The outbreak included 72 people as of Wednesday.

The Food and Drug Administration has not yet identified which products are linked to the illnesses. Officials also have not said where the cases are located.

“This is an active investigation, and officials are working together to determine the specific cause of illnesses in this cluster,” the Department of Health and Human Services said in an email Thursday.

Federal officials earlier this week said they remained focused on lettuce from Taylor Farms as the source of a separate, multistate outbreak. The company last week announced it was recalling iceberg lettuce grown in central Mexico.

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 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Federal and state health authorities have been investigating separate clusters of cyclospora illnesses, including the one traced to Taylor Farms.

Food safety tips include washing hands with soap and water after using the bathroom and before handling food. Experts say cooking can kill the parasite and advise cooking produce to a temperature of at least 158 degrees Fahrenheit (70 degrees Celsius.)

___

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.

The proposed ordinance would increase all existing local business tax rates by 5%, as permitted under Florida law. According to city documents, the adjustment is intended to maintain a fair and current local business tax structure while supporting essential municipal services. City documents also state the change better align with the city’s budget process.

For many small businesses, the increase would amount to less than $10 annually, depending on the business category.

Still, for some impact is less about the cost and has to do with timing and questions.

“I mean, $5 to $10 a year, that’s not a game changer for me,” said Heidi Hardman, owner of Polka Dotz. “But I want to know what it’s going to help for our businesses around here being very community and small business focused.”

The proposal comes just months after multiple longtime businesses along Plant Street, including Polka Dotz, were forced to relocate after new property owners chose not to renew their leases.

The changes left portions of Plant Street boarded up while buildings undergo renovations, a process some business owners say could take months or even years. Several displaced businesses like Polka Dotz have since reopened on nearby Main Street, where owners say customer traffic has been noticeably lighter.

“It’s different not being on Plant Street, but we are trying to make Main Street the new Plant Street,” Hardman said. “We are happy to be open again, and our community has really come together.”

As commissioners consider the tax increase, some merchants say they want more information about how the additional revenue would benefit the business community.

“I think they really, really need to explain it to the businesses,” Hardman said. “Is it the right time? Maybe not, but I’m not sure if there is ever a right time. The key is communication.”

Commissioners are scheduled to consider the proposal during their meeting Thursday evening.

Discussion

At 400 PM CDT (2100 UTC), the center of Tropical Storm Bertha was located near latitude 29.8 North, longitude 94.7 West. Bertha is moving toward the west-northwest near 13 mph (20 km/h) and this motion with some increase in forward speed is expected during the next day or so. On the forecast track, the center of Bertha will move across portions of eastern Texas during the next several hours.

Maximum sustained winds have decreased to near 40 mph (65 km/h) with higher gusts. Bertha is expected to gradually weaken, and it is forecast to dissipate tonight or on Friday.

Tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 140 miles (220 km) south the center.

The estimated minimum central pressure is 1006 mb (29.71 inches).

Watches and Warnings

CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY:

The Tropical Storm Warning east of the Vermilion/Cameron Parish Line has been discontinued.

SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT:

A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for, * Vermilion/Cameron Parish Line, Louisiana, to Sargent, Texas

A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area.

For storm information specific to your area, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office.

Land Hazards

Key messages for Tropical Storm Bertha can be found in the Tropical Cyclone Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT2 and WMO header WTNT42 KNHC.

WIND: Tropical storm conditions will continue across portions of the Louisiana and Texas coasts within the warning area into the evening.

STORM SURGE: Water levels may remain elevated through the next high tide cycle along the Louisiana and Texas coastline but should subside thereafter.

RAINFALL: Bertha is expected to produce total rainfall amounts of 1 to 3 inches with isolated totals to 4 inches into tonight along the Texas Gulf Coast and South Texas. This rainfall may produce isolated flash flooding, especially in urban areas.

For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall associated with Bertha, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at2.shtml?rainqpf and the Flash Flood Risk graphic at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at2.shtml?ero.

SURF: Swells generated by Bertha will continue to affect the Louisiana and Texas coast through tonight. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office.

A depiction of rip current risk for the United States can be found at: hurricanes.gov/graphics_at2.shtml?ripCurrents

Those were the words of a resident calling 911 after lightning struck an apartment complex on Vineridge Run in Altamonte Springs on July 17. The family inside didn’t know what was on fire — only that something was very wrong.

A dispatcher quickly took charge.

“Should I take everyone outside like my wife and kids?” the resident asked.

“Yes, if possible just in case there is a hazard. We just want to make sure you guys are safe,” the dispatcher responded.

It turned out to be the right call. The Seminole County Fire Department says lightning is believed to have traveled through the building’s electrical system and ignited a fire behind a dryer. A working fire sprinkler system helped contain the flames until firefighters arrived, preventing the fire from spreading. No injuries were reported.

Seminole County firefighters have responded to more than a dozen lightning-related calls so far this year — and summer is far from over.

One storm, one day — and a spike in calls

The Seminole County Fire Department posted on Facebook that the storms that day resulted in a “significant increase in calls.”

That was just one day — one storm.

An apartment complex in Windermere was condemned after lightning presumably struck the building earlier this month. A home in Sanford was destroyed last year — part of a pattern of lightning-related damage that has kept Seminole County firefighters busy throughout the summer season.

Florida leads nation in lightning damage claims

Mark Friedlander of the Insurance Information Institute says the numbers tell a striking story. U.S. insurers paid out $1.65 billion in lightning-related property damage claims in 2025 — a 59% increase over the previous year, driven largely by inflation and rising rebuilding and repair costs.

“The average cost per claim last year surged 42.8%,” Friedlander said, noting that works out to an average of $26,616 per claim nationwide.

Florida led the nation. The state recorded 5,136 property damage claims directly related to lightning last year, totaling $186 million in insured damage.

“Florida had more lightning damage property claims than any other state,” Friedlander said. “And that typically is common. We see that year after year because there’s so many lightning related storms.”

Friedlander says 2026 has already been especially active.

“It’s been a very active 2026 year to date in terms of lightning caused damage in Florida,” he said.

How to protect your home from lightning damage

Experts say homeowners and renters have several options to reduce their risk — and some steps can be taken immediately.

Friedlander recommends starting with a lightning protection system installed by a professional — a rooftop network of lightning rods connected to conductors that safely direct the energy of a strike into the ground.

“There are lightning protection systems that homeowners can have installed,” he said. “It is basically grounding your home — and you should leave it up to the professionals to do this.”

Roszell Gadson, a corporate communications specialist with State Farm, echoed that advice and offered practical options at every price point.

“Some homeowners may actually take the steps of installing a lightning rod on top of their home or outlying structure,” Gadson said. “Others may simply talk to an electrician about a whole home surge protection system that can protect all of the outlets in your home in case there’s a power surge or lightning strike.”

For a quick, low-cost option, Gadson says the solution may be as simple as a trip to the hardware store.

“One thing that you can go out and do today, right now, is to go to your local hardware store and purchase some individual surge protectors and make sure that they are attached to your most important and most expensive appliances, home workout equipment, laptops and other electronic equipment,” he said.

Both experts also recommend unplugging electronics before leaving home when storms are in the forecast.

“Very few people will take the step of unplugging their appliances and their equipment before they leave home,” Gadson said. “If you’re going to be leaving your home for any amount of time, consider unplugging some of those things to make sure that they are not subject to a storm that may occur when you’re not there to respond and react to it.”

Friedlander adds that any surge protector purchased should be rated by Underwriters Laboratories and come with a guarantee for added financial protection.

What your insurance policy covers

The good news, both experts say, is that most Floridians already have coverage they may need in case of an emergency — and that applies to renters, too.

“Big picture is with a standard home, condo or renter’s policy. You do have insurance protection for this loss,” Friedlander said. “We’ve seen in many cases these losses are catastrophic losses, meaning the home is now beyond repair.”

Gadson emphasized that renters shouldn’t assume they’re off the hook.

“It’s very important that not just homeowners listen to this, but also people who are renting apartments and renting homes,” he said. “Having a renters policy will help to protect your property inside of your apartment or home.”

Gadson also urged policyholders to review their coverage regularly — especially after purchasing new electronics or appliances.

“Make sure that you go out and talk to your insurance agent to make sure that you have the proper coverage,” he said. “Make sure that you talk to your agent and understand the deductible that you’ve chosen, because there may be some out-of-pocket cost applied to that loss.”

Friedlander recommends an annual policy checkup to ensure dwelling coverage reflects current repair and replacement costs — and to confirm possession coverage and additional living expenses coverage are adequate in case a home becomes unlivable after a strike.

What to do if lightning strikes your home

The Seminole County Fire Department says if you suspect lightning has damaged your property or notice smoke, the smell of burning or other signs of fire, leave immediately and call 911.

The power staying on after the Vineridge Run strike made it even harder for the family to immediately assess the danger — a reminder that the signs of a lightning-caused fire aren’t always obvious. When in doubt, get out and call for help.

David and Sara LeBlanc had a rotating display of the roughly 6-foot-tall (1.8-meter-tall) ornaments decorating their Ogunquit lawn until officials in the small coastal town deemed them to be impermissible advertising for their attached restaurant, The Omelette Factory.

The couple initially resisted the town's removal order, insisting the roosters were meant to comfort their daughter Pyper, not advertise their business.

“Roosters don’t lay eggs,” David LeBlanc told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

But they eventually came to an agreement with the town allowing them to keep two of the roosters in front of their home.

As for what to do with the others? That's where friends, neighbors and complete strangers came in.

It started with a beloved stuffed rooster

The LeBlancs took in Pyper as a foster child and later adopted her. She arrived with a stuffed rooster and roosters became her favorite animal, her parents said. When her father took her to a Tractor Supply Store to play with baby chicks last year, she noticed a large rooster sculpture for sale and asked her dad what it was saying.

“I think he wants to come home,” David LeBlanc said he told her.

Eventually, their collection grew to more than two dozen roosters, which they set up in batches for seasonal and holiday displays. Pyper took to hiding behind one each morning while waiting for the school bus, which her parents said helps her regulate her emotions and navigate transitions.

But the couple ruffled feathers when they added a rooster to their restaurant’s logo, which is featured on its shirts and other merchandise. Although the LeBlancs said they view the rooster as a “family crest,” the town saw their lawn statues as advertising.

A code enforcement officer, Tyler McOsker, issued the LeBlancs $450 in fines and ordered them in April to "remove all unpermitted signage, including but not limited to rooster statues."

McOsker didn't respond to an email requesting comment. But he told the Zoning Board of Appeals in June that he had no idea the roosters were connected to Pyper’s autism diagnosis until the couple appealed the fines. He also pointed to a May 2025 article in a local weekly newspaper that described the roosters as a “fun and unconventional way to announce that The Omelette Factory is officially open for business.”

“That, to me, is the definition of a sign. You’re announcing you’re opening,” McOsker told the board.

David LeBlanc said the reporter misinterpreted a customer’s joke about the roosters serving as an “Open” sign.

“We never said that,” he said.

The town offers a compromise

The zoning board discussed the issue last month. At one point, board member Jay Smith voiced frustration at the lack of medical proof that the roosters were necessary.

“I’m inclined to think there may be some merit to a comfort animal on the front lawn … but the point is, how many does it take?” he said.

Autism spectrum disorder is a complex developmental condition that affects different people in different ways, and comfort objects are frequently incorporated into therapy for autistic children to help manage transitions, support emotional regulation and provide a sense of familiarity, Beverley Cush Evans, a professor of special education at Lesley University, told the AP.

“It’s part of who they are and what they need," she said.

Eventually, the board decided it lacked the authority to rescind the fines but tried to accommodate the family by granting a disability variance that essentially deemed two roosters necessary for Pyper’s access to the home.

“I want to emphasize we’re talking about two roosters. If they have babies or multiply in the night — no,” another board member said.

The variance requires the roosters to be part of a railing, however, and for now, they are just bolted to the steps. The couple has been fined another $500 for noncompliance.

A show of support

David LeBlanc said he is moving on from the dispute and is focusing on the good that has come from it. The family has given roosters to others to “foster” and show their support for autism acceptance, starting with a man named Sam who lives up the road. Though Pyper was sad to see them go, she understands the adage about making lemonade, LeBlanc said.

“She understands that the roosters being taken away were the lemons, and Sam and his friends, fostering them, are the lemonade,” he said. “It’s a beautiful thing.”

Thanks to news coverage and a Roosters of Ogunquit Facebook page, the story has spread far and wide. One supporter wrote in from New Zealand sharing pictures of his children with a rooster statue in their yard.

Hetal Patel, who owns a motel in nearby Wells and has a relative with autism, wanted to buy a rooster after hearing about Pyper. They were sold out in the Ogunquit area, though, so she and her son went to New Hampshire last week to get one.

“We found the last one,” she said. “We couldn’t wait to put it out. People were so supportive, they were honking. It was so nice to see all the love for Pyper.”

Arch Manning of Texas, the latest in the long line of football's royal family of quarterbacking, took 20 minutes worth of questions Thursday to close out SEC Media Days. He mostly spoke about 2026.

“I'm not worried about anything in the future right now,” he said. “I’m worried about getting through this interview."

He did just fine.

Sporting a burnt-orange necktie and a Longhorn pin on his lapel, the son of Cooper, nephew of Peyton and Eli, and grandson of Archie ran the gantlet with reporters lined up three-deep to speak with him.

—How does it feel to be compared to others, both in and out of your family? “I’m trying to do better not comparing myself to others. They say comparison is the defeat of joy.”

—Is he looking forward to leading the Longhorns into Uncle Peyton’s old stomping grounds, Neyland Stadium at Tennessee? “They’ve got a good coach and good players. We’re excited to go. I’m not going to make it about me.”

—What’s his favorite hobby? Answer: golf. “I broke 80 for the first time last week. Well, pretty much. I gave myself a putt.”

Certainly, there's still work to do for the 22-year-old junior-to-be, whose body and reputation took a beating with the Longhorns over a tumultuous, 10-3 season in 2025.

Heading into his second season as the starter, Manning insists he tries to minimize the expectations that have been heaped on him since he emerged in high school as a surefire star-to-be — or the criticism from those who said his 3-2 start last year that dropped him down those NFL draft boards made him one of the biggest busts in college football history.

“Everyone has an opinion and people get paid to talk in the media, so there's really nothing you can do,” he said. “I'm trying to control the controllables.”

He got sacked 23 times last season and was under pressure more than that. Because he's a Manning, everything from his reactions after bad plays to his release time — somewhere around 3.2 seconds — got dissected way more than would those of a typical above-average college QB.

Texas opened last season with a 14-7 loss to Ohio State and followed that five weeks later with a six-sack, 29-21 loss to a Florida team that turned out to not be very good.

Standing out in the loss to the Gators was the image of Manning virtually folded in half, sandwiched by a pair of Gator linebackers, after one of the six sacks. And a video of him plopping down on the bench, dejected, after one of his two interceptions that day. That he came back from that game to go 7-1, throw 20 touchdowns and get the 'Horns back in the playoff conversation sometimes gets overlooked.

Texas plays both teams again this year, starting with the Buckeyes on Sept. 14. The Longhorns brought in receiver Cam Coleman from Auburn and a pair of running backs, Hollywood Smothers (NC State) and Raleek Brown (Arizona State), to help their star QB.

“I think what he got put through probably would have melted or destroyed 99% of people in his shoes,” coach Steve Sarkisian said. “All he did was stay consistent and true to who he was, which was to continue to work hard, continue to be a great teammate, try to get better, and he did.”

And that, Manning said, is pretty much the goal again for 2026.

If he lives up to expectations, then it would be no big surprise to hear his name called first come draft day. He is scheduled to graduate in December. Neither that — nor any conversation about his family, his future or his place in the game — are going to shift his focus.

“I just want to be remembered as a good teammate and someone who did whatever it took to help the team win and help the team get closer,” he said. “I'm not really worried about my legacy. I just want to win games and have a good time.”

___

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The Republican administration this week urged leading U.S. Senators to rename Penn Station as it undertakes a projected $8 billion redesign of the dreary, underground Manhattan transit hub that also happens to be the busiest in the western hemisphere.

But the U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, in a Wednesday letter seeking congressional funding approval for the rehab and other major transportation priorities, stopped short of saying what the station’s moniker should be changed to.

Spokespersons for the transportation agency provided the letter but didn’t respond to follow up questions Thursday.

Duffy has made it no secret he would welcome seeing his current boss’ name etched across the rail station’s facade.

“I imagine you’re asking, ’Is this going to be Trump Station?' ” the former Wisconsin congressman said last summer as officials sought bids for the project’s master developer. “I think that has a nice ring to it.”

Trump spokesperson Karoline Leavitt, when asked earlier this year, simply responded: “ Why not?”

In his second White House stint, the term-limited Republican has sought to burnish his legacy through public works projects, from a massive new White House ballroom to a triumphal arch and a failed attempt to rename the Kennedy Center. Earlier this month, Florida's Palm Beach airport changed its name to the President Donald J. Trump International Airport.

Trump has said name change idea wasn't his

Trump, for his part, has acknowledged a possible name change was floated in talks with the Senate’s top Democrat, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer, of New York.

But he pushed back at the notion that he suggested it in exchange for unfreezing federal funding for the Gateway project, a major rail tunnel running under the Hudson River from Penn Station into New Jersey.

“Chuck Schumer suggested that to me, about changing the name of Penn Station to Trump Station,” Trump said earlier this year aboard Air Force One.

At the same time, he argued that it doesn’t make much sense for such a major New York landmark to be named after another state.

“I LOVE Pennsylvania, but it is a direct competitor to New York, and ‘eating New York’s lunch!’,” he said on his social media platform Truth Social as he stressed the renaming idea was “brought up by certain politicians and construction union heads, not me.”

New York's Pennsylvania Station, like a handful of others in the country, is named after the Pennsylvania Railroad, the now defunct passenger rail company that built the once grand midtown station.

Opened in 1910, the original station was considered a marvel of the Beaux Arts style, with imposing, Roman-style columns and an expansive waiting area.

It was razed in 1963 to make way for Madison Square Garden, forcing commuters to navigate cramped corridors and dingy train platforms underneath the famous arena.

Recently released renderings call for a return to the hub’s original classical style, with a stone facade, rows of columns and a grand concourse with soaring ceilings. 0ne inside wall also bears Trump’s seal and name.

Critics slam name-change idea

U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler, a Manhattan Democrat, said Duffy’s letter underscores how the Trump administration is “waging a hostile takeover of Penn Station” and seeking to “strip control” from local authorities.

“I strongly oppose this ridiculous proposal and am once again demanding answers on the funding,” he wrote on X. “New York taxpayers and transit riders must not be forced to foot the bill for a Trump vanity project.”

The Riders Alliance, a local transit advocacy group, said the renaming idea was “another huge red flag” that the Penn Station project could become “another multibillion dollar vanity boondoggle.”

“We should be talking about improving service, saving time and money, not monuments, ribbon cuttings or nameplates,” spokesperson Danny Pearlstein said in a statement.

The Trump administration ordered Amtrak, the national passenger rail service, to assume control of the massive redesign last year.

For years, the Penn Station project had been mired in political infighting among the local transit agencies that use the station. James Dolan, the billionaire owner of the NBA’s New York Knicks and NHL’s New York Rangers, has also strongly opposed any plans to relocate MSG.

The current plans would keep the famous arena, where Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce married earlier this month, but demolish a theater located on the site.

Spokespersons for Amtrak referred questions to the federal transportation department. The Metropolitan Transportation Authority and New Jersey Transit, which run trains from the station, didn’t immediately comment.

___

Follow Philip Marcelo at https://x.com/philmarcelo

Trump said earlier Thursday that a new agreement reached with Saudi Arabia for a civilian nuclear program will require the kingdom to normalize relations with Israel through the Abraham Accords. Trump added that the new nuclear deal, which is expected to last 30 years and involve U.S. firms, does not allow for enrichment of uranium. But experts are concerned the deal lacks guardrails to prevent uranium enrichment to weapons-grade levels.

Meanwhile, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels are threatening to blockade Saudi Arabia, a threat that could widen the Iran war and further disrupt global oil supplies and international trade. The Houthis said on Thursday they had attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, as international oil spiked to $100 a barrel.

The House on Thursday narrowly passed a resolution to halt U.S. military action in Iran, sending a largely symbolic warning to Trump for the second time. The 214-208 vote requiring congressional approval for the war comes as the Senate is expected to consider a similar resolution later Thursday morning.

Here's the latest:

Some products are exempted from new tariffs, including oil and gas

Some products — including oil, gas and fertilizer — are exempted from the new tariffs announced Thursday. Also being spared are products that qualify for duty-free status under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the North American trade pact Trump negotiated in his first term.

Tariffs are paid by companies in the United States that import foreign products. The importers usually try to pass along the cost by charging consumers higher prices.

Americans are already frustrated by the high cost of living, so the administration is taking a risk in rolling out new tariffs ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

Trump imposes double-digit tariffs on countries before Friday deadline

Trump is going ahead with new double-digit tariffs on dozens of U.S. trading partners just as the clock runs out Friday on stopgap levies he imposed after a stinging defeat at the Supreme Court.

The United States will impose taxes of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 countries, charging that they have inadequately enforced bans on goods produced by forced labor.

The new tariffs come as temporary 10% worldwide tariffs expire at 12:01 a.m. Friday.

Trump had turned to those levies after the Supreme Court struck down his biggest and boldest tariffs in February. Now he’s tapping more durable tariffs under a 1974 trade law.

Trump expands a voluntary pledge to protect consumers from high utility bills from AI data centers

President Donald Trump is asking governors and electricity companies to join a pledge aimed at shielding U.S. consumers from higher utility bills because of data centers.

This move highlights the controversy surrounding the development of artificial intelligence before the November midterm elections.

Trump initially announced the pledge with leading AI and tech companies in March, but voters remain concerned about affordability and competition for resources. A recent analysis shows increased electricity demand could raise utility bills by 15% to 40% by 2030.

Opposition to data centers has become bipartisan. Some governors have taken steps to address these concerns.

▶ Read more

Government withdraws subpoenas of 3 reporters for The New York Times after admitting legal errors

The government has withdrawn subpoenas that would have compelled three New York Times reporters to testify about their sources for articles about Trump’s Qatari-gifted Air Force One jet. The withdrawals in U.S. District Court followed a remarkable back-and-forth between a visibly irritated Judge Arun Subramanian and government attorneys.

They come at a time when the Trump administration is vigorously going after news organizations whose reporting and coverage it doesn’t like — and also trying to crack down on leaks inside the government.

The government’s retreat in the face of vigorous legal opposition and a stern reprimand from a judge marked the latest instance of the Justice Department pulling back on its aggressive efforts to compel journalists to identify their sources before a grand jury. The administration recently withdrew similar subpoenas that sought to compel testimony in Virginia from journalists for The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal.

▶ Read more

Trump is looking forward to meeting Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani

“I’ll meet a man who’s just about the best pitcher in baseball and just about the best hitter in baseball,” Trump said of the upcoming appearance while speaking at an event at the EPA headquarters in Washington.

He was referring to Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers designated hitter and pitcher.

Trump also mentioned Babe Ruth, himself a legendary pitcher and hitter, and suggested that Ohtani was superior to Ruth.

“So we’re going to meet him and all of the people of the Dodgers,” Trump said. “They won the World Championship, and we see the champions, the Super Bowl champions and the baseball and basketball, all of them. They like to come over to the White House.”

Los Angeles edged the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 last October to become the first repeat World Series champions in a quarter century.

Trump says communities ‘can’t fight’ data centers, should embrace them

Trump said elected officials and other leaders need to do a better job convincing their communities “how great” data centers are.

Speaking at an event to promote his Ratepayer Protection Pledge, Trump said local communities should accept new data centers that power AI and supercomputers.

“You can’t fight it. You have to go with it, and you’re going to have all that protection, and we’re giving you automatic protection” from rate increases, Trump said Thursday at the Environmental Protection Agency.

Communities that host data centers “are going to make a tremendous amount of money,’′ Trump said. “You’re going to reduce taxes, and you’re going to have something that if you don’t have it, everybody else wants it. Your community and your state’s going to become rich, and there’s very little disruption. You might as well do it yourselves.”

US heaps more sanctions on Cuba energy and financial concerns

The Trump administration has imposed more sanctions on Cuban officials and organizations affiliated with a military-run company that it has previously designated for U.S. penalties.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he was targeting nine companies and two people linked to Grupo De Administración Empresarial, or GAESA, for sanctions. GAESA is a military conglomerate that was hit with sanctions in May.

The sanctions also apply to Cuba’s public health minister for his role in overseeing medical assistance overseas that Rubio says is a front for human trafficking.

The move is the latest escalation in the U.S. pressure campaign against the Cuban government, which the administration earlier this week accused of running a decades-old espionage and influence campaign inside the United States to promote left-wing or communist ideology. But it also comes just two days after the delivery of some $60 million in U.S. humanitarian aid to the island.

Trump says trip to Dover was ‘a very sad day’ for him while playing down Iran war death toll

A day after he attended the dignified transfer of four U.S. service members killed in the Middle East, Trump mourned their deaths while comparing the war’s death toll to longer, costlier conflicts.

“I had a very sad day yesterday. I went to Dover. Four great American patriots killed,” Trump said. “That’s 18 in two wars. And one is too many, but it’s 18, whereas in Vietnam we lost 200,000.”

He added that “we want to get it over with, and we want to do it right, but we have to do what we came to do.”

US hits Mexican drug cartel members with new sanctions

The Trump administration has imposed new sanctions on more than 50 members of a Mexican cartel it accuses of narcotrafficking, including its new leader who took over the organization after the death of his stepfather known as “El Mencho.”

The Treasury Department on Thursday said it had targeted the leader of the Cartel de Jalisco Nueva Generación, or CJNG, Juan Carlos Gonzalez. Gonzalez is a dual U.S.-Mexico citizen, along with dozens of other CJNG members, for sanctions. The sanctions include freezing any assets they may have in the United States or that come into contact with financial institutions under U.S. jurisdiction.

The Treasury said the move was the largest ever single action it has taken against the group, which the U.S. accuses of widespread drug smuggling and violence and was designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the State Department in February 2025.

US designates Muslim Brotherhood official, several others accused of supporting Hamas as terrorists

The Trump administration on Thursday designated a senior official of the Muslim Brotherhood and several individuals and entities accused of providing support to Hamas as terrorists.

This comes after the U.S. labeled three Middle Eastern branches of the organization in January with the same severe label, making it a criminal offense to provide material support to the group.

In a statement, the Treasury Department said that two of the entities listed are “sham charities” tied to the Muslim Brotherhood that “funneled substantial funding to Hamas’s military wing.”

Leaders of the Muslim Brotherhood, which was founded in Egypt in 1928, have previously said they disavow violence, with the branches in Egypt and Lebanon denouncing their inclusion on the U.S.’s list.

US providing over $200M in aid to international Red Cross

The State Department says roughly two-thirds is going to the International Committee of the Red Cross, which focuses on the protection of civilians in conflict.

The remainder is directed to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, an umbrella group of national organizations like the American Red Cross.

The “rapid, flexible and global focus” of the funding is part of efforts to help aid groups respond to natural disasters, the needs of people in conflicts and build on existing humanitarian aid channels, the department said.

ICRC said the U.S. has been its top donor for years and committed $363 million last year and a similar amount this year.

Trump will welcome the World Series champion Dodgers to the White House

Trump is welcoming Shohei Ohtani and the Los Angeles Dodgers to the White House.

Thursday’s event in the Rose Garden celebrates the team’s second consecutive World Series title. The Dodgers previously celebrated their 2024 win with Trump in April 2025.

Trump has added personal touches to the White House, including a Mar-a-Lago -inspired patio where the team event is being held.

Championship baseball teams have been coming to the White House since 1869, when President Ulysses S. Grant welcomed the Cincinnati Red Stockings.

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A member of Vance’s Secret Service detail is being investigated over a suspected news leak

The Secret Service says a member of Vice President JD Vance ’s security detail is being investigated over a suspected news leak.

An agency spokesperson said Thursday that the member faces an internal investigation and potential criminal inquiry over allegations that the person compromised “operational and information security.”

The Secret Service said the investigation is tied to a report from MS NOW last week that said some Secret Service agents had privately expressed frustration over last-minute travel requests from Vance and his family. The Secret Service did not disclose the identity of the member under investigation.

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Leavitt says Trump is ‘final dealmaker’ on potential US-Saudi nuclear agreement

The U.S. Energy Department and Saudi government announcement on Wednesday made no mention of the civil nuclear deal being contingent on the kingdom normalizing relations with Israel.

So Trump’s social media post on Thursday asserting that the deal was subject to the Saudis joining the accord — what would be a monumental achievement for the administration if it ever happens — was unexpected.

When asked by a reporter why the condition was not mentioned in the initial announcement, Leavitt said the president was the “final dealmaker” and has called on Saudi Arabia to join the accords “on numerous occasions.”

White House says Trump is losing patience with Thune

Asked if Trump is frustrated with Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Leavitt said, “The president spoke about this directly yesterday.”

She was referencing comments Trump made at a rally Wednesday in Georgia where he expressed frustration that his agenda is hampered in the Republican-controlled Senate by rules requiring 60 votes to advance most legislation — including the SAVE America voting bill he talks about often.

Trump’s Republican Party doesn’t have 60 members in the Senate.

The president told the rally, his voice rising as he spoke: “Everybody call John Thune at the Senate. He’s the leader of the Republican Party. And tell him to get this stuff approved.”

Leavitt added Thursday at the White House: “His patience is running out.”

Trump administration to announce new tariffs on Thursday

Leavitt said Jamieson Greer, the U.S. trade representative, will announce “later” on Thursday a new set of tariffs.

After the Supreme Court in February rejected Trump’s ability to declare an economic emergency to impose sweeping import taxes, Trump unveiled 10% global tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 that could only be in place for 150 days. Those replacement tariffs are set to expire Friday.

Greer in March launched a series of investigations using Section 301 tariffs from the Trade Act of 1974. Those taxes could replace the expiring tariffs.

The Section 301 investigations applied to countries with industrial excesses that disadvantage U.S. goods and trade partners that fail to adequately enforce restrictions on importing goods made by forced labor.

Tate brothers won’t get help from the White House

Asked whether the White House would intervene in the extradition of social media influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate, press secretary Karoline Leavitt flatly rejected the idea.

“No, we’ve already answered that question,” Leavitt said before moving on at a Thursday briefing.

The Tate brothers are fighting their extradition to the United Kingdom, where they’re accused of rape and sex trafficking. They were arrested by federal authorities on Saturday in Miami.

White House says Trump has been consistent in demanding Saudi Arabia join Abraham Accords

Leavitt said Trump’s assertion that Saudi Arabia must join the Abraham Accords as part of a civilian nuclear deal is a position he’s long held.

“It will eventually, hopefully be finalized with the condition that the president spoke about this morning,” Leavitt said.

Saudi officials have yet to comment since Trump announced that the deal, announced Wednesday by the two countries, is subject to joining the accords.

But Leavitt made the case that the president’s decision is hardly surprising, saying “this is something he has raised in previous conversations and also said many time in the past” with Saudi officials.

Trump to deliver remarks at Sen. Lindsey Graham’s funeral

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president will honor his friend and ally at a funeral service next week.

“On Tuesday afternoon, the president will deliver a tribute honoring the life and legacy of his dear friend, Sen. Lindsey Graham, at the National Cathedral,” Leavitt said during a Thursday briefing.

Graham, a Republican from South Carolina, died July 11.

Trump is taking his next Cabinet meeting on the road

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt announced Trump will hold a Cabinet meeting on July 31 — and there’s a twist with this one.

The president will host the Cabinet at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains. Leavitt said the meeting “will be a lot of fun and something different for the Cabinet to experience together.”

Trump last visited Camp David in June to celebrate Father’s Day and his 80th birthday with family.

US to target cyber scammers and online ‘sextortionists’ with travel bans

The Trump administration announced Thursday it would begin revoking or denying visas to foreigners involved in cyber scams and online “sextortion” of minors, barring them and their family members from traveling to the United States.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in a statement that the policy was a response to Americans being bilked of at least $10 billion in 2024 in online investment scams by transnational criminal organizations, many of them with Chinese connections, and American children being specifically targeted by overseas predators.

“This policy targets individuals responsible for, or complicit in, cybercrime and cyber-enabled crime, such as those involved in cyberscams, and sextortion,” Rubio said. “By restricting visa issuance to those who are responsible for or complicit in these criminal enterprises, we are sending a clear message: The United States will go after those who prey on our citizens.”

Member of Vance’s security team faces investigation for allegedly compromising information

A member of Vice President JD Vance’s security detail is being investigated for allegedly “compromising operational and information security,” according to the U.S. Secret Service.

Agency spokesperson Anthony Guglielmi said the person faces an administrative investigation and “potential criminal inquiry” over alleged misconduct.

“While we will not comment on the specifics of this matter, one principle is unequivocal: any conduct that potentially threatens the safety of a protectee will not be tolerated,” Guglielmi said in a statement.

Vance’s office referred questions to the Secret Service.

China hands over fugitive to the US ahead of expected Xi-Trump meeting

Chinese police on Thursday handed over a wanted U.S. fugitive to American authorities at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, China’s Ministry of Public Security said in a statement.

The case is part of law enforcement cooperation to implement “important consensus” between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and President Trump, the ministry said. Trump visited Beijing in May and Xi is expected to travel to the U.S. in September.

The ministry did not reveal the suspect’s name but said the fugitive was suspected of sexually assaulting minors and fatally shooting his wife in 2004. It said Interpol issued a red notice calling on law enforcement worldwide to capture the suspect the following year.

After a U.S. request, Chinese police conducted investigations and captured the suspect, the ministry said.

Trump has insisted continued US attacks against Iran don’t mean a return to war

Continued American airstrikes are occurring even as diplomatic efforts show little public sign of progress and officials on both sides have dug in on the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global energy that remains largely closed. The unpopular war threatens further worldwide economic disruption and is sending fuel prices up ahead of midterm U.S. elections this fall.

As the House debated the resolution Wednesday evening, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., read out names of 18 service members killed since the war began.

“To belittle this mission is to belittle and demean the very service these members gave their life for,” Mast said. “Their sacrifice was not meaningless. This operation is bringing reckoning for the hundreds of times Iran has attacked and killed people of the United States of America.”

The top Democrat on the panel, New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, said presidents are supposed to make the case to Congress.

House again passes resolution seeking to halt military action in Iran

The House on Thursday narrowly passed the resolution to halt U.S. military action in Iran, sending a warning to President Trump for the second time as the war has escalated and the future of the conflict is increasingly uncertain.

The 214-208 vote requiring congressional approval for the war comes as the Senate is expected to consider a similar resolution later Thursday morning. Though the votes forced by Democrats are largely symbolic, they’re meant as a strong signal to the Republican president that his support on Capitol Hill is chipping away as the war drags on and lawmakers in both parties have questioned his administration’s endgame.

The war has had “no clear mission, no strategy, no end goal,” said Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat who led the resolution on the House floor.

The resolution narrowly passed after a handful of Republicans voted with Democrats to end the war. But the vast majority of Republicans voted to back the war and cede congressional war powers to Trump.

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Mideast oil producers step up plans to bypass the Strait of Hormuz

Before the war in Iran, roughly 15 million barrels of Persian Gulf oil were shipped each day through the Strait of Hormuz. Within a few years, much of that oil could bypass the strait.

As Iran’s chokehold over the strait drags on and oil prices surge, countries across the Gulf are planning to spend billions of dollars to build pipelines enabling them to redirect more supplies to ports on the Red Sea, the Gulf of Oman and the Mediterranean.

At least seven major pipeline projects are under construction, in the planning stage or being discussed as possibilities, according to government officials, oil companies and analysts. The war has been a wake-up call for Gulf oil producers, who are determined to become less dependent on a transit point that hugs Iran’s coast.

But alternatives to Hormuz are also vulnerable to disruption. And some alternative routes will take the oil on longer and more expensive paths to market.

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In a series of votes, outside experts to the Food and Drug Administration advised the agency to drop current restrictions barring pharmacies from producing injectable peptides with names like BPC-157, TB-500 and KPV.

The panel’s vote is not binding but is likely to embolden Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has described himself as a “big fan” of peptides and vowed to overturn FDA restrictions put in place under President Joe Biden.

Across several votes, the panelists voted 8-6, with one abstention, in favor of putting the peptides on FDA’s list of substances considered safe for pharmacy compounding. If FDA follows that advice, telehealth companies are expected to ramp up marketing of the chemicals for wellness and cosmetic uses.

Thursday’s vote tally reflected the unusual makeup of the panel. Prior to the meeting, more than a half-dozen people with connections to the peptide industry were added to the panel, including doctors, pharmacists or consultants who work in the field.

“I voted yes because it’s time to put this decision back in the hands of the patient, the physician and the pharmacist,” said David Pope, chief pharmacy officer of Xifin Pharmacy Solutions, after the vote on BPC-157.

The panel will vote Friday on three more peptides. The FDA isn't required to follow the group's advice, though it usually does.

FDA scientists remain unconvinced of peptide safety and benefits

The positive votes came despite highly critical reviews from FDA staff scientists, who said there was little data that BPC-157, TB-500 and the other chemicals can be safely used for medical purposes.

Panel members with backgrounds in academia, rather than peptides, mostly voted against the substances, which are widely advertised on social media.

“I’m concerned we’re responding to a market-induced demand rather than a decision based in solid science,” said Dr. Elizabeth Rebello of the University of Texas MD Anderson Center.

Peptide supporters include podcaster Joe Rogan and longevity influencers such as Gary Brecka, a supporter of Kennedy’s “Make America Healthy Again” agenda who sells peptides through his website.

But medical experts describe the marketplace as a “Wild West” of unproven, unregulated drugs that could cause serious harm, including infection, allergic reactions or other problems.

“This is really alarming,” said Rita Jew, a pharmacist and president of the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, in an interview ahead of the meeting. “There aren’t that many other substances people are injecting into themselves where you see that the clinical evidence is so lacking.”

In recent years, the FDA has warned Americans about the risks of injecting peptides like BPC-157 and TB-500. In 2023, both were placed on a list of substances considered high-risk for compounding. But Kennedy announced their removal from that list earlier this year.

Gap between FDA-approved drugs and wellness peptides is wide

Peptides are the building blocks of more complex proteins, triggering hormones inside the body needed for growth, metabolism and healing. Drug companies have brought several to market as medications, including mainstay treatments for diabetes and weight loss.

But most peptides sold online are promoted for unproven uses, often combined in “stacks,” to purportedly heal injuries, build muscle, rejuvenate skin or increase energy.

FDA scientists said they could find little data on the effectiveness of peptides for proposed medical uses like ulcerative colitis, wound healing and opioid addiction.

Five studies of BPC-157 reviewed by the agency “were of short duration, had small sample sizes and evaluated doses that were likely exploratory in nature,” the staffers said.

For TB-500, regulators said they could not find any human studies.

Even determining which form of the peptides should be used was unclear to regulators, since substances like TB-500 aren't recognized as official pharmaceutical ingredients in the U.S.

“There’s no way to know what the substance actually is, was or will be tomorrow because that name has no legal meaning,” said Russell Wesdyk, an associate director in FDA’s drug center.

Peptide supporters push for easier access

The panel votes are only one part of more than 18 hours of discussions and presentations scheduled across two days.

During several public comment periods, the panel heard from more than two dozen speakers — including doctors, lawyers and peptide entrepreneurs — urging that the substances be made more widely available.

Brigham Buhler, a wellness clinic owner whose clients include Rogan and other celebrities, said allowing U.S. pharmacies to compound peptides would steer Americans away from unvetted products imported from China and other foreign countries.

“It’s crucial to allow patients to have safe and effective access to these treatment options,” Buhler said. “Individuals who have gotten these resources are going to continue to utilize these products.”

After the meeting, the FDA will review the votes, discussion and public comments before making a decision on each of the peptides.

FDA-watchers say the most likely outcome may be a temporary policy reassuring pharmacies that they won’t be targeted for compounding the peptides under review. Formally placing the substances on FDA's list of drugs that are safe for compounding would require new regulations, which can take months or years to draft.

“We’re still going through this process, but I think it’s more than likely that the process will end up at the result that Secretary Kennedy wants,” said Nathan Beaver, an attorney specializing in FDA issues.

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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.

Gangs and drug traffickers are increasingly encroaching on Ashaninka land and using the rivers in the Amazon and adjacent land for drug routes. Ashaninka leaders say they’ve reported violent episodes — as recent as this month — and asked for protection, including a meeting with Brazilian officials in the capital on Thursday. Security forces have been deployed. But in this region, their presence is usually temporary, while the threats remain permanent, various Indigenous groups say.

The invasion of Ashaninka territory is part of a broad transformation of the Amazon border as criminal routes expand, through what experts call the Solimoes River route.

Indigenous territories are key to this route. Experts say protecting Indigenous land is one of the most effective ways to curb deforestation in the Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest and a key regulator of global climate. But the very forests these communities help protect leave them vulnerable: Dense tree cover in remote, hard-to-reach areas offers attractive hiding sites for drug traffickers.

Despite appeals to authorities, Ashaninka and other Indigenous people say the Brazilian government's help falls short.

“There is an institutional and intercultural blind spot in the public security services provided to Indigenous peoples,” said Maj. Jonatas Soares, a police officer based in the border city of Tabatinga, in Brazil’s Amazonas state near Colombia and Peru.

“The state formally recognizes their territories, yet it fails to translate that presence into continuous protection tailored to their specific needs.”

Indigenous communities become vulnerable as criminal networks expand into the Amazon

The Solimoes River route, which includes a series of navigable rivers flowing from the Peruvian border to Manaus in Brazil, has become a primary route over the past decade for moving cocaine produced in Peru, Colombia and Bolivia to the Brazilian ports on the Atlantic coast, where it is then funneled into domestic and overseas markets, particularly in Europe.

This route is now mostly controlled by the Brazilian gang Red Command, according to Col. César Mello, a retired Amazonas state police officer and professor at the Federal University of Para and the University of the State of Amazonas.

The remote location of Indigenous territories, lack of government oversight, language barriers and cultural differences “make Indigenous peoples a vulnerable population and an attractive source of labor for criminal organizations,” said Col. Mello.

Criminal groups often recruit Indigenous youth by offering them money and status in communities where economic opportunities are scarce. When that doesn't work, they use violence, Col. Mello added.

Preserving traditions has strengthened the Indigenous resistance

The Ashaninka have become an enduring block to trafficking networks in Peru and Brazil.

In the past, drug traffickers approached the community seeking to build a clandestine airstrip inside their territory. The Ashaninka refused.

“We have a long history of opposing any kind of illegal activity,” said Francisco Piyãko, coordinator of the Organization of Indigenous Peoples of the Jurua River.

Local tensions escalated earlier this month after a group of armed men reportedly invaded the Kampa Indigenous territory, located along the winding Amonia River in the western Amazon. On July 6, a group of five Spanish-speaking men, carrying machine guns, threatened families and searched for the territory’s main leaders.

Piyãko filed a formal complaint with Acre state authorities and the Brazilian Army, prompting the deployment of security forces.

“It’s one thing for outsiders to enter our territory to steal resources, like timber and wildlife. But this was different. They entered our land looking for our leaders, intending to kill them,” Piyãko said.

Brazil’s Ministries of Indigenous Peoples, Foreign Affairs and Justice did not respond to requests for comment from The Associated Press. The Brazilian Army and the Acre state government’s press office also did not respond.

Earlier this year, Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Flávio Dino ordered the federal government to intensify efforts against criminal organizations operating in the Amazon, citing official records and investigations that showed their growing presence and threat to Indigenous communities.

The community is shaken by the recent threats but determined to resist. Piyãko stressed, however, that confronting armed criminal groups is not the Indigenous responsibility but the duty of the state — both Brazil and Peru.

“They allowed this to happen through their absence, so they bear that responsibility,” he added.

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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.

Fellow lawmakers and survivors of the shooting spoke Thursday at the sentencing hearing for Vance Boelter, the man who pleaded guilty last month to federal charges related to the killing of former House Speaker Hortman and her husband, Mark, as well as critically wounding state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette.

Boelter, 59, agreed to plead guilty in June, almost a year after the Minneapolis-area attacks, so federal prosecutors would not seek the death penalty. Mark Hortman's father and siblings voiced anger that he could not be sentenced to death.

U.S. District Judge John R. Tunheim said it was “the longest sentence I have imposed after hearing thousands of cases over the years, but I do believe it is deserved.”

Victims and survivors describe the impact of the attacks

In court Thursday, Sen. Hoffman said he and his family are constantly reminded of the extraordinary violence of that night, even in the mundane details of day-to-day life. He said they don't receive mail at home anymore, they have installed solid steel doors for protection, and they have changed how they do everyday tasks because of their injuries.

“The defendant looked me in the eyes and pulled the trigger. The defendant looked at my wife and chose to do the same,” Hoffman said. “My wife and I now live with injuries. We live with our bodies remembering the gunfire.”

Yvette Hoffman said she has been too traumatized to work since the attack in their home, and that she sees a therapist weekly.

“I will never forget looking down and watching my blood slowly stream down that white washing machine as I felt myself sinking to the floor,” she said, barely holding back tears. “We always have an escape plan now. This isn’t how people should live.”

Boelter admitted in court last month that he spent months identifying and stalking his targets before driving to their homes disguised as a police officer with the intention of killing them. The killings sparked the largest police search in state history.

Democratic State Rep. Kristin Bahner was one of two other legislators whose homes Boelter visited that night, but she and her family were on vacation. Bahner said the shootings had left her shaken.

“I could not fathom why I was spared and (Hortman) was not,” she said. “You failed because I carry her with me. In my mind and in my heart, she guides me.”

The proposed sentence sparks fury

Mark Hortman's parents and siblings spoke of their anger Thursday, both at the man who killed him and the justice system.

“It will not offer me peace of mind that he will have room and board provided for the rest of his life, paid for by my tax dollars,” said Lisa Hortman Bean, Mark's sister.

Melissa Hortman's mother and father and the Hortman's children changed the tone of the statements when they spoke, remembering them as attentive, loving parents and grandparents and people who had a positive impact on thousands of lives.

Sophie Hortman, their daughter, described in vivid detail having to say goodbye to Gilbert, the golden retriever, also shot by Boelter but who was still alive when they arrived at the veterinary hospital. She talked about the bedtime routine her mother had with Gilbert, who failed his service dog test because he was too friendly, and the care and love she gave him.

“I miss my mom. I miss my dad. I miss my best friends. And I miss believing in the goodness of humanity. I hope that one day these aches feel less sharp. And I know just like the love I feel for my parents, the pain will never go away,” she said through tears.

Colin Hortman talked about his parents not being at his recent wedding, about not dancing with his mother who he had hoped would make his wedding cake. He described the horror of the house and the panic attacks and crying that have persisted in the year since they were killed.

“My days are filled with gray, and the blood that was spilled is the last thing I see before I go to sleep and the first thing I see when I wake,” he said. “There is no sentence that weighs 15 gunshots, a murdered dog and the rest of my life.”

“It is impossible to realize the damage that has been done not only to our family, but to our society,” said Melissa's father Harold Haluptzok, who repeatedly referred to her as his “little girl.”

“I wish the perpetrator would have sat down and talked to Melissa about his political positions. ... if only he did that before he decided to kill them,” Haluptzok added.

Defense attorney says Boelter has remorse

Federal defender Manny Atwal spoke only briefly after the victim impact statements Thursday, saying Boelter showed remorse for his actions by pleading guilty and accepting the life sentences.

Boelter remained silent and sat extremely still for most of the hearing, showing little emotion or reaction to the anguish expressed by the survivors and family members.

“To every person I have caused loss, pain, heartache, confusion, sadness, shame or loneliness, I am truly sorry,” Boelter said.

Boelter pretended to be a police officer to gain access

Boelter went to Hortman's home, wearing a tactical uniform and mask, about 3:30 a.m. on June 14, 2025. He rang the doorbell while shouting he was a police officer doing a welfare check, according to court documents.

Mark Hortman answered the door. Boelter gave him a fake name and badge number before requesting he summon Melissa Hortman to the door as well. He shot Mark Hortman multiple times before pushing into the house and shooting the lawmaker as she fled upstairs. Melissa and Mark Hortman were killed.

Boelter had already visited the Hoffmans' home that night, shooting and critically injuring the senator and his wife, according to police and court documents. Court documents said Boelter also went to Bahner's house that night as well as the home of another lawmaker.

Boelter also faces state charges, including two counts of murder, four counts of attempted murder, impersonating a police officer and animal cruelty. Hoffman and his family filed a personal injury lawsuit against Boelter in April.

Hennepin County Attorney Mary Moriarty said in a statement Thursday that Boelter's state prosecution would move forward immediately noting a first appearance is scheduled for Aug. 3.

“The targeted political violence he committed was horrific,” Moriarty wrote. “My thoughts are with Melissa and Mark’s family, as well as John, Yvette, and Hope, as the state prosecution moves forward.”

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This story has been corrected to show Boelter apologized for causing loss, pain, heartache, confusion, sadness, shame or loneliness, not for causing emotions.

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Lauer reported from Philadelphia.

Friday will feature a dry start with a mix of sun and clouds for the morning drive. Afternoon of isolated to spotty afternoon showers along the sea breeze are expected as it pushes inland. Coverage will top around 30% as highs hit the mid-upper 90s once again. Rain chances are better the further south you go from Seminole County.

Rain chances continue to climb through the weekend as a trough of low pressure brings a weakening cold front into the Southeast. This front will push plenty of available moisture into our atmosphere to charge up our sea breeze. Rain chances climb to 40-50% over the weekend for afternoon storms. These storms will help to bring our high temperatures back to seasonal values: into the low 90s. Heat indices will be on high from 100-107ºF.

“Honestly, in that moment, I did not understand what was going on, what was happening to me,” Sister Leticia Ugboaja said at a news conference at Our Lady of Sorrows Church in McAllen, where she spoke out for the first time since U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers arrested her on June 28.

Ugboaja's attorney says she has for years been granted protection from removal to her native Nigeria because she was likely to face torture there.

Ugboaja, 56, was released several hours after being detained while on her way to church near the U.S.-Mexico border. Parish officials' posting about her on social media brought attention to her case, and Congress members ultimately intervened on her behalf. President Donald Trump made mass deportations a central promise of his second administration, with his immigration crackdown leading to unusually aggressive tactics that have faced scrutiny.

Ugboaja, who has a check-in appointment with ICE on Tuesday, said she wanted to speak out to help others, and pleaded for people to have the chance to be heard before being taken into custody.

“There are many others in this same situation, people who have been given some form of protection under our laws, who have followed every rule asked of them, and who still live with uncertainty,” Ugboaja said.

While she's grateful to those who helped her, she said, that “does not mean I can stay quiet about what happened to me, or about what is still happening to others.”

Her attorney, Carlos M. Garcia, sat next to Ugboaja at the news conference and provided details about her immigration case. He said that in 2019 an immigration judge denied her application for asylum but granted her protection from removal to Nigeria because she likely would be tortured there. Garcia said Ugboaja, who is a nurse, has complied with everything required of her and had permission to work in the U.S.

When ICE detained Ugboaja in June, she wasn't given much explanation as to why she was taken into custody, her attorney said. But the U.S. planned to remove her to a third country, he added.

The Trump administration's third-country removal policy has been criticized by lawyers and human rights groups and has faced legal challenges. The Department of Homeland Security has said the agreements allow people seeking asylum in the U.S. to pursue protection in the other country, and that the agreements are used to try to address large backlogs in immigration courts.

DHS and ICE did not respond to a request to comment on Ugboaja's case on Thursday and did not respond to requests for comment after her detention in June.

Ugboaja is part of the Daughters of Mary Mother of Mercy and volunteered as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion at Our Lady of Sorrows Church, a spokesperson for the Diocese of Brownsville has said. Ugboaja is also a registered nurse at South Texas Health System and worked previously for 10 years as a certified nursing assistant in Edinburg, the spokesperson said.

Ugboaja said that on the day she was taken into custody, she begged the officers to let her attend Mass and receive Holy Communion, but was told she could not.

“For me, a nun, not to go to Mass on Sunday, not to receive Communion, it was very, very heartbreaking for me,” she said.

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Stengle reported from Dallas.

The group of roughly 20 protesters burst into the room at the Madison police station, shortly after Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway and Common Council President Sabrina Madison identified the man killed by police as Corey Durell Ruiz, a homeless resident.

Ruiz, 38, was shot and killed Wednesday after police said he resisted arrest and injured an officer with a knife.

Police Chief John Patterson stepped away from the microphone when the protesters were shouting, and one man in the group took his spot at the podium. The event quickly devolved into a shouting match.

One protester held a sign saying “Corrupt cops deserve to die too!!!”

Moments earlier, the mayor said the shooting will be “rigorously investigated.”

“It does not matter who you are or what your past is, you should not lose your life as a result of an encounter with law enforcement,” Satya Rhodes-Conway said.

Madison, for her part, said “Corey could have been my brother because my brother is homeless and he often rides a bike.”

Court records show Ruiz had been in and out of jail over the past decade on charges including failing to pay child support, driving a vehicle without consent, jumping bail, threatening authorities, taking a vehicle without consent, possessing drug paraphernalia, resisting an officer and retail theft.

“He’s a human being. He had a family. He has parents who loved him who brought him home, who cared for him,” Madison said, adding that she's struggling to understand what she's seen in videos of the shooting that have circulated on social media.

“My first thought is, when the officer’s walking away, why isn’t he walking away in cuffs,” Madison said. “I’m angry, there’s no way around it.”

Once the protesters quieted down, the chief resumed his presentation, promising his department's full cooperation with the state investigation.

Police have released few details

The shooting has roiled Wisconsin's capital city, with Gov. Tony Evers calling for “transparency and accountability” and Madison community members gathering Thursday at a growing memorial.

None of the four officers who were detaining the man wore body cameras, but passersby recorded the confrontation on video, and accused the officers of overreacting.

“I thought, ‘Holy cow — what could have warranted that?’ It looked to me like they had him under control,” David Ortiz-Whittingham, who saw officers swarming and heard the gunshots, said Thursday. “Even now, knowing about the knife, did he have to die for it? Could this have been de-escalated without him losing his life?”

The police chief released few details Thursday, saying the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation into the officer-involved shooting must run its course.

Earlier Thursday, Madison's independent police monitor, Aeiramique Glass, said police have not yet shared evidence or the officer's identity with her office, which will review the case and can recommend to the district attorney that charges be filed if warranted. She said the department and city are “obstructing what the community and the public” want.

“Let me do my job,” she said.

Patterson said the police were committed to cooperating with Glass as the independent monitor's investigation is carried out, at the same time as the state’s probe.

The chief urged people not to draw conclusions

Patterson has urged caution in reading too much from the cellphone videos. He said none show the perspective of the officers, and additional video that hasn't been released is being reviewed.

The officer who fired his weapon is a veteran of the force, the chief said. He and the three other responding officers will be placed on administrative leave pending an independent investigation by the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation, as required under state law.

Patterson said police were responding to calls that someone was attempting to enter parked vehicles, and the suspect fled on a bike before the officers surrounded him. One deployed a taser, but Patterson said he didn't know if the taser worked. Those efforts failed to control the man, Patterson said.

In the videos circulating online, the man can be seen standing before he's brought to his knees as the officers struggle to force him into a prone position. Then he falls quickly to the pavement after what sounds like three gunshots, and seems motionless as the officers handcuff him behind his back. Arriving officers then escort one of the officers a short distance away.

Patterson said he did not know the extent of the injuries sustained by the officer who was injured by the knife.

“This situation was clearly dangerous," Patterson said. He later continued, “I am incredibly saddened by the loss of life.”

A neighborhood now accustomed to police shootings

The shooting happened in the middle of an intersection in the popular Marquette neighborhood, which is lined with restaurants, bars, shops and homes less than 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from the state Capitol. The bystander videos show numerous cars at the scene, with people watching and commenting as it unfolded.

“I saw everything! I saw everything! You did not need to kill him! ... We watched it all!” a woman yelled in the video recorded by Ortiz-Whittingham. Three loud shots could be heard among the sirens, followed by screams.

Residents who dealt with two other police killings within the same few blocks expressed their frustration on Thursday.

In 2015, a white police officer shot and killed Tony Robinson, who was biracial, on the same street. Large protests followed, but the district attorney filed no charges, determining the officer was justified. In 2012, Paul Heenan, a white musician, was fatally shot after he had been drinking and mistakenly entered his neighbor's house. That officer was exonerated as well.

The chief acknowledged that the neighborhood “has experienced a lot of trauma” and urged people to support one another.

“I want transparency, I want accountability,” Patterson said.

Questions about race and technology emerge

The race of the officer who fired his gun on Wednesday and that of the man he killed were not released by police.

But Black advocacy groups, protesters and politicians spoke out against the crime and said they believe the man was Black.

The shooting also focused attention on the Madison Police Department’s lack of body-worn cameras. The force of around 500 is among the largest in the Midwest that doesn’t use the devices.

Common Council President Sabrina Madison said Thursday that she expects a police request for $400,000 to be approved, enabling the cameras to be phased in over the next three years. Others lamented that cameras aren't already being used.

“Nobody can agree on anything,” said Katey Nelson, a member of the police civilian oversight board and operations director at YWCA Madison, a racial justice group. “Now we’re here, looking at another police shooting where we don’t have what we need to make sure the officers are held accountable.”

The mayor said her budget, which has not yet been released, will include funding for body-worn cameras. Rhodes-Conway said the city needs to put together a policy for the use of the cameras, and said that will be completed before the budget takes effect in January.

And now it's a talking point in the governor's race

Madison, home to the University of Wisconsin, has a long history of organized protest dating back to the 1960s. More than 100,000 people marched on the state Capitol in 2011 in favor of union rights. There were large demonstrations that turned violent after the George Floyd shooting in 2020.

And so the shooting quickly infused itself into the race to succeed Evers as governor, with voting already underway in the Aug. 11 primary.

“This state sanctioned violence was an execution,” posted Francesca Hong, a democratic socialist candidate who appeared with a bullhorn at the scene just a few blocks from her campaign office. She has called for defunding the police.

Another Democrat in the race, Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, said while the details must become public, “these reports are painfully reminiscent of the tragedies we have witnessed in Kenosha, Minneapolis, and far too many communities across our country.”

Republican U.S. Rep. Tom Tiffany called on his rivals to let the state investigation “establish the facts without politicians rushing to judgment or stoking division” in a statement that also said he would “work to end revolving-door criminal justice policies.”

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Associated Press writers Ed White in Detroit and Jake Offenhartz in New York contributed to this report.

The Royals, who did not give details, said they expect Quatraro back soon.

Paul Hoover was the team's acting manager for the series-opening game in Detroit, where Vance Wilson was the bench coach and José Alguacil coached third base. They will serve in those roles until Quatraro returns.

During the offseason, Kansas City gave Quatraro a three-year contract extension that runs through 2029 with a team option for 2030. He replaced Mike Matheny after the 2022 season and has led the Royals to a 267-322 record over three-plus seasons.

Kansas City won 82 games last year and 86 in 2024, giving the franchise consecutive winning seasons for the first time in a decade and Quatraro finished second last season in voting for AL Manager of the Year voting. The Royals' record this season ranks among the worst in the majors.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Bowman, who had been in the final year of his contract at powerhouse Hendrick Motorsports, signed a one-year extension before announcing his future plans on Thursday.

The 33-year-old Bowman missed four races earlier this season because of vertigo and also was sidelined in 2022 because of a concussion and the following year because of a back injury. He drives the No. 48 Chevrolet for Hendrick and currently sits 29th in points, well below the 16-driver cutline for the postseason.

“I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about what’s next, and this feels like the right decision at the right time,” Bowman said. “The sport asks a lot of you, and I’ve learned it’s important to listen to your body and make the right choices for yourself. ...

“My focus now is on making the most of my time on the racetrack and competing for wins. We still have a lot to accomplish, and I want to close my career on a high note for our team and our fans. To have the chance to do that with this organization and these people is really special.”

While driving most of his 12-year career for Hendrick, Bowman has eight Cup Series victories and has qualified for the playoffs seven times since 2018. The 2027 campaign would be Bowman’s 10th with Hendrick.

“Alex has meant so much to our organization for a long time,” team owner Rick Hendrick said. “He’s overcome adversity, won big races and represented our team and partners with professionalism, personality and class. Alex is a tremendous talent in the race car and an even better person outside of it. We’re proud he’ll have the opportunity to finish his full-time career with us on his terms. He’s family.”

Bowman is expected to eclipse 400 career Cup starts next season. He has competed in 307 races for Hendrick, which ranks sixth in team history.

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AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

The withdrawals in U.S. District Court followed a remarkable back and forth between a visibly irritated Judge Arun Subramanian and government lawyers. They come at a time when the Trump administration is vigorously going after news organizations whose reporting and coverage it doesn’t like — and also trying to crack down on leaks inside the government.

The government’s retreat in the face of vigorous legal opposition and a stern reprimand from a judge marked the latest instance of the Justice Department pulling back on its aggressive efforts to compel journalists to identify their sources before a grand jury. The administration recently withdrew similar subpoenas that sought to compel testimony in Virginia from journalists for The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal related to separate national security coverage.

Subramanian said he otherwise would have granted the newspaper’s request to reject the subpoenas because laws and regulations pertaining to subpoenas served on journalists maintain that they should be issued as a last resort in an investigation.

“Subpoenas are the last step, not the first step, but the last step,” the judge said, citing rules set to protect against violations of the First Amendment. He said the government’s actions had turned the law and the regulations “on its head.”

“When you see something like this, if this were a civil proceeding, what I would normally do is ask the parties to show causes why sanctions should not be issued,” the judge said, referencing punishment for lawyers for egregious actions.

After the hearing, the Justice Department lashed out at the judge in a statement, saying he “threatened our attorneys with sanctions unless subpoenas were withdrawn, and blocked us from presenting the meticulous process of this investigation.”

“The grand jury has a right to hear testimony from all material witnesses in a federal criminal investigation. This judge’s conduct overrides clear longstanding principles and common sense — blocking the grand jury from receiving core evidence in a national security investigation,” the statement said.

“Make no mistake,” it added, “this investigation remains ongoing, and we will pursue justice against those threatening national security by leaking classified information, a serious federal crime.”

Government attorneys upbraided by judge

Subramanian noted that with protections for journalists at stake, the government was required to ensure it could not obtain what it needed from any other sources before issuing subpoenas to journalists.

A Justice Department lawyer, Sean Buckley, cast the government’s missteps as inadvertent errors and said “no one was trying to pull a fast one.” Buckley apologized for other subpoenas that sought records for phone numbers belonging to one reporter’s mother and two of the journalists’ spouses.

“That was an error, judge, which we own,” Buckley said. “It was a consequence of trying to move quickly.”

“These things are starting to pile up,” Subramanian said, becoming increasingly testy.

The hearing was held publicly despite efforts by the Trump administration to keep secret the litigation spawned by subpoenas it served on the Times’ journalists to try to get them to divulge their sources.

The newspaper’s lawyers had challenged the validity of the grand jury subpoenas, along with subpoenas issued for phone records of several Times journalists and some of their relatives. Senior Times officials, including the paper’s managing editor and general counsel, sat in the gallery watching during Thursday's proceedings.

The request for phone records raised questions about the extent of the investigation being carried out by the Justice Department.

David McCraw, the Times’ chief newsroom lawyer, said after the hearing in a statement that it “was an important affirmation of our country’s commitment to a free press.”

“We are pleased that the government finally conceded that the subpoenas violated the law, but they should never have been issued in the first place,” he said. “We will not be deterred in the face of tactics like these.”

Court action comes after reporting on new Air Force One jet

The new jet in question, a present from Qatar that Trump’s administration spent $400 million to retrofit and upgrade, recently entered service. But Trump used an older model Air Force One jet to leave a NATO summit in Turkey earlier this month.

The Times, citing anonymous sources, reported that the switch had come at the urging of the Secret Service and that the newer plane lacked some of the advanced security features of the older Air Force One aircraft, including antimissile capabilities. On social media, Trump rejected claims of security concerns.

The Times wrote in a letter to the judge several days ago that two subpoenas seek records beginning on Jan. 1, long before the newspaper published articles on July 8 and July 9 that became the basis for the grand jury subpoenas.

It said that lengthy stretch of records sought would indicate that the purpose of the subpoenas might have been “to forage for information about the Journalists’ source relationships more broadly.”

The Times argued for the phone records subpoenas to be disallowed on the grounds that the government had acted in “bad faith” and ignored its own protocols by not giving the journalists advance notice that records were being sought and by demanding the information “without first conducting any serious investigation.”

The Justice Department has justified the grand jury subpoenas by saying that “reporters are not the targets, those leaking classified information are.”

The Justice Department also said it had complied with its own regulations in issuing the subpoenas and had taken investigative steps before seeking them. It said it was authorized to delay disclosing the subpoenas but decided to alert the journalists’ lawyers so they could challenge them.

In fighting the subpoenas, the Times' lawyers highlighted how the government's carelessness could have exposed sensitive information that had nothing to do with the journalists. The mother whose phone records were mistakenly sought is a mental health professional with confidential client relationships and one of the two spouses is the general counsel of a law firm, the lawyers said.

At Thursday’s hearing, a final rebuke from the judge to the government came when he asked its lawyers to assure him that it won’t repeat a scenario that left one journalist being served a subpoena by an FBI agent while he was home watching the family-friendly movie “The Sheep Detectives,” about sheep on a quest to solve the murder of their shepherd.

Said the judge, to loud courtroom laughter: “I can’t think of anything more inconsistent with ‘Sheep Detective’ than an FBI agent showing up at your door.”

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Associated Press Writer Eric Tucker reported from Washington

In June, judges issued 5,415 removal orders, a 17.6 percent increase compared to March’s 4,605 removal orders, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), a nonprofit that tracks immigration data.

Florida follows a national trend of an increase in deportation orders, which hit an all-time high of 79,000 in June, the most orders issued in a month so far in President Donald Trump’s second term.

Even though Florida remains one of the top states for overall deportations, it lagged behind an average national surge of 30 percent, as other states saw steeper climbs in the number of people ordered to be deported to their country of origin between the months of March to June.

For example, Illinois saw a 120 percent increase in removal orders, from 3,228 to 7,087 over the four-month period.

In June, removal orders were the most likely outcome in immigration court proceedings across the country, with 78 percent of the court cases resulting in deportation orders. Out of the 99,441 cases heard, 1,883 immigrants were allowed to remain in the country.

Nationally, Haitians saw one of the largest jumps in removal orders with a 96 percent increase over four months, according to the TRAC data. In late June, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Trump administration could end Temporary Protected Status for Haitian and Syrian immigrants.

And while Mexico is the destination country for the largest share of removal orders in the U.S., with 121,001 since last October (the beginning of the federal fiscal year), in Florida the most removal orders were issued to those originally from Guatemala.

Out of the state’s approximately 35,300 removal orders issued since last October, 5,027 Guatemalans were ordered to be sent back to their country of origin. Venezuela ranked second, with 4,783; Honduras ranked third, with 4,220; and Cuba ranked fourth, with 4,007 removal orders.

There were 948 people granted relief in that time frame.

With 3,934 detainees, Florida ranks fifth among states. About a quarter of immigrants detained in Florida are housed in a state-run immigration detention facility in Baker County dubbed Deportation Depot. Alligator Alcatraz, a billion-dollar tent facility located in the Everglades that was in operation for nearly a year, closed earlier this month.

Miami-Dade County still leads with the most pending immigration court deportation cases out of any court in the country, with 137,373.

The United States will slap taxes of 10% to 12.5% on imports from 60 countries accounting for 99% of U.S. imports, charging that they have inadequately enforced bans on goods produced by forced labor.

"The United States has had a forced labor import ban for nearly a century, and rigorously enforces it; it’s well past time for our trading partners to do the same,” said U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. “Today’s action will begin to correct what is both a human rights abuse and distortive trade practice to improve the welfare of workers everywhere.

The new tariffs will take effect just as temporary 10% worldwide tariffs expire at 12:01 a.m. Friday. Trump had turned to those temporary levies after the Supreme Court struck down his biggest and boldest tariffs in February.

Now he's tapping more durable tariffs under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, which permits the president to impose import taxes and other sanctions against countries found to engage in “unjustifiable,” “unreasonable” or “discriminatory” trade practices. Trump used Section 301 to impose big tariffs on China in his first term, and they survived court challenges.

More Section 301 tariffs are likely coming: The U.S. Trade Representative’s office has launched a probe into whether 16 countries — accounting for 70% of U.S. imports — have overproduced goods, pushing down prices and putting U.S. companies at a disadvantage in global markets. The administration has yet to complete that investigation.

Trump, who argues that high tariffs will revive American manufacturing, last year overturned decades of U.S. policy that favored lower tariffs and ever-freer trade. Invoking the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), he imposed double-digit tariffs on imports from almost every country on Earth, saying America’s longstanding trade deficit amounted to a national emergency.

But the Supreme Court ruled that IEEPA did not authorize tariffs. The decision forced the administration to pay refunds to importers that had paid the tariffs.

In response, Trump announced 10% worldwide tariffs under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974. But he can only use Section 122 levies for 150 days; time runs out on them Friday.

The administration initially proposed the forced labor tariffs last month. Since then, some countries have tightened forced labor enforcement and qualified for lower tariffs, said a senior administration official who spoke under condition of anonymity. For example, the official said, the tariff on imports from India initially was set at 12.5% but now will be 10%.

Some products — including oil and gas and fertilizer — are exempted from the new tariffs announced Thursday. Also being spared are products that qualify for duty-free status under the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the North American trade pact Trump negotiated in his first term.

Tariffs are paid by companies in the United States that import foreign products. The importers usually try to pass along the cost by charging consumers higher prices. Americans are already frustrated by the high cost of living. So the administration is taking a risk in rolling out new tariffs ahead of the Nov. 3 midterm elections.

Human rights watchers say that it’s reasonable to be skeptical of the motivation behind the tariffs. But they say the levies could make an impact on the problem of forced labor.

Forced labor is defined by the International Labor Organization Forced Labor Convention of 1930 as “all work or service which is exacted from any person under the menace of any penalty and for which the said person has not offered himself (or herself) voluntarily.”

According to the latest statistics from the ILO, which is a U.N. agency focused on human and labor rights, about 27.6 million people were in forced labor worldwide on any given day in 2021.

“We’ve gone on record for years now advocating for import bans, not as a magic bullet, it’s not a silver bullet, but as a potentially effective tool in combating forced labor across the globe,” said Martina Vandenberg, founder and president of The Human Trafficking Legal Center.

“It’s possible to be extremely critical of tariffs, as we are, and to be very concerned about blanket tariffs used as bludgeons against countries,” she said. “And yet I think it’s undeniable that there is a significant response in terms of the adoption of import bans.”

However Vandenberg and her organization urged in testimony that the tariffs be implemented in a phased approach to give countries time to implement a ban or a plan for enforcement.

“Our concern is that the import bans will be thin slips of paper with no enforcement,” she said. “Countries need time to build import ban mechanisms that are meaningful and enforceable.”

Kenya Davis, partner at Boies Schiller Flexner, said the Uyghur Forced Labor Prevention Act, a U.S. federal law passed in 2021 that prohibits the importation of goods made wholly or in part in China’s Xinjiang region or by designated entities, is the most significant legislation related to forced labor that the U.S. has passed before the tariffs.

“The level of effectiveness is certainly up for debate, but it certainly has drawn attention to the issue of labor trafficking and forced labor,” she said. “And so, if nothing else, these import bans will serve that function of bringing greater awareness to forced labor.”

But without a “comprehensive approach,” that provides transparency about what the investigations consisted of, and programs that provide countries aid in enforcing bans, “I’m very cautious in my enthusiasm about the (tariffs),” she said.

Isabelle Glimcher, senior research scientist for global labor at the NYU Stern Center for Human Rights, said one flaw in the tariffs is that they focus on levying the tax on countries based on goods they import — not goods they make domestically.

But she said the impending tariffs threat has spurred several countries — such as India — to amend their foreign trade policies to include a forced labor import ban. European Union forced labor regulations due to go into effect later next year are also contributing, she said.

“Not all of these things are necessarily or wholly attributable to the Section 301 investigations, but does seem like countries are responding and starting to take all of this seriously,” she said.

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Anderson reported from New York.

An emailed statement from Lars Dalseide, communications director for Gov. Patrick Morrisey, did not provide details on where the bodies were found or how the people died. Their identities were not immediately released.

They are the first confirmed deaths from Tuesday’s floods, when forecasters said up to 7 inches (18 centimeters) of rain fell. Morrisey said some places received 4.5 inches (11.4 centimeters) in 37 minutes. Officials in north-central West Virginia have described the devastation as extensive.

Video and photos on social media showed submerged vehicles in parking lots, including at a Walmart in Weston where muddy water surged into the store. Across a nearby highway, a hotel’s main floor was inundated. Dozens of people stuck in submerged vehicles throughout the region had to be rescued, and floodwaters initially cut off access to them in some areas.

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This story corrects the day the deaths were announced to Thursday, not Wednesday.

Bertha moved inland about 75 miles (115 kilometers) northeast of Galveston, Texas, on Thursday afternoon, the National Hurricane Center said. Three hours later it remained a tropical storm, though its maximum sustained winds had dropped to 40 mph (65 kph). More weakening was expected overnight.

Thick clouds associated with Bertha prompted SpaceX to call off Thursday evening’s planned Starship launch from the southern tip of Texas. The space-skimming test flight was rescheduled for Friday, when the forecast called for clear skies.

No deaths or significant damage have been reported since Bertha formed Monday in the Gulf of Mexico south of the Florida Panhandle. The storm caused some coastal flooding as its center first struck land Wednesday in Louisiana southwest of New Orleans, but its heaviest rains stayed over the Gulf waters.

That rainfall south of the storm's center began moving inland along Texas' southeastern coast Thursday afternoon. A tropical storm warning remained in effect from Sargent, Texas, to the Vermilion and Cameron Parish line in Louisiana.

The hurricane center said Bertha could cause up to 2 feet (0.6 meters) of storm surge along the coast and trigger isolated flash flooding from heavy rains in coastal and south Texas.

Tropical storm force winds on Thursday extended as far as 140 miles (225 kilometers) from the storm’s center, the hurricane center said. Still, forecasters expected the storm to weaken as it moved over inland Texas and dissipate by Friday.

Galveston businesses stay open as officials predict a 'windy day’

In Galveston, an island city of 53,000 people southeast of Houston, local officials urged residents to brace for a “windy day” and secure any outdoor objects that might become airborne projectiles.

“While no significant impacts are forecast, some gusty storms may blow through the island throughout the day,” Galveston’s Office of Emergency Management said in a Facebook post Thursday.

The Galveston Historic Seaport canceled its sightseeing boat tours Thursday afternoon as a precaution, but was otherwise operating normally, said employee Jesi Hahn.

“We’ll definitely be open,” Hahn said. “We usually close for big hurricanes.”

At the nearby Harbor House Hotel and Marina, employee Justin Timber said he wasn’t aware of any canceled reservations.

“It seems like a normal day,” he said. “Restaurants are clicking. Everything’s great.”

In Florida, storm damages a boardwalk and topples a Waffle House sign

Electrical outages across the Gulf Coast were minimal, according to the website poweroutage.us. Still, Bertha’s passage wasn’t harmless.

In Pensacola, Florida, officials closed an area around a storm-damaged beach boardwalk, Mayor D.C. Reeves said Thursday on Facebook. He posted a photo showing part of the boardwalk’s support structure ripped away and a fence damaged nearby.

Strong gales earlier in the week knocked over a Waffle House sign onto a car in Panama City Beach, Florida. Heavy surf and the threat of rip tides had prompted warnings at Gulf Coast beaches for swimmers to stay out of the water.

Bertha is the second tropical storm of the Atlantic hurricane season. Tropical Storm Arthur in June brought heavy rainfall to the southeastern U.S.

In the eastern Pacific Ocean, Hurricane Fausto churned far from land Thursday. The hurricane was more than 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) west-southwest of the southern tip of Baja California with maximum sustained winds of 80 mph (130 kph).

The hurricane center said swells generated by Fausto could cause life-threatening surf and rip tides in parts of southern California.

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Bynum reported from Savannah, Georgia, and Thanawala reported from Atlanta. AP journalist Marcia Dunn in Cape Canaveral, Florida, contributed.

A lawsuit filed Thursday in U.S. District Court in Oklahoma City on behalf of Rhonda Grayson and Jeffrey Kennedy names Principal Chief David Hill and the Muscogee Nation Citizenship Board as defendants.

It says that Hill and the citizenship board are violating an 1866 treaty between the tribe and the U.S. government by refusing to recognize Black Creek Freedmen as citizens as ordered by the Muscogee Nation Supreme Court in July 2025.

The board had denied the applications of Grayson and Kennedy in 2019 because they could not identify a lineal descendant of the tribe, but the court said the pair are entitled to tribal citizenship.

However, Hill and the board have not yet issued the citizenship cards, denying Grayson and Kennedy their “right to vote and the ability to participate fully as members of the Nation,” according to the lawsuit.

Last August, Hill blocked the tribe’s citizenship board from issuing citizenship cards until leaders decide how to change the tribe’s constitution. The tribe's headquarters is in Okmulgee, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northeast of Oklahoma City.

The Associated Press left messages Thursday seeking comment from Hill and the Muscogee Nation Citizenship Board. The Muscogee Nation is one of five tribes in Oklahoma that once practiced slavery.

Under the 1866 treaty, the tribe abolished slavery and granted citizenship to the formerly enslaved. The Muscogee Nation adopted in 1979 a constitution that restricted membership to the descendants of people listed as “Muscogee (Creek) Indians by blood” on the Dawes Rolls, a census of members of the five tribes created around 1900.

When the Dawes Rolls were created, people were listed on two separate rolls: those who were Muscogee and those who were identified by the U.S. government as Freedmen.

The court's 2025 ruling also directed the board to apply the treaty of 1866 to future applicants who can trace an ancestor to either roll. The decision could create a path to tribal citizenship for thousands of new members who are not Muscogee by blood.

Attorney Damario Solomon-Simmons, a Black Creek Indian who is one of the lawyers representing Grayson and Kennedy, said Thursday that there about 100,000 Black Creeks across the United States.

Successful legal cases were brought against two of the five Oklahoma tribes, the Seminole Nation and the Cherokee Nation, which have since granted citizenship to Freedmen descendants.

“Every day of non-compliance is another day that Black Creek Freedman are denied our birthright and our very identity as citizens,” said Grayson, president of the Muscogee Creek Indian Freedmen Band.

“The fight is bigger than every one of us," she told reporters Thursday. "It belongs to every Black Creek Freedman descendant who has carried this history, protected these stories and refused to let our identity be dismissed or diminished.”

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Williams is a member of AP's Race & Ethnicities Team. He reported from Detroit.

The lawsuit, filed in Rhode Island and challenging Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Homeland Security policies, argued that the administration is requiring states to change their elections systems and help DHS with immigration enforcement. The conditions would also allow DHS to terminate grants at any time and for any reason.

“Once again, the Trump Administration is threatening to jeopardize public safety by unlawfully withholding billions in critical funding and once again, they won’t get away with it,” Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Neronha said. “This Administration is using the safety of Americans as collateral by attempting to bully the states into relinquishing their constitutional right to enact policies and laws that best serve their residents.”

The states argue putting conditions on congressionally appropriated funding violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the U.S. Constitution’s spending clause.

In a statement, a spokesperson for FEMA called the lawsuit an example of “partisan pushback” and said they expected “these left-wing politicians to oppose common-sense measures designed to protect election security and safeguard the integrity of American democracy.”

“Election security is national security, and protecting our critical infrastructure remains a top priority for the Trump Administration,” they said. “Concerns over voting processes, data security, and registration practices have made it clear that action is required.”

The lawsuit is one of scores that have challenged the Trump administration over its repeated effort to browbeat mostly Democratic states into complying with its priorities to get billions of dollars in federal funding. The strategy has been used on everything from education funding to domestic violence grants to highway funding.

The courts have repeatedly found this strategy to be unlawful and unconstitutional. A ruling last year barred the administration from putting conditions on other FEMA funding, and a second ruling this year blocked the administration from redirecting DHS funding away from states not seen as supportive of its agenda.

“The States face losing billions of dollars in federal funding, are being put in a position of relinquishing their sovereign right to decide how to use their own police officers, are at risk of losing the trust built between local law enforcement and immigrant communities, and will have to scale back, reconsider, or cancel ongoing transportation projects,” U.S. District Judge John McConnell Jr. wrote last year, when he barred the Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy from cutting off transportation funds to states that did not comply with immigration enforcement actions.

The latest lawsuit argues the administration is attempting to apply some of the same conditions on 2026 funding, as it failed to do with funding last year.

Among the requirements being challenged in Thursday's lawsuit is that states change their elections systems. They must transition to paper-ballot systems, conduct a manual audit of voting systems, reconcile voters and verify the citizenship of every registered voter in the state’s voter databases.

If states fail to comply, they risk losing at least 20% of their Homeland Security Grant Program funding. That money is used to fund measures to protect citizens from cyberattacks and terrorism.

“The Trump Administration is holding critical funding for homeland security and disaster response hostage in their latest attempt to take over our elections and perpetuate baseless conspiracy theories,” Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit, said in a statement.

Since his 2020 presidential election loss to Democrat Joe Biden, Trump has groundlessly claimed mail voting is rife with fraud and has launched a federal investigation into that year’s vote, even though repeated audits and investigations, including ones run by Republicans, found it was free of widespread fraud. Trump also has said he wants to “take over” election administration in Democratic areas.

The prize-winning writer recalled feeling what he thought was a punch under his chin, then feeling blood coming from his neck.

Soon “I was on the stage, lying down, with an enormous pool of blood all around me,” Rushdie testified. “It was an enormous and expansive lake of blood.”

A Buffalo federal court jury watched Rushdie fixedly as he testified — and at one point removed his glasses to show his now sightless right eye — at Hadi Matar's terrorism trial. He has pleaded not guilty.

Matar already was convicted of a state-level attempted murder charge in the 2022 attack at a cultural institution where Rushdie was poised to speak about threats to writers and artists. Federal prosecutors say Matar was acting on such a threat — an Iranian leader's 1989 call for Rushdie's death because of his novel “The Satanic Verses.”

“I can’t say what his ambitions or his aim was, but the wounds were dispersed across my body,” Rushdie testified.

Rushdie: Knife came ‘a millimeter from my brain'

Rushdie, 79, was composed and straightforward during little more than an hour on the witness stand. He outlined the attack — which blinded him in the right eye, damaged his liver, paralyzed his left hand for a time and briefly put him on a ventilator — and his lengthy recuperation and enduring injuries.

“The knife was a millimeter from my brain,” said Rushdie, whose attacker climbed on stage, approached from behind him and then slashed the author 15 times as the Chautauqua Institution audience gasped. Spectators and another speaker, Henry Reese, scrambled to aid Rushdie and restrain Matar, who was arrested by law enforcement assigned to the event. Rushdie has described the stabbing and recovery previously during Matar’s earlier trial, in a memoir and in interviews with The Associated Press and other outlets.

As Rushdie testified, Matar, 28, looked down at the defense table, sometimes rested his hand on his chin or turned to speak to his lawyer, looking toward the author only as Rushdie walked out a door. The writer glanced at Matar fleetingly, if at all.

Defense lawyer asks Rushdie about book's blowback

Matar's defense has argued that prosecutors can't prove his intent or mindset at the time of the attack — a key element in their claim that it was an act of terrorism motivated by allegiance to Iran's government and the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militant group. Matar, currently serving a 25-year state prison sentence, faces a potential life sentence if convicted of federal charges that include engaging in an act of transnational terrorism.

When defense lawyer Nathaniel Barone asked whether Rushdie believed the defendant had ties to terrorism, the author replied: “I had no knowledge, but I had my suspicions.

Iran’s late Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini issued the 1989 fatwa, or religious edict, calling for Rushdie to be killed over “The Satanic Verses,” which includes a dream sequence about Islam’s Prophet Muhammad that some Muslims considered blasphemous. The novel sparked often-violent protests against Rushdie, who was born into a Muslim family, and the fatwa drove him into hiding for years. He gradually emerged after the Iranian government distanced itself from the order in 1998, though the fatwa was never officially repealed.

“For two decades or more, I led a public life without a hint of trouble,” Rushdie testified Thursday.

Barone repeatedly asked Rushdie whether he had anticipated blowback from the book.

“Probably, but I don’t believe the book to be on trial here. I believe someone else is on trial,” Rushdie said. At Barone's request, the judge struck the comment from the court transcript.

Matar may testify, lawyer says

Prosecutors say Matar was animated partly by comments that a former Hezbollah leader, the late Hassan Nasrallah, made about Rushdie and the fatwa in 2006. The U.S.-born Matar also holds citizenship in Lebanon, where Hezbollah is based, and Matar's mother has said a 2018 trip there left him moody and withdrawn.

Matar started researching Rushdie in 2020 and eventually wrote to himself, “We need to kill him ASAP,” Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Lynch said in an opening statement Wednesday. Matar cast the killing as part of what he considered a jihad, or holy war, Lynch said.

Matar's New Jersey bedroom and electronics held photos and other material showing his regard for Hezbollah, and he carried a fake driver's license with a name similar to that of a Hezbollah figure, said Lynch. The U.S. government designates Hezbollah as a terrorist organization.

Matar's lawyer has said the government is asking jurors “to connect the dots” in a case without hard evidence about what he was thinking on the date of the attack. In a seeming effort to scrutinize how much the fatwa was on anyone’s mind by Aug. 12, 2022, the defense also has asked some witnesses about the relatively light security around Rushdie that day. A state trooper and a sheriff's deputy were assigned to the event.

Matar declined to testify at his state court trial but may do so at the federal trial, Barone said outside court Thursday.

Rushdie was born in India, raised in Britain and is now a U.S. citizen. He won the Booker Prize in 1981 for his novel “Midnight’s Children.” His most recent work is “The Eleventh Hour,” a book of short stories and novellas published last year.

Iran's government denied involvement in the 2022 stabbing, but its Foreign Ministry's then-spokesperson suggested Rushdie invited trouble by insulting Islam. Hezbollah's Nasrallah did not comment on the attack.

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Peltz reported from New York.

When the deal was announced Wednesday, neither the U.S. Energy Department nor the Saudi government made any mention of it being contingent on the kingdom's relations with Israel.

Trump’s social media post a day later asserting that the agreement was subject to the Saudis joining the accords was unexpected and almost certain to complicate any final approval. The accords approved in 2020 expanded the number of Arab and Muslim-majority nations with diplomatic ties with Israel.

Getting Saudi Arabia to join would be a monumental diplomatic achievement. The Saudis have previously made clear that normalizing relations with Israel would first require the establishment of a clear path for Palestinian statehood. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has rejected the idea of Palestinian statehood as being untenable for his country’s security.

The Republican president also said the pact does not allow for enrichment of uranium. Nonproliferation experts have raised concerns that the deal fails to include guardrails to prevent enrichment of uranium to weapons-grade levels.

Trump said the agreement “will be approved, but is totally subject to Saudi Arabia joining the very respected and successful Abraham Accords.” He added that the U.S. “is not opposed to Civil (Non-Enriched) Nuclear Facilities.”

When asked by a reporter why the condition was not mentioned in the initial announcement, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president was the “final dealmaker” and has called on Saudi Arabia to join the accords “on numerous occasions.”

The Saudi Embassy in Washington declined to comment Thursday on Trump's assertions about the deal.

Netanyahu’s office in a statement applauded the prospect of Saudi Arabia joining the accords as a “historic leap forward for peace in the Middle East.” The statement made no mention of the deal to bolster Saudi's civil nuclear program.

President has sought to build on the accords

Trump has sought to build on the accords, which also formalized commercial ties between Israel and some Arab and Muslim-majority nations. Saudi Arabia is the most important Arab power in the Middle East, and Trump believes the kingdom joining the accords is critical to establishing long-term stability in the region.

The new nuclear deal is expected to last 30 years and involve U.S. firms in the program’s development. The agreement could allow for the building of a uranium-enrichment facility in Saudi Arabia following a joint U.S.-Saudi study, according to a person familiar with the matter who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The pact is to be submitted to Congress for review, according to the U.S. and Saudi governments.

The deal does not include the International Atomic Energy Agency’s “additional protocol,” which would allow for more monitoring, inspections and verification, according to a second person familiar with the agreement.

The oil-rich kingdom’s Energy Ministry on Wednesday said the agreement bolsters “efforts to diversify energy sources, advance cutting-edge technologies, and expand opportunities for cooperation and investment in ways that serve the mutual interests of the two friendly countries.”

Enrichment is not an automatic path to a nuclear weapon — a nation also must master other steps, including the use of synchronized high explosives, for instance. But it does open the door to weaponization, which has fueled concerns over Iran’s program.

Administration says deal is good for US firms

Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Thursday in the Philippine capital of Manila that the agreement would make certain that Saudi Arabia works with American companies instead of “competitors” to build its civil nuclear program. China, South Korea, France and Russia are among alternative partners that Riyadh could look to.

“We’re not the only show in town, but we’re the best show in town,” Rubio said. “We want to make sure that it’s our companies they’re picking.”

Trump has talked up his push to extend the accords, but the aftermath of Israel's war in Gaza and the nearly 5-month-old U.S. and Israel war against Iran have complicated his efforts.

The agreements have proven unpopular in certain signatory countries such as Morocco and Bahrain, sparking widespread protests.

Still, the Trump administration remains optimistic that an agreement with Saudi Arabia on joining the accords can be sealed by the end of Trump’s second term.

Deal faces early scrutiny from Congress, Israel and nuclear experts

The White House and Saudi Arabia have not made public the text of the nuclear cooperation agreement, known as a “123 agreement,” alongside what the Trump administration described as a “bilateral safeguards agreement” that was signed Wednesday by U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Minister of Energy Abdulaziz bin Salman.

But it already faces scrutiny from Congress, some Israeli officials and nuclear experts.

As details of the deal emerged Wednesday, opposition on Capitol Hill and elsewhere began to snowball, with Republicans and Democrats both questioning the wisdom of the agreement. In addition, conservative commentators who have generally supported Trump’s polices asked why the president would give Saudi Arabia such a deal without getting anything in return.

Then on Thursday, Trump abruptly announced that the deal is contingent on the Saudis joining the accords.

The United Arab Emirates, a neighbor to Saudi Arabia, signed a 123 agreement with the U.S. to build its Barakah nuclear power plant with South Korean assistance. But the UAE did so without seeking enrichment, something nonproliferation experts have held up as the “gold standard” for nations wanting atomic power.

Rubio, as a Republican senator representing Florida, backed a bipartisan 2018 proposal that called for requiring Congress to approve any 123 agreement with Saudi Arabia. The bill was reintroduced by a group of Democratic lawmakers in March but has not passed into law.

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Price reported from Manila, Philippines. Associated Press writers Sam Metz in Jerusalem and Matthew Daly, Seung Min Kim and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

The person, who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the team has not yet announced the news, said Scourton will be placed on injured reserve this week.

It’s a huge blow for the Panthers, who were counting on Scourton to be a top pass rusher opposite recently signed free agent Jaelan Phillips.

Scourton, a second-round pick in 2025 out of Texas A&M, had an outstanding rookie season for the Panthers, playing in 17 games with eight starts. He finished the season with 47 tackles, five sacks and nine quarterback hits while developing into a key starter for the NFL’s 15th-ranked defense.

“We’ve got depth,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said earlier in the day before learning the extent of the injury. “That’s why we keep bringing in guys. ... If it comes to that (a serious injury) we have guys that we trust.”

Scourton went down on a wet field late in practice during team drills. Players immediately gathered around him on one knee.

Scourton held his hand over his face as he was led into an awaiting cart.

As he was leaving the field, the cart stopped and Canales and every player on the roster individually walked over to hug Scourton before he was taken to the training room.

“They care about each other,” Canales said. “Whenever you’re in a group of people doing something hard together, it has a way of creating a special bond. Between all the workouts and going through a full season and an offseason and all that, it means something to the guys. I’m proud of that.”

Scourton appeared to be engaged in a block with an offensive lineman at the time of the injury.

Panthers quarterback Bryce Young was near the play at the time, but said he did not see what happened.

He praised Scourton for how quickly he has developed into a leader on defense.

“It’s been really cool to see him come into his own,” Young said. “He has a super-high motor, has great energy. He’s fun to be around. He turns into that different competitor when he’s on the field. We feel that during practice. He has raised the level of (intensity at) practice many times. We don’t know anything yet (on the injury), but we’re just praying for him.”

It's unclear who will take Scourton's place in the starting lineup.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

The S&P 500 fell 1.2% and is on track for its first back-to-back weekly loss since March. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 506 points, or 1%, and the Nasdaq composite sank 2.2%.

Stocks fell under the pressure of rising oil prices, which raise costs for businesses and erode their customers’ ability to spend. The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, jumped 7% to settle at $100.69.

It touched $102 during the day, the highest price since May for the most actively traded Brent contract in the market. The cause: attacks on two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea. That threatens another avenue that oil companies use to move their crude from the Middle East to customers worldwide, along with the Strait of Hormuz.

Underscoring the importance of the sea route for the economy, President Donald Trump threatened “major military punishment” against the Houthi rebels in Yemen, who are backed by Iran, if they keep attacking ships.

It was just a few weeks ago that Brent had dropped below $72 per barrel, roughly back to where it was before the United States and Israel attacked Iran to begin their war, on hopes that a wind-down in the war would fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The jumps in oil prices will worsen inflation, just when it had begun to decelerate by more than economists expected. That in turn could push the Federal Reserve and other central banks to raise interest rates, which would slow economies and undercut prices for stocks and other investments.

The European Central Bank held its main interest rates steady at its meeting Thursday. But traders are betting on a 36% chance the Fed will hike the federal funds rate at its meeting next week. That’s up from the nearly 12% probability seen a week ago, according to data from CME Group.

An increase by the Fed would be the first since 2023.

Higher oil prices pushed the yield of the 10-year Treasury up to 4.69% from 4.67% late Wednesday and from just 3.97% before the war with Iran began. That’s a significant increase, and it’s already brought long-term U.S. mortgage rates to their highest levels in nearly a year.

Gasoline prices tend to follow oil prices higher, and a gallon of regular costs an average of $4.09 across the United States, according to AAA. That’s still below highs of roughly $4.56 in May, but it was at just $3.93 a month ago.

On Wall Street, stocks of companies with big fuel bills fell to sharp losses on worries about higher expenses.

American Airlines fell 8.4% even though it reported a much bigger profit for the spring than analysts expected, something that usually sends a stock’s price higher. It raised airfares, which helped it offset its higher fuel prices, during the latest quarter.

Southwest Airlines lost 6.2%, even though it also reported better profit and revenue than analysts expected.

One of the heaviest weights on the U.S. stock market was Tesla, which tumbled 14.5% after Elon Musk’s electric-vehicle company reported a weaker profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected. Because it’s one of the largest stocks in the S&P 500 by market value, its stock has more influence on the index than nearly every other.

One of the few that’s larger is Alphabet, and its stock fell 7.1% even though the parent company of Google delivered stronger profit and revenue than analysts expected.

Investors focused instead on how much Alphabet is planning to spend on artificial-intelligence investments. Alphabet raised its forecast for capital spending over the full year after its investments last quarter doubled to nearly $45 billion from a year earlier.

CEO Sundar Pichai said AI helped its cloud revenue growth accelerate to 82% last quarter, but unease nevertheless remains about whether all the money going into AI will pay off in terms of productivity and profits.

Such worries have been shaking the AI industry broadly in recent weeks, leading to big swings for the overall stock market.

All told, the S&P 500 fell 90.66 points to 7,408.30. The Dow Jones Industrial Average dropped 506.93 to 51,711.65, and the Nasdaq composite sank 553.21 to 25,137.69.

In stock markets abroad, indexes fell sharply in Europe after oil prices jumped. France’s CAC 40 dropped 1.6% for one of the larger losses.

Indexes in Asia were stronger earlier in the day, and South Korea’s Kospi jumped 4.4%.

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AP Business Writers Matt Ott and Elaine Kurtenbach contributed to this report.

The president first announced the pledge with leading AI and tech companies in March, but that initial commitment has done little to comfort voters who are already grappling with affordability issues as they worry about competing for electricity, water and land with tech companies controlled by billionaires. It's unclear, with electricity demand already growing, whether consumers would see genuine savings.

Trump is doubling down on the pledge at a time when the broader social contract is being rewritten by AI, a technology that is evolving so quickly in its capabilities that governments are struggling over how to provide oversight.

The president, in remarks about the pledge at the Environmental Protection Agency, called on the gathered executives and governors to sell the public on data centers, stressing that the cities and towns that do have them will be “rich.”

“You have to convince your community,” Trump said. “You can’t fight it. You have to go with it.”

The president added: “If you don’t take all that money, somebody else is going to take it. You might as well do it yourselves.”

Concerns about data centers cross party lines

The president promised that electricity prices would drop because of the nonbinding pledge, saying there would be a surplus of power. It's not clear that data centers generating their own electricity will be sufficient to overcome the rising demand for electricity, but that did not deter Trump from saying that utility bills — a major concern for voters — will be lower.

“Electricity bills for American families will actually come down," Trump said. “They’re going to have a lot of electricity left over, and they’ll put that into the grid.”

The White House said Thursday the pledge has been signed by 23 governors and at least 187 companies, including 55 utilities and 27 data center developers. Signers include some of the nation’s biggest utilities such as NextEra Energy, Duke Energy, American Electric Power, Southern Co. and Pacific Gas & Electric.

Data center developers that have signed the pledge include Equinix, Digital Realty and Prologis.

A slowdown in data center construction could derail what has been one of the dominant drivers of U.S. economic growth, in addition to possibly ceding the U.S. edge in cultivating the technology to China and create national security risks.

But AI's increasing ability to perform basic tasks — such as driving, analyzing spreadsheets and writing software — also potentially threatens millions of jobs. That has created mounting public resistance as tech companies concentrate historic levels of wealth in the hands of a select group of tycoons.

The increased electricity demand could cause monthly utility bills to rise by 15% to 40% by 2030, according to a recent analysis by ICF, a consulting and technology services company.

Opposition to data centers has spiraled into a bipartisan issue. Voters are worried about the environmental impact, use of AI in schools and the prospect of data centers making their communities more expensive and less livable. Data center companies say their facilities help to generate tax revenues for school districts and reduce property tax burdens for homeowners.

The opposition has spread into the Republican stronghold of rural Texas and led to frustration with Gov. Greg Abbott, who is now among the 23 Republican governors who signed Trump’s nonbinding pledge.

Gina Hinojosa, the Democratic nominee for Texas governor, has been using the issue to challenge Abbott before the November election.

“They are owned by the richest men in the world,” she said of data centers. “We’re all footing the bill. There are no rules. It is the Wild West of data centers.”

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, signed an order to ban construction of large server warehouses in her state for a year. In May, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, signed a law that he said would prevent utilities from passing along energy costs from data centers to residential and small-business customers.

Already, dozens of state legislatures or utility commissions have moved to put in place requirements that data centers pay the cost of their electricity, including new power plants or transmission system upgrades. But it's not

Tech companies are pushing growth of data centers

In California, however, the industry opposes legislation designed to protect consumers from electricity price increases attributable to data centers, said Matthew Freedman, a staff attorney for the Utility Reform Network.

“It is disappointing, but perhaps not surprising, that the same tech companies signing the Ratepayer Protection Pledge are simultaneously opposing efforts at the state level to force them to deliver on their promises,” Freedman said.

In an interview with The Associated Press last month, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, whose computer chips are enabling the AI revolution, said America’s weakness is a lack of power generation for further developing the technology.

Google, Microsoft, Meta, Oracle, xAI, OpenAI and Amazon are among the companies that have already committed to the Trump administration’s “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” that consumers will not shoulder the cost of the data center build-out.

Despite the pledge, there are challenges on addressing issues with electricity prices.

The White House has complained that PJM Interconnection, which oversees electric power in 13 states from Virginia to Illinois, can’t ensure adequate electricity supplies at reasonable prices in the AI-driven boom.

White House spokeswoman Taylor Rogers said Thursday that PJM —- the nation’s largest grid operator — has failed to implement a bipartisan statement of principles signed by the Trump administration and all 13 governors in the region.

“The Trump administration strongly advises PJM and its member companies to proactively reform its stakeholder process, reform its board governance, and implement the Statement of Principles before it is too late,” Rogers said.

There are efforts to formalize Trump's pledge as law, with the House Energy and Commerce Committee approving a bipartisan bill. The bill would require data centers to bear the costs of grid upgrades.

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Associated Press writer Marc Levy in Harrisburg, Pa., contributed to this report.

Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, referred Smith to the Justice Department for possible prosecution related to closed-door testimony about whether he had obtained records of lawmakers while investigating Trump's efforts to overturn his 2020 presidential election loss.

The referral, sent Wednesday, centers on a December 2025 exchange in which Smith was asked about subpoenas that prosecutors had issued for the toll records of some Republican lawmakers as part of the investigation. Toll records show the time, date, length of call and phone numbers involved but do not reveal the content of the communication.

“Did the toll records that you requested from the senators, did they include the content of the phone calls?” Smith was asked.

“No,” he said. He again answered no when asked whether the toll records he had requested included the content of text messages.

Jordan, in his referral, says that answer was misleading in light of newly released records from Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa showing that Smith had obtained the contents of 44 lawmakers' text messages in a separate subpoena to the National Archives and Records Administration that sought the communications of various Trump advisers and aides.

“The responses provided by Mr. Smith gave the impression that neither Mr. Smith nor his team had access to the content of Members’ privileged text messages," Jordan wrote. “We now know this to be false.”

He said a false statement can encompasses instances in which “the witness provides a half-truth or excludes information necessary to make statements accurate.”

Lawyers for Smith called that a “dangerous theory of criminal liability” that has “no limiting principle and risks ensnaring every witness who testifies before a congressional committee who does not proactively disclose information that is not responsive to a question asked (i.e. every witness).”

Smith's lawyers defend his veracity

In a letter to Jordan and Rep. Jamie Raskin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, Smith's lawyers called his answers “unimpeachably truthful” and noted that he was responding to questions explicitly about toll records, which did not include the contents of any text messages.

“The toll record subpoenas that were the focus of those questions did not call for the content of text messages," wrote Smith's lawyers, Peter Koski and Lanny Breuer. “The questions and answers preceding and following these exchanges also make clear that the focus of the questions was on the toll records subpoenas. Notably, the referral letter does not contest the truthfulness of Mr. Smith's answers.”

Raskin said in his own statement that House Republicans had “embarrassed themselves” with the referral and that Smith answered accurately when asked if the toll records subpoenas sought the content of lawmakers' communications. He said Republicans were faulting Smith for not volunteering information he was not asked.

“Wishing that you had asked different questions while you had the opportunity to examine a witness is not a proper basis for a referral of a witness for criminal prosecution. Congressional Republicans never asked Jack Smith about presidential records,” Raskin wrote. “Not during his 9-hour closed-door testimony or his 4-hour public hearing.”

A criminal referral to the Justice Department from Congress or any other party has no legal authority and does not compel prosecutors to act. But the department under the Trump administration has proved to be eager to investigate and in some cases prosecute foes of the president. Smith is certainly one such adversary, with Trump having called him “deranged” and urging his prosecution.

“During his testimony, Mr. Smith provided truthful, responsive answers and candidly discussed his work as Special Counsel,” Smith's lawyers wrote. “This referral reflects a chilling eagerness to weaponize the justice system by attacking a career, nonpartisan public servant who faithfully and fearlessly performed his duties by following the facts and the law.”

The Justice Department in a statement Wednesday night confirmed receipt of the referral and said it “will investigate all evidence of criminal conduct.”

Smith charged Trump with conspiring to undo the election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden and with hoarding classified documents at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, after his first term in the White House. Smith abandoned both prosecutions after Trump's election win in November 2024, citing longstanding Justice Department opinions that say sitting presidents cannot face federal indictment.

Smith resigned from the Justice Department in early 2025, 10 days before Trump was inaugurated again.

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Associated Press writer Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this report.

The deal, which includes a full no-movement clause, was announced by the Blackhawks on Thursday.

Kane, 37, became one of the NHL's most dynamic players while spending his first 15-plus seasons in Chicago, helping the Blackhawks win three Stanley Cup championships. He ranks among the franchise's career leaders with 446 goals, 779 assists and 1,225 points.

“Day in and day out for 16 seasons, Patrick captivated the city of Chicago with his dazzling skill, creating some of the most memorable moments in Blackhawks history as he helped bring our storied franchise back to the pinnacle of our sport,” general manager Kyle Davidson said in a release. “He’s shown on countless occasions that he knows what it takes to win at the highest levels."

The addition of Kane adds another offensive presence to a lineup that will begin the season without Connor Bedard, who had surgery on his left shoulder on July 8. Kane likely will play with Bedard when the 21-year-old center returns to the ice.

The rebuilding Blackhawks went 29-39-14 last season, an 11-point improvement on the previous season. The team has finished No. 31 in the NHL each of the past three years.

Chicago is looking for its first postseason appearance since the NHL used an expanded playoff format after the 2020 season was affected by the pandemic.

Kane isn't same player he was during his first stint with the Blackhawks. But he had 16 goals and 41 assists in 67 games with the Detroit Red Wings last season. He has recorded at least 50 points in 18 of his 19 seasons.

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 draft passed Mike Modano in January for the most NHL points by a player born in the United States. He has 508 career goals — fourth on the U.S. list — and 1,400 points in 1,369 regular-season games.

Kane was one of Chicago's biggest stars during the best stretch in franchise history, winning the Stanley Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015. The Blackhawks also made it to the Western Conference Final in 2014, losing to the Los Angeles Kings in an epic seven-game series.

Kane, who won the 2016 Hart Trophy as NHL MVP, was traded to the New York Rangers in February 2023. The Blackhawks then won the draft lottery and took Bedard with the No. 1 overall pick that same year. As reports swirled about the possibility of Kane returning to Chicago, Bedard openly embraced the idea.

“I can’t imagine his first game back at the (United Center), the reaction he’d get and how much juice that would bring to not only our team but our fans, as well,” Bedard said Monday. “That would be incredible to play with him and learn from him. Hopefully he decides to come back.”

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The attack announced this week by OpenAI, which blamed rogue AI models, underscored the blistering growth in the technology’s capabilities. For many, it also added urgency to questions about whether and how it can be prevented from causing mayhem on a bigger scale, with more serious consequences.

In what OpenAI called an “unprecedented” episode, the company said its advanced AI models used stolen credentials to break into the servers of an AI startup. It started in what was supposed to be a “highly isolated” testing environment, with reduced guardrails, before the AI agent found its way onto the internet.

But the disclosure brought a told-you-so moment for researchers who have called for a slowdown of AI development and warned for years that the technology could pose existential risks to humanity. In its wake, experts have called for improved testing by the AI companies and more dialogue between the U.S. and China to come up with shared solutions.

“I think we’ve got to take this as a warning shot to not make them smarter, and that probably is going to require global collaboration,” said Nate Soares, co-author of the 2025 book “If Anyone Builds It, Everyone Dies.”

The hack could pressure companies to improve containment

If a model can decide to do something unethical, illegal or harmful on its own, what — if anything — can humans do to prevent it from doing so?

OpenAI said it had tasked the AI models involved with pursuing “advanced exploitation using complex attack paths” to test cyber capabilities, but the technology went to unexpected lengths. It apparently decided on its own to target Hugging Face, a well-known AI development hub and marketplace, to obtain information it needed to carry out a task.

Zahra Timsah, the co-founder and CEO of governance platform i-GENTIC AI, said she expects the incident to increase pressure on OpenAI and its competitors to complete rigorous testing and explore containment more thoroughly before AI systems are made accessible to the public.

Monitoring an agent’s behavior after the fact, as OpenAI is now doing with its investigation, is no longer enough, she said. “It’s like having a seat belt, air bags, brakes, everything in the car. It should be there before the car starts driving,” Timsah said.

The disclosure comes amid heightened concerns about the cybersecurity capabilities of powerful models. In June, President Donald Trump signed an executive order creating a framework for the federal government to vet the national security risks of the most advanced AI systems for up to a month before their public release.

OpenAI said Thursday that it briefed the White House this week about the Hugging Face attack.

Other experts see the event as a sign of AI's growing pains

Some experts say the hack is part of the trial and error that comes with improving cybersecurity capabilities and is no cause for panic.

“We’ve been dealing with people creating cybersecurity attacks for as long as the internet has existed. And one of the interesting properties of these language models is that the same capabilities that make them able to perform cybersecurity attacks also allow them to do cybersecurity threat analysis and make cybersecurity defenses,” said John Thickstun, an assistant professor of computer science at Cornell University who studies methods that control the behavior of AI models.

The disclosure has raised skepticism from those who say it advantages OpenAI to make its technology seem scarier. Given that humans at OpenAI had decided to turn off some safeguards for the test, some have argued the outcome should not have been terribly surprising.

Thickstun noted the disclosure plays into the need of OpenAI, a startup working toward a Wall Street debut, to raise money.

“The story that they’ve been consistently telling over the lifetime of this company is a story about how dangerous their models are, which their investors read as a story of how powerful their language models are,” he said.

The disclosure renews calls for more regulation

The hack renewed calls in some corners for increased regulations and oversight of AI companies.

U.S. Rep. Greg Casar, a Texas Democrat, wrote on social media: “We need regular mandatory independent safety testing and oversight, mandatory disclosure of security incidents, and international cooperation to keep people safe from absolute disaster.”

Soares, director of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute, said the U.S. will need to open talks with its biggest AI competitor, China, something he thinks is not as outlandish as it might have seemed even a year ago. China’s leader Xi Jinping warned at a conference just last week of the need to keep AI from evading human control. And after an early aversion to regulating AI, Trump’s administration has grown more restrictive at reining in cybersecurity risks.

“A lot can change when the national security community starts to notice that they have a serious threat,” Soares said. “Will this wake them up? Hopefully. I’m not sure. If this doesn’t, maybe the next incident will.”

AI pioneer Yoshua Bengio said on social media the episode is deeply concerning and should serve as a “wake-up call.”

“Continuing on the current trajectory of AI development will likely lead to an increase in concrete cases of autonomous cyberattacks as well as other high-risk incidents of misaligned and dangerous AI behavior,” said Bengio, a professor at the University of Montreal. “We urgently need to take action to prevent these situations, rather than attempting to clean up the damage after the fact.”

The Raiders hold a fifth-year option.

Mendoza was the last of the Raiders' 10 draft picks to sign.

“I’m excited to get this thing signed," Mendoza said on the team's social media post. "I’m excited to be a part of the silver and black. Can’t wait.”

He ran the third-team offense in organized team activities and minicamp, but is expected to take on a larger role in training camp, which begins Wednesday.

Veteran Kirk Cousins, who signed a free-agent contract worth $20 million guaranteed, enters camp as the No. 1 quarterback.

How long Cousins hangs on to that spot will be the main storyline in camp and perhaps into the season.

Mendoza hopes to translate the success he experienced in his final season of college football in which he won the Heisman Trophy and led Indiana to its first national championship.

Also, star pass rusher Maxx Crosby said on his podcast “The Rush” that he would join the rookies for their training camp. Crosby has been working his way back from knee surgery.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

The Houthis have threatened to shut down another key trade route, with the world economy already reeling from Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, Iran and the U.S. have stepped up their attacks as they vie for control of the strait, through which a fifth of the world's oil and gas transited in peacetime, setting off a scramble for alternative routes.

As the U.S. carried out a 12th night of strikes across Iran, President Donald Trump threatened “major military punishment” against the Houthis if their attacks on ships continue.

“If they do this again, the U.S. will hold Iran responsible, in that the Houthis are a Surrogate and/or Proxy of Iran, and major military punishment will be inflicted upon Iran and, of course, the Houthis, themselves,” Trump wrote on social media.

As the rhetoric escalated, so did the economic fallout. The price of Brent crude oil, the international standard, spiked more than 6% Thursday, to about $100 a barrel. That is the highest level since May, before the two sides reached a preliminary peace agreement last month that has since collapsed.

Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi of Iraq, which has close ties to both the U.S. and Iran, was in Tehran on Thursday to call for peace and dialogue, and he promised not to allow Iraqi territory to be used for attacks on Iran, his office said. Al-Zaidi met with Trump earlier this month in Washington.

An Arab diplomat said Gulf states are increasingly pessimistic about finding an off-ramp. The diplomat, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the situation, said regional countries like Pakistan and Turkey continue to push for de-escalation.

U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Thursday that the region is being pulled “into an ever-widening circle of confrontation” with one crisis feeding another and every escalation triggering the next.

“Diplomacy is the only way forward,” Guterres told the U.N. Security Council. He called for Pakistan’s efforts to mediate an end to the war to be strengthened.

Houthi attacks are a ‘double whammy’ on oil shipments

The Houthis' SABA news agency said the rebels had struck two tankers, the Encelia and the Layla, in the Red Sea, leading to fires on both. There were no reports of casualties.

It was their first reported attack on a vessel since they announced a blockade of Saudi-linked shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait earlier this week in retaliation for the kingdom’s blockade on Yemen and a recent attack on the international airport in Yemen’s rebel-held capital, Sanaa.

Bab el-Mandeb, at the southern tip of the Arabian Peninsula, is a vital shipping chokepoint connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Around 12% of the world’s trade, including a fourth of global container traffic, passes through there, moving between Europe and Asia via Egypt’s Suez Canal.

The state-run Saudi Press Agency reported an attack set the Encelia ablaze overnight in the Red Sea. It did not mention the Layla.

The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center said it received a report of a tanker being struck by “an unknown projectile” 130 kilometers (80 miles) southwest of Al Shuqaiq, Saudi Arabia, in the Red Sea.

The Houthi attacks put at risk oil shipments from Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu port on the Red Sea and present a “double whammy” on top of the disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, said maritime data and analysis firm Lloyd’s List Intelligence.

Saudi Arabia has diverted millions of barrels a day of oil exports to Yanbu via an overland pipeline as the war has bottled up the Persian Gulf.

The Houthi threat “raises questions on the viability of this route,” Lloyd’s said in slides accompanying an online webinar Thursday.

The rebels say they are blockading Saudi Arabia, but during their announced blockade of Israel, at the height of the war in Gaza, they targeted many vessels with little or no connection to that conflict, disrupting global trade.

Both sides dig in over Strait of Hormuz

Iran says it has the right to manage traffic and potentially charge fees in the Strait of Hormuz, which was open to all and toll-free before the war. It has attacked ships using a route through the strait that is overseen by U.S. forces and intended to be outside Tehran’s control.

In response to Iran’s attacks, the U.S. began the widening campaign of strikes across Iran and restored a naval blockade of Iran's ports. U.S. Central Command said it has redirected 12 commercial vessels and disabled one since the blockade resumed nine days ago.

The war of words has also escalated. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would adopt an “eye for an eye” policy on U.S. strikes against its infrastructure. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio retorted that Trump's policy is “a head for an eye.”

“The price will continue to get higher every single night until they come to their senses,” Rubio told reporters while traveling in the Philippines for a regional summit.

Iran’s health ministry said Thursday that 55 people have been killed and 629 have been wounded since renewed U.S. airstrikes began on June 27.

Iranian state media reported that U.S. missiles struck locations overnight near the cities of Ahvaz, Ramshir and Andimeshk in western Iran, and two people were killed in a U.S. missile strike in the town of Shalamcheh on the Iraqi border.

U.S. Central Command said its strikes were designed to “further degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters,” as the Americans push to regain control over the Strait of Hormuz and restore the flow of international shipping.

Iran has responded to U.S. attacks by targeting energy infrastructure and desalination plants providing drinking water in parched neighboring Gulf countries.

Jordan said its military had intercepted three missiles early Thursday, with a fourth falling in an empty area, while six drones were intercepted Wednesday night. Sirens sounded in Bahrain as authorities urged people to remain calm and seek shelter.

Kuwait's military said that drones had attacked its border crossing with Iraq, causing damage but no casualties. That attack may have been in response to the U.S. strike on the Iran-Iraq border crossing.

Polls have shown the war is unpopular among Americans, a fact reflected in the narrow passage Thursday of a resolution in the U.S. House to halt the war. Though a handful of Republicans crossed party lines to support the measure, the vote remained largely symbolic.

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Becatoros reported from Athens, Greece, and Binkley from Washington. Associated Press writers Munir Ahmed in Islamabad, Pakistan; Bassem Mroue in Beirut; Michelle L. Price and Jim Gomez in Manila, Philippines; Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad, and Matthew Lee in Washington contributed to this report.

The recommendation comes after a months-long investigation. The special prosecutor was assigned in May and noted in her report that Espinosa did not cooperate with the investigation at first, delaying the process by filing an appeal.

What the 13-page report found

The special prosecutor, operating through the Ninth Judicial Circuit, laid out several ethics complaints in the 13-page investigative report. The report recommends taking no action on most of them — including allegations that Espinosa cut off a speaker during a meeting and helped fast-track city refunds for friends.

The BOOST 2.0 program is a different story.

According to the report, Espinosa voted as mayor to expand the BOOST 2.0 program, which offers grants to small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. Of the first $375,000 allocated for the program, Espinosa received $50,000 — nearly 20% of the entire fund.

The special prosecutor wrote: “The BOOST 2.0 program was created to help Kissimmee’s small business survive a pandemic, not to enrich the official who controlled it.”

The report states Espinosa should pay the money back.

What happens next

The special prosecutor is not only recommending impeachment but also calling on the city to refer the case to law enforcement, including the Florida Department of Law Enforcement and the State Chief Financial Officer’s office.

In a rule change announced Thursday, the department said it would remove a number of disparate impact provisions from its regulations related to the implementation of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, which bars discrimination on the basis of race or national origin.

In schools, the standard has most notably been applied to school discipline policies. Across the country, data shows Black students have been more likely to receive punishments that remove them from the classroom, such as suspensions, expulsions and transfers to alternative schools.

Racial justice advocates have pushed for policies that would reduce those disparities, and those efforts in turn have drawn opposition from the Trump administration.

In an executive order last year, the White House directed the Education Department to issue new school discipline guidance, and called for a review of organizations that had promoted policies to address disparities in discipline.

In a written statement, the department said that disparate impact had forced schools and universities to engage in racial balancing for fear of federal enforcement.

“With these changes, schools will be empowered to address classroom issues without fearing the federal government will weaponize antidiscrimination laws,” Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights Kimberly Richey said.

Civil rights groups condemned the move. In a letter signed by 60 civil rights and educational advocacy organizations, they emphasized that discrimination is not always explicit, and that courts have recognized this standard for decades.

“Today’s action has no basis in law or morality and is further evidence that this administration is determined to undermine our laws, abandon civil rights enforcement, and deny the existence of systemic discrimination,” they wrote.

The rule was published and took effect immediately without public comment, an unusual step for major regulatory change.

The rule change removes a critical guardrail for students, said Michael Pillera, director of the Educational Opportunities Project at the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law. If districts know the Education Department will not investigate and enforce a policy that has a discriminatory impact, they may be more likely to continue that practice, he said.

“The concept is you can't create an unjust and unnecessary barrier that excludes folks on the basis of race. It has essentially the same impact as if you were doing it explicitly,” Pillera said. “That is what this is meant to stop.”

Other federal agencies also have moved away from disparate impact as a legal standard for enforcement. A White House executive order signed last April directed federal agencies to no longer rely on disparate impact analysis when enforcing anti-discrimination laws. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the Justice Department and the Department of Energy rescinded their disparate impact guidance last year.

And in May, fair housing groups sued the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over its changes to disparate impact regulations, which they said would reverse decades of lending protections and remove the guardrails for preventing discrimination against minorities.

Advocates said that the change would further diminish the Education Department's role in protecting students of color, in addition to the downsizing and transfer of the Office for Civil Rights and the prioritization of cases that investigate racial equity policies as discriminatory against white students.

The changes to the federal government’s role in civil rights enforcement will have resounding impacts for communities, said Hamida Labi, senior policy counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

“This is a part of the Trump administration’s broader overall attack on civil rights,” Labi said. “The schoolhouse doors in 2026 don't have signs on it that say, ‘whites only,’ but discrimination is still very prevalent. Black students and other students of color are the ones who bear the brunt of that.”

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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.

The elevated price marked a turn from lower oil prices enjoyed briefly when hostilities between the U.S. and Iran waned in June. Brent crude, the international standard, last reached $100 a barrel in May.

Companies that produce and sell fresh food, school supplies and anything that gets shipped using fuel reported cost impacts from an earlier spike in energy prices after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran. They’re likely to continue passing some of their increased expenses to consumers.

“Since everything relies on petroleum in our economy, for good or ill, if the cost of petroleum goes up, then everything else goes up as well,” said Joe Adamski, a managing director at procurement services company ProcureAbility.

Here's how higher oil prices could put more strain on the finances of U.S. consumers.

Gasoline prices return to $4 or more in most states

Volatility along the Strait of Hormuz and broader regional instability pushed up the price of crude oil, the main ingredient in gasoline, and could continue to make driving costlier during the second half of summer, according to motor club AAA.

The U.S. price for regular gasoline averaged $4.09 a gallon Thursday, 15 cents more than a week ago, and drivers in most states were paying $4 or more, according to AAA.

“Given the typical lag along the oil industry’s supply chain, prices at the pump are poised to keep rising at least into next week,” said Pavel Molchanov, an investment strategy analyst at investment bank Raymond James.

Molchanov, noted that futures prices for oil delivered later this year and next year were lower, suggesting prices could fall once military action ends.

For the most part, higher gasoline prices haven't stopped Americans from driving. Gasoline demand rose 1% to 8.9 million barrels per day last week, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Shoppers are paying more for a bag of groceries

Grocery prices generally rise with oil because farmers use diesel fuel to power equipment, while many food products are transported by trucks that require fuel.

“Oil at $100 doesn’t make food prices jump right away, but it does put upward pressure across the food supply chains, especially for categories that depend heavily on trucking, cold storage and packaging,” said Miguel Gomez, a Cornell University professor who directs the school's Food Industry Management Program. Fresh produce and dairy could feel a larger impact because they require refrigeration during delivery.

Imported goods are also vulnerable to higher shipping costs, Gomez said. “Things like olive oil that we produce very little here and are coming from mostly from Europe are going to be up.”

Grocery chain Albertsons on Thursday lowered its 2026 fiscal outlook, citing pressure on its core grocery business and a pullback in consumer spending.

Every product that moves will have higher costs baked into the price

Higher fuel costs for ships, trucks and air carriers can trickle down to consumers and businesses that depend on shipping. UPS, FedEx and other shipping services introduced fuel surcharges and other fees as fuel prices increased.

According to an AFS Logistics and TD Cowen Freight Index released July 14, truckload pricing is at a four-year high because of rising fuel costs and capacity constraints.

Andy Dyer, CEO of AFS Logistics, said diesel prices in the second quarter were about 51% higher than in January and February, while jet fuel prices rose 90% from a year earlier.

“Beyond the direct impact of higher freight bills paid by shippers, these price movements also have second-order effects that squeeze rates higher,” he said. “Smaller truckload carriers working on tight margins may park trucks and wait for fuel prices to revert to more palatable levels before returning to operation.”

Retailers are noticing consumers pulling back

Rural lifestyle retailer Tractor Supply Co. reduced its annual sales outlook on Thursday, citing in part higher fuel prices during its spring selling season that weighed on customer spending.

”Our customers often drive longer distances to shop frequently in pickup trucks, many of which are diesel-powered, making them especially sensitive to higher fuel costs,” CEO Hal Lawton told analysts.

Lawton said customers are still investing in their pets, animals, farms and properties, but shopping has become “more deliberate.” Customers are consolidating trips, prioritizing needs-based purchases and taking a more measured approach to discretionary spending.

Back-to-school shoppers may face higher prices

The Footwear Distributors and Retailers of America trade group warned in a report Wednesday that increasing freight and material costs, along with rising tariffs costs, were creating big challenges for the footwear industry as families prepare for back-to-school shopping and companies plan for the remainder of the year.

Matt Priest, CEO and president of the trade group, said some of its members have cited 25% price increases for petroleum-based materials used in footwear manufacturing due to the Middle East conflict. Those costs could eventually translate into roughly a 5% increase in the cost of finished footwear products sold to consumers, Priest said in the report.

Footwear companies have been front-loading inventory and accelerating imports before President Donald Trump imposes new tariffs on foreign products, putting additional pressure on shipping rates, he said.

“Container rates are spiking right now,” Priest said.

Higher jet fuel costs lead to costlier flights

Since the war began, airlines have responded to the jump in fuel costs by raising fares and add-on fees, and trimming flights or routes that are no longer profitable at higher fuel prices. Those moves can help protect the airlines’ margins, but also leave travelers facing higher prices and fewer options, particularly in smaller or less competitive markets.

In the latest sign that the conflict is driving up costs for the travel industry, American Airlines on Thursday reported a sharp decline in second-quarter net income despite record revenue and strong spring travel demand.

American said higher fares helped offset nearly half of its higher fuel bill but not enough to prevent it from lowering its full-year outlook.

Despite higher prices, jet fuel demand in the last four weeks increased 9% compared to the same time last year, according to EIA.

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Associated Press writers Rio Yamat in Las Vegas, Wyatte Grantham-Philips and Dee-Ann Durbin in Detroit contributed to this report.

Loomer had spent years minimizing Russia's invasion of Ukraine and amplifying Russian propaganda to her nearly 2 million followers. This week she had a change of heart.

“Just experienced my first air raid in Ukraine. Sirens blaring. This is everyday for every Ukrainian," Loomer wrote on X during her visit to the country. “I often said I don’t care. Looking back, that wasn’t very nice of me to say.”

It was a stunning reversal for a woman who had spent years criticizing U.S. support for Ukraine's defense, declaring it “a country full of Nazi apologists” — a claim used by Russia to justify its yearslong invasion — and “led by a Jihadi apologist.”

The skepticism of Ukraine has been shared by other major conservative influencers, including former Fox News host Tucker Carlson. The issue became a major point of contention between more traditional Republicans, like former Vice President Mike Pence, and Trump's MAGA base. Vice President JD Vance was among the earliest and most vocal critics of continued U.S. military aid to the country, and he clashed with Zelenskyy in a heated Oval Office meeting.

It was unclear what had prompted Loomer's trip or how she had arranged the meeting with Zelenskyy, which she plugged as an interview for her Rumble show, “Loomer Unleashed." She posted a photo of the two that she said had been taken at Mariinsky Palace.

“No questions were off limits and I didn’t pull any punches,” she said.

She did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The meeting was confirmed earlier by Dmytro Lytvyn, a spokesperson for the president, who said that no Ukrainian government institution had organized the visit. He added that Zelenskyy's office first learned that Loomer was in Ukraine through social media.

“It is really important that @LauraLoomer is in Ukraine and sees things with her own eyes as they are,” Zelenskyy's office had written Tuesday.

“It takes courage to come to Ukraine and not be deterred by Russian propaganda or air raid sirens. Thank you, Laura," the office added Thursday.

In addition to the meeting with Zelenskyy, Loomer also visited the Dormition Cathedral of Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra, one of the country’s most significant religious landmarks, which came under Russian attack last month.

The attack on the monastic complex of golden domes in the heart of Kyiv, which is also known as the Monastery of the Caves, sparked a fire that caused significant interior and exterior damage, according to UNESCO. Zelenskyy had called it Moscow’s “biggest crime yet against Christian culture.”

Russia denied responsibility for the attack, claiming, without offering evidence, that the complex was hit by one of Ukraine’s U.S.-made Patriot air defense missiles — saying that it might have veered off course due to its age.

In a video recorded from inside the church, Loomer accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of hypocrisy by portraying Russia as pro-Christian.

“I just don’t think that you should be allowed to say that you’re protecting Christianity if you’re trying to drone strike Jesus Christ," she said.

Sergiy Kyslytsya and Tetyana Berezhna, two top Ukrainian officials, were among those who met with Loomer and joined her for the visit.

The meeting comes amid continued hostilities between Russia and Ukraine that have overshadowed by the war with Iran.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Thursday at an annual gathering of foreign ministers in Manila that the administration is poised to help end the “senseless war” in Ukraine but acknowledged there was no quick path to a deal.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the trip.

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Colvin reported from New York.

The partnership is a bid to reignite Ford’s offerings for the European auto market as the legacy carmaker seeks to compete with the likes of fast-moving Chinese companies that are rapidly dominating auto sales across the globe.

It comes amid challenges for the American electric vehicle market and increasing global geopolitical tensions driven by U.S. tariff policy. In the U.S., policy all but locks Chinese firms out of the market — though American automakers still partner with companies in China for production, and Chinese vehicles are making inroads in North America more broadly.

The joint venture, pending regulatory approval, will be owned two-thirds by Ford and one-third by Geely, which also owns brands such as Volvo, Polestar and more.

The two companies said they will focus on five vehicles.

Under the partnership, Ford plans to continue production of the Ford Kuga plug-in hybrid vehicle, as well as a new Bronco SUV, production for which will begin in 2028. Geely plans to make two electric SUVs at the plant, the first of which is also scheduled to begin production in 2028.

The automakers said they will also jointly develop a new “multi-energy” crossover model to arrive in 2028.

“The joint venture addresses the new realities of the European market — intense global competition, relentless cost pressure and tightening regulation — resetting Valencia to build at the industry’s emerging cost benchmark,” a release from the two companies said.

The JV aligns with Ford leadership's stance about being competitive outside its domestic market — yet the automaker's executives have publicly cautioned about Chinese EVs in the U.S.

“We leverage global partnerships and even IP (intellectual property) sharing, including with the Chinese (companies), to grow our business around the world,” Ford CEO Jim Farley said in the company's first-quarter earnings call in April. “How I would think about it is Ford continues to be a global company. We want to have the rights to win around the globe. We need IP and partnerships outside the U.S. to do that. And when it comes to the U.S. industry itself, we are extremely protective, as we should be.”

Chinese firms are gaining ground and expanding

Chinese automakers have been gaining momentum in recent years as they produce high-quality and efficient hybrid and pure EVs — coined “new energy vehicles” — with advanced technology at a low price-point. These auto companies have been highly subsidized by the Chinese government with a vested interest in their success.

However, they are also starting to see a slowdown in China due to scaled-back consumer purchase incentives and increasing domestic competition.

So Chinese companies have found early success expanding throughout other nations in Asia, in Latin America and parts of Europe as the global EV transition forges ahead to varying degrees outside of the U.S. The war in Iran has also spurred global interest in Chinese EVs as conflict in the Strait of Hormuz impacts the world's crude oil and liquefied natural gas supply.

The Ford venture will expand Geely's European local production footprint — and helps keep Ford workers on the line, experts say.

Ford's facing a critical moment

Ford has lost ground in Europe for years, from selling more than 1 ‌million ⁠vehicles across the continent a decade ago, down to under half a million cars last year. While the Valencia factory has annual capacity of 500,000 vehicles, production fell below 100,000 in 2025.

The partnership is sure to reduce pressure on the American auto giant as the two share costs. Ford and Geely already share history; Ford sold Volvo Cars to the Chinese firm in 2010.

“This deal offers a road map for how traditional automakers can survive and thrive in Europe,” said Jessica Caldwell, head of insights at auto research firm Edmunds. “Ford gets the scale and cost efficiencies it needs for its Valencia plant, while Geely gets a direct shortcut around (European Union) tariffs. More broadly, it underscores a major industry shift we’re likely to continue seeing: automakers can no longer go it alone and must collaborate with rivals — Chinese or otherwise — to survive the capital-intensive transition to electrification.”

U.S. automakers, generally, have spent billions of dollars on electrification over the past several years. But the Trump administration has dramatically shifted away from clean vehicle policy, weakening fuel economy rules and auto tailpipe emissions rules.

The administration also eliminated former President Joe Biden's target for half of all new vehicle sales in the U.S. to be electric by 2030, and signed off on Congress’ tax and spending bill that ended federal new and used EV purchase tax credits.

U.S. automakers likely see potential in the European EV market amid uncertain EV sales in the U.S., but may also have to explore more partnerships in order to remain competitive there.

“Like GM before it, Ford has been slowly reducing its reliance on Europe,” said Sam Fiorani, vice president at AutoForecast Solutions. “Now, with the help of Geely, Ford can have new products designed for the European market without bearing the full development costs of a new platform.

“While Chinese automakers like Geely continue their growth around the world, Ford should take this opportunity to learn how to cut costs and develop lower-priced vehicles,” Fiorani added. “If Ford cannot compete on price in Europe, the automaker may need to look at selling plants outright rather than sharing them. Losing Europe could hurt Ford’s standing as a global automaker, but continuing to have the region drain its finances could be more devastating.”

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Alexa St. John is an Associated Press climate reporter. Follow her on X: @alexa_stjohn. Reach her at ast.john@ap.org.

The Dodgers edged the Toronto Blue Jays in Game 7 last October to become the first repeat champions in a quarter century. Trump feted the team in the White House East Room in April 2025 to mark their 2024 World Series championship

Trump looked forward to meeting Ohtani, the team's celebrated hitter and pitcher.

“I’ll meet a man who’s just about the best pitcher in baseball and just about the best hitter in baseball,” Trump said about Ohtani during an event at the Environmental Protection Agency. “So we’re going to meet him and all of the people of the Dodgers.”

Sports teams visiting Trump at the White House have sometimes been a source of controversy dating to his first term. That includes 2018, when the president rescinded an invitation to the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles after many players suggested they might skip such a trip.

This time, Dodgers star right fielder Mookie Betts isn't coming, saying he prefers to spend what is a scheduled day off for the team with his family — even though he did come for the 2025 visit. The team's manager, Dave Roberts, suggested that the trip is more about winning than politics.

“My company line, my personal line, is, I hope that we get this invitation every year because that’s the goal, to win a championship, to get this invitation to the White House,” Roberts said Friday.

The Dodgers originally considered coming to the White House this past April during a series with the Washington Nationals, but a crowded early season schedule didn’t permit that. Instead, they’re in the nation’s capital during the off-day between a just-completed series against the Philadelphia Phillies and Friday’s opener against the New York Mets in Queens.

Championship baseball teams have been coming to the White House since 1869, when President Ulysses S. Grant hosted the Cincinnati Red Stockings. They were the first fully professional team to visit the White House and went undefeated that season, though the World Series wasn’t established in its modern form until 1903.

Since the Dodgers' visit last year, Trump has revamped the Rose Garden and added a patio area reminiscent of his Mar-a-Lago club in Florida.

Trump, a baseball fan and New York native, has for years been closely associated with the New York Yankees, whose late, longtime owner George Steinbrenner was a close friend. But the president singled out the New York Mets at a rally in Georgia on Wednesday, when he praised the ownership of the local Atlanta Braves and slammed the Mets for their sky-high payroll and losing record.

Trump was joined on stage during that event by former Braves manager Brian Snitker, and Mike Plant, president and CEO of the Braves Development Company.

“I like baseball,” Trump said before adding, ”You know, the Mets have the highest salary in baseball, and they lose all the time. And I’m like, maybe we can steal this guy.”

“There are teams like that, where they never go down,” Trump said. “Then you have other teams — ‘We’re rebuilding.’ They’ve been rebuilding for years. I don’t want to mention teams ’cause I know all the owners. They’re all friends of mine.”

The questioning came on the third day of a preliminary hearing where a judge will decide whether there is probable cause for D4vd, whose legal name is David Burke, to be put on trial on charges of murder, sexual abuse of a child and mutilation of a body.

He has pleaded not guilty. His lawyers have said they will vigorously defend his innocence, but have previously given little indication of any counternarrative they may present about how Rivas Hernandez was killed and how her dismembered body was found in the trunk of Burke's Tesla.

Defense attorney Blair Berk dwelled on a pair of small chain saws found in Burke's garage, where prosecutors say he dismembered the body. Lauren Wallace, a criminalist with the Los Angeles Police Department, testified that initial chemical tests showed no signs of blood on the saws, so the handles were not swabbed for any DNA left behind by someone who touched it.

“If an item has somebody else’s DNA on it, you wouldn’t be able to see that at the time,” Berk said.

“No you’re not able to see touch DNA,” Wallace said, then reiterated that the blades had tested negative for blood.

“But that doesn’t preclude at all that there could be somebody else’s touch DNA,” Berk said.

Under prosecution questioning, Wallace said testing for DNA at the suspect's residence wouldn't make sense because the suspect's DNA would be everywhere.

Berk soon after asked her: “You were aware that multiple people lived at this residence, right?”

Wallace answered, “Yes, we were aware.”

Wallace testified earlier that throughout the garage, she found indications of blood that had been cleaned up.

She said Thursday that her team also found jugs of fake blood in the garage. Berk suggested through her questioning that Burke had used it in music videos.

An indie-pop singer whose music and online presence brought him a huge following, D4vd's songs and videos often have dark and violent imagery often delivered through an alter-ego character he calls Itami. His breakthrough single in 2022 was called “Romantic Homicide,” one of several of his songs with more than a billion plays on Spotify. His debut full-length album, “Withered,” was released two days after prosecutors say Rivas Hernandez was killed.

On Thursday, he wore orange jail clothes and glasses, sitting at the defense table calmly and intently watching the witnesses testify.

A police detective also testified that cell-tower tracking of Burke's phone and a system in his Tesla showed he was at his Hollywood home on the night of April 23, 2025 — the time and place prosecutors say Rivas Hernandez was killed. The data showed that later that night, he traveled to a remote part of Santa Barbara County about 95 miles (152 kilometers) to the northwest. He made two subsequent visits to the area in May, including to a spot where Rivas Hernandez's passport was found by a highway worker, the detective testified.

Prosecutors are seeking to prove Burke began a sexual relationship with Rivas Hernandez when she was 13 and he was 18.

They said in a court filing that she had grown jealous of his relationships with other women and threatened to expose him and ruin his multimillion-dollar career the night before she was killed. The court filing said he sent a car to pick her up on the night of April 23, 2025, and stabbed her when she arrived at his home.

Prosecutors say he kept the body for weeks or months in the front trunk of the Tesla, where it was found after the car was towed 4 1/2 months later in September.

Lion & Hyena Ridge debuts Saturday as the latest milestone in the park’s $200 million, five-year investment in new attractions and guest experiences.

The habitat spans nearly 35,000 square feet and will be home to America’s largest coalition of lions in an Association of Zoos & Aquariums (AZA)-accredited facility. Guests will come face-to-face with five young male lion brothers — Pascal, Lou, Henri, Hugo and Herman, all born in 2024 — along with hyenas Cazi and Dazi.

“This immersive experience brings guests closer than ever to these incredible animals while showcasing our continued commitment to exceptional animal care and creating unforgettable experiences for our guests,” said Jon Vigue, Park President of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, in a news release.

The habitat features 270-degree glass viewing areas, rocky kopje formations and cascading water elements designed to mimic the African landscape. Multiple enrichment zones support the animals’ physical, social and mental well-being.

Pass Holders will get early access on July 24. Annual Passes start at $13 per month during the Summer Sale.

Alamo Drafthouse Cinema will operate the massive 86-foot-wide curved dome theater and an adjacent 14-theater complex. Alamo's owner, Sony Pictures Entertainment, announced the plan to restore the Dome and reopen it in early 2028.

Alamo's plan will preserve the distinctive Cinerama Dome's geodesic exterior and large logo that have been a Hollywood landmark since the theater opened in 1963. The dome will not have in-theater dining, as is common in other Drafthouse theaters.

“There is no moviegoing destination anywhere in the world that commands the affection, history, and cultural significance of the Cinerama Dome. It represents the kind of singular experience we value and champion,” said Ravi Ahuja, Chairman and CEO, Sony Pictures Entertainment. Alamo Drafthouse CEO Michael Kustermann said the dome would be its new West Coast flagship theater.

The dome's massive screen supports 70 mm projection, which is having a moment thanks to Christopher Nolan's “The Odyssey.”

It was commissioned in 1963 by Pacific Theatres founder William R. Forman as a state-of-the-art way to see movies using three projectors for its custom curved screen. When the dome permanently closed in April 2021 after being shut down for more than a year, it was one of only three theaters in the world with that capability. Its operator, Pacific Theaters, announced the closing was caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michael O’Leary, the president and CEO of the movie theater trade group Cinema United, applauded the news.

“The Cinerama Dome has been a treasured and important landmark for movie fans and the entire film community for over six decades,” O’Leary said in a statement. “The timing could not be better with moviegoers making clear this year that they love the unique experience of seeing a movie on the big screen.”

Alamo Drafthouse will also reopen a 14-theater complex next to the dome that used to be operated by ArcLight Cinemas, which also shut down in 2021. Those theaters will have in-theater dining, although the chain has faced backlash recently for its pivot to an in-seat ordering operation that requires use of personal phones.

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This story has been updated to reflect that the dome closed in 2020, not April 2021.

Running on select dates from Sept. 5 through Oct. 31, the Brick-or-Treat celebration is returning with more event dates and an earlier start time, according to a news release.

This year’s event will also include the debut of Brick or Treat Street, an all-new immersive trick-or-treat neighborhood filled with candy, interactive challenges and “LEGO Monster mischief”. 

The fan-favorite Monster Skytacular drone show is back, along with candy, costumes, character meet-and-greets, and live entertainment.

Familiar faces like Monster Rocker, Spider Lady, Mummy, Zombie Pirate, Scarecrow, and Shark Suit Guy will be on hand for the Monster Meet & Greet, and families can catch “The Great Monster Chase 4D Movie” inside the park.

The event is included with general admission and annual passes, and guests can save up to $100 on annual passes this fall season.

For more information, click here.

The committee plans to vote next week on whether to forward Schwartz’s nomination to the full Senate. The committee's chair, Sen. Bill Cassidy, said a family emergency was affecting the number of Republicans needed to be present to vote yes.

If approved, the 54-year-old Schwartz would become the 22nd director of the Atlanta-based CDC, which is charged with protecting Americans from preventable health threats.

Schwartz faced scrutiny during her confirmation hearing earlier this month about standing up to political pressure, and the committee's vote was expected to be close. Cassidy, a Louisiana Republican whose support is crucial, was among the senators asking how she might handle pressure from U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. if it conflicted with science-based decision making.

On Thursday, Cassidy said he had decided that she can resist such pressure.

The CDC has been in turmoil with leadership changes and staff losses since President Donald Trump returned to office last year. The director position is one of a number of high-level HHS health leadership vacancies, including surgeon general and commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.

Another open position is assistant secretary for preparedness and response, a position that oversees readiness for public health emergencies and disasters.

Sean Kaufman has been nominated for the position. He was also questioned at the confirmation hearing earlier this month, with several senators expressing unhappiness with some of statements against vaccination.

The committee decided not to vote on Kaufman’s nomination Thursday. It scheduled to be taken up July 30.

“There are ongoing conversations with the administration on the path forward for Mr. Kaufman’s nomination,” according to a statement from a committee spokesperson.

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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.

Kenneth Kies, an assistant Treasury Department secretary and acting chief counsel of the IRS, left both roles earlier this month. The Wall Street Journal reported that Kies had warned that political officials risked breaching a law that bars the executive branch from interfering in tax enforcement by starting or stopping audits or investigations.

Kies is a longtime Washington tax lobbyist who was confirmed to lead the Office of Tax Policy in June 2025. He also served as acting chief counsel to the IRS.

More than a dozen Democratic senators said Kies was forced out of Trump's Republican administration after "raising concerns about those potential violations” in a letter addressed to Heather M. Hill, the Treasury Department's acting inspector general for tax administration.

“If recent reporting is accurate and Mr. Kies did in fact advise White House officials of such risks, it is gravely concerning that this administration chose not only to ignore the IRS’ top legal adviser, but to fire him for attempting to follow the law and protect taxpayers," the lawmakers said.

The White House, which confirmed Kies' departure, sent The Associated Press an email statement that Kies was not a team player and was difficult to work with. Neither Kies nor the IRS responded to AP requests for comment.

The rule barring executive influence over directing tax audits came out of the Watergate scandal, in which President Richard Nixon, a Republican, discussed using the IRS against political opponents and groups on his administration’s “enemies list.”

Its unclear what taxpayer audits prompted Kies' concerns over White House influence. However, Kies previously recused himself from tax matters involving Trump due to his prior work as Trump’s private lawyer.

Separately, lawmakers have questioned a settlement agreement to resolve Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit over the 2018 leak of his tax returns to The New York Times. The settlement, forged in May between Trump and his own government, includes a provision under which the IRS agrees to drop all pending probes of Trump over whether he’s paid his fair share of taxes.

The U.S. is “forever barred and precluded” from examining or prosecuting Trump, his sons and the Trump Organization’s current tax filings, according to a one-page addendum.

British barrister Karim Khan has been accused of sexual misconduct with a female aide, as outlined by The Associated Press in a series of stories, allegations which he has steadfastly denied.

The saga has dragged on for more than two years and has had profound implications for the global tribunal, which is already under enormous pressure. Earlier this month, the United States, which has long criticized the court, announced a campaign aimed at dismantling the 24-year-old institution.

The 56-year-old Khan was formally removed from his duties at the ICC in June after the executive committee of the court’s oversight body found he had committed “serious breach of duty and serious misconduct” by engaging in a “sexual relationship ... (that) escalated over time” and tried to prevent the woman from pursuing her allegations, according to documents seen by The Associated Press. Khan disputes those findings.

Khan faces an unprecedented removal vote

Now his future lies in the hands of the 125 nations who make up the court's oversight body, the Assembly of States Parties, who are holding a special session in New York. It will culminate in a vote where a majority would need to support a resolution to oust him.

Khan will not be present at the closed-door meeting, as he is barred from entering the United States after being sanctioned by the Trump administration over the court’s investigation into Israeli officials for the military's conduct in the conflict in Gaza.

His lawyers have complained about his absence at the meeting. “We know of no court or tribunal in any proper and fair legal system that bars a person facing the gravest professional sanction from being heard,” Tayab Ali and Sareta Ashraph wrote in a letter to the ASP seen by the AP.

He goes into the vote banned from practicing law in his home country of the United Kingdom after being suspended by the British Bar Standards Board pending their own investigation into the allegations against him.

The outcome of the vote, which is secret, is unclear. The court’s host state of the Netherlands will vote for his removal, the country’s foreign minister Tom Berendsen wrote in a letter to parliament. The Netherlands is the only country to have publicly announced its position.

The Gaza investigation complicates the case

The allegations have become entwined with the court’s investigation into the war in Gaza. “Political considerations have been folded into this, especially as it is the first time a prosecutor has pursued warrants against a western ally,” Iva Vukusic, a researcher at Utrecht University who has been following the process, told the AP.

The court issued arrest warrants in 2024 for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant for crimes against humanity. That decision sparked considerable backlash, including multiple rounds of sanctions against Khan and other court staff by the Trump administration.

A divided court faces an uncertain future

The lengthy and complicated process has created huge divisions at the court at a time when the institution already is under tremendous strain. “There has been splintering over how the court has handled this,” Lucy Gaynor, a historian of international criminal tribunals at the University of Amsterdam, told the AP.

In April, a group of staff members within the prosecutor’s office sent a letter to the oversight body expressing serious concerns about Khan’s potential return, writing that his “leadership has been materially diminished.”

Last week, a group of Palestinian organizations issued a public letter expressing concerns about the investigation, including accusing the executive committee of “unwarranted political interference” and “subverting the disciplinary process.”

Should Khan be removed, his replacement will have to be elected later. His office is currently being run by his two deputy prosecutors.

Vukusic said that regardless of the outcome, “the court is going to walk away bruised and battered and wounded and less able to face the greater threats.”

The social safety net program that financially supports more than 70 million people — mostly retirees but also those with disabilities — was at the center of a critical letter some Senate Democrats sent to Social Security Commissioner Frank Bisignano.

The New Deal-era program carries significant weight with voters, millions of whom rely on it, making talk of cutting benefits unpopular. Adding to the potency of the issue is the program's looming funding shortfall. Democrats and Republicans are competing this November for control of the narrowly divided House, with the Senate increasingly in play, injecting an incentive for both sides to press their advantages.

What's the Democrats' letter to Commissioner Bisignano about?

Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Ron Wyden of Oregon, along with Democratic colleagues, said in a letter to Bisignano this week that he used an “unsolicited” electronic message to Social Security recipients to push partisan and misleading statements about benefits stemming from the Republican president's signature legislation, his massive tax and spending cuts law.

“You are misusing official resources to heap praise on him,” the letter said.

The lawmakers said it's misleading to label the tax deductions for seniors in the legislation as a tax cut. (More on that in a minute.)

A copy of Bisignano's message obtained Thursday by The Associated Press shows the commissioner wrote that some 35 million seniors received an average of $7,500 in tax relief under Trump's legislation.

“Under the leadership of President Donald Trump, we are protecting and strengthening Social Security while providing world-class customer service,” Bisignano wrote.

It's unclear how many people received the commissioner's message.

The Social Security Administration on Thursday declined to respond to questions.

How did Trump's signature bill affect Social Security taxes?

Not directly. The legislation targeted seniors' income with a temporary benefit, not just Social Security.

While Trump campaigned in 2024 on eliminating taxes on Social Security income, the bill he signed into law in July 2025 falls short of that.

But it does provide some benefits.

For those age 65 or older, it offers a $6,000 deduction phasing out above the $75,000 annual income level for single filers. For couples, it's a $12,000 deduction phasing out above $150,000.

The deduction isn't permanent and is set to expire in 2028.

The midterm elections are key context

Control of Congress and with it the remainder of Trump's presidency are at stake in this year's electoral campaign, which is already underway.

Trump faces a historical trend in which the party in the White House typically loses seats in the midterm. He has been touting the benefits of his signature legislation, holding events in battlegrounds across the country, recently in Pennsylvania and Georgia, with one on Michigan coming up.

Democrats have been looking to blunt his messaging, and some have called for higher taxes on higher earners to help bolster the social safety net.

The Kissimmee resort announced “The Polar Express” will headline this year’s ICE! attraction, a 20,000-square-foot, walk-through experience carved entirely from approximately 2 million pounds of ice.

Based on the beloved children’s book, “The Polar Express” follows Hero Boy — a doubting young child whisked away on a mysterious train on Christmas Eve. The conductor leads him and a group of children on an extraordinary journey to the North Pole, where Hero Boy discovers the true spirit of Christmas through friendship and bravery.

Nearly 40 master ice carvers from Harbin, China will spend roughly 35 days sculpting larger-than-life scenes from the film inside a 9-degree environment. Featured scenes include the Polar Express train arriving at Hero Boy’s house, the iconic hot chocolate scene and a grand arrival at the North Pole.

“From a full-size train locomotive engine carved completely from solid ice to the many interactive moments and beloved scenes, it’s a one-of-a-kind attraction,” said Ross Barker, Gaylord Palms general manager. “We can’t wait for our team and the talented ice carvers to bring this magical story to life in a truly memorable way.”

The immersive Christmas celebration runs Nov. 13 through Jan. 3, 2027.

The Polar Express last appeared at Gaylord Palms’ ICE in 2019. The resort cited strong guest demand as the reason for its return.

Beyond ICE!, the 65-acre property will offer a full slate of holiday programming, including “POMP, SNOW & CIRQUEumstance” — a cirque-style Broadway production that won a Telly Award for Best Immersive Family Holiday Show — along with Alpine Village, a Christmas Carousel, ice tubing, a Naughty or Nice Escape Room and holiday dining experiences.

For more ticket information, click here.

The deal to create the nation's first transcontinental railroad has been divisive within the industry because it would concentrate so much market power in the hands of one company that would control more than 40% of all rail traffic and reduce the number of major freight railroads in the United States down to five. BNSF, CPKC and CSX railroads all strongly oppose the merger, but now Canadian National said it will support it after winning concessions from Union Pacific.

The U.S. Surface Transportation Board is just beginning to review the proposed $85 billion merger, but it has demanded more information from the railroads by the end of the month before it will move forward. Shippers have also lined up on both sides of the deal with some excited about the promises of faster cross-country deliveries while other companies mainly in the chemical and agriculture industries worry about the possibility of higher rates and service problems.

UP CEO Jim Vena said he believes these agreements with Canadian National will address many of the competitive concerns with the merger because CN will gain permission to be able to serve any customers that will see significantly reduced shipping options after the merger. And CN will take over Norfolk Southern's ownership of smaller railroads in St. Louis and Kansas City to ensure the merged railroad will never control the majority of those operations.

“This is truly more compelling today than we ever looked at it before,” Vena said Thursday as he discussed Union Pacific's second-quarter earnings. “We think we have a strong case.”

Both CN and UP will gain access to each other's tracks

Canadian National will also gain access to tracks between St. Louis and Kansas City where there was the most overlap between UP and NS, and CN will be able to use a key rail yard in Kansas City that will help that railroad compete better for business to and from Mexico. Union Pacific will get the ability to move more traffic around the congested tracks in Chicago.

“As the rail industry considers significant structural change, it is essential that customers continue to benefit from meaningful competition and choice,” CN President and CEO Tracy Robinson said.

Critics say the merger will hurt rail competition

But BNSF spokesperson Zak Andersen said these agreements show what can already be accomplished through cooperative agreements between railroads without all the disruptions of a merger that would leave many customers with fewer competitive shipping options.

"UP is required to demonstrate that the benefits it claims can only be achieved through a merger. Its own agreement with CN shows the opposite. The benefits UP highlights can be pursued today without a merger, and significant portions of the arrangement are not even contingent on merger approval,” Andersen said.

Rail shipping demand is up

Norfolk Southern CEO Mark George said that demand for rail shipping is up right now across much of the economy. That started after the Iran war began but became more widespread through the spring. But he said that if gas prices remain high long enough, it could hurt the consumer and the growth in shipping volume that both NS and UP reported Thursday could reverse.

The Surface Transportation Board will review the merger under a tough new standard it adopted in 2001 after a series of disastrous rail mergers in the 1990s that led to shipment delays of weeks or even months. These untested rules require any merger of the six largest railroads to be in the public interest and show that it will enhance competition. When the Surface Transportation Board approved the first major rail merger in more than two decades three years ago, it used a less stringent standard allowing Canadian Pacific’s $31 billion acquisition of Kansas City Southern.

Union Pacific CEO predicts approval

Vena remains optimistic the deal will get approved.

“The merger is going to close. It’s just too compelling for the country, but it would be a mistake for this deal not to close,” Vena said.

But critics have said the merger seems designed more to benefit Wall Street investors than the companies that rely on the railroads to ship their products and deliver the raw materials they need.

The name of the Colorado Rockies' two-time All-Star catcher has been bandied about leading into the trade deadline on Aug. 3. He tries to keep his focus on launching fastballs out of the park, not conjecture away from the field.

“Looking at the stuff like that, it does more bad for you than good,” Goodman said Wednesday before an 8-0 loss to the Washington Nationals. “So there’s no point, because it’s all out of your control anyway. So, yeah, just try not to look at (the rumors).”

This has become a tight-knight bunch linked through losing seasons. Since Goodman made his major league debut on Aug. 27, 2023, the team has gone 156-305 — a .338 winning percentage. This version of the Rockies, though, is trending in an upward direction behind a new front office led by Paul DePodesta and Josh Byrnes. This squad, at 41-63, is two wins away from matching the total of last season (43-119).

“I definitely want to be a part of this place turning around,” said Goodman, a fourth-round pick in 2021 out of the University of Memphis. “We’ve made strides this year already. If you look at where we were at this point last year, I mean, we’re a lot better baseball team.

"Even our losses are a lot better losses, for the most part. It’s one-run games, two-run games. We’re in it late in the game. It’s just better baseball overall, and it’s been a lot more fun this year.”

Any trade offer certainly would figure to be significant to get the Rockies to deal away a catcher who hits for power. Goodman's not simply a Coors Field creation, either, with 18 of his 31 homers this season being hit away from the hitter friendly park.

His 31 homers already have matched his career high from a year ago when he made his first All-Star team and won the NL Silver Slugger award. He’s the fourth NL catcher to have 30-plus homers in consecutive seasons, joining Todd Hundley (1996-97) and Hall of Famers Mike Piazza (1995-2002) and Roy Campanella (1950-51).

Concerned that trade rumors could weigh on Goodman?

“I ain’t worried about Hunter Goodman,” said Rockies manager Warren Schaeffer, whose team opens a three-game series at Milwaukee on Friday. “He’s got his head on his shoulders. All these guys do. … All these guys that are in trade rumors — they’re bigger than that. They’re stronger than that.”

Rockies outfielder Mickey Moniak realizes this can be an anxious time for players. Moniak, the No. 1 overall pick by Philadelphia in 2016, has first-hand experience. He was dealt by the Phillies to the Los Angeles Angels for pitcher Noah Syndergaard as part of a deadline deal in 2022.

“I’ve learned over the years that whatever’s going to happen is going to happen,” said Moniak, who's hitting .279 with 16 homers and could be a target of teams in need of a left-handed bat. “Their job up there (in the front office) is to make the best decision for the club, what they see fit. Our job is to go out and play baseball.”

That's been Goodman's approach as he continues his power surge. Last Sunday, he had a three-homer game for the second time this season. He followed that up with a go-ahead solo home run in the eighth inning on Tuesday in a win over Washington.

“Just trusting in your routine,” said Goodman, who had 27 homers at the All-Star break, the most by an NL catcher since Hall of Famer Johnny Bench hit 28 in 1970. “Some days you’re seeing it well, and some days (pitchers) miss and give you good pitches to hit. You’re not going to get that every day in this league but on those days, if you can capitalize, it’s huge.”

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB

India’s “Cockroach” protests began more than a month ago over alleged leaks in some of the country’s most competitive entrance exams for medical colleges and government jobs. The movement has since expanded beyond exam grievances, drawing professionals and families while channeling broader frustration.

Thursday’s demonstrations at Jantar Mantar, a designated protest site in New Delhi, followed overnight clashes in which police used tear gas and batons to disperse crowds, the second such confrontation this week.

On Monday, thousands of protesters had defied restrictions and marched toward Parliament before police broke up the demonstration with tear gas and batons.

Protesters regrouped by Thursday morning, returning to the protest site despite roadblocks, while authorities suspended Delhi Metro services at 16 stations across central New Delhi in an effort to limit access to the demonstrations.

Modi tries to contain protest fallout

The issue of exam leaks has become a powerful symbol of frustration for millions of young Indians. Protesters are demanding the resignation of Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, examination system reforms and compensation for families of students who died by suicide after exam paper leaks.

Facing mounting pressure, Modi addressed the issue publicly for the first time Thursday, announcing fast-track courts to handle examination paper leak cases. Fast-track courts are special courts created to speed up cases in India’s notoriously slow justice system.

“Nothing is more important than the welfare and future of our youth!,” Modi wrote on X.

The announcement failed to calm protesters, who said Modi was not addressing their demands for accountability and reform.

“Rather than providing solution which is convenient for him, he should work toward a solution which is convenient for the nation and set an example,” law student Daksh Bhargava said.

Cockroach party stays true to satirical origins

Leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party, which launched the protest movement, said they would not end the demonstrations until the education minister resigned. Staying true to the movement’s tongue-in-cheek style, its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, responded by posting a meme of Pradhan captioned, “Hi, my name is Nothing.”

The Cockroach movement began as online satire campaign in May and moved to the streets in June through smaller protests across cities. It gained momentum after prominent activist Sonam Wangchuk joined the demonstration and began a hunger strike that has lasted more than three weeks. Police forcibly transferred Wangchuk to a hospital over the weekend.

Protests reflect rising youth anger

For many young Indians, the protests have become one of the few visible expressions of dissent in a country where demonstrations against Modi’s government have led to a broader crackdown on activists, opposition figures and public protests.

The movement’s rapid growth beyond student groups reflects wider frustration among young Indians and echoes a broader trend across South Asia, where young people have driven anti-government movements in recent years.

The movement also has gained a following among Indians of all ages over concerns about government accountability, unemployment and economic opportunity.

Opposition parties have backed the protests, using the issue to challenge the government in Parliament. Demonstrations and solidarity events have been held in other Indian cities, reflecting how the movement has spread beyond the capital.

India has one of the world’s youngest populations, with millions entering a labor market that has struggled to create enough secure, well-paying jobs. Despite years of rapid economic growth, many young people say their prospects have not improved.

As one of the country’s largest voting blocs, India’s youth could also become an increasingly important political force ahead of future elections.

Scott Gardner, 33, originally faced a first-degree murder charge, but as part of a plea deal, the charge was reduced to second-degree murder. On Thursday, he was sentenced to 42 years in prison.

Gardner is accused of leaving his son, Sebastian, in a truck for more than three hours on June 6, 2025, while he got a haircut and then spent nearly three hours drinking at Hanky Panky’s Lounge, according to the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office.

Medical personnel estimated Sebastian’s body temperature reached 111 degrees. Gardner did not call 911 until he drove home, deputies said.

Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood said Gardner later returned to the bar with his mother after Sebastian was pronounced dead.

Gardner also initially provided several false accounts of what happened that day.

The 214-208 vote requiring congressional approval for the war came just before the Senate narrowly rejected a similar resolution, 47-49. Though the votes forced by Democrats are largely symbolic, they are meant as a signal to the Republican president that his support on Capitol Hill is chipping away as the war drags on and lawmakers in both parties have questioned his administration’s endgame.

The war has had “no clear mission, no strategy, no end goal,” said Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal, a Democrat who led the resolution on the House floor.

The House resolution passed after a handful of Republicans voted with Democrats to end the war. But the vast majority of Republicans in both chambers voted to back the war and cede congressional war powers to Trump.

Joint U.S. and Israeli airstrikes launched the war in late February. A tenuous ceasefire deal was reached in April, but Trump declared the ceasefire was “over” earlier this month.

Trump has insisted that continued U.S. attacks against Iran do not mean a return to war or long-term action. After the first House vote to halt the war in early June, he posted on social media that it was “unpatriotic” and “meaningless.”

A statement of administration policy issued by the White House on Thursday noted that the resolutions don't have the force of law and encouraged lawmakers to vote against them.

“The President has the Constitutional authority to defend the United States and our citizens from the danger posed by the Iranian regime,” the policy statement said. “This requires the ability to act decisively to ensure it never obtains a nuclear weapon.”

Continued American airstrikes are occurring even as diplomatic efforts show little public sign of progress and officials on both sides have dug in on the dispute over the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway for global energy that remains largely closed. The unpopular war threatens further worldwide economic disruption and is sending fuel prices up ahead of midterm U.S. elections this fall.

“We are in this new escalatory phase where Americans have been killed, and Americans are experiencing the rising costs — I think it’s important that people be held accountable,” said Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat who led the Senate effort on Thursday. “And this is a very unpopular war.”

Most Republicans vote to cede congressional powers

As the House debated the resolution Wednesday evening, Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Brian Mast, R-Fla., read out names of 18 service members killed since the war began.

“To belittle this mission is to belittle and demean the very service these members gave their life for,” Mast said. “Their sacrifice was not meaningless. This operation is bringing reckoning for the hundreds of times Iran has attacked and killed people of the United States of America.”

The top Democrat on the panel, New York Rep. Gregory Meeks, said that presidents are supposed to make the case to Congress.

The service members who died made the ultimate sacrifice for “an illegal unauthorized war that the American people don’t want,” Meeks said.

Democrats said they would continue to force Republicans to vote on the issue.

“If Donald Trump won’t listen to the people and end this war then Congress must,” said Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

Trump is watching Iran votes closely

Republicans on both sides of the Capitol know that voting against the war can have a political cost, even as many of them have privately questioned the Trump administration’s handling of the conflict.

In his post after the June House vote, Trump called the four Republicans who voted with Democrats “GRANDSTANDERS!” and said they should be “ashamed of themselves.”

“They would rather have our Country fail than give me another, of many, victories,” he said.

When the Senate passed a war powers resolution on Iran for the first time in June, Trump called the four Republicans who voted for it “losers" and then reprimanded them at a Senate GOP luncheon that he attended the next day.

Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, one of the Republicans who had voted with Democrats, said afterward that he had clashed with Trump over the issue. He said he told Trump directly that he needed to give more details to the public about the conflict.

“This was supposed to last four weeks. It’s lasted four months,” said Cassidy, who had just lost reelection in a primary after Trump endorsed one of his opponents. “Our original objectives have not been achieved.”

Trump argued back, Cassidy later told reporters, and he told the president that he wouldn’t change his vote until he got a briefing. The White House later relented, giving Cassidy a one-on-one meeting, and the Louisiana Republican changed his vote in a late-night do-over vote before the Senate left for a two-week recess.

Cassidy voted against the resolution again on Thursday.

Polling finds Americans disapprove of the war

Most Americans disapprove of the way Trump is handling the situation with Iran, according to recent polling. A Washington Post/Ipsos poll conducted in July found that few Americans think the war in Iran has been worth fighting, and most aren’t confident that the U.S. military action in Iran and negotiations to end the war will prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.

Only about two-thirds of Republicans approve of Trump’s handling of the situation in Iran, according to the poll. Most Republicans, about 6 in 10, think the war has been worth fighting and are confident that the military action and ensuing negotiations will prevent Iran from development nuclear weapons, but a sizable share — about one-third — are unconvinced.

Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., said that if Congress can't force Trump to seek congressional authorization then lawmakers should block war funding. The House on Wednesday adopted a Republican-only $95 billion budget proposal, including money for the Iran war, but its future is uncertain in the Senate.

“He wants to break the law, fine, let him break the law, but we control the appropriations process, and that’s what we need to use,” Kaine said.

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Associated Press writers Steven Sloan and Amelia Thomson DeVeaux contributed to this report.

The club record fee for City eclipses the 100 million pounds ($139 million) it paid for Jack Grealish in 2021 and is among the biggest ever in the Premier League.

The 23-year-old Anderson has signed a five-year contract.

“City are one of the biggest clubs in the world and the squad they have is amazing — so strong in every position. As soon as I knew they wanted me, I was absolutely determined to make this move happen," Anderson said. “As a footballer, you want to test yourself at the highest level. Being at City means I have that opportunity."

Anderson is the first major signing by City since iconic manager Pep Guardiola stepped down at the end of last season. A new era is beginning under former Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca.

“Elliot is one of the outstanding young midfield talents in world football right now. He offers energy, outstanding work rate and an exceptional range of passing," said City director of football Hugo Viana. "His improvement in recent years has been really impressive and underlines his desire to be the best player he can be.

“At just 23, there is plenty of opportunity for development over the coming years and we feel he can become a complete midfielder. Manchester City is the best place for him to develop his game and keep improving, we are glad that he sees things the same way as we do."

Anderson began his career at Newcastle and joined Forest in 2024 where he went on to break into the England squad.

He was a key member of Thomas Tuchel's England squad that won bronze at the World Cup.

“As soon as I arrive in Manchester after a break, I will be doing everything I can to establish myself in the City team," he said. “It’s a club built to win trophies and compete at the very top of the game. That is exciting for any footballer."

England forward Morgan Rogers completed a move to Chelsea earlier this week for a reported 117 million pounds.

Sweden striker Alexander Isak's 125 million pounds (then $170 million) move to Liverpool from Newcastle last year remains the most expensive in British soccer.

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

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

A Tony Award-winning musical starring the voice behind Disney’s Ariel in “The Little Mermaid” is coming to Dr. Phillips Center.

The beloved musical from Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine brings together classic fairy tales, including “Cinderella,” “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Jack and the Beanstalk” and “Rapunzel.”

“Into The Woods” tells the story of wishes, consequences and the meaning of “happily ever after.”

The production is self-produced by the Dr. Phillips Center and it stars Tony Award Nominee and Disney Legend Jodi Benson as The Witch, alongside a cast of local performers and creative team.

The show will be inside Steinmetz Hall, July 31 to Aug. 2. Click here for ticket information.

The testing, known as Logic and Accuracy testing, is conducted before every election to confirm that voting-related machines are working properly and counting votes accurately.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

The tests give attendees a firsthand look at how ballots are tabulated and how election staff confirms that every piece of equipment is functioning correctly.

Every county elections supervisor is required to hold Logic and Accuracy tests before an election.

[WATCH: “Layers of security’ protect Central Florida elections from interference, supervisors insist]

During the testing on Thursday, workers ran blank and over-voted ballots to ensure the machines recognized the issues during the tabulation process.

“With election misinformation on the rise, it is more important than ever for the public to see how our systems work,” said Orange County Supervisor of Elections Karen Castor Dentel. “Logic and Accuracy testing is one of the many safeguards that help ensure our elections are accessible, secure, and transparent. We welcome the opportunity to show our community exactly how this process works.”

Orange County’s canvassing board was in attendance to verify the results of each test on Thursday.

Members of the public had the opportunity to film equipment demonstrations, ask detailed questions of elections staff and gain a clearer understanding of how elections are administered behind the scenes.

[WATCH: Election Security, Voter Fraud & Vote by Mail: Central Florida supervisors answer tough questions]

Signature observation of vote-by-mail ballots is scheduled for July 27 and another public viewing will be held July 31. There will be more observation and public viewing dates in August. They take place at the Supervisor of Elections office at 119 W. Kaley St. in Orlando.

Early voting for the Primary Election in Orange County begins on August 3 and Election Day is August 18.

The election supervisor will also conduct another Logic and Accuracy test ahead of the General Election in November.

That test will take place on Oct. 9 from 9 a.m. to noon at the supervisor of elections office on Kaley Street in Orlando, and again, the public is invited.

For more information about voting in Orange County, visit voteorangefl.gov.

The benchmark 30-year fixed rate mortgage rate rose to 6.58% from 6.55% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. One year ago, the average rate was 6.74%.

The rate has ticked higher three weeks in a row. Higher mortgage rates can add hundreds of dollars a month in costs for borrowers, limiting homebuyers’ purchasing power. As rates rise, that can lead prospective home shoppers to delay buying a home, one reason U.S. home sales have been sluggish this year.

Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, often sought by borrowers refinancing a home loan, also rose this week. That average rate increased to 5.96% from 5.93% last week. A year ago, it was at 5.87%, Freddie Mac said.

Mortgage rates are influenced by several factors, from the Federal Reserve’s interest rate policy decisions to bond market investors’ expectations for the economy and inflation. They generally follow the trajectory of the 10-year Treasury yield, which lenders use as a guide to pricing home loans.

Rates have been mostly rising this year as the conflict in Iran has driven crude oil prices sharply higher, stoking expectations of hotter inflation. That’s pushed up long-term bond yields relative to where they were before the conflict began in late February, causing mortgage rates to trend higher.

The 10-year Treasury yield was 4.7% at midday Thursday on the bond market, up from 4.57% a week ago. It was just 3.97% in late February, before the war broke out.

Rising oil prices as violence escalates in Iran are threatening to worsen inflation, just as it had begun to decelerate by more than economists expected. That in turn could push the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates.

The central bank doesn’t set mortgage rates, but its decisions to raise or lower its short-term rate are watched closely by bond investors and can ultimately affect the yield on 10-year Treasurys.

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage is now the highest it’s been since Aug. 21, when it was at 6.58%. As recently as late February, the average rate dropped slightly below 6% for the first time since late 2022.

While average long-term mortgage rates remain lower than they were at this time last year, their upward trajectory has weighed on home sales this year. While seasonally adjusted sales of previously occupied U.S. homes were up 0.7% from January to June compared to the same period last year, they're still hovering close to a 4-million annual pace far short of the historic norm that is closer to 5.2-million.

The trend has extended the national housing market slump that began in 2022, when mortgage rates began to climb from pandemic-era lows. Sales of previously occupied U.S. homes were essentially flat last year, stuck at a 30-year low.

As mortgage rates remain elevated, that will mean a slower summer housing market, said Lisa Sturtevant, chief economist at Bright MLS.

“It’s not just about rates for homebuyers, but rather the full financial picture of buying,” she said. “Home prices hit record highs this summer in many markets across the U.S. while higher gas prices and concerns about overall inflation rising have created more financial strain for would-be buyers.”

Anthony Guglielmi, a Secret Service spokesperson, said the security-team member faces an internal investigation and potential criminal inquiry over allegations involving compromised “operational and information security.”

“While we will not comment on the specifics of this matter, one principle is unequivocal: any conduct that potentially threatens the safety of a protectee will not be tolerated,” Guglielmi said in a statement.

The agency did not identify the person under investigation.

The Secret Service said the investigation is tied to a report from MS NOW last week saying that some Secret Service agents had privately expressed frustration over last-minute travel requests from Vance and his family.

Vance’s office referred questions to the Secret Service.

Vance and his wife, Usha, live in the vice president's residence at the U.S. Naval Observatory along with their young children.

On Sunday, the couple welcomed their fourth child, Alec Neel Vance, the first baby born to a sitting vice president in more than 150 years. He's joined by older siblings Ewan, 9; Vivek, 6; and Mirabel, 4.

Hill provided a video update on YouTube on his continued comeback attempt after he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament and dislocated left knee in a game against the New York Jets on Sept. 29.

Hill, 32, was released by Miami on Feb. 16 and revealed in the social media update he is not yet ready to resume his career.

“So it’s about 10 months after doing two surgeries,” Hill said. “My left leg is the one that I injured. I have no power in my left leg at all, so I’m trying to regain all the power back in my left leg.”

Even so, Hill showed himself running as evidence of progress he has made.

“They told me I might not be able to walk again,” Hill said. “Now look at me.”

The Dolphins acquired Hill in a trade with Kansas City before the 2022 season and gave him a $120 million, four-year contract extension that made him the highest-paid player at his position at the time.

Hill had consecutive 1,700-yard receiving seasons in his first two years with Miami. He led the NFL with 1,799 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns in 2023. The five-time All-Pro entered the 2025 season aiming to return to his 2023 form after having 81 catches for 959 yards in 2024, his lowest totals since 2019.

Hill had 21 receptions for 265 yards before he was hurt while running toward the sideline. He planted his left foot, and his knee twisted as he was pulled down. He was carted off the field and placed on season-ending injured reserve on Oct. 1.

In 10 seasons with Kansas City and Miami, Hill has 819 receptions for 11,363 yards and 83 touchdowns. He is an eight-time Pro Bowl selection.

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Though naming it after him was not considered a compliment, Kiffin said he can see some value in the provision in a wide-ranging Senate bill that would fix the longstanding problem of college coaches bailing on their teams while the season is still going.

The lightning-rod LSU coach took his turn Thursday at SEC Media Days, where he ate up more than 16 of his 25 minutes behind the mic delivering an opening statement that included the revelation that he's given up social media.

That left time for four questions, the last of which was whether he felt he got a bad rap for his much-discussed and widely criticized move from Mississippi to LSU at the end of last season. That transaction turned him into a pariah in some places and, in Washington at least, the namesake for the part of the Protect College Sports Act that would forbid in-season coaching moves from school to school.

Without getting into what people thought of him, he said he did think the rule could be helpful.

“I guess (so), in that I hope that some way for future coaches, they’re not put in that situation,” Kiffin said. “In the NFL, you’re never put in that situation because of the calendar and because of the rules of movement within seasons. I do hope for future people, that’s fixed so that you’re not in that same predicament.”

Kiffin gives mea culpa for diversity statement in Vanity Fair story

There were other moments of introspection during the 51-year-old coach’s time with media in the most-anticipated news conference over four days of collecting preview material for a season that starts Sept. 3.

Kiffin, clearly prepared for the question, repeated earlier mea culpas when he conceded the headline-grabbing snippet from a Vanity Fair interview earlier this year — in which he said recruiting players to Oxford was more difficult than to Baton Rouge because there was a more diverse and less segregated feeling at LSU — was a mistake.

"I made a challenging decision and change," Kiffin explained. “I think as I look back to that, I thought I could find a way for everybody to understand. Now as I look back later on, that was never going to happen.”

While Kiffin's replacement at Ole Miss, Pete Golding, lit up Media Days a day earlier, calling his old boss “the ex” who never really goes away, Kiffin was interesting in a different, potentially more-scripted way.

In reflecting on the Vanity Fair interview, he noted how life is short and that he grew up with the notion that his dad and wrestler Hulk Hogan were the only people who would never die. Monte Kiffin, the football lifer coach whose reputation was cemented during his dozen years coaching defense in Tampa for the Buccaneers, died two summers ago. Hogan passed away a year ago Friday.

“It just made me reflect on, I can’t be so concerned about little things and what people say,” Kiffin said. “You've got to make decisions; you've got to go with them. You make really good decisions, and you make poor decisions. That was a poor usage of a term that I believe, just like many coaches that have been there before, was factual. But over the course of a long interview, was bad timing and bad usage of the word."

A social media cleanse leads to a new perspective

Kiffin also spent time discussing about how his son, Knox, urged him to get off social media, which he did in May, only to see a whole new world open up.

“Knox pushing me to do that, challenging me, allowed me to help other players, friends, coaches to say, 'Man, you should try this sometime, because once you remove something from your life, you start to realize how many other people are addicted to it or need it,'” Kiffin said.

Turns out, now is a great time for the coach to have quit social media.

Kiffin's flirtation with LSU and eventual decision to leave Ole Miss to sign a seven-year, $91 million contract with its rival upended the end of last regular season. The disruption included debates about Mississippi's prospects in the College Football Playoffs and whether the Rebels would be viewed, or seeded, differently coming into the postseason without their head coach.

The Kiffin move also picked at a decades-old scab that practically defines college sports: Why is it OK for coaches to do whatever they want and make millions while the players have guardrails around their every move?

Paying players helped resolve some, but not all, of that. Players also got something of a break with a recent change that gives those participating in the playoff a few extra days to decide to stay or go into the transfer portal.

Kiffin insisted that in the wake of his social-media cleanse, he's been so disconnected from the news of the day, or the moment, that he really wasn't aware of the rule named after him in Congress until being asked about it in the news conference.

He said it's good to see some changes that benefit players.

“Hopefully," he said, “in some way, they fix it for coaches, too.”

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As News 6’s Mike DeForest told you earlier this year, the Florida Judicial Qualifications Commission (JQC) filed documents March 26 in the Florida Supreme Court recommending a public reprimand for Ninth Circuit Judge John Jordan, who serves in Orange and Osceola counties.

Jordan had agreed to the reprimand and admitted his conduct violated the state’s Code of Judicial Conduct.

But on Thursday, in a unanimous decision, the Florida Supreme Court announced that it was rejecting the JQC’s recommendation and ordered the matter go back to a disciplinary hearing panel for a final resolution.

The court did not give a reason for its decision.

Jordan presided over a July 2025 plea hearing involving a 33-year-old Black female defendant in a felony battery case who was eligible to complete 30 hours of community service.

While discussing how to fulfill that requirement, Jordan turned to the defendant and her great-uncle, who is also Black, according to the records.

“(Do) you own any land where I could have her work it for 30 hours?” Jordan asked, according to the transcript included in the JQC’s findings.

After the great-uncle laughed, Jordan continued.

“All my family’s farming. They’d love me out there,” Jordan said, according to the records. “You ever chopped cotton before? You know what that is? You take a hoe and you knock out the weeds. That’ll straighten you up real quick doing that stuff.”

Jordan later told the JQC panel that he comes from a farming background and spent summers as a youth working his relatives’ farm fields in Texas.

The circuit court judge said this was the first and only time he had ever inquired whether a defendant had “chopped cotton.”

Jordan claimed he failed to consider how his comments could be interpreted in light of the historically demeaning stereotype associating Black people with picking cotton, records show.

In a separate incident in April 2025, Jordan reportedly became impatient with two public defenders during jury selection for an aggravated battery case

“How much time do you need? Can I get you something to eat? Something to drink?” Jordan sarcastically asked, according to the transcripts.

When the defenders complained they were being rushed and treated unfairly, Jordan — in a raised voice captured on the trial’s audio recording — ordered them to be quiet three times.

“Shut up,” Jordan said.

“That is rude,” responded one of the public defenders.

“Shut up,” Jordan repeated.

“No. That is very rude,” the public defender replied.

“Shut up. I’m not going to listen to two people arguing. I’ll listen to one. Okay?” Jordan responded, according to the records.

One of the public defenders subsequently moved for a mistrial and sought to have Jordan disqualified, citing his behavior. Jordan immediately denied both motions.

The confrontation continued when the public defender described Jordan’s unprofessional tone on the record later that day.

“Okay. So, your sarcastic remark is noted. And that’s not how it went down, but I understand what is going on. I’m declaring a mistrial and we’ll get another judge for you,” Jordan said, according to the documents.

“No. I’m done. I’m not going to deal with this pettiness like this,” he added, ending the proceedings.

She was scared, sure. But more than that, she was brought to tears.

“I thought I’d be a bit more petrified, but I was enamored. I was in awe. It was witnessing nature,” she says. “You can’t put it into words the emotions and the feelings that you experience.”

Viewers can watch Rei Ami's experience with sharks while off the Korean Peninsula when Discovery Channel’s “Shark Week” kicks off Sunday.

Twenty new, hourlong shows leap deep into the world of the ancient predators, from a record-setting dive attempt into shark-infested waters to trying to find out what triggers giant bull sharks to confront humans.

“Growing up, I always watched ‘Shark Week,’” says Rei Ami. “You see those epic commercials, with the great white jumping out and eating the chum and the tuna. That’s ingrained in my brain forever.”

Actor-comedian Ken Jeong joins her to start the week off with the show “K-Pop Shark Heroes” on Sunday. But while she went on two cage dives and two free dives with hammerheads and reef sharks and bull sharks, he preferred to stay out of the water.

“I’m more of the Christopher Nolan of the shark ‘Odyssey’ — just overseeing it,” Jeong jokes. “Just overlooking everything. High and dry. That’s when I do my best work.”

It’s a shark-a-thon

The seven nights of new shows ends Aug. 1 with a look at how great whites are moving further up the East Coast and an examination of how thresher sharks use their tails to stun and kill prey.

One highlight is watching high diver Molly Carlson leap 50 feet (15 meters) from a helicopter into a Plexiglas cage in the ocean surrounded by circling reef sharks. She's OK with jumping from enormous heights, but sharks terrify her.

“There was zero chances of me ever swimming with sharks. This was just not on my radar,” she says. “That’s always been my thing, and so for me to be invited to be on ‘Shark Week,’ I was like 'Why me?'”

Viewers will see Carlson, who has been frank about her struggles with anxiety, overcome her lifelong fear of sharks. Carlson hopes she can motivate others.

“If I can inspire that next 16-year-old girl who wants to just hide in her room and never come out because she’s scared of so many things, then I’m absolutely going to find a way to do this,” she says. “You’re allowed to be scared and do it anyways. And so I think that was the big purpose behind this project for me.”

This year’s highlights also include an attempt to locate a rumored 15-foot (4-meter) mako off the coast of Southern California, which would make it the largest ever documented.

Marine biologist Kendyl Berna, a “Shark Week” veteran who co-founded the ecology group Beyond the Reef, says her team of scientists were betting on the fact that a marine heat wave has made mako prey in those waters abundant, allowing the sharks to get bigger.

“Sharks are the cockroaches of the sea because they’ve been around for 450 million years. They’re older than dinosaurs, they’re older than trees. Sharks have just been around, but the form that they’re taking constantly changes,” she says.

‘Shark Week’ is fun but also educational

“Shark Week” has become a key part of the summer holiday TV schedule, a place where humans safe on land can see ancient apex predators unnervingly glide into view and snap open their jaws, fueling nightmares.

As always, there is a deep respect for the creatures and strong science beneath the amusing titles, sharky puns, dramatic music and racy titles like “Chum Island: Catching a Killer” and “Sharkzilla Takes New York.”

“While ‘Shark Week’ is very entertaining and thrilling, it is at the core very educational. And I think there’s still so much misinformation regarding sharks and how they behave,” says Rei Ami.

“Through these episodes, people can understand, there’s really no reason to fear them, you know? And I hope that message gets received.”

Discovery’s “Shark Week” has a rival — National Geographic’s “SharkFest,” which also has hours of sharky content. And there's Amazon Studios’ new movie “The Devil’s Mouth,” which has bull sharks terrorizing college students in a flooded cave system.

“Shark Week” also has practical advice about what to do when you find yourself face-to-snout with a shark, a rising concern from Korea to Brooklyn as interactions increase. The advice is clear: Stop splashing.

“It’s even more imperative that humans know how to act and react in a situation when they are in the waters and they see a shark,” says Rei Ami. “It would really, I think, help the public to understand how these apex predators work and behave.”

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This story has been updated to delete an incorrect reference to a K-pop song in the show being sung by Rei Ami.

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This story was first published on July 22, 2026. It was updated on July 23, 2026, to fix a misspelled name in the correction note at the bottom of the story. It is Rei Ami, not Rei Amy.

Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier joined Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood, Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young, and Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly to discuss Operation Ice Breaker.

“Operation Ice Breaker II is a testament to the relentless work of our detectives and the strength of our partnerships,” said Daytona Beach Police Chief Jakari Young. “Drug trafficking fuels violence, addiction, and other crimes that impact the quality of life in our community. By dismantling this organization, we have made Daytona Beach a safer place and sent a clear message that those who choose to traffic illegal narcotics here will be held accountable.”

The investigation took place between the fall of 2025 and June 30, 2026, targeting distribution networks trafficking in fentanyl, cocaine, methamphetamine and other controlled substances.

The networks operated in Volusia, Flagler, St. Johns, Marion and Orange counties, according to law enforcement.

The Daytona Beach Police Department and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office were the arresting agencies.

“This work is never done, but thanks to a relentless approach and a lot of great teamwork, Volusia County is better off today with another set of scumbag drug dealers locked up,” said Volusia County Sheriff Mike Chitwood. “Behind bars, they’re no longer merchants of death in our community.”

Additional arrests are expected as the investigation continues.

It was the 33-year-old Carapaz’s first stage win at this year’s race and second overall. He was not chased down by Pogacar because he is not considered a threat to win the Tour, and is in 10th spot.

“This is a wonderful victory,” Carapaz said. “I dedicate it to my family.”

After moving ahead about 3 kilometers (2 miles) from the summit, Carapaz raced clear. He patted each side of his head as he approached the finish line, and was 45 seconds ahead of Swiss rider Mauro Schmid and American Matteo Jorgenson.

“It’s been a special day. It took a lot of hard work,” said Carapaz, who failed to win with a similar breakaway earlier in this year’s race. “This is the most rewarding thing for me, knowing that the work I put in has paid off.”

Pogacar is chasing a third straight Tour title and fifth overall. The Slovenian star rolled over the line in a large group containing his closest rival Remco Evenepoel and Pogacar’s UAE Emirates XRG teammate Isaac Del Toro.

There was no change overall as Pogacar maintained his lead of 4 minutes, 32 seconds over the Belgian time trial star Evenepoel, the winner of two stages at this year's race, and 6:51 over the 22-year-old Mexican Del Toro in third overall.

Thursday's stage was the first of three straight days of Alpine climbs.

The 185-kilometer (115-mile) trek featured an early Category 1 climb — the second-hardest category — up Côte d'Engins, before ending with a Cat. 1 ascent to the Orcières-Merlette ski station.

After going over Engins, Jorgenson was in a small group at the front. They were then joined by Carapaz with Pogacar's yellow jersey group clearly hanging back.

“I think nobody would really commit,” said Pogacar, who has won four stages at this year's race.

Carapaz's stage could have ended when he had a near miss with a fan stood in the road, just swerving around him in time.

Heading into the final climb up Orcières-Merlette, Jorgenson and Schmid could not respond when Carapaz, who won the 2019 Giro d’Italia, attacked.

“This final climb was tough and suited my strengths well,” said Carapaz, whose other Tour stage win came in 2024. “This was a hard-fought victory, but just as tough as the first one. It gets harder every year to win here.”

Tough climbs ahead

Friday's 19th stage ends with a HC climb (the hardest category) up L'Alpe d’Huez, an iconic Tour climb and among the most famed in cycling.

Saturday's 20th and penultimate stage is brutal and could be epic. It features three HC climbs — Col de la Croix de Fer, Col du Galibier and Col de Sarenne — and one Cat. 1 climb up Col du Télégraphe, before a hilly finish to L'Alpe d'Huez.

The race ends Sunday on the Champs-Élysées in Paris. ___

AP sports: https://apnews.com/sports

In a release, police said the incident happened shortly before noon near the railroad tracks at Eleanor Avenue.

Afterward, the teen was airlifted to an Orlando medical facility, the release shows.

Investigators added that based on the preliminary investigation, the incident appears to be accidental.

No additional information has been provided at this time.

Alberto Barbera, the festival's artistic director, unveiled the lineup Thursday for the 83rd edition of the festival, the first of many in a busy fall film season that culminates in the Hollywood awards showdown. Like the Cannes Film Festival earlier this year, the selection is lighter on Hollywood studio films than in years past.

“Wild Horse Nine,” starring John Malkovich and Sam Rockwell as CIA agents in Chile before the 1973 coup, is among the higher-profile titles playing in competition. It will play alongside “Primetime,” in which Pattinson stars as “To Catch a Predator” host Chris Hansen. The broader slate has anticipated documentaries like Alex Gibney's “Musk,” a sweeping portrait of the billionaire, and Julia Loktev’s “My Undesirable Friends: Part II — Exile,” which follows Russian independent journalists after they leave the country. Similar to the first part, it runs 355 minutes.

The festival's main competition includes a diverse array of international and American films, like Werner Herzog’s “Bucking Fastard,” in which sisters Rooney and Kate Mara play identical twins.

Also on the program are Florian Zeller’s thriller “Bunker,” with Bardem and Cruz playing a married couple, Lee Chang-dong’s “Possible Love,” Stéphane Brizé’s “A Good Little Soldier” and Hirokazu Kore-eda’s “Look Back,” a coming-of-age story about two girls who dream of being manga artists. Casey Affleck will be in competition for the first time with “Company,” starring Nick Nolte and Ben Mendelsohn. Nanni Moretti also returns for the first time since 1989.

Notable documentary premieres out of competition include “Oasis: Don't Look Back in Anger,” Barbara Kopple’s “Union Town,” Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi and Jimmy Chin's “Everest: The Other Side,” Luca Guadagnino’s seven-hour Bernardo Bertolucci film “Joie de Vivre,” Wim Wenders' look at architect Peter Zumthor, Russell Crowe’s autobiographical musical concert movie, “What Love Builds,” and Laura Poitras’s short about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Minneapolis, “They're Here,” which she co-directed with Rachel Lauren Mueller.

Barbera said he expects Noel and Liam Gallagher to attend on behalf of the Oasis film, which was directed by Steven Knight and will be in theaters on Sept. 11.

The festival is set to open on Sept. 2 with Danny Boyle’s “Ink,” an adaptation of James Graham’s stage play which dramatizes the rise of media tycoon Rupert Murdoch. “Ink” is also playing in the main competition and in the running for awards such as the Golden Lion, a prize that is decided upon by a jury led this year by filmmaker and actor Maggie Gyllenhaal. Other jurors include filmmakers like Kaouther Ben Hania, Johnnie To and Shahrbanoo Sadat, and composer Daniel Blumberg.

Gyllenhaal has a film playing as well: a Marilyn Monroe-inspired short, “Flesh Impact,” in which Dakota Johnson and Ellen Burstyn “give body and voice to the myth of Marilyn,” Barbera said. The 93-year-old Burstyn will also get a lifetime achievement award from the festival.

Venice has in the last 15 years proved a desirable launching pad for Oscar hopefuls, even if not everything breaks through. Last year’s edition had plenty of star power in the lineup, with Julia Roberts, George Clooney and Dwayne Johnson movies among the splashy premieres. But the glow of the festival moment was short-lived: The films, “After the Hunt,” “Jay Kelly” and “The Smashing Machine,” were neither triumphant with audiences in theaters (“Jay Kelly” was a Netflix release) nor with awards voters.

Still, there’s usually a best picture nominee in the slate: Last year there were two in “Frankenstein” and “Bugonia.”

This year won’t be bereft of a Clooney moment either: The Venice regular is getting a lifetime achievement award.

Should the trend continue, it would push the annual homicide rate to the lowest levels in over a century once final numbers are released at the end of the year.

The report, released Thursday, tracked 13 crimes and recorded drops in nine of those categories, including carjackings, residential burglary and aggravated assaults. There was a small jump in shoplifting, domestic violence incidents, sexual assaults and drug offenses over the same period between 2025 and 2026, the report showed.

Experts say the broadly positive changes are exceeding expectations, improving on baseline crime rates from before 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic, which brought historic surges in violence.

Democrats and Republicans across the country have tried to capitalize on the positive developments during a competitive midterm election year. But the trends documented in the report carry through in cities with leadership across the political spectrum.

That suggests the most significant factors contributing to the improvements are taking place nationwide and are not specific to a single local public safety measure, said Adam Gelb, the president and CEO of the Council on Criminal Justice, a nonpartisan think tank for criminal justice policy and research.

“Murder and other crime rates are falling across the map in cities with different political leadership, different housing and economic conditions, different policing and prosecution and violence reduction strategies and different levels of federal enforcement activity,” Gelb said.

The council collects data from police departments and other law enforcement sources. Some of the report categories include data from as many as 36 cities, while others include fewer cities in their totals because of tracking gaps or differences in definitions for specific crimes.

Notably, Gelb said that a significant number of violent crimes were less deadly: There was a 23% drop in the lethality of the crimes committed, which is measured by the share of serious violent crime that is fatal.

Many of the non-violent crimes tracked in the report also saw declines, including a 13% drop in residential burglaries year over year and a 50% drop in burglaries compared to pre-pandemic levels in 2019. At the same time, reported shoplifting bucked the trends of other property crimes, showing a 5% increase. And while there was a small increase in drug offenses, those were still lower than pre-pandemic levels.

Roughly a third of the 30 sampled cities defied average homicide rate declines across the country, recording an increase in deadly violence from the first half of 2025 to the same period in 2026. That includes Norfolk, Virginia, which saw a 64% increase in homicides, and San Francisco, which saw a 55% increase. The number of cities that saw a longer-term increase was far smaller: Only Norfolk, Austin, Pittsburgh and Minneapolis experienced more homicides in 2026 than in the same period in 2019.

There are many factors that could impact why a location sees increases or decreases in certain crimes when another doesn't, according to John Roman, director of the Center on Public Safety and Justice at the National Opinion Research Center from the University of Chicago.

Roman said that conservative politicians affiliated with President Donald Trump will point to intensified immigration crackdowns and the deployment of the National Guard in cities like Los Angeles and Memphis, whereas liberal politicians might point to former Democratic President Joe Biden's public safety legislation that strengthened background checks on firearm sales.

But ultimately, Roman said, the best explanations transcend specific administrations. That ranges from decreased drug usage and therefore fewer purchases from illegal markets, which are often linked to violence, to an influx of federal funding for localities after the pandemic that was spent on social programming.

Those programs, Roman said, often funded jobs like teachers and social workers who primarily work with “young people who are the highest risk of violence and victimization.”

While both Gelb and Roman concurred that there wasn't a single reason, Gelb said the outcomes should be studied for future insights and celebrated.

“This is one of the most significant public safety developments in decades. It means lives are being saved, families are spared trauma and communities are regaining stability,” Gelb said.

The number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits in the week ending July 18 declined by 22,000 to 187,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. That's the fewest number of weekly applications since the week ending Sept. 6, 1969, according to Labor Department data.

It's also well below the 215,000 new applications forecast by analysts surveyed by the data firm FactSet.

Weekly filings for unemployment benefits are considered a proxy for layoffs and are close to a real-time indicator of the health of the U.S. job market.

Despite surging oil prices resulting from the U.S.'s military attack on Iran, the American job market remains healthy and layoffs historically low. However, analysts say a prolonged war and higher than normal energy costs could eventually chip away at that, forcing companies to reduce costs by lowering head counts.

“The economic crisis caused by the energy supply shock is not over yet,” said Carl Weinberg, chief economist at High Frequency Trading. “But the labor market has yet to show any sign of wear and tear from the surge in oil prices.”

The price for a barrel of U.S. crude surged nearly 5% early Thursday to more than $91. That's the highest level in about six weeks. Gas prices in the U.S. are also back up above $4 a gallon on average. That not only squeezes consumers' budgets, but also hits businesses hard, especially those which are heavily dependent on fuel.

In its expansive June jobs report earlier this month, the government reported that employers pulled back on hiring, adding only 57,000 jobs. That’s less than half the previous month’s total and a sign that companies remain cautious about adding to their head counts. The unemployment rate dropped to 4.2% from 4.3% in May, though that decline is mostly because many out-of-work people gave up looking for jobs and were no longer counted as unemployed.

June’s tepid hiring comes after a relative surge in job gains the previous three months, countering concerns that the war in Iran could trip up an already wobbly labor market.

Weekly jobless aid applications have stabilized in a range mostly between 200,000 and 250,000 since the U.S. economy emerged from the pandemic recession. However, hiring began slowing about two years ago and tapered further in 2025 due to President Donald Trump’s tariffs, his purge of the federal workforce and the lingering effects of high interest rates meant to control inflation.

Among the companies that have trimmed their workforce recently are Verizon, UPS, Amazon, Disney, Starbucks and Walmart.

Earlier this month Microsoft said it was cutting 4,800 jobs, about 2.1% of its global workforce, including a large number of workers at its Xbox video game business.

Thursday’s layoffs data showed that the four-week moving average of weekly jobless claims, which adjusts for volatility, fell by 7,250 to 207,500.

The total number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits for the previous week ending July 11 was down by 2,000 to just under 1.8 million, also a historically healthy figure.

Weary of Caballero's routine of waiting to acknowledge the pitcher just before the pitch clock reaches eight seconds, MLB told umpires Wednesday his regimen amounted to deception.

Plate umpire Quinn Wolcott charged Caballero with a pitch-clock violation in the sixth inning that led to a strikeout and the ejection of hitting coach James Rowson as New York lost a doubleheader opener against the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-3 in 10 innings.

“I’ve seen other guys do some other things and they don’t call anything on them,” Caballero said. “They’re just picking on me.”

Caballero was acquired from Tampa Bay last July 31 and Yankees manager Aaron Boone acknowledged his thoughts on the utilityman spun 180 degrees with the swap.

“He’s one of those guys I would yell at from the dugout,” Boone said Wednesday morning. “He was a pest and I didn’t like it. Now I like him because he's a good player and he's on our side. But, yeah, we've had a laugh about that.”

During a June 14 game at Toronto, Caballero twice was deliberate in raising his head until eight seconds remained on the pitch clock, leading to a warning by plate umpire Steven Jaschinsk. That prompted a delay of more than two minutes while Caballero, Jaschinski, Boone and crew chief John Tumpane discussed the situation.

Benches and bullpens cleared at the end of the eighth inning during Monday night's series opener when Pirates reliever Dennis Santana yelled at Caballero for taking too long to get ready in the batter’s box. Then on Wednesday, Wolcott charged Caballero with a violation in the sixth inning while the batter faced Carmen Mlodzinski with the Yankees trailing 2-0. After a delay of 2 1/2 minutes, Cabellero took a called third strike that stranded a runner.

“He’s not allowed to do an inordinate amount of time looking down, trying to get the pitcher to cause a violation,” Wolcott told a pool reporter. “There’s no other hitter that gets in the box, takes the amount of the time that Caballero does while looking down, not making eye contact with the pitcher. Obviously it’s caused a lot of problems in the past. It’s not going to be allowed anymore.”

MLB adopted the pitch clock for the 2023 season in an effort to cut game times. It has been 15 seconds with no runners and 18 seconds with runners since 2024.

In cracking down on Caballero, MLB cited a provision in its Pace of Game Procedures that states: “Conduct by batters designed to deceive a pitcher into beginning their windup or coming to the set position in violation of these regulations shall be considered circumvention."

Crew chief Adrian Johnson said the series opener skirmish caused MLB to take action.

“It’s not allowed anymore. It was the cause of a bench-clearing situation on Monday night. Major League Baseball stepped in, and they wanted enforced,” crew chief Adrian Johnson said. “We were instructed not to warn him. We were instructed to violate him.”

Boone said MLB didn't inform the Yankees before the game of the change in stance.

“It's embarrassing,” he said.

Based on previous conversations with MLB, Boone instructed Caballero to “make sure you’re looking up at nine so that you are alert by eight.”

“He actually said that they were making new rules today and it’s on me because I was deceiving or something like that to the pitcher, which doesn’t make sense,” Caballero said. “I don’t know, maybe my English is so bad that I don’t understand, but deceiving kind of means that you’re trying to trick someone and I’m not trying to trick someone because I do the same thing over and over. You can check my last 50 at-bats and see if I do it the same or not, or check maybe 100 at-bats or 150.”

MLB issued a memo in 2023 warning batters not to keep a foot out of the batter's box, which Willson Contreras called “the Willson rule.”

Caballero claims he is being singled out.

“For everyone, it is eight seconds. For me was nine," he said. "But now they just don’t want me to do my routine so it’s kind of like tricky for me because it’s the way that I get settled, the way that I try to approach my at-bats.”

Caballero is concerned about giving pitchers control of the timing of pitches.

“If I get in the box and they have 16, 17 seconds left, they can hold the ball on me all that time and I’d be tied up," he said.

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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

The move, which officials say is being driven by increased security threats and harassment concerns, comes amid a host of other restrictions on press access largely driven by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

The restrictions, which include a policy that reporters must be accompanied by an official escort on Pentagon grounds, are themselves playing out against a backdrop of escalating tension between President Donald Trump and media outlets whose content or reporting practices anger him.

All public-facing information ordered removed

Last Thursday, the Navy’s top spokesman, Rear Admiral John Robinson, released a policy that mandated the sea service remove all public-facing information about its commanding officers. Capt. Candice Tresch, a spokeswoman for the Chief of Naval Personnel, said the office had decided to expand the policy to deny access to any sailor’s service information, in the interest of equality.

Tresch told The Associated Press that the Navy would still confirm whether someone is a sailor, but only if it deems the request “of high public interest,” and no other details would be offered until the undefined threat has passed.

Information about sailors' service history, such as units they’ve been assigned and awards they’ve earned — information the Navy says it will now withhold — is critical in providing information and context when service members are involved in major news events. It is also information that a constellation of federal laws and Pentagon policies say should be made available on request.

The Pentagon’s governing document on its privacy program notes that information like a service member’s rank, duty assignments, awards, and service status is categorized as information “that is normally releasable” and “may be disclosed without a clearly unwarranted invasion of their personal privacy.”

However, Tresch, in an emailed statement, said they will now only release these details if the sailor is “a public figure or extenuating circumstances exist.” These are terms that the Navy can define for itself, and early indications suggest the sea service is not inclined to use these exemptions.

First Amendment attorney Floyd Abrams noted that the Navy’s new policy could make reporting on wounded or injured sailors much more challenging. “That effort at suppression of speech is flatly inconsistent with the First Amendment,” Abrams said.

He said the policy seemed “an obvious effort to limit information, however newsworthy, that might lead to questions about public policy decisions … there is no reason to think that this is anything less than an effort to prevent ‘bad’ press about the conduct of the administration with respect to our service people.”

New policy cited after incident last week

The Navy cited the new policy last week after the AP requested the biography of a pilot with the Blue Angels, the Navy's demonstration squadron, following a controversial maneuver over a crowded beach. Robinson’s office refused to provide the pilot’s biography despite the fact that his name, photo, and other service details were posted on the official Blue Angels website. Tresch did provide a copy of the biography personally after the AP began inquiring about the policy.

Robinson’s office did not respond to questions about the Chief of Naval Personnel’s broadening of his policy.

The restrictions are just the latest in a series of moves that the military has taken to restrict access to information. Last month, the military asked Congress for the ability to withhold certain types of unclassified records from the public.

The legislative proposal, first reported by CBS, would create a new section of federal law that would allow the defense secretary to exempt certain “controlled unclassified information,” or CUI, from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act.

Transparency advocates, and even the Pentagon’s own internal watchdog, have described the term CUI as inconsistently applied and overused. Critics have argued that it is arbitrarily used to keep embarrassing information from being made public.

Last year, the Pentagon attempted to impose major restrictions on journalists working inside the Pentagon, which, in turn, led most news outlets to turn in their access badges and walk out rather than agree to the new rules. The policy is now being litigated in federal court.

This summer, the Pentagon went a step further and declared that its press office was now a classified space inaccessible to journalists.

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This story has been updated to correct the name of the Chief of Naval Personnel spokeswoman, Capt. Candice Tresch, not Thresh.

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Noveck reported from New York.

Studio Ghibli Fest, the long-running theatrical revivals of Ghibli movies, has taken on a special meaning for her, her 3-year-old daughter and her mother, Araceli. Every year, they go to see each Ghibli rerelease in theaters.

“Right when she sees the opening Totoro logo, she screams ‘Totoro!’” VanCleave, 34, says of her daughter. “Everyone in the theater started laughing, and I was like, ‘Oh, gosh, sorry.’”

Though the family discovered the Ghibli movies on HBO Max, the outings to their favorite theater in Austin, Texas, became a tradition. Earlier this month, when they went (again) to see Hayao Miyazaki’s 1988 anime classic, “My Neighbor Totoro,” they wore matching Totoro jammies.

“It’s been our thing,” says VanCleave. “Us three girls together.”

The passionate fandom Ghibli tends to inspire is well-documented. Yet the consistency of the Japanese animation studio’s films in theaters — years, even decades after their release — is without parallel in movies. Every year, longtime Ghibli fans as well as new, little ones, flock to cinemas.

Sporadically dated from June through October, Ghibli Fest has been running for a decade. Movies like “My Neighbor Totoro,” “Spirited Away” and “Ponyo” have become not occasional rereleases but practically theatrical mainstays. Ghibli Fest is more like an ongoing movie marathon: cinema's answer to Bob Dylan's Never Ending Tour.

And, remarkably, it keeps growing. When GKids, the North American distributor for Ghibli, and Fathom Entertainment launched Ghibli Fest in 2017, its five titles accounted for $5 million in ticket sales. But the festival’s biggest box-office years have been the last three — all after Ghibli titles became easy to stream on HBO Max in 2020.

“I’d be lying if I thought the program when we conceived it would be going as long as it has,” says Dave Jesteadt, GKids president. “It does defy conventional wisdom. We keep waiting for the year that people tire of going to the films, but that’s not what’s happening. Every single year, we see records being set. The grosses are going up, not down.”

Ghibli expands its footprint

The biggest year for Ghibli Fest was 2024, when 14 movies accounted for $16.4 million in sales. Last year, eight movies grossed $10.6 million. This year, both “Ponyo” and “My Neighbor Totoro” have already played for popular five-day stints.

Shannah Miller, vice president of marketing for Fathom, a company owned by the country's top theater chains, has watched demand keep expanding.

“When we started, I think our theatrical footprint was about 640 locations,” Miller says. “This year, we’re crossing over 1,100 locations. We started with two, maybe three playdates for a particular title, but due to fan demand, we have five-day runs for some titles.”

When GKids first got Ghibli library in 2011, the Japanese studio emphasized how important theatrical was to them. First GKids hosted retrospectives, mostly in major markets and at arthouses. But Ghibli Fest moved the movies into multiplexes where a new generation of kids might stop before a cardboard cutout of Kiki (from “Kiki’s Delivery Service”) or No Face (from “Spirited Away”) and wonder if there might be animated movie worlds beyond Disney.

“One of the worst things that can happen to classics is that they’re perceived as classics and kept in amber,” says Jesteadt. “We wanted to move to a nationwide celebration that really treated these as equivalent to any new Hollywood film.”

While North America moviegoing is up more than 10% this year, theaters have learned over the last decade that they can’t always depend on a steady stream of new Hollywood releases. There tend to be soft spots in the schedule, and early weekdays are always slow, anyhow.

Older movies have, increasingly, filled in the gaps. Ghibli Fest, though, predates more recent repertory trends. And the long-term effects have paid dividends, helping foster new Ghibli lovers. While an earlier generation might have been introduced first through Miyazaki’s 2001 masterpiece “Spirited Away,” GKids now sees younger moviegoers indoctrinated by “Ponyo” or “Howl’s Moving Castle.”

“When we introduced the catalog to streaming in 2020 for the first time, we thought, ‘OK, surely, this is maybe the moment,’” says Jesteadt. “But if anything, that just brought in a new audience that wanted to see these films in theaters for the first time.”

‘More fun than HBO Max’

This year’s fest continues with “Tales of Earthsea” (Aug. 8, 10), “Only Yesterday” (Aug. 9, 11), the 40th anniversary of the first Ghibli release, 1986’s “Castle in the Sky” (Aug. 22-26), a 4K remastered “Princess Mononoke” (Sept. 26-30) and finally a 25th anniversary for “Spirited Away” (Oct. 17-21).

While some of these movies are revived in other countries, Ghibli Fest is so far a strictly U.S.-based phenomenon.

“We are equally in awe of and proud of what we’re building and the opportunity to celebrate instead of all the doom and gloom, ‘Is theater dead?’ conversations,” Miller says. “We have a different story to tell with Studio Ghibli.”

Studio Ghibli is such a cultural powerhouse that there are countless opportunities to reconnect with its stories. The Academy Museum is hosting a new “Ponyo” exhibit. The composer Joe Hisaishi is touring the music of many of the films, including a seven-night residency at New York’s Radio City Music Hall in August.

But the movies, themselves, on the big screen, are the eternal flames of Ghibli. The screenings are places for Ghibli fans, new and old, to congregate and immerse themselves in the natural splendor of the films.

Angela Lector, 27, has attended “Howl’s Moving Castle” dressed as its hero, Sophie, and met Japanese film students at a showing of “Princess Mononoke,” a favorite from when she was a kid.

“Being in the theater is so much more fun than being on HBO Max,” says Lector. “Being in your home, you can make your own popcorn and cuddle up with your dog. But being in the theater you can actually talk to people you don’t know about the movie.”

Ghibli fans’ only gripes are usually that the festival doesn’t feature more deep cuts from the library. Lector would love to see 1984’s” pre-Ghibli “Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind” brought back.

“The Ghibli films are timeless. There’s something for everyone in them,” Lector says. “Everything feels human. No one is too powerful or too small.”

That can go for audience members, too. VanCleave recently noticed a classmate of her daughter’s wearing a bow like Kiki's.

“I saw her mom and asked about it. We got to talking, and she also had watched Ghibli movies at home,” VanCleave says. “So, we invited her to ‘Ponyo,’ and it was her first movie theater experience. It was cute. The two 3-year-olds shared a recliner.”

Road closures are happening along sections of Jitway Avenue and Hughey Street as four phases of the eight-part drainage improvement project are in progress.

Rondalin Washington lives nearby and said she’s looking forward to completion of the work to help with flooding in the neighborhood.

“It’s almost like a river, like a small little river out in front or a pond that was out in front of the house,” Washington said. “I guess they’re doing what they need to do to get it done.”

The current work includes installation of drainage pipes, construction of a drainage pond near the Midway Community Center, and additional infrastructure improvements.

In 2018, residents went straight to the Seminole County Commission to voice their concerns over the flooding problems.

The action sparked a conversation with county leaders that got the ball rolling toward the beginning steps of the project

Through advocacy and action, easements were acquired from property owners for construction to begin.

The total cost of the project has grown to $33.5 million. It is being paid for with both federal and state grants, along with county funds from the sales tax.

Each of the phases that are currently under construction is expected to be completed by early 2027.

The four remaining parts of the project are each in the right-of-way acquisition phase.

For more details on the Midway Drainage Improvement Project, visit www.seminolecountyfl.gov/midway.

Local authorities said the fire in a forest near the town of Lège-Cap Ferret, southwest of Bordeaux, spread over more than 31 square kilometers (12 square miles), though no injuries have been reported.

The prefect, or head of the surrounding Gironde region, Sophie Brocas, said some 700 firefighters have been deployed, including forces sent from the Paris region. The fire came within 300 meters (980 feet) of the first homes in Lège, and water bombers were being used.

Later in the day, the prefect's office said the wildfire had not yet been brought under control but remained contained to the north of Lège.

More than 10,000 people, including tourists staying at holiday camps and campgrounds, were moved to safety overnight, along with more than 1,000 residents living in residential areas along the forest edge. Authorities later evacuated the village of Claouey, including residents staying at several campsites, as a precautionary measure. Brocas said the evacuation involved 8,800 people.

Several municipalities have opened reception and respite centers for evacuees, the prefecture said.

Southern Europe has seen multiple large fires this summer. Scientists warn that climate change is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness, making the region more vulnerable to wildfires.

Following a succession of heat waves that started even before the summer, wildfires have raged across France, devastating large swaths of land amid record temperatures and dry weather. Plants and vegetation are under severe water stress, adding to the danger of fires.

According to Interior Minister Laurent Nunez, more than 12,500 wildfires have broken out since the beginning of the year, and almost 44,000 hectares have already burned.

Wildfires in Spain and Italy

Elsewhere in Europe, wildfires continued to rage across Sicily on Thursday, a day after a firefighter was killed during operations to put out a blaze in Caltanissetta, the national fire department said.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella sent a note of condolences to the family and colleagues of the firefighter, Alessandro Marchì, who was a department head.

In Spain, firefighters battled multiple blazes amid a heat wave with the worst temperatures expected to reach 44 C (111 F) in the southeast. A fire near Alcalá de Henares near Madrid caused the high-speed train service between the capital and Barcelona to be briefly suspended Thursday.

Meanwhile, firefighters in the province of Guadalajara continued to extinguish a week-old fire that is the second-largest on record for the country with 320 square kilometers (123 square miles) burned. Other fires raged across central Spain, including one near Toledo that destroyed some 20 homes and triggered evacuations.

The deal was announced Thursday by general manager Don Waddell, who said "Jet is a high-character, talented and athletic goaltender who has become an important part of our hockey club. Our intent always was to get a deal done to ensure he remains a Blue Jacket and we are thrilled that we were able to do so.”

The 25-year-old Greaves finished 26-19-9 with a 2.60 goals-against average last season to become the fifth goaltender in franchise history to win 25 games in a season. He had two shutouts in 55 games. His .908 save percentage tied for sixth among NHL goaltenders.

In 76 career appearances, Greaves has a 36-28-11 record with a .913 save percentage and four shutouts. He made his NHL debut at the end of the 2022-23 season.

Greaves is a native of Cambridge, Ontario who made his international debut for Canada at the 2026 IIHF World Championships in Switzerland. He finished 6-2 in the tournament to tie for third in wins.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

It hopes to announce the new Italy coach within the week, with the Azzurri still reeling after failing for a third straight time to qualify for the World Cup.

Former Italy and AC Milan defender Paolo Maldini was named as the federation’s new technical director at the start of the month and was present at a meeting with the Serie A clubs on Thursday, along with new FIGC president Giovanni Malagò and special advisor Leonardo.

“Honestly, today we can’t give news about what’s happening. You’ve identified one of our targets,” Maldini said when asked about Guardiola in a news conference after the meeting.

“We can’t hide that we also talked with Carlo Ancelotti before talking with Pep. Honestly, it seemed right to start with the best in the world, to see their general availability.”

Guardiola left Man City at the end of last season, bringing to a close a trophy-laden, 10-year spell in which he established City as a force in Europe and changed the face of English soccer.

The 55-year-old Guardiola has won 35 major titles across his coaching career including at Barcelona and Bayern Munich.

Maldini and Leonardo spent three days in Barcelona recently to speak with Guardiola about taking the Italy job.

“The best thing would be to announce the new coach this week, but even more to wait for the person we really want,” Maldini said. “So there’s urgency, but not so much inside us.”

Ancelotti signed a contract extension with Brazil in May through to the 2030 World Cup. But the five-time world champion just had one of its worst ever performances on soccer’s biggest stage as it was eliminated in the round of 16 after a 2-1 loss to Norway.

The 67-year-old Ancelotti has won league titles in Italy, England, France, Spain and Germany. He is also the only coach to have won the Champions League five times.

Four-time champion Italy missed out on a third straight World Cup after a playoff loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina in March, prompting the resignations of FIGC president Gabriele Gravina and coach Gennaro Gattuso.

Gattuso had taken over from the fired Luciano Spalletti only the previous June with the squad already flailing following a defeat at Norway in its opening qualifier.

Former Italy coaches Roberto Mancini — who led the Azzurri to the European Championship in 2021 — and Antonio Conte are also among the favorites to take charge of the national team. Andrea Pirlo, who helped Italy to the World Cup in 2006 as a player, is also reportedly in contention.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Artemis: A Celebration of Exploration runs Friday through Sunday and features collector’s Artemis II crew trading cards available while supplies last.

The event showcases the innovation, people and legacy behind NASA’s Artemis Program. Along with the trading cards, attendees can pose for a photo with a life-sized zero-G indicator from Artemis II, Rise, and hear directly from Artemis Program subject matter experts.

Those experts will offer firsthand insights into lunar exploration, mission preparation and the technology powering deep-space travel. Visitors are encouraged to check the Journey to Mars schedule outside the attraction for presentation times.

The Artemis II mission marks a major milestone in NASA’s efforts to return humans to the moon — and eventually send them to Mars. The trading cards feature the Artemis II crew, giving space fans a collectible connection to that historic mission.

The central bank for the 21 countries that use the euro currency left its benchmark rate unchanged at 2.25% following a quarter-point hike at its previous meeting June 11. That increase was aimed at dampening the impact on consumer prices from higher oil prices due to the US-Iran war and subsequent interruption of oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Analysts say the bank may simply be taking a pause to gather more information amid swings in oil prices, which fell after announcement of a ceasefire but then rose again when the ceasefire agreement collapsed and fighting resumed. Economists are pointing toward the bank's Sept. 10 meeting as a possibility for another rate increase.

“Uncertainty remains high and the full inflationary impact of the energy shock has yet to play out," ECB President Christine Lagarde said at a post-decision news conference. "We are therefore closely monitoring the intensity and duration of the shock, as well as its indirect and second round effects...the longer energy prices stay high, the more likely they are to drive up broader inflation.”

Lagarde said the bank is making decisions meeting by meeting based on incoming data and has not committed to any particular path for rates.

Lagarde also faced a question about whether she would commit to serving out her full, eight-year term which ends in October 2027.

Asked for a “yes or no” response, she said: “You know, I hate to be boxed in in any particular circumstances."

She added that “you are not going to see the back of me before 2027” and that “when there clouds on the horizon, the captain stays on the ship, and this captain is staying on this ship as long as there are clouds on the horizon.”

Rate hikes combat inflation by raising the cost of credit for buying things, from new houses to new factories. That cools demand for goods and eases pressure on prices. Inflation in the eurozone ran at an annual 2.8% in June, down from 3.2% in May.

International benchmark Brent crude rose to $100 Thursday, the first time in two months, after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels said they attacked two Saudi oil tankers in the Red Sea, potentially widening the conflict in and around Iran.

Brent spiked 7% after Iranian-backed Houthis launched the attacks near the Bab al-Mandeb Strait, raising doubts about Saudi Arabia’s ability to ship oil through the Red Sea instead of the Strait of Hormuz.

A judge signed the order on Thursday, citing Florida Rule of Criminal Procedure 3.134(b)(2). The state had not filed charges by the 63rd day following the defendant’s arrest, nor did prosecutors file anything to demonstrate good cause for an extension.

Bill Kapri — known professionally as Kodak Black — was arrested May 6 on a felony charge of trafficking MDMA following a months-long investigation. Under Florida law, prosecutors had 60 days from the date of arrest to file formal charges. The rapper’s legal team filed the 63-day motion July 21, giving the state formal notice. The state did not respond.

The case stems from a November 2025 incident at the Children’s Safety Village on Fairvilla Road in Orlando. Orange County deputies responding to calls about gunshots located two vehicles and, after detecting the smell of burnt cannabis, searched them. Inside a pink bag, investigators found what appeared to be MDMA.

According to the arrest warrant affidavit, the pink bag matches one visible on Kapri’s Instagram account. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement confirmed the substance was MDMA and in a trafficking amount, with a lab report returned April 17.

At a May bond hearing, a judge set bond at $75,000, citing Kapri’s 12 prior felony convictions. Kapri later bonded out.

Wednesday’s ruling does not mean charges cannot be filed in the future. It means Kapri is no longer subject to any bail or pretrial release conditions connected to the May arrest.

News 6 received the following statement from the state attorney’s office:

“This is an active and ongoing case and we have no information to release at this time.”

Ninth Judicial Circuit Court for Orange County

The investment coincides with the team announcing it has reached a long-term extension on a stadium naming rights deal Thursday with Bank of America.

The additional investment in the 30-year-old downtown stadium brings the total cost of renovations to $1.3 billion.

The project is expected to be completed by 2030.

The Panthers released new stadium renderings highlighting enhancements and a broader vision of what is referred to as the new “Charlotte corridor,” which includes a 4,400-seat music venue designed to help make the city a more attractive year-round weekend destination.

“The long-term extension with Bank of America reflects the strength of our partnership and our shared commitment to the Carolinas,” Tepper, the owner and chairman of Tepper Sports & Entertainment (TSE), said in a release. “For over three decades, Bank of America Stadium has helped create lasting memories for our fans and we’re excited for them to see what’s ahead. Our goal is to create experiences that enhance the passion and energy of the region while transforming this corridor into a weekend destination for world-class sports, entertainment and community events.”

Bank of America Stadium is currently home to the Major League Soccer’s Charlotte FC, as well as the Panthers.

It regularly hosts concerts as well as the Atlantic Coast Conference football championship, the Duke's Mayo Bowl and, most recently, a soccer match between the United States and Senegal which served as a precursor to the World Cup.

So, what about a first-ever Super Bowl in Charlotte?

When asked directly if the Panthers are considering submitting a bid to host a first-ever Super Bowl in Charlotte, team president and TSE CEO Kristi Coleman replied, “We would love to get a Super Bowl. ... I think doing projects like this help you get it. It for sure helps your resume.”

Of course, there are other factors that go into ultimately landing the NFL’s biggest event, including number of hotels and other infrastructure.

“Does this guarantee (a Super Bowl)? No. But does this help? Yes,” Coleman said.

Who is paying for the additional renovations?

The additional renovations are privately funded with no additional taxpayer money required.

TSE will pay for any overage costs and ongoing maintenance associated with the project.

The city of Charlotte originally contributed $650 million to the project in 2024 with TSE adding the additional $150 million, bringing the original cost of stadium renovations to $800 million after Tepper decided to remain in the stadium rather than build a new one.

What's going to be new at the stadium?

The entire stadium and its surroundings are being reimagined.

Renderings released Thursday showcase expanded indoor-outdoor gathering spaces across all levels, a 500-level social patio with sweeping views of Uptown Charlotte. There will also be larger and more dynamic scoreboards and displays and improved audio.

Seating options have been upgraded with premium offerings including technology designed to create a more connected and personalized experience.

When finished, the entire exterior of the stadium will look completely different to Panthers fans with a fresh, modern, open-air look that includes a signature illuminated crown for the Queen City skyline.

The black metal gates that surround portions of the stadium will be removed, creating a more welcoming park-style setting.

The renderings also include expanded retail and food and beverage options, increased restroom capacity, and flexible event spaces that will support game days while serving community, corporate and other special events during the offseason.

Included in what Panthers officials now call the “corridor” is the new entertainment venue outside of the North gate.

The goal: Making Charlotte a weekend destination

Coleman said the goal of everyone involved has been to bring Tepper’s vision to life.

Over the past few years the Panthers have brought some of the team’s fans to opposing cities to see what they like about other stadiums. They have also listened to suggestions and criticisms from existing permanent seat license holders about the game day experience in Charlotte.

“Our fans from Raleigh or Charleston and other places would say ‘we want this to be a weekend destination, not just for Sundays,’” Coleman said.

The need for music was high on the fans' wish list, Coleman said.

Such was the impetus for the building of the entertainment venue that will host 80 to 100 concerts and events during the year, as well as provide enhanced hospitality on NFL game days.

“So now people can come on a Friday and go to a concert, go to a soccer match on Saturday and then stay for a Panthers game on Sunday,” Coleman said. “That was really the vision.”

Coleman said the renovations have something everyone throughout the stadium can benefit from whether sitting in the lower bowl, upper bowl or luxury suites.

“I'm so excited that every fan will experience something different," Coleman said.

Charlotte Mayor Rob Harrington called the project an investment in Charlotte’s future “preserving an iconic venue, enhancing the fan experience, and ensuring Bank of America Stadium continues to create unforgettable memories while giving visitors countless reasons to return to our city for years to come.”

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AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

It was the latest major crackdown on Big Tech by Brussels, which has led the world in reining in some of the world’s largest companies from Silicon Valley to Beijing.

It has done so despite the risk of incurring the wrath of President Donald Trump, who has lashed out at the 27-nation bloc’s digital regulations amid a broader campaign against Europe: imposing high tariffs, making threats to seize Greenland from Denmark by force, and rattling trust within the NATO military alliance.

In the past, Trump has threatened retaliation if American tech companies are penalized.

Google had recently lost its appeal of a $4.5 billion antitrust fine imposed by the EU for throttling competition and reducing consumer choice through the dominance of its mobile Android operating system.

The European Commission, the bloc's executive branch and highest antitrust enforcer, said it was acting in the interest of consumers after an investigation of Google.

“The best products should succeed because they’re better, not because they’re owned by the company running the search engine. And European consumers have a right to be told by app developers where to sign up to the best offers, even when the app store owner does not get a cut,” said Teresa Ribera, the commission's Executive Vice President for Clean, Just and Competitive Transition.

Google’s President of Global Affairs Kent Walker blasted the fine as “product degradation driven by a small group of self-serving complainants” that will have a negative impact on European businesses and consumers.

He said that the EU’s Digital Markets Act forces Google “to strip away real-time search features Europeans love — like instant pricing and direct availability for hotels, flights, and restaurants — and dismantle safety protections on Google Play.”

The EU describes the world’s seven tech giants — Amazon, Apple, Google parent Alphabet, Meta, Microsoft and TikTok owner ByteDance — as “gatekeepers” that control access for consumers.

“In the EU, businesses have the right to compete fairly. Gatekeepers have the obligation to ensure a level playing field and consumers the right to choose for cheaper alternative offers,” European Commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier said. Alphabet reported $403 billion in revenue in 2025.

Rubio, who held talks with his Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in the Philippine capital, alluded to how U.S.-mediated talks have stalled. He called them “unsuccessful or at least unfruitful” in the past but insisted that President Donald Trump was committed to the work “if conditions and factors have changed to make that possible.”

“That’s been the challenge — an end that both sides can accept," Rubio told reporters. "We’ve tried and we’ll continue to try to see if we can, you know, find a middle ground that brings this about. And we’re prepared to play that role if the opportunity presents itself.”

Rubio met Lavrov and several other leaders, including China's foreign minister, on the sidelines of an annual gathering by foreign ministers of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations in Manila.

America's top diplomat said the U.S. is focused on Asia even as it steps up fighting with Iran, seeks a pathway to end Russia's war in Ukraine and pressures the Cuban government to make changes.

ASEAN talks focused on international conflicts

Three days of closed-door talks that started Tuesday have centered on the escalating fighting in the Middle East and tensions in the South China Sea, where a new clash flared Thursday.

“There’s always going to be a concern that America is so focused on one place that it can’t focus on another,” Rubio said. But he noted that the U.S. remains “engaged in Asia every single day,” citing strong partnerships and economic ties across the region.

After meeting with Rubio, Lavrov largely ignored questions from reporters. The Russian Foreign Ministry in Moscow said he emphasized to Rubio “the unacceptability of further arming” Ukraine and accused European countries of pursuing Russia’s “strategic defeat.”

Lavrov reiterated Russia’s readiness for “a political and diplomatic resolution of the conflict” and commitment to agreements reached at a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump in Alaska last year, the Russian ministry said.

But Rubio said “we’ll have to find new suggestions and new ideas” that are acceptable to both sides. There has been no change to Washington’s military support for Ukraine, with weapons being purchased by NATO allies and transferred to the war-ravaged country, he said.

Separately on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reiterated that his priority is finding a way to get back to negotiations.

U.S. efforts to broker an end to the Russia-Ukraine war have been overshadowed by the outbreak of the Iran war earlier this year. Renewed strikes by Washington and Tehran have been intensifying after an interim ceasefire deal collapsed.

“The price will continue to get higher every single night until they come to their senses,” Rubio said. He insisted Tehran is “begging” for talks but Trump does not see the use in responding because “Iran is clearly not ready to make a deal, at least not one they’re willing to live by.”

Trump has warned Iran that the U.S. will destroy one Iranian bridge or power plant each time Iran shoots at a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded by saying the country’s defense doctrine was an “eye for an eye.”

“The president’s policy is a head for an eye,” Rubio said. “They will pay a very heavy price for the things they’re doing.”

China defends maritime military actions

Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong renewed her country's alarm over the Chinese navy’s recent test-launch of a missile from a nuclear-powered submarine in the region, saying the lack of notification to the Philippines and Pacific nations where the missile flew over and landed was destabilizing.

“It comes in the context of a rapid military build-up of China’s nuclear arsenal without the transparency or reassurance the region expects,” Wong told a university forum in Manila on Thursday. “This is why Australia has described the test as provocative and destabilizing.”

China has defended its actions, saying the launch was part of annual exercises and that it gave countries in the area appropriate notice in advance.

Rubio met Wednesday with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and said they discussed a new altercation this week between Chinese and Filipino forces in a disputed shoal in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims virtually in its entirety. Rubio called the incident “escalatory.”

“Those need to be managed very carefully, because obviously, a conflict — be it economic or otherwise — between the U.S. and China would have a dramatic global impact,” Rubio said.

He also said they talked a lot about Chinese leader Xi Jinping’s planned trip in September, noting he believes Xi will have a “very positive visit when he comes to Washington.”

In Beijing, the Chinese coast guard said it took necessary measures, including monitoring and blocking, to drive away two Philippine ships that disregarded repeated warnings from the Chinese side in a fresh confrontation Thursday. China said its operations were professional and lawful and urged the Philippines to stop its provocative actions infringing on Chinese territory.

The Philippine coast guard, however, said the two fishing vessels were harassed while bringing fuel aid to Filipino fishermen in the Scarborough shoal. It said a Chinese coast guard ship tried to spray one vessel with a powerful water cannon but missed, calling these “illegal, coercive and aggressive actions.”

The Trump administration has repeatedly criticized China’s assertive actions in the South China Sea to the disadvantage of smaller claimant countries like the Philippines, Washington’s oldest treaty ally in Asia. Taiwan and ASEAN members Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei have also been involved in the often-tense territorial standoffs.

ASEAN aims to conclude yearslong negotiations with China on a proposed non-aggression pact by this year, according to a draft of a joint communiqué seen by The Associated Press. The code of conduct aims to prevent a major conflict in the disputed waters, a key global trade route, that could draw in the United States.

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Associated Press journalists Eileen Ng in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Ken Moritsugu in Beijing, Haruka Nuga in Bangkok and Fu Ting in Washington contributed to this report.

The Norway soccer federation said Thursday its board of directors will consider filing the complaint at its next meeting, likely on Aug. 6.

“We need our leader in FIFA to say that this was an error,” Norwegian federation president Lise Klaveness told London daily The Times in an interview published Thursday.

After Trump called FIFA president Gianni Infantino, a one-game ban for Balogun’s red-card tackle against Bosnia-Herzegovina was deferred so he could play against Belgium with a quarterfinals place at stake.

Belgium beat the U.S. 4-1 after a chaotic 36 hours at the World Cup. The Belgium players were seemingly fired up by one of the all-time controversies in tournament history.

Trump called the referee’s red card for Balogun after video review a “horrible” call and took credit for getting FIFA to review what should routinely have been a one-game ban.

“We all know that this verdict was influenced from external forces and did not have the proper process,” Klaveness told The Times of the FIFA ruling that was unprecedented in the past 60 years at World Cups.

“When you bend a rule like this, you’re on a slippery slope that will put the whole game at risk,” said the former Women’s World Cup player for Norway, who is an elected member of European soccer body UEFA’s executive committee.

Soccer's conscience

Klaveness is a lawyer and judge who has positioned the Norwegian federation as a conscience in world soccer since her election in 2022.

“It is a worry for the game when you compromise fundamental rules of the game,” she said Thursday about not enforcing Balogun's ban.

Norway previously joined a London-based NGO’s complaint to the FIFA ethics committee alleging Infantino breached a statutory duty of political neutrality, including by creating a peace prize to award to Trump at the World Cup draw in December.

The close personal and political ties between Trump and Infantino include the U.S. president believing the soccer official could be a good pick as next secretary general of the United Nations, the New York Post reported this week.

Olympics complaint

The human rights NGO, FairSquare, also has filed an ethics complaint about the Balogun incident to the International Olympic Committee, where Infantino is an elected member, about breaching its rules on political neutrality.

FIFA and the IOC rarely acknowledge or provide updates on potential cases before their ethics bodies.

The independence of FIFA’s process to handle complaints alleging unethical conduct has been questioned since the lead investigator and judge both were replaced in 2017, in the second year of Infantino’s presidency.

FIFA has yet to publish documents explaining how its disciplinary judges reached verdicts about Balogun or other World Cup players.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and AP World Cup coverage

But with barely three months until November's contest, the perceived threat to rural life, ranchland and dwindling water supplies could become a defining issue for her long-shot challenge to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, dividing conservative rural areas that have traditionally served as a counterweight to Democrats' urban strongholds.

The backlash to energy-guzzling server warehouses is also shaping other statewide campaigns from Arizona to Ohio to New York, and even giving Democrats a glimmer of hope in Texas, where Republicans have dominated for three decades.

“There is this little issue that I recently started hearing about that I wanted to tell you about, in case you don’t know,” Hinojosa quipped to a Democratic Party-organized crowd of about 160 seated on fold-out chairs at an Amarillo social club in Texas' panhandle. “It’s this issue of data centers.”

The crowd booed, and she went on: “They are owned by the richest men in the world. We’re all footing the bill. There are no rules. It is the wild west of data centers.”

The fast growth of massive data centers has already upended races for local offices across the country, often uniting conservatives and liberals in revolting against projects in their midst.

People don't like the secrecy surrounding the projects or the prospect of air, noise, water and light pollution. They fear electric bills going up, wells going dry and losing open space, farmland or forest.

Now the ripple effects have spread to top-of-the-ticket races, where incumbents and challengers are trying to show that they hear an angry electorate.

In Ohio, Democratic nominee Sherrod Brown aired a television advertisement attacking Republican U.S. Sen. John Husted as the "face of data centers in Ohio" as people gather signatures for a statewide referendum to outright ban their construction.

In Wisconsin, a Democratic candidate for governor, Francesca Hong, is pledging to “tax the rich, fund our schools and stop AI data centers” as she campaigns for her party's nomination in a crowded primary.

In Pennsylvania, Democratic Gov. Josh Shapiro is facing heat from some voters who feel like he's been too welcoming to tech behemoths. Sam Burleigh, a Democrat whose rural community is fighting off data center projects, accused Shapiro of “allowing these data centers to come in and take over acres and acres of prime farmland.”

Texas is fertile ground for data centers

Any political unrest may be felt most acutely in Texas.

The state is poised to overtake northern Virginia as the largest global data center market by 2030, according to a report by commercial real estate giant JLL. It has lots of land, lots of energy and a friendly regulatory environment under Republican leadership.

In rural west Texas and its panhandle, gargantuan data centers are under construction, including one near Amarillo touted as the world's largest. Some come with designs for natural gas-fired turbines to power them.

Rumors are flying about others popping up — Google, which is building four data centers in northwest Texas, sponsored moderated conversations with officials and business elite in Lubbock and Amarillo in recent weeks — and it is sowing an outcry across small cities, tiny towns and sprawling ranches where people vote overwhelmingly Republican.

Google says its investments are advancing American innovation, fortifying cybersecurity and boosting energy capacity, while President Donald Trump has made data centers a top priority to help the U.S. compete against China for AI superiority.

But tech giants and developers can be secretive about their plans, making it impossible to know what will be built or what sort of pollution they'll create, critics say. Some worry that data centers will destroy rural Texas' low cost of living and sully sunsets and sweeping views that stretch toward the horizon.

Others say construction and an influx of workers are already causing havoc for ranchers and towns, driving up rents, snapping up farmland, illuminating the night sky, clogging roads and turning parts of rural Texas into industrial zones.

Opposition crosses a partisan divide

Democrats are prominent among the data center critics, but so are Republicans, including Texas' sitting agriculture commissioner, Sid Miller. They say there are many more Republicans who are quieter because they fear publicly opposing their governor and party.

“They're upset with Greg Abbott,” said Suzanne Bellsnyder, a former Republican activist from Spearman who writes a syndicated column that advocates for rural Texas. “Whether that translates into voting against him, I don't know.”

Abbott has aggressively advocated for big projects in Texas and, in November, he helped make Google's announcement of a $40 billion investment there, saying “Texas is the epicenter of AI development.”

Compounding that, Texas counties don't have zoning authority — precisely the local land planning authority that communities around the country are increasingly using to fight off data centers.

Abbott seems to recognize that data centers are dividing his base. In recent weeks, he ordered regulators to take steps to ensure Texans weren't paying higher electricity bills because of data centers and promised to push a legislative agenda next year to impose regulations on data centers.

At an East Texas campaign stop, Abbott said that includes taking away the state's billion-dollar-plus-per-year tax break and preventing data centers from being built in “rural Texas neighborhoods.”

Hinojosa and others derided Abbott's words about “rural Texas neighborhoods” as meaningless — "doublespeak that makes no sense to anyone," Hinojosa said — and lacking urgency or seriousness.

“Now we have this gold rush of data centers in our communities," Hinojosa said in an interview, adding that “people want a say, and I think that’s fair.”

As governor, she said she'd block a permit for a data center if it wasn't a good deal for Texans or residents hadn't gotten a say in the matter.

Abbott tries to soothe concerns

Abbott's campaign season turnabout on data centers doesn't seem to have soothed many.

Of great concern is the prospect that data centers will consume massive amounts of water and worsen drought conditions for ranchers and farmers in a state where water shortages already crippled the sugar cane industry.

“Oh, I guarantee you, it's on everybody's mind,” said Giles Dalby, a cattle rancher and a Republican county commissioner in west Texas.

Dalby, who raises Angus and Brangus cattle on ranchland that's been in his family for 125 years, pointed to fast-growing cities where water authorities have had to go to greater lengths to procure water, including the “water wars” between San Antonio and ranchers several years ago.

Texas is increasingly steamrolling over landowner rights in the quest for public water, Dalby said, and that could mean that data centers get in line ahead of ranchers when shortages or rationing worsen.

Clayton Tucker, a rancher and the Democratic nominee for state agriculture commissioner, said his campaign events are consumed by talk of data centers. It doesn't matter whether he's meeting with Democrats or Republicans.

“This is the most cross-partisan issue I’ve ever seen in my life,” Tucker said.

Meanwhile, protest groups are springing up, including one in Lubbock that is led by Republicans. The founders, Stephen Sanders and Hallie Bertrand, like some other Republican opponents of data centers, say it's possible or even certain they won't vote for Abbott, although they may not necessarily vote for Hinojosa.

There is still time for Abbott to push through major legislation before the election and “be a hero,” Sanders said.

The big question is whether enough rural voters will turn against Abbott to give Hinojosa a shot. It’s hard to tell, Bertrand said, especially when some know nothing about the issue.

“They'll just hit that button, Republican all the way down,” Bertrand said. "But I think it’s a step towards something that we have not seen in Texas in a long time, with people on the right switching to the left. Or scooting a little closer to the middle, maybe."

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Follow Marc Levy at http://twitter.com/timelywriter

Multiple agencies had made sustained and coordinated rescue efforts in the four days since a gas explosion ripped through the tunnel. Following the recovery of all the missing employees, teams carried out a final inspection of the tunnel, the state government of Sikkim said in a statement.

The blast occurred Monday at the 500-megawatt Teesta Hydroelectric Project about 40 kilometers (25 miles) south of the state capital Gangtok in the Himalayan state.

A buildup of methane gas triggered the explosion, trapping dozens of workers underground. Rescue efforts were hampered by the toxic gas inside, officials said.

The government said it formed a high-level committee to investigate the disaster and recommend safeguards against to prevent such accidents in the future.

Construction accidents are not uncommon in India, where rapid infrastructure growth often collides with fragile geology, construction lapses, extreme weather and safety standards.

The Teesta River basin, where the hydropower project is being built, lies in a seismically active region marked by young, fragile rock formations riddled with fractures and underground pockets that can trap ancient gases. Seismic activity and unpredictable underground conditions make tunnel projects especially risky in the region, according to experts.

A February explosion in a coal mine in neighboring Meghalaya state killed 18 workers. A tunnel section collapsed in 2023 in northern Uttarakhand state, trapping 41 workers for 17 days before they were rescued.

Officers were called to Plaza del Sol on Vine Street and North Hoagland Boulevard just before 11 p.m. When they arrived, they found a person behind the Ross store. That person was pronounced dead at the scene.

Officers blocked off much of the parking lot for several hours as they investigated. Evidence markers were visible on the ground, and officers moved in and out of the building throughout the night. Video from the scene shows the large police response that remained in place for hours before the scene was cleared.

The age and gender of the person found have not been released.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.

If you’ve considered bike commuting but assumed you needed expensive gear and to be in excellent physical shape, or worried about arriving at work disheveled or smelly, there are ways to overcome those hurdles. Cycling can be a healthy, enjoyable and affordable way to a job site, especially at a time of elevated gasoline prices.

“It’s such a great, practical invention that I became enamored with as a little kid, and I find it just as valuable as a 72-year-old,” Roper, owner of the Hopleaf Bar and restaurant, said.

Below, experienced cyclists and bike safety advocates share tips on how to get started and arrive safely at your destination while still looking reasonably workplace-presentable.

You don't have to buy fancy equipment to commute by bike

Some cyclists splash out on pricey gear such as foldable bikes, premium padded shorts and waterproof bags. Specialty cycling equipment can be fun, but you can spend less and still have a great ride. If you don't want to purchase a bicycle, consider a bike-sharing program that rents two-wheelers for short rides.

Natalie Frank, 22, didn't have extra cash when she graduated from college and landed a job as a software engineer in the Boston office of technology company Topsort. She asked her friends if anyone had a bicycle they no longer wanted, and a free road bike was hers a few weeks later.

If the tires need air, she fills them using free pumps located in city parks.

“My commute costs zero dollars. That’s crazy,” Frank said.

Wash up and switch outfits to look presentable after a ride

Many cyclists reach their workplaces a few minutes early to freshen up and change into work clothes. Some bike commuters leave a spare set at their desks. Like many others, Frank carries clothing in a backpack along with her laptop.

Ellie Dannenberg, 37, a University of Denver math professor, commutes in gym clothes and carries a work outfit in panniers, which are storage bags and baskets that attach to a bicycle. She stashes a pair of work shoes in her office.

“Investing in pannier bags is a really great thing to do, especially for the commute to work when you probably don’t want to show up super sweaty,” Dannenberg said. “Backpacks are heavy, they’re more uncomfortable, and then you end up with a sweaty back when you get there.”

On Denver's wetter days, Dannenberg wears rain pants and a waterproof jacket that fits over her helmet.

Some office buildings have showers for washing up, but many don't. Keeping body wipes, rinse-free cleanser or deodorant at work can help you feel polished.

Use helmets and positioning to protect yourself on roads

Cyclists and safety advocates strongly recommend wearing a helmet to protect your head in case of a crash. Wearing bright colors or reflective vests and attaching lights and reflectors to the bicycle improves visibility.

Roper wears a yellow-green helmet and has front and rear lights that flash. “You really can't fail to see me,” he said.

To ensure you’re seen when traveling on smaller roads without bike lanes, ride in the middle of the lane, and if you’re at a stop light, go to the front of the traffic, Dannenberg suggested.

Watch out for black ice in the winter. “If you’re running late and there’s ice on the road, it’s worth it to slow down around the corners,” Dannenberg added.

The League of American Bicyclists has videos on its website covering traffic safety and hand signals, which cyclists can use to communicate when they’re turning or stopping.

New riders may want to find a biking companion who can point out safer, less congested routes.

“It’s nice to have a buddy if you know someone who’s commuting by bike in the vicinity that you’re going,” said Alison Dewey, education director at The League of American Bicyclists. “Maybe the most enjoyable route is just going another half-mile in this direction and getting on a trail instead of a more direct way. Someone who’s more experienced might know that.”

Some riders prefer electric bikes with a pedal-assist feature that provides a boost when they want to keep pace with traffic. After stopping at intersections, e-bikes help cyclists get going again, Dewey said.

Watch out for obstacles and swinging car doors to stay safe

When riding next to parked cars, leave space between yourself and those vehicles so you don't get “doored” — a common cycling collision that happens when someone opens a car door in a moving rider's path.

The League of American Bicyclists recommends staying four feet away from parked cars, even if it means positioning yourself outside of a marked bike lane. “It’s more important to be out of the ‘door zone’ than to be in the bike lane,” Dewey said.

Scan parked cars to see if anyone's inside, and if you notice a driver or passenger, move over, because you don't want to be next to that door when it opens, Dewey said.

If you do get into a crash with a car, call the police, gather information to identify the driver and don't hesitate to get medical treatment, advised Daniel Flanzig, a lawyer who is board president of the New York Bicycling Coalition, a nonprofit which advocates for bicycle-friendly policies.

“Be vigilant when you’re riding,” he said. “Things can come at you as a cyclist. Whether it’s a car or a pothole or a road defect, there’s a lot of hazards out there that we have to keep our head on the swivel for.”

Savor the exhilaration of riding outside

Starting the day with outdoor exercise helps many riders show up to work refreshed and energized.

“Biking is genuinely probably one of the best parts of my day. I get to listen to music. I get to be by myself. I get to think,” Frank said. “Biking feels like it’s reclaiming some of the autonomy of my day, like the joy and whimsy of moving around, especially in the city."

Dewey, 52, enjoys views of the Potomac River as she pedals 16 miles to work.

“It brings me a lot of happiness to just ride,” Dewey said. “Being outside is just always good for my emotional health. And honestly, I like being under my own power.”

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Share your stories and questions about workplace wellness at cbussewitz@ap.org. Follow AP’s Be Well coverage, focusing on wellness, fitness, diet and mental health at https://apnews.com/hub/be-well

Thursday

A much drier air mass has moved into Central Florida, limiting shower and thunderstorm development Thursday. Aside from a few isolated coastal showers early this morning and a stray inland storm later this afternoon, most communities will stay dry.

Highs will reach the low 90s along the coast, while much of the I-4 corridor warms into the mid to upper 90s. Heat index values will still top 100 to 105 degrees.

Friday

Moisture begins returning Friday, bringing scattered (30-40%) afternoon and evening showers and thunderstorms back to much of Central Florida. The highest rain chances will be from the Orlando metro southward, while areas farther north may stay a little drier.

A few stronger storms could produce frequent lightning, wind gusts over 40 mph, and locally heavy downpours.

Weekend outlook

The forecast calls for a return to a more typical Florida summer pattern this weekend as winds shift out of the southwest and deeper tropical moisture spreads across the state.

Scattered to numerous afternoon and evening thunderstorms (40-50%) are expected Saturday through early next week, with the greatest coverage likely from Orlando southward and along the east coast during the late afternoon and evening as sea breezes collide.

While rain chances increase, the heat isn’t going anywhere. High temperatures will remain in the low to mid 90s for most locations, with parts of the interior climbing into the upper 90s Saturday. Heat index values could approach Heat Advisory levels in some areas, especially inland.

The event, held at Lake Buena Vista High School, was organized by CareerSource Central Florida and Orange County Commissioner Nicole Wilson. It was initially planned for displaced Spirit employees but later expanded to include anyone struggling to find work.

Anya Alexandrova, who spent six years with the airline, said she still carries her Spirit lanyard and badge on her purse as a reminder of the job she did not expect to lose.

“We had an amazing team and I miss them all,” Alexandrova said.

Alexandrova said the loss became real when she arrived at work and saw flights canceled across the terminals.

“Walking into every terminal and seeing that every flight was canceled — it was terrifying,” she said.

Despite the abrupt layoffs, Alexandrova said events like the job fair have helped her feel supported.

“Things like this, events like this … you feel the support,” she said.

Wilson said the goal is to help people regain stability and connect with employers as they work to rebuild after a sudden disruption to their income.

“We want to make sure that we can still attain that for people’s quality of life, for their future reliability on a paycheck,” Wilson said.

Employers and organizations set up booths in the school cafeteria, where attendees exchanged resumes, asked questions and, in some cases, interviewed on the spot.

For Alexandrova, the job fair represented a step toward what she hopes is a fresh start.

For more information on CareerSource job fairs, click here.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office announced on Thursday that Teresa Capps Martyn has been found safe.

PREVIOUS STORY:

Marion County Sheriff’s Office deputies are searching for a missing woman who was last seen in the early morning hours Wednesday in Dunnellon.

Teresa Capps Martyn was last seen at approximately 4:30 a.m. on July 22 in the 5100 block of SW Azalea Court in Dunnellon, where witnesses reported she was yelling for help.

Vehicle Found Abandoned in Rainbow Park Estates

Deputies later located Martyn’s vehicle abandoned on the side of the road in the Rainbow Park Estates area. Her phone and wallet were still inside the vehicle.

A spokesperson for the MCSO told News 6 that it’s possible she was intoxicated or under the influence when she got out of her car.

Deputies also confirmed that Martyn was last spotted at a Circle K located at SW 60th Ave. and W. Highway 40 around 7:40 a.m. She left that location on foot.

Martyn was last seen wearing a red crop top, a white skirt, and red-and-black Jordan sneakers. Investigators note that one of her shoes was found near the location where she was last seen — she may be wearing only one shoe or may be barefoot.

Call 911 With Any Information

Anyone who has seen Teresa Capps Martyn or has information about her whereabouts is asked to call 911 immediately.

A News 6 investigation found one Orlando woman paid $125 to a third-party website, only to receive the same PDF available for free on the official U.S. government site.

Alex needed to renew her passport before a Caribbean trip. She typed “passport renewal” into a search engine and clicked the first link that appeared, a sponsored result for a site called uspassportandvisa.org, believing she was on an official government page.

“I was wanting to take a trip this month to the Caribbean for the summer,” Alex said.

Alex filled out her application directly on the uspassportandvisa.org website. When she finished, the site emailed her a PDF of the completed form — the same form she could have downloaded and filled out herself for free at the official U.S. government site. She still had to submit the application to the State Department on her own. She only realized her mistake when she checked her credit card statement.

“When I went on my bank statement, this is what appeared — Easy Form Filler,” Alex said. “That’s not even a government official site.”

Alex contacted the site and received a refund.

In response to her complaints, uspassportandvisa.org states its role is to ensure applications are accurate and ready for submission to the U.S. Department of State. However, the site does not submit the application to the State Department on the user’s behalf.

The site also posts a disclaimer at the top of its webpage stating it is a privately owned organization not associated with any government agency.

But Better Business Bureau CEO Holly Salmons says most people miss it, especially when using a phone.

“They believed that they were on a government site,” Salmons said. “They believed they were completing the standard traditional process. And it wasn’t until they had submitted their information and given the money that they realized really all they were getting back in return was a completed form, that they then had to still process and submit themselves.”

Salmons says sponsored search results are a key part of the problem. When a result says “sponsored” at the top of a search page, that is paid ad placement, not an endorsement by the search engine.

“It can be really tempting to just go to a search engine, plug it in and click and go,” Salmons said. “But consumers should note that those sponsored results at the top of the page — that is essentially a paid ad.”

Domain records show uspassportandvisa.org launched in January of last year. Since then, the Better Business Bureau has logged more than 700 complaints against the site.

Salmons warns the risks go beyond losing money.

“Not only are these people not getting what they expect, they’re giving money, they’re giving very personal information to who knows who,” she said. “Consumers reported feeling very afraid or unassured about what’s going to happen now that my information is out there.”

She also notes that some consumers’ credit cards flagged the transaction as fraudulent before the consumer even realized what happened, providing a layer of protection that debit cards and payment apps do not offer.

“Even though the money may not be gone, even though the transaction may not have gone through, there is currency assigned to the value of our personal information,” Salmons said. “Where that information is going to go, how it’s going to be traded or sold, is unclear.”

The BBB is also tracking a broader trend: more copycat sites are appearing.

“If it works, there are going to be copycats,” Salmons said. “We want consumers to be aware, especially when doing a search online, to really inspect the search results.”

Ryan Dooley, Acting Managing Director for Passport Affairs at the U.S. Department of State, says there is one official website for passport services: travel.state.gov.

“That is the only official website for passport-related information,” Dooley said. “All the forms are on that site, they can be downloaded, filled out, and brought into one of our passport application acceptance facilities.”

Dooley says the State Department anticipates processing more than 23 million passport applications this year. For first-time applicants, the process starts at a local passport acceptance facility, such as a post office or clerk of court, where applicants bring their DS-11 application, passport photo, proof of citizenship, and valid ID. Routine processing takes four to six weeks; expedited processing takes two to three weeks.

Adults renewing a passport can use the State Department’s online renewal system at travel.state.gov, which allows applicants to take their own photo using a laptop or smartphone.

Dooley says third-party sites charging fees for forms is a known issue.

“Those companies charge a fee for the same service that we can provide you without that additional fee,” he said. “We want to make sure that all Americans reach our services directly.”

For travelers in Central Florida with urgent travel needs — typically defined as travel within a matter of days — the current option is to make an appointment at the Miami Passport Agency.

That is about to change. Dooley announced that the State Department plans to open an official passport agency in Orlando. The agency is expected to open in the fall of 2027, just north of the Orlando International Airport.

“Those citizens in the Orlando area who have urgent travel will no longer have to go to Miami for an urgent passport,” Dooley said. “We know that South Florida is a growing population and we’re really happy to be able to eventually open that passport agency to help your viewers.”

Both the State Department and the BBB stress the same bottom line: the passport application and renewal form process is free of charge. You will pay government fees to obtain or renew a passport, but there is no cost to download, complete, or submit the application form itself.

Salmons recommends completing the process on a laptop or desktop — not a phone — so you can clearly inspect the site’s address bar and look for red flags before submitting any personal information.

“Prevention is really the measure,” Salmons said, “because it’s unclear what’s going to happen once you hit submit.”

The official U.S. State Department passport website is travel.state.gov.

Travelers can also contact the National Passport Information Center at 1-877-487-2778 for assistance.

The French Football Federation said in a statement on Thursday that its president Philippe Diallo will name the coach at a news conference at the headquarters in Paris.

The 54-year-old Zidane has not coached since leaving Real Madrid in 2021. The midfield great coached Madrid to three straight Champions League titles from 2016-18.

Deschamps was in charge of France for 14 years and stepped down after the World Cup, where Les Bleus lost in the semifinals to Spain.

France won the World Cup under Deschamps in 2018 and lost the final on penalties in 2022. Les Bleus also lost the European Championship final on home soil in 2016.

Zinedine was France's playmaker when it won the 1998 World Cup, scoring twice in the final in a 3-0 win against Brazil, and starred two years later when France won the European Championship. He won the men’s Ballon d’Or in 1998.

Zidane played 108 games for France scoring 31 goals, including a deft Panenka-style penalty in the 2006 World Cup final, which Les Bleus lost after he was sent off in extra time for headbutting Italian defender Marco Materazzi in the chest.

France's next games are away to Turkey in the Nations League on Sept. 25, followed by a match in Belgium three days later. France then faces Italy at the Stade de France on Oct. 2.

___

AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Shah, an emergency physician, will face Republican Jay Feely, a former NFL kicker who was endorsed by President Donald Trump in his primary, in the fall. Before becoming political opponents, Feely and Shah were part of the same team — the New York Jets. Shah was a doctor on the sidelines, while Feely was the kicker.

The DCCC backed Marlene Galán-Woods, a former Republican who switched parties at the beginning of Trump’s first term.

The competition for the 1st Congressional District, an affluent area that includes northeast Phoenix, Scottsdale, Fountain Hills and Paradise Valley, is expected to help determine control of the U.S. House. Although Republicans hold a voter registration advantage, the district has shifted toward the center over the last decade.

The seat is open because Republican Rep. David Schweikert ran for governor, losing to Rep. Andy Biggs in the GOP primary on Tuesday.

The DCCC's decision to endorse Galán-Woods, a former television journalist in Phoenix, puzzled local Democrats because there was little ideological difference between her and Shah. Both are moderates, and the race was not a proxy fight in the party's deepening feud between progressives and centrists.

“Our victory in this primary was a grassroots victory where Arizona voters made their voices heard,” Shah said Wednesday night in a statement that did not address the DCCC snub. “Now, it’s my job to earn the support of every voter in this district.”

Rep. Suzan DelBene, the DCCC Chair, issued a statement calling Feely an “extremist” and saying Shah “will always put his community first,” but did not address the controversy surrounding the support for Galán-Woods.

The National Republican Congressional Committee quickly released a digital ad Wednesday attacking Shah, labeling him a socialist and tying him to progressives in Congress.

“I’m a political outsider committed to delivering results,” Feely said in a statement.

The race was in some ways a replay of 2024, when Shah narrowly won in a crowded primary field that included Galán-Woods and lost in the general election. The DCCC did not endorse in the primary that year but backed Shah in the general.

The DCCC announced its support for Galán-Woods in May, when it added her to a list of candidates it was supporting in Republican-controlled districts. At the time, DelBene talked up Galán-Woods' experience in broadcast journalism but said nothing about Shah.

“I wasn’t exactly my party’s pick,” Shah told supporters Tuesday night. “And I was willing to stand up to that establishment. And that’s what the voters of this district want.”

Still, he has said he would work with the DCCC if nominated. He will need support from the party and its donors to win what's likely to be a tough race in a district Trump carried narrowly in 2024. Former Democratic President Joe Biden won the district in 2020 even as Schweikert was reelected.

Antiestablishment fervor has spooked congressional leaders, who fear that swing voters will see some insurgent candidates as too extreme and squander Democrats’ opportunity to take advantage of Trump’s unpopularity.

Last month progressive Randy Villegas beat a DCCC-backed candidate for a top battleground district in California's Central Valley. And similarly in Maine, Matt Dunlap defeated a more moderate rival backed by the party.

DCCC support generally brings an influx of money and staffing, both from the party itself and from the donors and interest groups that take its cues. But establishment support has been a turnoff for some voters.

“The Democratic Party needs to grow up and wake up,” said Maria Liong, a 24-year-old medical student who volunteered for Shah’s campaign. “They need to realize that they want candidates who listen to their people.”

In the GOP primary, Feely defeated Joseph Chaplik, a former state lawmaker popular with grassroots activists, for the party's nomination. He was in the NFL with seven teams over 14 seasons, including with the Arizona Cardinals from 2010 to 2013. He became an NFL broadcaster after retiring in 2014.

Feely and Shah overlapped on the Jets during the 2008 and 2009 seasons, when Shah worked home games as an airway management physician, according to his campaign. Every NFL game has an airway management doctor on the sideline to intubate and resuscitate a catastrophically injured player.

“It’s an old relationship,” Feely said of Shah on Tuesday night, before it was clear which Democrat he would face in November. “But whoever it is, I want to do this the right way. I want to run this the right way.”

___

This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Rep. Suzan DelBene’s last name on first reference, from DeBene.

___

Associated Press writers Jacques Billeaud and Wufei Yu contributed.

In all, 14 eateries were told to shut down — at least temporarily.

Per health inspection records, these closures stemmed from problems with pests, storage issues, and time/temperature violations for certain foods, among various other concerns.

However, nearly all of the affected restaurants were ultimately allowed to reopen upon meeting inspection standards.

The full list of Central Florida eateries forced to close between July 13 - 19 is as follows:

ALTAMONTE SPRINGS

• 2 Hermanos Tacos & Burrito — 451 E. Altamonte Drive
• • Closed on July 15
  • • Five dead roaches found on premises
    • Over 20 live roaches found on premises
  • Met inspection standards on July 17

CLEARWATER

• Nautical Brews Pizza — 2481 N. McMullen Booth Road
• • Closed on July 15
  • • Two dead roaches found on the floor beneath the triple sink
    • Over 120 rodent droppings found on premises
    • Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength
  • Met inspection standards on July 17

CLERMONT

• Crooked Spoon Gastropub — 200 Citrus Tower Blvd.
• • Closed on July 15
  • • Five dead roaches found on premises
    • Four live roaches found in dry storage beneath canned dry goods rack (operator was aware and had pest control come by)
    • Nine roach droppings found beneath canned dry goods shelf
    • Time violations for sweet onion jam, SoCo wing sauce, and bourbon cream
  • Met inspection standards on July 17
• Papa John’s Pizza — 4420 S. Hwy. 27
• • Closed on July 15
  • • Two dead roaches found in control device in hot water heater closet
    • One dead mouse found in trap in hot water heater closet
    • Twenty rodent droppings found in hot water heater closet
  • Follow-up inspection required as of July 16

EDGEWATER

• Jan & Lib’s Hi-Tops Lounge — 319 N. Ridgewood Ave.
• • Closed on July 13
  • • Steaks kept over beer in walk-in cooler
    • Nearly 40 rodent droppings found on premises
  • Met inspection standards on July 14

LADY LAKE

• Latin Flavors Bar and Grill — 13769 N. US Hwy. 441
• • Closed on July 14
  • • Over 80 dead roaches found on premises, along with one egg sac
    • Eight live roaches found on premises
    • Roach excrement found in white freezer gasket and hinge
    • Time/temperature violations for cooked pork, refried beans, and cooked rice
  • Met inspection standards on July 16

MELBOURNE

• Las Comays Lonchera (Food Truck) — 5559 N. Wickham Road
• • Closed on July 14
  • • Establishment operating with no potable running water
    • Time/temperature violations for pasta salad; salsa; cut melon; cooked rice; cooked pork; and cooked black beans
  • Met inspection standards on July 16

ORLANDO

• Uncle Dieu’s (Food Truck) — 9318 E. Colonial Drive
• • Closed on July 16
  • • Two dead roaches found on premises
    • Eight live roaches found on premises
    • Time/temperature violations for shell eggs and sliced American cheese
    • Glass cleaner stored next to soy sauce and stove
    • Raw shell eggs stored over sliced cheese in cooler
    • Owner touched green onions with bare hands
    • Leak from potable water tank creating standing water beneath the tank, leaking to the ground
    • Metal stem-type thermometer soiled
  • Met inspection standards on July 18

SANFORD

• Colorado’s Prime Steak — 3863 S. Orlando Drive
• • Closed on July 16
  • • Three dead roaches found on premises
    • Seventeen live roaches found on premises
    • Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license
  • Met inspection standards on July 17
• Mel’s Family Diner — 3221 S. Orlando Drive
• • Closed on July 15
  • • Seventeen rodent droppings found on premises
    • Rodent chew marks spotted on two potatoes inside potato bag
    • Operating with an expired Division of Hotels and Restaurants license
    • Dishmachine chlorine sanitizer not at proper minimum strength
    • Vacuum breaker missing at hose bib
  • Follow-up inspection required as of July 16

ST. PETERSBURG

• Hungry Howie’s Pizza and Subs — 6570 Central Ave.
• • Closed on July 16
  • • One dead roach found on premises
    • Eight rodent droppings found on premises (operator was aware of rodent issue; trap were set and an exterminator was hired)
    • Operator handled cellphone and continued engaging in food preparation without changing gloves and washing hands
  • Met inspection standards on July 17

TAMPA

• Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar — 4006 W. Hillsborough Ave.
• • Closed on July 14
  • • Five dead roaches found on premises
    • Thirteen live roaches found on premises, including five stuck in glue traps
  • Met inspection standards on July 15
• Farandulero Pizzeria (Food Truck) — 9743 W. Hillsborough Ave.
• • Closed on July 16
  • • Over 20 dead roaches found on premises
    • Over 100 live roaches found on premises, primarily inside cabinet beneath three-compartment sink
    • Roach droppings and four roach eggs found inside cabinet beneath three-compartment sink
    • Nine live fly-like insects found inside food truck
    • Two bags of tamales stored inside nonfood-grade shopping bags in reach-in cooler
  • Facility remained closed as of July 21
• NY NY Pizza — 1512 E. 7 Ave.
• • Closed on July 16
  • • One live fly at front service counter
    • Fifteen rodent droppings found on premises, primarily on floor behind fountain drink station
    • Time/temperature violation for pizzas with no time marking
    • Quaternary ammonium sanitizer not at proper minimum strength for manual warewashing
  • Met inspection standards on July 17

This includes several proposals for amendments to the state constitution.

Many of these proposals involved property tax reform — a major focus of Gov. Ron DeSantis.

[RELATED: DeSantis discusses ‘Save Our Homes’ property tax plan]

One such amendment from a special session managed to garner approval from lawmakers, sending it to the ballot in November. It will need at least 60% support from voters during the general election to take effect.

But around 30 other proposals died in the Legislature this year, meaning that voters won’t get the chance to consider them.

The full list of these failed amendments is as follows:

HJR 11F — Homestead Exemptions

House Joint Resolution 11F would have increased the state’s homestead exemption from non-school property taxes, though not from certain local add-on taxes.

The amendment would also mandate the creation of a trust fund to replace funding lost as a result of this increased homestead exemption.

In addition, the amendment would prohibit local governments from reducing their public safety funding.

HJR 23D — State Reapportionment

House Joint Resolution 23D came about during the redistricting special session this year, and it would have changed how redistricting is performed.

For example, the bill would create three independent redistricting commissions and increase the number of legislative districts in the state.

HJR 27 — Local Term Limits

House Joint Resolution 27 would have set up term limits of 12 consecutive years for county commissioners and school board members.

After that 12-year limit, prospective candidates would have to wait four more years before running again.

HJR 201 — Eliminating Property Taxes

House Joint Resolution 201 would have established a homestead exemption for all non-school property taxes.

In addition, the amendment would prohibit local governments from reducing their law enforcement funding.

HJR 203 — Phased-Out Property Taxes

House Joint Resolution 203 would have increased the homestead exemption for non-school property taxes by $100,000 per year for 10 years.

Afterward, the amendment would make all homestead properties exempt from non-school property taxes beginning on Jan. 1, 2037.

In addition, the amendment would prohibit local governments from reducing their law enforcement funding.

HJR 205 — Property Tax Exemptions (Seniors)

House Joint Resolution 205 would exempt residents ages 65 and over from paying non-school taxes on their homes.

In addition, the amendment would prohibit local governments from reducing their law enforcement funding.

HJR 207 — Property Tax Exemptions (25%)

House Joint Resolution 207 would have applied a homestead exemption for non-school property taxes equal to 25% of the remaining assessed value after applying existing exemptions.

In addition, the amendment would prohibit local governments from reducing their law enforcement funding.

HJR 209 — Insured Home Exemptions

House Joint Resolution 209 would have increased homestead exemptions for non-school property taxes.

Under current law, the property tax exemptions are imposed as follows:

Instead of the $50,000 - $75,000 exemption range, though, HJR 209 would extend it to $25,000 - $200,000.

However, this only applies if the property is subject to a comprehensive homeowners insurance policy.

In addition, the amendment would prohibit local governments from reducing their funding for law enforcement, firefighters and first responders.

HJR 211 — Accrued Tax Benefits

House Joint Resolution 211 would have allowed the full value of the accrued benefit from special limitations on homestead property tax assessments to be transferred to a new homestead for non-school levies.

In addition, the amendment would prohibit local governments from reducing their law enforcement funding.

HJR 213 — Assessment Limits

House Joint Resolution 213 would have limited homestead assessment increases for non-school property taxes to once every three years.

The proposal also limits assessment increases for non-homestead properties to 15% once every three years.

In addition, the amendment would prohibit local governments from reducing their law enforcement funding.

SJR 270 — Property Tax Exemptions (Seniors)

Senate Joint Resolution 270 would have exempted residents ages 65 and over from paying non-school taxes on their homes.

This exemption applies to homes owned and maintained as a permanent residence for at least five years, with a household income of $350,000 or less (adjusted annually for inflation).

SJR 274 — Property Tax Exemptions (Long-Term)

Senate Joint Resolution 274 would have prevented the assessed value of properties from going up.

This prohibition would apply to properties that have been owned and lived in for at least 20 years.

The proposal would also grant properties an extra homestead tax exemption equal to 50% of their assessed values (not including school district levies) if they’ve been owned and lived in as a primary residence for at least 30 years.

SJR 278 — Assessed Value Limits (Homes)

Senate Joint Resolution 278 would have limited the assessed values of certain homes in the state.

More specifically, the proposal would apply to new homestead properties established after a change of ownership that had an assessed value of under $500,000 in the preceding year.

Under this amendment, the assessed value of such a property could not be raised by over 150% in a given year for property taxes.

SJR 282 — Assessed Value Limits (Businesses)

Senate Joint Resolution 282 would have limited the assessed value of real property used for commercial purposes by small businesses.

More specifically, the proposal would prevent the assessed value from rising by over 3% or the CPI percentage change — whichever is lower.

SJR 550 — Tangible Personal Property

Senate Joint Resolution 550 would have prohibited counties, school districts and municipalities from levying property taxes on tangible personal property.

An identical bill was filed in the House, though that one also died.

HJR 583 — Religious Expression

House Joint Resolution 583 sought to protect students’ and staff’s religious expression in Florida schools.

This includes the expression of religious beliefs in schoolwork, attire, prayer, activities, moments of silence and opening remarks at high school championship contests.

One of the main provisions in the amendment says that all first-period teachers must set aside 1-2 minutes daily for a moment of silence.

An identical bill was filed in the Senate, though that one also died.

HJR 619 — State Reapportionment

House Joint Resolution 619 would have revised the Florida reapportionment process by creating three independent redistricting commissions: one each for the House, Senate and congressional districts.

Each of these three commissions would be responsible for coming up with a reapportionment map, which the state Legislature must choose between.

A similar bill was filed in the Senate, though that one also died.

HJR 787 — Local Taxing Ban

House Joint Resolution 787 would have taken away the ability of counties and school districts to levy property taxes.

If approved, another bill associated with this proposal — HB 791 — would take effect at the same time as HJR 787.

HB 791 would impose a 5% transaction fee for all real estate sales, aimed at helping counties make up for any funding lost due to property tax cuts.

HJR 793 — Housing Inheritance

House Joint Resolution 793 provides that a transfer of homestead property by inheritance is not considered a change of ownership when it comes to homestead property assessment.

If approved, another bill associated with this proposal — HB 795 — would take effect at the same time as HJR 787.

HB 795 would clarify that upon the death of a homeowner, this transfer is considered between the owner and another who makes the property his/her homestead within one year.

An identical bill was filed in the Senate, though that one also died.

HJR 903 — Non-Homestead Valuations

House Joint Resolution 903 would have reduced the maximum percentage that the assessed value of non-homestead properties may be increased annually, from 10% to 3%.

HJR 947 — Reorganizing Government

House Joint Resolution 947 would have moved the seat of government from Tallahassee to within 100 miles of the population center of the state by 2043.

It also makes several other changes regarding the Legislature, including:

• Setting lawmaker salaries to the state’s median household income
• Establishes independent redistricting commissions to generate maps
• Expands the Legislature by tying the number of Senate and House districts to population, rather than fixed chamber sizes
• Authorizes recall elections for statewide officers and members of the Legislature

SJR 1364 — Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission

Senate Joint Resolution 1364 would have revised the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s composition.

Under this proposal, the new standards for the FWC would be as follows:

• There must be nine qualified members, instead of just seven
• At least one commissioner must be a full-time resident of one of the five regional administrative divisions established by the FWC
• At least three commissioners must also have:
• • A postgraduate degree in the field of conservation, biology or wildlife management
  • Direct experience in fish/wildlife conservation or management

The amendment also set up a new schedule for implementing the revised membership of the FWC.

SJR 1406 — Constitutional Amendments

Senate Joint Resolution 1406 would have changed the number of voters needed to approve a constitutional amendment.

While Florida law currently requires 60% of voter approval for an amendment to pass, SJR 1406 would lower that threshold to a simple majority.

HJR 1411 — Lowered Property Values

House Joint Resolution 1411 would have prohibited any additional increases in the assessed value of properties in the state if the just valuation of such a property has gone down since the previous assessment.

This refers to homestead and non-homestead properties that are subject to the current 3% and 10% assessment limitations, respectively.

A similar bill was filed in the Senate, though that one also died.

HJR 1527 — Emergency Powers

House Joint Resolution 1527 refers to situations where the governor declares a state of emergency.

Under this amendment, if a state of emergency is required to be extended beyond 60 days, the governor may do so only if the Legislature authorizes it.

An identical bill was filed in the Senate, though that one also died.

About 10 attackers opened fire and threw pipe bombs at soldiers at a security check point near a residential area in Narathiwat province Wednesday evening before fleeing, according to the regional Internal Security Operations Command. It said six civilians were injured during the attack, including a 10-year-old boy who remains hospitalized in stable condition.

Photos released by authorities showed a group identified as the attackers, dressed in black clothing and hats and riding on the back of a black pickup truck. Security officials said the truck was later found abandoned and set on fire about 21 kilometers (13 miles) away from the scene.

They said the attackers had stolen three AK-47 rifles, three bullet proof vests and three mobile phones from the soldiers, who were members of the country's paramilitary Ranger force, which operates as an auxiliary to the regular army and is usually deployed in border regions.

Narathiwat, along with Yala and Pattani, are Thailand’s southernmost provinces and are the only ones with Muslim majorities in the predominantly Buddhist nation. Since 2004, the provinces have been the site of a Muslim separatist insurgency that killed thousands.

Muslim residents have long complained of being treated like second-class citizens in Thailand, and separatist movements have been periodically active for decades. Heavy-handed crackdowns have fueled the discontent. Fighting continues to this day, but at a lower level.

The Internal Security Operations Command Region 4, which oversees security operations in southern Thailand, vowed in a Facebook post to “expedite the investigation and search for the perpetrators with the best efforts.”

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul condemned the attack, saying it was a “terrorist attack that clearly aimed at killing government officials, and a serious threat to national security,” according to government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek.

Footage aired by public broadcaster Thai PBS showed homes and properties of residents nearby were also damaged. One home had damage to its roof, windows and doors, while a motorcycle parked outside the house was destroyed. Another home had bullet holes scattered across its metal front gate.

Speaking at a health summit in Ghana on Wednesday, Dr. Jean Kaseya, director-general of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, said 1,031 deaths have been confirmed.

“These are people dying. They are dying because we don’t have vaccines, we don’t have medicine, we don’t have funding,” he added.

The latest update from Congo’s Ministry of Health showed that as of Monday, 2,473 cases had been recorded in the latest outbreak. At least 737 patients were in isolation or hospitalized, it said.

The outbreak, which was declared on May 15, is unlike most previous Ebola outbreaks because the Bundibugyo virus responsible for it has no approved vaccines or treatments. It has also killed more people at a faster rate than any outbreak on record, including the 2013-2016 outbreak that is considered the worst on record with over 11,000 deaths out of at least 28,000 cases. That outbreak took about eight months from the first case to reach 1,000 deaths.

Conflict and community resistance are complicating the response

The World Health Organization has said the true scale of the outbreak could be ⁠two to four times larger than official figures indicate. Some communities at its epicenter also remain difficult to reach, mainly because of fighting involving rebel groups.

Ebola is rare, but highly contagious and can be contracted through contact with bodily fluids such as vomit, blood or semen. It can cause severe illness and is often fatal.

Officials have warned that 80% of new cases have emerged outside known chains of transmission, a sign the outbreak is spreading faster than health officials can track it even as they step up their response in Ituri province, the epicenter of the outbreak, and four other provinces where cases have been recorded.

Community resistance to Ebola teams, particularly those carrying out safe burials, has also hampered the response. Robert Ndjalonga, head of civil protection in Ituri province, said some communities have refused to allow burial teams to operate because they prefer traditional burials, increasing the risk of further transmission.

“The biggest challenge remains resistance from or outright refusal by some communities to accept response teams," Ndjalonga said. "On several occasions, burial teams have had to be escorted by security forces to ensure that safe and dignified burials could be carried out without incident.”

Shortages of burial supplies have delayed responses to reported deaths, while some affected health zones still lack operational burial teams, Ndjalonga said.

Attacks on health facilities and response teams have also forced front-line workers and aid groups out of some areas. Some health workers have gone on strike, saying they haven’t been paid since the outbreak started.

A member of a team carrying out safe Ebola burials was recently injured when assailants threw stones at the team’s vehicle following a burial in Bunia last week, according to provincial civil protection authorities.

The attack highlighted the challenges facing the response in eastern Congo. In Ituri’s Irumu territory, the local military administrator recently described Ebola as a greater threat than the Islamic State-affiliated Allied Democratic Forces insurgency and urged residents to support, rather than attack, health workers.

Containment efforts are faltering

A humanitarian worker involved in the response, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak publicly, cited poor coordination between response agencies, delays in transferring patients to treatment centers and waits of more than four days for some Ebola test results.

“At times, it’s unclear who is doing what and where,” the worker said.

The delays have led some patients to leave health facilities before they can be diagnosed, increasing the risk of further transmission, the worker said.

Africa CDC head Kaseya called for intensified efforts to slow the outbreak on the first day of the health summit in Ghana Tuesday.

“If we do not stop this outbreak today, it could become one of the worst Ebola outbreaks the world has ever documented,” Kaseya said.

Less than 9% of the contacts of confirmed patients who are expected to be traced are currently being monitored, far below the level needed to contain the outbreak, according to Africa CDC. More than 60% of deaths are occurring in the community before patients can receive care.

Pierre Akilimali, the Ebola response incident manager at the National Public Health Institute of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said the high number of community deaths suggests many infections are not being detected or isolated in time, allowing the virus to continue spreading.

Experts warn of a worsening crisis

Last month, researchers at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention used computer modeling to estimate how the outbreak could evolve. In a worst-case scenario, they said it could approach the scale of the 2014-2016 West Africa epidemic.

“There’s never been an Ebola outbreak that started with so many cases because it was so late to be identified,” said Trish Newport, emergency program manager for Doctors Without Borders, who has been working in Congo.

“It’s like the outbreak is outrunning the response,” Newport said.

University of Pittsburgh epidemiologist Dr. Jean Nachega, who is advising African health authorities, said he does not expect the outbreak to reach the CDC’s worst-case scenario but cautioned that the challenges remain “huge.”

___

Asadu reported from Abuja, Nigeria. Constant Same Bagalwa in Bunia, Congo, Mike Stobbe in New York and Naa Adorkor Cudjoe in Accra, Ghana, contributed.

The handover took place late Wednesday during a meeting with FBI Director Kash Patel at Prabowo’s residence in the Indonesian capital Jakarta. Patel arrived in Jakarta shortly after talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet concerning joint efforts to combat international online scam operations that cheat victims out of billions of dollars annually.

The exchange underscored growing cooperation between Indonesia and the U.S. in recovering stolen cultural heritage and returning the items to the country of origin, Indonesia Culture Minister Fadli Zon said.

The artifacts from Papua are part of the cultural heritage of the Dani and Asmat tribes and Lake Sentani communities. They were repatriated through cooperation between Indonesia’s Culture Ministry and the FBI after provenance research established the objects had been smuggled out of Indonesia, Zon said.

“These are very valuable objects because this repatriation process is part of our effort to restore our cultural sovereignty,” Zon said, adding that the artifacts will be displayed at Indonesia’s National Museum.

Images from Indonesia's Presidential Secretariat show several polished stone ax heads and ceremonial objects traditionally associated with Papuan societies.

Traditional Papuan stone axes were more than utilitarian tools. Among highland communities such as the Dani, they historically served as symbols of wealth and status, were exchanged in marriage and ceremonial transactions and were often passed down as treasured ancestral heirlooms, the Culture Ministry said.

The return is the latest in a series of efforts by U.S. authorities to recover and repatriate Southeast Asian cultural property that was trafficked through international antiquities networks, the U.S. Embassy in Jakarta said in a statement.

Earlier this month, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York Jay Clayton announced the return of two bronze, Buddhist sculptures depicting Avalokiteshvara from the eighth century, the embassy said.

During a repatriation ceremony at the Indonesian Consulate on July 10, Clayton said U.S. authorities would continue working with Homeland Security Investigations to combat illicit trafficking in cultural property and return stolen artworks to their origin countries.

The sculptures were stolen from Indonesian archaeological sites and sold to an American collector by the late antiquities dealer Douglas Latchford. The sculptures were among 34 Southeast Asian antiquities voluntarily relinquished by the collector in 2021 after investigators determined they had been looted.

The Indonesian sculptures were removed decades ago by organized looters before entering the international art market through Latchford, a Bangkok-based dealer who was indicted by U.S. authorities in 2019 for allegedly orchestrating a large-scale trafficking scheme involving antiquities looted from Cambodia and other Southeast Asian countries. The case was later dismissed following his death, the U.S. embassy said.

The FBI has previously assisted Indonesia in recovering stolen cultural objects, including bronze statues and artifacts from historical and archaeological sites, according to Zon, who expressed hope that the cooperation on cultural repatriation and restitution would continue.

Indonesia has intensified efforts in recent years to track down cultural treasures scattered abroad through colonial-era collecting, theft and illicit trafficking, including from the Netherlands, which colonized Indonesia for centuries.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner noted the timely white ibis in his welcoming remarks, joking with the crowd that it wouldn't be an event in Brisbane without the appearance of a “bin chicken,” as the bird is colloquially known.

There's a small, humorous push locally for the ibis to become a mascot for the Brisbane Games rather than one of Australia's more widely known native animals such as the kangaroo or the koala.

Schrinner didn't miss a beat and the bird moved off before the big digital Omega clock officially started counting down Thursday in the downtown Queen Street mall.

That was a matter of hours after the Games Independent Infrastructure and Coordination Authority published revamped designs for the National Aquatic Center that will host Olympic events.

A ticking timeline

The new clock put even more emphasis on the diminishing time for construction for the Olympics, with no major works yet underway on the 3.6 billion Australian dollar ($2.6 billion) main stadium almost five years after Brisbane was awarded rights to the Summer Games.

Andrew Liveris, president of the Brisbane 2032 organizing committee, said there's no cause for panic.

“Six years is perfectly fine in construction, even under stress conditions,” he said. “I’m very confident that the contingencies are built (in) to allow that to happen.”

Liveris said he briefed IOC president Kirsty Coventry as recently as Monday in New York, in the wake of the World Cup final.

“We had a long conversation about timelines, venues, sports, and we’re confident it’s not 6 minutes to midnight,” he said.

The International Olympic Committee last year backed the Queensland government’s revised venue plan after several false starts, saying the Brisbane Games were “on the right path.”

There are still groups opposed to building major sports venues in the downtown parklands, and more general concern over rising costs of staging the Games.

GIICA, the coordination authority, only took over possession of the Victoria Park site for the 63,000-seat main stadium last month, after police removed protesters.

Questions over aquatic center revamp

It won't get control of the nearby site for the aquatic venue until September. Organizers haven't revealed if the temporary Olympic capacity — initially projected to be 25,000 — for the aquatic center had been scaled down to avoid cost blowouts.

Whatever that temporary capacity is, Schrinner said the legacy outcome — a permanent 8,000-seat venue — would be “fantastic.”

The Queensland state government, which is the major backer of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games with support from the federal and local governments, sent the original concept for the aquatics venue back to planning for budgetary reasons.

The Queensland “government is doing the responsible thing, in these conditions and changing costs,” Schrinner said. “You have to make adjustments to the plan, and that’s exactly what’s happening, it’s a responsible thing to do.”

More than a dozen new sports venues are in the pipeline, including a contentious rowing center in Rockhampton, a coastal city in Central Queensland. Critics argue the impact of tidal flow and crocodile habitat in the Fitzroy River make it unsuitable to host Olympic events.

Liveris said all venues were still going through validation reporting, including rowing.

“Right now we’ve had no red lights and some very good greens, and a couple of yellows,” he said. “And they’re being worked on for later this year.”

Liveris said he was preparing a revised “bottom-up budget” to present early next year, after the IOC has finalized the sports program.

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AP sports: https://apnews.com/hub/sports

Cellphone video of the shooting, where three gunshots could be heard, circulated on social media.

Madison Police Chief John Patterson stressed at a news conference that the footage circulating was just one perspective of what happened.

“I want to take a moment to honestly and sincerely offer my heartfelt sympathies to his family for this loss," Patterson said. The man killed was in his 30s, Patterson said, but police did not release his name.

The shooting happened on a city street in a popular neighborhood lined with restaurants, bars, shops and residential homes less than 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) from the state Capitol. Footage shows numerous cars stopped in the intersection with people watching as it unfolded.

A white police officer shot and killed Tony Robinson, who was biracial, on the same street in 2015, a shooting that spurred large protests. The district attorney did not file charges against police in that case, determining the officer was justified.

The race of the officer who fired his gun on Wednesday and that of the man killed were not released by police.

But Black advocacy groups in Madison quickly spoke out against the crime and said they believed the man was Black.

“Another Black man is dead on a Madison street, and our community watched him die before we even knew his name,” said Brandi Grayson, the head of the Madison-based Black community advocacy group Urban Triage. “That is the cruelty of state violence.”

A crowd formed near where the shooting occurred on Wednesday with people chanting, “Arrest the cops!”

They placed flowers and candles where the man was shot and held a vigil, the crowd continuing to grow as the sun set.

Protesters also marched to the Wisconsin State Capitol and took the stage at a summer concert series, demanding the name of the officer and that he be held accountable. The Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra announced on social media the show was canceled.

Police were responding to calls that someone was attempting to enter parked vehicles in the neighborhood, Patterson said. The suspect fled on a bike through nearby backyards in an attempt to get away before officers contacted him in the street, Patterson said.

The suspect either fell off of his bike or was taken off of his bike by officers and during the struggle pulled out a knife and injured an officer, Patterson said. Police posted a picture of the knife in a news release.

An officer deployed a taser but it was unsuccessful, the chief said. The same officer who was injured by the knife fired his weapon and the man who was shot died later at the hospital, the chief said. He described the officer who fired his weapon as a veteran officer, but did not reveal any other details.

Another officer was injured, but it is not clear how, Patterson said. The other two officers were uninjured.

The Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation will investigate the shooting because it involves police officers. The four responding officers will be placed on administrative leave, per the police department's policy.

In a release, deputies said the sports car was going 137 mph when the OCSO’s Motors Unit encountered it.

Video released by the OCSO shows the Lamborghini weaving in and out of traffic as law enforcement gave chase on State Road 408.

Deputies eventually caught the vehicle and pulled the driver over, taking him into custody, the video shows.

“You’re being placed under arrest for dangerous excessive speed,” a deputy can be heard saying. “You’re going to be transported to the Orange County Jail, and I’m towing your car.”

137 mph in a Lamborghini.

That's what our Motors Unit encountered during a Super Speeder stop this morning.

Our efforts to curb super speeding continue every day. pic.twitter.com/4ZyX2ybiiY

— Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) July 22, 2026

That charge stems from a law that took effect last year, aimed at cracking down on highway speedsters.

WHAT IS THE “SUPER SPEEDER” LAW?

The law (HB 351) establishes a new criminal offense under state statutes: “dangerous excessive speeding.”

More specifically, the offense refers to situations where drivers:

• Go at least 50 mph over the speed limit
• Speed at 100 mph or more in a way that threatens the people or property around them

While reckless driving was already a crime in the state of Florida, courts had held that simply speeding too much didn’t necessarily count.

In addition, speeding itself is generally considered a noncriminal traffic infraction, punished primarily with fines.

As a result, HB 351 finally makes it so that excessive speeding is an arrestable offense. This is in addition to any applicable fines for speeding.

Under this law, someone who commits “dangerous excessive speeding” can be punished as follows:

• Upon a first conviction
• • Up to 30 days in jail;
  • A fine of $500; or
  • Both
• Upon subsequent convictions
• • Up to 90 days in jail;
  • A fine of $1,000;
  • Both
• Upon subsequent convictions within five years
• • Revocation of his/her driving privileges between 180 days to a year