual affair between a school employee and a student. The student, William Flynn, testified that Smart told him she needed her husband killed because she feared she would lose everything if they divorced and that she threatened to break up with him if he didn’t kill her husband. Flynn and three other teens cooperated with prosecutors and all have since been released.

Flynn and 17-year-old Patrick Randall entered the Smarts’ Derry condominium and forced Gregory Smart to his knees in the foyer. As Randall held a knife to the man’s throat, Flynn fired a hollow-point bullet into his head. Both pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and were sentenced to 28 years to life. They were granted parole in 2015. Two other teenagers served prison sentences and have been released.

The case inspired Joyce Maynard’s 1992 book “To Die For” and the 1995 film of the same name, starring Nicole Kidman and Joaquin Phoenix.

Mother dies after jumping into St. Johns River to save her 4-year-old son, Volusia County Sheriff’s Office says

Chris Raines, Alex Cook — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 12:55:49 +0000

A DeLand mother died Saturday after jumping into the St. Johns River to save her 4-year-old son, according to the Volusia Sheriff’s Office.

Deputies identified the woman as 43-year-old Nicole Grayson.

Investigators said the child was playing near a wooden fence at Ed Stone Park west of DeLand when he dropped something over the fence. Deputies said he fell into the river while trying to retrieve it.

Grayson jumped in after him.

Witnesses told deputies that Grayson and her son drifted with the current. The sheriff’s office said she became submerged while struggling to keep the child above water.

Someone at the park flagged down a boater, who threw two life preservers into the river. Deputies said the boater was able to get close enough to pull the child onboard unharmed.

Another witness then jumped into the river, swam to Grayson and helped lift her onto the boat. That person performed CPR until EMS arrived and took over.

Grayson was taken to the hospital. The sheriff’s office said she was reported to be breathing but unresponsive at one point. She died in the ICU around 10 p.m. Saturday.

At the park Sunday, the sheriff’s office directed News 6 to a section of fence in front of a bench where only the lower rows of fencing were in place. Deputies said that is where the child fell into the water.

News 6 has asked Volusia County whether the fence was already in that condition before the incident, whether the county was aware of it, and whether any repairs or temporary barriers are planned.

Chris Piercey was preparing to take his family boating at the park Sunday when News 6 told him what happened.

“I just can’t even imagine what happened to the family and what a sacrifice the mom made to save her child,” Piercey said. “Unbelievable.”

Piercey works in the swimming-pool industry and said the tragedy is another reminder of the importance of water safety in Florida.

“In Florida, obviously, it’s super important,” he said. “There’s so many bodies of water. If we can prevent an accidental drowning, it’s great.”

The Volusia Sheriff’s Office thanked the boater and witnesses who helped with the rescue and offered condolences to Grayson’s family and friends.

Sheriff Mike Chitwood described her death as the loss of a mother who gave her life to save her son.

Trial begins for Massachusetts mom who says postpartum issues led her to kill 3 children

Michael Casey, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:10:19 +0000

Jury selection begins Monday in the trial of a Massachusetts mother who strangled her three children while undergoing medical treatment for psychiatric problems that developed after she gave birth.

Lindsay Clancy has pleaded not guilty to murder charges in the deaths of her children Cora, 5, Dawson, 3, and Callan, who was 8 months old when the siblings were killed on Jan. 24, 2023.

Clancy, now 36, threw herself out a window after killing the children and was paralyzed in the fall. She is being held at a state hospital.

The trial is expected to explore the complicated and rare phenomenon of postpartum psychosis, which afflicts a very small percentage of women who develop delusions and sometimes hallucinations after giving birth. Clancy's lawyers — and her husband — say she was not responsible for her actions.

Prosecutors say the killings were intentional and well planned, not the work of someone who had lost control.

On the day it happened, Clancy, a former labor and delivery nurse at Massachusetts General Hospital, asked her husband, Patrick Clancy, to go out for takeout food and pick up something at the pharmacy. Then, she used exercise bands to strangle her children in the family’s home in Duxbury, about 30 miles (48 kilometers) south of Boston.

Eighteen jurors, including six alternates, are expected to be chosen over several days. The trial is expected to last several weeks.

Clancy’s attorney, Kevin Reddington, doesn’t dispute that she killed the children but plans to raise an insanity defense.

“This whole case is an extreme tragedy,” he said.

Clancy and her husband filed lawsuits earlier this year accusing her medical providers of failing to properly diagnose, treat and monitor for her for a “severe postpartum psychiatric condition.”

Lindsay Clancy’s lawsuit detailed how she was depressed, having trouble sleeping and repeatedly hearing voices urging her to harm her children and herself. She spent several days at a psychiatric hospital just weeks before the killings.

“Lindsay Clancy did everything a mother in her situation could do. She recognized something was wrong with her. She sought medical treatment. She went to emergency rooms. She called crisis hotlines. She admitted herself to hospitals. She took the medication prescribed to her. She communicated her worsening symptoms to her providers. She told them the medications were making her worse,” the lawsuit said.

On the day of the killings, Clancy said she heard voices saying, “This is your last chance. Kill the children so you can kill yourself.”

Both sides have Clancy's husband on their list of witnesses. He has said in interviews that he forgives his wife.

In a post on GoFundMe several days after the killings, Patrick Clancy wrote that the “shock and pain is excruciating and relentless,” but he urged the public to see Lindsay Clancy as he did before the killings.

“The real Lindsay was generously loving and caring toward everyone — me, our kids, family, friends, and her patients. The very fibers of her soul are loving. All I wish for her now is that she can somehow find peace,” it said.

Medical examiner outlines how his office handles autopsies of the famous and everyone else

Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:04:36 +0000

The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's Office has performed autopsies in many high-profile cases, including that of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, who singer D4vd is charged with killing, and the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry.

Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Odey Ukpo talked to The Associated Press about how his office handles its work and reaches its headline-making conclusions.

Why the cause of death is not always the most obvious option

Perry was found unresponsive in the hot tub at his Los Angeles home in October 2023 and initial reports speculated that he had drowned.

Two months after his death, Ukpo's office determined the main cause of his death was acute toxicity of the surgical anesthetic ketamine and that drowning was a secondary cause.

Some advocates for ketamine, which is increasingly used to treat depression and chronic pain, said drowning should have been deemed the primary cause.

Ukpo said his staffers considered how anyone could drown in a hot tub and concluded Perry would have been able to climb out safely if he hadn't been incapacitated by the drug.

“But for the ketamine, would he have been out of it and unable to rescue himself?” Ukpo said. “That’s why ketamine is the cause of death primarily, and then the drowning contributed.”

Why ‘overdose’ never appears in an autopsy report

“A medical examiner never certifies a death as an overdose. If you look at death certificates, you’ll never see ‘methamphetamine overdose.’” Ukpo said.

“It’s just part of the culture and understanding about how drugs kill people. People can understand ‘overdose,’ but any level of methamphetamine can kill somebody. When you say overdose, it suggests that there’s an appropriate amount that someone can take. This one overdid it,” he said.

“That’s never the message that we give.”

Why toxicology reports take so long

Autopsies are generally performed and initial conclusions reached soon after a body is found, but a report revealing cause of death can take months if a toxicology test is required.

“We want to make sure that we get it right,” Ukpo said. “When someone dies, the blood specimens are different than when you’re at the hospital, so they’re harder to handle. And we also have to have certainty. In the hospital if you do a urine drug test, they tell you within a few hours. And that’s because they’re OK if it’s wrong. They’ll treat you because the treatment for cocaine, it doesn’t hurt. We’ll just assume it’s cocaine and that’s fine. But for us, it’s cause of death and has implications. And so it does take months to come back.”

In some cases, toxicology tests are needed to understand what substance may have killed the person. In others, they're more of a check to assure conclusions are correct.

When the autopsy was performed on Rivas Hernandez, who had been dead for months when her body was found, it was fairly clear she had been stabbed.

“We knew very early on what was going on, particularly defects in the clothing and on the body itself,” Ukpo said. “It’s then we have to do toxicology as due diligence to make sure drugs didn’t also play a role in the death.”

Alcohol was found in her system, but it was produced postmortem.

“When someone dies, the bacteria can then change the glucose into alcohol. And so therefore you have a presence of alcohol, which would appear that it was real, but it was actually produced by a bacteria,” he said. “There are also other interference things that can make things look like they’re positive at the beginning, but then at the later stage are negative. We do confirmation testing.”

Los Angeles medical examiner pushes for greater transparency in high-profile deaths

Andrew Dalton, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 10:03:20 +0000

Autopsy reports rarely come with barbed comments. So eyebrows rose when the autopsy results of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez were released with a statement from the Los Angeles County chief medical examiner saying it was “unfathomable” her grieving parents had to wait months to learn how their daughter died.

The autopsy performed on the dismembered body found in a Tesla in the Hollywood Hills had been sealed by a court order in the investigation that led to murder charges for singer D4vd. Dr. Odey Ukpo's comment with the report was his most pointed effort yet to emphasize his office’s independence from police and prosecutors, as well as his desire to make as much death information public as soon as possible.

D4vd, who has pleaded not guilty, this week faces a crucial preliminary hearing to determine whether there is enough evidence for a trial. Ukpo's agency, which determined Rivas Hernandez died from stab wounds, plays a major role, as it has in other prominent cases, including following the death of “Friends” star Matthew Perry and the killings of director Rob Reiner and his wife, photographer Michele Singer Reiner.

Ukpo, 46, sat for a recent interview with The Associated Press in the building where he performed autopsies for nearly a decade before getting the head role in 2023. He has always welcomed the celebrity cases that Los Angeles brings, saying the scrutiny they receive and the likelihood of misinformation spreading are strong incentives to do careful, irrefutable work. And they provide an opportunity to show what his office does and what kind of dangers the community may face.

“I should be able to anticipate the strongest arguments or the most interesting questions by the work that I’ve done,” he said. “If I haven’t, then something’s missing.”

“Life is complicated, but death is simple,” Ukpo said.

The medical examiner pushes back on police secrecy

Ukpo doesn't believe sealing autopsy reports helps police investigations, including in the killing of Celeste.

“That goes completely against our mission,” he said. “It’s so important for us to release the information that she did not die from something natural, she did not die from drugs, she was stabbed. And then we start to look back at what made her vulnerable to be in that situation.”

A court-ordered security hold still seals the Reiner autopsies. Authorities said immediately after their deaths that they had been stabbed by their son, who has pleaded not guilty, but little information has followed. Ukpo said he would discuss the findings — if he was allowed.

“The Reiners’ case is one that’s straightforward,” he said. “It’s unclear to me what sort of information we have that would ruin the case.”

Sometimes there is no good reason for secrecy, he said.

“People say: ‘Why would they get the information out there? Because then the case is just going to go awry.’ But awry? How? What information?” he said, adding: “The killer knows what they did.”

The LA County Sheriff’s Department said in a statement that security holds “are rarely requested and are carefully reviewed on a case-by-case basis to determine whether temporarily withholding the autopsy report is necessary to preserve sensitive investigative information.” It said the reports can contain details “that only the person responsible would know,” meaning detectives can use that knowledge to assess the credibility of witness statements and uncover false confessions.

The Los Angeles Police Department, which handled the D4vd and Reiner cases, did not respond to a request for comment, and the district attorney's office declined comment.

A change to his title underscores Ukpo's independence

Ukpo was appointed chief medical examiner-coroner in 2023, becoming the agency's first Black leader since it was founded in 1850. His staff responds to about 13,000 sudden, unexpected and premature deaths per year.

The “coroner” part of his title was dropped soon after his appointment and Ukpo supported that change, saying a coroner is usually an elected official — often also the county sheriff — but not a doctor.

“'Coroner' just kind of confused our purpose and suggested that we were within a law enforcement agency,” Ukpo said. “It’s so important to establish our independence.”

Andrew Bernstein, a longtime New York criminal defense attorney who is not involved in any of Ukpo’s cases, said “buddy-buddy” relationships can easily develop between medical examiners and law enforcement.

“They’re dealing with the cops all the time,” he said. “They’re using the same language.”

That relationship can hurt a prosecutor's case, he said, because “jurors pick up on that all the time” and may perceive a testifying medical examiner as biased.

But, Bernstein said, “you don’t want so much independence” that the medical examiner makes decisions regardless of the wants and needs of police and prosecutors.

“You don’t want a rock star chief medical examiner,” he said.

How he decided to make autopsies his life’s work

At age 6, Ukpo — who grew up in Anaheim not far from Disneyland — had wanted to be a homicide detective.

But when he met his family physician, he “thought it was really cool how he would work with his hands, do dirty work, work with blood” but “could be very professional in his office, in a suit, in a tie.”

“There you go, that’s the formula for a forensic pathologist,” he said.

Very few medical students want to make autopsies their life's work. He said with a laugh that declaring his intentions “made for interesting medical school interviews.”

His education included stints at Loyola University in Chicago, at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and with the medical examiner in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Celebrity autopsies hold meaning beyond LA County

Ukpo performed autopsies on rapper Mac Miller, actor Tommy Lister Jr., and model and actor Kim Porter, the former longtime partner of Sean “Diddy” Combs.

Perry died within months of Ukpo getting the top job, and his office determined the primary cause of death was acute ketamine toxicity.

“Matthew Perry was really an important one to notify people that ketamine is not harmless,” he said.

He said this and all his work is driven by his desire to first and foremost serve the public.

“What I’m trying to shift during my leadership here is to try to focus on community first,” he said. “Death doesn’t just happen for the family, for the individual. When a death happens, it reverberates.”

Ukraine fires 400 drones toward Moscow as Zelenskyy grapples with protests

Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 08:36:21 +0000

Ukraine fired more than 400 drones toward Moscow in its latest major attack on the Russian capital, the city’s mayor said Monday.

The blitz came hours after Russia bombarded Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with ballistic missiles in a relentless cycle of tit-for-tat strikes that make a settlement to end Moscow’s more than 4-year-old all-out invasion appear a distant possibility.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, meanwhile, said he would hold “key talks” on Monday as he tries to defuse a domestic political crisis, after last week’s government reshuffle exposed a deep split between the military’s old guard and young innovators over how to fight the war.

Zelenskyy needs to reassure Ukrainians that sacrificing 35-year-old Mykhailo Fedorov as defense minister and keeping faith with 60-year-old Soviet-trained Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi as armed forces chief won’t derail the fight against Russia.

Days of street protests in favor of Fedorov and against Syrskyi followed Zelenskyy's decision.

Ukraine hits another Russian oil depot

Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said that over 400 Ukrainian drones were sent toward the Russian capital from late Sunday until early Monday. He said most were downed far from the capital and 85 were intercepted near Moscow.

Andrei Vorobyov, the head of the region around Moscow, said that 10 people were wounded by Ukrainian drones. He said that several residential buildings and civilian infrastructure facilities were damaged.

The attack started a fire at the Yuzhnye Vrata industrial park, about 30 kilometers (18 miles) south of Moscow, according to Yevgeniya Khrustaleva, the head of the Domodedovo area of the Moscow region.

The Astra news outlet reported that the assault also caused a fire at an oil depot in Podolsk, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) south of Moscow but there was no official confirmation of the strike.

Ukrainian forces struck logistics facilities and an oil depot in the Moscow region, more than 400 kilometers (250 miles) from Ukraine’s border, Zelenskyy said. He also said Ukrainian forces hit two vessels belonging to Russia’s so-called shadow fleet transporting sanctioned oil and four dry cargo ships in the Black Sea.

It was not possible to independently verify either side's claims.

Ukraine’s long-range drone technology has swiftly evolved during the war, posing a problem for Russia, whose huge land mass is hard to fully protect. Kyiv’s forces have aimed especially at Russian oil facilities, causing fuel shortages and embarrassing Russian President Vladimir Putin.

In May, the Russian Defense Ministry said air defenses downed 1,054 Ukrainian drones in a 24-hour period.

Russia uses ballistic missiles more frequently

As Kyiv pleads with foreign partners to supply it with sophisticated interceptors that can counter Russian ballistic missiles, which are much harder to stop than drones or cruise missiles, Moscow’s forces have sought to take advantage of weaknesses in Ukraine’s air defenses.

Ballistic missiles fly faster than the speed of sound and can reach Kyiv in minutes, giving air defenses little time to react and civilians to reach shelter.

Russia has in recent weeks stepped up its use of ballistic missiles, and on Sunday used them in a bombardment that Ukrainian officials said killed at least six people and wounded dozens.

“Russian forces have launched more ballistic missiles against Ukraine thus far in July than Russia reportedly produces each month,” the Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, said late Sunday.

“Russia appears to be dipping into its stockpiles to continue increasing the number of ballistic missiles it launches against Ukraine, as these missiles have a higher success rate than drones and cruise missiles,” it noted.

A Russian strike on Pavlohrad in Ukraine’s central Dnipropetrovsk region injured 13 people, military administration head Oleksandr Hanzha said. Eleven people were hospitalized, including a 13-year-old girl, he said.

Russia’s Defense Ministry said Monday that its forces struck fuel tanks in the southern Ukrainian port of Odesa overnight.

Russia fired two missiles and 94 long-range strike drones at the territory of Ukraine overnight, according to Ukraine’s air force. It said air defenses jammed or intercepted 81 drones, while nine drones and a missile caused damage at nine locations.

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Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

US gas prices hit an average of $4 a gallon again as the US and Iran launch attacks

Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 08:55:25 +0000

U.S. gas prices jumped to an average of $4 a gallon again Monday as the U.S. and Iran launched more attacks.

According to motor club federation AAA, the national average for a gallon of regular gasoline is now back to $4. The average price a year ago was $3.14 a gallon.

The price is a national average, meaning drivers in some states have been paying well over $4 a gallon for a while now, while others pay less. Prices vary between states due to factors ranging from nearby supply to differing tax rates.

People around the world are also dealing with high gas prices as a result of the war.

Gas prices first went over $4 a gallon on average at the end of March. They dipped below that in mid-June and continued to fall as crude oil prices eased when the U.S. and Iran reached an interim deal. Even then, President Donald Trump expressed frustration that gas prices weren’t falling as quickly as oil prices.

Affordability is likely to be a key issue for voters in the U.S. midterm elections, and higher gas and oil prices can help push up prices for groceries and other goods.

Oil prices have climbed again in recent days as the U.S. and Iran move closer to resuming an all-out war.

Brent crude, the international standard, rose 3.2% to $90.95 per barrel Monday and benchmark U.S. crude climbed 2.8% to $84.04 per barrel.

How to keep babies safe when temperatures soar

Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 09:08:24 +0000

Infants, toddlers and young children need outdoor activity to build strong bodies and minds, but they also require extra care in the heat.

In the summer months, those twin imperatives can make parents anxious. How long should kids be out? How do I know they're OK? What should I avoid?

Human-caused climate change is making heat waves longer, stronger and more widespread. Much of the U.S. sweltered last week under a heat dome.

That shift makes questions about keeping babies safe more pressing, said Dr. Katherine Williamson, a pediatrician with Rady Children's Health in Orange, California.

“We talk about drowning and choking with toddlers, and now we’re starting to add in heat," she said. “It’s become something that’s more commonplace as a potential injury.”

Here is why children are more vulnerable to heat-related illnesses, and some do's and don’ts to keep them safe:

Regulating body temperature is a challenge

Children sweat less than adults and have a higher metabolism that make them hot faster. In extreme heat, their higher surface area-to-mass ratio increases heat absorption.

Kids also tend to spend more time outdoors.

On hot days, parents need to be vigilant about the signs of heat illness. A lack of tears or regular wet diapers could indicate your baby is dehydrated. Parents should feed infants in smaller quantities more frequently to make sure they are getting enough fluid.

Though not necessarily signs of illness, fatigue and flushed skin likely means your child needs a break to cool off. Williamson said increased irritability could also indicate your child is too hot.

Tips for keeping them safe

Avoid going out during the hottest parts of the day, dress kids in loose, light-colored clothing, apply sunscreen and make sure they are getting enough fluids. Water-rich fruits such as watermelon and strawberries are great snacks in the heat.

“If you’re hot, your baby sure is going to be hot,” said Dr. Debra Langlois, a pediatrician at the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.

Langlois said parents and other caregivers should limit the amount of time infants and toddlers are outside in hot weather, but she doesn’t advise remaining strictly indoors at any point.

Don't put blankets or other covers on a stroller

That advice seems counterintuitive. After all, doesn't it make sense to shield children from the sun?

But blankets and other coverings, even thin ones, prevent air from circulating and trap heat that can raise the temperature in the stroller. Instead, use a canopy for shade.

Williamson also advises parents to check metal parts that can heat up and burn children.

Don't leave kids in the car

Even in the shade and with open windows, car temperatures can rise dramatically in a short amount of time. In 2025, 31 children died of heat stroke in vehicles, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The agency recommends caregivers leave a purse or other personal item in the back seat, write a note or place a stuffed animal on the passenger seat to ensure they don't forget a child inside.

If you return to a parked car with your baby on a hot day, ensure the metal parts of the car seat are also not too hot. For extra comfort, use a sun shade to keep the interior cooler and turn on the air conditioning in advance.

To cool a hot car, experts recommend opening the windows for 10 to 20 seconds while running the air conditioning.

Osceola County eyes transportation consultants behind major Florida projects

Stephanie Rodriguez — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

Keeping up with rapid growth is no small task, and Osceola County is taking another step toward addressing one of its biggest challenges: transportation.

County leaders are set to vote on a cooperative agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc., a planning, engineering and design firm with a track record of major projects across Florida. The contract, which would not exceed $5 million, would run through Sept. 30, 2030.

Residents may not be familiar with the Kimley-Horn name, but the firm has already left its mark on Central Florida. The company worked on LYNX’s Transit Development Plan, which outlines improvements for the bus service. Kimley-Horn also conducted a study focused on widening a 17-mile section of Florida’s Turnpike in Broward County to help alleviate traffic congestion.

The company also designed the Sunshine Corridor — a proposal to expand the SunRail to Orlando International Airport, the Orange County Convention Center, and the International Drive resort areas.

The agreement would be structured as a Continuing Services contract under the Florida Department of Transportation’s standard professional services framework. Kimley-Horn would provide Project Development and Environment, or PD&E, and Efficient Transportation Decision Making, or ETDM, support services — covering research, field reviews, studies, surveys and transportation management plan designs.

The county would draw on those services on a task-authorization basis, meaning individual projects would be assigned as needs arise countywide.

If approved, the contract would run through Sept. 30, 2030, at a total cost not to exceed $5 million.

For some residents, better transportation options can’t come soon enough. Getting around Central Florida remains a daily struggle — whether due to heavy traffic or limited infrastructure.

“I stopped driving because I started to get cataracts, and I just don’t feel safe. It’s too scary out there,” Stephanie Chewning said.

Others said they are eager for expanded transit options.

“I’ve been wanting to try the light rail. However, I just haven’t gotten a chance to. I think that’s a huge solution,” Chewning said. “More trains, please.”

The county board is scheduled to meet at 5:30 p.m.

US bombing of Iran expands as American troops killed and Tehran retaliates against the Gulf states

Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 03:44:21 +0000

The United States conducted a new round of airstrikes early Monday targeting Iran after announcing the death of another American service member, hitting around a northwestern city believed to be home to underground missile bases. Iran responded by launching an attack targeting Bahrain, the home of the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet, and Kuwait.

The latest attacks again showed how, step by step, the U.S. and Iran have inched closer to all-out war as last month’s interim deal meant to permanently end the fighting has crumbled and shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled. Both sides have targeted civilian infrastructure relied on by millions of people.

Meanwhile, benchmark Brent crude rose Monday above $90 a barrel, further fueling a global energy crisis sparked by the conflict. An average gallon of regular gasoline in the U.S. also rose to $4, a key metric for Americans that puts more pressure on their wallets ahead of midterm elections this fall.

The U.S. military said the service member was killed in Iraq on Saturday during the “controlled detonation” of a downed Iranian drone.

“We hit them very hard again tonight,” U.S. President Donald Trump said. “And we did that in honor of the” soldiers killed, he said.

US launches ninth night of Iran strikes

The U.S. military’s Central Command announced a new round of strikes early Monday, now into their ninth straight night. Central Command said it targeted “Iranian military command centers, air defense and coastal surveillance sites, maritime capabilities, missile and drone launch sites and communications networks.”

Iran's state-run IRNA news agency reported that the American strikes killed at least one person around Tabriz, a northwestern city about 520 kilometers (325 miles) from the capital, Tehran. Tabriz is believed to host underground missile bases run by Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

U.S. strikes likely also hit Bandar Imam Khomeini in Khuzestan province, Sirik and Jask in Hormozgan province and Konarak and Chahbahar in Sistan and Baluchistan province, IRNA reported.

As the strikes began, a vessel caught fire early Monday in the Strait of Hormuz after being hit by a projectile near the coastline of Oman, the British military's United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations center said. The crew abandoned the vessel, which was adrift and still ablaze hours later, the UKMTO said.

The route around Oman has been the one the U.S. military has encouraged ships to travel to avoid Iran’s control. The Guard later claimed it was targeting tankers in the strait.

Tehran has retaliated by hitting U.S.-allied countries throughout the Middle East. Bahrain sounded its missile alert sirens Monday morning, while Kuwait said its air defense were firing at an incoming Iranian barrage.

The Strait of Hormuz remains key to the conflict

Trump has threatened to target Iran’s power stations and bridges to try to compel Tehran to loosen its hold on the Strait of Hormuz, which saw one-fifth of traded global oil supplies transit before the war. Recent attacks suggest the U.S. military is carrying out that plan.

The U.S. in the past week reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports to halt its shipments of crude oil. The military on Saturday said it had redirected six ships and disabled one since then.

The halfway point has passed in the 60 days the deal set out to negotiate the permanent end of the war and other issues, including Iran’s nuclear program.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the U.S. is still open to negotiating with Iran but that “it has to be real.”

“We’re going to continue to respond. If the door opens to diplomacy — if the guys that want to do something productive for Iran win and take control of that system, or take control of the negotiations — that’ll be a very positive development,” Rubio said. “That’s not where we are tonight, unfortunately.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei hours later acknowledged that “proposals conveyed through mediators have been communicated to us,” but he declined to elaborate on their substance.

Mohammad Javad Zarif, a former Iranian foreign minister who helped elect the country's reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian, acknowledged in an essay published Monday by Foreign Policy that the interim "deal could never survive such dissonance” over the Strait of Hormuz.

“As the current conflict makes clear, Washington cannot eliminate the Iranian government,” Zarif wrote. “Only diplomacy, a new peace agreement, and a new security framework produced by regional states and for regional states will allow the United States to turn its attention elsewhere.”

However, Zarif did warn the country's theocracy that “if Iran repeatedly threatens maritime traffic, it could turn much of the world against it.”

Iranian authorities on Sunday said at least 50 people have been killed and 517 wounded in the latest rounds of U.S. strikes. Since the war began on Feb. 28, 17 U.S. service members have been killed.

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Associated Press writers Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, and Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed to this report.

At least 930 people have died in Congo's Ebola outbreak

Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 06:26:18 +0000

At least 930 people have died in Congo’s Ebola outbreak, the country’s Ministry of Health said Monday, with 37 new deaths recorded in a 24-hour span Friday into Saturday, one of the highest totals.

The deaths were recorded out of the 2,344 cases confirmed as of Saturday, the health ministry said.

The Ebola outbreak that was declared in eastern Congo on May 15 is the fastest-growing Ebola outbreak on record. The Bundibugyo virus responsible for the outbreak is less common than others that cause Ebola disease, and there is no approved vaccine or treatment.

Ebola is highly contagious and can be transmitted to people from wild animals. It spreads in the human population through contact with bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen, and with contaminated surfaces and materials such as bedding and clothing. The disease is rare but severe and often fatal.

The surge in deaths comes as safety fears have restricted the response in the worst-affected province of Ituri. A total of five provinces have been affected, all in the eastern region where rebel violence is rampant.

At least 12 attacks — mostly fueled by skepticism and rumors — have been recorded against health facilities and teams since the outbreak was declared in mid-May, authorities said Saturday. Many health workers meanwhile have walked off their jobs as they protest lack of payment.

At least 36 health workers infected with the virus have died.

The World Health Organization last week expressed concerns that 80% of new Ebola cases were emerging from unknown chains of transmission, a sign the outbreak is spreading faster than health officials can track despite an expanding response.

Congo's Health Ministry said in its latest update that 724 patients are currently in isolation and in hospitals, and that it is intensifying response efforts in affected health zones.

“Patient care and support capacities are consolidating, with 22 new recoveries recorded in 24 hours,” the ministry said.

Goals, technology and hydration breaks: How the biggest World Cup in history will be remembered

James Robson, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 07:39:03 +0000

The World Cup final between Spain and defending champion Argentina marked the end of the biggest tournament in the competition’s history. At the final whistle in New Jersey on Sunday, a record 104 games had been played across almost six weeks and three countries.

The supersized tournament delivered thrilling action on the field, with upsets, dramatic comebacks, spectacular goals and standout performances by the biggest stars of the game.

It also generated controversy, from political tensions surrounding Iran’s participation to criticism against innovations such as hydration breaks, which were unpopular among many fans.

Here are some key takeaways from the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada.

More teams, more drama

A newly expanded 48-team format raised concerns about lopsided matches and a lack of jeopardy in the group stage.

Tell that to Cape Verde, Congo and even Curaçao, which all made history and won new fans.

Cape Verde held eventual champion Spain to a draw in its opening game, advanced to the round of 32 and gave Argentina a scare before losing 3-2 in extra time in a World Cup classic. Cape Verde's goalkeeper Vozinha became a breakout star at the age of 40, gaining millions of followers on social media.

Congo also advanced beyond the group stage and pushed England before eventually losing, while Curaçao was still in with a chance of making the knockouts going into its final group match.

FIFA opened its door to more teams and they proved they could compete on soccer's biggest stage. Nonetheless, it was top-ranked nations Argentina, Spain, France and England — all former champions — that made it to the final four.

The big stars delivered

The race for the golden boot became a who's who of the world's top players with Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, Harry Kane and Jude Bellingham firing on all cylinders.

Mbappé led the way with 10 goals in the tournament and a record 22 career World Cup goals. Messi had eight at this World Cup and 21 in total.

Cristiano Ronaldo couldn't lead Portugal to success in what he said was his last World Cup, while Spain's teenage sensation Lamine Yamal — the star of the Euros two years ago — had to work his way into the tournament after overcoming injury.

Big tech, big complaints

Video reviews known as VAR were at the center of a number of contentious decisions, ruling out huge goals for Germany, Croatia and Egypt.

Egypt coach Hossam Hassan launched a furious tirade after Argentina staged a spectacular comeback from 2-0 down to win 3-2 in the round of 16.

“We have suffered injustice,” he said after Egypt had a goal overturned when the score was still 1-0.

Fitted with sensors, the high-tech ball in use at the tournament cost Croatia a dramatic late equalizer against Portugal in the round of 32 when it detected the slightest of touches from Igor Mantanovic and ruled Josko Gvardiol's goal offside.

“All these decisions take the joy out of football,” said Croatia coach Zlatko Dalić, who has since stepped down.

Exorbitant ticket prices, but fans still turned up

There were concerns going into the tournament that FIFA's introduction of dynamic pricing would make game tickets unaffordable for average fans. Some critics accused FIFA of a “monumental betrayal."

Official ticket prices on general sale ranged from $140 to $2,735 for group stage matches and up to $8,680 for the final, far beyond the prices at the previous World Cup in Qatar in 2022. After criticism FIFA said it would offer a selection of $60 tickets for every game to the 48 national federations participating.

FIFA's resale market place allowed sellers to list tickets for massively more than face value, including ones for the final for just under $2.3 million. FIFA didn't control resale pricing, but took a cut from sales.

For all the criticism, fans still turned up in big numbers, even for games that didn’t feature marquee teams or players.

After a shaky start when there were empty seats for the game between South Korea and the Czech Republic in Guadalajara, stadium after stadium reported full houses.

Many foreign visitors were impressed by the hospitality they experienced in the U.S.

Hydration breaks a turnoff

FIFA’s new hydration breaks midway through each half — a novelty for this World Cup — prompted loud jeers from fans inside the stadium, while former players were also critical.

"We’re in America, right? So, it’s like it is a timeout,” former Ireland international Roy Keane said on The Overlap podcast.

The breaks were introduced to help players deal with the summer heat, but FIFA stipulated they would occur regardless of the weather, venue or location.

Coaches used them like timeouts to pass on in-game tactical instructions. Broadcasters, meanwhile, used them as an opportunity to take commercial breaks.

It is unclear whether FIFA will implement hydration breaks at future World Cups, but the English Football Association said they were unlikely to be in place for the 2028 European Championship, co-hosted by England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland.

Iran participated despite the war

It’s not unusual for politics and sport to intertwine at the World Cup. This time the biggest political tensions surrounded the national team of Iran.

The war in the Middle East raised doubts about whether the Iranian team would show up at all. It did, but only after moving its base camp from Arizona to Mexico.

Its participation was overshadowed by visa issues, with the U.S. refusing visas to several members of Iran's delegation. The Iranians also complained about travel restrictions, including having to leave the U.S. immediately after each match.

When Iran was eliminated at the group stage, Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin made his feelings clear. “I’m just glad they’re done and they’re not coming back,” he said.

Trump's role in focus

While the Trump administration’s travel restrictions on a series of countries prevented some fans from traveling to the U.S., there were no reports of the aggressive immigration enforcement that some human rights groups had feared could take place around World Cup stadiums.

Besides the final, Trump didn't attend any World Cup games. However, his relationship with FIFA president Gianni Infantino came into sharp focus when U.S. striker Folarin Balogun's one game ban for a red card was suspended ahead of the team's round of 16 game against Belgium.

Trump said he had called Infantino to ask for the decision to be reviewed before FIFA made Balogun eligible to play. FIFA insisted its disciplinary bodies acted independently, but the incident raised question about political interference.

Ultimately, the decision didn't help the U.S. as it lost 4-1 to Belgium.

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James Robson is at https://x.com/jamesalanrobson

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Japanese beetle advances through northern Italy's vineyards and orchards, frustrating farmers

Niccolò Lupone, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 05:04:42 +0000

The iridescent green beetles native to Japan have become a growing menace in Italy, swarming through orchards and vineyards and leaving behind devastating lattice patterns in leaves that weaken the plants and reduce production.

The Popillia japonica, or Japanese beetle, is a familiar pest in the United States, where it arrived more than a century ago.

But it is a relative newcomer to the European continent, first detected near Milan’s Malpensa airport in 2014. In Italy, it has already swarmed through the northeastern regions of Lombardy, Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta, where it appeared last year in terraced vineyards above the town of Donnas.

“We’re seeing the popillia steadily advance from terrace to terrace across our historic vineyards," said Luciano Zoppo Ronzero, a winemaker who produces Nebbiolo from the terraced vines. “We’re now about the 10th terrace and can already see the popillia attacks. This means they’re consuming and gradually moving up the mountain.”

With no natural predators and an appetite covering over 300 plants and trees, the Japanese beetle has made the European Union's list of priority pests, meaning that efforts must be made to contain and eradicate outbreaks.

The beetle is already entrenched in Italy, Switzerland and Germany, where the focus is on managing and containing expansion, while the population levels in France and Spain still allow hopes of eradication, said Daniela Lupi, an entomologist at the University of Milan.

The Japanese beetle is voracious and travels en masse as it feeds. Adult beetles also hitch a ride on trains, cars and airplanes. After spending summer months feasting, the beetles mate and their larvae feed on grasses until reaching maturity, and launch the cycle anew.

The Coldiretti agricultural lobby says the pest poses a major threat to agriculture as it makes its way through the Po River Valley, Italy’s breadbasket. But damage so far has been hard to quantify because often the beetle’s pattern of eating away the pulp of leaves weakens the plant, lowering production, without necessarily killing healthy plants.

“In some areas, the beetle has destroyed the harvest,’’ said Lorenzo Bazzana, the head of economic affairs at Coldiretti. The larvae, known as grubs, also feed on grass roots, damaging lawns, golf courses and playing fields.

Zoppo Ronzero is concerned for both his historic terraced vineyards, carved into the mountainside and stabilized by centuries-old drystone walls, and for his production. By defoliating the vines, the beetles expose grape clusters to the sun while severely reducing the plants’ ability to photosynthesize.

“What scares me is the fact that in the end the grapes don’t ripen. If the grapes don’t ripen, it means we’re not bringing home a splendid harvest, as we had hoped, but something unusable,” Ronzero said.

The best hope for eradicating the pests is attacking the larvae, according to Bazzana. The beetles were recently detected near Verona’s Valerio Catullo airport, and experts are experimenting by introducing a microscopic parasite in the surrounding area to attack the grubs.

Pheromone traps are also widely used, while the wine producers in Donnas are relying on pesticide treatments, even though the effectiveness is short-lived and labor-intensive on the steep terrain.

“If we don’t counter it, the population will continue to rise and so there will be strong damage to the fruits plants, to the grasses, to the ornamental plants,” Lupi, the entomologist, said. “There are no problems for the human population, because they are not so dangerous, but the production is really, really lowered.”

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Associated Press writer Colleen Barry in Milan contributed to this report.

As defaults on student loans surge, millions are trying to get their lives back on track

Heather Hollingsworth And Nicky Forster, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 04:10:13 +0000

Life after college did not go as Ashley Dreahn planned.

After starting out as a teacher, she went back to school — and took out more loans — in hopes of landing a higher-paying job in the chemical processing industry. It never materialized, and then came Hurricane Harvey, a job loss and a car breakdown. By 2022, she was so broke she filed for bankruptcy.

She found work at a Texas prison and was rebuilding her life, saving up for weight-loss surgery, when this spring she heard from a credit-monitoring service. The student loans she thought had been discharged in bankruptcy had ballooned to $94,298 with interest, and she had to start making payments. She was in default.

“I absolutely broke down,” said Dreahn, 40.

Across the country, the number of borrowers with defaulted student loans jumped by more than 4.2 million from April 2025 to March 2026, according to an Associated Press analysis. The surge includes many who went off track in 2024, when loan payments started coming due again after a pandemic-era freeze.

Hundreds of thousands more are months behind on payments, and another surge in defaults could be on the way. Millions of borrowers are facing higher monthly payments as the government dismantles its most affordable income-driven repayment option, the SAVE plan, one of several changes the Education Department says are intended to simplify a fragmented system.

Borrowers enter default after missing payments for nine months, and the consequences can upend lives. It hurts credit ratings and can lead to the debt being sent to collections.

“I am seeing despair and outrage and despondency and just a very wide mix of pretty extreme emotions, the likes of which I have not seen before,” said Alan Collinge, the founder of Student Loan Justice and the author of “The Student Loan Scam.”

The federal government can garnish wages and Social Security payments from borrowers in default, but the Trump administration in January walked back plans to begin collections on their loans. A Moody’s Analytics report this spring said garnishments are likely to begin within the next year, warning of “an additional headwind in an increasingly fragile economy.”

Taking out student loans was all too easy

Dreahn enrolled at Texas Woman’s University in 2004 as the first in her family to go to college. She cobbled together jobs, babysitting and working at a call center and an automotive shop. But she still needed to borrow heavily.

“There was one point where they were like, ‘If you don’t come up with the money, we’re dropping you from your classes,’” said Dreahn, who earned a degree in history with an emphasis on education and social studies. “And it was, ‘OK, what do I need to sign?’”

She said no one explained what taking out loans truly meant.

“You just kind of trust these advisers and trust these financial aid people that this is what you’re supposed to do,” Dreahn said.

While teaching, she took out more student loans to earn a pair of associate degrees from a public community college in Texas. She received a job offer at a chemical refinery, but it was rescinded because she was over the weight limit for the company’s safety equipment.

She filed for bankruptcy in 2022 in hopes that it would “erase everything.” She checked her online credit report afterward. For each student loan, the report read: “Nice! You’ve paid off 100% of this loan.” The message is sometimes shared with borrowers when student loans are consolidated or transferred to new companies — even when the person still owes money.

Student loans are rarely discharged in bankruptcy. Borrowers must prove the loans pose an “undue hardship.” The process is cumbersome, and few qualify, advocates say.

But Dreahn didn’t know any of that.

“I was so relieved, like, ‘OK, now I can start life over,’” she said. “'I can save some money.'”

She started working last year as a supervisor at a prison in Huntsville, about 70 miles (115 kilometers) north of Houston, and was living in an RV park to save money when she received the default notice.

“I just feel like, where is that light at the end of the tunnel now that I thought I had?” Dreahn said.

The wave of defaults started after the pandemic

As a pandemic relief measure, the federal government allowed borrowers to suspend student loan payments until 2023, and President Joe Biden's administration then provided a one-year grace period. That ended in fall 2024, allowing loans to enter into default after nine months of missed payments.

A surge in defaults followed, and today around 9.5 million borrowers — over 1 in 5 — are in default, including those whose loans were well past due before the pandemic, according to the AP analysis. The previous record for borrowers in default had been 8 million in December 2019.

There are also 870,000 borrowers with loans between 181 and 270 days late, on the edge of default, according to federal data.

Meanwhile, 33% of borrowers at for-profit schools nationally were at least 90 days late on payments, more than twice the rate of borrowers at public schools, additional federal data shows.

Most private colleges that offer traditional degrees are nonprofit. For-profit colleges generally offer career-focused degrees and credentials and often serve students of color. Career Education Colleges and Universities, an association of private trade schools, has created a task force to reach out to students about the importance of loan repayment, said Jason Altmire, the group's president and CEO.

“We take it seriously,” he said.

Borrowers struggle to make sense of changes

Some borrowers are so overwhelmed by their debt and changes to the federal student loan system that they’ve stopped paying.

Barbara Howaniec, a 63-year-old psychiatric nurse practitioner from Auburn, Maine, already has defaulted. She borrowed around $62,000 for her master’s degree from New York University, graduating in 2001. But after two decades of payments, she still owes around $67,000 with interest. She had put her loans in deferment for short stints while her children were young, unaware that interest would continue to accumulate.

Howaniec had hoped to have her loan forgiven after 25 years under an income-based repayment plan. But then came a letter saying the repayment schedule had changed and she owed 355 more payments. By the time she finished paying, she would be 91.

She made call after call, but she said the advice varied by whoever picked up the phone. Last year, as she paid for her own children’s college, she quit paying her own loans.

“I had already paid what I had borrowed. I’m like, no, I’m not going to pay anymore,” Howaniec said. As a self-employed person, she said she doesn’t have to worry about the government garnishing her wages.

Shannon Khan, a 46-year-old mental health worker from Webster, Texas, hasn’t paid her student loan for two months as she investigates her options.

She did not have to pay anything while enrolled in SAVE, but she was moved last fall to another income-driven repayment plan, with a required monthly payment of $847. She thought she was close to having her remaining balance forgiven, but she recently learned her payment will jump to $1,683 a month — an amount her loan servicer said she will need to pay for nearly a decade.

She has spent hours on the phone trying to get answers.

“It’s just a bunch of chaos and confusion,” Khan said.

Some hunt pathways out of default

Dreahn had never been entirely clear how much she was borrowing when she was a student. As an adult, the process remained opaque. She had multiple loans transferred to different loan servicers. And then her loans were deferred when she went back to school.

“It’s a huge, huge mess,” Dreahn said. “It’s almost like it just gets sold off and you’re just lost in the system somewhere until you figure out that, 'Oh, they want $700 this month. What?'”

Now in default, she hopes she might one day qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. It requires borrowers to make 10 years of payments while working at a nonprofit or for the government.

“I’m trying to figure out: One, how I’m going to make it work. And two, what do I give up?" Dreahn said. "How do I manage buying groceries as well as making sure the bills are covered and this payment never gets missed?”

Lately, she thinks back on the chemical processing plant job she almost got.

“That was a six-figure career that I lost due to my weight,” she said, her voice breaking. “The money that I’m trying to save now that was going to be for surgery is going to be paid to student loans instead.”

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Associated Press reporter Adriana Morga contributed to this report.

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The Associated Press’ education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

In the Israeli-occupied West Bank, too much cash is breaking the economy

Sam Metz And Jalal Bwaitel, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 04:07:18 +0000

Picture this: A gas station customer pulls out a wad of bills to pay for a fill-up. The cashier refuses the money, explaining that the station's bank has stopped accepting notes and coins as deposits because it already is drowning in cash.

In most places, cash is king. But in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, having too much is gumming up the machinery of daily life. The Palestinian banking system has more Israeli shekels than it can manage. As a result, paper money has gotten harder for residents to spend and for businesses to put into their accounts.

The excess liquidity stems from a conflict between the Bank of Israel and the Palestinian Monetary Authority, which oversees Palestinian banks and financial institutions. Israel limits the amount of physical currency it takes back from the West Bank. Palestinian officials say the cap has not kept pace with growth and is one mechanism used to keep the territory in a state of economic crisis.

Unlike in Gaza, where years of an almost total blockade have caused cash shortages, banks in the West Bank are running out of vault space to store stacks of shekels. With Bank of Israel refusing to accept more notes and coins, commercial banks can’t convert the money into electronic balances to pay suppliers or process transfers on behalf of their customers.

“The banks have been shackled” in their ability to deal with the crisis, Mohammad Manasra, the deputy governor of the Palestinian Monetary Authority, said in an interview with The Associated Press. “What is being practiced in the West Bank is economic warfare.”

More cash enters the West Bank than Israel allows out

Central banks in most countries take back cash from commercial banks and credit them electronically so they can settle payments and meet customers’ needs. But in the occupied West Bank — where Palestinians have no say over monetary policies guiding the shekel — the economy runs differently.

The territory has relied predominantly on the Israeli shekel for decades and depends on Israel to facilitate trade, collect taxes and process payments for imported goods under agreements dating to the 1990s. A surfeit of cash accumulates because the Palestinian economy runs almost exclusively on physical currency, and more enters from Israel than can exit.

Why? Employers in Israel and its settlements pay Palestinian laborers in cash, and Palestinian citizens of Israel often purchase goods like cigarettes and fuel in the West Bank, bringing in even more shekels. As more cash flows in, the surplus trapped inside Palestinian banks grows, neither earning interest nor getting turned into loans, investments and bill payments.

Israel's cash transfer limit from the West Bank's banking system is 18 billion shekels ($5.9 billion) a year. Banks now accumulate an estimated 30 billion shekels a year, said Moayad Afaneh, an economist who has advised the Palestinian Authority.

In the past, Israeli officials expressed reluctance to accept more, citing concerns that returned money could be linked to laundering, tax evasion or terrorism.

Bank of Israel said in a statement that it follows the current government's policy on how many shekels to accept but that fewer Palestinians have worked in Israel since the war in Gaza started, thereby reducing the cash entering the West Bank.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich 's office did not respond to requests for comment but in September 2025 Smotrich threatened to “use all of the tools” at his disposal to prevent the creation of a Palestinian state, including “economic strangulation.”

Palestinians say Israel limits taking shekel as economic leverage

Israel has imposed a series of measures that have hobbled the West Bank’s economy since Hamas-led militants attacked in October 2023, starting the war in Gaza.

It revoked most work permits for Palestinians who used to work in Israel, cutting off a major source of income in the occupied territory. It has withheld tax and customs revenue collected on behalf of the Palestinian Authority, which in turn has been unable to fully pay public sector workers — including teachers and hospital staff — for more than a year.

With growing needs for vault space, banks are having to pay to store and insure cash they're unable to offload. They're accepting less from businesses and households, which in turn have to find alternative ways to store cash safely.

The excess shekel problem is “directly affecting the government’s ability and the private sector’s capacity to continue providing services to major industrial sectors and the Palestinian people,” Manasra said.

As an example, he noted most of the West Bank’s fuel and electricity is imported from Israel or purchased from Israeli utilities. When banks have too much of their assets tied up as physical cash, they don't have the funds when their clients — like the Palestinian Authority or West Bank cities — need to transfer payments to import fuel, water and electricity.

Fears of looting by Israeli soldiers conducting increasingly common home raids have made the problem worse, Afaneh, the economist, said. Palestinians are depositing more into banks because they fear soldiers will confiscate it, claiming suspiciously large sums could be used for illicit purposes or terrorism.

Having too much cash on hand also hurts the banks' bottom lines because they can't lend out money like most banks, which today do so electronically. A 2022 International Monetary Fund study estimated excess cash reduced Palestinian banks’ profits by about 20%, a figure Afaneh said is likely much higher today.

Cash-based businesses in the West Bank have money but can't pay suppliers

Inside the Ramallah headquarters of the Al-Huda Group, cigarette smoke and tea steam drift through an office where clerks feed banknotes into machines that spit out neat stacks of counted bills. The company operates filling stations, convenience, grocery and home improvement stores, car washes and other businesses that collect tens of millions of shekels each month.

Stockpiles of money that cash-based businesses can’t deposit because the banks are full has made routine operations and transactions more difficult and expensive, said Hussni Jaber, the executive manager of the Al-Huda Group.

To make electronic payments to Palestinian and foreign suppliers, for example, some businesses have resorted to taking out loans or buying other currencies while also paying more to keep their overabundance of cash on hand safely stored, Jaber said.

When they can't pay their suppliers, some gas stations have to stop filling their pumps. The Palestinian Authority in a statement pointed to the issue when gas stations temporarily closed on Saturday.

Last month, a number of gas station owners coordinated a 30-minute strike across the West Bank, including the 22 operated by Al-Huda, to draw attention to the cash crisis. It has done little to prompt a response.

With their earnings stuck outside the traditional banking system, business leaders fear the cash glut will eventually prevent West Bank companies from being able to import fuel, food and medical supplies from Israel or elsewhere abroad, Jaber said.

“All sectors will collapse if the cash problem is not resolved," he said.

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Imad Isseid contributed reporting from Ramallah, West Bank.

Iran war, Myanmar crisis and South China Sea rifts under the spotlight in ASEAN ministerial talks

Jim Gomez, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 02:35:06 +0000

Southeast Asia’s top diplomats will express alarm over renewed hostilities in the Middle East when they gather in the Philippine capital Tuesday for talks to be joined by Western and Asian counterparts, including from the United States, China, Russia and the European Union.

Some of the world’s most intractable conflicts, including the latest fighting in Iran, will be high in the agenda of the annual talks held by the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. The Philippines holds the 11-nation regional bloc’s chairmanship this year and is hosting the three-day talks in Manila.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov are among the attendees. Ukraine’s top diplomat, Andrii Sybiha, has been invited to attend a Friday ceremony commemorating a 1976 nonaggression treaty of ASEAN but is not a participant in the ASEAN meetings Lavrov and Rubio will attend.

Rubio and Lavrov have not announced any plans to meet each other or Sybiha while they are in Manila.

Iran war is among ASEAN's top concerns

ASEAN foreign ministers will first meet among themselves on Tuesday to discuss among other main concerns the hostilities between the United States and Iran that have spilled into other countries in the Middle East and sparked fears of a return to a full-blown war. They plan to issue a joint statement expressing alarm over the developments and urge both sides to resume talks, two Southeast Asian diplomats told The Associated Press.

The fighting has again threatened shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, the waterway where roughly 20% of global oil supplies transited before the war.

Southeast Asia, a bustling region of more than 680 million people, relies heavily on Middle East oil and gas and was severely hit by the global supply and price shocks sparked by the Iran war. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. declared a national energy emergency in March to ensure the availability of fuel, food and other basic goods and prevent hoarding and profiteering.

Washington’s preoccupation with the war in Iran and the diversion of its military firepower to the Middle East has sparked concerns over its focus on Asia-Pacific concerns, including China’s aggressive actions in the disputed South China Sea and against Taiwan which the Trump administration has pledged to help deter.

Rubio meeting with ASEAN and Quad envoys

Rubio’s attendance in the ASEAN meetings aimed to renew Washington’s assurances.

“The secretary’s visit advances a clear U.S. priority: a free and open Indo-Pacific that delivers safety, security and prosperity for the region and for the American people,” State Department spokesperson Thomas Pigott said in Washington.

Before departing for Manila, Rubio said a meeting hadn’t been finalized with Wang but that he would “be open” to it. He wouldn’t say whether he would being up President Donald Trump’s accusations of Chinese meddling in the 2020 election. He also said he still anticipates that Chinese leader Xi Jinping will visit the U.S. in September.

“When you have two big, powerful countries like the United States and China, there are always going to be irritants, there are always be things we don’t agree on,” Rubio said late Sunday in Washington. “But I think it’s incumbent on powerful, important countries like ours to continue to talk and have a relationship — we owe it to each other and to our people and to the world."

On the ASEAN meetings’ sidelines, Rubio is expected to meet with other members of the Quad bloc, which consists of the US, India, Japan and Australia. It’s regarded as a major component of the American strategy to counter China and has been repeatedly criticized by Beijing as a U.S. scheme to contain its growing influence.

Myanmar's civil war and the South China Sea are among regional disputes

Aside from external conflicts, the ASEAN foreign ministers have been under pressure to do more to help resolve the conflicts in their own region, primarily the civil war in Myanmar and the disputes in the South China Sea.

Since Myanmar's army wrested power from the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in 2021, more than 8,100 people have been killed in the fighting in Myanmar and nearly 22,500 remained in detention, according to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, a rights-monitoring group.

A five-point peace plan issued by ASEAN leaders in 2021 has failed to end the violence, mainly due to non-compliance by its military-backed government, prompting the bloc to ban the country’s leaders from its top-level meetings, including this week’s meetings in Manila.

To break the impasse, ASEAN foreign ministers led by Philippine Foreign Secretary Theresa Lazaro met their Myanmar counterpart for the first time in five years this month in Bangkok, where they renewed calls for an easing of the violence in the war-battered country and renewed efforts to foster dialogue among all warring groups.

Lazaro, as ASEAN’s special envoy, and Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow met high-level representatives of ethnic armed groups from Myanmar the following day in the Thai resort city of Pattaya for consultations.

But rights groups slammed the move by the ASEAN ministers to meet Myanmar’s top diplomat, Tin Maung Swe, saying it effectively abandoned the bloc’s ban on engaging the country’s senior officials and rewarded the generals without extracting any concession.

“It was not and should not be mischaracterized as an abandonment of the five-point consensus,” Lazaro said, referring to the peace plan. “The path to peace can only be obtained through resolute diplomacy with all parties to the conflict.”

The ASEAN foreign ministers will meet with Wang to discuss the status of negotiations between China and the regional bloc on a proposed pact called a “code of conduct” which aims to prevent the South China Sea disputes from spiraling out of control.

The territorial standoffs involve China, Taiwan and ASEAN members Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam but confrontations in the disputed waters have particularly spiked between Chinese and Philippine coast guard and naval forces in recent years.

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Associated Press journalist Michelle L. Price contributed to this report from Washington.

3 women's world records set at the annual Lumberjack World Championships in Wisconsin

Ellen Schmidt, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 04:21:23 +0000

Three new women's world records have been set at the Lumberjack World Championships competition held in a small Wisconsin community, full of high-powered sawing, chopping, log-rolling, speed climbing and cheers of “Yo-Ho!”

This year, 66 men and 40 women attended the three-day competition in Hayward that ended Saturday. They represented 16 states and nine countries.

Competitors take their gear seriously with custom-built chain saws, carefully sharpened axes and single buck saws that can cost upwards of $400 just to sharpen.

Karolina Urbanová from the Czech Republic set world records in two events. She earned first place in the Women's Underhand Chop, cutting through 11" (27.9 centimeters) of white pine in 21.28 seconds. She also came in first in the Women's Standing Chop, cutting through 9” (22.8 centimeters) of white pine in 19.38 seconds.

Meredith Ingbretson of Hayward set a world record in the Women's Boom Run, sprinting across the water and back over eight red cedar logs in 13.78 seconds.

While women have been competing since the inaugural competition in 1960, the events they participate in have expanded significantly, organizers said. They started just competing in log-rolling, and now participate in more than 20 timber sports events.

“When I started chopping I was chopping with the men," said Nancy Zalewski, a competitor for 27 years who has trained others, including fellow participant Kate Witkowski.

The tradition of competition among lumberjacks began in the 1890s, according to the organization. The competition is held in the Lumberjack Bowl on the shores of Lake Hayward. In the past, the area had been a holding pond for log drives down the Namekagon River.

The lumberjack theme is ever-present with children in lumberjack socks, flannels and suspenders, and brands handing out blow-up axes and toy chain saws. Outside the competition bowl, there are wood-carving demonstrations, log-rolling practice for kids, live music, food trucks and axe-themed events.

“The culture of it I think is really wonderful," Witkowski said. "I don’t know any other sports where the athletes support each other like we do here because it’s such a niche sport and because the gear is so hard to come by that we’re all just trying to get better.”

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Schmidt is a corps member for The Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues.

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Associated Press reporter Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire, contributed to this story.

Black teen found dead after July 4 boat trip to be remembered at funeral led by the Rev. Al Sharpton

Jake Offenhartz, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 04:11:59 +0000

Nolan Xavier Wells, an 18-year-old found dead after taking a July 4 boat trip with friends to a Gulf Coast island, will be remembered Monday by his family and civil rights leaders at a church in his hometown of Ocean Springs, Mississippi.

The funeral will be officiated by the Rev. Al Sharpton, with a call to justice delivered by the family’s lawyer, Ben Crump, a prominent civil rights attorney. Wells’ mother, Christine Wonsley, said they would use the occasion to celebrate the life of their son, who she described as a “bright light” and a “sensitive soul.”

“He would not want us to be sitting around crying and eating, and so what we’re gonna do is kind of have a party to celebrate him,” she said last week.

Wells’ death has captured national attention, galvanizing Black leaders and touching off fraught discussions of racial tension and mistrust of law enforcement in the Deep South.

The teenager, who was Black, had traveled by boat to Horn Island, a popular Fourth of July destination, with a group of friends from high school, all of whom were white. He did not return with his friends to the mainland that evening, officials said. His body was found two days later off the island’s coast.

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter has said Wells’ friends are cooperating with the investigation, which remains ongoing. He said that initial interviews suggested Wells chose to stay on the island and that his friends believed he would get a ride with someone else.

But the still-unknown circumstances leading to Wells’ disappearance have fueled rampant online speculation, along with questions from his parents about why he was left behind.

Crump has said that another witness reported Wells planned to leave on the boat with his friends, contradicting the sheriff’s statement. He also alleged that messages appeared to have been deleted from the phone, which was found with Wells’ friends, along with his keys.

The attorney, who is leading his own investigation into the death, said he would work alongside the local prosecutor to inspect the device. The prosecutor agreed last week to present the results of the investigation to a grand jury once it is completed, Crump said.

“Our lived experiences tell us that we must question everything, everybody’s role, law enforcement’s role,” Crump said. “That is the lived experience as Black people in America.”

Wells, who would have turned 19 next month, played wide receiver on the football team at Southwest Mississippi Community College in Summit, Mississippi, and had aspirations of playing at a high-level Division I program.

“He was very sociable with everyone, didn’t meet a stranger,” his coach, Les George, told WAPT-TV. “He would pop up at my office and come sit on the couch just to hang out and talk.”

His death has drawn support from high-profile members of the Black community. Actor and producer Tyler Perry is helping pay for Wells’ funeral. Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick is helping pay for his independent autopsy, and filmmaker Spike Lee attended a news conference last week in support of Wells’ family.

In a joint statement last week, members of the Congressional Black Caucus called for an independent and transparent investigation into Wells' death, adding that “too many questions remain unanswered.”

“We hope the outpouring of concern and support from people across the country in recent days brings them some comfort in the days ahead,” they added.

Social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate expected in Miami court

Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 04:03:34 +0000

Influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate are scheduled to appear before a federal magistrate in Miami on Monday after they were arrested to face rape and sex trafficking charges in the United Kingdom.

The Tates are being held in federal detention following their arrest on Saturday. In the coming weeks, a U.S. district judge will consider whether they meet the conditions for extradition.

An attorney for the brothers, Joseph McBride, blasted the latest charges as “filth and slander.” On Sunday, McBride said he was confident the extradition request would be denied.

Prosecutors in Britain said the new charges relate to four further victims and were brought after authorities received evidence from Bedfordshire Police in southeastern England. The charges that span alleged incidents between 2010 and 2017 include rape, assault, trafficking and offenses relating to “indecent images of a child and extreme pornography.”

The brothers already face previous charges of rape, bodily harm, human trafficking and controlling prostitution for gain relating to three other alleged victims in the U.K. between 2012 and 2015.

The new allegations are the latest in a long-running international legal saga involving the Tates that has spanned the U.S., Britain and Romania. The brothers have repeatedly denied wrongdoing.

Their social media empire promoting wealth, male dominance and misogyny has made them among the world’s most polarizing internet personalities.

The dual U.S. and British citizens moved to Romania in 2016. They were arrested there in 2022, accused of participating in schemes to lure women for sexual exploitation. They denied those allegations and the Romanian case hasn't gone forward because of legal and procedural problems.

Last year, they were allowed to leave Romania and flew to Florida.

Former Mexican drug lord Ismael ‘El Mayo’ Zambada set to be sentenced to life in prison

Michael R. Sisak, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 04:03:20 +0000

Former Mexican drug kingpin Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada is set to be sentenced in a U.S. court Monday to life in prison, a punishment guaranteed by his guilty plea last year to drug trafficking charges.

Zambada’s sentencing in Brooklyn federal court is the culmination of the U.S. government’s yearslong fight to bring the long-elusive Sinaloa cartel co-founder to justice. He was arrested in 2024 after he said he was kidnapped in Mexico and flown to Texas.

Zambada ordered torture and plotted murders as he and co-founder Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán grew the Sinaloa cartel into the world’s largest drug trafficking organization and flooded the U.S. with tons of cocaine, fentanyl, methamphetamine and other drugs, prosecutors said.

Zambada was seen as the cartel’s strategist and dealmaker and was more involved in its day-to-day operations than the flamboyant Guzmán, who was convicted in 2019 and is serving a life sentence at the federal Supermax prison in Florence, Colorado.

Zambada pleaded guilty in August 2025 after prosecutors said they wouldn’t seek the death penalty. Speaking through a Spanish-language interpreter, he apologized “to everyone who has suffered or been affected by my actions.”

The 76-year-old Zambada has asked that he serve his sentence at a prison hospital. Zambada “contends with a complex of age-related health issues” and “will need ongoing access to medical care,” defense lawyer Frank Perez said in a sentencing memo.

Federal prosecutors asked Judge Brian M. Cogan to consider “the serious ongoing security risks” Zambada poses, arguing that some facilities “may not be appropriate for the security concerns posed.”

Judges often make recommendations about where inmates should serve time, but it’s up to the federal Bureau of Prisons to decide.

Zambada “was one of the most—if not the most—prolific and powerful narcotraffickers in the world,” prosecutors said in a sentencing memo. “It would be difficult to overstate the magnitude” of his crimes and the scale of the “corruption, violence, and other harm he spread throughout Mexico, the United States, and the world.”

Along with a life sentence, he also faces $15 billion in financial penalties, which prosecutors said reflected proceeds from the cartel's crimes under his leadership.

Zambada pleaded guilty to charges of engaging in a continuing criminal enterprise and racketeering conspiracy, acknowledging culpability for 85 underlying crimes. From 1980 until last year, he and his cartel were responsible for transporting at least 1.5 million kilograms of cocaine, “most of which went to the United States,” he said upon pleading guilty.

He acknowledged the scope of the Sinaloa operation, including underlings who built relationships with cocaine producers in Colombia, oversaw importing cocaine to Mexico by boat and plane and smuggling the drug across the U.S.-Mexico border. He said the cartel raked in hundreds of millions of dollars a year and admitted that people working for him paid hefty bribes to Mexican officials “so they could operate freely.”

Months before his arrest, prosecutors said, Zambada ordered the murder of his nephew Eliseo Imperial Castro, also known as “Cheyo Antrax,” after learning that Castro was claiming to be collecting debts for Zambada and pocketing the money without Zambada’s permission.

In 2023, at least three people were killed in retaliatory violence that Zambada directed after a large cache of fentanyl pills, methamphetamine and cocaine was stolen from the cartel, prosecutors said.

Zambada’s arrest came after, according to his lawyer, he was beaten, tied up, abducted and driven to a private plane by one of Guzmán’s sons, Joaquín Guzmán López. Their arrests touched off deadly fighting in Sinaloa that pitted Zambada's loyalists against backers of Guzmán’s sons, dubbed the Chapitos, or “little Chapos.”

In arguing to have Zambada sent to a prison hospital, Perez sought to contrast Zambada’s guilty plea and Guzmán's decision to go to trial — an 11-week ordeal that involved closing down the Brooklyn Bridge to shuttle him to and from court and jail.

“Mr. Zambada’s unequivocal acceptance of responsibility has been a defining feature of his conduct since his involuntary arrival in the United States,” Perez wrote.

“For Mr. Zambada to end up not only with the same life sentence as Mr. Guzman, but also in the same draconian Supermax prison, would fail to account in any way for the fact that he took the right path in resolving the charges against him,” Perez argued.

Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani won't pitch for 'some time' because of left knee irritation

Mike Fitzpatrick, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 16:19:55 +0000

Shohei Ohtani won't make his next scheduled start on the mound because of left knee irritation and isn't expected back in the Los Angeles Dodgers' rotation for a while.

The two-way superstar received a lubricant injection just before the All-Star break last week and had been expected to pitch Wednesday in Philadelphia against the Phillies.

Ohtani, however, still didn’t feel 100% while playing catch this weekend, so he and the Dodgers decided not to even test the knee with a bullpen session.

The four-time MVP hasn't pitched since July 3, when he threw a season-high 110 pitches over six innings in a no-decision against San Diego. Now, it's unclear when he'll return to the mound.

“I would say that it’s going to be some time,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Sunday before his team split a day-night doubleheader with the New York Yankees. “It's not going to be a day-to-day thing.”

Roberts reiterated that Ohtani feels no knee pain when hitting. The slugger went 2 for 5 with two RBIs and a run during an 8-2 victory in the opener Sunday, and was back in the leadoff spot as the designated hitter for the nightcap.

“We just want to continue to give it the best chance to kind of get in a good spot,” Roberts said. “As he said, as we feel, it’s the pitching and the torque on landing on that leg. That kind of gets it upset. So I think that hitting doesn’t do that. So I think that for us, we’re trying to give it as much time as possible.”

Ohtani went 1 for 4 with an infield single in the nightcap and struck out with two runners aboard in the eighth inning of a 2-1 loss. He also threw in the outfield between games and ended a long day at Yankee Stadium feeling fine.

“Overall, I think a good day for Shohei,” Roberts said.

The two-time defending World Series champion Dodgers have the best record in the majors at 63-37 and an 11 1/2-game lead in the NL West. Roberts indicated that's playing into the team's approach with Ohtani, who skipped the All-Star Game last Tuesday in Philadelphia to treat and rest his balky knee.

The right-hander has been dealing with the ailment for more than a month. He had an outing cut short against Pittsburgh on June 11 because of inflammation in the knee.

“I think for us, it’s more like we’ve done many times over, erring on the side of caution,” Roberts explained. ”A lot of it is where we’re at and how we put ourselves in a good spot in the sense of, could he probably do it? Sure. But right now the benefits don’t seem to outweigh the cost of this time in the season. So I think that we still have plenty of time to kind of get him in a good spot.”

Roberts said he's sure Ohtani will return to the mound this year.

"If it’s two weeks or three weeks then that’s kind of why we’re trying to do this, so we don’t have to worry about it throughout the end of the season,” Roberts said.

Emmet Sheehan had been expected to start during the Yankees series, but his next outing was pushed back to Monday night in Philadelphia.

Los Angeles is off Thursday this week and Monday next week, providing some short-term flexibility in the rotation while left-hander Blake Snell works his way back from an injury.

Snell, sidelined since his season debut on May 9 because of loose bodies in his left elbow, made a rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Oklahoma City and threw 32 pitches in 1 1/3 innings. He’s expected to pitch again Friday and will need to get up to about five innings and 75 pitches in the minors before returning to the big league rotation, Roberts said.

“I think that once we moved Emmet, the rotation can keep going forward without Shohei for the time being. I can’t speak for how long that’s going to be,” Roberts said.

“He was on the schedule when we broke for the All-Star break and then it was more of the training staff talking to him about, `Hey, coming out of the break, how does Wednesday look? How do you feel? If you don’t feel 100%, we have the opportunity to kick the can,'" Roberts added. "I think it’s more driven by the organization saying, hey, if you’re not 100% right, we don’t have to do this.”

Ohtani is batting .290 with 22 homers, 60 RBIs and a .938 OPS. He is 8-2 with a 1.79 ERA and 95 strikeouts in 85 2/3 innings over 14 starts on the mound and has won his past six decisions.

“When he does swing the bat, it’s the back knee versus the land knee where you’re kind of driving off of it to create torque when you pitch,” Roberts said. "And so there’s no feeling of any sensation or any reason why we feel he's got to stop hitting.”

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AP freelance writer Larry Fleisher contributed to this report.

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Joey Logano ends victory drought in NASCAR points return to North Wilkesboro

Steve Reed, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 02:38:38 +0000

The drought is over for Joey Logano.

Logano snapped a 45-race winless streak Sunday night with a dominant victory at North Wilkesboro Speedway in the first points race at the 0.625-mile track in 30 years.

After Logano wrapped up a lengthy on-track burnout, Denny Hamlin approached him and dabbed him up out of respect. Hamlin spent the second part of the race doing everything he could to catch Logano, but it proved fruitless.

The No. 22 Ford was too dominant. Logano led 323 of 450 laps.

“It’s wildly, wildly impressive what he did,” Hamlin said. “I thought it was a really impressive drive from him, how he maneuvered through (lapped) traffic and did everything we know Joey to do.”

It was Logano's 38th career Cup win, and his first since May 2025 at Texas.

The 36-year-old Logano also extended his streak of winning at least one race to 15 consecutive seasons, the longest among active drivers. The late Kyle Busch holds the record, winning in 19 straight seasons (2005-2023).

"A win anywhere at this point would have sounded great, but coming here and doing it at North Wilkesboro is awesome,” Logano said.

Hamlin finished second, followed by Chase Briscoe, Ty Gibbs and Shane Van Gisbergen.

It was a huge win for Logano, who entered the race outside of the top 16 in the Chase for the playoffs. He's now inside the cutline in 15th place.

“I feel like I know exactly what I need to go fast around this place,” said Logano, who won the 2024 All-Star race here in dominant fashion. “I knew coming this weekend that we’ve got to capitalize on the points.”

The track, built in 1947, sat mostly dormant for a quarter of a century following its last points race in on Sept. 29, 1996.

Speedway Motorsports undertook the monumental task of refurbishing it, including clearing the weeds and trees growing up through the middle of the racetrack. NWS hosted the All-Star race from 2023-25.

In-Season Challenge to be settled next week

Ryan Blaney and Todd Gilliland have reached the finals of the $1 million NASCAR In-Season Challenge. Blaney defeated Christopher Bell head-to-head in the semifinals on Sunday night, while Gilliland topped Chase Elliott.

The champion will be decided next Sunday in Indianapolis at the Brickyard 400 with the driver finishing higher in the race awarded the $1 million prize.

Bowman takes out Reddick while entering the pits

Tyler Reddick got caught up a wreck on lap 184 when Alex Bowman cut him off as he was attempting to go from the top row down into pit row, spinning out the No. 45.

Bowman told his crew chief, “I thought I had hole but maybe I didn’t.”

A tough night for pole-sitter Ryan Blaney

Ryan Blaney, who won last week at Atlanta, was set to start on the pole based on metrics after qualifying was rained out on Saturday. Instead, he was forced to start the race at the rear of the field after his No. 12 Ford Mustang had a power steering pump issue.

Things only got worst for the 2023 Cup Series champion after he received a speeding penalty on pit row on lap 365, dropping him out of the top five and costing him 15 positions.

Up next

The Cup Series heads to Indianapolis next week for the Brickyard 400. Bubba Wallace captured his first crown jewel event last year after Austin Cindric blew a tire.

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/apf-AutoRacing

US launches more airstrikes against Iran after announcing another death of a service member

Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 03:52:02 +0000

The United States conducted a new round of airstrikes early Monday targeting Iran after announcing the death of another American service member, and Iran fired missiles toward Jordan that risked widening the conflict into neighboring Israel.

Step by step, the U.S. and Iran have inched closer to all-out war as last month's interim deal meant to permanently end the fighting has crumbled and shipping traffic in the Strait of Hormuz has largely stalled. Both sides have targeted civilian infrastructure relied on by millions of people, while benchmark Brent crude rose Monday above $90 a barrel, further fueling a global energy crisis sparked by the conflict.

The U.S. military said the service member was killed in Iraq on Saturday during the “controlled detonation” of a downed Iranian drone.

“We hit them very hard again tonight,” U.S. President Donald Trump said. “And we did that in honor of the” soldiers killed, he said.

US launches ninth night of Iran strikes

Earlier, the military said its strikes targeted Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard to retaliate for Friday's killing of troops in Jordan. One service member was missing after that attack, and the military's new statement said “unidentified remains” were found Sunday and were being examined. Since the war began, 17 U.S. service members have been killed.

The renewed exchanges of fire, now in their second week, have seen the U.S. target bridges and electrical facilities in Iran.

There was no immediate word from Iran on any casualties or damage from the attacks. Iranian state media reported explosions being heard in southern and northwestern Iran.

As the strikes began, a ship caught fire early Monday in the Strait of Hormuz near the coastline of Oman, the British military said. It was unclear what sparked the blaze off Oman, which has been a route the U.S. military has encouraged ships to travel to avoid Iran's control. The Guard later claimed it was targeting tankers in the strait.

Tehran has retaliated by hitting U.S.-allied countries throughout the Middle East.

Bahrain, Jordan and Kuwait again activated air defenses for incoming Iranian drones and missiles. Early Monday, the U.S. Embassy in Bahrain issued a warning saying “Iran may seek to target unspecified locations in central Manama,” the capital, without elaborating.

Iran says a nuclear site under construction was hit

Footage released Sunday by the U.S. military appeared to show strikes carried out by fighter jets and by Tomahawk cruise missiles launched from the sea. One target site appeared to be in a valley of a mountainous region. The Guard often has missile bases and other military equipment tucked into mountain ranges.

Iran’s atomic energy agency said U.S. strikes targeted the construction site of a planned nuclear power plant in the southwest, state television reported.

Satellite images from Planet Labs PBC of the Darkhovin nuclear plant site showed earth clearing but little construction as of July 9. Iran did not previously announce it as being targeted.

The International Atomic Energy Agency said the site, in the “very early stages of construction,” contained no nuclear material when the U.N. watchdog last visited.

Jordan and nearly every Gulf Arab state have been targeted

Jordan's military said it shot down several Iranian missiles. The country hosts major U.S. bases and relies on U.S. air-defense systems. The missiles did not cause casualties or damage, according to Jordan's military.

Israel's military said Iranian missiles launched toward the Jordanian port city of Aqaba just across the border could spill over, warning Israelis to expect the first air-raid sirens in weeks.

Eilat, the Israeli city that neighbors Aqaba, cited security officials as saying two interceptors were launched from its outskirts to prevent the fall of debris.

During the latest fighting, Iran has focused attacks on U.S.-allied Arab states rather than Israel, which launched the war with the U.S. on Feb. 28.

Kuwait said one of its power and water desalination plants was attacked for the second time in two days, causing fires. Its Ministry of Electricity, Water and Renewable Energy said the power grid remains stable. In Kuwait, about 90% of drinking water comes from desalination.

International humanitarian law generally protects civilian infrastructure such as bridges and power plants from attack, but such sites can lose protections if used for military purposes. In such cases, attacks must be proportionate and minimize civilian harm.

The Strait of Hormuz remains key to the conflict

Trump has threatened to target Iran’s power stations and bridges to try to compel Tehran to loosen its hold on the Strait of Hormuz, which saw one-fifth of global oil supplies transit before the war. Recent attacks suggest the U.S. military is carrying out that plan.

The U.S. in the past week reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports to halt its shipments of crude oil. The military on Saturday said it had redirected six ships and disabled one since then.

The halfway point has passed in the 60 days the deal set out to negotiate the permanent end of the war and other issues, including Iran's nuclear program.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters that the U.S. is still open to negotiating with Iran but that “it has to be real.”

“We’re going to continue to respond. If the door opens to diplomacy — if the guys that want to do something productive for Iran win and take control of that system, or take control of the negotiations — that’ll be a very positive development," Rubio said. “That’s not where we are tonight, unfortunately.”

Iranian authorities on Sunday said at least 50 people have been killed and 517 wounded in the latest rounds of U.S. strikes.

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Metz reported from Ramallah, West Bank, and Finley from Washington. Associated Press writers Michelle L. Price in Washington and Toqa Ezzidin in Cairo contributed.

Troy Jackson gains momentum to replace Platner as Democrats' Senate candidate in Maine

Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 02:56:03 +0000

Troy Jackson, a former state legislator, moved into a strong position to replace Graham Platner as the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Maine after several of his opponents dropped out Sunday.

The quick change in the landscape of the race came on a weekend when party committees across the state began choosing delegates for a nominating convention that will meet July 25 to select a new candidate to face Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins in November.

Between Saturday and Sunday. Troy Jackson’s campaign touted they had secured hundreds of delegates who had promised to back him at the convention, including all of their preferred delegates for Maine's most populous county, Cumberland.

His strength caused an exodus.

Maine's Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, withdrew Sunday morning, saying Democrats didn't have “a day to waste in unifying" around the goal of defeating Collins.

Nirav Shah, former director of Maine’s Center for Disease Control and Prevention, dropped out and endorsed Jackson in the early evening. He was quickly followed by Dan Kleban, the co-founder of Maine Beer Company, and Jordan Wood, both of whom also endorsed Jackson.

With all of his most formidable opponents out, Jackson looked tough to beat at next weekend's convention.

The Democrats have been scrambling to pick a new candidate after Platner, who won the Democratic primary, then withdrew from the race this month. Platner had electrified some progressives, but his campaign collapsed after several women complained about his behavior, including one former girlfriend who accused him of sexual assault. Platner denied the allegation.

Our Revolution, a progressive organization founded by Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont that had originally backed Platner, threw its support behind Jackson.

Jackson, 58, was a logger before he became a politician. He was elected to the state legislature in 2002 and ultimately became the president of Maine's senate. He left office in 2024 due to term limits.

Jackson unsuccessfully ran to be the Democratic nominee for governor earlier this year with Platner's backing, but wasn't successful.

Jazz Chisholm Jr. hits tiebreaking homer in 8th and Yankees beat Dodgers 2-1 to split doubleheader

Mike Fitzpatrick, Associated Press — Mon, 20 Jul 2026 02:30:50 +0000

Jazz Chisholm Jr. hit a tiebreaking homer in the eighth inning and five Yankees pitchers combined on a four-hitter as New York edged the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 to split their day-night doubleheader Sunday.

Cody Bellinger had an early RBI single and the Yankees won for only the second time in their past 11 home games, preventing a three-game sweep by their old October rivals in the Dodgers' first visit to the Bronx since winning the 2024 World Series.

After a rainout Saturday night, the Dodgers took the opener 8-2 as Yoshinobu Yamamoto tossed a four-hitter for his first regular-season complete game in 66 major league starts.

Hours later, it was seven pitchers from a fresh Los Angeles relief corps who quieted the Yankees' scuffling lineup in a bullpen game for the Dodgers. New York failed to score in the fifth after loading the bases with nobody out and stranded 11 runners overall.

But the Yankees also found success with a bullpen game as Ryan Yarbrough, Paul Blackburn and Brent Headrick combined to hold the Dodgers scoreless on three hits through seven innings before pinch-hitter Tommy Edman homered on Fernando Cruz's second pitch leading off the eighth, tying it 1-all.

It was Edman's second homer this season and the third pinch-hit shot of his career. The previous one came on July 10, 2021, with St. Louis at the Chicago Cubs.

Following consecutive one-out walks, closer David Bednar (4-3) entered and struck out Shohei Ohtani before Chisholm ranged from second base into shallow right field to make a wobbly catch of Andy Pages' inning-ending popup.

With one out in the bottom half, Chisholm drove a 1-0 fastball from Evan Phillips (0-1) the other way to left-center for his 14th home run.

Bednar worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth, retiring Edman on a game-ending popup with his 32nd pitch of the night.

Paul Goldschmidt doubled off Dodgers opener Will Klein with two outs in the first and scored on Bellinger's single.

Dodgers rookie catcher Eliezer Alfonzo singled in the third for his first major league hit.

Up next

Dodgers: RHP Emmet Sheehan (4-6, 4.81 ERA) pitches Monday night at Philadelphia in the opener of a three-game series between National League pennant contenders.

Yankees: LHP Ryan Weathers (3-7, 4.15 ERA) starts Monday night at home against Pittsburgh All-Star RHP Braxton Ashcraft (9-3, 3.49).

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Rescuers in Indonesia find mother and son survivors from sunken passenger boat

Mohammad Taufan And Edna Tarigan, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 03:19:37 +0000

Rescuers in eastern Indonesia found two more survivors, a mother and son, on Sunday from a passenger boat that sank earlier in the week and were searching for 18 others still missing.

The 46-year-old woman and her 24-year-old son were found stranded on Balaloho Island, one of the small inhabited islands in Selayar, , by fishermen, officials said.

More than 200 rescuers aboard vessels were joined by Indonesian troops, police, fishermen and residents, said Andi Sultan, head of emergency response in Makassar.

“Rescue teams also faced extremely harsh weather conditions, including waves as high as 2–3 meters and strong winds,” Sultan said.

Search and rescue team retrieved five survivors on Saturday evening, including a 7-year-old girl, who were clinging to a fish trap.

At least one person was confirmed dead.

The KM Nurul Salsa, which was carrying 78 passengers and crew, experienced engine failure and sank Wednesday about 43 nautical miles (79 kilometers) from the port in the Selayar Islands, in South Sulawesi Province.

Passenger boats are a common form of transportation in Indonesia, an archipelago with more than 17,000 islands. Lax safety standards and problems with overcrowding frequently result in accidents.

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Associated Press writer Edna Tarigan in Jakarta contributed to this report.

Spain wins the World Cup by beating Argentina 1-0 on Ferran Torres' goal in extra time

Tim Reynolds, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 05:07:57 +0000

This is how good Spain was at the World Cup: Not even Lionel Messi had any answers.

And when it was over, Spain walked off with the trophy. Messi simply walked off in tears.

Spain is back atop the soccer world for a second time, after Ferran Torres’ first goal of this year's World Cup — unquestionably the goal of his life — gave his country a 1-0 win over now-dethroned champion Argentina in the final on Sunday.

“It was a goal scored by 47 million people,” Torres said, referring to Spain’s population.

Maybe not by them — but certainly for them.

The goal came with Argentina down to 10 men after Enzo Fernandez was sent off late in regulation following a reckless tackle. Tempers flared then, and flared again after the final whistle with Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni and players from both sides engaging in what appeared to be some pushing and shoving.

In the end, Spain denied Messi a second straight title in what he has indicated was his final World Cup match. Torres, a second-half substitute, pounced on a bouncing ball in the box and used his left foot to bury a shot just under the crossbar in the 106th minute.

From there, the airtight defense that dominated opponents throughout the tournament came through one final time. Spain — which also won the title in 2010 — allowed only one goal in eight matches in this World Cup run, setting a record for fewest goals allowed by a champion.

“I feel pride, to be honest,” said Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, who at 65 is now the oldest man to lead a team to a World Cup title. "Accompanying them on this journey is an honor.”

Spain gets a World Cup 1st

This title, combined with the Women's World Cup won by Spain in 2023, makes the European nation the first to hold both the men’s and women’s titles simultaneously. And in the streets of Madrid — probably many other places in Spain as well — countless people spilled into the streets, celebrating Sunday's victory long into the wee hours of Monday morning.

The score indicates this match was close, but only one team was in command.

Spain took the game’s first 20 shots on goal before Argentina — desperate for an equalizer — got its first attempt off in the second half of extra time. Spain took nine of the game’s first 10 corner kicks, and only a World Cup final-record 12 saves by Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez gave the 2022 champions a shot at going back-to-back.

“Dibu was nothing short of exceptional,” de la Fuente said, referring to Argentina's keeper by his nickname.

Spain is now unbeaten in its last 38 matches — 29 wins, nine draws — and is the outright holder of the longest such streak by any European men's team ever. Italy went 37 matches (28 wins, nine draws) from October 2018 through September 2021, before Spain ended that streak.

And for the last two-plus years, nobody has beaten Spain. Not even Messi. An Argentina team that was the kings of the late-game rally in this tournament had no answer this time.

“We lost the game, and we accept that,” Scaloni said. “That doesn’t mean that we will forget everything we’ve done so far, so I’d like to thank my people, my players and the country. I can tell them that we played our hearts out.”

Spain survives a late push

Messi took a corner kick with about four minutes left before the final whistle and the ball took a fortunate skip toward substitute Giuliano Simeone — who sent it high and over the crossbar, holding his head in disbelief afterward.

“When you have Messi on the other side, well, you are nervous,” Torres said. "At the end of the day, we always depended on us. We always come up with our football, and we showed it again.”

After the post-match scuffles, they also paid tribute to the former champions. Spain's players lined up to form an honor guard of sorts for Argentina's squad to walk through on its way to the stage for the runner-up medals from President Donald Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

“I think now I'm in a cloud,” said Spain midfielder Rodri, the Golden Ball winner as the tournament's best player.

Argentina was forced to finish the match down a man after Fernandez was sent off in second-half stoppage time after getting his second yellow card. Fernandez was whistled for a collision that sent Spain defender Pau Cubarsi cartwheeling into the air, and the card came out immediately.

Defense led Spain to a title

It was the 104th and last match of the biggest World Cup ever, a 48-team event that played out over the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Because there were more matches than any previous World Cup, it was no surprise that there were more goals than all other editions — more than 300, nearly three per match.

Except, of course, when Spain was involved. Spain's plan was simple and flawless: Hold the ball as much as possible, denying opponents any hint of chances.

It worked, all the way to the end.

Messi is 39 and the math certainly suggests that the Inter Miami star is at the end of his international career. There have been hints — such as Messi himself declaring that a home World Cup qualifying match against Venezuela last year would be his final competitive contest for Argentina on his nation’s soil.

“I experienced a lot of things on this pitch, good and not so good,” Messi said that night. “I’ll take the good with me.”

He retired from the national team after losing a Copa America final to Chile — in the same stadium he played in Sunday — a decade ago, then came back a few weeks later after changing his mind.

Good thing he did, because in that decade he went from superstar to absolute icon.

There was the World Cup title in 2022. There were two Copa America titles, the first in 2021 and the second in 2024. He won Argentina’s player of the year award 16 times in a span of 19 years, first winning it as a teenager and continuing to win it all the way into his late 30s.

He's a legend within the game and on all corners of the globe. But Spain was better Sunday.

“I spoke to my players, and they said: ‘Look, we’ve won everything, coach. We’ve won everything,'” de la Fuente said. “And that is beautiful.”

A final unlike any other

The spectacle was not limited to simply soccer.

Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS and Shakira were all part of a halftime show that also featured Burna Boy, Jason Sudeikis in character as “Ted Lasso” and even some of the Muppets. Jennifer Hudson, Post Malone and Tom Cruise had roles in the closing ceremony, which actually preceded the match.

A slew of actors, athletes and other celebrities were there: Spain’s Javier Bardem left happy, Luciana Barroso Damon — the wife of actor Matt Damon — probably did not, considering she was wearing the colors of her native Argentina.

They all came to see a show. So did 80,000 other people, not to mention perhaps as many as 2 billion watching around the globe.

Spain didn't disappoint. No team has won back-to-back men's World Cups since Brazil in 1958 and 1962, and Spain kept Argentina from pulling off that repeat.

“As I told the lads before the game, we have to go for the game, we need to face them, we have to look to their eyes and say we want this game,” Rodri said. “And then, life gives you the World Cup or not.”

Spain took it instead.

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This story was updated to remove quotes mistakenly attributed to Lionel Messi that were actually Lionel Scaloni.

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___ See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

The Latest: Spain scores in extra time, beats Argentina 1-0 to win World Cup

Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 17:08:06 +0000

Spain substitute Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute to give his team a 1-0 win over defending champion Argentina in the World Cup final.

Spain was absolutely dominant in terms of possession and shot attempts. Lionel Messi and Argentina found a way to hang on and force extra time — but barely.

And in the opening moment of the second 15-minute period of extra time, Torres pounced on a bouncing ball in the box and used his left foot to bury a shot just under the crossbar and into the back of the net.

Messi weeps

Tears rolled down Lionel Messi’s cheeks as he turned toward Argentina fans after receiving his World Cup runner-up medal.

After shaking hands with President Donald Trump and FIFA president Gianni Infantino, Messi stood in front of thousands of Argentina fans still in the stands.

Trump keeps himself in the victory shot as Spain celebrates

President Trump helped hand the World Cup trophy to Spain players assembled for their victory photo, and then remained directly at their side as they jumped up and down in celebration.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino walked alongside Trump to deliver the award and then moved out of view of cameras. Trump hung closer, smiling as the team hoisted the trophy.

Trump takes the field for awards ceremony

President Trump walked onto the pitch with FIFA president Gianni Infantino and stood on a platform to hand out awards.

Alongside Trump were Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum, who also helped distribute awards.

Trump shook hands with players and congratulated them as they walked across the platform.

Goal scorer Ferran Torres says victory was for all of Spain

“I just want to lift that Cup and press it really hard. This is a dream of 47 million people who were on this pitch today, so I think we all deserved this and we broke our back,” Torres said.

Spain coach: ‘We are world champions’

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente is already looking to the future.

“We are world champions. I am very proud, very happy for my players,” de la Fuente said through an interpreter. “We closed a very important chapter. ... This team has a long way to go. We are already thinking what is coming next.”

Messi and Yamal embrace

Shortly after the match ended, Argentina star Lionel Messi was sitting on the field as Spain players celebrated. He then got up when 19-year-old Spain forward Lamine Yamal approached him and they shared a handshake and a hug.

Fans in Buenos Aires are upbeat and defiant after loss

Argentine fans in Buenos Aires remained upbeat even after their team’s loss to Spain in the World Cup final. Crowds at the Obelisk in the Argentine capital set off fireworks and flares. Drivers honked their horns with defiant enthusiasm and people waved Argentine flags.

A tense match spills over into Spain’s celebration

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni was held back by a Spain player while appearing to shout at someone moments after the final whistle. Leandro Paredes also shoved Spain’s Eric García and Gavi, and Nicolas Otamendi exchanged words with a few Spanish players, including Rodri.

Argentina fans dejected as they leave stadium

Argentina fans are streaming out of the stadium with looks of genuine shock and dejection as Spain fans dressed in red remain in the stands dancing, cheering and waving flags.

Ferran Torres delivers Spain’s winning goal in extra time

Spain dominated the match with its ball-control offense but couldn’t find the breakthrough goal until the 106th minute. Spain won its second World Cup title.

The loss may be the end of Argentina star Lionel Messi’s World Cup career. The 39-year-old maestro could do little to influence the match as Spain’s defense smothered him most of the day, or simply kept the ball away from his feet.

FINAL: Spain 1, Argentina 0

Spain has won its second World Cup. La Roja also won the title in 2010. This time, Spain denied Lionel Messi and Argentina a second consecutive championship.

Spain finally breaks the deadlock

Spain’s Ferran Torres smashed the ball past Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez for his first goal of the World Cup to make it 1-0 in the 106th minute. Nico Williams had kept a long cross in play when he headed the ball toward Torres in front of the goal. It was Spain’s 20th shot of the match.

Torres was a substitute in the 62nd minute by coach Luis de la Fuente.

Spain 1, Argentina 0

Ferran Torres scores in the 106th minute.

Argentina and Spain reach the midway point of extra time

The World Cup final has 15 more minutes of extra time, plus however much stoppage time after that, before Spain and Argentina go to penalty kicks to decide the championship if neither team scores. Spain still has the edge with 11 players to 10, and has 19 shots to Argentina’s zero, but it remains goalless.

Extra time substitutions

Spain sent in Martín Zubimendi for Rodri and Eric García for Aymeric Laporte in the 99th minute.

Argentina subbed defender Marcos Senesi for Julián Álvarez in the 102nd, playing more defensively while down to 10 men. Spain would want to avoid a penalty shootout after dominating most of the game.

Spain goal nullified by a foul

It looked like Spain had scored in extra time, when Nico Williams finally put the ball into Argentina’s net. But the referee ruled that Mikel Merino stepped on one of Nicolás Otamendi’s feet prior to the goal, prompting a foul call.

Fourth scoreless World Cup final at 90-minute mark

Three previous World Cup finals were scoreless after 90 minutes of regulation time: Brazil against Italy in 1994, Spain against the Netherlands in 2010 and Germany against Argentina in 2014. Only the 1994 final remained scoreless after extra time, and Brazil won the penalty shootout.

Extra time at the World Cup

Argentina and Spain are scoreless after regulation. Spain has been the dominant side but has yet to find its way past Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez.

Now comes two 15-minute periods of extra time. If the game is still undecided, it will go to penalty kicks.

Argentina won the 2022 World Cup on penalty kicks against France. Spain’s 2010 title came on a goal in the 116th minute. Argentina is down to 10 players after a late red card to Enzo Fernández.

Argentina down to 10 after Fernández red card

Argentina was down to 10 men after Enzo Fernández was shown a yellow card in stoppage time, his second of the game. That means an automatic red card and ejection. Fernández had scored the tying goal in Argentina’s semifinal win over England.

Time is running out

Spain and Argentina have reached stoppage time in the World Cup final that remains scoreless. There are four minutes on the board. If neither team scores, there will be 30 minutes of extra time in two 15-minute increments.

Frustration yellow card for Argentina

Midfielder Enzo Fernández was upset that he didn’t get a foul call and was booked for dissent with the referee.

Oyarzabal exits soon after missed chance

Spain’s leading World Cup scorer was subbed out after a missed opportunity.

Coach Luis de la Fuente took out Mikel Oyarzabal a few minutes after Oyarzabal made a nice pass to Fabián Ruiz inside Argentina’s box but then stopped running. Had Oyarzabal followed his pass, Ruiz had laid it off for what would have been a good scoring opportunity.

Oyarzabal scored from the penalty spot against France in the semifinals, his fifth goal of the tournament.

Spain’s subs include Merino

Spain putting Nico Williams and Mikel Merino into the game adds some potential scoring punch. Merino has scored two late go-ahead goals in this tournament.

Williams is on for midfielder Álex Baena, and Merino is on for midfielder Dani Olmo.

Argentina makes final substitutions after break

After a series of corner kicks for Spain, Rodrigo De Paul got a header on net, only to be denied by Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez in the 67th minute. The second-half hydration break followed with the score still 0-0.

After the break, Argentina forward Giuliano Simeone exited for defender Rodrigo De Paul and defender Facundo Medina was subbed out for defender Cristian Romero in 70th minute.

Spain makes its first changes in 62nd minute

Mikel Oyarzabal, who scored in the semifinal against France, has been replaced by Ferran Torres. And Fabián Ruiz came out for Pedri. The chess match is taking shape as the teams try to break a scoreless draw. Argentina has yet to take a shot.

Argentina continues making moves

Another sub for Argentina in the 58th minute. Defender Nahuel Molina is on for defender Gonzalo Montiel. That’s the third of five substitutions available to coach Lionel Scaloni and it comes as Spain continues to press the attack in Argentina’s end.

Another Argentina yellow card

Leandro Paredes, who just came on at the start of the second half, was shown a yellow card in the 52nd minute. It came after a testy confrontation and a shove on Spain’s Dani Olmo while a Spain player was down on the field.

Not much offense

There were just three total shots in the first half. That’s the fewest in the first half of a World Cup final since records are available dating to 1966, according to Opta. Argentina became the second team with no shots in the opening half of a World Cup final since the records started, after France in 2022.

Another change for Argentina

Midfielder Leandro Paredes is on for forward Nico González to start the second half. That’s two subs now for Argentina. It has three left.

Second half begins

The second half of the World Cup final has begun after a break of a little over 27 minutes. Argentina and Spain remain scoreless.

Halftime adjustments?

Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni has some halftime adjustments he could make after Spain controlled roughly 65% of the possession and had three shots on net and another scoring chance.

Giving Nicolás Tagliafico some help might be a good start after the defender struggled to stay in front of and contain Lamine Yamal, the 19-year-old who many think will eventually supplant Lionel Messi as the world’s best player. Argentina has zero shots of any kind, so generating more offense is also on the docket.

Spain’s coach isn’t worried about long halftime

The longer-than-usual halftime came up at Spain’s news conference on Friday. Coach Luis de la Fuente brought up how he talked to players and staff about all the peculiarities of the tournament and how they would not be affected.

“Everyone’s proud of being here,” de la Fuente said. “Everything that we consider to be strange or odd nowadays — hydration breaks, this 30-minute halftime — maybe within 30 years will become normality. Maybe football is developing that way. We don’t know. It is what it is. This is the situation we have. We need to adapt, and we need to accept those things that you cannot change. We can’t change that, so we’ll have to enjoy it.”

Is this the last time we’ll hear ‘Dai Dai’?

The song from Shakira and Burna Boy has played before all 104 kickoffs at the World Cup. The duo, who also performed at the opening ceremony in Mexico, performed it live during the halftime show.

BTS, Bieber and Ted Lasso appear at halftime

Played in by an homage to Norway’s rowing tradition, BTS performed “Dynamite.” Up next, Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt in character as Ted Lasso and Coach Beard hyped up Justin Bieber, who sang “Everything Hallelujah” with an acoustic guitar.

Madonna leads off halftime show

The first halftime show at a World Cup final started with Madonna flanked by former Brazil stars Ronaldo and Ronaldinho.

They gave way to a rendition of The White Stripes’ “Seven Nation Army,” performed by several Muppets and an orchestra conducted by Gustavo Dudamel.

Scoreless at halftime

Spain has controlled the ball and the tempo, and has put the clamps on Argentina and Lionel Messi. The 39-year-old star has had few creative chances on the ball.

Argentina may feel lucky to not be down a goal. Goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez made two saves for Argentina. Spain’s Lamine Yamal had the best chance for a goal in the opening minutes.

Argentina has already made a substitution, with Nicolás Otamendi coming on for defender Lisandro Martínez just before halftime.

Argentina’s Lisandro Martínez exits late in the first half

Minutes after getting a yellow card, Lisandro Martínez is out of the game because of an injury. Argentina made the substitution late in the first half, bringing in experienced defender Nicolas Otamendi.

Argentina’s Martínez gets the first yellow card

Argentina’s Lisandro Martínez received the game’s first yellow card for a late tackle of Mikel Oyarzabal near midfield in the 41st minute.

Argentina fans come alive

With Argentina in the attacking half of the field for one of just a few times so far, its fans started singing again. The joy was short-lived, as Spain quickly recovered and went the other way.

Matt Damon at the World Cup final after big ‘Odyssey’ weekend

Matt Damon was in the stadium on a weekend when his film “The Odyssey” opened with a colossal global box office total of $264.1 million.

He was with his wife Luciana Damon, who was clad in the colors of her native Argentina.

Will Ferrell, Pharrell Williams, Mick Jagger and Adrien Brody were among the other stars in the crowd.

Hydration time

The match reached the first-half hydration break past the 23-minute mark, with no goals from Argentina or Spain. The Argentina fans who were loud and rambunctious before the game have been quieted a bit by Spain controlling much of the possession and having two corner kicks. Lionel Messi has touched the ball just six times.

Spain dominates the first 15-plus minutes

With the exception of a few plays, Spain is dominating. Lionel Messi got taken down and took a free kick for Argentina, but this has been the Lamine Yamal show early on. The 19-year-old budding star put a shot on goal and created another scoring chance.

Trump gets a close look at the World Cup trophy

The World Cup trophy was shown to President Donald Trump as he watched the game in a suite. Video footage showed Trump smiling and patting the gold trophy as someone held it up to him.

It’s not his first time seeing the trophy. FIFA president Gianni Infantino brought it to the Oval Office during a White House visit last year.

Argentina fans applaud big save

Argentina goalkeeper Emiliano Martínez turning aside Spain’s Lamine Yamal in the fifth minute happened right in front of the biggest contingent of Argentina fans, who make up at least 70% of the crowd. The back-and-forth cheering and singing from Argentina and Spain fans has stopped only for yells and groans for fouls and that save.

Spanish Brass and Maria Becerra perform national anthems

Spanish Brass, a horn quintet that has played since 1989, performed the Spanish national anthem, known as “La Marcha Real.”

Argentine pop singer Maria Becerra sang her nation’s anthem with a loud sing-along accompaniment from the audience.

Other than the opening ceremonies in each host country, the national anthems before kickoff have been piped in, with players and fans supplying the lyrics. For the final, the anthems went live.

The World Cup final has started

The match is underway. Argentina and 39-year-old Lionel Messi are facing Spain and 19-year-old Lamine Yamal to decide the World Cup champion.

Robbie Williams and Tom Cruise bring the pregame pomp

British pop singer Robbie Williams performed his World Cup-themed anthem “Desire,” wearing a blue bedazzled track suit. He was joined by Pussycat Dolls member Nicole Scherzinger and Italian singer Laura Pausini.

Tom Cruise followed them with a speech. He wore a polo shirt and jeans.

“Today only two teams remain, España! y Argentina!” Cruise said. “Let us celebrate a tournament that brought the world together."

Fans dash across highways to get to World Cup final

World Cup fans were strongly urged not to walk to MetLife Stadium. Some did it anyway.

Videos being widely shared on social media showed groups of fans dashing across a multi-lane highway in between speeding cars near the venue in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

The stadium is located across the Hudson River from Manhattan in a marshland known as the Meadowlands that is largely inaccessible to pedestrians.

World Cup organizers advised those attending matches not to attempt walking to the stadium. Fans were told to use mass transit, including special shuttle buses and trains.

Why children escort the players onto the field

You’ve seen them at every match. They walk onto the field before the game, often holding hands with some of the biggest stars in the sport like Argentina’s Lionel Messi and Spain’s Lamine Yamal.

The tradition has been an official part of the World Cup since 2002 when FIFA partnered with UNICEF to promote children’s rights to healthy recreation and quality education.

When the program was launched, FIFA said the children on the pitch are supposed to remind soccer enthusiasts they have a major role to play in building the world for future generations.

The children at the matches in the U.S. were chosen through a partnership between sponsor Quaker Oats and Common Goal, a collective of soccer-based community organizations across the country.

Trump booed at the end of the anthem

President Donald Trump was shown on video screens at the stadium, prompting boos from fans in attendance. Trump appeared at the end of the U.S. national anthem.

Jennifer Hudson sings the US national anthem

Jennifer Hudson sang the U.S. national anthem. The Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony winner wore a white suit with red, white and blue trim. She stood in front of a bank of flags of the world, singing a cappella at first before she was joined by a brass band.

Ticket prices drop in final hours

Tickets to the World Cup final, which were selling for tens of thousands of dollars, dropped to as low as $2,334.50 in the hours before the game on FIFA’s resale site. FIFA still had list price tickets on sale the morning of the game for $10,990.

Spain is favored to win

Argentina is the defending champion and has Lionel Messi, but Spain is the favorite to lift the World Cup trophy at -165. That means bettors would have to risk $165 to win $100. Anyone who likes Argentina to win in regulation time can get it at 5-2 odds.

President Trump is expected to present the World Cup trophy to the winner

The U.S. president this week called the 2026 World Cup “the most successful sports even, maybe in the history of the world,” heading into its final weekend.

Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum, whose country was co-host of the tournament with the U.S. and Canada, said she will also attend the final at Trump’s invitation.

Sheinbaum did not attend the World Cup’s opening match in Mexico City, when her national team beat South Africa 2-0. Instead, she gave her ticket to a young Indigenous woman.

Spain’s King Felipe VI is also expected to attend. Argentine President Javier Milei said he won’t attend because of superstition, and will watch the match from home.

Loud cheers for Spain — and louder for Argentina

Players are on the field for pregame warmups, and it’s clear who has the crowd advantage. Spain got loud applause when La Roja got introduced. Then it was thunderous applause when Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates ran out of the tunnel. Most of the lower bowl is full with more than a half-hour till kickoff.

Trump wants the World Cup back in the US soon

Donald Trump has a message for FIFA President Gianni Infantino: Bring the World Cup back to the U.S.

“I had a great idea for Gianni: You have to do two countries. Announce us again next time, and then announce another country after that. It’ll take out some of the anger and the shock,” Trump said on Fox Sports. “I think it’s a great idea. Based on the numbers, we will be requesting it again immediately. ... We have to do this again, and we have to do it while I’m around. You hear that, Gianni?”

Trump flies over the stadium

The presidential helicopter, Marine One, flew over the stadium hosting the World Cup final, heralding the arrival of President Donald Trump.

The flyover of MetLife Stadium occurred roughly an hour before kickoff. Trump was given 10 tickets to the match by FIFA President Gianni Infantino.

No changes to Spain lineup

Spain made no changes to its starting lineup for the final, sticking with the squad that beat France in the semifinals. That includes 19-year-old Lamine Yamal.

Unai Simón is in goal behind defenders Pedro Porro, Aymeric Laporte, Pau Cubarsí and Marc Cucurella. In midfield are Fabián Ruiz, Álex Baena and Rodri. At forward are Yamal, Mikel Oyarzabal and Dani Olmo.

As the ball bounces: The final match could be a kick in the grass

The field for the final at the stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey is grass with synthetic fibers stitched in to reduce the risk of divots and tears. It has drawn mixed reviews from players through the first seven tournament games played there.

Stadium staff has had nearly two weeks to get it in the best condition possible for Sunday’s final. Neither Spain nor Argentina have played on it yet.

Teams in previous matches have said the field plays fast, but also called it hard and rigid and could be good for teams, like Spain, who like to possess the ball.

Some liked it better when it got wet. The area around the stadium was notably pelted by rain storms on Saturday.

Argentina’s lineup features three changes for final

Argentina’s lineup for the final features Emiliano Martínez in goal behind defenders Gonzalo Montiel, Cristian Romero, Lisandro Martínez and Nicolás Tagliafico; midfielders Rodrigo De Paul, Enzo Fernández, Alexis Mac Allister and Nico González; and forwards Lionel Messi and Julián Álvarez.

The changes from the semifinal win over England are Montiel for Nahuel Molina on the back line and De Paul for Giuliano Simeone and Gonzales for Leandro Paredes in midfield.

Trump says it’s ‘hard to bet against Messi’

In an interview with Fox, President Donald Trump was asked to predict a winner between Spain and Argentina. He hedged on that, but seemed enamored with Argentina star Lionel Messi.

“I would say it’s hard to bet against Messi,” Trump said, noting Messi’s assist on Argentina’s winning goal in the semifinal against England.

“The pass was exactly perfect,” Trump said. “I won’t pick sides … It’s just hard to bet against Messi.”

Spain embraces its ‘And why not?’ motto

Entering the World Cup final against Argentina, Spain’s soccer federation has released motivational videos on social media promoting the motto “¿Y por qué no?” -- “And why not?”

The phrase refers to the answer given by defender Aymeric Laporte after a reporter asked him during the 2022 World Cup whether Spain could win the tournament.

The federation released a video with players who helped Spain win the World Cup in 2010 all saying the phrase repeatedly. Another video mentions the motto while showing people wearing Spain’s jersey around New York to the beat of the song “Empire State of Mind” by Jay-Z and Alicia Keys.

New Jersey governor has no plans to meet with Trump

Democratic New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill said she does not expect to meet with President Donald Trump during the World Cup final. But she stressed that officials have a “really great” plan to get the Republican president in and out of MetLife Stadium with as little disruption to fans as possible.

“It’s like the wedding is here after you’ve had family in town for a week,” she said about the anticipation for the game. “We’re excited, but also looking forward to some peace when they leave.”

Sherrill said she’s rooting for Argentina and even she tried her hand at Spanish, saying it’s better than it was a few months ago but that it needed more work.

“Or something like that,” the governor said in English after tripping through her Spanish.

Former Spain player Capdevila allowed into US to watch the final

Former Spain defender Joan Capdevila has made it to the United States to watch the World Cup final after being denied authorization to travel a decade after playing in an exhibition game in Iran.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in an email to The Associated Press that it received a request to allow Capdevila into the country. It said it reviewed the request and Capdevila arrived in the U.S. on Sunday.

Capdevila had addressed President Donald Trump in a social media post, saying his application for visa-free entry was denied. He also sent a message to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and tagged the Spanish government’s ministry of sport in his post.

In 2010, Capdevila helped Spain win its only World Cup title, starting in the final against the Netherlands. He was also part of the team that won the 2008 European Championship.

Hundreds gather at Buenos Aires fan fest

As rain fell in Buenos Aires at midday, hundreds of Argentines gathered ahead of the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain.

At the FIFA Fan Festival in Plaza Francisco Seeber, songs by Argentine pop groups Bandana and Miranda! played over loudspeakers. Fans waved Argentine flags, painted their faces in the nation’s blue and white colors, and lined up early to secure a spot in front of the giant screen that will broadcast the match.

“People are happy. It’s raining, but people are here together; with friends, with strangers, with foreigners,” said Franco Pavalo, 21.

Shin Truong, 20, said the final carries greater significance because it’s expected to be the last World Cup appearance for 39-year-old Lionel Messi.

“He’s mythical,” Truong said. “We couldn’t ask for anything more from him.”

Fans in Spain gather around big screens and inside Madrid arena

Big screens have been set up across Spanish cities for the World Cup final, with 20,000 people expected at the one installed at Plaza Colon in Madrid. About 15,000 fans were expected at the Madrid Rio location.

Similar viewing areas were set up in Barcelona and other cities. Fans in Madrid will also be able to watch the match at the Movistar Arena, where some 15,000 people were expected. Tickets were sold out in advance.

Excitement builds in Buenos Aires

Argentina’s capital, Buenos Aires, was at a near standstill Sunday morning.

Streets were adorned with blue-and-white flags. Cars were honking, announcing the arrival of the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain. Businesses were closed, as were museums, theaters and cinemas. Bars opened early.

It’s winter in the Southern Hemisphere, but fans gathered in the chilly wind and rain in parks and plazas around the city. Street vendors blew plastic horns and hawked jerseys and umbrellas with the name of superstar Lionel Messi.

Americans are still tuning into the World Cup despite the US team’s elimination

Even after the Americans were eliminated in the round of 16 against Belgium, viewership has remained strong in the U.S.

The match between England and Mexico was the most-watched World Cup game not involving the U.S. broadcast in English in the country’s history, according to Fox. The network said an average of more than 21.7 million tuned in to watch England’s 3-2 victory in Mexico City on July 5.

The 2022 World Cup final — which was in Qatar — was viewed by a then-record 16.7 million.

Storms reduce choking hazards for players and fans

Meteorologists say the thunderstorms that passed through the New Jersey area should clear out the smoke from Canadian wildfires that left a haze over the Northeast U.S. for several days.

While experts say there could be some lingering smoke to make things a bit hazy Sunday, it will likely be faint and not cause the poor air quality warnings issued in recent days.

Temperatures are forecast to be around 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius), with light breezes and low humidity for the start of the final.

The World Cup final will be played on turf with mixed reviews. Rain might help

Players and coaches have fielded a lot of questions about the pitch in East Rutherford, New Jersey, before and after World Cup games there. Opinions have varied.

Brazil’s Vinicius Junior was not a fan. France coach Didier Deschamps called it special — and not in a good way. Norway’s Ståle Solbakken was asked several times about the surface before coaching his first game on it and came away more pleased about it than he expected.

While entirely different than the turf surface at the stadium that has been maligned by NFL players, the grass field with synthetic fibers stitched in to reduce the risk of divots and tears has drawn mixed reviews through the first seven games of the tournament there. After a nearly two-week break for staff to get it in the best condition possible, the most important game takes place there Sunday when Argentina and Spain meet in the final.

Neither team has played at the Meadowlands stadium yet, adding another element of uncertainty to the matchup.

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Lionel Messi once held baby Lamine Yamal in his arms. Now they will battle for the World Cup title

Almost two decades ago, photographer Joan Monfort didn’t think much of his photo shoot of a teenage Lionel Messi bathing a cute baby boy in a plastic bathtub. Not until the remarkable twist of fate became clear years later, when that infant blossomed into Lamine Yamal.

Now those images of the long-haired Messi, his hands covered in soap suds as if anointing Yamal as soccer’s Next Big Thing, have become the most talked about — and gawked about — in the runup to Sunday’s World Cup final, when Messi’s Argentina will play Yamal’s Spain for the biggest trophy in the sport.

“I have never been a believer or thought that anything was destined to occur, but I am beginning to have my doubts. This is beyond all reasonable explanations,” Monfort told The Associated Press from his home in Barcelona on Friday.

Monfort, who works as a freelance photojournalist for the AP, took the photos in 2007 as part of a charity calendar produced by local newspaper Sport and UNICEF.

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Biggest World Cup also means biggest pot of prize money

The tournament grew from 32 teams to 48 for the 2026 World Cup and the prize money hit record amounts as well.

FIFA says the winner of the Argentina-Spain final will receive $51 million. That’s up from the $42 million paid to Argentina for winning the 2022 tournament in Qatar.

The runner-up will get $34 million.

The total prize pool for the tournament staged in the United States, Mexico and Canada is $871 million, up from $440 million in 2022.

All 48 teams were guaranteed at least $12.5 million.

Messi and Argentina will face Yamal and Spain for the title

The best offense. The best defense.

The World Cup final will be a clash of styles. Lionel Messi — the most prolific goal scorer in the tournament’s history — and defending champion Argentina will take on Spain’s defensive juggernaut on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Spain beat France in one semifinal on Tuesday; Argentina, the comeback king of this tournament, rallied to beat England 2-1 in the other semifinal on Wednesday.

Argentina is seeking its fourth title and is looking to become the first back-to-back World Cup champion since Brazil pulled off the feat in 1958 and 1962. Spain is looking for its second title, after winning in 2010.

Something will have to give on Sunday, when the biggest World Cup ever — a 48-team, 104-match extravaganza spread out over the U.S., Canada and Mexico — comes to an end.

It’s not Finalissima. It’s going to be better.

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This story was updated to remove a quote mistakenly attributed to Lionel Messi that was actually coach Lionel Scaloni.

France commemorates the Vel d’Hiv roundup after a Paris plaque honoring rescuers is vandalized

Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 10:23:03 +0000

France on Sunday commemorated the Vel d’Hiv roundup, a mass arrest of Jews by French police in 1942, one of the most shameful acts undertaken by the country’s wartime government.

French police rounded up thousands of Jews over two days in July 1942, wresting children from their mothers’ arms and dispatching everyone to Nazi death camps. At a time of rising antisemitism, France honors those victims every year as it tries to keep their memory alive.

France is home to Europe’s largest Jewish population and has seen a surge in antisemitic acts, including threats, vandalism and physical violence, following the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attacks on Israel and the ensuing war in Gaza.

A plaque in Paris honoring a couple and their daughter who saved a 13-year-old child during the roundup and were recognized by Israel as Righteous Among the Nations was vandalized ahead of the ceremony, French authorities said.

“To attack the Righteous is to desecrate the entire universe," said Alice Rufo, a deputy defense minister. "The plaque will be restored. Their memory remains undiminished. In the face of antisemitism, in all its forms, the Republic will not yield an inch.”

Following the Nazi invasion of France in 1940, the country was ruled by a government commonly known as Vichy France, which collaborated with Nazi Germany.

Vel d’Hiv derives from the name of the Winter Velodrome that many of the detainees were confined in before they were deported to concentration and extermination camps. On July 16 and 17, 1942, more than 4,500 police officers were mobilized and dozens of buses requisitioned. It was the largest roundup of Jews carried out in France during World War II. Arrests continued until July 20. A total of 13,152 people were deported, a third of them children.

It took France’s leadership 50 years after World War II to officially acknowledge the state’s involvement in the Holocaust, when then-President Jacques Chirac apologized for the French authorities’ role in the Vel d’Hiv raids.

The flight hours and miles of World Cup travels of FIFA's Infantino in numbers

Rio Yamat, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 05:17:37 +0000

Multiple flights in a single day. Nearly 60,000 miles. More than 100 hours aloft.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino got some serious air time over the course of the 2026 World Cup, the tournament's most far-flung edition ever. He crisscrossed North America for matches, meetings and other appearances during the competition, which took place in three countries, 16 cities and four time zones, and ended with Sunday's final in New Jersey.

To track his travels, The Associated Press analyzed flight logs for a private business jet used by Infantino in recent years, along with photos taken by AP photographers and images posted on Instagram by FIFA and the head of world soccer's governing body himself. The analysis shows that by the time Spain defeated Argentina for the world title, he flew far enough to circle the planet almost 2 1/2 times.

Access to a Gulfstream G650 jet from the fleet of the Qatari government made Infantino's prodigious jet-setting possible. The aircraft is operated by the private charter division of Qatar Airways, a World Cup sponsor.

Since a June 9 flight from Los Angeles to Mexico City ahead of the tournament's opening match, the aircraft averaged more than one flight a day and on multiple days made more than three, according to flight-tracking site FlightAware.

Along with attending matches, Infantino’s itinerary included stops in New York for an interview on Fox & Friends and in Miami for a FIFA summit attended by representatives from the organization’s 211 member associations. He also flew to Doha to attend the funeral of Qatar’s former emir before returning to the U.S. in time for the World Cup semifinals.

FIFA did not respond to an emailed request for comment about Infantino’s travel schedule and arrangements.

Here’s a look at some of the numbers racked up by the person overseeing the 39-day tournament that featured a record 104 matches spread across the United States, Canada and Mexico, the largest geographic footprint in World Cup history.

44 matches

The number of World Cup matches Infantino attended during the tournament, according to AP's analysis. He was at a World Cup game on 31 of the tournament’s 34 match days but managed to squeeze in two matches on some days.

One of the two match days he missed was spent in Miami for the FIFA Executive Football Summits. FlightAware showed the Gulfstream originally was scheduled to fly from New Jersey to Miami in time for Saturday's third-place match between England and France but never took off. Thunderstorms caused flight delays at New York City area airports on Saturday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

16 stadiums

Infantino saw at least one match at all 16 World Cup venues. Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, where he attended five games, is the venue he visited the most.

The number of days Infantino attended two matches, often at stadiums located hundreds of miles apart.

21 airports

The Gulfstream mostly used the host cities' main international airports during the tournament but sometimes relied on smaller general and business aviation airports, including Atlanta's Fulton County Executive Airport and Miami's Opa Locka Executive Airport.

The number of international border crossings the jet made within North America through the semifinals.

115 flight hours

The flight time the Gulfstream amassed during the tournament, not including repositioning flights and 29 hours of travel for the funeral in Qatar, equals nearly five full days in the air and would be enough for a commercial plane traveling at typical cruising speed to fly from New York to Los Angeles 20 times.

5 hours and 44 minutes

Excluding the journey to Qatar, the flight that took the longest lasted 344 minutes and went from Miami to Seattle, where Infantino attended the Belgium-Egypt match on June 15. The flight time is the same length as three full World Cup matches from kickoff to final whistle.

28 minutes

The shortest flight time, excluding repositioning flights, was a 28-minute hop from Seattle to Vancouver on July 6 — about the length of a network TV sitcom like “Friends” with commercials. Infantino attended the United States-Belgium match in Seattle that day before watching Switzerland face Colombia in Vancouver the following day.

59,281 miles (95,403 kilometers)

The distance the jet traveled during the tournament, excluding the journey to Qatar and back for the funeral, according to the AP analysis. That's more than round-trip flights between New York and Singapore, Los Angeles and Doha, Qatar, and London and the Australian city of Perth combined.

5,772 miles (9,289 kilometers)

The most miles covered in a single day’s itinerary were flown on June 26, which started with a morning trip from Miami to Dallas. From there, the plane went to Seattle, where Infantino attended the Egypt-Iran match. The final leg departed Seattle late that night and landed the next morning in Miami. Infantino watched Colombia face Portugal there.

50%

FIFA has pledged to reduce carbon emissions from the World Cup and related activities by half by 2030 and has committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2040. The organization’s 2026 World Cup sustainability and human rights strategy says it is committed to addressing climate change.

Climate researchers and environmental groups have argued that the expanded, three-country tournament was likely to produce the most atmosphere-polluting greenhouse gases of any World Cup emissions and be the most carbon-intensive World Cup ever because of the extensive air travel required for teams, fans and officials.

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Associated Press journalist Graham Dunbar in Geneva, Switzerland contributed to this report.

Dort going from Thunder to Hawks, Risacher going to Mavericks in 3-team trade

Tim Reynolds, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 16:57:33 +0000

Oklahoma City traded starting forward and defensive standout Lu Dort to Atlanta as part of a three-team deal that also had the Hawks sending former No. 1 draft pick Zaccharie Risacher to Dallas.

Atlanta also will receive Ryan Nembhard from Dallas and the Thunder will be getting three heavily protected second-round draft picks. The NBA signed off on the trade Sunday.

The trade allows the Thunder to shed the salary needed to get below the second apron, gives the Hawks another top defender in Dort and gives the Mavericks a third No. 1 overall pick — the most currently on one roster in the NBA. Risacher will be joining 2011 top pick Kyrie Irving and 2025 top pick Cooper Flagg in Dallas.

Dort averaged 11.6 points over his first seven seasons, all with the Thunder. Risacher — a runner-up for rookie of the year in 2024-25 — averaged 11.1 points in two seasons with Atlanta and Nembhard averaged 6.6 points for Dallas as a rookie this past season.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/nba

Trump celebrates the World Cup as a US victory as he presents trophy to the winner, Spain

Seung Min Kim And Josh Boak, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 04:01:53 +0000

President Donald Trump presented the World Cup trophy to Spain, the winner of Sunday’s final against Argentina. But to him, the real victor of soccer’s premier tournament just might be the United States.

“It turned out we were a soccer country, and I think it’s going to remain,” Trump said Friday at a FIFA reception at Trump Tower in New York City. “This has really brought the world together.”

For the White House, Sunday’s match was the culmination of well over a year of navigating a litany of logistical challenges alongside co-hosts Canada and Mexico for what would be the biggest World Cup in history. It had to balance the Trump administration’s hard-line migration policies that barred fans from some World Cup qualifier countries from entry into the United States.

Spain won the tournament with a 1-0 victory over defending champion Argentina.

After Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino presented them with the trophy, Trump stood alongside the team as they jumped up and down and gold confetti shot out of a cannon.

Later, speaking to reporters at Joint Base Andrews, Trump said he took pride in the country's success as a host, adding that “all over the world, people have come and they love our country.” He described the final as a close and exciting match, praising Spain for a dominant performance.

He arrived at Sunday's final with a flyover in the presidential helicopter, Marine One. Before the game even kicked off, Trump was already proposing another U.S. bid to host the tournament, sending a nudge to Infantino.

“I had a great idea for Gianni: You have to do two countries. Announce us again next time, and then announce another country after that. It’ll take out some of the anger and the shock,” Trump said on Fox Sports. “Based on the numbers, we will be requesting it again immediately.”

The president declined to pick sides in the final but said it would be difficult to beat Argentine superstar Lionel Messi. Trump got a close look at the World Cup trophy when it was presented to him at his box seat during the first half. Video footage showed the president smiling and patting the gold trophy as it was held up to him. Also in the box were first lady Melania Trump and Infantino, among others.

Soccer fans enjoy US culture despite warnings

The White House faced warnings from human rights groups, and the tournament confronted backlash over high ticket prices. For months, Trump flirted with the idea of moving games out of cities that did not cooperate with federal immigration authorities, and in the weeks before the tournament’s start, local authorities sparred with FIFA over high transit costs, heightening tensions even more.

As the first games were preparing to begin, the administration continued to find itself under global scrutiny for its visa decisions, such as denying entry to a referee from Somalia who had won accolades for his officiating. The pressure increased after Trump launched a war with Iran, leaving the administration to grapple with an Iranian team whose fans and some supporting personnel were barred from the U.S, and that ultimately was based across the border in Tijuana.

But the broader story of the World Cup eventually shifted. Social media was flooded with tales of soccer fans from around the world enjoying the treats and traditions of the U.S., from beer to ranch dressing. Some fears about the Trump administration that circulated beforehand, such as the threat of immigration enforcement raids near the games, never materialized.

“One of the things that we talked about beforehand was, if we’re talking about what happened on the pitch, then we’ve done our job,” Andrew Giuliani, the executive director of the White House FIFA Task Force, said in an interview with The Associated Press. “But I think it’s even better than that. We’re not just talking about only the incredible, athletic feats on the pitch, but we’re talking about all these incredible, incredible cultural moments.”

Still, Trump did create controversy with a phone call he made to Infantino earlier this month in which he asked for a review of a controversial referee call in Team USA’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. The referee gave a red card to U.S. star forward Folarin Balogun, meaning he wouldn’t be able to play in the subsequent match against Belgium.

Trump says he simply asked Infantino, who has cozied up to the U.S. president and faced backlash for doing so, to review the call. FIFA then reversed the call, and Trump told Infantino at the FIFA reception on Friday that “you made another great decision, if you think about it," because it allowed the U.S. to keep a key player on the field even though the team lost the match to Belgium 4-1.

Giuliani said the administration had a “duty” to ask questions and raise concerns about the officiating process, which drew scrutiny because of the use of video review and slow-motion replay to issue the red card. He noted that the Trump administration invested billions in federal funding to ensure that the World Cup was “not just a safe and secure event, not just where we welcomed the world, but an event that was filled with integrity.”

More global sporting events coming to the US

The Trump administration was under considerable pressure to pull off a successful World Cup tournament because the U.S. will soon host the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles and the 2034 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

The U.S. is also largely expected to be awarded the 2031 Women’s World Cup, although Giuliani said in the AP interview that part of getting those hosting duties will be “ensuring that, in fact, women and only women will play in that 2031 Women’s World Cup” — an allusion to the Trump administration’s fierce opposition to transgender women participating in women’s sports.

The U.S. faced broader tensions with its World Cup co-hosts of Canada and Mexico. Trump announced stiff tariffs on both countries in his return to the White House, and he has chosen not to renew a trade pact among the three countries, setting up a new period of negotiations.

On Friday, Trump threatened to tariff Canada over its wildfires, which have hurt air quality in parts of the U.S., including northern New Jersey where the World Cup final is being held. He joked on Friday that FIFA should choose the U.S. for the World Cup soon again, and “this time, we’ll leave Mexico and Canada out.”

Still, Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney attended the final at Trump’s request, in a sign that soccer can overcome some geopolitical tensions.

Trump, as is generally customary for heads of state hosting the tournament, presented the trophy to the eventual winner. But he didn't tip his hand beforehand about whether he had a preferred team.

Spain is a known irritant to Trump, with its reticence to meet NATO defense spending goals and its refusal to let the U.S. launch strikes against Iran from its bases. Meanwhile, Argentine President Javier Milei is a favorite of the Trump administration, with the U.S. president going as far as to threaten to cut aid to the country if Milei’s coalition didn’t prevail in legislative elections.

Spain’s King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez attended the game, although Milei — citing superstition — stayed home.

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Kim reported from Washington. Associated Press writer Joey Cappelletti in Washington contributed to this report.

Mbappé wins another Golden Boot, and Spain's Rodri gets Golden Ball with World Cup title

Brian Mahoney, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 02:32:25 +0000

Kylian Mbappé kept the Golden Boot award and Spain wouldn't let Lionel Messi get anything else.

Shortly after winning the World Cup title Sunday, the Spaniards claimed all three individual player awards, keeping Messi from leaving with any more personal hardware.

Rodri won the Golden Ball as the tournament's best player, Unai Simón won the Golden Glove for the top performance by a goalkeeper, and Pau Cubarsí won the Best Young Player Award, beating out fellow 19-year-old teammate Lamine Yamal.

Messi was hoping to win a record-extending third Golden Ball, adding to his 2014 and 2022 honors. He’s already the only player to win the award multiple times since it was first given in 1978, and sparking Argentina’s run to a second straight final at age 39 gave him a strong case for another.

But the award went to Rodri for captaining Spain's run to its second World Cup title after the Manchester City midfielder struggled early after returning in May 2025 from knee surgery that sidelined him eight months.

“For me, it’s been a very tough time. I just want the new generation to see my example as an opportunity to that if you go down, you can rise again,” he said. “This is my philosophy my entire life. Of course, sometimes things go well, things go wrong. But always the positive.”

Rodri had no goals or assists in the tournament, but he was critical to Spain’s possession-heavy style of play. He completed more passes than anyone (753) with 94% accuracy. He was involved in 1,803 plays, according to FIFA stats, nearly 200 more than anyone else in this World Cup.

“I heard that at the beginning of the tournament I wasn’t able to play, now that I recovered my shape. I tried not to listen too much,” Rodri said on the eve of the final. “I’ve always been confident of myself. I think one of the big parts of my game is trying to replicate this accuracy in terms of passing and being very safe with the ball.”

Rodri became just the 11th man to win the World Cup, the UEFA Champions League and the Ballon d’Or — the biggest individual award in soccer, awarded for soccer's player of the year, which he won in 2024 when Spain won the European title.

FIFA says the Golden Ball was awarded to the best player in the tournament based on a ranking compiled by the FIFA Technical Study Group. Messi won the Silver Ball and Mbappé the Bronze Ball.

Simón set a record with his seven shutouts in the tournament, allowing just one goal in eight games. Cubarsí, the Barcelona defender, helped anchor Spain's record-setting defensive effort and had the most completed passes in the final.

Cubarsí and Yamal became the first teenagers to start for the winning team in the World Cup final since Mbappé was also 19 when France won the 2018 title. He won that young player award that year.

Mbappé totaled 10 goals and four assists this time for a France team that finished fourth. Messi ended up with eight goals and four assists after going without a goal or an assist Sunday for the first time in his last 12 World Cup games.

The Golden Boot is one of the few things Messi has never won in his storied career, but he went into the final weekend with the lead. Both Messi and Mbappé had eight goals through the semifinals, but Messi owned the tiebreaker with one more assist.

Mbappé then scored two goals and had an assist Saturday in France’s 6-4 loss to England in the third-place game, making him the first player with 10 goals in a World Cup since Germany great Gerd Müller had 10 in 1970. Mbappé has 22 career World Cup goals, one better than Messi for the tournament record.

Messi only had one attempt Sunday that momentarily appeared dangerous, a bending left-footed shot in the 115th minute that landed on top of the net. He came into the game with a chance to become the first Golden Boot winner to play for the champion since Ronaldo scored eight goals when Brazil won the title in 2002.

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Yamamoto fires 4-hitter and Ohtani leads offense as Dodgers top Yankees 8-2 in 1st game of twinbill

Mike Fitzpatrick, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 20:03:57 +0000

Yoshinobu Yamamoto pitched a four-hitter for his first regular-season complete game in 66 major league starts, and the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees 8-2 in the opener of their day-night doubleheader Sunday.

Shohei Ohtani hit an RBI double in the third inning and an RBI single in the eighth, when the Dodgers sent 11 batters to the plate and broke it open with five runs charged to Yankees reliever Jake Bird.

Teoscar Hernández had an RBI double, Tommy Edman delivered a two-run single and Freddie Freeman added a sacrifice fly to go with his RBI single that knocked in Ohtani with two outs in the third.

Edman scored three times from the No. 9 spot in the batting order. Andy Pages blooped an RBI double that chased Cam Schlittler (9-6), who struck out eight and walked none but needed 98 pitches to get through 4 1/3 innings.

After a rainout Saturday night, an efficient Yamamoto (10-6) easily outpitched Schlittler in a marquee matchup of All-Stars. The 2025 World Series MVP struck out seven and walked none, throwing 69 of his 102 pitches for strikes in becoming the 11th major leaguer to toss a complete game this season.

The right-hander pitched two complete games in the postseason last year, a three-hitter against Milwaukee in Game 2 of the National League Championship Series and a four-hitter against Toronto in Game 2 of the World Series.

The previous pitcher to throw a nine-inning complete game against the Yankees in the regular season was Miami right-hander Sandy Alcantara in August 2023.

New York has been outscored 65-24 while losing nine of its last 10 home games.

Los Angeles has won the first two games in a highly anticipated three-game set, its first visit to the Bronx since winning the 2024 World Series. The two-time defending champion Dodgers improved to a major league-best 63-36 while New York (54-44) dropped to 18-21 without captain Aaron Judge, who is sidelined by a fractured rib.

Yamamoto retired his first nine batters on 28 pitches before Trent Grisham homered into the second deck in right field on a 2-0 fastball leading off the fourth.

Anthony Volpe had an RBI single in the eighth after Jazz Chisholm Jr. was gifted a leadoff double when Pages lost his flyball to center in the sun.

New York also lost two popups in the sun that dropped untouched.

Between games, the Yankees optioned Bird to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and recalled right-hander Kervin Castro.

Up next

In the nightcap, Los Angeles scheduled RHP Will Klein as the opener in a bullpen game. LHP Ryan Yarbrough was set to be the opener for New York.

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Shakira, Madonna and many Muppets take the World Cup stage, along with BTS and Bieber

Andrew Dalton, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 20:01:58 +0000

Madonna, Justin Bieber, BTS and Shakira each brought a bit of one of their hits to the World Cup's first halftime show in a whirlwind performance Sunday that also squeezed in Burna Boy, Ted Lasso and many Muppets.

The show at what's otherwise known as MetLife Stadium, outside New York, was an attempt to bring Super Bowl vibes to the World Cup, but the 11-minute performance was considerably more packed than the usual one-headliner, 13-minute American football counterpart. Each headliner here spent about two minutes performing.

Madonna opened the show with her 2000 dance-pop hit “Music,” joined by star Brazilian soccer players of yesteryear, Ronaldo and Ronaldinho. It started with an apparently prerecorded piece in a roller rink before she rode into the stadium on a dune buggy, singing, “Music, makes the people come together.”

Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel led an orchestra through the White Stripes’ sports anthem “Seven Nation Army,” while the Muppets house band — including drummer Animal in lieu of Meg White — provided furry shakes in the background.

K-pop sensations BTS took to the field in variations of red and black moments later singing “Dynamite” following a nod to Norway's Viking row.

Promoting the upcoming season of “Ted Lasso,” Jason Sudeikis and Brendan Hunt, in character, pumped up Justin Bieber, who changed the tempo with “Everything Hallelujah,” performed with an acoustic guitar and a casual feel.

“Alright young man, let’s go! It’s your big shot!” Sudeikis said to Bieber. “Go out there, don’t be nervous, nobody’s watching.”

Shakira and Burna Boy followed with their official World Cup anthem “Dai Dai,” heard before all 104 kickoffs during this tournament. The Colombian superstar was barefoot, wearing a dress of yellow and pink feathers and surrounded by similarly clad dancers — including a group of children — before the Afrobeats icon joined her in the song whose refrain is an Italian version of “Let's go!”

Shakira has virtually made a genre out of World Cup songs, including 2010's “Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).”

The show wrapped with the PS22 Chorus of elementary-school students from Staten Island, backed by Dudamel and joined by Chris Martin — the Coldplay singer who curated the performance — along with Shakira and many more Muppets and “Sesame Street” characters, including Kermit, Miss Piggy, Count von Count and Cookie Monster.

Dudamel and about 40 musicians — about half from the New York Philharmonic and half from Venezuela's Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra — were on the field, though their music was prerecorded Wednesday at the Manhattan Center.

Afterward, Javier Bardem was among the Spanish fans at the stadium celebrating their home country's second World Cup win. Bardem danced and pumped his fist as he celebrated the win.

Other stars at the game included Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Timothée Chalamet and Kylie Jenner, and Matt Damon, who was having a big weekend with the epic opening of “The Odyssey.” He was with his wife, Luciana Barroso Damon, who wore the colors of her native Argentina.

Jennifer Hudson, Post Malone and Tom Cruise opened with closing ceremony

Jennifer Hudson, Robbie Williams and others performed a slew of anthems, Post Malone brought an old hit and a new tune and Tom Cruise gave an earnest hype-'em-up speech in the pre-match closing ceremony.

British singer and former Take That member Williams performed his FIFA anthem “Desire,” wearing a blue bedazzled track suit. He was joined by Pussycat Dolls member Nicole Scherzinger and Italian singer Laura Pausini in blue spangled gowns. Williams had released the song a year ago but dropped a new version with the two women earlier in the week.

The streamer IShowSpeed took the field first to perform his World Cup-themed song “Champions,” atop an image of the Empire State Building. Next was Post Malone, who walked on to the New York/New Jersey Stadium pitch covered with a tarp showing the New York skyline. He sung a brand new song, “Chrome Heartbreaker,” and was joined by Swae Lee to perform their 2018 duet “Sunflower” on a hexagon-heavy stage in the center of the field.

Cruise, who was also part of the Paris Olympics’ closing ceremony, followed them with a speech delivered in polo shirt and jeans.

“Today only two teams remain: España!” Cruise said, pausing for cheers before adding, “y Argentina!”

“Let us celebrate a tournament that brought the world together,” he said.

Most of the national anthems were piped in during the tournament, but they were performed live on Sunday. EGOT winner and talk show host Jennifer Hudson sang “The Star-Spangled Banner.” Wearing a white suit with red, white and blue trim, she stood in front of a bank of flags of the world, singing a cappella before being joined by a brass band.

Spanish Brass played Spain's instrumental “La Marcha Real,” followed by Argentina’s “Himno Nacional Argentino,” sung by pop star María Becerra, clad in a flowing dress reminiscent of the Argentine flag.

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JD and Usha Vance welcome a baby boy, the first child born to a sitting VP in more than 150 years

Darlene Superville, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 22:16:12 +0000

Vice President JD Vance and his wife, second lady Usha Vance, on Sunday announced the birth of their fourth child, the first born to a sitting vice president in more than 150 years.

Born Sunday, Alec Neel Vance joins older siblings Ewan, 9; Vivek, 6; and Mirabel, 4.

Vance announced the birth on social media with a statement signed by him and his wife.

“We are excited to announce that our baby boy, Alec Neel Vance, was born this morning. Usha and the baby are happy and healthy, and our kids are overjoyed to meet their little brother,” the statement said.

They thanked doctors and staff at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and with the White House medical team.

The Republican vice president’s growing family is in keeping with his passionate advocacy for Americans to have more children. He has also suggested that the 2025 killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was his friend, factored into the decision to have another child.

Vance, a former U.S. Marine, repeatedly expressed alarm about declining birth rates in America as he launched his political career in 2021 with a bid for a U.S. Senate seat from Ohio. As vice president, he said in Washington at the 2025 March for Life anti-abortion rally, “I want more babies in the United States of America.”

The vice president, who’s 41, has been accompanied on overseas trips by Usha Vance, 40, and their children, with the kids often pajama-clad as they board Air Force Two for the overnight flights.

Usha Vance, the daughter of immigrants from India, had already been the subject of some public fascination because of her husband. Her pregnancy, which was announced in January, amplified that spotlight since it is rare for occupants of the United States’ highest public offices to add to their families while serving.

The last time a sitting vice president became a new father was in the 1800s.

Schuyler Colfax and his second wife, Ellen Wade, had a son, Schuyler Colfax III, in 1870 when Colfax was serving as vice president, according to the White House Historical Association. Decades before that, John C. Calhoun and his wife, Floride Bonneau, had a son, William, in 1829 when Calhoun was vice president, the association said.

The newest addition to Vance’s family was part of a recent mini baby boom among top members of President Donald Trump’s administration. White House deputy chief of staff Stephen Miller’s wife, Katie Miller, recently gave birth to the couple’s fourth child, and White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt had her second child with her husband, Nicholas Riccio, in May.

Usha Vance recently came under scrutiny after The New York Times’ fashion critic called attention to the stomach-hugging, coral maternity dress she wore for a Father’s Day episode of “Storytime with the Second Lady,” a video podcast she launched during the pregnancy.

The Times wrote that the attention that Vance, Miller and Leavitt had put on their pregnancies offered “an image of idealized womanhood that gives literal shape to the pronatalist movement,” which encourages couples to have as many children as possible to counter declining birth rates.

The second lady responded on social media, writing, “Now that we know the political significance of my $8.75 coral maternity dress from Old Navy, can’t wait to hear what the New York Times has to say about my elastic-waistband pants and compression socks! In the meantime, enjoy my pregnancy fashion (or lack thereof) and a good story with your kids on Storytime with the Second Lady.” She later shared the receipt for the dress, and her husband applauded her frugality.

“She bought a $50 dress for $8.75. America: meet your next director of the federal budget!” the vice president wrote on social media.

JD Vance has said it was Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, telling them that she wished she’d had more than two children with her husband before he was assassinated last September in Utah that led him and the second lady to decide to grow their family. Usha Vance, a former attorney who once clerked for Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, concurred — in part.

“It was very powerful, what (Erika) said about her own family, and certainly very moving to both of us. I think I had already started to open my mind to the possibility,” Usha Vance said during a joint interview with her husband for “CBS Sunday Morning” that aired in June. “I wouldn’t say that this was, for me in any way, the decisive factor. But it came in the middle of a conversation that we were already having.”

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Follow the AP’s coverage of Vice President JD Vance at https://apnews.com/hub/jd-vance.

How to keep the air inside your home clean during wildfires

Devi Shastri, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 12:08:31 +0000

The eerie glow of an orange sun through thick wildfire smoke might be unnerving, but the biggest risk from the haze is something much harder to see.

Tiny particles in the air can cause a range of short-term and chronic health issues, experts say.

Wildfire smoke can settle over cities for days — like the recent blanket over parts of the U.S. from burning fires in Canada, which has created hazardous air for millions of people across multiple states.

Health officials advise people to stay indoors — and to take steps to keep the air in your home clean.

How to safely run your AC

If you have central air conditioning, it should clean the air in your home.

Make sure filters are replaced on schedule and are of the highest level of filtration your system can handle. Filters rated MERV 13 or higher are ideal. Set the air to recirculate and close any vents that pull air from outside if you can. The University of Oregon's Center for Wildfire Smoke Research and Practice recommends running the system's fan through the entire smoke event, not just when cooling.

If you buy a portable air filter, look for a HEPA air filter or one that says it traps small particles of pollution. Ensure it does not generate ozone, another harmful air pollutant.

If you can only afford one portable air filter, use it to create a “clean room” in your house where you can spend most of your time.

“The basic message is that something is better than nothing,” said Amy Kalkbrenner, an environmental epidemiologist at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The science behind DIY air filters

There’s good evidence that DIY filters made by duct-taping furnace air filters to a box fan work.

They’re simple, relatively affordable and scientists at the Environmental Protection Agency have found they are just as good at removing fine particles of pollution from the air as a small commercial air purifier.

“The good news is they really work,” said Kalkbrenner.

All you need to have to make one is: four 20-by-20-inch (50.8-by-50.8-centimeters) furnace air filters rated MERV 13 or higher, a box fan, cardboard and duct tape. The EPA's website shows how you can modify the design to only use one or two filters. The fan should blow out, and the arrows on the filters should point in. Make sure everything is taped up airtight.

Using your window AC and cooling your air safely

Many window air conditioners, mini-split heat exchangers and portable air conditioners don’t have the filters needed to remove fine pollution particles. But heat can also be dangerous.

“When smoke and heat occur together, the impacts on your health are even greater than when they occur by themselves,” said Jess Downey, a researcher at the University of Oregon’s Center for Wildfire Smoke Research and Practice

Downey said the ideal scenario is running the AC unit and using an air purifier or a DIY box fan filter to clean the air. Make sure your AC is well-sealed in your window frame, she added.

Make sure the window units are set to recirculate air. Portable units with a single hose should be used sparingly, according to the University of Oregon wildfire smoke center.

If you don't have AC, any reprieve from hot, smoky air is important. Head to the library, shopping mall or other space with clean, cool air.

Ways to seal up a home to keep hazardous air out

Whether it's a towel, some tape, or something else — plug areas where air could enter from outside.

“Being from Chicago, I think you can liken it to trying to keep the cold air out,” said Dr. Khalilah Gates, a lung doctor with Northwestern Medicine. “Any areas in which air can come in, consider sealing up those areas to reduce the amount that's coming into the home.”

When smoke levels are high, experts recommend avoiding anything that burns — candles, fireplaces, even gas stoves — so plan ahead with some meal prep.

How wildfire smoke affects the body

Exposure to wildfire smoke can lead to shortness of breath, chest tightness, headaches, and a burning sensation in the nose and eyes.

“When you ever start to feel those symptoms and they’re not severe, it’s important to acknowledge, ‘Oh, my body is responding to this. I need to move away from it. I need to move inside,'” Gates said.

If you're wheezing, can't catch your breath or are in distress, get to the emergency room immediately, she said.

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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

Spain beats Argentina 1-0 in extra time on Ferran Torres' 106th-minute goal to win its second World Cup title

Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 22:14:11 +0000

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Spain substitute Ferran Torres scored in the 106th minute to give his team a 1-0 win over defending champion Argentina in the World Cup final on Sunday.

Spain was absolutely dominant in terms of possession and shot attempts. Lionel Messi and Argentina found a way to hang on and force extra time — but barely.

Enzo Fernandez was sent off in second-half stoppage time after getting his second yellow card, meaning Argentina was forced to finish the match with only 10 players. Fernandez was carded for a reckless play that sent Spain defender Pau Cubarsi cartwheeling into the air, and the card came out immediately.

Another foul about two minutes after play resumed gave Lamine Yamal a chance to win it from about 22 yards out on a free kick. Yamal’s strike was curling toward the right post, and Martinez dived to knock it away for his 10th save of the afternoon — the most ever in a World Cup final.

He leaped to his feet, punching the air and imploring the crowd to get loud. Not long after that came the whistle, sending the game to extra time.

Spain took 15 shots in regulation, Argentina none. Spain took nine corners, Argentina one. And somehow, 90-plus minutes of that sort of dominance wasn’t enough.

With its victory, Spain became the first nation to simultaneously hold the World Cup crowns in both men’s and women’s soccer.

The spectacle was not limited to simply soccer.

Celebrities — from all walks of life — were there. Brad Pitt, Tom Cruise, Matt Damon, Will Ferrell, Cillian Murphy, Daniel Craig, Jennifer Connelly, Jennifer Hudson, Jon Hamm, Matthew Broderick and Sarah Jessica Parker were among the actors at the game.

The NBA had enough talent there for a full All-Star Game, with the list of players attending including Stephen Curry, Victor Wembanyama, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Bronny James, Cade Cunningham, Cooper Flagg, Devin Booker, Donovan Mitchell, Draymond Green, Jalen Brunson, Jalen Williams, James Harden, Jaylen Brown, Karl-Anthony Towns, Kevin Durant and Tyrese Haliburton.

Serena Williams and Carlos Alcaraz were among the tennis royalty watching, the NFL had names like Eli Manning, Patrick Mahomes, Odell Beckham Jr. and Saquon Barkley in attendance, two of the greatest U.S. skiers ever in Mikaela Shiffrin and Lindsey Vonn were at the match — and, of course, there were soccer royalty with the likes of Kaka, David Beckham, Didier Drogba and Zinedine Zidane.

Post Malone headlined the closing ceremony, which started about 90 minutes before the final was set to begin and just a few minutes after Messi and Argentina arrived at the stadium. The halftime show — a first for FIFA and part of a 27-minute break — featured Justin Bieber, Madonna, Shakira and BTS, along with Burna Boy, Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel, the PS 22 Chorus with Coldplay, and even characters from Sesame Street and the Muppets.

President Donald Trump was present as well, with plans calling for him to be part of the trophy presentation at the conclusion of the match.

“I won’t pick sides,” Trump told Fox Sports in an interview released Sunday afternoon before the final. “I just think it’s very hard to bet against Messi. He’s great.”

Tropical Development in the Gulf improves Central Florida’s weather pattern

Jordan Patrick — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 21:29:53 +0000

The second organized tropical system of the Atlantic Hurricane Season was designated at 11am Sunday morning. Tropical Depression Two is forecast to become Tropical Storm Bertha as it slowly moves west over the next few days. As this system continues to push away from Florida, it will help to drag dry air over the Bahamas and into the state by mid-week.

Tonight

Similar to last night, as tropical moisture wraps around the center of TD 2, a few isolated showers are expected to swing through Central Florida from time to time overnight tonight. Rain chances will hover around 20% overnight as lows drop down into the mid-upper 70s.

Monday

A few fringe outer bands will clip Central Florida Monday. Expect hit-or-miss speedy showers throughout the day.

As TD 2 continues to slowly churn just off the west coast of Florida Monday, we will be close enough to tropical moisture to once again see off and on downpours moving from south to north. Very similar to Sunday, the day will not be a washout and the shower coverage will lean more towards hit-or-miss. Rain chances will top out at 40% in the afternoon. We will also be a bit on the breezy side with wind gusts reaching 20-25mph at times. Highs will hit the low 90s with “feels like” temperatures around 100ºF.

Week Ahead

As Tropical Depression Two moves westward, Drier air from the east moves into Central Florida.

As TD 2 continues to traverse westward, the southeast winds behind it will help to funnel much drier air into Central Florida. At the same time, a ridge of high pressure will be building in over the state. This combination will dry out our atmosphere and allow temperatures to climb. Rain chances drop down to 20% by mid-week with highs once again climbing into the mid 90s.

Rory McIlroy has another Masters and little else the rest of the majors

Doug Ferguson, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 21:36:29 +0000

Rory McIlroy has been down this road before — the thrill of being the Masters champion and not much else to celebrate the rest of the year.

McIlroy was never part of the conversation at British Open — except for his critical comments of how Bryson DeChambeau handled a rules violation — and one last bogey gave him a 71 on Sunday to finish in a tie for 40th at Royal Birkdale.

A year ago, when he won the Masters to complete his life goal of the career Grand Slam, he struggled to find the next mountain and never contended. This year, he had a chance Sunday afternoon at the PGA Championship but otherwise was middle of the pack.

“This season feels very similar to last season,” McIlroy said. “Obviously won the first major of the year, fell off a little bit after that. But still, any time you win a major in a year, you have to be pleased about that.”

McIlroy, who took three weeks off the Masters, said he hasn't taken time to celebrate winning his second green jacket. His daughter has a month before school starts and he plans to enjoy the rest of the summer holiday before returning to the PGA Tour postseason.

McIlroy has set a few targets, adding majors to the six he already has won with an eye on the most historic venues. Next year, the U.S. Open is at Pebble Beach and the British Open is at St. Andrews.

“Can't wait,” he said.

In the meantime, he has his eyes on two tour titles — the FedEx Cup and the Race to Dubai. He only has to reach the Tour Championship in Atlanta for a shot at a fourth FedEx Cup title. In Europe, Patrick Reed is leading the Race to Dubai.

“Try to play hard until the end of the season, and then try to win one or both of those,” he said.

Conduct warning for MacIntyre

Robert MacIntyre and Jon Rahm had something in common at this British Open. Both were issued a conduct warning for slamming clubs, and both said the policy won't change who they are.

MacIntyre, who closed with a 71, slammed his driver into the turf after a poor tee shot on the 16th. Rahm got his warning Friday for flinging his club after a bad tee shot on the 15th.

“I expect to get a few of them in my career. Yeah, I run hot. So be it,” MacIntyre said most unapologetically. "I try and toe the line, but when you feel you’re playing a golf course that you can hit it pretty much anywhere and there’s no real punishment and then you do hit one slightly off line and you get the biggest punishment you can possibly get, it’s just a sore one.

“Again, I’m going to react aggressively at times — part of my DNA.”

MacIntyre was spoken to at the Masters for swearing, and for extending his middle finger toward the water on the par-5 15th in the first round, leading to a quadruple bogey.

Rahm said after his warning: "I’m definitely more intense and passionate than a lot of the players out here, especially at work. ... If I try to alter who I am too much, it might cost me a little bit on the course. But certainly shouldn’t have moments like the one on 15. I get it.”

Lucas Herbert falls short in his Masters bid

Lucas Herbert had the 36-hole lead at the British Open, and he was still in range of a victory Sunday when he birdied the 10th hole to reach 8-under-par, two shots behind.

That was his last birdie. He closed with another 71 to tie for sixth.

Most critical, though, was his bogey on the par-5 17th hole. His drive went so far to the left that he hit a provisional ball in case his wasn't found. He gouged it out to the right rough, went into a greenside bunker and failed to get up-and-down.

A par-par finish would have put him in a tie for fourth, and the top four at the British Open earn a spot in the Masters. Herbert has played the Masters only in 2022, getting in from his lone PGA Tour victory the previous fall at the Bermuda Championship. And then he went to LIV Golf.

Not all was lost. His top 10 gets him into the British Open next year at St. Andrews.

“The best Open to play,” said Herbert, who had 62 on Friday to tie the major record. “Yeah, I can't be too upset. This is my best finish in a major. I genuinely contended. There's a lot to take away from that. I've learned so much this week.”

The downside?

“It's annoying that we’re 12 months away from the next major I’m going to play,” he said.

Jon Rahm was mad and he took it out on his glove

Rahm began the final round of the British Open six shots out of the lead and needed a good start to stand any chance of winning. So imagine Rahm’s dismay when his drive at the first hole flew way right and out of bounds.

After reloading and hitting another tee shot, the Spaniard — clearly unhappy — reacted by removing his glove and pulling it so hard that it tore in two as he walked down the fairway.

He made double-bogey 6 for the second straight day at No. 1 and wound up shooting 74 to finish on level par and tied for 46th.

Divots

Call this the “Shootout at the OK (State) Corral.” Rickie Fowler played with Eugenio Chacarra, both alumni of Oklahoma State and both wearing bright orange shirts. Fowler shot 66 and Chacarra had a 69 in his British Open debut. ... Among those who booked their tee times at St. Andrews next year from finishing in the top 10 were Casey Jarvis of South Africa and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen of Denmark. ... Tommy Fleetwood was the only player to break par all four rounds.

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17 US service members have died in the Iran war, reflecting a conflict fought largely in the air

Josh Boak, Associated Press — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 21:33:30 +0000

The U.S. military said Sunday that another American service member was killed as part of the war with Iran, bringing the total number of deaths to 17.

The deaths reflect the complicated reality that American boots don’t need to be on the ground for there to be lethal risks in a conflict that involves drones, missiles and airplanes. American forces are arrayed across the Middle East, making other nations targets of Iran as the fighting has escalated after a breakdown in peace talks.

President Donald Trump has said the war is necessary to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

First fatalities came soon after the war started

A seventh soldier died more than a week after being wounded during a March 1 attack by Iran on the Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia.

Drones and missiles still claiming lives

On Saturday, the U.S. Central Command said two service members were killed in Jordan on Friday while defending against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. A third service member was missing after that attack, and the military said Sunday that “unidentified remains” were found and were being examined.

The military said it was withholding additional information, including the names of the deceased, until 24 hours after families had been notified.

The deaths in the war are not limited to Americans.

Iranian authorities said at least 50 people have been killed and more than 500 wounded in U.S. strikes in the past three weeks, including eight killed in a strike on a bridge Friday.

People working on ships, as well as foreign workers and others in Gulf nations, Israel and Lebanon have also perished in the conflict.

———

Associated Press writer Ben Finley in Washington contributed to this report.

This story first moved July 18, 2026. It was updated July 19, 2026, with a 17th U.S. death.

Not Greek to them. Scholars question Christopher Nolan's 'The Odyssey'

Hillel Italie, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 15:25:18 +0000

For Greek translator Emily Wilson, the release of director Christopher Nolan's “The Odyssey” has been gratifying in various ways. Her acclaimed 2017 edition of Homer's epic has reached the top 5 on Amazon.com, leading a wave of similar books boosted by the movie. Nolan has even cited her translation, notably the opening line “Tell me about a complicated man,” as inspiration.

But the film itself, which brought in more than $260 million worldwide during its opening weekend and has received raves from many critics, left her unsatisfied.

“I want to celebrate the fact that so many more people are aware of 'The Odyssey' and were brought back to the poem,” she told The Associated Press. “But at the same time, I had the sense that Christopher Nolan was trying to pack everything in while missing themes that were essential to the poem.”

One of the year's most anticipated releases, “The Odyssey” stars Matt Damon as the returning warrior Odysseus, Anne Hathaway as his wife, Penelope, and Tom Holland as their son, Telemachus. Reviewers have praised the acting and the narrative drive, the grand scale of a movie shot entirely on IMAX film and how it weds the sensibilities of ancient Greece and the modern world, at least as Nolan perceives it.

The divide between scholars and critics seems in part a matter of whether the balance should tilt toward Nolan or Homer. Wilson and fellow translator Daniel Mendelsohn both expressed admiration for Nolan's cinematic flair and ambition, what Mendelsohn calls his “great visual panache.” Both speculated that his desire to make a “Christopher Nolan” movie led to unfortunate decisions.

Mendelsohn is an author, critic and translator and his assessment appeared Friday in The New York Review of Books, where he is an editor-at-large.

Mendelsohn had previously defended Nolan's controversial decision to cast a Black actor, Lupita Nyong’o, as Helen of Troy, calling it a worthy way to “provoke, challenge and discomfit how we think about beauty and identity.” But he faulted the director for giving us an Odysseus with “no cleverness, no humor, no wily charm.” One of the Western canon's formative tricksters has been transformed, he contended, into the kind of haunted protagonist featured in such previous Nolan movies as “Oppenheimer” and “Memento.”

“This tormented, guilt-ridden Odysseus, stripped of humor and wit, seductiveness and cleverness, is a sibling of Memento’s anguished amnesiac, of Batman, of Oppenheimer, men tormented by pasts they wrestle with in different ways,” wrote Mendelsohn, whose “Odyssey” translation came out in 2025. “Nolan has merely remade Homer’s hero in his own image.”

Author Gareth Hinds, whose graphic novel adaptation of “The Odyssey” has also received a sales bump from the movie, had a response similar to Mendelsohn's about Nolan's interpretation of Odysseus. The “wily trickster and smooth talker” is now an “everyman who appears to be honorable, except in select situations which then continue to haunt him.” For Hinds, Nolan's film raises the question of how much you can change a story's main character before the story itself is changed entirely.

“That’s one of many interesting things Nolan has left us to ponder,” says Hinds, who credits the director for creating a “powerful film.”

Wilson, a professor of classical studies at the University of Pennsylvania, said she didn't want to come across as a “snobby,” nitpicking expert at odds with any deviation from the original text. But she questioned a range of omissions and other choices, from the absence on screen of the Gods Zeus and Poseidon (Athena is played by Zendaya ) to the “incoherent” messaging that condemns both war and physical cowardice. She found Penelope's role so thinned out that it endangered “any possibility of believing in this marriage.” Wilson also that thought parts of the movie, notably the scenes with Odysseus' dog, Argos, “catered towards modern sentimentality.”

“Everybody's a sucker for a dog,” she said.

A spokesperson for Nolan did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Wilson declined to offer a grade or ranking for the movie, but said she would recommend it for others, as long as they see it in a theater.

“It was fun to be there with my kids. I didn’t feel it was pulling teeth to engage with it,” she said. “If you can see it on a big screen you should absolutely go.”

Ryan Fox wins the British Open with a birdie on the final hole

Doug Ferguson, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 13:55:51 +0000

The hard work for Ryan Fox was just getting to the 18th hole in the British Open with a share of the lead. Still to come was the toughest hole at Royal Birkdale, which had yielded only four birdies to the 76 players who had already come through Sunday.

For a 39-year-old from New Zealand, the son of an All Blacks rugby star who once only dreamed of having a card on any tour, this was no time to back down.

“I did say to my caddie Dean (Smith) that we were going to take it on, that I was going to try to win the tournament, and I'd live with the consequences if I stuffed it up,” Fox said.

It turned out to be the stuff of major champions.

The drive was powerful and pure. The 9-iron from 175 yards looked good in the air and even better on the ground when it settled 12 feet below the hole. The birdie putt was the biggest of his life.

Fox closed with four birdies over his last six holes — and one bogey that felt equally important — for a 2-under 68 and a one-shot victory over hard-luck Cameron Young for his first major title.

This was pure theater to cap off a week of so much drama — three record-tying rounds of 62, Bryson DeChambeau's animated protest over a two-shot penalty, Tommy Fleetwood thrilling and teasing his hometown crowd to massive ovations on every hole.

Four players had a share of the lead at some point in the final round. Young was atop the leaderboard for two hours without hitting a shot anywhere but the range because he finished his astonishing 6-under 64 as the last few groups were on the front nine.

Young was on the range when he heard the massive roar and knew it was over. He bowed his head, lifted his driver and tapped the ground before packing up when Fox made his final birdie.

“Everyone practices on the green — you've got a putt to win a major championship, to win The Open. It's not like that in real life. It's not a very comfortable feeling,” Fox said. “It's certainly very enjoyable when you see it go in.”

He thrust those powerful arms into the air and was on the phone with his family moments later and was heard telling them, "You asked me to bring a trophy home, and I am, aren’t I?”

His name will go on the base of that shiny claret jug along with another Kiwi, Bob Charles, who won the British Open in 1963. Michael Campbell is the other New Zealand man to win a major at Pinehurst No. 2 in the 2005 U.S. Open.

Fox's sterling moment brought more disappointment for Young. The American also finished one shot behind in the British Open at St. Andrews four years ago, and he had a Sunday lead on the front nine at the Masters until Rory McIlroy overtook him.

“I gave it everything I had all the way through,” Young said when he finished. He declined interviews when Fox ended the 154th Open.

Sam Burns, the 54-hole leader who was never planning to be at the Open until his wife gave birth to their daughter earlier than expected, lost a two-shot lead and didn't make birdie over the last 12 holes to finish two shots behind.

“I just couldn’t find them today. Just didn’t have my best stuff,” Burns said. “Given the circumstances, I’m very pleased with the week. I’m looking forward to being home.”

Defending champion Scottie Scheffler somehow managed to stick around until the end, getting two bad bounces that cost him momentum, then getting one big break for a most improbable birdie. He closed with a 67 and shared fourth with Fleetwood, who fell back early but delivered a birdie-birdie finish for a 68.

Missing from all drama, remarkably, was DeChambeau. He lost a golf ball and made triple bogey on the 11th hole and didn't make a birdie until he was well out of contention. That two-shot penalty he received Friday for improving the path of his swing wasn't an issue at the end. DeChambeau shot a 72 and tied for 14th.

Fox won for the 10th time worldwide, his biggest title before Sunday coming at the BMW PGA Championship in 2023. He is the oldest first-time major champion since Henrik Stenson was 40 at Royal Troon 10 years ago.

Fox finished at 10-under 270, got his hands on the jug and heard those magic words when he was introduced as the “Champion Golfer of the Year.”

“I’m not quite sure how I hit that putt on 18. Look, it is a dream come true,” Fox said. “Looking at that trophy now, it’s the first time I’ve seen it up close. So it’s pretty amazing.”

Young was flawless until the final hole, his tee shot finding a pot bunker. He tried to open the face of a 6-iron but caught it thin and it smacked into the vetted wall and into the rough. He hit the next shot into a greenside bunker and nearly holed it for par. The bogey put him at 9-under 271.

Burns was losing ground quickly on the front nine with three straight bogeys, none more damaging than a pitch to the reachable par-4 fifth hole that went over the back of the green.

Si Woo Kim emerged as the leader going to the back nine until he made bogeys on the 11th and 12th holes, and he fell out of contention for good with a pair of late bogeys that added to a 40 on the back nine for 72.

That left Young at the top of the leaderboard, waiting to see if anyone could match him.

Fox's hopes took a nasty turn on the par-3 15th when his tee shot caromed off the side of a bunker and settled next to the lip, leaving him no stance and no shot. He smartly played away from the back pin to the fairway, chipped from 45 yards away to 6 feet and made bogey.

It was as big as any shot he hit until the last.

“To get that up-and-down really kept the momentum going,” Fox said. “I felt a whole lot better walking off that green making bogey that way than probably even if I’d have made par.”

Fox was a late bloomer, a European tour rookie at age 30 and a PGA Tour rookie when he was 37. His goal when he started was to have a tour card. Now he's a major champion.

“I said to my team last night at dinner, if you'd have given me my career up until yesterday when I turned pro, I'd have jumped at that,” Fox said, speaking with the claret jug at his side. “I don't know what to think now.”

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Cuban artist and dissident exiled from country after 5 years in prison arrives in US

Associated Press — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 22:50:23 +0000

A famous Cuban dissident artist and musician, Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara, arrived in Miami on Saturday after being released from a five-year prison sentence on the condition that he leave his country.

Alcántara, 38, was greeted at the airport by a crowd that was cheering, singing and holding their phones high in the air to get a photo of him. They draped him in a Cuban flag, printed with the words “Patria y Vida” — “Homeland and Life” — the title of a song he shared a Grammy for that became an anthem for Cuba’s political opposition against repression.

The United States granted him parole into the country earlier this week, according to a social media page maintained by his friends and supporters. They wrote that he accepted exile as the only way to escape persecution and continue his art and activism.

Alcántara co-founded a group of Havana artists, writers and musicians called the San Isidro Movement — named for the neighborhood where Alcántara lived.

He was arrested on July 11, 2021, during a public protest. In 2022, a court sentenced him to five years in prison for public disorder, contempt and disrespect toward national symbols.

His arrest and incarceration had long been denounced by human rights organizations and the U.S. government. Groups including Amnesty International called him a political prisoner, an allegation the Cuban government rejected.

Alcántara was held in a maximum-security prison, he said, and was expected to be released last week. But for days, advocates said they still could not contact him and did not know where he was.

The organization Cubalex, which legally advises dissidents and reports human rights violations from outside of the country, filed a habeas corpus petition on his behalf Monday.

Until he boarded a plane Saturday, his advocates were not sure of his location, or if he was truly free.

His said his first stop on American soil would be at the Shrine of Our Lady of Charity to make an offering.

Other political prisoners remained imprisoned, including his fellow artist Maykel “Osorbo” Castillo Pérez, his advocates said, and they hoped Alcántara's release would prompt insistence that Pérez also be set free.

Alcántara brought from Cuba a broken statue of the Virgin Mary, which he described as a symbol of hope and healing, a chance to put back together something from fragments.

5.5 magnitude earthquake hits Peru's Andes region and kills at least 6 people

Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 14:26:45 +0000

A 5.5 magnitude earthquake shook the Andes region of Peru, killing at least six people, injuring more than 30 and displacing 300, authorities said Sunday.

The U.S. Geological Survey reported the quake struck on Saturday at 9:24 p.m., with its epicenter located 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) west-southwest of the city of Sicaya in Huancayo province. It was 10 kilometers (6.21 miles) deep.

Peru’s National Civil Defense Institute said in a statement the total number of missing is still unknown. Several buildings collapsed or suffered structural damage, including the historic “Santiago de León” church and former convent in Chongos Bajo, which was built in 1565 and designated as national heritage site for being a 16th century “architectural gem.”

Luis Vásquez, head of the local civil defense office, told journalists that the use of rustic adobe materials in construction in that Andean area “has contributed to the greater impact and damage."

Earthquakes are frequent in Peru, which is located in the so-called Pacific “Ring of Fire.”

Images broadcast by local media captured the anguish of victims’ relatives in one of the hardest-hit areas, the agricultural region of Chongos Bajo, where residents huddled under blankets outside severely damaged homes. Animals were also seen under the rubble.

“My home has been destroyed,” Hermenegilda Guamalato told a local radio station as she sought a place to stay with her three children in the neighboring province of Huayucachi.

In 2007, a magnitude 7.9 earthquake struck the province of Pisco in the Ica region, killing nearly 600 people.

Cameron Young waited and waited some more. Then another British Open slipped from his grasp

Steve Douglas, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 20:20:06 +0000

Cameron Young was waiting on the range at Royal Birkdale, driver in hand, when a huge roar came that he didn’t want to hear.

Just a stone’s throw away on the 18th green, Ryan Fox had holed a 12-foot birdie putt to win the British Open.

There’d be no playoff for Young.

No chance to end his wait for a first major championship title.

The American bowed his head, swung his driver gently over his shoulder then back onto the ground, and trudged off.

Some 2½ hours earlier, Young had been on that 18th hole himself, getting up-and-down from a greenside bunker — he actually nearly holed it — to salvage bogey and shoot 64 for what would remain the lowest score of the final round.

Then came the long, agonizing wait to discover whether his 9-under 271 total would be enough to win.

Young had some food, cleared out his locker — “for efficiency’s sake,” he said — and spent some time in the players’ lounge.

By 6 p.m., he was practicing on the putting green.

And around half an hour later, the spectators in the huge grandstands lining one of the most famous walks in golf gave him the bad news.

Add Birkdale to the 29-year-old Young's close calls at the majors, following a runner-up finish at the British Open in 2022 — he made eagle on the final hole to be one stroke back from Cameron Smith at St. Andrews — and a tie for third at the Masters this year after sharing the 54-hole lead.

Now up to No. 4 in the world, the widespread belief in golfing circles is that Young's time will come. That's because he has risen to elite company this year with wins at The Players Championship in March and the Cadillac Championship at Doral, in front of President Donald Trump, a couple of months later.

Young says his score ‘could have been 60’

Speaking after his round, Young said he thought 10-under par would have a “decent chance” of victory.

So it proved.

And he would have got there — or maybe better — had he not found a fairway bunker on No. 18 after choosing to hit driver. He barely got out of the sand with his second shot that struck the top of the bunker wall and spilled out 20 yards forward, and went on to scramble bogey.

A par there would have seen him match the lowest final-round score in a major.

A birdie? Well, that would have won him the whole thing.

“It could have been 60,” Young said of his round that included a front-nine 29.

“I played a great round of golf,” he added, “and I did it in a really good way.”

Young's thoughts after Fox completed victory are a mystery because he declined to talk to the media.

He surely will regret his 3-over 73 on Saturday that came after two 67s and dropped him to a tie for 20th overnight.

“I had a chance to win with not everything I’ve got,” he said. “So I think that’s a good takeaway.”

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Scottie Scheffler gets bad bounces and a big break. It adds to a close call at British Open

Doug Ferguson, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 19:40:48 +0000

The image of Scottie Scheffler at Royal Birkdale might be the world's No. 1 player missing one birdie chance after another to waste a great week from tee-to-green in the British Open.

All he could think about Sunday when he finished were the bounces that didn't go his way.

Scheffler managed to stay in the game until the very end and capitalized on a huge break — which followed another unfortunate bounce — with a birdie on the par-5 17th hole. Needing birdie to have any chance of a playoff, he missed a putt from off the green, missed the par putt that followed and settled for a 3-under 67 to tie for fourth behind Ryan Fox.

“I guess it just wasn't my week,” said Scheffler, who had top 4-finishes in three of the four majors.

Scheffler, who began the final round six shots out of the lead, quickly made up ground with three birdies in five holes — as many birdies as he had made in the previous two rounds combined. And when he holed a 15-foot birdie putt on the 12th, he was at 8 under and closing.

And then he was chasing after a few frustrating bounces.

His tee shot right of the fairway on the 13th headed for the wispy grass but wound up in a deep hole, leaving him no chance but to advance it about 5 feet. Scheffler did well to make an 8-foot putt to escape with bogey.

Scheffler thought his drive was ideal on the par-5 14th until it bounced just enough to the left to catch a pot bunker, leaving him no shot at the green. A potential birdie turned into par.

“That stuff hurts,” he said. "My ball on 13 goes into that hole. It wasn’t my best tee shot, but it was a time where I needed to be aggressive, and I saw some good stuff happening with guys that hit the ball over there the last few days, and it didn’t happen for me today. Just those little bounces.

“My ball on 14 I think is in the fairway, I come up there, it’s in the pot bunker,” he said. “Little stuff like that over the course of the week tends to add up.”

His frustration boiled over on the par-5 17th when his tee shot moving left-to-right looked as though it would kick into the fairway leaving him a shot at the green. But it bounced left and stayed in the rough in front of a steep mound.

“WHY?” Scheffler screamed at himself. “Why does this happen?”

Welcome to links golf, which he conquered a year ago at Royal Portrush.

Remarkably, the bad bounce led to birdie. He tried to go over the mound and the ball went so far to the left that he figured it was never to be found, He hit a provisional for a lost ball, and that wasn't much better, And then luck seemed to finally show up.

The entire area near a massive hospitality structure was deemed a temporary immovable obstruction. Spectators said they saw the ball disappear into gorse and rough. A security guard and NBC reporter John Wood began searching.

But once a golf ball has been identified going into the TIO, it does not have to be found.

“We tried to figure it out. I said: ‘If I find it, does that help me? Can I drop it since that would be about 50 yards closer to the hole?'” Scheffler said about his conversation with the rules official. “He said, ‘Yes, you can then use that spot, but you might have to go to the other side of the TIO.’ I didn’t know exactly where that would be, and that’s not a great angle coming across there. So I decided to drop the search.”

Scheffler received a free drop 94 yards away on a baked, dusty lie. He hit wedge to 10 feet and made birdie.

The hope didn't last long, and he walked off the 18th green knowing he would not get his hands on the claret jug he won last year, and it would be eight-plus months before the next major.

“I felt like this was a week I played a lot better than my score,” Scheffler said. “Thirteen and 14 really hurt, not being able to advance the ball. I feel good that I could compete when things weren't going my way.”

Padraig Harrington remains the last player to win back-to-back in the British Open, in 2007 and 2008. It's the longest such stretch in the majors. And now it falls to Fox near year at St. Andrews.

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Conor McGregor suffered torn ACL in shortened return fight against Max Holloway

Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 18:33:37 +0000

Conor McGregor confirmed he suffered a torn right ACL in his shortened UFC 329 fight against Max Holloway.

McGregor said he also suffered meniscus damage in the fight on July 11 that lasted 1:09, comparing it to an injury he suffered in the opposite leg against Holloway in 2013.

“Update: It was acl and meniscus,” McGregor wrote in a post on X Sunday. “It is the same injury as the first Holloway fight, only this time the opposite leg. Quite shocking.”

McGregor's return to the octagon for the first time in five years came to an abrupt end when he landed awkwardly trying to land a kick in the opening seconds against Holloway. The 38-year-old tried to continue, but the fight was called when he fell to the canvas twice more.

McGregor had surgery last week and said he is walking without crutches. He is hopeful of returning to the octagon in 2027.

“I returned to competition within 9 months to fight Diego Brandao back then,” he wrote. “With today’s regenerative medicine advancements and improved training methods it is well within my realm to return by next summer.”

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AP MMA: https://apnews.com/hub/mixed-martial-arts

A ferry carrying 133 people capsizes off Guyana's coast, leaving dozens missing

Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 11:53:11 +0000

A government ferry carrying 133 passengers and crew capsized in Guyana with 67 people rescued so far, authorities said Sunday, as a massive search and rescue operation tried to find the dozens of people still missing.

The MV Barima was sailing from the capital, Georgetown, along the North Atlantic coast to Port Kaituma, said Guyanese Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who is leading the government’s response.

Phillips said the group that had been rescued included 41 men, 11 women and 15 children. He did not say whether authorities feared the missing passengers were dead or not. Helicopters, planes and fishing vessels are scanning a 1,000-square-mile area in search efforts.

The MV Barima departed shortly after 3 p.m. on Saturday and ran into trouble shortly before midnight, officials said. A distress call was received at 11:01 p.m. (0301 GMT), which prompted a search and rescue operation involving state and private boats, Public Works Minister Juan Edghill said on Facebook.

Authorities said the vessel, which makes weekly trips to the largely Indigenous communities near Venezuela, capsized near the Pomeroon River.

Edghill said the vessel was fitted with 250 life jackets, two rigid life rafts and six inflatable life rafts. He denied claims that it could have capsized because it was overloaded with passengers or cargo.

"It had to do with the tide,” the minister said, referencing statements from rescued passengers.

Kimi Antonelli wins Belgian Grand Prix for a big F1 title boost after George Russell out

Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 08:38:30 +0000

Kimi Antonelli always believed he had the momentum in the Formula 1 title race even when results didn't go his way. He made it count with a dominant win Sunday as his teammate and title rival George Russell failed to finish.

Antonelli saw off a challenge from Charles Leclerc to get back to winning ways at the Belgian Grand Prix after reliability issues had allowed Russell to whittle down his lead in recent weeks. Russell was left fuming in a gravel trap at his Mercedes car's shortcomings.

Antonelli started on pole but lost the lead to Leclerc when a virtual safety car slowdown allowed the Ferrari driver to save time during his pit stop.

Antonelli sped back past Leclerc with 10 laps remaining and cruised from there to his sixth win of the season — and his F1 career — and first since last month's Monaco Grand Prix. It gives him a 45-point overall lead after recent reliability problems and keeps the 19-year-old firmly on target to become F1's youngest-ever champion.

“The momentum has always been there despite what happened in the previous races, and that’s why you just need to take one weekend at a time, because you never know what can happen,” Antonelli said. “With these new cars, new regs, there’s so much going on and so much unpredictable.”

With six wins, Antonelli is now joint-second all time among Italian F1 drivers, behind only Alberto Ascari, a 13-time Grand Prix winner and two-time champion in the early 1950s. In a marker-pen message on a champagne bottle, Antonelli dedicated the win to his father, former sportscar racer Marco Antonelli, whose birthday was on Saturday.

Leclerc strong again

Leclerc was second after avoiding a penalty for a collision which damaged Oscar Piastri's McLaren, and Max Verstappen was third after briefly taking, then losing, the lead from Antonelli on a hectic opening lap.

The Italian stretched his standings lead after Russell was left stuck in the gravel on the first lap after he was pushed into a spin by Ferrari’s Lewis Hamilton.

Antonelli went into the race with a 25-point lead over Russell after recent reliability issues for the Italian had cut his advantage. That has now nearly doubled. Antonelli will leave Belgium with a 45-point gap over Hamilton, who moved up to second, and is 50 ahead of Russell.

In a sign of tension at Mercedes after a heavy blow to his title chances, Russell seemed to blame his car, rather than Hamilton, for the incident. Russell said the incident wouldn't have happened if his car hadn't lost speed on the straight into the corner, dropping him behind Hamilton. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff suggested it was a software problem affecting multiple cars with Mercedes engines.

Hamilton not at fault after crew member struck

Hamilton was fourth for Ferrari after an eventful race including a five-second penalty for colliding with Russell, verbal spats with Ferrari over strategy and car setups over the radio, and knocking over a Ferrari mechanic as his car started to leave the pits.

Hamilton immediately asked after the team member’s health and was told he was OK. A post-race inquiry by the stewards found Hamilton was “in no respect at fault” and fined Ferrari 30,000 euros ($34,300), with 10,000 euros of that suspended for a year.

Oscar Piastri was fifth for McLaren and Isack Hadjar was a strong sixth for Red Bull despite starting at the back of the field because of a penalty.

Lando Norris started 13th for McLaren thanks to a grid penalty but sliced through the field and even briefly led the race when others pitted. A pit stop delay dropped him back but he still finished seventh.

Gabriel Bortoleto placed eighth for Audi, Arvid Lindblad ninth for Racing Bulls and Alpine's Franco Colapinto took the final point in 10th.

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Nolan’s 'The Odyssey' storms the box office with a $264.1 million global debut

Jake Coyle, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 16:43:57 +0000

Christopher Nolan’s “The Odyssey” launched with an estimated $124.5 million in domestic ticket sales and another $139.6 million from overseas, notching an even better debut than “Oppenheimer” and marking the filmmaker’s best opening since 2012’s “The Dark Knight Rises.”

Nolan flexed his singular box-office might with a global debut unlike any other. Few filmmakers alive could pull off a starry, big-budget adaptation of Homer’s epic poem. But in a Hollywood where intellectual property rights rule most hits, Nolan turned one of the world’s oldest works of literature into an unlikely summer blockbuster.

The Universal production was no small gamble on Nolan, coming off the 2023 best picture-winning “Oppenheimer.” With a production budget of $250 million, it’s among the most expensive R-rated movies ever made. Universal is spending some $125 million to market it.

But no behind-the-camera name turns out audiences more than Nolan's. So great was the hype on “The Odyssey” that IMAX put tickets on sale for some 70 mm showtimes a full year in advance. To satisfy the extraordinary demand for Nolan's preferred format, IMAX 70 mm, some theaters added midnight and 3 a.m. screenings — and sold them out.

“It’s incredibly rewarding to see the palpable excitement in theaters this weekend,” said Jim Orr, head of domestic distribution for Universal. “Nolan has crafted an epic adventure. It’s on a scale that audiences have responded to extraordinarily well.”

IMAX drives ticket sales

Billed as Nolan’s first feature shot entirely with IMAX cameras, the format drove a huge slice of ticket sales. That included $29.6 million domestically on IMAX and $51.8 million globally, leading to the company's best weekend ever. IMAX is dedicating its screens entirely to “The Odyssey” for three weeks. Though only 41 IMAX screens can screen “The Odyssey” in 70 mm, they accounted for $6.3 million in ticket sales.

“The IMAX of it all helped turn it from not only a blockbuster, but a global cultural event,” said Rich Gelfond, chief executive of IMAX. “We have tickets on sale for week five in some theaters and some of them have already sold out.”

Since the pandemic, Nolan has been at the forefront of reviving cinemas. His “Tenet” was one of the first big releases to wade back into theaters in 2020. Three years later, “Oppenheimer” and Greta Gerwig’s “Barbie” combined to create arguably the movies’ signature moment of the decade. “Oppenheimer” ultimately grossed $975 million worldwide.

“The Odyssey” arrived in theaters during Hollywood’s best summer since 2019. Ticket sales are running 10.4% ahead of last year, according to Rentrak. The industry is expecting the first $10 billion year at the domestic box office since the pandemic.

Universal sees ‘The Odyssey’ playing into the fall

The only question for “The Odyssey” will be how front-loaded it is, given that many moviegoers have had this weekend circled for months. The film faced no new-release competition over the weekend, and it won’t next weekend, either.

Gelfond said that presales for the movie's second weekend would rank among their 10 best presales, proof that many moviegoers are waiting to see the film in their preferred format. IMAX 70mm screenings, he said, are largely sold out for the next month, except for some front row seats.

“Christopher Nolan and Tom Cruise may be the two most high-profile ambassadors for the big-screen experience,” said Paul Dergarabedian, head of marketplace trends for Rentrak. “Nolan is a director who’s a star as much as any movie star in front of the camera.”

The audience for “The Odyssey” was notably male, accounting for 59% of tickets sold. But Orr said moviegoers were otherwise “ridiculously broad,” playing across demographics and geography.

“It’s delivering for a 17-year-old dude and it’s delivering for a female that’s 55 and up,” said Orr. “It points to what I’m convinced will be a very long, very successful run throughout not only the rest of the summer but into the fall, too.”

The next movie to pose any competition, ironically, also stars Tom Holland and Zendaya: Sony’s “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” on July 31.

Casting controversy has no apparent effect

“The Odyssey” stars Matt Damon as Odysseus and features Holland as his son, Telemachus; Anne Hathaway as Penelope; Zendaya as Athena; Robert Pattinson as the suitor Antinous and Charlize Theron as the sea nymph Calypso.

Nolan’s casting of “The Odyssey,” including Lupita Nyong’o as Helen and Elliot Page as a soldier, was controversial to some conservative commentators. Elon Musk called Nolan a “coward” over Nyong’o’s casting.

But that criticism had little to no effect on “The Odyssey” becoming one of the big-screen cultural events of the year. Reviews (95% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes) are among the best of Nolan’s career. Audiences gave it an “A” CinemaScore.

PG-rated films followed in the wake of “The Odyssey.” The Walt Disney Co.’s “Moana” landed in a distant second place with $19 million in its third weekend. Following its disappointing $43 million launch, the live-action remake slid 56% on its second weekend. In two weeks it collected $178 million worldwide, a poor result for a film that cost $250 million to make.

“Moana” was trailed by Universal's “Minions & Monsters” and Disney's “Toy Story 5,” both of which grossed about $15 million.

Top 10 movies by domestic box office

With final domestic figures being released Monday, this list factors in the estimated ticket sales for Friday through Sunday at U.S. and Canadian theaters, according to Rentrak:

1. “The Odyssey,” $124.5 million.

2. “Moana,” $19 million.

3. “Minions & Monsters,” $14.8 million.

4. “Toy Story 5,” $14.8 million.

5. “Evil Dead Burn,” $5 million.

6. “The Invite,” $3.9 million.

7. “Young Washington,” $3.7 million.

8. “Obsession,” $2.5 million.

9. “Supergirl,” $1.5 million.

10. “Disclosure Day,” $1.5 million.

Evenepoel wins 15th stage of the Tour and Pogacar retains big lead as Vingegaard crashes out of race

Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 16:38:11 +0000

Remco Evenepoel held off Tadej Pogacar and his teammate Isaac Del Toro to win the 15th stage of the Tour de France, while Pogacar kept his commanding overall lead and saw his main rival Jonas Vingegaard crash out of the race.

Vingegaard fell about 20 kilometers (about 12 miles) from the end of the 184-kilometer (114-mile) trek, which ended with a big climb. His Visma–Lease a Bike team said in a statement posted on X that he sustained a fractured collarbone, which will require surgery in the coming days, and multiple abrasions.

“I’m really sad to see Jonas crash out. Without him the Tour will not be the same,” Pogacar said. “We go back a long way.”

Belgian rider Evenepoel withstood two attacks from Del Toro in the last 800 meters and then beat Pogacar in a dash to the line for his first stage win of this year's race and third overall on the Tour. Del Toro finished a few seconds behind them in third.

“It’s amazing, I’m literally trembling from emotions,” Evenepoel said. “You have to understand, I’m racing with the best rider ever and he’s been doing a hell of a climb. For me it’s a big step forward that I can follow this pace.”

Vinegaard's retirement means that Evenepoel climbed to second overall, five minutes behind four-time Tour champion Pogacar, with the 22-year-old Mexican Del Toro 5:58 back from Pogacar in third place.

Barring mishap, a fifth Tour crown looks inevitable for Pogacar, who has won four stages so far in this year's race.

Only Belgian Eddy Merckx, Spaniard Miguel Indurain and Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil and Bernard Hinault have won the overall Tour five times.

Vingegaard crashes before final climb

Sunday's trek featured one Category 1 (the second-hardest category) up Col de la Croisette and concluded with a HC climb (the hardest category) up Plateau de Solaison in the French Alps — an 11-kilometer slog with a punishing 9% gradient.

It was a special stage for the 19-year-old rising French star Paul Seixas, whose grandparents' house was about 15 kilometers from the finish. Seixas credits his grandfather, José Manuel Seixas, for introducing him to cycling when he was a youngster. Seixas finished fourth and is fourth in the standings, 6:23 behind Pogacar.

A lead group of nine riders, including Olympic mountain bike champion Tom Pidcock and American Quinn Simmons, headed up the sharp 4.7 kilometers of Col de la Croisette, with Simmons moving ahead.

Shortly after Vingegaard's crash, which saw the Danish rider tumble close to a roadside kerb after losing control of his front wheel, riders reached the Solaison ascent.

Pogacar caught Simmons with just under 5 kilometers remaining, with Del Toro and Evenepoel the only ones able to stick with him.

“I just kept my momentum and tried to go as hard as possible to the finish line,” said Evenepoel, who said his win will silence detractors who said he could not climb well. “On hard mountains like this, it’s really hard to beat guys like Tadej.”

Monday is the second rest day of the race, which concludes on the Champs-Élysées in Paris on July 26.

Tuesday's 16th stage is an individual time trial and offers Evenepoel, the reigning time trial Olympic and world champion, a good chance for another stage win.

“We have a good rest day and then a beautiful day on Tuesday where I will try to go again for a stage win," Evenepoel said. "It’s amazing that I find my best legs for this Tour.”

He won the Tour time trial last year with a stunning ride.

Doping checks

Pogacar and Vingegaard were woken up in the early hours of Sunday morning by officials carrying out unannounced anti-doping tests.

Pogacar said his test was carried out at 5 a.m. and that Vingegaard’s was at 2 a.m.

The Slovenian star suggested fatigue may have led to his rival crashing.

“Me, I had a control (test) at 5 in the morning (and) Jonas did a control at 2 in the morning,” Pogacar said in a post-race interview on French television. “So you never know, maybe this was also the consequences of one bad sleep.”

Cycling’s governing body, the UCI, entrusts testing to the Swiss-based International Testing Agency.

Trust needed rebuilding

Cycling’s reputation was heavily damaged when American Lance Armstrong was stripped of his seven Tour titles (1999-2005) after confessing in 2013 to having used performance-enhancing drugs during his career.

Two years later, a 227-page report detailed cycling’s historic culture of drug use and investigated alleged mismanagement by the UCI.

The year-long probe was ordered by the governing body’s new leadership in a bid to rebuild trust in cycling as a clean sport. ___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

Japanese slugger Rintaro Sasaki to sign with Marlins, forgo professional career in home country

Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 17:01:01 +0000

Japanese slugger Rintaro Sasaki will sign with the Miami Marlins and forgo a professional career in his home country.

The Marlins selected Sasaki out of Stanford in the eighth round of Major League Baseball's amateur draft last week, but the Fukuoka SoftBank Hawks also selected him in the first round of the Nippon Professional Baseball draft.

The difficult decision had Sasaki fighting back tears during a news conference in his hometown on Sunday.

“More than anyone else, I believe I understand my own limitations and how much I still need to improve,” Sasaki said. “Even if this path ultimately turns out to be the wrong choice, I do not want to live with regret. Rather than defining my life by whether I succeed or fail, I want to define it by whether I had the courage to take on a challenge. With that belief in mind, I ultimately decided to pursue this path."

Sasaki played under Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani’s father, Toru, and is Japan's all-time high school home run leader with 140. He made waves out of high school, opting out of the Nippon league's draft to play at Stanford.

The 21-year-old first baseman played two seasons at Stanford, hitting .262 with 16 homers and 47 RBIs as a sophomore last year.

“I went back and forth on this decision until the very end," Sasaki said. "Ever since I chose to attend Stanford, I have always had a strong desire to challenge myself in the United States. In the end, that desire won out. I felt that I wanted to see how far I could go by challenging myself in America, and that feeling became stronger than anything else.”

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If history is any indication, expect some goals in the World Cup final between Argentina and Spain

Tim Reynolds, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 05:08:47 +0000

Expect some goals in the World Cup final. At least, that’s what history says.

In the 22 previous World Cup men's finals (which would include the 1950 match between Uruguay and Brazil that technically wasn’t a final, but decided who won the World Cup), the winning team has averaged 2.6 goals in the title matchup. The losing team has averaged 1.1 goals.

The two most recent World Cup finals have been offensive slugfests, with a combined 12 goals. France beat Croatia 4-2 in 2018, while Argentina and France tied 3-3 in 2022 (before Argentina prevailed in a penalty shootout).

Teams scoring at least two goals have won the World Cup title 17 times; there have been eight instances of a team scoring at least two goals in the final and still falling short.

There have been three 1-0 wins: West Germany over Argentina in 1990, Spain over Netherlands in 2010 and Germany over Argentina in 2014. And there was one 0-0 tie in a final; Brazil wound up winning over Italy in a penalty shootout the 1994 final, which had been the only one played on U.S. soil before now.

Scaloni looking to join elite club

If Argentina wins Sunday, Lionel Scaloni — who led the team’s push to the 2022 title — would be just the second person to coach two World Cup championship clubs.

Italy went back-to-back as World Cup champions in 1934 and 1938, with both those clubs coached by Vittorio Pozzo.

Nobody else has two titles as a coach. There are three men — Brazil’s Mário Zagallo, West Germany’s Franz Beckenbauer and France’s Didier Deschamps — to have won World Cups as both a player and a coach.

Messi matters

When he takes the field Sunday, Argentina star Lionel Messi will be the oldest field player to appear in a World Cup final.

Messi is 39. Sweden’s Gunnar Gren was 37 when he played against Brazil in the 1958 final.

The only player older than Messi to play in a final was Italy goalkeeper Dino Zoff — who was 40 when his club beat West Germany for the 1982 crown. But among field players, Messi will stand alone as the oldest after Sunday.

Messi is also in position to join Brazil’s Cafu as the only person to play in three World Cup men’s finals. And since Cafu was a reserve in one of his appearances, Messi would be the first to start the title game on three occasions.

For Spain, youth may be served. Experience may, too.

Youth may be served by Spain in this World Cup final. And if La Roja prevails, experience would also have paid off.

It’s an interesting mix.

Spain is slated to have two teenagers — Lamine Yamal and Pau Cubarsí, a pair of 19-year-olds — play Sunday against Argentina in the World Cup final, and no team has ever had more than one teen in the lineup and won the title.

So, that's the power of youth.

Here’s the flip side of that: If Spain wins, coach Luis de la Fuente — who is 65 — would become the oldest World Cup-winning sideline boss, passing Vicente del Bosque, who was 59 when Spain won its first title in 2010.

For the record, teenagers enter Sunday unbeaten in World Cup finals, according to FIFA, which says only three have ever played in soccer’s biggest game. Pelé was 17 when he helped Brazil win the final over Sweden in 1958, Giuseppe Bergomi was 18 when Italy beat West Germany in 1982, and Kylian Mbappé was 19 when France beat Croatia in 2018.

Spain seeking record streak

Spain is 28-0-9 in its last 37 matches, which has tied Italy for the longest unbeaten run by a European men’s national team.

Italy also went 28-0-9 from October 2018 through September 2021 — before losing to Spain 2-1 on Oct. 6, 2021 in Milan.

Argentina has a streak worth noting as well. It has won seven consecutive World Cup matches, tied with Italy for the second-longest such run in men's tournament history. Only Brazil, which won 11 straight spanning 2002 and 2006, has a longer World Cup winning streak.

Argentina-Spain history

The game is just the second head-to-head meeting in a World Cup between Argentina and Spain. Argentina won 2-1 in the 1966 group stage.

Across all competitions and friendlies, the sides have played 14 times. Each has won six times and they tied twice.

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Russian attacks kill 6 in Kyiv and other cities and expose gaps in Ukraine's air defenses

Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 04:41:30 +0000

Russia attacked Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with ballistic missiles, drones and guided bombs Sunday, killing at least six people and wounding dozens, authorities said, again highlighting Ukraine’s shortage of U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems.

Moscow has in recent weeks stepped up its use of ballistic missiles as it seeks to choke off Ukrainian strikes on oil facilities deep inside Russia that have caused critical fuel shortages affecting both the military and the civilian population.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said he is prepared to grant Ukraine licenses to produce Patriots, the most effective means of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles, potentially bolstering Kyiv’s defenses. However, the details and timeline remain unclear, and full production could take years.

The latest attack on Kyiv began at around 1:30 a.m. and continued for several hours, with explosions echoing across the city.

Russia launched 41 missiles and 125 drones across Ukraine overnight, according to the Ukrainian air force. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said most of the missiles had targeted the capital.

Later Sunday, a Russian attack on a postal facility near Ukraine’s second-largest city of Kharkiv killed three people and wounded at least 20, according to the regional administration.

Russian guided bombs also hit the cities of Kherson and Sumy, local authorities and Ukraine’s emergency service reported, with each of the strikes leaving at least one person dead.

Ballistic missile strikes are becoming more frequent

The strikes on Kyiv sparked fires in five districts, damaging residential buildings, office and industrial sites, a dormitory and vehicles, according to Ukraine’s State Emergency Service.

Viktoria Shejko, 32, was taking shelter in the corridor of her apartment block with her seven children and husband when they heard the loud explosions.

“When the alarm started, we checked that there were ballistics, then went into the corridor. Then it started exploding one missile after another,” she said.

The strain of constant bombardment is “very difficult psychologically,” she said. “It used to be once a week or even more rarely, but now if not every day, then every other day.”

Rescuers pulled four people from a burning home in the Sviatoshynskyi district, while in the Shevchenkivskyi district, they rushed to save residents from a three-story building on fire. One person was found dead. Firefighters also responded to blazes in the Solomyanskyi, Desnianskyi and Dnipro districts.

Russia's Defense Ministry claimed the attack on Kyiv targeted sites linked to the Ukrainian military — including plants producing Flamingo drones and parts for Neptune guided missiles, as well as a postal terminal used for storing dual-use goods and assembling drones, robotic systems and electronic warfare equipment.

Oil tankers hit at key terminal off Russia's coast

Separately, a strike on two oil tankers at the Caspian Pipeline Consortium (CPC) ‌terminal off Russia’s Black Sea halted oil loadings at the site, the CPC said Sunday.

The attack on the ASIA and NISSOS tankers in the port of Novorossiysk sparked a fire aboard the ASIA, which was extinguished. The company did not say who was responsible for the attack. It added there were no casualties or oil spills, and the tankers — sailing under the flags of Liberia and the Marshall respectively — remained afloat.

Both Russia and Ukraine have sharply ramped up strikes on ships in the Black and Azov seas over the past week. Ukraine's strikes on oil tankers there are part of its efforts to cut fuel supplies to the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014. Kyiv also says it targets Russia's so-called shadow fleet, which ships oil in violation of international sanctions over the Kremlin's invasion of its neighbor.

Kyiv has for months been targeting Russia's oil industry, which it says both directly fuels Moscow's war effort and funds it through export revenues, triggering acute fuel shortages in a country that is one of the world's top oil producers.

The CPC is a 940-mile (1,510-kilometer) oil pipeline connecting Kazakhstan’s Caspian Sea oil deposits ⁠with Novorossiysk, where the oil is loaded and shipped by tanker to world markets. The pipeline accounts for about 80% of oil-rich Kazakhstan's crude exports, with the Russian government and Russian state oil firms holding a combined 31% stake in the enterprise.

Russia's energy sector under attack

Zelenskyy announced on Sunday that Ukrainian units struck more energy infrastructure in Russian territory.

He said units of Ukraine’s Security Service agency struck three oil depots in the Stavropol region, while a separate unit of the army hit another fuel-related facility in the same region. Three Russian tankers were also struck in the Black Sea, he said.

Stavropol Gov. Vladimir Vladimirov earlier referenced Ukrainian drone attacks igniting fires at “industrial facilities” in two locations within the region. He did not specify what the facilities were, but said nobody was hurt.

Russian news outlet Astra on Sunday reported that three oil depots may be burning in Stavropol, based on its analysis of photos and videos sent in by locals after the attack.

Russian air defense systems shot down 140 Ukrainian drones over eight Russian regions, annexed Crimea, and the Black and Azov seas overnight into Sunday, Russia's Defense Ministry reported. It did not say how many were launched or reached their targets.

In Russia's Kursk region near the Ukrainian border, Ukrainian drones struck four apartment buildings, setting off a fire and injuring one person, according to local Gov. Alexander Khinshtein.

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Follow the AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Justice Department activates untested court for 'alien terrorist' deportations

Eric Tucker, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 13:40:04 +0000

The Trump administration has filed a first-ever petition to a secretive and dormant court created 30 years ago to consider government requests to deport so-called “alien terrorists” from the United States.

The Alien Terrorist Removal Court was established in 1996 but had never received a petition until this past Wednesday, when the Justice Department filed an application seeking the removal of an individual whose name is withheld from the single-page document posted on the court’s website.

The chief judge of the five-member court, Joan Ericksen, said in a written response to the petition that a hearing was held on Thursday during which the court had “questions about the nexus that the government alleges between the actions of the respondent and the specific sections and subsections it invokes with respect to those actions.

“The answers persuaded the Court that the Government could benefit from the opportunity for more thoughtful consideration,” wrote Ericksen, a federal judge in Minnesota.

She directed the Justice Department to provide more information by Wednesday.

The court's authorities emerged from the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996, which permits the attorney general to file under seal applications for the deportation of a suspected “alien terrorist.” If an application is granted, the court must hold a public hearing at which the government has the burden to prove that the individual satisfies that definition. Applications must be approved by the attorney general or deputy attorney general.

Federal law says that an individual could qualify as an “alien terrorist” by, among other factors, having “engaged in a terrorist activity,” endorsing or espousing terrorist activities and by belonging to a political or social group that encourages terrorist activity.

The court has been dormant since its creation, having received — until last week — no applications and conducting no hearings, according to a summary posted on the Federal Judicial Center website. It is comprised of five judges selected by Chief Justice John Roberts.

The Trump administration has moved aggressively over the last year to carry out deportations, including invoking a 1798 wartime law, the Alien Enemies Act, to remove Venezuelan migrants who officials accuse of being part of a terrorist gang. During a hearing in that case last year, the Washington judge presiding over it, James Boasberg, indicated that the Alien Terrorist Removal Court would be the natural forum to consider a request for deportation on national security grounds.

“In fact, Congress has an answer for us, doesn’t it? Because they created the Alien Terrorist Removal Court,” he said. “So if there's a national security concern with having these hearings...you can always go to the ATRC, which would be a first, but that’s what it’s there for, right?”

The petition was first reported by Court Watch, an independent news site.

Second death reported in Legionnaires’ disease outbreak in New York City

Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 16:08:10 +0000

A second person has died in connection with an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease in New York, the New York City Health Department announced Saturday.

The outbreak on Manhattan’s Upper East Side has infected 72 people, according to health officials. Two people have died. The first death was announced Friday, and the second was announced Saturday.

“We are heartbroken to learn that another New Yorker has lost their life to Legionnaires’ disease on the Upper East Side. Our deepest condolences are with their loved ones as they grieve,” New York City Health Commissioner Dr. Alister F. Martin said in a statement.

Legionnaires’ disease is a form of severe pneumonia caused by a type of bacteria that thrives in warm, stagnant water. Health officials have focused on testing cooling towers that are part of air conditioning systems for large buildings. Property owners have been ordered to drain and disinfect towers where there has been a positive test result.

Health officials did not pinpoint a source for the current outbreak but said there has been a sustained decline in new cases. They said that indicates the source of exposure to Legionella bacteria has likely been eliminated.

Legionnaires’ disease is treatable but 10% of people will die due to complications from the illness, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Last year, seven people died and more than 100 were sickened during an outbreak in New York’s Harlem neighborhood.

Mercedes to take action as George Russell fumes at loss of speed before his race-ending crash

Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 13:22:30 +0000

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff said the team needs to work to restore George Russell's confidence after the British driver blamed a lack of speed for the collision that ended his Belgian Grand Prix and damaged his Formula 1 title chances.

Russell was trying to retake fourth place from Lewis Hamilton around the outside when the Ferrari driver clipped his rear wheel and sent him spinning into the gravel trap, putting him out of the race on the first lap.

In an expletive-filled message to Mercedes over the radio, Russell directed the blame at the car, not Hamilton, saying it was “unacceptable” he'd had a dramatic loss of speed on the previous straight, dropping him from third to fifth behind Hamilton.

“It was a new problem but it wasn’t only on George’s side. Instead, it affected all the Mercedes engines, some more, some less, and Kimi (Antonelli) too," Wolff told Sky Sport Germany, suggesting a software problem was to blame.

"We have an engine that’s incredibly strong, a car that is fast but simply not stable enough and we need to get on top of that because we’re losing valuable points in the constructors’ championship.”

Wolff added: “We just need to try to make the best possible equipment available for him. That’s not just a fast car and a good engine but something that holds up and gives him confidence in the car again.”

Antonelli went on to win the race, doubling his advantage over Russell to 50 points. Russell is now third in the standings, five points behind Hamilton, who got a five-second penalty for causing their collision.

“Car crossed over right in front of me,” Hamilton said, adding he'd lacked front-end grip to avoid the collision because he was following another car closely.

Russell has been struggling to match Antonelli's pace in recent races and, even before Sunday's race, had suggested an issue with the Mercedes car may be holding him back after he lost out in straight-line speed to Antonelli in qualifying.

Russell told Sky Sports he had “no words at the moment” after the incident, when asked about the impact on the title race.

“The incident shouldn’t have happened if I had the speed down the straight,” he said.

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Takeaways from the AP-NORC poll of more than 1,000 Jewish Americans

Linley Sanders, Associated Press — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 13:12:18 +0000

The Associated Press surveyed more than 1,000 Jewish adults in the U.S. to better understand their views on Israel's military actions in Gaza, their opinions of the political parties and their experiences with prejudice in the United States.

The survey of 1,022 Jewish adults — including people who identify as Jewish by religion and religiously unaffiliated people who identify as Jewish through culture, ethnicity or family background — offers a rare detailed accounting of a key demographic that sits at the very center of some of the nation’s most divisive political debates.

Here are five takeaways from the AP-NORC survey:

Jewish adults have complicated views about Israel and the war in Gaza

Among Jews with a religious affiliation, views on Israel’s recent military actions are far from uniform or uncritical.

About 7 in 10 Jewish adults overall identify as Jewish when asked about their religious affiliation. The rest, about 3 in 10 Jewish adults, say they are atheists, agnostics, or have no particular religious affiliation, but still identify as Jewish in other ways.

While about 8 in 10 of those with a religious affiliation say Israel’s immediate military response to Hamas’ attack on October 7 was “justified,” only about half say Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza are justified. Among Jewish adults without a religious affiliation, only about half saw Israel's immediate response as justifiable. Now, only about 2 in 10 say the ongoing military operations are acceptable.

About one-quarter of Jewish adults with a religious association believe Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians in Gaza, an accusation that’s been leveled by some major human rights organizations and a team of independent experts commissioned by the United Nations. That accusation has been vehemently denied by Israel and the U.S. government. Roughly 4 in 10 Jewish adults without a religious affiliation say Israel has committed genocide.

Many Jewish adults feel unsafe in the United States

About 6 in 10 Jewish adults say prejudice against Jewish people is an “extremely” or “very” serious problem in the United States today.

About one-third of Jewish adults in the survey say they feel “very” or “somewhat” safe as a Jewish person in the U.S. today, while about one-third feel “very” or “somewhat” unsafe. The remaining roughly 3 in 10 say they feel neither safe nor unsafe.

A significant share of Jewish adults, about 3 in 10, say they or someone in their household has experienced physical assault, verbal abuse, online harassment or damaged property because of their Jewish background over the last year, according to the survey.

The survey points to how Jewish adults’ attitudes toward their own personal safety have changed over a relatively short period as more Americans became critical of the United States’ close alliance with Israel and the war in Gaza. The poll found that Jewish adults who feel a close emotional tie to Israel are particularly likely to feel unsafe in the country today.

Most American Jews don’t feel politicians are supporting Jewish people

Few Jewish adults believe that President Donald Trump — or the Democratic or Republican parties — are doing a good job supporting Jewish people in the U.S.

Only about 2 in 10 Jewish adults say Trump supports Jewish people in this country “extremely” or “very” well. That’s similar to the slight share who find the Republican Party and the Democratic Party highly supportive, but Jewish adults are more likely to say the Democratic Party is at least “somewhat” supportive.

Americans overall are more likely than Jewish adults to see Trump as “extremely” or “very” supportive of Jewish people in the United States. About 3 in 10 U.S. adults say Trump is highly supportive of Jewish people, compared to about 2 in 10 Jewish adults.

The poll also found most Jewish adults have negative views of Trump. About 7 in 10 Jewish adults have a “very” or “somewhat” unfavorable opinion of Trump, compared to about 3 in 10 who have a favorable view.

Jewish adults are divided over whether protesting Israel is a form of antisemitism

Protests around events conducted in support of Israel became more common following the backlash over Israel’s military action in Gaza.

The war in Gaza began with Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel that killed roughly 1,200 people, most of them civilians. Israel responded with a yearslong counterattack that killed more than 73,000 people, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which is part of the territory's Hamas-run government. Its casualty figures are viewed as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and international organizations but don’t distinguish between civilians and militants.

The poll found that about half of Jewish adults say protesting an event that is supportive of Israel is not a form of antisemitism, but roughly 4 in 10 say it is. About 1 in 10 are uncertain.

Jewish adults are more unified in deeming some actions as definitively antisemitic. The overwhelming majority say vandalizing synagogues or Jewish-owned businesses because of Israel’s actions is antisemitism. The same goes for denying the reality or scope of the Holocaust, putting responsibility for Israel’s actions on Jewish people in the United States or saying Israel shouldn’t exist as a Jewish state.

Support for Israel is less of a priority for younger Jewish adults

Support for Israel is a key component of the religious identity of many older Jewish adults in the United States, but younger Jewish adults appear less likely to prioritize it.

About half of older religious Jewish adults — those 45 and older — say that supporting Israel is “extremely” or “very” important for their Jewish identity. By contrast, only about 4 in 10 younger religious Jewish adults emphasize support for Israel.

Younger Jewish adults are more likely to prioritize other forms of connection, like celebrating Jewish holidays. About 7 in 10 Jewish adults under 45 say celebrating Jewish holidays is at least “very” important to their Jewish identity, compared to about half of older Jewish adults.

Tropical Depression Two Forms in the Gulf. Here’s What It Means for Central Florida

Julie Broughton — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 15:02:19 +0000

The National Hurricane Center is now tracking Tropical Depression 2 in the Gulf. This is the area of low pressure we’ve been monitoring. The NHC initiated advisories on TD 2 at 11 a.m. Sunday. As of 11:00, maximum sustained winds were 30 MPH, and the system is moving slowly northwest at 2 MPH. A tropical storm watch is in effect for part of the Florida coast from Ochlockonee River to the Alabama border. TD 2 is expected to strengthen, becoming Tropical Storm Bertha by late Monday.

As the system drifts northwest, the greatest impacts, including the potential for heavy rain, will stay focused on Florida’s west coast, the Panhandle, and portions of the northern Gulf Coast. For Central Florida, the system’s westward track means our rain chances will gradually decrease.

Today, our highest rain chances will be across our western counties, including Lake, Marion, and Sumter, where rain chances climb to around 50%-60%. Most other areas have about a 40% chance of afternoon showers and thunderstorms.

Even though storms will not be widespread, any that develop could become strong. The Storm Prediction Center continues to place most of Central Florida under a Level 1 of 5 Marginal Risk for severe weather. The strongest storms will be capable of producing wind gusts up to 55 mph, torrential downpours, and frequent cloud-to-ground lightning. Localized rainfall totals of 1 to 3 inches are possible where storms linger, with isolated higher amounts that could lead to minor flooding.

Temperatures will remain seasonably hot, with afternoon highs in the lower to middle 90s and heat index values climbing to 100-107 degrees.

Looking ahead, as TD 2 pulls farther away and weakens, our rain chances continue to trend downward through the workweek. Daily afternoon storms will still be possible, but coverage should become more isolated, allowing for more sunshine and a gradual warming trend into the middle and latter part of the week.

Nigerian children pay the price for the Iran war as malnutrition and poverty surge

Ope Adetayo, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 05:13:59 +0000

Maryam Aminu was hardly surprised when the last of her six children was diagnosed with malnutrition in April for a second time. She was barely feeding the 18-month-old regularly, let alone with nutritious foods.

Although the family in northwest Nigeria has struggled with economic hardship, their situation deteriorated after February, when her husband, Shehu Aminu, lost his job as a taxi driver due to a spike in the retail price of petrol caused by the war in Iran.

“When she was diagnosed the second time, even though I suspected it, I was sad and angry because I knew why,” Aminu said in the living area of their unvarnished two-bedroom house in the quiet town of Kware, Sokoto, as ash from the coal stove billowed into the room. “Times are tough, and the food is not consistent.”

Children relapsing into malnutrition has become an increasingly common occurrence in the state and across northern Nigeria, according to local health and aid workers, who cite knock-on effects from the Iran war.

Northern Nigeria, one of the world’s poorest regions, is already under pressure from an insurgency crisis. Now, the conflict in the Middle East has worsened food security for millions of people living in poverty, especially children.

At the same time, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu’s vast economic reforms sparked high inflation after fuel subsidies were removed three years ago and the currency was devalued. A World Bank technical report this week stated that 139 million Nigerians are now poor or vulnerable to poverty.

If the war in the Middle East continues, up to 23.4 million additional children could fall into monetary poverty — meaning a lack of income or consumption — by the end of the year, the United Nations children's agency UNICEF said in a report this week. It warned that at least 80% would be in Africa and Asia.

“Children are paying the price for the escalating conflict in the Middle East, including children far beyond the region,” said UNICEF Executive Director Catherine Russell. “The longer this continues, the worse the consequences will be.”

Dangers ahead for children

Amid the Iran war, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz — through which a fifth of the world’s oil and gas passed before the war — sent a ripple effect across the world. A worldwide fuel shock drove up the prices of everything from gas and groceries to fertilizer and airline tickets.

In Nigeria, fuel pump prices jumped from 800 naira ($0.58) per liter in February to 1,400 naira ($1.02) in April, with a knock-on effect on the prices of food and necessities.

U.S. President Donald Trump has been trying to force Iran to fully reopen the route for months, turning to everything from airstrikes and naval blockades to negotiations and threats.

In Sokoto, where the soaring prices have brought more hardship for families, health workers told The Associated Press that they've been seeing more children returned to health facilities this year after falling back into malnutrition.

At a hospital in Sokoto, records shared with AP show nearly 40 children previously treated for malnutrition since February are currently under treatment again, in addition to those not documented.

“I am worried and sometimes angry about the increasing numbers we are seeing,” said health worker Halimah Muhammad.

Beyond current realities, soaring prices and economic hardship mean that children in poor households are more likely to be stunted in the long term, UNICEF's Russell said in an interview with the AP as she was visiting Sokoto this week.

“Their development will be compromised. They are less likely to stay in school because their parents are under so much financial stress. So the long-term implications for children are absolutely terrible,” said Russell.

The war has also affected fertilizer supplies and prices, threatening the planting season and worsening the fate of mostly farming communities in northern Nigeria who have struggled to access their farmlands amid a deadly conflict with armed groups.

“I wake up every morning unhappy, seeing I can no longer provide for my family,” said Shehu, Maryam's husband. “Then, 2,000 naira could buy you a nutritious meal for the whole family. Now, you need 5,000 naira to buy what 2,000 naira would buy.”

Most of their meals are pap, a kind of corn pudding, and rice. “There is no way to feed the children,” he said.

‘I wish she were excited and full of life’

People in northwest Nigeria are caught between regular attacks by bandit groups who specialize in kidnapping for ransom and Islamist militants who have been expanding their territory. The Iran war, analysts say, compounds the impact.

“This distant war offers no relief for the north’s vulnerable,” Ikemesit Effiong, a partner at SBM Intelligence, a Lagos-based geopolitical risk advisory, said.

Larai Malami, a 35-year-old mother of 10, gave birth to her last child in December, but the infant has already been diagnosed with malnutrition twice.

Her family has been struggling after her husband lost his job as a motorcycle rider and crossed the border into neighboring Niger to look for work.

Malami worries about the fuel price because it keeps the price of food high and her husband away. “I worry that the child might never be fully well,” she said.

That is a sentiment shared by Aminu, too. “I wish she were excited and full of life,” she said.

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For more on Africa and development: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-pulse

The Associated Press receives financial support for global health and development coverage in Africa from the Gates Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

AIPAC has spent a record amount on Michigan's Senate primary, the biggest test of its influence yet

Joey Cappelletti, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 13:28:40 +0000

Senate candidate Haley Stevens talks often about manufacturing, taking on President Donald Trump and why she’s the Democrat best positioned to win Michigan. The congresswoman has far less to say about the pro-Israel group that has spent millions trying to get her elected.

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, or AIPAC, and its affiliated groups have spent close to $30 million backing Stevens — their largest investment ever in a single race — as they seek to defeat progressive favorite Abdul El-Sayed in the Aug. 4 primary.

Stevens has largely avoided discussing the organization directly, even as its spending has reshaped the race. Asked twice about AIPAC during a July campaign stop in West Michigan, she responded for more than 800 words without mentioning the group a single time. Israel came up only once, when she said she “wanted to see the U.S. and Israel working together to rebuild Gaza.”

“Anyone who supported me is supporting me because of my dedication to the people of Michigan, and the things that I have done for Michiganders,” Stevens told The Associated Press when asked whether she welcomed AIPAC’s support.

The exchange illustrates how politically fraught AIPAC has become in Democratic politics as the war in Gaza has divided the party over U.S. support for Israel. AIPAC works to elect lawmakers who support its mission of strengthening the U.S.-Israel relationship and advancing policies it says enhance the security of both countries.

AIPAC did not respond to a request for comment. The organization’s super PAC, United Democracy Project, declined to comment.

The issue carries particular weight in Michigan, home to the nation’s largest Arab American population. Beyond Michigan, El-Sayed’s progressive allies are framing the race as a broader test of whether grassroots organizing can overcome unprecedented outside spending.

“One of the laws of nature in politics is whoever spends the most money wins,” said New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has been campaigning for El-Sayed in Michigan this weekend.

“It is an opportunity to show that things other than money can win in America.”

Stevens has spent $1 million on advertising. Her backers have spent $50 million

The four-term congresswoman raised half of what El-Sayed did in the latest fundraising period until June 30. Her team said in a statement that the campaign “is raising the resources we need to win this race.”

She spent only $12,000 of her own campaign funds on advertising through early July, before bumping it up to close to $1 million, according to AdImpact. Outside organizations, meanwhile, have poured close to $50 million into boosting her candidacy. One of them, A Stronger Michigan, has spent roughly $12 million without disclosing its donors.

El-Sayed has made AIPAC and the tens of millions of dollars spent to support Stevens a centerpiece of his campaign. He and his allies have accused Stevens as being a mouthpiece for her large donors.

“She is nothing more than an employee of these billionaires,” said Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is also campaigning with El-Sayed this weekend at rallies in Detroit, Lansing and Grand Rapids.

Stevens has said she supports “comprehensive campaign finance reform.”

Most voters are unlikely to realize many of the ads blanketing Michigan’s airwaves are funded by AIPAC. They never mention Israel, instead highlighting Stevens’ work on manufacturing and featuring former President Barack Obama.

“AIPAC never runs on AIPAC. They never even talk about Israel and Palestine,” said former Rep. Andy Levin, whom Stevens defeated in a 2022 Democratic primary after redistricting. AIPAC spent millions opposing Levin, who is Jewish. “If you’re just a voter and you see a million ads, you don’t know who paid for it.”

A stark divide on Israel in a state with large Muslim and Jewish populations

The surge of spending from AIPAC comes as the Democratic candidates have taken sharply different positions on Israel’s war in Gaza.

While Stevens is not Jewish, she has long been one of Congress’ most outspoken supporters of Israel. She has described herself as a “proud pro-Israel Democrat” and once said during a Hanukkah celebration that “Israel comes to me in my dreams.”

Stevens has criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. During a recent debate, she said he “has not made us safer, has not brought us closer to peace, and he’s endangered Jews here in America and around the world.”

El-Sayed has embraced the contrast. The son of Egyptian immigrants, he has called Israel’s military campaign in Gaza a “genocide,” described the Israeli government as “evil,” and repeatedly argued that AIPAC’s influence distorts Democratic politics.

“The reason that we’ve seen this war fought is because of the impact of AIPAC in our politics,” El-Sayed said during a recent debate.

The war in Gaza began after Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023 attacks in Israel that killed about 1,200 people and took 251 hostage. It has since waged on for over 1,000 days. Israel has killed more than 73,000 Palestinians in its retaliatory offensive, Gaza’s Health Ministry said.

If elected, El-Sayed would become the first Muslim U.S. senator. He recently addressed questions about whether his faith would hurt his electability in the battleground state.

“When they raise questions about my ‘electability,’ they are usually pointing to the most obvious thing about me that makes me ‘different’ — that’s my name and my Muslim faith,” he wrote in an email to supporters. “Faith, to me, isn’t just about an identity. It’s about the choices that I make every single day about how I live my life.”

El-Sayed has spent about $3.2 million from his own campaign account on advertising, with around $1 million in outside spending. His campaign has instead emphasized grassroots organizing, saying it has recruited more than 10,000 volunteers statewide.

Asked how many volunteers Stevens has, her campaign said it has “hundreds across Michigan.”

“This election will come down to the many versus the money,” El-Sayed wrote.

The Democratic divide is occurring beyond Michigan

Once-firm support for Israel has eroded within parts of the Democratic Party in the fallout from the war in Gaza. As divisions over Israel have deepened, criticism of AIPAC has intensified.

Earlier this week, 103 House Democrats voted unsuccessfully to block $3.3 billion in U.S. aid to Israel, the clearest sign yet of the party’s divide. Among them was New York Rep. Pat Ryan, who had previously voted to send aid to Israel and accepted support from AIPAC.

“I expect groups like AIPAC will not support me in my future elections and frankly, I don’t want their support,” Ryan said on social media, later adding that he was returning the money.

The tension also played out in 2024. In Michigan's Senate race, Democratic activists pressured now-Sen. Elissa Slotkin to take a harder line on Israel’s war in Gaza. Slotkin, who is Jewish, had already distanced herself from AIPAC years earlier. She ultimately defeated Republican Mike Rogers by fewer than 20,000 votes.

Rogers is running for Senate again this year, and is unopposed in the GOP primary.

While the issue still remains divisive for Democrats, some question whether it will ultimately shape how most primary voters cast their ballots, with concerns such as the economy carrying greater weight.

“It’s not that Democratic primary voters love AIPAC. They obviously don’t,” said Michigan political strategist Adrian Hemond. “But this doesn’t even register as an issue that’s influencing voting behavior for the overwhelming majority of primary voters.”

Andy Biggs and David Schweikert offer competing visions for Republican Party in Arizona primary

Jonathan J. Cooper, Jacques Billeaud And Wufei Yu, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 13:05:19 +0000

As the head of the conservative Freedom Caucus in the U.S. House, Rep. Andy Biggs was one of the Republican Party's most hard-line brawlers in Washington, championing President Donald Trump's agenda while frustrating establishment leaders.

U.S. Rep. David Schweikert says those uncompromising tactics are a losing recipe in Arizona, where Republicans have watched their power erode as voters rejected nominees seen as too extreme.

After decades coexisting in the fractious Arizona Republican Party, Biggs and Schweikert are on a collision course in Tuesday's primary for governor. The race has become a clash of competing visions for reviving the once-dominant GOP to take on Katie Hobbs, the most vulnerable Democratic governor in the country.

Biggs, endorsed by Trump and backed by Turning Point Action, built his political career as a skilled Republican infighter, but he's never faced a tough campaign against a Democrat. Schweikert, meanwhile, is trying to resurrect a version of the party that is becoming increasingly anachronistic.

“Biggs lives in a district where if he were a turtle running as a Republican, you’re going to win it,” said Kathleen Dunbar, 75, a former member of the Tucson City Council who plans to vote for Schweikert on Election Day. “Schweikert lives in a district that’s very much like the state of Arizona, where he has to win the independents. And he’s done it eight times in the last 16 years.”

Republicans have struggled in Arizona

Biggs' biggest asset is his alliance with Trump. But Trump’s endorsement is a double-edged sword in Arizona.

No Republican has lost a statewide primary here with Trump’s backing. But since 2018, only one of them, former Gov. Doug Ducey, has managed to win a statewide general election. As a result, in a state where registered Democrats are outnumbered by both Republicans and independents, the Democratic Party holds both Senate seats and the top three state offices.

In 2022, a Trump-backed slate of Republicans — led by former local news anchor Kari Lake as the party's nominee for governor — refused to moderate their message in the general election, convinced that a fired-up MAGA base would propel them to victory. They lost.

Biggs rejects comparisons to Lake, and he's been sanding down the edges of his no-compromise persona.

After backing Trump's push to block the 2020 election certification, Biggs now refuses to say whether Biden's win was legitimate. He's also talking up examples of working across the aisle.

Biggs voter Kathy Babits, 71, a retired occupational therapist from Scottsdale, said she wasn't swayed by Schweikert's warning that Biggs is too toxic for a general electorate.

“As long as people get behind him and as long as things don't change too much, I'm in favor," Babits said.

The primary reflects a changing Republican Party

Biggs and Schweikert are both fiscal conservatives from neighboring districts in Phoenix's suburban East Valley, the two whitest and wealthiest districts in Arizona.

On style, however, they're starkly different.

Biggs brags about having a direct line to Trump. He built a national profile in the House as a bulwark against compromise with Democrats, playing a key role in taking down Republican Speaker Kevin McCarthy and joining an unsuccessful rebellion against his successor, Mike Johnson.

He has taken hard-line, sometimes lonely stances against government spending. He was one of a handful of House members to vote against economic stimulus early in the COVID-19 pandemic, and as a state legislator even proposed eliminating the state's Medicaid program.

He has thrived in the younger, rapidly growing, family-oriented suburbs on the sprawling fringes of metro Phoenix.

“I like his style and his policies and his mannerisms,” said Don Dobie, a Biggs supporter from Scottsdale. “And he looks like a trustworthy guy.”

Schweikert, meanwhile, has not been photographed with Trump. Though he's been a reliable supporter of Trump's priorities and avoids publicly criticizing him, he's strived to cultivate a public image as a budget wonk obsessed with the federal deficit.

He has persevered among the genteel, country club set in one of the nation's most highly educated congressional districts. He managed to hold onto his House seat even as many of the wealthy, highly educated Republicans in his district abandoned the party under Trump.

Schweikert needs voters like Jeff Clark, a retired telecommunications engineer from Scottsdale who has been dismayed by his party's embrace of Trump.

“Once they say they’re Trump-sponsored and everything, I’m sorry, it’s just not going to work,” Clark said.

But Clark sat out the gubernatorial race, declining to vote for anyone because he's convinced Biggs has a lock on the nomination and didn't see Schweikert “do much of anything for anybody” in Congress.

Republicans are struggling in Arizona because they aren't aggressive enough in pushing Trump's priorities, like the SAVE America election bill, said Michael LoBello, a 79-year-old retiree from Scottsdale. He voted for Biggs.

“Stand up for the people,” LoBello said. “Just stand up for us. They’re forgetting who they represent, and that’s the people.”

Crowded primary for a battleground House district

Both parties have hotly contested primaries for Schweikert's House district, which is a top battleground in the fight for a congressional majority.

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has controversially thrown its support behind Marlene Galán-Woods, a former television news anchor who used to be a Republican. Her late husband, Grant Woods, was the Republican attorney general in the 1990s and later became a vocal Trump critic.

Woods' chief opponent, Amish Shah, is an emergency medicine doctor and former state legislator who was the party's nominee in 2024 but lost narrowly to Schweikert.

“I like his background in medicine,” said Jeff Cohen of Cave Creek, 69, an attorney who voted for Shah. “And he actually came to my door and I met him. It made a difference. Old-style politics.”

On the Republican side, former Arizona Cardinals kicker Jay Feely has Trump's endorsement. He's been dogged by criticism for living outside the district — he lives in Biggs' district and originally was running there until Trump endorsed a rival.

Feely faces Joseph Chaplik, a former state legislator popular with many of the party's grassroots activists, and businessman John Trobough.

Social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate arrested in Miami, US Marshals Service tells AP

Associated Press — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 23:22:32 +0000

Influencer brothers Andrew and Tristan Tate, whose social media empire promoting wealth, male dominance and misogyny has made them among the world’s most polarizing internet personalities, were arrested Saturday in Miami as British authorities sought their extradition on rape and sex trafficking charges.

The brothers were taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service on a sealed warrant, agency spokesperson Brady McCarron told The Associated Press, placing the United States at the center of an international legal saga that has stretched from Romania to Britain.

Britain is seeking their extradition on rape and trafficking charges

British prosecutors announced Saturday that they were seeking the brothers’ extradition on charges alleging they raped and trafficked women between 2010 and 2017.

Last year, they were allowed to leave Romania and flew to Florida on a private jet.

The brothers are expected to appear in Miami’s federal court early next week, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke to on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive law enforcement operations.

The pending charges in the United Kingdom accused the brothers of abusing women in an area north of London, where they grew up. Their lawyers had said they denied the allegations.

Joseph McBride, an attorney representing the Tate brothers, said in a phone interview Saturday evening that he has not been able to speak with his clients but called the new charges out of the U.K. “filth and slander” intended to derail defamation lawsuits filed by the brothers in the U.S.

“They’re pulling out all the stops to make sure these guys never get their day in court,” McBride said.

“We are confident that once a competent judge sees the facts, and once the Department of Justice confronts this egregious abuse of its own authority, Andrew and Tristan Tate will walk free. America does not do Britain’s political dirty work."

Tate has been banned from social media platforms for hate speech

Andrew Tate, 39, first reached a mainstream audience as a contestant on the U.K. reality television show “Big Brother” in 2016. He was removed from the show when a video surfaced that appeared to show Tate assaulting a woman. He and his brother Tristan Tate, 38, are vocal supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump.

Andrew Tate has amassed over 10 million followers on X but has been banned from platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Instagram for violating hate speech guidelines. His most widely condemned rhetoric includes comments that women who are sexually assaulted should bear some responsibility for their attacks, graphic descriptions of how he might attack women and criticisms of people who seek treatment for mental illness.

The Tate brothers have consistently denied allegations of abuse and human trafficking, claiming that violent and misogynistic statements have been taken out of context or were intended as jokes.

In a statement Saturday, the U.K.'s Crown Prosecution Services said that in addition to the charges publicly announced against the brothers in 2025, involving alleged crimes against three women, it was bringing a total of 38 new charges related to "four further victims.”

Both brothers are accused of rape and human trafficking. Andrew Tate faces an additional charge of profiting from prostitution, and 19 charges “for offences relating to indecent images of a child and extreme pornography,” according to U.K. authorities.

“There is no place for male violence against women and girls, and we will continue to work tirelessly to support victims and investigate all reports made to us,” said Karena Thomas, an assistant chief constable of the Bedfordshire Police, which investigated the case.

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Associated Press writer Savannah Peters in Santa Fe, New Mexico contributed to this report.

Thunderstorms will clear wildfire smoke from Northeast ahead of World Cup final, meteorologists say

Jennifer Mcdermott And Philip Marcelo, Associated Press — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 17:20:52 +0000

Smoke from Canadian wildfires that engulfed the Northeast in haze is expected to mostly clear from the New Jersey area just in time for the World Cup final on Sunday thanks to thunderstorms passing through, meteorologists said.

Still, warnings of unhealthy air remained in effect Saturday across a wide swath of the United States, and President Donald Trump continued to lay blame on Canada for the smoke crossing the border.

Trump, who planned to attend the cup final, threatened to impose tariffs in response, and Ontario Premier Doug Ford criticized that as unacceptable and shortsighted.

At MetLife Stadium, where the World Cup final is scheduled to take place, the sky was the same thick, soupy gray it has been for days, even after a drenching thunderstorm prompted warnings of flash flooding and forced the Spanish national team to suspend its last outdoor training session ahead of the clash with Argentina.

After the rain cleared, Netherlands tourists Joost Timpers and his two sons were among fans taking photos outside the open-air venue, which has been renamed the New York/New Jersey Stadium for the matches.

They did not have tickets to the final but biked more than an hour from their hotel just to see the arena up close. Timpers said he was certain players and fans will fare just fine even if conditions do not improve.

“We’re not experts in air quality, of course, but we are experiencing the quality now,” he said. “I didn’t experience anything different from cycling in the Netherlands or anywhere else.”

Storms will help clear the air

Saturday's storm front will largely move the smoke out of the Northeast before the final between Spain and Argentina, said Tyler Roys, a senior meteorologist at AccuWeather.

“There could be some lingering smoke that would make things hazy, but very faint,” Roys said. “In terms of the thickest smoke, the smoke that has really been eye-popping and leads to poor air quality, that is not expected across New York City or much of the Northeast.”

WFLA-TV Chief Meteorologist and Climate Specialist Jeff Berardelli, in Tampa, Florida, echoed Roys, saying the storm front would “sweep the atmosphere clean,” leaving only a thin smoke that World Cup spectators may still smell in the air.

The air quality index shows an improvement from unhealthy air for sensitive groups on Saturday to “moderate” air quality Sunday in East Rutherford, which means little to no health risk for the general public.

“It won't be dangerous anymore,” Berardelli said. “It's going to be dramatically better.”

The smoke could still cause issues for people who are sensitive to particulate matter, and they should check the air quality index particularly in the morning, said Rob Shackelford, a meteorologist for The Weather Channel app and weather.com.

Air quality at the field is measured every 10 minutes, said David Lu, CEO and co-founder of Clarity Movement, an environmental technology company providing air quality monitoring services. In the past two days, the readings have swung between the level where the air is unhealthy for sensitive groups and the level where it's very unhealthy, Lu said. He said Saturday afternoon he expects to see improvement in the readings within hours because of the rain.

Temperatures are forecast to be around 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius), with light breezes and low humidity for the start of the final.

“You couldn’t have asked for much better weather for the World Cup,” Berardelli added.

Both Roys and Berardelli expect the heavier smoke Sunday to be concentrated closer to the fires, hanging over parts of the Midwest and the Great Lakes region.

Trump talks of new tariffs on Canada

The president made no mention of the World Cup final but said on his social media platform, “We are holding Canada responsible.” He added that the U.S. “is being unnecessarily invaded by filthy, polluted, and unhealthy air, the quality of which is dangerous, and totally unacceptable!”

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney addressed the topic of U.S. officials complaining about smoke from during a news conference Thursday. Carney said climate change is the responsibility of everyone, including the United States.

Ford said Canada has contributed to fighting fires in the U.S. and offered assistance when Georgia was hit by a hurricane in 2024 because “that’s what neighbors do.” Ford called the rhetoric “absolutely unacceptable” when Canada is “trying to get through this.”

There are hundreds of active fires in Canada

Wildfires have been igniting across Canada and northern Minnesota this month. Berardelli said they are burning longer and faster because of climate change. The Canadian Wildland Fire Information System showed hundreds of active fires Saturday. Environment Canada issued air quality warnings across the country and into the Northwest Territories.

The fires prompted evacuations, including in Nova Scotia where there's a large fire that local and provincial crews have been fighting since Wednesday, and in northwestern Ontario, where some of the most intense fires are burning.

In Ontario, nearly 200 wildfires have already scorched more land than all of last year’s fires. In Thunder Bay, Ontario, Fire Chief Dave Tarini said this fire season is unprecedented in his more than 35 years as a firefighter.

In British Columbia, about 100 fires are burning, a huge jump from the 20 firefighters were facing Wednesday. The BC Wildfire Service says the fires are largely the result of 4,000 lightning strikes that hit the province Friday.

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McDermott reported from Providence, Rhode Island. Associated Press writer Jim Morris in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Sports Writer Stephen Whyno in New York contributed.

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The Associated Press’ climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP’s standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.

Here is the full list of new Florida laws this year

Anthony Talcott — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 09:00:00 +0000

After a busy legislative session, well over 200 laws have already received Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ signature.

In all, 234 bills have already been approved by the governor. Many of these new laws took effect on July 1, though several others are set to kick off later this year.

You can find the full list below.

HB 1D — Redistricting

House Bill 1D redistricts the state’s congressional districts using 2020 Census data.

Signed, Sealed, and Delivered. pic.twitter.com/mKFQdQ2Xbo
— Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) May 4, 2026

DATE OF EFFECT: May 4

SB 4-F — Local Property Taxes

Senate Bill 4-F gets rid of a provision that lets local governments raise rolled-back rates based on the state’s per-capita income growth.

The law also sets up higher voting thresholds for local governments who want to increase their rolled-back rates.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 24

SB 14 — Bus Crash Victim

Senate Bill 14 appropriates $4.1 million to compensate Jose Correa, who was critically injured after being struck by a Miami-Dade County bus while crossing the street in 2021.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 10

HB 33 — New Road Names

House Bill 33 renames the following roadways in Florida:

Charlie Kirk Memorial Avenue — The portion of State Road 985 between Southwest 24th Street and State Road 90 in Miami-Dade County
President Donald J. Trump Boulevard — The portion of State Road 870 between West Tradewinds Avenue and the eastern end of Commercial Boulevard in Broward County

Under this law, the FDOT must erect suitable markers for these new designations.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 35 — Traffic Offenders

House Bill 35 revises the term “habitual traffic offender” to add the offense of driving without a valid license.

This crime will be added to the list of offenses for which a certain number of convictions in a five-year period requires the state to designate the person as a habitual traffic offender.

Once a person is designated as a habitual traffic offender, he/she can generally be prosecuted for a third-degree felony for driving a motor vehicle thereafter.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 47 — Medical Diagnoses

House Bill 47 lets parents whose child is removed from their home by the DCF ask for a second medical evaluation (or a compilation of differential diagnoses) within five days of an initial examination.

The healthcare practitioner who performs the second evaluation must submit a written report to both the DCF and the parents within 10 days.

Furthermore, the law allows the DCF to delay forwarding allegations of criminal conduct to law enforcement pending the outcome of the child protection investigation if the parent alleges the child has a certain preexisting condition or asks for a second evaluation.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 52 — Security Services

Senate Bill 52 refers to a state statute that regulates private investigative and security services.

More specifically, the law expresses that this statute doesn’t apply to volunteers who provide armed security services at churches, mosques, synagogues or other places of worship.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 89 — Veterinary Prescriptions

House Bill 89 requires licensed veterinarians to clearly inform clients of their right to receive a written prescription for medication that can be filled at the pharmacy of a client’s choice.

The law also mandates that if the veterinary clinic is able to fill the prescription, the vet should disclose that option to the client, as well.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 91 — Candidate Qualification

House Bill 91 requires that someone who wants to run for office must affirm that he/she hasn’t changed his/her name in the year prior to qualification, with few exceptions.

DATE OF EFFECT: April 1

SB 110 — Homestead Exemptions

Senate Bill 110 clarifies homestead property tax eligibility for certain long-term leaseholders.

Under this law, lessees who holds a bona fide home or condo lease of at least 98 years gets to enjoy the same homestead exemptions as someone who would otherwise own that property.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 25

SB 118 — R.V. Park Assessments

Senate Bill 118 revises how special assessments may be levied against R.V. parks.

The bill does this by prohibiting local governments from levying special assessments against areas over 400 square feet for each R.V. parking space or campsite.

DATE OF EFFECT: April 21

SB 124 — Florida Virtual Schools

Senate Bill 124 amends state statutes regarding the Florida Virtual School, which was founded in 1997 to provide students in the state with tech-based educational opportunities.

More specifically, the law makes several technical changes, such as including all full-time and part-time FLVS students for the purposes of full-time equivalent student calculations.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 131 — Estate Curators

House Bill 131 amends the state’s Probation Code, which outlines how estates may be administrated.

More specifically, the law modifies provisions like curator bond requirements and when courts may appoint curators.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 156 — Jayson Raynor Act

Senate Bill 156 — dubbed the “Jayson Raynor Act” in honor of a slain Daytona Beach officer — expands law enforcement officers’ protection from a citizen’s use of force during an arrest.

More specifically, the law prohibits anyone from using or threatening force to resist any arrest or detention, or to resist an officer who is performing official duties in good faith.

The law also provides that those guilty of manslaughter must be sentenced to life imprisonment without the eligibility of release upon conviction if the offense was committed against such officers.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 16

HB 167 — Phosphate Mining

House Bill 167 establishes a defense from strict liability in lawsuits related to environmental pollution brought under the WQAA.

More specifically, the defense kicks in if the lawsuit is related to pollution caused by a former phosphate mine and certain requirements are met.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 168 — Public Nuisances

Senate Bill 168 declares any place that has been used as a gambling house at least twice within a 12-month period a “public nuisance.

The law also increases maximum fines if nuisance activity persists beyond one year from $250 per day to $500 per day.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 175 — Stablecoin Payment

House Bill 175 creates a regulatory framework for issuers of “payment stablecoin,” a type of cryptocurrency that’s typically pegged to a currency like the U.S. dollar to maintain stability.

The law requires money services businesses to obtain a license from the Office of Financial Regulation to issue payment stablecoin.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 26

HB 177 — Conflict of Interest

House Bill 177 refers to capital cases in which the CCCRC represents an indigent defendant but determines that it can’t continue to provide representation due to conflicts of interest or similar reasons.

In these scenarios, a judge may appoint a CCCRC from a different region to represent the defendant rather than a private attorney under certain conditions.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 178 — School Athletics

Senate Bill 178 requires that head coaches of sports teams be allowed to use personal funds to support the welfare of students under the FHSAA.

Under this law, coaches may provide help in the form of food, transportation and recovery services.

That said, coaches are limited to using $15,000 in personal funds per athletic team per year.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 182 — Teacher Mentors

Senate Bill 182 establishes the School Teacher Training and Mentoring Program, aimed at improving teacher effectiveness in public schools.

Under this program, qualified teachers can be placed as mentors in schools that have a “D” or “F” grade, thereby improving the performance of these schools.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 192 — Patient Funds

Senate Bill 192 deletes the $1,500 cap on advances a chiropractic physician may collect for examination or treatment.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 199 — Veterans Affairs

House Bill 199 amends existing requirements for admission to a veterans treatment court program at any stage of a criminal proceeding.

More specifically, the law repeals requirements for the state attorney to approve placement into such a program, as well as an application from a defendant for participation.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 212 — Sex Offenders

Senate Bill 212 amends state statutes regarding sexual offenders and predators in the state.

Under this law, those convicted of certain sex offenses against children 16 years of age or younger may not live within 1,000 feet of a public swimming pool.

[BELOW: Florida attorney general unveils Sanford ‘house of horrors’]

Current law already prohibits these sorts of sex offenders from living near schools, childcare facilities, parks and playgrounds, though this bill cracks down even harder via the following rules:

Contacting Children: Such offenders may be arrested without a warrant if they knowingly contact a minor at any park, playground or public swimming pool.
School Grounds: Such offenders may be arrested without a warrant if they’re purposefully present in any pre-K-12 school while the school is still in operation, with few exceptions.
Prowling Offenders: The bill increases the restricted distance for loitering and prowling by such sex offenders from 300 feet to 500 feet of places where children congregate.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 245 — Child Pornography

House Bill 245 replaces the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material” under state law.

This shift does not change any other elements of the law, including offenses related to child pornography.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 246 — Specialty Plates

Senate Bill 246 grants permission for five new specialty license plates, which are as follows:

Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC)
Miami Northwestern Alumni Association
Outsider
St. Petersburg College
First Responders Resiliency

The bill also revises certain requirements for the existing “Florida Wildflower” and “Fraternal Order of Police” plates.

DATE OF EFFECT: Oct. 1

HB 249 — State Flagship

House Bill 249 redesignates the official state flagship.

More specifically, the law replaces the current state flagship (the schooner Western Union) with the S.S. American Victory.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

[BELOW: New Florida bill could change meaning of ‘criminal gang member’]

HB 253 — Dental Care

House Bill 253 expands eligibility for the Veterans Dental Care Grant Program.

The law accomplishes this by providing explicit statutory authorization for the program to provide services to veterans with incomes of up to 400% of the federal poverty level.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 271 — Bail Bonds

House Bill 271 subjects foreign and alien bail bond insurers doing business in Florida to the same reporting requirements as domestic bail bond insurers.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 273 — Special Districts

House Bill 273 requires that when state or federal money is used to help special districts in rural areas, the agreement must allow those districts to get paid for approved work they finish.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 277 — Domestic Violence

House Bill 277 enhances domestic violence penalties if the suspect has already been convicted of that crime in the past.

The bill also increases the funding amount for relocation assistance claims for victims of domestic violence from $1,500 to $2,500 for a single claim (lifetime maximum bumped from $3,000 to $5,000).

Furthermore, the bill adds threatening to kill/injure a family pet and the existence of a military protective order to the list of factors that judges can consider when determining whether to grant a domestic violence injunction.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 288 — Electric Cooperatives

Senate Bill 288 revises a state statute that prohibits certain bylaws, tariffs and policies from being used by rural electric cooperatives.

Under this law, the statute is limited to only those cooperatives that sell electricity at retail.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 290 — FDACS

Senate Bill 290 makes a number of changes to state law related to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS).

Some of these changes include a prohibition on local governments from banning gas-powered landscape equipment, and criminal penalties for those receiving unauthorized help on a CDL exam.

You can read a list of more changes here.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 296 — Domestic Violence

Senate Bill 296 requires the Division of Telecommunications to investigate the feasibility of a domestic and dating violence 911 alert system.

The results of the study must be reported to the Senate President and House Speaker by Jan. 31, 2027.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 298 — Public Records (Domestic Violence)

Senate Bill 298 expands two existing public record exemptions for victims of domestic violence who participate in the state’s confidentiality program.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 302 — Coastal Resiliency

Senate Bill 302 prohibits any dredging or filling of submerged lands at the Terra Ceia Aquatic Preserve, with some exceptions provided for public safety and environmental protection.

This law is also expected to streamline the permitting process for nature-based methods aimed at improving coastal resiliency, helping to accelerate restoration timelines.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 327 — Uterine Fibroid Research

House Bill 327 requires healthcare providers to submit identified information to the FDOH for inclusion in the Uterine Fibroid Research Database.

Furthermore, uterine fibroids are added to the list of diseases of public health significance, which requires providers to submit identified uterine fibroid data to the FDOH for epidemiological research.

DATE OF EFFECT: Same as HB 1515

SB 340 — Human Trafficking

Senate Bill 340 requires graduates of professional and practical nursing programs to complete a two-hour course on human trafficking to be eligible to sit for the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX).

The NCLEX is a prerequisite for full licensure. Furthermore, this requirement applies to students who apply to take the NCLEX on or after July 1, 2027.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 355 — Patient Protection

House Bill 355 requires the AHCA to establish minimum standards for pediatric patient care in hospital emergency departments.

Furthermore, the bill requires all hospitals with emergency departments to develop and implement policies and procedures for pediatric patient care in the department.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 359 — Search Warrants

House Bill 359 generally requires law enforcement agencies to return a search warrant to the issuing court within 10 days, except for the following scenarios:

20 days if the search warrant is issued to an out-of-state provider for electronic communications data
30 days if the search warrant is issued to search for and seize specimens for DNA analysis or entry into the DNA database
365 days if the search warrant is issued for a computer, computer system, or electronic device

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 386 — Farm Equipment

Senate Bill 386 sets up a process for consumers and manufacturers to remedy defective farm equipment.

If farm equipment is defective, this law lets buyers report the defect to the manufacturer during the warranty period or the one-year period after the original delivery date of the farm equipment.

The law also requires the manufacturer to either replace or refund any defective farm equipment.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 394 — Reinsurance Managers

Senate Bill 394 exempts an underwriting manager who manages assumed facultative risks for a reinsurer from reinsurance intermediary manager licensing requirements.

This applies if the facultative reinsurance business managed by the underwriting manager is less than 10% of the assumed annual gross written premium of the insurer.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 397 — Pretrial Release

House Bill 397 creates a new criminal offense for purposefully violating an order of no contact imposed by a court as a condition of pretrial release after the suspect was arrested over violent offenses.

Under this law, the new offense is treated as a first-degree misdemeanor, with subsequent violations being bumped up to third-degree felonies.

DATE OF EFFECT: Oct. 1

HB 399 — Development Regulations

House Bill 399 requires application fees for development permits to be reasonably related to the costs associated with processing the application and prohibits fees based on a percentage of project costs.

The legislation also mandates that each local government’s land development regulations must include factors for assessing compatibility of residential uses.

DATE OF EFFECT: March 27

SB 418 — Blue Envelope Program

Senate Bill 418 creates the “Blue Envelope Program” to improve communication between autistic people and law enforcement officers during motor-vehicle related interactions.

Under the program, individuals may be identified as having Autism Spectrum Disorder, with blue envelopes including communication guidelines for officers to keep in mind about specific individuals.

These blue enveloped will be available upon request from the FLHSMV or the local tax collector starting on Jan. 1, 2027.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 422 — Airport Broadcasts

Senate Bill 422 prohibits airports from using information derived from automatic dependent surveillance broadcast (ADS-B) systems emitted from certain aircraft as a means of collecting fees from owners.

This rule is limited to aircraft with a gross weight of 12,499 pounds or less operating under FAA rules and applies under the following two scenarios:

The operation for which a fee would be assessed is a departure or a landing, including touch-and-go landings
The fee would be assessed based on an aircraft entering into the airspace of the airport where the fee is assessed

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 425 — Historic Cemeteries

House Bill 425 provides that if a recorded historic African-American cemetery sells excess vacant land to fund the cemetery’s long-term upkeep, the local government must administratively approve an application to rezone the excess land to allow for development consistent with adjacent land uses.

Furthermore, the law lets local governments use reasonable discretion to determine the new zoning, provided that it’s consistent with the surrounding area.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 428 — Drowning Prevention

Senate Bill 428 amends the Swimming Lesson Voucher Program, raising the age limit to include children between 1 and 7 years of age.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 429 — Gang Members

House Bill 429 revises what constitutes a “criminal gang member” under state law.

Current law defines this as someone who meets at least two points from a list of criteria, such as admitting to criminal gang membership or having a criminal gang’s tattoo.

But under this law, even more criteria will be added, such as admitting online to being a gang member or being identified as such by a live-in spouse.

DATE OF EFFECT: Oct. 1

SB 432 — Xylazine Trafficking

Senate Bill 432 provides that selling or manufacturing certain forms of xylazine is a first-degree felony, with a mandatory 3-year prison term.

The law also creates a first-degree felony for trafficking in xylazine, with mandatory minimum sentencing depending on how much xylazine was involved in the offense.

DATE OF EFFECT: Oct. 1

SB 436 — Felony Battery

Senate Bill 436 expands the list of qualifying prior offenses that allow for misdemeanor battery to be upgraded to a third-degree felony.

More specifically, if someone has a prior conviction of resisting an officer with violence, any subsequent battery charges may be bumped up to a third-degree felony.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 441 — Conservation Lands

House Bill 441 requires that when a water management district considers selling conservation lands, the governing board publish the following information at least 30 days before meeting:

The district-owned parcels of land for sale or proposed for exchange
The privately owned parcels proposed for exchange
The portions of those parcels that will be preserved in a permanent conservation easement
A statement from the district explaining why those lands are no longer needed for conservation purposes

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 445 — Dangerous Crimes

House Bill 445 adds certain offenses dealing with child exploitation and certain kinds of computer porn to the list of dangerous crimes under Florida law.

This means that someone arrested for one of these offenses can’t be given nonmonetary pretrial release at a first appearance hearing.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 453 — High School Diplomas

House Bill 453 allows student with disabilities to substitute one school year of participation in the Special Olympics for the P.E. requirement for a standard high school diploma.

Furthermore, the law specifies that two years of marching band satisfies both the one-credit requirement in P.E. and the one-credit requirement in performing arts.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 474 — Military Affairs

Senate Bill 474 revises laws relating to military service leave for public employees.

For example, the law expands eligibility for certain leave protections to include public officials who are also members of the U.S. Coast Guard or Florida State Guard.

SB 474 also expands the eligibility requirements for financial assistance from the Soldiers and Airmen Assistance Program.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 477 — Drug Paraphernalia

House Bill 477 expands the type of narcotic-drug testing products excluded from the definition of “drug paraphernalia.”

More specifically, the law excludes products that are used solely to determine whether a controlled substance contains xylazine.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 484 — Data Centers

Senate Bill 484 prohibits utilities from passing data center costs — including electricity costs — onto residential and small business customers.

Furthermore, the law prohibits utilities from serving data centers controlled by foreign countries of concern, and it allows local communities to set stricter standards on such centers.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 488 — Transportation

Senate Bill 488 amends various provisions related to topics like motor vehicle registration, licensing and tax-related requirements. These new rules include the following:

Creates penalties for counterfeiting or illegally altering fuel tax licenses and the related permits
Revises penalties and interest calculations for delinquent tax payments
Provides penalties for specific offenses related to the misuse of motor fuel-tax related documents and establishes detailed requirements for recordkeeping by motor carriers
Increases the amount of estimated damage resulting from a crash that is required to be reported to law enforcement from $500 to $2,000

DATE OF EFFECT: Oct. 1

SB 490 — Public Records (FLHSMV)

Senate Bill 490 expands a public records exemption for email addresses collected by the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

This expansion includes email addresses that are used to provide customers with general notifications.

DATE OF EFFECT: Oct. 1

HB 491 — Faith-Based Content (BIPs)

House Bill 491 allows Batterers’ Intervention Programs (BIPs) to offer supplemental faith-based activities as a voluntary service to participants referred to a BIP by court order or by consent for acts of domestic violence.

That said, the law also preserves current rules, which require all mandatory BIP curricula to be based on a psychoeducational or cognitive behavioral therapy intervention model.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 504 — Body Cameras

Senate Bill 504 requires governmental agencies that allow code inspectors to wear body cameras to set up policies addressing proper use and storage of these cameras, as well as the recorded data.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 505 — Virtual Currency Kiosks

House Bill 505 expands the definition of “money transmitter” to include owners and operators of virtual currency kiosks.

This consequently requires them to obtain a money transmitter license, though they’re also exempt from licensure fees.

DATE OF EFFECT: Jan. 1, 2027

SB 506 — Public Records (Body Cameras)

Senate Bill 506 creates a public records exemption for code inspectors’ body camera recordings if the footage is recorded:

Inside a private residence
Inside a facility that offers health care, mental health care, or social services
In a place that a reasonable person would expect to be private

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 538 — Extracurricular Activities

House Bill 538 revises student eligibility and participation requirements for extracurricular activities, including athletics.

The bill accomplishes this by defining key terms and establishing an “eligible student” framework for home education, charter, private, Florida Virtual School, alternative and traditional public-school students.

Under this bill, public schools are also allowed to assess an activity fee on homeschool students who wish to participate in interscholastic or intrascholastic extracurricular activities at the public school.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 559 — Animal Welfare

House Bill 559 establishes a new third-degree felony offense if an adult:

causes or entices a minor to commit aggravated animal cruelty; fighting or baiting animals; or sexual activities involving animals
commits in the presence of a minor aggravated animal cruelty; fighting or baiting animals; or sexual activities involving animals

The law also requires a juvenile court to order a minor who commits animal cruelty to undergo a psychological evaluation and potentially receive certain treatments.

DATE OF EFFECT: Oct. 1

HB 561 — Educator Preparation

House Bill 561 makes it easier for teachers whose licenses expired to get back into the classroom, but without having to retake subject area exams that have already been passed.

The bill also gives these educators a temporary license so that they can work and earn the classes or training hours they need, and it sets up free training to help them renew or fix their license.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 565 — Persons With Disabilities

House Bill 565 requires the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to recognize Tatton-Brown-Rahman syndrome as a qualifying condition for APD services.

The law also requires all employees — not just managers and supervisors — of APD-licensed adult day training and residential facilities to undergo a level 2 background screening.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 569 — Forensic Client Services

House Bill 569 allows the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to house non-forensic clients and forensic clients within the same wards in secure APD facilities.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 572 — Public Ethics

Senate Bill 572 revises the term “relative” in the Code of Ethics for Public Officers and Employees to include foster parents and foster children.

DATE OF EFFECT: April 1

SB 578 — Alzheimer’s Awareness

Senate Bill 578 requires the DOEA to contract for the development of a statewide Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Initiative.

The initiative must provide Florida residents affected by Alzheimer’s Disease and related dementias with greater support and access to helpful information.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 584 — Commercial Driving Schools

Senate Bill 584 allows for county tax collectors to enforce statutory provisions related to commercial driving schools.

More specifically, the law allows these agencies to enter into agreements with the DHSMV to better crack down on fraudulent or deceitful business practices by these sorts of schools.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 589 — Sewage Treatment

House Bill 589 refers to owners and builders of single-family homes that need to have an onsite sewage treatment and disposal system (OSTDS).

Under this law, local governments may no longer require these people to receive a construction permit for the OSTDS before issuing a building or plumbing permit, so long as there’s proof that the OSTDS permit has been applied for.

DATE OF EFFECT: May 6

SB 590 — Statute of Limitations

Senate Bill 590 extends the window to prosecute someone who willfully fails to make a required report of suspected child abuse, abandonment, neglect or sexual abuse.

This is done by pausing the statute of limitations until a law enforcement agency becomes aware of the reporting violation.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 594 — Housing Assistance Plans

Senate Bill 594 helps mobile home owners keep their homes by letting local housing programs use funds to help pay up to six months of lot rent.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 598 — Funeral Services

Senate Bill 598 makes several revisions to a state statute that regulates funeral and cemetery services.

For example, the law prohibits licensees from contracting to become the sole provider of funeral services for any firm that provides medical or end-of-life care to the public.

Furthermore, SB 598 allows licensees to dispose of human remains that have been in their lawful possession for at least 90 days if the legally authorized person of the decedent fails to direct the disposition.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 625 — JAC Members

House Bill 625 increases the number of the Justice Administrative Commission from four to seven.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 628 — Trump Highway

Senate Bill 628 renames over a dozen roadways across the state.

The bill also designates the Tallahassee airport at 3300 Capital Circle SW as the “Bobby Bowden-Tallahassee International Airport.”

Furthermore, SB 628 designates 124 miles of SR-80 stretching from SR-A1A in Palm Beach County to US-41 in Lee County as the “President Donald J. Trump Highway.”

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 655 — Public Records (Attorney Meetings)

House Bill 655 creates a public meeting exemption for state and local agencies to meet privately with their attorneys under the Bert Harris Act.

More specifically, the law exempts the meeting’s transcripts from public disclosure until the relevant property-rights claim is settled (or when the statute of limitations ends, if there’s no litigation).

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 656 — Crimes Against Children

Senate Bill 656 renames the “Online Sting Operations Grant Program” to the “Internet Crimes Against Children Grant Program.”

Under this program, grants may be awarded to local law enforcement agencies to help them combat online child exploitation and to target those preying on children online.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 679 — Trademark Registration

House Bill 679 mandate that the Florida Department of State use the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s schedule of classes of goods and services as the state’s classification for trademark purposes, rather than the general classes for trademarks for goods and services set in statute.

Furthermore, the bill requires that agency to set up a website where applicants can apply for a trademark or renew a trademark and provides that the website must safeguard the applicant’s information to ensure data integrity.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 686 — Agricultural Enclaves

Senate Bill 686 deals with agricultural enclaves: pockets of agricultural land that are mainly surrounded by development.

Under this bill, enclave owners may submit development plans for single-family housing.

Local governments won’t be allowed to enact regulation for one of these enclaves that is more burdensome than for other types of applications for comparable uses, either.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1 (Provisions expire Jan. 1, 2028)

HB 697 — Drug Prices

House Bill 697 makes it unlawful for a PBM to force a pharmacy to take a loss when dispensing a drug or to reimburse a nonaffiliated pharmacy less than an affiliated pharmacy.

Furthermore, the law requires PBMs to allow in-network pharmacies to submit consolidated appeals comprised of multiple adjudicated claims featuring identical drugs, day supplies, and dates of service.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 753 — School Counselors

House Bill 753 exempts prospective school counselors from certain professional preparation and educational competence requirements otherwise imposed on classroom teachers by state law.

However, the bill clarifies that individual school districts may still require these requirements as a condition of employment for school counselors.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 755 — Critical State Concern

House Bill 755 lets certain public-building/public-works projects skip the usual payment bond requirement when the project is on “Areas of Critical State Concern” land under a 99+=year ground lease with Habitat for Humanity.

It also extends the requirement to spend at least $5 million per year on land acquisition in the Florida Keys ACSC through FY 2035-2036.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 757 — School Safety

House Bill 757 expands the state’s Guardian program to include public colleges and universities throughout Florida.

The law also prohibits anyone from discharging a weapon within 1,000 feet of a school during school hours or during a sanctioned school activity. This crime is punishable as a second-degree felony.

DATE OF EFFECT: May 15

[RELATED: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs new school safety law]

SB 772 — Eyewear Insurance

Senate Bill 772 expands Florida’s limited-license portable electronics insurance agent license to also cover eyewear insurance, including smart glasses and non-electronic eyewear.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 797 — Nonprofits

House Bill 797 revises the Florida Not For Profit Corporation Act to conform with the Model Nonprofit Corporation Act and the Florida Business Corporation Act.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 800 — Engineering Violations

Senate Bill 800 provides an escalating fine schedule for subsequent violations of engaging in the unlicensed practice of engineering. These fees are as follows:

$10,000 for a second violation
$15,000 for a third violation
$20,000 for a fourth violation
$25,000 for a fifth and subsequent violation

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 803 — Building Permits

House Bill 803 limits local government regulation of glazing requirements on commercial buildings, and provides for lower fees when a private provider is retained for commercial construction projects.

The law also mandates that certain building permits expire after one year after issuance or on the effective date of the next edition of the Florida Building Code — whichever is later.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 809 — Temporary Certificates

House Bill 809 allows health care practitioners who hold temporary certificates for practice in an “area of critical need” to continue providing primary care services in that area even if it loses that designation.

DATE OF EFFECT: May 22

SB 816 — Diabetes Research

Senate Bill 816 codifies the University of Florida Diabetes Institute as a statewide resource for diabetes research, prevention, treatment and education.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 820 — Problem-Solving Court Reports

Senate Bill 820 specifies additional data that must be presented in the annual problem-solving court reports prepared by the Office of the State Courts Administrator.

The law creates data reporting requirements for early childhood court and veterans treatment court programs, and amends reporting requirements for mental health and drug courts.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 824 — School Property

Senate Bill 824 requires each school district to submit an annual inventory of unimproved real property owned as of June 30 each year.

This information will be compiled into a report for state leaders, along with possible recommendations for how to best use the land.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 844 — Sickle Cell Disease

Senate Bill 844 requires that the standard continuing education course on prescribing controlled substances include information regarding the treatment of pain for patients with sickle cell disease.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 848 — Stormwater Treatment

Senate Bill 848 allows ERP applicants to use compensating stormwater treatment as a mitigation measure when existing ambient water quality prevents compliance with water quality standards.

Furthermore, ERP applicants for regional stormwater managements systems must provide documentation of adequate financial responsibility, along with a graphic depicting the drainage area served by the system.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 851 — Autism Learning

House Bill 851 requires each school district to provide at least one annual autism-specific professional learning opportunity for instructional personnel and school-based administrators.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 867 — Dry Needling

House Bill 867 allows occupational therapists to perform dry needling, and establishes minimum experience, education, and training requirements to do so.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 883 — Insurance Companies

House Bill 883 allows protected cell captive insurance companies to operate and be domiciled in Florida, thus creating a regulatory framework for such companies.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 895 — Trustee Settlement

House Bill 895 establishes a summary procedure for trustee liability and claims discharge under the Florida Trust Code.

This applies to non-adversarial irrevocable trust administrations where the trustee has substantially complied with certain trustee duties, negating the need for judicial process to achieve such discharge.

DATE OF EFFECT: April 29

HB 905 — Foreign Influence

House Bill 905 aims to limit influence in the state from “foreign countries of concern,” including places like Iran, North Korea, Cuba, China and Russia.

The law accomplishes this by prohibiting charities from accepting contributions from these countries, restricting preplanned adoption/surrogacy agreements with citizens of these nations, and setting up harsher penalties for crimes committed to benefit such groups.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 913 — Inmate Services

House Bill 913 requires money in the Contractor-Operated Institutions Welfare Trust Fund to be used exclusively for programs to help inmates reintegrate back into society, as well as environmental/health upgrades in contractor-operated institutions.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 915 — Disabilities Program

House Bill 915 codifies the Working People with Disabilities Program, which was created by the Legislature in 2019-2020.

More specifically, the program allows adults with developmental disabilities — who are employed, and enrolled in a Medicaid home and community-based services waiver — to have increased income and asset limits while enrolled in Medicaid.

DATE OF EFFECT: May 21

HB 919 — Donald Trump Airport

House Bill 919 preempts to the state the ability to name major commercial service airports.

More specifically, the law renames the Palm Beach International Airport as the “President Donald J. Trump International Airport.”

All other major airports, including the Orlando International Airport, may keep their current names for now.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

[BELOW: New Florida law could let lawmakers rename Orlando airport]

HB 925 — Court Clerks

House Bill 925 increases funding to the Clerks of the Court.

However, the law doesn’t raise any existing service charges or fees, or create any new service charges or fees that the Clerks may assess.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 927 — Local Land Planning

House Bill 927 requires certain local governments to create a registry of qualified contractors to conduct pre-application reviews of plans, permits or plats submitted in line with local land development rules.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 929 — Chickee Regulation

House Bill 929 prohibits local governments from enacting an ordinance that prevents a member of the Miccosukee or Seminole tribes from constructing a chickee under certain conditions.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 961 — Electronic Signatures

House Bill 961 requires that insurance companies implement secure control processes and procedures for electronic signatures that are acceptable to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 962 — Live Local Act

Senate Bill 962 provides that for the purposes of the Live Local Act, farms and farming operations are excluded from the definitions of commercial, industrial or mixed-use zoning that would require the local government to approve certain affordable housing developments.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 25

HB 967 — Electronic Payments

House Bill 967 requires local governments to accept the following forms of payment:

Credit cards
Charge cards
Bank debit cards
Electronic funds transfers (EFTs)

DATE OF EFFECT: Jan. 1, 2027

SB 984 — Firefighter Benefits

Senate Bill 984 expands the eligibility for disability and death benefits available to firefighters after a cancer diagnosis.

Current law provides a $25,000 one-time payout as a disability benefit resulting from an initial diagnosis.

However, the bill would make that available to a former firefighter regardless of whether he/she elects to continue coverage in an employer-sponsored health plan or group health insurance trust fund.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 991 — Elections

House Bill 991 makes several revisions to the Florida Election Code, including:

Driver’s License: Requires the state to include a person’s legal status on any new, replacement or renewal driver’s licenses and ID cards
Voter Oath: Voter registration applicants must affirm that they are U.S. citizens and may face criminal penalties for perjury if that is not the case
Forms of ID: Debit/credit cards, student IDs, retirement center IDs, neighborhood association IDs, and public assistance IDs are no longer acceptable forms of identification for voters
Campaign Contributions: Political parties and candidates may not willfully accept a contribution from a foreign national in connection with any election held in the state.
Federal Courts: Requires the state to provide voter registration lists to federal courts to aid in their jury selection process, and requires those courts to provide the state with information about voters being ineligible due to convictions, death, or being a non-U.S. citizen
Statute of Limitations: Creates a five-year statute of limitations for the prosecution of a felony under the Election Code
New Penalties: Provides new fines and penalties for those who violate the law of involvement of foreign nationals in state elections
Early Voting: Election supervisors must use local time when uploading the results of all early voting and vote-by-mail ballots by 7 p.m. the day before the election

DATE OF EFFECT: Jan. 1, 2027

SB 1004 — Pet Sales

Senate Bill 1004 implements several new consumer protections related to the sales of cats and dogs in Florida.

The new provisions include the following:

Requiring pet dealers to disclose financing terms before a sale is finalized
Allowing consumers to terminate financing agreements without penalty if an animal is later found unfit for purchase due to illness or disease
Requiring pet dealers to provide veterinary medical records documenting examinations, medications, and treatments provided to the animal
Requiring written notice informing consumers of their rights under Florida law, including the ability to return or exchange a sick animal and seek reimbursement of veterinary costs
Making violations enforceable under Florida’s Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1019 — Firefighting Foam

House Bill phases out the use of firefighting foam that contains intentionally added perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS).

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 1022 — Children’s Initiatives

Senate Bill 1022 provides for the creation of the Bay County 32401 Children’s Initiative in Bay County, and the Pompano RYZE Children’s Initiative in Broward County.

These sorts of initiatives are community-based service networks located in disadvantaged areas of the state to improve education, economic and health outcomes for local residents.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 1028 — Citizens Insurance

Senate Bill 1028 requires the Citizens Property Insurance Corporation to create new “clearinghouses” for commercial property insurance so that private insurance companies can make offers to businesses before or when Citizens renews coverage.

If an authorized private insurer offers coverage that is at least as good as Citizens and costs no more than 20% more, the property can become ineligible for Citizens.

If a qualifying surplus lines insurer makes a similar offer and the customer still chooses Citizens, Citizens can add a one-time extra charge to help “equalize” the cost difference.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 16

SB 1030 — Recovery Residences

Senate Bill 1030 changes rules for licensing of substance-abuse treatment providers, which is regulated by the DCF.

Under this law, already-licensed providers with a clean record over the prior year may add new services without being forced to take clients during a “probationary” license period just to prove they can operate.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1031 — Callback Queues

House Bill 1031 sets up a pilot program to implement callback queues at two state agencies: the Department of Commerce, and the Department of Children and Families.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1069 — Background Screenings

House Bill 1069 makes several changes to background screenings in the state, including:

Prohibits a person from acting as an athletic coach if he/she doesn’t pass specified background screening qualifications
Specifies that volunteers required to undergo such background screenings are limited to volunteer coach, assistance coach, manager, or referee for a youth athletic team
Prohibits a person from denying or failing to acknowledge arrests covered by expunged or sealed criminal records if he/she is screened through the Clearinghouse by a qualified entity

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1073 — School Board Bill of Rights

House Bill 1073 establishes a District School Board Members’ Bill of Rights, which does the following:

Provides members with access to school district documents necessary to fulfill the duties required under the State Constitution and Florida
Allows members to consult with the district’s CFO on budget information
Lets members request documents or information from school staff, subject to legal restrictions and administrative approval
Grants members the ability to publicly comment on district school board business, except for student/employee disciplinary matters or other issues prohibited by law

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 1074 — Penny Extinction

Senate Bill 1074 lets vendors round cash transactions to the nearest nickel if the penny is no longer available. The businesses are expected to round transactions as follows:

If the final digit ends in 1 or 2 cents? Round to 0 cents.
If the final digit ends in 3, 4, 6, or 7 cents? Round to 5 cents.
If the final digit ends in 8 or 9 cents? Round to 10 cents.

However, this doesn’t apply to noncash transactions, such as gift cards, credit cards or checks.

DATE OF EFFECT: May 11

HB 1081 — Cybersecurity

House Bill 1081 requires Cyber Florida at the University of South Florida to develop a Cybersecurity Experiential Learning Program.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1085 — Cyber Security

House Bill 1085 creates the Local Government Cybersecurity Protection Program within the University of South Florida, to be administered by Cyber Florida.

The program must help eligible local governments with developing cybersecurity risk management programs to defend against cybersecurity threats.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1087 — Public Records (OFR)

House Bill 1087 expands and continues several public record exemptions related to specific data obtained by the Office of Financial Regulation from qualified payment stablecoin issuers, virtual currency kiosk businesses, and custodians of gold and silver coin.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 11

SB 1092 — Podiatric Medicine

Senate Bill 1092 limits the existing controlled substance prescribing continuing education requirement for all podiatric physicians to only those registered with the DEA and allowed to prescribe such substances.

This means podiatric physicians who don’t prescribe controlled substances will be exempt.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 11

HB 1093 — Vertiports

House Bill 1093 includes vertiports and charging systems as qualifying projects for funding under public-private partnerships between state and private entities.

In addition, the law allows the FDOT to fund all of the project costs of a public vertiport if federal funds aren’t available.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1103 — Vessel Restrictions (I)

House Bill 1103 allows local governments to administer provisions of law concerning vessels at risk of becoming derelict and long-term anchoring permits.

Furthermore, the law lets cities and counties regulate vessel speed and operation within 300 feet of a confluence of water bodies presenting a blind corner (up to 1,000 feet) if the extended area is necessary to ensure safe navigation and visibility for approaching vessels.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1113 — Vessel Restrictions (II)

House Bill 1103 allows local governments to authorize a code enforcement officer to administer the provision of law concerning vessels at risk of becoming derelict on state waters.

This can be done by way of local ordinances.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1115 — Genetic Counseling

House Bill 1115 creates the Genetic Counseling Education Enhancement Grant Program to support graduate genetic counseling programs at state universities.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1121 — Disability Services

House Bill 1121 revises aging and disability services provided by the Department of Elder Affairs.

More specifically, the law adds food and nutritional supplements as allowable uses of subsidy payments under the Home Care for the Elderly Program.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 1134 — DEI Policy Ban

Senate Bill 1134 prohibits local governments from funding, promoting, or enacting any DEI policies, initiatives, and programs.

DATE OF EFFECT: Jan. 1, 2027

HB 1137 — Alcoholic Beverage Taxes

House Bill 1137 allows alcoholic beverage distributors to take a deduction from alcoholic beverage excise taxes for standard product losses, including breakage, spoilage, evaporation, and expiration.

DATE OF EFFECT: April 21

HB 1153 — Juvenile Justice

House Bill 1153 includes “juvenile detention officers” and “juvenile probation officers” in multiple state statutes related to correctional officers.

This allows such positions to be eligible for a Medal of Heroism or Valor, as well as subjects a person to first-degree aggravated manslaughter if he/she causes such an officer to die through culpable negligence.

DATE OF EFFECT: March 30

HB 1159 — Sexual Offenses

House Bill 1159 sets up harsher penalties for various sexual offenses. These changes include:

CSAM: Replacing the term “child pornography” with “child sexual abuse material” in Florida statutes
Harsher Penalties: Increases penalties for use of a child in a sexual performance; possession and transmission of child porn; creation of generated child porn; possession of a child-like doll; and certain sex acts involving animals
Mandatory Sentencing: Adults must receive a mandatory minimum sentence for certain offenses related to using children in sexual performances and transmitting child porn
Repeat Offenders: Raises mandatory minimum sentences for certain repeat sex offenders
Life Felony: Creates a life felony for aggravated use of a child under 12 years old in a sexual performance
Generated Child Porn: Creates a second-degree felony for transmitting generated child pornography
No Pets: Prohibits anyone convicted of certain sex offenses involving animals from owning or working with animals for at least five years

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1175 — Office Surgery Suites

House Bill 1175 requires new safety design standards for office surgical suites.

More specifically, the law dictates that such standards allow up to six patients on an outpatient basis.

This is in lieu of the current limit of four patients who, due to treatment, illness or injury, are unable to act in self-preservation during an emergency.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 1180 — Community Development Districts

Senate Bill 1180 revises rules for Community Development Districts (CDDs).

More specifically, the law sets up a recall election process for members of a CDD’s board of supervisors, which largely mirrors that of recall procedures for local governments.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1201 — Student Health

House Bill 1201 updates statutory provisions regarding the care of students with epilepsy or seizure disorders and expands the definition of schools to include charter schools.

The law also requires schools to display a poster identifying the basic steps of responding to someone having a seizure.

Lastly, the law requires the FDOH to include required education and training for schools in its epilepsy education program.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1217 — Greenhouse Gases

House Bill 1217 prohibits the state and local governments from adopting or enforcing net-zero greenhouse gas emissions policies, including carbon taxes.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1219 — Spoil Island

House Bill 1219 designates a mangrove island within Jupiter Sound as the “Andrew ‘Red’ Harris Spoil Island.”

The island will be named for Andrew “Red” Harris, a native of Jupiter who started his own insurance brokerage agency in 2011 and was killed in a boating accident roughly three years later.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 1246 — Nursing Education Fund

Senate Bill 1246 expands the scope of the Linking Industry to Nursing Education Fund to address workforce shortages in health science education programs, in addition to nursing education programs.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1279 — Teacher Funding

House Bill 1279 lets school districts provide immediate pay incentives to high-performing teachers who choose to teach in lower-performing schools, even without collective bargaining.

The law also allows bonuses for districts and teachers who offer Florida Advanced Courses (FACTs), in line with bonuses offered for other advanced courses like AP, AICE and IB.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1285 — Biosolids Management (Permits)

House Bill 1285 prohibits the DEP from issuing or renewing land application site permits that allow the disposal or land application of septage as Class B biosolids if there is a permitted wastewater treatment facility within 30 miles of the site that accepts septage for higher levels of treatment.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1, 2027

HB 1293 — Fraudulent Entry of Homes

House Bill 1293 creates a new crime of fraudulent entry of a residential dwelling unit.

This statute prohibits someone from entering into or taking possession of a residential dwelling unit by purposefully:

Making a materially false statement in writing, relating to the person’s identity in any rental application for a residential tenancy
Presenting forged or counterfeit documents to the landlord of a residential dwelling unit
Impersonating another person in whose name a rental application is submitted to a landlord for the purpose of executing a rental agreement or taking possession of a residential dwelling unit

Violations of this law are punishable as third-degree felonies.

DATE OF EFFECT: Oct. 1

SB 1296 — Union Crackdown

Senate Bill 1296 provides for the decertification of partisan school unions, fast-tracking salary increases that some unions have stalled.

The law requires at least 50% participation in union certification elections, meaning that unions can no longer be recertified through elections with just a handful of voters.

Furthermore, SB 1296 increases penalties for illegal strikes, raising the maximum fine from $20,000 per day to $40,000 per day for such organizations.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1311 — Legal Tender

House Bill 1311 ratifies the rules promulgated by state agencies for another state law to take effect.

This law designates qualifying gold and silver coin as legal tender.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 11

HB 1329 — Budget Posts

House Bill 1329 requires local governments to post their tentative or final budgets on their websites.

These posts must include summaries for budgets, revenue, expenditures and staffing.

The law also requires a budget-cutting exercise be performed at least two weeks before a local government’s final budget is adopted.

DATE OF EFFECT: Jan. 1, 2027

SB 1332 — Career Offenders

Senate Bill 1332 makes several changes to registration requirements for career offenders in the state.

For example, the law requires initial registration in person at the sheriff’s office within 48 hours of establishing a residence or release, and it expands the list of required information to include addresses, vehicles, professional licenses, and immigration status.

Furthermore, the law requires career offenders to have their driver’s license and ID cards marked with “775.261″ — the statute number of the Florida Career Offender Registration Act.

DATE OF EFFECT: Oct. 1

HB 1337 — Estate Authority

House Bill 1337 amends several provisions of Florida law to reduce the necessity for court involvement or formal proceedings in the distribution of a decedent.

More specifically, this bill does the following:

Gives a personal representative more authority with respect to a decedent’s safe deposit box
Expressly allows a personal representative to institute a proceeding to enforce his/her authority as personal representative
Increases the amounts of what Florida law considers “small estates,” such that procedures other than formal probate proceedings may be instituted to dispose of the subject property under certain conditions

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1343 — Insurance Qualifications

House Bill 1343 provides that anyone who’s earned a high school diploma in Florida satisfies the education requirement for an insurance customer representative’s license.

This applies if the person in question completed a course in insurance and personal finance as part of his/her curriculum.

That said, the law also directs the development of a 0.5-credit course in insurance and personal finance, which school districts may use starting in the 2027-2028 school year.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1347 — Lab Personnel

House Bill 1347 revises current requirements for performing moderate- or high-complexity laboratory testing.

To do so, the law adopts federal qualifications as the minimum licensure requirements for clinical lab technologists and technicians to perform such testing.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1389 — Affordable Housing

House Bill 1389 updates the Live Local Act to make it easier to build certain affordable apartment or mixed-use housing on certain properties owned by local governments and school districts.

The law also limits how local governments can block these projects, like using rules that effectively shrink how tall a building can be.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 1404 — Memory Care

Senate Bill 1404 creates a new assisted living facility specialty license type for “memory care services.”

DATE OF EFFECT: May 22

HB 1405 — Missing Persons

House Bill 1405 reestablishes the Missing Persons with Special Needs Statewide Project.

The project would be implemented through centers for autism and related disabilities (CARD), each of which must provide personal search-and-rescue devices for distribution to project participants.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1407 — Civil Actions

House Bill 1407 sets clear time limits for people who claim to have been illegally discriminated against at work to file a lawsuit after they complain to the state.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1417 — Department of Environmental Protection

House Bill 1417 repeals the Environmental Regulation Commission, which is expected to streamline rulemaking for environmental protection.

This law also requires erosion and sediment control plans for the construction of solar facilities to include stormwater best management practices.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 1434 — Infill Redevelopment

Senate Bill 1434 preempts certain local land development regulations and oversight for “qualifying parcels” to promote infill redevelopment in urban areas.

These parcels are plots of land that span at least 5 acres and are located next to other parcels zoned for residential uses in certain counties. They must also be environmentally impacted.

Under this law, local governments must allow a qualifying parcel to be developed with residential uses up to either the average density of all applicable zoning districts in the same jurisdiction, or 25 dwelling units per acre — whichever is lower.

DATE OF EFFECT: May 21

HB 1443 — Parkinson’s Disease Registry

House Bill 1443 requires the Florida Institute for Parkinson’s Disease at USF to set up a statewide Parkinson’s disease registry.

Under this legislation, physicians who diagnose a patient with Parkinson’s disease must report nationally recognized performance measures to the registry beginning on Jan. 1, 2027.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

[BELOW: Here’s what to know about Florida’s ‘license plate’ law]

HB 1445 — Public Records (Parkinson’s Disease Registry)

House Bill 1445 creates a public record exemption for patient-identifying information held in the Parkinson’s disease registry set up by HB 1443.

The exemption will be repealed on Oct. 2, 2031, unless reenacted by lawmakers.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1451 — Utility Services

House Bill 1451 limits any excess rates, fees and charges that a local water or sewer utility may impose on customers outside their boundaries to no more than 25%.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 11

SB 1452 — Department of Financial Services

Senate Bill 1452 makes a load of statutory provisions relating to the Department of Financial Services.

This includes specifying that any interest which becomes due and owing must be paid from the appropriation charged for such goods or services.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 26

HB 1471 — Terrorist Organizations

House Bill 1471 makes several changes to state law regarding terrorist organizations. Many of those revisions are as follows:

Terrorist Designations: Creates a process by which the state may designate groups as domestic or foreign terrorist organization if certain conditions are met
Religious Laws: Courts and tribunals are prohibited from enforcing religious or foreign laws against someone if such application would violate his/her constitutional rights
Private Schools: Prohibits private schools participating in state scholarship programs from being owned or funded by terrorist groups, terrorist supporters, or criminal gangs
State Universities: Prevents institutions in the Florida College System from using state funds to support programs that advocate for terrorist organizations
Visa Students: Public colleges must report information about the current status of students who are attending on a visa if they promote terrorist organizations
Student Expulsions: If a student promotes a terrorist organization while enrolled at a public university, the student must be immediately expelled and assessed an out-of-state fee

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1473 — Public Records (Terrorism)

House Bill 1473 creates a public record exemption tied to HB 1471 for certain information that would require Florida’s Chief of Domestic Security to provide to the governor and cabinet in certain situations.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1509 — Veterinarian Licensure

House Bill 1509 revises requirements for veterinarian licensure by endorsement.

More specifically, the law removes the requirement that such applicants have held a valid, active out-of-state license for the three years immediately preceding their application.

Instead, such an applicant’s valid, active out-of-state license be “in good standing.”

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1515 — Public Records (Uterine Fibroid Research)

House Bill 1515 creates a public record exemption for patient-identifying information submitted to the FDOH for inclusion in the Uterine Fibroid Research Database.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 1525 — Indecent Exposure

House Bill 1525 creates a third-degree felony for indecent exposure of sexual organs while observing a child under 16 years of age for the purpose of sexual arousal.

This crime applies if either of the following is true:

The person is intentionally exposing his/her sexual organs in a lewd or lascivious manner
The person intentionally performs any sexual act that doesn’t involve actual physical or sexual contact with the child, such as sadomasochistic abuse, bestiality, masturbation or simulation of sexual activity

DATE OF EFFECT: Oct. 1

SB 1568 — Digital Currency

Senate Bill 1568 establishes the “Florida Stablecoin Pilot Program,” which allows the Department of Financial Services to accept stablecoins to pay certain governmental fees.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 26

SB 1602 — Veteran Housing

Senate Bill 1602 creates the “Homes for Veterans Property Management Incentive Pilot Program.”

The pilot program provides that landlords may apply to receive funding from a trust fund to hold a vacant dwelling for a veteran for up to 45 days, and to cover property loss at the dwelling caused by the veteran that may extend beyond the deposit of up to $2,000.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 1614 — Florida Building Code

Senate Bill 1614 removes a current provision of law that allows a local government to use excess funds from enforcing the Florida Building Code to build a structure that houses a local government’s code enforcement agency.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 1668 — NICA Revisions

Senate Bill 1668 revises provisions relating to the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association (NICA).

For example, the law prohibits the board of directors from adding new benefits if NICA is incurring cash flow deficits.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 11

SB 1690 — Early Learning Services

Senate Bill 1690 makes several statutory changes relating to early childhood education and childcare regulation.

For example, the law requires the DCF and local licensing agencies to disseminate electronically certain information regarding all childcare facilities to the community.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 2506-E — Fuel Taxes

Senate Bill 2506-E amends state statutes relating to distributions from the fuel sales tax.

The law provides an increase to the Agricultural Emergency Eradication Trust Fund; the Marine Resources Conservation Trust Fund; the State Game Trust Fund; and the Invasive Plant Trust Fund.

This aims to conform the law to the most recent budget act.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

SB 2508-E — Law Enforcement Radios

Senate Bill 2508-E continues a $3 surcharge on certain criminal offenses and noncriminal moving traffic violations, which would otherwise expire on July 1.

Funds from this surcharge support the cost of the Statewide Law Enforcement Radio System.

This aims to conform the law to the most recent budget act.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 29

HB 4001 — Jefferson County

House Bill 4001 limits the compensation of healthcare providers for medical services to inmates housed in a Jefferson County detention center to 110% of the Medicare allowable rate if the provider doesn’t have a contract with the county.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 8

HB 4003 — Marco Island

House Bill 4003 mandates that the city of Marco Island hold a special election to fill city council vacancies that occur over a year before a general election.

If a vacancy occurs within one year of a general election, the bill instead requires the city council to appoint a qualified citizen within 60 days who will hold the office until the next general election.

If the city council fails to do so, the governor would instead be allowed to fill the vacancy or call a special election.

DATE OF EFFECT: Subject to approval by Marco Island voters on Nov. 3

HB 4005 — Naples Airport Authority

House Bill 4005 revises the method of selection for the Naples Airport Authority board from a body appointed by the city to one elected by the residents of Collier County.

DATE OF EFFECT: April 6

HB 4007 — Martin County

House Bill 4007 requires Martin County to set up a process for the distribution of funds from the County Health Care Fund to be disbursed between all licensed hospitals in the county.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 10

HB 4011 — St. Lucie County

House Bill 4011 expands the boundaries of the St. Lucie County Mosquito Control District by around 95,000 acres.

DATE OF EFFECT: Pending approval by voters in the areas proposed to be added to the county

HB 4013 — Lee County

House Bill 4013 merges the Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District into the Iona-McGregor Fire Protection and Rescue District.

DATE OF EFFECT: Pending approval by voters in both districts during the 2026 general election

HB 4017 — Nassau County

House Bill 4017 dissolves the Nassau County Recreation and Water Conservation District, whose assets will instead be transferred to the county board of commissioners.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 8

HB 4019 — Lake County

House Bill 4019 limits the compensation of healthcare providers for medical services to inmates housed in a Lake County detention center to 110% of the Medicare allowable rate if the provider doesn’t have a contract with the county.

DATE OF EFFECT: April 14

HB 4027 — Hillsborough County Schools

House Bill 4027 provides that the superintendent of Hillsborough County schools will be a partisan office elected for four-year terms beginning in 2028.

This law is subject to approval by Hillsborough County voters in the general election on Nov. 3.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 8

HB 4029 — Hillsborough County Charter

House Bill 4029 increases the size of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners from seven members to nine members beginning with the 2028 general election.

Under this bill, that number increases further to 11 members if the county’s population grows past 2.5 million residents.

The law is subject to approval by Hillsborough County voters in the general election on Nov. 3.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 8

HB 4033 — Family Day Care

House Bill 4033 revises the terms “family day care home” in Palm Beach County.

More specifically, the law says that the number of children who receive services at a family day care may not exceed the number of children allowed to receive services in such settings as provided by general law.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 10

HB 4035 — Palm Beach County

House Bill 4035 revises the Palm Beach County Construction Industry Licensing Board’s process for issuing certificates of competency.

The law does this by requiring applicants to pass the required exam before their application is reviewed by the board.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 10

HB 4037 — Pasco County

House Bill 4037 revises term limits for board members on the Pasco County Mosquito Control District from two terms to three terms, starting with the 2026 general election.

DATE OF EFFECT: April 23

HB 4039 — Monarch Hill Landfill

House Bill 4039 requires Broward County to commission a feasibility study and conduct a public hearing before issuing any application, zoning change or permit that would allow for a physical expansion of the Monarch Hill Landfill.

DATE OF EFFECT: Oct. 1

HB 4041 — Indian River County

House Bill 4041 limits the compensation of healthcare providers for medical services to inmates housed in an Indian River County detention center to 110% of the Medicare allowable rate if the provider doesn’t have a contract with the county.

DATE OF EFFECT: April 14

HB 4043 — Citrus County

House Bill 4043 dissolves the Citrus County Hospital Board as of Oct. 1, with all assets instead going to the Citrus County Board of County Commissioners to distribute according to the dissolution plan.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 10

HB 4045 — Jacksonville Aviation Authority

House Bill 4045 gives the Jacksonville Aviation Authority responsibility for the economic development of Cecil Airport.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 8

HB 4047 — Lee County

House Bill 4047 increases the number of board members appointed to the Lee County Tourist Development Council from nine to 11 by adding an additional elected official and a member representing the tourism industry.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 8

HB 4049 — Duval County Schools

House Bill 4049 allows the Duval County School Board to employ a general counsel who is independent of the Office of General Counsel of the city of Jacksonville.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 8

HB 4051 — Pace Fire Rescue District

House Bill 4051 revises the maximum non-ad valorem assessment rates that the Pace Fire Rescue District may impose.

Furthermore, the bill creates an exemption for churches and other religious institutions that are already exempt from ad valorem taxation.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 10

HB 4053 — Santa Rosa Fire Protection District

House Bill 4053 revises the maximum non-ad valorem assessment rates that the Avalon Beach-Mulat Fire Protection District may impose.

Furthermore, the law creates an exemption for churches and other religious institutions that are already exempt from ad valorem taxation.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 10

HB 4055 — Lake Wales

House Bill 4055 provides an exception to the Beverage Law, allowing licensed vendors in the Lake Wales Arts, Culture, and Entertainment District to sell alcoholic beverages for off-premises consumption within the district.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 10

HB 4057 — DeFuniak Springs

House Bill 4057 grants over 7 acres from the state to the city of DeFuniak Springs in Walton County, which must be used for recreational, governmental, public safety, and community purposes.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 10

HB 4059 — Polk County

House Bill 4059 limits the compensation of healthcare providers for medical services to inmates housed in a Polk County detention center to 110% of the Medicare allowable rate if the provider doesn’t have a contract with the county.

DATE OF EFFECT: April 14

HB 4061 — Land Reserve Stewardship District

House Bill 4061 creates the Land Reserve Stewardship District, an independent special district in Hillsborough County.

The district is responsible for installing, operating and maintaining community infrastructure.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 16

HB 4063 — West Palm Beach Police

House Bill 4063 revises provisions of the West Palm Beach Police Pension Fund to reflect an agreement between the Florida State Lodge, Fraternal Order of Police, and the city of West Palm Beach.

More specifically, the law revises benefit accrual rates, procedures for reviewing denials of benefits, and procedures for purchasing service credits to reflect changes in federal law.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 8

HB 4065 — West Palm Beach Firefighters

House Bill 4065 revises provisions of the West Palm Beach Firefighters Pension Fund to reflect an agreement between the West Palm Beach Association of Fire Fighters and the city of West Palm Beach.

One of these changes increases the normal retirement benefit calculation by 0.2%, effective starting Oct. 1.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 8

HB 4067 — Plantation

House Bill 4067 transitions the Plantation Acres Improvement District from an independent special district to a dependent district of the city of Plantation.

DATE OF EFFECT: Upon approval by voters in the district

HB 4071 — Palm Beach First Responders

House Bill 4071 provides that a municipal service taxing unit in Palm Beach County whose primary purpose is the provision of fire rescue and EMS may continue to provide services to real property in the county annexed after Jan. 1, 2027, for six years.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 10

HB 4079 — Marion County

House Bill 4079 creates the Uplands Stewardship District, an independent special district in Marion County tasked with installing, operating and maintaining community infrastructure.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 25

HB 4081 — Franklin County

House Bill 4081 expands the boundaries of the Eastpoint Water and Sewer District to include parts of Eastpoint, an unincorporated area of Franklin County. This includes all of St. George Island.

DATE OF EFFECT: Upon approval by voters of the proposed annexation area in the general election on Nov. 3

HB 4085 — Okeechobee County

House Bill 4085 grants over 400 acres of state lands to the Okeechobee Utility Authority. These lands are the site of a wastewater treatment plant operated by the authority.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 4087 — Highlands County Hospital District

House Bill 4087 allows the Highland County Hospital District to commence an evaluation of leasing, selling, or entering a management agreement concerning the hospital owned by the district.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 10

HB 4089 — Trenton

House Bill 4089 grants a parcel of state land — including the Trenton Train Depot property — to the city of Trenton in Gilchrist County, which must be used for public purposes.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 8

HB 4091 — University Town Center

House Bill 4091 creates the University Town Center Improvement District, an independent special district in Sarasota and Manatee counties.

The district is responsible for installing, operating and maintaining stormwater and flood control facilities.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 16

HB 4093 — Indian River County (I)

House Bill 4093 reduces the size of the Fellsmere Water Control District from 34,441 acres to just over 14,000 acres.

The law also makes the remaining district a dependent district of the county.

DATE OF EFFECT: Oct. 1

HB 4095 — Indian River County (II)

House Bill 4095 creates the Headwaters Water Control District, an independent special district in Indian River County tasked with providing water control services.

DATE OF EFFECT: Oct. 1

HB 4103 — Franklin County

House Bill 4103 creates the Apalachicola Water and Sewer District, an independent special district in Franklin County.

This district is responsible for providing water and sewer services to customers who previously received such services from the city of Apalachicola.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 30

HB 4105 — Port St. Joe Port Authority

House Bill 4105 expands the boundaries of the Port St. Joe Authority, an independent special district.

This expansion includes Franklin, Gadsden, Gulf, and Liberty counties.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 30

HB 5001-E — Budget Act

House Bill 5001-E is the budget act for the 2026-2027 fiscal year.

This time around, the state budget amounts to roughly $117.6 billion — a total figure after the governor vetoed nearly $810 million line items.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 5003-E — Budget Implementation

House Bill 5003-E helps implements the state’s budget act for the 2026-2027 fiscal year by making a variety of statutory changes.

The statutory changes provided by this law will remain in effect until next year.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 5201-E — Collective Bargaining

House Bill 5201-E provides that the resolution of collective bargaining issues at an impasse for FY 2026-2027 regarding state employees will ultimately be resolved based on spending decisions included in the budget act.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 5205-E — Retirement Contributions

House Bill 5205-E conforms state law to the budget act, as retirement contributions are included in the budget act.

The law revises employer contribution rates for the normal costs and the unfunded actuarial liability of the Florida Retirement System based on the annual actuarial study for FY 2026-2027 and the following FRS changes:

Authorization of an elected officer (other than a lawmaker) who has completed his/her Deferred Retirement Option Program participation to receive his/her accumulated funds after reaching 59.5 years of age without terminating from office
Establishment of an alternative cost-of-living adjustment for eligible Special Risk Class members of 1.5%

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 5301-E — Health Care

House Bill 5301-E conforms several statutes to the budget act, including:

Makes changes to the FDOH’s revolving loan program, new newborn screening testing, infant nutritional needs, and trauma centers
Establishes a formula to allocate funds related to the Slots for Doctors Program
Makes the Step into Success Workforce Education and Internship Program permanent
Establishes the Foster and Family Support Grant Program
Establishes the Eligibility Assistance Program to provide Medicaid eligibility information, referral, and navigation services for people with disabilities

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 5403-E — Correctional Facilities

House Bill 5403-E conforms current law to the budget act, establishing Legislative intent to provide funding to address critical fixed capital outlay needs of the Department of Corrections (FDC). Changes include:

Requires $50 million in recurring funds from the General Revenue Fund over the next 30 years
Requires FDC to use funding to develop a capital improvement plan for new and existing correctional facilities
Directs FDC to begin planning a new 600-bed correctional hospital unit starting on July 1

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 5401 — State Court System

House Bill 5401 terminates the Mediation and Arbitration Trust Fund within the State Courts System.

All current balances and revenues of the fund will instead be transferred to the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 5601-E — Higher Education

House Bill 5601-E conforms current law to the budget act, making the following changes:

Revises performance metrics used by the Board of Governors (BOG) to allocate performance-based funding among state universities
Creates the Disaster Preparedness Center at Florida International university as a statewide center for disaster prep, response, recovery and resilience training
Allows each university board of trustees toe stablish out-of-state fees for nonresident students
Allows the State Board of Education and the BOG to approve, reject or amend the list of general education courses for Florida College System institutions and state universities

DATE OF EFFECT: June 29

HB 5701-E — Petroleum Cleanup

House Bill 5701-E conforms current law to the budget act, amending the Petroleum Cleanup Participation Program and the Florida Petroleum Liability and Restoration Insurance Program.

This law removes program deductibles, copayments, and monetary caps for eligible parties and has the costs absorbed by the Inland Protection Trust Fund.

DATE OF EFFECT: July 1

HB 6507 — Neglect Victim

House Bill 6507 appropriates $3.8 million to compensate L.E., a young Florida girl who suffered several injuries at the hands of her parents due to neglect by the DCF.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 8

HB 6509 — Tractor Crash Victim

House Bill 6509 appropriates $2.2 million to the estate of Mark LaGatta, a man who was critically injured after a crash with a tractor in 2020.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 8

HB 6515 — Gate Arm Victim

House Bill 6515 authorizes Miami-Dade County to pay $500,000 to compensate Lourdes and Edward Latour after Lourdes Latour was seriously injured by a malfunctioning automatic gate arm while leaving the Gables by the Sea community on her bicycle in 2017.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 25

HB 6517 — Bus Crash Victim

House Bill 6517 seeks to appropriate $2.3 million to compensate Heriberto Sanchez-Mayen, who was left severely injured after an encounter with a police officer in 2023.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 8

SB 7000 — Public Records (Emergency Shelters)

Senate Bill 7000 continues a public records exemption for addresses and telephone numbers of those who provide public emergency shelter during a storm or catastrophic event.

DATE OF EFFECT: April 23

SB 7002 — Public Records (Military)

Senate Bill 7002 keeps in place a public records exemption related to records held by the Department of Military Affairs.

These records include those stored in a U.S. Department of Defense system, that are transmitted using a DoD network, and that pertain to the DoD pursuant to federal statute.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 10

SB 7004 — Public Records (Integrity Units)

Senate Bill 7004 continues a public records exemption for materials generated by a state attorney’s conviction integrity unit while it reinvestigates cases of previously convicted people to review plausible claims of innocence.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 16

SB 7006 — Public Records (Florida PSC)

Senate Bill 7006 continues a public records exemption for for portions of hearings conducted by the Florida Public Service Commission.

More specifically, this exemption extends to proprietary confidential business information that is already exempt under state law.

DATE OF EFFECT: April 1

SB 7008 — Public Records (FGCC)

Senate Bill 7008 keeps in place a public records exemption for portions of a meeting conducted by the Florida Gaming Commission wherein confidential information is discussed.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 10

HB 7011 — Public Records (Aquaculture)

House Bill 7011 continues a public records exemption for certain aquaculture records held by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

That exemption refers to the following:

Shellfish receiving and production records generated by licensed shellfish processing facilities
Audit records and supporting documentation required for submerged land leases
Aquaculture production records and receipts generated by certified aquaculture facilities

DATE OF EFFECT: March 27

SB 7012 — Public Records (DHSMV)

Senate Bill 7012 keeps in place a public records exemption for information held by the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles.

Such information must be a result of an investigation or examination of suspected violations of certain state statutes, such as those relating to motor vehicle titles, registrations, or driver’s licenses.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 10

SB 7014 — Public Records (Social Media)

Senate Bill 7014 continues two public records exemptions for information received by law enforcement about whether a social media platform has committed an antitrust violation.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 16

SB 7016 — Public Records (Loan Programs)

Senate Bill 7016 continues a public records exemption for certain details held by an economic development agency pursuant to the administration of a state/federally funded small business loan program.

More specifically, the exemption protects tax returns, financial information and credit information.

DATE OF EFFECT: April 1

SB 7022 — Public Records (Exam Instruments)

Senate Bill 7022 expands the public records exemption for examination and assessment instruments.

It does so by adding public schools, district school boards, university boards of trustees, the State Board of Education, and the Board of Governors as additional records custodians.

The law also extends the existing public records exemption through 2031.

DATE OF EFFECT: May 11

SB 7024 — Public Records (Cybersecurity)

Senate Bill 7024 expands the current public records exemptions for certain cybersecurity information held by local and state government agencies.

The law also consolidate from other agency-specific cybersecurity provisions some other exemptions, including login credentials, internet protocol addresses, and geolocation data.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 10

SB 7026 — Public Records (Trade Secrets)

Senate Bill 7026 continues a public records exemption for trade secrets held by an agency, which are kept confidential.

DATE OF EFFECT: April 23

HB 7031 — Internal Revenue Service

House Bill 7031 adopts the IRS Code as of Jan. 1, 2026 for Florida corporate income tax purposes, with the exception of the changes made by the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 11

SB 7040 — Emergency Fund

Senate Bill 7040 recreates the Emergency Preparedness and Response Fund within the Executive Office of the Governor.

The fund is meant to be used to prepare for or respond to disasters declared by the governor as a state of emergency.

DATE OF EFFECT: June 29

Former China Development Bank president is under anti-corruption probe

Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 07:23:38 +0000

A former president of the China Development Bank was put under investigation on suspicion of serious violations of party discipline and the law, the country's top anti-graft watchdog announced on Sunday.

The Central Commission for Discipline Inspection said in a one-line statement that Ouyang Weimin was being investigated by it and the National Commission of Supervision, without offering more details.

According to state media China Daily, Ouyang began his career and joined the Chinese Communist Party in 1986. He spent much of his earlier career at the People’s Bank of China, it said.

Ouyang served as the vice-governor of Guangdong, an economic powerhouse near Hong Kong, and was appointed as the president and deputy party secretary of the China Development Bank in 2019, China Daily reported. He stepped down as president in 2023, it added.

The China Development Bank, founded in 1994, is a state-funded and state-owned development finance institution. According to its website, it is directly overseen by the State Council and its work aims to support China's economic development in key industries and underdeveloped sectors.

Under Chinese President Xi Jinping's rule, China has run an anti-corruption campaign that also saw officials and military generals being targeted. Critics say the drive has been used partly to remove Xi’s political rivals.

A centuries-old festival in Japan brings Shinto traditions and towering floats to the streets

Fred Mery And María Teresa Hernández, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 05:13:18 +0000

There’s a special moment when Katsushi Horikawa feels closer to the gods. It comes as he rides atop one of the towering floats pulled through the streets in a centuries-old procession in Japan.

This is the Gion Matsuri festival, born more than 1,000 years ago as a ritual to ward off epidemics and celebrated in the former imperial city of Kyoto throughout July.

“I am conscious of them when I’m riding on top,” Horikawa said. “When we’re assembling it as well, but I think the main time is when I’m riding on it.”

The parades — accompanied by dances, music and song — draw large crowds and tourists every year. The biggest floats can weigh up to 12 tons. Yet behind the festive atmosphere lies a tradition rooted in the worship of deities and rituals of protection.

“Those performances are not meant primarily for the entertainment of people,” said Fabio Rambelli, a religious studies professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara. “They are offerings to the gods.”

A festival that has layers of religious history

The Gion Matsuri originated in the late 9th century as a ritual to appease spirits believed to cause epidemics and to pray for protection from disease. It takes its name from Kyoto’s Gion District and “matsuri,” the Japanese word for festival.

At the heart of the celebration is Kyoto’s Yasaka Shrine, a Shinto site whose principal deity has long been revered as a protector against calamities. But the shrine’s history also reflects centuries of interaction between Shinto and Buddhism in Japan.

“Until about 150 years ago it was a Buddhist temple,” Rambelli said. “That’s part of the religious changes that have taken place in Japan.”

Back then, the sanctuary’s main deity was Gozu Tennō, an ox-headed figure believed to have the power either to spread epidemics or to avert them.

“It was a kind of syncretic deity — probably of Indian origin — with connections to Korea and local folklore,” Rambelli said. “A lot of gods in Japan are a mixture of different traditions.”

Early versions of the Gion Matsuri involved that deity, Rambelli said.

To show evil forces and spirits that their god would confront them, devotees carried him around the city in processions that resembled those seen throughout Kyoto today.

A shrine's turn from Buddhism helps shape today's Shinto practices

Japan’s government separated the two traditions of Shinto and Buddhism in 1868 during the Meiji era, effectively bringing Shinto shrines under state control and placing the emperor at the center of the new order.

“Because the emperor was the direct descendant of the goddess of the sun, they purified the whole system creating what now we see as Shinto,” said Andrea De Antoni, professor of anthropology and religious studies at the University of Kyoto.

De Antoni said a strong anti-Buddhist movement followed. Temples, mandalas and statues were burned and destroyed.

Shinto was formally separated from the state after World War II, but its traditions still reflect a broader history of religious and cultural influences.

“It is an institutionalized religion that revolves around ideas of deities called kami and different spirits,” De Antoni said.

“Kami shares its rules with general ideas of animism that can be found throughout the world, but there are a lot of similarities with certain parts of Southeast Asia and with the Pacific,” he added.

Ancient traditions bring communities together

Japanese festivals often serve as ways for deities to be brought into the streets for sacred or ritual purposes while also bringing communities together in celebration.

“This is the festival of all the people in the neighborhood,” said Jacques Garrigues, a Frenchman who has lived in Kyoto for three decades and who attended the Gion Matsuri procession with his son on Friday.

“We also come together through a certain sense of religion, although the religious significance is not the same as in France,” he added.

Among the traditions preserved by the Gion Matsuri is the choosing of a boy as a sacred messenger to the gods. During the parade, the selected boy is seen sitting on one of the floats, his feet never touching the ground.

Some key participants spend months getting ready for the celebrations. Different neighborhoods prepare their floats with great care and dedication, with many people trusting the floats will drive away evil spirits.

Atsushi Matono is responsible for erecting the shingi, a sacred tree placed at the top of one of the floats —the holiest part of the structure, to which a deity is believed to descend.

Like Horikawa, he describes feeling a sacred presence.

“I always carry out my work with great care and respect,” Matono said. “Feeling the presence of the gods.”

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Hernández reported from Beijing.

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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

Athletics pitcher J.T. Ginn loses no-hit bid in 7th inning against Nationals

Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 03:49:46 +0000

Athletics pitcher J.T. Ginn lost his bid for a no-hitter Saturday night against the Washington Nationals when Keibert Ruiz lined a clean single to center field with one out in the seventh inning.

After the base hit, Ginn was removed from the game by manager Mark Kotsay and received a standing ovation. The right-hander exited with the A's leading 8-0 as they tried to snap a 10-game losing streak.

Ginn struck out seven and walked three. He threw 82 pitches, 50 for strikes.

Before the seventh, Washington’s only baseruners came on a pair of two-out walks in the second and a two-out walk in the fifth. The Nationals piled up a season-high 21 hits Friday night in a 23-4 blowout against the A's.

The closest the Nationals had come to a hit was in the fifth when Dylan Crews appeared to beat out an infield single to third baseman Joshua Kuroda-Grauer. After Crews was initially ruled safe, the A’s challenged and the call was overturned following a replay review for the final out of the inning.

Kuroda-Grauer also made a diving catch in the outfield on CJ Abrams' popup in the fourth.

Ginn took a no-hitter into the ninth on May 18 at the Los Angeles Angels before walking off the mound with a heartbreaking loss. He allowed a leadoff single to Adam Frazier and a two-run homer to Zach Neto that gave the Angels a stunning 2-1 victory.

That was the only complete game for Ginn in his three-year major league career. He entered his latest outing 7-6 with a 3.67 ERA this season.

Mike Fiers pitched the most recent no-hitter for the A’s against the Cincinnati Reds in May 2019 when the team still played in Oakland.

The lone no-hitter in the majors this year came when three Houston Astros pitchers combined for a 9-0 victory over the Texas Rangers on May 25.

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This story has been corrected to show that three Houston Astros pitchers combined on a no-hitter against the Texas Rangers on May 25, not four pitchers.

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Rescuers in China search the rubble for survivors of landslide that killed 8 and left 34 missing

Andy Wong And Kanis Leung, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 04:36:35 +0000

Rescue crews used excavators on Sunday to comb through the rubble in search of survivors from a landslide in the southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing that killed at least eight people and left another 34 missing.

Massive amounts of rocks and soil roared down a slope and buried more than 10 residential buildings early Friday in Pengshui County on the outskirts of Chongqing.

On Sunday morning, about nine rescuers were seen carrying a sealed orange bag from the scene. It was not immediately clear if a victim had been pulled out.

State broadcaster CCTV reported that all the residents staying in 21 buildings in the potential impact zone had been evacuated. Authorities carried out the evacuations from buildings on slopes and in low-lying areas within a kilometer radius of the disaster site, relocating over 1,100 people, Chongqing authorities said in a WeChat post published Sunday.

Authorities said one of 10 survivors was discharged from the hospital while the other nine were in stable condition. Eight people pulled from the rubble had died.

On Saturday, rescue crews aided by dogs and detectors found signs of life, confirming that at least one survivor was still trapped beneath the rubble. But authorities said the crews needed to carefully map out a rescue plan since a reckless excavation could risk triggering a secondary collapse, especially with the boulders at the scene.

The landslide contained about 18,000 cubic meters (635,500 cubic feet) of rocks and debris, with one boulder being around 3,000 cubic meters (106,000 cubic feet), Wang Chuanjun, head of Planning and Natural Resources in Pengshui County, told reporters Friday.

More than 120 experts were deployed to the scene to help with the operation.

The rain-triggered landslide occurred near a stretch of the Wujiang River that cuts through karst mountains peppered with small towns and terraces.

Pengshui County is located in the southeast part of Chongqing, bordering the provinces of Hubei and Guizhou.

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Leung reported from Hong Kong. Associated Press video producer Wu Jia contributed to this report.

Man killed in Orange County shooting, according to deputies

Chris Raines — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 04:04:27 +0000

The Orange County Sheriff’s Office says a man is dead after an early-morning shooting.

Deputies say it happened near TCU Boulevard and Pamlico Street on Saturday.

Deputies say they found a man in his 30s who had been shot, who later died at the hospital.

The sheriff’s office says everyone is accounted for and there is no threat to the public.

It’s early in the investigation, and deputies say they won’t release more information right now.

We’ll update this story as we learn more. Check back for updates.

US military launches new airstrikes to 'swiftly punish' Iran for deaths of US troops

Associated Press — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 07:31:56 +0000

The U.S. military said that it carried out new airstrikes against Iran on Sunday to “swiftly punish” the country’s Revolutionary Guard after an attack on a base in Jordan killed two American service members, left one missing and four requiring hospitalization.

The strikes were designed to further degrade Iran’s ability to restrict the traffic of oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command said. The waterway accounted for roughly 20% of global oil supplies before the war. Iran effectively closed the strait to shipping traffic after the war started with U.S. and Israeli strikes on Feb. 28.

The new strikes came after the U.S. military announced its first troop deaths from direct Iranian fire since the opening days of the war, following a drone and missile attack on a base in Jordan on Friday. The dead were not identified, and Central Command didn't offer any further details on the deaths.

Since the war began, 16 U.S. service members have been killed and over 430 wounded.

Strikes target southern Iran

An area near Sirik, on the Strait of Hormuz, was targeted around 1:30 a.m. local time, according to Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency, which cited local authorities in southern Hormozgan province.

In the same province, a location near Hajiabad was targeted and explosions were heard in Bandar Abbas, according to IRNA. An area near Qeshm Island, which is inside the strait, was also targeted, according to Iran's state-run broadcaster, IRIB.

On Saturday, Iranian state media reported that U.S. airstrikes had hit an electricity and desalination plant in Hormozgan and damaged tunnels and bridges, disrupting a main highway toward Bandar Abbas, the site of Iran’s main port near the narrowest part of the strait.

An official in Khuzestan province, also on the Gulf, said a strike hit near the city of Shadegan, according to state media.

Trump has threatened to target Iran’s power stations and bridges to try to compel Tehran to loosen its hold on the Strait of Hormuz.

The U.S. in the past week also reimposed a naval blockade on Iranian ports to halt its shipments of crude oil, and the military on Saturday said it had redirected five ships and disabled one since then.

Iranian authorities said Saturday that at least 50 people have been killed and more than 500 wounded in U.S. strikes in the past three weeks, including eight killed in a strike on a bridge Friday.

Strikes hit Iraq's Kurdish region

In neighboring Iraq, a base of the Kurdistan Freedom Party, an Iranian Kurdish dissident group, near Irbil was struck by a drone early Sunday, wounding eight of its members, according to Rebaz Sharifi, a military official with the group.

Residents of Irbil, the capital of Iraq’s semi-autonomous northern Kurdish region, also heard explosions from air defenses early Sunday.

Irbil has been targeted by drone attacks multiple times over the past four days, which coincided with a visit by new Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi to Washington last week and an ongoing escalation between the U.S. and Iran.

No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks, but in the past both Iran and Iran-backed Iraqi militias have launched attacks in the Kurdish region, where both U.S. troops and armed Kurdish Iranian dissident groups are present.

Iran's supreme leader warns of ‘unforgettable lessons’

Minutes before the U.S. announced the troop deaths earlier Saturday, Iran’s supreme leader warned of “unforgettable lessons” if the U.S. keeps attacking the Islamic Republic.

The remarks read out on state TV and attributed to Mojtaba Khamenei, still unseen since the war began, called President Donald Trump’s signature “worthless and invalid.” An Iranian negotiator said Tehran was suspending its commitments to the interim deal signed about a month ago and aimed at permanently ending the fighting.

Iran’s joint military command said that U.S. “covetousness, bullying, totalitarianism or brutality” would meet with a “devastating response.”

Tehran's declarations snapped another fragile thread as the war shows no end in sight. Now Khamenei warns of “lessons” not only from Iran but also its armed proxies in the region, calling them the “Axis of Resistance." The U.S. issued a global travel alert over the rising tensions.

The battle has focused on control of the Strait of Hormuz. The widening strikes now threaten civilians and infrastructure, including desalination plants for drinking water, while the global economy again is on alert.

The U.S. has violated its commitments under the deal and now Iran is “no longer implementing them,” Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, told state TV.

There was no new word on mediation efforts.

US soldiers face growing risks

The last recorded death of a U.S. service member was that of a helicopter pilot who crashed in the Arabian Sea earlier this month. Early in the war, an Iranian drone strike on a command center in Kuwait killed six soldiers. Another soldier died after an attack on a base in Saudi Arabia, and six were killed when a refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq.

On Saturday, the most significant damage from Iranian strikes occurred in Kuwait, where a water desalination plant and an oil facility were hit, according to the Kuwait authorities and the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. Both declined to provide locations.

It was the second attack against a desalination plant in two days in the tiny desert nation that depends on desalination for 90% of its drinking water. The strikes injured several people at the oil facility and caused a fire at the desalination plant, forcing several power generation units offline.

Several firefighters and a worker were injured while battling two other blazes sparked by Iranian strikes, according to the Kuwait Fire Force. Kuwait briefly closed its airspace due to missile threats, and Kuwait Airways said it was rescheduling most flights to and from the capital.

Jordan’s state-run Petra news agency said the kingdom’s air defense systems had downed Iranian missiles, while air sirens sounded multiple times in Bahrain throughout the day and in Saudi Arabia in the morning, according to their governments.

The secretary-general of the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council, Jasem Mohamed al-Budaiwi, accused Iran of war crimes for strikes on infrastructure and civilian facilities.

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This story has been corrected to change the day to Sunday from Saturday to reflect the Dubai, United Arab Emirates Dateline.

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Ezzidin reported from Cairo and Toropin from Washington. Associated Press writers Amir Vahdat in Tehran; Melanie Lidman in Tel Aviv, Israel; Stella Martany in Irbil, Iraq; and Matt Lee and Josh Boak in Washington contributed to this report.

Here’s how to use the News 6 Weather App to track the tropics -

Jonathan Kegges — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 02:37:54 +0000

Track the tropics with the News 6 Weather App!

Here you will also find how to navigate the News 6 Weather App to find the 10-day forecast and track Central Florida’s daily afternoon thunderstorms in your neighborhood.

Tracking the Tropics

On the homepage of the app, scroll down past the PinIt section. There are several clickable tiles to take you deeper into the app.

Tropics section of the News 6 Weather App

Tapping on the “Hurricane Coverage” tile will take you to forecast analysis from the News 6 weather team on the current state of the tropics. Planning information can also be found here.

Tapping on the “Tropical Storm Tracker” will bring you to an interactive interface where you can see the official National Hurricane Center forecast and toggle on/off tropical models and other overlays.

Tracking tropical systems with the News 6 Weather App

To toggle on/off these features click the “pancake” icon in the upper left corner.

The “Tropics Watch” tile will bring you right into the National Hurricane Center forecast discussion section. Here, chances for tropical development are highlighted.

The “Tropics Update” tile will give you the most recent tropical-related stories written by the News 6 Weather Team. If there is an active storm, you can click on the name to get the most up-to-date information on the storm.

Current Conditions and Forecast

When you open up the News 6 Weather App you will find current conditions, a 3-day forecast and an hourly forecast for the next 6 hours. Tapping on any of these will expand this information.

Follow the tabs across the top to extend the hourly forecast to see the 10-day forecast.

Any active weather alerts from the National Weather Service for your area will be at the top.

If at anytime you wish to return to the home screen, tap the News 6 Weather logo on the top right to the left of the date.

[VIDEO BELOW: Jonathan Kegges explains how to use News 6 Weather App]

Radar Settings

Scrolling past the forecast section will bring you to the radar. By tapping on that, the radar will fill your entire screen.

Clicking on the play button at the bottom will send the radar into motion, showing you a loop of the last 2 hours. After a brief pause at the current time, it will show a few hours of the future radar product.

Here’s what really makes the radar on the News 6 weather app shine.

Find the gear icon in the top right and tap on that.

This will open a new page that allows you to toggle data, overlays and settings for the radar.

Navigating the radar of the News 6 Weather App

In the “data” section, tapping a circle will turn on a new overlay. Simply hit the back arrow to return to the radar screen with your newly selected overlay.

In the “overlay” section, you van turn on lightning and active alerts to be displayed on the radar map.

There are many other overlays to play with.

In the “settings” section, you can customize the map to your liking.

News 6 Weather Team forecast

Below the radar you will find a video and article from the News 6 weather team highlighting Central Florida’s forecast.

News 6 Weather Update

PinIt

Last, but certainly not least, is the PinIt section. This is the News 6 platform to submit your photos to News 6.

All you have to do is sign up for free so we can give you credit. Simply upload your photo, and you may see it across all News 6 platforms.

An important note:

Turn location services ON to receive severe weather warnings and lightning detection. Anytime lightning is detected within 10 miles of your location, you will receive a push alert.

To do this, click the location marker next to the gear on the top left of the home page.

Saka’s hat trick lifts England past Mbappé and France 6-4 in wild World Cup third-place game

Alanis Thames, Associated Press — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 21:01:38 +0000

England and France delivered a thriller in a World Cup match that was supposed to be an afterthought.

A day before Lionel Messi and Argentina were set to try and defend their title in a highly anticipated final, Bukayo Saka scored three goals to lead England past Kylian Mbappé and France 6-4 in a wild third-place game.

Mbappé surpassed Messi's record for World Cup goals, scoring twice in the second half. The 27-year-old star has 22 goals in his career and 10 in this World Cup, two ahead of Messi in the Golden Boot race.

It was the highest-scoring World Cup game since Hungary beat El Salvador 10-1 in 1982, and the 10 goals were the most in a third-place match.

Saka had goals in the 37th minute and in first-half stoppage time, then added his third on a penalty in the 87th for his second career hat trick with England. The Three Lions also got goals from Declan Rice and Ezri Konsa to build a 4-0 halftime lead, and they hung on against a relentless France attack in the second half to secure their second-best finish in the World Cup. England won its only title in 1966.

“I hope that the players can be proud of that in some time,” England coach Thomas Tuchel said. “We are fiercely competitive, so we almost don’t allow ourselves to be proud of third place because 18 months ago we set the highest goal. We set the highest dream to chase, and we were very, very ambitious with our dream to make it to the final and win the World Cup. So it's very, very painful if you miss out.”

Tuchel said he viewed England's World Cup run as a success despite its collapse in the semifinals. The Three Lions blew a 1-0 lead against Argentina and lost 2-1 when Messi assisted on two late goals.

Tuchel was criticized for his tactical decisions in the loss, with many wondering what it will take for England to end its decades-long wait for another trophy.

He said Saturday's result was the first step toward closing the gap with teams like Argentina and France.

“This game will help us for sure,” he said, “even if a part will never allow you to fully celebrate the bronze medal.”

Jude Bellingham capped the scoring in the eighth minute of second-half stoppage time, his seventh goal of the tournament and the most in a World Cup by an England player. Captain Harry Kane scored six this year and in 2018, and Gary Lineker had six in 1986.

Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé also scored in the second half for France, which pulled within 4-3 on Mbappé's second goal.

Messi — with 21 career World Cup goals and eight in this tournament — will get one last shot to pass Mbappé for the scoring title when he and defending champion Argentina face Spain on Sunday in East Rutherford, New Jersey. Mbappé also won the Golden Boot four years ago, when France lost the final to Argentina on penalties.

“Leo scores all the time,” Mbappé told Fox Sports in French. “Tomorrow he will score for sure. I just try to help my team every time to score. It's certain that when you score so many goals in the World Cup, it elevates you to certain levels. I would have preferred not to be the top scorer in history and play in the match tomorrow.”

Both teams had said they’d rather be playing in Sunday's final. France had enough offensive firepower to potentially win the tournament, but Les Bleus lost to Spain in the semifinals and squandered their chance at reaching a third straight World Cup final.

Still, a sellout crowd of 64,478 showed up to watch the seventh and final match of this World Cup at Hard Rock Stadium.

Plenty of supporters were cheering for both teams. Many were there simply for the atmosphere of the low-stakes match, and it more than delivered.

“I love English football,” said Gaston Esquivel, a native of Mexico City who came to support England. “I’ve followed the Premier League since I was a kid. I am a Manchester United fan. I like their style, I like their game.”

Thomas Viel, who traveled from Paris to follow France throughout the tournament, was hoping to see a hat trick by Mbappé. He nearly got his wish.

France trailed 4-0 when Mbappé flicked a shot past goalkeeper Dean Henderson in the 48th minute. Then he beat Henderson again with a left-footed strike from about 14 yards in the 66th.

“I think Messi will not score a hat trick tomorrow,” Viel said.

It was also the final match for France coach Didier Deschamps, who has said he will step down after 14 years. Deschamps embraced players and waved toward the crowd as he exited the pitch.

“We were not expecting such a first half,” Deschamps said through an interpreter. “And we did better in the second half. We were deeply disappointed, gutted after the semis. I don't want to sum up my career on this moment.”

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Associated Press writer David Fischer contributed to this report.

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Kylian Mbappé passes Lionel Messi for career World Cup scoring record with 22 goals

Alanis Thames, Associated Press — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 22:43:07 +0000

Kylian Mbappé made history at the World Cup on Saturday. He would have preferred a different outcome.

The France star moved past Argentina's Lionel Messi for the career World Cup scoring record with 22 goals, scoring twice in a 6-4 loss to England in Saturday's third-place match.

Mbappé finished this World Cup with 10 goals, two more than Messi in the race for the Golden Boot, which is awarded to the tournament's top scorer. Should he remain ahead of Messi after Argentina plays Spain in Sunday's final, he would become the first player to win the Golden Boot twice.

“I would have preferred not to be the top scorer in history,” Mbappé told Fox Sports in French, “and play in the match tomorrow.”

Les Bleus missed out on a chance at playing in their third straight World Cup final when they lost to Spain in the semifinals.

Mbappé scored eight goals to win the Golden Boot four years ago in Qatar, where France lost to Messi and Argentina in a penalty shootout in the final.

His 10 in this year’s tournament matched the third most in a World Cup. Just Fontaine had a record 13 goals for France in 1958, Sandor Kocsis of Hungary scored 11 in 1954, and West Germany’s Gerd Müller had 10 in 1970.

Mbappé's quest for the Golden Boot appeared to be going nowhere when France trailed 4-0 at halftime.

Then Mbappé and France came alive in the second half. He flicked a shot past England goalkeeper Dean Henderson in the 48th minute to begin a rally for Les Bleus, who also got goals from Bradley Barcola and Ousmane Dembélé. Michael Olise added two assists, setting a record with seven in this World Cup, one more than Brazil's Pelé, who had six assists in 1970.

France pulled within 4-3 on Mbappé’s second goal, when he beat Henderson again with a left-footed strike from about 14 yards in the 66th minute to pass Messi's career mark of 21 goals.

“There were two very different halves,” Mbappé said. “During the first one, I can understand why some people think we made fools of ourselves and didn’t do the jersey justice. I’d say instead that we were human — and we can’t afford to be. We were completely stunned, and they really shook us awake.”

He said French players wanted to win for Didier Deschamps, who coached his final game with the national team.

“In the end, we didn’t win, and that’s a shame for the coach,” Mbappé said. “The first half gives the impression that we let him down — that’s not at all how we wanted him to feel. This match isn’t going to tarnish Didier Deschamps’ legacy.”

France won the World Cup under Deschamps in 2018, lost a gut-wrenching final to Argentina on penalties in 2022, and was shut down offensively by Spain in the semifinals. It was a disappointing end to Deschamps' 14-year tenure after his star-studded squad was among the favorites to win another World Cup.

Zinedine Zidane is widely expected to be confirmed as Deschamps' successor in the coming days by the French soccer federation.

“It is the end of a journey which represented the most beautiful period,” Deschamps said. “When I started in 2012 ... I put the put the French team first.”

Deschamps embraced players on the pitch before exiting, and he defended Mbappé in his news conference.

“I know he has been given an image that is not true to reality,” the coach said through an interpreter. “He is an incredible captain, and like many of these players, he has evolved. He is disappointed that he did not manage to compete in the final.”

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Make it a dozen: Red Sox rally for 7-6 victory over Rays for 12th straight win

Ken Powtak, Associated Press — Sun, 19 Jul 2026 00:03:04 +0000

Wilyer Abreu hit two home runs – the second a go-ahead, two-run shot in the seventh inning that gave him four homers in two games — and the Boston Red Sox rallied for a 7-6 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays on Saturday to extend their winning streak to 12 games.

Abreu also hit two in the nightcap of a doubleheader sweep Friday.

Victor Mesa Jr. had a go-ahead, two-run homer and Jonny DeLuca added a solo shot for the Tampa Bay Rays.

Abreu’s shot off Garrett Cleavinger (2-3) capped a four-run inning that wiped out a 6-3 deficit. Ceddanne Rafaela had an RBI double and Masataka Yoshida had a run-scoring ground out in the inning.

Ryan Watson (1-0) pitched two innings for his first major league victory and Aroldis Chapman got the final three outs for his 21st save.

Trailing 3-2 in the fourth, the Rays jumped ahead with three runs. Mesa Jr. hit his homer into Tampa Bay’s bullpen and Yandy Díaz added an RBI single.

DeLuca’s homer over the Green Monster made it 6-3 in the seventh.

Making his second start after missing last season recovering from Tommy John surgery, Boston’s Patrick Sandoval gave up five runs in five innings.

Tampa Bay took a 2-0 edge in the second when Ryan Vilade scored on second baseman Seigler’s throwing error and Nick Furias had an RBI single, but Jahmai Jones’ two-run homer tied it in the bottom half after Andruw Monasterio correctly challenged a called 3-2 strike that would have ended the inning.

Rays starter Ian Seymour lasted just three innings, allowing three runs and two homers after giving up a career-high tying six runs in his previous start.

Up next

Rays LHP Shane McClanahan (8-5, 2.83 ERA) was set to face RHP Sonny Gray (11-1, 2.54) in the series finale Sunday.

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Formation potential increasing in the Gulf, Central Florida trends drier

Jordan Patrick — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 22:48:29 +0000

The National Hurricane Center has bumped up the formation potential for the system in the eastern Gulf as a surface low pressure is attempting to form. Odds are now medium for tropical development. It has been dubbed Invest 91 L and Hurricane Hunters are scheduled to fly through the system Sunday afternoon to look for an organized surface center.

Models have this system drifting to the north and west over the next few days.

Models have shifted this system further west over the last 24 hours, which brings better weather for Central Florida. A western shift means the tropical moisture associated with this system shifts west as well. Instead of tapping into this moisture, Central Florida will welcome drier air being pulled in from the southeast as this low moves northward. Due to this, rain chances have decreased for the area considerably.

A westward shift in the low's track means drier air from the southeast will flow into Central Florida Sunday.

Sunday

Much of the day will be dry with a mix of sun and clouds as our available moisture for storms declines. Rain chances will be reduced to spotty to scattered late-afternoon into the early evening. These storms will move from south to north. Many of us will not see any rain at all. Coverage will only be 30-40%. Highs will hit the low 90s with heat indices around 100ºF.

Next Week

Drier air continues to push into Central Florida from the southeast as the Gulf low pushes further to the northwest, allowing our rain chances to continue to fall. Coverage drops as low as 20% by mid-week as a ridge of high pressure builds back over the state of Florida. This, in turn, means highs bounce back into the mid-upper 90s.

Taylor Farms recalls lettuce shipped to 27 states over cyclospora risk

Savannah Peters, Associated Press — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 21:51:17 +0000

Taylor Farms has expanded a voluntary recall of its iceberg lettuce products sourced from central Mexico because of a potential link to the multistate cyclospora outbreak that has sickened people across the U.S.

Products with the potential to be contaminated with the diarrhea-causing parasite were shipped to 27 states including Texas, Florida, Pennsylvania, Illinois and New Jersey, the California-based company said in a statement Friday.

“We are actively removing the implicated products,” the statement said, adding that the company has stopped sourcing lettuce from an implicated lot in central Mexico.

U.S. health officials earlier this week identified lettuce from a supplier in Mexico as a source of cyclospora contamination in food served at Taco Bell restaurants in five Midwestern states.

The Taylor Farms recall announcement listed 25 shredded lettuce and salad mix products sold under eight different brand codes. Taylor Farms did not respond to an emailed request for the full names of those brands or retailers. The recalled products were shipped as recently as Thursday and have “best by” dates as late as Aug. 3.

Sysco, the nation's largest food distributor, has halted distribution of all Taylor Farms iceberg lettuce products sourced from Mexico and instructed customers to destroy them.

Cyclospora is a microscopic parasite that infects food that has come into contact with human feces, most commonly when produce is irrigated or washed with contaminated water. When ingested, the parasite causes intestinal illness marked by “frequent and sometimes explosive bowel movements,” according to the CDC.

In 2026, cyclospora has sickened at least 1,645 people in the U.S. and hospitalized 141, according to the CDC, which is investigating more than 5,000 additional illnesses that may be linked to the parasite. This time last year, only 249 cases had been reported.

The CDC initially warned consumers to avoid eating shredded lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia.

“Taco Bell worked swiftly to voluntarily remove the product from restaurants and the affected ingredient has been removed from our supply chain nationwide,” the company said in a statement Friday.

Judge will need another scan before major ramp up, is moved to 60-day IL; Schmidt faces batters

Ronald Blum, Associated Press — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 22:53:21 +0000

Aaron Judge will need another scan before a major ramp-up of activity while his fractured rib heals, and the New York Yankees moved their captain to the 60-day injured list Saturday.

Sidelined since May 31, Judge had a scan during the All-Star break that was reviewed by Dr. Gregory J. Pearl, chair of the department of vascular surgery at Baylor Hamilton Heart and Vascular Hospital in Texas.

“Obviously healing going on, which is good, but still not able to start any baseball activities or anything,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said after a game against the Los Angeles Dodgers was rained out and rescheduled as part of a day-night doubleheader Sunday.

“He needs to get to a point to where he’s asymptomatic to where you really start ramping up more upper body stuff,” Boone said.

Judge is hitting .248 with 17 homers and 38 RBIs but had just one homer in his last 18 games before going on the injured list.

“The good news is, you know the the pain is subsiding somewhat over the last couple weeks and changing from that sharp to more of that pull," Boone said. "So hopefully he continues to improve there and then we can start upping things.”

Boone said how Judge feels will determine when he goes for another scan.

New York was 36-23 when the 34-year-old outfielder last played but is 18-20 since.

His move to the 60-day IL was procedural to open a 40-man roster spot for right-hander Bradley Hanner, whose contract was selected from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. Hanner then was optioned back to the RailRiders.

Clarke Schmidt could return in bullpen

Clarke Schmidt threw an inning of batting practice for the first time since Tommy John surgery on July 11 last year and said he reached 95 mph.

A 30-year-old right-hander, Schmidt threw four-seamers, sinkers and cutters among 15 pitches to Anthony Volpe and Ali Sánchez. He did not throw sliders, sweepers or knuckle-curves.

“Not full game feeling with the butterflies and stuff like that, but close to it,” Schmidt said. “To be able to put your stuff on display and be able get back out there after a year is a good feeling.”

Schmidt had an internal brace in this operation. He had Tommy John surgery in May 2017, a month before the Yankees selected him with the 16th overall pick in the amateur draft.

“The first one, when you kind of start the bullpen phase, it feels a little yucky at times and you just have a lot more days where you’re like, ah, it doesn’t feel great,” he said. “It just feels a little more easier where it’s like I don’t have to reach back and have those days where you’re grinding a little bit.”

Schmidt is to throw batting practice again in four or five days. He may return this year as a reliever and is willing to be an opener or a bridge pitcher.

“I know that we have a little more limited time for me this year as far as ability to build up the pitch count,” he said. “Obviously I’m open to everything as long as I’m out there competing and being able to help the guys. ... I know I’ll be able to be back at some point in some facet this year."

Possible Giancarlo Stanton return near

Boone is hopeful designated hitter Giancarlo Stanton is nearing a return from a strained right calf that has sidelined him since April 24.

“He is a week into the running progression, been hitting,” Boone said. “Obviously had a setback, whenever, three, four weeks ago now, but he seems to be moving in a good direction so hopefully getting close.”

Stanton still hasn't run the bases.

Max Fried to get another minor league rehab start

Left-hander Max Fried, out since May 14 because of a left elbow bone bruise, made his first rehab start Friday for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre against Worcester, allowing two runs and five hits over three innings with three strikeouts and no walks.

“He looked really good. I watched his whole outing,” Boone said. “He felt really good. So 52 pitches, so another one in five days. We'll up that and we’ll see what we’re at from there.”

George Lombard potentially an option

Shortstop prospect George Lombard Jr. went 2 for 3 with a home run and a walk for the RailRiders on Friday night in his return from the injured list. He hadn’t played for Scranton since June 16 because of sprained fingers on his left hand.

“Obviously it's no secret how highly we think of George,” Boone said. “Had a good game last night, obviously, so he’s certainly more and more in his development pushing himself into the conversation.”

A 21-year-old son of a former major leaguer, Lombard is hitting .239 with five homers, 16 RBIs and eight stolen bases in 43 games at Triple-A.

“I want him to get going here coming off the injury and start stacking some days,” Boone said.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

Ryan Blaney looks to stay hot as NASCAR heads to North Wilkesboro for first points race in 30 years

Steve Reed, Associated Press — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 22:33:04 +0000

Ryan Blaney is hoping to turn a hot streak into history.

The 2023 Cup Series champion is hitting his stride with eight straight top 10 finishes, including a win last week at Atlanta. That gives him plenty of momentum heading into Sunday night's much-hyped historic return to North Wilkesboro Speedway for the track's first championship points race in 30 years.

The .625-mile track sat dormant, covered with overgrown bushes and weeds, for nearly a quarter century before being refurbished to host the NASCAR All-Star Race from 2023-25.

“I’ve enjoyed coming here the last few years for the All-Star race and I was excited when they announced that there was going to be a points race here,” said Blaney, who will start on the pole based on metrics after heavy rains washed out qualifying on Saturday. “I feel like this place has done a really good job of revitalizing it, and the facilities. It's going to be a good show.”

Blaney and his No. 12 Ford Mustang were dominant last week leading 171 of 263 laps, capturing all stage points to move into third place in the Cup standings. He is currently just 65 points behind points leader Denny Hamlin.

Blaney came out on a top after a three-wide battle with Bubba Wallace and Christopher Bell on the final lap of overtime in a race that ended after midnight Sunday because of weather.

Blaney is favored to win (+500) again this week. That leaves him ahead of Hamlin and Bell (both +500), Kyle Larson (+900) and Tyler Reddick (+1000), according to Las Vegas sportsbooks.

Semifinals of $1M In-Season Challenge

Blaney joins Bell, Chase Elliott and Todd Gilliland as the drivers still alive entering for this week's semifinal round of the $1 million NASCAR In-Season Challenge.

Blaney faces Bell, while Gilliland takes on Elliott in the head-to-head matchups.

Elliott said winning would be nice, but admitted the In-Season Challenge is “not something that I’m overly consumed over."

“Kind of similar to the points situation in general, if you’re going out and you’re doing your job and you’re performing at a high level, then you’re likely going to take care of the other things,” Elliott said. "So I kind of look at that in a really similar light, but I do think it is really fun. I think it’s a really good thing for just the sport, in general, to kind of have something else going on in the middle of the year.”

The winner will be crowned next weekend at the Brickyard 400 at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

The race for the Chase

Speaking of the Chase, there are only six races remaining before the 16-driver field is established, meaning every point counts.

Three of the next six races are at short tracks, beginning this week.

Ryan Preece, driver of the No. 6 RFK Racing Ford, stands 26 points below the cutline and is looking to make up ground.

“I’m biased, for sure, when it comes to short track racing and the racing that it provides, especially with the way the tire and all of that has gone,” Preece said. “So, I feel really good about it. North Wilkesboro, Iowa, New Hampshire, those are all places that I’ve had success at and I look forward to going to.”

Struggles continue for Chastain after failed inspection

The struggles continue for Ross Chastain.

Chastain's No. 1 car failed inspection three times before practice Saturday and he'll be required to serve a drive-thru penalty. He also lost a pit selection and a crew member. Chastain has had a tough season, entering the weekend in 20th place and 45 points below the Chase cutline.

Also, the cars for drivers Austin Hill and Connor Zilisch failed inspection twice. They also had a crew member ejected and will not be able to make pit selection.

Legends on hand at North Wilkesboro

NASCAR is playing up its return to North Wilkesboro for a points race.

Eight NASCAR legends will be on hand including Hall of Fame inductees Richard Childress, Ray Evernham and Chad Knaus will join Jeff Hammond, Larry McReynolds, Kyle Petty, Kenny Wallace and Eddie Wood in prerace driver introductions.

In addition, Rusty Wallace, a three-time North Wilkesboro race-winning driver and NASCAR Hall of Fame inductee, will serve as grand marshal for Sunday night’s race, providing additional star power. (Wallace finished 10th at the 1996 Cup race at North Wilkesboro. He led 43 laps.)

And it's a sellout

Sunday night's race, located about two hours north of Charlotte, is a sellout.

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/apf-AutoRacing

Former Cubs player Anthony Rizzo snares Michael Busch's home run ball in the Wrigley Field bleachers

Matt Carlson, Associated Press — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 19:20:14 +0000

The ball from current Cubs first baseman Michael Busch’s first inning solo homer in a 6-2 win over Minnesota on Saturday was recovered in Wrigley Field’s right-field bleachers by former Chicago first baseman Anthony Rizzo.

Rizzo didn’t catch Busch’s 12th homer on the fly, but reached behind and picked the ball up off the concrete after it landed. Rizzo held it high in the air with a small boy on his shoulder.

Rizzo, a three-time All-Star who played 10 of his 14 seasons with the Cubs, took part in dedicating an arching, 31-foot wide “Champions Gate” on the west side of Wrigley Field before the game. It commemorated the 10th anniversary of Chicago winning the World Series in 2016.

Busch initially didn't know Rizzo retrieved the ball. He was told by catcher Miguel Amaya, who doubled in two runs in the second inning.

The notion of a previous Cubs slugging first baseman snaring the home run ball of the current one wasn't lost on the 28-year-old Busch, who homered 34 times last year. The 36-year-old Rizzo hit 242 regular-season home runs with Chicago and 303 for his career.

"I thought that was super, just like mind-blowing," Busch said. "Who knows how things work out, but I thought that was pretty cool.

“Just the 2016 team, what they did for this city and the championship that they brought was obviously a big deal," Busch added. "You could just tell from the fans how much they were loved and how much joy they brought to the city. And then Rizzo was kind of a cornerstone for them.”

Rizzo hit .292 with 32 homers and 109 RBIs in the 2016 regular season, then went on to add three homers and 10 RBIs in the postseason as the Cubs ended a 108-year championship drought.

Team owner Tom Ricketts, 2016 manager Joe Maddon and Rizzo addressed the crowd in a ceremony that included some 20 players from team. Maddon and the players returned to the field before the game and right-hander Kyle Hendricks threw a ceremonial first pitch.

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Oh, baby! Sam Burns takes the lead in a British Open he planned to miss

Doug Ferguson, Associated Press — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 19:49:15 +0000

Sam Burns gets his best chance at winning a major he never planned to play.

Two weeks after his daughter was born, one week after Burns changed his mind and decided to fly from Louisiana to play in the British Open, he followed his record-tying 62 with a 5-under 65 on Saturday to build a two-shot lead at Royal Birkdale.

Perhaps even more impressive was he played with purpose amid the chaos that is Bryson DeChambeau, who played alongside Burns and heard big support from the gallery a day after he theatrically protested a two-shot penalty for improving the path of his swing.

DeChambeau seems to thrive among distractions — his week began with six-time major champion Nick Faldo saying he had “zero clue of strategy” in links golf — and the penalty for an infraction on the fifth hole Friday was a big one. The two shots took him out of the final group and moved him three shots behind instead of one back.

But he pressed on, high-fiving the gallery from green-to-tee, giving a thumbs-up to the crowd when he walked onto the first tee and playing a high standard of golf. DeChambeau was even par through 14 holes until two birdies gave him momentum. He bogeyed the last hole for a 69, his sixth consecutive round in the 60s in the British Open.

DeChambeau didn't speak to the media again. Rory McIlroy did, referring to the way DeChambeau protested the penalty as “performative.”

“I think a lot of it's for attention,” McIlroy said after a 69 left him eight shots behind. He also accused DeChambeau of holding the tournament “hostage” because the extraordinary late-evening scene also delayed Saturday tee times.

The golf attention now falls to Burns.

He was at 10-under 200 for a two-shot lead over Si Woo Kim (67) and Ryan Fox, who became the third player this week to tie the major championship record with a 62. He finished some 90 minutes before the last group even teed off, and now the 39-year-old from New Zealand will be in the final group with a shot at his first major.

Burns shot down a suggestion that golfers with newborns have a lot more freedom when they play. “If I was aware of that, I'd have like eight kids by now,” he said.

But there was freedom in knowing this is a chance he never thought he would have. His wife, Caroline, had been due to give birth to their second child the Tuesday before the British Open. Their first was born four days late.

“I just didn't think there was any possible way,” Burns said. “And little Belle had different plans.”

Belle is the name of their daughter born July 3, which at least planted the idea of Burns playing. That turned into a conversation with his wife, including a phone call to close friend Scottie Scheffler, and it led to him deciding a week ago Friday to fly over to England.

“Ultimately she's the one that really encouraged me to come over and play,” Burns said. "She basically said: 'I’ve got this at home. Go over there and give it your best.' And here we are.”

The timing is intriguing in another way. Just one month ago, Burns was a 17-foot putt away from forcing a playoff in the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. He was the 54-hole leader in the U.S. Open at Oakmont the previous year, slowed on the back nine by having to play on rain-soaked fairways that affected his shots and led to a 78.

The four players closest to him — Fox and Kim two shots behind, British Open newcomer Ryan Gerard (69) and Lucas Herbert (71) three shots back — have never won a major. Herbert and Burns each shot 62 on Friday just 22 minutes apart.

“I think Sam Burns is going to be a man possessed,” Herbert said. “Given his results in majors and him not winning one, I think he’s going to be very tough to beat. I’m not thrilled about giving him a three-shot head start, but we are where we are."

DeChambeau, four shots behind along with Ludvig Aberg (67) and Jackson Suber (70), is the only player among the top 10 who has won a major, the U.S. Open in 2020 and 2024.

Scheffler plays practice rounds at most majors with Burns, a close friend with whom he often share houses on the road.

“I know how good he is,” Scheffler said. “Sometimes you just need to continue to build that experience and put yourself in the positions. He was close at the U.S. Open last year. He was close again at the U.S. Open this year. ... But it’s just a matter of continuing to give yourself opportunities, continuing to knock on the door.”

Scheffler sounded as though he could have been describing his own week at Royal Birkdale. The defending champion has looked every bit like the No. 1 player in the world from tee to green. Scheffler just can't seem to make a putt.

Such was the case again Saturday in his round of 70 that left him six shots behind. Scheffler had gone 34 holes without a bogey until missing from 3 1/2 feet for par on the 16th hole.

“I haven’t had many bogeys over the course of the week,” he said. “I just haven’t made enough birdies.”

Also still hanging onto hope was Southport's own Tommy Fleetwood, who had a 69 and was five shots behind.

Also six back was Jon Rahm, who recovered from a double bogey on the first hole for a 70, and Xander Schauffele, who had a 66 that felt worse playing alongside Fox.

Eight players were separated by four shots going into the final round on a course that is baked and brown and running fast but with wispy rough that really makes avoiding bunkers the biggest challenge. The wind has not been very strong since the opening round, even in the afternoon.

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Ukrainian drones hit warehouses and other sites across Russia, killing 9 and wounding over 80

Associated Press — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 08:56:17 +0000

Ukrainian drones struck two sprawling warehouses, one of them just east of Moscow, as part of attacks overnight and on Saturday afternoon that killed nine people and wounded more than 80, Russian officials said.

Kyiv's forces have pressed their relentless aerial campaign against energy infrastructure and military targets inside Russia, aiming to undermine Moscow’s war effort and make Russians feel the consequences of the Kremlin's all-out invasion of Ukraine that is well into its fifth year.

Two sprawling warehouses of Russia's major online retailer, Wildberries, were hit by Ukrainian drones overnight, according to Russian officials — one in the town of Kotovsk in the Tambov region, some 360 kilometers (220 miles) from the border with Ukraine, and another in the city of Elektrostal, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Moscow.

A Ukrainian drone also hit an oil depot in the city of Noginsk, just north of Elektrostal, sparking a fire and prompting evacuations of a nearby maternity hospital and a residential building, according to the governor of the Moscow region, Andrei Vorobyov. Drone debris also hit a kindergarten building, Vorobyov said, sparking a fire that has since been put out.

Seven night shift workers were killed at the warehouse in Kotovsk and 25 others were wounded, Tambov regional Gov. Yevgeny Pervyshov said.

A total of 61 people were wounded in the Moscow region, Vorobyov said: 20 sought outpatient care, while 40 others were hospitalized. One person died of their injuries, he said.

One more person was killed and another wounded in a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's Belgorod region on Saturday afternoon, according to local authorities.

Both warehouses caught fire, Wildberries founder Tatyana Kim said, and the blaze in Kotovsk was put out. Images and footage released by Russian online outlets showed a fire raging at the Elektrostal facility, with massive plumes of smoke towering over it.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Telegram post on Saturday that Ukrainian long-range strikes hit two “significant logistical facilities in the Moscow and Tambov regions.”

“These facilities were used by the aggressor to supply sanctioned components for the production of drones and navigation equipment,” he wrote. An oil facility was also hit, he said.

In the city of Vladimir, some 180 kilometers (110 miles) east of Moscow, a Ukrainian drone hit a residential building, sparking a brief fire, Vladimir Gov. Alexander Avdeyev said. There were no casualties, he added.

Ukrainian special operations also conducted strikes against targets in the Sea of Azov and in occupied territory, Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine’s General Staff said in a statement on Saturday that the fuel depot in Noginsk that was targeted overnight supplied the Russian armed forces. It also reported hitting two tankers, two floating cranes and a tugboat in the Black and Azov seas, saying the vessels were used to transport oil, fuel and military cargo.

Separately, the military said it struck a Project 10410 Svetlyak-class patrol ship in Kerch, describing it as the second vessel of that class hit in two days, as well as a railway bridge over the Bila River near Sabivka in the occupied Luhansk region that it said Russia uses for military logistics.

Overall, the Russian Defense Ministry said its air defenses overnight intercepted 379 Ukrainian drones over 19 Russian regions, as well as the illegally annexed Crimea, the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.

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Ryan Fox matches major championship record with a 62 in the British Open

Doug Ferguson, Associated Press — Sat, 18 Jul 2026 13:39:53 +0000

Ryan Fox added his name Saturday to the growing list of players who share the major championship scoring record when he became the third player this week with a record-tying 62 in the British Open at Royal Birkdale.

Fox started early with barely a trace of wind, and he took advantage. The New Zealander made five birdies on the front nine, and birdied two of his last three holes for a 62 on the par-70 Birkdale links. Lucas Herbert and Sam Burns each had 62 some 20 minutes apart on Friday.

More than his name in the record book, Fox now has a shot at his first major.

With stronger wind in the afternoon and tough pin positions, he wound up two shots behind Burns (65) going into the final round. Herbert, who had a 36-hole lead, shot 71 and was three shots behind. Xander Schauffele at the 2024 PGA Championship is the only player with a 62 in a major who went on to win.

There now have been eight rounds of 62 in major championship history, half of them at Royal Birkdale. Branden Grace was the first to set the record with a 62 at Royal Birkdale in 2017.

Fox was in a pot bunker off the fairway on the 18th and still managed to find the green, leaving a birdie putt of nearly 50 feet for a 61. He left it short by about 5 feet and holed the par putt.

“When I got to 6 under through 14 I thought, ‘Oh, I’ve got a chance.' I would have liked to give myself a birdie chance at the last, but happy to make par,” Fox said.

He played alongside Schauffele, the only player with 62 twice in a major. Schauffele and Rickie Fowler each shot 62 in the 2023 U.S. Open at Los Angeles Country Club — like Herbert and Burns, they were playing two groups apart — and Schauffele and Shane Lowry each shot 62 in the 2024 PGA Championship at Valhalla.

Haeran Ryu set the record in women's majors last week with a 60 in the final round of the Evian Championship, which has yielded all the top scores in LPGA majors since it was designated one 13 years ago.

The links have rarely been this brown and fast, but it's the wind — or lack of it — that has allowed for such low scoring this week.

Fox, one of the strongest players in golf with his rugby heritage, leaned on his driver for much of the round and set up good scoring chances.

“The game plan was to be aggressive,” Fox said. “I was aggressive on a lot of good wedge shots. Pretty happy with 62 at the end.”

All but one of his nine birdies — Fox made his lone bogey on the 13th with a drive into a pot bunker — came from about 10 feet or closer. His drive on the 321-yard fifth hole was about 30 feet from the hole, and his most important shot was a wedge from the rough on the par-5 17th that rolled out to about 4 feet.

Herbert also had a bogey on his card during his 62 on Friday.

There have been weeks of soft conditions or little wind — two elements that lead to low scores — at previous majors. Seven major courses — three of them links courses — have yielded two rounds of 63 or lower in the same championship.

Royal Birkdale is the first to give up three of them — with half of the field Saturday and the final round still to come.

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