Police released photos of the man they are looking for on Friday.

According to police, the victim was shot in the thigh at about 11:30 p.m. on July 4 while standing on a sidewalk in the area of Seabreeze and Las Olas Boulevards.

Police said the victim had no idea where the bullet came from, nor did it appear that he was the intended target.

The victim was transported to Broward Health Medical Center to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Detectives are asking for anyone with information about the shooting to call Detective Tiffany Washington of the Violent Crimes Unit at 954-828-6617. Anonymous tips can be made by calling Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-TIPS (8477).

Seventeen-year-old Max Shilt, founder of Bounce Back Balls, has turned discarded tennis balls into a community resource, repurposing more than 5,300 balls in less than two years for schools, animal shelters and other organizations across South Florida.

Shilt, who has been playing tennis since he was 6 years old, said the idea came after he asked his coach what happened to used tennis balls.

“I asked my coach where all the balls went, and he told me that they all went to the trash,” Shilt said. “After that I realized that something had to be done.”

In 2024, Shilt launched Bounce Back Balls, collecting used tennis balls from his tennis academy and finding new uses for them instead of sending them to a landfill.

“The name is Bounce Back Balls,” Shilt said. “I thought the ball bouncing on the court and they are bouncing back into life.”

His first donation went to his former middle school, where the tennis balls were placed on the bottoms of classroom chair legs to protect floors from scuff marks and reduce noise.

Since then, the project has grown to include more than 10 community partners.

“Since then, I realized that there could be so much more supply and demand and I can expand to more academies, more schools, nursing homes, animal shelters,” Shilt said.

One of those partners is the Humane Society of Greater Miami, where donated tennis balls become toys for dogs waiting to be adopted.

“The future is filled with people with good hearts, and Max is a perfect example of that,” said Jossie Aguirre, executive director of the Humane Society of Greater Miami.

Seeing the impact firsthand has motivated Shilt to continue growing the program.

“It really showed me how my work has an impact in the community around me,” he said.

To date, Shilt estimates he has repurposed about 5,300 tennis balls, keeping them out of landfills while supporting schools and nonprofit organizations.

“Tennis gave me everything that it gave me, and now I’m trying to give back and match the points-40 all, deuce,” Shilt said.

Shilt plans to expand Bounce Back Balls to Gainesville, where he will attend the University of Florida to study accounting while playing on the school’s travel tennis team.

Those interested in donating gently used tennis balls or learning more about the organization can visit bouncebackballs.org or email contact@bouncebackballs.org.

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“Tengo muchos miembros de mi congregación que se verán directamente afectados por una decisión tan cruel”, dijo el pastor Joanem “FanFan” Floreal, de la Iglesia Comunitaria Shalom, en el sur de Florida.

La decisión pone en riesgo industrias enteras del sur de Florida, como la atención médica y la hospitalidad.

“Haití está a una hora y 10 minutos de aquí. No podemos ir a Puerto Príncipe. Me encantaría ir a Haití y hacerlo grande otra vez para poder quedarme en casa”, dijo Maggie Bellabe, residente del sur de Florida.

La ex directora ejecutiva de Sant La, Gepsie Mettellus, habló con Local 10 en noviembre cuando la administración del presidente Trump mencionó poner fin al TPS para los ciudadanos haitianos.

“Tengo que convertir esta indignación, esta rabia, en acción”, dijo Mettellus.

La acción consiste en llamar a los legisladores para que copatrocinen el Proyecto de Ley del Senado 4814, que extendería el TPS por tres años más.

“Creo que ya tenemos unos 20 senadores que han copatrocinado la legislación y estamos esperando llegar a 60”, dijo Mettellus.

La Asociación de Restaurantes de Florida copatrocinó una carta dirigida al secretario del Departamento de Seguridad Nacional de Estados Unidos (DHS), Markwayne Mullin, junto con una docena de grupos de todo el país, solicitando orientación y protecciones para trabajadores con autorización legal y muchos años de servicio que son fundamentales para sus operaciones.

La representante estatal de Florida Marie Woodson está entre los legisladores que intentan recurrir a la única opción que queda: dialogar con los legisladores.

“He hablado con muchísimas personas y la frustración es muy grande, el miedo es muy intenso”, dijo. “Algunos dicen que lo están intentando, pero no he obtenido ningún resultado concreto”.

“La realidad es que no vamos a poder reemplazar esa fuerza laboral mañana, ni el próximo mes, ni el próximo año”, dijo Mettellus.

Los abogados dicen que es momento de que las personas llamen a sus abogados de inmigración.

“Lo segundo que deben hacer es consultar con un abogado especializado en planificación patrimonial”, dijo el abogado de inmigración Frandley Julien. “No vamos a mentirle a la comunidad. Las personas serán deportadas si nada cambia”.

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“I have so many members in my congregation that will be directly affected by such a cruel decision,” said Pastor Joanem “FanFan” Floreal, of the Shalom Community Church in South Florida.

The decision puts entire South Florida industries at stake, such as healthcare and hospitality.

“Haiti is an hour and 10 minutes from here. We cannot go to Port-au-Prince. I would love to go to Haiti and make it great again, so I can stay home,” South Florida resident Maggie Bellabe said.

Former Sant La Executive Director Gepsie Mettellus spoke to Local 10 in November when the Trump administration mentioned ending TPS for Haitian nationals.

“I have to turn this outrage, anger into action,” Mettellus said.

Action means calling lawmakers to co-sign Senate Bill 4814, extending TPS for three more years.

“I think we’ve got 20 some senators who’ve consigned the legislation now, and we’re waiting to get to 60,” Mettellus said.

The Florida Restaurant Association co-signed a letter to U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin with a dozen groups nationwide pleading for guidance and protections for long-serving legally authorized workers central to operations.

Florida State Rep. Marie Woodson is among the lawmakers scrambling to engage the one option left, speaking to lawmakers.

“I have spoken to so many people, and the frustration is so high, the fear is so intense,” she said. “Some of them say they are trying, but I have not gotten any specific result.”

“The reality is we’re not gonna be able to make up that labor force tomorrow, nor next month, nor next year,” Mettellus said.

Lawyers say it’s time people call their immigration attorneys.

“The second thing they need to do is consult with an estate planning attorney,” immigration attorney Frandley Julien said. “We are not going to lie to the community. People will be deported if nothing changes.”

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According to an arrest report, deputies were “conducting an illegal handicap parking enforcement” at about 7 p.m. in the 10100 block of West Flagler Street in Miami-Dade’s Fontainebleau area when they spotted a red Mazda parked in a designated disabled parking space with a disabled parking permit displayed.

After checking the vehicle’s registration, deputies spoke with the four female occupants and began investigating the use of the disabled parking permit, the report states. Deputies said the driver was later cited on a charge of fraudulent or unauthorized use of a disabled parking permit.

As the driver was instructed to approach a marked patrol vehicle to review and sign the citation, Jaley Rivalta, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, allegedly approached the sergeant and began arguing about the citation, according to the report.

The report states Rivalta ignored the sergeant’s orders to return to the vehicle and continued interfering with the traffic stop.

During the confrontation, Rivalta intentionally struck the sergeant’s hand, according to the report. Deputies said the sergeant then attempted to take her into custody.

Rivalta allegedly resisted by pulling her arms away, tensing her body and refusing repeated commands to stop resisting and place her hands behind her back, according to the report.

She also continued using “physical force” against the sergeant before he arrested her, the report states.

Jail records show Rivalta is facing one count each of battery on a law enforcement officer, resisting an officer with violence and approaching a first responder after warning or impeding a first responder.

As of Friday morning, she was being held on a $2,150 bond at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center.

Según la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade, la balacera fue reportada alrededor de las 8:40 p.m. en el área de Southwest 233rd Street y 132nd Avenue.

Los agentes informaron que dos hombres estaban involucrados en una disputa cuando uno sacó un arma y le disparó al otro.

La víctima fue trasladada a un hospital local, donde murió.

No se dieron a conocer de inmediato más detalles.

Vea Local 10 News o actualice esta página para conocer las novedades.

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Dozens of aspiring python hunters attended a training session Friday in west Broward County to learn how to safely capture and handle wild Burmese pythons, which have become a major threat to Florida’s native wildlife.

Among them was Sarah Gonzalez.

“It was really exciting. I’ve never done anything like that before,” Gonzalez said after successfully capturing two pythons during the training.

The Florida Python Challenge officially began Friday, giving participants the opportunity to help remove invasive Burmese pythons from the Everglades while competing for cash prizes.

During the training, experts demonstrated the proper techniques for approaching and securing the snakes, emphasizing that safety should always come first.

“They can double back and strike at you at a pretty fast speed,” one instructor explained.

Instructors warned participants never to attempt to capture a python alone because of the potential dangers.

Instead, they encouraged hunters to be patient and avoid rushing a capture.

“Really take your time,” an instructor said. “If you don’t get a good pin the first time, it’s OK to back up and try again.”

Those who completed the required training and signed participation waivers practiced capturing live pythons under the supervision of experienced handlers before venturing into the Everglades.

For Gonzalez, the motivation goes beyond the thrill of the hunt.

“Florida is my home, and Burmese pythons are not a native species,” she said.

The annual Florida Python Challenge is designed to help reduce the invasive snake population while raising awareness about the ecological damage Burmese pythons have caused throughout South Florida. Participants who remove the most snakes during the competition are eligible for cash prizes, including a top prize of $10,000.

The python removal competition ends at 5 p.m. on July 19. For more information, click here.

Decenas de aspirantes a cazadores de pitones asistieron el viernes a una sesión de entrenamiento en el oeste del condado Broward para aprender cómo capturar y manejar de forma segura pitones birmanas silvestres, que se han convertido en una gran amenaza para la fauna nativa de Florida.

Entre ellos estaba Sarah Gonzalez.

“Fue realmente emocionante. Nunca había hecho algo así”, dijo Gonzalez después de capturar con éxito dos pitones durante el entrenamiento.

El Florida Python Challenge comenzó oficialmente el viernes, brindando a los participantes la oportunidad de ayudar a retirar pitones birmanas invasoras de los Everglades mientras compiten por premios en efectivo.

Durante el entrenamiento, expertos demostraron las técnicas adecuadas para acercarse y asegurar a las serpientes, enfatizando que la seguridad siempre debe ser la prioridad.

“Pueden darse la vuelta y atacarte a una velocidad bastante rápida”, explicó uno de los instructores.

Los instructores advirtieron a los participantes que nunca intenten capturar una pitón solos debido a los peligros potenciales.

En cambio, animaron a los cazadores a ser pacientes y no apresurar la captura.

“Tómense realmente su tiempo”, dijo un instructor. “Si no logran sujetarla bien en el primer intento, está bien retroceder e intentarlo de nuevo”.

Quienes completaron el entrenamiento requerido y firmaron las exenciones de participación practicaron la captura de pitones vivas bajo la supervisión de manejadores experimentados antes de aventurarse en los Everglades.

Para Gonzalez, la motivación va más allá de la emoción de la caza.

“Florida es mi hogar y las pitones birmanas no son una especie nativa”, afirmó.

El Florida Python Challenge anual está diseñado para ayudar a reducir la población de estas serpientes invasoras, al tiempo que crea conciencia sobre el daño ecológico que las pitones birmanas han causado en todo el sur de Florida. Los participantes que retiren la mayor cantidad de serpientes durante la competencia podrán optar a premios en efectivo, incluido un premio mayor de $10,000 USD.

La competencia de extracción de pitones finalizará a las 5 p.m. del 19 de julio. Para obtener más información, haga clic aquí.

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According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, the shooting was reported at about 8:40 p.m. in the area of Southwest 233^rd Street and 132^nd Avenue.

Deputies said two men were involved in a dispute when one pulled out a gun and shot the other.

Residents in the area told Local 10 News they heard between 15 and 20 gunshots.

Three bullets pierced a nearby garage and two more struck a car. Another round tore through a wall, hitting a young girl’s closet.

Deputies said the victim was transported to a local hospital, where he died.

With bullets hitting homes and cars, neighbors said it’s a miracle no one else was hurt.

“You think you’re in a free country, that you can live and enjoy your time, but at the end of the day, you’ve gotta be careful of everywhere you go anymore,” one neighbor said.

No other details about the shooting were immediately released.

Anyone with information is asked to call Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers at 305-471-8477.

Como esperaba, parece haber una pequeña grieta dentro del círculo interno del gobierno cubano. Algunos han criticado a Raulito (nieto de Raúl Castro) por ofrecer negociar directamente con el presidente Trump. La crítica se centra en si tiene plena autoridad para negociar en nombre del gobierno cubano o si solo está negociando en representación de la familia Castro.

Ayer, el Partido Comunista de Cuba (PCC) respaldó los esfuerzos de Raulito, pero el liderazgo militar ha permanecido en silencio.

Actualización del 8 de julio: Las Naciones Unidas no tienen derecho legal para levantar el embargo de Estados Unidos a Cuba

Cada año, Cuba sostiene ante las Naciones Unidas que el embargo económico de Estados Unidos es la causa de sus problemas económicos. Cada año, Cuba pierde más apoyo para ese argumento. Las Naciones Unidas no tienen un derecho legítimo ni legal para levantar el embargo. Solo el Congreso de Estados Unidos puede levantar el embargo.

La maquinaria de propaganda del gobierno cubano ha fracasado. La mayoría de los cubanos en la isla, incluidos economistas, responsabilizan al gobierno cubano por las actuales malas condiciones económicas.

Actualización del 6 de julio: El nieto de Raúl Castro dice que Cuba está dispuesta a negociar con Estados Unidos

Reuters informó esta mañana que Raulito, nieto de Raúl Castro, conocido como “El Cangrejo”, anunció que Cuba está dispuesta a negociar con Estados Unidos. La pregunta que debemos hacernos es si Raulito está negociando en nombre de la familia Castro o del gobierno cubano.

Sabemos que Cuba ha estado vendiendo algunos de sus activos, incluidos algunos pertenecientes al conglomerado económico militar GAESA, durante las últimas semanas. El intento de Cuba por atraer inversión extranjera no ha tenido muchos interesados debido al temor de perder su dinero.

Actualización del 2 de julio: La cultura del miedo en Cuba complica una transición democrática

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Cuando hablamos de Cuba, por lo general nos concentramos en su sistema político y económico centralizado. Sin embargo, no reconocemos que las personas que han vivido bajo regímenes totalitarios han tenido que sobrevivir bajo una cultura del miedo. Ese sistema de gobierno crea un conjunto psicológico de actitudes y valores que ayuda a definir el comportamiento cotidiano para alinear los deseos y necesidades de la población con las restricciones impuestas por el gobierno.

Romper esos comportamientos podría tomar años de entrenamiento psicológico y cambios. Por lo tanto, la transición de un Estado totalitario hacia alguna forma de gobierno democrático podría requerir tiempo.

Las actualizaciones de junio del Dr. Andy S. Gomez pueden consultarse haciendo clic aquí.

El Dr. Andy S. Gomez es analista sobre Cuba de Local 10. Gomez es considerado uno de los principales expertos sobre Cuba. Trabajó en educación superior durante 32 años antes de retirarse de la Universidad de Miami en 2012.

Los meteorólogos indicaron que la ola de calor comenzará este fin de semana y durará al menos una semana, y que en algunas zonas se sentirán sus efectos hasta finales de mes. Señalaron que en muchas áreas las temperaturas estarán entre 8 y 14 grados Celsius (15 y 25 grados Fahrenheit) por encima de lo normal, incluso por la noche. Las temperaturas nocturnas más altas son especialmente perjudiciales para la salud humana y para los esfuerzos por contener una temporada de incendios forestales activa.

“Esta próxima ola de calor sí parece bastante notable”, afirmó Daniel Swain, climatólogo de Agricultura y Recursos Naturales de la Universidad de California. “Será un episodio de calor de larga duración, generalizado y de alta intensidad que afectará a millones de personas durante más de una semana”.

Una trampa de aire caliente que amenaza con romper récords

Un domo de alta presión —que atrapa el aire caliente como la tapa de una olla mientras impide el paso de los vientos refrescantes y la lluvia— se estacionará inicialmente sobre las Llanuras del Norte, pero será tan grande que retendrá temperaturas sofocantes en hasta dos tercios del territorio continental de Estados Unidos, dijeron tres meteorólogos a The Associated Press. Aunque al principio no alcanzará la Costa Este, el domo de calor se desplazará y oscilará, e incluso podría extenderse de costa a costa durante los próximos 10 días o más, añadieron.

Los pronosticadores esperan temperaturas máximas récord de tres dígitos en la escala Fahrenheit este fin de semana en Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, Dakota del Norte y Dakota del Sur.

El servicio meteorológico prevé que se igualarán o se romperán más de 90 récords locales de temperatura en Estados Unidos hasta el miércoles, y que dos tercios corresponderán a récords de calor nocturno, lo que puede dificultar la recuperación del cuerpo humano tras días de intenso calor.

“Las noches pueden ser tan peligrosas como los días. Si no se obtiene alivio del calor por la noche, eso se trasladará a la experiencia durante el día y se volverá extremadamente peligroso”, advirtió Bob Henson, meteorólogo de Yale Climate Connections. “Con el calor no se juega. Es tan peligroso como un tornado o un huracán, que puede matarte con la misma facilidad, solo que de una manera silenciosa y diferente”.

La ola de calor será más grande, más duradera y más intensa que la mayoría

Swain explicó que lo que hace tan distinta a esta ola de calor es lo grande que será la “sombra” cálida que proyectará y el tiempo que se mantendrá.

En las últimas dos semanas, grandes olas de calor han provocado un sufrimiento generalizado en Europa, la Costa Este de Estados Unidos y, más recientemente, el sureste del país. Ahora, cualquier lugar de Estados Unidos que se haya librado de las olas de calor de inicios de julio recibirá esta, sostuvo Swain.

Es probable que la lluvia se cuele por debajo del borde sur de la cúpula de calor y refresque el sureste de Estados Unidos durante el día, lo que provocará algo extraño, comentó Shel Winkley, meteorólogo de Climate Central. Debido a la humedad adicional, el sureste podría registrar un calor nocturno que rompa récords, pero temperaturas diurnas por debajo de lo normal, indicó.

El servicio meteorológico pronostica calor nocturno récord en varias localidades desde Texas hasta Florida y Carolina del Norte el sábado. Según el pronóstico, las temperaturas no bajarán de 27 °C (80 °F) por la noche en Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Miami, Tampa, Florida, Galveston, Texas, y Charleston, Carolina del Sur.

Aunque las cúpulas de calor no son inusuales en verano, Winkley señaló que esta destaca por su intensidad y porque probablemente establecerá récords por la magnitud de la alta presión que contendrá. También es especialmente inusual por estar tan al norte, agregó.

Es probable que persista tanto tiempo porque las zonas afectadas por la sequía tienen menos humedad en el suelo y en el aire, lo que normalmente frenaría el calentamiento del aire, indicó Swain. A su vez, el aire más seco y caliente empeora las condiciones de sequía y aviva aún más el calor, creando un círculo vicioso, explicó.

Esto aumentará el riesgo de incendios forestales, que ya es alto debido a la sequía, añadió.

El cambio climático agrava el calor

Los tres meteorólogos indicaron que el fenómeno de El Niño que se formó recientemente es demasiado reciente como para tener un impacto marcado en esta ola de calor, pero es claro que el cambio climático derivado de la quema de carbón, petróleo y gas natural sí lo tiene.

“Sabemos que las olas de calor son cada vez más intensas, duran más y cubren áreas más grandes que antes debido al cambio climático causado por el ser humano”, manifestó Swain. “Y cuando vemos un evento como este, sabemos que hay al menos una contribución parcial de la tendencia de calentamiento a largo plazo”.

Como parte de su Índice de Cambio Climático, Climate Central utiliza 20 modelos informáticos distintos para comparar los pronósticos con lo que se esperaría en un mundo sin el calentamiento provocado por los gases de efecto invernadero. Una franja de 52.000 kilómetros cuadrados (20.000 millas cuadradas) del país, que va desde el sur de California hasta el norte de Minnesota y donde viven 24 millones de personas, tendrá este fin de semana temperaturas que alcanzarán el nivel más alto en ese índice, lo que significa que el calor es al menos cinco veces más probable debido al cambio climático. Su análisis arrojó lecturas similares para la ola de calor de la Costa Este durante el fin de semana del 4 de julio y la reciente ola de calor del sureste.

“Usando la ciencia de atribución, sabemos que esas temperaturas serían prácticamente imposibles sin la influencia del cambio climático”, afirmó Winkley.

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La cobertura climática y ambiental de The Associated Press recibe apoyo financiero de múltiples fundaciones privadas. La AP es la única responsable de todo el contenido. Encuentra los estándares de la AP para trabajar con organizaciones filantrópicas, una lista de las fundaciones y las áreas de cobertura que financian en AP.org.

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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

Ward, 28, who starred in the Netflix crime drama “Top Boy,” was found not guilty by a jury in Snaresbrook Crown Court of two counts of rape, two counts of assault by penetration and one count of sexual assault.

Ward has appeared in films including “Blue Story,” “The Book of Clarence” and last year's American political satire “Eddington,” alongside Joaquin Phoenix and Pedro Pascal.

In 2020, he won the Rising Star award at the British Academy Film Awards, or BAFTAs. He was nominated for an acting BAFTA for Sam Mendes’ “Empire of Light” and for a BAFTA television award for the Steve McQueen-directbeed series “Small Axe.”

Ward had denied the charges and had said he had “full faith” he’d be cleared of the charges.

Defense lawyer Humzah Ilyas said Ward was “looking forward to getting back to doing the work he loves.”

As I expected, there seems to be a small crack within the inner circle of the Cuban government. Some have criticized Raulito (Raul Castro’s grandson) for offering to negotiate directly with President Trump. The criticism comes as to whether he has the full authority to negotiate for the Cuban government or is he just negotiating for the Castro family?

Yesterday, the Cuban Communist Party (PCC) backed Raulito’s efforts, but the military leadership has remained quiet.

July 8 update: United Nations has no legal right to lift U.S. embargo on Cuba

Every year, Cuba argues in front of the United Nations that the U.S. economic embargo is the cause for their economic problems. Each year, Cuba loses more support for their argument. The United Nations has no legitimate or legal right to lift the embargo. The U.S. Congress can only lift the embargo.

The Cuban government propaganda machine has failed. Most Cubans on the island, including economists on the island, blame the Cuban government for their current poor economic conditions.

July 6 update: Raul Castro’s grandson says Cuba is willing to negotiate with US

Reuters reported earlier this morning that Raul Castro’s grandson Raulito, known as “El Cangrejo,” announced that Cuba is willing to negotiate with the U.S. The question we need to ask ourselves is whether Raulito is negotiating on behalf of the Castro family or the Cuban government?

We know that Cuba has been selling some of their assets, including some belonging to the military economic conglomerate GAESA in the last couple of weeks. Cuba’s attempt to invite foreign investment has not attracted many takers for the fear of losing their money.

July 2 update: Cuba’s culture of fear complicates a Democratic transition

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When we talk about Cuba, we usually concentrate on their centralized political and economic system. However, we fail to recognize that individuals that have lived under totalitarian regimes have had to survive under a culture of fear. Such system of government creates a psychological set of attitudes and values that help define the daily behavior in order to align the people’s wants and needs to the restrictions imposed by the government.

To break such behaviors could take years of psychological training and change. Therefore, transitioning a totalitarian state to support a transition to some form of a Democratic government could take time.

Dr. Andy S. Gomez’s June updates can be viewed by clicking here.

Dr. Andy S. Gomez is Local 10’s Cuba Analyst. Gomez is considered one of the leading scholars on Cuba. He worked in higher education for 32 years before retiring from the University of Miami in 2012.

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According to an arrest report, the incident began at the Wawa gas station at 11200 SW 248th St., where a deputy spotted a white Dodge Charger pulling into the parking lot.

The report states the Charger, which displayed a Florida specialized license plate, activated blue and green emergency lights before Enrique Perez-Palenzuela, 55, exited the vehicle and walked into the convenience store.

Deputies said Perez-Palenzuela was dressed in what appeared to be a full law enforcement uniform, wearing a badge, a gun belt and carrying a handgun.

A short time later, investigators said Perez-Palenzuela returned to the vehicle, backed out of his parking space with the emergency lights still activated and drove through the shopping plaza without stopping at multiple stop signs.

The deputy who witnessed the incident wrote in the report that Perez-Palenzuela’s actions led him to believe he was an actual law enforcement officer responding to a call.

According to the report, the emergency lights were turned off after the vehicle left the shopping plaza, and the deputy conducted a traffic stop.

When asked why he had activated the emergency lights, Perez-Palenzuela told the deputy in Spanish that he had recently purchased the vehicle and did not realize the lights were turned on, the report states.

Investigators said the Dodge Charger was outfitted with equipment commonly found on law enforcement vehicles, including emergency lights, sirens, a spotlight, a push bumper and a prisoner compartment.

According to the arrest report, based on Perez-Palenzuela’s clothing, the vehicle’s appearance and his use of the emergency equipment, the deputy concluded he acted in a manner that would lead members of the public to believe he was a law enforcement officer.

Perez-Palenzuela was arrested on charges of falsely impersonating an officer and prohibited use of certain blue lights.

As of Friday morning, he was being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on a $3,000 bond.

Según un informe de arresto, el incidente comenzó en la gasolinera Wawa ubicada en el 11200 de la calle Southwest 248, donde un agente observó un Dodge Charger blanco entrar al estacionamiento.

El informe indica que el Charger, que tenía una placa especializada de Florida, activó las luces de emergencia azules y verdes antes de que Enrique Pérez-Palenzuela, de 55 años, saliera del vehículo y entrara a la tienda de conveniencia.

Los agentes dijeron que Pérez-Palenzuela vestía lo que parecía ser un uniforme completo de las fuerzas del orden, con una placa, un cinturón para armas y portando una pistola.

Poco después, los investigadores dijeron que Pérez-Palenzuela regresó al vehículo, salió en reversa del espacio de estacionamiento con las luces de emergencia aún activadas y condujo por la plaza comercial sin detenerse en varias señales de alto.

El agente que presenció el incidente escribió en el informe que las acciones de Pérez-Palenzuela lo llevaron a creer que realmente era un agente de las fuerzas del orden que respondía a una llamada.

Según el informe, las luces de emergencia fueron apagadas después de que el vehículo salió de la plaza comercial y el agente realizó una parada de tránsito.

Cuando se le preguntó por qué había activado las luces de emergencia, Pérez-Palenzuela le dijo al agente en español que había comprado recientemente el vehículo y no se dio cuenta de que las luces estaban encendidas, señala el informe.

Los investigadores dijeron que el Dodge Charger estaba equipado con dispositivos que comúnmente se encuentran en vehículos de las fuerzas del orden, incluidas luces de emergencia, sirenas, un reflector, una defensa delantera reforzada y un compartimiento para transportar detenidos.

Según el informe de arresto, con base en la vestimenta de Pérez-Palenzuela, la apariencia del vehículo y el uso del equipo de emergencia, el agente concluyó que actuó de una manera que llevaría al público a creer que era un agente de las fuerzas del orden.

Pérez-Palenzuela fue arrestado por cargos de hacerse pasar falsamente por un agente y uso prohibido de determinadas luces azules.

Hasta la mañana del viernes, permanecía detenido en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight con una fianza de $3,000 USD.

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Miami faces the Milwaukee Bucks in the NBA’s 2026 Summer League in Las Vegas for the first time since Giannis Antetokounmpo’s blockbuster trade from Milwaukee to Miami became official.

The Heat begin play against the Milwaukee Bucks at 4 p.m. Friday before facing the Orlando Magic at 3:30 p.m. Saturday. Miami wraps up its opening slate at 8 p.m. Monday against the Cleveland Cavaliers. All three games Summer League will air on Local 10.

Fans can also stream all regular-season games live on the Local 10+ Platinum app, which provides access to Local 10 news, weather, sports, entertainment programming and special features.

The free app includes higher-quality video and a 48-hour replay feature and is available on the Apple App Store, Google Play, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV and most major smart TV platforms.

On the court, much of the attention will be on second-round draft pick Ryan Conwell, who impressed during the California Classic with his scoring ability (21 points per game) and defensive play.

Undrafted forward Tre White also turned heads with his outside shooting and all-around performance, making him another player to watch.

Forward Keyshawn Hall will continue his development as he looks to carve out a role in Miami’s system, while center Vlad Goldin hopes to build on a strong defensive showing after spending last season on a two-way contract with the Heat.

This will be the first meeting between the Bucks and Heat since Giannis Antetokounmpo’s trade to Miami became official. Before joining the Heat, however, Antetokounmpo first had to say goodbye to Milwaukee.

His 12-year run with the Bucks officially came to an end on Monday when the NBA approved the blockbuster trade sending Antetokounmpo and Bobby Portis to Miami in exchange for Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis and draft capital.

Friday’s matchup could also mark Jakucionis’ debut against his former Heat teammates. Projected starters for NBA teams are not expected to play in the Summer League.

CLICK HERE for more information on how to watch all of the Heat games this season!

Heat fans can also call 786-777-4375 for more information on how to purchase tickets for the 2026-2027 season.

Miami enfrentará a los Milwaukee Bucks en la Liga de Verano 2026 de la NBA en Las Vegas por primera vez desde que el canje de alto impacto de Giannis Antetokounmpo de Milwaukee a Miami se hizo oficial.

El Heat comenzará su participación contra los Milwaukee Bucks a las 4 p.m. del viernes antes de enfrentar al Orlando Magic a las 3:30 p.m. del sábado. Miami cerrará su primera serie de juegos a las 8 p.m. del lunes contra los Cleveland Cavaliers. Los tres juegos de la Liga de Verano se transmitirán por Local 10.

Los aficionados también podrán ver en vivo todos los juegos de la temporada regular en la aplicación Local 10+ Platinum, que ofrece acceso a las noticias, el tiempo, los deportes, la programación de entretenimiento y los especiales de Local 10.

La aplicación gratuita incluye video de mayor calidad y una función de repetición de 48 horas, y está disponible en Apple App Store, Google Play, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV y la mayoría de las principales plataformas de televisores inteligentes.

En la cancha, gran parte de la atención estará centrada en la selección de segunda ronda del draft Ryan Conwell, quien impresionó durante el California Classic con su capacidad anotadora (21 puntos por juego) y su desempeño defensivo.

El alero no seleccionado en el draft Tre White también llamó la atención con su tiro de larga distancia y su rendimiento integral, lo que lo convierte en otro jugador a seguir.

El alero Keyshawn Hall continuará su desarrollo mientras busca ganarse un papel dentro del sistema de Miami, mientras que el pívot Vlad Goldin espera construir sobre una sólida actuación defensiva tras pasar la temporada pasada con un contrato de dos vías con el Heat.

Este será el primer enfrentamiento entre los Bucks y el Heat desde que el canje de Giannis Antetokounmpo a Miami se hizo oficial. Sin embargo, antes de unirse al Heat, Antetokounmpo primero tuvo que despedirse de Milwaukee.

Su etapa de 12 años con los Bucks terminó oficialmente el lunes cuando la NBA aprobó el canje de alto impacto que envió a Antetokounmpo y Bobby Portis a Miami a cambio de Tyler Herro, Jaime Jaquez Jr., Kel’el Ware, Kasparas Jakucionis y selecciones del draft.

El partido del viernes también podría marcar el debut de Jakucionis contra sus ex compañeros del Heat. No se espera que los jugadores proyectados como titulares de los equipos de la NBA participen en la Liga de Verano.

HAGA CLIC AQUÍ para obtener más información sobre cómo ver todos los juegos del Heat esta temporada.

Los aficionados del Heat también pueden llamar al 786-777-4375 para obtener más información sobre cómo comprar boletos para la temporada 2026-2027.

Según funcionarios de Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue (BSFR), las unidades respondieron al lugar, en 1441 W. Newport Center Drive, la madrugada del viernes tras recibir reportes sobre un accidente industrial.

“Al llegar, las unidades encontraron que el incidente ocurrió en una instalación de un parque industrial utilizada para la producción masiva de productos alimenticios”, dijo un portavoz de BSFR en un correo electrónico enviado a Local 10 News. “La información preliminar indica que un hombre adulto quedó atrapado debajo del brazo de la tolva de una cinta transportadora mientras intentaba resolver un problema con una gran máquina de producción”.

El portavoz dijo que, “a pesar de la rápida respuesta”, la víctima fue declarada muerta en el lugar por los paramédicos.

El incidente continúa bajo investigación.

La identidad de la víctima no ha sido divulgada.

The shooting in Houston has revived critical voices deriding the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown and how ICE operates, especially after immigration arrests around the country surged to 10,000 over a recent five-day period, fueled in part by massive Congressional funding.

No evidence has emerged to support the Department of Homeland Security’s version of events that led to the killing early Tuesday of Lorenzo Salgado Araujo — that he rammed an ICE vehicle when it was chasing his white van and that an officer opened fire in self-defense.

Three other men inside the van told an attorney that officers are lying about what happened and that Salgado Araujo did not ram an ICE vehicle but that he was shot through the passenger side window.

The officers were not wearing body cameras and neither ICE nor DHS, which oversees that agency, have released photos, videos or other evidence from the scene.

Salgado Araujo, a 52-year-old homebuilder who was shot and killed as he drove his crew to a construction site, was not who ICE was looking for, Democratic U.S. Rep. Sylvia Garcia said. Salgado Araujo's family said he had lived in the U.S. for more than 35 years, had no criminal record and was close to finishing the long process of obtaining legal status when he was killed.

ICE detained the other three men in the van and a lawyer who said he has spoken to them said the version told by DHS is “completely false.”

“At no point did they ever use the van to ram into the ICE agents and at no point were these ICE agents lives ever in danger,” attorney Hugo Balderas-Ibarra said on Instagram.

The other men detained by ICE included Salgado Araujo's brother. ICE has not released their names, but family members said they have been able to briefly talk with them.

ICE is pressuring the men to self-deport which would make it harder for them to share their version of events with investigators or others, and Daniel Tirado Pantoja has no legal permission to live in the U.S. but has no criminal record, his stepdaughter said.

“We just told him not to sign anything, that we’re going to fight this case,” Juana Degollado told The Associated Press.

DHS said these allegations are “categorically false."

When asked if officers were specifically targeting Salgado Araujo, DHS said Thursday that officers investigating a tip weeks before the shooting saw two white vans at the address of a target. While heading to that address Tuesday, officers saw a white van and someone inside who resembled the person they were looking for, the department said in a statement.

DHS said it will not release the officer’s name because they could face threats and violence and their family could be at risk.

DHS also has not responded to requests for other information, including how long the officer has worked for ICE or whether anyone involved in the shooting is administrative leave. The department has taken a similar stance after previous fatal shootings involving its officers, unlike many local and state agencies that routinely identify and provide biographical details about officers involved in critical incidents.

Unlike some previous deaths involving federal immigration officers, few photos or videos surrounding the shooting have emerged publicly in the days since Salgado Araujo's death.

The League of United Latin American Citizens offered a $5,000 reward for video or other evidence but the positions of the vehicles means surveillance cameras in the area were blocked from recording the shooting, Proaño said.

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Brook reported from New Orleans and Foley from Omaha, Nebraska. Associated Press reporters Rebecca Santana in Washington, D.C.; and Jeffrey Collins in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed.

“No puedo creer que se nos pida responder a la sugerencia de que los descendientes de las personas esclavizadas deberían pagar por la maquinaria que las oprimió”, escribió Mottley en X a última hora del jueves. “El Caribe no le debe a Reino Unido por la esclavitud, por la extracción colonial ni por las leyes que trataban a las personas africanas como mercancía. No pedimos caridad. Pedimos justicia, y la propia historia ya ha dicho la verdad”.

Sus declaraciones se produjeron después de que Suella Braverman, exsecretaria del Interior británica y ahora integrante del partido antiinmigración Reform UK, escribiera el 3 de julio en una publicación en X que el Imperio británico “hizo tanto bien por el mundo”. Braverman respondía a otro parlamentario que señaló que Jamaica planeaba presentar una petición formal de reparaciones en los próximos meses.

“Si el gobierno piensa seriamente en esto, entonces las antiguas colonias deberían devolverle el dinero a los británicos por la considerable inversión, esfuerzo y contribución que hizo este país, que sentó las bases de muchas democracias prósperas hoy”, escribió Braverman.

Mottley hizo sus comentarios tras la reunión de los líderes caribeños que integran el bloque comercial regional Caricom, realizada esta semana en Santa Lucía para debatir asuntos que incluyen las reparaciones por la esclavitud.

Mottley afirmó que no duda de que hay algunos parlamentarios británicos que quieren distraer a la gente de la política interna del Reino Unido.

“Quienes deseen hablar sobre este asunto deberían primero tomarse el tiempo de leer suficiente historia para comprenderlo”, escribió Mottley en X. “El Caribe no será usado como utilería para la política de nadie”.

El mes pasado, Mottley encabezó un subcomité de líderes caribeños que presentó un nuevo manifiesto de reparaciones por la esclavitud durante una conferencia sobre reparaciones en Ghana.

Bajo el liderazgo de Mottley, Barbados rompió vínculos con la reina Isabel II en noviembre de 2021 y dejó de ser una monarquía constitucional. La primera ministra, también conocida a nivel mundial por su lucha contra el cambio climático, logró un tercer mandato consecutivo en febrero.

En los últimos años, Reino Unido ha insistido en que no pagará para enmendar el daño, mientras que líderes caribeños han reclamado una disculpa formal y diversas medidas, incluidas cancelaciones de deuda.

El jefe de derechos humanos de la ONU, Volker Türk, afirmó que se estima que entre 25 y 30 millones de africanos fueron arrancados de sus hogares con el propósito de esclavizarlos, y que muchos fueron enviados a trabajar en plantaciones del Caribe y las Américas.

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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

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According to Broward Sheriff Fire Rescue officials, crews responded to the scene at 1441 W. Newport Center Drive early Friday morning after receiving reports about an industrial accident.

“Upon arrival, crews found that the incident occurred at an industrial park facility used for the mass production of food products,” a BSFR spokesperson said in an email to Local 10 News. “Preliminary information indicates that an adult male became trapped beneath the hopper arm of a conveyor belt while attempting to address an issue with a large production machine.”

The spokesperson said “despite rapid response efforts,” the victim was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics.

The incident remains under investigation.

The victim’s identity has not been released.

The governing body's last-minute tickets sales site, which at times had listed the game as sold out, had 1,178 seats available across five sections of the top deck along the sidelines: 282 in section 344, 299 in section 343, 139 in section 335, 443 in section 334 and 15 in section 333.

FIFA also was selling 68 front category one tickets in the lower deck at prices ranging from $19,995 to $32,970 and had remaining hospitality tickets in its Trophy Lounge and Trophy Lounge+ sections priced at $34,500 and $32,500, including food and drinks.

Soccer's governing body did not immediately respond to a request for details on why the additional tickets had become available.

In addition, FIFA had tickets available at $1,600 to $3,995 for Saturday's quarterfinal between Argentina and Switzerland at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri.

Resale tickets for the final were available on FIFA's marketplace at prices from $7,440.50 to $11,499,998.85.

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See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

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According to Fort Lauderdale police, the shooting was reported shortly after 4 a.m. in the 1700 block of East Sunrise Boulevard.

As officers were enroute to the scene, the victim rode his scooter to a nearby Walgreens to seek help, police said.

Officers arrived at the Walgreens a short time later and the victim was transported to Broward Health Medical Center. His injuries were said to be non-life-threatening.

No other details were immediately released.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Fort Lauderdale Police Department or Broward Crime Stoppers at 954-493-8477.

Según la Policía de Fort Lauderdale, la balacera fue reportada poco después de las 4 a.m. en la cuadra 1700 de East Sunrise Boulevard.

Mientras los agentes se dirigían al lugar, la víctima llegó en su scooter a un Walgreens cercano para pedir ayuda, informó la Policía.

Los agentes llegaron al Walgreens poco después y la víctima fue trasladada al Broward Health Medical Center. Las autoridades informaron que sus heridas no ponen en peligro su vida.

No se dieron a conocer de inmediato más detalles.

Cualquier persona con información sobre la balacera debe llamar al Departamento de Policía de Fort Lauderdale o a Broward Crime Stoppers al 954-493-8477.

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We’ve touched on the myriad factors working against development in the Atlantic this season as El Niño charges ahead, including near-record high wind shear in the weeks ahead, which continues to obliterate any tropical contenders across the main development region.

By the end of the upcoming weekend, the Atlantic hurricane season will have notched its least active start since 2009, another strong El Niño year that pitched a named storm shutout until Aug. 12.

We’ve seen other slow starters gain ground quickly in August, like in 2004, which didn’t churn out its first named storm until Aug. 1 but went on to become the sixth most active hurricane season in over 150 years of hurricane record-keeping and included four major hurricane hits on Florida alone. To be clear, nothing of the sort is expected in 2026 (2004 experienced a mild El Niño, but it was of the less common Modoki variety which has little influence on the Atlantic hurricane season), but regardless these are good reminders that activity does eventually pick up, typically by August, even in slow-starting years.

Tropical action stays in the Pacific

Nothing’s brewing for now in the Atlantic. As we mentioned in previous newsletters this week, the only outside shot of development in the Atlantic won’t come until later next week along a stalled front off the U.S. East Coast. Models haven’t trended toward higher development odds and overall chances of tropical development in this area remain very low (10% or less). Regardless, any organizing low-pressure system would move away from the U.S.

Otherwise, tropical activity in the eastern Pacific will be picking up in the weeks ahead, as it often does in that part of the world in July. Thankfully, none of these developing areas poses any threat to land.

Ya hemos abordado la multitud de factores que dificultan el desarrollo de sistemas tropicales en el Atlántico esta temporada, a medida que El Niño avanza, incluyendo una cizalladura del viento casi récord en las próximas semanas, que continúa aniquilando cualquier posible sistema tropical en la principal región de desarrollo.

Para finales del próximo fin de semana, la temporada de huracanes del Atlántico habrá registrado su inicio menos activo desde 2009, otro año de El Niño intenso que dejó sin tormentas con nombre propio hasta el 12 de agosto.

Hemos visto cómo otros huracanes de inicio lento cobran fuerza rápidamente en agosto, como en 2004, que no generó su primera tormenta con nombre hasta el 1 de agosto, pero se convirtió en la sexta temporada de huracanes más activa en más de 150 años de registros y azotó Florida con cuatro huracanes importantes. Cabe aclarar que no se espera nada parecido en 2026 (en 2004 se experimentó un El Niño leve, pero fue de la variedad Modoki, menos común, que tiene poca influencia en la temporada de huracanes del Atlántico), pero, en cualquier caso, estos son buenos recordatorios de que la actividad sí repunta, generalmente en agosto, incluso en años de inicio lento.

La actividad tropical se mantiene en el Pacífico.

Por ahora no hay actividad en el Atlántico. Como mencionamos en boletines anteriores esta semana, la única posibilidad de desarrollo en el Atlántico no llegará hasta finales de la próxima semana a lo largo de un frente estancado frente a la costa este de EE. UU. Los modelos no han mostrado una tendencia hacia mayores probabilidades de desarrollo y las posibilidades generales de desarrollo tropical en esta área siguen siendo muy bajas (10 % o menos). De todos modos, cualquier sistema de baja presión que se organice se alejaría de EE. UU.

Por lo demás, la actividad tropical en el Pacífico oriental se intensificará en las próximas semanas, como suele ocurrir en esa parte del mundo durante el mes de julio. Afortunadamente, ninguna de estas zonas en desarrollo representa una amenaza para tierra firme.

Según un informe de arresto, los agentes realizaban un operativo contra el uso ilegal de espacios de estacionamiento para personas con discapacidad alrededor de las 7 p.m. en la cuadra 10100 de West Flagler Street, en el área de Fontainebleau, en Miami-Dade, cuando observaron un Mazda rojo estacionado en un espacio designado para personas con discapacidad con un permiso de estacionamiento para discapacitados visible.

Después de verificar el registro del vehículo, los agentes hablaron con las cuatro mujeres que iban a bordo y comenzaron a investigar el uso del permiso de estacionamiento para personas con discapacidad, indica el informe. Los agentes dijeron que posteriormente la conductora recibió una citación por uso fraudulento o no autorizado de un permiso de estacionamiento para personas con discapacidad.

Mientras se le indicaba a la conductora que se acercara a una patrulla identificada para revisar y firmar la citación, Jaley Rivalta, quien iba sentada en el asiento del pasajero delantero, presuntamente se acercó al sargento y comenzó a discutir por la citación, según el informe.

El informe indica que Rivalta ignoró las órdenes del sargento de regresar al vehículo y continuó interfiriendo con la parada de tránsito.

Durante la confrontación, Rivalta golpeó intencionalmente la mano del sargento, según el informe. Los agentes dijeron que el sargento intentó detenerla.

Según el informe, Rivalta presuntamente se resistió alejando los brazos, tensando el cuerpo y negándose repetidamente a dejar de resistirse y a colocar las manos detrás de la espalda.

El informe señala que también continuó usando “fuerza física” contra el sargento antes de que este la arrestara.

Los registros de la cárcel muestran que Rivalta enfrenta un cargo de agresión contra un agente del orden público, uno de resistencia con violencia contra un agente y otro por acercarse a un socorrista después de haber sido advertida o por interferir con un socorrista.

Hasta la mañana del viernes, permanecía detenida en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight con una fianza de $2,750 USD.

Según una orden de arresto, Jose Maya, de 40 años, está acusado de colocar un dispositivo de grabación de video debajo de la puerta de un baño, el cual grabó a la víctima, de 23 años.

Los detectives informaron que la víctima descubrió el dispositivo el 28 de junio y denunció el incidente a las autoridades el lunes.

Las autoridades indicaron que la víctima afirmó que comenzó a sospechar de Maya el año pasado, cuando lo sorprendió acostado en el piso, justo afuera de la puerta del baño, mientras ella se duchaba.

La mujer dijo que, al salir de la ducha, notó un pequeño objeto negro debajo de la puerta del baño, pero inicialmente pensó que era un insecto porque no llevaba puestos sus lentes ni lentes de contacto.

Según la orden, la víctima dijo que Maya se puso de pie rápidamente cuando ella abrió la puerta del baño y afirmó que estaba reparando una luz nocturna con sensor de movimiento cerca del baño.

La orden indica que la víctima sospechó de la explicación, pero inicialmente descartó el incidente.

Según la orden, la víctima continuó notando un pequeño objeto negro que aparecía debajo de la puerta del baño mientras se duchaba y le comentó sus sospechas a su madre.

Los detectives informaron que la madre de la víctima sugirió colocar un teléfono celular en el cuarto de lavado para grabar lo que estaba ocurriendo y confirmar sus sospechas.

Según la orden, la víctima lo hizo y su teléfono celular captó a Maya colocando un dispositivo de grabación debajo de la puerta del baño mientras ella se duchaba.

Los detectives informaron que la madre de la víctima confrontó a Maya el 28 de junio y él hizo algún tipo de admisión, aunque sus comentarios completos fueron censurados en la versión pública de la orden.

Los detectives informaron que la madre de la víctima le dijo que uno de los videos mostraba sus glúteos, mientras que las otras grabaciones estaban borrosas.

Los registros muestran que Maya fue ingresado al Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight alrededor de las 7:50 p.m. del martes. Desde entonces fue puesto en libertad bajo fianza.

El jefe de la Policía de North Miami Beach, Juan Pinillos, anunció la renuncia de Maya la noche del jueves y dijo que esta entró en vigor de inmediato.

“Aunque su renuncia pone fin a su empleo en el departamento, no cambia la gravedad de las acusaciones ni nuestro compromiso con la rendición de cuentas”, dijo Pinillos en un comunicado. “Con base en la información disponible, ya había determinado que el despido era la medida apropiada.

“El público merece un departamento de Policía que mantenga los más altos estándares de integridad, profesionalismo y confianza pública. Seguimos comprometidos con la transparencia y continuaremos exigiendo que todos los empleados rindan cuentas conforme a esos estándares”.

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The vote reverses a decision from the planning, zoning and appeals board.

Preservation advocates were pushing to save the nearly 100-year-old landmark, and now officials will move ahead with redevelopment plans that would include a new, modern theater.

Built in 1927, the Coconut Grove Playhouse evolved into one of the country’s most important regional theaters.

Legendary artists adorned its stage, and even former President Harry Truman paid the place a visit.

In 1989, Local 10 News covered the play “Mixed Blessings,” which centered on a Miami-Cuban family.

A crown jewel of its time, the venue is now reduced to bones.

The last curtain fell at the historic theatre in 2006, and now the cracked and crumbling blue building silently sits amid bustling retail shops and restaurants.

The first phase is expected to open next year in time for the Playhouse’s centennial.

La votación revierte una decisión de la Junta de Planificación, Zonificación y Apelaciones.

Los defensores de la preservación impulsaban salvar este emblemático edificio de casi 100 años de antigüedad y ahora las autoridades avanzarán con los planes de remodelación, que incluirán un nuevo teatro moderno.

Construido en 1927, el Coconut Grove Playhouse se convirtió en uno de los teatros regionales más importantes del país.

Artistas legendarios se presentaron en su escenario e incluso el ex presidente Harry Truman visitó el lugar.

En 1989, Local 10 News cubrió la obra “Mixed Blessings”, centrada en una familia cubana de Miami.

En su época fue una joya arquitectónica, pero hoy el recinto ha quedado reducido prácticamente a su estructura.

El telón cayó por última vez en el histórico teatro en 2006 y ahora el edificio azul, agrietado y deteriorado, permanece en silencio en medio de un concurrido sector de tiendas y restaurantes.

Se espera que la primera fase abra el próximo año, a tiempo para el centenario del Playhouse.

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According to an arrest warrant, Jose Maya, 40, is accused of planting a video recording device under a bathroom door, which recorded the 23-year-old victim.

Detectives said the victim discovered the device on June 28 and reported the incident to law enforcement on Monday.

Authorities said the victim claimed she first became suspicious of Maya last year when she caught him lying on the floor immediately outside the bathroom door as she was showering.

The woman said that as she exited the shower, she noticed a small black object underneath the bathroom door, but she initially thought it was an insect because she wasn’t wearing her glasses or contact lenses.

According to the warrant, the victim said Maya quickly stood up as she opened the bathroom door, and claimed that he had been fixing a motion-activated night light near the bathroom.

The warrant states that the victim was suspicious, but initially dismissed the incident.

According to the warrant, the victim continued noticing a small black object appearing underneath the bathroom door as she showered and she told her mother about her suspicions.

Detectives said the victim’s mother suggested placing a cellphone in the laundry room to record what was happening and confirm her suspicions.

According to the warrant, the victim did so and her cellphone captured Maya placing a recording device underneath the bathroom door as she was showering.

Detectives said the victim’s mother confronted Maya on June 28 and he provided some kind of admission, although his full comments to her were redacted from the publicly released warrant.

Detectives said the victim’s mother told her one of the videos showed her buttocks, while the other recordings were blurry.

Records show Maya was booked into the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center at about 7:50 p.m. Tuesday. He has since been released on bond.

North Miami Beach Police Chief Juan Pinillos announced Maya’s resignation Thursday night and said his resignation was effective immediately.

“While his resignation concludes his employment with the department, it does not change the seriousness of the allegations or our commitment to accountability,” Pinillos said in a statement. “Based on the information available, I had already determined that termination was the appropriate course of action.

“The public deserves a police department that upholds the highest standards of integrity, professionalism, and public trust. We remain committed to transparency and will continue to hold every employee accountable to those standards.”

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They agreed to settle a decades-old frozen pension program lawsuit for $770,000, rather than go to trial with Carollo.

But the city still has another legal fight with Carollo, who was a two-time mayor and three-time commissioner before being termed out of office in 2025.

Recently, the commission voted to sue Carollo over legal fees the city spent defending him after two businessmen sued him and won.

The businessmen’s attorney, Jeff Gutchess, told the court in a filing earlier this year that the final judgement of $63 million that a federal civil jury awarded “remains unsatisfied” before enumerating “grounds for garnishment.”

In that case, a federal civil jury found Carollo liable for violating the First Amendment rights of William Fuller and Martin Pinilla, who own the popular Ball & Chain bar in Miami.

“The filings allege that the proposed payment stems from a decades-old lawsuit filed by Carollo against the city concerning pension-related legislative changes and that the settlement is expected to be funded from the City’s general revenues rather than from any protected pension trust or retirement account,” Gutchess told Local 10 News in a statement in May. “What is deeply troubling is that, even after the jury’s findings and the Court’s judgment, the City of Miami continues to aid and abet the very individual found liable for weaponizing government power against private citizens.

“Rather than protecting taxpayers and restoring public trust, the City is now poised to transfer substantial public funds to the perpetrator of that misconduct while the judgment against him remains unpaid.“

Acordaron resolver mediante un acuerdo una demanda relacionada con un programa de pensiones congelado que data de hace décadas por $770,000 USD, en lugar de ir a juicio con Carollo.

Pero la ciudad aún mantiene otra batalla legal con Carollo, quien fue alcalde en dos ocasiones y comisionado en tres antes de dejar el cargo en 2025 debido a los límites de mandato.

Recientemente, la comisión votó a favor de demandar a Carollo para recuperar los gastos legales que la ciudad asumió al defenderlo después de que dos empresarios lo demandaron y obtuvieron una victoria en los tribunales.

El abogado de los empresarios, Jeff Gutchess, indicó en un documento presentado ante el tribunal a principios de este año que la sentencia final de $63 millones USD otorgada por un jurado civil federal “permanece sin ser satisfecha”, antes de enumerar los “fundamentos para un embargo”.

En ese caso, un jurado civil federal determinó que Carollo era responsable de violar los derechos de la Primera Enmienda de William Fuller y Martin Pinilla, propietarios del popular bar Ball & Chain en Miami.

“Los documentos presentados alegan que el pago propuesto surge de una demanda presentada hace décadas por Carollo contra la ciudad relacionada con cambios legislativos en materia de pensiones y que se espera que el acuerdo sea financiado con los ingresos generales de la ciudad, en lugar de cualquier fideicomiso de pensiones o cuenta de jubilación protegida”, dijo Gutchess a Local 10 News en un comunicado en mayo. “Lo que resulta profundamente preocupante es que, incluso después de las conclusiones del jurado y de la sentencia del tribunal, la ciudad de Miami continúa ayudando y respaldando al mismo individuo declarado responsable de utilizar el poder del gobierno como arma contra ciudadanos particulares.

“En lugar de proteger a los contribuyentes y restaurar la confianza pública, la ciudad ahora está dispuesta a transferir una cantidad considerable de fondos públicos al responsable de esa conducta, mientras la sentencia en su contra sigue sin ser pagada.”

“This case was always about two courageous young girls who simply wanted the same opportunities as their peers to participate in school life,” their lawyer, Chris Erchull of GLAD Law, said in a statement Thursday. “Their willingness to stand up to extraordinary hostility made clear the human cost of laws that target transgender youth.”

The teenagers, Parker Tirrell and Iris Turmelle, took on Trump’s executive order last year, amending their 2024 complaint against New Hampshire's law on banning transgender girls from school sports. A federal judge had granted a court order allowing them to play as the case proceeded.

For Tirrell, it meant being able to keep playing on her high school girls’ soccer team. For Turmelle, it was having a chance to try out for different sports.

Both sides agreed to pause the case and wait for a ruling from the Supreme Court as it considered similar state laws barring transgender girls and women from playing on school and college athletic teams in Idaho and West Virginia. Last month, the court upheld the laws. It also said that barring transgender girls and women doesn’t run afoul of the federal law known as Title IX, which prohibits sex discrimination in education.

One teen and her family decided to move from New Hampshire

Turmelle and her family moved out of New Hampshire last summer following proposed legislation against transgender people. One measure signed into law by Republican Gov. Kelly Ayotte last year prohibits medical professionals from providing puberty blockers and hormone replacement therapy to new transgender patients under age 18.

“Though there may be a carve-out for people already receiving gender-affirming care, that is way too close a call for us to risk staying,” Turmelle's mother, Amy Manzetti, wrote in an op-ed piece at the time. “Other New Hampshire laws also seek to erase her.”

Most Republican-controlled states in the past five years have adopted laws or policies limiting gender-affirming care for transgender minors and limiting which school bathrooms transgender people can use, as well as sports restrictions. The Williams Institute at UCLA estimates that about 3% of youth ages 13 to 17 identify as transgender.

“The challenges with relocation are significant and burdensome — this includes having to find new employment, buying and selling homes, packing and moving possessions, integrating kids with a new school system, losing access to longstanding family and friends, and potential loss of income,” Corinne Goodwin, the executive director of Eastern PA Trans Equality Project in Pennsylvania, said in an email.

"But these families do so because they love their kids and know that supporting them with the care and opportunities they need is critical to their long-term success and happiness.”

The other teen gave up playing soccer at high school

Tirrell, 17, began her junior year last fall on the girls' junior varsity soccer team. Things were fine at first, and each time she scored a goal, she got a round of ice cream from her parents. But a few weeks into the season, she decided to stop playing.

“With all of the political stuff going on, soccer wasn't just about the game anymore,” her mother, Sara Tirrell, told The Associated Press in an interview.

It became more about preparing for the possibility of conflict.

“Were there any local Facebook groups where they were sort of agitating about potential protests and how do we prepare, and what are we walking into, and we never kind of knew,” she said. “We were on a lot of pins and needles, especially after the previous season."

She was referring to a controversy at an away game where two dads from an opposing team were banned from school grounds for wearing pink wristbands marked “XX” to represent female chromosomes. They sued the school district and a judge ruled against them. They have appealed their case.

Last fall, there was an increased presence of school administrators at the games and bus drivers pulled in closer to the field so the students weren’t in the parking lot, she said.

“Parker didn’t talk about it a lot, but I think she could see that stress for everybody — for her, for her teammates, for her coaches,” Sara Tirrell said. "She felt kind of bad about pulling them all into that circus again. And so she ultimately said, ‘This isn’t fun anymore and I don’t want to do it.’”

Parker’s father described the atmosphere as “palpable tension.”

Even playing on her own turf, “there would typically be a couple of police officers at the home games where there weren’t previously,” Zach Tirrell said.

In the past, Parker also played soccer in a recreation league and could still do so.

“But I think it all kind of still sort of weighs on her,” her mother said. "It's the same group of kids that she plays with who, honestly, have been very supportive and love to have her on the team and have expressed that to her many times over. But I think she still has that worry in her brain around, ‘What are other people going to say and do if I show up at a game?’”

Parker's parents hope she'll return to playing soccer some day. In the meantime, “she plans to be around and use her voice to continue standing up to discrimination,” her mother said. “In some ways she’s had to grow up a lot faster than some of her peers.”

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Associated Press reporter Geoff Mulvihill in Haddonfield, New Jersey, contributed to this article.

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Valdes was described in the lawsuit as an “innocent bystander” who was celebrating her birthday when she was struck by police gunfire last year.

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court by Valdes’ mother, Kristy Dee Garcia, alleges that Miami Police Department Sgt. Javier Herbello and MPD Officer Dorian Acosta “opened fire without warning” during an altercation outside the Electric Lady nightclub in Wynwood on June 14, 2025, killing Valdes as she sat in the back seat of an SUV.

According to the complaint, the officers fired “approximately 10 to 11 rounds” across a “crowded” street without issuing verbal warnings or attempting to de-escalate the confrontation.

The lawsuit alleges Valdes was seated in a vehicle “directly within the Officer Defendants’ line of sight” when she was struck by a bullet.

Authorities said a gunman died, and two victims were injured after a fight devolved into a police shooting.

The complaint also alleges officers and emergency responders failed to provide timely medical care after the shooting, stating it took about 34 minutes from the initial 911 call for Valdes to arrive at Jackson Memorial Hospital’s Ryder Trauma Center, about 1.3 miles from the scene.

The lawsuit names the city of Miami; Herbello and Acosta; VIP Management Team Corp., doing business as VIP Security Florida; and 144 NW 23rd Street Group LLC, doing business as Electric Lady, as defendants.

According to the complaint, VIP Security failed to properly screen patrons for guns, monitor an armed patron or prevent an altercation from escalating outside the club.

The lawsuit also alleges Electric Lady failed to adequately supervise its security contractor and “protect the safety of patrons on and around their premises.”

The complaint claims the officers violated Valdes’ constitutional rights through excessive force and accuses the city of Miami of maintaining a longstanding pattern of inadequate training, supervision and discipline related to police use of deadly force.

The lawsuit also cites previous U.S. Department of Justice investigations into the MPD, alleging the agency has a history of “brutality and excessive force” and delayed investigations into police shootings.

Valdes’ family is seeking compensatory damages, punitive damages where applicable, attorney fees and a jury trial. It does not specify the amount of compensation being sought.

Valdes fue descrita en la demanda como una “espectadora inocente” que celebraba su cumpleaños cuando fue alcanzada por disparos de la Policía el año pasado.

La demanda, presentada en el Tribunal de Distrito de Estados Unidos por la madre de Valdes, Kristy Dee Garcia, alega que el sargento Javier Herbello y el agente Dorian Acosta, de la Policía de Miami, “abrieron fuego sin previo aviso” durante un altercado ocurrido frente al club nocturno Electric Lady, en Wynwood, el 14 de junio de 2025, lo que provocó la muerte de Valdes mientras ella estaba sentada en el asiento trasero de una SUV.

Según la demanda, los agentes dispararon “aproximadamente entre 10 y 11 rondas” a través de una calle “concurrida” sin emitir advertencias verbales ni intentar reducir la tensión de la confrontación.

La demanda alega que Valdes estaba sentada en un vehículo “directamente dentro de la línea de visión de los agentes demandados” cuando fue alcanzada por una bala.

Las autoridades informaron que un hombre armado murió y dos víctimas resultaron heridas luego de que una pelea derivó en una balacera con la Policía.

La demanda también alega que los agentes y el personal de emergencias no brindaron atención médica oportuna tras la balacera, al señalar que transcurrieron aproximadamente 34 minutos desde la llamada inicial al 911 hasta que Valdes llegó al Centro de Trauma Ryder del Hospital Jackson Memorial, ubicado a aproximadamente 1.3 millas del lugar.

La demanda señala como demandados a la ciudad de Miami; Herbello y Acosta; VIP Management Team Corp., que opera como VIP Security Florida; y 144 NW 23rd Street Group LLC, que opera como Electric Lady.

Según la demanda, VIP Security no realizó una revisión adecuada para detectar armas entre los clientes, no supervisó debidamente a un cliente armado ni evitó que un altercado escalara fuera del club.

La demanda también alega que Electric Lady no supervisó adecuadamente a su contratista de seguridad ni “protegió la seguridad de los clientes dentro y en los alrededores de sus instalaciones”.

La demanda sostiene que los agentes violaron los derechos constitucionales de Valdes mediante el uso excesivo de la fuerza y acusa a la ciudad de Miami de mantener un patrón de larga data de capacitación, supervisión y disciplina inadecuadas relacionadas con el uso de fuerza letal por parte de la Policía.

La demanda también cita investigaciones previas del Departamento de Justicia de Estados Unidos sobre la Policía de Miami, al alegar que la agencia tiene un historial de “brutalidad y uso excesivo de la fuerza”, además de retrasar las investigaciones sobre balaceras en las que participan agentes.

La familia de Valdes solicita daños compensatorios, daños punitivos cuando correspondan, el pago de honorarios de abogados y un juicio con jurado. La demanda no especifica el monto de la compensación solicitada.

Speaking Wednesday alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Trump said the United States would allow Ukraine to make the U.S.-designed systems that Kyiv has long sought to shield its cities and infrastructure from Russian missiles and drones.

“We’ll give them the right to make Patriots. We’ll show them how to do it,” Trump said. “I think they can produce them pretty quickly.”

But the statement left open a crucial question: What exactly would Ukraine be allowed to produce?

“America has recognized Ukraine as a country that is ready to do this,” Zelenskyy told reporters Thursday, adding that Ukrainian and U.S. diplomats and defense officials must now work “without pauses” to finalize the licensing arrangements.

A license might not cover the complete Patriot system

Patriot interceptor missiles, which are fired to shoot down incoming missiles, drones and aircraft, are produced by U.S. defense contractors Lockheed Martin and Raytheon, part of RTX.

A production license would not automatically allow Ukraine to manufacture complete Patriot batteries — including launchers, radar systems, command posts and missiles — from scratch. It could instead cover narrower parts of the system, such as interceptor missiles, final assembly from imported component kits or production of selected components.

Serhii Beskrestnov, an adviser to Ukraine’s defense minister, said a U.S. license would typically come with technical documentation, training for specialists, supplier contacts and foreign consultants to help launch manufacturing.

Other experts say the first step would likely be more limited than full domestic production.

Anatolii Khrapchynskyi, development director of the Fly Group Ukraine defense company, said Trump’s wording was ambiguous because he referred broadly to producing “Patriots,” without specifying whether he meant missiles, launchers, radar systems, command centers or components.

Missile production alone involves a vast supply chain, Khrapchynskyi said, with hundreds of companies making parts such as control surfaces, engines, guidance systems and communications equipment.

The Trump administration has not offered details about the Ukraine license, but an administration official said the U.S. is significantly accelerating and expanding Patriot production to meet growing demand and is forming industrial partnerships with allies and partners globally to deliver Patriots. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly.

Any additional Patriot systems would enter a war that has shown how quickly weapons production can expand when a country receives designs, technical support and access to components. Ukraine has become a leader in the manufacture of cheap, expendable drone systems. Russia has scaled up domestic production of Iranian-designed Shahed-type attack drones, known in Russia as Gerans, at a factory in Tatarstan.

But experts say Patriot interceptors are far more complex, requiring precision guidance, advanced radar technology, solid-fuel rocket motors, military-grade electronics and strict certification standards.

Full production could take years

Yehor Chernev, deputy chairman of Ukraine’s parliamentary committee on national security, defense and intelligence, said the legal and bureaucratic process could be launched within months, but implementing production would take years.

Even if Ukraine received complete component kits from abroad, Chernev said, it would likely need at least 18 to 24 months to launch its first pilot production line, followed by more time to complete the first weapons.

The PAC-3 missile, designed to intercept and destroy ballistic missiles, is among the most sophisticated parts of the Patriot family. Producing a PAC-3 MSE missile in the United States takes about 24 months, and producing its solid-fuel rocket motor requires around 30 months, he said.

Chernev said some technology, especially the missile’s active radar seeker, is so sensitive that Washington would be unlikely to transfer full documentation for Ukraine to manufacture them from scratch. That means Ukraine might have to import some of the most complex components and focus first on assembly, integration or less sensitive parts of the supply chain.

Dr. Thomas Withington, an analyst specializing in electronic warfare, radar and military communications at the Royal United Services Institute, said expectations should be managed.

Ukraine’s existing defense industry could help, Withington said, but the country would still need time to set up facilities, train workers and secure the necessary supply chains.

“This is not going to be a fix for the air-defense threats Ukraine is going to face tomorrow.”

Other countries have produced Patriot systems

The United States has allowed Patriot-related production abroad before, and experts say those examples show that licensed production is possible but slow.

Japan has produced Patriot missiles under license for decades. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries has assembled PAC-3 missiles under a licensed agreement with Lockheed Martin, and Japan later loosened its postwar arms export restrictions to allow the sale of U.S.-designed Patriot missiles back to the United States — a move that could indirectly help replenish stocks used to support Ukraine.

Germany offers a more recent example. Raytheon and MBDA Deutschland announced in 2022 a plan to produce Patriot GEM-T missiles in Germany. A major NATO procurement contract followed in 2024 for up to 1,000 missiles, and a new production facility in Schrobenhausen is expected to play a role in supplying Ukraine and replenishing European inventories.

But Ukraine would face an additional challenge that Japan and Germany did not: Russian strikes.

Khrapchynskyi said any facility helping Ukraine defend its airspace would become a priority target for Moscow. Production would have to be placed in protected locations, potentially underground or inside shelters, he said.

That makes the license more of a long-term strategic step than an immediate battlefield solution. If implemented, it could help Ukraine become a future producer of air-defense weapons and reduce dependence on allies whose own stockpiles are under strain.

“It would not solve the current missile shortage in 2026,” he said, “but it would lay the foundation for Ukraine to become one of Europe’s leading producers of air-defense systems in the future.”

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Associated Press journalists Volodymyr Yurchuk in Kyiv, Ukraine; Mari Yamaguchi in Tokyo; Stefanie Dazio in Berlin; and Michelle L. Price in Washington contributed to this report.

The 71-year-old Jesus has coached several Portuguese clubs, including Benfica and Sporting Lisbon. His last job was with Al-Nassr in the Saudi Arabian league, where he coached Portugal star Cristiano Ronaldo.

The experienced Portuguese coach will replace Spaniard Roberto Martinez after Portugal lost 1-0 to Spain in the round-of-16 of the World Cup.

The Portuguese national team wrote on X on Friday that “A new journey begins today. Welcome to the National Team, Mister Jorge Jesus.”

The hiring of Jesus as coach came two days after the Portuguese federation said it was parting ways with Martínez.

Portugal's underwhelming run at the World Cup sparked a debate among fans and media regarding the role of the 41-year-old Ronaldo. Many questioned Martínez still playing him major minutes at striker and focusing the team's attack on trying to find the aging scorer.

Ronaldo, the leading scorer for men’s international soccer with 146 goals, said that this was his final World Cup. But the global star has yet to say when he plans to retire from international play. He will be 43 by the time the 2028 European Championship, the next major tournament, rolls around.

Jesus, who called Ronaldo a “symbol” of Portuguese sports on Friday, said that he still needs to talk with him about his future.

“That’s a conversation we’re both going to have. What does he want to do for the future of his career?” Jesus told reporters at his presentation that was held shortly after the announcement of his hiring.

Ronaldo is under contract with his Saudi club through 2027.

Whether Ronaldo continues to play for his nation, Jesus inherits a talent-packed team, especially at midfield with Bruno Fernandes, Vitinha and João Neves.

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See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

Crump, who was retained by the family of Nolan Xavier Wells earlier this week, has said the family has concerns about the investigation and planned to conduct an independent autopsy. Wells travelled by boat to Horn Island, Mississippi on July 4 with a group of friends, but did not make the return trip with them that afternoon. His body was found early Monday morning, more than a day later.

While Jackson County Sheriff’s Office officials said investigators don't suspect foul play in the Black college student's death, the sheriff has asked for any witnesses or people with video from the popular beach island about 10 miles off the coast of Mississippi to come forward to help shed light on the moments before Wells' disappearance and death.

Family members have raised concerns, saying they've seen video of a fight allegedly involving their son, and saying as an elite athlete he was able to swim. Wells, who would have turned 19 next month, attended Southwest Mississippi Community College, where he played wide receiver on the football team.

A photo posted to social media, allegedly from the boat ride to the island, shows Wells with his arms around three white, male friends. Speculation and suspicion about the teen’s death have been rampant online, as people grapple with the state’s history of racial tension and what it means to be a Black person in a majority white space.

“We will not rest until every fact about what happened to Nolan on Horn Island is brought into the light, and we call on investigators to pursue this case with the urgency and transparency this family deserves,” Crump wrote in an emailed statement earlier this week.

It's the second case the noted civil rights attorney has taken on in the state in recent months. He also was recently retained by the family of a Mississippi 1-year-old who was killed when police fired into a moving car.

Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter said earlier this week that Wells' mother had called to report him missing around midnight into the morning of July 5. Crews from multiple local and state agencies began an extensive search Sunday of the island and surrounding waters. His body was recovered early Monday, family members confirmed.

An official autopsy was conducted Tuesday, though officials have said it could be weeks before results are released.

Ledbetter said Wells’ friends were cooperating with the investigation.

“From the people we’ve talked to, it sounds like he chose to stay on the island with the assumption that he was going to ride back to the mainland with someone else,” Ledbetter told The Associated Press earlier this week.

In a social media post, his mother, Christine Wonsley, said the family is seeking videos and other documentation from the island.

“My heart is broken for our sweet son who was always willing to cheer and uplift others,” she said. “Nolan was a special soul, God took his time creating our son.”

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AP reporter Jake Offenhartz contributed to this report.

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The owners of Nouveau Miami say they’re creating a gathering place rooted in community, culture and legacy.

The restaurant, located at 108 NW 25th St. in Wynwood, is the newest Nouveau location. The concept first opened in the Atlanta area before expanding to South Florida.

Co-owner Ebony Austin said the restaurant is designed to offer more than just a meal.

“We’re really like Cheers, but reimagined, with a twist,” she said. “That twist is our food. That twist is that experience we give our customers.”

Austin and business partner Yandy Smith say they want guests to feel at home while celebrating Black culture and community.

Smith described the restaurant as “a little bit soul, a little bit culture, with a little bit class. And it’s really about community and having a good time when you come here.”

The entrepreneurs say they’re hands-on in the day-to-day operation of the restaurant.

“You might see Yandy behind the bar, at the host stand. You might see me in the kitchen. We really work,” Smith said.

Beyond serving food, the owners say they’re focused on building something that lasts.

“This space here is all about legacy making sure the people behind us know that we built this with love,” Smith added.

Community remains at the center of that mission.

“One thing that’s been super important to us is community,” Smith said. “Making sure we take care of our people, our culture and plant seeds that are representative of Black excellence everywhere we go.”

The menu blends southern comfort food with Caribbean flavors, offering dishes such as chicken and sweet potato waffles, Cajun seafood grits and other island-inspired favorites.

The restaurant also emphasizes entertainment, with weekend brunch drawing crowds for live music and DJs.

“You’re going to see me on the dance floor every time,” Smith added. “Don’t judge me if my shoes are off.”

Smith said the goal is to create an atmosphere that keeps guests coming back long after the meal is over.

“I’m usually leaving almost about two, three in the morning because people just don’t want to go home,” she said. “We have some of the best DJs that come to create the experience and the vibe. We have some entertainment. We have karaoke night. We’re getting ready to start comedy night. So just stay tuned.”

The owners say they’re also preparing to launch R&B nights.

Nouveau Miami is open every day except Monday. The restaurant’s menu is available on its website.

Los propietarios de Nouveau Miami dicen que están creando un lugar de encuentro basado en la comunidad, la cultura y el legado.

El restaurante, ubicado en el 108 de la calle 25 del noroeste en Wynwood, es la más reciente sede de Nouveau. El concepto abrió por primera vez en el área de Atlanta antes de expandirse al sur de Florida.

La copropietaria Ebony Austin dijo que el restaurante está diseñado para ofrecer mucho más que una comida.

“Somos como Cheers, pero reinventado, con un giro”, dijo. “Ese giro es nuestra comida. Ese giro es la experiencia que les brindamos a nuestros clientes”.

Austin y su socia Yandy Smith dijeron que quieren que los clientes se sientan como en casa mientras celebran la cultura y la comunidad negra.

Smith describió el restaurante como “un poco de alma, un poco de cultura, con un poco de clase. Y realmente se trata de comunidad y de pasarla bien cuando vienes aquí”.

Las empresarias dijeron que participan activamente en las operaciones diarias del restaurante.

“Podrías ver a Yandy detrás de la barra o en la recepción. Podrías verme a mí en la cocina. De verdad trabajamos”, dijo Smith.

Más allá de servir comida, las propietarias dijeron que están enfocadas en construir algo duradero.

“Este espacio tiene que ver con crear un legado, asegurarnos de que quienes vienen detrás de nosotros sepan que construimos esto con amor”, agregó Smith.

La comunidad sigue siendo el eje central de esa misión.

“Una cosa que ha sido muy importante para nosotras es la comunidad”, dijo Smith. “Asegurarnos de cuidar a nuestra gente, nuestra cultura y sembrar semillas que representen la excelencia negra en todos los lugares a los que vamos”.

El menú combina comida sureña reconfortante con sabores caribeños y ofrece platillos como pollo con waffles de batata, sémola con mariscos al estilo cajún y otros favoritos inspirados en las islas.

El restaurante también pone énfasis en el entretenimiento, con un brunch los fines de semana que atrae a multitudes gracias a la música en vivo y los DJ.

“Me van a ver en la pista de baile cada vez”, agregó Smith. “No me juzguen si me quito los zapatos”.

Smith dijo que el objetivo es crear un ambiente que haga que los clientes quieran regresar mucho después de terminar la comida.

“Normalmente me voy alrededor de las dos o tres de la mañana porque la gente simplemente no quiere irse a casa”, dijo. “Tenemos algunos de los mejores DJ que vienen a crear la experiencia y el ambiente. Tenemos entretenimiento. Tenemos noches de karaoke. Estamos por comenzar las noches de comedia. Así que estén atentos”.

Las propietarias también dijeron que se preparan para lanzar noches de R&B.

Nouveau Miami abre todos los días excepto los lunes. El menú del restaurante está disponible en su sitio web.

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According to BSO spokesman Carey Codd, Kaylyn Hausmann, 35, and her 3-month-old daughter were last seen around 1:55 p.m. Wednesday in the 90 block of Southwest 18th Avenue in Dania Beach.

Authorities said Hausmann is 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs about 135 pounds. She has brown hair and brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a long-sleeve white shirt and black pants.

Detectives say they do not believe the circumstances surrounding the mother and daughter’s disappearance are suspicious at this time and they do not believe the baby is in danger. Still, they want to locate both to make sure they are safe.

Anyone with information about their whereabouts is asked to call BSO Detective Leonard Charla at 954-321-4274 or the BSO non-emergency number at 954-764-HELP (4357).

Según el portavoz de la BSO, Carey Codd, Kaylyn Hausmann, de 35 años, y su hija de 3 meses fueron vistas por última vez alrededor de la 1:55 p.m. del miércoles en la cuadra 90 de Southwest 18th Avenue en Dania Beach.

Las autoridades informaron que Hausmann mide 5 pies y 6 pulgadas de estatura y pesa aproximadamente 135 libras. Tiene cabello castaño y ojos marrones, y fue vista por última vez con una camisa blanca de manga larga y pantalón negro.

Los detectives indicaron que, por el momento, no creen que las circunstancias que rodean la desaparición de la madre y su hija sean sospechosas y tampoco creen que la bebé esté en peligro. Aun así, desean localizar a ambas para asegurarse de que estén a salvo.

Cualquier persona con información sobre su paradero debe llamar al detective Leonard Charla, de la BSO, al 954-321-4274 o al número de no emergencias de la BSO al 954-764-HELP (4357).

The 23-year-old Robinson is charged with aggravated murder in the Sept. 10 assassination of Kirk on the Utah Valley University campus. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. State District Judge Tony Graf is not expected to rule immediately.

The hearing resumed Friday with Robinson’s lawyers planning to call a final witness as they try to raise doubts about the prosecution’s case. The defense has previously challenged the reliability of ballistics tests on a bullet fragment recovered from Kirk’s body and fought the release of a recorded interview with Robinson’s roommate, Lance Twiggs, as well as chat room messages Robinson wrote on Discord.

The Latest:

Judge says news media camera can stay, but can’t record video of evidence today

Graf said after reviewing livestream recording that it’s clear the news media camera operator caught the issue first, about 14 seconds before the judge himself spotted it and asked that the exhibit be taken down.

“Compliance with court orders is essential in all proceedings,” Graf says, and protecting the constitutional rights of both defendant Tyler Robinson and Charlie Kirk’s widow Erika Kirk is “paramount.”

Transparency for the public is also important, Graf said.

Defense attorney Richard Novak wanted the judge to bar the news media camera from the courtroom for the rest of the preliminary hearing as well as for a Sept. 1 proceeding, when both sides will present final arguments over whether the case should go to trial.

But Graf said the camera can stay, as long as it doesn’t record video of any evidence presented. He later noted that the livestream’s audio can capture discussion about such evidence.

Media attorney says courtroom livestreams are a team effort

Typically, an announcement is made that an exhibit is going to be shown on the courtroom screen. That gives the camera operator a moment to redirect the camera or to wait a beat before focusing in, depending on what the judge has ordered.

But in this case, prosecutors showed the exhibit with no warning, news media attorney Michael Judd said.

Judd said the camera operator quickly realized what had happened and moved the camera away within about two seconds.

Deputy Utah County Attorney Ryan McBride agreed that the image should not have appeared on the livestream, but told the judge the text of the messages — if not the actual image — had already been made public in law enforcement documents.

Graf said he wants to review the livestream recording before deciding how to handle the violation.

Judge is deciding how to handle a violation of an order barring some evidence from public view

Graf is taking a break to review livestream footage from Thursday, because a piece of evidence that was supposed to be kept from public view was briefly shown on camera.

The evidence — an image of written communication between Tyler Robinson and his then-roommate and romantic partner — has been published and is even able to be purchased as photographic prints, defense attorney Richard Novak told the judge. He said the publication violated Robinson’s fair-trial rights, and he wants the judge to issue sanctions, a kind of legal punishment.

The judge allowed prosecutors to display an image of the evidence on Thursday, but said it could only be shown to the courtroom gallery. Later, prosecutors put up a side-by-side comparison of that image with another photo, and the side-by-side view was briefly caught by the news media camera operator, who quickly panned away.

Salt Lake City woman came bearing gifts for the Kirk family

Tiani Shoemaker drove about an hour from her Salt Lake City home bearing gifts for Charlie Kirk’s mother and hoping for a seat in the courtroom. Security turned her away.

Shoemaker said she brought a hat decorated with the words, “love like a mother,” and a note expressing her condolences and admiration for Kathryn Kirk.

The note was to tell Kirk that “the whole world’s hurting because of the loss of your son,” Shoemaker said, adding that she wanted to be “a part of history.”

“This really is like the whole world is focused on little Provo, Utah right now,” she said.

Shoemaker said some of her friends and extended family members witnessed the shooting and were left traumatized. “They couldn’t even be in large crowds for a while. It’s really — it’s upsetting, you know?”

Zoomed-in version of ‘sniper’s perch’ video to be shown in court

The judge said at the close of Thursday’s hearing that at the request of Kirk’s family, he would allow to be shown inside the courtroom an altered version of a campus surveillance video that prosecutors said shows Robinson crawling out to a rooftop “sniper’s perch” before shooting Kirk.

The unaltered video was previously shown. The altered version includes footage that zooms in on a figure that prosecutors said was Robinson and red marks that were added to the video.

Court is in session

Graf is again reminding attendees of his courtroom rules, including restrictions on electronic devices for many attendees.

Court security director says courtroom visitors shouldn’t look at the parents

Chris Palmer, Court Security Director at Utah State Courts, spoke outside the courthouse as people lined up again hoping for a spot in the courtroom. He warned them that people in the gallery should not make the parents of Charlie Kirk or Tyler Robinson feel uncomfortable by looking at them during the hearing.

“These people come here to get justice, and they don’t need to feel like they’re under a microscope from somebody sitting behind them or ahead of them,” Palmer said.

Joshua Carr of Provo, Utah, was among those in the gallery and said “People were pretty respectful.”

“I wasn’t seeing people turning their heads. Again, we have the — the public was there. We had the Robinson family in front of us, we had the Kirk family behind us.”

Would-be court watchers hope persistence will pay off

Billie Webb of Salt Lake City was among the people who slept outside the courthouse all night hoping to get one of the few public seats inside the hearing.

“I’ve tried to go every single day,” Webb said Thursday night. “Today I wasn’t able to get in once again. I did get in yesterday for the first time. I did get in yesterday for the first time and I am absolutely determined to be there tomorrow.”

“Showed up at 3 a.m. Today for this one. Still did not get in. I was 16th and there’s 14 spots. So I will be camping all night here today. Probably 12 hours. 9 p.m. to 9 a.m.,” she said.

Score. Friday morning, Webb got the pink wristband she needed for a spot inside.

There are only 14 seats for the public in the courtroom

People have been lining up early — sometimes sleeping outside the doors overnight — in hopes of getting a wristband for a seat in the courthouse this week. Only 14 wristbands are given out each day, on a first-come, first-served basis.

Chris Palmer, the court’s director of security, warned Thursday morning that tents and other camping supplies won’t be allowed as people seek a seat for the final day of the hearing Friday. He also warned against jumping in line or saving spots for someone else.

Earlier in the week, court security said it discovered some people had bought colored wristbands to try to sneak in.

Defense tries to sow doubt about ballistics evidence

One of Tyler Robinson’s attorneys, Michael Burt, tried to inject doubt into the prosecution’s case by challenging the reliability of ballistics tests on a bullet fragment recovered from Kirk’s body.

Authorities sought to tie the fragment to the suspected murder weapon, but the results were inconclusive.

“Saying anything but inconclusive was inappropriate,” said Samantha Karner with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

The defense earlier in the week had questioned the reliability of DNA evidence that investigators said linked Robinson to the scene. Experts say the science behind DNA testing is sound.

Robinson’s attorneys plan to have a second person from ATF testify Friday.

The prosecution ended its presentation Thursday afternoon.

Testimony in five-day preliminary hearing wraps Friday

After testimony in the preliminary hearing ends Friday, State District Judge Tony Graf will rule whether prosecutors have shown enough evidence to proceed to trial. But a decision from Graf won’t come immediately.

Attorneys on both sides say they’d like the benefit of seeing the court transcript of the preliminary hearing and want to submit written briefs before Graf weighs in.

That will take weeks to play out. Graf set oral arguments on the evidence presented in the preliminary hearing for Sept. 1.

Graf tends not to make immediate rulings.

“I will not sign the Housing Bill, which has been fully approved by Congress and sent to the White House, in PROTEST over the fact that the United States Senate is not capable of passing THE SAVE AMERICA ACT,” Trump posted on social media.

Trump had 10 days until the Friday deadline to sign the bill, issue a veto, or allow the measure to take effect without his signature. He has chosen to let the measure become law without his express approval, undercutting his administration's claims that he considers it a priority to combat inflation.

Trump’s rejection of the bipartisan housing legislation exacerbates tensions with his own party in a midterm election year and cuts short their efforts to address a key voter concern about rising costs. His post comes more than a week after he canceled plans to sign the bipartisan legislation, announcing he was using it as leverage in his push for a strict voter ID bill.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act aims to lower the cost of housing and spur more home construction. It’s the broadest federal effort in decades to address America’s housing affordability problems, as state and local regulations have made it difficult to build in many of the communities that are also sources of job growth and economic opportunity. White House economists estimated earlier this year a national shortage of 10 million homes and the bill could help to close a portion of that gap.

But Trump called the bill “a yawn” and “so unimportant” compared to legislation that would require proof of citizenship for all voters.

He surprised Republican lawmakers on June 24, when, shortly before a planned signing ceremony at the Capitol, he announced he would not approve the bill until lawmakers first passed the voting legislation.

That bill, the SAVE America Act, doesn’t have enough Republican support to pass.

House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., said after submitting the housing bill to the White House that he told Trump he should get the “fattest black marker you have, and sign your name really big on that.”

“I hope he does sign it,” Johnson told reporters at the time. “If he doesn’t, it’s still law. We’ll still celebrate it.”

He said he also understood Trump was trying to make a point that the elections bill is the top priority. “And I think he’s making it very effectively,” Johnson said.

Still, Trump’s decision not to sign the bill gave Democrats an opening to criticize him on the issue of affordability.

“His priorities couldn’t be clearer: higher cost for families and more power for himself,” Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on X.

The housing bill passed the Senate on an 85-5 vote and the House approved it with an 358-32 vote.

That legislation seeks to cut federal housing rules, slim-down environmental reviews, make it faster to build homes and limit the ability of corporations to buy single-family homes.

The bill does not address all of the causes of the country’s housing woes, including a shortage of construction workers, climbing insurance costs and wages that have not risen fast enough for renters and buyers.

But the bill has drawn support from the real estate industry and housing advocates.

The U.S. housing market has been a driver of recent affordability challenges as skyrocketing prices have kept aspiring buyers out of the market. The National Association of Realtors said Thursday that the median sales price increased 1.8% in June from a year earlier to $440,600, an all-time high on data going back to 1999.

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Associated Press reporter Kevin Freking contributed to this report.

Al menos 11 personas murieron en un incendio forestal en el sur de España durante la noche y hasta la mañana del viernes, lo que lo convierte en uno de los más mortíferos registrados en el país, mientras las altas temperaturas afectaban a gran parte del territorio.

En Francia, un desprendimiento de rocas provocó el miércoles la muerte de un bombero voluntario de 22 años que ayudaba a combatir un incendio forestal de difícil acceso en las montañas de la región alpina de Saboya, en el sureste del país, mientras las temperaturas extremadamente altas convertían bosques y matorrales resecos en auténticos polvorines.

Europa es el continente que se calienta más rápido del mundo: las temperaturas aumentan al doble de la media mundial desde la década de 1980, según el Servicio de Cambio Climático Copernicus de la Unión Europea. A nivel global, 2025 fue el tercer año más caluroso registrado, lo que provocó varias intensas olas de calor en toda Europa.

Los científicos advierten que el cambio climático, causado en parte por la quema de combustibles como la gasolina, el petróleo y el carbón, agrava la frecuencia e intensidad del calor y la sequedad, lo que hace que ciertas regiones sean más vulnerables a los incendios forestales.

Este es un repaso a algunos de los incendios forestales más mortíferos de la última década en Europa:

Más de 100 muertos en Grecia en 2018

El incendio forestal más mortífero de Grecia ocurrió en 2018, cuando un enorme fuego arrasó la localidad costera de Mati, al este de Atenas, y dejó a personas atrapadas en sus casas y en las carreteras mientras intentaban huir. Murieron más de 100 personas, entre ellas, algunas que se ahogaron al intentar nadar para alejarse de las llamas.

En 2023, más de 20 personas murieron en incendios forestales en Grecia, entre ellas, 18 inmigrantes que quedaron atrapados por las llamas de lo que se convirtió en el mayor incendio forestal individual registrado en Europa, mientras cruzaban un bosque en el noreste del país.

Más recientemente, un incendio forestal ocurrido la semana pasada en el norte de Grecia provocó la muerte de un niño de 12 años y su padre.

10 muertos en un incendio forestal en Turquía el año pasado

En julio pasado, 10 bomberos y trabajadores de rescate murieron mientras intentaban apagar un incendio forestal que se desató en una zona boscosa de la provincia de Eskisehir, en el noroeste de Turquía. Las víctimas eran trabajadores forestales y miembros de la organización de rescate AKUT.

El ministro de Bosques, Ibrahim Yumakli, señaló entonces que los vientos cambiaron de dirección de forma repentina, lo que hizo que las llamas se desplazaran y rodearan a los trabajadores forestales.

Uno de ellos era un hombre de 28 años que regresaba al trabajo tras su luna de miel apenas dos días antes. Y un voluntario de AKUT había pasado un mes rescatando a las víctimas de un terremoto catastrófico que golpeó el sur de Turquía en febrero de 2023.

Incendio forestal en Portugal dejó decenas de muertos en 2017

El incendio forestal más mortífero de Portugal dejó 66 muertos en 2017 en Pedrogao Grande, a 200 kilómetros (120 millas) al noreste de Lisboa. La mayoría de las víctimas murió en una carretera mientras intentaba huir en automóvil.

En 2017, otros incendios forestales tardíos elevaron aún más el número anual de muertes relacionadas con incendios en Portugal hasta superar las 120 personas, lo que lo convirtió en el año más mortífero por este tipo de fallecimientos. Un bebé de 1 mes y sus padres estuvieron entre las víctimas.

Posteriormente, el gobierno portugués aprobó una serie de medidas para prevenir y contener los incendios forestales.

Las reformas incluyeron campañas de educación pública sobre cómo se inician los incendios, la creación de una fuerza de reacción rápida de bomberos y la apertura de varios miles de kilómetros (millas) de cortafuegos, además de poner a disposición una gran cantidad de recursos de extinción.

Chipre atribuye los incendios mortales al cambio climático

En Chipre, muchos funcionarios han señalado al cambio climático como responsable de la ferocidad y la rapidez de los incendios forestales recientes, que han cobrado al menos seis vidas en los últimos cinco años.

En julio de 2021 se descubrieron los restos calcinados de cuatro trabajadores egipcios fuera de una aldea montañosa arrasada por el fuego, en lo que un funcionario calificó como el incendio “más destructivo” que la nación insular del Mediterráneo oriental había visto jamás.

En julio pasado, las cuadrillas de rescate encontraron los cuerpos de una pareja de ancianos dentro de un automóvil calcinado en el arcén de una carretera de montaña. La rapidez con la que el incendio forestal quemó aproximadamente 80 kilómetros cuadrados (50 millas cuadradas) de laderas boscosas llevó al presidente Nikos Christodoulides a comentar: “Nunca ha habido nada parecido en Chipre”.

Vientos muy fuertes, altas temperaturas y condiciones extremadamente áridas tras tres inviernos de lluvias mínimas crearon una tormenta perfecta en el punto álgido del incendio.

Un estudio de World Weather Attribution indicó en agosto del año pasado que el cambio climático, que ha provocado temperaturas abrasadoras y una disminución de las lluvias, hizo que los grandes incendios forestales en Turquía, Grecia y Chipre ardieran con mucha más intensidad ese verano.

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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

Scheffler had made 78 consecutive cuts dating to the 2022 FedEx St. Jude Championship. Tiger Woods holds the record of 142 in a row from February 1998 to May 2005.

The top 65 and ties make the cut, and Scheffler was tied for 88th when he missed a 6-foot par putt on his final hole at The Renaissance Club to fall back to even-par 142.

Strong wind was in the forecast for Friday afternoon that could affect scoring, though Scheffler already was looking ahead to his title defense at the British Open next week at Birkdale.

“Just felt like I wasn’t hitting it close enough to give myself enough opportunities,” Scheffler said. “I think that’s really kind of what it comes down to.”

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

Baby fue adoptado previamente en el refugio cuando tenía aproximadamente un año. Cherie Wachter, de la Sociedad Protectora de Animales del condado Broward, dijo que se contactó al propietario, pero nunca acudió a reclamarlo.

“Creemos que es una mezcla de border collie”, dijo Wachter. “A los 9 años todavía se le pueden enseñar muchas cosas más y contarles a todos sus amigos que usted le enseñó todas esas cosas maravillosas a su perro”.

Wachter dijo que Baby pesa alrededor de 50 libras, camina muy bien con correa y sería un excelente compañero para alguien que busca un perro tranquilo y de buen comportamiento.

“Si está buscando un perro para dar paseos tranquilos y que sea un maravilloso integrante de la familia, creo que Baby sería perfecto”, dijo Wachter.

Wachter también presentó a Tolkien, un gatito británico de pelo corto de 13 semanas disponible para adopción. Tolkien y sus dos hermanos fueron entregados al refugio después de que su dueño enfermara.

“Lo que deben saber sobre estos gatitos es que tienen una infección por tiña”, agregó. “Los estamos tratando por eso. Entregaríamos al adoptante el medicamento para continuar el tratamiento en casa”.

Wachter dijo que la tiña es contagiosa para las personas y las mascotas, pero que los adoptantes pueden controlarla con los cuidados adecuados, entre ellos lavarse las manos, lavar la ropa de cama y mantener al gatito separado de otras mascotas del hogar.

La Sociedad Protectora de Animales del condado Broward tiene a Baby, Tolkien y otros animales esperando encontrar un hogar para siempre.

Haga clic aquí para obtener más información sobre cómo adoptar una mascota.

Ese fue el día en que la policía le notificó que su hija Brittany, de 2 años, había muerto después de permanecer dentro de un vehículo bajo el sol durante aproximadamente tres horas mientras estaba al cuidado de una niñera.

Según López, la niñera le pidió a un familiar de mayor edad que cuidara a la menor. Las autoridades dijeron que ese hombre padece demencia.

Ahora, López dice que lo único que pide es justicia para su hija.

La jefa del Departamento de Policía de Hallandale Beach, Grace Mariot, dijo que la investigación continúa activa mientras esperan el informe final del médico forense.

“Este es un hecho trágico. Ningún padre debería tener que soportar el dolor que está viviendo esta madre”, dijo Mariot. “Estamos esperando que la Fiscalía Estatal del condado Broward determine si se presentarán cargos”.

Mariot agregó: “Instamos al público y a cualquier persona que cuide de un menor a asegurarse de revisar siempre el asiento trasero”.

El ex jefe del Departamento de Policía de Miami, Jorge Colina, explicó que existen diversos factores que complican la decisión de presentar cargos en casos como este.

“Pueden evaluar todos los posibles cargos que estén sobre la mesa, pero al final todo dependerá de qué sabía la niñera, qué edad tiene, si siquiera entiende qué es la demencia y si comprendía la gravedad de la condición de esa persona y cómo funciona su cerebro”, dijo Colina.

“Es complicado, lamentablemente. ¿Qué sabía esta persona? ¿Cuál es la verdadera condición de ese hombre? Incluso podrían tener que consultar a un médico como experto para determinar el grado de demencia que padecía y qué sabía la niñera cuando decidió dejarle la responsabilidad del cuidado de la menor”, agregó.

Colina continuó: “Lo que hace difíciles estos casos es que hay que demostrar intención criminal. Para que un fiscal obtenga una condena por homicidio involuntario o asesinato, tendrá que demostrar negligencia grave o un total desprecio por la vida. Normalmente, lo que ocurre en estos casos es que se trata de un accidente trágico, ya sea por un grave lapsus de memoria, el llamado síndrome del bebé olvidado o algo similar, y generalmente involucra a una persona muy cercana al menor.

“No solo hay que demostrar intención criminal, sino que también hay que tener presente que, si el caso llega ante un jurado y se trata de un familiar que ya está devastado por una pérdida tan trágica, probablemente el jurado no quiera castigarlo aún más”, dijo.

Es probable que aún quede mucho por conocerse mientras los investigadores analizan los detalles de las circunstancias específicas que llevaron a la trágica muerte de la menor.

“¿Es algo que había ocurrido antes? ¿La madre lo sabía?”, dijo Colina. “¿En ocasiones anteriores dejó a la menor con la niñera, quien le había explicado que, si tenía que salir a comprar comida o hacer alguna diligencia, dejaba a la niña al cuidado de su padre o su abuelo? ¿Eso ocurrió una docena de veces sin que hubiera ningún problema? Esas son solo algunas de las muchas preguntas que se harán, porque todo eso será importante. Todo influirá en la decisión sobre si se presentan cargos y cuáles serían esos cargos”.

Colina añadió que es importante, especialmente para las personas que cuidan a un niño pequeño de manera ocasional y no como parte de su rutina diaria, colocar un objeto en el asiento trasero junto al menor, como un bolso o una computadora portátil, para que sirva como recordatorio.

El Departamento de Policía de Hallandale Beach emitió la siguiente declaración a Local 10 News:

“El jefe Michel reitera sus condolencias a la familia y enfatiza la importancia de prevenir tragedias similares. “Esta tragedia ha afectado a toda nuestra comunidad”, señala el comunicado. “Aunque nada puede aliviar el dolor que está viviendo esta familia, nuestros corazones permanecen con los seres queridos de la menor. Esperamos que la historia de esta niña inspire a todos los cuidadores a adoptar un hábito sencillo: revisar siempre el asiento trasero antes de salir del vehículo. Tomarse un momento adicional podría evitar que otra familia sufra una pérdida tan inimaginable”.”

La familia creó una página en GoFundMe para ayudar a cubrir los gastos.

ENLACE RELACIONADO:

Agentes de policía instan a extremar precauciones con los vehículos bajo el sol tras la muerte de una niña pequeña en Hallandale Beach.

Los sospechosos fueron identificados en un informe de arresto de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade como Antoinette McKay, de 50 años, de Cutler Bay, y Zaccheus Zamon Scott, de 34 años, de Miami.

Según el informe, el incidente ocurrió el 11 de junio en la iglesia St. Peters Missionary Baptist Church, ubicada en el 17901 de Southwest 107th Ave., donde McKay y Scott se desempeñaban como entrenadores y consejeros del campamento del menor.

Los investigadores dijeron que el niño estaba jugando fútbol americano con sus hermanos en el campamento de verano cuando se produjo una pelea entre él y uno de ellos.

Fue entonces cuando, según los agentes, McKay y Scott intervinieron.

De acuerdo con el informe, el menor dijo a los investigadores que Scott le colocó “grandes conos naranjas” sobre la cabeza, lo que le dificultó la respiración.

El informe señala que McKay luego “agarró a la víctima por los tobillos, inmovilizándola boca arriba en el suelo, con las piernas elevadas y sujetas por los tobillos sobre el asiento de una silla”.

Los agentes dijeron que, mientras McKay inmovilizaba a la víctima, Scott procedió a abofetearla varias veces en el lado izquierdo del rostro y la cabeza.

Según el informe, el menor sufrió vasos sanguíneos rotos en el ojo izquierdo, un rasguño entre los ojos y hematomas e inflamación en el lado izquierdo del rostro.

El informe indica que posteriormente el padre del menor lo llevó al Hospital Infantil Nicklaus, donde fue atendido y dado de alta. Los médicos recomendaron a la familia vigilar la aparición de síntomas de una conmoción cerebral, según el informe.

Los investigadores informaron que McKay y Scott invocaron sus derechos Miranda y se negaron a hablar con los detectives.

Los registros de la cárcel muestran que ambos sospechosos enfrentan un cargo cada uno por abuso infantil sin causar lesiones corporales graves.

Hasta la mañana del jueves, ambos permanecían detenidos en el Centro Correccional Turner Guilford Knight con una fianza de $1,500 USD cada uno. La jueza del Tribunal de Circuito de Miami-Dade, Mindy Glazer, también les ordenó mantenerse alejados de la víctima.

Local 10 se comunicó con la iglesia St. Peters Missionary Baptist Church para solicitar comentarios sobre el incidente y confirmar la situación laboral de los dos consejeros.

"Effective immediately, the suspension of all involved South Carolina pilots has been lifted," Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell wrote Friday morning on social media. “Carry on Patriots.”

The suspension followed "Salute from the Shore," a July 4 tradition honoring servicemembers in South Carolina since 2010 that features vintage and modern military aircraft flying along the 187-mile length of the state’s shoreline, with the intent of sparking patriotism among thousands of beachgoers gathered for the holiday.

This year’s salute included F-16s with the South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing out of McEntire Joint Base, as well as a C-17 from the 437th Airlift Wing based at Joint Base Charleston. For the first time, Apache helicopters joined the air parade, which also featured civilian-owned vintage planes like T-34s and T-6s.

Numerous attendees often post video on social media of the display, but this year, online images of the Apaches flying at what appeared to be a low height over crowded beaches sparked concern with the South Carolina National Guard, which launched a review of the event and temporarily suspended the eight pilots from flying duties while that was ongoing, later clarifying the suspension was “a routine, non-punitive safety measure, not a disciplinary action.”

Late Thursday night, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth noted on social media that the Pentagon was getting involved, writing, “We’ll fix this. Carry on, Patriots.”

The message was similar to one issued by Hegseth in March, after the lifting of a suspension for a pair of Army pilots who hovered two AH-64 Apache helicopters near Kid Rock’s Tennessee home during a training run while he clapped and saluted.

“No punishment. No Investigation. Carry on, patriots,” Hegseth said then in a social media post, less than three hours after the Army announced its review. Kid Rock, an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump, said he thought it was “really cool” that the pilots stopped to hover at his house.

South Carolina Republicans rebuked the suspension of its Guard pilots. Rep. Russell Fry, who represents the Myrtle Beach area, said Thursday that the pilots "should be celebrated, not sanctioned.”

Ahead of Parnell's post noting the suspension had been lifted, Republican Gov. Henry McMaster — who serves as commander-in-chief of the state's National Guard — said he trusted the pilots' acumen, writing in a social media post that Guardsmen fly in wartime.

“Surely, they know how to safely navigate the coast of South Carolina — and her scores of cheering residents and tourists on our 250th anniversary," McMaster wrote.

McMaster's office said Friday the governor was pleased the suspension had been lifted. Asked whether the governor — a longtime Trump ally — had directly intervened, a spokesperson said the office “remains in regular communication with state and federal partners as part of its routine operations.”

The Pentagon declined to comment beyond Parnell's statement. Maj. Lisa Allen of the South Carolina National Guard confirmed in an email Friday that the suspension had been lifted but did not respond to a question over whether the Guard were still conducting an internal review.

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Meg Kinnard can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP

The heat wave will start this weekend and last at least a week, with some areas feeling its effects until the end of the month, meteorologists said. Temperatures will be 15 to 25 degrees Fahrenheit (8 to 14 degrees Celsius) warmer than normal in many areas, including at night, they said. Hotter nighttime temperatures are especially bad for both human health and efforts to tamp down an already active wildfire season.

“This upcoming heat wave does look pretty remarkable,” said Daniel Swain, a climate scientist with University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources. “This is going to be a long duration, widespread and high-intensity heat event that’s going to affect millions of people for over a week.”

Trapping hot air, threatening records

A dome of high pressure — which traps hot air like a pot lid while blocking cooling winds and rain — will initially park over the Northern Plains, but it will be so big that it will trap sweltering temperatures across as much as two-thirds of the continental United States, three meteorologists told The Associated Press. While it will initially miss the East Coast, the heat dome will shift and wobble, maybe even spreading from coast-to-coast over the next 10 days or more, they said.

Forecasters are expecting record triple-digit highs this weekend in Nevada, Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota.

The weather service is predicting more than 90 U.S. local temperature records will be tied or broken through Wednesday, with two-thirds being overnight heat records that can hinder how the human body recovers from broiling days.

“Nights can be just as dangerous as days. If you don’t get heat relief at night, that’s going to spill out into your daytime experience and become extremely dangerous,” said meteorologist Bob Henson with Yale Climate Connections. “Heat is not to be played with. It’s just as dangerous as a tornado or hurricane that can kill you just as easily, just in a quiet and different way.”

Heat wave will be bigger, longer-lasting and stronger than most

Swain said what makes this heat wave so different is how big a warm shadow it will cast and how long it will persist.

In the past couple of weeks, major heat waves have caused extensive suffering in Europe, the U.S. East Coast and most recently the U.S. Southeast. Now any place in the United States that escaped the earlier July heat waves will get this one, Swain said.

Rain is likely to sneak below the southern edge of the heat dome and douse the U.S. Southeast during the daytime, setting up something strange, Climate Central meteorologist Shel Winkley said. Because of the added moisture and humidity, the Southeast could get record-shattering nighttime heat but below-normal daytime warmth, he said.

The weather service is predicting record nighttime heat in a number of locations from Texas to Florida to North Carolina on Saturday. Temperatures won't drop below 80 degrees (27 degrees Celsius) at night in Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Miami; Tampa, Florida; Galveston, Texas; and Charleston, South Carolina, according to the forecast.

While heat domes are not unusual in the summer, Winkley said this one stands out because of how strong it is, likely to set records for the amount of high pressure that it will contain. It's especially unusual for being so far north, he said.

It’s likely to persist so long because drought-stricken areas have less soil and air moisture that would normally slow the warming of the air, Swain said. The drier, hotter air then worsens the drought conditions and stokes more heat in a vicious cycle, he said.

This will add to wildfire risk, already bad because of the drought, he said.

Climate change is worsening the heat

The El Nino that recently formed is too young to have a pronounced impact on this heat wave, but climate change from the burning of coal, oil and natural gas clearly does, the three meteorologists said.

“We know that heat waves are becoming more intense, they’re lasting longer, they’re covering larger areas than they used to because of human-caused climate change,” Swain said. “And so when we see an event like this, we know there is at least a partial contribution by the long-term warming trend.”

Climate Central uses 20 different computer models to compare what's forecast to what would be expected in a world without greenhouse gas-caused warming as part of its Climate Shift Index. A 20,000-square-mile (52,000-square-kilometer) swath of the country from Southern California to northern Minnesota where 24 million people live this weekend will have warmth reaching the highest level on that index, meaning the heat is at least five times more likely because of climate change. Their analysis produced similar readings for the East Coast heat wave over the July 4 weekend and the recent Southeast heat wave.

“Using attribution science we know that those temperatures would be virtually impossible without the influence of climate change,” Winkley said.

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

The housing measure will become law without Trump’s signature because he didn’t veto it. Still, the president’s rejection of the legislation cuts short the GOP’s efforts to address a key voter concern about rising costs, exacerbating tensions with his own party in a midterm election year.

Also, in another move to expand White House influence over the U.S. elections process, Trump ousted members of a bipartisan federal election commission that resisted his efforts to require would-be voters to document their U.S. citizenship before registering. The move builds on a recent Supreme Court ruling giving the president new personnel authority to fire members of independent agency boards.

Here's the latest:

No immediate change in US military operations following end of ceasefire

Capt. Tim Hawkins, the spokesman for U.S. Central Command, said there were “no operational updates at this time” when he was asked about the end of the ceasefire announced by President Donald Trump in a social media post earlier Friday.

Trump said in a post on his social media platform that the United States told Iran “in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!”

When asked if the end of the ceasefire would mean a restart to the air bombing that was the mainstay of the conflict, Hawkins said he wouldn’t forecast future operations.

Hawkins did say that U.S. forces in the region “remain vigilant, lethal, and prepared to execute operations directed by the Commander in Chief.”

Critics accuse Trump of damaging voters’ trust

On Capitol Hill, the leading Democrats with election oversight responsibility said Trump, rather than bolstering U.S. election integrity, is further politicizing the voting process.

“President Trump is trying to dismantle yet another independent guardrail of our democracy designed to keep elections fair and secure,” said Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, and Rep. Joe Morelle, D-New York. “Purging commissioners just months before the midterm elections and further gutting support for our state and local elections officials is a blatant part of his plan to politicize our elections and enable more unlawful and dangerous election interference.”

Padilla is the ranking member of the Senate Rules Committee and Morelle is ranking member of the House Administration Committee.

A US license could let Ukraine produce Patriot missiles, but it won’t be simple or quick

President Trump’s pledge to give Ukraine a license to produce Patriot air-defense systems could mark a major breakthrough for Kyiv, but experts and Ukrainian officials warn that turning the idea into real weapons would likely take years.

Speaking Wednesday alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at a NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, Trump said the United States would allow Ukraine to make the U.S.-designed systems Kyiv has long sought to shield its cities and infrastructure from Russian missiles and drones.

“We’ll give them the right to make Patriots. We’ll show them how to do it,” Trump said. “I think they can produce them pretty quickly.”

But the statement left open a crucial question: What exactly would Ukraine be allowed to produce?

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Trump says talks with Iran to continue despite ceasefire ending

The president posted Friday on social media that Iran had “asked us to continue ‘talks’” and his administration has agreed to do so.

But Trump added that “in no uncertain terms” that the ceasefire is no longer in place.

It’s unclear how productive talks can be to end the war with Iran so long as the status of the Strait of Hormuz is uncertain and attacks could supersede any commitments made in negotiations.

Trump’s decision on housing bill comes more than a week after he canceled plans to sign it

He announced then that he was using it as leverage in his push for a strict voter ID bill.

The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act aims to lower the cost of housing and spur more home construction. It’s the broadest federal effort in decades to address America’s housing affordability problems, as state and local regulations have made it difficult to build in many of the communities that are also sources of job growth and economic opportunity. White House economists estimated earlier this year a national shortage of 10 million homes and the bill could help to close a portion of that gap.

But Trump called the bill “a yawn” and “so unimportant” compared to legislation that would require proof of citizenship for all voters.

He surprised Republican lawmakers June 24, when, shortly before a planned signing ceremony at the Capitol, he announced he wouldn’t approve the bill until lawmakers first passed the voting legislation.

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Stocks and oil prices drift as global markets continue to calm

U.S. stocks and oil prices are drifting toward a quiet finish of the week Friday following earlier fireworks on worries about how the war with Iran will affect the global flow of crude.

The S&P 500 rose 0.1% and was on track to close out a fourth winning week in the last five. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 65 points, or 0.1%, as of 9:35 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.1% higher.

Oil prices were holding relatively steady, even after a series of unclaimed airstrikes hit Iran after the U.S. said it finished its attacks. The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, rose 0.2% to $76.47.

That’s above the $72 it was at the start of the week, when it was back below its level from before the war with Iran, but it’s still well below its wartime peak of nearly $120.

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Trump won’t sign housing bill but will let it become law

Trump has chosen not to sign a sweeping housing affordability bill Friday, in protest of Congress not approving a strict voter ID bill that doesn’t have enough support to pass.

“I will not sign the Housing Bill, which has been fully approved by Congress and sent to the White House, in PROTEST over the fact that the United States Senate is not capable of passing THE SAVE AMERICA ACT,” Trump posted on social media.

The housing measure will become law without Trump’s signature. He had 10 days to issue a veto and stop the measure, which he chose not to do.

Trump’s rejection of the bipartisan housing legislation exacerbates tensions with his own party in a midterm election year and cuts short their efforts to address a key voter concern about rising costs.

Trump ousts election commission members in latest push to reshape US voting process

Trump has ousted members of the bipartisan federal election commission that resisted his efforts to require would-be voters to document their U.S. citizenship before registering.

The White House on Friday confirmed the executive action against members of the Election Assistance Commission, which distributes federal grants to states, oversees the testing of voting systems and maintains the national voter registration forms.

It’s the latest move in the Republican president’s effort to expand White House influence over how U.S. elections are conducted and comes after a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling that gave the president new personnel authority to fire members of independent agency boards.

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Unclaimed airstrikes target Iran after US attacks, raising questions of who launched them

The series of unclaimed airstrikes that hit Iran after the U.S. said it finished its attacks have again raised questions of who else may be targeting the Islamic Republic.

The strikes Thursday, just as Iran prepared to bury the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, hit areas across southern Iran. The country’s theocracy hasn’t directly blamed anyone for the strikes, though one lawmaker issued a warning to the United Arab Emirates over allegedly providing support to the United States in its campaign against Iran.

Gulf Arab states, which repeatedly have been targeted by Iran since the war began Feb. 28, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday over the strikes. The attacks come as they and the U.S. insist the Strait of Hormuz must be open and free to ships to transit.

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The White House on Friday confirmed the executive action against members of the Election Assistance Commission, which distributes federal grants to states, oversees the testing of voting systems and maintains the national voter registration form.

Though the move likely won't have major effects on the November midterms, it's the latest instance of the Republican president trying to exert White House influence over how U.S. elections are conducted, and it's the first test of his newly expanded presidential power after the Supreme Court ruled recently that the president can fire members of independent agency boards without cause.

“The President, and head of the Executive Branch, reserves the right to remove individuals that may not be totally aligned with the important task of securing America’s elections and ensuring every legal vote is counted. The Slaughter decision gives the President precedence to do so,” said a White House statement to AP.

The president removed the four-seat commission's two Democratic members, Thomas Hicks and Benjamin Hovland. The panel's Republican member, Christy McCormick resigned. Former Republican commissioner Donald Palmer already had left his post voluntarily earlier this year. The changes were first reported by VoteBeat, a news outlet that covers elections and voting across the U.S,

Trump has repeatedly tried to reshape voting regulations, even though the U.S. Constitution grants control of elections to the states and not the president. Citing that separation of powers, courtshaveblocked most of Trump's two executive orders that sought to reshape voting. Trump has also launched an investigation of his 2020 loss, which he continues to falsely insist was due to fraud, and this week his administration threatened states if they did not try to purge what federal officials believe are noncitizens from their voter rolls.

Still, Trump has largely been powerless to change election processes through executive fiat and David Becker, a former Department of Justice attorney who runs the Center for Election Innovation & Research, said his purge of the EAC wouldn't alter that.

“This doesn't really change anything about how our elections will be run, and how states are successfully ensuring secure, convenient, safe elections,” Becker wrote on the social media site BlueSky Friday morning.

Critics accuse Trump of damaging voters' trust

On Capitol Hill, the leading Democrats with election oversight responsibility said Trump, rather than bolstering U.S. election integrity, is further politicizing the voting process.

“President Trump is trying to dismantle yet another independent guardrail of our democracy designed to keep elections fair and secure,” said Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, and Rep. Joe Morelle, D-New York. “Purging commissioners just months before the midterm elections and further gutting support for our state and local elections officials is a blatant part of his plan to politicize our elections and enable more unlawful and dangerous election interference.”

Padilla is the ranking member of the Senate Rules Committee, and Morelle is ranking member of the House Administration Committee.

The lawmakers noted that the Supreme Court's conservative majority enabled Trump's move with its decision to “upend decades of executive power to appease the President.”

Staff at the Election Assistance Commission did not immediately respond Friday to a request for comment on the agency's operations moving forward.

While the White House statement did not offer a specific reason for Trump's action, the commission has previously declined to change the national voter registration form to require documentation of an applicant's U.S. citizenship, as Trump's urged in a sweeping March 2025 executive order on U.S. elections. Though the form itself does not require citizenship documents, voter registration materials from the agency do state clearly that it already is illegal to falsely claim U.S. citizenship to vote.

A federal judge blocked the order, ruling it exceeded the president's authority since the U.S. Constitution grants authority over elections management and oversight to Congress and the states. The administration has indicated it will appeal.

Trump hasn't said whether he'll pick new members

It was not clear whether Trump planned to nominate new members immediately or leave the positions vacant — a move that, months ahead of midterm elections, could prevent the agency from distributing new grants to state or local elections offices and perhaps complicate its role in overseeing testing and certification of voting systems around the country.

“The Administration from the start has been working across all agencies and local partners to safeguard elections from fraud and abuse, and investing in a strong infrastructure to sustain that mission especially in the midterm elections,” the White House said.

Congress created the commission as part of the Help America Vote Act, a bipartisan law signed by Republican President George W. Bush in 2002. The act requires the commission to include two Democrats and two Republicans, nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Hicks and McCormick were appointed by President Barack Obama. Trump appointed Hovland during his first presidency.

According to VoteBeat, Hicks and Hovland were notified of their removal by an email signed by Morgan DeWitt Snow, the deputy director of presidential personnel in the Executive Office of the President.

More court fights are always possible

Hicks and Hovland could challenge their dismissals, but that ultimately could require the Supreme Court to revisit two decisions it just issued on the president's power over independent agencies.

The court ruled 6-3 last month in the case of former Federal Trade Commission member Rebecca Slaughter that Trump had wide executive authority to fire political appointees of independent executive agencies. Trump had fired Slaughter without cause despite a provision of federal law that required a reason and a nearly century-old Supreme Court precedent insulating independent agency heads from presidential whims.

The court's six conservatives said that the previous restrictions on presidential prerogatives violated the Constitution's separation of powers. The logic extends to other agencies, including the National Labor Relations Board, the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, where Trump also has fired board members.

In the separate case of Federal Reserve Board member Lisa Cook, whom Trump had tried to fire, a 5-4 majority deviated from the Slaughter decision and ruled that the president could not fire central bank governors without cause. Chief Justice John Roberts and Justice Brett Kavanaugh sided with the court's three liberals in the Cook case. They justified their exception to their Slaughter reasoning by citing the central bank's unique structure as congressionally chartered but independent, quasi-private institution whose “appearance of independence is key to the Federal Reserve’s design” and its role in setting monetary policy that shapes the U.S. and world economy.

Nicholas Riccardi in Denver contributed to this report.

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For many singles, dating apps are already a challenge.

The FBI says users need to watch out for more than the usual red flags, as some people are using dating apps to lure victims into robberies.

“I’m not meeting with them, linking first time in their crib,” one man said.

“Just have to be really careful,” another added.

“Crazy, seems to be happening all the time,” another person said.

“Linking up, getting horny and getting robbed,” another user said.

Some users said warning signs include profile photos that look “too professional,” while others stressed “not trusting anyone too much” and always meeting in public.

“If I use a dating app, though, you need to meet in public,” one person said.

The FBI says a growing number of dating app robberies involve suspects armed with weapons.

“There are bad guys and bad girls out there who are looking to take advantage of people who are just trying to have a good time,” retired Miami Assistant Police Chief Craig McQueen said.

McQueen believes many cases are never reported.

“The number of incidents is likely a lot higher,” he said. “I’m sure there’s a lot of unreported. People are embarrassed about it.”

He also said criminals are targeting users on gay dating apps.

“Particularly some folks who are not ready to let someone know they’re part of the LGBT community,” McQueen said.

Federal agents are urging dating app users not to share their net worth or other personal information, to use well-known dating sites and to meet in a safe, public location.

“Only use well-known sites,” McQueen said.

He also urged users to pay attention to where someone wants to meet, question why a match would need financial information and be cautious if someone creates a sense of urgency.

If a date pulls a gun during a public meeting, McQueen’s advice is simple: “Stand up. Don’t move or pass out.”

The unconventional gift from the host of this week's NATO summit, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was meant to showcase his country's growing defense industry.

But it left officials across the alliance scratching their heads. Some were forced to leave their gifts behind due to gun laws in their countries, while others donated theirs to museums.

“It struck me that ⁠my gift of maple syrup kind of undermatched,” Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney told reporters, adding that the firearm was now in police possession. “I would like to reassure Canadians, they keep guns away from me.”

The revolvers were engraved with leaders' names

“An unusual gift from President @RTErdogan at the NATO Summit: a Magnum revolver with ammunition, engraved with my name,” Hungary’s new Prime Minister Péter Magyar said on X, posting a photograph of a display box containing the revolver and six cartridges.

It was not immediately clear what he did with the gift.

Ursula von der Leyen, the European Union commission president, thanked Erdogan for the gift, which will be decommissioned and donated to a military museum, her spokesperson said.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told reporters that the gift bag included a note waiving export controls. Still, he left his behind to be decommissioned, because it would be illegal to import it into Britain.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever handed his revolver to airport police upon arrival. The revolvers gifted to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten were left at their countries’ embassies in Ankara and would also be taken out of service, officials said.

“My first reaction was, this is something a bit different to the box of syrup waffles that we gave out at the NATO summit in The Hague,” Jetten said Friday. “I think the Turkish president wanted to underscore what we saw during the NATO summit, namely that the Turkish defense industry is among the best in the world.”

Croatian President Zoran Milanović said he only found out after his return from the summit that Erdogan had given him a gun. His office said it would probably be handed over to a police museum.

“I didn’t take it. I shoot from different weapons,” Milanovic said, referring to his political style.

The White House did not immediately respond to questions about Erdogan's gifts.

On a visit to New Zealand last year, FBI Director Kash Patel gave the country’s police and spy bosses gifts of inoperable pistols that were illegal to possess under local gun laws and had to be destroyed.

The gift was aimed at highlighting Turkey's growing defense prowess

Erdogan's office has not commented on the gift. Turkish media reports identified the revolvers as the Gumusay .357 Magnum, a vintage six‑shot revolver produced by the Turkish state arms manufacturer, MKE.

Reports said the gun aimed to highlight Turkey's defense industry, which in recent decades has transformed from a major importer into an increasingly self‑reliant producer of advanced military systems, including drones and warships. It is in the process of developing its own next‑generation fighter jet.

Gun culture is deeply rooted in Turkey, and the gift hardly triggered any reaction in the country. Umut Vakfi, a foundation campaigning for gun control, says incidents of armed violence have reached alarming levels, reporting more than 2,700 last year in the country of 86 million people.

Turkey’s state-run Anadolu Agency said participants at the summit were also given a more conventional gift: a copy of Erdogan's biography, titled: “The politics of courage: Erdogan and the rise of Türkiye.”

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Associated Press writers Jill Lawless in London, Jovana Gec in Belgrade, Stefania Dazio in Berlin, Mike Corder in The Hague, Sylvain Plazy in Brussels and Elena Becatoros in Athens contributed.

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That’s when police notified her that her 2-year-old daughter Brittany had died after being left inside a vehicle for about three hours while in the care of a babysitter.

According to Lopez, the sitter asked an older relative to care for the child. That older man suffers from dementia, authorities said.

Now, Lopez says all she asks for is justice for her daughter.

Hallandale Beach Police Chief Grace Mariot says the investigation remains active as they await the medical examiner’s final report.

“This is a tragic event. No parent should have to endure the pain that this parent is enduring,” said Mariot. “We are waiting for the Broward County State Attorney’s Office to make a determination on whether charges are going to be filed.”

Added Mariot: “We urge the public, any caregiver, to make sure that you check the back seat.”

Retired Miami Police Chief Jorge Colina explained that there are complexities of coming to a charging decision in cases such as this.

“They could explore every potential charge that is on the table, but ultimately it is all going to be about what did the babysitter know? How old is the babysitter? Does the babysitter even understand what dementia is? Did they even understand how sick this person is and how their brain works?” said Colina.

“It is complicated, unfortunately. What did this person know? What is the real condition of this person? They may even have to go speak to a doctor as an expert as to what level of dementia did this person have and what did the babysitter know when the decision is made to pass on the responsibility?” he added.

Colina continued: “What makes them difficult is that you have to prove criminal intent, so in order for a prosecutor to secure a conviction for manslaughter or murder, they are going to have to show gross negligence or a complete disregard for life. Normally what happens in these cases is that it is a tragic accident, whether it is a terrible lapse of memory, or forgotten baby syndrome or something along these lines, and it is someone who is really close to the baby.

“Not only are you going have to prove criminal intent, but you are also mindful that if you have to go in front of jury, and it is a family member, and they are already devastated by a tragic loss, a jury is probably not going to want to punish them further,” he said.

There will likely be much more to learn as investigators comb through details on the specific circumstances leading up to the toddler’s tragic death.

“Is this something that has happened in the past? Does the mom know that?” said Colina. “That in the past she left the toddler with the babysitter who has explained if she has to run and get food or something, will leave the toddler with her dad or grandad -- happened a dozen of times and never been an issue? These are just some of the many questions that are going to be asked because it is all going to matter. It is all going to go into the decision of do they charge, and what is that charge?”

Colina added that it is important, especially for caregivers where caring for a young child is perhaps outside their daily routine, to place an item in the back seat with the child such as a purse or laptop, as a reminder.

The Hallandale Beach Police Department released the following statement to Local 10 News:

“Chief Michel again extends his condolences to the family and emphasizes the importance of preventing similar tragedies. ‘This tragedy has touched our entire community,’ the statement read. ”While nothing can undo the pain this family is experiencing, our hearts remain with the child’s family. We hope this child’s story inspires every caregiver to adopt one simple habit: always check the back seat before leaving your vehicle. Taking one extra moment could prevent another family from experiencing this unimaginable loss.”

The family has set up a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses.

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Police officers urge caution in hot cars after toddler dies in Hallandale Beach

Zverev ended the “Ferytale” run of British wild card Arthur Fery with an overpowering 7-6 (0), 6-2, 6-4 victory in the semifinals at the All England Club on Friday.

“This Grand Slam has always been the one that I struggled with the most and all of a sudden I’m in the final of Wimbledon,” the 29-year-old German said. “We got one more match to go on Sunday and that’s what the focus is on.”

Zverev, whose breakthrough at Roland Garros came in his fourth Grand Slam final, is attempting to become the first man in the professional era (since 1968) to win his second title at the next event immediately after his first major trophy.

In Sunday’s final, Zverev will meet either defending champion Jannik Sinner or seven-time Wimbledon winner Novak Djokovic, who were up next on Centre Court.

Djokovic beat Sinner in their last meeting in five sets in the Australian Open semifinals.

“It’s not going to be easy no matter who it is against,” Zverev said. “But I have to trust myself and I have to believe that I can win and that’s what I’m going to do.”

The 114th-ranked Fery, who grew up five minutes from the All England Club and played at Stanford University, was attempting to become the first wild card to reach the final since Goran Ivanisevic won Wimbledon in 2001.

“I think this was just the beginning of his career and I really think that he’s going to do amazing things in this sport,” Zverev said of Fery.

It was another warm day in southwest London, with the temperature rising to about 85 degrees Fahrenheit (29 Celsius). It was also breezy and a bit cloudier than in recent days.

Zverev did well not to let the pro-Fery crowd get behind the local player too much and a double fault from Fery early in the first-set tiebreaker put Zverev in control.

The 6-foot-6 (1.98-meter) Zverev was also able to dominate with his serve, which he cranked up to 139 mph (224 kph).

The 5-foot-9 (1.75-meter) Fery, by comparison, was serving closer to 120 mph (193 kph).

The British spectators did their best to encourage Fery early on, chanting his name between points as they sipped their Pimm’s under their wide-brimmed hats.

At one point early on, chair umpire Marijana Veljovic had to tell the crowd to pipe down.

“Ladies and gentlemen: Do not react, if possible, until the end of the point,” Veljovic said, before adding later in the first set: “Once again, do not react during the rally. That’s very disturbing for both players,” which was met with a round of applause.

When it was over, Fery walked off to a standing ovation and applauded the crowd in return.

“I know that 99.99% of the stadium was wanting Arthur to win. But it was still such an incredible atmosphere. It was such a fair crowd as well,” Zverev said. “A lot of crowds in the world can take an example of this crowd. It’s one of the best crowds to play tennis in front of.”

Zverev had previously never been past the fourth round at Wimbledon.

Now he’s the first German man to reach the final of the grass-court Grand Slam since Boris Becker lost to Pete Sampras in 1995.

The last German man to win Wimbledon was Michael Stich, who beat Becker in the 1991 final.

Becker, the three-time Wimbledon champion, wished Zverev “congratulations” in German on X: tweeting “Glückwunsch Sascha !!!,” using the player’s nickname.

The women’s final on Saturday features two Czech players, Karolina Muchova against Linda Noskova.

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AP Sports Writer Ken Maguire contributed to this report.

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

“We don’t know. Don’t know,” his mother said. “We’re holding onto the Lord, but we don’t think he went swimming.”

Missick’s body was discovered after he disappeared Sunday. His mother said the last text message she received from him was asking her to pick him up and take him to church.

“The last text he texted me, he said he wanted me to come get him and bring him to church with me, and I told him to stay put, but he went over to his cousins,” she said.

According to his mother, Missick left the Fort Lauderdale area Sunday to help babysit his younger cousins. At some point, the teen vanished, prompting his partner to immediately begin searching for him, including near the body of water by Interstate 95 where he was later found.

“I remember telling my husband, ‘This is where my baby is, in this water,’” his mother said. “My spirit told me my son was there in that water.”

The circumstances surrounding how Missick ended up in the canal remain under investigation.

The Broward Sheriff’s Office told Local 10 News that no foul play is suspected, pending the results of an autopsy.

Missick was an active member of the Dillard “Kids on Fire” gospel choir and frequently shared his faith on social media.

“What’s holding me up is trusting God even when situations don’t look like what you expect,” his father said. “We’ll process this now by just trusting God through the process.”

Both of Missick’s parents are ministers at City of Expectation and say they are relying on their faith as investigators work to determine what happened.

“On Sunday morning, he was like, ‘Can I please get a hug?’ And he held us so tight and said, ‘I love you guys,’” his mother said. “We said, ‘We love you, too.’ That was it. It was like he knew something was going to happen.”

The family will hold a celebration of life at 6 p.m. Saturday at the location where Missick’s body was found.

They have also created a GoFundMe page to help with funeral expenses.

Officers responded around 5:35 p.m. to a report of a missing child at a home in the 1600 block of Northwest 108th Avenue.

Police said while officers were on the way, a family member found the child unresponsive in the lake behind the residence, pulled him from the water and immediately began CPR.

Plantation police officers arrived within minutes and took over lifesaving efforts until Plantation Fire Rescue arrived.

The child was taken to Broward Health Medical Center, where he later died.

Plantation police detectives are investigating the boy’s death.

The company is already one of the largest in South Korea, along with Samsung Electronics, and is a member of the Kospi index. Even with a recent pullback, the country's Kospi index is up 77% so far this year and SK Hynix shares have more than tripled.

SK Hynix priced its American depositary receipts, or ADRs, at $149 each Thursday and they opened Friday at $170 on the Nasdaq. The offering of 177.9 million ADRs raised proceeds of $26.5 billion, making it the biggest-ever initial share sale in the U.S. by a foreign company. An ADR is issued by a bank or broker and is a simplified way for U.S. investors to own foreign stocks through the U.S. markets.

SK Hynix is going public in the U.S. amid a surge in IPO proceeds. There were 48 IPOs raising a total of $104.8 billion during the second quarter, according to Renaissance Capital. It is the biggest quarter for deal proceeds in five years, in large part because of SpaceX raising $75 billion. Many of the companies going public are capitalizing on the demand for all things AI.

SK Hynix has a dominant position globally for high bandwidth memory, which is essential for the development of advanced AI technology. The company recently entered a partnership with Wall Street’s most valuable company, Nvidia, for advanced memory chips as AI infrastructure expands globally.

Increasing demand for AI has been driving a surge in profits for chipmakers. Memory chips have become more expensive as demand outpaces supply along with the advancement of artificial intelligence technology. Technology giant Apple recently announced an increase in prices for Macs and iPads because of the jump in price for memory chips.

The U.S. is SK Hynix’s largest market, accounting for 68.8% of its revenue last year. It is planning an expansion that includes building its first U.S. production facility, located in Indiana. Overall, the company had revenue of just under $65 billion in 2025. That helped profits double to about $28 billion.

The company recently joined with Samsung and the government in announcing plans to invest a combined 800 trillion won ($518 billion) in building a new computer chipmaking hub in South Korea’s southwest region, part of national efforts to expand investment beyond the greater Seoul metropolitan area, the country’s economic center and heart of its semiconductor sector.

The promise of growing profits has catapulted stock prices within the tech sector, particularly for chipmakers. Micron Technology's stock value more than tripled in 2025 and is on pace to more than triple again in 2026. Nvidia's stock had similar growth several years ago and notched more relatively modest gains in 2025.

Big chipmakers have become the most valuable and influential companies on Wall Street. Their high stock values give them outsized influence over Wall Street and major indexes have been setting records mostly because of the tech sector.

Shares in SK Hynix traded in Seoul slipped 0.3% on Friday.

The Wolfsburg, Germany-based company said group sales fell 8.6% in the second quarter to just under 2.1 million vehicles, with sales in China alone plummeted by more than one-third.

After a board meeting on Thursday, Volkswagen said its “fundamental realignment” over the last three years had reached its next phase, announcing plans to streamline the model lineup by up to half, without providing specifics.

CEO Oliver Blume laid out plans to make VW faster and more competitive through less complexity, focused technologies, better alignment across regional markets and reduction of overcapacities, among other things, citing an “increasingly demanding environment.”

Among its main brands, the core Volkswagen unit saw deliveries of slightly over 1 million vehicles in the second quarter, a drop of 14% from a year earlier. Deliveries at Audi declined 8% and those at Porsche fell 18%.

Lamborghini, Skoda and the trucks unit reported upticks, and sales grew in the Americas and Europe.

Volkswagen cited dramatic change over the last year, including geopolitical tensions, rising costs mainly through tariffs, and increasing regulatory requirements alongside growing competition.

As recently as December, Volkswagen was betting big on China, where electric cars have been taking a greater market share and competition is stiff.

Research firm BernsteinSG, in a note after Thursday's announcement, expressed skepticism. “VW stated that it is extending its technology leadership, a claim that will likely raise eyebrows given the pace of innovation among its Chinese competitors,” it said.

Also Thursday, hundreds of employees led a protest outside the Volkswagen plant in Zwickau to demand protections for jobs and voice opposition to plans to close the site. The factory has fully switched to making electric cars.

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But eight months after its first mention and after repeated promises it was being drafted, the so-called MAHA agenda is nowhere to be found. When asked for a status update this week, an EPA spokesperson said MAHA is an ongoing effort, not a single report.

The apparent reversal on the release of a formal environmental health agenda is the latest in a cascade of disappointments for Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s MAHA movement, who say they've lost faith that the Trump administration will take any significant action on pesticides, chemicals or other issues they view as key to address America's chronic disease epidemic. It also reflects the EPA's relentless rollback of environmental regulations even in the face of pressure from an important voting bloc that has supported President Donald Trump.

“I had really hoped that there would be specific steps that were taken through a MAHA agenda,” said activist Kelly Ryerson, whose social media account “Glyphosate Girl” focuses on nontoxic food systems. “We haven’t had any of the wins that we were requesting.”

Many in the diverse coalition of MAHA activists that Trump credits for helping him win back the White House say they plan to vote on issues over party in November's congressional elections, raising the political stakes of their increasingly public tensions with the Republican administration.

“People are done with the profits of corporations being prioritized over public health,” said Alexandra Muñoz, a molecular toxicologist who collaborates with activists on certain issues. “And I think that will have an important role in the midterms.”

MAHA is frustrated with EPA's actions

“Trump’s EPA,” as Zeldin frequently calls the agency, has vigorously pursued a deregulatory agenda. Earlier this year, Zeldin proposed overturning the landmark finding that climate change is a threat to human health. He moved to roll back dozens of environmental regulations in what he called “the greatest day of deregulation our nation has seen,” froze billions of dollars for clean energy and upended agency research.

At the same time, Zeldin has touted multiple “MAHA wins," some of which activists say are anything but. For example, he said the agency intends to regulate some chemicals called phthalates for environmental and workplace risks, but didn’t address the thousands of consumer products that contain the ingredients.

This week, the EPA diverted from past assurances that the MAHA report was in its “final stages,” telling The Associated Press in an email that the EPA’s actions should speak for themselves.

“The notion that MAHA is a single document waiting to be unveiled fundamentally misrepresents how we operate,” an agency spokesperson said, adding that work on MAHA priorities is “active and expanding every day.”

Ryerson and other MAHA activists said they've engaged with agency officials about changes they'd like to see, and occasionally succeeded. Her network of farmers worked with the administration on a recent executive order to advance regenerative agriculture. But she said EPA then used the order to justify new proposed uses for various herbicides, a move she called a “slap in the face.”

The same week, the Supreme Court dealt another blow to the MAHA cause in siding with pesticide maker Bayer in a ruling related to its legal liability for alleged harm caused by its Roundup weedkiller. The Trump administration had backed the company in the case.

Environmental activists say the rise of Kennedy and his MAHA mission has rippled across the administration, raising the public's awareness of pesticides — and expectations that Trump's administration would act.

“If RFK and the MAHA movement hadn’t put that issue in the center of the public spotlight, no one would be scrutinizing this nearly as closely," said Sarah Starman, a senior food and agriculture campaigner at the nonprofit Friends of the Earth.

EPA says getting microplastics out of drinking water is complicated

In a well-publicized gesture aimed in part at the MAHA movement, Zeldin in April included microplastics and pharmaceuticals on a list of contaminants that could be regulated under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Activists had pressured Zeldin for months to crack down on microplastics and other environmental contaminants.

But in a reversal in late June, the EPA did not include microplastics or pharmaceuticals on a list of chemicals it plans to test for under a mandatory program used to collect information about concerning chemicals in drinking water that could be harming human health.

The move rendered the EPA's earlier public health promises "functionally toothless,'' said Betsy Southerland, a former senior official in EPA’s water office.

Zeldin said on social media that “the technology to test and treat for microplastics in drinking water is still in development.” The EPA said in a Federal Register notice that it was “not feasible to develop a drinking water analytical method within the statutory timeframe.”

After making “a big splash in the press” on microplastics, "EPA has quietly stalled that momentum," said Southerland.

A White House Make America Healthy Again Report, released a few months into Trump’s second term, identified long-term exposure to environmental chemicals — including those widely found in plastics — as a leading cause of chronic disease in children.

Former industry lobbyists now have leading roles at EPA

Jeremy Symons, a senior adviser at the Environmental Protection Network, a group of former EPA employees and political appointees who are critical of the Trump administration, said Zeldin “pays lip service to MAHA, but sadly he is actually making Americans less safe from toxic chemicals.''

Alongside MAHA's influence on the Trump administration, industry lobbyists have made inroads at the EPA.

Kyle Kunkler, a former lobbyist for the soybean industry, leads pesticide policy at the EPA. The agency recently allowed continued use of dicamba, a weedkiller that has been linked to increased risk for some cancers.

Zen Honeycutt, a MAHA activist and founding executive director of Moms Across America, said the move is “what happens when the EPA allows itself to be pressured by corporations and by business.”

EPA also employs other former industry insiders. Nancy Beck, a former executive at the chemical lobbying group the American Chemistry Council, is a top official in EPA's Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention. Lynn Dekleva, another former chemistry council executive, serves as a Beck deputy.

The EPA said Kunkler and other political appointees have consulted with agency ethics officials to resolve any potential conflicts of interest. The MAHA movement has “driven this agency's work since President Trump's first day in office," a spokesperson said in an email, citing various initiatives including $945 million in grants to help states and communities cut “forever chemicals” known as PFAS in drinking water and identifying 30 drinking water contaminants proposed for nationwide monitoring.

On Thursday, the agency announced it was teaming up with Health and Human Services and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to protect consumers from heavy metals and other contaminants in food.

But for Ryerson and others, the lack of a promised MAHA agenda reads as a tactic to escape accountability.

“It absolves them of any failures, especially when it comes to midterms,” Ryerson said. “They won’t have to point to some list that they haven’t been able to achieve really anything on.”

The strikes Thursday, just as Iran prepared to bury the late Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, hit areas across southern Iran. The country's theocracy hasn't directly blamed anyone, though one lawmaker warned the United Arab Emirates about allegedly providing support to the U.S. campaign against Iran.

Gulf Arab states, which Iran has targeted repeatedly since the war began Feb. 28, did not immediately respond to requests for comment Friday about the strikes. The attacks come as those Gulf nations and the U.S. insist that the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for world energy markets, must be open and free to ships to transit.

Iran says the strait must now be under its sole control and that vessels should begin to pay fees to Tehran — even though the world for decades has considered it an international waterway. About a fifth of all traded oil and natural gas passed through the strait before the war began.

Iran's grip on the strait during the conflict led to an global energy crisis, though oil prices have sharply dropped since wartime highs of $120 a barrel.

Israel, which took part in the Iran war, also has not claimed any recent attacks on Iran.

Unclaimed strikes came after US ended its attacks

The U.S. military's Central Command said Thursday around 6:30 a.m. local Iran time that it had concluded a round of strikes that hit 90 targets. Shortly after that, Iranian news outlets and state media reported a series of airstrikes and explosions targeting the country’s Bushehr and Sistan and Baluchestan provinces, the cities of Ahvaz and Chabahar and other areas.

Central Command did not respond to a request for comment about the additional strikes.

Iran responded to the strikes Thursday by launching a wider volley of attacks across the Mideast, targeting Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait and Qatar. Missile alert sirens sounded in the four countries, sending people to seek shelter. One person was reportedly hurt in Kuwait as air defense systems targeted the incoming fire across the region.

The exchange of strikes again tested a shaky ceasefire deal between Tehran and Washington. U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated on social media Friday that he views the interim deal as “OVER!” But he said the U.S. would continue talks aimed at putting a permanent end to the war.

U.S. Central Command spokesperson Capt. Tim Hawkins said there were “no operational updates” after Trump's pronouncement about the ceasefire.

The leader of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, traveled to Kuwait immediately after the Iranian attack for a meeting with the small, oil-rich nation's ruling emir. Gulf Arab countries also held calls with Qatar's foreign minister. He has been deeply involved, along with Pakistan, in mediating talks between Iran and the U.S.

During the Iran war, officials said both Saudi Arabia and the UAE launched airstrikes targeting Iran, after Tehran struck energy sites in their countries.

Israel, which under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has engaged in an intense campaign against Iran, has not attacked the Islamic Republic since June. Israel also broadly immediately claims its attacks on Iran.

Israel's government said Netanyahu spoke with Trump on Thursday night, with Trump updating Netanyahu “on American moves in the Gulf.”

Israel Katz, Israel's defense minister, also renewed threats that his nation stood ready to confront Iran if needed.

"If we will have to return, we will return with even greater force,” Katz told a military ceremony.

Iran keeps up its threats

On Friday, Iranian state media quoted Esmail Kousari, a member of the Iranian parliament's national security committee and a former commander in the paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, as warning the UAE would “pay the price for its cooperation with the United States.” He accused the Emirates of having a “behind-the-scenes” role in the recent U.S. attacks.

Iran repeatedly accused Gulf Arab states of actively supporting the U.S. war effort, something they denied during the war. The U.S. since the 1991 Gulf War has maintained a broad footprint of military bases across the Gulf Arab states, including in Bahrain, which is home to the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet headquarters.

Meanwhile, Iran insists it must be the sole controller of the Strait of Hormuz. But the U.S. continues to urge mariners to travel on a southern route through Oman's territorial waters to avoid Iran.

The Joint Maritime Information Center, a multinational body overseen by the U.S. Navy, issued a new advisory Friday urging ships to travel that route. A similar message sparked an Iranian attack on Tuesday that saw three vessels hit.

“Notwithstanding recent unprovoked attacks on merchant vessels, mariners are reminded that the southern route of the (strait) has been expanded and remains available for all traffic,” the maritime center said.

Twenty-two ships transited the strait Thursday, down from 30 Wednesday and 41 on Tuesday, according to data and analytics company Kpler.

Detectives with the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office said the body was discovered on March 27, 1999, near 100 Little Club Road.

The victim was believed to be between 20 and 35 years old. He was 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighed between 145 pounds and 175 pounds.

Detectives said he had a tattoo on his left arm of a heart with a dagger through it, and at the time of his death was wearing a black T-shirt, black FUBU pants and white socks.

While the victim’s death was ruled a homicide, no other details have been released about how he died.

Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Detective Nancy Milliner of the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office Cold Case Unit at 561- 688-4003 or email MillinerN@pbso.org. Anonymous tips can be made by calling Crime Stoppers at 1-800-458-8477 or dialing **TIPS.

The EU's executive arm issued a fresh set of charges against Meta Platforms as part of its investigation under the 27-nation bloc's strict digital rule book known as the Digital Services Act. The sweeping set of regulations from Brussels requires tech platforms to protect internet users under threat of hefty fines.

The European Commission said Meta failed to properly assess the risks its design features pose to the physical and mental health of users, including minors. And while the company has tools and controls to help manage Facebook and Instagram use, it said they were easily overridden, dismissed, or technically challenging to use.

Meta “needs to implement design changes” to Instagram and Facebook, such as disabling “key addictive features” like autoplay of videos and infinite scroll so they’re not turned on by default, the commission said in its preliminary findings.

Meta now has the chance to respond and defend itself before the commission issues its final decision, which could result in a fine worth up to 6% of the company’s global annual revenue.

Meta said Friday that the preliminary findings do not recognize the steps that the company has already taken to protect teens.

“Since this investigation began, we rolled out Teen Accounts that automatically protect teens and put parents in control - allowing them to block access to Instagram at night and cap daily screen time at just 15 minutes,” Meta said in a prepared statement. "We share the European Commission’s commitment to providing teens with safe, positive online experiences and will continue to engage constructively with them.”

Europe is committed to enforcing its legislation that holds platforms accountable for addictive design features, said Henna Virkkunen, an executive vice-president at the commission overseeing tech.

“Protecting the physical and mental health of Europeans must be a priority for social media platforms,” Virkkunen said in a written statement.

Facebook and Instagram design features, including personalized recommendations and push notifications, serve up an endless stream of content, putting users' brains on “autopilot” and fueling compulsive use, the commission said.

Meanwhile, screen time controls that parents can impose on their teens' devices can be “easily dismissed” and don't result in a meaningful reduction of use, the commission said. And the controls are undermined by the technical expertise, time and effort that parents need to understand and use them, it said.

The commission's proposed design changes also included finding better ways to encourage screen time breaks, and changing the content recommendation system so that it’s less “engagement-oriented.”

The preliminary findings are the latest charges since Brussels opened its investigation in 2024 over concerns that the social media giant wasn't doing enough to protect children online.

The EU said earlier this year that Meta had failed to prevent children under 13, the company's minimum age to use Facebook and Instagram, from signing up. It also said Meta was not doing enough to identify and remove underage users after they had opened accounts.

It also highlighted the complex engineering behind adaptive reuse projects, which have become increasingly popular as officials try to tackle a nationwide housing shortage by transforming offices that have sat underused since the COVID-19 pandemic.

The plans call for turning two office buildings — one built in 1909, the other in the 1960s — into about 1,600 apartments by adding more than a dozen stories atop the older structure and redesigning and expanding the other. The buckling occurred on the 21st floor of the newer structure, and crews have installed temporary supports as officials investigate.

Engineering experts said the conversion project is complex and poses many challenges, which include making sure older buildings can safely support new loads and carving up office floors to accommodate residential living.

But none said the high-profile setback should make people doubt the ability of engineers to complete such projects.

“I don’t think it really brings into question our understanding of how to do something like this,” said Ben Schafer, a structural engineering professor at Johns Hopkins University.

How do you build a new tower on top of an old one?

On its website highlighting the midtown project, adaptive reuse firm Collaborative Construction Management says the nine-story building from 1909 will be “threaded through” with a new addition of about 30 stories of poured concrete.

Schafer, who is not involved with the undertaking, said the likely approach is to have the century-old building continue to carry its own weight while building a new structural system to support additions.

“My interpretation would be that they’re going to leave that building carrying its own load, and they’re just going to poke holes in it so that they can take the load from the building that they’ve put above it and bring it all the way down to the foundation,” Schafer said.

Schafer said construction on the other tower presents a different challenge: punching holes in the existing floor plate to bring light into apartments, while also ensuring that the steel frame can support the newly added loads.

City officials have not determined what caused the columns to buckle. But both Schafer and Emily Guglielmo, a San Francisco-based structural engineer, believe the failure likely resulted from the added load.

Spokespersons for MetroLoft, the project developer, didn’t respond to requests for comment Thursday. But Nathan Berman, the firm’s founder, acknowledged in an interview with The Wall Street Journal that the added weight from widening the top 15 or so floors of the building likely caused the damage.

Guglielmo thinks that either the original design assumptions were misunderstood, something went wrong during the design or construction process, or construction crews overloaded or weakened the structure.

Adding stories to existing buildings is common in dense urban areas where land is scarce, she said, but it requires reviewing original construction documents and inspecting the building before determining how additional floors will affect the structure.

“In cities and towns that don’t have that available geography, you’re going to see a lot more of this type of a design where there’s an adaptive reuse to an existing building,” Guglielmo said.

Why not just create a new building from scratch?

To many structural engineers, demolition should occur only as a last resort.

“Tearing buildings down is a terrible waste,” Schafer said, pointing out that buildings and the construction sector are responsible for about 40% of the world’s energy-related carbon emissions. “From a sustainability standpoint, that’s a disaster.”

Beyond the environmental costs, demolishing and hauling away the remnants of huge buildings is especially expensive in dense cities such as New York.

If an existing structure can safely be reused, engineers generally prefer that.

James LaFave, a structural engineering professor at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, said a steel-framed building from the 1960s, like the former Pfizer structure, would typically be a “very good” starting point for a conversion.

Does the scare in New York call into question other adaptive reuse projects?

In recent years, officials across the country have embraced office-to-housing conversions as a potential lifeline for downtown business districts that have struggled since the pandemic.

New York, especially, has embraced this push, as officials have made zoning changes and enacted tax incentives to spur housing production. A report from the New York City comptroller's office last year noted there are 44 adaptive reuse projects in the city that, as of early 2025, had either been completed, were underway or could move forward.

Pfizer moved out of the building in 2023 after opening a new office near Penn Station, leaving the property vacant. Construction on the property began in 2024.

Joshua Harris, director of Fordham University’s Real Estate Institute, said office-to-residential conversions are a key part of solving the housing shortages in New York and other cities, even if they come with risk.

“In a certain sense, it’s not terribly surprising that this happened, and we should have a little bit of grace,” he said. “These are very, very complicated surgical procedures being done to very old buildings.”

“This is part of the reality of fixing the housing crisis,” Harris continued. “Things like this can happen. It doesn’t look as complex as putting a rocket into space, but, in a real estate sense, construction in an environment like Manhattan on 42nd Street and Second Avenue is very complex.”

Guglielmo, the California engineer, said a combination of building codes, inspections and experienced construction crews makes failures like this rare.

“We’re very fortunate here in the United States that we are not seeing these types of failures on a day-to-day basis,” she said. “We’re privileged to have really robust building codes that explain to us as engineers how to do our designs in a way that’s safe.”

Still, Harris said it is likely a gut check for the industry, as office conversions transform once sleepy business districts across the city into 24/7 neighborhoods, like parts of Wall Street in recent years.

“If this building has a problem, all the other projects that have been sort of greenlit, they’re going to want to review to make sure that it’s not something similar,” Harris said.

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Rico reported from Atlanta and Hill reported from Las Vegas.

The first stage of a Long March-10B rocket separated from the second stage after liftoff and returned to a platform in the sea, the official Xinhua News Agency said.

It was the first time China recovered the first stage of a rocket. America's SpaceX has been doing so for several years to drive down launch costs by reusing the booster that helps lift the satellites or whatever the rocket is carrying into space.

Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Jeff Bezos’ Blue Origin have been recovering their rockets since 2015, saving vast amounts of money by recycling them rather than ditching them after liftoff. SpaceX leads the pack with more than 600 landings of its first-stage Falcon boosters, steering them to ocean barges as well as landing zones near the launch pads. Just this week, SpaceX launched a booster for the 36th time, a new record.

For SpaceX’s bigger and more powerful Starships making test flights out of Texas and soon to expand to Florida, the company is working to capture the returning rockets with giant mechanical arms at the launch pad.

Blue Origin started out by landing its New Shepard boosters in Texas following short flights to the edge of space, and has since recovered its bigger New Glenn boosters on a floating platform off the Florida coast.

Now that China has joined the rocket recycling boom, Japan is up next with a launch and landing attempt this weekend.

The Long March rocket was launched from China's Hainan Island, a popular beach destination off the country's southern coast.

The rocket's reusable configuration can launch a payload of up to 16,000 kilograms (35,275 pounds) into what is called low Earth orbit, Xinhua said.

The maximum payload of the SpaceX Falcon 9 is 22,800 kilograms (50,265 pounds), according to the SpaceX website. The Falcon rockets transport astronauts and supplies to the International Space Station.

The survey from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research points to how Jewish adults’ attitudes toward their own personal safety have changed over a relatively short period as more Americans became critical of the United States' close alliance with Israel. The war in Gaza sparked U.S. protests over Israel’s military actions against the Palestinians in Gaza, and coincided with an increase in violent attacks against U.S. Jewish communities.

The findings highlight the vulnerability that many Jewish adults in the U.S. feel as bipartisan support for Israel erodes and significant divides emerge within the Jewish community about what constitutes antisemitism — particularly when it comes to protesting Israel.

A significant share of Jewish adults, about 3 in 10, say they or someone in their household has experienced physical assault, verbal abuse, online harassment or damaged property because of their Jewish background over the last year, according to the survey.

Hal Guberman, a 30-year-old in New Jersey, wears a kippah with some trepidation ever since a stranger in a passing car yelled a slur at him when he was walking down the street last year.

“That person, they don’t know anything about me. They don’t know my politics. They don’t know my beliefs. They don’t know my viewpoints,” Guberman said. “But they saw me being visibly Jewish, and they made an opinion about me.”

Jewish adults see prejudice against Jews as a serious problem, and many feel unsafe

About 6 in 10 Jewish adults say that prejudice against Jewish people is an “extremely” or “very” serious problem in the United States today, a view that is heightened among Jewish adults who say they are “extremely” or “very” emotionally attached to Israel.

About one-third of Jewish adults say they feel “very” or “somewhat” safe as a Jewish person in the U.S. today, while about one-third feel “very” or “somewhat” unsafe. The remaining roughly 3 in 10 say they feel neither safe nor unsafe. Those with a close connection to Israel or who identify as Jewish by religion — instead of saying they are religiously unaffiliated with a cultural, ethnic or family connection to Judaism — are more likely to feel threatened in the current environment.

About 6 in 10 Jewish adults say they feel “less safe” as a Jewish person in the U.S. than they did before Hamas' 2023 attack, including about 7 in 10 of those who are religiously Jewish. About one-third of Jewish adults say they feel “about as safe” and very few feel safer.

Erin Baskin, a 36-year-old in Pennsylvania, said the Oct. 7 attacks didn't change how safe she feels because she had her own experiences with prejudice before then.

“I’ve always grown up with antisemitism,” she said. “Among the rural community I’m in, they conflate Judaism with Zionism all the time. Unfortunately, that’s kind of been my experience. It’s nothing new.”

Some Jewish adults have grown wary of outwardly identifying themselves as Jewish following the Oct. 7 attacks, the survey found.

About 4 in 10 Jewish adults say they are “less likely” to wear, carry or display things that might identify them as a Jewish person than they were before Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. About half say they are “about as likely” and about 1 in 10 say they are “more likely.”

Caitlin Rosendorn, a 24-year-old in Illinois, said they used to wear a Star of David necklace, but now worries that wearing it could give people the incorrect impression that they support Israel's attacks against the Palestinian people.

“I don't want to wear a Star of David to work if that's going to alienate somebody who sees the Star of David as a symbol of Israel as opposed to a symbol of Judaism,” Rosendorn said. “I don't want people to get the wrong idea about my views.”

Many Jews report physical assault, property damage or harassment

About 1 in 10 Jewish adults say that in the past year, they or someone in their household has been physically assaulted. A similar share had property damaged or destroyed specifically because of their Jewish background.

About 2 in 10 Jewish adults say they or someone in their household has been called a slur, threatened, verbally harassed or verbally abused. Similarly, about 2 in 10 say they experienced online harassment or cyberbullying. Overall, about 3 in 10 of Jewish adults say that they or someone in their household has experienced at least one of these incidents because of their Jewish background.

Jewish adults who attend religious services at least once a month are much likelier than Jewish adults overall to say they or someone in their household has experienced attacks or harassment over their Jewish background — a finding that comes as there have been several targeted attacks on Jewish religious spaces in recent years.

Slightly less than half of Jewish adults who frequently attend religious services say they or someone in their household has faced verbal harassment. A similar share experienced online harassment, and about one-quarter have dealt with physical attacks or property damage.

Jon Kessler, 38, of California, who grew up in the Conservative tradition of Judaism, believes non-Jews might be surprised at the extent to which Jewish adults have to consider security at community events.

“Most people when they go to church don’t have armed security, but every synagogue has an armed security guard," Kessler said. "My son’s Jewish daycare has an armed security guard.”

Jews are divided over whether protesting Israel is a form of antisemitism

Protests surrounding speakers tied to Israel — whether Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanahyu’s address to Congress or college speakers seen as either too supportive or too critical of the country — became more common following the backlash over Israel’s war in Gaza.

Jewish adults, in particular, are divided over whether protesting an event related to Israel is an act of prejudice against Jewish people generally. About half of Jewish adults say anti-Israel protests are not a form of antisemitism, but roughly 4 in 10 say they are.

Many anti-Israel protests have been tied to criticism of Israel’s military action in Gaza. More than 73,000 Palestinians have died in Gaza since Israel retaliated against Hamas’ attack in 2023, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn’t distinguish between civilian and militant deaths.

About two-thirds of Jewish adults say criticizing Israel for its military actions is not a form of antisemitism, but Jewish adults with a close emotional connection to Israel are more likely to say that criticism of Israel’s military actions is antisemitic. That said, relatively few Jewish adults say it’s antisemitic just to criticize Israel for “any reason.”

Americans overall are less likely to say it’s antisemitic to protest an event that is supportive of Israel, or to criticize Israel’s military actions — but they are also much less likely to have an opinion.

Jewish adults are more unified in deeming some actions as definitively antisemitic. The overwhelming majority say vandalizing synagogues or Jewish-owned businesses because of Israel’s actions is antisemitism. The same goes for denying the reality or scope of the Holocaust, putting responsibility for Israel’s actions on Jewish people in the United States, saying Israel shouldn’t exist as a Jewish state or claiming American Jews are more loyal to Israel than to the U.S.

There is less consensus among non-Jewish U.S. adults on whether some of these actions constitute antisemitism, with many saying they’re not sure.

Amanda Goldsmith, 53, who lives in Chicago, believes people have become too comfortable expressing antisemitic views online — something that she previously thought only existed in extremist spaces.

“Now, it seems like there was an undercurrent, and it’s a free-for-all, and everyone is free to say what they want,” she said. “The freedom with which people say horrible things about Jewish people is appalling.”

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This story has been corrected to show that Caitlin Rosendorn uses they/them pronouns.

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Associated Press writers Giovanna Dell’Orto in Minneapolis and Peter Smith in Pittsburgh contributed to this report.

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Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

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The AP-NORC poll of 3,040 adults was conducted June 11-17 using a sample drawn from NORC’s probability-based AmeriSpeak Panel, which is designed to be representative of the U.S. population. The poll included interviews with 1,022 Jewish adults. The margin of sampling error for adults overall is plus or minus 2.8 percentage points and the margin of sampling error for Jewish adults is plus or minus 5.0 percentage points.

En un principio se tenía previsto que el tifón Bavi, que registra vientos máximos sostenidos de 155 kilómetros (96 millas) por hora, pasara al norte de Taiwán, llevando fuertes lluvias a la isla de 23 millones de habitantes desde la noche del viernes hasta el sábado.

Las escuelas permanecieron cerradas el viernes en Taipéi, la capital de la isla, y en puertos del norte de Taiwán los barcos pesqueros han sido amarrados muy juntos. Muchos vuelos a Japón, Hong Kong y otros destinos han sido cancelados hasta el sábado, aunque algunos seguían programados, publicó la Agencia Central de Noticias de Taiwán.

La actual trayectoria del tifón hacia el noroeste lo llevará sobre algunas islas japonesas remotas antes de pasar al norte de Taiwán el sábado. Se pronostica que toque tierra en China la noche de ese día al sur de Shanghái, cerca de la frontera entre las provincias de Fujian y Zhejiang.

Más de 17.000 personas han sido evacuadas en Zhejiang y 170.000 rescatistas fueron puestos en alerta, reportó la agencia oficial china de noticias Xinhua. Fujian ha suspendido algunas rutas de transbordadores debido a los fuertes vientos y el mar agitado, y pidió a los barcos pesqueros que regresen a puerto.

Bavi se ha debilitado desde la intensidad de supertifón que tuvo previamente en la semana, cuando desató vientos violentos a Saipán y otros territorios de Estados Unidos en el Pacífico.

En el sur de China, las autoridades anunciaron el jueves que 39 personas habían muerto en inundaciones provocadas por la tormenta tropical Maysak, que empapó durante días partes de la región de Guangxi con lluvias récord.

Las lluvias provocaron el desbordamiento de algunos embalses, incluida la dramática ruptura parcial de una presa en Hengzhou, que inundó una amplia zona con agua lodosa y de fuerte corriente. Las inundaciones dejaron a personas varadas durante días en los segundos pisos y en plantas superiores de edificios, muchas sin electricidad, hasta que los rescatistas pudieron llegar a ellas.

Otras 11 personas murieron en el centro de China cuando fuertes tormentas eléctricas y tornados causaron estragos en la provincia de Hubei el lunes por la noche.

Por separado, un deslizamiento de tierra dejó 21 trabajadores forestales muertos el martes en la provincia de Gansu, en el oeste de China, en un desastre que no estuvo relacionado con las tormentas.

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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

The ship, the Mayuree Naree, was hit by a projectile north of Oman on March 11, killing three people. The remaining 20 crew members were rescued and returned to Thailand about a week later.

Former crew members Panithi Tumkaew, Noppadon Wongsuvan and Surades Manpuen filed the lawsuit against Precious Shipping Co. as well as two affiliated companies and the ship’s captain.

The lawsuit alleges that the defendants endangered their lives by sailing through the strait despite the security risks, according to their lawyer Kunpat Singhathong.

Kunpat said the three men were also dismissed before the completion of their nine-month employment contracts after the attack rendered the ship inoperable. He said they received compensation equivalent to two months’ salary.

The compensation was inadequate because they have since been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, leaving them unable to continue working as sailors for the foreseeable future, he said.

“We tried to negotiate with the company, but it denied responsibility, so we believe the matter should be brought to the court,” Kunpat said before filing the case with the Central Labor Court in Bangkok.

He declined to identify the amount of compensation they are seeking, only that it would be over a million baht ($30,000) per person.

Panithi, who said he had worked for Precious Shipping for more than a decade, said his wife encouraged him to seek medical treatment after noticing changes in his behavior.

“When there are loud noises, I’ll get startled," he said. “I can’t work now, and I have to take medication.”

Precious Shipping did not respond to requests for comment.

The remains of the three crew members killed in the attack were repatriated to Thailand earlier this month.

In a statement on July 3, Precious Shipping thanked everyone involved in the repatriation process and expressed its condolences to the victims’ families. The company said it “remains committed to providing full assistance, care, and support to bereaved families throughout this difficult time.”

On Thursday, the United States launched new airstrikes against Iran, which responded by targeting American allies in the Middle East. The exchange of fire threatens an interim deal intended to help end the Iran war.

The conflict has choked off the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for about a fifth of global trade in crude oil and liquefied natural gas. Most of this was bound for Asia, which has struggled with a continentwide energy shock since the war began on Feb. 28.

The safety of stranded seafarers in the Persian Gulf has been a source of concern among Asian nations — like India, the Philippines and Thailand — whose citizens make up a significant portion of ship crews.

“This is not simply a matter of shipping statistics,” said Arsenio Dominguez, the secretary-general of the United Nations' International Maritime Organization in a statement Wednesday. “Behind the figures are seafarers, and in some cases their families, who continue to bear the human cost of this conflict.”

The S&P 500 was virtually unchanged in midday trading and on track to close out its fourth winning week in the last five. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was up 101 points, or 0.2%, as of 11:45 a.m. Eastern time, and the Nasdaq composite was 0.2% lower.

Oil prices eased following earlier fluctuations as a series of unclaimed airstrikes hit Iran after the United States said it finished its attacks. The price for a barrel of Brent crude oil, the international standard, fell 0.9% to $75.63.

That’s above its $72 price from the start of the week, but it’s still well below its wartime peak of nearly $120. The worry is that continued fighting could block oil tankers from the Strait of Hormuz and prevent the delivery of crude from the Persian Gulf to customers worldwide.

President Donald Trump said on his social-media platform that he agreed to continue talks with Iran but also that the United States told it “in no uncertain terms, that the Cease Fire is OVER!”

With the wait ongoing for what will happen next with the strait, some of the strongest action on Wall Street was for the U.S. trading debut of a South Korean tech giant, SK Hynix.

The chip company raised roughly $26.5 billion by selling American depositary shares at a price of $149 each. That price jumped immediately after the ADRs began to trade on the Nasdaq in the midday hours, and it was most recently up 13.4%.

SK Hynix's stock in Seoul has already surged 634% over the last year thanks to euphoria around artificial-intelligence technology. The boom has created real profits thanks to surging demand for computer memory. But it’s also raised worries that AI stock prices have shot too high and that all the world’s spending on chips and data centers won’t be able to produce enough productivity and profit growth to make it worth it.

Beyond the sharp recent swings for AI stocks, the focus on Wall Street is shifting to the upcoming reporting season for companies’ profits during the spring.

Delta Air Lines said it was able to absorb higher fuel prices from April through June because of strong demand from customers to fly, including a wide range of corporate travelers. Its profit and revenue topped analysts’ expectations, and it gave a forecasted range for profit in the summer whose midpoint was above analysts’ expectations.

Delta’s stock fell 2.2%, though, after coming into the day with a strong 28.2% rise for the year so far.

Companies across industries will need to produce big growth in profits to justify the big moves for their stock prices, which are broadly near records. Next week will feature earnings reports from many of the biggest U.S. banks, including Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and Wells Fargo on Tuesday alone.

Eleswhere on Wall Street, Circle Internet Group rose 5.9%. The company behind the USDC cryptocurrency, which is supposed to keep the value of $1, said it won U.S. regulatory approval to establish a bank. It will operate under the name Circle National Trust, and CEO Jeremy Allaire said the move “marks a defining step in bringing blockchain technology and digital assets into the core of the U.S. financial system.”

WD-40's stock jumped 10.7% after reporting much stronger profit for the latest quarter than analysts expected.

In the bond market, Treasury yields held relatively steady as oil prices drifted. The yield on the 10-year Treasury remained at 4.55%, where it was late Thursday.

High yields have shaken financial markets worldwide recently. They've climbed on worries about expensive oil and high inflation, which could push the Federal Reserve and other central banks to raise interest rates.

Higher rates can keep a lid on inflation, but they also slow the economy and hurt prices for all kinds of investments.

In stock markets abroad, indexes were mixed. South Korea’s Kospi jumped 2.5%, and Japan’s Nikkei 225 rose 1.2% for two of the world’s bigger moves. Stocks fell 1% in Shanghai.

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AP Business Writers Chan Ho-him and Matt Ott contributed to this report.

The state-run Xinhua News Agency said Friday that a search had ended while an investigation was underway into the cause of the fire Thursday that gutted the Fujian Huiteng factory in Jinjiang, a manufacturing hub for sports shoes.

According to product listings on online sales and import platforms, Fujian Huiteng makes shoes for both Chinese and foreign brands.

Local media footage showed people trapped on the roof of the five-floor building, enveloped in thick black smoke, while the spray from fire truck hoses fell short of flames showing through windows on its upper floors. Xinhua said the factory’s owner and managers were arrested and the company’s accounts were frozen.

When the fire started, 237 factory workers and two visitors were in the building. Two of the 213 people rescued from the factory were pronounced dead after being taken to hospitals. Another 26 missing people were later confirmed dead, according to state broadcaster CCTV.

Work safety has been a persistent problem in China. In May, an explosion at a fireworks plant in the city of Changsha in the central province of Hunan killed at least 37 people. In 2024, a fire at a refrigeration facility under construction killed 39 people in the city of Xinyu in the southeastern Jiangxi province.

Authorities have repeatedly ordered businesses to screen for workplace hazards. Official data show 18,261 people died in nearly 20,000 workplace accidents across the country in 2025, down from the previous year.

Chinese President Xi Jinping demanded a swift investigation of the disaster and said authorities would “strictly hold those responsible accountable.”

Jinjiang has thousands of shoe factories and is considered the “shoe capital” of China, making about a fifth of all athletic shoes, more than a billion a year, according to state media and industry reports.

The area’s transformation from small workshops and factories into an export industry hub, which Xi has often referred to as the “Jinjiang Experience,” is considered a model for China’s ascent as a world manufacturing power.

CCTV said the fire started on the first level of the concrete-structured building, where a workshop and a warehouse were located.

A local fire department official said in an interview with the state broadcaster that shoe sole material piled up in stairwells hindered firefighters from reaching the flames to extinguish them. The shoe materials were highly flammable, CCTV said.

CCTV also said the fire department sent 183 people and 35 vehicles to the factory and that open flames were extinguished after about four hours. Xinhua later said more than 500 people joined the rescue and search operation.

The blaze, one of Spain's deadliest wildfires, broke out late Thursday in a semi-arid area near the Sierra de Los Filabres mountains in Almeria province, as the country has been dealing with soaring temperatures.

Most of the victims died after ignoring shelter-in-place instructions, said Antonio Sanz, head of Andalusia’s emergency services. Some tried to escape via a dry riverbed that “turned into a death trap,” he said.

Four victims were believed to be British nationals because the steering wheel of their burned-out car was on the right side, as with British vehicles, regional authorities said. Other unspecified nationals also were believed to be among the dead, and the death toll was expected to rise, authorities said.

Seven people died while on foot after abandoning their cars, Sanz said.

“The consequences have been terrible," Sanz said. “Everything seems to indicate that, in the case of the deceased … we are dealing for the most part, if not entirely, with foreign nationals.”

The blaze is a challenge for firefighters

The fire was still burning as of Friday afternoon. Some 150 firefighters and 220 soldiers from Spain’s military emergency unit were battling the blaze, which had consumed more than 3,200 hectares (7,900 acres) of forest and farmland.

Moreno, the Andalusian regional leader, said containing the fire was difficult because of the steep, dry terrain.

“It consists mainly of scrubland and esparto grass,” Moreno said. “Everything is extremely dry due to the heat waves, making it the perfect fuel; combined with the wind, it’s a ticking time bomb.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed his condolences. “Immense sadness and desolation in the face of the terrible consequences of the fire affecting the province of Almeria,” he wrote on X.

Europe battles intense heat again

Spain has battled frequent and severe heat waves in recent years, with temperatures often exceeding 40 C (104 F). Wind, high temperatures and little rainfall help small wildfires grow into unchecked blazes.

In June, Spain experienced several days of record-setting heat, with over 1,000 excess deaths attributed to heat.

Europe is the world’s fastest-warming continent, with temperatures increasing twice as fast as the global average since the 1980s, according to the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service. Parts of Western Europe are facing their third heat wave in six weeks. Globally, 2025 was the third-hottest year on record, bringing several intense heat waves across Europe.

France also at risk of wildfires

France is experiencing the peak of its third heat wave of the summer, with temperatures reaching 40 C (104 F) across western and central areas and around 37 C (98 F) in Paris.

French authorities have also warned of a very high wildfire risk, as large fires in the south have already scorched thousands of hectares this week, disrupting the Tour de France cycling race and stretching firefighting resources.

The largest wildfire, in the eastern Pyrenees near the Spanish border, had decreased in intensity by Friday, authorities said. But it has burned about 5,000 hectares (12,000 acres) and forced the temporary evacuation of more than 10,000 people from nearly villages.

Last month was France’s hottest June on record, with deaths surging by nearly a third during the hottest week.

Scientists warn that climate change caused in part by the burning of fuels like gasoline, oil and coal is exacerbating the frequency and intensity of heat and dryness, making certain regions more vulnerable to wildfires.

Spain and Portugal have faced deadly fires before

Spain is no stranger to wildfires, with last year's fire season burning more than 393,000 hectares (almost 1,520 square miles), according to the European Forest Fire Information System, an area twice as large as London. Four people died.

Spain's deadliest wildfire was in 1979 when 21 people perished in Lloret de Mar, a coastal town about an hour north of Barcelona.

In 2017, a wildfire in neighboring Portugal left 66 people dead in Pedrogao Grande, located 200 kilometers (120 miles) northeast of Lisbon. In that blaze, 47 people died on one road while similarly attempting to flee in their cars.

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Associated Press journalist Sylvie Corbet, in Paris, contributed.

“Satluj” tells the true tale of a human rights activist who investigated thousands of disappearances and extrajudicial killings during a government crackdown on a separatist insurgency in India's Punjab state in the 1980s and early 1990s.

At the screening in Gurdaspur, elderly survivors of the insurgency sat beside teenagers born years after it ended. When the screen flickered to life and “Satluj” movie began, the crowd fell silent.

Originally titled “Punjab 95,” the movie was stalled for three years after India’s censor board demanded more than 120 cuts. After failing to secure a theatrical release, it debuted on the ZEE5 streaming platform last week, but was removed in India two days later.

The takedown had an unintended consequence.

Across villages in Punjab, Sikh organizations, local activists and residents have begun organizing community screenings using copies that have circulated online. The screenings have transformed Sikh temple compounds and village halls into makeshift cinemas where audiences watch not just a film but a retelling of memories of one of India’s bloodiest internal conflicts.

Spotlight on Punjab’s insurgency

“Satluj” draws on the life of rights activist Jaswant Singh Khalra, whose investigation into alleged extrajudicial killings exposed one of the darkest episodes of Punjab’s insurgency. The conflict pitted Sikh militant groups seeking an independent Khalistan against Indian security forces and claimed thousands of civilian, militant and police lives.

During the insurgency, rights groups documented allegations of enforced disappearances, custodial killings and secret cremations. Khalra’s investigation alleged that thousands of people who had disappeared were cremated anonymously by police without informing their families or maintaining official records.

Khalra was abducted in 1995 and later killed. Several police officers were convicted in connection with his murder.

Although the insurgency was crushed and support for Khalistan waned within Punjab, the Indian government continues to view separatist sentiment as a national security concern. It has not publicly explained why the film was removed, but officials told local media they ordered it taken down on security grounds.

Local organized screenings

The public screenings take shape through grassroots cooperation. Residents arrange for projectors, audio speakers and power generators, Sikh temples and village community spaces become open-air theaters for an evening, and volunteers spread the word from one household to the next.

Inderjeet Singh Bains, who helps coordinate screenings in Gurdaspur district, said the initiative aimed to create spaces where people can watch together and reflect on a period of Punjab’s history that continues to resonate across generations.

“When we screen the film, we see our elders and mothers, many of them 60 or 70 years old, crying because they have lost their sons. Our people have endured immense suffering,” Bains said.

Gurmukh Singh, who attended a screening, said the film gave voice to stories the young in Punjab had heard only in fragments. For families in his village, he said, the insurgency was not history but lived experience, with many losing loved ones in the violence.

“After watching the movie, there is a feeling of the grief our earlier generations had to bear,” Singh said.

Movie fuels censorship debate

The takedown of “Satluj” has reopened a debate over artistic freedom in India, where films have increasingly run into censorship battles under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist government. Critics have said such cases have become more frequent and accuse Modi’s government of promoting films that align with its nationalist narrative.

“Everything happened right before our eyes, so what is there to oppose? The truth is coming to light, and people should be allowed to see it,” said Balwinder Singh, a Sikh religious leader.

The government says movie certification decisions are made independently under the law.

In a statement, ZEE5 said the film would no longer be available for viewing in India “in light of current developments.” It added that it would explore “every appropriate avenue through due process” to restore it.

Audiences revisit painful memories

Diljit Dosanjh, the lead actor who plays Khalra, said he was unconcerned about whether the film remained online because once audiences had seen it, “it cannot be erased.”

That sentiment appears to be playing out in Punjab’s villages.

Inside the temple compound in Gurdaspur, the audience watched scenes of police killings, crackdowns and families searching for answers. Afterwards, many lingered in conversation, comparing the film with the real-life memories they had carried for decades.

Pawan Deep Kaur described the film as a heartbreaking portrayal of the suffering endured by the older generation.

“It made us cry endlessly,” she said.

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Saaliq reported from New Delhi.

In scenes like a heist movie in reverse, the priceless medieval artwork was spirited into the British Museum on Friday in the dead of night, after a high-tech, tight-security operation where any slip-up could have spelled disaster.

On loan from its home in France, the tapestry will go on display at the London museum from Sept. 10 until July 2027. It's a public homecoming for a vivid visual record of the 1066 Norman invasion, the last successful conquest of England.

The tapestry's arrival in London has been widely anticipated, but due to security concerns all details of when and how it would arrive were kept under wraps.

“It feels extraordinary that after so much work and planning and care and thought that it’s actually happening,” British Museum Director Nicholas Cullinan said as he waited outside the museum in the dark.

“It’s the first time in 1,000 years that such an important piece of British — French too — history is going to be on these shores,” he said. “It’s incredibly exciting.”

The 70-meter (230-foot) tapestry was folded accordion-style in a climate-controlled case that was placed inside a shock-absorbing cradle. That went into a truck that crossed from France on a vehicle shuttle train through the Channel Tunnel.

After an 11-hour, 350-mile (560-kilometer) trip, escorted by police, the truck backed slowly into a loading bay at the museum, where workers gingerly eased the container, the size of a small car, to the ground. Museum staff and British and French diplomats who had been watching in hushed silence broke into applause.

The priceless cargo will spend several days acclimatizing before it is carefully unpacked and unfolded for an exhibition that the museum expects to be one of the most popular in its 267-year history. Some 100,000 tickets were sold in their first day on sale this month.

“It was like trying to get tickets to Glastonbury,” Cullinan said. “I don’t take for granted that people care that much about a 1,000-year-old embroidery. I think that’s an amazing thing.”

The tapestry is a symbol of Anglo-French relations

Stitched in wool thread on linen fabric — technically an embroidery, rather than a tapestry — the artwork depicts events leading up to the Battle of Hastings in October 1066, when William, Duke of Normandy defeated King Harold’s Anglo-Saxon army. The invasion ended Saxon rule, made William the Conqueror the first Norman king of England and bound Britain and France more closely together.

Historians believe the tapestry was commissioned by Bishop Odo of Bayeux, William’s half brother, and was probably sewn by women in England — possibly nuns — before being taken across the Channel. It has spent most of the last millennium in the town of Bayeux in northwest France, apart from two short periods at the Louvre in Paris.

The tapestry symbolizes the sometimes fractious, intertwined histories of France and Britain, and securing the loan was a high-stakes diplomatic mission. It was announced during a state visit to the U.K. by French President Emmanuel Macron in July 2025.

The loan coincides with renovations at the museum in Bayeux that houses it.

In return, the British Museum will loan treasures from the Sutton Hoo hoard — artifacts from a 7th-century Anglo Saxon ship burial — and other items to museums in Normandy.

Macron said in an article for Friday's Times of London that “our two countries are not merely lending each other artworks: they are sharing the great narratives of European history’s origins.”

Retired British diplomat Peter Ricketts, who helped cement the deal as the U.K.’s special envoy for the tapestry, said “it’s an extraordinary mark of friendship and confidence in the U.K. to entrust this object to us for a year.”

“Macron, when he offered us the tapestry, I think he understood that it would have far more impact in the U.K. than it does in France, because it’s more fundamental to our national story,” he said. "Everybody (in Britain) knows 1066.”

It's a vivid record of 11th-century life and death

The tapestry features more than 620 people and 737 animals and tells its story in 58 scenes brimming with vivid and sometimes gory detail. There are scenes of hand-to-hand combat, mutilated bodies and the unlucky Harold, felled by an arrow through his eye.

“It has an emotional richness that is really difficult to get from written sources,” said Millie Horton-Insch, project curator for the British Museum exhibition. “It just brings people closer to this history than any other object can. It’s not the same as reading a text. You are looking at something that was handled by the people who lived through it and felt compelled to record these events in this way.”

She said the document’s survival for 10 centuries despite myriad dangers — “moths, mice, mold, damp, fire” — is miraculous, and may be partly due to its humble materials.

“It’s not really made of any blingy fabric,” she said. “It’s not gold, it’s not silver. There wasn’t the same temptation to cut it up and make it into vestments or repurpose it for anything.”

Some French cultural figures opposed the loan, arguing that moving the tapestry was too risky. Cullinan said the expert teams went to great lengths to ensure its safety, including making two trial runs of the journey to show it would not cause the fragile item too much stress.

“Such care has gone into it. I can’t think of a level of care for any other museum loan,” he said.

He said he understands why there are concerns.

“The tapestry arouses great interest and passion,” he said. “Which is a wonderful thing.”

Typhoon Bavi, with maximum sustained winds of 155 kph (96 mph), was first expected to pass north of Taiwan, bringing heavy rains to the island of 23 million people from Friday night into Saturday.

Schools were closed Friday in Taipei, the island's capital, and fishing boats have been tied up close together in ports in northern Taiwan. Many flights to Japan, Hong Kong and other destinations have been canceled through Saturday, though some were still scheduled, Taiwan's Central News Agency said.

The typhoon's current northwest track would take it over some remote Japanese islands before passing north of Taiwan on Saturday. It is forecast to make landfall in China on Saturday night south of Shanghai, near the border between Fujian and Zhejiang provinces.

More than 17,000 people have been evacuated in Zhejiang and 170,000 rescue workers placed on standby, the official Xinhua News Agency said. Fujian has suspended some ferry routes because of strong winds and rough seas and called for fishing boats to return to port.

Bavi has weakened from supertyphoon strength earlier this week, when it brought violent winds to Saipan and other U.S. territories in the Pacific.

In southern China, authorities announced Thursday that 39 people had died in flooding from Tropical Storm Maysak, which drenched parts of the Guangxi region for days with record rainfall.

The rains breached reservoirs, including the dramatic collapse of part of a dam in Hengzhou that inundated a wide area with fast-flowing muddy water. The floods stranded people on the second and higher floors of buildings for days, many without power, until rescuers could reach them.

Another 11 people died in central China when severe thunderstorms and tornadoes wreaked havoc in Hubei province on Monday night.

Separately, a landslide killed 21 forestry workers in western China's Gansu province on Tuesday in a disaster that was not storm-related.

For her, this World Cup couldn't make more sense.

Hallam is among a sizable number of English-speaking people in the U.S. who are doing something these days that might be considered a bit surprising: They're watching broadcasts of World Cup matches in Spanish on Telemundo, even though they have little idea — or in some cases, no idea — what the announcers are saying.

“I can’t really understand everything they’re saying on Telemundo because they’re speaking in Spanish,” Hallam said. “But you understand what’s going on.”

The math is simple. Census figures show that about 20% of the U.S. is Hispanic, yet Telemundo points to Nielsen ratings to show that roughly half the World Cup viewers in the U.S. have watched at least some portion of some matches in Spanish. Every match of the tournament has been available for U.S. viewers in English on Fox or FS1, on Telemundo or Universo in Spanish, and there are streaming options such as Fox One or Peacock.

Among the reasons commonly cited by viewers who spoke with The Associated Press in recent days: A fascination with famed broadcaster Andrés Cantor's “¡goooooool!” call. Telemundo doesn't cut away for commercials (as Fox does) during the much-maligned hydration breaks. The broadcasts, some simply find, are more entertaining. And in other cases, it's a cost-based decision: Peacock, which includes Telemundo, is lower-priced than Fox One.

Soccer as a global language, transcending a limited vocabulary

Jackson Braunius is a Michigan native who watched a U.S. game last week from a bar seat at a steakhouse in Miami Lakes, Florida. He said he speaks almost no Spanish — “I know ‘cerveza,’” he said, tapping his beer glass — but didn't mind watching on Telemundo whatsoever.

“I figured out the science here,” Braunius said. “When they’re not talking too loud, nothing is happening. When they get loud, there’s a chance. When they get real loud, it’s probably going to be a goal.”

Comedian Trevor Noah has been hosting World Cup watch parties on YouTube. He's made the switch to Spanish-language feeds, and the hydration break issue was a huge part of that decision.

“We’re seeing the players on the pitch discussing what’s happening. You see which coach is more stressed. Some players are tapping each other on the back. This is part of the game,” Noah said on one of his YouTube streams. “I feel like when you cut to ads, you lose this — you lose the stress, you lose the joy, the anticipation. So, shout out again, Telemundo: Really, really amazing coverage.”

Telemundo is hearing the praise, and has thanked English-speakers — as well as Noah directly — for lauding its coverage.

The good news for everyone is this: There seems to be more than enough viewers to go around right now. And the success of this tournament could lead to a bidding war for the 2030 World Cup, with some reporting the rights for English-speaking and Spanish-speaking television will be packaged together in that deal. That wasn't the case for this World Cup.

Fox Sports said that Monday night's Belgium-U.S. match saw a peak viewership total of around 41 million at one point, making it the “most-watched soccer telecast in U.S. history,” the network said. In other words, the final U.S. game in this World Cup had more viewers than anything in this country since the Super Bowl — with at least 45 million viewers, on average, between Fox (33 million) and Telemundo (an estimated 12 million). The most recent Super Bowl drew an average of about 125 million viewers, according to Nielsen data.

Anglophones become hooked on Telemundo

William Kennedy of Miami is married to a Colombian woman, whose native language is Spanish. He says he knows only enough Spanish to be able to order meals in restaurants. And yet, he finds himself often watching World Cup matches on Telemundo.

If Colombia was on, the Kennedy house was watching Telemundo. If Colombia — which was ousted in penalty kicks by Switzerland on Tuesday — isn't on, Kennedy finds himself usually making his way to Telemundo anyway.

“When the American commentators are doing the game, I don’t know what game they’re watching. I just don’t,” Kennedy said. “I’d rather get the excitement in Spanish because essentially what happens is they’re talking, and then they’re talking really, really fast, and then they’re getting loud and your brain is just like, ‘Oh, something’s happening — even if I don’t know what’s happening.’”

Hallam — who finds the World Cup has been a great way to bond further with her Spanish-speaking students — only became a big soccer fan a few years ago, when her daughter decided she wanted to play in a recreational league for elementary kids. The league needed coaches, so Hallam literally checked out a “coaching for dummies” book and began teaching herself the game.

She kept coaching her daughter all the way through high school. Now, she's hooked on soccer and hooked on Spanish-speaking broadcasts — and plans to keep watching, even when the World Cup ends.

“It’s just very comforting,” Hallam said. “We're really enjoyed it and I hope we get to continue. The next World Cup, we’re going to watch it just like this.”

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Lamy reported from Indianapolis.

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See more of AP’s World Cup coverage here

A Utah judge is deciding whether prosecutors have enough evidence to put Tyler Robinson on trial on a charge of aggravated murder. Kirk, 31, was killed as he spoke to a crowd of thousands at Utah Valley University on Sept. 10.

One of Robinson's attorneys, Michael Burt, tried to inject uncertainty into the case Thursday by challenging the reliability of ballistics tests on a bullet fragment recovered from Kirk’s body.

Authorities sought to tie the fragment to the suspected murder weapon, but the results were inconclusive.

“Saying anything but inconclusive was inappropriate,” said Samantha Karner with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Earlier in the week, Robinson's team questioned the reliability of DNA evidence that investigators said linked Robinson to the scene. Experts say the science behind DNA testing is sound.

Robinson has not entered a plea. He turned himself in a day after the fatal shooting of Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump credited with helping galvanize young voters for the Republican in the 2024 election.

At the request of Kirk's family, State District Judge Tony Graf said he would allow to be shown inside the courtroom an altered version of campus surveillance video that prosecutors said shows Robinson crawling out to a rooftop “sniper's perch” before shooting Kirk.

The unaltered video was previously shown. The altered version includes footage that zooms in on a figure that prosecutors said was Robinson and red marks that were added to the video.

The weeklong preliminary hearing ends Friday, but a decision won’t come until after Sept. 1, when Graf scheduled oral arguments in the matter.

Prosecutors on Thursday aired portions of a recorded interview with Robinson's roommate, Lance Twiggs. The day after Kirk was shot in the neck, Robinson allegedly told Twiggs “he wishes he hadn’t done it,” a recording played in court revealed.

Later that same day — and only about an hour before turning himself in — Robinson posted “it was me at UVU yesterday,” in a chat room on the Discord social media platform, according to investigators and messages shown by prosecutors.

Defense attorneys unsuccessfully fought the public release of the statements from Twiggs and the chat room messages. They argued prosecutors would characterize the material as a confession, undermining Robinson’s right to a fair trial.

Prosecutors contend the shooting endangered others at Kirk’s campus event — an aggravating circumstance that could make the crime punishable by death under Utah law. Robinson also faces possible sentence enhancements based on claims by prosecutors that he targeted Kirk because of his political views.

Twiggs said in the April interview with prosecutors and investigators that Robinson sometimes talked about politics, including Trump. But Twiggs said he never heard Robinson talk about Kirk before the shooting. The defendant also did not talk much about gender issues or LGBTQ rights, Twiggs said.

The weeklong preliminary hearing has attracted intense media coverage and spectators who have angled for one of the 14 seats in the courtroom that are reserved for the public.

People have lined up early — sometimes sleeping there overnight — in hopes of getting in.

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Brown reported from Billings, Montana.

In courthouses and public squares, they have marked the nation's 250th anniversary with a dire warning: The rule of law in America is in grave danger. They will deliver a similar message at a library in Grosse Pointe just outside Detroit — the last stop on an extraordinary tour to defend judicial independence and bolster trust in courts.

Americans' confidence in the court system and democracy has dipped in recent years. The country is more polarized, and President Donald Trump has repeatedly cast doubt on the fairness of the judicial system.

Some judges on the tour said in phone interviews this week that the United States was at a precipice.

“Looking back in history, we have teetered," former Ohio Supreme Court Justice Michael Donnelly said. "This is a moment where we can decide to reinstill those beliefs that we are a country of laws and not of men.”

Judges step off the bench

The four-day tour through the Rust Belt is a sharp departure for a typically reserved and insular branch of government. Federal judges in particular largely limit their comments to the courtroom and written decisions, focusing on the facts of individual cases.

But that restraint is loosening amid a barrage of attacks by Trump and other White House officials, the administration's rampant defiance of U.S. district court orders and its expansive view of executive power. Trump has called a district judge who ruled against one of his immigration moves “crooked” and suggested with no evidence that Supreme Court justices who struck down his tariffs were motivated by foreign interests.

More federal judges have recently begun talking about receiving death threats and profane messages, though they have not blamed Trump or any other officials. Some have blasted administration policies in sharply worded opinions that strayed beyond the legal dispute before them. Even U.S. Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts has weighed in.

In an appearance in March, Roberts said personal criticism of federal judges was dangerous and had to stop. The rare rebuke from the head of the nation's top court came two days after Trump's remark about a “crooked” judge, though Roberts didn't mention Trump or anyone else by name.

The U.S. Marshals Service reported 564 threats against federal judges in the government fiscal year that ended in September, up from 509 the year before.

“I don’t want to say we have moved into an era of lawlessness, but it sometimes feels that way,” said former U.S. District Court Judge Victoria Roberts, who was set to join the bus tour in Michigan.

Timothy Lewis, another former federal judge on the tour, said his concerns about the politicization of the judicial branch reached a tipping point a decade ago, when Senate Republicans thwarted President Barack Obama’s nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court. Today, the rule of law is facing an "existential threat" from an ongoing breakdown of norms, according to Lewis, who spent seven years on the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

“I have fundamental concerns," he said, “about where we are headed as a nation.”

Their route has been varied

The tour started Tuesday in the western Pennsylvania town of Greensburg — once the hub of a thriving coal industry that now lures visitors from nearby Pittsburgh for highland recreation and a historic downtown.

Judges mingled with customers at a coffee shop before speaking at the domed, ornate Westmoreland County Courthouse. Then it was off to Washington, also in western Pennsylvania. The town of 13,000 people, where about 15% of the population is Black, was a key stop on the Underground Railroad and a regional base for the Civil Rights Movement.

From there, the bus headed west for events Wednesday in Columbus, Ohio, and the city of Wooster in Amish country. The judges stopped at a Cracker Barrel restaurant on the way. They spent Thursday in Cleveland before circling Lake Erie north to Michigan.

The two groups that planned the tour — dubbed “Justice in Motion” — say they were inspired by a similar campaign in Poland in 2021 after that country's governing party took control of key judicial institutions.

Independent Polish judges visited scores of towns to promote the rule of law and teach voters about the country's constitution. The U.S. tour also aims to educate people.

An effort to combat misinformation about what they do

Maureen O'Connor, a former chief justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, said judges risk ceding the narrative about their roles and motives to “voices of misinformation” if they don't speak up.

A letter she received years ago, and still keeps, reminds her of that danger. The writer accused O'Connor, a Republican, of betraying her party when she repeatedly struck down Republican-drawn legislative maps as illegal gerrymanders. “There was just a basic misunderstanding of what my role was as a judge,” O'Connor said.

O'Connor is among roughly 30 judges, including two former federal judges and a current federal judge, who will participate in the tour. One of the federal judges was nominated by a Democrat, the other two by Republicans. The state judges, some of whom are also still on the bench, represent both parties.

They have been joined by former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Corbett, former Ohio attorneys general and a few lawyers. The event was put together by the Democracy Rising Collaborative and Keep Our Republic, nonpartisan advocacy groups.

Organizers say they chose stops that would get the judges in front of as many people as possible to build connections and trust. The judges have embraced that mission.

“The lifeblood of the judiciary is public confidence,” Donnelly, the former Ohio Supreme Court justice, said. “If you lose that, it’s very difficult to get it back.”

However, records obtained by Local 10 News show that while the Internal Affairs investigation was still underway, supervisors directed members of the mayor’s Sergeant-at-Arms security detail to display their law enforcement credentials while working.

The Sheriff’s Office says the instruction was supervisory guidance, not a change in policy. It did not explain why the directive was issued during the investigation.

The complaint stems from an April 11 confrontation during the Baynanza beach cleanup at Haulover Park.

Video of the encounter, which drew national attention, shows Weinsier attempting to question Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava about millions of taxpayer dollars spent on electric transit buses that were later taken out of service. Before the event, Local 10 News had repeatedly requested an interview with the mayor regarding the bus program, but her communications staff declined those requests.

Seconds after Weinsier began asking questions, a man wearing a black jacket, later identified as Aguilar, stepped between the reporter and the mayor.

Video shows Aguilar placing his hand on Weinsier’s chest, repeatedly ordering him to move back and warning, “You want to go to jail?”

During that initial encounter, Aguilar did not verbally identify himself as a law enforcement officer. He was dressed in plain clothes, and no badge or law enforcement credentials were visible before he began giving commands or making physical contact.

According to the Internal Affairs report, Weinsier alleged Aguilar failed to identify himself, physically blocked access to the mayor, repeatedly pushed him backward, threatened him with arrest and used unnecessary force while Weinsier was engaged in newsgathering. Those allegations formed the basis of the complaint filed with the Sheriff’s Office. They were not adopted as findings by Internal Affairs.

After reviewing the video, investigators concluded Aguilar’s actions were “reasonable, proportionate, and consistent with established policy.”

The Internal Affairs report also states the Sheriff’s Office’s Force Analysis Unit independently reviewed the video and concluded no excessive force had been used. Investigators determined Aguilar’s actions were appropriate while maintaining what the report describes as a “safe buffer” around the mayor.

Internal Affairs ultimately closed the complaint with a finding of “No Further Action Required.”

The report does not define the size or parameters of the “safe buffer” referenced by investigators. Local 10 News has interviewed Levine Cava at numerous public events over the years and had never previously been advised of a designated media or security buffer zone surrounding the mayor.

The report also documents something that had not previously been disclosed.

According to the investigation, on May 4, the investigator contacted Lt. Karin Bobe, of the Office of the Sheriff. Bobe advised that on May 1, she directed “all Sergeants at Arms to ensure their law enforcement credentials are properly displayed while working their details.”

That directive was issued approximately three weeks after the confrontation, after Weinsier filed his complaint and while the Internal Affairs investigation remained active.

After reviewing the Internal Affairs report, Local 10 News asked the Sheriff’s Office why the directive was issued.

In response, the Sheriff’s Office said supervisors may provide direction to personnel under their command and that such direction “is not an indication that prior conduct violated agency policy.” The agency said the instruction was supervisory guidance, not a change to existing policy or the establishment of a new policy.

The Sheriff’s Office also said there may be “certain dignitary assignments, locations, or operational circumstances where the display of credentials may not be appropriate.”

The Sheriff’s Office did not say whether the Haulover Park event fell into one of those categories.

The agency also did not explain what prompted the directive to be issued during the Internal Affairs investigation or whether it was related to the Haulover Park confrontation.

The directive applied specifically to the same Sergeant-at-Arms unit involved in the confrontation.

Previously, the Sheriff’s Office told Local 10 News that Aguilar was serving in a specialized protective capacity rather than functioning as a traditional plainclothes deputy. The agency said members of the mayor’s security detail often operate in a low-profile manner that does not prominently identify them as law enforcement because of the nature of their assignment. The Sheriff’s Office also noted that Sergeants-at-Arms are sworn law enforcement officers with full authority to detain and arrest.

Local 10 News shared the video with Andrew Scott, a doctor of criminal justice, former police chief and nationally recognized law enforcement consultant.

“The officer should have immediately identified himself,” Scott said after reviewing the video.

Scott said he was surprised the Sheriff’s Office does not have a written policy addressing such encounters.

“I’m surprised it’s not specifically delineated in policy,” Scott said.

Scott also questioned whether the confrontation was necessary.

“The only thing you did was ask her questions,” Scott said. “I didn’t see anything on your part that created an issue or a threat.”

Scott also rejected the idea that Aguilar’s assignment prevented him from identifying himself.

“He was not in deep undercover,” Scott said. “He was just working a security detail and should have been identified.”

Scott said clear written procedures could have prevented the confrontation.

“This whole thing could have been avoided if there were appropriate protocols,” Scott said. “I see it as an easy fix. You just augment the policy.”

The confrontation also drew criticism from the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, which described threatening to jail a journalist attempting to question an elected official at a public event as “an egregious infringement on basic First Amendment rights.”

David Cuillier, director of the Joseph L. Brechner Freedom of Information Project, also reviewed the video.

“I watched the video and was horrified,” Cuillier said. “This never should have happened.”

The Sheriff’s Office declined to make Sheriff Rosie Cordero-Stutz available for an interview. In a written response, the agency said it continually reviews its practices and remains open to considering enhancements where appropriate. The agency did not further explain why the supervisory directive was issued during the Internal Affairs investigation.

A goat named Goldie — short for Golden Oreo — followed firefighters for hours as they actively engaged the Rock Creek Fire in Colorado Springs and cleared brush. She even took care of some of it on her own by chomping on leaves.

The 4-year-old Nigerian dwarf goat with a brown and white coat led firefighters down a hill and followed them to their trucks. She watched as they packed up for the day, then trailed behind one truck as it drove off, said Colorado Springs Fire Department Lt. Trevor Leland.

“I don’t know that she necessarily helped with the firefighting effort, but it’s always cool to see an animal like that who doesn’t mind us being there,” he said.

Earlier Thursday, Goldie spotted a U.S. Forest Service crew member having lunch, and tried to stick her head over his shoulder to get a bite and hang out with him for awhile, Leland said.

Goldie's owner, Lindsey Glader, says she's quite the social butterfly. Or, buttergoat?

Glader said the firefighters did a phenomenal job tackling the fire that was 50% contained late Friday. Crews hope to have it fully contained Friday, said Ashley Franco, a spokesperson for the Colorado Springs Fire Department.

That fire and others across the West have kept crews busy, fueled from a record lack of snow, high temperatures and erratic winds. The crew from Colorado Springs also was called to the Aspen Acres Fire southwest of Denver that forced the evacuations of thousands of residents this month.

Goldie figured they needed an “extra boost of support” and stepped in, Glader said.

“She was able to give some comedic relief and offer some necessary levity for these guys and gals who have worked really, really hard and creating a break for this fire, and keeping a lot of people and a lot of things safe,” she said.

But after hours of combing the Mediterranean seabed in search of yellow-painted mock mortar shells, the divers surfaced empty-handed.

It was the team's fifth diving trip in the yearslong experiment to help prepare Israel to clear part of the sea from unexploded grenades and other munitions in order to return beach area to residents. But on this day in June, the divers couldn't find the dummy mortar and artillery shells they'd planted months prior, foreshadowing the challenges that lie ahead.

“It’s really hard to find things in the sea,” said Roy Jaijel, a researcher in the marine geology and geophysics department at Israel’s National Institute of Oceanography, as he emerged from a dive.

Jaijel co-leads a project aimed at returning some 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) of shoreline to people living in Israel's central city of Rishon LeZion, an area that's been used as a firing range for decades. The initiative, the first of its kind in Israel, coincides with a global push to better protect the world's waters as demand increases for the use of seas and oceans for shipping, energy and recreation.

Experts say the clearance of underwater munitions has received more attention in recent years in part because of the boom in artificial intelligence, which requires millions of kilometers of underwater fiber-optic cables to allow for global connectivity.

Munitions can end up dumped into waters after wars, fall into seas during conflict or, in the case of Rishon LeZion, accumulate from firing practice. Erosion from seawater can lead toxic and explosive chemicals, along with heavy metals, to seep from the munitions, causing environmental contamination. There's also the risk of objects exploding if people step on them or children play with them, thinking they're toys.

Two years ago, Europe launched a project to better detect and clear non-military unexploded ordnance, such as from industrial or commercial sites. In a separate initiative in 2024, Germany piloted a program to recover and dispose of military waste from the North and Baltic seas, where some 1.6 million tonnes of unexploded munitions from two world wars lie, according to the German government.

Still, there's been less focus on clearing waters in the Middle East, such as the Mediterranean, which historically hasn't been the site of large dumps compared with Europe.

Leaders of the Israeli project say it's one of the first to focus on clearing smaller munitions in complicated underwater terrain, which is why many countries have avoided it.

“It's like looking for a needle in a haystack,” said Israel Faintuch, head of the Maritime Division at Israel's Ministry of Defense National Mine Action Authority as he checked his oxygen tank and suited up to go underwater.

Limited beach space in Israel is the driving force behind the clearing effort

The government says nearly half the country's 194-kilometer (120-mile) coastline is off limits to civilians, used for commercial ports, power plants, desalination facilities, military bases and firing zones.

Since the country's founding nearly 80 years ago, 7 kilometers (4.3 miles), nearly the entire length of Rishon LeZion's shoreline, has been used as a firing range, launching grenades as well as small and large mortars, leaving hundreds of thousands of people crammed into a narrow strip of beach.

Launched last year, the joint research project funded by Rishon LeZion's municipality is being led by Israel’s National Mine Action Authority and researchers from the National Institute of Oceanography. It aims to localize the most impacted areas, mapping the pattern of munitions to determine how far offshore and how deep to go before the clearance team steps in.

In order to gather data, divers place various sizes of fake munitions — some equipped with motion sensors — at depths of 5, 10 and 15 meters (16, 33 and 59 feet) and up to 1.2 kilometers (0.75 miles) offshore. After several months, they retrieve the munitions, analyze the data and plant new ones.

In June, Associated Press journalists accompanied the team underwater as they placed new munitions for the next round of tests and attempted to find ones they'd left in January. Divers descended using a string, or measuring tape, to navigate the seabed. Tapping each other under the water, they'd point in different directions to search, rubbing their hands over the seafloor.

“You have limited air supply when you go with the divers and you have limited time in the water," said Dafna Eliahu, a graduate student at the University of Haifa working on the project. "So with actual live munition I expect it to be very difficult, very hard to locate and to actually be able to find them,” she said.

While the information, including from the sensors, is still being processed, preliminary findings show that the munitions moved less than expected, which means there might be less area that needs clearing, she said.

Israel's Defense Ministry wants to have enough data to start clearing by the end of next year and expand the shoreline by an initial 150 meters (492 feet) within a few months. Completing the project will take years and cost tens of millions of dollars. It's already been delayed due to Israel's multiple wars with Hamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon and Iran as divers can't work when missiles are falling and could land in the sea.

During the current war that the U.S. and Israel launched against Iran as well as the 12-day war last June between Israel and Iran, the army said missiles aimed at larger cities like Rishon LeZion fell into the sea but wouldn’t specify how many.

Israel says no one has been injured or killed by unexploded sea ordnance, but there have been about a dozen sightings of devices in the last 20 years where the police and army were called. Most have been found on or near shore.

What's learned during the project could be useful beyond Israel

While the goal of the project is to expand parts of the shoreline, Israel also hopes its findings will yield new insights on clearing munitions from this part of the world, where there are threats but overall less is known.

According to the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, more than half of global incidents related to unexploded ordnance, such as sightings or drifting mines, were recorded in the Middle East between 2014 and 2023, with most occurring in the Red Sea off the coast of Yemen and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, largely a result of Yemen's civil war.

Pedro Basto, research and innovation program manager with the group, said it is important to keep interest high in removing underwater explosives given the increasing dependence on the seas.

“Both renewable energies based on the sea (wind turbines and harnessing water currents) and the global connectivity that most of the world relies on every minute of every day, depend massively on underwater cable laying,” he said.

As Israel's project advances, residents in Rishon LeZion say they're looking forward to being able to use more land.

Moria Malka, head spokesperson for the city's municipality, said the clearance will triple the area’s coastline and much of it will become a nature reserve as well as a residential area near the sea. For beachgoers like Mark Kostman, that is great news.

“Holidays and Saturdays, all of this place is completely crowded and too dense to even have fun,” said Kostman as he played volleyball with his children next to the firing zone. “Having it as public space for leisure and sport ... it's wonderful."

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Associated Press reporter Natalie Melzer contributed from Nahariya, Israel.

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La medida contenida en un decreto tiene lugar luego que en diciembre el mandatario retiró la subvención de los carburantes en casi un 100% con el fin de bajar la erogación del Estado, como parte de sus medidas anticrisis, y establecer un mecanismo de ajustes de los precios cada seis meses.

“Ya teníamos un decreto anterior que había congelado los precios, lo que se ha hecho es modificarlo para que se amplíe por otros seis meses más”, explicó el vocero presidencial, José Luis Gálvez, en conferencia de prensa.

Además, informó que el decreto establece que el precio del litro de gasolina se mantiene en 6,96 bolivianos (0,71 dólares) y el litro de diésel en 9,80 bolivianos (más de un dólar). La medida también mantiene congelado el precio del gas.

Mientras tanto, el gobierno aún busca normalizar el abastecimiento de los carburantes tras las protestas y bloqueos recientes. Estas movilizaciones han agravado la situación económica de la nación, que ya cuenta con reservas internacionales mermadas debido a que el país andino importa el combustible, según los expertos.

Bolivia mantuvo una subvención por aproximadamente 20 años, lo que generó una fuerte erogación de divisas para el Estado en momentos en que el país atraviesa por una iliquidez de dólares, según el gobierno.

El exministro de Hidrocarburos, Álvaro Ríos, criticó la medida debido a que la considera “política”, asegurando que con ella el Estado estará pagando un precio mayor al que le vende al consumidor final.

“Para nosotras, las mujeres, esto es esperanza”, dice Mohammed, quien, durante la mayor parte de su vida, fue una de las pocas mujeres pescadoras en Malindi, un pueblo al noreste de la ciudad portuaria de Mombasa. “Ayudará a mantener a muchas familias que han dependido del océano durante décadas”.

A lo largo de la costa de África Oriental, los pescadores recurren cada vez más al turismo, la restauración de los ecosistemas y otros negocios basados en la conservación, y reinventan su relación con el mar a medida que el cambio climático, la sobrepesca y el deterioro de la salud de los océanos amenazan sus medios de sustento.

En Kenia, las mujeres transforman los manglares restaurados en fuentes de ingresos mediante la apicultura y el ecoturismo. En el archipiélago de Zanzíbar, en Tanzania, las comunidades pesqueras protegen los arrecifes de coral mediante cierres gestionados localmente. En Mozambique, la restauración de las praderas marinas crea empleos y, a la vez, revitaliza los hábitats del océano. En conjunto, estos esfuerzos redefinen la resiliencia no como un abandono del océano, sino como su restauración y la construcción de medios de vida sostenibles.

“Las comunidades que dependen del océano son también sus mejores guardianas”, dijo Andréanne Martel, directora de proyectos de un programa de conservación llamado ReSea. “Cuando la población local, especialmente las mujeres, lidera la conservación, protege la biodiversidad y, al mismo tiempo, crea medios de vida más resilientes e inclusivos”.

Las mujeres locales se adaptan

Mohammed contó que le han robado sus embarcaciones y que ahora le cuesta competir con los arrastreros industriales. Una planta procesadora de pescado cercana, propiedad de una empresa china, refleja los drásticos cambios que ha experimentado el sector.

“No puedo competir con ese poder ni con esa escala”, agrega.

“Ha sido duro”, enfatiza Mohammed al mirar hacia el océano. “Luché por seguir siendo pescadora. Pero creo que es una batalla que ya no puedo ganar”.

A 10 kilómetros (6 millas) de distancia, donde el río Sabaki desemboca en el océano Índico, Beatrice Mwanyiro supervisa un vivero de manglares y un restaurante construidos por Samahco, un grupo de autoayuda de mujeres integrado por 30 miembros y apoyado por el gobierno canadiense a través de ReSea.

“Tenemos que adaptarnos a los tiempos cambiantes”, dice Mwanyiro. “La cantidad de peces que llegan a las aguas poco profundas disminuye cada año. Sin otra fuente de ingresos, no podremos alimentar a nuestras familias”.

Los manglares, los arrecifes de coral, las praderas marinas y las pesquerías costeras proporcionan alimento, protegen las costas de las tormentas y almacenan grandes cantidades de carbono. Pero esos ecosistemas están en peligro debido al calentamiento del mar, la contaminación, la pérdida de hábitat y la sobrepesca.

Mohamed Somo, un líder de los pescadores de Lamu, ciudad declarada Patrimonio Mundial por la UNESCO, refiere que los botes que antes capturaban hasta 100 kilogramos (220 libras) de pescado ahora suelen traer menos de 30 kilogramos (66 libras).

La legislación keniana restringe la pesca de arrastre a aguas situadas a una distancia mínima de 5 millas náuticas (9 kilómetros) de la costa, pero los pescadores exponen que algunos buques operan habitualmente mucho más cerca.

El reto trasciende las fronteras de Kenia. La pesca ilegal, no declarada y no reglamentada le cuesta a la economía mundial unos 23.000 millones de dólares anuales, además de que amenaza la biodiversidad marina y la seguridad alimentaria de miles de millones de personas que dependen del pescado como su principal fuente de proteínas, según la Organización de las Naciones Unidas para la Alimentación y la Agricultura (FAO). “Los barcos de arrastre pescan en alta mar durante el día, pero por la noche se adentran en aguas poco profundas donde trabajan los pescadores artesanales”, añade Somo. “Para la mañana, queda muy poco para nosotros”.

Carrera para proteger los océanos

La creciente presión sobre las comunidades costeras ha elevado la conservación de los océanos a un lugar prioritario en la agenda política, mientras dichas comunidades luchan por sobrevivir y tratan de proteger sus economías marinas.

“Las comunidades costeras están en la primera línea (de las afectaciones) del cambio climático y el deterioro de la salud de los océanos, pero también son algunos de los principales impulsores de la resiliencia”, dijo Jerry Mang’ena, cofundador y director ejecutivo de Action for Ocean (Acción por el Océano), una organización con sede en Tanzania que restaura los manglares a lo largo de su litoral.

“Apoyar medios de vida sostenibles —desde la acuicultura y el ecoturismo hasta la restauración de los ecosistemas— ayuda a las familias a adaptarse y, a la vez, a reducir la presión sobre el océano. Si de verdad queremos proteger nuestros mares, debemos invertir en las personas que los han cuidado durante generaciones”.

En la reciente Conferencia Nuestro Océano celebrada en Mombasa, las organizaciones de conservación instaron a los gobiernos africanos a ratificar el Acuerdo relativo a la Diversidad Biológica Marina de las Zonas Situadas Fuera de la Jurisdicción Nacional, también conocido como “tratado de Alta Mar” o acuerdo BBNJ por sus siglas en inglés, un pacto histórico de la ONU que establece áreas marinas protegidas en aguas internacionales y una distribución equitativa de los recursos marinos. Entró en vigor en enero y, hasta abril, había sido firmado por 145 países y ratificado por 81.

El resultado de las negociaciones sobre ratificaciones adicionales del tratado podría tener un impacto profundo en la vida de pescadores como Mohammed, quienes intentan construir un futuro que ya no dependa por completo de capturas cada vez más inciertas.

“El acuerdo BBNJ ofrece a los gobiernos africanos una oportunidad histórica para proteger la alta mar y salvaguardar el futuro de nuestras pesquerías”, dijo Aliou Ba, responsable de la campaña de océanos de Greenpeace África.

“Pero proteger el océano también implica enfrentar la pesca ilegal, no declarada y no reglamentada que está agotando la vida marina en las aguas africanas y privando a las comunidades costeras de alimentos e ingresos”, añadió. “Los gobiernos no pueden permitirse demoras”.

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But delivering soybean curd in all shapes and textures is only a small slice of her mission.

And it’s just that. A mission.

More than simply a vendor of healthy food, she’s also a social conduit who checks on elderly customers as she guides her pink cart, wearing a straw hat and tooting a small brass bugle to signal her arrival.

She knows the habits of many of her customers like family, and they know hers. She’s lost some elderly customers over the years who’ve died alone, which is becoming more common in Japan, which has one of the world's oldest populations.

“More than once I was the first one to find their bodies,” Sugaya explained, seated in a small store she also runs on a busy shopping street in Tokyo's Ojima neighborhood.

It's a largely residential area of small dwellings, layered with occasional strips of sprawling apartment blocks.

“In an area like this, some people just leave their doors unlocked," Sugaya said. “Or I can get access by asking the landlords.”

Uncollected newspapers and unattended laundry are telltale signs of trouble, easily seen in small houses on the street. But large apartment buildings hide these signs of possible distress.

Sugaya is a savior for many, and the job — she’s been at it for 23 years — has also strengthened her own self-worth. She feels that the job saved her.

She says she was bullied in school and fired from several jobs until she found that delivering high-quality, healthy food also nourished her own mental health and offered value to others.

“Selling tofu on a cart made me think I am OK to be myself," Sugaya explained. “I used to be repeatedly put down, but through cart-selling I built up my self-esteem.”

“I was still nervous with women around my ages,” she added. “But I felt safe when surrounded by the elderly whose smiles are warm and kind.”

Shinji Saito comes by Sugaya's shop daily. Saito, who has epilepsy, calls her accepting personality “magical.”

She’s also a link to a time when vendors walked through neighborhoods selling ramen, sweet potatoes, vegetables and other items.

“Delivery of newspapers or tofu, what used to be part of our daily lives, have been replaced by delivery apps or smart phones,” Sugaya said. “One can easily spend a day without having any verbal conversation with others.”

"When you go to a convenience store, you hit a button on a screen and don’t even say hello to anyone. It leaves you empty.”

Sugaya makes her rounds three days per week, a three-hour walk in the afternoon.

Her route twists through maze-like streets, and there are sporadic sales — and frequent conversations. A woman walks from her house to buy tofu, chats about her unruly cat and shows off a strand of wild vine growing in her garden. Another woman reminds Sugaya that cart-selling is a disappearing craft.

“Even when I'm in need of tofu, I tell myself I'd better wait for Ako-chan,” said customer Toshi Niiyama, using Sugaya's nickname. “We used to have someone coming to sell vegetables, but he stopped coming.”

Sugaya has no such plans to stop.

“I go this way on Mondays, that way on Saturdays and that way on Thursdays,” she explained. “I go even if it's raining because my customers expect to see me — or just because they want to have a talk."

Congress is looking for answers by July 24.

“Millions of casual fans now tune in to watch her play,” 11 members of the House Republican Study Committee wrote in a letter sent to WNBA Commissioner Cathy Englebert. “Unfortunately, what they too often witness is not simply aggressive competition, but repeated acts of physical hostility and violence. Clark has been hip-checked, poked in the eye and struck in the throat during games.

"These incidents go far beyond routine physical play, yet the WNBA and its officiating have too often failed to address these unacceptable incidents and hold players accountable.”

It's the latest chapter in the Clark saga about whether league officials must do more to protect one of the WNBA's top players from unnecessarily aggressive physical contact.

The letter was sent two weeks after Phoenix Mercury forward Alyssa Thomas made contact with her fist to Clark’s throat in a June 24 game. Thomas was not called for a foul on the play during the game, but the league subsequently upgraded the play to a flagrant foul and suspended her one game for “recklessly making contact with her fist.”

League officials have not yet issued a statement in response to the letter.

Thomas has called the play a “complete accident," adding that she has received death threats since the incident. Clark and her coach, Stephanie White, an ardent defender of Clark, have condemned threats levied at Thomas.

Where Clark stands among her WNBA peers

The 24-year-old Iowa alum has helped increase WNBA ticket sales and driven women’s basketball television ratings to unprecedented heights with her play.

However, many conversations around her tap into a variety of combustible hot-button topics, including race, officiating, money and politics. Clark has largely managed to thrive, but can't completely escape the noise.

“I think sometimes people think I’m a robot. I’m not a robot,” she said. “It can be really frustrating to me at times. I’m 24 years old trying to navigate a lot. I’ve been in this world for four years now — and you would never change any of it — but there are times that it is hard. And there are times when it affects me a little bit more than I do put on. I think it’s important that people remember that part of it, too.”

Lawmakers also suggested in their letter that government agencies such as the Department of Justice should investigate if discrimination or retaliation are creating a hostile work environment in the WNBA.

Fever officials said in a statement that neither Clark nor team officials have been in contact with the Congressional group and that they were unaware of the letter before its release.

“We have been clear in our public comments and in our ongoing dialogue with the league about the priority of player safety,” the statement read. “Our players and our fans know where we stand on those issues, and we will continue to stick up for our team and a standard of excellence across the league.”

Clark is one of the league’s most popular players, but she’s also one of the most polarizing — even amongst her peers.

Fans made her the No. 2 vote-getter for next week’s All-Star Game while Clark’s fellow players ranked her 11th among league guards — something three-time WNBA champ and Hall of Famer Candace Parker took exception with.

“If you’re sitting down and putting Caitlin Clark as the 11th best guard ... y’all need to go to a therapist and figure out what childhood issues you have,” Parker wrote on social media.

What makes Clark so polarizing

Clark instantly became the face of the league from the moment she was drafted first overall in 2024, before ever playing a pro game and even though she had not won an NCAA championship.

To accommodate her rampant fan base, opponents moved games from home arenas to larger venues which generated more revenue. And Fever games quickly became a regular feature on national television even after Indiana missed the playoffs from 2016-23.

Clark supporters say her immediate notoriety created resentment among WNBA veterans and has led to the hard fouls that cross the line.

Opponents counter that because of Clark's ability to shoot the ball and beat opponents with her ball-handling, players defending her try to be as physical as a referee will allow to slow her down.

Following the game on June 24, Fever coach Stephanie White angrily expressed players had crossed the line multiple times and highlighted two no-calls. The 6-foot, 157-pound Clark eventually left in the second half with a back injury that kept her out of the next two games.

Clark returned to action Wednesday night but was not expected to play Thursday night at Phoenix as a precaution.

The subject of race also has been injected into the Clark debate. White and Clark are both white; Thomas is Black.

“Because the bandwagon and the fandom became so obsessed with the whole thing, it turned into a cause,” said UConn coach Geno Auriemma, who has won a record 12 NCAA women's basketball championships. Clark, he added, “became the reason why white players get beat up in the WNBA and she became the reason why Black players don’t get the endorsements and don’t get the adulation that white players get.”

The coach noted that, "Not every foul is a good foul. Not every foul’s a bad foul, but there are fouls that are flagrant — but that’s all they are.”

What role Clark plays in debate

Clark has repeatedly attempted to downplay the noise surrounding her.

But she also has played a part in this ongoing storyline, showing her passion by throwing her arms in the air when she's unhappy with calls, exaggerating contact as a tactic to draw fouls and critiquing refs when she doesn't get one.

Clark is also among the leading trash-talkers in the WNBA. When she gets the better of an opponent, she isn’t shy about letting them know about it. Clark is averaging a career-high 20.5 points per game while ranking second in the league in assists with 7.9 — trailing only Thomas (8.3).

Part of Clark’s appeal is her antagonistic style.

However, there can be a price to pay: She has drawn five technical fouls this season, the most recent coming June 22 against Phoenix when she started clapping after a heated exchange with Mercury forward and former Fever teammate DeWanna Bonner, who also is Black. Booner and Thomas are engaged.

Players receive a one-game suspension when they reach eight technicals and Clark told reporters in that postgame news conference someone should pick a date for her suspension if clapping results in a technical foul.

All-Star center Aliyah Boston, who wants to ensure Clark stays on the court, said on her “Post Moves” podcast that she told her teammate: "We’re done. We’re done clapping. There’s no more claps. There’s nothing else to clap about."

It's more likely, though, that Clark and her fans will continue clapping — and her critics will keep clapping back.

___

AP WNBA: https://apnews.com/hub/wnba-basketball

The ruling by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit overturns a lower court decision that found the ban unconstitutional. The 2-1 appellate decision found that the Illinois law does not violate the Second Amendment, and its restrictions are “consistent with the principles that underpin our Nation’s tradition of firearm regulation.”

“Whether to adopt them is thus a decision reposed in our elected representatives, and we reverse,” the appeals court said.

The majority opinion also pushes back on claims made by the plaintiffs that semiautomatic weapons are not at fault for mass shootings.

“The undisputed record evidence undercuts that claim, showing that the presence of assault weapons and large-capacity magazines is strongly correlated with the severity of the societal problem,” the opinion states.

Democratic Gov. JB Pritzker said in a post on X that the decision is “a victory in the fight to end gun violence that helps keep our communities safe.”

The National Shooting Sports Foundation, the firearms industry trade association seeking to stop the ban, said that it is disappointed with the decision and plans to ask the U.S. Supreme Court to review the case.

The gun trade group said it agrees with Chief Judge Michael Brennan’s dissent in which he wrote that the country prohibits governments from banning “firearms commonly owned for self-defense.”

“Because the people have overwhelmingly chosen the AR-15 rifle and its magazine as their weapon of choice, they are protected by the Second Amendment,” the judge's dissent states.

The Protect Illinois Communities Act was signed into law in 2023 by Pritzker and bans AR-15 rifles and similar guns, large-capacity magazines and an assortment of attachments.

It came six months after a 2022 shooting in which a gunman on a rooftop in the Chicago suburb of Highland Park opened fire on a parade, killing seven people and injuring more than three dozen.

The law prompted immediate pushback from county sheriffs who said they refused to enforce what they considered an unconstitutional law, while gun owners and advocates sued.

In 2024, a federal judge overturned the ban, leaning on recent U.S. Supreme Court rulings that strictly interpret the Second Amendment right to keep and bear firearms.

The injunction was set to take effect 30 days after the judge's decision. But that same day, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul filed a notice of appeal, which ultimately led to a stay in the injunction.

Raoul said Thursday's decision enhances public safety. “We have seen the damage that assault weapons and large-capacity magazines can inflict, and these weapons of war have no place in our communities,” he said in a statement.

Last month, the Supreme Court announced it will consider whether bans on semiautomatic rifles, often called assault weapons, violate the Second Amendment. In the fall, the court, which has expanded gun rights, is expected to hear appeals challenging a ban in the Chicago area, which predates the statewide law.

Campaz, 26, who lives in Argentina, didn’t return to his native Tumaco, a port city on the Pacific Coast, or to Ibagué, a city where he still has family, to take a much-needed break.

There were threatening social media posts after Colombia’s elimination from the FIFA World Cup 2026.

“We may think differently or feel frustration or sadness, but no passion justifies hatred or living in fear,” Campaz wrote in Spanish in a statement on Instagram.

Campaz, who also plays for the Argentine Primera División Club Rosario Central, played for Colombia’s national team during three World Cup matches.

“I dreamed of defending Colombia’s colors, hearing the anthem, representing millions of people, and scoring a goal in a World Cup since I was a child,” Campaz wrote in Spanish. “Today, I can only thank God for allowing me to fulfill that dream.”

On June 17, Campaz came on as a substitute during a group-stage match against Uzbekistan. Campaz scored a 99th-minute goal to seal a 3-1 victory.

On July 3, Campaz was a late substitute during the 1-0 round of 32 win against Ghana. On July 7, as a second-half substitute, Campaz missed a goal during the round of 16 match against Switzerland.

“I share the pain of this elimination. We, too, dreamed of advancing further, and I know the sadness we feel today as Colombians. I deeply regret not being able to bring you the joy we all hoped for,” Campaz wrote. “I want you to know that there was never a lack of dedication, commitment, or love for this jersey. I gave everything I had on the pitch, and I would do it a thousand times over for my country.”

Campaz scored his penalty before Switzerland won the 4-3 shootout, and Colombia was eliminated.

“Soccer is also made of difficult moments. Today, all that remains is to learn, pick yourself up, and keep working to come back stronger,” Campaz wrote.

During one of Colombia’s most violent periods, illegal sports gambling put life-threatening pressure on professional soccer players.

After Colombia’s elimination from the 1994 FIFA World Cup, a gunman shot and killed Colombian soccer star Andrés Escobar on July 2, 1994, in Medellín.

Escobar had scored an own goal during a World Cup group-stage match against the U.S. on June 22, 1994, in Pasadena, California.

Related stories

• Kylian Mbappé scores his eighth goal of the World Cup, equaling Lionel Messi for the tournament lead
• England player Jarell Quansah suspended for two games at the World Cup
• US star Christian Pulisic fractured his leg in World Cup loss to Belgium

TOURNAMENT’S SCHEDULE

Quarterfinals

July 10

Belgium vs. Spain at 3 p.m.

July 11

• Norway vs. England is at 5 p.m.
• Switzerland vs. Argentina is at 9 p.m.

Sunrise watch party: The indoor Amerant Bank Arena is hosting a free watch party for ticket holders at 5 p.m. on July 11. Parking is free.

Related link: View the knockout bracket

Semifinals

July 14: France plays a semi-final match at 3 p.m.

Miami Beach watch party: Doors open at 3 p.m. on July 14 at The Bandshell, at 7275 Collins Ave., for the semifinal match.

July 15: There is a semi-final match at 3 p.m.

Miami Beach watch party: Doors open at 3 p.m. on July 15 at The Bandshell, at 7275 Collins Ave., for the semifinal match.

Finals

July 18: The third-place play-off match is at 5 p.m. at the Miami Stadium, better known as the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens.

Miami Beach watch party: Doors open at 3 p.m. on July 18 at The Sandbowl, behind The Bandshell, at 7275 Collins Ave., for the 5 p.m. bronze final.

Sunrise ride to stadium: The Amerant Bank Arena has free parking for FIFA World Cup ticket holders who ride Broward County’s free Express bus transportation to the Miami Stadium, also known as Hard Rock, in Miami Gardens.

July 19: The final match is at 3 p.m.

Miami Beach watch party: Doors open at 1 p.m. on July 19 at The Sandbowl, behind The Bandshell, at 7275 Collins Ave., for the 3 p.m. final.

Sunrise watch party: The indoor Amerant Bank Arena is hosting a free watch party for ticket holders for the final on July 19. Parking is free.

David Hearn, who competed in three Summer Olympics, entered the plea through one of his attorneys during his initial appearance in D.C. Superior Court. Hearn, 67, of Bethesda, Maryland, was indicted last Thursday on a single felony count of property destruction.

Before the country’s 250th independence celebrations, President Donald Trump launched a multimillion dollar renovation project for the Reflecting Pool, which was plagued by problems, including damage to its new coating. Trump, without providing evidence, has alleged the damage was caused by vandals.

Hearn has said he reached inside the pool to examine the peeled sealant and let go of a chunk when he was told to by a park worker. He is accused of causing more than $1,000 in damage.

“Every American should be alarmed about this prosecution,” defense attorney Norm Eisen said after the hearing. “It is not a crime to touch the Reflecting Pool.”

At least three other people have been charged in the same court with misdemeanors for allegedly removing pieces of paint from the Reflecting Pool, according to online court records. All three pleaded not guilty during their initial court appearances Wednesday, records show.

U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, the top federal prosecutor for the District of Columbia, said vandalizing the nation’s monuments and public spaces is “an affront to our shared history.”

“The law applies equally to everyone, and when it is broken, there are consequences,” she said in a statement on Thursday.

Defense says prosecutors’ evidence is ‘weak’

In front of a packed courtroom, D.C. Superior Court Judge Carmen McLean did not require Hearn to be supervised by the court while he is free awaiting a trial. A status hearing was scheduled for Aug. 5.

A prosecutor, Kevin Reddington, said the government wasn’t seeking any court supervision for Hearn, but just a “stay-away order” without specifying in court where it wanted to keep Hearn away from.

Mary Dohrmann, one of Hearn’s attorneys, urged the judge not to impose any conditions of court supervision, calling Hearn an “upstanding citizen and member of the community.”

“The government’s evidence is weak,” she added.

Supporters cheered after the hearing

Dozens of supporters, many carrying homemade signs, gathered outside the courthouse and chanted “Davey!” as Hearn left after the hearing. Hearn joined his attorneys in front of a bank of cameras and smiled to supporters but did not speak. He raised his right hand and pumped his fist as he left.

Adam Van Grack, who chaired the U.S. Olympic national governing body for canoe and kayak sports, joined the throng of supporters who cheered for Hearn after the hearing. Van Grack said Hearn has spent decades voluntarily maintaining National Park Service property that the canoeists used as a training course along the Potomac River.

“This is a person who has devoted his life to representing the United States on an international stage, caring for the community and protecting and caring for National Park Service property,” Van Grack said. “So the idea that he is a malicious destroyer of federal property shocks the conscience and makes no sense to anybody who’s ever known Davey Hearn.”

Hearn previously told The Associated Press that he was detained by National Guard troops and U.S. Park Police for five hours after stopping by the pool during a 64-mile (103 kilometer) bike ride on June 19. He said he reached in to examine newly peeled coating and briefly touched a chunk attached to the side of the pool, but obeyed a park worker who told him to let go of it.

Pool project has been plagued by problems

The pool’s renovation has been riddled with problems. Workers have used devices called nanobubblers to curtail an algae bloom. The devices infuse ozone into the water to kill algae and bacteria. Officials have said the pool most likely would need to be drained again for liner repairs after chunks of blue coating were seen floating at the surface.

Trump has claimed without substantiation that vandals dumped fertilizer into the pool and slashed the coating with a box cutter. Pirro, a former Fox News host who was appointed by Trump, said last week that six other people were arrested on misdemeanor charges related to the $16 million pool project.

Pirro accused Hearn of causing more than $1,000 in damage by ripping up recently installed sealant from the pool and acting belligerently toward an employee who told him to stop.

Hearn’s attorneys have said the charges against him are based on a “concocted narrative” and “should be alarming to every American.”

“This indictment reflects the administration’s effort to shift blame for their own failures,” the lawyers said in a statement. “The justice system exists to determine facts, not to provide political cover.”

___

Associated Press writer Matthew Daly and AP video journalist Nathan Ellgren contributed to this report.

The confusion and uncertainty in Trump’s mixed messaging and his approval of back-to-back military strikes leave major questions about what comes next in the conflict, just weeks after difficult diplomacy to reach even an initial deal between the longtime adversaries.

The whipsawing rhetoric could be a strategy to increase the pressure on Tehran to stop attacking ships transporting oil and natural gas in the Strait of Hormuz and bend to U.S. demands on its nuclear program — something Trump has tried before.

Whether it is a negotiation tactic or a signal of an escalation in fighting, mediators are scrambling to save the interim deal and the actions risk further inflaming tensions — which could spell problems for Republicans in November’s midterm elections if gas prices stay high.

Trump warned Wednesday that a new round of U.S. attacks was coming, even as he attempted to shrug off suggestions of a return to full-scale war. Hours later, the military announced it was carrying out new attacks on Iran that were meant to “further degrade their ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.”

“Anything that happens is going to happen very fast,” Trump said earlier. “We’re not looking for a long time.”

Officials rush to save the ceasefire

A regional intelligence official involved in the mediation efforts said the conflict had reached a critical stage as mutual mistrust rises. But high-level communications are happening around the clock to salvage the ceasefire, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the delicate behind-the-scenes negotiations.

The foreign ministers of Pakistan and Qatar, as well as Egypt’s intelligence chief, are leading the efforts, while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan — whose country hosted the NATO summit that wrapped Wednesday — and leaders from Saudi Arabia are also involved, the official said.

The U.S. is upset about ships being attacked in the Strait of Hormuz and accuses Iran of slow-playing discussions on curtailing its nuclear program, the official said. Nuclear talks were a major next step to try to turn the interim deal announced last month into a lasting end to the war.

Tehran, meanwhile, says Washington is the one violating the agreement regarding the strait and failing to ensure that a ceasefire in Lebanon, including an Israeli withdrawal, is being implemented, the official said.

Michael Eisenstadt, a former U.S. military analyst who now directs the Military and Security Studies Program at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said that “we’re still in negotiating mode, no matter what the president says.”

“This is part of negotiating, and declaring that the MOU is over is part of the negotiation as well,” Eisenstadt said, referring to the memorandum of understanding that the ceasefire was built on.

Trump, though, has been explicit in public comments, saying he’s lost interest in preserving the ceasefire: “I think it’s over.”

“We can play games, but I’m not sure I want to make a deal,” he said during the NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, adding that the U.S. military might “just finish the job.”

Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, Iran’s lead negotiator, said the Trump administration had repeatedly violated the terms of the initial pact, forcing the country to respond appropriately.

“The era of bullying and extortion is over,” Qalibaf posted on X. “It leads nowhere. We don’t fold.”

Trump says ‘we’ll probably hit them hard again’

Pakistan, which helped broker the ceasefire, said renewed conflict is in “no one’s interest” and urged both sides to uphold their commitments.

“There is no alternative to continued engagement, dialogue and diplomacy to achieve shared goal of peace in the region,” its Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Trump, nonetheless, dismissed Tehran’s leaders, calling them “scum” and “sick people.” Just last month, Trump said Iran’s leadership was “very rational” and “nice to deal with,” while also calling the country’s leaders “smart people.”

Speaking at an event in Milwaukee on Wednesday, Vice President JD Vance, who led U.S. efforts to reach the initial deal with Tehran, said Iran was “well behaved for about a week.” He added that lately the country had begun attacking the strait and said, “If they shoot at ships, we’re going to knock the hell out of them.”

Could this be another negotiating tactic?

Before the U.S. and Iran reached their first, two-week ceasefire in April, Trump intensified his threats, pledging that American forces would bomb Iranian bridges, roads and power plants. He even posted online, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.”

He repeated dire threats before the tentative 60-day deal to end the war was reached last month.

Trump likes to seek ways to negotiate from a position of strength, and he could be looking for more leverage with new strikes. But being unequivocal about the end of the ceasefire also could free up Iran militarily — which could again roil oil prices and financial markets.

Ali Vaez, Iran director at the International Crisis Group, argued that escalating threats may be a riskier maneuver this time around, given the domestic and international stakes for the U.S.

“It certainly looks like an effort to turn up the military heat without yet closing the diplomatic door,” Vaez said. “But coercive bargaining is a dangerous game: At some point, a pressure campaign can acquire a momentum of its own and become the war it was ostensibly meant to avoid.”

He added, however, that Iran still has every reason to return to the table because it desperately needs the economic relief that was promised under the interim deal.

Trump also has sent mixed signals about the fallout.

He long insisted that rising gas prices for Americans didn’t factor into his calculations on Iran — only to say that part of the reason he agreed to the interim deal was to avoid an “economic catastrophe.” He has since touted the falling price of oil after the deal was reached.

Elections ahead could scramble Trump’s political calculus

The president again resumed his past threats to strike Iran’s civilian infrastructure, possibly including electric plants and desalinization plants, and to seize the oil-production hub of Kharg Island.

“We may take over Kharg Island,” he said. ”There’s not a thing they could do about it.”

Still, the midterm elections — when Republicans hope to retain control of the House and Senate — are now less than four months away. Oil prices rising again amid greater uncertainty about the war means Americans will likely continue to see higher prices at the pump.

The president tried to play down such concerns, saying, “Any time we hit them, it goes up a little bit — $2.” In fact, U.S. oil futures jumped far higher and may keep climbing — even as Trump acknowledged, “As oil goes, so goes everything else.”

He argued that an increase in oil prices was worth it to bar Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. “It’s all right.”

___

Amiri reported from New York and Magdy from Cairo. Associated Press writer Munir Ahmed in Islamabad contributed to this report.

The Democratic congresswoman, whose district includes the Houston neighborhood where the shooting occurred, said acting ICE Director David Venturella told her the agency has confirmed Lorenzo Salgado Araujo “was not a target.”

Salgado Araujo was a homebuilder who had lived in the U.S. for more than 35 years, had no criminal record and was close to finishing the long process of obtaining legal status when he was killed early Tuesday morning, according to his family.

“We’ve got to do something. This is just one more death too many,” Garcia said in an interview with MS Now. “And if we’ve got to bring outside, independent folks to come in and look at it, we should do that."

A spokesperson for the Department of Homeland Security did not immediately return an email seeking comment late Thursday.

DHS, which oversees ICE, previously said that federal officers were conducting a targeted operation to arrest a person in the country without legal status when they attempted to stop a vehicle driven by Salgado Araujo. The agency has said Salgado Araujo rammed an ICE vehicle and that a federal officer fired a weapon in self-defense.

Asked whether ICE agents had been specifically targeting Salgado Araujo, DHS said earlier Thursday that officers had been surveilling a property where they had previously observed two white vans.

“On July 7, officers were almost at the target’s address when they observed a white van with an individual who resembled the target. Officers then initiated the vehicle stop,” the department said.

The federal agents weren't wearing body-worn cameras, DHS said, and few photos or videos surrounding the shooting have emerged publicly in the days since the encounter, unlike other deaths involving federal immigration officers.

In a statement, DHS said the agents at the scene in Houston had not yet been issued body cameras, which it blamed on Democrats and a record government shutdown that was fueled by President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown.

U.S. Rep. Christian Menefee, a Democrat who also represents Houston, said if the agents didn't have the devices, it was because Trump and Republican lawmakers did not want them to be carrying them.

"Houston is done accepting excuses from an agency that has more money than it knows what to do with and still can’t manage basic accountability,” he said in a statement.

The Harris County District Attorney's office said it would conduct an investigation into the shooting. The office is consulting with local prosecutors in Minneapolis, where federal agents fatally shot two U.S. citizens, to learn how they have navigated investigations into federal immigration agents, spokesperson Rafael Lemaitre said.

“Although access to key evidence remains under federal control, we are pursuing investigative avenues available to us and will conduct a review of any information we collect within our reach,” Lemaitre said in an emailed statement.

Three men, including Salgado Araujo’s brother, were detained by ICE during the fatal traffic stop, according to Juan Proaño, CEO of the League of United Latin American Citizens, who has been communicating with their families.

LULAC has yet to obtain video footage that clearly shows what happened during the moments of the shooting and has offered a reward of $5,000 for information from witnesses, Proaño told The Associated Press. The position of Salgado Araujo’s van and ICE vehicles has obstructed security camera footage LULAC has reviewed, he added.

“It’s going to make it even more difficult to find the truth in all this,” he said.

DHS said the ICE agents involved in the incident were expected to receive body-worn cameras in the next 60 days.

In the aftermath of the fatal Minneapolis shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti, Democrats had refused to fund ICE and the Border Patrol without changes to those operations designed to increase accountability and transparency. Republicans in Congress eventually passed legislation funding just ICE and CBP for three years.

Friday will bring a sun/cloud mix with the chance for a spotty shower or two in the morning, followed by scattered, afternoon storms. More Saharan dust is on track to reach the area. Per usual, temperatures will make a run for the low 90s -- humidity will make it feel like the triple digits.

La demanda de ayuda se produce mientras Naciones Unidas hizo un llamado para recaudar alrededor de 300 millones de dólares para brindar asistencia a 1,3 millones de personas con necesidades urgentes en el país sudamericano, donde las organizaciones no gubernamentales eran, hasta hace poco, blanco de la represión gubernamental. Cocinas y clínicas móviles, así como hospitales de campo, se encuentran actualmente dispersos en espacios públicos en el estado de La Guaira, la zona más afectada en el norte del país.

“Queda claro que en los lugares de desplazamiento, en especial después de dos semanas, la gente está viniendo porque no ha podido recibir otros tratamientos", declaró a The Associated Press Tom Fletcher, director de ayuda humanitaria de la ONU, durante su visita a Venezuela. "Ya no sólo llegan con fracturas; llegan con esas otras necesidades de salud de más largo plazo. Y es crucial que estemos para ellos”.

Los médicos que brindaban atención en la comunidad de Catia La Mar reportaron el jueves un aumento de afecciones cutáneas y enfermedades diarreicas, además de solicitar medicamentos para tratar enfermedades crónicas como diabetes e hipertensión. El repunte de enfermedades puede estar relacionado con el hacinamiento y las malas condiciones de agua y saneamiento, que existían en muchas de las comunidades incluso antes de los terremotos.

Irma Echarri se presentó en una unidad móvil ubicada frente a una iglesia con las cajas de las gotas para los ojos y el analgésico que suele tomar, con la esperanza de que los médicos del lugar pudieran reabastecer sus medicamentos. También quería que la revisaran por el dolor de nariz que se le desarrolló después de los sismos del 24 de junio.

"Me duele bastante", señaló Echarri, de 67 años, mientras esperaba su turno. “Me duele porque me duele”.

La vivienda de Echarri no sufrió daños, pero muchos de sus vecinos viven ahora en albergues temporales o a la intemperie después de que los sismos cobraron la vida de 3.889 personas, causaron el colapso de 190 edificios y dejaron otras 856 estructuras dañadas, de acuerdo con las autoridades venezolanas.

El gobierno de la presidenta interina Delcy Rodríguez calcula que los terremotos dejaron a unas 18.000 personas sin hogar. Los desplazados viven actualmente en escuelas, aceras, parques, plazas y otros espacios públicos.

Fletcher señaló a la AP que hasta el momento Estados Unidos ha proporcionado la mayor parte de la ayuda para la respuesta a la crisis. Grupos locales que se han asociado con organizaciones humanitarias globales son responsables en buena medida de distribuir la asistencia sobre el terreno.

Una de las desplazadas es Zulbey Reyes, quien acudió a la clínica gestionada por la organización Paluz --con sede en Venezuela-- en alianza con la agencia global de ayuda International Rescue Committee. Reyes, a quien los terremotos también le arrebataron su empleo como niñera, buscaba tratamiento por un dolor en el pecho.

"Pensé que era el corazón que lo tenía enfermo", declaró Reyes, de 41 años, después de recibir su diagnóstico y tratamiento. "Pero no, es un nervio que, producto desde el grito del día, se me inflamó".

Armando Denegri, representante para Venezuela de la Organización Panamericana de la Salud, dijo el jueves a los periodistas que "el 50% de los profesionales de la salud de La Guaira se vieron afectados directamente” por los terremotos.

"Algunos desaparecieron, algunos fallecieron, otros se vieron muy afectados por la crisis, impactando a sus familias”, resaltó Denegri, sin dar más detalles.

La Oficina de las Naciones Unidas para la Reducción del Riesgo de Desastres ha estimado que los daños directos a viviendas e infraestructura rondan los 37.000 millones de dólares.

La presencia generalizada de organizaciones no gubernamentales en el país, y la libertad con la que el gobierno les permite operar, contrasta con la represión y la persecución a las que han sido sometidas en los últimos años. Mientras Rodríguez se desempeñaba como vicepresidenta del expresidente Nicolás Maduro, los colectivos fueron señalados en repetidas ocasiones de actividades antigubernamentales, además de que se desmanteló la oficina local de derechos humanos de la ONU.

“Cuando se tiene una crisis de esta magnitud, la gente deja la política a un lado y puede concentrarse en salvar tantas vidas como sea posible, y es lo que estoy viendo hasta ahora en esta respuesta”, afirmó Fletcher.

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Esta historia fue traducida del inglés por un editor de AP con la ayuda de una herramienta de inteligencia artificial generativa.

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The annual dust cycle not only plays into the hurricane season – with healthy loads of dust helping to fend off early tropical systems before typically dropping off in August – but also feeds marine ecosystems with essential nutrients and provides essential fertilizer to the soils of the Amazon rainforest basin near the eastern coast of South America.

For the larger dust outbreaks that travel all the way to the U.S. mainland, turning blue skies milky white and suppressing summertime thunderstorms, the mineral dust can reduce air quality and aggravate respiratory conditions such as asthma, COPD, and chronic bronchitis in more vulnerable populations. It’s uncommon for dust concentrations to reach those unhealthy levels in the U.S. but it’s worth monitoring air quality levels for particularly sensitive groups.

The dust-free state of Florida

Florida has had a remarkably dust-free year until this week, recording by far its lowest levels of Saharan dust since satellites began regularly measuring these aerosols back in 2002.

The plot above tracks dust cover over the entire state through this past Tuesday (July 7^th), but doesn’t include the first major push of dust we began seeing Wednesday in South Florida that’ll spread into northern parts of the state today and on Friday. Another thicker surge of dust is expected to dull our sunny skies over the weekend – especially through Florida’s peninsula – and possibly reach coastal Texas by next Tuesday into Wednesday, according to forecasts.

Atlantic dust hits its highest levels of the year

Through the first week of July, the dust-heavy part of the tropical North Atlantic east of the islands and west of Africa has recorded its lowest dust concentrations to-date.

This week, though, the dust should top levels observed during an exceptionally strong outbreak the week of February 15^th, so far the most concentrated dust outbreak of the year. Of course, dust levels this time of year should be much higher than in February when dust levels are just coming out of seasonal lows.

Dust pouring cold water on the (already cold) Atlantic

The big dust outbreak this week will ensure the Atlantic stays dormant for the week ahead.

As we mentioned in Wednesday’s newsletter, the only outside shot of development in the next few weeks appears to be from an initially non-tropical low along a stalled front off the Carolinas late next week.

Models are ho-hum on its prospects in turning tropical, and so far they keep development odds very low (less than 10%), so it’s definitely not anything to be concerned with for now.

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They said it happened early Sunday morning at the intersection of Northwest 25th Street and 76th Avenue.

According to the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office, deputies responded to reports of a street takeover and found several people who were injured.

Investigators said a black sedan struck two females before maneuvering around them and feeling the scene.

A man who ran toward the victims in an attempt to render aid was hit by what deputies described as an older model gold Ford Expedition with a dark gray lower body, which they said also ran over one of the female victims before fleeing the scene.

Deputies said neither the driver of the black sedan or the gold Ford stopped to render aid to the victims.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the MDSO Midwest District General Investigations Unit at 305-471-2800 or Miami-Dade Crime Stopers at 305-471-8477.

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The suspects were identified in an arrest report from the Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office as Antoinette McKay, 50, of Cutler Bay, and Zaccheus Zamon Scott, 34, of Miami.

According to the report, the incident happened on June 11 at St. Peters Missionary Baptist Church, located at 17901 Southwest 107th Ave., where McKay and Scott served as the boy’s camp coaches and counselors.

Investigators said the boy was playing football with his siblings at the summer camp when a fight broke out between him and one of his siblings.

That’s when deputies say McKay and Scott intervened.

According to the report, the boy told investigators that Scott placed “large orange cones” over his head, causing him to have difficulty breathing.

The report states McCay then “grabbed the victim by his ankles, pinning him on his back on the ground, with his legs elevated and held down at the ankles on the seat portion of a chair.”

Deputies said as McCay held down the victim, Scott proceeded to slap him multiple times on the left side of his face and head area.

According to the report, the boy suffered ruptured blood vessels in his left eye, a scratch between his eyes and swelling and bruising to the left side of his face.

The report states the boy’s father later took him to Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, where he was treated and released. Doctors advised the family to monitor him for symptoms of a concussion, according to the report.

Investigators said McKay and Scott invoked their Miranda rights and declined to speak with detectives.

Pastor Robert Brooks of St. Peter’s Missionary Baptist Church said he was unaware of the alleged incident or the arrests until Thursday morning.

“It is disappointing to hear the allegations,” Brooks said.

After learning details outlined in the arrest reports, Brooks called the allegations “very egregious” and said he had not previously heard those accusations.

Defense attorney Kenneth Weismann argued in court that the boy and his sibling returned to the camp for four days after the alleged incident, suggesting someone else may have been responsible for the victim’s injuries. He also referenced the boy’s father, saying he has prior arrests, including for child abuse.

Jail records show both suspects are each facing one count of child abuse without great bodily harm.

As of Thursday morning, the pair were each being held at the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center on $1,500 bonds. They were also ordered by Miami-Dade Circuit Judge Mindy Glazer to stay away from the victim.

A representative for CMB Visions Unlimited Summer Camp did not immediately respond to Local 10’s request for comment.

Brooks said the church is re-evaluating whether it will continue renting its facilities to the summer camp in light of the allegations.

Las autoridades informaron que el incidente ocurrió la madrugada del domingo en la intersección de Northwest 25th Street y Northwest 76th Avenue.

Según la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade, los agentes respondieron a reportes sobre una toma ilegal de calles y encontraron a varias personas heridas.

Los investigadores dijeron que un sedán negro atropelló a dos mujeres antes de maniobrar para rodearlas y huir de la escena.

Un hombre que corrió hacia las víctimas para prestarles ayuda fue atropellado por lo que los agentes describieron como una Ford Expedition dorada de un modelo antiguo con la parte inferior de color gris oscuro. Según las autoridades, ese vehículo también atropelló a una de las mujeres antes de huir del lugar.

Los agentes dijeron que ni el conductor del sedán negro ni el de la Ford Expedition dorada se detuvieron para prestar ayuda a las víctimas.

Cualquier persona con información debe comunicarse con la Unidad de Investigaciones Generales del Distrito Midwest de la Oficina del Sheriff de Miami-Dade al 305-471-2800 o con Miami-Dade Crime Stoppers al 305-471-8477.