In a release, deputies said they were asked to take over the investigation back in June by Leesburg police.

“Leesburg detectives explained that a work computer belonging to a local business had been in for repairs when suspicious material was located on its hard drive,” the release reads. “The material appeared to be inappropriate photographs of adults and adolescent girls.”

[RELATED: Church overseer arrested for filming girls inside bathroom]

The investigation led to even more materials being discovered on a cloud drive, which held videos of what appeared to be adolescent girls changing clothes and videos from inside a bathroom, deputies added.

Investigators said they eventually discovered that the videos were taken from a concealed camera inside a church bathroom and a room where adolescent girls were changing after a baptism service.

While investigators said they weren’t able to find any cameras during a search of that bathroom, they issued a search warrant for the home of the man who owned the computer — identified as Charles Lucas, 59, a longtime member of the church who served as a volunteer overseer.

Lucas was originally arrested in June and booked on charges of digital voyeurism, at least one of which involved a victim under 16 years old, deputies reported.

But on Tuesday, he was slapped with 21 more charges: 15 counts of digital voyeurism, and six counts of digital voyeurism involving a victim under 16 years of age.

As such, he was arrested again on Tuesday afternoon, though he was released later in the evening on bond of $67,500.

After Lucas’ initial arrest back in June, News 6 spoke exclusively with Administrative Pastor Melvin Davison at Heritage Community Church.

[RELATED: Heritage Community Church leaders address congregation after longtime volunteer leader’s arrest]

At the time, church leaders told members they were cooperating with investigators and focused on supporting anyone who may have been affected.

“We’re being fully cooperative and our congregation, our staff, we’re just kind of heartbroken right now over everything that’s going on,” Davison explained.

Davison said Lucas had been part of the church since it was founded in 2008.

When asked what he would say to church members searching for answers, Davison said the church remains committed to its congregation.

“Anybody that’s been part of the Heritage Church community for any time knows our hearts, knows that we love them,” Davison said. “We will do anything and everything, especially to protect the next generation.”

The primary contest between U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens and insurgent contender Abdul El-Sayed for the party's Senate nomination is testing the swing state electorate's willingness to abandon a time-tested strategy of going with moderate candidates in marquee races.

In a year when Democrats need to rack up as many wins as possible to take back the U.S. Senate, the party has little room for error against the Republican nominee, former U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers.

Republicans faced their own test in Michigan in the governor's race, where President Donald Trump's handpicked candidate, U.S. Rep. John James, defeated Perry Johnson, a wealthy, free-spending outsider.

More primaries were taking place in Kansas, Missouri, Virginia and Washington. The contests will solidify November matchups, particularly in Virginia, where Democrats failed to redraw the state's congressional map earlier this year.

Here are some takeaways from Tuesday's elections:

Test time for Democrats in Michigan’s Senate race

The choice between El-Sayed and Stevens has become a focal point for Democrats this year, and the race has become bitter. Whoever wins will need to bring splintered factions back into the fold to beat Rogers.

The seat is open because Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is retiring, and Democrats are under pressure to defend it to preserve their chance of winning control of the chamber.

The campaigns have taken sharp aim at one another. Sen. Bernie Sanders, one of El-Sayed’s most prominent supporters, called Stevens “nothing more than an employee” of billionaires. El-Sayed has been a pointed critic of Israel and called the military campaign in Gaza a “genocide,” an accusation rejected by the Israeli and U.S. governments.

Stevens has criticized El-Sayed’s style, comparing him unfavorably to a celebrity who is always “running at the first mic or camera.” She has also suggested he’s not electable in the fall, saying Republicans have been propping him up because they think El-Sayed will be easier to beat.

Trump’s endorsement overpowers self-funded candidate for governor

Republican voters picked their nominee for Michigan governor on Tuesday as well, going with Trump's endorsed candidate, Rep. John James.

The president’s backing typically carries significant weight in Republican politics, but businessman Perry Johnson had lent his campaign more than $30 million, according to Michigan campaign finance records.

Trump's endorsement hasn't always overcome big spending. In Georgia’s race for governor, Rick Jackson spent $100 million, largely of his own money, to defeat Trump-backed Burt Jones in a runoff.

On the Democratic side in Michigan, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson defeated Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.

AIPAC continues to be a lightning rod

The American Israel Public Affairs Committee has long been an influential force in U.S. politics, but it's been under pressure as Democratic support for Israel erodes over the war in Gaza.

The organization has suffered a series of losses in Democratic primaries that saw a surge of progressive candidates. Victors range from Rep. Analilia Mejia, who won a special election to Congress in suburban New Jersey, to Evanston Mayor Daniel Biss, who captured the Democratic nomination for a U.S. House seat in Illinois.

AIPAC's biggest investment has been in Michigan, where it and its affiliates have spent more than $30 million supporting Stevens, a stalwart backer of Israel. El-Sayed and his backers have seized on the group's intervention as an example of the problems of big money in politics.

Although the outcome in Michigan remained uncertain, AIPAC had some success Tuesday. In Missouri, former Rep. Cori Bush fell short in her rematch against Rep. Wesley Bell, who defeated her two years ago.

Bush had blamed her previous loss on AIPAC, even vowing revenge on the organization in her concession speech. "AIPAC, I'm coming to tear your kingdom down!” she pledged.

However, she was quickly defeated as voters in the St. Louis-area district decided to stick with Bell.

Virginia is on Democrats' minds

One of Democrats' most bitter defeats this cycle took place in Virginia, where that state's supreme court in May overturned a voter-approved initiative to redraw the state's House map to make four more seats easier for the party to win.

The failed effort was part of Democrats' attempt to match Republicans' own redistricting campaign, which was spurred by Trump last year in hopes of making it easier for his party to hold control of the House.

Democrats are optimistic they can recover at least a couple of those Virginia seats the old-fashioned way. On Tuesday, they got what they wanted in the state's two swing seats, with former Rep. Elaine Luria winning the nomination to compete for the 1st District in Virginia Beach and prosecutor Shannon Taylor getting the nod to run in the Richmond-area 2nd District.

The longer shot comes in the heavily rural 5th District in central Virginia, where Tom Perriello, who briefly represented the region in President Barack Obama's first term, won the Democratic nomination to try to win a now even more conservative-leaning seat.

Bell was backed by a political group affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. The pro-Israeli group also financed his ouster of Bush in the 2024 primary after Bush criticized Israel’s response to Hamas’ attack on the country in 2023.

Meanwhile, Michigan will offer the country its clearest gauge yet on the direction of the Democratic Party, as primary voters in the battleground state choose between a progressive standard-bearer and an establishment-backed candidate for their Senate nominee.

Although there have been similar contests around the country, this one will hold extra weight because Michigan is a key state in presidential races. Abdul El-Sayed, backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, is up against four-term Rep. Haley Stevens, supported by Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer.

Democratic and Republican voters in Michigan are also deciding on their parties’ nominees to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

In Kansas, Missouri, Virginia and Washington state, voters are settling primaries in a host of races. Also in play is whether Democrats, who tried to redraw districts in Virginia to their advantage but were rebuffed by the state supreme court, can pick candidates who can defeat Republicans in the fall.

Here is a look at the Latest:

Stevens’ watch party buoyed by Wayne County votes

Stevens’ supporters moved into an adjoining room with a large American flag overlooking the crowd to the tune of Stevie Wonder’s “Superstition.”

Buoyed by incoming votes from Wayne County, people chatted, occasionally breaking out into chants of “Haley.” Some held up signs above the crowd reading “Haley Stevens for US Senate” and “Michigan Made.”

Stevens has still not made an appearance at her watch party.

Michigan has seen big increases in early voting and voting by mail

The number of people who voted in person early at Michigan polling places ahead of Tuesday’s primary was nearly double the number for the 2024 primary, Deputy Secretary of State Aghogho Edevbie said.

Edevbie also said that the number of people voting by mail also increased by more than 20% compared to the 2022 primary.

He said during a brief news conference that 1.3 million people had cast mail ballots as of Tuesday, up 226,000 from the 2022 primary. Another 139,000 people voted early in person — compared to fewer than 74,000 in 2024.

Edevbie also told reporters that 28,000 people registered to vote Tuesday and then cast their ballots.

Chris Stigall wins Missouri Republican primary to replace longtime US Rep. Sam Graves

The conservative talk radio host’s victory in the five-person primary gives him an edge in the November election for the sprawling 6th Congressional District that includes rural northern Missouri and part of Kansas City.

Graves has represented the district for a quarter century and currently is chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee.

Stigall once worked for Graves and was endorsed by the congressman shortly after Graves announced in late March that he was not seeking reelection.

US Rep. Wesley Bell says in victory speech that he will work for the people in St. Louis

“When we think about all of the division that we hear, I think it is important that we focus on what this place can be,” Bell said.

Bell’s speech focused on the work he plans to do for the city, which was met with applause. He described St. Louis as a “sleeping giant” and encouraged applause for campaign volunteers around the room.

“I have a tremendous group of folks, and we just got to work,” Bell said.

Stevens watch party cheers for Wayne County votes

The crowd at Stevens’ watch party erupted into cheers, applause and chants of “Haley” as votes from Wayne County, Michigan’s most populous, began to roll in.

The campaign over a failed ballot measure showed Kansas what judicial races might have looked like

Spending on broadcast and digital advertising reached nearly $13 million during the campaign over an unsuccessful proposal to amend the Kansas Constitution to elect state Supreme Court justices, according to the ad-tracking firm AdImpact. Voters rejected the measure in Tuesday’s primary.

Opponents of the Kansas ballot measure spent almost $9 million on broadcast and digital ads. That was more than twice as much as the $4 million spent by supporters.

The governor now appoints the justices from among three finalists selected by a nominating commission, with no role for the Republican-controlled Legislature. The measure’s backers had hoped that if they were successful, they could start electing conservative justices in 2028.

Twenty-two states elect their justices, and some have multi-million dollar races. In Wisconsin, spending in a race last year topped $100 million.

US Rep. John James, backed by Trump, wins Michigan Republican primary for governor

James, who represents Michigan’s 10th Congressional District, was endorsed by Trump in late June.

His biggest opponent, business owner Perry Johnson, spent about $30 million of his own money on his campaign, according to campaign finance filings. James’ win adds him to the list of Trump-backed candidates who prevailed in primaries around the country, including in Indiana and Louisiana.

James will face Democrat Jocelyn Benson in November. The race to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer — who won the last gubernatorial election by nearly 11 percentage points — will be closely watched in swing state Michigan, which voted for Trump in 2024.

Kansas state Sen. Cindy Holscher wins the Democratic nomination for governor

She won Tuesday’s primary even though term-limited Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly endorsed one of her opponents, fellow Kansas City-area state Sen. Ethan Corson.

Holscher has said she entered politics as a parent concerned about funding for public schools, winning a Kansas House seat in 2016 before capturing her Senate seat in 2020.

She portrayed herself as more of a fighter than her opponents. Her campaign had a populist tone and she even criticized the highest profile business development deal of Kelly’s tenure as governor — $2.4 billion in bonds for a new stadium, training facility and retail development to lure professional football’s Kansas City Chiefs out of Missouri.

Kansas voters reject a proposal from abortion foes seeking to remake the state’s top court

The measure would have amended the state constitution to have Supreme Court justices elected rather than initially appointed by the governor.

Supporters pitched the measure to voters as increasing democracy, but their goal has been to move the court to the right so that it overturns a landmark 2019 decision declaring that the Kansas Constitution protects abortion rights. Voters soundly rejected a proposed amendment in 2022 that would have nullified that decision.

Conservatives also have been upset for at least 20 years over Supreme Court decisions forcing the Legislature to boost spending on public schools.

Advocates of abortion rights and public schools fought the amendment.

Rick Brattin wins Republican primary in Missouri district redrawn at Trump’s request

Brattin, a Republican state senator, prevailed in a six-way primary for the right to take on longtime Democratic U.S. Rep. Emanuel Cleaver in the November general election. Brattin is a Marine veteran and a founding member of the legislature’s conservative Missouri Freedom Caucus.

Missouri was the second Republican state, after Texas, to respond to Trump’s call last year to redraw congressional districts to the GOP’s advantage ahead of the midterms. The revamped map stretches Cleaver’s previous Kansas City district eastward into rural central Missouri to give the new 5th District a Republican tilt.

Republicans already hold six of Missouri’s eight congressional seats and are hoping to pick up one more.

Stevens supporters cite her policy experience and bipartisanship

Diallo Smith, 51, thinks Stevens’ congressional experience and connection to the Detroit area make her the best candidate for Senate. He said the large crowds at Abdul El-Sayed’s event are proof of how politically focused Detroit residents are.

“It’s been a very, very competitive primary race so far, and this is not the last leg of the journey,” Smith said.

Other attendees also cited Stevens’ policy experience and willingness to work across the aisle.

Emily Dove-Medows, 49, said while she hopes for a Stevens win, she would vote for El-Sayed against Republican Mike Rogers. In her eyes, keeping Michigan’s Senate seat blue is crucial to providing a bulwark against the Trump administration, and she said she is cautiously optimistic that the Democratic Party will bridge internal rifts.

“Time heals all wounds, right?” she said. “Maybe it might not happen tomorrow, but I think it will happen eventually.”

Rep. Bill Huizenga wins the Republican primary for Michigan’s 4th District

Huizenga is seeking reelection in the district that stretches along Lake Michigan in the western part of the state. He defeated opponent Philip Tanis, a former mayor of Holland, Michigan.

Huizenga ran unopposed in the 2022 Republican primary, then had little trouble winning the 2024 primary.

He was a Michigan state representative from 2003 to 2008 and first was elected to Congress in 2011. He planned to launch a U.S. Senate bid in 2025 against former Rep. Mike Rogers until Trump encouraged Huizenga to seek reelection as part of efforts to keep House seats in GOP hands.

Controversial streamer Hasan Piker in attendance at El-Sayed primary night event

The Twitch livestreamer was interviewed on CSPAN as he stood at El-Sayed’s watch party at Detroit’s Majestic Theatre. The crowd let out cheers when Piker was shown on a big screen.

Piker has appeared with El-Sayed multiple times on the campaign trail, receiving criticism from both Republicans and Democrats. Piker has made controversial comments in the past, including that America deserved 9/11.

Missouri voters reject ballot measure to eliminate the state income tax

Amendment 5 would have directed the legislature to phase out the individual income tax as state revenue grows. To spur that along, it also would have allowed lawmakers to expand the sales tax to “any goods and services.” Lawmakers would have had five years to decide which sales to tax without needing further voter approval.

The Missouri measure marks the first time since the modern income tax began over a century ago that a U.S. state legislature has asked voters whether to eliminate it. Alaska is the only state so far to impose a general individual income tax and then repeal it, doing so in 1980 by a legislative vote.

Massachusetts voters rejected income tax eliminations in 2008 and 2002 that were initiated by citizens, not lawmakers.

Trump-endorsed Mike Bouchard wins Michigan’s 10th District Republican primary

Bouchard advances to the November general election for a seat Democrats have prioritized as they try to win control of the U.S. House.

Bouchard is an Army veteran and son of long-time sheriff Michael Bouchard. He defeated Steffan Demetropoulos and Justin Kirk in Tuesday’s Republican primary.

The seat is currently held by Republican U.S. Rep. John James, who is running for Michigan governor with Trump’s endorsement.

The district includes a portion of Oakland County and stretches across very red communities in Macomb County. It was created by redistricting after the 2020 U.S. Census.

Missouri voters reject proposal for the nation’s most difficult standard for constitutional amendments

Amendment 4 would have required future constitutional amendments proposed by citizen initiatives to pass by a majority in each of the state’s congressional districts instead of a simple statewide majority. No other state has a standard that high.

The Republican-led Legislature referred the measure to the ballot after voters in recent years narrowly passed several controversial amendments through citizen initiatives. Those measures enshrined abortion rights, legalized recreational marijuana, allowed sports betting and expanded Medicaid coverage to low-income adults.

But none of those would have passed under a requirement for amendments to win approval in all congressional districts.

Under Amendment 4, the higher standard would have applied only to citizen-initiated amendments — not ones placed on the ballot by the legislature.

Stevens’ watch party is subdued but optimistic

About 100 people, many from Haley Stevens’ campaign, mingled over charcuterie and drinks at Stevens’ primary watch party in downtown Detroit. Two large TVs showed election results rolling in.

Stevens has not shown up yet and plans to address the crowd later tonight.

US Rep. Wesley Bell wins Missouri Democratic primary in rematch against former Rep. Cori Bush

Bell’s primary victory is likely to propel him to reelection in November in the heavily Democratic 1st Congressional District in St. Louis.

Bell, a former St. Louis County prosecutor, was backed by a political group affiliated with the American Israel Public Affairs Committee. The pro-Israeli group also financed his ouster of Bush in the 2024 primary after Bush criticized Israel’s response to Hamas’ attack on the country in 2023.

Bush had been a part of a progressive group of House members known as the “Squad.”

The rematch provided a test of America’s evolving viewpoints on Israel since the last election. A recent survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found that about 58% of Democrats now say the U.S. is “too supportive” of Israel, up from 45% in an AP-NORC poll from January 2024.

Backed by Trump, the Kansas Senate president wins the GOP primary for governor

Ty Masterson defeated six other Republican candidates in Tuesday’s election.

He is running to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. The two of them have scrapped regularly over tax cuts and social issues, such as proposals backed by Masterson to restrict abortion providers and to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth under 18.

If Masterson wins in November, he’s likely to push Kansas to the right.

Masterson has been state Senate president since 2021. He served four years in the state House before being elected to the Senate, where he’s also chaired its budget-writing Ways and Means Committee.

Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall wins the GOP nomination for a 2nd term

He enters the fall campaign with about $5.7 million in cash — a good start in Kansas, where advertising is relatively inexpensive.

Marshall also has history on his side. No Republican has lost a U.S. Senate race in Kansas since 1932.

Marshall won his Senate seat in 2020 after representing western and central Kansas in the House for four years.

Kansas Democrats nominate Methodist pastor Adam Hamilton for the Senate

He defeated 10 other candidates in Tuesday’s primary.

Hamilton leads the 22,000-member Church of the Resurrection in the Kansas City area, the nation’s largest Methodist congregation, building it over 35 years from a small group worshiping in the chapel of a funeral home.

He has raised about $4.2 million since launching his campaign at the end of April, a little more than incumbent Republican Sen. Roger Marshall had raised for his reelection bid since the start of last year.

But Marshall didn’t start from zero and went into the fall campaign with $5.7 million, while Hamilton’s balance was about $1.8 million.

Jocelyn Benson wins Michigan Democratic primary for governor

Benson, Michigan’s secretary of state since 2018, gained national recognition after defending the results of the 2020 presidential election. She was the first Democrat to serve as secretary of state in Michigan in more than 20 years.

She was seen as the frontrunner in the Democratic primary, defeating opponent Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.

Benson will face either Republican U.S. Rep. John James, who was endorsed by President Donald Trump, or businessman Perry Johnson in November. If elected, Benson would continue the trend of women in statewide executive roles.

The race to replace term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer — who won the last gubernatorial election by nearly 11 percentage points — will be closely watched in swing state Michigan, which voted for Trump in 2024.

El-Sayed crowd cheers on Cori Bush, boos Wesley Bell as Missouri results roll in

The crowd gathered in Detroit for Abdul El-Sayed’s primary night party erupted into cheers as a screen displaying CSPAN showed Cori Bush — before quickly turning to loud boos when her opponent, Rep. Wesley Bell, was shown.

Bush is attempting a political comeback Tuesday in a Missouri Democratic primary that tests evolving views on American-Israeli relations, just two years after the progressive “Squad” member was ousted by voters in favor of Bell.

Elaine Luria declares victory in Virginia’s 2nd District Democratic primary on X

“I’ve fought for my country before, and I’m ready to fight for it again,” Luria wrote.

She said incumbent Jen Kiggans “broke her promise” to be independent in Washington and claimed Kiggans voted with Trump “100 percent of the time.” Kiggans previously voted yes on the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which cut clean energy incentives, despite later supporting offshore wind in her district.

“I’m ready to serve and deliver for the people of Hampton Roads who are being left behind by Jen Kiggans and Donald Trump,” Luria wrote.

The 2nd District is one of the seats Democrats hope to flip in Virginia this fall.

El-Sayed supporters roar as early results begin to roll in

As polls closed in Michigan, early vote counts began to flash on a projector screen at Abdul El-Sayed’s watch party in Detroit. A crowd of supporters erupted as those numbers showed him ahead.

But it’s still early.

His opponent, U.S. Rep. Haley Stevens, is targeting a big showing in Wayne County, the state’s largest and the home of Detroit, to hold off what El-Sayed’s campaign expected to be a wider base of support from across the state — including in many of the counties in southeastern Michigan surrounding Wayne.

Wayne County historically has released election results later than most of Michigan, which could result in El-Sayed taking an early lead before votes from Detroit are added later in the night.

Shannon Taylor speaks after winning crowded primary in seat Democrats hope to flip

The Democratic nominee in Virginia’s 1st Congressional District says her career as a prosecutor would inform her work in Washington if she flips a red seat blue in November.

Taylor has long served as the top elected prosecutor in a suburban Richmond county.

“I’ve spent the last 14 years prosecuting violent criminals, fraudsters and anybody who abuses our trust. If they took advantage of our community, I hold them accountable. And that’s exactly what I’m going to do when I’m in Congress,” she told a crowd of cheering supporters gathered at a restaurant in the district.

Taylor will face longtime incumbent Rob Wittman in the general election. The district tilts slightly in Wittman’s favor.

A spokesperson for the National Republican Congressional Committee said Wittman has a “proven track record of delivering results.”

El-Sayed says he is not a democratic socialist. But DSA members support him

Among the many supporters streaming into Detroit’s Majestic Theatre tonight at El-Sayed’s watch party were two other high-profile progressives who have had big wins recently.

Chris Rabb, who won the Democratic nomination for a congressional district in Philadelphia in May, and Denver’s Melat Kiros, who won a Colorado House primary, were in attendance. Kiros wore a “Habibi for Abdul” shirt.

Both are self-described members of the Democratic Socialists of America. El-Sayed said that he does not consider himself a democratic socialist.

In the fifth inning, Lombard drove an 0-2 sweeper from starter Hunter Dobbins (2-2) into the left-field seats for his first career hit. As he completed his first home run trot in the majors, Lombard’s parents hugged in the stands.

Lombard’s 392-foot shot gave New York a 2-0 lead and made him the first Yankees shortstop to homer in his major league debut. It was the first homer by any Yankees player in his big league debut since Jasson Domínguez went deep in his initial plate appearance against Justin Verlander in Houston on Sept. 1, 2023.

At 21 years, 63 days old, Lombard became the sixth-youngest Yankees player since 1985 to make his debut and the second-youngest shortstop in that span. Derek Jeter debuted May 29, 1995, in Seattle at 20 years, 337 days.

Lombard also helped Ryan Weathers (5-7) pitch six strong innings by starting inning-ending double plays in the second and fifth.

In the second, Lombard ranged to his right to field Blaze Jordan’s grounder and made an off-balance throw to second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. In the fifth, Lombard ranged to his left, fielded Nathan Church’s grounder behind second base, stepped on the bag and made a clean throw to first baseman Ben Rice.

Chisholm also homered in the second as the Yankees won for the 10th time in 16 games.

Weathers allowed four hits in his second straight scoreless start. The lefty struck out six, walked none and stranded two in the sixth when Yankees newcomer Heliot Ramos charged in to catch Jose Fermin’s flyball to left field.

David Bednar got four outs for his 25th save in 27 chances to complete New York’s AL-best 12th shutout.

Dobbins allowed two runs and four hits in 6 1/3 innings.

The Cardinals were blanked for the sixth time. They scratched All-Star outfielder Jordan Walker shortly before first pitch due to right knee inflammation.

Up next

St. Louis RHP Andre Pallante (11-6, 3.72 ERA) opposes New York RHP Will Warren (11-6, 4.14) in Wednesday night’s series finale.

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This story has been corrected to show that Lombard started a double play in the second inning, not the third.

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

Democrats endured a bitter and expensive campaign that became the latest proxy battle between the party’s establishment and progressive wings. Candidates from the left-flank — including democratic socialists — have found surprising success in the party's U.S. House primaries, including in New York and Denver.

Those races, however, were in deep-blue cities. Michigan has a purple hue, and the Senate primary is the biggest test yet of the progressive movement's growing political might.

Polls closed in the evening, and supporters gathered at the candidates' watch parties.

Inside Detroit’s Majestic Theatre for El-Sayed's event, vote counts flashed on a projector screen in front of a packed crowd riled up by speakers, including labor leaders. El-Sayed, a former Wayne County health director, campaigned on “Medicare for All,” campaign finance reform and ending military aid to Israel.

In the same city, the crowd grew at Stevens' campaign bash, where the atmosphere early in the night was subdued but optimistic and folks mingled over charcuterie and drinks.

Stevens, a four-term congresswoman, focused on manufacturing and the economy. She had stressed her past victories in tough races, saying she is best positioned to beat the Republican candidate and calling her campaign a “love letter to Michigan.”

Stevens benefited from tens of millions of dollars in outside spending, including the largest investment in a race ever from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, which supports pro-Israel candidates.

Voters were also choosing nominees in competitive House races and for governor. In the GOP gubernatorial primary, U.S. Rep. John James, who was backed by President Donald Trump, beat businessperson Perry Johnson. In the Democratic gubernatorial primary, Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson defeated Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson.

Michigan is a must-win Senate race for Democrats

The race is crucial in which party controls the chamber in the last two years of President Donald Trump's term. Those stakes have heated up the rivalry, with moderates arguing that El-Sayed would have a harder time than Stevens against a Republican in the general election.

Their heavy-hitting backers showed that divide: Sen. Bernie Sanders supported El-Sayed, while Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer backed Stevens.

Stevens won election to Congress in 2018 after serving as chief of staff to President Barack Obama’s auto task force, which helped oversee the federal rescue of General Motors and Chrysler. Her campaign and allied groups have repeatedly highlighted that experience.

El-Sayed, who lost the 2018 gubernatorial primary to now-Gov. Gretchen Whitmer, cast himself as the anti-establishment candidate and argued that Democrats need to reject corporate influence and embrace a more progressive agenda.

While the candidate has said he is not a democratic socialist, he found support from some of the group's members. That included Melat Kiros, who recently beat a longtime incumbent in a Democratic primary for a Denver-based House seat and was at El-Sayed's watch party. Also there was Hasan Piker, a progressive and controversial influencer online.

The candidates' differences were clear to some voters.

Kenneth Woodside, 87, of West Bloomfield, said he voted for El-Sayed over Stevens because “the nation is ready for someone who wants to take some more action rather than on the road we are now, which is on the road to an oligarchy and authoritarianism.”

Nessa Fuller, 51, of Birmingham, said she voted for Stevens because she will “fight to get the right things done, and she’ll work with other people, which is really important to me.”

Stevens targeted a big showing in Wayne County, the state’s largest and the home of Detroit, to hold off what El-Sayed’s campaign expected to be a wider base of support from across the state — including in many of the counties in southeastern Michigan surrounding Wayne.

Wayne County historically has released election results later than most of Michigan, which could result in El-Sayed taking an early lead before results from Detroit are added later in the night.

Outside influences spent millions on the Senate race

National groups poured unprecedented sums into the race, making it one of the country’s biggest tests of outside spending.

Groups backing Stevens spent more than $50 million, led by more than $30 million from AIPAC and its affiliates.

The spending thrust Israel policy into the center of the race even though the ads never mentioned it. While El-Sayed called for ending military aid to Israel, Stevens maintained strong support for the relationship.

Israel became a contentious issue within the Democratic Party amid a war in Gaza that killed more than 73,000 Palestinians in its retaliatory offensive after about 1,200 people were killed and 251 hostages were taken in attacks by the militant group Hamas.

Voters also will decide governor and US House matchups

Trump traveled to Michigan on July 27 and gave a speech at a General Motors plant, at one point calling the gubernatorial hopeful James and several other Republican politicians, including Rogers, onstage.

Before his primary win, James, a second-term congressman, ran twice unsuccessfully for Senate. The primary turned uglier than Republicans hoped, with Johnson spending big sums of money on ads targeting James.

There are several competitive House races this year that will help decide whether Republicans hold their slim majority or Democrats reclaim the chamber.

In the 4th District, which stretches along Lake Michigan, Democratic state Sen. Sean McCann and election newcomer Diop Harris II were vying to become the nominee to try to oust GOP Rep. Bill Huizenga, who again won his party's nomination.

In the 7th District, former U.S. Ambassador Bridget Brink, community organizer William Lawrence and former Navy Seal Matt Maasdam were seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Republican Rep. Tom Barrett in the seat representing the Lansing area.

The 10th District, which opened up due to James' run for governor, includes a portion of Oakland County and stretches across conservative communities in Macomb County. In the GOP primary, Trump-endorsed Michael Bouchard beat Steffan Demetropoulos and Justin Kirk.

The Democratic primary featured former state House Rep. Tim Greimel, former prosecutor Christina Hines and former Commerce Department attorney Eric Chung.

And in a heavily Democratic district representing Detroit, Rep. Shri Thanedar looked to fend off a primary challenge from state Rep. Donavan McKinney, who argued that the city should once again have a Black representative in Congress. After Thanedar won election in 2022, Detroit had no Black representation in Congress for the first time since the early 1950s.

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Associated Press writer Corey Williams in West Bloomfield, Michigan, contributed.

Now it's up to Vogt and the new-look Guardians to capitalize on the addition of outfielder Jo Adell, first baseman Nathaniel Lowe and pitcher Foster Griffin for a postseason push.

“Now it’s our turn to go out and let’s go perform. Let’s go win some games,” Vogt said before Tuesday night's 5-2 loss to the New York Mets.

Adell, who batted second and played right field, reached base three times in his Guardians' debut with two hits and a walk. Lowe came in during the seventh inning and went 0 for 2.

Griffin will pitch the final game of the series on Thursday, keeping him on his usual amount of rest.

“It was awesome to come in and find a way to execute. I was excited to get out there and get started," Adell said.

Adell, Lowe and Griffin were in the clubhouse before the game, introducing themselves to their new teammates and getting up to speed before the start of a three-game series.

“I was pretty fired up about it. I think our front office did everything that we could have ever wanted from him — two impact bats and an impact starter. That’s all you can ask for," catcher Austin Hedges said. "I think it sets us up to be right where we want to be at the end of September.”

Cleveland (57-57) is 6-11 since the All-Star break, but has a one-game lead over Minnesota for the American League's final wild-card spot. The Guardians are three games behind the first-place White Sox in the AL Central.

Adell will be part of a postseason chase for the first time in his seven-year career. He was the 10th overall pick in the 2017 amateur draft by the Angels, who haven't finished over .500 since 2015.

With the front office changes in Los Angeles, Adell had a feeling that that he might be part of a sell off of players with one or two years left on their contracts.

“It’s really cool to be wanted and this team’s been playing really good baseball,” Adell said. “I’m excited to kind of be a part of that and be a part of a chase and something that is bigger than ourselves and going out trying to win a ball game every night. You can’t ask for anything more than that.”

Adell's arrival makes him Cleveland's leader in home runs (16) and RBIs (62) for a team that has been offensively challenged for most of the past two seasons.

José Ramírez is 8 for 41 in the 10 games since he returned from the injured list following left hand surgery. Ramírez was out of the lineup on Tuesday night due to left hand inflammation.

One of the few bright spots has been Steven Kwan, who was batting .212 at the end of June but has raised his batting average 46 points since July 1 to .258. He has also hit safely in 23 of his last 28 games.

Adell and Chase DeLauter will platoon between right field and designated hitter. Lowe will be in the lineup when the Guardians face right-handed pitchers, while Rhys Hoskins will primarily face left-handers.

“The talent’s all here. It’s just about execution for the next two months. We need to get ourselves in the strongest position possible to make a deep run and make something happen. And when the guys start believing that, anything could happen,” Lowe said.

The Guardians will still go with a five-man rotation. Griffin's addition means Slade Cecconi is moving to the bullpen. Tanner Bibee was slated to start Thursday but has been moved up to Wednesday, and will be on four day's rest.

“I feel like you never have enough pitching, especially going into a playoff race. So any part I can be in that department, I’m excited about,” Griffin said.

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

It was the first start for Skubal since he was acquired in a trade with Detroit on Saturday night. The two-time Cy Young Award winner was booed when he was introduced with the starting lineups and once again when he went out to the mound for his first career appearance at Wrigley Field.

Skubal struck out three while retiring his first six batters. He surrendered a leadoff homer to Dansby Swanson on his first pitch of the third, and Chicago put two runners on with two down. But Skubal retired Alex Bregman on a flyball to center fielder Andy Pages, ending the inning.

Skubal allowed a second run on Nico Hoerner's infield chopper with two down in the sixth, giving the Cubs a 2-1 lead. He struck out six and walked two while throwing 85 pitches, 51 for strikes.

The NL West-leading Dodgers backed Skubal with a couple of stellar defensive plays. Pages robbed Seiya Suzuki and Pedro Ramírez with two terrific catches, and Kyle Tucker made a lunging grab on Nico Hoerner's sinking liner to right in the second.

Los Angeles was hoping Skubal can play a key role in its third consecutive World Series championship. The left-hander went 4-1 with a 1.95 ERA in his last six starts for the Tigers, striking out 50 in 37 innings.

“He just does everything right,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “And I’ve vetted him a lot with coaches and players, and in between the lines, he’s a dog. Outside the lines, he’s humble, respectful, does and says the right things, and it’s like, that’s what you want. Just fortunate that he’s pitching for us.”

Skubal's arrival cemented the Dodgers’ status as the majors’ most imposing franchise and public enemy No. 1 for fans of other teams. A plane flew over Wrigley hours before his first start with a banner that read “THE DODGERS RUINED BASEBALL,” but the message appeared to be upside down.

“I don’t really sympathize with people that blame the Dodgers for anything they’ve done,” Skubal said Monday. "They’ve developed a really good organization. They draft well, they acquire talent really well, retain talent. It’s a winning organization.”

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

The emerging agreement calls for ships to enter the Persian Gulf through an Iranian-controlled route and exit through a route controlled by Oman, two regional officials told The Associated Press.

Any deal, though, appears contingent on the United States lifting its blockade on Iran’s ports. The Trump administration has previously ruled out any deal that would give Iran control over the strait.

Elsewhere, a mass funeral was held in Gaza City for more than 100 Palestinians killed in an Israeli strike early in the conflict between Israel and Hamas.

A memorial service was also held in Beirut, for victims of a 2020 port explosion, and Yemen’s Houthis claimed they fired at a Saudi Arabian airport.

Here is a look at the most important developments in the Middle East on Tuesday:

US officials suggest strait deal imminent

Senior U.S. officials struck an optimistic tone Tuesday, suggesting a deal to reopen the strait could be reached soon.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio confirmed there has been progress made in talks between Iran and Oman, “but not finality yet.”

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC that “there is a chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow to open the strait and move towards a more normalized position in this conflict.”

The Strait of Hormuz is the crucial waterway at the mouth of the Persian Gulf through which a fifth of the world’s traded oil and natural gas passed before the war. It has been effectively shut by Iran’s attacks on shipping since the start of the war in February.

Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, said he also spoke to U.S. President Donald Trump on Tuesday as the Arab country tries to broker a resolution to the war.

Al Thani’s office said in a statement that on the phone call, the two discussed ways to bridge the divide “in a way that enhances the prospects of reaching a sustainable diplomatic settlement to the crisis.”

Ships attacked in Strait of Hormuz and in Red Sea

A cargo ship reported being “hit by an unknown projectile” while traversing the Strait of Hormuz, according to the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center.

The center said the reported strike damaged the vessel at around 2 a.m. local time while it was about 37 kilometers (23 miles) northeast of Al Khasab, a port city in Oman.

It's unclear what flag the ship was sailing under or whether it was carrying cargo, but the British maritime security firm Ambrey said the ship sustained damage.

On the Red Sea, meanwhile, an Indian-flagged commercial ship sank off Yemen after being struck by an explosive-laden boat, Yemeni and Indian authorities said.

Yemen’s coast guard rescued the crew, which included 13 Indians and a Yemeni.

India’s Foreign Ministry condemned the attack, though no one immediately claimed responsibility. Iran-backed Houthi militants have repeatedly struck ships traversing the Red Sea near Yemen.

Gaza residents killed in 2023 airstrike laid to rest

Hundreds of people gathered Tuesday as bodies wrapped in Palestinian flags were laid in rows near flattened buildings in Gaza City.

The 112 victims were then carried off on stretchers through a narrow street, destined for burial in a nearby cemetery. They were among more than 300 killed during an attack on Nov. 22, 2023, in the city’s Sabra neighborhood.

First responders recovered the bodies, including 40 children and 30 women, over the weekend, according to the Civil Defense, a rescue agency operated under Gaza’s Hamas-run Interior Ministry.

The war in Gaza began on Oct. 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing around 1,200 people and taking 251 hostage.

Israel’s military offensive in Gaza has since killed 73,375 people, including civilians and combatants, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Around 7,400 people are still missing and presumed buried under the rubble from the war, according to Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the Gaza Health Ministry’s records department.

Israel discusses withdrawal from Lebanon

Israeli and Lebanese officials met in Rome on Tuesday to continue talks on implementing a U.S.-mediated deal to draw down the Israeli military from southern Lebanon and disarm the Iran-backed Hezbollah militant group.

A diplomat familiar with the negotiations said Lebanon had asked for the next “pilot zone” — where Israeli forces would withdraw and the Lebanese army would take control — to be either in the town of Khiam or Bint Jbeil. Both areas saw heavy fighting in the latest Israel-Hezbollah war and are currently occupied by Israeli forces.

But U.S. Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa suggested ahead of the three-day talks that no new pilot zones would be immediately implemented, saying that “moving too quickly risks jeopardizing the very civilians this process is meant to protect.”

Implementation of the June 26 agreement began last month with an initial pilot zone in an area that wasn’t occupied by Israeli forces but had previously sustained Israeli fire.

Yemen’s Houthis fire at airport in Saudi Arabia

In Yemen, Brig. Gen. Yahya Saree, a military spokesperson for the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels, said a drone hit a “sensitive target” at the airport in the southwestern city of Najran, without providing evidence.

He said the attack was in response to what he described as a Saudi breach of Yemen’s airspace over the provinces of Saada and Hajjah. There was no immediate comment from Saudi Arabia.

The Houthis recently announced a blockade on Saudi-linked shipping passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that leads to the Red Sea.

Saudi Arabia led an international coalition and imposed an air and sea blockade against the rebels after they seized the capital, Sanaa, and much of northern Yemen in a civil war that began in 2014. Major fighting ended in a truce in 2022.

Memorial marks Beirut port explosion anniversary

Families of the more than 200 people killed in the massive explosion at the port in Beirut in 2020 gathered at the blast site to mark six years since tons of improperly stored ammonium nitrate exploded, devastating large parts of the Lebanese capital.

No one has been convicted in a long-stalled judicial investigation into the incident, but some families expressed renewed hope after government officials promised indictments would be issued by the end of the year.

The tragedy has been overshadowed by recent events, including two wars between Israel and the Hezbollah militant group and an Israeli military occupation of much of the country’s south.

___

Becatoros reported from Athens, Greece. Wafaa Shurafa in Deir al-Balah, Gaza Strip, Abby Sewell in Beirut, Maria Grazia Murru in Rome, Matthew Lee in Washington and Philip Marcelo in New York contributed to this report.

The United States Attorney’s Office in the Middle District of Florida announced the arrests of Yongbo Li, 36, Huashan Lu, 62, and Yuxiang Zhao, 60. All three defendants were arrested for conspiracy to commit mail fraud.

“It’s now the marching orders coming from the Department of Justice that the tolerance level for fraud is zero,” said United States Attorney Gregory Kehoe. “Zero tolerance level for this fraud.”

In a press conference held at his office in downtown Orlando Tuesday, Kehoe described the allegations listed in a 66 page criminal complaint.

“The defendants targeted individuals by impersonating legitimate businesses, financial institutions, government agencies, and other trusted agencies to gain victims’ confidence and induce those victims to transfer money,” Kehoe said.

Investigators said the defendants deceived the victims--who were mostly elderly--into sending cashier’s checks, money orders, or cash to P.O. boxes in and around Orlando.

“For most of these people, their money was gone forever,” Kehoe said of the 28 victims who have been identified.

Kehoe said the lies and manipulation varied.

“They were told that their Apple Pay account had been used to purchase pornography in China, that the victims’ social security number was compromised so the victim should liquidate his or her financial accounts and buy cashiers’ checks to hold the funds for safekeeping,” Kehoe said.

In one instance, according to the criminal complaint, a woman was told her social security number was compromised, prompting her to be connected to a man claiming to be a United States Secret Service agent.

The man instructed the victim--referred to as M.D. in the complaint--to liquidate her funds and complete a cashier’s check for the United States Treasury “to hold the funds for safekeeping.”

Investigators said M.D. withdrew and sent more than $259,000 via Cashier’s checks to companies owned by the defendants.

Kehoe said other suspects have not been apprehended because they are in China. One of those suspects is an American citizen, according to Kehoe.

Investigators are currently trying to claw back the victims’ money that went offshore.

Miller, a senior adviser to Trump during his first presidency, was facing a deadline to decide whether to stay in his race for reelection, with Republicans nervous that the allegations surrounding the second-term congressman could cost them a seat as they try to hang on to their House majority in this year's midterms.

Leaders of the ethics committee said in their statement that the committee was reviewing whether Miller “may have engaged in domestic violence and abuse or illegal drug use.” Earlier in the day, Miller said he had requested his own investigation into the allegations made by his ex-wife, Emily Moreno. It was not clear whether his request or another one prompted the committee to investigate.

Trump spoke with Miller on Monday and advised that his candidacy “doesn’t look good,” according to a source familiar with the conversation who was granted anonymity to discuss a private conversation. Trump’s conversation with Miller was first reported by Axios.

Miller said during a CNN interview Tuesday that he wasn't exiting the race, despite what he described as Trump's words of caution.

"'Maxie, it’s going to be a tough race. And he said, I don’t know if you’re going to be able to, you know, pull this one out,'” he quoted Trump as saying during their conversation.

Miller added: “I will never, ever, ever let my baby girl see her dad walk away as a quitter. I will continue to finish this.”

If Miller was persuaded to drop out of the race, he would have to make that decision soon. The election calendar published by the Ohio secretary of state sets Aug. 10 as the day political party nominating committees must certify the name of anyone filling a vacancy caused by withdrawal or disqualification.

The former Trump aide, whom the president endorsed in May, is facing a flurry of legal filings by his ex-wife, who is the Republican senator's daughter, and an ex-girlfriend.

Sen. Moreno, who until Sunday had remained quiet about the allegations at his daughter's request, on Tuesday described the impact on his daughter, granddaughter and wider family as “truly the seventh level of hell."

“This has been brutal beyond comprehension," he told reporters at the Capitol. "And if there's any minimum standard for being a public official, as I said, he fails to meet that minimum, basic standard.”

Asked about the election implications of the allegations for Republicans, Moreno told reporters, “I don't care about the politics at all.”

Moreno expressed concern for his granddaughter and told reporters that he traveled Sunday to a suburban Cleveland police station, where Miller was dropping off their daughter. Miller and his ex-wife share custody of the 2-year-old.

Miller had previewed his intention to stay in the race over the weekend when he livestreamed a video defending himself on X and posted a cache of documents related to his divorce and custody cases.

Sen. Moreno said the video prompted him to break his silence and call for Miller to no longer hold public office.

Trump declined to say publicly Monday whether Miller should exit the race, noting that the accusations against him were “allegations.”

“I know Max. He's a good person. I mean, I always thought he was a very good person. And I'm going to let the families figure that out,” Trump told reporters when asked about Miller during an Oval Office event.

The city says its drinking water is safe and meets required contaminant standards. However, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is conducting an ongoing investigation after inspectors documented 11 possible violations involving the operation and maintenance of Apopka’s public water system.

The city also confirmed it received 36 water-related customer complaints during the past 12 months, primarily involving odor and discoloration. Two of those complaints came from commercial customers.

“I’d like to know what standards they’ve achieved,” Apopka resident Bishop Eddie Harris Jr. told News 6. “It needs to be clarified and simplified so that everybody understands.”

Harris, who recently moved to Apopka, said he uses a filtration system at home. He told News 6 he has not personally noticed unusual discoloration or odor since moving to the city, but wants residents to receive a clearer explanation of what official water-quality standards mean.

What the City of Apopka says

In a written response to News 6, the city said it is “currently providing safe, reliable drinking water” that meets or exceeds applicable state and federal regulations.

The city said its water operations employees continuously monitor the distribution system, maintain treatment facilities and oversee water quality to ensure compliance.

Along with the 36 customer complaints, Apopka reported issuing 14 precautionary boil-water notices during the past year.

The city said those notices were primarily connected to water-main breaks in situations where crews could not isolate the section requiring repairs. The resulting pressure loss prompted precautionary notices for affected customers.

A precautionary boil-water notice does not necessarily mean contamination has been found. Such notices are generally issued after pressure is lost because lower pressure can create an opportunity for contaminants to enter a distribution system.

The city said affected businesses receive the precautionary notice and applicable Florida Department of Health guidance. That guidance outlines precautions businesses must follow until testing is completed and the notice is lifted.

Elevated readings at one Apopka testing location

News 6 also asked about two individual samples collected at a testing location near 2834 Park Meadow.

Apopka’s 2025 water-quality information listed total trihalomethane, or TTHM, readings of 90.05 and 84.43 parts per billion. Both individual results were above the federal maximum contaminant level of 80 parts per billion.

However, the city did not incur a drinking-water violation.

FDEP explained that compliance for disinfection byproducts is not determined by one individual sample. It is calculated using a location’s average over the previous four calendar quarters, known as the Location Running Annual Average.

A violation occurs if that four-quarter average exceeds 0.08 milligrams per liter, which is equivalent to 80 parts per billion.

The City of Apopka said operators had historically flushed the distribution system through a nearby fire hydrant to maintain water quality in that area. The city said that flushing was temporarily discontinued after nearby residents raised concerns about the process.

Apopka later installed an underground automatic flushing device. The city said the equipment allows routine flushing to continue without the same impact on surrounding residents and should reduce the potential for elevated TTHM levels in the future.

FDEP warning letter followed April inspection

FDEP conducted a sanitary survey of Apopka’s public water system on April 23.

The system serves a reported population of 71,917 people through 26,973 service connections, according to the inspection records.

On June 3, FDEP sent Apopka Mayor Nick Nesta a formal warning letter stating that inspectors had observed possible violations of Florida statutes and administrative rules.

The letter identified 11 areas of concern:

• Insufficient records showing isolation valves had been exercised
• Insufficient cross-connection-control records
• Leaking high-service pumps and wells
• Vegetative growth on an aerator at the Grossenbacher Water Treatment Plant
• Improperly threaded raw-water sampling taps
• Missing protective screens on multiple air-relief valves
• Biological growth on a wellhead
• A missing drain line
• A leaking isolation valve connected to an abandoned tank
• A leaking on-site generator fuel tank
• Late submission of Consumer Confidence Report information

FDEP stressed that its warning letter does not conclude that Apopka’s finished drinking water is unsafe or that the city exceeded federal contaminant limits.

The agency said public-water systems may receive letters documenting operational noncompliance even when federal drinking-water standards are still being met.

The warning letter is considered preliminary to potential agency action, and FDEP said its investigation remains ongoing. Possible violations must be addressed through corrective action.

Repeat recordkeeping violation and backflow concerns

One finding was identified as a repeat violation.

Inspectors said the city did not have adequate records demonstrating that distribution-system isolation valves were exercised. FDEP requires documentation showing those valves are exercised at least once every five years.

Isolation valves allow water-system operators to shut off specific sections of the distribution network when crews need to make repairs or respond to a water-main break.

The inspection report states that the city provided a follow-up report and plan intended to bring the program into compliance.

Inspectors also found deficiencies in the city’s cross-connection-control records.

Cross-connections can create a path for water or other substances to flow backward into a public drinking-water system. Backflow-prevention assemblies are intended to prevent that from happening.

The report’s deficiency table states that only 349 of 10,536 backflow-prevention assemblies had been tested. Another section of the inspection report lists 379 tested assemblies.

News 6 has asked both the city and FDEP to clarify which figure is accurate, what period the number covers and how many assemblies have now been tested.

Some corrections submitted; other work was incomplete

The inspection records show that Apopka submitted corrective-action documentation for several of the findings, including biological growth, sampling taps, missing screens and the generator-tank leak.

At the time the report was completed, leaking pumps and a well were listed as partially corrected.

A leaking isolation valve attached to an abandoned hydropneumatic tank at the Mt. Plymouth Regional Water Treatment Plant was still listed as outstanding.

FDEP did not classify any of the listed inspection findings as a “significant deficiency.”

That classification is important: It means inspectors documented violations requiring correction, but did not place any individual finding in the report’s more serious significant-deficiency category.

News 6 has asked the city whether all 11 issues have since been fully corrected and whether any of the findings affected—or had the potential to affect—water quality, pressure, reliability or service to customers.

Why water complaints do not automatically mean a health risk

FDEP regulates public drinking-water systems in Florida under authority granted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

Primary drinking-water regulations establish enforceable limits for approximately 90 regulated contaminants. Those limits are known as maximum contaminant levels.

Separate secondary standards address aesthetic characteristics, including taste, color and odor.

FDEP said water with a visible tint does not, by itself, indicate a human-health risk. An odor or unusual taste also does not automatically establish that a regulated contaminant is present.

That distinction is central to understanding Apopka’s 36 complaints. The complaints show that customers reported concerns about what they saw or smelled, but the number alone does not demonstrate that the water was unsafe.

Businesses depend on consistency

At Wekiva Gardens Inc., water is central to nearly every part of the operation.

The nursery does not use Apopka’s municipal system for irrigation. Its water comes from a private well extending approximately 350 feet underground.

Co-owner Kathrein Markle said the business must understand the mineral content and other characteristics of its water before employees decide how much fertilizer to apply.

“If you don’t have good water that stays consistent, you’re out of business,” Markle said.

The nursery filters its irrigation water and has the water used by employees tested quarterly for coliform bacteria. Markle said the nursery’s well has remained consistent and emphasized that the business has not experienced a problem involving Apopka’s municipal water.

Her operation illustrates the broader business stakes attached to water reliability and treatment.

“If you have to put in equipment to sterilize the water and to filter the water, it will affect the price because your cost goes up,” Markle said.

City outlines future upgrades

Apopka said several projects are underway or planned to improve water quality, reliability and capacity as the city continues to grow.

Those projects include:

• Updating the city’s Utility Master Plan
• Completing Phase 2 of its asbestos-cement water-main replacement program
• Advancing the proposed Golden Gem Water Treatment Plant
• Establishing an emergency interconnection with Orange County Utilities
• Designing an expansion and upgrades at the Grossenbacher Water Treatment Plant

The Orange County connection would provide Apopka with an additional emergency water-supply source. The Grossenbacher improvements are intended to increase treatment capacity and improve system reliability.

What News 6 is still asking

The City of Apopka maintains that its finished drinking water is safe, reliable and compliant with state and federal contaminant standards.

FDEP says its separate investigation into maintenance, equipment, recordkeeping and reporting noncompliance remains open.

News 6 has asked the city:

• Which of the 11 inspection findings have been fully corrected
• Which issues, if any, remain unresolved
• Whether any finding affected water quality, pressure or service
• Why the isolation-valve documentation problem was a repeat violation
• How many backflow-prevention assemblies have now been tested

Aaron F. Farinacci, of Spokane, was arrested Monday and booked on suspicion of first-degree arson in connection with the Old Trails Fire, the biggest of three blazes that have destroyed at least 700 buildings and forced tens of thousands of people from their homes. According to court records, he denied setting the fire. His bond was set at $1 million.

The other two fires burning around Spokane were also started by humans, though not necessarily intentionally, investigators said Tuesday. The exact cause remains under investigation.

No deaths have been reported and cooler, calmer weather aided firefighters again Tuesday. Only one of the three fires — the Autumn Lane fire — grew. But hotter, drier and windier conditions are expected later in the week.

Farinacci, 37, served about a decade in prison after killing his father in Arizona in 2010. Last year, authorities questioned him in two fire-related cases in Spokane, according to a probable cause statement filed in Spokane County Superior Court.

One involved several “bus-sized” fires in an area near Farinacci's apartment in July 2025, police records in that case say. The other involved a wildfire in a state park that prompted evacuation notices the following month. In neither case was he arrested.

A tip leads to an arrest

On Saturday, Paul Child, 64, was driving with his grandson along some railroad tracks in his rural neighborhood northwest of Spokane. He saw a man standing and looking toward nearby trees. About 10 minutes later, as they were returning home, the man was still there.

“He was bent over in the brush, acting nervous," Child told The Associated Press on Tuesday. "You get the feeling this guy’s up to something.”

“No longer than 10 minutes after I got home, my daughter says, ‘There’s a fire,’” Child recalled. “My first words were, ‘That SOB started a fire!’ It was the exact spot where he was standing.”

Child’s daughter called 911 and he drove back to the spot where he'd seen the man, sheriff’s detective Michael Drapeau wrote in the probable cause statement. He gave a police officer a description of the man he had seen — bald, white, wearing a green shirt and carrying a backpack.

A responding sheriff’s deputy saw a man matching that description walking more than 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) away and detained him. Another deputy also responded, and Child showed up to identify the person in custody — Farinacci — as the one he had seen in the area of the fire, the document states.

Farinacci had a backpack and a fanny pack, in which he had a pack of cigarettes, waterproof matches and a butane lighter, it says. He told the deputies he didn’t start the fire and he denied having been in the area where it started. He was wearing a green T-shirt that read, “who needs luck I have charm,” the detective wrote.

The deputies were unaware of Farinacci’s prior fire-related contacts and the cause of the Old Trails Fire hadn’t been determined yet, so they released him to continue working on evacuation efforts, Drapeau wrote.

But the following day, a wildland fire investigator ruled out other possible causes, including sparks from electric wires or passing trains, and police arrested Farinacci on Monday.

“As it happens in so many critical cases, it was citizens who were paying attention to their surroundings, being aware and willing to step up and say something that led to the relatively quick apprehension of Mr. Farinacci,” Sheriff John Nowels told reporters.

Child credited the heroic work of police and firefighters responding to the disaster, and said he hopes people who lost homes “can get some kind of peace of mind or a little bit of comfort” from the arrest.

Farinacci appeared in court Tuesday via video link from the jail and was represented by Colin Charbonneau, director of the Spokane County public defender’s office. A judge set his arraignment for Thursday.

In an effort to get comment from Farinacci’s family, The Associated Press sent a message to a possible social media account for a brother.

Police contacted him about earlier fires

A detective investigating the Old Trails Fire ran a criminal history check on Farinacci and found that he had been contacted by law enforcement twice before during fire investigations.

Spokane police responded to reports of several fires on July 8, 2025, near Farinacci’s apartment. The area near the Spokane River involved several “bus-sized” fires and prompted a significant emergency response, according to a police record.

The Washington State Patrol made contact with Farinacci the following month while pursuing a suspect in a wildfire at Riverside State Park. They found him on a park bench, “seemingly out of breath from possibly running.” They took photos of him. He was wearing a green T-shirt just like the one he was seen wearing on Saturday, the document says.

Convicted of manslaughter

Farinacci, then age 21, shot and killed his father in Mesa, Arizona, during a 2010 argument about washing dishes, police said. Farinacci also shot himself but survived.

He was charged with murder but pleaded guilty in 2012 to manslaughter and aggravated assault, records show.

A judge in 2011 found that Farinacci was mentally fit to assist in his own defense, though defense lawyer Jose Colon continued to raise questions about his mental health and noted that he had been hospitalized multiple times for psychiatric treatment, court records show.

In a letter to the judge, Beth Farinacci, who had married Farinacci's father, said second-degree murder, not manslaughter, would have been a more appropriate way to resolve the case.

“Manslaughter is for when someone accidentally kills another person. It is not for someone who intentionally points a loaded gun at their father and shoots him in his face and back,” Beth Farinacci wrote.

Farinacci was released from probation in Arizona in early 2024. A probation officer said Farinacci maintained a stable residence with his girlfriend and her family in the previous year, but also noted he hadn’t completed a mental health evaluation or domestic violence treatment.

Drone activity a serious concern

The fires were among dozens across the Western U.S. that have stretched the ability of federal, state and local agencies to fight them. More than 1,000 firefighters, many from outside of Washington state, were in the Spokane area Tuesday, and that number was expected to rise.

On Monday afternoon, during the hottest part of the day, authorities had to ground all of their firefighting aircraft for nearly two hours due to repeated airspace incursions by privately operated drones, said Tom Stokesberry, spokesperson for the critical incident team managing the fire response.

Federal authorities on Tuesday granted a law enforcement task force the authority to down, by means of electronic disruption, any drones that cross into restricted airspace, he said.

In one neighborhood, blackened vehicles, a boat twisted by the heat and melted plastic recycling bins remained. Across the street, lawns were still green and houses were spared, as residents continued to run hoses or sprinklers to water their properties.

Some residents who had to flee blazes returned to find only chimneys left standing.

“There’s nothing to save,” Miriam Sim, 76, said as she and her husband, Daniel Sim, surveyed the ruins of the home where they had lived since 2005.

___

Johnson and Bellisle reported from Seattle, and White reported from Detroit. Associated Press reporters Jacques Billeaud in Phoenix; Kathy McCormack in Concord, New Hampshire; and Hallie Golden in Seattle contributed.

Authorities released the names Tuesday of the people who died when 24-year-old Chad Williams opened fire at the Twin Falls restaurant. The attack Saturday afternoon ended when Williams shot and killed himself. Police said they are confident Williams acted alone but have not yet identified a motive.

Ashley Garibay, 23, who was killed in the shooting, worked for the burger chain on a team that trained new employees away from where she lived in Stockton, California. Her family said she loved her work and called her an “amazing, beautiful soul who loved living life.”

“She was adventurous, outgoing, smart and driven, never letting obstacles get in her way," her family said in a statement. “She lit up a room with her bright smile and a laugh that was contagious.”

Dale Schultz, 66, of Salt Lake City, and Christopher Claunch, 59, of Hagerman, Idaho, about 28 miles (45 kilometers) northwest of Twin Falls, were also killed, according to police.

One of Claunch’s friends, Garren Taylor, said Claunch completed a rehab program for alcohol abuse in Idaho a couple of years ago and was immediately hired at the center. Taylor said Claunch, known to those close to him as “Toph,” dedicated his life to helping others get sober.

“He helped hundreds of people,” Taylor said Monday. “He was just a gift to anyone he came in contact with. It wasn’t about the paycheck. His attitude was: ‘I get to help someone today.’ ”

Gregory Glenn, pastoral administrator for the Madeleine Choir School in Salt Lake City, described Schultz as a “beloved alumni parent" and "gifted artist” in a post on social media. He said Schultz 's wife was injured the shooting.

“While we mourn the loss of Dale, we continue to pray for Reinette, who remains hospitalized as she recovers from her injuries,” he wrote Monday.

A candlelight vigil was planned Tuesday night at Twin Falls City Park, and police have opened a center where those who were affected by the shooting could get support and request or collect personal items left at the scene. Flags in the city will be at half-staff until next week.

The In-N-Out location opened in late July as part of the California chain's Idaho expansion. Garibay got her first job at one of the restaurants, and she dreamed of one day managing one of the stores, her family said. She worked in Stockton and joined the traveling team in 2023, said family spokesperson Kristin Cole.

Witnesses described a chaotic scene in and around the Idaho restaurant as shots were fired. One customer told The Associated Press that she and her daughters were waiting inside when she heard shots from the kitchen and an employee told her to get down. Another woman and her mother were waiting in the drive-thru line when they saw people running across the road and workers bolting out of the restaurant as a man directing traffic told them there was a shooter.

A man who was at a stoplight near the restaurant described seeing a person with an AR-style rifle emerge from the drive-thru and a man with a pistol start firing toward the suspect.

During the attack, an off-duty state trooper and a civilian fired on Williams, diverting him from the restaurant, police have said.

Steven Pixley was among those injured. He was riding his motorcycle near the In-N-Out when he heard a pop and his left hand dropped, his cousin Shane Klaas said Tuesday.

A bullet went into his arm above his elbow and exited right below it, Klaas said. The shooting left Pixley without use of three of his fingers, and doctors are waiting for the swelling to go down so they can do surgery, Klaas said.

“His attitude is wonderful, which is a big part of getting through this,” Klaas said. “He’s laughing, he’s joking.”

Klaas said Pixley recently moved to Twin Falls, found a job and was trying to get his life together.

“He had everything in front of him,” Klaas said. “And then this just, I mean, this is just senseless.”

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Associated Press writer Jamie Stengle contributed to this report.

Arbaeen is held 40 days after Ashoura, which commemorates the killing of Imam Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, and members of his family, at the Battle of Karbala in 680 A.D.

Karbala Gov. Nasseif Jassim al-Khattabi said Tuesday that more than 22 million people entered the city during the pilgrimage, including about 5 million non-Iraqi visitors as well as Iraqis from different regions of the country.

The event is considered one of the world’s largest annual religious gatherings.

Among the highest-profile foreign visitors was Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who arrived in the Iraqi city of Najaf on Monday and continued on to Karbala to take part in the pilgrimage.

Araghchi's presence was a reminder of the delicate balancing act that Iraq — which has close ties to both Washington and Tehran — has carried out since the beginning of the war. Iraq has found itself in the crosshairs of both sides and has sought to avoid getting pulled further into the conflict.

As usual, Iranian pilgrims arrived in large numbers, but some observers said the number of pilgrims from other countries had shrunk.

Aqeel al-Rubaie, 45, a pilgrim from Baghdad who was on his way to Karbala, said Iranian flags were particularly visible along the Najaf-Karbala road, while there were fewer flags than usual from European, Arab and other Islamic countries.

He attributed this to “the war and the events unfolding across the region, which have affected the number of Arab and foreign pilgrims."

Another pilgrim from Baghdad, Hassan al-Sarai, 35, said, “I hardly saw any flags other than Iranian ones, which were clearly visible along the road as well as inside and around the city of Karbala."

Volunteer processions providing food, water, medical care and other services lined the roads leading to Karbala from across Iraq.

The pilgrimage is taking place this year as Iraq faces difficult economic conditions following the war and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has disrupted Iraqi oil exports. More than 90% of Iraqi state revenues come from oil exports, making the country’s economy highly vulnerable to any interruption in crude shipments.

It also comes as Baghdad is wrestling with a difficult task it has set for itself: disarming the country's network of militias, many of them Iran-backed.

One of the most powerful Iran-backed militias, Kataib Hezbollah, said in a statement marking the occasion of Arbaeen that it rejects calls to disarm and remains committed to retaining what it described as the “weapons of the resistance."

Meanwhile in Iran, many observant Shiites unable to make the pilgrimage to Karbala held their own observances, which sometimes took on a political tone.

In the capital, Tehran, black-clad mourners rallied along a nearly 20-kilometer (12-mile) route to a Shiite holy shrine in the south of the city from a starting point in the central part of the city.

The mourners chanted slogans seeking retaliation for the killing of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in strikes by the U.S. and Israel, while some demonstrators trampled on U.S. and Israeli flags.

State media said similar rallies were held in other Iranian cities and towns.

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Associated Press writer Nasser Karimi in Tehran contributed.

Netanyahu's remarks cast more doubt on the deal to disarm Hamas, which was seen as a potential breakthrough for ending the war. It also marked a rare public display of friction with the Trump administration.

The agreement called for Hamas to begin disarming and for Israel to halt its strikes and begin withdrawing from the roughly 60% of Gaza it currently controls. It was based on an October ceasefire agreement that ended major military operations and brought about the release of the remaining hostages held in Gaza but has stalled on other fronts.

Netanyahu, who faces a tough battle for reelection in October, reiterated his stance that disarmament should come first. He said Israeli forces would continue to “do whatever is necessary to protect themselves, our territory, and our citizens.”

The Trump administration “sent us a draft. We did not agree. It is not our draft. We sent our comments. … This is our position,” Netanyahu said in a video posted on social media.

Mass funeral held for dozens killed in 2023 strike

Earlier on Tuesday, Palestinians gathered for a mass funeral of more than 100 bodies finally recovered from a deadly Israeli strike in Gaza in 2023. More than 300 people were killed on Nov. 22, 2023, weeks into the war with Hamas, when warplanes flattened a residential block in Gaza City’s Sabra neighborhood.

Around 40 bodies were recovered soon afterward in a frantic scramble of rough tools and bare hands, but most were buried deep beneath the rubble. Reports of the high number of victims in one of the war's deadliest attacks took days to reach the public in the chaos just before its first ceasefire.

Over the weekend, first responders dug through the destroyed buildings and recovered remains of 112 victims, including 40 children, according to the Civil Defense, a rescue agency operating under the Hamas-run Interior Ministry.

It said 157 bodies still have not been found.

“The only crime of these martyrs was that they remained steadfast and resilient in their homes, believing that these homes would protect them,” one relative, Taysir al-Hassayna, told The Associated Press following the funeral prayers.

For the missing, it's “as if their bodies had evaporated without a trace.”

The current ceasefire has allowed recovery of remains

Only now are some bodies of people killed in the war's ferocious early months slowly being recovered, as the fragile ceasefire allows such efforts to push ahead in parts of devastated Gaza.

Those discoveries have contributed to the war's rising toll. The Hamas-led militant attack on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killed around 1,200 people and saw 251 taken hostage. Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 73,377 Palestinians, including since the ceasefire, Gaza’s Health Ministry said.

At least 7,400 people have been reported by relatives to still be under the rubble, Zaher al-Waheidi, head of the ministry's records department, told the AP. The true number is likely thousands higher because in some cases entire families were killed in a single bombing, leaving no one to report the missing, al-Waheidi has said.

The people mourned on Tuesday were from a residential block belonging to the Hassayna and Abu Sharia clan, and many were related. AP has identified at least 60 families across Gaza who lost 25 or more family members during the first three months of war.

On Tuesday, the remains of the victims, wrapped in Palestinian flags, were laid in rows on the ground. Many were marked with photos, and flower petals were scattered around them all. Hundreds of people surrounded the bodies for funeral prayers, some standing on the rubble.

Following the prayers, people carried the bodies on stretchers along a narrow street lined by destroyed buildings and buried them in a nearby cemetery.

Deadly strikes continue and rebuilding is on hold

At least 1,252 people have been killed in Gaza since the ceasefire took effect, according to the territory’s Health Ministry.

The ministry, part of the Hamas-led government, maintains detailed casualty records that are seen as generally reliable by U.N. agencies and independent experts. It does not give a breakdown of civilians and militants but says women and children make up most of the dead.

Israel says its strikes are against militants who endanger its soldiers, took part in the Oct. 7 attack or carry out other violations. Five Israeli soldiers have been killed since the ceasefire.

The U.S.-backed ceasefire agreement last October called for Hamas to be disarmed and for Israel to withdraw. An International Stabilization Force was to be deployed, and an independent Palestinian administration was to oversee governance and reconstruction.

Israel says everything hinges on Hamas giving up its weapons, while Hamas says Israel must end its strikes and begin withdrawing from the territory. Each side accuses the other of violating the truce.

Gaza remains largely shattered. Most of its 2 million Palestinians are displaced, many living in tent camps where poor conditions and overcrowding have led to rodent infestations and outbreaks of infectious diseases such as chickenpox.

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Magdy reported from Cairo and Lidman from Tel Aviv, Israel. Associated Press writer Suzan Fraser in Ankara, Turkey, contributed to this report.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro on Friday moved to dismiss the indictment against David Hearn, saying in a 20-page filing that newly produced evidence from the Interior Department showed the former Olympic canoeist was not responsible for damage to the pool's lining.

Pirro’s office attributed the damage instead to a botched installation by a contractor as well as “the rush to complete the project prior to events associated with the America 250 celebration” in the weeks surrounding July 4, as directed by President Donald Trump.

Lawyers for Hearn on Tuesday urged a judge to permanently dismiss the case and foreclose the possibility that the Trump administration could revive it. They took issue with Pirro's assertion that prosecutors only recently learned about the pre-existing defects at the pool, saying the government had “disregarded readily available evidence” that the liner was already failing because of installation flaws.

“From the outset, the evidence showed that the pool liner was already failing and that Mr. Hearn did not cause the damage alleged in the indictment,'' Hearn's legal team argued in a 28-page motion filed Tuesday in D.C. Superior Court.

The poor condition of the pool was “plainly visible” for weeks and was publicly documented through photographs, video and news reports, the lawyers wrote.

“Defying both decency and common sense, the government proceeded to indict Mr. Hearn before it had obtained or evaluated the information necessary to establish a good-faith basis for the charge,” the defense attorneys wrote.

In addition, they say, the government's key eyewitness was never presented to the grand jury, and a key prosecution witness on the question of damages “stated that the repairs at issue would have been necessary regardless of Mr. Hearn's alleged conduct and could not identify any additional cost caused by Mr. Hearn.”

The contractor, Virginia-based Atlantic Industrial Coatings, “publicly acknowledged, before Mr. Hearn was indicted, that portions of the project required repair,” the lawyers said. The firm was awarded a $14.7 million no-bid contract to repaint and waterproof the pool's concrete floor.

A spokesperson for Pirro’s office did not immediately return a message seeking comment.

Trump said Monday that Pirro “choked” and “folded like an umbrella” in moving to drop charges against Hearn. Trump, who met with Pirro late Monday, said he remained disappointed by her assessment that damage to the Reflecting Pool was the result of shoddy construction, not vandalism. Interior Secretary Doug Burgum has backed Trump's claims that vandals damaged the pool.

The dismissal of charges against Hearn was an embarrassing setback for the Justice Department and marked a rare moment during Trump’s second term of an aide or political appointee openly defying him.

Hearn has said he was on a bike ride June 19 when he reached in to examine the pool’s newly peeled coating and briefly touched a chunk attached to the side of the pool. But he said he obeyed a park worker who told him to let go of it.

Felony charges, including a possible 10-year prison sentence, were brought “without a meaningful investigation into the central and obvious question in this case: whether Mr. Hearn caused, or even could have caused, any damage to the Reflecting Pool,'' Hearn's lawyers said.

Eugenie, the younger daughter of the former Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, and husband, Jack Brooksbank, announced the birth of the 6-pound, 9-ounce (3 kilograms), girl delivered Monday in Lisbon, Portugal.

The girl was not named yet. The couple has two sons August, 5, and Ernest, 3.

Eugenie is the niece of King Charles III, the older brother of the former prince now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

“Their majesties the King and Queen and other members of the royal family were delighted to be informed of the news,” the palace said.

The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department said Jeanine John Taele, 38, was taking photos and video and had a 16-round magazine with ammunition in his pocket. Authorities recovered a loaded pistol in his car. Law enforcement searched his home in the nearby city of Downey on Monday and found a plethora of firearms, magazines and ammunition, body armor and notebooks with “concerning statements.”

The sheriff’s department announced the arrest as Trump was preparing to arrive for the Republican National Committee dinner at the Trump National Golf Course in the suburb of Rancho Palos Verdes just south of Los Angeles. The department did not elaborate on what the notebooks' “concerning statements” were or whether the man was planning an attack on the president or event.

Taele was charged with several felonies including second-degree robbery, receiving a large-capacity magazine and possession of a short-barreled rifle or shotgun. He was also charged with carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle, a misdemeanor.

He pleaded not guilty to all the charges Monday and was ordered to stay away from the golf course and not possess weapons. His bail was set at $250,000.

It wasn’t clear if he had an attorney, and family members could not immediately be reached for comment.

The sheriff’s department said when they made contact with Taele on Sunday, they had determined he was being investigated by the El Segundo Police Department for robbery.

The sheriff's department said there is “no credible threat to our communities.”

A jury in 2025 found a man guilty of trying to assassinate Trump at the president’s Florida country club.

It took firefighters nearly a month to extinguish the blaze, which scorched 22 square miles (57 square kilometers). The Eaton fire burned at the same time as the wind-whipped Palisades fire. An AP analysis at the time showed both blazes torched more urban area than any California fire in decades.

The Eaton fire was caused by electrical arcing on the utility’s out-of-service tower atop a ridge covered with dry fuel, the agency said in a statement. When bare, uninsulated wires touch or come close together it can cause arcing, which is when electricity jumps through the air, producing sparks.

The report said SoCal Edison was responsible for maintaining and operating its electrical lines and equipment “in a manner that would minimize the risk of catastrophic wildfire posed by them.”

Utility has acknowledged potential involvement

The utility indicated previously its equipment may be involved. In early reports to the California Public Utility Commission, SoCal Edison said it detected a “fault” on one of its transmission lines around the time that the Eaton fire started.

Kathleen Dunleavy, a spokesperson for SoCal Edison, said the utility is reviewing the report.

“We have taken our potential role in the start of this fire seriously from the very beginning,” Dunleavy said.

Dunleavy added the utility has claims against other agencies over issues such as emergency response and the condition of surrounding vegetation.

SoCal Edison claimed in lawsuits earlier this year that Los Angeles County agencies failed to send timely evacuation warnings to residents in east and west Altadena. Eighteen of the 19 people who died in the fire lived in west Altadena.

“Ignition is different from spread,” Dunleavy said. “A fire of that magnitude – it’s never just one thing. There are numerous factors.”

Attorney Gerald Singleton, whose firm represents some Eaton fire victims in pending civil cases against SoCal Edison, said the report confirms that the utility's failure to maintain its equipment caused the blaze.

“For 18 months, Edison tried to shift blame onto county evacuation warnings and local water agencies instead of owning its own equipment’s failure,” Singleton said in a statement. "We will continue to fight for full accountability and fair compensation for the survivors we represent.”

Joy Chen, executive director of Every Fire Survivor’s Network, said the report confirms what thousands of fire victims already knew about what caused the blaze.

“The real question is who pays?” asked Chen, whose home sustained smoke damage.

Utilities have been blamed for many of California’s most destructive fires in recent years.

SoCal Edison, which provides electric service to about 15 million people in California, has paid out hefty sums due to its equipment sparking fires, including $2.2 billion to settle insurance claims from the deadly, destructive Woolsey wildfire in 2018.

The utility is facing hundreds of lawsuits from fire victims, insurers and government entities related to the Eaton fire. The U.S. Department of Justice has also sued the company over damage to National Forest land, and has asked for more than $40 million in damages to the federal, state and local governments.

Attorney Mira Hashmall, who is representing Los Angeles County in Eaton fire-related litigation, said the report shows what “Edison knew all along.”

“Enough of Edison’s strategy of delaying justice for the victims of the fire and blaming first responders despite their best efforts to protect lives and property,” Hashmall said in a statement.

The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office said Tuesday that it will review the investigative report and will work with local, state and federal authorities to determine if criminal charges are warranted. The California Department of Justice didn’t immediately comment.

Another California utility, Pacific Gas & Electric, filed for bankruptcy after its outdated equipment ignited wildfires in California that killed more than 100 people and wiped out entire towns, including Paradise. The utility pleaded guilty to 84 counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the 2018 Camp Fire.

The Los Angeles County Arson Fire Investigation Unit jointly conducted the Eaton fire investigation with California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection or Cal Fire. The blaze was sparked during extreme weather conditions that included high temperatures, low humidity and powerful winds. Two “electrical arcing events” occurred in quick succession, causing an unknown burning material to fall from the tower to the ground below, according to the report.

Investigators interviewed residents who saw flames

The report cites interviews with several residents who saw the fire in its early stages on Jan. 7, some who said it occurred below power lines. One witness who noticed flames under an electrical tower said “he observed an arc while watching the fire; he described it as a blue light,” the report said. The witness began taking photos around 6:25 p.m., then watched as the blaze spread rapidly amid heavy winds.

Another Pasadena resident told investigators she was doing dishes with her daughter when she observed a circle of orange sparks that turned into flames. “The circle of fire was located at the base of the transmission towers,” the report said.

Fire Chief Anthony C. Marrone said “while the cause has been determined, our focus remains on assisting our residents to rebuild their homes and livelihoods, and ensuring lessons learned drive meaningful and impactful change in memory of the 19 lives lost.”

The Palisades Fire was the most destructive blaze in Los Angeles to date and among the five worst in California’s history. That fire killed 12 people and destroyed more than 6,800 homes and buildings in Pacific Palisades. The fire ripped through hillside neighborhoods, destroying mansions with spectacular ocean views.

The man accused of sparking the Palisades Fire will be tried again this fall after his first federal arson case ended in a mistrial in June. Prosecutors said Jonathan Rinderknecht used a barbecue lighter on Jan. 1, 2025 to spark a blaze that burned undetected deep in root systems before flaring back up Jan. 7.

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Taxin reported from Santa Ana, California.

The two conferences announced on Tuesday that all sides have reached final agreements to settle all pending litigation. The statement included Boise State, Colorado State, Utah State and The Board of Trustees of the California State University on behalf of San Diego State and Fresno State.

“With these matters concluded, the conferences and institutions can move forward with certainty and focus on serving their student-athletes, campuses, fans, and communities,” the statement said.

The conferences announced an agreement in principle in May.

The Pac-12 and some of new the schools joining the conference filed a lawsuit in California in 2024, claiming the poaching clause the league agreed to when it signed a scheduling agreement for its football teams was invalid. The clause called for payments to the Mountain West of $10 million for the first team that left, with the amount increasing by $500,000 for every additional team — to a total of $55 million.

The scheduling agreement with the Mountain West allowed Oregon State and Washington State to piece together football schedules after 10 schools left the Pac-12 in 2024, leaving the conference’s future in doubt.

The Pac-12 had its motion to dismiss denied by Judge Claudia Wilken in November after the sides failed to reach an agreement in mediation last summer.

Colorado State and Utah State filed a separate lawsuit — later joined by Boise State — against the Mountain West seeking to avoid exit fees ranging from $19 million to $38 million.

Colorado State, Utah State, San Diego State, Fresno State and Boise State are set to leave the Mountain West and join the Pac-12 this fall. The conference added Texas State last year to reach the eight-team minimum to be eligible for an automatic bid for its champion in the College Football Playoff.

Gonzaga also is leaving the West Coast Conference to join the Pac-12 as a non-football member this fall.

The Mountain West has added UTEP, Hawaii and Northern Illinois for football starting this fall.

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The State Department said the decision was a reciprocal response to Brazil’s actions, and officials said the step had been delayed several times to give Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva room to back down, something he did not do. Officials said, however, that it could be quickly reversed if Brazil takes appropriate action and accepts Trump’s ambassadorial choice.

Brazil's government in a statement responded by accusing the United States of not following international law in nominating its ambassador to Brazil. It said the U.S. government's decision to revoke the Brazilian ambassador's visa was politically driven with the aim of influencing Brazil's election in October.

Trump has had a fractious relationship for some time with Lula's administration, which has opposed him on numerous policies, particularly in the Western Hemisphere regarding Venezuela and Cuba. Their relationship also has been strained by Trump’s fondness for Lula’s first term successor and then predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, who is currently under house arrest, and his son Flávio, who is Lula’s main opponent in the election.

Lula has spared Trump himself from criticism and claims they liked each other when they first met at the United Nations Assembly General in September of last year. The Brazilian leader has blamed Secretary of State Marco Rubio for some of the actions against his country.

Brazil's ambassador is not being expelled

Despite the revocation of her visa, Brazil’s ambassador Maria Luiza Ribeiro Viotti is not being expelled from the United States, said one State Department official, who like several others spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive diplomatic matter. The ambassador was previously a senior United Nations official.

She could be allowed to resume her official duties if the Brazilian government accepts Trump’s choice of former Florida House speaker Danny Perez to be U.S. ambassador to Brazil. Perez was nominated to the post in June and the official said Brazil had signaled it would not act on the appointment until after the first round of Brazil's election on Oct. 4.

Perez' nomination was submitted to the Senate on June 1. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted on July 22 to send his nomination to the full Senate, where a vote was expected by the end of this week.

Brazil's government said the U.S. should have asked for consent to send Perez in private, as established by the Vienna Convention on diplomatic relations, before the nomination was made public. It added the U.S. government's request to send Perez is still “under analysis.”

Brazil denied visas last month for Riley Barnes, the assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor, and one of his top aides after reports emerged that the pair were going to criticize Lula or the election process.

The State Department denied the allegations and said the two had planned to visit Brasilia on July 27-30 to meet government officials, religious leaders and others about “election integrity,” religious freedom and freedom of expression.

It said the visit was routine and that “any insinuation of a ‘ploy’ to undermine a democratic nation’s election is a baseless lie.”

The Brazilian government on Tuesday stood by its assessment, saying the two Americans "were planning to visit the country to cast doubts about the integrity of the Brazilian electoral system, in an unacceptable attempt to interfere in the national political process.”

Last week, a top Brazilian diplomat told journalists the government was expecting a response from Rubio. The diplomat was not authorized to discuss the matter publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.

The same Brazilian diplomat told the AP on Tuesday, also under condition of anonymity, that the Lula administration is trying to figure out why the U.S. government is rushing to have an ambassador in Brasilia only months before October's election. The post in the Brazilian capital has been vacant since Trump returned to the White House in January 2025.

The Trump administration has taken other actions against Brazil

Lula, who is 80 and seeking his fourth term as Brazil's president, will face Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, whose father once served as Brazil's president and whose family has many ties with the Trump administration.

Sen. Bolsonaro and his brother, Eduardo, visited U.S. officials in Washington, including Trump, in late May. Shortly afterward, the Trump administration classified Brazil’s biggest drug-trafficking groups — First Command Capital and Red Command — as foreign terrorist organizations, a move Lula opposes.

The Trump administration also imposed an up to 37.5% tariff hike on thousands of Brazilian exports, which came into force Friday. The U.S. government claims the South American nation has unfair competition practices and fails to stop forced labor practices — both accusations rejected by the Lula administration as an attempt to sway the election to Sen. Bolsonaro.

Brazil's government said Tuesday's decision was not an isolated incident.

"It forms part of a deliberate escalation of hostile measures against Brazil, driven by ideological motives that are incompatible with a bilateral partnership that has always been guided by mutual respect,” the government statement said. “The improper intent to interfere in the forthcoming presidential election is also evident.”

Jair Bolsonaro has for years fed concerns about the country’s electronic voting system, without providing any evidence for his claims. He is now serving a 27-year prison sentence at home for an attempted coup. He has long insisted that the machines, used for a quarter-century, are prone to fraud.

Sen. Bolsonaro has recently repeated some of these claims, although he steered clear of those on Saturday when his Liberal Party confirmed him as a presidential candidate in Sao Paulo.

Brazil's government said it “has spared no effort to resolve these differences” with the U.S government.

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Savarese reported from Sao Paulo, Brazil.

The Bears announced the four-year deal on Tuesday, posting “The Wright Tackle is here to stay” on social media. Wright's $116 million contract includes $93 million guaranteed, according to a person familiar with the agreement who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the details had not been announced by either side.

The contract is the biggest ever for a right tackle and includes the most guaranteed money for an offensive lineman in NFL history, according to ESPN.

“Our team is rooted in being driven by belief and built by hard work, and Darnell epitomizes our culture in every way,” coach Ben Johnson said in a statement.

The 10th overall pick in the 2023 draft out of Tennessee, Wright anchored an offensive line that helped the Bears rank third in the NFL in rushing last season on their way to the NFC North title. He earned second-team All-Pro honors.

“Darnell has consistently elevated his play and the performance of his teammates since joining our team, and we look forward to his continued growth and leadership for years to come,” general manager Ryan Poles said.

Wright said during training camp last week that he was optimistic about getting an extension.

“Obviously, I know I’ll be here for a long time, hopefully my whole career,” he said. “Those things kind of just handle themselves. I just have to stay focused on the main things. That’s just getting better, consistency every day.”

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While it may seem like the planet is baking through a record-shattering summer from hell, it's not quite in record territory. Yet.

So far this is only the third-hottest year, behind 2024 and 2025, climate statistics show. But give 2026 time. Because of a one-two punch of accelerated human-caused global warming and a supersized El Nino, there's an increasing chance that by the end of the year, 2026 could eke out the crown for the hottest year on record, eclipsing 2024 — or at least come close, scientists said.

Even if this year sets the record, it won't last long. Although scientists disagree on whether 2026 will be the hottest year on record, they agree on it being a near lock that 2027 will beat out any modern year for heat, maybe by a great deal.

With wars around the globe in the last few years people didn't pay much attention to climate change "because the world was on fire in different ways. The world is now on fire again with climate change in a way that’s increasingly difficult to ignore,” said climate scientist Zeke Hausfather of Berkeley Earth. “It's going to keep getting worse.''

Increasing odds for a record hot year

Hausfather calculated there's a 35% chance that 2026 will pass 2024 as the hottest year on record. But Hausfather keeps increasing those odds nearly every month — up from only 7% in March.

Former top NASA climate scientist James Hansen, often called the godfather of climate science for 40 years of accurate long-term warnings, predicted that 2026 will edge out 2024 at the end of the year.

The world's daily sea surface temperature tied 2024 starting in May and since June it's been record hot nearly every day. With oceans more than 70% of the globe's surface, there's generally a month-and-a-half lag between heat showing up in oceans and then being reflected in the global average temperature, Hansen said. So it's about time that the entire globe starts shattering records, he said. About 82% of the world's ocean surface is overheated with marine heat waves this year, according to Europe's Copernicus climate service.

About a month ago the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast that there was a 66% chance that 2026 would be the fourth hottest and only a 0.1% chance it would be No.1 for warmth by year's end. NOAA monitoring chief Russell Vose said those odds will be rising when NOAA finishes its analysis from July.

Hausfather said what's changing outlooks is the increasingly strong forecasts for a “mind-numbing” record-setting El Nino.

El Nino is a natural temporary warming of parts of the equatorial Pacific that heats up the globe's average temperature and warps weather extremes across the planet. Most forecasts have El Nino becoming the strongest in history. El Ninos always release pent-up heat in the ocean, but because of greenhouse gases trapping heat and 90% of it going into the world's seas, there's more heat to release, said Zachary Labe, a climate scientist at Climate Central, a science and communications nonprofit.

The amount of heat in the world's oceans — a marker of human-caused climate change — keeps setting new record highs, Labe said.

This summer's heat is human caused, not from El Nino

Climate scientists said what we've seen this summer can't be blamed on El Nino because its impacts really don't kick in for a few more months. The fires, heat and extremes that have dominated the summer of 2026 are what scientists have long been warning about from the burning of coal, oil and gas.

“The driver of the record warmth is climate change in the background. And it’s a much larger — much, much larger — contribution than El Nino, which is just a tenth to two-tenths of a degree on top of that long-term trend,” Labe said.

That warming is accelerating, Hansen said.

That's because traditional industrial pollution that creates soot and smog — which cool the planet and mask greenhouse gas-triggered warming — is decreasing, Hansen said. Also, it looks as if the climate might be reacting to greenhouse gases stronger than scientists anticipated, he said.

Heat waves keep hitting

This summer’s heat waves have hit hard in places where people aren’t used to triple-digit heat, unlike in the tropics, climate scientists said. And they've been especially noticeable at night, making it hard for people to sleep, which impairs their health and their ability to be productive at work, said Samantha Burgess, global strategic lead at Copernicus climate service.

She pointed to Europe, where there was an “exceptional” heat wave in May, another in June, two in July and another one going on now in France and Spain.

“European heat waves are not in isolation. So there’s also been shocking heat waves in North America. There’s been shockingly hot conditions in South America as well. There’s been devastating heat waves in India,” Burgess said. “There’s always heat waves somewhere in the world sometime, but what is very unusual for Europe for this particular year is the frequency and extent of the heat waves.”

Princeton University climate scientist Michael Oppenheimer said this is what scientists have long been warning about.

"These are vivid pictures of not just the future, which is what we used to say, but on the whole of what climate change is doing. There’s no question that climate change has increased the risk of wildfires. There’s no question that the climate change increased the probability of really hot, nasty, even unprecedented summers around the world.”

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Supporters of the referendum had submitted hundreds of thousands of petition signatures in a bid to force a November election on a new U.S. House map approved by the Republican-led state Legislature. But Republican Secretary of State Denny Hoskins asserted Tuesday that the petition is void because congressional redistricting plans cannot be subject to voter referendums.

The number of petition signatures submitted doesn't matter, Hoskins said, because “challenging a congressional map is unconstitutional under Missouri law.”

A group backing the referendum effort said it will contest Hoskins' decision in court.

“Secretary of State Hoskins is making a last desperate attempt to silence the people’s voice in Missouri," Richard von Glahn, executive director of People Not Politicians Missouri, said in a statement, while asserting there are more than enough signatures to qualify the referendum for the ballot.

Missouri was the second Republican-led state, after Texas, to respond to Trump's call last year to redraw congressional districts to the GOP's advantage in hopes of holding on to the party's slim House majority in the midterm elections.

The new map, which is being used in Tuesday's primaries, dramatically reshapes the Kansas City-based 5th Congressional District, held by longtime Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver, by stretching it into rural central Missouri to give it a Republican tilt. Republicans already hold six of Missouri's eight congressional seats and hope to gain another under the new map.

Hoskins shoots down amendment on citizen initiatives

Hoskins also rejected a potential November ballot measure seeking to fortify the initiative process.

The proposed amendment would bar the Legislature from making it harder to qualify citizen initiatives for the ballot or approve them at an election. It also would make it harder for the Legislature to reverse or amend voter-approved initiatives by requiring an 80% vote in both the House and Senate, instead of the current simple majority.

Although supporters had submitted thousands of signatures, Hoskins asserted that the petition violated a constitutional prohibition against rolling multiple subjects and sections of the constitution into a single amendment.

The Respect Missouri Voters coalition said it will take legal action to try to get its amendment on the ballot.

“This brazen disregard for the will of the people is exactly why the people of Missouri came together to gather signatures ... because we are sick of these games in Jefferson City,” said Bob Johnson, a coalition member and former Republican state senator.

For both the redistricting referendum and the citizen initiative measure, Hoskins released opinions from Republican Attorney General Catherine Hanaway laying out the rational for his decisions.

Missouri's redistricting plan has faced lots of litigation

People Not Politicians, the group sponsoring the referendum drive, submitted more than 300,000 signatures to the secretary of state's office in December. Local election officials reviewed the signatures' validity over the ensuing months and approved well more than the roughly 111,000 needed to qualify for the ballot.

But Hoskins waited until the last day allowed under state law to announce his decision about the referendum — a move that let the new districts be used in the meantime.

Hoskins had long signaled that he was likely to reject the referendum. He asked a federal court last fall to block the referendum petition from being submitted, arguing that congressional redistricting is not subject to a referendum under the U.S. and Missouri constitutions. A judge dismissed the lawsuit as premature, noting in a December ruling that Hoskins had the authority to reject the petition himself if he thought it was unconstitutional.

When Missouri candidates began filing for office in February, Hoskins said they were doing so under the new districts and told The Associated Press that “the referendum process was never meant to be used for redistricting.”

If Hoskins is wrong, and a court orders him to place the redistricting referendum on the ballot, it's unclear what that means for the 2026 elections. Would candidates who win Tuesday's primaries be allowed to continue running under the new districts in November while voters simultaneously decide whether those districts can be used in future elections? Would candidates run in different districts for the general election than were used in the primaries? Or would courts order a do-over for the congressional primaries using the state’s prior congressional districts?

Missouri's mid-decade redistricting effort already has been among the most litigated nationally, triggering about a dozen lawsuits over the past year.

Republicans are ahead in the national redistricting fight

Legislative voting districts typically are redrawn at the start of each decade, immediately after a census. But Trump's call for Republicans to redraw districts to their advantage led to an unusual outbreak of mid-decade mapmaking. The redistricting effort gained additional steam when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a majority Black congressional district in Louisiana in late April, prompting Republicans in several Southern states to also redraw districts that had large minority populations.

All told, Republicans think they could win as many as 16 additional seats from new House maps enacted in eight states — Texas, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Florida, Tennessee, Louisiana and Alabama. Democrats, whose counterattack faced several setbacks, think they could win up to six additional seats from new districts in California and Utah.

Voters ultimately will determine whether the new districts perform as intended. Even with redistricting, Republicans are facing headwinds. The president's party historically has lost congressional seats in the midterms, and Trump’s poor approval ratings could provide an extra hurdle for Republican candidates.

Nearly 145 million people — about two of every five U.S. residents — live in states with new congressional districts for this election. Additional states are considering redistricting before the 2028 elections. Maryland lawmakers voted Tuesday to place an amendment on November’s ballot that could pave the way for mid-decade redistricting.

The Republican president has struggled to connect with voters on the economy as elevated inflation and Americans' feelings of uncertainty have overshadowed the stock market gains he often cites along with a low national unemployment rate.

Just before Trump arrived in Los Angeles on Tuesday to speak at a Republican National Committee fundraising dinner at a golf club his family owns in Rancho Palos Verdes, authorities revealed that a California man who was carrying ammunition and had a gun in his car had been arrested Sunday at the golf course. The man appeared to have been monitoring security preparations.

On Wednesday, Trump will discuss the economy during an event at Red Rock Casino in Las Vegas. Only 32% of U.S. adults approved of Trump’s handling of the economy in an AP-NORC poll conducted in late July. In the same poll, most Americans, 69%, characterized the state of the economy as “poor,” and many said the cost of everyday essentials like groceries and gas was a “major” source of stress in their lives.

Trump’s overall approval rating is at 33%, slightly below where he stood at this point in his first term.

Trump is likely to take aim at Democratic Gov. Newsom

During the trip, Trump is likely to throw barbs at California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat eyed as a likely candidate for his party’s presidential nomination in 2028. Newsom has become one of the president’s highest-profile opponents.

White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said the president plans to “draw a sharp contrast between his commonsense agenda and the radical policies of Democrats like Gavin Newsom," touting his own efforts to cut taxes, reduce fraud in government programs, and crack down on immigration and crime.

California was one of Trump's first domestic stops after returning to office in January 2025. He surveyed the aftermath of wildfires that had wiped out whole neighborhoods of Los Angeles County, left thousands of people homeless and killed more than two dozen.

Newsom greeted Trump at the airport on that trip, and they chatted amiably and gestured toward cooperation despite a bitter history. But the comity did not last. Six months later, Newsom argued in a speech that “democracy is under assault” by Trump after the president sent National Guard troops and U.S. Marines into Los Angeles without Newsom's consent. This came after protests following a series of immigration raids by federal authorities.

Trump routinely mocks Newsom and refers to the governor using a derogatory nickname, while Newsom taunts the president with frequent social media posts.

The Democrat's press office put out a statement Tuesday saying that Trump was traveling to California not to help survivors of the wildfires but to raise money and attack the state with lies.

“More than anything, we’d like the President to keep the promise he made on January 24, 2025: to 'take care of Los Angeles,'" Newsom said. “18 months later, survivors are still waiting. And while you’re here, Mr. President, welcome to the world’s fourth-largest economy — growing faster than Texas and Florida combined. Enjoy your stay.”

“Trump treats California like his personal political punching bag — right up until he needs someone to write a check,” California Democratic Party Chair Rusty Hicks said in a statement. “He may hit up a few billionaire donors who bankroll his political operation, but the people of California have already made it clear: they want nothing to do with his chaos and corruption.”

Housing prices are a big issue at Trump's second stop: Nevada

Nevada, where Trump will be on Wednesday, is led by a Republican governor, Joe Lombardo, who faces Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford in a battle for reelection in November. The contest is considered one of the most competitive governor’s races in the country.

The Nevada State Democratic Party is putting up billboard signs about Trump’s visit that tie him to Lombardo and higher costs. The state is grappling with a shortage of affordable housing, exploding energy demand from artificial intelligence data centers and federal cuts to key state programs.

Trump has tried for several months to sell voters on his income tax cuts and claims of a manufacturing renaissance. But interest rates are high, a gallon of gasoline costs more because of the Iran war, tariffs are still reshaping the economy and, by the White House’s own estimates, there is a national shortage of housing.

The president called his own housing bill a “yawn,” and past speeches advertised by the White House as being about the economy, including one he delivered at a General Motors facility in Michigan last week, gave way to Trumpian weaves about his political enemies and construction projects in the nation's capital.

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Associated Press writers Josh Boak and Michelle L. Price in Washington, Michael R. Blood in Los Angeles and Jessica Hill in Las Vegas contributed to this report.

In a statement released Thursday, sheriff’s officials said an internal audit found “improper and unlawful” use of agency database systems to monitor an individual. The audit identified irregular activity tied to Detective Brandy Almany, who has been employed with the agency since 2019, the release said.

According to the sheriff’s office, a criminal investigation was opened the same day. Investigators allege Almany circumvented procedures and accessed databases including:

• CCIS (Comprehensive Case Information System)
• Flock Automated License Plate Recognition (ALPR)
• DAVID (Driver and Vehicle Information Database)

Investigators said the information was sought in connection with the ex-wife of Almany’s husband, and that the searches were not tied to legitimate investigative work.

Officials also alleged Almany created electronic records that falsely indicated the searches were connected to valid sheriff’s office investigations, using unrelated case numbers and false justifications.

Almany was interviewed and “immediately suspended from duty,” the release said. The case was then presented to the Office of the State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit for review.

[Watch the Sumter County sheriff’s full statement below]

After that review, the sheriff’s office said an arrest warrant was issued on Thursday, charging Almany with:

• Official misconduct (F.S. § 838.022(1)(a))
• Offenses against computer users (F.S. § 815.06), including allegations she exceeded authorized access to:
• • sheriff’s office computer systems and software
  • the DAVID database
  • the CCIS database

Sheriff Patrick Breeden said that, upon Almany’s arrest, she was notified of her pending termination per procedure. The agency said it is awaiting additional audit results from the various databases, which could lead to more charges.

In the statement, the sheriff described the arrest as a step toward “accountability and transparency,” and said he would not tolerate conduct that does not meet the agency’s standards.

The sheriff’s office also said it has ordered a complete internal audit of all database activity, and has suspended the use of Flock in response to the case.

The No. 2-ranked Spaniard was hoping to return to defend his title in the hard-court tournament, which serves as an important warmup for the U.S. Open.

“We know Carlos is doing everything he can to get back to playing tournaments as soon as possible,” tournament director Bob Moran said in a statement. “We wish him the best with his recovery and look forward to welcoming him back to Cincinnati in the future.”

Alcaraz last played at the Barcelona Open, then missed the French Open and the entire grass-court season, including Wimbledon.

He is entered in the U.S. Open, where he is the defending champion. Recent photos and videos on social media have shown the seven-time Grand Slam winner on the practice courts, so it was thought he would be ready to play in the Cincinnati event that begins Aug. 11.

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

Behind the scenes, though, the Rockies were already negotiating a deal to keep him in town.

Moniak agreed Tuesday to a $16.25 million, two-year contract that covers 2027 and '28. He gets $7.25 million next season, which would have been his final year of arbitration eligibility, and $9 million in 2028, when he would have been eligible for free agency under the current labor contract.

Moniak has thrived at hitter friendly Coors Field since signing with Colorado in March 2025. He's hitting .277 with 18 homers and 49 RBIs across 75 games this season.

“It’s no secret that I love it here,” Moniak said before the Rockies faced the AL-leading Tampa Bay Rays. “Ever since I’ve stepped foot in Colorado and Denver and in this organization, it just felt like home.”

The 28-year-old, who has a $4 million salary this year, was the No. 1 overall pick by Philadelphia in the 2016 amateur draft. He's no stranger to being dealt at the deadline with the Phillies trading him to the Los Angeles Angels in 2022.

He said that after Sunday's win over the Kansas City Royals he had a handshake agreement with the team.

“It’s a crazy process. First time I’ve ever done something like this,” Moniak said. “Just extremely happy, for sure.”

Moniak has become a leader in the clubhouse as the Rockies try to turn things around behind a new front office led by Paul DePodesta and Josh Byrnes. Colorado made several trade deadline deals for prospects Monday, sending reliever Antonio Senzatela to Milwaukee, outfielder Brenton Doyle to the Chicago White Sox and reliever Victor Vodnik to Miami.

But after some calls with teams over the last few weeks they decided it was more prudent to extend Moniak.

“We all felt like the better thing to do for us was to keep him — and not just keep him and play out the next year and a half, but really keep him,” DePodesta said. “He's very much a part of what we’re trying to be, both on the field and off the field. To be able to give him an extension is also just a message not just to the rest of our team, but hopefully to our fans and our market that we’re actually building toward something here.

“This deadline wasn’t just about trading players away. It was actually about building toward something better going forward.”

The Rockies already have more wins this season than all of last year when they went 43-119 (their third straight 100-loss season). They haven't made the playoffs since 2018.

“I truly believe in what we’re doing here,” explained Moniak, who said he and his wife are expecting a daughter. "This is a place that’s starving for winning baseball. ... To be able to bring winning baseball back to Colorado truly would mean the world.

“You see (the support) here with the records that we’ve had over the last year and a half. Can’t imagine what it’s like when we’re competing in October and further. That’s a very attainable goal for this team and the guys we have in the very near future.”

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AP Baseball Writer Ronald Blum contributed.

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

The country’s disaster management agency said 659 people were evacuated from eight villages in the danger area and are being housed in nearby shelters. The eruption started on Monday morning, with videos showing clouds of gas and ash above the volcano as lava and pyroclastic flows roll down.

Claudinne Ogaldes, executive secretary of the Guatemalan disaster management agency, or CONRED, said that about 10 more communities are expected to be evacuated throughout the day.

Among those evacuated were around 250 people from El Porvenir and the hamlet of Las Lajitas, CONRED said and also warned of ash spreading to nearby towns.

A major highway that passes close to the volcano, National Route 14, was closed. The Education Ministry suspended classes in nearby towns.

During a previous eruption of the volcano in June 2018, hundreds of people were killed and a whole village was destroyed — with as many as 1.7 million people impacted by the event, according to authorities. Another eruption in June last year spurred preventive evacuations.

The company run by Elon Musk posted a loss of $541 million, or 9 cents per share, in the three months through June, less than half what financial analysts had forecast. Revenue jumped to $7.8 billion, up more than 90% from the year-earlier period.

A standout in the quarter was the company's big cash source, its “connectivity” business, with revenue jumping 66% from a year earlier as the number of subscribers to its Starlink satellite communications service doubled to 12 million.

“It's not out of the question that at some point, Starlink will deliver a majority of the world’s internet," Musk said in call with analysts.

SpaceX stock rose 9% in regular trading Tuesday, but gave most of the gain back after hours. The rocket, satellite and AI company's stock has fallen by roughly half since peaking in June shortly after an initial public offering that briefly made Musk the world’s first trillionaire.

Investors are worried Musk has oversold them on the company's future prospects for space travel and its AI chatbot Grok. They’re also bracing for volatile trading as some company insiders get the opportunity to sell shares after the expiration of what’s known as a lockup provision later in the week.

Another area of concern is SpaceX spending on infrastructure and R&D, which jumped to $18 billion from less than $3 billion a year ago. The company's chief financial officer, Bret Johnsen, said to expect similar capital expenditures for the next two quarters.

Musk defended the outlays, a concern also weighing on many other technology companies spending heavily on AI, saying the resulting supercharged growth meant the company would reach a trillion dollars in revenue a year faster now, 2030 rather than 2031.

Shares jumped 19% on their first day of trading in June, making Musk the first-ever trillionaire. The subsequent drop, as well as a decline in the shares of Musk’s electric vehicle company Tesla, have knocked his wealth down to $783 billion, according to Forbes.

Musk was asked several times about the prospects for the gigantic Starship rocket that is key to SpaceX realizing his ambitions. Starship successfully deployed satellites in space during a test late last month.

Musk said he expected SpaceX will attempt to test the reusability of Starship at the end of the month when it will attempt to grab the spacecraft and its booster with mechanical arms upon their return to their base. NASA hopes to use Starship to put astronauts on the moon again in the near future.

“We want to put boots on the ground — boots on the moon — in 2028,” said SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell.

SpaceX shares could see continued volatility. Some insiders have been barred from selling in the public offering but that prohibition begins to ease on Thursday when more than 900 million shares are released for trading, more than doubling the amount currently available. The lockup release is the first of several tranches of stock that will be freed to trade over the next several months.

The company also runs the social media platform X, formerly Twitter.

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An earlier version of this story erroneously reported that 900,000 shares will be released for trading later this week. It should have said more than 900 million.

Both chambers of the Democratic-dominated state legislature on Tuesday approved putting an amendment on the ballot to allow the change. Sending it to voters required three-fifths approval of both legislative chambers, which met in a special session to consider the change. It cleared the House 96-38 and the Senate 32-13.

Gov. Wes Moore, a Democrat, praised lawmakers for putting the measure before voters, and joined them in saying it was necessary to combat President Donald Trump's push for a mid-decade redistricting that favors Republicans.

“I continue to believe that our country needs national redistricting reform. But until that happens, inaction is not an option,” Moore said in a statement. “Maryland will not be caught flat-footed while Republicans engage in political redlining that guts decades of progress that the generations before us fought for.”

In a state where Democrats now occupy seven of the eight House seats, Republicans are calling the effort a blatant power grab — and a move that violates a new state law intended to give voters more time to consider proposed amendments.

In debate in the House on Tuesday, Republican Delegate Kevin Hornberger told his colleagues: “Just because we can go ultra-partisan doesn't mean we should go ultra-partisan.” Other Republicans said constituents weren't behind it and one Democratic lawmaker worried that the change could cost rural parts of the state federal resources if they're put in the same districts with suburban areas.

In the debate, Democrats emphasized that the amendment does not include approval of any specific new maps.

If the amendment is ultimately approved, it would likely be part of a rapid reconfiguration of congressional district lines that began last year when Trump urged Republican-controlled states to adjust their maps to help the party in the 2026 midterm elections. Normally, redistricting happens just once a decade after new Census data is released.

Eight states — Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Tennessee and Texas — have redrawn maps to help Republicans, who could pick up as many as 16 seats due to the redistricting. New maps in California and Utah could give Democrats an advantage in six races.

Maryland moved more slowly — and with an approach that will not change districts for this year's elections — because Democratic state Senate President Bill Ferguson blocked an earlier initiative aimed at putting new maps in place for this year. He was worried that the state Supreme Court, with most of its members appointed by a Republican former governor, could backfire — especially because a judge in 2022 rejected a new map that could have boosted the Democrats.

Ferguson said his view changed after the U.S. Supreme Court weakened the Voting Rights Act in April, giving Republicans grounds for reconfiguring districts with large minority populations in Southern states.

The question that could go to voters is designed to make it hard for the court to reject redistricting. It would make it clear that the parameters the judge cited — including that districts be compact in form and have regard given to “natural boundaries” — apply only to state legislative districts, not congressional ones.

That would allow congressional districts to cross the Chesapeake Bay, which is the only way Democrats could draw a map that gives them an edge in every congressional district. Currently, the only district on the rural Eastern Shore east of the Bay is also the only one represented by a Republican, Rep. Andy Harris, the chair of the conservative House Freedom Caucus.

But after seven years and six teams the defensive end is back where his career began after re-signing Sunday with the team that picked him first overall in 2014.

Clowney has changed a lot since he arrived in Houston as a 21-year-old.

“I’m grown,” he said after his first workout with the Texans Tuesday. “I was a big kid at first when I first got here. I grew up different than a lot of these guys. When I was born, my dad was in jail. I grew up in a single-parent home. I grew up a lot different. ... but coming back now, I’m a veteran in the locker room, a lot older, a lot smarter than I was before.”

He joins a defense that ranked among the best in the league in almost every category last season. Houston has stars Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter as its starting defensive ends but could use Clowney as a situational pass rusher after he had 8½ sacks for the Cowboys last season.

Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair was asked about adding Clowney to a team that already has so much talent at defensive end.

“The rich get richer,” he said. “He’s a great player. Excited to work with him.”

Clowney signed a one-year, $5.5 million contract with incentives that could push his salary to $8 million. The 33-year-old said he could have made more money if he’d signed elsewhere but at this point in his career winning is all that matters to him.

“My whole thing was to chase the Super Bowl this year,” he said. “There’s no better place for me to do it.”

Clowney did not have any lingering bitterness towards the Texans because of how his first stint with the team ended. He said his problems back then were specific to one person.

“I didn’t have any hard feelings,” he said. “It was just (former Texans coach Bill) O’Brien at the time. Him and I bumped heads. I couldn’t really understand because I was an easygoing guy.”

Current Houston coach DeMeco Ryans isn’t worried about his past with the team.

“He’s been a successful player, had a successful career,” Ryans said. “He brings a physical aspect to the football game, to our defense. A guy who can get after the passer as well.”

Clowney is happy to have signed with the Texans early in camp after he didn’t get picked up by the Cowboys last season until Sept. 14.

“It’s going to be a lot different this year because I’m going to learn a playbook before the season starts,” he said. “It’s going to be a lot smoother season for me.”

Along with one season each in Seattle and Dallas, he also was with Tennessee, Cleveland, Baltimore and Carolina since leaving Houston. Clowney had 9½ sacks with the Ravens in 2023, which tied his career-high that came with the Texans in 2017.

Clowney loves the culture Ryans has built in Houston and he’s looking forward to playing for his fearsome defense in what will be his 13th season.

“He puts a lot of great guys around him in coaches and you can feel the energy and all the other guys can feel it,” he said. “I know great things are going to happen here for me and the team. I’m just looking forward to the opportunity.”

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

Russia has relentlessly pounded civilian areas of Ukraine, even though Moscow insists its forces target only military facilities.

Since the Kremlin launched its full-scale invasion over four years ago, Ukraine has developed long-range drones that can strike deep inside Russia. In the past year, its forces have battered oil facilities, major storage depots and other key infrastructure.

More than 16,000 civilians have been killed in Ukraine since the war began, the United Nations said last month in its most recent casualty report, with the vast majority occurring in areas under the Ukrainian government’s control. Casualties have risen steadily each year.

The U.N. children’s agency on Tuesday urged both countries to uphold international humanitarian law requiring the protection of children, citing recent deaths in Russia's Belgorod and Krasnodar regions, as well as in Ukraine's Dnipropetrovsk and Sumy regions.

“Attacks that kill and injure children must stop,” UNICEF said in a statement.

Meanwhile, escalating attacks on shipping in the Black Sea by both sides have reawakened fears that global food security could be put at risk.

Russia is accused of using a drone to attack a street vendor

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy posted a video on social media that he said showed a Russian drone hunting a man selling vegetables from a street stall in the southern city of Kherson.

The video shows the man trying to flee the drone as it circles his vehicle, follows him and ultimately strikes the car where he was trying to hide. He suffered wounds to his back, legs and arms, according to an interview he gave to the Kherson regional military administration.

Russia's Defense Ministry did not immediately reply to an Associated Press request for comment.

Drone attacks on civilians have surged since the war began, with 967 people killed, including 10 children, and nearly 7,000 people injured, Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office said Tuesday.

Russian drone operators track and strike civilians going about daily activities, according to previous AP reporting. A U.N. commission concluded in October 2025 that such attacks amounted to crimes against humanity.

“The world must see this,” Zelenskyy said. “It must see every piece of evidence that Russia has gone mad and that its soldiers take pleasure in killing and abusing civilians.”

Russia says a Ukrainian drone killed 7 on Black Sea coast

The death toll from a drone strike Monday in the Russian Black Sea resort of Arkhipo-Osipovka rose to seven, including four children, regional authorities said.

On Tuesday, Krasnodar regional authorities updated the number of wounded to 58, with 21 hospitalized.

Video circulating online showed a drone slamming into a crowded beach with what sounded like gunfire in the background. Ukraine has not commented on the strike.

Ukrainian drones strike near Moscow and St. Petersburg

A Ukrainian drone attack Tuesday in the region around Moscow killed five people and wounded 10 others, said Gov. Andrei Vorobyov. Most of the damage occurred in the Chekhov municipal district, where several fires erupted at the Novoselki industrial zone, he said.

In the latest in a series of attacks on Russia’s biggest online retailer Wildberries, the company said its warehouse in the Leningrad region, adjacent to St. Petersburg, was on fire.

In the village of Emmaus, located between Moscow and St. Petersburg, drone debris partially damaged a wall of a Wildberries warehouse, regional Gov. Vitaly Korolyov said.

In the past 18 days, Ukrainian drones have targeted 15 Wildberries warehouses, 13 of which caught fire, said Robert Brovdi, commander of Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces. Ukrainian officials say the company provides goods that can be used by the military. Kyiv is also keen to unsettle the Russian public with high-profile attacks.

Russia hits Ukrainian ports and shipping

The Russian Defense Ministry said its forces on Monday night struck “Ukrainian ports, vessels and port infrastructure” used by Kyiv’s army.

In the port of Chornomorsk, in Ukraine’s southern Odesa region, Russia said it hit an automobile components plant and a port terminal, where the military vehicles were being repaired and ammunition and fuel were being stored.

In the southern port of Mykolaiv, a bulk carrier with military cargo was damaged, while in Pivdennyi, another Ukrainian port, a vessel unloading military cargo was hit, according to the Russian statement.

The ministry also said two bulk carriers hauling weapons and military equipment were damaged at sea, south of Odesa.

Turkey on Tuesday repeated its appeal for both countries to ensure safe passage in the Black Sea after two Turkish-owned ships were attacked by drones after leaving the Russian port of Novorossiysk.

A Turkish Foreign Ministry statement expressed concerns that the war is increasingly spreading across the Black Sea, threatening merchant shipping, and warned such incidents could have broader consequences, including for the global food supply, as important shipments of grain, fertilizer and other key products move through those waters.

Ukraine reports more Russian glide bomb attacks

Russian attacks on Mykolaiv, including its port, killed an 89-year-old woman and wounded seven other people aged between 2 and 83, Ukrainian regional officials said.

The Russian strike on civilian infrastructure in southern Odesa region destroyed a private home and wounded two people, according to Oleh Kiper, head of the regional military administration.

In Ukraine’s northern Sumy region, six Russian glide bombs killed two girls aged 5 and 10 and an elderly woman, said Oleh Hryhorov, head of the Sumy regional military administration.

Russian forces also struck Kharkiv and 18 towns and villages across the northern region in the previous 24 hours, killing one person and injuring seven, including an 8-year-old, said Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv regional military administration.

Strikes in Balakliia, also in the Kharkiv region, damaged an apartment building, a library, three stores and more than 10 houses, wounding two women, local authorities said.

Two glide bombs struck Kramatorsk in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine, injuring 24 people, local officials said. Kramatorsk sits at the northern end of Ukraine’s Fortress Belt, where Western analysts say Russia is making a renewed effort to break through after four years of attrition.

Vadym Filashkin, head of the regional military administration, urged people still living near the front to evacuate, saying authorities would help with transportation, housing and other support.

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Associated Press writer Edith M. Lederer at the United Nations contributed to this report.

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

The man, Edwin Lopez-Cornejo, was hospitalized Saturday after having a “medical emergency” while being held at Delaney Hall in Newark, according to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He died the same day.

His official cause of death will be released following further medical examination, according to ICE, which listed his age as 41. Relatives said he was 39.

At a news conference Tuesday, distraught family members said Lopez-Cornejo had complained he was not getting regular access to his medications, which he took for diabetes, high blood pressure and seizures. His mother, Maria Cornejo, said he called the day before his death to tell her he had spoken to a doctor early Friday and had lost feeling in half his face and arm.

“My son needed medical attention, and he didn’t receive it,” Cornejo said in Spanish. “He was a good father. A good son. A hardworking man. He didn’t harm anyone.”

Through tears, his 12-year-old daughter, Ashley Lopez, said the family knew his health had worsened in detention. “All of us were worried about him,” she said.

In their statement, ICE said Lopez-Cornejo “received proper medical care and was seen by medical professionals” while in custody. He had been held at the facility since his arrest on June 18, according to the agency, which accused him of entering the country illegally.

In all, at least 56 people have died in ICE custody during Trump’s second term. Hundreds of people detained across the U.S. have brought lawsuits accusing immigrant detention facilities of failing to provide proper medical care.

In recent months, Delaney Hall has been the site of fierce protests by immigration advocates, with demonstrators at times attempting to block vehicles from entering or leaving the facility. Earlier this year, some people held at the jail launched a hunger strike over the conditions, according to Cosecha, an immigrant advocacy group.

The facility is owned by Geo Group, a private prison contractor that operates multiple detention centers across the country. The contractor deferred comment to ICE.

After Lopez-Cornejo's death, Democratic politicians and civil rights groups renewed their calls to shutter the 1,000-bed facility.

“This is not the first death of a detainee at Delaney Hall, and absent decisive action, it will not be the last,” Democratic U.S. Sen. Cory Booker said in a statement. “I have visited the facility myself and witnessed these conditions firsthand, so I say this plainly: Delaney Hall must be closed immediately and permanently.”

In December, Jean Wilson Brutus, a 41-year-old Haitian national, died after collapsing at the jail in what a medical examiner ruled was due to a blood clot blocking an artery in his lungs.

On Monday, U.S. Rep. Rob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat who has routinely visited Delaney Hall, told reporters another person detained by ICE died in July after they had a seizure while they were being processed at the facility. Menendez said ICE granted the person a “discretionary release” from custody after they were taken to a hospital and lost consciousness, and the person died shortly afterward.

Menendez did not identify the person. ICE didn’t immediately respond to an inquiry about the case.

Menendez said ICE did not report the death, in line with a policy change announced earlier this year in which the agency no longer reports deaths that occur within 30 days of someone’s release from custody.

ICE has also not publicly recognized the July 24 death of 29-year-old Priciliano Trejo in Georgia, which came nine days after the agency released him from custody while he was hospitalized in a coma, according to a coalition of advocacy groups in the state. The agency has not responded to inquiries about Trejo’s death.

On Tuesday, Lopez-Cornejo’s brother, Danilo Lopez, called for the release of all medically vulnerable detained people, adding that the family would seek an independent state investigation into the “health crisis” at Delaney Hall.

In a statement, New Jersey Gov. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat, said her administration’s inspection efforts “continue to face obstruction.”

“Every effort to block oversight raises serious questions about what is happening inside Delaney Hall and what those operating the facility are trying to hide,” she added.

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Associated Press journalists Ryan Foley in Iowa City, Iowa, and Joseph Frederick, in Highland Park, New Jersey, contributed to this report.

Wenger said in a statement he knew nothing of the $20 billion plan and that it was “absolutely necessary” to drop the proposal, and Grafström sent an email to all FIFA staff — seen by The Associated Press — calling the last week a “sad and reproachable series of events.” He also said it created “turmoil which is difficult to comprehend and accept.”

Neither directly named Infantino or offered support for the now-embattled president.

Late Tuesday, media reports in Britain said Infantino would hold a crisis meeting with senior FIFA staff in Morocco on Wednesday, which the governing body hadn't confirmed.

The comments by Wenger and Grafström had echoes of the direct criticism from FIFA chief operating officer Kevin Lamour, who said Friday that staff had been “deceived” by Infantino's private equity plan, which provoked a furor in global soccer. Lamour called it the "project of one person” and said FIFA staff “deserve better than contempt and intimidation.”

The three executives are respected and trusted figures among the 211 FIFA member federations who now hold sway over Infantino's grip on a presidency that looked unshakeable after the World Cup ended barely two weeks ago.

UEFA legal threat to FIFA

Wenger, Grafström and Lamour also were named in a letter from UEFA’s lawyers to Infantino among 18 executives whose data and communications should be retained as potential evidence.

“You do not need to worry,” Grafström wrote Tuesday to the hundreds of FIFA staff based mostly in Zurich and Coral Gables, Florida. “I assure you that you as members of the administration, you will be defended and safeguarded from the political context we currently experience.”

Wenger, who was hired by Infantino in 2019 and is FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development, said he was “not involved in this strategic plan and first became aware of the project through media reports.”

Infantino withdrew his $20 billion proposal early Saturday after a furious backlash by global soccer officials, including European body UEFA warning of a boycott of all FIFA games and events.

The plan would have created a subsidiary — known as FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) — to run the money-making parts of the not-for-profit soccer body’s work: organizing tournaments like the World Cup, selling broadcasting and sponsorship rights, tickets and hospitality.

It proposed raising $4.2 billion from investors by selling stakes amounting to about 20% in FFE, based on an equity valuation of $20 billion. The “anchor investor” would have been Thrive Eternal, launched by Joshua Kushner, whose brother Jared Kushner is a son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump.

“The decision to withdraw the project was absolutely necessary and beyond question, because I firmly believe in an independent FIFA that serves our game with commitment, transparency, and integrity,” Wenger wrote.

Cash offers to FIFA members

FIFA’s 211 member federations — already effective owners of the governing body as a nonprofit association under Swiss law — were offered $20 million each. The deadline to accept was Sept. 19.

They also were promised a doubling of their FIFA funding for the four years through 2030 to $20 million instead of the previously announced $10 million.

Infantino shared details of the project to FIFA management just one week after the July 19 final of the financially successful World Cup in North America that drove FIFA's revenues to $15 billion for the 2023-26 commercial cycle — almost double the income tied to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Grafström, a long-time loyal aide to Infantino since their work together at UEFA, urged FIFA staff to “all continue being proud and happy” about the first 48-team World Cup.

“A sad and reproachable series of events — which were thankfully concluded with the FFE project permanently abandoned — for as much as we feel dismayed by them, should not overshadow this reality,” he wrote.

Infantino came under even more pressure when former FIFA vice president Prince Ali bin Al Hussein criticized the soccer body’s leadership on Tuesday, describing prize money withheld from his Jordan national team as a kind of blackmail.

Infantino's ties to Trump

The World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico was judged a success on the field, though it had unprecedented issues linked to Infantino's close ally Trump, who received a specially created FIFA Peace Prize at the tournament draw in December.

During the tournament, Iran's team could not stay in the U.S. where it played three games, a Somali referee picked by FIFA was refused entry, and U.S. forward Folarin Balogun was allowed to play against Belgium despite a red card in his previous game.

“We have all been thrown into the middle of a turmoil, which is difficult to comprehend and accept, but, as secretary general, I urge you to remain focused on what has always united us,” Grafström wrote. “I will continue to support our teams, our work and our mission every hour of every day for as long as my work is valued by those we serve.”

Waiting to hear from Infantino

Infantino has not commented in public on the schism in soccer since a FIFA statement early Saturday announcing that the proposal had been dropped. His official Instagram account has posted letters of support from several member federations, including 2030 World Cup co-host Morocco, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.

Infantino has been president of FIFA for more than 10 years and had seemed sure to be re-elected unopposed next March in Morocco. FIFA has set a Nov. 18 deadline for challengers to come forward, with Sweden's soccer leader saying Monday that UEFA is seeking a rival candidate.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and AP World Cup coverage

On Tuesday, Orange County commissioners held a discussion on a potential countywide prohibition involving the use of exotic wildlife for commercial entertainment. Commissioner Nicole Wilson, who requested the discussion, said the goal is to identify what authority the county has to regulate businesses that use exotic animals for profit.

“This is sad that this wasn’t happening this time last year, but it didn’t,” Wilson told News 6 after Tuesday’s meeting. “Mostly because of those gaps and oversight in these laws... We really had to wait for the fallout to get as bad as it did to understand exactly where the county could have a place in this.”

Wilson emphasized that any future ordinance would not target every organization that works with exotic animals.

Instead, she said the proposal would likely include exemptions for accredited zoos, licensed wildlife rehabilitators, veterinary care providers and educational or conservation organizations. The focus, she said, is on preventing exotic wildlife from being used for commercial entertainment.

During Tuesday’s discussion, commissioners also raised concerns about public tourism dollars that had been used to promote Sloth World before the attraction was shut down. Visit Orlando had promoted the attraction using Tourist Development Tax-funded marketing before concerns surrounding the facility became public.

“I think it’s a worthwhile discussion,” Wilson said. “What they do needs to align with the morals and values of Orange County and Orange County government. If we’re trying to get to potential animal cruelty through ordinances, we better make sure everyone’s on the same page and how they approach businesses and business models.”

Sloth World, founded by Ben Agresta, was planned as an interactive attraction on International Drive where visitors could meet and hold sloths.

However, the attraction never opened to the public.

State records and inspections showed the animals were housed at an Orange County warehouse while the attraction was under construction. Investigators with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission found the animals were being kept in metal cages with inadequate air circulation and identified multiple concerns with the facility.

In total, 55 sloths died after being imported into Florida, prompting investigations by multiple agencies and drawing international attention from wildlife conservation advocates.

The surviving sloths were transferred to the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens in Seminole County. Eight sloths remain in the zoo’s care, where they have completed quarantine but continue to be monitored by the veterinary team.

Wilson said the controversy continues to motivate her push for policy changes.

“I think it’s a very emotional topic,” she said. “The lessons learned there are really horrific for everyone. If there is an opportunity for them to actually be penalized more than what we’ve seen, I’m going to continue to support that because I do believe people need to be held accountable.”

Tuesday’s discussion did not result in a vote on a new ordinance.

Instead, county commissioners directed the county attorney’s office to research what legal authority Orange County has to regulate exotic wildlife businesses, draft potential language and identify any legal limitations under state law.

Wilson said she expects the proposal to return to the board later this year for additional discussion and possible action.

In a brief statement, Chipotle maintained that the “health and safety of our guests and employees is our highest priority” — and that it had pulled the jalapeños out of an abundance of caution and “replaced them with product from different growers” in all locations where a previous common lot had been distributed.

The company did not specify where the initial peppers came from but noted that the jalapeños in question were sent across multiple states to several retailers.

The Minnesota Department of Health on Tuesday confirmed that it was investigating a salmonella outbreak tied to several Mexican-style, quick-service restaurants — with jalapeños as the suspected source. Officials identified 110 cases in the state. Chipotle made up the majority of those where they were able to reach impacted consumers for an interview — who ate at the chain between mid-June and mid-July — but not all.

“Based on all the evidence so far, the food that made people sick was served at other restaurants as well,” Carlota Medus, senior epidemiologist supervisor in the Minnesota Department of Health's Foodborne Diseases Unit, said in a statement.

Medus said Chipotle had been cooperative over the course of the investigation — and that given the measures the company put in place, her department was not concerned about the chain at this time. Still, she said it was “too soon for us to know if the outbreak is ongoing” and that it's possible contaminated food is being served elsewhere.

The Minnesota Department of Health noted that other states are contributing to the investigation, without elaborating further. On the federal level, the Food and Drug Administration is conducting the traceback probe, covering but not limited to jalapeños.

The FDA on Tuesday confirmed it initiated its traceback investigation “of multiple ingredients” on July 22, in response to a cluster of salmonella illnesses identified by both state officials and the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In a statement, the agency said it appreciated Chipotle's cooperation and that it would “provide additional information if and when there is an actionable public health update.”

The CDC did not respond a request for further comments Tuesday afternoon.

Symptoms of salmonella poisoning include diarrhea, fever, severe vomiting, dehydration and stomach cramps. Most people who get sick recover within a week. Infections can be more severe in young children, older adults and people with weakened immune systems, who may require hospitalization.

Chipotle has been battered by larger outbreaks in years past — notably between 2015 and 2018, where a string of E coli., norovirus and food poisoning illnesses sent sales plunging. The California-based company has since boasted stronger food safety practices.

The latest salmonella outbreak arrives at a tough time for restaurant-goers and the dining industry nationwide. A handful of fast-casual chains are still wrestling with the fallout of a separate, wider cyclospora outbreak linked to shredded lettuce that has sickened thousands of Americans.

Chipotle hasn't been tied to or named by government investigations into those cyclospora illnesses. Still, the company is among those bracing for lower sales because of that outbreak.

Shares of Chipotle Mexican Grill plunged nearly 10% Tuesday.

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A previous version of this story misgendered Carlota Medus, senior epidemiologist supervisor in the MDH’s Foodborne Diseases Unit.

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 along party lines in support of the nomination of President Donald Trump’s former personal attorney, who has aggressively pushed the Republican administration’s priorities since taking over from Pam Bondi in April.

The vote followed a deal struck late Sunday between Blanche and two Republican senators — John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina — who had been threatening to block his confirmation over the settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service regarding the president’s leaked tax returns.

Cornyn and Tillis backed Blanche’s nomination after the Justice Department confirmed in writing that it wasn’t moving forward with a $1.8 billion fund to compensate Trump allies who believe they were prosecuted for political purposes, which the administration announced as part of the settlement.

After days of negotiations, Blanche issued an order Sunday evening confirming “beyond any doubt, that there is no Fund.”

It was still unclear, though, if Republicans will have enough votes in the full Senate to confirm Blanche. A vote could come by the end of the week.

If all Democrats oppose him, Blanche can only afford to lose two Republican votes if Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, who was hospitalized after a fall, does not return before then.

Maine Sen. Susan Collins, a moderate Republican who is in a tough reelection race this year, said in a statement Tuesday afternoon that she would not support Blanche because he has taken actions that “eroded the department's independence," including the creation of the settlement fund.

At least two other Republican senators have not said if they will vote to confirm Blanche — Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski and Louisiana Sen. Bill Cassidy, who lost reelection earlier this year when Trump endorsed one of his primary opponents. Both declined comment when asked how they will vote.

Democrats complain about the fund

Democrats say Blanche’s order doesn’t go far enough to prevent the Trump administration from reviving the fund after the acting attorney general’s confirmation and have called for legislation to permanently bar it.

The order also doesn’t stop the administration from compensating Trump allies — including people who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 — through a previously established process that allows people to file claims for damages if they believed they were wronged by the government.

The fund “can easily be revived with a new order from the Department of Justice 15 minutes after Mr. Blanche is confirmed as attorney general,” said Dick Durbin of Illinois, the top Democrat on the committee.

Cornyn and Tillis had also pressed for clarification on a separate part of the settlement that would grant Trump and members of his family immunity from tax audits.

Under the deal, the Justice Department clarified in writing that the tax audit immunity agreement applies only to claims open at the time of the settlement and does not protect Trump from examination of future tax filings. It also makes clear that only the parties that brought the lawsuit — Trump, two of his sons, and the Trump Organization — are covered by the tax agreement.

Cornyn said his reasons for backing Blanche go beyond the deal struck Sunday, adding that he believes the Justice Department needs a “stabilizing force" at the helm.

“The Department of Justice does not need a temporary, unconfirmed nominee as our nation’s top law enforcement official. Trump needs someone in this role, as well, with a strong legal mind," Cornyn said.

Blanche's independence has been called into question

Blanche has faced intense scrutiny regarding his ability to maintain independence from the White House, the Justice Department’s pursuit of the president’s political foes and the agency’s handling of files related to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking investigation.

But it was the settlement of Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS that threatened to derail Blanche's nomination, forcing a delay in the committee vote last week amid pressure from the two Republican senators, who are not returning to Capitol Hill after their terms end in January.

Republican Sen. Chuck Grassley, who chairs the committee, said Tillis and Cornyn’s demands were “common sense.” Grassley said the senators’ concerns about the “Anti-Weaponization Fund” and the IRS settlement were shared by many other lawmakers, including himself.

“I’m grateful that they as well as Mr. Blanche and the White House worked in good faith to solve them, formally rescinding the fund, clarifying the scope of the release of claims has put this issue to bed once and for all," Grassley said.

Trump’s lawsuit has been sharply criticized because of the highly unusual way it was handled, with the president challenging an agency overseen by the executive branch he leads. A judge last month slammed the case as an improper exercise in self-dealing and referred one of Trump’s attorneys who filed it for potential disciplinary action.

Blanche was an important figure for Trump's defense

Blanche, a former federal prosecutor and key member of Trump’s defense team as the Republican battled four indictments, arrived at the Justice Department last year as deputy attorney general. He was elevated to acting attorney general following Bondi’s failure to meet Trump’s demands to successfully prosecute his perceived political opponents.

While Blanche insisted he wasn’t auditioning for the permanent post, he moved swiftly to accelerate investigations into Trump foes and advance other White House priorities, drawing condemnation from critics who say he has not shed his title as Trump’s personal lawyer.

Shortly after Blanche took the top post, the Justice Department moved to indict longtime Trump adversary James Comey, the former FBI director, on charges of threatening the 47th president by posting a social media photograph of seashells in the numerical arrangement of “86 47.”

Comey’s lawyers have accused the Justice Department of misleading judges, submitting documents containing false statements and withholding key facts to bring what the defense described as a politically motivated prosecution.

Blanche separately appointed Joseph diGenova, a former Justice Department prosecutor from the Reagan administration, to oversee a Florida-based investigation into whether former law enforcement and intelligence officials conspired over the last decade to undermine Trump.

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In a release, deputies said they were called to the scene in the 800 block of Campello Street in unincorporated Altamonte Springs shortly after 8 a.m.

At the time, the body was found on the ground outside the home, deputies added.

“We are interviewing potential witnesses and working to determine a cause of death,” the release reads. “This appears to be isolated.”

No additional information has been provided at this time.

Around 8 a.m. Tuesday, officers responded to a 911 call reporting a crash at the intersection of W. Airport Boulevard and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard.

According to police, a City of Sanford Class V rear-loader garbage truck was traveling northbound on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and struck a bicyclist who was also heading north and attempting to make a right turn onto Airport Boulevard.

The driver did not stop to render aid. A witness at the scene helped officers identify the vehicle and driver. The bicyclist was transported to a local hospital, where they later died from their injuries, police said.

The driver, Shawannia Smith, 46, a city of Sanford employee, was charged with leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death and cited for violating the right of way of a cyclist.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Sanford Police Department or Crimeline at 800-423-8477. Calls remain anonymous.

Trump, meanwhile, is making a rare visit to California and Nevada on Tuesday and Wednesday to shore up support for Republicans in the November midterm elections. The president has so far struggled to connect with voters on the economy, as elevated inflation and feelings of uncertainty overshadow the stock market gains he often highlights, alongside a low national unemployment rate.

Here is the latest:

$150M contract for child immigrant legal services going to Houston law firm with ties to Trump administration

The Trump administration is planning to hire a Houston-based law firm with ties to the administration to provide legal services to unaccompanied children, according to a notice scheduled to be posted on the Federal Register this week.

The agreement will award a contract of $150 million to Burke Law Group, with a proposed time period covering one year starting Aug. 15.

One of the founders, Marcella Burkey, was a former Trump appointee to the Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Interior. Jeffrey Hall, a former employee and founding partner, was recently appointed and confirmed to serve in the EPA late last year.

The announcement comes days after the federal government allowed a contract to expire on Friday with a network of nearly 100 legal groups after not paying for their services for more than half a year.

Watchdog finds FEMA cuts came without reviewing whether it had adequate staffing for disasters

The Federal Emergency Management Agency may not have a workforce capable of effectively responding to disasters now or in the future.

That’s the assessment of a new report from the Government Accountability Office, the independent watchdog that advises Congress on how taxpayer dollars are being spent.

The agency says more than 4,300 employees separated from FEMA in the 2025 fiscal year, a 55% increase from the prior year.

The workforce cuts came without the agency assessing whether it had the staffing capacity to meet its mission, GAO said. Without such planning, FEMA is not positioned to determine whether it has the numbers it needs in the right positions.

GAO offered several recommendations, including urging Congress to require FEMA to report before the start of each year’s hurricane season on its workforce planning results.

Democratic lawmakers on the House Homeland Security Committee requested the report.

Trump administration revokes visa of Brazil’s ambassador to US in spat with Lula

The Trump administration has revoked the visa of Brazil’s ambassador to the United States in retaliation for Brazil’s denial of visas last month for two American diplomats who sought to visit the country ahead of upcoming elections as well as Brazil’s stalling on approving Trump’s nominee to be ambassador in Brasilia.

The State Department said the decision was a reciprocal response to Brazil’s move and officials said the step had been delayed several times to give Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva room to back down, something he did not do.

Officials said it could be quickly reversed if Brazil takes appropriate action and accepts Trump’s ambassadorial choice.

Lula will face Sen. Flávio Bolsonaro, whose father once served as Brazil’s president and whose family has many ties with the Trump administration, in the Oct. 4 polls. The administration has numerous issues with the leftist Lula and his policies and has also hosted the younger Bolsonaro, who is seeking to carry on his father, Jair’s, conservative governance.

Wall Street rallies to records, pushing S&P 500 up 1.8%, as profits pile up and oil prices ease

The U.S. stock market rallied to records as companies kept piling up profits and oil prices eased. The S&P 500 shot up 1.8% Tuesday, and the main measure of Wall Street’s health topped its prior all-time high set in June.

The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 1.7% to its own record set the day before, and the Nasdaq composite jumped 2.6%. Palantir Technologies and Caterpillar helped lead the way after becoming the latest companies to deliver stronger profits for the spring than expected. Brent crude fell below $80 per barrel, which helped Treasury yields ease in the bond market.

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Guard deployment to Washington into 2029 will cost roughly $1.4B, estimate shows

The extension of the National Guard deployment in Washington, D.C. until January 2029 will cost roughly $1.4 billion, according to a Defense Department estimate provided to Congress.

The figure offers a glimpse of how much taxpayer money will be spent on a deployment that has been criticized by local officials as an infringement of their city’s autonomy and by Democrats who say it has militarized the streets of nation’s capital at the public’s expense.

The cost estimate is for fiscal years 2027-2029 and came in response to questions from Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren and was provided to The Associated Press.

The deployment began last summer, when Trump issued an emergency order that launched a law enforcement surge in the city which the administration says was meant to fight crime. Hundreds of armed Guard troops have been deployed to city streets, supporting arrest operations but also helping with snow removal and carrying out beautification projects.

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Trump’s arch could harm the integrity of many of Washington’s historical sites, report says

A divided federal appeals court on Tuesday said the Trump administration improperly terminated a multi-billion program to boost clean energy projects, handing a win to a coalition of nonprofits picked to run the Biden-era effort.

Climate United Fund and other nonprofits won’t have access to their funds immediately as the decision will be put on hold for several days giving the Environmental Protection Agency time to ask the Supreme Court to step in.

The split ruling by the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia is a loss for the Trump administration in one of its earliest efforts to dismantle President Joe Biden’s campaign to reduce climate-warming greenhouse gases. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, commonly referred to as a “green bank,” is a congressionally authorized program that provided money to nonprofits that would then make loans and invest in small energy projects, energy-efficient buildings and transportation.

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Divided federal appeals court says Trump administration was wrong to terminate climate program

A divided federal appeals court on Tuesday said the Trump administration improperly terminated a multi-billion program to boost clean energy projects, handing a win to a coalition of nonprofits picked to run the Biden-era effort.

Climate United Fund and other nonprofits won’t have access to their funds immediately as the decision will be put on hold for several days giving the Environmental Protection Agency time to ask the Supreme Court to step in.

The split ruling by the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia is a loss for the Trump administration in one of its earliest efforts to dismantle President Joe Biden’s campaign to reduce climate-warming greenhouse gases. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, commonly referred to as a “green bank,” is a congressionally authorized program that provided money to nonprofits that would then make loans and invest in small energy projects, energy-efficient buildings and transportation.

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Housing prices are a big issue in Nevada

In Nevada, where Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo faces Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford in one of the nation’s most competitive governor’s races, Democrats are putting up billboard signs blaming Trump and Lombardo for the shortage of affordable housing, exploding energy demand from data centers and federal cuts to key state programs.

Trump has tried to sell voters on his income tax cuts and claims of a manufacturing renaissance. But interest rates are high, gasoline costs more because of the Iran war, tariffs are still reshaping the economy and even the White House acknowledges a national shortage of housing.

Staying on message could be difficult for Trump, who called his own housing bill a “yawn.” Past speeches advertised by the White House as being about the economy gave way to Trumpian weaves about his political enemies and capital construction projects.

Democrats complain about Blanche’s deal making for Trump

Democrats say Blanche’s order doesn’t go far enough to prevent the Trump administration from claiming more immunity from tax audits or compensating Trump allies — including people who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 — through a previously established process that allows damage claims for government wrongdoing.

Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the top Democrat on the Senate Justice Committee, said Blanche’s promises are virtually unenforceable. The fund “can easily be revived with a new order from the Department of Justice 15 minutes after Mr. Blanche is confirmed as attorney general,” Durbin said.

Todd Blanche’s nomination for attorney general clears critical hurdle after deal with GOP holdouts

The Senate Judiciary Committee voted 12-10 along party lines in support of the nomination of Trump’s former personal attorney, who has aggressively pushed the Republican administration’s priorities since taking over from Pam Bondi in April.

The vote followed a deal struck late Sunday between Blanche and two Republican senators who had been threatening to block his confirmation over the settlement of Trump’s lawsuit against the Internal Revenue Service regarding the president’s leaked tax returns.

Republican Sens. John Cornyn of Texas and Thom Tillis of North Carolina had said they were withholding their support unless the Justice Department confirmed in writing that it was not moving forward with a $1.8 billion fund to compensate Trump allies who believe they were prosecuted for political purposes, which the administration had announced as part of the settlement.

Blanche issued an order Sunday evening confirming “beyond any doubt, that there is no Fund.”

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Attacks continue in Gulf region despite talks

A cargo ship reported being “hit by an unknown projectile” early Tuesday in the Strait of Hormuz , the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center said, without providing further information on the ship. It suffered damage, according to British maritime security firm Ambrey, which did not elaborate.

Yemen’s Houthis, meanwhile, fired at an airport in Saudi Arabia. Gen. Yahya Saree, a military spokesman for the Iranian-backed rebels, said a drone hit a “sensitive target” at the airport in the southwestern city of Najran, without providing evidence.

Saree said the attack was in response to what he described as Saudi breaching of Yemen’s airspace over the provinces of Saada and Hajjah. There was no immediate comment from Saudi Arabia.

The Houthis recently announced a blockade on Saudi-linked shipping passing through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait that leads to the Red Sea.

Qatar mediating talks between US and Iran

Despite conflicting claims, mediation efforts have been underway between the U.S. and Iran to wind down the war, Qatari Foreign Ministry spokesman Majed al-Ansari said Tuesday.

“We’re looking into a diplomatic solution,” he said during a briefing, without elaborating.

Comedian Jenny Yang uplifts immigrants, one grocery store at a time

Stand-up comic Jenny Yang is spending her summer turning cultural grocery stores into comedy clubs for a night in a response to Trump’s immigration crackdown.

The Good Egg Immigrant Grocery Store Standup Comedy Tour is using the unusual venues in immigrant enclaves and pairing with nonprofits to raise funds for Asian, Latino and Black communities. It’s grown to 20 performances and a possible comedy special on TV.

For one show in Minneapolis, the manager of a supermarket down the block from where an ICE agent fatally shot Alex Pretti fit 150 chairs near the checkout lanes so people could see her show.

Comedians are divided on whether stand-up should stand down on politics, but Yang says “I believe in punching up, not down.”

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Rubio says progress made in Iran, Oman talks and deal on Strait of Hormuz could happen ‘very shortly’

Secretary of State Marco Rubio says that there has been progress made in talks between Iran and Oman on the status of the critical Strait of Hormuz waterway.

Speaking to reporters after meeting with the vice president of Paraguay at the State Department on Tuesday, Rubio said that “suffice it to say, there’s been progress made in those talks, but not finality yet. We’re hoping that will happen very shortly.”

Rubio said ships continue to transit the strait but the U.S. would like to see more commercial traffic.

US job market continues to show strength despite bumpy economy

U.S. job openings fell slightly in June, but the labor market continued to show resilience to the Iran war’s economic shocks.

The Labor Department said employers posted 7.36 million vacancies, down from 7.54 million in May, in line with economists’ expectations. Layoffs were little-changed at 1.8 million, and the number of people quitting jobs — a sign of confidence in their prospects — rose slightly.

So far this year, companies, government agencies and nonprofits have added an average 92,000 jobs a month. That would have been mediocre in years past, but Trump’s immigration crackdown and baby boomer retirements mean fewer people are competing for work, so the economy doesn’t need as many new jobs to keep unemployment from rising. In fact, some economists believe the “break-even″ rate could be nearly as low as zero jobs.

Trump administration to close five smaller US embassies, consulates and other posts while opening others

The Trump administration has informed Congress that it intends to close five smaller U.S. embassies, consulates and other diplomatic missions even as it steams ahead with plans to reopen shuttered posts in Libya and Syria and has reopened the long-closed embassy in Venezuela.

In separate notices sent late last week to lawmakers, the State Department said it would close the U.S. embassy in the Caribbean island of Grenada, the consulates in Nagoya, Japan and Medan, Indonesia, the American Presence Post in Winnipeg, Canada and an embassy branch office in Douala, Cameroon.

The closures are expected to save the government roughly $4.4 million per year, according to the notices, which were obtained by The Associated Press.

Markets move, again, on Trump comments

Trump said he’s not happy with energy company profits, though it was the war he launched that enabled their windfalls.

Shares of ExxonMobil, ConocoPhillips and Chevron all fell around 1% before the bell. Brent crude, the international standard, lost $1.87 to $81.90 a barrel.

Also possibly helping to push oil prices lower was comments from Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who said Tuesday in an interview on CNBC that “we are in talks with the Iranians.” Bessent added, “There is a chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow to open the Strait and move towards a more normalized position in this conflict.”

Big oil reports bigger profits in Iran war windfall

Exxon Mobil on Friday reported that its second quarter profits doubled to $14.53 billion, while Chevron nearly quadrupled its profits to $12.07 billion.

Foreign oil companies are also posting massive increases in profits: Saudi Aramco on Tuesday reported a 44% year-on-year increase in second-quarter net profit to $32.69 billion, driven by higher prices for crude oil, refined products and chemicals. And London-based BP reported its profits more than doubled to $3.9 billion.

US markets poised to open with gains and oil prices slide again as Trump bashes Big Oil

Wall Street was poised to open higher and oil prices flipped to significant losses Tuesday after Trump criticized oil companies for using the Iran conflict to amass excessive profits.

Futures for the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 1.2%, while S&P 500 futures rose 0.3%. Nasdaq futures jumped 1.1%. Oil prices slid close to 3% early Tuesday after Trump bashed big oil companies.

“They made too much money, too much money,” Trump said on Monday. “They ought to give some of that back to the public, and they better cut the retail price.”

FIFA executives distance themselves from Infantino’s World Cup plan

Two senior FIFA executives — coaching great Arsène Wenger and CEO-like Secretary-General Mattias Grafström — distanced themselves Tuesday from their boss Gianni Infantino’s failed plan to sell stakes in future World Cup profits to private investors through a money-making subsidiary to be launched by Joshua Kushner, whose brother Jared Kushner is a son-in-law of Trump.

Wenger said in a statement he knew nothing of the $20 billion plan and that it was “absolutely necessary” to drop the proposal, and Grafström sent an email to all FIFA staff — seen by The Associated Press — calling the last week a “sad and reproachable series of events.” He also said it created “turmoil which is difficult to comprehend and accept.”

Neither directly named their boss nor offered support for Infantino, who has not commented in public on the schism in soccer since a FIFA statement Saturday announcing the proposal had been dropped.

▶ Read more

What to watch as primary voters choose nominees

Michigan is testing the direction of the Democratic Party, as voters choose between a progressive standard-bearer and an establishment-backed candidate for the U.S. Senate. Abdul El-Sayed, backed by Sen. Bernie Sanders, is up against four-term Rep. Haley Stevens, supported by Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer.

Democratic and Republican voters in Michigan are also choosing nominees to succeed term-limited Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer.

In Kansas, Missouri, Virginia and Washington state, voters are settling a host of races, including a key rematch between Democrats in a Missouri House contest. Virginia Democrats who lost a court battle over trying to redraw districts to their advantage are picking candidates they hope can defeat Republicans in the fall.

▶ Read more

Trump and Newsom, mocking and taunting

As Trump flies to California he’ll likely throw barbs at the governor, eyed as a likely candidate for the next Democratic presidential nomination.

White House spokesperson Olivia Wales said the president plans to “draw a sharp contrast between his commonsense agenda and the radical policies of Democrats like Gavin Newsom.”

Trump routinely mocks Newsom using a derogatory nickname. Newsom taunts the president in turn.

The Democrat wrote on social media on Monday that California is raising its minimum wage next year to $17.40 an hour, more than double the federal minimum. “Donald Trump and the GOP are still defending a $7.25 minimum wage while workers scrape by. Pitiful,” Newsom wrote.

The economy is on Trump’s agenda in California and Nevada

Trump’s rare visit to California and Nevada is meant to draw contrasts with Democrats on the economy, border security and crime in support of Republicans in November elections that will determine whether party control of Congress.

But he’s struggled to connect with voters on the economy as elevated inflation and feelings of uncertainty have overshadowed the stock market gains he often talks about, along with a low national unemployment rate.

Trump is headlining a Republican National Committee fundraising dinner at a golf club his family owns in the Los Angeles suburb of Rancho Palos Verdes on Tuesday. On Wednesday, Trump will discuss the economy at Red Rock casino in Las Vegas.

Only 32% of U.S. adults approved of Trump’s handling of the economy in an AP-NORC poll conducted in late July, while 69% characterized the state of the economy as “poor.”

Orange County’s in-person voters won’t be mailed sample ballots for the upcoming primary, a shift that has upset some voters and election advocates.

Primary voters can view, and then print, a sample ballot via a QR code, which was provided on a mailer sent to their homes. They can also call or email the elections office and request a sample ballot be sent to them or stop in and pick one up.

But, in a shift from past elections, no paper sample ballots will automatically be sent to those who didn’t register to vote by mail, said Blake Summerlin, a spokesperson for the Orange County Supervisor of Elections, in an emailed statement.

[ELECTION 2026: Primary Election Guide|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

However, for the November general election, the county will move back to traditional paper sample ballots, as it has in the past, Summerlin added.

He did not directly respond to a question about why the office had decided against sample ballots mailed to homes for the primary. “We have used a variety of sample ballot mailer formats in the past to provide voters with important election information and help them prepare for upcoming elections,” Summerlin wrote. “Because each election is unique, the format and method of providing this information varies.”

The QR codes first landed in Orange mailboxes last year during the special election for Senate District 15 and House District 40, and that system has now been expanded for the Aug. 18 primary.

A sample ballot also ran recently in the Orlando Sentinel, which — paired with the QR codes — serves as an appropriate substitute for mailing them, Summerlin said.

But Eugenia Economos, a 73-year-old county resident, said older voters are in a panic about the change. The elderly people she knows want to vote, but they often have little understanding of technology, she said.

Contacting the elections office to request a paper sample ballot can also be too much, she argued, as it demands more use of technology, by phone or email. And an extra in-person visit can be challenging, especially for the disabled.

“They tell me they take their paper ballots into voting booths so that they can remember who to vote for,” she said. “Without having paper ballots mailed to them, they’re going to be disenfranchised. They’re not going to know where to go, how to do it, who the candidates are.”

The mailer with the QR code doesn’t mention that traditional sample ballots won’t be sent at all, she added, so some people she spoke to were still unknowingly waiting for them to arrive.

Lake, Osceola and Seminole counties are still mailing sample ballots to voters for the primary, which is consistent with past elections, officials said.

Orange’s shift worries the League of Women Voters of Orange County. Kathy Schmitz, the group’s co-president, agreed older people will more than likely be put off by the QR codes. But younger and low-income people also might not have access to printers to make their own copies of sample ballots, she said.

“Even those who are savvy enough to use the QR codes often like to mark their ballots and take them into the voting booth with them,” she said. “The tech makes that more difficult.”

The advocacy group has already reached out to the supervisor of elections office about the change, she added, and urged bringing the old system back for the general election.

For the primary, voters who want a sample ballot mailed to them can contact the Orange County Supervisor of Elections at (407) 836-2070 or at sampleballot@ocfelections.gov, or pick one up at one at the election offices at 119 W. Kaley Street, Orlando or 9401 W. Colonial Drive, Suite 360A, Ocoee.

Speaking with reporters for the first time since the Packers opened training camp last week, Parsons made his motivation very clear Tuesday. Parsons is on the physically unable to perform list as he works his way back from the torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee that ended his first season with the Packers.

“I think people are worried about, you know, if I come back. I just feel like people should just be worried about how I’m going to be when I come back,” Parsons said. “Like, people are worried about the knee. They should be worried about how I’m going to play when I get back. The anger, the frustration, the things that I’m going to have to let out because of how long it’s been since I played.”

Parsons recorded 12 1/2 sacks in his first 13 games with the Packers after the blockbuster trade that brought him to Green Bay from Dallas in late August. But after he went down during a Dec. 14 loss at Denver, the Packers never won another game.

Green Bay’s season ended with a 31-27 los s to the rival Chicago Bears in the NFC wild card playoffs, a game in which the Packers surrendered 25 fourth-quarter points after building a 21-3 halftime lead.

Parsons underwent surgery on Dec. 29 to repair the ACL and damage to the meniscus, and doctors gave him a strict nine-month “no football” directive, meaning the first time he could do anything football related would be on Sept. 29, after the Packers’ first two games of the regular season.

He is expected to start the season on the PUP list, which means he can start practicing after missing two games but won't be eligible to play until after missing four games.

The Packers’ Week 5 game is on Oct. 11 at home against the Bears, who lost to the Packers while Parsons was healthy but beat them late in the regular season and again in the playoffs after Parsons went down.

The following week, the Packers face the Cowboys at Lambeau Field on Oct. 18. And Parsons — while refusing to commit to any sort of timeline — acknowledged he’d like to be back to face his old team.

“I think it’s very realistic,” Parsons said. “Me and the (medical) staff, we’ve got to get to the point where I’m feeling great and we say, ‘Micah, you’ll be in a really good phase.’

“Is it possible? Yes. I wouldn’t say it’s not possible. But, at the same time, in these next 10, 12 weeks from now on, we’ve got to do our part to make it possible. It’s not off the board, but we’ve got to put the work in.”

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

In a release on Tuesday, deputies said the incident happened after a Sunday evening mass at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in DeBary.

“A parishioner noticed the Virgin Mary statue in the prayer garden was missing,” the release reads. “On a closer look, the church discovered Mary’s statue had been ripped off its slab and thrown in the woods.”

Per investigators, surveillance footage caught an unidentified man committing the vandalism on July 23.

Anyone who recognizes the suspect is urged to contact the VSO at (386) 668-3830 or email CBuettner@volusiasheriff.gov.

In comments toward the end of the briefing, Judd said that he and other members of the Florida Sheriff’s Association had concerns about the proposal, Amendment 3.

“Make no mistake about it: the Florida sheriffs believe that we can have meaningful tax savings for the people of the state of Florida, but this instrument in November is not the instrument to do that,” he said.

No state funding after all?

To start, Judd pointed out the many cuts that were made to the original plan proposed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, calling out state lawmakers for having “zero financial analysis.”

“(Lawmakers) have no idea what the devastation of Amendment 3 in its current form will be to cities and counties,” he stated. “When you get to some small counties, it’s going to wipe them out. It’s going to be 50% of their taxes.”

In DeSantis’ original proposal, he pushed for a state fund to help struggling local governments cover core services while property taxes were phased out.

But that provision was scrubbed from the final plan.

Uh, the Legislature put a measure on the ballot. It wasn’t “signed” by me because it does not require the approval of the governor per the Florida Constitution.

In fact, the Legislature’s measure is different from my proposal in significant respects (ie, it doesn’t provide for… https://t.co/GLilr7af0U

— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) June 7, 2026

“(The proposal) does not protect law enforcement, fire, emergency services as earlier editions of it supposedly did,” he continued. “It doesn’t provide money to fix roads adequately, clean stormwater adequately; it doesn’t do any of that.”

As such, Judd suggested that voters vote against Amendment 3 during the general election in November.

“It’s a train wreck,” he argued. “So tell your legislators to go back to work next session and give you meaningful, appropriate, well-thought-out, well-managed, well-researched tax relief.”

How Amendment 3 works

The amendment — HJR 1F — provides a new homestead exemption for non-school taxes for residents in the state.

Current homestead exemption rules in the state operate as follows, with two different brackets of assessed value being tax exempt:

But under HJR 1F, the exemptions would apply solely to non-school taxes, though the exempted amount would raise dramatically:

• 2027 — First $150,000 of assessed value
• 2028 — First $250,000 of assessed value
• 2029 onward — First $250,000 of assessed value, indexed to inflation

In his original draft, DeSantis said he wanted a full elimination of property taxes on homesteaded properties — not just cuts. Lawmakers ultimately scaled that back, though.

[RELATED: DeSantis discusses original ‘Save Our Homes’ property tax proposal]

However, the new proposed cuts only apply to homeowners who are permanent residents of Florida before the proposed amendment takes effect on Jan. 1, 2027 (if it gets approved, that is).

What about new residents?

For newcomers, the timeline is a bit different.

HJR 1F instead provides new residents with a five-year homestead exemption that comes out as follows:

After this five-year period, the new residents will then be eligible for the higher exemption.

What else is in the plan?

Meanwhile, the amendment also reduces the annual non-homestead property assessment growth cap from 10% to 5%, limiting how much these sorts of properties may be assessed each year.

[RELATED: Local governments warn of revenue losses under Florida tax proposal]

In addition, the plan limits how local governments may spend property tax revenue:

• Public safety, including law enforcement, EMS and fire services
• Education and public schools
• Infrastructure, including roads, bridges and stormwater controls
• Natural resource projects, including flood control measures
• Issue local bonds for approved uses or to make debt service payments
• Meet obligations and retirement benefits of local government employees
• Fund the operations and administration of county officers and commissioners

What does it need to take effect?

While the amendment has been approved by lawmakers, it will still need 60% approval from voters in the general election on Nov. 3.

It's good to be prepared, but kids who walk to school or participate in extracurricular activities may be lugging more than their bodies can handle. Lockers and classroom storage aren’t available everywhere — and a child carrying too much weight might not be ready to learn.

As families begin back-to-school shopping, here's how to know if your child's backpack is too heavy, and how to lighten their load.

How heavy is too heavy?

The modern school backpack has evolved, but it hasn’t necessarily gotten lighter. Whether students have textbooks, digital devices or both, they often are accompanied by notebooks, water bottles, lunch containers, workout clothes and more. Individually, those items may not seem heavy, but together they can add unnecessary strain to children's bodies.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, signs a backpack may be too heavy include a child leaning forward to support its weight or having difficulty walking. Straps should not dig into shoulders.

Don't wait for a child to express discomfort or pain to lighten the load, experts say.

Dr. Sadika Kendi, a physician who chairs the academy’s injury-prevention efforts, says back injuries are uncommon but possible, particularly if a child falls while carrying a heavy backpack.

“It’s worse if, for example, they trip and fall and they have a huge, heavy backpack on their back. Then that’s just more weight that could increase the severity of an injury,” she said.

Although 10% to 15% of a child’s body weight is often cited as a backpack guideline, there isn’t enough evidence to establish a one-size-fits-all approach, Kendi said. Because children vary in size, strength, physical development and daily routines, caregivers should consider their child’s individual needs and, in general, keep backpacks as light as possible.

Teachers say leave this stuff at home

After families receive back-to-school checklists for classroom materials, they should take an audit of what a child really must carry every day.

Samantha Ness, a history teacher in Phoenix, said parents should focus on making sure children have basic supplies rather than getting caught up in trendy, decorative or expensive items. Her students have access to classroom textbooks but are still expected to carry a laptop and charger each day. As technology becomes more central to schoolwork, some students have stopped bringing paper, she said. They rely instead on their devices, which can also become distractions.

“When considering the things going into their backpacks, how is it going to help them be successful in the classroom?” said Ness, who has been teaching for about 10 years.

In Fairfax County, Virginia, the school district is bringing back math textbooks after a backlash against technology. That was a win for the group Fairfax County Parents for Intentional Technology, but it also means hard decisions about weight in backpacks.

Parents should think carefully about whether a child really needs to carry both books and a laptop every day, said mom Alix Fetch, a spokesperson for the parents group. For example, a student might not always need their laptop at home. Parents of elementary school students in Fairfax County can now opt out of having the device come home in backpacks. For older students, block scheduling means they don’t need every textbook every day.

Fetch said her 7-year-old typically carries lunch, a water bottle and occasionally a folder with homework or notes from the teacher. Even that can feel burdensome, she said, particularly when students move between classrooms for activities such as art or music. And the inside of the bag can still be messy.

“Kids are still kids. There’s food in their backpack and water, and they’re scrunching up papers,” Fetch said.

As students get older, Ness said, backpacks can become more personal storage than school storage, carrying items such as makeup, nail polish and hair dryers.

“They’re using their backpacks more as purses and like storage than they are actually using them for school,” she said.

How to carry the load safely

Experts recommend choosing a backpack that fits the child and has two broad, padded shoulder straps, a padded back, compartments to distribute weight and a waist or chest strap to redistribute the load. The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends teaching children to pick up and carry backpacks safely, including bending at the knees rather than the waist when lifting heavier bags to avoid strain.

Backpacks with wheels can be helpful, especially for children with injuries, but experts say they may be problematic in schools with stairs or crowded walkways, where they can pose a tripping hazard.

Children should remove their backpacks before riding in a moving vehicle, Kendi said, because wearing one can interfere with how a seat belt works during a crash or sudden stop. Instead, place the backpack beside the child, even if leaving it on seems more convenient during drop-off.

“Don’t wear it in a car or any form of transportation while that car is moving,” Kendi said. “It’s just incredibly dangerous.”

Regularly cleaning out backpacks can also help reduce unnecessary weight and keep track of notes, permission slips and assignments. Some teachers recommend doing it weekly to catch missing work, spills from leaky water bottles and accumulating crumbs.

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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.

Three employees resigned as part of a human resources investigation stemming from the audit, county officials confirmed. The findings were publicly addressed Tuesday by the Volusia County Council for the first time.

“There were some issues involving permits that were not issued properly — that’s been caught. There was an investigation and they no longer work here,” Councilman David Santiago told News 6.

The audit reviewed 33,700 inspections conducted during fiscal year 2025 — covering everything from buildings to seawalls. Investigators pulled 100 of those inspection reports, more than half selected at random.

[WATCH: Volusia County considers first domestic violence offender registry in Florida]

Among the most serious findings was evidence of preferential treatment tied to a county employee. That permit contained several irregularities, including recalculated fees, removed required fees and undocumented approvals — prompting the HR investigation. Three employees resigned before that investigation was completed.

The audit also found more than 8,000 permits have expired since 2008 without a final inspection. Investigators flagged nearly $400,000 in potential revenue loss, though the county’s auditor told council members Tuesday the figure largely reflects a policy decision — not misconduct.

“It’s not that we lost that revenue. It’s a decision to keep the re-inspection fees low so we don’t charge more fees to the people unnecessarily,” Santiago said.

The county manager is now reviewing the audit and is expected to bring forward proposals for new protocols. When asked whether the conduct that led to the resignations could result in criminal charges, Santiago said no — at least as far as county officials have been told.

Police have issued an arrest warrant for Keyan Jayden Rundell. Rundell is considered armed and dangerous and police are urging the public to call 911 immediately if they see him or know where he is, and do not approach him.

Police did not release any details into why they believe Rundell is responsible for the deaths of 19-year-old Dustin Rose and 18-year-old Samson Campbell.

Last Thursday, police say the bodies of Rose and Campbell were found on a vacant industrial property near the Athens Theater. The childhood friends had each been shot multiple times. One of their mothers tracked a phone and located them at the scene.

[WATCH: DeLand police investigate double homicide near Athens Theatre]

Police say they are aware of the social media chatter and community concern surrounding the case. In response, they are increasing patrols and their physical presence throughout DeLand to help residents feel safe.

“I think the focus is more on trying to like get to the bottom of it. I think that’s what has everyone on edge — are we going to find answers today,” said Brittany Schleper, a local salon owner.

Schleper’s salon is roughly a football field away from where the two bodies were discovered. She is among the downtown DeLand business owners and residents waiting for answers.

The S&P 500 shot up 1.8%, and the main measure of Wall Street’s health topped its prior all-time high set a couple months ago. The Dow Jones Industrial Average added 907 points, or 1.7%, to its own record set the day before, while the Nasdaq composite jumped 2.6%.

Despite worries about high inflation, the war in Iran, frustration with the economy and a possible bubble in stock prices because of the boom in artificial-intelligence technology, Wall Street hit its latest apex and rewarded investors who remained patient because profits keep soaring for companies. Stock prices tend to follow the path of corporate earnings over the long term.

Palantir Technologies helped lead the way and surged 29.5% after CEO Alex Karp said its overall revenue leaped 93% in what he called an “otherworldly” quarter. Besides reporting a stronger profit for the spring than analysts expected, the AI company also raised its revenue forecast for the full year of 2026.

Caterpillar climbed 5.6% after the heavy-equipment maker likewise reported stronger profit and revenue than analysts expected. It was the first time Caterpillar made more than $20 billion in sales and revenue in a quarter, and CEO Joe Creed said it’s seeing strong order rates and a growing backlog across its main businesses.

Caterpillar is also benefiting from the AI boom through increased orders for turbines used to power data centers, among other things.

They’re the latest companies to deliver even better profits for the latest quarter than investors expected, following strong results from Amazon, Microsoft and others. Coming into this week, companies in the S&P 500 index were on track to deliver growth of nearly 50% in earnings per share for the spring from a year earlier, according to FactSet.

That would be the biggest such jump since 2021, when the economy was roaring back to life after cratering in the COVID-19 pandemic. With corporate profits up so much, when stock prices are still roughly where they were two months ago, stocks don’t look as expensive as they did before, according to Phil Segner, a co-portfolio manager at the Leuthold Group.

Also helping stocks on Tuesday was another drop for oil prices.

Brent crude, the international standard, sank 5.3% to $79.36 per barrel as hope once again took over from fear in the oil market. It had swung sharply between $72 and $102 through July on uncertainty about when the war with Iran would allow oil tankers to freely exit the Persian Gulf again to deliver crude around the world.

It’s jerked up and down many times as uncertainty built, receded and then built again, not only week to week but also hour to hour. Analysts warn more swings could be ahead, but the latest drop in oil prices nevertheless helped ease Wall Street’s worries about inflation. That pulled down yields in the bond market, which in turn relaxed pressure on the overall economy and on prices for stocks and other investments.

The yield on the 10-year Treasury fell to 4.62% from 4.70% Monday and from 4.75% at the end of last week. That’s a notable move for the bond market, though it remains well above its 3.97% level from before the war with Iran.

Higher yields make it more expensive for all kinds of Americans to borrow money, from homebuyers looking for a mortgage to big companies looking to build AI data centers.

Reports on the U.S. economy, meanwhile, showed it remains resilient even though inflation remains worse than anyone would like. One said U.S. employers were advertising nearly 7.4 million job openings at the end of June, a slight slowdown from May’s level but close to economists’ expectations.

In stock markets abroad, indexes rose modestly across much of Europe and Asia.

South Korea’s Kospi had a more significant move and climbed 1.6%. Seoul has seen some of the world’s sharpest swings because two companies swept up in AI mania dominate its market, Samsung Electronics and SK Hynix. The Kospi had dropped 5.1% and soared 17.9% in the prior two days.

Stocks of computer chip companies also strengthened on Wall Street, where gains of 2.6% for Nvidia, 6.6% for Broadcom and 7.6% for Micron Technology were some of the strongest forces lifting the S&P 500.

They more than offset a drop for Chipotle Mexican Group, which fell 9.7% on fears that future profits could be hurt after the chain removed jalapeños from some of its restaurants following a salmonella outbreak. Chipotle said that Minnesota health officials have no ongoing concerns with it.

All told, the S&P 500 rallied 136.02 points to 7,736.52. The Dow Jones Industrial Average jumped 907.47 to 54,085.88, and the Nasdaq composite climbed 671.10 to 26,584.99.

___

AP Business Writers Yuri Kageyama and Matt Ott contributed to this report.

During a one-on-one interview with morning anchor Lauren Melendez, Fine, who represents Florida’s sixth district, pointed to his help securing $44 million in grants over the past year to fund projects across the state.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

More specifically, he worked to secure $23.5 million to expand E-ONE, the Ocala-based fire apparatus manufacturer and global industry leader.

The expansion is expected to create more than 100 new jobs in Marion County.

“We’re excited,” Fine said. “Florida is growing. We want it to be a great place for companies to start, build and grow. My job is to make sure the federal government doesn’t get in the way of the incredible economic boom that we’re seeing here in Florida.”

Fine said the expansion reflects Florida’s pro-business environment but acknowledged the challenges that accompany rapid population growth.

“The great thing about Florida is everybody wants to come here,” he said. “The terrible thing about Florida is everybody wants to come here.”

He said economic growth should be balanced with preserving what makes Florida attractive while ensuring the state’s housing supply keeps pace with demand.

Property tax proposal sparks questions

Fine also addressed concerns from residents across his six-county district over the proposal to reduce or eliminate property taxes—a move that critics warn could significantly reduce funding for local governments and essential services.

Fine emphasized that property tax policy is a state issue and not one Congress controls.

“That would affect state and local revenues,” Fine said. “I don’t deal with that. My focus is federal taxes.”

He argued local governments should prioritize spending on core services, including schools, law enforcement, fire protection and roads, while reevaluating other expenditures.

Fine also made clear the federal government would not replace lost local revenue if Florida voters ultimately approve property tax changes.

“The federal government will not be backfilling state and local government from these property tax cuts,” he said. “Those state and local government agencies will have to figure that out.”

Instead, Fine highlighted federal tax policies he supports, including eliminating taxes on tips, overtime pay and Social Security benefits, saying those measures provide direct financial relief to families.

Affordability remains top concern

When asked about the biggest issues constituents raise, Fine said affordability remains the dominant concern throughout his district.

He argued illegal immigration is the primary driver behind Florida’s affordability challenges, claiming it increases demand for housing and contributes to higher costs in education, healthcare and auto insurance.

“The number one thing that makes Florida unaffordable is illegal immigration,” Fine said.

Economists generally cite multiple factors contributing to Florida’s affordability crisis, including housing shortages, population growth, inflation, insurance costs, wages and interest rates.

Beyond affordability, Fine said residents continue raising concerns about infrastructure, including roads, wastewater systems, stormwater projects and beach protection.

Looking ahead

As Congress prepares to return from its August recess, Fine said his immediate priorities include passing legislation to keep the federal government funded beyond September and advancing President Trump’s SAVE ACT, an election-related legislation requiring proof of citizenship for voter registration.

“My focus continues to be to help President Trump with his agenda,” Fine said.

Fine is up for reelection. He faces several Republican primary challengers in the Aug. 18 primary. To learn about the candidates, head to our Voter’s Guide HERE.

Many of Washington's monuments, buildings and sites have been carefully planned over decades to reflect significant moments in the nation's history and evoke symbolism in being connected by sightline to other sites.

The proposed towering gilded arch, which last month received initial approval from a key federal commission, would impact the “integrity” of dozens of those historical properties because it would change “character-defining visual and spatial relationships” between them.

The NPS report, published recently, said the immediate project area is located within the Memorial Avenue Corridor cultural landscape, “a nationally significant historic designed landscape extending between the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., and Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.”

One of the most obvious elements the report cited is that the arch would break alignment between the Lincoln Memorial, Memorial Bridge and Arlington House that was formerly Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee’s home.

“The bridge alignment and associated ceremonial landscape were intended to physically and symbolically unite North and South through a coordinated monumental composition extending across the Potomac River,” the report said.

The Lincoln Memorial Arlington House connection was one of dozens of historic sites and structures listed as being impacted directly by the proposed structure. It added that the National Mall, the U.S. Capitol, Washington Monument and grounds and Lady Bird Johnson Park would also be directly affected.

The report puts a snag in a project that has sailed through several steps of the approval process in front of planning bodies stocked with Trump appointees and allies.

The White House said in an email that it would follow all legal requirements in constructing the arch.

The proposed arch is one of several projects the Republican president is pursuing to leave his lasting imprint on Washington. With the potential to change the city’s sightline, it has already sparked opposition, including through a lawsuit filed by a group of veterans and a historian.

The arch design, proposed by Trump, has already received early approval from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts. The commissioners were all appointed by Trump. The National Capital Area Planning Commission approved the site and preliminary plans at its July meeting. The commission is expected to take up the matter again at its September meeting.

“The Triumphal Arch in Memorial Circle is going to be one of the most iconic landmarks not only in Washington, D.C., but throughout the world,” said White House spokesman Davis Ingle in an emailed response for comment. “It will enhance the visitor experience at Arlington National Cemetery for veterans, the families of the fallen, and all Americans alike, serving as a visual reminder of the noble sacrifices borne by so many American heroes throughout our 250 year history so we can enjoy our freedoms today.”

The arch is one of several projects Trump has proposed that is involved in litigation. The plaintiffs, three veterans and a historian, have challenged its construction saying it requires Congressional approval.

“Our claim is essentially that none of this has any authorization to be happening in the first place,” said Nicolas Sansone, an attorney with Public Citizen Litigation Group representing the plaintiffs. Authorization of the construction of a monument “in the core of Washington, D.C., on National Park Service land” requires an act of Congress, he said.

The National Park Service assessment confirms what the plaintiffs have said the construction will do to the symbolic and solemn area, he added.

“I think its very significant that the National Park Service itself understands that this is the effect that it's going to have,” Sansone said.

The proposed pickleball facility would be built off Jacob Nathan Boulevard on what is currently a wooded site. Plans call for 25 indoor pickleball courts across multiple buildings, an outdoor championship court with shaded seating, a restaurant, banquet hall, and outdoor gathering space. The project also includes amenities such as locker rooms, a pro shop, office space, and parking areas.

Supporters say the complex could attract tournaments, visitors, and new business opportunities to Ocoee.

“I think it could bring people here, which would drive up local business, so it could be great,” said Ocoee resident Brandon Kari.

[WATCH: Ocoee cancels annual Music Fest as city braces for possible property tax revenue losses]

The proposal comes as pickleball courts continue to appear in communities across Central Florida, including Sanford and Hamlin, reflecting the sport’s growing popularity nationwide.

The project would be built on a wooded site adjacent to an existing neighborhood, where some residents have expressed concerns about how the development could affect their quality of life.

Among the issues raised are increased traffic, noise and the overall size of the project.

“I don’t think we need the noise,” one nearby resident said.

City officials say they have already modified the proposal to address those concerns by moving most of the courts indoors, a change intended to reduce the sound that often accompanies pickleball play.

Even so, some neighbors remain uneasy.

“We don’t know who goes to pickleball. We don’t know the kind of people,” another resident said. “So we would like to keep our neighborhood safe.”

Others believe the complex would provide valuable recreational opportunities for families.

“We’re all about recreation and sports, so we are all for it,” Kari said. “I think it would be a great place for recreation and a great place for our kids to hang out and have fun with my wife and I.”

If approved, the proposal would allow the developer to move forward with seeking permits to begin site work. City leaders are expected to vote on the project Tuesday evening.

And yes—those cows are kind of judgy.

What makes Joe Overstreet Road special?

Joe Overstreet Road is a really great example of old Florida and an even older Florida living side by side. It’s open pasture, scattered trees, fence lines, and big sky—the kind of habitat that makes it easier to spot wildlife because there’s nowhere to hide… except, apparently, for the animal everyone comes here to see.

At the end of the road, you’re rewarded with a pier and a view of Lake Kissimmee. The landing can be as rewarding as the road itself, with a totally different set of birds tied to the water—so even if your “target species” is being difficult, there’s usually something worth scanning for.

The “dinosaur” that brings bird nerds to the yard

But there’s one dinosaur out here that brings all the birdwatchers to the yard: the burrowing owl.

Burrowing owls are small, long-legged owls found in open, treeless grasslands. Instead of nesting in trees like most owls, they live underground, using burrows (often ones originally made by other animals). That’s part of what makes seeing them feel so random: you can be staring at a perfect-looking patch of habitat… and the owl is basically a surprise feature popping up out of the ground.

They hunt insects, reptiles, and small mammals, and one of the coolest things about them—especially for photographers—is that they can be active during the day. Daylight owls. Florida stays weird.

Why open pasture matters

Burrowing owls like wide open areas like this because they want a clear view to spot predators. They’ll pop up near the burrow entrance and watch everything like tiny, feathery security guards. If you’re lucky, you’ll even see that signature head-bob behavior—part of how they judge distance and track movement.

Other wildlife you can find out here

Even when the owls are playing hard to get, Joe Overstreet Road is still a greatest-hits album for open-country Florida wildlife.

Here are a few species that make this road worth the drive:

• Eastern meadowlark: A classic grassland songbird that loves open fields and fence posts. If you’re learning birding, this is one of those “okay, now I’m in Florida” birds.
• Loggerhead shrike (the “butcher bird”): Famous for impaling prey on thorns and barbed wire. Cute and hardcore is the correct description, unfortunately.
• Alligators: Especially closer to water. Keep your distance and don’t be the person who turns a wildlife outing into a cautionary tale.
• Green anoles and grackles: The supporting cast that makes the whole place feel alive, even when the “main character” isn’t on set.

(And depending on the day and season, birding resources note this area can also be good for additional specialties—including occasional reports of larger, rarer birds out in the pastures.)

How to bird Joe Overstreet Road without being “that person”

Quick disclaimer if you do decide to come out here: please be respectful of private property. Much of what you’re looking at is working ranchland. Birding here is typically done from the road/shoulder where legal and safe—no hopping fences, no wandering into fields, no blocking traffic because your dream bird chose the worst possible perch.

A few practical tips:

• Drive slow and stay aware of traffic.
• Pull off only where it’s safe and fully out of the way.
• Bring binoculars and a long lens (or spotting scope if you’re serious).
• Give wildlife space—especially burrowing owls near burrows.

The real reason this road works for wildlife photography

Joe Overstreet is basically a masterclass in wildlife photography expectations: you can come for one species, and the road might hand you ten others first. When your subject doesn’t show up, you don’t just go home. You look for opportunities everywhere—light, behavior, compositions, and the moments you didn’t plan for.

And if you’re chasing burrowing owls specifically, that patience pays off. Sometimes the “hole in the ground” stays a hole… until it doesn’t.

Salah Sarsour, a legal permanent resident of the United States, was arrested by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers at his Milwaukee home in late March. A judge released him from ICE detention in June, finding that the government had not sufficiently laid out why it was trying to expel him now after allowing him to live in the U.S. for decades.

The Department of Homeland Security says it wants to deport Sarsour on the grounds that he is a foreign policy threat, based on his convictions in Israel in the 1980s and '90s. Sarsour, who has no criminal record in the U.S., has said he is being punished for speaking out against Israel.

It was Sarsour's third appearance in Chicago immigration court since his release from detention. One of his attorneys, Patrick Taurel, presented a witness Tuesday to underscore his argument that the Israeli convictions do not stand up to scrutiny.

Jawad Boulos, who was Sarsour's lawyer when he was charged in Israel decades ago, testified that Sarsour was tortured in Israeli custody and coerced into making confessions. Boulos also said his former client was convicted of attempting to possess a weapon, but not of any charge tying him to a terrorist organization.

Human rights organizations have released multiple reports alleging Palestinian prisoners are mistreated, tortured and wrongfully detained in Israeli jails.

Boulos told the court Sarsour was tortured and that he accepted a plea deal in the mid-1990's because fighting the charge could lead to a longer sentence behind bars.

On the first day of the hearing, July 22, Salah Sarsour’s brother, Mohammad Sarsour, testified that his brother appeared gaunt and dirty and complained of pain during his detention in Israeli jail.

Sarsour will appear remotely for his next hearing on Sept. 14. Taurel said his client will not testify.

Sarsour is among several people who have been arrested in the U.S. and threatened with deportation after speaking out in favor of Palestinians since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023.

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

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Kara Moeller

Kara Moeller is one of the News 6 Insider Guides to Central Florida, exploring Florida’s wild side, uncovering hidden gems, and spotlighting the people and businesses that make the region one-of-a-kind. She’s in love with the mix of outdoor adventure, quirky local history, and small businesses that give this area its character—and she’s on a mission to show there’s so much more to Central Florida than what you can see from I-4.

Kara loves experiencing new places the same way viewers do: hands-on, in-the-moment, and with plenty of curiosity. Sometimes she’s introducing audiences to a favorite find she can’t stop talking about; other times she’s taking a tip from a viewer and chasing down something totally new. To her, the best part of the job is the shared experience, she considers the viewers her friends, and she loves that they get to explore Central Florida together.

Daytrippers with Kara Moeller is your go-to guide for the best day trips, outdoor adventures, and unique local spots across the region—no overnight stay required. Each episode dives into a new experience, from theme park highlights to zip-line parks, local eco-tours, and creative DIY studios. Whether you’re a Florida local looking to break your weekend routine or a visitor wanting to explore beyond the theme parks, Kara has your itinerary covered—complete with practical ideas, can’t-miss stops, and plenty of inspiration for your next day out.

Email Daytripper ideas to Kara at kmoeller@wkmg.com🚗

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Kaia Poisall

Kaia, also known as Florida Foodie, has had a passion for food for as long as she can remember—starting with experimenting in the kitchen at a young age and growing into a never-ending curiosity for what’s next. She’s always down to try something new (and will try just about anything once), whether it’s a hidden hole-in-the-wall gem or a once-in-a-lifetime Michelin-worthy meal.

What she loves most is stepping into kitchens and watching how today’s chefs keep raising the bar—pushing flavors, techniques, and creativity in ways that make every bite feel like a story. While she has a special place in her heart for Asian cuisine, she’s passionate about learning through food and exploring the traditions behind every culture on the plate.

Kaia truly believes Central Florida has one of the best food scenes in the country, and she’s here to show you why. Because at the end of the day, food brings people together in a way few things can.

And if she’s not thinking about food (which is rare), she’s probably reading a new book, heading to Pilates, planning her next trip, or taking photos of the people she loves most.

Have foodie suggestions? Share them with Kaia at kpoisall@wkmg.com🍽️

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Joey Manna

Joey is a bird nerd, wildlife photographer and the host of Everyday Wild, a Central Florida Insider original series exploring Florida’s wildlife and wild places. He’s spent years turning his backyard obsession with critters into a full-blown mission to get people outside and paying attention to the wild things living right under their noses, gators, sandhill cranes, gopher tortoises, and everything in between.

When he’s not out chasing whatever critter caught his attention that week, you can find him touching grass and picking up bugs (literally), digging around in the garden, or hunting down his next rare houseplant. He’s also usually behind the scenes helping Kara and Kaia film Daytripper’s, Florida Foodie, and Central Florida Insider LIVE, because if there’s a camera rolling on something fun in Central Florida, there’s a good chance Joey had something to do with it.

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Share your best birding photos with Joey at jmanna@wkmg.com🦆

Together, they’re your News 6 Insider Guides—taking you deeper into Central Florida and giving you an inside look at the places, people, and experiences that make this area special. From day trips and hidden gems to wildlife adventures and unforgettable local eats, Kara, Joey, and Kaia bring you along behind the scenes and into the story, so you can discover what to do next across Orlando, the Space Coast, and beyond.

Have ideas, suggestions or things you want to see? Let us know in the comments below.

On Tuesday, the city council will vote to authorize a contractor to complete the Downtown One-Way Street Conversion Project.

The plan, which was initially approved in 2025, calls for changes to three streets so emergency vehicles have more room to respond to parts of downtown.

“We were told by engineers that the streets are unsafe in their current condition, so we couldn’t allow that lack of safety to continue,” Mayor James Homich said.

The project includes one-way southbound conversion on Alexander Street between 5th Avenue and 4th Avenue, Tremain Street would become one-way northbound between 5th Avenue and 3rd Avenue, and Baker Street would be one-way southbound between 5th Avenue and 3rd Avenue.

[WATCH: Mount Dora reopening Donnelly Street 7 months after historic flooding]

Todd Abell owns a business in downtown and said the plans will be a benefit for the city.

“These type of streets, it’s hard to get two cars by. So, one way, that street’s good. Some of them would make sense to do that,” Abell said.

Street parking will be on one side of each of the streets with a total of 49 spaces preserved.

“Downtown Mount Dora, there’s not going to be a lot of parking, but they make it work,” Abell said.

Once work begins, construction on the project is expected to take about six weeks.

The city council will vote on the contract approval during a meeting on Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Critics have argued the measure could be used to crack down on certain drag performances and chill free expression.

DeSantis responded to the news by saying the law is meant to protect children and “shouldn’t even be controversial,” but that Florida still had to fight lawsuits to defend it.

11th Circuit upholds Florida law that prohibits minors from establishments featuring sexually explicit performances.

This shouldn’t even be controversial, yet our law protecting kids required us to fend off lawsuits and win a case before a divided appellate court. https://t.co/Kcve9dLjRs

— Ron DeSantis (@RonDeSantis) August 4, 2026

What this means in plain terms

The court’s ruling removes a temporary block that had stopped Florida from enforcing the law statewide.

Bottom line: Florida regulators now have more ability to enforce the law again while the legal fight continues.

Why drag shows are part of this story

The lawsuit was filed by HM Florida-ORL, LLC, which operates Hamburger Mary’s in Orlando.

Hamburger Mary’s told the court the law’s wording was so broad and unclear it chilled constitutionally protected speech and forced changes to operations. In the appeals court’s summary of the record, the business said it:

• Offered drag performances, including a “family friendly” Sunday show where children were invited
• Announced in advance when shows were not suitable for children and barred children from those events
• Ultimately canceled family drag shows and barred minors from other shows after the law passed

Hamburger Mary’s also alleged business losses after changing its approach to minors attending performances.

That case was also brought after a Christmas-themed Orlando drag show in 2022 — described by state officials as being sexually explicit — reportedly had underage attendees, leading state officials to warn the venue.

[RELATED: Officials move to suspend Orlando venue’s liquor license after drag show attended by children]

What the law does (and doesn’t) say about drag

The Protection of Children Act does not specifically mention drag shows. Instead, it creates a criminal penalty for admitting minors to an “adult live performance,” a term Florida law defines.

According to the court, an “adult live performance” includes live performances depicting or simulating:

• Nudity
• Sexual conduct
• Sexual excitement
• Specific sexual activities (as defined under Florida law)
• Lewd conduct
• Lewd exposure of prosthetic or imitation genitals or breasts

The court also noted the statute is limited to performances meeting additional criteria, including standards tied to whether the material is:

• Predominantly appealing to prurient interest
• Patently offensive under statewide adult community standards as to what is suitable “for the age of the child present”
• Lacking serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value for the age of the child present

Why the appeals court disagreed with the lower court (for now)

A federal judge had previously stopped Florida from enforcing the law against anyone in the state while the case moved forward.

But in the new ruling, the appeals court said that decision was too broad — and that, at this early stage, Hamburger Mary’s hasn’t shown it’s likely to win the case.

In other words, the appeals court said the law can be enforced again while the lawsuit keeps going.

Local context: Plaza Live case in Orlando

This legal fight has played out during wider state scrutiny of drag performances described as sexually explicit.

In a separate Orlando case, Plaza Live agreed to pay a $5,000 fine after state investigators found minors attended a Christmas-themed drag show that officials said included sexual simulations and prosthetics.

What venues may do next

For venues that host drag shows or other adult-themed performances, the ruling may mean:

• More age limits (18+)
• Clearer warning labels in advertising
• More ID checks at the door
• More caution about what minors are allowed to see

A divided full bench of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has cleared the way for Florida to enforce its Protection of Children Act — a law backed by Gov. Ron DeSantis that targets venues that “knowingly admit a child to an adult live performance.” Critics have argued the measure could be used to crack down on certain drag performances.

“This shouldn’t even be controversial,” DeSantis said in a statement after the ruling. “Yet our law protecting kids required us to fend off lawsuits and win a case before a divided appellate court.”

What the ruling changes

The decision vacates a preliminary injunction from a federal judge in the Middle District of Florida that had blocked statewide enforcement while the lawsuit played out.

In practical terms, the ruling means Florida officials are no longer barred (by that injunction) from enforcing the law against venues beyond the plaintiff in the case.

Climate United Fund and other nonprofits won’t have access to their funds immediately as the decision will be put on hold for several days giving the Environmental Protection Agency time to ask the Supreme Court to step in.

The judgement by the full U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia is a loss for the Trump administration in one of its earliest efforts to dismantle President Joe Biden’s campaign to reduce climate-warming greenhouse gases. The Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund, commonly referred to as a “green bank,” is a $20 billion congressionally authorized program that provided money to nonprofits that would then make loans and invest in small energy projects, energy-efficient buildings and transportation.

EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin accused Climate United Fund and other nonprofits picked to run the green bank of mismanagement and potential fraud. He froze billions that had been placed in a Citibank account for the program and then terminated their grants. The groups disputed any wrongdoing and sued, arguing the Trump administration broke the law and violated the Constitution by not spending money authorized by Congress.

“Despite efforts to harm the awardees with false allegations and misinformation, there remains no legal basis for terminating our grant award and clawing back funds that were already disbursed in our bank accounts,” Climate United said in a statement.

In September, a divided three-judge panel of the same appeals court overturned a lower court and said the Trump administration had broad power to cancel grants without having to face charges of illegality in federal court.

The full appeals court agreed to revisit that decision, a rare occurrence reserved for the most important cases.

Zeldin early last year told Fox News that he suspected the green bank “was a clear-cut case of waste and abuse” that “in my opinion, is criminal.”

U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan last year said that when the federal government was asked for evidence of fraud, the agency didn’t provide it and shifted its position to more general concerns about the level of EPA oversight over the program. Chutkan ruled the government can’t violate the law and terminate the contracts and that the groups should have access to some of their frozen money. That order was put on hold during appeal.

A lawyer for the nonprofits argued at the time that the agency had already allocated the money by putting it in the Citibank account for the program’s use.

The agency argued the nonprofits are making constitutional and statutory arguments that don’t apply in a simple contract fight, and that the matter should be heard by a different court that can only award a lump sum — not force the government to keep the grants in place. Federal officials argue there is no law or provision in the Constitution that compels the EPA to make these grants to these groups.

The green bank was created by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act, a Biden administration priority that boosted clean energy and climate-friendly projects. President Trump’s tax and spending bill last year, however, repealed part of the law that established the bank and rescinded money that hadn’t already been obligated to its recipients. That added a layer of complication to the legal case.

Six of 10 judges agreed with a lower court judge that the Trump EPA likely violated the 2022 law when it terminated the grants and tried to claw back funds based on a policy disagreement.

However, one of the six judges that agreed the grant terminations were improper said Trump's bill complicated whether the clean energy groups could access funds going forward.

The remaining four judges broadly disagreed with the majority and sided with the EPA, saying that after Trump's tax and spend bill, the agency likely would have authority to end the grants.

The EPA did not immediately provide comment.

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The Associated Press receives support from the Walton Family Foundation for coverage of water and environmental policy. The AP is solely responsible for all content. For all of AP’s environmental coverage, visit https://apnews.com/hub/climate-and-environment

“We must act now to stem the rise in child deaths, which this crisis is provoking,” John Aylieff, WFP’s country director in Afghanistan, said in a statement, adding that “it is already too late for too many."

Afghanistan continues to recover from decades of conflict and upheaval, including the chaotic withdrawal of U.S. forces in 2021 as the Taliban took power.

Olga Cherevko, spokesperson for the U.N. humanitarian office in Afghanistan, said nutrition specialists report that “wasting among children has worsened this year in over three-quarters of the country." Children suffering from a condition known as wasting are acutely malnourished, become very thin for their height, and need immediate therapeutic feeding.

But “too many children arrive at health facilities severely malnourished” while others never make it, Cherevko told reporters at U.N. headquarters by video from Afghanistan, where she has traveled across the country in recent months and weeks.

WFP said 142 health centers closed in 2025 because of aid reductions and more than 13,000 children lost access to nutrition treatment. It did not mention any specific donor, such as the United States, where the Trump administration has made sweeping cuts in foreign aid.

Nearly 3.7 million Afghan children are projected to suffer from acute malnutrition this year, along with 1.2 million pregnant and breastfeeding women, according to WFP.

The agency said 12 Afghan provinces have reached critical levels of acute child malnutrition, a record number. It cited a combination of conflict, unemployment, rising food prices, disease outbreaks, poor water and sanitation and reduced humanitarian funding.

The Iran war and other fighting ha delayed deliveries

WFP said supply shortages linked to conflict in the Middle East and the nine-month closure of Pakistan’s border because of fighting between the neighbors have disrupted deliveries of nutrition products, leaving nearly one million malnourished women and children without essential nutrition services for five months.

From August through October, WFP said food distributions aimed at preventing famine in the worst-hit areas are being suspended due to lack of funding, even though the annual peak season for malnutrition is between July and October.

It said it urgently needs $540 million over the next six months.

WFP previously described cuts as ‘devastating’

Humanitarian groups in Afghanistan are grappling with steep funding cuts. In February, Aylieff told The Associated Press that cuts had been “devastating” and were forcing the agency to turn away three out of four acutely malnourished children.

Funding for food assistance has dropped sharply — by about 59% since 2022 — even as needs have surged, according to a recent WFP report.

In June, the U.S. pledged $800 million to WFP, which said it will help more than 38 million people in at least 37 countries.

Cherevko of the U.N. humanitarian office said the larger $1.71 billion humanitarian appeal for Afghanistan is just over 26% funded, which is “alarming,” especially since malnutrition and other indicators are worsening.

—-

Edith M. Lederer contributed to this report from the United Nations.

So Elias was asked point blank why fans should believe he's the man to guide the team to future success.

“While the last couple of years have really felt like a step back, and have been a step back from where this team was in 2023 and 2024, we have so many good players in this organization,” he said. "We have so many things going for us in this organization in terms of the strength and the infrastructure, the business side of the operation, the ownership, the facilities. We now have a top farm system, and we have a great roster with a lot of really good players that are signed up for many years. And we have a lot of things going for us right now.”

Monday's trade may work out for the Orioles in the long run. They acquired three of Boston's top five prospects according to MLB Pipeline. Fans generally understand the logic of dealing a player who might become a free agent in the next year or two. But what makes this trade harder to stomach is the year and a half of failure that led up to it.

In 2023, the Orioles won 101 games. Rutschman and infielder Gunnar Henderson were franchise cornerstones, and there were several more top prospects on the way. Even then, there were concerns Baltimore would have a hard time keeping those two stars — but the assumption was there would be a lot more winning before days like Monday. Instead, the Orioles are in danger of missing the playoffs for a second straight season.

“The last couple seasons have not gone to plan. There have been shortcomings, and ultimately those are my responsibility," Elias said. "But this is a very hard game, we cannot succeed all the time, and we must keep going when things aren't going our way.”

Elias did not sound Monday like a man whose job was in jeopardy. The Orioles were 54-58 but just 2 1/2 games out of the last wild card in the American League. If Elias felt he needed to produce a playoff team this year, he could have kept Rutschman and even added help.

There were reasons to trade him, though. Baltimore has catcher Samuel Basallo, who is signed long term and is seven years younger than Rutschman. This type of deal — using a surplus at a key position to acquire help elsewhere — is something the Orioles could perhaps have used more of a few years ago, when they had a wealth of hitting in the majors and minors but needed pitching.

Baltimore acquired just one major leaguer — catcher Carlos Narváez — for Rutschman. Once again, the Orioles have to sell their fans on minor league prospects. The last collection of young talent hasn't totally delivered on its promise. Rutschman had a down year in 2025, and Henderson is having one this year. Jackson Holliday, Colton Cowser and Coby Mayo have all had struggles at the plate. Pitcher Grayson Rodriguez couldn't stay healthy and was ultimately traded for what turned out to be four months of outfielder Taylor Ward. (Ward, a pending free agent, was also dealt away Monday.)

Baltimore hasn't won a pennant since 1983. The franchise that became famous for the Oriole Way has been largely mediocre since then — an issue that long preceded Elias. When he arrived in November 2018, a rebuild was already underway after the team lost 115 games that year.

“We had a lot of work to do around the org. We did it, and for a period of time there — we won a hundred games in 2023 — we had a consensus farm system and a core that looked like it was in a tremendous spot, in a really historically strong spot," Elias said. “I think to some degree I personally, looking back, got caught up in a narrative about a rebuild. Baseball's very humbling, and it doesn't go linearly, and things shifted and changed, and we had a lot of bad luck on the injury front. We had a lot of injuries, and we had regression and things that changed course.”

It's possible Baltimore's fortune will swing back in a positive direction. The injury luck could improve, and maybe someone like Holliday grows into a star. Or the next generation of prospects might have more staying power. Even so, Elias will have to prove he's as good at buying as he seems to be at selling — and that acquiring all this young talent can lead to more than just a fleeting two-year stretch as a contender.

“We're in a really good spot with the health of the org, the talent that's in the org, the players, the system that we have," Elias said. "We need to get better, we need to continue to adjust and evolve. Our competition is very, very stiff, but I like where we're at. The way that we've gotten here has felt different because of the last couple of years and how we've tapered down the last couple years from where our record was in 2023 and 2024. But the future is strong and I think it starts right now.”

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Several fires that burned through mountain communities and coastal areas west of the Greek capital were brought under control overnight. Planes and helicopters dumped water inside the contained perimeters through the morning, dousing hot spots while the winds stayed calm.

“There is a huge fire load in the area and the risk goes up as the day progresses,” said Costas Tsingas, head of the Greek Firefighters Association. “The goal is for the day to end better than it started.”

Fires started through negligence prompt wave of arrests

Burning for a fifth day, the blaze outside Athens prompted the evacuation of more than 1,000 people and was blamed on a faulty power line from a wind farm in the area.

Restrictions and park closures are imposed locally according to fire‑risk levels. Authorities say 33 people were arrested between June 29 and Aug. 2 for starting fires, including 30 through negligence and three on suspicion of arson. Most of the negligence cases involved farm work carried out despite local bans, including prohibited welding.

On Tuesday, crews were working against the clock: Winds typically pick up in the afternoon, a coastal phenomenon common across the Mediterranean in summer as land heats faster than the sea and draws in stronger breezes.

The army deployed tracked earth movers to carve fire breaks across the scorched hillsides, while specialist units pushed into forest areas on foot to extinguish smoldering embers before they could reignite.

More than 1,000 people have been evacuated from around the seaside resort of Porto Germeno and other areas west of the capital, including more than 250 rescued by boats from beaches in the area.

Wildfires in France expose ammunition

Prolonged heat waves across Europe this summer have left France tinder-dry, fueling blazes that this week exposed long-buried ammunition in a forested area.

The massive wildfire outside the southwestern city of Bordeaux, which has scorched about 420 square kilometers (162 square miles), uncovered what is believed to be World War II-era ammunition.

Demining experts have found more than 400 shells and other munitions in recent days at Le Porge, the hardest-hit town, where 183 homes were destroyed. Residents described hearing explosions believed to be blasts from the old shells, authorities said.

The fire remained contained and thousands of evacuees were allowed to return Monday. More than 224,000 people fled in France’s largest civilian evacuation outside wartime.

___

Corbet reported from Paris.

The figure offers a glimpse of how much taxpayer money will be spent on a deployment that has been criticized by local officials as an infringement of their city's autonomy and by Democrats who say it has militarized the streets of nation's capital at the public's expense.

The cost estimate is for fiscal years 2027-2029 and came in response to questions from Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Elizabeth Warren and was provided to The Associated Press.

The deployment began last summer, when President Donald Trump issued an emergency order that launched a law enforcement surge in the city which the administration says was meant to fight crime. Hundreds of armed Guard troops have been deployed to city streets, supporting arrest operations but also helping with snow removal and carrying out beautification projects. This summer, as the city marked the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, their numbers surged to about 5,000.

The Defense Department said in its estimate the cost assumes there will be an average of 2,500 National Guard members in Washington through January 2029.

"While American families are getting flattened by skyrocketing costs, Donald Trump is spending $1.4 billion to keep troops on the streets in Washington for years on end," Warren said in an emailed statement. "The National Guard are not pawns and taxpayer dollars are not a piggy bank for Trump’s political stunts.”

The cost was first reported by The Washington Post.

The Pentagon said last month the Guard mission will continue until Jan. 20, 2029, “or until terminated by the President.” The deployment was set to expire at the end of this year after previously being extended.

While the use of National Guard members has been restricted by courts elsewhere, their presence continues in large numbers in D.C. where the president is the direct commander of the D.C. Guard.

What's not clear is whether the governors will extend their state units for more than two years. As of late July there were 4,600 military personnel from D.C. and 23 states and territories still in the city, some sent to help with security and other functions as part of events around July 4th.

One state, Georgia, had roughly 800 personnel here, more than the D.C. National Guard. Maj. R. Dustin Cole, spokesperson for the Georgia Air National Guard, said in an email the increased number is temporary. He stopped short of saying how many Georgia troops might be pulled away, and when.

Col. Joel Lynch of the Arkansas National Guard said about half of the state’s 238 soldiers in D.C. will return home the end of this month and 123 are projected to return near the end of October.

Hawaii said it will bring home its 27 members later this month after the Freedom 250 Grand Prix. Louisiana will have about 150 Guard members in the city through January 2027.

Don and Donna Powell, residents of the city who split time between Washington and Texas, said the money being spent on the National Guard could be used for other necessities.

“They’re everywhere. They’re just hiding wherever it’s shady,” said Donna Powell, while attending a FreeDC protest Monday against the continued surge. The money being spent for them “could be spent on healthcare and food for families that need it and instead we’re wasting our money.”

Helicopters were on standby but unable to fly by noon for the ongoing search and recovery operation on Broad Peak, the regional government said in a statement Tuesday.

The climbers from Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, China, Britain and the United States were swept away by the avalanche Thursday in the Gilgit-Baltistan region, which the Alpine Club of Pakistan called one of the country's deadliest mountaineering disasters.

Ground teams located the remains of eight climbers and at least three bodies were brought down the mountain on Saturday, officials said.

Nirmal Purja, a Nepal-born former British Army soldier widely known as Nims Dai, was among the climbers killed in the avalanche while attempting to scale the peak. His expedition company said Saturday that the world had lost one of mountaineering’s greats.

Pakistan Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Tuesday expressed condolences to the families of those killed, saying he was deeply saddened by the tragedy.

“My heartfelt condolences go to the bereaved families and to the governments and people of China, Nepal, Oman, the United Kingdom and the United States,” Dar said in a post on X.

Dar also offered condolences to the family of Pakistani mountaineer Sohail Sakhi, saying his courage and passion for the mountains would be remembered with pride.

“The determination and pursuit of excellence shown by all those who perished embodied the true spirit of mountaineering and will continue to inspire generations,” Dar said.

Dar praised the “tireless efforts of our rescue and recovery teams” and said Pakistan remained committed to the ongoing search and recovery operation in close coordination with the Nepal, Oman, U.K. and U.S. embassies.

Mountaineering accidents are common in northern Pakistan because of avalanches, falling ice and rock, extreme altitude and rapidly changing weather. A Chinese mountaineer died last year after being struck by falling rocks while descending K2, the world’s second-highest mountain, in northern Pakistan.

Bodies of foreign climbers who die attempting to summit mountains in Pakistan are typically recovered at the request of their families and governments. If the family declines a rescue, the remains are left at the spot where the climber died.

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Khan reported from Peshawar, Pakistan.

The Buckeyes received 38 of the 72 first-place votes and were well ahead of the Ducks, who got six first-place votes.

No. 3 Georgia received seven first-place votes, No. 4 Texas got two and No. 5 Notre Dame five.

Defending national champion Indiana was No. 6 with 14 first-place votes and was followed by Miami, the team it beat in the College Football Playoff championship game. Texas A&M, Oklahoma and Mississippi rounded out the top 10.

Texas Tech, at No. 12, was the highest-ranked of four Big 12 teams in the poll. The SEC, with nine, had the most ranked teams.

No teams from a Group of Six conference were in the Top 25.

Ohio State went 12-0 in the 2025 regular season before losing to Indiana in the Big Ten championship game and to Miami in the first round of the CFP. The Buckeyes return a Heisman Trophy finalist in quarterback Julian Sayin, one of the nation's top receivers in Jeremiah Smith and an experienced offensive line.

The Associated Press preseason Top 25 poll will be released at noon Eastern on Aug. 17.

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Get poll alerts and updates on the AP Top 25 throughout the season. Sign up here and here (AP News mobile app). AP college football: https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll and https://apnews.com/hub/college-football

Tuesday, Aug. 18 is the Florida Statewide Primary election, a mix of party primaries and nonpartisan local elections, such as school board races, judicial races, and county commission races in some counties.

[ELECTION 2026: Make sure you’re eligible to vote|How to vote by mail|Election Myths]

Florida has a closed primary system, which means only members of a political party may vote in party primaries. To be eligible, a voter had to identify with that party by July 20.

However, judicial races and local races, for the most part, are open to all registered voters, regardless of political party.

Everything you need to know in order to vote in the Aug. 18 Statewide Primary, including how to vote by mail, vote early, and vote on Election Day, can be found in our Election 2026 section HERE.

Flagler County School Board District 2

The Flagler County School Board has five districts. These are nonpartisan races, so they are open to all voters.

School Board District 2 encompasses voters in the northeastern part of the county. You can see a map of the area HERE.

The News Collaborative of Central Florida created a list of common questions to ask the candidates. Questionnaires were sent to all candidates.

Not all of the candidates responded. Where candidates did not respond, we have filled out the information to the best of our abilities.

News 6 compiled the candidate responses for Flagler County School Board District 2, emailing and calling the candidates over several weeks. Responses were edited for spelling and grammar, but otherwise left intact.

Will Furry - Incumbent

WEBSITE: https://www.willfurryforschoolboard.com/

FOR INCUMBENTS: Why do you deserve to be re-elected in this race? FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? Under my leadership, and with the hard work of our students, faculty, and staff, we returned Flagler Schools to an A-rated school district. I also served as Chairman of the Board, leading a renewed direction of fiscal responsibility by cutting wasteful spending, rebuilding our reserves to $11 million, implementing top-down leadership changes, creating safer schools, and achieving year-over-year academic gains.

I was elected with the endorsement of Governor Ron DeSantis and have stood strong to protect parents’ rights and school choice. I am the most tenured member of the Board, and I have invested countless hours building the institutional knowledge needed to be effective in this leadership role.

I am the only candidate in District 2 who earned a place on the ballot by the voters of Flagler County collecting over 1200 signed ballot petitions, and I am the only candidate in District 2 who has two children actively learning in our schools.

We are winning on all fronts at Flagler Schools, and I am proud of what we have accomplished. I’m ready to keep going. We have term limits, so I would be humbled if you would allow me a second and final term to continue building on these accomplishments.

Vote August 18th, and remember: Will is the Way to Keep Flagler Schools an A.

TOP ISSUES

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.

Problem Number 1 and Solution: Kindergarten Readiness - One of the most pressing challenges facing our school district is kindergarten readiness. Too many children are entering the classroom without the foundational skills they need to be successful from day one. This isn’t just a school district issue—it’s a community issue that requires all of us to work together, especially parents. That’s why I’ve supported expanding access to our Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) programs. Today, we have more than 300 students enrolled in VPK—an increase of over 100 students from last year. We’ve also approved certified teachers to teach in some of these classrooms, further strengthening the quality of early learning. The data is clear: children who participate in quality VPK programs are significantly more likely to be reading at grade level by third grade. We are doing our part by expanding opportunities, but parents play a critical role by taking advantage of these programs. When we invest in early childhood education together, we give our students the strongest possible start and set them up for long-term success.

Problem Number 2 and Solution: School Funding - Many people don’t realize that approximately 82–85% of the district’s operating budget is dedicated to salaries and employee benefits. That leaves a limited portion of our budget to cover everything else required to educate our students, maintain our schools, operate transportation, and provide essential services.

That’s why being good stewards of taxpayer dollars is so important. We must continue prioritizing our resources where they have the greatest impact on student success while aggressively pursuing grants and other funding opportunities to support innovative programs.

At the same time, the state often requires school districts to provide services without fully funding them. Student transportation is one example and has been an ongoing challenge. We’ve responded by improving operational efficiencies, leveraging technology, and streamlining our transportation system to provide more reliable service for students and families.

We’ve also made strategic investments that reduce long-term operating costs. During my tenure, we replaced an aging bus fleet—some buses dated back to the 1980s—with newer, more efficient vehicles that have lowered maintenance and fuel costs. We also invested in modern, high-efficiency HVAC systems at our two high schools, significantly reducing energy consumption while earning the district six-figure rebates from Florida Power & Light. These are the kinds of smart, long-term investments that save taxpayers money while improving the learning environment for our students.

Problem Number 3 and Solution: Student Enrollment - Since school choice became available to families, Flagler Schools has fared much better than many districts across Florida. While some school districts have lost thousands of students, only about 300 Flagler students have chosen educational options outside our district. That speaks to the confidence many families continue to have in our schools, but it also reminds us that we can never become complacent.

School choice, however, is only one factor affecting enrollment. Demographic trends also play a significant role. Flagler County has a growing population of residents without school-aged children, and like many communities across the country, we are experiencing lower birth rates. These factors naturally affect the number of students entering our schools each year.

Student enrollment is one of the most important issues facing public education because school funding is largely based on the number of students we serve—what we often refer to as “funding follows the student.” At the same time, many of our costs are fixed. Whether we have more or fewer students, we still have to maintain our schools, operate transportation, provide insurance, and support essential district operations. That means enrollment directly impacts our financial flexibility.

The best way to address this challenge is to make Flagler Schools the premier choice for families. By continuing to improve academic achievement, expanding Career and Technical Education, offering innovative learning opportunities, and maintaining safe, well-managed schools, we can attract and retain students while ensuring the long-term financial health of our district.

How would you handle district budget issues? Fiscal responsibility has always been one of my highest priorities. My background as an executive in the banking and financial services industry has been a tremendous asset in helping guide the district’s financial decisions.

Since taking office, I’ve demonstrated that we can accomplish more while being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars. We’ve rebuilt the district’s financial reserves to approximately $11 million, helped move the district away from a trajectory that could have led to state intervention, and eliminated the need to borrow money to meet payroll—a practice that had cost the district hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest over the years. We’ve also worked to eliminate wasteful spending, improve operational efficiency, and make smarter long-term financial decisions.

A School Board member’s role is to provide leadership and governance, including strong fiscal oversight. I believe my record demonstrates that I have the experience, discipline, and leadership necessary to ensure Flagler Schools remains financially strong while continuing to invest in student success.

How should the district handle teacher shortages? Fortunately, we are not seeing a significant problem in this area in Flagler Schools, but it’s important that we continue fostering a positive work environment where teachers feel valued and supported. Teachers need to know that when behavioral issues arise in the classroom, they have the backing of school leadership and the School Board.

It’s also our responsibility to ensure educators have the tools, resources, and technology they need to be successful. In addition, we should continue investing in high-quality professional development and ongoing learning opportunities so our teachers can grow in their profession and provide the best possible education for our students.

Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? Flagler Schools has made significant gains in reading achievement, and we’ve accomplished that by making strategic investments in early learning. One of our greatest challenges is that too many children enter kindergarten without the foundational skills they need to be successful.To address this, we are expanding access to Voluntary Prekindergarten (VPK) programs and placing certified teachers in more VPK classrooms to strengthen early instruction. We also want to provide parents with the resources and support they need to help prepare their children before they ever step into a kindergarten classroom.

The research is clear: children who participate in high-quality prekindergarten programs are much more likely to be reading at grade level by third grade. By investing in early learning and partnering with parents, we can give every child a stronger start and continue improving student achievement across our district.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? School safety has been my highest priority since taking office, and I believe our schools are safer today than they have ever been. During my tenure, we’ve implemented numerous safety enhancements and ensured that every school has a dedicated School Resource Deputy. While we’ve made significant progress, there is always more we can do. Because many of our campuses are large, I support exploring the implementation of Florida’s Guardian Program. This program allows carefully selected, thoroughly vetted, and extensively trained members of the faculty and staff to serve as an additional layer of protection alongside our School Resource Deputies. In the event of an active threat, the Guardian Program can serve as a force multiplier, helping to improve response capabilities and protect students and staff. If reelected, I will continue to make the safety and security of our students, teachers, and staff my highest priority.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? Florida has enacted clear laws governing instructional and library materials, and as a constitutional officer, I am committed to faithfully upholding those laws. Books in our school libraries should support student learning, be age-appropriate, and comply with Florida law. Materials should align with our educational mission and should not contain content that is prohibited by state statute. When concerns are raised, I believe they should be addressed through the established review process, ensuring that every challenge is handled fairly, transparently, and in accordance with the law.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? I was elected in 2022 with the endorsement of Governor Ron DeSantis and the support of nearly 60% of Flagler County voters. I am seeking reelection based on a proven record of results, including helping lead Flagler Schools back to an A-rated district. I have self-funded my campaign and have chosen not to seek or accept endorsements from special interest groups because I believe my accountability should be to the voters and the students of Flagler County.

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? One of my top priorities would be expanding innovative educational opportunities that make Flagler Schools the first choice for families. Public education is no longer a monopoly—we’re competing with charter schools, private schools, virtual schools, and homeschooling. To succeed in a school choice environment, we must offer programs that attract and retain students.

I also want to continue expanding our Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs so more students graduate with industry certifications, workforce skills, and pathways to high-paying careers. Not every student’s path is the same, and we should provide opportunities that prepare students for college, the military, or the workforce.

In addition, I want to explore opportunities such as hybrid learning options and other innovative programs that enhance student engagement while maintaining a strong focus on academic excellence. My goal is to ensure Flagler Schools is not just a great option, but the best choice for families in our community.

Rob Wood

WEBSITE: robwoodforflagler.com/

FOR INCUMBENTS: Why do you deserve to be re-elected in this race? FOR CHALLENGERS AND OPEN SEATS: Why do you deserve to be elected in this race? My commitment to education didn’t begin with this school board run. It began in 2001. I spent more than a decade on active duty in the Air Force, much of it as a trainer. I taught GED courses inside a maximum-security prison while working for Daytona State College, and in a separate role as a federal contractor I specialized in leadership and organizational development and executive coaching, which is where I earned my Associate Certified Coach credential through the International Coach Federation. For the past decade, I have been a senior leader at Western Governors University, where I support more than 17,000 students. I hold an MBA in finance, I run a small business, and my wife taught right here in Flagler before she moved into higher education. I am not looking for a stepping stone. This is the job I want, and I believe my qualifications and experience make me the best person to do it. For Students. For Educators. For Flagler.

TOP ISSUES

What are the three most pressing problems happening in your district, and what do you suggest to solve them? Please put your responses in the sections below.

Problem Number 1 and Solution: The culture of the board. On paper, the board’s role is simple. Set the budget, set policy, and hold the superintendent accountable. But when there is dysfunction at the top and the board fails to lead by example, it undermines everything below it. The solution is leadership that values relationships over being right and drives commitment instead of compliance. Board members can disagree and still protect the trust the whole district depends on.

Problem Number 2 and Solution: Enrollment. Some of the decline is demographic, an aging county and lower birth rates, but the board has been reactive when it should be planning ahead. The solution is to grow enrollment at both ends of the pipeline. On the front end, expand access to VPK, and go further by tackling the wraparound care costs and transportation barriers that actually keep eligible families from enrolling. On the back end, invest in and better market our technical education and career and certification programs, add technical education wings to our high schools, and make sure homeschool families know they can partially enroll in district programs. The goal is to prepare for what is next, not to manage decline.

Problem Number 3 and Solution: Fiscal accountability under enrollment pressure. Between voucher programs and flat-to-declining enrollment, the district has to get more serious about its fixed costs. The solution is to take a hard, honest look at the budget to find where we can cut or reappropriate dollars, bring down fixed costs where we responsibly can, and build in the agility to respond as enrollment shifts. A budget is a commitment, not a rough draft, and it should be able to adapt to reality without losing sight of its priorities.

How would you handle district budget issues? With discipline and forethought. A budget is a commitment, not a rough draft. It should reflect the district’s real priorities, students and teachers first, and it should not quietly shift from month to month without scrutiny. I would also plan for the second-order effects that are easy to miss, like the county funding that supports our resource deputies, so the district is never caught flat-footed. And I would keep more of our spending competitive and local, because every dollar we save on process is a dollar that can reach a classroom.

How should the district handle teacher shortages? Our teacher shortage is really a retention challenge, and retention starts with how we treat the people already in our classrooms. To the district’s credit, it has made real progress reducing the overall cost of benefits packages for faculty and staff, and that work matters. I think we can go further. There is room to diversify the risk profiles behind those plans and use other alternatives to keep driving costs down, which puts more value back in the hands of the people doing the work. But pay and benefits are only part of it. Teachers stay where they feel trusted and supported, so the culture we build matters as much as the compensation. We keep good teachers by valuing the ones we have, not just by recruiting new ones to replace the ones who leave.

Florida ranked last for academic growth in reading. How would you improve that? Reading growth is built long before a child is ever tested on it. Right now, fewer than 40% of eligible Flagler families use Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten, and when you dig into why, it is usually access and transportation rather than a lack of interest. If we close that gap, we move the needle on third-grade literacy, which is one of the strongest predictors of a student’s long-term success. That early foundation has to be paired with keeping experienced teachers in place, because reading gains are closely tied to teacher stability. Our district just earned an A rating for the first time in seven years, and that credit belongs to our teachers and staff. My job on the board would be to give them the conditions and the consistency to keep that momentum going.

What changes, if any, would you make to school safety policies? School safety is a non-negotiable. It is also a budget issue that the board has to see coming. Today the county and city cover over half the base salaries of our school resource deputies. That means a change in the county’s budget can reach our schools even when it never touches a school property tax. A board that plans for that ahead of time protects students and staff better than one that reacts after the fact. My priority is keeping sworn law enforcement officers at every campus. I would consider a guardian program only as a supplement to those officers, never as a substitute for them.

How should book challenges and library removals be handled? Flagler already has a well-established process for this, and it follows Florida’s instructional-materials adoption cycle. There are public review and comment periods, a formal Request for Reconsideration of Materials, and sound guidance that encourages parents to meet with the principal first to understand how a material is actually being used. That process should be applied the same way for every family, consistently and out in the open. Where I see room to improve is the other direction. The path to challenge or remove a book is clear, but there is not an equally clear, published way to ask that a book be reconsidered for addition or restored to a library or an elective. A fair system should work both ways. Whether a parent is raising a concern or asking that something be made available, they deserve the same transparent, evenhanded process.

What outside organizations or endorsements are supporting your campaign? I am proud to be endorsed by the Flagler County Deputy Sheriff’s Union, IBPO Local #598, the men and women who protect our schools and our community every day.

If elected, what policy would you try to pass in your first year? I am going to be honest here, because I think promising a signature policy in year one is the wrong instinct for a new board member. My first job would be to learn public school finance and district operations from the inside and to get genuinely smart on how a roughly 400 million dollar system works before I start changing it. What I will commit to from day one is bringing discipline, fresh eyes, and hard questions to how we spend. When I do move on a policy, I want it to be the right change made for the right reason, not a headline I promised before I understood the problem.

But Dane County Circuit Judge Everett Mitchell stopped short of ordering electronic voting, setting up a trial on that issue later. It almost certainly will not be resolved before the November election.

Disability Rights Wisconsin, the League of Women Voters and four disabled voters brought the lawsuit in 2024. They argued that the lack of an electronic absentee voting option violated their right to independence and privacy and the protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

Mitchell issued a temporary injunction in 2024, saying that disabled voters should have the option to vote electronically. But an appeals court reversed that ruling, sending it back to the lower court, saying it was wrong to issue a temporary injunction that would have changed and “significantly disrupted the status quo.”

The Republican-controlled Legislature is fighting the lawsuit.

Mitchell ruled on Tuesday that the state's absentee ballot program, which requires voters to complete and return a ballot on paper, denies disabled people “the equal opportunity to vote absentee privately and independently.”

The judge declined to order elections officials to offer electronic ballots to qualified disabled voters, saying the parties still disputed whether that was a reasonable remedy. The judge noted that those included the difficulty of instituting such a program and the risks involved.

Under his previous ruling, made before more facts in the case were presented, Mitchell said that voters who self-certify that they can’t read or mark a paper ballot without help would be eligible to request an electronic ballot.

Absentee ballots are currently emailed to military and overseas voters from Wisconsin.

Neither those who brought the lawsuit nor the Wisconsin Elections Commission had any estimates of how many disabled voters would request absentee ballots electronically.

Spokespeople for the elections commission and the Wisconsin Department of Justice, which represented the commission, did not immediately return messages seeking comment.

A hearing on the case is set for Aug. 12, where a potential trial date could be set.

Robinson reposted the NFL's Instagram post detailing the extension on Tuesday morning, writing “God this is for you! Blessings. Love this team and this city!”

The extension is worth up to $75 million with incentives, with $51 million guaranteed, a person with knowledge of the details told The Associated Press. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because terms weren’t announced.

The base value of $66.75 million gives Robinson a $22.25 million average per year that makes him the league's top-paid running back. Philadelphia running back Saquon Barkley's average is $20.6 million.

“Obviously very excited for him, excited for us,” Falcons coach Kevin Stefanski said Tuesday.

NFL Network and ESPN first reported the extension.

The deal with Robinson continues the Falcons' trend of locking up foundation players on their offense.

On Saturday, the Falcons announced signing left guard Matthew Bergeron to a four-year contract extension. The team gave new contracts to wide receiver Drake London and tight end Kyle Pitts in the offseason.

“It’s all guys that we believe in, all guys that fit who we are,” Stefanski said.

The new deal comes after Robinson spent the first week of training camp, including Monday's first day in pads, as a spectator. He attended the practices but did not participate in an apparent contract “hold-in."

“I just knew throughout this whole process that it would be a process and I felt good about where we were,” Stefanski said. “I think everybody understands how we feel about Bijan the person and Bijan the player.”

Robinson joined practice on Tuesday as Stefanski and the Falcons no longer have to worry about their star running back's status for the season.

“It means obviously as a coach, you want to get your guys ready for the football season and it allows us to get Bijan ready,” Stefanski said. “And he’s eager, beyond eager, to get out here. So on that note, we’ll slowly get him back in there. ... We’ll have a plan here for the next week to ramp him up.”

A panel of eight AP Pro Football Writers ranked Robinson the league's top running back in a preseason survey.

Robinson led the NFL with 2,298 yards from scrimmage and scored 11 TDs last season.

Robinson has been the focus of Atlanta's productive ground game since he was the No. 8 overall pick in the 2023 NFL draft. He flourished as a dual-threat back last season, finishing fourth in the league with 1,478 rushing yards while adding 820 receiving yards.

Steven Jackson in 2006 is the only other player ever with at least 1,400 rushing yards and 800 receiving yards in the same season.

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AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi and AP Sports Writer Maura Carey contributed to this report.

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

Flagler County deputies said it was Sheriff Rick Staly who stopped a super speeder, all while he was on the way to dinner with his wife.

Around 5 p.m. on Friday, Staly was traveling south on I-95 in his unmarked agency vehicle, just south of the State Road 100 exit, when a white 2016 Dodge Challenger with black racing stripes flew past him at a high rate of speed, according to a news release.

The sheriff followed and tried to stop the weaving driver for about six miles, clocking him between speeds of 115 mph and 125 mph. The driver was weaving across all three lanes, even passing cars within three to four feet of their bumpers, deputies said.

The report goes on to say the sheriff eventually activated his lights and sirens just south of Old Dixie Highway in Volusia County, and pulled over the driver.

That driver was identified as 22-year-old Arul Nayak of Palm Coast.

Deputies said the vehicles Nayak had previously passed began honking their horns during the stop, appreciating that the driver had been stopped before anyone was hurt. Nayak told the sheriff he had a final pilot’s exam the next day, and hoped he would be out of jail in time.

“Driving 125 mph and weaving through three lanes of traffic isn’t a mistake; it’s a decision to gamble with everyone else’s life, including the three passengers sitting in his own car,” said Staly. “This wannabe pilot was flying fast and low, but he wasn’t in an airplane, and this wasn’t his final exam.”

Nayak was cited for willful and wanton reckless driving and violation of Florida’s super speeder law.

Because the stop happened in Volusia County, Nayak was arrested and booked into the Volusia County Jail.

He has been released on bond.

The Super Speeder law (HB 351) established a new criminal offense under state statutes last year: “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

HB 351 also makes it so that excessive speeding is an arrestable offense. This is in addition to any applicable fines for speeding.

The sudden arrival of 72,000 migrants on Thursday and Friday sparked a humanitarian crisis in Ceuta and reignited the immigration debate in the 27-nation bloc, though most of the migrants soon went back. More than 80 migrants died, including some who drowned or were trampled in a stampede to cross a breakwater barrier, according to Spanish and Moroccan authorities.

Open letters from 22 EU leaders, and a quick retort from Sanchez, have exposed a roiling debate inside the EU pitting migration hawks against the progressive Spanish leader who has challenged consensus within the bloc on migration as well as NATO spending, Gaza and Israel.

Sanchez's government has dismissed the attacks as politically motivated, saying most of the migrants were pushed back from Ceuta within hours in “close coordination with the Moroccan authorities and with very little support from other European states.”

While ministers seemed to rally back around Sanchez after meeting Tuesday, Europe displayed a deeply damaging disunity in the aftermath of Ceuta as it faces security threats from Moscow, instability with Washington and economic tension with Beijing, said Alicia García-Herrero, chief economist for Asia Pacific and Middle East for the financial firm Natixis.

“Europe has shown weakness again,” she said. “Massive weakness.”

Sanchez defends court ruling blamed by Morocco and EU leaders

EU leaders quickly pounced on Sanchez once videos from Ceuta went viral. Many blamed the incident on his government's progressive policies and publicly rallied for new border checks at sea, air and land ports of entry.

Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni issued the most blunt criticism of Sanchez, as well as announcing that Italy would enforce air and sea border controls with Spain.

Yet Ceuta’s remote geographical position meant “there was almost zero risk that people (would) really arrive in Spain and then move on to Italy,” said analyst Matteo Villa at the Italian Institute for Political Studies in Milan. He said that just 2% of migrants arriving in Europe make it to Italy.

Nando Sigona, a professor at the University of Birmingham, said that Meloni detested a move Sanchez presided over in July to potentially grant legal status to as many as 1 million immigrants living in the country without permission, and is eager to portray his approach as a failure.

Sanchez fired back in an online post that called Meloni’s position on Ceuta “contrary to European law, humanitarian law, and the principles of solidarity that bind us together.” He said that Italy has allowed in twice the number of migrants as Spain since 2021, with Spain receiving 234,000 to Italy’s 478,000.

But the criticism was EU-wide, with Meloni signing a joint letter with 21 other leaders from Finland to Malta that pointed to a July Spanish court ruling as the “trigger” for “this attack on our migration and asylum system.”

Spain’s Supreme Court had ruled that migrants arriving by sea could not be summarily deported without due process — unlike those who cross by land or climb Ceuta’s border fence — because they had not crossed a physical barrier.

Sanchez said that the ruling had been intentionally misconstrued by migrant smugglers to persuade thousands of people to swim around the border fence.

The Socialist leader replied in his own letter by recalling that Spain had taken in migrants who arrived at eastern European nations from Belarus in 2021 and at the southern Italian island of Lampedusa in 2023.

Morocco's government views the situation as a predictable result of the court ruling, said a high-ranking diplomat who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a highly sensitive issue.

He said it “sent a clear message to migrants: ‘Come. If you arrive, you’ll be protected.’ That outcome should have been anticipated by Ceuta’s authorities.”

Blame has been pointed the other way, however, with Spain’s Defense Minister Margarita Robles on Monday demanding Rabat investigate the local failure to stop tens of thousands of migrants from leaving the kingdom.

Gil Arias, who served as deputy executive director of the EU’s border agency Frontex from 2006-2016 and also worked for Spain’s interior and migration ministries, said he has “absolutely no doubt” Morocco not only knew of, but was likely directly or indirectly complicit in the Ceuta crisis.

“This doesn’t happen simply due to a passive attitude or omission from Morocco,” Arias, who retired in 2020, told The Associated Press. “There was an invitation or it was encouraged.”

The Moroccan diplomat rejected using force to tackle the migration phenomenon.

“We are not Europe’s police.”

Policies keep changing to meet influx migration patterns

Many right-wing politicians have won elections across the EU by promising to crack down on migration — and they claim to have done so with the European Migration and Asylum Pact that grants capitals greater abilities to surveil, detain and deport migrants to so-called “safe countries” like Morocco or “return hubs” outside the bloc.

Data from Frontex shows migration to the EU peaked in 2015 with 1.8 million people, the majority of whom crossed via the Balkans or the eastern Mediterranean. Since then numbers have dramatically fallen: In the first half of 2026, crossings fell by 37% to around 49,000 people.

“Fewer boats are setting out towards Europe, and that is the result of sustained cooperation with our partners in the region,” said Frontex Executive Director Hans Leijtens.

But Ceuta shows there's still an underlying migration problem that the EU has not tackled, said Michele LeVoy, director of the Brussels-based Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants.

“On Ceuta, political games are being played over the lives of people on both sides of the border,” she said.

Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis said the crisis has exposed a need in the EU to develop an emergency mechanism when “migration is weaponized,” he wrote in a Tuesday op-ed in Politico that attempted to make peace between European politicians.

“The deliberate instrumentalization of migration by state and nonstate actors seeking to test Europe’s resilience, undermine its cohesion and extract political concessions” requires new legal and operational tools to “defend its external borders, deter those who seek to exploit its openness and respond to this new reality firmly, lawfully and collectively,” Mitsotakis wrote.

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Wilson reported from Barcelona, Spain, and Barry from Milan. Associated Press writers Renata Brito in Barcelona, Akram Oubachir in Fnideq, Morocco, and Derek Gatopoulos in Athens contributed to this report.

As of Tuesday, 3,802 cases had been recorded, with 1,707 deaths, the latest government update showed.

It was not clear when the outbreak will reach its peak, Africa CDC Director-General Jean Kaseya said Tuesday during his second visit to the town of Bunia, located near the epicenter of the outbreak in Ituri province.

Kaseya pointed out that some 60-70% of the new cases were recorded from spreading within a community, not from contact tracing — a method that traces those who have been in contact with a confirmed case.

“Contact tracing is not working,” said Kaseya, “we don’t like the trajectory of this outbreak, and it’s already the second largest outbreak (ever) in the world.”

The director-general of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, was expected to arrive in the Congolese capital, Kinshasa, later on Tuesday and would visit Bunia later this week.

The outbreak, declared on May 15, has been linked to the Bundibugyo virus for which there are no approved vaccines or treatments. Delays in contact tracing, difficulties accessing affected areas, mistrust from communities, and violence by armed groups and some residents have hampered the response, the Africa CDC has said.

Two clinical trials for post-exposure prophylaxis drugs are ongoing in Ituri province as well as two separate vaccine trials in the United Kingdom and Canada.

The outbreak is mostly concentrated in eastern Congo’s remote Ituri province, which accounts for nearly 90% of cases, but cases have also been confirmed in five other provinces, including in one of the country’s largest cities, Kisangani.

Neighboring Uganda declared itself free of Ebola following the discharge of the country’s last patient in mid-June.

A key challenge is that patient zero has yet to be identified in the outbreak while displacement from armed conflict and illegal mining in the region have made it difficult to trace thousands who have come in contact with infected individuals.

The World Health Organization said Tuesday that it was monitoring over 17,000 potential contacts, with nearly 80% of them being seen daily.

Mohamed Janabi, WHO's regional director for Africa, told reporters on Tuesday that the U.N. health agency is now testing over 2,000 samples a day, up from 20 previously.

On Monday, healthcare workers in the hard-hit town of Mongbwalu issued an ultimatum over unpaid wages saying that “if nothing is done within 24 hours, we will escalate our action.”

Previously, healthcare workers in Bunia went on strike over a lack of pay and dangerous working conditions. The WHO says more than 100 healthcare workers have been infected since the beginning of the outbreak.

The latest outbreak has killed people at a quicker rate than any previous outbreak, including in 2014-2016 when 28,000 cases were reported, of which over 11,000 people died. That outbreak took about eight months to reach 1,000 deaths.

The response is also hampered by a funding gap, attacks on health centers, an ongoing conflict in eastern Congo and mistrust among local communities.

Enrollment in a highly anticipated study of two possible Ebola treatments recently started in Ituri.

A unanimous Orange County jury earlier this year recommended the death penalty for DeMorris Hunter, and a judge on Tuesday agreed with that recommendation.

Hunter, 59, strangled Theresa Green following a small gathering at her College Park home in 2002, then placed her body in the trunk of her car and left the vehicle in a Sanford parking lot, prosecutors said.

The two were neighbors at the time of the killing.

“I see no other punishment fitting for this defendant who ruthlessly took the life of Theresa Green,” said Bill Gladson, the State Attorney for the Fifth Judicial Circuit. “While imposing this sentence, the court said may God have mercy upon this defendant. While the Court has rendered justice under the law, the final judgement does rests with God - and may he levy an even greater punishment knowing the defendant denied every measure of mercy to his victim.”

Hunter was already serving a 110-year prison sentence in California for the murder of another woman in 2005 when he was extradited to Florida in 2015 following his indictment in Green’s death.

The case faced several setbacks, including delays tied to COVID-19 and a heart attack Hunter suffered.

The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity Tuesday because the terms hadn't been announced. The agreement, which includes $108 million guaranteed, is a sizable commitment to Flowers, who is coming off a season in which he caught 86 passes for 1,211 yards and five touchdowns. Baltimore drafted him in the first round in 2023, and the shifty 5-foot-9 receiver immediately became a factor with his quickness. He's now posted back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons as a top target for quarterback Lamar Jackson.

“Great day for the Ravens. Shoutout to Zay Flowers,” Baltimore coach Jesse Minter said. “Nothing better as a coach than to see those guys get what they deserve. Really happy for Zay and excited for him. I can't wait to see him thrive in our offense.”

The Ravens drafted a receiver in the first round three times from 2019 through 2023. They haven't done it again since taking Flowers. He's missed only one regular-season game in three seasons, although he was unavailable for the 2024 playoffs.

Flowers became the fastest player in Ravens history (21 games) to reach 100 receptions and the first Raven with multiple 1,000-yard seasons in the first three years of his career. He ranked 11th in the NFL in receptions in 2025 and seventh in yards receiving. That was despite an underwhelming, injury-plagued season from Jackson — and Baltimore's willingness to run the ball with Derrick Henry.

Flowers was asked last week about his contract situation as he entered his fourth season.

“Honestly, I am just working right now. I am trying to get better. I leave that to my agents,” he said. "Right now, I am trying to learn this offense, get closer to my teammates and my coaches, and just keep getting right for the season.”

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AP Pro Football Writer Rob Maaddi contributed to this report.

In separate notices sent late last week to lawmakers, the State Department said it would close the U.S. Embassy in the Caribbean island of Grenada; the consulates in Nagoya, Japan, and Medan, Indonesia; the American Presence Post in Winnipeg, Canada; and an embassy branch office in Douala, Cameroon.

The closures by the Republican administration are expected to save the government roughly $4.4 million per year, according to the notices obtained by The Associated Press. But the missions to be closed employ very few people compared with others.

The embassy in St. George’s, Grenada, and the consulate in Nagoya have only one American staffer and five local employees each. The consulate in Medan has four direct-hire U.S. staffers and 47 local employees. The Winnipeg post has only two local staffers, and the embassy office in Douala has only 14 local staffers.

The State Department announced plans earlier this year to permanently close the U.S. consulate in Peshawar, Pakistan, which was the closest diplomatic mission to Afghanistan since American troops withdrew in 2021.

The steps come as the department moves to streamline its operations at home and abroad, while investing millions of dollars into reopening the U.S. embassies in Caracas, Venezuela; Damascus, Syria; and Tripoli, Libya, to restore America’s formal diplomatic presence following the ouster of long-ruling autocrats in those countries.

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This story has been corrected to show the Pakistani city’s name is Peshawar, not Peshwar.

Under the emerging agreement, ships would enter the Persian Gulf through an Iranian-controlled route and exit through a route controlled by Oman, with service fees charged for providing security and preserving the maritime environment, two regional officials told The Associated Press.

They said negotiations are still underway and that the final agreement could take a different form, with any deal linked to lifting the U.S. blockade on Iran’s ports. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive negotiations unfolding behind closed doors.

Any agreement formalizing Iran’s control of the strait would mark a significant strategic victory for Tehran. For that reason, the U.S. could seek to block the deal by refusing to lift the blockade. The strait was an open international waterway before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran on Feb. 28.

A U.S. official familiar with the negotiations said that any “temporary” routes established through the strait would not involve approvals by Iran or charges. The official, who was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity, said the U.S. remains committed to returning to the status quo in which “no party controls the lanes or the ability to transit through them.”

U.S. President Donald Trump is under mounting pressure to end an unpopular war that has driven up gas prices ahead of midterm elections and drawn down U.S. supplies of some munitions. In recent days, he has again whipsawed between threatening massive strikes and voicing support for diplomatic efforts.

In an exchange with reporters on Monday, Trump reiterated his public stance that he’s opposed to tolling in the strait. “I’m not going to let them charge,” Trump said. “Anybody’s going to charge, we’ll charge.”

US and Iranian officials confirm progress without giving details

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said the bilateral talks with Oman are focused on “establishing safe inbound and outbound shipping lanes,” routes that “uphold sovereign rights while also addressing the national security considerations of both Iran and Oman.”

“The final results of these negotiations will be announced once concluded,” he added, in remarks carried by Iran’s state-run IRNA news agency.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking to reporters at the State Department, said “there’s been progress made in those talks, but not finality yet. We’re hoping that will happen very shortly.”

Rubio has previously ruled out any deal that would give Iran control over the strait, saying last month that it would create a “very dangerous precedent” for other parts of the world.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told CNBC that “there is a chance we may have a deal today or tomorrow to open the strait and move towards a more normalized position in this conflict.”

Asked whether there would be tolls for movement through the strait, Bessent said: “I think it would be freedom of movement.”

The potential agreement between Iran and Oman was first reported by The New York Times.

Trump says this is Iran's 'last chance'

A fifth of the world's traded oil and gas transited the waterway before the war. Iranian attacks on ships have largely shut it down, causing a spike in the price of fuel, fertilizer and other goods, and rattling economies far beyond the Middle East.

Trump said Monday that the U.S. was in talks with Iran, saying it was Tehran's “last chance” to reach a deal and avoid another U.S. military escalation.

“The first phase is the opening of the straits. The second phase will be the denuclearization,” Trump said. “And that will take a little while.”

Iran has denied it is negotiating with the U.S., saying the talks are only with Oman.

The two sides reached an interim agreement in June to reopen the strait and launch 60 days of talks aimed at ending the war and resolving the longstanding dispute over Iran's nuclear program. That agreement collapsed over escalating hostilities focused on the strait, and the deadline is around two weeks away.

Cargo ship reports strike in Strait of Hormuz

Meanwhile, a cargo ship reported being “hit by an unknown projectile” in the strait off the coast of Oman, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations Center said, without providing further information on the ship, including what flag it was sailing under or whether it was carrying cargo.

The ship sustained damage, according to British maritime security firm Ambrey, which did not elaborate.

In recent weeks, Iran had repeatedly attacked ships using a route running close to Oman that is overseen by the U.S. military and intended to bypass Tehran's control.

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Madhani and Lee reported from Washington.

It had to have its own identity and not be related to the Cavaliers. It needed to tie into Lake Erie. And fans wanted something progressive.

The Cleveland Sirens think they accomplished all three Tuesday when they introduced the name and branding during an event at Rocket Arena on Tuesday.

The WNBA's 16th team will begin play in 2028. Cleveland was home to one of the league's original franchises when the WNBA started in 1997, but the Rockers folded in 2003 when owner Gordon Gund could not find a new buyer.

Dan Gilbert's Rock Entertainment Group, which has owned the Cavaliers since 2005, paid a $250 million expansion fee for Cleveland's return to the WNBA.

Janice Braxton, who played for the Rockers for three seasons (1997-99), narrated a video introducing the name and the theme of “Hear the Call.”

Braxton, along with other former Rockers' players, were also at Tuesday's event.

“We were at dinner with them last night and we gave them a sneak peak of the video. And they were overwhelming in their support and clapped several different times,” said Allison Howard, the Sirens president of business operations.

The logo features a Siren underneath the name. The “S” in the wordmark also conceals “CLE”. The two shades of blue take inspiration from Lake Erie and the Rockers logo.

“We really wanted something that people could rally behind a real character. And we’re really excited about that,” said Grant Gilbert, Rock Entertainment Group's VP of business and basketball operations. “I think the other aspect of the siren name and brand that was really considered and that we get very excited about is how authentically it extends just beyond the name and branded logos itself. The potential of the name is endless.”

Over the past year, Cleveland has had 9,000 deposits for season tickets. Howard expects that to increase now that the name has been announced.

“This team can exist very much on the independent side of the Cavaliers. And that’s also what we are seeing right now. The demographic is totally different,” Howard said. “They eat different food, they drink different drinks, they get here earlier, they purchase merchandise differently, and they come from all over the state and even outside of the state.”

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AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

Prince Ali said the Jordanian federation he leads still has not been paid money due for reaching the final of the FIFA Arab Cup played last December in Qatar.

In a social media post, Prince Ali said that during the World Cup — where Jordan made its debut in June — he was told if he endorsed FIFA President Gianni Infantino “it would go a long way to helping our FA out.”

Infantino is under pressure to save his 11-year presidency amid a fierce backlash from global soccer leaders about his now-failed plan to sell a stake in future World Cup profits to investors led by Joshua Kushner.

“We pride ourselves in Jordan in upholding ethical values. We did not endorse him before and certainly will not now,” said Prince Ali, who placed third in a five-candidate FIFA presidential contest when Infantino was first elected in February 2016.

“But the whole situation amounts to blackmail and we refuse to give in to that,” the Jordanian royal wrote Tuesday.

FIFA Arab Cup money not paid

The 2025 FIFA Arab Cup that Jordan lost in the title match against Morocco was set to pay $4.2 million to the beaten finalist, Jordanian media reported last year.

“The money our team should receive for having reached the final has not been delivered yet,” Prince Ali wrote, “while at the same time FIFA brags about how many billions they have in reserve.”

“It is clear the problem really is with leadership. For months, FIFA has been refusing to help us on any of these or other matters,” he said.

FIFA was approached for comment about the claims.

Prince Ali’s FIFA history

Prince Ali was elected by Asian soccer to serve on FIFA's ruling executive committee from 2011-15, and stood against then-president Sepp Blatter in a May 2015 election. That vote to re-elect Blatter was held in the shadow of raids at Zurich hotels two days earlier to arrest soccer officials as part of investigations by U.S. and Swiss federal agencies.

Infantino had seemed a lock to be re-elected unopposed for a fourth and final term leading FIFA through 2031 when he left New York two weeks after the World Cup final.

Fallout from his secretive private equity plan revealed one week ago has rocked soccer politics with Infantino’s former colleagues at European soccer body UEFA now looking for a rival candidate. The proposal underwritten by Kushner's Thrive Eternal fund would have paid $20 million each to Jordan and all other FIFA members had they accepted by a Sept. 19 deadline

UEFA also is threatening a boycott of FIFA games, events and meetings, while the leadership of the North American soccer body CONCACAF and the Asian Football Confederation, of which Jordan is a member, also have spoken out against Infantino.

FIFA has set a Nov. 18 deadline for candidates to declare for the election by 211 member federations on March 18 in Rabat, Morocco.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer and AP World Cup coverage

Bieniemy's son, Elijah Bieniemy, has been arrested in connection with the shooting of his mother, Mia. He has been charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm in commission of a felony and discharge of a firearm inside a dwelling, but court appearances for the 27-year-old Bieniemy have been delayed pending a mental health evaluation.

Mia Bieniemy's condition has been improving, Chiefs coach Andy Reid said this week.

"It was great to hear from him just from a personal standpoint. You were just so devastated for him,” Chiefs pass game coordinator Joe Bleymaier, who has assumed many of Bieniemy's duties, said Tuesday. “He has been reaching out more and more lately for the football stuff and that's brought a sense of normalcy to our team, hearing from him and his thoughts on football.”

Bieniemy returned to the Chiefs earlier this year, after leaving to serve as offensive coordinator with the Commanders and spending a season apiece with UCLA and the Chicago Bears. He replaced Matt Nagy, who is now the offensive coordinator with the Giants.

The reason the Chiefs were eager to get Bieniemy back in the building was twofold: He has an intimate knowledge of the Kansas City offense, having helped the franchise reach three Super Bowls and win two, and he carries along a certain no-nonsense attitude that the Chiefs desperately needed after slipping to a disappointing 6-11 finish last season.

“We'll hold it down and when (Bieniemy) gets back, we'll be ready to have that intensity and energy. That's what I love most about him,” said Chiefs running back Kenneth Walker III, the reigning Super Bowl MVP and one of their big free-agent acquisitions.

“You can't take a play off,” Walker said, “because he's going to say something to you about it.”

Bleymaier, who is widely considered a rising star in the coaching profession, has a much quieter personality. But he joked Tuesday that he had lost his voice during practice, so perhaps some of Bieniemy's vocal traits have worn off on him.

“The guys want to be held accountable. They want someone to remind them what to do and not let anything slide,” Bleymaier said. “That's the role of the coordinator and that's the role of whoever is put in that position, to constantly uphold that standard.”

In other news Tuesday, the Chiefs continued with their second padded practice of camp at Missouri Western, and quarterback Patrick Mahomes once again worked out in full after undergoing surgery less than eight months ago to repair torn knee ligaments.

Mahomes has been wearing a brace on the left knee, but otherwise it's been hard to notice anything different about him.

“You hate to say that anything Patrick does surprises you,” Bleymaier said, “because he's always pushing the limits of what he can do with the football, and the recovery timetable from just the injuries that he's had. But physically, I haven't seen anything with the knee out on the field that would show any setbacks. Just nonexistent, any sort of knee issues, which has been incredible.”

Notes: Undrafted rookie RT Kahlil Benson continued to get first-team reps on Tuesday. He's been one of the biggest surprises of camp. ... WRs Cyrus Allen (bruised shin) and Xavier Worthy (sore shoulder) did not practice. DL Ashton Gillotte (hamstring strain) also sat out the workout. ... First-round pick CB Mansoor Delane (shoulder) continued to practice in a yellow no-contact jersey.

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

Six of Europe’s largest oil companies posted combined first-quarter profits of $22 billion, more than 40% higher than last year. Profits at BP, based in London, more than doubled to $3.9 billion in the second quarter, the company said Tuesday.

And Saudi Aramco reported a 44% year-on-year increase in second-quarter net profit that reached $32.69 billion, driven by higher crude oil, refined products and chemicals prices.

The supercharged performances from big oil in Europe and the Middle East follow reports of enormous profits from the largest U.S. oil drillers last week.

As the conflict has dragged on, high oil prices have driven up the cost of gasoline, jet fuel and diesel, which has led to higher shipping costs. In the West, filling up the car or buying a plane ticket is costing consumers more. But the situation in parts of Asia are more dire because the region depends more heavily on fuel exported through the Strait of Hormuz. Fuel supplies have run low in some countries, leading to rationing and sporadic closures of schools and government offices.

Despite oil prices falling to their lowest level in three weeks Tuesday, big U.S. energy companies drew the ire of President Donald Trump, who criticized them this week for their outsized profits.

Trump said he’s not happy with Chevron and Exxon Mobil, though energy prices skyrocketed only after the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February, and the Strait of Hormuz was effectively closed off to tanker traffic.

About 20% of the world’s oil typically flows through the strait.

“They made too much money, too much money,” Trump said Monday. “They ought to give some of that back to the public, and they better cut the retail price.”

Exxon Mobil on Friday reported that its second quarter profits doubled to $14.5 billion, boosted by record diesel production. The oil giant, based in Spring, Texas, brought in $116 billion in revenue, up 42%.

Chevron, based in Houston, nearly quadrupled its profits to $12 billion and revenue jumped 56% to more than $70 billion.

On Tuesday, the price of U.S. crude oil fell 5.4%, or $4.36, to $75.98 per barrel. The sharp decline followed comments by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who told CNBC that the U.S. and Iran “may have a deal today or tomorrow to open the Strait.”

Oil prices for U.S. crude are down from around $92 a barrel in late July, but still more than 13% higher than when the conflict with Iran started.

Brent crude, the international standard, fell 4.9% to $83.87 per barrel.

A resolution to the Iran conflict, which has lasted more than five months, could give oil shippers the ability to send vessels out of the Persian Gulf, where tankers of oil and other products have been trapped during the fighting.

Shares of major oil companies are up by around 20% to 30% this year, easily outpacing the 13% gains on the S&P 500.

The only tortoise native to the Southeast (and why that matters)

Gopher tortoises are the only tortoise species found east of the Mississippi River. They live in dry, sandy uplands such as longleaf pine, oak scrub, sandhills, and even coastal dunes. These are places where digging is easy and sunlight reaches the ground.

That’s the key: gopher tortoises need open, sunny habitats with low-growing plants for food. When the forest canopy closes in and shade takes over, their food disappears, and so do they.

One tortoise, an entire neighborhood

Katherine explained that gopher tortoises are a keystone species, which means they shape the entire ecosystem around them. They don’t just live in the habitat; they actually build it.

Their burrows provide shelter for up to hundreds of other species in Florida, including snakes, mammals, birds, and many insects and other small animals. Think of it as the original Florida starter home: cool, stable, and always available when the weather turns violent, which in Florida happens pretty often.

Those burrows also help other wildlife survive extreme heat, drought, and even fire. Underground, the temperature and humidity stay fairly constant, making a gopher tortoise burrow one of the best natural refuges in the state.

The habitat problem: Florida’s “high and dry” is disappearing

We filmed in oak scrub and longleaf pine habitat, an ecosystem that once covered a large part of the Southeast. Today, more than 90% of that habitat has been lost because of development and lack of management.

The issue is painfully simple: the places gopher tortoises want to live are the same places humans want to build.

Flat, high, dry land is perfect for tortoises and also for houses, roads, apartments, and almost anything that comes with a mailbox. When development spreads into these uplands, tortoise habitat gets fragmented or destroyed, and burrows can be buried, blocked, or erased.

Also, many of these ecosystems depend on fire. Without regular prescribed burns or natural fires, woody plants take over, the habitat becomes thicker and shadier, and it slowly stops being suitable for tortoises.

Why they’re so hard to find (even when they’re right there)

I learned quickly that gopher tortoises spend most of their lives underground. They come out to bask, forage, and sometimes socialize, but if you’re picturing a tortoise casually posing for your camera like it’s an influencer, that’s not going to happen.

Their burrows can be surprisingly deep and long, sometimes reaching about 40 feet in length and usually about six feet below the surface. According to the National Park Service, gopher tortoise burrows can stretch up to thirty feet long and reach depths of eight feet, sometimes even more, which shows just how extensive their underground homes can be—so when you’re standing at the entrance wondering what’s inside, there is a lot more to these burrows than meets the eye. Anyone home?’ there’s a good chance they’re deep inside, enjoying their perfectly climate-controlled bunker.

The twist: the tortoises weren’t in the state park

Here’s the part that hit me the hardest: even after all that effort, the gopher tortoises I eventually found weren’t in the state park two hours away.

They were ten minutes from my house—in the middle of suburbia.

That’s the real lesson from the whole experience. Nature isn’t always a far-off adventure. Sometimes it’s right outside your door, or even under your feet. Once you realize that, protecting wildlife habitat feels less like an abstract ‘save the planet’ idea and more like protecting the place where you actually live.

A few extra gopher tortoise facts (and where to learn more)

Defenders of Wildlife has great resources on gopher tortoises, including why they’re considered a keystone species and how their burrows support hundreds of other animals.

If you want to learn more or support their work, visit Defenders of Wildlife by clicking here.

You can also start with their tortoise resources by clicking here.

And a Defenders blog post specifically on gopher tortoises by clicking here.

How you can help (without “helping” too much)

If you see a gopher tortoise, the best thing you can do is give it space and avoid disturbing it or its burrow. These are not aquatic turtles, and they should never be put in ponds, lakes, or near water just because it seems right.

If you have gopher tortoises on your property, Katherine suggests looking into a gopher tortoise-friendly yard certification from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Sometimes the most effective way to help conservation isn’t glamorous. It can be as simple as letting a tortoise keep its unique sand tunnel undisturbed.

I don’t even have a dog. And I still come to BarkHaven just to eat.

That’s the funniest part about this place. You hear “dog bar” and assume it’s all about the dog run (which, yes, is adorable). But the real surprise is the food is actually really good. Like... “why is this so fresh?” good. The dogs running around are honestly just a bonus.

They just rolled out a bunch of new menu items for humans, and the kitchen is seriously impressive. Everything is cooked exclusively in beef tallow, which gives the food this rich, deepened flavor you don’t find very often anymore. And the craziest part? Every single thing is made out of a food truck... even the wood-fired pizzas. Nothing tastes like it was microwaved or thrown together. It tastes like someone back there is putting their heart and soul into every dish.

The Cobb Salad: I never thought I’d be raving about a salad, but I kept going back to it. It tastes like they didn’t just toss it on the menu to have a salad. The crispy bacon makes the salad and adds so much texture.

The Spud Flight (homemade chips, truffle fries, sweet potato waffle fries). This is the perfect appetizer for the table (but I could honestly crush this by myself) The truffle fries were my favorite — super flavorful without being greasy, and they had that real truffle/garlic vibe that hits right away. But the homemade chips were the surprise for me: they had the perfect texture that you can’t find in a bag and the beef tallow added a nice savory flavor to each bite.

The Patty Melt: I took one bite and immediately thought, “Wait… this tastes like In-N-Out.” Like that exact comfort-food flavor that’s salty and melty and makes you want another bite before you’re even done chewing. The closest thing to the west coast classic that I’ve ever tried!

The Lebanese Burger: This one isn’t part of the new menu, but I just can’t skip it when I’m here. The meat is so spiced and the pickled side salad and creamy sauce perfectly balance out the kick, and it has a KICK, so if you don’t like heat, just know that going in. But if you do like spicy? It’s that kind of burger where you’re like, why is a DOG BAR making one of my favorite burgers in town?

The Protein Bowl: This tasted homemade in the best way. Served with either chicken or beef it’s the perfect meal to treat your tastebuds but also nourish your body with a balanced, hearty meal.

The Pup-eroni Pizza: I truly wasn’t expecting this to be a standout, but the crust was perfect — that in-between chewy and crunchy texture that you can only get from a real wood fire oven. It was perfectly cheesy and not greasy at all.

Being dogless, BarkHaven was never the type of place I thought I’d be frequenting, but I’m so glad I discovered this hidden foodie gem. If you’re a dog owner this place is a no brainer. But if you’re like me and you’re just coming for a great meal and you happen to get to watch a bunch of cute dogs living their best life while you eat? That’s a pretty great perk.

The winter season officially ends in March, but there are some areas in Florida with Winter — year round — figuratively speaking.

It’s in the name.

Winter Springs, Winter Garden, Winter Park, Winter Haven and Winter Beach are all located in the Sunshine State. But you won’t find snow there.

“I’m from Florida and I always thought ‘Why is this called Winter-whatever,’ we don’t have winter, but when you think about it, it makes sense,” said Historian Rachel Williams.

Williams works at the Orange County Regional History Center and said the names aren’t so surprising. Florida has been a hot spot for snowbirds in the wintertime for hundreds of years.

Winter Park was originally named Lakeview in 1858, then renamed Osceola in 1870.

“The founders, Loring Chase and Oliver Chapman, decided they wanted the name to do with something about winter in the park and named it Winter Park.”

According to the City of Winter Park’s website, “the city was originally developed as a winter resort for wealthy Northerners seeking refuge from the harsh winters and a tranquil place to rest and relax.”

The meaning behind Winter Garden is simple.

“It was the idea that you can garden in the winter,” said Williams.

Winter Springs was originally incorporated as North Orlando in 1959, which caused some confusion for visitors.

“It wasn’t part of Orlando and there were cities in between Orlando and what became Winer Springs. It was almost called Semoran, because of Seminole County and Orange County. It wasn’t near the county line and would be confused with Semoran Boulevard. Ultimately, they decided to rename it Winter Springs because there was the Winter Springs Development Company and they named it after that,” said Williams. “I’m not entirely sure why the Florida company was named Winter Springs Development Company.”

Another unique Florida city is named Frostproof in Polk County.

It was originally named Keystone City known for its vast citrus farms. According to Florida Memory, the Great Freeze brought plummeting temperatures down to the teens in some areas in Florida in 1894-1895.

Many citrus growers saw their farms crumble and never recovered.

Groves that survived the Great Freeze gained a lot of attention, for example the town of Keytstone City was renamed Frostproof after its trees sustained fruit during that time. The town was renamed to encourage potential landowners that the town was frost-free and would remain that way.

So the next time you’re bothered by a city name like Winter Beach just think, at least you’re not shoveling snow on the beach.

“It’s a celebrity itself. It’s a movie star. It’s one of the best Porsche’s ever made and it’s got the Steve McQueen history,” Mecum Auctions COO Sam Murtaugh said.

The 1969 Porsche 917K racer is the headliner for Mecum Auctions car show in Kissimmee. It’s got the recognizable blue paint, orange stripes and number 20 livery. It was originally purchased by Steve McQueen and featured in the movie La Mans, filmed in France. McQueen played the main character in the fast-paced drama about the 24-hour endurance race. The legend’s autograph is on the door with the message: “finished thanks for staying together.”

After the film, the car would go on to have a successful racing career before retirement in 1974.

The car has since had several owners including race car driver, Reinhold Joest, Brian Redman, Richard Attwood and Frank Gallogly.

After nearly 24 years of ownership, comedian Jerry Seinfeld is giving someone else a chance to hold on to the iconic racecar.

“A lot of collectors refer to themselves as stewards and not necessarily owners of the car, but stewards of history. They own it and hold on to that history and there comes a point in time when they want to pass it on and let someone else hold this piece of history,” Murtaugh said.

The car will hit the auction block Saturday, Jan. 18. Car enthusiasts are estimating it will sell for more than $20 million. It’s just one of nearly 5,000 vehicles featured at Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee.

“You don’t have to be a multimillionaire, you don’t have to be in the market to buy a car at all. Just come and walk around the acres and acres of cars. It’s fun to come and observe. It’s more than an auction, it’s a car show,” Murtaugh said. “Every one of these cars has a story and it’s really what people gravitate towards.”

The auto show has everything from the classics, to new and unique rides. You can even check out a fully-armored presidential limo used in the 1990s.

[VIDEO: Step inside former president’s bulletproof limo at Kissimmee car show]

“If you’re a car person, I hope you’re leaving this event feeling fulfilled by all the cars you got to see and touch and observe, but really the community and people here... It’s very welcoming and comfortable place to be,” Murtaugh sai.

The auto show runs through Sunday, Jan. 19.

Click HERE to purchase tickets for Mecum Auctions in Kissimmee.

[CLICK HERE FOR CONTEST RULES]

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“Now everything we do here, Discovery Cove with our animals is voluntary,” a trainer told participants. “So if they would like to participate in the training session, they are more than welcome to. But if they don’t want to, we’re not going to make them.”

During the interaction, I met Triton, a full-grown male nurse shark. Trainers said he is about 9 feet long and around 200 pounds. They also use the moment to explain shark biology, including the tooth-like scales that cover a shark’s body. Known as dermal denticles, the structures can make shark skin feel rough and help protect the animals as they move through their environment.

After the trainer-led portion, participants gear up with snorkels and masks and move into deeper water for a free swim alongside several shark species. Discovery Cove said the habitat can include Pacific blacktip, nurse, zebra, whitetip reef and bonnethead sharks.

A portion of the proceeds from the Shark Interaction Program supports the Guy Harvey Foundation, which funds scientific research and educational programs focused on marine conservation, according to Discovery Cove.

The overall goal, trainers said, is to leave participants with a clearer understanding of sharks — not just as animals with teeth, but as species that play a role in a healthy ocean ecosystem.

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There were no regrets.

“I'm betting on myself,” Horschel said at the Sony Open.

He has reached the end of the regular season at No. 176 in the world, which isn't nearly as troubling as being No. 107 in the FedEx Cup in a year when his full exempt status is set to expire.

It's a reminder how golf offers no guarantees — meritocracy works both ways — and Horschel has plenty of company at the Wyndham Championship, the final regular-season event that determines the top 70 who advance to the postseason and are assured a full card for 2027.

On the outside looking in

Jason Day, who 10 years ago was No. 1 in the world and looked unbeatable at times, is at No. 75 in the FedEx Cup. He started the year with a runner-up finish behind Scottie Scheffler at The American Express but has had only one other top 10 this season.

Particularly glaring another 11 spots down the standings at No. 86 is five-time major champion Brooks Koepka, who was all the talk back in January when he became the first player who bolted from LIV Golf (at just the right time as it turns out) to rejoin the PGA Tour.

Koepka had been gone nearly four years, long enough to not fully understand how the points system worked. His immediate goal was to get into the $20 million signature events — one of the conditions of his return was being ineligible for sponsor exemptions to those tournaments. He didn't make it into any of them.

And right when he was in position to contend — two shots out of the lead going into the weekend of the Canadian Open — he had a freak injury in his hand that one round later forced him to withdraw.

Now he has one tournament left to reach the postseason. He needs at least a fourth-place finish at the Wyndham Championship, a tall task considering he has only one top 10 this year. At least he is secure for two more years from winning the PGA Championship at Oak Hill in 2023.

The year in which no one has stood out

But it's been a strange year for so many players accustomed to smoother waters.

Who would have predicted before the first tee shot of 2026 that Chris Gotterup would have more wins than Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy combined?

No one will — or should — be concerned with Scheffler. He won his season opener in the California desert, and nothing else. He also has five runner-up finishes and five other finishes in the top 4. Four of those runner-up finishes paid out more than his lone victory.

The margins are thin in golf, even for the No. 1 player in the world.

McIlroy isn't the least bit stressed that his one title this year was a repeat at Augusta National. Yes, he would love to win another FedEx Cup title. Odds are it would be sweeter to get another Race to Dubai title in Europe, especially at the expense of Patrick Reed.

No winners from the top 10 in the world in three months

Cameron Young is the defending champion at the Wyndham Championship. And to think it was only a year ago when Young had never won on the PGA Tour. Since then, he was a lone bright spot for the Americans in his Ryder Cup debut, he won The Players Championship and a signature event at Doral, and he had at least a share of the Sunday lead at two majors without bagging one.

But there's something else about Young and this odd season.

He won the Cadillac Championship when he was No. 4 in the world. That was May 3, and no from the top 10 has won a PGA Tour event since then. It's not getting any easier out there, if it ever was.

Half of the PGA Tour members among the top 30 in the world ranking have yet to win this year.

The world ranking of the other three major champions sounds like numbers drawn in Bingo — 44 (Aaron Rai at the PGA Championship), 34 (Wyndham Clark at the U.S. Open) and 56 (Ryan Fox at the British Open).

It was the first time three major champions in one year were outside the top 30 since 2009 delivered Angel Cabrera (69), Lucas Glover (71), Stewart Cink (33) and Y.E. Yang (110).

Brian Rolapp mentioned three guiding principles when he was introduced as CEO at the Tour Championship last year. First on his list was parity, and he probably didn't know how right he was when he said, “The PGA Tour has incredible, competitive parity and balance among its players.”

“Everybody wants to go into an event not knowing who's going to win,” Rolapp said.

Show of hands who had Rai winning the PGA Championship against the strongest field in the majors. Or Gary Woodland winning the Houston Open just over two years after returning from brain surgery, one of the most emotional wins of this crazy season.

Four weeks remain before the FedEx Cup is decided, and perhaps it will all make sense in the end. It starts with the Wyndham Championship, the tournament most players would love to skip because it means they're locked into a good spot for the postseason.

Horschel would need at least a two-way tie for second to have a mathematical chance of making it to the FedEx Cup playoffs. The way this year has gone, don't bet against it.

Young might have summed it up best on Tuesday when he shared advice for himself and anyone else in this game: “Nothing is given and nothing is impossible.”

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On The Fringe analyzes the biggest topics in golf during the season. AP golf: https://apnews.com/hub/golf

The 30-team league that Graber grew during his 27-year tenure now looks to Berg to capitalize on the success of the World Cup this past summer and guide the transition to a new international schedule next year.

“I think one of the reasons that I raised my hand is I feel like I have the enthusiasm and the passion to hopefully have other people, in some cases, see it through my eyes and understand where we’re going and where it can go and what what it can be," Berg told The Associated Press. ”I’m very proud of where we already are. I think we’ve come a very, very long way."

Berg, a co-owner of LAFC, will formally take over as commissioner at the start of next year. Garber, who has served as the league’s commissioner since 1999, will help guide the transition before moving into a new role as chairman.

Garber said the ideal candidate would unite the entire MLS ecosystem around a shared vision. And he believes the league will have that under Berg, who will become just the third commissioner in the history of the league.

“I think he’s convinced the ownership through a very comprehensive process that he has what it takes to do the two most important things, which is to create that vision, and then to get the owners to unite around it,” Garber said. “That requires great relationships. It requires the capability to put the plan together and do the work. ... He (Berg) is super smart. He doesn’t lead with ego. He leads with understanding perspectives, and I think that’s a super important part of being the commissioner.”

The 60-year-old Berg, who has served as co-chair of the MLS sporting and competition committee, will divest his ownership interest in LAFC. He was formally introduced as the incoming commissioner on Tuesday at the league's New York headquarters, a day after he received the required two-thirds of the votes from the owners.

“First of all, he loves soccer, and I think next to his family, soccer is the most important thing in his life. Second of all, he knows the league really well. We have 30 great owners, and all of them are very involved in the league. But Larry is, I think it’s safe to say, has been over the last five years the most involved owner,” Columbus Crew owner Jimmy Haslam said. “He understands what we do well, where we have opportunity. I think he has a great relationship with all the owners. Going through this process certainly enhanced that.”

Berg previously held ownership stakes in Italian club AS Roma, as well as English league team Swansea. Under Berg’s ownership, LAFC won the MLS Cup in 2022, and the Supporters’ Shield in 2019.

Under Garber's watch, the league has expanded from 12 to 30 teams. He introduced the league’s marketing arm, Soccer United Marketing, encouraged the construction of soccer-specific stadiums and spurred the growth of an academy system to develop players in the United States.

Five clubs, Inter Miami, the home of Lionel Messi, LAFC, LA Galaxy, Atlanta United and NYCFC are valued at more than $1 billion, according to Forbes.

At the start, Berg will oversee the league's shift to a new calendar, with the season running from on a summer to spring schedule to more align with its international counterparts. Currently the league plays a late winter to late fall schedule.

Following the conclusion of the current season, MLS will play a shortened 14-game “sprint season” in early 2027 before the league switches to its new schedule, kicking off in July with the league championship to be played in May 2028.

Berg will also be charged with negotiating a new media rights deal. The current contract with Apple TV ends in 2029. The league is also looking at changes to roster rules.

“This has been a passion my whole life. This sport and some of the great joys of my life have been involved in the LAFC and involved with the sporting competition committee," Berg said. ”I have a lot of ideas. I feel like we’re at a point where a tremendous amount of success has been achieved with the games and the live gameday entertainment experience, etc. But as the World Cup showed, you can be incredibly happy and very successful, but somehow there’s always more. You want to get to that next step."

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Actors Steve Coogan and Chris O’Dowd and musicians including Bono, Hozier, Declan O’Rourke and Imelda May were in the congregation alongside friends, family and fans who had queued for hours outside St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

A large crowd watched on big screens outside as pallbearers carried a wicker coffin topped with flowers into the cathedral.

William Morton, the dean of the cathedral, said: “Glen’s remarkable gifts and outstanding talent, which touched so many hearts, took him from the streets of Dublin to audiences across the globe.”

The funeral service was interwoven with music, including a performance by Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder, who sang Hansard’s “The Song of Good Hope” alongside Hansard’s longstanding musical partner Markéta Irglová.

U2's Bono said of Hansard: “Everyone who met him, they just remembered the day they met him.”

Bono held up his phone to play a message he'd received from singer and poet Patti Smith performing “a lullaby for Glen’s family and friends,” before reciting lyrics to U2’s “Beautiful Day.”

Hansard was killed in a single-vehicle crash on the outskirts of Dublin on July 29, hours after taking part in a trad music session at a pub.

His widow, Finnish poet Maire Saaritsa, who thanked the police officers who came to his aid, read a poem she had written for him early in their relationship.

She said the couple's 3-year-old son was too young to attend or understand the funeral, but “the bright spirit he inherited from his father is with us.”

Hansard was the longtime front man of Irish rock band The Frames and played a member of a Dublin soul band in the hit 1991 movie “The Commitments.” He won an Oscar in 2008 for the song “Falling Slowly” from the movie “Once,” in which he co-starred with Irglová. A stage adaptation won eight Tony Awards in 2012.

Hansard also was half of rock duo The Swell Season with Irglová and released solo albums including “Didn’t He Ramble,” which was nominated for a Grammy for Best Folk Album in 2016.

For many years he led a Christmas Eve busk outside Dublin’s Gaiety Theatre, where members of the public gathered to see famous Irish musicians perform in aid of a homelessness charity.

Tributes have been paid by fellow musicians. Bruce Springsteen said on Instagram he was “heartbroken” at the loss of “a great musician, a good friend and a generous and gracious man.”

Stingers are injuries that impact the nerves in the upper arm, neck or shoulder and often give a player a burning sensation in his arms and hands. Most stingers resolve quickly, but some symptoms can last weeks or months.

“We’re going to evaluate him more over the next day or so and just make sure that he is in the right spot,” Panthers coach Dave Canales said. “We have a nice little window here to get him turned around.”

Canales said Legette does not have a concussion.

Legette will not play in the Panthers’ preseason opener on Thursday night against the Arizona Cardinals in Canton, Ohio.

Legette came crashing down after high-pointing a catch in the left corner of the end zone and landed hard and stayed down. Trainers rushed to his side and Legette was later seen wiggling his fingers in the air before boarding a cart.

Players shook Legette's right hand before he was taken into the locker room.

The Panthers have already lost wide receiver Chris Brazzell, their third-round pick from Tennessee, for the season to a torn LCL injury. Legette and Brazell were expected to battle for the team’s No. 3 wide receiver spot behind Jalen Coker and last year’s NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year Tetairoa McMillan.

Legette had 35 catches for 363 yards and three TDs last season and lost his job late in the year to Coker.

Canales said despite the demotion he has been impressed with how Legette has responded in training camp.

“He’s been the same person since he got here,” Canales said. “He’s a tireless worker. He cares. It matters to him. He takes coaching well. He’s a very humble guy. He wants to work at the things he needs to improve on."

Canales added that "the longer he’s with us, the less it’s about the concepts and the more it’s about just the details and fine techniques of playing the wide receiver position.”

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

While on stage at Chicago’s United Center, Grande told her fans that “things can get a little blown out of proportion,” and that her decision to take a break from public life was one she had "quietly made a long time ago,” rather than a “reactive or impulsive thing.”

Reading from her phone, she continued: “It was a decision that was made from a thoughtful and empowered place. And I want you to know that many things can be true at the same time.”

On Sunday, producers for a London production of Stephen Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park With George” announced that Grande had withdrawn from her role in the musical, set to debut at the Barbican theater in 2027.

Grande’s recent breakup from “Wicked” co-star Ethan Slater, the ongoing tour and last week’s release of the album “Petal” has fueled rampant speculation online about her health and appearance. She has previously expressed discomfort with public discourse around her weight, stating in a 2023 TikTok video, “I think we should be gentler and less comfortable commenting on people’s bodies, no matter what.”

A representative for Grande told People magazine that the 33-year-old singer “will be taking a step back from visibility after she completes the Eternal Sunshine Tour.”

“She looks forward to finishing the tour and ending it on a high note, both healthily and happily, and then taking a much-deserved break from public-facing work and appearances, which has led to endless, ongoing public scrutiny,” the statement said.

A representative for Grande did not offer further comment to The Associated Press.

Continuing her remarks from the stage Monday, Grande said she knows fans are worried that “negativity was ruining things” for her, but said the opposite is true.

"Multiple things can be true at the same time: boundaries need to be set, human beings can need a break sometimes, and also, this can be and will continue to be the greatest experience of my professional and creative life,” she told her fans, who erupted in cheers.

The “Eternal Sunshine” tour is scheduled to conclude on Sept. 1 in London, after a 10-night residency at the famed O2 Arena.

Japan has bolstered its military capability and spending in recent years and has started deploying long-range cruise missiles as a deterrent to China's military activity.

The 598-page defense paper adopted by the Cabinet on Tuesday reiterated that China is Japan’s biggest strategic challenge. Japan is alarmed by the growing presence and frequency of Chinese warships in the Pacific Ocean.

The annual white paper outlines Japan’s military activity and priorities and analysis of military trends in specific countries. As Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s government needs public support for further military buildup and spending and to attract service members, the report has features to appeal to readers including a cartoon on the cover and links to video clips in Japanese, English and Chinese.

Combat drones for new warfare

Inspired by the use of drones by Ukraine, Japan considers it is essential to adapt to “new ways of warfare,” the paper said.

With many countries racing to develop combat drones, Japan's government prioritizes development of its own for a coastal defense, in combination with long-range missiles.

“Speed is key,” Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said in early July.

The Acquisition, Technology and Logistics Agency recently selected four drone makers out of 38 applicants for a rapid development program and that they will advance to testing by Japan's navy in early August before a final selection.

A number of companies are developing similar drones. Toshiba announced Friday plans to jointly develop combat drones with startup Pro Drone.

Uncrewed weapons could help Japan make up for its decreasing number of service members in a country with a shrinking population.

Experts say developing fully homemade drones while Japan’s commercial drone market is dominated by Chinese imports would be a challenge.

Alarmed by China’s activity in the Pacific, Russia and North Korea

Japan has strengthened its military forces on southwestern islands in recent years and has started deploying long-range cruise missiles, as it worries about a conflict in Taiwan, which China claims as its territory.

The paper noted the growing presence of Chinese warships and frequency of their activity in the Pacific as a major concern. The Defense Ministry has established a unit dedicated to studying Japan’s Pacific strategy and strengthening its defense against China.

China has consistently increased its military spending without transparency and strengthened nuclear and missile capability extensively and rapidly, the defense paper said.

It noted that last December, during Chinese aircraft carrier drills near southwestern Japan, Chinese aircraft locked their radars on Japanese planes — which is considered a possible preparation for firing missiles.

Two Chinese aircraft carriers were spotted last June near the southern Japanese island of Iwo Jima for the first time. This triggered Tokyo's worries about Beijing’s rapidly expanding military activity far beyond its borders and in disputed areas in the East China Sea.

Tensions between Tokyo and Beijing have escalated since Takaichi said in November that Chinese military action against Taiwan could justify Japan’s use of force.

China on Tuesday rejected sections of Japan’s annual defense white paper concerning the Chinese military, calling the document “rife with false narratives” and accusing Japan of using it as “an excuse to ease restrictions on its military buildup.”

“It is a classic case of the thief crying ‘stop thief’ — a pretext to unshackle its own military,” said Chen Xi, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of National Defense.

China’s growing joint military operation with Russia around Japan, including joint bomber flights and warship operations, is also “a grave national security concern,” the paper said.

It says North Korea’s rapid development of missiles, including hypersonic arsenals, is an “increasingly serious and pressing threat” and that the North’s growing military ties with Russia and its backing for Moscow's war in Ukraine are a grave concern.

Bolstering defense industry, weapons sale

Strengthening arms production and technology is essential to Japan's military power, the paper said. The government has been expanding funding for startups and scientific research.

In a country that had maintained a pacifist pledge since the end of World War II, many established companies avoid ties to lethal weapons, but a growing number of startups are showing interest in converting dual-use technology for military use, officials say.

Japan’s recent scrapping of lethal weapons export ban could also help strengthen the country's underdeveloped defense industry.

Weapons technology transfer and joint development and production strengthens both the Japanese defense industry base and Japan's ties with its defense partners, said Koizumi, whose travels to other countries have involved arms sales.

Japan recently made major deals, including the joint development and transfer of 11 upgraded Mogami-class frigates to Australia. It is discussing a similar deal with New Zealand and has struck a deal to sell retired destroyers to the Philippines.

On Friday, deputies responded to a report of a verbal disturbance at a home on 6524 NW 67th Terrace.

According to an arrest affidavit, Clifford Dean Duvall, 54, confronted the repossession workers who had hooked up his black truck and were preparing to tow it from his home. That’s when Duvall hopped inside his truck, grabbed a black metallic tomahawk, pulled off the sheath, and went straight for the workers.

Deputies said security camera footage showed Duvall approaching the victims, pointing the weapon at them, and hitting the metal cable that was pulling the truck, all while getting within a few feet of them.

Both workers told deputies they feared for their safety.

Duvall told them he grabbed the tomahawk, but said his intention was to “scare both victims” so they wouldn’t repossess his vehicle.

The Marion County Sheriff’s Office released body camera footage showing Duvall being taken into custody.

“Please, let it down. Please, let it down. I never threatened I’d kill them or anything like that,” Duvall can be heard saying in the video.

Duvall was booked into the Marion County jail and faces two charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon without intent to kill.

His bond is set at $15,000 on each count.

The attack Saturday at a new In-N-Out Burger in Twin Falls ended when the gunman, identified by police as 24-year-old Chad Williams, shot and killed himself. On Monday, police were still trying to determine why Williams carried out the attack, which happened early in the afternoon in a busy shopping plaza in the southern Idaho city.

Many details about Williams' life were still unknown Monday, but an initial search of court records in Idaho and Arizona, where he used to live, didn't show any criminal cases matching his name and birth date.

Man who knew gunman says he was ‘pretty chill’

Elijah Moseley, who lived across the hall from Williams in a College of Southern Idaho dorm a few years ago, described him as “an introvert” and “a pretty chill guy.”

“I was never scared or weirded out by him,” he said.

Moseley said he considered Williams a relatively close friend, though they lost touch a couple of years ago.

“I’m shocked by this and sick to my stomach about this,” he said.

Detectives are confident that Williams acted alone, Police Chief Matthew Hicks said Sunday, noting that Williams’ family is cooperating fully with the investigation.

Two of the wounded victims were treated at a hospital and released, three were listed as stable, and two others were in critical condition, police said Sunday.

During the attack, an off-duty state trooper and a civilian fired on Williams and diverted him from the restaurant, the chief said. Police haven't disclosed their names or those of the victims, but some victims have been identified by friends and relatives. Twin Falls spokesperson Josh Palmer said Monday that police were still trying to identify next of kin.

A vigil is planned for Tuesday evening at Twin Falls City Park, Palmer said.

In-N-Out employee among those killed

The attack happened at an In-N-Out that opened late last month as part of the California chain’s Idaho expansion, and an employee at the burger joint was among those killed, the fast-food chain’s owner, Lynsi Snyder, said in a statement. She didn't identify the worker.

Kimberley Castaneda confirmed to The Associated Press that her brother, Christopher Claunch, was among those killed, but she declined to discuss him further.

Garren Taylor, one of Claunch's friends, said that two years ago, Claunch completed a rehab program for alcohol abuse at Renaissance Ranch Recovery Center in Rupert, Idaho, and was immediately hired there. Taylor said Claunch, known to those close to him as “Toph,” had since then dedicated his life to helping others get sober.

“He helped hundreds of people,” Taylor recalled Monday. “He was just a gift to anyone he came in contact with. It wasn’t about the paycheck, his attitude was: ‘I get to help someone today.’”

Renaissance Ranch declined to comment Monday.

Wounded man moved closer to gunfire to help

In a Facebook post, Marcus Scott James said his son Austin “A.J.” Scott James was critically wounded in the attack and faces a long recovery. He said his son was shot after he moved “toward the danger” when he heard gunfire in an effort to protect others.

“We are incredibly thankful that God spared his life and that his wife and friend were there to provide immediate care until he could get to the hospital," he wrote.

Marcus James said in a message to the AP on Monday that his son used to work as a law enforcement officer for the Twin Falls police and the Idaho State Police. He declined to comment further on his son’s actions, saying it is his son's story to tell.

Terry Dudley, a driver for North Star Taxi, was shot as he was charging one of the company’s Teslas in a parking lot next to the In-N-Out Burger, said James Palmer, who owns the taxi service and is Dudley’s friend.

Palmer said Dudley called him to tell him he was shot after he couldn’t get through to 911. He said Dudley was flown to a hospital in Boise and remained there Monday with serious injuries, he said.

“It’s a lot, man,” Palmer said. “It’s daunting, to say the least, to even try to gather the scope of all this. It’s been absolute chaos."

He said Dudley was “kind of like my right hand.”

Gunman left local college before graduating

Williams attended the College of Southern Idaho from August 2022 and December 2023, according to the school's president, L. Dean Fisher. He didn’t graduate or earn a certificate from the school, which has about 10,000 students.

Williams served in the student senate but was unanimously impeached by his fellow senators in February 2023. Moseley, who served as the senate pro-tempore at the time, said Williams was ousted because he wasn't very active or engaged in student government.

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Associated Press reporters Christopher Weber and Jamie Stengle contributed to this report.

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This story was first published on Aug. 3, 2026. It was updated on Aug. 4, 2026, to include the last names of victim Austin Scott James and his father, Marcus Scott James.

The judge is ordering the Florida attorney general to rewrite the ballot measure, which he says is full of “political taglines” that do more to make the amendment appealing for voters than actually tell them what the amendment will do.

Attorney General James Uthmeier has to submit the revised ballot language to the Florida Department of State within 10 days.

Anyone challenging the new ballot language has 10 days to do so once it’s submitted to the Dept. of State.

At least 60% of voters must approve the amendment on the November ballot for it to pass.

[WATCH: Florida Legislature OKs tweaked property tax amendment for November ballot]

What is the amendment?

A group called Save Our Voters From Misleading Ballot Language sued the state over the amendment passed by the Florida Legislature earlier this year.

That amendment, titled “Save Our Homes From Excessive Property Taxes,” would expand the homestead exemption to $150,000 starting in 2027, and to $250,000 beginning in 2028.

It also reduced the cap on increasing the tax assessment on non-homesteaded properties to 5% per year, and limits how local governments can use tax revenue to “core services,” which include: public safety (law enforcement, fire services, emergency medical services), public schools, infrastructure (road and bridge construction and maintenance and stormwater control), natural resource projects (like flood control measures), fund county administration officers, and meet obligations for local government employees’ retirement benefits.

You can read the full ballot language HERE.

What the judge says

In his ruling, Judge David Frank said he can’t strike the amendment from the ballot, and he is not assessing the merit or wisdom of the amendment. His job is simply to determine whether the ballot title and summary “pass muster under longstanding Florida law that demands fairness and accuracy in its description before placement on the ballot.”

“They fail both prerequisites and must be rewritten,” the judge added.

Frank ruled the ballot title and summary are full of “political taglines” that give reasons for voters to say yes to the amendment, but that is not the purpose of the title and summary. The purpose is to explain what the amendment does, not advocate for its adoption.

In one example, Frank writes, “The summary states that the amendment is ‘Ensuring funding for core services’ because it ‘requires local governments to use remaining property taxes solely for core public needs.’ Yet the proposed amendment does not ‘ensure’ funding for police, fire protection, schools, infrastructure, or any other ‘core’ public service, nor does it create any new restrictions on how property tax revenues may be expended. In fact, by substantially reducing the local property tax base, the proposed amendment is likely to decrease the revenues available to local governments to fund core services. The amendment cannot fairly or accurately be described as ‘ensuring funding.’”

Frank also says the ballot summary claims the amendment will ultimately lead to the full elimination of non-school property taxes on homestead property. Except the amendment does not require “full elimination.”

“Rather, it would require the Legislature to establish procedures through which local governments may choose to grant additional exemptions in the future ‘up to’ the full assessed valuation,” Frank writes.

Frank also points out that the ballot summary omits the fact that the amendment proposes “major change[s] in the function of government” by giving the Legislature the right to control ad valorem tax spending, thus changing the home rule powers local governments currently enjoy under Florida’s constitution.

Read the full ruling below.

Amendment 3 ruling by Peter Schorsch

Property taxes in Florida

Florida’s property tax system is a multi-level system that includes homesteaded and non-homesteaded properties.

Homesteaded properties are primary homes that get a special exemption. Annual tax assessments are also capped at 3% each year, which means people who have owned their homes a long time are more likely to enjoy lower property taxes than newer neighbors across the street.

“So, for example, if you live in your home for 10 years, you bought it for $100,000, you then live in it for the 10 years, and it’s worth $300,000,” Orange County Property Appraiser Amy Mercado told News 6 in an interview earlier this year.

“The savings between your market and your assessed value for those 10 years, you have the opportunity to take with you,” Mercado said. “The person that buys your home doesn’t pay the (tax) rate that you’re paying. You may be at $1,000… a year in taxes because of the years you’ve been in it. You bought it at $100,000, and it slowly progressed. That person is going to pay on the $300,000 mark because it resets as soon as you sell.”

Non-homesteaded properties include any primary homeowner who has not filed for a homestead exemption, along with vacation homes, rental properties, and business properties.

According to the Florida Association of Counties, 55 of 67 counties have lowered or maintained their operating millage rates since 2020. Millage rates are the tax rates used to calculate local property taxes.

However, Florida TaxWatch says property tax levies have risen 108.1% from 2014 to 2024, while population and inflation rose 54.9%.

How is that possible?

Because property values have exploded, particularly in the last six years. In January 2014, the average home price in the Orlando market was $166,339, according to the Beracha-Johnson Housing Ranking Index, an index managed by the American Real Estate Society.

In May 2024, which was the high point in the Orlando housing market, the average price was $410,853, according to the index.

At the time, the Orlando market was one of the most overvalued in the country, as were the markets in Tampa and South Florida.

In fact, News 6 published a story in July 2023 that Orlando was the 13th most overvalued market in the country. At the time, the median home price in Orlando was $385,000.

The Orlando market has since dropped to the 52nd most overvalued market in the country.

Property values are a key factor in determining property tax bills.

Local government concerns

The most vocal critics of the property tax amendment are county and city governments, particularly in communities that do not have a diverse property tax base.

In a report by the Florida Office of Economic and Demographic Research, local governments would lose nearly $5 billion in revenue the first year, and nearly $12 billion in the fifth year.

The Florida Association of Counties offers a breakdown HERE of the data by county.

Volusia County, for instance, would lose nearly a quarter of its property tax revenues in year two if the amendment passes, 24.9%.

Marion County would lose 28.36% of its levy in year two. Sumter County would lose 28.34%. Flagler County would lose 26.28%, Brevard County would lose 26.59%, Lake County would lose 26.11%, and Seminole County would lose 24.43%.

Orange and Osceola counties, which have a larger percentage of their tax revenue in non-homesteaded properties, would fare better. Orange County would lose only 13.56% of its tax revenue in year two. Osceola County would lose 15.14%.

[WATCH: Central Florida cities discuss budget against the backdrop of potential property tax reform]

Cities also stand to lose because a greater portion of their tax rolls rely on ad valorem taxes. The Florida League of Cities also points out that its governments already, on average, spend more on public safety than they take in from property taxes.

On Monday, the Florida Sheriffs Association became the latest public safety group to speak out against the amendment, joining the Florida State Fraternal Order of Police, Florida Professional Firefighters, and the Florida Fire Chiefs Association.

The amendment “potentially allows Tallahassee to control your local budgets, creates longer law enforcement times, limits communities’ abilities to provide road repairs and stormwater removal – these are a few of the things voters need to be aware of,” the FSA statement reads.

The sanctioning body announced the move Tuesday, saying the race will be held Feb. 13, 2027. It will be sponsored by Wheatley American Vodka.

The race doesn’t count for points and is the lead-up to the season-opening Daytona 500, which is set for Feb. 21.

Daytona hosted the Clash from 1979 to 2021. It was moved to a temporary track inside Los Angeles Memorial Stadium for three years in an effort to shake up the annual event and then relocated to tiny Bowman Gray Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the last two years in a return to NASCAR's grassroots racing.

The event was postponed twice this year because of historic winter weather in North Carolina. Snow-covered roads were too dangerous for teams and fans to get to the historic short track.

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

Serena and Venus Williams are set to take part in the Cincinnati Open, which begins next week. Organizers announced Monday they had received a wild-card entry into the doubles field.

They last played a doubles match together at the 2022 U.S. Open. It is their first time teaming up in the hard-court tune-up tournament in Mason, Ohio.

The Williams sisters received a wild-card entry to play doubles at Wimbledon, but an injury to Serena prevented that from happening. They have won 14 major titles and three Olympic gold medals in doubles play.

Venus Williams, 46, is set to play mixed doubles at the U.S. Open later this month in New York alongside Alexander Bublik. She and her younger sister playing at Cincinnati is the latest step in Serena’s comeback at age 44 after losing at Wimbledon in her first singles match in nearly four years.

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AP tennis: https://apnews.com/hub/tennis

The friendlies include games against Peru, Chile, Mexico and Canada in U.S. cities that didn’t host World Cup action this summer.

The Americans will face Peru on Sept. 26 at Inter.co Stadium in Orlando, Florida. Three days later, they will host Chile at Energizer Park in St. Louis. The US-Mexico rivalry resumes Oct. 3 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. And the finale against Canada follows three days later at Allianz Field in St. Paul, Minnesota.

All four matches will be broadcast on TNT, HBO Max, Telemundo, Universo and Peacock.

The games come on the heels of the U.S. team’s run to the round of 16 at the World Cup. They also will serve as the first action since U.S. head coach Mauricio Pochettino agreed to a new deal that puts him under contract through 2030.

“We are so excited to start this new phase of our journey with matches in front of our home fans,” Pochettino said in a statement. “Their amazing energy during the summer has set the standard.

“Our objective is always to play the best opponents possible, and these matches provide a variety of experiences for this group of players as we begin this new chapter of the U.S Men’s National Team.”

The 2030 World Cup will be held in Spain, Portugal and Morocco.

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AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer

Same-store sales, or sales at locations open at least a year, edged up 0.8% in the U.S. That’s a sharp slowdown from the 2.5% increase a year ago, when the company had a big win with a meal tied to “A Minecraft Movie.” Global same-store sales rose 1.3%.

CEO Chris Kempczinski said during the company's earnings call on Tuesday that the U.S. performance was partly hurt by inconsistent execution across its restaurants and marketing programs that didn't meet expectations.

“We don’t have a strategy problem," he said. "We simply didn’t execute at the level we needed to in the second quarter.”

Another issue was a pullback on the number of digital offers that customers received, Chief Financial Officer Ian Borden said. Without those offers, customers either bought less, or didn't buy at all. McDonald’s plans to address this by launching more digital offers nationally, starting next week. The company is also looking to send more personalized offers to its most loyal users, he added.

McDonald's, like many restaurant chains, is dealing with American consumers that are keeping a close eye on their wallets. The company warned in May that high gas prices and consumer anxiety over the U.S. conflict with Iran could dent its sales. The U.S. average for regular gasoline reached its most recent peak on May 21 at $4.56 per gallon, according to AAA.

McDonald's has jostled its menu and tried to lure some cost-conscious customers to its restaurants through value meals and other specials. These items can be particularly important for low-income customers, who are hit hard by rising costs. In April, the chain introduced a simplified McValue menu, which has 10 items that cost $3 or less.

Kempczinski said that about a year ago, McDonald's got a bit off target on value, and that its base menu pricing began running higher than its competitors in many places. The company has since worked to bring its prices below or closer to competitors on items ranging from burgers to drinks.

For the three months ended June 30, the Chicago burger chain earned $2.36 billion, or $3.32 per share. A year earlier it earned $2.25 billion, or $3.14 per share.

Excluding one time charges and benefits, earnings were $3.38 per share, beating the $3.32 per share analysts polled by FactSet expected.

Revenue climbed to $7.1 billion from $6.84 billion in the prior-year period, but came a bit short of Wall Street's estimate of $7.13 billion.

McDonald's also announced Tuesday that Skye Anderson will be president of McDonald's USA.

Company shares rose less than 2% Tuesday.

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AP reporter Dee-Ann Durbin contributed to this report.

A legal brief by the FBI Agents Association is one of five filed by outside parties in the last week in support of the agents, who were terminated as part of a broader personnel purge by FBI Director Kash Patel that has targeted employees who investigated Trump or are perceived as being against the administration's interest.

Taken together, the filings, including from former FBI and Justice Department alumni, underscore a concerted and bipartisan pushback to the waves of terminations that have roiled the FBI in the last year and a half as Patel has sought to remake the bureau in his own image.

The briefs argue that the firings were illegal because the agents were denied due process and punished for perceived political affiliation, and say the terminations contradict decades of expectations that the bureau's “apolitical, professional career corps of agents” can work on sensitive cases without putting their careers at risk.

“The Bureau simply cannot function if individual Special Agents must choose whether to accept a lawful assignment that could later get them fired, or alternatively to reject it and become subject to firing for insubordination. FBI Special Agents have long understood that they are subject to assignment and reassignment at any time based on the needs of the Bureau,” the agents association, which serves nearly 12,000 members, wrote in its brief.

A brief filed by former senior Justice Department officials says the firings have undermined a “half-century of independence as a guiding principle.”

“Putting aside the resulting violation of Plaintiffs' rights, the inevitable impact of this ‘purge’ will be to chill the independence of remaining and future career agents, attorneys, analysts, and other staff at the FBI, DOJ and other law enforcement agencies who must now act with the understanding that their investigative and law enforcement judgments can, for the first time in their careers, be assessed through a partisan political lens,” the brief states.

The three agents — Michelle Ball, Jamie Garman and Blaire Toleman — said in a federal lawsuit filed in March that they were fired in a “retribution campaign” targeting them for their work on the investigation into Trump. The agents performed “exemplary and unblemished” service in the FBI and expected to spend the remainder of their careers at the bureau but were abruptly fired without cause and without being given a chance to respond, the lawsuit says.

The investigation the agents worked on culminated in an indictment from special counsel Jack Smith that accused Trump of scheming to overturn the 2020 election he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.

Smith ultimately abandoned that case, along with a separate one accusing Trump of illegally retaining classified records at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, after Trump won back the White House in 2024, citing Justice Department legal opinions that prohibit the federal indictments of sitting presidents.

Patel and Pam Bondi, who was the attorney general at the time, have said the fired agents and prosecutors who worked on Smith’s team were responsible for weaponizing federal law enforcement, a claim that was also asserted in their termination letters but that the plaintiffs call defamatory and baseless.

The filings are known in the law as amici, or friend-of-the-court, briefs. They are sometimes submitted by outside parties in lawsuits to help stress particular arguments or inform a judge's thinking.

Other groups who submitted briefs include a collection of First Amendment Scholars, a group called Lawyers for the Rule of Law, and Justice Connection, a network of department alumni that warned in its filing that a “politicized” FBI could turn against citizens because of their speech, association or perceived disloyalty.

“The Constitution,” the filing said, “is designed to prevent precisely this kind of abuse.”